text stringlengths 160 608k | id stringlengths 47 47 | dump stringclasses 2 values | url stringlengths 13 2.97k | file_path stringlengths 125 140 | language stringclasses 1 value | language_score float64 0.65 1 | token_count int64 48 145k | score float64 1.5 5 | int_score int64 2 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Category: Transient Plane Source
Abstract: Kerosene is used as a coolant in engines, however like many conventional heat transfer fluids, it has a low thermal conductivity. Nanofluids are suspensions of thermally conductive nanometer sized particles in a base fluid. This paper explores the thermal properties of a Kerosene based nanofluid with copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles. The thermal conductivity meter measured the thermal conductivity of copper oxide/Kerosene nanofluids using the transient plane source (TPS) technique. Nanofluid samples of 60 ml ranging from 0.01-0.08% concentration were measured for 20 seconds at 25mW. Results showed that the thermal conductivity of the CuO/Kerosene nanofluid increased with CuO concentration up to a certain point, then slightly declined.
Reference: Nano Vision, 6, 2 (2016) 10-17 | <urn:uuid:9184686e-2594-48c3-956d-262b0ca42b35> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://thermtest.com/papers/thermal-conductivity-and-dispersion-stability-of-copper-oxide-nanofluid-in-kerosene | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.887078 | 199 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Review Article - Journal of Food Microbiology (2017) Journal of Food Microbiology(Special Issue-2017)
The spoilage microorganisms in seafood with the existed quorum sensing phenomenon
Feifei Wang, Linglin Fu, Xingyue Bao and Yanbo Wang*
Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Bioengineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
- *Corresponding Author:
- Yanbo Wang
18 Xuezheng road
Xiasha University Town
Hangzhou, 310018, China
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted on September 27, 2017
Citation: Wang F, Fu L, Bao X, et al. The spoilage microorganisms in seafood with the existed quorum sensing phenomenon. J Food Microbiol 2017;1(1):14-19.
Most food products are highly perishable as they constitute a rich nutrient source for microbial development. Seafood is one of the most highly perishable food products due to the chemical effects of atmospheric oxygen and the growth of spoilage microorganisms. Therefore, the spoilage of food depends up on the physiological state of spoilers and on their ability to resist the processing/storage conditions. In addition, spoilage relies on the density of the population and the interactions between the microorganisms composing the ecosystems of seafood involving quorum sensing. This review mainly introduces the SSOs of seafood under different preserve conditions, the spoilage microorganisms employing quorum sensing system, and describes the relationship between quorum sensing and spoilage potential in these microorganisms.
Seafood, Spoilage microorganisms, Quorum sensing.
Seafood is one of the most highly perishable food products because of the chemical effects of atmospheric oxygen and the growth of spoilage microorganisms . Spoilage of seafood can be caused by enzymes, dehydration, oxidation, contamination and physical damage. Sulphurous, ammoniacal, or fishy odours are some of the main organoleptic changes taking place during spoilage development .
The major cause of seafood spoilage is microbial growth and metabolic activity which result in the formation of amines, sulphides, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and organic acids with unpleasant and unacceptable off-flavours .
However, only a fraction of the initial microbiota of seafood known as specific spoilage organisms (SSOs), which is favoured by storage conditions (e.g., atmosphere, temperature), prevails over the rest of the microbiota, reaching high populations and producing corresponding metabolites (biochemical spoilage indices) .
Quorum sensing (QS), which involves the production, release and community-wide detection of extracellular signaling molecules called autoinducers, is a cell-to-cell communication process enabling microorganisms to collectively alter behavior patterns upon changes in cell density and species composition in surrounding community.
When a threshold concentration of the signaling molecule is reached, the group detects and responds to it with a populationwide alteration in gene expression. Therefore, QS-controlled processes, such as bioluminescence, the secretion of virulence factors, biofilm formation and the production of public goods, require the collective action of the group to be effective .
The most commonly studied autoinducers of QS signals include N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs) in Gram-negative bacteria, oligopeptide in Gram-positive bacteria, and autoinducer-2 (AI-2) used in both Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria .
Beyond these classes, recently, a range of cyclic dipeptides (diketopiperazines, DKPs) produced by multiple Gram-negative bacteria were reported to modulate supposedly AHLs-specific sensor system [7-9].
The physiological and clinical aspects of QS have attracted considerable attention and been studied at the molecular level. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the role of QS in food spoilage. As cell-to-cell communication occurs in diverse bacterial species, QS likely plays a role in the microbial ecology of foods .
Main Spoilage Microorganisms in Different Seafood and Seafood Products
The recent establishment of the SSO concept has contributed significantly to our understanding of seafood spoilage .
The growth of different SSOs depends on several parameters: food product, type of preservation, temperature, atmosphere, and salt content, among others. During storage, the microflora changes owing to different abilities of the microorganisms to tolerate the preservation conditions .
Here, the storage conditions of seafood were divided into two major categories, and the spoilage microorganisms predominant in both conditions were discussed and listed in Table 1, respectively.
|Spoilage bacteria||Sea foods and seafood products||References|
|Shewanella spp.||Gutted sea bass|||
|Iced sea salmon|||
|Air stored swordfish|||
|Refrigerated large yellow croaker|||
|Pseudomonas spp.||Gutted sea bass|||
|Air stored swordfish|||
|Aeromonas spp.||Iced sea salmon|||
|Photobacterim phosphoreum||MAP/VP stored raw salmon|||
|VP packaged squid mantle|||
|Enterobacteriaceae||MAP/VP packaged swordfish|||
|VP packaged pressurised squid mantle|||
|LAB||MAP/VP stored raw salmon|||
|MAP/VP packaged swordfish|||
|VP packaged pressurised squid mantle|||
Table 1. Main spoilage microorganisms in different seafood and seafood products.
Fresh Seafood Stored in Ice or under MAP/VP
In newly caught marine seafood from temperate waters, microflora is formed mainly by aerobic rods-shapes, anaerobic facultative and psychrotrophic Gram-negative bacteria, whose growth is possible at 0 and optimal at around 25. The majority belongs to the Gammaproteobacteria: Pseudomonas, Shewanella, Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Vibrio, Moraxella, Psychrobacter, Photobacterium, etc. The same bacterial genus can be found in tropical marine seafood, but Cram-positive bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae are often dominant . Generally, Pseudomonas spp., S. putrefaciens, S. baltica or Aeromonas spp. were common dominant spoilage bacteria in iced sea salmon [15,16]; gutted sea bass ; chilled fresh Mediterranean swordfish ; tropical prawns [18,19]; large yellow croaker . Pseudoalteromonas and Vibrio were dominant microorganisms in shucked oysters during iced-storage , as spoilage proceeded, enterococci, lactobacilli, and yeasts dominated at the later stages , the spoilage patterns of Mollusca shellfish differ in most species of seafood as they contain high levels of carbohydrate in the form of glycogen . Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and Vacuum-Packaging (VP), along with refrigeration, have become increasingly popular preservation techniques. Dominant strains isolated from spoiled squid were identified as Photobacterium phosphoreum . Bacteria grew faster under aerobic conditions, while the increase of CO2 and O2 reduction in MAP inhibited the bacterial growth and changed the microbial spoilage by suppressing mostly the Gram negatives and favouring the Gram positives . P. phosphoreum and L. piscium were identified as the main bacterial groups in MAP/VP raw salmon . The main SSO of modified atmosphere packaged Norway lobster is P. phosphoreum, since P. phosphoreum is known to withstand high CO2 concentrations . Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and Brochothrix thermosphacta were co-dominant with Pseudomonas and H2S producing bacteria in gutted sea bass stored at 2 under MAP . Carnobacterium. maltaromaticum was the organism that showed the highest resistance to CO2 and to the lack of O2 among the organisms responsible for spoilage in mackerel fillets packed under modified atmospheres .
Lightly preserved seafood
Lightly preserved seafood are uncooked or mildly cooked products with low level preservatives which can influence their aw, pH, including brined/pickled/marinated seafood, cooked and peeled shrimp and shucked shellfish stored in MAP/VP or in brine, cold-smoked fish, etc. As a result, aerobic Gramnegative bacteria are inhibited, which allows the growth of other organisms more resistant to reduced aw .
Psychrobacter spp. and Pseudoalteromonas spp. were the dominant microbiota of cooked brown shrimp and enhanced spoilage by breaking down lipids and hydrolysing amino acids and proteins . The major spoilage bacterial isolates from spoiled cooked and whole tropical shrimp stored under MAP were C. maltaromaticum and S. baltica . LAB and Brochothrix spp. were dominant bacteria in the latter storage period of the VP-packed cold-smoked salmon, whereas Brochothrix spp. rather than LAB were responsible for spoilage . Differently, Joffraud et al. identified L. sakei and S. liquefaciens-like as the most spoiling bacteria. Besides, psychrotrophic marine vibrio and Photobacterium spp. were reported to be dominant microflora . The different spoilage microorganism’s profiles of cold-smoked salmon may result from the different treatments and environment.
In conclusion, the microflora changes owing to different abilities of the microorganisms to tolerate the storage conditions. Pseudomonas spp. and a few other Gram-negative psychrotrophic organisms will dominate seafoods stored aerobically at chill temperatures. CO2 packing or vacuum packing will inhibit the respiratory pseudomonads and cause a shift in the microflora to P. phosphoreum, LAB, Enterobacteriaceae and sometimes B. thermosphacta. Increasing the preservation by a decrease in pH, an increase in the NaCl concentration and by adding low level preservatives eliminates the Gram-negative microflora, LAB is the remaining organisms in semi-preserved fish products.
QS Regulated Seafood Spoilage
The physiological and clinical aspects of QS have attracted considerable attention and been studied at the molecular level. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the role of QS in food spoilage, especially in seafood. As cell-to-cell communication exists in diverse bacterial species, QS likely plays a role in the microbial ecology of foods . In the past few years, the possible role of QS in food spoilage has been explored, including siderophore synthesis, metabolic activities and biofilm formation, predominantly.
The Siderophores synthesis
All aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria require iron for growth and only LAB do not depend on supplementation of this mineral . In fish muscle, the environment is iron-limited despite of the rich nutrient and high affinity chelators, the so-called siderophores are produced to scavenge ironduring bacterial growth. Although fish tissue allowed the siderophore production by most Pseudomonas and S. putrefaciens isolates from fish, S. putrefaciens was inhibited by Pseudomonas sp. particularly when iron was limited . Later, the biosynthesis of siderophore in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was firstly reported to be controlled by QS system, lasR mutants showed a reproducible 2-fold decrease in production of the catecholate-hydroxamate siderophore pyoverdine during grown under iron-limited conditions. Similarly, lasI mutants defective in the biosynthesis of the autoinducer PAI-1 also had a 2-fold decrease in pyoverdine production which could be largely restored upon addition of exogenous PAI-I .
It was reported that exogenous AHL was required for the stimulated biosynthesis of heterologous siderophore in marine-isolated bacteria, and stimulated growth by exogenous siderophores and AHLs was also observed in other non-siderophore- producing bacteria . Rasch et al. have reported that bacterial spoilage of bean sprouts was influenced by QS, the AHL-negative mutant of Enterobacteriaceae was impaired in siderophore activities and spoilage potential, for the first time demonstrating that iron chelation in Enterobacteriaceae was regulated by AHL . These reports offer a new perspective for exploring seafood spoilage mediated by intra and inter-species cell-cell communication (Figure 1), although little study has focused on the regulation of QS on the siderophore-associated spoilage in seafood.
Figure 1. A speculated network of how QS influences spoilage potential of seafood microorganisms. Studies have revealed that QS is involved in regulating spoilage-related phenotypes, such as siderophore synthesis, metabolic activities and biofilm formation. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the molecule mechanism of how these phenotypes are controlled by QS, albeit the results that the genes encoding TorA and ODC were transcriptional regulated by exogenous QS signals. Beyond that, the genes responsible for some phenotypes like siderophore synthesis and biofilm formation in seafood spoilage microorganisms are remain to be studied. Besides, the relationship between QS system and the production of other off-odors related metabolites remain unknown.
As described before, spoilage microorganisms are responsible for various sensory deterioration, but these sensory descriptors are not easily associated with enzymatic functions or metabolic pathways. Several studies have reported the detection or measurement of molecules (biogenic amines and volatile compounds) in seafood spoiled by known microorganisms. However, it is difficult to correlate the production of spoilage-related metabolites to the functions of spoilers, and the studies investigating the metabolism and physiology of bacteria responsible for seafood spoilage are much less abundant, not to mention the studies on these spoilage phenomena caused by spoilers employing QS system. The QS system involved in metabolic activity in microorganisms of seafood was listed in Table 2.
|Bacterial group/species||Seafood||Production of||Phenotypes regulated by QS||References|
|volatile organic components|
|Nr: not reported|
Table 2. QS System involved in microorganism spoilage in seafood.
Biogenic amines (BAs) are low molecular weight organic bases that possess biological activity. BAs are basic nitrogenous compounds formed mainly by decarboxylation of amino acids or by amination and transamination of aldehydes and ketones . BAs can be divided into three groups according to chemical structure: aliphatic (putrescine, cadaverine, spermine, spermidine); aromatic (tyramine, phenylethylamine); heterocyclic (histamine, tryptamine). In seafood, BAs are formed due to the presence of decarboxylase-positive microorganisms, and conditions that allow bacterial growth, decarboxylase synthesis and decarboxylase activity .
Tri Methyl Amines (TMA) is formed from bacterial use of TMAO which is found in most marine fish species . Pseudomonas spp. cannot use TMAO and produce no TMA on spoiling fish. SSOs such as Aeromonas spp., Photobacterium phosphoreum, Shewanella putrefaciens-like organisms, Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrio spp. are all capable of using TMAO as final acceptor of electrons and produce TMA, causing “fishy” odours associated with seafood spoilage [21,36]. TMAO is reduced to TMA by the enzyme TMAO reductase, encoded by the torCAD operon . In Shewanella baltica, the SSO of refrigerated large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea), the TMA and putrescine were significantly increased in the presence of cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Leu), the transcription levels of torA and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) were upregulated in accordance with the spoilage phenotypes .
As described in the previous section that DKPs were suggested as QS signals, it seems that QS system was involved in the S. baltica spoilage through regulating TMA and putrescine production. Similarly, the production of total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) in sterile fish muscle juice inoculated with S. baltica was significantly improved by synthetic DKPs supplementation . AHLs and cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Leu) were reported to promote the extracellular proteolytic activities in SSO of refrigerated shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), and to increase the levels of TVB-N and the volatile organic components in the shrimp samples . AHL-modulated exoenzymic activities have been reported in Serratia proteamaculans B5a isolated from cold-smoked salmon, and the lipB-encoded secretion system was identified as one target gene of the QS system.
LipB was required for the production of extracellular lipolytic and proteolytic activities, thus rendering the production of food-deterioration-relevant exoenzymes indirectly under the control of QS . In addition, the C4-HSL signaling molecule produced by the isolate strain Pseudomonas psychrophila PSPF19 played a role in spoilage of freshwater fish stored in refrigerated conditions via inducing exoenzyme production by twofold . However, there is a lack of knowledge on the relationship between QS system and the production of other off-odors related metabolites, it can be the consequence of a complex succession of enzymatic reactions, potentially associated with non-enzymatic reactions, the spoilage can also result from reactions catalyzed by enzymes that are not well defined (Figure 1).
Biofilms are formed by bacteria attached to surfaces, which upon their aggregation release extracellular polysaccharides that form a polymeric matrix or glycocalyx. Biofilms are architecturally complex structures made up of microcolonies and characteristic mushroom or pillar-like arrangements that are separated by channels that permit the circulation of water and nutrients . There are many reports on QS regulating biofilm formation in pathogens. Davies et al. have first suggested the control of biofilm differentiation and integrity by las QS in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo and in vitro, which makes an inextricable connection between QS and biofilm formation . In Streptococcus mutans dependent on the ComCDE QS system, biofilms formed by the comC mutant that did not produce CSP had a reduced biomass, and conversely, adding synthetic CSP into the culture restored the wild-type biofilm . The agr QS system was reported to play a role in biofilm development in Staphylococcus aureus . The luxS-controlled quorum-sensing (QS) system was proved to play a major role in the control of Streptococcus pneumoniae biofilm formation . As for microorganism spoilers, the molecule mechanism of QS-regulated biofilm remains to be studied, albeit some experiments were carried out in vitro. AHLs and/or DKPs were reported to promote the biofilm formation in Pseudomonas psychrophila PSPF19 and Shewanella baltica [19,20,40,46], and the QS system involved in biofilm formation in microorganisms of seafood was listed in Table 2. The molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation regulated by QS system in food spoilers needs further study (Figure 1).
Many studies have shown that cell density-dependent signalling systems in bacteria controls a range of phenotypic traits. However, there is little studies focus on the QS system in seafood spoilage, although there are many reports on the major spoilage microorganisms in seafood and the functional properties of these spoilers. Here, we list the spoilage microorganisms employing QS system and the corresponding spoilage phenotypes regulated by QS system in seafood in Table 2. Besides, according to the previous reports related to the role of QS system on group behaviour including cell growth and metabolic activities and biofilm formation, we speculate a molecule network of how QS influences spoilage potential of seafood microorganisms in Figure 1. The QS-involved spoiling mechanisms at molecule level still remain to be studied. It is important to have awareness and an understanding of the mechanisms involved in the bacterial quorum sensing, since preservatives targeting quorum sensing will offer a new means to control the proliferation of undesirable microorganisms in seafood.
This study was financially supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (LZ15C200001) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (31571913 and 31772050). We thank Dr. Yang Zhu for the recommendation and instruction of the manuscript.
- Özogul F, Polat A, Özogul Y. "The effects of modified atmosphere packaging and vacuum packaging on chemical, sensory and microbiological changes of sardines (Sardina pilchardus)". Food Chem. 2004;85:49-57.
- Gram L, Ravn L, Rasch M, et al. "Food spoilage-interactions between food spoilage bacteria", Int J Food Microbiol. 2002;78(1-2):79-97.
- Robson A A, Kelly MS, Latchford JW. "Effect of temperature on the spoilage rate of whole, unprocessed crabs: Carcinus maenas, Necora puber and Cancer pagurus", Food Microbiol. 2007;24(4): 419-24.
- Parlapani FF, Haroutounian SA, Nychas GJ, et al. "Microbiological spoilage and volatiles production of gutted European sea bass stored under air and commercial modified atmosphere package at 2 degrees C", Food Microbiol. 2015;50: 44-53.
- Bassler B LLosick R. "Bacterially speaking", Cell, 2006;125(2): 237-46.
- Fernandez-Piquer J, Bowman JP, Ross T, et al. "Molecular analysis of the bacterial communities in the live Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and the influence of postharvest temperature on its structure", J Appl Microbiol. 2012;112(6): 1134-43.
- Holden MT, Ram CS, De NR, et al. "Quorum-sensing cross talk: isolation and chemical characterization of cyclic dipeptides from pseudomonas aeruginosa and other gram-negative bacteria", Mol Microbiol. 1999;33(6):1254-66.
- Degrassi G, Aguilar C, Bosco M, et al. "Plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas putida WCS358 produces and secretes four cyclic dipeptides: cross-talk with quorum sensing bacterial sensors", Curr Microbiol. 2002;45(4):250-4.
- Park D K, Lee K E, Baek C H, et al. "Cyclo(Phe-Pro) modulates the expression of ompU in Vibrio spp", J Bacteriol. 2006;188(6):2214-21.
- Shiner E K, Rumbaugh K P, Williams S C. "Inter-kingdom signaling: deciphering the language of acyl homoserine lactones", FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2005;29(5):935-47.
- Klose K E. "Increased chatter: cyclic dipeptides as molecules of chemical communication in Vibrio spp.", J Bacteriol. 2006;188(6):2025-6.
- Dalgaard P. "Qualitative and quantitative characterization of spoilage bacteria from packed fish", Int J Food Microbiol. 1995;26(3):319.
- Bekaert K, Devriese L, Maes S, et al. "Characterization of the dominant bacterial communities during storage of Norway lobster and Norway lobster tails (Nephrops norvegicus) based on 16S rDNA analysis by PCR-DGGE", Food Microbiol. 46:2015;132-8.
- Francoise L. "Occurrence and role of lactic acid bacteria in seafood products", Food Microbiol. 2010;27(6):698-709.
- Hozbor M C, Saiz A I, Yeannes M I, et al. "Microbiological changes and its correlation with quality indices during aerobic iced storage of sea salmon (Pseudopercis semifasciata)", LWT-Food Sci. Technol, 2006;39(2):99-104.
- Mace S, Cornet J, Chevalier F, et al. "Characterisation of the spoilage microbiota in raw salmon (Salmo salar) steaks stored under vacuum or modified atmosphere packaging combining conventional methods and PCR-TTGE", Food Microbiol. 2012;30(1):164-72.
- Pantazi D, Papavergou A, Pournis N, et al. "Shelf-life of chilled fresh Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) stored under various packaging conditions:microbiological, biochemical and sensory attributes", Food Microbiol. 2008;25(1):136-43.
- Chinivasagam H N, Bremner H A, Wood A F, et al. "Volatile components associated with bacterial spoilage of tropical prawns", J Food Microbiol. 1998;42(1-2):45-55.
- Zhu S, Wu H, Zeng M, et al. "The involvement of bacterial quorum sensing in the spoilage of refrigerated Litopenaeus vannamei", Int J Food Microbiol. 2015;192:26-33.
- Zhu J, Zhao A, Feng L, et al. "Quorum sensing signals affect spoilage of refrigerated large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) by Shewanella baltica", Int J Food Microbiol., 2016;217:146-55.
- Madigan T L, Bott N J, Torok V A, et al. "A microbial spoilage profile of half shell Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata)", Food Microbiol. 2014;38:219-27.
- Cao R, Xue C H, Liu Q. "Changes in microbial flora of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) during refrigerated storage and its shelf-life extension by chitosan", Int J Food Microbiol. 2009;131(2-3):272-6.
- Paarup T, Sanchez J A, Peláez C, et al. "Sensory, chemical and bacteriological changes in vacuum-packed pressurised squid mantle (Todaropsis eblanae) stored at 4 degrees C", International Journal of Food Microbiology,2002;74(1-2):1.
- Gornik S G, Albalat A, Theethakaew C, et al. "Shelf life extension of whole Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus using modified atmosphere packaging", Int J Food Microbiol. 2013;167(3):369-77.
- Alfaro B, Hernández I, Le Marc Y, et al. "Modelling the effect of the temperature and carbon dioxide on the growth of spoilage bacteria in packed fish products", Food Control. 2013;29(2):429-37.
- Broekaert K, Noseda B, Heyndrickx M, et al. "Volatile compounds associated with Psychrobacter spp. and Pseudoalteromonas spp., the dominant microbiota of brown shrimp (Crangon crangon) during aerobic storage", Int J Food Microbiol. 2013;166(3):487-93.
- Macé S, Cardinal M, Jaffrès E, et al. "Evaluation of the spoilage potential of bacteria isolated from spoiled cooked whole tropical shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) stored under modified atmosphere packaging", Food Microbiol. 2014;40:9-17.
- Leroi F, Joffraud J J, Chevalier F, et al. "Study of the microbial ecology of cold-smoked salmon during storage at 8 degrees C", Int J Food Microbiol. 1998;39(1-2):111-21.
- Truelstrup Hansen L, Røntved S D, Henrik Huss H. "Microbiological quality and shelf life of cold-smoked salmon from three different processing plants", Food Microbiol. 1998;15(2): 137-50.
- Pandey A, Bringel F, Meyer J M. "Iron requirement and search for siderophores in lactic acid bacteria", Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 1994;40(5):735-39.
- McCarter L L. "Polar flagellar motility of the Vibrionaceae", Microbiol Mol Biol Rev, 65(3):2001;445-62, table of contents.
- Bardocz S, Grant G, Brown D S, et al. "Polyamines in food-implications for growth and health", J Nutr Biochem. 1993;4(2):66-71.
- Rasch M, Andersen J B, Nielsen K F, et al. "Involvement of bacterial quorum-sensing signals in spoilage of bean sprouts", Appl Environ Microbiol. 2005;71(6): 3321-30.
- Ten B B, Damink C, Joosten H M, et al. "Occurrence and formation of biologically active amines in foods", Int J Food Microbiol. 1990;11(1):73.
- Koutsoumanis KNychas G J E. "Chemical and Sensory Changes Associated with Microbial Flora of Mediterranean Boque (Boops boops) Stored Aerobically at 0,3,7, and 10°C", Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1999;65(2):698.
- Joffraud J J, Leroi F, Roy C, et al. "Characterisation of volatile compounds produced by bacteria isolated from the spoilage flora of cold-smoked salmon", Int J Food Microbiol. 2001;66(3):175-84.
- Méjean V, Iobbinivol C, Lepelletier M, et al. "TMAO anaerobic respiration in Escherichia coli: involvement of the tor operon", Mol. Microbiol. 1994;11(6):1169-79.
- Gu Q, Fu L, Wang Y, et al. "Identification and characterization of extracellular cyclic dipeptides as quorum-sensing signal molecules from Shewanella baltica, the specific spoilage organism of Pseudosciaena crocea during 4 degrees C storage", J Agric Food Chem. 2013;61(47): 11645-52.
- Christensen A B, Riedel K, Eberl L, et al. "Quorum-sensing-directed protein expression in Serratia proteamaculans B5a", Microbiol. 2003;149(Pt 2):471-83.
- Bai A JRai Vittal R. "Quorum Sensing Regulation and Inhibition of Exoenzyme Production and Biofilm Formation in the Food Spoilage BacteriaPseudomonas psychrophilaPSPF19", Food Biotechnol. 2014;28(4):293-308.
- Costerton J W, Stewart P S, Greenberg E P. "Bacterial biofilms: a common cause of persistent infections", Science. 1999;284(5418):1318-22.
- Davies D G, Parsek M R, Pearson J P, et al. "The involvement of cell-to-cell signals in the development of a bacterial biofilm", Science. 1998;280(5361):295-8.
- Li Y H, Tang N, Aspiras M B, et al. "A Quorum-Sensing Signaling System Essential for Genetic Competence in Streptococcus mutans Is Involved in Biofilm Formation", J. Bacteriol. 2002;184(10):2699-2708.
- Yarwood J M, Bartels D J, Volper E M, et al. "Quorum Sensing in Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms", J. Bacteriol. 2004;186(6):1838-50.
- Vidal J E, Ludewick H P, Kunkel R M, et al. "The LuxS-dependent quorum-sensing system regulates early biofilm formation by Streptococcus pneumoniae strain D39", Infect Immun. 2011;79(10):4050-60.
- Françoise L. "Occurrence and role of lactic acid bacteria in seafood products", Food Microbiol. 2010;27(6):698-709. | <urn:uuid:61b16ac5-0e9a-4e7a-9b2a-4f956f84db2f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.alliedacademies.org/articles/the-spoilage-microorganisms-in-seafood-with-the-existed-quorum-sensing-phenomenon-8528.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.855175 | 7,446 | 2.625 | 3 |
The Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore also a former Brigadier-General in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is currently in Rwanda for his first official visit to the East African country with 8,224 km away across the Indian ocean.
“The two leaders will build on the already existing strong bilateral partnerships,” the Rwandan presidency said on Monday upon arrival of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Development analysts have previously noted that Rwanda in 2000 set a 20-year national development vision reflective of a Singaporean-modelled developmental state approach and results have been very impressive.
President Paul Kagame said that Singapore’s development model and its commitment to social cohesion and national unity are very impressive.
Rwanda that aggressively wanted to walk out of effects of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi that claimed a million lives leaving the country destroyed to near ashes, had envisaged to attain a middle income status by 2020 by pursuing a Singaporean development approach.
However, analysts argue that Rwanda failed to achieve the same developmental objectives achieved by Singapore in the twenty years and President Kagame has provided a synopsis of implementing his national development plan.
“You look back and wonder, is it really true that in 20 years or 25 years nothing has changed about the criticism that is constantly made? That’s what really tells the story that maybe some of the criticisms are not either accurate, or genuine or fair,” Kagame explained.
Convinced that he has made tremendous progress in the country, President Kagame argued, “At the end of the day what we need is, “Has there been a difference made for the people?” because we are talking about people, it’s not just whether you like me or you don’t like me.”
“Staying the course comes from the fact that you understand what you have to do and the country and the people have to understand what they want, what are their aspirations, where have they come from, where do they want to go?” he said.
According to Kagame, “So sometimes people get confused when democracy is being expressed in one way or the other, it has not met the standard or the test or definition of some people and therefore criticisms will be built on that.”
Meanwhile, on similar criticisms received by both nations President Kagame said, “Democracy may mean one thing, a broad thing, but it expresses itself in many ways.”
“We value very highly the trade and investment links as well as the cooperation between our central banks. Both our countries have created a strong foundation,” he added.
The two leaders held a joint press conference where President Kagame noted, “The Prime Minister and I had very productive discussions, and I think we are going to be doing even more together, in the years ahead. I want to thank Singapore for being a reliable partner over the years.” | <urn:uuid:2c447909-2cd6-43e1-b6cc-049c14454d4d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://taarifa.rw/kagame-defends-why-rwanda-pursues-singapores-development-model/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.974169 | 615 | 1.703125 | 2 |
New employees have to undergo a lot of technical training to work efficiently in their new setting. As we discussed in our write-up on ‘Employee Orientation vs. Employee Onboarding’, fresh hires have to go through a session where HRs feed them first-day information; on the other hand, their managers would also involve them in long-term onboarding, which is a comprehensive process to familiarize employees with the work culture and environment. But what happens after those first few months have ended? How would new hires grow in the company?
A mentorship is a valuable tool for employee development, allowing businesses to recruit and retain top talent. As a piece on mentoring for career development by LHH points out, mentoring was ranked as a top career priority for many. In 2019, 76% of a survey’s respondents identified mentoring as important or very important. However, only 37% of respondents actually had access to a mentor — the assumption being that relationships between senior employees and new hires will naturally happen. Unfortunately, many people who do want to be a mentor might not know where to begin. Here are some tips for mentoring new employees:
Table of Content
Acknowledge strengths and weaknesses
Everyone comes into a new job with a unique skill set and their own level of experience. It’s a mentor’s role to identify their mentees’ strengths and weaknesses. Once you begin your mentorship, take time to study your new co-worker’s personality and existing knowledge so you can identify areas to focus work on. You might find opportunities where they can contribute as well. Do remember that it’s okay to make room for mistakes. Failure is a part of learning, so encourage mentees to challenge themselves to do better after a setback. Frame mistakes and weaknesses as learning points.
Help them set goals
Mentors are charged with explaining the demands of a mentee’s role in an organization. They set these objectives to define the behavior expected of them, and setting clear goals aligned with that of the business can benefit your company in the long run. On a personal level, mentors should help their mentees to achieve what they want to achieve vis a vis their career — without influencing them with your own wishes or opinions. Mentorships should feature healthy boundaries, after all. By encouraging communication of their goals, you can figure out how to provide the best technical support them to reach those goals and build trust into your dynamic.
Mentors enjoy a level of experience and comfort that most new hires don’t have on their first day. Beyond the technicalities of the job, mentors should share their personal learnings, past failures, and current struggles so new hires can feel more confident in their ability to grow as an employee. As a bonus, this practice helps mentors keep their egos at the door and seem less intimidating. An article on mentorship topics by HR Dive also notes that having a candid dialogue on mental health and well-being is crucial, particularly if mentees are fresh out of school. Stress and burnout is very real, so discussions on work boundaries and self-care are important. Empathy goes a long way in leadership.
Provide feedback and recognition
We all want to do well in our work, so providing your mentees with constructive feedback is key. You want to educate in a diplomatic, tactful way without filtering anything out — and you definitely don’t want to tear down a person. Along with mistakes or shortcomings, mentors should also point out something positive about their work, then offer guidance for improvement. Some tips on constructive criticism from Business News Daily highlight that constructive tech feedback should change behaviors, so articulating the behavior-to-be-corrected in detail with focused and actionable advice can help.
Provide updated Technical Handles
The mentoring technique is a learning prospect for specialized mentors because they require to be acquainted with the latest technical handle. Occasionally the two parties in a mentoring affinity can even instruct each other about recent technologies.
The methodology of mentoring itself has been pushing toward the latest technologies to enhance mentoring consequences. Artificial intelligence to correspond to mentors and mentees and apps to handle plan setting, monitor engagement, and trace improvement are now open to promote adequate mentoring connections. | <urn:uuid:050326cc-3536-43ac-a873-fc260c35369d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://gossipfunda.com/how-to-mentor-new-employees-technically/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.956191 | 881 | 1.796875 | 2 |
By Judith Baeta
In the last few decades there has been a significant increase in the number of infectious diseases outbreaks originating from animals that have affected people across the world — ebola, the bird flu, and of course, most recently COVID-19. The process involving the transmission of an animal pathogen to a human body is called zoonosis. But are humans passive victims of zoonosis, or does the increase in the interaction of human activity and our environment play a role?
Indeed, it is the human impact on the environment that drives diseases.
Traditionally, the development of human societies has relied on the use of natural resources and land, however, the use of land for human activity has accelerated in the last 100 years. The modern process of industrialization has put natural ecosystems at service of humans. Following this anthropocentric view, Earth’s resources became another form of capital available to be used — often abused— and replaced with other forms of capital. Our environmental, social and economic policies have brought people closer in contact with wildlife and, consequently, have increased our exposure to viruses.
Current production and consumption patterns are creating an increasingly complex disease landscape that has dramatically altered how diseases emerge and spread. Deforestation and modification of land for industrial agriculture are creating bridges for human and wildlife interaction and are changing biodiversity in critical ways. Population growth and the mass-consumption culture have led to the expansion of the agricultural sector while increased globalisation has given rise to a food supply chain that spans over long distances. Factory farms pose an immediate risk of pandemic due to the crowding of almost genetically identical animals (genes selection for specific traits in farmed animals is a common practice) as the lack of genetic variations helps pathogens travel more easily. Similarly, the overuse of antibiotics in animals, corps and humans has favoured mutations in bacteria that evolved to become more resistant to drugs. Recent examples are the H5N1 avian influenza virus (or bird flu) that originated in China in 1997 that later, in 2009, circulated in pig farms in North America (swine flu).
But it is not only the food industry contributing to the issue. In the fashion industry, the use of fur fabrics is connected to trade involving animals as well. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mink farms in several countries have reported cases of infected animals. The case of Denmark in November 2020 became highly controversial when the government decided to cull the entire country’s mink population after mutation of the virus could potentially hamper the effectiveness of recent vaccine developments. One might question the ethical considerations of such industries in the first place.
The expansion of urban settlements is driving pandemics too. Scientists have found the closest relative to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in bats in the rural province of Yunnan in southwest China, characterised by its biodiversity. While bats are not included in our food supply chain, the region has gone through incredible change in the last few decades with new infrastructure developments resulting in increased human intervention in the natural environment. In developing countries in particular, the growth of urban population mainly due to mass migrations from rural areas often caused by prolonged drought periods. Rapid and unplanned urbanization in “slums” has made the development of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities a major challenge that significantly increases the exposure to microbe spillover.
Before it gets too overwhelming, let’s face it: the world is becoming increasingly complex and interconnected.
Raising awareness and concerns about the unsustainable pathways of economic development in the last century have led to an increasing number of scientists, researchers, policymakers, regulators and consumers to start reconsidering our relationship with nature and to advocate for a greater systemic change. To address the 21st century challenges we will need transformative collective actions.
One Health is the “approach to designing and implementing programmes, policies, legislation and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes” (WHO, 2017). The concept is another manifestation of the transition towards a new paradigm of sustainable development, based on a more multi-dimensional approach that places the economy as a function of society which in turn is a function of the environment. Without a healthy and balanced planet nor economic or societal sustainability can be achieved.
Taking this holistic perspective, COVID-19 has put in evidence that our global system is in urgent need for a health check. Besides the direct consequences on individuals’ health, the pandemic has put unprecedented stress on healthcare systems across the world (too often under-resourced) and has caused a major shock to the global economy. It has exposed some underlying issues in society by disproportionately affecting those in more vulnerable circumstances. As an example of the complexity of today’s challenges and its implications; people in lower socioeconomic levels are more often employed in the service sector which has been more directly impacted by the lockdown measures as remote work arrangements are not always available. The unequal access to digital devices and capabilities has brought to light a profound digital divide that has created new barriers due to the transition towards an increasingly online and technology-dependent way-of-living that affects teleworking, education and access to public services.
Thus, treating the symptoms separately will not be enough to ensure the well-being of future generations.
Now that we know the dangers of human encroaching wildlife for global public health, it would be tempting to conclude that active surveillance of those areas of interaction is the solution. However, like pandemics; climate change, biodiversity loss, and the depletion of fisheries are different symptoms of our unhealthy relationship with the planet. If we want to tackle the problem at its root we must go a step further and fundamentally rethink our relationship with nature. Only this way, we will have thriving ecosystems that enable thriving societies. | <urn:uuid:3cd6d6f7-8c71-411a-a0a7-99ad28eee5c2> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://eyeonglobalhealth.com/2021/02/10/one-health-a-holistic-approach-to-systematically-reduce-the-risk-of-future-pandemics/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.948888 | 1,179 | 3.4375 | 3 |
This article shows you various ways a table visualization allows you to sort a metric set.
You can hide a column in a table, but you can still use that column in filtering, state rules, etc.
Visualizations display the formatting set up in a time dimension, and also have the ability to customize date and time formatting in their properties.
You can display a text instead of a state indicator if your value does not fall within any of the states, such as for a null value.
Use color rules to apply colors to data points or series based on their values.
A histogram is a graphical representation of the distribution of numerical data.
A Pareto chart displays bars sorted in descending order and a line displaying the cumulative total.
This walkthrough shows you how to set up a box plot chart, also known as a box-and-whisker diagram.
This article explains how to show or hide data points representing total values on a chart.
This article shows you how to align data point labels inside bars towards the start or the ends of the bars.
Data point labels placed outside of chart data points can be configured to overlap with data or other labels.
The Range Bar chart is a bar chart that displays bars for each dimension (category), ranging between a start value and an end value.
This article shows you how to create a variable width column chart using a range chart.
This article shows you how to display symbols on a map and adjust their size or color based on data values.
This article describes how you can create a funnel chart in Dundas BI. | <urn:uuid:5572a8a4-fbe7-4977-8ec5-189812a5ffe5> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.dundas.com/Support/learning/documentation/data-visualizations/how-to/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.837459 | 334 | 2.140625 | 2 |
How much will the doubling of CO2 in the air warm the global temperature? How do scientists take an accurate measurement of the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere? Why can scientists better measure atmospheric temperatures from satellites than surface temperatures from ground thermometers?
Despite large uncertainties and many unknowns in Earth Science, scientists have a reasonable understanding of the answers to these questions.
Atmospheric CO2 is a “greenhouse gas,” and therefore, an increase of its concentration in the atmosphere will tend to warm the air. But the latest scientific research by William Happer of Princeton University has shown that the belief that a doubling of atmospheric CO2 will cause directly a 1°C warming of the globe may be incorrect. Indeed, the more likely answer is that a doubling of CO2 will cause only a 0.6°C warming, or about 40% less than previously thought. This makes it even more important to take with caution the excessive impact of CO2 on global air temperatures.
Complicating our understanding is that many processes involving the atmosphere, the ocean, and the land surface which affect the warming effect of CO2 are highly complex and largely incompletely understood. Those rushing to transition from a fossil fuel-based world economy to the wickedly named “decarbonized” future tout a relationship between a doubling of CO2 and global temperatures as large as 4 to 5°C. But how can such a calculation have any basis in scientific fact when the processes that form clouds, rainfall, snow, and ice — as well as the flow of air and ocean currents — are so imprecisely understood? How is it possible to create an accurate climate model given such uncertainties?
So, how well can we measure the consequences of CO2 on global air temperatures? Even this simple question is marred with half-truths and distortions arising from the politics of global climate change.
It is universally accepted that the most direct impact of atmospheric CO2 will be the warming of the lowest six miles of air. This is the layer that is best measured by satellites and balloon-borne instruments rather than surface-based thermometers which under-represent the poles, the tropics, the high altitudes, and the oceans. In short, thermometers are biased to where people live and confined to measure only the air within six feet of the ground. Satellites, by contrast, are not limited spatially and can estimate global temperatures in the lowest six miles, not six feet, of air.
But of late, anthropogenic climate change “believers” are pushing thermometer-based analyses and dismissing satellite observations. Why? For nearly the last two decades, satellite- and balloon-borne instruments have not detected any significant warming which does not support the climate change “disaster” scenarios the believers wish to promote. Besides, the bias associated with surface thermometers can easily be manipulated with subjective “bias adjustments” which allows the data to support the global warming hype.
A recent paper published in Earth Science Reviews (by W. Soon, R. Connolly and M. Connolly) discusses and demonstrates that the post-1970 warming, as measured by surface-based thermometers, was highly exaggerated by non-climate related factors such as changes in location, the time-of-observation bias, urbanization effects, and changes in land use as well as by changes in the measurement of sea-surface temperature and the fair-weather bias (ships tend to avoid storms) to estimate air temperature over the oceans.
However, the most important problem with thermometer/surface-based assessments is that the most important signal arising from CO2 impacts lies higher in troposphere — at about six miles — rather than at the surface. Satellite observations have provided a nearly complete global coverage since about 1979, providing us with an excellent record extending more than 35 years. These observations indicate that the atmosphere warmed slightly since 1979 but its temperature has remained relatively constant over the past fifteen years or so — despite the dramatic increase in CO2 concentrations. This makes it hard to argue that global temperature changes are largely driven by changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) cling to their bias-adjusted surface temperature record because it yields a far more continuous and rapid rate of warming than what was deduced from satellites and weather balloons records. This is consistent with the exaggerated “CO2 disastrously warms the planet” meme that, in part, keeps their funding levels high. Recently, they released a newer version that exaggerates the warming even further. Detailed explanations for their revisions — published in Science in June of 2015 — are not convincing but it is clear that their main effort was focused on making sure that the pause in air temperature increases over the past two decades vanished. The editor-in-chief of Science magazine, Dr. Marcia McNutt, proclaimed at a climate symposium in January that the revision “eliminates the [global warming] hiatus.” Scientists from NOAA and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory also wrote in Science that “whether or not the early 21st century global warming hiatus existed is not important”.
It is appropriate for us to offer a reminder from our colleague, the late Professor Bob Carter, who as early as 2006 warned that “There IS [sic.] a problem with global warming… it stopped in 1998… In truth, however, the biggest part of the problem is neither environmental nor scientific, but a self-created political fiasco.”
From a physics standpoint, the impact of increasing CO2 causes a relatively and disproportionately larger warming in the atmosphere than near the ground. Is there a problem, therefore, with the satellite record or the way in which it measures air temperature?
As previously mentioned and usually ignored by the believers, thermometers provide a poor spatial coverage of the Earth’s surface. By contrast, satellites carry instruments that accurately measure the amount of energy in thermal infrared and microwave wavelengths which directly relates to the temperature of the lower atmosphere (where most of the air resides and where the CO2 signal should be strongest) with nearly complete spatial coverage.
Global estimates of air temperature by satellites are independently produced by scientists from Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) and the University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH), and their methods have been well-discussed and compared in the scientific literature. Both groups show that global temperatures in the lowest six miles show no warming trend since 2002 (we start in 2002 mainly because the new global atmospheric temperature data record [labeled ROM SAF in the top panel] is available only starting September 2001 and partly to avoid the effect of the strong El Nino and La Nina between 1997 and 2001 – see graph below).
The big complaint leveled against the satellite record is that their estimates are contaminated by the decay of satellite orbits, changes in the satellite orientation over time, and the piecing together of several satellites to complete the record since 1979. While these issues allow for more physically-based adjustments than with the thermometer record (note that new satellites overlap with older ones and that satellite orbital decay is well-documented), the balloon data corroborate the satellite record.
In addition, a third method of measuring global temperature over the lower atmosphere — using the series of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites — can be obtained by accurately by measuring the propagation of radio waves through the atmosphere. The importance of this new method is that a near-complete coverage of the Earth is afforded and that global atmospheric temperature can be determined without requiring any complex satellite inter-calibration. Only the precise atomic clock is needed to measure the relative delay in propagation of radio waves through the atmosphere which, in turn, allows for a direct assessment of the atmospheric temperature over the lower portion of the atmosphere.
Unsurprisingly, the GPS-based method confirms what was measured by the thermal infrared/microwave radiometers aboard other satellites; that the nearly-two-decade-long temperature hiatus is real and the thermometer-based record is the oddball. More specifically, global atmospheric temperatures are not warming in the way predicted by the CO2-driven climate models, which serves to argue that CO2 does not act as the thermostat for global atmospheric temperatures.
An objectively science-based decision is clear: The preponderance of the evidence suggests that a discernable CO2-influence on the climate has been grossly overstated. So will you choose the scientific decision or rely on the politically-driven thermometer adjustments? Our future rides on the answer to this question. | <urn:uuid:dbe88503-1c47-4d36-95de-5657c5799145> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2016/02/12/what-do-we-know-about-co2-and-global-atmospheric-temperatures/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.940894 | 1,750 | 3.8125 | 4 |
Paying for research related injuries in the USBMJ 2006; 332 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.332.7541.610 (Published 09 March 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;332:610
EDITOR—That the United Kingdom considers clinical trial patients to be covered by consumer contract law puts it at odds with the United States.1 2 Because the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not consider the informed consent process to be a contract between researchers and subjects, US subjects are not protected by consumer laws.
Standard consent form language tells US subjects that “By signing this consent form you do not waive any of your legal rights” but does not describe those rights. In 11 years on an institutional review board I've seen only one consent form state that “You have the right to obtain legal advice if you're injured in this study.”
For subjects injured in US clinical trials, many consent forms state that “Treatment for research related injury will be made available. Costs associated with this treatment will be billed to your insurance company. Costs not covered by your insurance company will be your responsibility.”
Because of insurance deductibles, co-payments, and lifetime benefit limits, injuries in clinical trials could be a costly experience for some injured subjects. US patients without health insurance probably shouldn't try to enrol in clinical trials.
Other consent forms note that sponsors will pay to treat research related injuries, but only costs “that are a direct result of taking the study medication and are not covered by your medical or hospital insurance coverage, provided you have followed all the instructions of the study doctor and his or her staff.”
Or: “If you are physically injured by the study drug or properly performed study procedures and you have not caused the injury by failing to follow the directions of the study personnel, the sponsor will cover the reasonable medical expenses necessary to treat the injury. No other compensation such as lost wages or payments for emotional distress is offered by the sponsor, but you do not waive any legal rights by signing this consent form.”
So injured subjects will have to prove they're not responsible for their researchrelated injuries.
The most bizarre disclaimer was “In the event of a treatment-related injury, [the sponsor] will reimburse you only for medical expenses for the treatment of bodily injuries that are not mentioned in this consent form as potential side effects and that are directly caused by the use of [the study drug]… Compensation for medical expenses shall not be deemed an admission of fault or liability by [the sponsor] or affiliates.”
Our institutional review board has rejected some of these reimbursement schemes because we don't believe subjects should be expected to take on financial risks to reduce the pharmaceutical industry's new drug development costs.
Competing interests None declared. | <urn:uuid:21c45b94-ea59-44f0-9bce-c448e3d0462a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.bmj.com/content/332/7541/610.1?ijkey=41ef68eebc3beabed72bc1872befac28b332451f&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571987.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813202507-20220813232507-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.958777 | 589 | 1.898438 | 2 |
Although fillings can be pretty common, Dr. Mark Connolly never takes for granted the special needs of his patients. Our dental patients come from all over middle TN to our Murfreesboro, TN location for fillings and other dental work. Some patients may have certain allergies or other circumstances which may not allow for certain types of fillings or may require alternative options. Dr. Connolly carefully examines each of his patients anything that looks abnormal will then be closely checked with special instruments. He may also X-ray your entire mouth or a section of it. The type of treatment he chooses will depend on the extent of damage caused by decay. Composite (tooth colored) fillings are used to repair cracked, fractured, and decaying teeth. The damaged or decayed part of a tooth will be removed before being repaired with a composite filling. Composite fillings are a semi-permanent solution and may have to be replaced in the future. Composite fillings are usually placed in one appointment. While the tooth is numb, decay will be removed as necessary. From there, a filling is placed.
What is a Filling?
A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist gives you a filling, they will first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.
Reasons for a filling include:
- Chipped teeth
- Closing a gap between two teeth
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Decayed teeth
- Worn teeth
By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further tooth decay.
Which Type of Filling is Best?
No one type of filling is best for everyone. What’s right for you will be determined by the extent of the repair, whether you have allergies to certain materials, where in your mouth the filling is needed, and the cost. Considerations for different materials include:
- Gold fillings are made to order in a laboratory and then cemented into place. Gold inlays are well tolerated by gum tissues, and may last more than 20 years. For these reasons, many authorities consider gold the best filling material. However, it is often the most expensive choice and requires multiple visits.
- Amalgam (silver) fillings are resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive. However, due to their dark color, they are more noticeable than porcelain or composite restorations and are not usually used in very visible areas, such as front teeth.
- Composite (plastic) resins are matched to be the same color as your teeth and therefore used where a natural appearance is desired. The ingredients are mixed and placed directly into the cavity, where they harden. Composites may not be the ideal material for large fillings as they may chip or wear over time. They can also become stained from coffee, tea or tobacco, and do not last as long as other types of fillings generally from three to 10 years.
- Porcelain fillings are called inlays or onlays and are produced to order in a lab and then bonded to the tooth. They can be matched to the color of the tooth and resist staining. A porcelain restoration generally covers most of the tooth. Their cost is similar to gold.
If Dr. Connolly decides to fill a cavity, he will first remove the decay and clean the affected area. The cleaned-out cavity will then be filled with any of the variety of materials described above. Only your dentist can detect whether you have a cavity that needs to be filled. During a checkup, Dr. Connolly will use a small mirror to examine the surfaces of each tooth. | <urn:uuid:11462568-a0dc-40a0-8f58-180e3e4fbd3a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://threeriversfamilydentistry.com/fillings/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.948902 | 768 | 2.4375 | 2 |
If you’re in the market for a career change or still in school and thinking about your future, consider the growing economy around Big Data and Data Science. It’s not just for computer programmers, mathematicians and statisticians — though that’s a strong factor — but also for business strategists, graphic designers and many more. In fact, Big Data will affect many aspects of our lives and Data Science will require new ways of thinking about all the information that we collect.
What Is Big Data, Anyway?
If you thought that the amount of data coming from the Mars Rover was a lot, well you ain’t seen nothing yet. The sources of data are also expanding — sometimes from unexpected sources:
- Open Data — budgetary and socio-economic (cities, states/ provinces, countries), environmental data (land, oceans, weather, astronomy), law enforcement, sports data.
- Social networks — which includes both public and private data.
- Internet of Things (IoE) — which includes physical or environmental sensors (sometimes attached to creatures including bees and cows), home automation, and other devices — along with all other devices that are Internet-connected.
- Personal data — which includes private and anonymized public healthcare info, personal lifelogs and to-do lists in the cloud, etc.
- Other user-generated content (UGC), such as video uploads
- Commerce transactions — both online and in-person private and anonymized public data.
This is merely a short list of sources from which the world will collect data.
Are we ready for the massive amounts of data in our future? In Nov 2013, the U.S. White House informed colleges that the country needs more Data Scientists because of the beyond-astronomical amount of data that the United States and the rest of the world will be collecting on a daily basis in the near future — and the need to manage all that data. | <urn:uuid:59492a87-2c65-4638-b1b0-b80795b87676> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://churchtechtoday.com/big-data/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.932172 | 400 | 2.859375 | 3 |
The rock you focus on is the one you crash into
I am not much of a mountain biker, but one thing I learned very early in my few outings on a mountain bike is that the more you focus on the rocks on your trail the more likely you are to crash into them. The alternative is not to ignore them, but to observe them and then identify the pathway around them – focusing your energy and attention on where you want to go rather than what you want to avoid.
Digitising TVET: Widening access through Open Learning Systems
This is the second post in our Digitising TVET series.
TVET and the Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Growth of Artificial Intelligence in Africa – On diversity and representation
As the world ushers in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – which is characterized by increasingly blurred lines between the digital, biological, and physical worlds (Ndung’u and Signé) – technologists are coming to grips with the opportunities of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and the Internet of Things. These and other emerging technologies offer exciting possibilities; in theory, they might allow us to galvanize unprecedented socio-economic change and democratise access to services such as the internet, education, and healthcare. | <urn:uuid:800b287e-0e37-4a79-be7a-4c5a67398501> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.nba.co.za/blog | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.944784 | 264 | 1.921875 | 2 |
Note: this page is full of links to other resources. For some reason, they don’t show up as nicely as I’d like, so tap around. They are there!
What is daf yomi?
Daf Yomi is the study of one double-sided page of Talmud (2a/2b, for example) each day. Studied this way, it will take 7.5 years to get through the entire Talmud. Here’s some more information about the Talmud. This article written by Ilana Kurshan, author of If All the Seas Were Ink, is also helpful.
The last 18ish minutes of this episode of The Straw Hat include an interview with me about my daf yomi experience. The episode is worth listening to prior to my interview; Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Sarna discuss daf yomi and other daily learning programs.
How do you read it?
The Talmud has been printed by many publishers. People who want English along with Hebrew often use ArtScroll or Koren for printed volumes.
I use Koren’s Talmud Bavli Noe edition, which has extensive translation and explanatory notes. It also has the Vilna Shas pages (what we visualize when we think of a Talmud page). You can get a large copy (my preference), a medium copy (they call this the daf yomi edition, but i’m not sure why), now in paperback leaflets (easier to carry around but you have to get several per tractate), and in PDF (note that the PDF does not contain the Vilna Shas pages).
When I can’t take my gemara with me, I use Sefaria: a Living Library of Jewish Texts Online, an app that contains (for free) the entire Hebrew Bible, Talmud, and much, much more. It’s especially great when I stand in line at the post office or other places where using a large volume is less practical.
Where do you get the volumes? Hardcopy or PDF?
Both PDFs and paper copies can be purchased from Koren Publishers online. You can even subscribe to the volumes, and they will just charge your credit card every other month and send you the volume before you will need it for the next tractate. Shipping is free, and there’s a 20% discount on the volumes.
I prefer to buy from a local Jewish bookstore because I like shopping at a small business — and they give me the same discount.
You could order the volumes from Amazon, but they will cost more.
Podcasts and Websites
Podcasts are a great way to either get through the daf or review what you have already read. I recommend listening while commuting or doing household tasks. You don’t need to use all of these resources; that’s too overwhelming. See if you can find one or more that fit your needs and can fit into your life. I recommend listening to a shiur for a few days to see if it is the right one for you. (I’m giving you websites for these podcasts so you can look into them more, but I have looked up all of them through my podcast app and just subscribed that way.)
Daf Yomi for Women is a daily shiur taught in Israel by Rabbanit Michelle Cohen Farber.
Rav Yitzchak Etshalom offers a concise analysis of each daf.I don’t think his RSS feed has been restarted for the new cycle, but you can download from the archive.
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah has an archive with close to the entirety of the Talmud in daily shiurim.
Jewish History in Daf Yomi by Dr. Henry Abramson, a 3-4 minute nugget of history on one aspect in each day’s daf.
Take One from Tablet Magazine is an almost daily 10-minute pod highlighting one aspect of the day’s daf. (Monday and Friday episodes also cover weekend dapim.)
Talking Talmud is a 15-20-minute daily daf yomi conversation between Yardaena Osband and Anne Gordon, two friends who live 6,000 miles apart.
WebYeshiva will be offering a weekly daf yomi review.
The Orthodox Union has a lot of resources on their website and on AllDaf, which is available as a website and as an app. In addition to several shiurim by different rabbis on each daf, they have a large amount of supplemental information, brief 3-4 minute podcasts.
Real Clear Daf is an app that has been recommended by other daf yomi users, and at first glance, it seems very useful and user-friendly.
Need to know when a particular tractate will begin or end? How many pages it contains? Dafyomi.org has the answers to your daf yomi calendar questions. I keep it open in my phone’s browser. I also downloaded the daf yomi calendar from Hebcal to my iphone.
How do I fit daf yomi into my life?
I read the daf on my own, and then during my commute, I might listen to a podcast to better digest what I’ve read I read in pockets of time whenever I have a few extra minutes, and I listen while making dinner, folding laundry, etc.
MyJewishLearning.com is sending a daily email throughout Brachot (the first tractate) approaching the daf from a variety of Jewish backgrounds.
I am also in a few FB groups, Unorthodox Daf Yomi and Daf Yomi for Beginners, where a lot of questions are asked and answered. (These can be overwhelming, though, especially right now at the beginning of the cycle. Pick a group or two, and consider turning off notifications and unfollowing the group so that you can look at it when you are ready to look at it.)
Many people learn in chevruta or at a daf yomi shiur (class). I’m not usually able to go to the shiur at my synagogue, but when I can, I do, and it’s well worth it. I also have a number of “study buddies” who I know are also doing the daf, and if I have a question or want to share a quirk or odd insight, I will often text them to get their take.
Daf Yomi on Social Media
You can see little chunks of people’s learning by following them on social media. If you follow the #dafyomi hashtag, you will find many people who are sharing their images, poems, and insights on each daf. They are generally worth following and will add to your understanding. You are welcome to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Why do I do daf yomi?
I was fascinated by it for a long time, but I never thought I’d have access to the text. I don’t have a strong formal Jewish education, but I’ve certainly picked up language and concepts, as well as observance, over the years. I don’t do daf yomi to learn the answers to questions. I do daf yomi to understand what questions were being asked 2000 years ago (and in many cases, still today). I do daf yomi to get a view of our history from one of the most core texts. I do so because the Talmud is my birthright as a Jew, and I deserve to be able to read it and engage with it instead of merely having it interpreted for me.
Doing daf yomi also gives me an intellectual outlet I hadn’t had in a while, and to be entirely honest, it has reduced my screen time significantly.
What do I love about it? Seeing the quirky things, the insults the rabbis toss at each other, the wide range of conversation (interior design, mathematics, Greek letters, zoology, vegetation, meeting heads of state, nursing mothers, King David waking up at midnight, how you treat the deceased, etc. I love seeing the real parts of our Jewish lives (when do you say full or half hallel, how do you treat the deceased, when do you say shema, which foods should be used as simanim on Rosh Hashanah, how do you kasher glassware, how do you kill an animal in a kosher way, etc.) come from a real place. I love the use of language that I recognize from the siddur or my very average modern Hebrew appearing right there in the Talmudic text.
The thing about daf yomi is that the learning is superficial. You will never dive too far because you don’t have time. The next day, you need to move on to the next page. But superficial learning can still give you a wide breadth of information. And if you’re not engaged in Jewish learning now, it will also give you more than what you’re already doing.
Can you really do daf yomi as a beginner?
Yes, and it will be hard, and it depends what being a beginner means. I had almost no experience learning Talmud before I started, but I had a strong foundation of Jewish practice and vocabulary. That was crucial to my success. If you have Hebrew (or Aramaic!) skills, that will help. If you understand the Jewish year, that will help. If you have a basic familiarity with tefillah, that will help. If you know the Torah well (and even better, Tanach!), that will help.
I started as a relative beginner, and it was (and is) hard, but it is also exhilarating. Over time, I have gained a better vocabulary and understanding of what is going on, and then we are on to the next topic!
If this sounds too overwhelming, it’s possible another learning program will be better for you right now, but daf yomi will always be here for you later. Here are some other learning ideas:
- Project 929 – daily study of a perek (chapter) of Tanach
- Nach Yomi – daily study of a chapter of Navi
- Mishnah Yomit – daily study of two mishnayot — get through the entire Mishnah in under six years
- Any of the myriad of “daily dose” type podcasts and emails – Torah, Rambam, Mussar, etc.
- Parshat hashavua
Can you do daf yomi only in English?
Yes, strictly speaking, you can. The English text is available on Sefaria and in paper volumes, but the Talmud is infused with Jewish religious and cultural references and wordplay that cannot be translated. Jewish vocabulary comes from this text, and some of it is lost in translation. Reading it in English is certainly preferable to not reading it at all, but if you are able to skim the Hebrew alongside it, your experience will be richer.
Many thanks to Rabbi David Wolkenfeld, Rabbi Rebecca Einstein Schorr, and Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez for their contributions to this document. | <urn:uuid:e5d75831-3764-44b9-b7ae-517835b60eb0> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://hashtagdafyomi.com/resources-i-use/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.952594 | 2,368 | 2.125 | 2 |
Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:
Health economists use demand and supply theory to discuss the “Health Insurance Exchange” created by the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Mandated by law everyone now must have health insurance.
Discuss the following:
How would the law affect the demand for health insurance? Why?
How would the law affect the average price of health insurance? Why?
How would the law affect the supply for health insurance? Why? | <urn:uuid:af9080ae-e2e7-450a-8817-31cf872f78dd> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://unemployedprofessor.net/discussion-1398/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572127.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815024523-20220815054523-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.939271 | 142 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Study in Dublin
Two campuses, two diplomas, one unique experience in the European Silicon Valley. If you are a computer programming or multimedia student, you can opt-in for this exciting opportunity. Study at Algebra for the first two years and take a final year at Griffith College in Dublin, and graduate with two bachelor degrees.
Based on strategic cooperation agreement between Algebra University College and Griffith College Dublin, we enabled our present and future computer engineering and multimedia students to make use of student mobility and study at two locations with the possibility of obtaining Croatian and Irish undergraduate diplomas in the field of computer engineering. This is a way of studying that implements all benefits of the Bologna process through student mobility which is very widespread abroad.
Students who decide to use this option when enrolling, complete their first two years of study at the Algebra University College Zagreb campus, while the entire third year of study will be spent through student mobility at the Griffith College campus in Dublin, where they will also prepare their final project with the support of Croatian and Irish mentors. Depending on their chosen sub-specialization, students who decide to obtain two diplomas will, during their study in Zagreb, attend and take additional courses and after returning from Ireland they will be taking their final exam in order to meet all requirements necessary for obtaining a diploma of the Algebra University College.
Through such cross-border cooperation, young people will have the opportunity to gain valuable multicultural experience in Dublin, the European “Silicon Valley”.
Griffith College established in 1974 and is Ireland's largest independent 3rd level institution with locations in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
European Silicon Valley
The technology sector in Ireland employs over 105,000 people with 75% employed in multinational companies.
How to Obtain Two Diplomas?
A list of conditions for acquiring an Algebra University College and Griffith College Dublin diploma.
What to do after studying?
Ireland’s software and ICT services amount to 72 billion euros per annum, which makes the country one of the largest technology exporters in the world and attracts the world’s best IT professionals.
Why study on two campuses?
There are several reasons why the mobility model in Dublin, which is carried out by studying at the Algebra University College, is an excellent choice, even better that completing the entire undergraduate study abroad.
How to enroll?
Future students interested in obtaining two bachelor diplomas in the field of computer engineering are able to enroll in study programs carried out by the Algebra University College.
Why is Algebra a safe choice for your future?
Here you will learn all about information technologies and prepare for a career that is constantly in demand. We offer you a platform for personal growth that makes you a prime target for employers.
We refuse to stand still in a rapidly changing world. Our programs stay relevant and keep up with modern trends.
We take pride in numerous accolades and our title of The best professional study program in Croatia and constantly strive to justify that trust. We do not take our task lightly, knowing that your future depends on it. | <urn:uuid:f6526e5a-f050-445a-ab82-e9a59a51f9f8> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.algebra.hr/visoko-uciliste/en/study-in-dublin/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.946077 | 665 | 1.601563 | 2 |
2013-06-08: Looking forward to some serious, collaborative and multi-disciplinary discussions on the day … and a barrel of laughs in the process (!!) …
The Informatics Research Unit for Sustainable Engineering (IRUSE) in the Department of Civil Engineering … and The Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy Research … both at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) … have jointly organized a 1-Day National Research Networking Workshop which will take place on Monday, 24 June 2013.
The NUIG ‘blurb’ for the day states … “Considering the importance of aggressive energy-efficiency measures in the Building Sector, together with the requirements for a safe, healthy, comfortable (and accessible) Built Environment … this NUIG Workshop will explore the topic of Integrated Modelling and Performance of the Built Environment.”
I was very pleased to receive an invitation to make a Presentation at this prestigious event …
‘Sustainable Fire Engineering Design’ – My Presentation Abstract
Fire Engineering … involves much more than mere compliance with building regulations and codes … whose fire safety objectives are limited, and whose performance requirements are sometimes inadequate and always minimal. More problematically … a fundamental conflict is mushrooming between Safe Sustainable Climate Resilient Building Design and Conventional Fire Consultancy Practice.
However … Sustainable Fire Engineering Design Solutions are:
- Reliability-based ;
- Person-centred ;
… and above all …
- Adapted to Local Context and Heritage (fr: le Patrimoine – see ICOMOS 2011) … geography, climate (incl. change, variability and severity swings), social need, culture, and economy, etc., etc.
This Presentation will discuss very rich collaborative research potential in the following areas …
- Creative Fire Engineering Concepts and Building Systems
- Fire-Induced Progressive Damage in Buildings
- Human Behaviour and Abilities in a Fire Situation
- Building Design for Firefighter Safety
- BMS – Fire Modelling – BIM
Research Output must be targeted at practical implementation in ‘real’ buildings … with actual user/construction performance carefully (i.e. reliably and precisely) monitored !
If anybody out there is interested in attending this NUIG Research Workshop … please contact Ms. Magdalena Hajdukiewicz (IRUSE) at: email@example.com
POST-EVENT UPDATE: 2013-06-27 …
While it was difficult to keep the Workshop Programme, involving a series of short 10-minute presentation slots, on track … discussions during the day were engaging, energetic and extensive.
I happily look forward to a successful and collaborative outcome from the day … Multi-Disciplinary Teams producing Trans-Disciplinary Research Output … which is geared towards practical implementation in ‘real’ buildings, with actual construction and building user performance carefully (i.e. reliably and precisely) monitored !
Click the Link Above to read and/or download PDF File (193 Kb)
Click the Link Above to read and/or download PDF File (1.78 MB)
However … and especially since the Workshop had been organized by IRUSE (the ‘SE’ standing for ‘Sustainable Engineering’) … it was indeed very strange to have to clarify the following points, among others:
1. The Minimum Life Cycle for a Sustainable Building is 100 Years … not 50 or 60 years !
2. Future Research Collaboration should be targeted at the multi-aspect ‘Sustainability Agenda’. The word ‘green’ (where only environmental aspects of sustainability are considered) should be actively discouraged, if not banned entirely !
3. With regard to Good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) … two high-level performance indicators which have been developed with the aim of protecting human health, and are both now referenced in International Standard ISO 21542: ‘Building Construction – Accessibility & Usability of the Built Environment’ … are …
– Radon Activity (incl. Rn-222, Rn-220, RnD) in a building should, on average, fall within the range of 10 Bq/m3 to 40 Bq/m3, but should at no time exceed 60 Bq/m3 ;
– Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Concentrations in a building should not significantly exceed average external levels – typically within the range of 300 parts per million (ppm) to 500 ppm – and should at no time exceed 800 ppm.
Concerning the substantive difference in meaning and scope between ‘sustainable’ and ‘green’ … there is, perhaps, no better way to illustrate this difference than to observe the atrocious ‘Accessibility-for-All’ Performance (Accessibility for People with Activity Limitations !) of the critically acclaimed (?!?) and award winning (?!?) New Engineering Building in Galway University … which flaunts its ‘über-green’ credentials …
Can you believe what’s in those photographs ?? More importantly … can you believe what’s not in those photographs ???? In such a recently completed building … “incredible” is the only answer to both questions.
Under International Law … lack of accessibility, or inadequate accessibility, to the social, built, virtual and economic environments … IS a denial and infringement of the basic human rights of people with activity limitations. It also limits, needlessly and unnecessarily, the numbers of potential users of those environments … which makes no sense at all.
My strong recommendation to Galway University … is to immediately commission a Competent Accessibility Consultant to give the university campus a thorough going over ! You are failing the campus user population … the local community in Galway … and Irish society generally.
My even stronger recommendation to the Architects for the New Engineering Building … RMJM Architects (Robert Matthew Johnson-Marshall) in Scotland, and Taylor Architects in Ireland … is to always commission a Competent Accessibility Consultant on all of your projects … small, medium and large … because you haven’t a bull’s notion about this important dimension of building performance !!
And remember folks … Accessibility has been clearly specified in the new International Standard ISO 21542 as including … ‘access to buildings, circulation within buildings and their use, egress from buildings in the normal course of events, and evacuation in the event of an emergency’. | <urn:uuid:a08bf567-89a4-41b0-ad87-70cf4210b40a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://cjwalsh.ie/2013/06/upcoming-building-research-workshop-at-galway-university/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.897494 | 1,363 | 1.90625 | 2 |
You think 5G is just for smartphones? Think again. This year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas showed us how versatile 5G can be.
We’ve said for a long time that 5G is designed to connect the world’s next wave of smart gear. From cars to translators and more.
On the road again
5G is set to pave the road for the true self-driving car of your dreams.
Both Qualcomm and Sony were out in force to demonstrate that at this year’s CES.
Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon Digital Chassis at the show, which is a suite of connected systems designed for near-future self-driving cars.
The systems – all connected via 5G to the cloud – it’s a suite of systems that come together to create a view of the car’s surroundings.
Using this information, both the driver and the machine can have up-to-the-second info about what’s happening around the car.
Cheap and cheerful
5G isn’t just for thousand-dollar super phones. Nokia is seeing to that.
At CES this year, it demonstrated that 5G is available to even the inexpensive end of the smartphone line-up.
The Nokia G400 will go for just $US239 when it launches this year. And it’s no slouch, with a 120Hz display for a smooth experience and a 48-megapixel camera.
We can expect to see 5G devices get cheaper and cheaper in coming months and years. It’s even coming built-in on many laptops coming out this year too.
5G for your nan
At first the idea of an umbrella that doesn’t keep you dry seems silly. But then you realise that it’s the 5G-enabled Essence SmartCare Umbrella, and it’s a personal protection system for your nanna.
The Essence Umbrella is what’s known as a “mobile personal emergency response system” (or mPERS), and it’s designed to keep you safe wherever you go.
It features “built-in fall detection, real-time activity monitoring and two-way voice capabilities” so those living alone or in senior care scenarios can feel safe.
It’s a tiny device that runs on 5G CAT-M networks, so it also functions as a location device.
A babel fish?
We’ve seen awesome translators come out on smartphones recently, like the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.
But what if you need to translate something to a bunch of people at once? That’s where VM-Fi works best.
The VM-Fi is a 5G-powered translator that can broadcast live translations to multiple people in a single room.
With a range of about 50 metres and a super-fast connection, it can translate speeches, tours and meetings in an instant. | <urn:uuid:33300b52-152c-435e-a86d-d25ccaa38cea> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://exchange.telstra.com.au/tag/ces-2022/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.923339 | 617 | 1.664063 | 2 |
When Anthony Albanese spoke at the Garma festival on July 30 and laid out both the questions and broad structure of an Indigenous Voice to parliament, he was trying to put into action policies called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, agreed to and signed five years ago, in 2017.
“The Uluru Statement is a hand outstretched, a moving show of faith in Australian decency and Australian fairness from people who have been given every reason to forsake their hope in both,” said the Prime Minister.
“I am determined, as a government, as a country, that we grasp that hand of healing, we repay that faith, we rise to the moment.”
An Indigenous Voice was the first key policy of the Uluru Statement. But what is a Voice and what does it look like? What does the rest of the Uluru Statement actually call for? And what is the timetable for all this to happen?
What is the Uluru Statement from the Heart?
The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a document (above) written and endorsed by hundreds of Indigenous leaders who invite the Australian people to join them in their call for structural and constitutional reforms to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Importantly, it is not addressed to the government nor to politicians.
Its 12 paragraphs are simple and direct. It notes that the sovereignty of First Nations people is ongoing and has never been ceded, and asks for the creation of two new institutions: the Indigenous Voice to parliament followed by a Makarrata Commission to oversee treaty-making and truth-telling.
“We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country,” the statement reads. “When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country.”
The three key reforms the statement calls for can be summarised as Voice, Treaty and Truth – in that order.
The statement was the culmination of years of work. A Referendum Council, appointed in 2015 by prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten held 12 regional dialogues (town hall-style meetings) with Indigenous people across the country. The Referendum Council was tasked with seeking out the views of First Nations people and reporting back. It then gathered more than 250 Indigenous delegates for a convention at the “spiritual heart of Australia”, Uluru, a sacred place to the local Anangu Traditional Owners.
It was at this meeting that the statement was endorsed to a standing ovation. Several delegates walked out in protest while the vast majority of delegates backed it – a historic consensus, even if not unanimous.
What is an Indigenous Voice?
A Voice would be an advisory body of Indigenous people to express views to MPs on policy and legislation that would affect their communities. It would allow Indigenous people to provide expert knowledge and feedback, and have a say in how government decisions affect their lives.
The Statement argues that reforms such as an Indigenous Voice would empower First Nations people to address the “torment of powerlessness” that sees them over-incarcerated and their children alienated from their families at alarming rates.
Several countries already have some kind of Indigenous Voice. Advocates for the Uluru Statement compare the idea to the First Nations parliaments in Norway, Sweden and Finland for the Sami people. In another example, the New Zealand parliament reserves seven of its seats for Maori electorates.
The Uluru Statement doesn’t outline what shape or form a Voice should take, but it does say the body must be enshrined in the Australian Constitution, which would have to happen via a referendum. This would make it difficult for a hostile government to abolish it, as the Howard government did to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in 2005.
If enshrined in the Constitution, the Voice could be removed only through a second referendum, which would ultimately leave the decision to the Australian people.
The Uluru Statement and the Voice proposal were dismissed by the former Coalition government in 2017 under leader Malcolm Turnbull. In fact, several high-ranking members of that government incorrectly claimed an Indigenous Voice would be a potential “third chamber” of parliament.
Things slowly started to change after the 2019 election, when Ken Wyatt became the first Aboriginal person appointed as Minister for Indigenous Australians. The Coalition still refused to support the Uluru Statement, but the party did warm to the idea of an Indigenous Voice, albeit not one enshrined in the Constitution. Wyatt promised to legislate it through an act of parliament.
Indigenous leaders Marcia Langton and Tom Calma were then appointed in late 2019 to investigate what this Voice might look like. After consultation, they recommended the creation of local and regional Voices that would work with all levels of government, followed by a national Voice that could advise on federal policy and laws. The local and regional Voice bodies would be relatively flexible so they could adapt to the needs of communities, who would be able to determine how many people were involved with their local Voice and how they were appointed (whether by an election or through structures drawn from traditional law and custom, for example).
Langton and Calma’s report said the national Voice should have a more formal structure with two members from each state and territory plus another from the Torres Strait Islands. It also suggested that NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia have an extra member for remote residents, and that there be an extra member for Torres Strait Islander people living on the mainland.
The Coalition promised to legislate 35 local and regional Voice bodies and assigned $31.8 million towards their creation in its final budget. (Nothing was included in the forward estimates for a national Voice.) However, the Coalition lost the election before this process could begin. Labor, on the other hand, has backed a constitutionally enshrined Voice to parliament since 2017, along with other aspects of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
What is a Makarrata Commission and truth-telling? What does ‘treaty’ mean?
Makarrata is a Yolngu word meaning “a coming together after a struggle”. That captures the idea of what this commission would seek to do: assist in creating a fair and truthful relationship between Indigenous people and other Australians. It would be in charge of agreement-making between First Nations people and governments. Labor has made it clear it also sees this as a body to oversee treaty-making processes.
There are already treaty processes under way in some jurisdictions to try to address the unjust relationships that have been created due to colonisation. In mid-August, the Victorian parliament passed a bill to set up a Treaty Authority made up of five First Nations people, which will be an independent umpire during treaty negotiations and disputes between the government and Aboriginal Victorians, as well as between different traditional owner groups over contested land.
The NT Treaty Commissioner has published a discussion paper detailing some of the complexities in creating a treaty process. It notes that treaties between First Nations people and colonisers (which would include today’s governments) tend to be different from regular treaties, say, between warring countries. These treaties often contain clauses to provide reparations to make up for historical losses that cannot be fixed, to allow limited self-government, and to provide financial resources so that communities can become more economically empowered.
The Makarrata Commission would also oversee “truth-telling” activities: a process of sharing historical truths, warts and all, after periods of conflict or severe human rights violations. The idea is that by revealing the full extent of injustices committed against Indigenous people, wider society can fully come to terms with history and move towards true reconciliation.
A truth-telling a process has started in Victoria called the Yoorrook Justice Commission, yoorrook meaning “truth” in the Wemba Wemba/ Wamba Wamba language. The commission is based on similar projects in Canada, New Zealand and Scandinavia, and is partially modelled on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up by Nelson Mandela in post-apartheid South Africa. The NT Treaty Commission has published a report looking at truth-telling practices around the world.
What are the next steps?
Albanese revealed the first significant details about his government’s proposal at the Garma festival in north-east Arnhem land in late July. They were for a simple question to be put in a referendum, and for a limited change to the constitution.
“We should consider asking our fellow Australians something as simple as: Do you support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice? A straightforward proposition. A simple principle. A question from the heart,” Albanese said.
He also proposed three clauses to be added to the constitution. This was his first draft:
⦁ There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
⦁ The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to Parliament and the Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
⦁ The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
But before Australians cast their vote in what would be the nation’s first referendum in two decades, there is first an issue of timing.
Burney has said a referendum to enshrine the Voice in the Constitution could happen as soon as next May. The leaders of the Uluru Dialogue, a group of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders involved in the statement, have put forward two potential dates they would like to see a referendum held: May 27, 2023 or January 27, 2024.Albanese has previously avoided committing to a firm timeline, saying he needs to consult with Indigenous communities first. His government will also need to consider the work done by the previous government to decide whether it was going to proceed with the model that had already been designed.
Members of Albanese’s frontbench have also said they want to secure bipartisan support from the Coalition for constitutional change. This is a tricky proposition given how divisive the issue has been for the Coalition (see below). However, Labor will push ahead with a referendum regardless of whether it has opposition support or not – it would just make a campaign to convince Australians to vote in favour of the changes significantly easier. For any referendum to successfully pass, it has to achieve a double majority: more than half of Australians must vote in favour of the change as well as more than half of the voters in four of the six states (the territories aren’t counted).
What are some other challenges?
Support for the Uluru Statement is not universal in the Indigenous community. Seven delegates walked out of the national convention in 2017 where the statement was first endorsed because they believed treaties were required immediately, not a referendum.
A conservative Aboriginal senator from the Northern Territory, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, is a vocal opponent of an enshrined Indigenous Voice. She says there are more urgent matters, specifically family violence in Aboriginal communities, that should be addressed ahead of implementing a Voice. At least three conservative MPs have echoed Price’s position, and expressed their concerns about a proposal to hold a referendum on the Voice – Tony Pasin from South Australia, Claire Chandler from Tasmania and Phillip Thompson from Queensland. Influential conservative think tanks such as the Centre for Independent Studies and the Institute of Public Affairs have also stated their opposition to a referendum on an Indigenous Voice and the implementation of a Makaratta Commission.
One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson says a Voice would effectively create apartheid in Australia, giving a minority of Australians more political franchise than the majority, based on race. The Voice, she said is “divisive, unfair and unjust” because “one adult, one vote is the only democratic system that is free and fair.”
Meanwhile, the Greens party grabbed headlines during the election campaign because of its preference for prioritising the creation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a Treaty before an Indigenous Voice. This would reverse the order of events set out in the Uluru Statement, which urges the creation of a Voice first because it would politically empower First Nations people. However, Greens leader Adam Bandt later clarified that his party would not stand in the way of Labor’s move to hold a referendum in this term of parliament. Bandt has said he wants to progress all elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Greens senator Lidia Thorpe has said she would work with the government, but also that a truth-telling commission, a treaty, and action on Aboriginal deaths in custody and the Stolen Generations were crucial reforms.
Other prominent Aboriginal activist groups have also expressed opposition to the Uluru Statement. Michael Mansell from the Tasmanian Land Council has described an enshrined Voice as “assimilationist” and instead argues for dedicated seats for First Nations representatives in the Senate. Veteran activist Aunty Jenny Munro says she will run a “no” campaign based on concerns the Uluru Statement proposals undermine the unceded sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities.
Another argument is that, with 26 MPs across all Australian parliaments now identifying as Indigenous – about 3.1 per cent – including 11 Indigenous MPs in Canberra, Aboriginal Australians are already appropriately represented. Proponents of the Voice say this is a red herring: those MPs and senators represent their electorates, as they should, not the interests and special rights of First Nations, which never ceded their sovereign rights to Country.
Constitutional expert professor George Williams says the Referendum Machinery Act prevents the government funding campaigns until a proposal is settled upon. But once that happens it can fund multiple “yes” or “no” cases as it wishes, so long as it is authorised by both houses of parliament – as happened at the 1999 referendum when the Howard government funded two campaigns against the proposal for a republic.
So, there is still a long road ahead to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full – and with three processes to set in motion, it is likely that it will take more than one term to get the job done.
This explainer was first published on May 25 and has since been updated to reflect developments. | <urn:uuid:7b7976bb-414f-4771-aad4-d2ade74b482f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/what-is-the-uluru-statement-from-the-heart-20220524-p5ao6y.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.968096 | 2,986 | 2.140625 | 2 |
The Philadelphia City Planning Commission, or PCPC, is eying a rezoning plan for northern Germantown, with a focus on imposing new rules mandating developers provide parking with their projects and putting limitations on building.
The rezoning plan, which is currently up for public review, would create the new rules for building in a historic neighborhood experiencing a boom in growth as demand for housing swells in the city. It ticks off a laundry list of local priorities both big and small: Reacting to neighbor complaints about increasing density and parking problems, imposing a facade review process, limiting housing development in a flood-prone area, and remapping some irregularly zoned parcels to conform with their surroundings.
Perhaps most significantly, the plan would expand an existing parking overlay along Germantown Avenue to an area between Rittenhouse to Johnson streets. The overlay mandates that any new developments that feature more than 10 units provide off-street parking lots or garages.
Although planners originally issued rezoning recommendations for the area back in 2018, Councilmember Cindy Bass’ office said the office requested a second look at the area, following the commencement of several by-right apartment construction projects.
“There [are] currently a number of multi-unit building projects on and around Germantown Avenue. A lot of these projects do not include parking, which has resulted in the displacement of residential spots,” said William Careri, a spokesperson for Bass. “Our office reached out to have the remapping initiated because of the parking issues our neighborhoods were experiencing.
The overlay would also exempt development fronting Germantown Ave, a commercial strip that dates back to the colonial era, from ground-floor commercial requirements and trigger a “facade review” process overseen by PCPC for all new buildings or major alterations. Typically, such a review is mandated only for buildings that are designated as historic and subject to protections.
The remapping shares similarities with other resident-driven efforts to limit neighborhood change in areas that have attracted development. Other sections of the city have seen neighbors and councilmembers push for height restrictions as a means to preserve character and limit gentrification and a variety of other restrictions. But, often, these efforts have unintended consequences and can limit the development of housing.
In its own citywide “Philadelphia 2035” planning guidelines, the City Planning Commission broadly set a goal of directing more “multifamily housing development to commercial streets and train stations” in the same area now targeted for rezoning. But parts of the proposed rezoning along Germantown Ave, which hosts transit agency SEPTA’s Route 23 bus, would instead make some of those developments more complex and difficult to construct. The plan covers the area roughly bounded by Rittenhouse Street and Johnson Street between Wissahickon and Chew Avenues.
Ian Hegarty, a commission planner, said the parking restrictions were modeled on a similar overlay along Ridge Avenue, and said the commission had attempted to weigh its own recommendations against priorities articulated by neighbors and Bass’ office.
“People are just concerned about density, height, and potential negative impacts of development that’s not carefully planned or doesn’t get a good vetting,” he said. “There were by-right permits pulled for the development of market-rate apartment housing. That was not something that was common in previous building cycles, and now we’re seeing that.”
Hegarty pointed out that the proposal also includes a plan for corrective remapping of properties across the neighborhood and, in some instances, PCPC had proposed adding more density or eliminating older, auto-centered uses. An area near the Tulpehocken regional rail station is being eyed for an “apartment-type district,” while another parcel zoned for strip mall uses would be changed to accomodate mid-sized mixed use development, for example.
“We are trying to position some of the lesser-used sites that are now just parking for housing and development,” the city planner said. “The Planning Commission has been supportive of reducing vehicle miles traveled by creating neighborhoods that are not so automobile-dependent. But we’re hearing from people who really would like to ensure new buildings aren’t bringing a lot of new cars. And we have to strike a balance between those competing concerns.”
Ben She, from urbanist political advocacy committee 5th Square, which promotes denser development, criticized the plan, which comes as some other cities and states have moved to abolish long-established restrictions, like single-family housing, altogether.
The advocate said it would ultimately increase housing costs by limiting supply and that it was wrongheaded to attempt to curb multifamily development in the comparatively sparsely populated section of the city in order to address nuisance issues.
“City Council has taken upon themselves to redefine zoning through these overlays,” he said. “Local quality-of-life issues, like parking or density concerns, are taking precedence over housing more people in places that could really use it, like Northwest Philly.”
She said that neighbors’ concerns could be better addressed through other policy tools, like employing permit parking or other regulations to combat parking issues, or increasing transit service to the area.
Bass’ office did indicate they were also pursuing regulations that would limit on-street truck parking, among other zoning changes meant to respond to neighborhood complaints.
“Moving forward, we expect a lot of conversations to be had between the Planning Commission and our legislative director … to continue to plan appropriate parking conditions for our residents,” Careri said.
PCPC is currently soliciting public comment on the northern Germantown plan and expects to present a draft rezoning ordinance to City Council on October 21.
Subscribe to PlanPhilly | <urn:uuid:e0ee28aa-6473-4b29-adf4-2e6f605e0668> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://whyy.org/articles/germantown-rezoning-highlights-neighborhood-tensions-over-parking-density/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.968937 | 1,212 | 1.59375 | 2 |
- Live Action
As part of our ongoing collaborations with Ford, GTB, and Westfield at the World Trade Center, we created two distinct Ford branded activations that uniquely demonstrate Ford’s leadership role in our mobile future and drive foot traffic to the Ford Hub.
With Explore, Play, Consider, Imagine and Discover as our ethos, we reexamine mobility solutions and a smarter way of life.
The first campaign, “What If”, turns the screens into an open conversation. Through playful questions, we highlight how small changes and innovative thinking can make people’s lives better and give us more freedom to move.
Our goal was to inspire curiosity with metaphorical questions, tactile objects, and playful vignettes. To create a sense of optimism and pique curiosity, we mixed stop motion with illustration, 3D graphics, and live-action for a whimsical and graphic feel.
MOVE FREELY EXTENSION
As an extension of the “What If” campaign, we created a bold graphic messaging system to emphasize the Hub’s arrival and encourage traffic more directly. Playing off standard billboards, the flipboard graphics make for a tongue in cheek interpretation of how to use these very digital screens.
BEHIND THE SCENES
To create a sense of optimism and pique curiosity, we mixed stop motion with illustration, 3d and live-action for a whimsical and graphic feel. Here you can get a sense of our quirky, handmade sets and props. | <urn:uuid:649e6871-f344-469e-909d-f5ded1e5c666> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://siblingrivalry.com/studio/ford-hub/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.869764 | 327 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Cape Town – Seven of the young crocodiles that escaped from a breeding farm into the Breede River, Western Cape, have had to be euthanised, CapeNature said on Friday.
After 27 sub-adult Nile crocodiles were recaptured within a day of Wednesday's mass escape near Bonnievale, experts spotted another 13 last night.
Despite their best efforts to recapture them, CapeNature experts were forced to euthanise seven of the animals. As they prove harder and harder to catch, they are now posing a serious threat to surrounding community members.
CapeNature said it was not known how many were still at large. The commercial farm owner has no idea of exactly how many of his over 5 000 crocodiles had escaped through a hole in a wire fence.
Each between 1.2m and 1.5m long, CapeNature said baited trap cages were no longer working because the reptiles were feasting on “an abundance of food in the river”.
“The recapturing efforts will continue with CapeNature, the farm owner, surrounding landowners and the SAPS.
“An area about 5km upstream towards Robertson and 5km downstream towards Swellendam is the key area.
“The overgrown river and dense vegetation on the riverbanks also make it very difficult to recapture these crocodiles,’’ CapeNature said.
“Being nocturnal animals, the best time to search for them is at night, which brings its own challenges in terms of visibility.
“As time is of the essence, CapeNature and the search party partners were left with no choice but to euthanise seven of the crocodiles spotted. Though crocodiles are indigenous to SA, they are not part of the natural fauna of the Western Cape.”
CapeNature chief executive Razeena Omar was “saddened by the extreme measure this operation is now requiring”, saying: “CapeNature regards the safety of the surrounding community first and foremost, which further accentuates the urgency of the recapturing of these wild animals.
“The situation remains fluid and the recapturing techniques have to be effective in the best interest of public safety.”
Four police boats with two divers each are patrolling the Breede River for 5km either side of Bonnievale, in the direction of Robertson upstream and Swellendam downstream.
Omar said CapeNature would lead an investigation into the crocodiles’ escape “to ascertain whether there was a breach in complying to the permit regulations”.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said schools in the Bonnievale area were contacted and the principals informed to ’’sensitise the learners regarding safety measures and the danger of the current situation’’.
Anyone who sees a crocodile is asked to call Bonnievale police on (023) 616-8060. | <urn:uuid:17b8c59e-267a-47b1-a11a-6473ef699d9e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/capenature-forced-to-euthanise-seven-crocodiles-after-mass-escape-67b7fe4e-01c5-4cf2-81e6-c5bd4a2bb5cd | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.964281 | 613 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Water is essential for your health: It regulates body temperature, lubricates joints, flushes waste from the body and so much more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But let's be honest: It's not the most exciting drink on the menu.
Video of the Day
One popular way to make water more tasty is to infuse it with fruits and veggies — which adds more than just flavor. Here, we take a look at exactly what cucumber water is good for.
1. Keeps You Hydrated
"The main way it's good is for hydration," Carissa Galloway, RDN tells LIVESTRONG.com. "It's a fun way to get more water with a spa-like feel that can help those who don't like water, which can help many things from energy to focus, digestion and skin."
Drinking water in general is a great way to avoid being dehydrated, and according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the side effects of dehydration include much more than just being thirsty. Some symptoms are:
- Decreased skin elasticity
- Low blood pressure
But you can also eat hydrating foods: As a vegetable that is almost 100 percent water, cucumber is a simple way to add an extra source of hydration to your glass of water. Plus, the taste makes it more appealing and can potentially influence you to drink more.
"It actually tastes good," Galloway says, "No matter how good you think something is for you, if it doesn't taste good, then you won't consistently consume it."
In case you were wondering if you could drink cucumber water every day, "There is no risk," Galloway says, "as we need to hydrate daily, so I say drink up!"
2. Delivers Essential Nutrients
Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN recommends eating the cucumber once you finish drinking your water for maximum benefit.
"It's unclear how many of the nutrients in a fruit or vegetable actually end up in the water," she says. "If you eat the veggies as well, you'll be getting more nutrients."
Those nutrients include fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and vitamin K according to the USDA.
"A medium cucumber has 57 percent of your daily value for vitamin K," Largeman-Roth says, "which is important for blood clotting and bone health."
3. Contains Antioxidants
Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals — molecules that cause oxidative stress to the cells, potentially causing inflammation or playing a role in cancer, heart disease and other diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic.
"When we increase the amount of antioxidants in our daily diet, then we are giving our body the support it needs to fight cell damage and ideally delay or prevent these conditions from occurring," Galloway says.
Antioxidants can be found in most fruits and vegetables as vitamins A, C and E, she says, which is part of the reason why she recommends including plenty of fresh produce in your diet.
Cucumbers have a variety of antioxidants, including several flavonoids, a group of plant chemicals found in many fruits and vegetables, Galloway says. Cucumber's antioxidants include:
- Vitamin C
Research suggests these antioxidants are linked with reduced disease risk. For example, a July 2012 study in Biochemical Pharmacology evaluated fisetin's effects on melanoma and cancers of the pancreas, prostate and lungs. Researchers observed the effect the flavonoid had on cancerous cells from patients with prostate cancer and lung cancer. They concluded that fisetin stopped cell growth within prostate cancer cells.
Further research is needed, Galloway says, but the results suggest there may be a link between fisetin and a reduced risk in prostate cancer.
"Cucumber-infused water could be potentially helpful for weight loss if you're drinking it instead of sweetened beverages, like sodas and juice drinks," Largeman-Roth says.
One-third of a medium cucumber has only 10 calories, according to the FDA and water has no calories. Compare that to around 150 in the average 12-ounce can of soda. Over time, replacing sugary drinks with cucumber water can dramatically reduce your calorie intake.
Galloway calls this a "lifestyle swap" because it can improve your health for years to come if maintained.
"For example, if you replace a 200-calorie drink with zero-calorie cucumber water every day, in a year you will have cut 73,000 calories," Galloway says, "which if you use the 3,500 calories equals 1 pound equation, could result in roughly a 20-pound weight loss from one simple swap."
Additionally, cucumbers are low-energy-dense foods because "water lowers the energy density of foods," according to the CDC. Cucumbers are 96 perfect water, Largeman-Roth says.
In an April 2016 systematic review in Nutrients, researchers examined the relationship between the energy density of food and body-weight changes in adults with obesity. They found low-energy-dense foods — which were high in water and fiber — were associated with weight loss.
How to Make Cucumber Water
Now that you know the benefits, the next step is to actually make your own cucumber water.
It's a super simple recipe: Slice your desired amount of cucumber and drop the slices in your water. You can even use sparkling water and garnish with mint or citrus, like in our Sparkling Cucumber Refresher recipe. (The benefits of lemon water on its own are enough to include the yellow fruit in your glass, but a lemon and cucumber combo makes for an even tastier sip.)
After you make a batch, cucumber-infused water can be kept in your fridge for up to 3 days, according to Largeman-Roth.
- CDC: "Water and Nutrition"
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: "Dehydration"
- USDA:"Cucumber, raw"
- Mayo Clinic: "Antioxidants"
- Biochemical Pharmacology: "Dietary flavonoid fisetin: A novel dual inhibitor of PI3K/Akt and mTOR for prostate cancer management"
- FDA: "Nutrition for Raw Vegetables"
- CDC: "Low-Energy-Dense Foods and Weight Management"
- Nutrients: "Link between Food Energy Density and Body Weight Changes in Obese Adults"
- Cleveland Clinic: "Are There Any Health Benefits to Drinking a Gallon of Water a Day?"
- Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism: "Vitamin K and bone" | <urn:uuid:c28de226-f724-4101-bb52-68ebfdd95ab1> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.livestrong.com/article/13767817-cucumber-water-benefits/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.942659 | 1,445 | 2.65625 | 3 |
In a clear and well-orchestrated escalation, the US State Department has effectively rejected nearly all of China’s claims and activities in the South China Sea, a law-based provocation that threatens to spike tensions in the already hotly contested maritime area.
The statement comes soon after the US conducted its first dual aircraft carrier exercises in the South China Sea in six years, as the Pentagon ramps up its military presence to deter China’s rising assertiveness in the waters.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that the “world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire” and that America “stands with Southeast Asian allies and partners in protecting their sovereign rights to offshore resources, consistent with their rights and obligations under international law.”
America’s unprecedented statement against China’s maritime moves marks a provocative new chapter in their South China Sea showdown.
The surprise announcement marks a new phase of the two superpowers’ maritime showdown and portends a possible more forceful Pentagon intervention if China moves in future on disputed land features in the sea claimed by Southeast Asian nations, including Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) ally the Philippines.
China’s Foreign Ministry struck back by accusing the US of “deliberately distorting the facts and international law” It said the US “exaggerates the situation in the region” in order to “sow discord between China and other littoral countries.
The Chinese statement maintained that the South China Sea situation “is peaceful and stable and is still improving” and decried the US for “flexing muscles, stirring up tension and inciting confrontation in the region.
In a shot across China’s bow, Pompeo specifically rejected China’s claim over land features such as the Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal and the Mischief Reef, all of which fall within “areas that the tribunal found to be in the Philippines’ EEZ (exclusive economic zone) or on its continental shelf.
Aside from its mutual defense treaty ally in the Philippines, the US now also effectively supports the claims of other regional partners, including Vietnam, Malaysia and even Indonesia amid recent rising tensions with China off the energy-rich Natuna islands.
In its statement, the US said that it “rejects any [Chinese] maritime claim in the waters surrounding Vanguard Bank (off Vietnam), Luconia Shoals (off Malaysia), waters in Brunei’s EEZ, and Natuna Besar (off Indonesia).”
It also effectively reaffirmed Malaysia’s claim over the China-claimed James Shoal, since it’s “an entirely submerged feature only 50 nautical miles from Malaysia and some 1,000 nautical miles from China’s coast.
The US is now also directly challenging China’s “historic rights” claims over energy and fishery resources across the South China Sea basin and beyond, particularly within Indonesia’s EEZ in the North Natuna Sea.
Far from a cynical election ploy to shore up Trump’s anti-China credentials ahead of presidential elections in November, America’s latest statements represent a natural progression in Washington’s increasingly hawkish policies towards Beijing.
In recent years, the US has upgraded its security cooperation with new partners such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, while maintaining its commitment to traditional allies like the Philippines.
Asia Times / ABC Flash Point News 2020. | <urn:uuid:4e7f5c06-5fef-4e97-913b-04532083848b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://cosmoschronicle.com/multiple-us-aircraft-carriers-deployed-for-drills-in-south-china-sea/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.913971 | 723 | 1.765625 | 2 |
The documentary Peace with Seals deals is made up of two stories,. The first story is about a seal named Gaston who, according to the director of the Prague Zoo, became ‘the most famous animal on earth’ after he managed to reach Germany during a devastating flood. At the height of his fame, Gaston was adopted by the former Prime Minister Gross. After Gaston's death, the Prague Zoo erected a statue in his memory. The second story took place 50 years earlier and tells the life story of a seal named Ulysses. The seal was caught in Sardinia by a Milan photojournalist who, in front of the cameras, tossed the animal into the famous Di Trevi fountain. Patellani, a friend of Federico Fellini's and a specialist on film stars, was fined for his action. The reason, however, was not the killing of a baby seal but the pollution of water in the fountain. Fellini took inspiration from the story for La Dolce Vita. In La Dolce Vita Fellini coined the term ‘paparazzi’ in reference to photojournalists, such as Patellani. Fellini is said to have created the word because it suggested to him ‘a buzzing insect, hovering, darting, stinging.’
The two distinctive stories bring out the stark question: what historical changes have altered our relationship with animals? Today there are urban nature reserves, aquariums instead of oceans, and seal hunting can be booked with a travel agent. In the time of Homer, seals were the most widespread inhabitant of one of Europe's best-known seas, the Mediterranean. However, seals have become one of the most endangered mammals in Europe. The film raises questions around how seals, and wild animals more broadly, will be encountered in the future? Furthermore how animals are domesticated, and how does this domestication reflect the human condition?
DAFilms.com is powered by Doc Alliance, a creative partnership of 7 key European documentary film festivals. Our aim is to advance the documentary genre, support its diversity and promote quality creative documentary films. | <urn:uuid:d41ba312-3251-4392-93a2-0e337505ec44> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://asia.dafilms.com/film/2263-peace-with-seals-en-version | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.972925 | 432 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Annual accounts preparation, also known as ‘statutory accounts’, are an important legal requirement of your business. It can take time and expertise to ensure your obligations are fulfilled and that all relevant information has been prepared and submitted.
This brief guide will give you an overview of the accounts you must submit to HMRC which form the basis for the company’s tax calculations. You must also file these with Companies House, details of what to prepare are included below.
What are statutory accounts?
The statutory accounts include a detailed balance sheet that depicts the value of all your possessions. Show your profit and loss accounts. This clarifies your company’s sales and other costs throughout the financial year.
Who has to file them?
All companies must prepare annual accounts: for shareholders, and for returns to HMRC and Companies House. Small companies generally do not require an audit if they satisfy any two of the following: annual turnover of less than £10.2m; total assets under £5.1m;50 employees or fewer.
Key points & legal requirements:
· Statutory accounts are submitted online with the company’s tax return, within 12 months of your company’s financial year end.
· The tax becomes payable at nine months so accounts are normally submitted around this date.
Companies House submission
· The accounts you file become publicly available.
· The accounts must be submitted within nine months of your company’s year-end.
· The content of filed accounts is reduced for medium, small or micro-entity companies based on turnover, balance sheet assets and the number of employees.
· Further exemptions apply to micro-entities satisfying any two of the following: annual turnover of less than £632,000; balance sheet assets less than £316,000; 10employees or fewer.
· Most medium-sized companies (satisfying any two of the following: annual turnover of less than £36m; balance sheet assets less than £18m; 250 employees or fewer)can file slightly reduced accounts. These omit some of the detailed information required for large companies.
· Company directors are legally responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the accounts. Using an accountant does not reduce this responsibility.
Almost all companies use accounting software and the services of an accountant to prepare their accounts.
Being organised makes it relatively simple to provide the information your accountant needs. You can also use this information to review and improve your business operations.
What do I need to supply in a submission?
There are usually four main sections:
- A directors’ report, giving a business review and their view of the firm’s performance and prospects.
- A balance sheet, outlining the company’s financial position on the final day of the accounting period (the year-end). Essentially, this shows what the company owns and what it owes.
- A profit and loss account, showing the trading performance over the accounting period(usually 12 months). This summarises sales, costs and expenses, profits (or losses), and any tax charges.
- Notes, giving more details about the information in the balance sheet and the profit and loss account.
The Companies Act sets out how the accounts will be presented
The format should also comply with UK accounting standards, which dictate how certain transactions should be treated in the financial statements.
Directors have to make sure that financial statements give a ‘true and fair view’ of the company’s financial position.
What accounting records do I need to keep?
All companies are legally required to keep detailed accounting records of the following:
· income and expenditure
· assets and liabilities
· stock and any stock-takings used to work this out
· goods sold or purchased and who you deal with (except for retail transactions)
You must keep financial documentation to back up your tax return.
This can be kept in hard copy or electronic form and will include:
· records of all income and expenditure such as copies of orders, invoices and receipts
· other relevant information such as bank statements, cheque books and paying-in books
Almost all businesses must file their annual tax return online. Most businesses use an accounting software system to simplify this process and help minimise errors.
Can I prepare my statutory accounts myself?
It really depends on your existing skill set, understanding of legalities and accounting comprehension level – not to mention your available time to undertake such a task. You will need to consider how you will ensure it is well planned, provides everything required and is filed on time.
If you are in anyway unsure or are time poor it is highly advisable to use an accountant for this purpose. Our professional accountants can manage this for you with precise care. Sometimes it seems impossible to take time away from your business commitments to attempt all the technical work, especially if it is by yourself. We understand it can be difficult to manage everything alone. Especially, when you know that any mistake you cause will result in harsh penalties. A professional hand can keep these kinds of concerns away.
How do I plan for my statutory accounts?
Use an accounting software to simplify the process. Speak to your accountant to ensure you purchase the best software for your needs.
Ensure all figures add up correctly and tally with your invoices, bills, paying-in books and, most importantly, your bank statements.
Ask your accountant whether there are any tax-planning steps you should take. You may need to take-action before your company's year-end. For example, you may be advised to bring forward certain purchases, so that they count in the current accounting period.
What other information will I need to supply my accountant?
These are likely to fall into four key areas:
1. Purchases and sales
Your accounting records should be clear and logical as this saves time for everyone involved. Keep record-keeping simple and do it in a way that helps your business.
List sales made before the year end, but not yet paid for, as outstanding debtors. Include the amount, invoice number and invoice date.
List purchases made before year end, but not yet paid for, as outstanding creditors. Include the amount, the supplier’s name and the payment due date.
Note any invoices you dispute and do not expect to pay, with a brief explanation.
2. Stock and uncompleted work
The value of stock is a key element in retail and manufacturing businesses. It includes work-in-progress. Service businesses have little physical stock but may have considerable work in-progress, such as half-finished projects.
Unless stocks are a minor item, you will need to carry out a stocktake. This is a physical count-up of the goods on your premises. It is made easier and faster with careful planning.
Once the stock has been counted, it needs to be valued. This will be based on either the cost to you or the amount for which you expect to sell the goods, whichever is lowest.
Service providers are required to include partly completed work. This uses the stage-to-completion method. For example, if a contract is 75% complete, then 75% of the contract value would be included in the year-end accounts as uncompleted work.
Keep a list of:
· work you have started but haven’t yet invoiced
· the estimated sales value when the work is completed
· an accurate estimate of the percentage of the work you have completed. You can use time records, job costing or diaries to help you work out the percentage.
3. Fixed assets
Fixed assets include buildings(if you own them), equipment, vehicles, and ‘fixtures and fittings’ (e.g. shelving).
Keep a fixed-assets register, detailing all the assets that the company owns and keep the documents proving ownership.
Note any items that have been purchased, sold or scrapped during the year. Give your accountant a copy of relevant purchase or sales invoices or any other documents.
Small companies can get 100% relief when purchasing certain fixed assets, so it is important to speak to your accountant before any purchase.
Payroll and expenses claims are of particular interest to HMRC.
It is important to get calculations right, whether you or a payroll bureau handle this. The business is liable for incorrectly deducted tax and national insurance contributions (NIC), not the employee.
Keep records for all expense claims. Expenses claim forms make it easy to keep track of expenses. Employees attach the relevant receipts to the completed form, in order to receive reimbursement.
You no longer have to report these expenses on P11Ds, but HMRC must be satisfied that you reimburse nothing more than the legitimate costs incurred or an HMRC-approved flat rate. You will still need to keep records of any payments made.
Tax on benefits in kind can be paid through your payroll. You must register with HMRC and add the cash equivalent of the benefit to the employees pay through the payroll.
You don’t need to complete P11Ds but you must submit P11D(b)s to calculate NIC.
We can help you prepare your Statutory Accounts
It goes without saying that your accounts need to be accurate and prepared in accordance with relevant laws and accounting standards, but we also pledge to do this in the most efficient way with minimum time required on your part. We’ll also identify any opportunities or issues we find along the way and raise these with you at the earliest opportunity, to ensure you can capitalise on them or work to resolve them.
If you would like to find out more about how we can help lighten the load and manage your accounts preparation, speak to us today on 01322 555 442. | <urn:uuid:435ed920-670f-4b8b-bc70-423efeb8996b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.bluerocketaccounting.com/news/blue-rocket-guide-to-preparing-your-statutory-accounts | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.942429 | 2,024 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Is our perspective on cohabitation too anthropocentric? The Indian author Sumana Roy seeks the company of plants and marvels at people who insist on "their space" as a rightful privilege and property.
The arrival of this phrase must have marked my real entry into adulthood – hearing someone say ‘I need my space’, and then internalizing it as one of the necessary demands one makes of a relationship. But the truth is that I never felt the need to use it. Either I was lucky to not have been among people who barged into my space or I was the kind of person who had not been formed by the notion of a space that was exclusively mine – like a fingerprint, no, like a footprint, that takes up space. I hadn’t ever heard my parents say that to each other or to us, and though we had a small house, with tiny rooms from which all of us moved in and out constantly, and we fought with each other like most families, we did not demand ‘space’ from each other. I cannot remember a time from my childhood, besides when I was left alone at home because of my recurring illness while others had to go to work, when I was ever by myself in a room.
Uncles and aunts from my father’s village were itinerant visitors – they slept on the bed that had otherwise been allotted to my brother and me. The aalna – a rickety clotheshorse, a gift from my parents’ wedding – would grow obese with their clothes, particularly in the winter, but it stood standing, like our old house, always being able to make space for another. It must have been from a conditioning in such a life that created the ethic for my heart – where there would always be space for one more person, and then another, and then another. For I know of no other continent that is as populated as the heart. It is, for me, the best metaphor for cohabitation – things and people and places and emotions learn to live there without any great violence, without riots.
In the house with uncles and aunts and grandparents who came and left to their will were animals – dogs and cows and goats and hens and crows and sparrows, none of these ‘pets’, but those who were always eager to make a meal of anything thrown or discarded at the slightest opportunity. There were the catfish in the wells, apparently kept there to keep the water clean. And there were the plants. Who had planted them?
No one bothered with these questions, taking them as expected and natural as the cohabitation of body and shadow or body and mind. It wasn’t childhood which allowed such an idea of the world, of it being a place where forgetfulness was not just allowed but necessary – that it was alright for the leaf to be forgetful of the epithelium of dust on it just as it was for the water to be forgetful of the weight of a leaf on it. That the same thing could be both – bear the pressure of another and also impress its weight on someone else – was our conditioning in cohabitation: to be both agent and acted upon, like the leaf which holds dust, but it also held by water. Much later, when childhood would seem like a dream or a book that one had borrowed from a library, I would discover an analogy in the spiritual thinker Guru Nanak’s thoughts: ‘The Guru … took a jasmine petal and let it float gently on the surface of the milk, implying that his presence would not uproot anyone’.
Cohabitation, I learnt from looking at plants, was in the rejection of ownership.
One day I heard a television chef say this when chopping mint: ‘Don’t run the knife at the same place twice. It’ll make it bleed …’ I cannot remember anything else, what he was cooking, or how he used the mint. All I kept thinking was this: from whose point of view was he thinking, the human tongue’s or the mint leaves’? The wok or the cooking pot is a great metaphor for cohabitation – the difference between the ‘melting pot’ and the ‘salad bowl’ models of culture have been whipped to froth. That is not what I mean though. When a chef says that garlic agrees with olive oil and lemon, whose point of view do we imply? It is easy to say that it is an anthropocentric view, and that such a conditioning in taste implies the human’s. But is there a possibility that it is in the genetic character – I use ‘genetic’ only as shorthand – of garlic to disagree with milk and sweetness as it is for onion to form a natural friendship with garlic and chillies?
I say cohabitation even though I interpret it as friendship. I import my ideas of human companionship into a nonhuman setup and fail immediately. By my wrong logic, even the knife cutting through the mint leaves can be seen to be in dialogue with them. But the result of such a dialogue is death. What then?
How do we cohabitate without destroying or killing the other?
Cohabitation is also the rejection of conformity – the demand we make on others to become like us. We want those we love to say the things they say in a way we can understand. I am thinking of the Indian scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose, who ‘proved’ to the world that plants are ‘living and sentient beings’. How he, trained as a physicist, came to the botanical sciences, is now a well-known anecdote. On a walk in Calcutta, he accidentally touched the leaves of the Mimosa pudica, also known as the ‘touch-me-not’. The leaves shrank from his touch. He was surprised, even shocked. Always having associated ‘response’ as a mark of the living, he spent his life arguing for greater respect to plant life.
Jagadish Bose, in his obsession to prove that plants deserved as much dignity as humans and other animals, designed various kinds of instruments to measure and calibrate the responses of plants to the elements, most particularly to water, air, and heat. He wanted plants to respond in their own ‘handwriting’. His word for that, in Bangla, was ‘torulipi, the plant script. Whimsical and idiosyncratic in ambition, affectionate in the need to hear his favourite plants speak, the idea of the plant script is utopic. It tells us to annotate our idea of cohabitation to accommodate difference of another kind – when two beings who do not share a language, like humans and plants don’t, they can still cohabit. Cohabitation – and conversation – does not need a shared language.
After nearly a year of forced social distancing, of protecting myself from the virus so as to be able to protect those with whom I share my surroundings, I decide to go out with my family. We will go to the forest, a forest nearby – so it is decided. The rationale for this is not hard to find – we do not want to meet humans, possible carriers of the virus. We do not say any of this to each other, but when we reach the forest, the place from which we will have to walk into it, we get down from the car without speaking to each other. My two-year-old niece makes a sound as we are about to enter. It’s a sound, not a word – for the flock of pigeons that seem to have jumped into the sky at once. ‘Whoosh.’ My nephew asks what we’d do if we met a tiger. ‘Do you want to shake its hands?’ I whisper into his ears.
The forest is there almost exactly as we left it more than a year ago. It has changed, but it is not the sky, which likes to reveal its changing life. This is not the stubbornness of the forest but its character – it is like the inside of our mouths that is being constantly replenished with new saliva that remains invisible to the world. When my nephew first saw a forest, he was about four years old, and was just entering a life in language. He declared that ‘forest’ meant ‘for rest’. He is now nine, and instead of rest, he now imagines it as a place for freedom, that would allow him to run in a way his small house with its many packed rooms did not. I smiled inside my mask as I thought of this – how the forest allowed both habitation, rest and its obverse, whatever that might be.
Inside it – for my nephew had indeed asked what was to be found inside a forest, a question for which we’d had no answer – was nothing and everything all at once. I did not know the names of most of the trees, and I presumed that they were not insulted by this lack of knowledge on my part as humans are, when we go to meet them without an awareness of their names and social and professional designations. Even though the government’s forest department had been responsible for the afforestation programme that had kept the forest alive, one that usually introduces homogeneity, because it is easy to plant one or a couple of species on a replanting overdrive, there were a variety of races of trees in whose midst we stood. I do not use the word casually: race. And, soon after, other categories from the sociological world entered my consciousness: class and caste. The forest and its residents were without these markers, and I wanted to feel in this what I had always felt intuitively – the natural cosmopolitanism of the forest. The human’s hierarchical imagination had imposed the idea of king and kingdom in the animal world inside the forest – there was a ‘king of the forest’, after all. In this forest, with trees whose only visible sign of power was in their height, there seemed to be place for everyone. And everything. I say the latter because of my immediate memory of my nephew pointing to a heap of red cloth wallets left under a tree. They were usually given by jewellers to buyers. It was possible – and what can stop the imagination from being thrilled? – that a group of dacoits had looted a house or a jewellery store, then come here, plucked out the gold and diamond from inside them and abandoned the purses in a hurry. I say hurry because right beside the red wallets was a pair of well-worn black shoes. The trees in the forest, even though they didn’t need the black shoes for walking, had accepted it in their midst, as they had the empty purses. Not gold or silver, but a seed, perhaps even spores, could accumulate inside them and grow into something. I do not mean to turn the forest into a homily about natural cohabitation, but when I think of a metaphor of accommodativeness, I think of two things: the human heart, the most highly populated region in the world, one larger than the world itself; the forest, which keeps growing without bothering about being contained, which will find space for everything, light and darkness, spit and rain, moss and canopy, all kinds of opposites defined by the limits of the human imagination. It is common to think of the forest as self-contained; I tend to think of it as uncontainable, but, like the human heart, it knows how to keep everything in place without destroying itself. The notion of overcrowdedness, so used for human habitation, is foreign to the human heart and the forest.
My niece sat on a low branch of a tree and broke the self-imposed curfew on human silence. Perhaps we were trying to speak the language of the trees without awareness? She called out to her mother. ‘Ma …’
Soon she was in her mother’s arms. I took a photo though it was now dark. When I was home, I noticed the two photos of her on my phone: of her holding the tree while sitting on it, and her holding her mother. The posture in both looks very similar. Their shadows too might have looked similar, I think, had the forest floor allowed shadows. That might be the only thing it excludes – the day residency of shadows. For a moment I wonder why, until a thought brings me back to my old equivalence: no shadows fall on the human heart either.
It is raining now, as I write the last few lines of this essay. Winter rain, never welcome. I pull an extra blanket up to my waist and look out to the balcony. In the crocheted darkness of the balcony, partially hidden from me by creepers resting on the glass windows, are birds waiting out the showers. I know them from their bird calls. I have lived so long with them that I have given these sounds names. At first these names were of the sounds and their relation to the time of the day. ‘Pik Pik Noon’ – this tiny one, as one can make out from the onomatopoeic first name, would arrive around noon and not leave until some food was given to it. The names have changed over time.
The tiniest of them, that look like sparrows but are smaller than them, refuse to sit on any branch. They head straight to the mustard plants that grow in a large flat pot. I’ve occasionally seen them look at their shadow on the floor – they lose the shadow, after all, when they climb high into the sky. I wonder who they cohabitate with better – their shadow or the sky. | <urn:uuid:36d9fbcb-4f75-43cc-8d3a-d956ce1e0d48> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.kulturstiftung-des-bundes.de/en/magazine/magazine_36/the_cult_of_i_need_my_space_and_plant_life.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.983393 | 2,889 | 2.21875 | 2 |
‘Like’ Art: 7 Masterpieces of Social Media Art That Will Make It Into the History Books
As Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms transform the world we live in, younger artists have harnessed social media to make great art.
Whether you like it or not, social media is an integral part of the fabric of contemporary life. Politicians’ Twitter posts have international implications; memes from Reddit form the bedrock of popular culture; brands compete for screen time alongside forgotten friends from high school; sharing selfies is now de rigueur for everyone from your preteen cousin to your grandmother; relevance is measured in followers and likes; and news, real or otherwise, is endlessly cycled, discussed, distorted, and sometimes even made on sites like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and more. Social media is more than just a generator of attention-sucking disturbances that flash into view and just as quickly disappear: It’s also how some two billion of us keep up with our friends and family, network with our colleagues, form and reform our political opinions, and generally express ourselves in a world that is more interconnected than ever before. Reckoning with the 21st century means, at least in part, reckoning with social media.
It’s shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, then, that artists (a famously curious bunch) have begun experimenting with this novel medium, teasing out its hidden implications and sending up its more baffling tropes. Born out of the ‘90s net art movement, where innovators like Heath Bunting and Yael Kanarek looked to the newly available World Wide Web as a site (get it?) for artistic experimentation and performative social connection, as well as the “surf clubs” of the early aughts, today’s crop of social media artists work within the confines of the corporate-controlled social media sites that structure our daily lives in an effort to distort and question exactly those confines. Here, we’ve rounded up seven of the most interesting and impactful social media projects of recent years for your perusal, which are united by a shared taste for fakery, manipulation, withholding, and irony. Keep them in mind during your next bout of compulsive app scrolling.
Petra Cortright’s VVEBCAM, 2007
Uploaded to YouTube just two years after the video-sharing site was launched, Cortright’s VVEBCAM is an exercise in simplicity: the artist gazes blankly into a webcam (or, really, at the screen beneath the cam) as Ceephax’s “Summer Frosby” plays off of her computer and a range of cartoony stock effects (dancing pizza slices, falling leaves, etc.) flash across the screen. She looks, above all else, slightly bored, barely engaged with whatever she’s looking at onscreen but just interested enough to keep on looking as the images begin to flicker by faster and faster. The upload itself is tagged with hundreds of keywords, mostly irrelevant to the content of the video, that serve to bring in more and more viewers searching for unrelated content. (These tags eventually became the video’s downfall; YouTube removed the video in 2011 based on the “offensive” nature of some of them.)
Despite its straightforward presentation, Cortright’s work is now considered an early reworking of the self-objectification central to what we now might term “selfie culture,” but with an important twist: The artist is looking back with the same barely-there expression of the passive video viewer. Social media content may be a vital aspect of our day-to-day existence, but VVEBCAM highlights some of its inherent banality.
Lauren Christiansen, Brad Troemel, and Other Artists: The Jogging, 2009-14
This collective project, spearheaded by Brad Troemel and Lauren Christiansen along with Joshua Citarella, Spencer Longo, Haley Mellin, Rachael Milton, Jesse Stecklow, Artie Vierkant, Andrew Norman Wilson, and submissions by thousands of other artists, is in part an attempt to answer an age-old question: “what is art?” While philosophers and artists have floated answers ranging from “the imitation of nature” to “literally whatever we say it is” over the years, the Jogging crew came up with their own novel definition: “stuff that’s presented like art.” In response to the rise of online contemporary-art roundups like Contemporary Art Daily and e-flux that were then quickly becoming the main conduits for viewing art from around the world, this group established a submission-based Tumblr page to share similar images.
There was, however, one big (or perhaps not so big) difference: Their posts were largely mockups, constructed using Photoshop to look like so many bona fide artworks of the time (messy, pop-culture-laden sculptures photographed against the clean white walls of a gallery and labeled with a title, medium, and artist name) without going to the trouble of physically realizing them. As the critic, curator, and current Postmasters Gallery director Kerry Doran writes in her 2017 essay “There’s No Business Like…,” this constituted “a tongue-in-cheek response to the newly forming reality that exhibitions would primarily be experienced through their documentation: Why make an object for the sake of being photographed when the tools exist to fake it?”
Hennessy Youngman (Jayson Musson), “ART THOUGHTZ,” 2010-12
Though arguably just as much a work of art criticism as it is an art project, Jayson Musson’s 25 YouTube videos released under the moniker Hennessy Youngman stand as vital documents of the shift in contemporary art from rarefied academic discipline to career-driven striving, a change precipitated in no small part from the rise of social media itself. In the videos, Youngman, bedecked in a cartoon-themed flat-brimmed cap, delivers his own scathing take on the artists and art practices so often exalted in the university setting, like relational aesthetics, institutional critique, and Post-Structuralism.
Such disdain for one’s predecessors is of course standard for any self-respecting young artist, but Youngman’s blend of bombastic humor and political acuity coupled with his riff on “YouTube personality” tropes then coming into being (think direct webcam addresses, outlandish statements, and simple but effective graphic overlays) makes his jabs at the establishment memorable. (I challenge you to watch his video on Bruce Nauman and not think of Youngman’s take every time you see the venerated video artist referenced.) Perhaps his most important commentary comes from his 2010 video “ART THOUGHTZ: How To Be A Successful Artist,” which includes such helpful steps as “be white” and “be a white male,” and has an unforgettable disquisition on painting a flower. If only the advice weren’t as relevant today.
Sara Ludy, “Projection Monitor,” 2010-14
Remember Second Life? For a while after its 2003 launch, it seemed that the virtual world created by Linden Lab would be the one to finally make good on the promises of ‘90s techno-utopians, who saw the Internet as a place of unbridled creative expression and social connectivity where anyone could reimagine themselves as anything else. But, like so many other examples from the brief history of the Web, its users gradually got bored and left, or else turned to increasingly elaborate forms of avatar-on-avatar eroticism, leaving Second Life as a depopulated relic of its former glory.
Into this emptying world strolled Sara Ludy, whose “Projection Monitor” project documents its more mundane aspects. Ludy uses a real camera to shoot images of Second Life landscapes and interiors displayed on a computer screen, adding an extra layer of remove to the content being photographed, before posting them onto the project’s Tumblr page. While many a think piece has commented on the bizarre nature of the simulation and the social interactions it engenders, Ludy focuses instead on quieter scenes, almost always devoid of avatars, that are at once peaceful and slightly creepy. If the other social media projects on this list attempt to fit themselves into vibrant online ecosystems, Ludy is perhaps a kind of e-archaeologist, documenting a forgotten civilization long after its denizens had passed on.
Constant Dullaart, High Retention, Slow Delivery, 2014
The Dutch artist Constant Dullaart is known for a variety of conceptual projects centered around the Internet and digital technologies, many of which are relatively complex and specific to the history of computing. This one, however, is fairly simple: for $5,000, Dullaart purchased some 2.5 million fake Instagram followers, which he distributed among a group of art-world accounts (including Hans Ulrich Obrist, Ai Weiwei, Petra Cortright, and more) in an effort to “equalize” their apparent relevance. In a world that measures cultural capital by how widely your “influence” extends (or seems to extend), fake followers represent a nearly socialist attempt at wealth redistribution.
Of course, such wealth is only virtual, created, in this case, by a Lithuanian eBay contact. The question then becomes where the actual value of followers lies. In 2014, Dullaart’s gesture was often read as a commentary on the emptiness of social media striving, but, in light of the apparently pernicious role of similar “bots” in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, it takes on a more insidious tone today. In a time when social media and political reality are increasingly conflated, an army of fake online followers can indeed wield real-world power.
Amalia Ulman: Excellences & Perfections, 2014
A project that has been lauded as “the first Instagram masterpiece” by the London Telegraph, and which has earned her spots in shows from the Tate Modern to the New Museum, Amalia Ulman’s Excellences & Perfections has created a new standard for what’s possible in an online performance.
Over the course of six months in 2014, the Argentinean-born artist documented what appeared to be a personal journey of self-discovery on her Instagram profile. Narrated by her photos and captions, Ulman sets out to reinvent herself in Los Angeles, dyeing her hair blonde, adhering to a strict but trendy diet, posting aspirational cliches, flaunting apparent wealth in the form of various “hot” consumer goods, posing seductively, getting breast implants, and generally presenting herself as the archetypal Instagram It Girl. Along the way, she garnered thousands of followers, becoming one of many mini-celebs whose lifestyle and presentation online now inform the American conception of what it means to live “the good life.” The only catch: It was an act, at least partially. The plastic surgery was staged, the hashtagged bromides pre-planned (the diet and the hair dye, however, were real).
In various artist talks and statements after the fact, Ulman revealed that her real motivation was to challenge what a female artist is “supposed” to be in the current era and to point to the distance between women’s success-driven online self-presentation and the reality of their lives. Indeed, she seems to have struck a nerve: She recounts that many of her pre-Excellences art-world colleagues sought to distance themselves from what they thought was her “gaudy” new identity. One can’t help but wonder what they think now.
American Artist: A Refusal, 2015-16
Though by design not as splashy as some of the other entries on this list, American Artist’s (yes, that’s his name) performance project is a subtle reminder of the hidden economics at the heart of supposedly “free” sites like Facebook. Over the course of a full year, Artist redacted all content he would ordinarily have posted online for his followers: Photos became rectangles in Facebook blue that are reminiscent of the Microsoft “blue screen of death,” while text posts were blacked out in the manner of classified government documents. Meanwhile, the legible content these redactions referred to was systematically archived, in physical form, for the perusal of those who made an in-person appointment to view them.
The result is a repudiation of Facebook’s basic business model, in which users provide free labor and content, paid for only in “likes,” which in turn attracts more users and, eventually, advertisers, who of course pay the platform owners (not the content creators) for the privilege of accessing their users. By opting out of this system without exiting it entirely, Artist points to a kind of cruelty at the heart of social media; as he writes in his statement on the project, the platforms offer users an experience “[a]s if the faces of those they love or admire are being dangled from a string in front of them — plainly out of reach, but close enough to keep them running on a treadmill that fuels the spectacle of society.” Think about that the next time your mom comments something embarrassing on your latest status.
Follow Artnet News on Facebook:
Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward. | <urn:uuid:f9c75e13-ddf5-4961-9dc1-a9a83b376f3f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://news.artnet.com/art-world/best-social-media-art-1182398 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572127.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815024523-20220815054523-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.950779 | 2,868 | 2.0625 | 2 |
Master a Proven Framework for Building and Financing New Ventures
Leadership Principles is designed to help new and aspiring leaders unleash the potential in themselves and others, and cultivate high-performing teams. Become a more versatile leader who can mobilize others by immersing yourself in real-world leadership challenges, self-assessments, and 360-degree feedback from colleagues and peers.
- Understand your motivational drivers, emotional intelligence, and communication methods to establish a personal leadership style
- Apply or adapt your leadership style to meet specific challenges
- Manage the conditions that drive team performance
- Coach colleagues and share feedback in ways that enable them to develop and deliver
- Handle stressful and demanding leadership situations
- Take charge of your professional development as you navigate the challenges of transitioning from an individual contributor to a leader
- World-class faculty
- Edge-of-your-seat online learning
- Global peer collaboration and networking
- Real-world, case-based learning
Harvard Business School Online offers a unique and highly engaging way to learn vital business concepts. Immerse yourself in real challenges faced by seasoned leaders across a variety of industries, including serial entrepreneur John Osher; Jennifer Hyman, CEO of Rent the Runway; and Scott Cook, founder of Intuit. Wrestle with the same issues they faced, while problem-solving and engaging with learners from around the world. | <urn:uuid:1c1bf82d-e0d6-4f31-87c2-a95c6af0c281> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://vpsm.dypatil.edu/leadership-principles/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.912625 | 322 | 1.796875 | 2 |
World War II was the largest and most violent armed conflict in the history of mankind. However, the half century that now separates us from that conflict has exacted its toll on our collective knowledge. While World War II continues to absorb the interest of military scholars and historians, as well as its veterans, a generation of Americans has grown to maturity largely unaware of the political, social, and military implications of a war that, more than any other, united us as a people with a common purpose.
Highly relevant today, World War II has much to teach us, not only about the profession of arms, but also about military preparedness, global strategy, and combined operations in the coalition war against fascism. During the next several years, the U.S. Army will participate in the nation's 50th anniversary commemoration of World War II. The commemoration will include the publication of various materials to help educate Americans about that war. The works produced will provide great opportunities to learn about and renew pride in an Army that fought so magnificently in what has been called "the mighty endeavor."
World War II was waged on land, on sea, and in the air over several diverse theaters of operation for approximately six years. The following essay is one of a series of campaign studies highlighting those struggles that, with their accompanying suggestions for further reading, are designed to introduce you to one of the Army's significant military feats from that war.
This brochure was prepared in the U.S. Army Center of Military History by George L. MacGarrigle. I hope this absorbing account of that period will enhance your appreciation of American achievements during World War II.
M. P. W. Stone
Secretary of the Army
After securing strategically located bases during its war with China, Japan set out to create its long-coveted greater east Asia co-prosperity empire. Opening with a crushing attack upon Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 that temporarily neutralized the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the imperial High Command quickly followed by dispatching large forces to seize the Philippines, Malaya, and the Netherlands East Indies and preparing plans for new bases from which to strike Australia and India. By June 1942 Japanese authority on the Asian mainland had extended beyond Malaya into Thailand and Burma. In the western Pacific, it encompassed most of the larger islands north of Australia and east of Midway.
In the wake of such astounding military success, Japan decided to push onward rather than consolidate its gains. Its next objectives, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, were clearly to be used as steppingstones to Australia. Between those objectives and the Australian continent was the Coral Sea, where in early May the American Navy had checked a powerful Japanese fleet in a battle that frustrated the enemy's hope for an early invasion of Australia.
Remaining on the defensive throughout the Pacific, the United States hurriedly fortified island bases along a great arc extending from Pearl Harbor to Sydney to keep open the shipping routes to Australia. With only limited numbers of troops available, it nevertheless joined Australia in planning an offensive in New Guinea and the Solomons to halt Japanese advances. To command this offensive in what became known as the Southwest Pacific Area, President Franklin D. Roosevelt selected General Douglas MacArthur, leaving the remainder of the Pacific theater under the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
Nimitz's command was divided into three combat areas (north, central, and south). The North Pacific Area extended west from the continental United States, Canada, and the Territory of Alaska across the Pacific to the Asian mainland. Included within Nimitz's North Pacific Area were Japan's northern islands, the Kuriles, and, just 650 miles to the east, Alaska's Aleutian chain.
Protruding in a long, sweeping curve for more than a thousand miles westward from the tip of the Alaskan Peninsula, the Aleutians
provided a natural avenue of approach between the two countries. Forbidding weather and desolate terrain, however, made this approach militarily undesirable. While spared the arctic climate of the Alaskan mainland to the north, the Aleutians are constantly swept by cold winds and often engulfed in dense fog. The weather becomes progressively worse in the western part of the chain, but all the islands are marked by craggy mountains and scant vegetation. Despite such inhospitable conditions, neither the United States nor Japan could afford to assume that the other would reject the Aleutians as an impractical invasion route.
Japanese concern for the defense of the northern Pacific increased when sixteen U.S. B-25 bombers, led by Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle, took off from the carrier Hornet and bombed Tokyo on 18 April 1942. Unsure of where the American raid originated, but suspicious that it could have been from a secret base in the western Aleutians, the Imperial High Command began to take an active interest in capturing the island chain.
The Aleutians first appeared as a Japanese objective in a plan prepared under the direction of one of Japan's most able commanders, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. With help from the Japanese Army, Yamamoto intended to "invade and occupy strategic points in the Western Aleutians" as well as Midway Island on the western tip of the Hawaiian chain. He envisioned these two sites as anchors for a defensive perimeter in the north and central Pacific. His plan also included the final destruction of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. By using the Aleutians and then Midway as bait, he intended to lure the already weakened American fleet from Pearl Harbor and annihilate it before new construction could replace the losses it had sustained on 7 December.
An attack on the Aleutians in early June 1942, Yamamoto believed, would draw the U.S. fleet north to challenge his forces. With the departure of the U.S. warships from Pearl Harbor, he would then move his main fleet to seize Midway. Because of Midway's importance-the island was within bomber range of Pearl Harbor-he concluded that Nimitz would redirect his fleet from the Aleutians to Midway to prevent the loss of the island. Waiting off Midway to intercept that force would be the largest concentration of naval power ever assembled by Japan. After overwhelming the American fleet, Yamamoto would have undisputed control of the central and western Pacific.
Yamamoto commanded an armada of 176 warships and auxiliaries. A portion of that force, the Northern Area Fleet, with 2 small aircraft
carriers, left the Kurile Islands to attack the Aleutians, while the remainder of his fleet, which included 4 large aircraft carriers, 9 battleships, and 12 transports, converged on Midway. The Aleutian attack was a sideshow, yet it would reduce Yamamoto's overall available strength in carrier aircraft during the fight for Midway on 4-5 June, one of the decisive battles of all time and the turning point of the Pacific war.
Before Japan entered World War II, its navy had gathered extensive information about the Aleutians, but it had no up-to-date information regarding military developments on the islands. It assumed that the United States had made a major effort to increase defenses in the area and expected to find several U.S. warships operating in Aleutian waters, including 1 or 2 small aircraft carriers as well as several cruisers and destroyers. Given these assumptions, Yamamoto provided the Northern Area Fleet, commanded by Vice Adm. Boshiro Hosogaya, with a force of 2 small aircraft carriers, 5 cruisers, 12 destroyers, 6 submarines, and 4 troop transports, along with supporting auxiliary ships. With that force, Hosogaya was first to launch an air attack against Dutch Harbor, then follow with an amphibious attack upon the island of Adak, 480 miles to the west. After destroying the American base on Adak (in fact, there was none), his troops were to return to their ships and become a reserve for two additional landings: the first on Kiska, 240 miles west of Adak, the other on the Aleutian's westernmost island, Attu, 180 miles from Kiska.
Because U.S. intelligence had broken the Japanese naval code, Admiral Nimitz had learned by 21 May of Yamamoto's plans, including the Aleutian diversion, the strength of both Yamamoto's and Hosogaya's fleets, and that Hosogaya would open the fight on 1 June or shortly thereafter. Nimitz decided to confront both enemy fleets, retaining his three aircraft carriers for the Midway battle while sending a third of his surface fleet (Task Force 8) under Rear Adm. Robert A. Theobald to defend Alaska. Theobald was ordered to hold Dutch Harbor, a small naval facility in the eastern Aleutians, at all costs and to prevent the Japanese from gaining a foothold in Alaska.
Theobald's task force of 5 cruisers, 14 destroyers, and 6 submarines quietly left Pearl Harbor on 25 May to take a position in the Alaskan Sea 400 miles off Kodiak Island, there to wait for the arrival of Hosogaya's fleet. In the meantime Theobald established his headquarters on Kodiak and met with Maj. Gen. (later Lt. Gen.) Simon B. Buckner, Jr., the commander of the Army's Alaska Defense Command.
Command authority in the North Pacific Area was divided and cumbersome. Upon reaching Alaska, Theobald became commander of all Allied naval and air forces, authority over the ground forces, which remained under Buckner, with whom he was to work in a spirit of "mutual cooperation." While Theobald reported directly to Admiral Nimitz as his agent in the North Pacific Area, Buckner answered to the commander of the San Francisco-based Western Defense Command, Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt, who was responsible for the defense of Alaska and western Canada. Any differences between Nimitz and DeWitt in the North Pacific Area would be referred to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Washington for resolution.
As of 1 June 1942, American military strength in Alaska stood at 45,000 men, with about 13,000 at Cold Bay (Fort Randall) on the tip of the Alaskan Peninsula and at two Aleutian bases: the naval facility at Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island, 200 miles west of Cold Bay, and a recently built Army air base (Fort Glenn) 70 miles west of the naval station on Umnak Island. Army strength, less air force personnel, at those three bases totaled no more than 2,300, composed mainly of infantry, field and antiaircraft artillery troops, and a large construction engineer contingent, which had been rushed to the construction of bases.
On Theobald's arrival at Kodiak, he assumed control of the U.S. Army Air Corps' Eleventh Air Force, commanded by Brig. Gen. (later Maj. Gen.) William C. Butler. This force consisted of 10 heavy and 34 medium bombers and 95 fighters, divided between its main base, Elmendorf Airfield, in Anchorage, and at airfields at Cold Bay and on Umnak. Theobald charged Butler to locate the Japanese fleet reported heading toward Dutch Harbor and attack it with his bombers, concentrating on sinking Hosogaya's 2 aircraft carriers. Once the enemy planes were removed, Task Force 8 would engage the enemy fleet and destroy it.
On the afternoon of 2 June a naval patrol plane spotted the approaching enemy fleet, reporting its location as 800 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor. Theobald placed his entire command on full alert. Shortly thereafter bad weather set in, and no further sightings of the fleet were made that day.
Early the next morning, despite dense fog and rough seas, Hosogaya launched some of his aircraft to attack Dutch Harbor. Only half reached their objective. The rest either became lost in the fog and darkness and crashed into the sea or returned to their carriers. In all, seventeen planes found the naval base, the first arriving at 0545. As the Japanese pilots looked for targets to engage, they came under intense antiaircraft fire and soon found themselves confronted by U.S.
fighter planes sent from Fort Glenn on Umnak Island. Startled by the American response, they quickly released their bombs, made a cursory strafing run, and left to return to their carriers. As a result of their haste they did little damage to the base. But Hosogaya's fleet remained unlocated, and the U.S. planes based at Cold Harbor had received no word of the attack because of a communications failure.
The next day the Japanese returned to Dutch Harbor. This time the enemy pilots were better organized and better prepared. When the attack finally ended that afternoon, the base's oil storage tanks were ablaze, part of the hospital was demolished, and a beached barracks ship was damaged. Although American pilots had finally located the Japanese carriers, attempts to destroy them proved fruitless. As bad weather again set in, all contact with the enemy fleet was lost. In all, the Japanese raid claimed 43 U.S. lives, of which 33 were soldiers. Another 64 Americans were wounded. Eleven U.S. planes were downed, while the Japanese lost ten aircraft.
During the two-day fight, Task Force 8 had remained south of Kodiak Island, taking no part in the action. Not until the 5th did Theobald send it to investigate a report of enemy warships in the Bering Sea
heading south toward Unalaska Island, which he interpreted to be a landing force intent upon seizing Dutch Harbor. In the meantime, he instructed Butler to attack the enemy ships with all available aircraft. Rapidly developing clouds in the area where the enemy ships were reported prevented Butler's pilots from finding the enemy. Six recently assigned B-17 Flying Fortress bombers equipped with radar reported scoring hits upon enemy ships, but these later proved to be uninhabited islands in the Pribilofs chain-north of Dutch Harbor.
While Task Force 8 entered the Bering Sea, Hosogaya's fleet moved south to join Yamamoto, who had just suffered the loss of his four large carriers off Midway. Unable to lure U.S. surface ships into range of his battleships, Yamamoto ordered his fleet to return to Japan. Rather than have the Northern Area Fleet join him, Yamamoto now instructed Hosogaya to return to the Aleutians, execute his original mission, and thereby score a success to help compensate for the Midway disaster. Forgoing the planned attack on Adak, Hosogaya moved directly to the western Aleutians, occupying Kiska on 6 June and Attu a day later. He encountered no opposition on either island, but the Japanese public was in fact told that this was a great victory. It learned about the disaster at Midway only after the war was over.
At Japanese Imperial Headquarters, the news of Yamamoto's great loss prompted the dispatch of two aircraft carriers from Japan to reinforce Hosogaya. Having correctly anticipated Nimitz's next move-the dispatch, on 8 June, of his two carriers to destroy Hosogaya's fleet- Imperial Headquarters saw an opportunity to immobilize the U.S. Pacific Fleet by eliminating its only carriers. When Nimitz learned of the capture of Kiska, he countermanded his order. Unwilling to risk the loss of his only carriers in the Pacific to land-based planes from Kiska, and presumably informed that Hosogaya would soon have four carriers at his disposal in the North Pacific, he decided to retain his carriers for spearheading a major advance in the Central Pacific.
For the Japanese, Kiska without Midway no longer had any value as a base for patrolling the ocean between the Aleutian and Hawaiian chains, but Kiska and Attu did block the Americans from possibly using the Aleutians as a route for launching an offensive on Japan. Originally intending to abandon the islands before winter set in, the Japanese instead decided to stay and build airfields on both islands. Although Generals Buckner and DeWitt would in fact argue for a northern approach to Japan along the Aleutians, the real motive for planning the recapture of the two remote islands was mainly psychological-to remove the only Japanese foothold on American soil in the Western Hemisphere.
By mid-June the Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed that the sooner a determined effort was made to oust the Japanese from the Aleutians, the lesser the means required to do it would be. They also theorized that the attack on the Aleutians and the occupation of its westernmost islands might be part of a holding action designed to screen a northward thrust by Japanese forces into Siberia's maritime provinces and the Kamchatka Peninsula. As a result, they informed Theobald and Buckner of their concern about a possible Japanese attack upon the Soviet Union that might also include the occupation of St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea and of nearby Nome and its adjacent airfields on the Alaskan mainland.
Supporting the possibility of an invasion of the Alaskan mainland were reports of a Japanese fleet operating in the Bering Sea. On 20
June alone, three separate sightings placed an enemy fleet somewhere between the Pribilof and St. Lawrence Islands, suggesting that either an enemy raid on or an outright invasion of the Alaskan mainland was imminent, with Nome the likely objective. As a result, a sense of urgency bordering on panic set in that triggered what was to become the first mass airlift in American history. Within thirty-six hours, military as well as commandeered civilian aircraft flew nearly 2,300 troops to Nome, along with artillery and antiaircraft guns and several tons of other equipment and supplies. Not until early July- when U.S. intelligence reported with some certainty the departure of Hosogaya's fleet from the Bering Sea-did the threat of invasion of the Alaskan mainland decline, allowing for the redeployment of many of the troops hastily assembled at Nome.
In keeping with the Joint Chiefs' desire to move quickly to regain Kiska and Attu, Theobald and Buckner agreed to establish a series of airfields west of Umnak from which bombers could launch strikes against the closest of the enemy-held islands, Kiska. First to be occupied was Adak, 400 miles from Umnak. Landing unopposed on 30 August, an Army force of 4,500 secured the island. Engineers completed an airfield two weeks later, a remarkable feat that they were to duplicate again and again throughout the campaign. On 14 September U.S. B-24 heavy bombers took off from Adak to attack Kiska, 200 miles away. Repeated bombings of Kiska during the summer and into the fall convinced the Japanese that the Americans intended to recapture the island. As a result, by November they had increased their garrisons on Kiska and Attu to 4,000 and 1,000 men respectively. During the winter months the Japanese would count on darkness and the habitually poor weather to protect them from any serious attack.
Although continually restrained by the greater importance and more pressing needs of the Solomons and New Guinea Campaigns, the buildup of U.S. Army forces in the Alaska Command continued, reaching 94,000 soldiers by January 1943. By then an additional thirteen bases had been built in Alaska, many of which were in the Aleutians. With an unopposed Army landing on Amchitka Island on 11 January, Alaska Command forces were now within fifty miles of Kiska.
Just surviving the weather on Amchitka was a challenge. During the first night ashore, a "willowaw" (a violent squall) smashed many of the landing boats and swept a troop transport aground. On the second day a blizzard racked the island with snow, sleet, and biting wind. Lasting for nearly two weeks, the blizzard finally subsided enough to reveal to a Japanese scout plane from Kiska the American beachhead on Amchitka. Harassed by bombing and strafing attacks from Kiska, engineers continued work on an airfield on Amchitka completing it in mid-February. Japanese attacks on the island then sharply declined.
As U.S. forces came close to Kiska and Attu, the enemy's outposts became increasingly more difficult to resupply. In mid-March, Rear Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid, who had replaced Admiral Theobald in January, established a naval blockade around the islands that resulted in the sinking or turning back of several enemy supply ships. When a large Japanese force, personally led by Admiral Hosogaya, attempted to run the blockade with 3 big transports loaded with supplies escorted by 4 heavy cruisers and 4 destroyers on 26 March, the largest sea fight of the Aleutian Campaign took place, remembered best as the last and longest daylight surface naval battle of fleet warfare. Known as the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, the closest land
mass in the Bering Sea, the smaller U.S. force compelled Hosogaya to retire without completing his mission and resulted in his removal from command. Henceforth, the garrisons at Attu and Kiska would have to rely upon meager supplies brought in by submarine.
Of the two islands, Kiska was the more important militarily. Containing the only operational airfield and having the better harbor, Kiska was scheduled to be recaptured first. For that purpose, Kinkaid asked for a reinforced infantry division (25,000 men). When not enough shipping could be made available to support so large a force, he recommended that Attu be substituted for Kiska as the objective, indicating that Attu was defended by no more than 500 men, as opposed to 9,000 believed to be on Kiska. If the estimate was correct, he indicated, he would require no more than a regiment to do the job. Kinkaid also noted that U.S. forces based on Attu would be astride the Japanese line of communications and thus in a position to cut off Kiska from supply and reinforcement, which in time would cause Kiska to "wither on the vine."
After gaining JCS approval on 1 April for the Attu operation (code-named SANDCRAB) and obtaining the needed shipping, work began to recapture the little, fog-shrouded island at the western end of the Aleutian chain. Attu is 35 miles long and 15 miles wide, with snow-capped peaks that reach upward to 3,000 feet. Steep slopes extend down from the peaks to treeless valleys below, carpeted with muskeg, a "black muck" covered with a dense growth of lichens and moss. Because the Japanese current has a moderating effect on temperatures, much of the time in the outermost Aleutians the muskeg is barely firm enough for a man to cross on foot. The same current accounts for the pea-soup fogs, the constant pervading wetness, and the frequent storms that make the outer Aleutians so forbidding.
Kinkaid, the commander of Northern Pacific Force, pulled together an imposing armada to support the invasion. In addition to an attack force of 3 battleships, a small aircraft carrier, and 7 destroyers for escorting and providing fire support for the Army landing force, he had 2 covering groups, composed of several cruisers, destroyers, and submarines, for early detection of a possible challenge by the Japanese Northern Area Fleet. Reinforcing the naval support, the Eleventh Air Force was to provide 54 bombers and 128 fighters for the operation, holding back a third of the bomber force for use against ships of the Japanese fleet.
Early in the planning phase, U.S. intelligence upgraded the estimated enemy strength on Attu threefold from its original figure of 500 men, prompting a request for additional forces. Because Buckner
had but a single infantry regiment in Alaska, widely dispersed throughout the territory, the War Department provided the needed troops from DeWitt's Western Defense Command, selecting the 7th Infantry Division, then stationed near Fort Ord, California, as the unit to recapture Attu. Trained as a motorized force and at one time scheduled for duty in the deserts of North Africa, the 7th Division was reported to be in a high state of readiness; because of its location near the coast, it could readily undergo the amphibious training required for its new mission. After completing that training during April 1943, the men of the division embarked from San Francisco on transports with their commander, Maj. Gen. Albert E. Brown.
Arriving at windswept, partially snow-covered Fort Randall (Cold Bay) on the 30th, the troops spent the next four days on the crowded transports. The cold, damp Aleutian weather was far different from the warm California beaches they had just left. Because of shortages in cold weather equipment, moreover, most of the men would enter combat wearing normal field gear. While senior commanders realized that the troops would suffer from the weather, most believed that within three days the fight for Attu would be
over, particularly since the assembled naval support for the landings included three battleships along with several cruisers and destroyers.
Three weeks before, a concerted air and naval bombardment of both Attu and Kiska had begun, but it had been largely limited to Kiska because of the continual fog covering Attu. Poor weather caused Kinkaid to postpone the departure of the invasion force from Cold Bay to 4 May, a day behind schedule, and as the convoy neared Attu storms and poor visibility forced yet a further delay until the 11th. The bad weather also seriously reduced the air and naval strikes against Attu.
Despite unremitting fog, the much-delayed assault opened on 11 May at widely separated points on the eastern portion of the island. In a predawn attack the 7th Scout Company paddled ashore from submarines onto a small beach (Beach SCARLET), nine miles northwest of Chichagof Harbor, the location of the main Japanese base and General Brown's ultimate objective. Meeting no opposition, the scout company moved inland. At noon, the 7th Division's reconnaissance troop (less one platoon) landed at SCARLET and moved to join the scout company. Upon linkup, the two units, which con-
stituted a provisional battalion, were to occupy the head of the valley where a pass gave access to one of the valleys leading back from Holtz Bay. In the meantime, at the end of the western arm of Holtz Bay, the 1st Battalion of the 17th Infantry came ashore at Beach RED. If the 1st Battalion encountered opposition when advancing on its first objective, a camel-back hill mass designated as "Hill X," the provisional battalion was to attack the enemy from the rear.
The men of the 1st Battalion, after passing through a rock-studded approach to Beach RED in landing craft, had to scale a steep escarpment that began about 75 yards from the water's edge and rose 200 to 250 feet above the beach. From there they started working their way down the west side of Holtz Bay virtually unopposed until 1800 when heavy enemy fire halted their advance short of Hill X.
When the 1st Battalion came ashore Beach RED, the main attack at Massacre Bay finally got under way as the 2d and 3d Battalion Combat Teams of the 17th Regiment landed unopposed on Beaches BLUE and YELLOW, approximately 6 miles south of Chichagof Harbor. Had the landing not been delayed because of dense fog and high seas, a third combat team-the 2d Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment, attached to the 17th Regiment-would also have come ashore. As it was, that unit remained aboard ship until the next day.
Slowed by the slippery muskeg, the 2d and 3d Battalions stumbled side by side up Massacre Valley, dividing on either side of a hogback. Both battalions came under fire at 1900; part way up the ridges overlooking the valley, the enemy, occupying dug-in positions obscured in a thin mist, pinned them down. Attempts by the 3d Battalion, on the left (southwest), to reach Jarmin Pass, the regimental objective at the head of the valley, failed, resulting in heavy losses. (A platoon from the 7th Reconnaissance Troop made subsidiary landings at Alexai Point and joined the main body at Massacre Bay without opposition.)
The fog, which had hampered the landings, likewise concealed the attackers from the enemy. Not until midafternoon did the Japanese commander, Col. Yasuyo Yamazaki, order his men from their caves to the prepared outer defenses surrounding Chichagof Harbor, a trace that extended from Hill X on the west arm of Holtz Bay, southward to Jarmin Pass, and then eastward to Sarana Bay.
When General Brown came ashore at Massacre Bay toward the end of D-day, the tactical situation was far from clear, but what information was available would not have indicated that a long drawn-out struggle was in prospect. By 2130, five hours after the main landings commenced, he had a total of 3,500 men ashore; 400 at Beach
SCARLET, 1,100 at Beach RED, and 2,000 at Beaches BLUE and YELLOW. On the northern front, the 1st Battalion was close to Hill X and within twenty-four hours the 32d Regiment, with its 1st and 3d Battalions, was due to arrive from Adak. In the southern sector, the 2d Battalion of the 17th reported that it was within 1,000 yards of Sarana Pass, and the 3d Battalion indicated that it was about 600 yards short of Jarmin Pass. The next day, the 2d Battalion, 32d Regiment, on ship in Massacre Bay, was to come ashore to reinforce the 17th Regiment. If additional forces were needed, General Buckner had agreed to release the 4th Infantry Regiment, an Alaska unit, on Adak Island. Everything considered, it would not have been unreasonable to suppose that within a few days Attu would be taken.
The next day, with naval and air support, Brown's men continued their two-pronged attack toward Jarmin Pass. Frontal assaults from Massacre Bay by the 17th Infantry failed to gain ground. As patrols probed to develop enemy positions, the 2d Battalion, 32d Infantry, came ashore at Massacre Bay. In the meantime, in the northern sector, the 1st Battalion, finding the enemy dug in on Hill X, made a double envelopment which succeeded in gaining a foothold on the crest of the hill, but the Japanese held firm on the reverse slope. That night the first casualty report of the operation revealed that forty-four Americans had been killed since the start of the invasion.
Further efforts of the Massacre Bay force on the 13th to gain Jarmin Pass again failed, even with the 2d Battalion, 32d Infantry, entering the fight to reinforce the 3d Battalion, 17th Regiment. As U.S. losses continued to mount, front-line positions remained about the same as those gained on D-day. Vicious and costly fighting occurred to the north as the enemy attempted to drive the 1st Battalion troops from Hill X, but the crest remained firmly in American hands at nightfall. The 3d Battalion, 32d Regiment, by then had landed on Beach RED and was moving forward to reinforce the hard-pressed 1st Battalion on Hill X. Naval gunfire and air support of the ground troops continued insofar as weather conditions allowed.
Weather as well as the enemy continued to frustrate the American advance. Although surface ships continued to bombard reported enemy positions ashore on the 14th, close air support was extremely limited due to incessant fog that engulfed the island. In an attempt to hasten the capture of Jarmin Pass, Brown ordered a combined attack by his North and South Landing Forces, by then each with three battalions. While the South Landing Force attempted to inch forward up Massacre Valley to gain the pass, North Landing Force was
to drive the enemy off the reverse slope of Hill X, continue on to seize Moore Ridge, and then take Jarmin Pass from the rear.
Each attack quickly bogged down. In the northern sector the provisional battalion that had landed on Beach SCARLET remained checked, unable to break out to reach the immobile 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry, and when 3d Battalion, 32d Regiment, failed to reach its assault positions in time, Brown canceled the combined attack. That evening in a report to higher headquarters, he summarized the four days of fighting, concluding that "progress through passes will, unless we are extremely lucky, be slow and costly, and will require troops in excess to those now available to my command."
The next morning, the 15th, success remained elusive until 1100 when the fog lifted in the northern sector, revealing that the enemy had withdrawn to Moore Ridge in the center of Holtz Valley, leaving behind food and ammunition. The pullback by the Japanese allowed the provisional battalion to break out and eventually link up with the two battalions near Hill X. As the men of North Landing Force then entered the valley in chase, the relatively clear sky allowed enemy troops on occupying Moore Ridge to place accurate fire upon them. Already slowed by that fire, the pursuit ended when a friendly air strike hit advancing American troops by mistake.
Back on Adak, the forward command post for Admiral Kinkaid and General DeWitt, the reported situation at Attu appeared grim. Of special concern to Kinkaid was the exposed position of the ships directly supporting Brown's forces ashore. A Japanese submarine had already attacked (unsuccessfully) one of Kinkaid's three battleships, and reports persisted that a Japanese fleet would soon arrive to challenge the landing. As a result, Brown was told that the Navy would withdraw its support ships on the 16th, or in any event no later than the 17th, leaving him with an unprotected beachhead and a major reduction in supporting fire.
Communication problems between Brown and Kinkaid and DeWitt, located more than 400 miles away, coupled with Brown's continued requests of reinforcements-the latest, on the 15th, for part of Buckner's 4th Infantry Regiment-and a long dispatch requesting large quantities of engineer and road-building equipment, and the lack of any positive indications of a speedy breakthrough on Attu persuaded Kinkaid that Brown had bogged down. When he consulted with DeWitt and Buckner, both agreed with him that Brown should be replaced. Upon their recommendation, Kinkaid appointed Maj. Gen. Eugene M. Landrum to take command of Attu on the 16th.
An advance by North Landing Force broke the deadlock on Attu the same day Landrum assumed command. By then a foothold on the northern end of Moore Ridge had been won in the center of Holtz Valley, thereby gaining control of the entire ridge. The Japanese, greatly outnumbered by the Americans and in danger of being taken from the rear, withdrew that night (16-17 May) toward Chichagof Harbor for a final stand.
Well before dawn, troops controlled by the 32d Regiment in the northern sector moved forward and by daylight discovered that the enemy had gone. Patrols reported that the east arm of Holtz Bay was free of the enemy, allowing for much-needed resupply by sea. In the meantime, the 17th Regiment in the southern sector (at Massacre Valley) also found previously defended enemy positions abandoned, and it occupied Jarmin Pass.
The Japanese pullback to Chichagof Harbor followed by the linkup of U.S. forces on the 18th provided the turning point of the battle. While nearly another two weeks of hard, costly fighting remained, the uncertainty and frustration of the first few days on Attu never recurred. It was slow business taking the machine-gun and
mortar nests left manned on the heights by the retreating Japanese, but eventually the combined American force, reinforced with a battalion of the 4th Infantry, drew a net around Chichagof Harbor. The end came on the night of 29 May when most of the surviving Japanese, about 700 to 1,000 strong, charged madly through American lines, screaming, killing, and being killed. The next day the enemy announced the loss of Attu, as American units cleared out surviving enemy pockets. Although mopping-up operations continued for several days, organized resistance ended with the wild charge of 29 May, and Attu was once more in American hands.
The Americans reported finding 2,351 enemy dead on the island; an additional few hundred were presumed to have been buried in the hills by the Japanese. Only 28 Japanese surrendered. Out of a U.S. force that totaled more than 15,000 men, 549 had been killed, another 1,148 wounded, and about 2,100 men taken out of action by disease and nonbattle injuries. Trench foot was the most common affliction. Most of the nonbattle casualties were exposure cases, victims of the weather and inadequate clothing.
Taking heed of the Attu experience, Kinkaid sought to ensure that the final assault in the Aleutians, against Kiska, would be made with better-equipped and more seasoned soldiers. For the coming invasion his assault troops would wear clothing and footwear better suited for the cold weather; parkas were substituted for field jackets and arctic shoes for leather boots. The landing force would consist of either combat veterans from Attu or troops trained at Adak in the type of fighting that had developed on Attu.
U.S. intelligence now upgraded its earlier estimates of enemy strength on Kiska to about 10,000 men. In keeping with that increase, Kinkaid arranged for his ground commander, Maj. Gen. Charles H. Corlett, U.S. Army, to receive 34,426 troops, including 5,500 Canadians, more than double the original strength planned for the operation earlier in the year. Code-named COTTAGE, the operation was to begin on 15 August, onto an island 3 to 4 miles wide with a high, irregular ridge dividing its 22-mile length and with a defunct volcano at
its northern end. The Japanese had occupied only the central, eastern portion of the island, locating their main base and airfield at Kiska Harbor. They also had small garrisons on Little Kiska Island and south of the main harbor at Gertrude Cove.
Unlike Attu, Kiska was subjected to a heavy preinvasion bombardment. Reinforced during June and operating from new airfields (at Attu and nearby Shemya), the Eleventh Air Force dropped a total of 424 tons of bombs on Kiska during July. During the same month, a strong naval task force lobbed 330 tons of shells onto the island. The combined air and surface bombardment continued into August, interrupted only by bad weather.
Starting in late July, most pilots reported no signs of enemy activity on the island, although a few noted that they had still received light antiaircraft fire. These reports led intelligence analysts to conclude that the Japanese on Kiska had been evacuated (as was done from Guadalcanal six months before) or had taken to the hills. Convinced that the later contention was more probable, Kinkaid ordered the attack to take place as scheduled, noting that if the Japanese were not there the landings would be a "super dress rehearsal, good for training purposes," and the only foreseeable loss would be a sense of letdown by the highly keyed up troops.
Departing Adak, the staging area for the invasion, an amphibious force of nearly a hundred ships moved toward Kiska, reaching the island early on 15 August. Unlike the dense fog experienced at Attu on D-day, the seas were strangely calm and the weather unusually clear. After threatening to land at Gertrude's Cove on Kiska's east side of the island, Corlett's men went ashore on the west side of the island; by 1600 a total of 6,500 troops were ashore. The next day Canadian troops came ashore onto another beach farther north. As with the fight for Attu, the landings were unopposed. As Allied troops pushed inland, the weather returned to the more normal dense fog and chilling rain and wind. Veterans of the Attu campaign, in particular, expected that the enemy was waiting on the high ground above them to take them under fire.
The only guns that were fired, however, were those of friend against friend by mistake; partly on that account, casualties ashore during the first four days of the operation numbered 21 dead and 121 sick and wounded. The Navy lost 70 dead or missing and 47 wounded when the destroyer Amner Read struck a mine on 18 August. By the time the search of the island, including miles of tunnels, ended, American casualties totaled 313 men.
The Allies had attacked an uninhabited island. The entire enemy garrison of 5,183 men had slipped away unseen. To make the embarrassment complete, the Kiska evacuation had been carried out on 28 July, almost three weeks before the Allied landing. The original plan of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters had been to withdraw the garrison gradually by submarine, but this scheme had been abandoned in late June because most of the submarines assigned to the operation had been lost or damaged. The Japanese also feared that by gradually weakening the garrison over a prolonged period, the operation might fail. It was then decided to evacuate the force at one time, in one movement, using cruisers and destroyers as transports. The date, at first set for early July, was postponed until 28 July. Between then and D-day, Kiska had been under attack and close surveillance by American naval units and the Eleventh Air Force, but the erroneous reports of flak and Japanese activity-which inexperienced observers brought back-had gone unquestioned. Surprise was achieved, but it was not the Japanese who were surprised.
On 24 August 1943, Corlett declared the island secure, marking the end of the Aleutian Islands Campaign. By year's end, American and Canadian troop strength in Alaska would drop from a high of about 144,000 to 113,000. By then the North Pacific Area had returned to complete Army control. During 1944 the Canadians would leave and U.S. Army strength in the Alaska Defense Command decrease to 63,000 men. Although interest in the theater waned, it was in the Aleutians that the United States won its first theater-wide victory in World War II, ending Japan's only campaign in the Western Hemisphere.
In clearing the Japanese invaders from the Aleutians, the objective had been partly to eliminate a potential military threat but mainly to eradicate a psychological blot. Japan's foothold in the Western Hemisphere was gone. Starting in June 1942 the Japanese had threatened America's northern flank. Fourteen months later the reverse was true, although the idea of using the western Aleutians as steppingstones to Japan had no official approval. General DeWitt and others from time to time urged an assault by this route upon Japan's Kurile Islands, but commitments to other theaters, and the desire of the Soviet Union not to have its neutrality with Japan compromised, thwarted sanction of the proposal.
From the Japanese perspective, however, the threat remained. The bored American troops stationed in the Aleutians during the
last two years of the war were not involved. But harassing attacks by the U.S. Eleventh Air Force from bases in the Aleutians against the Kurile Islands during that period resulted in Imperial Headquarters' maintaining a large defensive force in the area which, toward the war's end, amounted to about one-sixth of Japan's total air strength.
The centerpiece of the campaign was the battle for Attu. In terms of numbers engaged, Attu ranks as one of the most costly assaults-in the Pacific. For every 100 enemy found on the island, about 71 Americans were killed or wounded. The cost of taking Attu was thus second only to Iwo Jima. Of some consolation, the invasion of Rendova in the Solomon Islands during June proceeded well largely because of the struggle for Attu. In an attempt to either reinforce or evacuate Attu, the Japanese Imperial Headquarters had ordered the Fifth Fleet north from Truk in May to the western Aleutians, thereby greatly reducing Japanese naval strength in the Solomons area. While the fleet never reached the Aleutians, its absence from the Solomons allowed the American landings at Rendova to be virtually unopposed.
Stung by the brutal fight for Attu, Admiral Kinkaid sought to avert the same mistakes at Kiska. While the full-blown attack three months later upon the deserted island was an embarrassment, the detailed preparation for Kiska was worth the effort. Lessons learned by the Army in preparing and equipping troops to survive the rigors of combat in wretched weather and difficult mountain terrain would prove useful during the upcoming Italian campaign. Many amphibious warfare techniques developed during the Attu landings were refined for Kiska and were further improved and applied to advantage in later amphibious operations in the Pacific.
In one sense the departure of the Japanese from Kiska without a fight was unfortunate. It gave American commanders a false picture of what might be expected from the enemy when the odds were hopelessly against him. Instead of fighting to the death, as at Attu, he had faded into the fog without a struggle. But Attu, not Kiska, was to provide the pattern of future battles against the Japanese.
For those who wish to study the Aleutian Islands Campaign in more detail, the following official histories provide a carefully documented account of the operation: Stetson Conn, Rose C. Engelman, and Byron Fairchild, Guarding the United States and Its Outposts (1964); Samuel Eliot Morison, Aleutians, Gilberts, and Marshalls, June 1942-April 1944 (1964); and Wesley F. Craven and James L. Cate, eds., The Pacific: Guadalcanal to Saipan, August 1942 to July 1944 (1950), The Army Air Forces in World War II. The best known popular history of the campaign is Brian Garfield's The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians (1969). Another book that provides a vivid account of the ground fighting on Attu, one with personal anecdotes from all ranks, is The Capture of Attu as Told by the Men Who Fought There (1944).
CMH Pub 72-6
Cover: The reinforcing 4th Infantry moves inland from Massacre Bay.
Last updated 3 October 2003 | <urn:uuid:9bad338b-a9ac-48ed-aff4-c8634035185b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://history.army.mil/brochures/aleut/aleut.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.971112 | 9,718 | 3.015625 | 3 |
FIND A SOLUTION AT Academic Writers Bay
Aviation – Sustainability issues
The development of a global market-based measure for aviation
On the ground
Airport & ground facilities
Air Traffic Management
Air Traffic Management
Land use planning
Local air quality
Limiting the impact
End of life
Once the industry has maximised the reductions in emissions through technology, operational efficiencies and infrastructure improvements, we can then turn our attention to economic measures that can help to limit aviation’s climate change effects. Economic measures should first be used to boost the research, development and deployment of new technologies rather than as a tool to suppress demand. The use of tax credits and direct funding must be explored as incentives to drive new technology programmes and encourage companies to invest in new, more efficient equipment.
While emissions from domestic aviation (and airport facilities) are covered under the Kyoto Protocol, those from international aviation (and shipping) are not, due to the difficulty in allocating these emissions to specific countries. International aviation emissions are therefore not included in the carbon reduction goals of signatories to the Kyoto agreement. Instead, governments agreed to pursue the limitation or reduction of such emissions through the UN’s aviation body, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Since 2008, the aviation industry has been asking Governments to develop a global market-based measure for international aviation, as part of the four pillar strategy. Despite political differences, at the 2013 ICAO Assembly Governments agreed to develop such a measure by the 2016 Assembly, for implementation by 2020. This will mean that the industry’s suggested goal of carbon-neutral growth from 2020 can be realised. While there is a lot of work that needs to be done before the 2016 Assembly, the industry is confident that this is the best course of action. It is also worth noting that aviation is subject already to some $7 billion worth of fuel- and emissions-related taxes and charges in various places around the world. Below are some of the options for economic measures:
This is the industry’s preferred option, at least initially. Offsetting is the process of purchasing good quality carbon credits in the global market (such as the UNFCCC’s CDM, or gold standard credits and using them to offset the carbon emitted. In other words, if a flight creates one tonne of CO2, a credit can be purchased which helps fund a scheme for greener electricity production in a developing country the value of which would save one tonne of CO2.
This is the industry’s preferred option because it is the simplest to implement and could be used by all countries – it does not require a sophisticated infrastructure like some of the other options below.
An emissions trading scheme (ETS), also known as cap-and-trade, involves setting an overall limit on emissions and then allowing companies to buy and sell emission allowances to meet their reduction targets. A global ETS is one possible option for ICAO to follow in pursuit of a reduction in emissions.
An emissions trading scheme can provide an added financial incentive for companies to combat global warming because emissions allowances are given a cash value; companies that are able to reduce their own emissions can sell excess credits to companies that exceed their targets. However, for a full ETS to be developed, it requires a complicated registry and allocation system to be established, which may slow down progress particularly with the complexities of a global marketplace.
Currently, international aviation is not covered under any global emissions trading scheme. However, the European Union included all international flights departing from or arriving at European airports under their internal ETS. This led to a fairly tense stand-off between the EU and other parts of the world as they objected to the EU regulating their airlines even as they were flying over their own airspace. The EU, prior to the 2013 ICAO Assembly, agreed to pause this scheme to allow negotiations to take place at ICAO on developing a global scheme.
Aviation is currently covered under several emissions trading schemes at a domestic or regional level: the European ETS covers all flights between airports in the EU, Iceland and Norway (the European Economic Area); China has implemented trial ETS at several Chinese cities, including one in Shanghai that covers domestic airlines; and New Zealand’s ETS covers domestic aviation.
Green taxes add a cost to each flight, whether by adding a charge for each passenger carried, for each take-off or landing, or for each leg of a flight. Green taxes are aimed at changing demand for air transport, which simply means pricing some passengers out of the market.
But in many instances, travellers have no reasonable alternative to air transport.
The aviation industry believes that green taxes are not a viable solution to address aviation’s contribution to climate change because they drain the aviation sector of financial resources needed for investments into research and development. In nearly all cases, the money raised by governments from such taxes have not been reinvested in environmental improvement measures – the UK’s Air Passenger Duty is a case in point.
Fuel levies are additional taxes on fuel. Fuel is already the largest expense for the aviation industry. Fuel levies tend not to be an effective emissions-reduction tool for aviation because of the international nature of its operations. Airlines should make refuelling decisions based on efficiency rather than stopping in one country instead of another because of the tax regime. This is why the Chicago Convention [link to ICAO Chicago convention] protects international services from fuel taxes to prevent unilateral fiscal measures.
The development of a global market-based measure for aviation
The industry will be working to help Governments develop a global MBM for aviation before the next ICAO Assembly in 2016. Among the technical design work that will take place are the following elements.
MRV: deciding on the most appropriate ways to measure aviation emissions, so that all countries and airlines are measuring the same things in the same way.
Offsets: deciding what the best quality offsets are and what are acceptable uses of the revenue from the measure.
Coverage: deciding whether all countries need to take part (there are a number of very small aviation markets which combined would only account for a couple of percent of the industry’s emissions – they may not need to go through the process.
Fairness: how to reconcile the need to ensure good coverage, whilst also taking account of some of the key dynamics of the aviation industry – there are some very mature markets (mainly the developed world) that are not growing rapidly, and some very fast growth areas (mainly in the developing world). The key political sticking point is how to make sure one set of countries does not pay too much, considering their desire to develop their economies, whilst also ensuring that overall growth in emissions does not take place. Aviation, unlike most other sectors, is fairly homogenous as we use the same equipment and fly the same routes no matter if we are flying from developing or developed countries.
The development of sustainable aviation alternative fuels could provide a very large part of the industry’s emissions-reduction strategy. Research has shown that, on a full carbon lifecycle basis, using the equivalent quantity of some alternative fuels could reduce CO2 emissions by around 80% compared to the jet fuel they replace.
Since the first biofuel flight in a commercial aircraft took place in 2008, there has been a huge amount of work by the industry and our partners. Certification through the global fuel standards agency ASTM allowed us to operate using biofuels and more than 1,500 commercial flights on alternative fuels have flown since 2011.
Alternative Fuel Page
The alternative fuels we are investigating are second-generation feedstocks that can be grown or produced without negatively impacting food supplies, water or land use. Importantly, they are also ‘drop-in’ fuels which share the same properties as the jet fuel we use today, so can simply be blended with the current fuel supply as they become available.
Many of the technical hurdles facing aviation in its move towards sustainable aviation fuels have been overcome and much of this work has been achieved within the industry. Now, commercialisation and scaling up of the supply of alternative aviation fuels is the most important task. But airlines and the rest of the industry cannot do it alone – political support and financial investment will have to come from a number of stakeholders.
This section outlines six suggested steps that policymakers can consider in helping their air transport system grow with less carbon-intensive fuel, whilst in many cases also investing in green growth jobs and a new sustainable industry. These steps are presented in no particular order:
Step 1. Foster research into new feedstock sources and refining processes
Step 2. De-risk public and private investments in sustainable aviation fuels
Step 3. Provide incentives for airlines to use alternative fuels from an early stage
Step 4. Encourage stakeholders to commit to robust international sustainability criteria
Step 5. Understand local green growth opportunities
Step 6. Establish coalitions encompassing all parts of the supply chain
There are many examples of stakeholder-oriented processes, all of which are groups of regional and national stakeholders, who have convened to work through the sustainability, supply, investment and long-term planning issues and maximise the opportunities within their respective regions. Within coming years, many significant commercial, policy and sustainability outcomes will result from such comprehensive regional stakeholder processes. These processes serve to enable commercial parties, while also giving confidence to governments and civil society organisations that sustainable aviation fuels efforts are following a planned path.
The aviation industry has established a plan for reducing emissions. Sustainable aviation fuels are an important part of that plan and, as you will have seen in this publication, the industry and its partners have made significant progress. There is confidence that alternative fuels can be a very significant part of every airline’s future. From policymakers, the industry is looking for encouragement and the right set of legal, fiscal and policy responses to ensure this exciting new energy stream can bear fruit as quickly as possible.
The aviation industry has made it clear that it is only looking at second-generation biofuels and is determined not to repeat the mistakes made with first-generation sources, expecting any supply to be fully sustainable. The industry is working together through groups such as the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) to make sure that any fuels used by the industry are, in fact, sustainable.
Initiatives around the world
Businesses from across aviation’s value chain are coming together in projects around the world to help with the commercialisation of alternative aviation fuels.
Efficiencies gained through improvements to operational practices can make a big difference. At every step of a plane’s operations there are actions that can reduce its fuel burn and consequently its emissions.
Airlines are saving fuel through more efficient procedures and weight reduction measures. These can range from ensuring the plane’s engines are clean to developing and using new arrivals procedures. Some airlines taxi to the runway on one engine instead of using two.
On the ground
When parked at airport gates, aircraft must be powered to provide air conditioning, electricity on board and also to start the engines before it departs. Aircraft are equipped with a small generator in the tail called an auxiliary power unit (APU). A large number of airports are now equipping their gates with fixed electrical ground power and pre-conditioned air, allowing pilots to switch off the APU and save fuel and noise whilst on the ground,
Airports are also working to power ground service equipment (baggage loading devices, catering trucks, passenger buses) with more efficient sources of energy, such as natural gas or electricity.
As aircraft taxi from the gate to the runway, there are techniques either in operation, such as single-engine taxiing, or in development, such as self-driving devices, which allow aircraft to reach the runway without using the full power of the engines.
Airports, airlines and air navigation service providers are also working together on so-called ‘green departures’ through which aircraft can take off and climb at a steady rate to reach the most efficient phase of flight – the cruise – faster.
Despite the size of an aircraft, they still burn less fuel when they have less weight on board. So airlines are finding ways of reducing the weight of a huge number of items carried – everything from food service trolleys, to seats and carpets, to loading just the right amount of water for each flight, rather than filling the tanks each time. These can result in some significant savings.
Airlines and air traffic controllers are also working together to take advantage of weather conditions at high altitudes. In a series of projects, pilots and flight planners have been studying wind patterns just before the departure and routing the aircraft along strong wind streams. Despite sometimes flying a much further distance, these flights have both reduced flight time and emissions. Flexible routing is taking place particularly on long routes in uncrowded airspace, but new surveillance technology much like GPS systems will allow it to be deployed on more crowded routes.
Traditionally, flights have descended from cruising altitude to land at airports in several steps, descending from one altitude to the next then ‘levelling out’ by powering up the engines. New technology allows much more accurate surveillance of where each aircraft is located in the airspace and therefore a more comprehensive picture of the traffic environment. This has led to a new technique – continuous descent operations – which allow aircraft to almost ‘glide’ into the airport, with engines at a very low setting. This can not only save fuel, but reduce noise impact on communities around airports. It is being used at more and more airports around the world, depending on weather and traffic conditions.
There are also more carefully tailored techniques being developed which take advantage of sophisticated navigation technologies to determine the most appropriate tightly controlled flightpaths into airports, specifically with difficult runway approaches – either if they are in mountainous areas or as a way to avoid flying over communities. These approach techniques can save millions of tonnes of fuel and CO2, as well as reducing the number of people impacted by aircraft noise around airports.
We’re not just focusing on aircraft emissions.
Most environmental concerns around air travel focus on the role of aircraft. But associated infrastructure, which include airports and flight paths, also have an impact on the environment and improvements can be made to be more environmentally sound.
Airports and ground facilities
When viewed as part of the efforts being made to reduce emissions across the entire industry, incorporating environmentally-sound features into airports, factories and other facilities is increasingly important. Ground facilities are essential to the industry and have a responsibility to become more energy efficient.
Airports are investing in offsetting schemes to become carbon neutral, most notably the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, building ‘green-certified’ terminals, reducing on-airport vehicle emissions by introducing automatic metro lines, or switching to vehicles with alternative fuels and low-emission technology, and providing electricity to aircraft at terminal gates using fixed electrical ground power rather than the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit.
A large number of airports are installing solar and other alternative energy supplies for terminal buildings.
There is a significant impact on emissions from congestion at airports. When flights have to hold and circle before they land, or queue on taxiways before taking off, it is not only inconvenient to passengers, but also adds to fuel use. These inefficiencies are continually looked at to determine whether measures such as operating restrictions on flights or new facilities like runways are needed.
One way that the industry is working to reduce congestion and delay (and therefore fuel use) is collaborative decision making (A-CDM), with all parties working together to make sure that flights don’t start their engines until there is a confirmed take-off time and a slot at the destination airport.
Air traffic management
Perhaps the biggest area of infrastructure impact on aircraft fuel burn is the air traffic management system. The route a plane takes, the height it flies, and the weather it flies through, all affect the amount of fuel it burns and therefore the CO2 it emits. These factors are managed by air navigation service providers (ANSPs), the companies that provide air traffic control services.
Around the world, ANSPs are helping the industry improve its environmental performance by making better use of airspace design and optimising aircraft performance across all phases of flight. ANSPs work with regulators, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, airports, pilots and engineers to optimise ground and flight operations to improve overall aircraft performance.
In Europe, the unification and simplification of national air traffic management into a Single European Sky would reduce circuitous flight paths. Currently, the European airspace is split up along national boundaries with 45 different ANSPs controlling the airspace. While the operations are very safe, this does lead to duplication of resources and, importantly, an inability to manage the traffic in the most efficient way possible. The Single European Sky is meant to be a step-by-step process towards a less fragmented airspace and, according to the European Commission, this better use of airspace will save upwards of 16 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. However, progress towards this has been slow and the industry is concerned that, without governments making the Single European Sky a priority, both air traffic congestion and the impact on the environment will increase. Urgent focus is needed to get the project moving.
Similarly, in the United States the air traffic management modernisation programme known as NextGen is not making as steady progress as is needed. Although the United States is one single air traffic zone, the system is in need of a more modern approach to handling aircraft traffic, leaving behind the processes that have been in place for decades and taking a more advanced and dynamic approach to traffic management.
Aircraft and engine factories are large industrial sites dealing with materials and processes that require specialist handling, both in production and as waste. Those companies operating in civil aerospace around the world are showing industrial leadership, with many of them exceeding best practice in the manufacturing process. Importantly, a number are also insisting on such standards throughout the production supply chain as well.
Engine maker Pratt & Whitney has launched aggressive goals to further improve the sustainability of its factories, suppliers and products by 2025. The goals, backed with an investment of $60 million in more than 800 environmental projects, focus on waste, energy, water, safety and wellness, materials, suppliers and products. By 2025, Pratt & Whitney aims to have zero waste in its factories, with 100% of waste recycled. Energy use will be optimised and there will be a reduction of greenhouse gases by 80% (greenhouse gases have already been reduced by 30% in factories). The company is aiming for no water waste and a reduction of water consumption by 80%. In terms of safety, the goal is for employees to be injury-free and have best-in-class wellness programmes. Pratt & Whitney engines will be 100% recyclable at the end of their life. And suppliers will have world class safety rates, meet aggressive resource conservation targets and be 100% green certified.
Boeing and aluminium supplier Kaiser have recently announced the instigation of a closed-loop recycling system for aluminium, which will see around ten million kilograms of offcut and scrap metal a year being re-used in the industry – the largest such scheme of its type. A five-year environment audit has revealed that Boeing reduced hazardous waste by 18%, CO2 by 9%, energy-use by 3% and water intake by 2%, all despite employing 13,000 more people and opening a major manufacturing facility. In 2012, 79% of the solid waste Boeing generated was diverted from landfills – a 36% improvement since 2007.
In January 2007, Airbus became the first aerospace enterprise to receive ISO14001 environmental certification covering all of the company’s production sites, products and services throughout a lifecycle approach. The Airbus blue5 initiative has a set of stringent targets for the company’s manufacturing sites around the world to meet by 2020. In 2012, the programme had already resulted in, among other things, a 29.7% reduction in energy consumption; 43.3% reduction in water consumption; 46.2% reduction in non-recycled waste production; and a 34.2% reduction in CO2.
From the moment new aircraft are thought of, engineers are working out how to make them more efficient. In fact, aviation is one of the most technologically-advanced and innovative sectors in the world.
Unlike ground vehicles, which don’t need to be optimised for efficiency to the same extent as aircraft because they can refuel often, long-distance aircraft must carry all their fuel with them. Fuel is expensive, heavy and takes up a great deal of storage room. Its weight can limit the range of an aircraft and it needs to be stored in tanks which affect the wing size and the payload able to be carried. At the same time, the aviation industry is doing all it can to limit its environmental impact.
Each new generation of aircraft has double-digit fuel efficiency improvements, even up to 25% more fuel efficient than the one it replaces. This has led to today’s modern aircraft producing well over 70% less CO2 per seat than the first jets in the 1950s. But there is more work to do.
New technologies on the horizon have the potential to significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions from aviation, and solutions that are being implemented today also promise other savings. Even small savings here-and-there offer significant benefits in total.
Being able to operate efficiently is critical to the future of the aviation industry, not just for environmental reasons but also for financial ones, especially since fuel makes up over 30% of airline operating costs.
To formalise and compliment the market-driven evolution in aircraft fuel efficiency, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) agreed on a CO2 emissions standard in February 2016, which will apply to all new aircraft designs from 2020 and newly-built existing models of aircraft from 2023.
The aviation industry has a track record of achieving the impossible
Before the Wright Brothers, few people believed powered flight was possible. This spirit of innovation has continued, and it is driving the industry’s response to its environmental challenges. As examples:
Aviation has been successful at decoupling emissions growth and actual growth. Traffic growth is increasing at an average of 5% annually, while CO2 emissions are growing around 3%.
Newer aircraft, like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787, consume on average less than three litres per 100 passenger kilometres or more than 78 passenger statute miles per US gallon. This is a fuel use which compares favourably to that of compact cars, although aircraft travel much further distances, much faster.
The next generation of aircraft to come off the production line, including the Airbus A350XWB, A320neo, Boeing 737MAX, Embraer E2 series and Bombardier CSeries will offer further improvements in fuel burn and emissions.
Turboprop aircraft like the Bombardier Q400 and ATR series can provide a more fuel-efficient alternative to jet aircraft to cover shorter distances
Today, engineers and researchers are making incremental and frequent improvements that offer large savings overall. For instance, the wingtip devices airlines and manufacturers install on new aircraft increase aerodynamic efficiency and reduce fuel usage.
Manufacturers are increasingly using light-weight materials such as carbon composites to build aircraft and components. The Boeing 787, Bombardier CSeries and Airbus A380 and A350XWB aircraft all use these cutting-edge materials and technologies to deliver exceptional gains in environmental performance. Manufacturers of engines are also using highly advanced materials and processes such as additive layer manufacturing to develop new engines.
Technology on new aircraft can either be to improve fuel burn through aerodynamic efficiency (mainly airframe), or to reduce actual combustion use (mainly engine-related). Combined, these elements create a new aircraft with a reduced environmental impact.
Aircraft have a useful life of around 25-30 years, during which they will cover many millions of nautical miles and carry millions of passengers or tonnes of cargo. Because of the long lead times for developing, designing and manufacturing a modern civil aircraft, there tend to be ‘waves’ of new aircraft entering the fleet. We are currently in the middle of such a wave, with a number of new aircraft types coming into the system and replacing older, less fuel-efficient aircraft.
The industry is working hard to achieve the kind of ‘impossible’ developments that characterised flight itself.
Noise from aircraft mostly impacts those who live around airports.
The industry has been working to reduce noise for decades. On average, aircraft are already 50% quieter today than they were ten years ago, and 75% quieter than the first generation of jet aircraft. It is estimated that the noise footprint of each new generation of aircraft is at least 15% lower than that of the aircraft it replaces.
In 2013, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations’ intergovernmental body on aviation, introduced the fourth new noise certification standard in its history, Chapter 14. The requirement is that new aircraft types are least seven decibels (summed over the three assessment points) quieter than those built to the previous Chapter 4 standard. The purpose of these aircraft noise standards is to ensure that the best noise technology continues to be used on future aircraft types.
The certification was one in a series of measures to reduce jet engine noise. In fact, ICAO estimates that between 1998 and 2004, the number of people exposed to aircraft noise around the world was reduced by 35%.
ICAO advocates a balanced approach to noise reduction. This combines noise reduction at source; land-use planning and management; operational procedures; and flight restrictions. The aim is to maximise the environmental benefit at lowest cost.
From looking at such factors as the proportion of air travelling through the engines, the size of the fan blades in the engine, the position of the engine on the aircraft body and even the size and number of flaps that help control the wing shape, research and development on noise has been extensive. The latest large aircraft, the Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 have noise ‘footprints’ that are remarkably small. The new Bombardier CSeries aircraft will make use of new Pratt & Whitney technology, ‘geared’ turbofan engines, which further cut noise and emissions.
The industry is working hard to make aircraft a further 50% quieter by 2020. There is a powerful incentive to continue tackling this issue, as concerns over noise pollution can – and do – affect the viability and acceptability of airport expansion plans.
Air traffic management
Controlling where the planes fly when departing and approaching airports has an important impact on noise exposure. The placement and use of runways is fundamental and preferred runway use can, for example, try to maximise night time approach and departure tracks over a sea or lake where the noise impact is minimal.
Air traffic management can be used to map out flight tracks that avoid the most highly populated areas. Recent developments in required navigation performance mean that aircraft can now follow designated tracks very precisely. This can avoid random track spreading and the resulting ‘spaghetti’ radar flight track maps, but track concentration can mean that a smaller number of residents are subjected to a higher number of flyovers. Air traffic management and airspace design needs to be undertaken with careful consultation of community groups. Issues such as the relative benefits of track concentration versus track dispersion need to be carefully considered.
Airlines and pilots with input from the air navigation service providers and airport operators can develop and implement noise abatement procedures such as reduced thrust take-off, displaced landing thresholds, continuous descent operations.
In parallel with aircraft noise minimisation through technology and air traffic management, land-use planning is a crucial process for minimising the number of people exposed to high levels of aircraft noise. Airports need to work with local authorities to put in place zoning rules in areas impacted by high levels of aircraft noise. Effective land-use planning can discourage or prevent inappropriate new residential, health or educational developments, and encourage light industry or storage areas not sensitive to aircraft noise. In some areas, sound insulation and ventilation can be required for new or existing dwelling to at least improve the indoor noise levels.
In most jurisdictions, however, airport operators have no authority or control of land-use planning off the airport site and can only seek and encourage local government to protect airports from the encroachment of residential and other noise sensitive land use. In these areas, the industry encourages governments to take a long-term proactive planning approach to using land around airport facilities to ensure that now and in the future, there will be no development that could be impacted by aircraft noise.
However, in tackling some environmental issues, compromises need to be made. For example, the aviation industry and governments must make a choice between shortening routes to reduce the amount of fuel used and maintaining noise abatement procedures – sometimes the shortest route into an airport can take flights over communities. This is a delicate balancing act.
Local air quality
Like many industries, the emissions from aircraft and other activities at airports can have an effect on the local air quality in the nearby areas.
In the immediate vicinity of airports, emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) are usually considered the most important contributors to local air quality concerns. The contribution of other trace emissions such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), hydroxyl radicals, nitrous and nitric acids, still requires better understanding but is currently believed to be negligible.
Technical developments since the 1960s mean today’s new aircraft emit 50% less carbon monoxide and 90% less smoke and unburned hydrocarbons than those made 50 years ago.
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) levels have also been cut, and modern aircraft now emit 40% less NOx than in 1981. As a result of these technology improvements, aircraft can often have a smaller impact on the local air quality around airports than road traffic. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets standards for NOx emissions and regularly tightens these for each new generation of aircraft. However, there is still work to be done and the industry has a number of projects underway to further reduce its effects around airports.
Limiting the impact
Aircraft emissions can be further reduced when airports provide fixed electrical ground power and pre-conditioned air supplies at the terminal gates. These allow aircraft to switch off their auxiliary power units at terminal gates, reducing fuel burn and pollutants. Reducing taxiing and holding times may be achieved by construction of more direct taxiways, holding aircraft at the gate until departure slots are ready and the relief of congestion in general.
Other airports sources of emissions that affect local air quality include power plants, ground service equipment and by airside and landside vehicle fleets. Mitigation measures taken by airports and their partners include modernising power plants, ground equipment and vehicle fleets. Diesel and gasoline vehicles are being replaced with those using alternative fuels such as liquid petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, hydrogen, electricity and even compressed air. Airports usually need to build new infrastructure to provide these alternative fuels.
Many airports, in cooperation with the local authorities have introduced measures to reduce road traffic, improve ground traffic flow and encourage less polluting methods of transport to and from the airport. Airports need to work with local road and transit authorities to develop roads and public transport including light or heavy rail, trams and buses.
In the meantime, the aircraft and engine manufactures are continuing to target further aircraft emission reductions, including an additional 80% cut in NOx by 2020. Airports are working with the aircraft and engine manufacturers to further reduce emissions and noise impacts on local communities.
In addition, the gains in efficiency that the industry is targeting, in its move to reduce fuel consumption and cut the emission of greenhouse gases, will also lead to a further reduction in pollutants such as NOx and carbon monoxide.
End of life
An aircraft will typically remain in service for around 20-25 years. During that time, it will fly on average 40,274,144 kilometres – over 1,000 times around the world – with some long-haul aircraft flying over 100 million kilometres, for several airlines. Once it reaches the end of its useful life, an aircraft can be recycled not only to ensure proper disposal but also to take advantage of the many high-quality components and materials of which they are made.
The Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association is working with 72 companies such as manufacturers of aircraft and engines, component suppliers and operators, to establish best practice guidelines for the disposal and recycling of aircraft. These organisations recycle over 150 aircraft and 30,000 tonnes of aluminium a year. Manufacturers are also ensuring that new aircraft are designed not only for a long, safe and efficient life, but also for end-of-life opportunities. The Airbus PAMELA project, begun in 2005, demonstrated that more than 70% of the weight of an aircraft can re-used or recovered. This project lead to the creation of Tarmac Aerosave with partners including Safran. This company specialises in recycling aircraft and is now able to re-use and recover materials making up over 90% of an aircraft’s weight.
New materials such as carbon fibre present new challenges for aircraft designers to find ways of dealing with the materials once the product leaves service. Processes are being developed to allow these new materials to be recovered and potentially recycled once the aircraft reaches the end of its useful lifespan.
- Assignment status: Already Solved By Our Experts
- (USA, AUS, UK & CA PhD. Writers)
- CLICK HERE TO GET A PROFESSIONAL WRITER TO WORK ON THIS PAPER AND OTHER SIMILAR PAPERS, GET A NON PLAGIARIZED PAPER FROM OUR EXPERTS
QUALITY: 100% ORIGINAL PAPER – NO PLAGIARISM – CUSTOM PAPER | <urn:uuid:ee642a9e-ee1c-4115-a68b-a3977effe341> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://fastwriters.academicwritersbay.com/sustainability-issues/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.94928 | 7,152 | 3.40625 | 3 |
China will overtake the US economy in 15 YEARS and India will leapfrog the UK and France in 2018, global report says
- China will be the world's no 1 economy by 2032, ahead of the U.S.
- This is one year slower than previously expected, but 'Trump-effect' less severe
- Report also showed that India will be ahead of UK and France next year
The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) consultancy's annual World Economic League Table put India in fifth place, before France in sixth and the UK in seventh in 2018.
However, come 2032, India will be in number three, Japan in number four, Germany in fifth and Brazil in sixth.
Previous reports had shown that China would take the top spot by 2031, but the predicted negative impact on the U.S. economy of President Trump has been 'less severe' than expected, CEBR said.
Good news: CEBR said that China would take the top spot on year later than previously thought as the negative impact of President Trump has been less severe than expected
'Because the impact of President Trump on trade has been less severe than expected, the USA will retain its global crown a year longer than we anticipated in the last report,' the report said.
India's ascent is part of a trend that will see Asian economies increasingly dominate the top 10 largest economies over the next 15 years.
'Despite temporary setbacks ... India's economy has still caught up with that of France and the UK and in 2018 will have overtaken them both to become the world's fifth largest economy in dollar terms,' said Douglas McWilliams, CEBR deputy chairman.
McWilliams said India's growth had been slowed by restrictions on high-value banknotes and a new sales tax, a view shared by economists polled by Reuters.
While Britain looks set to lag behind France over the next couple of years, Cebr predicted that Brexit's effects on Britain's economy will be less than feared, allowing it to overtake France again in 2020.
At least sort of: Xi Jinping's China is likely to overtake the Trump's U.S. as the world's No.1 economy in 2032
Russia was vulnerable to low oil prices and too reliant on the energy sector, and looked likely to fall to 17th place among the world's largest economies by 2032, from 11th now.
Oliver Kolodseike, senior economist and report co-author, said: 'The interesting trend emerging is that by 2032 five of the ten largest economies will be in Asia while European economies arefalling down the ranking and the USA loses its top spot.
'Technology and urbanisation will be important factors transforming the world economy over the next 15 years.'
A Reuters poll of economists in late October suggested global economic growth in 2018 looks likely to quicken slightly to 3.6 percent from 3.5 percent this year - with risks to that forecast lying on the upside.
Most watched News videos
- France battered by deadly 140mph storms with three people killed
- Ukrainian athlete's mother killed in Russian strike in Kharkiv
- Cops arrest man accused of stabbing to death 87-year-old busker
- A-level student breaks down in tears after picking up three A*s
- Awkward moment A-level student opens up two Ds after expecting Bs
- Mobility scooter murder suspect on CCTV in shop buying chocolates
- Terrifying crash sees van driver thrown out of vehicle in Turkey
- Crocodile kills man and drags his body in it's jaws
- France: Man struggles in floodwater which nearly sweeps him away
- Finland PM upset that videos dancing at private parties were leaked
- Garbage truck crashes into parked car and drives off
- Thomas O'Halloran plays accordian and chats to locals in Greenford | <urn:uuid:044d618f-4b57-4f21-8008-f269e342782d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5212555/China-overtake-economy-15-YEARS.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.960742 | 792 | 1.953125 | 2 |
Mahnaro Istamrar is a medium size village located in Baisa Block of Purnia district, Bihar with total 279 families residing. The Mahnaro Istamrar village has population of 1144 of which 606 are males while 538 are females as per Population Census 2011.
In Mahnaro Istamrar village population of children with age 0-6 is 213 which makes up 18.62 % of total population of village. Average Sex Ratio of Mahnaro Istamrar village is 888 which is lower than Bihar state average of 918. Child Sex Ratio for the Mahnaro Istamrar as per census is 821, lower than Bihar average of 935.
Mahnaro Istamrar village has lower literacy rate compared to Bihar. In 2011, literacy rate of Mahnaro Istamrar village was 45.01 % compared to 61.80 % of Bihar. In Mahnaro Istamrar Male literacy stands at 54.19 % while female literacy rate was 34.84 %.
As per constitution of India and Panchyati Raaj Act, Mahnaro Istamrar village is administrated by Sarpanch (Head of Village) who is elected representative of village. Our website, don't have information about schools and hospital in Mahnaro Istamrar village.
Mahnaro Istamrar Data
|Total No. of Houses
Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 13.81 % while Schedule Tribe (ST) were 2.19 % of total population in Mahnaro Istamrar village.
In Mahnaro Istamrar village out of total population, 358 were engaged in work activities. 89.11 % of workers describe their work as Main Work (Employment or Earning more than 6 Months) while 10.89 % were involved in Marginal activity providing livelihood for less than 6 months.
Of 358 workers engaged in Main Work, 80 were cultivators (owner or co-owner) while 221 were Agricultural labourer. | <urn:uuid:de98893c-30a9-45d7-beb9-e86c90745485> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.census2011.co.in/data/village/223941-mahnaro-istamrar-bihar.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.928855 | 596 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Monsters are more than things that go bump in the night... Monsters are lurking in the woods, beneath the waves, and within our favoritebooks, films, and games--and there are good reasons why they appear so often.Monsters are manifestations of our fears and symbols of our society--not tomention they're a lot of fun--but each should serve a purpose and enhance thethemes and tension in your fiction. In Writing Monsters, best-selling author Philip Athans uses classic examplesfrom books, films
If you’ve ever envisioned your book for sale at a bookstore or airport, you’ve probably asked yourself this question: How do I send a book to a publisher? Of course, there are several ways to send a book to a publisher. Let’s talk about two, the bad idea method and the good idea method. | <urn:uuid:1d65b1a5-595d-413d-a5c9-4c0c95428791> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://no.pinterest.com/Battsfamily/writing-tips/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.910644 | 207 | 1.546875 | 2 |
The Net is a powerful tool that can make the world an extra interesting area for every person. Bloggers are able to share their opinions, and also it enables them to reach a global audience. Yet making use of blog sites in the general public world is not without its threats. The unattended as well as unfiltered web content can lead to unanticipated effects. In politically sensitive locations, the Web cops and secret police can monitor blog sites. Unlike print or program media, blog sites are more challenging to manage. In addition, blog writers can be confidential, which makes it even more tough for governments and also various other authorities to check what they publish. This additionally indicates that authoritarian programs are most likely to use this device to penalize or suppress blog owners.
While blog writing has numerous usages, one of its primary objectives is to draw in online search engine traffic. The more visitors a blog obtains, the more money it can produce. With even more traffic, it ends up being easier to make money as well as advertise a company. It is additionally possible to make a blog SEO-friendly. Here are some tools you can utilize to enhance your blog site’s efficiency as well as increase web traffic. If you wish to see greater blog website traffic, attempt these leading search engine optimization devices.
To make your blog site SEO-friendly, you’ll require to optimize the page for search engines. A blog site is a conversational area that seeks to produce community or reflect an existing neighborhood. Adding tags will certainly make it much easier to discover blog posts as well as organize them by group. A successful blog site will be SEO-friendly, and will certainly be most likely to draw in even more readers. So, if you intend to optimize your blog site’s reach, think about making it SEO-friendly. The following tools will certainly aid you make your blog site SEO-friendly.
A blog’s main function is to generate search engine traffic. The even more website traffic a blog site has, the more likely viewers it has. The more viewers, the more chances it provides to create income. As a result, there are more ways to utilize a blog site to promote your service. You can discover how to make your blog site SEO-friendly to increase traffic with these tools. If you wish to raise your blog site’s reach also better, you can also improve it with the use of the very best search engine optimization devices.
As a conversational medium, blogging can be a powerful device to promote an organization. The majority of article are written in a manner in which individuals can read them. However it’s important to bear in mind that blogging is a conversation between people. Having a blog site with terrific SEO will raise your chances of bring in more site visitors. There are some points that are much more SEO-friendly than others. However whatever you pick, you’ll want to make certain it’s SEO-friendly.
One of the primary objectives of blog writing is to increase web traffic. Increasing website traffic will certainly assist you attract more viewers. The more viewers your blog attracts, the much more it can promote your business. You can use it to generate income and construct a neighborhood. By utilizing the appropriate search engine optimization devices, you can easily make your blog SEO-friendly. It will raise your blog site’s reach as well as get more visitors. If you’re attempting to raise website traffic, it’ll profit you immensely.
Besides its appeal, blog writing is additionally an excellent advertising and marketing device. It assists services by enhancing their online website traffic. It is crucial to have top notch traffic if you want to earn money from it. Having more visitors will certainly boost your service’s reach. The even more web traffic your blog gets, the extra possible it has to earn you. And also it is very important to be SEO-friendly since it can make your blog much more efficient. This is where utilizing the most effective SEO devices can assist you.
Besides being an efficient marketing tool, blogging also helps you to advertise your organization and bring in even more visitors. Because of this, your company will certainly be much more rewarding. Your blog can be used as an advertising and marketing device to advertise services or products. So, if you want to maximize the benefits of blog writing, you ought to find out how to maximize your blog site for search engine optimization. This is a vital part of blog writing as well as will help you attain the very best feasible traffic from it.
Blog writing is a social activity, and also you’ll require a standard understanding of computer systems to create a blog site. You’ll additionally require fundamental knowledge of the Net to earn money through your blog site. Nevertheless, it is necessary to note that the more website traffic your blog receives, the less complicated it will be for you to advertise your organization. You’ll additionally require to be SEO-friendly if you want to be successful. This can be performed with using the leading search engine optimization devices.
In addition to developing a blog to promote your service, it can additionally serve as an advertising system. A blog site can be utilized for service or for individual functions, but the primary objective is to create web traffic. If your blog site is popular with readers, you can use it to earn money with it. With even more traffic, you can advertise your product or services, and also you can use it for your organization. However to get more viewers, you’ll need to maximize your blog for search engines.
In addition to drawing in more viewers, blogging is an important marketing device. With the best search engine optimization techniques, a blog site can promote a service or a product. By utilizing these devices, you can also increase the traffic to your blog site. This indicates more possibilities to make money with it. You’ll additionally get more readers, which suggests a lot more potential clients. This, in turn, suggests a lot more earnings and even more exposure for your service. There are numerous leading SEO devices you can utilize to make your blog SEO friendly.
While a lot of blogs are primarily made use of for business, many others have different programs. A blog can promote a product or service. Organizations can also make money through a blog. Consequently, your blog can be made use of as a promotional device for your business. So, you can make your blog more appealing to online search engine and boost the web traffic to your website. There are several leading search engine optimization tools to help you maximize your blog site. These devices will certainly assist you enhance the web traffic to your internet site.
Blogs are great for promoting a service. Not just can they advertise products and services, yet they can likewise be utilized by not-for-profit organizations. They permit officials to publicly discuss their goals as well as activities. Nevertheless, there is a growing problem with anonymous blog writers who discuss controversial issues. A few of them have actually even been recognized to tease bosses and also employers. So, what’s the very best method to make your blog SEO-friendly? The following are the top search engine optimization devices to help your blog site with your blog. Visit this website
Blog writing is a conversational activity. It seeks to create area as well as reflect the existing area. In other words, blogs are a method to express on your own as well as your viewpoints. It’s a powerful device for businesses and also people alike. It allows you to develop a partnership with visitors as well as give additional information concerning your business. There are numerous means to make your blog site much more SEO-friendly. A leading SEO tool for your blog is likewise crucial for search engine optimization objectives. | <urn:uuid:d1d150d0-76dd-4c78-9b65-be4d8edef2f9> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://smirnovtechnology.com/2022/04/04/is-blogging-the-most-trending-point-currently/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.958538 | 1,581 | 1.585938 | 2 |
FOG is a documentary short film directed by DreamWorks’s Michael Pedraza and written by James Mihaley with original music from Bob Weir, Joe Satriani, and Kevin De León. Skywalker Sound's Dennis Leonard is sound editor. The film has been selected for the Sedona Film Festival and received the Directors Choice Award at the Thomas Edison Film Festival.
Over a two-year period of walking the streets of San Francisco and offering medical outreach, Dr. Eduardo Dolhun photographed 100s of San Francisco’s homeless citizens. These images inspired world-class artists and musicians to donate their time to create the film. FOG tells the stories of people in San Francisco experiencing homelessness and it gives an intimate purview into the people who live on the streets and offers audiences an opportunity to get to know that person beyond just walking past a tent on the sidewalk.
Eduardo Peña Dolhun is a Mayo Clinic educated and trained, board-certified family medicine physician and is an internationally recognized Disaster Medicine Physician. He has conducted relief efforts in 13 countries—from devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Nepal to monsoon floods in Pakistan to typhoons in the Philippines. As a novice photographer, Dr. Dolhun saw the human disaster unfolding on the streets of San Francisco and he dedicated his spare time over the past two years to chronicling the stories of more than one-hundred homeless citizens of The City’s Tenderloin neighborhood and Polk Street/Van Ness corridor. With his Leica M10 camera, Dr. Dolhun captured people from all walks of life experiencing homelessness during the tragic early days and months of the pandemic. The goal of the project is to bring public awareness of the humanity and humility of people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco and beyond.
“On my daily walks to work and around town, I began to pass more and more people living on the sidewalks," explained Dr. Dolhun. "I simply could not ignore my homeless neighbors for one more day, and so decided to say hello and get to understand them as individuals. My goal of this photography installation and the short film FOG is to put a face on a problem that so many would rather ignore. I encourage anyone who is touched by the photographs to see the film and hear the often surprising first-person accounts of how people end up on the streets, the difficulties of living there, and how hard it is to break free of the cycle of homelessness.”
In conjunction with FOG, Dr. Dolhun created an outdoor photography installation in the windows of the San Francisco Unified School District Building across from SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco at the corner of Franklin Street and Fell Street. The installation runs until January 21, 2022 and the 31 photographs range from 9.5' high x 6.25' wide to 5.75' high x 6' wide and can be viewed at street level. | <urn:uuid:21d5dd3c-d3ad-4bd5-96b7-6918c9338354> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.gratefulweb.com/articles/homelessness-doc-bob-weir-original-music-premieres-san-francisco-january-21-2022 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.951271 | 592 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Long Valley is an intensively farmed area at the confluence of two rivers in the former British ‘New Territories’ of Hong Kong. It is divided into small plots, mostly less than 50m2 where the use of large machines is impractical and human labour is the main method of cultivation. It is highly irrigated and many of the crops, such as taro, watercress, rice and lotus flower, require that the plots are permanently flooded. Each plot is separated by a thin, low, bund that serves as a footpath as well as containing the water. Many also appear to have been left fallow, but still flooded.
Snipe adore these conditions and many of them can be seen in, or rather flushed from, all of the wet paddy fields here. The trick is to see the bird before you get too close. Very occasionally they will sit tight and explode from beneath your feet, but mostly they took flight from at least five meters in front of me.
Walking slowly and scanning ahead allowed me to see quite a few, but they were almost always very wary, trying not to be seen. Most of them would have been Common Snipe, but it was possible that some Pintail or Swinhoe’s Snipe may be amongst them. The easiest way to eliminate the Common Snipe is by noting the white trailing edge to the secondaries, but since this is not always conspicuous, it is not reliable if you fail to spot it on a fast moving, zig-zagging bird. Even if you can definitely say that there was no white trailing edge, the bird has flushed and it would not be possible to say which of the other species it may have been.
Their flushing habits can be useful, with Common Snipe emitting a “dry, rasping call” (Clive Viney, Birds of Hong Kong and South China) as it rises for its zig-zaggy flight. The Pintail Snipe only zig-zags briefly and gives a sound more akin to a quack.
One of the birds today appeared to leap from its hiding place without making a sound, land a few feet away, dipping its bill into the water and taking off again immediately, without zig-zagging, to settle in a denser patch of rank vegetation in the same paddy. According to Viney et al, this behaviour would be compatible with a Swinhoe’s Snipe.
Some individuals were accommodating enough to allow me a clear shot as long as there was a good distance of water between us.
Having got used to seeing snipe either frozen to avoid being seen or in panicked flight, it was odd to note a bird which bobbed as it darted towards the bank at my approach. It stopped, turned and crouched, showing the short, drooping bill and distinctive eye-marking of a Greater Painted Snipe.
Painted Snipe have their own family, separate from the true snipes. If interviewed on day-time television, top of the producer’s agenda for discussion would be the titillating subject of sexual role reversal. All immature birds for example take on the male plumage before young females moult into their more showy adult outfit. It is the larger female who calls and courts the male, often mating with several and leaving them to brood and rear the young.
Two male-plumaged birds were seen in this paddy. They may have been immature siblings, but it is also possible that two mature males could live in close quarters.
Notably the Painted Snipes did not flush, but darted back to cover, with their distinctive gait. If they had have flown, oval patches at the side of the tail would have been visible and the legs are left to trail beneath the bird. | <urn:uuid:58e3d1cf-8832-4e28-894c-0209e5b5d655> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.10000birds.com/snipe-and-not-snipe.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.97953 | 791 | 2.9375 | 3 |
摘要：The purpose of the current study was to investigate the eco-physiological responses, in terms of growth and C:N:P stoichiometry of plants cultured from dimorphic seeds of a single-cell C4 annual Suaeda aralocaspica (Bunge) Freitag and Schütze under elevated CO2. A climatic chamber experiment was conducted to examine the effects of ambient (720 μg/L) and CO2-enriched (1440 μg/L) treatments on these responses in S. aralocaspica at vegetative and reproductive stages in 2012. Result showed that elevated CO2 significantly increased shoot dry weight, but decreased N:P ratio at both growth stages. Plants grown from dimorphic seeds did not exhibit significant differences in growth and C:N:P stoichiometric characteristics. The transition from vegetation to reproductive stage significantly increased shoot:root ratio, N and P contents, but decreased C:N, C:P and N:P ratios, and did not affect shoot dry weight. Moreover, our results indicate that the changes in N:P and C:N ratios between ambient and elevated CO2 are mainly caused by the decrease of N content under elevated CO2. These results provide an insight into nutritional metabolism of single-cell C4 plants under climate change.
摘要： The gradual shrinkage of the Aral Sea has led to not only the degradation of the unique environments of the Aral Sea, but also numerous and fast developing succession processes in the neighborhood habitats surrounding the sea. In this study, we investigated the vegetative succession processes related to the Aral Sea shrinkage in the Eastern Cliff of the Ustyurt Plateau in Republic of Uzbekistan, Central Asia. We compared the results of our current investigation (2010–2017) on vegetative communities with the geobotany data collected during the 1970s (1970–1980). The results showed great changes in the mesophytic plant communities and habitat aridization as a result of the drop in the underground water level, which decreased atmospheric humidity and increased the salt content of the soil caused by the shrinkage of the Aral Sea. In the vegetative communities, we observed a decrease in the Margalef index (DMg), which had a positive correlation with the poly-dominance index (I-D). The main indications of the plant communities' transformation were the loss of the weak species, the appearance of new communities with low species diversity, the stabilization of the projective cover of former resistant communities, as well as the appearance of a new competitive species, which occupy new habitats.
摘要：Biomass allocation patterns among plant species are related to their adaptive ecological strategies. Ephemeral, ephemeroid and annual plant life forms represent three typical growth strategies of plants that grow in autumn and early spring in the cold deserts of China. These plants play an important role in reducing wind velocity in the desert areas. However, despite numerous studies, the strategies of biomass allocation among plant species with these three life forms remain contentious. In this study, we conducted a preliminary quadrat study during 2014–2016 in the southern part of the Gurbantunggut Desert, China, to investigate the allocation patterns of above-ground biomass (AGB) and below-ground biomass (BGB) at the individual level in 17 ephemeral, 3 ephemeroid and 4 annual plant species. Since ephemeral plants can germinate in autumn, we also compared biomass allocation patterns between plants that germinated in autumn 2015 and spring 2016 for 4 common ephemeral species. The healthy mature individual plants of each species were sampled and the AGB, BGB, total biomass (TB), leaf mass ratio (LMR) and root/shoot ratio (R/S) were calculated for 201 sample quadrats in the study area. We also studied the relationships between AGB and BGB of plants with the three different life forms (ephemeral, ephemeroid and annual). The mean AGB values of ephemeral, ephemeroid and annual plants were 0.806, 3.759 and 1.546 g/plant, respectively, and the mean BGB values were 0.106, 4.996 and 0.166 g/plant, respectively. The mean R/S value was significantly higher in ephemeroid plants (1.675) than in ephemeral (0.154) and annual (0.147) plants. The mean LMR was the highest in annual plants, followed by ephemeroid plants and ephemeral plants, reflecting the fact that annual plants allocate more biomass to leaves, associated with their longer life span. Biomass of ephemeral plants that germinated in autumn was significantly higher than those of corresponding plants that germinated in spring in terms of AGB, BGB and TB. However, the R/S value was similar in plants that germinated in autumn and spring. The slope of regression relationship between AGB and BGB differed significantly among the three plant life forms. These results support different biomass allocation hypotheses. Specifically, at the individual level, the AGB and BGB partitioning supports the allometric hypothesis for ephemeroid and annual plants and the isometric hypothesis for ephemeral plants. | <urn:uuid:371e088c-0405-4e8b-ba12-3378f091f8e7> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.chinaxiv.org/user/search.htm?pageId=1656802889818&type=filter&filterField=authors&value=FAN%20Lianlian | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.947993 | 1,097 | 2.53125 | 3 |
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) will host a whale watch event at Loop Head as part of Heritage Week.
The arrival of species like minke and humpback whales and other species of whales and dolphins along the Irish coast is a good omen for this year’s All Island Whale Watch day on Saturday 26th August between 2:00-5:00 pm.
The purpose of whale watch day is to raise awareness of the 25 species of cetaceans (porpoises, dolphins and whales) recorded to date in all Irish waters, by giving the public an opportunity to look for and observe some of these wonderful marine mammals in their natural environment. This event also provides IWDG researchers with a unique snapshot of whale and dolphin activity around the Irish coast.
This annual, all-island event, organised by the IWDG in association with Inis the Energy of the Sea www.inisfragrance.com is free and open to all.
All watches are land-based and will be led by experienced IWDG researchers, enthusiasts and whale watchers, who will show you how to observe and identify some of the more commonly recorded cetacean species seen in Irish waters.
You should bring binoculars or a spotting scope and dress appropriately for outdoor weather conditions. There are no boat trips involved, and there is of course no guarantee that you will see whales or dolphins at your chosen site; but at last year’s event whales or dolphins were recorded at 13 of 20 sites (65%).
If the weather is suitable on the day, you’ve quite a good chance of seeing some really interesting marine wildlife, and in the process you’ll be supporting whale and dolphin conservation in Ireland by becoming actively involved in Citizen Science.
Please contact your local organiser for further details (see below) or visit the IWDG website www.iwdg.ie for the latest information on whale and dolphin sightings and strandings in Irish waters. Whale Watch Ireland, will once again be part of Heritage Week, co-ordinated by the Heritage Council www.heritagecouncil.ie | <urn:uuid:4b95568d-7c9e-4f03-a126-ab3d0c66b035> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://clareherald.com/2017/08/whale-watch-event-at-loop-head-for-heritage-week-62109/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.94321 | 441 | 1.96875 | 2 |
Guidance for Processed Product Documentation
Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin
Purpose: Policy, Beneficial Information
To: Child Nutrition Program Sponsors
Attention: Program and Food Services Directors
Number: FDP-02-2015 and CNP-07-2015
Date: June 2015
Reference: U.S. Department of Agriculture Memorandum TA 07–2010 (v.3): Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements
Supersedes: California Department of Education Management Bulletin USDA-CNP-05-2013
Subject: Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements
This Management Bulletin (MB) provides updated clarification to child nutrition program (CNP) sponsors about the requirements for documenting processed end [food] products to ensure that they meet meal pattern requirements. This MB also outlines what documentation must be on file and available during a California Department of Education (CDE) Administrative Review (AR) or any other outside review/audit.
Crediting MethodsSponsors have the option to choose the crediting method that best fits the specific needs of their menu planner; however, food manufacturers are required to communicate to sponsors how their products contribute to the meal pattern. The challenge when using processed end products is obtaining the required documentation to demonstrate that meals served meet all requirements. Food manufacturers can use either of the following methods to document the contribution to the meal pattern for processed end products:
- Child Nutrition (CN) label
- Product formulation statement (PFS)
Child Nutrition Labels
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) CN Label Program is a voluntary federal program that ensures a processed end product provides the stated contribution toward the meal pattern.Specifically, a CN label provides the:
- CN logo
- Contribution toward meal pattern requirements
- Product identification number assigned by the USDA
- Month and year of approval
CN labels are only available for main dish/entrée processed end products that contribute at least 0.5 ounce equivalents to the meat/meat alternate component of the meal pattern (e.g., cheese and bean burritos, cheese or meat pizzas, breaded fish). To better serve sponsors, CN labels now reflect whole grain-rich and vegetable subgroup contributions. A CN label is considered valid until the product formulation changes or five years has lapsed, whichever comes first.In order for a product to carry a CN label, the end product must first be evaluated by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to determine its contribution toward the meal pattern and then be produced under federal inspection by the USDA or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The CN Label Program provides a USDA-approved method to document processed end products’ contribution to the meal pattern. The CDE will request a valid CN label and crediting statement or a PFS during the AR, as required by the USDA. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) publishes a list of manufacturers that have met all the requirements of the CN Labeling Program and a list of approved CN labeled end products with corresponding CN label numbers. The AMS updates the lists monthly. The lists do not reflect newly approved manufacturers, labels, or any processed end products approved before 2005. To view the lists, please visit the USDA CN Labeling Web page at https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/labeling/usdausdc-authorized-labels-and-manufacturers.
Note: These lists are for informational purposes only, and are not considered acceptable proof of CN labeling.
Product Formulation Statements
Sponsors should obtain a complete and signed PFS in the event that a processed end product does not possess a CN label. A PFS demonstrates how the processed end product contributes toward meal pattern requirements and should include the contribution to all components.
The USDA developed PFS samples and templates that can be used as a guide for sponsors. These resources, as well as specific policies for Alternative Protein Products including a “reviewer’s checklist,” can be found on the USDA CN Labeling Food Manufacturers/Industry Web page, under the subheading Manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement, at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnlabeling/food-manufacturersindustry.The USDA templates serve as guidance only and are not required. An acceptable PFS must be completed on the manufacturer’s letterhead and include all of the following:
- Product name, code number, and serving size
- Type and weight of the creditable ingredient
- Date signed
- Printed name, signature, and title of the company representative certifying that the information on the PFS is true and correct (electronic and/or font signatures are acceptable)
- Documentation of the manufacturer calculation
A PFS must prove how the claimed credit was obtained in the finished product. It is never acceptable for a manufacturer to simply state that the product provides a certain amount of credit. All manufacturers must use the yields found in the USDA Food Buying Guide (FBG) for Child Nutrition Programs to calculate meal pattern contributions. If a PFS for a specific end product claims to provide a higher credit than that listed in the FBG, the PFS must demonstrate how the product provides that credit according to FNS regulations, guidance, or policy. Manufacturers must also verify that the credit a product contributes to meal pattern requirements is not greater than the serving size of the product and assure that the creditable components are visible in the finished product. Unlike a CN label, a PFS must be verified by the sponsor.To view the FBG, please visit the USDA FBG for Child Nutrition Programs Web page at http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/food-buying-guide-for-child-nutrition-programs.
Note: The CDE recommends including the Nutrition Facts panel on the PFS to ensure program compliance.
Product Formulation Statement Validation
Sponsors are ultimately responsible for ensuring that a menu fulfills all meal pattern requirements; therefore, all PFSs must be validated. To support sponsors and manufacturers and expedite the AR process, Nutrition Services Division (NSD) staff are available to validate calculations for contribution to the meal pattern. Manufacturers interested in having the NSD validate their PFS calculations can send electronic copies of their PFS by e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.org. This process does not provide an official approval for an end product.
The NSD recently upgraded the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) Food Distribution Module to house validated PFSs. This allows sponsors to download and print a validated PFS for their files and use during ARs. The validated PFS is listed by manufacturer and includes the product name and code number in the description.
To access a validated PFS:
- Log onto the CNIPS Web site at https://www.cnips.ca.gov
- Select Food Distribution Program
- Select Agencies
- Select Download Forms
Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, sections 210.23(c), 220.8(a)(3), 225.8(a), 226.10(d), and 250.16(b), require all sponsors to retain meal pattern contribution documentation for three years from the close of the fiscal year to which they pertain.
Sponsors using a CN label to document an end product’s contribution must retain either the original CN label or a photocopy of the original CN label from the box if the CN label cannot be easily removed. A photograph of the CN label while it is attached to the product carton is also acceptable documentation. If the original CN label from the product carton, or the valid photograph or photocopy of the original CN label is not available, sponsors may provide the bill of lading (invoice) containing the product name and a paper or electronic copy of the watermarked CN label that displays the product name and CN number provided by the vendor. For more information pertaining to watermarked CN labels, please refer to MB FDP-03-2015 and CNP-08-2015: Administrative Review Process Regarding the CN Label, Watermarked CN Label, and Manufacturer’s PFS on the CDE Food Distribution MBs Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/fd/fdpmbulletins.asp.
Sponsors using a PFS to document an end product’s contribution must retain a copy of the PFS with the validated calculations.
Resource: Tip Sheet
The USDA issued a tip sheet for CNP operators to use when accepting processed product documentation such as CN labels and PFSs. The CDE strongly encourages sponsors to use this information when accepting processed products. The Tip Sheet for Accepting Processed Product Documentation is located on the USDA Food Manufacturers/Industry page at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnlabeling/food-manufacturersindustry.
If you have any questions regarding this MB, please contact Sherry Tam, Child Nutrition Consultant, by phone at 916-324-9875 or by e-mail at email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:97265be0-3013-49c6-8b1f-48264366bc65> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/fd/mbfdp02cnp072015.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.877234 | 1,911 | 1.695313 | 2 |
About a year ago, angry South African university students in the #FeesMustFall movement took to the streets and called for the immediate introduction of an Afrocentric higher education in their universities. The call for a decolonised higher education remains at the centre of demands for a free, quality education.
While the philosophical debates on the transformation of higher education rage on, academics met at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Resolution Centre this past weekend to discuss the content and character of what an Afrocentric higher education and decolonised curriculum would actually be like in the future.
The symposium, entitled Decolonising Knowledge Thought Leadership Series: The Curriculum and Future University, was organised by the University of Johannesburg’s Division for Internationalisation, and was attended by dozens of students, lecturers, members of the public and interested parties.
Professor Ahmed Bawa, chief executive of Universities SA, said the debate on the decolonisation of higher education in South Africa was long overdue. He pointed out that the transformation of higher education should have been resolved decades ago, soon after the ANC-led government came to power in April 1994.
“These issues [decolonisation and transformation] were raised and discussed in the National Commission on Higher Education process in 1995-1996,” Bawa told guests at the symposium. “And both were deferred. Why, one might ask?
“My understanding is that it was mainly from fear that such engagement would cause concern and instability in the established, historically white universities. It has taken over 20 years for us to return to both questions and however we wish to think about them, they are at the centre of the project of how we might re-imagine South African higher education, and understand its social location in the context of the next phase in our re-imagination of this society — a task in which we have been failed by our national leadership.”
Professor Nyasha Mboti, HOD of the department of communication studies at the UJ, agreed with Bawa that the ANC-led government had left the issue of transformation of higher education unresolved for far too long.
He told the Mail & Guardian Africa after the panel discussions: “As Prof Bawa pointed out, this debate was postponed over 20 years ago, and only #FeesMustFall has brought it back. We must thus duly give credit to South African university students for their bravery and foresight in turning our attention back to the core issue: the failure by universities to genuinely and sincerely transform. All the speakers at the debate showed that they are preoccupied not with complaining but with solutions: how genuine and sincere decolonisation can happen.
“My own view is that decolonisation is not a “khumbaya” project, where at the end of the day we all hug and feel happy. On the contrary, it is an uncomfortable process dependent on telling uncomfortable truths. Unpopular, pro-justice decisions will have to be made. We have a window of opportunity to do this, which we cannot afford to let close because of vested corporate and state interests. If that window closes, the future of our children and their children’s children would have been betrayed at the altar of pessimism, racism, big business, neoliberal governmentality, and statutory complicity. The broad message, I think, is this: decolonisation will happen, with or without corporate and government approval. After all, it is not for them. It is for the oppressed.”
Dr Joseph Minga, a lecturer of Cultural Studies at the Monash University in Johannesburg, said achieving the goal of Afrocentricity meant, for him at least, a total rejection of Western education. Afrocentricity, according to Minga, was central to what should constitute education in Africa.
“The demand of our students for a decolonised education today is similar to that of Europe during the Renaissance. Consciousness obliges that some things are deleted while new ones are created,” said Minga.
“In a world where everything is yet to be done, what people need first is a line of thought, the way on which to embark that leads to one’s destiny. And I think students know the way: it is called Afrocentricity. As a theory it is vital for the African university, because by it students will become masters of their own history and the knowledge production needed by their communities.
“It is not difficult to imagine that one day the departments of Nubia and Egyptwill be established in all our universities, the Swahili language accepted in the West as are English and French and Mandarin to us, the amaPantsula dance given space in the School of Art at Sorbonne or Harvard University as we do with their ballet;that day will see the balance of forces tilt in our favour.”
Break from the West
Nigerian scholar Dr Alex Asakitikpi agreed with his fellow Monash University lecturer Minga, saying a future decolonised university must break away from the West and its knowledge production systems.
Asakitikpi also accused some academics in South African universities of “disguising” themselves as Pan-Africanist, while in their utterances and actions they are surreptitiously campaigning for the maintenance of the status quo of Western hegemonic authority over African peoples and their affairs.
“This is very important [to recognise], because it is such elements that tend to drag [out] the decolonisation debate ad infinitum, thereby [short] circuiting any significant progress,” said Asakitikpi.
“Yes, I agree with my colleague, Dr Joseph Minga, for the rejection of any suggestions from the West to strike a balance as espoused by Prof [Thaddeus] Metz in his presentation. It is my candid opinion that for too long Africans have acquiesced to external forces in shaping their future, and after more than 60 years we have come to the unequivocal conclusion that that route will not take us out of the economic, political, social, and cultural quagmire that characterises African peoples today.
“What is important for me at this stage, is for Africans (peoples of African descent who have shared a common fate of slavery, colonialism, neo-colonialism, and humiliation over the last 500 years) to create a larger platform to articulate the lines of actions to be taken to achieve the common goals of our emancipation from mental slavery and neo-colonialism, [by] self-determination, endogenous sustainable development, and racial dignity.”
Bawa, in his concluding thoughts, told guests that the issue of languages was going to be critical in the decolonised curriculum of the future in SA universities, because South Africans coexist in multiple knowledge systems.
“The dominance of English and other European languages as academic languages persists in many developing nations, but for many university students these are second or even third languages,” said Bawa.
“This is clearly a matter of access, but it is also about the social justice imperatives related to the development of indigenous languages. The use of isiZulu, kiSwahili, Fulani or Gujarati as languages of academic discourse is the one way of ensuring the long-term sustainability of indigenous languages.” | <urn:uuid:3ef5c597-6cb6-40f0-b10d-b6d095ff85d9> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://mg.co.za/article/2016-11-09-transformation-of-higher-education-is-long-overdue/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.960953 | 1,533 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Stock car racing is an extremely prominent sort of auto racing held largely and most notoriously in the USA and Canada. Generally, such races are carried out on long, rectangular tracks determining about 0.25 to 2.6 miles in length. Nevertheless, recently, various other surfaces have been utilized, including dust and also various other surfaces. Such tracks are normally situated in busy cities as well as public parking lots. Usually talking, the cars and trucks that compete in these high-speed races are of the same make, of comparable weight, as well as of similar measurements as well as height.
The history of stock car auto racing dates back to the birth of the National Association for Stock Car Vehicle Competing or NASCAR, which was first founded in 1948. The key driving pressure behind the sporting activity is the fierce competition between vehicle drivers from various nations that participate in stock car auto racing occasions. This strong competition functions as one of the reasons the sport has actually come to be as prominent as it has today. With the expanding popularity of stock car auto racing, there has actually additionally been a growing interest in protecting the history of the sporting activity. As a result, lots of organizations have actually used up the responsibility of running the organization and running it for the benefit of the individuals.
As it currently stands, there are roughly sixty countries that take part in NASCAR. These nations include Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Bermuda. On top of that, the United States, like numerous other countries, own their very own racetrack facilities which host numerous races regularly. In addition, a number of these tracks are maintained by the different racers and also groups that create part of the NASCAR company. Every one of these venues are used for a range of factors, consisting of offering an area for fans as well as customers to see the races, for exercising by specific racers and teams, as well as for various other objectives.
Among the most noteworthy nations that sponsor NASCAR is France. There are a number of stock car racers that race for the French National Championship every year. Other nations that sponsor as well as sustain the sporting activity include Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, as well as Italy. A number of stock car events happen in Canada every year also.
The tradition of NASCAR started in the southerly USA, which means that the heart of the sporting activity can be traced back to a location in the northeast part of the country called the Deep South. The location was mainly made up of dirt tracks that hosted a range of stock car races over the course of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. As the popularity of the sporting activity started to expand, it relocated its means in the direction of the remainder of the country. The first places that held the races were generally found in small country areas with a reduced population count. Nonetheless, in order to advertise the sport to a bigger target market, tracks spread out from large southern cities to more remote areas.
The first events of stock car racing took place on dirt tracks that were accessible by horseback as well as 4 wheel drive. The initial “stock car” was a steel body on a wood framework that was extremely similar to modern day NASCAR races. The tracks that organized the first stock car races were commonly brief as well as had just 2 lengthy stretches of dirt tracks. These tracks were made to evaluate the ability of the racers to navigate via the tightest curves and to obtain rate in the quickest quantity of time feasible.
In Daytona Beach, Florida there is what is referred to as the Blue Flag Day, where expert racers race the day in order to get the big show. A number of the leading stock car racing groups on the planet gather to compete for the coveted blue flag trophy annually. In addition to the prestigious trophy, the individuals in this event obtain a substantial quantity of gifts including clothes, sporting activities memorabilia, and a lot more.
Today, you will certainly find that there are over a dozen stock car racing tracks in the United States. Most of these tracks are owned by private racers and/or groups, a few of which have been around for many years. A multitude of these tracks have actually acquired in popularity throughout the years as well as have actually developed into major draws for global stock car racing fanatics along with regional Florida homeowners. The following time you remain in the location, make sure to stop by one of the many Daytona Beach raceway car park to obtain a feel for the unique society related to this famous sport.
Stock car auto racing is a common kind of auto racing held primarily and most commonly in the United States and also Canada. Historically, such races were performed on circular tracks measuring about 0.25 to 2 miles in diameter. Nevertheless, as a result of technological developments in automobile safety and security, today’s stock car automobile races are usually operated on a flat track of various measurements that can be tailored for the particular auto maker or supplier, in addition to the specific event being held. In addition, as a result of enhancements in spectator viewing quality for many years, stock car auto racing has become an even more prominent viewer sporting activity.
Electric motor racing was first showcased on American soil in 1903 at the Atlanta International Speedway. Since that time, there have actually been numerous exhibits featuring auto racing in this country, as well as around the world. Stock car tracks have ever since appeared in all significant U.S. states and also in lots of Canadian provinces, while global exhibits have actually additionally become regular fixtures.
There are a number of different sorts of automobile racing, one of the most widely known of which are stock car auto racing and also visiting auto racing. The latter is often described as “stock car racing” due to the cars made use of (normally four-wheeled racers). Stock car racing was preferred in America throughout the early years of the Auto Change, yet the name “supply” had come to be related to poor conditions on U.S. race course. Therefore, the term “stock” was soon replaced by “tour” and “speedway.” This modification, nonetheless, did not transform the appeal of stock car racing, which is credited to the reality that it was a very awesome, reduced threat means for striving chauffeurs to discover how to drive. Furthermore, auto fanatics as well as racing lovers liked the opportunity to see various designs of vehicles race side-by-side. Charles Clark Kidderminster
Supply auto racing events can happen anywhere that an auto chauffeur or group can be located. They are regularly held on closed circuit tracks, commonly in huge fields, like Texas Electric Motor Speedway in Austin or Charlotte Electric Motor Speedway in North Carolina. Various other tracks might additionally feature off-track mugs, which permit amateur chauffeurs to take part in races without paying charges to get involved. These cups might also include even more familiar names, such as those of NASCAR, yet some are devoted to other motorists who are taken into consideration much more skilled. | <urn:uuid:ad3e6956-50db-4bfe-abf7-87b0e3c552ce> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://creativedesignsbybecky.com/2021/10/20/things-you-ought-to-understand-about-stock-car-automobile-racing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.98125 | 1,426 | 2.28125 | 2 |
According to Julie Nolan, science teacher and ecology club director at Harrison High School in Harrison, what being environmentally friendly does mean is making a conscious effort to understand how the Earth is affected by consumer choices and how tweaking a few of those detrimental habits can have a huge impact on the environment.
Everyone thinks that you have to do everything right to be an environmentally friendly person, Nolan says. I disagree, because even one small step to help the environment matters. You do not have to be a vegetarian, drive a [Toyota] Prius and join PETA to be environmentally friendly.
Nolan says she tries to communicate to her students the importance of understanding their actions and how even one small green change can affect the environment, but its hard to get her environmental message through to them for one simple reason: state-mandated testing.
Teachers are forced to focus on the material that is on the State Proficiency and Ohio Graduation Tests, and as a result the practical, useful information is getting left by the wayside, Nolan says. Ohio has put so much emphasis on these tests that they are creating a generation of students who are disconnected from nature and the environment.
Connie Brockman, education and visitor services director of the Cincinnati Nature Center agrees that communicating about the environment is harder in todays society.
A few years ago, a Roper study indicated that while people seem to be increasingly concerned about the environment, they are not well informed about environmental issues, Brockman says. One of the reasons might be that environmental education is not mandatory in most schools and people are getting their information from informal sources that might not be accurate.
Brockman says that even though it is increasingly difficult to communicate to the community about the environment, people need to be aware of the environment for their own benefit.
People must learn about the environment for their own survival, Brockman says. We cant trust that that someone else is looking out for our wellbeing. Each of us must take personal responsibility to learn about and make the right choices to move us toward a greener, healthier society.
After the choice is made to begin living a more eco-friendly life, switching, according to Nolan and Brockman, can begin with a few easy steps:
The Organics Have It
Purchasing organic food, produce grown three years without the application of synthetic pesticides or chemicals or livestock raised on organic feedstuffs for at least a year, is a step in the right direction.
I buy almost all organic food, with the exception of some favorite junk food items, Nolan says. It (organic food) is better for you the soil and water and with regards to agriculture, the person working in the fields.
Nolan recommends taking the time to look at the local grocery store to see what organic foods are available.
The Green House Effect
Maintaining an environmentally friendly environment around the house can start with avoiding pesticides in the home and yard, making the house as energy efficient as possible and recycling.
And according to Brockman bringing the green feeling into the home, can also leave a person with a sense of pride in her efforts.
I am fortunate to have almost four acres of land, and Ive worked hard to create (in her yard) a certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation, Brockman says. I feel a great deal of responsibility and compassion for the plants and animals with whom I share the land. Stewardship is a deeply moving experience, and Im grateful for a little piece of land to protect and cherish.
Become an Advocate
Working to spread the word about the environment can fall under a broad spectrum of actions from voting for candidates with environmental platforms, purchasing from companies that are making environmental choices, supporting environmentally friendly non-profits and communicating environmental issues with children.
Nolan, who has two nieces, understands the importance of providing a message to children outside of school. Kids will live what theyre taught. If they are taught to respect the environment, it will simply become a part of who they are and they wont consider doing things any other way, she says.
All Talk Leads to All Play
Brockman encourages people who are trying to become more environmentally friendly to get out and experience the fruits of their labor.
All people, especially children, benefit physically, emotionally and intellectually from frequent contact with nature, Brockman says. She added that at the Cincinnati Nature Center guests can benefit, all year round, from the 20 miles of trails on 1,600 acres for hiking and viewing wildlife.
While Nolan understands that changing to an environmentally friendly lifestyle can be intimidating, she continues to encourage people to at least try. Give yourself credit for the changes you make, she says. You dont have to try to do everything overnight.
And as Kermit the Frog says, Being green isnt easy. But, according to Nolan and Brockman, it doesnt have to be difficult. | <urn:uuid:73c66543-b3e6-4d92-8a44-0ed477505c67> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.cincychic.com/featured/031207feature | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.95959 | 1,009 | 3.453125 | 3 |
If you are a professional in an emerging industry, like gaming, data science, cloud computing, digital marketing etc., that has promising career opportunities, this is your chance to be featured in #CareerKiPaathshaala. Fill up this form today!
In this inspiring video, Nandita Das shares her beliefs about inclusion, compassion, and leaving behind a better world for our children.
We cannot bridge gaps unless we are aware of them. In this inspiring video, Nandita Das shares her beliefs about inclusion, compassion, and leaving behind a better world for our children.
When speaking of Nandita Das, the things that come to mind are her critically acclaimed films, impressive roles, and dusky beauty. But on India’s first award winning online talk show, Chai with Lakshmi, you discover more about this amazing actress: you discover her views on inclusion.
“I think inclusivity… will inspire a more humane and compassionate society,” says Nandita Das. She talks about attitudes towards skin colour and how important it is for her as a mother to have her 3 year old son grow up in a compassionate society – one that is inclusive.
The actor and social activist talks about how she is using cinema – for example her directorial debut Firaaq – and theatre – for example, ‘Between the Lines’ – to inspire conversation about the gaps that exist in Indian society. “When you work with the marginalized community, the idea is not to keep them in that cocoon, the idea is to make them… a part of an active society,” says Nandita as she sips chai. In the interview, she goes on to talk about her support for The India Inclusion Summit and how she believes it can help in facilitating inclusion for persons with disability in the nation, and acknowledge existing efforts of the same.
This is a video you don’t want to miss!
An award-winning online talk show featuring people and ideas positively shaping India for the future. Anchored by Lakshmi Rebecca. Produced by Red Bangle. This show is over 120 episodes and 2.8 million views read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Stop pretending that arranged marriage is one big fairy tale. That’s the Sooraj Barjatya school of thought that looks great on celluloid, but not so much in real life.
Dear Sima aunty,
Some shows are ‘so bad, they are so good’. The newest season of Indian Matchmaking falls in this category and is my latest cringe-binge. You must wonder why I feel that way.
Let me start with an example. Our families always encouraged us to score a hundred in academics. No one, not even our most chilled-out relatives, would tell us that scoring a sixty or a seventy was okay. We belong to that tribe of high-achieving women, who do nothing half-heartedly. Why do you go about advising, ‘Everything no one will get. Even sixty-seventy percent is good.’
Gender stereotypes, though a by-product of the patriarchal society that we have always lived in, are now so intricately woven into our conditioning that despite our progressive thinking, we are unable to break free from them.
Repeatedly crossing, while on my morning walk ̶ a sticky, vine-coloured patch on the walkway, painted by jamuns that have fallen from the jamun tree, crushed by the impact of their fall, and perhaps, inadvertently trampled upon by walkers, awakens memories of the mulberry tree that stood in my parents’ house when I was growing up. Right at the entrance of the house, the tree caused a similar red and violet chaos on the floor, which greeted us each time we entered the gate.
Today, as I walked by this red-violet patch, I was reminded of an incident that my mother had narrated to me several times. It had taken place shortly after her marriage and her arrival in this house from her hometown. | <urn:uuid:c9160dce-5d95-41ba-9c36-0abc53a7833a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.womensweb.in/2014/06/nandita-das-supports-inclusion-do-you-video/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.960385 | 884 | 1.632813 | 2 |
“Reincarnation doesn’t help you if in your next incarnation you still don’t know who you are.”
The wonderful teachings and books of Eckhart Tolle will help you get to know how your mind works and become clearer about your life’s purpose. Eckhart teaches us that awakening to a higher consciousness is not something out of our reach or something to gain after many lifetimes, but finds place in being present in this very moment.
I think the Buddhist philosophy connects very wel with the teachings of Eckhart Tolle. His clear instructions of how to be present can be of enormous help with your meditation practice.
He also emphasizes the importance of being silent. The following beautiful quote on meditation and silence I heard from a teacher in Nepal: “Silence is not the absence of sound; silence is a peaceful mind.” | <urn:uuid:057b15e6-b078-4723-8d43-1d6648df12e2> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.tibetan-buddhist-art.com/eckhart-tolle/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.929605 | 202 | 1.914063 | 2 |
Singapore still the best place in the world to do business while UK languishes in 21st place - behind France...
Singapore has retained its title as the best place in the world to do business for the seventh consecutive year, according to research.
The tiny sovereign city-state came top out of 82 countries on the list compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The UK fared less well but inched up one spot from last year to 21st on the list, just below Malaysia, Austria and France.
According to the EIU report, Singapore owes its position at the top to its 'efficient, open economy', which placed it ahead of Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong and Sweden respectively in the top five.
Money talks: Singapore has retained its title as the best place in the world to do business for the seventh consecutive year, according to new research
EIU global analyst Mike Jakeman said: 'Singapore is consistently near the top - or at the top - of our rankings. The economy is open and efficient, and it is close proximity to several other excellent places to do business, which means that policymakers are incentivised to keep making improvements.
'There are domestic challenges - such as maintaining the right balance between local and foreign workers - and its political system is far from a true democracy, but we still believe it is the most straightforward place to do business.'
The US made it into the top 10 in seventh spot ahead of Denmark, New Zealand and Finland, although it was beaten to sixth position by Canada.
The EIU rankings are based on a number of factors, including political climate, taxes, labour market and infrastructure, as well as a country's openness to foreign investment.
Outranked: The UK didn't fare quite so well on the list, although it did inch up one spot from last year to 21st on the list, just below Malaysia, Austria and France
Mr Jakeman conceded that Britain's position on the list was disappointing: 'At 21st, the UK is ranked behind Malaysia, Chile and Taiwan, which looks disappointing for a wealthy, liberal democracy.
'The UK is held back by the disappointing performance of the economy since the global financial crisis. The stronger performance over the past year ought to augur well for the UK in next year's ranking.
'We also see the difficulties of a complex tax system, a congested transport network, the threat from international terrorists and the prospect of worsening international relations - especially if the current anti-EU feeling continues.'
BRIC countries, meanwhile, languished in the bottom half of this year's rankings, with Brazil and India at 47th and 48th place respectively, while China placed 50th on the list, with Russia at 64th.
At the bottom of list was Libya, just behind Iran, Angola and Venezuela.
Most watched Money videos
- BMW selling features of its car as separate subscriptions
- The fastest car ever could be yours next year, if you can afford it
- German car giant BMW launches its first ever M3 Touring model
- Ford unveils 2,000bhp electric Supervan its fastest transit yet
- Michael Schumacher's undefeated 1998 Ferrari is to be auctioned
- McMurtry fan car sets new Goodwood Hill record as fastest car
- Volkswagen previews EV saloon that will go into production next year
- German start-up Sono Motors unveils solar powered electric car
- New £400k electric Rolls-Royce Spectre snapped testing in France
- Take a look at the all-new Vauxhall Astra in action
- Porsche Taycan Turbo S sets a Nurburgring record for an electric car
- Mini Aceman: All-electric crossover due to go on sale in 2024 | <urn:uuid:0000ba68-750b-47b3-9499-27efc54d4a5e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2842260/Singapore-best-place-world-business-seventh-consecutive-year-UK-languishes-21st-place.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.953885 | 766 | 1.671875 | 2 |
You’re excited about your new job. You want to make an impact. You hit the ground running.
Over time, you build new relationships, deliver good results, and make a name for yourself.
A few weeks pass.
Weeks become months.
Months become years.
You grow comfortable.
If you see yourself or a colleague falling into the comfort zone, perhaps it’s time to do what all true achievers do:
Proactively Chose to Move Out of Their Comfort Zone & Break the Cycle
Why would you possibly do this? After all, it can be risky, takes work, and you might mess up.
Well, here are 3 reasons to give it a try…
1. Deliver New Results.
Achieving better results, requires a change in human behavior. In other words, it you want to achieve something new, you better step out of your comfort zone and start doing some new things. This isn’t a wildly new concept, but it is often forgotten.
Remember what Albert Einstein said..
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. – Albert Einstein
2. Keep Work Interesting
Most organizations are looking for marathon runners. These people are great long-term contributors who remain loyal to the organization for years. The problem with marathons is they can become boring. They are monotonous.
Most true achievers struggle with monotony.
To be effective, true achievers embrace the practice of both marathoners and sprinters. Yes, they are committed for the long-term, but they remain interested by running multiple sprints along the way. They take on new projects, tackle new challenges, and strive to move a key metric every quarter.
3. Maintain Brain Plasticity
Our brains have the ability to change physically, chemically, and functionally – but, you have to use it or lose it. Children can quickly learn new things; however, as we age we often lose much of this ability. It’s much easier to learn a new language at 3 years old than when you are 50. It’s not impossible at 50, but it’s arguably much harder.
Sometimes, you need to break the cycle.
If you haven’t heard of him, let me introduce you to Destin Sandlin. He’s a rocket engineer and creator of the Smarter Every Day video series.
My colleague, Josh Chase, introduced me to Destin’s work.
One of his videos teaches all about brain plasticity in which he truly breaks the cycle.
In his situation, he breaks a bicycle! | <urn:uuid:cb648fe3-2b3e-4c2d-a4d0-df9e812081d5> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.daedalus.co.in/the-one-thing-that-all-true-achievers-do/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572286.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816090541-20220816120541-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.946968 | 555 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
Sen. Chris Dodd wrote about the need for health reform in an op-ed published in a Connecticut newspaper.
"Health care costs are rising faster than our economy is growing, crushing family budgets and businesses alike," Dodd wrote.
"This week, we learned that 62 percent of all personal bankruptcies were caused by medical problems," he added.
Dodd correctly cites a number from a study published in the American Journal of Medicine. The report states without reservation, "Using a conservative definition, 62.1 percent of all bankruptcies in 2007 were medical."
But that's not the end of the story.
We first looked at this issue back in 2007, when then-Sen. Hillary Clinton used 2001 data from the same authors to claim that half of bankruptcies had medical causes. The authors include David Himmelstein of Harvard Medical School and Elizabeth Warren of Harvard Law School.
In our article about Clinton's claim, we noted that only 28.3 percent of bankruptcies were attributed to illness or injury alone. That number grew to 46.2 percent when researchers asked about additional factors such as unpaid medical bills, lost income due to illness, or the mortgage of a home to pay medical bills.
In the most recent data, questions were asked slightly differently. But 29 percent of respondents attributed their bankruptcy to medical bills from illness or injury. Asked another way, 32.1 percent said a medical problem suffered by themselves or their spouse caused the bankruptcy. The number rose to 62 percent when people were asked if medical-related issues such as unpaid medical bills, lost income due to illness, or the mortgage of a home to pay medical bills contributed to their bankruptcy.
Between 2001 and 2007, Congress overhauled the rules for bankruptcy, making the process more complicated. This drove down the number of overall bankruptcy filings. So the absolute numbers of medical bankruptcies is lower as well. The study doesn't give absolute numbers, so we did the math for you, using the studies' percentages and data from the American Bankruptcy Institute. In 2001, consumer filings were 1.45 million, so medical bankruptcies would have been 670,837 cases. In 2007, consumer bankruptcies were 822,590, so medical bankruptcies would have been 510,828.
The authors say that the legislation didn't affect their findings: "New restrictions fall equally on medical and nonmedical bankruptcies, with no preferences for medical debts or sick debtors." That's true, but it's also true that the legislation created a sharp decline in bankruptcy filings. It seems to us that it's possible the legislation deterred bankruptcy so that only people who were really desperate for relief from their debts would file. This could conceivably drive up the proportion of people who filed due to unexpected illness. So we wonder if the 62 percent number is higher because fewer people filed. (For more detail on this issue, check out the economics blogger Megan McCardle of The Atlantic , who has criticized the most recent study.)
We should also note that the study appeared in a peer-reviewed journal, but two of the authors belong to the group Physicians for a National Health Program, a group that advocates for a universal, single-payer health program.
Finally, we feel another study is worth mentioning that complicates the definition of medical bankruptcies. Ning Zhu of the University of California, Davis, has a 2008 draft study analyzing bankruptcies filed in Delaware in 2003. He found that overspending on household expenditures such as houses and automobiles contributed significantly to bankruptcy filings. His data show that the overspending made people more likely to file for bankruptcy after an illness.
That may sound like a "no duh" conclusion, but it raises questions about medical bankruptcies and how they are defined. If people overspend so much that they need everything to go right to meet their financial obligations, and then they get sick, should those bankruptcies properly be categorized as medical bankruptcies? We're not suggesting there's an easy answer here, but it does make the category of "medical bankruptcy" a good bit more complicated.
The statistic that we think is most reliable is the percentage of people who say medical bills were the reason for their bankruptcy, and that number is 29 percent. The 2007 study uses a broader definition to conclude that 62.1 percent of all bankruptcies have medical-related causes. Dodd is citing that number correctly. But we find that percentage questionable because it reflects a broad definition of medical issues that contribute to bankruptcy. We rate his statement Half True.
The American Journal of Medicine, Medical Bankruptcy in the United States, 2007: Results of a National Study , June 4, 2009
Sen. Chris Dodd, President, New Energy Bodes Well For Health Care Changes , June 8, 2009
PolitiFact.com, A broad definition of "medical bills," Sept. 18, 2007
Health Affairs, Illness and Injury as Contributors to Bankruptcy, Feb. 2, 2005
American Bankruptcy Institute, Annual business and non-business filings by year, 1980-2008
Ning Zhu, Household Consumption and Personal Bankruptcy , September 2008
Megan McCardle of The Atlantic, Elizabeth Warren and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Utterly Misleading Bankruptcy Study , June 4, 2009
Megan McCardle of The Atlantic, Why Warren's New Bankruptcy Study is So Bad , June 5, 2009
Read About Our Process
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. | <urn:uuid:23961a5d-d801-447a-9e3b-4fee7ba3bea9> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2009/jun/11/chris-dodd/medical-bankruptcy-study-not-clear-cut/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.964856 | 1,173 | 1.992188 | 2 |
Theory behind this project
Another weekend project that I’ve been working on is Wake-up light. Lately I’ve been doing more research on sleep phases and how to “hack” your brain to wake-up more refreshed and adjust your sleep cycle. There are many studies out there explaining this and providing scientific evidence, so if this is something you are interested in, I encourage you to go and get more detailed information on this subject. However I won’t go into too much detail, I’ll just try to give very simple explanation: When you sleep, you are either in REM or deep sleep (NREM) phase. When you wake up in REM phase you feel fresh, relaxed and full of energy. When you are woken up during the deep sleep phase, you feel like you’ve just been hit by a bus, and you take long time to actually wake up.
All life evolved in response to predictable patterns of light and darkness, called circadian rhythms. Modern day electrical lighting has significantly betrayed your inner clock by disrupting your natural rhythms. Little bits of light pass directly through your optic nerve to your hypothalamus, which controls your biological clock. Light signals your brain that it’s time to wake up and starts preparing your body for ACTION. [source]
Problem is that when you set your alarm clock to 6:15, your smartphone is probably not meant to be the device that knows when is the optimal time to wake you up, it will ring at 6:15 no matter if you are in REM or NREM phase.
So for me I’ve found that solution for this problem is not the smart sophisticated one, it’s actually a very simple one.
Here is how it works: Device can control light source and also allows you to set up the alarm. When you set up the alarm to wake you up at 6:00 AM, the device will actually start turning on that light source very very gently and will take anywhere from 30min to 60 minutes to go from off state to full on. While light is in transition for those 60 minutes, you will also eventually transition into a REM phase and your optic nerve will register that there is light in the room and that is time to wake up. This way you will wake up feeling more fresh and be ready for a new day.
How to make it
For this project we will need a small microcontroller, LED strip and RTC (real time clock) for time keeping and 12V DC power supply.
I’ve selected PIC12F1822 as my weapon of choice, it’s very tiny but it has everything that we need for this project and I had it laying around. Also we need a warm white LED strip, power MOSFET for turning on the LED strip and also a RTC chip for time keeping.
Let’s start with briefly explaining the schematic:
J1 is your +12V DC connector that will provide power to the system and also LED strip.
J2 is connector for your warm white LED strip.
MOSFET Q1 is used for switching the LED strip
U3 is a LDO to regulate voltage from 12V down to 5V.
U2 is RTC chip that has 32.768KHz crystal and also is backed up with CR2032 battery to maintain time keeping when power is off.
U1 is our PIC that uses I2C to communicate with RTC, continuously comparing current time with previously set alarm time, and if the current time is X minutes before the target alarm, it will start to provide PWM output on the RA0 pin, slowly turning on LED strip from completely off to full on in ~60 minutes.
There is also UART communication between PIC and HC-05 module that can be used for setting up current time or setting up alarm time and tweaking light turn on speed (this is optional).
Also we can use RTC’s SQW output pin to generate heartbeat signal or to acknowledge that configuration has been stored.
Now let’s go to the firmware part:
Firmware in this project is pretty straight forward, MCU pools current time from the RTC over I2C in predefined intervals. When MCU compares current time with set alarm time and detect that we are 60 minutes away from target, it enters another loop where it will increase the duty cycle of the PWM output on RA0 by 1, sleep for x seconds and then repeat until PWM duty cycle is 100%. When PWM reaches maximum, it will stay in that state until button is pressed.
For communicating with the device we will use UART. We can send when do we want to be waken up, how long should it take from lights off to full on and also how long before target time should we start turning on the light.
If you are curious to see more how this project works or you want to build this project for yourself, all source files, instructions and everything else that you need to build this project yourself, it’s available to you on my GitHub page. | <urn:uuid:1710c688-3a2f-4273-a574-116cbbd0066c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://sasakaranovic.com/blog/diy-wake-up-light-wake-up-easily-and-well-rested/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.939077 | 1,060 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Genre: Historical Fiction
Length: 368 pages
Audiobook Length: 11 hours and 29 minutes
First Published: 2014
The epic, unforgettable story of a man determined to protect the woman he loves from the town desperate to destroy her—this beautiful and devastating debut heralds the arrival of a major new voice in fiction.
Ephram Jennings has never forgotten the beautiful girl with the long braids running through the piney woods of Liberty, their small East Texas town. Young Ruby, “the kind of pretty it hurt to look at,” has suffered beyond imagining, so as soon as she can, she flees suffocating Liberty for the bright pull of 1950s New York. Ruby quickly winds her way into the ripe center of the city–the darkened piano bars and hidden alleyways of the Village–all the while hoping for a glimpse of the red hair and green eyes of her mother. When a telegram from her cousin forces her to return home, thirty-year-old Ruby Bell finds herself reliving the devastating violence of her girlhood. With the terrifying realization that she might not be strong enough to fight her way back out again, Ruby struggles to survive her memories of the town’s dark past. Meanwhile, Ephram must choose between loyalty to the sister who raised him and the chance for a life with the woman he has loved since he was a boy.
Full of life, exquisitely written, and suffused with the pastoral beauty of the rural South, Ruby is a transcendent novel of passion and courage. This wondrous page-turner rushes through the red dust and gossip of Main Street, to the pit fire where men swill bootleg outside Bloom’s Juke, to Celia Jennings’s kitchen where a cake is being made, yolk by yolk, that Ephram will use to try to begin again with Ruby. Utterly transfixing, with unforgettable characters, riveting suspense, and breathtaking, luminous prose, Ruby offers an unflinching portrait of man’s dark acts and the promise of the redemptive power of love.
Quotes from Ruby
Ruby knew then that a lie could only control a person if they believed it.
Hope was a dangerous thing, something best squashed before it became contagious.
Maybe crazy was a cold you caught.
If you brave enough to live it, the least I can do is listen.
About Cynthia Bond
Cynthia Bond is the author of the bestselling novel, Ruby. She is currently working on the second book in the Ruby Trilogy. She grew up in East Texas and currently lives in Los Angeles. Visit the author’s website → | <urn:uuid:455ed606-2b5d-4d34-8177-78888afff0d8> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.booklistqueen.com/ruby-cynthia-bond/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.951814 | 559 | 1.539063 | 2 |
by C.A. Chandraprema
The emergence of yet another major Covid cluster in Divulapitiya is food for thought. While the entire world seemed to have lost control over the spread of Covid-19, Sri Lanka seemed to have brought it under control until this latest outbreak. Even this latest cluster though the largest by our standards, is nothing compared to what most other countries including highly developed countries with much smaller populations have been experiencing. There is little doubt that Sri Lanka will bring this cluster under control as it did the previous ones. There is no such thing as eradicating this disease which has no cure. All that one can do is to have a successful firefighting mechanism which is capable of containing any outbreaks. The Kandakadu cluster came as an unpleasant surprise just like the present one, but it was successfully contained.
At no point were we ever rid of Covid-19 completely. When the number of local patients declines, the repatriation of expatriate workers from overseas commences and every planeload brings new Covid-19 patients into the country. Hence the emergence of new clusters is something that has to be expected. Even countries like China and New Zealand which had established control over Covid-19 very early on, experienced the emergence of new clusters which they had to put a cap on. Before the emergence of the Divulapitiya cluster, people had begun relaxing to an extent that would seem to be inviting disaster. We seemed to be fiddling while the entire world burned all around us.
We were watching the news bulletins announcing new outbreaks throughout the western world and in parts of Asia which exceeded even the first wave experienced in those countries and yet going about our work as if nothing was wrong. The Divulapitiya cluster was perhaps a much needed reality check, to put the whole country on alert once again. One international personality who said, based on studies carried out, that this could be a three to four year pandemic, was Michael Moore the documentary film producer. Unless a vaccine is developed before that, this pandemic seems set to continue for quite some time more.
We are now nearing the first anniversary of the first outbreak of Covid-19 in Wuhan China and nowhere near developing a vaccine for the disease. One thing that can be said for certain is that the Covid-19 pandemic is going to be very different to previous outbreaks of viral dieseases like the SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak of 2003, or even the AH1N1 pandemic of 2010. Of these SARS was just a blip on the radar which affected only a few countries. AH1N1 was far more widespread – perhaps as pervasive as Covid-19 but the number of fatalities it caused was negligible by Covid-19 standards. As a disease, Covid-19 is nowhere near as fearsome as was the Ebola hemorrhagic fever which was also a viral disease with a fatality rate that could be as high as 90%. Yet with the number of Covid-19 deaths worldwide topping over a million, it cannot be ignored as a case of the ‘sniffles’ either. In actual fact most people are still unclear as to extent to which they should be concerned. If this had been a disease like Ebola, what we would be living through would effectively be the end of the world and people would have been in a state of blind panic.
Wake up call
But what we see now happening with regard to Covid-19 is whole countries and populations alternating between concern and indifference. One thing that the entire world seems to have decided on is that there will be no more complete shut downs as was imposed in March and April this year during the early stages of this pandemic. Such shutdowns were impractical and in the circumstances, only helps to suppress the spread of the disease for a while and it resurfaces the moment the shut down is lifted. The only alternative appears what countries like Vietnam and Sri Lanka have been doing, isolation of cases, localized shutdowns where necessary, restrictions on gatherings, imposing face mask and hand washing regulations and contact tracing. If this cannot be done in a particular country, perhaps the only other alternative is to try to go about your day to day work and hope for the best as countries like the USA and Brazil seem to be doing.
The approach being tried by the USA and Brazil was tried out in its classic purity by Sweden which never had shutdowns or mandatory face masks or total restrictions on gatherings. At one point, even the wearing of face masks was discouraged by Sweden on the grounds that it would cause unnecessary panic. Today, Sweden which has less than half the Sri Lankan population has over 95,000 recorded cases and nearly 6,000 deaths. Swedish levels of infection and mortality would have caused the government to fall in Sri Lanka but the Swedes seem to be taking it with stoic indifference. There was much criticism of President Trump for having left hospital without being completely cured of Covid-19 and taking his mask off to address the media, but perhaps in those countries, there’s no alternative but to put on a brave face and weather the storm as best as one can.
Throughout the West there have been protests against any move to reimpose shutdowns. A phenomenon aptly termed ‘Covid-19 fatigue’ is setting in throughout the world. Indeed the same can be said about Sri Lanka. Despite the horrific stories that one hears about the rate of infections and fatalities in other countries, people are becoming less and less amenable to Covid-19 routines such as wearing face masks and washing hands. In most establishments in Sri Lanka, the sinks and soap have been replaced by hand sanitizers as most customers show little inclination to go through the hassle of washing one’s hands before entering an office or a shop. As of this moment, the entire world is actually veering in the direction of countries like Sweden, USA and Brazil except perhaps countries like Sri Lanka which have hit upon an alternative way of dealing with the problem.
Finally we may well end up dealing with Covid-19 the way the world dealt with the Spanish flu over a century ago – by basically ignoring it and allowing those who die to die and hope for the best. As a result of that attitude, the economic impact of the Spanish flu was not as severe as one would think, even though that pandemic killed millions worldwide. The attitudes that we are seeing towards death in countries like Sweden, the USA and Brazil are very different to the attitudes that prevailed in the West just a decade or two ago. In the old days, if a 98-year old person died in a hospital, his relatives would file a medical negligence suit claiming that his dearly beloved great great grandpa would still have been alive if not for someone’s negligence. Things came to such a pass that in some countries insurance companies refused to insure medical professionals against medical negligence claims and governments had to consider laws limiting the maximum payout that can be obtained from a medical negligence suit. After the end of the cold war and the emergence of a unipolar Western dominated world, the West suffered a serious loss of commonsense.
Damages could be claimed for the most ridiculous causes. This writer is aware of an instance in a western country where a man jumped out of a moving train just as it was coming to a stop at a station as we see so many passengers doing in Sri Lanka on a daily basis. One would think that if anyone is injured after jumping off a moving train without waiting a few seconds for it to come to a halt, one has to bear the consequences of one’s actions. But not in the West. In the instance mentioned, the passenger sued the railway company saying that he jumped out only because it was possible to do so. That was the West just a few years ago. In recent years this snowflake culture in the west developed to untenable levels with just a word being considered a threat and the victim needing counseling or medication to get over the stress of being called a name. But today people are dying like flies in the West and one would expect a flood of litigation bigger than the Asian tsunami of 2004, but we see nothing of the kind. The West is taking the damage from Covid-19 with third world levels of resignation. Perhaps this is nature’s way of correcting attitudes.
Face to face with reality
Covid-19 has brought home to the Western world the realities of life and how. It’s tempting to hope that this new found realization of practical limitations, of one’s own mortality and vulnerability of what is possible and impossible, will lead to a more realistic approach to the rest of the world. At one point some theorists in the West were advocating R2P (the right to protect), a doctrine formulated to enable the West to intervene even militarily in any country on the pretext of protecting its population or a part of its population from its own government. One Western leader who realized that this involvement in dozens of conflicts around the world with little or no understanding of what they were doing, was sapping the strength of the West was Donald Trump. He has been taking concrete steps to extricate the USA from interminable and unwinnable wars all around the world. The realization of limitations on the political and military front go together with a similar realization on the economic front.
Indeed it could be said that the realization of these realities predated Covid-19 – the election of Donald Trump in 2016 symbolized that trend. Covid-19 only been a kind of coup d’ grace in this whole process. The changes in the world economy now taking place due to Covid-19 actually began before Covid-19 appeared on the scene. Unbridled economic globalization was proving to be untenable. In the US, companies selling goods in the American market would relocate overseas to cut costs and increase profits and import into the USA what once used to be produced within the USA. Its not that these companies were making losses when they were producing within the USA, but they could make greater profits when they relocated to other countries with cheaper labour costs and cheaper inputs. Thus we saw globalization being driven by an international kleptrocracy that had no loyalty to any nation or anybody except the profit motive. The Americans within this kelptocracy had no regard to the fact that relocating production facilities overseas were depriving Americans of their jobs.
No regard was paid to the question as to how Americans were supposed to purchase the goods that were being imported if a good part of the population did not have an income to pay for those goods. After about two decades or more of unbridled globalization, countries like the USA were looking for a reset, which Trump provided in 2016. So even before Covid-19 appeared on the scene, a turning inwards was becoming apparent throughout the world, most conspicuously in the USA and Britain. Suddenly, ideas like Sovereignty, borders, national security, national economy had once again become fashionable. Now Covid-19 has made that trend a necessity. People have learned the hard way how disruptive over dependence on imports can be in certain situations.
Even before Covid-19 hit SL, we had certain priorities dictated not so much by economic reasons as by political ones. There was a need to generate more job opportunities locally. There was a need to cut down on imports and to produce such goods locally whenever possible so as to conserve foreign exchange. There was a need to limit our dependence on certain overseas markets. All these have been made even more necessary by the pandemic. There will be restrictions on the number of Sri Lankans who can be employed abroad as the economies of all countries shrink and the volume of world trade contracts. Quite a number of those already employed are likely to lose their jobs and return to Sri Lanka which makes it imperative that job opportunities are created locally for these people.
Making room for a reset
The decline in foreign exchange earnings will have to be met by limiting imports which also works in favour of the above mentioned objective of creating more employment by producing such goods locally. Over the past four decades or so, both political parties have had policies trending in this direction to a greater or lesser extent. The UNP of J.R.Jayewardene despite its open economy orientation still gave priority to the local production of rice through projects like the Accelerated Mahaweli Programme. They also tried to get local sugar production going by earmarking the Moneragala district for sugar cane cultivation and setting up the Pelwatte Sugar factory. The sugar produced by this new factory was sold on the local market for slightly above the world market price with the then UNP government imposing a tax on imported sugar to make Pelwatte sugar viable on the local market. The UNP of J.R.Jayewardene was a development oriented party and in the 1980s, they were sneeringly called the ‘Sanwardhanas’ because of their emphasis on economic development.
However, after the mid-1990s the UNP completely lost its development orientation and became a mouthpiece for NGOs. It came to such a pass that the UNP government stored paddy from a bumper harvest in the Mattala airport to make fun of the bumper harvest as well as the airport. It’s very unlikely that JRJ would have reacted to a bumper paddy harvest in that manner. During his time, he even participated in the traditional wap magula ceremonies, getting into the paddy field barebodied and in a sarong like the farmers. Now, due to Covid-19, and the economic and political changes that had been taking place in the world before Covid-19, we have once again come to an era where the prime need of the country is to promote local production, to create new avenues of income for the people and generate jobs locally for the youth entering the labour market every year.
For Sri Lanka, the need for an economic reset that has been made necessary by Covid-19 is actually an opportunity to make a change of course that was becoming necessary due to political circumstances. Making such a change of course when things are normal both domestically and internationally is difficult because the disruption caused generates stresses and resentment. Now however with the entire world in turmoil, and the domestic economy also thrown into disarray due to circumstances beyond the control of the government, it’s easier to change course with minimal political fallout.
- News Advertiesment
See Kapruka’s top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Flowers, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka’s unique online services such as Money Remittence,News, Courier/Delivery, Food Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka.
JVP Select Committee member alleges Indian hand in Easter Sunday blasts
Party leaders in parliament have asked the government several times to table it in the House but the government has not yet done so. We heard the media spokesperson of the Attorney General stating on TV that the Attorney General too has not yet received the report. Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith says that he too has not received a copy yet. The President is keeping the most important commission report of his life to himself. We believe that people have the right to know what’s in it and it should be released. There is a yet-to-be-identified force behind the Easter attacks.
by Saman Indrajith
JVP Central Committee and Politburo member and former Kalutara District MP, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, says that it was India’s Research and Analysis Wing who masterminded the Easter Sunday terror attacks and there was no substantial evidence to prove any ISIS link to the Zahran Hashim’s group that carried out the attack.
The final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday attacks should clear this situation. If not, the government cannot escape the blame of a cover-up, Dr Jayatissa said in an interview with The Sunday Island.
Q: The final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday attacks was handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. While the government keeps on saying that it would be released, the opposition keeps on demanding to see it. You were a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that investigated the issue. The PCoI took a longer time than PSC to complete the investigation. Do you think that PCoI report may at least identify those truly responsible for the heinous crime that killed 268 and wounded more than 500?
The report yet to be released is that of the most important PCoI that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had appointed. It is the most important because the Easter Sunday carnage was the event that brought him to politics. He was not looking to come into active politics before that. That incident helped them to come to power. They came to power promising to probe the Easter Sunday terror attacks and punish those responsible. There had been lot of difficulties and limits to the PSC probe. Those now in the SLPP were then in the United Opposition and they boycotted the PSC. They created many obstructions. They even shouted that we should not summon intelligence and military officers saying that our action would result in exposing those officers’ identities and put them in danger.
But the PCoI did not have such limits. They summoned more officers of both intelligence agencies and security establishments and some of them later gave TV interviews too. However, in our investigation we identified who had failed to prevent the terror attack and why and how such extremist groups came into existence in this country. We think that a PCoI should do better than a PSC because all intelligence officers, CID and Terrorist Investigation Division officers, came before the PCoI and testified. We hope that the PCoI report will expose who was actually behind the terror attacks other than Zahran and his colleagues who exploded themselves. Otherwise the report will not have anything new.
This report would be different and unique only if it exposes who were really behind Zahran’s group. The PCoI report was handed over to President Rajapaksa on Feb 1. Thereafter three cabinet meetings have been held but yet the report has not been placed before the Cabinet. We do not accept the excuse that it’s too large a report to be submitted to the Cabinet. That’s a lame excuse.
Party leaders in parliament have asked the government several times to table it in the House but the government has not yet done so. We heard the media spokesperson of the Attorney General stating on TV that the Attorney General too has not yet received the report. Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith says that he too has not received a copy yet. The president is keeping the most important commission report of his life to himself. We believe that people have the right to know what’s in it and it should be released. There is a yet-to-be-identified force behind the Easter attacks.
We heard former CID Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne saying in his testimony that there must be someone above Zahran Hashim who masterminded the attack. SSP Shani Abeysekera was the Director CID at the time of the Easter Sunday attack and was also the first officer tasked with conducting the investigations. He has said that Zahran was not the mastermind because the leader of a terrorist group has never been a suicide bomber blasting himself in any terrorist attack anywhere in the world. So the President is bound by the responsibility of revealing the true mastermind in this incident.
Q: Investigators are of the opinion that the Easter Sunday attacks had the support of a foreign force. Do you also think so?
I saw on TV last week MP Dilan Perera, who is a senior of the SLFP and a former minister, stating that there was direct or indirect involvement of India behind the Easter Sunday attacks. I consider it a serious statement. If a government MP says that India was behind the attacks, then there should be some basis for his statement. Apart from that, there is other information promoting the same suspicion being discussed in society. There are reasons for that. It was Indian intelligence who provided the first piece of comprehensive information about the attack weeks prior to that incident. Their information said that the Indian High Commission in Colombo was also one of the targets.
Yet it was revealed at the PSC that the Indian High Commission never asked for additional security despite the threat. It was also revealed at the PSC that no additional security has been accorded to the Indian Defense Secretary who had suddenly visited Sri Lanka for a one-day visit on April 08, 2019. Those who were involved in this attack had not been to Middle Eastern or other countries where ISIS had a presence. They had only been to India. In addition, Zahran’s group did not have an armoury. There was a stock of weapons that was found at Wanathavillu. A detonator with the least capacity had been used for the test explosion of a motorcycle at Kattankudy four days before the Easter Sunday attacks.
It was a weapon that had been taken away in Oct, 2018 from Vavunathivu that was later used to shoot at Kabir Hashim’s secretary at Kegalle in March 2019, five months later. That shows that the Zahran’s group did not have explosives or firearms in large quantity as it is in the case of a terror group. Even after the terror attacks, the CID or any other security agency has not been able to find any armoury belonging to them until now. Even in the PCoI facts had been revealed about the hotel rooms and banquet halls that had been hired by the Zahran’s group but no revelations about any weapons or explosives. So a group which possesses very little fire power carries out terrorist attacks exploding eight very powerful bombs resulting in such a loss. Then there should be another force behind them to supply what was used. In the subsequent Sainthamaruthu attack, 16 persons were killed. Pualsthini Rajendran alias Sarah Jasmine, who survived that attack, fled to India by a boat from Mannar. However, we have not yet seen the Sri Lankan government asking from India to extradite her despite the fact that she has lot of important information.
Indian National Security Advisor Ajith Doval visited this country and then its foreign minister Jaishankar visited Sri Lanka but not on any of those occasions had our government asked India to hand over Sarah to our investigators. President Rajapaksa soon after his election visited India. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa conducted many zoom and video call conferences with his Indian counterpart Modi. We can also see the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo playing a very influential political role. But we have not seen the Lankan government asking India to hand over Sarah to our investigators. Not even the PCoI asked for her.
As we know, Zahran’s wife had told the PCoI that Sarah knew more about the dealings of the Zahran group than she because Sarah was the wife of the suicide bomber who had attacked the St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya. When this question was posed to Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera recently, he replied that before asking for the extradition, we must make sure that Sarah was still alive and DNA testing on Sarah was still being done. That is not true because giving evidence before the PCoI on July 21, 2020 the then Ampara SSP Samantha Wijesekera testified that they conducted DNA tests on those who had been killed at Sainthamaruthu but Sarah was not among the dead.
Sarah’s mother giving evidence before PCoI stated on July 25, 2020 that Sarah did not die but fled. There is no need to conduct DNA or delay. The Public Security Minister’s position is only a part of a campaign to cover up for Sarah who knows India’s involvement. It is further established when former Minister Dilan Perera clearly stated that India was behind the Easter Sunday attacks.
Q: None who attended the PSC mentioned any Indian involvement. Testimony of some of those who gave evidence before the PSC was taken in camera. Has anyone testified before the PSC of any Indian involvement?
No. It is Dilan Perera’s recent statement on TV that said so clearly in public. But anyone can guess that an Islamic outfit of the size and capabilities of Zahran’s group alone cannot organize a series of terror attacks of this nature. They had the backing of a force which had access to high powered explosives, intelligence and technology. It is up to the President or the PCoI to reveal the real perpetrators. If the upcoming report too says that there were security lapses because of the rivalry between Ranil Wickremesinghe and Maithriapala Sirisena, and that Hemasiri Fernando and Pujith Jayasundera could not prevent the attacks even with information in their hands, then it is clear that the government wants to protect the real culprits of this crime.
Q: Suppose that theory of Indian connection is true. Then how could it be viewed against what we are seeing today in politics where Indian involvements in the Colombo port and many other places in the country have raised many concerns?
Actually this incident has more political repercussions than military or security issues. From 2008 to 2015 China established its presence in the Indian Ocean. It acquired Port City, CICT terminal, six acres of land next to the Colombo Harbour and involved itself in development projects. China included Sri Lanka in its One Belt One Road program. This raised concerns of not only India but also of the US. They wanted to send Mahinda Rajapaksa home and did so. Mahinda Rajapaksa himself told Port unionists that it was India that sent him home in 2015. However, his successor Wickremesinghe-Sirisena government too did not deliver the expected results. That was why India got its intelligence to mastermind the Easter Sunday attacks.
A march, a tweet, some angst and mild sabre-rattling
by Malinda Seneviratne
If something deserves to be called ‘Event of the Week’ it would be the ‘Pothuvil to Poligandy (P2P) March’ which ended on Sunday, February 7. At the end of the march there were around 2,000 people. Most significantly, it was an event that saw the participation of both Tamils and Muslims. The basic differences in grievances were obviously negated by a felt need to be united against, let’s say, a perceived common enemy, the Government to some, ‘Sinhala Chauvinism’ to others.
It marked also, as D B S Jeyaraj has mentioned in his weekly column, a return of sorts to non-violent protests. Now it is not that all Tamil and Political action was violent. There have been all kinds of non-violent protests even during the conflict. However, this was a sustained, determined and even colorful affirmation of a politics that harked back to a different time. ‘The Satyagraha of 1961,’ is what Jeyaraj was reminded of. There are two interesting statements that are related to this march. First we had the government withdrawing STF security assigned to TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran. Sumanthiran retorted, ‘if something happens to me the Government will be held responsible.’ Now the agitation of the man does seem misplaced considering that he was involved in a five-day march (ok, he may not have be ‘on the moving spot’ all five days, but still! Was he not worried about security? Also, Sumanthiran has openly supported the LTTE, indulged heavily in Eelam-speak as well as celebration of the terrorists. He would do well to reflect on the fate of others who came before who did the very same thing, especially the leader of the TULF, Appapillai Amirthalingam. Amirthalingam spouted rhetoric which was like an endless nutritional feed to extremism. The beast, in his insatiable hunger, at one point did much more than bite the hand that fed it. One hopes that things don’t snowball to a repeat of all that, but Sumanthiran, having seen what happens to hands thrust into fires ought to keep his in his pockets. Nevertheless, withdrawing security granted on a threat perception is an overreaction.The second is a hilarious tweet from the tweet-happiest diplomat in Colombo, Alaina B Teplitz: ‘#Peacefulprotests is an important right in any #democracy and significant, legitimate concerns should be heard. I saw Tamil media coverage of the march from Pottuvil to Point Pedro and wondered why it was not more widely covered by Colombo-based media?’She has a point. The English, Sinhala and Tamil media have different preferences that have little to do with newsworthiness. Perhaps it is all about the target audience; after all there’s a reason why entertainment value has framed reporting and presentation, why sensationalism has become an important driver and so on. This holds for different media houses as well; owners have agendas. Nevertheless, there is a serious problem if matters of political significance are down-played or ignored altogether, one has to question the sense of responsibility of the particular media institutions.On the other hand, we cannot ignore the ‘Season of Vexatious Persecution’ (i.e. the annual human rights circus in Geneva) which is all about whipping things up from December to February. Now it could be a coincidence that P2P was organized at this particular moment, but few will buy it considering the personalities involved and their political history. The Teplitz tweet only serves to add credence to the view that this was just another side show of the above mentioned circus. The tweet also indicates an important fact: Teplitz is running out of slogans. Before we get to that, let’s have a say on the key words — the hash tagged ‘peaceful protests,’ ‘democracy’ and ‘legitimate concerns.’ It is downright laughable for a US diplomat to talk about such things given that country’s absolute rubbishing of such things, domestically and internationally. That aside, there’s the fact that Teplitz has been pained to the point that she has to whine about media coverage. Is it that a pet project directly or indirectly sponsored, planned and executed, didn’t move as many Tamils and Muslims as was envisaged? We didn’t hear Muslim and Tamil leaders complaining about news coverage. Have they deferred that kind of task to Teplitz? If that’s the case, who is the pawn or who are the pawns here? Is it Teplitz? Are they Tamil and Muslim leaders who in their wisdom believe that the best bet to get grievances, real or imagined, sorted and aspirations, reasonable or outrageous, fulfilled is to support the US in securing strategic objectives in Sri Lanka? If such happens (not a certainty, certainly) do they believe they’ll get some crumbs off the table? And what does all this have to say about the agency of Tamil and Muslim citizens? Are they too pawns? Indeed, are all peoples of all communities pawns in games where they are sacrificed at will? Jeyaraj sees in P2P ‘a remarkable show of solidarity and unity’ between the Tamil and Muslim communities. He does exaggerate about the numbers (tens of thousands, he says) and deliberately introduces the ‘Tamil-speaking’ qualifier which Tamil nationalists have often used to rope in rhetorically ‘The Muslims’ to their various political projects. Jeyaraj remembers 1961 but has forgotten the late eighties when M H M Ashraff (in)famously stated that even if Prabhakaran abandons Eelam, he would not. He dialed down the rhetoric over the next decade, but what did Prabhakaran do to the (Tamil-speaking) Muslims, has Jeyaraj forgotten? The LTTE ethnically cleansed the Jaffna Peninsula of Muslims. The LTTE turned one in ten Muslims into refugees, slaughtering dozens, driving them off their homes, seizing properties etc. Muslim leaders cannot pretend to be unaware of that history. Muslim Affairs, if you will, featured in other ways over the week. Recently returned to Parliament, Ven Athureliye Rathana Thero presented a private member’s bill to repeal the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act. Justice Minister Ali Sabry who prior to entering Parliament championed the notion ‘One Country, One Law,’ responded by saying ‘steps are being taken to amend the Muslim Laws and that a Cabinet Paper had already been presented in that regard.’Elaborating, Sabry said that the Cabinet Paper sought to amend the minimum marriageable age of Muslim girls to 18, to permit women to act as Kathis and also to make it necessary to get the consent of Muslim women when they get married.That’s it? That makes it ‘One Country, One Law’? Sabry must do a serious rethink on what he says and does and the meaning of the terms he uses (so loosely!).
He is correct when he says that ‘if the personal laws were to be abolished, all the personal laws such as Muslim Laws, Kandyan law and Thesawalamai Law should be abolished altogether.’ ‘Through a social discussion,’ he adds. There’s been enough social discussion, he knows this. One-country-one-law would certainly call for abolishing all customary laws. His concern seems to be limited to correcting existing laws that privilege Muslim men over Muslim women. That’s not even scratching the surface of the problem though!
Here are a question for Sabry: Are there plans to abolish polygamy (can’t have it for some and not others, no?)? Here’s another: The Special Parliamentary Committee on Extremism appointed by the previous administration presented a report in February 2020 recommending extensive measures with respect to Muslim laws as well as ‘educational’ institutions — have you read it? Are you in agreement? If so, what have you done so far? Are you planning to defer everything to the experts tasked to draft a new constitution? What are those experts doing by the way? When will we see a draft? And finally, what exactly do you understand by ‘One country, one law’? Let’s have some answers, please.
This week also saw Wimal Weerawansa making some news. He openly advocated a prominent and even principal role for Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the SLPP leadership. He was taken on by the General Secretary of the SLPP, Sagara Kariyawasam who questioned Wimal’s rights to talk of the SLPP since he’s not a member. Wimal retorted that people in the SLPP talk of other parties. Sagara wondered what Wimal’s fate would be had he and his party contested independently. Wimal pointed out that Sagara, a national list MP, hadn’t even contested.
Light banter at best. Some sections of the Opposition have salivated, naturally. They believe and talk of ‘a rift!’ in the Rajapaksa camp, friction between the brothers (Wimal’s antipathies to Basil being well known).Too early to conclude such of course, but as debating points go, both Wimal and Sagara have scored. What this ‘scoring’ says about the future of the SLPP is of course left to be seen. There’s bound to be differences of opinion in any political coalition. If everyone was on the same page there wouldn’t be a coalition in the first place. You win some, you lose some — this is something that junior or weaker partners know very well (ask Prof Tissa Vitarana of the LSSP).
The so-called ‘smaller parties’ did make a lot of noise regarding the East Container Terminal issue. It seems, as of now, that the ‘big party’ listened. Whether they’ll still have the ‘big ear’ regarding the West Container Terminal is left to be seen. On the other hand, we know the story about the dog and the tail, no offense to canines or tails.
Politicians and political parties are about power and about elections. If, for example, Champika Ranawaka and the Jathika Hela Urumaya, having broken ranks with the UPFA decided to go it alone and not join the UNP-led coalition as they did, where would Ranawaka be today, one might ask. Indeed is it not such questions that persuaded him to resign from the JHU and become a 100% SJBer, one could also ask. There are no elections in sight, but when they do come around, all parties big and small will revisit ‘coalition’ and calculate the impact of decisions (and rhetoric) on electability.
For now, though, noises can and will be made. The likes of Wimal would have to pick their battles and select decibel levels. That said, his point about the distance between president and parliament on account of political sway within the party is valid. It goes without saying that the effectiveness of a program sometimes comes down to parliamentary weight which of course can be deployed best if the executive has a degree of control. The President either doesn’t have it or cannot count on it or imagines he doesn’t need it. He could ask his brothers, both veterans in this respect. That however might mean give-and-take, if we were to believe the notion that the brothers are bound by blood but not about vision.
India, meanwhile, is not happy, going by statements issued regarding the East Container Terminal. India cannot be happy about the ‘Chinese Footprint’ whose size was considerably expanded by the previous government by virtually handing over the Hambantota Port to China. India cannot be happy about energy projects given to the Chinese. India cannot be happy about the scheduled visit by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and MoUs that are said to be signed and/or renewed.
India speaks of Sri Lanka ‘reneging’ on an MoU. However, India forgets that MoUs are not exactly agreements, signed after crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s. They are by definition non-binding and amenable to change. Circumstances can change and changing circumstances have to be taken into account.
If an agreement causes political instability it would be foolish for a government to go ahead with it. If, prior to inking an agreement, one party (India in this case) stands with a country that seems hell bent on bullying Sri Lanka (the USA in this case), then it would be silly for that party to assume that the counterpart be oblivious to such developments. If one party has in the part ‘reneged’ (as India has with respect to the Indo-Lanka Accord which from the get-go was a product of shamelessness bullying and moreover was heavily slanted in India’s favor), then that party should be careful before using the word.
And on the subject of ‘foreign affairs,’ we have Dinesh Gunawardena claiming that Sri Lanka is not afraid of the soon to be tabled resolution in Geneva. There are 47 members in the Human Rights Council (HRC). The Minister of Foreign Affairs cannot be saying ‘the majority are with us.’ The brave words could probably mean ‘we expect this, we know the consequences, we know it’s the work of nations wallowing in a cesspool of bias, we know that they’re hinting at sanctions, we know what the UN itself has found out about the impact of sanctions in other countries, especially Venezuela in recent times, we know there’s talk of taking things to the General Assembly and then the Security Council, we know who our friends are and more importantly who our enemies are, and we know what it takes to secure sovereignty to the extent possible.’ Dinesh Gunawardena might not elaborate in the above manner. After all, he is required to be ‘diplomatic’ although he is not averse to calling a spade a spade. ‘Geneva’ is just over a week from now. A resolution is likely to be tabled. It is likely that it will be passed. Most importantly, it will show us what India’s ‘neighborhood first’ foreign policy is really about.
Dayan Jayatilleka and the Opposition Reset
Hobbes and Locke:
When both the Sinhala Alt-Right and neoliberal Right start attacking you, you know you’re occupying a centrist moral high ground. Appointing Dr Dayan Jayatilleka as the Samagi Jana Balavegaya’s Senior International Relations Advisor – no Junior Advisor as of yet – portends, I think, a world of possibility, for an Opposition bruised and battered by a quarter-century of self-manslaughter. The appointment as it stands doesn’t really amount to much, unless you place it in its proper context: what we have is a key theoretician, the only theoretician who can pose a credible enough challenge to what the government is doing. I do not necessarily agree with everything he has said and written over the last few months, but I do agree that the Opposition needs a radical reset. And it’s becoming more and more clear that the man best capable of handling the surgery to see that through is Dr Jayatilleka.
The problem with the SJB is that it is acting more and more like a many-headed hydra facing a rapacious but determined behemoth. To match the behemoth, the Opposition must meet it headfirst; it must critique the state’s more questionable actions while matching its better ideals. In three areas it should seek to go beyond the UNP’s paradigm: domestic economics, foreign relations, and the constitution. It’s no coincidence that Dr Jayatilleka’s critique of the government rests on these three areas, and it’s no coincidence that it’s from those vantage points that his critics – from BOTH the Alt-Right and the neoliberal Right – continue to attack and denigrate him. The first strategy must therefore be to purge the Opposition, not in the old authoritarian sense, but in the sense of removing remnants of what Dr Jayatilleka calls Ranilism: that failed neoliberal, anti-Presidential yahapalanist policy.
The yahapalana neoliberal project failed, but not because Sri Lankans are averse to a liberal polity. It all depends on what kind of liberal policies the yahapalana government was trying to dish out. At the centre of its project was a fatal disjuncture between its populist roots and its avowed policy of “liberalising and globalising” (Mangala Samaraweera, Budget Speech 2017). People voted for a social market economy; what they got was anything but. In other words the yahapalanists failed to reconcile the timeless rift between social liberalism (with its emphasis on state interventionism) and economic liberalism (with its emphasis on the rollback of the state). High on principles, and lofty ones, it floundered. For that reason, we cannot go back to 2015. We should not try to do so.
Given this, how should the SJB craft its policies in those areas? On the domestic economic front, the SJB must abandon, totally and considerably, that earlier policy of liberalising and globalising. It must think of production, since the biggest, most persistent problem facing this country’s economy today is its absence of a proper manufacturing base. It cannot hope to achieve this with piecemeal solutions; there must be state intervention, what Dr Dayan calls “a new, New Deal, Rooseveltian-Keynesian.” I am no economist, so I can’t really detail the specifics of this new New Deal. I do know, however, what it should not be: the old UNP-yahapalanist neoliberal paradigm. The new policy must be progressive, state-led though not state-monopolised, and driven by local manufacture.
Of course, in all fairness to Dr Jayatilleka, I should point out that this may not necessarily be what he has in mind or what he advocates. That is why I disagree with him when he ponders the impracticality of import controls, since local production requires “imported inputs, while a middle-class society in an MDG country, cannot sustain itself without imported consumer goods, including essentials.” Far from being a minus point against restrictions, I believe the very fact that we import consumer goods, even for local production, necessitates a cohesive substitution strategy that, while directed by the state, should be phased out.
On the foreign policy front, relations with India must be patched up immediately, while the anti-China lobby must be discouraged. To be fair by the current regime, notwithstanding the anti-Indian comments of certain Ministers it has more or less attempted to stick to its “India First” policy, even attempting the impossible: the lease-out of the East Coast Terminal to an Indian investor in the teeth of opposition from the government’s own ranks.
I don’t think it feasible or advisable, however, for the regime to have gone to such lengths to prove its India First credentials, and to Dr Dayan’s credit he critiques it extensively as well: it will, he observes, antagonise China, forcing it to try leaving behind a bigger footprint on the country. Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar’s interlude with Tony Blinken makes it clear that Indo-US ties will only strengthen across the board against the China Factor under the new administration in Washington. Sri Lanka simply cannot afford to ignore this, but then it must not use geopolitical imperatives to go overboard when dealing with neighbours.
A clear consensus has arisen, especially among the hardliners in the regime and nationalists within the Opposition, that the ECT deal should not have gone ahead. Dr Dayan is agreed on this point, but to what extent is the Opposition in the SJB also agreed to it? We’re getting mixed signals from Sajith Premadasa’s party. Symbolically enough the tweets and messages congratulating the government vis-à-vis the ECT deal have been, not from any government figure, but from the Opposition. The SJB has mostly tilted between reluctant acquiescence (they were with the UNP when the agreement was drafted, after all) and hysterical rhetoric (Harin Fernando’s claim that the Adanis to whom the ECT was leased will take business from Sri Lanka to a port they have developed in Mundra, a claim that was shown to be untrue by N. Sathya Moorthy in a report on the deal). This is not how it should be.
The ECT deal, however, isn’t all there is to what course Sri Lanka should take regarding its foreign policy. Another issue is Geneva, the UNHRC bomb. Dr Jayatilleka is adamantly of the belief that inasmuch as the government blundered by withdrawing from Resolution 30/1, it was the yahapalana regime’s fault for cosponsoring it in the first place.
This runs counter to elements within the UNP and even SJB that still view Resolution 30/1 as a foreign policy success; Harsha de Silva’s lengthy though well detailed speech in parliament two months ago on the question of the government’s foreign policy did the rounds in every quarter, but then ended up referring to the March 2015 Geneva session on a positive note. Not so, Dr Jayatilleka warned not too long afterwards: any reform-and-reset program in the Opposition must let go of the belief that Resolution 30/1 was a success, and recognise it for the unmitigated disaster it was.
On the constitution front, the way forward for the Opposition seems clear: it must abandon any rhetoric of getting rid of the Executive Presidency. For Dr Jayatilleka, the problem with the 20th Amendment isn’t so much the fact that it restores the Presidency as it is the degree to which it entrenches it. There is a clear difference: the objective of any practical-minded and national Opposition, he implies, must be, not to throw the baby out with the bathwater, but to retain the baby sans the bathwater. Ergo, constitutional reforms must a) not abolish or substantively reduce the powers of the EP, and b) go as far as permissible and practical vis-à-vis devolution of power, within and not beyond the 13th Amendment.
Sri Lanka’s political landscape, as it rests, is occupied by Lockean liberals and Hobbesian sovereigntists. The former are high on ideals, low on execution, while the latter are all for execution, not so much for ideals. To take a middle-ground between these two must be the aim of every self-respecting Opposition, and it seems as though Dr Jayatilleka has, despite my reservations with some of his policy recommendations, got it. We need an alternative to both neoliberal think-tanks and ultranationalist-technocratic fora. I believe the SJB has what it takes to go beyond its neoliberal roots, though I fear I’ll be proven wrong.
The solutions to Sri Lanka’s predicament must come from a left-of-centre, even Marxist, position; I believe in taking the latter course, but I also know what is practical and what is not, at least in Sri Lanka. The SJB does not stand out as a Marxist party, but then nor does the SLPP. Yet it must adroitly escape its neoliberal past, and for that, Dr Jayatilleka’s policy recommendations must be, if not unanimously, then at least considerably endorsed by the upper echelons of the party. I mean not just Sajith Premadasa, but also Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne, Buddhika Pathirana, Rajitha Senaratne, and Ajith Perera.
These ex-UNPers must realise that the old centre-right neoliberal paradigm no longer works. They must realise, in what they say and what they do, that such a paradigm must never be tried or tested out again. If getting the SJB and its officials to undergo this radical reset is all he does, I believe Dr Jayatilleka will have done his part. To reiterate yet again: there must be a purge, so that the SJB doesn’t end up as GR Lite or, worse, UNP Lite.
The writer can be reached at email@example.com | <urn:uuid:a1b8b72c-b3b1-45b2-86a8-0380ca62b76d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://islandtest.lankapanel.net/covid-19-sls-future/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.973931 | 10,744 | 2.15625 | 2 |
This poster shows three different map views of the water table as well as information about how the maps were made, how the depth to water table changes with seasons and climate, and how the water table affects use and disposal of water. The map views are of depth to the water table, water-table elevation (similar to topography), and water-table gradient (related to water flow velocity).
University of Delaware
Delaware Geological Survey Building
Newark, DE 19716
Mon - Fri; 8:00am to 4:30pm | <urn:uuid:13d06b3a-20cb-4849-b46a-6a8ed1a99c88> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.dgs.udel.edu/publications/sp27-water-table-inland-bays-watershed-delaware | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.898174 | 143 | 2.671875 | 3 |
January 4, 2013, DURHAM, NC – PlotWatt, the Durham-based technology company that provides energy management solutions to quick serve restaurant (QSR) released new energy management tools optimized for Dunkin’ Donuts in the latest version of its software product.
Using patent-pending technology which computes itemized appliance-level energy consumption of all major electrical appliances without attached appliance-level hardware, PlotWatt has taken their knowledge base of Dunkin’ Donuts’ operations to the next level by including operating guides in its software technology. “We’ve been working with various Dunkin’ operators for more than a year, and in that time have been able to develop specific operating guidelines based on individual location business cycles”, commented Luke Fishback, CEO of PlotWatt. “The objective of these new tools is to allow Dunkin’ operators to significantly cut their monthly energy usage, thereby reducing a significant driver of operating costs, and making each location much more energy efficient”, said Fishback.
“Some of our Dunkin’ operators have seen reductions in excess of 4,000 kilowatt hours per month,” commented Marc Bodner, Director of Sales at PlotWatt. “However, beyond that, each of these operators has commented more on the ability to run their store in a more efficient manner, including personnel management. PlotWatt has helped them deliver a more pleasing customer experience in addition to a more profitable and energy efficient store”.
PlotWatt’s technology allows for total electrical energy use monitoring and scheduling enabling customers to drive greater operational efficiency and increase operating margins. Software based, PlotWatt has an ROI that is less than 12 months in most installations.
PlotWatt is a technology company that helps multi-location businesses and homeowners save money by reducing energy bills and improving appliance management. The company, headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, was founded in 2008. As winners of the 2011 GE Ecomagination challenge and recipients of over $4 Million in grants, prizes and investment the PlotWatt team of scientists, mathematicians and software engineers is committed to finding simple, low cost ways to save you money on energy bills. | <urn:uuid:67e8a108-d2e9-48c3-b258-0836c299dcb2> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://ddifo.org/plotwatt-releases-energy-management-performance-guides-specific-to-dunkin-donut-operators/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.94342 | 466 | 1.65625 | 2 |
6 million home Wi-Fi routers are vulnerable to hacking. We share how to protect your network with these top three firewall capabilities.
Is SD WAN better for the cloud? If applications or data are hosted in the cloud, it offers lower costs, increased bandwidth and availability, higher app performance and easier network management.
How is your firewall holding up? Ask yourself these 5 questions to reveal whether your firewall is handling the pressures of the new normal.
SonicWall, Starcom’s firewall partner, has recently released its 2020 Cyber Threat Report. Download from SonicWall and read here.
Misconfiguration causes 95% of all firewall breaches. But, configuring a firewall requires precise planning and an accurate workflow – would you know where to start?
There may be a simple answer to a slow network. How does a firewall affect ping and how can you alleviate any delays it may cause to connection speed?
Firewalls prevent internet-based threats from reaching your web servers and network. Although they can keep unwanted visitors out, they won’t actually disarm threats.
An intrusion attack is not the same as a firewall breach – it’s committed by and undertaken within your own private network. We answer key FAQs here.
Your first line of technical defence – your firewall – needs to be strong, resiliant and robust. Firewalls: back to basics has all the information you need.
Happy Halloween! We have tales of violent machinery, creepy coincidences and dangerous back up systems to scare you. | <urn:uuid:1b320a3b-d460-4e8e-a423-45cd7f6eb647> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://starcom.node4.co.uk/category/network/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.918847 | 313 | 2.234375 | 2 |
Many people have become considering online dating, sometimes of these information might great shock you. One of the alarming is the fact half of each and every one women and fourty percent of men make up their account information. Additionally they lie about their job descriptions and apply pictures of themselves every time they were smaller. Some people have sex prove first day Armenian Mail Order Brides: The Perfect Life Partners following meeting on an online dating site! There are numerous factors that influence if someone will like you, but you should be aware of the following:
A large number of people believe that they will discover love through online dating. Although this is not usually the case, many online daters do think that love is known as a possibility. Research shows that one 6th of all committed relationships commence on line. While the bulk of men and women don’t pace online dating very as a place for offline affairs, these types of statistics are generally not necessarily not so good news. Online dating may even lead to a booming marriage. Yet , there are risks and hazards to internet dating, as with any other form of online dating.
One of the most challenging facts about online dating is that 2 million first of all dates happen daily. Yet , the number of initially dates is significantly higher than you might think. As per to Google, people search for online dating daily on their mobile phones, with searches increasing 200% year above year. Furthermore, 36% of people declare to splitting up because of their looks. Online dating services has made it easier for same-sex lovers to meet and get married, when nearly 77% of LGBT couples achieved through internet dating.
Another difficult fact about online dating is that one in three girls have had sexual at the Internet prior to meeting their partner. This kind of statistic is far more shocking than most people may well expect, but it really is true! Many people don’t know much about online dating. After all, they’re simply starting out on a dating web page, so there isn’t a point in having to worry too much about this. So , keep reading to find out more stunning facts about online dating!
Despite the fact that millions of people join seeing websites each year, most of these persons don’t have a clue about how online dating actually works. That they rely on elegant legends, word-of-mouth reports, and convincing advertising to make their particular decision. If you would like to maximize your chances of finding absolutely adore online, the facts about internet dating are essential. It will probably ensure that you make the best choice and minimize any kind of risks engaged.
In terms of male or female, online dating has become the most popular way to meet up with a partner. However , it is important to understand that even though many people still meet their partner offline, they can be still probably to have a marriage offline. Yet , the figures don’t lie; 5 percent of married people met their particular partner on line. In fact , the quantity of people who reached their partner online has increased from 2 percent in 2006 to six percent by simply 2010! These are shocking particulars about online dating, nonetheless they’re nevertheless interesting!
Being among the most shocking info about online dating, it turns out that individuals from all of the walks of life apply these websites to get a partner. According to the Kaspersky protection firm, the average associated with online daters is 33 years old! In addition , 63% of people who use online dating sites are solo professionals, meaning that they’re not likely to find absolutely adore in their local area. For these reasons, various people use online dating to further improve their going out with prospects.
Fortunately, the majority of people who have use online dating sites have done hence in a safe and secure manner. Yet, you should always make use of sound judgment and follow safeness guidelines. Although online dating may be risky, it is worth attempting, because the majority of people who apply it have done hence without event. And remember: if you’re still apprehensive, there’s no cause to look alone. If you’re looking for love or just a great time, there’s a internet site out there for yourself. There are hundreds of strategies to make online dating services work for you!
Regardless of how you use online dating sites, the benefits even outweigh any kind of disadvantages. Raising one is the time-saving factor. When you are dating online, you are able to assess a person based on their looks and features, and not prove background, or perhaps personality traits. The effect? You don’t spend time in someone an individual even value. Furthermore, you are able to date a couple of people at once. Ultimately, online dating sites is an excellent approach to find a absolutely adore partner and a lifetime companion. | <urn:uuid:dd3db346-0117-4646-9bbe-ab5306090643> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.goodnews963.com/2021/11/worrying-facts-about-internet-dating/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.961713 | 986 | 1.742188 | 2 |
It is not known where or when it was discovered that the lodestone (a magnetized mineral composed of an iron oxide) aligns itself in a north-south direction, as does a piece of iron that has been magnetized by contact with a lodestone. Neither is it known where or when marine navigators first utilized these discoveries. Plausible records indicate that the Chinese were using the magnetic compass around 1100, western Europeans by 1187, Arabs by 1220, and Scandinavians by 1300. The device could have originated in each of these groups, or it could have been passed from one to the others. All of them had been making long voyages, relying on steady winds to guide them and sightings of the sun or a familiar star to inform them of any change. When the magnetic compass was introduced, it probably was used merely to check the direction of the wind when clouds obscured the sky.
The first mariner’s compass may have consisted of a magnetized needle attached to a wooden splinter or a reed floating on water in a bowl. In a later version the needle was pivoted near its centre on a pin fixed to the bottom of the bowl. By the 13th century a card bearing a painted wind rose was mounted on the needle; the navigator could then simply read his heading from the card. So familiar has this combination become that it is called the compass, although that word originally signified the division of the horizon. The suspension of the compass bowl in gimbals (originally used to keep lamps upright on tossing ships) was first mentioned in 1537.
On early compass cards the north point was emphasized by a broad spearhead and the letter T for “tramontana ,” the name given to the north wind. About 1490 a combination of these evolved into the fleur-de-lis, still almost universally used. The east point, pointing toward the Holy Land, was marked with a cross; the ornament into which this cross developed continued on British compass cards well into the 19th century. The use of 32 points by sailors of northern Europe, usually attributed to Flemish compass makers, is mentioned by Geoffrey Chaucer in his Treatise on the Astrolabe (1391). It also has been said that the navigators of Amalfi, Italy, first expanded the number of compass points to 32, and they may have been the first to attach the card to the needle.
During the 15th century it became apparent that the compass needle did not point true north from all locations but made an angle with the local meridian. This phenomenon was originally called by seamen the “northeasting” of the needle but is now called the “variation” or “declination.” For a time, compass makers in northern countries mounted the needle askew on the card so that the fleur-de-lis indicated true north when the needle pointed to magnetic north. This practice died out about 1700 because it succeeded only for short voyages near the place where the compass was made. It caused confusion and difficulty on longer trips, especially in crossing the Atlantic to the American coast, where the declination was west instead of east as in Europe. The declination in a given location varies over time. For example, in northern Europe in the 16th century the magnetic north pole was east of true geographic north; in subsequent centuries it has drifted to the west. | <urn:uuid:b0afa803-f82f-456e-972f-3bfe3122a33c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.cogandgalley.com/2009/12/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.977994 | 703 | 3.953125 | 4 |
Lately I’ve been rather obsessed with embellishing candles, so I’m sure it’ll come as no surprise to anyone at all that I decided to combine that with my love for Valentine’s Day and make a heart themed candle this week for the occasion! Check out how I made this easy DIY Valentine’s Day Candle right here!
Check out these step by step instructions complete with photos. If you’d rather follow along with a video tutorial instead of written words, scroll to the bottom of this post to find just what you’re looking for.
For this project, you’ll need:
- A candle
- Red felt
- Hot glue
- A pencil
- A lighter
Step 1: materials
Gather your materials together and place them all in front of you!
Step 2: draw the heart
In the bottom right corner of your red felt, draw the shape of a heart! I made mine about an inch tall by an inch wide at its widest point, where the two rounded shapes sit at the top. I did my best to keep the sides even and symmetrical even though I was drawing the shape freehand. Cut your heart out and set it aside for the moment.
Step 3: wrap the yarn
Yarn wrap the middle of your candle! Instead of using the hot glue to anchor the tip of my yarn for wrapping (most kinds of glue won’t stick very well to wax because of its texture), I used my lighter to melt the wax a little in the spot where I wanted to stick the end down. Heat the wax and then carefully press the end of your string into the melted wax and let it dry there; drying in place will probably only take a few seconds. Make sure you orient the end so it follows along the surface of the candle horizontally. Then start wrapping the yarn or string around the candle, lining each new layer of yarn up flush with the wrap before it so it lays flat but also spirals up the candle’s surface. I wrapped about an inch and a half of my candle’s middle. Bring your yarn back around to where you started and trim it so your ends line up on the same side, giving your candle a “back”, which you’ll face away when you put it on display layer. Trim the yarn. Carefully use your lighter to melt a spot in the wax again right above your yarn wrapping, sticking your newly trimmed end down as close to your wrapped spot as possible but without burning it. Let that dry in place too and then turn the candle around so you can work with the opposite side or the front.
Step 4: glue the heart
Apply a dot of hot glue in the centre top of your yarn wrapped section around the middle of your candle. Stick your red felt heart down here; I placed mine so that its two top rounded shapes rise above the wrapped yarn a little bit.
Step 5: make and add the bow
Use your string or yarn to make a little bow! I did this by pulling out a section of string about three inches long, curling the free end inwards into a loop so it crosses over itself with the tip pointing downwards, and then curling the other side in as well in the opposite direction, trimming a new free end that’s even with the first. Knot the two loops around each other to tie the bow shape in place, kind of like you’re using the “bunny ears method” for tying your shoelaces. Next, apply a dot of glue to the back side of the bow you just made and stick it down at the bottom of your heart, right at its pointed tip.
That’s really all there is to it! Feel free to get creative with the kind and colour of yarn or felt that you use. Just in case you’d like to try this project out for yourself, here’s a fantastic tutorial video to help you! | <urn:uuid:753f5111-2e46-4c19-833c-7de9b6965391> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.diys.com/diy-valentines-day-candle/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.918239 | 835 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Once the succession of Tibetan Gurus and disciples had reached significant proportions, it became popular custom to represent such spiritual genealogies in the form of a cosmic tree uniting all the saints, buddhas and deities of the order concerned.
This thangka shows the refuge tree of the Tibetan Buddhist Sakyapa lineage with the historical Buddha Shakyamuni in the center.
Rising out of the cosmic waters with the world mountain Sumeru, the tree, which is in blossom, is guarded by a lot of protectors of the Teaching [lowest row], which belongs to the Kagyupa Pantheon.
he painting shoes four sections of saints, Buddhas and goddesses:
The Sakya (Tibetan: ས་སྐྱ་, Wylie: sa skya, "pale earth") school is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug. It is one of the Red Hat Orders along with the Nyingma and Kagyu.
|1. Lamas of Kagyu lineage|
|2. Lamas of other lineages|
|3. Yidams and|
|Measurements:||53.1 x 82.7" | 135 x 210 cm|
|Shipment:||Parcel Service from Germany or Nepal|
|Material:||Natural Stone Colors|
|High resolution:||Display [4.6 MB, 2532 x 3696 px.]| | <urn:uuid:0b260b0d-8137-45f7-8de1-a1117984c282> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://thangka.de/Gallery-1/otherbuddhas/3-60/vajradhara.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.840583 | 354 | 2.1875 | 2 |
Rats are accountable for the transmission of many diseases. Dead rats are a bigger nuisance. The droppings of rats indicate a healthy, feeding rat population. They leave dirt or grease marks along floorboards and walls. Removing rats from your basement, walls, and attics by DIY method could be a mess.
It is better to call professional wildlife services like rodent pest control Brisbane when you are unsure. Mice dwell in burrows found in drain covers and grassy embankments at the edges of paving and beneath the roots of trees.
A foul odour can make your living situation unbearable, causing overall unpleasantness. To immediately get rid of the carcass, call dead rodent removal Brisbane, who can remove the bodies quickly.
As per 24 hour rat control Brisbane, decaying bodies can become a breeding ground for flies if not disposed of properly. The problem exacerbates when they give birth to larvae that spread quickly throughout your home.
Parasites on dead rats search for their next living, compatible host like your pet. The pathogens in their bodies may infect you and cause diseases like Hantavirus, tularemia, and leptospirosis. To avoid any unwanted problem, let professionals handle it.
To clean your home of dead rat carcasses, you need a legitimate cleanup process. However, you can try DIYs, like proper hygiene precautions with rubber gloves and a mask. Sterile and strong solutions help destroy germs and bacteria. Make sure to scrub, disinfect, and deodorize all spaces in your home and wash away your clothes to eliminate any lingering bacteria.
Professionals can sanitize your home with the best equipment and thereby prevent rats from spreading germs. They also make sure no odour, nesting materials, or faecal matter is left in your home.
Rats- a cause of worry
One of the most alarming pests in the world, rats, contaminate food and harm human health.
Roof rats or black rats build nests above ground and inhabit trees, shrubs, and dense vegetation. Rats prefer elevated places like walls, cabinets, sheetrock ceilings, and attics. They enter homes through trees close to eaves or windows in warmer climates.
Rats are larger than mice. Nonetheless, both rodents can chew through hard, wooden surfaces. The teeth marks of rats are larger than those of mice.
Rat pest control detects them in gardens and fields and beneath trash, building foundations, or woodpiles. They use fibrous materials like cloth and shredded paper to build their nests.
Diseases Directly and Indirectly Transmitted by Rats
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
- Rat-bite Fever
- Colorado Tick Fever
- Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Why should rat removal be a priority?
With their large teeth, they administer painful bites. They lunge and bite to defend themselves. Rat-bite victims may contract rat-bite fever. They are also vulnerable to tetanus infections.
Pain, redness, swelling around the bite is the most common symptoms of a rat bite. Pus-filled wounds take place in case of secondary infection. Other symptoms are associated with bacterial infections known as streptobacillary rat-bite fever or spirillary rat-bite fever.
Vomiting, muscle ache, fever, joint pain, headache, and rash are common symptoms of streptobacillary rat-bite fever. Symptoms may develop after 3-10 days from when a person gets an infected rat bite.
Signs of spirillary rat-bite fever may alter from case to case. Swelling, repetitive fever, rash, an ulcer at the site of the bite, and swollen lymph nodes may develop one to three weeks after.
Nonetheless, rats and mice are very rarely infected with rabies. It hardly transmits the disease to humans.
Rat bites could be deep or shallow. It may give rise to multiple abrasions or single puncture wounds. Victims may bleed. Rodent bites should be promptly cleaned and disinfected with Tetanus immunization. Infections are rare, though.
Dead rats generate a foul smell. It could be difficult for you to dispose of their bodies. Search for mice removal near me to get a quick solution. Professionals use a dead rat odour eliminator and ask persons bitten by a rat to seek a medical professional. | <urn:uuid:439a1457-bbb2-493d-812d-abc3c6e86fff> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.ratpestcontrolbrisbane.com.au/tag/dead-rodent-removal-brisbane/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.924251 | 915 | 2.5 | 2 |
The well-connected Atlanta Jew Leo Frank had been justly lynched several months earlier for rape and murder by the frustrated elites of Georgia society and politics.
This article deals with the media aftermath -- when Jewish-controlled newspapers nationwide blasted Watson, Georgia and the entire South over the lynching as bigoted, prejudiced, antisemitic monsters and ignorant haters.
I precede the reading with my own observations about Watson's regretful observation: "White people will believe anything"and its implications for the concept and workability of "democracy," the "rule of the people."
Facts, logic and evidence basically mean nothing, even to the highly educated. It took Watson endless months of educational articles to get one man hung for his crime, and it took the Jews minutes to get a whole nation foaming at the mouth against him, Georgia and the South.
For more :
Aldebaran Video - http://aldebaranvideo.tv
Controversial, censored and forbidden video archives
FREE email alerts of the most important BANNED videos in the world
Get FREE email alerts of the most important BANNED videos in the world that are usually blacklisted by YouTube, Facebook, Google, Twitter and Vimeo. Watch documentaries the techno-fascists don't want you to know even exist. Join the free Brighteon email newsletter. Unsubscribe at any time. 100% privacy protected.
Your privacy is protected. Subscription confirmation required. | <urn:uuid:32af2ec0-f0cc-4d4b-ab5d-e021c192e53f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.brighteon.com/98b13e06-275c-4acc-8f3f-79ac6985ce0b | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.879402 | 419 | 2.046875 | 2 |
Welcome to visit us!
Apr 16, 2021 John Flynn, of Terex Jaques, explains that quarries have numerous factors to consider when selecting cone crushers to create quality aggregate products. Successful application of a cone crusher within a crushing circuit is measured by the amount of material passing through the cone, the power draw of the machine, the size distribution of the ...Get Price
You can send a message to us by this email [email protected]
Your email will only for contact and not be shared with any third parties.
the interior structure of jaw crusher. internal drawing of cone crusher in pdf - 8 May 2014 .Fote, single cylinder hydraulic cone crusher... structure with 52SBS in the relief valve setting, the internal parts are protected.
Apr 17, 2021 drawing of cone crusher samac. cone crusher foundation design samac. mets 200 tph crusher foundation drawing rock cone The Mobile Cone Crusher SAMAC has being specializing in all facets of grinding mill design and maintenance. Know More. clay crusher machine drawings samac - …
drawings of a cone crusher. Cone Crusher manufacturer in China-liming. liming is the biggest CS Cone Crusher supplier and … Like drawing, … Cone Crusher… Impactor (VSI) , HSI , Roller Shell , …
Mar 10, 2016 Standard (Secondary) Cone Crusher (Refer to Fig. 1): The Standard Cone crusher is normally applied as a secondary crusher in a multi-stage crushing circuit.used second hand cone crushers in pondicherri . The small diameter feed distributor and the wide throat opening at the top of the liners enable the Standard Cone crusher to accommodate the larger feed produced by the Primary crusher.
The cone crusher is a modified gyratory crusher. The essential difference is that the shorter spindle of the cone crusher is not suspended, as in the gyratory, but is supported in a curved, universal bearing below the gyratory head or cone (Figure 8.2).ball mill from chad crusher mills cone crusher jaw Fote Mining Machinery Co. Power is transmitted from the source to the countershaft to a V-belt or direct drive.
HP800 Cone Crusher. Stationary : One HP500, one HP300, two HP200 crushing Amphibolite . Higher yield By operating the HP cone crusher on the lower end of its speed range, the product gradation can be shifted to produce fewer fines and a higher percentage of on-spec product. The HP cone crusher creates a higher value product with less waste.
A Cone Crusher is a compression type of machine that reduces material by squeezing or compressing the feed material between a moving piece of steel and a stationary piece of steel. Final sizing and reduction is determined by the closed side setting or the gap between the two crushing members at the lowest point. As the wedge or eccentric rotates to cause the compression within the chamber, the ...
Apr 28, 2017 Providing better crusher feed control for the cone crusher through the use of surge piles, hoppers and variable-speed feeding devices such as belt conveyors or vibrating pan feeders can easily increase crusher productivity by a minimum of 10 percent. Metso’s Lokotrack LT220D combines a crusher and screen onto the same chassis.
Feb 19, 2017 Cone Crusher MANTLE. The Mantalloy head mantle of this cone crusher is a replaceable wearing surface. It is made of alloyed manganese steel, and is held in place with a self-tightening head nut. On the 51-in. Hydrocone crushers and larger, the bottom portion of the mantle is ground to gauge to fit the head center, and the top portion is zinced.
39 Item Part No. Image 1 DE1007 2 DE6000 3 DE6004 4 DE6015 5 DE6006 DE5024 6 DE6007 7 DE0027 tagout)
Crusher Parts Rock Crushers Cone Crusher Symons Crusher. Spaulding Crusher Parts Rock Crusher Parts for Symons Gryradisc and HP Parts is a leading manufacturer of aftermarket crusher parts for HP Crushers Symons Cone Crushers and Gyradisc Crushers Our high quality crusher parts are made for the HP Crusher 300 and 400 series Gyradisc Crushers 36 48 54 66 and Symons 2 3 4 425 55 7 Cone Crushers
Feb 17, 2021 Cone crushers d drawings dwarkafellowshipin pdfa cone crushers a4 juni2010 a mining and cone crushers a cone crushers are of advanced design with a small footprint and high capacity in relation to size they Live Chat cone crushers drawings cad natrajcreationsin autocad d drawing of cone crusher Crushing Equipment Autocad Blocks Cone .
engineering drawing of lead crushing machine - seshadrivaradhan.in. Project Piping Engineering . hammer crusher machine drawing, . ... ball mills for sale manganese crusher; portable cone crushers …
Cone crusher drawing, , icecream cone pdf ice cream cone bible lesson for kids pdf surface area of a cone word problems pdf get price cone crusher 36s drawings aw crusher d autocad drawings - gosscascinadelsoleeuaw crusher dwg design jaw crusher drawing dwg pdf , for hog feeder hydro cone crusher ppt belt conveyor design dwg jual stone.
cone crusher drawing,plant india machine Equipment china for …. cone crusher drawing for installation. min. order: 1 set fob price: us $199999 / set. 1.cone crusher drawing 2.grease sealing system 3.hydraulic cavity clearing . | <urn:uuid:7468bc49-f0c4-4ba7-9518-dfc4d704dad6> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.kvkbandipora.in/cone-crusher/488ttgbu/08-12.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.865608 | 1,217 | 1.617188 | 2 |
SGID Parcel Viewer
Tools for finding and discovering parcel information
The parcel shapefile and file geodatabase data that UGRC standardizes are the most popular vector downloads on this website. The parcel viewer makes this data accessible to anyone with a web browser. In turn, it is one of the most popular web applications that UGRC offers. Not every county has their own parcel viewing application, so this application fills in the gaps. When a county does have their own web application, the parcel viewer displays a link to it.
The Recorders Office at the county level creates and maintains parcel data. The counties share the parcel data with UGRC on a schedule. UGRC standardizes the data into a common schema across all 29 counties.
Utah contains 29 counties that uniquely handle parcel data. In order to create a statewide data set UGRC ETL's the county data into a common schema with common fields. After the 29 county data layers are standardized, the developers were able to use forklift to optimize the data even further for use in the application.
Since there are 29 different parcel layers for Utah and the application is displaying information across all of the counties, it would be very inefficient to put all 29 layers in a map and query each layer on every user click. Another option would be to query the county layer first to figure out which county the click was in and then choose the correct parcel layer, but that is also inefficient. Using forklift, the developers were able to create one layer containing statewide parcels. The fields that are not displayed in the web application were removed and indexes were added to the fields that are searched on. This creates an optimal experience for the users with very fast query capability over the entire state. | <urn:uuid:4679ea07-ba84-45e3-8759-0f30cd53d5f4> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://gis.utah.gov/developer/applications/parcels/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.931588 | 365 | 1.9375 | 2 |
Gibbous ♌ Leo
Moon rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. It is visible all night and it is high in the sky around midnight.
Moon is passing first ∠0° of ♌ Leo tropical zodiac sector.
Lunar disc appears visually 8.9% narrower than solar disc. Moon and Sun apparent angular diameters are ∠1783" and ∠1950".
The Full Moon this days is the Wolf of January 2068.
There is high Full Moon ocean tide on this date. Combined Sun and Moon gravitational tidal force working on Earth is strong, because of the Sun-Earth-Moon syzygy alignment.
The Moon is 15 days old. Earth's natural satellite is moving through the middle part of current synodic month. This is lunation 841 of Meeus index or 1794 from Brown series.
The length of the lunation is 29 days, 11 hours and 6 minutes. It is 1 hour and 13 minutes longer than the next lunation's length. The lengths of the following synodic months are going to decreasing with the true anomaly getting closer to the value it has at the point of New Moon at perigee (∠0° or ∠360°).
The length of the current synodic month is 1 hour and 38 minutes shorter than the mean synodic month length. It is 4 hours and 31 minutes longer compared to 21st century's shortest synodic month length.
At the beginning of the lunation cycle the true anomaly is ∠331.1°. At the beginning of next synodic month the true anomaly is going to be ∠348.6°.
12 days after point of perigee on 6 January 2068 at 20:29 in ♒ Aquarius. The lunar orbit is getting widen, while the Moon is moving away from the Earth. It will keep this direction over the next 3 days, until the Moon reaches the point of next apogee on 22 January 2068 at 15:47 in ♍ Virgo.
The Moon is 401 995 km (249 788 mi) away from Earth and getting further over the next 3 days until the point apogee when Earth-Moon distance is going to be 406 042 km (252 303 mi).
4 days after descending node on 15 January 2068 at 11:57 in ♊ Gemini. The Moon is located south of the ecliptic over the following 10 days, until the lunar orbit crosses from South to North in ascending node on 30 January 2068 at 02:06 in ♐ Sagittarius.
16 days since the beginning of current draconic month in ♐ Sagittarius, the Moon is navigating from the second to the final part of the cycle.
3 days since the previous standstill on 16 January 2068 at 02:15 in ♊ Gemini when the Moon has reached North declination of ∠22.237°, the lunar orbit is extending southward over the next 11 days to face maximum declination of ∠-22.138° at the point of next southern standstill on 30 January 2068 at 17:55 in ♐ Sagittarius.
The Moon is in a Full Moon geocentric opposition with the Sun and thus forming Sun-Earth-Moon syzygy alignment. | <urn:uuid:1eebe3e6-7724-489e-9ddb-216a1b12a469> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://lunaf.com/lunar-calendar/2068/01/19/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.905842 | 704 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Colder weather means time to clean the fireplace & chimney!
It's almost that time of year again. Where the family is gonna gather round the warmth of the fireplace. An before you throw those logs on and spark it up, its very important that your fireplace and chimney are properly cleaned, and SERVPRO of Western Lehigh County is the place to call! During the spring an summer seasons when your fireplace is not in use a variety of things could have built up in the chimney. Such as soot, leaves and sticks, or even a variety of critters! A chimney is a great place for birds,squirrels, and other varmints to build there nests. Whether the critter is still there or not this still is a huge risk or starting a fire. Always take a flashlight an do a self inspection to make sure your chimney flue is clear of all debris. Even if you think you've done a sufficient cleaning, its always safe to have a professional come out an inspect it properly. If you own a gas fireplace make sure all gas lines are tightly secured, and don't have any leaks. Although it may seem alright to leave it untended. you should always turn it off when leaving your home or going to sleep. Fireplaces are nice an cozy, but if not properly cleaned an attended to they can become a huge fire risk for your home. So just follow the step given an you and your family can enjoy your fires safely! From all of us at SERVPRO of Western Lehigh County have a great fall/winter seasons! | <urn:uuid:ff77be08-c6e6-4921-8ec1-6e5891b789d6> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.servprowesternlehighcounty.com/blog/post/169764/fire-smoke-damage-restoration/colder-weather-means-time-to-clean-the-fireplace--chimney- | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.95864 | 331 | 1.640625 | 2 |
This post is to document, how I got Ruby on Rails 3 up and running. Each time I have had to install this, (due to my non-technical background) it has been an arduous process. Note that I am reading the free online Rails book as my rails tutorial and I’m using generic Windows 7.
- Install Ruby 1.8.7
I downloaded the .exe file for version 1.8.7-p302.
After googling for a few seconds, I still can’t figure out the difference between: 1.8.7-p302, 1.8.7-p299, and 1.8.7-p249. No matter, moving along now.
Run the installer that you downloaded by double clicking on the file.
I opted to check both of these boxes during the installer:
When the installation finishes, check the Command Line to verify that Ruby is installed. To get to the Command Line, press the Windows Key, type “cmd” and press Enter.
Type “ruby -v” and you should get the box below. Ruby is installed.
- Install RubyGems 1.3.7
Download the .zip file for version 1.3.7.
Extract the .zip file and place the the folder “rubygems-1.3.7” in your Ruby directory. For me, the Ruby directory would be C:/Ruby187/
Open up the command line and navigate to your “rubygems-1.3.7” folder. To change directory, type in “cd” followed by the location. In my screenshot, I typed in “cd C:/ruby187/rubygems-1.3.7/” since the location of my “setup.rb” file was in C:/ruby187/rubygems-1.3.7/
Type “ruby setup.rb” to install RubyGems
- Install Rails
In the Command Line, type “gem install rails –version 3.0.1”
When the installation finishes, check the Command Line to verify that Rails is installed.
Type “rails -v” and you should get the box below. Rails is installed.
Congratulations, you’re all RoR’d ups in this place.
- Install Git (Optional Step)
In retrospect, installing Ruby on Rails 3 was not so bad. While I did spend a few hours googling, installing, and documenting the process – the good news is that the process itself is not so bad if you know what files to grab, what to click, and what exactly to type. | <urn:uuid:481ca231-5b44-438a-a458-613d1384d12d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.rexfeng.com/blog/tag/install/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.899345 | 571 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Welcome to the
Arthur S. Douglas lived from 1860-1949. He was a first term student (#68) at the inception of the Rhode Island School of Design in October of 1878.
The Rhode Island Historical Society has granted us the courtesy of including their rare and private collection of Arthur Douglas' ten etchings in book form entitled:
Woodland Rambles, Ten Etchings of Nooks and Corners in Some Old Rhode Island Farms
We hope you enjoy this on-line Fine Arts presentation. Please contact the Driscoll Agency if you have any artwork or additional information regarding Douglas.
Douglas in his Providence Studio, 1946
The Rhode Island School of Design - the Rhode Island Historical Society - the Providence Art Club, are not affiliated or sponsors of this web site.
Joseph M. Driscoll all rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:9645066d-c7a0-485c-8f47-a9c196b74470> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://arthurdouglascollection.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.917593 | 188 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Next article: Friday Q&A 2012-04-27: PLCrashReporter and Unwinding the Stack With DWARF
Previous article: Introducing PLWeakCompatibility
Tags: fridayqna memory nib
I'm back from my hiatus and ready with a fresh journey into the netherworld of Apple's platforms. Today's subject comes from several readers who suggested that I discuss the subtleties of dealing with memory management and nibs, and particularly the differences between the Mac and iOS.
Nib Loading Overview
When you load a nib, two important steps happen in sequence. First, the loader instantiates all of the objects in the nib. Second, it connects all of the outlets specified in the nib.
When it comes to memory management, there are two relevant areas. The first is how to properly manage outlets. The second is how to manage the top-level objects in the nib. A nib contains a hierarchy of objects, where each object is owned by its parent, but the objects at the top level of that hierarchy are a special case.
Mac Nib Loading
Let's talk about how nib loading works on the Mac, with respect to the two relevant memory management areas.
Top level objects are instantiated using
init (or a class-specific initializer like
NSWindow instances. They are then left like this, with responsibility for finally releasing them implicitly transferred to the File's Owner object. If you use
NSViewController to load the nib, it automatically takes ownership of these objects and will release them when the controller is destroyed.
To set an outlet, the nib loader first searches for a setter method. If the outlet is called
foo, the loader searches for a method called
setFoo:. If such a method exists, the loader calls it, passing the value of the outlet as the parameter.
If no such method exists, the loader searches for an instance variable with the same name as the outlet. If it finds such an instance variable, the loader sets its value directly to the outlet value without performing any memory management.
Finally, if no method and no instance variable can be found, the outlet connection fails and the outlet is not set.
iOS Nib Loading
Now let's talk about how nib loading works on iOS. Overall it's very similar, but there are subtle differences. Don't worry about trying to find all of the differences, as I'll point them out and analyze them afterwards.
Top level objects are instantiated using
init (or a class-specific initializer), and then autoreleased. In the absence of anything else retaining them, these objects will be automatically destroyed.
To set an outlet, the nib loader calls
-setValue:forKey: with the outlet value and outlet name. The Key-Value Coding machinery then takes over and searches for a way to set that particular key. For an outlet called
foo, it will first search for a method called
setFoo:. If such a method exists, it calls that method, passing the value of the outlet as the parameter.
If no such method exists, the KVC machinery searches for an instance variable called
isFoo. If any of those exists, it sets the first one it finds to the value of the outlet, releasing the old value in the instance variable (if any) and retaining the new value.
If no method and no instance variable are found, KVC calls
setValue:forUndefinedKey:. By default, this raises an execption, and it can be overridden to implement custom behavior for unknown keys.
These two systems are similar but not quite the same. The differences are due to the more modern nature of iOS. Without exception, where the two systems differ, the iOS way is more sensible. Unfortunately, the Mac way can't be changed without severely breaking backwards compatibility. These differences are:
- Top level objects must be explicitly released on the Mac, unless you use an
NSViewControllerto load the nib. On iOS, they are autoreleased.
- Directly setting the ivar on iOS retains the outlet due to how KVC works. On the Mac, the outlet is not retained.
- Because directly setting the ivar results in a retain on iOS, such outlets must be released in
dealloc. On the Mac, they can just be ignored there.
- Directly setting the ivar on iOS has a more thorough search pattern than on the Mac, due to KVC.
Keeping track of these differences is mentally taxing and error-prone, especially if you switch between the two platforms. Getting it wrong can cause a leak or a crash (or both). The best way to handle the differences is to stick to areas where the two platforms are the same. Fortunately, those areas are also the most convenient and best ways to approach nibs anyway.
When loading nibs with a Cocoa controller class (
NSViewController on the Mac,
UIViewController on iOS), top-level objects in the nib are automatically handled for you, and thus the behavior becomes the same on both platforms in this case. It's extremely rare to need to load a nib directly, and if you find yourself doing it, you should probably stop and use one of these controllers instead.
@property for outlets, memory management is consistent across both platforms, since they both use the setter if one exists. The memory management for the property can be set as you like, although
retain is generally preferred. In that case, you must
release the property value in
dealloc, just as you would with any other strong property, unless you're using ARC.
weak can be a good choice for outlets to subviews on iOS, where the views may be unloaded and you don't want a strong reference to keep them alive behind your back.
A Convenient Table
Here's a full summary of the various situations in convenient table form:
|Directly setting the ivar||Unretained reference, do not release||Retained reference, must release in dealloc|
|Strong/retain setter||Release in dealloc (or let ARC handle it)||Release in dealloc (or let ARC handle it)|
|Assign/weak setter||Don't need to do anything||Don't need to do anything|
|No seriously, what about top-level objects?||Release each top-level object to balance the
||Don't do anything|
Nib memory management is similar between Mac and iOS but just different enough to be annoyingly confusing. Fortunately, it's easy to mitigate the confusion by sticking to areas where the two platforms behave identically, which results in best practices anyway. Always use a Cocoa controller to load nibs rather than loading the nib directly yourself. Always declare properties for your outlets. As with any property, if your outlet properties are strong, then you must release the backing instance variable in
dealloc (or let ARC do it for you).
That's it for today. Come back next time for another exciting and tittilating edition of Friday Q&A. Until then, since Friday Q&A is driven by reader suggestions, please send in your ideas for topics to cover.
Comments RSS feed for this page
Add your thoughts, post a comment:
Spam and off-topic posts will be deleted without notice. Culprits may be publicly humiliated at my sole discretion. | <urn:uuid:dc1785fc-1a4b-4c29-8929-56d44786f452> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.mikeash.com/pyblog/friday-qa-2012-04-13-nib-memory-management.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.895008 | 1,631 | 2.09375 | 2 |
The Value of a Positive Influence in Life
I believe that the importance of life is not about what I become, but about whom I become. Of course, my future is extremely important, but it is not the only goal out there. Too many times, I get stuck working toward my goals for the future and do not stop to think about the other important factors of life. I believe that the value of my life is determined by the positive impact I have on the lives of others. I believe that this is what will determine my happiness throughout life.
I first saw the importance of this when I was seventeen-years-old. One night, my brother, Pat, left the house to get me some aspirin. After he left, he was encountered by a man who attempted to rob him. He did not rob my brother’s money, but instead robbed him of his greatest possession, his life.
In dealing with my grief, I had many memories spiraling through my mind of Pat. I realized that I was not only experiencing the loss of my brother, but also the loss of the kindest, the most caring, and understanding person, I had ever met. I had lost a really great friend. I was very lucky to have such a good friend in my own brother, and I had not truly thought about how much he meant to me and the importance he played in my life. He was always there for me through anything, even if it was just to listen to me. He was always positive. I can’t remember a time when he really let some situation get the better of him.
When thinking about my brother and his life, I came to realize that the meaning of life is not pointless, which I had first thought after this traumatic loss. It is what I make of it, and my
impact that I make on others’ lives that is important. I think that this is what made Pat such a happy person. He was always doing good for others, which in turn made him feel good about himself. He did not live his life for himself, rather, he lived it for others.
After this realization, I decided that I wanted to be as much like Pat as I could. I wanted to make others feel good the way that he did. Everyone needs someone they can come to, under any circumstance, and I want to be that person for those that I love.
From that day on, I have tried my best to be that positive impact that other people need. My only hope in life, is that when I have passed on, I can look back and know that I helped to make life better for those around me. I have learned a valuable lesson from my brother, Pat, and I intend to use it and learn from it for the rest of my life. | <urn:uuid:e3f6fb8b-dc30-4869-855b-584509e330d3> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://thisibelieve.org/essay/64791/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.992344 | 573 | 1.78125 | 2 |
As a public institution and a social agent, the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz assume the responsibility to engage in a future-oriented way with both the heritage of the City of Chemnitz and the challenges of a globalised world.
We offer visitors of all age-groups needs-oriented forms of art education. Progressive concepts for guided tours, creative workshops, and much more are targeted at children, adolescents, adults, and families. In addition to the public guided tours which take place regularly, we also arrange individual guided tours for companies, associations, and tourists. Our museum educators are at your disposal for personal advice.
Anna Peplinski (on parental leave)
T +49 (0)371 488 4447
T +49 (0)371 488 4449 | <urn:uuid:79db8f39-b43e-499d-9d8e-062a47f554bb> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.kunstsammlungen-chemnitz.de/en/bildung-und-vermittlung/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.867575 | 203 | 1.539063 | 2 |
For four months, 210 masterpieces from the Arts of Islam will be displayed in simultaneous exhibitions across 18 cities in France.
‘Arts of Islam, a past for a present’ will be unveiled to the general public – free of charge – as a way of tackling the Islamophobia that persists across the country to this day.
Visitors can experience the art, accompanied by photo and video installations, from November 20 until March 27, in a number of cities.
Locations include: Angoulême to Reunion, via Mantes-la-Jolie (Yvelines), Rillieux -la-Pape (Rhône), Figeac (Lot), Tourcoing, Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), Blois, Rouen, Marseille, Nantes, Clermont-Ferrand, and Dijon.
Islamic art has a history of over 13 centuries
From national to regional collections, these displays will feature: an 11th century mosque lamp, a Koranic writing board, a dagger with an ivory handle, metal shields, a Persian carpet, a samit in silk, a box inlaid with bone and precious wood, and ancient astrolabe instruments from India and Morocco.
Each piece highlights how Islamic art is not confined to one medium, time period, or place.
Yannick Lintz, curator of the exhibition and director of the Department of Islamic Arts at the Louvre, says she hopes to make the space a place of “exchanges, where all roads pass, an open place” in order to “to fight against the ignorance of the Arts of Islam.”
At each location, work by a contemporary Muslim artist will also be presented.
One pertinent example is ‘Vacuum,’ by 44-year-old Raeda Saadeh, a Palestinian artist who films herself, in a djellaba – a loose robe worn in regions across North Africa – vacuuming in the desert.
“The idea is to get as close as possible to those who are not used to coming to see works of art,” explains Ms Lintz. It was therefore necessary “for this one, to get out of Paris”.
Though the Louvre has an impressive collection of its own Islamic art, Paris will not be one of the cities visited by the exhibit.
Instead, it will lend around 60 of its own pieces to displays further afield in areas that do not traditionally interact with its history. Marseille and Blois will welcome the show to their local libraries, for example.
France’s government put €4 million into making this happen. Each space has been designed to welcome younger generations, particularly students and their teachers. Areas for discussion, live displays, and film viewing are present in each of the 18 exhibitions.
A number of talks will be given in each city, on themes such as calligraphy, painting, and Islamic arts and sciences.
Political ministers for Culture and Education revealed earlier this year that they were oversubscribed with applications for potential participant locations. | <urn:uuid:68e460d0-20b1-4e08-9a93-5465273c9531> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://iqra.tv/no-single-place-or-medium-france-spotlights-islamic-art-in-bold-country-wide-exhibits/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.938836 | 648 | 2.203125 | 2 |
Do guys keep love letters?
While both genders write and keep love letters, “men pour their hearts out,” said Janet Gallin of San Francisco, who hosts the “Love Letters Live” radio show and conducts letter-writing workshops. For the shy writer, Gallin advised, “address the envelope and put on a stamp first, so it will get done.
Is writing a letter romantic?
Writing a love letter has always been a romantic gesture, but in this day of email, social media, and other impersonal communication, they are even more special.
Are Pen Pals dangerous?
They lie about their age, where they come from and a huge number of other crazy things people feel compelled to lie about. The biggest danger in this has to be adults who pretend to be a lot younger than they are so they can chat to children. If your child has a pen pal it’s very important you vet them properly.
What do boyfriends like from their girlfriends?
Guys like their girlfriends to take the initiative If you take an initiative, especially in bed, he will love it. Men like it when their women begin things and you take charge. Men like to cuddle, too, so a little cuddling on the couch while watching a movie or at bedtime is good for you to make him feel closer.
How is formal letter written?
To write a formal letter follow the below-given tips: Address or greet the concerned person properly like Dear Sir/Madam. Always mention the subject of writing the letter. Use “Thank you” for consideration of the letter and then at last mention “Yours sincerely or truly” along with your name and signature.
How do you become a good penpal?
Tips for being a great Pen Pal
- Always be yourself. There’s no point in trying to be someone you’re not; you’ll not get anything out of the relationship if it is based on lies, much like any relationship.
- Encourage conversation.
- Set boundaries.
- Set expectations.
- Be patient.
Who should I write a letter to?
20 People You Should Write A Letter To At Least Once In Your Life
- To your super sweet Grandma and Grandpa.
- To the first teacher who caught your fancy.
- To the best teacher you had in your struggling student age.
- To the first friend you had in school and college.
- Your Mom and Dad who have tolerated and loved you forever.
- All those best friends who have become somebody whom you used to know.
Can pen pals fall in love?
It certainly can. There are lovely stories from wartime about soldiers falling in love with pen-pal sweethearts. Writing long letters can help people discover how much they have in common.
What’s a pen friend?
British. : a person (such as someone in a foreign country) someone exchanges letters with even though the two have never met.
What do you write to a pen friend?
You could even tell them about what you’ve been up to that week, if it’s quite interesting and varied.
- Tell your pen pal where you found their details.
- Keep it personalised.
- Don’t overdo it.
- Ask your pen pal some questions.
- Mention what you have in common.
- Add a little extra.
How do you make a pen friend?
Here are ten websites you can join to find your pen pal:
- Global Penfriends.
- Conversation Exchange.
- Penpal Party.
- My Language Exchange.
- Polyglot Club.
How can I write a letter to pen friend in English?
Writing Penfriend Letters
- USEFUL WORDS:
- Starting the first Letter. Hi!
- Starting the second Letter. Hi!
- Starting the second letter with an apology. I am sorry I did not reply earlier.
- Saying Goodbye. Bye for now and write back soon!
- Do not write everything in the first letter. The following are some ideas:
- Introduce Yourself.
- Introduce your family. | <urn:uuid:bb5bc116-9815-4a4d-b100-d1799c6d0ddd> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.joialife.com/different-papers/do-guys-keep-love-letters/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571719.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812140019-20220812170019-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.921624 | 898 | 1.5 | 2 |
Using words to engage your audience
20 writing tips from A Thousand Monkeys.
'Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly - they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.' Aldous Huxley
You've spent a disturbing amount of your next 5 years' budget on your new website. You've hired a fresh-faced graduate social media/design/digital type person. You've spent months thinking about brand colours and web fonts.
Then you realise you haven't written any copy. Whoops.
Words are still the main way your audience interacts with marketing materials, whether it's your new website or your latest flyer. So if you're responsible for the copy on your next project, make sure it's not just an afterthought.
Here are 20 of A Thousand Monkeys' best tips to help you engage your audience, because we're generous like that.
1. Get ready
Before you even consider writing anything, do some prep.
Research, jot down ideas, gather quotes and examples, plan themes and structure, and put on a big pot of tea.
2. Keep it short
Short is powerful. Like this story:
For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
Try to aim for under 15 words per sentence. More like 8 for digital content.
3. Keep it simple
'[Hemingway] has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.' William Faulkner
'Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? He thinks I don’t know the ten-dollar words. I know them all right. But there are
older and simpler and better words, and those are the ones I use.' Ernest Hemingway
Don’t use a complicated word where a simple one will do. We learn simple words first, so these are the ones that have the most meaning to us.
4. Try, try, and try again
No one gets it right first time. Keep your draft, but don’t be afraid to try something different. Or start again. Be tough on yourself –
your first attempt was probably rubbish anyway.
5. Do something different
Go analogue and use a pen and paper. Or go to a coffee shop. Or spray-paint ideas on your theatre’s safety curtain. Variety in your routine is the best way to add originality.
6. Look outside the arts for inspiration
Play Pokémon Go. Read Fifty Shades of Grey. Try a bubble tea. If you can figure out why those things are so popular you’ll be able to convince anyone of anything. Copywriting is just selling ideas after all – it doesn’t matter if it’s a mobile game or a contemporary dance show | <urn:uuid:4889b345-4f32-4e49-b77d-d257d9803c9b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.culturehive.co.uk/resources/using-words-to-engage-your-audience/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.924002 | 586 | 2.421875 | 2 |
Welcome to the home of “Amy’s Balancing Act”, an inspiring tale about clean energy and the power of diversity.
This unique story packs the complexities and emotions of the journey to clean energy into an engaging, entertaining book that can be understood by children, their families and educators.
It provides a positive resolution to the climate wars – being respectful to the past while clear eyed about a brighter future.
Amy has always done things a certain way, but when her old horse gets ready to retire, Amy must find a fresh approach. With the help of some new friends, Amy discovers the power of teamwork and how to balance keeping the mail on time with having a lighter impact on the environment.
Praise for Amy’s Balancing Act
Get your copy
A limited run of signed first edition books are available for purchase here: bjornsturmberg.com/shop.
Or you should be able to find the books in your local or online bookstore of choice – if they’re not already stocking it please direct them to the distributor Woodslane.
While you wait for a hardcopy, here are some sample pages to spark your imagination…
The good folk at Cool Australia have created three lesson plans based on Amy’s story. These are written for years 3&4, years 5&6, and for parents, and connect Amy’s lessons into the Australian curriculum.
As additional resources you may also wish to check out the following blog posts that dive into the story’s lessons on diversity, team work, and the transition from coal to clean energy: post 1, post 2.
- Amy’s Balancing Act is now in stock!I’m delighted to announce that the first edition hardcover hard copies of my kids book Amy’s Balancing Act are now in stock! You can get signed copies from my online shop and regular copies from all good bookshops (if they don’t yet have them on bookshelves they can order them through the distributor Woodslane). To… Continue reading
- Amy is off to the printersMoments ago I signed off on the final production proofs of my children’s book about the energy transition: Amy’s Balancing Act! It’s been a huge journey getting to this point and I’m equal parts excited and relieved. To help share the excitement, here’s a sneak peek at the cover. The editing and illustration process has… Continue reading
- Books and Postcards in new online shopI’ve setup an online store. Its first stock are pre-order copies of the book “Amy’s Balancing Act” and postcards featuring the story’s characters. Check it out at https://bjornsturmberg.com/shop/
- Amy’s kickstarter is live!My kickstarter campaign to contribute towards the costs of illustrating and publishing Amy’s Balancing Act is now live. Check out the video and campaign page and, support by pre-ordering a copy and sharing the campaign.
- Explainer – The animals of the energy transitionAmy’s Balancing Act, is a fable about the power of diversity and the transition to a clean energy system. The story revolves around Amy’s mission to deliver the post across the island of Energia. The analogy of the story is that the delivery of the post is like the delivery of electricity. Assisting Amy in… Continue reading | <urn:uuid:a052a204-d7a0-4260-8d17-74f90f3af160> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://bjornsturmberg.com/amys-balancing-act/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.917453 | 732 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Yes, there is a difference between the Green Card and Diversity Visa. Here at USAFIS, we help people who want to move to the United States.
Once you submit your application to the Green Card Lottery, you are not permitted to transfer that application to someone else.
Research has proven that out of 120 countries, USAFIS customers make up 21% of all winners of the Green Card Lottery. There was a total of 83,910 Diversity Visa winners in 2017.
Millions of people apply for the Green Card Lottery each year for an opportunity to immigrate to the United States. The US Congress has authorized up to 50,000 Green Cards to be issued annually through the Green Card Lottery Program to “selectees” who are randomly chosen from millions of applicants and who then complete the US immigration procedure successfully.
Most people who move to the United States need to find a job as soon as possible. Employers may offer you work that is beneath your capabilities, but don’t let that bother you. It may be a struggle at first, but you can remember that it will be worth it. America has many job opportunities … Read more
If you decide to rent in the U.S., you will likely be asked to fill out a form to apply to rent. This form will ask for items such as proof of employment and your social security number.
The American economy has created millions of new jobs in the USA over the past several years. This is good news for people who want to immigrate to the United States, since individuals who have been granted a Green Card are legally permitted to live, study and work in the USA.
USAFIS is a privately owned company that helps foreign nationals with their U.S. visa applications. Part of the process of immigrating to the United States is the Consular Interview.
When looking for a bank in the United States, you will find that there is a lot of competition. Each bank is offering free services or lower costs for services in order to get new customers.
When living in the United States, it’s important to take care of your cash. The best place to store your money is in the bank, so it will be protected. | <urn:uuid:ecb044eb-a359-40c7-bd69-14764bd36e81> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.usafisnotscam.net/category/type-of-content/articles/page/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.969226 | 457 | 1.625 | 2 |
It is a known fact that colors can affect a person’s mood. They have the power to improve one’s mental health, and colors are one of the most effective tools in home decor. The interaction of colors with material can reduce or enlarge a room’s size, make the ceiling’s height look different, and make hallways appear longer. With home decor ideas and colors, you can transform your home. Transforming and decorating homes according to seasons is a trend. So, you can use different home decor ideas in Dubai based on the current season.
In this blog, we will enlist some of the most popular home design styles to help you transform your home.
Top Home Decor Ideas in Dubai
Minimalist home styles focus on primary colors like white, beige, and grey. Hence, the phrase ‘less is more’ describes this design perfectly. In this home design style, the elements express simplicity. There are elements without decoration; basic geometric shapes, simple materials, and the repetition of structures symbolize a sense of order and quality.
Modern is a broad design term used for a home with clean, simple colors and materials like glass, steel, and metal. Furthermore, Modern design employs simplicity in each element, including furniture. Modern design is mostly described as sleek. There is no clutter or extra accessories involved in modern home design.
Contemporary style includes whites, blues, and blue-greens, along with bright orange and red. There are different textures and glossiness in this genre. Moreover, The materials present rounded and softened lines instead of the harsh lines used in modern style design. The interior design contains neutral basics and bold colors; it focuses on line forms and shape basics.
The key difference between contemporary and modern style is that modern design style is an interpretation of interior style in the 20th century. On the contrary, contemporary design is fluid, and it can symbolize a sense of currency with less adherence to one specific type. For instance, the contemporary home design may include curve lines, while a modern design doesn’t.
White and pale wood are the basic features of the northern European design style and Scandinavian decoration. Moreover, this is a design movement that is characterized by minimalism, functionality, and simplicity.
Warm and earthy colors indicate the French country interior design, along with ornamental and worn wooden furnishing. Additionally, This style gets inspiration from the farmhouse. The French country design includes warm and soft tones of yellow, red, gold, and natural material such as brick and stone. The French country design includes collections of ornate porcelain dishes, heavy bed coverings, and linens.
The Zen design style has a minimalist philosophy then uses natural materials, patterns of space and light and rejects clutter. The Zen Japanese interior features combination of white and black with natural wood.
Industrial design is inspired by old industrial and factories that have been transformed into living spaces. Therefore, elements of industrial design are weathered wood, exposed brick, building systems, concrete, and industrial lighting fixtures. In addition, this look has metallic finishes combined with grey, brown, and blue.
Another great interior design is the Chinese home design style. It is famous for its simplicity and Zen-like aesthetic. With a preference towards red and black. It includes the character of shape and clean lines. Chinese design style spaces are usually serene and peaceful.
The traditional design style takes inspiration from European design. This style is all about patterns, textures, and layers. Typically, a traditional home is one that has a rich mahogany color scheme that is paired with white cushions and sofas. All the furniture has dark finished wood with gold finishing. In addition, The fabric of the pillows and curtains has a vintage feel and are generally of silk or velvet. The style is far from flashy. In contrast, it is calm and predictable.
If you want to redecorate your home design style using traditional interior style, then buy curtains, lamps, and furniture with a ‘vintage.’ Painting walls or adding wallpaper with beige color can lift your room. Add crystal chandeliers and antiques to follow the traditional style.
White, brown, turquoise, and orange are the colors used in the retro design style. Hence, this home design style mixes different old styles and objects that are majorly influenced by past trends, recycled items, and new find. The retro interior was notable for the ‘explosive’ combination of coloring. In conclusion, this complicated and controversial style is best suited for independent, free-thinking, and cheerful people.
Mid-century modern design style is a throwback to the mid-1900s, however, mostly to the 1950s and 60s. This design is a retro nostalgic and includes some basics of minimalism. Also, The central theme of Mid-Century modern home design style is ‘fussy-free’ or functionality. And, it focuses on pared-down appearances, organic shapes like ‘egg-shaped’ chair, user-friendly contemporary design, and simple fabrics.
The Rustic home design style uses raw and unfinished elements such as stone and wood. This design may incorporate accessories from the outdoors. Further, accessories with warmth flowing in the architectural details, including vaulted ceilings with wood beams or reclaimed wood floors. Many designs integrate the rustic design with modern accessories and furniture.
Home Decor Ideas in Dubai with Fix a home
No matter which home decor ideas in Dubai you prefer, fix a home can help you decorate your home the way you want. With our painting, carpentry, and renovation services, you can design the home of your dreams. | <urn:uuid:a08a58d0-4a19-41c6-ad37-6d22eea7129c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.fixahome.com/home-decor-ideas-in-dubai-give-your-home-a-makeover/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.933059 | 1,211 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Spreading Global Positivity
Join the Honors community this Fall as we travel virtually from Pakistan to Chile and from Canada to Italy! Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, we may not be able to actually fly, but we can celebrate and learn from the resiliency and positivity of these countries during this challenging time.
This semester, the Honors Student Leadership Council is inviting students to make a world of difference in our campus community! Making a World of Difference is a service campaign centered on highlighting and emulating the actions people in other countries are taking to serve their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. We live in an unprecedented time that has united countries worldwide in solving a common problem, and we are excited to share brilliant and innovative initiatives from all over the globe aimed at promoting community and combating isolation.
Join us as we learn about zakat (charity) taxes in Pakistan that are keeping impoverished families from starving, or masked superheroes in Chile that are bringing happiness to children affected by COVID. Each week we will post a video on BYU Honors social media that includes a country of the week, a positive thing that country is doing to serve those affected by the pandemic, and a related challenge to the BYU Honors community. Our goal is to spread some global positivity on BYU's campus, to create a stronger community, and A.C.T. together!
So, what do you need to do to join this positivity movement?
1. Follow BYU Honors on Instagram and Facebook
2. Watch our short videos that will be posted each Monday
3. Participate in the challenge that week; and
4. Share your experience with us by tagging us or replying in the comments. We may even highlight how you choose to complete the challenge on social media!
Thank you for joining us in Making a World of Difference as we collectively Adapt, Connect and Transcend! | <urn:uuid:1e431074-74fb-45f1-ba99-0e0bc5dc6940> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://honors.byu.edu/spreading-global-positivity | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572286.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816090541-20220816120541-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.948954 | 393 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Q and A with CDC Director Tom Frieden
July / August 2014 | Volume 13, Issue 4
CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden
Dr. Tom Frieden became Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in June 2009. A physician with training in internal medicine, infectious diseases, public health and epidemiology, he is especially known for expertise in tuberculosis control. As Commissioner of the New York City Health Department from 2002-2009, he directed the city's efforts to reduce smoking, cut transfats from restaurant menus and establish electronic health records. Frieden received both his medical degree and master’s in public health from Columbia University.
Why is the CDC engaged in global health?
Sometimes, people wonder, "Why should we be involved in global health since we have so many challenges here at home?” But we can't keep Americans safe just looking at our own country. We need to make sure that we're not only protecting ourselves from diseases that can spread from elsewhere, but also learning lessons that can be learned elsewhere, sometimes more efficiently and effectively.
We're also promoting stability around the world. We're increasing economic productivity around the world and lifting all boats by having healthier communities. We're promoting the reputation of America. I'll never forget the woman I met in Nigeria who was holding her twin babies in her hands and she said to me, "I'm HIV-positive, but my babies are HIV-negative because of PEPFAR [the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief]. And thank the American people for me."
And ultimately, our work in global health is so important to do because it's the right thing to do, because we're a great country and because for a very small investment, we can make a massive change in the lives of literally billions of people.
What global threats concern you?
We face a real storm of vulnerability. There are new risks from new infections like H7N9 influenza. There are resistant organisms, and we're now seeing some microbes that are resistant to all our treatments. And, unfortunately, there is the possibility of the spread of intentionally created organisms either through a bioterrorist attack or through the inadvertent release of organisms. With our globalized world, a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere. If there is the emergence of a disease in any part of the world, it could be in any other part of the world within a day.
What can be done?
Pathogens cross borders effectively, and that's why we need to improve further on our support and partnership with the World Health Organization and with countries around the world to better find, stop and prevent threats to health. That will make for a safer United States and a safer world, because we really are interconnected.
In order to do more in terms of finding, stopping and preventing diseases, we need some core capacities to increase the ability of governments and society to recognize, respond and bounce back, to increase resilience. For detection, we need laboratory networks. For response, we need effective emergency operation centers that can scramble in real time and marshal people who can create a rapid response team and stop an outbreak. And for prevention, we need to be able to get high levels of vaccination and respond to outbreaks effectively to stop them and prevent other threats to health from emerging. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the world does not yet have these capacities fully developed, but fortunately there is a global commitment to do so.
How do partnerships make the world safer?
The ability of public health to find and stop outbreaks is in everyone's best interest. China's story of H7N9 collaboration is a great example of that. Ten years ago, when SARS emerged in China, they did not handle it well. It cost the world $30 billion to deal with SARS. And when H7N9 came about, we then had 10 years of collaboration with the Chinese public health authorities to build on; 10 years of trust, 10 years of capacity building. And from the first hours after they identified the organism, they have been absolutely transparent. They have posted that organism's genome onto the Internet. That allowed us to download it and make a diagnostic test, which we've sent out to every state, dozens of countries and used for any patient with suspected H7N9 influenza.
With that genome, we were able to begin to make a vaccine, to make seed strains, to identify challenges in making that vaccine and address those challenges. Now, what we hope will be an effective vaccine is entering clinical trials. That's the harvest of 10 years of collaboration, 10 years of working together that allowed us to help the Chinese know how to diagnose flu, know how to set up a monitoring network and know how to sequence the genome. That kind of collaboration protects all of us.
This feature was adapted from Dr. Frieden's press briefings on September 10, 2013, December 5, 2013 and February 12, 2014.
To view Adobe PDF files,
download current, free accessible plug-ins from Adobe's website. | <urn:uuid:17e67ab8-acae-4567-9af8-41745d7c57e2> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.fic.nih.gov/News/GlobalHealthMatters/july-august-2014/Pages/cdc-global-health-tom-frieden.aspx?utm_campaign=ghm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ghmjul2014 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.958918 | 1,036 | 2.015625 | 2 |
After serving as a decorated captain in the Soviet Army during World War II, Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008) was sentenced to prison for eight years for criticizing Stalin and the Soviet government in private letters. Solzhenitsyn vaulted from unknown schoolteacher to internationally famous writer in 1962 with the publication of his novella One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich; he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968. The writer's increasingly vocal opposition to the regime resulted in another arrest, a charge of treason, and expulsion from the USSR in 1974, the year The Gulag Archipelago, his epic history of the Soviet prison system, first appeared in the West. For eighteen years, he and his family lived in Vermont. In 1994 he returned to Russia. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn died at his home in Moscow in 2008.
"Best Nonfiction Book of the Twentieth Century" -- Time magazine"The greatest and most powerful single indictment of a political regime ever leveled in modern times." -- George F. Kennan"It is impossible to name a book that had a greater effect on the political and moral consciousness of the late twentieth century." -- David Remnick, The New Yorker"Solzhenitsyn's masterpiece. ... The Gulag Archipelago helped create the world we live in today." -- Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gulag: A History, from the foreword | <urn:uuid:45d636a0-a83f-4916-8a0a-42e63cb56d94> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Gulag-Archipelago-1918-1956-Aleksandr-I-Solzhenitsyn/9780061253713 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.954599 | 298 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Alfred Hitchcock was the acknowledged master of the cinematic suspenser that craftily manipulates its audience.
Recent Examples on the WebDirected by Nelicia Low, the suspenser follows a young fencer struggling with keeping his secret crush on a fellow fencer from his homophobic mother.
Vivienne Chow, Variety, 17 May 2022 On the other hand, the story introduces fictional characters and elements that give it the air of a suspenser, exactly the sort for which Harris is so popular.
Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Jan. 2022
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'suspenser.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback. | <urn:uuid:2b8315e1-43dd-4e8f-8a59-c8bd1ffd02fe> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspenser | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.906805 | 167 | 1.601563 | 2 |
The Hobby Center and the American Sign Language Interpreting (ASLI) Program at the University of Houston have just completed the first year of a successful collaboration to bring sign language to the arts. A native Houstonian, ASLI Program Coordinator Sharon Hill remembered a time when the Houston Theater District offered shows with sign language interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing community to attend. In 2015, Professor Hill reached out to the Audience Services Manager at the Hobby Center downtown, Ms. Judi Stallings.
“I emailed Judi and we corresponded for nearly a year, and she understood the need for increased accessibility for Houstonians that are deaf,” says Professor Hill.
By April 2016, a tentative partnership was reached to test the waters by providing ASLI seniors to offer sign language interpretation for one production of the musical, Oliver!
“I assigned seven of our seniors to work on the musical and we spent collectively nearly 300 hours rehearsing the timing, analyzing visual cues, researching the meaning of lines and music and determining linguistic equivalence,” explains Hill.
Having successfully sold out the seats allotted for the deaf and hard of hearing community, the collaboration continued with the following shows having ASL interpretation: Wicked, In the Heights, The King & I, Dreamgirls, and Fun Home.
The final show for the 2016-2017 season was the Broadway musical The Lion King. The Hobby Center arranged for a pre-show reception for all ASLI guests, giving them VIP access to chat with the actors who played the roles of Simba and Pumbaa. As a special treat, ASLI faculty (Professor Hill and Professor Merrilee Gietz) teamed with ASLI alumni Brittany Best, Kristina Rodriguez and Barae Frizzel to interpret this show. This was a unique experience for all in attendance as Prof. Gietz is deaf and worked as a deaf interpreter, providing her native language as the language model for the role of Mufasa.
The deaf audience was enthralled with the show and the interpretation. One deaf patron explained in ASL, “I’ve never attended a show with interpreters…for the first time, I understood the meaning and nuances of a show. This was life-changing!”
Special acknowledgment goes to the UH CLASS Dean, Dr. Antonio D. Tillis, who supported this event by donating tickets to the Chair of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, Dr. Lynn Maher, for her attendance and support of the ASLI alumni and faculty.
“This collaboration has been a blessing. Working with the ASLI Program at UH is nothing short of amazing. When I think of the amount of hours and the attention to detail the interpreters give, just to deliver one show, it blows me away,” relates Judi Stallings, Audience Services Manager for the Hobby Center.
The 2017-2018 season will feature the following shows with ASL interpreters: Sleeping Beauty and her Winter Knight, The Color Purple, School of Rock, Hamilton and Guys and Dolls. To learn more, http://www.thehobbycenter.org/index.php?q=node/132. | <urn:uuid:5f2261d4-ff00-4768-a618-84d139463455> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://uh.edu/class/news/archive/2017/august-september/asli-arts/index.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.934191 | 654 | 1.765625 | 2 |
If you’re past the age of puberty, you have probably figured out that vaginas have a distinct smell — love it or hate it, by now you should be accustomed to your own “brand” of feminine scent. Most of the time, a feminine smell like this is fairly pleasant and might even be described as musky. In other cases, where the smell of your lady bits is a little bit off, it could be the sign that something is wrong.
Here are five common reasons (and one bonus!) that the smell of your vagina might start going south:
Bacterial vaginosis sounds like a big, scary term, but it’s actually very common. In fact, BV is the most common cause of vaginal odor, according to the Mayo Clinic. Every vagina is filled with naturally occurring bacteria, and BV is simply an overgrowth of that bacteria. According to Mary M. Gallenberg, M.D., OB-GYN for the Mayo Clinic, most women in their reproductive years will experience at least one case of BV. The cause is unknown, but unprotected sex and frequent douching can put you at a higher risk. Other symptoms include itching, soreness and discharge.
Dr. Nesochi Okeke-Igbokwe, an internal medicine doctor based in New York City and attending physician at NYU Langone Medical Center, confirms, “BV is an infection caused by an overgrowth of certain bacteria in the vagina. BV may cause a fishy, malodorous discharge. This odor is usually most prominent after sexual intercourse.”
Some cases of BV will go away on their own, but Planned Parenthood recommends that all women with BV symptoms visit their doctor for treatment to prevent rare, but serious, complications. Treatment for BV is usually simple: Okeke-Igbokwe says, “The treatment for this is antibiotics.”
A yeast infection is also very common (and very uncomfortable!). They present much like BV, with the addition of a thick, white discharge. But here’s the kicker: Yeast infections are often easy to miss because they don’t have a very strong smell. Okeke-Igbokwe says, “A yeast infection is a very common fungal infection caused by the overgrowth of yeast called Candida. The vaginal discharge associated with yeast infections tends to have a cottage cheese-like appearance and can be odorless, though sometimes it can produce a mild odor that essentially smells like bread or yeast. The accompanying symptoms of a yeast infection may include vaginal itching, redness, burning and pain with urination or sexual intercourse. These infections are treated with antifungal medications.”
Yeast infections don’t require antibiotics and instead can be treated with a one- or three-course vaginal anti-fungal treatment. Your doctor may also recommend a one-time oral anti-fungal treatment. Treatment for yeast infections has become very simple and can even be purchased over the counter. Most of these treatments tend to get messy, so it’s better to use them overnight. Gallenberg recommends you visit your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms, but have never been diagnosed with a yeast infection, as well as if treatment doesn’t resolve the symptoms or you get four or more infections in one year.
Some STDs can cause feminine odor, the most common being chlamydia and gonorrhea. Both diseases are common and easy to treat, but can cause serious complications if they go untreated. Unfortunately, both are also often undiagnosed because they may or may not produce symptoms. The most common symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea include painful urination and puss-like discharge, although an unpleasant odor is often present as well.
That’s not all — Okeke-Igbokwe continues, “Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the parasite trichomonas vaginalis. Women infected with this may have a greenish discharge with foul smelling odor accompanied by pain while urinating. This infection is also treated with antibiotics.”
See your doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of these symptoms and avoid risk by abstaining from or using protection during sex.
Leave that STD untreated and you could be in for a world of hurt — in the form of pelvic inflammatory disease. “Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs that may arise as a complication of STDs like chlamydia or gonorrhea. PID may also cause feminine odor,” says Okeke-Igbokwe. “Symptoms of this infection may include foul-smelling vaginal discharge, pain with intercourse and abdominal/pelvic pain.”
PID usually isn’t diagnosed until you experience chronic pain or have trouble getting pregnant because it often doesn’t have symptoms. PID can often be treated with antibiotics, though it may leave behind scar tissue that has lasting effects. According to Gallenberg, lasting effects might include chronic pain, infertility or ectopic pregnancies.
It’s possible that the cause for your feminine odor may be nothing more than poor hygiene. We’ve got a lot of complicated parts down there, and caring for them isn’t always easy. Make sure you’re covering all your bases to keep your lady parts fresh and clean.
As Okeke-Igbokwe explains, there are two ways that an unpleasant smell caused by poor hygiene can occur (that are also easy to fix): Sweating and a lack of washing. She says, “Apocrine sweat glands, some of which may be found in the genital region, may contribute to sweating around the genitalia. Increased sweating after exercise or increased physical activity may certainly lead to vaginal odor. Maintaining good hygiene is essential to avoid feminine odor. Routine showering is highly encouraged.”
First and foremost, make sure you’re washing thoroughly every day. Women have oil and sweat glands in the vaginal area that, while completely natural, can cause odor if not attended to. Use mild, fragrance-free soaps, because anything else can upset that sensitive area and lead to even more troubles. Make sure you wipe from front to back after using the restroom and wear clean underwear every day, even if you don’t have time to shower.
There are a lot of products out there that claim to help with odor and keep our parts “presentable,” but stay away from them. Douches, sprays, cloths and creams all claim to help women achieve some sort of super-cleanliness, but they actually cause more problems than they solve. Douches remove some of the bacteria that work to keep your vagina healthy and scented products have been known to cause irritation.
This may not be the “bonus” you had in mind, but it certainly will make for a good story (and a hefty ER bill) later. Forgetting a tampon is something that happens to the best of us, and it can also be a common cause of feminine odor, says Okeke-Igbokwe. “I am sure you have heard stories about women who have forgotten that they have left a tampon in for prolonged periods of time. A retained tampon in the vagina for extended time periods can be quite dangerous. Not only may it cause increased vaginal odor, but in some instances may lead to toxic shock syndrome.”
So you can keep on smelling fresh as a daisy, follow the golden rule and change your tampon at a maximum of every eight hours. And if you happen to forget — hurry up and fish that sucker out.
Learn more at SheKnows | <urn:uuid:70ae8da6-0e8b-4bcc-85db-ed1203217793> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://drnesochi.com/dr-nesochi-discusses-causes-feminine-odor-sheknows/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.957406 | 1,613 | 1.859375 | 2 |
This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
A mournful incident took place in the Arctic today, when a helicopter crash claiming three lives including one of the commanding officer of one of Canada’s Coast Guard cutters. The commanding officer of the CCGS Amundsen, Marc Thibault, expired along with pilot, Daniel Dubé, and a scientist, Klaus Hochheim, while flying on Monday night when their helicopter crashed in the McClure Strait off the coast of Banks Island in the western Arctic.
A Messerschmitt B0-105 chopper was assigned to the Amundsen while it was on a routine to ice reconnaissance mission for checking ice conditions in the area. Even though Amundsen was following the chopper, it lost contact before the incident. Speaking of the incident, Mr. Harper mentioned in a statement that “it is a grim reminder of the very real dangers faced on a regular basis by those brave individuals who conduct research and patrol our Arctic – one of the harshest and most challenging climates in the world – to better understand and protect Canada’s North.” He added that “the courage and dedication of these three brave individuals will be honoured and remembered.”
55-year-old Mr. Hochheim was an Arctic scientist affiliated with the University of Manitoba, who was known as a respected climatologist and research associate with the Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS). Director of the Centre for Earth Observation Science, Tim Papakyriakou, alleged that “Klaus was a friend and colleague. We’re devastated at the news of his passing.” He added that “Klaus … was a veteran of high Arctic field campaigns and an outstanding research scientist. We extend heartfelt condolences to his family. He will be sorely missed by all.” | <urn:uuid:3e28b31a-82f8-4379-91f0-6febf7b69e49> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.oyetimes.com/news/north-america/50153-helicopter-crash-during-an-arctic-region-expedition-claims-three | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.964359 | 379 | 1.914063 | 2 |
Two-thirds of Americans (67%) say there is solid evidence that the earth has been getting warmer over the last few decades, a figure that has changed little in the past few years. While partisan differences over climate change remain substantial, Republicans face greater internal divisions over this issue than do Democrats. Just 25% of Tea Party Republicans say there is solid evidence of global warming, compared with 61% of non-Tea Party Republicans.
The fact that Democrats and Republicans in recent years have taken wildly divergent views on the value of science is not new, but it's worth appreciating the extent to which the divide actually cuts three ways, not two.
A new report from the Pew Research Center found that the divide within the Republican Party is much greater than the divide between the GOP and Democrats.
On the surface, Republicans are evenly divided between denialists and those who understand that there's overwhelming evidence confirming global warming. Indeed, in the Pew report, it's 46% to 46%.
But the real division kicks in when we consider the GOP by faction -- most mainstream Republicans actually accept the science, while Tea Partiers reject the science by a nearly three-to-one margin. Within the Tea Party faction, just 9% -- 9%! -- believe that the planet is warming, mainly due to human activity.
Among Democrats, there are some divisions, but they're educational, not ideological -- 86% of Dems with college degrees accept global warming, while 57% of less-educated Dems agree. Among Republicans, there is almost no differences by education.
Overcoming such opposition is going to be tricky, but the climate crisis doesn't much care either way whether people believe in it or not. | <urn:uuid:fed2a611-1224-4e3e-84e0-745382ead3d4> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-sharply-divided-over-climate-science-msna201886 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.955725 | 344 | 2.078125 | 2 |
|Category||:||Academic & Science » Universities & Institutions|
What does US mean?
University School (US) is a private all-boys day school in Hunting Valley, Ohio, United States.
|Sort By:||Popularity||Alphabetically||Filter by:||Country/Region:||Category:|
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the full form of US in Schools (Ohio, USA)?
The full form of US is University School
What are the full forms of US in Academic & Science?
What are the full forms of US in the United States?
Find translation of University School | <urn:uuid:0ffa1dbf-9cd1-44ee-8c5f-b869de3b973e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://fullforms.com/US/University-School/15731 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.768463 | 175 | 1.921875 | 2 |
There are many online virus scanners available that help in scanning your device or your desktop system. This free scanning often comes handy when you are not willing to opt for full antivirus programs. However, if you know what you are looking for then it becomes easy to look for tools and resources that offer free online virus scan.
It is all about adding an extra layer of security when you opt for something like free online virus scanner. It is not always that you might find reliable resources online, as there are many fake programs or rogue programs that damage system, infiltrate data, manipulate system vulnerabilities and spread virus infection. However, it is not that every program out there is fake; you just need to know the real from fake.
Why do you need free online virus scanner?
Every virus scanner website is different and offers different functionality. Some scanners allow you to upload the file to scan your system; others help you check malware links, some install add-ons to browser or programs that help you scan your system entirely. It is all about the different functionality that different free online virus scan offer. Additionally, it is essential to avoid threats like malware, Trojans and viruses that are dangerous to the system. To do these all, a program that is freely available can be a good option.
The best that you get with an online scan service is that it requires little user action and is uncomplicated. You need not install another program on your PC or your device, it is as easy as a click of a button. The antivirus scans that are available online are helpful in detecting malware and viruses that help you eliminate the threat immediately. Additionally, if you are not thinking about opting for a paid antivirus scanner then the free option is the best. The free version is not only easy to install, but also free and fast.
Given here is a list of best online virus scanners that you can rely upon:
BitDefender is the most popular antivirus program when it comes to online software. It is available as a free version to download and install. It helps in scanning files, boot sector and drives of your system. However, it works with Internet Explorer only; this is just one of the limitations of this virus scanner.
You will be able to conduct a thorough check on your PC for the security status. Additionally, it does not interfere with already installed antivirus program that you have on the system. It still works well and gives you a complete report.
CA Online Malware Scanner
If you are looking for a scanner that will help you browser and drives for the infected file and look for malware then, CA Online Malware Scanner is the best choice. Upload the scanner on the system and check for the malware threat. It is one such online malware scanner that will help you detect threats even from the web browser. It sure is helpful as browser threats are the worst of its kind, and you will not face the annoyance of browser re-direction if you have this scanner installed.
ESET is yet another and one of the most popular malware scanners available freely online. This scanner provides a complete PC scan for worms, Trojans, viruses, online threats, spyware and even phishing. The best that you get with this scanner is that it works with all the popular browsers including Safari, IE, Chrome, and Firefox.
Scanning files and even URLs is essential these days with growing online threats. For this purpose, you should opt for Virustotal, which is a free online virus scanner that comes handy for removing potential URL related threats. This scanner helps you in determining if the URL that you are about to access is dangerous or safe for browsing. To scan a suspicious URL you need to enter it in the relevant field box and the scanner thoroughly checks it. The results related to the scan are immediately displayed, and the report determines the safety level of the URL.
You can even check for potential threats posed by infected files. You can upload file using web uploader to find out if it is safe or not, you are allowed to upload up to 32 MB.
If you are working with numerous file and software versions on your system, then you need something equally compatible to check for infections. VirSCAN is the best that you get for this purpose, this scanner allows you to upload any file version with a limit of 20MB/ file. The scanner works well with a compressed version of the file to determine if it is virus infected or not. Click the option of Choose file-> Upload, your files will be scanned, and results will appear in the browser.
Choosing any of the mentioned virus scanners in this article will be beneficial for you. However, it is up to you which one you choose to install. | <urn:uuid:027edc60-0000-4c41-8f56-6078b2124ecb> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.seekyt.com/the-best-online-virus-scanner/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.943283 | 979 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Pause: How to press pause before life does it for you by Danielle Marchant ($19.99), published by Hachette Australia.
This book is probably the best A$19.99 you will spend this year; so many useful, simple exercises for relaxation and meditation, for re centering and pauses – big and small. If you do nothing else – concentrate on your breathing – deep breathing is so good for the whole body and you can practice this anywhere any time of the day.
One of the ways we can begin to create harmony with our outer world is to create harmony within ourselves. There are different approaches to this. One is creating a natural rhythm
(with your food, sleep, work and so on); another is learning to manage your mind. A long time ago, I was taught, “You have a mind but you are not your mind.” In the same way as you have an arm but you don’t let your arm rule the show, why would you allow your mind to take over?
If your stress levels feel unmanageable and you find it hard to switch off and relax, it’s likely that your mind is busy. For some people this is particularly easy to spot at night, when
after an intense day they lie in bed exhausted, but unable to sleep. The more stress builds within us, the less easy it is for us to flow in our lives.
One tool that helps deal with everyday stress and allows you to begin to manage your mind to bring it back into harmony is meditation. I meet a lot of people in my coaching practice who tell me that they have tried mediation, but found it too difficult and have given up. The trouble is, when they sit down to meditate they can hear their busy minds racing, and they think they are meditating incorrectly. In truth, sitting down to meditate will make you conscious of what is already present, and if for you that’s a racing mind and anxiety, then that is what you will experience. This doesn’t mean you are not doing it right; it simply means that this is what your inner world feels like at this moment in time (and perhaps beyond this moment). The art of meditation is to sit with the experience you are having, whatever it is, without trying to change it, judge it or fix it. Your “job” in meditation is to stay seated and simply pay attention to your breathing, while your mind chatters and your feelings come to the surface.
If that feels too difficult for you at this time, you might like to try this lovely Bee Meditation (see page 74), which I describe as a meditation for people who can’t meditate. I find it works well when you have a busy mind, because the sound you make is a distraction, and the mind loves a distraction! It works by blocking out the senses of sight and sound, and creating an internal vibration by humming. The hum makes a sound like a bee buzzing, hence the name.
Here is how the Bee Meditation works (read this through in full before you begin):
Prepare yourself by finding a place you can be alone for a few minutes. Sit in a comfortable position, with your back straight.
Scan your body and notice how you are feeling.
When you are ready, close your eyes, put your thumbs in your ears and gently cover your eyes with your forefingers (the idea is to block out the senses of sight and sound for a moment).
Inhale, and on the exhale make a humming sound.
Repeat the inhale and hum for ten breaths.
When you have completed your ten breaths, keep your eyes closed, rub your hands together to generate some heat and place your hands over your face.
Gently open your eyes and remove your hands.
Scan your body again and notice how you feel.” p.72 | <urn:uuid:6df2ff37-d15d-4fd4-bc97-da049494fe34> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://readingwritingandriesling.blog/tag/breathe/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.956183 | 809 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Robert Gordon Orr OC (born March 20, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest of all time.
|Bobby Orr OC|
|Played for||Boston Bruins Chicago Black Hawks|
Herein, Who is the greatest hockey player of all time?
The 5 Greatest Hockey Players Ever
- Jaromir Jagr. This name might come as a surprise to some being so high on the all-time list. …
- Gordie Howe. …
- Mario Lemieux. …
- Bobby Orr. …
- Wayne Gretzky. …
- 3 Oilers Who Need to Step Up Their Game.
- 10 Best 7th Round Picks Since 2005.
Accordingly, How old is Don Cherry?
Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian ice hockey commentator and sports writer. He was previously a professional hockey player and National Hockey League (NHL) head coach.
Who is the God of hockey?
He was known for his extraordinary ball control and goal-scoring feats, in addition to earning three Olympic gold medals, in 1928, 1932 and 1936, during an era where India dominated field hockey.
|Dhyan Chand PB|
|Birth name||Dhyan Singh|
|Nickname(s)||The Wizard, The Magician|
Consequently Who is the wealthiest hockey player?
A uston Matthews may be the NHL’s best sniper, leading the league in goals last season, but this year’s biggest score belongs to Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers’ 24-year-old captain reclaims the top spot on Forbes’ list of the NHL’s highest-paid players with $16.4 million for the 2021-22 season.
Is Crosby better than Gretzky?
Gretzky is in first with 1,479 points (495 goals, 984 assists) in 896 games, followed by Jagr with 1,018 points (414 goals, 604 assists) in 858 games. … According to Hockey-Reference.com, Gretzky was on the ice for 70 power-play goals that season, which is 61 percent more than Crosby, who was on for 43 last season.
Where is Ron MacLean now?
MacLean moved to Rogers Media when it acquired “Hockey Night in Canada” rights in 2014. He was out of the host’s chair for two years, but returned in 2016 after the departure of George Stroumboulopoulos.
What was Don Cherry’s salary?
Don Cherry’s net worth / earnings / salary history. He made US$6,000 (US$49,553 in today’s dollars), ranking #5512 in NHL / hockey career earnings.
Who is athletic god?
As the god of athletics, he was the patron of many gymnasia. The games organized for him in these gymnasia were called Hermaia. From the sixth century BC onwards, Hermes was depicted as an athletic young man with a staff and winged sandals.
Who invented hockey?
Beginning in Nova Scotia in the early 1800s, hockey began to evolve into the team sport we know today. Today, Canada remains the country most closely-associated with hockey. The development of the modern version of organized ice hockey played as a team sport is often credited to James Creighton.
What is Sidney Crosby salary?
Sidney Crosby signed a 12 year / $104,400,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, including $104,400,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $8,700,000. In 2021-22, Crosby will earn a base salary of $9,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $8,700,000.
How much money has Sidney Crosby made?
Sidney Crosby Net Worth
|Net Worth:||$75 Million|
|Date of Birth:||Aug 7, 1987 (34 years old)|
|Height:||5 ft 10 in (1.8 m)|
Who is lowest paid NHL player?
The lowest salary that can be given to a player for this season is $750,000. It’s the minimum salary set by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA.
Can Ovechkin pass Gretzky?
If we take that 0.60 goals-per-game clip and average that out, Ovechkin could break Gretzky’s record during the 2023-24 or 2024-25 season. That’s assuming that he averages an estimated 52 goals-per-game in that timeframe.
Who has more goals Crosby or Ovechkin?
Ovechkin tops them all with 1,290; Crosby’s second with 1,273. Considering Crosby’s 1.28 points-per-game, it’s fair to wonder where he’d be if Crosby (996 games played) could match Ovechkin’s incredible durability (1,160 GP). Of course, Ovechkin tops all goal-scorers during that span with a ridiculous 711.
Who was better Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky?
Gretzky is widely regarded as the greatest player in NHL history and holds nearly every possible offensive record. Lemieux has the second-highest points-per-game rate in history and appeared in less than 1,000 games but remains one of the best to ever play.
Where does Kevin Bieksa live?
Bieksa and his wife, Katie, have two children, a son and daughter. The family resides in Newport Beach, California.
What is Ron MacLean salary?
Ron Maclean net worth: Ron Maclean is a Canadian sportscaster who has a net worth of $3 million dollars.
Ron MacLean Net Worth.
|Net Worth:||$3 Million|
|Date of Birth:||Apr 12, 1960 (61 years old)|
|Profession:||Sports commentator, Referee, Actor|
What did Ron Mclean say?
In his statement, MacLean said the ‘tarp off’ comment was a reference to being shirtless, to specify the picture of the rum bottle. As for the quip about being ‘positive,’ MacLean said he meant testing positive for rum.
How much does a Zamboni driver make NHL?
Zamboni Drivers make the most in San Francisco, CA at $43,398, averaging total compensation 46% greater than the US average.
Where is Dave Hodge now?
Hodge joined TSN in 1992 and hosted TSN Inside Sports and its spinoff, That’s Hockey. He also co-hosted the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Hodge hosted a Sunday morning show called The Reporters from 2002 until its cancellation in 2017. He currently provides commentary for TSN’s NHL coverage.
Who was the ugliest god?
Hephaestus. Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly.
Is Aphrodite an Olympian?
Aphrodite is considered one of the twelve major Olympian gods, ruling from Mount Olympus under the leadership of Zeus; however, she is the only Olympian not fathered by the Titan Kronos or the god Zeus.
Why is Hestia not Olympian?
Hestia was the personification of the hearth & so she received sacrifices in all the temples of the gods. The Greek goddess was the only one to not join the Olympians in their failed attack on Zeus.
Last Updated: 17 days ago – Authors : 5 – Contributors : 31 – References : 38 interviews and posts; 13 Videos.
Discover all about your fav. celebs at Celebrity Interviews and don’t forget to share this post ! | <urn:uuid:a5138ddc-3716-4e9c-9257-b337a18ef409> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://celebrity.fm/is-bobby-orr-a-canadian-citizen/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.946981 | 1,761 | 1.609375 | 2 |
The link between terrorism and global poverty isn’t as clear as many initially thought and may not exist at all, panelists said at a two-day conference (May 3-4) at the John F. Kennedy School of Government that sought real-world suggestions on how to cut terrorism off at the roots.
“Undermining Terrorism: New Concepts and Policies for an Interdependent World” brought together Harvard experts on terrorism, government, and international affairs and put their ideas before about 200 invited guests. The Harvard experts and attendees worked together in smaller sessions to hash out several practical suggestions.
The suggestions ranged from promoting women in leadership positions around the world to increasing security around weapons-grade nuclear material to making software manufacturers liable for security gaps in their products.
The conference came as Congress worked on homeland security legislation that would create a new Department of Homeland Security, which would incorporate the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Customs Service, the Coast Guard, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The legislation would also create a White House director of the National Office for Combating Terrorism.
The recommendations were presented on Saturday (May 4) to Adm. Steve Abbott, deputy director of the Office of Homeland Security, who delivered the conference’s closing address.
Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers delivered the lunchtime keynote speech on the conference’s opening day. He posed a series of questions to attendees that he hoped would steer discussion in a fruitful direction and stimulate further discussion both at the conference and in the broader University community. Summers urged attendees to focus on causes of terrorism, specifically those that can be changed, and to address the ethnic stereotyping and prejudice that can lead to ethnic violence. He also said he thought the influence of poverty on terrorist organizations may be less significant than many believe and suggested that the true roots might be a feeling of alienation from the global community.
“We need to understand the roots of [terrorist hostility]: disaffection, a failure to feel included. I suspect that thinking about fostering a broader sense of community, though difficult, is more important than increasing material [wealth],” Summers said.
Summers urged the group to evaluate the vulnerable points of terrorist organizations – its leadership, for example – which, if removed or changed, could render them harmless.
The conference sessions featured a variety of Kennedy School faculty and included smaller group gatherings where specific ideas and proposals could be discussed. Kennedy School Dean Joseph S. Nye Jr. kicked the conference off Friday morning (May 3), by challenging those attending to get some work done, not just sit back and listen.
Nye said he was concerned that the nation might already be beginning to relax and forget the lessons of Sept. 11. He said it is important that reforms begun after Sept. 11 continue if future attacks are to be prevented.
Reiterating themes in his recent book, “The Paradox of American Power,” Nye said it is important for the United States to consider the implications of acting unilaterally in a world where the nation may appear to be dominant but where the Internet, the communications revolution, and globalization has diffused power.
One of the results of modern technology, Nye said, is the “privatization of war,” which puts the ability to cause violence on the scale of Sept. 11 – which used to be reserved for national governments – in the hands of terrorists.
“In the 20th century, if you wanted to kill lots of people, you needed a government apparatus to do it. In the 21st century, that power is in the hands of deviant groups of individuals,” Nye said. “The lesson of Sept. 11 is that events in poor, weak countries halfway around the globe mean very much to us.”
The opening panel discussion highlighted the complexity of the problem. Different panelists talked about the mindset of the terrorists, economic considerations, and political issues.
Jessica Stern, lecturer in public policy, said the driving force behind terrorism isn’t so much economic deprivation as perceived economic deprivation, coupled with perceived humiliation and hopelessness. While those negative factors might influence some to join terrorist ranks, the groups themselves often project a certain allure. The societies where terrorist groups arise view them as prestigious, giving members and their families added stature in the community.
Though religion is sometimes a founding cause for terrorist groups, over time, it becomes just another tool leaders use in recruiting. Because different people are motivated by different things, savvy leaders use a variety of inducements, Stern said, from financial incentives to posthumous fame to the emotional security of being part of a group.
Robert Lawrence, the Albert L. Williams Professor of International Trade and Investment at the Kennedy School, said he had no simple answers to the question as to whether poverty is linked to terrorism. While terrorist leaders tend to come from professional classes and money is important to the groups’ operations, the foot soldiers are often poor and the organizations need failing or failed states – which are often poor – in which to set up shop.
Still, Lawrence said, relatively wealthy nations, such as Britain and France, have terrorist organizations, and some very poor countries do not. Lawrence said we may actually find that terrorism will increase as poorer nations develop economically and its citizens are freed from the daily struggle to survive.
“I don’t believe we ought to try to keep people poor, but we need to keep in mind that this is a complex relationship and policies we pursue are as likely to foster periods of disruption as they are to solve the problem,” Lawrence said.
But talk of economics may be misdirected, according to Graham Allison, Douglas Dillon Professor of Government and director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, who said he believes terrorists are, at their root, politically driven organizations fighting national separatist wars, civil wars, and colonialism. Allison pointed to Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s vision of a greater Islamic state incorporating several current nations and his desire to get U.S. troops out of Saudi Arabia as evidence that Al Qaeda is no different.
With terrorist organizations dependent on failed states for their home bases, Michael Ignatieff, director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy and professor of the practice of human rights policy, said creating a network of strong, capable governments around the world that can crush major groups that set up shop on their home turf might be the best answer.
He said the end of the Cold War was accompanied by a burst of nationalist movements that created several new nations, only a few of which have been viable.
“We came into the ’90s with an acceleration of globalization, accompanied by an epidemic of state failures … of which Afghanistan was the poster child,” Ignatieff said. “The only control we have on terror is more global networks of capable, legitimate states that can crush illegitimate organizations of violence.”
As Israel is finding out now, Ignatieff said, the best guarantee for security is to have neighbors that are strong nations. The Palestinian Authority, he said, is a failed state.
“This is what the Palestinian Authority has become. Because the PA is unable to meet the needs of its population, it’s decided to meet its frustrations,” Ignatieff said. “It’s the most dramatic example I know of how a failed state can become a security nightmare. Good states need strong neighbors, not weak neighbors.” | <urn:uuid:8a7dedf7-72e6-463b-a481-104acc7859cc> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2002/05/ksg-takes-close-look-at-terrorism/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.963473 | 1,536 | 1.90625 | 2 |
2021 Marshman, J. & Willis Chan, D. S. Making Space for Wild Pollinators: the Socio-Ecology of Pollination. More than human: interactions and relations panel presentation. 2021 RGS-IBG Annual International Conference, London, UK.
2021 Marshman, J. & Knezevic, I. Challenging the Commodification of Pollination through the Diverse Economies of 'Bee Cities'. Radical Food Geographies panel presentation and discussion. 2021 ASFS-AFHVS-CAFS-SAFN Joint Virtual Conference.
2020 Marshman, J. The Bee City Movement: Shifting the Doomsday Narrative to Hope. Presentation for the Laurier-Milton Lecture Series [Recorded].
2020 Marshman, J. & Imort, M. How can Geography help us understand the COVID-19 pandemic? Presentation for the Laurier Association for Lifelong Learning [Recorded].
2019 Marshman, J., Chan, S., Wojcik, V. Conservation Praxis: Perspectives on a Healthy Future for People, Pollinators, and Planet. Panel organizer and presenter for the annual conference of the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society (AFHVS), Finding Home in the "Wilderness": Explorations in Belonging in Circumpolar Food Systems. Anchorage, Alaska, June 2019.
2019 Marshman, J. Building bridges between people and bees [workshop]. Guelph Organic Conference, Guelph, Ontario.
2019 Marshman, J. Anthropocene Crisis: Urban Bees to Bridge the Human/Nature Divide [Guest lecture]. Wilfrid Laurier University, GESC 290A, Waterloo, Ontario.
2018 Marshman, J. Power, Praxis, and Inclusionary Othering: An Urban Bee Story. Paper presented at the Place-Based Food Systems Conference, Making the Case, Making it Happen. Richmond, British Columbia.
2018 Marshman, J. Power, Praxis, and Othering: Urban Bees to Bridge the Human/Nature Divide. Invited to present at the Third International Conference of Agriculture and Food in an Urbanizing Society. Porto Alegre, Brazil. [declined]
2018 Marshman, J. Anthropocene Crisis: Urban Bees to Bridge the Human/Nature Divide. Paper presented at the 13th Annual Canadian Association for Food Studies conference, Gathering Diversities. Regina, Saskatchewan, June, 2018.
2016 Marshman, J. Gleaning in the 21st Century: Urban Food Recovery and Community Food Security in Ontario, Canada [Pecha Kucha]. Presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Association for Food Studies, Scarborough Fare: Global Foodways and Local Foods in a Transnational City, Toronto, Ontario. | <urn:uuid:f1493367-7cb7-4d85-a08b-0a75134d4e45> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.jennifermarshman.com/publications | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.795483 | 580 | 1.585938 | 2 |
So you may well have noticed that bots are big. Facebook announced this week their new messenger platform, and that means bots, and bots are big. Microsoft’s CEO has said that bots are the new apps. I’m not sure about that entirely, but I do think that bots will be big, possibly not as big as apps have been, but they’re going to make a difference, that’s for sure.
Of course bots are not new. We have them now for music, but not necessarily inside music making apps. Some of you may know ‘Graphic Score Bot‘, which is a twitter bot run by my friend Deerful (remember my review of her gig? And she’s a part of School of Noise too). Her Graphic Score Bot will be demonstrated at Abandon Normal Devices this weekend and I’m sure it’ll be fun. Come along if you can drag yourself away from record store day anyway. I’m planning to be there too.
There’s my RandomBus bot too, which you’ve almost certainly heard of too. It suggests random Audiobus setups for you. But twitter bots like these are just the tip of the iceberg and of course they don’t integrate directly into your mobile music apps do they.
With bots coming to messenger what will it mean for mobile music, and how could they make creating music better?
I think that there are a lot of ways actually, but two things immediately jump out at me. These are:
- How musical bots can be integrated into existing platforms, Messenger for a start and others as there will certainly be others
- How musical bots can become a natural part of existing apps
Let’s start with the first one, musical bots inside of of platforms like Messenger. How would that work then? I’ve got some ideas but first I’d like to address why this is important as you might be thinking “Why bother?“, and that’s a very reasonable question to ask.
So let’s list out the reasons why it would be good to get some little musical bots into Messenger …
- Messenger has around 900 million users. When bots start to appear there’ll be a lot of users who want to try them out.
- Whilst lots of these initial bots will be about news and providing services, but, at its core Messenger is about communicating, and not just communicating with text but in lots of other engaging ways. That’s why there’s emoji, stickers etc. Sound and music is a natural extension.
- If a handful of musical bots can capture the imagination of Messenger users then it could spark an interest in some of the excellent ‘casual‘ music making apps that are on iOS.
So, to summarise, the proposition is simple, get people interested in making music through a popular messaging platform. Makes sense? Ok, you may or may not agree with me so far, but consider some of the possibilities …
How about these …
- Imagine having Wotja (the excellent app from Intermorphic) inside Messenger, so you could not only communicate with text, but send that as a tiny piece of music too?
- In fact, I can see a lot of text to sound / music applications, perhaps genre based, perhaps instrument based, such as something that turns your text into beats?
- Or how about, when sending images, you could have a bot that converts your images to sound at the same time. I think that could be really awesome, or is it just me who thinks that?
Actually I think that there are loads more possibilities and I’m sure that whatever people come up (and I really really hope that they do) I’m sure that they’ll be truly inventive.
Moving on to the my next bot topic then … Bots in music apps …
This is possibly a more difficult subject. I’m not sure that there’s anything quite like a bot inside a current music app. Sure there are features in apps like randomisation, and it works very well in apps like Mixtikl and Elastic Drums, but these are randomisation options and not anything like an AI type option inside an app. However, I think that this sort of thing could work, and work well too.
Let’s imagine for a moment that you had something like RandomBus sitting inside Audiobus itself? Or, if you could have Graphic Score Bot inside an app to make useful suggestions when you’re struggling with a lack of inspiration? I think that concepts like this could work well in a whole host of apps, a bit like having a Siri inside your app that helps you to make music when you’re a bit stuck.
Personally I don’t find this problematic at all. I mean, we already have a bunch of apps that make music creation easier and there’s nothing wrong with that at all, in fact it’s a massive plus for mobile music in that it helps to engage people’s creativity. I think bots could be a fantastic extension to that and could have the potential to draw more people into making music and in even more fun ways.
So that’s my take on bots, for now anyway. I’d like to see how things develop with Messenger, and on other platforms too. But more than that I’d like to hear your views too.
Let me know what you think. | <urn:uuid:81aa834f-e13f-41a0-ae01-9efe9ab5c345> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://palmsounds.net/2016/04/14/the-bots-are-coming-so-what-does-it-mean-for-mobile-music/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.962139 | 1,148 | 1.742188 | 2 |
MEET is the annual gathering of educators, evaluators and technologists working across the cultural sector, held in conjunction with the AMaGA conference, this year being held in Canberra. This year MEET is on Thursday 10 June, 9-11.45 am in the Ferguson Room, National Library of Australia.
Talks are structured around:
- What have we learned?
- What are the opportunities going forward?
- How will we now work differently?
- Noting that the word ‘pivot’ is banned (except for Michael Parry!)
If you haven’t already booked for #MEET2021, please email Dr Lynda Kelly, EVRNN President: email@example.com. But hurry, numbers are limited to 50!
Kylie Neagle, Education Coordinator, Art Gallery of South Australia. AGSA Education launching into (online) space
Shift from in person to online teacher professional development that connects with the gallery and is relevant for educators and our online workshop pedagogy. Moving forward; how to deliver a blend of in person and online within current resourcing limitations.
Dr Stephanie Smith, Manager of Learning, MoAD. Digital Snapshots
- Short, sharp digital resources to support teachers in the classroom or remote learning
- Accessible content similar format – background, story, call to action activity
- Drawing on objects, spaces and stories to engage students
Abbie McPhie, Audience Research and Evaluation Manager AND Marissa Beard, Education Manager, National Museum of Australia. The Endeavour Voyage: a comparison of a digital exhibition and programs with the onsite experience
The National Museum of Australia (NMA) planned a major onsite exhibition around the 250 Anniversary of the sailing of HMB Endeavour, with an onsite education program developed to complement a visit to the exhibition. Schools / education were a key audience and significant audience testing undertaken.
But then… COVID-19 happened and the NMA had to adapt this content for digital. This paper presents the exhibition as a key example of what works and what doesn’t when adapting content for digital, for both schools / education and general audiences, and how digital and onsite content, programs and resources can intersect with each other in unexpected ways.
Krysia Kitch, Manager Learning Program AND Gill Raymond, Digital Manager, National Portrait Gallery. Wrangling Workshops, maximising impact
Adaption of existing schools’ programs to home delivery with scaling up to deliver intended onsite workshops to online delivery. Technical adaptation and finessing including special equipment and diversifying the platforms on which the program was delivered.
Looking forward we intend to continue to offer practical art workshops in a range of media, in the near future looking at trialling photography workshops and also exploring a pay-as-you-can option.
Stephanie Rosestone. Engagement Learning and Programs Manager, National Wool Museum. Creating CREATE – turning a festival of events into an online learning platform VIA ZOOM
Adapting a festival of events to an online interactive platform – with courses, videos, live online events, downloadable activities and a public gallery. Reflections on what worked well, what didn’t and where to from here.
Natalie Carfora, Exhibition Coordinator, MOD. MOD.’s application of COVID innovation
Before COVID, we used digital in specific ways. March 2020. Everything turned upside down. We built an online exhibition in eight days and adapted our online offer, including live-streamed content four evenings a week.
Now of course, it’s changed again. We’ve emerged with new learnings and are putting new procedures in place to ensure that our future in-gallery exhibitions and our new digital practices will better co-exist.
Dr Lynda Kelly, LyndaKellyNetworks. Why won’t they pay…?
Explores the barriers to paying for digital content across a range of audiences to address the question “Why won’t they pay?”
Michael Parry, Dr Keir Winesmith, MAPDA Awards Judges. Reflecting on the best of GLAM Digital VIA ZOOM / F2F
The 2021 set of MAPDA entries was even larger than usual, particularly due to the boosted number of digital projects submitted – so much pivoting! In this session join some of the digital category judges for a candid insight into what they saw in more than 70 digital projects from across Australia and New Zealand. Based on feedback from across the judging panel, the presentation will include identification of key trends, highlight successes and best practice, but also explore where there are opportunities for digital experiences and projects to improve. Come and learn from the best digital GLAM work from across a very unique year.
#MEET2021 FINAL THINGS
The session will have a Q&A wrap-up followed by the Education National Network AGM, then lunch 12.35, then booked tours from 1.30. | <urn:uuid:739197a9-31f0-417b-8e4e-de0d48ae4c16> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://musdigi.wordpress.com/2021/05/21/looking-forward-looking-back-meet2021-at-amaga2021-program-and-abstracts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.919361 | 1,054 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Clinical Question: Is hydroxychloroquine (with or without azithromycin) effective in treating COVID-19?
Bottom Line: One nonrandomized study found that more hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin patients tested negative for virus at days 3 and 6 but clinical outcomes were not reported. One unblinded randomized trial showed no effect from hydroxychloroquine on viral or clinical outcomes. Without further evidence, hydroxychloroquine is not appropriate for patients with COVID-19 in primary care.
To read the full article, click here. | <urn:uuid:1321ab77-51af-4e43-8ee3-3928eb1c3810> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://acfp.ca/tfp-256-hydroxychloroquine-with-or-without-azithromycin-for-covid-19/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571246.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811073058-20220811103058-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.897463 | 120 | 2.1875 | 2 |
This element is also available in our updated HTML 4 reference. Some characteristics may have changed.
|May occur in:||BODY, DIV, CENTER, BLOCKQUOTE, FORM, TH, TD, DT, DD, LI, P, H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, PRE, ADDRESS, TT, I, B, U, STRIKE, BIG, SMALL, SUB, SUP, EM, STRONG, DFN, CODE, SAMP, KBD, VAR, CITE, FONT, A, APPLET, CAPTION.
When you use a client-side imagemap, the information on the "hot spots" (clickable areas) in the image is defined here. Every selectable area should be mentioned in an AREA tag inside the MAP tag. The NAME attribute on the MAP tag assigns a name to the imagemap. The URL for the client-side imagemap should point to this.
For example, if you have a map named "foo", you could reference to it
<IMG SRC="map.gif" USEMAP="#foo">
if the image was on the same page.
HTML 3.2 Reference ~ Elements by Function ~ Elements Alphabetically
Home, Forums, Reference, Tools, FAQs, Articles, Design, Links
Copyright © 1996 - 2006. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:56997382-bafd-439b-b166-a9752bfdca82> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.htmlhelp.com/reference/wilbur/special/map.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.778758 | 333 | 1.65625 | 2 |
By Deshawn Coy
To answer this question, I will be using this essay to effectively elaborate on race-first philosophy and its ideological foundation within the Original People’s Party (OPP). The concept of race-first represents an ideological wing of the overall Pan Afrikan movement, prolifically articulated by the Most Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). It is defined for Black Afrikan people and their descendants to organize and mobilize for the collective upliftment of the race, as opposed to being dependent on other external groups to solve our problems. During Garvey’s era and at times contemporarily, a response to this ‘race first’ philosophy is labeled as ‘racism’ or ‘reverse racism’ by critics. It is my intention to dispel this notion by providing historical context and the fragile alternative of using intersectional/class orientation as the foundation for coalitions or alliances with non-Black Afrikan peoples.
I will start by explaining Garvey’s views on race first. Garvey biographer Tony Martin, explains Garvey’s views in Race First detailing “The urgency Garvey felt for racial independence and self-reliance led him to argue that in independent endeavor lay the only hope of an eventual solution to the problem of race prejudice. The white race would cease its aggressiveness toward the black when it was met by independent black power of a magnitude equal to its own.” Martin quotes Garvey stating “White prejudice was manifested not because there is a difference between us in religion or in colour, but because there is a difference between us in power.” In Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey, Garvey states:
“So long as Negroes occupy an inferior position among the races and the nations of the world, just so long will others be prejudiced against them, because it will be profitable for them to keep up their system of superiority. But when the Negro by his own initiative lifts himself from his low state to the highest human standard, he will be in position to stop begging and praying, and demand a place that no individual, race or nation will be able to deny him.”
As I’ve articulated, these beliefs are what served as the foundation for Garvey and the UNIA which allowed it to amass millions of members during the height of the movement. It is my belief that this philosophy, along with the historical and biological connection of us, being the original man and woman of this Earth, that we as Afrikan people can complete Garvey’s and the ancestors’ vision.
The following section of this essay is not to dismiss the need (at times), for intersectional and multi-racial/national solidarity; instead, it’s an argument to highlight aspects of the weakness of using it as a primary foundation to politically operate towards solving the problems of our race. Historically, individuals or groups who have identified themselves as sympathetic whites, Marxist, or communist, have at varying degrees attempted coalitions in solidarity with the African struggle; often viewing and proposing solutions to political issues primarily through a race-neutral class lense. I will provide historical examples where these interests have conflicted and often overridden their class orientation goals.
To start off, we will use one of Garvey’s contemporary critics of the 1930s time period, George Padmore. Padmore, a communist, denounced Garvey as a fraud and accused him of using the plight of Black people to promote the ‘class interests’ of the Black bourgeoisie and landlords, according to Tony Martin. However as time went on, Padmore became aware of the contradictions of communism, given the communist Soviet Union’s tacit support of fascist Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia and American communist hostility toward Black civil rights activists during World War II. This exemplifies that while a communist state such as the Soviets, may claim to be ‘class-oriented’ and aligned with globally oppressed people, that does not exempt them from assisting a fellow European nation if its in their geopolitical interest. Padmore would later depart from the communist movement in the 1940s and embrace elements of Garvey’s views on race first philosophy. Another communist example is seen in China during the Cold War era, where China ended up aligning with the Western imperialist intervention of the Angolan independence conflict, which is written in greater detail by Dwayne Wong.
In contrast to the communist examples, Garvey’s fiercest contemporary rival, W.E.B. Du Bois, during his NAACP days, was a staunch reformist/integrationist. Believing that by appealing to the consciousness of ‘well-meaning’ whites and aligning with them, Du Bois conducted scientific social studies in literary works to provide evidence of white people’s ignorance to the Negro problem to gain political reforms. However, after years of data research and political agitation, Du Bois came to the following conclusion in an excerpt from his 1940 Dusk of Dawn autobiography:
“I began to be deeply and disturbingly aware that with all the success of our agitation and propaganda, with the wide circulation, reading and attention which the Crisis [NAACP magazine] enjoyed, with the appearance of Negroes on the lecture platform everywhere, and the emergence of a distinct and creditable Negro literature, nevertheless the barriers of race prejudice were certainly as strong in 1930 as in 1910 the world over, and in certain aspects, from certain points of view, even stronger.
Or, in other words, beyond my conception of ignorance and deliberate ill-will as causes of race prejudice, there must be other and stronger and more threatening forces, forming the founding stones of race antagonisms, which we had only begun to attack or perhaps, in reality, had not attacked at all. Moreover, the attack upon these hidden and partially concealed causes of race hate must be led by Negroes in a program which was not merely negative in the sense of calling on white folk to desist from certain practices and give up certain beliefs; but direct in the sense that Negroes must proceed constructively in new and comprehensive plans of their own.”
Thereafter, Du Bois embraced many of the race-first/self-reliance views that he attacked Garvey for during the peak of their political disagreement in the 1920s.
In conclusion, I believe both race and class should be accounted for in political analysis in the search of solutions to our people’s problems. However, as stated previously in my opinion, a race-first philosophy can be a stronger foundation for lasting solidarity on which class analysis can be built on given the historical bonds that tie Afrikan people together. This is seen in varying degrees in the post-Garvey era which his influence reaching from here in the United States with the Nation of Islam to the Motherland, influencing post-colonial African independence leaders and movements in the latter part of the 20th century.
I will end this essay using a quote from our dear ancestor, Dr. Amos Wilson, providing further psychological analysis towards why a race-first foundation is important:
“Most often a group is formed based on the sharing among its members of a common history, set of values, fat, plight, or on their consciousness of a shared collective identity, e.g., socioeconomic class, political or social category, or ethnicity. These shared factors form [the] basis for the construction of a group solidarity and the use of solidarity to generate and exercise social power.
The achievement of group solidarity and organization results from the mobilization of previously disunited individuals in order to create or activate power they may already have possessed but could not employ due to the absence of will and a facilitating group ideology.”
- Tony Martin, Race First: The Ideological and Organizational Struggles of Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association, Pages 32-33
- Amy Jacques Garvey, Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey, Page 26, Subtitle: ‘Race Assimilation’
- Tony Martin, Race First: The Ideological and Organizational Struggles of Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association, Pages 262-265
- W.E.B. Du Bois, Dusk of Dawn, Pages 141-142
- Amos N. Wilson Blueprint for Black Power: A Moral, Political, and Economic Imperative for the Twenty-First Century, Page 45
Interested in joining OPP? Join here!
Follow me on Twitter @DeshawnCoy | <urn:uuid:2bf2480c-89a1-416b-ae31-950768564132> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://ogpeoples.org/isnt-race-first-racist-essay/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.947853 | 1,782 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Greed investors will lead to a new bitcoin-bubble. So says the CEO of the American startup Civic Winnie Lingham, writes Bitcoinist .
“Do I think we will have another bubble?” Probably because people just don’t learn. When Bitcoin breaks through $ 20 thousand again, it will return to $ 100 or so, ”Lingham said.
According to him, the December “bubble” and its subsequent collapse is easily explained by imbalances of supply and demand.
Lingham is of the opinion that scalability issues are a barrier to the massive adoption of Bitcoin. He also believes that developers should be on the market because of their faith in their project, and not because of mercantile considerations.
Note that in February, General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements Agustin Carstens said that Bitcoin is a bubble, a pyramid and an ecological disaster in one person.
In March, a cryptographer and pioneer in the field of smart contracts, Nick Sabo , criticized analysts who stick to bitcoin labels like “bubble” or “tulipmania”.
Download the BlockchainJournal app for Android smartphones! Subscribe to the BlockchainJournal news on Facebook !
TOP 10 CRYPTOCURRENCY
|#||Name||Price||Market Cap||Change||Price Graph (24h)| | <urn:uuid:cd681d88-9102-4f16-b026-355fcaa0a5cd> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://blockchainjournal.news/winnie-lingham-is-waiting-for-the-next-bitcoin-bubble/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.903955 | 291 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Hi everyone! Welcome back to Melissa Making Cents!
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and financial coach, I believe in budgeting. Budgeting is a healthy financial habit that helps pays off in the long run. Budgets seem to work for some people, and for others budgeting can be a struggle. More than often, I find the reason for the struggle can be tied to a few main reasons:
- Unrealistic Budgets
- Underestimating Expenses
- Irregular Income
Last week I talked about budgeting--including why everyone should have a budget in their financial plan, and how to get in the habit of tracking all income and expenses. For people who earn a regular paycheck and know exactly how much money they will make each month, budgeting is a fairly straightforward process. But what if your income changes from month to month, as might the case for contract workers, small business owners, freelancers, or people with multiple jobs? The good news is that there are still ways to budget--it just requires a little more financial creativity!
Here are some special considerations for creating a budget based on irregular income.
Review your pay stubs, and find your lowest monthly income to determine your budget
Go through your pay stubs (or bank statements) for the past two years to determine your lowest monthly income, your highest monthly income, and your average monthly income. This will give you a fuller idea of your finances throughout the year, especially if it’s affected by seasonality. Then focus on the lowest amount you earned in a month. If you are self-employed and need to pay estimated taxes every quarter, subtract the amount you would have to pay in taxes from your lowest monthly gross pay. The result is going to be the number that determines your baseline budget.
Now, you might be wondering why you don’t make a budget based on the average income you’re pulling in. Well, it’s always better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best! Basing your budget on the lowest number helps you to keep your expenses in check.
List out your expenses in date order
If you’ve heard of the 50/30/20 rule for budgeting, you’re probably familiar with grouping expenses into categories (50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings). While you should still understand the difference between wants and needs, with an irregular income I recommend taking a slightly different approach to budgeting that isn’t as firmly based on percentages.
Instead, start by listing your expenses in date order. Make sure you prioritize your “needs” (housing, food, insurance, etc) before any of your “wants” (entertainment, dining out, etc.). You’ll want to make sure that your baseline budget covers all your necessities. In addition, try to allocate at least some of your income for savings, even on your baseline budget. Then increase that number during months when your income is higher.
Adjust your budget throughout the month, based on your actual earnings
If you have an irregular income, creating a budget based on your lowest projected monthly income means that most of the time, you will be pleasantly surprised by how much more you’re earning! But that means it’s just as important to have a plan for that extra money. If your baseline budget didn’t cover all your discretionary expenses, refer back to the list you created and use that extra money to cover those expenses you want. If you need to pay taxes on this extra money because they are not deducted from your paycheck, make sure you plan for that too so you don’t overspend! I also recommend putting a portion of that money earned above your baseline budget into your various saving goals, including your emergency fund and retirement account.
Create an additional fund to cover expenses during a slower month
Remember that exercise you did at the beginning to understand the ebbs and flows of your income stream? Maybe you will see clear patterns, like having a substantial increase or decrease in income during the winter holidays. Or perhaps, there is no discernible pattern and you can’t predict when your income will dip. This is why it helps to create an additional savings fund--beyond your emergency fund--to make sure you always have ready cash on hand to pay your bills while waiting for the next paycheck to come in. This is especially helpful if you’re a contractor or freelancer who works with clients that might take a bit longer to pay their bills! The extra savings fund also provides a financial cushion in the event that your lowest monthly income doesn’t cover all your essential expenses.
A financial coach or a financial planner can help you create your budget on an irregular income
Working for yourself or having variable income can be an exciting adventure, but it does make it a little trickier to stick to a budget. I’ve worked with clients in a wide range of employment situations, and I can tell you that it truly is possible for anyone--with any type of income--to create a successful budget. My financial coaching program Making Cents of Your Money can also help you learn how to budget, no matter how irregular your income is. If you want assistance in learning how to create a budget that meets your needs, please call or email to schedule an appointment with me.
Until next time...this is Melissa Making Cents!
Melissa Anne Cox CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ is also a College Planning and Student Loan Advisor in Dallas, Texas. | <urn:uuid:7a3cca7a-dbad-4502-b017-57e57ac3bb16> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.fettermaninvestments.com/blog/how-to-budget-with-variable-income | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.953887 | 1,152 | 1.796875 | 2 |
What's the weather like in the Maldives in July?
Sitting in the Indian Ocean off the southwest coast of Sri Lanka and India, the Maldives is an island chain that has warm weather all year round. Temperatures are always high, but the amount of rain does change throughout the year. The wet season’s from May to October, so July’s one of the wettest months of the year. Despite this, you'll still get plenty of sunny weather. You'll get less rain to the north due to the south westerly monsoon winds. There are stronger winds in general during the wet season. Humidity’s also higher, but July’s still a popular month to travel to the Maldives as you might be able to find a cheaper holiday.
The average high in capital Malé is 30ºC in July, which only drops to 25ºC at night. Don’t waste space in your suitcase with warm clothes as you won’t be needing them. The sea temperature’s 29ºC, which is perfect for swimming, while humidity’s high. There’s 161mm of rain over 13 days, although you can still expect 12 hours of daylight with seven hours of sunshine each day. Take care in the sun as UV levels will be extremely high. Sunset’s around 6.20pm. | <urn:uuid:7d92c787-25e4-4566-8171-589fe5c693db> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.thomascook.com/holidays/weather/indian-ocean/maldives/july/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571246.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811073058-20220811103058-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.970379 | 289 | 1.890625 | 2 |
Figure 1. The Baha BP100 hearing system. From left to right: titanium fixture, percutaneous abutment, and BP100 sound processor.
Figure 2. The TransEar 380-HF hearing device.
Figure 3. The 7-speaker arrangement used for testing.
Figure 4. Localization scores for unaided and aided groups compared with control. TE indicates TransEar 380-HF.
Figure 5. Comparison of localization accuracy for the unaided vs the aided condition for the BP100 and TransEar 380-HF (TE) groups. Overlapping points are slightly staggered for ease of viewing.
Figure 6. The laterality judgment scores for unaided and aided groups compared with control. TE indicates TransEar 380-HF.
Figure 7. Comparison of laterality judgment scores for the unaided vs the aided condition for the BP100 and TransEar 380-HF (TE) groups. Overlapping points are slightly staggered for ease of viewing.
Customize your JAMA Network experience by selecting one or more topics from the list below.
Battista RA, Mullins K, Wiet RM, Sabin A, Kim J, Rauch V. Sound Localization in Unilateral Deafness With the Baha or TransEar Device. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013;139(1):64–70. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2013.1101
Author Affiliations: The Ear Institute of Chicago, Hinsdale (Drs Battista, Mullins, Wiet, and Rauch and Ms Kim); and the Departments of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern University Medical School (Dr Battista) and Rush University Medical Center (Dr Wiet), and Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University (Dr Sabin), Chicago, Illinois.
Objective To evaluate the sound localization capabilities of patients with unilateral, profound sensorineural hearing loss who had been treated with either a bone-anchored hearing device (Baha BP100) or a TransEar 380-HF bone-conduction hearing device.
Study Design Nonrandomized, prospective study.
Setting Tertiary referral private practice.
Patients Patients with unilateral, profound sensorineural hearing loss treated with a BP100 (n = 10) or a TransEar (n = 10) device. Patients wore the hearing device for at least 1 month and had normal hearing in the contralateral ear. Ten patients with normal, bilateral hearing were used for control.
Interventions Sound localization of a 3-second recorded sound with and without a TransEar or Baha device was assessed using an array of 7 speakers at head level separated by approximately 45 degrees. The recorded sounds were that of a barking dog or a police siren. Randomized trials of 4 presentations per speaker were given for each hearing condition.
Main Outcome Measures Sound localization was assessed by the accuracy in response and the generalized laterality of response.
Results The mean accuracy of speaker localization was 24% and 26% for the aided condition using the BP100 and TransEar devices, respectively. The mean accuracy of laterality judgment was 59% and 69% for the aided condition using the BP100 and TransEar devices, respectively. These results were only slightly better than chance. There was no statistical difference in localization accuracy or laterality judgment between the BP100 and TransEar groups.
Conclusion Neither the BP100 nor the TransEar device improved sound localization accuracy or laterality judgment ability in patients with unilateral, profound sensorineural hearing loss compared with performance in the unaided condition.
In the United States, there are approximately 50 000 to 60 000 new cases per year of unilateral, profound sensorineural hearing loss (UPSNHL).1 This results in a number of significant auditory perceptual difficulties relative to binaural hearing. The most prominent of these difficulties include (1) difficulty understanding speech in background noise or in reverberation, (2) poor understanding of the person talking on the deaf side, and (3) poor sound localization capabilities. Because of these difficulties, monaural listening often results in decreased communication ability and reduced psychosocial function in everyday listening situations.2-4 Since 2000, the bone-anchored hearing device (Baha) has become a popular choice in the treatment of UPSNHL.5 The Baha device, when used as treatment for UPSNHL, acts as a transcranial contralateral routing of off-side signal.
Several studies6-10 have demonstrated the benefit of Baha amplification to improve speech intelligibility in noise and the quality of life in patients with UPSNHL. Studies6,7,11,12 evaluating the effectiveness of sound localization using the Baha device, however, have shown little to no benefit.
The US Food and Drug Administration first approved the Baha device for use in UPSNHL in 2002. Since that time, the device has undergone gradual design improvements. Since 2002, the device has evolved from the Baha Compact to the Baha Divino and now, the current device, the BP100 (all manufactured by Cochlear Americas). The Baha Compact or Divino device was used in most studies that evaluated the effectiveness of the Baha device for sound localization in UPSNHL. The BP100 (Figure 1) is a significant improvement compared with previous models. Some of these improvements relative to previous models are, first, an improved directional microphone system with 2 microphones rather than 1 microphone; second, digital feedback reduction; third, improved noise reduction; and fourth, microphone position compensation, which is an attempt to compensate for the postauricular placement of the microphone rather than anteriorly in the ear canal. Position compensation equalizes sounds between the 2 microphones by calibrating loudness, which is designed to mimic the directivity of natural hearing. Fifth, there has been an improvement in the software used for BP100 fitting. The software, BC Direct, allows measurement of bone conduction through the abutment, thus bypassing the skin and soft tissue. The BC Direct bone conduction is more accurate than preoperative bone conduction, which is performed over the skin and soft tissue with a resulting attenuation of sound. Using the BC Direct software, BP100 fitting prescriptions require less gain and ultimately have less distortion and a clearer signal compared with previous generations of Baha fitting prescriptions.
Some of these improvements could plausibly improve sound localization capabilities in patients with UPSNHL. Specifically, position compensation is designed to correct and rebalance the soundscape by compensating for the posterior location of the BP100 while preserving the natural head shadow effects for different frequencies.13 The head shadow effect has been found to be useful for sound localization in UPSNHL patients.14 Improved noise reduction and BC Direct fitting lead to less sound distortion, with possible improvement in sound localization ability in noise.
The TransEar 380-HF (Ear Technology Corporation) is another bone-conduction hearing device designed to treat UPSNHL as a transcranial contralateral routing of off-side signal (Figure 2). The TransEar device consists of a behind-the-ear digital hearing aid with a flexible wire connected to a custom molded acrylic half-shell. The shell houses an oscillator that vibrates the bony portion of the ear canal on the deaf side. When sound is processed on the deaf side, the sound is converted to mechanical energy that drives the oscillator. The TransEar processor includes digital feedback reduction and adaptive noise reduction. The main benefit of the BP100 and TransEar device is to reduce the acoustic head shadow and to provide improved signal-to-noise ratios, depending on the spatial distribution of the signal and noise sources.
Several UPSNHL patients have reported to members of our practice that their sound localization capabilities were improved when using the BP100 or TransEar 380-HF device. To our knowledge, no previous study has evaluated the sound localization capabilities of UPSNHL patients using the BP100 or TransEar 380-HF device. Because of this, we sought to objectively evaluate the sound localization capabilities in the horizontal plane of UPSNHL patients using these 2 devices.
Patients included in the study were identified in 2011 from the Ear Institute of Chicago database of UPSNHL patients. From this database, a subgroup of patients was identified who met the following criteria: (1) use of the BP100 or the TransEar 380-HF device for at least 30 days, (2) age greater than 18 years, (3) no previous experience using contralateral routing of off-side signal amplification, and (4) normal hearing in the contralateral ear. Normal hearing was defined as a pure-tone average (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) of 25 dB or less and a word recognition score of 90% or better in the only hearing ear. A letter of invitation to be included in the study was sent to this subgroup of patients. Enrollment in the study was stopped when 10 patients each using a BP100 and a TransEar device completed the study.
A group of 10 age-matched adults with bilateral, normal hearing were used as a control group. Thus, there were 3 groups in the study: BP100, TransEar, and control.
Approval for conducting this study was obtained from the Hinsdale Hospital Institutional Review Board, with all patients signing the informed consent form.
Table 1 displays patient characteristics of the BP100 group. In this group, the mean (range) age was 49.8 (26.0-66.0) years. The mean (range) duration of UPSNHL was 11.8 (0.8-52.0) years in the BP100 group. The mean (range) duration of device use was 10.4 (3.0-14.0) months. All patients had the titanium fixture placed 55 mm posterior and superior to the ipsilateral external auditory canal. This position has been shown to be the ideal placement for bone-conduction sound transmission of the Baha device.15
Table 2 displays patient characteristics of the TransEar group. The mean (range) age was 62.8 (42.0-68.0) years. The mean (range) duration of UPSNHL was 5.1 (1.5-15.0) years and of device use was 17.4 (6.0-25.0) months.
Localization testing was performed in a sound-treated room with internal dimensions of 6 ft × 6 ft 4 in. The patient was seated in the center of the room, approximately 3 ft from the speakers in any direction. Seven speakers were mounted at head level, labeled 1 through 7 (Figure 3). Patients were asked not to move their heads during sound presentation. Patients were free to move their heads after sound presentation to identify the speaker number.
The BP100 and TransEar groups were tested in 2 different conditions: unaided and BP100- or TransEar-aided hearing conditions. In the aided condition, patients were tested in an omnidirectional listening program, which amplifies sounds all around the patient (360 degrees). The omnidirectional was chosen to give patients the best opportunity to localize sound.
Sound localization was performed using 2 recorded sounds, which were that of a barking dog or a police siren. The presentations were divided equally between these 2 recorded sounds. Randomized trials of 4 presentations per speaker were given for each hearing condition for a total of 28 presentations (14 presentations each of the barking dog and police siren) for each of the unaided and aided conditions. The duration of sound presentation was 3 seconds, with an approximate 3-second interstimulus interval. The presentation level was the 60-dB hearing level. Patients identified the sound source by the number of the speaker.
Each of the patients' responses was recorded and compared with the correct response. Localization accuracy and laterality judgments were determined for each of the 3 groups. Localization accuracy was calculated as the proportion of correct responses.
Laterality judgments were evaluated by combining the responses for speakers on the patient's right (speakers 1, 2, and 3) and those on his or her left (speakers 5, 6, and 7). Trials from speaker 4 were excluded from analysis of laterality judgment. The percent correct identification was then calculated as the number of correct identifications per hemifield divided by the total number of presentations per hemifield.
A paired-sample t test was used for analyses within the same group (eg, unaided vs aided in the same group of patients). A 2-group t test was used when analyzing data across groups (eg, BP100 vs TransEar). P < .05 was considered significant.
Initially, the proportions of correct responses for the dog and siren stimuli were analyzed separately. There were no significant differences in performance using the dog or siren sounds, when examined separately, either in terms of lateralization (T29 = 0.48; P = .64) or localization (T29 = 1.01; P = .32) accuracy. For this reason, the following results are for the combined results of dog and siren stimuli.
Comparison of the patient characteristics of the BP100 and the TransEar groups showed no significant difference in sex (P = .24), side (P = .76), or duration of hearing loss (P = .32). There was a significant difference in mean age (P = .009), with the BP100 group younger than the TransEar group (49.8 vs 62.8 years). There was also a significant difference in the mean duration of device use (P = .03), with the BP100 group using the device for a shorter period than the TransEar group (10.4 vs 17.4 months).
The localization scores for unaided and aided groups compared with the control group are shown in Figure 4. There is a statistically significant better localization accuracy for the control group compared with the BP100 and TransEar groups for both unaided and aided conditions (all P < .001). The mean accuracy of speaker localization was 24% and 26% for the aided condition using the BP100 and TransEar devices, respectively. The mean localization accuracy for both the unaided (0.26) and aided (0.25) combined groups was only slightly better than chance level (0.15).
Figure 5 compares localization accuracy for the unaided vs the aided condition for the BP100 and TransEar groups. Points above the diagonal line represent a benefit in aided sound localization accuracy. Conversely, points below the diagonal line indicate a detriment in aided sound localization accuracy. There is scatter across the diagonal line, indicating an inconsistent effect of aid. There is, however, a slight benefit of aid in the TransEar group and a slight decrement in the BP100 group as indicated by a nearly significant 2 (aided vs unaided) × 2 (TransEar vs BP100) analysis of variance using aid as a repeated measure (P = .06).
There is a significant correlation between patient age and aided localization in which younger patients localize better (r = −0.56, P = .01). When unaided minus aided localization accuracy is plotted against age, however, there is no significant correlation (r = −0.14, P = .56). This latter finding indicates that the better localization in younger patients is not dependent on amplification. There is no correlation between duration of hearing loss (r = −0.41, P = .07) or duration of device use (r = 0.18, P = .43) with amplified localization accuracy.
Finally, the data from the BP100 and TransEar groups were combined to evaluate whether patients had better localization accuracy on their hearing or their deaf side, with and without amplification. In the unaided condition, localization accuracy is significantly better on the hearing side (proportion correct, 0.17 deaf side vs 0.28 hearing side) (P = .005). In the aided condition, there is no significant difference in localization accuracy of the hearing side compared with the aided (deaf) side (proportion correct, 0.21 deaf side vs 0.29 hearing side) (P = .12).
The laterality scores for the unaided and aided groups compared with the control group are shown in Figure 6. There is a statistically significant better lateralization judgment ability for the control group compared with the BP100 and TransEar groups for both unaided and aided conditions (all P < .001). Specifically, the mean accuracy of laterality judgment was 59% and 69% for the aided condition using the BP100 and TransEar devices, respectively (all P < .001).
Figure 7 compares laterality judgment for the unaided vs the aided condition for the BP100 and TransEar groups. As in Figure 5 for localization, there is scatter across the diagonal line, indicating an inconsistent effect of aid. Again, a slight benefit of aid is seen in the TransEar group and a slight decrement in the BP100 group, although this time the aid × group interaction was not significant (P = .11).
There is no correlation between patient age (r = −0.29, P = .23), duration of hearing loss (r = −0.20, P = .39), or duration of device use (r = 0.16, P = .51) with amplified laterality judgment.
In summary, the results of our study are (1) localization accuracy is poor in UPSNHL patients in both unaided and BP100- and TransEar-aided conditions, (2) laterality judgment is poor in UPSNHL patients in both unaided and BP100- and TransEar-aided conditions, and (3) duration of device use did not improve localization accuracy or laterality judgment in either aided group.
Sound localization is one of the major advantages of binaural listeners. There are 3 main acoustical cues that allow a binaural listener to localize sound. These 3 cues are sound intensity at each ear, arrival time at each ear, and variations in spectral shape.
The difference in sound intensity at each ear is known as the interaural level difference (ILD). The ILD is used in the localization of high-frequency sounds (primarily higher than 2800 Hz).16 High-frequency sounds have wavelengths shorter than the circumference of the head and thus are influenced by the head shadow effect. The head shadow effect blocks high-frequency sounds from reaching the other ear if the sound is originating on one side of the listener. In the horizontal plane, the ILD varies on the basis of the sound source's location to the head and the frequency of the sound. For sounds originating on one side of the listener, the ILD at 5000 Hz is approximately 13 dB and the ILD at 1000 Hz is approximately 6 dB.16
The difference in the time it takes for a sound to reach each ear after the onset of sound is known as the interaural time difference (ITD). Sound localization using ITD cues is best for low-frequency sounds (200-2800 Hz). Low-frequency sounds have wavelengths longer than the circumference of the head; therefore, sound originating to the right of the listener would have the same intensity at both ears but would arrive at the left ear later than at the right ear. With a sound source immediately to one side of the listener, the ITD is approximately 0.65 to 0.70 millisecond for low-frequency sounds (200-2800 Hz).16,17
The BP100 and the TransEar devices are capable of capturing a wide range of sounds pertinent to the ILD and ITD. The frequency range is 250 to 7000 Hz for the BP100 device and 200 to 8000 Hz for the TransEar device. The peak energy output of the BP100 device is centered around 800 Hz, whereas the peak energy output of the TransEar device is from 2100 to 2300 Hz. Despite these differences in output, one device does not show improved localization ability in UPSNHL compared with the other.
Spectral shape cues are formed from the interaction of sound waves with the external ear. The convolutions of the external ear, particularly the concha, act to increase or decrease the amplitude of different frequency components of a sound as it enters the ear. The sound-filtering effects of the external ear are dependent on the location of the sound, giving rise to spectral patterns—characteristic variations in amplitude with frequency—that vary with both the horizontal and vertical angle of the sound source. These spectral cues are most useful when the sound contains energy over a wide range of high frequencies.18
Studies of sound localization are often separated into those that evaluate sound sources in the horizontal (azimuth) plane or sound sources in the vertical (midsagittal or median) plane. The horizontal plane is often defined at the level of the external auditory meati and the tip of the nose. The ILD and ITD cues are most important for sound localization in the horizontal plane because of the variable distance between ears and the sound source. Sounds in the vertical plane are equidistant from both ears; thus, ILD and ITD cues are nonexistent. Spectral shape cues, on the other hand, are most important for sound localization in the vertical plane. Spectral shape cues also have been found to contribute to horizontal plane sound localization but to a lesser degree than ILD and ITD.18-20 Studies19,21,22 that involve eliminating spectral shape cues by bypassing the pinnae also have found a decreased ability to discriminate sounds in front from those behind.
The ILD and ITD cues are absent for monaural listeners. Despite this, monaural listeners have been reported to localize sound well above chance levels, especially in the horizontal plane.14,20 Van Wanrooij and Van Opstal14 propose that the head shadow effect is the dominant cue for monaural sound localization, with spectral shape cues contributing to a lesser extent. Patients in our study were not allowed to move their heads during testing, which eliminated the opportunity to use the head shadow cue for localization. Allowing patients the opportunity to use the head shadow cue might confound the results of evaluating the potential of the BP100 and the TransEar devices to aid sound localization in UPSNHL patients.
Van Wanrooij and Van Opstal14 also state that the head shadow cue for monaural listeners is most effective for familiar environmental acoustic stimuli. For this reason, a barking dog and a police siren, sounds that should be readily familiar to all our patients, were used as acoustic stimuli in our study. In addition, the dog and siren sounds are broad-bandwidth stimuli, which help resolve the spatial ambiguities that may occur when using narrowband sound for sound localization.23
The results of our study show that the localization accuracy and laterality judgment in UPSNHL patients is poor and only marginally better than chance, even with the use of the latest bone-conduction hearing devices. The results of our study are similar to those studies6,7,11,12 using earlier generations of the Baha device. Sound localization stimuli used in previous studies varied widely, ranging from real-world acoustic stimuli (eg, pistol shot or female vocal),6 multitalker babble noise from the revised Speech Perception in Noise test,7 or spectrally shaped noise11 to pure tones.12 Each of these previous studies also found that localization accuracy and laterality judgment was only slightly better than chance with the use of a Baha device.
Desmet et al10 recently compared sound localization abilities between Divino and BP100 users with UPSNHL. Sound localization was evaluated using the Spatial Hearing Questionnaire. Poor localization scores were reported for each device, with no differences between the Divino and the BP100.
Knowledge of bone-conducted sound is helpful to understand some of the results of our study. Bone-conducted sound is a complex process, with the sound attenuated as it travels from one side of the skull to the other. The attenuation is frequency dependent, with low-frequency sounds (0.2-1.0 kHz) attenuated approximately −5 to 0 dB and frequencies from 1 to 10 kHz attenuated from 5 to 10 dB.24
Bone-conducted sound attenuation, however, is not sufficient to cause a significant ITD. Stenfelt and Goode24 have calculated the ITD for bone conduction to be 0.2 millisecond for frequencies higher than 0.8 kHz. This time difference is less than the 0.65- to 0.70-millisecond ITD for air-conduction sound. On the basis of this data, the ITD cue does not seem to be available for UPSNHL patients fitted with a bone-conduction device.
The other 2 sound localization cues for binaural listeners, ILD and spectral cues, are also apparently not available for UPSNHL patients wearing a bone-conduction device. The lack of ILD and spectral cues may be due to the inability of signal-processing strategies of the current bone-conduction devices and/or an inability of central processes to differentiate ipsilateral and contralateral signals coming from the same cochlea.25
Previous authors6,12 have suggested that sound localization may improve with longer use of the Baha device for UPSNHL. Our study found that duration of device use did not improve sound localization, with 60% of BP100 patients and 90% of TransEar patients wearing their devices for 12 months or longer. The lack of correlation between length of device use and sound localization is in agreement with the study by Newman et al.7
Clarification is necessary regarding the finding that older age is negatively associated with aided localization ability. Further review of our data indicates that this association may be skewed. Two younger patients in the BP100 group primarily drive the age vs localization correlation. If age is truly associated with aided localization, then the younger BP100 group should show better localization ability than the TransEar group. There is no difference in aided localization between the BP100 and the TransEar groups (P = .73). The bulk of the patients in both groups are older, and this dilutes any between-group difference.
Despite the findings of our study, our UPSNHL patients continue to report to us that, subjectively, their sound localization abilities improve when using either the BP100 or the TransEar 380-HF device. In addition, these patients report significant satisfaction with their devices in many listening situations.
In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that horizontal sound localization in UPSNHL patients is poor in the testing paradigm in this study, even with the latest technology available to treat UPSNHL. Sound localization did not improve with longer (12 months or greater) use of either the BP100 or the TransEar 380-HF device.
Correspondence: Robert A. Battista, MD, Ear Institute of Chicago, 11 Salt Creek Ln, Ste 101, Hinsdale, IL 60521 (firstname.lastname@example.org).
Submitted for Publication: July 18, 2012; final revision received October 1, 2012; accepted October 8, 2012.
Author Contributions: Dr Battista had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Battista. Acquisition of data: Battista, Mullins, Wiet, Kim, and Rauch. Analysis and interpretation of data: Battista, Mullins, Sabin, and Rauch. Drafting of the manuscript: Battista and Kim. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Battista, Mullins, Wiet, Sabin, and Rauch. Statistical analysis: Sabin. Obtained funding: Battista. Administrative, technical, and material support: Kim and Rauch. Study supervision: Rauch.
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.
Funding/Support: Funding was provided by the Center for Hearing Restoration and Ear Research of Hinsdale Hospital.
Previous Presentation: This study was presented at the 144th Annual Meeting of the American Otological Society; May 1, 2011; Chicago, Illinois.
Additional Contributions: We thank the Center for Hearing Restoration and Ear Research of Hinsdale Hospital for providing funding for the collection of data, as well as for data analysis. | <urn:uuid:57272447-7d0c-4a43-a07e-5d37e9781c87> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/1558015 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.931981 | 5,881 | 1.78125 | 2 |
As we drove by the massive walls of Vatican City, I saw a multitude of people in a line that snaked around several blocks. “My god,” I thought, “we’ll have to wait all day to visit the Vatican.” My third day in Rome, Italy and it looked like most of it would be spent in line under the hot sun. On the itinerary for the day was a visit to the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. After the tour the students would return to St. Peter’s to sing during mass, an amazing opportunity for the group of middle school choir students I was traveling along with and documenting their trip.
Luckily the line to enter the Vatican Museum moved quickly and in no time we were putting on our radio headsets (so we could hear our tour guide, the same lady from the previous day) and heading up the escalator.
At the top of the escalator is an open courtyard where the dome of St. Peter’s is in full view. Also in the courtyard was a display and guide to the artwork on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Our guide explained the history as well as the meanings behind all the artwork we’d see as we toured Michaelangelo’s greatest accomplishment.
But first we headed towards some doors that would lead us into the vast collections of the Vatican Museum. It would be nearly impossible to summarize all the things we saw during this tour, so watch the video below to come along with us on our tour.
After the Vatican Museum, we entered the Sistine Chapel. I was expecting it to be a quiet, empty space reserved for spiritual and personal reflection. Instead, as soon as I walked into the chapel I was thrust into a sea of bodies all looking upwards and guards yelling at people to stop taking photos. It was, unfortunately, a mad house of noise and confusion. Feeling a little claustrophobic and overwhelmed by the sensory overload, I headed for the exit on the opposite side of the room where we had agreed to all gather and wait for our tour guide.
After we had all regrouped, we headed for the final part of our tour: St. Peter’s Basilica. Construction on the structure began in 1506 over the site of the old basilica constructed by Constantine 1100 years earlier. Fundraising methods to finance the construction inspired Martin Luther to launch his Protestant Reformation.
Inside St. Peter’s is one of Michaelangelo’s most famous marble statues: the Pieta. Now behind glass after it was attacked by a mentally-deranged person with a hammer, the statue depicts Mary holding the dead body of her son Jesus. It is the only work signed by Michaelangelo.
After our tour, we had an hour break and I tagged along with a couple of parents and their children to a nearby restaurant. We sat outside and I ordered an appetizer of lasagna. I couldn’t dare leave Italy without having some authentic Italian lasagna!
Afterwards we hurried back to the buses so all the students could get dressed up for their performance in St. Peter’s during Mass. The excitement in the air as the kids nervously prepared for their performance was palpable. In the end, the performance went off without a hitch and will be a memory forever burned into their minds.
Our time in Rome, Italy was over. After a fun-filled dinner featuring local musical entertainers, we headed back to our hotel and prepared for our trip to Florence the next day. | <urn:uuid:c48411fc-18a2-493b-9f71-16e774850fcc> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://travelingaround.com/tour-of-italy-vatican-city-day-3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.968005 | 735 | 2.109375 | 2 |
“Lifestance” is itself an unfamiliar term to most people, but over the past two decades, it has become increasingly common — initially in Britain, but now also in Europe and the whole of the English-speaking world — as a term that is inclusive of religion and non-religious world-views. A “lifestance” is, at best, a comprehensive conception of reality or, at least, a set of ideas that help us understand the world and find meaning and value in life.
Many lifestances are clearly religious; for example, Christianity is a religious lifestance, as are Hinduism and Islam. Some lifestances are generally viewed as non-religious, such as the dialectical materialism of Karl Marx and his followers, Ayn Rand’s Objectivism, and humanism. Other lifestances, such as Buddhism and Confucianism, have traditionally been classed as religions but do not always sit comfortably in that category. The concept of “lifestance” encompasses them all. (See Developing Potential Without Religion for a more detailed discussion of the meaning of “religion” and why humanism should not be classified as a religion.)
Lifestances address fundamental existential questions — sometimes called “ultimate questions” — such as, “How do we gain knowledge of our world?” “What is the nature of the universe?” and “How should I live my life?” Everyone has a lifestance: we all have conceptions of what exists and what is of value. But most people may not give much thought to the underlying assumptions that guide their lives: their lifestance has never been made explicit or critically examined. Indeed, it is in the nature of many religious lifestances that we take these underlying assumptions of life as a matter of faith.
Yet our underlying assumptions profoundly affect how we understand the world and live our lives. If your underlying assumptions about life are false, contradictory, confused, or flawed, you may lead a confused life marked by harmful illusions, bad choices, and painful conflicts. A well thought out lifestance can lead to greater understanding and success in life. Of course, what you consider “success in life” will depend on your lifestance!
Humanists feel that critically examining your lifestance will not only improve your understanding and success in life but also make your life more truly your own. Humanists tend to agree with Socrates that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” For the humanist, as for Kant (see sidebar in Lesson I: Brief History of Humanist Thought, Section Two, Part IV: The Age of Reason), enlightenment means growing beyond dependence on the views and instructions of others — be they parents, governments, or religious authorities — and having the courage to live life according to your own understanding and decisions. Our online courses aim to help students achieve this state of self-determination. | <urn:uuid:dfd6f9d4-076d-46c2-8f0e-d465e5a12286> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://americanhumanistcenterforeducation.org/topics/lifestance-explored/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.955342 | 614 | 3.078125 | 3 |
In a speech yesterday, our Secretary of State, the terrible Tea Party Christianist bigot Mike Pompeo, presented his idea of diplomacy in the aftermath of the United States’ violation of the Iran deal: colonialism.
In essence, Pompeo told Iran that they would be faced with the most devastating sanctions in human history if they didn’t comply with his list of 12 demands. This, on its face, was nonsense. After all, they already faced terrible sanctions, which is why they gave up their nuclear program and agreed to a hugely invasive inspection regime.
But even more so, in order for that to work, the EU, Russia, and China would have to be on board with this. And so far, it is far from clear they will be. The EU is already saying they might protect firms hurt by US sanctions, which they absolutely should. US leadership doesn’t mean anything if we violate our agreements and then demand our allies support us.
And Russia and China? Please. Russia’s whole goal is to make this a post-US world, and separating us from Europe is a big part of that. Trump and Pompeo just handed them a huge gift. China isn’t trying to separate us, as much as make themselves far more relevant, and our rush toward empurpled irrelevance is extremely helpful.
But beside the unreality of his claims, it was Pompeo’s demand that really showed just what kind of people the administration is. I’m going to paste them in full.
Declare to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a full account of the prior military dimensions of its nuclear programme and permanently and verifiably abandon such work in perpetuity.
- Stop enrichment and never pursue plutonium reprocessing, including closing its heavy water reactor.
- Provide the IAEA with unqualified access to all sites throughout the entire country.
- End its proliferation of ballistic missiles and halt further launching or development of nuclear-capable missile systems.
- Release all US citizens as well as citizens of US partners and allies.
- End support to Middle East “terrorist” groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
- Respect the sovereignty of the Iraqi government and permit the disarming, demobilisation and reintegration of Shia militias.
- End its military support for the Houthi rebels and work towards a peaceful, political settlement in Yemen.
- Withdraw all forces under Iran’s command throughout the entirety of Syria.
- End support for the Taliban and other “terrorists” in Afghanistan and the region and cease harbouring senior al-Qaeda leaders.
- End the Islamic Revolutionary Guard corps-linked Quds Force’s support for “terrorists” and “militant” partners around the world.
- End its threatening behaviour against its neighbours, many of whom are US allies, including its threats to destroy Israel and its firing of missiles at Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and threats to international shipping and destructive cyberattacks.
Some of these are extremely worthy. Some are insane (give up even their nuclear energy program?). Some are wildly hypocritical, like the demand to stop supporting the Houthis while we’re arming the Sauds in their genocidal war. It’s not that it is unworthy, but it is not exactly an ask backed by any moral authority.
But the point-by-point isn’t as important as the project taken as a whole. In essence, they insist that Iran stop trying to be a power in the Middle East. This isn’t just hyopcritical; it is colonial. It is demanding that Iran go back before the revolution, when they were a vassal of the west. It is demanding that the Middle East be ruled by America, who gets to decide who is the power and who isn’t.
I can’t state how wildly self-defeating this is, not just in Iran, but in the broader Middle East (Gulf Arab states not included). I talked about why a while ago, but think it is important to re-up.
It’s madness and fallacy to think that the Iranian regime, or really, any post-Shah Iranian government, would enter into any agreement that lessens their regional power and increases that of the West. To believe that is to have zero historical understanding, of the near or the distant past.
The Iranian revolution wasn’t about Islam, or not entirely. There was a mix of anti-imperialist leftists, communists, other various secularists, religious types who didn’t want clerical rule (which remember, is what Khomeini first promised) and non-ideological nationalists who were just tired of western interference.
Western Europe and Russia had eclipsed Persian power in the region in the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until oil that the West really started controlling what was happening in Iran. Lopsided deals with venal flunkies gave England and then America a dominant role in the expropriation of Iranian resources. Shahs got rich, the west got rich, and most Iranians stayed poor. The same thing happened in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, etc.
Western colonialism in the Middle East was a 20th-century phenomenon, which in our lifetime seems like all of eternity, but was really a blip. It was a terrible one, from the perspective of the inhabitants, of course. It was dirty and condescending and venal and greedy and grubbing. It was literally crude. Khomeini wasn’t just deposing a shah for the sake of Islam: he was kicking out the west for the sake of Iran.
That’s the heart of this. Iran, after a low and brutal, but historically brief, interregnum, is trying to reassert itself in a changing and fluid Middle East, still reeling from the collapse of the Ottoman empire and the perversions of 20th-century colonialism and nationalism.
To demand that they shouldn’t do this is breathtakingly arrogant and essentially colonialist. It’s saying to these dirty Persians that they should probably do what we want or else it would be a shame if we had to destroy your country. Grovel, or be brought low. One way or the other, on your knees.
The stupidity and venality of this is overwhelming. It brings us back to the days where we’d sign treaty after treaty with native nations, and then break them, running roughshod over their land, simply because we could. Because we had the power.
It’s no different. After treaty-breaking our way across the continent, we expanded worldwide, treating distant locals the way we treated the nations in this land. In the last generation, the world sort of accepted that this wasn’t the way to do things, that smaller countries had rights as well.
The US never really believed that, but certainly paid tribute to virtue (Russia was more or less the same, minus the tribute). This is nothing but the bad old days again. To assume that Iran will accept this is madness. To think that they should is arrogance. To think that they will, in the age of Trump, an ascendant China, and a swaggering Russia, is blindness. | <urn:uuid:2c59b233-07ce-406a-9689-4f7b2deb8ede> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://shootingirrelevance.com/2018/05/22/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.964553 | 1,526 | 1.578125 | 2 |
From Appalachian State University Policy Manual
4 Policy and Procedure Statements
4.1 Budgetary Head
4.1.1 The University operates on the principle of budgetary allotments to various offices, divisions, departments, colleges and other operating units. All funds including special, Federal, local, gifts, bequests, receipts, fees and State appropriated funds that are used for the purchase of equipment, materials, supplies and services shall be handled under the provisions of North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 143, Article 3 (Purchases and Contracts). The administrative head of each area is responsible for expenditures from funds in that area.
4.1.2. The authority to make purchases from the allotted departmental budgets for services or materials is furnished to the University Purchasing Office in writing by an authorized administrator, as budgetary head, on a Procurement Request.
4.1.3 Spending of budgeted funds from grants, contracts and other extramural sources must be authorized by the Assistant Controller for Special Funds.
4.1.4 The administrative head of an operating unit is accountable to the University's Chancellor for all supplies, materials, equipment, and services purchased in the University's name regardless of the source of funds. The administrative head is responsible for taking adequate precautions to protect such materials from theft and abuse and maintaining adequate records on movable equipment necessary for proper identification and location.
4.1.5 In addition to the administrative head of any operating unit and the principal investigator on any grant received by the University, each employee whose duties include a purchasing function is responsible for compliance with State and federal law and regulations governing purchases and these policies. Each such employee may be subject to criminal prosecution in addition to employment discipline for failure to do so. North Carolina General Statutes, § 133-32 makes unlawful the willful receipt of a gift or favor by any officer or employee of a governmental agency who is charged with the duty of:
- Preparing plans, specifications, or estimates for public contracts; or
- Awarding or administering public contracts; or
- Inspecting or supervising construction.
4.1.6 North Carolina General Statutes, § 143-58.1 generally prohibits the use of the State's purchasing powers, policies or procedures to purchase, attempt to purchase, procure or attempt to procure any property or services for private use or benefit.
4.1.7 North Carolina General Statutes, § 14-234 generally prohibits any State employee from gaining personal benefit from a State agency or institutional contract. Specifically, it states, in part:
(a)(1) No public officer or employee who is involved in making or administering a contract on behalf of a public agency may derive a direct benefit from the contract except as provided in this section, or as otherwise allowed by law.
(2) A public officer or employee who will derive a direct benefit from a contract with the public agency he or she serves, but who is not involved in making or administering the contract, shall not attempt to influence any other person who is involved in making or administering the contract.
(3) No public officer or employee may solicit or receive any gift, reward, or promise of reward in exchange for recommending, influencing, or attempting to influence the award of a contract by the public agency he or she serves.
(a1) For purposes of this section:
(2) A public officer or employee is involved in administering a contract if he or she oversees the performance of the contract or has authority to make decisions regarding the contract or to interpret the contract.
(4) A public officer or employee derives a direct benefit from a contract if the person or his or her spouse: (i) has more than a ten percent (10%) ownership or other interest in an entity that is a party to the contract; (ii) derives any income or commission directly from the contract; or (iii) acquires property under the contract.
4.1.8 Copies of the statutes cited above may be obtained from the Office of General Counsel upon request. | <urn:uuid:1c1a1c4b-f8b7-401a-889e-bec2558e2f9d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://policy.appstate.edu/index.php?title=Purchase_Authorizations&printable=yes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.928532 | 845 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.