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A Heliconius butterfly, H. numata, feeding on flower pollen
The Natural History Museum holds about 3 million butterflies in its collection. These specimens represent an enormous variety of locations around the world, and many of them symbolise incredible stories of human endeavour.
Phil Ackery, who has worked with the butterfly collections for over 30 years, presents a fascinating and highly personal introduction to just a few of those stories.
Museum butterfly collection stories PDF (106.9 KB)
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How Top Websites & Data Centers Suck Down Energy (Infographic)
By now, you've surely gotten wind of Greenpeace's campaign to get Facebook to 'unfriend' coal -- Jaymi's been doing some great coverage of the attempts made to get the social media giant to power its giant, energy-hogging data centers with something other than dirty fossil fuels. And it's those data centers that lie at the core of the fight -- they're massively energy intensive, currently comprising approximately 1.5% of the nation's energy usage. And as the internet grows, that percentage is slated to grow -- which is why Greenpeace is working to get out in front of the issue now. But to the uninitiated, all of this can seem a little confusing -- how much energy does storing data cost? How do data centers work? How many data centers do the world's most-trafficked websites require? Thankfully, this extensive infographic can clear it up ... ... as long as you've got a few minutes to absorb all the info. The giant graphic from Peer1 does a pretty good job of explaining why our data is so damn energy-intensive to store -- and how we're generating loads of it every day. Be forewarned that there's also a bout of extended self-promotion from Peer1 at the end, but hey, it's their graphic (view the full-size version here):
This should give you some idea as to why we need to be closely watching the energy expenditures of data centers as demand for them rises in coming years.
More on Data Centers and the Facebook Fight
Facebook is Between a Rock and a Greenpeace
Greenpeace Urges Facebook to 'Unfriend' Coal (VIDEO)
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Retail sales declined in September by the largest amount this year as car sales plummeted following the end of the government's popular Cash for Clunkers program. But outside of autos, sales were better than expected.
The Commerce Department said Wednesday that retail sales dropped 1.5 percent last month. That's smaller than the 2.1 percent fall economists had expected, but still the biggest setback since sales dropped 3.2 percent in December.
Car sales plunged 10.4 percent, but excluding autos, retail sales rose 0.5 percent. That's better than the 0.2 percent increase analysts expected.
Consumer demand, which accounts for 70 percent of total economic activity, is being watched closely by economists who worry that any recovery from the recession could stall due to rising unemployment and tight credit conditions.
Analysts believe the overall economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, is growing in the second half of this year at an annual rate of 3 percent or more. But the concern is that growth rate could slip sharply next year if consumer spending falters.
The 1.5 percent drop in retail sales in September followed a 2.2 percent surge in August, which was revised down from an initial estimate of 2.7 percent.
Demand for new cars surged in August as buyers rushed to take advantage of the government's incentives of up to $4,500 to trade in old models for more fuel-efficient cars under the clunkers program that wrapped up at month's end.
Outside of autos, demand at gasoline stations rose 1.1 percent September, partially reflecting higher prices. Excluding gas and auto sales, retail sales rose 0.4 percent in September.
Other areas of strength included demand at furniture stores, which jumped 1.4 percent, reflecting the rebound in the housing industry. Sales at general merchandise stores, a category that includes big retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target, rose 0.9 percent. Sales at department stores edged up 0.4 percent.
Analysts had expected increases at general merchandise stores following reports last week from the nationwide retailers that sales grew in September at stores open at least a year compared with activity in September 2008. It marked the first year-over-year rise in sales after a year of declines, according to data from the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs.
A late Labor Day and delayed school openings helped retailers last month because consumers purchased some items in September that they would normally have bought in August.
J.C. Penney Co., Macy's Inc. and Target Corp. reported that sales at their stores open at least a year fell, but not as much as analysts expected.
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News tagged with food choices
Related topics: food
As the restaurant industry prepares to implement new rules requiring chains with 20 or more locations to post calorie content information, the results of a new study suggest that it would be beneficial to public health for ...
Health May 13, 2013 | not rated yet | 0 |
The story is a familiar one: most people are able to lose weight while dieting but once the diet is over, the weight comes back. Many of us can personally attest that caloric deprivation weight loss diets typically do not ...
Neuroscience May 02, 2013 | not rated yet | 0
More restaurants are displaying calorie information on their menus than ever before. It's not a coincidence; by law, retail food establishments that are part of a chain with twenty or more locations nationwide must disclose ...
Health Apr 23, 2013 | not rated yet | 0
Forget fad diets and hypnotherapy; your smartphone could be a key tool to losing those post-Easter egg pounds, according to scientists at the University of Leeds, UK.
Health Apr 15, 2013 | not rated yet | 0
Preaching the benefits of healthy eating has little point when the cost of purchasing healthy foods in South Australia can cost as much as a third of a low-earner's income, according to Flinders University ...
Health Feb 25, 2013 | 4.3 / 5 (3) | 0
New research is challenging widely held beliefs about the dietary benefits of unsaturated fats, showing that some types long considered healthy, such as corn and safflower oil, may actually harm people with heart problems.
Health Feb 22, 2013 | 5 / 5 (1) | 1
(HealthDay)—Paul Garcia, 54, came from a family that loved to eat. "We always had a lot of food at home, and whenever we ate, it was like a feast," said Garcia.
Diabetes Jan 04, 2013 | not rated yet | 0
Older African Americans who are dissatisfied with their lives tend to choose diets high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables. They can improve their health-and eating habits-through social support, according to new research ...
Health Dec 07, 2012 | not rated yet | 0
The holidays are cruel to our stomachs. Rich, fattening, sugar laden foods tempt us to overeat and we end up with bloated, upset stomachs.
Overweight and Obesity Nov 28, 2012 | not rated yet | 0
(Medical Xpress)—Eating mindfully, or consuming food in response to physical cues of hunger and fullness, is just as effective as adhering to nutrition-based guidelines in reducing weight and blood sugar levels in adults ...
Health Nov 08, 2012 | not rated yet | 0
A project based at The University of Queensland is helping women who have survived breast cancer to lose weight and live healthier, longer lives.
Cancer Oct 26, 2012 | not rated yet | 0
(HealthDay)—People who skip breakfast may end up eating more and making less healthy food choices throughout the day, according to a new study. Eating breakfast, on the other hand, helps people avoid overeating ...
Neuroscience Oct 17, 2012 | 2.3 / 5 (3) | 0 |
As obesity rates soar worldwide, the antidote may seem obvious: Eat less! Move more! But the common-sense approach hasn't been terribly effective, prompting some scientists to question the simplicity of the formula.
Overweight and Obesity Oct 08, 2012 | 4.5 / 5 (2) | 2
Nutritionists at the University of Glasgow have served up a menu showing what a balanced diet over a week looks like.
Health Oct 03, 2012 | 5 / 5 (2) | 0
Some risk factors for obesity are specific to infants, such as being breastfed less often. But other factors are present throughout children's lives.
Overweight and Obesity Sep 27, 2012 | not rated yet | 0
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The communication satellite already has developed a mature technology. It carries a substantial part of the world's long range communication, and is now useable for special cultural and educational purposes. Major cultural effects come from its contribution to increasing enormously the flow of information in the world. It will increase human dependence upon media and bring about shifts in power related to control of information. There will be more contact between cultures, changes in ways of perceiving reality, and significant new trends in socialization. The technology is now available to permit individuals and small organizations to participate actively in special uses of communication satellites which will happen only if we make them happen, among them: changing the communication environment, combating remoteness, creating new networks for useful information, serving special groups and needs, substituting communication for transportation in certain situations, making the performing arts more widely available, and innovations in learning and teaching. Lessons learned from early uses of satellites warn of some difficulties, but space communication remains ready for challenging and important uses. This paper includes an annotated bibliography. (Author/WBC)
Paper presented at the Conference on Educational Applications of Satellites (Arlington, Virginia, February 2-3, 1977). For related documents, see IR 004 458-468
1 - Available on microfiche
National Inst. of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC.
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AutoMD.com Helps Parents Make Sure Their Son’s or Daughter’s Back-to-School Car is Safe and Ready to Drive
Carson, CA --- August 17, 2010 -- Whether your back-to-school kid is driving to college or high school, it is important that his/her vehicle is in tip-top shape and, above all, safe to drive. Sadly, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens1, and neglected vehicle maintenance leads to 2,600 deaths annually and nearly 100,000 disabling injuries.2 With this sobering data in mind, AutoMD.com’s team of expert mechanics has released its Top Five DIY Checklist for the Back-to-School Car, along with some practical advice to help parents ensure their kid’s safety on the road -- and their peace of mind at home.
Running through this checklist with your son/daughter should help encourage vigilance about vehicle maintenance when you are not around. In all cases, if you are not sure the car is safe to drive, you should have it inspected by your trusted local repair shop before your son/daughter hits the road.
Check the tire pressure. The recommended tire pressure is listed on a sticker in the glove box or on the door jam. If one tire is lower than the others, there’s a good chance it has a leak and is in need of repair.
Make sure that the glove compartment has all the appropriate info and that it is easy to find, including:
Once the vehicle has been checked out, AutoMD.com recommends that you go for a drive with your son/daughter to make sure he/she understand any quirks the vehicle might have -- and how everything operates, from car alarm to cruise control to hazard lights to GPS system. Run through the different warning lights, what each indicates and how to respond (i.e., check oil, overheating, etc.). This is also a great time to review basic safe driving and traffic rules and to reinforce the dangers and consequence of speeding, and drinking/texting/cell phoning and/or surfing while driving. Run through a safety and ‘what to do’ protocol for a breakdown or accident – and in the event he/she is pulled over by the police. Make sure the vehicle has some form of roadside assistance and is equipped with a toolkit, emergency kit, and flares, etc. And, if you can, teach your son/daughter how to change a tire (for guidance, check AutoMD.com’s How-to change a flat tire).
“Sending kids off to school in their own car is an important rite of passage… but one that can lead to sleepless nights for parents,” said AutoMD.com President Shane Evangelist. “At AutoMD.com, we believe that information is not only power, but it is security. By providing a checklist that encourages kids to really know and understand their vehicle, as well as a wealth of easily accessible maintenance and repair information online, we hope to help parents feel a little less anxious as that son or daughter drives off to school for the first time.”
AutoMD.com™ (www.automd.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Auto Parts Network, Inc., (Nasdaq:PRTS), is the most comprehensive and unbiased free online auto repair resource designed to empower car owners with the best way to repair their vehicles. Backed by a team of automotive data specialists and certified auto mechanics who are advocates for the car owner, AutoMD.com allows both car owners and DIYers to 1. Diagnose car problems, 2. Know how much auto repairs should cost, 3. Understand the steps needed and the time it should take with How-to Auto Repair guides, and 4. Find the right local auto repair shop at the right price for their issue and 5. Get your auto repair questions answered by the AutoMD.com community. AutoMD.com was named Best Automotive Website in the 8th annual American Business Awards, also known as the Stevie® Awards.
Unlike other repair sites, AutoMD.com does not rely on revenue from repair shops or dealerships, so car owners can rest assured that AutoMD.com repair shop listings are completely unbiased and designed to help car owners choose the best, most affordable shop for their vehicle issue.
Copyright © 2013 AutoMD
All rights reserved.
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In Staffordshire the recruitment of supply teachers is very much controlled by individual schools with recruitment either direct to the school or via agencies.
You can therefore either contact schools directly to discuss supply work with them or you can contact supply agencies available. For the latter you may find it useful to speak to schools in the first instance to gain an idea of what agencies are used to register with the most appropriate one.
Newly Qualified Teachers:
Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) can work through their induction in a supply post if the appointment will last for a complete term or longer and there is an agreement before the term starts that the appointment will form part of the induction period. It is normal practice in Staffordshire for an appointment lasting a whole-term to be temporary rather than supply.
NB: NQTs can work as a casual supply teacher for up to four terms while they are looking for a post that lasts for a term or more. These four terms are measured in calendar months from when the first casual supply post starts; not as an accumulation of days worked. After four terms, the next teaching post must be one where induction can be undertaken. Once the 4 terms are over, NQTs cannot undertake supply work unless it is a supply placement of at least one term, and counts towards the induction period or where the Local Authority has agreed to extend the NQT's entitlement to short-term supply work.
Back to top
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PHOTOGRAPH – Ringo Starr
#1 – November 24th, 1973
- Roe vs. Wade became a landmark court case.
- President Nixon uttered the infamous words “I am not a crook” to a room full of news editors.
- Former V.P. Spiro Agnew pleaded no contest to Tax Evasion.
- Patty Hearst was kidnapped by the SLA
- Secretariat won the Triple Crown.
- A cease-fire was called in the Viet Nam War and a halt was officially called to the military draft.
FADS and ENTERTAINMENT
- MOVIES: “The Sting” “American Graffiti” and “The Exorcist”
- T.V.: “6 Million Dollar Man” “Kojak” & “Schoolhouse Rock”
- Tennis great Billie Jean King took on Bobby Riggs in “The Battle of the Sexes”
- “Charlie” was the new perfume
- Edward G. Robinson
- Bruce Lee
- Jim Croce
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Beatles no longer existed as a band but the lad from Liverpool who sat behind the drums had his first #1 record ever, a song he co-wrote with George Harrison…
- Ringo Starr with Photograph.
- Your # 1 @ 1 from November 1973.
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Since 1977 when the standardized college entrance exam was first implemented in Chinese high schools, the university population of China has risen dramatically and now hosts over 20 million students pursuing higher education.
China’s marked economic growth has benefited many of these students but has not been without its dangers as well. Only one-fourth of the over 7 million students graduating in 2010 will be unable to find jobs and will be added to the over 1 million who could not find jobs last year.
This situation has been intensified by more than 20 million migrant workers recently losing their jobs in cities. In addition, a Beijing-based recruitment site revealed that 87.8 percent of Chinese people with jobs feel unhappy about their work. Of that group, 70.8 percent said they are unhappy because they cannot figure out their career path.
This year Beijing health officials reported suicide as the top killer of young Chinese aged 15-34 with more than 2.25 million attempting to commit suicide every year, revealing yet another danger of China’s burgeoning society. These issues represent just a few of difficulties faced by young Chinese people as they adjust to the rapid changes taking place around them.
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In the Bible, as in the English language, ‘heaven’ can refer to the region of the atmosphere or also to a supernatural world. Birds fly in the heavens (Jer. 4: 25, REB, AV, NJB), and the clouds are there (Prov. 8: 27–8). ‘Heaven’ also refers to the firmament or celestial vault (Gen. 1: 6) which divides the waters above from those beneath and is supported on pillars (Job 26: 11). The waters above supply rain which drops to the earth through openings in heaven (Gen. 7: 11). Stars are attached to or suspended from heaven (Job 22: 12). In visions of the End, the heavens will be destroyed along with the earth (Isa. 24: 4; Luke 21: 33).
The supernatural ‘heaven’ is the dwelling place of God, but the word is often written in the plural, as Ps. 148: 4: ‘the heaven of heavens’. The Hebrews spoke of the existence of several heavens, and Paul had a mystical experience of being taken up ‘into the third heaven’ (2 Cor. 12: 1 ff.). Christ ascended above ‘all the heavens’ (Eph. 4: 10). The book of Enoch refers to ‘seven heavens’.
God's throne is in heaven (Isa. 66: 1), and angels surround it (1 Kgs. 22: 19), and this vision is developed in Rev. 4. In the highest heaven there is a ‘tabernacle’ or ‘true tent’ (Heb. 8: 2) ‘exalted above the heavens’ (Heb. 7: 26) where Christ the true High Priest offers spiritual sacrifices and intercedes for faithful Christians. Similarly, this is where the Son of Man will sit at the right hand of the Father (Mark 14: 62) and will prepare places there for disciples (John 14: 2). The names of the redeemed are recorded in heaven (Heb. 12: 23), which is a realm of joy (Luke 15: 7) and peace (Luke 19: 38). The descriptions of heaven in Rev. 4, 14, and 21, representing the ultimate triumph of God, have often provided the ground of hope for life after death and have been a fertile source of imagery in Christian hymns. The essence of the belief is that heaven is the promised fulfilment of a life already begun but incomplete; it is not a continuation in another space and time of the kind of life experienced here and now on earth but a translation into a new dimension.
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This past Tuesday I was watching on TV as a bearded bespectacled leader spoke in measured terms about the difficult times ahead. He said “Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” I was watching the movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and I thought to myself “Wow! I didn’t realize Jon Corzine played Albus Dumbledore!” I rubbed my eyes and looked again but alas it was the actor Michael Gambon. It very well could have been Jon Corzine. That is because the governor’s budget message was not all that different Professor Dumbledore’s message to Harry Potter. While Tuesday’s speech not only defined Corzine’s budget priorities and values, it also revealed his reelection campaign theme. In addition, from the governor’s perspective (and to use Dumbledore’s maxim) the right choice was make children and the less fortunate the priority and not do what may have been easier by cutting across the board. This also positions him as someone who is willing to take tough decisions.
Maybe you think my mind is a little quirky (you would not be the first to think that) with this comparison but let’s look at Corzine’s own words. (more…)
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The challenge: Determine technology resources and programs required to improve accessibility investment over time and help consumers who are blind or visually impaired gain independence in their everyday lives.
The solution: Strategic business assessment and technology roadmap delivered by IBM that outlines the center's accessibility and adaptive technology needs by consumer group and focus area.
The benefit: Clearly defined strategy to help in serving consumers more effectively and gaining an understanding of initiatives and resources needed to execute strategy.
Helping consumers reach their potential
Founded in 1906, the Cleveland Sight Center provides educational, rehabilitative and support services for thousands of people in the greater Cleveland area who are blind or visually impaired. The center's programs, clubs and recreational activities have helped enhance the quality of life for its consumers for almost a century. "We value an individual's desire to lead a full and meaningful life," explains Cleveland Sight Center Executive Director Michael Grady. "We are proud that our center helps individuals of all ages with vision impairments learn, work, play and live independently."
Cleveland Sight Center recognized that its consumers' service requirements were changing as rapidly as technology, and the not-for-profit organization decided a roadmap was needed to outline its accessibility strategy over the next few years. The roadmap would address individual needs of the center's three key consumer segments (children, working-age adults and seniors), outline what assistive technologies would be needed for each demographic and establish when each technology should be deployed. The roadmap would also widen the scope of the center's consumer services and be a comprehensive vision of not only accessibility needs, but other resource predictions, including funding and personnel, that could carry it into the future.
Creating a vision
The center brought in IBM consultants to assess each of its consumer group's technology needs and develop a roadmap based on the findings. The three groups had similar requirements, which had to be addressed with assistive technology in different ways. So the IBM consultants determined how each age group used the center's services and technologies, and outlined their unique characteristics to predict which accessibility solutions would be the most useful to them.
"IBM's analysis of our organization helped us to understand our future technology and funding requirements so we could develop a comprehensive plan of action that will greatly improve our allocation of resources."
— Cleveland Sight Center, Executive Director Michael Grady
Based on the assessments of the consumer groups, the consultants delved deeper and provided the center with a comprehensive action plan centered on five objectives:
- Broadening its technology portfolio
- Driving awareness in the marketplace
- Prioritizing education-related activities
- Developing strategic partnerships
- Communicating effectively with the surrounding community
All with the end goal of better serving its consumers who are blind or visually impaired.
With a clearly defined accessibility strategy in hand, Cleveland Sight Center is now better positioned to deliver quality, targeted services and solutions to its key consumer segments, and has the technology to serve them more effectively. At the same time, the roadmap also provides a communication plan, guidance on how to leverage partnerships and details on funding requirements for the next few years to help the center reap the full benefits of its IT investments.
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Reviews done by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) of its efforts to implement tuberculosis treatment in western Uzbekistan and northern Turkmenistan concurs with the views expressed by Dermot Maher and colleagues (Aug 4, p 421)1
that putting patients with tuberculosis in the centre of their own care is central to the success of directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) for tuberculosis.
The rapidly shrinking Aral Sea in Central Asia, resulting in loss of crop yield and fishing, has impinged negatively on the socioeconomic status of the population. Moreover, the effect on health has been substantial, and the return of tuberculosis is pathognomonic of this trend. With an incidence of tuberculosis of 100—150 per 100 000 population, by MSF's estimates, this disease is a problem in districts straddling the former Aral Sea coast on the scale of that in countries in WHO's high burden league, such as Russia and China.2
MSF began working in the region 3 years ago, rolling out DOTS among a target population of 3·8 million spread over huge, largely desert expanses. To date, more than 6000 treatment episodes have been registered.
MSF has helped to equip 19 diagnostic laboratories for smearing and microscopy, to train and support health care workers to use observed treatment in 13 inpatient facilities and hundreds of ambulatory clinics, to computerise the information system for case registration and reporting, and to supply drugs and reagents at no charge to the patients and the local service. Through effective advocacy, it has helped procure external funding for medications in Uzbekistan and achieve commitment from the government of the two countries to establish national policies on tuberculosis in the near future.
Whereas the mainstay of observation in our programmes remains the health-care worker, the internal reviews noted that distances between the patients and the health-care workers continue to present a formidable obstacle, making regular observation of doses, even three times weekly, difficult to achieve.
has reiterated the need to reorient the role of health workers in DOTS, from one of passive observer to that of counsellor. However, we believe that he presents insufficient information on who the alternative observer could be. There is growing acknowledgment through the official stand of key international authorities on tuberculosis4
that, although the observation component is important, bringing the observer closer to the patient is more crucial than mandating a professional to watch patients swallow drugs.
In the Aral Sea area, patients' preference for observers, be it state care worker, Red Crescent nurse, family member, employer, or neighbourhood committee members, will become a priority to improve adherence to the observed methods. Health-care workers' role would be to provide backup support, to train and regularly supervise observers, and to manage arising difficulties, such as adverse reactions to medication.
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Publication Date: 1990-00-00
Author: Lubeck, Sally
Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education Urbana IL.
Four-Year-Olds and Public Schooling. ERIC Digest.
Unprecedented demographic and economic shifts have raised questions about how best to care for America's children. Estimates are that by 1995, the mothers of 2/3 of preschoolers and 3/4 of school-aged children will work outside the home (Hofferth & Phillips, 1987). With the baby boom generation at child bearing age, there has been a marked increase in the absolute number of children. Change on this scale has generated discussion of a national, publicly supported child care system.
This digest addresses public schooling for four-year-olds and preschoolers, structural and demographic trends, research results, age and child and family characteristics, subgroups that might be served, types of programs, and location of programs.
WHY CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION NOW?
Economic trends have increased the likelihood that families will require two incomes to maintain family comfort. A third of the new full-time jobs created since 1978 have paid an annual wage below the poverty line for a family of four (Bluestone & Harrison, 1986). According to a recent report, 59% of women with children 5-13 were in the labor force (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1987). The number of female-headed households is increasing. A majority of children in households dependent on women live in poverty. Child support payments are frequently inadequate or nonexistent, and welfare and social security payments remain insufficient.
A body of literature supports programs for young children from low-income families on the grounds that such programs have long-term benefits for many participants. The Perry Preschool Program in Ypsilanti, Michigan made the case that children who attended the project's preschool program were less likely than others to experience difficulties in life. They were more likely to finish high school, attend college, and hold jobs (Berrueta-Clement, and others, 1984). Such evidence has consistently been cited to support policy initiatives for the development or expansion of preschool programs.
WHO SHOULD BE SERVED?
A public program for preschoolers can serve all preschoolers or selected subgroups. The former strategy has rarely been followed in recent legislation. The tendency is to focus on a target group of children with special needs and provide resources only to that group. This tendency has arisen because a case can be made that a particular subgroup of children is especially deserving of help and that provision to a target group keeps costs from rising to politically frightening heights.
Preschool subgroups with special needs have been defined in terms of age, child, or family characteristics. Although attention now centers on 4-year-olds, younger children also need care. Currently, children qualify for preschool programs if they are handicapped or, in some states, if they score low on screening tests, speak a language other than English, or come from low-income families.
Over the last 25 years, much legislation has been designed to benefit subgroups with special needs. The philosophy of VERTICAL EQUITY--the unequal treatment of unequals in order to make them more equal--has been supported by the American public (Gallagher, 1984). But policy is not made on this basis alone. If public programs are only for the poor, they will foster racial and income segregation. If public programs are only for the handicapped, these children will be isolated from their nonhandicapped peers. Clearly, many criteria need to be considered when one addresses the question "Who should be served?"
WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAM?
Should programs be part of general social services to families, and thus housed in departments of human resources or social services? Or should they be educational programs for the young and, therefore, governed by departments of education? Is the principal objective of a program the provision of care while parents work, or the creation of opportunities for children to develop socially and emotionally or to be prepared for formal schooling?
Research on programs and curriculum models identify three generic types: the traditional preschool, the academic preschool, and a hybrid form.
The Traditional Preschool. The traditional preschool was historically a part-day program for middle-class children. Today, the program is characterized by a teacher who is indirect, an environment that is carefully planned (but allows children to learn through active exploration and discovery), an emphasis on learning at one's own pace, and an appreciation for developmentally appropriate activities.
The Academic Preschool. Academic programs for preschoolers frequently involve efforts to help low-income children catch up to their middle-class peers. The academic preschool shares many characteristics of public schooling for older children: teacher-directed instruction, clear goals and expectations, tight scheduling, and the teaching of skills for school success. A major concern among child developmentalists is that school-based early education programs will, like many kindergartens, become junior first grades.
The Hybrid Form. Efforts have been made to blend aspects of each of these forms, primarily by including both structured and unstructured activities.
WHERE SHOULD PROGRAMS BE OFFERED?
Should a child be nurtured in a family setting or an educational setting? Most working parents use one or more of these choices: home care by a family member, care in another's home, care in or through the worksite, center-based and school-based care.
CHILD CARE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The downward extension of schooling to younger children is evident. More 5-year-olds are attending kindergarten more hours each day than ever before, and public school-based programs for threes and fours seem to be increasing. State initiatives and contributions to Head Start-funded, school-based programs served about 139,000 children of 3-5 in 1987-88 (Marx & Seligson, 1988).
Those who favor expansion of public school-based programs argue that schools are universally available, safe, and convenient. A preschooler could attend school with friends and siblings in the neighborhood. Programs would be guaranteed a steady source of funding. Standards could be set; programs monitored; staff salaries increased; and benefits guaranteed. Those who question the efficacy of a school-based solution note that schools have never been equal. Moreover, a school-based child care system would be centralized, bureaucratized, and expensive. Some say it would result in a regimented program.
Zigler (1987) has presented a plan for a national, school-based system in which school buildings house both the educational and child care system. Child care would include before- and after-school care; vacation programs for school-aged children; half-day care for kindergartners; and developmental care for children of 3-5. Costs would be contained by a two-tier system of staffing in which credentialed teachers taught part of the day and those with less formal training and lower salaries taught the rest. The expense of such a system is not known, but Zigler estimates it at $75-100 billion a year. Primary support would come from increases in local property taxes.
The clamor to place four-year-olds in public schools goes on. But four-year-olds are only one subgroup of the preschool population, and schools provide only one alternative for their care and education. Questions about the public support of early child care will continue to be raised.
This digest was adapted from an article titled, "Four-Year-Olds and Public Schooling? Framing the Question," which appeared in the periodical THEORY INTO PRACTICE (Vol. XXVIII, No.1): 3-10.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Berrueta-Clement, J., Schweinhart, L., Barnett, W., Epstein, A., & Weikart, D. Changed Lives: The Effects of the Perry Preschool Program on Youths through Age 19. (Monographs of the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, 8.) Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope Press, 1984.
Bluestone, B., & Harrison, B. The Great American Job Machine: The Proliferation of Low Wage Employment in the U.S. Economy. Washington, D.C.: Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, 1986.
Hofferth, S., & Phillips, D. "Child care in the United States, 1970-1995." Journal of Marriage and the Family, 49 (1987): 559-571.
Lubeck, Sally. "Four-Year-Olds and Public Schooling? Framing the Question." Theory into Practice, 28 (1989): 3-10.
Gallagher, J. "Excellence and Equity--A World-wide Conflict." Gifted International, 17 (1984): 571-572.
Marx, F., & Seligson, M. The Public School Early Childhood Study: The State Survey. New York: Bank Street College of Education, 1988.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. After-School Care of School-Age Children, December, 1984. (Current Population Reports, Series P-23, No. 149). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1987.
Zigler, E. A Solution to the Nation's Child Care Crisis: The Second in the Twenty-First Century. Unpublished manuscript, Yale University, Bush Center for Child Development and Social Policy, New Haven, 1987.
Library Reference Search Web Directory
This site is (c) 2003-2005. All rights reserved.
Please note that this site is privately owned and is in no way related to any Federal agency or ERIC unit. Further, this site is using a privately owned and located server. This is NOT a government sponsored or government sanctioned site. ERIC is a Service Mark of the U.S. Government. This site exists to provide the text of the public domain ERIC Documents previously produced by ERIC. No new content will ever appear here that would in any way challenge the ERIC Service Mark of the U.S. Government.
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Southern Company says design flaws in a proposed reactor should not delay the expansion of the a nuclear power plant near Waynesboro.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has found design problems with the proposed nuclear reactors big enough to not meet their safety standards.
Southern Company plans to operate two of the new reactors at Plant Vogtle, if the NRC approves their license.
The company says it still expects to have the first reactor up and running by 2016.
Carrie Phillips, a spokesperson for Southenr Nuclear Operation Company says the manufacturer Westinghouse is working on the problem.
"The licensing process, we'll just kind of work through and make adjustments as we go forward."
Phillips is unsure if the changes will lead to any additional costs.
That has opponents of the power plant expansion worried.
They say a decision by the Georgia legislature this year to increase power rates during construction might lock ratepayers into having to pay for cost overruns.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in a press conference Thursday that the current design of the Westinghouse AP1000 reactors planned to be used at Plant Vogtle and several other power plants in the U.S. could lead to significant safety issues.
The problems are with a shield building that is supposed to protect the reactor from severe weather and other catastrophic events. It is also supposed to prevent radiation from escaping the reactor, as well as support an emergency cooling water tank.
The NRC’s Office of New Reactors says it’s been discussing the issue with Westinghouse, who has been contracted by the plants to build the reactors, for at least a year, and that the company has yet to present design modifications that could safely withstand basis loads.
It’s unclear how long the design issue would delay permits for the plant expansions, and how much extra cost would be involved. The reactors would be among the first new ones to be built in the U.S. in decades.
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State officials are eagerly awaiting a federal job-creating initiative to be outlined by President Obama today (Dec. 8). They hope it will include extended unemployment benefits, infrastructure money and other aid for their battered states.
Advocates have been dialing up the pressure ahead of the president’s speech at the Brookings Institution, a Washington, D.C., think tank.
State labor officials pushed Congress on Monday (Dec. 7) to extend jobless benefits for unemployed residents, The New York Times reported. Extended benefits included in the federal stimulus program expire this month, and without congressional action, “an estimated one million workers will see benefits end in January.” State officials also are pushing Congress to renew health insurance subsidies for the long-term unemployed.
Read the full report States Await Obama Jobs Plan on Stateline.org.
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Debt collectors are constantly threatening consumers to retrieve monies owed. Recently, collection calls have increased as they are asking you to pay a debt that you might not even be sure that you owe. These collection agencies have been known to use abusive language and illegal collection practices. One solution, if you have insurmountable amount of debt, is to enroll in a credit card debt consolidation program to avoid the zombie debt collectors and attain financial liberty.
Here are a few tips to safeguard from the threatening calls of the collection agency:
1. Ask for validation:
Annoying debt collectors can compel you to admit that you owe money that they are collecting. In this situation, ask them to validate the debt before you start paying it off. Remember that the Federal Trade Commission enforced FDCP Act to protect the consumers from the illegal collection practices. Make sure that the collector provides the necessary documents to validate that you owe the debt, the amount you owe, and the collector is authorized to obtain it from you.
2. Verify info about the company:
Try to get the collection agency’s phone number and postal address so that you can verify certain information about the company. There are many fraudulent collection agencies that threaten consumers, trying to extract money from them through illegal means. If you feel that you are the victim of one of these companies, you should lodge a complaint with the FTC.
3. Cease communication:
If you are confident that you do not owe the debt, then you can send a registered letter to the debt collection agency requesting that they not contact you any further regarding the matter. Make sure to mention that you are no longer liable for the debt. You should send the written letter within a month of receiving the debt collection letter.
4. Know your consumer rights:
If you are aware of Fair Debt Collection Practice Act implemented by the FTC then it will be easier to manage the rogue debt collector. Make sure that you acquire information about the law before dealing with a debt collection agency. This will help to protect yourself from the fraudulent debt collector. According to the FCDP Act, it prohibits collectors of any kind from practicing illegal collection methods.
5. Review your credit report:
Make sure that you review your credit report extensively otherwise you might end up paying for old debts that have been forgiven by the creditors or already paid off and not documented yet. Debt collectors can illegally report old debts to the credit bureau that you might have to pay for. Therefore, try to keep an eye on your credit report to avoid the harassing debt collection calls.
So these are the five essential ways to avoid the annoying debt collectors and make sure that you pay off the owed amount on time.
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Sikhs want ceremonial knives, or Kirpans, allowed in schools
- From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
- December 23, 2012
AUSTRALIA'S Sikh community wants religious knives allowed in schools.
The Sikh Council of Australia and Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commissioner objected to the former state government's amendment preventing a ceremonial knife being worn in schools.
The Weapons Act 1990 states: "A Sikh may possess, in a public place, a knife known as a Kirpan to comply with the person's religious faith."
However, the amendment now states: "It is not a reasonable excuse to physically possess a knife in a school for genuine religious purposes."
The Sikh Council and the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner have warned the amendment was discriminatory to ordained Sikhs required to wear the Kirpan.
The Kirpan is a sheathed ceremonial sword or knife, generally with a dull blade.
Knives in schools have been an issue in Queensland since the stabbing death of a 12-year-old schoolboy in 2010.
Writing to the Sikh Council of Australia this year, former premier Anna Bligh's office said: "The Queensland Government concluded that even though there is minimal risk that a Sikh might use their Kirpan to commit an offence in Queensland, the rationale for keeping all schools completely knife-free is strong."
But confusion reigns over the issue, with a briefing to the former premier warning: "A Kirpan which has a dull blade and dull point may not fall within the legal definition of 'knife'."
Department of Education, Training and Employment assistant director-general Marg Pethiyagoda said the wearing of a Kirpan at school would be considered case-by-case.
"When a state school principal becomes aware that a Kirpan carried by a student or staff member on school premises has a sharp edge or is pointed or is being used to threaten or harm . . . the Kirpan may be retained by the principal and the matter referred to the police."
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The Center for Thoracic Transplantation at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center's Heart & Lung Institute in Phoenix, Arizona is proud to provide a lung transplant program.
Lung transplant surgery is a viable treatment option for patients with end-stage, high risk lung diseases. Lung transplants are among the most complicated procedures. Lung transplant patients must receive lifelong care after the lung transplant operation, which includes daily medications to prevent organ rejection.
Between 2007 and 2009, the transplant team evaluated more than 50 end-stage lung disease patients. The average waiting time for a graft in the program is 45 days. The hospital and 30-day mortality is 0 percent. The lung transplant program has achieved very strong survival rates that are above national averages. The one-year survival rate is 95 percent. A continued emphasis on quality assurance and quality improvement is central to the program, reflected in the post-transplant length of stay average of 12 days.
Lung Transplant Program Continuum of Care
St. Joseph’s provides a continuum of care for patients with advanced lung disease. The clinical team evaluates the patient’s condition, selects appropriate candidates for lung surgery, evaluates and prepares candidates for transplantation, and then conducts the lung transplant procedure and provides post transplant care.
The lung transplant team also provides care to more than 75 post lung transplant patients. Since there was no existing program in Phoenix, Arizona prior to St. Joseph's program, some transplant patients traveled as far as St. Louis for their care. St. Joseph’s now provides these patients with comprehensive care, so patient travel is minimized. The patients also feel a real sense of comfort knowing that if they are in an emergency situation they can be treated close to home.
The transplant team is excited to continue the program’s growth. There are more than 450 referrals for transplants and the team continues to list patients on the UNOS transplant waiting list.
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The giant panda is beloved by people from all over the world. It is a symbol of world biodiversity conservation, peace and friendship. The giant panda is also nature's gift to the province of Sichuan. It is a special and highly valued resouce in Sichuan.All local and foreign visitors enjoy the beauty of giant pandas. They are also deeply concerned with the current status and future of giant pandas.
Giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base live in large naturalistic habitats, which help the visitor to understand how these animals live in the wild . It is an excellent recreational area and a highlight of any visit to Chengdu.
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is located in the northern suburb of Chengdu on Futou Hill. It is 10 km from downtown Chengdu, and can be reached by the Panda Road.
Many types of bamboo, trees, and flowers thrive at the Research Base.Several species of birds also make their home there. The human-made structures have been designed to blend well with the natural scenery. Endangered species such as giant pandas, red pandas, and black-necked cranes reproduce well at the Research Base. Also located at the Research Base is the Giant Panda Museum which provides interesting educational information about a variety of species native to China. Eighty five percent of the habitat for endangered species native to China. Eighty five percent of the wild panda population resides in Sichuan. Wild giant pandas can be found in the Chengdu governed areas of Chongzhou, Dujiangyan, Dayi, Pengzhou, and Qionglai.
Admission Fee: RMB 30
Opening Hours: 07:30 to 18:00
Recommended Time for a Visit: About 2 hours
Panda tour recommended
---Half day tour to Panda Breeding and Researching Center in Chengdu
Includes: Round-way transportation , Entrance ticket
Departure time: Daily tour 7:00am--11:30am
---Renting a car or minibus to visit Wolong Panda Center
Includes: Round-way transportation
Excludes: Entrance ticket , driver tips ,food.
Note: In above two tours ,you will have a chance to take photos by holding the pandas.
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Fri 6 May 2011
Slavoj Zizek’s recent article in Inside Higher Ed made me wonder whether my research should focus more on how corporate platforms affect social media users’ sense of their own capacities, and – by extension – identities. It also made me wonder if I’m not really a digital ungulate: a docile hoofed animal waiting to be herded.
That isn’t what the article’s about, exactly.
It’s about the cloud, or the preponderance of web-based tools and applications that make resources available to us via the internet and computing networks. The scope of power and access that the cloud makes available is enormous, far greater than most individuals would ever be able to afford, manage, or comprehend if we needed to coordinate or store stuff individually on our own machines. The cloud is a distributed delivery system on a grand scale.
And as many before Zizek have pointed out, it’s also a veil of abstraction that falls between the user and the technology; both cause and symptom of the increasing privatization of cyberspace. Because the gadgets we use are ever-more powerful and ever-more personalized, but they are also ever-more monopolized by a few corporations with particular commercial and ideological interests.
Now, I am a happy citizen of the cloud, most of the time. I don’t want to jail-break my iPhone; hell, I don’t even HAVE an iPhone. Even if I did, and someone was kind enough to jailbreak it for me, I wouldn’t know what to do with it. I don’t have the literacies. Sure, I spend perhaps eighty hours a week on my computer, and I possess a decent amount of meta-knowledge about social media and digital technologies and their implications for society. But I’m one of those people who came to the study of technologies through the door of cultural curiosity and theory. I started researching social technologies in 1997. It was only with the rise of social media and the cloud that I began to develop a practice – a deep practice, certainly, and deeply valuable to me – with social technologies.
That practice and its infiltration of my daily life and identity has made me profoundly dependent on platforms I don’t claim to understand. I am a social media animal, grazing in the cloud.
What I am not, no matter how extensive my interest in and usage of social technologies, is a geek. I use the term with props: my instinct is that I’d probably be better off a geek. Because geeks have a skillset and an agency with technologies that I do not. And part of what separates me and my ilk from the generation of digital enthusiasts before me – the generation who had to be, to some extent, geeks in order to invest as much of their lives and identities in digital technologies in a time when platforms did not make it all transparent for them – is captured in the distinction between geek and user.
I am a user and a thinker of digital technologies: I call myself a cyborg. But I do not have the agency a geek might have to control her own experience of the augmented reality of cyberspace. Twitter and Apple and Facebook and Google and Flickr pre-decide a great deal of that experience for me. And mostly I am happy with that, because I do not have the knowledge to make other decisions with, anyway.
Admittedly, I also don’t know how my car works, at any intimate level. But my social identity is not constructed in the interaction between my spark plugs and my engine. And so I wonder, as a social media animal, how corporate decisions about efficiency and profit and ease-of-use impact these seemingly endless capacities the cloud brings me? It appears to bring me new kinds of agency, and those are in, in effect, the subject of my doctoral research. But how is that agency constructed? What forms of control come with it?
Control, says Zizek, is one of the key hallmarks of this cloud culture. Vertical integration means that a single corporation is increasingly invested across multiple levels of the very huge business that is the cloud. As Zizek puts it, “Apple doesn’t only sell iPhones and iPads, it also owns iTunes. It also recently made a deal with Rupert Murdoch allowing the news on the Apple cloud to be supplied by Murdoch’s media empire.” (2011).
The cloud makes almost infinite access and choice available on one hand, while limiting other choices within the very narrow lines of corporate alliances. Most of us can’t and don’t want to make anything approaching an infinite number of choices. But when corporate alignments preclude even the rather reasonable and familiar choice of news providers, which most of us are more than capable of making, and then makes that choice appear natural to a digital citizenry conditioned to accepting what our platforms dictate…that seems like a problem.
It’s not a problem Slavoj Zizek has a solution for, unfortunately.
You can usually count on Zizek for a nice incisive polemic on contemporary culture, and for tearing sacred cows a new one as he goes. Sometimes he rises to the level of actually framing new perspectives on society’s comfortable habits. I studied with him for a summer back in 2004, and he was a magnetic, bear-like force who occasionally spat out tidbits that still churn in the pool of my thought-processes. At other times, I just got a lot of spit on me.
This piece on the cloud, though, left me almost spit-free. Sure, there’s a comparison between the cloud’s operations and those of the Chinese state, but otherwise, the article is almost…utterly rational. And observational in tone. It raises very few spectres, Chinese communism aside, and doesn’t mention Lacan once.
In the comments, there are tongue-in-cheek cries of “what have you done with Zizek?”
Shortly after a flurry of us tweeted the article out yesterday morning, Jim Groom noted similar concerns, asking, isn’t this rather tame for a cultural critic of his stature? Where, said Jim, are the alternatives to the problems Zizek identifies with cloud computing? And when, he said, will the poets of our moment emerge?
I wrote back a line from Ginsberg’s America: When can I go into the supermarket and buy what I need with my good looks?
It’s true, Zizek’s article largely failed to offer any sort of critical, mythical re-framing of possibility. And it’s true we could use a poet, or seven.
But maybe we’d do better with seven thousand. Maybe the problem isn’t solely the cloud, but the fact that our critical thinking skills are still set to a pre-cloud scale. Wrapping our minds around how the cloud changes things, and coming to any understanding of what the insidious corporatization of platforms means for identities and agency may take the kind of distributed, networked, crowdsourced effort the cloud makes possible. Maybe we need all the knowledges we can find.
Whether I look at social media from the perspective of individual subjectivities or the grand scale of the cloud, the issue of corporate symbiosis always crops up. How we understand who we are and what we do in contemporary culture – digital and otherwise – needs to account for the ways in which our social and learning environments and our ensuing identities are shaped by corporate decisions and practices and discourse. The scope and scale of this accounting is nearly as vast as that of the cloud itself.
Slavoj Zizek is a cultural critic of some stature, yes. But on cloud computing, he can only draw on what he knows, just as Jim Groom draws on what he knows, and I draw on what I know. If Zizek had an answer, the chorus of blog posts that amplified his answer would each change it just a little, add something, create a composite narrative that might be better for the input of geeks, of poets, even of us ungulates.
How does the cloud impact you and what you can and can’t do? What control do you give over to the corporate wizards behind the curtain? What agency do you gain and/or lose? If you identify as a geek rather than an ungulate, would you recommend I stop merely grazing in the cloud, and start learning? What should I learn?
Tell me, all you poets and users and geeks. As Ginsberg said, queer shoulder to the wheel.
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A coordinated community response (CCR) can “significantly enhance the effectiveness of the community's response to domestic violence.” From Linda A. McGuire, Criminal Prosecution of Domestic Violence. CCR as an intervention strategy was developed by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project (DAIP) in Duluth, MN. DAIP discovered that when different agencies and members of the community worked together, efforts to enhance protection for victims of domestic violence, and to hold offenders accountable, were more successful. The coordination helps to “ensure that the system works faster and better for victims, that victims are protected and receive the services they need, and that batterers are held accountable..” http://www.stopvaw.org/Coordinated_Community_Response.html
The following numbers highlight the need for a continued CCR to make our community safer for Maine citizens and their families.
Massachusetts Dept. of Youth Services 1985
Maine Dep’t of Labor/Family Crisis Services 2004 Victim Study
“All the perpetrator asks is that the bystander do nothing.”
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Chilean investigators pried off a concrete slab and carried a flag-draped coffin to a laboratory Monday, hoping to put an end to the 38-year-old debate about how President Salvador Allende died.
In doing so, Chile joined the growing number of Latin American countries that have dusted off their dead in the name of nationalism and forensics.
Chilean medical examiners said they did not know how long it would take to determine Allendes cause of death. What is known is that on Sept. 11, 1973, the body of the socialist icon was pulled from the national palace during a military coup that brought General Augusto Pinochet to power and helped define the Cold War.
An eyewitness claims Allende shot himself with an AK-47 given to him by Fidel Castro as bombs rained down on the palace. But a rushed autopsy and the ensuing years of military rule only fueled suspicions that he was executed. A medical examiner probing 736 alleged rights abuse cases ordered an exhumation to determine which version is right.
But digging up the dead is about more than just determining the cause of death for Allende, an increasingly important historic figure and founding father of the Latin American left, said Larry Birns, director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs in Washington, D.C.
He would probably be far more valuable dead as a result of external violence than suicide, said Birns, who was in Chile during the coup. He presented himself as a heroic figure and presumably the coda of that story would require him being murdered by the anti-democratic forces of the country.
Latin America has a rich history of disinterring its heroes.
In 2006, the body of Argentinas former president, Juan Domingo Perón, who died one year after Allende, was moved from its crypt in Buenos Aires to a museum. In 2008, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa moved some of the ashes of independence hero Eloy Alfaro to a new mausoleum. And last year, Mexican President Felipe Calderon ordered the exhumation of 12 independence figures, only to find two extra bodies mixed in among their remains.
Perhaps the most analogous case to Allendes took place last year, when Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez opened the tomb of Latin Americas founding father, Simón Bolívar, hoping to prove that he was poisoned.
The procedure was broadcast live on TV and Chávez live-Tweeted the event, but since then the government has largely been silent.
To read the complete article, visit www.miamiherald.com.
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PE-environmental: organic compounds
Posted 30 March 2012 - 05:23 PM
Can someone please suggest a good reference to bring to the exam that contains any of the information below:
+ molecular weight of selected organic compounds
+ density of selected organic compounds
+ list of selected DNAPLs and LNAPLs
+ list of common VOC
+ chemical formulas for any of the above
I realize I am asking for much information but if you have an answer to 1 or 2 of these items that would be appreciated. I could not locate anything similar in EERM.
I would like to either type these into a separate page for handy reference or copy selected sections from texts/manuals. If you are of some assistance, I will be happy to share my end-product with you.
Posted 30 March 2012 - 05:27 PM
J/K I dont have a reference for you but i though i would throw in that dig anyway.
Posted 30 March 2012 - 06:34 PM
You might try Contaminant Hydrogeology by Fetter, too.
Posted 31 March 2012 - 02:03 PM
I doubt they would just ask a question about random chemical X and give no other info than that and expect you to figure it out and then work the problem in 5 minutes.
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
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COCCHIONI, PASQUALE (10 Via Umberto Nobile, Foligno, Foligno, I-06034, IT)
1 ) Disposable non-woven cloth used during household washing cycles in washing machines, composed of one or more layers of non-woven fabric made of viscose or lyocell and containing an acrylic copolymer.
2) Non-woven cloth as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that polymeric organic substances with polyvinylpyrrolidone-covynilmidazole base are securely adhered to it as binders of the fugitive colour in percentage ranging from 1 to 10 %.
3) Non-woven cloth as claimed in claim 1 , in which polymer anchoring as per claim 2 is carried out by using organic substances of epichlohdryn type in percentage ranging from 1 to 10 %.
4) Non-woven cloth as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that clay particles are adhered to it in percentage ranging from 1 to 10% in order to bind dirt particles.
5) Non-woven fabric cloth as claimed in claim 1 , in which the adhesion to the cellulose substrate of molecules as per claims 2, 3 and 4 is obtained by means of mixing with the acrylic copolymer and formation of a foam, deposition and hydro-extraction of the foam on the cellulose substrate and reticulation of polymers through heat.
6) Non-woven cloth as claimed in claim 1 , where adhesion to cellulose substrate of molecules as per claims 2, 3 and 4 is obtained with absorption and hydro-extraction of an aqueous solution containing the said molecules and fixation on substrate through heat.
7) Non-woven cloth as claimed in claim 1 , containing the functional groups as per claims 2 and 3, in which the inhibition action of the fugitive colouring is carried out on different families of colourings: direct reactive colourings used for cotton, dispersed colourings for polyester, acid colourings for nylon and silk, premetallized acid colourings for wool, basic colourings for acrylic fibres.
8) Non-woven cloth as claimed in claim 1 , containing functional groups as per claims 2, 3 and 4, in which the wet mechanical strength is higher than 1 Kgf both in longitudinal and transversal direction.
Non-woven cloth able to simultaneously absorb dirt particles and fugitive colourings of various chemical nature during household washing cycles in a washing machine.
The present invention relates to a non-woven cloth designed to be used during household washing cycles in a washing machine. The said cloth is composed of a non-woven fabric support that contains a polymeric matrix comprising chemical functionalities that ensure a) the capability of absorbing the particles of fugitive colourings that are poorly bound on the fabric and freed during the washing cycle of dyed garments in a washing machine and that may stain the other garments contained in the washing machine, preventing re-deposition on fabrics. This action is carried out on all families of colourings that may be released by the garments during washing cycles: direct and reactive colourings used to dye cotton, dispersed colourings for polyester, acid colourings for nylon and silk, premetallized colourings for wool and b) the capability to absorb, during the washing cycle in the washing machine, also the dirt particles contained in the washing water, preventing re-deposition on the garments that are being washed. The above is obtained by using a special aqueous dispersion of clay particles, since clay is known for its absorbing properties, in particular oils and greases. Supports used in household washing cycles in a washing machine are known on the market, generally consisting in non-woven cellulose- based fabrics, and also synthetic ones, containing molecules with specific functionalities, such as bleaching agents, detergents, oxidising agents, colour binders, decalcifying agents, optical whiteners or conditioners. The molecules with the aforementioned functionalities are adhered onto the surface of the material by means of physical impregnation and chemical anchoring processes. Once they are
introduced in the aqueous solution used for washing in the washing machine, the functional molecules that are more or less firmly anchored to the material of the non-woven cloth are released to carry out their action in solution or remain anchored to the support. In particular, cationic polymers are used as binders of fugitive colours (USP 3694364, USP 4065257, USP 4380353) since most colourings have anionic charge. The said molecules are not selective and can interact with other anionic molecules contained in higher concentration in the washing solution, such as the ones of many detergents, with optical whiteners. Most of all, not being perfectly anchored to the support fabric, if solubilized, they can contribute to fix the fugitive colour molecules on the garments that are being washed, given the high affinity of cationic agents for fabrics, especially cotton.
Moreover, the action of cationic polymers on fugitive colour particles with different chemical origin is not equally effective. In fact, the capacity to bind colours is very different according to the specific family of fugitive colourings. For instance, in the case of acrylic fibres dyed with basic colourings with positive charge, very poor affinity is obtained among fugitive colouring molecules and cationic agents due to the creation of electrostatic repulsion phenomena.
The present invention discloses the preparation of a non-woven cloth, preferably viscose or lyocell in view of higher mechanical strength than cotton, which comprises a synthetic matrix composed of an acrylic copolymer and specific chemical functionalities that give the cloth the capacity to simultaneously absorb dirt particles and fugitive colouring molecules contained in an ordinary household washing cycle in a washing machine, preventing re-deposition on other garments or articles subjected to the same washing cycle. In particular, the action of the aforementioned non-woven cloth is relevant on fugitive colourings from all families of colourings: reactive and direct colourings for cotton, dispersed colourings for polyester, acid colourings for nylon and premetallized acid colourings for wool. This is
due to the chemical nature of the chemical functionality anchored on the non-woven fabric cloth in order to inhibit colour fugitive molecules with polyvinylpyrrolidone-covinylmidazole copolymer base. Although these functionalities are present in the formulations of many detergents (DE 2814287, EP 372291 , EP 327927, DE4027832), they have no cationic charge, and therefore do not interact preferentially with anionic colourings only, favouring the creation of an aromatic-aromatic interaction with the aromatic component contained in almost all colouring molecules, regardless of the family they belong to. The absence of positive charge also minimises the risk of possible re- deposition on other fabrics of the eventually solubilized polymeric particles that do not show affinity for fabrics, unlike cationic polymers. The action of the non-woven cloth on the dirt particles is carried out because of the anchoring of clay particles, since clay is a material with high absorbing capacity with high affinity for lipidic molecules. Being a sedimentable material, clay must be maintained dispersed in solution to obtain uniform deposition on the non-woven cloth. This is obtained by using an aqueous dispersion that contains viscosizing and surfactant principles based on C-1 1 -14 iso C13-rich alcohols and ethoxylated tridecyl alcohol, able to prevent sedimentation of clay particles. The clayey particles deposited on the substrate do not have a specific chemical bind with the non-woven fabric and carry out their action in two ways: by being partially trapped in the non-woven cloth and by being released by the cloth to carry out their absorbing action of dirt particles in the washing solution and no longer in the surface of the non-woven cloth. Since the complex formed between the clay particles and the dirt particles in the washing solution has no affinity for fabrics, there is no risk of re-deposition of the dirt particles on the garments or other items that are being washed. The idea of the present invention provides for the realisation of a non- woven cloth according to a known process through the deposition and cohesion of a veil of discontinuous fibres with a chemical process,
- A -
preferably made of viscose or lyocell in view of higher mechanical strength than cotton, and through the formation of a foam starting from a solution that contains the following as dry substance:
- from 10 to 80 parts of an acrylic polymer, preferably 55%, - from 1 to 10 parts of an anionic or cationic surfactant, preferably 2%
- from 1 to 50 parts of a solution of a copolymer mixture with polyvinylpyrrolidone-covynilimidazole base, preferably 20%,
- from 1 to 50 parts of a solution containing an anchoring polymer of epichlorhydhn derivation, preferably 10%, containing specific functionalities to bind the polymer both to the substrate cellulose and the polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinylimidazole-based copolymer.
- from 1 to 30 parts, preferably 10%, of an aqueous dispersion of clay particles containing ethoxylated alcohols.
- from 1 to 5 % of wetting agent, preferably 3%, based on tridecyl alcohol with low ethoxylation grade, containing from 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide, preferably 6 moles, in order to improve the wetting of the non-woven cloth to accelerate the fixation process of fugitive colouring molecules and dirt on the cloth during the washing cycles in a washing machine. The foam is homogeneous and uniformly deposited with a suitable apparatus on the entire surface of the non-woven fabric during the transportation of the fibre veil, is compressed through hydro-extracting rolls that compact the material and force the foam to penetrate into the pores of the non-woven fabric. After hydro-extraction, the material is conveyed into a suitable oven that contains the aforementioned foam, is treated at a temperature from 120 and 180°C, preferably 160°C, for a time from 45 and 90 seconds, preferably 60 seconds, in order to obtain final compaction through reticulation of acrylic polymer and anchoring reaction of molecules on the non-woven fabric.
The non-woven cloth has a weight ranging from 60 to 90 g/m 2 , preferably from 70 to 80 g/m 2 .
It is also possible to operate according to a second process, basically known as foulardage.
In this case the non-woven fabric with cellulose base that contains only the acrylic polymer and the surfactant is initially prepared with the aforementioned methodology. During a second operative phase the rolls of material are subjected to impregnation, according to which the fabric pulled on rolls passes through a metal container to absorb an aqueous solution composed of:
- from 5 to 20 parts of a polyvinylpyrrolidone-covinylimidazoly-based copolymer mixture, preferably 5 %, able to interact with the aromatic component contained in almost all families of colourings and especially azoderivates.
- from 1 to 10 parts of an anchoring polymer of epichlorhydrin derivation, preferably 3%, containing specific functionalities to bind the anchoring molecule both to the substrate cellulose and to the polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinylmidazole-based copolymer.
- from 5 to 10 parts, preferably 2 %, of an aqueous dispersion of clay particles able to absorb the dirt particles with fat matrix.
- from 0.1 to 1 % of wetting agent, preferably 0.2 %, based on thdecyl alcohol with low ethoxylation grade, containing from 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide, preferably 6 moles, in order to improve the wetting of the non-woven cloth and accelerate the fixation process of the fugitive colourings molecules and dirt on the cloth during the washing cycles in a washing machine. After passing through the metal container, the fabric impregnated with solution is subjected to hydro-extraction in continuous controlled mode to obtain absorption in weight of solution with respect to the weight of non-woven fabric that varies from 50 to 150%, preferably 100%. Then the fabric is subjected continuously to a combined treatment of mechanical and thermal stabilisation with rameuse, at temperatures from 100 to 160°C, preferably 130°C, for a time from 10 and 30 minutes, preferably 20 minutes. In this way the anchoring reaction of
the functional molecules on the non-woven fabric substrate is completed by the action of heat.
The non-woven cloth has a weight ranging from 60 to 90 g/m 2 , preferably from 70 to 80 g/m 2 . The wet mechanical strength of the non-woven cloth is an important parameter to determine its suitability for use in washing machines. The non-woven cloth must remain coherent, without flaking off during the washing cycle, a risk that may occur in case of non-woven fabrics in prolonged contact with aqueous solutions if their wet strength is low. With both aforementioned processes, the non-woven cloth illustrated in the present invention has tensile strength values both in longitudinal and transversal direction not lower than 1.5 Kgf, preferably not lower than 1.7 Kgf in longitudinal direction and 2 Kgf in transversal direction when measured with an axial dynamometer.
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The European Commission has now issued its Communication on the future of the CAP and the NFU has made a critical response. It argues that the Commisson's proposals may entrench inefficiency rather than boosting competitiveness. It thinks that the Commission may have tried to please too many audiences, possibly leading to a rather incoherent document:
'Today’s future of CAP Communication has identified the challenges that European agriculture and the EU Common Agricultural Policy face over the next ten years. However the measures proposed in the EU Commission’s document are unlikely to help farmers rise to these challenges, the NFU has argued today.
The paper, which sets out the direction of the next reform of the CAP due to take place after 2013, describes the context for the next reform and argues that European agriculture must address concerns about food security, the environment, climate change and the economic viability of fragile areas. While these challenges are accurate, the NFU believes that the measures suggested in the paper to considerably reshape direct payments may harm the competitiveness of farming, as well as undermine efforts to simplify the CAP and make it more comprehensible to taxpayers.
NFU President Peter Kendall said that while these ideas come at a very early stage of the reform process it was difficult to take a firm judgment on the document.
“While today’s paper is not without good intentions or ideas, it does not appear to present the best approach to reform for the post 2013 period,” said Mr Kendall. “The proposals outlined in the paper are understandably general and will require considerable clarification.
“The Communication does provide a fair assessment of the economic, environmental and societal challenges facing farming and I am pleased that it recognises the importance of Europe to global food security and of farming to the economy, society and the environment. I am also pleased to see that the Commission supports the maintenance of a common European approach to agricultural policy.
“However when we set out our policy on the CAP in May we argued that any reform must be driven by core principles; commonality, market orientation, competitiveness and simplicity. It is against these principles that the proposals should be measured. When I look at ideas such as a tiered approach to payments, capping of support with labour adjustment and a significant flexibility measure, I tend to see a recipe for complexity, distortion and a risk of undermining efforts to help farmers become less reliant on support.
“This is the key long-term strategic challenge; to get farmers to a place where they can depend on the market for their income.
“We also must recognise the budgetary and political pressure the CAP will be under - and use the resources wisely. My worry is that the Commission’s proposals may actually entrench support and inefficiency in European farming rather than boost competitiveness.
“I believe that the Commission should build on the progressive direction of previous reforms, developing the two-pillar structure for the CAP and ensuring that each instrument has a clear objective – putting competitive agriculture at its heart.
“The Communication rightly dwells on the future of direct payments which, as the largest component of CAP spending, are a focal point for the next reform. However the complicated ideas from today confuse the role of direct support which should be about underpinning the economics of farm production and helping farmers deal with higher costs and volatility rather than delivering environmental goods. This is the role of rural development policies and I’m really surprised to see the Commission omit any reference to agri-environment schemes.
“I fear that the Commission has fallen into the trap of trying to please as many people as possible, in order to justify the money it spends, rather than adopting a clear direction for European agriculture. It is rare that a clear policy pleases all of the people all of the time but I fear that what we have here will end up as a confused proposal that suits no-one.”
This blog will provide further analysis and comment in the coming days, but at first sight the paper does not seem to differ greatly from the draft version leaked last month.
Labels: CAP reform, future of the CAP, NFU
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Healthy Hollywood: Fab Food Friday – Janet Jackson’s Winning Weight Loss Plan!
First Published: June 1, 2012 2:38 PM EDT Credit: Prevention Magazine
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- It’s hard to believe Janet Jackson weighed 180 pounds just six years ago. Now, thanks to a healthy eating plan and lots of hard work, the pop icon looks sensational.
“I honestly don’t know what size I am. Now, it’s all about looking in the mirror and saying, I feel good. I feel healthy,” Janet reveals in the July issue of “Prevention” magazine.
Jackson is a poster child for yo-yo dieting. For most of her life, the 5-foot-4 star has struggled with the pain of gaining and losing weight. “Health was always a concern. When I gained weight in 2005, my nutritionist was very worried. I was close to having diabetes. Even when I lost it [and] then gained quite a bit back, there was always the thought of heart disease,” she reveals to “Prevention.”
The 46-year-old, who is a spokesperson for Nutrisystem, credits the eating plan with helping her to learn portion control and also better eating habits. She also believes representing Nutrisystem and going public with her struggles inspires others to believe they can lose too. “I think people really connect with the idea of someone who’s gained and lost weight in this very public way, also someone who’s an emotional eater,” reveals Janet in “Prevention.”
Just like us regular folks, Janet admits her state of mind can set off a feeding frenzy. Boredom, sadness, frustration, stress and work can all trigger destructive eating. – She’s even had to fight the opposite end of the spectrum – under-eating. “Knowing I have these problems with body image, I ask my friends and family to tell me when I’ve lost too much too. Because I will continue to pick on myself, like all women do, and say, You need to [lose] more there, more there.”
Janet is also very aware her lifestyle and choices influences others – especially young girls. “I try to be a model for healthy eating, but I let kids know that they are beautiful as God made them. You don’t have to be a size zero to be considered beautiful.” Well said, Ms. Jackson!
Check out www.prevention.com for health & wellness tips.
Copyright 2013 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Sunday, March 15, 2009
HEMP-OAT MILK IN THE SOYQUICK PREMIER 930P (AND A TASTY ACCIDENT!)
In my post about making raw hemp milk, I mentioned using the soymilk maker to make a hemp milk that wouldn't separate so easily. I tried several batches before I got it to my satisfaction-- the results are below-- and it, indeed, does not separate as easily as the raw version. But it does eventually separate after standing in the refrigerator for a day or so. However, you can shake it up and it's just fine.
I had a little accident with one batch that I made, but, never one to waste food, I salvaged something good out of it! You can see that tale below the milk recipe!
BRYANNA'S SOYQUICK HEMP AND OAT MILK
Yield: 5 1/2 cups
This is a nice mild nondairy milk. You need the filterless SoyQuick Premier Milk Maker 930P to make this milk.
5 1/2 cups water (up to the "minimum" mark in the SoyQuick container)
3/4 cup shelled hemp seeds (also called "hemp nuts")
3 tablespoons rolled oats (oatmeal)
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons organic sugar or agave nectar
IMPORTANT: IF YOU USE AGAVE NECTAR, DO NOT ADD UNTIL THE MILK COOLS OR IT WILL CURDLE! (see what happens below!)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Add water , hemp seeds, and oats to the Soy Quick container. Attach the rest of the machine, plug in and press the "Multigrain" setting.
When it beeps, remove the grinding mechanism, etc:
You'll see a residue or hemp seed and oats on the blade protector, etc.
and pour the milk through a cloth inside of a colander placed over a pot (sterilize all equipment with boiling water).
Let it drain and then pull up the sides of the cloth, twist and squeeze until all the milk is in the pot and you are left with a small residue on the inside of the cloth (discard that).
Stir in the sugar and salt, pour the milk into a scalded glass jug or canning jars, cap tightly, and refrigerate.
IF YOU USE AGAVE NECTAR FOR THE SWEETENER, DO NOT ADD IT TO THE HOT MILK, OR THE ACID IN THE AGAVE WILL CURDLE THE MILK! WAIT UNTIL THE MILK COOLS OFF. (See what happens below!)
The hemp milk will probably separate after a day or so-- just shake it up before serving.
Nutrition (per 1/2 cup): 70.1 calories; 46% calories from fat; 3.7g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 91.5mg sodium; 4.9mg potassium; 5.2g carbohydrates; 0.5g fiber; 2.1g sugar; 4.7g net carbs; 4.2g protein; 1.6 points.
OKAY, SO WHAT ABOUT THAT "ACCIDENT"?
With one of my test batches, I unthinkingly added agave nectar to the fresh, hot hemp milk and poured it into jars. This is what happened:
I instantly knew that that "citrusy" flavor I detect in agave nectar is acidity! Not one to waste food, I gently poured the contents of both jars (a little at a time) into the cloth lined tofu press that comes with the SoyQuick. However, the curds were very fragile, so I didn't want to press them. I gathered up the cloth after it had drained for a time in the sink, tied it with a rubber band and drained it on the end of the sink tap:
After it drained for several hours, I scraped it out of the cloth into a small bowl and was left with about 1/2 a cup of "hemp curd cheese":
I seasoned the curds with a little salt, garlic, and herbs and used it as a tasty spread:
This would probably not be worth doing on purpose very often, as the yield is meager and it would be fairly expensive. But it was certainly good!
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I've always believed (like Christians around me) that Christ's Bride is the church. However, I recently met two guys that claimed that the Bride is actually the new Jerusalem that comes down from Heaven in Revelation (3:12, 21:2, 21:10). What is the Biblical support for these two viewpoints?
The new Jerusalem that comes from heaven in Rev 19 is "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (emphasis added) However, I would understand why some might think that Jerusalem is Christ's bride. In the Old Testament, Israel (or Judah or Jerusalem) is described as God's wife:
This comparison is the whole purpose of the book of Haggai as well. It's a beautiful way to render God's relationship with his people.
Contrastingly, the imagery that we have with Christ and His Bride is that of a coming Bridegroom and a bride in preparation. As the angel shouts in Revelation 19:7
Paul strengthens this image when he says in II Corinthians 11:2
The two metaphors are not contradictory. Jesus uses many contrasting "I ams:" Jesus is the Lamb, the Door, The Good Shepherd, etc. All of them are helpful, but they are only pictures. HOWEVER, this imagery of Christ and His bride persists through all the New Testament, especially in the Revelation. It is meant to typify how an engaged virgin would wait for her promised husband to come for her. That is what Christians are doing today. God was never married to a city. Jesus is not coming back for a city. The city always was a symbol for the collective people of the city, and the Bride is a metaphor for all the Christ's body.
There's no reason why God couldn't use a "bride" analogy two places in different contexts. If one day I say, "Bob works as hard as a horse" and another day I say, "Charlie can run as fast as a racehorse", that's not a contradiction because I compare two different people to horses, or compare them in two different ways. Even if it's true that God refers to himself as having two different brides, that doesn't make him a bigamist! Neither is literal, it's just an analogy.
That said, New Jerusalem is to be the home of the saved. The Church is the collection of those who are saved. So both are pretty much the same group of people.
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22 October to 11 November 2010
READ ALL ABOUT IT
When I asked Destiny why, during her RMIT residency earlier this year, she posed the six models1 in Paperboys from the Working Men’s College as turn of the century newsboys, she emailed back a reply with its cards so close to its chest they were practically coming out the back;
"i was able to round up a few men to pose. that image seemed suitable to base something/a story on."
There’s a surprisingly large amount of history and folklore about newsboys — the children and teenagers with loud voices who, before child protection became a big deal, sold papers from a stack under their arm to strangers in the street, drunks in pubs, and commuters they reached by jumping on and off moving public transport.
Newsboys appeared with the rise of mass circulation papers and "were the main distributors of newspapers to the general public from the mid-19th to the early 20th century in the United States"2 (and cities elsewhere including Australia). It was badly paid work, the sellers vulnerable to weather, the meanness of newspaper proprietors and to human vice and pettiness in general. They were mostly the poorest of the poor, often homeless. And when, in 1899, New York newsboys spearheaded a successful two-week, city wide strike of non-union child labour including messengers and bootblacks (or shoeshine boys), one of several newsboy stereotypes was fixed in the public imagination. The strike (over tiny commissions and who paid for unsold copies) greatly reduced the daily circulation of papers dependent on street vendors for sales. During the strike, New York World (owned by Joseph Pulitzer for whom the famous prize is named) fell from 360,000 to 125,000.3
The 1992 Disney film musical, Newsies, loosely based on the strike,andstarring Christian Bale and Ann Margret, among others, transmitted "an updated version of this mythology to a contemporary audience".4
Even earlier in Melbourne, from 1888, a series of clubs for newsboys operated under a variety of names. One of them, the Gordon Institute for Boys and City Newsboys’ Society had a building constructed on land in Bowen Street in the late 1880s before that thoroughfare was completely taken over by what is now RMIT. It shared one side of the street with a pub, and various other business premises.5
Melbourne newsboys were the object of a great deal of philanthropy. The Stamford Plaza Hotel on the corner of Little Collins Street and Alfred Place takes in the site of another newsboys’ club, the City Newsboys’ Society, whose now demolished building included a swimming pool, gymnasium, library of 4000 books and a games room. The Society’s purpose-built headquarters went up there in 1923 on the site of the delicensed and demolished Adam and Eve Hotel (which, in December 1921, was a few lanes away from the blind alley where, in a famous murder case, the body of 12-year old Alma Tirtschke was found bruised and strangled). Several organisations built on earlier newsboy clubs still exist today including the Newsboys Foundation and Gordon Care for Children.6
Documentary photos of late nineteenth and early twentieth century newsboy groups show primary school or early teenaged boys in caps and ragged clothes, clutching huge bundles of papers sometimes tied to their bodies with rope, their faces an assortment of watchful, pinched, lopsided, shrewd, cocky, mournful and hyper-cheerful expressions. But popular representations of newsboys favour only three images — pathetic, enterprising, or delinquent.
Stephen Siff writes that: "By 1899 [the year of the strike], newsboys, and New York newsboys in particular, occupied a poignant place in American iconography. They may have been at the bottom, but they were seen as having hope and hustle, ‘an incarnation of the [commercial] spirit of the day’, in the words of an 1844 short story writer...Newsboys were perceived as social problems and potential criminals, but they were also torchbearers for the American dream...Benjamin Franklin started as a newsboy. So did Thomas Edison. Industrious newsboys played prominently in many of the 106 hardcover novels written by Horatio Alger prior to his death in 1899, some of which may have been penned in the New York Newsboy’s Lodging House operated by the New York Sun." 7
Horatio Alger was the kind of person the Working With Children Check was invented for. His career as a young Unitarian minister ended abruptly after two years when officials of his church wrote to head office complaining of doings with local boys "that are too revolting to relate".8 He moved to New York where he hung out with "impoverished young bootblacks, newspaper boys, and peddlers."9 Combining this experience with "the moral values he learned at home"10 rather than those he’d developed for himself, Alger produced his first popular novel, Ragged Dick, serialised in Student and Schoolmate. (It wasn’t till 23 years later in 1890, nine years before Alger’s death, that ‘dick’ became a vulgar synonym for penis, returning to his improving stories based on "pluck, luck and virtue" an inadvertent clue to their sublimated and embarrassing origins).
The pathetic image of newsboys had at least as strong a grip on popular sentiment as the little battler. In an article in the Sydney Morning Herald of Tuesday February 8, 1870 the writer says of New York newsboys: "I have seen boys who, in the nursery of a well-to-do gentleman, would be called ‘the baby’ so wee and little footed and squeaky voiced, that it made one sad to see them out on the street without shoes or cap, struggling with difficulty under their load of literary merchandise and often pushed aside by larger boys, who received the penny which they, had they not been mere children, might have secured."11
At the far, bathetic end of this kind of representation is the story of "Little Ben the Newsboy", a tale with obviously fictionalised elements — if not a completely fabricated story — that went viral in late 1871. Echoing the earlier Sydney Morning Herald article, but with a lot more purple prose, it began in a vaguely specified time by recollecting "a big burly newsboy, very rough looking, very dirty and uncombed" pitching his papers to two passersby "in a ho[a]rse brazen voice...just as hundreds of rough looking uncombed newsboys do every day" trailed by another smaller boy. The shadow was Little Ben, "the merest mite of a little boy, not more than seven years old, I think, and small for his age, too. He was a fragile-looking little fellow, with a pale face, and slender little hands. His hair was combed and curled carefully in long yellow curls, almost like-a girl's. None but a mother's hand can comb and curl a boy's hair just that way, I have noticed. The small boy had a few papers under his arm, trying to hold them as the big boy held his, and when the big boy sung out...he would turn immediately round to the little one, nodding encouragingly and tell him;
‘Now you say it Baby.’
"Then the pale little fellow, with, his long yellow curls, would take up his cry, faintly and feebly, and try to say it in his weak childish quaver: Somehow it made one feel queer about the throat to hear that poor little voice."
After many more emotive paragraphs in which we learn that the boy and his beautiful mother had once lived in a big house with a carriage but were now destitute thanks to a ne’er do well father, Little Ben is run over by a street car, "the cold hand of death stiffening his white eyelids, and dimming his great blue eyes...the long bright curls all draggled and dusty, two poor little slim hands broken at the wrist, one of them hanging quite dead and lifeless."
The story of Little Ben was published first in ‘a Cincinnati paper’, and on Thursday October 5, and Friday, October 6, 1871 the Sydney Morning Herald carried a page one advertisement mentioning the story for Saturday’s issue of its weekly publication, The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. By Monday the Sydney Morning Herald had reprinted the article in its own pages12, and on November 2, it appeared in the Queanbeyan Age.13 Meanwhile the story was also circulating in New Zealand where it appeared, amongst other places, in the Star on October 31,14 in the Tuapeka Times onNovember 16.15
Melbourne philanthropist, Edith Onians developed her almost lifelong interest in helping and improving newsboys after reading a story at this end of the spectrum. In her 1953 book, Read All About It, Onians dated her "interest in boys" from a tale she read as a small child in a volume won for a Sunday School prize. "Hope on, Hope ever" concerned a hungry, barefoot lad who, on a bleak London day, was gazing longingly in the window of a baker’s shop. When a carriage drew up and its occupant "a lady richly dressed in furs" alighted, he asked for a farthing for a piece of bread. The lady refused haughtily and swept past. Edith as a child "was touched to the depths of my heart by this picture and I made up my mind there and then that when I grew up I would try to help poor boys."
Like other philanthropists who took an interest in newsboys — a term including any boy working or living on the street — Edith Onians began her work in 1897 by accosting an idling group.16 She offered classes (and later many other facilities which included dental, medical care and meals). Mark Forster who established the Try Boys Club, the Newsboys’ predecessor, began in 1883 by inviting three boys home to eat with his family.17 You could get arrested for that now.
Onians dedicated an earlier book, The Men of Tomorrow, an account of her worldwide investigations into child protection, to "the newsboys of Melbourne who more than I have helped them have helped me"18. Read All About It, published two years before her death, summarised in anecdotes her affection for various boys she had known and helped. She recounted the story of ‘Battler’ "who won his title in the battle of life". Left destitute and friendless at the age of eleven, he sold matches outside Parer’s Crystal Café in Bourke Street [where the Mid City Arcade now is], and often knew what it meant to go to sleep hungry and bedless. He was one of those who on such occasions slept in the Richmond paddock over by the old morgue, with the ‘dossers’ dog’ for a pal.
"On the night I recall your heart would have gone out to him had you seen his thin little figure clad only in a torn shirt and a grotesque pair of trousers quite five sizes too large for him. Boots were an unknown luxury...‘Miss’, I remember his saying to me one night when the city streets were awash under a driving rain, ‘‘you know how you feel at twelve o’clock when it’s a pouring wet night and you haven’t made your bed money?’"
"’Well’, I admitted to the fair-haired, bare-footed youngster, ‘I don’t exactly know, Battler, but I can imagine it.’"19
Onians said that, "those who did not know the newsboys called them ‘roughs’ and, in the Australian vernacular ‘larrikins’"20— meaning incorrigible little toughs, shifty and shiftless, untrustworthy, a social nuisance. But she "believe[d] sincerely that no boy...is irreclaimable. Every youngster...born into Australia is a potential source of wealth and happiness. If he fails to fulfill his possibilities, we, his parents, his guardians, his Government, are apt to be at lest as much to blame as he...every boy is capable of being turned, by appropriate treatment, into a useful citizen. That may sound sentimental, but it is backed by [a] great psychological truth."21
So what’s the psychological truth in the Paperboys? Six grown men posing as street urchins — a little bit each of Horatio Alger, Edith Onians, Battler and the Working Men’s College. I tried Destiny again and got this: "i'm trying to make the images relevant to place...thanks for going in depth about the context. it's good for people to learn something."
Just what Miss Onians thought.
Virginia Fraser, 2010
1. Malik Malik, Manager RMIT School of Art; Stephen Gallagher, Artist and Curator/Coordinator School of Art Galleries; John Harding, Writer and Research Officer, RMIT School of Art; Liam Revell, Designer and Lecturer of Fashion, RMIT School of Architecture and Design; Clinton Nain, Artist; and Paul Candy, Student, RMIT School of Art.
2. Nasau, D. (1999) "Ch. 3: Youse an' yer noble scrap: On strike with the Newsboy Legion in 1899." in Big Town, Big Time. New York: New York Daily News. p. 9 cited in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsboys_Strike_of_1899#cite_note-3
4. Stephen Siff, "Carrying the Banner: The Portrayal of the American Newsboy Myth in the Disney Musical Newsies" http://www.ijpc.org/journal/index.php/ijpcjournal/article/viewFile/8/10
6. http://newsboysfoundation.org.au/ and http://www.gordoncare.org/
7. Siff, op cit
11. Page 3
12. Sydney Morning Herald, Monday October 9, 1871, page 2
13. Page 4
14. Page 3
15. Page 7
16. Edith Onians, Read All About It, Colourgravure, Melbourne, 1953, page 7
18. Thomas C Lothian, Melbourne, c1914
19. Onians, 1953, page 23
20. ibid page 8
21. ibid page 6
Destiny Deacon is a guest of RMIT University through the School of Art International Artist In Residence (AIR) Program and the RMIT Design Research Institute. Her exhibition is being supported by RMIT as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies project.
The RMIT School of Art AIR Program acknowledges the Vice-Chancellor and President of RMIT University, Professor Margaret Gardner, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Design and Social Context, Professor Colin Fudge, and Head of the School of Art, Professor Elizabeth Grierson, for their support in the development and continuing success of a critical, relevant and globally-focused context for the presentation of contemporary art.
Destiny would like to specially thank Virginia, Peter, John, Malik, Bronwyn, Paul, Stephen, Clinton, and Liam for making a dress.
Destiny Deacon is represented by Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
Concurrent Project Space Exhibition:
The desire to be else where
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View Full Version : Need a particular blank USA map.
July 5th, 2005, 09:22 AM
Please has anyone got a blank map of North America (Canada, USA and Mexico) without international and state boundaries but with major rivers and ideally passes through the Rockies and Apallacians (sp.?). I would really like a photoshop editable format that is not a bitmap or a .gif.
July 6th, 2005, 07:51 PM
Come on I have been away a whole day someone must have some maps with rivers?
July 14th, 2005, 04:47 AM
Is no .gif a most? Cus I found this awhile ago…
July 14th, 2005, 04:49 AM
Also, this one is a lot harder to use for anything, but could be good for a reference…
July 14th, 2005, 05:11 AM
If you (and anybody else interested in maps) don't already know the following website, then you should.
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection -- http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/
This might sound a bit absurd, but if you can't find a map you should make one yourself. Of course, nobody can truely "make" a map of the world, it's just a matter of getting the terrain arranged a the desired proportion. The key is patience. After much scrounging around I've managed to get my hands on a rather simple computer-generated and to a degree pixelish map of North America. If I can I'll attach the original map below. I've modified the map and I think if you can tell me which rivers (specific, or major/minor) you'd like on it I can create just such a map for you.
I'm not experienced with attachments, so the first attachment will be the original map as I got it off the internet. The second will be the map's current modified form, the "base" map I have on which I will build on to create "modified" maps. So far my base map is political, but yea if you tell me what sorts of hydrologic features you'd like to place on it I can easily erase the political boundaries and painstaking add, pixel by pixel, the desired rivers and lakes. I'm not a serious graphics manipulator though I'd like to warn you. I cannot create smoothing effects, fancy text, color transitions, crap like that. I have a good eye for analyzing a map, figuring out its proportionality, and transcribing features from one to other pixel by pixel. I arrange pixels. That's what I do, with Windows Paint, not a $200 photo editor.
July 14th, 2005, 05:11 AM
Here's the map I got off the internet.
July 14th, 2005, 05:12 AM
Here's the map thus far as it has been modified.
July 14th, 2005, 02:55 PM
If you're having color problems, just increase the color pallete to 16 Million Colors... Not sure how to do it in photoshop, but it's easy in PSP.
July 18th, 2005, 05:40 PM
Thanks very much for the help people.
August 31st, 2006, 02:26 PM
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
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Dr. Ted Epperly, a family physician and CEO of the Family Medical Residency in Boise, Idaho, agree.
"There's a strong possibility that physicians will stop taking new Medicare patients, and this is especially true for [specialists,]" said Epperly. Given that about 10,000 people become eligible for Medicare every day, Epperly fears that this could create a dangerous situation.
"We already have a shortage of primary care physicians in the United States," he said. "At a time when we need more doctors, and more access to them, we can't afford to create a situation where doctors are limiting the type of patient they want to see because of payment cuts."
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”Young people aren't interested in the types of subjects they treat,” he said.
Still, a new crop of free dailies with a European presence appears to be bridging the generation gap, although the advertising revenues that power them have fallen sharply with the economic crisis.
They include 20 Minutes, now a staple for mass-transit commuters in major French cities, with a circulation of about 780,000 nationwide, says company President Pierre-Jean Bozo.
”We're trying to reinforce a readership of the under-50s that's young, urban and active, by information in the Anglo-Saxon way - facts, facts, facts,” Mr. Bozo says. “It's not a la Francaise, where there's too much analysis.”
20 Minutes' print and Internet editions have spinoffs in seven French cities, and Mr. Bozo describes a print-free future that includes delivering news on next-generation mobile phones.
“Why not?” he asks. “We're capable of sliding from one format to another.”
There are other scattered success stories. Berlin's Bild daily is going strong, with about 12 million readers and profits at record highs - thanks partly to partnering with German Internet service provider Deutsche Telekom to go online at reduced rates. It has also raised its newsstand price.
And in Sweden, Web site VG Nett is generating money from advertisers, and most recently from users through innovative offers involving such things as joining a weight-loss club.
“It doesn't sound like a traditional newspaper role, but it's an example of companies trying everything they can and continuing with what works,” Mr. Kilman said.
Still, he noted, Nordic dailies as a whole have an edge because roughly 90 percent of adults of all ages there read newspapers. In the Netherlands, NRC Handelsblad has launched a spinoff targeting a younger audience, nrcnext.nl, which is going strong, Mr. Kilman says.
Other newspapers are beginning to make money off their digital platforms. Still, he thinks, the old-fashioned daily remains a vital part of the news mix. “Print remains the money generator, the news generation of these different operations,” he said. “And we think it's going to stay that way for a while.”
'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Reflections on raising families in a holistic way -- with a focus on nutrition and alternative health.
Join the Communities and submit your column in response to one written, or on something totally new and unique. We want to hear from you
A carefully guided tour through the confusing world of modern bookselling and publishing.
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
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Most students enjoy the opportunity to meet new people and broaden their horizons beginning the first day of move–in, when meeting their roommate. Generally, residents find the experience of living with another person to be very rewarding. Berkeley's diverse student population provides for a very defining residential experience. Students appreciate the value of meeting people from different backgrounds and learning from each other.
As freshman year is usually the first time many students will have lived with roommates, the transition can sometimes be difficult. Residential Living has developed several methods to facilitate a respectful and fun living arrangement.
Upon moving into the halls, Resident Assistants require new students to draw up "roommate agreements" to address the issue of guests, study time, personal belongings, and conflict resolution.
Residents are encouraged to be open–minded and honest in communicating with others. All students must take responsibility for their actions and share the responsibility for a positive roomming experience.
Please visit the many resources regarding living with a roommate, located to the left.
Play the video clip below to hear Foothill resident Cynthia discuss what it's like to live with a roommate.
Can't view the movie?
Click here to download the Apple Quicktime plug-in for your browser.
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A £3.5 million supercomputing hub is set to power growth and innovation in the Midlands and London by opening up its vast number-crunching power to local firms.
The University of Warwick is leading a group of four top universities to launch MidPlus, a state-of-the–art high-performance computing centre, to help SMEs and larger firms with the modelling, simulation and analysis needed to design world-leading products and services.
MidPlus will provide extra computing capacity to sectors such as aerospace, automotive, biomedical and advanced materials as well as delivering supercomputing skills to the local workforce.
The investment consists of £2 million from the research funding agency EPSRC and £1.5 million from the four partners – University of Warwick, University of Birmingham, University of Nottingham and Queen Mary, University of London.
The move is linked to a Government drive to increase the UK’s capacity to exploit high-performance computing in optimising process design – a key requirement to boost industries such as advanced manufacturing, scientific research and financial services.
The new centre’s facilities will be available to businesses along the M1/M6 corridor in the East and West Midlands and London.
As well as offering significantly increased capacity to local firms, Midplus will also deliver consultancy and training services which tap into the universities’ combined expertise in high-performance computing.
Director of Midplus Professor Mark Rodger said: “The ability to simulate complex processes and interrogate large datasets is the hidden motor behind much of the UK’s industrial base.
“In the Midlands and London, key industries such as aerospace, automotive and advanced materials rely on high-level supercomputing power to develop new products.
“The large set-up cost to exploit high-performance computing, both in terms of equipment and expertise, can be a major barrier to SMEs expanding into newer or bigger markets so MidPlus will make it easier for them to step up into the next league.
“It is vital that the UK maintains its investment in e-infrastructure in order to compete on a global scale - that’s why Midplus is set to provide such a far-reaching boost to established and emerging industries in the Midlands and London.”
MidPlus will significantly extend the current computing power available within the region’s universities.
The University of Warwick will increase its current capacity to give a 6,000 core cluster by the summer with very rapid communication between the cores, which will allow it to deal with very large, realistic simulations quickly and efficiently.
The upgrade to its existing server and storage cluster was provided by OCF, the high performance data processing, data management and data storage integrator.
This capability is needed to increase resolution in engineering process design and fluid dynamics models, to improve the realism of pharmaceutical modelling and to allow greater complexity in analysing and predicting the properties of advanced materials.
A high-throughput 2,900-core cluster at Queen Mary is designed to provide significant capacity for tasks that involve running large numbers of simulations with different parameters or data sets.
These will be particularly useful for SMEs that need to consider many different scenarios to identify optimal design, process or market conditions.
A very large file store and data archive is being established at Birmingham and Nottingham, mirrored between the two sites to maintain the safety and integrity of the data.
This file store will enable research data bases generated at the partner universities to be made accessible to SMEs and established industries, and will also provide a commercially-secure route for such industries to store—or commercialise—their own in-house databases.
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Laurie Tarkan writing in a Nov. 3rd New York Times article touts a study by Sara S. McLanahan, a professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton. Called the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study it has some findings that fathers and mothers should pay attention to.
One of the findings: a mother’s support of the father turns out to be a critical factor in his involvement with his children…even if the couple is divorced. Rather than just talking about “father involvement” which we hear a lot about these days, the idea is about the involvement of the couple.
The better the couple gets along, the better it is for the child. That sounds simple, but it’s often lost sight of when adults focus on their happiness.
What does get along mean? Perhaps you can give yourself a little self quiz while you ponder these points:
*Willingness to compromise
*Expressing affection or love for your partner
*Encouraging or helping your partner do things that are important to them
*An absence of insult or criticism
When these things are happening, the father is much more likely to be engaged in the home.
Researchers Philip and Carolyn Cowan also point out that fathers have been accused of uninvolvement in their children’s lives based on a lack of motivation. But instead many societal standards have added to the problem. Family resource centers are pink with magazines geared to women, and the mother is the person approached by outside sources. The father is viewed as a secondary parent.
But the mother is very much the key in the father’s involvement. Her attitude toward the father’s bent to do things differently, to act like a father rather than a mother was a key important finding in the research. Dad’s often have a different discipline style and a different style of play. Different, not bad or worse. It’s mom’s attitude toward this that has a huge impact on dad’s involvement.
The gold standard is a mom and dad in the home, parenting together in harmony. In these homes where mom and dad are working together and dad is involved in child rearing the children were much less aggressive, hyperactive, depressed or socially withdrawn.
Sounds like another reason for mom’s and dad’s to be working on the marriage and parenting, Your kids really do benefit. Your day to day choices and behavior really do matter.
Thoughts on these thoughts? Blog!
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The Coalition for Marriage and Family is a group of organizations and individuals dedicated to many issues impacting families, uniting together to raise awareness of those issues and advocate for positive change.
In particular, we are committed to ensuring that the people of Massachusetts have the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage. For current action alerts of urgent issues facing the family, click here.
Important issues we work on affecting the quality of life of families include: education, economic growth, health care, taxes, and preserving life.
On June 14, 2007 the pro-family movement lost a great battle. The Massachusetts legislature voted against allowing the people of Massachusetts to vote on the VoteOnMarriage Marriage Amendment. It was a setback that put us farther from our goal of a restoring traditional values in the Commonwealth.
But we are not defeated. We have lost a battle, but we will keep fighting to win the larger war. The hearts and minds of the people of Massachusetts are with us, and more are awakened to the state of our Commonwealth every day.
With the assistance of VoteOnMarriage.org, the Coalition for Marriage and Family has helped build dozens of Marriage and Family Chapters of grassroots activists across the state. There are thousands of citizens who contacted us to express their willingness to continue volunteering in support of traditional values. Others have expressed a desire to run for office to defeat legislators who opposed the people’s right to vote. Our grassroots army is ready and willing to enter the next stage of the fight.
As the primary pro-family organization dedicated to building and maintaining our large grassroots army for future battles, the Coalition for Marriage and Family needs your continued support for the road ahead.
Our five goals are simple . . .
We will let the citizens of Massachusetts, particularly those who attend church, know the real-life consequences of same-sex marriage, AND simple steps they can take to get involved in our battle, right in their communities.
We will continue to let our grassroots know what issues impacting the family are currently being debated on Beacon Hill, and provide easy ways for them to contact their state representatives and senators.
Our volunteers want to learn more about the nuts and bolts of how to effectively lobby their elected officials, how to run a campaign for public office, and how to organize their fellow parishioners to be more involved. We need to provide them with the expert tools and training to accomplish these goals.
We will expand our base of volunteers, so when we are ready to begin another petition to restore traditional marriage, our army of grassroots supporters is larger than ever.
We can assist candidates who favor traditional values and provide the kind of support they need to win election. We need to turn the State House around and bring people with strength of character, who cannot be bribed or threatened, into public office.
If you agree with us that a strong grassroots pro-family movement is necessary to turn our state around, please volunteer and donate.
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If there is one thing that the business world can teach public education, it is the mantra of “continuous improvement.”
That is going to be difficult for public schools next year, despite — and also, because of — some good news in school and district performance scores reported in October.
More than a third of public schools were graded A or B. New Orleans, once in the cellar of public education performance in the nation as well as the state, continues its comeback under a post-Katrina framework of public charter schools.
Some districts moved up a grade, from C to B in Lafayette Parish’s case. This is the second year letter grades were assigned to individual schools and districts, in addition to the numerical score, under a change pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and backed by lawmakers in 2010.
Even though the number of schools getting an F grade expanded, that was because the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education made the grading scale tougher, so that it is harder to scrape up to the D grade.
Nevertheless, many schools and districts serving poorer families reported gains — some schools with this year’s F grade might have better scores than schools in last year’s D class. Out of nearly 1,300 public schools, 983 had higher performance scores, about 76 percent.
All over the state, though, the growth in scores was led by high schools, with middle and elementary schools not improving so much. That is significant, as high schools last spring replaced the Graduate Exit Exam with a series of end-of-course tests in major subjects.
Leslie Jacobs, head of the nonprofit Educate Now! in New Orleans, said the higher test scores for high schools suggested a bit of “grade inflation.”
But one of the tenets of continuous improvement as a goal for public schools is that last year’s scores can and should be improved upon, and sets the target higher for next spring’s tests. About a third of schools, 440 of them, improved enough to be designated a “Top Gains” school, which means they’ll split up a $4 million pool of reward money for their educational use.
Those rewards may be harder to come by next year: John White, the state superintendent of education, said that end-of-course tests in high schools will be more rigorous in this school year. The state will also factor in student scores on the ACT college admissions test, for the first time to be administered to all students.
“Schools will have to continue to up their game if they are going to maintain this level of high performance,” White said of the scores.
He is right. We support the state’s initiatives in pushing for more rigorous preparation of students.
Yes, a big jump in scores is unusual, particularly since the rule is that one usually sees only incremental gains in public education: The harsh reality is that too many children start out behind, because of deep-seated effects of poverty and educational neglect in our state. Children are not widgets, and education is not a manufacturing process.
The challenge before public education is not to use poverty as an excuse for poor performance, but to inspire and support a culture of achievement in schools.
Louisiana still has a long way to go in putting together all the pieces, whether directly in the classroom or supports that might range from after-school tutoring to school nurses and health clinics. All can be part of educational strategies in poorer neighborhoods or districts.
The best news, then, in October’s data may not be the big gains in the averages, but that schools and districts continue to find ways to improve, even if it’s scratching out just a few more points to go from grade F to grade D.
As White observed, that will require that every district and every school up its game.
Copyright © 2011, Capital City Press LLC • 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810 • All Rights Reserved
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[Kenneth] and [Jeff] spent a weekend building a cloud chamber. This is a detection device for radiation particles that are constantly bombarding the earth. It works by creating an environment of supersaturated alcohol vapor which condenses when struck by a particle travelling through the container, leaving a wispy trail behind. This was done on the cheap, using isopropyl alcohol and dry ice. They already had a beaker, and after a few tries figured out that the dry ice worked best when serving as a bed for the flask. A black piece of paper was added inside the base of the container to help raise the contrast when looking for condensate. They experimented with a couple of different methods for warming the alcohol, including an immersion heater built from power resistors.
There’s a video explaining the apparatus which we’ve embedded after the break. It’s a bit hard to see evidence of particle travel in the video but that’s all the more reason you should give this a try yourself.
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The research team has defined the structure of the toxins and provided a basic understanding that can be used to synthesize pharmaceuticals, according to a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
"We've determined how this class of toxins interacts with actin," an important protein responsible for cellular structure and movement, says Ivan Rayment, a professor of biochemistry in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences who worked with John Allingham, a postdoctoral fellow, on the study. "We're adding to fundamental understanding which will be taken up by others to simplify chemical synthesis of what could potentially be powerful cancer treatments."
The toxins, which are produced naturally by organisms that exist symbiotically on deep-sea sponges, work by disrupting the activity of actin, an abundant protein that gives structure to eukaryotic cells.
"Actin forms long chains, or filaments, that are essential for cellular locomotion, division and growth," explains Allingham. "Because cancer cell masses grow faster than other cells in the body, actin provides an excellent target for drugs that could inhibit such rapid growth."
Adds Allingham: "These marine toxins can knock out the lynchpins in these long chains or cap their ends and kill cancer cells. Moreover, initial work shows that even a low dose of these toxins can bring a significant response."
Prior to the study published in PNAS, it was known that the marine toxins affect several forms of cancer - but not how they worked, says Rayment. The recent findings will enable the toxins to be synthesized in a lab instead of harvested from the depths of the ocean floor, mea
Source:University of Wisconsin-Madison
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While most people spend their Saturday mornings sleeping off the previous night’s misbehavior, or maybe doing a bit of housecleaning, Janna and I found ourselves on an 18th century plantation… picking weeds.
Were we serving off our community service requirement after the inevitable defamation suit from Rachael Ray?
Not yet, at least.
Instead, we were farming, or more specifically, volunteering at the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, a groundbreaking organic farm at historic Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria, VA.
Arcadia has taken a small bit of property once owned by George Washington and made it the closest working farm to the nation’s capital. The team there grows a variety of fruits and vegetables using only organic practices with the goal demonstrating environmentally and economically sustainable models of agricultural and livestock production.
Director “Farmer Mo” Moodie and her team uses the farm as a destination for school and youth groups to teach kids and teenagers about nutrition, the environment, and about where the food they eat comes from, and how that affects the world around them.
Arcadia is more than a working farm though, it is developing three other unique initiative that aim to better feed and educate the public:
- The Food Hub – This is Arcadia’s wholesale market that aims to distribute local produce to schools, restaurants, restaurants, and retail businesses.
- The Mobile Market – A former school bus, now converted to biodiesel, that will deliver healthy food to local neighborhoods while also working with schools to provide educational programs about nutrition.
- The Farm to School Network – This program work specifically to get more healthy, locally grown foods into DC public school meals.
Through these and other programs, Arcadia is working hard to fight the dual problems of childhood obesity and food deserts – poverty-stricken areas that don’t have access to healthy foods.
This brings me back to what Janna and I were doing picking weeds on Saturday morning. While the farm is already yielding beautiful examples of tomato, basil, squash and other vegetables, the process of reclaiming what was a plot overgrown with grasses and weeds will take years of hard work. Much of that work requires constantly keeping encroaching grass and weeds away from the various plots. That is what Janna and I focused on for four hours on Saturday.
Now Janna had some farm experience from attending “farm camps” as a kid, but I all I knew about working on farms came from stories from folks the I knew at Ohio State who did grow up on farms describing to us which animals had the largest, worst smelling poops.
This meant that I actually had to ask Janna a few times whether what I was about to shovel was a weed, or in fact one of the crops Arcadia is so painstakingly trying to grow. Once I got that sorted, I was off and running, digging weeds, pulling out grasses, taking wheelbarrows full of stuff over to the composting pile. All in all, it was a great time and a great chance to get outside and do “some real work” that doesn’t involve sitting at a desk or piloting spreadsheets through the Federal bureaucracy. The folks at Arcadia were great, even providing us with a snack midway through featuring some of their freshly grown watermelon, and basil (turned into pesto) along with cheese, some bread, and cookies from their partners at the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, who increasingly use Arcadia’s produce in their award-winning restaurants.
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In the Garden:
Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys
Purslane -- the weed that feeds us!
Purslane: Edible Weed
The first time I became aware that purslane had some culinary/nutritional value was from some Hispanic Master Gardeners on a tour of my garden. I'd just pulled up a pileful of purslane from the bare pathways and other low-maintenance areas where they thrive. These were my favorite love-to-hate weeds since I was a kid, when I'd spent many choreful hours hoeing them each summer.
I'd not yet taken the pile of weeds to the compost pile, and the Master Gardeners, who called the plant "verdolaga," were horrified that I was going to throw them away. They pleaded with me to take them and replant in their own gardens. Of course I was delighted to pass along the plants to them, but also surprised and pleased to know that the "weeds" had some value.
Fresh, the fleshy leaf cluster at the stem tips are crunchy and taste lemony. Cooked, they offer a tangy addition to ratatouille-type concoctions. Further described in "Specialty and Minor Crops Handbook," University of California publication 3346, they "provide more Vitamin A and C and omega-3 fatty acids than most other vegetables"! Pretty cool for a weed!
Other plants in the same family - which we appreciate more - include moss rose, miner's lettuce, and redmaids (desert rock purslane).
In the years since those novice Master Gardeners taught me something new, I no longer am "plagued" with purslane because I heavily mulch my entire garden, pathways as well as growing beds, and under fruit trees, with continually-applied layers of mulch so that it is always three to four inches deep. Whatever organic mulch-makings are available for free is fine with me -- leaves, neighbors' grass clippings (untreated with either fertilizer or herbicides) , shaved-wood-based horse-stable bedding, straw-based rabbit bedding, etc.
But, as pleased as I am with this constantly-decomposing organic matter enriching my soil and lessening its water needs, this exclusion of light means that purslane no longer germinates anywhere in my garden. And I miss it!
Care to share your gardening thoughts, insights, triumphs, or disappointments with your fellow gardening enthusiasts? Join the lively discussions on our FaceBook page and receive free daily tips!
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Below is the second of four reading samples from Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life, and Beyond: From Production to Produsage. These samples were first published as part of a series on the P2P Foundation Website, where the book was honoured as Book of the Week.
In this series:
Wikipedia, and the environments of produsage more generally, can serve as vehicles for moves beyond established and increasingly ossified structures of knowledge and expertise; they pay respect not to abstract certificates of expert accreditation, but to the active display and embodiment of expertise through constructive participation in their communities of content and knowledge creation. At their best, therefore, they are by no means anti-elitist, but instead openly invite elites and experts to share their knowledge with the wider community so that the community overall is able to gain knowledge; they are opposed, however, to any tendency to take established expertise for granted and to use one's status as an accredited expert to refrain from answering legitimate questions and challenges, wherever they may originate. Thus, for example, in journalistic produsage the lack of special prestige accorded to experts "does not mean, however, that deliberative journalism should reduce all discussion to common sense. Rather, the perspectives of 'ordinary people' should be allowed to transform the analytical distinctions of established experts as well as define new questions."
Such engagement between 'experts' and 'non-experts,' or indeed between the varying levels of expertise existing throughout the continuum, does not operate best through the facilitation of journalists, editors, or other intermediaries, but must be managed by the communities themselves; "in general, the most net-like solution … is going to be to bypass the notion of third parties and instead to find ways of putting the users' hands directly on the dial." What emerges from this community-based model may well be what Van Doren described as "an entirely new organization of scholars" : a community of knowledge creators and curators which involves those in the higher reaches of the continuum of expertise just as much as those further down the scale, and enables all to make contributions to the communal process as is appropriate to their skills and abilities - much in line with Bauwens's principle of equipotentiality which, as we have seen, assumes "that there is no prior formal filtering for participation, but rather that it is the immediate practice of cooperation which determines the expertise and level of participation."
The other side of the equipotential coin, however, is also the realization by individuals that with the right to participate openly, that is, with the acceptance of a communal stance that all participants have a useful contribution to make, regardless of their level of accreditation as experts, comes also a responsibility: the responsibility to ensure that contributions are made only where individuals have a reasonable indication that their contribution will be constructive and useful to the common aim. In other words, "equipotentiality is the assumption that the individual can self-select his [sic] contributions, which are then communally validated." This, then, is perhaps the full implication of the fundamental produsage principle of open participation and communal evaluation: an individual right, but also an obligation to the community, and a question of what we may describe as the individual's participatory capacity.
Such principles are clearly at work in many forms of collaborative content creation through produsage processes; in open source software development, for example,
the contributors for any given project are self-selected. … Contributions are received not from a random sample, but from people who are interested enough to use the software, learn about how it works, attempt to find solutions to problems they encounter, and actually produce an apparently reasonable fix. Anyone who passes all these filters is highly likely to have something useful to contribute.
Indeed, such filters are necessarily more appropriate than any filters based on expert accreditation as "nobody but the individual concerned knows better the precise nature of the skills he [sic] can contribute" , but the precision of such self-selection processes also depends crucially on individuals choosing to assess their own skills and abilities honestly. This question of self-awareness of one's own abilities and limitations provides perhaps the greatest hurdle to constructive community participation in produsage, as many disruptive contributions are nonetheless made in good faith and from a sense of having something useful to contribute;
the prevalence of misperceptions that individual contributors have about their own ability and the cost of eliminating such errors will be part of the transaction costs associated with this form of organization. They parallel quality control problems faced by firms and markets.
Here, of course, communal evaluation and filtering comes to play an important role both in policing participant contribution and neutralizing any potentially deleterious effects, and (through this process) in socializing participants to community values and needs in order to ensure that future contributions are more closely and directly aligned with the community's interests and goals. What is necessary, then, is a recognition and strengthening of community procedures by the communities themselves, and a sharing of knowledge about such processes throughout the entire project.
A stronger recognition and quantification of individual reputation and merit may help in this process; as Raymond notes for open source, "the … community's internal market in reputation exerts subtle pressure on people not to launch development efforts they're not competent to follow through on" , and the strengthening of similar 'markets' in reputation in Wikipedia and elsewhere is likely to provide further support for these other projects. Especially as such markets develop and are better recognized, then, it is also necessary to ensure that new community members are being made aware of the environment they are entering as they begin to participate; indeed, as Japanese Wikipedia administrator Kizu Naoko points out, already "on several wikis we have a 'welcoming committee', a group of users who inform newcomers of a principal set of policies and guidelines." Ultimately, indeed, in keeping with the 'reputation market' metaphor Jenkins argues that what emerges from such community self-policing tendencies "might be called a moral economy of information: that is, a sense of mutual obligations and shared expectations about what constitutes good citizenship within a knowledge community."
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Consumer credit rose by $14.6 billion in the final month of 2012, driven entirely by gains in non-revolving credit. Consumer credit has now grown for five consecutive months, gaining over 10 billion each month. Gains in recent months have been driven almost entirely by the non-revolving segment. Growth from a year ago slipped slightly, falling to 5.7% in December from 5.8% the previous month.
Nonrevolving balances accounted for the entirety of December’s gain, more than offsetting a decline in revolving balances. Revolving credit fell by $3.6 billion in December, negating most of the gains seen in the previous two months. Revolving balances have been volatile in 2012, rising in just half of the months.
Nonrevolving credit grew by $18.2 billion in December, its fifth consecutive gain and the largest gain of the five. Nonrevolving credit has now grown 8.8% in the past year. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, nonrevolving credit saw much smaller gains. Student loans continue to make heavy contributions to credit growth, accounting for about half of the non-seasonally adjusted balance.
Read the Federal Reserve release.
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‘Tantalizing’ Hints of Room-Temperature Superconductivity
Researchers in Germany have claimed a breakthrough: a material that can act as a superconductor — transmit electricity with zero resistance — at room temperature and above. Superconductors offer huge potential energy savings, but until now have worked only at temperatures of lower than about -110 °C.
Now, Pablo Esquinazi and his colleagues at the University of Leipzig report that flakes of humble graphite soaked in water seem to continue superconducting at temperatures of greater than 100 °C1. Even Esquinazi admits that the claim “sounds like science fiction”, but the work has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Materials, and other physicists contacted by Nature say that the results, although tentative, merit further scrutiny.
Graphite, which consists of layers of carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal lattices, can superconduct when doped with elements that provide it with additional free electrons. Calcium graphite, for example, superconducts at up to 11.5 kelvin (about -260 °C)2, and theorists have predicted that temperatures of up to 60 kelvin could be reached if enough free electrons were available.
Esquinazi’s team speculates that high concentrations of electrons form at the interfaces between neighbouring thin segments of graphite. Having already observed superconductivity at more than 100 kelvin at the interfaces within an artificial type of bulk graphite known as pyrolytic graphite3, the researchers wondered whether they could reach even higher temperatures by doping flakes of graphite powder.
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These were a freebie. With the children's comic Tweenies.
These were a good freebie to recieve stuck on the front page of the comic .
The shakers /maracas are small about 7 inches /118cm long. They are made out of a hard bright pink plastic which has shiny sparkly bits embedded into it. These maracas are bright and attractive to a child
The handle is thin about 3-½ inches/9 cm long. It is just right for a toddler
's hand to grip. There is a hollow ball shape at the end this contains some brightly coloured small beads
. When this toy
is shaken the rattle about and make a sound.
The sound is a gentle shaking noise it could be used to represent rain in lesson or song with your child.
A good rain song is I hear thunder .
I hear thunder I hear thunder ,
Hark dont you hark dont you .
Pitter patter rain drops pitter patter raindrops .
I'm wet through I'm wet through .
So are YOU
sung to Frere Jacka
I think these are suitable for a two three year old to play with , Small children love things that make sounds .
If you have a small baby
You could shake these behind your babies
head see if he can detect where the sound is coming from , Some of my special needs children at work like these they like the sound . I have one or two children that are in wheelchairs have no or little communication skill and we do try and stimulate thier senses these are good as they are bright and the sound atttractive one of my children will eye point at them for me to shake them and will eye track as I move it from side to side . will try and turn thier head when the sound is behind or above them. I get smiles from my children when I use these and thier eyes light up. This is the way I can tell my non verbal children like this toy.
Sometimes I will put the maracas in a childs
handand gently hold thier hand around the handle and I will help them shake it either to precorded music
or to me singing a familiar song.
I hope by doing this the child will be aware that the action they are doing is making the sound..
These are good for all pre school and those up to about the age of 6 .
Many songs can be sung and your child can accompany with these or put some music on and let your child shake and rattle these sparkly shakers. This is a good excersise in listening and playing in time getting the right rhythm.
Music is always a good motivator and a great thing to listen to with your child . use different kinds of music and talk about it with them while they shake the maracas pointing out saying fast , slow , loud and quiet encorageing them to play the same qualities as the music. If you managed to get this freebie that's good if not why not make a home made shaker a empty tin , box , plastic container with beands or beads put in ( remember seal the top securly) this will keep your child busy making and aquiring skills also be fun to shake and make a noise later .. if you have the freebie why not make a shaker to show how it is made. Have fun.
These maracas are now a couple of months old , have had quite a lot of use , have been dropped and as yet have not broken , for a freebie seem quite well made
December 23rd 2006.
went to daughters noticed gdaughter playing with this so it was def a good freebie
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- Special Sections
- TV Listings
In 2010 Goodwill Industries was awarded their first grant funding for veteran's assistance. Other funding for veterans’ assistance is supported by proceeds from the sale of $2 Veterans Cash scratch-off lottery tickets. This in itself has helped many veterans in so many ways.
Goodwill Industries of West Texas helps support veterans from young to old. Those who have served our country now have support that was well past due.
Chuck Wilson, who served in the Navy in the past, is now the Coordinator of Veterans Services for Goodwill West Texas. Assisting Wilson is Arlanda M. Robinson who served in the Marines, and is now the Veteran Outreach liaison for Goodwill West Texas.
Veterans can now go somewhere where they can receive help not only for themselves, but for their families, too. These services include limited emergency financial assistance, transportation services, employment, training, education and job placement assistance, housing assistance for homeless veterans, family and child services, legal services, excluding criminal defense, development of professional services networks and enhancement of veterans' assistance programs, including veterans' representation and counseling.
Wilson said, "Many veterans not only come out of the military with just PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), they are also noticing more soldiers coming out with TBI (traumatic brain injury). Texas Veterans Commission also provides counseling for this trauma."
Traumatic brain injury is a form of acquired brain injury and occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. It can result when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. Symptoms may vary from headaches, confusion, light-headedness, dizziness, blurred vision or tired eyes, ears ringing, behavioral or mood changes, memory loss, lack of concentration, awakening from sleep and much more.
TBI is different from post-traumatic stress disorder, which is more of an anxiety disorder. It may occur after seeing or experiencing a traumatic event that involved threat of injury or of death. The affliction is usually tied in with memories of the event or flashback-related incidents.
Wilson and Robinson both work as a team, just as they were trained. They are getting the word out that they are trying to make veterans aware of Goodwill Industries of West Texas, it is there to help all veterans with issues that they may come across daily.
Funding is available for different things such as helping a veteran get reimbursed in travel expenses for operations or certain check ups, to helping them get a job in the everyday civilian's environment. At times it can be difficult for a veteran to get back into the everyday lifestyle or environment of civilian life. That's where Goodwill West Texas can help.
Another place that can provide help is Workforce Solutions, with a local location at 1105 Bell Street in Sweetwater. They provide computers that a veteran may get on to look for work or to apply for jobs, as well as create their resumé, and much more. Workforce Solutions has career specialists on the premises to provide help in-house for veterans to maybe find jobs that they may be qualified for within their area of location. They have many other tutorials, and some small courses to help them on other skills and/or trades that may benefit them on getting a better job or better opportunities.
Wilson did say that they are not sure of what is to follow into the next year, 2012, as of yet, due to state cutbacks and funding. In the meantime, they are going to continue moving forward and making sure that veterans are aware that there is help out there.
For more information or assistance contact Chuck Wilson, or ask for a Veteran Outreach Coordinator at 325-676-7925 or come by Goodwill, located at 2000 N. 1st Street in Abilene, Texas 79603.
Further information can be found at the Texas Veterans Commission: www.tvc.state.tx.us.
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Results 1 to 6 of 6
Thread: Contractions on 1st Trimester
19th May 2012 03:38 PM #1
- Join Date
- May 2012
Contractions on 1st Trimester
I have a friend who is almost 3 mos pregnant now, and she's experiencing contractions every now and then. This is her 2nd pregnancy and she's worried because she never experienced this on her 1st pregnancy. Could there be something wrong with the baby? Is this normal to other pregnant women? Could this lead to miscarriage?
23rd May 2012 03:06 PM #2
- Join Date
- Dec 2011
It's likely round ligament pain or maybe even early Braxton Hicks. Braxton Hicks contractions, which are sometimes known as "practice" contractions or "false labor" are more noticeable during subsequent pregnancies.
Just having one every now and then, likely isn't anything to worry about. If they become regular or seem to set into a pattern, or she experiences any spotting she notify her care provider immediately to rule out other, more serious issues.
Last edited by mom2many; 23rd May 2012 at 03:08 PM.
13th June 2012 07:01 AM #3
Contractions aren't normal for the first trimester, and I would encourage her to talk to her midwife or doctor if she is experiencing something that concerns her. Sometimes drinking Red Raspberry Leaf tea during the first trimester can cause cramping, but drinking only 1 cup a day during the first trimester shouldn't cause cramping/contractions.. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea can be very helpful for toning the uterus, and some midwives encourage women to start drinking it in their 2nd or 3rd trimester.
Cramping or contractions could also be caused by a lack of progesterone. When a woman conceives, the corpus luteum is responsible for making sure there's enough progesterone produced to support the pregnancy. Around 8 weeks post conception, the placenta takes over production of progesterone in much greater amounts. If the placenta is not creating enough progesterone to support the pregnancy, then cramping and contractions can occur, threatening miscarriage.
Some women use natural progesterone cream throughout their pregnancy (until week 37 or so) to help support their pregnancy. I've seen this done in women who are in their 40's. In fact one of my dear friends used natural progesterone cream to keep her pregnancy after 6 miscarriages. Her midwife encouraged her to use it up until week 37 of her pregnancy, and she gave birth to a full term baby.
Please post back and let us know if your friend has had an appointment with her doctor or midwife lately, and let us know how she is doing.
18th July 2012 10:19 PM #4
- Join Date
- Jul 2012
My wife is now on her 18 weeks. Its her first pregnancy. In the morning she feels the pain of having leg cramps and also vaginal cramps. Is it just normal? When she have that pain, I am asking her to lie down and put her legs in top of a pillow and as well in an elevated position. Is it just normal? And how many minutes she needs to feel this if its normal.
22nd July 2012 03:08 PM #5
Having leg cramps during pregnancy is an indication that your wife probably needs a calcium/magnesium supplement. Baby is starting to develop a lot more bone now and he/she will take what he/she needs from mum. If she doesn't have enough for both her and the baby, then her bone and teeth calcium will be reduced which can cause bone and tooth loss.
I'd highly recommend that your wife take a calcium/magnesium supplement according to the label on the bottle and my guess is that the leg cramps and possibly even vaginal cramps will settle down within a week's time.
Please post back and let us know if it helps.
23rd July 2012 08:58 PM #6
Some women also experience nerve pain in their legs during pregnancy which can feel like a cramping sensation too. If your wife's midwife thinks this may be the case then she could refer your wife to the physiotherapy department for guidance on some exercises to help with this. It is also advisable to keep lifting to a minimum.
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Last Updated: December 13, 2010
The holiday season brings considerable focus on money issues. People are generally spending more around this time of year, and if one’s financial circumstances are precarious, it’s a time of considerable stress.
In fact, the American Psychological Association’s Stress in America survey, released last month, revealed that money (76 percent), work (70 percent) and the economy (65 percent) remain the most often-cited sources of stress for Americans. That’s why it’s a good idea to make some specific money resolutions for 2011.
If financial stress is part of your life, resolve to extinguish it over the next year. Consider the following resolutions to lead a better financial life in 2011.
- Put your most important goals on paper: What do you really want out of life? Granted, all great dreams don’t cost money, but many of them do. Money buys freedom — to travel, to retire early, to start a business, to change careers. Putting goals in writing gives them formality and a starting point for the planning you must do.
- Understand how much risk you can really tolerate: One of the most beneficial things financial planners do is help you articulate your financial goals and establish (or re-establish) your tolerance for risk. Even though the market has recovered from the crash of 2008, it’s worth revisiting your capacity for risk.
- Track your spending: If you haven’t purchased financial accounting software or set up a reliable accounting method of your own, this is the year to do it. Diligent expense tracking is the first critical step to getting personal finances in order. Free resources like Mint.com offer financial planning software, but always check the security of your data. By tracking your spending, you will be able to distinguish the fixed committed expenses from the discretionary expenses.
- Cut back on non-essential spending: Whether it’s designer coffee, nightly carryout or too many trips to the mall, once you start to track your spending, it will be easier to identify areas where you can make adjustments. You don’t have to give up treats completely — just make them treats.
- Get some professional advice: Maybe you’ve always completed your taxes alone and put your faith in your employer’s retirement plans to chart your financial future. If you’re like most people in this position, your goals are still far from reach. Get references for qualified tax professionals and consider consulting with a financial planning professional to discuss your current retirement savings and what steps you can take to improve your situation.
- Put the credit cards away: If you can’t ever seem to get yourself completely out of credit card debt, make this the year to do it. Take inventory of your balances, figure out if you can consolidate them under your lowest-rate card, and resolve to pay off an amount that exceeds the minimum — on time, every month. Once your cards are paid off, don’t close them — that could have an adverse effect on your credit score. Just put small repeat purchases on them that you can pay off in total at the end of the month to keep them active. Oh, and pay cash from now on.
- Save: If you haven’t signed up for your employer’s 401(k) plan or begun a savings plan tailored for the self-employed, this is the year. And resolve to save at least five to 10 percent of your take-home pay based on your cash flow, and place the maximum in whatever retirement savings plans you qualify for, especially if your employer will match all or part of that contribution.
- Get ahead on your mortgage: This advice isn’t for everybody, but if you’ve paid off your credit cards, apply the same principle to your mortgage payment. Every dollar you prepay will potentially save thousands in interest over the life of the loan if you plan to stay in your home long-term. In fact, if you make one extra payment a year, either at once or in equal monthly shares over the course of a year, you can cut at least five years of payments on a 30-year loan. Just don’t short your retirement investment plans to accomplish this.
- Invest in yourself: If going back to college or taking specific coursework will help you advance in your career, plan to do it. If investing in a health club membership that you actually use makes sense for your health as well as your insurance costs, do it.
- Redefine the way you shop for essentials: Most people were forced to change their shopping habits during the recession, but there are still ways to fine-tune. As a suggestion, get a legal pad and create a centralized shopping list — use a single page for groceries, stock-up goods (it’s wise to start buying essentials in bulk if you can measure the savings), and note bigger expenditures you’ll need to make at specific times. Taking that pad with you wherever you spend money is a good way to keep a grip on your wallet as long as you don’t stray from the list.
- Attack that miscellaneous column: Do you really need premium cable? How much are you paying for your Internet service? Consider bundling your Internet, cable and telephone service with one provider. Can you wear a sweater around the house and lower the thermostat? In every budget, there are items that can be cut — or at least trimmed. Take a hard look at all your “essentials” to see how essential they really are. Aim for a target of at least 10 percent in savings every time you cut and start setting that money aside on a regular basis.
- Bid out your insurance: All insurance you buy for yourself — home, auto, health and beyond — should be bid out once a year. Home and auto should be bought together because the savings are generally better.
- Prescription drugs: Consult with your primary care physician to determine if any of your medication has generic formulary available.
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The Wakame Gatherers
by Holly Thompson
When Nanami’s Gram from Maine visits Japan, Nanami’s Japanese grandmother Baachan takes them to the seashore to gather wakame seaweed for cooking. World War II memories are shared as the grandmothers become friends through their love for Nanami. Includes three recipes. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2007.
Spain or Shine BR 18085
by Michelle Jellen
At home in California, sixteen-year-old Elena Holloway feels overshadowed by her siblings. But then she spends a semester in Spain living with a Spanish family, studying playwriting, and flirting with Miguel, an attractive local boy. For grades 6-9. 2005.
Six Innings: A Game in the Life BR 18140
by James Preller
Twelve-year-old Sam Reiser loved being on a baseball team. Even though cancer has forced him to use a wheelchair now, Sam still participates in the Little League championship as the game's announcer. With his best friend Mike Tyree playing, Sam becomes caught up in the action. For grades 5-8. 2008.
Baseball Crazy: Ten Short Stories That Cover All the Bases BR 18142
by Nancy E. Mercado
Ten authors write about hometown baseball and its players--good, mediocre, and bad. In Joseph Bruchac's "Ball Hawk," Mitchell, whose deceased father was a Native American and a great ball player, heeds his uncle's lessons and finally hits a long, high ball to an unusual catcher. For grades 4-7. 2008.
The Diamond of Darkhold BR 18292
by Jeanne DuPrau
Lina's trade with a roamer gains Doon a battered old book that alludes to a mysterious device. Lina and Doon return underground to Ember to retrieve the machine, hoping it will help their new community, Sparks. Companion to The People of Sparks (BR 15562). For grades 5-8. 2008.
Lucky Breaks BR 18355
by Susan Patron
As Lucky turns eleven, she wishes for change. When smart and funny Paloma visits tiny Hard Pan, California, Lucky considers her to be best-girlfriend material. But Lucky has much to learn about friendship and parental trust. Sequel to The Higher Power of Lucky (BR 16881). For grades 4-7. 2009.
Eleven Birthdays BR 18360
by Wendy Mass
Born on the same day, Leo and Amanda have shared nine birthday parties. But on their tenth, Amanda's feelings are hurt and she doesn't speak to Leo for a year. When their separate eleventh birthdays keep repeating, Leo and Amanda need to reconcile to get unstuck. For grades 4-7. 2009.
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator BR 18368
by Roald Dahl
Mr. Willy Wonka's magic glass elevator accidentally orbits Charlie Bucket and his family into space, where they fight ferocious battles with the dreadful Vermicious Knids and barely rescue Grandma Georgina from Minusland, where people disappear. Sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (BR 11466). For grades 4-7. 1972.
After Tupac and D Foster BR 18562
by Jacqueline Woodson
Eleven-year-olds Neeka and her best friend meet newcomer "D Foster" and the three girls become a team. When their hero, rapper Tupac, is shot, they decide to have a "big purpose" as Tupac did and stay friends forever--but D's mom returns. For grades 6-9 and older readers. Newbery Honor Book. 2008.
Go to the NLS Home Page
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The Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973 to protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats, and protects both plants and animals. The ESA prohibits the import, export, interstate sale or “taking” of any listed species. “Take” is defined as “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.” The law is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service. In order for a species to be listed or delisted under the ESA, the proposed action must be published in the Federal Register and and the Secretary of the Interior must consider public comments on the proposal. Over 1,500 species are currently listed as either endangered or threatened under the ESA.
The ESA also allows the designation of critical habitat, so that a listed species' habitat can be protected.
The Endangered Species Act can be found at 16 U.S.C. § 1531, the full text of which is available here.
The information on this website is not legal advice and is not a substitute for legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney.
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Sociocultural anthropology is represented by faculty members who have done research in Oceania, East and Southeast Asia, the Americas, and Africa. Expertise among populations in the United States is particularly strong.
Most of the specializations within sociocultural anthropology are represented, but the subdiscipline's main strengths lie in applied anthropology, medical anthropology, political anthropology, and symbol systems. Faculty members have research interests in medical anthropology, in such areas as aging, contemporary and historical epidemiology, African medical systems, and health problems in developing nations. Applied anthropology is the primary focus of four faculty members, and studies by other sociocultural anthropologists often address policy and social problems. Such projects have included development studies in East Asia and the Pacific; asymmetric conflicts; the meat and poultry industry's impact on workers and communities in the High Plains and Upper South; analysis of community development, social movements, and human rights in Peruvian Amazonia; evaluation of the implications of natural resource management policies for traditional resource extractors in rural Florida; videography to support health care among Cabecar Indians in Costa Rica; and the cultural consequences of testing and other technologies in contemporary America. Many recipients of advanced degrees have gone on to careers in applied research and nonacademic practice. Four faculty members are interested in symbolic processes that endow the world and human existence with cultural meaning. Their research focuses on problems of method and theory, religion, art and other material aspects of culture, and language in culture.
Graduate students in sociocultural anthropology are introduced to the specializations and approaches represented by the faculty. They take course work in at least one geographical area and electives in areas of interest. Both the M.A. and the Ph.D. programs are tailored to the needs of individual students and stress intensive one-on-one discussions between students and their advisers.
Facilities and Student Support Facilities include an outstanding ethnographic collection with the Spencer Museum of Art, a multimedia laboratory, and the Human Relations Area Files. Teaching and research assistantships are available.
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Rights Action website highlights Guatemala struggles
Rights Action, an activist organisation that works to support communities in Central America struggling for political and environmental justice, has some interesting articles, including this one on the impact of the Marlin gold mine in San Marcos, Guatemala:
PROBLEMS CREATED BY THE GOLDCORP MARLIN MINE IN SAN MARCOS
by Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini of the Diocese of San Marcos, March 11, 2012
It also notes that a Danish pension fund has divested its €242,134 stake in Canada-based mining firm Goldcorp over pollution at the Marlin mine, following engagement from campaigners at DanWatch.
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Archive for the ‘paradox’ Category
The solution to the Monty Hall problem (switching wins you 2/3 of a car) depends for its answer on the fact that you know how Monty will act. Other host behaviours are possible. So my question is this: what is the best strategy if you don’t know what Monty’s behaviour is? Is it different in single case vs long run scenarios? In the latter case, what about a strategy that allows you to alter your behaviour depending on Monty’s behaviour? I don’t really know how to answer these questions; I have enough trouble convincing myself of the solution to the original problem!
In other news, a couple of books by D.H. Mellor are available for free online! Matters of Metaphysics and The Matter of Chance. And more philosophy gubbins- Philosophy Bites: Bitesize philosophy podcasts. Wonderful.
One last thing. Tim Minchin and Duke Special look quite similar. They both play piano type music. But Tim Minchin is from Australia and does comedy songs and Mr. Special is from Northern Ireland and plays “proper music.”
So this is the first in what I hope will be a regular feature on this blog highlighting some paradoxes and thought experiments that show that people are not very good at thinking rationally. I hope to convince you that people really do suck at probabilistic reasoning and sometimes even simple logical reasoning fails. This is motivated partly by misanthropy- I think people are stupid. And partly by my fascination with these kinds of puzzles. A third motivation is that I think epistemology based on rational degrees of belief (Subjective Bayesianism for example) is flawed. Particularly in cases like quantum mechanics. But more of that in a later post. For now I’ll stick to the Monty Hall problem.
Monty offers you three doors- A,B and C. Behind one door is a car and behind the other two doors are goats. The idea is to pick the door with the car behind it because then you win the car. But if you don’t want a car, or you do want a goat, imagine that behind one door is something you really do want and behind the other two doors are things you don’t want. Like one door could be a treasure chest full of gold doubloons and behind the other two doors are scurvy. Or behind one door is cake and behind the other two doors is death. Or behind one door is Hans Christian Andersen’s The little mermaid and behind the other two doors is Katie Price’s Mermaids and Pirates. Behind one door is Battleship Potemkin and the other two doors the Pokemon movie. You get the idea.
So you pick a door. WLOG assume you picked door A. Monty now opens one of the other two doors and reveals a goat (scurvy, whatever). Now, you are offered the chance to swap doors. Should you swap doors? The answer is that yes you should. The probability of your winning a car by swapping doors is higher than if you stick with your original door. That does seem a little counter-intuitive, does it not? Surely once one of the goat doors has been revealed, there are two doors remaining and one has a car behind it. 50-50? If you are thinking that, then you are irrational and stupid. That’s not how to think about it.
Think about it this way- 2/3 of the time, the first door you pick, door A, will have a goat behind it. In those circumstances, one of door B or C will have the car (doubloons etc) behind it. So Monty won’t be able to open that door, he’ll have to open the other one. Which means switching will give you the car door. That happens 2/3 of the time… So you should always switch.
To make this even clearer, imagine there are 100 doors. 99% of the time you pick a goat door. Now Monty opens 98 goat doors. To leave you with your door and one other door remaining. So switching doors will net you a car 99% of the time.
There are two strategies. Either always switch or never switch. (OK, there are strategies where you randomly switch with probability p, but trust me setting p = 1 is optimal…) So two options. If you decide to never switch, you get the car 1/3 of the time – those times you pick the right door first time. Always switching, you’d think, would get you the car at least 50% of the time. In fact it’s even better than that. It gets you the car 2/3 of the time. Because if the only strategies are switch or don’t switch, and the only outcomes are win or don’t win; if one strategy wins 1/3 of the time, the other strategy has to win the other two thirds of the time.
Why isn’t it 50%? Because having Monty open a door tells you more about the door you haven’t picked than it does about the door you have picked. If you still aren’t convinced and think it is still 1/2, I suggest we meet up and simulate the game with playing cards, or play the card version of Bertrand’s box paradox. For money. I promise you, if we play for long enough, I will be able to buy myself a car with the money I swindle out of you. Except that I can’t drive. So I’d be looking to buy a chest full of gold. YARRR.
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Dealing with imminent or
actual major events
Crisis management is a process for dealing with the threat, onset and
ongoing consequences of imminent or actual major events that have the
potential to harm the organization, its stakeholders or the general
public. A crisis usually results in a period where normal operations
can not be continued in full and this period can be referred to as a
period during which abnormal operations prevail.
Crisis management or organizational resilience planning
Crisis management planning describes the process where preparation is made for responding to and handling a potential crisis. A potential crisis can be identified during a risk analysis process where hazards and threats are analyzed and impact and consequences are assessed. Crisis management planning is an important management process as it not only identifies possible disruptive events but enables the management, supported as necessary by qualified specialists, to develop suitable strategies for reducing the likelihood of those events occurring, reducing the frequency of these events, reducing the likely impact from those events, increasing the effectiveness of continuity plans and increasing the level of protection against these events. This process is also known as organizational resilience whereby risks are identified and measured, suitable strategies devised and costed and cost effective risk treatment projects are introduced in order to avoid the more serious consequences and implications of these risks.
Open and consistent communication
The credibility and reputation of an organization is heavily influenced by the perception of their responses during crisis situations. There should be open and consistent communication throughout the hierarchy to contribute to a successful crisis communication process whilst protecting critical and sensitive data provided such protection it does not result in increasing the risk of causing injuries.
Framework for crisis management response
Crisis management activities should provide a framework for a structured response to both the reality and perception of an imminent or actual crisis; establishes the triggering of any necessary response mechanisms; and covers the communication and notification that needs to occur within the immediate response phase of emergency management scenarios. Crisis management involves dealing with threats after they have become imminent or have occurred. This management discipline consists of skills and techniques required to identify, assess, understand, and cope with serious situations, especially from the moment each situation first occurs to the point that recovery procedures start.
Crisis management phases
The first stage of crisis management can involve emergency management activities that require timely and decisive action such as evacuating an area of danger, calling the emergency services, or treating injuries. Where the disruptive event is likely to seriously impact on the business operations then a suitable continuity plan is likely to be triggered.
Coverage in the Organizational Resilience software
The ASIS Organizational Resilience Software provides a significant amount of functionality that supports crisis management planning and handling of disruptive events. The software has separate functions for incident management planning that focuses on the emergency management stage, the repair or replacement of affected assets or resources, recovery of affected components and the returning of operations to normality. The software has a further area for the continuity planning which concentrates on preparing for continuation of critical operational processes as far as possible in an attempt to meet contractual or other obligations during abnormal working conditions.
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Islam - The Religion of Peace
by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
The root word of Islam is ‘silm’, which means peace. So the spirit of Islam is the spirit of peace. The first verse of the Qur’an breathes the spirit of peace. It reads:
“In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.”
This verse is repeated in the Qur’an no less than 113 times. It shows the great importance Islam attaches to such values as Mercy and Compassion. One of God’s names, according to the Qur’an, is As-Salam, which means peace. Moreover the Qur’an states that the Prophet Muhammad PBUH was sent to the world as a mercy to mankind. (21:107)
A perusal of the Qur’an shows that most verses of the Qur’an (and also the Hadith) are based on peace and kindness, either directly or indirectly. The ideal society, according to the Qur’an is Dar as-Salam, that is, the house of peace (10:25).
The Qur’an presents the universe as a model that is characterized by harmony and peace (36:40). When God created heaven and earth, He so ordered things that each part might perform its function peacefully without clashing with any other part. The Qur’an tells us that “the sun is not allowed to overtake the moon, nor does the night outpace the day. Each in its own orbit runs.” (36:40)
For billions of years, therefore, the entire universe has been fulfilling its function in total harmony with His divine plan. These are only but a few references to show what great importance Islam attaches to peace. In fact, Islam cannot afford not to be in a state of peace because all that Islam aims at—spiritual progress, intellectual development, character building, social reform, educational activities, and above all Missionary work —can be achieved only in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.
According to Islam, Paradise is the ideal human abode, and is thus called the ‘Home of Peace.’ It is also said that, the people of Paradise will wish peace to one another, indicating that the social culture of the people of Paradise will be based on peace.
The Quran, avers that, ‘reconciliation is best’ (4:128), and judging by the consequences, the way of peace is far better than that of confrontation. By the law of Nature, God has decreed that success will be met with only on a reconciliatory path, and not on a confrontational or a violent course of action.
Whenever the Prophet had an option between two courses of action, he always chose the easier (non-confrontational) one. (Bukhari)
This means that, violent activism should not be indulged in if peaceful activism is an option. For, peace is the easier course as compared to violence.
For instance, trying to change the status quo in the very first stage of a movement is a hard option, while launching one’s activities in the available sphere without doing so is an easier option.
Going to war in confrontational situations is a hard option while following a conciliatory course in dealing with one’s rival is easier. Countering aggression with aggression is a hard option, while countering aggression with patience and forbearance is an easier option. An agitational course of action is harder than employing quiet strategy. Adopting a radical method of reformation is harder than that of following a gradual method. Taking emotional, extreme steps without a thought for their consequences creates difficulties. While a well-considered method, keeping an eye on the consequences, gives much better results. The policy of confrontation with a ruler is a harder option, while initiating one’s action; by sidestepping the ruler in the sphere of education and learning is an easier option. These instances show us the easier and harder options, as demonstrated by the Hadith.
The truth is that peace in Islam is the ‘rule’, while war is the ‘exception’. This is borne out by all the teachings of Islam and the practical life of the Prophet of Islam.
Subject: islam - 18 September 2008
non muslims do not have the right to tag islam it is a baddua from me who will tag it bad will never find peace in their soul
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Marcellus Shale drilling may take huge chunks out of PA forests
Loss could heavily impact wildlife habitat, state's ability to meet TMDL goal
During the coming two decades, Pennsylvania could lose enough forest land to build a couple of large cities. The forest won't be lost in a single large chunk, but as thousands of small sites that are cleared to drill natural gas wells and connected with hundreds of miles of new pipelines.
While those impacts will be scattered across the landscape, their cumulative impact on forest habitats could be severe, and it could also complicate the state's efforts to meet its nutrient and sediment reduction obligations under the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, or pollution diet.
"It's not so much that people know it would keep the TMDL from being met," said Nels Johnson, director of conservation programs with The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania. "It's that no one knows whether or not this really threatens the state's efforts to meet the TMDL."
Much of the concern about environmental impacts related to the Marcellus Shale natural gas boom has been related to the water quality impacts of hydraulic fracking, the process of injecting huge amounts of water and chemicals under high pressure deep into the ground to break apart rock and access gas.
Johnson led a team that tackled a different question - how the drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation could affect land use and, ultimately, wildlife habitats in Pennsylvania.
By using information about the depth and thickness of the Marcellus formation in different areas and a variety of other variables, they developed a model to project where the 60,000 wells expected to be drilled in the next two decades will go.
The analysis projects that about 60 percent of the wells will be drilled on forest land - the dominant land cover over much of the Marcellus Shale in the state.
A key factor that affects how much forest will be directly affected by drilling is the number of wells drilled on each drilling pad. A typical pad is about 3 acres but requires about six additional acres for roads and other related infrastructure. Right now, the average is less than two wells per pad, Johnson said, but he expects that to increase to between 4 and 10 wells per pad over time.
While scattered pads may not seem to have great impact, the analysis estimates that, across Pennsylvania, 38,000-90,000 acres of forest may ultimately be cleared for wells seeking to tap the Marcellus Shale formation, which underlies the western and northern portions of the state. Another 60,000-150,000 acres of forest could be lost for new pipelines.
"It's a cumulative impact," Johnson said. "Ultimately, that's why we did this - because we wanted to have a better understanding of the cumulative impact, and how worried we should be about this."
Pennsylvania's large tracts of intact forests are important for an array of wildlife, from brook trout to forest interior birds. Forest birds such as the scarlet tanager, which have declined in many areas, have generally held their own in Pennsylvania's large forests.
That could change as forests are chopped up for wells and pipelines. Many predators, from blue jays to raccoons, thrive along forest edges, from which they forage into the woods, picking off birds or the eggs of wood thrush, ovenbirds and other species that normally rely on large forests for refuge. Not only will forests be directly lost to drill pads and pipelines, but forests near those opening will be rendered uninhabitable for many species.
But the analysis also raises a concern for Chesapeake cleanup efforts. The conservancy estimates that about 46 percent of the drilling would take place within the Bay watershed. That suggests the forest loss within the watershed portion of Pennsylvania could be between 45,000-110,000 acres.
For comparison, that's enough land to build between 1 to 2.5 District of Columbias.
Because forests absorb more nutrients and retain more sediment than other land uses, their loss could result in more of those pollutants reaching local streams.
Assuming those forests are converted to meadow, and applying loading rates derived from the Bay Program model, rough estimates suggest it could increase the amount of nitrogen runoff reaching local streams between 30,000-80,000 pounds a year; while phosphorus could increase between 15,000-40,000 pounds; and sediment could increase between 18 million to 45 million pounds. The variation depends on whether the amount of forest lost was at the low, or high end of the conservancy's estimates.
Right now, the land use changes are not included in the state's watershed implementation plan, which shows how it plans to meet nutrient and sediment limits set in the TMDL.
Kevin Sunday, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said sediment and erosion control guidelines would require best management practices to control runoff and well sites would need to be re-vegetated.
Johnson said that, as a practical matter, it is difficult to reforest areas disturbed for drilling as companies need to maintain access to wells and pipelines. Further, a recent study showed that reforestation generally wasn't taking place at drilling sites, he said.
Katherine Antos, water quality team leader with the EPA's Bay Program Office in Annapolis, said state pollution limits set in the TMDL were based on land uses in place in 2010. "If there are any changes to that, any increased loads or new sources, states have to be able to offset those increases," she said.
Antos said the EPA is currently reviewing offset programs for all states in the watershed.
Harry Campbell, a scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said concerns about the impacts related to drilling activities on the Bay TMDL were among the reasons that it and several other organizations petitioned the federal government last year seeking the development of an Environmental Impact Statement to examine the full range of Marcellus drilling impacts in the state.
"We just don't know enough about all this to get a handle on what the potential impacts are," he said. "If we don't have that, then we are flying blind."
That petition is still pending.
Meanwhile, Johnson said the conservancy has been using its analyses to work with drilling companies to encourage drilling more wells at existing pads to reduce forest loss. It's also integrating more habitat data into its model to help steer drilling away from sensitive areas. Companies have been "pretty interested," he said. "We're pretty confident it is going to help, but we know it is not going to eliminate impacts."
Comments are now closed for this article. Comments are accepted for 60 after publication.
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The world is getting more innovative, brings in new ideas on board and since internet has allowed amateur writers to share their thoughts and ideas through blogging it has grown many folds. In the same lines many concept and ideas are born out of the same thought process. When we look at the website promotion, now we see a lot more ways of promotion unlike Onpage, offpage seo and others. The latest forms have been the blog comments which leaves the website link which helps in the webpage ranking of the websites. It works as a link building for the websites, which helps a great deal to the websites.
But, once you think of commenting on a blog for some purpose; building links for your website you must be smart enough. There are certain concept that are in the market for a while which is used by the SEOs across to get their link used in favor of their website.
However, there are certain rules and strategies to follow before one makes a comment and hoping the return in the form of page rank or traffic.
If you want to make your comment count you need to be shrewd enough to understand the topic on which you are making the comment. Random comments do not work in most of the cases. It is better to make a comment tailor-made for a certain post because vague comments are just thrown out of the radar.
Search for those blogs which have higher page ranking and does makes a sense to your website or the product you sell. It is always advisable to go to blog directory to choose a niche blog that suits or similar to your website and must have a better page rank. At SEObricks.com, we consider blog commenting on do follow blogs as they play the role in creating backlinks for your sites.
If you are thinking every post counts then you are wrong. A blog with the highest page ranking have certain posts that do not stand a good reputation in the search engine and for that matter in the page ranking. So, before you comment on a blog post looks for its page rank.
So, till now you have seen what impacts blog commenting have. But, do you know, it’s not the cat that can go easy with all of its masters. Blog Handling is effective but it must be done carefully. Here at SEObricks.com, we have excelled in such promotional activities. We look for the most suitable blogs and submit your site’s link there. Our is not only bring visitors to you but also to look for more and more numbers of dofollow blog to help you increase your website’s backlinking – an effort that is coupled with long term effect. Lets join hands together for best priced and most target oriented blog commenting by using the request quote form available on SEObricks.com website.
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Sometimes all it takes to bring a dream to life is a bit of investment. And whether you dream of running a coffee shop, starting an organic farm, or maybe creating a new phone app, chances are you’ll need an investment. A small business loan, crowdsourced funds, or an angel investor, someone has to invest in you before you can seize your entrepreneurial ambitions and improve your community.
Should it surprise us then, that entrepreneurs in Malawi also need an investment to start and grow their businesses?
For the last 5 years, I’ve been working with some of these entrepreneurs, these “mom and pop” small business owners, in Manyamula Village, in rural Malawi. And I’ve seen how people like Hastings and Ruth Fuvu are leveraging the $150 Small Business Fund grant from Spirit in Action to improve their local economy, reduce poverty, and pay for more education for their children.
Hastings and Ruth were using their good marketing skills to buy and sell tomatoes at the local market. They would travel to farms outside of town, buy a small basket of tomatoes, and then turn around and sell them in the market. They had larger plans and the $150 grant helped them help themselves and grow their business. Now they can buy 5-6 baskets of tomatoes each trip, making the travel worthwhile and becoming known as tomato importers in their community.
Part of the strength of our program is that our grant recipients make their own decisions about what business to start based on the needs and opportunities in their area and they control the daily finances and investments.
Hastings and Ruth’s shop started off small – with long hours and great personal investment. After 3-months, though, they had made $133 in profit. They reinvested to make their operations larger and then they began making investments in their community.
They bought more food and vegetables from their local market; Ruth bought school uniforms from the tailor so that Miness (age 12) and Pokani (age 10) could attend school; and they give back, training others in record-keeping skills and giving business advice to new business owners.
Spirit in Action is just a small nonprofit, making small investments in Malawi – but we know that this is enough to make an impact.
On a much larger scale, U.S. foreign aid, which is currently less than 1% of the federal budget, has the potential to reach many more communities and more families who are ready to seize their entrepreneurial dreams. And Hastings and Ruth, with additional investment, could employ another person, diversify their products, and generate more profit to stimulate their local economy.
Let’s keep funding U.S. foreign aid – especially aid that invests in individuals – it’s working, reaching that untapped entrepreneurial spirit around the world.
Read Oxfam America’s blog for more about how U.S. foreign aid is working.
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Market Data : Treasury Yields, Municipal Bonds, Bond Fund Prices, CD Rates, Savings Accounts Municipal Bonds: Yield Curve, Retail Offering Periods, GO Bonds Yields, State Credit Ratings AAA Municipal Bond Yield Curve (Updated Weekly) Muni Treasury Ratio (Learn about the MT ratio here)
Don’t get confused about the different types of yield when buying Sandridge Energy bonds.
How to do better than the average peer to peer loan investor.
You’ll get your money back but will you be doing any good?
Last week the Federal Reserve, made a very unusual announcement.
What are Bill Gross’s Best Investment Ideas, and why are soem of them not in his famous PIMCO Total Return Fund?
How you structure the loan has a lot of tax consequences. Get the answers you need here.
In this video we will provide practical answers to the following questions. How much you should invest in peer loans, what type of account should you open and which company should use to invest in P2P loans. This is video…
In this video we will discuss Lending Club returns, and the relationship between peer to peer loan ratings and returns. This video assumes that you have opened an account with Lending Club If you haven’t, please click on the link below to open…
In this video we will provide practical answers on how investing in peer to peer loans is different from investing in bonds and bond funds. We we will cover the following 4 areas of difference: Peer to peer loan payments,…
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NOTE: SOCIAL MEDIA HAS INFLUENCE IF USED CORRECTLY.=DP
If the auto industry wants to target prospective new-vehicle buyers online, it would more effective to use social networking sites like Facebook instead of online search engines or portals, speakers at the opening presentation of the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Internet Roundtable suggested Thursday.
J.D. Power and Compete presented analysis that indicates social media can reach more potential new-car buyers than such avenues as Google or Yahoo.
Their clickstream analysis tracks the actual Web URL addresses that new-car buyers visit, and suggests that auto marketers can be better positioned to find potential new-car buyers online by developing a presence within social networking sites.
And they can increase their chances to interact with new-vehicle shoppers by creating fan pages or profiles. But the study also warned that overt advertising on social networks is likely to be viewed negatively by consumers.
Continuing on, their clickstream analysis also found that one-third of buyers go to an auto brand Web site or third-party site during the prior six months (or longer) before making a purchase, and two-thirds do the same three months before buying.
Also, 19 percent of auto buyers who browse online claimed that they access dealer sites first. However, 41 percent head to OEM sites first and 40 percent visit third-party auto sites right off the bat.
Additionally, new-car buyers who shop around online tend to consider an average of 2.9 vehicles.
“Clickstream analysis provides a comprehensive look at online buyers and their realities of their shopping behavior,” noted J.D. Power.
Automotive Internet Roundtable also discussed how social media analysis can be used as a tool to better understand auto consumers, especially in light of the increasing popularity of social networking.
For instance, social media analysis examining online auto conversations has discovered that:
—Much of the discussions involving hybrids are more about competition and fuel efficiency and less about pricing and features.
—Web conversations about pickup trucks have decreased this year, but there are more social networkers talking about hybrids and vans.
“Social media is now shaping customer expectations in any and every way,” noted J.D. Power.
“Listening to social media is increasingly on people’s radar screens and people are scrambling to understand it,” POWER continued. “It’s not enough simply to count the buzz, it is important to understand what that buzz really means to your brand.”
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For those who want to go from zero knowledge to substantial breadth quickly, I recommend A. K. Dewdney's The New Turing Omnibus. Once that book is finished, tackling some of the more sophisticated books like Knuth, Aho-Hopcroft-Ullman, and the like seems more reasonable. Further, the classic books will teach CS theory that is, well, classic, and will leave the reader ill-prepared (in my opinion) for the theoretical and technological developments of this millenium. The New Turing Omnibus will prepare the reader for classic CS theory, but will not impede those who wish to learn more recent theory.
The book has influenced my writing style. One project I am working on involves "moving a mountain one pebble at a time", and is inspired by the mountain of a book Dewdney has created.
Gerhard ""Ask Me About System Design" Paseman, 2011.01.05
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1 day Emergency First Aid at Work (HSE Approved)
This course is ideal for smaller workplaces that present few health and safety risks.
Who should attend?
- Nominated emergency first aiders, or anyone wanting a comprehensive one day first aid course.
What they will learn
- Basic First Aid and the relevant regulations
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- 6 hours
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- A First Rescue HSE-approved certificate valid for three years, is issued on successful completion of assessment.
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View more dates of First Aid Courses on our dedicated training website firstrescuetraining.co.uk
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Sheltering survivors of violence in Zimbabwe
I was out early this morning attending a breakfast meeting of G20, a cross party and civil society lobby group working to ensure that the draft constitution for Zimbabwe does not discriminate against women and, more positively, recognises their civil, political, economic and social rights. Women MPs from each of the three parliamentary parties were there, as was the Minister for Women, Gender and Community Development. Some of the most powerful women in Zimbabwe coming together to argue for rights for all women.
‘Musasa’ means a tree which gives shelter
I then went to the office of one of our partners – Musasa, which works to confront and prevent gender based violence in Zimbabwe. The word Musasa, in Shona, means an umbrella shaped tree which give shelter. Musasa works on policy and legislation, but they also provide physical shelter for women who are fleeing gender based violence.
Their Director Netty told me about their work from the grassroots level up to Parliament and showed me the new One Stop Centre which they are building with financial support from the Japanese Embassy.
Netty told me that it is very difficult to fund raise for service delivery because the numbers of women they can help directly is small (hundreds) compared to the millions who can be reached through changes to the law.
Taking care of women’s health
Netty took me to the Harare safe house and there I observed women in a workshop learning how to look after their physical health, this one was about breast cancer detection and prevention. I saw the house in which the women, and their children, live while waiting for their case to come to court, for their physical and psychological scars to heal and for them to find a permanent safe place to return to.
Many of the women come in need of medical treatment, there is no NHS here, only very basic health care is free. Netty told me about one of the women who had half her face burned with acid by her husband. She needs $3000 worth of surgery, which somehow Musasa has to raise so that she can leave the shelter with a positive lasting difference made to her life.
Before I left the safe house I had one of the most heartbreaking experiences, as I listened to Tsitsi Muzanago tell me her story. It feels so wrong to meet a stranger and to have her tell you the most intimate and painful details of her life.
Tsitsi is 40 years old, single with no children and she has been in the safe house for one month. As a child she was often beaten by her mother and by her siblings. When she was 16 she went to stay with her female cousin and one night the cousin held her down while the cousin’s husband raped her.
She managed to escape and walked for three days to her grandmother’s house. She reported the rape to the police and went back to her mother’s house but her mother threw her out, blaming her for the assault. Her family offered her money to withdraw the rape allegation, and when she refused they went to the police and said she had changed her mind.
All of this happened 24 years ago, and since then Tsitsi has moved from place to place searching for work, for safety, for peace of mind and for justice. She had pain for years and was tested for different diseases, but finally she realised the pain is in her mind and heart. She cannot escape the impact of the rape. Just a month ago she decided to take her own life but the hospital referred her to Musasa and they have given her counselling, a safe place to stay and the chance to talk to other survivors.
“There is life after rape, they have given me hope. I met a girl who was raped by her own father, now I know it’s not my fault I was raped. I trusted my cousin, and now I find it difficult to trust anyone. I wanted justice for what happened to me, but my case has run out of time. So please tell my story, put my photo on the news, those people are still abusing others in the village, maybe publicity will stop them and I can save others from going through this pain.”
We need to lobby at the highest political levels to make violence against women unacceptable and punishable, but we also need to help to save women like Tsitsi – each woman who needs shelter and legal protection.
Sharing women’s experiences with decision-makers
My last meeting of today was with officials from the Department of International Development at the British Embassy, talking about the UK government’s focus on violence against women. We talked about statistics, high level policy and how to make a difference. Tsitsi is not a statistic, but her experience and her story – and those of many women like her – was in the room at the British Embassy and at the breakfast meeting in the morning.
Jackie Ballard took up the role of Chief Executive in September 2012. Jackie was formerly Chief Executive at Action on Hearing Loss and Director General of the RSPCA. Prior to this Jackie was Member of Parliament for Taunton and has been a Board member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority since its inception in January 2010.
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YUCCA MOUNTAIN, Nev., June 6, 2002 — The slow ride into the belly of Yucca Mountain offers time to reflect on the magnitude of what’s going on here. Never before has man tried to dig a tomb shielding us from something so deadly for so long — at least 10,000 years. What the $58 billion project would bury is 77,000 tons of highly radioactive waste from nuclear power plants across the United States.
For Abe Van Luik, a senior policy adviser for the U.S. Energy Department’s Yucca Mountain Project, that engineering challenge is what drives his dedication. And that dedication makes him defensive about the work that’s gone into the project so far — $7 billion to pay for millions of manhours of research and the exploratory tunnel that takes scientists and visitors into the mountain.
“They try to make us look like dopes and doofuses,” he says of critics. “It’s time for the gloves to come off.”
But critics, including environmentalists and the state of Nevada, say that even more time and thought should go into how to dispose of the waste, especially since it would be lethal for thousands of years.
Burying the waste in Yucca Mountain is “extremely bad science, extremely bad law and extremely bad public policy,” Gov. Kenny Guinn, a Republican, told Congress shortly before the U.S. House voted overwhelmingly last month to back President Bush’s recommendation that Yucca go forward.
Guinn has fought back with lawsuits and even cut off water to the project site, which sits on federal land between the Nellis Air Force Base and the Nevada Test Site, home of the nation’s nuclear weapons testing until 1992, when the tests were banned. The water war has led Yucca engineers to build their own oasis — a million-gallon reservoir in a desert populated by cacti, coyotes and pack rats.
Nuclear's future at stake
Yucca itself isn’t much of a mountain, more of a ridge actually. And it’s remote — some 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas. But that’s too close for the state of Nevada, which fears a stigma on its gambling mecca and has commissioned dozens of studies raising issues about the safety of the site as well as transporting the waste across the country. Most of the waste is uranium pellets that have been used to power nuclear reactors and remain radioactive even after they are spent.
Yucca MountainBacked by environmental groups, Nevada says the nation’s nuclear waste should remain where it is now — in storage at the nuclear plants where the waste was generated — until a more suitable burial ground is found.
“It could be possible that in 15-20 years we’ll have better technology, we’ll know a better location for a repository, or we’ll have better science for dealing with it,” says Susan Gordon, director of the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability.
The Bush administration has pushed hard for Yucca because it wants to expand the use of nuclear power, which now provides 20 percent of the nation’s electricity. The industry wants to build 50 new nuclear power plants by 2020 at existing sites, but says it won’t have enough space to expand unless the waste is moved.
Bush signed off on the project in February, and the last legislative hurdle was the Senate, where Yucca was approved in early July. But even with approval, the project still needs a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and no shipments would start before 2010.
The federal government first promised to create a permanent repository when it committed to nuclear power in the 1950s, and funds for disposal are built into the rates of nuclear power customers.
After studying disposal options that ranged from deep sea burial to flying the waste into space, the Department of Energy in the 1980s settled on an underground repository and came up with a short list of nine sites.
But in 1987, Congress, unhappy with the high cost of choosing a site, ordered that only Yucca be considered. Washington state and Texas also were leading states, but Yucca critics say Nevada lost out because it didn’t have the political clout to block its selection.
Van Luik says he understands the anger. Congress “cowardly tried to shove it down the throat of Nevada,” he says.
But once the decision was made, he adds, it was the Energy Department’s task to study and test Yucca’s suitability. Since then, Nevadans have been “scared by their politicians,” Van Luik says.
Yucca scientists note that more time has gone into studying and testing the site than in sending the first man to the moon.
“I have more confidence in this than opening a coal mine,” says John Hartley, a geologist with the Yucca project. “They wouldn’t play all the ‘what ifs’ that we play here.”
But the review board created by Congress to monitor Yucca hasn’t shown the same confidence.
In a report issued just before Bush’s recommendation, the Nuclear Waste Review Board said its confidence level was “weak to moderate” due to the “many assumptions” that went into the project.
By law, Yucca scientists don’t have to be as rigorous in their projections of the nuclear waste’s fate beyond 10,000 years. But the board said those projections could be critically important in analyzing whether water might rust the waste containers over tens of thousands of years, allowing radioactivity to seep into the water table below.
Some outside observers concur. “No solid experiments or theory confirm the predictions that casks can survive without corrosive penetration for 10,000 years, let alone several hundred thousand years, when the most severe groundwater contamination is expected” says Thomas Pigford, a nuclear engineering professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
Uncertainties and next time
The chairman of the review board, Jared Cohon, summarized the report for senators last month, but added that “it’s up to policymakers to decide how much uncertainty is acceptable.”
Today’s policymakers aren’t the same ones who started the Yucca process 20 years ago. But since they’re the ones weighing the uncertainties they might wish their colleagues had done a better job marketing Yucca.
Gene Rosa, a Washington State University sociologist and member of a National Research Council panel on nuclear waste management, believes Congress and the Department of Energy could have done a better job if they hadn’t used a “top-down” management approach.
“They might have been more attentive to some of the key public concerns over the siting of a waste repository, especially to issues of fairness and equity,” he says, referring to Nevada’s anger. “That realization could have pointed them to another growing consensus that favors a more active, participatory role for affected publics and other key stakeholders in the process of making decisions.”
A report by the National Research Council panel cited Finland as an example of where a community was closely involved and eventually accepted a nuclear waste repository in its backyard. As a result, Finland, which started its process after the United States, is likely to have a repository before one is ever built here.
Van Luik is well aware of Finland’s experience and hopes that the next time U.S. policymakers try to sell a site — by law they’re supposed to start working on a new one once the first is completed — they’ll improve on their public relations, perhaps offering financial incentives to boot.
He likes the geology of North and South Dakota for a future underground repository. But Van Luik realizes that South Dakota is the home state of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and he knows that politics is the name of the nuclear waste game.
“They’ll never again be able to do what we did here,” he says, “which is force it on Nevada.”
© 2013 msnbc.com Reprints
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May 16, 2008 | 11:14AM PST/PT
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a recall for the following items:
- Infant rattles due to a choking hazard
- Children's hooded jackets due to a strangulation hazard
eBay takes recalled items very seriously, and we work closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on these issues. We encourage buyers and sellers to visit http://www.cpsc.gov (see the Recent Recalls section) for more details about the products and model numbers included in this recall. You may also wish to visit our Recalled Items policy at http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/recalled.html.
For Sellers: Please check your product model numbers and refrain from listing any items that are part of this recall. Any currently listed items that are included in the recall should be ended.
For Buyers: If you believe an item you are interested in bidding on or purchasing may be part of this recall, we encourage you to use the Ask Seller a Question feature to verify.
As a service to our Community, eBay announces some product recalls, like these, when we believe the marketplace will be impacted. To stay informed about all CPSC recalls, please bookmark www.cpsc.gov and sign up to receive notices on new recalls issued by the CPSC.
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IU Ballet Theater presents 'The Nutcracker'
WHAT: IU Ballet Theater's The Nutcracker by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
WHEN: Dec. 4-5, 8 p.m.; Dec. 5-6, 2 p.m.
WHERE: IU's Musical Arts Center, 101 N. Jordan Ave., just north of the intersection at Third Street.
TICKETS: Currently on sale through the Musical Arts Center box office and Ticketmaster, tickets are $18-35 for all performances. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Get ticket information online at http://music.indiana.edu/opera, or call the box office at 812-855-7433.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 17, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Ballet Theater will present its 51st annual production of The Nutcracker at the Musical Arts Center, Dec. 4-5, at 8 p.m., and Dec. 5-6, at 2 p.m.
The production will feature choreography created specifically for the Jacobs School of Music's dancers by Michael Vernon, chair of the Jacobs School Ballet Department, who continues to develop the production with new elements each year.
"The role of Clara is now always danced by a girl from the IU Pre-College program," said Vernon. "The roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen will danced by different dancers at each performance this year -- a sign of the impressive talent in the Ballet Department."
The beloved score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky will be played by the University Orchestra under guest conductor Jeffrey Cook. The set was designed by C. David Higgins, chair of the Jacobs School's opera studies department.
The Nutcracker, composed in 1892, is based on an old German fairy tale, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, written in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffmann. The ballet did not become a staple of American Christmas culture until the 1960s, following George Balanchine's production at the New York City Ballet in 1954.
The Nutcracker tells the story of young Clara, who receives a toy soldier nutcracker from her mysterious godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. When she falls asleep with the Nutcracker in her arms and starts to dream, magical things begin to happen. The show is especially captivating for young audience members -- as well as those who enjoy classical ballet -- because of its beautiful music, fanciful costumes and dreamlike storyline.
As in major cities around the country, The Nutcracker has become integral to Bloomington's holiday traditions -- as well as to the IU Ballet Theater season.
Tickets are on sale now through the Musical Arts Center box office (812-855-7433), online at http://www.music.indiana.edu/ballet or at any Ticketmaster location. Prices range from $18 to $35.
A special "Nutcracker Tea" will be offered following the weekend matinees, Dec. 5-6, starting at approximately 4:15 p.m., in the Musical Arts Center lobby. While enjoying an assortment of finger foods and beverages, children and their families will be offered an opportunity to greet and take photographs with members of the cast.
Tickets for the tea are $10 per child, while a pair of chaperones is free, and are available from the MAC box office. A poster for signatures from the ballet's characters is included with each ticket.
For more information about the Jacobs School of Music, see http://www.music.indiana.edu.
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Build Africa is a dynamic charity working in rural Uganda and Kenya to help young people escape poverty through education and income generation projects.
Build a School
Since 2004, our Build a School programme has worked with 115 schools and benefited over 150,000 children. We build classrooms, staff rooms, toilet blocks, water supplies and teachers' accommodation. We provide desks and books and teacher training. But most importantly we make sure that the local community leads each project. We train and support school management committees and work with parents to ensure that the children receive the best education possible now and in the future.
Through our Building Livelihoods programme we aim to create sustainable models for increasing the incomes of the poor, giving young people the chance to save, to work their way out of poverty and to increase the prosperity of their community. In addition the programme provides them with adequate nutrition and better access to education and healthcare.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Poll after poll shows public support for same-sex marriage steadily increasing, to the point where it’s now a majority viewpoint. Yet in all 32 states where gay marriage has been on the ballot, voters have rejected it.
It’s possible the streak could end in November, when Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington state are likely to have closely contested gay marriage measures on their ballots.
For now, however, there remains a gap between the national polling results and the way states have voted. It’s a paradox with multiple explanations, from political geography to the likelihood that some conflicted voters tell pollsters one thing and then vote differently.
“It’s not that people are lying. It’s an intensely emotional issue,” said Amy Simon, a pollster based in Oakland, Calif. “People can report to you how they feel at the moment they’re answering the polls, but they can change their mind.”
California experienced that phenomenon in November 2008, when voters, by a 52-48 margin, approved a ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution.
California is an unusual case. It’s one of a few reliably Democratic states that have had a statewide vote rebuffing same-sex marriage. The vast majority of the referendums have been in more conservative states, which have a greater predilection for using ballot measures to set social policy. The 32 states that have rejected gay marriage at the polls make up just over 60 percent of the U.S. population.
In all, there are now six states with legal same-sex marriage and nine more granting gay and lesbian couples broad marriage-style rights via civil unions or domestic partnerships. Together, those 15 states account for about 35 percent of the U.S. population.
Over the past year, there’s been a stream of major national polls indicating that a majority of people support same-sex marriage. According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Wednesday, 53 percent of those questioned say gay marriage should be legal, a new high for the poll, while 39 percent, a new low, say it should be illegal.
Political consultant Frank Schubert, a leading strategist for campaigns against same-sex marriage, said such polls are misleading and he asserted that same-sex marriage would be rejected if a national referendum were held now.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Mold, a threat to your home –– and health
(Page 4 of 4)
According to the EPA, mold on hard surfaces, such as plastic or stainless steel, can be cleaned with a 10 percent bleach solution. Mold on soft surfaces, such as fabric or drywall, should be discarded in double plastic contractors’ bags. Large-scale mold problems should be treated by an experienced environmental remediation expert, the EPA states. Check references before hiring one.
When removing molded items from your home, you should wear an N-95 respirator, according to the EPA. Some of these respirators resemble paper dust masks, with a nozzle on the front; others are made of plastic or rubber and have removable cartridges that trap most mold spores. You should also wear rubber gloves and protective eye gear, and consider discarding your clothing rather than washing it.
Siegel Rubin said she is trying to stay positive, noting that she and her two children are healthy. “Of all the bad that came out of this storm, there was so much good,” she said, noting that neighbors helped one another get through Sandy’s terrible aftermath. She feels fortunate, she added, “to live in a community where people care about each other.”
Realizing that the journey to recovery is a multifaceted story with no end in sight, the Heralds are chronicling all aspects of the rebuilding effort in a series of weekly articles with a common theme, South Shore Rising.
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I have to admit I have an accident-prone child. Nearly once a week I receive a report from my son’s after-school care provider because my son has injured himself on the playground once again.
Since I do not blame anyone else when I slip and fall, I don’t expect any different for my son. Accidents are not intentional, but they do bring to light some risk-mitigation steps that may reduce the risk of injuries on playgrounds, especially for accident-prone children.
Obstacles seem to be a large cause of injuries. An effective way to minimize the risk of children running into picnic tables or poles (writes the mother who has been to the emergency room with a son who knocked himself out on a metal pole) is to designate a play area in which to run around. Keep playground equipment in one section, and provide a clear, open area in another. Differentiate the two areas by changing the mulch color, or separating them with a fence.
Other obstacles can be eliminated through daily cleanup. Be sure to check for broken glass, large sticks or pests. A quick inspection of the grounds when removing trash can help keep kids safe from obstacles that do not belong.
While it may be impossible to know who will be using playground equipment, posting signs may help in the fight for safety. Additionally, age-appropriate play areas make sense. For instance, sandboxes, baby swings and smaller equipment with a “You must be smaller than me to play here” sign, can direct patrons to an area for smaller children, while a larger sign warning, “You must be 14 years or older to use this playground equipment,” may help patrons understand the danger of larger equipment.
Even with signs and daily cleanup, accidents still occur. Additional changes in playground settings may help curb possible run-ins with danger.
Mulching a playground twice a year becomes expensive. Therefore, a more cost-effective alternative is rubber mulch. It is sold in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most playgrounds prefer the rubber-tire pieces. This is an environmentally friendly use of used tires, and is much safer than regular mulch. Additionally, the pieces never need to be replaced because they don’t appear faded. The initial expense is only slightly more costly, but continuous upkeep is unnecessary.
Rubber matting adds color to indoor and outdoor play areas. Indoor flooring is more shock-absorbent; however, thicker gym mats are generally safer. Outdoor rubber matting is manufactured in many colors, and typically has a 12-year color warranty against fading. This type of matting is beneficial because it isn’t scattered around the playground like regular mulch. Rubber mats also allow the best access for people in wheelchairs.
Just like adults, children must be careful of long-term sun exposure during the summer. Trees help shade playgrounds and keep the heat away from equipment. (We all remember those hot, black swing seats!) Choose sunlight-friendly colors to prevent burns. Another alternative is to provide permanent awnings around some of the equipment so it can be used during extremely hot days as well as in rain. Playgrounds with tents will have more year-round use.
Maintaining safe equipment is always a sound risk-mitigation technique. Faulty playground equipment, rusted nails sticking out and unstable play areas should be addressed immediately. Children do not look for the safety of equipment, only the fun, so be sure to check your equipment for proper functionality, and rope it off until it can be fixed or replaced to prevent usage.
Following a general preventative-maintenance and risk-mitigation plan can help keep your patrons safe on playground equipment, and they are more likely to visit your facility.
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Gillette Patient to be Featured in National MDA Telethon
The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Labor Day Telethon has become an annual tradition, sharing stories of people throughout the U.S. living with a variety of neuromuscular conditions. Watch the telethon this year – it airs on Sunday, Sept. 4 from 6 p.m. to midnight – and you’ll see an inspiring story from right here in Minnesota. Jayson Tibbets, 17, of Plymouth, was diagnosed at age 3 with Becker Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness. He’s been a patient at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare since childhood, where he receives a variety of services through the hospital’s Neuromuscular Clinic.
Because Gillette’s Neuromuscular Clinic partners with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Jayson and his family receive support from both organizations. “All parents have questions about their child, but I have even more,” says Jayson’s mother, Lynn Tibbets. That, she says, is where the partnership is especially helpful. “Gillette and the MDA come in with a plan in place to overcome our obstacles. And if there isn’t an answer, they’ll figure one out.”
With Jayson now nearing college age, the family has come to appreciate Gillette’s transition services, as well. Because most disabilities—including muscular dystrophy—can’t be cured, Gillette offers transition assistance to people who, like Jayson, are approaching adulthood. Jayson, for example, recently began receiving services at Gillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcare, our clinic for adults. Not only can Jayson receive age-appropriate care needed to maintain his independence, but he can also practice important life skills he’ll someday need. For example, the MDA Telethon’s video crew recently followed Jayson while practicing with handicap accessible kitchen appliances in the Lifetime Clinic’s adaptive kitchen.
“Jayson’s positive attitude and determination has helped him remain focused on what he can accomplish, not on his limitations,” says Jason Kelecic, director of Gillette’s Neuromuscular Clinic. “As Jayson makes plans for the years ahead, Gillette and the MDA will continue working together to help him achieve his goals.”
The Tibbets say their goal in sharing Jayson’s story is simple: finding a cure. “I tell the MDA that my job is to help beat this thing,” says Lynn. “I like to say that it’s my business to put them out of business.” Jayson agrees—and continues to inspire both Gillette and MDA staff with his positive approach to life. “Just because you have a disease doesn’t mean you have everything taken away from you,” says Jayson. “I have limits, but I can still do lots of things.”
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Thursday, July 26, 2012
Scientists compare the waters off of California to Africa’s Serengeti Plain for its richness of life. Most of the Pacific Ocean’s top predators thrive there, including great white sharks, but San Diego’s offshore dorsal-finned residents are mostly harmless pups.
"We don’t actually see too many large Great White Sharks off of Southern California. They occasionally come through but we don’t have any resident fish, we think, in the area," said Nick Wegner, shark researcher with Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
San Diego waters provide a nursery ground for the 5-foot-long great white newborns, but their parents tend to stay away, said Wegner.
"There’s no parental care for white sharks, and so once the mom shark drops off the pups, she leaves and the pups are there to fend for themselves, and so the pups seem to end up off our coast in southern California and they’re probably attracted to high abundances of fish, generally calm waters and -- the area where they best feel they can survive," Wegner explained.
The question that remains is exactly where females go to give birth.
"We’ve never actually seen a white shark give birth, but because we have high numbers of juveniles in southern California we suspect that they give birth somewhere in southern California or in adjacent waters," said Wegner.
San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Greg Buchanan said “mom” does swim in close to shore on occasion to show off her large dorsal fin. Most recently on July 2 when a lifeguard and eight witnesses spotted what they believed to be a 12-15 foot great white lurking off of La Jolla Shores. Swimmers were called out of the water and the beach was closed.
"The water was super clear that day so we got a helicopter up within a few minutes, we had a rescue boat, jet skis, and all the lifeguards looking," said Buchanan.
Buchanan said the big one got away that day, but he said shark sightings are on the rise.
"Our criteria is that if we find the confirmed shark sighting within 500 yards of the shore, we’re going to basically consider a closure, and then the area outside the 500 yards is what we’ll describe as an advisory, which means we’re going to tell everybody what we’ve seen and let them know we’re under a shark advisory and then they can choose to exit the water or not."
Buchanan said the most common area for sightings is La Jolla, which is home to approximately 300 seals and sea lions -- a great white's favorite meal.
But Wegner said La Jolla’s marine mammal population pales in comparison to other California beaches. The National Marine Fisheries Service estimates there are more than 300,000 seals and sea lions along the California coast -- a number that has exploded in the last 40 years since the passing of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
"Most of the large centers for large sharks are in larger areas where there’s abundance of seals and sea lions and elephant seals. And so that’s why we see an abundance of white sharks off the central coast," said Wegner.
The two main population centers for adult Great White Sharks is the Farallon Islands off of San Francisco and Mexico’s Guadalupe Island.
But La Jolla offers another draw for large sharks, according to Chris Lowe, the director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach.
"One of the interesting things about La Jolla is you have that deep water canyon there. So it’s possible that these sharks are staying deep, and might periodically come up the canyon where they’re exposed to shallow water."
Lowe said California’s white shark population is on the rise because commercial fisheries are more closely regulated and pups aren’t dying in the nets. "White sharks have been protected in California since 1994, and it has been since about that time that we've seen an increase in sightings."
Wegner said great whites aren’t the only large sharks off San Diego.
"Off the coast here we have a lot of Mako sharks and blue sharks. Those are probably two of the most common oceanic sharks, large sharks, off our coast," he said. "We also have thresher sharks, which come through and they drop off their pups in the spring and summer months and they can get quite large as well."
Wegner said the sharks off of San Diego are mostly harmless to swimmers.
"We’ve only had a couple fatal shark attacks in the last hundred years in San Diego County, so shark attacks are very rare in San Diego and there’s always a lot of excitement generated when a white shark is spotted, but there’s very few incidents with them attacking people," he said.
The Pacific coast had 108 shark attacks recorded in the 20th century. Between 2000 and 2010 there were 54 attacks. Most victims survived. The latest fatality happened in 2008 off Solana Beach in north San Diego County.
"I would always tell people that sharks exist in the ocean and so they need to know that and then basically be aware and if you see anything that you think is unusual that you think might be a great white shark they should tell a lifeguard immediately," said Buchanan.
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This new book shows how from the end of the Cold War, the security agenda has been transformed and redefined, academically and politically.
It focuses on the theme of protection. It moves away from the dominant question of whom or what is threatening to the crucial questions of who is to be protected, and in the case of conflicting claims, who has the capacity to define whose needs prevail.
It also poses the question of political agency in relation to some of the most significant questions raised in relation to the governance of insecurity and protection in the contemporary world. The authors identify and explore issues that challenge or raise a number of questions about the traditional notion that states are to protect their citizens through retaining a monopoly over the legitimate use of violence.
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Consider: Harnessing the Power of Reflective Thinking in Your OrganizationPeter Senge, founder of the Society of Organizational Learning and senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, once observed, “Most managers do not reflect carefully on their actions.” Most managers are too busy “running” to reflect.
While reflection seems to have no place in a competitive business environment, it is where meaning is created, behaviors are regulated, values are refined, assumptions are challenged, intuition is accessed, and where we learn about who we are.
Some of the greatest barriers to getting the results we want lie within us. Growth happens when we stop repeating our habitual patterns and behaviors and begin to see things in a new way and in the process, discover the power to create the results we want. That makes Consider: Harnessing the Power of Reflective Thinking in Your Organization, one of the most important books you’ll read this year.
He defines think time as “the purposeful elevation of chunks of our work time, forged within densely packed schedules. It forces the consideration of core significant and pending decisions, outside of cursory overviews and immediate response…. Reflection is the deliberate act of stepping back from daily habits and routines (without looming and immediate deadline pressures), either alone or within small and sequestered groups. It’s where meaning is derived through reconsideration of fundamental assumptions, the efficacy of past decisions and the consequences including the downside of future actions. It’s where space is given for the ‘totally unexpected’ to emerge.”
Even if we can agree on the value of think time, we still regard it as a luxury. There’s just no time. But what emerges from Forrester’s research is the fact that we can’t afford not to. It is at the core of what allows a business to thrive. It’s what we don’t know that has a disproportionate impact on us personally and organizationally. We don’t really see the reality we face. Reflection in effect, expands our perspectives and thus reveals to us more options and that gets to the heart of what leadership is all about. The point is to make the unseen seen so we can act on it.
Forrester interviewed Sarah Sewall who worked with General Petraeus and others to rewrite the military’s counterinsurgency doctrine. Sewall noted, “We are now in a world of increasing specialization, where people get narrower and narrower in their viewpoints in order to become more expert and ‘useful.’ My view is that people become more myopic in how they can think about problems and solutions. We wind up shuttered in our ability to think about possibilities.” This tendency is best counteracted by think time and reflection; being able to back away and incorporate more and varied thinking.
Forrester asks, “What is the last document or strategy you can point to as a ‘product of reflection’ built with all parts of the organization and senior-level involvement? If you can’t cite one, it may indicate a culture that values immediacy and the short term over reflection and scalable problem solving.”
Recognizing the need for reflection and actually doing it are two different things. Reflection is a discipline. General Petraeus told Forrester that “he forces bursts of reflection into his day, where he pauses to read, think, and then moves to the next iteration—recognizing that thoughtful insights are not born through real-time analysis.”
Forrester suggests that we set time aside for a meeting with oneself. “It isn’t hard to book a meeting with yourself, when you are off-limits to everything but your thoughts.” He notes too, “The power of reflection lies not in how much time we allocate to it. The power of reflection lies in how we choose to use that time and what structure we bring to the fleeting disjointed moments we are afforded.”
While some situations required his immediate action, Forrester describes how Lincoln “developed ways to force time to think (if even only for a few minutes) before acting. Even Lincoln had to resist the “instantaneous nature of the telegraph.”
Some organizations he has studied have adopted a no internal e-mail Friday policy and other ways to temporarily disconnect from technology. Although these ideas may not work for you, the point is made so that you might consider the impact these technologies are having on the productivity and well-being of your staff. There is always one more e-mail and it will control you if you let it.
“When overworked people declare that they ‘just don’t have time to think,’ leaders have a choice: They settle for the status quo and declare that it’s the best way the world works today, or they can insist that reflection is a strategic business enabler,” says Forrester. As an organization you can either educate for it, make it an expectation—a cultural norm—or treat it as a “do it on your own time” activity and pay the price. Leaders need to understand and demonstrate by example that reflection—taking time to consider—is not wasted time.
Reflection is the first step in coming to understand how we are connected to our outcomes. Until we see the relationship between the two, we cannot make deep, lasting change and bring thoughtful behaviors to bear on the situations we find ourselves in. Our thinking creates our reality. If we do not reflect on our thinking we stand to miss our connection to the whole.
Consider offers a way to break the pattern of continuous partial attention that seems to be our default position in this technological age. It helps to disrupt the habitual thinking that drowns out the reflective, critical thinking we need to become fully present and effective. Consider isn’t a fad. It is the bedrock of successful leadership and living.
Upcoming: I asked some leading minds about the discipline of reflection. So, for the rest of the week, I’ll share their thoughts on this important topic. Look for valuable insights from John Kotter, Mark Sanborn, Brian Orchard, Marshall Goldsmith, John Baldoni, Tom Asacker, James Strock, and Jeremy Hunter.
More in this Series:
Taking Another Look: Leading Minds on Reflection Part 4
Taking Another Look: Leading Minds on Reflection Part 3
Taking Another Look: Leading Minds on Reflection Part 2
Taking Another Look: Leading Minds on Reflection Part 1
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Horace W. Shaylor Sr., Portland, 1906Item 74449 info
Maine Historical Society
Shaylor died on December 30, 1925 at age 80. He had been ill for two weeks prior to his death.
Shaylor was a member of the National Penmanship Association, the High Street Congregational Church and State Street Church Society.
Shaylor had been a teacher of drawing and penmanship for 51 years.
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We need your help.
Your donations keep the gates open. Please give what you can.
With a small core of committed residents and members at Yokoji, every year that the training continues is a real accomplishment. Our mission is to ensure that this authentic practice can continue and flourish for years to come. If this goal means as much to you as it does to us, please help. After all, each one of you is Yokoji, and each of us must play our part. If you value the center, then make that real and donate today. Without the continued financial support of each one of you, we would not be here. Let’s celebrate this landmark in training together and ensure Yokoji prospers for future generations.
The first training period at Yokoji took place in the summer of 1983. The head trainee was a young priest called Tenshin Fletcher, who had moved to Los Angeles four years earlier to study with Maezumi Roshi at the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Zen Mountain Center (as it was called back then) was set up to function as the summer retreat center for ZCLA. Initially, it was little more than a series of temporary structures and the zendo was a large army tent. Over the years, under the tireless supervision and guidance of Tenshin Fletcher Roshi and with the help of countless hearts, minds and hands, Yokoji has grown into the year-round residential Zen training center that it is today.
We work hard to make the center a success. How do we define success? Being able to provide authentic Zen training to all those who seek it. From students who move half way across the planet to accomplish the way, to the local population of these mountains who enjoy joining in with the Sunday program: Yokoji is open to all and has served the community without fail for thirty years. Accumulation of wealth is not our goal and nor is it our reality. We just about get by each year. We have debts from the final phases of construction, which took place over the past 5-7 years, which we are currently unable to repay. We are unable to pay the staff who keep Yokoji running more than a nominal amount each month. We struggle to pay for repairs when they arise.
Twice a year we ask you for your help and the money we receive plays a huge part in covering the costs of running the center. Please do not assume that we don’t really need your money. We do. We will continue to get by, but if you want to play a part in making Yokoji flourish, then please dig deep and give as much as you can afford to give. Ask yourself how important this center is to you; how much training here has helped you in your life. Then give accordingly.
Visit our donations page to give.
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I keep seeing TV commercials about Mesothelioma and law firms that take cases of people who have this disease, but I didn’t know much if anything about the disease itself.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer. The Mesothelium is the sac of certain organs of the body, including the lungs, the stomach and the heart. Most forms of Meothelioma is cancer of the lining of the lung. That is because this cancer is usually caused by breathing in asbestos.
Asbestos was found in insulation, cement, roofing shingles, textiles and flooring products. People who worked with these materials were not the only people exposed to asbestos. Their family members may have been too because the asbestos fibers would cling to clothing.
This disease is not easy to diagnose and may not have symptoms or symptoms that are the same as pneumonia and a persistent cough. When diagnosed, the prognosis is not very good. One in five people live five years after diagnosis. There are treatments available though and research on new treatments are continuing.
People who are diagnosed or their families may be interested in finding a mesothelioma law firm that can pursue a a case against the company that caused this cancer. Finding a firm that is experienced in these types of cases is important. A mesothelioma lawyer that you feel comfortable with and have confidence in can make this difficult time in your life a bit easier.
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From a paper in Scotland...
http://www.sundayherald.com/arts/arts/d ... 44.0.0.php
The long and winding road
By Brian Morton
When things get tough, Paul McCartney traditionally retreats and creates pastoral music. But his latest album finds him confronting mortality and his legacy head-on
SIR PAUL McCartney has a dark side. It isn't one that need trouble the divorce lawyersortheredtops,butit's emphatically and unmistakably there. A sublime melodist he might be, but as Memory Almost Full - his umpteenth solo album since the break-up of The Beatles - bears out in every other track, thereissomethingstrangeabout McCartney'ssongcraft,anedgy approach to harmony that gives even the feeblest ditty a sting of ambiguity.
This has to do with something more thanMcCartney'sstrangebutnow unbreakable habit of singing in keys too high for his voice, giving all those classic songs that about-to-be-hoarse schoolboy strain. What's immediately striking about Memory Almost Full is the relative simplicity of the harmonic language.Inthepast,McCartney could, if he had been minded, sit back and smile knowingly when the rock presscastigatedhimforapparent lapses like The Frog Chorus and Mary Had A Little Lamb, the latter of which attractedJohnLennon'sscorn.For in each of these and in much of the non-Wings McCartney canon there is a fascinating (to the muso, at least) and deeply affecting (to the rest of us) distortion of the usual harmonic logic.
This was already happening in his Beatles days. The final chorus "yeah" of She Loves You is complex enough to keep a musicologist busy for hours. In his book The Unknown Paul McCartney, IanPeelexposedanotherintriguing aspect of the Macca story. While it was generally assumed that Lennon was the Beatle most interested in the avant-garde - when asked, George retorted "'aven't gard a clue, wack"; Ringo probably wasn't asked - it was in fact McCartney, usually seen as the hand behind the lighter and prettier stuff, who really showed an interest in and understanding ofcuttingedgeandexperimental music in the 1960s. It was McCartney who was listening to Stockhausen, turning up at the obscurest galleries to observe the latest shortwave radio virtuoso or "silent" composer, and it was McCartney who was dabbling in avant-garde work of his own. The real identity of Percy "Thrills" Thrillington has been an open secret for a long time, but McCartney's interest in going off-reservation and working in determinedly non-commercial contexts still almost never gets an airing.
There is a possible reason for this. No fault of Peel's but his book did leave open the interpretation that McCartney had once dabbled in obscurity the way Cecil Parkinson once dabbled in Communism; that this was all in the past. The striking thing about McCartney is that he is incapable of leaving that edgy, tonally skewed approach to songwritingbehindhim.Itcoloursalmost everything in the back catalogue and even tinges the sublime pop artifice of Band On The Run, a classic of Revolver andAbbeyRoaddimensionsbuta recordwithawholespectrumof unexpected overtones and subliminal awkwardness. I listen to it maybe once ayearandalwayswiththesame unease.
The voice no longer strains so much and has aged, seemingly rather suddenly, though there's a trap waiting for unwary critics here since some at least ofMemoryAlmostFullwasmade before the completion of his 2005 albumChaosAndCreationInThe Backyard,whichproducerNigel Godrich tweaked and pitch-shifted into something that almost sounded like a brilliant Macca tribute act; so quintessentially "Paul" it sounded fake. The new record is, for all its manifold faults and a similar spirit of generic retread,therealthing.It'stinged throughout with thoughts of mortality - Linda's, John and George's, his own, possibly Heather's as well - and that is a subject McCartney has always been uneasyaboutevenacknowledging.
Thetabloidsgotaperfect,bone-shaped story out of McCartney's seemingly offhand reaction - "It's a drag" - to the murder in New York of the man with whom he will be twinned in eternity as one of the greatest songwritingimaginationsever.Precisely how do you react to a shouted question from a reporter about a once-dear friend and joined-at-the-hipcollaboratorwho'd just been blasted by dum-dum bullets? More than usual, McCartney retreated into his shell and into that curiously elegiac and pastoral fantasy world he likes to inhabit when things get tough.
Here, he takes it on full-face. Feet In The Clouds seems to be about John and George. 'Til I Die isn't exactly Leonard Cohen, but it's the first time McCartney has been willing to admit there is a skull beneath the (deceptively youthful) skin. He's still not at ease in that skin and takes the worst photograph of any major music star, thanks to a self-conscious inability to suppress the thumbs-up or just stand still and smile. Given how often he must have faced a camera and given that Linda had one in her hand for most of the first years of their marriage, he never really got it. This time he's either squinting across an overturned armchair - and someone, so it might as well be me, will inevitably suggest a referencetopast"domestics"-or clutching the non-collar of a neo- Beatles jacket and pouting in a way that makes his mouth look old, old, old.
And yet, the songwriting is as young andasintenseas anything he's done since the overlooked 1993 classic Ram, previously the highpoint of the post-Beatles, non-Wings oeuvre.There'ssomerubbish thrown in (at least, rubbish if you want it to deliver up any meaning). Mr Bellamy has an Erik Satie-like oddity. Only Mama Knows sounds like pastiche ELO. Ever Present Past is a light and skittish thing, but it's significant that a song about failing memory is also a song in whichbasicrulesofharmonyare quietly and subtly "forgotten".What'sgoingoninthataccompaniment? Nothing more unsettling than an old man who pretends not to be able to do itanymoreandthendoesitwith consummate ease.
No-one was expecting Blood On The Tracks or even Blood On The Carpet. Theonelessontobetakenfrom McCartney's career to date is that you don't look for public airing of griefs and grievances. This is a man who's happy to show the world his model farm and train set and to "express his emotions" through them like a traumatised child, all the while knowing that his real psychic dramas are worked out in the structure of those remarkable songs.
That said, the new album is unmistakably a tribute to the only certain love of his life after music. Memory Almost Full has a nicely contemporary sound. The McCartney hard drive has perhaps been driven as far as it's able to go. We are all chock-a-block with retro culture, our iPods and downloads part of a vast Alexandrian library of sound in which The Beatles occupy an absolutely central place. But there's something else in that title. There are computer programmes that will do it for you, but it's nice to think that one night,doodlingwithapencil, McCartneyrecognisedbyaccident that Memory Almost Full is also an anagram of "For my soulmate - LLM".
He's never themed an album, or given it a title before the tracks are laid down, so it's nice to think that in this finished, very personal, possibly last and very moving record there's an unconscious - only the song Gratitude makes it explicit - last farewell to the womanwhosharedhishighsandlow,the obloquy and the embarrassments, and who added her thin, straining voice to someofthosebizarreharmonies: Linda Louise McCartney.
"I am an anti-imperialist. I am opposed to having the eagle put its talons on any other land." -- Mark Twain
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This is lesson 26 in the series "Conquering Codependency - Loving Without Leaning" looking at aspects of codependency from a spiritual point of view.
Acceptance is being gracious and relaxed with the outcome of a situation, even if it turns out differently than anticipated.
Each of us is but one part of the whole scene. To retain our personal peace of mind, we must accept that we need only play our part the best we can.
Meditation for Reflection
Sit in a quiet place, hands folded in your lap or face up or face down on your thighs. Close your eyes and begin even, regular breathing such as 2 counts to breathe in and 2 counts to breathe out. After a minute let go the counting, but continue the rhythmic pattern and reflect on these thoughts -
We are not here to control the actions of independent adults. We must accept that each of us has the right to determine our own actions.
When results are not what we had anticipated, we can look to see why. Then we will see more of the variables that brought about a different outcome from what we wanted or expected to happen.
This observation aids us in understanding that each of us has, indeed, our own path leading to a desired result.
When we think and act as if our way is the only way, we limit our knowledge of options that we may find useful in similar situations in the future.
“May I align and
Act for the common good
To preserve my peace of mind.
May I also remember that
Allowing others the freedom to make
And act on their own choices
Free of my control
Preserves my peace of mind.”
Finish your meditation and prayer with a deep breath in and out and write any new insights in your journal for later review.
Codependency Homepage and Sitemap
Co-Dependents Anonymous Meeting Locations
Interfaith Prayers and Meditations
Children and Teens - Prayers, Affirmations, Meditations
The entire series of 48 Conquering Codependency - Loving Without Leaning lessons
can be purchased as a handy ebook for $2.99 by clicking here.
Article - Susan Kramer
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Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Fish and Wildlife Service
Ten Thousand Islands NWR is located in Collier County on the southwest coast of Florida. Established in 1996, this 35,000 acres refuge protects important mangrove habitats and a rich diversity of native wildlife, including several endangered species. The refuge is part of the largest expanses of mangrove forest in North America. Approximately two thirds of the refuge is mangrove forest, which dominates most tidal fringes and the numerous islands (or keys). The northern third of the refuge consists of brackish marsh and interspersed ponds, and small coastal hammocks of oak, cabbage palms, and tropical hardwoods such as gumbo limbo. Roughly 200 species of fish have been documented in the area and much of the sea grass beds and mangrove bottoms serve as vital nursery areas for marine fish. Over 189 species of birds use the refuge at some time during the year. Prominent bird groups include wading birds, shorebirds, diving water birds, and raptors. Common mammals found in the area include raccoon, river otter, and bottle-nosed dolphins. Notable threatened and endangered species include West Indian manatee, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, wood stork, and the Atlantic loggerhead, green, and Kemp's Ridley sea turles
Address:3860 Tollgate Blvd.,
Directions:Ten Thousand Islands NWR is located between Marco Island and Everglades City, Florida. The refuge is best accessed by boat. The two prominent boating access points are found in Goodland and Port-of-the-Islands. Take U.S. 41 south out of Naples and drive 12 miles to Hwy 92, turn right and drive 5 miles to Goodland, or continue on U.S. 41 for 5 miles to Port-of-the-Islands. The headquarters for the refuge is located at 3860 Tollgate Blvd,. Naples, FL, within the Comfort Inn at exit 101 on I-75.
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Teen Second Life
|Teen Second Life|
|Developer(s)||Linden Research, Inc|
|Engine||Proprietary, free, and open source software
Physics: Havok 4
|Release date(s)||February 14, 2005|
Teen Second Life was a version of Second Life reserved for teenagers, running on the so-called "Teen Grid." It was officially opened to the public on February 14, 2005 for people aged 13–17 to use Second Life, without entering false information to participate in Second Life (reserved for people aged 18 and over). On January 1, 2006, Teen Second Life's operating hours were increased to 24 hours a day, whereas it was previously open only from noon to 10 pm Pacific Time.
On August 14, 2010, during the sixth annual Second Life Community Convention in Boston, Philip Rosedale announced the impending closure of the Teen Grid, scheduled for December 31. He attributed the decision to close the grid to the confusion of handling development and improvement of both the Main Grid and the Teen Grid. See Also
On Jan 21st 2011 Linden Labs transferred accounts, inventory and land held residents 16 and older. People who were under 16 were put on hold till their 16th birthday, when they were transferred into the regular Second Life. Any Land still owned by anyone under 16 was auctioned off. Terrence Linden advised people who are 16 to sell their land and cash the linden dollars out to real dollars. People who were 16 and 17 could only access general content, till they turned 18 and could access mature content.
Teen Second Life has closed and can no longer be accessed. Linden Lab did, however, import the "Teen Grid Mainland" so people can see what Teen Second Life once was. The main grid was 18+ but because of the Teen Second Life closure, Linden Labs has allowed 16-17 year olds onto the main grid, but restricted them to PG regions only. People aged 13–15 are allowed onto the main grid only via a school project or other related program. There is a protest group on the main grid named Teen Grid Supporters (c) who sometimes go around the mainland getting the "Lindens" attention. The group's aim is to get Linden Lab to reopen Teen Second Life.
- Teen Second Life users were transferred to Second Life once they turned 18, taking all content and private islands with them.
- Underage users found to be violating the Terms of Service by accessing Second Life were either transferred to Teen Second Life or be restricted from accessing either area entirely. In the case of transfer, all inventory was erased in an effort to prevent Mature content being transferred to Teen Second Life.
- Overage users found to be violating the Terms of Service by accessing Teen Second Life faced banning from all areas of Second Life (website, TSL and SL)
- Open Registration was implemented, but quickly removed for Teen Second Life, to increase security against users over age 18 from entering Teen Second Life.
- Adults were allowed on Teen Second Life on a limited basis, provided they pass a criminal background check. Up to this point, these adults, called approved adults, have all been educators or non-profits. They are required to stay in adult owned islands and may not join teen created groups, nor can they under any circumstances visit the mainland of Teen Second Life. See more in the Educators Working with Teens section of this page.( now any adult can visit the pg continent of second life)
- Teen Second Life is significantly smaller in the size of its userbase, the amount of land and concurrent Resident population at any given time.
- The Teen Grid is a fraction of the size of the Adult Grid, and has significantly fewer Resident-owned estates.
As of January 2, 2010, the Teen Grid had 93 Mainland regions, 7 resident-owned estates, and 97 educational/project estates.
- The Teen Community Standards prohibit mature content, including strong language, strong graphic violence and nudity.
- As well as social spaces, education groups are exploring the potential of Teen Second Life as a learning space. See section below.
- Teen Second Life has a few small 'military' groups, organized to stage various wars in the Teen Grid's few combat sims. Members of these groups comprise a significant portion of the overall population.
- In regular Second Life, you are able to have graphic sex, but the TOS limit this to adult rated regions where teens have no access (though many try, risking getting their accounts suspended or banned to do so).
- Teen Second Life has somewhat different economy compared to Second Life. Land prices and in-world object prices are known to be different, as the average income for the people that play these grids differs.
- LindeX (The Linden Lab endorsed trading service), however, takes from the same pool of Linden Dollars (L$) for both Second Life and Teen Second Life.
- Teen Second Life economy revolves around avatars, accessories, weapons, armies, scripts, and land barons (Residents who squat land in order to resell it, usually at an inflated price). The majority of Teen Second Life's residents are basic accounts without weekly stipends, so the L$ has slightly, nearly significant, more value on Teen Second Life than on Second Life, but due to lesser demand on content, content can be bought for significantly less than on Second Life (Comparing sources such as Second Life economy and Teen Second Life economy + Content). For example, a "Second Life-quality" car with similar features can cost L$100 (100 Linden Dollars) on Teen Second Life, while it may cost up to L$1,000 (1,000 Linden Dollars, or 1k) on Second Life
Teen Second Life shares asset server space with Second Life, and both are equally affected by unusually heavy concurrency or database issues.
Teen Second Life Educational Projects
Linden Lab allows educators to enter Teen Second Life to set up projects on islands they buy or by participating in Campus:TSL, a Linden Lab run program that provides free land to middle school and secondary educators on a short term basis.
The educational projects in Teen Second Life fall into two categories; those that are accessible to all residents of Teen Second Life (public projects), and those accessible to teens associated with a particular project in 'real life' (private projects). These private projects are most often inaccessible to Teen Second Life residents.
- Global Kids Island - a place for teen residents to learn about important social and world issues. It was created and is run by Global Kids, a non-profit organization based in New York City dedicated to developing youth to become global citizens and community leaders. Global Kids was the first educational organization to enter Teen Second Life, opening an island in March 2006 when it hosted a digital media essay contest, created the SL version of the Save Darfur charity wristband campaign, and brought in a real world photo exhibit from students it worked with in Brooklyn, NY. In the summer of 2006, it held Camp GK, a four week intensive program where Teen Second Life residents engaged in workshops on foreign policy and human rights issues. In the Fall of 2006, it partnered with UNICEF to host the World Fit For Children Festival, and invited media scholar Henry Jenkins to give a lecture/dance party where he spoke about media and learning. In the academic year of 2006, a real world machinima program, the Virtual Video Project, and a real-world gaming program, Playing 4 Keeps, both using TSL, were launched in New York City schools as after school programs. These projects were Global Kids' first uses of Teen Second Life with students in a face to face educational setting.
- Teen Second Life: A Virtual World for Teens – Official website
- Denise Harrison (09/01/10). "The End of the Virtual World". THE Journal.
- Pixeleen Mistral (14/08/10 at 8:50 pm). "Teen Grid Closing – Philip Linden Red Eyed". The Alphaville Herald.
- "Map of Second Life". Linden Lab. May 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-06.
- "Teen Second Life Community Standards". Linden Lab. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
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A few months ago, most of us didn't even know the word "sequestration."
Now it looks like we might grow to understand it.
Last week, through their continued inability to reach an agreement, the White House and Congress allowed sequestration - a legislative term for across-the-board cuts in federal spending on domestic programs and defense - to go into effect. When the sequester law was proposed and adopted in the 2011 debt ceiling fight, it was clear that neither Republicans nor Democrats wanted to see the cuts implemented. But here we are a little over a year later and a legislative gimmick has become a reality.
The national implications of these cuts have been much debated. President Obama has crisscrossed the country in recent weeks to characterize them as devastating to the economy and to hundreds of needed programs. Defense officials have warned that troop readiness could be compromised. But others have made the case that the cuts represent a drop in the multitrillion-dollar federal budget and have been built up way beyond their significance.
While the pain the cuts will produce across the country may be a subject for dispute, the consensus on the local level is that they are likely to be deeply felt. Of course, Congress could turn around this week and work out a deal that stops the slashing before it really begins. But barring that, it appears that Fayetteville and Fort Bragg could be victims of Washington brinksmanship.
We devoted a good chunk of newsprint and reporter energy to covering the sequestration story last week - including everything from the role our congressional representatives can play to the possible effects on and off Fort Bragg.
We will continue to chase meaningful angles to the story as long as it remains a political and economic issue in our community. The problems created by sequestration may turn out to be manageable. Or they may turn out to be major roadblocks to economic recovery.
But, hey, at least we learned a new word.
Executive editor Michael Adams can be reached at email@example.com or 486-3579.
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Overview of RMB Exchange Traded Funds (RMB ETFs)
What is an RMB ETF?
Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) is well established as the investment banking arm of FirstRand, one of South Africa's largest JSE-listed financial services groups. RMB has pioneered many financial instruments in the local and African markets and is reputed for combining innovation and entrepreneurship in support of its business philosophy and brand promise: Traditional values. Innovative ideas.
Consistent with RMB's reputation for insightful product innovation, the Bank has a platform of Exchange Traded Funds – RMB ETFs. RMB offers investors a range of ETFs that track various indices. The combination of securities on these indices gives the RMB ETF investor a broad investment base.
Each RMB portfolio aims to replicate or track (before expenses) the performance of an applicable Index (the Index) in terms of both the price performance and the income from the component securities of the Index. This allows investors the opportunity to obtain market exposure to the performance of the Index in an easily tradeable form through the shares being listed on the JSE.
The investment policy of each portfolio is to replicate the price movement and income yield of the index that it is designed to track. This is achieved by purchasing the constituent securities in the same weighting as they are included in the relevant index. The asset manager is not mandated, nor incentivised, to outperform the index.
Benefits of RMB ETFs
RMB ETFs represent a convenient and efficient method of investing in both domestic equity and bond markets. RMB ETFs offer key benefits to investors, including:
RMB ETFs are passive investments and the ideal product to reflect the daily returns offered by the market’s leading securities. Passively managed funds typically have lower transactional costs and fees than those associated with an actively managed fund.
Just like individual shares, RMB ETFs are priced constantly throughout the trading day and can be bought and sold at any time during JSE trading hours. RMB ETFs are listed on the JSE and offer investors guaranteed settlement and a regulated trading environment on the JSE through a stock broker.
An RMB ETF is highly transparent in nature - investors are able to see exactly which securities make up each ETF (see product information), including the weightings and sectors represented. Investors should view the constituents of the individual ETFs before selecting the ETF they believe is best suited to their own investment style and level of acceptable risk.
Efficient access to new markets and opportunities
An RMB ETF and the securities contained within it, broaden investment horizons and provide an effective method of accessing markets to which individual investors may not previously have had access to.
RMB ETFs give investors exposure to entire markets with one liquid trading instrument, conveniently and cost-effectively. This broader investment scope facilitates the potential to achieve investment returns that are consistent with the economic performance of specific asset classes.
Using a blend of these asset classes, investors are able to reduce the risk in their portfolios or take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves.
Trade like any share
RMB ETFs provide portfolio liquidity and flexibility. By incorporating RMB ETFs into a portfolio allows an investor to trade them just as they would any share; use a market order to buy, place a limit order to specify an exact buy price, limit exposure with a stop loss, or to short them if it is believed that the price will fall.
Advanced trading strategies
Given their index-based structure, RMB ETFs can be used as the core of a portfolio to provide a higher likelihood of returns consistent with the market performance of the index being tracked. Investors are then able to allocate their remaining investment capital to satellite investment opportunities in the pursuit of above market related returns.
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Jan 12, 2013 — On the third anniversary of Haiti's devastating earthquake, the country is laying plans to rid itself of the cholera epidemic that followed in its wake. Most scientists now think Nepalese soldiers unwittingly spread the pathogen in Haiti when they joined a United Nations peacekeeping force.
Jan 11, 2013 — Evidence of loss remains even three years after a massive earthquake claimed the lives of as many as 200,000 people in Haiti. One of the first photojournalists to capture the grim aftermath of the quake, NPR's David Gilkey traveled back to Haiti to revisit images he originally took in 2010.
Jan 11, 2013 — Three years ago, a massive earthquake destroyed much of Haiti's capital city. Aid agencies from around the world pledged billions of dollars to help Haiti rebuild. But since then, many of the grand plans have fizzled, and some 350,000 Haitians still live in makeshift camps.
Jan 4, 2013 — At a new school for midwives, students learn old arts, like massaging bellies, while also studying gynecology, obstetrics and nursing. Officials hope a new generation of professional midwives will help reduce the pressures on Mexican hospitals overwhelmed by births that, in the past, would have taken place at home.
May 18, 2013 — The world's top health problems are more common in men than women. But recent global funding has been skewed toward women's issues. Some health economists say more effort should go toward stopping men's risky behaviors, like smoking and drinking.
May 16, 2013 — Scientists used a Dutch woman's dirty stocking to learn that mosquitoes infected with malaria find humans hard to resist. Like a fungus that turns ants into zombies, the parasite seems to change the behavior of the mosquitoes for its own benefit.
May 13, 2013 — SARS burst on the scene in 2003 after one man infected travelers staying on the same floor of a Hong Kong hotel. Now that a new virus with similarities to SARS has spread from person to person, public health officials are urging hospitals to be on guard.
May 12, 2013 — Brazil's economic boom has driven the demand for births by caesarean section. Some 80 to 90 percent of women in private hospitals deliver this way. Proponents say it allows mothers and doctors to better organize their time. Critics say the procedure drives up costs and may cause complications.
May 9, 2013 — Infecting mosquitoes with a specific type of bacteria makes the insects resistant to malaria. Now scientists have figured out how to get the mosquitoes to pass the infections on to their offspring. If it can done reliably, it might help interrupt transmission of malaria to humans.
May 9, 2013 — The two makers of HPV vaccines have agreed to lower the prices for their vaccines to less than $5 a shot for low-income countries. The cheaper vaccine may make it easier to vaccinate girls in places where the risk of death from cervical cancer is greatest.
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On December 18, 2012, CCAC hosted the Advanced Manufacturing/Mechatronics Conference at the Regional Learning Center in Cranberry.
Much of the interest revolved around one of the guest speakers, Bill Symonds, who is making his Harvard study “Pathways to Prosperity” an educational "buzz word" nationally.
Additional speakers included Dan Fogarty, from Schroeder Industries, John DeVere, from Education & Training Solutions, LLC, and Keith Campbell from Industrial Maintenance Training Center of Pennsylvania.
I have a basic understanding of manufacturing but what is mechatronics?
“Mechatronics is a new and exciting engineering field that integrates mechanical and electronic components with hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics and computer controls in the manufacture of industrial products and processes,” according to the conference host, Community College of Allegheny County, which provides training in Mechatronics,
To some, mechatronics is considered the unified and holistic approach to each of the engineering disciplines as explained in this YouTube video: http://youtu.be/xenSAnXMIA8.
“Mechatronics solutions require the use of integrated teams of personnel working towards a common goal.” (http://www.imeche.org/knowledge/industries/mechatronics-informatics-and-control/about-the-group/mechatronics-forum/what-is-mechatronics)
So why are manufacturing and mechatronics so important to Pennsylvania and to the United States?
According to the presentation made by Dan Fogarty, Human Resources Manager of Schroeder Industries, LLC, manufacturing is Pennsylvania’s largest economic sector with over $75 billion in annual output, and 14% of the state gross product.
The productivity per worker in manufacturing is $27,000 more output per employee than any other sector, more than 60% of the innovation patents comes from the manufacturing sector, and nearly one out of every four technology jobs is in the manufacturing sector.
With the continued improvements in technology, which demands higher skill requirements, and with Pennsylvania’s aging workforce, a critical human resource shortage is developing.
There is not enough talent in the pipeline to fill available positions.
According to Mr. Fogarty, by 2020 there will be 4,500 projected openings for industrial maintenance in Southwestern Pennsylvania. These jobs include Mechatronics Technicians, Industrial Mechanics, Industrial Electricians, Robotics Technicians, Automation Technician and many others related to the field of Industrial Maintenance.
The regional entry-level salary (2009) is $29,160, with the average salary being $43,137. Combine this with the very good possibility of consistent work, and that creates a very promising future for Pennsylvania’s up-and-coming workforce.
Why are students not considering manufacturing and mechatronics as occupations?
A plausible solution to these questions was provided by guest speaker Bill Symonds, who is the director of the Pathways to Prosperity Project, which is based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was launched in 2008.
Within his presentation of the Pathways to Prosperity Project, Mr. Symonds raised two key questions:
What is wrong with our current approach in schools? And, what do we need to do in order for our kids to dramatically increase their success?
Mr. Symonds continued that the increased interest in these key questions is because the record of school reform is so disappointing, causing the American Dream to be at risk.
There is record unemployment/underemployment for graduates with soaring student debt and the median income per household has decreased to 1990’s level.
According to Mr. Symonds, the key role of education in America is losing its race globally. Forbes magazine reports that the “United States spends more on K-12 public education than many other developed countries, yet U.S. students remain poorly prepared to compete with global peers; more than 25% of US students fail to graduate high school in four years; … in a global economy where language competency is critical, eight in 10 Americans only speak English; according to a recent report by the not-for-profit-organization ACT, only 22% of high school students met “college ready” standards in all core subjects; major employers cannot find qualified American applicants to fill job openings, and 75% of U.S. citizens ages 17-24 cannot pass military exams because they are out of shape, have criminal records or lack critical skills needed for modern warfare. (http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesmarshallcrotty/2012/03/26/7-signs-that-americas-educational-decline-is-jeopardizing-its-national-security/)
Mr. Symonds is concerned:
“Would our next generation be called ‘A Wasted Generation’”?
In the Pathways to Prosperity report, the next trends indicate that by 2018 Pennsylvania is expected to have 6.4 million jobs, 56% of these jobs will require post-secondary education, 29% will require a four-year degree or higher and 27% will require an associates degree or some college.
The statistics reveal that it will be critical to have a high school degree.
Parents and students feel that the only way to success is through a four-year college degree, but according to Mr. Symonds, this thinking is out of step with the labor market demand.
“We are still the most productive manufacturing country in the world," he points out. "We will be replacing our baby boomers, that is where the jobs will be coming from.”
His thoughts that “college for all” should expand to “post high school credentials for all” through community college/technical college, apprenticeships, military/community service and four year college. Mr. Symonds explains:
“Put kids in an environment that they are engaged and they will succeed and stay in school and graduate.”
The three core elements of the Pathways to Prosperity system include: “Multiple pathways for students which would elevate career education to world class levels, provide high quality career counseling and improve opportunities toward work-based learning; expand the role for employers to include career guidance, designing programs of study in a work-based environment; and a new social compact with young people.”
Pennsylvania’s post-secondary education, community colleges, certifications, vocational technical schools, high schools as well as the training facilities such as Education & Training Solutions, LLC, and Industrial Maintenance Training Center of Pennsylvania, are all readily available to provide the education for the manufacturing and mechatronics trends Mr. Dogarty and Mr. Symonds reference for Pennsylvania.
Companies, educators and communities will have to introduce non-traditional approaches to addressing this critical need in Pennsylvania’s workforce in order to attract the interest of students and educated workers as Mr. Symonds recommends.
Starting in high school and continuing into post-secondary education, companies need to open their doors with internships and apprenticeships in order to introduce students to opportunities available in the manufacturing/mechatronics fields and educators need to provide companies the opportunity to promote work based learning.
Communities need to market local companies through local promotions and create opportunities for company involvement in community events. This collaborative effort could be a beginning of the “Pathway of Prosperity” for Pennsylvania’s next generation who just need a little direction and guidance toward the new talent pipeline.
The writer, Aafke Loney, is the president of Business and Education Connected, www.business-education-connected.com
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When you are moving in to a new house or apartment, it is very important to make sure that your new living space is thoroughly cleaned, prior to moving in any of your things. It is especially important to clean the bathroom, as this is a prime location for mould and other disease-causing bacteria.
Start with the basics
The first thing you should do is clean all the surfaces in your new bathroom. This includes the counter tops, any shelving, all tile surfaces, as well as the bathtub, sink, and toilet. The best cleaning product to use is going to be one that has anti-bacterial cleansers. Also, for the porcelain surfaces, make sure you use a non-abrasive cleaning product, so you don’t scratch or mar the surfaces.
Bathtub and the sink
When you are ready to start cleaning your tub and sink basin, use a soft, non-scratch sponge. Spray or pour your cleaner on the porcelain, and let it sit for a minute or two, then simply wipe away the dirt and grime. Rinse the sponge out under warm running water, and continue in this manner until the entire area has been cleaned. Use a soft bristle toilet brush for cleaning your toilet, and again, leave the cleaner on the inner surface of the bowl for a few minutes before scrubbing it off. Make sure you work the bristles of your brush into all the hard to reach areas that you might otherwise miss – germs and bacteria love dark, wet corners!
Buy a new toilet seat
It is probably a good idea to replace the toilet seat when you move in to a new apartment. Toilet seats are a breeding ground for bacteria. A new toilet seat attachment, and will make it much easier to maintain a clean bathroom. You can also explore the possibility of replacing any shelving and cabinets there might be in your bathroom. If there is a cabinet directly under the sink, it would be a really good idea to go ahead and replace it, or at least repaint the surfaces, so you can block out future bacteria infestations.
Clean the tiles
When it is time to clean the tiles, make sure to use a cleaner that will get deep between the tiles, into the grout work. Mould, fungus, and other bacteria can get a firm hold on grout, especially in the bathtub area, because of how much time they are in humid conditions or actually underwater. If it looks like the previous occupant didn’t clean the grout often enough, or left it lying for too long, then you should probably replace the grout. This can be done by yourself fairly easy, or you can hire a professional to do it for you.
Clogged pipes and rusty water
Another thing that people often forget to check when they move into a new home or apartment is the plumbing. If the plumbing has been neglected by the previous occupants, you might have clogged pipes or dirty, rusty water in your tub, toilet or sink. Pouring a small amount of liquid pipe cleaner into your drains will take care of any clogs, and rusty or dirty water can usually be fixed by letting the water run for an extended period, or by using a water treatment of some kind.
Don’t forget the bath mat and shower curtain!
Finally, it is also a good idea to replace the bath mat and shower curtain. This way, you can be sure that there is no dirt or bacteria from the previous occupant. Shower curtains collect mould easily, when not properly washed, and bath mats are usually infested with germs. Following these easy steps will have your new bathroom sparkling in no time!
John is an expert of bathroom renovations and he runs a Sydney based company, Complete Bathroom Renovations, which has been operating in the market for the last 40 years.
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Some say that the recent annual Halifax International Security Forum (HISF) is a waste of funds, a waste of time and a waste of a weekend. They are wrong.
According to a former Republican U.S. presidential contender, Senator John McCain, the HISF is “one of the world’s more important meetings” of military and civilian leaders, decision-makers, advisers and senior journalists. Forum president Peter Van Praagh defined it as “about the relationships that are fostered and strengthened; the ideas that are articulated and challenged; the insights and information that inform real decisions made by leaders on the front lines, around the world.”
Over the past several years, Halifax has attracted several interesting meetings and conferences concerned with international issues.
NATO’s Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services brought more than 150 medical practitioners from some 50 nations to Halifax in 2008 for their biannual meeting.
Dalhousie University’s Centre for Foreign Policy Studies hosts an annual maritime security conference to look at the many issues and challenges facing nations that use the oceans for their commerce.
NATO’s Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence and the Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters conducted their second international conference in June; it brought together marine security specialists and seafarers from the military and business sectors to discuss issues of global maritime security.
The HISF annually provides a forum for an “informal, unscripted, discussion-based atmosphere that encourages interactive and free-flowing exchanges.” Participants meet for two days “to focus on pressing security issues, conduct bilateral meetings, and network.”
Conceived and hosted by Defence Minister Peter MacKay, conference attendees recognize there are some continuing problems, such as the Middle East peace process, international terrorism and uncertainty in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But, MacKay notes, things are also changing in ways we couldn’t foresee at the end of the Cold War in 1989. These changes will alter the perceptions and realities that we have become accustomed to since then. New weapons and new methods of warfare can overturn our thinking about military operations.
The world has become less predictable, more threatening, and increasingly complicated and unstable. Canadians are not immune to transnational crime, terrorist activity and maritime piracy that jeopardize this nation’s peace, order, and our way of life.
The HISF consists of about 300 people from more than 50 nations, representing governments, militaries, the international academe, journalists and non-governmental organizations, brought together into what both Van Praagh and MacKay call “a community.”
The forum addressed security issues such as the Syrian civil war, the emerging economic and military power of China, energy security, cyber-security and warfare, and the missing presence of women in the government and governance of emerging democracies.
HISF provided a platform for open and candid discussions by high-level representatives like U.S. senators McCain and Mark Udall (D-Col.); Afghan Defence Adviser Abdul Rahim Wardak; French General Jean-Paul Paloméros, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, and their Canadian counterparts.
MacKay noted that HISF, now in its fourth year, “has evolved into the premier event for leaders and experts to discuss the most relevant, urgent global security issues ... and Halifax provides the perfect atmosphere for the exchange of ideas that will inform the thinking and decisions of key leaders around the world.”
Halifax has been a strategic city throughout its two and a half centuries. In the beginning, it was the gateway to British North America; home to the British Navy during the War of 1812; starting point for the Second World War naval convoys that sustained Britain and enabled the Allied operations on D-Day; the historic home of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Atlantic fleet and a centre of excellence for Cold War anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
This city and this province are also home to a prominent and progressive defence, security and aerospace family of industries that is a major player in national and international military equipment programs and is in competition with similar industries in other provinces and in other nations.
HISF reinforces Halifax as a strategically important city and a world-class centre for discussion and deliberation about international security, where leaders, thinkers and journalists can benefit from the combination, collaboration, convergence and collision of ideas and ideologies.
Tim Dunne is a communications consultant and writer, a Research Fellow with Dalhousie University’s Centre for Foreign Policy Studies and a member of the Royal United Services Institute (NS) Security Affairs Committee. He is a veteran of peacekeeping operations in the Middle East, Bosnia Herzegovina, Macedonia and Kosovo.
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What happens when species protection trumps historical interpretation at Petersburg National Battlefield?
By Kate Siber
Every December for the last five years, a couple of amorous bald eagles have arrived in Petersburg National Battlefield in Virginia. They find the same 65-foot-tall pine tree, gather sticks to build and repair their nest, lay eggs, and guard them jealously. A few months later, as many as three wobbly eaglets appear on the edge of the nest, flapping their wings and summoning the nerve to fly. Consumed by their own dramas, the eagle family seems blissfully unperturbed by its human observers.
But every year humans do arrive, and inevitably, a few are dismayed. That’s because the eagles sit right on top of Colquitt’s Salient, a Confederate position opposite Fort Stedman—where Robert E. Lee launched his last major offensive before surrender in 1865. Every year, the National Park Service shuts down the area to visitors for the six months of the eagles’ residency, letting the birds nest in peace and allowing visitors to view the fort from afar.
Though Petersburg National Battlefield was established to protect the remains of a nine-and-a-half-month siege in 1864 and 1865, its 2,700 acres of woods and meadows also offer critical wildlife habitat. Much like other battlefields, Petersburg’s green spaces attract a wide array of creatures, including opossums, skunks, snakes, deer, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and even the occasional bear; as many as 50 percent of park visitors come expressly to walk, horseback ride, or bicycle the bucolic trails. That presents a challenging task for park management.
“We’re trying to balance protecting the eagles while providing the historic tours of the site that the visitors are coming to see,” says Dave Shockley, chief of resource management for Petersburg National Battlefield. “We want both the natural and historical values to be represented well.”
The eagles haven’t made it easy, however. They have nested near railroad tracks, a recreational trail, a residential neighborhood, and the fort—and the traffic doesn’t really seem to bother them. Nonetheless, Petersburg shuts down the recreational trail and Colquitt’s Salient between mid-December and mid-July, when the eagles are nesting, in order to approximate the National Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) recommended 750-foot buffer zone around the nest.
Although some visitors are disappointed, precautions like these have contributed to one of the greatest species recovery stories of all time. Because of habitat loss, effects from the pesticide DDT, and illegal shooting, there were only 487 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the continental United States in 1963. The public took notice—bald eagles are not only our nation’s symbol but also charismatic birds in their own right. They mate for life, their wings can span as wide as eight feet, and they can build nests ten feet across. The Fish and Wildlife Service added the species to the endangered list in 1967, initiating a long but successful recovery period that led to its removal from the list in 2007. Now FWS estimates that there are more than 10,000 pairs of nesting bald eagles in the continental United States.
Within six miles of Petersburg National Battlefield, the James River hosts one of the species’ most phenomenal success stories. Eagles vanished from the James River in the mid-1970s. Then the population started to rebound, rising each year, sometimes by as much as 10 percent, according to the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. Last spring, the center recorded an unprecedented 174 pairs of nesting eagles on the James River, a number that is nearing capacity—and pushing eagles to find nesting sites like the one at nearby Fort Stedman.
Still, threats to the eagles remain. Just outside Petersburg National Battlefield, the communities of Richmond, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Williamsburg will likely expand in the coming years, closing critical open space and creating a long corridor of human development. As development spreads, public lands of all sorts will become more important as eagle habitat.
“We have these public lands—there are quite a few on the James—and those are going to play a more critical role,” says Bryan D. Watts, director for the Center for Conservation Biology. The public lands include those managed by the Park Service, FWS, and the military.
In fact, many other Park Service sites also harbor nesting eagles in Virginia. Last year, during the Center for Conservation Biology’s spring survey, staff from FWS and the College of William and Mary found eight nests in Colonial National Historical Park, one at Malvern Hill in Richmond National Battlefield, and three at George Washington Birthplace National Monument.
“One of the hopes is that these properties that have historic significance can play a dual role,” says Watts. “We can protect them for their cultural importance but at the same time provide habitat for some of these species we’re concerned about.”
Last year marked the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, and 2015 will mark the 150th anniversary of Fort Stedman’s role in the end of it. Now that the resident eagles have produced two or three healthy eaglets every year—and don’t seem bothered by humans—Shockley hopes to allow more visitors to approach the fort while the eagles are nesting. Despite the careful management the eagles require, it seems fitting that they chose this spot. Who better but the national symbols to preside over such a storied site in American history?
BIRDING THE BATTLEFIELD
Thanks to NPCA’s “Birding the Battlefield” program, birders participating in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count have been tallying anything with feathers at Civil War parks across the country. As many as 141 bird species were recorded, from waterfowl to woodpeckers, proving that battlefields aren’t just hallowed historic grounds but important conservation areas, too. Learn more at www.npca.org/birdingthebattlefield.
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Afghanistan farmers grow poppies that makes opium used to fund terrorism. Now the U.S. is encouraging pomegranate as the cash crop to replace it, because farmers can make more money from pomegranate than opium. This is an effort to control terrorism.
Pomegranate has had a surge in popularity since the high anti-oxidant value of the fruit has been written about in the media. The bottled juice is popular in food stores everywhere. It also has a healthy price tag relative to other juices.
This special fruit of the Gods, pomegranate has been a favorite food since ancient times. It grows well in semi-arid climates so does well in parts of Africa, India and Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places like that. It also grows in areas of California and Arizona, the tree having been introduced into the United States in the mid 18th century.
As recently as the late 1980's sales of pomegranate in the United States were relatively low. Then came the information about its health value. That brought new interest in the fruit, giving impetus to sales.
Pomegranate has been touted as having significant health benefits in a number of areas. These are some of them according to reviews of it:
# Being rich in antioxidants, pomegranate can keep LDL (bad cholesterol) from oxidizing and thus, prevents atherosclerosis.
# Pomegranate has been found to help keep blood platelets from clumping together and forming unnecessary clots.
# Regular consumption of pomegranate juice is said to be beneficial for those suffering from heart diseases.
# Researches have indicated that pomegranate compounds might prevent prostate cancer and even slowdown its growth.
# Pomegranate juice has also been associated with reducing the risk of breast cancer.
# Pomegranate juice is pretty good for those suffering from diarrhea, but it over-consumption can lead to constipation.
# Pomegranate is said to be good for reducing plaque in the arteries and raising levels of HDL (good cholesterol).
# It has been seen that pomegranate juice helps prevent heart attacks and even stroke.
# Studies have shown that maternal consumption of pomegranate juice might protect the neonatal brain from damage after injury.
# Pomegranate is believed to help prevent cartilage deterioration and thus, keep osteoarthritis at bay.
It was pointed out in 2002 that pomegranates might be the answer to the poppies grown in Afghanistan that are made into opium. A writer pointed out that Afghan farmers are religious people, hard-working people who need alternatives to make a living. The pomegranate was suggested as being that alternative and is now being advocated by the U.S. government encouraging farmers to plant the fruit rather than poppies.
The counter-narcotics strategy discusses how the United States hopes to help farmers in making the transition from growing the poppies that make opium to pomegranate. It's important to do that since the drug trade has undermined Afghanistan's economic stability.
Other agricultural products have been encouraged such as grapes, but they aren't as popular as pomegranates. but pomegranates is the major focus to get farmers to switch from growing poppies to pomegranate that might interrupt the drug trade that fuels terrorism.
Experts believe that pomegranates can give Afghanistan a long-term incentive to switch from poppies because farmers can make more money with pomegranates than with poppies. The problem, it is said, is the fact that pomegranate trees take 4-5 years to grow. In addition supply and demand can affect sales. Nevertheless, it is believed that it is a reasonable alternative given the present demand for the fruit and the fact that it can produce a healthy alternative for farmers than poppies while improving the health of the planet.
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WILLIAMS, J.S. MSS.
The Williams, J.S. mss., 19th cent. are reminiscences under the title, "Skeleton's from a homespuner's closet," of John Samuel Williams, 1857-1940, Indiana schoolteacher. They relate to his life in Harrison County, Indiana, where he lived until 1879, and deal with schools, social life and customs, folklore, and Morgan's Raid.
Included also are a foreword containing biographical material about Williams by his daughter, Mrs. Inez Lysle Johnson, and word and music of some songs of pioneer days. Most of the songs were dictated to Mrs. Johnson by her father, but she has also included fragments of five songs given to her by her mother.
Collection size: 2 items
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Mind is a leading mental health charity in England and Wales and has produced information on many areas of mental health. This factsheet is for older people, but it is also relevant to their carers, relatives and friends. It explores how older people can maintain good mental health, and gives information on mental distress with an emphasis on the issues that may affect older people. Throughout this factsheet ‘older people’ refers to those aged 65 and over, although many of the issues covered, such as retirement, may be relevant to people under 65.
The Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. They produce information and advice sheets to support those affected by dementia. Counselling, or ‘talking therapy’, gives people the chance to talk in confidence to a trained professional counsellor about problems or issues that are causing them concern. There are many different types of counselling available. This information sheet explains how counselling might help people with dementia, carers and former carers.
In this learning object you will have an opportunity to learn about the principal services available for older people at the primary, mainstream, secondary/specialist and tertiary levels by travelling down a virtual 'care pathway'. Along the way you will have the chance to test your knowledge of relevant statistics and will examine cross cutting issues and assessment. This object also contains a self-assessment section where you can test how far you have assimilated the key messages from this learning object.
This short training scenario was originally used in the context of introductory child protection training. It gives brief information from which participants are asked to identify what they are concerned about and what they would do next. A school is concerned about the behaviour of a disabled child who receives monthly respite care.
Scams Awareness is to help the vulnerable, especially the elderly, from being ripped off by con artists with such traps as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws and 'miracle' health cures.
It is estimated that as many as three million members of the public fall victim to scams sent by means of the post, email, text, telephone and internet, and during this month Carers UK is helping to raise awareness so that more people can avoid joining the growing list of casualties.
The Office of Fair Trading has produced a leaflet specifically for carers and care professionals.
This website provides comprehensive information about benefits including disability living allowance, attendance allowance, carers' allowance, incapacity benefit and the industrial injuries scheme.
It also gives an overview of the appeals process for disability living allowance and attendance allowance; and the special rules for dialysis patients and those with terminal illness who are claiming disability living allowance.
The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) promotes, supports and defends the principles and practice of independent advocacy across Scotland. This newsletter provides an update on the progress of the SIAA and includes details of their 'Training for Trainers' session, information about elder abuse, Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) 2002, some health and safety issues and details of useful organisations.
Article offering practical information and advice on all aspects of caring for an older person.
The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. They produce information and advice sheets to support those affected by dementia.
This information sheet offers advice and guidance to carers of people with dementia on ways to look after their own health and well-being.
Website intended to allow service users, carers, health and social care professionals to access information and evidence on adult rehabilitation and the management of long term conditions.
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Dr. Alon Ben-Meir's weekly articles critically analyze the latest developments in the Middle East as well as major conflicting issues in international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. The articles not only offer analytical and comprehensive insight into the conflicts but also advocate policy positions and practical solutions to the problems that often make headlines.
Ben-Meir's articles are syndicated by United Press International, are translated into Arabic and enjoy a world-wide coverage. They often appear in newspapers such as Al Quds, Jerusalem Post, Turkish Daily News and The Washington Times, as well as on several websites like Yediot Ahronot, The Globalist and the Middle East Information Center.
Comments, opinions or thoughts are most welcome. Please feel free to complete and submit the contact form.
May 21, 2013
The continuing carnage and atrocities sweeping across Syria and the savagery committed against innocent men, women and children defy the most nightmarish dehumanization committed by one against another. A government that slaughters its people and maims a whole generation is not a government with whom to negotiate. It is nothing short of travesty that the [...]
May 15, 2013
In talking to scores of people from the diplomatic corps, the academic community and many from the media here in the US, the Arab states and Israel about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the majority seem to agree that unless the United States puts its foot down, the renewed efforts to achieve peace launched by Washington will [...]
May 9, 2013
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington on May 16 comes at a pivotal time when the Middle East is riddled with extraordinary conflicts that have the potential of exploding into a regional war. The time is also ripe for creating a geopolitical realignment that could eventually usher in stability and progress. Turkey [...]
May 2, 2013
There are many impediments to finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including historical and current experiences, claims and counter-claims, the lack of trust, contradictory ideological and religious convictions, and the unwillingness to make painful compromises. The one critical impediment that has not been addressed and continues to impede resolutions to the conflicting issues is [...]
April 25, 2013
The resurrection of Arab Peace Initiative (API) by the United States, which was initially introduced by the Arab League in Beirut, Lebanon in 2002, is a strategic and timely move. Sadly, however, the API should have all along constituted the basis for a negotiated Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement which was, and still is, the pre-condition for [...]
April 18, 2013
Iran may have not invented Chess, but it has nevertheless demonstrated unsurpassed skills in playing the nuclear chess game against the P5+1 (US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany) and especially against the US. From the time it was discovered that Iran was operating a clandestine nuclear weapons program nearly two decades ago, Tehran has [...]
April 11, 2013
A critical impediment to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the complete distrust between the two sides. What makes the conflict even more intractable is that neither side is convinced that distrusting the other can be mitigated given the history of the conflict, their opposing goals and day-to-day experiences, reinforced by the constant maligning of each [...]
April 3, 2013
Much has been said about President Obama’s journey to the Middle East but little about the substance and the implications the visit might have. I believe that if the President was set to win the hearts and minds of the Israelis, he certainly made considerable strides toward that end. Unfortunately, most Palestinian commentators misread the [...]
March 25, 2013
At the eleventh hour, Prime Minister Netanyahu hustled to put his coalition government together only two days before President Obama’s visit to Israel. Undoubtedly, Netanyahu’s last-ditch effort was prompted by his incontrovertible desire to be the sitting, rather than the caretaker, prime minister in his meeting with President Obama. Being the political animal that he [...]
March 19, 2013
Today is the tenth anniversary of the Iraq war and I for one recollect those years with deep sorrow. Scores of commentaries have been written on the misguided Iraq war and perhaps not much can be added to America’s worst foreign policy blunder since at the very least World War II. To put this war [...]
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Posted at: 01/15/2013 7:30 PM
Updated at: 01/15/2013 7:42 PM
By: Dan Conradt
Gun Violence Prompting Sales Spike, Ammo Shortage
(ABC 6 NEWS) -- It's been just over a month since a man walked into an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut and gunned down 27 people, including 20 children.
Now, law enforcement agencies around the country are feeling another of the ripple-effects of that day.
"We've seen a sharp increase in permits to purchase," said Austin police chief Brian Krueger.
And now, law enforcement is feeling the impact of "supply and demand".
"The general public obviously has gone out and purchased a large volume off the shelves of ammunition," Krueger explained.
For the range master of the shooting range Austin police and Mower County sheriff deputies use, things have changed since Sandy Hook.
"Two months ago he was doing some checking and everything was fine, orders were there, the rounds were there, the ammunition was available. and since this tragic event they're approximately eight to ten months behind now," said Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger.
"It could be a culmination of things,” said Mower County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark May, “thinking that there could be legislation coming down to ban these certain kinds of weapons or the magazines and stuff and people might just think you know I want to be prepared, so I'm going to get ammunition."
There was a similar shortage a couple of years ago.
"With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan it was taking six to eight months, even close to a year to get ammunition," Austin police chief Brian Krueger explained.
"The manufacturers ... they cater to the military and everybody else," added chief deputy Mark May.
And demand for ammunition often goes up in the wake of mass shootings like the one at Sandy Hook elementary school.
"We are sitting fine …. the police department, for ammunition, as is the county," police chief Brian Krueger told us.
“We usually do order it ahead of time," added chief deputy Mark May. “We're just like anybody else, we need to compete with everyone for ammunition."
The state requires law enforcement officers in Minnesota to go through weapons qualifications twice a year.
The Austin police department requires quarterly qualifications, and plans to stick with that schedule
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[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [ARSCLIST] The "dumbing down" of Downloaded Recordings
The recording industry is a commercial venture. In that arena,
decisions follow the money. Compression saves bandwidth on download,
and facilitates the sale of cheaper portable players and cell phones
with smaller capacities. If you can get money for a file, that must be
mostly profit. Money for nuthin', and chicks for a fee, the world's two
There are some who figure to gain from those who can hear a difference,
like www.musicgiants.com or www.highdeftapetransfers.net.
There may be others, and it is worth supporting them if you are into
paying for non-physical media. My kids don't pay.
The history of recorded audio quality can be easily graphed, rising
from acoustic to electric, 78 to LP. The cost per unit to the
manufacturer and customer falls in real dollars until the oil crisis of
the 70s, when it rises, despite the likes of Dynaflex pressings.
The quality curve plateaus with the introduction of the CD. The
engineering group assures the marketing folks the sound quality is
mathematically impeccable and the polycarbonate much more durable than
vinyl, and cheaper to boot. That becomes Perfect Sound Forever. This
despite the fact that the audiophile/critical community actually
compares the media and finds CD sound inferior in many respects to
quality (as distinct from mass-market) analog reproduction, tape or
The unit cost of manufacturing CDs declines dramatically, but the
consumer price migrates upwards. "Popular" titles with dubious sonic
quality are then heavily discounted at wholesale to corporate chains
like Tower and Wal-Mart, who pass on the reduction to the public as
"loss leaders". This puts the small independent dealers out of
business, removing a lot of niche market genres like jazz, blues, and
classical from local distribution. Amazon figures this out,
fortunately, and musically eclectic consumers start acquiring their
music from Internet sources.
There are attempts at better mousetraps like SACD, HDCD, etc. but
issues like dual inventory, mediocre players, and the relative
sophistication of the average Circuit City salesbot make them
irrelevant. The market decides specialist audio stores are irrelevant,
and most shift their attention to Home Theater.
Most targeted consumers (10-20 years old) for two decades never
experience anything better than CD quality audio on boomboxes, and
studies show both unit sales of CDs and time listening to music
decline. Car audio takes over for many, then Walkman, portable CD, and
iPod. During the same period, musical education is cut from public
school curriculums as "fat", replaced apparently by the
teach-to-the-test demands of the under-funded No Child Left Behind
fiasco and pressure to add Intelligent Design to the curriculum by the
Left Behind folks, who hate the kids' music anyway as the work of the
Now some on the list may have already considered flaming these comments
in response, so I'll conclude.
The point here is that the "dumbing down" within the culture is
broad-spread because it is profitable. Improvement of anything is
expensive. If decisions are made by corporate CEOs with an eye on their
bonus rather than quality of product, disaster ensues. We are all being
Once CD quality audio was sold to the public as "Perfect", the equation
became simple. If the public will pay $X for Perfect, they will pay $Y
for something not as good (a tape cassette, or a download, for
example). If Perfect is perceived by consumers as poor value for money,
either the price comes down or they quality must go up, or sales
decline. Paying more for better than Perfect is a nonstarter, whether
you are a manufacturer or consumer. Unless, of course, you are among
the eBayers who will pay $100+ for vintage vinyl.
Given that CD quality sound has been accepted by the public as the
ultimate, the question for the music industry was simply how much more
quality can they throw away and still convince enough consumers that
they are listening to music?
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Ayurveda means “the science of life” and is a natural healing system that has its roots in India. As one of the whole medical systems, Aruyveda has gained popularity in the United States due to Dr. Deepak Chopra, an Indian-born doctor who uses a combination of Aruyveda and conventional medicine to treat his patients in the US.
Ayurveda is a holistic approach to medicine that seeks to integrate the mind, body and spirit to achieve overall health. Keeping the body in balance is believed to lead to overall health and contentment. One of the main principles of Ayurveda is the belief that to keep the body free of illness and disease, it must be regularly cleansed. Ayureda modalities include the following:
1. Herbs and food
Used separately or in combination, these therapies seek to restore balance to the body. Ayurveda also treats specific health problems, whether they are physical or mental in nature.
Ayurveda has evolved over thousands of years in India. It is based primarily on ideas from Hinduism but also shares its origin from ancient Persian beliefs regarding health and healing.
The first texts of Ayurveda were penned some 2000 years ago on palm leaves. These texts, the Caraka Samhita and the Sustruta Samhita, covered topics such as the following:
• Advice for practitioners, including medical ethics
Ayurveda is still the main medical system used in India today. Western medicine is prevalent there as well, but Ayurveda remains the main medical treatment used by India’s rural population who make up 70% of the country.
Basic Tenets of Ayurveda
Ayurveda’s belief about health revolves around the idea of the three Doshas: Vata doha, Pitta dosha and Aapha dosha.
About the Doshas
• Each dosha is made up of the combination of space, air, fire, water, and earth.
• Each dosha has its weaknesses and strengths and can be put out of balance for any reason.
• Each person is a combination of the three doshas and has his or her own dominant dosha. One’s dosha is constantly being reformed due to lifestyle and diet.
• Each dosha represents a certain body type, personality, and has its own risks of various illnesses.
• Imbalances in a dosha can occur because of stress, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, and other lifestyle choices and bodily processes.
The Vata dosha is considered the combination between space and air. Vata dosha is the most powerful of the doshas. It controls the heart, breathing, the mind, and cell division. Staying up too late, eating before your previous meal is digested, or eating dried fruit can upset Vata. People whose main dosha is vata are thought to be susceptible to mental, skin, and neurological diseases
The Pitta dosha is represented by fire and water. Pitta is said to control the digestive system and hormones. When Pita is out of balance people may experience negative emotions and digestive problems. People whose primary dosha is pitta may have higher risk of arthritis and heart disease.
The Kapha dosha combines water and earth. Kapha controls growth, helps with immunity, and keeps up one’s strength. Kapha is put out of balance by eating when one is full, eating too many sweets, and eating and drinking foods with too much salt. A person whose primary dosha is kapha is believed to be susceptible to stomach ulcers, diabetes, gallbladder problems, and respiratory illnesses.
The ayurvedic practitioner will develop a plan for the patient to follow that will work to get his doshas back in synch. Ayuverdic treatments take a comprehensive approach. They involve family and friends to help the person with their treatment plan and may require substantial changes in lifestyle, diet, and exercise regimes.
An Ayurvedic treatment will consist of four parts:
1. Eliminate impurities. The process of eliminating impurities is called panchakarma which focuses on cleansing of the digestive tract. The cleansing of the digestive system is usually accomplished with fasting, enemas, or special diets. To eliminate worms or other disease causing agents, practitioners might prescribe nasal sprays or inhalers filled with medicated oils.
2. Reduce symptoms. This is where the practitioner may suggest significant lifestyle changes. A patient may be asked to perform yoga exercises, meditation, and stretching. Various foods and herbs may be prescribed, and they may be mixed with small doses of metals believed to protect the patient from harm.
3. Reduce stress. Increase harmony and contentment in the patient’s life with the use of yoga, meditation, and other therapies.
4. Help rid the patient of psychological and physical problems. Massage or vital points therapy may be used to reduce pain and improve circulation. Ayurveda teaches that there are 107 vital points on the body that can be manipulated to bring about better physical and mental health.
The biggest risk with Ayurvedic procedures is toxicity. Some of the herbs and medicines used have been shown to have potentially dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, and other harmful metals. In 2004 the Centers for Disease Control received reports of 12 cases where people had lead poisoning because of an Ayurvedic treatment.
There haven’t been many clinical trials of Ayurvedic practices and those that have taken place have been small and had problems with research and design that made it difficult to rely on the results generated for any definitive answers on the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment.
Ultimately the best way to avoid complications is to seek out a fully trained and licensed Ayurveda practitioner. While there are schools opening in the U.S., the best Ayurveda schools are located in India, so it would best to find a practitioner who has studied overseas as they would have the most rigorous training. Also, don’t rely on a Ayurvedic practitioner for your diagnosis. Use your primary healthcare provider for an initial diagnosis and seek out an ayurvedic practitioner to treat your illness in conjunction with your primary physician.
Introduction to Complementary and ALternative Medicine (CAM)
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Bringing existing education standards for rural children up to International level, is a gigantic task – a task far beyond the capacity of NGOs and charitable organisations like ours. Even if adequate funding were to be available it would take many years of sustained effort to achieve. However, what appears to be a daunting task should not be considered impossible. Quest for Education and its partners have the expertise, infrastructure and systems in place to confront all these difficulties and continue the process of transforming rural communities forever. Your financial support is crucial for our work.
You can help make the difference in the lives of rural children in various ways. For example:
- Make a regular personal contribution by using our online donation facility – or if you prefer, complete a standing order mandate and ‘gift aid’ form (both can be downloaded here).
- You can sponsor a child’s education by contributing £20 a month or if you wish, you can partially sponsor a child for just £12 a month.
- You can sponsor a trainee teacher by contributing £100 a month or if you wish, you can partially sponsor a teacher for just £50 a month.
You can raise funds at your workplace and among your family and friends. Listed below are some ideas for ways in which you can raise funds:
- Organise a quiz night
- Take part in sponsored walks and marathons
- Organise an event at your school, college or university
- Include us in your will
- Donate your shares
- Donate your used or unwanted clothes to us
- Auction your unwanted items on ebay and give your money to QfE
- Sell your unwanted items in car boot sales and give your money to QfE
- Donate your old car (we can arrange collection)
If you do wish to organise an event or fundraise for us, please get in touch to obtain an official letter of authority before starting the process.
Please also revisit this page for updates and latest information.
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Time past and time future What might have been and what has been point to one end, which is always present.
-T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets
My cousin Rian and I grew up making music and movies together. Every time we gathered as a family, our job was simple: ditch the adults and make something. Anything. From the first time as young children when we discovered the record button on our tape decks, we would mimic and copy and create. I recently found hand-drawn posters for our first musical endeavor, circa 1980. It was a passion-fueled and brilliantly short-lived band called "Weirder Than Al," which basically consisted of us changing the words to Weird Al songs. Somewhere, in a cardboard box, there is damning evidence of all this.
Nathan (l) and Rian Johnson
I remember making a music video for one of our early songs with a camera the size of a small school bus. Rian's dad was the kind of father who brought home new gadgets a year before anybody else on the block, and eventually he got his hands on a camera that was portable and battery operated. Best of all, it was self-contained, severing the link from the luggable VCR. A new passion was born, and our projects expanded from afternoon videos in the basement to multi-location shoots that took weeks to complete. As fans of Star Wars, we were obsessed with camera tricks and special effects, but once we figured out how to edit with multiple machines and RCA jacks, a whole new doorway opened up to us: film music.
Our grandparents had a high-end VCR with stereo audio inputs, and we began our first experiments with split channel dialogue and music in front of their TV. Now, bear with me, because this is old, distant technology, but we discovered that if one cousin played the source video at just the right time (with the audio connected to the VCR's left channel input), and the second cousin played a CD at just the right time (with one channel of the CD's audio going into the VCR's right channel input), and yet a third cousin pressed record on the VCR at just the right time (and then told everyone just the right time to pause all the machines simultaneously in preparation for the next cut), then we could create a final edit with a MUSICAL SCORE.
Our lives had changed, and our special effects paled in comparison to the kind of impact we achieved by pumping John Williams through the right channel of our movies. But as much as we loved the newfound combination of movies and music, we never tried to actually record an original score. We were in the middle of the consumer tech revolution, but recording options were still scarce. In the eighties, as far as I could tell, there were only two options to record sound: a full-on magical studio or a single, scratchy boom-box from the past.
It's just been announced. Not only is it theoretically possible, but the technology actually exists. I don't know when it will hit the market, but I know that it is coming, and it will change the way I make music forever.
I'm talking about the very first M-Box: a simple audio interface that can be carried in a backpack and connected to a home computer. Editable. Non-destructive. Home. Multi-track. Recording. I still remember exactly where I was when I heard the news because I had been dreaming about it, and then suddenly, it existed. But the best part was that it ran the same core software that powered every professional studio in the world. As a kid in the nineties and early aughts, coming up with the cash to truly experiment in a studio was prohibitive, but the M-Box was cheaper than book fees. It was cheaper than prom.
Finally, the world of audio recording had become available to everyone, and not long after, Rian and I started working on Brick. We had an almost non-existent budget, but none of that mattered. The year was 2004 and we were living in the future! Rian edited the movie on his bedroom computer and, since I was living in a different city at the time, we completed entire the scoring process via iChat.
But it's weird living in the future. With access to so many innovations, it can be difficult as a composer to know what to spend your time focusing on. At my core, I'm not really a tech guy, so I tend to center back to the creative idea, and I try to find a way for the technology to serve that idea. Of course, the technology I'm talking about is groundbreaking at one level, but it's easily accessible to everyone, which is important to me. And as far as I'm concerned, I don't want the creative vision to play second fiddle to the tools.
Thankfully, Rian's aesthetic in Brick suited this approach perfectly. He didn't want it to sound perfect, and his creative direction consisted of words like "broken," "rusted" and "out-of-tune." When I think about it, I'm pretty sure he was conjuring his ideal high school world where all the kids listened to Tom Waits instead of pop radio.
So that was the path we set out on. I worked with a rag-tag crew of musicians and instead of an orchestra, we used filing cabinets, kitchen utensils and the slightly detuned piano in my hallway. By this point, I had become fairly adept at recording with my limited setup, and that was how we captured all of the music for Brick: one microphone, one laptop and the magic of the M-Box.
That was all we needed. It was 2004 and it felt like we were living in the future.
It's present day, 2012, and everyone is talking about technology: The death of the music industry, the impending doom of film, ownership, streaming, analog, digital, samples, live, PT, FCP, 3D, HD, 48p, 60hz, 1080p, LED, IMAX, 70mm.
We've come a long way from Brick's bedroom editing and junkyard orchestra, and It's safe to say that Looper is operating on a totally different level: its a full-fledged, sci-fi action movie. But one of the things I love about this film is the way Rian stays so true to the movie's emotional core. The technology in the story and the technology he used to make the story sets it up and then gets out of the way. If you watch the embedded score featurettes, you can see the weird way we created the music for Looper, but we were always aiming to use any technical innovations to serve and enhance the creative ideas.
When Rian and I began talking about the sound of this world, we wanted to create something that felt like a big action movie score while hitting the ear slightly differently. Part of our reasoning for this was driven by the story itself: Looper isn't "slick" sci-fi; It's grounded in our real world, and it's messy. When we sat down to create the music, it was important to approach it from a different angle. I spent weeks with a field recorder gathering found-sounds and then we custom-built our instruments out of those real-world sounds and space.
In a way, it still harkens back to the same approach we used for Brick, and it reminds me of a story I heard about Tom Waits. Supposedly, he decided to record in a barn instead of a studio, but even that was too clean for his taste, so he told the engineers to open the doors and let the world in. If the anecdote is true, it speaks to something I really appreciate about music, which is imperfection. Today, our technology makes perfection almost achievable, but to my ear, the results can fall flat. There's a big difference between a perfectly-sampled instrument and a real-live beast with its own quirks and blooms. The room you record in matters, and sometimes you don't want that room to be a studio. Sometimes, it works just fine if that room is a parking garage.
You can hear this all throughout the score for Looper because we recorded so many of the sounds in their natural environments, and it colors the music in a way that is unique. We used a lot of technology, but our underlying goal was to create an organic score with the cycles and rhythms and textures of an imperfect world. I hope, at the core, that it feels like the world of the film: familiar but slightly different and dangerous; creaking, groaning and falling apart.
And I hope that whatever new technology comes along, it serves us and then gets out of the way of the stories we tell in the present.
Looper was released in theaters on September 28th, 2012. Find out more at www.loopermovie.com
Read Nathan Johnson's musings at his Tumblr page: nathanjohnson.tumblr.com
Follow him on Twitter: @NTJohnson
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Few failed helicopter procurements are as celebrated and mourned as the Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne. This revolutionary compound helicopter was created in response to the Army’s request for a fast, heavily armed escort and attack helicopter. The Cheyenne was among the very first helicopters to boast an integrated avionics suite that included weapons, communications and navigation systems as well as a pilot’s helmet with night vision and weapons pointing capabilities. Retractable landing gear, stub wings, a “rigid rotor”, a four-bladed tail rotor and a three-bladed pusher propeller contributed to a 240 mph performance. The program never went into production and was cancelled in 1972.
Read the bio of Irv Culver, inventor of Lockheed's rigid rotor.
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There's more to a proposed purchase of a German commuter airport by Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s NetJets division than just finding a place to land, according to Bloomberg News. NetJets' offer to buy the airport in Egelsbach for $4.9 million comes after Lufthansa, Europe's second-largest airline, ended a one-year partnership with NetJets early last year and began buying private jets to offer services on its own.
That puts Lufthansa in competition with NetJets' "fractional ownership" business, which sells time on its corporate jets. Berkshire Chief Executive Warren Buffett visited Germany last year during a tour of countries that might have businesses Berkshire could buy.
Lufthansa is based at Frankfurt's international airport, about six miles from the Egelsbach airport.
NetJets pledged to invest $38 million to extend the runway, add equipment for instrument landings and make other improvements. It would move its German office there from Munich.
The airport has been losing money and is owned by surrounding towns and utilities. Last week the town council of Egelsbach, which has an 11 percent share, agreed to the sale. The town's parliament and other local governments are to vote by early March.
But there are opponents. Harald Esser, a local official who lives a few hundred meters from the airport, told Bloomberg, "The noise and pollution would make the town unlivable."
He said jets at the airport fly so close to his house that his 6-year-old playing in the garden once began screaming uncontrollably from the shock.
Local residents have formed a protest group and plan street demonstrations and a referendum against the sale.
NetJets would increase the number of flights at the airport to 100,000 a year from 80,000.
The airport's owners paid more than $650,000 last year to keep the airport open. Unless they spend just as much this year or sell the airport, it faces bankruptcy.
Airport officials have said the sale "would be an ideal way to maintain the airport as a prime location for business flights and to develop it further." The airport, built in the 1950s as a competition site for model airplanes, has 400 employees and houses more than 200 private airplanes.
'THIS IS A NIGHTMARE': Buffett recently sent this message about the economy to his friend and business associate Microsoft founder Bill Gates:
"This is a nightmare, which will pass away with the morning. For the resources of nature and men's devices are just as fertile and productive as they were. The rate of our progress towards solving the material problems of life is not less rapid.
"We are as capable as before of affording for everyone a high standard of life -- high, I mean, compared with, say, twenty years ago -- and will soon learn to afford a standard higher still. We were not previously deceived.
"But today we have involved ourselves in a colossal muddle, having blundered in the control of a delicate machine, the working of which we do not understand.
"The result is that our possibilities of wealth may run to waste for a time -- perhaps for a long time."
It's an excerpt from an essay by economist John Maynard Keynes titled, "The Great Slump of 1930."
Gates and his wife, Melinda, went to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week to encourage business and government leaders to continue efforts to help the poor.
He told the Associated Press that Buffett's $30-plus billion pledge to the Gates Foundation "was an incredible thing" and already has helped farmers in poor countries and expanded financial services such as micro-loans to the poor.
"We just feel so blessed that we've got Warren not only giving but also as a trustee so we've got his advice and his help," Gates said. "We'll just make sure to take his resources and ours and use them in the best way possible."
JOB CUTS: Berkshire division Johns Manville of Denver said it will lay off 100 hourly workers at its 500-employee manufacturing complex in Waterville, Ohio, about April 1 because of declining orders.
The workers produce fiberized glass for insulation, auto parts and other uses, Bloomberg reported.
PETER ON BOARD: Former Omahan Peter Buffett, Warren's youngest son, is on the "board of creators" of a Palo Alto, Calif., company called Tonic that offers "effortless activism and social good."
The company, headed by Pankaj Shah, is developing a Web site to sell T-shirts, coffee mugs, bracelets and other items that are "eco-friendly" and made following the principles of "fair trade and fair labor."
"Tonic is defined by the philosophy that people want to do good things but need an easy way to do them," says a prototype of its Web site, due to go active this month.
Others on the board include designer Donna Karan, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell and Ellen Siminoff, a founding director of Yahoo.
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