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A varied diet is important to maintain the health of your chinchilla. Treats also provide a way to build trust. While raisins are clearly favored by our chinchillas, we also try other products to provide variety and balance.
Carrot Cake Treats
These treats currently rank at the top of our list of favorites. Their shape and size allow us to hold on to the treat while allowing our chinchillas to nibble. We can get them to sit on us or stand on their hind legs while eating. Quite entertaining.
Herb Kracker Sticks
These sticks of seeds are messy, but well liked by our chinchillas. Their size makes them good for encouraging our chinchillas to sit or stand in certain positions for photos. However, because the seeds come off easily, our chinchillas often eat and run.
This treat is a blend of dried fruit that seems like it should be appealing to chinchillas. What we found is that our chinchillas do indeed eat it, but they prefer certain items over others. Unlike some other treats that you can hold between your fingers, this mix needs to be served in the palm of your hand which means you can't do things like have your chinchillas stand on their hind legs to reach the treat.
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Sonia Gandhi is the world’s fourth richest politician, said Business Insider, a U.S. based internet news aggregator and publisher. As per the report, the UPA chairperson’s wealth is currently valued at $2-19 billion (Rs 10,000-45,000 crore).
The wide range given, $2-19 billion is a giveaway that these numbers may have been plucked out of a hat.
As per Netapedia, an online encyclopedia about India’s politicians and the political events, Sonia Gandhi has movable assets worth 1, 17, 70,468 and immovable assets worth 20, 24,300. This financial information was as per affidavit filed before the 2009 general elections.
Firstpost’s own estimate, based on income disclosed by Sonia Gandhi during the last general elections and the income-generating assets she owns, suggests that her annual income cannot be more than Rs 50-75 lakh.
Given the wide range within which her assumed wealth is estimated, it is obvious that Business Insider is not sure what the numbers really are. The online publication has sourced the story to a website called ‘World’s Luxury Guide’. Luxury Guide in turn traces its information to five other sources like OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, and Guardian.co.uk.
- Five Indians in World’s Most Powerful List (ktrmurali.wordpress.com)
- WIll work on plan to correct mistakes we have made: Sonia Gandhi (ktrmurali.wordpress.com)
- Sonia Gandhi goes abroad for medical check-up (thehindu.com)
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News tends to be about bad things that happen - like shootings or corruption, robberies and death.
So as we look in the rearview mirror at 2012, we should remember those stories that warm our hearts, the stories about the things people do that inspire us or motivate us to do better.
In that spirit, here are 12 Tulsa World stories that made us feel good in 2012.
Leland Duff poses with the cat that saved his life at the roadside fruit and vegetable stand. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Leland Duff thought he was going to die when the former Stringtown saloon he stayed in caught fire one night in April, but an unlikely hero came to the rescue.
A stray cat.
"If it hadn't been for that cat, I would've burned up in there myself." Duff said.
Before the fire, the 85-year-old man had moved to South Dakota to live with his son because his doctor told him he couldn't live alone anymore.
But it was too cold.
So he came back home and became the defacto night watchman at the fruit stand housed in the old saloon.
Duff never imagined a cat would do so much for him.
To read Duff's story published July 5, go to tulsaworld.com/straycat.
Abigail Smith, 17, a senior at Glenpool High School, receives a hug from her friend Chance Acosta, a junior at the school, in May. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Abigail Smith faced graduation from Glenpool High School without two of the most important people in her life.
Her father died of a drug overdose and her mother died after a five-year battle with breast cancer.
But with the support of counselors and teachers at Glenpool High, as well as an aunt, uncle and her little sister, Smith persevered through it all.
"I really didn't want to let something so human defeat me," she said. "People are going to die, but you have to make the choice of whether you're going to let that ruin you or whether you're going to let that make you a stronger person. It's going to hurt. But everybody goes through pain.
To read Abigail's story published May 17, go to tulsaworld.com/abigailsmith.
Danny Cotner of the Rogers Baptist Church chainsaw team from Claremore saws a tree as volunteers remove debris near Mannford in August. CORY YOUNG/ Tulsa World
After wildfires devastated much of Creek County during the summer, people from all over stepped in to help.
The August wildfires burned nearly 400 homes to the ground and left hundreds of people homeless.
"For us, it's like a death in the family, so it's like a funeral," said Joe Anaya, whose family lost their Mannford home.
A Southern Baptist Convention disaster-relief team from Arizona cleaned up the site where their home once stood.
"I'm so thankful. This has given us a very big head start at rebuilding our lives," Anaya said.
To read this story published Aug. 26, go to tulsaworld.com/creekcountyfires
Sheri Melgoza on Wednesday shows off her kitchen, which was given a makeover by members of Woodlake Assembly of God. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
Tulsan Sheri Melgoza has had her share of hardships.
Two liver transplants. A heart attack and a stroke during the second surgery.
Then her oldest son was killed in a motorcycle accident as she recovered in the hospital.
She needed something good to happen. That's when Woodlake Assembly of God chose her for their home makeover project.
The Rev. Jamie Austin, pastor of Woodlake Assembly, said the church started the home makeover program two years ago as a way to "get outside the church walls."
"A lot of the families we choose are not Christians. We tell them: We're not going to preach to you. We just want to show the love of Christ."
To read the Aug. 18 story, go to tulsaworld.com/homemakeover.
Karrington (left), 13, Avi Joy, 5, Nehemiah, 3, and Natasha Perryman have family reading time as they go about their home school lessons in February. Karrington was adopted from DHS custody, and the two younger children were traditional international adoptions. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Since she was 8 years old, Karrington had bounced from foster home to foster home.
By age 12, she had fallen behind in school and had trouble with her weight.
But one day at the Oklahoma City zoo, she met Adam and Natasha Perryman, who were looking to expand their family.
They prayed about Karrington and felt God led them to adopt her. It wasn't easy making the transition into a forever family. The 12-year-old felt she was being suffocated, and she shut down, said her mother, Natasha Perryman.
Eventually, Karrington started coming around.
"She didn't understand what family was really supposed to be like and just gave up," Natasha Perryman said. "We gave her consistent love, never giving up. We knew she was worth redeeming, and God is helping heal her."
To read the Feb. 19 story, go to tulsaworld.com/adopted.
Newly retired, Don Comstock finally had time to notice the trash and weeds and junk dotting his west Tulsa neighborhood.
He decided to clean up a nearby vacant lot. Then he noticed an abandoned house and began clearing the weeds. That expanded to weed-eating and picking up garbage along roadways.
Now he organizes residents in west Tulsa for Clean-up Days and was named a Neighborhood Hero by County Commissioner Karen Keith.
To read Comstock's story, published Nov. 18, go to tulsaworld.com/trashcleanup
Marines escort the casket of World War II Marine Walter "Dub" Vincent of Tulsa to his burial site at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa on May 5. Vincent's remains were recovered from a South Pacific island crash site and returned to Tulsa. JAMES GIBBARD/ Tulsa World
Walter "Dub" Vincent and his crewmates were declared missing after their B-25 bomber went down on April 22, 1944.
For years, Vincent's family assumed the Marine second lieutenant's plane had crashed into the sea in the South Pacific.
More than 60 years later, one of his relatives wanted to learn more. And what he learned led him to a remote island archipelago now called Vanuatu, where he and a group of family members inexplicably found the wreckage of Vincent's plane along with his remains in a thick jungle.
They were able to bring "Uncle Dub" home for a proper burial near other family members at Tulsa's Memorial Park Cemetery.
"It's emotional," said Vincent's great-niece, Brooke Desrochers, a lieutenant and naval flight officer. "Not even knowing him, it takes you by surprise. It definitely has an impact on you."
To read the story about bringing Walter "Dub" Vincent home, go to tulsaworld.com/waltervincent.
For Patrick Osborne, Christmas is a year-round endeavor.
He is known as the "Christmas card man" - and for good reason.
All throughout the year, he fills out Christmas cards to send during the holiday season.
His passion began 15 years ago when he wanted to make sure that fellow residents in his residential care home were remembered at Christmas.
Now, he sends some 3,000 cards to jail inmates, nursing home residents, politicians and world leaders.
Some have even sent him cards in return, including former President George W. Bush, Jay Leno and members of the British royal family.
To read the story about Osborne published Dec. 1, go to tulsaworld.com/christmascardman.
Rashawn Anderson, a second-grader at Gilcrease Elementary School, receives a backpack Thursday filled with several educational materials from Edison Preparatory School's Austin Morgan as part of Morgan's "Promoting Literacy Through Books and Backpacks" Eagle Scout project. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Austin Morgan had a big vision for his Eagle Scout service project.
The Edison Preparatory School sophomore decided he wanted to help as many needy children as he could.
So he raised $3,000 and solicited donations of backpacks and books.
More than 300 students from Gilcrease Elementary enthusiastically got to pick out five new books and a backpack to take home with them.
"What I hope to inspire is a greater love of literacy, whether you are just learning to read or are advancing your reading skills," Morgan said.
He learned many of the children didn't have the right clothes for the winter weather, so he and some scout friends began to take up that cause.
"I've learned I'm very blessed in my personal life," Morgan said. "It's very eye-opening. Not even a few miles away, this is the lifestyle of kids that is completely on the other side of the spectrum from my lifestyle."
To read the story about Morgan published April 12, go to tulsaworld.com/eaglescout.
U.S. Army Spc. Ashley Jones (center) waves to well-wishers as she rides with Joy Jackson (left) and Brittany Webb during a welcome-home parade in Cleveland, Okla., on Saturday. The three women were deployed together. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World
Ashley Jones came home to Cleveland to find she is her hometown's hero.
On St. Patrick's Day, the town's residents put aside the Irish holiday to honor her with a parade.
"It really helps," Jones said. "They've really helped me more than they know."
The 21-year-old's right leg was amputated below the knee after an improvised explosive device struck a convoy she was in while serving as a combat medic in Afghanistan.
She had months of physical rehabilitation ahead of her. But for that day, Jones relished the love and support her town displayed for her sacrifice to country.
Said her father, Chris Jones, "This is the best little town there is."
To read the March 18 story, go to tulsaworld.com/clevelandhero.
Judy Stephens pets her dogs Coal (left) and Samantha at her home in Tulsa in September. Coal, a Labrador who served as a bomb-sniffing dog in Afghanistan, was adopted by Stephens and her husband. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
After four years of serving the country in war zones, it's all biscuits and belly rubbing for Coal.
The 7-year-old Labrador retriever found his new home in Tulsa with Phil and Judy Stephens, who adopted him after his retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps in January.
Coal had seen too much in his work as a dog who sniffed out improvised explosive devices, more than half the time in Afghanistan. He lost his tail in one of two blasts he was near. He now limps and has some hearing loss.
"These dogs are soldiers," Judy Stephens said. "They give their life for this country, and what do we do? We go off and leave them."
Coal arrived in Tulsa in September and is now learning how to relax and how to play with a rubber ball.
"It's also a sense of giving back when you take one on and give him a good home," Phil Stephens added.
To read Coal's story published Sept. 23, go to tulsaworld.com/coal.
Carrie Cook (left), listens to her sons Aidan, 7, and Zachary, 9 (right), with her mother, Jan Kent, on Tuesday on the front porch of their new Joplin home. The house was completed in November as part of the Tulsa Habitat for Humanity's "Ten for Joplin." JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World
Zachary Cook kept praying for a home, even though his mother told him it was a long shot.
The Cook family's apartment had been destroyed by the tornado that ripped through Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011.
"We never, ever thought we were going to own our own home," said Zachary's mother, Carrie Cook. "That was never going to be an option for us."
But the 9-year-old boy kept praying.
To his mother's surprise, Zachary's family was selected to receive one of 10 homes built by Tulsa Habitat for Humanity's "Ten for Joplin" program.
The homes were built in a little more than two weeks, and the Cooks - Carrie, 38, Zachary, 9, and Aidan, 7 - moved in right away.
"I want to thank Tulsa for coming together and doing this for Joplin," Cook said.
To read the story about the Cook family published May 20, go to tulsaworld.com/cooks.
Original Print Headline: Stories that inspired us
Kim Archer 918-581-8315
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this event does not allow RSVP
Loans can be a financial deal by which one particular party (the borrowed funds supplier) concurs to provide another party (the client some cash with the desire associated with total repayment. The particular relation to funding are often typed out using a promissory note or any other contract. The customer need to accept the particular payment terms, including the balance due, interest rate and also payment dates. A few loan providers could also assign fiscal fines for have missed or late obligations.
Must be loan may incorporate many invisible costs for instance interestobligations as well as finance costs, a lot of people often stay away from for just one till it might be important.
Buying a brand new car or even property more often than not requires some sort of bank loan from your financial institution, whether it is the bank mortgage or possibly a private bank loan with all the vendor.
Financing a larger schooling may possibly also need to have a government-backed education bank loan. Interest rates on these types of large financial loans could possibly be fixed during the time of the application form or even may differ based on the federal excellent rate of interest.
payday loans nyc
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U.S. stocks tumbled Monday as a controversial bailout and bank tax in Cyprus reminded investors that Europe's debt problems are far from over.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.4%, while the S&P 500 lost 0.5% and the Nasdaq declined 0.3%.
Investors were concerned by news that euro area officials would tax bank deposits in Cyprus as part of a €10 billion bailout the nation's over-leveraged banking sector. The news sent Asian stocks into a tailspin and weighed on European markets earlier Monday.
Bill Stone, chief market strategist at PNC wealth management, said investors may once again worry about the links between banks and the most troubled, heavily indebted countries that are part of the eurozone. But he added that the situation in Cyprus is fluid and the island nation of about 800,000 people is not likely to cause a shift in Europe's economic outlook.
The reaction was more muted in the United States, where a small pullback in stocks shouldn't be a big surprise given that the Dow and S&P 500 are near record highs. After rising for 10 trading days in a row, U.S. stocks edged lower Friday, ending the longest winning streak since 1996.
Under the provisional agreement with Cyprus, the European Union has required a one-time tax of 6.75% on bank deposits of less than €100,000, and 9.9% for those over that amount.
Cypriots rushed to ATMs as the country tried to win parliamentary support. While eurozone leaders stressed that Cyprus is a unique case, investors worry that depositors in other financially weak European nations might face similar bailout provisions in the future.
"The real problem with the Cypriot bank tax proposal is that it breaks an implicit covenant that depositors will not be subject to losses from bank failure," said Guy LeBas, chief fixed income strategist at Janney Capital Markets.
Given the Cypriot economy's size (less than 0.5% of overall output in the eurozone) and the amount of money involved, it's unlikely financial contagion will spread to other euro area nations according to analysts at Barclays Capital.
"We consider the likelihood of a bank run in other periphery countries to be limited, including in Greece," the analysts wrote in a report.
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This is a guest post by Lesley DeSantis, who’s a content development specialist for Twiends.
Because of its brief posts, active user base, and real-time updating capabilities, Twittercan be a great way to promote yourself or your business. With the way Twitter users keep on top of the latest news, the site is an easy way to reach a large number of peoplein a short period of time, especially if you follow a few simple tips.People are easily flattered. If you stumble across an interesting Tweet, don’t hesitate to follow the author. He or she will get a notification that someone new is following their feed, and likely won’t be able to resist the temptation to check out your profile to see who you are.
They also might be flattered that you’re following them, and decide to return the favor. The same logic applies to Re-Tweets. When you come across a clever Tweet, Retweet it. The original author of the post is likely to begin following you and might Retweet one of your posts in the future. Everyone who Retweets you will be broadcasting your username and clever comments to all of their subscribers, netting you tons of traffic and likely a handful of new followers.
Link your Twitter feed to your Facebook account. Your Tweets will be broadcast to all your Facebook friends, allowing you to tap into whatever social network you already have. Not only that, Facebook allows users to “like” and comment on those posts, meaning your Tweets can make it to the homepages of friends of friends on Facebook. If these users see something they like, they can easily follow the link back to your Twitter page. Encourage your website or blog readers to find you on Twitter.
There are even blogging applications that let you port your Twitter feed directly into your blog, usually by posting it in one of the sidebars. If you regularly contribute to online forums, include your Twitter address in your signature. The more clever, insightful, and interesting your forum posts are, the more likely readers will be to seek out your wit in other places on the Internet.
Once you get new followers, it’s important to work hard to keep them. Post regularly, but not too often. Twitter is a dynamic, fast-paced site. Users are constantly reading, retweeting, forwarding, and commenting on the most recent hot topics. If you post regularly about the biggest issues of the day, you’ll keep your name swirling around the site through search pages and top tweets and retweets.
Stay silent for awhile, and not only will you lose out on that publicity, but old followers might unsubscribe from your feed. At the same time, it’s easy to lose new subscribers quickly by overpowering their feed with a new message every 30 seconds. Find a happy medium that works for your purpose but also keeps your followers satisfied.
Of course, the best and easiest way to get followers in Twitter is to be a good Tweeter. No one but your closest friends really care that you’re about to get on the bus to go to work, and not even they care that you’re about to clip your toenails. The mundane details of your life aren’t interesting unless you can present them in a clever or humorous way. If your online presence is more geared towards news and current events than personal information, creativity is even more important. In this case, even your closest friends won’t be interested in reading 140 characters that blandly repeat huge news stories that nearly everyone already knows. On the other hand, if you can provide insightful comments or humorous twists on the news, users will happily forward your comments along to their friends.
Be clever and creative, and you just might be the next Internet sensation!!!
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Pine Street Inn’s guests often struggle to get back on their feet only to discover that housing is beyond their grasp. For many, the cost of market-rate housing is a barrier. For others, the difficulty of managing daily life on their own in the face of ill health, old age or a disability makes most housing options unworkable.
Since 1984, Pine Street Inn has developed permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals with on-site support staff.
A typical residence includes private rooms with common kitchens, bathrooms and living areas. Tenants pay up to 30 percent of their annual income (many make less than $9,000 annually) as rent. On-site staff helps tenants to connect with community services, maintain stability and avoid a return to homelessness. Specialized housing is available to for elderly tenants, individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness, those with a history of mental illness or individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Pine Street Housing Map
Housing is the Solution to HomelessnessOver the past 10 years, Pine Street has focused significant efforts toward creating more permanent, supportive and affordable housing options for homeless men and women. It now houses more than 700 people at 36 sites in Boston and Brookline.
By 2013, Pine Street will expand its housing for chronically homeless adults by 300 units, while also reducing the demand for emergency shelter beds.
Read more about Pine Street’s housing expansion strategy.
Scattered Site HousingSome people we work with prefer not to live in a group environment. Others require even more intensive services that Pine Street’s housing provides. Therefore, Pine Street also supports more than 300 units of scattered site housing throughout the neighborhoods of Boston, Chelsea, Brookline and Watertown.
Tenants in these one- or two-bedroom apartments have experienced chronic homelessness and receive intensive support to help them develop life skills leading to greater independence. Case managers provide assistance with activities of daily living; healthcare referrals; community integration; goal setting; and job training, employment of volunteer opportunities.
Housing FirstIn 2007, Pine Street launched an innovative Housing First program, which places chronically homeless people directly in housing and then introduces treatment, services and referrals to keep them there. Of the 151 individuals who have been placed in permanent housing through this program, 136 remain housed as of January 2011.
Read a Housing First Case Study
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By Sharon Begley
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A presidential ethics panel has opened the door to testing an anthrax vaccine on children as young as infants, bringing an angry response from critics who say the children would be guinea pigs in a study that would never help them and might harm them.
The report, however, released on Tuesday by the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, said researchers would have to overcome numerous hurdles before launching an anthrax-vaccine trial in children. It now goes to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, who will decide whether to take the steps the commission recommended.
The one anthrax vaccine approved in the United States, called BioThrax, is made by Emergent BioSolutions Inc of Rockville, Maryland. The company reported $215.9 million in sales of BioThrax, its only licensed product, in 2012.
The ethics commission took up the issue after a biodefense panel recommended in 2011 that the anthrax vaccine be tested in children. That endorsement, by the National Biodefense Science Board, came with the caveat that such a study also get the go-ahead from a bioethics panel.
It did, albeit conditionally.
"We have to get this precisely right," panel Chair Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, said at a news conference. "Many significant steps would have to be taken" before a pediatric anthrax vaccine trial could be considered, she said. But she added that it is important "to develop the knowledge needed to save children's lives" in the event of an anthrax attack.
Balancing the need to protect children against the need to know, for instance, the safe dose of the vaccine, made this "one of the most difficult ethical reviews a bioethics board has ever conducted," Gutmann said.
Activists said the board was wrong not to oppose unequivocally testing the anthrax vaccine in children.
Vera Sharav, founder of the Alliance for Human Research Protection, predicted that such a study would cause "moral harm for us as a nation and suffering for the children. They should have said, 'thou shalt not.'"
The idea of testing an anthrax vaccine in children arose when a 2011 war game, called Dark Zephyr, presented to policy makers a scenario in which terrorists released anthrax on a city modeled on San Francisco. Doctors did not know what dose of the vaccine to give children. That presented a dilemma: should children be vaccinated anyway, or should the government test the vaccine on them first to establish a safe dose?
Information about safety has come from giving the vaccine to some 2.9 million adults, mostly members of the armed forces who were thought to be at risk of exposure to biological weapons in Iraq. Information about efficacy has come from animal studies, as it is unethical to expose someone to anthrax intentionally to see if the vaccine works, and from measurements of the anthrax-fighting antibodies a vaccinated person produces.
Federal regulations set a high bar for research on kids. If the chance of their benefiting is minuscule or nil, and the potential risk even minimal, children are usually off-limits.
The presidential bioethics panel conceded that "there is no prospect of direct benefit to children" who participate in an anthrax-vaccine study, Gutmann said. According to the biodefense board, children in such a study would face more than minimal risk (defined as a risk no greater than that in daily life or at a check-up), mostly because the side effects of the vaccine in children are unknown.
Because the vaccine poses more than minimal risk to children, any proposal for testing it in them would have to clear several hurdles, the commission said. One pre-requisite for such a study is rigorously testing the vaccine in the youngest adults, starting at age 18.
"You'd work your way down from 18-year-olds," said Dr. John Parker, a retired army major general and chairman of the biodefense board. "If it were safe you'd go to 17-year-olds, then 16-year olds." After each round showing minimal harm, "you'd ask permission to move on to younger children."
The youngest age for testing is not clear, said Parker, "but the immune system of very young children is different from older people's." Results in 16-year-olds or even 5-year-olds might not reveal whether the vaccine is safe in babies, who would therefore have to be studied, too.
To critics, the combination of no benefit and some risk to children means a pediatric anthrax-vaccine study should be prohibited.
"We have to wonder if, after all the data collected by the U.S. Army on the side-effects experienced by soldiers, we would want to subject children to skin ulcers symptoms of the disease," said Jeanne Guillemin, a senior fellow in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Security Studies Program and author of a 2011 book about anthrax attacks, titled "American Anthrax."
In the largest study of the anthrax vaccine, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2008 that in 1,563 adults who received the vaccine, there were 229 "serious adverse events" such as cardiovascular disease, intracranial aneurysm and seizure, though only nine were blamed on the vaccine. Much more common were milder reactions such as soreness near the injection site, itching, fever and malaise.
Opponents of testing the anthrax vaccine in children argue that antibiotics would be sufficient to protect kids in an anthrax attack.
Antibiotics worked following attacks in 2001 that were traced to an Army scientist who committed suicide in 2008 as investigators closed in. The five people who died after inhaling anthrax spores sent through the mail did not receive antibiotics before developing symptoms. Everyone who was exposed and received antibiotics in time survived, noted MIT's Guillemin.
Proponents of testing the anthrax vaccine in children argue that antibiotics are not enough.
"The point of vaccinating is that anthrax spores can hatch at different times and stay dormant for days to months," said Dr. Daniel Fagbuyi of Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and a member of the biodefense board.
Vaccination, he said, would prevent disease long after victims' 60-day course of antibiotics is finished.
Under a 2005 law, children in an anthrax-vaccine study would be prohibited from seeking damages through the legal system. The presidential commission, said Gutmann, "strongly recommended that a plan be in place to compensate any children" who are harmed.
(Reporting by Sharon Begley; Editing by Jilian Mincer and Dan Grebler)
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Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Guts frisbee is a frisbee team sport, similar to murderball. Five team members stand in a line with two teams lined up parallel to each other. One team starts with the frisbee after "flipping the disk", an action similar to a coin toss, but using the frisbee itself. One member of the team is then selected to start play.
That member then raises their arm to indicate they are ready to throw, at which point the members of the opposing team "freeze". The thrower then throws the frisbee as hard as possible at someone on the opposing team. If they miss the "scoring area" (roughly the area of the opposing team) the receiving team scores a point. If the throw is within the scoring area and the receiving team drops the frisbee, the throwing team gets a point. The receiving team then picks up the frisbee and becomes the throwing team.
The receiving team must catch the frisbee cleanly, in one hand. The disc may NOT be trapped between the hand and any other part of the body. This frequently results in a challenging and exciting sequence of "tips", each of which slows the disc down, and involves multiple players on the receiving team.
Play continues until 21 points are scored by one of the teams, and there is a difference in score of at least 2 points.
The sport was started by the Healy brothers in Eagle Harbor, Michigan.
There is a tournament played in Atlantic Mine, Michigan, July 4th every year, (the IFT). To learn more visit the Guts Homepage.
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
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In a tall wooden room in the Purcellville, Va., train station, 10 writers sit at a table. One, named Jerry, wears an earring and has veins running through his hands like rivers. He uses those hands in big gestures as he tells us he’s writing a novel set on Mars where the repressive government prevents the sale of sushi and milk chocolate. Another writer, Val, has started coming because she’d like to quit teaching English and write. As Val taps her pen against the table, a piece of plastic breaks off, flies at me, and hits me in the forehead.
But as introductions continue around the table, we pretend it didn’t happen. The introductions reveal more surprises: a former policeman who makes a point of veiling life thinly in fiction for the purpose of slaying his enemies, and a writer of children’s books who looks like my lovely Aunt Sally.
I’ve heard people call writing “lonely work.” But here in the train station, lo and behold, hides a refuge for word-people. A place where writers can confess that they “have characters talking to them,” and that since childhood they have cherished in their hearts a passion for order that surges up and puts print to paper.
But what does it all mean, this writing in community? It has never occurred to me to seek out people I could write with. It always occurred to me to seek out people I could write about. I write like an extravert—because it’s like I’m talking to someone, even though they’re not there.
I’m always poking for relationship.
“Tell us about yourself and writing,” one woman invites me. This is, after all, my inaugural visit.
I would like to confess that as a writer my dearest dream is to write whatsoever I choose with a guarantee that I would never offend anyone I mentioned. But I don’t. I tell them instead that I love to write, that I do it too much, that I’m supposed to do my homework instead. While talking about writing I can’t keep excitement out of my voice, any more than the other writers can.
It makes me remember a conversation I had with Dr. Michael Farris, the founder of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, one afternoon over lunch. He and other similar dignitaries often circulate among us in our college cafeteria.
He told me a story.
“So I was sitting on this bench in Boston eating a bagel,” he said, “thinking of an idea for a novel.”
He continued for several minutes. His novel idea boasted the usual furniture: a setting, conflict, social evil to address, a boy and girl who fall in love.
We had nearly finished our meal and sat in leisure among our own crumbs. I observed his ballooning, big-eyed enthusiasm with interest.
At last he concluded with the happy ending. I puzzled all over again at the weird vision that makes ordinary people write books. I puzzled that oracles from other worlds visit lawyers sitting on benches in Boston. And more, that ordinary girls at cafeteria tables are supposed to interpret their messages.
“My goodness, Dr. Farris,” I said, at a loss. “That must have been an enormous bagel.”
I don’t know what to make of writers, those strange beasts with big eyes. They’re mortal enough to eat bagels, get hit in the forehead by pens, and seek revenge. Despite our hallowed writing groups—where we perhaps look too much at our own navels—the point of writers is that they see the world outside themselves and find it interesting enough to write down. Writers don’t need each other as much as they need everybody else.
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Early Rice Building Years
At the time of Watkin's employment, 1909, Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson had received the commission to produce a campus plan and to design the initial buildings of the Rice Institute in Houston, Texas. Watkin worked on the development of both the campus plan and the building plan in the Boston office. When construction was to begin, in the summer of 1910, Watkin was sent to Houston to serve as Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson's representative supervisor.
In this capacity Watkin not only oversaw the construction of the initial Institute group of buildings - the Administration Building, the Mechanical Laboratory and Powerhouse, and the North and South residence halls - but most of the Institute's subsequent development. This included the Physics Laboratory (1913-1915), East Hall (1913-1914), West Hall (1915-1916), three proposed President's houses(1913, 1915, 1923-1924), the Field House (1920), the Chemistry Laboratory (1923-1925), a proposed Alumni Hall (1927), two proposed libraries (1927, 1940-1941), and the Founder 's Statue (1927-1930).
Watkin himself designed the Faculty Club-Cohen House (1927), the original Rice Stadium (1938), and the Naval ROTC Building (1941). He also served as consulting architect to Staub & Rather in the design and construction of the Fondren Library (1946-1949), M.D. Anderson Hall (1946-1947), and Abercrombie Laboratory (1947-1948).
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Ambassador George Bruno:
There is great ambiguity. On the one hand, the lines outside of US embassies testify to the large number of people who admire the US and the opportunities available and the freedoms Americans enjoy who wish to immigrate to and visit the US. On the other hand, it is becoming more challenging to explain the contradictions arising with respect to US behavior regarding torture, wiretapping Americans without a court order, suspending habeas corpus, incarcerating indefinitely citizens without civil trial or access to attorneys, choosing presidents by 5-4 decisions of the US Supreme Court, our disavowal of long standing treaties, having the largest prison population in the world, and our imposing the death penalty on minors and the disabled. These actions have all served to diminish US standing in the world and the rule of law in recent years.
Despite the enormous trade imbalance between China and the United States, the one thing that China imports is the study of American law, legal processes and reasoning. Chinese legal professionals in the public and private sectors frequently look to the United States as a significant reference for legal reforms in China. Many court systems, prosecutors’ offices, government agencies and universities have foreign affairs offices and research arms responsible for promoting international interaction. Chinese law students routinely write their theses on issues of Sino-American comparative law.
As exposure grows, national and local legislative drafting bodies include U.S. legal principles in Chinese laws. In some instances American law models are formally adopted, such as certain sections of Chinese contract law, property rights law and criminal procedure code. The judicial interpretations of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China frequently reference American law. [Taken from my article, "Dialog as the Rule of Law"]
Justice Joseph Nadeau:
America and Americans are perceived in many ways. We are admired and respected as individuals; for our opportunities, our openness, our accomplishments and our willingness to assist other people throughout the world. We are perceived as a nation by the actions of whatever administration governs in Washington, D.C. at the time. Currently our policy in Iraq, unpopular in Southeast Asia and elsewhere, has resulted in reduced admiration as a nation.
Many foreigners I've met judge our country on what they have seen on televsion, movies, or the Internet. They seem to think that the lives of ordinary Americans as more glamourous and violent than they are.
What has surprised me the most is how much of the world thinks that all Americans are wealthy. They get their impressions from TV and Movies. I once asked a group of folks from the former USSR to list who they thought were "typical Americans" They listed. Chuck Norris, Rambo, Tom Cruise.... (they also thoght most of the USA was like Calif. and Las Vegas)
The Europeans are in awe of our Bill of Right and the manner in which the Courts protect those rights, in particular the Fourth, Fifth and Six Amendments. On the other hand, they believe that our system of punishment is barbaric, that our jail sentences are extreme and overbearing, and that our use of the death penalty is antiquated and obscene.
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Some of the biggest threats to African freshwater species come from pollution and increased water abstraction for agriculture, the construction of dams and invasive alien species that threaten the local animals and plants.
Wetlands International, one of the partners in this study coordinated by IUCN (click to read their press release), emphasizes that these data are vital to use in decision making about the increasing number of developments projects in wetlands, such as the building of dams.
“Now all these data are available, governments in Africa have the responsibility to use them in their impact assessments, and make decisions that no further endanger biodiversity and the people that depend on these species,” says Ward Hagemeijer, Head of Biodiversity of Wetlands International.
Photo: Dams in the Niger River in Mali block the migration of many aquatic animals.
For the first time, fresh water species have been mapped to individual river basins. Even the loss of a single species can have a dramatic impact on people. In Lake Malawi, a group of fish, known as ‘chambo’ by locals, forms an extremely important source of food. Of these, Oreochromis karongae, an Endangered species, has been hugely overfished, with an estimated 70 per cent reduction in the population over the past ten years.
In Lake Victoria, a decline in water quality and the introduction of the Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) have caused a reduction in many native species over the past thirty years, threatening traditional fisheries. The study showed that 45 out of 191 species in this area are threatened or thought to be extinct and fisheries have strongly declined as a result.
Photo: many of Mali's Inner Niger Delta communities depend on fisheries for their food
Around the great lakes of Africa, fish provide the main source of protein and livelihoods for many of the continent’s poorest people. The livelihoods of an estimated 7.5 million people in sub-Saharan Africa depend on inland fisheries. These new data will be invaluable for conservation efforts to safeguard these fisheries, freshwater supplies and the many other associated resources.
The EU-funded evaluation of freshwater species was done for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, including all known freshwater fish, molluscs, crabs, dragonflies and damselflies, and selected families of aquatic plants. Wetlands International contributed to the evaluation by monitoring and assessing many of the wetlands in Africa.
For more information:
Wetlands International, Alex Kaat
Phone: +31 (0) 6 5060 1917 / E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org
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Team Racing typically consists of two teams each of three boats competing against each other. It is a fast paced racing style which depends on excellent boat handling skills and rapid tactical decision making.
The teams will race to try and achieve a winning combination of places - the lowest score wins. The scoring system is 1 for first place, 2 for second and so on. If one boat in the team wins the race they are not guaranteed glory as their combined score must be ten or less to win - 2,3,5 = 10 points v 1,4,6 = 11 points
If a team is lying in 1,4,6 then the boat in first place will go back and try to help his team mates through to 2,3,5 or better. How does he do this?
A team racer has two main weapons. Firstly, he can position his boat between the wind and his opponent, thus blanketing his sails and slowing him down. Secondly he can use the right of way rules to his advantage, approaching his opponent in such as way that his adversary has to change course or incur a penalty. Both these weapons are deployed before the start when the manoeuvres begin, with all six boats performing an intricate and aggressive dance to try and gain the advantage.
The racing is followed by umpires on the water who issue on the spot penalties. If a boat is protested agains by another boat they can accept it and perform a 360 degree penalty turn straight away or wait for the umpires to give a decision which may result in a green flag (no penalty) or a 720 degree turn.
The ISAF Team Racing World Championship uses a standard format of racing in two person dinghies with three boats in a team.
The boats are usually supplied by the event organizers who try to ensure they are as evenly matched as possible.
Many clubs begin team racing using a pairs format whereby two teams of two boats each are racing. The rules are simple as the team whose boat finishes last loses.
The first major international team racing event started in 1921 with the first British-American series sailed in 6M yachts, four a side. In 1933, the International 14 class began a multi-nation series that continues to this day. In the 1940s and and the 1950s the growth of the one design dinghy helped team racing grow as an affordable and entertaining way to enjoy sailing.
Team Racing is the bedrock of colllegiate sailing with very competitive university circuits in most of the world's leading sailing nations. Many former student teams continue to sail together independently or under club burgees.
Since 1949, West Kirby Sailing Club hosted the Wilson Trophy and pioneered innovations such as on the water umpiring and the use of colour coded boats and sails.
In 1995 West Kirby ran the first ever IYRU Team Racing World Championship which is now an established bi-annual event in the sailing calendar.
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Can a 12-Core ARM Cluster hit critical mass?
Subject: Processors | June 26, 2012 - 05:08 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: arm, cortex-a9, e-350, i7-3770k, z530, Ivy Bridge, atom, Zacate
Taking a half dozen PandaBoard ESes from Texas Instruments that have a 1.2GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor onboard, Phoronix built a 12-core ARM machine to test out against AMD's E-350 APU as well as Intel's Atom Z530 and a Core i7 3770K. Before you you make the assumption that the ARM's will be totally outclassed by any of these processors, Phoronix is testing performance per Watt and the ARM system uses a total of 31W when fully stressed and idles below 20W, which gives ARM a big lead on power consumption.
Phoronix tested out these four systems and the results were rather surprising as it seems Intel's Ivy Bridge is a serious threat to ARM. Not only did it provide more total processing power, its performance per Watt tended to beat ARM and more importantly to many, it is cheaper to build an i7-3770K system than it is to set up a 12-core ARM server. The next generation of ARM chips have some serious competition.
"Last week I shared my plans to build a low-cost, 12-core, 30-watt ARMv7 cluster running Ubuntu Linux. The ARM cluster that is built around the PandaBoard ES development boards is now online and producing results... Quite surprising results actually for a low-power Cortex-A9 compute cluster. Results include performance-per-Watt comparisons to Intel Atom and Ivy Bridge processors along with AMD's Fusion APU."
Here are some more Processor articles from around the web:
- AMD FX-8120 Black Edition CPU Review (with Asus M5A99X EVO) @ Kitguru
- Intel Core i7-3720QM: Mobile Ivy Bridge @ Techspot
- Sandy Bridge for servers: Intel Xeon E5-2600 review @ Hardware.Info
- Desktop CPU Comparison Guide @ TechARP
- Workstation & Server CPU Comparison Guide @ TechARP
- Mobile CPU Comparison Guide @ TechARP
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Fort Bend County is a county located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, its population was 585,375, amounting to 65.1% growth in ten years.
Since the 1970s Fort Bend County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. It is named for a blockhouse at a bend of the Brazos River; the fort was the start of the community in early days. Its county seat is Richmond, while its largest city is Sugar Land. It was founded in 1837.
For more information, use the QUICK LINKS to the right.
Thanks to the CFBCA Chairman’s Cabinet:
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Originally Posted by -Az-
that's some real food for thought ced
I was just reading the red spectrum causing algae. also plants (and coral) have adapted to their natural depth which means that too much red can be detrimental.
i understand what you're saying about the visual aspect of the yellows and greens.
it still amazes me that the colour things appear is the colour they're not.
i think i'll stay with my reef capable amount of blues but play with my wiring so that blues, whites, pur colours and aesthetic colours can be controlled and dimmed separately. thus i can have whatever temp/spectrum i need.
what i love about the diy led approach is that if i think i'm short of red or whatever i can just add a couple of LEDs and problem solved.
i haven't ordered yet but i shouldn't be far off. just finalizing some details.
let us know how your build goes. are you using dimmers?
Take a look at this thread's photos using custom leds.
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I was lucky enough to have lunch last week with Daniel Isen
Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Harvard Business Review. Daniel spoke to a small group from the IceHouse about his experience and views of global entrepreneurship from his start up experience and his research while at Harvard.
There were several stories and lessons that stood out for me; Distance is Irrelevant
- One of Daniel’s interests is understanding what makes highly entrepreneurial countries tick. One of the aspects that underlined high entrepreneurial countries, as measured by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor
, was the belief that distance from markets was irrelevant. Whether it was Israel, Iceland or New Zealand all despite their small size and distance from their key markets operated as if the distance was irrelevant.Power of Focus
- a clear simple vision and focus can be as strategically powerful as any physical advantage such as resources or intellectual property. One example which Daniel gave was of a small generic drug company that with no more than a clear strategic vision and great execution completely transformed the scale and scope of the business. It’s not about the uniqueness of the idea but how well things are executed.
Sales is the Key
- if there’s any skill aspiring entrepreneurs should focus on developing it’s sales. The entrepreneur has to sell their concept to the bank, to suppliers, to staff, to customer, over and over and over. The three key skills are sales, manufacturing and counting but sales is the key! So focus on developing your sales to kick start your entrepreneurial journey.
Innovation is in Everything
- one point to remember when talking about high tech marketing was to remember that innovation is not just the gadget or box but the whole thing, the software, the training, the services that come with it. If you are at parity or worse when you are comparing your product to your competitors then look to innovate in other areas. You can still beat your competition if you can excel around the edges.
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Monday, January 28, 2013
Disaster Management Expert Joins Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley
Art Botterell is an experienced practitioner in the field of emergency information and public warning systems, with more than four decades of experience in government public safety and disaster response with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management System and Department of Defense as well as for state and local agencies and the United Nations Development Program. He conceived and led development of the international Common Alerting Protocol interoperability standard. Botterell was a member of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s design panel for wireless emergency alerts and has served on a number of study panels for the National Academies of Science. He has also consulted on national-level disaster management systems in the U.S., Asia, Australia, Europe and the Caribbean.
Botterell recently joined Carnegie Mellon University’s Silicon Valley Campus as a full-time researcher and Associate Director of the Disaster Management Initiative (DMI). CMUSV sat down with him to learn more about his path to becoming a leader in the disaster management domain and the issues he hopes to tackle next.
CMUSV: What was your first experience with a disaster?
Art Botterell: My first disaster was a tornado in Falmouth, Kentucky in 1967. I was a thirteen-year old volunteer for the Red Cross and I saw people during what I later came to know as the “heroic” period of a disaster, right after impact. There was altruism, people helping people and it was all very genuine. I saw people behaving toward each other just as they ought to, and I fell in love with it. I've spent most of my life since chasing that feeling.
CMUSV: You have a background in journalism, radio and television. How did these early interests lead you to the field of disaster management?
AB: I started out in ham radio at the age of eleven, which led me into two directions that are actually fairly closely aligned: disaster work and broadcasting. They are related because ultimately, they had to do with first, using the radio, then other technologies to help people deal with sudden change. How do we deal with this accelerating rate of change and how is technology one of the causes but also one of the solutions? That’s really the core theme of almost everything I’ve done in my life.
CMUSV: You spent time in Singapore working with the Ministry of Home Affairs. How did that experience shape your future work in disaster management?
AB: In 2001, I picked up a contract for the Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore. My job was to interview people in all of the ministries of government about public warning and emergency public information and design an integrated system to do that. It was very forward thinking. So I came back with the idea that we did not really have a good abstraction layer for integrating public warning systems. We did not have a warning “Internet.” The Singaporeans had the vision for having one integrated system. Singapore really crystallized my thinking on alerting and the experience led me to develop the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
CMUSV: What is the Common Alerting Protocol?
AB: CAP is largely a data format for messages that are primarily about attention management. It doesn’t give you the full information on the disaster but tells you, for example: there’s a tornado. Hide. Like a siren, it gets you to pay attention. In and of itself that siren doesn’t tell you anything except that something is going on. It helps you become vigilant and hopefully pick up more information along the way. But the attention has to happen first.
CAP was the right project at the right time after 9/11. I wrote a paper on applying CAP to the federal Emergency Alert System in 2003 and this past year that actually happened. It has been a long process. In 2006, I became the manager of the public warning system for Contra Costa County, where I rebuilt the system using CAP. We got to issue more public warnings in a week than some do in their entire career, mainly because the scale of many warning systems doesn’t allow for narrow targeting of local alerts like missing kids. So we got to accumulate a lot of real-world experience and demonstrate that CAP works in the field with real laws and real lives at stake.
CMUSV: Apart from the Falmouth earthquake you mentioned earlier, what disaster has affected your life and career?
AB: The Oakland Hills fire in October of 1991 was significant because I was mature enough by that time in the business that I had a sense of the larger issues in disaster management. I saw how not being able to manage an evacuation effectively got people killed. I still have issues with that. The common assumption is that disaster management is about the management of scarcity. But in most situations, the problem is exactly the opposite: the challenge is the management of too many resources and too much information overrunning a management system that can’t scale up fast enough. That’s what happened in the Oakland Hills. It was the issue of scalability and that really changed how I think about a lot of these issues.
CMUSV: What theories on communication have shaped your view on disaster management?
AB: Alvin Toffler's book, Future Shock, had a huge impact on me when I read it in high school. I became persuaded that technologists could and should work to help people cope with technology’s effect on accelerating change in their lives. There was another book more recently, The Attention Economy, by Davenport and Beck. The insight that attention is a fungible good in its own right was a breakthrough for me. We tend to model communication processes in terms of information transfer but that's really an incomplete model of human communication. One of the things it leaves out is the business of attention management. For example, if you were looking out the window while I told you my story, the effect of my words might be very different because your attention was budgeted differently. It sounds obvious, but it’s amazing how often folks forget that part when we design "information systems" that have humans in the loop.
CMUSV: What attracted you to Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley and the Disaster Management Initiative (DMI)?
AB: I became aware of the DMI and thought, much as Contra Costa was the laboratory to field test and prove CAP, that here was a good place to work on what I call the “valley of death” problem – the gap between research and theory and the in-field application. In the DMI, we have all of this cool science but the question is how do we transfer technology into practice? I hope that’s what I’m going to spend my next decade working on.
The setting is right because we take disasters seriously in California and the will is here, with Martin, the director of the DMI and of Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley, having a vision of focusing on disasters. Here’s a place where I can try to be a translator between the geeks, the boots on the ground and the bureaucracy. I'm also attracted to the academic world at this point in my career because here we have a bit more freedom to take the long-term view rather than one constrained by short-term business or political goals.
One of the things that I’m promoting in the DMI is open source software. There’s so much work that gets done here by students but it tends to evaporate when they walk out the door with diplomas. Emergency managers could use a lot of what students are doing if it were just made available. Open source seems to offer one path across that valley of death.
CMUSV: What kind of advancements would you like to see in the role of technology in disaster management?
AB: There are two large dynamics that I would like to see better appreciated and therefore better coped with. The first is the interface between informal and formal organizations in society. One of the characteristics of a disaster is that the boundary line between informal structures and formal structures moves quite suddenly. How do we manage the transition of roles back-and-forth between "official" response and the legitimate emergent response of the people on the scene?
The second tension is between the autonomous-agrarian and interdependent-industrial perspectives. The problem is that we often fail to appreciate that a dialogue between these two approaches is necessary. We tend to moralize the issue and act as if our way is inherently right and the other inherently wrong. We waste a lot of energy wagging fingers at each other regarding disaster management strategies and other things, rather than acknowledging that one paradigm, and thus, one set of solutions, doesn’t fit all situations. It would be nice if things were that simple, but they aren't.
On a more tangible level, one of the issues on my mind these days is "just-in-time training." We face so many hazards and our society and systems are so complex that it's unrealistic to expect anyone, no matter how bright or hardworking, to know everything they might ever need to know in an unexpected situation. A big question moving into the future is how people, individual citizens and official responders alike, can find and absorb what they need to know when they need to know it.
CMUSV: What other projects are you currently working on?
AB: Recently I wrapped up a project with the UNDP to establish a CAP-based warning system in a number of the Caribbean islands. I also just returned from Haiti, where I'm working with the UNDP and the Haitian Minisitry of the Interior to set up a national emergency call center. It's tempting to just think of this as 9-1-1, but the context is different and in a lot of cases it's more about facilitating self-help than just dispatching official responders.
Haiti also illustrates another one of the big issues in emergency management, which is the eternal tradeoff between efficiency and resilience. Here in the States, an unintended consequence of highly efficient strategies, like just-in-time inventories or flattened organizational structures, is that they're streamlined for routine operations but lack the "headroom," the spare resources to cope with unexpected variations. A lot of emergency preparedness is about finding ways to reintroduce some slack, to put a bit of fat back on the bone for a hard winter.
Haiti offers us vivid examples of a lot of the deep problems of disaster management in just the same way that disaster management offers vivid examples of problems that modern society faces every day on a less dramatic scale.
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Pronunciation: (stop), [key]
—v., stopped or (Archaic) stopt; stop•ping;
1. to cease from, leave off, or discontinue: to stop running.
2. to cause to cease; put an end to: to stop noise in the street.
3. to interrupt, arrest, or check (a course, proceeding, process, etc.): Stop your work just a minute.
4. to cut off, intercept, or withhold: to stop supplies.
5. to restrain, hinder, or prevent (usually fol. by from): I couldn't stop him from going.
6. to prevent from proceeding, acting, operating, continuing, etc.: to stop a speaker; to stop a car.
7. to block, obstruct, or close (a passageway, channel, opening, duct, etc.) (usually fol. by up): He stopped up the sink with a paper towel. He stopped the hole in the tire with a patch.
8. to fill the hole or holes in (a wall, a decayed tooth, etc.).
9. to close (a container, tube, etc.) with a cork, plug, bung, or the like.
10. to close the external orifice of (the ears, nose, mouth, etc.).
a. to check (a stroke, blow, etc.); parry; ward off.
b. to defeat (an opposing player or team): The Browns stopped the Colts.
c. Boxing.to defeat by a knockout or technical knockout: Louis stopped Conn in the 13th round.
12. Banking.to notify a bank to refuse payment of (a check) upon presentation.
13. Bridge.to have an honor card and a sufficient number of protecting cards to keep an opponent from continuing to win in (a suit).
a. to close (a fingerhole) in order to produce a particular note from a wind instrument.
b. to press down (a string of a violin, viola, etc.) in order to alter the pitch of the tone produced from it.
c. to produce (a particular note) by so doing.
1. to come to a stand, as in a course or journey; halt.
2. to cease moving, proceeding, speaking, acting, operating, etc.; to pause; desist.
3. to cease; come to an end.
4. to halt for a brief visit (often fol. by at, in, or by): He is stopping at the best hotel in town.
5. stop by,to make a brief visit on one's way elsewhere: I'll stop by on my way home.
6. stop down, Photog.(on a camera) to reduce (the diaphragm opening of a lens).
7. stop in,to make a brief, incidental visit: If you're in town, be sure to stop in.
8. stop off,to halt for a brief stay at some point on the way elsewhere: On the way to Rome we stopped off at Florence.
9. stop out,
a. to mask (certain areas of an etching plate, photographic negative, etc.) with varnish, paper, or the like, to prevent their being etched, printed, etc.
b. to withdraw temporarily from school: Most of the students who stop out eventually return to get their degrees.
10. stop over,to stop briefly in the course of a journey: Many motorists were forced to stop over in that town because of floods.
1. the act of stopping.
2. a cessation or arrest of movement, action, operation, etc.; end: The noise came to a stop. Put a stop to that behavior!
3. a stay or sojourn made at a place, as in the course of a journey: Above all, he enjoyed his stop in Trieste.
4. a place where trains or other vehicles halt to take on and discharge passengers: Is this a bus stop?
5. a closing or filling up, as of a hole.
6. a blocking or obstructing, as of a passage or channel.
7. a plug or other stopper for an opening.
8. an obstacle, impediment, or hindrance.
9. any piece or device that serves to check or control movement or action in a mechanism.
10. Archit.a feature terminating a molding or chamfer.
a. an order to refuse payment of a check.
b. See stop order.
a. the act of closing a fingerhole or pressing a string of an instrument in order to produce a particular note.
b. a device or contrivance, as on an instrument, for accomplishing this.
c. (in an organ) a graduated set of pipes of the same kind and giving tones of the same quality.
d. Also called stop knob. a knob or handle that is drawn out or pushed back to permit or prevent the sounding of such a set of pipes or to control some other part of the organ.
e. (in a reed organ) a group of reeds functioning like a pipe-organ stop.
13. Sports.an individual defensive play or act that prevents an opponent or opposing team from scoring, advancing, or gaining an advantage, as a catch in baseball, a tackle in football, or the deflection of a shot in hockey.
14. Naut.a piece of small line used to lash or fasten something, as a furled sail.
a. an articulation that interrupts the flow of air from the lungs.
b. a consonant sound characterized by stop articulation, as p, b, t, d, k, and g. Cf. continuant.
16. Photog.the diaphragm opening of a lens, esp. as indicated by an f- number.
17. Building Trades.
a. See stop bead.
b. doorstop (def. 2).
18. any of various marks used as punctuation at the end of a sentence, esp. a period.
19. the word “stop” printed in the body of a telegram or cablegram to indicate a period.
20. stops, (used with a sing. v.) a family of card games whose object is to play all of one's cards in a predetermined sequence before one's opponents.
21. Zool.a depression in the face of certain animals, esp. dogs, marking the division between the forehead and the projecting part of the muzzle. See diag. under dog.
22. pull out all the stops,
a. to use every means available.
b. to express, do, or carry out something without reservation.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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compiler infrastructure project has Clang
as a compiler front-end to compile C, Objective-C, and C++ programs as an alternative to GCC. However, the Low-Level Virtual Machine is now doing more and replacing bigger portions of the GCC tool-chain with new components. The LLVM project has introduced libc++ as a replacement for the GNU libstdc++ standard library.
LLVM's C++ standard library is libc++ and it's targeting the C++0x standard. Also separating it from libstdc++ is that it's being licensed under a BSD-style license like LLVM itself. Some of the other LLVM libc++ features beyond conforming to C++0x is fast execution, minimal memory use, faster compile times, and ABI compatibility with GCC's libstdc++ for some low-level features.
The libc++ library is being supported by Apple and at the moment this library is only supported on Mac OS X i386/x86_64, but Linux support is likely not too far out. The project page for LLVM's new C++ standard library can be found at libcxx.llvm.org
. There's some tests on the mailing list
showing it being much faster than libstdc++: 5 seconds versus 22 seconds.
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Summertime, and the living is easy in Santa Cruz County. But as our green hills turn yellow, homeowners are reminded that we’ve had some destructive fire seasons in recent years.
In 2008, three major fires scorched the county: the Summit Fire near Corralitos, the Trabing Fire along Highway 1 in Larkin Valley and the Martin Fire that burned 520 acres and destroyed three homes in Bonny Doon.
Then came the summer of 2009, with the Lockheed Fire that burned 7,817 acres and destroyed 13 outbuildings, again in the Bonny Doon area.
This summer, we got a reminder of how devastating wildfires can be when the Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs burned more than 18,000 acres, destroyed 347 homes and killed two residents.
Which brings me to a subject most people don’t like to think about: homeowners insurance.
“Your home is probably your biggest investment,” said Laureen Yungmeyer, an insurance agent in Santa Cruz. “You need insurance. But many people buy homeowners insurance as if they’re buying a carton of milk. They’re doing themselves a great disservice by not doing enough research.”
If you are buying insurance for the first time, a good place to start is asking friends if they know an insurance agent they trust. If you already have insurance, you should periodically review your policy.
In either case, make sure the company you deal with is solid. The California Department of Insurance offers tips through its website — www.insurance.ca.gov — including a record of complaints. It also has a telephone hotline, 800-927-HELP (4357).
Another key step is deciding how much coverage you need. That means estimating how much it would cost to rebuild your house if it burned down.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners says the land under the house isn't at risk from fire, theft and other dangers covered by homeowners insurance, so don't include its value in deciding how much insurance to buy. If you do, you will pay more than you should.
An agent or online insurance quote service can give you an idea of how much a policy will cost.
Companies that sell homeowners and auto insurance will give you a discount of 5 to 15 percent if you buy two or more policies from them. But make certain the combined price is lower than buying coverage from separate companies.
Buying a policy with a high deductible is another way to cut costs. The deductible is the amount you have to pay out of your pocket before the insurance company will cover the remaining costs.
Most insurance companies recommend a deductible of at least $500, says the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The association says raising your deductible to $1,000 may save you as much as 25 percent. Raising it to $2,000 would save even more.
Yungmeyer also prefers policies with high deductibles. She says that means you don’t call your insurance company if your fence is damaged; you call if your house burns down.
“You need insurance to cover catastrophic losses, not inconveniences,” she said.
- Mark Rosenberg is an investment consultant for Financial West Group in Scotts Valley, a member of FINRA and SIPC. He can be reached at 439-9910 or email@example.com.
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Indian food has its good and bad points. It's good because it includes lots of grains high in fiber and less animal protein. Legumes and vegetables are also commonly used — another plus. The problem is that much of the food is prepared with ghee (clarified butter) or is fried or sautéed. Coconut oil and milk, which are high in saturated fat, are also used often.
- Start with salads or yogurt with chopped or shredded vegetables.
- Choose chicken or seafood rather than beef or lamb.
- Choose dishes prepared without ghee.
- Order one protein and one vegetable dish to cut down the saturated fat and calories.
- If sodium is a concern, skip the soups.
|Samosas (stuffed and fried vegetable turnover||Papadum or papad (crispy, thin lentil wafers)|
|Korma (braised meat with a rich yogurt cream sauce)||Chicken or beef tikka (roasted in an oven with mild spices) or chicken or beef tandoori (marinated in spices and baked in a tanoor, or clay oven). In either case, ask if they will base with light margarine instead of butter.|
|Curries made with coconut milk or cream||Curries with a vegetable or dal base; shish kabob; or tandoori chicken or fish|
|Pakora (deep-fried dough with vegetables)||Gobhi matar tamatar (cauliflower with peas and tomatoes)|
|Saaq paneer (spinach with cheese cubes and cream sauce)||Matar pulao (rice pilaf with peas)|
|Sauced rice dishes||Fragrant steamed rice|
|Fried or stuffed breads||Chapati (thin, dry, whole-wheat bread) or naan (leavened, baked bread topped with poppy seeds)|
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Subscribe now to our new Travel newsletter!
When the rain stopped and hazy sunshine emerged, I climbed off the bike and looked around. The landscape was not dramatic, but it was utterly entrancing: an undulating expanse of green meadows dotted with cork oaks, holm oaks and olive trees, seemingly devoid of fences or walls.
From this country road only the faint, tingling bells of unseen grazing animals and the call of birds could be heard. It was April and wild flowers were out in force, the meadows carpeted in yellow, white and purple, the waysides thronged with vivid poppies, rock roses, bugloss and alkanet.
I was in the depths of the montado landscape of the Alentejo region, which stretches across southern Portugal south of the Tagus and north of the Algarve. This corner of it lay close to Evora, the regional capital. The area has few big hills, but it is by no means flat – a fact that the cyclist quickly appreciates.
The montado may appear wild, but it is actually a tended ecosystem designed to produce a valuable crop – cork.
Portugal produces three-quarters of the world’s cork, most of it used as wine-bottle stoppers. Cork oaks are harvested for their bark every nine years, and each tree is numbered to show when it was last stripped.
Underneath their branches, sheep and goats crop the grass; pigs fatten up on the acorns.
My week-long, self-guided tour involved covering modest daily distances between towns. I’d been given detailed route maps and notes and my baggage was transported for me from one place to the next. All I had to do was pedal.
The rainy day was an exception: most of these spring days were sunny and dry.
This area has long been a frontier, first between Christian and Moor, then Portuguese and Spanish. My itinerary connected several towns – including Monsaraz, Vila Viçosa and Estremoz – that clustered around castles which are now notable for their magnificence, when seen from afar, and for the views from their ramparts.
Some, like Monsaraz, have become beautiful museum-pieces.
Imposing churches, convents and paços – fortified baronial palaces – abound, often displaying an array of Islamic, Gothic and Baroque elements. They remind visitors of grander times and flaunt the flamboyant native Manueline style, with motifs from Portugal’s golden age of discovery and trade. These days, door and window surrounds are picked out in pastel blue, yellow or grey, a charming effect against stretches of white walls.
Approaching Evora, I cycled along country tracks to several megalithic sites such as the Almendres cromlech, rediscovered in 1964 and one of the largest and oldest in Europe.
More than 90 monoliths, typically around 3m tall, stand on the hillside, as if enjoying the view. Some experts believe the two eliptical arrays of stones are, like Stonehenge, set at a latitude that captures the moon at its zenith.
Evora itself is a Unesco-recognised gem, its cathedral, well-preserved Roman temple and museum, grouped conveniently at the end of narrow lanes winding up from the main Giraldo Square and arcaded shopping streets.
Its historic mansions include one that belonged to the great explorer, Vasco da Gama. Rather more macabre is the ossuary lined with the bones of 5 000 people.
For lunch, I indulged in the first of many visits to a pastelaria, where a coffee and a chicken pie, or a pasteis de nata (custard tart), can be had for less than €2 (R20).
I moved on 50km towards Reguengos de Monsaraz. At the pottery at São Pedro do Corval I seized the chance to buy two small olive dishes, which promptly smashed when my parked bike fell over, a few hours later.
Reguengos, now a wine centre, is where the inhabitants of Monsaraz moved when they got tired of their water-less hilltop fortress.
Next day, before tackling the climb up to Monsaraz, I paused on the banks of the Alqueva – a vast reservoir created by damming the river Guadiana.
Its full extent was visible from Monsaraz’s castle ramparts, along with swathes of the Alentejo and Spain. Below, along the Rua Direita, black openwork balconies stood out against the bright white walls of old houses.
Vila Viçosa, my next destination, was for centuries the base of the Bragança family, who supplied Portuguese kings and an English queen: Catherine, Charles II’s wife.
The imposing Paço Ducal is full of the finest artefacts, from azulejo tiles to Aubusson tapestries. Fascinating museums of archaeology, carriages and hunting are divided between the palace and the nearby castle, from where the Tapada Real, the royal hunting park, was visible.
I wandered along streets of handsome town houses to the main square, flanked with orange trees heavy with fruit.
My hotel for the night was a delightful conversion of a 16th century mansion, the Solar dos Mascarenhas.
For dinner, I ate an açorda, a mixture of fish, bread and pennyroyal baked and served in a hollowed loaf, which I washed down with a glass of red. Alentejan cuisine is admired in Portugal: poverty, it is said, compels imaginative use of simple ingredients. Pork, bacalhau (salted cod) and dogfish are also much in evidence.
Around Vila Viçosa, a wasteland of marble quarries interrupts the rural idyll. The “white gold” is exported and is also used locally. I peered into deep, marble-lined pits and watched machines slowly cutting the blocks.
Then, for lunch – as suggested by my tour notes – I stopped at a simple country restaurant and ordered the speciality: rabbit. It came in a huge earthenware dish with chips, salad and bread – all for less than €10.
I spent my final night at Estremoz’s medieval castle, now a luxurious pousada with grand public rooms. It was here that I encountered my first tour group – I’d often been the only tourist in the small hotels I'd stayed in.
The next morning, I wandered around the lively Saturday market with its array of cheeses, cured meats, live chickens, handicrafts, bric-a-brac and plants.
Estremoz should be one of Portugal’s busiest places. After all, it’s where the E90, the European superhighway between Madrid and Lisbon, meets the IP2 (the main north-south road). But the Alentejo seems miraculously untainted by the 21st century. - Sunday Tribune
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Tag: "can" at biology news
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International human genome sequencing consortium describes finished human genome sequence
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Molecular mechanism sheds light on neurodegenerative diseases
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Molecule that helps DNA replicate may make good target for cancer therapy
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ENCODE consortium publishes scientific strategy
...ty of the problem. No single experimental approach can
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apply to them," said Peter Good, Ph.D., NHGRI's program director for genome informatics. Recipients ...
New genomic method can identify disease-causing genes
...mouse genome is similar to that of humans and mice can
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Mouse study: 'Critical' Down syndrome region isn't
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Study is looking at ways to help stroke survivors regain lost motor skills
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then be incorporated into the elongating protein chain. The defective base the researchers pinpoint...
Are yeast cells bringing us a step closer in treating obesity?
...blood - as in diabetes, for example - this process can
break down. The discovery that receptor proteins r...xistence in human beings. Given that this research can
raise a lot of questions for patients, we ask you to please refer questions in your report or articl...
Researchers discover gene mutations for Parkinson's disease
...der" populations, such as the Basques, researchers can
use this information to isolate interacting genes ...hen certain nerve cells die or become impaired and can
no longer produce dopamine. Without it, individuals can
develop tremor or trembling in hands, arms, ...
NIH funds new bioinformatics resources at UT Southwestern
...ll include databases and software that researchers can
use to improve drug discovery and vaccine developm...ute to the development of disease. From this, they can
better devise drugs or treatment options for type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus ery...
Genetics play role in response to most common asthma drug
...erapy based on patients' genetic patterns. "If we can
pinpoint which individuals will do better with a certain type of therapy, we can
improve their lives more quickly and save them -- and the healthcare system -- the expense and risk ...
Wendell Berry to give 'Renewing Husbandry' lecture during scientific meetings in Seattle
...ia representatives and public information officers can
receive complimentary registration for access to presentations and the Press Room. Please e-mail or fax your name, company, address, phone, and e-mail address to: Sara Uttech, firstname.lastname@example.org , or by fax at 608-273-2021. Or, present your press ...
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Up until only recently, according to wine journalist Rod Byers CWE, Zinfandel has been presented as “the Oakland Raiders of wine… loud, proud, unruly, and unapologetic.”
But at this past January’s ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) Grand Tasting, Byers noticed an increased “sophistication” in the Zinfandels. In a report entitled Zinfandel grape comes of age, published this past March 6 in The Union, the Grass Valley (Western Nevada County) daily newspaper, Byers wrote: “None (of the Zinfandels at this year’s ZAP) seemed overly alcoholic, sweet, or rough. Only one could have been considered moderately tannic. The wines were fruity, balanced, and even elegant.”
Which is cool, since this confirms our own observations. Mr. Byers, a Certified Wine Educator who also teaches at Sierra College, has been moderating day-long winemaker seminars at ZAP’s Grand Tasting in San Francisco every year for the past few years. This has put him in a great position to assess the evolution of California’s Zinfandels over the past 22 years.
ZAP was started up in 1991, says Byers, when “a small band of winemakers were growing increasingly concerned that Zinfandel was in danger of disappearing. Zinfandel, the backbone of the California wine industry for over a century, was falling out of favor with the wine drinking public. Faced with dropping sales growers were yanking out vineyards or budding over to other varieties. Much of what was left was being produced as white-zin. In fact, new wine consumers sometimes thought Zinfandel was a white grape.”
The issue with White Zinfandel, as Lodi’s grape growers were also discovering, was that demand for grapes to produce this pink toned, fruity style of wine was also beginning to drop precipitously. When grape contracts began to disappear, it was sink-or-swim time for all the growers, big and small – some from families who have been farming in Lodi for over 50 years, some for well over 100 years.
So many of them did what you do when it’s time to make lemonade out of lemons: they applied for winery bonds and began producing their own wines. Klinker Brick, Heritage Oak, Harney Lane, LangeTwins Family, Van Ruiten Family, Mettler Family, and Peirano Estate are just some of the outstanding Lodi wineries that have risen out of those circumstances over the past 20 years.
ZAP, in the meantime, began to attract up to 10,000 Zinfandel enthusiasts at a time to its annual Grand Tasting. Stylistically, according to Byers, many of these Zinfandels followed the style of ZAP co-founder Joel Peterson of Sonoma’s Ravenswood Winery, whose motto was “No Wimpy Wines.” More and more Zinfandels were deliberately scaled to be “brash and irreverent” – very popular among consumers, but less so among more and more critics complaining “that Zinfandel was too tannic, too fruity, too alcoholic, too out of balance, and not food-friendly.”
Just three years ago, for instance, the popular wine columnist Steve Heimoff confessed (in Talkin’ Zinfandel blues), “I haven’t gone (to a ZAP) for years,” while decrying the “fat, extracted, high-alcohol sweet style… clumsy, inelegant, and undrinkable with almost anything, except for that all-purpose food group, ‘barbecue’” – ouch…
“The bombastic, frat-party-gone-wild image might have been useful for establishing an identity for Zinfandel,” comments Byers, “but now winemakers like Peterson prefer to talk about balance, elegance, restraint, and food compatibility.”
Another major development signaling the maturity of Zinfandel, says Byers, was the 2013 ZAP’s inclusion of “a Terroir Tasting Area to compare and contrast flavor profiles between different Zinfandel growing regions like Dry Creek, the Sierra Foothills, or Lodi.” In a ZAP Flights seminar, taking place the day before the Grand Tasting, the Historic Vineyard Society – dedicated to the preservation of heritage vineyards throughout the state – put on a terroir-focused tasting of three of California’s major Zinfandel regions (including Lodi, presented by Turley Wine Cellars’ Tegan Passalacqua).
With increased sophistication of Zinfandel lovers comes increased appreciation of the specific vineyards from where the finest Zinfandels are sourced. Says Byers, “Perhaps the two wines that impressed me the most were the McCay Cellars Truluck’s Vineyard Zinfandel from Lodi and the Andis Winery Estate Zinfandel from Amador. Both of those wines broke the mold of their regions. While words like rustic and tannic are often attached to the wines of the Sierra Foothills, and raisined and ripe to those of Lodi, both these wines were fruity, stylish, flavorful, and balanced.”
McCay, of course, is not the only Lodi winery evolving in this fashion. LangeTwins, Peirano, Heritage Oak, and The Lucas Winery, to name just four, have been focused on this balanced, un-Oakland Raider-like style pretty much from the get-go. Although vintage conditions had some something to do with it, even Zinfandels like Macchia’s recently released 2011 single-vineyard bottlings, and Michael David’s 2010 Earthquake, indicate subtle movements towards the balanced style.
One could argue, of course, that Zinfandel came “of age” a long time ago – when wine lovers first began to embrace it wholeheartedly as one of the great varietals of the wine world. But as wine lovers’ appreciation of nuances –especially those related to individual vineyard distinctions – have begun to grow, so has the appreciation of heritage vineyards. This may not keep each and every ancient planting, declining in production, from being pulled out for real and practical reasons. But if anything is going to save them, it’s going to be consumer demand: the willingness to pay more for Zinfandels from vineyards that cost more to maintain.
On the aesthetic side, no longer do Zinfandels need to be “big,” or the opposite of “wimpy,” to be noticed. They just need to be true to their place of origin; or perhaps better, always go great with barbecue!
The featured blog article was first published online at lodiwine.com and is republished here with the permission of ZAP ( Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) and the author, Randy Caparoso, a long time friend of this web site, Wines.com.
Randy Caparoso is a multi-award winning sommelier and restaurateur, founding partner, Roy’s Restaurants and longtime wine journalist, including Sommelier Journal, The Tasting Panel Magazine, San Joaquin Magazine and lodiwine.com. Randy covers the entire West Coast from his home base in the middle of a 50-year old Lodi Zinfandel vineyard.
Caparoso in the recipient of many industry awards, including recognition by the Academy of Wine Communications for Excellence in Wine Writing and Encouragement of Higher Industry Standards, and he is an Electoral College Member for the Vintners Hall of Fame at the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone.
Randy’s blog, Culinary Wine & Food Adventures is one of our favorites. He writes about wine strictly from the perspective of food. To him, wine is a food like a rose is a rose, and his words bring clarity to this concept in new, delicious ways.
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Washington Irving (17831859). Rip Van Winkle & The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
The Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction. 1917.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
FOUND IN THE HANDWRITING OF MR. KNICKERBOCKER
THE PRECEDING Tale is given, almost in the precise words in which I heard it related at a Corporation meeting of the ancient city of Manhattoes, at which were present many of its sagest and most illustrious burghers. The narrator was a pleasant, shabby, gentlemanly old fellow, in pepper-and-salt clothes, with a sadly humorous face; and one whom I strongly suspected of being poor,he made such efforts to be entertaining. When his story was concluded, there was much laughter and approbation, particularly from two or three deputy aldermen, who had been asleep a greater part of the time. There was, however, one tall, dry-looking old gentleman, with beetling eyebrows, who maintained a grave and rather severe face throughout: now and then folding his arms, inclining his head, and looking down upon the floor, as if turning a doubt over in his mind. He was one of your wary men, who never laugh, but upon good groundswhen they have reason and the law on their side. When the mirth of the rest of the company had subsided, and silence was restored, he leaned one arm on the elbow of his chair, and, sticking the other akimbo, demanded, with a slight but exceedingly sage motion of the head, and contraction of the brow, what was the moral of the story, and what it went to prove?
The story-teller, who was just putting a glass of wine to his lips, as a refreshment after his toils, paused for a moment, looked at his inquirer with an air of infinite deference, and, lowering the glass slowly to the table, observed, that the story was intended most logically to prove:
The cautious old gentleman knit his brows tenfold closer after this explanation, being sorely puzzled by the ratiocination of the syllogism; while, methought, the one in pepper-and-salt eyed him with something of a triumphant leer. At length, he observed, that all this was very well, but still he thought the story a little on the extravagantthere were one or two points on which he had his doubts.
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Behavioural biologist Frans de Waal to give Freedom Lecture
Behavioural biologist Frans de Waal is to give this year's Freedom Lecture on 4 June in the Pieterskerk in Leiden. De Waal has many years of experience researching the behaviour of the species of anthropoid apes.
The title of De Waal’s lecture will be From Ape to to Angel:Bosch, Bonobos and Morality without God. He will demonstrate in his lecture that moral behaviour is older than mankind, an idea that has so far not gained general acceptance. ‘If we do our best, we can easily rise above our natural behaviour and become moral beings, but biology hasn’t made the task an easy one,’ according to De Waal.
- Innate morality
Based to some extent on his own research with anthropoids and elephants, De Waal demonstrates that empathy and a sense of fairness are not the prerogative of humans. The conclusion is that human morality may be more innate and natural than we thought. The fact that God isn’t necessary for morality is something that De Waal illustrated using the paintings of 15th-century artist Jeroen Bosch.
- Great Mind of Science
Frans de Waal has written a number of pioneering books about his research: iin 1982, Chimpanzee Politics appeared, and in 2009 The Age of Empathy. In 2007,Time magazine included him among the hundred most influential people of the present day, and Discover named him one of the 47 Great Minds of Science.
If you would like to attend the lecture, please refer to the website of the Freedom Lecture
- About the Freedom Lecture
The annual Freedom Lecture is a collaborative project of the Municipality of Leiden, Leiden University and the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). The three partners’ intention with the Lecture is to emphasise the university city’s traditional association with the concept of freedom. This year’s lecture is being organised by the LUMC.
The lecture will be given in Dutch, with a simultaneous translation in English.
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Hurricane Ike | Galveston Island
September 15 - October 1, 2008
An AT&T NDR satellite COLT (cell on light truck) providing wireless service
on the Bolivar Peninsula east of Galveston Island, TX.
AT&T NDR team members and local AT&T technicians set up a satellite COLT (cell on light truck) at Galveston's UTMB (University of Texas at Matagorda Bay) Hospital on Sunday, September 14, and configured it to provide optimized coverage for the hospital. The COLT remained in service until the fixed site on top of the hospital was back on the air on Saturday, September 20, 2008.
The team deployed a second satellite COLT on September 14 at Ball High School (Galveston) where the Texas Department of Public Safety had established its EOC for the island. That unit provided voice and EDGE data coverage until Sunday, September 21, when it was moved to provide service to a DPS checkpoint on I-45 coming onto the island. That unit remained in service until October 1, 2008. In total, NDR managed the deployment of five satellite COLTs and one satellite COW from Sugarlands to Galveston Island, TX.
NDR deployed a small command center, two ECVs and five personnel to provide command and communications to the local wireless recovery team at a temporary deployment site in Pasadena, TX. The team also provided a total of 24 hops of 5.8 unlicensed microwave that was critical to the recovery of the backhaul from the cell sites on Galveston and Bolivar Islands.
On Sunday, September 14, NDR began deploying team members and equipment to recover a small central office on Galveston Island that was inundated by Ike's storm surge. On Tuesday, September 16, the Galveston team set up a command center, an ECV, an access trailer and a tool/supply trailer at the Galveston/Sherwood office. Local technicians and network SMEs began installation and turn-up work in the NDR access trailer on Tuesday afternoon. Through-service at the office was restored early on Wednesday morning, September 17.
On Thursday, September 18, NDR transitioned responsibility for its equipment to the local AT&T workforce. Three NDR team members remained on site until Wednesday, September 24, to support the ECV and the CC and to assist with restoration work in the central office.
An AT&T Satellite COLT providing wireless connectivity at Galveston's
UTMB Hospital on September 14, 2008.
NDR set up a satellite COLT to provide wireless service for an
Emergency Operations Center established by the Texas
Department of Public Safety on Galveston Island, TX.
September 14, 2008.
An NDR technology recovery trailer arriving on Galveston Island, TX.
September 16, 2008.
NDR Operations Team members positioning a command center at an
AT&T Network office on Galveston Island, TX. September 16, 2008.
NDR recovery equipment on Galveston Island, TX. September 16, 2008.
NDR Emergency Communications Vehicles (ECVs) at the recovery site
on Galveston Island, TX. September 17, 2008.
NDR recovery equipment on Galveston Island, TX. September 18, 2008.
A satellite COLT providing service for a Texas Department of Public Safety
checkpoint on I-45. September 20, 2008.
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City of Alexandria, VA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2008
City of Alexandria Featured in U.S. Conference of Mayors’
The City of Alexandria was featured in the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Best Practices Guide on At-Risk Youth and High School Dropout Prevention, released in January 2008. The Best Practices Guide highlighted twelve of Alexandria’s programs for at-risk youth, more than any other city featured in the publication. A variety of Alexandria’s programs were discussed, ranging from its mentoring programs to gang prevention and intervention, day reporting program, and parental involvement efforts.
One particular program, the Youth Education Services - shoplifting alternative program, has also received a national “Commitment to Service” award from Target Department Stores. The program works with first-time juveniles arrested on shoplifting charges. Participants must complete a six-hour home study kit and attend an eight-hour classroom session that helps them learn to identify feelings, thoughts, and actions behind shoplifting and ways to improve their decision-making skills. Participants must also write apology letters to the victims.
The program is a collaborative partnership between the City of Alexandria and the local Target Store at Potomac Yard in Alexandria. The classroom session is co-facilitated by Target’s Asset Protection Team members and an employee from Alexandria’s Court Services Unit. Curriculum materials are paid for by a local foundation grant. The City of Alexandria also provides the program to the Fairfax County Court System for a fee. The program has proven to be highly effective, with ninety-five percent of class participants having no additional larceny charges since completing the program.
For more information, please contact Linda Odell, Program Coordinator, at 703.838.4144, ext. 251, or visit www.usmayors.org/bestpractices/ary08.pdf.
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Govt Imposes Ban on Graffiti
By KYAW PHYO THA / THE IRRAWADDY On Thursday, December 6, 2012 @ 7:25 am
RANGOON — It was only a few weeks ago that graffiti in Burma’s largest city grabbed international attention, when a Rangoon street artist sprayed a portrait of US President Barack Obama on a roadside wall to mark his historic visit last month. At the time, the authorities even posted guards to protect the president’s beaming face from vandalism.
Now, however, this brief moment of fame is over, as the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), a municipal body, has imposed a ban on spray-painting walls in public places of the former capital.
The committee decided to impose the ban because, it said, “those ugly drawings and lettering damage the city’s beauty and annoy residents.” It warned that those who break the rule will be punished under relevant municipal laws.
But the committee didn’t specify in its announcement on Tuesday what kind of punishment lawbreakers will receive, and did not respond to calls from The Irrawaddy requesting further information.
According to Kyee Myint, a member of the Lawyers’ Network, an offender would earn either a three-month prison term or a fine of 10,000 kyat (US $11.50), or both.
Arkar Kyaw, the painter of the Obama portrait, said that even though the order makes him feel restricted, the government’s move on the issue reveals the fact that the underground art culture is thriving in the country.
He added that street artists have to face reality, as there are laws in other countries to protect public places from vandalism.
“YCDC may feel we’ve gone too far, so that’s why they issued the order, I think,” said the 20-year-old artist. “Whether we like it or not, we have to follow it, since we have no power to go against the ban. But it would be better for us if they provided spaces for our art.”
In recent years, Rangoon people have seen a boom in street art across the city, especially on the walls of public places like zoo and hospitals. When the city suffered an acute electricity shortage last summer, young graffiti artists joined the campaign to push the government to provide more electricity by spray-painting an electrical socket trailing a wire and writing “Plug the City” on the walls. In a satirical take on the burning issue of land confiscation in Burma, they also scribbled “How much land does a Man need?” among other messages on the brick wall of Rangoon’s zoo.
Not everyone appreciates their efforts, however. Ba Shein, 62, says he feels uneasy whenever he walks past the zoo’s wall and sees the spray-painted graffiti.
“It’s just an eyesore to me. Do they call it art? For me, it’s just vandalism,” said the retired headmaster. “It’s OK if you do it on your own private property, but in public places, it’s another matter.”
Ye Hein, a street artist, said most of the artists have long been aware that the government would someday move to restrict their activities.
“But it’s ridiculous that a few weeks ago they put Obama’s graffiti under police watch, and now they impose a ban on street art,” he said.
Internationally, graffiti is a form of art and it could be an element of a city if well promoted, said Min Yan Naing, 32, a one-time street artist.
“Providing them [street artists] with spaces for their creativity may be the best solution, I think,” he said.
“If you force them to give up something they love to do, they will surely find a way to do it, because as young people, they tend to be defiant.”
Article printed from The Irrawaddy Magazine: http://www.irrawaddy.org
URL to article: http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/20655
Copyright © 2012 The Irrawaddy Magazine. All rights reserved.
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Mr. James Gaherty
Earth Institute Contact: Mr. James Gaherty
North Atlantic Ocean; Iceland Hotspot
Intellectual Merit. The Iceland hotspot fundamentally controls the geophysical and geochemical character of the adjacent Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). This hotspot-ridge system offers an excellent opportunity to study the effect of an anomalous mantle source on melt generation and upper-mantle flow beneath a spreading center. Although the upper-mantle character of the Iceland hotspot is now relatively well studied [e.g., Wolfe et al., 1997, Allen et al., 1999], long-standing and fundamental questions remain about the nature of mantle flow and melt generation beneath the Reykjanes and Kolbeinsey Ridges and how they are affected by the hotspot. Models of ridge-hotspot interaction differ on how hotspot material is transported along the ridge. In one view, it is thought that the hotspot material is channeled down the ridge at shallow depth. In an opposing view, the plume expands at deeper levels in a radial manner from its source, without channeling. The importance of passive versus buoyant flow within the melt zone is also uncertain. These models predict distinct differences in the character of the partial-melt zone beneath the ridge, including its width, depth, and magnitude, and how these properties change with distance from the Iceland. They also predict differences in flow-induced mineral fabric within and beneath the Atlantic lithosphere. These models can be differentiated using accurate estimates of seismic velocities and anisotropy in the upper-mantle beneath and adjacent to the Reykjanes and other portions of the MAR.
This proposal has three overlapping seismological objectives that are motivated by our principle scientific goal to characterize the nature of mantle flow and melt supply beneath the Reykjanes and Kolbeinsey Ridges and to determine the influence of the Icelandic hotspot on the seafloor-spreading system. We propose to:
* Determine lithospheric thickness, thermal structure and melt distribution in the mantle and crust beneath the Reykjanes and Kolbeinsey Ridges through surface-wave analyses.
* Determine the nature of mantle upwelling beneath the Reykjanes and Kolbeinsey Ridges through surfacewave studies of seismic anisotropy.
* Evaluate the influence of Iceland on upwelling beneath these ridges by estimating fabric-induced anisotropy elsewhere in the Atlantic.
High quality data sets exist for our use, namely recordings of surface waves from broadband seismic stations located on Iceland, other Atlantic islands, and along the Atlantic margin, which are freely available from the IRIS DMC. At the heart of the dataset are seismograms from the MAR recorded by the ICEMELT and HOTSPOT experiments. These data provide surface-wave coverage of a hotspot-ridge region that is unsurpassed globally, and the proposed analyses greatly expand on the limited studies done to date.
Broader Impact. The proposed research will broadly impact the community by offering substantial undergraduate and graduate research opportunities at both Georgia Tech and Hawaii. New seismic imaging methods and resulting models will ultimately be distributed for use by others in the community, both via scientific publication and the PI's websites. The research furthers the return on previous data collection efforts funded by NSF. The results of the proposed work will have direct consequences for several NSF-sponsored programs including RIDGE, Ocean Mantle Dynamics, and MARGINS.
Cross Cutting Themes:
Climate and Society
National Science Foundation
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A duende is a goblin-like creature that is found in the folklores of Spain, Portugal, Latin America and the Philippines. The term may also apply more broadly to all sort sort of fairy races (elves, goblins, pixies, brownies, leprechauns...).
Possible from the old castilian dueño, (the real owner of the house).
Duende are believed to be ugly creatures of a small stature wearing big hats. They are usually more heard than seen as they usually whistle a song while walking in the forest.
Using their talent they are believed to lure young girls to the forest and causing them to lose their way home. Conversely, in some Latin cultures the Duendes are believed to be the helpers of people who get lost in the forest so they could find their way home.
In Hispanic folklore of the American Southwest, Duendes are known as evil, green-skinned, red-eyed little monsters who live inside the walls of homes, especially in bedroom walls of young children. They attempt to convince children to misbehave, and will eventually try to steal a child's soul.
In folklore of the Central American country of Belize, particularly amongst the country's African/Carib-descended Creole and Garifuna populations, Duende are thought of as a forest spirit called "Tata Duende" who lacks thumbs.
Chamorro people in Guam believe in tales of taotaomonas, duendes and other spirits. Duende, according to the Chamorro-English Dictionary by Donald Topping, Pedro Ogo and Bernadita Dungca, is a goblin, elf, ghost or spook in the form of a dwarf, a mischievous spirit which hide or take small children. Taotaomona are spirits of the ancient Chamorro that act as guardians to banyan trees. White Lady hauntings surround buildings like the old Bordallo mansion in Yona, schools, hotel elevators and the Maina bridge.
Filipinos also believe in Dwende, which frequently live in rocks and caves, old trees, unvisited and dark parts of houses. They are sometimes confused with another kind of dwarves which are called nuno sa punso (old man of the mound) because they live in ant hills. They are either categorized as good or evil depending on their color - white or black respectively and often play with children.
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Search the Grace Website
You can send us your feedback online
The Grace University IS degree enables students to appreciate and engage the great diversity of global cultures in a way that accurately reflects their faith. The skills of cultural sensitivity and communication in diverse and continually changing vocations are increasingly important in today’s global community.
The IS department believes that success lies in learning how to interact with people, obtain new information, think critically, write well, and participate as a global citizen. These abilities enable the IS graduate to adapt to the changes that will occur over their lifetime. Employers increasingly look for people who can adapt to change and are willing to learn the new skills that vocations inevitably require over time.
During the course of their four year program, students engage in hands-on learning through multiple experiences including the edge program. On the edge students experience six months of daily life in another culture at study sites in Africa or the United States.
Review our IT resources available for students, faculty, and staff - including free Internet, E-mail accounts, and personal access to class schedules and grade reports.
Review Career listings that will help students jump start their careers, including - Jobs, Ministry opportunities, Pastoral Internships, and more.
Do you want to play college sports? Learn about our sports teams or follow the teams here!
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OpenID gets support
The distributed identity system, OpenID has received support from one of the most unlikely corners: Microsoft.
If you’re not familiar with the OpenID system, I’ll just run over it now. With an OpenID ID you can login to a supporting site just by giving it your profile’s URL. In my case this is oli.thepcspy.com
That site sets a few variables and redirects you to your OpenID’s provider’s site where you enter your login information. The strength of this is:
- You pick the provider you trust. You are not forced to use Microsoft or Yahoo. You can even make your own.
- You only need one password for every site.
- Sites you use never need know a username or password. That means there’s less chance of attack on your other accounts if you signup on a site with details you use on another account.
- You can chose which sites are allowed access to certain details. If you don’t want a site to have you email address you can easily restrict if when the site attempts to access your details.
- Changing your profile’s details is central.
Microsoft is spinning this power into CardSpace, their own identity system.
They could have approached the system from a competitive viewpoint but, based on the most recent announcements, it sounds like it’s going to marry together with OpenID to cover both usage segments.
This means OpenID has it’s first really mainstream high-profile supporter. If they carry on to implement this into their Live accounts, this should be an amazing amount of support and the other big account providers (Yahoo!, Google, AOL) would follow fairly quickly.
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I recall vividly in the aftermath of the assassination of President Kennedy and subsequent murders of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, there was a public outcry to control the use of weapons. Alas, the NRA swung into action and its gun sights on any congressman foolish enough to utter such words. Within a few years, any notion of having sensible gun laws in this country ended. Today, any nut case can get a gun, because it is his “right.” Last year Sarah Palin published an ad which identified twenty Democratic congressmen in the cross hairs of a gunsight along with words: “We’ve diagnosed the problem” and suggested solving it. At the time, Cong. Giffords responsed: “Sarah Palin has the cross hairs of a gunsight over our district and when people do that, there are consequences to that action.”
Giffords opponent, former Marine Jesse Kelly held a rally last June. He told people: “Get on target for Victory. Shoot a fully automated M-16 with Jesse Kelly.”
Sick minded people like Jesse Kelly and Sarah Palin and the rest of gun lovers will not accept reasonable laws. They believe people have the right to attend a rally for the president fully armed. Combine easy access to weapons with rhetoric of violence and one has the recipe for murder.
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in the UK
Sixty years after its release, Singin' in the Rain (1951) remains one of the best loved films ever made. Yet despite dazzling success with the public, it never received its fair share of critical analysis. Gene Kelly's genius as a performer is undeniable. Acknowledged less often is his innovatory contribution as director. Peter Wollen's illuminating study of Singin' in the Rain does justice to this complex film. In a brilliant shot-by-shot analysis of the famous title number, he shows how skilfully Kelly weaves the dance and musical elements into the narrative, successfully combining two distinctive traditions within American Dance: tap and ballet. At the time of the film's production, its scriptwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and indeed Kelly himself, were all under threat from McCarthyism. Wollen describes how the fallout from blacklisting curtailed the careers of many of those who worked on the film and argues convincingly that the film represents the high point in their careers. In his foreword to this special edition, published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the BFI Film Classics series, Geoff Andrew looks at the film's legacy and celebrates the passion, lucidity and originality of Wollen's analysis. Summing up its enduring appeal, Andrew writes: 'Singin' in the Rain isn't just a musical, it's a movie about the movies.'
Other books by this author See all titles
You save: £0.70
The prices displayed are for website purchases only, and may differ to the prices in Waterstones shops.
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Congratulations to Dan Vergano of USA Today, Michelle Nijhuis of High Country News for winning the 2006 journalism awards from the American Geophysical Union. The AGU is the country’s leading organization of Earth scientists. Both reporters won for articles on global warming.
I imagine that George Deutsch is looking for some things to do to fill the time he once spent censoring NASA scientists about global warming. As an ex-journalism major, he might be interested in reading some reporting that scientists recognize for getting the science right.
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Scientific party of cruise MV1205, led by Dr. Donna Blackman of SIO, aboard R/V Melville while transiting the Strait of Magellan enroute from Punta Arenas, Chile to their work area in the southern Pacific ocean.
Students and researchers embark on UC Ship Funds Program voyage of discoveryR/V Melville underway from Punta Arenas with scientific team led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography to study the geology and biology of seafloor vents at the Chile Triple Junction
From Chief Scientist Dr. Donna Blackman:
During our 10-day cruise aboard the R/V Melville, we will probe for strange new biological life forms, communities, and ecosystems dependent on as-yet-unknown conditions at fluid vent sites located at the Chile Triple Junction. Our scientific team will use an autonomous underwater vehicle (outfitted with cameras and chemical sensors) called Sentry - in combination with instrumentation to measure conductivity, temperature, depth (CTD), a multicorer, and a towed camera system - to locate and characterize heretofore unknown and some barely known ecosystems. This mission, which we call the INSPIRE: Chile Margin 2012 expedition is a follow-up to an eventful 2010 research mission that was also made possible by the UC Ship Funds Program.
The Chile Triple Junction is a globally unique area where there is a confluence of both geological and biological aspects of processes that control bio-geochemical exchange. An oceanic spreading center subducts beneath the Chilean margin at the triple junction; slope sediments deform and produce methane and some are deposited in the axial zone of the southernmost part of the spreading center (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Bathymetry of spreading segments and slope near Chile Triple Junction. INSPIRE- Chile 2010 tracklines (black, red:Tow-Yo) and sample locations (legend, upper right) are shown..The proximity of magmatically-driven hydrothermal venting and methane seeps on the adjacent slope provides a natural laboratory in which to examine relationships between and interconnectivity of these two types of deep-sea reducing ecosystems and determine whether ‘hybrid’ communities can also occur. The CTJ is at the confluence of the Pacific, Atlantic and Southern oceans, and so is ideal for investigating evidence for global-scale larval dispersal, potential for cross-basin population connectivity of vent species, and documenting similarities and differences of deep-sea fauna between the basins (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Prioritization for ocean ridge biogeography research endorsed by InterRidge.This multi-disciplinary study provides an exemplary context within which to advance student training, both scientific and sea-going. The mapping/imaging can provide information to extend thesis projects that were started during a previous UC Ship Fund Program cruise, INSPIRE- Chile 2010, led by SIO graduate student Andrew Thurber (Levin Lab, now postdoc at OSU), Alexis Pasulka (Landry Lab), and Ben Grupe (Levin Lab). On this cruise, SIO students (including a Chilean student working with SIO biologist Greg Rouse) continue to experience and lead sea-going research, data analysis and advanced research.
Follow the INSPIRE: Chile Margin 2012 expedition blog on NOAA's Ocean Explorer page here
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|Year 6/Year 7|
Hello and welcome to the Year 6 to Year 7 page of St Crispin's website. The Director of Achievement and Wellbeing for Year 7 is Mr Inns.
In this area we hope to provide you with information that will help with your transition from Primary School to St Crispin's.
THE TRANSITION YEAR
For prospective Year 7 students we hold an Open Evening. This provides parents and pupils with an opportunity to tour the school, see what happens in each department and meet staff For the September 2013 intake the Open Evening will take place on Monday 24th September 2012.
26th September, 1st, 3rd,9th &12th October 2012. Please call Mrs Icke on 0118 9781144 if you would like to arrange a morning visit.
The Head teacher, the Head Boy/Girl and Mr Inns visit our four feeder schools to provide parents with information about St Crispin's School. This is also an opportunity for parents to ask us questions. The roadshows take place in June (when the students are in Year 5) for Nine Mile Ride, Keep Hatch and All Saints.
In September, before the October deadline for applications to Wokingham LEA, Mr Inns will visit feeder schools to hold assemblies for Year 6. Pupils will gain an overview of what will happen during the year and there will be an opportunity for pupils to ask questions about life at secondary school.
At the moment, this is only avaliable to parents of students at All Saints but we look forward to expanding this in the near future. This is an opportunity to meet with the Mr Inns at your primary school and to have an informal discussion about your child and address any concerns you may have.
Your application for a place is made through Wokingham LEA and we have no impact upon deciding who receives a place at St Crispin's. Further information on the application process can be obtained from your primary school. The forms usually have to be returned to the LEA by the end of October but please ensure you ask your primary school for the deadline. You will normally be notified of your place by March.
Visits to Primary Schools
From May to June, the Head of Year 7 will visit the majority of Year 6 students and their teachers. This will provide and opportunity for the Mr Inns and Year 6 pupils to get to know each other. Some Primary Schools are extremely busy at this time with many secondary schools visiting. Should it not be possible for the visit to go ahead, please rest assured that he will have spoken to your Year 6 teacher over the phone.
Vulnerable Pupils Afternoons
Vulnerable Pupils Afternoons
Once the transition forms have been return by the Primary schools, Mrs Sampson (Director of Learning Support) and Mr Inns will create seven form groups for our 189 students. We will take into account requests made from Year 6 teachers that students be kept together or apart. Each form group will normally contain 27 pupils. We take into account every single students individual need to ensure that they are in the best form for them and receiving the appropriate support. We will endeavor to inform students of their form group at the Year 6 induction day.
In June, we invite our new students to St Crispin's to experience two days in secondary education. Details of this will have been provided by your Primary School. On the Tuesday of your induction, a Parent's Evening will take place in the school hall at 19:00 for us to provide you with further information such as the purchase of school uniform and form groups for Year 7. This will also give you the opportunity to meet with Mr Inns and the Headteacher and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.
Following the Year 6 induction days, Mr Inns will hold a surgery for parents and prospective students to come and see him.
Once your child starts at St Crispin's the transition does not end there. We understand that the move from primary to secondary school can be a very difficult period. We therefore have different types of intervention that we can put in place to support you child should they be facing difficulties. These range from social skills and vulnerable pupils groups to learning mentors who meet with students on a 1 to 1 basis weekly.
Year 7 Transition Review Day
Year 7 Transition Review Day
For further details of the school uniform and to make an order please go to www.trutexdirect.com. You will be required to enter the school code which is LEA00462SB.
The PTA also sell good quality second hand school uniform. They will have a stall at the Year 6 Parent's Evening. Should you need further information on the school uniform policy or the PTA please do not hesitate to Mr Inns.
At St Crispin's we understand that it can be very daunting when students enter the school in Year 7. We therefore run a peer mentoring scheme. Each Year 7 student will be paired with a Year 8 pupil. Throughout the Autumn Term they will meet with each other weekly to discuss how the transition is going. This provides the student with a familiar face and someone they can talk to about how they are feeling. We feel the scheme runs extremely well with Year 8 students as they were in the same situation a year previously and understand how our new pupils are feeling.
At St Crispin's the majority of subjects are taught in form groups which are of mixed ability, until the end of Key Stage 3 (Year 9). In the first few weeks, students will be set in Maths and English based upon their Key Stage 2 SATS and CATS results (which are sat within the first two weeks). In January, after a full term, the students will be set in French. Science do not set till Year 8.
Towards the end of each term, we have a transition review. Should we feel that there is a student that is struggling to settle at St Crispin's, you will be invited to come in and meet with Mr Inns and Mrs Sampson to discuss how we can best support your child and ensure that they are settled at their new school.
Teachers at your primary school will notify Mr Inns of students that may struggle with the transition to St Crispin's. On three afternoons in May, these students will come into the school and meet with Mr Inns and Mrs Sampson (Director of Learning Support). They will complete a range of activities, such as finding their way round the school with a map and learning how to tie a tie!! We have received many positive comments about these sessions and feel they are excellent in putting children's minds at rest about attending in September.
Throughout September we hold open mornings & appointments can be made through the school office. You will be shown around the school by students and have the opportunity to visit classes, speak with students and see for yourself the learning that takes place at our school.
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Richard Nisbett, Ph.D Assistant Professor
(813) 974-8506Email: firstname.lastname@example.org On leave of absence for 2013
Came to USF:
B.G.S., Texas Christian University, 1976
M.A. San Diego State University, 1988
Ph.D. University of Iowa, 1993
M.S.P.H. University of Alabama, Birmingham, 2001
Tropical Public Health
Rural Community Health & Social Medicine
Participatory Action Research & Rapid Field Assessments
Dr. Richard A. "Ran" Nisbett joined the Global Health Department in May 2008 where he teaches PHC 6106: "Global Health Program Development and Administration for Low-Resource Settings" and PHC 6934: Community-Directed Interventions and CbPR for Low-resource Settings." Previously, he has taught "Nutritional Anthropology," "Human Genetic Variation & Health," "Evolution Medicine," and "Biodiversity, Global Change & Human Health."
Dr. Nisbett is a field epidemiologist working at the interface of environment, behavior and biology in the tropics. A community ecologist, he has studied human-plant-animal interactions and the relationship between biodiversity and health—in particular, traditional hunting & healing in West Africa, as related to the potential for emerging pathogens. He has conducted disease-ecology projects in several countries, including studies of rodent-borne hantaviruses & arenaviruses and anthropod-borne viruses. In addition to disease ecology studies in Liberia, more recently Dr. Nisbett has focused on the socio-cultural environment as well. He is currently working with Liberian and World Health Organization colleagues on community-directed interventions for underserved rural and urban communities, workforce capacity building, and HIV/AIDS risk-reduction among urban commercial sex workers and adolescents. He has also worked on health education and initiatives in Jamaica, Costa Rica, Madagascar, and Sierra Leone.
Dr. Nisbett is a member of the International Association for Ecology and Health, the American Anthropological Association, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the Society for Vector Ecology, and the Liberian Medical Association.
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Psychological egoism (see also nihilistic psychological egoism and absurd psychological egoism) is the position that all humans act only in self-interest. On the surface this seems like a plausible statement. As always, however, let's go through the process.
Definitions are in order. First off, we must understand what we mean by "self-interest." The first major problem that can arise when discussing psychological egoism is confusing self-interest and selfishness. Self-interest is acting to benefit myself. Selfishness is acting to benefit myself and harming others in the process. All squares are rectangles, as it were. Obviously not all acts are selfish (I take it here that it is possible to act without harming someone; if you disagree, feel free to write it up). The question is still in the air about self-interest.
Now then, what does the psychological egoist mean when he says, "All human acts are done in self-interest."? He cannot mean literal physical health. The classic example is a person who throws himself on a grenade to save his companions. The egoist perhaps here replies, "Some people value honor and how others see them more than their own life, and so killing yourself to save others is really only self-interest." That doesn't seem terribly convincing if you think about it. Does a person really have time to think about honor and self-image in the instance of a grenade? Split second decisions leave no room for imagining glory before acting.
"Fine," says the egoist, "but you can't despute that all actions are based on desire. No one does anything unless they want to, even if the desire stems only from an attempt to avoid consequences." This seems reasonable enough. What is not reasonable, however, is it what it presuposes: that all desires are self-interested. I see no reason to think that my morals must be based on my desires; rather, most of us spend our lives trying to curb our desires to fit our morals. If I help someone because I want to, does that make the act self-interested? Wanting to be charitable can be an act outside of self-interest. Yes, the egoist is right when they reply that some people are charitable so that they will be seen as good people when they aren't or for some other ulterior motive, but that does not necessitate that all people are charitable for those reasons. Once you start doing your own digging, the psychological egoist is left with little solid ground to stand on.
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African American school administrators -- Texas -- Houston -- Interviews;
Houston Independent School District;
Wheatly High School -- Houston (Tex.);
Bellaire High School -- Houston (Tex.);
Howard Jefferson, civil rights activist, former HISD administrator, talks about the public school system and race relations in Houston.
Former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier is interviewed by Jim Barlow. Mr. Lanier discusses his years as a businessman in the real estate business, his law practice, and the highlights of his public career. He served three consecutive terms as Mayor of...
Former Roman Catholic Archbishop, Joseph Fiorenza is interviewed by David Goldstein. He answers questions about his education, the early years of his career, the Houston Catholic population, and the mission of the Catholic church in Houston.
County judges --Texas --Harris County --Interviews;
Harris County (Tex.) --Politics and government;
Hurricane Katrina, 2005;
Emergency management --Texas --Harris County;
Disaster relief --Gulf States;
Robert Eckels describes his experiences as former Harris County judge. He discusses politics in Harris county and in the city of Houston, as well as his involvement in handling the influx of the evacuees from New Orleans during hurricane Katrina,...
African American political activists--Texas--Houston--Interviews;
African American lawyers--Texas--Houston--Interviews;
Civil rights workers--Texas--Houston--Interviews;
Houston (Tex.)--Race relations;
University of Houston Central...
Gene Locke discusses issues about race relations in Houston during the 1960s and 1970s. He describes the transformation of the University of Houston, and his involvement in civil rights and politics in the city of Houston. Gene Locke served as...
Sakowitz, Robert, 1938-;
Sakowitz Department Store -- History;
Family-owned business enterprises -- Texas -- History;
Robert Sakowitz talks about his family business in Houston, the Sakowitz stores; about the city of Houston at the time the stores were established and developed; and the personalities he met while doing business.
Bryant, Thelma Scott, 1905-;
African Americans--Texas--Houston--Social life and customs--History;
Thelma Scott Bryant, a centenarian from Houston, talks about her life as an African American growing up at the beginning of the 20th century. She describes the black community where she grew up; the churches, schools, theaters and businesses; and...
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| 0.921203
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| 2.203125
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posted on January 11, 2011 01:32
It’s no secret in the IT sector that bad requirements are at the heart of high failure rates for software development projects. Unfortunately, the logical – and unfair – conclusion is that those who are responsible for defining and communicating those requirements should shoulder the blame for their shortcomings. The unacknowledged fact is that the fault does not lie with the people involved, but rather with methods and processes that fail to confront the reality of our limited human capacity to communicate complex ideas with only text and abstract models.
Fortunately, a growing number of companies have seen the light, and are currently enjoying enormous gains in the value of their development dollars as they implement software visualization as a core component of their requirements definition process. In turn, the role of business analysts in these organizations becomes increasingly important as they are tasked with transforming ambiguous business requirements into crystal-clear simulations that enable tighter feedback loops and faster iterations, and ultimately provide developers with a near-perfect roadmap to meeting the project’s objectives.
This webinar will answer the following questions:
• What is software visualization?
• Why should business analysts care about visualization?
• How does visualization work in successful implementations?
• How easy is it to learn visualization methods?
• When is visualization applied in a typical SDLC?
• What is the typical process for BAs who use visualization?
• What are three best practices for getting started with visualization?
• How does the iRise requirements definition platform enable visualization?
All attendees will receive a copy of ‘Visualize First - How the Best Business Analysts Work Smarter’ White Paper.
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Gear Review: PurifiCup Water Filter
A couple weeks ago I was in Austin, Texas with my fiancé checking out the city for the first time and exploring some of the local hiking spots. We decided our last stop before heading home would be McKinney Falls State Park, about 13 miles southeast of downtown Austin. It was late in the season, and dry, so there wasn’t much water running over the falls but there was enough water there to test out my PurifiCup filter.
PurifiCup sent me one of their filter kits a couple months ago and I’ve been dying to try it out. When I got the filter, I took it apart to check out the assembly and pre-soak the filter. The filter is incredibly simple and easy to use, it’s a basic gravity system. You fill up one cup, set it atop the filter mechanism, and it flows through the filter to the other cup (or whatever vessel you choose to fill).
What makes the PurifiCup unique is the filter technology. The filter media is a combination of ion exchange resins, activated carbon and nanoscale silver coating membrane. The nanosilver membrane is the important part here. The filter itself doesn’t filter below the 1.0 micron level allowing some microparticles and bacteria through. But the nanosilver membrane allows the PurifiCup to disinfect as it filters killing over 600 different types of bacteria.
Recently, an article posted at The Omega Man Journal put the PurifiCup through some real world testing. The testing was done in a clinical setting and tested the PurifiCup’s “ability to remove turbidity, chlorine, color and its ability to kill bacteria.”
The tests resulted in a 97% reduction in chlorine, 75% reduction in turbidity and a 63% reduction in color (visit his article for details). For the bacterial testing the samples were sent off to a biological laboratory. The interesting part of the bacterial findings wasn’t the reduction of bacteria. With the 1.0 micron filter, the reduction was minimal (800 cfu down to 500 cfu), but the bacteria that made it through the filter were rendered inactive by passing through the nanosilver membrane. This means the bacteria that passed through the filter could no longer reproduce or cause disease rendering them harmless and making the water safe to drink.
So while hiking around the rocks of Lower McKinney Falls, I pulled out my filter and tested it for myself. The manufacturer recommends filling from a moving water source. So for my first real field test of the product, I decided to fill it at the falls itself. The filter is designed to fit a variety of bottles. I’ve had it on plastic water bottles, my nalgene bottle, and this time, on my HydroFlask wide-mouth bottle. The filter seated nicely on the wide-mouth and I placed the sample cup on top. The cup is designed to snap in to place on the filter. There is a valve on the bottom of the cup that stays closed and holds the water until it is attached to the filter. Then the valve opens and gravity does all the work (sometimes it take a couple of taps to get the filter going).
The filtered sample passed my personal taste test to my satisfaction. It had no discernible residual taste from the river or the filter. It tasted like clean, fresh water (and tasted better than the water supplied at the drinking fountains in the park). The system is light weight and compact and seems to travel well. I’ve taken it an several camping/backpacking trips now and have tossed it in my carry-on luggage for several flights. It’s held up well with only minor scratches. One of the features of the PurifiCup is that it does travel well and can be easily tossed in to luggage for travel in parts of the world that are notorious for horrible drinking water.
You can see from the pictures that the size makes it a very portable system. I was able to hike all afternoon with the PurifiCup in the side pocket of my cargo shorts without discomfort. It easily fits in most any backpack, bag, purse or large pocket. Overall I’m pretty pleased with the ease of use and effectiveness of this filter.
The Bottom Line
In my opinion, this is a great and simple product that has proven it's effectiveness in making water safe to drink. It's light-weight and portable and perfect for smaller hikes or international travel. It would not be my filter of choice if I was in a situation that required filtering large amounts of water (although, with a little rigging, it would be perfectly capable). However, for solo trips with water sources available I would use this over many other filter products. Obviously, you should consider your needs and if this type of product fits for you, but it is a product I would recommend.
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Image Source: Peter Evans, UK. We Appreciate Permission To Post On This Site
Blithfield Hall, its buildings with turrets and battlements, with the main house joined by battlement walls and the turreted gateway is one of the oldest castles in England. At first, it only contained the main castle with a few buildings with the moat surrounding the establishment. Blithfield is situated between the valleys of the two rivers, Blythe and Trent, lying in a hollow, but on high ground. It is not known that it got its name from the Blythe, because the Blithfield family had lived there for centuries before Ralph Bagot married Elizabeth Blithfield in 1360, but probably did get its name from the Blythe River. In 1953 the river was dammed to form a reservoir and now a very attractive lake lies southeast of the house.
Blithfield Hall is within two miles of Abbot's Bromley. Abbot's Bromley is famous partly because the annual Horn Dance performed there, beginning at the church at Abbot's Bromley and continuing for about twenty miles surrounding it. In ancient times, the dancers passed by Bagot's Bromley, about a mile distance from Blithfield and Abbot's Bromley, and stopped there to have lunch with the Bagot family. Bagot's Bromley was apparently a small castle surrounded by a moat and appeared as a fortress. The only way to get to the castle was by a drawbridge, which the family would lower for visitors to arrive. Bagot's Bromley is now only a memory with a stone in Monument Field as a reminder. The dance is now performed on the lawn of Blithfield Hall as it passes by. A picture is shown on Abbot's Bromley.
In its beginning, Blithfield appeared as a fortress with a moat around the complete surroundings. The Elizabethan South Front with its tall chimneys, is said to have been rebuilt by Richard Bagot and until about the eighteenth century, a moat ran directly beneath the windows. A bridge leading to the open courtyard around which the beautiful house was built gave entrance to the front door of the castle, or great gateway, as it was then called. At this time the center of the courtyard with the plants and pots surrounding the lily pond on either side of the buildings introduces a peaceful atmosphere as you enter there. The north side of the courtyard now has a Gothic Cloister, with a Gallery above. The interesting South Front, with its tall chimneys and the Inner Courtyard, appears to be an altogether different place from that of the West Front with its five gables, but reports are that that part of the house has not changed much since 1686.
Decades ago the Great Hall was a beautiful piece of architecture, and it is almost impossible to describe the luxury it displayed. The way it appeared before was the beautiful draped ceiling with the dazzling chandelier hanging in the center of the room and two doors that exited into another part of the Hall. The wall on the right side displayed several Coats of Arms of the family located in a frame with hand carved decorations on top. One showed the Arms of Ralph Bagot and Elizabeth Blithfield, whose marriage in 1360 caused the Bagots at Bagot's Bromley to move to nearby Blithfield. Directly underneath it was the fireplace situated with an arched top. A long table stood in the room with drawings on its top, including Coats of Arms of the family and other figures. In a glass case on the center table was the family tree. Starting in 1067, it covered nearly 900 years; hence the family motto, "Possessing Antiquity." On the wall atop two doors and between them, hang four matching sets of the horns of the Bagot Goat, which ran wild in Bagot's Park for hundreds of years. The floor of the Hall shined as polished bronze, and appeared to be made from oak hardwood.
The Great Hall described above is not the same at the present time. That is, the long table described above has gone to a museum. As stated, it had a glass top and under the glass was a tapestry showing the Bagot family tree. As for the family tree, it probably is still there some place in the Hall, approved by the College of Arms, and recently brought up to date by them. When Caryl died in 1961, the Lordship went to other male relations. Lady Nancy, his widow from Sydney, Australia who survived his Lordship, is the present owner of Blithfield Hall. At that point, of course, Nancy, Lady Bagot was then reduced to plain Nancy Bagot. As everybody knew her as Lady Nancy, she changed her name by deed poll to Nancy, Lady Bagot. Blithfield Hall now belongs to her, not to a Lord's inheritance. At her decease, it will go to another member of her family, but not a Lord.
It appears that the change of the Great Hall was made when the reservoir was created southeast of the house. The Blythe River Reservoir adds picturesque scenery to the estate. When the reservoir dam was opened in 1953, a memorable experience happened there at Blithfield. Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, opened the reservoir, and she was entertained to luncheon in the room of the Great Hall. The room was redecorated and rearranged for The Queen Mother's visit. On the wall atop the two doors and between them hang the four matching sets of the Horns of the Bagot Goat as they did before.
The Main, or Great, Staircase, which I understand leads to the Great Hall, dates from the reign of Charles I, the balustrades being carved with Coats of Arms and the posts carved with heraldic animals, along with vases of fruits and flowers. You have to see the Great Staircase to really appreciate the luxury of its design. The wood for the oak staircase and the oak floors throughout the house, along with the paneling was apparently grown on the Blithfield estate.
Another beautiful room in a part of Blithfield Hall is the Dining Room. Its green and gold Elizabethan paneling, grapevine cornice and barrel ceiling, is an eye catcher. It has a very wide fireplace with the mantel, and above it is mounted thirty-six Coats of Arms of the family and of those into which the family married. On each side of the fireplace and Coats of Arms are two sets of bookcases. It has in the center of the room a long table with three tripod like legs and a glass top with candlesticks and dinnerware scattered out on the glass top. The floor shines like crystal, and appears to be made of the same oak material as described in the Great Hall above. The room has arched ceiling with a window on the right side, and on the left and right side of the fireplace between the bookcases are twin doors, which are apparently entrances to two closets.
The Study was added about 1738 when other rooms were built to the North Front. A portrait of Colonel Salesbury hangs on the wall of one side of the room. On the other side over the fireplace is a copy of a portrait of Colonel Richard Bagot, who defended Lichfield Cathedral during the Civil War. The (6th) Baron, Caryl Ernest Bagot, who died in 1961, used the Study for several years. The (6th) Baron was succeeded by Harry Iric Bagot, (7th) Baron, 1893-1961. He was succeeded by Reginald Walter Bagot, (8th) Baron Bagot, 1887-1973. Heneage Charles Bagot, (9th) Baron Bagot, born 1914, succeeded and is the present Baron. Apparently the two Barons, (7th) and (8th), did not live at Blithfield since Lady Bagot, widow of Caryl Ernest, lives there at present and at one time allowed visitors in the Hall. It is not known where the two Barons following Caryl Ernest lived, but the present Baron lives in Wales.
There across from the eighteenth century Orangery is the thirteenth century Blithfield Parish Church of St. Leonard, which apparently replaced an even older building, since a priest mentioned the church in the Domesday Book in 1086. The Orangery faces south. A Coat of Arms of the barons and other Arms are shown on the windows of Blithfield Church. The Chancel of the Church shows the altar underneath an elegant window above. Another scene shows the helmet of John Bagot. In Memorials of the Bagot Family, a book compiled by (2nd) Baron, William Bagot, and printed in 1824 states that this part of Blithfield was built by his father, (1st) Baron, by the Staffordshire architect Samuel Wyatt and under the direction of Athenian Stuart. Apparently the original book presents many watercolor pictures of the house and gardens. The book has been copied and put in a binder, and the copy that these notes were taken from does not include the watercolor pictures, but much history is found in it. History indicates that the Hall originally stood by the Parish Church. A village of Blithfield is said to have existed near the church at one time, but it is said that there is no trace of it remaining today. The Georgian Rectory burned in 1962, but there are hopes that it can be replaced as well.
In 1946, when the (6th) Baron and his wife Nancy came to live in Staffordshire, the house at Blithfield had fallen into ruins, even as it had in Sir John's day six hundred years earlier. There was only a tap for water in the kitchen, far from other parts of the Hall, no bathrooms except hip baths, no electricity or heating, apart from open fires. The roof leaked almost everywhere. The (5th) Baron had sold the house to the South Staffordshire Water Works, who was to make a reservoir in the Park. The (5th) Baron had permission to live at Blithfield for his life, and with the house in the state that it was, in 1945, considered a wise move. After the (5th) Baronís death, the (6th) Baron and Nancy his wife moved into a small hotel at Abbot's Bromley. After seeing the ruins, they decided to buy the house and gardens back. After much negotiation, the house was again in possession of the Bagot family. They then immediately began the enormous task of restoration of the buildings at Blithfield. Fortunately, they received a grant from the Historic Buildings Council for the repair of the roof and cutting out the dry rot. The Main Hall and most of the surrounding buildings have now been restored.
There is a brass plaque dedicated to the memory of the husband of Nancy, which bears his Coat of Arms. It is set into the back of the oak stall he used. An inscription says that Sir Caryl Ernest, 6th Baron Bagot, was born 9th March 1877, the only son of the Reverend Lewis Bagot. He served in the Irish Guards during World War I. He succeeded his cousin in 1946, and with Nancy his wife made Blithfield his home until his death, 5th August 1961, during which time the Hall was brought back to life and beauty. It is apparent that if it had not been for the (6th) Baron, the Hall at Blithfield would, in all probability, have been demolished and much beauty lost. In the latter days of the (5th) Baron's life, he lived in only a few rooms of the whole house consisting of eighty-two rooms. Although we have attempted to describe parts of this outstanding castle, it is impossible to illustrate the beauty of this house.
We have been informed that the owners of The Tower House, another beautiful part of the Blithfield estate, are not the Bagot family who resides at Blithfield Hall at the present time. It appears that parts of the estate have been transformed into flats and sold off separately. The Bagot family, Nancy, Lady Bagot and her daughter Caryl Rosemary, did in fact still reside in the Main Hall in 1979, and according to reliable information we have obtained, Lady Bagot remains there to this day.
The aerial view of the great estate is exceptionally remarkable. The several castle-like houses scattered over a large area are seemingly separate, but in some way, connected with each other. The magnificent buildings appear to be that of a king's palace. The architecture of the buildings is astounding, with each and every building on the estate similar, but actually different in some manner. The Park and estate around the castle is covered with trees, and all of them appear to be oak trees, some in clusters and others some distance from each other. If one were to vacation in the United Kingdom, you should try and get permission to visit Blithfield. It actually appears as something that comes out of a storybook. The estate of Blithfield is located in Staffordshire in England near Rugeley.
Copyright © 2003. All Rights
Baggott | Hervey Baggott |
Baggott | Nicholas Baggett I
| Nicholas Baggett II |
Baggett | Abraham Baggett I | Joseph
Baggett I | Barnaby Baggett
Thomas Baggett I | Nicholas Baggett III | John Baggett | Hardy Baggett | Grandberry Baggett | Abbots Bromley | Bagots at Pool Park Hall | Silas Baggett Historic Home
Alexander Baggett | Irish Baggotts | Austrlian Baggotts | English Baggotts | Ele Baggett Historic Home | Battle Abbey | John Baggett Analysis | Union Baptist Church
Lord William Bagot | Averett Baggett | Photo Galary 1 | Photo Galary 2 | Photo Galary 3 | Photo Galary 4 | Photo Galary 5 | Great Grandfather of William Riley Baggett Descendants of Machael Baggett | Maury Former Home | Historic Buildings | Historic House | Ephraim Baggett Family | Historical Home | It's Christmas | Silas Baggett
Cemetery | English Map | Levens Scenery | Ancestors of Lord William Bagot | They Passed Bagots Bromley | The Creation | Ele Bright Baggett | Winter Snow Flacks
Silas Baggett | Bagots Blithfield View From The Air | Irish Data | Irish Legal | Bagot Special Breed of Goats | Zion Baptist Church | The Duncan line | Bagots Bromley
The Rev. Burrell Camp | Bagod d' Arras | English Baggott Descendants | Bagot Pype Hayes Park Hall | Civil War and Its Links | Historical Store | Bagot Blithfield Hall
Baggett Name Origin Certificate | Descendants of Andrew B. Baggett | Conecuh County Alabama History | Joseph Williams Family | Historical Homes | Allen Baggett
Baggett History 1 | Baggett History 1b | Baggett History 1ba | Baggett History 1bb | Baggett History 1c | Baggett History 2 | Baggett History 2b | Baggett History 3
Baggett History 4 | Baggett History 5 | Baggett History 6 | Baggett History 6b | Baggett History 7 | Baggett History 8 | Elizabeth Baggett Home Place | Wills & Deeds
High Shoals Falls | The Jacob Baggett Family, Father of Stephen Z. Baggett | Family Connections; The James Connection | Family Connections; The Hardy Family
Nicholas Grandberry Baggett | Rev. Ned Grandberry Baggett | Saint-Omer Castel in Flanders | Stephen Baggett - Sikes | Hervey and Millicent Stafford | 1899 Ballard
Bagots of Levens Hall Park | Delicious Home Recipes - Casseroles | Delicious Home Recipes - Cakes | Delicious Home Recipes - Pies | Christian Nation in Danger
Descendants of Burl Baggett | Uzziel Baggett Descendants | Rev. Ned Baggett and Wife | Present Dangers of Atheism | Baggett Proof of Descent in Origin Section
James Baggett I Descendants | James Baggett II Descendants | The Baggett Family in Belgium | The Baggett Family in France | Jesse Baggett and Wife, Zilla Godwin
Joseph Baggett I last Will and Testament |Thomas Baggett I last Will and Testament |Thomas Baggett II last Will and Testament |Descendants of Solomon Baggett
Nicholas Baggett III Last Will and Testament | An Indian Raid in Texas | Descendants of Joseph Baggett I | Descendants of Jesse Baggett | Baggett Family Pedigree
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business in the business Successful employees do more than follow instructions, says consultant Jacqueline Jones. They aggressively seek out opportunities for organic growth. “They find the business in their business, putting themselves in the position of the C-level people in the company.” Consider the competitive challenges facing the CEO or COO. Those who stand out are the employees who envision how their work within a division or department can impact the company as a whole.
Stop looking at yourself as an employee of a company. Think of your company as a client. “Before you join any company or department, do a thorough analysis on business challenges and threats,” recommends Jones. “And then ask, ‘What can I do to mitigate those threats.’”
20 On your mark—keeping up with the speed of change “The world is moving very, very quickly. By 2010, 70% of manufacturing sales will be obsolete,” say Frans Johansson, author of The Medici Effect: Breakthrough Insights at the Intersection of Ideas, Concepts & Cultures (Harvard Business School Press, $24.95). Add to that the growth of global markets, such as India, China, Eastern Europe, and Africa, and the current approach to business will experience rapid change. The shift will produce greater challenges and increased competition for people in the U.S., says Johansson.
Employees will have to learn to use information to keep pace with change, says Johansson. “It’s critical for you as an individual to reinvent yourself, to continually find new ways of providing value to your company or to the market in general,” he says. Finding new areas and applications for your talents may be a huge opportunity to do something no one else is doing.
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It is April 1998 and lunch is almost over at the Al Kawakbi School. The “Chanting Period” has started, with the instructor leading, “Our president forever,” and the students and I replying, “The President Hafez al-Assad.” It was a hard notion to grapple as a child that one man would rule for his entire life. I asked myself many times how Hafez al-Assad could possibly believe he should be our president forever. But to ponder these thoughts out loud was prohibited in my country because of the lack of freedom of expression. I asked my father about these matters, but he was afraid to tell me the truth, even when we were alone.
On June 10, 2000, President Hafez al-Assad passed away, and the presidency was transferred to his son Bashar al-Assad, as if he had been crowned Syria’s next monarch. Since the start of his presidency, contrary to his father’s administration, Bashar al-Assad tried to project a positive image of himself to the Syrian people. He tried to change the militaristic image that his father had held, and to appear as a gentle, warm-hearted president while simultaneously maintaining the dictatorship and oppression of his regime. He also wanted to appear directly responsible for developing the nation and bringing it into the twenty-first century.
With the change in leadership, Syrians hoped to see reform to the political and economic system that had been unchanged for forty years since the Baathist takeover. Unfortunately, the economy had gotten worse, with unemployment increasing[i] and the education system producing insufficient human capital.[ii]
Last December, the Arab Spring began with the Tunisian uprising that saw the departure of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. This was closely followed by the January 25 Revolution in Egypt. Syrian youth, including myself, monitored both revolutions closely, waiting for the spark that would ignite an uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
It is February 17, 2011: A policeman hits someone in Damascus, and a massive demonstration is launched in support of the victim. The news is surprising, given Syria’s unpreparedness for this kind of situation. With this news, I saw the happiness in my friends’ faces. It was the spark they had long been waiting for.
It is March 15, 2011: Political prisoners’ families start a demonstration in the center of Damascus demanding their loved ones’ freedom. This date will come to mark the formal start of the Syrian Revolution.
Initially, hope was widespread among many citizens, especially after the success of the Egyptian people in toppling the regime of Hosni Mubarak. Syrians felt they had the right to be free as well. Fear was a significant factor too, as it had existed among Syrians since Hafez al-Assad’s presidency. Fear affected the uprising’s growth, with many Syrians remembering the 1982 Hama massacre that left thousands of civilians dead. Additionally, the mukhabarat, or secret police, were widely known to make citizens disappear who appeared not to support the Assad regime.
Bashar al-Assad’s popularity initially drove the Syrian people to ask merely for reforms, despite the killing of dozens of people in Daraa during the first two weeks of protest.[iii] The president’s popularity fell after his first speech since the revolution began when he scoffed at the demonstrators and their demands. Syrians were disappointed, with many feeling a new resentment to a formerly popular leader.[iv] Getting people into the streets would be much more of a challenge because of this rampant fear. Bashar al-Assad’s popularity, which the regime relied upon throughout the past 11 years, was great enough to make the uprising different from other revolutions in the region. This is because many continue to see al-Assad as a reformer and a protector of minorities in a highly diverse country.
The revolution took off when the people of Hama began to demonstrate. Hama, which suffered heavily during the 1982 massacre, brought huge momentum and made the revolution into a significant story. On the first day of protests in Hama, at least 65 people were killed by the secret police.[v] A month later, Hama’s demonstrations grew to more than 500,000 protesters with amazing chants, captivating the hearts and minds of Syrians everywhere.[vi]
This was a milestone in the uprising. The huge number of protesters against the regime helped to break down a significant part of the fear obstacle. Syrian people began to believe that their revolution would never subside without major changes. After almost eight months of protesting, the Syrian people have two demands: justice for the victims, and the downfall of the Assad regime. All of this started eight months ago with requests for simple reforms, but the chants today have escalated to demanding the fall of the regime and the hanging of the president.
The Syrian people have refused any kind of external military interference, but after more than 3,500 citizens were killed[vii] and more than 40,000 taken as prisoners[viii], they are now asking the international community and the United Nations to put more pressure on this regime to stop the killing. The Syrian revolution is now mature in all aspects, with hundreds taking creative steps to help bring about the downfall of the regime. Thousands of activists are working on documenting protests and killings by government forces while spreading the word to the outside world.
The Syrian government’s propaganda continuously calls protesters terrorists, while nothing is further from the truth. The peaceful nature of the Syrian people remains their greatest weapon, providing protection and legitimacy, while the regime continues to kill protesters and use exceptionally brutal tactics. The Syrian people are committed to bringing about meaningful change through peaceful means.
Homs, Syria’s third largest city has become the capital of the revolution, with more than 1,000 people killed and continuous demonstrations in each neighborhood. The city’s determination and persistence has caused it to be shelled by artillery fire from the army. Every day the number of dead increases, suppressing hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. At the same time, I grow increasingly certain that the revolution will succeed, as does every Syrian who dreams for the freedom that most of the rest of the world enjoys.
The Syrian revolution includes Syrians from all races, sects and classes – even Alawites, who belong to the sect of the president and his main supporters. This diversity has allowed the revolution to spread to all cities, towns and villages. This diverse opposition is possible because of a common goal among Syrians: the desire to build a civilian government based on free and fair elections containing all political parties, allowing Syrians to exercise their human rights to achieve a decent and peaceful life.
[i] Economist Intelligence Unit, “Country Report: Syria,” November 2011
[ii] Legatum Institute, “The 2011 Legatum Prosperity Index: Syria,” http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=SY.
[iii] Human Rights Watch, “Syria: Security Forces Kill Dozens of Protesters,” 24 March 2011, http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/03/24/syria-security-forces-kill-dozens-protesters.
[iv] Nicholas Blanford, “President Assad’s defiant speech stuns Syrians who call for more protests,” Christian Science Monitor, 30 March 2011, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0330/President-Assad-s-defiant-speech-stuns-Syrians-who-call-for-more-protests.
[v] Lim Stack, “Syrian Tanks Move in on City as Thousands Mourn Protestors Deaths,” New York Times, 4 June 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/world/middleeast/05syria.html
[vi] “Half a million’ protest on streets of Hama,” Al Jazeera, 8 July 2011, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/07/2011780473138345.html
[vii] “Syria crackdown on protests has killed more than 3,500, says UN,” The Guardian, 8 November 2011, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/08/syria-crackdown-death-toll-3500-un?mobile-redirect=false
[viii] “Patients tortured in Syrian hospitals: Amnesty,” MSN News, 25 October 2011, http://arabia.msn.com/News/MiddleEast/AFP/2011/October/10206023.aspx?region=all.&featuredAll
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Analog voltage-controlled oscillators (AVOs) make a variety of intriguing hums, beeps, buzzes, and loops, controlled by buttons, knobs, and sensors. These are fantastic group projects because once the soldering irons are all put down, you get an excellent payoff: you can have an impromptu concert. Bleep Labs, run by Austin, Texas, circuit bender and kit maker John-Michael Reed, produces a few AVO kits that I’ve built and had fun with.
The Thingamagoop 2 features a square wave amplitude modulator and triangle wave pulse width modulator, packed into a lovely silkscreened metal enclosure. The Thingamagoop’s signature component is an LED on a bendable wire antenna called the LEDacle, which looks cool and, more importantly, interfaces with the light sensor hidden in the eye, making for a huge range of possible sounds.
I found the build to be rather challenging. It took me a couple of hours to make, with one or two tricky steps. One thing I appreciated was that unlike other Bleep Labs kits, you don’t need anything but the kit itself to make cool music — there’s no need to plug into anything. When I finally finished my Thingamagoop, I turned it on and watched as my kids snatched it out of my hands and ran off with it.
While the Thingamagoop is obviously kid-friendly, it offers some cool features for mom and dad to explore further. For instance, I’m intrigued that you can reprogram its ATmega328 chip using an Arduino.
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One week's work: Youth marching band camp preps musicians for Festival parade
August 1, 2012 · 12:18 PM
No parade is complete without a marching band, certainly not the Festival at Mount Si's grand parade set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11. Each year, the week-old Snoqualmie Valley Youth Marching Band captures one of the coveted awards in the festival's parade judging, and then, its first and final performance complete, it dissolves for another year.
Since about 2003, sixth graders and older have had the opportunity to take a week-long marching band bootcamp at Mount Si High School. Mount Si doesn't have a marching band program, so this end-of-summer camp, led by Mount Si bandleader and music teacher Adam Rupert, is an opportunity for students to try something new.
"This is a fun week, doing something you don't get a chance to do during the school year," explains Rupert. Since the band's only gig is the parade at the end of the week, Rupert says, "there is no reason to have it last longer than that."
So on Monday, Aug. 6, students are invited to assemble at Mount Si High School to learn the basics of marching to music. The end result is "Fanfare, big numbers, loud noises, symmetry and recognizable melodies," Rupert says, all the things that people love about marching bands. Getting there will take some work.
"It's harder than you think," Rupert said, to walk in a straight line while playing an instrument and listening for instructions. Add to that moving your feet in time with the music, while keeping your row and column straight with the help of only your peripheral vision, and you have a challenge.
Between 35 and 50 students each summer take on that challenge and join the band camp. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, they will learn the music and basic marching, and start developing their performance for Saturday.
"Once we know what our strengths and weaknesses are, we can begin to shape the routine," Rupert said. "It’s the highlight of the parade for us and we take that part very seriously."
Students interested in band camp should bring their instruments and sack lunches to the first day, along with the participation fee of $75. Also, Rupert says, "lots of energy."
That gets them the four-day marching band experience, parade entry, and a T-shirt. Also, if they continue their tradition, an award from the parade.
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Governments improve their services with the help of technology
As I’ve stated several times in the past, I believe that cloud and technology innovations can empower governments and public administrations. In order to come up with the best technology innovations, it is necessary to understand the challenges that governments face every day. We have had many discussions around this topic at the Worldwide Government Solutions Forum 2012 in London.
Several organizations have provided us with important insights on their experiences in solving the challenges of central, regional and local governments through software solutions and services, as well as their results in increased productivity, efficiency and economic gains.
Most of the technology solutions presented were cloud based which clearly reflected the increased momentum and accelerated adoption amongst governments and public administrations.
One of the main realizations around the adoption of cloud computing is that this technology solution is not at all new, but the major update consists of the way the public sector interacts with it.
Cloud has actually proven itself to be especially useful for smaller public service providers that were obliged in the past to either join larger organizations or outsource their services, as they did not have the necessary ICT capability.
I find that the story of The Government of the Perm Region in Russia is a very compelling example of the benefits of cloud adoption. With IT outsourcing in mind the regional government made several key steps to move towards the cloud. They had many important challenges to overcome. The different email, audio and videoconferencing and instant messaging systems that were used had no standardization. Furthermore all customer support was outsourced to different partners with different support and service level agreement in several ministries. At first the Perm Region piloted Microsoft Office 365 for 250 users. They also tested and compared with other vendors but after a successful pilot they moved 2,000 additional users to Office 365. While developing current SharePoint site Perm’s future step will be moving more users to Office 365 until they cover the entire Perm Region. The move to Office 365 has helped the Perm Region to better forecast IT expenses and free up time to innovate rather than time spent managing multiple different systems by standardizing on one.
Also I would like to refer to the County Administration Board in Västra Götaland in Sweden who launched an Internet portal in multiple languages as a way to offer clear information to refugees coming to Sweden. The portal provides a comprehensive overview of Swedish society and its government in six languages. The purpose of the site is to empower site visitors, using a feature called “One Way In” to see all the important information they need to establish themselves as new residents in Sweden. Also the intention is to create better transparency of the induction process and to support civil servants and others (NGO's) who deliver those processes. The site facilitates cooperation among government entities and helps them to share information easily. Businesses also contribute information to the site as potential employers. With the help of IT services provider Softronic, the site was created using Microsoft SharePoint, with connections to products such as Microsoft Dynamics customer relationship management systems and Microsoft Lync. The portal uses features similar to Facebook to share information with visitors to the site. Plans are underway to extend the portal throughout Sweden. It is a very interesting project and a good example of how Microsoft technology can help public sector customer make a real impact on delivering and improving services for citizens. I would recommend that you take a look at the video case study from Västra Götaland here.
I really believe that the future is here today, we just need to embrace it! I believe that we have the obligation to seize the opportunity that technology can provide for safer, better educated, more efficient and prosperous societies. The innovative use of the technology that is already available today is key to accomplishing this.
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Eugene Lyons (1898–1985) was an American journalist and writer. A fellow traveler of the Communist Party in his younger years, Lyons became highly critical of the Soviet Union after having lived there for several years as a correspondent of United Press International. Lyons is remembered by many as a biographer of President Herbert Hoover.
Early years
Eugene Lyons was born July 1, 1898 to a Jewish family in the town of Uzlyany, now part of Belarus but then part of the Russian empire. His parents were Nathan Lyons and Minnie Privin. He grew up on the East side of New York City among the teeming and odoriferous tenements of Sidney Kingsley’s Dead End.
"I thought myself a 'socialist' almost as soon as I thought at all," Lyons recalled in his memoirs. As a youth Lyons attended a Socialist Sunday School on East Broadway, where he had sang such socialist hymns as "The Internationale" and "The Red Flag." He later enrolled as a member of the Young People’s Socialist League, the youth section of the Socialist Party of America (SPA).
In 1916, Lyons enrolled in the College of the City of New York before transferring to Columbia University the next year. During his school years he worked as an assistant to an English teacher in an adult education course.
During World War I, Lyons was enlisted in the Students Army Training Corps, an adjunct of the United States Army. With the end of the war in November 1918, Lyons was demobilized and honorably discharged. He later recalled that on the day he removed his uniform, he wrote his very first story, a piece for Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and the Workers Defense Union which she organized on behalf of the Industrial Workers of the World. Lyons worked for the Workers Defense Union for some time, composing news releases for the socialist daily newspaper, The New York Call and other left wing publications. "It was a time of raids on radicals, 'Treat-'em-rough!' hooliganism, and mass deportations," Lyons later recalled.
Lyons then went to work as a reporter for the Erie Dispatch-Herald. He also worked briefly for the New York paper Financial America and writing copy in the publicity departments of two motion picture companies.
In the fall of 1920, with revolution in the wind in Italy and dreaming of becoming the next John Reed, Lyons made his way for Naples bearing credentials of the Federated Press news service and the monthly magazine The Liberator. En route he met another aspiring correspondent bearing identical credentials, Norman H. Matson, and the pair decided to spend the next six months sharing expenses in pursuit of their common goal. Versed in the ongoing case against the Italian anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti, Lyons made the pilgrimage to Nicola Sacco's native village of Torremaggiore, a town in which Sacco's older brother Sabino governed as mayor. Lyons' Italian experiences would later be put to use in his first book, The Life and Death of Sacco and Vanzetti, published in 1927 by the Communist Party-affiliated International Publishers, in which he argued the case for the pair's innocence.
An attaché of Soviet Russia's new Italian embassy approached Lyons with a suggestion that he might be used as a secret courier to Moscow owing to the greater likelihood that an American could traverse the dangerous frontier unmolested, but before this plan could be put into action, Lyons' radical predilections drew the attention of the Italian police. Lyons was arrested, escorted to the French frontier, and expelled from Italy.
In the fall of 1922, Lyons became editor of Soviet Russia Pictorial, the monthly magazine of the Friends of Soviet Russia, an organization closely connected with the then-underground Communist Party of America. Lyons later recalled that "unhesitatingly, I cast my lot with the communists. I devoted the next five years largely to Soviet activities." Following the termination of Soviet Russia Pictorial in 1924, Lyons moved to a position writing for TASS, the official news agency of Soviet Russia.
Moscow years
Lyons' position as a correspondent for TASS led to his gaining a similar position for United Press International as its Moscow correspondent — instead of reporting from the United States for the Soviet press, now he would write on Soviet events for an American audience. While Lyons never joined the Communist Party USA (CPUSA), he had close ties and was considered a fellow traveler of the organization. UPI thought that Lyons' political background and the close contacts it implied would give him and it an edge over its competition in delivering news from the Soviet Union. Lyons remained the UPI's man in Moscow from 1928 until 1934, years which gradually transformed him from a friend of the Soviet state and communism into a tireless and fierce critic of both.
Lyons was initially supportive of the Soviet regime and found the actions it took against its internal opponents to be credible. In his coverage of the 1928 Shakhty Trial of mining engineers, regarded by historians today a precursor to the show trials of the late 1930s, Lyons could not rid himself of his belief that those charged must be guilty of something even as he recognized the trial to be an unequal contest in which those accused were denied an opportunity to fully defend themselves.
UPI's choice of Lyons paid dividends when on November 22, 1930, he was summoned to the Kremlin for a surprise interview with Joseph Stalin, a move to eliminate rumors circulating in the West about the Soviet leader's demise. Lyons thus became the first Western journalist to interview Stalin and his report of the encounter represented a major "scoop" that was widely reported throughout the American press. Lyons later recounted his meeting with the Soviet leader, a conversation which was conducted in Russian with the occasional help of a translator:
"One cannot live in the shadow of Stalin's legend without coming under its spell. My pulse, I am sure, was high. No sooner, however, had I stepped across the threshold than diffidence and nervousness fell away. Stalin met me at the door and shook hands, smiling. There was a certain shyness in his smile and the handshake was not perfunctory. He was remarkably unlike the scowling, self-important dictator of popular imagination. His every gesture was a rebuke to the thousand little bureaucrats who had inflicted their puny greatness upon me in these Russian years. * * *
'Comrade Stalin,' I began the interview, 'may I quote you to the effect that you have not been assassinated?'
He laughed. At such close range, there was not a trace of the Napoleonic quality one sees in his self-conscious camera or oil portraits. The shaggy mustache, framing a sensual mouth and a smile nearly as full of teeth as Teddy Roosevelt's, gave his swarthy face a friendly, almost benignant look.
'Yes, you may,' he said, 'except that I hate to take the bread out of the mouth of the Riga correspondents.'"
Lyons' interview with Stalin ran two hours in duration, joined midway by Commissar of Defense Kliment Voroshilov. Lyons' cable detailing the interview was widely reproduced across America and was hailed by an editorial in the New York Daily News as "the most distinguished piece of reporting of this year, if not the last four or five years."
On the heels of his journalistic coup, Lyons returned to the United States for a brief visit in March 1931, making a lecture tour to 20 Northeastern cities organized by UPI. While he already had begun to harbor doubts about the myriad of problems and violence associated with the Russian revolution and was torn between "looming doubts and waning loyalties," Lyons found himself engaged to speak mostly before businessmen's luncheon clubs. "Looking into their self-satisfied faces, I could forget my doubts," Lyons later recalled. He delivered a blinkered defense of the revolution to his assembled audiences.
"Had I remained in America permanently I might have evolved a new, if badly scarred and patched, enthusiasm," Lyons wrote in his memoirs. "I might have ended by contributing high-minded lies to the New Masses and slept happily ever after." But Lyons did return, where he found an ever-increasing level of terror exerted by the GPU against recalcitrant peasants, anyone suspected of secretly holding gold or foreign currency, and those accused of economic crimes such as sabotage:
"The newspapers were filled with the same braggadocio and threats. Victories, successes, triumphs, but the plan for spring sowing far behind; three shot for sabotaging the rabbit-breeding plans; enginemen and signalmen shot for counter-revolutionary negligence in connection with a disaster on the Kursk line; eighty-four arrested for forging bread cards. Another internal loan was being oversubscribed — 'voluntary' contributions of a month's wages or two months' wages. Another blast-furnace started in Magnitogorsk. Poincaré-War and agents of imperialism and dastardly kulaks and Left-Right and Right-Left deviators and secret Trotskyists and heil Stalin and 2 + 2 = 5."
Doubts gradually overwhelmed revolutionary faith.
Lyons was among the earliest writers to criticize New York Times Moscow reporter Walter Duranty for journalistic dishonesty. Writing about Duranty in 1941, Lyons would say, "Of all his elliptical writing, perhaps his handling of the famine was the most celebrated. It was the logical extreme of his oft-repeated assertion that 'you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.' Now he made his omelet by referring to the famine as 'undernourishment.'"
Ironically, Lyons himself had earlier played a role in the concealment of the 1932-33 Holodomor in Ukraine when he denounced journalist Gareth Jones as a liar for his initial reports of the famine. Jones had published the first significant reports of the massive famine in the Manchester Guardian, only to have the veracity of his reporting denounced by Lyons, Duranty, and others in the Moscow press corps. Lyons later self-critically recalled, "throwing down Jones was as unpleasant a chore as fell to any of us in years of juggling facts to please dictatorial regimes-—but throw him down we did, unanimously and in almost identical formulas of equivocation. Poor Gareth Jones must have been the most surprised human being alive when the facts he so painstakingly garnered from our mouths were snowed under by our denials."
Return to America
After his return to the United States early in 1934, Lyons wrote two books about his Moscow years. The first was a rather subdued work entitled Moscow Carrousel, published in 1935, which was followed by another far more outspoken account of events, Assignment in Utopia, published in 1937.
One of those directly influenced by his writing was George Orwell. In his seminal novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, Orwell borrowed a chapter title from Assignment in Utopia, "Two Plus Two Equals Five." Lyons recalled that this was a common slogan in the USSR during the drive to complete the first Five-Year Plan in just four years; Orwell adapted it as a metaphor for official totalitarian lying.
Following his return from the Soviet Union, Lyons very briefly flirted with the Trotskyist movement. Leon Trotsky himself initially praised Assignment in Utopia but later became quite critical of Lyons as the journalist moved to the political right.
After completion of his two thick books of his Moscow experience and a biography of Stalin, Lyons set to work on a full length study of CPUSA influence on American cultural life during the 1930s, entitled The Red Decade. The book did not prove popular at the time it was published in 1941, however, since soon after it saw print the Soviet Union was invaded by Nazi Germany and became an American ally in World War II. The book's fame came only later, during the era of McCarthyism, when its title became a byword for the popular front alliance between communists and liberals during the 1930s.
During the early 1940s and the Second Red Scare which followed World War II, Lyons was a frequent contributor to the popular press on anti-communist themes, targeting liberals if Lyons deemed them inadequate in their denunciations of the Soviet regime. In The American Mercury Lyons was critical of first lady Eleanor Roosevelt for lending her prestige to a gathering of the American Youth Congress, a united front joint organization bringing together communist and socialist student groups. In 1947, Lyons attacked former Vice President Henry Wallace as an appeaser of the Soviet dictatorship who refused to face up to the true nature of the regime.
Writing for the American Legion in 1950, Lyons accepted the premise that American government agencies had been infiltrated with Soviet spies. He also lauded the work of the House Committee on Un-American Activities for its work investigating the activities of the Communist Party and exposing communists in the government employ.
In addition to his work as a freelance journalist, Lyons was engaged as a biographer, publishing a widely-read biography of former President Herbert Hoover in 1964 and another on his first cousin, founder of NBC and chairman of RCA David Sarnoff, in 1966.
Lyons returned once again to the topic of Soviet communism in his final book Workers' Paradise Lost, published in 1967.
Death and legacy
Lyons died on January 7, 1985.
- Eugene Lyons, Assignment in Utopia. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1937; pg. 8.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pg. 9.
- Lyons notes that the Workers Defense Union had its offices in the building of the Rand School of Social Science in New York City. See: Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pg. 10. For an advertisement touting the Workers Defense Union, see back cover of Dance of the Ten Thousand," New York: Rand School of Social Science, December 3, 1918.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pg. 10.
- "Moscow Scoop," Time, December 8, 1930
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pg. 12.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pg. 21.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pg. 24.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pp. 25-26.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pp. 26-27.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pg. 34.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pg. 37.
- The original typescript of Lyons' cable containing his interview with Stalin — signed off by Stalin as "in general, more or less correct" — may be seen in the Eugene Lyon Papers at the University of Oregon.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pp. 384-385.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pp. 387, 390.
- Cited in Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pg. 391.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pp. 397, 400.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pp. 398-399.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pp. 414-415.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pp. 415-416.
- Lyons, Assignment in Utopia, pg. 575.
- Review of Assignment in Utopia in The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters of George Orwell
- Alan M. Wald, The New York Intellectuals: The Rise and Decline of the Anti-Stalinist Left from the 1930s to the 1980s. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1987; pg. 149.
- Leon Trotsky, "Twenty Years of Stalinist Degeneration," 1938.
- Leon Trotsky: 1942: In Defense of Marxism Chapter IV
- Eugene Lyons, "Mrs. Roosevelt's Youth Congress," The American Mercury, vol. 49 (April 1940), pp. 481-484.
- Eugene Lyons, "Wallace and the Communists," The American Mercury, vol. 65, pp. 133-140.
- Eugene Lyons, "Who's Hysterical?" American Legion Magazine, vol. 48 (March 1950), pg. 20.
- Eugene Lyons, "The Men the Commies Hate Most," American Legion Magazine, vol. 49 (October 1950), pp. 14-15.
- The Life and Death of Sacco and Vanzetti. New York: International Publishers, 1927.
- Modern Moscow. London: Hurst & Blackett,1935.
- Moscow Carrousel. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1935.
- Assignment in Utopia. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1937.
- Stalin, Czar of all the Russias. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1940.
- The Red Decade: The Stalinist Penetration of America. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1941.
- Our Unknown Ex-President: A Portrait of Herbert Hoover. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1948.
- Our Secret Allies: The Peoples of Russia. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1953.
- Herbert Hoover: A Biography. Garden City, NY: Doubleday,1964.
- David Sarnoff: A Biography. New York: Harper & Row, 1966.
- Workers’ Paradise Lost: Fifty Years of Soviet Communism: A Balance Sheet. New York: Funk and Wagnalls 1967.
- Register of the Eugene Lyons Papers, 1919-1981 at the Hoover Institution Archives, Stanford University.
- Guide to the Eugene Lyons Papers, Knight Library, University of Oregon, Eugene. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
- "Stalin Laughs!", Time, December 1, 1930. Report of Lyons' interview with Stalin.
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A guest piece by Jay Willingham, Account Manager at Mutual Mobile.
Once upon a time, a phone was just a phone. Then it became our camera, radio, and even TV. Yesterday, with the announcement of its Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile commerce program, Google made it our wallet. But that’s only the start of how NFC will affect our lives.
Google Wallet makes paying for everything from a T-shirt to a soda as easy as waving your phone. The initial list of partners including Macy’s, Subway, Citibank and Mastercard are a good indicator of just how excited mainstream businesses are about this technology and just how quickly it’s going to spread through consumers.
NFC is more than just an avenue for mobile payment. The secure technology spans industries from health to marketing, and the rise of the NFC enabled smartphone (predicted to make up 50% of the market by 2014) has the potential to have a disruptive effect on some of the most important trends and technologies of today.
One of the early promises of Location Based Social Networking (LBSN) apps such as Foursquare and Gowalla was a new form of loyalty program; one where instead of punching a hole or sliding a card, loyalty would be measured by mobile check-ins. But as long as the inaccuracy of GPS allows users to stand across the street or even a block away and check in at an establishment, businesses aren’t able to trust LBSN as a valid loyalty system. As a result, fewer than 4% of internet consumers have actually adopted LBSN services.
NFC effectively solves the validity issue by placing a hotspot inside businesses that consumers simply have to wave their phones near to check in. In the past year, Google Places began putting NFC- enabled markers on the doors of businesses in several cities - Mutual Mobile’s Austin office is among these establishments – and Google has also already stated that they will integrate a loyalty system into Google Wallet.
Just as social media has crept its way into every industry – from Yammer in the enterprise, to Schoology in education – gamification has the potential to do the same. Apps like Bobber and Miso have shown that badges and points work as motivators for finance and entertainment, and NFC is set to push gamification into the real world.
Although not known for its gaming and social abilities, Google has made a big investment in game mechanics via its involvement with SCVNGR. At this year’s South By Southwest Interactive Festival, SCVNGR founder Seth Priebatsch spoke about the game layer that they were applying to the real world. This would supposedly give the check-in and daily deal trends a second life by instilling a sense of interaction between person and location.
At around $2 a piece, NFC tags are cheap and an affordable way for a company to start applying its own game layer. Clothing brand WeSC, for example, used an older form of NFC-style technology to turn the company’s shoes into keys to unlocking features in the world around wearers. Tags were embedded in shoes and by stepping on specific mats around cities, wearers could become Facebook friends, have their photo taken and sent to the brands Twitter, or unlock free deals at certain businesses.
Information In a Natural Way
To use a QR code or LBSN, users have to pull out their phones, open an app, snap a photo, or type in a location – these are unnatural behaviors and take a fair amount of time to complete. What NFC offers is convenience. With NFC, a poster on the street could offer a coupon and collecting it would be as easy as brushing your pocket against the display. Their small, flat size makes them ideal to embed in almost any medium, and they can be waterproofed and ruggedized to withstand time and trials.
Secure Documents Sharing
Health applications make up one of the fastest growing segments of the app market. People are hungry to take control of the documents and health management that have so long been kept behind lock and key by doctors. However, security in how this information is stored and exchanged has remained a primary concern on both the personal and medical industry level.
NFC allows information to be securely transferred to caregivers instantly – and it goes well beyond our phones. NFC can be put into medical devices such as blood sugar monitors or even skin patches, allowing doctors to offload the information when the patient comes in for a visit or for the patient to upload it via their phone. Google has long envisioned empowering people medically via Google Health, and wide distribution of NFC is one more step in that direction.
Today’s announcement hints at only a small part of the larger role NFC is set to play in our lives. As more NFC enabled phones hit the market and as more retailers acquire the technology to accept it, the adoption rate will undoubtedly skyrocket.
Just as the iPhone sent every company scrambling for a way to use apps, businesses today should be asking themselves: how can we use NFC?
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I wonder if in the Dutch schools poet Joost Vondel is still on the program?
He is not on the VT Amsterdam Travel Guide page where the "Red Light district" is Nr 1 on the "Things to do" list (I presume the reason is by the VT software, certainly not by travel editor Pieter Jan).
Poet and singer Jacques Brell in his song "Dans le port d'Amsterdam" did also visit the brothels of the Wallen.
Jacques Brell brings me back to Belgium where Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel (1587 -1679) was on the program of the Francophone schools. One should know that Belgian francophones have to study Dutch at school in order to make them more or less bilingual.
The odd thing is that Vondel was writing in Dutch from the 17 th. century!
"De wereld is wel schoon, en waerdigh om t'aenschouwen,
Maer 't reizen heeft wat in. de kosten vallen swaer.
Men magh den Oceaen niet al te veel betrouwen.
De Bergen rijzen steil. de bosschen zien te naer."
This poem is about travelling around the world. My translation:
The world is nice, and worthy to look at
But traveling has a point. The costs are heavy.
One should not trust the ocean too much.
Mountains rise steeply. The woods look too dark.
The result was that Francophones of Belgium knew something about Vondel and his time but did not really learn to speak daily Dutch (Flemish), a need for many careers. We use to say that Dutch is "la langue de Vondel"
The imposing statue is from 1867. He was born in Cologne, then lived in Antwerpen till his parents who were "Doopsgezinden" (Mennonites) did flee to Amsterdam. Later Vondel became Catholic. He is the greatest Dutch author.
The park was somewhat a deception because there were nearly no flowers although it was begin May. Probably the fault of the long winter but in the country, from my train, I saw many huge fields with flowers, late tulips and other flowers.
The park has several ponds because it was constructed in a dump area. The park is 2 m lower than the surrounding streets. After heavy rains whole parts cover with water. The ponds attract many birds.
What is certainly fine with this park is that everything is allowed. You can walk and lie down on the grass, cycle on the asphalt paths, make bbq on the stones put on the grass for that purpose. You can drink, eat, smoke and more.
If you want to know the detailed regulations of the Vondelpark look at "Beleidskader Gebruik Vondelpark" a 26 pages PDF document. You might learn that topless sunbathing is allowed, not nudism.
I've always love trees, plants and flowers. So, the next destination was Vondelpark. Located not so far from Rijksmuseum. In fact, we took a tram and stop somewhere near Rijksmuseum and walked to Vondelpark. It took about 15 minutes of walking, not so bad.
The place is big, I only saw not even a quarter of it...ha3. Too lazy to walk. There were people there, doing many activities. Some were exercising, jogging, seating by the lake, reading, talking and walking or even dog-walking. Our visit was quite early in the morning, I didn't see anybody picnicking...perhaps it was a bit early for that or maybe because I didn't see it all, ha3.
It's really green here. The trees, plants and flowers seemed so healthy and 'fat'. For example the yellow iris were big and tall, unlike mine planted at my tiny back yard garden are so slim. I think they love the weather. Anyway, I really think its a good spot for a picnic. Breakfast or lunch by the lake looking out to beautiful views, that would be a great day!
Vondel park is a lovely park very close to Leidseplein and Museumplein.
A few minutes walking and you will find yourself in a quiet area , green , beautiful.
Vondel park was first named Nieuwe Park and was opened in 1865.
I walked around the park a few times while visiting Amsterdam - try to "get lost" in the park , there are lovely places.
Very Close to vondel park , few minutes walking from Leidseplein you will find Vondel Church.
Vondel Church is a lovely neo-gothic church built in 1873 by Architect P.J.H. Cuypers.
These days the church is not a religious place , it is open for marriage.
If you are here for 3 or for days then i recommend visiting the Amsterdam Bos - which is further afield - and although man made it feels very very natural - great place for a cycle ride and a picnic.
However if you are her for a much shorter time then the Vondelpark can be a nice place - and although very busy at weekends - on a weekday it can be much quieter.
How quiet it is however does not only depebnd on people - some years ago some guy released a male and female Parrot and as a result there is now a colony of them - perhaps about 20.
They are extremely difficult to see because they are Green so you have more chance of seeing them in Winter like on the photograph. They are however very very noisy - especially when it is time for them to make love- and especially at night - so if enjoying a Beer in the little Bar in centre of Park - it can feel more like you are in the middle of a Troical Rainforrest or Jungle - then in the Centre of a City
The best place to be after a hard day of walkign through Amsterdam, visiting musea or when you had a happy night.
Dont miss the website, you will love it. From past, to present, to future.
The park is here since 1864 ! With 10 million visitors every year it's the most famous park of the Netherlands. The Vondelpark is named after a Dutch poet.
The largest park of the city, close to the Leidseplein and the big museums and by far the most popular with visitors and locals alike, especially during summer and on sunny winterdays. The park is always alive with skaters, joggers and all sorts of street performers. In the summer the Vondelpark open air theater stages regular performances. There are several bars in the park, all of course with their own outside terrace, and Vertigo also offers good food at reasonable prices. All in all a very pleasant place to spend a lazy sunny afternoon.
El parque más grande de la ciudad, cerca de la Leidseplein y de los museos grandes y con mucho el más popular entre los visitantes y lugareños por igual, especialmente durante el verano y en winterdays soleado. El parque está siempre viva con patinadores, corredores y todo tipo de artistas callejeros. En el verano el teatro al aire libre Vondelpark etapas actuaciones regulares. Hay varios bares en el parque, todo por supuesto con su terraza propia, y el vértigo también ofrece buena comida a precios razonables. En definitiva un lugar muy agradable para pasar una tarde de sol perezoso.
For some reasons, there are large Green Parrots flitting around the large Vondelpark all thru the year and are extremely fun to watch---also you can see herons, ducks and other water birds and many other species throughout this wonderful green space.
A'Dam has a great music scene, and in the summer, you can hear free music at the Vondelpark's open air theater-----I heard jazz, classical and a lovely girl named Nynke Laverman who was singing a kind of a Fado Portuguese style, who graciously signed autographed CDs after the show!
Check out Timeout or other local arts guides for specifics.....
The Vondelpark was first opened in 1865.....
Banks Mansion Hotel Amsterdam
5 Reviews and 801 Opinions “But New Amsterdam remained comparatively intact. The tongues of nearly every European nation were...
Ambassade Hotel Amsterdam
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Seven Bridges Hotel Amsterdam
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see all Amsterdam member meetings
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How Positive Psychology Can Help at Work
Part of the Positive Psychology For Dummies Cheat Sheet
Positive psychology can be used in many different ways within the workplace. Organisations often use the positive workplace practices in this list to increase productivity:
Offering a variety of tasks: Employees need challenge and variety to keep them motivated, fresh and engaged in what they’re doing. For example, moving people around on the production line to allow them to master new tasks and so avoid boredom.
Intrinsic motivation: Organisations are now coming to realise that money isn’t the only thing that matters. Many people say that enjoying job satisfaction is more important than the salary they take home.
Generating employee confidence: Negative thinking breeds lack of motivation, so some organisations offer staff challenges to test their motivation. Positive thinking strategies encourage greater self-reliance and self-confidence in their employees.
Focusing on strengths: Focusing on and developing an employee’s strengths is key to creating a loyal and motivated workforce. Individuals are encouraged to make full use of their own particular strengths, showing they’re good at what they’re doing, as well as enjoying job satisfaction.
Team building: Organisations offer a range of team activities to help improve communication and cooperation, internally and externally. Focusing on Continuous Professional Development is now the name of the game, giving employees the opportunity to update and hone their skills in the workplace.
Flow: Flow is the state of feeling fully engaged in what you’re doing. Enlightened organisations now give employees the type of feedback that is likely to keep staff motivated and, where possible, empower employees helping them to take more control over their day-to-day activities.
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This is a project by Tato Architects and it is located at Shiga, Japan. Project's program: Single family house with atelier. There are twenty six images for House in Hieidaira.
The residence is located at the foot of Mt. Hiei near the border of Kyoto and Shiga.
The client is an artist, who needed an atelier and a home for his family, as well as a place for his parents whom he wishes to live together in the future
With a regulation that mandates sloped roofs, the site is surrounded by gable-roofed houses which seem to provide a sense of calmness in the neighborhood. Accordingly, we developed a plan that fits to the surrounding environment of this hillside residential area.
The site was not large enough to accommodate all the needs of the client. In addition, we were informed that an atelier may cause noise and odour. Taking these constraints into consideration, we developed a plan in which three independent cottage-style houses -- an atelier and two mini houses (one for the client's family and the other for his parents) -- are arranged in such a way to share the watering and drainage area.
The construction of the atelier was simplified to meet the low-budget limitation. Cement excelsior boards, serving as fire-resistant thermal insulators and bearing wall structures, were attached to the structure, which were then covered with corrugated polycarbonate plates. Thermal storage using night time electricity is buried under the ground to provide underfloor heat through the foundation. Bare concrete is used as the finished floor. Likewise, walls and roofs is bare structural materials, which makes it allows the artist/client himself to renovate the building according to the client's changing needs. The large opening is created on the north side of the building to provide natural sunlight illumination. In addition, cement excelsior board can be removed to receive sunlight from various parts of the walls.
The size and arrangement of windows of the two dwelling houses are scaled to follow the proportion of conventional cottage style, which has an effect of making the houses look smaller than they actually are. The ground level floors of these houses are simply finished with mortar in order to efficiently transmit the heat from the thermal storage system under the foundation. Lauan plywood is used for the interior walls, part of which are painted white by the client himself.
The second floor does not need huge room, but needs sufficient space. If a vertical wall is built, the wall divides the second floor to a very small room and void area. Therefore, instead of a vertical wall, a wall is built to give required space to the rooms. The lean wall becomes "roof-like-ceiling" as well as "hill-like-floor" dividing the second floor space. The lean wall also looks like a cottage accommodating another small cottage inside. Normally, a cottage is regarded that inside and outside is the same. In this case, the cottage is not very simple accommodating another cottage inside like crystal.
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2,000 Public Officials Have Already Expressed Support for Constitutional Amendment
WASHINGTON – This week People For the American Way and ally organizations applauded the re-launch of the “Declaration For Democracy ” campaign. Public officials signing the declaration are proclaiming their support for amending the constitution to limit the influence of money in our democracy and to restore the rights of the American people in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. FEC. Representatives Donna Edwards (D-MD), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Keith Ellison (D-MN), James P. McGovern (D-MA), and John Yarmuth (D-KY) circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter today urging their colleagues to sign the declaration.
By the end of the 112th Congress, 2,000 public officials had expressed their support for a constitutional amendment, including President Obama, 102 Members of the House, and 29 Senators (list visible at http://united4thepeople.org ).
The Declaration For Democracy reads: “I, ____________, declare my support for amending the Constitution of the United States to restore the rights of the American people, undermined by Citizens United and related cases, to protect the integrity of our elections and limit the corrosive influence of money in our democratic process.” The declaration can be found here: http://united4thepeople.org/index.html
“The Supreme Court’s decisions in Citizens United and related cases put our political system on the auction block to be sold to the highest bidder,” said Marge Baker, Executive Vice President of People For the American Way. “Americans don’t want an auction, they want a working democracy. We are thrilled that these Representatives are inviting their colleagues to join the growing chorus of voices calling for change. We look forward to getting even more public officials on board this year.”
“Companies ought to be competing in the marketplace with the best products and services, not in our elections for unfair influence of the decisions that will impact our economy by those with the deepest pockets,” said David Levine, CEO of the American Sustainable Business Council. “This money is better spent by investing in growing our businesses, creating jobs and building a stronger economy.”
“Voters across the country have demonstrated overwhelming support for a constitutional amendment that clarifies that unlimited campaign spending has never been free speech,” said Common Cause President Bob Edgar. “Congress must respond to that.”
“Our electoral process should be about the rights of individuals to participate in our nation's politics,” said Larry Cohen, President of Communications Workers of America. “That's what democracy looks like. The Communications Workers of America commends elected officials at every level of government who are fighting to restore fairness to our political process. The role of money in politics must be completely overhauled. Today it dwarfs everything else and is distorting our democracy. Working with other progressive organizations, CWA is committed to stopping the flow of secret cash to political campaigns and making it clear to all dollars are not speech. This effort will require constitutional changes and other measures to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which opened the floodgates for secret spending and today enables billionaires to buy our nation’s elections. We also will work for the public financing of elections, because without these very real changes, the one percent will continue to control our politics.”
“The first post-Citizens United presidential election confirmed our fears that the new campaign finance system allows well-heeled special interests and secret spenders to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens,” said Blair Bowie, Democracy Advocate at U.S. Public Interest Research Group. “There is, however, a silver lining: unprecedented public support for real reforms to ensure that in our democracy every citizen is a political equal, regardless of the size of her wallet. We applaud members of Congress who commit to achieving this end.”
“We can’t both maintain Citizens United as the law of the land and maintain a functioning democracy,” said Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen. “A mounting public movement is demanding a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and restore our democracy. The legislators leading the way to winning a constitutional amendment are carrying out the grandest American traditions to defend and expand our democracy.”
“Americans who are wondering why it's tougher to get ahead in today's economy should look to big money politics for answers,” said Adam Lioz, Democracy Counsel for Demos. “When just a few billionaires and special interests can counter the voices of millions of ordinary citizens in the public square, these big donors get to set the agenda in Washington and across the country. Now is the time to build a democracy in which the strength of a citizen's voice does not depend upon the size of her wallet—and amending the constitution is a critical step.”
“Our nation today faces the central question of whether We the People or We the Corporations shall govern in America,” said John Bonifaz, the co-founder and executive director of Free Speech For People, a national campaign launched on the day of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling to press for a constitutional amendment to reclaim our democracy. “To defend the promise of American self-government, we must enact a constitutional amendment that overturns our system of unlimited campaign spending and the fiction of corporate constitutional rights and that restores republican democracy to the people.”
“Now is not the time to be timid; rather, we need to seize this moment and overturn Citizens United with a Constitutional amendment that also overturns all Constitutional rights granted to corporations by court-created doctrines. The Constitution is for ‘we, the people,’” said David e. Delk, Co-chair of the Alliance for Democracy.
“After the most expensive election in U.S. history and the history of the world and with more money secretly funneled through tax exempt groups to try to influence who wins office, more and more Americans are demanding that the Constitution be amended to restore the rightful role of ordinary people in our democracy,” said Lisa Graves, Executive Director of the Center for Media and Democracy and the publisher of PRWatch and ALECexposed, adding, “we applaud these Representatives and urge others to publicly declare whose side they are on: the side of voters or big money.”
“The greatest political reform of our time will be to abolish the legal concept of ‘corporate personhood’ and the inherently anti-democratic equation of money with political speech,” said Bill Moyer, Executive Director of the Backbone Campaign.
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I would very much like to have a complete list of the types of polynomial functions. I know that theres:
Quadratic : (AX^2 + BX + C) Cubic : (AX^3 + BX^2 + CX + D) Quartic : (AX^4 + BX^3 + CX^2 + DX + E) Quintic : (AX^5 + BX^4 + CX^3 + DX^2 + EX + F)
What are the names of polynomial functions to the further powers? Sexstic? Septic? Octic? I'm not sure, so if someone could enlighten me, then that would be great. Please provide a list that goes at least to the seventh power, but it would be nice if you could go further. Thanks.
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Year B Advent 4 Luke 1 2011
Surprise, It's Christmas!
The greatest thing about Christmas morning is the surprises. When else in life do you get to pile 10, 20, 30, 40 sometimes 50 surprises all together and sit for an hour enjoying each of them? One after another, surprise after surprise. Christmas Morning is wonderful in that way. I can remember still today the way I felt as a child, the amazement, the astonishment of Christmas morning.
Chuck Swindoll writes, "surprises come in many forms and guises: some good, some borderline amazing, some awful, some tragic, some hilarious. But there's one thing we can usually say -- surprises aren't boring." Surprises are woven through the very fabric of all our lives. They await each one of us at unexpected and unpredictable junctures.
I like the story about a professor who sat at his desk one evening working on the next day's lectures. His housekeeper had laid that days mail and papers at his desk and he began to shuffle through them discarding most to the wastebasket. He then noticed a magazine, which was not even addressed to him but delivered to his office by mistake. It fell open to an article titled "The Needs of the Congo Mission".
Casually he began to read when he was suddenly consumed by these words: "The need is great here. We have no one to work the northern province of Gabon in the central Congo. And it is my prayer as I write this article that God will lay His hand on one - one on whom, already, the Master's eyes have been cast - that he or she shall be called to this place to help us." Professor Albert Schweitzer closed the magazine and wrote in his diary: "My search is over." He gave himself to the Congo.
That little article, hidden in a periodical intended for someone else, was placed by accident in Schweitzer's mailbox. By chance he noticed the title. It leaped out at him. Chance? Nope. It was one of God's surprises.
This morning we focus on one of the greatest surprises that ever there was, the surprise that took place when an angel by the name of Gabriel appeared to a young teenager by the name of Mary. Gabriel piled one surprise upon another. Mary and Joseph's Christmas tree had more astonishing surprises than any couple on earth had ever experienced. Gabriel surprised Mary with the following...
- "The Lord is with you, do not be afraid."
- "You will conceive in your womb, and bear a son."
- "He will be called the Son of God."
The Unwanted Christmas Gift: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
"Survivor" is a reality tv game show that has proven to be one of the most successful franchises in television history. Starting in 1992 as the brainchild of a British tv producer, Survivor has spread throughout the world to play in over 50 countries as diverse as Chile and China.
If you've watched CBS' "Survivor" with its $1,000,000 prize, you notice how quickly the sixteen to twenty strangers separate out into two groups, no matter how many "tribes" there are. In one group are those who, in the face of the unexpected, meltdown, freeze, or fold. In the other group are those who cope, manage, and overcome when the unforeseen rears its head.
This difference in ability and mobility is less dependent on the facts, and far more dependent upon faith. All "Survivor" stories combine components of grace and good luck, grit and gumption. But at the very base of those who "survive" in the face of surprising challenges, are those who have faith. When it is just too hard to hang on, we need another we can hang on to.
First century Palestine was not a particularly progressive society. Jews and Gentiles, Jewish and pagan, iron-fisted Roman rulers and oppressed subjects lived in an uneasy, unequal social equilibrium. In the first century there were definite "haves" and "have-nots" — the "who's who" and "who's not" lists that circulated locally. Getting on one of these "who's not" lists had far more social, political, and even "Survivor" repercussions than any Christmas "naughty and nice" list.
In the 21st century it is hard for us to hear how the angel Gabriel's "good news" sounded to Mary. In the 21st century it is not a death sentence to receive a birth notice.
It was then. That is exactly what Mary heard at that moment of angelic visitation...
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9 ways to attend college for free
Give service to your country
The U.S. Coast Guard, Air Force, Military, Merchant Marine and Naval Academies offer free rides to students who serve after college, but cash is also available through ROTC programs at their home institutions.
Service requirements vary but all require students to complete military training on campus and commit to up to 10 years of service. Students leave with training, a guaranteed job and opportunities for more free education.
AmeriCorps, a national service organization that offers education awards in exchange for community work, provides a $5,550 education award for each full year of service. Members also receive a living stipend while serving in the program.
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Every year, the FCC receives a wide variety of comments and complaints from consumers about broadcast journalism (i.e., television and radio.) Some complaints are about whether networks, stations, news reporters and/or commentators give inaccurate or one-sided news presentations, fail to cover certain events or to cover them inadequately, or overemphasize or dramatize certain aspects of events. Other complaints concern reporting illnesses, accidents or deaths of individuals before the families have bee informed, or the conduct of journalists in the gathering and reporting of news. The FCC’s authority to respond to these complaints is narrow in scope and is prohibited by law from engaging in censorship or infringing on First Amendment rights of the press.
What Can The FCC Do?
The Communications Act and the First Amendment to the Constitution prohibit any action by the FCC that would censor or interfere with free speech in broadcasting. For example, the FCC cannot interfere with a broadcaster’s selection and presentation of material for the news and/or its commentary. The FCC does, however, regulate content in some narrow areas. For example, federal law prohibits or limits the broadcast of obscene, indecent or profane language. But the FCC must be guided by decisions of the courts in determining whether specific material may be prohibited under this law. Similarly, the FCC may penalize licensees for knowingly broadcasting false information.
What Responsibilities Do Broadcasters Have?
As public trustees, broadcasters may not intentionally distort the news. Broadcasters are responsible for deciding what their stations present to the public, and the FCC has stated publicly that “rigging or slanting the news is a most heinous act against the public interest.” The FCC may act to protect the public interest when it has received documented evidence of such rigging or slanting. This kind of evidence could include testimony, in writing or otherwise, from “insiders” or persons who have direct personal knowledge of an intentional falsification of the news. Of particular concern would be evidence about orders from station management to falsify the news. Without such documented evidence, the FCC generally cannot intervene.
What If I Have Comments Or Concerns About A Specific News Broadcast Or Commentary?
All concerns or comments about a specific news broadcast or commentary should be directed to the local station and network involved, so that the people responsible for making the programming decisions can become better informed about audience opinion.
Filing A Complaint With The FCC
Complaints regarding news distortion, rigging or slanting can also be filed free-of-charge with the FCC. Complaints alleging news distortion, rigging or slanting must contain documented evidence in support of the allegations. It is not sufficient for a complaint to allege only that a broadcast station made a mistake in reporting a news event. The complaint must include documented evidence showing deliberate misrepresentation.
You can file your complaint using an online complaint form. You also can file your complaint with the FCC’s Consumer Center by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
What To Include In Your Complaint
The best way to provide all the information the FCC needs to process your complaint is to complete fully the online complaint form. When you open the online complaint form, you will be asked a series of questions that will take you to the particular section of the form you need to complete. If you do not use the online complaint form, your complaint, at a minimum, should indicate:
- your name, address, email address and phone number where you can be reached;
- name and phone number of the company that you are complaining about and location (city and state) if the company is a cable or satellite operator;
- station call sign (KDIU-FM or WZUE TV), radio station frequency (1020 or 88.5) or TV channel (13), and station location (city and state);
- network, program name and date and time of program if you are complaining about a particular program;
- any additional details of your complaint, including time, date and nature of the conduct or activity you are complaining about and identifying information for any companies, organizations or individuals involved; and
- documented evidence showing deliberate misrepresentation.
For More Information
For information about other communications issues, visit the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau website, or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center using the information provided for filing a complaint.
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There is little question that the student demonstrations rocking Quebec have evolved into a powerful social movement. It has been transformed into much more than a protest against the university tuition hike; it has become, at its core, a movement about Quebec.
Despite the cleavages starting to emerge in the wake of increasingly violent demonstration tactics, those who wear the carré rouge continue to identify themselves and the movement they represent with a broader struggle for education, solidarity, justice, democracy and social equity.
But as time goes on it’s starting to seem like this movement is more precisely about positioning these issues within a particular Quebec nationalist history. It’s because of this shift that I think we need to start looking at things from another angle and asking different kinds of questions.
I have been struck by how certain types of nationalist symbolism from the Quiet Revolution are being imported into this movement with virtually no critical debate about what they may or may not mean in today’s context.
This pattern became clear to me when I watched an online video of students first occupying, then trashing, Pavillon Roger-Gaury at the Université de Montréal while hoisting red placards with the slogan “Maîtres chez nous.” I am interested to know what this statement means to Quebec students today. Who gets to lay claim to that slogan in 2012? Who are the “maîtres”? Who are the “nous”?
I was captivated by the Speak Red video by Catherine Côté-Ostiguy circulating on YouTube. Inspired by Michèle Lalonde’s iconic 1968 poem Speak White, the video features an exclusively white cast of speakers urging protesters to, among other things, stand up for “nos. valuers” – to Speak Red “dans la langue douce de Molière/ mais avec l’accent de Miron” and saying things like “Nous sommes le Québec,” all in the name of education, democracy and justice. Again, who are the “nous” being referenced here, and how are they being represented (or not)?
Côté-Ostiguy has acknowledged that the lack of diversity in the video is a problem, but has argued that participants were working within tight time constraints, with no casting call. This is valid to a point. But to my mind, if you are drawing on such a loaded piece of nationalist history to create your own political statement about social equity, you must be prepared to justify on what grounds it is acceptable to align the fight for accessible education with Lalonde’s highly charged incantation – one rife with connotations of race, class, language, colonialism and revolution. Don’t you have to address how the social, economic, political and cultural contexts have changed (or not) in the last four decades?
On that note, what does it mean when a group of white university students don blackface and pull along a huge pappier-mâche head of Jean Charest, anglicized as “Sir John James Charest”? This happened during the first major protest after the budget release, with mind-blowingly little controversy. (A McGill law student named Anthony Morgan published a good article at Huffington Post Quebec about it.) What message was this supposed to send, and to whom?
The reference, of course, is to Pierre Vallières’s 1967 manifesto Nègres blancs d’Amérique, in which he draws comparisons between the social and economic exploitation of French Canadians by the English capitalist elite and that of black slaves by white imperialists in the United States.
To be fair, the original analysis emerged out of an oppressive period in Quebec where, as political scientist Reginald Whitaker once observed, capital spoke English and labour spoke French. Vallières’s call for the organization of an all-male (the book oozes misogyny) anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist armed war to combat these injustices was a powerful one. But his argument was also founded on a total erasure of (among other things) the history of colonialism and slavery in Nouvelle France. As Quebec historian Marcel Trudel and others have since documented, both French and English colonists had African and aboriginal slaves, and traded them as property until the early 19th century. I trust this very important part of Quebec’s history is being taught to students in our schools, yes? Yet I have to wonder.
The fact that there has been no outrage over these happenings is astonishing, in part because this movement is being spearheaded by university students who should – presumably – be the ones with the analytic tools to recognize and think critically about these things.
Whether you wear a carré rouge or not, it is time to carve out and occupy a more thoughtful, less reactionary space for debate about what is being said and done in the name of social equity and education in Quebec.
* Celine Cooper is a Montrealer and PhD candidate in sociology and equity studies at the University of Toronto.
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A story on a land deal to preserve more than 3,300 acres in Sierra Nevada range just west of Lake Tahoe incorrectly reported the property is home to brown bears. It is habitat for black bears.
DONNER SUMMIT -- For more than 150 years, waves of change have flowed through the lodgepole pines, glorious meadows and granite outcroppings at Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevada. There were wagon trains, then workers laying track for the transcontinental railroad and more recently vacationers and skiers from around the world.
Now, a landmark deal to protect 3,337 acres here along the crest of the Sierra Nevada range just west of Lake Tahoe
In a sale that closed late Thursday, a coalition of environmental groups based in Palo Alto has paid $11.25 million to buy the Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort, the site of a recent development battle that highlighted choices for the future of the mountains that naturalist John Muir once called "the Range of Light." The deal ends developers' plans to build hundreds of luxury condominiums, retail stores and hotels.
"This is truly one of the great stories of conservation in the Sierra Nevada in our generation," said Tom Mooers, executive director of Sierra Watch, an environmental group based in Nevada City. "It's a continuation of the legacy that started with the protection
Located six miles west of Truckee, the property is the largest cross-country ski resort in North America. But since it opened in 1971, Royal Gorge has remained a low-key destination with about 100 miles of cross-country trails, and none of the heavy development that characterizes many Colorado and Lake Tahoe downhill resorts.
It became a flash point, however, in 2005, when a group of Bay Area developers purchased the land for a reported $35 million. The partnership included Todd and Mark Foster, grandsons of real estate magnate Jack Foster, who filled in a large section of San Francisco Bay wetlands in the early 1960s with 1.4 million truckloads of sand and rock to build Foster City, a community of 30,000 residents today.
The developers announced plans to build 950 housing units, including vacation homes and luxury condominiums, along with retail stores, parking lots and hotels. Residents in the tiny Placer County communities off Interstate 80 pushed back hard.
"It met instant, stiff and vigorous opposition," said Perry Norris, executive director of the Truckee Donner Land Trust, an
The plans imploded as the economy crashed. The developers defaulted on a $16.7 million loan, and last year, a judge placed the property in receivership. Under Thursday's deal, three conservation groups purchased the property: the Truckee Donner Land Trust, the Trust for Public Land and the Northern Sierra Partnership.
The ski resort will remain open, operated by Sugar Bowl, a nearby ski resort that has been in business since 1939. Through the deal, the property will remain intact, rather than sold off by the bank to developers and land speculators.
"It would have been cut up into 160-acre or 40-acre lots," Norris said. "Donner Summit is still largely intact open space. It has extensive trails. The view is not interrupted by high-rise condominiums and it never will be."
Instead, the property will be upgraded, with new signs and trails. It will be owned eventually by the Truckee Donner Land Trust, and open to the public in the summer free for hiking, mountain biking and horse riding, allowing people to travel along the Pacific Crest Trail, which abuts the land, or venture out through national forests for about 10 miles to the shores of Lake Tahoe.
The land is rich with wildlife -- including black bears, gray foxes, mountain lions and more than 100 species of butterflies. It also serves as the headwaters of the South Yuba River and the upper watershed of the North Fork of the American River.
"If you want to maintain wildlife, you need unbroken corridors," said Roger Bales, director of UC Merced's Sierra Nevada Research Institute. "Whenever there is a housing development going in, you evict the wildlife and break up the wildlife corridors."
Funding for the deal totals $15.5 million. That includes the purchase, transaction costs and upgrades to the land. The money is coming from a variety of sources. Donations by property owners in two nearby communities, Sugar Bowl and Serene Lakes, generated $7 million. Bay Area foundations contributed as well: $1 million from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation; $400,000 from the Flora Foundation; $250,000 from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and $250,000 from former Applied Materials CEO Jim Morgan and his wife, Becky, of Los Altos Hills.
The land trusts are pursuing federal and state grants and bond funding for another $5 million or so, and the groups are still seeking donations.
In a wider sense, the deal is the latest example of a movement largely started by the Morgans in 2007 with the goal of preserving 100,000 acres between Lake Tahoe and Mount Lassen for $100 million. The group, a partnership of land trusts known as the Northern Sierra Partnership, has so far preserved more than 20,000 acres since then, raising $87 million.
Most of that land was in outright purchases, but in the years ahead, large deals will buy development rights instead, which can stretch dollars further, said Lucy Blake, president of the partnership. The goal is to fill in century-old "checkerboard" patterns of private and public land left from the railroad grants of the 19th century, and to preserve key wildlife habitat, forests and rangeland, limiting clear cuts and outsize development.
"The Northern Sierra is an area that most Bay Area residents think of as already protected," said Blake, a former a MacArthur genius grant winner. "When you drive up Interstate 80 you see these beautiful landscapes. But there is a very fragmented landscape up there. We're trying to consolidate and protect it while we still have the chance."
Paul Rogers covers resources and environmental issues. Contact him at 408-920-5045. Follow him at Twitter.com/PaulRogersSJMN
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Background: Studies show that subspecialists can provide better quality care than primary care physicians when working within their subspecialty for patients with some medical conditions. Recent studies have suggested there may be a surplus of subspecialists and a greater need for general internists. This surplus of subspecialists may result in such physicians caring for patients outside their chosen subspecialty.
The study compared the quality of care provided by three groups: 1) subspecialists practicing outside their speciality; 2) general internists; and 3) subspecialists practicing within their specialty. Using adjusted mortality rates and adjusted length of hospital stay as indexes of quality of care, researchers examined 5,112 hospital admissions from six hospitals in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area.
The study found that subspecialists working outside their subspecialty cared for 25% of hospitalized patients. When comparing patients cared for by subspecialists outside their subspecialty, adjusted length of hospital stay were longer for patients than those cared for by subspecialists practicing within their subspecialty, specifically the length of stay was 23% longer for patients with congestive heart failure and 22% longer for patients with bleeding ulcers. Patients also seen by subspecialists practicing outside their subspecialty had an average of up to 18% longer length of stay than patients cared for by general internists.
Subspecialists commonly care for patients outside of their subspecialty, despite the fact that their patients may have longer lengths of stay in the hospital than those cared for by subspecialists practicing in their specialty or by primary care physicians. In addition, such patients have slightly higher mortality rates than those cared for by subspecialists practicing within their subspecialty.
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In the world of American experimental music, DAVID TUDOR was something of a legend. For a number of years following the Second World War, he was the only performer to devote himself systematically to this music. In doing so, Tudor became a touchstone for some of the most radical musical activity of the 20th century. The praise accorded him by the composers whose music he performed attests to Tudor's unique ability not only to meet the requirements of fully notated scores, but also to accomplish more than anyone had imagined in music in which some degree of indeterminacy was a compositional principle.
David Tudor was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1926. He studied with H. William Hawke (organ, theory), Irma Wolpe Rademacher (piano) and Stefan Wolpe (composition and analysis). His first professional activity was as an organist. He established himself as a pioneer in the performance of new music as early as 1950, when on December 17th, in New York, he gave the American premiere (and second performance anywhere) of Pierre Boulez' Deuxième Sonate pour Piano. From the early 1950s on, Tudor became John Cage's closest associate. Cage stated that all of his works until about 1970 were written either directly for Tudor or with him in mind. Tudor also gave first or early performances of works by Earle Brown, Sylvano Bussotti, Morton Feldman, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Christian Wolff, Stefan Wolpe, and La Monte Young, among others. These composers often wrote works expressly for Tudor and a number of them stated that Tudor's unerring ability to find his own imaginative and virtuoso solutions to the often puzzling and sometimes deliberately difficult problems of notation and performance was essential to the actual composition of their music.
During this period, Mr. Tudor held positions as Instructor and Pianist-in-Residence at Black Mountain College, North Carolina, and at the Internationale Ferienkurse fur Neue Musik, Darmstadt, and expanded his performance activity to include Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and John Cage's "Project of Music for Magnetic Tape." In the early 1960s he and Cage initiated a trend toward "live" as distinct from taped, electronic music. Mr. Tudor has conducted seminars in Electronic Performance at various American Universities and at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India.
In the late 1960s, Tudor gradually ended his active career as a pianist. He had begun to work with the electronic modification of sound sources in the late 1950s, departing from the then common practice of fixing music on magnetic tape. Instead, Tudor created electronic sounds directly during performances, thus pioneering what was later to be called "live electronic music." By the mid-1960s, Tudor's ideas and performances had inspired a new trend in electronic music. By the end of the decade, Tudor became fully involved in live electronic music, producing his own compositions using electronic technology.
As composer, Tudor draws upon technological resources that are both flexible and complex: he employs, for the most part, custom-built modular electronic devices, many of his own manufacture. His method employs choices of specific electronic components and transducers, and their interconnections, that define both composition and performance. His sound materials unfold through large gestures in time and space, and many of his compositions are associated with collaborative visual forces: light systems, dance, television, theater, film or four-color laser projections.
Bandoneon! produced at the "9 Evenings: Theater & Engineering," New York, 1966, calls for lighting and audio circuitry, moving loudspeaker sculptures, and projected video images, all actuated by the bandoneon. Other collaborative works include Reunion (with John Cage, Lowell Cross, Marcel Duchamp, and Gordon Mumma 1968) and a number of works for video and/or four-color laser display in conjunction with Lowell Cross and Carson Jeffries (1969 to 1977).
As one of four Core Artists who collaborated on the design of the Pepsi Pavilion for Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan (a project of Experiments in Art and Technology), Tudor conceived and performed several new works of his own, including Microphone (first version). It was this work that led Tudor to establish important new compositional procedures which became the basis for most of his music composed in the 1970s.
Many of Tudor's works are associated with collaborative visual forces: light systems, dance, television, theater, film or laser projections. Tudor's several collaborations with visual artist Jacqueline Monnier included the development of a kite environment installed at the Whitney Museum (Philip Morris) in 1986, at the exhibition "Klangraume" in Dusseldorf in 1988, and at the Jack Tilton Gallery in New York City in 1990. Other collaborators have included Lowell Cross, Molly Davies, Viola Farber, Anthony Martin, Sophia Ogielska and Robert Rauschenberg. In 1982 he premiered Likeness to Voices/Dialects at IRCAM in Paris, commissioned by the Gulbenkian Foundation and realized at the Metz Centre Européen pour la Recherche Musicale.
He was affiliated with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company since its inception in the summer of 1953. With the death of John Cage in August 1992, Tudor succeeded him as Musical Director. The Company has commissioned many works, including RainForest I (1968), Toneburst (1974), Forest Speech (1976), Weatherings (1978), Phonemes (1981), Sextet for Seven (1982), Fragments (1984), Webwork (1987), and Virtual Focus (1990). Neural Synthesis (1992) was created for Cunningham's Dance, Enter; and most recently, Soundings: Ocean Diary (1994) for John Cage's last conception, Ocean.
Tudor died Tuesday, August 13, 1996, at his home in Tomkins Cove, New York. He was 70 years old.
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Elizabeth I And Her Privy Council
Posted 03 November 2008 - 06:16 PM
Does anyone have any ideas about how to awnser the following question
"Assess the role of the privy council in the government of Elizabethan England"
Thanks for any help!
Posted 03 November 2008 - 11:29 PM
1. What was the formal allotted role of the Privy Council in the government - in descriptive terms only, WHAT did it do.
but then go on to ask
2. How much influence did the Privy Council have in the government - assess how much say it had.
There are number of webpages which will help, though none of them go as deep as I think you will want to go - you will need to do some extra reading.
However, you need to be aware that recently there appears to have been a revision of attitudes to the power of the Privy Council, and so I would devote a final section to:
3. Was the Privy Council really so powerful - in which you address the possibility that it wasn;t as influential as was hitherto thought.
- Useful for this will be Natalie Mears who argues (with other recent historians) that the Privy Council was NOT the hub of policy-formation, but that the court and public debate were more important.
Posted 10 October 2011 - 09:36 AM
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
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Following is a comprehensive list of courses offered in Latin American and Latino Studies. Please check the current Schedule of Classes for a listing of the courses offered this sem
10100: The Heritage of the Spanish Antilles
The historical, cultural and ethnic forces that have shaped the character of the Hispanic people of the Caribbean. The variety of societies and cultures of the Hispanic Caribbean in their historical and contemporary setting up to and including the migration of Caribbean people to urban North America. 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
10200: Latin American and Caribbean Civilizations
A survey of Latin America’s economic, social, political, and cultural development from the Pre-Columbian era to the present. The course will focus on selected topics and themes including: colonization and resistance to colonization; the formation of social structures and labor systems; patterns of dependent development; reform, revolution, and counter-revolution. 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
12200: Puerto Rican Heritage: 1898 to Present
A survey of the cultural history of Puerto Rico. Special attention will be given to cultural conflicts and assimilative influences, as well as the existing relations between Puerto Rico and the United States. 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
12300: Dominican Heritage
A survey of the cultural development of the Dominican Republic from pre- Columbian times to the present. Special consideration will be given to socio-economic and political developments and the relationship that exists between the Dominican Republic and the United States. 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
12600: Hispanics in the United States: Migration and
The socioeconomic and political origins of migration and the impact that American society has had on mainland Hispanic communities in areas of housing, employment, education, family structure, social mobility, and community development. 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
13100: The Hispanic Child in the Urban Environment
A survey of the sociological, psychological and educational needs of Hispanic children in the New York City public schools. Emphasis will be given to the study of language problems, family structure, race relations and community life. (W) 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
13200: The Contemporary Hispanic Family
A study of change in Hispanic family structure from the early colonial period to the present day. Stress will be placed on moral values, religious beliefs, interpersonal relations, and family organization. 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
22600: Antillean Literature
Comparative study of literature in the Spanish Antilles. Special emphasis on contemporary works. Class conducted in Spanish. 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
23800: Dominican Heritage: From Trujillo to the Present
An in-depth study of the sociocultural and historical realities of the Dominican Republic from 1930 to the present. The course will also cover the Dominican migration and the growth of the Dominican community in the United States. 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
27100: Social Welfare in the Hispanic Community
A study of the social welfare system as it affects Hispanics and other minorities. Changing concepts of social welfare in the United States, Spain and Latin America from Juan Luis Vives to the present. (W) 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
29100: Culture and Health: Hispanics and Other Minorities
Different cultural values and beliefs will be examined as they relate to illness, treatment of the sick, readjustment, rehabilitation, health maintenance, and prevention. Emphasis on case studies of culture clash. Incorporating or rejecting cultural beliefs in planning health education and change. (W) 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
29200: Health Care Planning and the Hispanic Experience
The economic, social, political and ethical issues involved in planning health programs. Comparison of health care programs as they affect Hispanics and other minorities. (W) 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
Advanced independent work for outstanding majors in their upper junior and senior years. Honors will be granted to graduating seniors on the basis of research and a comprehensive written examination. Admission to the Honors course requires (a) a 3.2 average in courses taken in the Latin American and Hispanic Caribbean Studies Program since the freshman year and (b) approval of the Honors Supervisor. Application for admission must be made no later than December 10 in the Fall term and May 1 in the Spring term. VARIABLE CR.
31000: Independent Studies
Independent research under the supervision of LALS faculty. Open to students in their senior year only, or with permission of LALS advisor. HRS. TO BE ARRANGED; 1-4 CR.
31100-32000: Selected Topics
Advanced study in selected topics related to Latin American and Hispanic Caribbean Studies. Prereq.: to be established by the instructors. 3 HR./WK.; 3 CR.
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In addition to teaching the subject-matter of the bachelor programme in greater depth, the master programme offers the possibility of choosing a specific profile within the overall field of architecture. We impart top-level knowledge in such areas as sustainability (ecology, solar architecture, intelligent building utilities), wood and timber construction (see also: University Course überholz) and architecture in developing countries (Project Studio BASEhabitat).
International awards won by some of our design projects and diploma theses spotlight these competencies (Energy Globe 2006, Aga Khan Architecture Award for a project in Bangladesh, winning entry in the “Just Jerusalem” competition).
MArch (Master of Architecture)
The curriculum trains students for all career options within the fields of architecture, urban and regional planning as well as in theory of architecture, architectural journalism, architecture management, building administration, the construction industry and project development.
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New York City
New York City is one of the most prominent cities in the United States, and the current home of Goliath and the Manhattan Clan, as well as the Labyrinth Clan and several million humans. It also serves as the backdrop for the greater part of their adventures (the chief exception being the Avalon World Tour).
New York City is made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
Real World History
As a side note, in the New York of the real world, there are more architectural gargoyles per square foot than anywhere else in the United States.
- New York City at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
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|5040326||System for detecting and capturing pests by suction||August, 1991||Van Dijnsen et al.||43/65|
|4429483||Automatic rat killing device||February, 1984||Murakami||43/70|
|4062142||Trapping and killing apparatus for mice and other animals||December, 1977||Marotti||43/61|
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to field of vermin destroying devices and, in particular, to a rat or mousetrap having a pair of slidable or pivotal doors on the top surface of a containment chamber with the doors being activated electrically by a microswitch in connection with a solenoid.
2. Prior Art
While there are vermin catching traps that exist, none that applicant is aware of are operated by a microswitch in connection with the bait to open a pair of doors for depositing the rat in a box for removal. Nor are there any that applicant is aware of with poisonous gas for the destruction of parasites on the rats.
The rat trap of the present invention comprises a box-shaped containment chamber having a pair of doors pivotally located on the upper wall which provide entrance to an inner chamber where the rats can either be poisoned or captured alive. The inner chamber may be removed for disposal of the rats. The doors are operated by latches which disengage from the doors in response to movement of a pivoting means upon an electric signal. The signal is sent by a microswitch which is triggered by movement of bait placed on or near the doors. The microswitch activates a solenoid which operates the pivoting means that disengages the doors allowing them to swing open and the rat drops into the interior of the containment chamber. Springs on the doors urge them back into the ready position after the rat falls through.
It is the object of the invention to provide a storage chamber for dead or captured rats that can easily be removed for ready disposal.
Another objective is to provide a fool proof activation system for triggering a set of doors in connection with a containment chamber to capture or kill rats.
Still another objective is to provide a rat trap that can be used with minimal attendance for upkeeping, removal and other operations.
Yet another objective is to provide a rat trap that eliminates the hazards of parasites, diseased rats, etc. in the handling and disposal of rats taken with a trap.
Other objectives of the invention will become apparent once the invention is shown and described.
FIG. 1 shows the overall construction of the rat trap.
FIG. 2 shows details of closing mechanism from above.
FIG. 3 shows trap as constructed with inner chamber about to be set in place.
FIG. 4 shows the underside of the doors.
The main structure of the apparatus is the containment chamber 1 which is, preferably, of box like construction with the upper wall 2 of the box having an aperture (preferably rectangular in shape) covered by a set of double doors 3. The doors open to permit a rat or other animal to drop into an inner containment chamber 4 inside the containment chamber. The inner chamber may be built as a structure separate from the containment chamber and may contain pesticides or other poisons to kill the rat and attendant parasites, etc. on the rat upon his arrival in the inner chamber. The inner chamber should also have an aperture 5 to allow vermin to drop into the inner chamber through the double doors 3.
It is preferred that the inner chamber be built as a separate and removable structure inside the containment chamber in order to be removable so that one can dispose of the rats, dead or alive by removing this inner chamber from the device.
The aperture in the upper wall is rectangular in shape and a set of doors 3 cover this aperture when the device is in the "standby mode" which means it is set to catch vermin. Refer to FIG. 2. The doors are pivotally connected to the sides of the aperture and latches 28, 11 in connection with each door keep them in place, otherwise gravity might force the doors open. In the standby mode, the latches are preferably under the doors waiting to be unlatched. The latches are connected to a pivoting apparatus 12 through cables 13 , 30 or other connecting means. The pivot is in connection with a solenoid 14 that will periodically be energized by an electrical signal from a micro switch 15 when an animal is on the doors. Once the solenoid is energized the pivot will pull on the latches through the cables and the doors will come open.
The cables 30 (wire, rope, steel, etc.) connected to the pivoting means are run along the upper wall and to one side or the other of the doors. The cables may be on pulleys 20 to enable the cables to be run at sharp corners around the corners of the doors, etc. One end of each cable is attached to one end of the pivoting means and the other end of the cable is in connection with one of the latches on each door. In the standby position, with the doors closed, the pivot is fully pivoted in one direction, see FIG. 2.
The pivot may be spring loaded to stay in this position. This position keeps the doors closed via the latches under each door (or whatever connection the latches may have with the doors) until the trap is sprung. In the activation mode, an electric signal from a micro switch 15 in connection with bait in the area above the doors will activate the solenoid to pivot the pivoting means. This action will pull the latches away from the doors via the movement of the cables and allow the doors to pivot open.
The microswitch is in connection with some sort of bait attractive to the rat and located above or on the doors. Upon the rat or other animal touching the bait, the microswitch will be triggered and a signal will be sent to the solenoid, this moves the latches which cause the doors to open. The latches would preferably be connected to the doors so that the force of the solenoid will pull the doors open and hold them open for as long as the solenoid is activated by the microswitch. A battery 21 in this circuit powers the solenoid. The electrical circuit is only completed when the microswitch is activated.
The doors may be reset by springs 22 in connection with the doors. Such springs may be located on the upper wall of the chamber and are such that they continualy urge the doors closed. This force from the springs must be not so much as to prevent the doors from swinging open when the latches are activated. At that point the weight of the rat and the force of the solenoid must be enough to urge the doors open by overcoming the force of the return spring.
With rat dropped in the inner chamber, the weight on the doors is gone and the springs then operate to reset the doors back in position. The pivoting means deactivates when the microswitch stops receiving movements due to the rat no longer nibbling on the bait. Thus the latches swing back into place and the doors are reset. The solenoid operates only for a short time but long enough to keep the doors open to allow the rat to drop in. After that, the reset means takes over and pulls the doors closed.
The doors may be of several configurations with pivoting doors preferred. Pivoting doors would pivot downward upon opening and resilient means in connection with the doors would bring them closed again. Sliding doors would move under the top wall to expose the rat to the aperture and into the inner chamber. These would also be reset with springs.
An upper enclosure 23 may be added over the top wall to channel the rats toward the bait and doors. The upper enclosure would have three side walls and an upper wall--i.e.: an enclosed portion with an entrance at the side without the wall. The upper enclosure is attached to the upper wall of the box to thus cover the entrance to the doors, except for the one open side of the enclosure. The enclosure permits the rats access to the bait once they go through the enclosure. The enclosure may also include a separate and optional compartment 24 to hold the microswitch and/or the pivoting means and solenoid.
Conduits 25 made of material that is resistant to gnawing or chewing of rats should be placed around all the cables or other connecting lines that may be susceptible to rat damage. Rats may chew or gnaw electrical lines or other lines which are exposed, this would render the device inoperable. The conduits are preferably made of rat resistant material e.g. metals such as aluinum, iron or steel or pehaps other materials. The conduits should cover the electrical lines as well as the cables that lead from the doors to the pivoting means.
A protective sheet 40 of plastic or other material may be used in connection with the inner chamber. The sheet should be placed between the upper wall of the containment chamber and the inner chamber with an aperture to allow for the pivoting doors. This sheet should prevent contamination of the upper wall by dead rats inside the inner chamber.
A chlorine gas dispensing means may be used in connection with the inner chamber to kill rats and attendant parasites as the rats are dumped in the inner chamber.
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Hindus Opposing EU Swastika Ban
Hindus in Europe have joined forces against a German proposal to ban the display of the swastika across the European Union, a Hindu leader said.
Ramesh Kallidai of the Hindu Forum of Britain said the swastika had been a symbol of peace for thousands of years before the Nazis adopted it.
He said a ban on the symbol would discriminate against Hindus.
Germany, holder of the EU presidency, wants to make Holocaust denial and the display of Nazi symbols a crime.
Mr Kallidai said his organisation was writing to European lawmakers to highlight the issue.
Hindu groups in Holland, Belgium and Italy were also involved in the campaign, he said.
"The swastika has been around for 5,000 years as a symbol of peace," he said. "This is exactly the opposite of how it was used by Hitler."
He said that while the Nazi implications of the symbol should be condemned, people should respect the Hindu use of the swastika.
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A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.
A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.
A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist.
Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the top musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written,with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty?
Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?
Is this as simple as context, as the Washington Post would have us believe? It was 7am in the morning, people on their way to work. My God, what time do they get up!
How many people on their way to work are going to stop for anything?
I avoid London rush hour, but on the rare occasions I have got caught up in it it is like being swept along by a crowd of zombies, all with blank expressions on their faces.
What if Joshua Bell had played in a park? What if he had played on the streets of Brighton?
I find very good musicians on the street in Brighton. That is why I hate programmes like X-Factor as they peddle crap to the masses.
And yes, people do stop and listen.
Once, it was late, it was dark, it was getting cold, and I found this guy playing a guitar on the Brighton seafront, no one about. He was incredible. Then a girl walked by, she sat and listened. I was then at risk of missing a train. I apologised for leaving.
Another time, I found a guy sitting in a doorway just off Leicester Square in London. He only had to hit a couple of chords to appreciate how good he was. I hunkered down and joined him He was quite delighted to be appreciated.
A couple of days ago I stumbled across Shadowboxer, live sessions at Surrey University
and studio sessions.
I could not believe how good they were.
Yes, context is a factor, but not all.
We have complete and utter crap masquerading as art. Critics say it is good. A case of the Emperor’s Clothes. If outside the context we would dismiss it for what it is, rubbish. But no one dare say so, because it has been put on a pedestal as Art.
Celebrity is confused as a synonym for talent.
We have a semi-literate writer winning the Booker Prize. Judges complaining of writing being too simple. Paulo Coelho dismissed by critics for his simplicity, unable to perceive simplicity as elegance.
Is not the art of writing being able to communicate? If we cannot communicate we cannot write.
Never make the mistake of confusing simple writing with bad writing or incomprehensible writing with good writing.
The good scientist is the one who is able to communicate ideas, not make unintelligible and thus appear intelligent because we are made to feel unintelligent for failing to comprehend.
Top story in Art Journaling Today! (Saturday 4 February 2012).
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It was a New Year’s Day visit to Far Side of Fifty’s blog, Forgotten Old Photos, that got me thinking.
More than that, it got me feeling guilty, actually.
Far Side had decided to post some old snapshots gathered from antique stores around the state of Minnesota.
Of course, that in itself is not guilt-inducing. There is much more to the story.
If you haven’t already stopped by to check it out, the blog Forgotten Old Photos is built upon a simple idea: each day, take one old photo and post it online, then wait to see if anyone can help figure out any more about the (often only partially identified) subject.
Usually, the pictures are old portraits, often from area photography studios—although some have come from as far away as Norway. This month’s foray into snapshots takes a step away from that professional ambience into the more candid fare of amateur shutterbugs. Like the feature for New Year’s Day.
That snapshot on January first got me thinking. I have a whole box of unidentified snapshots just sitting on a shelf in a dark corner of my bedroom closet. Why not get those pictures out into the light and share them?
On the other hand, as much as that thought is the “pull” enticing me to take action, a second thought stands in its way as the “push” of the “yeah-but.”
You know those “yeah-buts.” They are those annoying, squirmy thoughts that pop up just when you have a good idea—just in time to masquerade as The Voice of Reason, instead of the nay-sayers that they really are.
“Yeah, but those photographs aren’t identified.”
“Yeah, but those pictures are so tiny, so blurry, so nondescript.”
“Yeah, but there isn’t anyone left in that family to recognize them.”
This is the family whose last member unexpectedly passed away at the end of November. There is really no one else to tell the story to, let alone anyone left to help reconstruct facts and identities.
But I know this family’s story. Back several generations, in fact. When I first researched it, there were no online databases to consult. No Ancestry.com. Not even any FamilySearch.org. Just Family History Centers. And hand-cranked microfilm readers at repositories far enough away to make the trip an all-day event.
So, in memory of the last leaf on this family tree’s branch, and in the hopes that someone out there might be a distant cousin wanting to connect with more information, I’m putting aside all my “yeah-buts” and dragging out that box of old photos.
Along with those unidentified faces, I’ll unfold what I know of that family’s history. Just like almost everyone else’s family story, it will be the story of insignificant people—people living a common life through the uncommon times of history. While wars come and go, inventions change life-as-everyone-always-did-it, and America gets swept off its feet with the first heart-throbs of its continuing love affair with the automobile, this family just kept living life. Generation after generation. Mostly the same as your families. Except some ways.
And maybe—just maybe—in the midst of recounting what I do know about this family, some inquisitive researcher out of the crowd brought here thanks to a perceptive search engine may be able to add just the right two cents worth that will affix a name to some of these nameless faces.
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Join Date: Oct 2006
The first thing to keep in mind is that there is never a moment when the body is operating solely on one metabolic pathway; all are working all the time, but each contributes a greater portion of the energy supply depending on intensity and duration of activity.
When muscles are producing ATP lthrough fast glycolosis, lactic acid is a by-product. That lactic acid can be buffered into lactate through oxidation in the local muscle or transported for oxidation in another muscle - OR, it can be transported to the liver, where the Cori Cycle converts lactate to glucose, which can then be returned to the working muscles as a substrate for continued gylcolysis.
So, the metabolic pathway depends first on activity intensity and second on duration. The phosphagen pathway functions at the start of ALL activity, and is the primary source of ATP for very brief, very intense activity such as a single snatch. The phosphagen pathway uses existing stored ATP in the muscle, breaking it into ADP + 1 phosphate and releasing energy. ADP can then react with creatine phosphate to create ATP + creatine. Finally, 2 ADP can be broken down into 1 ATP and 1 AMP.
Glycolysis is the breakdown of blood glucose or muscle glycogen to create ATP. If the intensity of activity is low enough to allow the slower oxidation to supply energy, then pyruvate enters the Krebs Cycle and lactic acid is not produced. If, however, the demand for energy is too great for this, like in the case of a CF workout, pyruvate is converted to lactic acid, which allows a faster supply of ATP.
Now, lactic acid can disrupt muscle activation--it's not clear how exactly, but something like interfering with actin/myosin coupling or calcium ion binding, etc. The presence of lactic acid also lowers the pH of the muscle, which decreases metabolic enzyme activity. Result = fatigue and reduced force production capacity.
BUT, if that lactic acid is buffered into lactate, those problems are avoided. Again, lactate can be used to generate more energy.
So if you have a well-developed lactic acid buffering capacity, you'll be able to avoid the build up of acid in the working muscles, avoiding its fatiguing characteristics, and add the resulting lactate to your list of available energy substrates. If, however, your clearance/buffering of lactic acid is poor, you'll end up fatigued and weak. So all this means you need to train in a way that improves your lactic acid buffering - and that's CrossFit and/or threshold training.
Yes, CF workouts are still producing lactic acid/lactate after 3 minutes if the intensity is high enough--although now Brooks et al is suggesting that lactate is being produced and utilized at all times regardless of activity intensity. But of course the quantities involved in a CF workout vs me typing right now are clearly very different.
As far as muscle fiber types, like the metabolic pathway situation, you're going to have a mix of fiber types working at any given time. The greater the intensity, the more fibers, so for example if you're running a marathon, you'll be running primarily on slow-twitch (type I) fibers. But if you're performing a 1RM deadlift, you'll be using a lot of all fiber types. The actual contribution of type I fibers to a max deadlift is probably very small, but they're still working. All that said, all muscle fiber types are able to use all 3 metabolic pathways, it's just that each is suited better for certain ones. Type I of course have greater mitochondrial density and oxidative enzyme activity, so they function better with oxidative metabolism. Type II a and b function better with phosphagen and glycolytic metabolism. So in your scenario of a largely glycolytic CF workout, all fiber types will be contributing, all using a mix of metabolic pathways, but primarily glycolytic, and the Type IIs will be better at this.
This new research has suggested that lactate can be used directly by the muscle as an energy substrate--it does not need to be transported first to the liver to be converted to glucose. What Brooks et al found is that lactate can be oxidized directly by the mitochondria of the working muscle, and that lactate oxidation is occuring at all times (much like all 3 metabolic pathways are contributing to varying extents at all time). So to answer your question about by which muscle fiber types lactate is used, it would be more by Type-I because of their greater oxidative capacities, but no doubt by Type-IIs also to a lesser extent.
Hopefully that answered your question. Maybe.
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Columbia “Invites Hitler to Campus” --As it Did in 1933
by Dr. Rafael Medoff
Columbia University has invited a representative of the world’s most antisemitic regime to speak on its campus. This week’s news? Try 1933.
Seventy years before this week’s invitation to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Columbia rolled out the red carpet for a senior official of Adolf Hitler’s regime. The invitation to Iran’s leader may seem less surprising, but no less disturbing, when one recalls that in 1933, Columbia president Nicholas Murray Butler invited Nazi Germany’s ambassador to the United States, Hans Luther, to speak on campus, and also hosted a reception for him. Luther represented "the government of a friendly people," Butler insisted. He was "entitled to be received ... with the greatest courtesy and respect." Ambassador Luther's speech focused on what he characterized as Hitler's peaceful intentions. Students who criticized the Luther invitation were derided as “ill-mannered children” by the director of Columbia’s Institute of Arts and Sciences.
The Luther visit, and Columbia's other efforts to maintain friendly relations with Nazi Germany in the 1930s, have been documented in new research by Prof. Stephen Norwood of the University of Oklahoma, who is completing a book on the American academic community’s response to Nazism.
While Williams College terminated its program of student exchanges with Nazi Germany, Columbia and other universities declined to do likewise. Columbia refused to pull out even after a German official candidly asserted that his country’s students were being sent abroad to serve as “political soldiers of the Reich.”
In 1936, the Columbia administration announced it would send a delegate to Nazi Germany to take part in the 550th anniversary celebration of the University of Heidelberg. This, despite the fact that Heidelberg already had been purged of Jewish faculty members, instituted a Nazi curriculum, and hosted a burning of books by Jewish authors. Prof. Arthur Remy, who served as Columbia’s delegate to the Heidelberg event, later remarked that the reception at which chief book-burner Josef Goebbels presided was “very enjoyable.”
"Academic relationships have no political implications," President Butler claimed. Many Columbia students and faculty members disagreed, Prof Norwood notes. More than one thousand of them, including Nobel Laureate Harold Urey and world-renowned anthropologist Franz Boas, signed a petition opposing the decision to participate in Heidelberg. The student newspaper, The Spectator, also opposed it. Students held a "Mock Heidelberg Festival" on campus, complete with a bonfire and mock book burning. "Butler Diddles While the Books Burn," their signs proclaimed.
That was followed by a student rally in front of Butler's mansion. Butler was furious that a leader of the rally, Robert Burke, "delivered a speech in which he referred to the President [Butler] disrespectfully." As punishment, Burke was expelled from Columbia. He was never readmitted, even though he had excellent grades and had been elected president of his class, and even though Columbia’s own attorney later acknowledged that “the evidence that Burke himself used bad language is slight.”
Eventually, in the late 1930s, Butler would change his position and speak out against the Nazis. Unfortunately, it was too late to undo the damage he already had done by helping to legitimize the Hitler regime.
As Prof. Norwood has found, Columbia was not the only prominent U.S. university to behave shamefully with regard to the Nazis. Harvard hosted a visit by Hitler’s foreign press spokesman, Ernst “Putzi” Hanfstaengl. American University chancellor Joseph Gray visited and praised Nazi Germany. MIT Dean Harold Lobdell personally tore down posters for a rally against a Nazi warship docked in Boston’s harbor, and MIT participated in a 1937 celebration at the Nazi-controlled University of Goettingen. Yale, Princeton, Bryn Mawr, and others continued student exchanges with Nazi Germany into the late 1930s, and more than twenty U.S. colleges and universities took part in the 1936 Heidelberg event.
But Columbia is unique in one important respect. Its administration alone seems to have learned so little from the mistakes of the 1930s that it is prepared to welcome the leader of yet another antisemitic, terrorist regime.
According to Israel’s ambassador, inviting Ahmadinejad to speak is the equivalent of “inviting Hitler to [speak] in the 1930s,” because “appeasing fanatics and granting them legitimacy leads to genocide and war.” Will some future Columbia president one day look back at the invitation to Ahmadinejad and say the same thing?
(September 2007 | Return to top)
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Carbon residents lose thousands to phone scam
The Price City Police Department is warning members of the community that they should never send or wire money to individuals who solicit funds over the telephone or through the Internet.
During the last few weeks, an old scam has resurfaced and several community members have become victims.  In the scam, the victim receives a telephone call from a man claiming to be either a grandson of the victim or the grandson's lawyer. The caller tells the victim that the grandson was at fault in an automobile accident in Canada and needs money for damage repair, bail or medical expenses.  The victim is asked to wire the money to someone in another country, (the Dominican Republic in the recent cases).
In some cases the man calls multiple times requesting more money, further defrauding the victim.
Victims eventually come to realize that their grandson was never in an accident and that they are the victims of a scam. Â Some Price City residents have lost thousands of dollars, according to Capt. Kevin Drolc.
Once money is wired to a location outside the United States it is lost forever and law enforcement has little chance of identifying and prosecuting the perpetrator, Drolc said.
Community members are advised to thoroughly research any telephone call or email that solicits money. Â In the case of the recent scam, a telephone call to a previously known number of the grandson or other family members would quickly expose the request as a scam.
Here is some other helpful information concerning scams. Most of it comes from http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com.
What to look for:
*Being asked for personal financial Information such as bank account information or credit card numbers via the telephone or by email.
*Using high-pressure sales tactics so as not to give you time to think about the information you are providing.
*Being told you have won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes.
*Being asked to help transfer funds out of a foreign country for a share of the money.
*Being offered help in repairing credit scores for an advanced fee.
*Receiving a counterfeit casher's check or money order for more than the cost of the item you are selling.
*Poor grammar in written or verbal communications.
*Take time to research any offers you receive over the Internet or telephone.
*Do not deposit any checks that are supposed winnings from a lottery or sweepstakes, especially if you didn't enter one.
*Do not provide your sensitive, personal, or financial information unless you know who you are dealing with.
*Consult friends and family or a trusted advisor before making any major financial decisions.
*Don't send money to someone you don't know.
*Read your bills and monthly statements regularly - on paper and online.
*Talk to your doctor before buying health products or signing up for medical treatments.
*When considering an investment, remember that there's no such thing as a sure thing.
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Just a few years ago, most Americans had never heard the phrase "fair trade." Today corporations as mainstream as McDonald's and Wal-Mart are using coffee beans harvested by growers in developing countries who are paid a living wage rather than the minimum one. And now the movement is coming into fashion ... literally.
A company called Fair Indigo: Style with a Conscience hopes to do for apparel workers what fair-trade coffee has done for farmers. Launched last September with a catalog (made from postconsumer recycled paper, of course) and a website, Fair Indigo is one of the first mainstream fair-trade apparel brands in the U.S., on the heels of several recent European start-ups, most notably Britain's People Tree and Gossypium.
According to a survey solicited by the company, 86% of consumers care about whether their clothing is made by workers who are paid fairly and treated with respect. But what exactly is fair? There's no universal measuring stick, but it's generally accepted that it's a wage enabling workers to live relatively comfortably in their home region—i.e., enough money for housing, a generous amount of food, health care, education for their children and some disposable income.
This concept seemed like a no-brainer to Fair Indigo CEO Bill Bass, a former Army paratrooper raised in Knoxville, Tenn., who worked for the U.S. Department of Education before entering the business sector. "It's hard for me to feel right about not paying people fairly," he says. "But most apparel companies are focused on cutting the cost of production and see the people in their factories as commodities and replaceable parts." In 2005, Bass and three other executives from Lands' End, where he had been working as e-commerce chief, decided to leave the company and see if they could change that. "We wanted to start a smaller company that focused not only on the customer but also on the people making the products," he says. "We knew we could do the clothing, the catalog, the website, the stores. We'd done all these things. The biggest question was if we could find factories that were willing to pay their employees fairly."
Over the next year, Bass and his partners scoured the globe for factories that met not only their standards for clothing but also their standards for wages. In what Bass, 44, describes as a "long, arduous process," they interviewed employees, audited payrolls and spoke with owners. "Oh, yeah, it was hard," he says. "Because nobody does that. There was an initial disbelief we had to overcome in some of these factories."
Bass and his colleagues eventually chose about 20 sites, most of which are family-owned and -managed and offer above-average wages and generous benefits. With their own capital, they assembled a staff of 30 (25 of whom used to work at Lands' End), but to this day, the founders still personally visit each factory on a regular basis. They also hand over 5% of the company's profits to the Fair Indigo Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving educational opportunities in the countries where the company's factories and co-ops are located.
Last November, Fair Indigo opened its first store, a 1,600-sq.-ft. eco-friendly space in Madison, Wis. The floors and shelves are made of sustainable bamboo, the walls are covered in wood pulp, and the clothes are draped on bamboo hangers. Customers can scan the bar code of any item at an Internet kiosk at the center of the store to read detailed information about the factory in which it was produced. Bass hopes to open four stores a year nationwide starting in 2008.
"Bill understands production and supply-chain issues," says Patti Freeman Evans, senior analyst for the retail industry at Jupiter-Research. "He is well able to evaluate not only the sales potential but also the financial ramifications of potentially lowering his margins in order to be price competitive."
Whereas fair-trade coffee is pricier than the conventional stuff, Bass insists that Fair Indigo clothing is just as stylish as other brands and its quality is just as high—only minus the markup for the do-good aspect. This is possible, he says, because he has eliminated the middle man. Bass relies heavily on worker-owned cooperatives, which slashes layers of overhead, and works directly with the owners of non--co-op factories. Moreover, unlike many clothing brands, Fair Indigo has a minimal advertising budget, counting instead on word of mouth, and it sells directly to consumers instead of through a retailer.
The brand's debut collection consisted of about 100 styles, but Bass says this fall's line will offer closer to 300, with a wider range of products, a broader color palette and more accessories. Each pair of jeans, he adds enthusiastically, will be made out of organic denim. The Fair Indigo aesthetic, which falls somewhere between J. Jill and J. Crew, is casual but fashionable, aimed at the 30-to-50-year-old set. (Think silk jackets, alpaca scarves and cashmere sweaters.)
It's not just the clothes that are socially conscious. Its line of Inara spa products is produced by women's cooperatives in the remote state of Maranhão in northeastern Brazil, and its amethyst-and-garnet geometric drop earrings are made at a Nepalese technical school in a community consisting largely of underprivileged families from the lower castes. The workers at one of the company's small Costa Rican cooperatives—where each sewer and cutter of the brand's twill pants and chinos helps make financial decisions—turned an exceptional profit last year and were able to give themselves a bonus of three months' pay.
There isn't yet an official fair-trade certification for apparel in the U.S., but Bass is consulting with TransFair USA, an independent third-party certifier of fair-trade goods, in hopes that Fair Indigo will be the impetus for a certification process. "The fair-trade movement is still in its infancy, but people in general are more socially conscious, and I think that's going to start filtering down into the apparel industry," says Bass. "Our goal is to start a movement that changes how the apparel industry works. The measure of its success will be how quickly other companies adopt it."
There's a long road ahead, says Freeman Evans, but it's a good lead to follow. "It doesn't mean that you need consumer demand for fair-trade products. It just means you need good products that are made with fair-trade practices."
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Crafts is a fine arts major with one eye on utility; you'll study the aesthetics and techniques of handcrafting, including ceramics, glassware, baskets, jewelry, metalwork, furniture, textiles, and wax molding. By second or third year, you'll start to specialize in a specific handicraft. Much time will be spent in the studio, experimenting with materials, developing your artistic vision, perfecting your technique, working closely with an advisor, and having frequent peer critiques.
As a crafts major, you'll also study the history and methods of handicrafts, gaining an understanding of the relationship of your work to the long line of folk art traditions. You may take art history courses in anything from Native American basket-weaving, to ancient Greek pottery design, to traditional East Asian textiles.
Because it can be tricky to make a career out of crafts, many programs offer retail and business classes, so you can be savvy when it comes time to market your work in a professional environment.
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Your dog avoids bright lights or bright places
How to Treat Anxiety or Stress Levels for your Dog or Cat
Treating your Dog's or Cat's Bad Breath
Treating your Dog or Cat for Allergies
Treating your Dog's or Cat's Cuts, Scratches, and Wounds
Understanding Heart Disease in your Dog or Cat
You can help promote a healthy heart in your dog by ensuring he gets regular exercise. Try to ensure he eats well and does not become obese. Additionally, you might like to consider using our natural, herbal remedies to counter potential heart disease in either your cat or dog. As in the case of cats, be sure to get your cute friend to the vet to ensure a proper diagnosis.
If diagnosed for heart disease, be sure to try our winning product - Hearty Heart for heart disease in dogs and cats:
Snarling, biting, barking, hissing are all signs of a pet's anger, however surfaced or however hidden. All the same, if your pet dog or cat is exhibiting any symptoms of aggression, there is a natural remedy to treating such ill-fated behaviours.
Aggressive behaviour can can occur when a dog is trying to protect its possessions or in the presence of unfamiliar people or animals. Dogs with an aggression problem may also behave in this way when groomed or lifted. These dogs may also attack other animals, including cats or farm animals, and may have a tendency to chase moving objects such as bicycles, motorcycles, and cars. It is also common for overly aggressive dogs to make frequent escape attempts from their home or yard.In addition to these acts and behaviors, dogs with aggressive behaviours also tend to display certain postures that are the same or similar to many fear postures. For example, such canines will often flatten their ears and lower their head when faced with a trigger of their aggression. Raising their hackles, wrinkling their muzzle, and pulling back their lips are also postures commonly displayed by overly aggressive canines. Even if your dog has not yet attacked people or other animals, if he or she is exhibiting any of the above symptoms and behavior, you may have an aggression problem on your hands. Although it may not seem serious to begin with, this behavior often escalates with time, with very unfortunate results.
Altered behavior only when you, the owner, are not present
Distress vocalization (barking, howling)
Destructiveness (chewing furniture, digging, scratching) and self-trauma
Inappropriate elimination (urinary or fecal)
Some dog breeds are naturally more aggressive than others and some dogs may display aggressive behavior as the result of fear because they have had little exposure to other dogs or people.Bear in mind though, sometimes dogs are simply aggressive because they are in discomfort or pain, so it is always best to first have your dog checked by your veterinarian, especially if canine aggression is an unusual characteristic for your four-legged friend.
Defecating outside the litter box
Visible signs - e.g. ears pointing forward or to the sides while its pupils appear as slits or with only a slightly rounded shape
A cat displaying offensive aggression also tends to hold its rump higher than the rest of its body and will lock its eyes upon its target. The cat's tail tends to be held downward, with the tip swishing from side to side. A low growl may also be emitted.
In the case of defensive reactions, a cat's ears will typically lie flat against its head and its pupils will be dilated. Under such circumstances, a cat will usually assume a crouched posture, and the hair on its body and tail may puff up. The cat's tail will either be held under its body or curved to the side, and its claws will be out. Rather than growling, cats exhibiting defensive aggression tend to spit and hiss. On the other hand, predatory aggression is generally not characterized by such significant mood changes. For this type of aggression, intense concentration, stalking, crouching, and springing are typical behaviors.Again, these forms of aggressive behavior are perfectly normal in certain situations. However, if your cat's aggression is increasing, seems unusual, or is becoming problematic, it's a good idea to consult a veterinarian or qualified animal behaviorist. When dealt with appropriately, such problems can often be effectively remedied, restoring peace to both you and your pet.
Treating Skin Irritations in your Dog or Cat
If your pet dog or cat is experiencing skin problems or irritations, do not be alarmed. Most types of skin diseases can be treated and prevented. Healthy skin, in general, in either your dog or cat, is a sign of an overall physically-abled and -bodied pet. Skin problems can occur because of the differing seasonal and temperate conditions or from allergies to food. Skin problems can range in span from sudden (acute) to long-term (indefinite) depending on the age, conditioning, and other factors related to general physical, emotional, and psychological health of your pet. The important thing is to protect and strengthen your beloved right from the get-go.
Cat skin disorders are the most common pet ailments. A healthy animal has bright, odorless hair and skin, free of debris, grease and irritation. A cat's skin may be irritated if it has a rash, is dry and/or flaking, greasy, red, swollen or itchy. The causes of cat skin irritation and disease are numerous; these include environmental toxins that can irritate the skin, poor nutrition, mineral or vitamin deficiencies, and thyroid and kidney disorders. During the healing process of cat skin diseases, skin eruptions or irritation are normal and are indicative of the healing process. Cat owners should pay close attention to the pet’s environment such as his bed or sleeping space which should be examined frequently and cleaned or changed when necessary.
All the same, we recommend that you first check with your vet for a diagnosis and consider using our natural, herbal remedy for your pet's skin problems.
Proper Treatment for your Cat or Dog
All Clear Ointment
If you see that your dog or cat is scratching and is uncomfortable, try using our All Clear Ointment, which effectively treats skin medications of all sorts. This cream sets to heal dog skin affected by bacteria and fungal infections and other skin problems. The soothing ointment assists in clearing and calming the affected area and prevents infection. 1 bottle = 60ml/2.02oz.
Ouch Away for Cat Skin Disease
This herbal spray is excellent for treating infected irritating skin problems on your pet. Our natural remedy will also boost your cat's overall immune system.
Rescue Spray - Cat Antiseptic
Cat skin irritation can be caused by allergies, insect bites, scratches, scrapes or wounds. Cats may excessively scratch the skin causing further irritation. Eventually the hair in the affected area can be torn out and the skin starts to bleed. An inflamed patch of skin may also ooze a clear or yellowish liquid. These are called hot spots, and can occur anywhere on the body. To help treat the wounds, clip the hair in the surrounding area and cleanse the area with a mild soap and water treatment. Then apply Feline Rescue Spray to reduce pain, decrease healing time and prevent infection. Other recommended preventative measures include covering the affected area and clipping your pet’s nails to minimize the ill affects of scratching.
Rescue Spray - Dog Bug Bites
If your dog is active, he or she'll likely be getting into all kinds of scrapes. Literally. Canine Rescue Spray will ease your dog’s pain and help his wounds heal quickly. Ideal for any type of minor wound or skin irritation on dogs.
Royal Coat EFA Express - Dog and Cat
Royal Coat provides your dog or cat with an excellent, all-natural source of EFAs (essential fatty acids) in order to to maintain healthy skin and shiny coats. Royal Coat EFA Express provides your dog or cat with necessary supplemental amounts of Omega-6 (borage oil) and Omega-3 (fish oil) most times missing, or in insignificant amounts in commercial pet food.
How Cancer Works
"Dear Customer Service,
Thank you for your wonderful products and Customer Service. My dog and wonderful companion, Maeve, was put to rest last night after 12 wonderful years of love and loyalty that I cannot begin to articulate. I would like to say that the Supraglan made the last months of her life much, much happier than she had been in quite some time. As we all know, there are no cures for Cushings Disease; the most we can hope to accomplish is to extend the lives of our companions and make their days as comfortable and active as possible. Your product was a natural, non-toxic alternative for my pet with a history of eating difficulties and would not have tolerated the harsh medications most commonly prescribed for the disease.
Maeve began taking Supraglan and the difference was both immediate and remarkable. Her mood changed as quickly as her stamina increased; she looked forward to the droppers and sucked it out without hesitation. I wish I found your product much sooner, but at least I was able to give her five months of relief. She had a very advanced of Cushings, so I still ever so thankful for the product.
Many, many thanks for you and your wonderful customer service staff. Please continue to bring great products like this to the United States.
As the weather starts to turn, it is a good idea to think about the health of your pet's coats. Make sure that your pets are getting proper nutrients and look into a supplement if you are finding his fur to be problematic.
We are happy to share this PetWellbeing survey with you to learn more about Resthyro for cat hyperthyroidism. If you are not sure if this product would work on your cat, this can be very couraging to you.
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The Nation on January 25 and details the scam being perpetrated in (at least) the Punjab's Layyah district in the name of the Benazir Tractor Scheme. Here the PMLQ's MNA Sardar Bahadur Ahmad Khan Sehar and his relatives - who own thousands of acres of land - bagged 48 out of the 63 tractors supposedly to be given to small farmers. And that too in a supposedly random computerised ballot!
The News in an editorial on this blatant rigging had this to say about it:
Monday, February 08, 2010
A tractor is an essential piece of agricultural equipment in these days of mechanised farming, but most of our small farmers cannot afford what for them is a luxury item. Thus, there were many who hoped that the ‘Benazir Tractor Scheme’ — which made available by computerised ballot 5,000 tractors for
Punjab, 2,000 for Sindh, 1,200 for NWFP and 850 for Balochistan – might bring a change in their fortunes. The scheme was open to farmers who own 25 acres or less of land and on September 12, 2009, about 340,000 applications were received, of which 277,106 were finalised for balloting. So far so good, except that when the results of the ballot were declared in Punjab, there were – to put it mildly — some statistical anomalies. In a pioneering move, those who organised the balloting managed to take out the ‘random’ element and rig the result, benefiting a range of delighted new tractor owners who were not eligible for the scheme in the first place on account of being the owners of thousands of acres of land rather than a meagre 25.
A quite remarkable 48 members of a single family in District Layyah out of a total draw for the area of 63 bagged themselves new tractors worth about Rs29 million – not a bad trick if you can pull it off. And to which family do these lucky people belong? Why none other than MNA Bahadar Ahmad Khan Sehar… what an extraordinary coincidence. Forty-eight poor farmers doubtless looked at one another, shrugged their shoulders and muttered the national mantra – ‘this is
’. Indeed it is, and this being Pakistan , a number of powerful individuals in a range of institutions including a bank and at least two political parties conspired together to rob poor people of an opportunity to better themselves. This being Pakistan , nobody is going to be taken to task for this blatant manipulation of a scheme that, if properly administered, would have lifted thousands out of poverty. Instead, the feudal landowners have once again ensured that the poor and downtrodden remain just that. The politicians have served themselves and the patronage system well and, this being Pakistan , the status quo has been preserved. A by-product of the scam is that somebody learned how to manipulate a computerised random ballot – which must be excellent news for those contemplating any future computerised general election. Pakistan
The total worth of the tractors? A mere 29 million.
The Sweat and Toil of Legislating
their observations on the last National Assembly session that concluded on January 29:
The participation of MNAs i.e. 46 percent in the eighteenth session was relatively higher than earlier sessions during the ongoing parliamentary year.
So, basically, 54 percent of legislators (183 out of 338!) could not be bothered to show up for their job at all. And this was an improvement over previous sessions?! Will they show up to collect their salaries and TA / DA? You can bet they will.
The 15 daily sittings of the Eighteenth Session of the National Assembly included a total of 50 hours and 01 minute of parliamentary business. The average length of a sitting was 3 hours and 20 minutes. The shortest sitting lasted 1 hours and 34 minutes. Each sitting started late by an average of 28 minutes.
Will someone please give us all a job where, if you bother to show up at all, your workday consists of about 3 hours?
As many as 646 questions were raised by MNAs during the course of the session, of which 420 were responded to by the relevant ministers. However, relevant ministers were absent at 9 out of the 15 sittings during the question hour.
Now that's an even better job. And I like that figure of 420.
42 bills were listed on the Orders of the Day for consideration by the House. One of these bills was rejected. Out of the remaining 41, 10 bills were passed. 23 resolutions were on the agenda of the Eighteenth Session, but only six were taken up by the House. 42 % of items on the Orders of the Day (less then half of the business agenda of the House) were not addressed during the session.
10 bills passed, 6 resolutions "taken up", 58 percent of agenda items addressed. In 15 days. Now that's what you call efficiency.
175 Points of Order were raised. However, none of them required Speaker’s Ruling, indicating their inappropriateness vis-à-vis procedural definition.
Great. Efficient and relevant. Incidentally, the most activity the National Assembly saw.
The only people to come out well from this analysis were Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who attended every sitting in full and, to an extent, women parliamentarians who managed to move 12 out of the total 18 private members' bills, whatever became of them eventually. Activists often wonder why people badmouth democratic dispensations so much. It's not that they like the alternatives any more. They just express their disgust with what becomes of their aspirations.
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Field telephones are one of the best and simplest systems of communication in a base of operations.
communication is Key to early warning and defense strategy.
Field Telephones are best used as a point to point communication solution or a simple “jack plug” switch board can be made with a little skill and then a person to man the switch board – if you require a system with more then 2 points..
They were extensivly used during both world wars and in Vietnam for secure communication.
I am not going to detail exactly how one would create the field telephone — but lets just say its not exactly difficult, the detail i will give is that on microphone and one speaker must obviously be at each end ( plans for making these yourself below although store bought is probably better if you build these before you need them )
I have included a basic circut diagram above I just drew up quickly, this will be what a single phone looks like – that plugs into a switch board, to have a simple phone that only have 2 ends then replace the jack plug with another bell, switch, mic and speaker.
__The Switch Board__
a simple switch board can be made by a few jack plug sockets, low voltage bulbs or leds, and jack plugs , the concept is for each “extention” you need a socket to plug the long line that goes to the phone into – another socket to plug another phone into wired in parallel and an led to indicate that its active, a third socket can be added in parallel to allow an operator to “listen in”, and a Lead with a plug on, this lead will plug into to other sockets to connect phones to others , each phone needs each of these i mentioned, it is best to make the sockets for each in a numbered column
so that you can keep track of the cables.
2 cores wire carries the signal ….. and all the components are in series with a battery ( or dc power source) to form a closed circuit
a simple bell or buzzer can be used ( bells are easy to make out of old relays or hand wound electric coils)
If set up over long distances you could even follow the modernmechanix idea of a simple fax machine , replacing the syncronising belt that provides the drum timing with a clock linked to the second hand and start at exactly the same time Link to plans
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Carolina Environmental Diversity Explorations
Cape Fear estuaries · By Steve Keith
Dropping to earth, we’ll visit a salt marsh near Barnard’s Creek, a few miles south of Wilmington’s center. The dominant plant here is salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Other plants include sea lavender and sea oxeye. The brown zone is a slightly elevated area containing black needle rush (Juncus roemerianus). The many dead cedars attest to the ever-changing conditions in the estuary.
Note the island in the river, formed by dredge spoils over the years, now elevated enough to support small trees. The photographer was standing on a gravel bed, formed in preparation for the erection of a 40-unit condominium that will sit at the edge of this marsh. Conditions in this marsh may be altered a bit in the near future.
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EUGENE, Ore. – The Duchess of Cambridge, the former Kate Middleton, may have introduced what some health experts have dubbed as “Brideorexia” -- due to her rapid weight loss from a size eight to a size two in less than six months - says a wedding planner here in Eugene who also notes that she’s already seen “a lot of brides that are trying much too hard to be too thin for the big day.”
In fact, Sandra the wedding planner says “Brideorexia” is a new pop health term “that’s been more or less put out there after Kate Middleton got married. I just saw recent photographs of her and she’s still looking very, very thin.” Sandra also notes how Brideorexia – or getting real slim quick for one’s wedding day – is a “real health matter when considering national wedding industry statistics that point to 2.3 million brides wed every year in the U.S.” At the same time, the Royal Palace has confirmed June 16 that Duchess Kate will visit California this summer; with Hollywood already making plays to lay out the red carpet, say entertainment industry insiders.
The average American bride is 25 years old and worried about weight
According to the National Wedding Industry, the after age for a bride is 25, and the average weight is “a best kept secret,” jokes Sandra who works as t a wedding coordinator here in Eugene. In turn, Sandra says June and July are her busiest months, and one trend she’s nothing during 2011 is “this obsession with getting extra slim for the wedding. It’s simply not necessary to have a happy wedding,” she adds.
At the same time, the spotlight on high profile weddings -- and getting thin for the wedding dress – rests with the now Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, says Sandra and others who produce weddings for a living.
The new bridge of king to be Prince William still looks very thin, state British media this week as Duchess Kate (age 29) is seen out and about and preparing for the couple’s visit later this summer to California and Canada.
Hollywood scary skinny stars eyeing Middleton’s diet secrets
“The always thin Kate (Middleton) is dropping pounds by the day. Her waist is wafer-thin. Is being a princess too much pressure,” asks the popular Hollywood Life website June 10. The report also noted that Duchess Kate “appeared quite gaunt” during a June 9 kids event near Buckingham Palace in London that focused on “the importance of health and fitness.”
Meanwhile, a recent report on the Canada.com website noted how "The Duchess of Cambridge (Kate's new title) is considering a number of options to give members of the public the opportunity to see close up the skilled British craftsmanship that went into the making of her wedding dress," a spokesman said.
In turn, those who reported seeing Kate’s wedding dress up close said it was “very tiny.”
Duchess Catherine ‘s dramatic weight loss worries Brits who want a Royal baby
“One can never be too thin or too rich,” states a retro Sixties quote from British icon “Twiggy” that’s featured on a poster that hangs in a trendy spa here in Eugene that sells the new “Dukan diet” that future queen Catherine Middleton reportedly used to drop several dress sizes, going from a U.S. size 8 to a size 2; meanwhile, those who’ve seen the Duchess of Cambridge since the Royal Wedding to Prince William -- at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England -- say she still “looks a bit gaunt.”
Kate Middleton dropped from a 28 to almost a 22 waist size for the Royal Wedding, wearing a size 2 dress on her big day. In turn, the L.A. Times is reporting how Kate’s sudden weight loss is fueling the popularity of the “Duken diet” out in Hollywood, where getting as thin as humanly possible without getting too sick is still popular. While British media also reports that Middleton remarked that the dramatic weight loss “was all part of the wedding plan.” Meanwhile, health experts say dropping from a size 8 to 2 in dress size is simply not healthy and even dangerous.
A Palace statement at the time of the wedding noted that Kate is 5 –foot-10 and weighed about 100 pounds at the time of the Royal wedding. A previous biography put her weight at near 130 pounds.
"If it took her 5 months to lose 20 pounds, she lost a pound every 7.5 days. Safe weight loss recommendations for most folks is no more than 1 pound per week, so even if she lost 20 pounds, she was within the guidelines for a healthy rate of weight loss," said Carla Wolper, in an ABC News interview after the Royal Wedding. Wolper is an obesity researcher at St. Luke's Hospital and assistant professor at the Eating Disorders Research Center at Columbia University Medical Center, both in New York.
Prince William’s new wife wanted to look “trim and thin,” say Brits
One of the prime duties for the Duchess of Cambridge is to produce a son or daughter for Prince William who will one day become the next King or Queen of England. In turn, the British public “noted Kate wanted to look trim and thin,” but we’re “a bit worried at this point,” said callers on London’s popular radio talk show LBC 97.3 that’s dubbed as “London’s Biggest Conversation.
Iain Dale and LBC’s other radio talk show hosts have told British media that now that William and Kate are married, the listeners are asking the obvious question “when will the babies come.”
“If you severely restrict your calorie intake or exercise very heavily you may either continuously or periodically suffer from amenorrhea. This is the absence of both periods and ovulation, a condition which will make it very difficult to conceive. Amenorrhea can happen because you have so little fat on your frame that your body goes into 'starvation' mode and the delicate hormonal balance that signals the development and release of healthy eggs from your ovaries is disrupted,” state doctors on the popular “Ask Baby website.
Moreover, Ask Baby states “here are also implications if you are severely underweight when you fall pregnant. For instance, lower than healthy maternal pregnancy weight has been associated with both preterm delivery and low infant birth weight, neither of which are ideal. Additionally, if you heavily restrict your diet you may also deprive your body of the essential nutrients your baby needs for healthy development which can cause different problems.”
Dukan diet gets help to win hearts and minds from Kate
“Her (Kate) weight loss sparked rumors that she was on the Dukan diet — what appears to be a French spin on the high-protein Atkins diet — after Middleton's mother, Carole, acknowledged using the plan to shed pre-wedding pounds,” stated a May 1 L.A. Times report on how Duchess Kate’s dramatic weight loss spurred interest in Hollywood where she will be meeting with movie stars later this summer.
“Suddenly, the diet that sold five million copies in France was making headlines in the States, with its promise of instant weight loss without hunger, portion control or counting calories,” the L.A. Times report added.
Moreover, the L.A. Times – that’s one of the leading sources of information about culture and lifestyle in famed Beverly Hill, noted that the diet's author, Dr. Pierre
Dukan, a French family practitioner, “is capitalizing on the sudden surge in media exposure to promote his mission (attack the obesity problem in the U.S.) and the American version of his book. ‘The Dukan Diet’ hit bookstores in recently with a cover stating, ‘The Real Reason the French Stay Thin,’ while featuring Kate in her new thin look.
Duchess Kate’s weight loss dangerous to her health
The L.A. Times has devoted numerous reports about Kate’s dramatic weight loss as to reflect others who may also try it. Thus, the Times reported how “many nutritionists and other health experts dismiss the eating regimen. They say it's just another fad diet that, while impressive in its immediate results, could be risky over the long-term.
"It just doesn't make sense based on the science we know," said Joan Salge Blake, a clinical associate professor at Boston University and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Assn. "When you eliminate major food groups, you have the potential to eliminate major nutrients."
In turn, Blake noted that the diet can “indeed have less-than-glamorous side effects, such as constipation, dry mouth, bad breath and fatigue because of its lack of carbs, fruit and vegetables.”
The L.A. Times also stated that “even Dukan acknowledges this.”
"Diets high in protein tend to be associated with a little higher [initial] weight loss," said Robert Eckel, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado and past president of the American Heart Assn. Over longer periods, such as a year or two, he said, the results achieved via these regimens tend to rival more traditional calorie-restriction plans.
Kate dropped significant weight to look good
An ABC News TV report during the Royal Wedding was peppered with words about the new, and very thin Kate. “A radiant, but wisp-thin Kate Middleton stepped into the public eye today, emerging from the royal state car -- a 1978 Rolls-Royce -- and walking into Westminster Abbey to take her wedding vows. The lace-bodice dress, designed by Alexander McQueen's Sarah Burton, clung gracefully to her lean frame, possibly adding to questions about the newly titled Duchess of Cambridge's health.”
Basically, Kate lost about 10 to 14 or more pounds of weight loss, and not just body fat, said Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, during the ABC News coverage of the wedding.
Losing this amount of weight, however, isn't unhealthy, Bonci added.
Kate looking emaciated due to dramatic weight loss that echoes Lady Diana
Local nutrition experts in Eugene, who advocate balanced natural living with “live food,” and no binge dieting for women.
Thus, locals in England noted in British media reports that Kate looked “emaciated,” while reminding fans of the late Princess Diana who confessed to suffering from bulimia and anorexia.
“Now is the perfect time to share information on the website “Bulimia: the Princess Diana Eating Disorder,” said a Eugene nutrition expert who also points to Lady Di who admitted to having been diagnosed with anorexia.
“Imagine you’re a princess like Diana and now Kate and you’re suffering from bulimia nervosa. We know that Diana would binge on find and then vomit and take laxatives to stay thin. She also had anorexia nervosa that’s a common eating disorder in our society due to an obsessive fear of gaining weight.”
Princess Diana admitted to vomiting to stay thin
“We know that William’s mother, Princess Di, had distorted self image. She was rich, pretty and a princess, but she denied herself food to eat, and if she did spurge, it was 600 or 700 calories per day washed down with laxatives and admitted bouts of vomiting to just stay thin,” adds the Eugene diet expert who says she’s spent much of her professional career counseling young women on eating real “live” foods over fad diets that only hurt them in the end.
In fact, this extreme dieting syndrome has now been dubbed “The Princess Diana Eating Disorder.”
According to Andrew Morton’s 1992 book, “Diana: Her True Story,” the late princess revealed that bulimia was her “secret disease.” Diana told Morton that she would make herself “vomit” while struggling with bulimia and also anorexia in the 1980’s when she became a princess.
Image source of Duchess Kate, while media reports say she's looking very thin at the end of June, during a recent meeting with First Lady Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace: Wikipedia
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Vortragsreihe Ökologie und Umweltforschung SS 2010
Thursday 16:15-17:45 H6, GeoIf you would like to get an e-mail reminder, please join our mailinglist
Prof. Terry V. Callaghan
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Abisko Research Station and University of Sheffield UK
Thursday, 20.05.2010 10:15-12:00 H6, GEO:
A new climate era in the Swedish sub-Arctic? – accelerating climate changes and their multiple current and future impactsInvitation: Global Change Ecology (M.Sc.)
It is now widely recognised that climate warming is in progress and is amplified at high northern latitudes where the current rate of warming is about double the global average. Such changes are already having impacts on the Arctic’s physical end biological environments while continuing warming is likely to have more profound effects than those currently observed. Further, many of the impacts on biodiversity and feedbacks to climate such as greenhouse gas emissions and albedo in the Arctic are likely to have global consequences. However, the Arctic is sparsely populated and the power of observation and projection of climate changes and their impacts are limited compared to many other regions. An exception is the Abisko Scientific Research Station that hosts up to about 700 visiting international scientists each year. Here, environmental monitoring and observation have been in operation since 1913 and a large array of environmental and ecosystem manipulation experiments has been deployed to project impacts on terrestrial ecosystems of future warming.
Analysis of the long-term environmental data shows increased warming over the past ca. 100 years with a recent period that is warmer than any in the instrumental record. These temperature increases are resulting in landscape level changes such as reduced snow depth, loss of lake ice and permafrost and changes in the location of treeline and forest structure. Superimposed on these century-long changes are extreme events that have lead to widespread damage to vegetation and provide significant challenges to the reindeer herding community as well as to the local administration responsible for the maintenance of infrastructures. The powerful combination of Indigenous Peoples’ traditional ecological knowledge, long-term observation and experimentation together provide insights into future ecosystem changes that are not yet incorporated in ecosystem and dynamic vegetation models.
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Last week I read a very thoughtful—and thought-provoking—post on Corbett Barr’s blog, called You’re Going to Suck.
In it, Corbett makes the point that there’s no growth without failure. We’ve talked about criticism on ProBlogger before, and that’s something that Corbett makes mention of in his post, but failure encompasses so much more than this.
I know about failure—I’ve launched more than 20 blogs in my career as a blogger. How many am I running now? Two. And that career came only after I’d tried around 30 other jobs. When I started blogging, in my early 30s, I was holding down three jobs.
The point I’m making here isn’t that I’m some kind of superman—it’s the opposite! The lesson is that for every success, there are a lot of “failures.” This is true for me, and I think it’s true for many people.
Success isn’t easy
It’s an important point to think upon, especially in an online environment where so many people make success look so easy. I’m not just talking about the get-rich-quick guys; I’m talking even about something as simple as social media. I don’t know about your Facebook friends, for example, but often I look through my personal Facebook feed and think “wow, everyone’s living these amazing lives and having so much fun!”
It’s often the case, too, when we look at other bloggers, or even just other individuals or groups in our niche. We’re all presenting professional personas online. On the web, it’s an easy matter to create an ideal “you,” or an ideal of your blog or business. As we look at the online presences of peers or competitors, they can seem bulletproof, and far more skilled or capable than we are.
Don’t be fooled!
These online presences aren’t the full story. It’s important to remember that. Sometimes when we look at what others are doing, we can feel bad about the fact that we’re only human—that we can’t afford flashy advertising or a custom blog design or a PR agency to promote us an arrange interviews for us.
But as Corbett says in his post, “put aside the ego and start making mistakes.” Ego isn’t just about wanting to think of ourselves as invincible. Ego can also allow us to give ourselves excuses when, really, the truth is that we’re all human. You might not know about the personal challenges that your most admired blogger or peer is currently facing, even as they launch a new product or sell one of their businesses for six figures. It’s ego that can make us think we’re the only ones facing difficulty.
When Corbett says “start making mistakes,” I think of those 20 blogs I’ve started, and I think about the law of averages. It’s easy to say “we learn from our mistakes,” but I think our “education” isn’t often so dramatic that it happens as a result of one mistake. The same goes for failures—one dramatic failure needn’t be the end of you. It took me twenty blogs to get to the point I’m at now—and I’m hardly a media mogul or blogging empire boss!
Learning lakes time, and experimentation. A tactic that didn’t work with your last blog might work with this one. Who knows? You’ll probably have to give it another try to find out. Maybe that will lead you to another failure. But maybe not…
The more mistakes, the better
The more mistakes you make, the closer you get to finding a sustainable path forward—especially when it comes to the ever-changing world of blogging. The more failures you experience, the more likely you’ll be to narrow down a pathway to success, however you define that.
Have you failed at blogging? Have you made mistakes that have helped you grow as a blogger? Tell us about them in the comments, so that we can all benefit from your experiences.
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What Type of Life Jacket Should She Wear?
A 3-year-old female came to clinic with a 1 day history of ear pain and pulling on her left ear. She also had some yellowish discharge on her pillowcase that morning.
She had no upper respiratory tract symptoms or fever, and had been playing in a lake.
The past medical history, and review of systems was negative.
The pertinent physical exam showed a happy female who was afebrile with normal growth parameters.
Her left external auditory canal had watery, yellow discharge and the canal was red and swollen with whitish debris. The tympanic membrane was not visualized due to the debris.
The pain was reproducible when pushing on the tragus.
The right external auditory canal had some mild erythema but no obvious discharge and the tympanic membrane was normal.
The rest of her examination was normal.
The diagnosis of left otitis external was made. Ciprofloxacin otic drops were prescribed along with information about the natural history and ways to prevent the recurrence.
The father then asked about what type of life jacket he should buy as they were invited to a boating party.
The pediatrician spoke with the father about general water safety including all persons wearing life jackets while on the water and needing to use a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket that was based on the weight of the child.
He also emphasized that boating operators should not be drinking alcoholic beverages, and that he recommended designating another adult in the boat to help monitor the water for other boats and people who may be around.
Otitis externa, also known as swimmer’s ear, is a common infection, especially in school age children.
Moisture in the ear causes edema, skin breakdown and bacteria to grow. Swelling and debris may obstruct the external canal exacerbating the problem.
Common predisposing factors include swimming (especially in water with high bacterial counts), foreign body (including hearing aids, retained cerumen, insects, etc.), dermatitis, viral infections and local trauma (i.e. finger nails, cotton-tipped applicators, etc.).
Otitis externa is most commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, which often co-exist. Treatment with topical antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin and pain treatment with acetaminophen or ibuprofen usually is all that is needed.
Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 to 14 years. In 2002, 832 children died from drowning in the U.S..
Personal flotation devices (PFD, or often called life jackets) are based on the child’s weight.
On the PFD label there should be a user weight such as less than 30 pounds, 30 to 50 pounds, and 50-90 pounds.
Persons over 90 pounds usually can wear PFDs for adults.
There also should be an approval statement such as “Approved for use on recreational boats and uninspected commercial vessels not carrying passengers for hire, by persons weighing __ lbs”.
States have different regulations regarding PFD use.
Generally one appropriately-sized PFD should be available for every person in a boat, and any boat 16 feet or longer must also carry a throwable device (PFD Type IV) such as a cushion or buoy.
A PFD should be worn at all times if at all possible while using a boat, kayak, canoe, personal watercraft (also known as a jetski) or in any towed activities such as waterskiing or inner tubing.
The labels of PFDs for personal watercraft and towed activities will be marked for these activities.
If PFDs are not worn in the boat, they should be stored on the boat so they can be retrieved and put on immediately (i.e. not in locked containers or with gear stored on top of the PFDs).
The throwable PFD must be immediately available for use.
Individuals negaged in activities where a person is in the water such as personal watercraft or towed activities should wear a PFD at all times.
PFDs come in different types:
- Type I – designed for all types of water (calm or rough) and especially remote waters where rescue may be delayed. Designed to turn a person face up.
- Type II – designed for calm, inland water or where there is a good chance of quick rescue. May turn a person face up. One of the most common and least expensive types.
- Type III – designed for calm, inland water, or where there is a good chance of quick rescue. Designed so the person can put themselves in a face-up position. The person may have to tilt their head back to avoid turning face down.
- Type IV – throwable device such as cushion, life ring, or buoy
- Type V – special use – such as working on sailing boars, or offer hypothermia protection.
Examples of these products can be found from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es/enforcement/safety/pfd.htm
Many PFDs are made of foam and generally not compressible. These can be bulky to wear for some people.
Some PFDs are inflatable and may be more comfortable to use. Inflatable PFDs should only be used by persons 16 years and older.
There are also hybrid PFDs with foam and inflation which are available for adults and children.
Overall, the best PFD is one that is rated for the weight of the child and can be worn comfortably at all times.
Parents should be reminded that PFDs must fit snugly on a child. To check for a good fit, pick the child up by the shoulders of the PFD. If the PFD fits right, the child’s chin and ears will not slip through.
PFDs are also not babysitters and a responsible adult should also be closely monitoring the children.
PFDs are not toys and toys are not PFDs. PFDs should be used for their intended purpose and not played with as they can be damaged. Inflatable toys and rafts should not be used instead of a proper PFD.
Questions for Further Discussion
1. At what age can a person operate or be a passenger on a personal watercraft (i.e. jetski)?
2. At what age can a child truly learn to swim?
3. Where can a person take a boating safety course in the local community?
To Learn More
To view pediatric review articles on this topic from the past year check PubMed.
To view current news articles on this topic check Google News.
To view images related to this topic check Google Images.
United States Coast Guard. Teach Your Children Well.
Available from the Internet at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mse4/pfdchild.htm (rev. 5/23/02, cited 1/10/08).
United States Coast Guard. Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats.
Available from the Internet at http://uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_pfd.htm (rev. 2005, cited 1/10/08).
Yuma P, Carroll J, Morgan M. A guide to personal flotation devices and basic open water safety for pediatric health care practitioners. J Pediatr Health Care. 2006;20(3):214-8.
ACGME Competencies Highlighted by Case
1. When interacting with patients and their families, the health care professional communicates effectively and demonstrates caring and respectful behaviors.
2. Essential and accurate information about the patients’ is gathered.
3. Informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment is made.
4. Patient management plans are developed and carried out.
5. Patients and their families are counseled and educated.
8. Health care services aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health are provided.
10. An investigatory and analytic thinking approach to the clinical situation is demonstrated.
11. Basic and clinically supportive sciences appropriate to their discipline are known and applied.
13. Information about other populations of patients, especially the larger population from which this patient is drawn, is obtained and used.
25. Quality patient care and assisting patients in dealing with system complexities is advocated.
Donna M. D’Alessandro, MD
Professor of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital
February 11, 2008
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Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical or philosophical discourse. It aims to understand the nature of gender inequality. It examines women’s social roles, experience, interests, and feminist politics in a variety of fields, such as anthropology and sociology, communication, psychoanalysis, economics, literary, education, philosophy, and even linguistics. Feminist researchers embrace two key tenets: (1) their research should focus on the condition of women in society, and (2) their research must be grounded in the assumption that women generally experience oppressive subordination. Thus, feminist research rejects Weber‘s value-free orientation in favor of being overtly political — doing research in pursuit of gender equality. Any movement not seeking equality cannot, therefore, be called Feminism (which basically rejects modern conservative notions of feminism).
Modern Western feminist history is split into three time periods, or “waves”, each with slightly different aims based on prior progress.
I. First-wave feminism of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries focused on overturning legal inequalities, particularly women’s suffrage.
18th century: the Age of Enlightenment — The Age of Enlightenment was characterized by secular intellectual reasoning and a flowering of philosophical writing. Many Enlightenment philosophers defended the rights of women, including Jeremy Bentham (1781), Marquis de Condorcet (1790), and, perhaps most notably, Mary Wollstonecraft whose A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) is one of the first works that can unambiguously be called feminist. In America, feminist movement leaders campaigned for the national Abolition of Slavery and Temperance before championing women’s rights. The antislavery campaign of the 1830s served as both a cause ideologically compatible with feminism and a blueprint for later feminist political organizing. Attempts to exclude women only strengthened their convictions.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Matilda Joslyn Gage saw the Church as a major obstacle to women’s rights, and welcomed the emerging literature on matriarchy. Both Gage and Stanton produced works on this topic, and collaborated on The Woman’s Bible (1895) to challenge the traditional position of religious orthodoxy that woman should be subservient to man.
Early 19th-century feminists reacted to cultural inequities including the pernicious widespread acceptance of the Victorian image of women’s “proper” role and “sphere”. As Jane Austen addressed women’s restricted lives in the early part of the century, Charlotte Brontë, Anne Brontë, Elizabeth Gaskell, and George Eliot depicted women’s misery and frustration. Feminists of previous centuries charged women’s exclusion from education as the central cause for their domestic relegation and denial of social advancement, and women’s 19th-century education was not much better.
“I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat, or a prostitute.” — Rebecca West, “Mr. Chesterton in hysterics”, The Clarion, 1913
Major issues in the 1910s and 1920s included suffrage, economics and employment, sexuality and families, war and peace, and a Constitutional amendment for equality. Both equality and difference were seen as routes to women’s empowerment. Women entered the labor market during the First World War in unprecedented numbers, often in new sectors, and discovered the value of their work. The war also left large numbers of women bereaved and with a net loss of household income. The scores of men killed and wounded shifted the demographic composition.
II. Second-wave feminism (1960s–1980s) broadened debate to include cultural inequalities, gender norms, and the role of women in society.
The backlash against U.S. women is real. As the misconception of equality between the sexes becomes more ubiquitous, so does the attempt to restrict the boundaries of women’s personal and political power. (Clarence) Thomas’ confirmation, the ultimate rally of support for the male paradigm of harassment, sends a clear message to women: “Shut up! Even if you speak, we will not listen.”
I will not be silenced.
I acknowledge the fact that we live under siege. I intend to fight back. I have uncovered and unleashed more repressed anger than I thought possible. For the umpteenth time in my 22 years, I have been radicalized, politicized, shaker) awake. I have come to voice again, and this time my voice is not conciliatory.
The night after Thomas’s confirmation I ask the man I am intimate with what he thinks of the whole mess. His concern is primarily with Thomas’ propensity to demolish civil rights and opportunities for people of color. I launch into a tirade. “When will progressive black men prioritize my rights and well-being? When will they stop talking so damn much about ‘the race’ as if it revolved exclusively around them?” He tells me I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I scream “I need to know, are you with me or are you going to help them try to destroy me?” — Rebecca Walker, Becoming the Third Wave, MS Magazine, 1992
III. Third-wave feminism (1990s–present) refers to diverse strains of feminist activity, seen as both a continuation of the second wave and a response to the perceived failures of and backlash against initiatives and movements created by Second-wave feminism during the 1960s to 1980s, and the realization that women are of “many colors, ethnicities, nationalities, religions and cultural backgrounds”. The third wave embraces diversity and change. In this wave, as in previous ones, there is no all-encompassing single feminist idea, and thus no single target for anti-feminists to focus upon.
Third-wave feminism seeks to challenge or avoid what it deems the second wave’s “essentialist” definitions of femininity, which often assumed a universal female identity and over-emphasized the experiences of upper-middle-class white women.
Essentialism as it relates to Feminism theorizes that there are innate, essential differences between men and women. That is, we are born with certain traits. This is often used as an explanation for why there are so few women in science and technology. It is also used as a rationale for pigeonholing, offering limited education, hiring discrimination, etc. It is also sometimes raised (including by women) under the guise of Equal but different.
In “Deconstructing Equality-versus-Difference: Or, the Uses of Poststructuralist Theory for Feminism,” (.pdf) Joan W. Scott describes how language has been used as a way to understand the world, however, “post-structuralists insist that words and texts have no fixed or intrinsic meanings, that there is no transparent or self-evident relationship between them and either ideas or things, no basic or ultimate correspondence between language and the world”. Thus, while language has been used to create binaries (such as male/female), post-structuralists see these binaries as artificial constructs created to maintain the power and privilege of dominant groups.
For third-wave feminists, therefore, “sexual liberation,” a major goal of second-wave feminism, was expanded to mean a process of first becoming conscious of the ways one’s gender identity and sexuality have been shaped by society and then intentionally constructing (and becoming free to express) one’s authentic gender identity.
Third wavers inherited a foothold of institutional power created by second wavers, including women’s studies programs at universities, long-standing feminist organizations, and well-established publishing outlets such as Ms. magazine and several academic journals. These outlets became a less important part of the culture of the third wave than they had been for the second wave.
In expressing their concerns, third-wave feminists actively subverted, co-opted, and played on seemingly sexist images and symbols. This was evident in the double entendre and irony of the language commonly adopted by people in their self-presentations. Slang used derogatorily in most earlier contexts became proud and defiant labels. The spirit and intent of the third wave shone through the raw honesty, humour, and horror of Eve Ensler’s play (and later book) The Vagina Monologues, an exploration of women’s feelings about sexuality that included vagina-centered topics as diverse as orgasm, birth, and rape; the righteous anger of punk rock’s riot grrrls movement; and the playfulness, seriousness, and subversion of the Guerrilla Girls, a group of women artists who donned gorilla masks in an effort to expose female stereotypes and fight discrimination against female artists.” — Third Wave continued
Third-wave theory usually incorporates elements of queer theory; anti-racism and women-of-color consciousness; womanism; girl power; post-colonial theory; postmodernism; transnationalism; cyberfeminism; ecofeminism; individualist feminism; new feminist theory, transgender politics, and a rejection of the gender binary (see, for example, Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (.pdf, 1990)).
Third-wave feminism seeks to challenge or avoid second-wave “essentialist” definitions of femininity, which over-emphasized the experiences of white, upper middle class women. A post-structuralist interpretation of gender and sexuality, or an understanding of gender as outside binary maleness and femaleness, is central to much of the third wave’s ideology. Proponents of third-wave feminism claim that it allows women to define feminism for themselves by incorporating their own identities into the belief system of what feminism is, what it encompasses, and what it can become through one’s own perspective.
- First-Wave Feminism: The Enfranchisement of Women in Australia (isabellaferg.wordpress.com)
- Romantic Paternalism is Back in Fashion (categoricalhousewife.wordpress.com)
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Whole Foods put out this GREAT little guide to nuts and seeds earlier today, and is an awesome read if you want to get a quick education. I learned quite a bit from this, and so I will let it speak for itself!
Tags: guide, nuts, seeds, what's the difference between nuts and seeds, whole foods
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Off-campus WSU users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your WSU access ID and password.
Non-WSU users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this dissertation through interlibrary loan.
Date of Award
D Carl Freeman
Daniel M. Kashian
Although dioecious species are rare in nature, the sexual system appears in a diverse number of families and across all life forms and global locations. We looked at the population dynamics of natural populations to determine why many dioecious populations display biased sex ratios. We also looked at the role incestuous matings, seed and pollen dispersal patterns, and compensation play in the evolution of this sexual system using two theoretical models we developed. Finally, we studied aspen populations in the Midwest to determine how climate variables affect growth and decline. We found many dioecious species display male biased ratios and that life form and dispersal agents are good indicators. Our theoretical models imply that incest and dispersal specialization of unisexual individuals facilitate invasion, but through the interaction of specialization, incest, and compensation, unisexual invasion occurs much more consistently and under less stringent conditions then previously modeled. Finally, we found that declining aspen stands were much less responsive to climate variables than healthy stands and that a number of stand characteristics could be used to discriminate between responsive and non-responsive stands.
Sinclair, Jordan P., "Dioecious Plants: Evolution And Sex Ratio And Asepen Decline" (2012). Wayne State University Dissertations. Paper 620.
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Public colleges and universities that compete in some of the top NCAA conferences spend between three and six times as much money per athlete as they do to educate each student, according to a recently released study.
The reports say median athletic spending for institutions that compete in the top tier Football Bowl Subdivision, or FBS, spent $92,000 per athlete in 2010 while spending less than $14,000 per student on academics.
The disparity is even greater in the country’s college football powerhouse, the Southeastern Conference, where in 2010 schools paid roughly $160,000 per athlete, but only about $14,000 to educate each nonathlete student, the report says. Public universities in the six most-prominent conferences — the SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC, Big 12 and Big East — all spent more than $100,000 per athlete in 2010. According to the report, only four schools could claim that distinction in 2009.
The “Academic Spending Versus Athletic Spending” study was put together by the Delta Cost Project, part of the nonprofit American Institutes for Research, based in Washington, D.C. On its website, AIR calls itself “one of the world’s largest behavioral and social science research organizations.”
The report comes at a time when schools across the country are working with smaller and smaller budgets as states have cut costs during the recession.
The same is true in Louisiana, where public colleges and universities have absorbed $625 million in budget cuts since 2008, according to the state Board of Regents.
Louisiana has four public FBS schools — LSU, Louisiana Tech University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Spokespersons at the schools, last week, said they were unclear how the Delta Cost Project compiled its numbers, and could not re-create the data to come up with athletics versus academics spending comparisons at their universities.
LSU spokesman Ernie Ballard said that “coaching salaries could greatly skew the per-student cost because of the market-driven salaries of a handful of coaches versus the relatively small pool of student athletes.”
Around the country, three of four FBS school athletic departments spent more money than they generated between 2005 and 2010, the reports says, with roughly one-third of those dollars going toward salaries and another 20 percent funding equipment and facilities.
Institutions generally make up the disparity of how much their athletic departments spend and how much they generate through student fees, the report says.
Ballard said LSU is different from most other institutions in that the LSU Athletic Department is self-sustaining and operates without the benefit of student fees or state dollars.
Late last year, the LSU Board of Supervisors approved an agreement where the Athletic Department would transfer $7.2 million annually — $36 million over five years — to support university academics.
The policy also includes a revenue-sharing component that could mean even more dollars for the academic campus should the LSU Athletic Department generate a budget surplus.
LSU’s total athletic revenue comes from a variety of sources such as ticket sales, TV and radio contracts and merchandising as well as donations through the Tiger Athletic Foundation.
According to numbers submitted under the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, LSU ranked sixth nationally in 2011-2012 with revenues of $113.9 million, with about 60 percent — $68.8 million — generated by the Tiger football team.
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- Historic Sites
Back To The Barricades
For the first time in a generation, student activism is on the rise. Do these new protesters have anything like the zeal, the conviction, and the clout of their famous 1960s predecessors?
October 2001 | Volume 52, Issue 7
Many undergraduates in the 1960s drifted, virtually anonymous, in a sea of bureaucracy. The postwar boom in higher education, fueled largely by the growth of government-funded scientific research, had bloated public and private institutions almost beyond recognition. Before 1940 no American university could claim a student population greater than 15,000; by 1970 more than 50 were at least that big, while 8 institutions enrolled more than 30,000.
Berkeley’s president, Clark Kerr, admitted that the new “multiversity” could be a “confusing place for the student.” Freshmen accustomed to the doting atmosphere of home and high school quickly learned that their names mattered less than their IBM punch cards. Many students probably agreed with one activist who complained, “They always seem to be wanting to make me into a number. I won’t let them. I have a name and am important enough to be known by it.… I’ ll join any movement that comes along to help me.”
Paradoxically, universities could be all too mindful of their students’ names—and whereabouts, and extra-curricular lives. Anyone who attended college through the mid-1960s will recall the in loco parentis regulations that gave administrators license to police the personal lives of their students, particularly “coeds,” whose comings and goings were subject to a crude double-standard.
Institutions like Michigan State sent semester grade reports directly to the parents of any student under the age of 2.1, reinforcing the message that college kids were, above all, still kids. This procedure was amplified in 1966, when the Selective Service System began revoking the draft deferments of young men with low class standings. Naturally, universities and colleges furnished the Selective Service with necessary grade reports and rankings.
By the mid-1960s, many collegians were feeling oppressed by this double-edged sword of benign neglect and in loco parentis , and events in the South had galvanized a small but vocal-core of activists who, in turn, inspired a far larger number of their peers. “If there was one reason for increased student protest,” recalled a journalist at the University of Utah, “it would probably be the civil rights movement. The movement … convinced many of them that nonviolent demonstrations could be an effective device on the campus. It also served to make them more sensitive of their own civil rights.”
“The American university campus has become a ghetto,” claimed one activist at the University of Florida. “Like all ghettos, it has its managers (the administrators), its Uncle Toms (the intimidated, status-berserk faculty), its raw natural resources processed for outside exploitation and consumption (the students).”
It was this very intellectual connection that compelled Savio’s Free Speech Movement (FSM) to invoke a civil rights cry—“We Shall Overcome”—in its efforts to overturn Berkeley’s ban on political advocacy. In fact, a national survey conducted at the close of the 1964–65 school year revealed that students felt the most pressing issues facing them on campus concerned in loco parentis regulations. They named civil rights as the most important off-campus issue.
Some students also found common cause with victims of “imperialism” in the Third World—particularly, as the decade wore on, in Vietnam. Again, civil rights leaders in the South blazed new intellectual paths in first making this association. “Not wanting to negotiate with the Vietcong is like the power structure in Mississippi not wanting to negotiate with black political activists,” argued a civil rights worker in 1966. Such cries became more common, especially among radical white members of SDS and similar organizations.
ONLY WHEN CASUALTY RATES SOARED DID STUDENT OPINION SWING AGAINST THE WAR.
Still, it wasn’t until the war escalated and casualty rates skyrocketed in 1967 and 1968 that mass student opinion swung decisively against the conflict. The opposition grew just as the Johnson administration ordered induction boards to shift the draft burden onto recent college graduates. Male students who had’ been safely beyond the grasp of the Selective Service now faced uncertain futures. Campus demonstrations declined in mid-1969, when the Nixon administration shifted the draft burden back to younger men (aged 19), instituted an arbitrary (but more evenhanded) lottery system, and sharply reduced the total number of draft calls. College students once again enjoyed limited immunity from the war.
Of course, the point is not that student protesters in the 1960s were unusually selfish or egocentric. Many were heartfelt opponents of segregation and the Vietnam War, while countless others established new beachheads in the women’s rights, environmental, and antipoverty movements. But many other sixties-generation activists might never have developed a political consciousness if not for their growing sense of personal victimization.
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Debate Guide: Short arguments
The following arguments are too short to command a full article. It is intended that an editor will develop them into new articles and assimilate them into existing ones.
"The disestablishment of pedophilia as a mental illness will make Adult - Child sex less 'excusable'. So why are the same people who fight for harsher sentences so often against this?!"
"Our society is blatantly hypocritical regarding child sex, hence the efforts towards legally trying children as adult suspects, alongside the idolisation of children as innocent and pure of all sexual lust. A society that treats you as if you are helplessly innocent, but changes direction rapidly when you have commited just one crime, is an ethically flawed and harmful society".
"Since kids, especially boys can now only imagine themselves as the object of a psychopath's lust, this does not do too well for their self concepts. Maybe we should ask a child what it feels like, to only be sexually beautiful in the eye of either another child, or a psychopath like Marc Dutroux (BTW, not an actual pedophile), who wants to kill you".
"In this culture, where children are treated as inferiors, beaten and told that their opinion doesn't count, maybe becoming a lover could gain them respect. One rarely patronises their lover, and assuming that they are a child, should not expect too much, either".
"Parents will always react like vigilantes, when they falsely believe that a child is automatically their property. This belief clashes terribly with the moral dogma that sees sexual acts; especially involving loss of 'virginity' or 'innocence', as an act of 'owning' or 'putting one's mark upon x'. Kindersex becomes theft".
"If you believe that sex requires maturity in the form of mental development, and an ability to distinguish between 'good' and 'bad', do you think that we should stop adults with low IQs, learning disabilities or infantile mentalities from expressing themselves sexually with another adult, because the sex will invariably lead to abuse and harm? Should we allow smart minors to do what stupid adults are incapable of?"
"A 'physical imbalance' between adult and minor is not intrinsic to such relationships. For example, if a 'physically level playing field' is required, what would you do with relationships between boys and young women, who may be very similar, physically? If the female cannot overpower or rape her partner, how can she inflict mental pain on a horny young dude?"
"If sex crime is a matter of perpetrator and victim, how exactly would you justify the real examples in which both partners (youths) have been treated as victims, and therefore perpetrators? Does such an occurrence not highlight our incomprehension of child sexuality?"
"Can a legal system that puts kids on sex crime registers, really claim to be protecting the vulnerable honourably?"
"So, if to massage or tickle the genital area of a child, as opposed to the armpit or skin is 'molestation', how is it not variably wrong to stimulate the other erogenous zones, such as the lips or nipples? In fact, if skin contact brings sexual pleasure to adults, why is hugging, or even bathing a child acceptable?"
"A marker of the falseness that characterises the current moral panic concerning sex and children would be our attitudes towards nepiophilia. Television networks allow adverts in which mothers intimately coddle, even kiss the buttocks of their babies. Would this ever be allowed with the father?"
"If we tell minors that their “no” has weight and meaning, we cannot tell them that their “yes” has none. With the forward marching of civil rights, we cannot trust them to behave as if this is insignificant."
"It is in the interests of big business to maintain the panic associated with 'stranger danger', in that it keeps children housebound, where they will consume food and expensive products. Notice that post 1970s, hardly any children's toys / products promote independence beyond the house (and back garden, in the summer)"
"If pedophiles are 'childlike', 'regressive' and 'weak', only coping with 'childish' relationships, how come the damage from such relationships is said to come from deliberate, intelligent manipulation and the abuse of a seemingly absent power gap?"
"If 'adult babies' are regressing to an earlier phase, to achieve sexual gratification, could it be that real babies are gaining sexual pleasure from tactile intimacy, sucking and feeling protected by an older person?"
"Even penetrative sex between an adult and a minor is not automatically rape. If you want to find the real predators, look no further than 'the.rapists"
"Imagine a small island upon which a child had been brought up not to associate sex one bit with shame, or dirtiness. If they were allowed to choose their partner and the kind of act in which to indulge, where would this 'psychological scarring' originate from?"
"Both pedophiles and psychopathic child molesters are attracted to children. The former as a matter of sexual preference, and the latter as a matter of convenience"
"Society shouldn't work by excluding or weakening people and then protecting them, but rather society should protect itself as a whole, whilst always leaving open the option of dependency for the young or incapable. The current systems of exclusion (e.g. of children) are manifest within not only legal structures, but discreet social dynamics"
"Among those who have an interest in maintaining the status quo, the censorship of child pornography serves as a useful tool in hiding the truth as to childrens' enjoyment of sexual experiences"
"Many investigations are conspicuously distorted by researcher bias. In labeling the sexual activity "abuse," "offense," "indecent assault," "molestation" or "rape"; calling the adult partner "actor," "perpetrator," "delinquent," "offender," "criminal," "abuser" or "molester," and the child "victim," authors betray the fact that they are operating upon premises which have yet to be proven." (E. Brongersma).
"What a total insult to our established constructions of masculine resilience and sexuality, is the notion of a teenage boy being "emotionally scarred", "manipulated", or having his "innocence" robbed by a man. Are such justifications not a modern excuse for homophobia?"
"If every adult who is having sex with a minor is behaving in a predatory or exploitative way, I seriously fear for the majority of adults, involved in any form of sexual relationship"
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If the people in power are trying to maintain control of “the others,” what are the lengths that they would have to go through?
In order to gain and maintain control of human beings, you would have to brainwash them. Along with the brainwashing you would have to repeatedly enforce the principles and values you want them to obtain. How you you widely distribute information?
Human beings have consistently proven ourselves irresponsible, selfish, and careless. We’ve embraced the hole that we’ve made in the O Zone layer, Styrofoam and plastic, and we have genetically engineered everything from animals to STD’s. We are the cause of all of the pollution on this earth and most of the illnesses that we are faced with today are indeed our fault.
If every common man knew the amount of damage each human being causes in a lifetime, how would they react?
The Matrix is control. Who is controlling us? Is it the media, who have a constant influence on how we think since they are everywhere. Television is a big part of this influence. There are at least two televisions in each house hold. The programs available to us are up to us, but of all the choices we have (reality tv, cartoon network, and basic cable) are they really even choices?
Someone has made us believe that it is okay that we are causing damage to ourselves and this earth. Who, we have yet to know, but now that we know a little bit, wouldn’t it behoove us to make a change? Knowing that plastic is not good for the earth is one thing. Still buying the bottle of Pepsi is another. The wide distributors of these bottles should be to blame, but if bottles are still in high demand, why should they stop?
We are human beings, and we are flawed. Our worst flaw is our need for speed. Faster everything makes for more technology, and the easier we make things, the harder it gets for this earth to progress on its own. If we are indeed homo-sapiens, why aren’t we thinking? And if we aren’t thinking, who is thinking for us?
My mind’s been goin. Tryin to focus on what to do when I reached home.
Now I’m here and I’m movin’. Kinda’ got a groove goin’
everyone around me can see how my mood showin.
And they like it..
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Connect to share and comment
Chrysler's new Italian master, Fiat, has battled labor unions and won.
At face value, the new labor agreement for Mirafiori does note change much. It makes small adjustments to workers’ hours working times with the aim, according to a paper published by Fabiano Schivardi, to improve efficiency and productivity, something Italy sorely lacks.
But it also cuts back on union rights. They remain strong ― for example, union workers enjoy 80 hours of paid time to use for union activity ― but the small changes led some to claim that Italian democracy itself was at stake in the vote.
In the end, the new contract passed with just 54 percent of the votes. A poll conducted among workers by Termometro Politico, a news website, said that a majority of those who voted in favor did so because they felt “blackmailed” and feared losing their jobs.
Nina Leone, 47, voted “no” nevertheless: “There was no negotiation. It was take-it-or-leave-it. We couldn't accept it. And we know this is just the beginning.” She blamed the government for taking a back seat and letting the company and unions sort it out by themselves.
State intervention in the economy is common in European countries and especially in Italy. Fiat itself, Deaglio said, has been the beneficiary of many government incentives, bailouts or taxpayer-funded redundancy payments.
“But in 2009,” he added, “Marchionne did something unprecedented. He called for a 1,000 euro ($1,370) tax incentive for new car purchases to be scrapped. He was arguing that companies have to thrive without public support,” something that in Italy sounded nothing less than “revolutionary.”
Workers have taken Marchionne’s views personally. “The time for state help in times of crisis is over,” said Lipani. “I have one son. He is 13 now and I don't know if he'll be able to have a job like mine, I don't even know if he'll be able to stay in Turin.”
The city could be doomed to decline should Fiat decide to move its headquarters somewhere else, such as Detroit, after its merger with Chrysler is finalized. In 2008, just a quarter of Fiat’s cars were produced in Italy. Marchionne has often hinted that this might happen.
Abandoned warehouses and vast, empty industrial buildings dot Turin's streets. But experts agree that this Italian city won’t become a ghost town, even if one of its largest employers leaves. While the automotive sector employs more than 50,000 people, Turin is much less reliant on it than Detroit, Deaglio said. Other sectors, such as research, information technology and film production have boomed in recent years.
After successfully hosting the winter Olympics in 2006, there has also been a resurgence in tourism and Turiners have become more confident: “Fiat once was like a mum for the town,” said Stefano Tassinari, a social entrepreneur. “Now it is perceived like a distant cousin, whose fate interests us, but not exceptionally.”
Sergio Chiamparino, Turin's outgoing mayor, is confident that his town can go “beyond Fiat,” even if he hopes it won't have to do “without Fiat”― “It's possible ― but that would be difficult,” he said.
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The fast ageing of Japanese society is evident as soon as one lands at Tokyo's Narita airport and sees who is doing the cleaning. Young people tend to take such menial jobs in other countries, but here they are often held by workers obviously in the second half-century of their lives.
Having the world's highest percentage of older people is creating unique challenges for Japan, but a report released yesterday by the United Nations Population Fund warns that they will not be unique for long.
Japan is the only country with 30 per cent of its population over 60, but by 2050 more than 60 other countries, from China to Canada to Albania, will be in the same boat.
The report urges governments to summon the political will to protect the elderly and ensure they can age with good health and dignity. Discrimination toward and poverty among the aged are still far too prevalent in many countries, it says, even in the relatively wealthy industrialised nations.
The problem is worse for women, whose access to jobs and health care is often limited throughout their lives, along with their rights to own and inherit property.
This Monday, members of the seminal metal band X Japan were in Odaiba rubbing shoulders with the likes of Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga and AKB48′s Yuko Oshima. The catch? They were all made out of wax. (Japan Times )
The parents of a nightclub worker killed in an arson fire three years ago filed a suit in the Nagoya District Court on Monday seeking damages against top members of the Yamaguchi-gumi organized crime group. (Tokyo Reporter )
Kyodo News said Monday that it has dismissed Satoshi Kondo, 51, deputy chief of its general administration bureau and former personnel affairs division chief, for meeting individually with a female student searching for a job and doing an inappropriate act.
(Jiji Press )
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Understanding question-answer relationships will help students see that not every question asked about a text is a literal, “right there” question. Getting a handle on the main four types of questions will greatly reduce student frustration while increasing quality of responses. This link goes directly to a page on question-answer relationships, but you can then click on a link to the left for a list of other reading strategies.
Teaching our students the four basic question-answer relationships is a valuable strategy that will help them to understand the different types of questions and know how to effectively and efficiently approach the text based on the different question types.
Helping students to analyze the question-answer relationships will enable them to become skillful at analyzing the types of questions that they are typically asked to respond to when reading a text. The four question-answer relationships are as follows:
Right There Questions: “Right There” questions require you to go back to the passage and find the correct information to answer the question. These are sometimes called literal questions because the correct answer can be found somewhere in the passage. “Right There” questions sometimes include the words, “According to the passage…” “How many…” “Who is…” “Where is…” “What is…”
Think and Search Questions: “Think and Search” question usually require you to think about how ideas or information in the passage relate to each other. You will need to look back at the passage, find the information that the question refers to, and then think about how the information or ideas fit together. “Think and Search” questions sometimes include the words, “The main idea of the passage…” “What caused…” “Compare/contrast…”
Author and You Questions: “Author and You” questions require you to use ideas and information that is not stated directly in the passage to answer the question. These questions require you to think about what you have read and formulate your own ideas or opinions. “Author and You” questions sometimes include the words, “The author implies…” “The passage suggests…” “The speaker’s attitude...”
On My Own Questions: “On My Own” questions can be answered using your background knowledge on a topic. This type of question does not usually appear on tests of reading comprehension because it does not require you to refer to the passage. “On My Own” questions sometimes include the words, “In your opinion…” Based on your experience…” “Think about someone/something you know…”
In class students received a single page graphic which illustrates the difference between these four types of questions.
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A handful of local educators attended a four-day workshop in Grand Junction recently that focused on new techniques for integrating literacy into the classroom.
Strawberry Park fourth-grade teacher Katie Knezevich, Soda Creek principal John Devincentis and Soda Creek fifth- grade teachers Judy Ross and Allyson Spear attended the "Literacy Learning in the Classroom" workshop that was sponsored by the Literacy Network. The workshop was at Palisade High School and the information discussed at the workshop was based on a New Zealand teaching model, Knezevich said.
Each of the four days focused on different topics that included how to integrate reading and writing into a student's educational experience. The educators also went over the teaching and learning cycle, which includes assessment, evaluation, planning, teaching and learning.
"The four days were quite intense and overwhelming, but when you have time to sit down and reflect, it all makes sense," Spear said. "We need to make sure that we take our time (implementing the information)."
There were more than 200 educators from all different grade levels who attended the workshop. They were divided into 12 groups headed by a trained facilitator. Each of the groups met in a model classroom where a facilitator played the role of the teacher and the educators were the students. The "students" listened, took notes and wrote, frequently sharing their exercises with others, and developed action plans to add to their own teaching programs. Participants from Soda Creek and Strawberry Park were in the same group so they could collaborate on their ideas, Spear said.
"We definitely can use this in our classrooms," Spear said. "Knowing your students and their learning needs and having the resources to teach effectively is really important."
Another category that was discussed was the conditions that should be in place in the classroom for learning to occur, Knezevich said. One of the conditions was called the "gradual release of responsibility," which provides a way for students to become more responsible for their own learning by monitoring themselves while the teacher works with others.
In addition to learning about new teaching techniques, educators discussed the techniques they liked and the ones they thought could be changed. Spear said the discussions challenged what the teachers are used to doing and exposed them to different approaches to learning situations.
"I think it helps you to look at students as individuals and try to take them from where they are to the next level," Knezevich said. "(The workshop) made me reflect on my teachings."
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Pre-emptive Presidential Pardons
Can you be pardoned for a crime before you're ever charged?
With six months to go before President Bush leaves office, the White House is receiving a flurry of pardon applications. The New York Times reported that "several members of the conservative legal community" are pushing for the White House to grant pre-emptive pardons for officials involved in counterterrorism programs. Wait—can a president really pardon someone who hasn't even been charged with a crime?
Yep. In 1866, the Supreme Court ruled in Ex parte Garland that the pardon power "extends to every offence known to the law, and may be exercised at any time after its commission, either before legal proceedings are taken, or during their pendency, or after conviction and judgment." (In that case, a former Confederate senator successfully petitioned the court to uphold a pardon that prevented him from being disbarred.) Generally speaking, once an act has been committed, the president can issue a pardon at any time—regardless of whether charges have even been filed.
As the Explainer has pointed out before, there aren't many limits to the president's pardon power, at least when it comes to criminal prosecutions under federal law. The president's clemency power has its origins in the practices of the English monarchy, and as a result, the Supreme Court has given the president wide leeway under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. There are some exceptions: The chief executive can't pardon someone for a violation of state law or nullify a civil ruling, and his power doesn't extend to convictions handed down in an impeachment proceeding. (It's also not clear whether the president can pardon himself for future convictions.)
While pre-emptive pardons remain very rare, there are a few notable exceptions. Perhaps the most famous presidential pardon of all time occurred before any charges were filed. Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon absolved the former president of "all offenses against the United States which he … has committed or may have committed or taken part in" between the date of his inauguration in 1969 and his resignation in August 1974. In other cases, presidents have pardoned individuals after criminal proceedings have begun but before a judgment has been handed down. In late 1992, less than a month before leaving office, President George H.W. Bush pardoned former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, who had been indicted earlier that year on perjury charges surrounding the Iran-Contra affair. (A lawyer for Roger Clemens' former trainer Brian McNamee claimed the pitcher might receive a similar pardon from Bush if he were ever indicted.) In addition, broad presidential amnesties—like the one President Carter issued to those who had avoided the draft during the Vietnam War—are essentially pre-emptive pardons issued to a large group of individuals.
If someone hasn't yet been charged with a crime, how does the president know what to pardon them for? As in Nixon's case, President Bush could issue a pardon that applies generally to any crimes that may have been committed within a certain range of dates. More likely, a pardon could apply only to actions surrounding a single policy or place—say, the detention or interrogation of suspected al-Qaida members.
Got a question about today's news? Ask the Explainer.
Explainer thanks Ken Gormley of Duquesne Law School, Harold Krent of the Chicago-Kent School of Law, and P.S. Ruckman Jr. of Rock Valley College and PardonPower.com. Thanks also to reader Marcus Beck for asking the question.
Jacob Leibenluft is a writer from Washington, D.C.
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Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is an inherited disease. "Inherited" means it's passed from parents to children through genes.
Children who have AAT deficiency inherit two faulty AAT genes, one from each parent. These genes tell cells in the body how to make AAT proteins.
In AAT deficiency, the AAT proteins made in the liver aren't the right shape. Thus, they get stuck in the liver cells. The proteins can't get to the organs in the body that they protect, such as the lungs. Without the AAT proteins protecting the organs, diseases can develop.
The most common faulty gene that can cause AAT deficiency is called PiZ. If you inherit two PiZ genes (one from each parent), you'll have AAT deficiency.
If you inherit a PiZ gene from one parent and a normal AAT gene from the other parent, you won't have AAT deficiency. However, you might pass the PiZ gene to your children.
Even if you inherit two faulty AAT genes, you may not have any related complications. You may never even realize that you have AAT deficiency.
The NHLBI updates Health Topics articles on a biennial cycle based on a thorough review of research findings and new literature. The articles also are updated as needed if important new research is published. The date on each Health Topics article reflects when the content was originally posted or last revised.
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US 6616695 B1
The invention concerns an implant (2) for replacing a vertebra at least-partially, consisting of two parts (4, 6) adapted to be mutually connected while enabling the adjustment of the implant total dimension (L), each part having an invariable dimension (m, f) homologous with the implant total dimension (L). The parts (4, 6) form a screw-nut connection with each other.
1. An implant for replacing at least part of a vertebra, the implant comprising two parts telescoping with respect to a longitudinal axis adapted to be threadably joined together and enabling a total dimension (L) of the implant to be adjusted each part having a fixed length, the two parts having respective male and female threads and forming a screw connection with each other, whereby said dimension L can be adjusted by the relative rotation of said two parts, each of the two parts respectively contacting first and second vertebral surfaces and an anti-rotation element engageable with both of said two telescoping parts to selectively prevent the relative rotation therebetween wherein said anti-rotation element is moveable in a direction transverse to said axis and a second part of said two parts has at least one slot opening therein and a first part of said two parts having a threaded opening therein and wherein said anti-rotation device is a screw threaded into said threaded opening of said first part extending into said slotted opening in said second part.
2. The implant according to
3. The implant according to claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the first and second parts has multiple pieces.
4. The implant according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the first and second cylindrical parts are tubular having walls, the walls of each part has at least one opening therethrough.
5. The implant according to
6. The implant according to
7. The implant according to
8. The implant according to
9. The implant according to
10. A spinal implant comprising:
a first generally tubular part having a threaded inner surface and an end surface for contacting a first vertebra;
a second generally tubular part having a threaded outer surface, said second part outer surface threaded into said threaded inner surface of said first part for relative movement between the parts along a longitudinal axis, said second part having an end surface for contacting a second vertebra; and
an anti-rotation device connected to one of said first or second parts for selectively engaging the other of said first or second parts for selectively allowing or preventing relative rotation of said threaded surfaces said anti-rotation device moveable in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis for said selective engagement wherein said second piece has at least one slotted opening therein and said first piece having a threaded opening therein and said anti-rotation device is a screw threaded into said threaded opening of said first piece and extending into said slotted opening in said second piece.
11. The implant as set forth in
12. The implant as set forth in
13. The implant as set forth in
14. The implant as set forth in
15. The implant according to
16. The implant according to
17. An implant according to
18. The implant as set forth in
19. A method for replacing at least part of a vertebra in a human spine, comprising:
forming an opening in the spine by removing at least part of a vertebra, said removing of said vertebra leaving facing bone surfaces;
inserting a two piece telescoping implant having an end on a first piece and an end on a second piece for engaging said vertebral facing bone surfaces into said opening, said implant first piece having a female part with a threaded inner surface and said second piece having a male part with a threaded outer surface threadably engaging the inner thread of the female part for relative movement along a longitudinal axis;
adjusting the length of the implant to match a height of said opening between the facing bone surfaces along said longitudinal axis by rotating the first piece female part with respect to the second piece male part; and
locking said implant at the adjusted length by activating an anti-rotation device connected to one of said male or female parts for selectively engaging the other of said male or female parts to prevent rotation therebetween said locking element moveable in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis for said selective engagement wherein said second piece has at least one slotted opening therein and said first piece having a threaded opening therein and said anti-rotation device is a screw threaded into said threaded opening of said first piece and extending into said slotted opening in said second piece.
20. The method as set forth in
21. The implant as set forth in
22. The implant as set forth in
23. The implant has set forth in
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to implants for replacing at least part of a vertebra, for example after ablation of the vertebra.
The document EP-0 567 424-A1 discloses an implant of this kind comprising an intermediate body and two bearing parts adapted to bear against the vertebral plates of vertebrae adjacent the space left by a vertebra that has been removed. Each bearing part is assembled to one end of the intermediate body by a screw connection so that rotation of each bearing part relative to the body varies the total length of the implant. However, it takes a relatively long time to assemble the various components of the implant. What is more, given the number of parts capable of relative movement, adjusting the length of the implant is relatively complicated and takes a long time, which increases the duration of the surgery. Finally, manufacturing the implant entails defining a large number of accurate surfaces enabling relative movement of the parts. Manufacture is long and costly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,013 relates to an implant for replacing a vertebra that is made up of two implant parts sliding one within the other. The two parts are in mutual contact through teeth enabling the length of the implant to be increased by distraction of the two parts. The length cannot be reduced, however. The length of the implant can be adjusted simply and quickly. However, fine adjustment of the length of the implant is not possible.
An object of the invention is to provide an implant that is quick to install during surgery and that enables fine adjustment of its length.
To achieve the above object, the invention provides an implant for replacing at least part of a vertebra, the implant having two parts adapted to be joined together and enabling a total dimension of the implant to be adjusted, each part having a fixed dimension homologous to the total dimension of the implant, characterized in that the parts form a screw connection with each other.
Accordingly, during surgery, the total dimension of the implant is adjusted by moving only the two parts of the implant relative to each other. Adjustment is therefore simple and fast. Similarly, assembling the mobile parts of the implant before or during the operation is simple and fast. What is more, the number of surfaces enabling relative movement of the parts is reduced. Because the surfaces concerned are very accurate surfaces, fabrication of the implant is easy and its cost is low. The screw connection enables fine adjustment of the length of the implant.
At least one of the parts is advantageously in one piece.
This further reduces the number of parts to be assembled.
At least one of the parts is advantageously in more than one piece.
This facilitates obtaining some shapes of the part concerned.
Each part advantageously has at least one lateral opening and the openings can be superposed to receive a fixing member.
This facilitates superposing the openings, in particular when the two parts are relatively mobile by virtue of a screw connection.
At least one of the openings is advantageously elongate.
The elongate opening is advantageously rectilinear and parallel to a direction of measuring the total dimension of the implant.
One part advantageously has an elongate opening and the other part advantageously has at least one circular opening.
One part is advantageously a female part adapted to receive the other part and including a body and a flange which can be moved relative to the body to immobilize the other part by wedging it.
Accordingly, the wall of at least one of the two parts does not necessarily have to have an orifice to receive a member for fixing the two parts together. The wall of each part can therefore be apertured as much as may be required to show the implant clearly on X-rays and to favor the growth of bone with a view to its osteointegration.
The flange is advantageously mobile by virtue of elastic deformation of the female part.
The flange and the body advantageously each have a conduit to receive a member positioning the flange relative to the body.
The conduits are advantageously parallel to a direction in which the other part is received into the female part.
The flange advantageously comprises an uninterrupted collar.
The collar is advantageously in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the other part is received into the female part.
At least one of the parts advantageously has a toothed end forming an end of the implant.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description of two preferred embodiments of the invention, which description is given by way of non-limiting example only. In the accompanying drawings:
FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a first embodiment of an implant according to the invention respectively before and after assembly;
FIG. 3 is a side view of one variant of the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an implant according to the invention before assembly; and
FIGS. 5 and 6 are two side views of the implant shown in FIG. 4 after assembly.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a first embodiment of the invention the implant 2 has two parts 4, 6.
Each part 4, 6 includes a cylindrical tubular one-piece body 8, 10 that has an axis 9. The body 8, also referred to as the male body, is adapted to penetrate into the body 10, also referred to as the female body, in a direction parallel to the axis 9. The male body 8 is threaded externally and the female body 10 is threaded internally to cooperate with the male body and provide a screw connection. A side wall of the male body 8 has identical rectilinear elongate openings or slots 12 of constant width that are parallel to each other and to the axis 9. Each extends more than half the length of the body 8 in a direction parallel to the axis 9. They are distributed all around that axis. A side wall of the female body 10 has a series of circular fixing openings or slots 14 that are identical to each other and lie in a common plane perpendicular to the axis 9 and in the vicinity of a proximal edge of the female body through which the male body 8 penetrates into the female body 10. The circular openings 14 are threaded. The diameter of the circular openings 14 is equal to the width of the elongate openings 12. The female part 6 has a fixing screw 16 adapted to cooperate with the circular openings 14 to provide a screw connection.
The female body has an end wall including circular openings 18 at a distal edge of the female body that is opposite the proximal edge in the axial direction 9. The distal edge of the female body has teeth 19 extending away from the proximal edge. The wall of the female body 10 has other circular openings 18 which are not threaded between the distal edge and the fixing openings 14.
The wall of the male body 8 has an internal thread in the vicinity of a distal edge opposite the proximal edge adapted to penetrate into the female body. The male part 4 includes a cap 22 comprising a threaded cylindrical wall for fixing it by means of a screw connection to the threaded distal edge of the male body. The cap 22 has an end wall perpendicular to the axis 9 and including circular openings 18 and teeth 19 directed away from the male body 8. The threads of the cap 22 and of the distal edge of the male body 8 are just long enough to rigidly fix the cap 22 onto the male body 8 in an axial abutting relationship so that the cap can be separated from the body 8 by very slightly rotating it about the axis 9, for example by rotating it through one or two turns. When the cap 22 is not abutted on the distal edge it is connected to the body 8 with play. The various positions of the cap 22 relative to the body 8 when their threads are in mesh do not significantly change the length of the male part 4 along the axis 9 because the threads have a very small inclination to the axis 9. The male and female parts have respective fixed lengths m and f parallel to the axis 9.
To assemble the implant 2, the cap 22 is fixed to the body 8 to constitute the male part 4. The male part 4 is then inserted in the female part 6 with their respective threads meshing. Both threads are very long to provide a wide choice as to the length over which the male part 4 penetrates into the female part 6. Because of the screw connection, relative rotation of the male and female parts adjusts the total length L of the implant in the direction parallel to the axis 9. The length L corresponds to the distance between the two vertebral plates between which the implant is to be installed. When the length L suited to the intervertebral space to be occupied is obtained, the screw 16 is inserted in one of the fixing openings 14 in the female body 6 which coincides with an elongate opening 12 in the male body 4. If there is no such coincidence, all that is required to bring about such coincidence is to turn the two parts relative to each other by a very small fraction of one turn, thanks to the elongate shape of the openings 12. The screw 16 is inserted as far as the corresponding elongate opening 12, which prevents subsequent relative rotation of the two parts. Finally, the screw 16 is tightened until its head bears against the female body 6. The adjustment of the distance L and the fixing of the screw 16 are carried out at least in part with the implant 2 in situ, occupying the space left by the vertebra that has been partly or totally removed. The distal edges of the male and female parts then bear against the respective vertebral plates of two vertebrae adjacent the latter space. The teeth 19 ensure a good grip of the implant 2 on the plates and facilitate osteointegration of the implant. All the openings 12, 14, 18 of the implant facilitate osteosynthesis for the purpose of osteointegration.
In the FIG. 3 variant, the distal edges carrying the teeth are in planes inclined to the plane perpendicular to the axis 9 to allow for the inclined configuration of the vertebral plates of some vertebrae.
Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, in the second embodiment, in which the reference numbers of corresponding components are increased by 100, the two parts 104, 106 of the implant provide a male-female coupling with a screw connection, as previously. Each distal edge and the teeth it carries are now in one piece with the corresponding body. The male part 104 is in one piece. The male part 104 and the female part 106 have no end walls and the ends of the implant associated with the distal edges are open.
The proximal edge of the female part 6 has a slot 130 in a plane perpendicular to the axis 109 and in the shape of a circular arc subtending an angle about the axis greater than 180°, for example equal to 200°. The slot 130 therefore delimits a flange 132 carrying the proximal edge and forming an uninterrupted circular collar which can move relative to the remainder of the body by elastic deformation of a junction part 133 connecting the remainder of the body to the flange. On either side of the slot 130, and opposite the junction part, the flange and the body have respective facing lobes 134 projecting from the outside face of the female body 106. The lobes 134 have respective conduits with a common axis 136 parallel to the axis 109. The female part includes a screw 116 adapted to be inserted through the flange 132 into the two conduits to engage with a thread of the conduit in the body 110, a head of the screw abutting on the lobe of the flange.
The lateral walls of the male and female bodies have triangular openings 138 that extend from one of the corresponding proximal and distal edges to the other. The triangular openings 138 on each male and female part are alternately inverted relative the axis 109 to define between them branches 140 connecting the distal edge to the proximal edge, both of which are circular and uninterrupted. These very large openings 138 ensure that the implant 102 is highly visible in X-rays and encourage osteointegration.
The length L of the implant is chosen by relative rotation of the two parts 104, 106, as previously. When the desired length L is reached, the screw 116 is tightened to move the flange 132 towards the body 106 by virtue of elastic deformation of the junction part 133. Because of the screw connection between the flange 132 and the male body 104 and the screw connection between the male body 104 and the female body 106, this movement over a very short distance achieves rigid wedging of the male and female parts relative to each other. Alternatively, the fixing by the screw 116 could be such that the wedging effect is achieved by movement of the flange 132 away from the female body 106.
The implant 2, 102 according to the invention enables a bone graft to be fitted between two vertebral plates when total or partial corporectomy and ablation of the overlying or underlying intervertebral discs have been carried out. Once adjusted to the size of the space to be filled, by choosing its length L, the implant 2, 102 is filled with bone, generally taken from the patient. This achieves a graft and braces the spinal column.
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US6616695
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