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The UPSTATE colorimetric STAR (Signal Transduction Assay Reaction) ELISA kit is a solid phase sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay that provides a fast, sensitive method to detect specific levels of signaling targets in whole cell extracts. The AKT plate is coated with a specific mouse monoclonal anti-AKT capture antibody on the microwells of the 96-well clear plate. Sample lysate or the standard included in the kit are incubated in the microwells allowing AKT antigen to be captured in the plate wells. The plate is then washed to remove any non-bound unspecific material. The wells are then incubated with a specific rabbit anti-AKT antibody to detect the captured phospho-AKT (Thr308) on the plate well. The unbound detection antibody is washed away followed by incubation with an HRP-conjugated anti-rabbit antibody. This allows for a sensitive enzymatic detection of the sample. After the addition of TMB substrate and stop solution the absorbance is measured at 450 nm using a plate reader. The entire assay takes less than 5 hours to complete with minimal hands-on time. Many of the reagents are supplied in ready-to use formulations for ease of use. The kit also includes a standard that is run as both a positive control and to develop a standard curve.
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Sharing your experience will help scientists like you. Achieve Reviewer Status and Win an iPad 3 (All reviews published will be entered into the next drawing on May 31st 2013). | <urn:uuid:e11e5850-384a-4b41-8c06-26e380857d3c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.selectscience.net/products/phospho-akt-(thr308)-star-elisa-kit/?prodID=105977&u=00BCD77B-676B-45E8-AE66-0483EEB6E947&techBID=43 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924662 | 320 | 1.53125 | 2 |
At the turn of the century, Nathan Walker comes to New York City to take the most dangerous job in the country. A sandhog, he burrows beneath the East River, digging the tunnel that will carry trains from Brooklyn to Manhattan. In the bowels of the riverbed, the sandhogs—black, white, Irish, Italian—dig together, the darkness erasing all differences. Above ground, though, the men keep their distance until a spectacular accident welds a bond between Walker and his fellow sandhogs that will both bless and curse three generations.
This Side of Brightness
weaves historical fact with fictional truth, creating a remarkable tale of death, racism, homelessness--and yes, love--spanning four generations. Two characters dominate Colum McCann's narrative: Treefrog, a homeless man with a dark and shameful secret, and Nathan Walker, a black man who came north in the early years of the century to work as a "sandhog," digging the subway tunnels beneath Manhattan. Tunneling is perhaps the most dangerous occupation a man could have; in the close, dark, and dangerous pits far beneath the city streets, differences such as color or ethnic background cease to matter, and Walker soon becomes friends with his crewmates: two Irishmen and an Italian. Then an explosion in one of the tunnels literally blows Walker and three other men up through the earth and into the East River. Walker survives, but his best friend Con O'Leary is never found. Leary leaves behind a wife and young daughter whom Walker marries many years later.
Walker's tale is told in alternating chapters with Treefrog's, who, before his slide into homelessness, chose a hazardous profession--this one high up in the bright sunlight--as a construction worker building skyscrapers. But madness has brought Treefrog out of the light and back to the tunnels that Walker helped dig as he scrapes out a meager existence among the drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, and petty criminals that make up the homeless community. But the grimness of McCann's tale is leavened by the beauty of his prose and the intimations all through the book that, even on this side of darkness, redemption is possible. | <urn:uuid:8d6efad1-1c25-4151-93d8-02840e1d7e3d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.americanpoems.com/store/1052-1000-0312421974-This_Side_of_Brightness_A_Novel.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94535 | 449 | 1.859375 | 2 |
Asthma and other pediatric respiratory problems are the top reason children are treated at Dayton Children's. This is one reason we are diligent about improving outcomes for our asthma patients. We know that many parents and families of children with asthma struggle to reduce asthma triggers in the home. One of the most important triggers is secondhand smoke. Helping families take better care of the their children is the reason for the following community programs.
Helping children in the home
Children exposed to secondhand smoke are three to five times more likely to be hospitalized and show an increased use of medical resources. These children also tend to have a stressed immune system that makes them more susceptible to ear infections, asthma, sepsis and infection compared to those not exposed to secondhand smoke. Maternal smoking causes poor fetal growth and contributes to more than 25 percent of all premature births and increases the risk of SIDS.
Since 2002, Dayton Children’s has worked diligently to educate parents about the impact of smoking to make sure kids have a healthy environment.
Though state tobacco prevention and cessation funding was significantly reduced and many community collaborative efforts disbanded, in 2008-2009, Dayton Children’s continued to provide several educational programs to increase asthma and tobacco awareness.
- Dayton Children’s pediatric respiratory staff provided tobacco counseling for more than 1000 families at the patients’ bedside.
- More than 199 health care professionals at college campuses and physician offices received training on use of program materials and tools to help them identify, track and offer tobacco counseling and treatment to their patients in private physician office settings, health clinics and hospitals.
- Fifteen teens participated in Dayton Children’s STAND (Stop Tobacco and Nicotine Dependency Program), to help quit smoking. This program helps support the juvenile court system and local high schools’ alternative to suspension programs.
- More than 1000 students were educated on tobacco prevention and asthma awareness through health fairs and high school tour groups.
- To promote asthma health on a statewide level, one of Dayton Children’s respiratory staff served as Chair of the State of Ohio Asthma Coalition (OAC) 2008-2009 with over 200 members.
- This leadership led the coalition in a reorganization and development of the next five year statewide strategic plan. The respiratory therapist continues to be involved in the coalition as chair of the home visit initiative of the statewide strategic plan.
- Dayton Children's continues to work with interested state asthma advocates to pilot our comprehensive Bringing Respiratory Education and Environmental Assessment to the Home Environment (BREATHE) in-home asthma education program statewide.
- Dayton Children's worked collaboratively with the American Lung Association (ALA) to provide Asthma Education Certification Course for 25 people preparing to take the national asthma educator certification exam.
- Also in collaboration with ALA and Kettering College Medical Center Respiratory Program (KCMA), Respiratory staff initiated and provided the “Open Airways School” (OAS) Program (asthma education for students with asthma) at two Dayton Elementary Schools. KCMA respiratory therapy students participated in an all day OAS training course that prepared them to go to local schools and provide asthma education for students diagnosed with asthma. The OAS program comprised of 6 sessions which helped 15 students to better manage their asthma.
- Respiratory staff gave a lecture at the UVMC-Pediatric Symposium- “Pediatric Asthma Update” for 20 health care professionals and a lecture on “Community Health Services” to 18 KCMA Nursing students.
- Respiratory therapy staff are also members of the Family Educating Allergy/Asthma Together group (FEAT).
Dayton Children’s enforces their smoke-free campus policy to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all patients and visitors.
The pediatric respiratory care team at Dayton Children’s is comprised of licensed respiratory care professionals who work closely with physicians, nurses and other specialists to provide a high level of care.
The therapists provide care for children of all ages helping to treat respiratory diseases and illnesses including asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital diseases and others. For more information, visit our pediatric respiratory main page.
We believe there are 18 ways we're just right for our region's kids! Learn more and share your story at justrightforkids.org. | <urn:uuid:f1c6d2a5-f4b2-419b-9e8f-6724af021da6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.childrensdayton.org/cms/site/asthmaoutreach/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941444 | 884 | 2.75 | 3 |
Jun 21 2012
Houston's Most Popular Faiths [Excerpts]
Mormons and Muslims may have long been considered minority religions, but in Houston and across the country, their numbers have been booming since 2000.
Newly released data show the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Islamic congregations in the area experienced significant growth in the past decade or so, while more familiar faiths—Catholics, Baptists and Methodists—continued to expand as well.
In Harris County, the Mormon Church brought its numbers up to 45,000, and Muslims began at least a dozen congregations and grew to an estimated 117,000 members, making it the fifth most-populous faith in the area, according to the Association of Religion Data Archives.
“The numbers may be underestimated, even,” said Aziz Siddiqi, head of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston. “It’s mostly converts. I don’t think it’s immigrants; it’s African-Americans, Hispanics, white Americans. If you go to the mosque, you’ll see.”
For the 2010 survey, the LDS church counted all baptized Mormons in an area, offering a fuller picture of membership than in 2000, so the growth numbers may be exaggerated, church spokesman Michael Purdy said. Still, the church is continuing to add members across Harris County and surrounding areas.
During the period, Catholicism, the most popular faith in the Houston area, grew by about 20 percent. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s rapid ascent and continued growth was most recently noted during Cardinal Daniel DiNardo’s ad liminia visit with the pope. Southern Baptists grew by 20 percent, and Methodists by 7 percent. | <urn:uuid:138bfbae-376f-4173-8c5f-1e441634a3f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thebereancall.org/content/houstons-most-popular-faiths | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946308 | 368 | 1.726563 | 2 |
In order to use GLOBALVIEW-CH4 as it was intended, users should read and understand the documentation provided here. It is also highly recommended that users consult the relevant published literature; a partial list is provided in References.
GLOBALVIEW-CH4 is derived from measurements but contains no actual data. To facilitate use with carbon cycle modeling studies, the measurements have been processed (smoothed, interpolated, and extrapolated) resulting in extended records that are evenly incremented in time. Be aware that information contained in the actual data may be lost in this process. Users are encouraged to review the actual data in the literature, in data archives (CDIAC, WDCGG), or by contacting the participating laboratories.
Smoothed, interpolated, and extrapolated values in the extended records are determined with varying degrees of confidence. We strongly encourage users to consider the relative weights assigned to these values when using this product.
GLOBALVIEW-CH4 is subject to change as members of the Cooperative Atmospheric Data Integration Project reserve the right to adjust individual measurement records based on recalibrations of standard gases and instruments.
The GLOBALVIEW-CH4 data product continues to evolve. Extended records and statistical summaries may change as techniques are refined and new data are added. | <urn:uuid:410125d4-593a-4766-98ef-08706594d465> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/globalview/ch4/ch4_caveats.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.905207 | 265 | 1.585938 | 2 |
The Western Cape opens orders for Primary School textbooks
1 Aug 2012
In order to ensure that textbooks are delivered to schools on time for the start of the 2013 school year, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has already begun the process of ordering textbooks for schools.
Next year, the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) will be implemented in Grades 4, 5, 6 and 11. In line with our commitment to ensure that every child has a textbook in each of the core subjects they are taking, the WCED will be supplying all Grades 4 to 6 learners at public schools with five textbooks per learner, i.e. a textbook for each subject, with the exception of life skills, which must be purchased from school funds.
The department will also provide six textbooks per learner in Grade 11 for six of the seven subjects taken in the grade. The WCED has asked schools to use norms and standards funding to provide life skills textbooks for Grades 4 to 6 and Life Orientation textbooks for Grade 11.
Today, primary schools in the Western Cape can begin ordering their textbooks for Grades 4 to 6 on the WCED’s new on line ordering facility which was piloted last year.
The Grades 4 to 6 online ordering facilities will be active only during the period 1 to 15 August 2012. Schools must ensure that their orders are captured and signed off before 15 August 2012 so as to ensure that their orders are processed timeously.
Yesterday marked the end of the Grade 11 ordering process. High schools were required to order the requisite Grade 11 textbooks using the on-line system between 16 and 31 July.
In order to assist schools in making appropriate textbook selections, the WCED, in collaboration with publishers, is holding book exhibitions at selected venues in all education districts this week. Teachers are encouraged to attend these exhibitions where approved textbooks will be on display. Schools have also been sent an electronic version of the national catalogue, issued by the national Department of Basic Education (DBE), of approved Grades 4 to 6 and 11 textbooks and readers.
There are currently no textbooks for Grade 4 to 6 in Natural Science and Technology and English Accounting for Grade 11 on the approved National Catalogue. However, schools will be given an opportunity to order textbooks for these subjects when the DBE makes the Addendum Catalogues available to provinces in September 2012.
Once the orders have been completed and signed off, the WCED will begin to prepare for final delivery before the end of the school year, well in advance of the 2013 school year.
We expect to deliver approximately 1.6 million textbooks.
The cost of this roll-out is approximately R144 million. This is over and above the additional R240 million that schools can spend on textbooks from funding allocated to them in terms of national norms and standards.
The roll-out is aligned with the implementation of the amended national curriculum, known as the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). CAPS is being introduced over a three year period, starting with the Foundation Phases and Grade 11, and then the Intermediate Phase (Grades 4 to 6) and Grade 11 in 2013 and the Senior Phase (Grades 7 to 9) and Grade 12 in 2014.
We will therefore target our textbook roll-out in the remaining Grades – Grades 7, 8, 9 and 12 – in the 2013/14 financial year to ensure that we meet our strategic goals for textbook provisioning by 2014. We encourage all our primary schools to ensure that they complete their orders by the 15 August.
If we all do our bit and work Better Together, we can ensure effective and fast delivery before the end of the school year!
Tel: 021 467 2377
Cell: 072 7241422
Fax: 021 425 3616
Issued by: Western Cape Education
1 Aug 2012
[ Top ] | <urn:uuid:2968c67a-8a9f-4323-b789-28ab2966a836> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.info.gov.za/speech/DynamicAction?pageid=461&tid=78337 | 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 | 0.949826 | 798 | 2.109375 | 2 |
Sticky Dewi on the Burma Railway Had Its Lighter Moments, Even for the Prisoners; BOOK: World War II Veterans Recall Incidents That Amused Them
Byline: ROBIN TURNER
MEMORIES of the lighter side of life in Far East prisoner-of-war camps have been compiled in a book by Welsh author Patricia Clements.
One of the stars of Sticky Dewi, whose ironic title is a corruption of the Japanese word for first aid, is 77-year-old Jack Endicott, of Pyle.
He is one of the youngest survivors of the enforced labour on the Burma Railway during World War II, made famous by the film Bridge on the River Kwai.
Rhondda-born Mr Endicott, who became a collier after the war, joined the Merchant Navy at 14 and while in Sydney jumped ship with some pals and joined the Australian Army.
He was still a teenager when he was captured as the Japanese overran Batan.
Mr Endicott recalls how a Japanese guard who had seen a picture of guards in a …
Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Sticky Dewi on the Burma Railway Had Its Lighter Moments, Even for the Prisoners; BOOK: World War II Veterans Recall Incidents That Amused Them. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales). Publication date: February 16, 2002. Page number: 23. © 2009 MGN Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means. | <urn:uuid:3f5496cf-ae01-43e0-a8a8-ff5ae0ffaab9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.questia.com/read/1G1-83025072/sticky-dewi-on-the-burma-railway-had-its-lighter-moments | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924573 | 365 | 2.015625 | 2 |
By PDADCO payday loan
Written by Paul L. Child, Jr, DMD, CDT, and Gordon J. Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhD Wednesday, 11 August 2010 14:17
Despite the many advantages of digital radiography, many practitioners in North America still have not made the switch from conventional, film-based radiography. From our observations and discussions with thousands of dentists, the reasons for not transitioning to digital radiography include high cost, no other forms of digital in the office (ie, computers in the operatories, practice management software, etc), unwillingness to endure the hassle of conversion and staff training, and for some, the complete disbelief that digital radiography is an improvement over conventional forms. Many of the objections are valid; however, the overall benefits of digital radiography far surpass the limitations.
This article includes a discussion of the advantages and limitations of digital radiography, the diagnostic quality of digital radiography versus conventional film-based, the various types of digital radiography available based on image size, the types of digital radiography best suited for specific clinical indications, and anticipated future advances in digital radiography.
Advantages of Digital Radiography
The following list of advantages is not all-inclusive, but it highlights the factors that have driven most of the conversion to digital radiography in other developed nations. The same factors should continue to influence the conversion to digital radiography in North America.
Immediate Viewing of Images
This is highly desirable during most procedures but especially during implant procedures, endodontic root canal therapy and post placement, crown and bridge restoration seating, and patient education.
Enhancement of Images
Most digital radiography systems include intuitive software that is easy to use for image enhancement. In fact, most have one button to press that enhances the image for easier reading and diagnosis. Some of the optional enhancements include magnification; changes in contrast; changes in brightness/darkness; coloring of image areas based on density, measurements; and many more. Although all of these image “manipulations” enhance the original image, they may or may not improve the ability to diagnose lesions, as discussed below.
Retake of Images
Digital radiography usually results in fewer retakes due to under- or overexposure, cut-offs, positioning errors, etc. This results in less radiation to the patient.
Conversion to digital radiography also includes incorporation of several computers for image taking and digital storage of the images. For practitioners not wanting to go “all digital,” this incorporation of computers is a feasible first-step option, and it improves overall patient flow and efficiency. The storage and electronic distribution of digital images allows better communication with other practitioners and third-party benefit companies while eliminating the frustration of having to find films in paper charts for comparison and subsequent viewing.
Taking a digital radiograph and immediately explaining the findings as the patient views the condition on an operatory monitor is extremely useful and practical, and it improves acceptance of treatment options and plans. Use of the enhancement features mentioned above also improves the patient’s ability to understand the images.
Based on the type of radiograph being taken, radiation can be reduced by as much as 3 to 4 or more times as conventional (see cone beam computed tomography [CBCT] section). This advantage should not encourage clinicians to take more images. They should only take the minimum images necessary for complete diagnosis and planning.
Elimination of Chemicals and Dark Rooms
Maintenance of developing and fixing solutions, developers, odors, dark rooms, and the frustration of determining why an image is poor can be eliminated on conversion to digital radiography.
Limitations of Digital Radiography
Although advances continue to be made in digital radiography, the following limitations seem to be those most encountered, and a significant emphasis by digital radiography manufacturers is needed to resolve them.
The cost of a single intraoral sensor can be as high as $10,000 (in addition to computers, software, and additional sensors) while the average cost of a CBCT system is in excess of $150,000. The cost of conversion to digital can be offset somewhat by elimination of the film-based equipment and improvement in office efficiency and patient education. However, the other advantages of digital radiography outweigh the potential small savings observed when eliminating film.
Use of the rigid intraoral sensors for periapical (PA) images can be very uncomfortable for patients, especially if they have a shallow palate, narrow palate, tori, or an exaggerated gag reflex. Designs have been implemented that decrease this limitation. However, the problem is still present, and the sensors are still too rigid and much thicker than film. Future advances should be focused toward elimination of intraoral sensors.
Rapid adoption of digital radiography is usually related to the user’s skill with a computer. Taking the digital image is relatively simple, and most assistants and office staff quickly implement the new technology. However, some dentists struggle with basic computer features and image enhancement for better diagnosis, and they do not fully incorporate the features due to their lack of computer experience. Time and continued practice overcome this challenge.
Are Digital Images Superior to Film-Based Conventional Images for Diagnostic Quality?
There are many companies and users that claim the superiority of digital imaging compared to conventional film-based radiography, on an overall basis. However, most research concludes that there is no significant difference in diagnostic image quality between digital and conventional images.
|Figure 1. Digital radiograph of apparently small interproximal carious lesions.||Figure 2. Actual extent of the carious lesions is usually at least twice the observable radiographic extent of the lesions.|
The ability of clinicians to identify and diagnose the actual extent of small carious lesions on digital or film-based images is minimal, and both methods produce potentially misleading images that do not show the full extent of the lesions (Figures 1 and 2). With the current professional emphasis on minimally invasive dental procedures, the ability to accurately diagnose and identify the extent of small lesions is more important than ever.
We have experienced similar difficulties in diagnosing incipient proximal lesions, occlusal lesions, and minor recurrent decay (that could best be treated while small before pulpal involvement). Even when image enhancements are used, the diagnostic quality of current digital images is still lacking in these areas. Assuming that the diagnostic quality of digital and conventional radiographs is the same, we must look to the other advantages and limitations when considering the use of digital images. It is our opinion that the above stated advantages of digital radiography outweigh the limitations, especially considering that an image of the same diagnostic quality can be obtained at a lower radiation dose.
TYPES OF DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY
Periapical and Bite-Wing Radiographs
For practitioners converting to digital radiography, these radiographs are usually the first ones to be used. Intraoral sensors of varying sizes can be obtained and used in numerous operatories. Images are made in a similar method as conventional, but they can be read immediately on a computer monitor. These types of images are generally of good quality and can be very helpful in diagnosis. The radiation reduction is around 75% or more, in comparison to film-based conventional radiography. Some companies, including Planmeca and Sirona, now offer extraoral bite-wing (BW) radiographs as an addition to their panoramic devices (Figures 3a to 4).
|Figures 3a and 3b. Standard bite-wing (BW) radiographs duplicate images and are difficult for patients to understand.|
|Figure 4. Extraoral BWs show much more anatomy, including tooth roots and surrounding structures.|
Although investing in a panoramic (PAN) radiograph system requires space and a significant financial outlay, PANs can assist in planning many dental procedures, and can help determine if further radiographic images, such as PAs, are needed. Clinicians know that the diagnostic quality is not as good as that provided by PAs or BWs when considering single teeth. Many newer digital PAN systems include an extraoral BW option that aligns the posterior quadrants and obtains better images without overlapping interproximal areas. The radiation reduction can be 4 to 10 times less than that of a full-mouth radiographic exam with film-based conventional D-speed, round collimation.
Cephalometric, Tomographic,and Other Skull Images
Many digital PAN systems can be upgraded for a fee to include digital cephalometric images that can be uploaded into orthodontic software for quick analyses and comparisons. In addition, digital tomography can be used to view available bone in a facial-lingual view for implant planning.
Cone Beam Computed Tomography
This is one of the newest and most expensive types of digital radiography available, yet is quickly becoming one of the most useful. A scan similar to a PAN is taken in the area of interest, and the resulting image is displayed as image slices and/or 3-dimensional (3-D) images of the area. Images are displayed in a 1:1 ratio for accurate measurements. Some systems include an optional separate digital PAN to augment or determine the need for a CBCT image. This is useful for those patients who require a PAN image but not a CBCT.
|Figure 5. An enhanced cone beam (CB) radiograph with nerve identification for implant planning.||Figure 6. The CB radiograph is used for implant planning and removal of third molars.|
The major indications for 3-D imaging is implant placement, oral surgery, and orthodontics (Figures 5 and 6). However, practitioners in endodontics, periodontics, and other specialties are discovering its potential. It has yet to be successfully used for diagnosis of small incipient enamel lesion detection, but research is being conducted in this area and improvements should be forthcoming. The radiation reduction is 10 to 30 times less than that of a conventional CT radiograph; however, it is 3 to 10 times more than a digital PAN, requiring judicial use with all patients.
DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY RELATED TO CLINICAL INDICATIONS
This is based on the number of remaining teeth in the mouth. Many clinicians are taking a digital PAN and BWs, and only taking PAs if they are necessary.
Usually, PAs are sufficient for diagnosis and treatment. Occasionally, clinicians may choose a PAN, additional adjacent PAs, BWs, and/or CBCT images.
BWs and individual PAs are necessary for diagnosis of generalized periodontitis throughout the mouth. A PAN is an excellent addition for viewing the remaining bone and arches. CBCT is being used to diagnose and plan treatment for bone lesions in relation to the bone remaining on all dimensions and supporting walls of specific teeth.
Complete or Partial Edentulism
Digital PANs are necessary to view the arches, remaining bone structure, potential implant sites, and nerve location. PAs are taken to view individual sites as necessary. CBCT is readily being used to plan for extractions and implants.
An initial PA of the site or area in question is taken, and often a PAN as well. Tomography can be used to view the available bone in a sagittal slice. However, CBCT is rapidly becoming the choice for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
For third molar extraction, a PAN is required and a PA is useful. However, many surgeons are using CBCT to visualize the nerve and vital structures in proximity to the molar or tooth being extracted.
Digital PANs and cephalometric radiographs are used to diagnose and treatment plan for orthodontic therapy. Use of CBCT is increasing as software designed for these types of images is becoming available and practical.
FUTURE ADVANCES IN DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY
As more practitioners adopt digital radiography, a higher demand for more intuitive software, better diagnostic capabilities, and improved outcomes will result. The limitations listed above still need to be overcome for future and current generations of digital radiography users. In addition, the failure to detect small carious lesions is still an unsolved problem for any form of digital radiography. Despite these challenges, advances are being made, and they will gradually overcome the current problems. Listed below are a variety of different advances being implemented or researched.
Many new imaging systems and software applications have been developed that enhance the ability to diagnose carious lesions. Examples are Logicon (PracticeWorks) and Spectra (Air Techniques).
Optical Coherence Tomography
Optical coherence tomography is being researched and explored by several groups, including D4D Technologies. This technology of optical coherence tomography allows the user to take an image measuring a few millimeters in depth to create a sliced image of the tooth or structure. It could be used for potential caries diagnosis, tooth crack location, CAD/CAM imaging, subgingival margin location, periodontal diagnosis, soft tissue analysis, and more. Optical coherence tomography is still in the developmental stages, but it could result in improvements on the current ability to image oral structures.
Ultrasound has been used in medicine for decades. An example is imaging a fetus in utero. However, many attempts have been made without success to use ultrasound in dentistry. This technology is being used to make images through hard tissue, even metal restorations and crowns, for early detection of dental pathology, carious lesions, and cracks in teeth. S-Ray Corporation has discovered a method to implement ultrasound technology for dentistry and is working to deliver it on a cost-effective basis.
The continued movement to make extraoral images will provide many benefits for both clinicians and patients. Systems are being developed in dentistry and in other medical applications that will have improved resolution and accuracy. It is anticipated that all film-based systems will soon be obsolete and a new generation of users will be using only extraoral imaging.
Any new concept requires time to be accepted by the practicing profession, especially when apparently adequate current techniques are available to accomplish the same tasks as the new concept. Digital radiography has slowly been introduced into US practices during the past 10-plus years in spite of its near universal use in many other developed countries. The numerous advantages of digital radiography have been noted in this article and are well known to users. However, the limitations of cost of the devices, inadequacy to allow adequate diagnosis of initial carious lesions, thick rigid sensors, and often-complicated software programs have limited acceptance. It is anticipated that continued practitioner acceptance of digital radiography, including slow but continual growth of cone beam, will be present in the next few years, and that the discussed new exciting devices and innovative radiographic techniques will be forthcoming soon.
Disclosure: Dr. Child reports no conflicts of interest.
Disclosure: Dr. Christensen reports no conflicts of interest.
I contacted DDI the outstanding imaging lab here in Sacramento and they use conventional films and then scan them because of the painful sensors
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- Treatment Planning | <urn:uuid:2284f677-bb71-4895-9eb5-a57f277d4027> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dentistrytoday.com/technology/3102-digital-radiography-an-improvement | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.926836 | 3,222 | 1.890625 | 2 |
December 30, 2012
U.S. President Barack Obama looks at his notes during remarks to reporters after meeting with congressional leaders at the White House in Washington, December 28, 2012.
U.S. President Barack Obama is pledging to put the “full weight” of the White House behind efforts to curb American gun violence.
Obama said Sunday, in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, an assault two weeks ago at a Connecticut elementary school that left 20 children and six adults dead was the worst day of his four-year presidency.
The president said he would rally Americans behind proposals to increase background checks on people trying to buy guns and ban the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. Vice President Joe Biden is to head a panel to develop legislation aimed at ending mass shootings in the United States, where gun ownership rights are enshrined in the country’s Constitution.
Obama said new curbs on gun ownership will be controversial, but the United States has to decide whether it has the resolve to adopt more controls, rather than let the memory of the schoolhouse attack fade as time passes.
“The question then becomes whether we are actually shook up enough by what happened here that it does not just become another one of these routine episodes where it gets a lot of attention for a couple of weeks and then it drifts away,” he said. “It certainly will not feel like that to me. This is something that – you know, that was the worst day of my presidency. And it’s not something that I want to see repeated.”
But Obama said he was skeptical of a call by the nation’s most prominent gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, to put armed guards in all of the nearly 100,000 public schools in the U.S.
“I am skeptical that the only answer is putting more guns in schools. And I think the vast majority of the American people are skeptical that that somehow is going to solve our problem,” | <urn:uuid:959c5d62-a91d-476f-a4d7-b63abea0d4a2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.prepperpodcast.com/obama-vows-quick-push-gun-curbs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971734 | 416 | 1.632813 | 2 |
A community in the north of England has decided to dig up the ground so they can lay their own superfast broadband network after becoming fed up waiting for private companies to install it in their area.
Volunteers with spades are taking turns digging a 51 mile (83 km) long trench, which will connect several villages in Lancashire to fibre-optic cables in Manchester.
In other news, civil liberties groups have warned that a government proposal to monitor the calls, emails, texts and internet use of UK citizens could be an invasion of online privacy, and TomTom has blamed a leap year bug for a fault which caused some of its satellite navigation devices to stop working.
Spencer Kelly presents these and other technology news stories.
Follow the Click team on Twitter
And join the conversation on | <urn:uuid:0c472718-5a3f-4fab-b577-4f46a08a29e1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9711150.stm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939757 | 164 | 1.75 | 2 |
On the 9th November, I went to Jeps (Jalan Empat Primary School) in Bangi, where Carrier International Sdn Bhd, the Air Conditioner company, had organised an Eco friendly competition. KFE was invited to give a talk about the dangers of plastic bags. I was also invited to be one of the judges for the competition. The students had to get into a group and make an original, eco-friendly, useful object. The entries ranged from photo frames made from magazine pages cut and rolled up, to a motorized scooter made from a painted board and a broken scooter. The 3 winners were: an electric fan made from a basket and wires, a self watering plant and a house made from all sorts of different recycled materials. I had the honor of planting a tree for Kids For Earth in the school and signing the plaque! All in all it was a great day for Kids For Earth and thank you very much to Carrier, Rico, JEPS and ALL the students for making it such a great experience!
Dec 07 2010 | <urn:uuid:e7dd4d06-485f-45fe-964a-7100b0b9358e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kidsforearthasia.com/?cat=120 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973279 | 217 | 1.640625 | 2 |
A detectable viral load, a low nadir CD4
cell count and an elevated CD8 cell count are associated with an increased risk
of heart attack for people with HIV, French investigators report in Clinical Infectious Diseases. These
virologic and immunologic factors were significant, even after taking into
account traditional risks for cardiovascular disease.
“We found that an HIV-1 RNA level > 50
copies/ml, a low CD4 T-cell nadir, and a high current CD8 T-cell count were
significantly associated with an increased risk of MI [myocardial infarction],”
write the authors.
Cardiovascular disease is an increasingly
important cause of serious illness and death in people with HIV. The exact
reasons are controversial, but may include traditional risk factors, the side-effects
of some antiretroviral drugs, immunodeficiency and the damage caused by
uncontrolled HIV replication.
To establish a clearer understanding of the
causes, investigators from the French Hospital Database on HIV (FHDH)-ANRS CO4
study designed case-controlled research involving participants who received care
between 2000 and 2009.
Cases were HIV-positive people who
had experienced a first heart attack. Each was matched with up to five HIV-positive
individuals of same gender and age who had not experienced a heart attack. For
both cases and controls, information was gathered on possible risk factors for
cardiovascular disease, including traditional causes, as well as the use of
antiretroviral therapy, viral load and immune status.
Most of the participants were male (89%) and
their median age was approximately 46 years. There was a higher prevalence of
traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease among the participants who
experienced a heart attack when compared to those who did not have a
myocardial infarction. These factors included smoking (p = 0.028), family
history (p < 0.001), high blood pressure (p = 0.001), diabetes (= 0.036),
use of stimulant drugs (p = 0.041) and elevated cholesterol and triglycerides.
People who experienced a heart attack were
more likely to have a detectable viral load than those who remained heart-attack free (57 vs 48%; p = 0.006), had a higher median viral load (127 vs
50 copies/ml; p = 0.002), a lower nadir CD4 cell count (135 vs 177 cells/mm3;
p = 0.001) and a higher current CD8 cell count (p < 0.001). Heart attack
patients were also more likely to have a history of AIDS-defining illness (44
vs 34%; p = 0.001) and to have had HIV for longer (10 vs 9 years; p = 0.001).
The biggest single risk factor for heart attack
was smoking (OR = 4.08; 95% CI, 2.75-6.04). Several other traditional risk
factors were also associated with heart attack. These included hypertension (OR
= 2.13; 95% CI, 1.34-3.40) and high cholesterol (OR = 2.33; 95% CI, 1.67-3.25).
A number of HIV-related factors were also
significant, including cumulative exposure to protease inhibitors. Each ten
years of exposure to drugs in this class more than doubled the risk of heart
attack (OR = 2.23; 95% CI, 1.17-4.24). No other class of antiretroviral had a
significant association with heart attack.
After controlling for traditional factors,
the investigators found that a detectable viral load increased the risk of
heart attack by approximately 50% (OR =
1.51; 95% CI, 1.09-2.10). A low nadir CD4 cell count was associated with an
increased risk of heart attack; however, current CD4 cell count had no effect
on risk. “The CD4 T-cell count nadir may reflect the length of time during
which HIV replicated freely, thus damaging the immune system, and has been linked
to persistent immune activation even in patients with controlled viral load,
which may explain its association with the risk of MI,” comment the authors.
A high current CD8 cell count was also a
significant risk factor. Participants with a count above 1150 cells/mm3
were approximately 50% more likely to have a heart attack compared to those with a count below 760 cells/mm3. The investigators
stressed the novelty of this finding.
“In summary, we found that a low CD4 T-cell nadir,
a current CD8 T-cell count over 1150 cells/mm3 and a plasma HIV-1 RNA
level > 50 copies are independently associated with the risk of MI in
HIV-infected individuals,” conclude the authors. They believe their study has
immediate implications for HIV treatment and care, commenting: “These findings
support early diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection and call for studies of
interventions designed to diminish persistent immune activation in patients
with uncontrolled viral loads.” | <urn:uuid:1696d852-d2f9-4683-9642-c30e03216bd1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aidsmap.com/en/Email-a-friend/tpl/1412195/page/2416751/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94321 | 1,103 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Beginning August 1, millions of American women will start to have access to free contraceptives.
The law falls under the much larger Affordable Care Act.
The Vice President for Clinical Services of Planned Parenthood's Southwest Ohio Region office, Kelli Halter, says women across the country want and need this access. Halter says this law has the biggest impact to women's healthcare in over a generation.
From this date forward insurance companies will start offering free contraceptives with the start of their annual enrollment.
Kelli Halter tells 9 News that for the majority of women this benefit will begin January 1.
Dan Andriacco with the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati says religious employers still have another year to comply with the new law.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Top Central Stories
The Kentucky State Police is reporting a Bardstown police officer, and Glen Este graduate, has been shot and killed while driving home from work. | <urn:uuid:e5477fba-7630-410c-92db-254b85770de2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/region_central_cincinnati/downtown/august-1st-milestone-date-for-womens-health | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947884 | 209 | 1.96875 | 2 |
Judson Flamm, Cloud Architect / Principal Engineer, LDS Church
FamilySearch, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is one of the largest web properties in the family history industry holding over 3 billion vital records and images used to help patrons in discovering their roots. Only the social network Facebook rivals it for sheer amount of data it must parse and serve: The social graph, or lineage graph in this case, poses a very significant Big Data challenge. FamilySearch is curating the family history of mankind, and holds approximately one billion records in a lineage-linked “tree of mankind.” This session will outline why FamilySearch is moving off traditional relational database technology to tackle its family history Big Data problems, and will include a discussion of its process for evaluating MongoDB to significantly increase both the performance and scale of its family tree application. It will also feature an early demonstration of a special “Bumping” application that allows two users to locate where their family trees may have linked up generations ago. | <urn:uuid:85eb8566-7d24-494b-a704-fd46d3aabf39> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.10gen.com/presentations/putting-3-billion-ancestors-your-pocket-familysearchs-journey-rdbms-mongodb | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938875 | 209 | 2.15625 | 2 |
- Support Us
The Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science, & Engineering is a new, public, sixth through twelfth grade school that opened in the fall of 2007. A partnership between the New York City Department of Education, the community, and Columbia University, CSS-MSE serves academically talented students who have an interest in a rigorous and demanding program focusing on math, science, and engineering. Beginning with a founding sixth grade class, the school will add one grade per year until it reaches its full enrollment of 650 students. Currently the school is composed of 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th grades.
The school is located on the 5th, 4th, & 3rd floors of PS-125 on 123rd St between Amsterdam and Morningside Avenues.
School Mission Statement
Columbia Secondary is a selective, public, college preparatory school with a focus on science, math, and engineering. Its program of study provides a challenging academic experience that prepares its students for selective colleges; for careers in science, math, and engineering; and for a life of civic engagement and ethical responsibility. We train students to be socially and politically conscious, to be aware of their responsibility to their communities and the world, and to be dedicated to a life of creation and discovery in service of humanity.
Columbia Secondary immerses its students in science and math as a way of seeing and making sense of the world. Learning experiences focuses on the active exploration of major concepts, ideas, and theories that respond to life's big questions. Students will be exposed to the history of these ideas; the struggles and controversies necessary for their development; the kinds of questions and problems that are key to the discovery process; and the special role of effort and creativity. Students model and engage in their own explorations so that they may experience the excitement, beauty, and difficulty of discovery. Students become cognizant of the limits of knowledge and be sensitive to the dangers of an over-reliance on science and technology. Students learn to explore new questions, to ponder the significance of new scientific discoveries, and to use scientific knowledge and critical thinking in their own life decision-making.
Effective instruction depends largely on setting clear and high expectations, promoting an inclusive and participatory classroom culture, and motivating students to become independent learners. Instruction at Columbia Secondary are Socratic in spirit, with discussions, debates, guided inquiry, and carefully led lectures that focus on key questions, concepts, and theories. Students have extensive opportunities to engage in research, solve real-world problems, and learn experientially through internships and community service.
The school's curriculum is distinguished by:
Good Afternoon CSS,
The 2013 CSS School Spirit Week has been officially scheduled for the week of May 20 (NEXT WEEK)!
The high school and middle school student governments have come together in order to organize a week of themed dress down days!
IMPORTANT: Students must be dressed according to the theme for the day OR THEY MUST BE IN UNIFORM!
TWIN DAY (coordinate your clothes and come dressed as a twin with one of your best friends)
DECADES DAY (dress to represent a specific decade; 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's...)
WESTERN DAY (CAN YOU COMPETE WITH PROFESSOR MEINSCHEIN'S COWBOY BOOTS?)
DRESS TO IMPRESS (dress up and impress those around you with your professional dress and attitude)
SPORTS DAY (represent your favorite sports team OR dress in your CSS Cubs gear and represent your CSS spirit for the CSS Rugby Team)
SPECIAL NOTE: ALL CLOTHING WORN MUST FOLLOW THE TRADITIONAL NYCDOE DRESS CODE REQUIREMENTS!
Skirts or shorts need to cover to the bottom of the middle finger (when their hands are at their sides)
NO Undergarments should be visible
NO clothing with alcohol, drug or hate related slogans
NO holes in the clothing that show skin underneath
SPECIAL NOTE: Students wearing any clothing deemed to be inappropriate or as a distraction to the learning environment by teachers or members of the school's administration will be asked to change into school uniform.
START THINKING OF HOW YOU WILL DRESS TO SHOW YOUR CSS SPIRIT NOW!
There will be an “ADD/DROP” period for offered electives offered. If you are interested in adding an elective simply complete the “ADD/DROP” form that can be found in the OSS or the counselors’ office (413). This form must be signed by 1) any teacher whose class you interested in adding and 2) your parent/guardian. The form should then be dropped off with Counselor Cordoba in room 413 for final approval.
PLEASE NOTE: The “ADD/DROP” period will end on Monday, February 11, 2013 at 8:45 am with no more additions or adjustments happening after that point. Further, any enrolled students will be expected to attend all classes and complete all assigned work
CLICK FOR A LIST OF ELECTIVES THAT ARE UP AND RUNNING and SPACES LEFT!. | <urn:uuid:a3e5f751-c3d3-47ae-8242-9b51bab5393a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.columbiasecondary.org/front | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939513 | 1,075 | 2.21875 | 2 |
The Salem News
---- — So as the national government heads for “the fiscal cliff,” how’re we doin’ in Massachusetts?
An estimate by the Heritage Foundation of the impact on each state’s taxpayers if the “Bush tax cuts” expire shows the average increase per tax return in Massachusetts falls into the $4,001 to $5,200 range, among the highest in the nation because of our state’s high personal income. I’m not one of “the rich,” or even the “typical family” looking at an increase of $2,200, so except for losing the payroll tax break, this doesn’t directly impact me: I’m not counting on one of those rich people to create me a job.
However, we all have to be concerned about the Massachusetts economy, and what the Patrick administration will do with the “fiscal cliff” spending cuts that could impact both our private and public sector. Even before that happens, the state budget is $256 million in deficit for this fiscal year, which is half over. This means that the budget for next year, always planned as an increase on the previous year, will also have to be cut.
The usual liberal/union groups are still advocating an increase in the state income tax rate from its present 5.25 percent to 5.95 percent. Gov. Deval Patrick is hoping to be able to apply the state sales tax, which he increased from 5 percent to 6.25 percent, to Amazon Internet sales.
Some Washington politicians and advocates have been urging the federal government to raise the federal gasoline tax to pay for increased highway spending. Some local political, union and business groups have long wanted an increase in the state gasoline tax to pay to fix the infrastructure that no one seems to properly maintain here. The combination hike could be large.
Not to be outdone, a local coalition of unions/liberal action groups, calling itself Public Transit-Public Good, has come up with a brand-new bright idea for raising Massachusetts taxes. At a Statehouse hearing last week, they pitched a payroll tax on employers to cover all employees who earn more than $100,000 (the standard for being considered “rich” seems to be slipping). The money would be used to maintain the transportation infrastructure, including the MBTA.
According to the State House News Service, “employers would pay to state government a percentage of the salary of workers earning more than the threshold, with the money dedicated to transportation financing. A tax of three-quarters of 1 percent would generate more than $190 million annually.”
Inevitably, the pay level would decrease and the tax percent would increase, until not just “the rich” would pay this. Fortunately, the Massachusetts Constitution does not allow a graduated income tax: All earnings must be taxed at the same flat rate, and my educated guess is the courts wouldn’t be fooled by this indirect method of graduation.
Advocates may have a fallback plan though: taxing us all by miles driven. Let’s take a moment to wonder why the 1990 gas tax increase didn’t maintain the roads and bridges as promised, why a state with the fourth-largest per-capita tax burden and the highest per-capita debt in the nation can’t already afford a well-run transportation system.
Don’t tell me about the extraordinary cost of the Big Dig. I was around when the Dukakis administration told us it would cost less than $3 billion, just to get people to sign on.
Not to seem hostile to all new taxes, though: Here’s one I like! Rep. Dan Winslow, R-Norfolk, is filing a bill for a 25 percent tax on the money left over in politicians’ campaign funds after an election. Right now, it’s not considered taxable income as they carry it forward to their next campaign.
“There’s more than $20 million sitting in war chests,” Winslow told me this week. Simple math: $5 million from politicians instead of more taxes from us. An added benefit is that it removes some of the advantage incumbents have over citizens who challenge them.
Other legislators are working on saving money from expenditures. Fortunately, Rep. Jim Lyons, R-Andover, wasn’t one of the excellent Republican candidates defeated in November; he’s renewed his fight to prevent state benefits being paid to illegal immigrants.
Despite the state deficit and ongoing legislative opposition, Patrick issued an executive order last week giving reduced in-state tuition rates to undocumented immigrant students. Lyons and other Republican legislators are filing a bill restricting all state benefits to U.S. citizens and legal immigrants. Last year, they forced the Patrick administration to admit it spent $270 million on illegals. (See state deficit, above. And while you’re there, think about this ...)
The Legislative leadership has just approved pay raises for legislative staffers. Nothing against hardworking staffers, but you hafta wonder: If the governor can bypass the Legislature with executive orders, why do we need legislators at all? We could save the entire legislative budget!
Never mind; tis the season to be jolly. I’ve been avoiding Christmas carols since Halloween, but this week brings Belsnickle, my German hometown’s traditional holiday beginning. ’Tis time to enjoy Christmas and wish peace on Capitol and Beacon hills to men of good will and fiscal restraint.
Barbara Anderson of Marblehead is a Salem News columnist. | <urn:uuid:0be253ee-9f6e-470e-a7df-7a540acf266c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/x1839363778/Anderson-What-about-the-Bay-States-fiscal-cliff/print | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953035 | 1,170 | 1.585938 | 2 |
We're proud to be able to state that all of our coffees are now roasted and packed in BIODEGRADABLE air-tight heat-sealed paper bags with degasing valves from our friends at Tek Pak Solutions. A brand-new product on the market, these are, as far as we know, the first biodegradable coffee bag of its kind.
We are firm believers in the necessity of preventing oxidation of coffee, and the only practical way to do that is a sealed bag with a valve that allows gases out, but prevents ambient air from getting in. Until this particular bag, there was no biodegradable bag that could do this. This "omni-degradable" bag can be composted, recycled, or thrown in the trash as it will break down in both aerobic and anaerobic landfill environments.
It's important to note that the tin-ties and one-way valves do NOT yet biodegrade, so we suggest you remove them depending on how you dispose of the bags (you'll need to cut-out or pull them off). | <urn:uuid:5456fcba-2fd2-490f-abf7-ba582a3d4ad0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wreckingball.bigcartel.com/biodegradable-coffee-bag-info | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957413 | 224 | 1.625 | 2 |
No recent wiki edits to this page.
Pym particles first existed in an elixir form that had to be splashed on the object to enlarge or shrink it. Eventually this elixir was made into a gas so if could be quickly aspirated for easier transportation. After accidentally transforming into Giant-Man, Pym further refined the chemical into a variety of color-coded pills. The particles still proved unstable as they trapped Pym at a height of 12 feet. Pym Particles work by the user either shunting mass to the Kosmos Dimension (for shrinking) or taking mass (for growing).
After repeated exposure to an unknown amount of Pym Particles, users can change size without having to take any more Pym Particles to trigger the change. Examples of this are Hank Pym, Janet van Dyne, and Cassie Lang. Most of their uniforms are treated with Pym Particles so that they grow and shrink as the users do.
Users of Pym Particles
Users of Pym Particles include:
Side effects of Pym Particles
Some users of Pym Particles have had some side effects as a result of using them too much. The most notable is Hank Pym. Hank had several mental breakdowns from the strain of using Pym Particles, causing him to react differently from how he normally does. During one breakdown he thought he was another person named Yellowjacket, who was worthy of marrying the Wasp. Another time, Hank couldn't shrink down from his giant form, otherwise the strain on his body would kill him. | <urn:uuid:34f2f259-9fc7-4255-b337-ea3b559eb47e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.comicvine.com/pym-particles/4015-42077/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96777 | 322 | 2.53125 | 3 |
URBANA - Local fitness trainers say they aren't surprised by new research surrounding teens and unhealthy bulking-up tactics.
In the December issue of Pediatrics, a report reveals an increasing number of teens admit to using muscle-enhancing substances, including steroids.
Of 2,800 surveyed Minnesota teens, over a third admit to using protein supplements and nearly five percent of boys admitted to using steroids in the last year.
Personal Trainer Joe Burton, with Kinex Fitness Studio says the teens he's worked with seem to want a "quick fix" in terms of building muscle.
While protein powders and energy-boosting creatin, he says, don't carry the health risks that steroids carry, he says constant usage could still indicate a body image problem.
Of those surveyed, 90 percent of boys say they exercise specifically to boost muscle mass, as opposed to keeping fit. Sixty-four percent of girls say they have worked out to boost muscle. Burton says working out should be to stay healthy, not to have a muscular physique. | <urn:uuid:19280b81-e23b-49aa-a97a-91fe63eca3a7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wandtv.com/story/20176692/teens-using-unhealthy-methods-to-build-muscle-study-shows | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951562 | 213 | 2.234375 | 2 |
Community Involvement Project at RC (CIP)
Robert College aims to provide an education that will help the students become accomplished individuals in every aspect. Our major goal is to ensure that our students grow into responsible citizens, caring for humanity and the environment. With CIP, students will strive to attain these goals while learning through real life experiences.
The Ministry of Education has decided that all students must participate in social service. In accordance with Robert College’s philosophy, and the Ministry’s decision, the school has implemented the Community Involvement Project (CIP) in the 2006/2007 academic year.
The projects in this context include service in various areas, some of which are:
Educational and creative activities at orphanages and public schools [teaching drama, computer skills, creative problem solving, English language, music; helping with SBS (level exam) preparation, etc.];
Assisting handicapped people;
Activities with environmental organizations;
Caring for elderly people in nursing homes.
The program is based on two fundamental principles:
1. CIP relies on the students’ areas of interest and skills, and the purpose is to offer actual service to the community ;
2. Projects are designed by students, individually or in groups. Students are in charge of the preparation and the implementation process under the supervision of a teacher-advisor.
All students participate in social service activities outside of school hours to develop community awareness during their years at Robert College. | <urn:uuid:12d5d355-3f96-4c45-9f15-0b92d4f39243> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://portal.robcol.k12.tr/Default.aspx?pgID=422&ST=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956466 | 306 | 2.203125 | 2 |
Fainting victims regain consciousness almost immediately. If this does not happen, the victim could be in serious danger and you should go to "Start Here" and call 911 as soon as possible.
- Lay the victim on his or her back and make sure that he or she has plenty of fresh air.
- Send someone to call 911.
- Reassure the victim and apply a cold compress to the face.
- If the victim vomits, roll onto side and keep airway clear.
- DO NOT give the victim anything to eat or drink. | <urn:uuid:0cb3bf1d-2a5e-4582-adb8-04aea9790109> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nyhq.org/Fainting?More=OTH | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945439 | 116 | 2.1875 | 2 |
Congressman Don Young Says Current American Indian Regulations are "Outdated"
American Indian Empowerment Act will give American Indians more control of their lands
Alaska Congressman Don Young recently introduced a bill, H.R. 3532, the American Indian Empowerment Act of 2011.
“The federal policy to hold tribal land, in federal trust, arose from an old notion that American Indians were helpless and should be made wards of the government,” said Young in a statement presented at the hearing. “Today, this policy is long outdated.”
For the past few years tribes have pushed for increased tribal authority of their own land and now Young is pushing for it too.
If passed, the bill will allow a tribe to request that the title to its tribal land be taken out of trust and conveyed to the tribe. Also, the bill will ensure these lands will retain “Indian Country” status – meaning these lands would remain inalienable.
According to a press release Tuesday, Young stated the bill is radical but necessary in getting the “federal government out of their way.” He considers the current regulations “overreaching.”
“H.R. 3532 is meant to spark a long, overdue discussion of blazing a new path in federal Indian policy.”
For Young's full statement click here. | <urn:uuid:4793c81a-428d-4794-be26-775eae065395> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/Congressman-Don-Young--138898334.html?corder=regular | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952379 | 281 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Underground traffic stations consist of many areas. Each area has particular fire protection requirements. The highly flexible, modular design of HI-FOG® supports many configurations to meet the requirements of each area. With one centralised pump unit, HI-FOG® can protect all the spaces of a station, such as:
Millions of people move underground every day. Although public transportation is among the safest modes of urban transport, fire in subterranean stations represents a unique and complex risk. To help nutralise this risk, Marioff is introducing a new and innovative way to protect both trains and stations with a single solution.
If a fire starts on a subway train, the train continues to the next station for evacuation and emergency service. With this new innovation, when the train arrives, the on-board HI-FOG® tubing is automatically connected to the station’s HI-FOG® system for activation. By combining station and train fire protection in this way, overall system costs are reduced while maintaining a high level of fire safety. | <urn:uuid:f8338e22-98a2-4a84-86ae-1cb7013405d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marioff.com/applications/transportation/stations/en_GB/stations/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922531 | 212 | 1.960938 | 2 |
Summary: Fourteen years ago when Alan Fersht's Enzyme Structure and Mechanism was published, the field of protein engineering was in its infancy. Since then, spectacular advances in determining biological structure, manipulating genes, engineering proteins, sequencing whole genomes, and computing have led not just to an expansion of protein science, but to its utter transformation. We have entered a new era of protein design, sparked by the convergence of protein foldi ...show moreng and enzymology.
Fersht's Structure and Mechanism in Protein Science is a defining exploration of this new era, an expert depiction of the core principles of protein structure, activity, and mechanism as understood and applied today. A thorough recasting of Fersht's previous text, the book takes a more general look at mechanisms in protein science, emphasizing the unity of concepts in folding and catalysis and the importance of the relationships between basic chemistry, kinetics, thermodynamics, and structure.
By concentrating on fundamental principles and the physical and chemical processes behind them, Structure and Mechanism in Protein Science makes the basic formulas, kinetics, and thermodynamics of protein engineering easier to understand and apply. Up-to-date, authoritative, and full with relevant examples, it provides a solid introduction to a sprawling, still-growing field. For this text, Fersht offers four new chapters showing the impact of protein engineering on protein folding and catalysis (one on enzymology; three on specifics aspects of protein folding). Extensively rewritten chapters cover: | <urn:uuid:6de44999-7925-41d3-bdd6-dc8d42a98c1f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.textbooks.com/Structure-and-Mechnism-in-Protein-Science-A-Guide-to-Enzyme-Catalysis-and-Protein-Folding-99-Edition/9780716732686/Alan-Fersht.php?mppg=3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930843 | 308 | 2.390625 | 2 |
Sfratti (Honey Walnut Stick Cookies)
More honey and walnuts than you can shake a stick at.
By Leah Koenig
When one thinks about eating dessert, the words "pain and suffering" rarely come to mind. Oddly enough, however, a handful of popular Jewish sweet foods specifically commemorate unhappy events in Jewish history. The most famous example is hamantaschen--the tri-cornered pastry that represents the hat (or ear or pocket, depending on whom you ask) of Purim's notorious villain and oppressor, Haman. Likewise, the Passover seder plate includes a scoop of haroset--a tasty amalgam of sweet and sticky ingredients that, when combined, resemble the brick mortar used by the enslaved Israelites in Egypt.
A third example of the "sad sweets" phenomenon comes from Italy. On Rosh Hashanah, Italian Jews serve sfratti--a stick-shaped cookie made from honey and walnuts. The name sfratti comes from the Italian word sfratto, which means "eviction." According to The Classic Cuisine of the Italian Jews by Edda Servi Machlin, "There was a time when the law that prevailed was the 'law of the stick.' When landlords could not collect from poor tenants, they would evict them with the persuasive aid of a stick. The same treatment was applied to the Jews when they were no longer wanted in a community."
Make Dough First
Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add the wine a little at a time, mixing with a fork to moisten the dough. Continue adding wine until the dough just holds together. Divide dough in half and press into balls. Flatten balls into discs, then wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Dough can be made up to 3 days ahead. When ready to use, allow dough to stand at room temperature until malleable but not soft.
Make the Filling
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the honey to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. If it starts to foam over, lower heat slightly. Add remaining ingredients and cook, stirring constantly for another 3-5 minutes, then remove from heat. (If the mixture begins turn dark, it is starting to burn--remove from the heat immediately and keep stirring!)
Let the mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until it is cool enough to handle. Pour mixture onto a floured surface, divide into 6 equal portions, and shape the portions into 14-inch-long sticks.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Prepare the cookies: On a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap or on a lightly floured surface, roll each disc of dough into a 14-by-12-inch rectangle, then cut each rectangle lengthwise into three long rectangles. Place one of the strips of filling near a long side of each rectangle, then roll the dough around the filling.
You will have six long sticks of dough with filling in each. Cut these into 2-inch sticks. Place seam side down on the prepared baking sheet, leaving 1 inch between the cookies. Brush with the egg wash.
Bake cookies until golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Did you like this article? MyJewishLearning is a not-for-profit organization. | <urn:uuid:c7684436-aacb-4e4b-b722-a0a3d2109bd0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Rosh_Hashanah/At_Home/sfratti.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931768 | 731 | 3.046875 | 3 |
China’s Future, the World’s Future
After an initial rush of excitement over writing a piece about China for YES!, a slow creep of dread and unease replaced the thrill. With global oil prices spiking because of China's rapacious growth in oil consumption and the country poised to replace the United States in the dubious role of world leader in carbon dioxide emissions, could I honestly write an article portraying as positive what is happening with China and fossil fuels?
My doubts were not erased, but amplified, after some initial phone calls to environmental leaders in China were met with long pauses when I asked for suggestions on positive stories.
But I was not deterred. I made a pact with myself—I would keep asking until I found something positive, and be honest about the complexities of China, while focusing on the light, not the dark.
China is important to me. I take what is happening there to heart. In many ways it is my home, and I am protective of it. I have spent nearly half of my life there, as a foreign correspondent and businessman from 1986 to 2002. During that time, I experienced what I consider to be one of the most dramatic periods of transformation in world history—from the brief ecstasy of free expression in the late 1980s and the might of totalitarianism in snuffing it out, to a shift toward capital markets and the massive spiritual, economic, and social changes that came with that shift, including the beginnings of civil society. (When the United States industrialized, it had fewer than 80 million people, and it took around 40 years to do it. China has nearly 20 times that number of people, and it is industrializing at hyper-drive speed, manufacturing not only for itself but for the rest of the world.)
I believe it is essential that all of us not only understand what is going on in China, but that we become active agents for making it better. Unless we do something urgent, my two-year-old son will enter adulthood in a world neither he nor I want to contemplate.
When I first arrived in China, Beijing was one big bicycle lane, as was the rest of China. There were no private cars—no one had the money and even if they had, private car ownership was prohibited by the government. The few cabs on the road catered to the few foreigners who paid in the equivalent of U.S. dollars.
In less than 20 years, all that has changed. By the mid-1990s, the taxi population had hit 65,000, and private car ownership was not only allowed but it flourished. The quiet flow of bikes has been replaced by chaos in motion, albeit slow motion, since road infrastructure fails to keep pace with the number of vehicles and emissions often create a haze so thick it defines torpor.
China's GDP (gross domestic product) is about equivalent to that of California, but its carbon emissions are second in the world and on track to surpass U.S. emissions by 2025. In the east coast cities of China, there is now an 80 percent year-on-year increase in private auto sales. Every major auto manufacturer from around the globe is rushing to China to set up production lines. (A weekly e-mail newsletter I receive recently had DaimlerChrysler, Volkswagen, and Honda all announcing production plants for China—a typical week). China is now the world's second largest oil importer after the U.S. and expected to become the world's largest car importer within 10 years.
Coal, the main source of electricity in China, is wreaking havoc on the environment. Because of voracious electricity demand in industry and increasingly in homes, China is building two new coal-fired plants a week to try to meet its needs.
I'm not afraid to admit this information had a paralyzing effect on me. Where can the positive be?
Economies of scale
Here's where optimism started to creep in: Although I am shocked by how few people inside and outside China are working on renewable energy in China given the magnitude of the problem, the past 18 months have resulted in a new sense among this small but growing community that change is possible, or more accurately, that change is unavoidable. As Jennifer Turner of the China Environment Forum at the Woodrow Wilson Center put it: “Things are starting to stick.”
Even if China's central and local governments don't have a collective conscience pushing them to move to renewables for the good of the planet, they have no economic choice. The central government has acknowledged the clashes between peaking world oil production and China's burgeoning economy, and between maintaining growth and preserving public health. From here on in, the response will be a question of degree—and each degree will count.
The flip side of the statistics about China's massive thirst for fossil fuel is that because China is so huge, even modest adoption rates of solar, wind, hydrogen, and other renewables could mean the price of renewable energy and related technology drops globally. China could create previously unknown economies of scale. Imagine that.
China's national legislature is now pushing through a law that would promote renewable energy use, beginning as early as 2006. “Instead of just policies and regulations, this would elevate renewables to being law,” says Wang Wanxing of the Energy Foundation, a U.S.-based group that has been at the vanguard of work with China on alternatives to fossil fuel.
According to Wang, China will have about 900 gigawatts of energy capacity by 2020, more than double what it had at the end of 2003. The government recently committed to having 120 gigawatts, or 13 percent of that, be renewable (China includes nuclear power as a renewable energy), including 20 gigawatts from wind (or half the current worldwide wind power capacity).
China is estimated to have about 250 gigawatts of potential wind capacity. Wind is proving to be an economical alternative to cheap and dirty coal, as a recent program along the coast has shown.
The government is encouraging private investment in wind power through the auctioning of wind concessions. Companies bidding on the first two concessions in September 2003 paid prices that were competitive with the cost of electricity from a new coal plant. The experiment is being expanded to include three more concessions, leading me to envision a “ring of wind” circling the country from the south in Guangdong province north to Inner Mongolia, and west to Xinjiang. In a relatively short time, a completely new mechanism for encouraging investment in wind power has already created half a gigawatt of new capacity. It may be a fraction of the 35 to 40 gigawatts of additional installed capacity that China requires each year, but it still represents a huge advance. According to Wang, “The government has put wind high on the agenda for development.”
For such changes to matter, China must figure out how to balance a desire to make the automotive industry a cornerstone of economic prosperity with preventing a greenhouse gas nightmare. Recent moves by several major Chinese cities to ban bicycles from downtown streets to provide more room for cars is a sign of this pull toward car culture. Yet many of the same cities are exploring ways to boost mass transit, especially bus rapid transit (BRT), which creates dedicated lanes for buses to go station-to-station with subway-like efficiency.
The Chinese government froze continued funding for subway and light rail in 2003 because of expense. By doing so, it left every big city mayor in China in a quandary, faced with a huge and growing demand for vehicles and a standstill in road infrastructure. “How do you move people in the megacities of the world, especially China? Private cars won't work, and subways are too expensive,” says Doug Ogden, also of the Energy Foundation, which is helping spearhead the BRT effort in six cities.
“Two years ago the BRT concept was unknown in China,” Xu Kangming told me. Xu is shuttling around the country working to convince cities to adopt BRT. His efforts are succeeding. “More and more cities are starting to do some preliminary planning and explore the opportunity to implement BRT.”
Among cities adopting or seriously considering BRT are Beijing, Kunming, Xian, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Chengdu, whose metropolitan areas together encompass 75 million people. Other smaller cities such as Changzhou and Yangzhou in Jiangsu are also adopting BRT though collaborations with Germany. Advocates of BRT are hoping Beijing and Shanghai will serve as working models for other cities to learn from and emulate.
Beijing wants a big chunk of its BRT system in place in time for its hosting of the 2008 Olympics. It is currently building a 15.6-kilometer corridor in the city's southeast corner, scheduled for completion at the end of this year, with plans for 300 more kilometers over the next several years.
Beijing already has one of the largest compressed natural gas (CNG) bus fleets in the world, and it has set a goal of converting 90 percent of its 11,000 buses to CNG by 2008. There are moves in China to introduce hybrid electric engines into buses, which could be converted to use fuel cells.
When I first started studying China 20 years ago, I took a short class from professor Jonathan Chaves, and he pointed out to me something that I had never stopped to notice. When you look at classical Chinese painting, amid the craggy mountains and wind-swept clouds and mist, any people that are depicted are a small part of their surroundings. You have to look hard to spot the people in the paintings—very different from most Western painting, in which the individual is the center of attention. I take hope from that, and believe that the Chinese will demonstrate enlightenment by drawing on the best parts of their long heritage, while learning from our short one to avoid making the same mistakes.
When I called Elizabeth Economy, author of The River Runs Black: The Environmental Challenge to China's Future, she held out hope, too, despite the darkness of the book's title. “The most important thing that is happening is the rise of NGOs and civil society in China. … The burden and opportunity both are with the citizen and the media, and that's where you see the broadest change. That's where I see the greatest hope and greatest excitement.”
Though they are in their infancies, a number of environmental NGOs have appeared in China since the late 1990s. They include the awareness group Global Village, Green Student Organizations, the volunteer legal aid group Grassroots Community, and Greenroots Power and Snowland Great Rivers and Environmental Protection Association, both aimed at protecting rivers. Many others are emerging. Liang Congjie, one of the first environmental activists in China and founder of Friends of Nature in 1996, said, “It sometimes may not seem like much, but it's a seed.
Translating policy into action at the local level, where city governments tend towards myopic self-interest, is crucial. The rise of civil society at the local level will provide a bottom-up dynamic to the traditionally top-down Chinese system.
“The environment,” Economy says, “is at the forefront of the rise of civil society in China.”
William Brent was a reporter and editor for Agence France Presse in China. He is director of talktoUS.org (see page 60), and partner in the Shanghai media company Cinezoic.
That means, we rely on support from our readers.
Independent. Nonprofit. Subscriber-supported. | <urn:uuid:93e517ec-b5f4-4e09-a66f-e4a9eefbae6a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/can-we-live-without-oil/china2019s-future-the-world2019s-future | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965974 | 2,387 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Nick Musters covered an amazing 3,069 kilometers (1,907 miles) aboard one of BRP’s Ski-Doo MX Z snowmobiles powered by a Rotax E-TEC 800R engine to establish the world record for the greatest distance traveled on a snowmobile in twenty-four hours. Musters’ feat breaks the official world record (2,372 km) by 697 km and an as-of-yet unrecognized 2010 run by 163 km.
The record run, which was moved back a month because of weather conditions, started March 8 at 9:20 a.m. at Norway Point on Lake of Bays in Baysville, Ontario with the closed course running around Bigwin Island and covering ten kilometers per lap. The course was professionally surveyed and the complete run was monitored by scorekeepers recording times and distances traveled each lap, along with video cameras documenting the course and official time clock.
The distance Musters covered over one day equates to a blistering average speed of 127 km/h (79.5 mph), including stops for fuel and food along the way. | <urn:uuid:fab18b63-0b25-4110-bf42-98c1cdc449b6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.snowmobile.com/blog/tag/lake-of-bays | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950195 | 231 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Nov 22 2012 By Cheryl Mullin
”Dr Shakoor discovered the fire at his home and battled hard to save his family, suffering the effects of the dense smoke and also minor burns as he tried to get them out.
"At the same time as fire crews were tackling the blaze, a Ford Focus car was alight in a parking area nearby.
Dr Shakoor’s laptop bag which contained a two-pin lead was originally found in a hedge along the footpath between St Michael’s Close and Whitewaits, Harlow by two teenagers, then abandoned in Whitewaits by some garages.The family laptop, a Toshiba Satellite, is missing.
He asked anyone who was in Barn Mead on the early morning of the fire to contact police. “We need to find a group of four young men, 16-19, possibly wearing tracksuits and baseball hats, one significantly taller than the others.
"Additionally we need to speak to two teenagers on bikes. Anyone who was in the area at the time of the fire or has any information about who was there must contact us.”
He added: “The car that was discovered alight on the same morning belonged to a neighbour and was parked around 20 metres away from the Shakoor home. Do you have any information about this car fire?”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Operation Shakespeare investigation team on 01277 266869 or 0800 056 0944 or on firstname.lastname@example.org or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. | <urn:uuid:61857652-7517-4613-94f7-3bf34ccd7756> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/wirral-news/uk-world-news/2012/11/22/murder-investigation-launched-into-deaths-of-mother-and-five-children-in-essex-house-fire-video-100252-32285368/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977172 | 333 | 1.523438 | 2 |
To study the diversity and ecology of amphibians and reptilians in Vietnam
First of all, the species and species communities of a natural habitat have to be documented for consecutively understanding their interactions and ecology. And the compilation of the species' specific requirements in turn is the basic prerequisite for their conservation and for the preservation of the wildlife habitat. Cologne Zoo especially focuses on the amphibian and reptilian fauna of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam, because they serve as suitable bioindicators.
Since 1998, the total number of amphibian and reptile species known from this unique karst forest ecosystem, as a result of own field work, could be brought to more than 140 species, among them many new records and even newly discovered taxa. Five lizard species and five snake species already proved to be new to science, including a new snake genus. However, one is still far away from having the national park's herpetodiversity completely inventoried, which is demonstrated by further new records and even new species discoveries/descriptions being currently processed. The publication of systematic revisions together with the development of updated identification keys should help the ranger as well as the local and higher authorities to adequately deal with the continuously increasing diversity and their respective conservation status. In a second step, ecological research of barely known or endemic amphibian and reptilian taxa will be conducted, to gather data for improving and enforcing further conservation measures. In a third step, especially in times of the global amphibian crisis, research will be invested into in situ amphibian research in Phong Nha – Ke Bang, because the morphology and ecology especially of tadpoles are poorly known and data of ecological requirements and interactions are mostly lacking. By using modern molecular methods the larvae are assigned to adult stages for providing substantial contributions to future works on larval morphology, sibling species complexes and different ecological niche occupations. With the new amphibian breeding section at Cologne Zoo's aquarium the researchers are also prepared for combinations of ex situ breeding and conservation efforts.
WAZA Conservation Project 07011 is implemented by Cologne Zoo with support from WAZA, Kölner Kulturstiftung der Kreissparkasse Köln, BIOPAT, and temporarily EUAC, AKG, AKS and DGHT.
> to project overview | <urn:uuid:bf989c3a-d4fc-41c3-a86d-0877915ef8b8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.waza.org/en/site/conservation/waza-conservation-projects/herpetodiversity-research | 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 | 0.918337 | 469 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Years ago, the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) published a periodical titled CODEWORD. For numerous reasons, the publication was discontinued. It has long been an agency goal to re-instate issuance of the CODEWORD. Finally, that day is here.
For those of you who may not be familiar with it, CODEWORD typically provides topical information about activity on the building code, up-coming seminars, and general information relating to building code enforcement. The first issue of was published in July, 1986. At that time, it was simply called the BBRS Newsletter. Eventually, the name was changed and for years CODEWORD was an extremely popular and, we think, helpful tool used by state and municipal inspectors, building contractors, engineers, architects and other with an interest in building regulatory matters.
The last issue of the paper-format CODEWORD was published in July, 2003. This is the first to be published electronically via Constant Contact Messaging. It is hoped that this will be one of many more to come. | <urn:uuid:9dd709a7-c1c9-401f-b792-fe3de05ffbd5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/dps/archived-stories/2010/the-new-codeword.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96919 | 221 | 1.828125 | 2 |
In which we remind people of the Ten Commandments of the God Particle.
Now with added footnotes.
- I I am the Higgs. Thou shalt have no other Higgs before me.1
- II Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the HIGGS thy God Particle am a jealous God Particle, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. 2
- III Thou shalt not take the name of the Higgs thy God Particle in vain3
- IV Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.4
- V Honour thy fermion and thy boson5
- VI Thou shalt not annihilate.6
- VII Thou shalt not two-time.7
- VIII Thou shalt not steal.8
- IX Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.9
- X Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s mass nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.10
So mote it be.
1 Orthodox, or Standard Model, theosophers interpret this commandment literally; Reformists who believe in Grand Unification have a complex explanation for how this really means the Higgs is One in Three and the Singlet is really a Trinary; modern theosophers tend to consider this a subtle mistranslation referring to Unitarity, especially those who espouse the Landscape Interepretation of modern theophysics.
2 Modern theosophers tend to quietly ignore this, the most complex of the commandments, though the Schwingerites still insist it precludes the use of Feynman diagrams.
Modern theophysicists tend to think this is a revelation of the number of flavour generations; while ultra-orthodox theosophers have argued that this prohibits neutrino detectors and such like and argue that theosophy should return to pure theoretical contemplation.
3 I am doomed.
4 Modern theosophers forget that until just a generation ago physics experiements were shut down at beer o’clock on fridays for the weekend. This is another of the commandments that is no longer observed except by the ultra-orthodox who refuse to even scribble on a lined notepad on their day off.
5 One word: Anyons?
O tempora, o mores.
6 The orthodox still use this commandment to continue to argue against the ILC; but most theosophers argue that this is meant to forbid private annihilation by civilians on a retail basis, unless of course necessary to prevent one’s own annihilation or that of others. Correspondingly most theosophers accept annihilation en masse, by professional theosophers only, of course, under the jurisdiction of a legitimate civil authority, if in a good cause, as rationalised by Lawrence in his classic tract on concept of the “Good Annihilation” and blessed by CERN.
7 This apparently superfluous prohibition on closed timelike curves has long puzzled theosophers. Some suggest it speaks to the tachyonic nature of the naked Higgs, others consider it a mere tautology.
8 Theft is of course absolutely prohibited, if it is of real massets. Modern theosophy has long appreciated the distinction between this and virtual theft, which is necessary to keep things normalized. Reformers feel that finanical theosophers have taken the concept to an excess.
9 Modern theosophy considers this a cryptic allusion to the so-called accidental symmetries and associated quantum number. Reformers of the GUT persuasion keep pushing the false decay heresy, which enjoyed brief popularity during the hedonistic era.
10 Many non-theosophers consider this commandment redundant, but advanced students of theosophy understand that this commandment is what underpins the hierarchy on which we depend and is the most inviolate of them all. | <urn:uuid:ca2ef7df-52aa-44af-8f21-bf45d30ebba4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2012/07/08/the-ten-commandments/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917445 | 852 | 1.992188 | 2 |
Courtesy cybertoadWash, rinse, repeat.
It’s the standard verbage that you find on every shampoo bottle. Comedians have a great time making jokes about it. But people who study hair closely are wondering if we’re actually washing our hair too much these days.
There are plenty of people in the U.S. who wouldn’t think of going a day with out washing their hair. Americans, on average, wash their hair 4.59 times per week. Those who live in Italy and France scrub their locks about half that rate.
So what’s the right amount of washing for a person’s hair?
Back in the early 1900s, the rule of thumb among Americans was once a month. The short answer for this day and age is: it depends. But dermatologists note that less you wash your hair, the less our sebaceous glands create sebum oil, one of the oils we’re continually trying to wash out of our hair. As a general rule, the dermatologists in the report suggest shampooing your hair no more than two or three times a week.
The type and length of a person’s hair can matter in the frequency of shampooing, too. Those with long, straight hair will generally need to shampoo more often than those with shorter, curlier hair.
Of course, marketers and advertising wizards want to create an impression in our mind that we need to use shampoos more often. After all, they’ll make more money with the more shampoo we use.
The green movement is picking up on this idea, too. Here's a link to a blog by a woman who avoids shampoo – and many other products – for environmental reasons.
Are you foaming to weigh in with your opinions about shampoo? Share them here with other Buzz readers. | <urn:uuid:40668afa-4590-411d-aa82-c9143319519c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sciencebuzz.org/blog/dishing-dirt-shampoo-how-often-should-we-really-wash-our-ha | 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 | 0.956568 | 383 | 2 | 2 |
John 12: 13-18
13.[The crowd] took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet Him, and [began] to cry out, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel."
14. And Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written,
15. "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey's colt."
16. These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.
17. And so the multitude who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, were bearing Him witness.
18. For this cause also the multitude went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
Palm Sunday is also called the "Triumphal Entry". Jesus came to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. This was the week before His arrest and crucifixion, on Good Friday, and His resurrection on Easter, or Resurrection Sunday.
The crowd that had been at the house of Lazarus and saw him raised from the dead were all there, to greet Jesus and wave the palm branches which was ritually for triumphant leaders coming home from war.
Let's look at the prophetic scripture from Zechariah that predicts this day in Jesus life.
Zechariah 9: 9-10
9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout [in triumph], O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, And the horse from Jerusalem; And the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.
I have heard that there are over 400 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Jesus' life and death. The previous verses from Zechariah 9 are just one of them. Let's look at them with the emphasis on Jesus riding the young donkey.
In Biblical times war was almost everpresent. Chariots and horses, bows and arrows were the weapons that were used. Throughout Jewish history the people were looking for their "King". A Messiah that would come and set up an earthly kingdom, as did King David. Most of the inhabitants of Israel were waiting for the Messiah that would come to liberate them from oppressive rule of their enemies and then, in Jesus' day, from the harsh hand of Rome.
Many of the followers of Jesus and even His disciples were thinking along those lines. Having seen the miracle He performed with the resurrection of Lazarus, they were hoping Jesus would "miraculously" take over the government and give it to the Jewish people. On Palm Sunday, that was what the crowd was thinking. They were worshipping Him as God's Son, but also hoping that the time was near for Him to be "crowned" as King here in an earthly kingdom.
But instead of a powerful steed to signify the strength of an earthly takeover, Jesus was destined to ride into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey. Just as a pregnant Mary had done all those years before, He now rode on the back of a donkey once more.
Jesus does triumph. His death on a cross almost 2000 years ago cannot be looked at as a loss, nor a failure. That is what the world does not truly understand. God's son came as a man, Jesus, to provide a way for salvation and eternal life for us. He paid the price on the cross for our sin. He was predestined to do that. The Jews did not kill him, nor the Romans. The devil did not win. Jesus won. We won. He triumphantly led the way on a young donkey. He came in peace, on a humble mount, the lowly way to arrive in Bethlehem and then in Jerusalem. He voluntarily laid down His life for us. Thank you, Jesus, for your great love for us.
If you have not received Jesus as your Savior, it's easy to do so right now. Just ask Him to come into your heart and change you. He will do it. Salvation is easy. It is not hard. All it takes is one step in His direction. He will meet you and you will begin a new life. You will win, too.
Thank you Father God, that your Son who came humbly and in humility, to bring us peace, is truly the King of Kings.
Love, in Jesus, | <urn:uuid:e2d7d791-f9f2-4a65-b680-9b33d14aa79e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://adayinthelife-commonground.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985499 | 1,012 | 2.03125 | 2 |
This materials development project includes three community colleges and two NSF-ATE Centers as partners. Four high schools are field-testing the materials. The project is designing, pilot testing, and disseminating a year-long technology course for high schools, including a textbook with content and student activities driven by the Standards for Technological Literacy in three content areas: physical technology, information technology, and technology in the living world. The materials are based on Understanding by Design (backwards design) and national standards, and implement inquiry, engineering design, and hands-on learning. The project deliverables include:
- A year-long high school technology course with a text and student workbook
- Teacher support materials
- Career development materials embedded within the text
- A media-rich Project website
- A cross-curricular integrative Fast Food facility design activity that contextualizes content in physical, information, and living world technology.
The materials are being disseminated through online sources and published by Thomson Delmar Learning. Grant Wiggins is a consultant to the project for materials design. A needs assessment for these materials has been done, which provides support for the project. Industry professionals and high school teachers are participating in the development teams. | <urn:uuid:bad7b20d-60f4-47ab-98db-9afe4d267ec2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hofstra.edu/academics/colleges/soeahs/CTL/CCFT/ccft_description.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933827 | 247 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Bachelor of Liberal Arts
The Bachelor of Liberal Arts (BLA) degree is designed to accommodate the special needs, experience and circumstances of adult learners. The BLA degree is based on the assumption that learning is a process that occurs throughout life and involves more than formal classroom instruction. The liberal arts degree enables students to link together past college course work, learning from life-experience and the academic experience that is shared by all graduates of the college - the liberal arts core.
Students complete the 51-credit liberal arts core either by enrolling in courses in the evening or online at Wheeling Jesuit University—courses from other regionally accredited schools may also transfer towards the degree program.
Additionally, the student submits a proposal outlining the academic goal they want to achieve through the BLA program. For example, a student may be active in religious education, but without having much formal education in that area. Through the BLA program, the student may create a “core” of religious studies courses to be completed. A final project related to the student’s academic goal is completed. Other means for earning credit through the BLA program may include internships, special projects. In addition, the student may complete a portfolio of professional and technical competencies, and life learning essays. The portfolio is submitted to faculty for assessment and possible awarding of college credit.
More on the Portfolio
Adult students have prior experiential learning, learning that has resulted from personal and professional experiences since high school that can be evaluated for college credit.
A portfolio is a written record of experiences organized into a binder. It is a thorough documentation of learning experiences. Students may petition for a maximum of 30 credits through the portfolio process.
Students interested in earning elective credit may earn three credits in the Prior Learning Assessment course where they learn how to design a portfolio. After completing the course, they may submit the portfolio for evaluation of additional credit. The portfolio consists of five separate sections which include:
The life-learning essay is a demonstration of knowledge and skill that may relate to life or work experience. The essays are evaluated by faculty members who are looking for college equivalent knowledge that includes generalizations and concepts as well as specific applications of that knowledge. Essays can cover a variety of special topics. For example, a student could write about a personal involvement in a community organization or agency.
In two sections of the portfolio, students may earn additional elective credit:
Professional/ Technical Schools/ Courses-
If you decide the Professional and Graduate Studies program may be right for you, contact Adult Admissions at WJU by either calling 1-800-873-7665 or emailing email@example.com.
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Website Powered by ActiveCampus Software by Datatel | <urn:uuid:20b53e91-45cc-4f69-85f7-c99d1b97a2e3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wju.edu/adulted/evening/programs/bla.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943334 | 616 | 1.921875 | 2 |
Founded in 1876, Hathaway Brown School has devoted vast resources to create the ideal academic and social environment for the development of young women for more than 130 years.
HB was created and nourished by the extraordinary generosity of Cleveland civic leaders; they imagined an institution devoted to the intellectual development of women at a time when few believed the minds of women mattered.
The School was born as "afternoon classes for young ladies" at the Brooks Military School, a private school for boys. It was originally called the Brooks School for Ladies.
In 1886, Anne Hathaway Brown (pictured at left) purchased the School; its name was later changed to Miss Anne H. Hathaway Brown's School for Girls. Miss Hathaway Brown sold the school in 1890.
The School moved to its current location in Shaker Heights in 1927.
HB is Ohio's oldest college preparatory school for girls.
Read more in "Tradition and Transformation -- A History of Educating Girls at Hathaway Brown School, 1876-2006"
Read more about HB in the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | <urn:uuid:4758d3ca-4625-4afe-8875-b4a1b845df8f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hb.edu/page.cfm?p=356 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970678 | 221 | 2.453125 | 2 |
The Great Depression was a devastating historical event that affected everyone around the world. No one was spared as people of wealth plunged into the depths of real poverty, experienced homelessness and hunger in the hard times and unrelieved combat that lasted for years. Author John I. Brooks shares his memories as a child growing up during the Depression where many experienced No Fixed Address.
No Fixed Address is a memoir of the Depression, World War II and the events that mark the beginning of the nation’s postwar transformation. The author takes the reader on a journey through those times in Chicago, Southern California and New York City. His fascinating true account focuses on the struggles and joys of ordinary families in an extraordinary time. But always in the background are the massive changes taking place in the life and culture of Americans as their old world vanished and a new one was born. These seismic shifts continue to influence our lives today.
If you use one of Kobo's free reading apps you won't need to worry about download options most of the time. Your Kobo reading app can easily add Kobo Store books to your library for a seamless reading experience.
Download options matter when:
You want to read your book on an eReader other than the Kobo eReader (see here for a list of supported eReaders).
The book you want is only available as an Adobe DRM PDF.
In both of these cases you will need to:
Download a copy of your book to your computer.
Open the book using a free application called Adobe Digital Editions.
You can also use Digital Editions to transfer the book to your eReader. See here for more information on Digital Editions.
You can read this item on your computer using our free Kobo Desktop Application. This application lets you read, manage your library of eBooks, and even shop for new ones. Check out our demo for more information! | <urn:uuid:56cfc5ba-5df2-4a96-b5f3-7b25777ea8b4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/No-Fixed-Address/book-LYnQ87g7AUGsMRPwHXGwyQ/page1.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938803 | 386 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images
10-year yields wavering above the important benchmark of 7 percent at which other European countries have requested a bailout, and its economy is falling deeper into recession.
A housing bubble broken by the financial crisis has ravaged the banking system and spread into the greater economy. Without the help of Spain-specific monetary policy—and amid more and more rounds of austerity measures—it appears that these problems will only grow worse in the future. Further, the troubled banking system threatens to breed an infection that could spread through the rest of the European financial system.
Whatever the European Central Bank may promise to do to help, Spain's problems go far beyond monetary policy. | <urn:uuid:7d64ceec-cc10-4c9c-be8a-6c23aaa3c154> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.businessinsider.com/10-terrible-facts-about-spain-2012-7 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933871 | 142 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Without actually doing any research, here is all I know:
Salvia Divinorum is a combination of various plants and chemicals, and is sold as an incense. Most Salvia packaging has a disclaimer that reads "company is not liable for misuse of this product". It is the same case as the other legal incenses such as LOL, K2, or King Karma. They are sold for aromatic therapeutic purposes and are very unhealthy to orally smoke. The euphoric effects are known, but not enough to justify making them illegal. However, a recent DEA federal ban that took place in March made the manufacturing and distribution of Salvia illegal, as well as many common and main ingredients in the legal "smokes" such as the many variations of the JWH compound.
As far as marijuana goes, there are many reasons why it is illegal. Obviously the impairment of a person's judgment skills. The main reason that I know of is the fact that marijuana can be grown anywhere if the right climate control is used, unlike tobacco. Therefore if it was legal the government could not tax it if it was grown on a private residence. Scientific studies have proven over and over again how much safer marijuana is than alcohol, hence why you've probably never heard the term, "medical alcohol".
Marijuana is a schedule I drug and is perceived as addictive. I personally don't understand that argument because aren't cigarettes and alcoholic beverages perceived as addictive as well?
That's all I got off the top of my head, hope this helps.
Posted 596 day ago | <urn:uuid:16be245d-099f-44cb-b20a-0bc4566b0f60> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.strangequestions.com/question/1070/Why-is-marijuana-illegal-but-Salvia-isnt.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978174 | 316 | 1.828125 | 2 |
The Man in the Iron Mask Chapter Sixty: The Last Canto of the Poem Summary
The next day, all the nobility arrives to pay their last respects. D'Artagnan keeps to himself.
He helps prepare for the funeral and writes to the King, requesting a longer leave of absence.
The bodies of father and son are laid out in the front hall. Grimuad brought Raoul's body back with him (Beaufort had ordered it embalmed).
Athos and Raoul are buried by a chapel on the edge of Athos's estate.
After the funeral, D'Artagnan lingers to pay his last respects.
He finds a woman grieving over the double graves. She is overcome, asking for forgiveness.
D'Artagnan discovers it is La Valliere. He shames her mercilessly, saying it is she who put both men in their graves.
She says she left court as soon as she heard of Raoul's death, hoping to beg forgiveness from the father, and wound up arriving just in time for the funeral.
D'Artagnan repeats Raoul's feelings to La Valliere: no one could have loved her as he did.
La Valliere is full of suffering. She tells D'Artagnan that she will never be able to love without remorse. She tells D'Artagnan that she could not help but love Louis, but now she will suffer from Raoul's love for her.
La Valliere again asks for forgiveness before she leaves.
D'Artagnan is left alone to wonder when he will be buried.
He bids farewell to the departed and rides back to Paris. | <urn:uuid:c424e387-b389-4b4e-b79f-1b35ec629132> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.shmoop.com/man-in-the-iron-mask/chapter-60-summary.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959779 | 350 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Paula enjoys great adventures and experiences traveling with her husband and dog Cody in their 1964 Safari.
One of the most noteworthy highlights of a rally is often the musical entertainment that rounds out the evening that makes for a special and memorable treat. We’ve been treated by those who’ve brought their guitars, violins, keyboard, drums, harmonica, karaoke machine, beautiful singing voices, dancing, and even a kazoo or two to share in the fun. In the evening after a tasty potluck, cozied up in chairs around the campfire, the songs and music fill the campground and make for a very pleasant and enjoyable time.
Traveling with instruments requires a little forethought. Musical instruments need some TLC and shouldn't be subjected to high temps or humidity. The jostling of a road trip can also take a toll on instruments. Many folks choose to travel with a beach guitar; an instrument that may be less delicate then their daily player. Leaving an instrument in a black case in the full sun of a vehicle can be a recipe for disaster and so some thought should be given to where to store those bulky cases when traveling.
Jam etiquette at rallies varies with the players but in general all are welcome to participate and opportunities abound for teachable moments. Sharing a new song or playing tip can be a great way to get to know someone new. Get kids involved here and consider bringing along some rhythm instruments (or making them from materials available at the camp site). Standard etiquette for those bringing instruments to the jam is that your instrument should be tuned and if you don't know the song - try not to drown out those who do. Your turn to choose a song will come soon enough.
Sounds travels and it's important to remember that your idea of great music may be someone else's idea of noise pollution. Many parks has regulations about 'noise' and almost all have regs about amplified music. If you are unsure - be certain to check with the camp hosts.
Bring your musical instruments to the next rally and join in the fun. | <urn:uuid:a9333879-58c1-42ca-863c-976e5cf49288> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.airstreamcentral.com/articles/53/1/Rally-Music/Page1.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951444 | 426 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Sun June 17
Sun July 22
Sun August 19
Sun Sept 16
Create a body of work, memoir or fiction, short stories or one longer piece in the workshop.
Writing with compassion toward yourself and your life's story, writer's block and limiting beliefs will diminish—resulting in authentic literature, self-knowledge, new insights into your family, community and culture, and in cathartic healing. You will learn and explore the skills of creative writing as you write and read your work in the group, receive effective feedback and partake in insightful discussions.
WHAT: The Suffering Grasses, Nov 29 2012 7:30pm - 9:00pm
& Dec 6 2012 7:30pm - 9:00pm
WHO: Jihad Abdo & Fadia Afashe, Syrian Exiles
WHERE: Levantine Cultural Center, 5998 W. Pico Blvd., LA 90035, street parking.
PRICE: $7/$5 students, Levantine café open
INFO/RSVPs: Levantine Cultural Center, 323.413.2001, online, levantinecenter.org.
[LOS ANGELES -- Nov. 15, 2012] The Syrian civil war has raged for a year and a half, with over 30,000 dead, an estimated 200,000 external refugees and as many as 1.5 million refugees inside the country, according to the United Nations. The conflict has become a microcosm for the complicated politics of the Middle East against the backdrop of the Arab Spring and continued unrest throughout the region. The Suffering Grasses, a film by Iara Lee, seeks to explore the Syrian conflict through the humanity of the civilians who have been killed, abused, and displaced, telling stories of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
By Juliana Maio
During her recent talk at UCLA, Lucette Lagnado, an investigative reporter for the Wall Street Journal, expressed nostalgia for a lost world as she discussed her memoirs about her family's life in Egypt and subsequent exile in America.
Born and raised in Lebanon, Rania Matar moved to the U.S. in 1984. Trained as an architect at AUB and at the American University of Beirut and at Cornell University, she worked as an architect before studying photography at the New England School of Photography, and at the Maine Photographic Workshops in Mexico with Magnum photographer Constantine Manos. She currently works full-time as a photographer, and started teaching photography to teenage girls in refugee camps in Lebanon, with the assistance of non-governmental organizations, and to teenage refugees in Boston with the assistance of Children's Hospital.
Matar's work focuses mainly on women and girls. Her previous work has focused on the Middle East on women and children, and her projects—which examined the Palestinian refugee camps, the veil and its meanings, the aftermath of war, and the Forgotten Christians: the Christians of the Middle East—intend to give a voice to people who have been forgotten or misunderstood. In Boston, where she lives, she photographs her four children at all stages of their lives, and is currently working on a new body of work "A Girl and her Room," photographing teenage girls from different backgrounds.
This is the first working committee meeting and leadership dinner of the new Los Angeles-Tehran "World Cities" Online Dialogue.
Only the first 25 to RSVP will be seated. A delicious Middle Eastern buffet will be served. RSVPS to 310.657.5511. No reservations will be accepted via email. Calls only.
Levantine Cultural Center in association with The Writing StudioTM offers ongoing classes in creative writing, autobiography, memoir and fiction, with Elana Golden.
Every Saturday except the 4th Saturday in the month
CLASS CAN BE JOINED AT ANY TIME, SIGN UP FOR A SET OF FOUR CLASSES.
2:15 - 5:15 PM
At Levantine Cultural Center, 5998 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
$120 for four (4) consecutive classes paid in advance
Suitable for new and experienced writers - limited to 10 participants
In each class, participants write and read in the group in an atmosphere of respect and artistic passion. The skills of creative writing are taught and explored, as well as methods to put aside the critical mind and free the writer's personal voice.
Vivien Sansour, puppeteer-clown-actor-organizer of the Olive Tree Circus, is back from the olive harvest tour of West Bank towns including Bethlehem, Hebron and surrounding villages. She will be removing her red nose and sharing with a large audience the slide show, video and personal experiences of the fourteen Arab, Jewish and non-Middle Eastern Americans who traveled together, creating puppets and performing for the children of the West Bank in the service of peace.
Free to the public, RSVPs strongly advised: 310.657.5511. | <urn:uuid:3354900e-07aa-48c0-bc66-5935aa42ed60> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.levantinecenter.org/refugees | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937599 | 1,007 | 1.789063 | 2 |
By Larry Copeland, USA TODAY
As the USA cracks down on texting while driving, more than a dozen cities around the nation have banned what some consider a growing external driving distraction: digital billboards.
Digital billboards change images every four to 10 seconds, flashing multiple messages from one or more advertisers on the same sign. Opponents such as John Regenbogen of Scenic Missouri deride them as "television on a stick."
Several communities have banned digital billboards outright, the most recent being Denver earlier this month. Other places have put a moratorium on them pending a federal study on whether they distract drivers. At least two other cities and two states are studying moratoriums.
DISTRACTIONS: States go after texting drivers
"The digital billboards are a distraction," says Fred Wessels, an alderman in St. Louis, which just approved a one-year moratorium on new such signs in that city.
"If they weren't distracting, they wouldn't be doing their job," says Max Ashburn, spokesman for Scenic America, a national non-profit group that seeks to limit billboards.
Research on the issue is mixed. A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study in 2007, financed by the billboard industry, found that they aren't distracting. A review of studies completed last year for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, however, concluded that they "attract drivers' eyes away from the road for extended, demonstrably unsafe periods of time."
"There's no doubt in my mind that they are not a driving distraction," says Bryan Parker, an executive vice president for Clear Channel Outdoor, which owns about 400 digital billboards. He cites industry-sponsored studies of collisions before and after digital billboards were installed in Albuquerque, Cleveland, and Rochester, Minn., that found no correlation.
"We've looked at that very carefully," says Bill Ripp, vice president of Lamar Advertising, which owns 159,000 billboards, 1,150 of them digital. "We don't want to cause any unsafe conditions for drivers."
Digital billboards are a fast-growing segment of the outdoor advertising market. Since a federal rule against them was eased in 2007, the number of digital billboards has more than doubled to about 1,800 of 450,000 total billboards. At least 39 states allow them. They cost an average $200,000 to $300,000 apiece, according to the industry group Outdoor Advertising Association of America.
In 2007, the Federal Highway Administration relaxed a rule against digital billboards, saying they don't violate the 1965 Highway Beautification Act's ban on "intermittent," "flashing" or "moving" lights. FHWA is researching the signs, using eye-trackers inside volunteers' vehicles to determine whether drivers look at the billboards and for how long. The study is to be completed this summer.
There is little current data on whether greater distractions for drivers come from in-vehicle or external factors. The Department of Transportation, which is leading the national push against texting while driving, says that 5,870 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2008. But the agency has not determined how many of those deaths involved an electronic device, another distraction such as eating or tuning the radio, or something outside the vehicle.
Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more. | <urn:uuid:b5a01485-bdd5-4d09-8128-3aa3aa3a8467> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-22-visual-soup_N.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960577 | 713 | 2.03125 | 2 |
Secrets of Disneyland’s Matterhorn
The manmade mountain, 14-stories tall, is hollow. What’s inside?
Believe it or not, near the top of the Matterhorn above the bobsleds roller coaster is a regulation basketball half-court.
On a recent trip, when the Matterhorn Bobsleds were experiencing a malfunction, a Disneyland manager told the tale of the origin of the strange basketball court. When Walt Disney conceived of the Matterhorn in 1956, he learned of an Orange County zoning ordinance that limits the height of amusement attractions. But by including a basketball court, the structure could be classified as a “sports facility,” exempt from the height limitation.
But according to urban myth buster Snopes, which shows a photo of the basketball court, the story of the zoning loophole is only fanciful fun. Orange County lacked height ordinances for structures before the 1970s. The hoop was set up for climbers to pass the time.
The Matterhorn also served to camouflage the central pylon of the bucket-shaped Skyway tram ride (← click to see video) which passed through the center of the mountain through cave-like holes connecting the Fantasyland and Tomorrowland sides. Skyway riders could see down into the Matterhorn’s interior as they glided through.
In 1978, along with ice caves, the Matterhorn got a new tenant, an Abominable Snowman by the name of Harold.
There are actually three Harolds, three similar Audio-Animatronic figures that roar at the bobsledders.
Following the closure of the Skyway in 1994, the cavernous holes through which the Skyway buckets had traveled were partially filled in, making way for a glowing crystal grotto.
Since internal access to the mountain remains locked for safety reasons, the Matterhorn basketball court was accessible only to the mountain climbers who can play between climbs.
The Matterhorn basketball court was relocated slightly to install Tinkerbell’s flight equipment and dressing room in 2005 prior to the Disneyland’s 50th anniversary celebration. The hoop and playing area remain intact. There is a cast member break room inside the mountain at the base.
So there you have it, the secret basketball court in Disneyland’s Matterhorn is real.
Here’s a useful secret when you ride the Matterhorn Bobsleds
The Bobsleds run on two separate tracks; one is slightly longer (2:26 minutes) than the other (2:07 minutes). As you face the entrance get in the line for the track on the right and enjoy 19 extra seconds of riding the Matterhorn. Warning: The left track ride is shorter because it goes faster!
Disneyland secrets stuff you can buy ↓
Click here for another article on more Disneyland Secrets
Focus on the fun, let a trusted friend drive you to Disneyland! Disneyland Parks with San Diego Gray Line Transportation | <urn:uuid:ec98b983-1758-4a52-b9c1-5a7e422d8262> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogsnewsreviews.com/disneyland-secrets-matterhorn/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917112 | 606 | 2.140625 | 2 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lynda LeVan, 423-648-6043, firstname.lastname@example.org
Director of External Affairs
Wayne Robinson Leads Biofuels Outreach at Creative Discovery Museum
(Chattanooga, TN – August 30, 2011) Creative Discovery Museum announces the addition of Wayne Robinson, Ph. D., Ed. S., as Biofuels Coordinator. Creative Discovery Museum was selected by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and University of Georgia’s Education Department to develop and pilot science lessons on biofuels and alternative energy for transportation in 2008. Working with top scientists, engineers and science educators, the Museum created a classroom lesson called “Farming for Fuels” that is presented through the Museum’s school outreach program, Museum-A-Go-Go. Robinson will lead the program which provides lessons by Museum outreach staff for Grades 4-7 on the scientific processes for creating biofuels from switchgrass rather than from corn.
Robinson comes to the Museum with a Ph.D. and an Ed. S. degree in science education from Georgia State University and served as Director of Science Curriculum for Walker County (Ga.) Schools for the past 28 years. Robinson developed and brought many innovative educational programs to the Walker County School System, including but not limited to, the Bug Mobile, a retrofitted school bus “Space Shuttle” and most recently a reconstructed planetarium that will serve the entire North Georgia area. In addition, Robinson has been featured at numerous national conferences and has written for several educational and scientific publications. He currently serves as the President of the Georgia Educational Technology Consortium Board of Directors.
“Wayne brings expertise and unique experience in the field of science education, successful project management and a passion for science education to this position,” said Jayne Griffin, Director of Education at Creative Discovery Museum.
A grant from BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) enabled the Museum to develop curriculum for alternative fuel lessons in collaboration with scientists currently in the field and become an educational model for others in the field. Robinson will represent Creative Discovery Museum in the BESC program in the future. “He is a welcome addition to the excellent staff Creative Discovery Museum already claims and to our valuable partnership with BioEnergy Science Centers (BESC),” said Griffin.
Creative Discovery Museum is the only institution in the United States that has implemented a model biofuels curriculum for elementary age students. For more information on the biofuels program at Creative Discovery Museum, visit www.cdmfun.org.
About Creative Discovery Museum
Creative Discovery Museum is open Mon-Sat: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun: noon-5 p.m. 321 Chestnut Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Creative Discovery Museum is recognized as one of the top children’s museums in the nation. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to educational enrichment for children age’s 4-months to 12-years-old through interactive, hands-on experiences that foster creative and critical thinking. Creative Discovery Museum focuses on a broad range of areas encompassed by Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Technology and the Sciences. In addition to its exhibits, Creative Discovery Museum provides local residents and visitors with special events, educational programming, teacher resources for the classroom, field trips, after school programming, early childhood education classes, artist residencies, camps, art lessons, science demonstrations, and a branch of the local library. Creative Discovery Museum is a funded agency of Allied Arts and Tennessee Arts Commission and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
At the Department of Energy Bioenergy Science Center, a cross-disciplinary team of world-leading experts are working together to make revolutionary advances in understanding and overcoming the recalcitrance of biomass, making it feasible to displace imported petroleum with ethanol and other fuels. In forming BESC, leading researchers from institutions across the United States were recruited to establish a team that brings an unprecedented breadth and depth of expertise to the challenge.
# # # | <urn:uuid:116696a5-35e6-448a-a60f-9dd7b7bea775> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cdmfun.org/page/press-area/press-releases/2011-archive/wayne-robinson-leads-biofuels-outreach-at-creative-discovery-museum | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927756 | 832 | 1.570313 | 2 |
If there is ever an argument in favor of regulation in today’s anti-government political climate in Virginia, one need look no further than the interstate highways.
Buoyed by a wave of intercity bus deregulation about 30 years ago, new bus lines started up using older vehicles, offering no frills and too-often relying on overtired drivers. Many morphed into so-called “Chinatown” buses favored by college students and others on tight budgets that operated up and down the East Coast, from Greensboro, Raleigh, Norfolk, Richmond, Baltimore and Washington hauling passengers to Chinatown on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Charging roundtrip rates often $30 or less, these “Chinatown” buses cost about far below what Greyhound charges and are far less expensive than Amtrak or airline service.
It was pure capitalism at work, and it proved deadly. On May 31, 2011, a driver for Charlotte-based Sky Express was apparently so tired and allegedly so pressed by his dispatcher that he literally fell asleep at the wheel. His bus flipped on Interstate 95 south of Fredericksburg, killing four and injuring 50. Just two and a half months earlier, another fatigued driver carrying passengers from a Connecticut casino to New York’s Chinatown crashed in the Bronx, killing 15.
After a year-long probe, the U.S. Department of Transportation has shut down 26 business entities in five states associated with the “Chinatown” bus system. The carriers, federal regulators claim, racked up numerous safety violations, including using drivers without commercial licenses, requiring them to drive excessive hours and not maintaining equipment. Once challenged, the firms “evaded enforcement by “reincarnating” in other forms, according to DOT. In another macabre example of unfettered capitalism at work, operators of the bus lines simply shut one down when it got in trouble, acquired a new corporate name and painted it on the side of the bus. Off it went.
This story shows something else besides reprehensible safety and the lack of oversight. There is a strong demand in the Washington area and the mid-Atlantic region for reliable, inexpensive intercity bus service. Airline regulation from the 1970s ended up giving big city passengers savings and convenience at the expense of people from less populated areas. While showing signs of some growth, Amtrak is limited by budget problems. High -speed rail plans are going slowly or nowhere at all.
It seems certain that some low-cost bus operation will replace the closed Chinatown liveries. The question is: Will the feds keep watch on safety? | <urn:uuid:007ceb09-5d0c-493f-ac58-35f1ab0a3f54> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-opinions-are-local/post/the-lesson-of-chinatown-buses/2012/06/06/gJQAaxxmIV_blog.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949148 | 536 | 1.984375 | 2 |
Why? Many members of the coalition originally fought for development of Kingsbridge Armory but will abandon support of the project if it doesn't come with a living wage. It's sad that a living wage in New York City is NOT market wage.
"...a pledge to pay more than the market rate would be a death sentence for the project," says a developers spokesman.
Those who play by market rules have obviously figured out how to build big box in New York City. The jobs are welcome at first; the amenities as well. City Planning approves it as a development opportunity, hoping to spur on local business. But then you find out the jobs don't pay a living wage. As the community lives with the unveiled development, it starts to feel the negative impacts of having the development in their neighborhoods: increased traffic, diminished pedestrian experience, a shriveled public life. We're only beginning to learn how to track the physical impacts of such incongruous buildings.
First Gateway Center in the South Bronx. Then East Harlem Plaza. I hope that the Bronx community sticks to its guns on the Kingsbridge project. After the greenlight from the City, the marketplace players can forget all the promises they've made. | <urn:uuid:ac669604-5664-402c-8f4d-cf93e9510142> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://northbird.blogspot.com/2009/11/local-coalition-vows-to-fight-for.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963636 | 244 | 1.890625 | 2 |
A Balancing Act Teen Wire, posted by Corynn, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Oct 4, 2010 at 3:24 pm Corynn is a member (registered user) of Danville Express
One School Day = six hours. That’s not entirely true, when you think about it, you still have to deal with school even after the six hours are done. There is homework that the teachers assign, and also studying for tests and projects. So how much time is left over after you’ve done all of the work? Well, it depends on what time you go to bed and there are many other variables, as well. One variable has to do with how many academic classes you are taking. If you take AP or Honors classes you are going to have more homework and you’ll end up using some of the left over time to study for more tests. They have more curriculum to cover, so there will be more (outside of school) work to do.
But schoolwork isn’t the only thing that takes up the time of a high school student. Sports, theater, chorus, and dance, also take up time during the week (and weekend). You have practices, (with the team and on your own) and then there are the games. There is stress not only on the players to be at every practice and all of the games, but also to keep their grades up and do well in school.
All of these things take away from what teens consider to be the most important part of high school…friends. Football games, homecoming dances, and Facebook, are all ways to develop a deeper relationship with friends. And, as you look around, the relationships built in high school can and will last a lifetime.
The pressure to "be the best" and take the most "challenging classes" is stronger than ever for high school students. Have you ever been told to "do the best you can do" and "if you know you’ve done your best then what ever the outcome is, it will be okay." Well, it’s almost impossible for students not to compare themselves to others. It seems colleges are harder to get into, and we hear it’s harder to get a job, so the people who get attention are the people who do the "best," or the people who have "connections." That leaves out the middle people. As a society we have built a social pyramid and put our students at the bottom, expecting them to climb to the top. Even though parents and adults may not mean to, the pressure to "be the best" and make our parents "proud" is definitely a component.
Yes, going to college and getting a good job are what we need to do for ourselves but there is still a part of us that wants to do it for our parents. But our accomplishments don’t need to be life saving accomplishments to be considered a success. For example, writing a personal narrative about the trip you took last month or painting a picture of your dog sitting on the couch or just writing a card that showed how much they love you can be a success.
Supporting your children and pushing them to do their best is a great thing, but as a society we need to realize that kids have to master the balancing act of a student, an athlete, an actor, a singer, a family member, and a friend on our own.
Sometimes the greatest pressure we feel is the pressure we put on ourselves.
Posted by Kerry Dickinson, a member of the San Ramon Valley High School community, on Oct 6, 2010 at 7:23 am
I'm a parent of two high school students. Have you seen the documentary "Race to Nowhere?"
It addresses all of the stresses you mention in your article. (www.RacetoNowhere.com) And, I also write about these unhealthy stress levels in my blog called East Bay Homework Blog
(Web Link). My question to high school students is how can you make an impact on your family and school community to begin to change this uneven balancing act? Writing and talking about it is a good first step. Perhaps the local high schools can begin student stress forums or something that is student-driven which will help alert parents, teachers and administrators to these problems. I'm willing to help. Write me if you want to talk about some ideas.
Posted by Natalie Bartnick, a member of the San Ramon Valley High School community, on Oct 10, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Yes, I completely agree. It is so hard to do well in school and still have time for sports, theatre and friends. I just don't think the teachers and parents really get it, you know? They just kind of expect it.
Posted by Ashley, a resident of the Blackhawk neighborhood, on Oct 13, 2010 at 3:24 pm
You think parents don’t get it, but we really do. We were once high school students, too! High school is where you are supposed to learn how to balance different aspects of life, and you students should ask your parents why we always say “do your best.” For me and my husband, it is not for us to be able to say how proud we are. We say that as a gentle reminder for our kids because we have more life experience and know what it takes to succeed. As parents, we are just trying to make sure you have every opportunity available to you so you can do whatever you want in the real world and don’t look back and say, “if only…” because I guarantee at some point in your life you will have one of those moments.
Posted by Taylor, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Oct 20, 2010 at 8:23 am
I don't think that that is what she is getting at. We know parents don't mean to put pressure on us, but it does happen sometimes. I think that Corynn is completely right, on the fact that sometimes it does get hard as a student, son/daughter, athlete, thespian, and lots of other things to balance everything. This is a wonderful article Corynn! Keep writing! We love to read them! | <urn:uuid:1ae195c0-97aa-415b-abd9-ea27f8a85d83> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://danvilleexpress.com/square/index.php?i=3&d=&t=2269 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97607 | 1,291 | 2.078125 | 2 |
What is the law in New York State on the use of seat belts and child safety seats on school buses?
NYS law requires all school buses
manufactured after July 1, 1987 to be equipped with seat belts. NYS law does not require the use of seat belts or child safety seats by school bus passengers. A school district can decide to require use of seat belts or safety seats.
The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee web site has information about seat belts and air bags, child safety seats, and school bus safety.
Governor's Traffic Safety Committee Web Site | <urn:uuid:8b2b9601-405e-47c9-b07e-fd1ed6a948a3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nysegov.com/citGuide.cfm?ques_id=311&superCat=106&cat=186&content=relatedFAQs | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955335 | 116 | 2.453125 | 2 |
New Jersey’s legislature has approved a bill to create a new government bureaucracy — a health insurance “exchange” — that would help implement Obamacare’s individual and employer mandates, among other atrocities. Gov. Chris Christie (R) has until May 10 to sign the bill or veto it. Otherwise, it becomes law without his signature. New Jersey would rue the day it created one of these tax-hungry bureaucracies.
Even if you support Obamacare, there’s no point in creating an exchange today when the Supreme Court could strike down the entire law as soon as next month. Illinois Democrats have put their exchange bill on hold until after the court issues its ruling, expected in late June.
But even if the Supremes uphold Obamacare, there is no valid reason to create one of these things.
The proposed exchange would cost the state tens of millions of dollars per year. The bill raises that money by giving bureaucrats the power to tax all health insurance policies, without approval from the legislature. Every time Congress — or federal bureaucrats, or the state — heaps more requirements on the exchange, the bureaucrats can and will raise taxes again.
Supporters warn that if Trenton doesn’t create an exchange for New Jersey, the feds will. But so what? Obamacare gives federal bureaucrats a chokehold on New Jersey’s health insurance markets no matter who runs the exchange, because it requires state-run exchanges to do everything a federal exchange would do. Obamacare has already stripped New Jersey of its sovereignty. The only question is, should New Jersey also pay for the privilege?
Michael F. Cannon
Michael F. Cannon is the Cato Institute's director of health policy studies.
TOWNHALL DAILY: Be the first to read Michael F. Cannon's column. Sign up today
and receive Townhall.com daily lineup delivered each morning to your inbox. | <urn:uuid:f6ecf867-40e5-416b-93e4-f0fd68288fed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/michaelfcannon/2012/05/21/will_christie_volunteer_you_for_obamacares_tax_hikes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930168 | 387 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Instrumental Music in The
In this writing we will make an appeal to secular history by
seeing what people in the past have to say about instrumental music in the
Church. In a statement made by Augustine, a theologian and
historian (354 to 430 AD), he said that singing in his day was more like
speaking than singing. Another figure, Jerome (340 AD), said that musical
instruments were "...very much in use by various cults, in the theatre, the
circus, and pagan worship...and young maidens ought not even to know what a lyre
or a flute is, or what it is used for". Clement of Alexandria said,
"Only one instrument do we use, that is the work of peace wherewith we honor
God; no longer the old psaltery, trumpet, drum and flute". Crysostem had
this to say: "David formerly sang psalms, also today we sing with him.
He had a lyre with lifeless strings. The Church has a lyre with
living strings. Our tongues are the strings of the lyre, with a different
tone indeed, but with a more accordant piety".
History will prove that a cappella
congregational singing was the norm in the Church, however, we see the
beginnings of the modern church choir in the Council of Laodecia:
"...others shall not sing in the Church..." This we see today among many
It might be appropriate at this point to come to more recent
history and quote from a Baptist historian, David Benedict in his book, Fifty
Years Among the Baptists. He had this to say about the introduction of the
organ among the Baptists: "This instrument which from time immemorial has
been associated with cathedral pomp and prelatical power and has always been the
peculiar favorite of great national churches, at length found its way into
Baptist sanctuaries, and the first one ever employed by the denomination in this
country and probably in any other,. might have been seen standing in the singing
gallery of the Old Baptist meeting house in Pawtucket about forty years ago
where I then officiated as pastor, and in the process of time this resort in
church music was adopted by many of our societies which had formerly been
distinguished for the primitive and conventional plainness".
We need to take a little more time for this quote: "The
changes which have been experienced in the feelings of a large portion of our
people have often surprised me. Staunch Old Baptists in former times would
as soon have tolerated the Pope of Rome in their pulpits as an organ in their
He also said on page 282, regarding the removal of a cappella
congregational singing that "the prejudices by degrees began to subside against
this new movement, and the people became more and more interested in the
performance of their singing choirs, and as their congregations were augmented
by the new attraction in their religious worship". The writer goes on to
say, "...we may reasonably expect that the organ will be viewed with favor by
spiritual worshipers, but whenever it shall assume an overwhelming influence and
only a few artistic performers be retained, and
the singers cease, to be directed by men who take little interest in any other
services of the sanctuary except which pertains to their professional duty, then
a machine, harmless in itself, will be looked upon with disfavor, if not with
disgust, by the more pious portion of our assemblies".
Here we see by this noted historian that this instrument was
totally new in the Baptist family and was causing many problems. This book
was published in 1848 and spanned backward fifty years. We also find the
writer saying that if the present trend continued he would expect that
professional men would be "employed" to lead the singing in the Baptist Church.
How true this prediction was in many places.
The Old-line Baptists, described in this book, have spurned
instrumental music in the Church for good reason. History tells us, as
well as the Scriptures, that it is an invention of man; it is not enjoined upon
the Church by her Founder to employ such things.
Another eminent historian, an able
Baptist minister, John Gill, said in his Body of Divinity, pages 962 and
portions of 963: "...it is observed, that David's psalms were sung
formerly with musical instruments, as the harp, timbrel and cymbal, and organs;
and why not with these now? If they are to be disused, why not singing
itself? I answer, these are not essential to singing, and so may be laid
aside... it was usual to burn incense at the time of prayer, typical of Christ's
mediation, and of the acceptance of prayer through it; that is now disused; but
prayer being a moral duty, still remains; the above instruments were used only
when the Church was in its infant state, and what is showy, gaudy, and pompous,
are pleasing to children; and as an ancient writer observes, '...these were fit
for babes, but in the churches (under the gospel dispensation, which is more
manly) the use of these, fit for babes is taken away, and bare or plain singing
is left '. As for organs, of which mention is made in Psalm 150, the word
there used signifies another kind of instrument than those not in use, which are
of later device and use; and were first introduced by a Pope of Rome, Vitalianus,
and that in the seventh century, and not before".
Next, consider an appeal to reason. We read that our
blessed Lord and His disciples "...when they had sung an hymn, they went out..."
(Mark 14-26). This is the Head of the Church singing hymns. Is it
reasonable that they had musical instruments on that night? In a statement
made by Tertullian in the beginning of the Third Century, also recorded in John
Gill's history, page 960, Tertullian speaks of reading the Scriptures,
singing psalms, preaching and prayer as public worship. Does it not stand
to reason that if they had musical instruments it would have been mentioned?
Paul and Silas in prison prayed and sang praises together; they
surely had no musical instruments.
We read an abundance of history of the Waldenses crossing the
mountains and hiding in the valleys of Piedmont, preaching, praying, singing.
Did they have cumbersome musical instruments as they were hiding in the caves
from their persecutors?
Consider the song "How Firm a Foundation, ye saints of the
Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word". This hymn is dear to
our hearts because we associate peace and security in the Lord with those words.
When we hear this played on the organ the reason it is so beautiful is because
we associate the melody with the words, but if we were not familiar with the
song's words and heard the instrument playing, we would have no idea with what
or with Whom to associate the music.
We are not condemning musical instruments in social settings;
the mastery of playing them is a wonderful art and one about which
we marvel, and we have great appreciation for this ability. We are simply
stating they have no place in the worship of God as prescribed in the New
Testament. Quoting from The Primitive Baptist Church at Cozad, Nebraska,
written by Elder W. S. Craig about 1931, on page 59 he states, "Primitive
Baptists are quite generally lovers of instrumental music in their homes, but
they do not believe that such should be used in their churches, as part of their
worship...They do not want any confusing noise to drown their voices and make
unintelligible their words, for they want to sing with the spirit and the
understanding (1 Corinthians. 14:15), and spiritual songs make melody in their
hearts to the Lord (Ephesians. 5:15)".
He continues, quoting Henderson-Buck: "that instrumental
music was not practiced by the primitive Christians, but was the innovation of
later times, is evident from church history". And, from Hawker, 4-639-40,
"I am well aware that some commentators have conceived that they find authority
for their use, in what is said of the harps used in heaven in Revelation 14:2.
But this, in my view, is advancing nothing; they might have as well contended
that what is said of the streets of heaven being paved with gold, literally
means so (Revelation 21:21). If musical instruments were used in
the temple service, we may humbly observe, that they were suited to a
dispensation of types and shadows only; similar to what the apostle saith of
other figurative services in the Church (Hebrews 9:10)
According to my apprehension, under a
gospel dispensation, and in a gospel Church, the only stringed instruments to be
used, are the strings of the heart". An appeal to the Scriptures
reveals that from Matthew 1 through Revelation 22, there is not one reference to
the use of instrumental music in the New Testament Church. Now, in an
appeal to the reader, a very serious question. Do you seek to worship God
in Spirit and in truth, and will you accept in your worship service that for
which we have no injunction from the God in Heaven to employ, or will you accept
what man and his tradition have imposed upon many of the children of God?
Prayerful study will convince anyone seeking to know the truth that the New
Testament mode of worship has no place for
instrumental music. Those who are convinced of this truth already will do
well to continue in "...the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein..." (Jeremiah 6:16).
D. H. Goble in his "Primitive Baptist Hymn Book" said in the preface, "We
are fully persuaded that we had as well preach unsound doctrine as to sing it
with an attempt at devotion".
"Awake, my soul, in joyful lays, And sing thy great Redeemer's
praise; He justly claims a song for me, His loving-kindness, O how free!" | <urn:uuid:0e56ae94-ff2b-4d5d-a761-813b599cd866> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.paradisepbc.org/Articles/Church%20Conduct%20&%20Practice/musicinchurchbillwalden.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973651 | 2,240 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Friday, 15 June 2012
The stars were foolish, they were not worth waiting for.
The moon was shrouded, fragmentary.
Twilight like silt covered the hills.
The great drama of human life was nowhere evident—
but for that, you don’t go to nature.
The terrible harrowing story of a human life,
the wild triumph of love: they don’t belong
to the summer night, panorama of hills and stars.
We sat on our terraces, our screened porches,
as though we expected to gather, even now,
fresh information or sympathy. The stars
glittered a bit above the landscape, the hills
suffused still with a faint retroactive light.
Darkness. Luminous earth. We stared out, starved for knowledge,
and we felt, in its place, a substitute:
indifference that appeared benign.
Solace of the natural world. Panorama
of the eternal. The stars
were foolish, but somehow soothing. The moon
presented itself as a curved line.
And we continued to project onto the glowing hills
qualities we needed: fortitude, the potential
for spiritual advancement.
Immunity to time, to change. Sensation
of perfect safety, the sense of being
protected from what we loved—
And our intense need was absorbed by the night
and returned as sustenance. | <urn:uuid:0e0dc5ec-3316-4a8e-b309-fcd5c62572d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://friko-diamonddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/06/screened-porch.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928351 | 293 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Tracing the Tribe is delighted to have been invited to speak at this year's conference with a theme of such great personal interest. For several years, I've attempted to attend both the Sephardic Anousim and Crypto-Judaic Studies events, but they've always conflicted with the IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. This year, fortunately, the dates worked out and I'll arrive directly from the 30th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy (July 11-16, in Los Angeles).
Rabbi Leon introduced a resolution at the December 2009 United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism biennial convention to honor and remember victims of the Spanish Inquisition on Tisha B’Av. The resolution passed unanimously, applies to Conservative congregations and honors Bnai Anousim who have returned to Judaism. Here's the text:
Resolution on the observance of Tisha B’av to be a day to commemorate the Spanish Inquistion and the return of the Anousim to Judaism
Whereas the holiday of Tisha B’av recalls the very day that the expulsion of the Jews from Spain took place in the year 1492; and
Whereas many Jews were forcibly converted to Christianity publicly, but continued to practice Judaism in secret; and Whereas many of the descendants of these Jews who are called B’nei Anousim have returned formally to Judaism today, and many are in the same process,
Now, therefore be it resolved that the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism calls upon all of its affiliated congregations to formally observe Tisha B’av on an annual basis as an occasion to educate its members about the history and events of the Spanish Inquisition regarding the Jewish people, and to inform its members of the return of the B’nei Anousim to Judaism today; and
Be it further resolved that the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism helps to provide programs, speakers, films, and other appropriate materials for such Spanish Inquisition and B’nai Anousim commemorations on Tisha B’av.The fee is $118 per person (scholarships/subsidies available) and includes meals. Group hotel rates ($79/night including full breakfast) are available at the Holiday Inn, 900 Sunland Park Drive. Mention the B'nai Zion conference when making hotel reservations by June 23 for the special rate.
The Jewish Federation of El Paso provides generous financial assistance for this annual conference.
Payment and registration should be sent by July 1 to Congregation B’nai Zion, 805 Cherry Hill Lane, El Paso, Texas 79912. Contact Sonya Loya or Rabbi Stephen Leon for more information, for the registration form, or call the congregation, 915-833-2222.
Here's the program:
Friday, July 16
-- 6.15pm: Shabbat evening services, traditional Shabbat dinner; Keynote Speaker: Andree Aelion Brooks: “Portugal: Facing up to its Converso Heritage and the Impact upon our B’nai Anousim”
Saturday, July 17
-- 9.30am: Shabbat morning services, Kiddush lunch; Speaker: Andree A. Brooks: “Dona Gracia Nassi, Her Life and Times as a Role Model for Today;"; Speaker: Schelly Talalay Dardashti: “Genealogy 101 & Sephardic Research Trends"
-- Shabbat rest
-- 7pm Mincha; Seudah Shlisheet; Speaker: Rabbi Juan Mejia: “Moving Onward with the Anousim Movement”
-- Ma’ariv & Havdalah
-- Art Gala: Wine and hors d’oeuvres; Introduction by Sonya A. Loya, presenting artists Elizabeth Genova, Dan Grife, artisan Sonya Loya and photographer Peter Svarzbein.
Sunday, July 18
-- 8.30am: Morning services, bagel breakfast; Speaker: Rabbi Stephen A. Leon: “Tisha B’Av: A Resolution Realized”
-- Panel discussion
-- 2.30pm: Play, "Parted Waters," by Robert Benjamin
-- 5pm: Evening services
Monday, July 19
-- Tisha B'av speaker: Dennis Durfee, Portland, Oregon
For more information and the registration form, go to the Bnai Zion website or email Sonya Loya or Rabbi Stephen Leon at the links above. | <urn:uuid:bc33f5a6-e66a-484f-8fb3-641a34f741e5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tracingthetribe.blogspot.com/2010/05/el-paso-7th-sephardic-anousim.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.916149 | 933 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Flashing yellow arrow traffic signals
A safer, more efficient left-turn signal
Flashing yellow arrow traffic signals feature a flashing yellow arrow in addition to the standard red, yellow and green arrows. When illuminated, the flashing yellow arrow allows waiting motorists to make a left-hand turn after yielding to oncoming traffic. Otherwise, the new traffic signals work the same as traditional signals.
Flashing yellow arrow signals have been shown to help drivers make fewer mistakes. They keep motorists safer during heavy traffic and reduce delays when traffic is light. A national study demonstrated that drivers found flashing yellow left-turn arrows more understandable than traditional yield-on-green indications (individual traffic signal lights).
There are more opportunities to make a left turn with the flashing yellow left-turn arrow than with the traditional three-arrow, red, yellow and green indications.
The new traffic signals provide traffic engineers with more options to handle variable traffic volumes. A flashing yellow arrow signal has the same meaning it always has: left turns may proceed with caution after yielding to oncoming traffic. In the past, flashing yellow arrows in Minnesota were only used when the entire traffic signal was in flash-mode. Use of the flashing yellow arrow has been shown to have several benefits including minimizing delays and enhancing safety by reducing driver errors.
Where its used
The majority of newly installed MnDOT traffic signals will have the flashing yellow arrow option. The flashing yellow arrow may be used at any intersection at any time but the most typical use will be at intersections and times-of-day that have lower volumes, lower speeds and other favorable conditions. Retrofitting existing signals to include flashing yellow arrows can be costly and will only be done on a limited basis, when necessary.
What the arrows mean
Solid red arrow: Drivers intending to turn left must stop and wait. Do not enter an intersection to turn when a solid red arrow is being displayed
Solid yellow arrow: The left-turn signal is about to change to red and drivers should prepare to stop or prepare to complete a left turn if they are legally within the intersection and there is no conflicting traffic present.
Flashing yellow arrow: Drivers are allowed to turn left after yielding to all oncoming traffic and to any pedestrians in the crosswalk. Oncoming traffic has a green light. Drivers must wait for a safe gap in oncoming traffic before turning.
Solid green arrow: Left turns have the right of way. Oncoming traffic has a red light.
- Flashing yellow arrow brochure (PDF, 541 KB)
- YouTube video showing sequence for a flashing yellow arrow traffic signal
In December 2009, after extensive testing, the Federal Highway Administration authorized use of flashing yellow arrows nationwide. A study conducted by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program determined that drivers had fewer crashes with flashing yellow left-turn arrows than with traditional yield-on-green signal configurations. | <urn:uuid:374c205e-cf20-4cc9-bdc0-13b5e5fabd39> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dot.state.mn.us/trafficeng/signals/flashingyellowarrow.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.916508 | 581 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Against the backdrop of a crushing collapse in the shares of U.S. coal producers last year, one important segment of the market for U.S. coal celebrated some noteworthy success.
Peering through the wreckage of major producers Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI ) and Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR ) -- both of which have shed roughly half of their market value over the trailing year -- we witness the deep and lasting impacts of the ongoing natural gas revolution. But that's not the whole story!
You see, as diminished domestic coal consumption feeds elevated stockpiles and weakens prices, that underutilized supply becomes increasingly attractive to buyers outside the country.
As we'll explore in greater detail in a forthcoming discussion (bookmark this page to catch my next installment), major producer Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU ) -- my long-standing top pick within the industry -- took decisive steps during 2012 to enhance its access to this important seaborne trade. CONSOL Energy (NYSE: CNX ) -- one of the very few domestic producers to outperform the benchmark Market Vectors Coal Index ETF over the past year -- has undertaken a timely expansion of its key port facility in Baltimore, Md. These efforts highlight the changing character of what it means to be a competitive coal producer within this transformed structure of the U.S. coal market.
We'll survey the relevant transportation infrastructure, and consider which coal producers may be best positioned to access that infrastructure, in a forthcoming discussion later this week. For now, let's get a status report on the particular hotbeds of demand for exported U.S. coals that are so important to these impaired domestic producers. But first, a quick word on the broader outlook for global coal demand.
The medium-term and long-term outlooks for global coal demand remain extremely bullish, with China and India expected to drive roughly 85% of total demand growth over the next several years. By 2016, the addition of 395 gigawatts of coal-fired power plants will grow demand by 1 billion metric tons. Global steel production looks poised for a 20% upswing over the same period, resulting in a substantial surge in metallurgical coal consumption to the tune of 200 million metric tons per year. Combined, these powerful trends will likely drive a 7% annual growth rate in the seaborne trade for coal over the medium term.
Status report: the market for exported U.S. coal
The United States shipped more coal into the global seaborne market last year than ever before -- crushing the previous record of 113 million short tons set back in 1981 -- with 2012 exports reaching 124 million tons. Over the trailing three years, total export volume promptly doubled! Such an astounding growth rate will not be sustained, and 2013 exports will likely see some pullback as domestic consumption rebounds slightly. But those bullish global demand forecasts do bode well for the underlying growth trend over the longer term.
With much of the trailing growth dominated by increased shipments of metallurgical coal in recent years, the more recent reduction in domestic demand for steam coal has now strengthened the base for elevated exports across both product types. The following graphic from the U.S. Energy Information Administration depicts this recent surge in steam coal exports, which -- through the first eight months of 2012 -- accounted for 95% of annualized export growth.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Agency, October 2012. The agency's projection at the time for total 2012 exports of 125 million tons overshot the mark by only 1 million tons.
Now let's have a look at where these coals are heading. With Asia at the epicenter of demand growth, the expanding shipments of U.S. coals to Asia come as no surprise. I discussed the strategic importance of export access to the Pacific seaborne trade, particularly as it pertained to metallurgical coal, back in 2011. What may come as something of a surprise to Fools, meanwhile, is the rate of growth in coal exports to Europe, even in the midst of the continent's noteworthy financial crisis that boiled over during 2012.
Two main factors are behind that growth in Europe's demand for U.S. coal: the diversion to Asian markets of coal supply traditionally bound for Europe, and more notably, the absence of competition from natural gas for power generation under the prevailing price structures there. According to analysts at Deutsche Bank, coal prices would have to rise by roughly $80 per metric ton before natural gas could become competitive with coal for power generation on the continent.
This is fueling what The Economist recently bemoaned as "Europe's dirty secret," an "unwelcome renaissance" in European coal consumption. Coal powered 72% of the electricity generated by RWE Group -- one of the continent's largest utilities -- through the first nine months of 2012. That's fully 6 percentage points higher than the 66% allocation to coal-fired generation during the prior-year period! The next chart, which tracks U.S. coal export volumes according to their destination (for the period between 2001 and 2011), clearly demonstrates the meaningful role of European import demand within the U.S. seaborne market.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Agency, June 2012.
The Foolish bottom line
The coal industry in the United States has been in a state of flux since the arrival of a cheaper alternative for energy production: natural gas. Exports are becoming a much bigger part of the domestic coal landscape. Peabody Energy has attractive deals in place to get its cheaper coal from the Powder River and Illinois Basins to India, China, and the EU. For investors looking to capitalize on a rebound in the U.S. coal market, The Motley Fool has authored a special new premium report detailing exactly why Peabody Energy is perhaps most worthy of your consideration. Don't miss out on this invaluable resource -- simply click here now to claim your copy today.
Later this week, I'll continue this discussion by taking a close look at the transportation network responsible for hauling product from the various U.S. coal basins to their respective port facilities, and loading it onto ships through the nation's key port facilities. We'll explore whether some producers may have an upper hand with respect to accessing this key export market. Please stay tuned by bookmarking my article list or following me on Twitter. | <urn:uuid:8cc7e852-4e13-4629-b625-0bd0dc7f4c79> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/01/16/the-bustling-market-for-exported-us-coal.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945076 | 1,296 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Friday, June 23 2006
Lochindaal was a purpose-built distillery in the Rhinns of Islay which survived in the 20th century. Located in the heart of Port Charlotte village it was constructed for its first licensee, Colin Campbell, in 1829. He only held onto it for two years and subsequently it had many owners: McLennan & Grant from 1831-2; George McLennan 1833-5; Walter Graham 1837; Henderson Lamont & Co until 1852; Rhinns Distillery Co 1852; William Guild & Co to 1855 before a period of stability under the ownership of John B Sherrif until 1895 and then J B Sherrif & Co Ltd up to 1921. It was eventually taken over by Benmore Distilleries Ltd in 1921 prior to that company's acquisition by the DCL. That signalled the end of Lochindaal and it closed in 1929.
Some of it was used by the Islay Creamery until the early 1990's and the shore-side warehouses remain in use by a local garage and the Islay Youth Hostel and Field Centre, whilst a roadside building is now used for vehicle repairs and the distillery cottage is inhabited. The bonded warehouses on the hill behind the distillery site have been in continuous use by other distillers and are currently used by the Bruichladdich Distillery. This is one lost distillery on Islay that has a good photographic history, which clearly records the distillery site during its century of operation
Update: In spring 2007 Bruichladdich announced the reopening of the Lochindaal Distillery and will be called the Port Charlotte Distillery | <urn:uuid:5b23111d-8477-4697-adb3-8d9c67a9513b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.islayinfo.com/article.php/islay_lochindaal_distillery | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964789 | 344 | 1.921875 | 2 |
High winds with gusts of up to 60 to 70 miles per hour may buffet the state tomorrow and Friday, and government officials met today to discuss contingency and communications plans. The National Weather Service, State Civil Defense, and other agencies initiated talks this morning, gearing up for stormy conditions compared to those that hit the state in December 2007.
A low pressure system northwest of Kauai, combined with a cold front passing over the islands, is expected to impact Kauai, Oahu, and Maui, and to some extent the Big Island, according to a notice distributed within the state Department of Health. Sustained winds from the west and southwest may range from 30 to 50 miles per hour, but gusts could be much stronger.
Depending on the severity, the storm could affect schools, utilities, hospitals, and other key facilities.
There may be heavy rains, but the wind is the top concern, with the brunt of the storm expected to hit late Thursday and early Friday. The areas of greatest impact are projected to be:
- Kauai – the East and the Northeast sections.
- Oahu – central Oahu, North Shore, Windward areas.
- Maui – NE side of Molokai, central valley, West Maui and Haleakala.
Residents and businesses are advised to take the usual precautions to protect people and property. These include identifying vulnerabilities such as loose roofing and other debris, trimming trees and shrubs near buildings, storing heavy objects low to the ground, and securing anything that might topple or blow around.
The high winds will also bring high surf, and waves of up to 25 feet have been forecast for the North Shore of Oahu. | <urn:uuid:7387bef1-688e-4866-9c9f-28e53fabf816> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hawaiiweblog.com/2009/01/14/state-braces-for-high-winds | 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 | 0.944699 | 346 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Learning, Sharing, Growing
Established in 1886, the Syracuse Camera Club is one of the oldest
photography organizations in the United States. The first members were all men,
mostly in professional fields, interested in what was then a relatively new art form.
Today, our members are men and women of all ages and from all walks of life.
We are avid amateur and semi-professional photographers who meet to promote the enjoyment and mastery
of the art and craft of photography. We hold competitions, slide shows, workshops
and other events where we share and learn from each other, as well as from top experts. Prospective members and guests are always welcome to attend our meetings.
We have monthly slide
shows where members give presentations on a topic of their choice.
It could be a travelogue or organized around a theme that helps us
to see the world around us with fresh eyes. Recent shows have taken
us sailing and to Tibet. You can find out what's coming up on our
We usually round out the month with a workshop.
This might be one of our members sharing a special technique,
a professional photographer demonstrating how to light a portrait,
or someone from the Syracuse Newspapers sharing their portfolio and
talking about what their work day is like.
All Are Welcome
Membership is open to everyone who loves photography, from beginners to professionals to those who just enjoy seeing exciting images. Our meetings are held at the Reformed Church at 1228 Teall Avenue, on the east side of Syracuse just south of James Street (directions). Visitors are always welcome. For information on joining the club, see the membership page.
Syracuse Camera Club images on Zenfolio
You can view the work of some of our members on the following web site:
(click on the image to go there, the site will open in a new window)
Where You Can See Our Work
In addition to our monthly competitions, and the
Zenfolio website where some members show their work (see below), the Syracuse Camera Club has organized exhibitions at local galleries and other venues. We have had group exhibits at the Image City Gallery in Rochester, the Delavan Art Gallery and the Technology Garden in Syracuse, and at the Liverpool Library and Baltimore Woods Nature Center. Individual club members have also exhibited at these and other spaces, and have had their work accepted into many regional photography and art shows.
There is a list of all current and upcoming shows on the exhibitions page. | <urn:uuid:7f97ab46-00da-40ca-b5aa-5f02325dec83> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.syracusecameraclub.org/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964638 | 508 | 1.546875 | 2 |
US to sell wind energy leases off 3 states
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The federal government plans to sell leases for wind farms off the coasts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Virginia, marking the first time it has sold competitive leases for wind energy on the outer continental shelf, officials said Friday.
The leases for the two areas, which total more than 430 square miles, will be sold next year, the Department of Interior and its Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said.
"Wind energy along the Atlantic holds enormous potential, and today we are moving closer to tapping into this massive domestic energy resource to create jobs, increase our energy security and strengthen our nation's competitiveness in this new energy frontier," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a written statement.
The announcement was hailed by the conservation group Oceana, which called it a major step in developing domestic clean energy.
"We're getting a step closer to seeing real turbines out there in the water," said Nancy Sopko, the group's ocean advocate. "The more progress is made, it sends that signal out to the rest of the world that the U.S. is serious about developing wind energy here."
The zone off Rhode Island and Massachusetts, which sits a little about 10 miles off Rhode Island's shore, will be leased in two parcels. The Virginia area, about 27 miles off the southern part of the state, will be available as a single lease, the Department of Interior said. Officials said each area could be developed to generate enough electricity to power 700,000 homes.
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- 7748Story behind the photo: Family members describe desperate search for one another after EF5 twister | <urn:uuid:401afa20-8084-4cfc-8cf4-3a0a949668ac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newsok.com/us-to-sell-wind-energy-leases-off-3-states/article/feed/469554/?page=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92157 | 481 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Everybody stalks a little. Let’s face it. Stalking is really is just a manifestation of curiosity. While these images might be what comes to mind when you hear the word of a “stalker”, in reality you really need be worried about these guys…
No longer do you need to sit behind someone in class or hide in a tree or whatever. Suddenly, people are willing to upload personal information onto the web. Realizing the need to gather this information, the Prince of Stalking himself Mark Zuckerberg created what he called “The Facebook”.
Look at that guy. He single-handedly boxed out competitors like MySpace and Friendster. Since it was released in 2004, over 1 billion people have joined; sharing their personal information, interests, and pictures to a flourishing online community. He built the stalkers finest playground.
Urban Dictionary, the authority on this sort of subject matter defines Facebook stalking as “A covert method of investigation using facebook.com. Good for discovering a wealth of information about people you don’t actually know.”
Alright, let’s illustrate the practice with a situation….
Solution: Advanced Search. While it has been stripped down the past few years, it is still a powerful stalking tool. The first guy failed because he has no idea what he is doing. The second guy has narrowed it down a little but by school has a long road ahead of him. The third guy is golden, he utilized the name AND university search parameters, found the girl, and guess what…..2 mutual friends!
Once the stalkee’s profile has been located, it is time to mine whatever data you can. With the new privacy settings, this can often be limited, but most of the time you will be able to see profile pictures and general information, including mutual friends. If you do share a mutual friend, it might be time to call that friend up for a favor.
Meeting in real life should seem unplanned. I know actually talking a to girl/guy can be intimidating for some stalkers, but if you get this far you can actually send them a friend request on Facebook.
Be sure to ask the stalkee basic questions: “Oh, where did you go to school? Where do you work? Oh that’s interesting!”
Whatever you do, don’t let on to the fact you already know all of this information….CREEPBALL!
Once they have accepted your friend request, it is time to really get your stalk on. Take this opportunity to completely judge them and make inferences on what type of person they are. Are they are worth pursuing, questionable, or just out of the question…
The main thing you have to worry about is the same-way-stander or the dreaded duckface. It’s the same look! I feel like I am taking crazy pills!
They must be hiding something.
The next tool in the stalker’s toolkit is the “see friendship” button – basically created for jealous Facebook stalkers. Click it and stare at a relationship you were entirely absent from. Look at all the pics and events they have shared. Pick it apart piece by piece. Learn to hate people you don’t even know.
Facebook chat is something I have grown to love and hate. On one hand… It allows you to spark a conversation that seems unplanned. You are on Facebook, I’m here, no big deal. It’s a seemingly nonchalant approach when compared to calling or texting.
On the other hand, it is buggy as hell and there is a large risk of sending unrequited messages….embarrassing
Some basic Do’s and Don’ts:
DO…Stick to Facebook stalking in private. Close all of your tabs when you leave your computer! If the evidence isn’t there, it never happened, right?
DON’T….creep on you cell phone. It is much easier to accidentally “like” something on a touch screen. For example, a picture of your ex and their new boyfriend or girlfriend. Awkward!
Take this fine young gentleman here: he is probably leaving an awfully thought out message that he thinks is HILARIOUS at the time. For this scenario I would recommend Webroots social media sobriety test. It’s like a roadside test for your finger to protect yourself from this sort of thing.
DO…take it EASY??? Checking out your ex to see if they downgraded is fine. But to check out their new boyfriend’s job, friends, his fraternity. etc is going overboard. Don’t even think about friending him either. Walk away from your computer, stretch, and take some deep breaths.
Don’t…Play Farmville. It is the only thing creepier than stalking.
As you know – Facebook can turn the most confident people into crazy stalkers, and it’s OK. Whether you are clicking through 100s of pics or looking at every single post on their wall….It’s not like we are sitting in a windowless van outside their house, right?! We are just reading what they want us to read! No Privacy settings?? No problem!
And in conclusion…Stalking isn’t even that weird anymore. In fact, it is beginning to be portrayed in modern and sure to be classic literature as a sign of devotion and love. Perhaps we should give Facebook due credit for this wonderful paradigm shift. I love you Facebook… | <urn:uuid:ef22f560-0b89-4080-bbee-3687412aa65e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.booyahadvertising.com/blog/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950895 | 1,160 | 1.695313 | 2 |
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The aim of this three-day conference is to improve health and science education in classrooms and communities around the world. It will bring together leading educators, innovators, and pioneers in a multidisciplinary forum to promote improvements and innovations in health and science education. This exceptional event will connect people from diverse communities and professional backgrounds and offer unique opportunities for networking and building collaborations. The first day will present a research forum focusing on methodologies for evaluating educational programs. The second day will include panels and keynote speakers engaging with the audience, both onsite and online, to discuss local and global successes and challenges in education and health. The third day will offer hands-on workshops and group discussions for teacher training, support, and collaboration as well as a poster session by teachers, for teachers.
See details on the conference program page
- To identify successful examples of effective public health education programs, their implementation models, and evaluation metrics
- To analyze the challenges in designing effective, scalable, and cost-effective public health education programs
- To identify strategies, methodologies, and incentives for developing future public health programs that yield large-scale improvements in health outcomes in our communities
Invited Speakers include Cindy Brock (teacher), Alex Jadad (innovator), and Nancy Lorenzi (academic).
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Teachers, health professionals, public health educators, community health services groups, university professors, and students in the fields of education, public health, medicine, social science, engineering, and e-health are all encouraged to attend. We expect to have more than 300 participants from around the globe.
WHY THIS CONFERENCE IS IMPORTANT
The Cure4Kids Global Summit addresses issues in public health.
Health and education are inextricably linked. The need for effective and scalable
cancer, health, and science education programs is increasing due to rising levels of
chronic disease. Current approaches are not yielding scalable, sustainable solutions.
Since the problem is complex, we need new approaches that combine multiple
disciplines such as education, medicine, the sciences, and public health to create
innovative solutions. We need to develop opportunities and strategies to involve and
engage teachers, children and families in new health education approaches. Recent
statistics show that nearly one in three U.S. high school students do not graduate
every year. International student achievement tests show that U.S. students rank
well below many other developed countries in science and math. More than one third
of adults in the United States have only basic or below basic levels of health literacy,
or the ability to read, understand, and use healthcare information. Large scale public
health education initiatives have been developed to help deal with issues such as
nutrition, exercise, and smoking, yet, despite billions of dollars of research and
public health expenditures, obesity, heart disease, and preventable cancers remain
large public health problems. Over half of the deaths in the world are due to just four
chronic conditions — diabetes, lung diseases, some cancers, and heart disease —
caused by three risk factors — smoking, poor diet, and lack of physical activity. The
World Health Organization reports that “chronic disease epidemics take decades to
become fully established; given their long duration, there are many opportunities for
prevention that require a long-term and systematic approach to treatment.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 North Danny Thomas Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38105 | <urn:uuid:fdd6d1de-e7f5-4515-99c4-c9721e934294> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cure4kids.org/ums/home/public_area/conf/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925636 | 725 | 2.796875 | 3 |
If bird flu ever begins to spread between people, we wouldn't expect the government to ask the bloke down the pub for advice on how to handle the crisis. We'd expect ministers to consult a crack team of virologists.
While most of us might have an opinion on solving the debt crisis or the housing shortage, when it comes to the details of cutting-edge science we need people who have demonstrated a sound grasp of the field in question.
Scientists are often said to stand aloof from society – and the political process. The work of a researcher in a lab or at a computer requires long hours of intense concentration to ensure their efforts stand up to the scrutiny of their peers. It's little wonder that so few scientists want to get mixed up with the messy business going on in the House of Commons or Whitehall.
Bob Watson has managed it, though. The chief scientific adviser (CSA) at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Watson retains a foothold in academia as a professor of environmental sciences at the University of East Anglia. The arrangement was recently praised by the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology. In its report Strengthening the Role of Chief Scientific Advisers, the committee even went so far as to recommend it for all CSAs, suggesting that most of them should be employed only on a part-time basis so that they can conduct outside research.
However, in its response to the report – published on Friday – the government has rejected the idea that most CSAs should be part-time, saying instead that individual departments, not government, should set CSAs' hours.
Even if a CSA can juggle a role in research with one in Whitehall, the committee found that they may still experience difficulty in plugging science into the policy process. Giving evidence at the Lords' inquiry, former Home Office CSA Professor Paul Wiles admitted that access to ministers was never automatic. "I think part of the job of a CSA is to make sure they kick the door down," he said.
It's fun to imagine an outraged scientist barging into a minister's office with stacks of data printouts on whether a badger cull is the right way to combat tuberculosis in cows, but does it have to be this way? The Lords didn't think so, because they also recommended that CSAs have a right of direct access to ministers, and the government has agreed, albeit without turning this into a formal policy.
For the time being, while CSAs continue kicking down doors, one institution will sit above the fray. The House of Lords has "an extraordinary breadth and depth of expertise", according to Chris Tyler, the science policy academic set to take over as head of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (Post) in June. "The role of the House of Lords in scrutinising parliamentary legislation is greatly benefited by that."
But bills with elements of science are ripe for the special kind of peer review that only the Lords provides. When it comes to science, the Lords contains an impressive bunch – from zoologist John Krebs to astronomer Martin Rees and fertility doctor Robert Winston, who was voted "Peer of the year" by fellow parliamentarians in 2008 for his work on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
But most peers are not scientists or even lay science champions. And in any case, a peer with a science background may have conducted their research decades ago and is now out of touch. So Post is working on a study of how peers access science with the idea of setting up an induction scheme to keep new peers abreast of scientific progress. In its report, due in September, Post will also look at how to ensure peers receive independent information when they assess partisan claims made by lobbyists.
While the Lords rejoices in an impressive display of scientific expertise, the House of Commons puts on a poor show. "There are very few MPs who have any sound scientific knowledge," laments Julian Huppert, the only MP whose former employment was as a research scientist (only two other MPs have PhDs). Huppert is frequently calling for more MPs with a science background. He said recently: "We need to encourage people from a diverse range of careers and backgrounds to enter politics so that we have a mix which is more representative of the people that we have been elected to serve."
This point about proportionality is illustrated in the graphic at the top of this article (click to enlarge). Using data from the Science Council's 2011 report into the UK's science workforce, it shows that proportional representation of those in a primary science role among the general population (1.2 million people) would result in their occupying 13 of the 650 seats. Including those in a secondary science role (4.6 million), this rises to 60 seats. And yet at present only one seat is occupied by a scientist from a research background – Huppert's.
But soothing concerns over how science is handled in parliament cannot be as simple as electing more scientists to Westminster. The main problem, says Ian Taylor, a science minister in John Major's government, is that addressing science in parliament is not a particularly good way to climb the greasy pole. "Those of us who did talk a lot about science were regarded as being a little bit geeky and slightly strange," says Taylor. He recalls talking about space exploration in the Commons, when "the reaction from the front benches was that they'd love to give me a one-way ticket".
If this was how Taylor, who doesn't have a science background, is treated in parliament, you can understand the reluctance of actual scientists to become involved in politics. And, in any case, Huppert's call for more scientists in parliament skips over two key points.
First, in focusing on an elected chamber, Huppert overlooks not only the role of the government's CSAs but also the thousands of scientists employed across the civil service. It also ignores the opportunities to improve the way mechanisms such as the select committees and Post incorporate current scientific research from our universities and institutes into policy formation.
Second, it seems people outside parliament are becoming more engaged. More scientists are lobbying MPs on science issues and activists are tracking MPs' records in order to force them to commit to evidence-based policy. As former Times science editor Mark Henderson argues in his newly published book, The Geek Manifesto, "The geeks are on the march."
In my next article, I'll explore whether geeks could really force a cultural change among politicians. | <urn:uuid:acad1175-86d1-4704-8b20-446e2d020f66> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/may/11/kicking-down-doors-scientific-advice-governments | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968294 | 1,335 | 1.84375 | 2 |
BERKELEY (CBS 5) — A Bay Area start-up has come up with a unique way of selling greeting cards that relies on new technology and old-fashioned honesty.
The company, called Tapgreet, puts free-standing card displays in coffee shops. Each display holds hundreds of different cards, all out in the open and unguarded.
A sign on the display directs customers to use a quick response (QR) code to access the Tapgreet site to browse the collection, choose and pay for a card. It then gives them a precise location to find their card in the display.
“It’s kind of like a Redbox for greeting cards,” Tapgreet co-founder Paul Bussi told CBS 5 Consumerwatch.
“We look at it as changing the way greeting cards are sold,” Bussi said. Among the changes: displaying the cards on their sides to take up less space, and putting them in a place where people have time on their hands, such as Berkeley’s Espresso Roma.
“It’s just a place where it makes sense to browse for a card,” Bussi said.
But it doesn’t always go according to plan. “Sometimes they take the cards to the register and try to pay for them there,” said Espresso Roma manager Jason Hood. Hood said most customers catch on quickly, however.
Tapgreet is not the first company to test consumers on their honesty. Over the summer, drink maker Honest Tea conducted experiments in thirty cities to see if people would pay for its drinks at unmanned pop-up stores. Oakland and San Francisco were found to be among the most honest places in the nation, with nearly everyone paying, even when no one was watching.
Bussi said the business is working out well so far. He said he may make adjustments, if needed. “We imagine it as a kiosk that’s in hundreds of places when we fast forward a couple years,” he said.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.) | <urn:uuid:18af6053-abd8-4738-b190-fb9695acf84c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/09/06/consumerwatch-bay-area-card-company-sells-online-via-honor-system/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956591 | 456 | 1.5 | 2 |
Boy, George Bush must not have liked his Granddaddy Prescott very much. Here’s what he just said to Israel’s Knesset:
Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is – the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.
Or maybe it’s just negotiating with Nazis that’s the problem–making tons of dough by serving as their banker? The Bush family doesn’t appear to have any problem with that.
George Bush’s grandfather, the late US senator Prescott Bush, was a director and shareholder of companies that profited from their involvement with the financial backers of Nazi Germany.
The Guardian has obtained confirmation from newly discovered files in the US National Archives that a firm of which Prescott Bush was a director was involved with the financial architects of Nazism.
His business dealings, which continued until his company’s assets were seized in 1942 under the Trading with the Enemy Act, has led more than 60 years later to a civil action for damages being brought in Germany against the Bush family by two former slave labourers at Auschwitz and to a hum of pre-election controversy.
If we had a press corps with any historical memory, I guess, such a statement might get Bush in trouble (not to mention make it difficult for his hosts who invited a lame duck grandson of a banker to the Nazis to speak to the Knesset). But instead they’re likely to focus on the false claim that Obama wants to appease Hamas. | <urn:uuid:a4fce070-813b-4fd3-ba71-b4f2e8c2c656> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/05/15/grandson-of-nazi-enabler-decries-talking-to-nazis/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984501 | 382 | 1.734375 | 2 |
(Getting geared up in the fishing vest P-Pa bought Hunter.
A must-have for any fisherman.)
***(Click here and copy/paste this link into a new window so you can listen to this song while reading the rest of the post.)***
(Hunter waited patiently while P-Pa loaded up the fishing boat.)
(As you can tell by his hands, he was eager with anticipation.)
(P-Pa talked to Hunter about the sounds he was hearing, how to paddle a boat
and what they were going to use to bait the hook.)
(This is one of my all-time favorite photos. I captured the moment--he is looking
right at my Dad with eyes of full admiration and my Dad has no idea he's being watched.)
(Hunter felt the need to check the water conditions often.)
Hunter really practiced patience as we waited for the fish. He kept attempting to lure the fish by singing, "Here fishy, fishy. Eat that worm!" over and over again.
And persistence paid off...
(Just look at the delight on his face!)
(....and my dad's face.)
After a brief lesson on a fish's mouth,
That day was a gift to my son as well as me because my dad taught my son one of life's greatest lessons--how to fish.
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
One day we will have a boat and we'll go out on the ocean and ride a pony on that boat but, for now, I'm just as happy if only with my memory of two of my favorite boys in our own little boat. (Thank you Dad! I love you!) | <urn:uuid:786fa02b-75a0-4864-9f73-2adf1b38c060> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mylittlehappies.blogspot.com/2011/08/life-lessons.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971266 | 366 | 1.539063 | 2 |
May 1, 2012 On 5 and 6 June this year, millions of people around the world will be able to see Venus pass across the face of the Sun in what will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It will take Venus about six hours to complete its transit, appearing as a small black dot on the Sun's surface, in an event that will not happen again until 2117.
In this month's Physics World, Jay M Pasachoff, an astronomer at Williams College, Massachusetts, explores the science behind Venus's transit and gives an account of its fascinating history.
Transits of Venus occur only on the very rare occasions when Venus and Earth are in a line with the Sun. At other times Venus passes below or above the Sun because the two orbits are at a slight angle to each other. Transits occur in pairs separated by eight years, with the gap between pairs of transits alternating between 105.5 and 121.5 years -- the last transit was in 2004.
Building on the original theories of Nicolaus Copernicus from 1543, scientists were able to predict and record the transits of both Mercury and Venus in the centuries that followed.
Johannes Kepler successfully predicted that both planets would transit the Sun in 1631, part of which was verified with Mercury's transit of that year. But the first transit of Venus to actually be viewed was in 1639 -- an event that had been predicted by the English astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks. He observed the transit in the village of Much Hoole in Lancashire -- the only other person to see it being his correspondent, William Crabtree, in Manchester.
Later, in 1716, Edmond Halley proposed using a transit of Venus to predict the precise distance between Earth and the Sun, known as the astronomical unit. As a result, hundreds of expeditions were sent all over the world to observe the 1761 and 1769 transits. A young James Cook took the Endeavour to the island of Tahiti, where he successfully observed the transit at a site that is still called Point Venus.
Pasachoff expects the transit to confirm his team's theory about the phenomenon called "the black-drop effect" -- a strange, dark band linking Venus's silhouette with the sky outside the Sun that appears for about a minute starting just as Venus first enters the solar disk.
Pasachoff and his colleagues will concentrate on observing Venus's atmosphere as it appears when Venus is only half onto the solar disk. He also believes that observations of the transit will help astronomers who are looking for extrasolar planets orbiting stars other than the Sun.
"Doing so verifies that the techniques for studying events on and around other stars hold true in our own backyard.. In other words, by looking up close at transits in our solar system, we may be able to see subtle effects that can help exoplanet hunters explain what they are seeing when they view distant suns," Pasachoff writes.
Not content with viewing this year's transit from Earth, scientists in France will be using the Hubble Space Telescope to observe the effect of Venus's transit very slightly darkening the Moon. Pasachoff and colleagues even hope to use Hubble to watch Venus passing in front of the Sun as seen from Jupiter -- an event that will take place on 20 September this year -- and will be using NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which is orbiting Saturn, to see a transit of Venus from Saturn on 21 December.
"We are fortunate in that we are truly living in a golden period of planetary transits and it is one of which I hope astronomers can take full advantage," he writes.
Editors note: Looking directly at the sun can cause severe and permanent eye damage. Do not look directly at Venus' transit of the sun.
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- Jay M Pasachoff. Venus: it's now or never. Physics World, Volume 25, Issue 5, May 2012 [link]
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead. | <urn:uuid:8ed69503-90e8-44b7-84f0-994f63ec80c4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501085556.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944496 | 862 | 3.859375 | 4 |
Welcome to the eXtension Family Caregiving web resource brought to you by Extension professionals throughout the United States.
As more and more caregivers (family members and other individuals) provide care to adults needing assistance, we hope you’ll “bookmark” this web site so you can access information and resources when answers are needed, regardless of the time of day or your location.
To help you answer your family caregiver questions or concerns, this web site offers frequently asked questions, articles on caregiving topics, learning opportunities through online learning activities and state-specific family caregiver demographic fact sheets.
About eXtension Family Caregiving
We strive to become the “go-to educational web site” for family caregivers as they seek answers to their questions and needs.
To meet the educational and decision-making needs of family caregivers and the professionals who support them by providing evidence (science/research)-based information and learning opportunities through the Internet-based eXtension initiative.
- Create a collaborative educational resource among Extension professionals and other professionals who provide services to family caregivers. This resource will provide valuable educational information that benefits family caregivers.
- Provide appropriate information and learning opportunities that are science-based, peer-reviewed, and timely.
- Partner with individuals and organizations that provided research-based educational resources to family caregivers by linking to their sites and cooperating on the development of new resources.
- Become a resource that shares the family caregiving educational resources available through Cooperative Extension and helps to establish Extension as a national partner in the creation, implementation, and evaluation of family caregiver educational resources.
Extension colleagues from throughout the United States serve on the content groups to develop, adapt, and review frequently asked questions, articles, and online learning activities. They are the persons who keep the site up-to-date with current information and resources. Meet the Family Caregiving Community of Practice Steering Committee.
Please Share Your Thoughts and Ideas With Us
We are anxious to hear from you regarding the site and welcome your feedback. Please send us your comments and suggestions for frequently asked questions, ideas for online learning activities, and suggestions of potential partners and/or web sites we should explore or to which we should connect. | <urn:uuid:64f3a44f-8b7b-4b85-87bc-922266a55f54> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.extension.org/pages/9262/family-caregiving-community-page | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923751 | 456 | 1.796875 | 2 |
The path to your current location in our website is:
Annual Report of the Inspector of Factories and Workshops of the State of New Jersey
Annual Reports, 1883-1904
In 1883 New Jersey passed the Child Labor Law regulating the hours of employment of children, minors and women with the object of protecting the young from "heartlessness, greed and neglect" The law regulated the employment of children by age, type of establishment (factory, workshop or mine) and hours of operation. It also related to the schooling and employment of children between twelve and fifteen and established the position of Inspector of Factories and Workshops.
According to the 1880 census there were over 7,000 manufacturing establishments in New Jersey with the majority of children employed in Passaic county but also in Essex, Mercer and Hudson.
These reports include the names of the factories visited, type of manufacture, number of men, women and children employed, number of children dismissed for being underage, accidents investigated. In some instances it lists the names and ages of children employed in the factories. | <urn:uuid:b341870f-14b9-4f5b-839f-5ebbbcb41b57> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://slic.njstatelib.org/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/Factories.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952473 | 218 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Art Directors Guild Awards 2013
What’s real and what isn’t? Which stories can be you believe, and why are some stories more believable than others? These underlying themes of “Life of Pi” are explored within images that are so beautiful, so breathtaking that David Gropman’s design for the film tells its own parallel tale of magic in the natural world, of the extraordinary beauty and mystery to be found in the sky, the sea, in animals and fish, and tropical forests.There are magnificent scenes of exotic worlds. Pi grows up in Pondicherry, a serene and picturesque city in South India, and it’s all the more magnificent because Gropman designed and built a great deal of it at an abandoned airport in Taiwan. Those scenes of India, and its 19th century zoo and botanic garden, visually foreshadow the journey Pi will take into a world of wild beasts, lush jungles, and the golden beauty of sun and sky. The movie has endless spectacles. An enraged ocean, tossing about a doomed freighter filled with zoo animals, like a South Asian Noah’s Ark, is convincing and frightening. David’s work on this movie is a masterpiece of control, visualizing a novel that was universally considered impossible to film. Shooting in India, Canada and Taiwan, he has captured the essence of Yann Martel’s book. There is very little dialogue through much of this film; there doesn’t need to be. Nature is portrayed as an enchanting mystery. That picture is worth ten thousand words.
Baugh’s credits include “The Dale Earnhardt Story.” | <urn:uuid:09c60c09-92f2-4da4-88a8-7279e4cc6271> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://variety.com/2013/film/news/michael-baugh-on-david-gropman-for-life-of-pi-1118065426/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93917 | 346 | 1.992188 | 2 |
The Mountain Hikes
Some of the Caribbean's lushest terrain, Puerto Rico's prime woodlands, are protected through a system of forest reserves, many established by the Spanish government as far back as 1876. These are among the oldest forest reserves in the Western Hemisphere.
The most popular and most visited place outside of San Juan is the 28,000-acre Caribbean National Forest, 40 kilometers southeast and a forty-five minute drive from San Juan. Better known simply as El Yunque, the nickname comes from the good Indian spirit Yuquiyu who ruled from the mighty forest peaks to protect the Taino Indians, the island's original inhabitants. El Yunque is both the smallest and the only tropical forest in the U.S. National Forest System. In its highest and most inaccessible altitudes, the virgin forest remains much as it was 500 years ago. This is rare, because over the centuries Puerto Rico has been subject to such intensive agricultural development that only one percent of the land is considered virgin.
The higher peaks annually receive as much as 240 inches, while lower down it's deluged with 200 inches of precipitation each year. The Forest Service has figured that it comes to almost 100 billion gallons of water every twelve months. Understandably, there is a serious erosion and trail maintenance problem in El Yunque.
Severely damaged by Hurricane Hugo, El Yunque is recovering faster than most experts predicted. Hugo toppled some trees and stripped all vegetation of its leaves so that the landscape resembled the dead of winter. Not only is the forest returning to normal, new panoramic vistas have opened which were previously blocked by a dense mantle of thick green vegetation. Eventually, these lookout points will be obscured by the new growth regenerating quickly in this warm, moist climate.
You won't have much problem walking the different trails; most are surfaced with asphalt or concrete. In fact, you may be disappointed at how hard-surfaced the forest pathways are. There are two reasons for this. One is to combat erosion. Some sections of forest sidewalk have to be repaired and replaced almost every year because of the torrential runoffs.
The second reason for the hard-surfaced paths is wonderfully unique, even for the Caribbean. As one Puerto Rican tourism official explained to me, "We don't like to walk. We are a 'car' people and we like to drive everywhere. The idea of walking through the forest on dirt paths where you might get your shoes dirty does not truly appeal to a lot of us."
And so a mini-road system (the width of a typical bicycle path) travels through the El Yunque wilderness to make the forest as accessible and as alluring as the Puerto Rican culture will allow. With this kind of cultural perspective, it should be no surprise that at present there isn't a single company specializing in hiking or wilderness guide service.
El Yunque's best known and most vocal inhabitants are its millions of tiny tree frogs. Known as coquis because of their "co-kee" call, they sing loudest when it rains. Despite how often that occurs, the frogs seem to become deliriously happy with each new sprinkle. If you want to hear the coquis sing, expect to get wet; you probably will, anyway, at some point during the day. The coquis of El Yunque are only about an inch in length and vary in color from gray-brown to green-yellow.
Although the coqui name applies to all thirteen species of tree frogs in El Yunque, only two, the Forest and Common Coqui actually produce the famous "co-kee" sound. Each of the other species has its own distinct call; some sound like "bob white" quail.
The Puerto Rican parrot can also be heard squawking, but won't be seen often. In 1968, the wild parrot population in El Yunque was estimated at only twenty-seven birds, barely a surviving population. Currently making a comeback, their numbers are still small. You can identify the parrots, largely green in color, by the brilliant blue of their wings, visible when in flight. Twelve inches in size, they have a vivid red forehead which you're most likely to see only at close range. Although the Puerto Rican parrot is the most famous, fifty other bird species are found in the Caribbean National Forest.
You may see a fair number of lizards and crabs, but snakes are rare. None of them are poisonous. The largest is the Puerto Rican boa (harmless to adults) which grows to a length of more than seven feet.
Hiking Trails of El Yunque
Unless otherwise indicated, all trails begin on Route 191, which winds through much of the forest. Distances in Puerto Rico are measured in both miles and kilometers: 1 km equals .6 of a mile.
1. Big Tree Trail
Length: Less than 1 mile.
Time: 25 minutes each way.
Beginning at km mark 10.4, Big Tree Trail is probably El Yunque's most popular walk. It is the best walk through the tabonuco or true rain forest, offering more diversity in one small area than perhaps anywhere else. You can try counting and distinguishing the 160 different tree species here, not counting ferns and vines (good luck!). This short walk also goes to La Mina falls.
One distinctive species of the rain forest is the candle tree. The smooth gray bark oozes a pungent white resin (smells similar to pine pitch) that can be used to start fires. Even more remarkable is the laurel sabino which grows nowhere else in the world except in the Caribbean National Forest. The laurel sabino is draped with a dense community of vines and airplants that use the tree for support. They do not cause it any harm.
With luck, you may see some of El Yunque's eight different lizard species, most of whom live in the rain forest zone. Each type has adapted to its particular niche so that none compete. For instance, some species live on the ground, others in trees; one in the sun, another in the shade—a good example of peaceful coexistence.
Don't expect to see the usual, forest-type creatures in this or any other rain forest. They would need to float to survive here.
2. La Mina (The Mine) Trail
Length: about one mile to the mine beyond La Mina Falls.
Time: 1 hour each way.
An extension of The Big Tree Trail opened in 1992, it picks up at La Mina Falls. It leads through the rain forest to another waterfall three to four times as large. It also goes to a mine where the Spanish discovered and took a considerable amount of gold. Visitors may enter the mine tunnel, a seven to eight foot-wide opening, high enough to stand. The tunnel extends forty feet back, then is cut off by a landslide.
3.-4.-5. El Yunque/Bano de Oro/Mt. Britton Trails
Length: 4.7 km to El Yunque Peak and 3.3 km to Mt. Britton.
Time: 2-1/2 to 3 hours, round trip to El Yunque Peak.
Difficulty: 2, some mild ascending. Note: At the higher levels the asphalt trail turns to gravel.
Beginning at the Palo Colorado Visitor Center, this asphalt trail eventually leads to El Yunque Peak, 3,496 feet high. It also connects with several other trails and branches to the Caimitillo picnic area. All the trails separate and leave from the main El Yunque Trail; a sign clearly marks each turnoff, so it's almost impossible to get lost.
At the beginning is the Palo Colorado Stream. You can detour left up to the old concrete swimming pool at the end of the half-mile long Ba-o de Oro Trail.
Back on the main El Yunque Trail, after just a few hundred yards, another branch leaves to the right. It leads to the Caimitillo Picnic Area and the short walking trail there. The trail to follow (unless you're hungry for a picnic) goes left, the main El Yunque Trail and the one from which all the other major trails eventually branch off.
Palo colorado or, red trees, dominate this lower level. You'll also see giant ferns, bamboo, moss and large vines. In the wild, the parrots use palo colorado trees for nesting, so watch for parrot's nests, one of the few opportunities to see the rare Puerto Rican parrot. You're most likely to spot one near dawn or dusk. In this vicinity, you'll see artificial woodpecker nests: man-made wooden boxes.
In several places you'll begin to appreciate the massive problem of erosion the Forest Service personnel face here because of the tremendous runoff. In some spots, the asphalt trail is actually eight inches below ground level. That's how much the surrounding land has slowly built up. When rain pours down the pathway, it flows like a stream. The Forest Service employs about ten people to continually cut back and dig out the trails. In addition, another fifteen elderly people help with the maintenance, serving as senior citizen volunteers.
On the trail, you'll pass beautiful beds of pink-blossomed impatiens. They grow wild here and bloom all year. This trail leads to both the sierra palm forest and the dwarf forest.
You can't help but note the unusual shape of the Mt. Britton observation tower. Resembling a castle turret, you almost expect to see Robin Hood or the Sheriff of Nottingham. Actually, this is one of the Conservation Corps projects dating back to the 1930s. There's a similar observation tower on Route 19—both offer a fine overview.
6. Los Picachos Trail
Length: 3.5 miles.
Time: 1-1/2 hours each way.
This is the longest route to El Yunque Peak, which tops out at 3,496 feet. Initially, you'll see the many redwood-type trees called palo colorado, which grow seventy to seventy-five feet tall. One palo colorado in the forest has a girth of seventeen feet; it's believed to be at least 2,000 years old. This approach to El Yunque Peak uses many switchbacks. Once you're at the top, you'll find some steep steps cut into a rock. They take about five minutes to climb. There, on the highest part of the pyramid-shaped peak, you should be able to see much of the coast.
7. El Toro (Tradewinds) Trail
Length: Approx. 6 miles one-way.
Time: 4 hours, round trip.
This is El Yunque's longest and probably most difficult walk. You will pass through all four different forest systems to reach Pico El Toro at 3,523 feet, the highest point in the forest. This is the only maintained trail without gravel or hard surface. The soil is too unstable. In the rainy season, this route can be quite muddy. The marked path begins on Route 191 just beyond the El Yunque trail. It comes out on Route 185, where you might be able to arrange for a ride back.
View: Trail Map
© Article copyright Menasha Ridge Press. All rights reserved.
Details mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication | <urn:uuid:18ee9df6-f7b5-433f-8ea0-19aed45f02f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://away.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-hiking-puerto-rico-sidwcmdev_056130.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9476 | 2,367 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Freeze likely next couple of nights
Put away the shorts and flip flops and bust out the sweaters and coats! Wednesday's all-time record January high of 85 degrees will be replaced with a pair of freezes heading into Thursday night and Friday night.
The long advertised cold front arrived late Wednesday night with a strong line of showers and very gusty winds. Some of those winds knocked power out for some JEA customers overnight with as many as 700 customers still without power as of 5 a.m. Thursday.
High temperatures on Thursday will run some 25 to 30 degrees colder than what was observed on Wednesday as cooler polar air continues to filter in.
The areas next couple of freezes are likely heading into Thursday and Friday nights. The mercury may drop into the mid and upper 20s in areas of Georgia with upper 20s and lower 30s for inland locations of Florida. A freeze watch has already been issued for Jacksonville and surrounding counties and this watch will likely be upgraded to a warning by Thursday afternoon.
With temperatures dropping into the 20s, tender plants will need to be covered and pets will need a warm place to sleep. Pipes will not be in danger of freezing. It takes temperatures into the low to mid 20s for an extended period of time pose a danger of bursting. However, if you have a sprinkler system, make sure to cover the back-flow preventers.
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One of the more advanced methods to do hair in games is presented in this paper. The following is the abstract:
“This thesis evaluates, improves and develops methods for generating, simulating and rendering hair in real-time. The purpose is finding techniques which make use of recent hardware to present an as good as possible visual result while keeping performance at such a level that integration into a game scene is viable. The Kajiya-Kay and Marschner lighting models for hair are evaluated, including recent resource saving discretizations to the Marschner model. Two shadowing methods are adapted and investigated for the nature of hair and real-time applications, and one new method is presented as a lower quality and faster alternative for translucent occluders. For dynamics, two models are developed and an existing model for simulating trees is adapted. The implementation uses and takes into account the capabilities and limits of modern graphics hardware, including various techniques that greatly reduces the amount of data sent to the graphics card. The implementation also includes a Maya pipeline for modeling hair. The result is a state-of-the-art rendering and simulation of hair for real-time game purposes.”
Link to the paper:
A very advanced method to do grass rendering with dynamic lightning. There are shadows cast from each grass straw and you can paint a density map to select where you want grass and how much. The grass is obviously also animated in a very realistic way. The following is how they describe the technique briefly.
“We use a combination of geometry and lit volume slices, composed of Bidirectional Texture Functions (BTFs). BTFs, generated using a fast pre-computation step, provide an accurate, per pixel lighting of the grass.”
Link to more images and the paper:
A method to create very realistic and convincing dynamic fluids in games. For example smoke and explosions.
“In this paper we present a simple and rapid implementation of a fluid dynamics solver for game engines. Our tools can greatly enhance games by providing realistic fluid-like effects such as swirling smoke past a moving character. The potential applications are endless. Our algorithms are based on the physical equations of fluid flow, namely the Navier-Stokes equations. These equations are notoriously hard to solve when strict physical accuracy is of prime importance. Our solvers on the other hand are geared towards visual quality. Our emphasis is on stability and speed, which means that our simulations can be advanced with arbitrary time steps. We also demonstrate that our solvers are easy to code by providing a complete C code implementation in this paper. Our algorithms run in real-time for reasonable grid sizes in both two and three dimensions on standard PC hardware, as demonstrated during the presentation of this paper at the conference.”
Link to the paper:
This paper describes a technique to do both transitional blending between animations and layering of two animations. Layering is when two animations is run simultaneously and the result should be the combination of them. Transitional blending is the transition from one animation to another, for example running to idle animation.
A picture showing layering:
And a link to the paper: | <urn:uuid:9da417d4-5bc6-4d44-8194-f8cfe5043ead> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gamerendering.com/tag/real-time/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935516 | 646 | 2.328125 | 2 |
A Tip When Repairing U-Joints
Nov 27, 2012
This tip comes from my friend Pat Fagen, owner of Axle Exchange/FastShafts in Des Moines.
Fagen says some sort of hydraulic or mechanical press must be used when repairing non-greasable universal joints. When assembling greasable u-joints, the kind with a grease zerk on the "cross" of the u-joint, it's fine to use a vise, a hammer and a socket of the proper size to compress the caps of the u-joint to fit inside their yoke(s).
But Fagen says the caps in non-greasable u-joints have a stiff neoprene disk that keeps the needle bearings in place as well as prevents the end of the cross from contacting the inside of the cap. He says you'll drive yourself nuts, or damage the u-joint, if you try to use a hammer to pound the cap(s) into place because the neoprene "bounces." He says to use a press to apply steady force to compress the neoprene disk and for proper assembly.
If you ever have opportunity to watch a professional driveshaft/u-joint installer rebuild a u-joint, do it. If you have to PAY for the opportunity, do it. Those guys know tricks that make rebuilding u-joints almost easy. It would take me 1,000 words to try and explain what they do in 30 seconds with a quick tap and a solid rap with a hammer, once they have things prepped and aligned. It's fun, and humbling, to watch a pro in action. | <urn:uuid:1999758b-333d-4b45-88f4-20a56c918686> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.agweb.com/topproducer/blog/in_the_shop/a_tip_when_repairing_u-joints/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935254 | 353 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Tue 23 Jun 2009
The MBL’s Friday Evening Lecture series got off to a great start last week with “Building Brain Circuits” by Hollis Cline of Scripps Research Institute who co-directs the MBL Neurobiology course. Advanced imaging technology lets us see directly and in exquisite detail the “bush-like” character of individual nerve cells in living brains. That nerves are bushy has long been known through images of fixed (non-living) preparations. But what was not fully appreciated was that these images represented only snapshots in time–that the bushes were constantly in the process of being remodeled. Holly’s revelatory experiments with live nerve cells showed that the branches were continually growing and dying back–I nearly wrote “pruned” but that would raise the question of who was doing the pruning. And that brings me to the topic of this blog.
The verb “build” in common usage implies a “builder.” The wonder of living things is that objects of great complexity, such as brains, are “built” without a “builder.” How is this possible? Doesn’t construction require blueprints?
An alternative approach is variation and selection. This, of course, is the fundamental principle discovered by Darwin that underlies evolution. Death is as necessary as reproduction for the origin of species. Pruning is as necessary as branching for the shaping of a bush. In my own field of molecular cell biology, the shortening of microtubules is as important as their growth for the shaping of cells. So why should we be surprised that deconstruction is as necessary as construction for the self-building of a brain? | <urn:uuid:de7a5719-c34e-488e-93ab-9b26542d00b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.mbl.edu/?p=305 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975812 | 355 | 3.125 | 3 |
Groundbreaking new research has just been revealed that establishes the validity of homeopathy. It's being called the "holy grail" of homeopathy, and it has been published in the peer reviewed journal Inflammation Research. The study shows that a chemical dissolved in a solution (in such proportions that not even a single molecule of the original chemical could exist in the water) exhibits verifiable, scientifically proven biological effects. What this proves is that homeopathy is real. There's something about the homeopathic water that is different from regular water, and the biological effects are undeniable and easy to verify.
This, of course, is not new information for those who have been practicing homeopathy for many years, or to those who are familiar with holistic medicine, vibrational medicine, or other forms of medicine that go beyond the rather narrow definitions currently defended by conventional medicine. But of course, it is big news to many doctors, physicians, and western medical researchers, who have for decades insisted that homeopathy is quackery and that believing in homeopathy is the same as believing in magic. They say that water could not possibly exhibit a biological effect if it did not contain a single molecule of a biologically active substance. But now, of course, the science is quite real, and this isn't the first study to show that homeopathy is proven.
There have been other studies -- well-documented and well-constructed -- that also show the same effect. But these studies have been routinely ignored, and even shut out by medical journals simply because no one can quite explain how homeopathy works. To understand why this is such an important breakthrough in modern medicine, we have to go back to the 1800's and take a look at the origin of the so-called germ theory and how it relates to the invention of the microscope and the realization that disease could be spread by invisible microscopic creatures.
Today the germ theory is accepted as real and verifiable. But that's only because scientists and doctors can readily see these germs using microscopes. Before microscopes were invented, any doctor who proposed that disease could be caused by a doctor not washing his hands and touching two patients in sequence would have been called a lunatic or a quack. In fact, doctors did not engage in any sort of hand washing for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease until the germ theory became accepted.
The accidental father of the germ theory, a Hungarian physician known as Dr. Semmelweis, was fired and ostracized from the medical community in the mid 1800's for even proposing the idea that disease was caused by invisible, microscopic, undetectable organisms. In fact, after fighting to publicize the truth about microorganisms for fifteen years, Semmelweis was declared insane by doctors and committed to an insane asylum. (Sounds a lot like modern medicine, doesn't it?)
In other words, in the history of medicine, doctors and researchers didn't believe in the germ theory for one simple reason: they couldn't see the germs. There was no way they could detect these germs, so in their minds, they didn't exist. As a result, they continued to practice outdated medical procedures which actually resulted in the spread of germs from one patient to another.
Here's how this applies to homeopathy: today, the scientific evidence proves that homeopathy really works. No sane, rational person could deny it after reviewing the evidence proving the biological activity of homeopathic water. But instead of denying the existence of homeopathy on the grounds that it doesn't work, modern doctors and researchers deny it based on the rather feeble idea that they don't understand the mechanism by which it might work. That is, they don't know how it works, and therefore it must not be true. And that's about as intelligent as saying "We don't know how gravity works, therefore, there is no such thing as gravity."
Granted, homeopathy is somewhat mysterious. It is curious in the way that it works through the use of subtle energies. Apparently, water has a memory, and there's a fantastic book on this called The Memory of Water that will show you in great detail, with colorful pictures, exactly how water is reshaped by different energetic and emotional vibrations.
It's all quite real -- water takes on a different molecular structure when it is prayed over versus when angry people shout at it. Now, if you take a substance like the one used in this study, which was histamine, and you put a drop of histamine in a glass of pure, distilled water, that water, of course, contains a solution of histamine. But if you dilute that by taking one drop out of that entire glass and putting it into another glass of water, then you have another mixture of water that is diluted by a factor of 100 or more. If you do that over and over again and follow a sequence of increasing dilutions, you end up with a solution of water that has no molecules of histamine in it whatsoever.
But, as this study shows, this water retains the memory of histamine, and when this water is given to a biological system, such as a person or an animal, it will produce effects that are attributed to the histamine and that are clinically observable and quite unique to the vibration of histamine.
Of course there are many skeptics out there who will continue to say there is no such thing as homeopathy. They will deny the clinical evidence that's put right in front of their faces, and even if they were to conduct these experiments on their own and produce the exact same verifiable scientifically proven results, they would continue to deny it. Why is that?
It's because they don't understand it, and they don't have the imagination or creativity to suppose that nature might hold some surprises for us yet. They are people who represent the epitome of mankind's arrogance. They think they understand everything there is to know about the way the universe works, and that nature is apparent and nothing new will be learned. They think that if you can't see it, it doesn't exist, and thus I wonder how they even believe in gravity or electromagnetism or quantum physics, for that matter.
Nevertheless, the end result of this is that the amazing James Randi will probably end up being $1 million poorer because he has been so foolish as to offer a $1 million reward to the first person who can prove the scientific validity of homeopathy. Well, apparently this proof has already been completed, and now it will probably be a game of continued denials from James Randi in order to avoid paying out the $1 million reward. He will probably say, "Okay, the lab results look solid, but until you can explain how it works, it's not proven." And that's how he will deny actually paying the claim to people who have now scientifically proven that homeopathy is real -- something Randi adamantly insists is untrue.
By the way, to comment more on good science, kudos go out to the editor of Inflammation Research, a medical journal that has demonstrated the courage to publish a pioneering paper that most other medical journals would have rejected. And this again speaks to the closed-circle, dogmatic attitude of most peer reviewed medical journals. They define the so-called truths of modern science and modern medicine by selecting those studies and papers that support their current beliefs. Simultaneously, they reject all papers that challenge those beliefs, and that's how things that are true but unconventional (such as homeopathy) can be kept out of the minds of modern doctors and researchers.
But this journal, Inflammation Research, was willing to publish a pioneering paper, and at the same time, the researchers involved in this study -- none of which were from the United States, by the way -- are also to be applauded for their willingness to venture beyond the strict confines of conventional medicine and explore the way the universe really works.
Let's face it, folks -- as men and women on this planet, we are but children. We are all students of the universe, just attempting to understand the way things work... and barely scratching the surface in doing so. We know so little about the universe and about the way subtle energies operate. I don't think there's a single person alive today who truly understands the simple interaction of tabletop magnets, for one thing. I don't think there's anyone alive today who understands quantum physics, and who can really explain how it is that the entire universe is made up of probability waves of vibrating energy rather than physical matter.
I don't think there's anyone who can really explain or understand how light can be both a particle and a wave at the same time, depending on how you look at it. I don't think people can explain how properties of spinning subatomic particles can be instantly teleported from one place to another, regardless of the distance, without requiring any time whatsoever. I don't think people can explain how prayer alters the health outcome of patients, even when the patients aren't aware that they are being prayed for. (This is called "non-local medicine.")
These are just some of the many mysteries that continue to present opportunities for open-minded, smart thinkers to explore. Fortunately, there are some scientists who continue to be open-minded, and who are willing to ask these questions of nature, because that's what a true scientist does -- they ask questions of nature and they listen to whatever responses come back.
People like Dr. Stephen Barrett and James Randi are not scientists at all. They are, in every sense, feeble-minded skeptics who probably don't even believe in their own souls. I bet they didn't see this one coming -- homeopathy is real, folks. It's been proven, and it's been proven in a way that meets the most demanding requirements of the scientific method. If you are a true scientist, and you review the available studies on homeopathy, you either have to conclude that homeopathy is real, or you have to conclude that every law of science and truth upon which modern medicine is based is invalid.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and award-winning journalist with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, and he is well known as the creator of popular downloadable preparedness programs on financial collapse, emergency food storage, wilderness survival and home defense skills. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2010, Adams launched TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural health video site featuring videos on holistic health and green living. He's also the founder of a well known HTML email software company whose 'Email Marketing Director' software currently runs the NaturalNews subscription database. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and practices nature photography, Capoeira, martial arts and organic gardening. He's also author a large number of health books offered by Truth Publishing and is the creator of numerous reference website including NaturalPedia.com and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. His websites also include the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the innate healing ability of the human body. Known on the 'net as 'the Health Ranger,' Adams shares his ethics, mission statements and personal health statistics at www.HealthRanger.org
Have comments on this article? Post them here:
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How to: Add Predefined Custom Actions in the Custom Actions Editor
Five predefined custom actions are included in Visual Studio to install Event Log, Message Queue, Performance Counter, Service, and Service Process components. When these components are configured as installation components, they are wrapped in anclass and are recognized by the deployment system as a custom action.
The installation component is added to the project as a class, and when built it becomes part of the project outputs.
The Installer class contains its own state management methods, allowing it to roll back an installation when an error occurs. When a predefined custom action fails to install, the entire deployment project will also be aborted and will return the system to its pre-install state.
Adding a predefined custom action is a two-step process: you first add a component to the application to be deployed and configure it as an installation component, and then add the installation component to your deployment project. For details on creating an installation component, see.
The dialog boxes and menu commands you see might differ from those described in Help depending on your active settings or edition. To change your settings, choose Import and Export Settings on the Tools menu. For more information, see.
To add an installation component to a deployment project
Select a folder in the Custom Actions Editor.
On the Action menu, choose Add Custom Action.
In the Select item in project dialog box, open the folder that contains the outputs of the project containing the installation component, and select the primary output.
If the outputs of the project containing the installation component haven't previously been added to the deployment project, click the Add Output button and select the primary output.
If you use the Add File, Add Output, or Add Assembly button to add an item to the Select item in project dialog box and subsequently cancel the dialog box, the items are still added to the deployment project. If you don't want the items in the deployment project, you can remove them in Solution Explorer. | <urn:uuid:2755fb8c-796b-4a39-87f7-62fc414040cb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/7b55cw20(v=vs.80).aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.903229 | 405 | 1.539063 | 2 |
A deBroglie wave has two interpretations, which are generalizations in different domains, and which are conflated for a single particle. This leads to a lot of confusion.
- A classical field describing the motion of a single particle or many coherent bosons in a Bose-Einstein condensed state.
- A wavefunction, a probability wave over configurations of particles.
historically, Schrodinger interpreted the deBroglie wave as the first thing initially, as a physical scalar wave. This is the wrong interpretation, as it is not equivalent to matrix mechanics, and it is experimentally untenable since a physical wave doesn't allow for entanglement. The battle over this was settled by Schrodinger (and Einstein and deBroglie too, who understood the deBroglie wave was like the solution to the Hamilton Jacobi equation, something that lives in configuration space), who demonstrated that the wave was in configuration space in 1926, and proved that with this interpretation, the Heisenberg formalism was a consequence of the wave formalism.
To quickly answer the questions
- It looks like a solution to the Schrodinger equation--- a wave peaked at where the particle is most likely to be (or where there are the most particles, in the field interpretation, see below), whose complex phase is twisting in the direction of motion at a rate which is proprotional to the local velocity of the particle (or the local velocity of the superfluid flow in the BEC in the field interpretation).
- Neither--- they aren't deformations in a material, so the idea is nonsensical. If you have a sound wave in a solid, you can ask if it is transverse or longitudinal, because it is motion of atoms. The deBroglie waves are wave of possibilities (except, you can ask this question in the field intepretation, see below).
- If the deBroglie wave is for a spinless particle, it has no analog of polarization. There is only one component. If you have a deBroglie wave for a particle with spin, it has several components. For the spinning electron, there are two components, for the two different spins, so that there are two deBroglie waves. The polarization for electron waves is spin-1/2, so it isn't like a photon polarization which is spin 1.
- The ground state of a He atom is highly entangled--- the configurations where one electron is on one side of the atom, the other electron tends to be on the other side, due to the repulsion. The entanglement is highest in the case of He (actually, highest of all in the case of the H negative ion, but this ion is marginally unstable, since it is only the entanglement which keeps it bound at all), because as the nucleus becomes more highly charged, the innermost electrons mutual repulsions are relatively weaker compared to their attraction to the nucleus. The precise description was worked out in the 1930s using the variational approximation, and it is essentially as exact as you like, because the variational ansatz, after you take into account rotational invariance and the spin being all locked up between the two electrons, is parametrized by one function of 3 dimensions which you can approximate very very precisely as an exponential of a polynomial with appropriate asymptotics.
- The experimental evidence for the new quantum mechanics, with it's entanglement, in the 1920s-1930s consisted of the following: The precise spectrum of the H-ion and He atom, which could be worked out variationally. The approximate spectrum and specific heat of metals, where the electrons form a quantum Fermi gas, the spectroscopic entanglement of radiation with atoms which followed from the Heisenberg Jordan Dirac treatement of electrodynamics, and which resolved the paradoxes of photon absorption and emission in the older, entanglement free, Kramers Bohr Slater theory. In the 1940s, you get more precise evidence in the Lamb shift and countless condensed matter systems, and by the 1960s, you have Bells theorem and superconductivity. Essentially the only thing we haven't verified experimentally is quantum computation.
The points above require a little more discussion, regarding the field and particle intepretation.
When deBroglie understood the matter waves, it wasn't clear if these are physical waves in space, like an electromagnetic wave, or if they are something more abstract, like the solution to the Hamilton Jacobi equation. The Hamilton Jacobi solution is over all classical configurations, and it tells you what the integrable motion frequencies are. Einstein established the character of the deBroglie waves in 1924, by showing that the semiclassical limit description, they are the solution to the Hamilton Jacobi equation. When Schrodinger found the right equation, Einstein and Schrodinger discussed the interpretation, and it became clear that the Schrodinger equation too was to be thought of as a wave over configurations.
What this means is that the wave for 2 electrons is in 6 dimensions, for 3 electrons in 9 dimensions, describing all possible mutual positions of these. This led Einstein to ask how physical these waves are, considering that if you have a powderkeg in quantum mechanics, you can set up a situation where it's wave is superposed between exploded and unexploded. This observation of Einstein's is the origin of Schrodinger's cat, and it is the reason Einstein could never be convinced to take the quantum formalism seriously as a description of physical reality--- it was just too enormous to be physical. It looked like a statistical description of something else. This has not been a common interpretation, because if it is a statistical description of something else underneath, we don't know exactly what that other thing could be.
But before chatting with Einstein, Schrodinger believed his equation described ordinary scalar waves in space. This interpretation made the amplitude $|\psi|^2$ a charge density, and the Schrodinger current an actual electromagnetic current.
While this interpretation is incorrect for the fundamental quantum deBroglie wave, it is correct for a Bose Einstein condensate. If you have many Bosons in a superposition state where they all share the same quantum state, their wavefunction becomes a classical field which obeys the Schrodinger equation, a Schrodinger field. The Schrodinger field description does not require linearity, it is just a scalar field (or a vector/tensor field for bosons with spin) which describes the density and matter-current in a Bose Einstein condensate. In this context, it is called a Gross-Pitaevsky equation, or in other contexts, a Bogoliubov-deGennes equation, or something else, but this field interpretation is very important, because it is the only limit in which Schrodinger waves turn into waves in space.
In this context, the deBroglie wave shared by the Bose particles turns into a classical scalar field, and it has an intepretation which is identical to the one proposed by Schrodinger. But such a description cannot describe entanglements in nature, and the simplest case where entanglement is seen to be necessary is in the ground state of the Helium atom. | <urn:uuid:e0294e90-763c-432a-8a16-87d7ed166dde> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/41892/what-does-a-de-broglie-wave-look-like/41912 | 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 | 0.935756 | 1,514 | 2.859375 | 3 |
(Khandava-daha Parva continued)
"Janamejaya said, 'O Brahmana, tell me why and when that forest burnt in that way, Agni consumed not the birds called Sarngakas? Thou hast, O Brahmana, recited (to us) the cause of Aswasena and the Danava Maya not having been consumed. But thou hast not as yet said what the cause was of the escape of the Sarngakas? The escape of those birds, O Brahmana, appeareth to me to be wonderful. Tell us why they were not destroyed in that dreadful conflagration.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'O slayer of all foes, I shall tell thee all as to why Agni did not burn up those birds during the conflagration. There was, O king, a great Rishi known by the name of Mandapala, conversant with all the shastras, of rigid vows, devoted to asceticism, and the foremost of all virtuous persons. Following in the wake of Rishis that had drawn up their virile fluid, that ascetic, O monarch, with every sense under complete control, devoted himself to study and virtue. Having reached the opposite shores of asceticism, O Bharata, he left his human form and went to the region of the Pitris. But going thither he failed to obtain the (expected) fruit of his acts. He asked the celestials that sat around the king of the dead as to the cause of his treatment, saying, 'Why have these regions become unattainable by me,--regions that I had thought had been acquired by me by my ascetic devotions? Have I not performed those acts whose fruits are these regions? Ye inhabitants of heaven, tell me why these regions are shut against me! I will do that which will give me the fruit of my ascetic penances.'
"The celestials answered, 'Hear, O Brahmana, of those acts and things on account of which men are born debtors. Without doubt, it is for religious rites, studies according to the ordinance, and progeny, that men are born debtors. These debts are all discharged by sacrifices, asceticism, and offspring. Thou art an ascetic and hast also performed sacrifices; but thou hast no offspring. These regions are shut against thee only for want of children. Beget children, therefore! Thou shalt then enjoy multifarious regions of felicity. The Vedas declared that the son rescueth the father from a hell called Put. Then, O best of Brahmanas, strive to beget offspring.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Mandapala, having heard these words of the dwellers in heaven, reflected how best he could obtain the largest number of offspring within the shortest period of time. The Rishi, after reflection, understood that of all creatures birds alone were blest with fecundity. Assuming the form of a Sarngaka the Rishi had connection with a female bird of the same species called by the name of Jarita. And he begat upon her four sons who were all reciters of the Vedas. Leaving all those sons of his with their mother in that forest, while they were still within eggs, the ascetic went to (another wife called by the name of) Lapita. And, O Bharata, when the exalted sage went away for the company of Lapita, moved by affection for her offspring, Jarita became very thoughtful. Though forsaken by their father in the forest of Khandava, Jarita, anxious in her affection for them, could not forsake her offspring, those infant Rishis encased in eggs. Moved by parental affection, she brought up these children born of her, herself following the pursuits proper to her own species. Some time after, the Rishi, in wandering over that forest in the company of Lapita, saw Agni coming towards Khandava to burn it down. Then the Brahmana Mandapala, knowing the intention of Agni and remembering also that his children were all young moved by fear, gratified the god, of the burning element, that regent of the universe, endued with great energy. And he did this, desiring to put in a word for his unfledged offspring. Addressing Agni, the Rishi said, 'Thou art, O Agni, the mouth of all the worlds! Thou art the carrier of the sacrificial butter! O purifier (of all sins), thou movest invisible with the frame of every creature! The learned have spoken of thee as an One, and again as possessed of triple nature. The wise perform their sacrifices before thee, taking thee as consisting of eight (mouths). The great Rishis declare that this universe hath been created by thee. O thou that feedest on sacrificial butter, without thee this whole universe would be destroyed in a single day. Bowing to thee, the Brahmanas, accompanied by their wives and children, go to eternal regions won by them by help of their own deeds. O Agni, the learned represent thee as the clouds in the heavens charged with lightning. O Agni, the flames put forth by thee consume every creature. O thou of great splendour, this universe hath been created by thee. The Vedas are thy word. All creatures, mobile and immobile, depend upon thee. Water primarily dependeth on thee, so also the whole of this universe. All offerings of clarified butter and oblations of food to the pitris have been established in thee. O god, thou art the consumer, and thou art the creator and thou art Vrihaspati himself (in intelligence). Thou art the twin Aswins; thou art Surya; thou art Soma; thou art Vayu.
"Vaisampayana continued, 'O monarch, thus praised by Mandapala, Agni was gratified with that Rishi of immeasurable energy; and the god, well-pleased, replied, 'What good can I do to thee?' Then Mandapala with joined palms said unto the carrier of clarified butter, 'While thou burnest the forest of Khandava, spare my children.' The illustrious bearer of clarified
butter replied, 'So be it.' It was, therefore, O monarch, that he blazed not forth, while consuming the forest of Khandava, for the destruction of Mandapala's children.'" | <urn:uuid:c89fcd56-fe34-40f6-a3a1-50a7a063582c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01232.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969416 | 1,351 | 2.09375 | 2 |
Einstein's GR theory predicts the bending of a light path due to distortion of the space time fabric near massive bodies. Einstein and most physicists like to visualise the spacetime fabric as a rubber sheet, which stretches down with the weight of the mass, and thus will change any light beam travelling along its surface. However, this is just a graphical explanation. One should note that Einstein is assuming a gravitational field that is pulling the mass down and stretching the spacetime fabric. In his analogy, gravity is built in the geometry of spacetime. Again, GR is missing a physical model for its admittedly correct prediction. Shown above, is the same effect, which bends a light beam travelling near a massive body, explained in terms of the EMRP gravity mechanism. A gravitational lens is formed when the light from a very distant, bright source (such as a quasar) is bent around a massive object (such as a massive galaxy) between the source object and the observer.
Assume a light beam is coming from a source hidden behind our sun. When the wave approaches the massive body of the sun, a pressure imbalance will start to take place because the energy densities and hence the radiation pressures acting on the incoming photons are no longer equal. On the outside, they see an incoming flow of direct ultracosmic radiation, whilst on the side facing the sun, they see an incoming flow of attenuated ultracosmic radiation. This will result in the photons being pushed down towards the sun's surface as they travel in the direction of earth. As soon as they pass over the shadowed region, they recover the energy balance, and keep going straight again. This energy density difference perfectly explains the distortion of the space time fabric in Einstein's theory, and one must admit that in this case, Einstein's imagination was very good, considering he did not have our EMRP model (or anything else) to physically understand what was going on.
The first confirmation of a long range variation in the speed of light travelling in space came in 1964. Irwin Shapiro, it seems, was the first to make use of a previously forgotten facet of general relativity theory -- that the speed of light is reduced when it passes through a gravitational field. He had proposed an observational test to check his prediction: bounce radar beams off the surface of Venus and Mercury, and measure the round trip travel time. When the Earth, Sun, and Venus are most favorably aligned, Shapiro showed that the expected time delay, due to the presence of the Sun, of a radar signal traveling from the Earth to Venus and back, would be about 200 microseconds more than it would if the sun was not present. Later on, using the MIT Haystack radar antenna, the experiment was repeated, matching Shapiro's predicted amount of time delay. The experiments have been repeated many times since, with increasing accuracy. This experiment had for the first time shown that the constants like c and G, assumed constants in Einstein's SR theory suffered local (or regional) in the proximity of massive bodies like the sun.
So, faced with this evidence most readers must be wondering why we learn about the importance of the constancy of speed of light. Did Einstein miss this? Sometimes I find out that what's written in our textbooks is just a biased version taken from the original work, so after searching within the original text of the theory of GR by Einstein, I found this quote:"In the second place our result shows that, according to the general theory of relativity, the law of the constancy of the velocity of light in vacuo, which constitutes one of the two fundamental assumptions in the special theory of relativity and to which we have already frequently referred, cannot claim any unlimited validity. A curvature of rays of light can only take place when the velocity of propagation of light varies with position. Now we might think that as a consequence of this, the special theory of relativity and with it the whole theory of relativity would be laid in the dust. But in reality this is not the case. We can only conclude that the special theory of relativity cannot claim an unlimited domain of validity ; its results hold only so long as we are able to disregard the influences of gravitational fields on the phenomena (e.g. of light)." - Albert Einstein (1879-1955) - The General Theory of Relativity: Chapter 22 - A Few Inferences from the General Principle of Relativity-
Today we find that since the Special Theory of Relativity unfortunately became part of the so called mainstream science, it is considered a sacrilege to even suggest that the speed of light be anything other than a constant. This is somewhat surprising since even Einstein himself suggested in a paper "On the Influence of Gravitation on the Propagation of Light," Annalen der Physik, 35, 1911, that the speed of light might vary with the gravitational potential. Indeed, the variation of the speed of light in a vacuum or space is explicitly shown in Einstein's calculation for the angle at which light should bend upon the influence of gravity. One can find his calculation in his paper. The result is
c' = c ( 1 + V / c2) where V is the gravitational potential relative to the point where the measurement is taken . 1 + V / c2 is also known as the gravitational redshift factor.
The speed of light is not constant in a gravitational field, but depends upon the reference frame of the observer. An observer anywhere in free fall or sufficiently close to the gravitational field will conclude that the speed of light is the well known c. But, the observer far away from the source, will conclude that the speed of light decreases with proximity to the massive body. So, in general relativity, the speed of light is the same value 'c' for all observers in local inertial frames, but not the same when the observer is outside the inertial frame. This effect is one of the variants of Mach's principle, according to which inertial properties of particles depend on the gravitational action of the surrounding masses. Unfortunately, Einstein lost (actually he said he could not find it!) this concept later on in his special relativity version, which was aimed to unify gravity with the other forces, an aim which Einstein sadly admitted he couldn't succeed at with SR.
In EMRP theory, when incoming ultra cosmic energy is shadowed, it will create an energy gradient, and pressure gradient, resulting in curvature of rays as explained for the gravitational bending of light. According to Einstein, a curvature of rays can only take place when the velocity of light is not constant over its path. (In fact it will result in local variations in G as well as all other known universal constants). In a way it's very similar to a ray of light passing from air into water. One can also explain it in terms of partial conversion of energy from the photons linear KE, into rotational KE during the curved path, which reduces the linear KE (and hence their velocity) when photons (or radio waves) approach the massive body such as the sun. Remember : "The special theory of relativity cannot claim an unlimited domain of validity" , so as long as there is the presence of a shadowing effect (ie. gravitational field), we can claim such variations without contradicting Einstein's own quotation, actually with his blessing. Hence in such cases, the speed of light will vary over its path in accordance to GR. This will introduce the time delay noticed by Irwin Shapiro. This effect also sheds light on the reason for which distant galaxies seem to be receding faster than nearby galaxies. They are not! Only the speed of light is changing due to the change in amount of shadowing and the change in c and G. The same phenomenon is responsible for gravitational redshift, which normally manifests itself in the slowing down of clocks close to massive bodies.
The Sagnac setup basically consists of a rotating setup, in which the same beam of light is split in two different paths and then compared at their arrival using interferometry. In 1913, Sagnac and Boyty performed an experiment with light circulating around a rotating table. The fringe shift obtained between east and west heading directions, indicated an anisotropy of speed of light in the direction of earth's own rotation.
In 1925 an enlarged version using ring interferometry was set up by Albert Michelson and Henry Gale, in which the light took a path of a rectangle of 340 by 610 metres, that is a perimeter of 1.9km. The aim was to confirm whether the rotation of the Earth has an effect on the propagation of light in the vicinity of the Earth. The outcome of the experiment was that the angular velocity of the Earth as measured by astronomy was confirmed to within measuring accuracy. Light travelling counterclockwise around the loop was slower than that going clockwise, showing that the actual speed of light is either c-Vt or c+Vt, where Vt is the terrestrial spin velocity. Note that the ring interferometer of the Michelson-Gale experiment was not calibrated by comparison with an outside reference, which was not possible, because the setup was fixed to the Earth. From its design it could be deduced where the central interference fringe ought to be if there would be zero shift. The measured shift was 230 parts in 1000, with an accuracy of 5 parts in 1000. The predicted shift was 237 parts in 1000. The same result has since then, been reconfirmed with larger and more sophisticated equipment. In 1985, Allan et al., used geosynchronous satellites together with several ground stations to perform a planetary sized loop, in which, east travelling signals were found to lag behind west travelling ones. The famous Hafele-Keating experiment performed in 1972, aimed to support special relativity by showing that moving atomic clocks slow down, did in fact find out a less known effect: the east bound clock did in fact show a slowing down, but the west bound clock moved faster than a stationary clock in the laboratory. Unfortunately, raw data, and results which are very important for science get filtered according to what the current accepted theories expect. The same applies to Michelson-Morley experiment in 1887, in which one can still find proof of anisotropy within its raw data. In fact, Einstein himself must have recognised this later on, when in 1920, he stated 'I thought in 1905 that in physics one should not speak of the ether at all. This judgement was too radical though as we shall see with the next considerations about the general theory of relativity. It moreover remains, as before, allowed to assume a space-filling medium if one can refer to electromagnetic fields (and thus also for sure matter) as the condition thereof'. Unfortunately, his apology came too late, for the aether notion had been damaged beyond any chance of revival. He also warned us to never consider his theory as perfect, when later on in 1939, he said 'The principal attraction of the theory of relativity is that it constitutes a logical unity. If ANY SINGLE ONE of its consequences proves to be inexact, it must be abandoned'. SR specifically states that it is impossible to detect motion by measuring differences in the speed of light. The Sagnac experiment not only proves SR to be far from exact, but plain wrong. Now, you can understand the curious absence of these notable results from your scientific literature, and why these results are only barely mentioned in relation to a small 'correction' necessary to synchronise clocks in various satellites orbiting the Earth.
In EMRP, all matter in the universe is under the radiation pressure effect of the same electromagnetic wave source, and one cannot neglect any part of the universe, without expecting even the smallest change in the resultant pressure of the system in question. If one had to imagine the whole universe to be contained in a closed sphere, the EM source generating EMRP would be lighting up the surface of such a sphere from all external directions.
A fundamental issue of general relativity is that there is no fixed spacetime background, as found in Newtonian mechanics and special relativity. In GR, spacetime geometry is dynamic and is void of energy. While easy to grasp in principle, its consequences are profound and not fully explored, even at the classical level. GR is a relational theory, in which the only physically relevant information is the relationship between different events in space-time.
On the other hand, we have quantum mechanics which has depended since its inception on a fixed background (non-dynamical) structure. In the case of quantum mechanics, time is not dynamic, just as in Newtonian classical mechanics, and this raises compatibility issues with GR. In relativistic quantum field theory, just as in classical field theory, Minkowski spacetime is the fixed background of the theory. EMRP does not limit itself to the four dimensional manifold Minkowski spacetime, but is still referenced to a fixed ST background.
Over the past years, many attempts have been made to generate a gravity shield, or somehow control gravity. A gravity shield would be theoretically composed of a material which absorbs or reflects all EM radiation thus being subject to the radiation pressure of the whole EM spectrum.
A much simpler way to control gravity on an object is to modify the gravity field imbalance acting on the object. Instead of shadowing the powerful EM radiation pressing down on the earth's surface, one could generate a stronger EM radiation pressure on the lower part of the object thus providing a gravitational force difference acting in the opposite direction (upwards), thus lifting the device. This means that an object being radiated by as much large spectrum as possible of matter penetrating radiation, may eventually move in the opposite direction of this source due to the radiation pressure difference. Such method may be used to build an antigravity propelled craft, that would in theory work anywhere in space, that is, anywhere where EM fields can propagate. The higher the frequencies used, the more efficient it becomes, since for frequencies much less than Planck's the scattering mechanism will not be in the Mie regime which leads to a lot of energy being dissipated as heat, and no longer an efficient way to transfer momentum.
A unidirectional X-ray source is a moderately good candidate to achieve this. As voltages exceed 100 kV in a vacuum, the electrons will reach high relativistic speeds and gain a lot of momentum. The impact, which usually takes place on a metal target, ionises the metal atom and generates a short wavelength (X-ray) EM wave, generally in the direction parallel to the target's surface. If the target surface is cut and positioned in a way that most radiation is directed in the same direction, then radiation pressure will create a pressure imbalance resulting in motion of the X-ray source. | <urn:uuid:3a259176-8893-4ac3-a41d-91177f95455c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.blazelabs.com/f-g-gcont.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955729 | 3,007 | 3.84375 | 4 |
I have been teaching similar age groups for a couple of years and I find that the trick is keeping it lively and not allowing even a minute to pass where the kids are not moving from one thing to another. We will try to mix it up a bit with games that relate to karate (RyuKyu Kempo to be specific)like dodge ball where the object is to get out of the way of the ball, not catch it thus building agility, and obstacle courses where they may jump or crawl through some things but then need to stop and execute techniques at another "obstacle". I try to get the upper ranking students involved in "teaching" as well since it seems to give the younger kids something to aspire to while giving those upper ranks a feeling of progress and pride. When there are multiple instructors around - setting up "stations" where the kids cycle through a punching, kicking, blocking, moving, kata, etc. station keeps them interested.
I also find that when the class atmosphere is "tired" which happens sometimes especially in evening classes during the summer after the kids have been swimming and out in the sun all day, that getting loud seems to get their adrenalin pumping - lots of kias - katas where you kia every move and stuff like that - kids seem to wake up when someone tells them its okay to be as loud as you can. In short - teaching the kids is just about the hardest form of Martial Arts training there is - you have to really love teaching to do it. | <urn:uuid:3f97eecf-e428-419b-a863-ea6a5142d793> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=134910 | 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 | 0.974796 | 313 | 1.5625 | 2 |
If it sounds like the set-up to an alien invasion film, you might not be far off. A rare strain of bacteria discovered hurtling to Earth from space has scientists excited - not only because of its rarity on Earth, but because it could be used as a new source of electricity. It would seem the next big energy technology to hit Earth quite literally fell from the sky.
The mysterious bacteria was discovered floating in the Wear Estuary in County Durham near Darlington in the UK. The goo floating in the estuary was scooped up by scientists, who were then amazed by what they found. Not only was the bacteria originally from the Earth's stratosphere, known more commonly for satellites orbiting Earth, it was discovered to be nearly twice as efficient in its microbial fuel properties than anything found elsewhere on Earth - after a bit of mixing.
Bacteria in space has been observed in the past, with a study conducted in 2001 shedding light on the subject as a possibility. Only now are scientists fully recognizing just how powerful this new development could become. The new bacteria, named Bacillus stratosphericus, leaves previous top contenders for biofuel generation in the dust. The last biofuel study to examine the potential for bacteria and power generation up until this point has been 105 watts per cubic meter. This new extraterrestrial visitor has just surpassed 200 watts per cubic meter.
200 watts is pretty good for an easily grown bacteria. But while it may not be enough power to keep a car running or power a whole house, it could easily make a dent in the power bill of most homes. If the power output of the bacteria were only 200 watts per hour, it could power a table fan (10-20 watts), a clock radio (1-5 Watts), a laptop computer (25-50 watts), a CB radio (5 Watts), and one of those powerful but energy inefficient 100 watt incandescent light bulbs with plenty of power left over to charge your cell phone and whatever gadgets you may have lying around.
Is it alien life? It's difficult to say for sure just where this mystery bacteria came from originally, but scientists are currently pointing at a terrestrial origin, being carried up into the stratosphere by natural forces where it has likely remained, thriving in the zero gravity environment.
In 1967 Apollo 12 astronauts were surprised to discover bacteria still alive in a camera that had been left on the moon for nearly 31 months. The bacteria, thought to be long dead, somehow survived in a near vacuum state with no atmosphere to protect it.
In 2006, a study by Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper discovered the potential for bacteria to not only survive in space, but thrive in zero-g environments, lending them relative super powers over their terrestrial counterparts as far as versatility and infectiousness were concerned. Evolving for thousands of years in space as a super bacteria appears to have given Bacillus stratosphericus a leg up on other biofuels.
And keep in mind, this is just one bacteria that then happened to fall to Earth in a large enough clump to be caught and examined by scientists. What else might be up there waiting to be discovered?
The Crash Is Coming Soon! Are You
All Matter Was Created By
Every Person Has Their Own Frequency Signature. | <urn:uuid:ea23472a-dcab-4665-8e38-96e15574c762> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.unexplainable.net/ufo-alien/alien-organism-could-be-next-big-power-source.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952249 | 668 | 3.484375 | 3 |
There are few disciplines with as broad a compass as anthropology. Sometimes referred to as the science of humanity, anthropology at Kenyon embraces biological, historical, and cultural study as distinct but interrelated pursuits. Who were the Maya? What does chimpanzee life tell us about ourselves? How do women in Botswana feel about aging? Students with wide-ranging interests and curiosities are drawn to anthropology for a chance to explore the diversity of the human world.
The discipline comprises four subfields: cultural anthropology, archaeology, physical anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Unusual among undergraduate institutions, Kenyon's Department of Anthropology gives students a balanced exposure to all four subfields.
Hunting with Neanderthals
Faculty-Student Research in Vietnam
Five Kenyon students traveled to Vietnam with anthropologist Sam Pack to make an ethnographic film about the ancient tradition of water puppetry. More photos.
After Kenyon: Annie Gianakos '08
A double major in anthropology and music, Annie Gianakos '08 now works for Google. | <urn:uuid:765ba544-ced8-498a-bada-7a8035459737> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kenyon.edu/anthropology.xml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92504 | 212 | 2.34375 | 2 |
NBA legend Magic Johnson is planning to tackle the issue of homophobia and HIV/AIDS within the Hip-Hop community.
Magic recently marked the 20th anniversary of his announcement that he was HIV positive, along with his retirement from the NBA, which occurred in 1991. Magic is planning on creating a coalition that will engage rappers to speak out against homophobia and discrimination against gays. But the main focus of the coalition will be to raise the level of awareness and to break down the stereotypes about HIV/AIDS.
“What we’re trying to do is reach out to the Hip-Hop community because they have power — power with their voice, power with that mic in their hand and power with the lyrics that they sing,” Magic Johnson told The Huffington Post.
Magic said that he was closely associated with a number of top artists and executives within the Hip-Hop community and those individuals are involved in the early stages of the new organization. Magic refused to reveal the names of the artists, but he confirmed that “five or six” stars are aligning with the new initiative. Magic is planning to utilize the collective fan bases of the rap stars to help spread a positive message.
“We’re going to come out next year with everybody and we’ll have a nice big press conference and what we’re going to do, what our plan is, because it’s so important that we rally — not just them, either,” Magic said. “I need the Hip-Hop community but I also need the basketball players and football players. We need a little bit of everybody, so that’s what we’re working on now.” | <urn:uuid:b29d1360-e15b-45ad-8a87-c4e07d352eaf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.carltonjordan.com/2011/12/28/it-takes-a-village-magic-johnson-needs-help-with-fight-against-homophobia-hivaids/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969088 | 348 | 1.882813 | 2 |
Property Biz Canada
Make Champlain Bridge an ‘architectural icon,’ says Montreal real estate broker new
Property Biz Canada
Thu Jan 17 2013
Real estate icon and founder of Leopold Montreal Real Estate Inc, Stephen Leopold, is calling for a bridge to prosperity in Montreal, and he’s not speaking metaphorically.
The federal government has expressed intentions to replace the Champlain Bridge, which connects the Island of Montreal and the South Shore, as it approaches the end of its life cycle.
Hundreds of millions of dollars, in the meantime, have been directed toward maintaining the aging bridge’s safety. An assessment report in 2011, done for the federal Crown corporation that manages the bridge, highlighted its shortcomings and warned it could collapse.
Benefits from iconic infrastructure
In terms of a replacement, Leopold is calling for something beyond a run-of-the-mill structure to replace what is the most heavily traveled bridge in Canada and six kilometres long. He wants “the greatest architectural icon of the 21st Century” to become the new Champlain Bridge – something that would attract the kind of international recognition garnered by things such as the Eiffel Tower in France and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Photo credit: The Champlain Bridge, Blanchardb, Wikipedia
Leopold has been giving speeches about this idea, has formed an organization dedicated to the cause called AudaCite Montreal and has recruited some heavy hitters from the Montreal business community to back him up, including investment mogul Stephen Jarislowsky, real estate tycoon Jonathon Wener, Power Corp. chairman Paul Desmarais Jr, and CIBC Chairman Charles Sirois.
Why is Leopold making such a fuss over a fancy bridge? He cites structures like the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, the Viaduc de Millau in France, the London Tower Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco as proof that practical infrastructure, if designed beautifully, can become things people around the world want to see.
Helping the real estate market
He said such an attraction would add billions of dollars to the economy of Montreal, and Canada in general, and give the commercial real estate sector a jolt.
“No. 1, it’ll stimulate real estate development by being one of the great, great architectural icons of the world. We’re going to need a massive amount of new hotel space.”
He added that supporting businesses for tourism, such as restaurants and shops, would also need space. “And then comes places where people have to live who are employed by all these industries.”
Leopold wouldn’t speculate on numbers when it comes to how an iconic bridge would affect Montreal’s real estate market, but he did say: “If you inject a few billion dollars into any economy annually then you’re going to have a few billion dollars worth of real estate built, that’s for sure.
Leopold wants the government to hold an international competition, inviting the world’s best architects and engineers to submit their ideas on how to create something that would become an image people around the world would associate with Montreal.
He feels it should make a bold statement to U.S. tourists in particular, who are likely to cross the Champlain Bridge when traveling to Montreal by vehicle.
Cost and benefits
Leopold cites world class architects who contend that creating iconic structures are not always more expensive than the conventional alternatives. But even if more money is required, the economic benefits down the road would more than make up for it, he said.
“I don’t know whether the Sydney Opera makes money or not, but even if their own opera loses $1 million a year, I can tell you that the Sydney Opera House makes a few billion dollars a year for Sydney and for all of Australia every year.”
He also said there would be no reason for resentment from other parts of the country if the federal government decided to use taxpayer dollars to create a breath-taking new version of the Champlain Bridge. Leopold feels the whole country would share both the pride and economic benefits of such an achievement.
“When Vancouver had the Olympics, was there anybody in Toronto or Ottawa that was less proud of Canada than a Vancouverite?” he said. “Montreal is one of the great cities of the world and is an extremely important part of Canada. When the world sees Montreal, they see Canada, they understand Canada.”
Ask San Franciscan's if the design was right choice
“Ask any San Franciscan if they should have gone utilitarian and unimaginative 75 years ago when they created the Golden Gate and they’d laugh in your face. The Champlain Bridge gateway to Montreal is a comparatively long span and is the most traveled bridge in all of Canada. It lends itself to being a canvas for greatness. Bridges by definition tend to be evocative and breathtaking structures. This is a once in a century opportunity.”
Leopold would not speculate on what such a bridge should look like, saying he will leave that to architects.
He did, however, say it would be appropriate for it to somehow showcase the availability of a particular commodity Quebec is known for and in which Quebec leads the world – renewable, clean and green hydroelectricity.
Among the ways it could do this, he suggested, is by having turbines attached to in the rapid waters below the bridge that generate enough electricity to heat the roads, roadbed, ending the need for ice-melting salt that eventually falls into the St. Lawrence River as hundreds of tons of untreated toxic sludge composed of salt, snow, glycol and brake fluid.
“This bridge needs to announce, for Montreal and for Quebec, that we have energy the world wants, just like the Statue of Liberty announced to the world that the United States would greet immigrants with open arms,” he said. | <urn:uuid:98a3a422-a1a1-4702-8dd7-a0ce4a33c6d8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.renx.ca/Detailed/Commercial/Make_Champlain_Bridge_an_architectural_icon_says_Montreal_real_estate_broker_34782.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95236 | 1,240 | 1.554688 | 2 |
National Endowment for the Arts
Chairman Rocco Landesman toured Cleveland's arts districts last year, he blogged
about how they were actively applying the principles of arts-based development and urban placemaking touted daily by the NEA.
, a creative placemaking initiative led by the NEA and others, has awarded Northeast Shores
Development Corporation a $500,000 grant
to engage local artists in creatively combating urban vacancy and foreclosure in Cleveland.
“This work is part of a national creative placemaking movement that, we believe, will have a profound and lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of communities throughout the country," said Ford Foundation President Luis Ubinas in a news release. The ArtPlace initiative is supported by a variety of national foundations, federal partners, and a $12 million loan fund.
Competition was extremely fierce. North Collinwood's application was selected, along with 46 other grantees, from over 2,000 applications across the country.
"Collinwood Rising will work with artists to establish replicable development models for artist space in older industrial cities, leveraging ongoing HUD and municipal investments," according to the NEA's ArtPlace news release.
"The investment will allow us to make targeted interventions in three vacant properties in and around the Waterloo Arts & Entertainment District," says Camille Maxwell, Real Estate Development Director with Northeast Shores. "These interventions are the conversion of a vacant lot into an artist-inspired playground; conversion of a vacant house into an artist live/work facility; and conversion of a vacant storefront into a performing arts incubator."
Source: Rocco Landesman
Writer: Lee Chilcote | <urn:uuid:f3577a55-e0cb-4924-8010-3e0c9822e4f2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/forgood/collinwoodrising061412.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945628 | 344 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Most of the men are having the habit of body building in order to showcase the potency of the muscles. It also shows the men in a smarter and fit in the appearance. Nitric oxide products propose controlled blood flow for the human beings which are helpful for regulating the pressure present in the blood vessels. Those are continuously use this products can preserve themselves from the problem of blood pressure. These products acts along with amino acids make this thing possible in an effortless way. Apart from these, this is actually responsible for sharing the information among the blood cells present in the human body. Yoked|yokedusp labs should be consumed before the workout since because it exhilarates the muscles in a stronger way. It just holds up the same feeling right through the workout and hence the body builder can feel superior at the time doing exercises. One can work out for very long time by in taking this drug and so the final results would be quite better for the body builder. Apart from these, the user cannot feel tired while exercising so that it allows to do exercise for long time. You can get more help here in the online websites in an uncomplicated way. | <urn:uuid:cca399bb-3245-4008-84c4-8dfdc6a594cf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mrgoosbabyproducts.com/2012/05/page/2/ | 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 | 0.95693 | 231 | 1.679688 | 2 |
With the increase in technology and internet usage, newspapers, magazines and print industries across the country are rethinking their business models and looking for new avenues to reach their readers. Many of these companies are coming up with some wonderful ideas by thinking outside the box and embracing the new trends, including social media. We love our news agencies and look to them to find out what’s happening in the world. Any time of the day or night.
The Utica Observer Dispatch is an exemplary model of thinking outside the box and moving forward in the digital arena. Currently their Alexa rating (the webservice that provides the rankings for internet companies) lists them as 69,817 with almost 2,400 sites directly linking to them. They are the leading website in the Central New York area. To demonstrate their great internet ranking, www.Disneyworld.com ranks 444,111. This is amazing and truly impresses me.
To help the Utica OD create their large web presence, you can, of course, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/uticaOD. It’s a great place to interact directly with the paper. You can also find them on Twitter @UticaOD or their specialty Twitter accounts @UticaOD_Sports, @ElectionsNY, @OD_Football. If this isn’t enough, members of the newsroom staff each have their own Twitter accounts that you can find by using their last name such as @OD_Potts, @OD_Hughes, etc. You can also find them on Pinterest.
The Observer Dispatch has created a group of 17 community bloggers who post about subjects dear to their hearts. The community bloggers help to bring greater variety and interest to the paper and hopefully generate new readership. Online conversations with the community bloggers are also always welcome.
The staff at the Observer Dispatch understands the “social” part of social media. They love interacting with their readers and connections. Comments, pictures and posts are encouraged. I remember last year during a snowstorm we had a question at my house about whether there was college that day. We couldn’t get an answer at the college so I tweeted @UticaOD. Much to my surprise, we had an answer within three minutes after @UticaOD reached out to a few of their connections.
The Observer Dispatch even has their own smartphone app. It includes weather and the ability to watch video. So now you can stay connected while on the move.
The social media accounts are manned 16 hours a day, starting around 7:00 a.m. until at least 11:00 p.m. and even on weekends. All of this means an even greater readership via their web presence. The only thing they can’t help with are circulation issues but they are happy to pass along those comments. Remember you can reach the circulation department directly at 315.792.2100.
So reach out to the Observer Dispatch via Facebook or Twitter and begin interacting with them. Send them news stories, photos or comments. You’re sure to find some new friends who are anxious to hear what you have to say. | <urn:uuid:f54b6be7-4150-4f70-8b99-56a0a1703114> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.herkimertelegram.com/community/blogs/tranter_banter_blog/x515980312/Internet-Social-Media-the-Observer-Dispatch-Way | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954475 | 645 | 1.554688 | 2 |
This problem is a good activity for the visualisation of symmetry, and for encouraging students to work systematically.
This problem encourages students to use coordinates, area and isosceles triangles to solve a non-standard problem. To find all possible solutions they will need to work systematically.
This problem offers the students an opportunity to consolidate what they are expected to know about mean, mode and median whilst also challenging them to work systematically, and justify their reasoning
This problem could replace repetitive textbook work on calculating fractions of integers. It offers plenty of practice of these calculations while requiring students to come up with problem-solving strategies. | <urn:uuid:b770ddca-0835-4d98-8e52-a7b06d6bbfc4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nrich.maths.org/9543 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924963 | 126 | 3.703125 | 4 |
Because Knetbooks knows college students. Our rental program is designed to save you time and money. Whether you need a textbook for a semester, quarter or even a summer session, we have an option for you. Simply select a rental period, enter your information and your book will be on its way!
Tom Tietenberg is the author or editor of eleven books (including Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Eighth Edition, and Environmental Economics and Policy, Fifth Edition), as well as over one hundred articles and essays on environmental and natural resource economics. After receiving his PhD in economics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1971, Tietenberg was elected President of the Association of Environmental and Natural Resource Economists (AERE) in 1987. He has consulted on environmental policy with the World Bank, the InterAmerican Development Bank, the Agency for International Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as several state and foreign governments. In 1992, Tietenberg spoke at the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has lectured on sustainable development at many other conferences around the world. In 2006 he was designated one of six inaugural AERE Fellows. He is currently the Mitchell Family Economics Professor at Colby College, where his research focuses on the design and evaluation of economic incentive mechanisms for environmental protection and tradable permit systems for pollution control and fisheries management.
Lynne Lewis is chair of the economics department at Bates College where she teaches microeconomics, environmental economics, natural resource economics, and valuation. Lewis received her Ph.D. in economics from the University of Colorado in 1994 after finishing a two-year dissertation fellowship at the Environmental and Societal Impacts Group at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Her dissertation received the Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) Dissertation Award in 1995. Currently, she is working on a research grant focused on valuing the potential benefits from dam removals and river restoration. She has also worked extensively on the economics of transboundary water resources, tradable permits for pollution control and the valuation of environmental amenities and disamenities within watersheds and coastal zones. She currently serves on the Board of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the Penobscot River Science Steering Committee, and the Advisory Board of Mitchell Center for Environment and Watershed Research. She received the Friend of UCOWR award in 2005. | <urn:uuid:69a82bed-f018-464c-8d43-7d4bd10cf45e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.knetbooks.com/bk-detail?isbn=9780321599490 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953593 | 481 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Hive Fleets are massive locust-like Tyranid swarms, comprising billions of creatures including the actual bio-ships, living spacecraft used to cross interstellar space and the voids between galaxies. Each creature of the Hive Fleet is an inseparable part of the Hive Mind.
An entire Hive Fleet is directed by the single coordinating will which is its Hive Mind, formed from untold billions of individual consciousnesses, each of which is a living creature in the fleet. Mankind still searches vainly for the higher beings they suppose control the Hive Fleets, and though such mighty creatures exist, they no more control the Hive Mind than single brain cells control a man's body. It is the sum of the Hive Mind which motivates it, not its constituent parts.
Three major Hive Fleets have invaded the galaxy, each coming into conflict with the Imperium. Of the three major Hive Fleet invasions, two entered the galaxy through the Eastern Fringe, but one is moving up from below the galactic plane. The Hive Fleets encountered thus far are just a splinter of the main Tyranid invasion force that is traveling through the void between galaxies.
The bio-ships contain everything required to sustain the fleet; some ships being purely for crushing resistance, the larger ships contain birthing pools to create the huge land armies of the Tyranids and even more ships when the need arises. The nutrients used as food and raw material are replenished by scouring conquered planets of every cell of biological matter, including all the Tyranids it seeded onto the planet. Because the Tyranid forces are recycled in this way, the "design" of the Tyranid warriors can be altered by genetic engineering, allowing the Tyranid forces to rapidly adapt to overcome any enemy. Further, the Tyranids absorb the DNA of defeated enemies, allowing for further genetic diversity. It is believed the Genestealer and Broodlord are derived from Human DNA, the Zoanthrope from Eldar and the Biovore from Ork DNA.
By the adaptive nature of the Hive Fleets, fierce resistance on a planet will only make the fleet stronger in the end; for this reason only a few tactics have been found to work. The first is to draw the Tyranids into a large ground battle, forcing the fleet to deploy as large a ground force as possible. Once this is achieved, the planet is evacuated, following with Exterminatus as the Tyranids strip the life of the planet. This tactic is effective as Hive Fleets are dependent on the impetus gained from absorbing each conquered planet; the Hive Fleet will also have lost the biological "energy" expended to conquer it, including all of the bio-material of the ground forces and by the nature of Exterminatus will not be able to recover any from the planet. This tactic is extreme and also damaging to the Imperium, as it destroys a valuable and habitable planet every time. It has been projected that there may not even be enough habitable planets in the galaxy to stop the Tyranid threat, especially if more Tyranid fleets arrive from outside the galaxy. | <urn:uuid:0f70217f-67c0-465e-a068-b29b3ec99288> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Hive_Fleet | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936778 | 633 | 2.09375 | 2 |
Why Give to the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology?
Back in 1908 when Annie Montague Alexander envisioned a natural history museum on the Cal campus she aspired to create a comprehensive research museum where naturalists could hone their research skills, expand their understanding of West Coast vertebrates, and create a legacy for future scientists. Working closely with Alexander, the museum’s first director, Joseph Grinnell, set forth the museum’s core philosophy that the museum devote itself to evolutionary studies and the study of terrestrial vertebrates in relation to their environments. Today that philosophy still holds true as scientists merge studies of preserved specimens with field observations and biochemical analysis of tissues. Field and laboratory research remains an essential part of the museum’s work to increase understanding of evolutionary biology.
Make a gift!
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Why your gift is so important
- Today the state provides less than 13% of the Museum’s funding. Therefore, the support we receive from alumni and friends is essential to the future growth and development of the Museum and its research.
- Private gifts from alumni and friends support important field and laboratory research not covered by state funding. Such support is crucial to recruit the most talented graduate students and faculty. Private support directly enhances the museum’s ability to help students and faculty become environmental leaders, to develop innovative approaches to biodiversity understanding and to advance intellectual discourse and the formation of conservation policy.
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology faculty and students continue to break new ground in biodiversity conservation, ecology, population biology and genetics. Your partnership enables this tradition of innovation to continue.
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology curators, staff, and students conduct research that is either directly applicable to conservation biology, or that provides essential baseline information that is used in the conservation of species and associated habitats.
- The Museum's faculty sponsor 20 to 25 graduate students in the Ph.D. program in any given year, host several post-doctoral scholars, and serve as mentors to a large number of undergraduates engaged in honors or independent research experiences.
- The Museum of Vertebrate Zoology has been one of this country's premier institutions in the training of vertebrate biologists over the past century. MVZ has been a leader in intellectual achievement through individual publications ranging from scientific journal papers and specialized monographs to books and magazine articles of broad public interest. The nearly 4,000 individual publications generated by the faculty, research staff, students, and post-doctoral associates over the past 90 years encompass virtually all aspects of vertebrate evolutionary and ecological biology.
- The first major conservation activity of the Museum involved the establishment of Yosemite National Park. Museum staff members conducted the first substantive biological surveys of the park, and Joseph Grinnell played a key role in determining the park's boundaries and in developing policies concerning wildlife and its protection within the park. The Museum continues to play a role in the state’s conservation policies through advocacy, publications and sharing of research.
Your investment in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology is an investment in the people and in the innovative research that can make a real difference in our world. Thank you for your support! | <urn:uuid:11a0049b-7e0e-4b51-beff-ba8660d48167> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mvz.berkeley.edu/Importance_of_MVZ.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.920409 | 645 | 2.234375 | 2 |
- Taxes on some wealthy French top 100 pct of income: paper
- North Korea fires short-range missiles for two days in a row |
- Israel warns against Russian arms supply to Syria
- Toyota plans to increase lithium-ion car battery output-Nikkei
- Winning ticket for $590.5 million Powerball lottery sold in Florida |
US states worry about weakening sales tax collections
WASHINGTON Feb 12 (Reuters) - Only about a third of U.S. states were on target for their sales tax collections in January, part of a trend that has some officials worried, an economic newsletter, The Liscio Report, said on Tuesday.
All but five states collect sales taxes, and for those that do, the surcharges on purchases can provide a solid revenue source.
January's sales tax collections were slightly lower than December's, when 37 percent of states said they had met expectations. Revenues that consistently come in below expectations can force states to cut spending - all states except Vermont must end their fiscal years with balanced budgets.
However, the growth in sales tax collections in January was up 2.4 percent from the year before, Liscio said.
"A few contacts were relieved to see sales collections pick up in January, but the majority continued to express growing concern," the newsletter found, adding there was no geographical pattern of performance in the survey.
The federal tax break that put extra dollars into middle class Americans' paychecks expired in January, and some economists warned that would leave shoppers with less money.
A report from the federal government on Wednesday is likely to show that retail sales were close to flat in January, with analysts polled by Reuters expecting them to have increased 0.1 percent.
Sales taxes in general have become a growing source of revenues for states in recent years. The $58.97 billion they collected in the third quarter of 2012 was the largest total for that quarter on records going back to 1992, according to U.S. Census data. It was also about a third of the total tax revenues all states brought in during the quarter.
But many states say they are still missing out on millions of dollars in revenue because they are unable to collect online sales taxes. Florida is debating a bill to tax online transactions that proponents say could bring the state more than $400 million.
Last year, California voters turned to raising the sales tax to help cure the state's long-standing budget problems. That resulted in California charging the highest state sales tax rate in the country, 7.5 percent, the Tax Foundation said in a special report released on Monday.
Of those states that collect sales tax, Colorado has the lowest rate at 2.9 percent, the report said. But the average sales tax rate charged at the local level in Colorado is one of the highest in the nation.
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- Digg this | <urn:uuid:93170f7c-e134-46a8-8b8b-732e64d8d4e5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/12/usa-states-salestax-idUSL1N0BCGJT20130212 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973348 | 590 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Chapter 11 - Florida and Texas
One question remained yet to be decided; it was necessary to choose a favorable spot for the experiment. According to the advice of the Observatory of Cambridge, the gun must be fired perpendicularly to the plane of the horizon, that is to say, toward the zenith. Now the moon does not traverse the zenith, except in places situated between 0@ and 28@ of latitude. It became, then, necessary to determine exactly that spot on the globe where the immense Columbiad should be cast.
On the 20th of October, at a general meeting of the Gun Club, Barbicane produced a magnificent map of the United States. "Gentlemen," said he, in opening the discussion, "I presume that we are all agreed that this experiment cannot and ought not to be tried anywhere but within the limits of the soil of the Union. Now, by good fortune, certain frontiers of the United States extend downward as far as the 28th parallel of the north latitude. If you will cast your eye over this map, you will see that we have at our disposal the whole of the southern portion of Texas and Florida."
It was finally agreed, then, that the Columbiad must be cast on the soil of either Texas or Florida. The result, however, of this decision was to create a rivalry entirely without precedent between the different towns of these two States.
The 28th parallel, on reaching the American coast, traverses the peninsula of Florida, dividing it into two nearly equal portions. Then, plunging into the Gulf of Mexico, it subtends the arc formed by the coast of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana; then skirting Texas, off which it cuts an angle, it continues its course over Mexico, crosses the Sonora, Old California, and loses itself in the Pacific Ocean. It was, therefore, only those portions of Texas and Florida which were situated below this parallel which came within the prescribed conditions of latitude.
Florida, in its southern part, reckons no cities of importance; it is simply studded with forts raised against the roving Indians. One solitary town, Tampa Town, was able to put in a claim in favor of its situation.
In Texas, on the contrary, the towns are much more numerous and important. Corpus Christi, in the county of Nueces, and all the cities situated on the Rio Bravo, Laredo, Comalites, San Ignacio on the Web, Rio Grande City on the Starr, Edinburgh in the Hidalgo, Santa Rita, Elpanda, Brownsville in the Cameron, formed an imposing league against the pretensions of Florida. So, scarcely was the decision known, when the Texan and Floridan deputies arrived at Baltimore in an incredibly short space of time. From that very moment President Barbicane and the influential members of the Gun Club were besieged day and night by formidable claims. If seven cities of Greece contended for the honor of having given birth to a Homer, here were two entire States threatening to come to blows about the question of a cannon.
The rival parties promenaded the streets with arms in their hands; and at every occasion of their meeting a collision was to be apprehended which might have been attended with disastrous results. Happily the prudence and address of President Barbicane averted the danger. These personal demonstrations found a division in the newspapers of the different States. The New York _Herald_ and the _Tribune_ supported Texas, while the _Times_ and the _American Review_ espoused the cause of the Floridan deputies. The members of the Gun Club could not decide to which to give the preference.
Texas produced its array of twenty-six counties; Florida replied that twelve counties were better than twenty-six in a country only one-sixth part of the size.
Texas plumed itself upon its 330,000 natives; Florida, with a far smaller territory, boasted of being much more densely populated with 56,000.
The Texans, through the columns of the _Herald_ claimed that some regard should be had to a State which grew the best cotton in all America, produced the best green oak for the service of the navy, and contained the finest oil, besides iron mines, in which the yield was fifty per cent. of pure metal.
To this the _American Review_ replied that the soil of Florida, although not equally rich, afforded the best conditions for the moulding and casting of the Columbiad, consisting as it did of sand and argillaceous earth.
"That may be all very well," replied the Texans; "but you must first get to this country. Now the communications with Florida are difficult, while the coast of Texas offers the bay of Galveston, which possesses a circumference of fourteen leagues, and is capable of containing the navies of the entire world!"
"A pretty notion truly," replied the papers in the interest of Florida, "that of Galveston bay _below the 29th parallel!_ Have we not got the bay of Espiritu Santo, opening precisely upon _the 28th degree_, and by which ships can reach Tampa Town by direct route?"
"A fine bay; half choked with sand!"
"Choked yourselves!" returned the others.
Thus the war went on for several days, when Florida endeavored to draw her adversary away on to fresh ground; and one morning the _Times_ hinted that, the enterprise being essentially American, it ought not to be attempted upon other than purely American territory.
To these words Texas retorted, "American! are we not as much so as you? Were not Texas and Florida both incorporated into the Union in 1845?"
"Undoubtedly," replied the _Times_; "but we have belonged to the Americans ever since 1820."
"Yes!" returned the _Tribune_; "after having been Spaniards or English for two hundred years, you were sold to the United States for five million dollars!"
"Well! and why need we blush for that? Was not Louisiana bought from Napoleon in 1803 at the price of sixteen million dollars?"
"Scandalous!" roared the Texas deputies. "A wretched little strip of country like Florida to dare to compare itself to Texas, who, in place of selling herself, asserted her own independence, drove out the Mexicans in March 2, 1846, and declared herself a federal republic after the victory gained by Samuel Houston, on the banks of the San Jacinto, over the troops of Santa Anna!-- a country, in fine, which voluntarily annexed itself to the United States of America!"
"Yes; because it was afraid of the Mexicans!" replied Florida.
"Afraid!" From this moment the state of things became intolerable. A sanguinary encounter seemed daily imminent between the two parties in the streets of Baltimore. It became necessary to keep an eye upon the deputies.
President Barbicane knew not which way to look. Notes, documents, letters full of menaces showered down upon his house. Which side ought he to take? As regarded the appropriation of the soil, the facility of communication, the rapidity of transport, the claims of both States were evenly balanced. As for political prepossessions, they had nothing to do with the question.
This dead block had existed for some little time, when Barbicane resolved to get rid of it all at once. He called a meeting of his colleagues, and laid before them a proposition which, it will be seen, was profoundly sagacious.
"On carefully considering," he said, "what is going on now between Florida and Texas, it is clear that the same difficulties will recur with all the towns of the favored State. The rivalry will descend from State to city, and so on downward. Now Texas possesses eleven towns within the prescribed conditions, which will further dispute the honor and create us new enemies, while Florida has only one. I go in, therefore, for Florida and Tampa Town."
This decision, on being made known, utterly crushed the Texan deputies. Seized with an indescribable fury, they addressed threatening letters to the different members of the Gun Club by name. The magistrates had but one course to take, and they took it. They chartered a special train, forced the Texans into it whether they would or no; and they quitted the city with a speed of thirty miles an hour.
Quickly, however, as they were despatched, they found time to hurl one last and bitter sarcasm at their adversaries.
Alluding to the extent of Florida, a mere peninsula confined between two seas, they pretended that it could never sustain the shock of the discharge, and that it would "bust up" at the very first shot.
"Very well, let it bust up!" replied the Floridans, with a brevity of the days of ancient Sparta. | <urn:uuid:cc8797f5-6b15-483f-9bd7-558171bc965a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.literature.org/authors/verne-jules/earth-to-the-moon/chapter-11.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966428 | 1,836 | 3.125 | 3 |
Lead in Children's Toys: Questions and Answers for Parents
"Lead in Children's Toys: Questions and Answers for Parents" is also available in the following languages:
- Spanish – Plomo en los Juguetes de Niños: Preguntas y Respuestas para los Padres
- Russian – Свинец в детских игрушках. Информация для родителей: вопросы и ответы
- Chinese – 兒童玩具含鉛:父母須知事項問答
Which toys have been recalled?
On August 2, 2007, Fisher-Price recalled approximately 967,000 toys, including Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and other licensed characters. In addition, on August 14, 2007, Mattel recalled approximately 253,000 toy "Sarge" cars. On June 13, 2007, RC2 Corporation recalled approximately 1.5 million "Thomas and Friends" wooden railway toys. There also have been a number of smaller recalls for a variety of children's products this year.
For a complete list of lead-related toy recalls, visit the State Department of Health's Lead Hazard Product Recall Web site at http://www.nyhealth.gov/environmental/lead/recalls/ or the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov. Consumers can also call the New York State Consumer Protection Board hotline at 1-800-697-1220.
If my child has one of these toys, does he or she need a lead test?
The State Department of Health recommends that parents discuss the need for a blood lead test with their health care provider. A blood lead test should be done for all children less than age 6 years old who have played with one of these toys, especially if the child frequently chews on toys or puts toys in his or her mouth, or has frequent hand-to-mouth activity that is typical of young children. Although there are not enough studies to know for certain, the Department of Health believes that the greatest risk of exposure to lead from toys comes from frequent chewing or mouthing on the toy, or from frequent hand-to-mouth activity. Just holding or playing with the toy with hand contact alone may not result in as much lead exposure. Parents should talk with their health care providers about the need for blood lead testing and any other questions they have about lead poisoning. Local health departments can also serve as a valuable resource on childhood lead poisoning prevention.
As a reminder, all children should receive routine blood lead tests at age one and again at age two.
What should be done with toys that have been recalled?
Children should not be allowed to play with recalled toys. Put the toys in a place where children cannot find them, until the toys can be returned or destroyed as directed. Because each recall is different, the State Department of Health recommends that you check the recall notice to learn how to return the toy for a refund or replacement. Recall notices are available through the Department's Web site at http://www.nyhealth.gov/environmental/lead/recalls/ or the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.
What is lead?
Lead is a metal found in the earth, and it is a poison. For years, lead was used in paint, gasoline, plumbing and many other items. Lead is still in some kinds of pottery and old painted surfaces, toys and furniture. As these things are used or get worn out, the lead they contain can spread. Lead has also more recently been found in some children's toys, and children's jewelry and charms.
What is lead poisoning?
Lead poisoning occurs when a person swallows or breathes in pieces of lead or lead dust. Often the lead dust or pieces are too small to see. When lead gets into the body, levels of lead in the person's blood rise and can be measured with a blood test. Lead also gets into other body organs, including bones and the brain. Lead poisoning can cause problems with a child's growth, behavior, and ability to learn. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have defined an elevated blood lead level as 10 micrograms per deciliter or higher. Blood lead levels 10 micrograms per deciliter or higher require follow-up by your health care provider.
How do children get lead poisoning?
A child can get lead poisoning by swallowing or breathing in lead. Often, lead poisoning is caused by lead you can't even see. Dust and paint chips from chipped and peeling lead paint are still the number one source of childhood lead poisoning. However, there is a risk of lead poisoning from other sources such as jewelry, toys, imported food, pottery, cosmetics and traditional medicines that contain lead.
Why are young children at greatest risk for lead poisoning?
Young children spend a lot of time on the floor. They like to put their hands, toys, and other things in their mouths. This raises their chances of swallowing lead dust and paint chips. Children's bodies are growing quickly and are more affected by lead. Only a tiny amount of lead is needed to harm a young, growing child.
Does New York require routine lead testing?
Health care providers in the state are required to test every child for lead at age 1 and again at age 2. Health care providers are also required to do a lead risk assessment for all pregnant women and all children up to age six at least once a year, and to do a blood lead test for children or pregnant women who are at risk for lead exposure.
The purpose of routine lead screening is to identify children who have elevated blood lead levels because of exposure to lead. While children can be exposed to lead from a number of possible sources, lead dust and paint chips from chipped and peeling lead paint are still the leading source of childhood lead poisoning. New York State has the largest number and percentage of old housing in the entire nation. Children who live in old housing (all housing built before 1978, but especially housing built before 1950) may be at risk for exposure to lead if the paint is chipping, peeling, or otherwise wearing down due to disrepair, or renovation and remodeling if lead-safe work practices are not followed. Of the approximately 5,000 children diagnosed with lead poisoning each year in New York State, the vast majority are exposed to lead from lead paint in housing.
How do I get a lead test for my child?
If your health care provider determines the need for a lead test, he or she will provide a prescription. Parents take their child and the prescription to a laboratory, where the laboratory technician takes a small amount of blood from the child. Your health care provider will receive the results of the test from the lab a few days later. Some health care providers may take blood from the child in their offices.
Why is it important for my child to be tested?
If your health care provider recommends testing, it is important to get the test so that if your child has an elevated blood lead level, steps can be taken to eliminate the source of lead and monitor your child's health.
What if a child doesn't have health insurance that will cover a blood lead test?
If a child does not have health insurance, or insurance does not cover blood lead tests, contact the local health department. They can help the child get a blood lead test. They will also help parents to get health insurance for their child.
How do I know if a child has lead poisoning?
At lower blood lead levels, a child with lead poisoning usually does not look or feel sick. The only sure way to know is to get a blood lead test. In the past, lead exposure was often not diagnosed until a child had a very high blood lead level (≥ 70 mcg/dL) with symptoms of lead toxicity such as severe fatigue, decreased muscle coordination, seizures, and coma. Children with these symptoms require immediate hospitalization and treatment. However, blood lead levels in this range are now extremely uncommon. The vast majority of children with lead poisoning will not have any obvious signs or symptoms.
Should I test my child's other toys for lead?
You may have heard about home test kits, which are sold for use in the home to detect lead in paint, soil, and dust (and, in some cases, water, dishware, glasses, and ceramics). A chemical reaction occurs when chemicals in the kit are exposed to lead, causing a color change. The State Department of Health and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency do not recommend home test kits to detect lead in toys, paint, dust, or soil. Studies show that these kits are not reliable enough to tell the difference between high and low levels of lead. At this time, the kits are not recommended for testing performed by either homeowners or certified lead-based paint professionals.
Where can I find out more information?
Ask your health care provider or call your local health department for more information on childhood lead poisoning prevention. The state Department of Health Web site has information about lead poisoning and a link to recent recalls. You can access this site at: http://www.nyhealth.gov/environmental/lead/. | <urn:uuid:c719ef78-6fb7-44c2-b25d-5379f82954cf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/recalls/questions_and_answers.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956796 | 1,972 | 2.84375 | 3 |
When NYC has a real bike infrastructure with an extensive network of separated lanes, I will gladly give up the helmet (worst "fashion" accessory ever). While the current situation exists, where we are basically playing in traffic, the helmet will unfortunately stay.
As another US cyclist, I agree with Anne: a separate infrastructure must come first but it has not -- and may not. The oil and automobile interests are very powerful in this country so the vast majority of transportation funds are spent on roads (and not bike paths, public transit, etc). In a cycling accident near my house a couple of years ago a car turned right, directly in front of a cyclist. When she fell, the car's rear wheel ran over her head. She had a cracked helmet but survived with neck and shoulder injuries.Many drivers are inattentive and distracted, chatting on phones, texting, eating, drinking -- these are the drivers with whom we share the road when we cycle. I wouldn't go out there without a helmet.
I'm an American cyclist also and I never ride without a helmet. I don't know if that is sensible or not but I really like Cycleliciousness's point of view; it ought to be a matter of personal choice instead of a matter of law. My own safety might or might not be affected but public safety isn't.
I am generally opposed to having helmets be mandatory for adults. That having been said, I think anyone who rides without a helmet is being unnecessarily foolish. I wear a helmet when I ride my bike. I wear a seatbelt in the car. I look both ways before crossing a street. I don't eat things that smell wrong. These are all reasonable things that people do to stay alive.
Helmets say "cycling is dangerous". Car drivers see cyclists wearing helmets (when they don't have to, e.g. not in Australia, Lithuania or Bogota) and think "responsible cyclist" etc. and never consider driving slower than the speed limit. Media (in the USA at least) often mentions whether or not an adult cyclist is wearing a helmet in a reported bike "accident", even though this has no effect on the crash happening in the first place... well, actually I am wrong, a recent study showed that car drivers get closer to cyclists who are wearing helmets.None of the cities/countries with high cycling modal share had anything like a "helmet phase" on the way to that. Styrofoam is meant to live free and wild, not on your head.
Why does it bother you Europeans so much that we (Americans) wear helmets? As much as you argue against it, you end up looking like just as much of a zealot as those who argue you can't ride a bike without one.If you want to wear a helmet, wear one. If you don't, don't.
when i was out in California, i wore a helmet a lot. as soon as i came to Austin, i saw few people wearing helmets and realized that these were really two routes that diverged in the land of the yellow jersey. I went with the route less helmeted, and that has made all the difference.:)
If all people and animals wore helmets doing their everyday routine, a lives might be saved.
This is enough to convince me...http://masiguy.blogspot.com/...2008/05/wear-your-damn-helmet.html
It is obvious to me that a helmet will protect your head in crash, but how you ride is the most important bit of safety. I acknowledge that are dangers to riding a bike, however, like the majority of the world's bike riders, I believe it is pretty low on the list. Call me foolish if you like, but every once in a great while I will eat a Big Mac & fries too. Styrofoam hats are really best suited to racing.Just a guy that rides his bike around in the US.
NEWS FLASH!! Riding a bicycle at relaxed speeds is not dangerous! It's the damned cars that make going to the grocery store by bike a blood sport in the US.Reluctantly, I wear a helmet nearly every mile I ride because cars have stained our streets with genocidal amounts of blood and I don’t want to be a statistic in the body count. I hate my damned helmet. It is a Crown of Thorns and a Scarlet Letter that our homicidal auto culture forces us to wear because we dare to be different and not follow the lemming in their shiny metal boxes. If I'm riding for speed then I wear my helmet without complaint but I shouldn't need it to cruise 1/2 mile down the street to get my Sunday bagel.While I was out in Davis CA for a bike planning conference, people asked the local bike planners why they didn't push for more helmet use amongst the locals. The reply was simple. They didn't want to make cycling more inconvenient or scare people from riding their bikes because they knew that it is more important for safety to have more people cycling then to push helmet use and risk lowering the numbers of cyclists. After a week of riding around town I started to realize that Davis was an exceptionally safe place to ride a bicycle, similar to some of the best bicycle towns in Europe. So I left the helmet behind and for the first time in a long time I truly felt free while riding a bike. I had none of the guilt for riding helmetless that I feel when I do so back home in New Jersey because I knew what I was doing was perfectly safe. And it was the wonderful bike culture and city planning in Davis that made it possible for me to do so.As long as we feel compelled to wear a helmet for even the most casual bike rides, we are not free as cyclists and we will not be living in a true cycle culture.Peace.
I've fallen twice in the past twenty five years. Both were low speed slip-outs; one in sand, one on a steep switchback. No cars were involved. Fortunately, I landed on my head both times and cracked open only my helmet. I donated my second shattered helmet to my doctor, who placed it on a shelf in her waiting room.
There are few people who are anti-helmet. There are, however, many people who are 'anti-bad science', 'anti-manipulation of facts' and 'anti-freedom of choice'.Helmets are a personal choice and should remain so, without misleading 'facts' presented by helmet advocates.The main point is that bicycle helmet advocates use their strange form of peer-pressure to sell their gospel. They use select statistics, usually plucked from flawed scientific studies, instead of presenting citizens with science that shows quite a different picture.The wool is pulled over peoples' eyes. There is no clear-cut evidence that helmets do what you are told they do.Regarding cracked helmets, this is of interest - My Helmet Saved My Life - from the Bicycle Helmet Research Foundation. These claims of "a helmet saved my life" are rarely based on science, only a percieved notion. This emotional blackmail that advocates love so much is dangerously misleading.
Gordon, riding a steep switchback is not casual riding! It sounds more like mountain biking and is not what I'm referring to.I've been riding a bike regularly for over 30 years. I've had some good spills in my time and I have the scars to prove it but I have never hit my head. I know there is an element of luck involved in this fact but I believe that my skills have been more important in helping me fall properly so to protect my head. That said I still wear a helmet on American streets because they are still WAY too dangerous.
Anon 16:40 -- There's a world of difference between track racing at 35 mph and toodling to the corner store at 10 mph. Did Dale Earnhardt's death while racing convince you (or anyone else) to wear a head and neck brace while driving to work?
I'm not sure why people get so worked up about helmet use. I don't believe in helmet laws or seatbelt laws, but use both all the time. I don't see my bicycle helmet making me any less "free" than if I rode without it. Many of you say that these studies are misleading and dangerous, and that there really is no proof helmets help. I've broken several helmets, and maybe it's true that it's my "percepetion" that leads me to believe it saved my life, it's still what I believe. I love my helmet and wouldn't think of riding without it. If you don't want to wear yours....don't.
It is a myth that cycling is only dangerous because of auto traffic. It is also foolish to believe that good, experienced riders are somehow immune to crashing. If you ride a lot, over many years, you will occasionally be involved in crashes that are no fault of your own. I've ridden at least an hour a day for the past 30 years. I wear my helmet about half the time. 6 years ago, I was out of the saddle, sprinting hard up a hill when my right crank arm snapped in half. No traffic was involved, and I hadn't done anything wrong, but my head hit the cement curb so hard that it blew my helmet to pieces. I was on crutches for the next 6 weeks, but my head was OK. Of the 10 or so crashes that I've had over the years, about half were in races. Twice I was hit by a car. The others were strange, unpredictable situations like the one I've just described. This was the only time that I've ever hit my head, but I'm glad that I was wearing my helmet that day. If you ride a lot, you will eventually crash. When you do, a helmet MIGHT save your life, or reduce the severity of your injuries, and decrease your healing time. Or it might not. The seat belt analogy is a good one. You hope to never use it, but that one time you needed it you'll be glad you had it.
All of this is, quite simply, a choice between "belief" and "knowledge".I was raised to appreciate and respect knowledge, especially knowledge that is based on fact and backed up by science.The seatbelt analogy is weak. Science supports the effectivity of seatbelts whereas the case for bicycle helmets, made by helmet advocates, is suspect and misleading.I prefer to know, rather than to fall victim to emotional blackmail and merely 'believe'.
I'm not aware of a lot of science that has been done to show that umbrellas actually keep you drier in the rain, but some things make common sense. I agree that wearing a helmet should remain a personal choice. I never wear a helmet on my daily commute, but I also realize that this choice puts me at a greater risk. I've decided that it's worth it. I'm all for freedom and personal choice, but from a position of responsibility rather than denial. If in doubt, and lacking better science, one should conduct a personal test. Personalized research is often more meaningful. First, take a large wooden serving spoon and strike yourself hard on the head. On a scale of 1 to 8, with 1 being "not very painful" and 8 being "extremely painful," rate your personal perception of pain. Write this number down in column A. Next, put on your favorite helmet. Now, taking care to apply the same amount of force, strike yourself again. Using the same 1 - 8 scale, rate your perception of this experience. Write this number down in column B. To account for unavoidable variations in force applied, this entire procedure should be repeated at least 3 times. Next, add the numbers in column A. Then, add the numbers in column B. If the sum of column B is higher than the sum of column A, you should conduct additional research. If the sum of column A is higher than the sum of column B, you should consider this information when making the choice about wearing a helmet on your next ride. Unless you are very strong and very dedicated to this research, you probably will not achieve the structural damage to your head that you would with a typical head injury from a bicycle crash, so you'll need to be willing to extrapolate if this test is to have any personal value.
At least your comment was amusing. Thanks for that. To reiterate... helmets should be personal choice. That's been said all along. What I object to is how helmet advocates manipulate the research and the statistics to reflect how 'dangerous' cycling is and how much 'risk' there is for 'life-threatening injury or death'. The millions of people out there who are potential daily cyclists like the 100 million daily cyclists in Europe are not being convinced to ride because of this fear-mongering and false information.I want them out there riding.What do you find objectionable on the website of the Bicycle Helmet Research Foundation or elsewhere on similar sites? I'm interested to hear. What research do you choose to 'believe'? There is much science on the subject, surely you have an opinion about which studies you find credible and which ones you don't.I agree with the wooden spoon analogy, though. In wooden spooning and in cycling you might get an 'ouchie'. That's why BandAids were invented.
I have never worn a helmet yet while riding a bicycle never will either I belive myself that it should be a personal choice. Same thing with motorcycles. Sure if I was riding a motocycle at greater speed then I will wear a full face helmet. But as stated I am lucky if I ride faster than 15mph usually I average around 10. I have fallen only twice myself got hurt once and not all that bad never hit my head and it was riding on a BMX track as a kid. I have ove 20 years of riding experince and ride every chance I get. Bu as I said there shouldn't be laws to force you to use one if you want to go for it but I feel safer and pay more attention with out one to my surrondings. My baseball hat is my helmet. Enough said
@David - with your spoon test you would presumably use this in determining whether to wear a helmet when walking as well (and round the house etc).So assuming you decide that your test means you should wear a helmet when cycling, why would you not wear it when walking etc. Cycling is seen as far more dangerous than it is. It is a perception of risk, rather then actual risk. Many people seem to offset that perception of risk (fear), by wearing a helmet, which does very little if anything to change the risk of injury, but becuase that risk is so low, they feel it must have worked.
Post a Comment | <urn:uuid:66d8842f-0e64-4e5e-afd8-d7faa7161977> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.copenhagenize.com/2008/05/hierarchy-of-bike-helmet-empire.html?showComment=1210616280000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974905 | 3,062 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Joshua Tree National Park is a fascinating land of surreal geologic features shaped by strong winds, unpredictable torrents of rain, and climatic extremes.
The map includes the Park in its entirety, the Little San Bernardino Mountains, Nexie Mountains, Lost Horse Valley, Quail Springs Historic Trail, Black Rock Canyon, Hidden Valley, Pinto Basin, Chuckwalla Valley, Cottonwood Mountains, Pinto Mountains, Cottonwood Spring Nature Trail, and more. The trails on this map have been enhanced and mileage has been added. Includes UTM grids for use with your GPS unit.
Approximately 4 1/4" x 9 1/4" folded; 25 1/2" x 37 3/4" fully opened
Scale = 1:80,000
Map revised - 2005
More than just a map, National Geographic Trails Illustrated topographic maps are designed to take you into the wilderness and back. Printed on tear-resistant, waterproof material, this map can go anywhere you do. Each map is based on exact reproductions of USGS topographic map information, updated, customized, and enhanced to meet the unique features of each area. The maps include valuable wilderness tips and Leave No Trace guidelines, along with updated trails, trailheads, points of interest, campgrounds, and much more. With a new color palette and stunning shaded relief, backcountry navigation has never been easier. | <urn:uuid:6014a722-aaf6-4bd0-8590-1f6b0de20a1a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/maps/travel-and-hiking-maps/trails-illustrated-hiking-and-recreation-maps/california/226-joshua-tree-national-park-trail-map | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906176 | 282 | 2.28125 | 2 |
Prior to Procedure
Your doctor will likely do the following:
Talk to your doctor about your medication. You may need to stop taking certain medication for one week before surgery, such as:
and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (eg,
Blood-thinning drugs, such as
Anti-platelet drugs, such as
Your doctor may also ask you to:
- Eat a light meal the night before. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
- Arrange for a ride to and from the hospital.
- Arrange for help at home after the procedure.
Description of Procedure
A breathing tube will be placed in your throat. Next, an incision will be made through the skin. The breastbone will be split to open the chest. A heart-lung machine will be connected. Since the heart needs to be stopped for the surgery, this machine will act as the heart and lungs.
An artery will be taken from the chest wall. Or, a section of vein will be removed from the leg. This section will be used as the bypass. Once the heart is stopped, the new vessels will be connected (grafted) to the blocked arteries. One end will be attached just above the blockage. The other end will be attached just below the blockage. When the grafts are in place, the heart will be allowed to "wake up." Electrical shocks may be needed in some cases to regulate the heart’s rhythm. The heart-lung machine will be disconnected. Temporary tubes may be placed in your chest to help drain any fluid. The breastbone will be wired together. The chest will be closed with stitches or staples.
There is a less invasive approach, called minimally invasive coronary artery surgery. The purpose of this surgery is the same, but the technique and condition of the patient are different. Patients who have only one or two clogged arteries may be candidates for this approach. In this technique, a small incision is made in the chest. The doctor usually uses an artery from inside the chest for the bypass. The key difference in this technique is that the doctor performs the surgery while the heart is beating. With this technique, the heart-lung machine is not needed. If you need CABG, your doctor will carefully evaluate you to determine the best technique for you. | <urn:uuid:5870edbd-60d4-48e5-95b8-4c41f0f5ccdf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bidmc.org/YourHealth/ConditionsAZ/Chronicvenousinsufficiency.aspx?ChunkID=14782 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.911516 | 480 | 2.34375 | 2 |
By rendering aspects of Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" into carefully considered graphical forms, students learn to appreciate elements of characterization, setting, and plot in a manner that engages them actively in the production of meaning.
Students examine primary sources in order to compare the intellectual achievements of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. The lesson serves as an introduction to the complementary EDSITEment lesson, Jefferson vs. Franklin: Revolutionary Philosophers.
Explore the philosophical contributions that Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson made to the movement for American independence. The lesson introduces students to some of the important precursor documents, such as Franklin's Albany Plan of 1754 and Jefferson's Draft of the Virginia Constitution, that led to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
This lesson plan looks at the major ideas in the Declaration of Independence, their origins, the Americans’ key grievances against the King and Parliament, their assertion of sovereignty, and the Declaration’s process of revision. Upon completion of the lesson, students will be familiar with the document’s origins, and the influences that produced Jefferson’s “expression of the American mind.” | <urn:uuid:b0cf54bd-a678-491b-8d82-2695dd5a3efb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://edsitement.neh.gov/calendar/2012-04-13 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.903289 | 232 | 4.25 | 4 |
On history’s trail in Jakarta
Indonesia’s capital was transformed from a sleepy colonial base to a booming mega-city in less than a century. Much of the old Batavia – as the Dutch called their settlement– was obliterated in the course of the city’s rapid growth, but watchful trackers can be sure of finding some small but exquisite traces between the urban expressways, shopping malls and skyscrapers
Back to the overview
Ships, city history & puppet theatre
Where Jakarta was born – and time seems to stand still: Traditional pinisi are still the only vessels to anchor in Sunda Kelapa harbor, just like 400 years ago. These two-masted sailing ships (today often also motorized) continue to connect all of the provinces of the sprawling Indonesian archipelago. After capturing Sunda Kelapa back in 1619, the Dutch made it one of their first bases in the region from which to control their “East Indian” colonies. The harbor became the nucleus from which their colonial capital, Batavia, grew. Many ancient buildings in the area have survived to this day.
Jakarta History Museum (and National Museum):
The old city of Batavia was once ruled from the"Stadhuis" (town hall). This historical building was extensively refurbished in the 1970s and now houses the Jakarta History Museum. Inside, a worthwhile exhibition – but unfortunately narrated almost exclusively in Indonesian – traces the city’s history prior to and during the colonial era. The National Museum, founded by the Dutch colonial government in 1868, is larger than the History Museum and has a collection of 66,000 artifacts. It offers a more profound insight into the history of Jakarta and Indonesia and is among the best museums of its kind in Southeast Asia
Jakarta History Museum: Jalan Taman Fatahillah 2, +62/21/692 91 01. Opening times: temporarily closed due to maintenance. National Museum: Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat 12, +62-21/3 86 81 72. Opening times: Tue-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat+Sun 8am-5pm. Admission (for foreign visitors): 10,000 rupees. www.museumnasional.or.id
EA further cultural highlight in Jakarta’s historical old town (Kota) is the Wayang Museum, which occupies a former store building on the old town hall square. Wayang kulit, the art of shadow theater chiefly found on the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java, is the oldest and best-loved form of puppet theater in the world; UNESCO acknowledges it as one of the "masterpieces of oral and intangible heritage of humanity." It has a more than 1000-year-old tradition and generally portrays ancient Indian epics. In addition to the flat, leather marionettes typical of shadow theater, the Wayang Museum also exhibits a collection of three-dimensional wooden puppets (wayang golek). On Sundays, visitors can even watch the marionettes in action.
Wayang Museum: Jalan Pintu Besar Utara 27, +62-21/692 95 60. Opening times: Tue-Sun 9am-3pm. Admission: 2000 rupiah (students 1000, children 600 rupiah).
Culinary institutions & cultural richness
After taking a stroll through Kota, Jakarta’s old town, why not drop into a genuine institution for a little refreshment? The building that houses Café Batavia (which is really a restaurant) once served as the residence of the city’s Dutch governors – and today preserves its distinctive colonial atmosphere. Uniformed waiters serve not only Indonesian and Chinese fare but also western dishes. In the adjoining Churchill Bar, guests can enjoy cocktails in a laid-back setting to gentle strains of jazz music. A popular hostelry with locals, ex-pats and tourists!
Café Batavia: Taman Fatahillah, +62-21/691 55 31. Opening times: Mon-Fr 8am-2pm, Sat+Sun round the clock. www.cafebatavia.com.
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah:
Is it an open-air museum or a theme park? Either way, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (“beautiful mini-Indonesia park”) is one of Jakarta’s main attractions and showcases the rich cultural diversity of this multi-ethnic state made up of 17,500 islands. Traditional houses from Indonesia’s various provinces create an impression of daily life in this, the fourth largest country in the world (based on population). Places of worship for people of different religions and creeds as well as a number of museums, theaters and restaurants are also dotted about the lush parklands.
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah: Jalan Raya Taman Mini 1, +62/21/840 92 70. Opening times: 8am-5pm, although individual opening times apply to many attractions. Admission: 6000 rupiah (children 4000 rupiah). www.tamanmini.com.
Despite the abundance of cultural treasures Jakarta has to offer, visitors tend to spend only a few days in the capital before moving on to tour the main Indonesian island of Java. One of Central Java’s biggest tourist magnets is Yogyakarta, the unofficial culture capital, where traditional Javan arts and crafts such as batik and wayang are cultivated. Not far from "Yogya," visitors will find two further impressive attractions to explore: the 1200-year-old temple cities of Borobudur (Buddhist) and Prambanan (Hindu). Bromo (see photo) is an active volcano that towers high into the sky in the east of Java. Climb to its crater – preferably in the early morning hours – and you will be rewarded by spectacular views of a bizarre moon landscape
Pictures: Westlake/Robbins/Kaehler/Corbis (3), mauritius images, getty images, Zimbardo/laif, look-foto | <urn:uuid:64ee45c3-5f6e-446f-a351-5492dafe92b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lufthansa.com/za/en/Lufthansa-Highlights-Jakarta | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918551 | 1,275 | 2.59375 | 3 |
ACLU History: An Early Cry for Justice
Throughout the 1920s, the ACLU was virtually the only predominantly white organization to champion racial justice and denounce resurgent Ku Klux Klan violence. Both the ACLU and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) pressed the government to intervene against the Klan where local authorities did not act. But the White House and the Justice Department largely did nothing, while those who stood up to the Klan ran the risk of whippings, brandings and lynchings. Through its early efforts to combat racism, the ACLU forged a close bond with the NAACP which continues to this day.
In 1931, the ACLU published Black Justice, a comprehensive report on institutionalized racism and one of the first reports on the subject by a mostly white organization. A key finding of this landmark report was that in the ten Deep South states, 'the Negro may not vote. The Negro may not marry according to his choice. The Negro must accept separate accommodations in public schools and on public conveyances.'
At the same time that it advocated against racial injustice, however, the ACLU continued to champion the free speech rights of organizations like the Klan to march and express their abhorrent views, a tradition that would sometimes put it at odds with important allies like the NAACP.
(An early example of NAACP and ACLU collaboration)
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Make a Difference
Your support helps the ACLU fight racial inequality and defend a broad range of civil liberties. | <urn:uuid:6946bbe0-bc23-4793-a197-1e9c833a7b24> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-history-early-cry-justice?quicktabs_content_video_podcasts=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949795 | 365 | 4.28125 | 4 |