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If machines are going to become as smart as Google and NASA want them to be, they may need a whole new type of computing to get them there. Quantum computing, that is.
So today Google said it’s opening a lab — complete with a quantum computer — called the Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab. It’s hosted at NASA’s Ames Research center, located just down the Highway 101 from Google’s Mountain View headquarters and run in conjunction with the Universities Space Research Association, a non-profit group devoted to space science.
The lab will operate a 512-qubit quantum computer called the D-Wave Two, a machine that’s also being tested out by Lockheed Martin.
Google has had some success using its vast computing resources to build machine learning into services such as voice and image recognition, but this work is incredibly compute-intensive. Although it’s still in the early days of experimentation, quantum computing could herald a new era of number-crunching.
That’s because it uses quantum physics to break computer processing out of the binary computing paradigm that has dominated for the past half-century. Instead of binary bits, these computers measure qubits, which can simultaneously represent many more values.
“We believe quantum computing may help solve some of the most challenging computer science problems, particularly in machine learning,” wrote Hartmut Neven, a Google director of engineering in a blog post. “Machine learning is all about building better models of the world to make more accurate predictions.”
The trick is getting these systems far enough along to solve real-world problems.
The company that’s making Google and NASA’s computer, D-Wave, has been met some skepticism from the quantum computing community. In part, it’s because D-Wave is taking a different approach to quantum computing. But it’s also because it hasn’t produced the kind of peer reviewed research on its systems that academics require.
But this week, researchers at Simon Fraser University and Amherst College presented a paper studying the D-Wave chip’s performance. They found that it worked pretty well on certain computing tasks.
Beyond the practical engineering problems involved in building a quantum computer, it’s also difficult to develop algorithms that can take advantage of the unique properties of qubits in such a way as to build applications that are more efficient on a quantum computer than on a classical computer. Google claims to have already made some progress on this. “We’ve already developed some quantum machine learning algorithms. One produces very compact, efficient recognizers — very useful when you’re short on power, as on a mobile device,” Neven wrote. “Another can handle highly polluted training data, where a high percentage of the examples are mislabeled, as they often are in the real world.” Google will also mix classical and quantum computing.
With the Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab there will be more research to follow. The Lab’s D-Wave computer will be open to “researchers from around the world,” Neven says. It will be available to researchers by the end of September, D-Wave said in a press release.
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Planting tribal churches. Of the world's 6,500 people groups, 2,500 are still unreached. New Tribes Mission helps local churches train, coordinate and send missionaries to these tribes.
In 2,500 of the world’s 6,500 people groups, there is no church, nor is there any work being done to establish a church. These are the people among whom New Tribes Mission works.
These tribes’ cultures and languages have isolated them from the Gospel. Missionaries must learn their language and understand their culture in order to clearly present the Gospel and effectively plant a church.
Unreached people groups have no concept of the God of the Bible. So Bible teaching begins at the same place God began with His chosen people: at the beginning. Chronological Bible teaching presents a foundation for understanding Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Following the pattern seen in Acts as God’s people carried out the Great Commission, missionaries seek to establish mature churches that can take their rightful place as agents of change in their own communities and partners in the Great Commission.
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In a city that has a long way to go in its battle against obesity, one organization has taken the fight to an unlikely place: a preschool playground.
One year ago, Lindenwood Christian Child Care Center finished a project that transformed its standard playground into a "natural playground." The outdoor learning environment features vegetable gardens, flowers, a grassy hill, an amphitheater and digging areas for the children. Although Lindenwood's natural playground is the only one of its kind in our city for early childhood centers, center director Josie Wallace reflects that the healthy makeover was "long overdue."
Wallace included parents and children at every step of the planning process. In the year since the natural playground was complete, Wallace has seen real changes in the ways her students and their families interact with nature.
"Many parents are beginning to realize that childhood today is too rushed, commercialized, filled with preservatives and plastic," she said. "Parents have noticed the gardening we have done at school, and they have started getting their kids to help them grow things at home in the backyard."
To complement the garden and natural learning space, Lindenwood Christian Child Care Center has also redesigned its menu, replacing fried and processed foods with fresh vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and scratch cooking. A team of parents and staff members helps select the menu items, and all meals are approved by a dietitian.
"We also encourage the children to pick, wash, and eat vegetables from our playground garden," Wallace said.
The natural playground has become a symbol of inclusiveness. The children looked at pictures of vegetables to decide what they wanted to plant in their large raised-bed garden. Lindenwood's outdoor learning space has soft areas for children who are still crawling or who have limited mobility. A box of watering cans sits on the playground for children who want to help tend the garden.
The center's commitment to the environment runs deep. The playground includes low, child-size tables stocked with magnifying glasses and natural treasures — pine cones, leaves and flowers — for the children to investigate and interact with nature. Says the center's website:
"We believe that daily, hands-on experiences with nature are critical for your child's development. Years of childhood studies show that children who have regular access to green space show decreased stress levels, higher attention rates and less behavior problems. We believe that spending time in nature as a young child also helps children grow into adults that respect and care about the environment."
Mary Phillips has worked with many Memphis agriculture and food projects, including Farm Girl Food Gardens, Urban Farms and Green Leaf Learning Farm.
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Aarti Nair received the Dennis Weatherstone Predoctoral Fellowship in September 2012 from Autism Speaks, which is awarded to attract young, talented scientists into the field of autism research, funding up to eight fellows annually, on a competitive basis. Weatherstone Fellows will work directly with mentors who are leaders in the field of autism research. The fellowship fills a need to increase the number of promising young scientists who will make autism research their chosen field.
Aarti is a 3rd year doctoral student in the Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. Currently, her research interests lie in multimodal imaging studies of ASD, specifically using fcMRI and DTI tractography to quantify connectivity differences within this population. Recent projects have involved examination of thamalocortical connectivity in ASD using fcMRI and DTI, and quantitative comparison of the impact of various methodological variables on fcMRI findings for ASD.
Inna Fishman was also awarded the NIMH Career Development Award (K award). Under this NIH-funded award, she will continue investigating neural mechanisms underlying social cognition in typical and atypical development, which constitute her main research interests, while also focusing on developing expertise in multimodal neuroimaging. While significant advances have been made in identifying brain functional and structural difference between individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and typically developing individuals, little is known regarding differences in large-scale brain network interactions that underlie the social deficits in ASD. Hence, by utilizing multimodal (fMRI, DTI) neuroimaging, the project supported by this award will examine the connectivity patterns of brain areas that participate in neural networks for social cognition in children and adolescents with ASD, theorizing that abnormalities in connections among these neural systems can interfere with, and disrupt the normative social cognitive development in ASD.
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.psychology.sdsu.edu/jdp-and-postdoc-students-aarti-nair-and-inna-fishman-receive-prestigious-awards-and-fellowships/
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A major traffic bottleneck in south Tulsa has been eliminated with the widening of the the 81st Street and Yale Avenue intersection. The project, which was funded by the 1991 sales tax, involved widening the intersection to four lanes on 81st street and six lanes on Yale Avenue, with left- and right-turn lanes on each approach. The project also included extensive storm sewer work, including replacing a small bridge on 81st Street, west of Yale Avenue, and widening 81st street to five lanes (asphalt with a concrete curb/gutter) from Yale Avenue east to Holland Hall School. Before the project, traffic jams were common at the intersection, and gridlock was not uncommon during the afternoon rush hour, as southbound traffic on Yale Avenue often would back up to at least 71st Street - sometimes further. The widening project, which included a flood-detention pond on the southwest corner, began in the spring of 1996 and was completed in June 1997. Photo taken June 1997.
Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.
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Engineer Cover Letter Tips
An engineer cover letter is what introduces you and your resume to an organization where you would like to take a position. As it is the first document a potential employer will be looking at, your cover letter should portray you in the best light. It should make the employer want to give careful attention to your resume.
Purpose of the Letter:
It should show them that you are interested in securing employment with the firm and explain how you meet or exceed their job requirements. It must show off the special skills that distinguish you as the right candidate for their position. It has to show off your written communication skills as well as your experience and expertise in their required engineering specialization.
Before starting to write the cover letter, check what exactly their requirements are. Find out what field of engineering they are keen about and learn about the company and their goals from their website and any other available sources. Check with your college career center about the company if this is your first job. Try to get the name of the best contact person for the particular job or the HR contact.
Header and Salute Line:
A cover letter’s header must give your name, present/permanent address, contact information like your cell number and email address and the address of the company where you are keen to find a job. You can address by name the person in charge of hiring or the person responsible for recruiting and scheduling interviews. Personalizing makes the cover letter unique.
Introduction: The first few lines will give a brief profile of you, stating which branch of engineering is your specialty, the college or university where you earned your engineering degree and relevant work experience. Say how you came to know of the vacancy--from a job fair, the organization's website or another source.
Staking Your Claim:
The main body of the letter will convey why you are the ideal candidate to fill the vacancy. Show how well you fit the criteria and how advantageous it will be for the company to have you as part of their team. Briefly explain the advantages you can bring to their company--qualities like team spirit, design skills and communication skills beyond specific engineering skills.
To illustrate your skills, give a brief list of occasions or episodes during which you had to utilize the job skills mentioned. Explain how and what you learned from these experiences. You should be able to link these episodes to your resume. You can also mention awards, scholarships or certificates that recognize your work and skills.
Closing Lines: These should sum up your qualifications, assure the employer of your perfect fit for the job and request an interview. Then sign the letter with your name printed below and enclose the resume.
Dos and Don’ts: Make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Do not go into too much detail about previous employment--keep the letter short and succinct, preferably one page only. Do not mention salary history unless the company requires you to do so.
Follow these simple tips and see the difference your cover letter makes.
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http://www.cvtips.com/cover-letter/engineer-cover-letter-tips.html
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Summary: Most users are unable to solve even halfway complicated problems with search. Better to redirect their efforts into more supportive user interfaces when possible.
Users are incredibly bad at finding and researching things on the web. A few years ago, I characterized users' research skills as "incompetent," and they’ve only gotten worse over time. "Pathetic" and "useless" are words that come to mind after this year's user testing.
In a recent study, for example, a user wanted to buy a highly protective yet girlish phone case as a gift for her daughter. While on Amazon.com, she engaged in random fishing expeditions into the product database, using search queries such as "pink impact resistant iphone 5 cover."
This was by no means the worst query we saw that week; in this case, however, the user never found what she wanted. She tried a few query modifications — which most users won’t attempt — but never questioned her basic research strategy. Nor did she realize that Amazon uses a full-text search that doesn't understand the meaning of a query.
Among the products she found were those that were not pink, not a phone case, and not an iPhone case. At least Amazon's thumbnails are good enough that she didn’t have to click through to most such erroneous hits.
Excerpts from first page of search results for "pink impact resistant iphone 5 cover" on Amazon.com
Amazon.com has poor usability in cases like this because of its business model: it carries every product under the sun. Such a design cannot support any one product category optimally, even though the overall site still scores better than almost anybody else on e-commerce design guidelines.
Easy Search Works; Difficult Search Fails
In study after study, we see the same thing: most users reach for search, but they don't know how to use it.
It would certainly be nice if schools would get better at teaching kids how to search. But I don't hold out much hope, because most people have the literary talents of an anteater (I was going to say, "a chimpanzee," but these animals are too smart for my metaphor). Having new and varied vocabulary words spring from their foreheads wasn't a survival skill for ice age hunters, so most people today can't think up good queries without help.
It seems a puzzle why ever-more users are so search dominant when they can't search. Perhaps because search actually does work as a user strategy in many cases — mainly when people use a web-wide search engine for simple tasks. Indeed, the big search engines (such as Google, Bing, Naver, Baidu, and Yandex) have morphed into answer engines that often give users what they want right on the SERP (search engine results page).
So, if you have a well-designed search facility, and users are looking for a specific item with a well-defined name, they'll probably be successful. In our testing of search on e-commerce sites, users found what they wanted in their first search attempt 64% of the time. And their overall success rate with search was 74%, which is pretty good.
The extra 10% success comes from users attempting multiple queries. Another way to look at this is that the 36% of users who failed their first search succeeded only 28% of the time (10/36=.28). In other words, the probability of success drops from 64% to 28% when we go from an easy to a difficult search problem.
(Intranets are a different matter: Because intranet search is usually very poorly implemented, most company employees have learned to limit their use of intranet search. In our recent intranet user testing, employees used search as their initial wayfinding strategy in only 19% of tasks on average—though with extreme variability between companies with good or bad intranet search.)
Designing for Mediocre Searchers
Search suggestions are a now a popular way to help people overcome their limited generative abilities by showing a drop-down of fully formed potential queries as soon as users type in a few characters that hint at their needs. Although helpful, search suggestions can also be limiting; users often view the drop-down as a mini-SERP and assume that it lists everything the site carries. Thus, if something isn't included in the search suggestions, users might never bother to search for it.
We found a better way to help users overcome their search problems when we tested people shopping at Costco's website. One user wanted to buy a TV set and immediately entered the query television on the Costco homepage. Following is the "search results page" that appeared:
Costco website as tested: the page shown after searching for "television."
Not a SERP at all! This is the category page for TV sets. The page includes relevant features for this product category, with relevant facets such as plasma vs. LCD, brands, resolution, and screen size. None of these would appear on a "normal" SERP, which has to handle a variety of result types.
Is Costco cheating? Only if you have a very strict interpretation of the search concept. In our test, users were happy on this site. They got what they asked for — which is exactly what people want.
For sure, you should redirect users from a normal SERP to a category page only when their query is unambiguous and exactly matches the category. A search for "3D TV" could go to the subcategory page for these products, but a search for "3D" should generate a regular SERP. (Costco does this correctly, including both 3D televisions and other products relevant to the query.)
Until people begin to grasp the complexities of search and develop skills accordingly, businesses that take such extra steps to help users find what they need will improve customer success — and the bottom line.
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Grayscale Calibration of Home Theater Televisions - page 2
The most common method of calibrating a grayscale first requires the use of the correct grayscale window images. This can be created with a video generator, or using Ovation Software's AVIA Guide To Home Theater . Avia is an all-inclusive DVD that not only helps calibrate grayscale by providing grayscale window images, but also helps with other video calibrations with an added bonus which includes a vast array of audio calibration test tones. There is a tremendous advantage to using a DVD Test Video for the grayscale generation in place of a video generator. The video generator is great for calibrating grayscale with an HDTV signal, but the DVD allows a real world application where the player and TV can be calibrated together.
When using Avia DVD, the process is relatively simple. You navigate through the menus of the DVD to select the correct grayscale window which range from 0-IRE (black) to 100-IRE (white). In a dark room, with minimum lighting and resulting reflections, you carefully go through each gray window from black to white, and use your eyes to see if the image appears to be gray or have color intrusion. The most common color intrusions seen are red in the darker images and blue push in the lighter images, but please remember this is NOT Red Push or Blue Push. Red Push is related to color and hue, not grayscale. While in each window (black to white), it may be easy to see colors bleed through. If colors are visible, you access the service menu and adjust the correct setting to reduce that color. In some cases, colors may need to be increased in order to make gray look gray. While this process if effective and helps improve the TV's performance, it's not nearly accurate enough to achieve 6500K or D65 as it is more guess work then science. Even the best eyes can not detect enough to determine if the settings are near 6500K as our eye can not accurately detect almost drastic differences in the luminance of bright images such as white.
Calibrating Grayscale using Instrumentation
A more accurate way to monitor and adjust grayscale involves using a sensor and its accompanying software. Two well known companies that provide sensors and software packages include Sencore and Milori. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and can be thought of as almost equal in performance. As most good quality sensor/software packages are out of the working-mans price, it is critical to be sure that the technician you hire uses products like these, or they will likely NEVER achieve optimal performance. It is also critical to use these products in controlled lighting in a room as dark as possible. These sensors are very susceptible to light intrusion which will compromise the measurements. So that tech either needs to be in a very dark room with no windows, or they will be at your house very late an night.
Milori's products were used for the basis of this article. Milori provides two different sensors which includes their EyeOne spectroradiometer, or Trichromat Colorimeter, both operating with Milori's ColorFacts software. Sencore provides a similar Colorimeter Sensor with their CP5000 and ColorPro Software. Either of these packages are an essential tool for trained technicians who make a living doing Home Theater installations and/or calibrating TVs. These sensors hook up to any PC via a USB port and their accompanying software runs in Windows.
What's interesting is that ColorFacts lets you decide how the grayscale images are created; you can choose to have the computer generate the images, or you can generate them externally using a test disk like those on the Avia DVD. There are pros and cons to each method.
Using the ColorFacts Grayscale Wizard
The powerful Milori ColorFacts software package contains a host of wizard menus that guide you through set up of the sensor, taking measurements from the TV and reporting results based on calibration images displayed on the TV. It even has its own grayscale generator that works automatically with the sensor. Just one click, and ColorFacts starts grayscale images from 0-IRE to 100-IRE in 10-IRE increments, and at each increment, it automatically measures the resulting luminance. In a matter of a few minutes, you have a complete read out of the entire luminance spectrum of the TV. While using Colorfacts built-in gray scale test images may be the easiest method, it may not be the best suited for your system. This is because the signal generated by the computer may not match the signal generated by the home theater DVD player or HDTV receiver. For more accuracy, you should consider generating the patterns externally using a test DVD. The Grayscale Wizard is best used for calibrating the display monitor on your PC, not necessarily your RPTV or Front Projector.
Using the DVD Player to Generate Test Images
For me, the primary reason for calibrating the TV is to create the best image possible especially for component video input from my DVD player. The DVD player coupled with the Avia Guide To Home Theater creates a powerful image generator tool that works extremely well with either the Sencore CP500 or Milori CF6000 systems.
When dealing with DVD players, it's important to note that the output signal generated from a DVD player varies from model to model. For this reason, calibrating the grayscale using a player will be somewhat unique to the player used in the calibration. If another DVD player is substituted in the system, the grayscale image may be slightly different. Regardless, there is an advantage in using the DVD player for the grayscale source. By doing so, you are actually calibrating the system with the very source that you will be viewing DVD movies, thus allowing for optimization of the Home Theater System. There is a word of caution however. Many of the newer DVD players have video enhancer's built in. These enhancer's tend to exaggerate colors. Prior to calibrating, be sure to turn off the extra enhancement modes as they will create inaccurate results.
When using DVD as the source, the ColorFacts wizard guides the user through the Avia Guide To Home Theater menu to find all the grayscale images required. This method is a bit more tedious and requires special attention as you navigate through the grayscale images on the DVD player and use the PC to activate the sensor and take a reading. If you're not paying attention, you may accidentally hit the sensor button on the PC without changing the grayscale image on the DVD player, thus making you have to start all over again. It's also worth noting that the darker images take the sensor longer to measure then the lighter, so the wait time between selecting grayscale windows will vary. Ovation Software's Guide To Home Theater is somewhat challenging to navigate because this version does not display chapter and title. Nevertheless, when time and caution are taken, this proves to be a more accurate method of measuring grayscale.
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<urn:uuid:b4da748d-b34d-4ff0-bca5-4a034ab9fa75>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/grayscale-calibration-of-home-theater-televisions/grayscale-calibration-of-home-theater-televisions-page-2
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In our fast-changing world of media technology, we are a reliable partner for organizations who want to tell their story powerfully.Our production team creates effective digital messages in the forms of high definition video; robust websites; interactive media such as kiosks, digital signs and CD-ROM & DVD-ROM; and graphic design for digital and print media. We even handle all of your printing, replication, assembly and fulfillment needs. We're like having your own media production department.
Look around the site, check out some of our projects and let us know how we can serve you. Our goal is to help your bottom line by telling your story well.
Eternal Interactive's Blog
Are You Being Social?
You've hear the buzz words: "Social Media," "Social Networking," and "Social Marketing." But what do they mean? And how do they help you?
In a nut-shell, the purpose of online social media is simply to get people talking about you (in a positive way, of course). The most common tools we use are your website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Your goal is to create a presence in one or more of these venues. Then provide fun or interesting information for your target audience to use for themselves and share with others. It's all about giving your current and potential clients something to talk about and pass along.
For instance, maybe you have interesting or useful videos related your industry or business. You could create a YouTube channel of your own. You post your videos and publicize your channel on your website and in your other marketing materials. Now you have an online video presence that others can talk about and share. If you use the right descriptions and tags for each video, people searching YouTube will also find your videos. And if they like what they see, they, too, will tell others.Read more...
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By Trevor Andersen
By Cafe Society
By Patricia Calhoun
By Cafe Society
By Gretchen Kurtz
By Lori Midson
By Jenn Wohletz
100 Favorite Dishes
By Lori Midson
When Joe Scherber tells you his pumpkin patch produced just three pumpkins this year, it sounds like his crop was a bust. But together those three pumpkins weigh over 2,220 pounds, making the Wheat Ridge dentist one of the most fruitful pumpkin growers in the nation.
Scherber raises massive pumpkins for thrills, prize money and satisfaction. "It's a serious effort," he says, "and a stupid endeavor that really has no overall importance beyond being entertaining."
But this is entertainment on a grand scale: freak-show agriculture in which amateur gardeners raise thousand-pound-plus, bumper-to-bumper crops that they haul to contests on flatbed trailers and in truck beds. "People like to garden because it's fun to grow stuff, right?" Scherber asks, by way of explaining his passion. "What could be funner than growing something this big? It's great entertainment for the person growing it, and there's a lot of shock value when anybody sees it. People see these things and ask the same questions: 'Is that a pumpkin?' 'Is that real?' 'How do you do that?'"
In 2000, Scherber set the state record with a whopping 1,009.2-pound pumpkin. Although pumpkins (members of the cucurbitagenus and technically squash) weighing over a thousand pounds have become more common in recent years, they're typically grown in northern coastal climes where cooler temperatures, higher humidity and longer growing seasons help the fruits reach a massive size. (Temperatures above 90 degrees lead to cracked pumpkins and aborted blooms.)
"Joe Scherber is, without doubt, the top giant-pumpkin grower in his state," says Hugh Wiberg, a Massachusetts grower and spokesman for the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, a collective that runs pumpkin weigh-ins across the U.S. and Canada. "He has somehow found a way to overcome the heat problem in Colorado."
According to Wiberg, pumpkin contests date back to the country fairs of the late 1800s; they reached their peak around 1910, before fading with the onset of World War I and the Depression. In the '70s, Howard Dill returned the giant pumpkin to the forefront of the public consciousness with hybridized heavyweights that he grew on his farm in Nova Scotia. His first 300- and 400-pounders broke records, opened new possibilities for growers and put pumpkin weigh-ins back on the map.
In 1981, Dill secured the patent for his Atlantic Giant strain. While today's growers chase prize money and bragging rights, he created Atlantic Giant for a simpler reason. "People like to see big things; it makes them a bit happy and puts a smile on their face," says 68-year-old Dill. "I always say, 'The bigger the pumpkin, the happier people seem to be.'"
During the Gulf War, the Canadian government flew one of Dill's pumpkins from Halifax to the Persian Gulf. "It went from the Canadian warships to American warships as a morale booster," Dill says. "It was a big hit. You always like to do things that encourage the people serving your country."
But Dill has also turned his hobby into a highly successful business. He estimates that over two million gardeners around the world planted his Atlantic Giant seeds this year, and his efforts have landed him in Biography Magazine, National Geographic and countless other media. Today he devotes himself to improving his strain and producing seeds for sale, leaving the competitions to his pumpkin-headed followers. "I feel like a winner, anyway, because they're all being grown from the Dill's line of seeds," he explains.
Competitive pumpkin growers can be less charitable. "There's some money involved, so it can get kind of chippy," Scherber says. In 1996, a man in upstate New York won a $50,000 prize by growing the first thousand-pound Giant. Today the GPC distributes about $14,000 annually to winners of its 22 sanctioned weigh-ins; first-place pumpkins can earn a couple grand through state prizes and sponsorships.
Scherber got into competitive pumpkin growing after seeing a patient's photo of himself sitting in a 400-pound pumpkin. Four years later, when he grew his own 300-pounder, Scherber "decided to start taking it seriously. I ripped out the back yard, basically, and got my square footage. At the time, I was single and could get away with it. There wasn't anybody that wanted to take me to counseling or anything."
Square footage is key for Giants, which require a minimum of 600 square feet per plant. Scherber uses go-for-broke gardening that leaves a single bloom on each plant, to concentrate the energy; he enriches his soil with manure and buries vines to encourage root growth and get more juice into the plant's lone fruit. He also shelters his Giants with cloth to protect them from Colorado's blazing sun. But ultimately, you have to trust in the "pumpkin gods" and fate, he says: "It's like pulling the handle on a slot machine. You don't know if you're gonna get lucky or not. I can grow four of the same seeds and get a real range in what I get."
In 1997, Scherber got a 746-pounder that set the Colorado pumpkin record and won the GPC contest in Anamosa, Iowa -- the Midwest's toughest pumpkin weigh-in. Three years later, he squashed his own state mark with the 1,009-pound monster (a female, as all pumpkins are) that had to be lifted out of his garden with a construction crane.
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US donates vehicles, tents to PakistanFebruary 15th, 2012 - 11:33 pm ICT by IANS
Islamabad, Feb 15 (IANS) The US embassy Wednesday donated ambulances, vans, buses and motorbikes to the Islamabad Women’s Police Station and 800 tents to the National Disaster Management Authority for use in future disasters.
The vehicles include two ambulances, two buses, two vans and two motorcycles. Other equipment donated under a women’s assistance programme include 64 helmets, 20 first-aid kits, radio sets and battery chargers, the Online news agency reported.
The donation was part of a US government programme to assist women police across Pakistan.
The programme — initiated in 2011 — is designed to assist women police in developing professional capacity by providing training, equipment and infrastructure.
Till date, the US has allocated $5 million for the programme.
Earlier, women police have been trained for operating police vehicles and using computers.
At a ceremony held at the Islamabad Police Lines, Jon Danilowicz, director of the Narcotics Affairs Section at the US embassy, presented the equipment to the women’s police station.
The US also delivered 800 tents to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in a bid to strengthen its ability to quickly respond in the event of a disaster.
The tents, part of a larger $5.8 million project to support Pakistan’s flood relief efforts, will be used to house families in the event of future disasters, the US embassy said.
“Whenever a natural disaster strikes, rapid response is crucial. These tents will enable the Pakistan government to respond quickly and effectively in order to prevent the loss of life and reduce suffering,” said Karen Freeman, deputy director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
After the 2010 and 2011 floods, the US has delivered more than $700 million worth of assistance to flood-affected people throughout the country.
- Over 300 killed, 6 million affected in Pakistan floods - Sep 18, 2011
- US donates bomb disposal vans, motorcycles to Pakistan - Dec 21, 2011
- $3 mn ADB flood aid for Pakistan - Oct 28, 2011
- UNICEF seeks $50mn for flood-hit Pakistani kids - Oct 13, 2011
- Pakistan floods: Toll rises to 412 - Sep 25, 2011
- Pakistan wants more flood money as Rs.5 bn lies unutilised - Sep 19, 2011
- 'Foreign aid for flood-hit Pakistan inadequate' - Sep 27, 2011
- 209 dead in floods in Pakistan's Sindh - Sep 12, 2011
- China to give $5 million more for Pakistan's flood victims - Oct 07, 2011
- US donates equipment to Sri Lanka Air Force (With Images) - Aug 23, 2010
- Eight mn fake tablets detected in Pakistan - Sep 27, 2011
- US delivers new helicopters to Pakistan - May 18, 2010
- China announces 410mn-dollar assistance for Pakistan flood victims - Dec 18, 2010
- US to give Pakistan Army two transport choppers - Apr 30, 2010
- US pledges extra $25 mn for Pakistan flood victims - Aug 06, 2010
Tags: affairs section, ambulances, battery chargers, disaster management, first aid kits, flood relief efforts, karen freeman, kits radio, management authority, national disaster, natural disaster, ndma, pakistan government, pakistan islamabad, police lines, police vehicles, professional capacity, radio sets, us embassy, women police
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The OS X system menu's support for menu extras is a convenient way to access system and application settings and services. While a default set of menu extras such as the time and date, volume, wifi indicator, Time Machine status, and Spotlight menus are enabled, others can be turned on in their respective system preferences or application settings. Usually these menu extras stay to the right and out of the way of application and system menus, but in some instances they may run into the menus of various applications and be hidden.
Menu extras can usually be moved around by pressing the Command key and dragging them to a different order; however, this is not the case with all menu extras. Some such as the Spotlight menu are set to be stuck in place, but the ability to move a menu extra also depends on how the menu extra is coded since there are basically two ways to implement them.
The first type of menu extra is a more modern implementation that has the system treat it like a standard menu bar item, and these can be dragged around. All built-in menu extras for system preferences and Apple's services are coded this way. The second implementation is the older method that treats the menu extra more like a separate application; these are loaded along with an application or background tasks and will appear after the other menu bar items have loaded. These cannot be moved around, and are also placed to the left of all the other menu extras so they can more easily be occluded by the system and application menus.
Ultimately, your options for managing menu extras will depend on the types of menu extras you have; however, you can do some things to minimize the amount of space used by various menu extras and thereby increase the room for them on your system:
Change screen resolution: By default the system will output the desktop at the display's native resolution, but if you have decreased the system's output resolution, then the image on screen of the desktop will be smaller, and therefore menu items will be relatively larger and take up more space. Setting the resolution to a higher value in the Displays system preferences (preferably as high as possible for optimal image quality) will increase the available space in the menu bar.
Remove unused menu extras: While menu extras are convenient ways to access system services and settings in OS X, if you rarely use them, then you can remove them. For instance, I have the iChat menu extra enabled even though I rarely use iChat, so I can take it off the menu bar without changing my workflow. To do this for most menu items (at least those that are coded as true menu extras), just press the Command key and then drag the menu extra off the menu bar. You can always re-enable menu extras in their respective system preferences or applications.
Minimize menu extras: If you can, go to the settings for a menu extra and reduce its footprint in the menu bar. For instance, on laptops you can change the battery status indicator to show only the icon or only the text, instead of both the icon and text. Likewise, you can change the date/clock menu extra to show an analog clock or even to show different aspects of the time when kept in digital mode (AM/PM indicator, day of the week, or even the whole date altogether).
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Minnesota health officials announced Monday, Oct. 15, that a fifth case of meningitis in the state is linked to tainted steroids.
The most recent case is a woman in her 20s, a Minnesota Department of Health spokesman said.
Over the weekend, a woman in her 70s also was diagnosed. All five patients in Minnesota have been women.
The state has said that two of those women have been released from the hospital and that a third was expected to leave soon.
Meningitis patients' conditions are complex and change rapidly, making consistent updates on their well-being difficult, said Doug Schultz, spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health. The rare type of fungal meningitis is not contagious.
More than 800 Minnesotans may have been exposed to the tainted steroids when they received spinal injections at two Twin Cities clinics, Medical Advanced Pain Specialists and the Minnesota Surgery Center.
The drug has sickened about 205 people in 14 states and 15 people have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass., recalled about 17,000 vials of the steroid after investigators found three lots were contaminated by a fungus that can cause meningitis and strokes.
Joseph Lindberg can be reached at 651-228-5513. Follow him at twitter.com/JosephLindberg.
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I wrote praising one aspect of Fed Chief’s Bernanke’s regime: “The Fed has correctly held interest rates effectively at zero, and should do so for some time to come. When faced with a potential depression, we need active government tools to fight it.”
Low interest rates are a great way to fight a depression. But a commentator on my blog got it right: Low rates have creamed senior citizens who have had to rely on financial markets, including interest from savings and certificates of deposit as well as risky stocks and bonds to deliver stable pension income.
Couple the low interest rates and returns with high fees and we have a failed, if not corrupt, pension system. This all came about because of the decline in traditional pensions and the rise of 401(k)’s fueled primarily by Wall Street lobbyists. Firms also dumped their good pensions because they had to compete with employers who didn’t offer good pensions .
Alicia Munnell at Boston College rightly links the rise of 401(k)’s to risky retirements. I propose Guaranteed Retirement Accounts that provide a guaranteed return on savings but still let people control how much they save. We need both stable pensions and the use of interest-rate policy to fight the business cycles.
We need drastic pension reform that delinks pensions from the finance markets they’re tied to so closely, leaving seniors having to take all the risks and getting hardly any reward.
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Without your computer keyboard, whether it's part of a desktop or a laptop, it might've been fairly difficult to get to this article. Sure, maybe you've bookmarked the Web site and you used your mouse to click around between several links, but most of the time, you probably type the Web site address into your browser to get here. Most of us with personal computers use a keyboard almost every day to compose e-mails, type out word processing documents, visit Web sites and perform searches. And as easy as it may seem, typing is a skill we have to learn and practice in order to perform properly. Most students take typing classes as early as elementary school, and word processing is one of the most common skills listed on a job-seeker's resume.
Without keyboards, communicating between family, friends and businesses would be a much less streamlined affair. Today, even smartphones come equipped with smaller keyboards. Phones that are more focused on e-mail and text messaging, like the BlackBerry or several of the slider phones, offer these as a more straightforward way of typing out text. On a typical cell phone with a three-by-four numeric keypad, for instance, where at least three letters are assigned to a number, you often have to punch through each key several times to get one word on the screen. Some people are remarkably adept at this -- just watch some people on a train or at the airport rifle through several text messages in a matter of no time -- but for some, the act is cumbersome and takes far too long. Miniature keyboards, however, attempt to solve that problem by giving users a complete QWERTY setup to type e-mails, text messages and reminders.
But there's another problem. People with bigger fingers may find the keyboards on smartphones and PDAs too small. To make up for this, some manufactures have developed special virtual laser keyboards to accompany handheld devices. Instead of having to poke lightly around your phone's keyboard, a virtual laser keyboard connects to the phone and projects a full-sized virtual keyboard onto any flat surface. So how do they work?
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1. What is a HSA?
A HSA is a savings product that allows individuals to pay for current and future
qualified medical expenses on a tax-free basis.
2. What are the tax advantages of a HSA?
There are several main tax advantages in connection with having a HSA:
- Ownership. Unused funds in your HSA roll over from year to year.
There is no “use it or lose it” requirement.
- Tax Savings. Tax deductions for your contributions; tax-free earnings
through the investment, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses.
- Flexibility. You can use the funds in your account to pay for current
qualified medical expenses that your insurance may not cover, save the money for
future medical expenses, pay health insurance or medical expenses if unemployed,
pay medical expenses after retirement (before Medicare) or long term care expenses.
- Affordability. You may be able to lower your health insurance premiums
by switching to higher deductible coverage.
- Security. Your high deductible insurance and HSA protect you against
high or unexpected bills.
- Control. You determine all the decisions regarding how much you
put into the account, whether to save the funds in the account for future expenses
or pay current medical expenses; which medical expenses to pay for with the account,
and which bank will hold the account.
- Portability. You own your HSA even if you change jobs, change your
medical coverage, become unemployed or retire.
3. How can I open a HSA?
Consumers can sign up for HSAs with banks and an employer may also set up a plan
for employees, in which case, the employer will generally arrange the HSA for the
5. What is a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)?
A HDHP is a health insurance plan with lower premiums and higher deductibles than a traditional health plan. In order to qualify for a HSA covering tax year 2013, your minimum deductible must be at least $1,250 for self-only coverage or $2,400 for family coverage. The annual “out-of-pocket” expenses (including deductibles and co-pays) for 2013 cannot exceed $6,250 for self-only coverage or $12,500 for family coverage. These minimum deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket amounts are subject to change annually by the IRS.
6. Does the HDHP policy have to be in my name to open a HSA?
No. The policy does not have to be in your name. As long as you have coverage under
the HDHP policy, you can be eligible for a HSA as long as you meet the other eligibility
requirements for contributions to a HSA. You can still be eligible for a HSA even
if the policy is in your spouse’s name.
7. Can couples establish a “joint” HSA and both make contributions to the account,
including “catch-up” contributions? Must couples open separate acounts?
“Joint” HSAs are not permitted. Each spouse should consider establishing an account
in their own name. This allows both individuals to make catch-up contributions to
the account when each spouse is 55 or older. If both husband and wife are eligible
to contribute to a HSA, they are both eligible to establish separate HSAs. However,
if both spouses want to make “catch-up” contributions when they are age 55 or older,
they must establish separate accounts.
8. Does my contribution depend on when I establish my HSA or when my HDHP coverage
Your eligibility to contribute to a HSA is determined by the effective date of your HDHP coverage.
If you are not covered on December 1, your contribution depends on the number of months of HDHP coverage you have during the year (technically, the months where you have HDHP coverage on the first day of the month). If you are covered on December 1, you are treated as an eligible individual for the entire year.
9. How much can I contribute to my HSA each year?
The table below outlines the amounts that may be contributed for 2012 and 2013:
|Out of Pocket Spending*
||Minimum Deductible HSA-
|Catch-up Contributions for those 55 and older*
under Health Savings Account for more information
10. Who can make contributions to my HSA?
Contributions to HSAs can be made by the employer, the individual or both. If contributions
are made by the individual, it is an “above-the-line” deduction. If contributions
are made by the employer, it is not taxable to the employee (meaning that it is
excluded from income). Contributions can also be made by others on behalf of an
eligible individual and deducted by the individual. Please note that if contributions
come from more than one source, they are aggregated.
11. Do my HSA contributions have to be made in equal amounts each month?
No. You can contribute in a lump sum or in any amount or frequency; however, your
bank may impose minimum deposit and balance requirements.
12. Are there deadlines for making HSA contributions?
HSA contributions must be made for a specific year on or before the due date (without extensions) for filing tax returns for that same year. For example, for 2013, contributions must be made on or before April 15, 2014.
13. What happens if I contribute more to my HSA than the maximum allowable amount?
Contributions made by an individual to a HSA are not deductible to the extent that
they exceed the maximum limits. Excess contributions by an employer generate taxable
income to the employee. In addition, a 6% excise tax is imposed on the excess funds.
The excise tax and any net income attributable to excess contributions are avoided
if the excess contributions are paid to the HSA owner prior to the federal income
tax deadline for the year at issue.
14. Will my bank notify me if I’ve exceeded my allowable contribution amount?
No. It is your sole responsibility to keep track of the amounts deposited and spent
from your account, just like a normal savings or checking account.
15. What can distributions from the HSA be used for?
Distributions can be used for either qualified medical or other expenses. If the
amount distributed is used for qualified medical expenses, then the distribution
is tax free. A description of qualified HSA expenditures can be found in IRS Publication
502 and is located at the following website:
Publication 502 provides a list of examples, but it is not the definitive list.
If the amount distributed is used for expenses other than qualified medical expenses,
the amount distributed will be taxed and for individuals who are not disabled or
over age 65, subject to a 10% tax penalty.
16. What if I made a distribution for something I thought was a qualified medical
For withdrawals that were made for something you thought were qualified medical
expenses, but are not qualified medical expenditures, the distribution can be returned
to the HSA if there is clear and convincing evidence that the expenditure was a
mistake of fact. Such repayment to the HSA must be made on or before April 15th
of the year following when the individual knew, or should have known, the expenditure
was a mistake.
17. Who will be the “bookkeeper” for my HSA?
It is your responsibility to keep track of your deposits and expenditures along
with medical receipts. If you run out of HSA funds (and therefore need to use your
HDHP), you may need to send those receipts to your insurer.
18. Can I borrow against the money in my HSA?
No. You may not borrow against it or pledge the funds in it. For more information
on prohibitive activities, see Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code.
19. What happens to the money in my HSA after I turn 65?
You can continue your account tax free for out-of-pocket expenses. When you enroll
in Medicare, you can use your account to pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, copays
and coinsurance under any part of Medicare. If you have retiree health benefits
through your former employer, you can also use your account to pay for your share
of retiree medical insurance premiums. The one expense you cannot use your account
for is to purchase a Medicare supplemental insurance or “Medigap” policy.
Once you turn age 65, you can also use your account to pay for things other than
medical expenses. If used for other expenses, the amount withdrawn will be taxable
as income but will not be subject to any other penalties. Individuals under age
65 who use their accounts for non-medical expenses must pay income tax and a 10%
penalty on the amount withdrawn.
20. What happens to the money in my HSA when I die?
What happens will depend on how the HSA is designed. If your spouse is designated
as the beneficiary by you, your spouse becomes the owner of the HSA when you die.
If you provide that the HSA goes to your estate or other entity, the value of the
HSA at death is income to the estate or other entity.
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This is an image of Io.
Click on image for full size
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory
There are no clouds and lightning. The atmosphere of Io is very thin and does not remain gravitationally bound to Io for very long. Even so, it has an important impact on the Jupiter system.
Io's atmosphere comes from its volcanoes, then disperses because, as a small moon, Io is not massive enough to have substantial gravity. Portions of the atmosphere may also come from other processes which cause molecules to be extracted from the surface.
Because the atmosphere comes from it's volcanos, the air of Io is made primarily of sulphur.
Once the particles from the atmosphere get into the magnetosphere, they create a donut-shaped cloud of material around Io.
The Galileo spacecraft, in exploring the moons of Jupiter will try to learn more about the atmosphere of Io.
Shop Windows to the Universe Science Store!
Learn about Earth and space science, and have fun while doing it! The games
section of our online store
includes a climate change card game
and the Traveling Nitrogen game
You might also be interested in:
A satellite which has an atmosphere, such as Jupiter's moon Io, will leave a cloud of particles behind as it orbits the planet. Rhea, a body with an icy surface exposed to energetic particles, will have...more
A satellite which has an atmosphere, such as Jupiter's moon Io, and which also is inside a magnetosphere (unlike the Earth's moon), will leave a cloud of particles behind as it orbits the planet. This...more
Most forms of life leave evidence behind that they are there. Plants use up carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Some bacteria are known to release nitrogen into the environment. People leave behind smog,...more
Amalthea was discovered by E Barnard in 1872. Of the 17 moons it is the 3rd closest to Jupiter, with a standoff distance of 181,300 km. Amalthea is about the size of a county or small state, and is just...more
Callisto was first discovered by Galileo in 1610, making it one of the Galilean Satellites. Of the 60 moons it is the 8th closest to Jupiter, with a standoff distance of 1,070,000 km. It is the 2nd largest...more
Most of the moons and planets formed by accretion of rocky material and volatiles out of the primitive solar nebula and soon thereafter they differentiated. Measurements by the Galileo spacecraft have...more
Many examples of the differing types of terrain are shown in this image. In the foreground is a huge impact crater, which extends for almost an entire hemisphere on the surface. This crater may be compared...more
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On 28 February 2008, Elonex launched the Elonex ONE--the first sub-£100 laptop in the UK. Clearly competing against the much in-demand Asus EeePC , Elonex say they are aiming at the school-student market. The thing is, I just can't stop asking: isn't £99 too cheap for a laptop?
Elonex have denied that the ONE is a re-badged Fontastic A-view
Elonex kept the specifications very close to their chest until the announcement at the Education show--a conference in Birmingham. Some tech sites had managed to speculate based upon the apparent similarities between the ONE and the Taiwanese-made Fontastic A-view. Elonex have denied rumours that the ONE is a re-badged A-view. As shown below there are certainly similarities between the two though.
|Elonex ONE||Fontastic A-view|
|CPU||LNX Code8 300MHz||Aday5F-300 Mhz|
|Network||10/100 & 802.11b/g (Bluetooth option)||10/100 (802.11b/g & Bluetooth options)|
|Display||800x480 7" TFT||800x480 7" TFT|
|Ports||2xUSB, Mic, Headphone||2xUSB, Mic, Headphone|
|Dimensions||22x15x3 cm||230x146x33 mm|
You can add to those the fact that both come with LinOS Linux 2.6.21, sport the same "mouse emulator" (two each in fact), have a similar 3-cell battery (which Elonex claim will last for four hours). The same rugged hardware design is in both. Finally both have a removable keyboard, enabling the screen section to be used tablet style. If the ONE is not a re-badged A-view then they appear to be very close cousins.
The specifications show how Elonex can put the ONE out at £99. I can't remember when I last saw a new PC product with a 300MHz processor and it is the hardware specs which make me question whether this product will fly. Like the EeePC the 7 inch screen will bring its own cost (and power) savings. Of course using free software gives a whole host of advantages, including in this case cost.
Elonex have nailed their colours firmly to the free software mast on this--er--ONE. From their website:
The ONE's ground breaking price point has been achieved by using the open source software Linux. This operating system has gained popularity in recent rears as it brings back the freedom of software development back to the individual, rather than the reliance on the monopoly of large corporations. It is hoped that the children learning computing on the ONE nowadays, will have the skills to design the software we will all be using in the future.
Note the use of the words freedom and monopoly there and they should be congratulated for the recognition that using free software will introduce skills not always gained from using proprietary software. This kind of statement is one of the reasons I really want this product to succeed.
Some of the included applications are not named but we can work out what they are. The office applications can import and export Microsoft Office documents (the spreadsheet screenshot looks like Gnumeric to me). A "cross platform instant messenger" compatible with MSN, Yahoo, AIM & ICQ sounded like pidgin even before the A-view specs gave the game away. Multimedia (although no mention of codecs offered), web browsing and e-mail also get a look in and there are 11 games (coincidentally the same number as on the A-view).
Is it good enough?
I have to be honest: I like the concept of the ONE a lot more than I trust my instincts on its long-term survival. I am worried that 300MHz and 128Mb is not really going to be enough to be editing a text document whilst listening to some music. Additional storage is handled by an associated range of USB wrist bands: ranging from 1Gb to 16Gb.
The graphics and audio chips are not mentioned anywhere but the ONE is unlikely to be requiring 3D acceleration or 5-speaker surround sound. Perhaps this product will succeed because of the marketing strategy. Elonex have really aimed this at schools--not just school kids--and it's possible that will pay off: if schools see the potential of the ONE. Certainly its price could well be attractive schools fitting out classrooms with them and the tablet feature gives it an extended scope over an average PC. I just worry that the resources will struggle if (when?) someone throws something big at it.
Uses outside of schools
Ever since I saw the EeePC--and now the ONE--I have tried to envisage uses for it beyond the promotional material. The immediate one I can think of for either is as a cheap loan laptop for users who travel. I often have colleagues asking to borrow a laptop for a long train journey. The size and weight of the unit will make this an ideal candidate. Considering this loan would be for a short few hours, the 7inch screen might just be tolerable. Another option is for it to be loaned with a data-projector to colleagues giving presentations.
I have to confess, I like the ONE and Elonex have done a lot to pitch it just right at their chosen market. I do have reservations about some of the hardware involved; having said that I doubt a proprietary-based machine could be sold at that price without a huge loss.
If you are in the mood for a ONE, you can reserve it for ready for delivery in June. It comes in four colours too.
So come on Elonex, prove my doubting conscience wrong. Prove that a sub--£100 laptop is possible and that free software can actually help our kids learn to use computers and not just some proprietary software which happens to have a monopoly at the moment.
Elonex ONE
Asus EeePC
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Is Columbus Day a Federal Holiday?
Yes, Columbus Day is a federal holiday.
More Info: Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October to commemorate the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492.
Centurial Celebrations: The unofficial holiday was celebrated as early as 1792 to commemorate the three-hundredth anniversary of the landing. Later in 1892, President Harrison issued a proclamation to urge citizens to commemorate the four hundredth anniversary.
Celebrating Anyway: Though not an official national holiday many Americans of Italian heritage, the nationality of Columbus, celebrated the holiday. The Knights of Columbus began to lobby to declare Columbus Day an official national holiday.
It's Official: It wasn't until 1937 that Franklin D Roosevelt declared Columbus Day an official national holiday.
Moving to MondaysOfficially celebrated every October 12, in 1971 congress voted to move most federal holidays to Mondays so that workers could enjoy prolonged time off following a weekend, and employers would not suffer from loss of production due to the disruption of a holiday falling in the middle of a workweek. The exempt holidays were Fourth of July, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Veteran's Day.
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Rochester, N.Y. – Dave Spiro went to Strong Memorial Hospital’s emergency room in January. He was taken by ambulance with serious flu complications.
“When they wheeled me in on the stretcher I had at least three or four stretchers, ambulances ahead of me waiting,” he said. “I was on the stretcher for a good hour before they were able to find a bed for me in the ER itself.”
Spiro spent 20 hours in the emergency room before getting admitted and moved to a hospital room.
“It is taxing because you just want it to be over with,” Spiro said. “Get me in my bed, let me get rest. I can’t sleep really.”
Alison MacDonald went to Rochester General Hospital’s emergency room last month for severe stomach pains. She spent nine hours in the emergency room before being admitted for surgery.
“Ultimately, when you’re not feeling well, it’s kind of hard to be sitting and waiting for eight or nine hours,” MacDonald said. “They had beds in places I didn’t even know they could put them.”
New federal data on emergency room waiting times shows Rochester area hospitals fair poorly among hospitals across the country. The data was compiled by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and posted online
. The data covers January to March of 2012.
This story will look at several measurements of time spent in the emergency room: admission, going home and initial evaluation by a health professional.Lack of Beds
The patients who spend the most time in the emergency room are the ones who are sick enough to be admitted to the hospital.
Here’s the average amount of time patients waited from their arrival to the time they were admitted:Strong:
11 hours, 30 minutesUnity:
10 hours, 22 minutesRochester General:
7 hours, 15 minutesHighland:
5 hours, 2 minutesState Average:
6 hours, 6 minutesNational Average:
4 hours, 37 minutes
Hospitals say the biggest factor in the amount of time people spend in the emergency department is the availability of inpatient beds. Emergency rooms get overcrowded when hospitals are full. Patients who need to be admitted linger in the emergency room, sometimes in beds lining hallways. The situation can be stressful for patients and staff.
“I think given the number of beds we have in the community today, it’s very difficult for us to manage those surges,” said Strong Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Kathy Parrinello. “We do have fewer beds per capita in the greater Rochester region than in many regions in the country.”
A 2008 Finger Lakes health Systems Agency study recommended the area add up to 147 hospital beds. In addition to upfront capital costs, adding beds is an ongoing expense for hospitals because they must be staffed appropriately. Since the study, the three major hospitals have added beds to meet the need or are in the process of adding beds.
“We run a pretty tight ratio of beds to population,” said Nancy Adams of the Monroe County Medical Society. We do that for a number of reasons. It’s incredibly expensive to add beds.”
Dr. Keith Grams, Chief of Emergency Medicine for Rochester General, says if a patient is stuck in the emergency for a long period of time, it’s important to keep her updated.
“The hallway situation is definitely difficult,” Dr. Grams said. “It’s often that we don’t know when a bed will become available, but what we do work on is making sure they know what’s going on their care, keeping them comfortable, making sure they’re getting what they need.”
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After growing up in a small Pennsylvania factory town, Russell went on to graduate from the University of Notre Dame, earning his National Championship football ring as a linebacker for the Fighting Irish. From there he travelled the world as an HR executive strategist and talent development specialist and later as a much sought-after leadership consultant to C-Suite executives and those in the boardrooms of multi-billion dollar corporations. Along the way he molded and evolved his own lessons in leadership from the multitude of experiences - both successes and failures - and key global events in recent history (such as the civil rights movement, 1968 Olympics, and the war on terror).
“My lessons in tenacity and perseverance and hard work can help anyone be successful in their own lives,” writes Russell, who has pared down these lessons to the easily grasped concepts of 3E Leadership™ and Finding Your Impact Zone™ and reinforced with thought-provoking principles he refers to as Marvisms.
His 3E Leadership™ philosophy and approach defines and demands Essential, Exceptional and Ethical attributes in our leaders. It is a model for behavioral competence that outlines the game-changing fundamental tools needed to transform anyone into a high performer. Your Impact Zone are those points ripe for an individual to differentiate themself and make a distinct and unique impact on others and the world around them.
Readers will find that Linebacker in the Boardroom is relevant from both a personal and a professional perspective, regardless of one’s age, education level, or professional standing. Whether a member or leader of a business work team, community-based organization, an athletic team or a religious group; whether a senior executive of small or global corporations, a college graduate just beginning a career in the corporate world or public sector; a student or embarking on a career change, one can benefit from Marv’s easy-to-follow road map to attaining successful leadership qualities.
Marv kicked off his new release book tour with a private preview at the Tower Club in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 29th and has book events and keynote speaking engagements scheduled in South Florida, Washington, D.C. Chicago, at Notre Dame, and around the country through this Fall.
Linebacker in the Boardroom is available on-line through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, www.marvrussell.com, and at www.outskirtspress.com/
Format: 6 x 9 paperback white ISBN: 978-1-4327-7557-
6 x 9 hardback with jacket 978-1-4327-7655-
e-Book $ 9.99
Genre: Business and economics/leadership
About The Author:
Marv Russell is an internationalist, a global leadership and human resources professional and engaging motivational speaker with a diverse and successful career. He has lived and worked abroad with multi-national companies where he has championed the deployment of modern leadership, human capital development and HR tools and techniques. His strategic and operational business experience for assignments in such locales as France, Japan, UK, and Northern Africa includes an impressive track record in assessing and implementing multi-tiered turnaround management initiatives and leadership change support (often in crisis mode), union interaction and negotiations, and talent management development.
Marv’s strong leadership performance, coaching and communications skills, and business acumen supported by his multi-cultural and multi-lingual capabilities are keys to his ability to create high-performance organizations anywhere in the world. Marv Russell and Partners consulting group (www.marvrussell.com)
His academic credentials include an undergraduate degree in theology with minors in sociology and psychology from Notre Dame and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Indiana University. Currently he is completing his PhD in Organizational Development and Leadership at Capella University.
Marv and his wife Catherine can be found in Chicago, South Florida and at Starbucks and airports world-wide.
For more information or to contact the author, visit www.outskirtspress.com/
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Kent State University is located in Kent, Ohio, a small town (pop. 28,000) located on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. Kent is a family community with an excellent school system, tree-lined streets and a historic downtown with plenty of restaurants, shops, a cinema, and all the other amenities and services you'll need. Kent State is just a short drive from the major metropolitan areas of Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, and Canton. These cities and their surrounding areas are home to more than three million people who enjoy world-class museums, theatres, national and state parks, shopping, professional sports, and Fortune 500 companies. Kent is easily accessible from the Ohio and Pennsylvania turnpikes, major highways, and the Cleveland Hopkins International and Akron-Canton airports. More information on the city of Kent, news, and events can be found through the Chamber of Commerce.
Why Kent State University?
Kent State, with its eight-campus system in Northeast Ohio, serves the state and the nation with excellence through more than 50 master's programs in more than 100 areas of specialization as well as 23 doctoral programs with more than 50 specializations.
Graduate certificate programs are available in several areas of study. Certificates are open to both degree-seeking and nondegree-seeking students.
Kent State earns national recognition for innovative research and graduate studies in selected areas. The university's dedication to research excellence is embodied through its cutting-edge facilities, researchers, resources and partnerships.
Kent State faculty attract multimillion dollar research grants and contracts.
Kent State ranks among the top 77 public universities in the country, according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
U.S. News & World Report gave Kent State the exclusive first-tier ranking on its Best National Universities list. Kent State ranked 194 out of 1,500 schools.
On the international scene, Times Higher Education of London ranked Kent State among the top 200 universities in the world.
The university offers a variety of learning options, to allow flexibility in study including convenient evening and weekend classes, as well as online learning programs
|2011-2012 Graduate Studies Annual Report|
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Congenital Malformations Registry - Summary Report, 2007
Section 6: Current Topics
1. Case Confirmation and Ascertainment using Cytogenetic Testing Data Obtained from Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System
Hospitals and physicians are required to submit case reports, as well as confirmatory diagnosis information to the New York State Congenital Malformations Registry (CMR) on children who are born or reside in New York State and are diagnosed before the age of two years with major birth defects. However, the majority of the cases with chromosomal anomalies indicated in the hospital discharge files are reported to the CMR without confirmatory testing data, which are usually not available at the time of reporting. The objective of this project was to link the cytogenetic test reports, submitted by cytogenetic testing laboratories via the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH)'s Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System (ECLRS), to CMR cases to obtain confirmatory diagnoses and identify unreported cases with chromosomal anomalies.
Cytogenetic testing data submitted by the New York State licensed laboratories and stored on the ECLRS Sybase server were retrieved and matched to CMR cases. Several identifying variables such as the child's name and date of birth and parent's name and address were used in data matching. The laboratory testing results were used to confirm diagnoses of CMR cases for matched reports and to ascertain new birth defects cases by auditing hospitals and physicians using unmatched reports with abnormal testing results.
By the end of 2010, a total of 927 reports on 747 children were submitted to the CMR by 14 cytogenetic testing laboratories via the NYSDOH ECLRS. Among the 747 children reported, 398 (53%) had abnormal test results and 412 (55%) were matched to the CMR cases. From these laboratory reports, 151 new cases with chromosomal anomalies were identified, confirmed and added to the CMR. The additional cases accounted for about 7.8% of all cases with chromosomal anomalies in the CMR for the reporting years 2008-2010.
Cytogenetic laboratory reports can serve as an important source for ascertaining and confirming cases diagnosed with Down syndrome, autosomal deletion syndrome and other chromosomal anomalies. Acquiring molecular genetics testing data directly from cytogenetic testing laboratories enables CMR staff to confirm diagnoses and improve the accuracy and efficiency of case reporting.
2. Linking Children With Congenital Disorders Identified Through Newborn Screening to the Birth Defects Surveillance Program in New York State
The CMR received funds from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2008 to develop a population-based surveillance and tracking system in New York State for the long-term follow-up of children identified by the newborn screening program (NBS) through enhanced collaboration between the established NYSDOH newborn screening and birth defects surveillance programs. The objective of the current project was to link children with congenital disorders identified through the NBS program to the CMR to examine their birth defects and identify unreported birth defects cases.
The NBS Program performs more than 11 million tests annually on approximately 250,000 newborns for more than 40 congenital diseases and the human immunodeficiency virus. Newborns with positive screening results for congenital disorders were obtained from the NBS program for the birth years 2006-2007 and were matched to the CMR database. The Statistical Analysis System (SAS, North Carolina, USA) was used to develop programs for data matching. Deterministic data linkage methods were used with multiple criteria for establishing a match between records using appropriate combinations of personal identifiers. The birth defect information in the CMR for the NBS children identified through data matching were reviewed and analyzed.
A total of 16,781 children with an abnormal screening test were identified from the NBS program for 2006-2007 births. Of these, 1,268 (7.6%) had congenital disorders confirmed by follow-up diagnostic testing. The results from data matching showed that only 35.3% of NBS children with confirmed congenital conditions were matched to the CMR. A majority of the confirmed NBS children were not matched (i.e., not reported) to the CMR. Among the NBS children who had confirmed NBS conditions, 18.8% were found in the CMR having malformations in the cardiovascular or central nervous system. More than 60% of the NBS children with abnormal screening test who were deceased or lost to follow-up or had normal follow-up confirmatory diagnostic tests were found in the CMR having malformations in the cardiovascular or central nervous system.
Linking data from population-based surveillance programs, birth defects registries and newborn screening programs is helpful in understanding the epidemiology of some confirmed screening conditions and associated birth defects, and identifying possible causes of these congenital disorders. The NBS database containing the confirmatory diagnostic testing results can serve as an additional data source for identifying unreported birth defects cases. The project team plans to contact and work with genetic services centers and hospitals to ascertain unreported children with congenital disorders identified through NBS program.
Wang Y, Caggana M, Sango-Jordan M, Sun M, Druschel CM. Long-term follow-up of children with confirmed newborn screening disorders using record linkage. Genet Med. 2011;13:881-6.
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All seven members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court have met with 20 Wisconsin state lawmakers as part of the biennial tradition at the beginning of each new legislative session.
Lawmakers and court members at Tuesday's meeting talked about a variety of issues related to the judiciary, including Wisconsin's unique position as the only state that allows law school graduates to practice without taking a bar exam.
Justices spoke in support of that so-called diploma privilege, which dates back to 1870.
State Sen. Glenn Grothman asked what could be done to lower law student debt. He said the amount of debt students graduate with is scandalous. He suggested looking at alternative and less expensive ways to get licensed to practice law.
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BRISBANE, Australia, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- An Australian psychologist says smartphone apps allowing parents to send their naughty children phone calls from Santa "are not useful" and "could be abused."
Dr. John Irvine said the smartphone apps -- including the free "Fake Call From Santa" app and the $1.99 "Parents Calling Santa" app -- are "not productive" methods of behavior correction, The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, reported Wednesday.
"These kinds of apps have made the Santa threat much more real and immediate and they could be abused by some parents in the lead-up to Christmas Day," he said. "What is the point in threatening something that you are not going to carry out? Is mum really going to cancel presents on Christmas Day?
"Empty threats are not useful as kids soon realize that there are no consequences," he said.
The "Fake Call from Santa" app includes an incoming call with audio, but the "Parents Calling Santa" app allows parents to choose from three recorded messages -- a "well done call," a "could do better" call, or a "must improve or you will get a lump of coal for Christmas" call.
|Additional Odd News Stories|
WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) --General Motors said it would recall 231,000 model year 2006-07 vehicles due to a short in the driver's door that could spontaneously cause a fire.
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ISBN 9780141191577 | 544 pages | 29 Jan 2013 | Penguin Classics | 5.07 x 7.79in | 18 - AND UP
Summary of Collected Poetry Summary of Collected Poetry Reviews for Collected Poetry An Excerpt from Collected Poetry
A new collection of John Donne's verse, from the witty conceit of "The Flea" to the intense spirituality of his Divine Poems
Regarded by many as the greatest of the metaphysical poets, John Donne was also among the most intriguing figures of the Elizabethan Age. A sensualist who composed erotic and playful love poetry in his youth, he was raised a Catholic but later became one of the most admired Protestant preachers of his time. Reflecting this wide diversity, Collected Poetry includes his youthful songs and sonnets, epigrams, elegies, letters, satires, and the profoundly moving Divine Poems composed toward the end of his life. From joyful works such as "The Flea," which transforms the image of a louse into something marvelous, to the intimate and intense Holy Sonnets, Donne breathed new vigor into poetry by drawing startling metaphors from the world in which he lived.
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For two powerful reasons, voters within the San Diego Unified School District have an easy decision when it comes to the $2.8 billion Proposition Z bond measure on the November ballot. The measure is grossly irresponsible – it uses 30-year borrowing to help cover a vast array of routine expenses that should be covered in operating budgets. What’s more, it isn’t paired with any fundamental change in the unsustainable approach the district takes to its finances. As such, Proposition Z amounts to a temporary reprieve for a broken system, brought to us by a school board whose majority doesn’t believe the system is broken.
The state Education Code is quite clear that bond funds should be used for long-term capital improvements. Operating budgets cover “current maintenance, operations and repairs.”
But Proposition Z’s primary intent is to relieve pressure on the district’s operating budget. It’s not just the proposed spending on short-lived consumer electronics like iPads that the San Diego County Taxpayers Association has criticized. Consider the 131-page school board resolution authorizing the bond: In school after school, it shows the bond would pay for basic maintenance and repairs, even at newer schools such as Lincoln High School. Indeed, it is written so vaguely that bond funds could readily be used for painting over graffiti.
It just doesn’t make sense to pay for such basic districtwide maintenance with a 30-year bond.
Which brings us to the reason the district can’t make ends meet without long-term borrowing for routine daily tasks: It is wedded to compensation practices that award automatic raises to most employees just for years on the job, not for quality of work, and also provide automatic raises to teachers for doing graduate course work that doesn’t even have to be in the field in which they teach. The result: In 2012-13, compensation costs eat up 93 percent of the district’s operating budget.
In the private sector, hiring and pay freezes became common after the economic downturn hit. If San Diego Unified had adopted a true pay freeze when the state revenue plunge began four years ago, it would be in vastly better shape now.
And it’s just not true that San Diego Unified’s woes are inevitable, given the state budget crisis. Poway Unified may have its own bond headaches, but only 85 percent of its operating budget goes to compensation, leaving the district much more able to provide the programs and services that are being hollowed out in San Diego Unified.
Which brings us to Scott Barnett, the only school board member who is willing to admit the truth about Proposition Z even as he pushes for its adoption. In an interview and in emails, Barnett offered an impassioned defense of the bond measure, saying its various spending provisions are legal and are similar to what other districts have done. He detailed how the district would use bond funds for deferred maintenance in a smarter and more responsible way. He warned of the harm to students from impoverished families if they don’t have access to the technology enjoyed by students in wealthier areas. And he spoke with some hope that district leaders may finally be developing the political will to take on a teachers union that has long had an unhealthy grip on the district.
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Ocean Optics, Inc. Announces Product Safety Testing Program
Photonics manufacturer helps others screen consumer products for suspected lead and heavy metals
Dunedin, Florida (August 29, 2007) – Ocean Optics, Inc., a leading manufacturer of spectroscopy and photonic instruments, has announced a new program intended to provide manufacturers, importers and distributors of consumer products with a simple, low-cost, screening tool for testing of lead and heavy metals using Ocean Optics’ state-of-the-art laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system. With recent news reports of lead and heavy metal presence in consumer products, Ocean Optics is offering the low-cost-per-item test as a public service.
Rob Randelman, President of Ocean Optics, said: “Ocean Optics takes product safety very seriously. We want to not only assist our customers in determining the safety of their products, but we also want to encourage companies to be proactive towards these issues, without the concern of significant up-front investment. We have technology that can give a fast, clear result; this could be one step to help keep dangerous products from being used by consumers, like our families and friends.”
Unlike traditional ‘rub tests’, Ocean Optics unique LIBS system is not susceptible to being fooled by an overcoat of non-lead paint. A laser is used to ‘burn’ away a small area of the object under test, causing a plasma to form which is then analyzed for the key elements of interest, primarily lead or other metals, but virtually any element can be detected. The entire test takes less than 30 seconds.
Ocean Optics LIBS systems are used in a wide variety of other applications, such as RoHS screening, gem origin determination, and elemental determinations in mixed powders. The results of this test are intended to be used as a screening tool, guide or advisory of the safety of the paint or construction of an individual product. Ocean Optics is offering the screening for $100 USD per test to help those companies or agencies who are unable to invest upwards of $50,000 USD for their own dedicated system.
More information can be obtained at the company’s website at http://www.oceanoptics.com/products/libstest.asp or by contacting an application scientist at the company’s worldwide headquarters in Dunedin, Florida on 727-733-2447.
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NEW YORK—Voting opened last week for 40 historical preservation sites across the city. Three million in grants will be awarded.
The funding body hopes to “inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic sites at the heart of their communities.”
So far, the Brooklyn Public Library leads the way with 9 percent of the votes, followed by Congregation Beth Elohim in second and New York Botanical Garden in third.
On Twitter and their websites, different organizations and government agencies are asking the public to vote for their preservation projects.
To drum up support and showcase different buildings, an open house weekend will take place this Saturday and Sunday, including a festival at the Astoria Pool, an architecturally significant public facility built during the 1930s in Art Deco style.
Other events include an exhibition showing at the Alice Austen House On Staten Island, an opportunity at Apollo Theater to visit and record a short video, and tours at the Museum of the City of New York.
The grants are given out by a partnership between American Express and The National Trust for Historic Preservation called Partners in Preservation. Since 2006, $6.5 million has been awarded to preservation projects in six metropolitan areas across the United States.
The four projects that win most of this year’s votes will receive their full funding requests. Voters can vote here once a day through May 21.
New York City was chosen this year by Partners in Preservation because of its “rich history, unparalleled architecture, a strong commitment to preservation, and a rich legacy of volunteer participation.”
With additional reporting by Christian Watjen
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In England, the year is divided into four terms:
Between terms the Courts are in vacation, and no trials are heard. The longest vacation period is between July and October. The dates of the terms are determined in law by a Practice Direction in the Civil Procedure Rules. The Hilary term was formerly from January 11 to 31, during which superior courts of England were open.
Start of the legal year
The legal year commences at the beginning of October, with a ceremony dating back to the Middle Ages in which the judges arrive in a procession from the Temple Bar to Westminster Abbey for a religious service, followed by a reception known as the Lord Chancellor's breakfast, which is held in Westminster Hall. Although in former times the judges walked the distance from Temple to Westminster, they now mostly arrive by car. The service is held by the Dean of Westminster with the reading performed by the Lord Chancellor.
The ceremony has been held continuously since the Middle Ages, with the exception of the years 1940 to 1946 because of World War II. In 1953 it was held in St Margret's Church because Westminster Abbey was still decorated for the Coronation of Elizabeth II.
United States
The United States Supreme Court follows part of the legal year tradition, albeit without the elaborate ceremony. The Court's year-long term commences on the first Monday in October (and is simply called "October Term"), with a Red Mass the day before. The court then alternates between "sittings" and "recesses" and goes into final recess at the end of June.
Several Midwest and East Coast states and some federal courts still use the legal year and stated terms of court. Like the Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit has a single year-long term with designated sittings within that term, although the Second Circuit begins its term in August instead of October (hence the name "August Term"). The U.S. Tax Court divides the year into four season-based terms starting in January.
Connecticut appellate courts divide the legal year into eight terms starting in September. New York courts divide the year into 13 terms starting in January. The Georgia Court of Appeals uses a three-term year starting in January. The Illinois Supreme Court divides the year into six terms starting in January.
Many states, like Ohio and Mississippi, do not have a uniform rule for terms of court, so the number of terms varies greatly from one court to the next because every single court sets out terms of court in its local rules.
However, the majority of U.S. states and most federal courts have abandoned the legal year and the related concept of stated terms of court. Instead, they reverse the presumption. They merely mandate that the courts are to be open year-round during business hours on every day that is not Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday. A typical example is Rule 77(c)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which states that "The clerk's office ... must be open during business hours every day except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays." Furthermore, 28 U.S.C. § 452 states: "All courts of the United States shall be deemed always open for the purpose of filing proper papers, issuing and returning process, and making motions and orders."
- "Hilary term - Definition and More", Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2011, webpage:MW-hilary.
Further reading
- Cheney, C.R.; Jones, Michael, eds. (2000). A Handbook of Dates for Students of British History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 98–105. ISBN 0521770955.
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When asked for directions, most people use one of two methods of response: they either offer you detailed turn-by-turn instructions with street names, or they use landmarks to guide you around.
If you live in, or have visited Atlanta, how many times have you been offered directions based on which way to turn at the Big Chicken? It's like the nexus of the northern Atlanta universe. One method is not necessarily better than the other, but I'll bet you that you figure out how to get to the Big Chicken faster than you would find your way to "12 Cobb Parkway North" (the actual Big Chicken address).
Search activity can be quite similar at times. Even with an end destination in mind (let's say Amazon.com in this case) when you begin your search, you may enter "DVDs" because your journey begins in a more obtuse fashion and maybe there's a better route to good "DVDs" than to go directly to Amazon. Each link on the page is like a street corner, ensuring that you stop, look, read, and review before moving on to the next step in your navigation process.
But imagine entering "Amazon.com" as your search term, and you now have your landmark specific directions. You aren't concerned with any particular street corner or stop light along the way, but simply using the landmark -- in this case the Amazon.com website -- as your point of reference. The search page now becomes quite focused for you because you're only on the lookout for Amazon.com, right?
A navigational search is defined as any search phrase that doubles as a website address (think anything containing the suffix .com, .net, .org, etc). The scenario mapped out above represents an ongoing SEM and SEO issue for all website owners.
How often are searchers searching not only for your brand name, but your actual web address? Should you bid on it (given that you will already be the top organic listing)? Is it worth the money? Are your competitors bidding on your address? Do searchers actually do this? Let's look at the data.
About 12.5 billion searches were performed in July on the Big 5 search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, AOL Search) in the United States. Of those, approximately 1.9 billion were navigational in nature, or more than 15 percent of all searches in a given month.
Of the 1.9 billion navigational searches, 83 percent were with the ".com" suffix. No major surprises here, but the notable fact is that the ".com" percentage is decreasing year over year, down from 85 percent in July 2009. As the global Internet keeps expanding and ICANN continually revamps their domain registration rules, we're seeing large increases in search activity for the less popular web address suffixes.
(ranked by volume) - July 2010
The fact is that the ".com" web address search marketplace is a bit saturated, but the alternative suffixes are growing at decent, if not fantastic rates. Since last July, ".edu" is up more than 80 percent; ".org" is up 12 percent; even ".tv" is up almost 85 percent.
As an organization looking to corner valuable future Internet real estate, alternative suffix addresses should be part of your consideration. Search activity is always a killer proxy for the evolving lexicon of the public, so don't discount the growth in the alternative suffix searching.
When a traveler (or in this case, a searcher) is in unfamiliar territory, there is no better navigation tool for them than landmarks. Based on the enormous portion of searches that involve web addresses, determining a navigational search marketing strategy is by all means worth your time.
Just do your best to be the Big Chicken and not the third stop light past the highway overpass.
Know your Ambiguous Customer: Effective Multi-Channel Tracking
Wednesday, June 5 at 1pm ET - Learn why a move from the "batch and blast" email approach enables better conversations with your customers.
Register today - don't miss this free webinar!
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Thirty-eight dollars a month. That’s how much it costs to sponsor a child through Compassion, which is more than the price of sponsorship at other organizations. The difference sometimes leads to questions like these.
“When I first starting sponsoring it [the sponsorship rate] was $22 a month; that was 1989, or 1990 I forget, I’m getting old. During college I stopped sponsoring for a few years and then it was I think $26 or $28 a month . . . Other organizations have stayed about $22-24 a month . . . what extra services does Compassion offer for the extra money . . . what does Compassion provide that other organizations do not supply at $22-24 month?” — Dwight“
“I am getting a bit concerned with the cost to sponsor a child. Where is the money going that isn’t going to the children? I would hate to think it is for a glossier overedited over advertising or staff bloat to make sponsors feel better.” — Nancy White
Although these two questions may seem to be asking the same thing, they’re actually not. Dwight is asking, “What does my child get each month for $38?” (i.e., how are our programs run and what do we deliver?). Nancy is asking, “Where is the money going that isn’t going to the children?” (i.e., how do we spend your money?). They’re both important questions.
I’m not an expert on how other sponsorship programs are run, but what I do know is that some organizations don’t have Christ at the center of what they do. And some allow children to have multiple sponsors.
So two things that Compassion delivers is the Gospel and a one-to-one relationship with your child.
Some child sponsorship programs just focus on one or two areas of a child’s development, rather than being all-encompassing, and others organizations administer their programs on behalf of the community a child lives in, rather than focusing directly on a specific child.
Compassion delivers holistic child development that is child focused. These two posts help show what that means.
- What does holistic child development look like?
- What does my sponsored child learn at the child development center?
Additionally, some organizations receive government funding. We do not. We’re 100 percent sponsor and donor supported.
And finally, some programs are more localized and less global than our program is. We’re a global holistic child development ministry and we use a one-on-one sponsorship model that encourages you and your child to share your faith with each other. We’re Christ centered, child focused, church based and committed to integrity.
Some programs may have similarities to ours, but none are exactly the same. That’s what we deliver.
As for how we spend your money, no more than 20 percent pays for administration and fundraising. That’s our commitment to you. And for the past several years, we’ve been significantly below that 20 percent, usually two to four percentage points below.
In fiscal year 2009, approximately $31 of your $38 monthly payment paid for development center grants, program services and child advocacy (i.e., educating the Body of Christ about the biblical mandate to care for children and the poor), while a nickel shy of $7 was used for administration ($3.23) and fundraising ($3.72).
Because of how we manage your money we have received eight consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator. Only 1 percent of charities rated by Charity Navigator have been recognized in this way.
So, what does the $31 buy your sponsored child?
The money categorized as development center grants is delivered directly to our church partners to cover the costs of implementing our sponsorship program. The basic elements of these activities include:
- regular Christian training
- learning opportunities (e.g., funding school attendance and/or regular participation in extracurricular educational activities)
- health treatment and training (e.g., regular physical exams, dental care, vaccinations, referral for advance medical care, instruction in physical and dental hygiene, exercise, nutrition and preventive health care)
- socio-emotional development (e.g., learning basic social skills, teamwork, art, drama, dance, etc.)
- materials and supplies including hygiene supplies (e.g., soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste), center supplies (e.g., paper, writing utensils, games, toys), fees or costs associated with field trips, camps, drama, art and dance activities, and snacks, food and supplemental nutrition each child may need
- individualized care and attention (e.g., school progress reports, center attendance records, health records, home visits by social workers and adult supervision while at the development center)
Program services include activities undertaken by our staff to select, train, equip and oversee the church partners implementing our program, as well as programmatic research and evaluation. They also cover the costs of staff who direct and maintain the daily activities at the child development center.
More personally, this is where the money comes from for letter translation, postage, taking photos of your child, and updating you on your child’s well-being.
You can consider program services as the funding source for maintaining our program’s integrity and all the things that connect you and your child.
That about sums it up. I hope this explanation is useful to you. If you want additional information about our financial accountability stewardship you can visit compassion.com and charitynavigator.com, as well as call us at (800) 336-7676.
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IN YOUR OPINION
Letters to the editor, Dec. 19, 2012
Published: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 6:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 8:50 p.m.
The first thing you think about in such a tragedy such as what happened in Newtown is to ban those guns. You try to stop a bullet.
I feel that you should try to stop the thought that goes through the minds of the people who do these awful deeds. Right now there are tens of thousands of children between 6 and 16 who are playing games that have murder, shooting, bombing, stealing, sexual perversion and other anti-social themes. I am not a doctor, but I feel if they play them enough times there are children that become brainwashed that this is fun and a normal thing to do.
What do you do?
How about banning this awful trash? There are some great games about sports, educational themes and other fine themes that teach children how to grow up and become mature adults that will contribute fine things to this country. Granted, some television shows are not any better, but these games are played over and over by the children.
What’s the plan?
Following the horrible tragedy in Connecticut, I am wondering why we are not hearing from our school superintendent and principals on what they are going to do when school reopens in January. I know they are on holiday vacation and deserve their time off, but this is a unique situation, and hearing some concern, ideas and plans for better school security would be welcomed by all of us parents. Where are our school leaders?
I know they care and are concerned, but I need to hear that they are working on this diligently and not just waiting to deal with it in 2013. I expect changes from day one and I think all parents would agree with that.
Taking children’s lives
What a tragedy this past Friday as a person clearly and seriously disturbed ended the lives of innocent children and adults. No one can justify or explain away the horror that has impacted many lives for the balance of time.
So much will be said in the coming days and weeks about the causes of this tragedy and what steps must be taken to prevent such an occurrence ever again. Much of the focus of the discussion will center around the need for more gun control as the solution to the problem.
However, the conversation must be expanded beyond the issue of gun control. The central issue here is that of the mental health of the individual that carried out this horrific attack. One might question why a mother would have weapons such as these available to a young man who perhaps had serious mental issues. It’s not the guns that are the issue, but rather the mental condition of the people that have access to the weapons.
But, in the broader sense, perhaps we as a nation have been conditioning our children to accept that life has little value when you consider that every day hundreds of innocent children are quietly and legally put to death. Yet there is no outcry, sadness or media coverage. True, bullets are not used to end the innocent lives of these children, but so-called surgical procedures, which are just as effective. It seems the message is clear to our young people — it’s okay to end the innocent life of a child through abortion but not bullets.
It’s unimaginable to me that we don’t see what we’re doing. Now, we’re talking about a moral issue.
Each month dozens of volunteers graciously give their time to help supply food for 120-plus families in the forest area — from picking up thousands of pounds of food to bagging it and then dispersing it.
This Christmas, 130-plus families and 42-plus children will have Christmas dinner and toys and clothes under the tree because of these selfless people. I want to thank those who have made this possible in 2012.
This truly restores our sense of community to see people coming together to help those in need. Blessings to each one of you.
A budget plan
Will anybody out there really feel sorry for the fat cats, who earn in excess of a quarter-million dollars a year, if their tax rate might climb a few points? The Romneys, Koch brothers and others in our land continue to stash away their billions (including overseas to avoid taxes), paying a tax rate in some instances of 15 percent or less, while lamenting the president’s plan to up the rate for excessively high-earners to 39.7 percent, the top rate paid during the booming Clinton-era economy.
If those top executives in America’s corporate world would be satisfied with compensation of up to $250,000 — not exactly coolie wages, mind you — no one would be persecuted under the president’s plan to increase the tax rate for excessive incomes. And there would be a bundle of cash left to distribute to the workers in the businesses the overpaid executives lead — money the workers would spend, not save, to perk up the nation’s economy. Money, incidentally, that would be taxed as well!
Then our national leaders, in seeking to curb the rising U.S. debt, might concentrate on meaningful budget cuts (such as bloated military spending) rather than the so-called entitlements that would be so hurtful to many citizens.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
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Tailor Your Car Insurance Policy to Benefit Your Needs
Most often people go for buying the car insurance policies at cheap prices but at the time of a claim they realise that either they are under insured or insured for an unnecessary thing. For instance, if you have a second car at home, why go for a policy that makes you pay extra premium for the repairs of a hired car.
The most sensible thing to do before you buy car insurance policy is to tailor the policy in accordance with your needs and necessities. This will allow you to get the correct cover for yourself and at a reasonable price. Usually in the UK car insurance market, car insurance cover falls under three levels. Every car insurance policy offers unique accessions for you to choose the best one that suits you the most. Compare car insurance before purchasing one that might not suit your needs when the time comes.
The three basic car insurance cover levels in the UK car insurance market are the third party only cover insurance, the third party fire and theft car insurance and comprehensive car insurance. The third party only car insurance is the minimum level of car cover you can take in the country. If you buy this policy, you insurance company will provide liability for any third party injured in an accident. These include your passengers, other vehicles and their passengers, pedestrians and other damages. The third party fire and theft car insurance is similar to the third party only car insurance in addition to coverage against fire and theft for the third party.
Comprehensive car insurance is the most commonly used one by the UK drivers. This covers damage to your vehicle in the form of theft, fire and any other damage. At times comprehensive car insurance coverage charges extras. These extras include guarantee on repairs and courtesy car service. Before you buy the comprehensive car insurance, examine the optional extras to make sure whether you really need them or not. You can save your money on premium if the extras do not add any benefit to you.
Article written by the marketing division of Compare.Com.
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Just because you don’t plunk down 50 cents for your Daily Planet or your Daily Cal, that doesn’t mean free newspapers are without value. That’s the basis of AB 2612, authored by George Plescia (R-San Diego) and signed by the governor.
If you pick up more than 25 copies of a free newspaper, you’ll face a $250 fine; and you could get a $500 fine on the second offense and 10 days in jail.
The bill, sponsored by the California Newspaper Publishers Association, primarily targets thieves who pick up the newspapers to sell for recycling, according to Morgan Crinklaw, spokesperson for Plescia.
But it also has First Amendment implications, Crinklaw said.
In Berkeley, four years ago, Mayor Tom Bates, then a candidate for mayor, trashed some 1,000 copies of the Nov. 4 Daily Cal because he was unhappy with the paper’s editorial position supporting rival then-mayor Shirley Dean.
The City of Berkeley passed a similar local ordinance after the incident.
“I’m very happy to see it pass,” Bates told the Daily Planet on Monday. “It was an irrational action on my part—the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
San Francisco also has a comparable ordinance, passed in 1992 after Police Chief Richard Hongisto was accused of ordering the theft of 2,000 San Francisco Bay Times newspapers. Hongisto was fired after the incident.
The bill was necessary because “law enforcement did not have the tools to prosecute offenders,” Crinklaw said.
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Why clean green?
Floor scrubbers should be flexible enough to allow the operator to choose where to apply extra water or detergent, such as in higher-traffic or spill areas.
There are many reasons why distribution centers, warehouses, manufacturing plants, and processing facilities can benefit from a green floor-cleaning program. From a cleaning-only perspective, green cleaning reduces the use of water and chemicals and improves the effectiveness of cleaning programs. It also directly impacts a facility’s sustainability efforts by reducing energy consumption, improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and contributing to certification programs such as LEED-EBOM (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance).
Certainly, stewardship of the environment is in itself a worthy objective, and it’s a goal of many companies small and large. But green cleaning can also reduce the cost of operating a facility and even help extend the life of a building. The ultimate benefits for most green cleaning practitioners are environmental stewardship and economic return.
Who is cleaning green?
According to a recent survey by the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA), 79 percent of material handling and logistics managers have or are planning to institute sustainability goals for their operations1. And, at the close of 2009, 39 of the 4,286 LEED-certified projects were in food manufacturing facilities2. Green initiative programs are the norm in many Fortune 500 companies, including Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Carrier Corp., and others.
The green movement for manufacturing and industrial sites is a natural outgrowth of what is already established in the “front office.” All warehouses have office space; over 2,000 commercial developments are certified as “sustainable” through the LEED® program (Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design) of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Now the focus is on what’s “out back”: the warehouse, distribution, manufacturing, and processing facilities that are integral to operations.
What is green cleaning?
In practice, green cleaning aims to reduce the use of chemicals, water, and energy. The goal of green cleaning is to minimize environmental and human-health impacts, while maintaining or even improving the effectiveness of cleaning programs. From an organizational standpoint, green cleaning can be a certifiable standard, a frame of reference, a best practice — and just plain common sense.
If certification is an objective, the USGBC’s Green Building Rating System is a leading standard for defining, measuring and certifying a building’s sustainability. The standard that specifically addresses green cleaning is “LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (LEED-EBOM).” According to LEED, its goal is “to help building owners and managers solve building problems, improve building performance and maintain and improve this performance over time.” The 100-point LEED-EBOM rating system addresses seven specific areas: sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; innovation in operations; and regional priority. Green cleaning is addressed in the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) section, where six of the 15 points in that section pertain to green cleaning equipment, chemicals, and policies — that’s 40 percent of the entire section and therefore an important source of points.
It’s important to note that LEED points do not judge specific products; rather, they judge how a practice meets a specific point in the program. Individual sections and points work together to make up a complete sustainable building. Even if LEED-EBOM certification is not a goal, it can be a guide toward establishing best practices for a green cleaning program.
Newer floor-cleaning machines can be big water-savers because they use ultra-low-flow dispensing that cuts water usage by up to 70 percent.
“Greening” the bottom line
The underlying goal of a green floor-cleaning program, whether LEED-certified or a best practices initiative, is to clean with less while improving cleaning effectiveness: fewer chemicals and pollutants and lower water and energy usage. In addition to reducing the impact of floor cleaning on the environment, cleaning with less also reduces utility costs and energy costs. Green cleaning and a larger sustainability program also help maintain and extend the life of a building. A floor that is kept consistently clean minimizes resource consumption and waste stream contributions by extending the life of flooring and reducing time in between intensive, restorative cleaning.
Improving cleaning effectiveness generally means cleaning more efficiently, which drives down the cost to clean. Labor is generally regarded as the most significant cost factor in any floor-cleaning program. The temptation to purchase inferior chemicals and equipment can yield short-term cost-savings, but the ineffectiveness of such products can actually cost a facility more in the long run. Floor scrubbers that don’t allow the operator to make quick adjustments to the flow rate, detergent strength and scrubbing pressure, for example, will require more downtime to make adjustments for variable soil loads, spills and high-traffic areas. The importance of having the right tools for the job cannot be overstated, as the impact on the cost of labor certainly reinforces the old saying, “time is money.”
The Dual Benefits Of Cleaning Green
Specifically, a green floor-cleaning program will reduce environmental impact and bottom-line costs through:
1. Less water/wastewater discharged
Traditional floor scrubbers can be big water guzzlers. For example, a 100-gallon floor scrubber requiring three tank-fills per cleaning shift will consume 300 gallons of water and associated detergent. Yet newer floor-cleaning machines can be big water-savers. Some floor scrubbers use ultra-low-flow dispensing that cuts water usage by up to 70 percent. In addition, floor scrubbers should be flexible enough to allow the operator to choose where to apply extra water or detergent, such as in higher-traffic or spill areas. Most of the cleaning can still be done with minimal water and detergent.
2. Fewer chemicals used and discharged
Floor-cleaning machines for scrubbing, buffing or burnishing use fewer and less toxic cleaning chemicals while still delivering superior cleaning. Automatic dispensing systems mix chemicals at the correct ratio and eliminate unused cleaning solution. To minimize chemical use, some new floor machines offer an ultra-low detergent or water-only cleaning for light, routine cleaning.
3. Improved indoor air quality
Gel-battery-powered equipment increases safety and convenience because there is no potential for battery acid spills or noxious gas emissions during charging that can occur with conventional batteries. Powered sweeping equipment can help improve IAQ by controlling the spread of dust while sweeping.
The importance of measurement
A “non-green” facility will likely pay electric, gas and water bills without really knowing what contributes to the costs. A green cleaning program is quantifiable. Simply being aware of how much water and chemicals are dispensed into the waste stream can be an incentive for reducing use. Establishing a consumption benchmark (i.e., before the program is started) and then measuring costs and contributing factors once the program is underway helps gauge success. Proper cleaning equipment and methods will significantly reduce use of these resources.
Stay tuned for part two of this article, which will explain how a manufacturer can implement these technologies into a green cleaning program for their own plant.
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There is great interest in understanding how miRNA can be used as a biomarker for cancer development and cancer prognosis, and discovering how it might be used as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
With high demand for, and the fast growth of, miRNA research, an efficient and robust miRNA purification method was needed to enhance downstream assays. Most nucleic acid extraction procedures do not favor miRNA recovery, as smaller nucleic acids such as miRNA are removed during purification processes. In this article, two methodologies for recovering miRNA using the Agencourt SPRI chemistry (Beckman Coulter Life Sciences) are described.
The solid-phase reverse immobilization (SPRI) procedure is an easy, rapid, high-yield, and automation-friendly miRNA isolation method that does not require organic solvents, centrifugation, or filtration steps. This method uses carboxyl-coated magnetic particles that reversibly bind nucleic acid in the presence of binding buffers and crowding reagents.
Typically, there are three basic steps in the purification procedure (Figure 1). In the first step, nucleic acid immobilization, SPRI beads are directly added to sample reactions. Nucleic acids are immobilized onto the SPRI beads, leaving contaminants in solution. In the second step, contaminant removal and wash, a magnetic field is used to pull the microparticles out of solution. Contaminants are aspirated, and microparticles are thoroughly washed with molecular biology-grade ethanol, yielding high-quality nucleic acids. In the third step, purified nucleic acids are easily eluted from the microparticles under aqueous conditions, which provides maximum flexibility for downstream applications.
Agencourt SPRI chemistry was designed to selectively capture larger nucleic acids; any fragments smaller than 50 nucleotides are usually removed during the binding steps. miRNAs have an approximate size of 22 nucleotides: Our initial test for miRNA isolation using the Agencourt RNAdvance Cell v2 protocol monitored the recovery of the 22 nt oligonucleotides through various binding and rebinding buffer conditions.
The results showed that recovery of the 22 nt oligonucleotides can be enhanced by changing the binding conditions in the binding and rebinding steps. For each test condition, 1 µg of oligonucleotide was used as the input sample and eluted in 40 µL of nuclease-free water, with an estimated yield of 25 ng/µL of oligonucleotide if the recovery rate reaches 100%. The recovery of the 22 nt nucleotides was then measured by NanoDrop 2000 spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, data not shown) and ethidium bromide staining using E-Gel agarose electrophoresis (Life Technologies) (Figures 2A and 2B).
The highest yield of the 22 nt oligonucleotides (lane 9) was selected for a HeLa cell miRNA purification using the Agencourt RNAdvance Cell v2 protocol.
A similar principle was applied for miRNA isolation from the FFPE samples using the Agencourt FormaPure kit protocol. TaqMan qPCR expression assay (Life Technologies) of let-7c demonstrated that miRNA was successfully extracted from HeLa cells and from FFPE samples. It was further demonstrated that the SPRI manual extraction procedure performs comparably to the SPRI procedure performed using a Beckman Coulter Life Sciences’ Biomek FXP platform running an automated extraction method (Figure 2A).
For the cell culture experiment, frozen HeLa cells (50,000 cells per microplate well) were thawed at room temperature for 10–15 minutes. A 63 µL lysis proteinase K solution was added to each well, and the plate was incubated for 30 minutes. The cell lysate was transferred into the wells of a microplate (Abgene) containing 330 µL of freshly made binding buffer solution (80 µL Bind Buffer; Beckman Coulter Life Sciences) and 250 µL of isopropanol (American Bioanalytical).
Cell lysate was incubated with binding solution for 5 minutes, and the microplate was placed on the Agencourt SPRIPlate 96 Ring Super Magnet plate (Beckman Coulter Life Sciences) for 5 minutes to separate the beads. Supernatant was aspirated and removed from the microplate wells. The beads were washed once with 300 µL of fresh 85% ethanol (American Bioanalytical), the microplate was placed back on the magnetic plate, and the ethanol was aspirated and removed.
Sample plates were allowed to air dry on the magnetic plate for 10 minutes, miRNA was eluted with 40 µL of nuclease-free water, and the sample plate was placed back on the magnetic plate for 2 minutes. Eluted nucleic acids were transferred into a new plate. Steps for DNase treatment and rebinding can be introduced before the elution to remove genomic DNA.
For the FFPE miRNA isolation, lysate from the FFPE samples was prepared according to the Agencourt FormaPure protocol. 200 µL of the FFPE lysate was transferred into a 96-Well Riplate–2.2 mL (WorldWide Medical Products), 150 µL of Bind 1 buffer and 20 µL of Bind 2 buffer (Beckman Coulter Life Sciences) plus 800 µL of isopropanol (American Bioanalytical) were added into the lysate, mixed by aspirating and dispensing with a pipette five times, and incubated at 55°C for 5 minutes.
The microplate was placed onto the magnetic plate for 5 minutes, the supernatant was slowly aspirated, the sample plate was removed from the magnetic plate, and the beads were washed with 750 µL of freshly made 85% ethanol by pipette mixing five times. Beads were settled on the magnetic plate again for another 5 minutes. Clear supernatant was carefully removed. The sample plate was air dried for about 10 minutes, and the miRNA and total nucleic acid were recovered with 40 µL of nuclease-free water.
Total RNA quality was measured using the Bioanalyzer 2100 (Agilent Technologies, data not shown) and the concentration of the nucleic acids was measured by NanoDrop 2000 spectrophotometer (data not shown).
Either 50 ng or 20 ng of extracted RNA was used for the TaqMan micro-RNA qPCR assay (Life Technologies). RT and PCR reactions were performed according to the manufacturer’s protocols with the TaqMan MicroRNA Reverse Transcription Kit (Life Technologies) and TaqMan Universal Master Mix (Life Technologies).
Figures 3A and 3B show the overlaid amplification plots of the let-7c in HeLa cells, FFPE and positive control samples. The minus RT reaction and nontemplate control samples showed negative amplification, suggesting that the amplification resulted from the miRNA (data not shown).
In summary, this study showed that changing the binding conditions in the binding and rebinding steps is sufficient to recover the smaller nucleotides and miRNA from cell culture, FFPE, and tissue samples. Yield from the manual extraction method is compatible with the automated extraction method. The procedure can be accomplished in less than 90 minutes on a Biomek FXP platform with automated method for 96 samples.
Furthermore, recovery of the miRNA and total RNA can be achieved in a single process using the Agencourt SPRI chemistry. Therefore, researchers have the capability to compare the miRNA and gene expression profiles within the same sample, which allows them to save time and expense for sample preparation.
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(CNN) -- Israel has agreed to establish a "humanitarian corridor" to supply residents of Gaza with aid as international concerns about conditions among civilians mount, according to a government statement.
Israeli workers prepare humanitarian supplies to be delivered in Gaza on Tuesday.
The statement, posted on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Web site, said Olmert decided to accept a proposal from security advisers to open the corridor.
It said a path into Gaza, where Israel launched a ground offensive against Hamas militants on Saturday, "will be opened for a specific period of time, during which the population can receive the aid."
The statement also said Olmert spoke Tuesday with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to "update her on political and military developments," including the humanitarian situation.
Hospital workers reported Tuesday that far more civilians than Hamas fighters were arriving at hospitals for treatment.
Food, water, medicine and electricity shortages have been reported throughout Gaza during the campaign, in which nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed and another 2,750 wounded, according to medical sources.
Jerusalem has been under intense international pressure to let goods pass, because of shortage of food, medicines and fuel.
"There are food shortages. ... The health system is overwhelmed. The people here don't have electricity," Mohammed El-Halaby, program manager for humanitarian group World Vision, said earlier this week.
El-Halaby said several power lines and water pumps were damaged during last week's airstrikes, which preceded the ground incursion.
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Brazil - Flavoured cigarettes banned
MARCH 2012 - Brazil’s National Health Protection Agency (ANVISA) has banned the use of additives in cigarettes and other tobacco products sold in the country, through a decision taken on 13 March 2012.
Additives, including flavourings such as mint, chocolate, cinnamon and fruit, mask the bad taste of tobacco, reduce coughing, facilitate drag and help develop dependence. The board of ANVISA believes that the additives act as a means of luring young people into starting and maintaining use of tobacco products. Until now, flavoured cigarettes have represented 22% of cigarette sales in Brazil.
Manufacturers have 18 months to adapt their products to meet the requirements of the new law, but will have an additional six months to allow for withdrawal of flavoured products from the market. The ban extends to imported products, which can only enter Brazil if they comply with the new regulation.
According to an ANVISA survey, there are currently about 600 additives used in the production of cigarettes. Under the new rule, only eight are still permitted: adhesives, binding agents, combustion agents, technology auxiliaries, pigments, glycerol and propylene glycol, and potassium sorbate. The eighth permitted additive is sugar.
More information is available from: Felipe Mendes, National Commission for FCTC Implementation (CONICQ), National Cancer Institute, Ministry of Health at: firstname.lastname@example.org.
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http://www.who.int/fctc/implementation/news/news_brazil/en/index.html
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Networking: Achieving Simplicity in the Data Center
Mannix O’Connor serves as director of technical marketing for MRV Communications’ Optical Communications Systems Division, and is an established member of the telecommunications community, serving as a founding member of the IEEE 802.17 Working Group and co-chair of the Access Group for the MEF.MANNIX O’CONNOR
In today’s world, all subscribers–whether on the business or residential network–want faster, better, more powerful access to advanced services in the office, at home or on the road.
High-bandwidth, Quality-of-Service (QoS) enabled, fully managed optical networks are required for subscribers to reach data centers and popular new cloud applications. And, as mobility continues to rule the networking world, IT resources within data networks are becoming more disaggregated, distributing equipment and contents closer to the user to allow for quicker response times during remote access.
Together, the latest networking trends have created what could become a very complex network . . .and a data center IT nightmare. However, it doesn’t have to be so complicated! The answer is to simply “keep it simple.”
Seeking High-Bandwidth, Low-latency
When looking to achieve and maintain the high-bandwidth, low-latency, reliability and survivability required to support the increased use of streaming, Over-the-Top services and applications, the majority of data center and IT managers will list space, power and cooling as their top concerns.
The newest innovations in data center architecture allow operators to geographically distribute functions such as content, raw compute power, storage and interconnection locations closer to the user in order to optimize cost and response time. However, this approach significantly strains space and power resources, especially in the densely-populated metro.
When it comes to high-density transport in the data center, operators can maintain efficiency and high QoS for advanced services, without losing any functionality, by improving the flexibility of their networking tools. It’s time to start doing more with less.
In many networks, transport applications overlap and usually result in additional capital expenditure (CAPEX) investments. By incorporating multi-service optical platforms into the network, data centers can achieve optimum performance, increased efficiency and productivity without compromising quality or responsiveness, or increasing capital or operational expenses.
A multi-service transport platform can support multiple functions enabling chameleon-like application transformation and offer full support for industry protocols and data rates up to 10G and higher in a modular, managed and economical package.
Today’s technology allows providers to interconnect data centers with 30 channels of 10G in a mere 4RU or up to 80 channels of 10G in 11RU while using less than 0.7 Watts per Gbps of bandwidth. Furthermore, advanced power management features allow operators to reduce utility costs by turning off unused equipment to extend life span and reduce cooling costs.
By deploying more efficient, multi-service solutions, data centers can realize simplified operations and more efficient management of the network, and therefore better cost-effectively meet today’s need for high-density 10G Metro Optical Transport. So, when looking to improve density, power efficiency, ease-of-use, flexibility and inventory management, remember: keep it simple.
Industry Perspectives is a content channel at Data Center Knowledge highlighting thought leadership in the data center arena. See our guidelines and submission process for information on participating. View previously published Industry Perspectives in our Knowledge Library.
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Did toxic stew cook the goose?
by Duncan AdamsBUTTE, Mont. - For 342 migrating snow geese, the infamous Berkeley Pit became their final stop. The birds were first discovered Nov. 14, their carcasses floating in the toxic waters of the shut down, open-pit copper mine. The initial body count at this federal Superfund site was 149; the total rose when officials realized the pit's contaminated water hindered the count by turning the snow-white geese brownish-orange.
As of this writing, the cause of the birds' death is disputed. The Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), a former owner of the Berkeley Pit and currently jointly liable for its remediation, contends the artificial lake did not kill the geese. ARCO cites necropsy findings from a lab at Colorado State University. The CSU lab determined that the two geese it tested died from an acute aspergillosis infection, caused by a fungus often found on grain.
The state of Montana reports that its labs ruled out aspergillosis as a cause of death. Only one of five birds tested revealed signs of aspergillosis, according to Candace West, an attorney with Montana's Natural Resource Litigation Program.
"We don't know yet what caused their deaths," said West. "We just know that for the birds we tested, aspergillosis fungus was not the cause of death."
New results from toxicity testing of tissue are expected from ARCO's lab, from the state's labs, and from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Although West would not speculate about what those tests might reveal, she acknowledged a suspicion that the pit was in some way culpable.
"It's difficult to think about 340 dead birds in the Berkeley Pit and not suspect the pit's toxicity as a cause," she said. "Any reasonable person would suspect it."
The pit, which is approximately a mile wide, a mile-and-a-half long, and 1,200 feet deep, contains roughly 25 billion gallons of contaminated water. Every day an additional 5 million gallons flow into the pit. EPA project manager Russ Forba said he believes elevated copper levels in pit water could have affected the geese.
"We've seen in the literature where Canada geese were killed by high copper concentrations," he said.
Bill Olsen, an environmental contaminant specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, noted that the Berkeley Pit contains a cocktail of heavy metals. "You could almost take your pick. The concentrations of copper, cadmium, lead, zinc and arsenic are all elevated," Olsen said.
Meanwhile, ARCO spokeswoman Sandy Stash said her company "stands firm on the analyses we've done at CSU."
The EPA issued a clean-up plan for the Berkeley Pit in 1994, but the agency remains in negotiation with ARCO and another "potentially responsible party," Montana Resources, to forge a "consent decree" that will allow work to begin in 1996. Forba said he expects that decree will provide for interventions such as propane cannons to scare waterfowl away from the pit.
If federal officials ultimately attribute the birds' death to pit contamination, fines may be levied for the illegal "taking" of a migratory bird.
* Duncan Adams
The writer works in Anaconda, Montana.
© High Country News
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|By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. — Lance Murrell, a certified professional agronomist, spoke for more than 40 minutes recently on nitrogen and how much is necessary for optimum crop production.
When his presentation was over, Murrell joked with his audience that even after the talk, most in the crowd probably still didn’t know the answer.
“The answer is I don’t know,” Murrell said.
“The environmentally correct answer is enough but not too much. Nitrogen is the most difficult element we have to work with in production systems because it’s hard to say how long it will stay around.”
Murrell spoke March 15 at the Multi-County Crop Production Workshop - Management for Profit and The Environment. Primarily the SWCDs of Allen, Huntington, Kosciusko and Whitley counties sponsored the all-day event.
Working under the assumption that fertilizer prices are and will remain high, Murrell said fertilizer placement will become more crucial.
“The buzzword will be efficiency,” he said. “Where can I get the biggest bang for my buck. Farmers will have to learn how to manage the fertilizer-soil volume rates and still maintain yields.
“We’ll also be wondering if we need to fertilize the whole area, or get by with smaller areas and still get the same result.”
The best time to apply nitrogen is during side-dress, but for most farmers, that’s not practical, he said.
“We’re not farming 500 acres anymore,” he said. “We’re farming 1,500 or more. It’s hard to do. Most farmers can’t wait until then.”
A naturally occurring process is responsible for a big problem in Indiana, he said. “Denitrification loss is the biggest problem in Indiana soil because the soil is fairly tight and imperfectly drained.”
Denitrification is the process where bacteria break down nitrates to give gas, which returns to the atmosphere.
When the soils stay saturated under warm conditions, denitrification results, he said.
“When other conditions are favorable, waterlogged soils have the potential to lose 15 percent of the nitrate nitrogen to denitrification in two days,” he said.
“Flooded conditions lead to denitrification. It’s a function of moisture and temperature.”
The bottom line is always yield and increasing yield is still the only way we have to minimize per unit production costs, Murrell said.
“We can’t afford to let yields slip and pin our hopes on a disaster in order to increase crop prices,” he said. “We have to remember that what you have produced in the past is the minimum you can do in the future.”
This farm news was published in the March 22, 2006 issue of Farm World.
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War Protesters to Try New Strategy
RENEE MONTAGNE, Host:
This weekend marked the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Support for the invasion was strong back when it happened. Much of the public has since tired of the struggle. Polls show half the country thinks U.S. troops should come home now, and 60 percent say it was a mistake to invade Iraq in the first place. Anti-war activists think they can convert such sentiments into public protests using strategies borrowed from the Vietnam War era.
Nancy Marshall-Genzer reports.
NANCY MARSHALL: This weekend there won't be one big anti-war protest as in prior years. No march on the White House or rally on the National Mall, although one event is planned outside the Vice President's house. This year the protesters are taking their signs, drums, and banners to a town near you. They'll spread out across the country with demonstrations of varying sizes in more than 500 cities and towns. Brian Becker is National Coordinator for the Answer Coalition, one of the protest organizers.
BRIAN BECKER: So, we want to go into the neighborhoods and into the communities, all over the country in hundreds and hundreds of places so that people can both participate directly without having to get on a bus or get on a train or get on a plane. They can be involved in the anti-war movement right where they live.
MARSHALL: Becker says many people are against the war, but haven't been able to go to mass demonstrations because of work or family commitments. Becker says by reaching out the grassroots, today's protesters are taking yet another page from the Vietnam era: trying to mold opposition to the war into a potent political force.
BECKER: So that no politician will be able to go into their community without being confronted by angry people in the community saying, Why don't you stand up and reflect the majority sentiment in this community, which is to bring those troops out of Iraq. Not tomorrow but today.
MARSHALL: Kristinn Taylor says that'll never happen. Taylor is the spokesman for Free Republic, which sponsors counter demonstrations in support of the war. Taylor says there will only be a small number of counter demonstrations this weekend, but that doesn't mean Becker's grass roots strategy is working. Taylor says the American people remember the lessons of Vietnam.
KRISTINN TAYLOR: When you make a commitment to a foreign country, like we have with Iraq, you need to keep it. You can't turn your back on them in the middle of it, you know? The good chance: you're going o sentence the Iraqi people to a living hell.
MARSHALL: But some Iraq War veterans say Iraq is already a living hell and the country would be better off without U.S. troops. With the U.S. helping Iraq in other ways, Dereck Repenhagan(ph) served as an army sniper in Iraq for a year. He fulfilled his commitment to the army and was honorably discharged. Now he's working with Iraq veterans against the war. He helped organize a five-day protest march this week from Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans. Repenhagan says, like the Vietnam veterans before them, Iraq War veterans can be very effective catalysts for grass roots mobilization.
DERECK REPENHAGAN: The veterans coming home saying that, you know, the war's awful, and this is my experience, gives them the fortitude to stand up and say, okay, I'm not necessarily have to lead this anti-war movement, but I'll follow the veterans who say that it's rotten.
MARSHALL: Taylor of Free Republic says those veterans will be countered by others demonstrating in support of the war. The American people, he says, will have to choose which lessons of war to follow.
For NPR News, I'm Nancy Marshall-Genzer.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.
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Baby Dolls, Collectable and Modern
Dolls have been loved for centuries and continue to have a place of popularity in cultures worldwide. The variety of dolls ranges from vintage and collectible styles to mass-produced dolls. Also, today’s marketplace offers a variety of kinds of dolls, from soft-bodied dolls to porcelain, with skin tones from white to black baby dolls.
Finding the Right Baby Doll
When searching for the perfect doll the task can be overwhelming. Consider the age of the child and the temperament of the child. A tantrum thrower probably wouldn’t enjoy a porcelain doll for very long and a twelve year old would probably want something more like American Girl Dolls or Stardolls.
With an online membership of nearly 23 million, Stardolls are very popular, but are actually paper dolls printed from the website. Here you’ll find ethnic dolls and online interaction for friends age 7 to 17, complete with options for a catwalk to showcase new fashions for the doll clothes.
Kinds of Baby Dolls
Baby dolls come in many shades and sizes. Berenguer baby dolls, Middleton baby dolls and Madame Alexander Huggums dolls are available as African American baby dolls, Caucasian and Asian baby dolls.
It’s common now to find weighted baby dolls that have a more solid “real baby” feel to them, and these weighted babies are often teaching tools in classes about childcare.
Life-like or realistic dolls go potty and cry and need burping and so on, becoming more advanced as technology is incorporated into the dolls.
Cloth Dolls – A Long Time Favorite
Cloth dolls were perhaps the most common dolls for a long time because they could be sewn from remnants of cloth used for clothing in the household. These rag dolls developed into marketable dolls like Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls.
Fabric dolls are still available today in small and large varieties and are appropriate for the youngest children because of the soft features. When the doll is for a baby the eyes should be stitched and the clothing will often be securely attached.
Hard Plastic Dolls
Hard plastic dolls became very popular in the 1940s and 50s as an improvement to the durability and detail found in other doll types. There are still hard plastic dolls today, but the composition of the material is different and more precisely referred to as a hard vinyl doll. Vinyl dolls, such as Barbie dolls, are the most mass-produced and affordable. Made of a soft plastic, these dolls offer easy clean surfaces and are usually safe for young children.
Antique and Vintage Baby Dolls
Antique and vintage dolls are popular with collectors too and even when dollar value may not mean much the nostalgia value could be priceless.
Materials for these dolls include wood dolls, metal dolls, bisque dolls, paper-mache dolls, and composition dolls made of materials such as sawdust, paper, glue and Plaster of Paris.
The most important part of a doll collection is finding a balance between dolls that are enjoyable to look at and ones that are worth a good deal of money (or are likely to appreciate in value). Gene dolls, Robert Tonner dolls, Ginny dolls, and Madame Alexander dolls are a good starting place when looking for elegant collectible dolls.
Porcelain dolls are considered elegant dolls due to the translucence of the material produced by firing pure clay. Porcelain baby dolls are often found with accessories and sometimes they have pose-able bodies.
Don’t Forget About Dollhouses
Playmobil’s Victorian dollhouse and doll house accessories are of a standard size similar to Fisher Price doll houses. Even wooden doll houses by KidKraft and Melissa and Doug are of a similar size to these plastic versions.
Greenleaf doll house kits are known as some of the best miniatures around and make a great family project.
When size is a factor, Playmobil has a very miniature dollhouse complete with tiny figures that are all magnetic. It is a great way to take a dollhouse on a trip or keep a kid busy when going out for dinner (there is a pirate version too).
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Muslims commit 91 percent of honor killings worldwide. A manual of Islamic law certified as a reliable guide to Sunni orthodoxy by Al-Azhar University, the most respected authority in Sunni Islam, says that "retaliation is obligatory against anyone who kills a human being purely intentionally and without right." However, "not subject to retaliation" is "a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers) for killing their offspring, or offspring's offspring." ('Umdat al-Salik o1.1-2). In other words, someone who kills his child incurs no legal penalty under Islamic law.
The Palestinian Authority gives pardons or suspended sentences for honor murders. Iraqi women have asked for tougher sentences for Islamic honor murderers, who get off lightly now. Syria in 2009 scrapped a law limiting the length of sentences for honor killings, but "the new law says a man can still benefit from extenuating circumstances in crimes of passion or honour 'provided he serves a prison term of no less than two years in the case of killing.'" And in 2003 the Jordanian Parliament voted down on Islamic grounds a provision designed to stiffen penalties for honor killings. Al-Jazeera reported that "Islamists and conservatives said the laws violated religious traditions and would destroy families and values."
In light of all this, until authorities get the courage to tell the truth about honor killing, there will be many more such murders.
"Cop kills sister for not withdrawing case," by Rana Yasif for the Express Tribune, July 26 (thanks to David):
A woman was shot dead on July 20 by her brother, a police constable, for not withdrawing a case registered against him in April.
Tariq Shah, their elder brother of the deceased, said Najma, 35, part of the Sharqpur Inter College for Girls’ cricket team, used to wear pants and ride a motorcycle. He said he and his brothers did not approve of it. He said they had warned her several times but she did not stop.
Police said on April 23, Sajid and Wajid, beat Najma with clubs. She was rescued by some neighbours. She filed a case against her brothers and an uncle, Naseer Shah, under Sections 354 (assault)/452 (House-trespass for intentional assault) and 379 (theft) with Shahdara police.
Her father, Sarwar Shah, complainant in the FIR, said that her brothers had wanted her to withdraw the case, but she had refused. Sajid Shah has yet to be arrested.The investigation officer said the suspects were on bail till July 28. He said they were not cooperating in the investigation. He said he will write to the court about this and their bails will be cancelled.
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By Victoria Gill
Science reporter, BBC news
Jose Luis Rodriguez's haunting portrait of an Iberian wolf won over the judges
A picture of a hunting wolf has won the prestigious Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 award.
Jose Luis Rodriguez captured the imaginations of the judges with a picture that he had planned for years, and even sketched out on a piece of paper.
"I wanted to capture a photo in which you would see a wolf in an act of hunting - or predation - but without blood," he told BBC News. "I didn't want a cruel image."
With a great deal of patience and careful observation of the wolves' movements, he succeeded in taking the award-winning photograph.
Mr Rodriguez used a custom-built infrared trap to snap the wolf as it leapt into the air.
The WPY competition, now in its 45th year, is owned by BBC Wildlife Magazine and London's Natural History Museum.
The panel of judges looked through more than 43,000 entries to this year's competition.
This is the fifth year that wildlife photographer Mark Carwardine has been on the judging panel. He said of the winning photo: "It's captured thousands of years of human-wolf interaction in just one moment."
Mr Rodriguez won the Animal Portraits category and went on to win the top prize with this haunting image that the judges said captured the character of the wolf.
When he started planning the photograph, he feared that he might not be able to get close enough to the Iberian wolves.
This subspecies of the grey wolf lives close to human habitation in northern Spain. They are often persecuted by people who see them as a threat to livestock, and they are consequently very wary.
Watching the animals as they returned to the same spot to collect food each night, Mr Rodriguez decided on his dream shot.
He eventually captured it using a photographic trap that included a motion sensor and an infrared barrier to operate the camera.
He hopes that his picture, "showing the wolf's great agility and strength", will become an image that can be used to show just how beautiful the Iberian wolf is and how the Spanish can be proud to have such an emblematic animal.
Hasselblad 503CW with a 6x6 Fujichrome backing + Planar 80mm lens; 1/30 sec at f11; ISO 50; purpose-made Ficap infrared camera trap
CLASH OF THE YELLOWHAMMERS
Fergus Gill, who was 17 years old when he entered the competition, won this year's Young Photographer of the Year award for his picture of a brief but dramatic clash between two of the colourful UK songbirds.
He started planning the image in summer, collecting oat sheaves from a local farmer specifically as winter food for the yellowhammers.
One evening in February, hearing that snow was forecast for the next morning, Fergus set up his hide in the garden of his home in Scotland and hung out feeders for the birds.
"At one point, I counted 32 yellowhammers feeding on the ground," he said.
When the snow fell, the birds jumped up on to the feeders and the males would occasionally fight over the oats.
"The spats were incredibly fast," he said. It took Fergus two days to capture the dramatic clash that earned him his award.
Nikon D300 + Nikon 200-400mm f4 lens at 220mm; 1/1000 sec at f5.6; ISO 500
With the help of his feisty cat, Igor Shpilenok won the Urban and Garden Wildlife category with this shot.
He spent five months as a ranger in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve in Kamchatka in the east of Russia, and took his cat Ryska with him for company.
"It's a very remote place and there were lots of animals - bears, foxes, wolverines - living near my cabin," he told BBC News.
"The cat was really jealous about me. If I started to look at the animals, she would attack them. Just like a woman," he smiled.
"Maybe she thought I was her pet."
But the animals were curious about the area's new residents, and were drawn by cooking smells from the cabin. The foxes in particular would visit every day. "When they came within 20m, that was her boundary and chased them. It was really funny - foxes were climbing trees to get away from the cat."
Mr Shpilenok's wife, Laura Williams, selected the category-winning image. "It's ironic," she said. "He photographs the wilderness, but the two times he's won a category [in this competition] it's been the urban wildlife one. Because the wilderness is his back yard."
Nikon D3 + 300mm lens; 1/500 sec at f4.5; ISO 640
SPRINGTAIL ON A SNOWFLAKE
Urmas Tartes won the Animals in their Environment category for this image of a springtail, otherwise known as a "snow flea" navigating its way through delicate snowflakes.
When the temperature drops below freezing, the insect climbs down through the frosty crevasses to the warmer soil below.
"But they're only active a few degrees below zero," Mr Tartes told BBC News. "I had to 'ambush' the weather for just the right temperature and conditions.
"I was travelling with my wife and it started snowing slightly," he recalled.
"We came to a place where we thought it might be possible [to see the insects] and the thermometer in the car said it was just the right temperature."
Mr Tartes had waited for the perfect weather in which the snow fleas would be active, but the snowflakes would remain frozen.
His patience paid off, and he managed to take over 100 shots while the insects negotiated their way through the tricky terrain.
He believes he captured something truly unique and that this was largely thanks to his knowledge of his country and its climate.
"I think the best of the photos I take are in my homeland," he told BBC News.
"There's a saying in Estonia that in order to see new things, you have to follow common paths - paths you know."
Canon EOS-5D Mark II + Canon MP-E65 f2.5 1-5x Macro lens; 1/200 sec at f14; ISO 400
THE LOOK OF THE JAGUAR
The male jaguar sat on the riverbank calmly staring at the photographer
Tom Schandy won the Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife for this image, which he took while working on a book project in Brazil.
"We spent a few days on a boat along Rio Paraguay and saw four jaguars in the space of three days.
"It was really amazing, because it is such a difficult animal to find.
"This one was very relaxed - it just lay on the river bank staring at us for more than an hour.
"It was a glimpse into the eye of the wilderness."
At sunset, the jaguar rose, yawned and scent-marked. Then he faded back into the dense forest.
Canon EOS-ID Mark III + 500mm f4 lens; 1/250 sec at f4; ISO 400; beanbag
An exhibition of the best images from this year's competition opens to visitors of the Natural History Museum, London, on Friday, 23 October 2009
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From its onset, Hip Hop has been inextricably linked to critical thought. With its roots in West African culture and the identity of the griot (1)/bard (Keyes, 2002), spreading through the Caribbean (George, 1998; Rose, 1994; Kitwana, 2002), and re-membered (2) in the mid 1970s in the streets of New York, early Hip Hop pioneers gazed upon their experience of living in poor conditions and began a running dialogue with each other that took many forms. Black and Brown urban communities were plagued by "shrinking federal funds, affordable housing, [and] shifts in the occupational structure from blue collar manufacturing toward corporate and informational services" (Rose, 1994, p. 31). Through dance, art, poetry, and music, a critique of systems of oppression began in a language that those connected to the oppression could understand. And understand they did. Today Hip Hop music exists as a main feature of the soundtrack to a new globalization and corporate culture, but embedded within Hip Hop culture is the critical discourse upon which it was founded. This discourse is buried beneath corporate control and unconscious/uncritical thought, but it is still there buried within the subconscious minds of everyone connected to Hip Hop whether they know it or not. As Hip-Hop was being born, the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire (1970) was tapping into pathologies that were also found in the streets of New York. Freire investigated his Brazilian home and focused on the field of education. In particular, he identified a problem in which students were systematically relegated into the conceptual role of an object rather than the more empowered position of a subject. In other words, students were often disempowered by schools and were, as a result, not afforded the chance to actively construct their own realities. The lack of critical consciousness in the United States has allowed a pattern of systematic control and oppression in schools to rob many students of their right to be viewed as subjects. Hip Hop culture has been a space where the youth of today have come to see themselves as subjects, found their identity and humanity, and created a place to develop their critical consciousness through the engagement of humanizing discourses (e.g., art, music, dance).
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Carla M Cruzoni
Since cooking times vary quite a bit, steam only one type of fruit or vegetable in one pan at one time.
Hard squashes (butternut, acorn) are excellent first foods. Oven roasting is an even easier way to prepare them while bringing out their natural sweetness: Cut squash in half, scrape out seeds and bake, cut side down, at 450F (pour a little water to cover the bottom of the pan and prick the outside with a fork before popping in the oven). When squashes are good and soft (30?45 minutes), let them cool slightly. Scoop flesh right into the food processor.
Don't try to completely puree carrots, broccoli or green beans in the food processor. Steam these until very soft and pulse until chopped fine. Pack into ice cube trays and pour a small amount of stock into each compartment so that they freeze into a solid cube.
Peaches and other stone fruits tend to absorb too much water while cooking, and if they're not at the peak of their sweetness, the result can be a bitter mush. Here's a perfect case in which store-bought is fine -- especially during winter, when the quality and variety of fruit can be less than spectacular.
Spinach steams and purees wonderfully, but be sure to cut frozen cubes into two portions before bagging, since it contains a high concentration of iron. Once baby has mastered chewing, simply cut a box of frozen chopped spinach into cubes and bag those up!
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Science Ancient Kemet (Egypt) was based on the observation that the constants in the life of large objects (like the constellations), were mirrored in all parts of life, even the small things (like a human body). The large and small were seen as symbols of each other. Poetry was the language of science because poetry is purposefully symbolic. The wisdom that was shared, crystalized into a metaphorical eye through which we, as pupils, could see through the lens of the learned. Different facets of the diamond were like different parts of life, and different aspects of science.
Life does the same thing whether you’re looking at life through the eyes of a farmer or the eyes of an astrologer or doctor or musician. Life does the same thing whether you’re looking at it through an agricultural facet, or an astronomical facet, or a medical or musical facet. Life doesn’t change it’s behavior or laws because the aspect is different. Our understanding of the science of Kemet takes a quantum leap in this work of R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz, his wife, Isha, and her daughter, Lucy.
While visiting the Temple at Luxor (a major must-see on the tourist circuit in Egypt), Swaller realized that the hieroglyphs on the walls of the temple were mathematical equations and that the floor plan of temple is designed as a human body. There are rooms that correspond to the major parts of the human brain, the body, and a non-material part for the spirit. For sixteen years he and his family stayed in Egypt studying the temple, taking impeccable notes, and the writing first appeared in French. Debra and Robert Lawlor then spent twenty years translating the work into English. This 1100 page work gives, for the first time, a complete revelation of the Temple Wisdom, Cosmology and Mysticism of Ancient Egypt. With over 400 diagrams and plates, this masterpiece was intended by Schwaller to prove, once and for all, to the scientific and educated world, the advanced level of scientific and metaphysical wisdom possessed by this great ancient African civilization. In the process he proves that Egypt, not Greece, is the cradle of Western culture and civilization, and demonstrates that a radical reevaluation of our origins is immanent.
There is no question that The Temple of Man is one of the greatest cosmologicals work ever written, as well as one of the greatest spiritual texts. Schwaller was not a merely an intellectual, but a Master Alchemist who successfully applied the principles of transmutation to both matter and consciousness, giving his work the added significance of being capable of bridging that gargantuan gap between Cosmological Theory and Spiritual Application. This is the first time the Initiated Mysteries and Sacred Hermetic Science of the Egyptian Priesthood have been laid out and explained, and in exhaustive detail. The contents of this book could not be found in 1,000 of the best works ever published on any of the related subjects. The information revealed in this work has the power to create a much needed renaissance in science, art and spirituality, while redefining our interpretation of the universe, history, culture, and ourselves.
Kemet fell two thousand years ago (the beginning of the Pisces Age). The facets of our collective vision went to pieces and the vitality (the life part) was taken out of science. Chemistry doesn’t know its’ relationship to astronomy, music doesn’t know its’ relationship to agriculture, etc., and Black people (who process information metaphorically) were up the quantum creek without a calculator. Dec. 19, 1999, the missing link appears in the first week of the Aquarian Age: The Temple of Man.
“In my view, The Temple of Man is the most important work of scholarship of this century. R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz finally proves the existence of the legendary ‘sacred science’ of the Ancients and systematically demonstrates its modus operandi. It was this great science–based upon an intimate and exact knowledge of cosmic principles–that fused art, religion, science, and philosophy into one coherent whole and sustained Ancient Egypt for three thousand years.” –John Anthony West, author of Serpent in the Sky
“The Temple of Man will live, like statues of Ramesses, long after we and those who follow us have joined the pharaohs. This is an eternal work, just as Egypt is eternal. To enter the minds of the Ancient Egyptians through this door will lead any reader into an enchanted realm where form and structure have life, where stone breathes and perspires, and where the palpitating heart of traditional wisdom still throbs amongst the sands.” –Robert Temple, translator of The Complete Fables of Aesop and
author of The Sirius Mystery
Cloth, boxed set, 2 volumes, 195.00
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Mindfulness and children is a subject that has been on my mind quite a bit lately.
A few weeks back I was teaching a yoga and storytelling class to a group of 6-10 year old kiddos. As I was leaving the studio, one of the moms approached me and asked if I knew anything about mindfulness in childhood. She was genuinely concerned about her daughter’s ability to be mindful of what was going on around her, and it was a trait she wanted to cultivate deeply in her child. We talked for a long time, we talked about journaling with her daughter, about having her be involved in community service projects that would broaden her idea of helping others, and we talked about the importance of quiet time for children to reflect on their days, and the ability for them to share space in their own minds.
When I went home that night I felt pretty good about what had been said. Mindfulness is tricky I rationalized, and I would think that it would be even more so for an 8 year old. For my own children, they had been exposed to my yoga and meditation practice for the past 8 years, so I knew that they knew how to be mindful, even if they didn’t always choose to do so.
When we got home I began preparing dinner, the conversation still fresh in my mind. I began watching my oldest son as he moved through his play, his reading, his time helping me in my kitchen.
I watched my babe, crawling around on the floor so focused on every crumb, every new treasure (onion skins, a produce sticker, etc) that he found. So intent on putting one foot in front of the other, or reaching for a new object.
I watched as Elwood magically created his own little world of magicians and wizards, capes and wands. And it hit me.
It hit me so hard that I wanted to just stop what I was doing and write for as long as I could. I wanted to document this moment and this inspiration before it faded away, but they are 8 and 6 year old boys so hunger was the priority.
I realized through watching them that mindfulness in children is not something that we can or perhaps even should teach, in the normal sense of the word at least. When I was watching my boys I realized that they are in fact, by their very nature, purely mindful. They are always in the present moment, they are always authentic in their speech, they are always mindful of their surroundings. They are not caught up in the future, they are not caught up in the past, they are here. Right here, all the time.
That is what makes childhood so incredibly unique, and what as adults, we strive to go back and remember.
There are so many examples of in-authenticity in our world. We live with it, hear it, and feel it every day. Reminding children through our own example of the values that we hold dear is important, and cultivating the space for them to learn how to keep the mindfulness of childhood alive is imperative, for one day they will begin to see that mindfulness fade as life gets in the way.
We are always told that children hold the key to life’s happiness, and it is moments like these that lesson hits home hard. We could attempt to try and teach our children how to be mindful, but I am betting that our time would be better served letting them teach us.
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Field Operations is led by Deputy Director Joseph McBrearty and consists of three major elements - Site Offices, a Support Center, and Headquarters Policy Offices.
Site Offices are accountable for overseeing the entire operations of each laboratory, which entails monitoring the performance of the Contractor and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations. This encompasses a wide spectrum of oversight responsibilities in areas such as business systems, safety, security, infrastructure, and project management. Beyond providing oversight and quality assurance at our national laboratories, Site Offices are responsible for the facilities infrastructure in which research is conducted and for managing the transaction process that provides program-approved funding to the appropriate Contractors and individual researchers. Site Offices monitor major construction projects and play a regulatory role for all nuclear activities at their respective laboratories.
The Integrated Support Center (ISC) consists of two offices, SC-Chicago and SC-Oak Ridge, which act as a single entity designed to support the Site Offices. The ISC provides services to each Site Office by providing expertise and addressing needs in the field that cannot be met with the limited resources of the Site Offices. Services are provided in areas such as safety and health, human resources, and procurement, along with legal and financial services to SC as well as other DOE program offices, and as appropriate, other Federal agencies.
The Field Operations organization also includes two policy offices located at Headquarters. The Office of Laboratory Policy and Evaluation coordinates and develops policies pertaining to all ten Office of Science Laboratories, and manages the competition and performance evaluation of laboratory management and operating contracts. The Office of Safety, Security, and Infrastructure fosters safe and responsible operations at each laboratory and ensures each has the sustainable infrastructure required to ensure ongoing world leadership in basic scientific research.
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Industry Responds to Negative Press
CNN, WSJ, other reports prompt AAHomecare, providers to wage ‘Myth vs. Reality’ campaign.
Last week’s sensational account from CNN about a four-year-old Medicare claim for a wheelchair, as well as other reports, have prompted the industry to respond to news stories that perpetuate various misconceptions regarding homecare and HME.
In addition to CNN’s “One wheelchair — one lesson of problems in health care reform” video, misleading statements and reporting was recently released by the Wall Street Journal (“Obama’s Health Expert Gets Political,” on July 24; and “No Help for the Blue Dogs,” on July 28), and the Washington Post (“Bush Official Sees Peril in Health Plan,” on July 24).
As a result, the American Association for Homecare has developed a “Myth vs. Reality” media relations campaign to dispel media misconceptions regarding homecare and HME providers. The campaign takes a simple, myth debunking approach:
Myth: Medicare overpays for DME in comparison to Internet prices. This notion was presented in the CNN story. Essentially the argument is made that Medicare should pay no more than Internet prices for providing a wheelchair or oxygen therapy.
Reality: Serving seniors and people with disabilities in their homes requires services and other non-equipment costs. To ensure quality of care, providers must comply with a host of federal and state regulations and other standards of care. The final cost to Medicare reflects delivery, set-up, patient education, and maintenance, in addition to the cost of compliance with all regulations.
Myth : Congress killed NCB, which has cost the taxpayers more money.
Reality: NCB is moving forward after an initial delay last year in order to address numerous flaws identified by Congress. Moreover, taxpayers reaped the savings from the delay because providers paid for the delay via a 9.5 percent reimbursement cut, went into effect on Jan. 1 nationwide — not just in the bid areas.
Myth: CMS’s NCB is a good model for reform of healthcare.
Reality: While “competitive bidding” might sound good, it would have eliminated most of the providers (as many as 90 percent) through selective contracting (even if they agreed to lower prices). Decreased numbers of providers would have reduced patient access to care, their choice of provider, and the quality of their care. Moreover, NCB would increase costs by complicating the transition from hospital to home, lengthening expensive hospital stays and increasing the likelihood of rehospitalizations, a major cost driver in Medicare. To date, the serious problems with competitive bidding program have not been adequately addressed.
The CNN story received additional response from AAHomecare because the piece had been under development since May, but did not interview AAHomecare or members of the industry. AAHomecare said that for eight weeks after conferring with the piece's producers; sending documents stating the association's position on key issues; and asking state associations and VGM to contact members of congress who were interviewed for the story, the piece still aired with multiple misconceptions and no interview from industry respresentatives.
So the assocation asked CNN to correct the misrespresentations in the piece, as well as air time to respond to the piece. AAHomecare reported today that CNN replied that it is still weighing the complaint.
Providers seeking assistance for working with the media should contact Tilly Gambill (email@example.com) or Michael Reinemer (firstname.lastname@example.org).
CNN Story Paints Providers As Profiteers - http://hme-business.com/articles/2009/07/23/cnn.aspx
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World Conservation Congress Session - Water and Climate Change Debate: What use is nature for people and development?
08 September 2008 | Event
Climate change is a current reality and its long-term impact will have an impact on water resources. However, other more immediate global change such as deforestation, mining, agriculture, and urban sprawl in watersheds, are threatening water resources for more than half the world’s people.
The Water and Climate Change Debate poses some controversial questions around investment in climate change vs. development, and types of adaptation strategies such as building engineered infrastructure and rehabilitating natural systems.
October 8th 11:30-13:00, Rm 115
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Penn State Wilkes-Barre Visual Arts Instructor Displays Artwork in Soho
Dalton artist and Penn State Wilkes-Barre faculty member William Chickillo recently exhibited numerous pieces of his artwork at the Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers showroom in New York City’s Soho section. Chickillo’s art was included as part of the company’s “alternative gallery space” program, which features the work of local and national artists in their showrooms.
Chickillo, a plein-air artist, became involved with Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers through Ronni Potosky, manager of Moser’s Madison Avenue and Soho galleries. Potosky knew of Chickillo’s work and thought it would be a good match with the Moser pieces.
“And it was,” Chickillo said. “The colors of my landscapes seemed to be enhanced by the hand made cherry and walnut furniture.”
Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers has several showrooms around the country, displaying a broad selection of handcrafted residential and office furniture.
A professional artist and recipient of the F. Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship, Chickillo earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in fine art from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. He instructs drawing, painting, and printmaking classes at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.
Chickillo’s work has been displayed in both public and private facilities throughout the country, such as the National Academy of Design, the State Museum of Pennsylvania, British Airways, and Polaroid Corporation. Currently, Chickillo has pieces on display in a group exhibition at Skylake Gallery in Fleetville.
For more information, please contact Melissa Gunshannon, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Public Information Coordinator, at 570-675-9269 or email@example.com.
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Whoa Whoa, let's back off a second here... Koopsta says "I want to start learning how to program..." not "I want to make a profession of programming...".
Comments about rigidity
, are really just junk in the .NET era. C# and VB.NET are nearly identically functional languages (this was not the case with VB6). With an IDE in front of them there is no difference in rigidity or "nitpickiness", they are interfacing with the same .NET Assemblies and the syntax checker saves you either way.
You state that
Another reason to learn "legacy" languages like C/C++ is because they are the standard for almost all languages out there. I learned C++ first..
Which is really incomplete logic. I mean if it was good
to learn C++ first, then why not learn C first? Wouldn't that be better
? Heck why don't we just start all newbies at Assembly code? That would be the best
. Because then when they "get a job in RISC
development" they'll get paid more than the C#, the Java and
the C++ programmers? Hey ,why not just teach them RPG and move them right to the top of the niche-market pay scale?
All of these languages (except RPG) are
standards for almost all languages out there
, but I'm not going to walk in to my computer programming night course and show my 101 students the wonders of coding in 68k
Newbies and enthusiasts want results for their time and .NET / Java, deliver those results with a minimum of hassle, time and learning curve.
Let them drive automatic for a while and if they really like it, then I'll show them how to drive stick.
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For release: Thursday, March 4, 2004
A study in the March 6, 2004, issue of The Lancet ¹ confirms the benefits of getting stroke patients to the hospital quickly for rapid thrombolytic treatment. The study provides the results of an extensive analysis of more than 2,700 stroke patients in six controlled clinical trials who were randomized for treatment with thrombolytic t-PA or a placebo.
While physicians have known since a breakthrough study in 1995 that early treatment with thrombolytics can improve a stroke patient's chance of a full recovery, only an estimated 2 to 5 percent of all eligible acute stroke patients in the U.S. are being treated with thrombolytics.
Stroke patients who were treated within 90 minutes of the onset of their symptoms showed the most improvement. The study suggests that t-PA given up to 4 hours after the onset of symptoms may be of benefit, but the authors caution that as time goes on there is a diminishing effect of treatment, and there is estimated to be almost no benefit when treatment is at 6 hours.
"Once again we learn that time is brain," said John R. Marler, M.D., one of the study authors and associate director for clinical trials at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "Although rapid stroke treatment presents a great challenge to physicians and may require substantial change in many health care systems, we now have stronger evidence that rapid early treatment offers the best chance of recovery for acute ischemic stroke patients."
Thrombolytics work as "clot busters," breaking up the clot that appears in the brain during an ischemic stroke, and allowing blood to flow freely again in the occluded or blocked artery. Patients must have computerized tomography (CT) scans of the brain taken before treatment begins to confirm that the stroke is caused by a clot. Seventy-five percent of patients who were treated within 60 minutes of stroke onset had the best chance of having a complete or partial reopening of the occluded artery.
Another significant finding reported by the authors is that severe stroke patients tend to present to the hospital earlier than patients with milder strokes, and those who were treated had much better recoveries than patients who were given a placebo. This means that the greatest effect of early treatment was seen in the group with the most to gain in terms of reducing long-term disability.
"This study confirms that door-to-needle time is just as critical in stroke as it is in heart attack. We need to work on breaking down the current barriers to rapid stroke treatment," said Story C. Landis, Ph.D., NINDS director.
The pooled data from the trials - two of which were sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and one that was by the NIH - represent the work of 16 teams of researchers and several statisticians around the world. "This scientific work is a good example of a cooperative effort between the Federal Government and the pharmaceutical industry," said NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. "By sharing these important data, the scientists have advanced our understanding of stroke treatment, which we hope will lead to significant improvements in treating this major disease."
In 1995, the NINDS t-PA Study Group published the results of two randomized clinical trials with more than 600 patients that showed a clear benefit of t-PA in stroke patients treated within 3 hours of onset and a diminishing effect for patients treated later than that. [The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved t-PA as a treatment for acute stroke in June of 1996, with the restriction that treatment begin within 3 hours of the stroke onset.]
Two other groups have conducted large randomized trials of t-PA for stroke, using longer windows of treatment. The European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study (ECASS) conducted two trials using a 6-hour window and the Alteplase ThromboLysis for Acute Noninterventional Therapy in Ischemic Stroke (ATLANTIS) investigators conducted two trials with treatment windows of 5 and 6 hours each. The investigators from the three studies collaborated to test the hypothesis that pooling their patient data would show the importance of time to treatment, and their results appear in The Lancet .
To measure favorable outcome at 3 months, investigators used various neurological scales to measure post-stroke disability. They also looked at the occurrence of hemorrhage, the primary risk of t-PA use. The final analysis included 2,775 patients treated at 300 hospitals from 18 countries. The median age was 68 years and the median time of "onset to treatment" was 243 minutes. Substantial intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 5.9% of the treated patients as compared to 1.1% of placebo patients.
Although the data in The Lancet paper suggest that the beneficial effect of t-PA may extend beyond 3 hours (from 181 to 270 minutes), the authors caution that large prospective randomized trials would be required to confirm this finding and that this does not justify any delays in treatment. The ATLANTIS trial enrolled 79% of patients in the 4-5 hour window and failed to demonstrate efficacy.
"The most appropriate interval for beginning thrombolytic treatment remains to be clarified," the authors write in The Lancet ; however they urge those in the health care system, from paramedics to physicians, to set a target of 1 hour after arrival in the emergency room to begin intravenous thrombolytic treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke.
The ATLANTIS trial was funded by Genentech, Inc., the makers of t-PA. The ECASS trial was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, which markets t-PA in Europe. The NINDS trials were funded by the NIH. Genentech provided the study drug and additional study monitoring as required by the FDA.
The NINDS is a component of the National Institutes of Health within the Department of Health and Human Services and is the nation's primary supporter of biomedical research on the brain and nervous system.
¹Association of outcome with early stroke treatment: pooled analysis of ATLANTIS, ECASS, and NINDS rt-PA stroke trials." Authors: The ATLANTIS, ECASS and NINDS r-t-PA Study Group Investigators. The Lancet , March 6, 2004, Vol. 363, pp. 768-774.
Last Modified March 20, 2013
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Posters can be powerful vehicles for social change. “Decades of Dissent,” a new exhibition at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, showcases protest posters from the 1960s and ’70s that were intended to rally support for important causes of the era, from equal rights to the antiwar movement.
The posters in the exhibition, which was organized by the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, are notable for their combinations of Pop Art, psychedelic images and memorable slogans, and address issues that are, in many cases, just as compelling now as they were more than 40 years ago. Whether they were created by well-known artists, like Robert Rauschenberg or Sister Corita Kent, or by others who were associated with grass-roots groups like the Gay Liberation Front or Another Mother for Peace, the posters offer commentaries on the emerging identity politics of the time, including feminism, the “Black is Beautiful” movement, the American Indian movement, gay rights or the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
The iconic slogan “Make Love Not War,” originally used to protest the Vietnam War, is still invoked today in antiwar contexts. The poster, with its funky lettering that surrounds a peace sign made of flowers, was designed in 1967 and printed by Tarot Press. The activist, artist and mother Lorraine Schneider created the “War is Not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things” slogan and image in 1965 for a design contest at Pratt Art Institute in New York. While her design didn’t win, it became one of the most famous political graphics of the era. In 1967, 15 women formed the antiwar group Another Mother for Peace (AMP) in Beverly Hills, and Schneider donated her logo to the organization. AMP printed the slogan on posters, flyers, newsletters, datebooks, buttons, cards and jewelry, making it an internationally recognized symbol of peace. The exhibition also includes a version of the poster with the text in Vietnamese.
“Decades of Dissent” captures the mood of the era through music and photo-murals that provide context for the posters, and underscores the powerful potential of grass-roots protests to catalyze social and political change. Timed to coincide with the 2012 elections, the exhibition is part of “Democracy Matters,” a campus-wide initiative at the Skirball, and is on view through Feb. 17, 2013.
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As we’ve talked about here many times, a meeting and convention planner wears many hats. Their job requires them to be a seasoned negotiator, a time management expert, as well as being a fiscally responsible expert. So it shouldn’t surprise you that these same meeting and convention planners have very good ideas on how to execute successful programs while saving money in key areas.
AHas a Good Understanding of How Hotels Operate
The hotel can be one of the most expensive components to a meeting. If it’s too expensive then delegate registration will be low as the overall conference price will be out of reach for some people. In talking to a couple of meeting and convention planners that I have worked within the past, they tell me that they will often look at hotel rates based on the day of the week. You see, they understand from the hotel’s point of view that the name of the game is trying to fill those hotel rooms to achieve 100% occupancy. However, in order for those hotels to do that, they often have to watch what room rate they are offering. For example, let’s say a particular hotel typically charges $200 per night per room. Well that’s their goal anyways. On certain days of the week, the hotel’s revenue manager is often forced to reduce their room rate to increase occupancies. Frequent flyers will understand this format as airlines will also reduce seat cost to fill planes. So during negotiations it might become apparent to a meeting and convention planner that they could shave considerable dollars off their hotel budget if they were to alter the days of the week that they plan to host their meeting. Now there is a bit of a tightrope here as a meeting and convention planner has to be sure that the days they are offering their meeting to their delegates are days that are attractive enough that delegates will register.
A Meeting and Convention Planner Has Alternatives for Trade Shows Today
For larger associations, a tradeshow is often a main component to their meeting. It’s a chance for their members to see what suppliers are offering first-hand. However it’s not an inexpensive undertaking. While it is true that trade shows can be very profitable when planned and executed properly, the reality today is that they are becoming less and less attended. A lot of meeting and convention planners that I’ve spoken with recently are jumping on thebandwagon. Maybe it’s also a sign of the technology times. Virtual tradeshows are great way to keep the interaction between purchasers and buyers. And now, by shifting to a virtual tradeshow format, a meeting and convention planner has more flexibility in executing their tradeshows. First, they don’t have to get their members all in one location anymore as their members can enter the tradeshow from the comfort of their office or home. If you’ve never been to a virtual tradeshow before I recommend you visit one as you’ll be quite surprised with their format. Good ones are equipped with chat rooms, places where you can leave your information and get up-to-the-minute information on what you’re looking for. From a supplier point of view, virtual tradeshows are attractive because they can easily obtain visitor information, as well as what the likes and dislikes are of the purchasers. I’ve been to some virtual tradeshows where I literally received a gift from the supplier (delivered to my office) the very next day. Talk about efficiency.
So while a meeting and convention planner has a multitude of tasks that are required to execute a successful meeting, many are finding smart ways where they can shave budget dollars without compromising the meeting itself.
- What Keeps a Convention Planner up at Night? (plananevent.org)
- Conference Planning Resources – It’s All About the Planning (plananevent.org)
- What Does An Event Planner Do? (plananevent.org)
- Conference Planners Looking for Destination Ideas – Why Not Look to Europe? (plananevent.org)
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Blue orchard bees and fruit tree pollination
In the past 15 years there has been much information available regarding the use of alternative pollinators to replace honeybees as the primary pollinators of certain crops. Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (USDA) and others found that blue orchard bees, Osmia lignaria, are particularly good pollinators of early spring orchard crops. These bees are relatively easy to manage and propagate by those who have no prior beekeeping experience.
Blue orchard bees are a type of mason bee in the genus Osmia, meaning they are solitary bees that use mud to seal the ends of their nesting tunnels. The blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria, is native to North America where it is found throughout most of the U.S. This bee does not occur in the deep south and is somewhat rare in the great plains. There are many other species of mason bees. They include O. cornifrons, an Asian species used for apple pollination in Japan, O. rufa, or red mason bee, in Europe, and O. ribifloris, a species currently being evaluated as a pollinator of blueberries in the eastern states. In the U.S. and Canada, the terms “mason bees,” “orchard bees,” and any combinations of the words “mason,” “orchard” and “blue” generally refer to the same species, O. lignaria. The exception is O. cornifrons, an introduced species being used as a pollinator to a lesser extent in California, Oregon and parts of the northeast. Some individuals and companies selling these bees use either of two names: “hornfaced bees,” which is the accepted common name, or just “orchard bees.” The distinction between species is important for management reasons as discussed elsewhere.
Osmia bees do not live in complex social colonies. They are gregarious bees that prefer to nest in close proximity to each other. Because there is no shared labor among the bees, all female blue orchard bees construct their nests independently. Unlike honeybees, blue orchard bees do not produce honey, wax or any other products of interest to humans. The pollination service they provide however is highly valuable.
Social bees, such as honey bees, will readily sting people or animals that threaten the welfare of the colony. The protection of the queen, young bees and honey reserves are of utmost importance, and worker bees will give their lives to protect the integrity of the hive. In contrast, blue orchard bees have little to defend and will only sting in self defense.
Successful pollination using blue orchard bees does not require a large population of bees. About 250 to 300 female bees per acre are recommended if there are no other bees present. Backyard orchards of a few dozen trees may be adequately pollinated with 50 female bees or less. A high level of pollination efficiency occurs because mason bees land directly upon the reproductive structures of the fruit tree blossom. The abdomens of foraging female bees are loaded with pollen, and the repeated and direct contact with the anthers and stamens results in sufficient pollen transfer. Female bees collect pollen while constructing nests to provide food for bee larvae. Therefore, the key to heavy pollination in the orchard is to promote maximum nesting activity in the orchard bee population.
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The news from Thursday’s Washington Post:
The Senate voted Wednesday to renew the government’s $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers through the first six months of next year as part of a broader bill designed to extend unemployment benefits.
For the first time, the tax credit program would also enable many homeowners who buy a new primary residence to receive a $6,500 refund.
The measure was attached to a bill that would provide 20 weeks of unemployment benefits in more than two dozen states with jobless rates above 8.5 percent and up to 14 weeks elsewhere. Another provision in the bill would allow businesses that had operating losses in 2008 and 2009 to seek refunds for taxes paid on profits over the past five years.
Why this legislation now? Because despite signs that the economy as a whole, as measured by GDP, is growing again, most American households are still feeling the pain of a very weak labor market which all economists expect will be unusually slow to recover this time around. Hence, the extension of unemployment benefits is easy to justify.
But what about the homebuyer tax credit–which in the original stimulus bill was set to expire on November 30? Policymakers can argue that the housing market has been slow to recover as well–in large part due to the continued weakness in the labor market. (Who feels like buying a new home when faced with so much job insecurity?) But many economists are skeptical about whether this tax credit really “works” to give households the new incentive to go out and buy homes. From the Post story:
Supporters of the tax credit, including the real estate industry, say it has energized home buyers and helped increase sales. But critics say the program is too expensive and has attracted mainly people who were going to buy a home anyway.
The Tax Policy Center’s Howard Gleckman recently blogged:
The early returns are coming in on the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. And it appears to be a bigger boondoggle than even I thought it would be.
At a House Ways & Means Oversight subcommittee hearing today, the Internal Revenue Service inspector general reported that the IRS is auditing more than 100,000 of the roughly 1.4 million returns that included a claim for the credit. This is a staggering audit rate for an agency that usually reviews only about 1 percent of returns.
And what the agency has found is jaw-dropping. Almost 74,000 buyers claimed the credit even though they probably owned a house over the past three years (the credit is only available to those who did not own during that period). One dead give-away: More than 12,000 of this bunch claimed the residential energy credit sometime during the past three years. Another 19,000 filed for the homebuyer credit even though they had not actually gotten around to buying a house, a fairly spectacular exhibition of chutzpah. And 580 credits were claimed on behalf of children, including at least one four-year-old—obviously a budding real estate developer…
Add to all of this the estimate by Ted Gayer at Brookings that more than 85 percent of the projected 2 million people expected to claim the credit would have bought a house anyway…
Then Howard notes how this makes the homebuyer tax credit similar to the Cash for Clunkers program: it borrows money to move forward purchases that for the most part would have occurred (just a little later) anyway.
That the tax cut or subsidy (a rebate in the Clunkers case) designed to promote a certain form of economic activity doesn’t actually encourage that activity, makes many economists consider it “a waste”–a low economic “bang for the buck” policy. But economists perhaps have too high standards, and how high or low the “bang” is depends on how one defines the “bang.” And thinking more broadly and less “snootily” about what this policy is supposed to do, I realize that in the context of countercyclical “stimulus” intended to boost GDP during a downturn in the economy, there are many ways in which the homebuyer tax credit–like the Cash for Clunkers program–could still have a pretty big “bang” and “succeed” in a sense, even if it doesn’t actually encourage anyone to buy a home they wouldn’t have eventually bought anyway.
I see three possible effects of the tax credit on a household who claims it:
- The household buys exactly the same house exactly when they would have bought it anyway, so that the tax credit is like “free money”–extra cash they receive without having to change their homebuying behavior at all.
- The household buys the same kind of house they had been planning on buying later in the year, sooner. The cash offer gets them to change thetiming of their homebuying behavior.
- The household buys a house when they weren’t even planning on buying a house, or they buy a bigger house than they were planning on buying. The tax credit actually gets them to increase their quantity of housing demanded, more fundamentally affecting their homebuying behavior.
Case #3 is the only one that economists might label a “success” from a microeconomic, allocation of resources perspective; it’s the only case that in the longer run increases the quantity of housing consumed in the economy. (And anyway, from an economist’s perspective we already heavily subsidize and over-consume housing, so if the goal is efficiency in the allocation of capital and notencouraging the “socially upstanding” behavior that supposedly comes with homeownership, even case #3 represents misguided policy.) But all three cases could be quite successful from a macroeconomic stimulus perspective–that is, in quickly (even if just temporarily) boosting aggregate demand for goods and services. Think GDP = C + I + G + (X-M) as I did in this post from earlier this yearwhen the “recovery and reinvestment” act passed, and recognize that even under case #1 where the tax credit is just a windfall of cash to the household, that such windfalls are often a reliable stimulus strategy as long as households spend most of those windfalls–even if not on a house but on other things. And in case #2, that is exactly what distinguishes shorter-term policies to “stimulate” the economy from longer-term policies to encourage economic growth; in the former case, we’re merely moving forward or “smoothing” the economic activity, notpermanently increasing it. (That’s what explains and justifies the government’sdeficit financing of the stimulus spending, too.)
From a stimulus perspective, it just boils down to who is getting the cash from the tax credit and will they spend most of the extra cash quickly? Just like Cash for Clunkers didn’t necessarily permanently increase demand for automobiles but probably encouraged some car buyers to speed up their purchases and gave other car buyers extra cash to spend on other things like groceries, the homebuyer tax credit might just be another mechanism to direct cash into the economy in such a way that it gets quickly and effectively spent and translated into higher GDP.
So (snooty?) economists may choose to label the homebuyer tax credit a “waste” if it doesn’t fundamentally change homebuying behavior (or even changes it in the wrong direction), and I am certainly not apologizing for the poor quality of this policy as “housing” or “homeownership” policy. But on the other hand in the context of macroeconomic stimulus, it is at least one way to direct “assistance” to a certain kind of household–young households buying first homes or (in this new version) just moving to a next home. Perhaps we can think of it as steering the aid to growing families, which might partially offset the bias that the federal government tends to show toward seniors? It’s like how I recognized that Cash for Clunkers might not create permanently higher demand for Detroit’s autos (or permanently sustain Detroit’s auto industry), yet I was still happy to reward those Americans who were at least temporarily (even if unintentionally) helping Detroit out.
--Cross posted from economistmom.com.
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March 15, 2013
Sequestration: Impacts on Animals
How the federal budget cuts could negatively affect animals—plus five meaningful ways to reduce government spending
On March 1, 2013, an automatic spending cut called "sequestration" went into effect, requiring mandatory across-the-board budget cuts to many government programs. While it's still unclear exactly what programs will be affected, the consequences for animals could be disastrous.
We've compiled the following list of some of the negative impacts sequestration could have on animals—as well as suggestions for how Congress could save more than $1 billion per year in the federal budget.
How the sequestration could affect animals
- Cuts to inspections and enforcement actions against puppy mill dealers
- Less money for tests used to detect dangerous toxins found in dog food and treats
- Fewer funds for immunocontraception, leading to increased roundups of wild horses
- Less money for enforcement of the Horse Protection Act to prevent illegal horse soring.
- Fewer funds for innovative grants that focus on animal alternatives and human models.
- Less money for ensuring the humane treatment of animals used in research and for setting up permanent sanctuaries for chimpanzees retired from invasive biomedical research.
- Cuts to enforcement of humane-handling laws at slaughterhouses.
- Less funding for the first humane-handling Ombudsman, to whom employees and stakeholders can report concerns regarding inhumane treatment.
- Cuts to the enforcement of poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.
- Less money for protecting species under the Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act.
- Fewer funds to rescue marine mammals stranded or entrapped in fishing gear.
- Decreased funds for inspectors who ensure the humane treatment of exhibited animals.
Cutting wasteful government programs that harm animals would also save taxpayer money.
Removing Agriculture Subsidies: $1.25 billion
Exorbitant agriculture subsidies go to a small number of large-scale, wealthy producers in an effort encourage the development of massive factory farms. This includes the USDA’s purchase of excess pork for fiscal year 2012, at a cost of $170 million to taxpayers. The Obama Administration’s deficit reduction commission recommended cutting $10 billion in mandatory agriculture programs from 2012 to 2020, which works out to approximately $1.25 billion in savings a year.
Ending Invasive Biomedical Research on Chimpanzees: $25 million
Invasive biomedical research on chimpanzees has been found to be scientifically unnecessary and a massive drain on taxpayer funding. Ending the use of chimpanzees in federally-funded invasive research would save as much as $25 million annually.
Stopping Roundups of Wild Horses and Burros: $16 million
The animals are rounded up, removed from federal lands, and then kept at costly government holding facilities. The Bureau of Land Management would save more than $16 million annually by using immunocontraception to manage wild horse and burro populations.
Stopping Lethal Predator Control: $11 million
The lethal predator-control program uses inhumane methods to kill predator species but often kills non-targeted animals, including beloved pets and threatened and endangered species. In fiscal year 2012, Wildlife Services spent $69 million on operations to address conflicts with wildlife. USDA would save money if they stopped killing wildlife as a subsidy for ranchers and other special interests. Unfortunately, the USDA fails to keep track of how much it spends on lethal methods. The agency should start to keep track of this information and cut $11 million from its budget, which includes the amount Congress used to provide in earmarks.
Replacing Animal Testing with Alternatives: $4 million
Testing on animals to assess the safety of chemicals and drugs is a waste when there are economic alternatives that do not require the use of hundreds of animals. Evaluating the cancer-causing potential of a single chemical in a conventional rodent test takes up to 5 years, 800 animals and $4 million.
Total estimated annual savings = $1.306 billion
Ask your members of Congress to support these money-saving measures »
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Chemical substances if released or misused can pose a threat to you or the environment. These chemicals are used in industry, agriculture, medicine, research, and consumer goods. As many as 500,000 products pose physical or health hazards and can be defined as “hazardous chemicals.” Each year, over 1,000 new synthetic chemicals are introduced. Hazardous materials come in the form of explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons, and radioactive materials. These substances are most often released as a result of transportation accidents or because of chemical accidents in manufacturing plants.
Chemicals are a natural and important part of our environment. Even though we often don’t think about it, we use chemicals every day. They can be found in our kitchens, medicine cabinets, basements, and garages. Chemicals help us keep our food fresh and our bodies clean. They help our plants grow and fuel our cars. Chemicals make it possible for us to live longer, healthier lives.
A home chemical emergency arises when chemicals are used improperly. Some chemicals that are safe, and even helpful in small amounts, can be harmful in larger quantities or under certain conditions. In fact, most chemical accidents occur in our own homes, and they can be prevented.
You may be exposed to a chemical even though you may not be able to see or smell anything unusual.
You may be exposed in three ways:
1. Breathing the chemical.
2. Swallowing contaminated food, water, or medication.
3. Touching the chemical, or coming into contact with clothing or things that have touched the chemical.
Learn about chemicals and chemical emergencies:
• Chemicals are everywhere. They are an important part of life.
• The most common chemical accidents occur in our own homes and they can be prevented.
• The best way to avoid chemical accidents is to read and follow the directions for use, storage, and disposal of the product
• Mixing products can be hazardous.
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| 0.943392
| 409
| 3.96875
| 4
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ATLANTA (Reuters) - The percentage of U.S. high school students who drink and drive has dropped by more than half in two decades, in part due to tougher laws against driving under the influence of alcohol, federal health officials said on Tuesday.
In 2011, 10.3 percent of high school students 16 and older reported drinking and driving in the previous 30 days, compared to 22.3 percent in 1991, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.
The CDC credited the nearly 54 percent decline to stricter laws against drunken driving and restrictions on teen driving privileges, such as limits on the hours teenagers may legally drive at night.
“We’ve seen really good progress,” CDC Director Thomas Frieden told reporters. “We’re moving in the right direction, but we need to keep up the momentum.”
Despite the decrease, nearly 1 million high school students consumed alcohol before driving last year, the report showed.
Drinking and driving among teens is a factor in more than 800 deaths annually, and car crashes remain the leading cause of death among teens aged 16-19, the CDC said.
For the report, the CDC analyzed risk behavior data collected from thousands of high school students through national surveys and from 41 states.
In 2011, the percentage of students who reported drinking and driving in the previous 30 days ranged from a low of 4.6 percent in Utah to a high of 14.5 percent in North Dakota.
Male students aged 18 and older were the most likely to drink and drive and 16-year-old female students were the least likely, the CDC said. Eighty-five percent of high school students who reported drinking and driving in the prior month also admitted binge drinking, defined as having five or more drinks during a short time period.
The CDC said another factor in the decline of teen drinking and driving was that high school students increasingly were driving less, possibly because of higher gasoline prices and a slowdown in the economy. Continued...
From 2000-2010, the percentage of high school seniors who did not drive during an average week jumped by almost a third from 15 percent to 22 percent, the health agency said.
Frieden said parents were vital in ensuring that rates of teen drinking and driving continue to decrease.
“Children see how their parents drive from a young age and model that behavior,” he said. “Parents are a key part of the equation here.”
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Stephen Frye has covered the police beat and courts for The Oakland Press and now serves as online editor for www.theoaklandpress.com.
Informs on and discusses current matters of legal interest to readers of The Oakland Press and to consumers of legal services in the community.
Caren Gittleman likes talking cats. She'll discuss everything about them. Share your stories and ask her questions about your favorite feline.
Roger Beukema shares news from Lansing that impacts sportsmen (this means ladies as well) and talks about things he finds when he goes overseas to visit his children, and adding your comments into the mix.
Join Jonathan Schechter as he shares thoughts on our natural world in Oakland County and beyond.
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As the world struggles to deal with its two largest foreign-affairs dilemmas, Syria and Iran, resolutely standing in the way are the BRICs.
That’s the acronym foreign-policy wonks use for the block of nations that routinely refuses to join the multilateral world of diplomacy, dominated by the United States and the West. They seem to glory in being contrary. The nations are Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Russia and China, of course, routinely veto any United Nations Security Council resolution criticizing Syria, as they did for the third time last week. China and India, ignoring Western sanctions, continue buying oil from Iran at a furious rate. In fact, after European Union sanctions took effect July 1, both countries actually began purchasing even more Iranian oil. Between them they now buy more than half of Iran’s daily output. (Brazil hasn’t been a big player in the Iran/Syria debates, though its government does openly oppose sanctions against Iran.)
The nations like to say they bring a principled alternate opinion to the table. In fact, look at what they do and you’ll see that actually they’re totally self-interested. They don’t seem to care about the rest of the world’s concerns.
Who cares if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues slaughtering his own people? It’s not our problem if Iran builds a bomb.
They look out only for themselves. But even at that, they’re doing an extremely poor job. India, Russia and China have mammoth domestic problems that they don’t like to talk about.
A few weeks ago, for example, Jairam Ramesh, India’s minister for sanitation, acknowledged that his country is the world’s largest open-air toilet. Unicef’s most recent figures, from 2008, show that about one-third of India’s 1.2 billion people have access to a toilet, leaving 800 million people with no choice but to defecate outside. The World Health Organization calls that “the riskiest sanitation practice of all.”
At the same time, India’s economy makes America’s look healthy and robust. Standard and Poor’s sovereign rating for India is BBB-minus, just above a junk rating. And in recent weeks, ratings agencies have been threatening to lower it even more.
Right now, one-third of the population lives on less than $1.25 a day. Nearly half the nation’s children suffer from stunting, meaning they don’t grow physically or mentally because of malnutrition during infancy. That’s one of the world’s highest rates. So is the “wasting” rate: children who are essentially starving to death. That’s 20 percent.
Shouldn’t India be attending to all of that rather than expending energy on being a balky, brutish BRIC?
China’s problems are well known. Its economy is imploding, though Chinese and Western economists say the government is falsifying data to cover up the true depths of the problem. All the while, the nation is in constant foment. Several recent internal surveys of China’s wealthiest citizens found that 60 percent to 80 percent of those worth at least $1.6 million say they want to leave the country, move away.
Meantime, the government estimates that Chinese last year staged at least 180,000 “mass incidents,” as the government calls them — large local protests over corruption, land seizures, pollution, job safety and a dozen other social ills. Almost 500 every day.
All of this may foretell regime change at some point in the not-so-distant future.
And then there’s Russia. On Saturday, President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill branding foreign-funded NGOs as “foreign agents,” authorizing potentially obtrusive regulation of organizations including Oxfam, Doctors of the World and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
That’s just the latest in a continuing cascade of repressive measures Putin has signed into law, indicating his full realization that many if not most Russians know he stole the election in March and don’t recognize him as the nation’s legitimate leader.
In just the last two months he has signed bills authorizing draconian fines for people who protest against him. He reinstituted a law ordering criminal penalties for “slander,” a term that can be twisted to apply to almost anything you want. And he is beginning Web censorship for the first time.
Last Friday, his courts sentenced three young women, members of a punk rock group, to another six months in prison on top of four already served, for criticizing Putin in a song.
The point is, these three BRICs face incendiary challenges at home, among the most daunting in the world. Maybe if they were not so obstinately selfish and contrary, the rest of the world might be willing to step up and help.
Joel Brinkley, a professor of journalism at Stanford University, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning former foreign correspondent for the New York Times.
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|i have heard yoga can cure a number of diseases. I want to know can yoga cure kidney problems too?|
Don't despair.It is nature's law.When a disease gets created a cure also gets created. There is no disease without a cure,no problem without a solution,no question without an answer.
GOD BLESS & GOOD LUCK!
no it cannot cure anything!!! It is good for you to use yoga as a tool to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and can even make dealing with debilitating arthritus pain, a bit less intesne but there is not a way to say excercise is going to cure a diesease in the body.
Please go to the doctor and get a medical protocol started for your treatment regimene and also while talking to your doctor, bring in your own yoga regemine and show them how you are going to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It may make the difference with the way they treat your disorder.
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http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic35888.html
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An Abnormally Still CatTrivia brain teasers have some element of trivia in them, but they are not just pure trivia questions.
Last week, I decided to get a cat. I wanted a sweet-natured cat and decided to name it Marky.
Unfortunately, I know barely anything about cat breeds, so I decided to just check out the nearest pet stores in case I got lucky. However, Lady Luck evaded me constantly.
Eventually, after trawling many pet shops, my friend Polly informed me about a cat in the shelter she worked in that sounded perfect for me.
She sent me the details of the cat the next day. But there was something there that really confused me. I rang Polly up and exclaimed, "Are you having a laugh? Why would I want an oversized cat statue instead of a real cat?"
Polly was very puzzled as to what I was talking about. After a few minutes of confusion, she laughed and explained to me the misunderstanding.
What had happened?
HintIt was a simple spelling error- only one letter misspelt. Also, the statue in question comes from North Africa.
AnswerPolly sent me the details saying that Marky was a Sphynx, as in a hairless breed of cat. But she misspelt it Sphinx, as in the oversized Egyptian statue. After a tiring day trawling pet stores and my little knowledge about cat breeds, I came to assume that it was a joke.
Now, Marky has just come to my apartment and there will be more on him soon!
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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http://www.braingle.com/brainteasers/46047/an-abnormally-still-cat.html
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| 0.975307
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Boeing’s first P-8I maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the Indian Navy completed its first flight Wednesday.
The 737-based jet took off from Renton Field, beside Boeing’s 737 plant, at 12:02 p.m. (Pacific Time) and landed two hours and 31 minutes later at Boeing Field in Seattle, beside the plant where Boeing adds military features to the P-8. During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed airborne systems checks, including engine accelerations and decelerations and autopilot flight modes, and took aircraft up to 41,000 feet, Boeing said.
The first Boeing P-8I for India takes off on its first flight on Sept. 28, 2011 from Renton Field. (Boeing)
Integrated Baseline Review, completed Aug. 24 at Boeing program headquarters in Mukilteo, Wash., “validated the program’s technical scope and finalized key milestones for the design and development phase” of the tanker, Boeing said.
A depiction of a future U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-46 Tanker. (Boeing)
The first Boeing Peace Eye 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft for South Korea is shown in flight. (Boeing)
A Boeing-led team Wednesday delivered the first Peace Eye 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft to South Korea’s air force.
“Peace Eye increases South Korea’s self-defense capacity with powerful airborne-surveillance and battle-management capabilities that will help enhance the security of the Korean peninsula,” Randy Price, Peace Eye program manager for Boeing, said in a news release.
Korean Aerospace Industries in Sacheon, Korea, is modifying three more Peace Eye aircraft, set for delivery next year.
The 737 AEW&C aircraft is based on the Boeing 737-700 airliner. Boeing and its team are also building such aircraft for Australia and Turkey.
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| 0.913892
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“…because truly being here is so much; because everything here apparently needs us, this fleeting world, which in some strange way keeps calling to us…Perhaps we are here in order to say: house, bridge, fountain, gate, pitcher, fruit-tree, window—…”
from The Ninth Elegy, The Duino Elegies, Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Stephen Mitchell
As Rilke says, perhaps by naming what we see, feel, and experience we find meaning and connect with the greater world around us. In all ages is the urge to communicate with others and to find our place with the unknown mysteries of life. Poetry allows me occasional access to “the place beyond words” that I use words to point towards. And when it is running through me, this water of being, I write for the joy of participating and the hope of learning something new. If my words then touch others I am rewarded a second time.
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http://www.seedison.com/poetry-sb/
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| 0.957099
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| 1.609375
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|Other formats to try:|
|Amazon Kindle/Fire||Kindle Search|
|Digital Audiobook||Audible Search|
|Amazon DVD Movies||DVD Search|
A Christmas love story and the only one of Dickens' Christmas stories without a supernatural theme, is about a group of philosophical friends who meet over breakfast in the woods to discuss the serious questions of life while the four daughters of one of them sing dance naturally. It's a book about the virtues of a regular, decent, simple life not stifled by the harshness of ideas. An entertaining and cheerfully uplifting love story, perfect reading for the holiday season.
Once upon a time, it matters little when, and in stalwart England, it matters little where, a fierce battle was fought. It was fought upon a long summer day when the waving grass was green. Many a wild flower formed by the Almighty Hand to be a perfumed goblet for the dew, felt its enamelled cup filled high with blood that day, and shrinking dropped. Many an insect deriving its delicate colour from harmless leaves and herbs, was stained anew that day by dying men, and marked its frightened way with an unnatural track. The painted butterfly took blood into the air upon the edges of its wings. The stream ran red. The trodden ground became a quagmire, whence, from sullen pools collected in the prints of human feet and horses' hoofs, the one prevailing hue still lowered and glimmered at the sun.
Heaven keep us from a knowledge of the sights the moon beheld upon that field, when, coming up above the black line of distant rising–ground, softened and blurred at the edge by trees, she rose into the sky and looked upon the plain, strewn with upturned faces that had once at mothers' breasts sought mothers' eyes, or slumbered happily. Heaven keep us from a knowledge of the secrets whispered afterwards upon the tainted wind that blew across the scene of that day's work and that night's death and suffering! Many a lonely moon was bright upon the battle–ground, and many a star kept mournful watch upon it, and many a wind from every quarter of the earth blew over it, before the traces of the fight were worn away.
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http://www.epubbooks.com/books/257/dickens-battle-of-life.epub
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| 0.950474
| 467
| 1.882813
| 2
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Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC)
About This Program
ABC targets several key issues that have been identified as problematic among children who have experienced early maltreatment and/or disruptions in care. These young children often behave in ways that push caregivers away. The first intervention component helps caregivers to re-interpret children's behavioral signals so that they provide nurturance even when it is not elicited. Nurturance does not come naturally to many caregivers, but children who have experienced early adversity especially need nurturing care. Thus, the second intervention component helps caregivers provide nurturing care even if it does not come naturally. Third, many children who have experienced early adversity are dysregulated behaviorally and biologically. The third intervention component helps caregivers provide a responsive, predictable environment that enhances young children's behavioral and regulatory capabilities.
Goals of Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC):
Please check in the Brief Description section above for the program's goals. If they are not there, the program's representative has not provided these since we began requesting them in Fall 2010.
Target Population: Foster parents of infants.
For children/adolescents ages: 0 – 5
For parents/caregivers of children ages: 0 – 5
- Name: Mary Dozier, PhD
- Agency/Affiliation: University of Delaware
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.org
- Phone: (302) 831-8801
- Fax: (302) 831-3645
Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed by CEBC: June 2012
Date Program Originally Loaded onto CEBC: June 2008
Date Program Content Last Reviewed by Program Staff: June 2008
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http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/attachment-and-biobehavioral-catch-up/
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| 0.930402
| 354
| 2.421875
| 2
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Published in Women's Health Weekly, April 10th, 2003
"In adenomyosis, the two major frequent symptoms are hypermenorrhea and dysmenorrhea. The incidence of the former is said to be high, ranging from 36% to 70%. It has been found that vascular distribution of the endometrium in adenomyosis is diversely different from fertile patients without adenomyosis," researchers in Japan report.
"For example, hysteroscopy revealed that approximately half of the patients have abnormal vascularization. In these patients, vascular distribution was generally irregular, and vessels were thick, dilated, and/or reticular in some patients,"...
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http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Womens-Health-Weekly/2003-04-10/041020033335WW.html
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| 0.96374
| 171
| 2.203125
| 2
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Research of Cystinuria in Bulldogs Looks for Genetic Cause
Purina Pro Club, Bulldog Update - Vol 1, No 1 - July 2007
“Ralph,” was a handsome, happy-go-lucky white Bulldog. He loved being with people. When he was about
22 months old, Ralph appeared to strain when he urinated. His owner, Jennifer Joseph, who lives in northern California, breeds Adamant Bulldogs and is familiar with health conditions that affect Bulldogs. She recognized Ralph’s straining as a sign of cystinuria, a disorder that causes cystine crystals and painful uroliths, or stones, that can lead to kidney, bladder or urinary tract obstruction.
Joseph took Ralph right away to the veterinarian. Ralph had surgery to remove multiple cystine uroliths from his bladder. “The stones had a sandstone feel to them,” Joseph recalls. “They were sent to a stone analysis laboratory and confirmed as being cystine uroliths.”
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http://www.bulldogsworld.com/health-and-medical/cystinuria-bulldogs
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| 0.973114
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| 1.984375
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We’ve covered the subject a few times before, but this story was too good to pass up… although it’s no laughing matter if you find the problem in your own backyard, or in your marsh, as the case may be.
The nutria—a large South American rodent, weighing up to 20 pounds—has long been on the loose in Louisiana, and now it’s expanding its territory. First brought to the US in the 1800s for the fur trade, the animals have spread and, having no natural predators here, have made themselves at home. Early on, residents in areas that had been taken over by another invasive species, the water hyacinth, were happy to see the nutria eating the rapidly growing plants. However, the nutria didn’t stop there; they also eat crops and decimate marshlands, exacerbating erosion problems.
Wildlife officials and trappers in Virginia and North Carolina are now banding together to plot how to get rid of the nutria. As the article reports, nutria eat plants at a tremendous rate—up to a quarter of their body weight per day. They tend to munch all the way down to the root, so many plants don’t grow back, and this practice is devastating vast areas of wetlands. Worse still, they can burrow through earthen berms and levees, weakening them and increasing flood risk or, in at least one case, breaking down the dikes between a series of wastewater retention ponds and the nearby river, releasing untreated water to the river. Some manufacturers have even designed geosynthetic fabric to prevent the rodents from making their way through levees—the same idea as materials that stop tree roots from spreading and damaging the structures, but in this case designed to resist gnawing teeth and burrowing claws.
The rodents have been in North Carolina for decades, but their population seems to be increasing and moving farther inland. In Louisiana there has been a bounty on nutria for about 10 years, and residents in North Carolina and Virginia can now kill them as well—or, if they prefer, can just report sightings via a website. Maryland has successfully limited them in parts of the state, and wildlife biologists in these two states are hopeful that they can do the same.
Upcoming Forester University Webinars
March 22nd, 2012
5 Proven Social Media Tactics to Engage Your Audience
Extend your outreach and campaign effectiveness with social media. Join Erica Hooper, Strategic Director at S. Groner Associates, to explore social media's (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.) opportunities, myths, and real-world tested and proven social media tactics designed to engage your audience. Read more…
April 5th, 2012
for Surface Water Quality
Constantly influenced by natural eutrophication, direct human impact, and a changing climate, surface water is a scarce natural resource needing effective protection. Join Shahram (Shane) Missaghi to explore the function and benefits of BMPs in protecting surface water, and examine three key criteria to insure their successful implementation: water, soil, and climate Read more...
April 12th, 2012
Water Auditing 101
Reduce your water waste and cost! Join Troy Aichele, LEED AP (O+M) of Aichele and Associates LLC to explore the key attributes, uses, and efficiency/cost opportunities of water audits. Aichele will lead a discussion of what a water audit includes, who performs the audit, where and when they should and can be performed, and the opportunities that exist in performing a water audit. Join us and gain an understanding of the potential savings possible, rebates available, and how quickly this unobtrusive work can be implemented from audit to installation to optimize your water use and minimize your cost. Read more...
April 18th, - May 25th, 2012
Sediment and Erosion Control
Master Class Series
Join industry expert and bestselling author Jerald S. Fifield, Ph.D., CISEC, CPESC and Tina R. Evans, PE, CISEC for a comprehensive 6-part online master class and workshop series (0.9 CEUs / 9 PDHs) exploring the ins and outs of effective sediment and erosion control plan design and review based on Fifield’s recently released 3rd edition of the bestselling manual Designing and Reviewing Effective Sediment and Erosion Control Plans (included in your Master Class Series package).
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<urn:uuid:367295f7-a8c1-449a-b4d7-29c3a3703668>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.erosioncontrol.com/EC/blogs/_Theyll_Just_Destroy_a_Marsh_1293.aspx
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en
| 0.942827
| 928
| 3.15625
| 3
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Book Arts and the History of the Book
The guide describes Watkinson manuscript and print sources relating to the book, both primary and secondary, and includes a list of relevant periodicals and a subject checklist of Watkinson Library publications.
A description of collections in the Watkinson relating to music, which concentrate on American works from the 18th to the mid-20th centuries.
Prints, ephemera, music, etiquette, broadsides, posters, etc.
An overview of some collections in the Watkinson Library relating to Women’s Studies including ephemera, manuscripts, 19th century periodicals, music, textbooks and education, children’s books, American women authors, etiquette books, women’s health, household management, and religion.
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.trincoll.edu/LITC/Watkinson/Pages/watkguides.aspx
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| 0.916161
| 158
| 2.484375
| 2
|
Is it okay to lie about being a war hero?
While most of the nation was focused on the Supreme Court's June 28 decision on the Obama health care law, the high court also issued a ruling that day covering heroism, war, lying and criminality.
Upholding an appeals court, the Supreme Court struck down a provision in the Stolen Valor Act of 2006 that made it a crime to lie about being the recipient of a military award.
Although many fake war heroes have been exposed in recent years, this case was about Xavier Alvarez, a Los Angeles man who acknowledges he lied when he claimed to have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest decoration for valor.
Alvarez made the claim in July 2007, speaking at a podium as an elected official at a water board meeting. He repeated the claim in conversations with co-workers. He also claimed to have been a Marine.
Alvarez was never in the armed forces. But when prosecutors went after him under the section of the Stolen Valor Act that made it a crime to falsely represent oneself as having been awarded "any decoration of medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States," the Alvarez camp was ready with a quick defense: The free speech clause in the First Amendment to the Constitution, Alvarez and his attorneys argued, protects a citizen's right to tell a lie, even about being a military hero.
Even Alvarez now acknowledges his lie, as his lawyer put it, was "despicable."
But was it a crime? Initially, Alvarez was sentenced to a $10,000 fine and a prison term for up to one year. Many military people, including some who've been awarded real medals for bravery, wanted Alvarez to serve the sentence.
But Alvarez's defenders argued that if Congress can make it a crime to lie about receiving a medal, it can criminalize almost anything.
Consider: If I try to impress you by bragging about my football prowess as the star quarterback for the Oakton Cougars, even though I've never even attended Oakton High School, should the Fairfax County Police drag me away in handcuffs?
If I use Brad Pitt's photo instead of my own on my Facebook page, should federal law enforcement throw me into the slammer?
The stolen valor issue is an emotional one.
An Afghanistan veteran who received a service cross, the nation's second highest award for valor, said in a June 28 telephone interview that, "When people lie about receiving awards, it's a kind of identity theft. They're stealing the identities of real Americans who fought and in some cases died for our country." Real heroes rarely glorify themselves and this service member asked me not to use his name.
"The system worked. It just didn't work the way I wanted it to," said former Army Sgt. C. Douglas Sterner of Alexandria in another June 28 telephone interview. Sterner maintains a website about military valor (www.homeofheroes.com). "We're not finished yet." Sterner has hopes for a revised version of old law, the Stolen Valor Act of 2011 also called H.R.1775, which has been in the works since last year. "I believe the [Supreme Court] justices said, 'Come back to us with a bill that is constitutional.'"
Sterner used stronger language when interviewed on NBC television news, saying that some way would still be found to put fake war heroes behind bars. Most observers believe, however, that neither H.R. 1775 nor any other new effort to penalize lying about military awards has any real chance of being enacted on Capitol Hill.
About me: I was in the Air Force from 1957 to 1960, served in Korea, and have never played football.
I'm interested in the "stolen valor" issue because I write books, magazine articles and newspaper columns about military affairs, working in my home office in Oakton. My current book, "Mission to Berlin," is about American B-17 Flying Fortress crews in World War II and includes many real-world accounts of valor in combat. I was initially in favor of making it a crime to lie about being a recipient of a military medal. Now, however, I agree with the Supreme Court that this kind of lying, while reprehensible, should not be a crime. Most of my military-veteran friends are on the other side of the argument.
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Phenylketonuria (PKU) Clinic
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is one of only 3 centers in Wisconsin that offers diagnosis, assessment, medical nutrition therapy, genetic counseling and ongoing dietary and medical management to all children and adults with phenylketonuria (PKU) and their families.
In the News:
The PKU Clinic follows approximately 100 children and adults with PKU. Each patient is evaluated and treated by an experienced team of specialists from a variety of different areas who work together to determine the most effective care and treatment plan for each patient.
The core PKU team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, genetic counselors and registered dietitians who specialize in treating patients with genetic conditions. In addition to the core PKU team, a social worker is available to all PKU patients as needed or requested.
Physician: David Dimmock, MD
Nurse Practitioner: Stephanie Offord, APNP
Genetic Counselor: Jeffrey Kopesky, MS, CGC
Social Worker: Liz Schaefer, MSW, APSW
Genetic counselors have a master's degree and are either board eligible or certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Genetic counselors help counsel patients and families on PKU, inheritance risk, independence transitioning and maternal PKU.
Metabolic dietitians are registered dietitians with additional training in inborn errors of metabolism, including PKU. They assess nutrition adequacy, growth, weight gain, lab values and diet history to develop an individual nutrition care plan for each patient. Additionally, metabolic RDs provide education and counseling to patients and their families to help carry out the specialized nutritional plans for each patient.
The PKU team also makes referrals to psychologists, neuropsychologists and other medical professionals with various specialities to provide the best care possible for our patients.
In addition to clinical care, the PKU team hosts educational patient events each year. These events provide hand-on experience with preparing low-protein foods and a chance for people with PKU and their families an opportunity to network with other families.
Appointments: To make an appointment, call Central Scheduling at (414) 607-5280 or toll-free at (877) 607-5280. Physician referrals may be needed.
Location: The PKU clinic is located in the Genetics Center on Level 1 of the Curative Care Network building, across the parking lot from Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Enter the north door (which faces the Children's Hospital parking structure) and take the elevator to Level 1. Click here for directions.
Parking: Free parking is available in the Children's Hospital visitor lot or parking structure. A voucher for free parking is available at Curative.
Contact Us: For more information, please call (414) 266-3347. Our fax number is (414) 266-1616.
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The US Supreme Court will examine whether a private company can demand payment in exchange for not seizing private property.
Bart Didden wanted to put a CVS pharmacy on his property in Port Chester, N.Y. He even obtained approvals from the local planning board.
But because a portion of the CVS site was in a blighted redevelopment zone, Mr. Didden was told that planning board approval wasn't enough. He'd have to reach an understanding with a private company that had been selected by Port Chester officials to control all construction inside the renewal zone.
The developer, Gregg Wasser of G&S Port Chester, told Didden he'd have to pay $800,000 or give G&S a 50 percent stake in the CVS business. If Didden refused, Mr. Wasser said, he would have Port Chester condemn and seize his property and instead of a CVS he'd put a Walgreens drugstore on the site.
Didden refused. The next day, the Village of Port Chester began legal proceedings to seize Didden's land by eminent domain.
Lawyers for Didden took the matter to federal court. They even went to the FBI – all to no avail. Now they are asking the US Supreme Court to examine whether a private company can demand payment in exchange for refraining to seize private property in an urban renewal zone.
Property rights activists are hoping that a majority of the justices view Didden's case as an opportunity to clarify a portion of the high court's controversial decision in its last big eminent domain case, Kelo v. New London. In that June 2005 opinion, the court ruled 5-to-4 that local governments could seize private property and turn it over to a private developer when the action was part of an economic development project of benefit to the public.
The decision sparked a national backlash. Since then, 34 states passed laws restricting the use of eminent domain for private development. New York is not among them.
The US Constitution forbids government officials from taking the property of one person and giving it to another. But if the overall purpose is a public benefit, such as economic transformation or urban renewal, transfers of private property to a private developer are permissible, the high court has said.
At issue in the Didden case is whether a developer selected to carry out an urban renewal project in the public interest can use the government's eminent domain power in a way that maximizes the developer's profit.
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The sunset seen from the canopy tower would always be remembered by the guests and guides who experienced it. Distant clouds were lit up orange and red and the sea of Amazon rainforest showed every shade of green as the sun set below the horizon. Flocks of oropendolas and parakeets had screeched past as they flew to their roosts for the night. A White-throated Toucan had given its yelping call from a nearby tree and seemed to be answered by two groups of Red Howler Monkeys that roared in the distance.
Once the sun set and dusk approached, the forest seemed to quiet down and the group started walking back to the lodge. The buzz of insects increased and light quickly diminished within the primeval Peruvian jungle. As night rapidy approached, a few tinamous sang from the understory, and odd yelping noises were heard from the canopy. Looking up at the direction of the comical sounding, barking noises, guides and guests could see a few turkey-like birds walking along branches high up in the canopy. “Spix’s Guans!” said one of the guides and as she shined her flashlight up at the big birds, they could see a bright red wattle hanging from the bird’s throat.
Spix’s Guan (Penelope jacquacu) is an arboreal bird that somewhat resembles a turkey in size and shape. Found throughout much of the Amazon basin, they are fairly common in the Tambopata region and frequently seen at all of the lodges run by Rainforest Expeditions.Some interesting information about Spix’s Guan:
How to see Spix’s Guan during an Amazon jungle adventure:
- Frequently call at night: Although Spix’s Guan isn’t necessarily nocturnal, they sometimes make a frightening sounding, yelling noise on moonlit nights.
- Need protected areas: Spix’s Guans are rather common in the rainforests around the eco-lodges run by Rainforest Expeditions because hunting is prohibited. In places where hunting occurs, this large bird becomes an easy, desired target and quickly disappears from such areas.
- Wing-rattling: Like several other members of the same family (the Cracidae), the Spix’s Guan makes a rattling sound with its wings at dusk and dawn. It does this by stretching out the wings and shaking them as it glides from one tree to another. This display is done to attract mates.
- Named after a bird collector: The Spix’s Guan is named after Dr Johan Baptist Ritter von Spix, a nineteenth century scientist who collected birds in Brazil and obtained the first scientific specimens of this species.
- Visit protected areas: Although this species has a large range, it has become quite rare in many areas that receive little or no protection. The easiest places to see them are in protected areas such as the Tambopata Reserve in southeastern Peru.
- Listen for their distinctive yelping calls: Spix’s Guans are very vocal birds and make load, yelping sounds reminiscent of a small dog. They often make such noises when alarmed.
- Walk with a trained guide: Taking a jungle hike with a qualified guide increases your chances of getting great looks at Spix’s Guan and other types of Amazonian wildlife. All of the guides who work for Rainforest Expeditions are periodically trained to learn about and locate jungle wildlife.
Take a family friendly Amazon jungle tour with Rainforest Expeditions and watch Spix’s Guans as they forage in the jungle canopy.
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Monday, November 07, 2011
Community of Scholars lecture addresses emotion regulation in children with ADHD
Contact for more information:
Wendy Knipe Bredhold
Media Relations Specialist, News & Information Services
Rosen will present "Emotional Difficulties in Children with ADHD: It's Not What, But How Much and For How Long," at 6 p.m. Thursday, November 17, in Carter Hall in University Center West.
His talk will discuss ways in which poor control of emotions affects children with ADHD, with a focus on emotional and behavioral functioning. The talk also will review research on the development of emotion regulation problems in children, and discuss cutting-edge research on the development of programs to help children with ADHD learn to better manage and control their emotions.
The lecture is free and open to the public.
Rosen also will present "Emotion Regulation in Children: An Emerging Concept for Research and Practice," a lecture aimed at a student audience, at 11 a.m. Friday, November 18, in Couch/Renner Hall (Education Center Room 1101). The talk will review research on the development of emotion regulation in children, and discuss how emotion regulation problems are being addressed in science and practice.
A department in the College of Liberal Arts engages a speaker for the Community of Scholars Lecture each fall.
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http://www.usi.edu/newsinfo/release/press_detail.asp?num=4169
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Metal casting is an ancient technique that has a variety of applications and purposes. Civilizations from the dawn of time to present day have used metal working as a way of creating artistic, religious, and practical items. The process of metal casting involves melting metals at high temperatures and using molds to then shape the metal into new items. The furnaces used in metal casting helped pave the way for the Industrial Revolution, without which the course of history would be dramatically different. Metal casting is just one form of metal working that has seen a recent surge in popularity as resources are becoming more affordable and communities are springing up to share information, ideas, and projects.
Metal casting requires specialized equipment, knowledge, and some creativity. While metal casting is used on an Industrial level as the process cuts cost and proves to be highly efficient, many individuals participate in metal casting as a hobby and in artistic endeavors. Many people are drawn to metal casting for one reason or another, although there seems to be two main motivations that stand out. The first motivation that brings hobbyists to practice metal casting is need; people may need to create items or parts for other ventures. Metal casting is a great way to build hard to find pieces for models, restoration projects, and even just small replacement parts needed for common household items. The second motivation for using metal casting is using it as a way to create sculptures or other artistic endeavors.
Whatever the reason, small scale metal casting is attractive because that it can be done right at home, either in the backyard or workshop. Individuals working in metal casting are able to create home made tools and equipment like furnaces and molds. Metal casting is only limited by the individual’s desire, so for those with the time and the need, virtually anything is possible.
The actual casting process in metal casting has several forms, the most popular being sand casting. Sand casting involves creating a mold from sand which can be created at home, and then pouring the liquid metal into the mold. Afterwards, the metal is allowed to air dry and the mold is removed. This type of casting proves to be the most economical, but other types of casting can provide fuller detail and higher quality results.
Since metal casting involves working with metal in its molten form, the process can be dangerous if undertaken by the reckless or ill informed. The melting points of several metals are well above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, or 530 degrees Celsius. It is vital that anyone wanting to work with metal casting take all the proper precautions. Safety advice can range from simple common sense such as "never look directly into a high powered flame" to more specific warnings such as "when molten metal contacts a nonporous surface with water it is liable to explode, splashing hot metal everywhere." The use of appropriate safety gear such as gloves and goggles is necessary as well.
With time, dedication, and some know how, anyone can practice the craft of metal casting. Metal Casting is a very enjoyable and rewarding craft but it does require a certain amount of education to get started.
本文转自：China Industry News
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One misperception attached to the power sector is how increasing the generation capacity will bring respite to the ailing sector. What many forget is that it is not about capacity enhancements or new power generation plants but the actual generation that has remained stagnant for so many years.
If Pakistan is to continue relying on remittances to support its current account imbalances, then increasing the quality of labour exported is of paramount importance. At least that’s what the reading is from a recent remittance report by the International Fund for Agriculture Development and the World Bank.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron announced last week that hi government plans to launch a state-backed mortgage financing scheme, with a view to provide homes and generate jobs.
Here in Pakistan, the Prime Minister in-waiting, Mian Nawaz Sharif appears to be considering the introduction of a similar programme.
Branchless banking (BB) service providers have taken solo flights thus far. Pakistan’s four-year old BB sector is currently dominated by banks and telcos that have relied on their own infrastructure and agent networks to penetrate this largely unbanked market. While banks have allowed their agent networks to serve customers of any telco, each telco has restricted its BB agents to serve only its subscribers.
Amongst the promises made by PML-N in their manifesto, increasing the investment-to-GDP ratio from the current 12 percent to 20 percent in five years; is what the future of shrinking foreign direct investment (FDI) hinges on.
With temperatures going up, the electricity loadshedding has gone up in tandem across the country. The riots have not begun just yet, but patience is running thin, especially in cities like Faisalabad, where the better part of the day is spent without power.
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http://www.brecorder.com/br-research/
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Photo courtesy of etonline.com
Last week, Al-Jazeera published an article about white supremacist groups and their threat to American national security. Since the 9/11 attacks, the United States has been focusing its attention on Muslims in its anti-terrorism campaigns. Muslim communities, especially in urban centres, are under constant surveillance and every person—man, woman and child—is a suspect. In their fanatical effort to harass people marked by differences, it seems US military, police and law makers have ignored those who are the biggest terrorism organizations in the US: white supremacist groups.
Within two weeks, there were two national tragedies in the United States. The first was in Aurora, Colorado. At a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises, a gunman open fired on the crowd using a semi automatic rifle, a shotgun, and a hand gun as his weapons of choice. After the dust settled, twelve people were dead and 58 were wounded. Most of the victims were white; the media jumped on the story and it was the top story on the news for weeks. The suspect, James Eagan Holmes, is awaiting trial.
On August 5th, another mass shooting took place in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. A gunman broke into the kitchen of a Sikh temple and began shooting. Women were preparing the traditional Indian meal for after the service; children were about to attend their morning classes. 7 people, including the perpetrator, were dead and 4 injured. The attacker, former soldier Wade Michael Page, had strong ties to white supremacist groups. Although President Obama condemned the killings, this incident received a lot less attention than the massacre in Aurora.
The American reaction to both of these tragedies reveals the underlying bias against minorities in the United States. Because of race, the media is hesitant to label these extremist groups as what they are: terrorists. A terrorist is a person who terrorizes or frightens others with force. If either of these men had been Muslim, Black, Brown, Hispanic, Gay, Sikh, or Hindu, the narrative and framing of these stories would have been very different.
White supremacy isn't a new phenomenon in the United States. In fact, it has existed within its borders since the 18th century, making it truly homegrown. The Ku Klux Klan have terrorized African-Americans and other minorities in the US since the Civil War. These extremist groups are a threat to the modern multicultural United States. Perhaps the FBI and CIA should focus more on these terrorists that look more like the average American than the imagined 'enemy'.
Kait Bolongaro writes about culture, feminism, and pushing boundaries. She is a Masters student studying Journalism and Media Across Cultures in Denmark. She is a freelance journalist and photographer who is addicted to traveling and developing new stories. To follow her on her journeys, check out her website or follow her on twitter.
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http://www.schemamag.ca/archive2/2012/09/white_supremacy_groups_ignored.php
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The permanently frozen soil of the Arctic acts as a gigantic vault, preserving the belongings of people who lived there thousands of years ago. Among its greatest treasures are the carvings in wood and ivory made by the Dorset people, who occupied the area before the coming of the Inuit.
The people of the Dorset culture were the descendants of Siberian immigrants, who were the first occupants of arctic North America. They lived in arctic Canada for over three millenia, developing a unique way of life in apparent isolation from other human groups. Among their accomplishments was the development of an artistic tradition that is one of the finest known among hunting peoples.
The two life-sized masks were carved from driftwood and painted; they originally had fur moustaches and eyebrows attached with pegs. Shamans probably wore the masks in rituals for curing the sick, controlling the weather, or influencing the hunt.
The Dorset people disappeared about five hundred years ago, probably at the hands of the invading Inuit. Our only knowledge of them comes from the frozen remains of their camps and the carvings that allow us a rare glimpse into the artistic and spiritual life of an extinct people.
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http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhibitions/tresors/treasure/254eng.shtml
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The voting population of Latinos has exploded to the point where Latinos will not only be a decisive force in the presidential election, but will likely affect the outcome of political contests from school boards and statehouses to Congress, according a new report by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.
"Latino voter enthusiasm is up," said Arturo Vargas, executive director of NALEO. A recent poll by ImpreMedia-Latino Decisions confirms that analysis, counting three quarters of Latino voters as actively engaged in the election with 14% of all Latinos saying they are actively working on getting out the vote.
The number of registered Latinos has increased by 26% in the last four years to 12.2 million or 8.7% of all voters. A new potential Latino voter turns 18 every 30 seconds. Already, one of four U.S. citizens under the age of 18 is Latino, including 48% of the youth population of Texas, Vargas said, but low voter registration among young people and new voter ID laws could dampen turnout.
Clarissa Martinez, who works on civic engagement for the National Council of La Raza, cautioned that Latino voting power is held back by a lack of registration. "Once Latinos register they vote in nearly as high a numbers as anyone," she said. But a third of the entire community is not yet 18, another 23% are ineligible because their immigration status and just 14 million of the 24 million eligible Latino voters have actually registered, she said.
Even so, Martinez added "they can't get to the White House without the Latino vote, not with out a sizeable share... the Democrats need at least a majority but the Republicans cannot fall below a certain floor and they're not quite there just yet," meaning that Democrats need to pull in big numbers of Latinos voting for them and Republicans need to meet a threshold they haven't yet secured.
If Latinos do turn out in high numbers, their effect on the presidential elections could be decisive. A 2008 CNN exit poll showed that 67% of Latino voters went with then-Sen. Barack Obama to 31% for Sen. John McCain.
An Oct 17-20 poll of likely Latino voters conducted by NBC News with the Wall Street Journal and Telemundo had Obama at 70% to Mitt Romney's 25%.
"President Obama today enjoys a lead in the battleground states, and that is because of the Latino vote," said Maria Cardona, a Democratic CNN analyst.
But the presidential elections are not the only elections where Latinos could have a major impact. Vargas said Latinos are increasingly running at the county level, on school boards, to offices that once seemed out of reach, then moving up from there. There are Latinos running for Senate and House seats this year in 39 of the 50 states. NALEO projects there will be 10 new Latino state senators to bring the total to 77. There are currently 190 Latinos in state houses and assemblies and NALEO expects that number to rise to 217, with Hispanics running in 21 states including places as far flung as Arkansas and Maine.
Two Latinos are running for the U.S. Senate. In Arizona, former Surgeon General Richard Carmona is taking on Rep. Jeff Flake. In Texas, Latinos hope to elect their first Senator as polls show Republican and former state solicitor Ted Cruz running ahead.
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Most people know God cares about children, but have you ever wondered exactly what the Bible says about children? From beginning to end, God speaks about the importance of children through his Word. Because it is so important to God, it is important that you know what the Bible says about children.
We have compiled a list of Bible verses so you can know for sure what the Bible says about children. Use this list as a personal Bible study to learn about God's heart for children, as a Scripture memory challenge or just as a quick reference when you want to find a verse about children.
By familiarizing yourself with what the Bible says about children, you gain a better understanding of God's heart for them, and in the process, you may even find that your opinion about children has changed.
Certainly, children are an important and valuable part of God's Kingdom. Knowing with the Bible says about children will help you to be more familiar with His heart, and that is always a good thing.
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http://www.compassion.com/child-advocacy/find-your-voice/what-the-bible-says/what-the-bible-says-about-children.htm
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There are few legends more famous than that of Robin Hood, the dispossessed nobleman hiding out in Sherwood Forest at the time of Richard the Lionheart.
Tony embarks on a quest to uncover the fact behind the fiction. Did Robin actually exist? What was he really like? Did he steal from the rich to give to the poor? Who were the merry men?
Tony's journey takes him all over England: from Yorkshire to Shropshire, Warwickshire, Kirklees Priory; to investigate the colourful legend of Robin's death; and, eventually, Sherwood Forest.
With the help of historic records, expert contributions and ancient ballads, Tony lines up four main suspects tying them into relevant historical events, such as the proliferation of the longbow and the Lancastrian Revolt.Watch now on 4oD
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<urn:uuid:574c215d-758d-4db7-adf8-b0afcdef23c8>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.channel4.com/programmes/fact-or-fiction/episode-guide/series-1/episode-4
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Loveland's municipal neighbors -- Fort Collins, Longmont and Boulder -- have hit the finish line on a course the city is just starting on, one that leads to making sense of the ways government and business activities affect the environment.
The word "sustainability," with all its various colorings, is still the one that works in describing a plan to build conservation, preservation, land stewardship and other ingredients into a program that improves community life.
Two years' worth of effort by the Loveland public works and utilities department staffs have produced a draft plan for sustainability, presented at an open house Wednesday night and scheduled for a second presentation Thursday afternoon.
"Part of our goal as a team is to hear what people are saying," said Loveland public works director Keith Reester, who leads the sustainability plan project. "What's important to them? What's a priority for them?"
Elements of the plan include ideas that anyone might expect -- recycling, power and water conservation, fuel efficiency and "green" construction.
Others that are less obvious, such as applying sustainable practices to "horizontal" projects, such as streets, bridges, sidewalks and curbing, as well as vertical ones.
What: Open House to describe elements of the draft Loveland Sustainability Plan
When: 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday
Where: Loveland Police and Courts Building training room, 810 E. 10th St.
Information about the plan, a copy of its draft and a survey that invites public participation and input, is available at cityofloveland.org/sustainability.
The open house opens the plan for public inspection, and begs public opinion on its contents, Loveland Water and Power spokeswoman Gretchen Stanford said.
"Keith and I are very passionate about the subject, and we both want to see a sustainability program here," Stanford said. "But, we want the public's input to tell us how far to take it."
Reester and Stanford's public pulse-taking also will involve the business community, enlisting the help of the Loveland Chamber of Commerce in special presentations to business owners.
Another target audience are the "key accounts" that Loveland's utility departments serve, the 50-plus largest water and power customers.
At every step, the two organizers say the plan's future will be customer-driven.
"We've historically been a carrot community rather than a stick community," Reester said.
In other words, the plan might steer construction contractors toward green building practices, offering incentives to incorporate them, rather than writing requirements into the city code.
The plan in final form will head to Loveland councilors for review before the end of the year, and the planning team hopes to get it on the books by early next year.
Tom Hacker can be reached at 669-5050, ext. 521, or firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Earlier this year I spent some time with a few friends who were very into drinking green smoothies. I used to make green smoothies several years ago when I was a vegan, but quit drinking them when I transitioned into eating a traditional-whole foods diet.
I was 2 months pregnant and thought it might be a good idea to start drinking the green smoothies again. I didn’t enjoy them much, but I thought for sure I was eating a ton of nutrients that would benefit my baby and I. Or so I thought…
After a few weeks of drinking the smoothies I realized they weren’t as nutrient dense as I thought they were. And to boot, the green veggies I was using in my smoothies (spinach & kale), are not veggies one should eat raw very often. Spinach contains high amounts of oxalates. If eaten often, you may find yourself with kidney stones!
Virtually everybody who eats a large spinach salad every day is going to succumb to kidney stones. I’ve tested them over and over again and the people who have the highest oxalate values invariably tell me that a cornerstone of their daily diet is a large spinach salad. If they add nuts to their salad and textured soy protein, both of which are very high in oxalates, you’ve got a cocktail made to produce kidney stones. Spinach is so high I would not recommend eating it even cooked, as a main course. [Source]
Kale is a cruciferous vegetable, and like other cruciferous veggies (cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, collard greens), it should always be cooked or fermented before consuming. [Source]
So I gave up the green smoothies and continued to follow the diet recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers by the Weston A. Price foundation. The two foods I have the most difficult time consuming on the diet are fish roe and liver. Both are extremely nutrient dense, but they taste awful (to me anyway). Last year I started making my own dessicated liver capsules, which is the easiest way for me to consume liver. I now just eat the dessicated liver off the spoon and wash it down with a glass of water. I’ve also found a way to consume the roe easily! I started making a smoothie with raw milk, egg yolks, fruit and raw frozen salmon roe!
Fish roe or fish eggs have been a sacred food across the globe since ancient times. In his writings, Dr. Price detailed the great lengths the natives of the Andes went to carry dried fish roe from sea level back to their villages high in the mountains—sometimes hundreds of miles—to supply those of childbearing age with the nutrients needed to make the healthiest of babies. These nutrient- dense eggs are rich in vitamins A, D, and K2 (Activator X) along with zinc, iodine, and the brainbuilding fatty acid DHA, making them a powerful superfood for babies and adults alike. According to a recent WAPF-funded analysis by UBE Laboratories, fish eggs contain 17,000 IU vitamin D per tablespoon! [Source]
Not only does this smoothie taste better than the green smoothie I had been making a few months ago, but it’s also quite a bit more nutrient dense!
My Pregnancy Superfood Smoothie
- 1 Cup Raw Grass Fed Milk
- 2 Raw Egg Yolks
- 1 Tsp – 1 Tbs Roe
- 1 Banana, Frozen
- Optional – gelatin, acerola powder, colostrum, nutritional yeast, dessicated liver, cod liver oil, grass fed cream, more egg yolks, etc…
Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy. Drink up!
I have tried to add cod liver oil to my smoothie, but it was too fishy for me. So I just take the capsules. I’ve also added the dessicated liver to my smoothie, which gave the smoothie an overwhelming liver flavor. I don’t recommend adding liver to the smoothie unless you enjoy the taste .
My two year daughter loves this smoothie and drinks one every morning with me!
This post is linked to Monday Mania hosted by The Healthy Home Economist, Fat Tuesday @ Real Food Forager, Real Food Wednesday @ Kelly The Kitchen Kop, Simple Lives Thursday hosted by GNOWFGLINS, A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa, Sustainable Eats & Culinary Bliss, Pennywise Platter Thursday @ The Nourishing Gourmet, Fight Back Friday @ Food Renegade
Disclosure: cmp.ly/4 and cmp.ly/5Disclaimer
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The U-Boat war is a unique visual record of Hitler's infamous submarine fleet and a grim account of those that lived, worked and risked their lives stalking the depths of the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas. The book analyses the development of the U-boat, the recruitment and training, and reveals how the crews tried to destroy essential Allied supplies across the Atlantic and bring Britain to its knees. Using some 250 rare and unpublished photographs together with detailed captions and accompanying text, the book provides an outstanding insight into the various operations and the claustrophobic existence of the crew, where they lived in cramped and often deplorable conditions. It depicts how this potent force became one of the most dominant German fighting units during World War Two, and became such a worry to Allied shipping that even Winston Churchill himself claimed that the 'U-boat peril' was the only thing that ever really frightened him during the war.
On their defeat hung the outcome of the war, and through courageous and determined resistance against overwhelming odds the Allies eventually inflicted such catastrophic damage on the U-boats that its losses were too great to continue. Of the 38,000 men that went to sea onboard these deadly vessels, only 8,000 were to survive to tell the tale.
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Around the Nation
Thu December 27, 2012
Connecticut Left To Reconcile Tragedy With Its Proud Gun History
Originally published on Thu December 27, 2012 10:05 am
Connecticut has suddenly become the epicenter of the nation's gun control debate in a way no one there could have foreseen. The Newtown school shootings have brought calls for restrictions on firearms, in the state that once led the world in creating modern weaponry.
If you drive past Hartford on the interstate, you'll see the blue onion dome high atop the factory that once was the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company. The gunmaker has long since left its Hartford factory, but it still makes guns nearby.
Today, the historic complex is a redevelopment project that local leaders hope will become a national historic park. A century and a half ago, the factory was where Samuel and Elizabeth Colt made the revolver.
"It was called the Peacemaker. The Equalizer. The gun that won the West," is how one public television documentary recalled it.
And that's how Gov. Dannel Malloy recalled the gun and the complex that produced it. Speaking before the Newtown tragedy, he said it is part of America's history lesson.
"Not just about Hartford or Connecticut, but about the United States," Malloy said at a news conference announcing a new commercial tenant for the complex known as Coltsville. "Listen, the West was won here. In Hartford."
During his visit, the governor joined the chorus of state boosters who favor turning the gun factory and its surrounding 260-acre neighborhood into a national historic park that could attract investment and tourism.
That event was held one day before the shootings at a Newtown elementary school an hour from the Colt factory. Soon, Malloy would be consoling grieving families and renewing his calls for tougher gun laws.
"I'm a big believer in hunting rights, a big believer in supporting the second amendment," he said. "But there is a reality that this stuff has gone too far and is too easy to own."
Some state lawmakers want to limit the number of rounds a gun magazine can hold. But as they begin that debate, it's worth remembering that the Colt revolver was one of the guns that started the discussion.
Before the revolver, most rifles required 40 seconds or so to reload after being fired. The revolver changed that.
As Colt scholar Bill Hosley says, "Now you've got six shots in six seconds — boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. And it changed profoundly the mathematics of self defense."
Hosley points out that what began with Colt's six-shooter for personal use has evolved to guns that can carry 30 rounds at a time.
"There aren't too many places bluer than Connecticut," he says. "And so, how ironic that the state that is pretty left-leaning in its politics has this iconically right-leaning industry."
And today, Hartford, the state's capital city, is hoping that the history of this industry might be part of its economic rebirth.
Congressman John Larson is a big supporter of making the factory a national historic park, because of all of the innovations in manufacturing, business, and community development that Colt and his invention once brought.
Not far from the factory, Larson recently hosted a forum on violence and guns. I asked him whether, after Newtown, it's hard to celebrate this part of Connecticut's history.
"It's not a celebration. It's a historic fact," he says. "When you look at the totality of what was launched by Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, it's pretty remarkable. And whether you agree with the production of guns or not, it is a historic fact."
Although this Congress did not act to make Coltsville a national historic park, Larson says that he hopes the next Congress will.
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Asteroid deflection mission seeks smashing ideas
January 16, 2013
A space rock several hundred meters across is heading towards our planet and the last-ditch attempt to avert a disaster — an untested mission to deflect it — fails.
This fictional scene of films and novels could well be a reality one day. So the European Space Agency (ESA) is appealing for research ideas to help guide the development of a U.S.-European asteroid deflection mission now under study.
They are seeking concepts for both ground- and space-based investigations, seeking improved understanding of the physics of very high-speed collisions involving both man-made and natural objects in space.
ESA’s call will help to guide future studies linked to the Asteroid Impact and Deflection mission (AIDA). This innovative but low-budget transatlantic partnership involves the joint operations of two small spacecraft sent to intercept a binary (dual) asteroid.
The first Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft, designed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, will collide with the smaller of the two asteroids.
Meanwhile, ESA’s Asteroid Impact Monitor (AIM) craft will survey these bodies in detail, before and after the collision.
The impact should change the pace at which the objects spin around each other, observable from Earth. But AIM’s close-up view will ‘ground-truth’ such observations.
“The advantage is that the spacecraft are simple and independent,” says Andy Cheng of Johns Hopkins, leading the AIDA project on the US side. “They can both complete their primary investigation without the other one.”
But by working in tandem, the quality and quantity of results will increase greatly, explains Andrés Gálvez, ESA AIDA study manager: “Both missions become better when put together — getting much more out of the overall investment.
“And the vast amounts of data coming from the joint mission should help to validate various theories, such as our impact modeling.”
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Over 8,000 websites created by students around the world who have participated in a ThinkQuest Competition.
Compete | FAQ | Contact Us
Our website is basically on four main types of disasters: oil spills, nuclear disasters, volcanoes and earthquakes. There is also a page on plate tectonics, which relates to volcanoes and earthquakes. Through our website, users will be able to learn more about these disasters as there is much information.
danielEarl Haig Secondary School, toronto, Canada
TharaniCedar Girls' Secondary School, Singapore, Singapore
KathyRobert Gordons College, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
19 & under
sheela padmanEarl Haig Secondary School, singapore, Singapore
Mr J BissetRobert Gordon's College, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
History & Government > Disasters
Science & Technology > Earth Science > Plate Tectonics
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Along with exercise, eating healthy is one of the keys to losing weight. Davis Memorial Hospital Director of Community Wellness Marjory Moses said people need to be honest with themselves about why they are overweight and their eating habits.
"Too many of us just eat too much for reasons other than being hungry,"
Moses said. "People need to decide if they are willing and ready to change eating habits they may have had for a lifetime."
Moses said dieting will work for many people as a "quick fix" but developing new healthful eating habits for the long term is what keeps individuals at a healthy weight.
"Our bodies are basically machines and food is the fuel that makes them work," Moses said. "If we focus on a balance of the fuels we must have, water and nutrients, for our bodies to work at their best, it can be a little easier to see the things we eat that we don't really need snacks, too much sugar, pop and too much unhealthy fat."
Moses said one of the best things a person can do to jump-start a weight loss program is to commit to plan on simple and quality nutrient-rich foods for their meals and snacks. She said another key is to make sure people eat the recommended portion sizes.
"Many packaged foods that have reduced fat or no fat have added sugar to make them taste better."
Davis Memorial Hospital director of Community Wellness
"Every food can fit in a balanced diet, but we have got to stop eating large portions," Moses said. "A portion of spaghetti is a half cup, not a plate full. The 'carb', the spaghetti, is not the problem. It doesn't cause us to gain weight; the plate-full portion size is the problem."
Moses said people also need to look for hidden sugars in their foods.
"Everyone knows that cookies, cakes and Coke have sugar, but yogurt, ranch dressing, fruit juice, spaghetti sauce and breakfast cereal do, too," Moses said. "Many packaged foods that have reduced fat or no fat have added sugar to make them taste better."
Moses said reading labels is key to knowing what people are eating and making wise choices every time they eat will make a difference in their waistline.
"I know people who have only made one change: switching from soft drinks to water and have lost significant numbers of pounds," Moses said. "It's important that people know that it is very possible to enjoy healthy, filling, delicious food, and lose weight at the same time, without starving, being hungry, or feeling deprived. It's all about knowledge and good choices."
Moses suggested local groups like Weight Watchers and TOPS as effective tools for people who want group support.
She also suggested using the Internet and reputable sites like WebMD.com for information.
"Locally, at Davis Memorial Hospital we are offering a three-hour weight loss jump-start workshop on Jan. 9," Moses said. "To learn more about it and reserve a seat in the class, folks should call 304-637-3139."
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Housing and Feminism
Self Build Housing
Training and Technical
Shelter and Service
Planning and Design
Studies of Women's Self Build Housing
Respondents reported that a wide range of building materials were available
to them. Once again however participants in the state housing authority
group self build project had regarding input to decisions about building
materials; participants in the individual self build program had restrictions
on the materials they were allowed to use.
"State housing authority said to use mudbrick, but not load bearing
mudbrick. Council said no cement sheet cladding or hardieplank and I had
to have a colourbond roof."
"Because I was on a sloping site and I cut into it, so used the overburden
to make mud bricks."
The other participants listed an amazing variety of useable building materials
from which they could choose including; materials from a house they demolished,
different forms of green or seasoned timber from the local saw mill, timber
from trees on site, tallowwood posts from on site, other timber, undressed,
undressable rock, mud bricks, sand from the river six miles away, bark,
bamboo and any other the usual store bought materials.
"We used the building materials from the house we demolished and that
was the first storey. Where we lived we could have built with stone but
wood was very easy to build with. For the second storey we used green timber
from the local saw mill. The old guy running the mill was great."
These participants reported a number reasons for the variety of materials
they considered using. The reasons given were: that the materials were from
what at that stage seemed a renewable source, other environmental reasons,
materials were freely or cheaply available, ease of construction, minimal
need for transport, and energy conservation.
"Wanted to use materials from the site to minimise need for transport.
So that meant using tallowwood poles for the frame, sawn hardwood roof structure
and floorboard seconds with corrugated iron sheet roofing. Initially weatherboard
cladding but then went on to use stone as an infill wall."
"I used wood in the end. There were dead mahogany on the site and I
had to burn them out. I used a cross cut saw to cut one ring barked dead
tree, then I cut lengths and split it with a sledge hammer and wedges to
make stumps. I bought timber for frame and floor. Made a few shingles for
the roof but didn't use them; I bought some instead."
None of the respondents had prior familiarity with the type of construction
they used for their house and only two had any theoretical knowledge which
they both described as limited or partial. One of the private community
builders says that she experimented with different material and used little
Women who were part of state housing authority programs were given booklets
to guide them in the building process which appears to have been very useful
in approaching the building process. The other women talked about drawing
and redrawing plans, and building simple sheds as ways of "getting
into" the process.
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By Norman Kolpas
Luminous watercolors by Texan J. Mark Kohler capture the quiet nobility of real working cowboys
|FRESH SHIRT AND A FAST HORSE, WATERCOLOR, 14 X 9|
It was a sunny mid-May day on the CV Ranch, a big old spread in the Chino Valley northwest of Prescott, AZ. The cowboys broke for lunch after a grueling morning that had seen them start before dawn, bringing in, wrestling, and branding some 150 calves. That same number awaited them again in the afternoon.
One of the hands, Walter Weir, took a breather. He sat on a rickety folding chair in the middle of the encampment, dirt and dust smearing the shirt and jeans that had been sparkling clean and freshly pressed when he put them on just hours before. Weir pulled out a tobacco pouch and, head bowed and shoulders slumped, fixed to place a chaw in his mouth.
Standing a respectful distance away, artist J. Mark Kohler raised his digital camera and, in a rapid series of snaps, recorded the scene, which included a battered red pickup truck that had known its share of rocky ranch roads and a teepee where another cowboy dozed. Soon, Weir nodded off, too. “He fell asleep with the tobacco still in his mouth,” Kohler recalls.
Weeks later, back at Kohler’s studio in a spare room of his home in Sabinal, TX, a town on the edge of the Hill Country, he transformed that digital reference into whipped seven ways from sunday, a luminous watercolor that quietly captures the grit and nobility of the working cowboy’s life. Last year Kohler entered the piece in the Phippen Museum’s Western Art Show and Sale, and it won first place in the watercolor category.
That honor was just the latest milestone in a fine-art career that could genuinely be described as meteoric, considering that Kohler, now 43, devoted himself full time to painting scarcely a dozen years ago. Yet, every twist and turn of his life led him toward his current success.
You could not pry the pencil out of my hand when I was a kid,” he recalls of his childhood in Austin, where the biggest influence on his young life was his grandfather, William “Duke” Beasley. “Both my parents worked,” says Kohler, “and I would spend the whole summer with him. It was just the best time. He was a fantastic craftsman, and he had a workshop where he made fiddles and grandfather clocks and knives and taught himself to sew and to paint in oils.” Duke always bought his grandson art materials. “Whenever I was with him, we would paint or draw. There’s no time I can remember not doing that.”
By the time Kohler entered high school, he was primed to benefit from an extraordinary opportunity: Texas-born Hispanic/Indian artist Amado Peña, now a powerhouse among Southwestern artists, was then just beginning his career and primarily earning a living teaching art in public schools. “He had a window of time in Austin,” Kohler marvels, “and I hit all four years with him.”
|HOLDING OUR GROUND, WATERCOLOR, 15 X 22|
Studies with Peña provided more than just training in drawing and painting, “though he helped us a lot with technique, and had us do framing for him, too,” says Kohler. “He was intense. He was also just beginning to break through. I learned from him that art was a very serious profession, that you had to work at a high level in order to succeed. And I thought, this could be my career, too.”
After high school, he entered the art department at Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos, where he specialized in illustration. “If you wanted to study fine art, the path was really contemporary and nontraditional,” he explains. “I thought of myself as a fine artist, but to do figurative work I had to go the illustration route. And once you’re on that train, you can’t really get off it.”
After graduating, Kohler headed back home to Austin, where he earned a living as a freelance illustrator. He also developed a reputation for fine calligraphy, and mid-1980s album covers for local musicians like Texas country singer Gary P. Nunn and boogie-blues rockers Omar & the Howlers bear his handiwork. “I would write the word ‘Omar’ over and over again with a ruling pen until we got one that worked,” he laughs.
But the constant grind of freelancing eventually caught up with him. “I got burnout and just felt I wasn’t accomplishing anything meaningful,” he says. Fortunately, he had a new ally and touchstone in his wife, Pam. He met Pam, a production artist, in 1982 at an agency he’d worked for, and they married four years later. With her support, he quit illustrating, and from 1992 to ’95 he worked full time as an insurance adjustor while he began, in his spare time, to paint fine-art watercolors. “It’s always been watercolors for me,” says Kohler. “I like the airy freshness of it. And you can create so many atmospheric effects with it—dust and haze and sky…”
Featured in February 2008
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Diabetic Black Hat Researcher Hacks Insulin Pump
Cyber-attacks are no longer limited to just computers. At Black Hat, a security researcher discussed how an attacker with a powerful antenna could launch a wireless attack to remotely control an insulin pump and kill the victim for up to half a mile away.
Security researcher Jay Radcliffe set out to find out if proprietary wireless communications could be reverse engineered to manipulate a diabetic's insulin pump and potentially kill the patient. Radcliffe had a very compelling reason to do this research: he is a diabetic.
"I have two devices attached to me at all times; an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor," said Radcliffe. He said that the devices turned him into a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system.
During his Aug. 4 "Hacking Medical Devices for Fun and Insulin: Breaking the Human SCADA System" session, Radcliffe discussed how an attacker could intercept wireless signals emitted by medical devices and broadcast a stronger signal to interfere with regular operation. The malicious commands can change the blood-sugar level readout on an insulin pump to misinform the patient of the blood sugar levels or just disable the device. If done repeatedly, the attacker could kill a person because of improper insulin dosages, Radclifee suggested.
"It's basically like having root on the device, which is like having root on the chemistry of your body," said Radcliffe.
Wireless devices, even medical ones like pacemakers, defibrillators and insulin pumps, are susceptible to eavesdropping. Radcliffe's pump uses a remote control to administer insulin. The attacker just needs the target device's serial number so that it will respond to commands from the stranger's remote control. With a USB device that was readily available from eBay or medical supply companies, he was able to see what kind of information was being transmitted by the device, and could come up with commands to send to the pump.
Radcliffe suggested scenarios where an attacker could launch attacks from a few feet away, such as on the same airplane or on the same hospital floor, or even as far as a half mile away.
Radcliffe did not mention the vendor of the pump he experimented on because it wasn't "relevant" and he didn't want "any bad guy or evil hacker" to start working on exploit code right away. He said, half-jokingly, that attackers would be able to kill him if he revealed too much information.
"It would only take one person to do this to kill someone and then you have a catastrophe," he said.
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<urn:uuid:70ddd1f2-2eef-4163-88a9-c454b8de876c>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.eweek.com/print/security-watch/diabetic-black-hat-researcher-hacks-insulin-pump.html
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
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In addition to the dangers of loss, theft and performance issues, laptops are prime candidates for hard drive failure. In fact such a failure is not an uncommon hardware problem for any type of computer system.
A hard drive failure can result in the total loss of data files and possibly the loss of the machine's functionality altogether. When one's work product data files - class notes, research papers or address books - are saved to that hard drive, the files will be difficult, perhaps even impossible, to recover. Thus, the importance of backing up all one's significant files.
Fortunately there is nothing difficult or even time-consuming about helping yourself dependable, backup protection. (Complications regarding backups generally trace to the various contexts in which backups may be needed.)
The context addressed here is the common and simple case of a user creating work product files and saving those files to a laptop or desktop computer. The well being of non-work product files, especially operating system or software files, will not addressed.
This backup information assumes use of a Microsoft Windows operating system although the concept or approach outlined here is equally applicable to an Apple/Macintosh or Unix computing.
Backups will be made much easier if the work product data files are well organized. Especially on a laptop always save files within the My Documents folder.Within the My Documents folder, build an organized folder structure relevant to your work and interests. We in Computing Services can advise on the use of My Computer or Windows Explorer for creating an organizational file structure or for the purpose of efficiently copying many files/folders at once.
Always backup to an exterior drive. Do not rely upon file backups residing on a second partition on the same machine. Copying significant files to some other medium (for example, a flash drive) or another computer system (for example, as an attachment to an email account) will dramatically increase your data security.
Some care taking of that exterior drive including being able to find it if and when one needs it -- these are important considerations.
Desirability of frequency of backup will vary by person and by period of personal productivity. As long as one takes the matter of backups seriously and follows through on one's own generation of significant files, one can be confident in feeling secure. Multiple backups to the multiple media described below should be carried out whenever one's work product may be rated especially valuable.
USB Drive (AKA, Flash or Jump, Keychain Drives) -- stores upwards of 60 gigabytes (GB) of data files including an entire file and folder structure
Email files to yourself as attachments. If file(s) especially important, email it to more email accounts even to the account of a friend or family member
UGA Skydrive -- web access to 7 gigabytes (GB) of space; available through your UGA mail or via a downloadable client. More information here.
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<urn:uuid:80a117ae-4534-414d-aacc-122e91d7b88d>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.law.uga.edu/backing-files
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en
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ALIST Profile of Patsy Mink '51
Excerpted from alist-magazine.com
Are you a woman who played sports in high school or college in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s or who went to college or graduate school in the 1980s, 1990s, or 2000s? Are you a female college student or do you know someone who is a female college student or female athlete? If so, then there’s a woman you should be thanking for the passage of Title IX. While most people have probably heard of Title IX and think of its main application in terms of providing equal access for girls and women in high school and college sports, many people may not know that (1) Title IX was actually proposed with the idea of equality of education for women and covers 10 areas, including equality in sports (2) The principal architect and sponsor of this bill — a bill that was subsequently renamed in 2002 to honor this congressperson’s achievements, is Patsy Mink.
Patsy Mink was an extraordinary woman. She was born Patsy Matsu Takemoto on December 6, 1927 and grew up on a plantation in Maui, Hawaii (although it should be noted that her father was one of the few college-educated plantation employees — he was a land surveyor — and received a very good salary, certainly better than the laboring plantation workers in the fields). Mink wanted to become a doctor, but found that a combination of sexism and racism barred her from medical school. So she got a law degree from the University of Chicago, but subsequently found that a combination of sexism and racism prevented her from being hired in both Chicago and Honolulu...
So Patsy Mink got involved in politics. And while the path to Congress would take too long to recite in this column, the important thing to know about Patsy Mink is that she became one of eight women in the House of Representatives and, most significantly, she was the first woman of color, the first Asian American woman, the first Japanese American woman, to serve in Congress.
Read the rest of the article here.
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<urn:uuid:e7c0b374-50fb-4b73-98ba-0c9d3a15e393>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.law.uchicago.edu/alumni/accoladesandachievements/alist-profile-patsy-mink-51
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Every year students at Springville High compete in an event unlike any other. Not a competition of strength or speed, but of patience, mind, and preparation—the annual Bridge Building contest. This year senior Katarina Waugh won the competition with her bridge holding 2155 lbs.
The Bridge Building contest has been going on for over 25 years. Students enter bridges they’ve made and see how much weight they can take. This gives students the chance to take what they’ve learned in their science classes and apply that knowledge to a real life situation.
This contest is not any normal contest; it changes every year, challenging it’s contestants with new trials. This means that there is no world record and anyone’s bridge has a chance. Last year Christina Metler won with a total weight of 1866 lbs It seems that SHS is getting better at engineering each year.
|Katrina Waugh watching her bridge being tested||1.14 MB|
|Students watch for their scores to be put up on the projector||68.83 KB|
|While new scores are being put up more bridges meet their breaking point||71.24 KB|
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<urn:uuid:be0b2024-5dc7-4275-b615-3b9e287f1de1>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.shs.nebo.edu/news/senior-wins-local-bridge-contest?page=2&slide=2
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
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Teaching Resources has a "Sports Kids! Bulletin Board" set (NTS965453). It shows both boys and girls doing a variety of sports.
I don't know about your classroom, but in mine, the girls are involved in as many out-of-school and after-school sports as my boys (soccer, flag football, basketball, volleyball, and Little League). I think your girls will enjoy this theme.
I have done a sports theme for the past two years and I'm going to do it again this year. I have not had any difficulty bringing in the girls. There are several things that have cheerleaders on it. I bought almost everything that Teacher Created Materials puts out that is sports related. Carson Dellosa also has lots of sports items as well. The first year I did this theme I ordered on line from the companies directly. Here are several of my ideas that I use for my classroom. Most of the ideas are from others that I got from this site.
Behavior=All Star Behavior
4 cheerleaders holding up stars= on the stars I wrote T E A M
T together E everyone A achieves M more
identified our classroom meeting area as = the locker room
I also have our NFL team schedule on my calendar board and each Monday we discuss the states and what direction our team or visiting team had to travel for the game. (Covers states and capitals/cities and directions.) We also talk about the points scored, how won and by how much. (Great introduction into borrowing or regrouping.) It only takes about one or two weeks before EVERY student comes in on Monday and wants to be the one to discuss football and inform the class on the score of the game.
I'm sure I do more, but it's getting late and my brain is shutting down. . .
My daughter is a 3rd grade teacher & last year she used the sports theme. It was awesome & exciting for her students as well as herself. She incorporated it into everything. She wrote letters to different pro teams and our local state colleges (community & universities) and told them what she was doing. Then she & her class made a chart & everytime a team responded they charted it. Sometimes it was a letter, sometimes pencils, keychains, penants, sports cards, posters, etc. The students looked forward to "getting mail". .There were lots of surprises. The administration even came to check when they knew there was mail. This also opened discussions about striving to go to college, doing your best, start studying now..you never know.., she had local athletes come in from High Schools & local colleges. She had Local athletes read to her students and giving them "pep talks". Recess became organized & fun. The P.E. teacher got in on it! The students did research themselves at home and in class. They loved homework! Read biographies , etc....The groups in her classes voted & adopted their "team mascots" & used that for there areas. Math easily adapted as well...racing, baseball stats, footballs stats, etc. There is alot you can do with sports. It teaches "team work" and discipline. It'll go over big. There are sports for all seasons. Hope you got an idea or 2.
Cute ideas! The sports/teamwork theme is a school wide theme for us as well. I am stuck on what to put outside my wall for their work. I have had "Homerun Hitters" and another teacher is using "All-Star Work", but these are grabbing me. Any suggestions. I have made each student a pennant with their name on it, and I will use it somewhere, but couldn't think of anything the pennants would go with for their work. If you had any more wonderful ideas, I would really appreciate it!!
I teach 1st grade and did a sports theme last year. What a hit!! I made sure to include gymnastics, cheerleading and dance. However I feel that the most imporant part of the sports theme is just focusing on teamwork, practice (classwork and homework) makes perfect (assessment), determination, etc...
I have never had a class work so well together and I think the theme had a lot to do with it.
A few cute ideas: Hang hula hoops and use them to display student work, hit up the local college or HS to get donated Jerseys. I hng them and the kids loved them! Also, I had a "locker"/cabinet filled with treats of different point values. For every day of super behavior they were awarded with a game ticket. On Fridays they could trade in tickets for their prizes should they choose to. Some were worth 50 tickets so they also learned about patience and the art of saving!!
I was wondering if you change your themes each year or just build on the present theme. I have never done a theme...how do you start? I don't want to spend too much money, but I like it. HELP!!! I think the sports - baseball theme is neat.
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<urn:uuid:96bcc4c9-978a-4c3a-918c-fc04622def9e>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/showthread.php?t=47739
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en
| 0.985177
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