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Is your home a disaster? According to professional organizer Peter Walsh, creating a space you love begins with eliminating your mess—and unearthing your most meaningful possessions. Nate talks to Peter about the importance of organization and about his mission to help people rid their homes of clutter.
Best known for his role on TLC's hit series Clean Sweep, Peter says his job is to go into people's homes and try to dig them out from under the piles of stuff they've accumulated. He also spells out his declutter strategies in his book It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff. "I thought it was about time to let people know that they can actually live a richer, fuller life with a little less stuff in their homes," Peter says.
Peter says it's not how much space you have, it's what you put in it—or more importantly, leave out. Nate, who owns a sparsely decorated 550-square-foot apartment in New York City, says he agrees with Peter's "less is more" philosophy. "It all comes down to having a space that creates the life that you want," Peter says. "If it feeds that life that you want—it can just be the best space in the world."
In his work, Peter says he comes across a lot of junk that people try to pass off as collections. He says there's a big difference between having a collection of prized objects, and just amassing a bunch of stuff. "A lot of people don't realize that the line between 'collectable' and 'clutter' is razor thin," he says. "Just because you have a lot of things that are of the same type doesn't make you a collector in my view. It's how they're honored, how they're respected and it's very much about the joy they bring to your life."
So what causes people to live in disarray? Peter says it has to do with the false notion that more is better or that material things amount to happiness. The result is that a person's "stuff ends up owning them and all of a sudden they're robbed of peace of mind, of calm, of being centered, and that's where everything goes off the rails," Peter says.
According to Peter, every item in your home should be meaningful—something that evokes special memories or brings you joy and comfort. "If the stuff in your home doesn't make your heart sing, what's it doing in your most intimate of spaces?"
Printed from Oprah.com on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 | <urn:uuid:a413d7f2-5fa5-4856-8b27-e5bf50a853b6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.oprah.com/home/Nate-Talks-with-Peter-Walsh/print/1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983937 | 530 | 1.78125 | 2 |
A little late for April Fools, but I guess it is still April.
I don't think it would be a huge blow to Superman truth be told, wouldn't change how he was raised. Just that his dead biological parents and race's culture was vastly different It wouldn't have been a retcon that drastically changed Supes character.
I'll give you some examples of characters whose origins fall in line with this: Goku and Invincible. Both character take the whole alien race, rocketed to earth aspect from Superman in the Saiyans and the Viltrumite. Only difference is the Saiyains and Viltrumites were not a kind peace loving species, they were savage and would conquer or destroy other civilizations.
But in the end Goku and Invincible turned out to be great heroes who mirror many of the same aspects Superman embodies.
I know this was a joke, but if DC made this change (which they wouldn't) it would be unoriginal nowadays.
Also not to be disrespectful to Wonder Woman but Superman's origin is one of the most recognizable origin out of almost any superhero. Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and Hulk have the most recognizable origins out of all Western Superheroes.
This doesn't mean Wonder Woman's original origin wasn't well known, it probably was among comic fans I'm not sure to what extent however, but in pop-culture not so much.
Personally I don't have a problem with the retcon of the Amazons. I don't see it as something that is detrimental character or would redefine her core values and beliefs.
I hereby award you fifteen Awesome Points for your Invincible reference. | <urn:uuid:8c1726a1-66d3-41ff-a4b3-590e6dfbe0b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?409244-Oh-good-its-not-just-us&p=14998379&viewfull=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974387 | 341 | 1.679688 | 2 |
One of the most important tools in open source software development is IRC. For those who are not familiar with it, IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat and is a protocol for real-time online communication — chat.
For historical reasons the development team was using a private channel until recently. So while discussions on the area51 development board and the tracker were public, the IRC discussions were not. It turns out that a lot of development discussion happens on IRC. Quick discussions between developers are easily achievable on IRC and often beneficial for reviewing patches and making low-impact decisions.
We wish to open up all aspects of phpBB development and encourage all users to participate.
So whether you’re just interested in how we work or if you want to make a contribution to the project…
Join #phpbb-dev on irc.freenode.net
We’re waiting for you.
View full post on phpBB | <urn:uuid:f68c15f1-497c-4cf8-8b75-f41fde59b57c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.chinshiro.info/new-development-irc-channel-phpbb-dev.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936148 | 190 | 1.632813 | 2 |
After a while people listen to the idea of fusion of AMD, the tech finally came. Acer released the first time to RI in a notebook in Acer Aspire 4253 Notebook. Notebook utilizes fusion technology of AMD Brazos platform, the AMD E-350.
What is fusion technology?
AMD processors are used in the Aspire 4253 Notebook is the first fusion technology from AMD. Fusion processor is no result of the merger of the processor and VGA. AMD E-350 is a combination of an AMD dual-core processors combined a VGA AMD (hd6310). AMD states the results of the combined CPU and VGA as an APU.
AMD processors APU E-350 is the first time amd launched. A unique, however the APU is composed of various types of components (2 cpu cores, memory controllers, and VGA), its size is very small. AMD Processor E-350 measures just 75mm square. Power consumption is also very low, only 18 watts. Remarkably, the small package is sold at a price very affordable AMD, so it makes an inexpensive platform for the students but to perform well.
Aspire 4253 laptop: designed for students
Based on AMD processor technology used E-350, the technology used to build the evidence is suitable for a special notebook students. Good performance and low price are the key words such as Laptop Acer Aspire S3 : Ultrabook Thin Notebook Best Price Cheap (Ultrabook Notebook Tipis Harga Murah Terbaik). people would not want a performance notebook, right? people like to VGA can run a variety of movie formats and even a game? it's all in the laptop aspire 4253. Hence the reason why the issue acer aspire 4253 notebook with AMD processor powered E-350 specifically for the students. in fact, is there anyway Notebook HDMI connector that previously observed in high-performance notebook. Next, what kind of performance? check the test results the following example:
performance (Sysmark 2007)
according to test results utilizing the Sysmark 2007, amd technology helps e-350 Notebook acer aspire 4253 is reaching beyond the performance range 25persen Atom N550 Laptop (dual core). suppose compared to single core series of atomic technology, the difference becomes so much. The following example is the difference in overall performance over the netbook with dual core atom.
Apparently, however dual core atom has two cores and four threads, the netbook with the technology is still far behind in all aspects of testing. Atom dual core AMD can match only e-350 in any aspect of video conversion. It occurs due to the number of threads it very much.
ability of vga (3DMark 06)
according to the results of testing the evidence is so astonishing, in fact, the excess vga aspire 4253 laptop is able to exceed the pentium dual core pentium dual core P6000 and T4500 (4500MHD). Do not compare performance with netbook vga. vga amd 6310 are available have very much left vga performance in a netbook.
turn on the video full hd (1080p)
play video high definition (hd) is not easy to do things that a netbook. running the video 1080p (full hd) is impossible. in fact, many low-cost notebooks also found it difficult to play the video full hd. What about the Acer Aspire 4253 Laptop?
in fact, acer aspire 4253 notebook does not feel the problem at all in full HD video playback in any format. all the players you can use a vga that is, you can play any movie on the market during this period there is no problem. This is a very unique advantages for a cheap notebook package for students.
suppose you have a very good internet bandwidth, acer aspire 4253 notebook that you can even play streaming video to youtube hd through successfully.
according to the results of the test battery, found the Acer Aspire 4253 Notebook capable of strong live up to 275 minutes. Notebook is considering using 14-inch screen, dvd, vga has a good performance, and offered at prices so low, the test results are quite good.
cheap, powerful, and complete: most suitable for students
Acer aspire 4253 notebook comes in a very cheap package deals. you seem to feel that the price of 4.099 million RP, - still can not say it so cheap. however, if you see that in the bid package has been around Windows 7 starter, starter office 2010, microsoft learning suite, and various other software is a very cheap price. all software is legal software. therefore, you can feel safe in use.
low price, complete software, good performance, and good battery life. you do not even want to feel that for the economical use of technology to operate the notebook. the next, a combination of everything makes a Notebook Laptop Aspire 4253 so do not be mistaken for the students.
the already manifest acer 4253 notebook with AMD APU E-350 is able to meet daily needs with excellent performance and battery life for so long.
We hope you understand the added associated with the Acer Aspire 4253 Notebook: Notebook For Students Special. Ane please post on the Acer Aspire 4253 Notebook: Notebook For Students Special no use to you to decide your views relating to your wishes.
The other excite writing please click Sepeda Motor Injeksi Irit Harga Terbaik Cuma Honda that interesting. Don't for get it! | <urn:uuid:da4a481f-2658-448e-951d-21a963c3c6c9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://accer.nulis.web.id/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922643 | 1,167 | 2.546875 | 3 |
It’s a famous and to some people very attractive little sentence: ‘Fake it till you make it’. You start acting, and then really turn into the person you would like to be. Is succes really that simple? Scientists say so.
It sounds like a modern way to look at life, but it’s actually a very old wisdom. No other than the great Aristotle told people in the fourth century B.C. that they could become virtuous if they just acted virtuous.
Since then a lot of researchers have shown the effect of what is called self-efficacy. This is a person’s belief in his or her ability to succeed in a particular situation. Self-efficacy helps people perform better at tasks and improve their quality of life. This has for example proven to be the case for people with all kinds of health issues.
One simple example is the experiment Stephanie L. Stolz of the Misouri Western State University put up in 2009. She made students fill out a fake questionnaire and then play basketball. The questionnaire was meant to influence the student’s self-confidence or self-efficacy. Some of them received a low grade, others a high grade. These lasts ones turned out to play basketball significantly better than the group that received negative feedback.
But these students were made to really believe in their own abilities. The question is: can we also fake this self-confidence? It appears so. Psychologist Albert Bandura published a lot of studies about self-efficacy in the past century. According to him self-efficacy starts to develop in early childhood, but is still influenced later in life.
Therapies that actively try to influence self-efficacy have indeed helped people with depression or alcohol addictions. But can we also do this ourselves? According to psychologist Amy Cuddy this is very simple: just pose as a confident person. Don’t make yourself small by crossing your leggs or arms or touching your neck, instead put your feet on the desk or stand upright.
She demonstrated the effect with subjects that had to pose in different ways. After just two minutes they acted very differently. People that took powerfull poses were better able to deal with risks and their levels of testosterone and cortisol changed significantly. They also presented themselves better at stressfull job interviews.
Our bodies change our minds, Cuddy concludes. So faking it is actually very helpfull. To know more about it, watch Cuddy’s TED Talk:
Photo: Flickr, Alfonso Salgueiro | <urn:uuid:8e2b1160-f3d4-4a29-b1e9-c9e8a037b380> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.united-academics.org/magazine/mind-brain/good-to-know-you-can-fake-it-till-you-make-it/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980012 | 526 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Lots of jobs at this time are currently being outsourced to other nations or automated as a great deal as potential so that the Occupation prospects are dwindling in sure careers. Not so in the pharmacy tech area!
Americans are residing lengthier at this time and so they too have disorders and conditions that need medicines in order for them to preserve a high quality way of life. Diabetes is on the rise and so is higher blood stress... and each of which demand ongoing medicines.
The fundamental Work of a pharmacy tech is to fill prescriptions whilst assisting the pharmacist. This can be carried out in a hospital, in a retail pharmacy or in much more of an workplace atmosphere for 1 of the quick-expanding on-line drug businesses that ship medications by mail.
Fundamental inventory management is one particular of the primary Occupation duties of the pharmacy technician. Medications are obtained from the producer and individuals shipments demand to be verified and then stocked on the shelves for filling prescriptions.
Dispensing medications into containers for individuals is yet another Task duty. Tablets Must be counted, liquids require to be measured, and medicine containers demand to be labeled. All of this calls for a selected volume of information entry in order to adequately maintain track of supplies as effectively as excellent consideration to facts.
The volume of buyer service essential of both pharmacy tech will rely on the spot or business variety. Lots of techs are the initially line of communication with the individuals, dealing with all but the additional challenging issues which get passed on to the pharmacist. This can involve a wonderful deal of interaction with individuals on a day by day basis.
Other techs will obtain that they shell out most of their time dealing with the medicines and payments with minor if any interaction with people today. A pharmacist may perhaps want to take care of the patient get hold of as a great deal as potential with techs only filling in while important things are pretty active.
Communication techniques are a extremely essential trait for pharmacy techs to have because most speak to will be with persons who are sick and do not really feel nicely so may well be instead cranky. Patience is a Should for this Career!
Several vocational colleges can assist their pharmacy tech college students get jobs though their coaching is done. Pharmacies will frequently get in touch with the colleges for suggestions on Career candidates. It pays to get to know your professors and participate in class so that you get recognized.
The Nationwide Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination is the subsequent stage following instruction and internship. A licensed pharmacy technician can command a high salary than 1 who has not taken the Examination.
The coursework has a terrific bit of kind which includes pharmacy terminology and frequent abbreviations, understanding about ailments and how medications interact with the physique, as nicely as legal and ethical matters. When some of the classes may perhaps be complicated, the sort will preserve the schoolwork from currently being as well dull. A lot of schools will as well present an Associate's Degree for this course which is excellent for individuals who never ever went to or done college.
A Career as a pharmacy tech can be pretty satisfying because you will be delivering a significantly-essential service to your neighborhood. And with salaries starting up in the mid- to upper-twenties and up to forty or fifty thousand for additional expert techs, this is a Task that may perhaps present an earnings equal to or higher than Lots of 4-yr college graduates can earn.
With the financial system in the tank and Occupation prospects slim in Numerous fields, the pharmacy tech Task exhibits considerably guarantee according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. It is absolutely a Occupation solution well worth checking out. | <urn:uuid:cdf9113b-b939-4fa8-9560-c5d50259f59e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pharmacytechnicianplanet.blogspot.com/2007/05/pharmacy-tech-career-with-long-term.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959863 | 742 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Grade Range: 5-12
Resource Type(s): Interactives & Media, Reference Materials, Primary Source
Date Posted: 5/11/2012
This website features the diary of Civil War nurse, Amanda Akin. In April 1863, Akin left her home in Quaker Hill, NY, to serve as a nurse at Armory Square Hospital in Washington, D.C. During her 15 months at Armory Square, Akin wrote long letters to her sisters and recorded her daily activities in diaries. Nearly 50 years later, Akin drew on these written records to publish an account of her wartime role in a book, The Nurse of Ward E.
Historical Thinking Standards (Grades K-4)
Historical Thinking Standards (Grades 5-12)
United States History Standards (Grades 5-12)
World History Standards (Grades 5-12) | <urn:uuid:f7f1db65-31c9-49ee-b387-b85e52941d9b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://historyexplorer.si.edu/resource/?key=5531&lp=resource | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925174 | 177 | 3.34375 | 3 |
As the United States prepares to withdraw its forces from Iraq by year's end, a chorus of influential voices is insisting that the beneficiary of such a move is Iran. That is, a beleaguered Shiite theocracy overwhelmed by low-simmering opposition at home and growing isolation abroad is said to emerge as the local hegemon. Such views discount how Iran's contentious vision for the future of Iraq and its divisive tactics have alienated Iraqis across the sectarian spectrum. Iran may have been able to project its influence in an Iraq beset by civil war, but Tehran increasingly is on the margins as Iraq reconstitutes its national institutions.
To begin with, Iran's governing template has no constituency among Iraqi Shiites. Iran's theocratic absolutism was always in contravention of Shiite political traditions, making its export problematic if not impossible. Iraq's most esteemed and influential cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, stands with mainstream clerics in rejecting the notion that proper Islamic governance mandates direct clerical assumption of power. Even the Shiite parties ó the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and Dawa (the party of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki) ó which have long-standing ties to Tehran ó appreciate the untenable nature of the Iranian order. Adel Abdul Mahdi, an influential figure within ISCI, has pointedly stressed, ďWe don't want either a Shiite government or an Islamic government.Ē Also hard to fathom is the notion that radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr can be a reliable agent of Persian predominance, given his brand of Arab nationalism and erratic behavior. In the end, Iraq's Shiites understand that their country's divisions require a different governing structure and the assertion of autonomy from the Shiite power next door.
Beyond disagreements about the role of religion in politics, the two nations have conflicting aspirations for the future of Iraq. Iran has long sought to sharpen Iraq's sectarian cleavages as a means of unifying Shiites behind Iran's claims and preventing the rise of a cohesive state. Such a weak and divided Iraq would be too preoccupied with internal squabbles to effectively challenge Iran's regional assertions. The sectarian conflict, however, has largely ceased with the defeat of al-Qaeda and Sunni militias. As Iraq seeks to reconstitute itself as a nation-state, Maliki has come to recognize that Iranian-backed Shiite militias are as great a threat to his authority as they are to his country's Sunnis. In the summer of 2008, state power asserted itself over sectarian affinities as Maliki pushed forcefully into Basra, defeating militant Shiite forces allied with Iran. Today, it is not just Washington that complains about Iran's nefarious activities; Iraqis, too, have privately warned Iran about its mischievous conduct.
On the eve of the U.S. withdrawal, it may be difficult to see the extent to which Iran's policy in Iraq is in shambles. Since the displacement of Saddam Hussein's regime, Tehran has pursued two contradictory policies. On the one hand, the clerical state seeks cordial relations with the Iraqi government and has provided aid and commerce as a means of solidifying bilateral relations. Yet Iran has also been arming and nurturing Shiite militias that plot against authorities in Baghdad. Such a paradoxical approach seemed sustainable during the civil war, as Iraq's hard-pressed Shiites looked to Iran for assistance and thus countenanced its interventions in their country. The end of Iraq's war, however, has left Iran without a coherent policy. Tehran's inability or unwillingness to resolve the fundamental contradictions in its approach have done much to alienate the Iraqi government and a populace eager to put the burdens of conflict behind it. Whereas Washington was ill-prepared to deal with the start of Iraq's civil war, Iran seems unable to deal with its aftermath.
Whether the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq is wise is an issue worthy of debate. But the imperative at hand is to ensure Iraq's continued stability and prevent Iranian mischief in light of America's departure. The key to this lies as much in diplomacy as in military deployments.
Today, the essential estrangement of Iraqi Shiites from the larger Arab world, and the neighboring Sunni regimes' unease with their empowerment, makes them vulnerable to Iranian machination. A more forceful U.S. diplomacy, pressing allies to integrate Iraq into the Arab state system, would offer Baghdad additional economic partners and regional interlocutors as well as a means of reestablishing itself as a pivotal state of the Arab world. As the Middle East struggles with transitions that often pit identities against interests, Iraq can offer some useful lessons. Indeed, such a development would not only aid Iraq's rehabilitation and assist the region political evolution but would further isolate Iran in its immediate environment.
The writer is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
This article appears in full on CFR.org by permission of its original publisher. It was originally available here. | <urn:uuid:349a7a1e-75a1-4231-8ffb-62581c2a690e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cfr.org/iran/irans-waning-influence-iraq/p26407 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962752 | 1,014 | 1.992188 | 2 |
Prof. Antonio Muntadas
How do we define Public Art? This course focuses on the production of projects for public places. Public Art is a concept that is in constant discussion and revision, as much as the evolution and transformation of public spaces and cities are. Monuments are repositories of memory and historical presences with the expectation of being permanent. Public interventions are created not to impose and be temporary, but as forms intended to activate discourse and discussion. Considering the concept of a museum as a public device and how they are searching for new ways of avoiding generic identities, we will deal with the concept of the personal imaginary museum. It should be considered as a point of departure to propose a personal individual construction based on the concept of defining a personal imaginary museum - concept, program, collection, events, architecture, public diffusion, etc. | <urn:uuid:bfe88cde-2e06-42d7-a434-7e81ec1222f9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/architecture/4-367-studio-seminar-in-public-art-spring-2006/index.htm | 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 | 0.941583 | 167 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Meditation from the Daily Missal (March 10, 2013):
Our love of life most strongly motivates us when life itself is threatened. Destitute parents give what little food they have first to the children rather than themselves. Doctors and nurses work tirelessly to help heal a person diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. Even a perfect stranger donates a kidney to a person in renal failure. The most prodigal act we can do is give another life.
Pushed by desperation, the younger son in the gospel returns home confident that his father won’t let him die. The son is seeking only to live. The prodigality of the father is about even more than this. The father is concerned about his son’s identity and his life. The father not only guarantees his son’s life, but gives new life when he restores him as his son.
Lent, too, is about identity and new life. It is a desert time when we come to thirst more deeply for the life only made possible by growing in our relationship with Christ. By returning home to Christ (by being reconciled with God and each other), we become “a new creation” in him (2 Cor 5:17-21). Lent helps us seek new life; reconciliation guarantees new life. God’s most prodigal act is to give us this new life.
If I had to describe 2012, I’d describe it as a roller-coaster ride. There were lots of ups and downs. Lots of joys, lots of disappointments. This was probably one of the most trying years I’ve had in recent memory. Taking a second to think back on what has affected me and the world, a lot comes to mind.
Giants winning #SuperBowlXLVI against the Patriots.
#Linsanity brought hope to suffering Knicks fans.
The #Olympics… Usain Bolt dominated again, Michael Phelps ended his career, South Korea won bronze in soccer… so much athletic greatness in a two-week span.
The midnight premiere of #TheDarkKnightRises was marred by the shootings in #Aurora.
#GangnamStyle was released in June, and more than 1.5 billion YouTube views later, becomes a huge hit for PSY.
The #Curiosity space rover launched.
Jerry #Sandusky was sentenced to life in prison.
Hurricane #Sandy ripped through the Northeast.
Miguel Cabrera won the #MLB #TripleCrown.
The #Yankees couldn’t hit in October.
Barack #Obama won #FourMoreYears in the presidential election.
The #Knicks got off to a fast start in the new NBA season.
After months of searching, I finally got a new #job in December!
The #EndOfTheWorld came and went.
The nation was rocked by the tragedy at #Newtown.
Looking back, there were a lot of down times and tragic events, but there were a lot of things that restored our faith in humanity. I struggled a lot and faced as much doubt as I’ve ever faced in my life, but I also found myself trusting God as much as I ever have too. This year made me realize so much that God has everything in control, that God knows and does what is best for me, and that God provides for me no matter what.
I’m looking forward to seeing how 2013 plays out. I’m hoping things will continue to fall into place for me. I’m hoping that God will continue to use me for His glory and that I’ll enjoy the year no matter what. Here’s to a new beginning!
Fixer Chapter 11: As If In A Dream is now out and available for all to read! In this chapter, the band makes their long awaited journey to Japan and in the opening days of their trip, become exposed to the world of visual kei! Head on over to www.fixercomic.com now to get to experience this pivotal point in the story! Please help spread the word by reblogging and sharing this with your friends, and comment on the chapter after reading!
“Captain’s log, Stardate 6051: Had trouble sleeping last night. My hiatal hernia is acting up. The ship is drafty and damp. I complain, but nobody listens.”
If I had to describe this year, I would say that it’s definitely been humbling. There are a lot of things that I wish I had at this point (like a good job, among other things), but it hasn’t really been so. I’ve focused a lot on what I don’t have, and that’s led me to view things negatively (“I don’t have this,” “I can’t do this”). But God’s also shown me what he hasgiven me and all that he hasprovided for me. If there’s been a year in which I am really thankful for what I have (health, good family, good friends, having enough), it’s this year. Yes, there are things I don’t have, but this year has shown me the value of trusting in God’s providence and perfect timing. He will give me what I need, when I need it. Thank God for his blessings. | <urn:uuid:d8618068-180e-4b89-8fab-6df692fa105c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nksj28.tumblr.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972784 | 1,145 | 1.851563 | 2 |
A survey released this week paints an interesting picture of small businesses working in the cloud, and that picture is one of uncertainty.
"The cloud", essentially outsourcing computing tasks of any number of varieties, has been the hot button topic of the technology industry over the last couple of years, and it's often suggested that the cloud is a natural fit for SMB organisations, which have greater agility and less existing legacy architecture than their enterprise peers.
And yet, less than one third of small businesses have heard of the cloud, according to a web survey of 1800 people by Newtek Business Services, which markets technology services to SMBs.
It seems far fetched that this could be possible.You can't go to an airport anywhere in North America without seeing massive ads trumpeting the age of the cloud, and Microsoft's "To the Cloud" TV ads are ubiquitous.
That would suggest that not many small businesses know what the cloud is. But perhaps more disturbingly, even those who have heard of cloud computing largely don't get it, according to Newtek's study. Of those who were familiar with the concept of cloud computing, only one of those polled could actually describe what cloud computing means.
That would mean that about one quarter of 30 percent, about seven percent, of small business really get the cloud.
The sad fact is, cloud providers are not doing a very good job of educating small businesses about what the cloud is, and more importantly, why they should care.
It starts with the very definition. As "the cloud" has become the buzz phrase of the industry, more and more companies have sought to brand themselves in cloud terms. Provide a web service or software-as-a-service (Saas)? That's cloud. Outsourced IT infrastructure? That's cloud. Hosting services? Cloud. Internet-connected applications? Cloud. Thin client computers or other end user computing devices that connect to the Internet? Cloud.
And it gets worse when the ads get involved. Particularly, Microsoft's "To the Cloud" ad campaigns muddy the water. Watch a few of them, and you come away with the idea that the cloud will let you watch your favourite TV show over the Internet while you're stuck at the airport, or share a photo you've just doctored with your friends. "Yay, cloud!"
On the other side, many enterprise vendors focus on the infrastructure that's used by their large customers to roll out huge internal private clouds. Or they provide broad slogans that say nothing, like EMC's "The journey to the private cloud starts now" campaign.
Between those two extremes, there's a lack of genuine education for small businesses about what the "cloud" means, and more importantly, what the benefits can be to customers.
Small businesses need practical advice on how to get to the cloud, and even reassurance on some of the potentially concerning issues that surround the cloud. For instance, at this week's Citrix Synergy event, Citrix CTO Simon Crosby tackled the concern around cloud security and availability, particularly in the wake of high profile cloud outages like those suffered by Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Skype and others.
Crosby borrowed the old automobile vs. airline safety analogy: A plane crash gets a lot more news attention than does a car crash, but statistically speaking, those travelling by plane are a great deal safer than drivers. The same logic holds with major public cloud outages when compared to the kind of downtime suffered by many on-premise applications every day.
The need for education is underscored by a report from web host Verio. Its study of 500 SMB decision makers showed that two thirds were unsure if they'd commit the cloud at this point. But, if "provided proper knowledge and education," 20 percent said they were likely to implement a cloud solution within the next 12 months, while about half that number would be looking to make the jump within six months.
If cloud players want to realise the opportunity that they themselves have said awaits small businesses in a cloud environment, they need to respond with more education, instruction and guidance, less hype and fewer buzzwords.
Otherwise, small businesses may well continue to be lost in the cloud. | <urn:uuid:e3efaa11-4edb-46f8-ad97-3fd855d73e33> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.computerworlduk.com/in-depth/cloud-computing/3282587/small-business-risks-getting-lost-in-the-cloud/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967242 | 858 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Date of this Version
Highly sp3-bonded, nearly hydrogen-free carbon-based materials can exhibit extremely low friction and wear in the absence of any liquid lubricant, but this physical behavior is limited by the vapor environment. The effect of water vapor on friction and wear is examined as a function of applied normal force for two such materials in thin film form: one that is fully amorphous in structure (tetrahedral amorphous carbon, or ta-C) and one that is polycrystalline with sp3 to disordered sp2 bonding is observed, no crystalline graphite formation is observed for either film. Rather, the primary solid-lubrication mechanism is the passivation of dangling bonds by OH and H from the dissociation of vapor-phase H2O. This vapor-phase lubrication mechanism is highly effective, producing friction coefficients as low as 0.078 for ta-C and 0.008 for UNCD, and wear rates requiring thousands of sliding passes to produce a few nanometers of wear.
Date Posted: 31 May 2012
This document has been peer reviewed. | <urn:uuid:25cf0f93-bb95-4acf-bf4a-91874d66d58f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://repository.upenn.edu/meam_papers/281/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00045-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925345 | 230 | 2.625 | 3 |
Science Project using Doink Express App on the iPhone or iPodTouch: Life Cycle of A Frog
Life Cycle projects in Science class are popular using the Doink Express app http://www.doink.com Fun to create because photos and animations can be combined with students’ own drawings. In this example, the life cycle of a frog was created in four drawings which were then added to “stock” backgrounds available in Doink Express. First, eggs were created and added to a background. Then a tadpole was drawn. Followed by a “froglet” and then a full grown frog. Animating these projects makes them as interesting to do, as they are to watch! Great for student engagement. | <urn:uuid:2c8431e7-cdc8-48a4-8b66-b7a9fa7ffedd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.doink.com/post/33773576932/science-project-using-doink-express-app-on-the-iphone | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971006 | 148 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Pachamama Alliance: protecting the Earth's rainforests and the indigenous people who live there
Natalia Greene is an Ecuadorian environmental and climate change activist and this interview takes place in Quito, the capital of Ecuador.
Natalia works as the Political Program Coordinator for Pachamama Alliance in Ecuador. She was actively involved in the recent Constitution process in Ecuador, including promotion of the 'Rights to Nature' clause as well as the ongoing role of civil society and for indigenous people in the process.
Natalia has advanced degrees in political science and makes her home in Quito, Ecuador.
- Length: 30:08 minutes (27.58 MB)
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Brad Kittel believes in living sustainably, in a way that protects the earth for future generations. He also believes we need to live in homes that do not offgas like the mainstream homes being built today. He offers his Tiny Texas Houses to downsize your carbon footprint for about $38,000. to just under $100,000. A Tiny Texas house buyer will need to pay for moving their Tiny Texas House to their lot. Tiny Texas Houses are built in Luling, Texas of 99% recycled materials as well as energy efficient features such as sprayed in isonyne foam.
Another concept of a similar vein is Specht Harpman’s (Austin, Texas and New York) ZeroHouse™ . The ZeroHouse™ is a prefabricated home that can be easily shipped and quickly erected. ZeroHouse™ operates completely off-the-grid as a net-zero home. Per the architects’ web site, there is no need for any external utility or waste disposal connections. This is because the ZeroHouse uses rainwater collection and solar panels, triple paned windows and a composting waste system. These tiny modern looking homes run about $350,000. and offer 650 square feet with 250 square feet in outdoor covered deck areas.
Tiny or McMansion?
The concepts in Tiny Texas Houses and ZeroHouse™ is the exact opposite of the huge McMansions that have such a large footprint. One article I read on AlterNet.org entitled “Big Houses Are Not Green: America’s McMansion Problem” stated that in Austin, Texas 235 homes were built in a single year that were 5,000 square feet or more. 41 of the 235 homes had between 8,000 and 29,000 square feet. Compared to the rest of the world, the United States is the world champion in the huge sizes of homes. | <urn:uuid:ec12c29f-d4da-4a15-ba27-d8bf2e2b22f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.texasorganichome.com/tag/recycled | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955609 | 381 | 2.296875 | 2 |
Intelligence community must adapt to era of vast data, study says
The digital information revolution has handed the U.S. intelligence community a slew of new challenges that are nowhere close to resolution, a new study says.
The 21st-century problems range from mountains of data to accelerated pace of change to competing information flow from nongovernmental sources to fears of violating privacy and civil liberties, according to a paper, “Expectations of Intelligence in the Information Age,” released Thursday by the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, a nonprofit that brings together experts in the public, private and academic sectors.
The paper drew praise from Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who spoke at a banquet in Arlington, Va., to mark the paper’s release.
“Because policymakers now have access to rich, new sources of information and knowledge at their desktops and via mobile devices, they will expect the [intelligence community] to develop techniques to quickly and accurately integrate these new sources of information with those upon which they have traditionally relied,” the authors said. “The challenge for the [community] is to sustain its relevance beyond the stolen secret in the era of global access to diverse and rich sources of data and information.”
The paper recommends that policymakers engage the intelligence community on the new roles of open source and traditional intelligence; that the legislative and executive branches create new civil liberties protections; and that a coalition of experts be empaneled to propose practical ways to meet the challenges the digital age presents for collection, analysis, validation and dissemination of openly sourced intelligence.
In an interview with Government Executive, report author Stephen Cambone, who was undersecretary of Defense for intelligence under George W. Bush administration Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld, said as the United States “pivots to Asia from the Middle East and changes sources, the places where information is coming from are changing, too, and not all threatening behavior is animated by governments.”
Nonstop news coverage increases the speed and volume of “the ecosystem of information,” which increases pressure on officials, Cambone said. “The trick will be how to satisfy policymakers’ expectations and temper them at the same time. If we can’t validate intelligence for policymakers, they will say they’ll simply make up their own mind, which is the last thing we want,” he said.
The intelligence community is still grappling with ways to exploit open source and new media data “socially, legally and economically so that there is no misuse,” he added. Protecting users’ civil liberties can mean not exposing the government’s interest in the data, Cambone said: “There’s no yes-or-no answer -- it will take a long time to work through.”
Co-author Len Moodispaw, a National Security Agency veteran now head of KeyW Corp, noted that with social media, “people can put out falsehoods, and the intelligence officials have to be quiet, even though they may look like idiots.”
Third author Carmen Medina, a former director of the CIA’s Center for the Study of Intelligence now with Deloitte, said, “the big data revolution’s digital exhaust” requires intelligence professionals to consider that in the future, what will be classified are the methodologies for analyzing data rather than the data themselves. “A lot of intelligence is like political punditry,” which is in danger of being overshadowed by data analytics, she said. The civil liberties challenges mean that “if there’s no way for us to adjust that is congenial, we may have to just live with it, but let’s have the conversation.”
The white paper, executed by a task force of intelligence luminaries seeking to “rebalance” the nation’s spy apparatus, was hailed as “spot on” by DIA chief Flynn. He gave the dinner audience the example of a recent citizen uprising in Uganda that was reported to U.S. observers by participants using Twitter, noting Africa today represents 47 percent of the world’s cellphone market.
Having assumed his post only in July, Flynn gave a preview of DIA’s Vision 2020 strategic plan for adaptations to a changing intelligence environment for use by the next several administrations. “Intelligence centers are being renamed intelligence and operations centers,” he said, “because intelligence in the first half of this century must drive operations.” He said changing demands will require a reorganization of DIA into a model that emphasizes “integration, interagency teamwork and innovation of the whole workforce, not just the technology but the people.” That means not adding more people but investing in them, he said.
Flynn noted that 5,000 of the “global scouts” that DIA has in Washington and in 140 countries are combat veterans, “which is the new normal.” The new vision includes plans to “decentralize decision making to those closest to the edge” who get a “fingertip feel of the environment,” he added. “Intelligence at the edge is better than intelligence at the center. You can’t get it sitting at headquarters.” | <urn:uuid:3152d977-4054-4e53-98c0-337c413b3b6e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/11/intelligence-community-must-adapt-era-vast-data-study-says/59886/?oref=ng-fromGE | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00045-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943237 | 1,106 | 2.0625 | 2 |
2013-03-05 21:01:13 -
/EINPresswire.com/ Agriculture is big business, especially for ranchers. Ensuring that an animal is at the correct weight is of the upmost importance for both consumers and agriculture professionals. This is why having a livestock scale is critical for anyone who works with animals.
Floor Scales Direct wants to assist ranchers and animal care professionals across the world by providing accurate, reliable, and durable livestock scales. Livestock scales are used by numerous professionals such as ranchers, veterinarians, and zoologists to accurately weigh animals. From bison to chickens, a livestock scale makes measuring and weighing any type of
animal that much easier and less stressful.
Floor Scales Direct is the premier online resource for livestock scales. Whether one needs to weigh a large dog at a veterinary clinic or weigh a herd before it goes to market, Floor Scales Direct has a scale to streamline the process. Customers can expect the following standard features on most livestock scale that Floor Scales Direct provides:
• Simple and Quick Setup and Installation
• Highly Accurate Sensors and Readouts
• Weight Hold Feature to Compensate for Moving Animals
• Outdoor Rated and Watertight Construction
• Durable and Strong Steel Construction
• Rust Proof Galvanized Finish
• Height Adjustable Precision Leveling Feet with Bolt Down Holes
• Built in Mounting Hole with Welded ½” Nut to Bolt Alleyway Platform
• Accessibility Options That Allow for Installation Under Chutes, Platforms, Tanks, and Hoppers
Floor Scales Direct also manufactures and distributes specialty cattle scales. These scales are very similar to livestock scales but have been designed to meet the unique weighing needs of cattle ranchers. Given the current climate of the American beef industry, getting accurate and reliable readouts has never been more important.
This is largely in part to the drought of 2011. This drought was the worst drought experienced in the United States since 1895 and the results were devastating. During the drought, feed became scarce, which forced many ranchers to cull their herds. It is estimated that 600,000 to 800,000 cattle were culled as a result of dwindling resources incurred by the 2011 drought. Agricultural professionals have stated that it would take more than 3 years to restore beef production back to pre-drought levels.
While ranchers may have experienced major herd losses in 2011, they also benefited from increasing beef prices. As a result, ranchers have turned to Floor Scales Direct to ensure that the cattle they send to market are accurately weighed and measured by means of specialty cattle scales. Accurate weights and measures guarantee a maximum return on every head of cattle that is sent to market.
Visit www.floorscalesdirect.com to view the available inventory of livestock and cattle scales. All scales are shipped in the United States for free and can be customized to better meet the needs of its customers.
About Floor Scales Direct
Floor Scales Direct is a full service company, and we ship directly from our facilities in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Floor Scales Direct is a division of Triner Scale & Manufacturing Co., Inc., one of the very first scale companies in the United States. Established in 1897, Triner Scale's early product range included innovative designs in Mechanical Beam and Mechanical Fan scales. Today, Triner continues to incorporate innovative design and rugged durability into a full range of commercial and industrial electronic scales. Triner provides nationwide products and services to companies such as FedEx, UPS, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, & the United States Postal Service, just to name a few. Triner Scale also designs and manufactures specialized scale systems such as Conveyor Scales, Airline Baggage Scales, Air Cargo and Postal Scales.
Floor Scales Direct
Press Release courtesy of Online PR Media: bit.ly/1027NMu | <urn:uuid:96509acd-56c5-48ed-b756-f0e8693f725a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pr-inside.com/accurately-measure-and-analyze-weight-of-r3604175.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936679 | 798 | 2.015625 | 2 |
|From the memoirs of Benjamin Rawlings|
[In my last post I began to tell the story of Benjamin Cason Rawlings, the first Virginian to join the Confederate army. Once again, I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Ben's biographer, Byrd Tribble, for allowing me to quote from her work. The original images of the Rawlings family papers which appear here are courtesy of Byrd Tribble.]
In our last episode we left Captain Ben Rawlings at his parents' home in western Spotsylvania on the night of November 27-28, 1863. Ben had attracted unwanted attention earlier on the 27th by capturing two federal cavalrymen near his home. Now, that night, he found himself surrounded by a regiment of Union cavalry. He had but one reasonable alternative, and that was to surrender peaceably.
Together with about one hundred other unlucky southern soldiers, Ben was marched off to captivity. While being taken to the federal rear Ben met up with W.D. Foster, a neighbor who had also been seized. While they marched along Foster managed to write a note, shown below. It reads: "You will please inform my family that I am a prisoner of war, and Capt. Benj. Rawlings also, we are on our way to Washington City this the 28th November 1863." Foster wrapped this note around a rock and threw it into the yard of Mrs. Woolfrey, who lived near the intersection of Orange Plank and Culpeper Plank Roads.
"After some days we were loaded in box cars and under a heavy guard were sent to Washington and consigned to Old Carroll Prison, also known as the Old Capitol Prison," where they arrived on December 5. There the Confederate officers were segregated from the enlisted men and placed in the upper stories of the prison. During his brief stay at this facility Ben was treated well. "Our fare at this prison was very good and plenty of it." Naturally, this relatively pleasant interlude would not last long and on January 12, 1864 they were taken to the federal prison set up at Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor.
|Old Capitol Prison (Library of Congress)|
At Fort McHenry Ben got his first taste of the harsh conditions that would characterize the remaining months of his imprisonment. "Although we got enough to eat, it was dished out to us like so many pigs. A big Irishman would go through the barracks with two large camp kettles with the beef cut up in small pieces, which he would pick up with his naked hands and toss it to each of the prisoners."
His time at Fort McHenry would also be brief. On January 23, 1864 "we were suddenly ordered to pack up without knowing our destination. We feared the change would be for the worse, and in this we were not mistaken. We were put on a side-wheel steamer and taken down the bay to Point Lookout."
|Point Lookout, Maryland|
Upon his arrival at Point Lookout Ben was admitted to Hammond Hospital there with a diagnosis of "debilitas." Ben quickly learned that he would need cash and something to barter with if he wished to supplement his meager rations. With that purpose in mind (and with an apparent desire to shield his father from the fact of his current infirmity) Ben wrote to his father, James Boswell Rawlings on February 26. "Have not heard from you or any of the family since my capture...Am doing as well as can be expected. [Write to me at] Pt. Lookout Hammond Hospital. Not sick. Quarters for officers...send me by flag of truce 20 lbs of chewing tobacco...Also send some greenbacks."
|Letter to James B. Rawlings, February 1864|
A week later Ben followed up with a letter to his mother, including a second plea for chewing tobacco and greenbacks. He added a serious piece of advice regarding the family's future safety: "You should be careful not to allow yourselves to become in contact with the yankee army in its next advance. Save what you can. Fall back with the negroes."
|Letter to Ann Cason Rawlings, March 1864|
Ben's parents took this warning seriously. Shortly before the battle of the Wilderness the senior Rawlings, together with their oldest son Zachary and his wife Bettie and their daughter Estelle, packed up what belongings they could and fled from Spotsylvania. Joining them in their flight were my great great grandmother Nancy Estes Row and her daughter Nan. They headed for the crossroads village of Hadensville in Goochland County. The seven of them, together with the slaves who accompanied them, stayed in Hadensville for the remainder of the war.
Once Ben was discharged from Hammond Hospital he joined his fellow prisoners in the officers' section of the camp. The officers were quartered in large Sibley tents, in the middle of which they were allowed small fires. While they were never given sufficient wood to keep warm, their lot was much better than that of their enlisted brethren. "Our rations were ever so much better than those given to the privates in the next pen, who died like flies from indifferent rations, clothing and bedding."
It was at Point Lookout that Captain Rawlings had his first contact with the black troops of the Union army, who comprised a third of the garrison. "There were several instances where former masters recognized their quondam slaves in the sentinels posted on the parapets of the pen enclosing our quarters. These negroes were very insolent and some days would shoot down prisoners who got too near the dead line [the no man's land between the prisoners' pen and the walls enclosing the perimeter]. 'Bottom rail on top now' was their favorite expression when speaking of the changed relations to their former masters." For Ben, who had enjoyed the services of one of his father's slaves while an officer in the Thirtieth Virginia Infantry, this must have come as a rude shock, indeed.
A number of Confederates made attempts to escape from Point Lookout; some lost their lives in doing so. Ben made his own bid for freedom while there, as described in an article appearing in the Lexington Gazette on January 25, 1911: "The late Capt. B.C. Rawlings of Rockbridge was detailed to go out of prison with other men and get wood. He had his men cover him up with brush and at night he made his escape, getting fifteen miles from prison when he was captured and taken back. His punishment was wearing a ball and chain." Ben's two days of freedom also earned him two weeks in solitary confinement.
Ben was moved to the fourth prison of his eleven months of confinement on June 25, 1864. "We were suddenly shipped up the coast to Fort Delaware, crowded almost to suffocation in the hold of a naval vessel. This place we found to be the worst of our experience. We were both starved and maltreated generally. The long summer days seemed interminable."
For the rest of his life Ben remained bitter about his experience at Fort Delaware. "There is no question that the government allotted full rations but allowed the prison authorities to steal it from defenseless prisoners...Remember that a great government with unlimited resources starved prisoners that they refused to exchange...O, Liberty, what atrocities are perpetrated in thy name."
After his removal to Fort Delaware Ben's family in Hadensville lost contact with him. Ben's brother sent a letter to the Richmond Enquirer which was published on September 2, 1864: "Capt. B.C. Rawlings, Company D, 30th Virginia Regiment, was taken prisoner near Chancellorsville the last of November 1863. Last heard from him at Pt. Lookout. Any information concerning him will be thankfully received by his father and brother, at Hadensville, Goochland Co., Va. Z.H. Rawlings."
Ben's constitution deteriorated to a dangerous point while he was confined at Fort Delaware. By October 1864 "I was in a most emaciated condition and had reached a state of mind perfectly indifferent to the future so much that I did not care to offer myself as a possibility of exchange. Some of the older men insisted that I be sent before the board, which to my surprise passed me at once. We were then taken to Fort Monroe by the steamer New York and from there up the James River by a boat of our own." Ben was exchanged on October 11, 1864.
Captain Ben Rawlings was admitted to General Hospital No. 4 in Richmond on October 17, where he remained until furloughed on November 11. "So ended my experience in yankee prisons. That I escaped with my life can only be ascribed to a kind providence that has always taken care of me through all the dangers of an eventful and adventurous life and will, I trust, be ever merciful to the end."
|Defenses at Howlett house|
Ben rejoined his regiment in the Petersburg defenses near Howlett house at the end of November. There he stayed until the Thirtieth Infantry was ordered to positions north of the James near Fort Harrison in February 1865. On April 2 the Confederate lines were breached and Lee was forced to abandon Richmond. Then began a nightmarish week long retreat by a disintegrating rebel army beset by attacks of the encircling union forces. As Ben remembered forty years later: "We took up a position at Five Forks, where after repulsing several attacks of Sheridan's cavalry, Warren broke through and rolled up our line on the left. I lost my sword at Five Forks. The next day, in protecting the wagons, we fought the Battle of Sayler's Creek, where we left the field in disorder, losing many men captured. We crossed the bridge over the Appomattox and continued the retreat. I slept while I walked over this railroad bridge.
" We were without rations the night before the surrender, so some of the boys killed a hog and cooked it. Having no salt, we were obliged to eat it without salt. That night and the next morning were filled with rumors of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. The artillery was being packed, and the infantry was stacking arms. General Lee in his new uniform was riding across the fields in front, and the whole army was in distress and mortification as the truth was forced upon us that the Army of Northern Virginia was to be surrendered. With recent memories of Yankee prisons, I and one of my men from Kentucky who knew the country concluded to escape through the lines and join General Johnston. The man, originally from Spotsylvania, was named Buchanan. So, leaving my company in the command of Lt. John Rawlings [Ben's cousin] I left with Buchanan to get through the lines, crossing the north side of the James with the intention of going through the mountains to Johnston. After crossing the river I found that Buchanan did not know the route at all so was forced to go home, which I reached about the third day. My family had refugeed in Hadensville in Goochland County. When I got to the house where my family was staying, I was disheveled, unshaven and glassy-eyed with fatigue and fever. My own little brother, James, did not recognize me and hid in fear behind my mother's skirts."
On May 2, 1865 Benjamin and Zachary Rawlings and my great grandfather, George Washington Estes Row, rode out from Hadensville on Three Chopt Road and made their way to Richmond. Once they arrived at the capitol building they joined the throngs of other forlorn Confederates seeking paroles. Each of the three received a parole signed by the provost marshal of Richmond, Colonel David M. Evans of the Twentieth New York Cavalry. A month before, when he led his regiment into the fallen Confederate capital, Colonel Evans hoisted with his own hands the United States flag over the capitol building. Once appointed provost marshal he set up his office in the senate chamber. Below is the parole given to George W.E. Row; Ben's would have been very similar to this.
|Parole of George W.E. Row|
And so, four years and four months after Ben Rawlings at age sixteen joined the Confederate army in South Carolina, his career as a soldier came to an end. But his taste for adventure remained undiminished.
The following year Ben Rawlings set out for California to mine for gold. | <urn:uuid:99f3f4ea-e8a7-4956-82b7-d55291200433> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://spotsylvaniamemory.blogspot.com/2012_08_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987183 | 2,594 | 2.15625 | 2 |
PHILADELPHIA, June 30, 2010 — This summer, the Free Library of Philadelphia is launching a new film program for the city’s teens. Behind the Screens will instill media literacy skills in teens ages 12 to 15 and aims to teach participants to be conscious consumers of film and television content. Teens will be taught to recognize cinematic techniques such as camera angles, sound, and lighting, which filmmakers use to construct a variety of messages. In addition, teens will plan a short film by creating their own storyboard.
Behind the Screens, which runs from July 12 through August 6,is being piloted in four Free Library neighborhood branches: Cobbs Creek, West Oak Lane, Wyoming, and the Thomas F. Donatucci Sr. Branch.
“In an age where we are all inundated with media messages, it is critical that Philly’s teens understand what messages they are consuming and how those messages affect them and the way they view the world,” said Siobhan A. Reardon, President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia. “Behind the Screens will increase the cultural literacy of our city’s youth, and as such the Free Library is delighted to undertake this new effort.”
Behind the Screens was built around feedback from teen focus groups and was developed with the help of Larissa Pahomov, a teacher at Science Leadership Academy and a curriculum designer for the Free Library’s popular One Book, One Philadelphia and One Film programs. Behind the Screens is supported by the Thomas Skelton Harrison Foundation.
For more information on Behind the Screens, visit freelibrary.org/behindthescreens.
# # #
The Free Library of Philadelphia system consists of 49 branches, three regional libraries, the Parkway Central Library, and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. With more than 6 million visits annually, the Free Library is one of the most widely used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia. | <urn:uuid:b9a9dd90-0418-4578-8449-1a2beedce877> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://libwww.library.phila.gov/PressRel/Pressrel.cfm?id=459 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935668 | 414 | 3 | 3 |
Prairie fires were common, prescribed fires such as this help to eliminate old growth, reducing the risk of wildfires. Fires help put vital nutrients back into the soil, which renews and rejuvenates the prairie.
While this particular quote from the Fort Scott Democrat in 1860 describes the sight produced by farmers burning off their fields, residents at Fort Scott in the 1840s would have witnessed similar scenes with fires caused by lighning and other natural forces. In the 19th century, naturally caused fires were quite common on the prairie and consumed vast acreages of land. Fire is good for the prairie because it gets rid of old growth, prevents undesirable species from getting a foot hold, puts valuable nutrients back into the soil, and makes conditions favorable for a new regime of plant life to prosper. Today. the National Park Service practices controlled or prescribed burning at Fort Scott to achieve these objectives.
Climate is another element that affects life forces on the prairie and the different seasons bring various changes. Spring rains bring rich green grasses and a pallette of colors spattered across the land as wildflowers wave their heads in the wind and dance to the rhythm of thunderstorms that are frequently heard during this season. Summertime means hot and dry conditions which by fall can transform the prairie into a tinderbox ripe for consumption by fire. Wintertime brings renewal. The prairie plants lay dormant under an often frozen layer of topsoil. Yet while they are in hibernation, the prairie is being rejuvenated safely nestled underground, to rise again to its full splendor as the life cycle begins anew.
Other environmental factors that influence the natural and cultural resources at the site include invasive species such as Johnson grass and woody plants which often assail the prairie; park staff works to keep these plants eradicated. Insects can be harmful to museum objects and to trees. Trees are also susceptible to disease, wood rot and storm damage. The site is built on a bluff; erosion along its slope has caused some loss of park property. Highways, railroads, and construction have impacted the site's historic scenery and soundscape.
Did You Know?
Politics made strange bedfellows. John Little, a proslavery man, was shot to death at his father's store, by free state men who raided Fort Scott in December 1858. A friend, George Crawford, a free state man, was staying with Little that night. Crawford had once been the target of proslavery men. | <urn:uuid:eaccfab0-9dce-4a75-b4d5-cf03c995f990> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nps.gov/fosc/naturescience/environmentalfactors.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963544 | 509 | 3.71875 | 4 |
Ten researchers, politicians, business executives and philanthropists who have recently demonstrated outstanding commitment to assuring that the benefits of new technologies and knowledge will accrue to humanity
Astronomers are finding planets where there were not supposed to be any
A device that slides magnetic bits back and forth along nanowire "racetracks" could pack data in a three-dimensional microchip and may replace nearly all forms of conventional data storage
Small changes to DNA that were once considered innocuous enough to be ignored are proving to be important in human diseases, evolution and biotechnology
This underappreciated resource--a key component of fertilizers--is still decades from running out. But we must act now to conserve it, or future agriculture could collapse
Genetic and archaeological findings hint that wildcats became house cats earlier--and in a different place--than previously thought
The Science of Beauty
From human growth hormone to collagen stimulators, we examine the tactics employed to enhance beauty and stave off the ravages of aging.
Five Ways Science Is Trying to Keep Your Food Safe
In the wake of salmonella outbreaks, scientists are developing technologies that could protect against future threats.
60-Second Science Blog
PCs Idling Overnight Waste Billions in Energy Costs
Because nearly half of U.S. workers leave their computers running overnight, offices rack up an extra $2.8 billion annually in wasteful electricity bills, according to one tally.
The First Meteorites Recovered from a Tracked Asteroid
Fragments in the Sudanese desert complete an “asteroid trifecta”—discovery in space, prediction of the impact site and recovery of fragments.
60-Second Science Podcast
Caffeine Cuts Workout Pain
New research suggests that caffeine, by keeping you from feeling the burn, can help you get more bang for your workout buck.
The Hidden Face of Nefertiti
The famous carved bust of the ancient Egyptian queen has held many secrets. Now researchers are applying computed tomography to bring them to light.
Deadline: Jul 25 2013
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Deadline: Jun 30 2013
Reward: $1,000,000 USD
This is a Reduction-to-Practice Challenge that requires written documentation and&
Save 66% off the cover price and get a free gift!
Learn More >>X | <urn:uuid:432d4c2b-e4ba-43ec-b983-e6a142a262ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scientificamerican.com/sciammag/index.cfm?contents=2009-06 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.908716 | 511 | 2.3125 | 2 |
Annotated Bibliography for Vietnam
Brief Biographies of Narrators
Why and when did you join the military? What branch did you join?
Tell me about your boot camp and training experience? What were your first days in the service like? Describe your uniforms.
What attracted you to the branch of military that you joined? How did your family respond?
What was your job or assignment in the military?
Describe some of your memorable experiences during your time in military service.
How long did you serve in the military? What rank did you obtain?
Where were you stationed? What were the living conditions like?
What was it like to be a woman during the Korean War/ Vietnam War?
What was the most difficult time for you during your service?
Did your role as a woman change when you went into the military?
What were some of the major differences between WWII and the Vietnam War?
How do you think women's roles were different from World War II to Vietnam?
How did you feel about the peace movements during the Vietnam War?
How were women treated by male soldiers or military personnel?
Did you keep in touch with any friends after leaving the military?
Is there anything else that you would like to add that we haven't covered?
|Why and when did you join the military? What branch did you join?
Narrator: Shirley Heckard
Interviewed by: Kristin Sowden
KS: What year did you join the military?
SH: 1950, November 15th 1950
KS: Were you single or married?
SH: No, I was single.
KS Did you join the United States Marine Corps reserve?
SH: No, Women Marines [Women Marines?] Yes
KS: Aside from wanting to pursue medicine, why did you join?
SH: I wanted to serve my country.
Narrator: Joyce McCollum
Interviewed by: Josh Lavis
JL: and how far did you get in your schooling?
JM: [um], Well I went to 1 year of junior college, trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I was having some problems with my scores, my grades, and my stepfather played a joke-- he was a jokester-- but the joke backfired [laughing]. Well to give a little history on this, for most of my teenage years, he would tease me, saying, "When you get old enough, I'm going to ship you off to the Army." And my answer back was always, "I'm not going into the military, and even if I do it's not going to be the Army." [laughing] So when I graduated from high school, and during my first part of my year in junior college in Sacramento, I would get these things in the mail, these postcards in
the mail, from recruiting services, wanting me to join the Army, or join the Navy, and I would always just throw them out. One day, I had gone through my first year of junior college, and I was sitting at home, and there was a knock on the door, and here is a female Army recruiter standing in front of me. And I immediately knew what had happened. My father had decided to take one of those postcards and put my name on it, and send it back. So she came in, and she began to give me a pitch about the Army, and about how great it was and all this, and she was giving me quite a line. Things like, be sure and bring your swimsuit, and bring your shorts because when you go to your basic training in Fort McClelland, they have a wonderful swimming pool [laughing]. All kinds of things like this. In her pitch, she finally got around to asking if I had any members of my family in the military, and I told her, "Oh, yes I have an uncle who was in the Navy, and an uncle was in the Army and a cousin that was in the Air Force.
And my father retired as a Captain after uh, 22 years in the service." And she kind of sat back, and said, "Then you know what the Army is like." I said, "Yes ma'am, I do," and from that point on, she pretty much cleaned up what she was telling me [laughing]. So, dinner comes, and I'm sitting there and I'm not saying a word, and my dad cannot stand when he knows that he's played a joke and nobody is reacting to it in any way; he can't stand that. So I'm sitting there quietly eating my dinner and finally, he says, "Well? Did you have a visitor today?" And I say, "Oh yeah I did. By the way, I need you to sign the paper so I can join the Army" [laughing]. And he didn't like that too much.
JL: He didn't think you wanted to do it huh? [laughing]
JM: He didn't think I would do that [laughing].
Photos courtesy of the families.
Back to Community History Home
Shirley Heckard, September 2005 | <urn:uuid:538e6f65-8c79-4925-9006-02f22da1d551> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cgc.maricopa.edu/Library/communityHistory/Vietnam%20Women%20Veterans/index-4.2.shtml.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.990838 | 1,071 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Two good thoughts by Stephen Baker for The New York Times. First on the move towards advertising being fully data-centric:
While the rise of search battered the humanists, it also laid a trap that the quants are falling into now. It led to the belief that with enough data, all of advertising could turn into quantifiable science. This came with a punishing downside. It banished faith from the advertising equation. For generations, Mad Men had thrived on widespread trust that their jingles and slogans altered consumers’ behavior. Thankfully for them, there was little data to prove them wrong. But in an industry run remorselessly by numbers, the expectations have flipped. Advertising companies now face pressure to deliver statistical evidence of their success. When they come up short, offering anecdotes in place of numbers, the markets punish them. Faith has given way to doubt.
Data has spoiled everyone. It can’t just be about the data or advertising will die. It has to be creative and quantified. Don Draper still needs to exist in this world; some people have simply been tricked into thinking data can replace him. Those people are stupid.
Second, on “social media” as a conduit for advertising:
Dave Morgan, a pioneer in Internet advertising and the founder of Simulmedia, an ad network for TV, points to the early years of electricity. In the late 19th century, most people associated the new industry with one extremely valuable service: light. That was what the marketplace understood. Electricity would displace kerosene and candles and become a giant of illumination. What these people missed was that electricity, far beyond light, was a platform for a host of new industries. Over the following years, entrepreneurs would come up with appliances — today we might call them “apps” — for vacuuming, laundry and eventually radio and television. Huge industries grew on the electricity platform. If you think of Apple in this context, it’s a $496 billion company that builds the latest generation of electricity apps.
Brilliant way to think about it. It’s easy to be blinded by the first innovation to spring from a new technology and think that nothing else will follow. Something else always follows. | <urn:uuid:caee1a41-a02f-440c-9522-3b7317d09c08> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://parislemon.com/tagged/online-ads | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966673 | 458 | 1.703125 | 2 |
The X-47B, unmanned carrier drone, took its first recorded flight in September (video below) and the Navy just announced it's adding refueling capabilities to the aircraft by 2014.
David Ax, at Wired, reports the move will allow the X-47B to remain in flight well beyond 3,000 nautical miles — 10 times the ability of a traditional manned fighter.
This will also put U.S. aircraft carriers outside the reach of, say, China's 'carrier-killing' ballistic missiles and submarines.
Getting rid of the fighter pilot is a huge boost to efficiency and the Navy will begin carrier trials on the USS George Washington in 2013.
The X-47B's manufacturer, Northrop Grumman also received contracts to modify long-range Global Hawks to serve as refueling tankers. When those aircraft come online, the entire process will be conducted with no pilot at all. | <urn:uuid:ca78fc67-9f98-4c34-beae-eac11b0255b9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.businessinsider.com/x47b-refueling-upgrade-2011-11 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95813 | 187 | 2.5625 | 3 |
The facility, located in the heart of the Williston Basin, handles crude oil "sourced primarily from the Bakken formation that underlies parts of Montana, North Dakota, and Saskatchewan," the companies said. "The Pioneer Project provides a double loop track that will accommodate up to 120 tank car unit trains and will increase the throughput capacity from 30,000 barrels per day to up to 80,000 barrels per day. "
The partnership will deploy 180,000 barrels of storage to start, with the expansion to 270,000 barrels built into the initial design. The addition of storage tanks will improve the reliability and efficiency of the crude reception by truck and opens the door for crude oil deliveries from gathering systems, or short range pipelines.
Dakota Plains Chairman and CEO Craig McKenzie said, "2013 is proving to be another rewarding year for Dakota Plains shareholders as we set out to highly increase the scale of our operations. The Pioneer Project is safe, efficient and economically attractive. It also opens the door to new logistics businesses where DAKP can be an even greater service provider to upstream operators in the basin."
World Fuel Services Senior Vice President, Supply and Trading. Carlos Cuervo said,"The Pioneer Project will further expand our Bakken crude oil marketing capabilities. We are excited to be playing a major role in expediting this project."
The crude oil will be transported on Canadian Pacific's rail network, continuing a partnership between CP and Dakota Plains Holdings and World Fuel Services." World Fuel is the parent company of Petroleum Transport Solutions.
Canadian Pacific Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Jane O'Hagan, said,"Canadian Pacific is pleased to be the rail partner for Dakota Plains and World Fuels as they expand the New Town facility. Through CP's North American network and rail connections, we offer direct service from the Bakken to key refining markets across North America. We look forward to leveraging this expansion and our network to increase the volume of crude moving efficiently into the marketplace and to provide a cost effective way for inbound commodities to reach Bakken production areas."
Completion of the Pioneer project is expected in December 2013; total cost is estimated to be $50 million and will be funded equally by Dakota Plains and World Fuel Services. | <urn:uuid:1b9dc5a8-8162-4e9f-95e0-c0f8a352a017> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/freight/switching/loop-track-storage-project-to-aid-dakota-rail-moves.html?channel=94 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943558 | 452 | 1.523438 | 2 |
lion, the deer, the mouse, the gnatcatcher and others.
I dream these things because they feed my soul. Mine and the soul
of mankind. Henry David Thoreau wrote, "In Wildness Is the
Preservation of the World," and his words speak to us all.
What wonder. A walk in the woods. To clear the mind of worry and
strain. To stretch the legs and limbs and bring fresh oxygen deep
into the lungs. To listen to the soft calling of the canyon wren or
the overhead cry of a red-tail hawk. This possibility, this satisfied
yearning, found here, in our own backyard. For we Lagunans have a
rich luxury, the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, in our midst. We have
trails to hike or bike or ride, wildlife to observe and coastal fauna
Dedicated in April 1993, the 6,600 acre Laguna Wilderness Park
lies at the heart of the 19,000-acre South Coast Wilderness system of
parks, preserves and marine sanctuaries. The first lands were
purchased with funds the Laguna voters committed through the passage
of a $20 million tax bond in 1990. Other lands have been transferred
to the system through development agreements.
The park is managed by the County of Orange, Harbors, Beaches and
Parks, and supported by three nonprofit organizations, Laguna
Greenbelt Inc., The Nature Conservancy and Laguna Canyon Foundation.
The park shares borders with Crystal Cove State Park (managed by the
state of California) a spot of Laguna Open Space and the Irvine
Company Open Space Reserve (managed by the Nature Conservancy of the
As the first in a flurry of winter storms edged in on Saturday
afternoon, Steve and I enjoyed the company of Park Ranger Barbara
Norton on a brief tour of the park.
Barbara, a local resident, has what she describes as a "dream
job." A former PTA mom with the Laguna school system, she turned her
love of the outdoors into a successful ranger application. She got
her current assignment after earning her stripes in the Huntington
Beach system. Barbara has cropped sandy hair, a wide, inviting smile
and an infectious love of "her" park. | <urn:uuid:3e81cfe5-8a98-4f4f-95d3-c1ed19efadb3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.coastlinepilot.com/2002-12-20/news/export5957_1_laguna-wilderness-park-laguna-open-space-laguna-canyon-foundation | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914595 | 482 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Sunday, March 3, 2013
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Taps in New Orleans briefly went dry Sunday after a boiler’s heating flame went out of control in the plant supplying electricity for the city’s water treatment.
Marcia St. Martin, executive director of the city’s Sewerage and Water Board, said the outage lasted less than 20 min Sunday morning. Twitter came alive with residents bemoaning the loss about 9 a.m. Central time, and Mayor Mitch Landrieu tweeted to his followers that the city was looking into the matter.
Martin said the loss of pressure opened the way for possible contamination, and water samples are being taken citywide.
She said all sample collection should be complete by Sunday afternoon, and results should be available about 24 hours later. It takes that long to detect the presence of potentially dangerous bacteria.
Officials have advised more than 300,000 residents on the Mississippi River’s east bank to boil water for drinking, brushing their teeth or preparing food for at least 24 hours.
Most of New Orleans, including the French Quarter and Central Business District, is on the east bank. The treatment plant there provides about 135 million gallons of drinking water a day, compared with 11 million from the west bank treatment plant.
In October, a similar problem occurred at the east bank plant. City officials were criticized because they did not put out a notice that tap water might be contaminated until four hours after the plant shut down. A power problem in November 2010 also created similar conditions.
Across the city Sunday, some residents and businesses readied water supplies to use under the boil advisory. At Zeus’ Place, a pet boarding and daycare business, owner Michelle Ingram said she was using bottled water for the 80 dogs and 7 cats there.
“We were sitting on 20 gallons of water and I just got 21 more,” she said. “Which should last us through tomorrow afternoon — and hopefully we’ll know then whether or not the boil water order is still on.” | <urn:uuid:ef5f865b-c2d3-4fd6-a804-3e488d227089> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dailyfreeman.com/articles/2013/03/03/news/doc51338647be781078497488.prt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965905 | 423 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Welcome to the NMS chemical and biological metrology website. Please log in
to view restricted content.
ISO 15189:2007 requirements
Quality control is addressed in section 5.6, ‘Assuring the quality of examination procedures’.
Laboratories are required to design IQC systems that verify that results are of the required quality, with special attention being paid to the elimination of mistakes in the process of handling samples, requests, examinations, reports, etc.
Specific activities identified in the standard include:
The CPA (Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd) Standards for the Medical Laboratory (2007) has broadly similar requirements to ISO 15189 but contains some additional detail on IQC activities. Laboratories are required to have IQC procedures for all examinations which will verify that the intended quality is achieved. The IQC activities must include:
- records of date, source and storage requirements of QC materials
- the process of validation of QC materials before use
- appropriate statistical procedures
- acceptance criteria for results obtained from the QC materials (where applicable)
- ensuring that all QC results are recorded and regularly evaluated, and that any subsequent remedial or corrective actions taken are recorded.
Last modified on
02 February 2009. | <urn:uuid:6758afb4-f076-44c5-a321-f400eaf4770d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nmschembio.org.uk/GenericArticle.aspx?m=294&amid=4724 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932735 | 254 | 1.679688 | 2 |
However one thing that Apple Insider has spotted is that the new A5 processor is jolly expensive.
While the chip cost is not the biggest part of the Apple tear down bill it does beg the question, why is Apple bothering to make its own chip for $25 when it could buy the thing off the shelf for $15?
Obviously if Jobs guarantees production to Samsung, or TSMC, and the A5 will be used in all Apple products it will bring down the cost a bit. In fact there are rumours that Jobs' Mob is working with TSMC anyway. However the A5 that is under the bonnet is made by Samsung using its 45nm process, said Apple Insider.
There is no doubt that the A5 is an improvement on what has gone before, but it is pretty much on a par with what is already available in the industry. Both it and the Tegra are based on the same ARM A9 technology.
The A5 does seem to have some controller technology which sometimes slows down the chip speed for power reasons, but really it is not that significant.
It would appear that Jobs has insisted that Apple develop the A5 in-house with no clear business reasons to do so. He could have popped around to Nvidia and bought the whole thing for less and not had to worry about the administrative headache.
True, him and Nvidia have not been the best of chums, but for $5 a machine at least he would have had nothing to lose. If he was doing a deal that big with the Green Goblin he might have got a hefty discount.
The only reason we can think of is that he wanted more control over his suppliers, even if it cost him a bit extra. If you have your own chip you can tell people how to make it. Telling Nvida something like that would always be tricky.
However an extra $5 is a heavy price for what is usually only a technical amount of control. | <urn:uuid:017688ce-1660-4615-be25-7f97d340deaa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.techeye.net/chips/why-is-apple-bothering-with-the-arm-a5-chip | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982917 | 398 | 2.15625 | 2 |
Operation Homecoming for Vietnam POWs marks 40 years
Newly freed prisoners of war celebrate as their C-141A aircraft lifts off from Hanoi, North Vietnam, on Feb. 12, 1973, during Operation Homecoming. The mission included 54 C-141 flights between Feb. 12 and April 4, 1973, returning 591 POWs to American soil. (U.S. Air Force photo)
2/12/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Forty years ago today, a C-141A Starlifter transport jet with a distinctive red cross on its tail lifted off from Hanoi, North Vietnam, and the first flight of 40 U.S. prisoners of war began their journey home through Operation Homecoming.
By the day's end, three C-141A aircraft would lift off from Hanoi, as well as a C-9A aircraft from Saigon, South Vietnam. In a steady flow of flights through late March 1973 under terms set through the Paris Peace Accords, 591 POWs returned to American soil.
Americans were spellbound as they watched news clips of the POWs being carried in stretchers or walking tentatively toward U.S. officers at the awaiting aircraft for the first flight from Hanoi's Gia Lam Airport.
The POWs ranged from privates first class to colonels, all wearing new gray uniforms issued by the North Vietnamese just before their release.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. James R. Cook, who suffered severe wounds when he bailed out of his stricken aircraft over North Vietnam in December 1972, saluted the U.S. colors from his stretcher as he was carried aboard the aircraft. Also on the first flight was Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr., the first American pilot to be shot down in North Vietnam and, by the war's end, the longest-held POW there. He spent eight-and-a-half years in captivity.
Celebration broke out aboard the first aircraft -- nicknamed the "Hanoi Taxi" -- as it lifted skyward and the POWs experienced their first taste of freedom.
Historian Andrew H. Lipps captured the magnitude of the moment in his account, "Operation Homecoming: The Return of American POWs from Vietnam."
"Imagine you're imprisoned in a cage; imagine the cage surrounded by the smell of feces; imagine the rotted food you eat is so infested with insects that to eat only a few is a blessing; imagine knowing your life could be taken by one of your captors on a whim at any moment; imagine you are subjected to mental and physical torture designed to break not bones but instead spirit on a daily basis. That was being a prisoner of North Vietnam," Lipps wrote.
"Then imagine one day, after seemingly endless disappointment, you are given a change of clothes and lined up to watch an American plane land to return you home. That was Operation Homecoming."
Aeromedical teams assigned to each aircraft tended to the former POWs during the two-and-a-half hour flight to Clark Air Base in the Philippines, the first stop on their trip home. Meanwhile, many of the POWs joked and smoked American cigarettes as they caught up on all they'd missed while in captivity: fashion trends and the women's liberation movement, among them.
"Everything seemed like heaven," recalled Air Force Capt. Larry Chesley, who, after being shot down over North Vietnam, spent seven years in the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" and other POW prisons. "When the doors of that C-141 closed, there were tears in the eyes of every man aboard," he said.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Ed Mechenbier, the last Vietnam POW to serve in the Air Force, recalled the emotion of his own journey out of North Vietnam on Feb. 18, 1973. "When we got airborne and the frailty of being a POW turned into the reality of freedom, we yelled, cried and cheered," he said.
The POWs arrived to a hero's welcome at Clark Air Base, where Navy Adm. Noel Gayler, commander of U.S. Forces Pacific, led their greeting party. Joining him were Air Force Lt. Gen. William G. Moore Jr., who commanded 13th Air Force and the homecoming operation at Clark, and Roger Shields, deputy assistant secretary of defense for POW/MIA affairs.
Speaking to the crowd that lined the tarmac to welcome the aircraft, returning POW Navy Capt. Jeremiah Denton -- who would go on to earn the rank of rear admiral and later was elected to the U.S. Senate, representing Alabama -- elicited cheers as he thanked all who had worked for their release and proclaimed, "God bless America."
Air Force Lt. Col. Carlyle "Smitty" Harris, who spent almost eight years as a POW after being shot down over North Vietnam, joined the many other POWs who echoed that sentiment. "My only message is, 'God bless America,'" he said, dismissing assertions in the media that the POWs had been directed to say it.
"With six, seven or eight years to think about the really important things in life, a belief in God and country was strengthened in every POW with whom I had contact," he said. "Firsthand exposure to a system which made a mockery of religion and where men are unable to know truth made us all appreciate some of the most basic values in 'God bless America.'"
Air Force Col. Robinson Risner, the senior Air Force officer at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" honored today by a statue in his likeness at the U.S. Air Force Academy, choked back emotion as he arrived on the second C-141 flight from Hanoi.
"Thank you all for bringing us home to freedom again," he told the crowd.
After receiving medical exams and feasting on steak, ice cream and other American food, the former POWs received new uniforms for their follow-on flights home. Their aircraft made stops in Hawaii and California. The first group of 20 former POWs arrived at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on Feb. 14, 1973.
News clips of the arrival reveal the deep emotion of the freed POWs as they arrived on the U.S. mainland. Navy Capt. James Stockdale, who went on to become a vice admiral and vice presidential candidate, was the first man to limp off the aircraft.
Stockdale paused to thank his countrymen for the loyalty they had showed him and his fellow POWs. "The men who follow me down that ramp know what loyalty means because they have been living with loyalty, living on loyalty, the past several years -- loyalty to each other, loyalty to the military, loyalty to our commander-in-chief," he said.
Of the 591 POWs liberated during Operation Homecoming, 325 served in the Air Force, 138 in the Navy; 77 in the Army and 26 in the Marine Corps. Twenty-five of the POWs were civilian employees of U.S. government agencies.
In addition, 69 POWs the Viet Cong had held in South Vietnam left aboard flights from Loc Ninh. Nine other POWs were released from Laos, and three from China.
Forty years after their release, two of the former POWs serve in Congress: Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Rep. Sam Johnson of Texas.
A dinner and ceremony being planned for late May at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in California will honor the POWs, recreating the dinner the president hosted for them at the White House in 1973.
(Courtesy of American Forces Press Service) | <urn:uuid:80d2217a-ab30-43b2-96fe-bc7262260925> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123336076 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976107 | 1,576 | 2.359375 | 2 |
EC steps up humanitarian aid for the Middle East
The European Commission (EC) has adopted a decision to provide €13 million in additional support to vulnerable populations in the Middle East, stated a press release.
Activities will include the provision of food, water, emergency health care, and job opportunities for vulnerable Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; health care, water and sanitation services to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon health services for refugees from Iraq hosted in camps in Jordan and in the "no-man's land" between Jordan and Iraq. The funds are directed through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).
The current decision will provide jobs for more than 10,000 refugees for up to nine months, indirectly benefiting more than 50,000. Furthermore, water supply systems will be rehabilitated at the Narh El Bared refugee camp in Lebanon, which accommodates 30,000 refugees. Lastly, the UN Office for the co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will receive funds to continue its information and coordination activities.
The Commission's humanitarian support for victims of the Middle East crisis has risen since the start of the second Intifada, from €15 million in 2000 to €38 million this year. ECHO's assistance to the Palestinians since September 2000 now amounts to €118 million. Projects funded under this decision will be implemented by UN and Red Cross agencies, and Non Governmental Organizations. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
- European Commission allocates EUR 28 million for Palestinian, Iraqi refugees
- EC releases remaining €31.7 million from 2003 Iraq aid budget
- EC provides €1 million in aid for Palestinian victims of house demolitions
- ECHO provides €34 million for humanitarian aid to Palestinian people
- EC provides €2.3 million in emergency assistance to Iran | <urn:uuid:7b8c0e26-2206-4f20-ae70-89ac2a74064d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.albawaba.com/business/ec-steps-humanitarian-aid-middle-east | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924664 | 384 | 1.867188 | 2 |
Your dentist can help you select the most appropriate mouthguard for your child. Mouthguards can be worn on the upper teeth, lower teeth, or both. Mouthguards vary in price, style, and comfort. Certain types of mouthguards may be more appropriate for certain types of sports. There are three basic types of mouthguards: pre-molded mouthguards, hot water formed mouthguards, and custom-made mouthguards.
Pre-molded mouthguards can be found in sporting goods stores. They are the least expensive type of mouthguard. Because they are pre-molded, it may be difficult to achieve a good fit. Pre-molded mouthguards do not fit against the teeth. They may be difficult to breathe and talk with.
Hot water formed mouthguards can be found in sporting good stores as well. This type of mouthguard is pre-shaped. You place the shape in hot water to soften the material. When the softened material is placed in your child’s mouth, it conforms to fit against your child’s teeth.
Your dentist can make a custom-made mouthguard. Custom-made mouthguards are professionally fitted to your child’s mouth and teeth. They offer the best protection and most comfortable wear. They should not inhibit your child’s ability to breathe and speak.
Professionally made mouthguards can last a long time with proper care. Your child should clean his or her mouthguard with a toothbrush and toothpaste or mouth rinse. Your child should run his or her mouthguard under cool water before and after he or she uses it. The mouthguard should be kept away from hot temperatures that can disfigure it. A mouthguard needs to be replaced if it tears, breaks, or wears out. A child’s mouthguard should be checked at regular dental visits. Your child may need a new mouthguard as he or she grows. | <urn:uuid:45b11fc1-c975-4bf7-95e3-5fed46c7fbda> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.drsoto.net/AboutourPractice/YourDentalHealth/tabid/9790/ctl/View/mid/15988/ContentPubID/155/dnnprintmodule/true/Default.aspx?SkinSrc=[G]Skins/_default/No%20Skin&ContainerSrc=[G]Containers/_default/No%20Container | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949807 | 391 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Now that Russia has suspended all adoptions to the United States after a Tennessee mother made the unfortunate choice to send back her adopted son, everyone’s looking for someone to blame.
But if this boy had been released into the foster care or juvenile justice systems in this country—“returned” in the quiet manner in which such situations like this are normally resolved—we would never have heard a peep about this boy, or his mother. It’s a dirty little secret that no one likes to talk about: Adoptions fail. More of them than we’d like to admit. And because we don’t talk about it, when they do fail, we look for someone to blame instead of looking at the problem.
For older children adopted after infancy, like the 7-year-old Russian boy, the adoption failure rate shoots all the way up to 15 percent or more.
Exactly how often adoptions fail is poorly tracked data. A 2003 study by the Government Accounting Office found that about 5 percent of all planned adoptions from foster care “disrupt”—that is, fail after the child was placed with its new parents, but before the adoption is legally finalized. But even legally complete adoptions dissolve at a rate of up to 10 percent. And for older children adopted after infancy, like the 7-year-old Russian boy who came not from foster care but from institutionalized care in an orphanage, the failure rate shoots up to a disturbing 15 percent or more.
Yet despite the fact that adoption failure happens with relative frequency, it remains one of our great unspoken taboos. Instead of acknowledging the systemic problem, we blame the individuals involved.
Just look at the comments section of any blog post on the Russian incident. Whoever you think is at fault, you’ll find a dozen fellow travelers—people blaming everyone from the mother to the Russian government to the airlines to the boy himself. But perhaps the question we should be asking is, why do we demand there be a bad guy in this sad story? Why don’t we see “adoption failure” as an unfortunate—but inevitable—part of the adoption system itself?
• Catherine Arnst: Tennessee’s Adoption OutrageWhen I set out to write my 2001 novel, A Member of the Family, I wanted to find an answer to one simple question: What kind of mother could give back a child she had sworn to love? In researching the novel, I met many families struggling to do better than survive, families that wanted to compensate for the early life tragedies that had beset the children they now called their own. Whether the child’s scars were psychological or physical, a question of malnutrition or attachment disorder or serious mental illness, these families were committed, no matter the cost of endurance to their other members.
Through these conversations, I did eventually construct a portrait of a fictional family that adopted a child, did their best to raise him, but ultimately sank under the pressure and released him into the foster care system. I let my characters live out their tale. Like any novelist, I had done my homework and built my fictional case.
Because I was publishing a piece of fiction, I was unprepared for what followed. After the book was released, I was shocked to open my local paper to find a letter from a neighbor, an adoptive parent, stating that she would never read a book like mine and hoped nobody else would either. I was accused of a variety of odd things in the months following publication, of constructing a damning portrait of a fellow villager—someone I had never heard of, or met—and of fictionalizing and justifying my own behavior with my own children. (Not that it matters, but my children are biological, and have never had any dealings with the foster care system.) These kinds of reactions to the novel were surprising. I wasn’t writing about rapists and cannibals and child molesters; I was writing about a failure to parent. And it turns out that nothing makes people madder.
Not so oddly, I have been approached countless times in the last decade by people who told me quietly that they, like the character Deborah Latham in my novel, had given up a child. Often their reasons were similar to the ones I had imagined: The children had managed to strain the limits of what was possible to endure, even when love and understanding and compassion were involved. In Deborah Latham’s case, her desire to be a perfect mother to one needy child led her to downplay the danger to another. Some people thanked me for telling the other side of the story, for trying to understand how awful it was to fail. Nobody’s life goes back to its original rhythms after a failed adoption. Nobody forgets. Nobody celebrates.
It’s worthy of our empathy to imagine how ill-equipped that Tennessee mother must have been to handle the little boy she received. No, she should not have put him on a plane back to Russia alone. Yes, she should have used and exhausted the counseling resources afforded her. And yes, we have to realize that though each of us can imagine the precise reasons this family failed, none of us can ever know.
Many things could be done to improve the system. There are great discrepancies from state to state in how adoption successes and failures are tracked; these could be synchronized and streamlined. Also, once a child’s name has been legally changed it is easier for the system to lose touch; this needs to be accounted for and improved as well. And the data show that intensive support and training can do a great deal to prevent adoption dissolution in the first, most vulnerable year.
What we ourselves can do is keep a kinder eye on one another, and hope that we—each of us—can hold back from joining the crowd that castigates on impulse. Instead, let’s push for an earnest, systematic examination of why adoptions do fail. Let’s stop blaming the individuals and try to help them. Help them and all the other children out there who need and deserve the love of families, not by pretending problems don’t exist but by facing them with frankness and courage.
Susan Scarf Merrell is the author of the novel A Member of the Family, about a difficult adoption, and The Accidental Bond: How Sibling Connections Influence Adult Relationships. She is at work on a book about the early marriage of the novelist Shirley Jackson and her husband, the literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman. | <urn:uuid:9e9d640d-e499-4cdb-8236-a04a644e73a2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/04/17/adoptions-dirty-secret.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972904 | 1,346 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Its amazing how fast things can move in Washington when the right people want them to, as older pilots discovered to their almost universal delight late Thursday. On Tuesday morning, a proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots to 65 was mired in a political scrap over how the FAA should be funded. On Thursday, it was the law of the land, and a welcome birthday present for American Airlines pilot Frank Walters, one of a handful of pilots who woke up Thursday on their last day of work and went to bed with five years left in their careers "I'd been waiting for the legislation to pass," Mr. Walters told The Dallas Morning News. "I just didn't know when." Late Tuesday, the House voted to approve a separate bill on the retirement age and the Senate followed suit on Wednesday. President Bush signed the new law on Thursday night. While its probably safe to say that most older pilots supported the career extension, most pilots unions did not and the Allied Pilots Association wrote an 11th-hour appeal to Bush asking him to veto the bill. "Mandatory age 60 retirement for our nation's commercial airline pilots has proven to be a highly effective safety regulation since its establishment in 1959," APA President Lloyd Hill wrote. His counterpart at Southwest Airlines, Carl Kuwitzky, disagreed. "Experience counts," he told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "The legislation will enhance safety by ensuring we keep our most experienced pilots flying longer." | <urn:uuid:7882b535-d574-4df4-8ff3-941374f9fe28> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Age65LawSignedByBush_196773-1.html?type=pf | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974393 | 293 | 1.945313 | 2 |
Surrey NanoSystems has raised third round funding of £4.5 million (~US$7.1m) - one of the largest amounts secured by any UK semiconductor-focused company in the last year - from a consortium led by New Wave Ventures.
The funds will be used to commercialize innovations in materials to support the continued scaling of integrated circuits. These include an advanced dielectric thin film for insulation applications, and a process for growing carbon-based interconnections or 'vias'. Progress in both of these back-end-of-line semiconductor fabrication areas is critical if manufacturers are to continue silicon's evolution to next-generation geometry sizes, operating speeds and power conservation.
"The new funding will be used to take our proven technology to the next stage - to demonstrate it at a scale compatible with the lithography and wafer sizes used in today's high volume semiconductor manufacture", said David Wong, CEO of Surrey NanoSystems. "We are cooperating with leading players in the semiconductor industry, and within the next two to three years we expect to be able to offer the technologies in forms suitable for commercial use."
The new funding is being provided by New Wave Ventures in conjunction with Parkwalk Advisors, and further investments from Surrey NanoSystems' existing backers Octopus Ventures, IP Group PLC and the University of Surrey. New Wave Ventures has a track record in funding young companies in technology related sectors, and works on the principle that finding the right people with the right goals and values is more likely to deliver a successful outcome than simply focusing on elaborate financial projections.
Commenting on its investment in Surrey NanoSystems, New Wave Ventures co-founder Tim Bullock said: "At New Wave Ventures we aim to invest in the most capable management teams, with the ideas and abilities to make a significant impact on markets with global scale. We have been impressed by all that the team at Surrey Nanosystems has achieved to date and with their plans for taking their innovations through to commercial success."
Reducing leakage current is a critical requirement for the continued scaling of semiconductor devices. Surrey NanoSystems has developed a new class of high performance dielectric material for inter-layer or inter-metal insulation. With an effective dielectric constant of less than 2.4, it offers an advanced alternative to current 'low k' semiconductor insulation materials. It also has the advantages of having high Young's modulus and hardness, being non porous, and offering excellent resistance to the liquid chemicals employed in semiconductor processing - making it a robust and reliable material for IC fabrication.
Another target application is a replacement material for the vertical connections that link the layers of an integrated circuit, as the copper currently used is becoming more resistive as the geometry sizes of ICs shrink to ever smaller dimensions. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be structured to act as more efficient conductors, but their adoption has been hindered by the fact that conventionally grown CNTs require temperatures of around 700 degrees C - too high for semiconductor processing. In contrast, Surrey NanoSystems' fabrication system and process allows high density CNT structures to be grown at silicon-friendly processing temperatures of 350 degrees C or less.
Both of these insulation and connection materials advances have been catalyzed by Surrey NanoSystems' know-how in thin film deposition - the original roots of the company. The new materials also have applications in areas other than semiconductor processing.
Surrey NanoSystems is based in Newhaven, UK, where its research facility is equipped with nanomaterial deposition and growth systems of its own unique design, and state-of-the-art analytical and measurement instrumentation.
The new capital injection comes at the same time as a major personnel addition. Surrey NanoSystems has just appointed Lars McBride as its Chairman. Following a career in corporate finance in London where he held a number of positions including Head of European Mergers & Acquisitions at Chase Manhattan, McBride has worked for 18 years with a broad spread of engineering businesses, including as president of a supplier of gas analysis equipment to the semiconductor fabrication market. Currently, he is on the boards of six other businesses, ranging from well-established companies to start-ups. He takes over the chairman's role from Gerry Thurgood, who has worked for Surrey NanoSystems since 2007, and who remains a non-executive director with the company.
"The global importance of continued progress in semiconductors cannot be underestimated, and I am delighted to be joining a company with the potential to play such an influential role in shaping the future direction of the technology", added Lars McBride, Chairman of Surrey NanoSystems. | <urn:uuid:1f9b43a1-95a3-407d-a445-970165a138f2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?NewsID=24409 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946019 | 960 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious condition that causes scarring of the lung tissue. This scarring occurs within the alveoli of the lungs. Alveoli are small air sacs that are responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide with the blood. Pulmonary fibrosis can be classified as an interstitial lung disease.
Overtime, this scarring (fibrosis) causes stiffening in the lung walls. This can make it difficult to breath. Additionally, thickened lung walls reduce the body’s ability to exchange gases. This may diminish the amount of oxygen that reaches internal organs, as well as the brain. In advanced stages, pulmonary fibrosis can lead to respiratory failure and death.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Labored breathing and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis. For those with the illness, breathing is especially difficult following physical exertion. Other common symptoms include:
- Frequent dry cough
- Pain in the chest
- Aching muscles
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
Unfortunately, the majority of symptoms do no manifest until advanced stages of the illness. As such, treatment options may be diminished once the illness is finally identified. Further exacerbating late diagnosis, is the potential for patients to ignore symptoms. Coughing and fatigue can often be explained away as signs of aging or being out of shape.
Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis occurs when the body is unable to properly repair microscopic damage that occurs in the walls of the alveoli. Typically, small amounts of damage to the alveoli can be repaired. However, when the repair process is either obstructed or overwhelmed, scarring can occur. The main causes of pulmonary fibrosis include:
Inhalation of pollutants: Repeated exposure to hazardous airborne materials, such as asbestos fiber, silica dust, tobacco smoke, grain dust, sugar cane and animal droppings can cause irritation of the lungs. These materials become lodged in the lungs, and can serve as the source for pulmonary scarring.
Medication: Some medications cause tissue damage that reduces the lungs’ ability to repair the alveoli. Chemotherapy drugs such as methotrexate and cyclophosphamide have been known to cause such side effects. Other medications linked to pulmonary fibrosis include cardiovascular drugs such as amiodarone and propanolol, antibiotics such as sulfasalazine and nitrofurantoin, and a handful of psychiatric drugs.
Radiation treatment: Lung damage can occur following radiation treatment. Such damage infrequently occurs after treatment of breast or lung cancer.
Acid reflux: Individuals with pulmonary fibrosis often have acid reflux. The condition is also known as gastroesophageal refulx disease (GERD).
Lung infection: pneumonia and tuberculosis may lead to irreparable lung damage
Tissue disorders: Other disorders linked to pulmonary fibrosis include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, sarcoidosis, polymyositis and Sjogren’s syndrome.
Treating Pulmonary Fibrosis
There is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Once scarring occurs, it is irreversible. However, steps can be taken to minimize or slow additional scarring. For cases in which scarring occurs due to inhalation of pollutants, immediate steps should be taken to eliminate additional exposure (i.e. quitting smoking).
Medications may be prescribed to slow the deterioration of lung function. Immunosuppressants such as corticosteroid are generally the preferred treatment choice. However, success from these drugs may be minimal in some patients. They can also result in serious side effects, such as diabetes, glaucoma and skin cancer.
Oxygen therapy: Breathing can be made easier through oxygen therapy. Though purely palliative, such treatment can dramatically improve day-to-day function and overall health.
Pulmonary rehabilitation: Regimented programs can teach patients to overcome breathing problems that stem from pulmonary fibrosis. Rehabilitation includes a combination of exercise, breathing techniques and nutritional counseling.
Lung transplant: Younger patients may be eligible for lung transplantation. This treatment is typically reserved for patients who have responded unfavorably to all other types of treatment.
Prognosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis
It is estimated that five million individuals are affected by pulmonary fibrosis globally. Of the 500,000 pulmonary fibrosis cases in the United States, 40,000 patients die annually from the illness.
Progression of pulmonary fibrosis differs considerably from one case to another. However, once diagnosed the average survival time is two to four years. A number of factors may contribute to a dramatically longer survival time. For example, individuals younger than 50 years old and female patients are statistically more likely to live longer.
Pulmonary Fibrosis Vs. Asbestosis
When pulmonary fibrosis is caused by asbestos, it is referred to as asbestosis. As such, asbestosis is a sub-category of pulmonary fibrosis. Similarly, scarring due to silica dust is called silicosis.
See also: page on benign mesothelioma
Sources of information on this page: MayoClinic, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, eMedTV.com | <urn:uuid:ab93651f-e169-48b4-85e8-56001f985603> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/mesothelioma/symptoms/pulmonary-fibrosis | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.926321 | 1,101 | 3.453125 | 3 |
Some of the weapons collected in a recent Los Angeles Gun Buyback event are showcased during a news conference at the LAPD headquarters in Los Angeles. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's office says the weapons collected included 901 handguns, 698 rifles, 363 shotguns and 75 assault weapons. The buyback is usually held in May but was moved up in response to the Dec. 14 massacre of students and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
[ View the story "Gun control: 11 bills introduced already in Congress" on Storify] Gun control: 11 bills already introduced in Congress After years of silence on the subject of gun control, Congress is gearing up for debate.
Digital First Media· Fri, Jan 11 2013 08:25:19
For years, gun control has
not been a topic of debate
in Congress. But after the horrific shootings at a Connecticut elementary school, the issue of gun violence has returned to the forefront.
Congress has only been in session for about a week, but House Democrats already have proposed 11 bills to restrict sales of guns or bullets, expand background checks and promote gun safety. Two Republicans, meanwhile, have proposed repealing the Gun-Free School Zones Act.
Most of these bills will go nowhere, as evidenced by their lack of cosponsors. Some, such as the Blair Holt federal gun licensing bill, are perennials that die in committee. But they do show that the range of opinion on what to do about guns has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. Below, a closer look at the 11 proposals.
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) Co-sponsors: None What it would do: Require background checks for all gun sales, closing the gun-show loophole. Require background checks for employees of gun stores. Require gun owners report lost or stolen firearms. Set new rules for concealed weapons permits. Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) Co-sponsors: None What it would do: Require background checks for all gun sales, closing the gun-show loophole. Require owners of handguns and semiautomatic weapons to register for a federal firearms license. End private sales of guns. Require gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms. Create a federal clearinghouse for data on gun-related injuries and deaths. Sponsor: Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) Co-sponsors: Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) What it would do: Repeal the Gun Free School Zones Act, which bars possession of firearms in a school. Sponsor: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) Co-sponsors: None What it would do: Raise the minimum age for owning a gun from 18 to 21. Increase penalties on juveniles convicted of a second gun-related offense. Increase penalties for selling or giving a gun to the under-aged. Require gun buyers to have a secure gun storage or safety device. Require parents or legal guardians to ensure that an adult accompanies their child to a gun show. Provide grants for local safety classes for parents and children. Sponsor: Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) Co-sponsors: 13 Democrats, including party leader Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) What it would do: Make it illegal for a gun dealer whose license has been revoked to give or sell inventory to an individual gun collector or to an employee. Sponsor: Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) Co-sponsors: None What it would do: Create a mandatory federal licensing system for registering handguns. Sponsor: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) Co-sponsors: None What it would do: Repeal the Gun Free School Zones Act, which bars possession of firearms in a school. Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) Co-sponsors: None What it would do: Require background checks on all gun sales, closing the gun-show loophole. Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) Co-sponsors: Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) What it would do: Bar the sale or gift of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) Co-sponsors: None What it would do: Require criminal background checks of all sales at gun shows. Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) Co-sponsors: None What it would do: Bar Internet sales of ammunition. Require licenses for ammunition dealers. Require reporting of bulk purchases of ammunition. | <urn:uuid:bb46b841-1344-4b79-b366-67d248e926a3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_22355778 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934418 | 957 | 1.710938 | 2 |
From Cecile Oreste at danceDC
Is the hooping life for you? If you’re not familiar with the latest fitness trend, hoopdance incorporates classic dance moves and hula hooping. In some versions of hoopdance, students use the hoop like a partner, dancing while the hoop circles various body parts. Local instructor Granetta Coleman also focuses on trick hooping which involves moving the hoop on or off the body.
Coleman of HooperNATURAL™ is bringing hoopdance classes to Dupont Circle Thursdays in September and October from 6:30 to 7:30pm—yes, right inside the Circle. According to Coleman—who used hoopdance to get in shape after her pregnancy—hoopdance is appealing because of the skill involved.
“I like that you need to practice in order to master moves,” Coleman said. “You can figure out how to do some things by watching YouTube videos, but it’s an endless challenge.” You can also go at your own pace. “People enjoy finding their own groove or flow,” she added.
In addition to increasing your strength and improving your balance, this total body workout has some less obvious benefits.
“There is a relaxation benefit to hoopdance because you need to focus on the moves. Creativity is also sparked by hooping. You start thinking about all the different moves you can learn,” said Coleman.
Coleman, a Silver Spring native, has been teaching group exercise classes in DC for years. Prior to founding HooperNATURAL, she taught urban funk, pilates and toning classes at several Results Gym locations in DC. She was also an instructor for D.A.R.E. Dance at local elementary schools in DC and northern Virginia.
Coleman is also a member of the DC Hoop Collective, which is a group of local hooping instructors and hoopers. The DC Hoop Collective will host the screening of the feature-length documentary film, The Hooping Life, on World Hoop Day, which is on 10-10-10. In addition to the screening, the DC Hoop Collective is planning more hoopdance workshops with celebrity teachers, performances and a family hoop jam to celebrate World Hoop Day. | <urn:uuid:3f4d6165-15bd-4312-a437-98ef4806c11a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.borderstan.com/08/hoopdance-is-the-hooping-life-for-you/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947281 | 477 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Biodiversity and Oil Palm Project
Oil palm plantations are making a significant contribution to the ongoing disappearance of Indonesia's tropical forests and the unique assembly of species that call them home. However, the palm oil they produce is extremely profitable, meaning the stakes are high for both the industry and the diverse ecosystems that are under threat.
ZSL’s Biodiversity and Oil Palm project is working to develop practical guidance that can assist the palm oil
industry to reduce the impact it has on wildlife.
What is palm oil?
Whether you like it or not, you will probably have consumed a lot of palm oil in your lifetime. As the world's most popular vegetable oil, this versatile ingredient is hidden inside a huge number of the products you see on the supermarket shelf - from cereal bars and pizza to make-up and soap.
Often simply labelled as 'vegetable oil' on the label, a recent survey investigated just how many popular products contain palm oil. On top of this, the recent controversial craze for biofuels has increased demand even further.
Where does palm oil come from?
These brightly coloured fruits, which are rich in palm oil, grow on oil palm trees (Elaeis guineensis). Although oil palm is native to West Africa, the climate in Indonesia is perfect for growing this crop, making palm oil production a very lucrative business in Indonesia.
Consequently, oil palm plantations have expanded at a phenomenal pace over the past few decades, with the result that Indonesia recently became the biggest producer of palm oil in the world.
Oil palm plantations: death sentence or lifeline?
The debate surrounding the environmental and social impacts of the palm oil industry is an emotive but extremely complex one - it is impossible to label it as simply good or bad.
Whatever your viewpoint, there is little doubt that the expansion of oil palm plantations has played a leading role in the destruction of vast areas of rich tropical forest in Indonesia, which has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world.
This is of enormous conservation concern as these forests are home to an extraordinary variety of species, from the Sumatran tiger to the rhinoceros hornbill, many of which are totally unique to Indonesia.
Despite this, the palm oil industry makes a vital contribution to the Indonesian economy, generating nearly $8 billion worth of exports and providing over 2 million jobs, mainly in rural areas. Abandoning palm oil production is not a viable option as it is one of the most productive and versatile vegetable oils available and the huge global demand for it provides a valuable revenue stream for Indonesia.
Although palm oil is important for the economy, expansion cannot continue if this is at the cost of Indonesia's natural ecosystems: the future of this country is highly dependent on the health of both.
The relationship between oil palm and biodiversity
Very little wildlife is able to live amongst the rows of oil palms, but previous ZSL research has shown that it is often a different story for the patches of damaged habitat and unplanted land that usually remain on an oil palm plantation. This suggests that animals living in the surrounding forest, such as tapirs, tigers and clouded leopards, may use these patches of non-oil palm habitat to help them travel across the plantation to reach other areas of forest.
Since the expansion of oil palm plantations has both reduced the area of forest that remains and caused it to become fragmented, these connecting 'stepping stones' could provide a crucial life line to species whose future hangs in the balance.
What is being done to readdress the balance?
The environmental damage caused by oil palm plantations has been widely publicised in recent years, creating an incentive for palm oil companies to improve their practice and an urgent need for practical guidance that will enable them to do so.
In response to this the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established in 2004. Towards sustainable palm oil: a framework for action (3.2 MB) is the output of the symposium ‘Sustainable palm oil: challenges, a common vision and the way forwards’ held at ZSL in May 2011.
The RSPO provides a forum for discussion between concerned social and conservation NGOs and all sectors of the palm oil industry, aiming to promote a standard of palm oil production that respects people and the planet but still makes a profit. Once a palm oil company has chosen to join the RSPO, they must satisfy various criteria before their palm oil can be certified as 'sustainable'. This includes criteria, which address the impact that oil palm plantations can have on the environment, right from pollution by pesticides to damage caused to wildlife and habitats that are a high priority for conservation.
In order to abide by the RSPO's criteria, palm oil companies must take steps to conserve areas with 'High Conservation Value' on their existing plantations and ensure that new developments do not damage any such areas.
For this to be possible, it is first necessary to identify exactly which areas are of 'High Conservation Value'.
At present, pin pointing areas of habitat that are essential for the survival of the wide variety of species that may be present in the surrounding landscape and managing them effectively is proving extremely challenging. Practical guidance that will enable companies to identify and manage areas of natural habitat that are a priority for conservation is urgently needed.
The aim of ZSL's Oil Palm and Biodiversity Project
ZSL has been awarded a grant from the Biodiversity and Agricultural Commodities Programme to work with the palm oil industry and the RSPO to develop an effective tool for assessing biodiversity in and around oil palm plantations that is compatible with the RSPO's Biodiversity Criteria.
Match funding for the project has been provided by the oil palm company Wilmar International, whose plantations (one in Kalimantan and one in Sumatra) provide the focus for this research.
HCV monitoring protocol and software
High Conservation Values (HCVs) are a set of social and ecological values that are considered a high priority for conservation. They include the presence of endemic or endangered species, rare or endangered ecosystems, and resources and ecosystem services on which local communities depend for their livelihoods all of which are significantly threatened by large-scale land conversion from forest to agriculture. In order to meet the criteria for RSPO certification, plantation owners are obliged to maintain and protect HCV areas within their concessions, however without regular and standardized monitoring, successful, efficient and robust management of HCVs is not possible.
Regular patrol monitoring of HCV areas in oil palm plantations can provide plantation managers with the information they need to mitigate the negative impacts of oil palm cultivation on biodiversity; however, current guidance on how to do this is limited. ZSL is developing a practical protocol with accompanying easy-to-use software and training modules to enable field staff to effectively monitor key variables in HCV areas in oil palm landscapes. It is intended to support an adaptive management approach for improved protection of biodiversity within plantations, whereby management actions are informed by the results of patrol monitoring.
Results from regular patrols are analysed by accompanying software and reported in clear and easily understandable graphs and maps.
Sustainable Palm Oil Platform
The Sustainable Palm Oil Platform website can be found at sustainablepalmoil.org . The issues surrounding palm oil are complex and difficult to understand. Communication between businesses along the length of the supply chain is poor, and there are low levels of awareness amongst the consumers and retailers who are driving demand for this versatile vegetable oil. This is often due to misleading information in the media as well as the complex structure and poor transparency of the palm oil supply chain itself.
In order to address this, ZSL has launched the Sustainable Palm oil Platform (SPP) with support from the RSPO, BACP, and the SAFE project. The SPP is a resource centre for information about sustainable palm oil that provides all stakeholders in the palm oil supply chain with the knowledge and tools they need to pursue more sustainable business practices.
The SPP is the first and only palm oil platform that is designed to meet the information needs of all stakeholders, from growers right through to consumers. It includes case studies, interviews, and links to useful and relevant websites, academic articles, and reports. The SPP also contains a range of resources and tools developed by ZSL to improve the monitoring and protection of High Conservation Value Areas in and around plantations and assist growers in meeting their commitments to the RSPO. | <urn:uuid:ad153070-3b89-4a85-8a6a-f5d23b2237e5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.zsl.org/print/conservation/regions/asia/indonesia/oil-palm-and-biodiversity-project,1180,AR.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953874 | 1,726 | 3.21875 | 3 |
An effort to revamp the state's school finance system that could lead to a tax increase will likely dominate the early days of the state legislature.
We'll be eager to see how it plays out.
As outlined earlier this week by EdNewsColorado, the plan is to have the legislature update the state's school finance formula for early childhood and K-12 education and then to ask voters this fall for money to pay for it.
The catch: You can't have one without the other.
The official price tag won't be known for some time, but it's very likely going to be upwards of $1 billion annually.
Boosting funding for education in the state is long overdue, and we're hopeful the state's funding formula can be updated in a way that is fair and recognizes the myriad educational challenges that exist across the sate.
We also think lawmakers should include higher education in their discussions, as that system is also woefully underfunded.
Several things lead us to believe that now is the right time for the discussions.
First, as we have pointed out for years, Colorado puts too little money into its education system to begin with. Providing more money does not by itself guarantee a better system, but is equally clear that schools across the state would be able to improve outcomes given additional resources.
Second, the state's economy is improving to the point where the notion of additional taxes is not a deal-breaker. Just last month, many districts across the metro area passed additional levies for schools, for example.
Finally, as Colorado continues to embrace education reforms, we will need a funding model that is better aligned with desired outcomes.
Looming over the discussion, however, will be the Lobato case, in which a judge ruled the state's funding of its schools violated a constitutional requirement for a "thorough and uniform" public education system.
That ruling has been appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court and a ruling could come in the spring or early summer.
Whether a revamp of the education funding system in the upcoming session would pre-empt a court-ordered overhaul or would be premature is open to debate.
The measure will need the backing of Gov. John Hickenlooper, who told The Associated Press last week that it's premature to think voters would be asked to increase taxes in the next three years.
There's also the question of how addressing education funding now fits in with the need to reform the constraints — the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, the Gallagher Amendment and Amendment 23 — that exist in the state constitution.
None of this should be construed as reason not to move forward. The time is right to figure out how we can bolster education in Colorado. We look forward to the coming debates on how best to do it, and how it will be paid for. | <urn:uuid:94f4626e-52eb-46b3-8ad7-26563213eb41> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_22235257?source=commented-opinion | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971594 | 575 | 1.820313 | 2 |
FRESNO, CALIF. — Dozens of foreign insects and plant diseases slipped undetected into the United States in the years after 9/11, when authorities were so focused on preventing another attack that they overlooked a pest explosion that threatened the quality of the nation’s food supply.
At the time, hundreds of agricultural scientists responsible for stopping invasive species at the border were reassigned to anti-terrorism duties in the newly formed Homeland Security Department — a move that scientists say cost billions of dollars in crop damage and eradication efforts from California vineyards to Florida citrus groves.
The consequences come home to consumers in the form of higher grocery prices, substandard produce and the risk of environmental damage from chemicals needed to combat the pests.
An Associated Press analysis of inspection records found that border-protection officials were so engrossed in stopping terrorists that they all but ignored the country’s exposure to destructive new insects and infections — a quietly growing menace that has been attacking fruits and vegetables and even prized forests ever since.
“Whether they know it or not, every person in the country is affected by this, whether by the quality or cost of their food, the pesticide residue on food or not being able to enjoy the outdoors because beetles are killing off the trees,” said Mark Hoddle, an entomologist specializing in invasive species at the University of California, Riverside.
Homeland Security officials acknowledge making mistakes and say they are now working to step up agricultural inspections at border checkpoints, airports and seaports.
While not as dire as terrorism, the threat is considerable and hard to contain.
Many invasive species are carried into the U.S. by people who are either unaware of the laws or are purposely trying to skirt quarantine regulations. The hardest to stop are fruits, vegetables and spices carried by international travelers or shipped by mail. If tainted with insects or infections, they could carry contagions capable of devastating crops.
Plants and cut flowers can harbor larvae, as can bags of bulk commodities such as rice. Beetles have been found hitchhiking on the bottom of tiles from Italy, and boring insects have burrowed into the wooden pallets commonly used in cargo shipments.
Invasive species have been sneaking into North America since Europeans arrived on the continent, and many got established long before 9/11. But the abrupt shift in focus that followed the attacks caused a steep decline in agricultural inspections that allowed more pests to invade American farms and forests.
Using the Freedom of Information Act, the AP obtained data on border inspections covering the period from 2001 to 2010. The analysis showed that the number of inspections, along with the number of foreign species that were stopped, fell dramatically in the years after the Homeland Security Department was formed.
Over much of the same period, the number of crop-threatening pests that got into the U.S spiked, from eight in 1999 to at least 30 last year. | <urn:uuid:641465d1-7512-4aa2-b9b0-94c80cf6dbaa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/oct/10/focus-terrorism-allows-infiltration-insects-diseas/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959644 | 594 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Omega-3s are smart for your heart: You Docs
Explore This Story
Don’t even think about tossing out those Omega-3 capsules.
A new — and somewhat flawed — report is raising doubts about the heart-protecting power of fish oil. But don’t let misleading headlines come between you and these amazingly good fats. Here’s why:
Omega-3s are still heart-smart. You’ve seen the flurry of negative news stirred up by that fish oil report. At first it looks impressive. Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, it reviewed 14 studies that looked at a total of 20,500 people with heart disease.
The big question: Did fish-oil takers have fewer repeat heart problems? The conclusion: Not really.
What you may not know: The report followed people for just four and a half years or less (for some, it may take longer to see the benefits); most also took heart drugs (older studies show an advantage for fish oil takers who weren’t also taking drug); and it didn’t factor in what people ate (fish oil capsules can’t cancel out a triple cheeseburger and milkshake).
DHA Omega-3 guards your brain. DHA is the active component of Omega-3, and there’s ever more evidence than ever that it does great things for your grey and white matter. Missing out on these good fats — found in salmon, trout and the fish-free algal oil capsules we prefer — shrinks your brain and boosts dementia risk. Not getting enough also messes up your ability to remember where you parked the car and put the keys. DHA Omega-3s also protect your brain from stroke-related damage.
Did we mention they also keep your vision sharp? DHA Omega-3s slash your risk for low vision and blindness. These good fats help by cooling inflammation, slowing the overgrowth of blood vessels in the eyes and keeping your retinas—the movie screens in your eyes — damage-free.
Ready to grab a daily dose? Here’s how we get our Omega-3s:
• Start with omega-3-rich fish. Three fist-size, non-fried servings a week can lower your RealAge by 2.8 years. Top sources of Omega-3s are wild salmon and trout. Money-saving supermarket secret: Canned and frozen burger salmon is usually wild salmon; it tastes great in salads, casseroles and quiches. (Dr. Mike has fish five times a week and loves grilling it for a fast and flavourful dinner.)
• Take an Omega-3 supplement daily. It’s your good-fat insurance policy. Take enough to provide 600 to 900 milligrams of DHA, the most potent Omega-3. (The other active form is EPA, and relatively inactive is ALA.) You can get DHA from fish oil (read the label carefully to be sure you’re getting enough). But if you don’t like fish oil or are a strict vegetarian, pop what we pop: algal-oil capsules. Algae-based DHA Omega-3 supplements get their fats from the same place fish do: microscopic algae. You can buy it in supermarkets, health food stores, drugstores and online.
• Then add more fish. Sardines, anchovies and herring contain a smidgen of good fats. But choosing fish instead of meat is a heart-smart slam dunk for another reason: You sidestep saturated fat, which raises levels of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol. Going for seafood instead of cured and processed meats — ham, sausage, bacon, lunchmeats — also lets you dodge a boatload of blood pressure-boosting sodium and health-damaging preservatives. Worried about toxins in fish? Steer clear of types with the most mercury, such as swordfish, shark, tilefish, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy and mahi-mahi. Little fish like anchovies, herring and sole have low levels, as do canned light tuna (albacore’s got more mercury) and pollock. Of course, infants, young kids, pregnant moms and women trying or planning to conceive should avoid any amount of mercury in fish.
Ask health questions at doctoroz.com. Drs. Oz and Roizen are authors of YOU: Stress Less. Order it at StarStore.ca
- 'The silence is deafening': Rob Ford stays mum on crack allegations as brother blasts media
- Man hacked to death in London in suspected terror attack
- Police make second arrest in Tim Bosma murder investigation
- As world gawks at Rob Ford scandal, Toronto police wait and watch
- Mayor Rob Ford dismissed as football coach at Don Bosco Secondary School
- U.S. admits it killed four Americans in overseas attacks
- 'He is my person. My other half.' Widow mourns at Tim Bosma's funeral
- Updated Stephen Harper 'sorry, frustrated, angry' over secret payout to Mike Duffy | <urn:uuid:b352cd6a-9e56-4615-8a67-afb983442d8c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2012/06/01/omega3s_are_smart_for_your_heart_you_docs.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907476 | 1,062 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Many of the marchers held burning torches and hundreds of motorcyclists brought up the rear.
Saturday's march ended peacefully.
The 1996 incident involved two uninhabited islets off the Turkish coast whose ownership is disputed by Turkey and Greece.
Nationalists from both countries planted flags on the islets, and a military confrontation between the two nations was only averted after U.S. intervention. Three Greek navy officers died when their helicopter crashed during a reconnaissance mission in the area.
Withdrawal of the Greek flag was seen by nationalists as a shameful capitulation. | <urn:uuid:86c82e20-eb00-40a6-922e-37e0318af03f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.publicopiniononline.com/nationalnews/ci_22506888/extreme-right-supporters-stage-big-athens-march | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980305 | 117 | 1.828125 | 2 |
During World War II, a German U-Boat torpedoed and sank the U.S.S. Dorchester, an Army transport ship, in the North Atlantic on February 3, 1943. The convoy SG-19 was positioned 150 miles from Cape Farwel, on the coast of Greenland. Of the 904 men aboard, 605 were lost, among them were four U.S. Army chaplains.
After the torpedo struck, the chaplains quickly and quietly spread out among the soldiers. They tried to calm the frightened, tend the wounded and guide the disoriented toward safety. When there were no more lifejackets in the storage room, the chaplains removed theirs and gave them to four frightened young men. As the boat sank, survivors recall seeing the four chaplains together with arms linked and hearing them pray together. Theirs was a selfless act of courage. Without thought to their differences, the four chaplains stood united as one.
Research done after the incident chronicled the valor and sacrifices of these chaplains. They have became an enduring example of extraordinary faith, courage, and selflessness. The U.S. Congress in 1961 authorized a special medal of honor awarded to each chaplain's families. The Chapel of the Four Chaplains was dedicated at Valley Forge in their memory. The U.S. issued a postage stamp five years after the sinking to honor their bravery.
Three of the four chaplains had been active in their home communities before World War II by serving as important role models to youth as Scout leaders. Here are the specifics:Lt. Rabbi Alexander David Goode, Jewish, Scout leader, York PA
Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist minister
The memory of these men is preserved during Four Chaplains Memorial Services in communities across the United States on or near the anniversary of the sinking of the U.S.S. Dorchester (February 3) to raise awareness of the need for cooperation among all people.Other Sites to Visit | <urn:uuid:dd14f20e-879f-46fd-aece-7c90a19bcc92> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sossi.org/scouters/chaplains.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972536 | 413 | 3.59375 | 4 |
KEY WEST, FL (CNN) -- A literal cat fight over a legacy left behind by author Ernest Hemingway is settled for now.
A Florida appeals court has ruled the federal government can regulate the famous cats roaming the Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West.
The case started after a complaint over the 45 felines that call the Hemingway property home.
The museum had originally complied with a set of demands from the USDA, getting a license and building a fence to keep the cats in.
The cats are direct descendants of Hemingway's pet Snowball, many with six toes on their front paws like Snowball.
The bottom line? The court says thousands of admission-paying visitors stop by the museum every year, therefore the feds can regulate the local attraction.
For their part, museum officials say they just don't want the cats treated like zoo animals.
The appeals court ruling stands, unless the Supreme Court decides to hear the case. | <urn:uuid:52adf60f-dd90-4430-8564-7cf35ec5176b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thv11.com/news/article/239588/70/Legal-cat-fight-over-Hemingways-felines-settled | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937267 | 199 | 2.234375 | 2 |
Written by Dave Gil de Rubio Tuesday, 13 November 2012 00:00
Most of the featured cartoonists are Trudeau contemporaries: Newsday’s Walt Handelsman, the Denver Post’s Mike Keefe, Jimmy Margulies of New Jersey’s The Record, Steve Kelley of New Orleans’ Times-Picayune and the Philadelphia Daily News’ Signe Wilkinson. The work that represents them covers the usual array of contemporary topics—unemployment, the economy and education. In keeping with this tradition of casting a cynical and critical eye at current events, this quintet is following in the footsteps of the final person that rounds out this exhibit—Thomas Nast.
This art form dates back to the Middle Ages and was a means of educating an illiterate populace. And while Benjamin Franklin is credited with creating the first political cartoon— “Join or Die,” a picture of a snake whose severed sections represented the colonies—it was Nast who defined the political cartoon as we know it today. His focus on making caricatures of dirty politicians and profligate government were what Nast was best known for, particularly the doings of the rampantly corrupt administration affiliated with William “Boss” Tweed’s 19th -century Democratic machine. In doing so, Nast cast the die for political cartoonists who would follow in his wake as well as either creating or popularizing images that continue to be ubiquitous today. Among them are the use of the elephant and the donkey as stand-ins for the GOP and Democratic parties respectively, along with using Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty to represent the United States.
In this collection of original drawings and final production digital prints of work by Handelsman, Margulies, Keefe, Kelley and Wilkinson in “Political Slant: Editorial Cartoons,” it’s clear that Nast’s quest to use his art to highlight social and political issues as well as getting readers to think continues to reverberate in the 21st century. | <urn:uuid:3e7fef40-377a-423b-acbb-4064bf7c1d97> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.antonnews.com/features/feature-stories/25922-the-art-of-the-political-jab.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955085 | 417 | 2.28125 | 2 |
Mid-year screening for P1 pupils to be replaced
From next year, Primary 1 pupils will no longer need to participate in a little-known screening exercise used to identify weaker children.
Currently, there are two screening exercises, one in January which is more commonly known, and the other in July. But the mid-year screening exercise will no longer be held. It will be replaced with "better ways" of identifying pupils, said a Ministry of Education spokesman, without giving details.
MOE revealed the change in its reply to a parent who wrote to The Straits Times Forum Page last Friday, and in response to queries from The Straits Times.
The parent, Mr David Chin, 42, a lecturer at Republic Polytechnic, complained that his Primary 1 son was made to take a test without his knowledge or approval in July. The test, according to him, resembles an IQ test. | <urn:uuid:775e0a89-bca0-446c-9b99-8ff0e0fc82fb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/mid-year-screening-p1-pupils-be-replaced-20120911 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976452 | 184 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Renault-Nissan Alliance Signs Zero-Emission Vehicle Partnership with City of TorontoMississauga, ON -
The Renault–Nissan Alliance today announced that Nissan is entering into an agreement with the City of Toronto, to advance zero-emission mobility in the city. The two parties announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at Toronto’s City Hall, as a commitment to collaborate to promote the wide-spread adoption of electric vehicles.
“Nissan is a global leader in electric vehicles and today the City of Toronto has shown its leadership and commitment to create a zero-emission culture in this great city,” said Allen Childs, President, Nissan Canada Inc. “Through this agreement, our partners at the City of Toronto have further demonstrated their commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We look forward to bringing the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass market zero-emission vehicle to Toronto consumers before the end of next year.”
As part of the agreement, Nissan and the City of Toronto will collaborate to promote electric vehicles on Toronto's streets. Nissan will supply electric vehicles for purchase within the city. The City of Toronto will continue with its existing efforts to develop plans to promote a charging infrastructure for EVs, as well as the deployment, operation and maintenance of a charging network, in concert with other relevant parties. The City will also continue to consider regulatory programs and bylaw changes to support the introduction and use of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
“Electric vehicles are a great way to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and smog pollutants in Toronto. We look forward to working with our partners to promote EVs and charging infrastructure in the city,” said Toronto Mayor David Miller. “The City of Toronto has taken significant steps to green its corporate vehicles through a comprehensive Green Fleet Plan, and we look forward to adding all-electric vehicles to our fleet. Toronto is also a member of the C40 Electric Vehicle Network where 14 of the world’s largest cities have agreed to take action to make their cities electric vehicle friendly. By working with partners such as Nissan, we are getting closer and closer to making electric vehicles a reality in everyday life.”
Nissan, along with its alliance partner Renault, is the only automaker committed to making affordable, all-electric vehicles available to the mass market globally. Nissan LEAF is a five-passenger compact electric car that uses no gas, creates no emissions and has no tailpipe. It has a top speed of more than 145 km/hour and is powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries, which provide the car with a range of 160 kilometers on a single charge, as tested on the LA4 test cycle, enough to satisfy the daily driving needs of more than 70 percent of Canadians.
The agreement adds Toronto to a growing network of zero-emission vehicle initiatives across the world including partnerships in British Columbia and Quebec, as well as Mexico and Brazil. The Renault-Nissan Alliance has formed partnerships with over 60 governments, cities and other organizations to advance the deployment of electric vehicles worldwide.
Already, thousands of Canadians have signed up for the latest information on Nissan LEAF at www.nissan.ca/LEAF | <urn:uuid:dbf02d3c-1773-4bd9-bef6-d071537e6852> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nissan.ca/vehicles/ms/leaf/en/leafnewsext.aspx?item=16 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950261 | 658 | 1.765625 | 2 |
In a sense, film productions are the perfect thing to romanticise in terms of expenditure. But then, the materials and labour that go into them are still real, even if they are expended in the creation of fictions. The crux of this for me is the play between symbolic expenditure, as in the images and narratives on screen, and the real expenditure behind them. The spectacle of expenditure on big budget films might seem to offer an alternative to a strict capitalist system, a glamourous way out of ‘normal’ production. I find that this is a kind of trap that I fall into very easily, particularly when looking at early films, which often seem to me to have a kind of exuberance that acts against the idea of them as industrial products.
In his 1975 book Hollywood Babylon, underground filmmaker Kenneth Anger picked over the sordid debris left from 60 years of notorious hedonism, egotism and extremely lucrative business in Hollywood. Kenneth Anger started his career as a child star, with his given name, Kenneth Wilbur Anglemyer, before eventually becoming infamous underground gay and satanist filmmaker Kenneth Anger.
The ‘Babylon’ of Anger’s title refers to the setting of part of DW Griffith’s 1916 film Intolerance. Anger employs the Babylonian set as an allegory against the wasteful business of making mainstream films – a system that simultaneously revolts and infatuates him. Griffith, supposed originator of the ‘Hollywood Film’, is for Anger a sort of fetishised Father figure; director as self-made deity in ‘Illusion City’:
“WHITE ELEPHANTS – the God of Hollywood wanted white elephants, and white elephants he got – eight of ‘em, plaster mammoths perched on mega-mushroom pedestals, lording it over the colossal court of Belshazzer, the pasteboard Babylon built beside the dusty tin-lizzie trail called Sunset Boulevard […] Griffith – the Movie Director as God – was riding high, high as he’d ever go, over Illusion City, whooshing up a hundred-foot-high elevator camera tower.”
The above is an illustration that Anger uses in the introduction to his book, of Griffith’s set as a ruin, after the film was finished.
And here is a production still from the film. Intolerance shakily spans most of civilisation’s history through four narrative strands, lashed together with the theme of man’s intolerance of man.
It includes a contemporary story and also the life of Christ, but by the far the most famous strand is that of King Belshazzer and his court in ancient Babylon – unaware of its imminent, inevitable destruction. Richard Schickel, Griffith’s biographer writes
“We are in the presence of an artist who is, as never before or later, simply drunk on the power of his medium and his own powers over it…It is the kind of intoxication that frees one of inhibitions, that gives one a sense of mastery over self and world.”
However, it is the sets that Griffith had built that now overshadow the rest of the film – by far the most ambitious and extravagant structures to have been built for a film at that time.
The court set became the icon of the film; the set that outlived the shoot – all the others having been demolished to accommodate it, and after the release of the film stood for a further four years, romantically mouldering away, cracking and dissolving into a ruin in its own right.
Intolerance as a spectacular and career breaking failure is actually a story written later by Griffith himself. Schickel portrays Griffith as an incorrigible self-mythologiser and a knowing exploiter of other’s fascination with the tragic figure of the artist fallen from grace:
“Griffith set about converting it from what he had hoped it would be, a turning point in film history, into something it was also not quite, a turning point in his personal history, that moment in his personal mythology at which visionary genius was thwarted by an uncomprehending world.”
In a famous letter to Lillian Gish, his favourite star, subsequently quoted in her autobiography, Griffith apparently describes himself walking through theatres full of empty seats, his creation playing to no audience – “I don’t know where to go or where to turn since my great failure”.
So to return to where we started, Kenneth Anger is just another example of the same idea, merely of a different generation: post-Hollywood, staunchly financially independent but still defined by economics. This image shows him recently, as an appropriately parodic version of an aging Hollywood star, with Lucifer tattooed on his chest.
I’ll end with this image, which is part of Griffith’s set design, immortalised as part of a new shopping mall in Hollywood. | <urn:uuid:38301995-28b2-44da-8455-f74293bfa208> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.murdofleur.org/notice-board/excessive-expenditure-in-illusion-city-picking-over-the-ruins-of-d-w-griffiths-babylon | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971835 | 1,030 | 1.898438 | 2 |
Mar. 2, 2008 Statins, the most effective treatment for lowering cholesterol, are widely used and have been demonstrated to be safe in large clinical trials. Although side effects are usually mild, more severe side effects, especially musculoskeletal complications, have been reported. Tendon impairment has been reported anecdotally but has not been included in large-scale studies. A new study published in the March issue of Arthritis Care & Research found that, although rare, tendon complications are linked to the use of statins.
Led by Catherine Noblet, of Rouen University Hospital in Rouen Cedex, France, researchers identified 96 cases of tendon complications from the French Pharmacovigilance database between 1990 and 2005 that were attributed to statins. Tendon conditions included tendonitis and tendon rupture. Patient data retrieved from computer database were as follows: medical history, other medications they were taking (especially those known to increase statin concentrations), information about the onset, pattern and severity of their condition, and the dosage and type of statin they took.
The results showed that of the 4,597 side effects associated with statins, about two percent were attributed to tendon complications. Symptoms usually occurred within 8 months of beginning statin therapy. Most patients had tendonitis, but some also suffered ruptured tendons. The most common tendon affected was the Achilles tendon, with pain, swelling, warmth, and stiffness as the most common symptoms. Seventeen of the patients had symptoms severe enough to warrant hospitalization. The researchers were able to link the tendon problems to statin use based on the fact that the symptoms appeared after the statins were started, they improved when the statins were stopped and they recurred in all of the patients who restarted the therapy.
The authors note that tendon complications due to statins may be largely unreported; no cases were reported during the large therapeutic trials that included more than 30,000 patients, but this may have been due to controlling for factors that predisposed patients to tendon conditions. In this study, an increasing number of patients with complications was seen with the increasing number of prescriptions between 1990 and 2005. They also note that although the prevalence of tendon problems in connection with statins is low, all types of statins could potentially cause tendon problems, which occurred at the recommended dosages.
"Our study suggests that regular tendinous clinical examination may be required in statin-treated patients, particularly during the first year following statin therapy initiation," the authors state. They also suggest that it is worth considering interrupting statin therapy before strenuous physical activity such as marathon running.
Although it is not known how statins may produce tendon injury, there are several theories. It may be that blocking cholesterol synthesis reduces the cholesterol content of tendon cell membranes, making them unstable, or that statins either reduce the levels of proteins involved in maintaining tendon cells or destroy vascular smooth muscle cells.
The authors suggest that although statins are effective, physicians should be aware that their side effects may include tendon complications. "We also suggest that patients who are at risk of developing statin-associated tendon manifestations and who require statins be routinely questioned about symptoms consistent with tendon involvement," they state, adding that postmarketing surveillance appears to be a major tool for early detection of safety problems with a new drug.
Article: "Tendinous Disorders Attributed to Statins: A Study on Ninety-Six Spontaneous Reports in the Period 1990-2005 and Review of the Literature," Isabelle Marie, Hélène Delafenêtre, Nathalie Massy, Christian Thuillez, Catherine Noblet, the Network of the French Pharmacovigilance Centers, Arthritis Care & Research, March 2008.
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Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead. | <urn:uuid:961795aa-b9f5-4ff7-a8d7-200011117b9b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080228080539.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96618 | 807 | 1.9375 | 2 |
Middle Fork River
Middle Fork River is Illinois first State Scenic River, so designated
in 1986 by Governor James R. Thompson. In 1989 the Middle Fork was also
designated as a National Scenic River by U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Manuel Lujan. The Middle Fork is the first river in Illinois to be included
in the National Wild Scenic Rivers System. It is protected by State and
federal law because of its outstanding scenic, recreational, ecological,
and historical characteristics.
Middle Fork River has eroded through deep glacial deposits, exposing steep
valley slopes and high bluffs. This results in small springs on hillsides,
and attracts swallows to nest in the bluffs. During a flood, the power
of the river cuts new channels, moves boulders, and removes trees. Most
of the area along the river is forested, and there are also several prairie
sites. Three areas support plants and animals so rare that they are protected
as State Nature Preserves. The Middle Fork River Valley supports a great
diversity of plants and animals including 57 types of fish, 45 different
mammals, and 190 kinds of birds. Of this diverse wildlife, there are 24
species officially identified as State threatened or endangered species.
Other special qualities of the Middle Fork River valley include unusual
geologic formations, various historic sites, and over 8,400 acres of public
is this special river protected?
State Law (Public Act 84-1257) and the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
Act give permanent protection to a 17-mile segment of the river in Vermilion
County. This protection includes land on both sides of the river. Conservation
easements are held by the State on all land not already owned by the State.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources manages this protected river
valley. The State Nature Preserves and State threatened or endangered
species in the valley are also protected by other State laws and programs.
can you see in the Middle Fork river valley?
are miles of scenic river with high bluffs and sand bars, surrounded by
trees harboring many animals. In the river, you may see mussels, turtles,
ducks and other waterfowl, and sunfish, or bass. Along its banks you may
see frogs, salamanders, or raccoons. In the trees you may see or hear
chickadees. bluebirds, woodpeckers, hawks, and many other birds. The many
types of trees include oak, dogwood, walnut, redbud, and ash. On the trails
near the river you may see orchids, ferns, prairie grasses, or wildflowers
such as Indian paint brush, or brown-eyed susan. Nature abounds for you
to enjoy along the Middle Fork River.
can you do along the Middle Fork River?
are a variety of recreational activities to choose from. Canoeing is popular.
You can also enjoy the many other outdoor activities available to you
in three large public parks.
park, owned and operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources,
contains over 2,800 acres, with several small lakes and ponds for fishing,
boating, canoeing, and scuba diving. There are also two canoe access areas
on the Middle Fork River. Boat and canoe rental and livery are available
in the park. Only electric motors are allowed. For overnight visits, there
are campgrounds for tents and trailers. A sanitary dump station and electrical
hookups are available. In the winter, there is ice fishing, ice skating,
2,700 acre park, also owned and operated by the Department of Natural
Resources, is used mostly for hunting and horseback riding. Hunting is
permitted for deer, squirrel, pheasant, quail, woodcock, rabbit, raccoon,
and opossum in season. There are 35 miles of equestrian trails that can
also be used for hiking. There is also a non-electric campground for use
by equestrians or other campers. In winter, trails are available for snowmobiling
and cross-country skiing. The area includes two canoe access sites on
the Middle Fork River. Footpaths also provide access to the river for
bend of the river at Windfall Prairie Nature Preserve was named "Bales
Bend" in memory of Robert B. Bales. This memorial honors his untiring
efforts to preserve the Middle Fork River, and recognizes his appreciation
for this river and this special spot on the river. Robert Bales was the
founder of the Committee on the Middle Fork, an environmental group still
working to preserve, protect, and enjoy the Middle Fork River.
park contains about 3,500 acres, operated by the Vermilion County Conservation
District. There is a swimming beach on Lare Mingo. The Lake and Several
other ponds are also used for boating and fishing. Rental boats are available.
Picnic shelters and playgrounds are provided, as well as hiking trails.
In winter the park offers ice skating, ice fishing, and sledding. There
is also one canoe access area provided on the Middle Fork River. Two historic
buildings, a country church and a one-room school, are also located in
The Middle Fork is a popular canoeing river. There are five canoe access
areas along 14 miles of the Middle Fork River. There are additional canoe
access areas further upstream. You can take a short canoe trip of a few
hours, or make a weekend of it and camp overnight in the campgrounds.
You can also canoe the lakes if you prefer. The canoe rental and livery
makes it convenient to canoe, but you can also bring your own canoe if
you register it in Illinois or your home state.
scenic Middle Fork River with its sand and gravel bottom, boulders, high
bluffs and varied wildlife will capture your attention as you canoe by.
The sand bars provide good resting or picnic spots. The canoe access site
at Bunker Hill bridge provides a picnic area.
course, be sure to properly dispose of all trash in trash cans. Remember
that camping is only allowed in campgrounds. Swimming is not authorized
in the river. It is also a good idea to check the water conditions before
canoeing, since the Middle Fork can have high flows with swift currents
about the town of Danville?
is a city of over 40,000 people, located about five minutes east of the
Middle Fork River. There are many restaurants, several hotels and shopping
areas available in Danville to enhance your visit to the Middle Fork River.
about Kennekuk County Park is available from the Vermilion County
Conservation District, 22296-A Henning Road, Danville, IL 61834, or
by phone at (217) 442-1691.
information on canoe or boat rentals for the Middle Fork River
or area Lakes, contact Kickapoo Canoe Rental, 217-354-2060.
specific information about Kickapoo State Park or Middle Fork
River water conditions, contact the park office at (217) 442-4915.
about the Danville area is available from the Danville Area Convention
and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 992, Danville, IL 61834, or phone
at (217) 442-2096, fax: (217) 442-2137, or toll free (800) 383-4386.
*For information about boat
and canoe registrations in Illinois, call (217) 782-2138.
- While groups of 25 or
more are welcome and encouraged to use the park's facilities, they are required
to register in advance with the site office to avoid crowding or scheduling
- At least one responsible
adult must accompany each group of 15 minors.
- Pets must be kept on
leashes at all times.
- Actions by nature can
result in closed roads and other facilities. Please call ahead to the park
office before you make your trip.
- We hope you enjoy your
stay. Remember, take only memories, leave only footprints.
- For more information
on tourism in Illinois, call the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity
Bureau of Tourism at 1-800-2Connect.
- Telecommunication Device
for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Natural Resources Information (217) 782-9175
for TDD only Relay Number 800-526-0844. | <urn:uuid:27a18116-a99c-4d43-a970-d2b5544b379d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/parks/r3/NATLRIV.HTM | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.919557 | 1,805 | 3.703125 | 4 |
UST computer labs have designated printers; these will often be set as the default printer. Some locations like the OSF 1st floor lab have multiple printers, which can be selected from the printer list just before you send a document to the printer.
Printing can become backed up during peak times such as Convo Hour and before class. This often happens during mid-term and finals week. If you are encountering delays, you have the option to select a non-default printer from the list of printers . You may also consider finding an open computer on a different floor.
“Already Used” Printer
At the request of USG, as a sustainability initiative, UST has one printer located in the OSF library that re-uses paper, which has already gone through the printer once. Some pages may contain anything from a few lines to a full page of content on the back.
If the printer you are using runs out of toner/ink or paper, please contact the Info Desk (if you are in a library) or the assistant for that lab. If they are unable to process your request, please contact the IRT Tech Desk.
Please fill out the print credit form provided below for any erroneous print charges. Forms can be mailed to #5051-Print Credit .
Generally, print credits are only given for machine malfunctions such as blank pages or smudges and smears. Printing a document too many times or printing the incorrect document will not be recognized as reasons for print credits. | <urn:uuid:9fd2d4eb-3e90-43f6-b6e3-90eee82ef472> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.stthomas.edu/irt/staff/printingandcopying/labs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945525 | 309 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Sony's new a35 and a55 camera models offer a full range of dSLR features, including pre-sets and auto modes for beginners as well as full manual control over exposure and a unique translucent mirror option. This friendly For Dummies guide gets new dSLR users up to speed and helps more experienced photographers take full advantage of the many options these cameras offer. It covers all the basic camera controls and explains how to set up shooting modes, shoot video, master exposure and focus, edit images, and more.
- Sony's a35 and a55 models offer a full range of dSLR features and a translucent mirror option, this guide helps new and experienced photographers take full advantage of them all
- Covers setting up the camera, using all the basic and advanced controls, using auto mode, and shooting video
- Explores controls that handle exposure, flash, focus, and color, and how to make these elements work to create a great photo
- Explains image playback, review, and basic editing
Sony a35/a55 For Dummies gets you up and running with your new Sony dSLR quickly and helps you make the most of everything it has to offer. | <urn:uuid:e77cdfd9-27de-4b2b-8197-45af97422c94> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dummies.com/store/product/productCd-1118176847.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91211 | 243 | 1.773438 | 2 |
The Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Education have issued their annual report to Congress describing the agencies’ continued efforts to combat scholarship and financial aid fraud, as required by the College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act of 2000.
Each year, millions of students seek help in financing their college education, and some fall prey to scholarship and financial aid scams that “guarantee” money for college in exchange for a fee. This report provides an update of the agencies’ activities to prevent and prosecute financial aid fraud, including the FTC’s monitoring of the financial aid industry and enforcement actions, and its consumer education campaign to help students, parents, educators, and financial aid administrators identify and avoid financial aid scams. An analysis of complaints in the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database shows that:
The Commission vote authorizing staff to issue the report was 5-0.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
(FYI scholarship fraud report)
(FTC File No. P094803) | <urn:uuid:8d5ccd33-e661-4b79-9afb-6ccfb3b5f051> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ftc.gov/opa/2011/09/scholarshipfraud.shtm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92073 | 336 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Here’s some great news. The vast majority of young people–about 80 percent of women and 70 percent of men across all races, classes and family backgrounds–desire an egalitarian marriage in which both partners share breadwinning, housekeeping and child rearing. The data come from Kathleen Gerson‘s fabulous 2010 book, The Unfinished Revolution.
In practice, however, egalitarian relationships are difficult to establish. Both work and family are “greedy institutions,” ones that take up lots of time and energy. Many couples find that, once children arrive, it’s impossible for both to do both with equal gusto.
With this in mind, Gerson asked her respondents what type of family they would like if, for whatever reason, they couldn’t sustain an equal partnership. She discovered that, while men’s and women’s ideals are very similar, their fallback positions deviate dramatically.
Men’s most common fallback position is to establish a neotraditional division of labor: 70 percent hope to convince their wives to de-prioritize their careers and focus on homemaking and raising children. Women? Faced with a husband who wants them to be a housewife or work part-time, almost three-quarters say they would choose divorce and raise their kids alone. In fact, despite men’s insistence on being breadwinners, women are more likely than men to say they value success in a high-paying career.
Look at this absolutely stunning data (matching ideals on the left; clashing fallback positions on the right):
One of Gerson’s interviewees, Matthew, exemplifies the egalitarian willing to fallback on a neotraditional family form:
If I could have the ideal world, I’d like to have a partner who’s making as much as I am—someone who’s ambitious and likes to achieve. [But] if it can’t be equal, I would be the breadwinner and be there for helping with homework at night.
And this is what women think of that:
My mother’s such a leftover from the ’50s and did everything for my father. I’m not planning to fall into that trap. I’m really not willing to take that from any guy at all.
Alas, what appears to be a happy convergence between men’s and women’s ideals–both are egalitarians–can turn into an intractable situation: a man who won’t give up his role as the breadwinner and a woman who would rather do anything than be a housewife.
Crossposted from Sociological Images | <urn:uuid:dba22ff8-927b-49e0-b2d1-e032335ffe5d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://msmagazine.com/blog/2013/01/29/men-want-to-be-breadwinners-but-so-do-women/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960847 | 568 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Part II - The Twentieth Century
|Frances Parkinson Keyes (1885-1970) was a best-selling author in the 1940s and
1950s and is perhaps best remembered today for Dinner At Antoine's (1948) and The River Road
(1945). During her lifetime, she reigned as queen of the New Orleans literary scene.
(Right) Royalty hosts royalty. This invitation gives us an idea of Mrs. Keyes' fame and position in New Orleans. It invites the bearer (in formal attire, please!) to a mint julep party for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, who visited the city during Mardi Gras, 1950.
|Among the true oddities of the Louisiana Division Special Collections are several dozen foreign language editions
Mrs. Keyes' novels (in languages from Portuguese to Japanese), donated to the library by the estate of
Times-Picayune columnist Herman B. Deutsch.
Shown here is Noodlot in New Orleans, the Dutch edition of Dinner at Antoine's (which, interestingly,
makes Antoine's look
a little like a riverfront dive). The volume was a Christmas gift from Mrs. Keyes to Mr. Deutsch; she included
this little jingle in the inscription:
Perhaps I don't amount to much
Herman B. Deutsch
Lyle Saxon (1891-1946) was another lion of the post-1950 literary scene, known in his day as "Mr. New Orleans" and seen as the worthy successor to Gayarre and King. Saxon lived the life of the southern gentleman, championed the romance and tradition of old New Orleans and wrote history and biography as well as fiction. As director of the Louisiana Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration, Saxon contributed to and compiled Gumbo Ya-Ya, a collection of Louisiana folktales, and valuable and enduring guides to New Orleans and to the state. Other Saxon titles include Father Mississippi (1927), Fabulous New Orleans (1928), Old Louisiana (1929), Lafitte the Pirate (1930), and the novel Children of Strangers (1937). Shown at right is Saxon's inscription to Robert Tallant of Children of Strangers, based loosely upon the history of Melrose Plantation in Natchitoches Parish. Tallant collaborated with Saxon and other Federal Writers' Project researchers on Gumbo Ya-Ya
|Robert Tallant (1909-1957) was a member of the circle that revolved around Lyle Saxon in the 1930s and 1940s and worked an editor in the Louisiana Federal Writers' Project. In the 1950s, he wrote a number of non-fiction works, notably Voodoo in New Orleans (1946) and The Pirate Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans (1951), and eight novels, among them The Voodoo Queen (1956) and the comic "Mrs. Candy" series. Tallant did not achieve the national reputation enjoyed by Keyes, but locally he stood at the center of New Orleans' literary activity.|
The Robert Tallant Collection is among the largest of the Louisiana Division's private manuscript collections and includes letters, photographs, typescripts of his novels, short stories, articles, and non-fiction works, scrapbooks of reviews and other material related to his works, radio scripts, plot outlines, research materials, sketches, prints, and clippings. Below are several items from the collection. At left is a photograph of (from left) Tallant, unidentified, Betty and Hodding Carter II, and Tess Crager, the proprietor of The Little Basement Bookstore, taken at a book signing for one of Tallant's publications. Similar photographs can be found in the Tallant scrapbooks. At right is a jacket design for Voodoo in New Orleans.
Two additional items from the Tallant Collection. (Left) A letter from Tallant to Margaret Ruckert, who was the first archivist of the New Orleans Public Library and later the first head of the Louisiana Division, thanking her for a glowing review of his novel Mrs. Candy and Saturday Night (1947). (Right) A page from a small notebook kept by Tallant containing character sketches and plot outlines for Mrs. Candy.
|Gwen Bristow (1903-1980) was the author of a number of best-selling historical novels published from the 1930s-1950s, among them Jubilee Trail (1950), Deep Summer (1943), and Plantation Trilogy (1937). Born in South Carolina, she moved to New Orleans as young woman and worked as a reporter for the Times-Picayune. In the mid-1930s, she moved with her husband, a screenwriter, to Hollywood and began to write the novels that gained her national fame. She returned often to New Orleans, where she died in 1980. At far right is an inscribed copy of The Handsome Road (1938).|
|Lillian Hellman (1907-1984) is perhaps the best known of the writers shown in this gallery. A native New Orleanian, Hellman lived in the Crescent City until the age of six, when her family moved to New York City, but returned often for long visits during the next ten years. In the 1930s and 1940s, she wrote a number of successful and critically acclaimed plays, The Children's Hour (1934), Another Part of the Forest (1946), Watch On the Rhine (1941), and The Little Foxes (1939), which is set in Louisiana. In the 1970s, her career was revived with the publication of her memoirs, An Unfinished Woman (1970) and Pentimento (1973).|
Back to Images Archive | <urn:uuid:da503fbf-79cf-46d8-9955-6dc286c1d27d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nutrias.org/~nopl/monthly/july97/july97b.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95497 | 1,195 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Carlos Miller was arrested for filming the police. Resisting the pressure to accept a “deal,” he risked more prison time simply by insisting on his right to a jury trial. According to Miller, the prosecutor told the jury that Miller did not behave like a “real journalist” because a “real journalist” would have obeyed all police requests and orders. Miller’s attorney responded to that argument with the following:
“In this country, when you’re a journalist, your job is to investigate.
Not to be led by your hand where the police want you to see, so they can hide what they don’t want you to see.
No, when you’re a journalist, a real journalist, it’s your job to go find the truth. As long as you are acting within the law as Mr. Miller was, you have the right to demand and say, ‘no, I’m not moving, I have the right to be here. This is a public sidewalk, I have the right to be here.’
He did his job. He has the right to do his job the way he sees fit. It’s not up to these prosecutors to tell anybody, much less an independent journalist, how to do their job. It’s not up to the police officers, it’s not up to a judge or the president.
In this country, journalists do their job the way they see fit.
What’s he describing is Cuba. What he’s describing is a communist country. The government says you can’t be here because I say you can’t be here.
And it’s infuriating to me that a prosecutor would try to get up here and try to convince you that just because a police officer says something, that he has to bow his head and walk away.
That is a disgrace to the Constitution of this country.”
Congratulations to Miller and his attorneys. More info, including video from the trial, at the link above. | <urn:uuid:468d608a-047b-4423-9200-5b160fe3b917> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.policemisconduct.net/tag/police-lies/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974599 | 436 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Just in time for the holidays.
The economy’s continued modest gains translate into good news for Maryland charities, many of which are starting to see an increase in donations after the rough years of the economic downturn.
“It seems that individual giving is now increasing a bit,” said Neil C. Bergsman, director of Maryland Budget & Tax Policy Institute. The institute is an affiliate of Maryland Nonprofits, which advocates for charitable organizations in the state.
Tracking charitable giving can be tricky, because the main source of information is the itemized deductions on people’s tax returns, which means the most recent data still is from tax year 2010, Bergsman said.
More current estimates have to rely on anecdotal and national data, but Bergsman said he suspects the final numbers will show an increase in individual contributions.
The bulk of the holiday season — when the majority of donations are made — still is to come, but 2012 has been a good year so far, said Angelo Boer, director of development and communications for Catholic Charities of Baltimore.
Although smaller donations — up to $100, for example — have fallen since 2008, large donations have increased of late, Boer said. “Those who have, give more. Which makes you feel good,” he said.
The group, which oversees a number of charitable efforts including soup kitchens, shelters and group homes, is on track to meet its $13 million fundraising goal for this fiscal year, Boer said.
Catholic Charities of Baltimore raised about $12 million in fiscal 2012 and $11 million in fiscal 2011, he said.
But demand at soup kitchens, which Boer said is a good barometer of the need for charitable services in the region, has risen. The number of meals served at Our Daily Bread in Baltimore already is up to 270,000 this year, a year-over-year increase of 30,000, he said.
In 2010, the most recent year for which data were available, the average charitable contribution from Marylanders was $3,534, the 21st-largest among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., according to tax data compiled by the National Center for Charitable Statistics.
By comparison, Wyoming had the highest average contribution, with $7,328, while neighboring Pennsylvania had an average of $3,209 and Virginia had an average of $3,548.
In 2009, Maryland’s average contribution was $3,383, ranking it 23rd, according to the center, which cautions that such data give only a partial picture of charitable giving because it only includes itemized tax deductions.
In 2006 and 2007, prior to the economic downturn, the state’s average donations were $3,813 and $3,713, respectively, according to the center.
For a more up-to-date picture of charitable giving nationwide, Bergsman points to the Blackbaud Index of Charitable Giving, which collects monthly data from nearly 3,000 nonprofit organizations.
Although giving increased over the previous year in the first seven months of 2012, it declined in the following two months, with donations in September 2012 coming in 3.1 percent lower than they did in 2011, according to the index.
But not everyone is struggling. Like Catholic Charities, Baltimore’s network of Jewish charities saw some people stop making donations while others picked up the slack.
“When there’s a crisis, people respond. We saw that when the economy tanked,” said Leslie Pomerantz, senior vice president of development for The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.
The group, known has The Associated, has met its annual fundraising goal of about $30 million throughout the recession, and is on pace to meet its $30.5 million goal this year, Pomerantz said.
But The Associated, which Pomerantz said receives a large portion of its funding from foundations, may be an exception among the state’s charities.
Corporations and foundations often rely on investment income to fund their donations, and as the market drops, so do their returns, Bergsman said. But as the markets have slowly recovered, so have these donations, he said.
Maryland state employees also have managed to maintain their contributions during the past year, according to Deputy Secretary of State Peter C. Fosselman.
The Maryland Charity Campaign, which allows state employees to make contributions to more than 700 organizations via payroll deductions, is on pace to meet its 2012 goal of $3.6 million, Fosselman said.
Last year, the campaign raised about $3.5 million from nearly 18,000 state employees, only about $200,000 less than its goal, Fosselman said.
“People show compassion year after year,” he said. “It really puts money to work in Maryland. | <urn:uuid:1e912aa3-fa33-4d63-8179-b3446ee38e1c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gazette.net/article/20121122/NEWS/711229964/1122/free-health-clinic-coming-to-capitol-heights-community-center/For-Maryland-charities-grounds-for-optimism-as-holiday-season-begins&template=gazette | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964341 | 1,015 | 1.625 | 2 |
The Crazy Horse Memorial: Larger Than Life in South Dakota
Who was Chief Crazy Horse, the subject of the colossal sculpture being carved out of a mountain in the Black Hills of South Dakota?
And who was Korczak Ziolkowski, the creator of the chief's still-unfinished monument?
They were giants of men who devoted their lives to huge tasks, both of them knowing that they wouldn’t live long enough to see the end of their efforts.
The Young Sioux Warrior
The son of a Medicine Man also called Crazy Horse, the future Oglala Sioux leader was known as “Curly” when he was a boy, but his boyhood was short. He had killed a buffalo and was riding his own horse before he was 12. He was still a young man when he became a fearless warrior chief, though he never wore scalps on his belt, or a war bonnet on his head.
Fighting was common among the tribes, but in the 1860s and ‘70s, the enemy became the United States Army. The U.S. population was expanding to the West where there was land for the claiming, a railroad to be built and gold in the hills. The Sioux were inexorably driven from their lands.
The government promised to set aside Indian reservations in 1868, and some of the chiefs agreed that they and their followers would live on them. Crazy Horse and his Oglala warriors were among those who continued to fight.
Among other battles, he led a successful assault on Custer’s troops at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. But by 1877, his people were weary and starving and his wife was dying of tuberculosis. When he was promised a reservation of his own, he surrendered.
He agreed to parley with officials at Fort Robinson, but when he realized that he was being arrested instead, he resisted and was bayoneted by a soldier. He died that night.
His parents claimed his 35-year-old body and his final resting place is unknown. It is believed to be somewhere on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
A Dakota DaVinci
Born in Boston, orphaned at the age of one and completely self-taught, Korczak Ziolkowski was a brilliant engineer and a gifted sculptor. He won first prize for his bust of Paderewski at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. He joined the westward movement and eventually went to work on the Mt. Rushmore Memorial.
“My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes too,” wrote Lakota Chief Standing Bear when he asked Korczak to return to the Black Hills to carve a memorial to Crazy Horse.
The sculptor was almost 40. He had a jeep, a jackhammer, an old gas-powered generator and $174 in the bank when he started on the mountain.
Crazy Horse had always refused to be photographed, so Korczak worked from his model of an idealized, proud Indian riding a galloping horse into the wind, his hair blowing free and his hand pointing ahead as if to speak the words attributed to him: “My lands are where my dead lie buried.”
At first it was just the man and the mountain. Korczak refused to accept taxpayers’ money, refusing two $10 million federal grants. He battled financial hardship, injuries and the lack of needed manpower, depending on donations and admission fees to the work site. Today, admission is $10 a person or $27 for a car with any number of visitors.
The Monument Takes Shape
Korczak and his wife, Ruth started all alone. They knew it would take more than a lifetime to finish Crazy Horse, so they prepared three books of detailed plans to be used with the sculptor’s models to complete the project.
Sixty years have passed since the first dynamite blast. Now Crazy Horse has a face; his arm is taking shape; and when I was there, work was being done on the 22-story horse’s head.
The memorial will be three dimensional, seeming to rise out of the mountain. At 563 feet, it will dwarf the four presidents on Mt. Rushmore, only 17 miles away.
The Crazy Horse Foundation
At the site, there is now a state-of-the-art visitor center, museum and restaurant. Importantly, a Crazy Horse Foundation has been funded and the sculptor left plans for an American Indian University and Medical Training Center at the foot of the mountain.
Korczak died in 1982, confident that the project would be finished.
When I visited last May, his widow stopped by the restaurant. A small woman, brimming with energy and looking much younger than her 82 years, she told us, “If you really believe in what you do, and you just keep doing it, and you try as hard as you can, there is nothing you can’t do.”
Ruth and seven of the ten Ziolkowski children – and 28 grandchildren during the summer season - are actively involved in different aspects of the project. Ruth also said, “Don’t make a mistake because you can’t start over.”
They’ve never made a mistake.
South Dakota a Treasury of History and Nature
On a trip to Rapid City and its environs I had a long visit at Crazy Horse Memorial and was inspired – obviously - by the stories of its heroic subject and the epic ongoing achievement of its creator.
I also visited a lighted Mt. Rushmore at night. When you look up the mountain at those serene, familiar, presidential faces, you can’t help feeling a swelling patriotism. We know them and we trust them.
Southwestern South Dakota is an eye-opener. The Badlands and the Black Hills; herds of wild horses and of buffalo – including springtime foals and calves; whitetail and pronghorn deer, mountain goats, wild turkeys and prairie dog villages where the critters pop up and down to their underground homes like so many jack-in-the-boxes.
I even spent two days on an Indian reservation, gaining a better understanding of the toll that American injustice has taken on our native people -– and how they are overcoming their deprivations.
Tours and Guides
A comfortable motel and restaurant on the Reservation is The Lakota Prairie Ranch Resort
Read more GoNOMAD stories by Mary O'Brien:
Read more GoNOMAD stories about South Dakota
Like this on Facebook: | <urn:uuid:73fee9fc-d050-4511-84c2-bdabc315fc0e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gonomad.com/features/0807/south-dakota-crazy-horse.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983433 | 1,379 | 3.484375 | 3 |
The U.S. Congress created the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center in 1990 to "compile, archive, and disseminate information concerning Alzheimer's disease" for health professionals, people with AD and their families, and the public. The ADEAR Center is a service of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of the Federal Government's National Institutes of Health and part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NIA conducts and supports research about health issues for older people, and is the primary Federal agency for Alzheimer's disease research.
As a public, U.S. Government-funded resource, the ADEAR Center strives to be a current, comprehensive, unbiased source of information about Alzheimer's disease. All our information and materials about the search for causes, treatment, cures, and better diagnostic tools are carefully researched and thoroughly reviewed by NIA scientists and health communicators for accuracy and integrity.
Individuals and organizations can make donations to the National Institute on Aging to be used specifically for Alzheimer’s disease research and educational activities. For more information about how and where to send donations, please see our web page on donations.
The ADEAR Center has a staff of Information Specialists available to assist you with:
Call toll-free at:1-800-438-4380
(8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday - Friday)
Send us an e-mail to: firstname.lastname@example.org
Send a fax to: 301-495-3334
Send your letter to:
PO Box 8250
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250
To give you the best possible service, ADEAR Center staff abide by the following customer service standards: | <urn:uuid:a259d896-2b58-49ef-b9a0-02e4d83593ec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nia.nih.gov/espanol/node/8749 | 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 | 0.900998 | 370 | 1.882813 | 2 |
Who should read this post: If you regard crowdsourcing customer ideas as a separate and optional evolutionary branch of social media.
Who should not read this post: If you're already exploring or planning to crowdsource customers ideas.
Ever notice how we tend to stay safely inside our chosen paradigms? As Frank Beach, the biological psychologist, and a professor of mine at Berkeley once said, "We entertain the hypothesis because the hypothesis entertains us." But a school of thought, a particular approach, even in so much as it provides a framework for thinking, can also trap us inside its frame.
Take for instance two paradigms that have radically shifted the way we do business over the past seven years or so: Social Media and Open Innovation. The first, principally a marketing paradigm, tells businesses that it's time to start listening, engaging and adapting to customers. The second, more strongly affiliated with management consultants, and speaking to a somewhat deeper level of business practice, brings to light that we need to involve business partners, suppliers, potential licensees as well as customers at earlier stages of the product design (or service creation) process, The first focuses on getting closer to customers, the second focuses on leveraging external innovations and spinning out our own "pre-products" (if you will) to lower costs, increase time to market and find new market opportunities.
But something's been bothering me lately.
Rarely, do experts from the two schools of thought reference each other. (As I've lamented in the past, it seems the Open Innovation school rarely discusses marketing at all.) It's as though the two groups are meeting in separate rooms with corporate management. And that's a shame. This post explores how current restrictions in the social media paradigm may stem not from within itself, but rather from the foundation of a business structure existing far below the usual level of discussion. I argue that it's in the cross-fertilization of ideas from the Open Innovation camp that the next evolution in social media may occur.
In some sense, both the Social Media and Open Innovation movements struggle with the same enemy: Namely, the centuries-old serial model of product flow, where design starts internally and the consumer is the passive recipient of a product as a fait accomplis. The stuff of traditional MBA programs, too often embedded in the heads of today's senior management, this principally internally-driven process flow has been identified as the culprit in adopting innovation of both types.
Much as command-and-control style management style presented resistance to company employees using social media to directly interact with customers, this serial process timeline too, perpetuates an operating model of one-way broadcasting. For in this timeline, marketing and PR functions, the champions of social media, are at the tail-end of the process, whose primary objective is to educate customers on an already internally created-manufactured-delivered product or service. (Note these diagrams from the Open Innovation community do not even depict marketing and PR as part of the company process!)
Yet even at this tail-end of a one-way process, social media and its tools have contributed greatly to companies understanding that they alone do not control their brand or their reputation . Customer service has benefited as well: Rather than using 1 on 1 customer service calls, problems are solved (even while PR takes place) with company representatives tweeting solutions publicly over the web, providing social proof of a company's accessibility and responsiveness. Indeed, in its best incarnation, a great humanization of brand has occurred.
But for all that social media has accomplished over its fairly brief lifespan,, an e-Marketer report suggested that we were beginning to see a slow-down in social media innovation. Some even despaired (to some outcries of rage) that we were seeing a plateauing of growth.
Social Media is Not Corporate Media
Ever on the zeitgeist of the social media movement, Brian Solis elaborated on these trends in his excellent post The Demise of Social Media 1.0. writing,
From Social Network Fatigue to Deals Fatigue to Follow Fatigue, businesses are facing a crossroads at the intersection of social and media. Following the path of media continues a long tradition of what Tom Foremski refers to as “Social Media as Corporate Media. ...
As Foremski states, “Social media is not corporate media….if corporations try to turn social media into a corporate sales or marketing channel then they risk losing the naked conversations, and the insight into customer behaviors.”
His point is that there’s more to social media than clever campaigns and rudimentary conversations. Talking isn’t the only thing that makes social media social. Just like adding Facebook, Twitter and other sharing buttons will not magically transform static content into sharable experiences. Listening, learning and adapting is where the real value of social media will show its true colors."
But have we really adapted?
I'd say, in most cases, no. For there's another ever-present vexation within the social media camp: Social media ROI continues to remain elusive It seems so few show social media ROI that some have concluded we are attempting to "measure the immeasurable".
I believe some hint to getting to social media's next evolutionary stage, how to adapt, close the last mile to the customer, is afforded by looking outside the social media paradigm, venturing into that room where the Open Innovation consultants are talking. Even as much as companies marshal their social media campaign efforts, attempting to widen their influence, ride a large-scale 'network effect', amassing "shares" and "likes" and Google plus ratings, there's a quite independent consumer movement in play. And it has less to do with what consumers are saying, but rather what they are actually doing.
Enter: The New Customer-Innovator Paradigm
A recent paper by MIT's Eric von Hippel, The Age of the Consumer-Innovator, alerted me to the fact that the serial product design process, as the still dominant business process of most companies, may be the key deterrent to exercising the true value of social media. An extension of Von Hippel's earlier work and book, Democratizing Innovation, the paper explores how, users, much assisted by improvements in computer and communications technology, increasingly can develop their own products and services.
We've always known that consumers can be a hot-bed of product ideas and, yeah, new markets. Legendary examples include the skateboard, created by kids by hammering a wheels onto a board. Or take the dish washing machine, devised by socialite Josephine Cochrane to solve the problem that her servants, in washing, often chipped her fine china. Von Hippel's examples are wide-ranging, including high performance sports equipment, library systems, PC-CAD systems, the Open Software movement and hospital surgical procedures. Even in financial services, Hippel describes horw sweep accounts, long before they became profitable banking services, were used by retail and corporate banking clients to increase returns from interest payments.across their accounts.
The Millions of Consumer-Innovators
It turns out that consumer innovators are by no means outliers, but rather they number in the millions. Marshalling data from three recent consumer research studies conducted in Japan, the UK and the US, Von Hippel's data shows that across these three countries alone, consumer-innovators are estimated to spend some $31.2 Bn on consumer-based product innovations per year and they number 18.5 million strong. Most remarkable is the finding that in the U.K., these consumer-innovators spend 144% more annually than what all commercial enterprises as a group spend on consumer product R&D.
What I find ironic here is that even while companies are building social media strategy, growing large social media teams to outreach to consumers, a significant group of consumers independently are creating, modifying and testing novel functionality of products and services.
To me, it's no coincidence whatsoever and Von Hippel's realisation explains why some of the best-known examples of social media success are companies which have built customer-bridging platforms, if not wholly, at least in part, into their design process. It's initiatives like Dell's IdeaStorm, MyStarbucksidea.com and and the company Threadless that are fully leveraging social media's value. There are other splendid examples: The Fiskars scrapbooking community and the many Forrester Groundswell Award winners, such as Godiva and the Intercontinental Hotel Group & Chase Card Services who developed a new credit card with the help of and for loyal Priority Club members .
Why did it work in these instances? Because beyond listening, learning and engaging (Social Media 1.0), these companies actually adapted their product design process to incorporate the customer. In other words, they are no longer working off the simple, one-way product process line.
True enough, only a small minority today, some 3.7- 7% of the total consumer base, are full-fledged, self-initiating consumer-innovators or "lead consumers". But as von Hippel points out, there's every reason to think that this base of independent innovators is expanding: Not only does the cost of computer-aided design tools continue to drop, but new web-based businesses exist to turn CAD design files into actual product prototypes.
There are other signs of a broader consumer-innovator and business problem-solver movement afoot: In recent years, we've seen the rise of design challenges (Innocentive, Spigit), third-party innovation platforms (Napkins Labs, IdeaScale) , independent entrepreneur idea platforms (Quirky, Edison Nation) as well as the rise of Maker Fairs.
All this should be a wake-up call to social media marketers. You think customers are talking about your brand? What about those that are reinventing your products? Even as much as social media marketers continue to vex in search of larger and larger group of influencers, its seems we've been ignoring those who have already been deeply influenced to become inventors and creators. You can listen, engage -- but if you don't really connect with these true influencees, you may well find yourself competing with them.
This speaks to a key flaw in most social media strategies, what Foremski and Solis are referring to in the (misguided) equation of social media with corporate media: We tend to overemphasise total reach, instead of focusing on the depth of conversation. (As I've written earlier, this fallacy of large networks as a basis of influence underlies many social marketers misguided obsession with the Klout score.)
Why Consumer-Innovator Communities are the Next Stage of Social Media
Companies and social media marketers need to stop treating social media as the tail-end of product process as well as an extension of their corporate media. Those that take the bold step to go beyond listening and talking but to tap into the consumer-innovator communities stand to benefit immensely. The following benefits stem from Von Hippel but really echo what's also been noted independently by crowdsourcing advocates:
- Decrease R&D & Risk.Since lead consumers are already producing and vetting novel functionality product ideas on web communities, companies stand to benefit in reducing their R&D costs and risk in investing in those same/similar products.
- Decrease Market Research Costs. As lead consumer-innovators are conducting market research for their innovations, companies stand to benefit in reducing expensive market research costs in detiming what product/service ideas would be in demand.
- Decrease Inventory Excess. Where a consumer-innovator product/service idea has traction, companies may benefit in taking a high potential product concept to market, leaving them to focus on producing it at low manufacturing cost and with lower inventory as the product has already proven to be in demand.
Looking for social media ROI? Once the gap is jumped, moving beyond social media as a pure communication platform but , taken one step further, implemented as a design platform where co-created products or products created solely by users, herein ROI lies.
Is what I'm saying self-evident? Could it be, in many cases when we measure social media ROI, it's because we're tapping into these consumer-innovators? Could it be where we see a plateauing of social media's effect it's due to an outdated one-way product design process, residing far below our campaigns?
In Part 2 of this post, I'll explore why this means the end of Social Media 1.0 and what marketers can do to aid the transition to true social innovation, a place where ROI becomes less elusive. To do that requires looking a level deeper than the usual social media discourse. | <urn:uuid:547b93cf-d95b-43e9-aecd-742d286cb57d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://offthegrid-pr.com/socially-responsible-pr/2011/10/10/of-skateboards-consumer-innovators-the-end-of-social-media-1.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948059 | 2,639 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Attach Files through .htaccess
In most of the site that uses hand written codes, the common and routine procedure followed by the programmers is to break up the site code to external files and add them, mainly the header and footer section of the website which is common to all the pages in that site, and also some other parts which is used in most of the pages. Though this code cannot be used for files that are not used in all pages.
This can act as a alternative to PHP include or PHP require but only to the files that is used in all the pages as there is no conduction check to add that to selected page rather that make a separate directory.
This method can be used for the footer and the header section of the site in order to prevent writing the include code on all the pages.you can have them automatically attached to all the files wither at top or bottom automatically through your .htaccess file.
php_value auto_prepend_file "/real/path/to/file/functions.php" php_value auto_append_file "/real/path/to/file/footer.php" | <urn:uuid:06e284e6-bb60-4097-95a4-80927f08203d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://techstream.org/Web-Development/HTACCESS/Attach-Files | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.908377 | 237 | 1.945313 | 2 |
Holocaust Education Resource Center at the College of Saint Elizabeth provides a variety of programs, resources, and educational opportunities for study of the Holocaust and contemporary genocide.It aims to encourage remembrance of the Holocaust and to promote respect for diversity with the goal of ending prejudice, racism and intolerance. In addition, the Center provides an opportunity for serious Jewish-Christian theological dialogue. It is opening doors through which many are experiencing mutual respect and understanding.
The College's commitment to Holocaust education began with its first Kristallnacht (now an annual event) commemorations in 1990. Translated from the German meaning the Night of Broken Glass, Kristallnacht was an anti-Jewish pogrom that took place in Nazi Germany, November 9-10, 1938, that is widely acknowledged as the beginning of the Holocaust. CSE established the Holocaust Education Resource Center in 1994, the same year the Center began collaborative work with the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education for teacher training.
The Center draws on the disciplines of history, literature, the social sciences, education, theology, art, music and communication in developing its programs. It provides access to a full range of Holocaust curriculum and other resource material. The Center has produced its own educational videos, The Holocaust in a Catholic Educational Setting and Remembering Kristallnacht: A Survivor's Testimony.
Since its inception, the Holocaust Center has developed workshops for secondary, public and Catholic school teachers and students. Under the Center's auspices, CSE faculty and students have participated in the international leadership program, March of Remembrance and Hope, for study of the Holocaust in Poland and in Israel.
The Center for Ministry & Spirituality (formerly the Center for Theological & Spiritual Development) provides theological and spiritual formation programs for the general public and training for lay ministry.
The Center supports the CSE mission as a community of learning dedicated to the development of leaders in a spirit of service and social responsibility. Although its programs are open to everyone, the personal and ministerial development of laity in the Church is its special focus. The Center is committed to developing skills for ministry in multicultural settings and providing opportunities for inter-religious dialogue.
The Center began in 1982 with a few courses, workshops and special events. Since then, the Center has grown at an astonishing pace. Currently, there are about 150 students enrolled in five certificate programs. Over 2,000 people come to campus each year to the Spirituality Convocation, the Summer Institute with courses, lectures, and retreat experiences, or the fall pastoral conference.
The faculty, which consists of Department of Theology professors and experienced adjuncts, share a special commitment to the adult learner. Students can earn 25 undergraduate theological credits either in a classroom or online. These credits are transferable into other programs leading to baccalaureate degrees. Classes are taught in both English and Spanish.
The Center for Catholic Women's History located in the College of Saint Elizabeth Archives, second floor of Mahoney Library was established in 2001 to collect Catholic women's stories and record the ways those women hand on their faith. These stories are available to researchers as a source of studying Catholicism in the United States
The Center for Catholic Women's History oral history project, Gifts from the Past, begun in 1998, has recorded close to 100 interviews. Some of the women who were interviewed have lived in the state for many years and were influenced by the Sisters of Charity; others are recent immigrants whose Catholic roots were planted in countries such as Peru, Mexico, India, Kenya, Cuba, and Belize. Another phase of the project was devoted to oral history interviews with African-American Catholic women from Newark and Montclair. The most recent phase pursued the theme of Handing on the Charism by conducting oral history interviews among women who could speak of the way the Vincentian charism has influenced or transformed their lives.
The Center has been supported by grants from the New Jersey Historical Commission, the Vincentian Studies Institute, the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Ministry Grants Program, and the College itself.
Pictured above is Lauren Smith, '12, who is this year's recipient of the Center's Heritage Award. The Heritage Award is a $1,000 research grant for students to use and to contribute to the Center. The goal of the Award is to encourage students to learn more about the lives and contributions of New Jersey Catholic women. | <urn:uuid:12c6b066-5c64-4c02-9150-d0407a72bc43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cse.edu/about-cse/centers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956952 | 885 | 3.265625 | 3 |
A collection of news and information related to Volcanoes published by this site and its partners.
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ReutersBy Gavin Jones ROME, June 18 (Reuters) - It's a hot, sunny day in June on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Sicily, but the problem is that I'm not on the beach, I'm running up a volcano. An even bigger problem is that I've been going for two hours,...
Tags: Road Running, Landforms, Sports, Track and Field, Running
ReutersBy Yereth Rosen ANCHORAGE, Alaska, June 15 (Reuters) - Two volcanoes are erupting on the Alaska Peninsula in the southwestern part of the state's mainland but the sputtering emissions of ash and lava at the different sites are unrelated, scientists said....
When I lived in the Northwest 15 years ago, I loved to go mountain biking on the trails around devastated Mt. St. Helens, which blew its top in 1980. More than 50 died. Cyclists who’d like to see how St. Helens has changed -- and mellowed -- in the...
Tags: Travel, Trips and Vacations, Landforms
"James Turrell: A Retrospective" is a bit like a dinner party at which the guest of honor is absent. Family members and friends are there, plus lots of conversation about the one who's missing. But the primary impetus for the get-together couldn't make...
Volcano House, uniquely located on the edge of the active Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, has reopened after a multimillion-dollar restoration by its new owners. The hotel sits within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is located just...
Tags: Mark Twain, Landforms
South of the border Travel deals south of the border look muy, muy bueno — just in time for summer vacation season. Savings of as much as 60 percent are showing up in deals at Mexico beach regions, including Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Cancun, Puerto...
ReutersBy Yereth Rosen ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 20 (Reuters) - One of Alaska's most active volcanoes, which has been belching ash and spewing lava since last week, has forced regional flight cancellations and dusted some nearby communities with ash, scientists...
Channel 2 NewsA remote Alaska volcano continues to erupt, spewing lava and ash clouds. The Alaska Volcano Observatory said Thursday a continuous cloud of ash, steam and gas from Pavlof Volcano has been seen 20,000 feet above sea level. The cloud was moving to the...
Desperate to find your great-grandmother’s wedding ring -- the one you lost while cleaning house one day? You might try asking St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost items, to help. Or take your plea one step further and visit the good friar&...
Tags: Culture, Landforms, Arts and Culture, Mexico, Ceremonies
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Flying a couple of thousand feet above a volcanic field in Arizona near the Painted Desert, it's fairly easy to spot the extinct volcano known as the Roden Crater. It stands alone in the field, apart from hundreds of other...
Channel 2 NewsSome volcanoes here in Alaska have been rumbling lately, but federal budget cuts may mean less real-time monitoring of those eruptions. Since 2008, the Alaska Volcano Observatory’s budget has been cut nearly in half, from 8-million dollars to just...
MEXICO CITY— Mexico's giant Popocatepetl volcano may generate lava flows, explosions of "growing intensity" and ash that could reach miles away, the National Center for Disaster Prevention said Monday. Officials were preparing evacuation routes...
Jun 18, 2013 |Story| Reuters
Jun 15, 2013 |Story| Reuters
Jun 14, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
May 28, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
May 10, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
May 21, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
May 20, 2013 |Story| Reuters
May 17, 2013 |Story| KTUU
May 14, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
May 11, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
May 14, 2013 |Story| KTUU
May 14, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Original site for Volcanoes topic gallery. | <urn:uuid:5d42bf6f-198b-4b2b-b34e-cfefe8cad4f8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.radiomichiana.com/wnsn/topic/environmental-issues/landforms/volcanoes/06006036.topic | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931699 | 941 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (49 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held 15 and 22 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2010)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - various right-wing candidates 13, PCR 10, PS 10, UDF 8, RPR 6, other left-wing candidates 2; Regional Council (second round) - percent of vote by party - PCR 44.9%, UMP 32.8%, PS-Greens 22.3%; seats by party - PCR 27, UMP 11, PS-Greens 7
note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate; elections last held NA 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, UMP 1, PCR 1
Definition: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of April 17, 2004 | <urn:uuid:9f3ac851-bb0d-49dc-9441-6b9563457565> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.indexmundi.com/en/facts/2004/reunion/legislative_branch.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960993 | 397 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Barcode labels can be really tricky to match up for the proper application and for the proper printer. This page is designed to help in that understanding of which bar code label is right for your system. Here at Adazon, we pride ourselves in providing the correct product for the right application the first time, so our customers are not chasing returns trying product until it works.
Thermal transfer barcode labels always use a ribbon to imprint the image onto the label. The way it works is that the printer has a print head. The print head heats up as the label and ribbon pass through. As the printer print head heats up, it melts the wax from the ribbon, onto the label. This makes a more permanent image on the label becuase it thermally transfers the wax to the label and will not fade. These labels are used for product labeling, location labels, asset labeling and any other type of labeling where the label will still be in use 6 months to a year from application. You can find these thermal transfer bar code labels by clicking here.
Direct thermal barcode labels do not use a ribbon. These labels are placed in a printer by themselves and usually cost a little more that thermal transfer labels. There are 2 main types of direct thermal bar code labels. There are coated and uncoated direct thermal labels, where the coated labels will not fade a quickly as the uncoated. These labels get the image directly from the print head on the printer. The heat from the print head heats the label to have the label react and make a black mark where the print heads temperature marked the label. Because the label reacts to the heat of the print head, it will also react to heat from other sources. That is why this label is used for more temporary applications, like shipping labels where the label is only used for a few days. Over time these direct thermal labels will fade. To find our direct thermal bar code labels go to this page by clicking on this sentence.
Here at Adazon we stock many brands of labels and we also custom make labels for barcode use or just product branding with 4 color process. We can also put your logo on any thermal transfer bar code label or direct thermal bar code label to help your company make a statement. Take a look at our site at http://www.adazonusa.com/ and you will see we have Zebra branded bar code labels, Intermec barcode labels, Wasp barcode labels and our own brand we produce. This provides the wides options for our customers. Also, let us know if you would like us to custom make your labels for product marketing or barcode labels to make your products compliant with the major distributors you may be selling to.
In addition to their sizable selection of barcode labels AdaZon also has many other great products including printers, scanners, label re-winders, tape guns, laser labels, data collection devises and more. If you would like to learn more about AdaZon and all of the different barcode labels or equipment they offer, please visit AdaZonUSA.com today. | <urn:uuid:ff21c5f9-ff0c-4c1d-b679-0d460c0ae745> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.adazonusa.com/barcodelabels-i-5.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906595 | 632 | 1.804688 | 2 |
A glimpse of ASM
It was kind of shocking last Friday when our client didn't approve our project plan. Instead of having a 4 month duration that would involve design, coding and delivery our time was cut down to 1 month(20 days to be exact). I am pretty confident though that we could beat the deadline for even such a short time. It's Saturday, this morning I was researching on how to implement a Connection pool with Tomcat and also I was reading a paper that I printed in the office about how to make your own Connection pool class. This blog entry isn't related to anything I said. I just love to tell things to people that isn't directly related to my point hehehe.
I was up tonight at about 9:00 PM. I was suppose to read about Allegro, a game programming library for C/C++ which I plan to use in my hobby project. C/C++ was also a part of my life even though my work has nothing to do with it and although I have done nothing useful with it. But out of boredom as I was searching/reviewing about C++ file organization or whatever they call it(I was researching on how to separate the .h and .c implementation) I happen to see a link to a assembly x86 tutorial. Now... I haven't touched assembly even once...
Assemly is a language that I can say... A virgin in my eyes. I haven't coded anything assembly in my life before. Yes, I have a book on it which I haven't even flipped a single page from. I am not intimidated by the fact that assembly is a low-level, powerful language that existed even the day I was born... At least it's not J2EE/JEE from which you get confused with the large array of technologies available. There is only one assembly, and yet it's hard for me to start coding in it... I wonder why...
To help me remember that things I've read, I am writing this post.
First of all, I figured that assembly uses a code structure like most language do. For example, in C you have the topmost level to declare the libraries you plan to use, followed by variables and then the main method. There's also something like that in assembly though a lot of difference may arise, if you've ever coded in your life this shouldn't be a problem.
.model tiny ; Tell compiler to build a tiny program model
msg db "My First ASM PROGRAM!!!! WHOOOO", 13, 10, "$"
mov ax, seg msg ; mov the contents of seg msg into AX register
mov ds, ax ; mov the contents of AX into DS
mov dx, offset msg ; mov the offset of msg into dx
mov ah, 09 ; tell 21h interupt to print msg to screen
mov ax, 4c00h ; Exit The Program
int 21h ; Safely
Code above was taken from http://www.free2code.net/plugins/articles/read.php?id=154
which I think is a good intro for assembly newbies like me.
It's really a waste of time trying to explain what the program does here when someone else already did. Besides, I'm getting sleepy... If I decide to make something out of what I read today then that will be fun. I just finished downloading TASM and I also got a link for list of interrupts
, the only thing left is motivation. | <urn:uuid:04ea9947-41f8-40b6-a39f-50f16e092024> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://devpinoy.org/blogs/lamia/archive/2006/09/23/A-glimpse-of-ASM.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965335 | 724 | 1.609375 | 2 |
are made, not born.
With that in mind, the Connecticut
Commission on Children and its partners have put together
Connecticut’s Playbook for Prevention, a “game plan” that
parents, educators, care providers, and policymakers can follow
to ensure all Connecticut children grow into happy, healthy, and
There are several ways to get the | <urn:uuid:12d0402b-cf1d-4c06-8921-e826b9899107> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cga.ct.gov/coc/playbook_home.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917154 | 76 | 1.546875 | 2 |
'Tis the season to be indoors! It's hard to play golf in the wintertime, when the only "green" you get is from your Christmas tree. So get teed off with this happy homebody's version of miniature golf! (And you won't need those silly spiky shoes!)
What you'll need:
- a ping-pong ball (or anything round that rolls, like an old plastic Christmas ornament)
- cooking spoon, broomstick, back-scratcher -- anything you can use as a putting club
- two or more players (the more the merrier!)
To get the ball into the hole with the fewest strokes, or swings of your "club." Each stroke counts as one point, and the person with the lowest score at the end of the game wins.
What to do:
1. Be creative as you set up your course! You can putt around and under furniture, the Christmas tree, a toilet paper tube -- any place where a ball will roll. Create tunnels, ramps, bumpers, and obstacles (known as "hazards" in real golf) with books, toys, pots, and pans.
2. Use plastic cups, egg crates, and small cereal boxes for "holes." Lay them on their sides for the ball to roll in, or stand them upright if you build a ramp for the ball to jump down from. Create as many holes as you have room for.
It's tee time! | <urn:uuid:6447d813-3a14-4af1-b48e-906b7987bac9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kids.discovery.com/activities/adventures/holiday-golf | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938764 | 306 | 1.953125 | 2 |
Balthassar? Melchior? Gaspar?
In Christian tradition the Magi, Three Wise Men, Three Kings or Kings from the East are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts. They are mentioned only in the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 2) , which says that they came "from the east to Jerusalem" to worship the Christ, "born King of the Jews". Because three gifts were recorded, there are traditionally said to have been three Magi, though Matthew does not specify their number and names. | <urn:uuid:9c616d2f-d2fa-48bf-b934-a61a2777595f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pbase.com/smok53/image/107519731 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00076-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976964 | 110 | 3.09375 | 3 |
New poll shows Canadians overwhelmingly support public health care
Group says advocates of private system are out of touch with most Canadians
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 12, 2009
Michael McBane, national coordinator, Canadian Health Coalition, (613) 277-6295, www.medicare.ca
OTTAWA, Canada -- In a last-ditch effort to convince Canadians that their public health care system should be privatized, Canadian Medical Association (CMA) President Robert Ouellet has promised to "pull out all the stops" during the association's annual meeting next week. Trouble is, Ouellet's mission to lead the change to privatization is exactly the opposite of what 86 percent of Canadians want.
A new poll conducted by the Toronto-based Nanos Research points to overwhelming support -- 86.2 percent -- for strengthening public health care rather than expanding for-profit services.
"With more than 8 in 10 Canadians supporting public solutions to make public health care stronger, there is compelling evidence that Canadians across all demographics would prefer a public over a for-profit health care system," said Nik Nanos, president of Nanos Research.
Nanos Research was commissioned by the Canadian Health Coalition (CHC), a nonpartisan group that supports Canada's public health system, to conduct a random telephone survey of 1,001 Canadians between April 25 and May 3. The margin of accuracy for a sample of 1,001 is ±3.1 percentage points.
Meanwhile, Canada's government just released a report titled "Healthy Canadians -- A Federal Report on Comparable Health Indicators 2008." Its findings almost identically mirror the CHC polling results. In that report, a leading indicator points to the fact that "Most Canadians (85.2 percent) aged 15 years and older reported being 'very satisfied' or 'somewhat satisfied' with the way overall health care services were provided, unchanged from 2005."
Michael McBane, national coordinator of the CHC, commented: "Throughout our campaign, Canadians have told us they want to keep our health care system public and to improve it with made-in-Canada solutions. They also have told us they flat-out reject Dr. Ouellet's proposal to provide us with American-style, two-tier medicine. This poll certainly underlines that for us. Eighty-six percent is a significant portion of the population. It is striking that Dr. Ouellet could be so out of touch with the pulse of most Canadians."
McBane warned that Ouellet's latest effort to replace public health care with a private system uses language that is misleading. "If imported into Canada, Dr. Ouellet's ideas about activity-based funding, 'competition' and more private delivery would not yield European-style care, but instead would lead us down the road to U.S.-style care."
McBane continued: "At the CMA's annual meeting later this month, you will hear Ouellet talk about 'patient centered' care, but he really means 'profit-centered' care. He will talk about transformative health care -- which really means transforming a public system to one that is private. He will also unveil results of a CMA survey that he claims shows support for his new privatization scheme. In fact, the language used in the CMA survey was so vague and misleading that its results cannot possible be interpreted as support for more for-profit medicine."
McBane said that Ouellet, who owns or manages five private, for-profit diagnostic clinics, has a history of misleading Canadians. Recently, the CMA president toured Canada touting the merits of what he called the European model of health care -- cobbling together selective pieces of information from different European systems to lull Canadians into accepting the idea of more private, for-profit service.
"Dr. Ouellet needs to stop misleading Canadians and start telling them what he's really up to -- privatizing our health care system," said McBane. "His 'transformational change' agenda is his last kick at the can before becoming the CMA's past-president. Dr. Ouellet's privatized, for-profit vision won't solve a single problem of our public health care -- and more importantly, Canadians don't want it. And they've said this loud and clear."
The Canadian Health Coalition is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting and expanding Canada's public health system for the benefit of all Canadians.
For more information, visit www.medicare.ca.
Physicians for a National Health Program, a membership organization of over 16,000 U.S. physicians, supports a single-payer national health insurance program. It has several authoritative spokespersons who can speak about the new Canadian poll and its significance for the U.S. health care reform debate. | <urn:uuid:da22edc8-1b21-40c4-97af-b8455657c9d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/august/new-poll-shows-canadians-overwhelmingly-support-public-health-care | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953142 | 997 | 1.796875 | 2 |
You can check this paper : http://media.blackhat.com/bh-us-12/Briefings/C_Miller/BH_US_12_Miller_NFC_attack_surface_WP.pdf
It's from a talk given by Charlie Miller at BlackHat 2012 :
Near Field Communication (NFC) has been used in mobile devices in some
countries for a while and is now emerging on devices in use in the
United States. This technology allows NFC enabled devices to
communicate with each other within close range, typically a few
centimeters. It is being rolled out as a way to make payments, by
using the mobile device to communicate credit card information to an
NFC enabled terminal. It is a new, cool, technology. But as with the
introduction of any new technology, the question must be asked what
kind of impact the inclusion of this new functionality has on the
attack surface of mobile devices. In this paper, we explore this
question by introducing NFC and its associated protocols.
Next we describe how to fuzz the NFC protocol stack for two devices as
well as our results. Then we see for these devices what software is
built on top of the NFC stack. It turns out that through NFC, using
technologies like Android Beam or NDEF content sharing, one can make
some phones parse images, videos, contacts, office documents, even
open up web pages in the browser, all without user interaction. In
some cases, it is even possible to completely take over control of the
phone via NFC, including stealing photos, contacts, even sending text
messages and making phone calls. So next time you present your phone
to pay for your cab, be aware you might have just gotten owned.
There is a tons of links at the end. | <urn:uuid:cdf0d874-50d6-4a2a-b855-8561d8b168e5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://security.stackexchange.com/questions/20520/resources-on-security-risks-of-nfc/20560 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.915154 | 380 | 2.109375 | 2 |
Practice Handbook of Acupuncture (9780443102653)
Publisher: Churchill Livingstone
Do you know the precise location and actions of BL-17? Do you really know the difference between the finger-cun and body-cun? Did you know that many of the master points are located on the ren mai? You don't have much time to spend for looking for points for particular conditons.
Answers to these questions and much more are all waiting for you in this book by Gertrude Kubienaand her team.. They have succeeded in presenting acupuncture and TCM in a concise way, pointing out principles and connections and therefore making clinical application easier.
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Price: £36.89 £40.99
Price: £48.59 £53.99 | <urn:uuid:dc0a60fa-5134-4e62-ab9f-11da070ef105> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.chinesemedicinetimes.com/product.php/215/practice_handbook_of_acupuncture/d7687100255eae1cf08b65c31c996f88 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940372 | 190 | 1.53125 | 2 |
When President Obama came to office in 2009, it didn't take his new administration long to settle on a favorite anti-terrorist tactic: drone strikes. In his first three years in office, the number of drone strikes against targets in Pakistan and Yemen increased dramatically, from 35 in 2008 to 121 in 2010, before dropping back to 79 so far this year, according to the Long War Journal, a website that has attempted to keep track of reported strikes.
The number of people killed by the strikes — Al Qaeda terrorists but also local militants and, inevitably, some civilians — escalated too; estimates vary widely, but at least 3,000 have died in both countries combined.
And that has led to second thoughts, not principally for ethical reasons (officials say they have always tried to minimize civilian casualties) but for practical ones. Drone strikes are undeniably effective at eliminating terrorists. But too many drone strikes can also provoke a political backlash, recruiting as many terrorists as they kill.
Increasingly, that critique is coming not only from human rights organizations or cautious diplomats at the State Department but from veterans of the secret war against terrorism.
"We've crossed a line … from using drones against known terrorists to using them more broadly against whole groups of militants," Robert L. Grenier, a former CIA station chief in Pakistan, told me last week. "It plays into the narrative that portrays the United States as an enemy of Islam."
In fact, a Pew Research Center survey found that the percentage of Pakistanis who viewed the United States as a friendly country has dropped since Obama took office, from 19% in 2008 to 12% this year.
In Yemen, where U.S. drone strikes have killed dozens of suspected terrorists, the local affiliate of Al Qaeda has grown, not diminished. "We're in danger of creating more enemies than we are removing," Grenier said.
Grenier is not alone. Henry A. Crumpton, who spurred the development of the first armed drones as the CIA's counterterrorism chief, has said he fears the agency has fallen into an "overreliance on technology," opting for short-term gains from drone strikes at the expense of the long-term payoff that human intelligence efforts can bring.
Inside the administration, some officials have been arguing for stricter limits on drone operations, especially to curb what are known as "signature strikes" — strikes against guerrillas in Pakistan or Yemen who appear to be members of Al Qaeda affiliates but who have not been identified individually.
There are even signs that some new limits have been imposed with no public announcement. In Somalia, for example, the United States has carried out no drone strikes against the Al Shabab militia since February, reportedly because the Pentagon's general counsel ruled that the guerrillas, while undeniably a menace to the local government, posed no direct threat to the United States.
But it will be difficult to disentangle the United States and its drones from the internal conflicts of Yemen, where the administration is backing a fragile government against a local Al Qaeda offshoot, or Pakistan, where the military supports U.S. strikes against its enemies but opposes strikes against extremists it considers friendly.
On those battlegrounds, argues Micah Zenko of the Council on Foreign Relations, "our drones have become the counterinsurgency air force for those governments."
"The real reason for most of these strikes has been to protect a regime in Pakistan or Yemen," Zenko said.
Nobody contests the right of the United States to strike at terrorists who pose an imminent danger to U.S. citizens. But when the United States secretly uses armed force in another country's internal conflict, "it sets a dangerous precedent," he said.
Is the Obama administration listening? It can be hard to tell, since most of the drone program is shrouded in secrecy.
But in recent statements, administration officials from Obama on down have emphasized the importance of limiting the drone strikes. "Our goal has been to focus on Al Qaeda and to focus narrowly on those who would pose an imminent threat to the United States," Obama said in a television interview in September.
"It's not some random effort, not some unnecessarily broad effort, but a very targeted effort," Obama's national security advisor, Thomas Donilon, said last week .
So far, Zenko and other critics say, the administration's practice doesn't fully match its aspirations.
But in a little-noticed remark, Obama proposed that Congress replace its hastily drafted Authorization for Use of Military Force passed in the aftermath of 9/11.
"One of the things we've got to do is put a legal architecture in place — and we need congressional help in order to do that — to make sure that not only am I reined in, but any president's reined in," Obama said on Oct. 16 on, of all places, comedian Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show."
Congress has shown no great appetite to legislate the war on terror. Members may not relish the idea of explaining to constituents why politicians should place any limits on the use of armed force against terrorists. But reining in drones — holding them to their original use against terrorists who pose an imminent threat to the United States — would be a good idea. | <urn:uuid:105754d6-3f48-457f-bfa9-217de6ffcb7e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mcmanus-drones-20121202,0,6694016.column | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966325 | 1,069 | 1.992188 | 2 |
- May 26 & 27 - All libraries CLOSED for Memorial Day
Have you seen the Academy Award winning movie The Blind Side? It is based on the true story of the relationship that formed between Michael Oher and the Tuohy family. Michael was a homeless Black teen from the ghetto who improbably attended a wealthy suburban school in Memphis. He met Shawn and Leigh Anne Tuohy, a white couple whose son and daughter attended the same school. Eventually, Michael was adopted by the Tuohys, received a college degree in criminal justice, and became a professional football player (currently with the Baltimore Ravens).
I thought the movie was terrific, but I wondered how true-to-life it was. Then I saw a book in my local library that answered some questions I had. The book is I Beat the Odds, and is written by Michael Oher himself (along with co-author Don Yaeger). He recalls his life, and also speaks about how he was able to move from an inner city ghetto to the life he wanted. Mr. Oher relates his recognition that his natural athleticism could lead to a way out, his determination to discover and take that path, and the difficulties of being homeless.
If a “good” book is one that makes us think and question our beliefs, then “I Beat the Odds” qualifies. You can find both the book and the movie The Blind Side at the San Jose Public Library. You may also be interested in two other related books. Michael Lewis’s 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, was the impetus for the 2009 movie. Also, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy have written a book In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving, which details their own philosophy and beliefs. Both are also available from the library! | <urn:uuid:75dbc14b-a2e8-4fcb-86ba-a425dcc2d55a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sjpl.org/blog/i-beat-odds-michael-oher | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981296 | 376 | 2.015625 | 2 |
A few days ago I was asked a specific question about a meeting I attended in 2000. I explained exactly what happened in the meeting and was asked the follow-up question: “Was that really what happened?” I immediately answered: “Yes, that’s what I remembered.” Well, just because that’s what I remembered happening, is that really what happened?
Recently, I drove by the building that used to house my elementary school. It’s now used as a senior assisted-living facility. The building seems a lot smaller than I remember. Of course, it’s not unusual for a person to reflect on his childhood and not have correct memories of shapes and sizes experienced during that time. So, is my childhood memory reality?
My father died when I was five years-old. I remember very little of my father, but having stated that, I do think I vividly remember a few special times with him. One special incident I often recall is when I told my father that he couldn’t catch me if I was ran away from him. I then ran from him and he caught me after I had only run a few yards. I couldn’t believe how fast he was, for an older man (in his thirties:-). But, my Mom had told me that story over and over. Did I remember the incident or am I repeating something from my mother’s memory? Is my memory reality?
Last week, my wife and I went to a restaurant for dinner. I remember it was a Chinese restaurant. But, what did I have to eat that evening? Well, I know I had rice. :-) What else? I wasn’t sure, until I asked my wife. She immediately named everything we had. I remember, now that she has reminded me. Or, do I remember? Am I simply repeating what she remembered? Is my current memory reality? Is her memory reality?
So, why do I keep going back to my memory? How can I talk, think, or live without using my memory? But, is my talking, thinking, or living based on reality when I use by memory? Don’t I hold on to my memory because it defines me? For example, when I’m asked my thoughts about almost anything, I refer to what I know about it and then respond. What I know is often known through memory. Is that reality?
I think I know my wife very well. As I bring her to mind (she’s not here, with me, as I write this) and think about what I really know about her, do I have an accurate picture of her? Everything I’ve recalled about her is from my memory. When I describe her to someone else, it’s all from my point of view. Would she be described by her sister, who knows her well, as having the same likes, dislikes, personal traits, etc., that I declare she has? No! I’m really describing her based on my perspective. Everything in my description is relative. Is my memory, which depends upon my point of view, reality?
Considering everything I’ve written so far, it seems that I very seldom have contact with the real. At least, when I’m using my memory, the unreal appears to be the norm. My senses are constantly using my memory to determine what I’m seeing, tasting, smelling, hearing, and feeling. And, what I determine is based on my perspective. So, my memory depends on my point of view, but reality doesn’t depend on any point of view – it simply is.
Is memory reality? No! What is memory compared to reality? Memory is a story about reality from a point of view.
John Dewey wrote: “Time and memory are true artists; they remould reality nearer to the heart’s desire.” Perhaps, memory is more of what my heart desires and less of reality. | <urn:uuid:21205973-1939-4f47-bf8e-91b5d51eb20b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://r2blog.com/category/ron-rogers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986696 | 835 | 2.0625 | 2 |
AP Education Writer
MIAMI (AP) - State funding for higher education has declined because of a slow recovery from the recession and the end of federal stimulus money, according to a study released Monday.
Overall, spending declined by some $6 billion, or nearly 8 percent, over the past year, according to the annual Grapevine study by the Center for the Study of Education Policy at Illinois State University. The reduction was slightly lower, at 4 percent, when money lost from the end of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act was not taken into account.
The funding reductions, seen across nearly every state, have resulted in larger class sizes and fewer course offerings at many universities and come as enrollment continues to rise.
A report released by the National Science Board last week found similar reductions in state higher education spending, with nearly three-quarters of the nation's 101 top public research universities experiencing cuts in state funding between 2002 and 2010.
"It's quite severe," said Jose-Marie Griffiths, chairwoman of the National Science Board committee that produced the report and vice president for academic affairs at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. "The question is, are they ever going to recover to the level they were before? I think all of us are somewhat concerned because the future is a little bit uncertain."
Only nine states reported increases in total state higher education spending, including the federal stimulus money. In the 41 states where there were funding reductions, declines varied drastically, from about 1 percent in North Carolina to 41 percent in New Hampshire. The hardest-hit states include Arizona, Wisconsin and Louisiana, where spending reductions were nearly 20 percent or higher as federal stimulus money dried up.
James Palmer, editor of the Grapevine survey, said state capacity to finance higher education had also been reduced by diminished tax revenues.
In a statement, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association said states with the largest declines will likely see higher tuition rates and more pressure to recruit out-of-state students. That raises concerns about access to higher education, particularly for those students who need financial aid, another area where state support has declined.
Educating more students from out of state and less access will have "implications for the availability of an adequately trained workforce in those states," the organization said.
The group specifically highlighted California, where a $1.5 billion spending reduction, including stimulus funds, over the past two years represents 26 percent of the national decline.
Florida is another state that has seen sustained spending cuts. Over the past five years, state support for higher education has declined 17.5 percent, according to the study. As the state proportion of funding has declined, universities have relied more on tuition, now nearly 50 percent of their operating budget.
Overall state funding appropriations in Florida are about the same as they were 10 years ago, after having risen leading up to 2007-2008. Meanwhile, enrollment has increased by more than 24 percent.
To compensate for the loss, Florida universities have merged departments, instituted hiring freezes and used more adjunct professors, among other actions.
"Each university has been diligent in developing cost-saving strategies to help offset _ but not fully replace _ the budget shortfalls," according to a brief from the Board of Governors, which oversees Florida's State University System.
The National Science Board noted the funding decline could have implications for how well the United States is able to educate its workforce and be competitive in a globalized, knowledge-based economy.
Already, the United States has been trailing Asia in science and engineering degrees. Fifty-six percent of all engineering degrees were awarded in Asia in 2008, compared with 4 percent in the U.S. The United States produced 248,000 graduates in the fields of natural science and engineering, while China produced 1 million, a dramatic increase from 2000, when they awarded 280,000. South Korea, Taiwan and Japan produced 330,000 natural science and engineering graduates in 2008 _ again, a larger number than the U.S., even though their population is smaller.
"Right now our aspirations for higher education I think far exceed the vitality of our economy," Palmer said, referring to the push to increase access to college and degree completion. "In other words, we can't depend on that state funding as the way we're going to meet those goals."
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
An 800-pound alligator? That's not bad for a first hunting trip.
Emma Watson revels in her post-"Potter" freedom at Cannes.
How did a photographer get an inside view of a bear's mouth? (Video)
An NFL player relieves himself of his feelings toward the IRS. | <urn:uuid:752c0a12-ed24-4e92-a276-306ba1c80c24> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wtop.com/346/2717325/State-higher-education-spending-sees-big-decline | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967832 | 968 | 1.515625 | 2 |
The rain is gone, but wet roads may turn icy by the end of the day
Posted: 11/12/2012 at 11:35 am
The forecasted high is 39 degrees, but the temperature has dropped slowly since that high was reached just before 7 a.m. The National Weather Service reports that temperatures will rise again throughout the day, but that there is still a 30 percent chance of snow before 1 p.m. Monday.
The days are expected to get warmer as the week goes on, with Friday’s high predicted to be 49 degrees by the National Weather Service. | <urn:uuid:fb7d7263-442e-4dde-841f-814654ab2745> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.elkharttruth.com/article/20121112/NEWS01/711129927 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970497 | 121 | 1.5 | 2 |
Bullying likely at root of Conn. tragedy
To the Editor:
While we all grieve for the families involved in the Connecticut shootings we must now work to see this doesn't happen in other communities. I believe that the mother of the shooter is the center of this tragedy. She seems to have been overbearing and did not accept her child's disability. She lived and worked in one of the most affluent communities in Connecticut. Sandy Hook Elementary is an upscale school, and one of the most affluent in the area, you can tell the by the number of minorities in attendance.
This young man seems to have been pushed by his mother to excel while attending this school. A school I do not believe he fit in, As a result he was probably bullied by some and ignored by most.. . issues his mother would not have addressed.
The first step in stopping this cycle of behavior is to address the issue of mental illness with funding, research, and public awareness of agencies such as Popular Springs and District 19 in our community.
The liberals and the media are now using gun control as a means to stop such violence. As a former New York city police officer I can tell you nothing is further from the truth. The only thing that gun control does is take the guns out of the hands of honest people. A crook will get a gun at all cost; President Obama, a gun control advocate, can not stop China's unfair trade practices. How in the world can he stop them from flooding the market with Saturday night specials (Cheap guns) that are a danger to the shooter, the victim, and innocent bystanders as they have done before.
I believe that if a child is bullied long enough he will strike out against the symbols of him being bullied, In this case his mother, the school, school officials, and sadly these beautiful young children who he only saw as a symbol of his oppression.
He was mentally ill as was most shooters, something we often close our eyes to. We need to open our eyes and realize this is a dangerous society we live in. Then and only then can we address the issues at hand. | <urn:uuid:26b7f005-c692-444e-a0fc-8a65cc52e1ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://progress-index.com/news/op-ed/letters/bullying-likely-at-root-of-conn-tragedy-1.1418333 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982765 | 433 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Sarah Noonan has been involved in casting for more than 10 years and is vice president of animation casting for Nickelodeon. She won the Casting Society of America's Artios Award for best animated voiceover television casting for Nickelodeon's "The X's" and has been nominated 11 other times for her work in the field of animation casting for TV and film.
Bob Bergen began teaching his animation voiceover workshop 21 years ago in Los Angeles. His acting résumé lists hundreds of cartoons—including Looney Tunes—commercials, promos, award shows, and interactive games.
Noonan begins by noting the importance of knowing the style of the project prior to the audition: "Every project an actor reads for is unique. One project may want an extremely cartoonish voice, whereas another show may want a very realistic, natural character voice. We make sure that all the actors are aware of the style we're looking for, so they can prepare." Bergen agrees: "Ask your agent who's casting the pilot. Then research some of the shows the casting director has worked on. Often with television animation, those who cast also voice-direct the series. Go to IMDb to find out what else they've cast. Then check out YouTube and watch clips of the casting director's work. Get a feel for style."
Bergen suggests covering all your bases in an audition: "If it isn't clear if the producers are looking for cartoony versus real, submit two takes: one cartoony, one real. Don't be afraid to add that little something extra that makes you own the character. If you want to risk something a little different, go for it in take two. They need you, the actor, to bring creativity to the character…bring it to life. The script's a skeleton. You have to give it a body."
Noonan encourages actors to go big when warranted: "Animation is still acting, just like on camera, except the acting is just a bit more heightened. We look for actors that can hit the jokes and play the moments; it just tends to be bigger and broader. A lot of sketch comedians and theater performers do well with animation, because they can commit to a character and go broad while still being connected with the character. Cartoons are comedy."
Bergen warns that at a callback you should "do exactly what you did in the first audition unless directed otherwise." Noonan agrees: "When we call someone back, it's because we responded to their initial audition." Once there, she says, it's important to remain flexible and confident: "In callbacks, we sometimes have the actor read off another actor to see how well they can play off each other. In preparing for auditions or callbacks, I also suggest that actors look for funny moments and beats in the material. Make choices. The best advice I could give is: Learn to take direction well. It can be a big factor in landing the job."
Bergen offers some sage advice in handling direction: "Actors should never take direction as correction. If you feel like you're being corrected, oftentimes your bruised ego will prevent you from trying or committing again. They're directing you because there's something they like—and want to like it more."
Noonan says she runs auditions in a supportive, actor-friendly manner, so "don't be afraid to ask questions about the material or character you're reading for. Casting directors are rooting for you. We want you to do a great job. We realize how hard it is to make choices, land the jokes, have great timing, stay in character voice—and have to take direction on top of all that. Juggling all that is hard, and it takes practice. We are there to support and give you as much guidance as possible."
Bergen offers a final piece of mental-health audition wisdom: "Know when your audition's over. Don't overstay your welcome. And don't audition when you're not auditioning. If you come across as obnoxious or are always 'on,' this might be a turnoff. Be yourself. Who you are and how you handle yourself professionally is absolutely a factor in getting work." | <urn:uuid:0c6bd59a-0fd4-49bc-8d2f-116556809c1b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/voiceover/animation-nation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966608 | 864 | 1.523438 | 2 |
1 - 10 of 200 results for "members of parliament"
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1. news | 01 Apr 2013
» As of April 1, the total number of serving members of parliament is 645, comprising 497 MPs and 148 senators, a parliament official said.
2. learning | 03 May 2012
Easy English news
» Yesterday was day nine of the debate in parliament on a proposed amendment to Section 291 of the constitution, but there was another matter occupying the members attention as well.
3. news | 14 Apr 2013
» Croatia on Sunday elects its first members to the European Parliament ahead of officially joining the European Union on July 1, with expected low turnout reflecting only tepid enthusiasm for membership in the bloc.
4. news | 30 Apr 2013
» The parliament and Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc (Stecon) have signed an agreement for construction of new parliament buildings alongside the Chao Phraya River in Kiak Kai area of Bangkok.
5. learning | 04 Apr 2013
Learning Thai from Post Today
» Parliament exists to make laws, some of which can be quite controversial. Here is one example.
6. news | 25 Apr 2013
» Parliament's law scrutiny committee has decided to once again allow the spouses of MPs to sit as senators simultaneously.
7. learning | 01 Jun 2012
» National reconciliation seemed a distant dream today as protestors cut off all access to parliament, halting debate on the proposed unity legislation for at least until next week.
8. learning | 08 Feb 2013
» There was nothing boring about yesterday's session of parliament after a Democrat MP Thursday sliced open a bag of the government's pledged rice, showing it was rotten.
9. news | 24 Apr 2013
» Voters in Bhutan cast ballots to begin electing a new parliament on Tuesday for only the second time in the Himalayan nation's history, five years after the monarchy ceded absolute power.
10. news | 11 Apr 2013
» Eight more members of the People's Alliance for Democracy have been indicted in the Criminal Court on terrorism and other charges in connection with the seizure of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports in 2008. | <urn:uuid:dc7afafc-4b4c-4c3f-8009-cf2553372aa0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bangkokpost.com/search/news-and-article/members+of+parliament | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923413 | 501 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Those of you who know and cherish "our" wonderful, historic Little Church on the Hill in Oakhurst Cemetery, know that the beautiful stained glass "diamond" windows are in jeopardy. The weight is causing the frames to buckle, and the repairs are under way.
The problem is, the work is expensive. The foundation recently held a dinner to raise funds for the repair. Now please put Aug. 19 on your calendar for a second dinner to hopefully complete the fund drive.
Here is a little history about those windows taken from the book "The Little Church on the Hill, A Monument to Volunteerism," by Dwight Barnes.
Long before the Little Church Foundation was created, some of its advocates had dreamed of recreating the stained glass windows. Back about the time he left Fresno Flats, previous name for Oakhurst, in 1900, Father James McGowan had written in his journal that Christ Church was "a pretty little church with stained glass windows," a casual remark that had intrigued people for years.
Local folk who as small children during the 1920s and '30s had attended the church or Sunday School remembered being fascinated with spots of color moving along the pews as the morning sun climbed to its zenith and the sermons got longer.
Early photos showed an overall diamond pattern of the lead in the windows, but efforts to computer enhance the photos so details of the glass design could be seen failed. By the time the church was moved in 1957, the original windows were gone, replaced by plain yellow "bathroom" glass, which some thought gave the church interior a lovely soft glow. But they weren't original and these replacements were beginning to crack and break. Most people wanted true stained glass windows, hopefully as close to the original pattern as possible.
On a cold, windy weekend late in January 1996 ... a full scale "dig" on top of the Chapel Hill property began. A series of grids were laid out to accurately chart the areas in which soil was to be removed and carefully sifted. Locations of any treasures found were to be mapped carefully. By the end of the day, 60 pieces of glass from the original windows were recovered.
Working with the shards, stained glass artist Jim Moore, who with his wife Rosemarie had joined in the exploration, was able to fit together the basic pattern of the original windows. Subsequent digs yielded an additional 250 pieces, including colored glass from the outside edges, the pieces through which the sun had shone to intrigue little children 60 or 70 years earlier.
Thus, the effort to return stained glass windows to the Little Church had begun, but it was nearly three years before the altar windows were installed and a decade or so later the eight side windows completed.
The Aug. 19 dinner tickets may be obtained at the Ameriprise Financial office in Oakhurst at 40291 Stagecoach Road, north of Crab Cakes Restaurant or from any foundation board member. | <urn:uuid:ff2e09d3-4195-430f-ad5b-22e8c4013ca5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sierrastar.com/2011/08/03/56060/little-church-on-the-hill.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983216 | 595 | 2.046875 | 2 |
A combination of lower leg weakness and foot deformities is a red flag for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) but isn’t sufficient for diagnosis. When a patient has those symptoms, a neurologist will usually start with a physical exam to look for further signs of distal weakness and sensory loss.
As a test for leg weakness, a neurologist might ask patients to walk on their heels or move part of their leg against an opposing force.
To look for sensory loss, the neurologist will usually test the patient’s deep tendon reflexes (like the knee-jerk reflex), which are reduced or absent in most people with CMT.
During this initial evaluation, the neurologist also will ask about the patient’s family history. A family history of CMT-like symptoms, combined with signs of nerve damage from the individual’s physical exam, strongly point to CMT or another hereditary neuropathy.
Lack of a family history doesn’t rule out CMT, but might prompt the neurologist to ask about diabetes, overexposure to certain drugs and other potential causes of neuropathy.
Next, if the diagnosis is still consistent with CMT, the neurologist may arrange for genetic testing. These tests, done by drawing a blood sample, are designed to detect the most common genetic defects known to cause CMT. Many, but certainly not all, of the genetic mutations underlying CMT can be detected with a DNA blood test. For more on getting a definitive genetic diagnosis, see The Genie's Out of the Bottle: Genetic testing in the 21st century.
A positive genetic test result can provide a definite diagnosis and useful information for family planning. But once again, a negative result doesn’t rule out CMT.
The neurologist also may perform a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test, which measures the strength and speed of electrical signals transmitted through nerves. It’s done by placing surface electrodes, similar to those used for electrocardiograms, on the skin at various points over a nerve. One electrode delivers a mild shock that stimulates an electrical response in the nerve, and the others record this response as it travels through the nerve.
Delayed responses are a sign of demyelination and small responses are a sign of axonopathy. Thus, NCV is often used to distinguish between CMT1 and CMT2.
Other procedures sometimes used to diagnose CMT include electromyography (EMG), which measures the electrical signals in muscles, and less commonly, nerve biopsy, which involves the removal and examination of a small piece of nerve. | <urn:uuid:d3707eac-b6a9-4931-9ca6-1ffdae55b8ae> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mda.org/disease/charcot-marie-tooth/diagnosis | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935902 | 543 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Mayans! Apocalypse! Climate Change!
Mayan apocalypse: panic spreads as December 21 nears
Fears that the end of the world is nigh have spread across the world with only days until the end of the Mayan calendar, with doomsday-mongers predicting a cataclysmic end to the history of Earth.
That’s from a British newspaper, the Telegraph, but you only have to Google “Mayan Calendar” to find lots of similar items. There seems to be no basis at all for the idea that the Mayans thought the world would end at this point, let alone that it actually will. But it’s certainly gotten people excited.
Ironically, people seem to be much less excited about climate change. That’s ironic for two reasons. First, it’s at least conceivable that the climate will hit a tipping point with catastrophic (though probably not apocalyptic) consequences. And second, what destroyed the Mayan civilization wasn’t some supernatural event tied to their calendar. It was probably climate change, according to archaeologists.
As the NY Times reports,
The early classic Maya period — about A.D. 450 to 660 — “was remarkably wet,” said an author of the study, Douglas Kennett, a geo-archaeologist at Penn State. “There was a proliferation of population, an increase in agriculture and a rise in divine kings that became prominent leaders.”
But then things dried up. The researchers compared the climate record with an existing “war index” — a log of hostile events based on how often certain keywords occurred in Maya inscriptions on stone monuments — and found a strong correlation between drought and warfare between cities.
Climate change was a real threat to the Mayans, and it’s a real threat to us. Somehow, however, it’s easier to get people riled up over a fantasy threat. Maybe this is an innate feature of human psychology.
In light of this human psychological characteristic, we may need to take a different approach to informing people about climate change. In that regard, I would like to take this occasion to issue a stern warning:
Unless steps are taken CO2 levels will eventually rise from the current level to 666 ppm. We all know what that means, don’t we? | <urn:uuid:1e8dfb9c-8642-4464-9806-0a0e3502b170> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/mayans-apocalypse-climate-change/ | 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 | 0.947812 | 481 | 2.40625 | 2 |
While going through some files this past weekend, I came across an emergency communications tool that I created some time ago for a client and thought “Hey, with summer’s sometimes volatile weather soon upon us this would be a good tool to share for my Tuesday blog post.” Like almost everyone else, I had no idea what Monday would hold. So, I share this hoping you’ll complete the form and never need to use it.
The power and importance of social media cannot be overstated, especially in times of emergency. A well thought out emergency communication plan will be vital. A record of login information can help you save critical time in the unfortunate event that an emergency arises.
There are a couple things to keep in mind when you prepare your actual communication:
- In the event of a natural or manmade disaster, people may be without power but still able to use their smart phone for communicating and gathering information. Remember that battery power may be precious. Keep your communications succinct and avoid too many images or videos that can use up battery life.
- Text messages use less power and bandwidth and travel more easily than phone calls through crowded cell circuits. Consider using text messages if needed for internal team communication and be certain to have your team members’ cell numbers saved in your phone.
- Communicate. Keep the information freely flowing so that interested parties feel informed. Remember that people from outside your area will likely visit your sites for information if family and friends are affected by the emergency you’re reporting. During an emergency, the use of tools that allow you to post on multiple platforms at once could be useful. Remember to search for Google Person Finder and see if they’ve created a search/find for your event. If so, you’ll want to share that with your community
- Assign a lead and a backup. You want to be certain that a succinct, accurate message is being delivered.
- Keep a log of what you post. Your exact post will remain in cyberspace and can be collected at a later time if needed, but do keep track of when you posted and to what platform(s).
If your organization has used social media during a crisis, we’d love to hear what worked and didn’t work for you. If you’d like to have a copy of the fillable login form, just email me at firstname.lastname@example.org and I’ll send it to you.
Recently, I’ve had a number of clients ask for advice about running a contest on their brand’s Facebook page. Maybe they had extra promotional items left over from Heart Month or were just looking for a quick boost to their numbers and wanted to post something like: “The next ten people to like this post will receive…” Seems harmless enough, doesn’t it? Not if you’re Facebook. Read more »
Once again my time at the Mayo Ragan Social Media Summit was well spent. It can be tempting to let a full schedule keep one away from such events, but this is one conference I can wholeheartedly recommend. Sessions include everything from how to’s to presentations from patients and physicians about how social media helps them. You find yourself in meetings full of kindred social media spirits and that’s a great way to get reinvigorated with new ideas.
There was a lot to take in over the three days, but one message seemed to come through time and again:
The patient’s desire for medical information and support is inversely proportional to their desire for privacy.
Time and again, I heard presenters talk about using social media to try to get information about an illness, to find support groups, and to try to help others.
- Inspire, EmpowHER, and CaringBridge where user-generated content drives the bulk of the activity as people seek information on medical conditions and/or look for support. CaringBridge has even started a new site called Support Planner where “…family and friends coordinate care and organize helpful tasks.” (Very cool, I think!)
- Mom Melissa Hogan (@MelissaJHogan) felt an “obligation” to use social media as a way to give back to her community by sharing the story of her son’s journey with Huntington’s Disease. Find her blog about her son, Case, here.
- Dan Hinmon (@HiveDan) talked about his wife’s diabetes and how she turned to the internet for education about treating her diabetes through diet and exercise and to find a support group, which is now 4,000 people strong.
- Lindsey Miller (@LiverLindsey) found it too depressing the tell people about her pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer. She forged ahead with treatments and eventually decided that social media was the most comfortable way to talk about her battle with cancer, saying “Social media helped me tell people I had cancer. It feels great!” Find her blog i am a liver here.
So while many organizations wring their hands over HIPAA, patients and their family members are taking matters into their own hands. My own cousin started a blog as he underwent chemo and a stem cell transplant for mantle cell lymphoma. I checked for his posts every morning before getting out of bed, and even on his bad days, it helped to hear from him or his wife if he wasn’t up to posting. He’s doing great now, by the way.
As Dr. Natasha Burgert (@DoctorNatasha) so skillfully showed us in the final keynote of the conference, there are ways for social media and healthcare to meet the needs of patients AND physicians. More on that later, but you can find her blog here.
How’s your social media content plan coming along? I know that the ebb and flow of content and ideas can be frustrating at times, especially if your social media tasks are just a fraction of your overall job responsibilities.
Following are some ideas that might help “prime the pump” when it comes to content planning:
Call your HR director. As I mentioned in my last post, there are usually some great opportunities here.
Reach out to the volunteer services coordinator. Maybe there’s a specific area where she/he needs extra help. Remember that schools sometimes require students to provide volunteer service in the community. Social media is a great way to spread the word about opportunities. This could be good information for your intranet as well.
Dial 911. Don’t really, but do ask your emergency department if there is something trending. This could lead you to create a timely blog post or video about prevention and treatment.
Find out what month it is. These days everything has a designated month, week or day. This can be useful for both serious and fun observances. (Even National Watermelon Day can lead to posts about hydration and diet.) I use the listing from the National Health Information Center. I also like Holiday Insights because it outlines some of the more obscure and fun observances.
Take a walk with your camera. Hospitals and physician offices often decorate for the seasons and holidays. Maybe you’ll get a photo of the first smiling face people will see when they enter your building. (Of course you’ll be mindful to avoid having visitors and patients in your photos unless you have their permission.)
Explore the Twitterverse. Go to your favorite search engine and type “*topic* Twitter”. This can lead not only to interesting content but some great accounts to follow.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. No doubt you have ideas, too, and I’d love to hear them.
When I was about 22, I earned an Employee of the Month award. As I recall, I received a certificate, a lapel pin, and a photo op with the president of the company. I mailed the photo to my parents who lived a couple hundred miles away. It was a Polaroid photo, not a tintype.
Fast-forward X years. I walk through hallways of client sites and I see really nicely engraved plaques and framed photos of employees who have achieved various awards for tenure or ‘service above and beyond’ and I wonder: “Why is there no album on their Facebook page filled with these smiling faces?”
What about that group of new hires in orientation? Right after you train them about your social media policy (hint, hint), how about a cheerful group photo for your Facebook page? This is a great way to welcome them to your organization and introduce them to your online community. You know what else this does? It helps make your organization human out there in the digital world.
I understand that some people don’t like to be photographed. I also understand that some people don’t like Facebook (eek!). So don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying participation should be compulsory. But have you had a conversation with your HR director about sharing some of the accomplishments of your greatest asset…your people? Might this be an easy way to invite employees to be engaged and interested?
Research has shown us that consumers are out there using social media as part of their decision making process for services and purchases. In fact, half of consumers combine search and social media for this purpose. Give them a look at the friendly, helpful people who might be assisting them the next time they walk through your doors.
Not a skilled photographer? Here are some useful tips from Ragan. My favorite is the “execution at dawn.”
Those of us who manage social media sites know all too well that it’s not quite as easy as it may look. There’s the constant quest for content, great photos, fact checking and, oh yeah, being social. So it’s no wonder that people are ready to jump at time-saving tools like post scheduling.
My clients ask me about post scheduling pretty often and I always advise caution. Actually, even real time postings need to be carried out thoughtfully. My advice: Look first! Check the news headlines and make sure what you’re about to post is appropriate. If you know you have a post or tweet scheduled for later in the day, be sure to scan the news first thing. The last thing you want is to end up in a position like the National Rifleman, the journal of the NRA. The morning following the senseless tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, they tweeted:
When I first saw this reported, I figured it was a scheduled tweet that had been in the queue for a while. According to the report in the Huffington Post, the tweeter was unaware of the events of the previous night. Hard to imagine, really, but this is exactly why it’s so important to look first.
If you’re posting on Facebook, be sure to use Facebook as your page and have a look around the platform before you post, especially if you don’t live in the area that your page represents. On the positive side, by doing this I have occasionally found terrific items to share on my page that I otherwise wouldn’t have known about.
Note: Remember that if you want to use Facebook as your page, you need to go through either the dropdown menu at the top right, or the Edit Page drop down menu. The Voice tab only indicates how you are posting on the page, not the platform.
When you think about it, the whole purpose of using social media is to be social, not just to push out information. I’m not saying you should never schedule a post or a tweet, just that I like to make it the exception rather than the rule. So take the time to be there, be informed, and engage your community; it’s worth it in a lot of ways.
I have some clients wringing their hands over Timeline for fan pages. If you’re really feeling the crunch of the March 30th Timeline switch, don’t worry, there are some simple things you can do to make your fan page look like you’ve planned for this change all along.
- Select a high-quality cover photo. The new dimensions are 851 x 315 pixels. This covers a lot of space so make it a good photo. Remember that it cannot include a promotion or call to action. (Idea: Plan your future cover photos to align with your content plan.)
- Optimize your profile picture. It’s going to be square after the change (180 pixels), so make sure your image works.
- Customize your tabs images (111 x 74). This is so easy and really adds a polished look to the page. Just hover at the top right of the current tab image and click “Edit Settings.” You’ll need to use the dropdown arrow to reveal all of your tabs first.
- Edit and update your history. You must at least add the date your organization was established. Glance through your old posts and see if they need editing, or perhaps there’s a photo you could add for interest. Your Timeline history can be as robust as you like. This is the perfect way to tell your story, but if you’re short on time right now you can save this for later.
Note: Even if you’re uploading photos for your timeline in “secret” they will still appear in the banner of your old page. To keep this from happening, go through your existing photos and tag five of your favorites. Those will stay “glued” to your banner and you can continue to work in private until the BIG day.
I would love to see your new Timeline; shoot me a link!
Often when we think of an online community, our brains default to Facebook or Twitter. Obviously these are great tools with a broad reach. At last count there were just over 1,200 hospitals using a variety of social media channels.
As I’ve mentioned previously, one great thing about healthcare social media, when handled well, is that it’s about the patient, it’s about building community, and it’s about listening. The organizations with the most robust communities are the ones approaching social media as another service being offered, not a megaphone.
Recently I came across a different patient community, this one provided by the New York Times. Actually, they have a number of offerings for patients. The first one, which has been in place for a few years, is called Patient Voices. Here you’ll find audio and video first person accounts of what it’s like to live with a chronic illness, and they cover everything from bipolar disorder to macular degeneration. There are also health guides with information about each illness and links to news articles; there’s even a link to submit your own story. It’s striking to hear these accounts from children and adults.
Another section is called Picture Your Life After Cancer. Here, readers can upload a photo and a description of their life after cancer and their image and narrative will be added to the collage. Scrolling through screen after screen of faces, some stoic some goofy and some jubilant, is humbling. It leaves me wondering how it must have felt to participate in this project. From the number of entries, it’s obvious this was a welcome opportunity that crossed all the boundaries of race, age and gender. It’s interesting to note how unconcerned these folks are about HIPAA.
So maybe your hospital doesn’t have a New York Times newsroom, but are there people, platforms and resources available that are not being used to their fullest? Take a few minutes and ask yourself “What if we could…”
I’d love to hear about what your organization is doing to give patients voices and faces.
Is your organization’s Facebook presence a little lack-luster these days? These three tips can help you get back on track and engaging with your audience. Even if you’re merrily rolling along, it can be good to review these reminders every so often to make sure you’re headed in the right direction.
- Remember why. Why did you decide to start a Facebook page in the first place? For instance, did you want to educate? If so, about what? Why would that be important? Write all this down and really think it through, down to the nitty gritty. Such an exercise can help bubble up new ideas, either about how to create and find content or maybe an additional or different purpose. You may even discover that you’ve had the content all along; it just needs to be rewrapped for this purpose. Ah. Think regifting!
- Remember who. Take a minute and put yourself in the shoes of your followers. Your handy dandy Facebook Insights give you a pretty good idea of who’s following your page. Do you see a large number of followers in one demographic? Maybe you need to focus your content to pique their interest…and engagement. Do you see a demographic you wish you were reaching more? Maybe you need to retool some of your content to attract their attention.
- Remember what. What is this whole social media thing all about anyway? It’s social, right? Interact. Look around at what’s going on. Share the love on other pages and let folks know you’re out there and engaged. Work to build a community around your Why. And when someone engages, be there with an answer, a thank you or thumbs up. Try pretending that this whole cyber thing is happening IRL (in real life), then use your same good manners.
Remember, there’s no such thing as a free kitten. Invest some time and be ready to engage with and learn from your fans.
(Sorry. Were you expecting a photo of a kitten? Here you go.) | <urn:uuid:f910f92c-5f92-4b59-ac91-8c4dc00578d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kskipperfoster.wordpress.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950911 | 3,746 | 1.726563 | 2 |
- The Lobby
- Extra Times
The missing million in Japan
They were once called “the missing million”. The ‘hikikomori’ phenomenon emerged in the early 1990’s in Japan when there were reports of young people that began staying at home for months or even years at a time.
Authorities suggested that there were over a million people suffering from ‘hikikomori’ syndrome, but some researchers believe the actual number may be higher.
In April 2010, one ‘hikikomori’ man, 30 years old, killed and wounded his family members and set fire to his house. He had withdrawn from society for 14 years.
His parents had entrusted management of family finances to him but he gradually became addicted to Internet shopping and auctions and racked up about 3 million yen in debt.
He committed the alleged crimes after his father cancelled the Internet connection. The man was sentenced to 30 years in prison last December 7 but filed an appeal against the decision.
Still, the definition of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare does not regard this withdrawal as a symptom of a psychotic disorder.
It says that a ‘hikikomori’ is a person that does not take part in society and remains at home, does not take part in or have interest in going to school or work, and does not have any close relationships other than with family.
Symptoms of anxiety and depression and unusual sleep patterns persist for at least six months.
After the stock market crash in 1990, the Japanese job market changed dramatically. Young people found themselves in a situation where lifetime employment at one company was no longer guaranteed.
To find employment immediately after graduation was not easy. Many young people, mainly those from families with means, reacted as if this was a case for shame and guilt and they became ‘hikikomori’.
A new concern over ‘hikikomori’ arose after last year’s tsunami. Paul Ballas, a practicing child psychiatrist with work in Japan, said that the March earthquake, tsunami and nuclear radiation leak could worsen problems due to the population displacement.
Responsible Right of Expression — In the interest of freedom of expression, coupled with a true sense of responsibility to encourage community dialogue, the Macau Daily Times offers its readers the opportunity to express their opinions on news-related matters through this website. All opinions are welcome. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are deemed to be obscene, or are merely insults written under the cloak of anonymity. MDT
- IN BROAD DAYLIGHT: Lawyer victim of vicious attack
- D. Pedro V stages stories of “body and farewell”
- Conference on EU-Asia Pacific relationship starts today
- IC selects 5 projects for academic research grants
- More than 40,000 request gov’t healthcare vouchers
- Free telecom services for World Telecom Day
- MOP20m to upgrade bus GPS system
- Pansy Ho promotes Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macau 2013
- Macau Open prize money increases
- Petitioners call for caution over employing non-local students
- Drug abuse among youths increases significantly
- 20th anniversary of the EU-Macau trade agreement - Piket: “A more diversified economy is a more sustainable economy”
- Q1: Package tours increase by 11.8 pct
- 20 workers feel unwell after inhaling tobacco fumes
- Democratic Action collects signatures for elections | <urn:uuid:217081fd-9255-4330-85b1-38a873b4391d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/macau/33641-The-missing-million-Japan.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964202 | 731 | 2.65625 | 3 |
A simple line graph shows that more people are dying from methadone than heroin and the difference is growing over time. It also shows that cocaine is more dangerous than anything other drugs on the graph, at least when it comes to fatalities. Note that these data represent deaths due to acute overdoses as well as fatalities due to complications from long term use.
What needs work
I have no idea what the bars behind the line graphs represent. They seem to be there just to be graphic – I am not in favor of the use of meaningless graphic dross. The article that accompanied this graph mentions that 39,000 people die every year due to drugs and 45,000 die in traffic accidents (though auto-deaths are dropping and were at ~37,000 in 2008 according to Fatality Analysis Reporting System). This means that in some states – mostly in New England and the Mid-Atlantic – more people are dying from drugs than cars. This is big in America where traffic fatalities have long been an unfortunate fact of life. Safety standards have been improving so traffic deaths have fallen. I would have liked to see the traffic deaths applied to this graphic. It would have been more meaningful in the context of the article than the random bars behind the lines.
Where are alcohol related deaths?
The labels go from the very specific “Methodone” to the incredibly vague “other synthetic narcotics” and “other opioids”. The article says that the growth in drug-related fatalities is coming from prescription drugs like Oxycontin, Vicodin, and Methadone. OxyContin and Vicodin contain hydrocodone which places them in the “other opioids” category but it seems like it would also place them in the “other synthetic narcotics” category.
There are plenty of people who will not read the whole article. The graphic needs to speak for itself with clarity, complexity, and completeness otherwise it risks oversimplification and obfuscation.
Oxycodone in grams distributed per 100,000 Population, Arizona and US, 1997-2006
The Proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Work Group, January 2009 included a presentation by James Cunningham that featured this data about the increase of oxycodone across the US population. I think this graph helps contextualize the oddly stylized line graph that is the central focus of this post. Here you can see that there is simply much more hydrocodone around than there used to be. The original article by the AP attributes this to the recognition of the treatment of chronic pain as a new and challenging medical field. In that case, then, it should be no surprise that Arizona is a hotbed for hydrocodone prescriptions because the state’s demographic is over-represented by the elderly who are more likely to need pain management strategies.
I don’t usually get political, and I’ll probably regret posing this question, but here goes.
Do drug companies bear any responsibility for the fatalities involving prescription drugs? Clearly it is in their financial interest to sell an addictive product – and nobody denies that opioids are addictive. Big tobacco ended up having to pay out millions, but that’s because in the beginning, they denied that their products were so unhealthy that using them was potentially fatal. Opioid producers are not making claims one way or the other on the question of fatality beyond admission that the substances are addictive and should be monitored by doctors. This shifts the blame to doctors, but it is often the case that addicted patients will seek these drugs from all sorts of different doctors making it difficult for any given doctor to know just what the patient was prescribed by some other health care professional. It is important to note that opioids offer meaningful treatment for chronic pain where tobacco products did not play a legitimate roll in mainstream medicine and thus should not be banned or taxed, etc.
This brings us back to the original question: should big pharma take some responsibility for deaths due to use/abuse of the prescription drugs from which they derive profit?
Associated Press. (2009, September 30) In 16 states, drug deaths overtake traffic fatalities at cleveland.com
A bigger version of the graphic is here: Drug-related deaths increase
Hydrocodone fast facts from drug-addiction.com
Community Epidemiology Working Group. (2009, January) Epidemiologic Trends in Drug Abuse: Proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Working Group | Highlights and Executive Summary [PDF] US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. | <urn:uuid:7c628127-f6a8-4aee-9085-af25a4c9080d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thesocietypages.org/graphicsociology/tag/health-care/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955844 | 921 | 2.40625 | 2 |
Antacids may not be the answer.
There are many different causes for heartburn and indigestion, which include hiatal hernia, gastroesophogeal (GE) reflux, gastritis, ulcer disease, gallbladder disease, excessive acid production, low acid production, pancreatic insufficiency and food allergy. But I believe one of the most common causes of heartburn and indigestion is hypochlorhydria, which is decreased gastric acid secretion or, more simply put, not enough hydrochloric acid.
Approximately 50 percent of people over the age of 50 have low stomach acidity. The stressful lifestyles of most Americans account for much of this. Carrying too heavy a stress load is like running your car engine past the red line, or leaving your toaster stuck in the "on" position, or running a nuclear reactor past maximum permissible power. Sooner or later something will break, burn up or melt down. read more | <urn:uuid:3fac302c-1db8-49b5-8b4f-1e7770da280b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.charismamag.com/site-archives/72-new-man?start=91 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92785 | 204 | 2.921875 | 3 |
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Emergency Care for Children: Growing Pains
classify the strategies into three groups: provider policies, provider training, and technologies. Ideally, organizations would adopt all three of these strategies. A few examples of each type are given here.
One of the problems associated with reducing the incidence of medical errors is that the frequency of errors and their most important triggers are unknown. Provider initiatives aimed at raising awareness of medical errors have shown some potential, although such programs must be coupled with limits on provider liability to encourage participation. For example, one hospital created and implemented the Good Catch Reporting Program. Under this program, all staff are required to report suspected and identified medical errors and near misses without fear of reprisal. Senior hospital leadership appointed a patient safety manager who reports to the chief nurse and reviews all errors and near misses. This information is used to develop system improvements for patient safety. Within the first 3 months of the program, reporting of near misses doubled (Salisbury, 2005). This approach could also be applied to the EMS environment.
EMS and hospital administrators have a number of opportunities to examine and specifically develop policies to address areas in which they believe shortcomings in patient safety exist. One hospital created the Look Alike/Sound Alike Project, in which a second person is required to verify all medications prior to their administration to a patient. Additionally, a pharmacist separated all look alike/sound alike medications in the pharmacy and clinics. Since the project was implemented, no look alike/sound alike medication errors have been identified (Salisbury, 2005).
Energized by successes in the aviation industry, where teamwork training has led to reductions in errors and improved performance (Risser et al., 1999; Sprague, 1999), several organizations have promoted the concept of teamwork training for health professionals. The similarities between pilots and doctors—highly trained technically, accustomed to viewing themselves as bearers of ultimate authority and responsibility, independent yet increasingly dependent on others of varying skill levels—suggest that teamwork training may be influential in reducing errors in the medical field (Sprague, 1999). Research on the impact of teamwork training in the ED is limited but promising. MedTeams, a Department of Defense (DoD) project that introduced teamwork training to health care, developed an Emergency Team Coordination Course (ETCC), an 8-hour didactic course for physicians, nurses, technicians, and support personnel. An evaluation of the course re- | <urn:uuid:49316097-775e-49ed-a56a-b1e719c730dc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11655&page=198 | 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 | 0.946209 | 526 | 2.609375 | 3 |
The Northern course (in Norwegian Nordkapp ) is a 307 meters height cliff which dominates the Arctic Icy Océan and which marks the septentrional point symbolically more of Europe (). It is located on the Norwegian island of Magerøy. In fact, another course of this island, more with the west, the Knivskjellodden, is a little more in north but it is low height and does not present such a majestic character.
It is an appreciated tourist destination: 200.000 people would visit it each year, to admire there, in particular, the Midnight sun. Still it is necessary that the weather conditions lend themselves to it, which is not always the case.
- Nordkapp kommune
- Satellite image of the Northern Cape
|Random links:||Arkansas | Canton of Geneva | Sprinkled | Music Corporation off America | Liliane Dayot | University of the communication of the Indian Ocean | Medina| | <urn:uuid:243ee4ba-e80b-4621-b7d5-07a617a84fa8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.speedylook.com/Northern_Cape.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907069 | 201 | 2.125 | 2 |
GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
General Electric (GE) has revealed design details of the turbofan ramjet at the heart of one of NASA's long-term third-generation Space Shuttle replacement proposals. The Revolutionary Turbine Accelerator (RTA-1) engine is based on GE's YF120 variable cycle engine developed for the Advanced Tactical Fighter programme which spawned the Lockheed Martin F/A-22.
The RTA is being studied under NASA's Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) project aimed at providing aircraft-like spaceflight operations, as the first element of NASA's Next Generation Launch Technology initiative. The TBCC is competing against a rocket-based combined cycle alternative with a downselection expected in 2009.
Any full-scale production version of the RTA would be based on a versatile core derived from CFM International's Tech56 technology project and US government-industry versatile affordable advanced turbine engine development initiatives.
The RTA-1 is designed to accelerate from a standing start to around Mach 4.1 at 56,000ft (17,000m) in eight minutes. Following a normal take-off and acceleration to Mach 2 with afterburner in single bypass mode, the RTA will transition to double bypass mode for acceleration to M3. A key feature of the RTA is a combined ramjet/afterburner dubbed the "hyperburner". Above M3 the hyperburner transitions from an afterburner to a ramjet burner for the final jump to M4-plus, after which the second-stage space vehicle will separate from the RTA-powered vehicle, the former landing as a conventional aircraft. At M4 GE says the engine core is at flight idle and all the thrust is generated by the hyperburner.
Design work is under way at GE on a new fan and fan frame for the YF120 which is being refurbished, and a new core-driven fan stage and hyperburner are being developed. | <urn:uuid:4d16d5b3-a0c1-42cb-b6b3-0feecfe7e436> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ge-unveils-ramjet-design-for-shuttle-171555/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93088 | 411 | 2.421875 | 2 |
Trombonist Eddie Bert Dead at 90
Played with Mingus, Goodman, Monk, Ellington and others
Trombonist Eddie Bert, 90, who played with Thelonious Monk, Illinois Jacquet, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus and many others in a six-plus-decade career, died Sept. 28 in Danbury, Conn. A cause of death was not divulged.
Bert was born in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1922. He joined the bands of Sam Donahue and Red Norvo in the 1940s before going on to play with the above-named as well as Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Barnet, Tito Puente, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Mel Lewis and Thad Jones and others.
Bert cut his first recording as a leader in 1942 and later released recordings for the Discovery, Savoy, Jazztone and Trans-World labels. He also toured with T.S. Monk, the son of Thelonious. Bert remained active into the early 2000s. | <urn:uuid:25c60ae7-cc6e-45c2-a979-5408a67f3d37> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jazztimes.com/articles/56292-trombonist-eddie-bert-dead-at-90 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963934 | 226 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Both Are Different , A mobile app is an application that runs on a mobile device to perform a specific function.
Mobile Apps have Number Of Drawbacks , one of major for mobile app is its cost. Apps usually have to be built to run on specific devices, so if your target audience is using a combination of i Pads, i Phones, Android devices and so on.
Mobile Website is platform Independent and open with variety of different mobile devices using whatever web browsers are installed on those devices .
For Getting More Concluded Discussion On Mobile Website and Mobile Application Would Like to Suggest you to follow Link
Where Both Pros and Cons of Mobile website as Well Mobile Apps are Discussed and Also A Conclusion is made over What is Better for you and Why ?
The golden rule for every business man is this: “Put yourself in your customer’s place. | <urn:uuid:883b960f-2e81-49af-96ec-ecd945d22e05> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?272679-What-is-Good-to-Choose-Android-or-iPhone-Development&goto=nextoldest | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.911145 | 176 | 2.125 | 2 |
Autism in the News – 07.13.11
Study: Siblings of Autistic Kids Show Similar Brain Activity (TIME)
The genetic roots of autism may reach further in families than previously thought, according to new research. Read more.
Risk factors for autism remain elusive (New York, N.Y.)
Research has hinted that various factors around the time of birth may raise a child’s risk of autism later in life, but there is still too little evidence to point to specific culprits, a US study said. Experts have long believed that genes play a key role in autism risk, but the study released last week found that genes appeared to explain a much smaller portion of the risk than previously suggested. Read more.
Father sues care home over death in van (Philly.com)
The father of a severely autistic man whose caretaker left him to die in a sweltering van last summer is suing the Bucks County facility he entrusted with his son’s care. Read more.
Former Memphis Man Charged With Dismembering Child In New York City (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
A two-state investigation is now underway to figure out why Levi Aron, 35, murdered and dismembered an autistic boy who was lost and trying to find his way home, according to the NYPD. Read more.
Insider: Nationwide Tour important part of Els’ career (Nationwide Tour)
Before Ernie Els was an international star he was like a lot of golfers who need a place to play to refine their talents. So like many others, Els turned to the Nationwide Tour. Read more. | <urn:uuid:82b5cfef-b855-4e9c-8b9c-d65b4611ae9d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.autismspeaks.org/2011/07/15/aitn-07131/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=20ee2ea151 | 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 | 0.955611 | 342 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Types of Aid
Grants are considered "gift aid" and do not have to be repaid. Eligibility for grants is determined by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), as calculated on the FAFSA. Visit the Grants section (scroll to page 2) to learn more about the various federal, state, and institutional grants available to UNI students.
The University of Northern Iowa offers scholarships each year to deserving students on the basis of merit and/or achievement. Many scholarships consider financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students can begin searching for scholarships by visiting the UNI Scholarship Directory. Scholarship selection is competitive and not all applicants will receive a scholarship. Scholarships require full-time enrollment and a minimum grade point average. Renewal of University scholarships may require any or all of the following: minimum grade point average, financial need, major, and annual completion of the UNIversity Scholarship Application.
Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Scholarships
Some scholarships at the University of Northern Iowa are awarded at the time of admission. Visit our comprehensive Scholarship Chart for more details on available scholarships and eligibility criteria. You will be notified of your selection for these awards by the Office of Student Financial Aid. All other scholarships at UNI require the completion of the UNIversity Scholarship Application. This allows students to apply for scholarships available in specific majors and University departments. The deadline for most scholarships is February 15, and the application is available from September until April 1. Be sure to check back in September each year so that you can begin the application process early for the upcoming school year.
Start your scholarship early in your high school career. Search within your high school and community for additional scholarships. Check into opportunities with your high school guidance office, places of employment, civic or religious organizations and businesses in the community. Scholarship searches can also be completed on a national level at www.FastWeb.com or www.finaid.org. Please remember that all scholarship searches should be free of charge. Be wary if fees are requested during the scholarship search process.
If you have been awarded an outside scholarship information must be submitted to our office. This can be done via your financial aid award (found within the Student Center tab of MyUNIverse) or by email at email@example.com.
Local/hometown scholarship organizations can use donor form when sending checks for students who have been awarded a scholarship.
Current Student Scholarships
The UNIversity Scholarship Application is your online resource for searching and applying for scholarships at the University of Northern Iowa. Be sure to begin your search and application process early and check carefully for scholarship deadlines. The deadline for most scholarships is February 15, and the application is available between September and April 1. Be sure to check back in September each year so that you can begin the application process early for the upcoming school year.
Graduate students should check with the Graduate College and their academic department to inquire about and apply for graduate scholarship opportunities.
The federal government has a variety of federal loan options available for students and parents, and we encourage you to review the following information carefully before making any decisions about your loans. If you have previously borrowed federal student loans at the University of Northern Iowa or another postsecondary institution, you should begin by reviewing your borrowing history at www.nslds.ed.gov using your FAFSA PIN. This will give you a better idea of how much you have borrowed to date and what your repayments might look like after graduation. Most importantly, remember that these are loans and they must be repaid, so borrow only what you need.
Wanting to earn some extra money or find a job that will provide an opportunity to expand your skill sets? The Online Job Board is your one stop search tool, designed to assist students in their search for student employment opportunities, both on and off-campus. Wage rates are competitive and students are paid on a bi-weekly basis. Visit the UNI Student Employment page to learn more about the exciting opportunities that await. | <urn:uuid:331345e4-beaf-469f-8a0b-45ca802a17e3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uni.edu/finaid/types-of-aid | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951007 | 830 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Submitted by: Bureau for Global Health
Do discordant couples, or those in which only one partner is HIV-positive, really contribute a majority of new HIV infections? Should interventions to address discordant couples receive a majority of funding? As the global response to HIV and AIDS evolves, fostering an open dialogue about what approaches work best is essential to mounting an effective response to the global pandemic. To achieve this, the Office of HIV/AIDS at USAID and the World Bank’s Global HIV/AIDS Program are co-sponsoring a debate series to examine emerging and sometimes controversial issues in HIV prevention. The latest debate, held August 26, at the World Bank headquarters in D.C. with webcast participants from over 20 countries, examined the role of HIV counseling and testing among couples in which only one of the two partners has HIV.
Drs. Susan Allen and Elizabeth Marum presented several sets of data to support the proposition. According to Dr. Allen’s work in Rwanda and Zambia, a majority of new infections were the result of transmission within co-habiting or married couples. Drs. Allen and Marum additionally argued that couples testing and counseling was an evidence-based and cost-effective intervention, which should be scaled up to prevent large numbers of new infections.
On the contrary, Drs. Gray and Halperin provided data opposing the proposition. For instance, in Rakai, Uganda, intra couple transmission within known HIV discordant couples contributed approximately 30 percent of new infections. Among other arguments, Dr. Halperin stated that a majority of new infections cannot logically emerge from long-term stable couples in countries where marriage and cohabitation rates are low. Drs. Gray and Halperin concluded that a majority of new infections emerge from multiple and concurrent partnering practices and therefore that a majority of prevention funding should not be utilized for addressing sero-discordance among long-term stable partnerships.
These and other points of views made for a lively discussion that will hopefully improve our understanding about what drives HIV epidemics in Southern Africa.
Save the date of October 18, 2010, for the fourth debate in this series that will examine concurrent sexual partnerships.
Visit the Office of HIV/AIDS AIDSTAR-One HIV Prevention Knowledge Base to access resources about HIV Prevention for Serodiscordant Couples drawing on epidemiologic and demographic data. | <urn:uuid:3e2391f0-5686-438b-b111-5dc009a0b5b4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.usaid.gov/2010/09/usaid-world-bank-debate-series-opens-important-dialogue-on-hiv-prevention-in-africa/comment-page-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937185 | 487 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Washington, April 29: Maternal stress during first trimester of pregnancy may put newborns at risk for iron deficiency, which could lead to physical and mental delays down the road, say researchers.
Iron plays an important role in the development of organ systems, especially the brain. Well-known risk factors for poor iron status in infants are maternal iron deficiency, maternal diabetes, smoking during pregnancy, preterm birth, low birthweight and multiple pregnancy.
This study, conducted by researchers from Ashkelon Academic College and Barzilai Medical Center in Israel and the University of Michigan, is the first in humans to suggest that maternal stress early in pregnancy is another risk factor for low iron status in newborns.
Researchers, led by Rinat Armony-Sivan, PhD, director of the psychology research laboratory at Ashkelon Academic College, recruited pregnant women who were about to give birth at Barzilai Medical Center.
The first group of women (stress group) lived in an area where there were more than 600 rocket attacks (“Oferet Yetzuka” operation) during their first trimester of pregnancy. The control group lived in the same area and became pregnant three to four months after the rocket attacks ended.
Women were questioned briefly at the delivery room reception desk to determine whether they were healthy and without pregnancy complications. Eligible women who agreed to participate in the study were interviewed one or two days after delivery about their background and health during pregnancy. They also filled out questionnaires about depression and anxiety, and rated their stress level during pregnancy.
Cord blood was collected from newborns, and serum ferritin (iron) concentrations were measured.
Results showed that the 63 babies whose mothers were in the stress group had significantly lower cord-blood ferritin concentrations than the 77 infants in the control group.
“Our findings indicate that infants whose mothers were stressed during pregnancy are a previously unrecognized risk group for iron deficiency,” Dr. Armony-Sivan said.
“Pregnant women should be aware that their health, nutrition, stress level and state of mind will affect their baby’s health and well-being,” the researcher added.
Dr. Armony-Sivan concluded that it may be advisable to consider additional blood work before the well-child visit at 12 months of age, especially in high-risk populations, so that iron deficiency, with or without anemia, can be detected early and treated before it becomes chronic and severe.
The finding will be presented Sunday, April 29, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston. (ANI) | <urn:uuid:7cceca75-9951-419f-b492-665105a30496> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.indiatalkies.com/2012/04/mums-stress-early-pregnancy-affect-newborns-iron-status.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973573 | 542 | 2.875 | 3 |
I am wondering what is the best book to learn PHP from..
The, basically everything there is to know book:
PHP5 and MySQL Bible
Or, the more laid-back type of book such as:
What would you think is best?
My programming knowledge is somewhat limited;
I understand what variables, arrays, operators, and stuff are..
I know HTML/CSS
I know some Java, Turing..
Take that knowledge with a grain of salt though because I have a friend who wants to learn as well and his knowledge is basically just the understanding of what variables are.
Now I know some will say learning from books just' dont work, but, lets say if it did, what type of book would be best? The big bible, or the strait to the point Sams'.
Additionally, do you know if the PHP5 and MySQL Bible is a good book? Amazon has negative reviews which sorta scares me.
If you have any other books, please let me know about them! | <urn:uuid:072a252f-8b60-4a71-9c3b-12d4cd457bde> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?466863-The-best-book-to-learn-PHP-from&p=3330218 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93104 | 211 | 1.765625 | 2 |
A wide variety of programs meet the educational needs of the children through the Boys Ranch Independent School District (BRISD). Approved through the Texas Education Agency, the district includes an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. Basic academic courses meet state graduation requirements and provide a solid basis for future learning. Additionally, there are advanced courses, as well as comprehensive special education programs to teach children with learning disabilities in both resource and inclusion settings. A Gifted and Talented Program provides extra challenges and opportunities for student enrichment.
The district’s curriculum offerings are aligned to ensure that each student has the opportunity to participate in courses leading to success in college, the military, and employment. Participation in athletics, fine arts, or career and technology activities develops leadership, teamwork, and a solid work ethic.
Our students also participate in school sponsored extra-curricular activities and vocational training programs each day.
BRISD was established in 1941 through legislative action. It is considered a "special purpose" independent school district of Texas, funded in part through annual contributions from Cal Farley's and in part through state and federal education funding mechanisms.
BRISD Mission Statement
Boys Ranch Independent School District, an educational institution in partnership with the community, provides a balanced foundation for the mental, physical, emotional, and social development of its students as they prepare to cope with a wide variety of life experiences and to contribute productively to society.
Link to Boys Ranch Independent School District | <urn:uuid:372fbe5b-57c0-46d0-889c-fadff443a5f8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.calfarley.org/boysranch/Pages/BREducation.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963144 | 300 | 2.4375 | 2 |
by Michael Olmert
The basement kitchen of seventeenth-century Bacon's Castle in Surry County, Virginia, with brick hearth and timber lintel. In the eighteenth century, an outside kitchen—a summer kitchen—was built.
Barbara Ball slices lemons as garnish while working in the reconstructed kitchen of the Peyton Randolph House.
Reconstructed kitchen of the Peyton Randolph House, its central chimney rising from the hearth. The second floor was slave quarters.
Valarie Grey-Holmes as Lydia Broadnax, George Wythe's cook, at the door of the Wythe kitchen.
The kitchen was a circumscribed space. At least in the better sorts of households. Set off from the social, familial, or private sectors of the dwelling, the kitchen was where, out of sight, foodstuffs were collected, cleaned, manhandled, mixed, spiced, cooked, and often transformed into something not just nutritious but alluring. The meals were taken to a great room or hall, to be consumed in dignified and stately comfort.
For high-status families from the Middle Ages on, food was prepared in a lowly kitchen, often in a basement below, and delivered to a more exalted stage—a banqueting room in the Old World, a dining room in Anglo-America. It was eating as theater.
The kitchen was the utilitarian realm of a hardworking underclass. Linguistically, it was the haunt of the kitchen-lass, -girl, -slut, and -trull as well as the kitchen-boy, -page, -mechanic, and -drudge, not to mention the kitchen-slave. In eighteenth-century England generally, and London in particular, it was usually inside the house, commonly downstairs, an industrial place that implied odors, rubbish, offal, fats, soot, and smoke. Not what you want near your table.
In the beginning, colonial Virginians plunked for indoor kitchens. Jamestown townhouses had internal kitchens. In Williamsburg, a few kitchens still stand in basements, unused for more than a century, as at the College of William and Mary, its President's House, and Colonial Williamsburg's Public Gaol.
Prominent is the large kitchen under the college's Wren Building. With almost medieval élan, as if this were Oxbridge, not backwoods Virginia, the kitchen is directly below the great hall, where students and professors took their meals. This is likely the second basement kitchen, dating from the 1716 rebuilding of the Wren; a 1705 fire destroyed the short-lived first building.
The Wren kitchen, like the hall, is roughly twenty-five by sixty feet. Today a classroom, it is a low-ceilinged space with elegant shallow-arched windows that pierce the thick walls through splayed openings. At the east end is a fifteen-foot wide hearth. It's likely meals went out the west end and up a flight of steps to ceremonially reenter in the hall.
That stairway was demolished before 1732, when the hall's west end was shortened eighteen feet to match the length of the college chapel opposite. After 1732, presumably the food went winding up the east stairs behind the hearth, to emerge from behind the high table where the professors and their guests ate.
What's missing from the Wren kitchen is a baking oven for producing the scholars' daily bread. There are early references to a bake oven elsewhere on the campus, but its whereabouts have been lost.
There is, however, a small baking oven in the basement kitchen of the President's House, completed in 1733. Its hearth has a brick arch, instead of a large timber lintel, to support the vertical load of wall above. Next to the hearth, chest high, the brick wall is pierced by the opening to a small baking oven with a brick-domed interior. The social demands on the president, or the prestige of the office, may have made an oven necessary here, though this could by no means have supplied bread and cakes to the whole college.
In the basement kitchen under the Public Gaoler's House, built in 1722, eight courses of original bricks survive on one side of the hearth. The kitchen was for the gaoler, though some prison meals may have been prepared there as well.
Across the James River in Surry County, Bacon's Castle, built in 1665, has a vast basement kitchen. In the eighteenth century, it got an external kitchen. Winter kitchens, or warming kitchens, are seen in the basement at Stratford, and at Mt. Lubentia in Prince George's County, Maryland—though these plantations had large external, or summer, kitchens too.
The Mt. Lubentia 1798 tax listing says a passageway connected a thirty-two-foot-square kitchen to the house. That kitchen is gone, but the house, said to date to the 1760s, has its basement kitchen, fourteen by sixteen feet, under the dining room.
Other Virginia basement kitchens include a Capitol Landing house in Williamsburg listed for sale in the Virginia Gazette of April 29, 1737, that had a forty-foot-long "Brick Cellar from End to End, Part whereof is a Kitchen." In 1745, a Hampton, Virginia, house was for sale that has "two very good Cellars, and a Kitchen joining to each." And in 1754, a Williamsburg house was for sale "next Door to the Printing Office, with a good Kitchen and cellar underneath." There is evidence for many such kitchens.
And then something changed. Hugh Jones, a William and Mary mathematics teacher, is an early witness to the altered state of kitchens. Surveying the colony in 1724 in his Present State of Virginia, Jones says that common planters often keep their "kitchen apart from the dwelling house, because of the smell of victuals, offensive in hot weather." He doesn't mention the threat of fire.
Most of these kitchens were vernacular log structures chinked with clay, according to Colonial Williamsburg architectural historian Willie Graham. "Most of those don't survive," Graham says. "It's mainly high-end plantations where we still see the separate kitchen."
Jones had detected the future: the separate log, frame, or brick kitchen—often with an attic above for slave lodgings. The structure was usually near the main house, easing the delivery of a meal while the food was hot. The new kitchen architecture suddenly had little to do with cooking and everything to do with race, gender, and social space.
Colonial Williamsburg's most-studied kitchen is behind the Peyton Randolph house and connected to it by an angled, enclosed passage. Originally, the Randolphs had another kitchen in the center of their backyard. But they tore that down in the 1750s to open the space and put the outbuildings on the periphery of the property.
"The Peyton Randolph property is the one place in town," according to Ed Chappell, head of architectural research, "where you can see the kitchen and laundry in its full urban setting, with its covered walkway to the house, and its constant communication with the smokehouse, dairy, wellhead, granary, and privy, as well as with the upstairs slave quarter."
The reconstructed kitchen there now depends largely on the archaeological footprint and a microscopic inspection of the foundation mortar, which showed the original structure to have been three rooms long. It was labeled a "kitchen-laundry-quarter" on an early tax record. The cooking room with its great hearth is closest to the house. Next is a large room with a fireplace that could well have been a laundry, a scullery, or a back-up kitchen. The third room along is interpreted as a servants' hall, with a fireplace and a stairway to rooms where twenty-seven slaves lived.
The cook room's details are extrapolated from surviving Chesapeake kitchens. No mantle over the hearth. Utensils hang off the huge timber beam that serves as the hearth lintel. The wood has been hacked at to make its thin coat of plaster better adhere, but it flakes off anyway. No matter; this is a work space.
There are dressers along the walls. The bracketed shelves above are for storage. A table stout enough to survive a lifetime of thumping, but portable enough to be carried outside, away from the constant heat, centers the room.
Always hot and smoky, a kitchen was a difficult place to call home. Things are no different at Peyton Randolph's. Upstairs, the slave quarter is three bare rooms. There is a fireplace and the ceilings are plastered, both grand gestures, but the walls are open studs. Sunlight rakes in between the cladding boards, which are stuffed with fugitive tufts of wool or rags as a defense against the elements. Mattress ticking stuffed with straw serves for bedding; in August, these will be shifted outside for relief from the inferno.
Nevertheless, the rooms have locks, bespeaking a glimmer of privacy. And an enclosed stairway offers a measure of dignity in contrast with kitchens elsewhere that have bare ladders leading to a hole in the ceiling.
Though the Randolph kitchen is reconstructed, Colonial Williamsburg has such original kitchens as those at the Benjamin Powell (Extra image), Thomas Everard, Grissell Hay (Extra image), and Robert Carter Houses (Extra image 1 | Extra image 2), as well as at Bassett Hall. (Extra image) The Powell kitchen was once attached to the manse but was moved off in the early nineteenth century, a latecomer to the custom of separating guests and family from slaves and cooks.
The Everard kitchen, dating from the third quarter of the eighteenth century, displays high-style Flemish bond brickwork and dormer windows for the slave quarter upstairs. It's a prestige outbuilding, belonging to a man twice mayor. A bake oven was added, making for awkward external brickwork next to the original chimney.
Nevertheless, this kitchen has fustian touches, notably a dirt floor. An extension added a pantry, again on dirt, which probably housed a few slaves in addition to those who bunked upstairs. The building has a single door, which meant that slaves heading to their rooms had to pass through the common cook room.
The later eighteenth-century Bassett and Hay kitchens have separate entrances and enclosed stairways leading to the living quarter. This sort of architectural shift is seismic. It defeats the custom of slaves picking off scraps as they pass by the food-preparation tables. Temptation and food loss are minimized.
The Everard kitchen.
Moreover, the slave living space is more private, cosseting, and calm. "This is a late development," Chappell says, "when people were becoming more aware of the humanity of the slave." Some slaveholders wanted to be seen as more caring and charitable. So perhaps giving their workforces more privacy and peace made economic sense. Less stress and more self-esteem meant more efficient slaves. The kitchen had become a pat on the head.
In the hierarchy of slave labor, the cook was sitting pretty. "Cooks were in a position of authority," says Susan Holler, a Colonial Williamsburg cook and costumed interpreter. They were considered trustworthy. They got to shop and sign on their master's account. And they got their pick of leftovers returned from the table."
Food preparation, in an age celebrated for style and surface, required training and skills. Stratford Hall imported a white indentured servant to teach cooking to its black slaves. Few cooks grew up eating or seeing the foods they were later required to prepare. Epergnes, then as now, were thin on the ground among the lower classes.
Cooks learned to stand the heat. If kitchens were difficult places to live in, they were as demanding to work in. Frank Clark, manager of historic foodways, says, "Heat was the real deal-breaker. I mean, put your hand on the wall in the Governor's Palace kitchen. You can feel it. It never goes away."
Despite the heat, kitchens don't often burn. The Governor's Palace burned, but not its kitchen, which was later destroyed by Union troops. John Custis's brick kitchen survives, but his home is lost.
That bricks and chimney stacks retain heat gave rise to the bake oven, its elevated position making it easier to access. In it, you kindle a fire for several hours and rake out the coals. As the heat falls, you put foods in using a peel, a long-handled wooden shovel: bread first, then pastries, then cake, then cookies. The next day you bake delicate meringues or use the oven to dry herbs and fruit.
In Williamsburg, there is evidence for brick ovens inside kitchens at the Raleigh Tavern and at the Everard, St. George Tucker, Nicholas-Tyler, and George Wythe Houses.
Exterior ovens also were found at Williamsburg. Five have been restored, their rounded tops looking like vast bee skeps behind the Benjamin Powell, James Semple, Elizabeth Reynolds, Robert Carter, and Norton-Cole Houses. The drawback of outside ovens is that they cool too quickly, making them useless as two-day ovens.
Few colonial kitchens had bake ovens. They had Dutch ovens, heavy cast-iron pots with little feet for settling into a bank of coals. A rimmed lid held coals on top. The Dutch oven shows us how hearths were used. The back was for maintaining the fire and generating coals to be raked out into piles to heat ovens or pans.
Some kitchens have grates in the hearth to hold pots. In others, kettles swing over the flames from a crane or dangle from an iron trammel bar in the chimney. Sometimes spits rotate over the fire, turned by roasting jacks.
The detached kitchen was a departure from architectural custom. It had perhaps little to do with the threat of fire and maybe everything to do with slavery. Kitchens were essential to the food miracle. That is, the grinding work of preparing food was suppressed, while meals were seen to be regally set before the nonchalant family and its guests. Food just appears, like grace itself, demonstrating family status and privilege.
And this was so for kitchens in basements, kitchens connected to the house by passageways, and separate kitchens, untethered from ordinary existence. "Rule by ostentation" is what historian Fernand Braudel would have called it, a phrase that covers all the little rituals by which the powerful show they deserve their power. They were blessed.
Michael Olmert teaches English at the University of Maryland. Interested in the small architecture of the eighteenth century, he has written for the journal about privies, ice houses, garden canals, dovecotes, dairies, and smokehouses. | <urn:uuid:e7ee5f0f-077c-4d87-8f01-906238191d60> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://history.org/Foundation/journal/Summer07/kitchens.cfm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971945 | 3,128 | 2.4375 | 2 |