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Why is solar power an ideal energy solution for Hawaii?
Hawaii ranks #1 in the nation with the highest utility rates in the country. The average American pays 11.9 cents/kWh while in Hawaii some residents pay as much as 40 cents/kWh. Hawaii is also the most petroleum dependent state in the country importing 46.3 million barrels of petroleum for Hawaii’s total energy use at a cost of $5.09 billion just last year. Most, if not all of those fossil fuels come from foreign sources.
Hawaii’s climate provides consistently sun-filled days making it an ideal location to use the power of the sun. | <urn:uuid:7237b5b5-5d1f-4820-acf6-87aef72cbada> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://hawaiipacificsolar.com/why-solar/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279650.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00429-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935967 | 135 | 2.34375 | 2 |
We work to prevent the outbreak, escalation, continuation and recurrence of violence, so it can take place before, during and after conflicts. It is a long-term collaborative process, as it involves changes in attitudes, behaviours, and norms.
For REMAR Peace, it is consolidated when: Everyone lives in safety conditions, without fear or threat of violence, and no form of violence is tolerated in law or in practice. Everyone has fair and equitable access to basic needs for their well-being, such as food, clean water, shelter, education, medical care and a decent living environment, they also have the same opportunities to work and earn a living, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or any other aspect of identity.
At REMAR we live an atmosphere of peace, sowing in the hearts of each one of us who are part of us to avoid and eradicate violence. “Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14 | <urn:uuid:801da950-7dae-4da6-bdd3-60d805047c56> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://remarusa.org/what-we-do/peace-building/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570651.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20220807150925-20220807180925-00479.warc.gz | en | 0.95926 | 202 | 2.15625 | 2 |
Raising the state minimum wage is once again a hot topic on Beacon Hill, but this question looms: Will the push be a consensus effort backed by a broad coalition or become the subject of a pitched business-labor battle?
Let’s set the table. The state’s base wage has been at $8 an hour since 2008. Despite an unemployment rate of 7.2 percent, there’s a feeling among many Democrats that the economy has improved enough to allow for an increase.
That said, there’s a good deal of disagreement about how big that increase should be.
A labor-backed coalition is pushing a ballot question for 2014 that would hike it to $10.50 an hour over two years. Substantial sectors of the business community, meanwhile, are open to an increase of some sort, with one big if: They want any such legislation to include changes to the state’s unemployment insurance program.
The business community’s concerns about the UI program are basically three. First, one need only work 15 weeks to qualify for benefits, rather than 20, as is the case most everywhere else. That means people who take what are clearly meant as seasonal positions are eligible for unemployment benefits when those jobs end. Second, Massachusetts pays 30 weeks of benefits as opposed to 26, the maximum in 48 other states. Those features help make the program one of the most expensive in the nation. Finally, companies with low-layoff records end up subsidizing firms that have much higher layoff rates.
Business has long considered the state’s UI program in serious need of repair, but previous overhaul efforts have gone nowhere. Thus private-sector leaders have a big incentive to accept a minimum wage hike if by doing so they can finally achieve some cost-reducing reforms in the insurance program.
Indeed, Chris Anderson, president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council, says that “a majority of our members would support raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour if the same legislation included UI reforms.”
The original expectation had been that the House and the Senate would link the two issues. This week, however, the Senate broke ranks by voting to raise the base wage to $11 an hour by 2016.
Still, with Senate President Therese Murray expected to depart around the turn of year, and a lightly engaged Governor Deval Patrick leaning into lame-duckdom, the key player on Beacon Hill will likely be House Speaker Robert DeLeo.
DeLeo, who drove the important municipal health care reform of 2011, is determined that any minimum-wage legislation also include UI reform.
“What I don’t want to hear, quite frankly, is one side telling me that this is what we ought to do on UI or this is what we ought to do with the minimum wage, but not come to the table or have any discussion about the other issue,” DeLeo noted to me this week. “If people are going to do that, then their issue isn’t going to get too far.”
DeLeo’s position leaves organized labor in a tricky position. If labor works with DeLeo and his lieutenants for a consensus package, that could ensure a minimum wage hike, but at the cost of paring back the state’s (too) generous UI benefits.
Contrariwise, labor could snub the speaker and try to win at the ballot, but that’s a less certain route, particularly if the business community were to mobilize against the ballot question.
So what’s the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, a key member of the ballot-question coalition, to do?
The right path here is clear. Will labor take it?
Steven Tolman seems torn. On the one hand, he professes respect for DeLeo and says that “time has a way of working these things through.” But in the very next breath, Tolman notes that “we are not afraid to go to the ballot” and asks, “Why do we have to tie the effort to help those earning the minimum wage to diminishing the benefits that help the unemployed?”
The broad answer to that question is that job seekers would also benefit from a reform that improves the state’s business climate and thereby promotes job creation. Further, after the bluster and bombast of the Bob Haynes years, a compromise package would help rebrand the AFL-CIO as a more reasonable, far-sighted, savvier union.
The right path here is clear. Will labor take it?Scot Lehigh can be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at @GlobeScotLehigh. | <urn:uuid:815af764-5658-44e2-94cd-d88a30c648bc> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2013/11/22/the-wages-compromise/LOBBzGfNUmz1GEyFHeIeuN/story.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560283008.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095123-00082-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964956 | 985 | 1.75 | 2 |
Comparison of children's self-reports of depressive symptoms among different family interaction types in northern Taiwan
© Wu et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2007
Received: 31 August 2006
Accepted: 20 June 2007
Published: 20 June 2007
Previous research has shown that family interactions are associated with depressive symptoms in children. However, detailed classifications of family interaction types have not been studied thoroughly. This study aims to understand the types of family interactions children experience and to identify the specific types of family interactions that are associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms in children.
Data used in the study was collected as part of the Child and Adolescent Behavior in Long term Evolution (CABLE) project in 2003. CABLE is a longitudinal cohort study that commenced in 2001 and collects data annually from children in Taipei city and Hsinchu county in northern Taiwan. The data analyzed in this study was that obtained from the sixth graders (aged 11 to 12 years old) in 2003. Of the 2,449 sixth graders, 51.2% were boys and 48.8% were girls. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to investigate the types of family interactions. One way ANOVA was used to establish the relationship between family interaction types and children's self-reports of depressive symptoms.
Based on the results of factor analysis, the latent factors for family interactions included supporting activities, psychological control, parental discipline, behavioral supervision, and family conflict. After conducting cluster analysis using factor scores, four types of family interactions were revealed: supervised (29.66%), disciplined (13.56%), nurtured (40.96%) and conflict (15.82%). Children from the disciplined or conflict families were more likely to report depressive symptoms. Children from the nurtured families were least likely to report depressive symptoms.
Family interactions can be classified into four different types, which are related to children's self-reports of depressive symptoms. The creation of a family interaction environment that is beneficial for children's mental health is an important issue for health education and health promotion professionals.
According to the 2001 WHO World Health Report , the worldwide prevalence of depression is 3%, which equates to a total of 120,000,000 sufferers of depression. It is estimated that by 2020, depression will be the second cause of the Disability-Adjusted Life-Year (DALY) behind heart disease . (The DALY is a quantitative indicator of burden of disease that reflects the total amount of healthy life lost to related causes during a period of time .) Depression has even been called the 'plague' of modern times by the mental health community . People with symptoms of depression are more likely to have engaged in binge drinking and smoking, and are also more likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis and asthma . A US study has estimated that the health service costs for individuals with major depression are approximately 70% higher than for those without any depressive disorder . Therefore, in addition to its influence on individual health, depression can increase overall health service costs.
A US review of depression related literature in the decade prior to 1996 showed that the onset of depressive symptoms is occurring at younger ages. Children and adolescents who were born at the end of the 20th century have a higher chance of developing mood disorders and of this continuing into adulthood. The review provided prevalence rates of depression ranging from 0.4–2.5% in children and 0.4–8.3% in adolescents. Furthermore, the lifetime prevalence rate of major depressive disorder in adolescents was estimated to range from 15% to 20%. . In Taiwan, research conducted in 1998 measuring depressive symptoms in 1,434 seventh graders in Taipei found that 55.5% of adolescents reported having mild depressive symptoms (having 1–10 symptoms), 27.9% reported having more depressive symptoms (having 11–20 symptoms) and 9.9% reported serious depressive symptoms (having over 20 symptoms). The 1999 National Survey of Physical and Mental Health of Youth in Taiwan collected data from 3,487 adolescents aged 12–18 years old. It found that when the respondents encountered obstacles or stressful life events, 30.5% of them experienced depressive symptoms as their most frequent response out of eight possible emotional responses . The variety of methods used to measure depressive symptoms and the different statistical methods used make it impossible to compare the rates of depression between studies. However, the high prevalence of symptoms found in the Taiwanese research indicates that childhood depression is still a very important issue for Taiwan.
Individuals who have depressive symptoms during childhood are more likely to develop psychiatric symptoms, aggression, poor adaptive function and low self-esteem during young adulthood [10, 11]. Children with depression are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety, phobias, somatic complaints and behavioral problems . They are also more likely to have difficulties at home, at school and with their peers and have less social adaptability . Hence, depressive symptoms in children should be addressed early in order to prevent later psychiatric problems .
Previous research has investigated the relationship between family interactions and childhood depression [13–20]. In the United States, family environments of depressed children were found to be less rewarding, more aversive and more disengaged than those of non-depressed children , and adolescents with parents who frequently display anger or rejecting behaviors, and who rarely communicate with or encourage their children, are more likely to have depressive symptoms [14, 15]. Children with a safer attachment relationship with their family and who receive more information, material goods, warmth and support from their family, are more likely to be able to use these resources to overcome stressful life events and as a result have better physical and mental health [16–19]. Similar results have been found in Taiwan where poor supervision, and strict, indirect and severe parenting styles have all been positively associated with depressive symptoms in adolescents . In contrast, perceived positive messages from parents are negatively associated with depression in children .
A specific branch of research has focused on the associations between types of family interactions and children's depressive symptoms [14, 21–25]. Stein et al investigated the relationship between depression and family interactions in American children aged between 7 and 16 years. Scores for the two components of Care (which refers to the level of emotional expression, feeling of closeness and empathy between family members) and Protection (which refers to the level of parental control, supervision, and infantilization of children) were used to divide parent-child bonding into Affectionless-Control (low-care and high-protection), Weak (low-care and low-protection), Affective Constraint (high-care and high-protection), and Autonomy Supporting (high-care and low-protection). Stein's study showed that children with a high risk of depressive symptoms were more likely to report parental bonding as affectionless-control than low-risk children.
In the field of family system research, Olson et al categorized family interactions according to three important components: Cohesion (refers to the strength of emotional connection in the family), Adaptability (refers to the ability of the family to change family norms, structure of rights and responsibilities, and role relationships), and Communication (refers to the ability of family members to exchange information). The components of cohesion and adaptability were then used to develop the Circumplex Model. This model proposes that family systems may range from extremely low cohesion to extremely high cohesion and from extremely low adaptability to extremely high adaptability. The families at the central level of cohesion and adaptability would function better than those who are at the highest and lowest levels of both dimensions. Lavee & Olson further used these two dimensions to divide families into the following four types: Flexible-separated families (scored above the mean on the adaptability scale and below the mean on the cohesion scale), flexible-connected family (scored above the mean on both the cohesion and adaptability scales), structured-separated families (scored below the mean on both the cohesion and adaptability scales), and structured-connected families (scored below the mean on adaptability and above the mean on the cohesion scale). The results showed that people from flexible-separated and structured-separated families experienced more strain and poorer well-being than those from the other two groups.
Lamborn and Mounts referred to Maccoby and Martin's conceptual framework and divided parenting styles into four types (authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, and neglectful) based on 2 dimensions: acceptance/involvement and strictness/supervision. The research revealed that adolescents who characterize their parents as neglectful (scores in the lowest tertiles on both dimensions) expressed more psychological problems then those who described their parents as authoritative.
In summary, the majority of previous research has divided family interactions into four types based on scores of two dimensions. However, in reality, the components of family interactions may be more complex and the range of types of family interactions could be more comprehensive if the components were measured more precisely. In this study, we collected data on a large number of items related to family interactions such as family activities, parental discipline and control, family support and family conflict. By including an extensive range of items we hoped to measure family interactions more completely. Our study aims to understand the types of family interactions of elementary school students and to further elucidate the relationship between family interaction types and childhood depressive symptoms.
Data analyzed in this study was taken from the 2003 data collected as part of the Child and Adolescent Behavior in Long-term Evolution (CABLE) project . CABLE commenced in 2001 with the random selection of 18 public elementary schools from Taipei city (representing a metropolitan area) and Hsinchu county (representing a rural area) in northern Taiwan. The CABLE cohort was established from the first and fourth grade students of the chosen schools and their parents . Students whose parents agreed to their participation in the CABLE study filled out questionnaires in class. Data analyzed in our study was collected from the sixth grade student cohort in 2003 (which was the representative fourth grade sample in 2001). The age of the participants ranged from 11 to 12 years old. The original sample consisted of 2499 students, and after exclusion of incomplete questionnaires, a total of 2,449 participants were included in the analysis: 1,254 boys (51.2%) and 1,195 girls (48.8%). A total of 1,329 (54.3%) children were from Taipei city and 1,120 (45.7%) were from Hsinchu county. Approximately 57% of fathers had a high school level of education, and 28.9% had at least a college degree. About 65.9% of mothers had a high school level of education, and 18.9% had at least a college degree. In addition, 87.6% of parents were married.
Study instrument and research variables
The questionnaire developed by the CABLE team for the sixth graders in 2003 included the core questions of previous years (including behavioral habits, psychological health, family interactions, peer relationships etc). Slight modifications were sometimes made to the annual questionnaires according to special issues in a particular year. We conducted a pilot study on June 2003 at two schools that were not part of this study. The results of this pilot study and the validity and reliability of questions were taken into consideration when modifying the questionnaire to produce the final version . Data used in this study included information about the children's gender, children's self-reported depressive symptoms and children's perceptions of family interactions (see Appendix). Further explanations of the definition and measurement of children's self-reports of depressive symptoms and children's perceptions of family interactions are given below.
Children's self-reports of depressive symptoms refer to the results of the CABLE Depression Scale filled out by the study participants. This scale was based on Kovac's [10, 28] Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and Faulstich et al's Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) . Participants rated how often in the past two weeks they experienced the following seven emotions: "Didn't feel like eating favorite foods", "Felt very sad", "Cried for no reason", "Found it hard to carry out tasks", "Felt frightened", "Didn't sleep well", and "Lacked motivation". Each item had a possible score of one to three points (1 = never, 2 = once or twice, 3 = many times). The scores from each of the seven items were added together to give an overall total score ranging from seven to twenty-one. Higher scores indicated that children reported more depressive symptoms. The Cronbach's α of the depressive symptom scale was 0.75. The results of exploratory factor analysis indicated that the seven items could be categorized into one factor.
The development of the CABLE Family interactions Scale was based on relevant literature [7, 8, 14–25] and also included some culturally specific questions. It included six aspects: family activities, parental discipline, parental support, psychological control, behavioral supervision and family conflict. Each item was scored from one to four (1 = never, 2 = one or two days, 3 = many days, 4 = every day). Family activities included activities that children performed with their parents during the past week such as talking, eating, doing housework, doing homework, playing at home, and going out somewhere. 'Parental discipline' referred to methods that children reported their parents used to punish them such as being grounded, banned from doing something they like, pocket money taken away, made to do housework, made to kneel, made to stand or physically punished. 'Parental support' referred to the level of positive support given to children by parents including encouragement, praise, consolation when upset, caring, listening, concern for school life, helping when needed and offering reasons when asking them to do something. 'Psychological control' referred to the reported level of parental control over children and was assessed by questions such as: "Do your parents make you feel they are always right?", "Do your parents often say to you 'Children don't understand things. Wait until you are older and then you will understand?", "Do your parents remind you about past mistakes when you are in trouble?, "Do your parents interrupt you when you are talking?", "Do your parents blame you for things that other people in the house have done?", and "When you and your parents disagree about something, are they not nice to you?". 'Behavioral supervision' referred to the reported level of understanding and control that parents have over children's behavior and was assessed by questions such as: "Do your parents know what you do in your free time?", "Do your parents know what you do after school?", "Do your parents know who you mostly hang out with?", and "Do your parents know how you spend your pocket money?". 'Family conflict' referred to any reported episodes of conflict between the child and other family members within the last month, and included quarrels or fighting with siblings, and quarrels with parents or other senior family members.
Data management and statistical analysis
Data analysis was conducted using SPSS statistical software version 11.0. We used frequencies and percentages to express the distributions of depressive symptoms and we used means and standard deviations to express the characteristics of the total depressive symptom scores. To clarify the family interaction types of study participants, first we conducted factor analysis to analyze the latent factor structure of family interactions. Then cluster analysis was performed to group participants according to the factor scores for characteristics of family interactions. Finally, family interaction types were defined based on the results of one way ANOVA which showed differences in each factor between different clusters. In addition one way ANOVA was also used to establish the relationship between family interaction types and childhood depressive symptoms.
Children's self-reports of depressive symptoms in study participants
Descriptive statistics for depressive symptoms in the study sample
Once or twice
1. Didn't feel like eating
2. Felt very sad
3. Cried for no reason
4. Found it hard to carry out tasks
5. Felt frightened
6. Didn't sleep well
7. Lacked motivation
depressive symptoms score(7~21points)
n = 2441 mean = 10.56 SD = 2.66
n = 1251 mean = 10.42 SD = 2.58
n = 1190 mean = 10.71 SD = 2.73
Types of children's perceived family interactions among study participants
Factor structure of children's perceived family interactions
Rotated factor structure of family interactions in the study sample
Factor 1 Supporting activities
Factor 2 Psychological control
Factor 3 Parental discipline
Factor 4 Behavioral supervision
Factor 5 Family conflict
1. Parents praise you
2. Parents comfort you
3. Parents encourage you
4. Parents help you solve problems
5. Parents listen to what you say
6. Parents care about what happens at school
7. Parents look after you when you are sick
8. Parents tell you why they want you to do things
9. Parents talk with you
10. Parents play with you at home
11. Parents take you on outings
12. Parents do your homework with you
13. Parents remind you about past mistakes when you are in trouble
14. Parents interrupt you when you are talking
15. Parents shout and swear at you
16. Parents blame you for things other people have done
17. Parents tell you that children don't understand things
18. Parents make you feel that they are always right
19. Parents are not nice to you when you disagree with them
20. Parents hit you
21. Parents punish you by making you do housework or write lines
22. Parents punish you by making you kneel or stand
23. Parents take away your pocket money or toys
24. Parents ban you from doing something you like
25. Parents lock you in a room
26. Parents know what you do on the way home from school
27. Parents know what you do in your free time
28. Parents know who you spend most of your time with
29. Parents know how you spend your pocket money
30. You do housework with your parents
31. You eat with your parents
32. You have physical fights with your brothers and sisters
33. You have arguments with your brothers and sisters
34. You have arguments with your parents or other elders
Post varimax explained variability (%)
Accumulated explained variability (%)
Principle component analysis was used to extract factors. The analysis was performed with an orthogonal (varimax) rotation and five factors were extracted based on eigenvalues (measures of variance) greater than 1. Each of these five factors explained 16.6%, 7.6%, 7.3%, 6.9% and 5.0% of variability respectively, which gave a combined total explanation of total variance of 43.5% (Table 2). The scale for measuring children's perceptions of family interactions in the CABLE study looked at the six aspects of parental support, family activities, psychological control, parental discipline, behavioral supervision, and family conflict. Apart from a small number of items, the results of factor analysis were mostly in agreement with the above six categories (Table 2). Factor one included twelve items, had a Cronbach's α value of 0.9 and was called 'Supportive activities'. Factor two included seven items, had a Cronbach's α value of 0.71 and was called 'Psychological control'. Factor three had six items, a Cronbach's α value of 0.70 and was called 'Parental discipline'. Factor four also included six items, had a Cronbach's α score of 0.72 and was called 'Behavioral supervision'. Factor five included three items, had a Cronbach's α of 0.66 and was called 'Family conflict'. The values of the associations between the five factor scores ranged from -0.005 to 0.009.
Clustering of children's perceived family interactions
Cluster analysis is used to classify subjects into different groups. Subjects in the same group share some common traits which means they have the smallest distance or largest similarity . In this study, children with the greatest similarity in factor scores of children's perceived family interactions were classified into the same group. To identify the different types of children's perceived family interactions, a two-stage cluster analysis was carried out based on the above-calculated factor scores and with "children" as the unit of analysis. Firstly, Ward's hierarchical clustering method was used to choose the ideal number of clusters. When four groups were condensed into three groups, agglomerative coefficients increased from 11322.842 to 12253.122, and the greatest rate of change in the agglomerative coefficient was observed (5.95%–7.59%). As a result, it was decided to divide the study sample into four groups. K-means nonhierarchical cluster analysis was then used to divide the study sample into actual clusters. Scheffe's method was used to compare differences in the five factors among four clusters.
Comparison of factor and depressive symptom scores in the study sample according to the four family interactions types
Means of Factor Scores and Depressive Symptom Scores
Cluster 1 Supervised group (n = 709) (29.66%)
Cluster 2 Disciplined group (n = 324) (13.56%)
Cluster 3 Nurtured group (n = 979) (40.96%)
Cluster 4 Conflict group (n = 378) (15.82%)
3 > (2,4) > 1
2 > (1,4) > 3
2 > 3 > 4 > 1
(1,3) > 2 > 4
4 > (1,2,3)
Depressive symptom score
(2,4) > 1 > 3
Relationships between children's perceived family interaction types and children's self-reports of depressive symptoms
The bottom row of table 3 shows the relationship between children's perceptions of family interaction types and children's self-reported depressive symptom scores. Children with different types of family interactions had significantly different scores for depressive symptoms. The average score for depressive symptoms was highest in the Disciplined group (11.94), followed by the Conflict group (11.79) and the Supervised group (10.56). The average depressive symptom score was lowest in the Nurtured group (9.61). The children in this study reported only mild depressive symptoms. This is probably because the participants come from the general population.
Our results confirm that children's perceptions of family interactions have five underlying factors and that participants can be grouped into four different interaction types according to their factor scores. In addition, we were able to discern the types of family interactions that are associated with children's self-reports of depressive symptoms. Children from the disciplined or conflict groups were more likely to report depressive symptoms. On the other hand, children from the nurtured group were least likely to report depressive symptoms.
Relationships between different types of family interactions and children's self-reports of depressive symptoms
The results found that children from the disciplined group were most likely to report depressive symptoms. In this group, factor scores for parental discipline and psychological control were much higher than in other groups. This means that children in disciplined families may be punished more frequently and may be more powerless than those from other groups. This result is similar to the previous finding that children from low affection, negative communication and high control families report more depressive symptoms [21, 23, 24]. The parents in disciplined families in Taiwan are comparable to the authoritarian families proposed by Lamborn . These parents may be used to the traditional parenting style where children are raised in a strict or serious way [32, 33] and where it is thought that severe methods of teaching, physical and oral punishment are a kind of general form of education . A Taiwanese proverbs says "Children only have ears, and don't have a mouth". These kinds of statements may have an indirectly detrimental impact on a child's mental health and may lead children to think that they are incapable, unacceptable, or inadequate. Continual negative comments and inappropriate punishments from parents may be associated with the development of depression . Therefore, it is important that Taiwanese parents pay more attention to the potential effect that negative statements and strict punishments have on children in the long term.
We found that children from the conflict group reported higher levels of depressive symptoms. Children's perceptions of family interactions in this group were characterized as having higher factor scores than the other groups for family conflict and lower scores for supervision. Few studies have included the concept of conflict in the family interaction structure. 'Conflict' in the context of this study is conceptualized as children answering back to their parents or elders or quarrelling with their siblings. It is similar to the daily hassles proposed by Chen's research involving 463 Taiwanese mothers and contributes to the mother's psychological distress . Children in a family environment full of conflict have increased psychological burdens and chronic melancholia due to their powerlessness to change the situation .
Children from the supervised group reported lower levels of depressive symptoms than the previous two groups. This group was characterized by having the highest factor scores for behavioral supervision and the lowest factor scores for supportive activities, parental discipline and family conflict. Behavioral supervision was defined in this study as the level of parental knowledge about their child's daily life and included the level of parental participation and involvement in their child's life. A study from eastern Taiwan found that higher parental involvement was associated with lower childhood depression . Our study also indicates that appropriate behavioral supervision is associated with fewer reported depressive symptoms. However, further research is still required to determine whether increasingly higher levels of behavioral supervision lead to increasingly lower levels of depression or if behavioral supervision of children can actually lead to an increase in childhood depression if it surpasses appropriate levels.
Children from the nurtured group reported the lowest levels of depressive symptoms. This group was characterized by having the highest frequency of supportive activities and the second highest frequency of behavioral supervision. This result demonstrates that when parents are more supportive of children or when positive interactions with family members are more common, children are less likely to report depressive symptoms. This result is supported by previous studies [18, 19] and shows that children perceived positive support from parents and positive family interactions are related to fewer reported depressive symptoms.
Gender differences in children's self-reports of depressive symptoms
As shown in Table 1, girls reported higher depressive symptom scores than boys. Moreover, girls were significantly more likely to report that they feel sad, cry for no reason, and feel frightened. Boys were more likely to report that they find something hard to carry out than girls. These findings are similar to the results of previous research [11, 19, 20, 37, 38]. This is probably because women are more likely to experience strain, to have a low sense of mastery, and to engage in ruminative coping . It is also possible that girls are more vulnerable to stressful life events than boys, such as living in a nonsupportive, single-father household [19, 38]. However, no conclusions can be reached in regards to the mechanism between gender and children's self-reports of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the results of this study do not indicate that the effect of children's perceived family interaction types on childhood depressive symptoms is modified by gender.
Our study had the following limitations. Firstly, the measures in the study were reported by children alone. However, although we cannot cross validate the answers with parents' or teachers' reports, the answers still represent the children's subjective perceptions of depressive symptoms and family interactions. Secondly, although an attempt was made to include a broad range of family interaction types, if the input items for factor analysis or cluster analysis are different, this may result in different kinds of grouping. Nonetheless, the results still show that family interaction types are not restricted to merely two components but rather can have multiple components. In addition, there is a definite relationship between types of children's perceived family interactions and children's self-reported depressive symptoms. However, as our study was cross-sectional in nature, we were unable to establish the direction of a possible causal association between family interactions and depressive symptoms. In other words, it may be possible that a child experiencing depressive symptoms will perceive their family environment and interactions as negative as opposed to negative family interactions leading to depressive symptoms. Finally, due to the sampling strategy used in this study, the results can be only generalized to public elementary school students in Taipei city and Hsinchu County in Taiwan.
In conclusion, there are five latent components that can be extracted from children's perceived family interactions: supporting activities, psychological control, parental discipline, behavioral supervision, and family conflict. According to the factor scores of these five components, family interactions can be classified into four types: supervised (29.66%), disciplined (13.56%), nurtured (40.96%) and conflict (15.82%). Children's perceptions of family interaction types are related to children's self-reports of depressive symptoms. Children from disciplined families reported the most depressive symptoms and children from nurtured families reported the least depressive symptoms. Health and child care professionals should place more importance on the relationship between family interaction types and childhood depressive symptoms.
Data used in this study was taken from the Child and Adolescent Behavior in Long-term Evolution (CABLE) project in 2003, which is a research project supported by the National Health Research Institutes, project number HP-092-SG-02.
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This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. | <urn:uuid:84261964-2aab-4bd8-aaaf-6e046614031b> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-7-116 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285289.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00153-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933429 | 8,274 | 2.328125 | 2 |
Following the publication of Lord Dearing’s recommendations, Angela Youngman explores the implications of every KS2 child learning a modern foreign language
Foreign languages are set to become a compulsory part of the KS2 curriculum from 2010 leaving headteachers with the headache of attempting to fit another subject into an already overcrowded curriculum.
The decision was announced by the government in March 2007 following a review of language policy carried out by Lord Dearing and the DfES national director for languages Dr Lid King. The review had been initiated following a sharp fall in the numbers of pupils taking foreign language GCSEs. In 2004 pupils were allowed to drop languages in KS4 when government ministers acknowledged the subject’s unpopularity. Since then numbers taking a GCSE qualification have dropped from three-quarters of the age group to half, with the biggest decline being seen in state comprehensives. Lord Dearing and Dr Lid King were asked to investigate the situation and come up with some solutions.
They advocate that languages should be introduced much earlier in a pupil’s school career. The thinking is that by encouraging children to develop a love of languages from an early age, they will be more willing to continue their studies up to and beyond GCSE.
As education secretary Alan Johnson points out, ‘The earlier you start learning a language the better. Making language study compulsory from seven to 14 will give pupils seven years to build up their knowledge, confidence and experience.’
So what does Lord Dearing’s report recommend?
- Languages are to become a compulsory part of the curriculum from seven to 14 from 2010 when the curriculum is next reviewed by the QCA.
- Using the Languages Ladder to record and reward progress in the four skills of learning – listening, speaking, reading and writing – and counting points gained through assessment in performance tables.
- More personalised learning, with informed classroom assessment of every child’s language learning near the end of KS2 to inform teachers at KS3 thus enabling a smooth transition between primary and secondary school teaching.
- Greater support for those who want to study community languages and offering a broader range of languages such as Mandarin and Urdu.
- Work with embassies to broaden the range of languages on offer.
- No tightly prescribed approach to language teaching, as this does not suit every child.
- Active use of immersion courses to help pupils manage the transition from primary to secondary.
- Launching a National Teachers Research Scholarship scheme for languages, enabling teachers to work together with other experts to develop their teaching skills.
- Improving teaching through a range of support mechanisms which includes training secondary school teachers to work in support of primary colleagues and helping good teachers to share skills with others.
- An additional £3m over four years for a HEFCE scheme to encourage young people to study languages.
- Developing a web-based Open School for Languages
- An annual budget of over £50m a year to support teaching in primary and secondary schools and to help fund supporting organisations.
Adequate funding is regarded as crucial to the success of the initiative. The National Union of Teachers was already warned that introducing a new requirement in primary schools could not be carried out ‘on the cheap’. General secretary Steve Sinnott points out, ‘Alongside training, there will be a need for a fully expert teacher to be available to every primary school. The primary curriculum itself remains hopelessly overloaded. With a limited number of teachers covering all subjects, small primary schools will have their own special problems in introducing a new subject. There should be a government audit of the additional staffing and training needs of all primary schools.’
Lord Dearing comments, ‘Headteachers have agreed that this was not an issue for a quick fix. We learned from pupils during the consultation that one menu does not suit all. We want to see pupils, whatever their backgrounds, achieve at levels appropriate to them recognising their achievements and providing greater choice. Pupils need to have the flexibility and desire to succeed and teachers need greater training and support.’
Training is essential. In the long term, the Training and Development Agency (TDA) is planning to develop a 9-14 languages teacher-training course. The assistant director of initial teacher training at the TDA, Jacquie Nunn, says, ‘We will be working closely with schools and teacher training providers to build the capacity both in initial teacher training and in training and development for existing teachers.’
Increasing numbers of primary schools will be benefiting from a new training initiative that is currently underway. Schools are being invited to participate in a programme to give language teaching skills to existing teachers. Organised by CILT (National Centre for Languages, www.cilt.org.uk), it forms a national and regional programme. It began in 2005 when a group of language advisers were invited to train as national trainers. These trainers in turn have now begun to train regional trainers who will pass on their skills to those involved in primary languages in local authorities. There are currently 873 regional trainers involved in the project which focuses on planning and teaching within the KS2 framework including teaching methods, assessment, using ICT and transition from KS2 to KS3. According to CILT, feedback from both national and regional training sessions has been extremely positive as it helps build the confidence and capacity of primary teachers to introduce and sustain language teaching in their schools.
The Languages Ladder is a key ingredient in the initiative being part of the National Languages Strategy. It forms the national recognition scheme for languages and possesses six stages: breakthrough, preliminary, intermediate, advanced, proficiency and mastery. This comprises in total 17 grades, of which the first three are at the beginner stage. Learners can choose to be assessed in one or more of the four languages skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. This enables a learner to progress faster in, for example, speaking rather than writing. It is designed to be as flexible as possible. Learners can use a set of ‘I can…’ statements to assess their current language skills and monitor progress. Teachers can use the Languages Ladder in the classroom and will be able to award certificates to learners who are working at a particular grade on the Languages Ladder. From September 2005 Language Ladder qualifications have been available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Modern Greek, Punjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu, Welsh and Yoruba.
Since the scheme was launched in 2005-06 there have been 22,436 entries for individual skills from 131 centres. Nine per cent of these have been in primary schools compared to 64% in secondary schools.
At present 70% of primary schools are now offering some element of language teaching or have plans to do so. Of those primary schools, which are currently offering some element of language teaching, French remains the most popular option although Spanish is quickly catching up.
It will be up to headteachers and their governing bodies to choose which language or languages to teach. They will also have to find time on the timetable – not an easy task. Martin Ward of the Association of School and College Leaders comments, ‘Headteachers have to squeeze more into KS2 and this will mean that something will have to make room for it.’
Flexibility may be the key according to Joan Dickies, a regional trainer for Norfolk, who says, ‘Schools need to do one hour a week of languages. This could be taught in two or three sessions. Finding a half hour slot is easier than one hour. The remaining 30 minutes can be taught in 10-minute slots during the week perhaps as part of other lessons, or in greetings at the start of class.’
Like it or not modern foreign language are going to be compulsory in KS2 from 2010. Be prepared!
Wicklewood Primary School, Norfolk
Wicklewood has been active in primary language teaching for some years. It has a policy of introducing French at the earliest possible age, ie in Reception and KS1. In Year 3 children are introduced to German while in Years 4, 5 and 6 they do French and some German. There is no foreign language written work until Y5. All class teachers have to teach French. The school uses a language scheme called Rigolo which utilises interactive whiteboards. Teachers can use the interactive teacher or switch it off as they desire. The language is always used in context so that children can see it used. They learn the language to go shopping, to go into cafes and buy a meal and so on, often through play.
Wicklewood participates in the international scheme run by the British Council which encourages children to learn more than one language. They do lots of email links with schools in Europe enabling children to find out more about the lives of children elsewhere. One such link looked at playground games and the children were fascinated to discover that games such as ‘The farmer’s in his den’ were played as far afield as Poland and Germany.
Some children take part in the nationwide annual Junior Language Challenge. Last year seven children learned Polish for the first stage of the competition; then they learned Mandarin Chinese. The three children who reached the finals of the championship studied Swahili in their spare time. All three languages focused on the acquisition of verbal skills such as telling the time, greetings, going shopping, making meals. It is an IT-based scheme. Each participating child is given a CD made by a native speaker and the children have to learn the languages in their own time. Despite this commitment, the children find it very entertaining and enjoy taking part.
Newbury Park Primary School, Ilford
Newbury Park has adopted a very different approach to language learning which is proving extremely popular with both children and teachers. It is also succeeding in improving community relations and widening knowledge of different cultural backgrounds. It operates a ‘language of the month’ policy. The mixed-race school contains children from over 40 different nationalities – all speaking different languages. By learning something of those alterative languages, it encourages children to appreciate the cultures of their friends as well as to communicate in their languages. This gives children an opportunity to communicate in a different language each month.
All 700 children in the school, from Nursery to Year 6, as well as their teachers, participate in the scheme. Children as young as four are encouraged to learn some basic words in that month’s language. It aims to highlight the value of all languages. Each month, one pupil becomes the ‘language expert’ recording words and phrases for everyone to learn and giving an insight into their culture.
Language of the month resources have been made available on CD-Rom and on the school website. This has encouraged other schools in the borough to follow suit. Inset sessions have been run for local colleagues looking to adopt the scheme and there has been interest as far away as Denmark. The project was awarded a European Award in 2005, as well as a London Turkish Radio Community Languages prize.
Junior Language Challenge www.eurotalk.co.uk/jlc
This article first appeared in Primary Headship – May 2007 | <urn:uuid:047eb862-95a6-4c85-8524-0ce7acfffb14> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/the-challenge-of-modern-foreign-languages/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572870.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817062258-20220817092258-00670.warc.gz | en | 0.965671 | 2,338 | 3.578125 | 4 |
THE £40m operation to rescue one of the Tyne’s classic bridges has been named as one of Europe’s top heritage achievements.
The seven years of work which went into in the restoration of the High Level Bridge has been recognised with a Grand Prize in the European Union Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra awards 2009.
It is the only award of this kind in England this year.
Of 28 European projects which won awards at the weekend ceremony in Sicily, only seven were given the Grand Prize accolade. The prestigious prize also brings a cash award of 10,000 euros.
The Grade I-listed bridge, designed by Robert Stephenson, was opened in September 1849 by Queen Victoria in front of 60,000 spectators.
The award judges said they were “enormously impressed” by the level of engineering professionalism shown in the project, from original research into the fatigue performance of the cast iron in the bridge to the restoration of the original lamp standards.
The granting of a Grand Prize represents the importance the jury attached to the retention in day-to-day use of such heritage structures. Iain Coucher, chief executive of Network Rail, said: “This award is a fabulous recognition of the detailed and complex work which went into the High Level Bridge project.
“It’s a unique structure and our engineers had to develop new techniques to protect the bridge whilst respecting its Grade I listing.
“The fact that Europa Nostra has recognised this achievement is an excellent reflection on all of those who worked so hard to make the project a success.”
The awards scheme, jointly organised by the European Commission and Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for cultural heritage, celebrates outstanding initiatives within the European cultural heritage sector and highlights exceptional restoration and conservation, research and education achievements, as well as heritage conservation.
Linda Green, Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture, said: “I am delighted that the complex task of restoring one of Tyneside’s major cultural icons has received the recognition it deserves.
“Restoring the High Level Bridge proved to be a much more difficult process than originally thought, and for a while there was a chance that the bridge might never open to the public again.”
Newcastle City Council leader John Shipley said: “The High Level Bridge is not only a vital public transport route linking the centres of Newcastle and Gateshead but also the finest example of a cast iron bridge in the world and as such a treasured historic attraction. It is a living tribute to world-class engineering and we are very proud of it.”
The historic importance of the bridge and the amount of road and rail traffic using it each day meant a sensitive approach to the repair project was needed by May Gurney, the infrastructure services company contracted by Network Rail.
Years of work
CONTRACTORS May Gurney were involved in emergency repairs on the bridge in 2001, with the span eventually closing in February 2005 and re-opening in June last year.
The bridge was closed after an inspection of the cross girders which carry the road deck revealed major corrosion problems.
The road deck 25 metres above the Tyne was completely replaced with 610 tonnes of new steel and 200,000 wooden blocks.
Repairs included “stitching” cracks in the cast iron by using carbon steel keys. It was originally painted in a stone colour but was quickly affected by Tyneside’s smokey atmosphere and in 1859 it was painted black, then later in grey. The new beige colour of the bridge was based on that shown in a painting by 19th-Century Tyneside artist John Wilson Carmichael.
The original colour was chosen because the builders wanted to create the impression that the whole bridge was constructed of sandstone and not cast iron.
A mixture of iron from six foundries was used in the bridge, including that from works in Ridsdale, Northumberland. | <urn:uuid:88dc650d-d29d-4579-8963-686456cfbd18> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/high-level-bridge-restoration-wins-4479209 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280587.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00565-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969927 | 820 | 1.679688 | 2 |
P.K. Yonge team needs to help to get to worldwide competition
Published: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 7:13 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 7:13 p.m.
Seven students from P. K. Yonge Developmental Research School will hopefully make history next month — but they need a little help getting there.
The Odyssey of the Mind Spontaneous Fundraiser will be from 9:45 a.m. to noon on April 27 at the elementary building of P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, 1080 SW 11th St. The cost is $10 for the first member of a family and $5 for every other member. Visitors are asked to register before the event at om.pkyonge.ufl.edu.
After winning regional and state competitions, an Odyssey of the Mind team from P. K. Yonge's high school will compete in the world competition at Michigan State University at the end of May.
It's the first time a high school team from the Manatee District, which includes Gainesville and Jacksonville, will attend the world-level championship.
The catch: The team must raise $7,500 to cover the travel costs of moving the sets, costumes, props and, of course, the students.
Team members are now asking the community to support them by coming out to the Odyssey of the Mind Spontaneous Fundraiser on April 27.
JL Kirby, a 10th-grade world history teacher and OM coach at P.K. Yonge, said he was surprised — and proud — the team made it to the world competition.
This is only the second year OM has been available at the school, and all of the ninth- and 10th-graders on the team are first-time competitors.
"It's pretty impressive," Kirby said.
At the fundraiser, team members will perform their solution to a problem that they chose earlier this year. They will also lead small groups through solving "spontaneous" problems, a task they'll be faced with at the world competition.
OM is an international program that promotes creativity, said Monica Poole, who brought the program to P.K. Yonge last year with her husband, Michael Poole.
In competitions, teams present a solution to a previously released problem. The problems have an element of science, technology, engineering or math, and the solutions are presented in a skit, which can include sets, costumes, music and props.
The teams also respond to spontaneous problems, which they have only five minutes to solve verbally or by building something.
The more creative the solution is, Poole said, the higher the score. OM helps the students develop lateral-thinking skills.
"The kids do everything on their own in solving the problems," she said. "The coaches are just there to supervise."
This year, P. K. Yonge sent nine teams to the regional OM competition. Five made it to the state competition in Orlando last month, and one will continue to the world competition.
The team that's heading for Michigan consists of sophomores Andrew Rocha, Joey McGinn, Makenzie Vahle, Joe Fote, Jack Polefko and Megan Marks, and freshman Savannah Branch.
Once they arrive, they'll meet their buddy team from another country and join 800 teams from all over the world in the tournament.
That's another aspect of the program — connecting with each other through problem-solving.
"I love anything that gets my kids away from electronics and actually has them thinking on their own," Poole said.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged. | <urn:uuid:6a5912d2-21b6-465c-b502-6059a2f9b02c> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20130417/ARTICLES/130419578&tc=ix | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285315.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00571-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961646 | 793 | 1.75 | 2 |
Synthèse rétrospective et nouvelles perspectives développementales
This chapter presents a synthesis of research on the acquisition of French as a second and foreign language undertaken at Stockholm University. It relates the earlier results of the project called <i>InterFra (French interlanguage — development, interaction and variation</i>) with more recent research on ultimate attainment in SLA. The study is presented in three parts. The first two are retrospective: first a description of the corpus <i>InterFra</i> (www.fraita.su.se/interfra) — the integral corpus is here introduced for the first time — then follow the results of the doctoral theses and the continuum of the developmental stages as proposed by Bartning and Schlyter (2004), which all build upon the <i>InterFra</i> corpus. The third part accounts for a recent research programme about the last stages in SLA, namely <i>High-level proficiency in second language use</i>, a common programme between four departments at Stockholm University. The chapter gives the latest results from studies in this programme using three learner groups near the native borderline, called ‘advanced’, ‘functional bilinguals’ and ‘near-natives’. | <urn:uuid:1827a29b-a8c3-4704-957e-38e455c7a2bb> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.jbe-platform.com/content/books/9789027270078-02bar | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719547.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00395-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.850823 | 266 | 2.046875 | 2 |
The Canadian Light Source (CLS) is a third-generation 2.9 GeV synchrotron located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It opened on October 22, 2004 after three years of construction and cost C$173.5 million. One of forty-two such facilities in the world, it occupies a footprint the size of a football field on the grounds of the University of Saskatchewan. The CLS, which is the only synchrotron in Canada, is operated by CLS Inc. a not-for-profit corporation owned by the University of Saskatchewan.
By examining the materials created by one creature, oyster adhesive, Dr. Rebecca Metzler and her team can contribute to the large task of rehabilitating marine habitats along the Atlantic, Eastern and Gulf of Mexico coasts.
Safety has always been a major concern for electric vehicles, especially preventing fire and explosion incidents with the best possible battery technologies.
They are a staple in billions of people's diet worldwide, but a soil-borne fungus is threatening the health of tomato plants. Scientists are using novel techniques to understand the relationship between the disease and the ...
Like many infectious diseases, whooping cough is extremely hard to treat, but scientists using the Canadian Light Source may have found a new way to treat and vaccinate for this deadly disease.
Precious metals like silver and gold have biomedical properties that have been used for centuries, but how do these materials effectively combat the likes of cancer and bacteria without contaminating the patient and the environment?
Little is known about the Royal Naval Hospital's cemetery in Antigua, and with little but the bones themselves to go on, researchers turn to synchrotron imaging to uncover the histories of the men buried there.
A nasty disease that can wreak havoc on wheat crops has been identified by scientists, allowing plant breeders to develop better varieties with higher yields for farmers.
Researchers have developed a new catalyst material that outperforms benchmarks and opens the door to significant advances in petroleum refinement and industrial applications. It's an industry first, and there's plenty of ...
A recent collaboration between the Canadian Light Source and the University of Saskatchewan Plant Science Department is proving the potential for molecular imaging in plant research that could produce greater yields, healthier ...
The Canadian research community on high-temperature superconductivity continues to lead this exciting scientific field with groundbreaking results coming hot on the heels of big theoretical questions. | <urn:uuid:5bd72d76-48d0-4217-a8b4-0bab87a3759e> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://phys.org/partners/canadian-light-source/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279915.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00276-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944301 | 489 | 2.6875 | 3 |
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Iran Green Movement promising big February protests
The opposition Green Movement in Iran is planning a series of large protests in early February, culminating in an attempt to co-opt a massive pro-regime march to commemorate the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Istanbul — Opposition Green Movement activists in major cities around Iran are playing a cat-and-mouse game with authorities seeking to shut down their operations ahead of Feb. 11, a revolutionary anniversary that the activists are hoping to use for the country's largest street protests yet..
“The whole future ... is at stake,” said Shahab Mousavvat, a London-based exile who used to work for the state-run broadcaster Press TV. “Incremental actions are planned from the 1st through the 11th of February.” Feb. 11, 1979, was the culmination of the Islamic Revolution that overthrew Iran's then-monarch, Shah Reza Pahlavi.
Demonstrators communicating via e-mail and cellphone are planning a week of “civil resistance." Since Monday, organizers have been seeking Green Movement supporters through SMS messages, patriotic video clips posted on the Internet, and slogans daubed on walls.
They're encouraging residents of large cities to shout “Allahu Akbar" from rooftops, and are planning a series of protest marches leading up to Feb. 11, when a major pro-government march is planned. Opposition activists say they intend to infiltrate that pro-government march in large numbers. Once in Tehran's Azadi Square, where state broadcaster cameras will be rolling, they plan to whip out protest banners and transform the crowd into a sea of green.
Students are planning separate protests on university campuses in neighborhoods whose residents showed themselves broadly sympathetic to the opposition in past confrontations by taking in students and sheltering them.
“They’re gearing up for nonviolent guerrilla warfare,” said Shahram Kholdi, a lecturer in Middle East Studies and Persian at Britain’s Manchester University. “They’re no longer centralized so they can’t be shut down so easily.”
Officials warn of no leniency
Police General Ismail Ahmad Moghaddam warned protesters that his forces would no longer show “leniency ... we will take severe action. The era of tolerance is over. Anyone attending such rallies will be crushed.”
One opposition leader, Mohsen Sazegara, who is based in the United States, has been putting out daily 10-minute video clips in which he discusses issues of the day and answers questions forwarded from Iran.
The regime has responded by increasing its surveillance of cellphone and Internet networks. The government has also issued photographs of protesters and asked the public to identify them.
“A lot of people have been arrested, other organizers have gone underground and everybody’s preparing for the anniversary of the day Khomeini returned to Iran,” said Mr. Kholdi, referring to the first day of the so-called Ten Day Dawn period that culminated in the overthrow of the Shah.
Within the regime, there are disputes over whether to crush the protesters violently, analysts say.
“There’s a powerful minority caucus who are advising Ahmadinejad to unleash the full force at his disposal on the people,” said Mousavvat. “Hitherto, they’ve been checked by more moderate voices, who are terrified by what the failure of such a strategy would represent.”
Opposition activists are debating whether pro-opposition members of small communities should go to Tehran to participate in the demonstration or stay at home. Those in favor argue that activists’ hands are tied in small communities where security forces can easily identify them, while others insist that to make this a truly national movement and stretch the security forces, provincial actions must be initiated, too.
“Aside from Tehran and two, three other large cities, there’s not much going on,” said Soroush, a student in the port city of Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf. “It’s possible that many are against the system but they’ll never do something about this.” | <urn:uuid:1e5c5d1d-7656-45cf-9c9c-321d7f987652> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2010/0127/Iran-Green-Movement-promising-big-February-protests | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988725470.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183845-00076-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949635 | 868 | 1.507813 | 2 |
From applique to zippers, a comprehensive dictionary with definitions and meanings of key fashion vocabulary, written by Camilla Morton.
Box Pleats can be found in skirts, shirts or adding decorative flounces to interiors. Box pleats appear in ‘clusters’, often forming a panel, and are essentially back to back knife pleats.
Braiding — the dressmaking version — is not too dissimilar to hair plait it shares a name with. It is a trim, binding or embroidery that can be applied to embellish or pattern a garment, from the hem to a free-style design.
Bustle is the ‘pouf’ or padding that is worn at the back of a skirt, either underneath or folded in to the fabric. It can be a drape or twist of fabric, or use a framework of layers and it is meant to exaggerate the feminine charm of behind. Popular particularly the Victorian era, when women were still corseted, and crinolines were in fashion, the bustle adds fullness below a slim waist. It can be set off with bows and ribbons, although its original purpose was more practical — to pull the skirt back and keep the hem from dragging in the mud. | <urn:uuid:ad28a2f0-a5d8-4d51-a3f2-6734e4444319> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.businessoffashion.com/education/fashion-az/braiding | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279169.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00210-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935889 | 259 | 2.9375 | 3 |
In today’s world, a high school diploma is simply not enough to be successful professionally. A university degree is a critical element for a promising future. However, an academic degree only does not guarantee a successful career. There are other factors that are also important, such as experience and attitude.
An academic degree is important because it can provide the foundation and the knowledge necessary to embark on a particular profession. Even the university experience in itself can be an educational one that will provide useful skills for the workplace. In order to earn a degree, learning and understanding of the relevant material is required. The student’s level of knowledge is tested through a combination of assignments and exams. Based on these results, a degree may or may not be awarded and the level of the degree will depend on the student’s academic performance. However, a successful professional cannot rely on academic performance alone. There are other elements that must be present in order for an individual to do well in his / her career. Academic learning cannot provide a person with all the tools necessary to compete within the workplace. An overreliance on theory learned from books will not lead to a promising career. Instead, an individual has to rely on a combination of factors and not solely an academic degree.
An important element for success in one’s profession is experience. Practical experience can build upon the academic knowledge base to provide an individual with the resources necessary not only to acquire a job, but to also climb the corporate ladder. Experience is extremely useful because it allows the individual to put into practice what has been learned at university. There is no substitute for the lessons that can be learned in the workplace, regarding technical ability, social courtesies, upward mobility and customer service, among other things. A real-life work setting cannot be fully replaced with university lectures and academic books. Academic learning is based largely on theory, therefore practical experience can provide the realistic approach that is necessary for a successful career.
There are many companies that do not hire based on the type of degree or the experience held. They are more concerned with the applicant’s attitude to work and perhaps life in general. Once hired, the company invests its resources in the individual to ensure that they are given comprehensive on-the-job training, as well as assistance with any professional qualifications. Companies like these operate under the premise that if the employee has the right attitude, then anything is possible. If their work ethic and values correspond with those of the company, once they undergo the necessary training and further education, they can have the potential to become future managers.
There can be no real guarantee of professional success. However, an individual is more likely to embark on a promising career, if a combination of factors is in place. An academic degree is an excellent foundation, and the university experience can teach the principles of hard work, dedication and ethics that can be displayed in the workplace. However, academic theory alone cannot give a professional the mobility needed for a successful career. Therefore, the other elements of experience and attitude are also important for success. Individuals need to build on their experience in order to apply their on-the-job knowledge in their daily interactions at work. In addition, their attitude needs to fit in with the corporate culture and the company’s approach to work. With this powerful combination of factors, an individual’s professional success can be almost guaranteed.
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- Formal Professionalism - Is an Academic Degree a Game Changer? | <urn:uuid:890baeb9-a92a-416c-8af4-e5af2832669d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://buytermpaper.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808213349-20220809003349-00466.warc.gz | en | 0.959375 | 787 | 2.84375 | 3 |
You’ve heard “The Night Before Christmas” many times, but have you heard the Aceable version? We took the tried-and-true tale of the man in the red suit and turned it into a story about a mischief-making robot. Listen to our take on Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” below.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the office
Not a sound could be heard, not a customer had called us.
The certificates were stacked on the table with care,
In hopes that new graduates soon would have theirs.
Our students were nestled all snug in their homes
While earning their licenses right from their phones.
And back at the office, with no one to chat,
I plopped on the couch, for a short mid-work nap.
When out on the street there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like the wind,
Peered down at the corner of 5th and Rio Grande.
The moon shining down on the black asphalt road
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a shiny red car with five tiny gears.
The small robot driver moved with such grace
I know in a moment it must’ve been Ace!
Known for driving classes in 27 states,
Ace churns out his courses at impossible rates!
“Now, Texas! now, Utah! now, New York and Georgia!
On, Iowa! on, Cali! on, Kansas and Florida!
To the top of the App Store, to the top of Google Play,
“The greatest course ever,” reviewers all say.
“As drivers ed courses go, this one’s the best,
Compared with the others, it’s just no contest.”
So for the top-rated app Ace was known,
the first ever drivers ed course for a phone.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard from the hall
the clinking and clanking of a robot so small
As I drew in my head, and was turning around
in the office jolly Ace came with a bound.
He was covered in metal, from his head to his toes.
And was naked — but for a Santa hat as his clothes.
A bundle of tech devices he held in his hands,
Androids, iPhones and tablets, a collection quite grand.
His eyes — how they gleamed! his smile like the sun!
His cheeks were like silver, His nose (well, he didn’t have one).
His bright yellow eyes were shaped like half moons,
You could tell a driving teacher had just walked in the room.
The shape of an A he wore right on his chest,
Showing off the logo of only the best.
He had a square face and long, lanky legs,
That shook when he laughed, like sunny side eggs.
He was polished and shiny, a right cheerful young bot.
And I smiled when saw our little mascot.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work.
Responding to emails and filling out certs.
Then just as the clock on the wall stuck midnight
He gave me a wink and vanished from sight.
I returned to my desk, to email the team,
“I think Ace was here! Or was it a dream?”
Then I heard a small voice, fade into the night,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.” | <urn:uuid:ae74a0dd-9035-446e-a3c7-94e9b4941f0f> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.aceable.com/blog/the-night-before-christmas-aceable-edition/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281574.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00022-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974605 | 807 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Animals need to adopt to the nature to keep themselves alive, but not all animals are as gifted. Some of the animals have a special abilities which make them unique and one of them is a Chameleon, which is well-known for its nature color change based on its surroundings. To avoid danger these creatures drops its normal skin color and immediately changes into its surrounding color so that it is not spotted by its predators. Some times they change their skin color depending on the temperature of their environment. Thus it also uses this unique thing when it tries to catch a prey. Most of the time insects do not see a Chameleon when its nearby due to its nature to blend by changing its color and a long sticky tongue helps to catch.
one of the most wild animals which is dangerous are one of those animals which can blend well. The Leopard skin is made of black spots which helps in its hunting. This animal is known for being lazy and sitting around on tree branches. When it goes to catch its prey, they run too fast or sometimes stands as perfect still, that its prey cannot make it. They go unnoticed because of the black spots which looks like there is nothing in sunlight and in night it also helps because of the spotty skin. Hence they are good hunters in the dark as well.
8. The Polar Bear
Polar Bear are a habitat of polar regions which is entirely covered with ice and snow. It is largely seen in Arctic circle of Arctic Ocean. Its body and its skin suits perfectly for its environment. Though apart from having a black nose and foot black in color, remaining all looks just like the ice. Mostly it catches the Seals and its skin color helps to catch its prey. These polar bears do not drink water, as it gets enough from the seals which it eats. They even swim in the ice cold water on an average of about six miles per hour. Though there is a risk of these bears to get endangered.
7. The Turtles
The turtles one of the longest living animals belongs to the reptiles family. These are cold-blooded and their body temperature varies depending on the environment where it lives. Although this reptile lives both on land and water it spends more of its time relatively in water. Turtles are one of those gifted creature which has an unique ability to help themselves in terms of danger by pulling its head inside its shell and make its not seen. Some turtles such as snapping turtles have a special behavior where its can hide entire body except with its eyes and nostrils which helps them to see its predators and sit as still as a rock. Because of this most larger animals which tries to attack these turtles goes unnoticed confusing the reptile to be a mere rock. The surface of a shell is also as hard as a rock. They use this way of hiding in its shell even while its tries to catch its prey.
Sharks are those which belong to the group of fishes and which can eat us. The sharks also have olfactory glands like dogs which helps smelling of blood in sea water. They move in the directions of smell of their prey, similar to the way we move in the direction of sound. They also use electroreception for its navigation and to catch its prey, by which they emit electro magnetic waves and finds of its prey hidden the beds of sea water. The shark are special with its nature of making its body flat and goes unnoticed in the water inside. It lays on the sea floor and their mottled color body cannot be seen to human eye and to most of the other organisms in the sea water. Through this way it lays as still when there is a danger or when it tries to catch its prey. While it tries to catch a prey, they hit as swiftly within seconds, that the organism will not know what hit them and they die instantaneously
Though the grasshoppers are insects its a very good example for those which blends perfectly to nature. They have two antennas which are generally shorter than their body. Their body is made of different color depending on its environment and they use this nature like all other animals to avoid danger. It is of different color depending on its habitat of dry, dirt and sand, grass etc. When they are on leaves and plants they are usually are green color. Most of them it cannot be seen when there is a grasshoppers sitting on a grass, as it looks as same green as the leaves. When its on land it looks as brown, and hence goes unnoticed unless it moves.
4. Gaboon Viper
These are snakes found in the wild rainforests of Africa, which is the most dangerous of its kind and more venomous. They are known for slow moving and placid, and they rarely hiss. Their skin color perfectly blends with nature and when it lays it cannot be seen due to its color as similar to the land and dried up leaves. It uses its ability mainly to catch its prey rather than to avoid danger.
Butterflies are the most colorful insects. The butterflies are most favorites among the children due to its colorful wings and fragile nature, the children like to have them as a pet insects. They feed on flowers for nectar and eat leaves for food. Due to its fragile nature they become an easy prey to many sticky tongued reptiles. Though these are harmless beings, they have a perfect nature to blend with nature to with themselves by blending its color to exactly of a leaf color when it sit on it and goes unnoticed. Some times it closes its wings and looks like a stick or a branch of a leaf and escapes from the danger of its predators. Butterflies are a main source of pollination though not as good as honey bee’s, but butterflies are an important source.
2. The Thorny Devil
The thorny devil is an Australian lizard and looks like a tiny Dinosaurs. These reptiles have a special feature of having another false head on its neck and they use it in terms of danger by dropping down its real head, and thus fooling its predators, when they try to attack. Their skin is made of the same color of it habitat and they change darker form to lighter form depending on the change of climate and seasons. They also have spines on its back which helps at the time of danger, which makes the attacker difficult to swallow or bite.
The seadragon which is also known as Weedy Seadragon is a fish which is related to seahorse. We might have thought many a times that why its only woman who need to carry the eggs or the young ones, but these marine creatures are one of those in which the male carries the eggs. The seadragon have a leaf like appendages which looks like just leaves and it can reach up to 45 cm in length.
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The most recent data on high school graduation and dropout rates from the Maryland State Department of Education suggest that while Baltimore City still lags behind other jurisdictions, it is making solid progress in its school reform effort. Graduation rates have risen and dropout rates have fallen. Baltimore isn't out of the woods yet, but the numbers suggest that the reforms put into place by city schools CEO Andrés Alonso starting in 2007 are beginning to show results.
The latest data are the first produced under the state's new method of calculating graduation and dropout rates, which tracks the academic progress of individual students in greater detail than ever before. The so-called longitudinal data system was put into place so the state could qualify for a $250 million federal award in the Obama administration's 2010 Race to the Top competition, and it has given school officials a far more granular view of the factors driving students' academic success or failure, as well as vital data that enable them to intervene to achieve better outcomes.
Instead of simply counting how many students drop out during a given year and dividing that by the number who remain, for example, the new method starts with the entire cohort of students entering ninth grade each year and then counts how many graduate four or five years later. The cohort rate is a truer, more complete picture of students' progress because it follows individual students throughout their high school careers and allows school districts to analyze their performance grade by grade.
Using the new measure, the four-year graduation rate for students entering ninth grade in 2007 rose over those who started ninth grade the previous year, increasing from 61.5 percent to 66.7 percent. That suggests that the reforms begun under Mr. Alonso that year had an immediate impact. When the cohort of students who graduate in five years is taken into account, the rate increases to a little more than 70 percent overall.
Statewide, the four-year graduation rate was 83 percent, and the five-year rate was 86 percent.
Baltimore's dropout rate fell by 30 percent for students who entered ninth grade in 2007, compared to their counterparts a year earlier. That suggests that Mr. Alonso's insistence that teachers and principals reduce the number of out-of-school suspensions as a means of disciplining students not only cut the overall number of suspensions that year but paid off over the long term in more graduates receiving a diploma. After five years, more than 80 percent of students who entered ninth grade in 2007 either graduated or were still in school working toward diplomas.
The new method also allows school officials to mine important data about student progress from one grade to the next. For instance, the MSDE figures show that the main driver in the declining dropout rate between the 2007 and 2008 cohorts was the decrease in dropouts that occurred in grades nine and 10. This suggests Baltimore's reforms are succeeding in holding onto more students during the difficult middle-to-high school transition years, when dropout rates peak.
Tracking individual students' progress also allows school officials to compare graduation and dropout rates to test scores on standardized tests. Although educators have long suspected a relationship between test scores and graduation rates, the latest figures clearly show a strong correlation between eighth-grade reading and math proficiency on the Maryland State Assessments and high school graduation rates four and five years later. For example, more than 86 percent of students who score proficient or better on the math exam go on to graduate, as do 80 percent of those who score proficient or better in reading. Conversely, students who score below proficient in eighth-grade math are three times more likely to drop out, and they are twice as likely to drop out if they score less than proficient in reading.
These results suggest that Baltimore City must target more resources toward early and elementary education so that students arrive in the classroom prepared for the challenges they will encounter during their middle and high school years. If kids aren't performing at grade level when they leave middle school, they almost certainly will continue to struggle in high school. But the key to turning that around lies in early education experiences that begin in pre-kindergarten and extend throughout the K-8 curriculum. The new data will help educators target interventions — such as individualized and small-group instruction or more reading and math specialists — to the schools where they are most needed.
The improvements in Baltimore's graduation rates are nowhere near enough to bring it on par with other jurisdictions, but they aren't meaningless. They reflect hundreds of individual students each year whose prospects for going to college or entering the work world are markedly improved by having a high school diploma. The city appears to have established a momentum for change. Now it must work aggressively to keep it up. | <urn:uuid:ab4978a9-1200-44bc-b0b8-72b182b590da> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.sun-sentinel.com/bs-ed-schools-msde-20121108-story.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279169.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00217-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967041 | 951 | 2.375 | 2 |
OTTAWA — In picking another man to fill the latest vacancy on the Supreme Court of Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper skipped the ranks of the Quebec court of appeal, elevated a federal judge, and raised hackles among advocates for more gender balance on the country’s top court.
Harper announced Monday that Federal Court of Appeal Judge Marc Nadon, 64, would become his sixth appointment, and the fifth man Harper has named to the high court.
An expert in maritime law who has spent the past 20 years hearing appeals in a range of areas like immigration, employment insurance, intellectual property and national security, Nadon is slated to take one of three seats allotted by law to Quebec, a vacancy left by the departing Justice Morris Fish.
Nadon had flagged rulings to the justice department in which he upheld the federal Conservative government’s view in a number of high-profile cases. He was the dissenting judge to side with Ottawa in its refusal to seek Omar Khadr’s repatriation; in upholding the right of Corrections Canada to ban smoking in prisons indoors and out; and in denying the full 35 weeks’ parental leave benefits to parents of twins.
However, Nadon was part of an appeal panel that ordered the federal government to make its website services available to blind Canadians.
He’ll appear Wednesday before an ad hoc committee of parliamentarians to answer questions about his general approach to law, but his appointment is not subject to a veto and is the sole prerogative of the prime minister.
But the appointment of another male judge by Harper was seen as a missed opportunity to raise the ranks of women on the top bench back up to a high of four.
The NDP’s justice critic, Françoise Boivin, a member of the committee that compiled the shortlist of three names that included Nadon’s, refused to say whether there was a woman on the shortlist, or whether Nadon was a unanimous pick by the all-party committee. But she added she had told newly-named justice minister Peter MacKay: “You’d better appoint a woman.”
Boivin said she has no qualms about Nadon’s qualifications — “He’s a great judge. He’s a brilliant legal mind,” she said in an interview. But Boivin made clear she was troubled by the government’s choice.
“I’m unhappy that there’s not a woman nominated at this time. A second missed opportunity? For me the chances are slimmer” of getting a woman from Quebec on the bench, she said.
“I think, whatever the rights and wrongs of this person, there is a trend developing,” said Osgoode Hall law professor Allan Hutchinson, “that’s taking us back to the bad old days.”
Upping the ranks of women on the bench “is a dimension that we thought was important in the past” and Hutchinson added governments have not been very good at ensuring diverse ethnicity on the bench “or anything close to it.”
Harper’s announcement said Nadon is an experienced jurist with an “extraordinary body of legal work.”
He replaces Fish, viewed as a strong judge in the area of criminal law, who retired effective Aug. 31, just two months shy of turning 75, the court’s mandatory retirement age.
Also Monday, Harper released a legal opinion he sought from retired Supreme Court judge Ian Binnie that supported a choice from the Federal Court or Federal Court of Appeal bench — an apparent preemptive strike against critics who believe the law requires the Quebec seats go to someone from that province’s bar, superior court or court of appeal, with expertise in Quebec’s civil code.
Harper said Nadon is “an ideal candidate for the Supreme Court of Canada” adding the nomination included “consultations with prominent members of the legal community in Quebec.”
In the Khadr case, Nadon broke from two other federal appeal colleagues in 2009 when he concluded the Conservative government did not breach Omar Khadr’s Charter rights in refusing to demand his repatriation from a U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay. Nadon wrote Canada had taken “all necessary means at its disposal to protect (Khadr) during the whole period of his detention at Guantanamo Bay.”
The Supreme Court of Canada later overturned the Federal Court of Appeal decision, but it did not ultimately side with Nadon. Instead, the high court ruled Khadr’s rights were violated but it deferred to the prime minister and his cabinet’s political choice on the correct diplomatic course to follow.
Born: Sept. 7, 1949 (Nadon shares a birthday with Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, born Sept. 7, 1943.
Education: Law degree from the Université de Sherbrooke
Career: From 1974 to 1993, practiced maritime and transportation law, at Martineau Walker; taught at the Université de Sherbrooke; worked as an arbitrator of maritime law disputes.
Judicial experience: appointed to Federal Court of Canada, trial division, 1993; to the Court Martial Appeal Court, 1994; to the Competition Tribunal, 1998; to the Federal Court of Canada, appeal division, 2001 | <urn:uuid:f859f5ac-570e-4113-95d1-113b7d8fe4c7> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/09/30/stephen_harper_nominates_marc_nadon_for_supreme_court.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560282140.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095122-00135-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961806 | 1,119 | 1.507813 | 2 |
http://www.in.gov/library/finding-aid/4982.htm - Finding aid
- 1 of 1 copy available at Evergreen Indiana.
0 current holds with 1 total copy.
|Location||Call Number / Copy Notes||Barcode||Shelving Location||Status||Due Date|
|Indiana State Library - Indianapolis||[Mss I] ISLI S0515 (Text)||515001-1046544||Manuscripts||Available||-|
- Physical Description: 1 folder
|General Note:|| Finding Aid by: Erica Sgroi, April 2013
|Restrictions on Access Note:|| The collection is open for research use.
|Summary, etc.:|| This collection consists of an advertising card for the Gilliland Electric Manufacturing Company. The card is advertising for “improvements in telephonic apparatus.”
|Preferred Citation of Described Materials Note:|| Gilliland Electric Manufacturing Company collection, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library
|Terms Governing Use and Reproduction Note:|| Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
|Biographical or Historical Data:|| Ezra T. Gilliland was born in 1847 in New York. He was the founder of Gilliland Electric Manufacturing Company. Growing up, Gilliland was friends with Thomas Edison and later on, became interested in the telephone and the phonograph. Gilliland invented the fundamental elements of the switchboard needed for all telephone systems to work. In the 1870s, Gilliland organized the first telephone exchange in Indianapolis. He sold the company a few years later for $20,000. Using the money he gained from the selling of his company, Gilliland opened Gilliland Electric Manufacturing Company in Indianapolis. Within three years, the company had grown so big that Gilliland moved his factory to Michigan. There at the factory, he manufactured parts for Western Union. Gilliland died on May 13, 1903 in his home in New York.
|Accumulation and Frequency of Use Note:|| No further additions are expected.
Search for related items by subject
|Subject:||Gilliland Electric Mfg. Co. (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Telephone companies > Indiana > Indianapolis > 19th century. | <urn:uuid:da0c9208-44f7-43b6-b83b-f18282432953> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://evergreen.lib.in.us/eg/opac/record/20644542 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280791.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00366-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.888639 | 501 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Vegvisir Symbol Origins
When the first people came to the Iceland region somewhere around 874CE, they carried the Old Norse religion. This includes worship and belief in the Norse gods Sir and Vanir. Norse religion also had concepts regarding magic how it can be used in a few ways to achieve personal success.
The first settlers and their successors created several Icelandic magical staves, symbols used to channel magic. Unfortunately, these staves have gotten so entwined with Norse mythology that the symbols can be found everywhere. Vegvisir, also called the Viking Compass, is among the most notable of these staves. When carried, one will never lose their path.
As per the Huld manuscript, Vegvisir symbol is one of the magical staves of Iceland, the English translation being Wayfinder. Around the tiny village of Akureyri, Iceland, Geir Vigfsson wrote the Huld manuscript in 1860. People put together the document using previous pieces of literature containing magical staves. However, there are no preceding illustrations of the Vegvisir symbol.
What is the Viking Compass?
The Viking compass is not from the Viking Age, which spanned the eighth to eleventh centuries. However, the Huld Manuscript, compiled in the second half of the 19th century by Geir Vigfusson, mentions Vegivsir symbol or Sign Post. It is a compilation of 30 mystical symbols from various eras and their meanings. “If this sign is carried, one will never lose your way in storms or bad weather, even in unfamiliar surroundings,” Vegvisir’s intention states.
As a result, people painted the symbol on the person’s forehead to assure that they did not become disoriented upon leaving home. Additionally, they allegedly drawn the symbol using blood.
Many referred to Vegvisir symbol as a compass because it has eight points. It originates from Iceland, densely populated by direct ancestors of actual sea-traveling Vikings. This, though, is a bit of a prolepsis. Some Vikings used the concept of eight directions. Further, they may have had their directional finding instruments, such as the Uunartoq disc or sunstones.
However, most of their navigation was based on visual clues like the stars, flight patterns of birds, the sun, etc. So instead of just being a portrayal of a compass like we know it, Vegvisir’s eight “arms’ signify something different.
Vegvisir Symbol is not from the Viking Age
The Huld (Icelandic manuscript), which dates from when Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States, put into context the Vegvisir Symbol. However, if we look at Europe, the Second Schleswig War began four years before that (1864). Denmark attempted to defend itself against the majority of central Europe in this war.
Many Danes believe that this symbol, at least emotionally, is quite close to our timeline. When we consider that it originally appeared just approximately 160 years ago, or 800 years after the Viking Age ended, people cannot regard it as an ancient symbol in whatever sense of the word.
We must also keep in mind that Christianity and Paganism began to merge in Europe. For example, we know that it took hundreds of years to convert the Nordic people to Christianity; They didn’t do it overnight. We also understand that some blacksmiths had a mold that could make both the cross and Thor’s Hammer.
The 10th-century Icelandic cross, also known as a wolf cross, is an example of this, a piece of jewelry that could combine the cross and Thor’s hammer. However, there are differing viewpoints on this subject.
The runestones and magic books confirms the merging of cultures. With the use of ink and swords, the two cultures merged, integrating Pagan practices into Christianity to make it easier to convert the people of the North.
Another example occurred during the 10th-century Yule celebration in Norway when Harald Fairhair attempted to introduce Christian values.
Yule would eventually become Christmas, which was not previous to Scandinavia’s Christianization. Even though Christmas has pagan beginnings, it is now a holiday incorporating features from both cultures.
Many of these symbols resemble the Wayfinder, prompting the question, “Where did this symbol come from?” Is it truly Pagan, or were Christian symbols like this just recorded in books as a public record of what to look for while persecuting pagans?
Unless we unearth confirmation that the symbol was in use before 1860, the dispute over the origin of the Vegvisir symbol will likely continue long after our bones have turned to dust. Perhaps Vatican’s basement has some hidden magic books. Maybe the walls of an old building in Iceland, beneath a waterfall, or in some long-forgotten cave concealed old books. But, unfortunately, we may never find out.
Norse Mythology In Living Tradition
Vikings found Iceland in the ninth century. Most of these Vikings were fleeing mainland Scandinavian political changes, according to the sagas and the Landnámabók (Book of Settlements). They wished to maintain their way of life, which included democratic self-government.
According to DNA findings (and the sagas), around 30% of Iceland’s founding population were Irish and Scottish individuals who arrived with the Vikings. It’s still up for question whether they were primarily slaves, Vikings with Nordic dads and Celtic mothers, or a combination of both. However, majority of Celts and even some of the 100% Nordic Vikings would have adopted the Christian faith, making Iceland multi-religious from the start.
The Norse and Celtic cultures noted their strong sense of tradition, mysticism, and storytelling. While the Icelandic Norse were essentially an oral people, the Irish and Scots were already highly literary. So it’s no surprise that Icelandic people have a reputation for being incredible loremasters and poets. Monarchs recruited Icelanders not just as soldiers but also as court skalds throughout the Viking Age (bards).
On the other hand, the Icelanders had talent with language. They also have an eye for detail, and the memory to pass it on. As a result, the Icelandic sagas recount the stories of the first 300 years of Icelanders, including warriors, feuds, farmers, adventures, legal battles, and love lives. Still, they also include family trees and a social structure that remains astonishingly consistent across dozens of volumes.
Critics of the sagas argue that they are simply historical fiction. People wrote the stories to be authentic. Thus, it appeared true to reality. However, even if this were the case, the sagas are an extraordinary literary achievement demonstrating Iceland’s creativity and ability to preserve the past.
Between the Viking Age and current times, Iceland’s population shrank, and there were no substantial influxes of immigrants from other countries. Icelanders are thus more closely related to actual, sea-faring Viking forefathers than almost any other country. Moreover, the Icelandic language is remarkably similar to Old Norse, even more than Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish.
As a result, it should be no surprise that practically everything we know about Viking history (lore, faith, poetry, and history) comes from Iceland. The sagas, the Eddas – almost everything. The exception is Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum (Deeds of the Danes) from the 12th century. Still, even Saxo confessed that the drafting of his masterpiece owed a great deal to Icelandic loremasters.
But there is another crucial aspect of Icelandic society that allowed so much Viking lore to survive. As previously said, Iceland began its history as a place where people of all faiths coexisted. Then, in the year 1000, the Althing (Iceland’s democratic governing body) made an unusual decision in response to rising religious turmoil and the necessity to “keep up with the times.”
They voted to establish Christianity as its official religion while permitting the private spiritual practice. About 120 years passed during this age of religious diversity. But, even when it stopped, this unique conversion tale and the lack of external societal constraints led to Icelanders being significantly more accepting of their pagan background.
Archeology and Burned Magic Books from Viking Age
Before these three Icelandic books, there were no surviving examples of Vegvisir symbol or the Aegishjalmur in archaeology. None. No Wayfinders were carved into the prows of ships. Further, no Aegishjalmur inscribed on helmets, nothing. The archaeological record is silent when it comes to Icelandic rune staves.
Many of the procedures mentioned by Davidsson would leave few traces in archeology, as biological things decay quickly. Greek and Roman archeology is easy to understand because it is etched in marble. On the other hand, Viking archeology is more challenging. Archeology is trying to find something that’s hidden even in its own time.
The Sigrdrifumal of the Poetic Edda, a much older source, describes a similar story. The Victory Driver urges Sigurd to carve magic runes on a fingernail, a drinking horn, the back of one’s hand, under the left arm, tree bark, an eagle‘s beak, pine needles, and many other bizarre objects in this poem (published in the 13th century but composed far before that).
Most magic was taught by word of mouth and passed down from teacher to learner as it had always been. However, there was an attempt to gather this information into books throughout the Middle Ages. The legendary Rauskinna of Gottskálk Nikolásson in the early 1500s was one of these grimoires. Despite being a bishop, Gottskálk was known as “the greatest wizard of his day” and a practitioner of “pagan magic.” His Rauskinna was a red-leather gilt volume written in with runes, but it was lost after he died.
However, unlike the Rauskinna, most Icelandic magic books were not vast grimoires. Instead, they were galdrakver or “small” magic books. These were essentially notebooks or booklets that contained various spells and symbols. We mostly know about them via documentation from witch trials.
The second grimoire, Galdrakver, and most other evidence we’d need to trace the evolution of Icelandic magic were all destroyed. The public usually spares the accused witch but burns their writings and accouterments. Many avoided persecution through burning or concealing their books.
This is why most of the surviving books and Icelandic grimoire are only from the 1800s. Only during the Age of Enlightenment, when the Church’s punitive legal power waned and the Romantic Era’s increased interest made it safe for the magic to emerge from the shadows. But by this point, all you have are snatches of information gathered on the fly from whatever sources were available.
As a result, the grimoires today are eclectic collections of magical fragments rather than a coherent theory or practice. This is partly due to how the data was acquired and stored, but also by design. The Icelandic grimoire and Galdrakver were not intended for use by novices or as a beginner’s guide. Instead, their information was designed to supplement and strengthen oral transmission from a knowledgeable teacher.
The connection of Vegvisir and Aegishjalmur Symbol to Christian Mysticism
People have recently named Vegvisir symbol and Aegishjalmur “Christian” symbols or stated that the symbols have origins in “Christian mysticism,” including some well-written and well-researched works. Even though this is a perfectly reasonable assumption, it is false for several reasons:
Christianity categorically forbids magic, many times in severe terms. Furthermore, most Protestant denominations and the Catholic Church have historically condemned magic, viewing it as the domain of false prophets or even the devil. Remember that the Church burnt the magic texts, sometimes together with the magician, so Vegvisir symbol and Aegishjalmur have few surviving sources.
Several notable warlocks and wizards were Christian priests in Icelandic history, like Gottskálk, but becoming a bishop at the time was more about the study, wealth, and family ties than it was about holiness. When the Church could no longer ignore their magical deals, they frequently banished priests and bishops. As a result, Icelandic magic has never been “Christian” because the Church hasn’t recognized it.
A “Christian” symbol represents Christianity, such as a holy dove or a cross. This is not the case with the Vegvisir and Aegishjalmur. Norse artifacts like rune stones don’t show these symbols. But, any Christian churches haven’t discovered them.
What Connection Does the Vegvisir have with Solomon?
It is impossible to prove that symbols from Iceland are entirely and directly descended from the Clavicula Salomonis’ star-shaped pentacles or any known work. Furthermore, this links to Kabbalah rather than Christianity unlike the Testament of Solomon. Christianity contains no symbols.
On the other hand, the Notary of Solomon and the Lesser Key include Christian images and concepts. Still, their mysticism was a religious activity where a nun, devotee, or priest attempted to acquire a mystical experience of the holy, not practical magic, as the grimoires clearly show.
So, why do so many people make assumptions? All of the remaining runestones are replete with Christian ideas and imagery, equivalent to the current practice of voodoo. The texts showed numerous references to Christianity.
However, there are countless invocations to Thor, Odin, and other Norse gods, trolls, and Norse giants in these same Icelandic magic texts.
The wizard or witch must conjure these many diverse and opposed spiritual powers to charge the spells and make them work. Sigils and protective charms frequently attributes to beneficial spiritual influences.
According to Professor Glenn Holland, “syncretism is the source of magical rituals. It is the blending and identification of two or more religious cultures, as well as the exchange of materials between them.”
This jumble of religious appeal and spirit assignment is typical of magic throughout history worldwide. One only needs to travel to South America or New Orleans to observe modern examples. Suppose people use magic to engage the spirit world to alter the natural world. In that case, it only makes sense to recruit the correct spirits for the task. This explains why non-Christian magic symbols associates with Christian invocations in Icelandic grimoires.
It’s important to note that, while these numerous circular symbols all have a similar appearance, none of them contains the Vegvisir. As a result, it’s intriguing how many people dismiss the idea that Norse forefathers passed down these Icelandic symbols. They also simultaneously presumes that the Vegvisir is originally a Christian sign because it resembles these Solomon symbols.
Aegishjalmur, another magical stave, is similar in ideas in appearance. Thus, people confused it with Vegvisir. In fact, like a magic channeler, Aegishjalmur not only appears different but also serves an entirely different meaning.
Aegishjalmur is an eight-pointed magical stave known as the “Helm of Awe.” The Helm of Awe’s eight trident points are all generally identical, unlike its Way Finder cousin. A circle is also included in the center of the symbol. It protects the warrior and put fear into the enemy when drawn on the warrior’s forehead.
The dragon Fafnir wore the Helm of Awe in the Poetic Edda, written and edited by Snorri Sturluson. The dragon credited his accomplishment in protecting his treasure horde to the Helm of Awe he wore.
As it turned out, Sigurd killed Fafnir and claimed Aegishjalmur, presumably a physical object.
Other Icelandic Magical Staves
It was critical to follow the directions precisely if the chosen symbol was to have the desired impact. Anyone should draw correctly the staves and sometimes speak a spell. Let’s look at some of the other staves you can come across in Iceland.
This sigil protects you against thieves but it will not prevent you from getting robbed. Instead, it will show you the thief’s face. Firstly, carve the Thjofastafur into the bottom of a wooden bowl first. Secondly, you fill it with water and yarrow flowers. Lastly, recite a special charm for the water to expose the thief’s face.
Anyone should wear this stave under the right arm to guard against drowning. Drowning would have been a serious threat; fishing has long been an essential element of Icelandic culture. Swimming lessons became compulsory for all Icelandic children starting in 1940.
Drowning mortality has decreased throughout time, and there are now extremely few drowning deaths in the country. Everyone has a safe location to learn because almost every town in Iceland has a public swimming pool or hot springs.
Gapaldur and Ginfax
These staves aid in the wrestling sport known as Glma. They painted the stave on paper or wood to ensure victory and placed in certain positions in one’s shoes. For example, Gapaldur went under the right foot’s heel, while Ginfaxi went under the left foot’s toes.
The Modern Concept of “Vegvísir”
Nowadays, “vegvisir” is well-known among neo-pagans, musicians, reenactors, and fans of Viking-othemed TV shows and other mass productions. People cannot overlook its application in the apparel industry, as well as in tattoos and jewelry. In addition, reenactors commonly use it for shield decorating or costume needlework.
This contradictory group acknowledges “vegvisir” is an ancient Germanic and Viking magical rune sign. The purpose of the symbol is that of a compass. It protects Viking warriors during sailing, providing protection and guidance. However, only popular literature and romance fiction may offer such an interpretation from the last 30 years.
Today, many people like to interpret symbols and develop their theories based on their imagination. For example, some people suggest that it is a Way finder to find one’s way in the Nine Realms, while others take it a step further.
The Huld manuscript, a modern collection of spells describes the Vegvisir as a neo pagan symbol. The book says, “If this sign is carried, one will never lose one’s path in storms or bad weather, even when the way is unknown.”
Ancient people wrote the Huld manuscript in the nineteenth century, around eight centuries after the Viking Age ended. Some of it may stem from when the pre-Christian Norse religion was still alive and well. But, Christianity and magical tradition brought in from more southern regions of Europe greatly impacted it. Thus, just because something is mentioned in the Huld manuscript does not mean that pre-Christian Norse or other Germanic peoples were aware of it, much less accepted it as part of their religion.
On the other hand, there were no evidence that the Viking centuries or before knew or used this symbol. But, they possibly knew and used the symbol at the time as a protection against storms or bad weather. Further, it’s also possible that people imported or invented the symbol afterwards. Finally, we simply do not know if this was a Viking symbol.
- Vegvisir Symbol (Norse Mythology and Modern Times) - July 29, 2022
- Infinity Symbol: Origins, Meaning and Spiritual Significance - July 28, 2022
- Cross-Cultural Look at 24 Strength Symbols and Meaning - July 28, 2022 | <urn:uuid:f75becf7-70b6-433b-a568-63d9b3ad359d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://thefifthelementlife.com/vegvisir-symbol-norse-mythology-and-modern-times/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570767.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808061828-20220808091828-00475.warc.gz | en | 0.958325 | 4,194 | 3.28125 | 3 |
The potential of the NFT space is still unexplored, but we are slowly progressing to the full digitalization of real-world events such as sports. It is not new to see sports teams participate in Blockchain and NFT technology projects. We have NBA Top Shot which is an NFT project with the use of digital players cards as a form of collectibles, and many more examples from different sports.
However, the use of NFTs in soccer is fairly new, as you can see in the collector’s world of Wizardia. In fact, FC Porto became the first European soccer club to enter the Metaverse with Upland Agreement.
Many benefits can come with soccer clubs entering the NFT and Crypto space, where they can earn a lot of money by selling digital collectibles with their rights.
In this case, FC Porto and the agreement with Upland can bring multiple benefits for the team. With their move to enter the Metaverse and NFT space, they will be the first team to build their own Virtual Stadium, which in the future can host games virtually, and became the first team to create Collectible Team and Player NFTs.
With their Upland agreement, they secured a few NFT properties mapped to their real-world addresses, that fans can purchase. On top of that, the team will build their digital Dragon Stadium, and launch the first suite of NFTs for European football clubs.
The thing that is unique for Upland is that fans can collect common and rare NFTs via fun and engaging game mechanics. Additionally, FC Porto can offer their digital collectibles for people to purchase in a specific shop located on their virtual properties across the metaverse.
This means that the Portuguese champions FC Porto, who just signed a player for 20 million euros this Tuesday, is all in on digitalization and wants to prepare for the future of the Metaverse.
Considering the size of this project, it will take a while until FC Porto is fully digitalized on the Blockchain and Metaverse, and the project will start the 2022/23 season.
NFTs in Soccer
Even though soccer is the biggest sport in the world in terms of fans, it still falls short compared to other sports when it comes to the use of NFT technology. There aren’t many teams that are preparing for the future by digitalizing, but this trend is about to change, especially after a big club like FC Porto enters the Metaverse.
The NFT industry is present in the world of soccer but not using its full potential. Individual clubs are running private projects and releasing their own NFT collectibles. Such examples are Manchester City, which became the first Premier League club to launch a range of NFTs last year, as well as Barcelona, which surprisingly was short-lived and didn’t get much attention from the public.
The NFT technology and the entire preparation for the Web 3.0 and Metaverse can bring many benefits to soccer clubs in the future. Apart from selling their NFTs and digital collectibles, soccer teams can find many unique ways to interact with fans such as offering unique NFTs with every ticket on their match, hosting virtual matches on the Metaverse, and finally tokenizing their real-world collectibles.
Can you imagine if Real Madrid tokenizes some of their Champion League trophies, where people can purchase a small portion of ownership in the actual real-world Champions League trophy? It would be awesome!
With that said, it is great to see soccer clubs like FC Porto that are starting to move forward with this latest trend and we expect more people to enter this fast-moving train towards full digitalization.
However, it will take some time until soccer clubs enter the Metaverse and fully adapt to Blockchain technology. We are just here to witness the time of a change in how people interact with their favorite teams allowing them to establish a much deeper connection than just owning a jersey.Follow paulmbanks | <urn:uuid:61837f94-7f60-45f1-8839-a54062f4aeaf> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.thesportsbank.net/tech/soccer-teams-getting-involved-with-nfts-fc-porto-joins-metaverse/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570692.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20220807181008-20220807211008-00675.warc.gz | en | 0.964485 | 823 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Towards Intelligent Databases.
7th International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems (ISMIS '93), 15.-18. Juni1993, Trondheim, Norway.
This article is a presentation of the objectives and techniques
of deductive databases. The deductive approach to databases aims at extending
with intensional definitions other database paradigms that describe
applications extensionaUy. We first show how constructive specifications can
be expressed with deduction rules, and how normative conditions can be defined
using integrity constraints. We outline the principles of bottom-up and
top-down query answering procedures and present the techniques used for
integrity checking. We then argue that it is often desirable to manage with
a database system not only database applications, but also specifications of
system components. We present such meta-level specifications and discuss
their advantages over conventional approaches. | <urn:uuid:c6574f41-e11e-46d3-b2c7-0c0cf0ead4a4> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://epub.ub.uni-muenchen.de/8514/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280504.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00145-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.791816 | 183 | 2.25 | 2 |
1969 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL sedan
The 1967-1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 was a German-built freeway flyer with electrifying performance. It was created by slotting the big quad-cam V-8 engine from the massive 600 limousine into the smaller, lighter type W109 bodyshell ordinarily propelled by M-B's 3.0-liter six.
As in the 600, Bosch timed-flow fuel injection was used, good for a
rousing 250 bhp (DIN) and a solid 369 lbs/ft torque. The result, according to
factory figures, was 0-100 kph (62.5 mph) in 6.5 seconds and a top end of 130
mph plus, making this the world's fastest luxury sedan.
Air suspension with built-in self-leveling was exclusive to the 6.3 among Mercedes' "mass-market" models. Other features included standard air conditioning, leather upholstery, M-B's four-speed automatic transmission, AM/FM radio, and central locking system.
It was impossible to tell from an ordinary
300 SEL except by the discreet "6.3" badge on the right of the
trunklid, and many owners removed that to avoid suspicious glances from the
A goodly proportion of the deliberately limited production run made its way to the U.S. It was withdrawn in the aftermath of the first energy crisis, and also to make way for the new-generation W116 series S-class sedans introduced for 1973. It was succeeded in the lineup by the 450SEL 6.9 in 1976.
Pluses of the 1967-1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3:
- Prestige with punch
- Four-door convenience
- Superlative construction quality
- Solid handling
Minuses of the 1967-1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3:
- Air suspension leak problems
- Some mechanical parts in short supply
Production of the 1967-1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3:
- 1967: 1
- 1968: 1,094
- 1969: 2,578
- 1970: 1,797
- 1971: 670
- 1972: 386
Wheelbase, inches: 112.8
Length, inches: 196.9
Weight, pounds: 4,010Price, new: Approximately $14,500 U.S. in 1969
Engines for the 1967-1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3:
|dohc V-8||6,332 cc (387 cid)||250||1967-1972|
Want more information about classic cars? See: | <urn:uuid:5f1ef684-938c-4ec2-81af-6f09bdaa3891> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1967-1972-mercedes-benz-300sel-63.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560282935.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095122-00237-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.880178 | 561 | 1.84375 | 2 |
A couple of weeks ago, Amazon’s opened it’s App Store to developers, and promised to actually open the store to consumers “this year”. While TechCrunch’ Jason Kincaid has done some good work explaining the premise to consumers and the overall eco-system, a clear answer to the question “Why” remains open. After all, if this brings about further market fragmentation, if it’s going to be that hard to get the store pre-installed on phones which is the only sure-fire way to generate market traction, and if the direct returns from running an app store are generally not meaningful – i.e. the app store is a means to facilitate activity on your platform and make it competitive, (smartphone, e-reader, whatever), much more than a system to generate revenue from commerce.
So why does Amazon, which does not have a smartphone platform (Kindle aside), and certainly no platform / device stake in Android, need an Android App Store? The only attempt at an answer I’ve seen came from Gizmodo, and left much to be desired.
While it is entirely possible that the simple answer is “it doesn’t” and this is just a mistake carried too far, here is a more strategic explanation.
An App Store Is About A Billing Relationship With Users
The biggest advantage the iTunes store had on prior online music stores, and the iTunes App Store on various other app download sites, is the immediacy of transactions that is enabled by the requirement to have a credit card registered with iTunes from the get-go, and by the support for $0.99 micro-payments. This made one-click purchasing a reality, and made the iTunes App Store such a hit with people looking for a quick-fix to their boredom, as well as entertainment app developers of all sorts. Competing app stores which did not have that billing relationship with customers never created a similar volume of sales – including the Android Market itself.
In the same token – while initially most of the business executed on the iPhone App Store was through a pay-before-download model, it seems like more and more of the business is now tied to in-app payments, i.e. “download for free and then pay for digital goods” – be they more levels of play, various items to use in-game, premium content etc. . For instance if you look at the iTunes’ App Store’s “Top 10 Grossing” chart today you will find the FREE game “Zombie Farm” – a game that monetizes only through in-app payments, facilitated through the iTunes micro-payment capabilities.
Amazon is all about a billing relationship for retail. It has made simplifying payment and delivery key pillars of its strategy. It keeps your credit and debit cards on file, and even issues its own store cards for many users. For a very high percentage of existing Android users, this means an Android App Store is a store where they could immediately purchase and download apps based on their existing payment cards stored with Amazon. This is a key advantage Amazon likely hopes to put to use.
But even more importantly for Amazon – Android is a smartphone platform that is already penetrating new global markets en-masse, and if Amazon manages to become a de-facto standard app store, then the billing relationships created with new Android users will then be mined to sell other digital goods – and later physical goods. i.e. the “Amadroid” app-store has the potential of recruiting new Amazon customers in massive volumes, internationally. And that’s a major strategic opportunity.
Amazon Has Better E-Commerce Credentials
Most every existing platform app-store has managed to miss some critical aspects of optimal merchandising experiences. Whether it’s the billing relationship question, the discoverability issue (that I wrote about before, e.g. here), the lack of personalization and so forth – it looks like no one, including Google, has built a great commerce experience that entices users to buy more. In Google’s case a cursory examination would show you apps in languages you don’t read, prices localized to sums like “$3.13” which make little marketing sense, an arbitrary or random list of proposed apps. Compare to your average Amazon display – where once you get into the site, shows you products that YOU are likely to be interested in, suggests add-on or replacement products should you not like the ones on display, and tells you what other people are buying. Amazon with an eye for detail and a knack for optimization is well positioned to create a better customer-trap. This is good for customers, good for developers, and good for the platform. Amazon is betting that if they can build a better store, ultimately Google will not fight back. After all, that is not the reason Google built Android, nor is it how they intended to monetize it.
So Amazon has a better shot than Google at building an effective store (for Apps or any other digital content or physical goods), and certainly better than wireless carriers or some of the other contenders. And there are very good reasons to do so – regardless of the size and commercial dynamics of the app market itself.
It’s a Platform, Silly
Taking this a little further – let’s look at in-app payments again. If this model, facilitated by the store, is adopted by apps selling other goods – digital or otherwise, and especially if Amazon can make the commercial terms more flexible based on what is being sold and by whom – this is really a new mobile commerce platform that Amazon can run, and will allow other innovators to use Amazon as an enabler platform.
That is exactly where Amazon wants to be. It’s the philosophy behind Amazon Marketplaces, Amazon Web Services and several other Amazon initiatives. Amazon wants to be the e-commerce platform for the web – including the mobile piece of it. The more end users are reached, the bigger their total market share is going to be. Period. Having a successful mobile app store for Android or any other platform will help them get farther, faster. | <urn:uuid:83766a18-acaf-40e9-ac93-eef49386f287> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | https://nadavgur.com/tag/amazon/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988722459.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183842-00343-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949151 | 1,286 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Get the best, coolest, and latest in design and no-code delivered to your inbox each week. Discover the processes and tools behind high-performing websites. Instead of using images with text in them, use web-generated typography instead. It’s responsive and will be legible no matter what device they’re viewed on. Discover the origins and differences between using a PNG vs JPG for images on your website. After opening the tool, click on the ‘+’ sign that reads as Select or Drop your Photos here.
- One important thing to note is that the step by step instructions for this tutorial work on desktop computers .
- Next, repeat these save steps and this time select SVG as the file format.
- You need to buy an app in order to add native support for HEIC photos to your machine.
- There isn’t one setting that is great for all images, so you just have to slide the sliders up and down, one by one, until you have a result that you are happy with.
- This basically turns them from text into vector shapes.
- Generally, a 60%-75% compression setting will shrink your file considerably while keeping your image looking decent on most screens.
To check the size of your saved file in Windows, either go to the Properties selection under File or select CTRL-D. View the File Size and refer to the chart above to see what category your file size falls into. If it is above 1 MB, then we recommend that you compress the file (we promise…just a few quick and easy steps below). You should aim to have a small or medium file size for your real estate transaction.
Png Vs Jpg For Print
A. Request must be timely received by January 31st ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ ≡, or have a timely postmark. If the Line 3 “Yes” box is checked, calculate the maximum extension date by adding 90 days to the qualifying period ends date on Line 4b . If both 4b ends date and 4d are blank, add 90 days to December 31, 2022.
Opening Heic File On Macos
A bit of detective work early on can help you work out what the problem is. From there, you can choose the best way to solve it. An EPUB file is created during the process—you don’t need to export the book in EPUB format first. Click Next, then type .M4A file a name for the document (without the filename extension, such as .pdf or .epub, which is appended to the name automatically). To save a copy of a Pages document in another format, you export it in the new format.
If you want more control over how your PDF is compressed in Acrobat, use the optimization method described below instead. If your file is still very large after you’ve created it electronically, rather than by scanning, there are still some steps you can take. The simplest is to re-save your file as a reduced-size PDF. That would involve either repeating this process for each individual file or modifying Terminal entry appropriately. First, open your Terminal app—this should be located in your Applications folder. When you open Terminal to create your secure zip file, you should be presented with a white box with text similar to that displayed in the following screenshot. Yes, Windows users can also use PDF24 offline, i.e. without an Internet connection.
What this means is if you stick with applications written by Adobe (Adobe Bridge, Adobe Lightroom Classic, etc.), you will likely find a reliable workflow when working with PNG metadata. If you’re good with computers and comfortable working in your computer’s file system, this procedure likely won’t give you pause. If you’re looking for a bit more information, let me pick 4 of my favorite points and go into some additional detail. To view a PNG image with nomacs, launch the tool. Then, in the top menu, select Open and navigate to the image location. For terminal users, feh is a great tool to view PNG files. It is a lightweight and straightforward tool that uses command-line arguments. | <urn:uuid:bf05d21e-f2ca-4d06-af76-341fc4da74e4> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://hortonchurch.org/how-to-make-a-zip-file-on-a-mac/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571056.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809155137-20220809185137-00677.warc.gz | en | 0.921053 | 882 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Hey Everybody! Welcome back to another episode of the Bolton Ebikes Podcast. I get a lot of questions as you can imagine about batteries. How much should you charge them? Should you discharge them all away? Do they need to be kept at a certain temperature? How long will they last? You know, as far as years, how many miles will they go?
So in this episode, I want to break down some of the basics of lithium battery maintenance. So you can get the most life you possibly can out of your battery on your electric bike.
In today’s episode you’ll learn more about:
- Is it okay to run your battery down to zero?
- How to extend battery life.
- Is it okay to store your battery in the garage when you’re not using it?
- What is the difference between the lithium batteries and lead acid batteries.
- What is the BMS and what does it have to do with battery best practices.
- How many cycles do ebike batteries typically last?
- And so much more!
When it comes to batteries, it's only going to get better from here. Thanks again, for listening to another episode of the Bolton eBikes podcast. If you want to sign up for our newsletter for podcast notifications, make sure to go to ebikepodcast.com.
Once again, that's e bike podcast dot com. We'll send you an email every Tuesday when new episodes come out to make sure you don't miss any of them. And of course, if you're ready to buy an ebike or you just want to do a little shopping around, you can always check out Boltonebikes.com, or if you want to learn more go to our YouTube channel Bolton Ebikes. The YouTube channel has a ton of videos. I put out a new video every Thursday and I have a lot of fun doing that. To be honest, That is what has grown this business to what it is today. So, if you haven't checked that out, and for some reason you found this podcast first, I highly encourage you to do that.
Thanks again. I'm Kyle Chittock, The Owner of Bolton Ebikes, and I will catch you hopefully next Tuesday.
Links from Bolton Ebikes
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Submit the contact information and stories about those ebike adventures to the team at firstname.lastname@example.org and let us know you want to be on the show! | <urn:uuid:11f7fb07-a4eb-4bde-9c2b-a9b8ff14a6ad> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.area13ebikes.com/blogs/podcast/battery-best-practices-ep-62 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571982.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813172349-20220813202349-00066.warc.gz | en | 0.951245 | 604 | 2.40625 | 2 |
Over deze norm
1.1 The gel content (insoluble fraction) produced in ethylene plastics by crosslinking is determined by extracting with solvents such as decahydronaphthalene or xylenes. The methods described herein are applicable to crosslinked ethylene plastics of all densities, including those containing fillers, and all provide corrections for the inert fillers present in some of those compounds.
1.2 Test Method A, which permits most complete extraction in least time, is to be used for referee tests, but two alternative nonreferee Test Methods B and C are also described. Test Method B differs from the referee test method only in sample preparation; that is, it requires use of shavings taken at selected points in cable insulation, for example, rather than the ground sample required by the referee test method. Because the shaved particles are larger, less total surface per sample is exposed to the extractant, so this test method ordinarily yields extraction values about 1 to 2 % lower than the referee method. Test Method C requires that a specimen in one piece be extracted in xylenes at a constant temperature of 110°C. At this temperature and with a one-piece specimen, even less extraction occurs (from 3 to 9 % less than the referee test method), this method permits swell ratio (a measure of the degree of crosslinking in the gel phase) be determined.
1.3 Extraction tests are made on articles of any shape. They have been particularly useful for electrical insulations since specimens can be selected from those portions of the insulation most susceptible to insufficient crosslinking.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
Note 1: This test method is equivalent to ISO 10147, Method B. It is not equivalent to ISO 10147 in any other measurement or section.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Sections , , and .
|Nederlandse titel||Standard Test Methods for Determination of Gel Content and Swell Ratio of Crosslinked Ethylene Plastics|
|Engelse titel||Standard Test Methods for Determination of Gel Content and Swell Ratio of Crosslinked Ethylene Plastics| | <urn:uuid:30f26c5f-33ce-4b7b-b9fc-a45716d994d5> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.nen.nl/NEN-Shop/Norm/ASTM-D276516.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279489.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00011-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.894419 | 554 | 2.203125 | 2 |
We convene a second-year neuroscience course for 80-100 students, that is structured into self-contained fortnight blocks on a "hot topic". The content is examined in a quiz in the following week to encourage students to maintain engagement with the material throughout the course. To improve the timeliness of quiz feedback, a few years ago we switched these end-of-topic quizzes to an online multiple choice or drag-and-drop format that enabled immediate results and feedback. Students reported that they appreciated this continuous assessment and feedback, although it became apparent that they felt under-prepared for the end-of-course exam which includes longer written answer questions.
To address this issue, we examined the literature on peer assessment and used this as a basis to design an additional assessment task around written answers. Topping (1998) identified several possible benefits of peer assessment that include: increased quality reflective time spent on the task leading to deeper understanding; and clarity around application of assessment criteria focusing the student on crucial elements. Features that improve the quality of the peer review are anonymity of the reviewer, rewards for quality assessment, and tutor oversight of the process (Davies, 2006). Another attraction of peer review was the idea of sustainable assessment, which has been defined by Boud & Soler (2016) as a move from assessment of learning to assessment for learning, so as to prepare learners for assessment of tasks they will likely encounter in their later careers.
This peer review practice exam had the following structure:
We found that the task achieved its aims of providing students with timely feedback on a writing task. Students reported improved understanding of the material covered by the questions and of the way to effectively approach these assessment tasks. The agreement between the student markers and the convenors was generally very good. For example, for the two questions assessed in 2017, 37 and 39 peer marks (about 45%) were within 0.5 marks of that given by the convenors. We believe this represents a useful way to deepen learning and to potentially provide immediate feedback without overly increasing the academic assessment workload.
Boud D & Soler R. (2016) Assess Eval High Educ 41: 400-413.
Davies P. (2006) Innov Edu Teach Int 43: 69-82.
Topping K. (1998) Rev Edu Res 68: 249-276. | <urn:uuid:f1b63ba7-3ed6-4f82-b58f-c94143a56792> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://aups.org.au/Proceedings/48/10P/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572833.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817001643-20220817031643-00270.warc.gz | en | 0.956002 | 487 | 2.046875 | 2 |
When Ripley Ballou came to a Geneva, Switzerland, meeting about Ebola vaccines last week, he had a tough message to sell. In the efficacy tests for such vaccines that may start in West Africa in a few months, half of the volunteers should randomly be assigned into a control arm, Ballou argued—a group of people at risk of becoming infected who would not receive an experimental Ebola vaccine. Instead, they would serve as so-called active controls and be injected with other, approved vaccines, for instance against hepatitis B or pneumococcal disease. That would be the fastest way to know whether the Ebola vaccines work and can be deployed widely, Ballou said—and thus potentially save the most lives.
It was a controversial opinion. Health care workers at the front lines of Ebola, who will serve as the target group in the first efficacy tests, are so vulnerable that giving them anything other than the experimental vaccine seems inhumane and could create tensions, some contended. “Going into this meeting, we were told the idea of a controlled trial … was not going to be acceptable,” says Ballou, who heads the crash program to develop an Ebola vaccine at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Rixensart, Belgium.
Indeed, Ballou didn't win everyone over in his talk at the meeting, which took place on 29 and 30 September at the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO). Representatives of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) were strongly opposed to giving trial participants anything other than an actual Ebola vaccine candidate—and they didn't change their minds. "The meeting was quite tense at moments,” says Marie-Paule Kieny, a WHO assistant director-general and vaccine expert.
But many scientists did leave the meeting convinced that the randomized, controlled design proposed by Ballou should be used, as hard as it may be to explain, because it will be the fastest way to know if the vaccine works. "The attendees had a strong sense that there was no time to waste,” especially after they were given an update on the situation in West Africa, Kieny says. “I was expecting more controversy.” Looking back, “we basically said what people thought needed to be said but were afraid to say,” Ballou says.
The GSK vaccine only went into a human for the first time on 2 September, in a phase I trial that will involve a few hundred volunteers not at risk of infection. If the vaccine proves safe and triggers the kind of immune responses that monkey studies suggest confer protection, some 10,000 or so doses will ship to the three most affected countries in West Africa by January.
The compound, which GSK has developed in collaboration with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is one of two vaccine candidates that may soon enter real-world efficacy trials; the other was developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada and is produced by NewLink Genetics in Ames, Iowa.
It’s an extraordinary, unprecedented gamble to move so quickly. Normally, vaccines take many years to advance from small phase I studies, which look at safety and immune responses; to phase II studies, which do the same in larger groups; to phase III, in which efficacy is tested in large populations at risk of the disease. An earlier WHO consultation made the startling announcement on 5 September that this crisis required compressing the timeline, which effectively does away with traditional phase III studies.
At last week's meeting, vaccinemakers, researchers, ethicists, clinicians, epidemiologists, statisticians, and representatives of the affected countries met to sort through thorny ethical and statistical issues about how to design the efficacy trials in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea—the three countries ravaged by Ebola.
The meeting participants roundly agreed that it did not make sense to just give the experimental vaccines to health care workers on a so-called compassionate use basis and without an efficacy trial, as has happened with experimental Ebola treatments such as ZMapp and TKM-Ebola; that strategy is simply too dangerous with a vaccine, which goes into healthy people. “The last thing you want to do is roll out a vaccine that does nothing to protect people or even harms them,” says Marylyn Addo, an expert on emerging infections at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany who attended the meeting. An actual trial is needed, the meeting concluded; it's the setup that's subject to debate.
The tried-and-true design of vaccine efficacy trials randomly assigns half of the participants to receive the experimental shot and the other half a dummy, or placebo. No one knows what they receive, and the vaccine works if more people in the control arm develop disease than those who got the actual vaccine. Before the meeting, many researchers felt that this design would be unethical, knowing that health care workers are at considerable risk and Ebola is so often fatal. The same was true for a variation on this scheme, which replaced the placebo with an active control that would at least protect participants against another virus, if not Ebola.
The leading alternative is a design known as step-wedge, which essentially uses time to create a control group. In this design, researchers take advantage of the inescapable reality that large-scale trials can't give everyone the vaccine on the exact same date; they compare the rates of infection in people already vaccinated with those who have yet to receive the shots. Barney Graham, a virologist at NIAID in Bethesda, Maryland, who attended the meeting, says “people are more comfortable” with the step-wedge design, because everyone in such a study would get the Ebola vaccine.
But statistically speaking, this design makes it more difficult to determine the vaccine’s worth, and it takes longer, Ballou explained in Geneva. The most practical way to do a step-wedge study is to randomize the sequence of vaccine distribution to, for instance, different Ebola treatment units. But researchers still have to observe the different communities for the same amount of time. A step-wedge trial also makes it more difficult to control for biases like differences in rates of new infection, behavior, and availability of protection suits.
Most meeting participants found themselves in agreement, says Ira Longini, a biostatistician from the University of Florida in Gainesville, who came to the meeting expressly to present a talk on the step-wedge design. “I worked a lot of that up, but my talk was after [Ballou’s], and I had to modify it quite a bit because I suddenly saw a real double-blinded trial with another vaccine as the control was the way to go,” Longini says. “I think the first day of the meeting things evolved quite differently than many people expected.”
Ballou described a randomized study in which 2500 people would receive the vaccine and 2500 an active control. He stressed that his team at GSK had many unknowns to wrestle with, including health care workers' infection risk—which they estimated at 10% per year spent in contact with Ebola patients. Assuming that's correct and that the vaccine works at least 80% of the time, researchers could be "absolutely confident" about efficacy after 30 infections and within 3 months, Ballou says. A vaccine that had 60% efficacy could still yield an answer with fewer than 60 infections.
“Rip’s study made sense,” WHO's Kieny says. “There was a broad agreement that [such a trial] would get a definitive result much sooner.” Discussions will now start with affected countries to see where the trial might be feasible, she says.
But MSF representatives remain unconvinced. “Studies on efficacy in affected countries and more so in at-risk populations should not have a placebo or active control arm as this cannot be defended ethically,” says Annick Antierens, a meeting attendee who oversees experimental Ebola products for MSF. Antierens says MSF would support other Ebola vaccine efficacy trials designs, but would not specify which ones. “It is not up to MSF to decide exactly what design should be used, as this will depend on the setting and the situation at the time of the trial,” she says.
Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease researcher who heads the Wellcome Trust research charity in London, thinks a randomized, controlled trial is ethical for the simple reason that no one really knows whether the vaccine will offer protection. But he questions whether it will be acceptable to participants at high risk of contracting Ebola. “If you were there tomorrow and you were a health care worker, would you be willing to be in a control arm, when the next 3 months you will be looking after patients with Ebola?” he asks. A step-wedge trial would avoid that problem, Farrar says. “I don’t want us to have months of discussions about the best way of handling this.”
There may be a way around the debate. GSK has predicted that by January it will have at least 10,000 doses of its vaccine—an Ebola surface protein gene stitched inside a harmless chimpanzee adenovirus—which means that even if the randomized, controlled studies are done, there may be enough for less rigorous designs such as the step-wedge trial. “I would do all these trials simultaneously,” Longini says. The meeting also discussed doing randomized, controlled trials in African countries that are not affected, and in special populations, such as children and HIV-infected people, to gather more data about safety and immune responses.
If everything goes according to plan, Kieny says, a phase III trial could reveal as soon as April whether the GSK vaccine works. The other candidate vaccine, produced by NewLink Genetics, is lagging behind. It has faced several delays, and some have accused the company of dragging its feet, but human studies will likely start by the end of the month. NewLink is looking for a major corporate partner to move the vaccine forward. “I think that would be a big help,” Kieny says.
An earlier WHO consultation recommended that if vaccine supplies are limited, efficacy trials should first recruit volunteers from health care workers, as they both are at high risk and provide a critical service to society to help combat the epidemic. That doesn't just mean doctors and nurses. “An interesting outcome of the meeting is we stopped talking about health care worker and started talking about front-line care giver,” Ballou says. “It’s from the doctor to the person cleaning the ward to the gravedigger.”
The trials will work best if they enroll volunteers who are affiliated with a specialized Ebola treatment facility rather than general clinics or private practices. “You have to be able to recruit them and follow them, and the farther you get away from a treatment facility, the harder that’s going to be,” Ballou says. (The safety trial for the vesicular stomatitis virus vaccine in Geneva will also recruit health care workers who eventually are going to the affected region.)
Conditions for the trials will be far more difficult than those vaccine researchers usually deal with. The health care systems in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea are crippled; potential participants may be wary of an experimental product made by foreigners; ethical reviews may be hard to perform locally; and security could become be a problem, Ballou says. “The thing I’m really worried about," he says, "is we have a great plan and we may have a great vaccine and, at end of day, we may not be able to do the trial.”
*The Ebola Files: Given the current Ebola outbreak, unprecedented in terms of number of people killed and rapid geographic spread, Science and Science Translational Medicine have made a collection of research and news articles on the viral disease freely available to researchers and the general public. | <urn:uuid:6469b04b-d17d-4321-8dd0-50f256e58538> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/10/tough-choices-ahead-ebola-vaccine-trials | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560283301.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095123-00506-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969601 | 2,496 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Your mega summer reading list: 200 books recommended by TEDsters
A look at the famous TED Bookstore at TED2013. Photo: Michael Brands Books can entertain, sucking you like a tornado into incredible new worlds. Books can teach, giving you a richer understanding of time periods, people and ideas you’ve never been exposed to. But books can do so much more. Lisa Bu: How books can open your mind In today’s talk, TED’s own Lisa Bu introduces us to the concept of “comparative reading,” the practice of reading books in pairs, to give deeper context and reveal new insights. Every year at TED, we set up a bookstore filled with books recommended by TEDsters of note. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson. John Adams by David McCullough. Personal History by Katharine Graham. The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore. Big Cats by Holiday Reinhorn. | <urn:uuid:f531b66a-ff3b-4c19-a1e1-6b0783255b5f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.pearltrees.com/u/58808170-reading-recommended-tedsters | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572408.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816151008-20220816181008-00678.warc.gz | en | 0.871472 | 284 | 1.90625 | 2 |
OAK BROOK, Ill., July 17 (UPI) -- Hamburger chain McDonald's said it would open its first store in Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City in early 2014.
The Guardian reported Wednesday that McDonald's is a step behind a few other brand name restaurant chains that have already opened outlets in Vietnam, including KFC, which has 130 outlets in the country.
Among U.S. companies, Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut and Starbucks already have a presence in the country, that began loosening restrictions on foreign investors in the 1990s, the Guardian said.
The first McDonald's in the country will be operated by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's son-in-law Henry Nguyen, who, along with his political connections, has experience at McDonald's on his resume.
Henry Nguyen worked at McDonald's for two summers as a teenager, the newspaper said.
Nguyen told the BBC that Vietnam was "a young, dynamic country."
"More than half the people here in Vietnam are under the age of 25 and I think they're looking for a new experience. Bringing in ... international brands like McDonald's helps meet that market demand and aspiration," he said. | <urn:uuid:5999efcd-0968-42c9-afc1-a80c73dd56a1> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2013/07/17/McDonalds-to-open-first-franchise-in-Vietnam/UPI-86151374082591/?spt=mps&or=4 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560283689.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095123-00349-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981268 | 243 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Billowing Inkstone Gallerywww.ArtPal.com/zhiqunyin
Zhiqun Yin, a contemporary artist, was born in 1957 in Sichuan Province. He graduated from Zhemei Oriental Correspondence Education College of Art in 1983. He is enrolled in Fine Artists' Association of China; and in Sichuan Branch, Chinese Artists Association; he is also enrolled in Zigong Artists Association and a member of Sichuan Branch, China Institution Modern Pen Calligraphy. He is a member of INA (An Association of international competition of Arts located in New York, U.S. A.) (Awarded a certificate with Mr. Edward Brown) and Worldwide Artists’ federation of Canada as well. His works has been exhibited in Hong Kong, U.S.A. and Canada. In 1994, he hold Solo exhibitions in Zigong and Shenzhen, and was highly regarded by the professors and experts who visited those exhibitions. In 1999, his print work Origin of Human Race-From Mermaid to Human won silver prize in 20 Century International Artists Achievements Expos, which was organized by International Honorary Committeeman (U. S. A) of (WEC) European Community International Honorary Committee (GC). He participated in the First Worldwide Chinese Arts Competition in 2000 with the same painting and won bronze prize. He was enrolled in the yearbook of ‘Famous Artist of Modern China’ and Fushun County Annals,etc. In 2004, his calligraphy work won first prize twice in China Modern Arts Exhibition. In 2005, he participated in series of competitions and exhibitions which was held in the name of the 60th Anniversary of Victory in Anti-Japan War, and won gold prize thrice and bronze prize once. His Oil Mill won Special Gold Prize. He also won a Prize for Lifetime Achievement for himself. His calligraphy works won First Prize of the Group of Youth Candidates in the First Calligraphy Competition of ‘Harmony’. One of his works named Confucius Temple in Fushunwas listed in the collections of National Museum of China. | <urn:uuid:4583f24e-c123-4072-a3dd-4ac65f2ebfc6> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.artpal.com/zhiqunyin | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279489.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00011-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974777 | 438 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Q. What does it mean when a television has a 16:9 ratio?
A. This is known as an aspect ratio, the ratio of an image's width to its height. A ratio of 16:9 means that whatever the overall size of the television screen, there will be 16 units of width for every 9 units of height. That makes for a more rectangular viewing area, like that of a movie theater screen.
Screen ratios are also expressed by dividing width by height, so a 16:9 screen is also referred to as 1.78 or 1.78:1.
Most conventional television sets still present the picture in a square-ish 4:3 aspect ratio (also referred to as 1.33:1), and most television programs are shot and broadcast that way. Since most movies are shot and shown in wide-screen formats like 1.85:1 or 2.35:1 , those films need to be reformatted for broadcast on television.
Reformatting usually involves cropping the sides of the picture to fit the 4:3 screen, much to the dismay of film buffs. Some prefer ''letterboxing,'' a technique that preserves the original look of the film by adding black bars to the top and bottom to retain the more elongated wide-screen ratio.
Many movies on DVD offer the viewer a choice of watching the film in the 16:9 or 4:3 ratio. Digital television and high-definition, or HDTV, sets already use the 16:9 ratio, and the wider sets are available from many manufacturers.
Q. I use the Google search engine frequently and would like to include it in the bar along the top of Internet Explorer so that I can get to it faster. How do I move it from the Favorites list to the toolbar?
A. Both the Windows and Macintosh versions of Internet Explorer allow users to drag their favorite Favorites onto a bar on the browser window for one-click access.
Windows users should go to the View menu while using Internet Explorer, then to Toolbars and to the Links option on a submenu. The Links toolbar can display a row of Favorites underneath the Address box.
If the Links Toolbar option is checked but the toolbar is not visible, try placing your cursor on the area just below the Address bar; when the cursor changes into a double-headed arrow, click and drag downward to reveal the Links area.
Once the Links toolbar is visible, you can click on the Favorites button at the top of the screen to display the files in the Favorites pane and then drag the Google icon or other Favorites to the Links toolbar. You can also drag Web addresses from the Address window right into the Links toolbar.
The process is roughly the same on a Macintosh, although the Links toolbar is called the Favorites toolbar.
If you are using Windows and Internet Explorer 5 or later, the Google site itself offers a free toolbar add-on that brings many Google search functions right to your browser window. You can download it at toolbar .google.com.
Q. Now that the iOpener has been discontinued, are there any basic Internet devices on the market?
A. Devices that let users send and receive e-mail and browse the Web but cost far less than a full computer are still around, though they are not as plentiful as they were a few years ago. Earthlink's MailStation (www.cidco.com/products/index .html), for example, is a simple line of e-mail appliances that range in cost from $30 to $200, plus a monthly service fee of $10 to $15.
For those who want more than just e-mail, the New Internet Computer Company sells a stripped-down computer called a NIC that has no hard drive but can connect to the Web and handle Web-based e-mail and sites using multimedia. A NIC with a 15-inch monitor costs $330, works with a variety of Internet service providers and can be purchased at www .thinknic.com.
The Internet Appliance Zone Web site (www.homenetappliance.com) has information and links about several kinds of Internet-enabled products. J. D. BIERSDORFER
Circuits invites questions about computer-based technology, by e-mail to QandA@nytimes.com. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually.Continue reading the main story | <urn:uuid:a9632465-8113-4249-bbf7-d103e001a59e> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/14/technology/q-a-wide-screen-or-boxy-tv-is-a-numbers-game.html?src=pm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279224.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00476-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922665 | 913 | 2.625 | 3 |
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses nonconventional approaches to healing beyond traditional medicine.
Complementary medicine and alternative medicine are two different approaches.
Complementary medicine is any form of therapy used in combination with standard or conventional medicine. Complementary therapy usually serves to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Alternative medicine is used alone without recommended standard treatment.
Integrative therapy combines conventional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine. Some scientific evidence shows integrative therapy to be safe and beneficial.
Some people use complementary treatments to relieve symptoms or side effects while undergoing standard or conventional treatment (such as pain relief during cancer treatment). Some complementary treatments have been studied and accepted by conventional medicine. Standard or conventional medicine refers to medical treatments that have been scientifically tested and found to be safe and effective. The standard or conventional treatments have been approved by the FDA or are accepted by doctors.
Other people may decide to pursue either complementary or alternative therapy. It is highly recommended that you consult your health care provider before beginning any treatment regimen, as these treatments are not scientifically tested or proved. | <urn:uuid:f308b225-dbb3-45e8-87c6-02bae063f562> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://healthcare.utah.edu/healthlibrary/library/diseases/adult/doc.php?type=85&id=P00185 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719286.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00499-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940732 | 222 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Supplementary Materials01. al., 1992). In recent years, comparative genomic analyses have recommended that at least 5% of the sequences in the human being genome are under adverse or purifying selection and so are therefore functionally essential (Pheasant and Mattick, 2007; Waterston et al., 2002). Actually distantly related species, such as for example human being and the puffer seafood or the teleost zebrafish motif recognition is not considerably investigated for them. For instance, in an intensive experimental research of human being enhancers (Pennacchio et al., 2006), motif prediction was performed just using one group of four forebrain-specific enhancers, and the predicted motifs were not experimentally validated. Here we describe a systematic approach, employing existing experimental and bioinformatic methodologies and the vertebrate model organism zebrafish, to discover novel functional motifs within tissue-specific enhancers. As an example, we focused our analysis on the developing anterior brain TMP 269 novel inhibtior (fore- or mid-brain regions). The establishment of the vertebrate anterior brain character requires suppression of the activity of posteriorizing signals TMP 269 novel inhibtior including BMP, Wnts, Fgfs, Nodal, and retinoic acids (Wilson and Houart, 2004). In addition, a number of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors are expressed in specific regions along the anterior-posterior neural axis TMP 269 novel inhibtior (Bally-Cuif and Boncinelli, 1997). For example, (Simeone et al., 1992) and (Guo et al., 1999; Hashimoto et al., 2000; Levkowitz et al., 2003) are specifically expressed in the anterior brain at early somitic stages. A set of Hox genes and Krox-20 are specifically expressed in some hindbrain rhombomeres (Lumsden and Krumlauf, 1996). An elaborate gene regulatory network is likely needed to translate the complex extrinsic signals into distinct anterior-posterior identity in neural progenitor cells. However, little information on such regulatory network is currently available. In this study, we Rabbit Polyclonal to BCAS4 selected a set of 101 CNEs near genes expressed either in the anterior or posterior (hind-) brain regions. Subsequently, we tested their ability to drive expression of a cis-reporter gene using an improved transient transgenesis method, which significantly alleviates the problem of mosaic expression. We found that 25% of tested CNEs exhibited the desired anterior brain enhancer activity. Application of motif prediction algorithms on a group of 13 forebrain enhancers uncovered five top-ranked 6-nucleotide motifs that were significantly enriched in these enhancers. Experimental analyses of these motifs in zebrafish revealed that all five are functionally critical for anterior brain enhancer activity (hence a validation rate of 100%). Finally, we built an online resource (zebrafishcne.org) to store information on these and future experiments into the coding logic of developmental enhancers. These TMP 269 novel inhibtior findings demonstrate a practical way to uncover functional motifs of vertebrate developmental enhancers. The data resources TMP 269 novel inhibtior we have developed provide important tools for further dissection of vertebrate brain development and function. Materials and methods Bioinformatic identification of expression pattern-associated CNEs Based on literature and gene expression database in zfin (http://www.zfin.org), groups of anterior brain specific/enriched or posterior brain specific/enriched genes were chosen as candidates for selection of nearby CNEs (Table 1 and Fig. S1). CNEs were then selected from amongst those with a minimum 60% identity and 100 bp conservation between zebrafish (zv6) and human (hg18), which are straightforward constraints relevant to our experimental organism and human. Most CNEs were chosen using cneViewer (cneviewer.zebrafishcne.org)(Persampieri et al., 2008), a tool that we have created to make use.
Category: Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase
Supplementary MaterialsFigure S1: Distribution of people with age. for time between infections, and diagnostic checks for the inference framework. (PDF) pcbi.1002741.s008.pdf (99K) GUID:?7531CFF0-B8AB-4518-B439-5E1A13D08AAE Abstract Recent serological studies of seasonal influenza A in human beings suggest a striking characteristic profile of immunity against age, which holds across different countries and against different subtypes of influenza. For both H1N1 and H3N2, the proportion of the populace seropositive to lately circulated strains peaks in school-age kids, reaches the very least between ages 35C65, after that rises once again in the old age range. This pattern is normally little understood. Adjustable blending between different age group classes can possess a profound influence on disease dynamics, and is normally therefore the most obvious candidate description for the profile, but utilizing GW788388 biological activity a mathematical style of multiple influenza strains, we find that age group dependent transmission predicated on blending data from public get in touch with surveys cannot alone explain the noticed pattern. Instead, the amount of seropositive people in a people may be a rsulting consequence primary antigenic sin; if the first an infection of an eternity dominates subsequent immune responses, we demonstrate that it’s possible to replicate the observed romantic relationship between age group and seroprevalence. We propose an applicant mechanism because of this relationship, where primary antigenic sin, along with antigenic drift and vaccination, outcomes in this profile of immunity observed in empirical research. Author Summary How a people builds immunity to influenza impacts outbreak size and the emergence of brand-new strains. Nevertheless, although age-particular immunity provides been broadly discussed for this year’s 2009 influenza pandemic, this profile of immunity to seasonal influenza continues to be little understood. As opposed to many infections, the proportion of individuals immune to latest strains peaks in school-age children after that reaches the very least between ages 35C65, before increasing again in old age ranges. Our results claim that rather than adjustable blending between different age ranges being solely accountable, the pattern could be GW788388 biological activity designed by an impact known as primary antigenic sin, where the GW788388 biological activity first illness of a lifetime dictates subsequent immune responses: instead of developing antibodies to every fresh virus that is encountered, the immune system may reuse the response to a similar virus it has already seen. The framework we describe, which extends theoretical models to allow for assessment with data, also opens the possibility of investigating the mechanisms behind patterns of immunity to additional evolving pathogens. Intro Influenza A evolves over time, escaping the immunity of human being host populations . Consequently, individuals are exposed to a range of different strains over a lifetime, and different age groups have varying levels of antibodies to particular strains, depending on which viruses they have seen. Several serological studies during the 2009 influenza pandemic also regarded as recent seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 strains, with haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) titres given for different age groups. Across numerous countries, the data all adhere to a distinct pattern , , , , , , : a high proportion of individuals are seropositive (HI titre 40) in adolescence, followed by a obvious decrease in seropositivity between adolescence and age 60C65, before a rise in GW788388 biological activity the older age groups. Heterogeneity between age groups has been much studied in an epidemiological context , , and recent work used serological data for varicella and parvovirus to infer transmission rates between age groups . However, despite the increasingly availability of social contact data , , it has previously been difficult to compare mathematical model Rabbit Polyclonal to OR11H1 outputs with data from GW788388 biological activity serological studies for seasonal influenza: the proliferation of variables required as the number of strains in the model increases makes it technically challenging to look at the long term impact of different assumptions. Progress has recently been made by introducing age structure to a multi-strain model, allowing the effect of influenza dynamics on population immunity to be examined in more detail . Here, an extended version of this model is used to examine the possible causes of the unusual age distribution of seropositivity to seasonal influenza A in humans. A number of candidate factors are included: basic reproductive ratio (); heterogeneous mixing between age classes; cross-immunity between strains; vaccination effectiveness. We also consider original antigenic sin (OAS) , a theory that suggests that previous infection dominates subsequent immune responses: rather than develop antibodies to every new epitope that is encountered, if strains are antigenically similar, the immune system may.
Supplementary MaterialsSupplementary figures and tables. regorafenib exhibited the superior clinical effects on OS (SUCRA, 0.42) and PFS (SUCRA, 0.30), while codrituzumab showed the best basic safety benefit on AE (SUCRA, 0.75). Furthermore, node-splitting evaluation and funnel-plot symmetries illustrated no inconsistency or apparent publication bias in today’s study. Conclusions: Regarding to current proof, lenvatinib and apatinib acquired superior clinical results for sufferers without previously systematic remedies, and regorafenib appeared to be more desirable for sufferers with previously targeted agent therapies. Nevertheless, our conclusions still want even more statistical validations, and even more high-quality trials are anticipated. 0.05 24. Convergence was assessed to calculate the Potential Level Reduction Aspect (PSRF), and ideals were limited by 1 to comprehensive Rabbit polyclonal to HSD3B7 the calculation. The automated software program Aggregate Data Medication Information Program (ADDIS, version 1.16) and Stata program (edition 12.0) were used for the network-pooled estimation. Outcomes Research Selection and Features The queries identified 51779 information, which 1091 had been considered relevant scientific research after titles and abstracts had been reviewed. Eventually, predicated on the overview of complete texts, 31 trials containing 13023 sufferers had been included for quantitative pooled estimation (Figure ?(Figure1).1). Every one of them had been 2-arm trials reported from 10 different areas. Included in this, 22 of 31 trials had been performed predicated on the samples without the prior systematic treatment, and the other 9 were predicated on sufferers treated with previously targeted brokers. Twenty different targeted brokers or combinations had been included for evaluation and both placebo no treatment had been regarded as harmful control (NC) (Supplementary Table S2). However, for quality evaluation, over fifty percent of included trials had been executed with randomized allocation with concealment. Moreover, the majority of ZM-447439 biological activity the trials were predicated on double-blind procedures. In general, the entire quality was well provided (Supplementary Body S1). Open up in another window Figure 1 Stream diagram of the procedure of selecting research for current network meta-analysis. Main Outcomes of Network Meta-evaluation We executed network meta-analysis to judge the efficacy and basic safety of most included targeted brokers regarding general survival, progression-free of charge survival, and adverse occasions. For general survival, 20 trials containing 10091 sufferers reported relative parametric data (Amount ?(Figure2A).2A). After pooled estimation, we found that lenvatinib acquired the best probability of reaching the best 1-year general survival for sufferers without prior systematic treatment (SUCRA, 0.22) (Amount ?(Figure2B).2B). Nine trials reported 8 different brokers or combos and evaluated sufferers with prior targeted medications therapy (Amount ?(Figure2C).2C). The outcomes indicated that regorafenib possessed the best probability of reaching the best 1-year general survival (SUCRA, 0.42) (Figure ?(Amount2D)2D) (Supplementary Desk S3). Open up in another window Figure 2 The network evaluation of included brokers regarding general survival. (A) Network connections out of all the included trials for sufferers without prior systematic remedies; (B) SUCRA ideals and ranks of included brokers for sufferers without prior systematic remedies; (C) Network connections out of all the included trials for sufferers with prior systematic remedies; (D) SUCRA ideals and ranks of included agents for individuals with earlier systematic treatments. The numbers on the line indicate the ZM-447439 biological activity quality of studies compared with every pair of strategies, which are also represented by the width of the lines. Additionally, the sizes of the areas of the circles indicate the respective sample sizes. NC, bad control. For the evaluation of progression-free survival, 19 trials including 13 agents or mixtures and reported the relative parametric data based on the samples without earlier targeted agent treatment (Number ?(Figure3A).3A). According to the results, it was detected that apatinib may possess the best medical efficacy on enhancing 1-12 months progression-free survival in the ZM-447439 biological activity best rank for individuals without previously systematic treatments (SUCRA, 0.41) (Number ?(Figure3B).3B). Moreover, regorafenib possessed the highest probability of revealing the best progression-free survival among the individuals who received earlier systematic therapies based on an ZM-447439 biological activity established network from 7 trials (SUCRA, 0.30) (Figure ?(Number3C-3C- D) (Supplementary Table S4). Open in a separate window Figure 3 The network evaluation of included agents regarding progression-free survival. (A) Network connections of all of the included trials for individuals without earlier systematic treatments; (B) SUCRA values and ranks of.
Four canine coronavirus type II (CCoV-II) strains were identified in the guts and internal organs of pups which had died of acute gastroenteritis. 24), including a pantropic variant causing systemic disease in pups (2, 4, 8). In addition, recombinant viruses have been reported between CCoV-II and CCoV-I (12) or porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) (27). In this paper, we report the genomic, biological, and antigenic characterization of four type II CCoVs with the N-terminal domain of the S protein highly divergent from classical CCoV strains but strictly related to TGEV. Identification of TGEV-like CCoV strains. Between December 2005 and March 2008, four dogs which had died of gastroenteritis were submitted to our laboratory for routine diagnostic investigations. The dogs were a 14-week-old great dane pup (341/05), a 10-week-old chihuahua pup (174/06), an 11-week-old mixed-breed pup (430/07), and a 13-week-old maltese pup (119/08). Dogs 174/06 and 119/08 had been imported from Hungary a few days before the onset of clinical signs. Intestinal contents and tissue samples collected from the dead dogs were tested by conventional or real-time PCR assays for the detection of the main viral pathogens of dogs as previously described (8). CCoV was detected in the fecal samples or intestinal contents of all of the pups examined, with viral RNA titers ranging from 1.37 105 to 2.38 107 l?1 of template. Further genotyping by type-specific TaqMan assays (10) showed the presence of both CCoV types I and II in the guts of dogs 430/07 and 119/08, whereas Indocyanine green novel inhibtior the specimens from the other two dogs were found to contain only genotype II. Surprisingly, CCoV-II RNA was also detected in the internal organs of all of the dogs, albeit with variable tissue distribution (data not shown). It is noteworthy that all of the pups were positive for canine parvovirus (CPV) by real-time PCR (7). Subsequent characterization by means of type-specific minor-groove binder probe assays (5, 6, 9) showed that dogs 341/05, 430/07, and 119/08 were coinfected with CPV-2a, whereas a classical CPV-2 (vaccinal) strain was detected in the gut of pup 174/06. The 3 end of the genome of the four CCoV-II strains detected in the lung samples was amplified and analyzed as previously described (8), and the nucleotide sequences were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers EU856361 to EU856362 and EU924790 to EU924791. As expected, all of the predicted genes but open reading frame 3b (ORF3b), ORF3c, and ORF7b were preceded by the Indocyanine green novel inhibtior repeated intergenic sequence CTAAAC. The spike (S) Indocyanine green novel inhibtior protein was 1,457 amino acids (aa) long in all of the strains that were analyzed, in contrast to classical type II CCoVs and feline CoVs (FCoVs), which displayed a shorter protein (1,451 to 1 1,454 aa). In the S protein, the amino acid identities among the CCoV strains sequenced in Rabbit polyclonal to GALNT9 this study ranged between 95.1 and 98.9%, and the identity of these strains to other type II CCoVs was only 79.9 to 82.8%. Surprisingly, a higher genetic relatedness to Indocyanine green novel inhibtior TGEV was found, whereas other group 1a CoVs were proven to be less related. An exceptionally high identity to TGEV was evident in the N terminus (Table ?(Table1).1). Analysis of the other structural proteins, including the small envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins, did not show atypical findings, with the exception of the E protein of strain 430/07, which was 75 instead of 82 aa long,.
Supplementary Materials [Supplemental materials] jbacter_189_19_6957__index. is normally investigated with cultured individual epithelial cells routinely. forms plaques in confluent monolayers, and the quantity and size of the plaques correlate with virulence, as plaque development requires which the bacteria invade, develop intracellularly, and spread right to adjacent epithelial cells (43). 2a encodes at least four iron acquisition systems (23, 65). The aerobactin operon encodes the biosynthesis (expresses the genes for transportation from the fungal siderophore ferrichrome. encodes two iron acquisition systems also, Sit and Feo, which are forecasted to move ferrous iron (Fe2+), the greater abundant type of iron in anaerobic conditions. The SitABCD program must the serovar Typhimurium Sit down program similarity, which mainly transports manganese (3). The Sit down system has been proven to operate in iron transportation (50, 52), as well as the genes had been up-regulated in the intracellular environment (31, 51). A mutant didn’t develop in the lack of exogenously provided siderophore or type plaques in epithelial cell monolayers (52), indicating that we now have no various other iron transportation systems in stress SA100. Iron is vital for growth, however free iron could be dangerous to cellular elements. Therefore, the appearance of iron acquisition genes is normally governed in response towards the intracellular iron focus. Vargatef biological activity Under iron-replete circumstances, the transcription aspect Hair binds iron and Fe-Fur represses the appearance of iron transportation genes (11). Fe-Fur also represses aswell as the experience of the Fur protein. Fe-Fur is an autorepressor, reducing manifestation in response to iron (9, 10, 19, 53). manifestation is also reduced in strains with mutations in transcription is also activated by OxyR and SoxS, which are redox regulators activated by oxidative stress (68). The improved level of Fur scavenges Vargatef biological activity unbound iron to prevent cell-damaging radical formation as well as turning off iron acquisition. Bacteria also regulate specific iron transporters in response to the oxygen availability. Fnr and ArcA are the main redox regulators responsible for the activation or repression of genes associated with the transition to anaerobiosis (17), and Fnr offers been shown to stimulate transcription of in under anoxic conditions (24). The manifestation of genes encoding the Sit system in serovar Typhimurium decreases anaerobically (20). This Vargatef biological activity anaerobic repression was not due to ArcA and Fnr but rather to the availability of the redox metals iron and manganese, which bind to the transcription factors Fur and MntR (20). Anaerobiosis offers been shown to influence the persistence and virulence of enteric pathogens such as (12, 21), spp. (6, 27, 60), (2, 58), and (57). Because infects the colon, which is an oxygen-limited environment, studies were carried out to determine whether anaerobiosis and the anaerobic transcription factors ArcA and Fnr affect iron rate of CCL2 metabolism and virulence. MATERIALS AND METHODS Bacterial strains, plasmids, and growth conditions. Bacterial strains and plasmids are explained in Table ?Table1.1. strains were cultivated in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth or on LB agar (16). strains were cultivated in RPMI (RPMI 1640 [Invitrogen] with l-glutamine, without phenol reddish [Gibco; Invitrogen], and buffered with 100 mM HEPES) supplemented with 2.5 M FeSO4 where indicated or on tryptic soy broth agar plus 0.01% Congo red dye (Congo red agar) at 37C. Antibiotics were used at the following concentrations (per milliliter): 125 g of carbenicillin (Car), 200 g of streptomycin (Str), 20 g of kanamycin (Kan), and 7.5 g of chloramphenicol (Cam)..
Supplementary MaterialsSupp Fig1. might also contribute to seizure initiation. Despite PD98059 kinase activity assay this potential importance in TLE, these pathways have received little study. Using simultaneous voltage-sensitive dye imaging and patch-clamp recordings in slices from animals with epilepsy, we assessed the relative degree of synaptic excitation activated by multiple cortical inputs to the hippocampus. Surprisingly, dentate gyrus-mediated regulation of the relay of cortical input to the hippocampus is usually unchanged in epileptic animals, and input via the Schaffer collaterals is actually decreased despite reduction in Schaffer-evoked inhibition. In contrast, PD98059 kinase activity assay a poor direct cortical insight to region CA1 of hippocampus normally, the temporoammonic pathway, displays a TLE-associated change from a limited, controlled pathway for an excitatory projection with 10-fold elevated effectiveness highly. This dysregulated temporoammonic pathway is certainly critically placed to mediate era and/or propagation of seizure activity in the hippocampus. and with the acceptance from the Childrens Medical center of Philadelphia Institutional Pet Make use of and Treatment Committee. Pilocarpine pets had been created using previously reported strategies (Gibbs et al., 1997). Adult male Sprague Dawley rats (180C200 g) had been pretreated with scopolamine methyl nitrate (1 mg/kg, s.c.) to antagonize peripheral results induced by following pilocarpine (405 mg/kg, s.c.), injected 30 min afterwards. This induced position epilepticus (Stage; i.e., suffered seizures long lasting 30 min) within 10C30 min. 1 hour after Stage starting point, diazepam (7.5 mg/kg, s.c.) was implemented to quell seizure activity. Sham pilocarpine rats (0.1 control) were injected using a subconvulsive dose of pilocarpine (40.5 mg/kg, s.c.). Rats had been video-monitored starting 14 d after Stage to record at least two spontaneous seizures before getting categorized as epileptic. To reduce acute ramifications of seizures, epileptic rats had been further monitored to make sure that no seizures got happened 24 h before make use of. Whenever we monitor epileptic pets ready identically inside our colony intensively, these pets have got 1.9 seizures each day on average starting 2C4 weeks after pilocarpine-induced STEP, and stay epileptic throughout their lives. Hippocampal cut preparation Rats had been split into two groupings: epileptic (=12) and control (=9). Naive rats (i.e., without pilocarpine shots) had been also used simply because controls and outcomes extracted from these pets were not considerably different PD98059 kinase activity assay from handles. Outcomes from sham pilocarpine (=3) and naive (=6) pets had been therefore pooled jointly. In all statistics, is the amount of rats and pieces (one slice documented per pet) aside from Physique 3, where is the quantity of slices, and the number of animals in that case was nine in each group. This was because multiple slices were recorded to assure that the reduced area CA1 response was not caused by problems in slice PD98059 kinase activity assay viability. At most, two slices were sampled per animal in this physique, and a similar multiple slice sampling process was also conducted in control animals in studies illustrated in this physique. Rats were anesthetized with halothane, decapitated, and the brains removed and blocked in ice-cold artificial CSF (ACSF)-sucrose [made up of the following (in mM): 130 sucrose, 3 KCl, 1.25 NaHPO4, 1 MgCl2, 2 CaCl2, 26 NaHCO3, and 10 dextrose], where NaCl was replaced with sucrose. Hippocampal slices (400 0.05; =12). PP, Perforant path; DG, dentate gyrus; TA, temporoammonic pathway; EC, entorhinal cortex. Optical recording Slices were stained with 0.125 mg/ml JPW 3031 (University of Connecticut Health Center) in ACSF for 10 min, and imaged in an oxygenated interface chamber (34 1C) using an 80 80 CCD camera recording at a 2 kHz frame rate (NeuroCCD; RedShirt Imaging, Decatur, GA). Epi-illumination was provided by a 150 W Xenon lamp driven by a stable power supply (Opti-quip, Highland Mills, NY). The CCD chip well size (215,000 e?) requires use of low light intensities, which minimized photodynamic damage. A 4 objective lens (0.28 numerical aperture; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) imaged a 2.5 2.5 mm region in hippocampal area CA1 (32 32 from control (gray) and epileptic slices (black), demonstrating little difference in the averaged DG or CA3 voltage responses, consistent with the group data in and =0.94). Data analysis All analysis was performed in IGOR (Wavemetrics, Lake Oswego, OR) on 12 trial averages. Data were displayed as the switch in fluorescence divided by the resting fluorescence (F/F). To be consistent with electrophysiological conventions, depolarizing F/F signals were displayed as positive signals (warmer colors) and CC2D1B hyperpolarizations represented as negative signals (colder colors). Significance was assessed at 0.05 level. ANOVA was performed where appropriate. All results are reported as mean SEM. Results The.
Shiga toxin producing O157:H7 (STEC) is among the leading factors behind food-poisoning all over the world. out AUY922 tyrosianse inhibitor a potential function for the A1 subunits in the differential toxicity of Stx2 and Stx1. This review features the recent improvement in understanding the distinctions in the A1 subunits AUY922 tyrosianse inhibitor of Stx1 and Stx2 and their function in determining toxicity. (STEC) strains such as for example O157:H7, and also other serotypes, will be the main causative realtors of serious gastroenteritis, that may result in life-threating problems including hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic symptoms (HUS) [1,2]. HUS may be the many common reason behind renal failing in children in america . The latest multi-state outbreak of O157:H7 in america and a HUS outbreak in Germany in 2011 due to O104:H4 highlight the general public wellness impact of the pathogen [4,5,6,7]. STEC strains generate Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1) and/or Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) or variations of either toxin. strains having Stx2 are even more virulent and so are even more connected with HUS [8 often,9,10]. Nevertheless the molecular basis for the bigger strength of Stx2 is normally unknown. Although comprehensive analysis has been performed to build up effective vaccines and therapeutics to safeguard against HUS, you will find no current therapies available. In order to develop inhibitors against Shiga toxins, there is a need for better understanding of their underlying mechanism of toxicity. Shiga toxin (Stx) from and Stx1 (Stx1) and 2 (Stx2) from Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) are a family of structurally and functionally related proteins [5,11]. Stx, Stx1 Mouse monoclonal to CD20.COC20 reacts with human CD20 (B1), 37/35 kDa protien, which is expressed on pre-B cells and mature B cells but not on plasma cells. The CD20 antigen can also be detected at low levels on a subset of peripheral blood T-cells. CD20 regulates B-cell activation and proliferation by regulating transmembrane Ca++ conductance and cell-cycle progression and Stx2 are ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs), a class of proteins that irreversibly damage the ribosome catalytically by modifying the large rRNA and inhibiting protein synthesis [12,13,14,15,16]. RIPs are present throughout the flower kingdom and are also found in bacteria [12,13,14]. RIPs are differs from Stx1 by one amino acid [26,27], Stx1 and Stx2 have only 56% amino acid similarity and are antigenically unique [28,29,30]. STEC can produce either one type of toxin or a combination of variants of one or both types of toxin . Stx1 and Stx2, which are also referred to as Stx1a and Stx2a , are type II RIPs, which consist of a catalytically active A chain associated with a pentamer of B subunits responsible for the binding of the Shiga toxins to their common cellular receptor, globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) [33,34]. The B subunits (7.7 kDa each) form a central pore which harbors the Stx and Stx2 are highly related [34,35]. However, structural variations have been recognized between Stx1 and Stx2 [34,35]. In Stx1, part of the active site is clogged from the A2 chain, while AUY922 tyrosianse inhibitor it is accessible in Stx2 . The active site of Stx2 is accessible to the adenine substrate and Stx2 cleaves the adenine when it is crystallized in the presence of adenosine . In the crystal structure, the A subunit in Stx2 is in a different orientation with respect to the B subunit, which may impact receptor affinity of Stx2 . The O157:H7 strains transporting Stx2 [8,9,10]. Earlier studies using Shiga toxins have shown that while Stx2 is definitely more potent in animal models, Stx1 is more harmful to Vero cells [49,50]. The 50% lethal dose for purified Stx2 was 400-fold lower than for Stx1 inside a mouse model, and only Stx2-treated mice developed renal complications and death [49,51]. However, animal models have limitations compared with the observations from humans and don’t replicate the disease in humans. Nonhuman primate models (Baboon) showed renal damage consistent with HUS upon intravenous injection of the toxins. Treatment of non-human primates with four doses of 25 ng/kg Stx2 caused HUS, while an equal dose of Stx1 experienced no effect . In another scholarly research evaluation of the consequences of both poisons demonstrated interesting distinctions,.
The GABA transporter GAT-1 is one of the neurotransmitter:sodium:symporters which are necessary for synaptic transmission. from the intracellular slim gate residues Arg-44 and Asp-410 may compensate for the consequences of their extracellular counterparts. Mutation of Asp-410 to glutamate led to impaired transportation activity and a lower life expectancy obvious affinity for sodium. Nevertheless, the transportation activity of the dual mutant D410E/D451E was improved by around 10-fold of this of each from the solitary mutants. Identical compensatory effects had been also noticed when other mixtures of intra- and extracellular slim gate mutants had been analyzed. Furthermore, the intro of D410E in to the D451E history led to lower obvious sodium affinity than that of D451E only. Our results indicate that a functional interaction of the external and internal gates of GAT-1 is essential for transport. CJ236 ( 0.05 was taken as significant. Results were plotted using normalized data for each mutant, where the untreated activity levels are normalized to 100%. Cell Surface Biotinylation Labeling of wild type and mutant transporters at the cell surface, using Sulfo-NHS-SS-Biotin (Pierce), quenching the reaction, cell lysis, and isolation of the biotinylated proteins by streptavidin-agarose beads (Pierce) were done as described (17). After SDS-PAGE (10% gel) and transfer to nitrocellulose, the GAT-1 protein was detected with an affinity-purified antibody, directed against an epitope from the cytoplasmic C-terminal tail of GAT-1, at a 1:500 dilution, with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody at a 1:40,000 dilution, and with ECL. 1% of goat serum was present in all antibody, blocking, and washing solutions to minimize the appearance of nonspecific Cdc42 bands. The films were scanned using a standard scanner, and quantitative densitometry was done using ImageJ 1.43u, and statistical analysis was done with Origin 6.1 software (OriginLab Corporation). Expression in Oocytes and Electrophysiology cRNA was transcribed using mMESSAGE-mMACHINE (Ambion) and injected into oocytes, as described (13). Oocytes were placed in the recording chamber, penetrated with two agarose-cushioned micropipettes (1%/2 m KCl, resistance varied between 0.5 and 3 megohms), voltage-clamped using GeneClamp 500 (Axon Instruments), and digitized using Digidata 1322 (Axon Instruments both controlled by the pClamp9.0 suite (Axon Instruments). Voltage jumping was performed using a conventional two-electrode voltage clamp as described previously (25). The standard buffer, AUY922 biological activity termed ND96, was composed of 96 mm NaCl, 2 mm KCl, 1.8 mm CaCl2, 1 mm MgCl2, 5 mm Na-HEPES, pH 7.5). The records shown in Fig. 4 are typical and representative of results from at least three oocytes. In Fig. 5, the currents were normalized as indicated in the legend to plot results of three oocytes as means S.E. Wherever error bars are not visible, the error was smaller than the size of the symbols. Open in a separate window FIGURE 4. Sodium-dependent transient currents and GABA-induced steady-state currents by GAT-1 WT and mutant transporters. The membrane voltage of oocytes expressing WT (indicate zero current. The refers to and AUY922 biological activity refers to and a lower and value similar to WT-GAT-1 (Table 1). TABLE 1 Kinetic parameters of GABA transport by the gating mutants The values for GABA were determined by measuring [3H]GABA transport in HeLa cells at 150 mm NaCl in the linear range for each mutant (WT and D410E/D451E for 3 min, D410E for 12 min). and and ?and5).5). D451E does not exhibit detectable steady-state currents; however, at high concentrations, GABA partially blocks the sodium-dependent transient currents (Fig. 4and ?and5).5). These currents were fully saturated at 1 mm GABA (data not demonstrated). This indicates an increase in the apparent affinity for GABA compared with D451E, where even at 10 mm the blockade of the transient currents was partial, and at 1 mm of GABA no effect could be observed (data not shown). The voltage dependence of the GABA-induced currents by D410E/D451E was comparable to that of WT (Fig. 5, plot for this mutant should be even more right-shifted than that shown in Fig. 6. The value for WT-GAT-1 is usually slightly different from that reported previously (6), probably because the measurements were done with different batches of oocytes, side-by-side with those expressing D410E/D451E and D451E. For WT-GAT-1 and AUY922 biological activity D410E/D451E, analysis of the charge movements also allows calculation of the value of is the charge around the AUY922 biological activity particle moving and is the fraction of the membrane field through which the charge moves. The values for for each transporter (Table 1): 1.1 m for D410E and 10.15 m for WT. Data shown at the indicated sodium concentrations are normalized to transport of either WT or D410E at 300 mm sodium (no choline substitution) and are the mean S.E. of at least three individual experiments performed in quadruplicate. Conformational Dynamics of the Gating Mutants Perturbation of the extracellular thin gate by the D451E mutation resulted in an increased.
Supplementary MaterialsSupplementary Info. further studies into the clinical efficacy of LY2835219 price ibogaine in SUD patients in reducing craving and substance use, but close monitoring of the patients is recommended because of the possible toxic effects. In addition, more work is needed to unravel the neuropharmacological working mechanisms of ibogaine and to investigate its effects on heart rhythm. Introduction Substance use disorders (SUDs) account for a large share of the total global burden of disease. Nearly 5% of all disability-adjusted life years and 4% of overall mortality appear to be attributed to SUDs.1, 2, 3 SUDs are often characterized by chronicity and frequent relapse. Despite treatment, 5-year relapse rates are as high as 70% for alcohol dependence, 78% for cocaine dependence and 97% for opioid dependence.4, 5, 6 Moreover, for opioid dependence, pharmacological treatment mainly consists of harm reduction strategies, using opioid substitution with opioid agonists7, 8 and for cocaine dependence no effective pharmacological treatment is available at all.9 As a consequence, new and more effective pharmacological treatment modalities are needed. Several new treatments have been investigated, with some more promising than others. One promising compound is ibogaine, a naturally occurring substance in an African shrub. This compound has been claimed to reduce craving and relapse rates in patients with SUDs.10 Indeed, case reports mention a reduction of withdrawal symptoms and relapse after a single dose of ibogaine with a sustainability of this effect of several months.11 Ibogaine has increasingly been used for this purpose over the last decades, mainly in a lay-scene.12, 13 However, human clinical trials on the safety and efficacy of ibogaine for patients with SUDs are lacking. Various animal studies seem to support the claim that ibogaine could have anti-addictive effects. The use of even a single dosage of ibogaine is apparently effective in a number of well-validated pet versions for SUDs.10, 14 Other pet studies describe neurobiological ramifications of LY2835219 price ibogaine.15, 16 These findings fit well with current understanding in to the pathophysiology of SUDs and its own pharmacological targets, assigning a dominant role to dysfunction in the mind dopamine, tension and serotonin systems in SUDs.17, 18 However, a significant concern in the usage of ibogaine is its potential cerebellar and cardiac toxicity, which includes been described in both pet studies and human being case reviews.19, 20, 21 To be able to create a synopsis of feasible adverse and therapeutic effects, and our knowledge of the neuropharmacological working mechanism of ibogaine further, we conducted a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) of pet studies regarding this topic. We suggest that MA and SR of pet research increase our understanding in to the feasible restorative results, toxicity and potential system of actions of ibogaine. Furthermore, the full total effects of the examine might help the look of future clinical trials.22 Therefore, three research questions will LY2835219 price be addressed: (1) Does ibogaine reduce addictive behaviour in animal models of LY2835219 price SUDs?; (2) Does TGFB2 ibogaine supplementation to animals cause adverse toxic effects?; and (3) Does ibogaine influence addiction-related neurobiological response in animal models of SUDs? Materials and methods The present review was based on published results of the therapeutic, toxic and neurobiological effects of ibogaine in animal studies. The inclusion criteria and methods of analysis were specified in advance and documented in a protocol and published on the SYRCLE website (https://www.radboudumc.nl/Research/Organisationofresearch/Departments/cdl/SYRCLE/Pages/Protocols.aspx). For our LY2835219 price first research question (does ibogaine reduce addictive behaviour in pet types of SUDs?) we centered on the two primary behavioural paradigms to measure top features of SUDs: the medication self-administration (SA) and drug-induced conditioned place.
Supplementary MaterialsFigure S1: Radar plot teaching proteins conservation between 49 streptococci with strains. the loci.(DOC) pone.0020519.s010.doc (103K) GUID:?8D39FFB2-0936-48E5-B189-BF02BD00CC57 Desk S8: Set of proteins support the LPXTG anchoring motifs in infections in human beings are often connected with bacteremia, infective endocarditis and colon cancers. The condition manifestations will vary with regards to the subspecies of leading to the infection. Right here, we present the entire genomes of ATCC 43143 (biotype I) and pATCC 43144 (biotype II.2). The genomic variations between your two biotypes had been characterized with comparative genomic analyses. The chromosome of ATCC 43143 and ATCC 43144 are 2,36 and 2,10 Mb long and encode 2246 and 1869 CDS respectively. The business and genomic material of both genomes had been most like the lately released UCN34, where 2073 (92%) and 1607 (86%) from the ATCC 43143 and ATCC 43144 CDS had been conserved in UCN34 respectively. There remain 600 CDS conserved in every genomes, indicating the genus includes a little core-genome (constitute around 30% of total CDS) and considerable evolutionary plasticity. We determined eight and five parts of genome plasticity in ATCC 43143 and ATCC 43144 respectively. Within these areas, several proteins were recognized to contribute to the fitness and virulence of each of the two subspecies. We have also predicted putative cell-surface associated proteins that could play a role in adherence to host tissues, leading to persistent infections causing sub-acute and chronic diseases in humans. This study showed evidence that the still possesses genes making it suitable in a rumen environment, whereas the ability for pto live in rumen is reduced. Acta1 The genome heterogeneity and genetic diversity among the two biotypes, especially membrane and lipoproteins, most likely contribute to the differences in the pathogenesis of the two biotypes and the type of disease an infected patient eventually develops. Introduction strains to be recognized and this led to devising schemes CC-401 irreversible inhibition to distinguish strains by biotype. Biotype I (classical strains) strains can ferment mannitol and produce extracellular glucan from sucrose, whereas biotype II variants lack these qualities. Biotype II are additional subdivided into biotype II.1 and biotype II.2 predicated on additional biochemical features , , . Before two decades, advancement in genotypic sequencing and characterization technology allows microbiologists to help expand revise the taxonomic classification of subsp. (right here after make reference to as as so that as subsp. (right here after make reference to as and many human being diseases, it is critical to accurately distinguish these microorganisms and determine the variations between them inside a genomic size. The purposes of the study had been to (1) supply the 1st complete genomic series of both subspecies stress ATCC 43143 (biotype I) and stress ATCC 43144 (biotype II.2) and (2) perform comparative series analysis to research their genetic variations. Although both strains had been medical isolates originally from human being bloodstream, through comparative analysis of the sequence information we found that ATCC 43143 appears to have a genome that is more adapted to ruminal environment, equipped with many enzymes for digesting plant materials. Being slightly larger in genome size than ATCC 43144, ATCC 43143 also has more genes that encode cell surface proteins and extracellular proteins that are potential virulence factors. In contrast, ATCC 43144 is more adapted to humans, losing many of the genes originally needed in the ruminal environment. Also, in a few accurate stage of its lifestyle, ATCC 43144 got accepted foreign hereditary materials, a 13 specifically.3-kb nisin U locus comprises 12 open up reading frames, through the lantibiotic-producing bovine pathogen subsp probably. ATCC 43143 (F-1867, RG Knight) and subsp. ATCC 43144 (CDC 1723-81, RG Knight) had been from the American Type Tradition Collection (ATCC). Both strains had been grown in mind center infusion broth (Becton, Dickinson and Business) at 37C within an aerobic condition. Genomic DNAs had been extracted using Wizard Genomic DNA Purification Package (Promega) relating to manufacturer’s guidelines. Genome Sequencing and Set up The genome CC-401 irreversible inhibition of ATCC 43143 was sequenced to a 122-collapse coverage utilizing a Genome Sequencer 20 (GS 20) tools (Roche) in one shotgun collection and one paired-end collection with put in size of 2- to 3-kb. The genome of ATCC 43144 was sequenced to a 34-fold insurance coverage using GS 20 with one shotgun collection. Fosmid libraries of the two strains had been CC-401 irreversible inhibition built using the CopyControl Fosmid Library Creation package (Epicentre) in the pCC1FOS vector with put in size of 30- to 40-kb. The fosmid libraries had been sequenced from both ends by BigDye Terminator v3.1 chemistry and ABI 3730xl DNA analyzer (Applied Biosystems) providing. | <urn:uuid:a69fd53d-6c2e-489f-9fcc-1f38567f67d9> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://chloridechannels.com/category/farnesyl-diphosphate-synthase/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00677.warc.gz | en | 0.928143 | 10,307 | 2.203125 | 2 |
Questioning easy methods to get began with mindfulness? You do not have to be a yoga fanatic or attend a religious retreat to reap the advantages of training mindfulness. All you want is your self and somewhat little bit of curiosity.
We have damaged down what you want to find out about getting began with some easy mindfulness workouts you may simply tailor to your day-to-day and domesticate extra stability in your life.
Have You Been Dwelling Mindlessly?
Take a second and see if any of those statements resonate with you:
- Typically I really feel like a robotic going via the motions of life or on autopilot
- I’ve a tough time having fun with the current second, even whether it is one thing I like doing or enjoyable
- Typically I discover it laborious to simply accept myself and present circumstances as they’re now and want for one thing totally different
- I are inclined to rush via issues simply to get them over with
- I continually decide or criticize myself and battle with my inside critic
Most individuals would agree with not less than one of many above statements as it’s a utterly regular a part of our day-to-day life to be senseless often; particularly in a westernized society that idolizes anybody’s skill to multitask,
Our brains create computerized habits to streamline productiveness and survive the calls for of our life. However generally this may result in mindlessly going via the motions of our day-to-day lives.
It is no marvel most of us are bodily and mentally exhausted or really feel overwhelmed; slowing down can really feel practically unimaginable when our jobs, relationships, hobbies, and the world is continually crusading ahead.
If you wish to cease going via the motions and begin being within the current second, mindfulness generally is a easy technique to present your self some love, ditch undesirable habits, and join again along with your objectives and passions.
You do not have to have a coach, guru information, or make any elaborate plans to carry somewhat extra mindfulness into your day-to-day.
You’ve got obtained all of the instruments you want already to succeed inside you to domesticate extra mindfulness in your life; all of it begins and ends with you.
Mindfulness may be described because the act of being intentionally current with out judgment or criticism for what is going on each inside you and in your exterior surroundings.
Incorporating small mindfulness practices into your every day rituals will assist you use what comes into your consciousness to discover extra about your self.
Mindfulness can apply to your communication, relationships, consuming patterns, or just be observing your personal reactions and behaviors.
Typically it is not simple, and that is okay, do not forget that your well being and wellness is not a vacation spot is a journey.
Working towards mindfulness encourages us to domesticate aware consciousness; studying to concentrate within the current second with out judgement and criticism (1).
Are There Well being Advantages of Mindfulness Workout routines?
Mindfulness has its roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, folks have been training mindfulness for 1000’s of years (2).
Mindfulness practices domesticate self-awareness and should assist enhance our capability for self-compassion whereas decreasing stress, despair, anxiousness, and different unfavorable emotional states related to self-judgment (3).
Analysis continues to discover mindfulness interventions for enhancing psychological well being and self-regulation, probably the most widespread intervention applications embody the Mindfulness Based mostly Stress Discount (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based mostly Cognitive Thearpy (MBCT) (4).
Mindfulness practices could also be helpful for (1, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Whenever you carry your consideration to all facets of your life that affect your well being you may conciously create achievable objectives round your imaginative and prescient of optimum well being.
Getting Began with Mindfulness Methods
You will usually hear folks describe mindfulness as “being within the second”; frequent mindfulness practices embody numerous types of meditation, respiration workouts, yoga, or conscious consuming.
When getting began with any mindfulness practices attempt to invite extra of the next attitudes into your life (1).
- Nonjudgement: Concentrate on our judgments in the direction of ourselves, meals, and our surroundings.
- Persistence: It is a course of, it takes time to bear in mind second by second.
- Curiosity: Attempt to be open to new experiences, feelings, and no matter comes up in being right here and now.
- Belief: That is your journey, and it will not be the identical as anybody else’s, noticing and appreciating our expertise helps us construct belief with ourselves.
- Go along with the Move: Tune into what’s occurring within the current with out judgment.
- Acceptance: It is one factor to develop consciousness, it is one other to be accepting of what comes up in the course of the course of; apply the mantra ‘it’s what it’s”.
- Letting Go: Launch previous expectations and resentment round our selections, let go of attachments and attempt to be current within the right here and now with out judgments based mostly on issues up to now.
16 Mindfulness Workout routines To Begin Utilizing Every day
Right here is your go-to checklist for newbie mindfulness workouts to include into your day-to-day life.
1. Aware Respiration Train
Aware respiration workouts are excellent for everybody, from the mindfulness curious to the skilled meditator, these easy workouts may be carried out anyplace and at any time.
Start by shifting your focus to your breath:
- Together with your eyes open or closed, start to note your breath.
- Deal with the air as you breathe in. Is it scorching? chilly?
- Really feel the oxygenated air develop your lungs and your chest rising
- Then observe the decompression of your chest as you launch
- Proceed to focus your consideration in your respiration, with no modifications or expectations solely consciousness of your breath within the current second
Our breath actually provides us life and in Japanese custom, the breath is known as “Prana” which implies each “breath” and “vitality”.
In yoga respiration strategies known as “Pranayama”, which means the “rise and growth of the breath” are used to attach your vitality and regulate the breath.
Various kinds of respiration or slowing respiration strategies could promote modifications to our autonomic and central nervous techniques offering related advantages noticed from meditation (9). Easy breathwork could assist us management our feelings and instructs our our bodies to decelerate, decreasing perceived stress (9).
Check out this 5-minute conscious stomach respiration train for a deeper breathwork train.
Check out conscious respiration in your technique to work, if you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, whereas your cooking, or enjoyable at dwelling; it may be completed anyplace and for nevertheless lengthy you need!
2. Strolling Meditation
Meditating whereas strolling is about using the ability of your thoughts to get out of your head and hook up with the surroundings round you.
There are various kinds of strolling meditations, relying in your location, who you’re with, and what sorts of environments carry you to a extra peaceable frame of mind.
A stroll via a neighborhood backyard or neighborhood park or a fast stroll across the metropolis throughout a lunch break might be the right likelihood to tune in for strolling meditation.
Wherever you strolling take 30 to 60 seconds to note your physique, scanning out of your toes all the best way to the crown of your head. Do you’re feeling gentle or heavy, stiff or loosen up? Is your breath shallow or deep?
For one to 2 minutes move via the next steps:
- Begin to observe the stress between the soles of your toes and the bottom supporting you. Bringing consideration to your stride and tempo with out altering how you’re strolling.
- Now shift your consideration to your environment, to the bushes, flowers, grass, passing automobiles; with out diving deep into thought concerning the, simply easy acknowledging they’re there.
- Discover any sounds, smells, bodily sensations of the climate; once more acknowledging and letting go.
- Shift your consideration again to your motion; your arms swinging aspect to aspect, the pure rhythm of your stroll, and once more again to the soles of your toes touching the bottom; feeling the help of the earth beneath you
Repeat this course of all through your stroll for nevertheless lengthy you want, these are easy ideas and never guidelines so adapt them the way you see match. You’ll be able to even do that whereas strolling on a treadmil!
3. Sitting Meditation
Meditation whereas sitting may be so simple as utilizing the breathwork meditation above however doing it whereas sitting down!
- Sit comfortably and maintain your again straight, relaxation your toes flat on the bottom and place your fingers nevertheless they’re most snug.
- Breathe in via your nostril and focus in your breath similar to within the above respiration train.
- Go away your eyes open or closed, however slowly launch the stress in your face and physique and permit your self to soften into your chair.
Do that for as little or so long as you need!
Check out a sitting meditation whereas your at dwelling or work for a fast technique to examine in with your self.
4. Physique Scan Observe
Check out a fundamental physique scan to attach again to your physique and tune out your inside critic and any distractions, cultivating extra consciousness, acceptance, and appreciation to your physique in any given second.
Finishing a physique scan could assist you launch built-up rigidity in elements of the physique manifesting as complications, muscle pains, and fatigue (10).
This can be uncomfortable at first however these emotions may be momentary, a conscious physique scan could assist you transfer via these and cut back signs of hysteria and stress (10).
Attempt it out:
- Discover a snug place sitting or mendacity down. You’ll be able to shut your eyes or go away them open.
- Begin with focusing your consideration in your toes; wiggle your toes, stretch your foot, push in opposition to the ground beneath you; tune in and spot any sensations arising.
- When discomfort arises take a deep breath in via your nostril after which actively exhale via your mouth releasing and letting go of any rigidity in that space.
- Proceed this course of by working your manner up via your physique, shifting your focus to your ankles, knees, legs, abdomen, and many others. till you lastly attain the crown of your head
- Specializing in every muscle group, physique half or no matter feels tight or caught and use your breath to launch rigidity
Take as lengthy or as little time as you need to finish your physique check-in, specializing in bringing non-judgmental consciousness to your physique and acceptance of the place you’re at proper on this second.
Check out a conscious physique scan whilst you’re nonetheless in mattress within the morning, if you end up at work, or proper earlier than going to mattress at evening to aide releasing rigidity in your physique.
5. Make a Gratitude Checklist
There is no such thing as a denying that experiencing gratitude and appreciation tends to foster optimistic emotions, which in flip contributes to our general happiness, decreased despair, and elevated satisfaction with ourselves and life (11).
Some research counsel that if you concentrate on extra optimistic emotional phrases and start utilizing much less unfavorable ones, you’re extra more likely to really feel higher (12).
Writing down or mentally taking inventory of issues we admire or are grateful for is one other technique to apply mindfulness. It shifts our mind away from poisonous negativity, similar to resentment and frustration, to specializing in all of the issues that make us completely satisfied or what we discover pleasure in; studying easy methods to be conscious of our life-style and wellness.
Make a gratitude meditation part of your morning or bedtime routine, use it as a journaling immediate, or a technique to maintain your self motivated.
Attempt it out proper now! What are 3 issues you’re grateful for?
6. Attempt Aware Consuming
If we’re not consciously related to how we really feel, our motivation, and our strengths then our actions and selections turn into senseless. Senseless consuming can manifest as restrictive consuming, emotional consuming, binge consuming, and general an imbalanced relationship with meals (13,14).
Analysis means that those that apply conscious consuming are usually extra compassionate to themselves and are much less more likely to reward themselves with unhealthy meals, resulting in improved physique picture and extra self-love (15).
Check out a conscious consuming meditation train or begin by slowing down your consuming through the use of a number of the following ideas:
- Take 30-60 seconds earlier than having fun with a meal to pause and have a look at your meal; observe the colour, textures, scent, and association in your plate.
- Give thanks earlier than your meals, taking time to acknowledge the reward of consuming
- Eat along with your non-dominant hand
- Put down your fork between every couple of bites
Consuming mindfully means changing into extra aware (conscious) about what you’re consuming, the way it tastes, smells, appears to be like, and taking extra time to be current within the expertise of your meal.
7. Observe Music Meditation
The objective of music meditation is to decelerate your aware thoughts and join again to your breath, physique, and current; this brings short-term advantages like calming the thoughts but additionally helps construct resilience in opposition to stress over time (16).
You are able to do this apply anyplace you need and for a way each lengthy you want merely get snug, shut your eyes, and start to loosen up.
- Select meditation music that you simply take pleasure in listening to, and ideally music with out distracting lyrics.
- Take within the sound of the music, specializing in the sentiments in your physique the music evokes.
- Any time your thoughts wanders or a thought pops up, redirect your focus to the music and let it assist quiet your inside ideas so you may join totally to the music.
Music meditation is great for freshmen and nice to your nightly mattress time ritual.
8. Strech Your Physique Or Take Up Yoga
Each stretching and yoga domesticate mindfulness by bringing consciousness to your physique however accomplish that in several methods.
Stretching refers to holding a place to elongate and put rigidity on a focused muscle then launch it; sometimes included into train routines to attempt to enhance efficiency.
Yoga, alternatively, is a type of mind-body motion involving each muscular exercise and inner conscious focus in your breath, vitality, and self (24).
Analysis suggests therapeutic yoga could improve muscular power, flexibility, cut back stress, anxiousness, despair, power ache, enhance sleep patterns, and improve general well-being and high quality of life (24).
Embrace a 5 minute morning stretch throughout your morning routine or take a second at work and attain your arms to the sky after which folding over to the touch your toes to apply conscious actions.
Take up a yoga apply by wanting up native yoga studios or strive a free yoga for freshmen video on-line!
9. Dance a Little
Dancing, in any type, could also be thought-about a conscious exercise; freely shifting and surrendering to the music and second.
Ecstatic dance is a free type movement-based model of meditation and just like a music meditation however as an alternative of sitting nonetheless, you’re free to let go and transfer your physique nevertheless you need.
Ecstatic dance is about being current in your physique and dropping any judgments. You’ll be able to dance as wild and expressive as you need; shake, soar, make sounds, no matter you feel!
Dance remedy can also be being studied as a psychotherapeutic motion to help cognitive, emotional, bodily, and social well-being (19).
Get into a cushty house, placed on what each music you need and transfer your physique; Permit what comes as much as move via as you concentrate on the music and shifting freely.
10. Shake it off with a Shaking Meditation
This model of meditation is one other movement-based type of meditation; meditation would not at all times should be sitting quietly!
That is known as a shaking meditation, or Trauma Releasing Train (TRE) and it’s an integrative neuropsychological strategy to assist mitigate the expertise of extra stress; primarily a mindfulness device used to assist us apply letting go.
The concept is to shake out all of the built-up rigidity in your physique and thoughts. You’ll be able to do that out by moving into a cushty house and beginning to shake your toes, then your complete leg, then your fingers, you get the gist.
Everytime you begin to really feel pissed off or the stress the built-up strive a shaking meditation to shake it off!
11. Aware Intention Setting
Once we apply mindfulness we domesticate the flexibility to consciously select how we present up and relate to our inside and outer worlds.
Taking a pause and join again to your inside values with conscious intention setting; this is so simple as slowing down for 4-5 minutes if you first get up within the morning and mindfully setting an intention for a way you’d prefer to expertise your day.
This is not about setting objectives or finishing duties; setting conscious intentions is an ongoing route in life, and can really feel gentle and galvanizing.
Aware intentions might be:
- Dwelling within the current
- Being extra non-judgemental
- Embracing happiness
- Letting go of stress because it arises
Start every day by taking a a minute or two to consider what your intentions are, and say to your self “In the present day I will likely be….” including your intention.
12. Connect with Your Senses Train
Utilizing our senses may be a good way to apply mindfulness and reign again in our minds once we begin to overthink.
Check out this train utilizing your 5 senses to attach again to the current second:
- What are 5 stuff you see? Go searching and turn into conscious of your surroundings, have a look at colours, textures, lighting.
- Now pick 4 issues you may contact and really feel. Turning your consideration to the feel of your clothes, your desk, or perhaps a plant if you’re open air.
- Shift your focus to what you hear, what are 3 issues you may hear; Pay attention for the small hums within the background from an equipment or the wind exterior.
- Discover 2 issues you may scent. Is it nice or disagreeable?
- Lastly, carry consideration to 1 factor you may style. Take a sip of espresso or tea, seize some gum or eat a little bit of meals and sink into the flavour.
Utilizing the 5 senses train is just like the strolling meditation; calming your thoughts by brining our consideration to our surroundings.
How To Select Mindfulness Practices That Works For You
How usually or what kind of mindfulness apply you resolve to do is as much as you.
Mindfulness is not an all-or-nothing exercise, so there isn’t a time restrict or expectation for the variety of days you apply.
Begin with no matter feels good and works for you, discover the workouts beneath, and pick 1 to check out as soon as each different day to begin or as soon as every week and work as much as together with a mindfulness train every day.
You will discover that over time mindfulness could turn into easy. Finally selecting to apply any for of mindfulness is an act of self-care and nurtures your relationship with your self.
Should you take pleasure in having some tech help you may obtain a mindfulness app to information you thru particular meditations, respiration strategies; many of those additionally present a wide range of soothing music.
Take into consideration what you wish to carry extra of into your life by changing into extra conscious. Then select an train that feels proper for the life-style you’re creating to be the perfect model of your self.
Begin consuming mindfully with ready-to-eat meals custom-made to your life-style; we have made consuming mindfully that a lot simpler.
Our consciously crafted meals are ready with natural components and are RD-approved. We provide a wide range of meal plans from plant-based to low-carb choices.
Simply choose the meal plan with the meals you take pleasure in most and allow us to do all of the laborious work of prepping, portioning, and cooking it for you. All you want to do is kick your toes up and savor each chew. | <urn:uuid:40aed9dd-1681-45ad-b8bd-6e8c9ca0e8e5> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://health.digitpatrox.com/12-mindfulness-exercises-to-start-using-daily/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572908.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817122626-20220817152626-00076.warc.gz | en | 0.925826 | 4,381 | 1.695313 | 2 |
The dishonesty of a solicitor, registered foreign lawyer, registered European lawyer, or the manager or employee of recognised bodies or recognised sole practitioner is regarded as an extremely serious matter and will almost certainly result in a referral to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and will, if it is proven, almost invariably result in a striking off. That was a principle set out in the case of Solicitors Regulation Authority v Sharma EWHC 2022 (Admin), where Mr Justice Coulson stated that where a solicitor was found to have been dishonest, unless exceptional circumstances could be shown, the normal consequences should be for a solicitor to be struck off the Roll of Solicitors.
For behaviour to be dishonest it does not necessarily have to involve acts which would amount to dishonesty for criminal law purposes – although any act of dishonesty by a solicitor or his or her employee could be sufficient to see that person referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, whether or not that dishonesty took place as part of a legal practice.
What constitutes dishonesty?
Dishonesty can take many forms – not all will be equally as obvious. Some are obvious, such as mortgage fraud, property fraud, tax evasion, involvement in scams and other overt criminal activity. Other acts of dishonesty may not be so apparent, or may be of the nature that a solicitor tries to justify in his or her own mind the committing of the act. These may include matters such as taking advantage of a client, lying to a client (possibly to cover up acts of negligence), overcharging a client, making a false expenses claim, avoiding a fare on a bus or train or even giving misleading costs information.
The test for dishonesty in the courts has undergone recent clarification. For many years the definition of dishonesty was that which was given in the case of Royal Brunei Airlines v Phillip Tan Kok Ming 2 AC 378. This was then clarified by the case of Twinsectra Limited v Yardley and Others UKHL 12 which took the view that ‘for the most part dishonesty is to be equated with conscious impropriety’.
The test for dishonesty in the Courts and Tribunals varies according to the nature of the court and the consequences of a finding. In regulatory matters, tribunals have tended to adopt an objective-subjective approach – a topic which was addressed in the recent case of Bryant and Bench v The Law Society EWHC 3043. The court decided that, notwithstanding the use of a purely objective test in some previous cases, (such as Barlow Clowes International Limited v Eurotrust International Limited UKPC 37) the test for dishonesty should be the one set out in the decision of the Court of Appeal in Bultitude (Bultitude v Law Society EWCA Civ 1853) which stated that the test to be applied in solicitors’ disciplinary proceedings is the Twinsectra test that is to say a test which takes account of a separate subjective element. The fact that the Barlow Clowes case subsequently placed a different interpretation on Twinsectra was not relevant in such cases because that related to the accessory liability principle and did not alter the substance of the test accepted in Bultitude.
Thus the correct test for dishonesty should be:
- would the conduct be deemed to be dishonest by the ordinary standards of honest people, and
- if so, did the person committing the dishonest act know that by those standards his or her conduct would be regarded as dishonest
The Court in Bryant and Bench stated:
“In our judgement, the decision of the Court of Appeal in Bultitude stands as binding authority that the test to be applied in the context of solicitors’ disciplinary proceedings is the Twinsectra test as it was widely understood before Barlow Clowes…. As we have observed earlier, the test corresponds closely to that laid down in the criminal context by R v Ghosh…. It is true …. that disciplinary proceedings are not themselves criminal in character and that they may involve issues of dishonesty that could not give rise to any criminal liability (e.g. lying to a client as to whether a step had been taken on his behalf). But the tribunal’s finding of dishonesty against a solicitor is likely to have extremely serious consequences for him both professionally (it will normally lead to an order striking him off) and personally. It is just as appropriate to require a finding that the defendant had a subjectively dishonest state of mind in this context as the court in R v Ghosh considered it to be in the criminal context.”
What can constitute dishonest behaviour
Dishonesty can take many forms and, although often it does involve criminal actions or intent, need not always be dishonesty as in the criminal sense.
The SRA defines dishonesty as ” Someone acting in a way that they know to be deceitful or saying things that they know to be untrue” – although this is probably too simplistic a definition to be of any value.
So far as serious and organised acts of dishonesty are concerned, the SRA used to produce a number of warning cards that the profession and others could use to help them recognise and deal with dishonesty in the profession. As at the time of writing these have been withdrawn, apparently because they contained guidance which was at odds with the concepts of principle-based regulation!
In their place, the SRA have produced some limited guidance on their web site dealing with recognising fraud and dishonesty and which looks in particular at what should be reported to them.
Aside from the more obvious examples of fraud, that were dealt with in the warning cards namely fraudulent financial arrangements, money laundering, and property fraud, a number of other actions by a solicitor will be regarded as being dishonest. These include:
- taking advantage of a client – for example purchasing a client’s property at an under-value or persuading a client to take steps which are not in the client’s interests but are in the interests of the solicitor or someone associated with the solicitor,
- intentionally overcharging a client for work carried out,
- providing misleading costs information,
- lying to a client or hiding the truth from a client – whether for reasons of personal gain or to hide negligence or incompetence,
- making a secret profit – that is to say benefiting financially from the client even where the client has not themselves suffered a loss, and
- unauthorised or fraudulent withdrawals from client account.
It is also worth bearing in mind that it is irrelevant whether or not any client or other person is harmed by an act in determining whether the act is to be regarded as dishonest. In the case of Sharma referred to earlier, it was stated that:
Their [the tribunal] first finding was that “there was no harm to the public”. I assume that by this that the tribunal meant that no client suffered financial loss. It seems to me that that is a very narrow way of looking at dishonesty, and wholly fails to recognise the wider issues involved. In my judgment there is harm to the public every time a solicitor behaves dishonestly. It is in the public interest to ensure that, as it was put in Bolton, a solicitor can be “trusted to the ends of the earth.”
Duty to Report
If you suspect that another solicitor, even one in your own firm, has been guilty of dishonest behaviour, then you must report that behaviour. Outcome O(10.4) requires specifically, that
” you report to the SRA promptly, serious misconduct by any person or firm authorised by the SRA, or any employee, manager or owner of any such firm (taking into account, where necessary, your duty of confidentiality to your client);”.
To self-report or report another lawyer or firm regulated by the SRA you can either complete the report form to be found on the SRA web site and return it to them or you can email them at firstname.lastname@example.org, or telephone them on 0870 606 2555.
If you are facing possible sanctions as a result of dishonesty or if you have been, or believe that you will be, charged with an offence of dishonesty and want to take steps to help preserve your practising certificate or minimise any sanction which might be imposed upon you then you should contact the Lawyers Defence Group for professional and effective advice and assistance.
Similarly, if you believe that someone in your practice is committing acts of fraud or dishonesty and you want to ensure that you safeguard your own position as far as possible before reporting them to the SRA, then please contact the Lawyers Defence Group and we will be pleased to assist you in making a report to the SRA in the appropriate terms.
To contact us, you can:
- phone on 0333 888 4070;
- email on email@example.com;
- request a callback using the form in the right hand menu and someone will call you back at a pre-arranged time; or
- write to Lawyers Defence Group at Richard Nelson LLP, Priory Court, 1 Derby Road, Nottingham, NG9 2TA. | <urn:uuid:52d5d086-c0c8-48d4-8a2a-cc7fc0666712> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.lawyersdefencegroup.org.uk/dishonesty-3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571056.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809155137-20220809185137-00677.warc.gz | en | 0.962846 | 1,912 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Below are the available bulk discount rates for each individual item when you purchase a certain amount
- Buy 10 - 100 and get 10% off
|Grades 6-12| Group Counseling Activities for Enhancing Social and Emotional Development - This unique group counseling curriculum provides over 90 group counseling activities divided into twelve session themes: Who Am I? Body Image, Choices, Communication, Emotions, Friendships, Relationships, Self-Esteem, Stress, Reaching Out, Tough Times, and Who I Am! During group lessons, girls are encouraged to share feelings and struggles as they openly discuss important issues in a safe and supportive environment. They are given the opportunity to feel empowered, gain self-awareness, develop coping strategies, improve problem-solving skills, understand that they are not alone, and learn to make healthy decisions. Girls in Real-Life Situations is designed for use by educators and mental health professionals in schools and other settings. An accompanying CD of all reproducible forms and student handouts is included with book.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product! | <urn:uuid:6ab78cba-abfb-43ed-852a-bfeecf33135e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://marcoproducts.com/girls-in-real-life-situations-with-cd-grades-6-12/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571234.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811042804-20220811072804-00077.warc.gz | en | 0.928401 | 238 | 1.945313 | 2 |
Now that vaccines are becoming more widely available, travel is beginning to be a thought on many people’s minds. Having been cooped up for the past year has given us all a desire to make up for it by getting out of the house and potentially out of our state or country to experience life again. Google has created several tools that will assist with this, and we’re going to take a look at what they provide.
First, the company is rolling out COVID-19 related travel restriction alerts to go with its previously released travel advisories feature. Now, you can opt in via Google Search to receive an email when there’s a travel restriction set in place, lifted, or even reduced for the destination you’re planning to visit. Additionally, you’ll be notified of whether or not you’ll need to quarantine upon arrival or provide immunization records when you get there.
The Explore tab on Google Travel has been completely redesigned and is now powered by Google Maps! The change brings more information than simply flights into view, and the destinations on the map will now include smaller cities, national parks, and more. Each location will list things you can do when you visit, hotels, the best times to visit, and more. Another major update comes directly to maps in the form of road trip planning.
When you open the web app on your desktop or Chromebook, you can now enter a start and end destination, and then plot out activities to participate in or places to visit along the way. This includes hotels, parks, campgrounds, rest stops, and more. Once your adventure is completely planned out, you can send it to your phone via text, email, or directly to the Maps app with one click. These road trips can be modified directly from your phone while you’re on the go, so adding or removing stops will prove to be a non-issue.
I’ve been curious about how many people are not only eager to travel this year, but willing. Even with the vaccine, the idea of being in close quarters with so many other people either on an airplane or at an airport seems a bit nerve-wracking, and I’ve heard the same from many other people so far. Let me know in the comments if you’ll make use of these tools or if you’re going to skip out on them until more vaccinations occur throughout the year ahead. | <urn:uuid:52f46841-a6e4-4d2e-bb45-b94224209e10> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://chromeunboxed.com/google-maps-covid-travel-restriction-alerts | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571198.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810161541-20220810191541-00268.warc.gz | en | 0.947359 | 499 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Story URL: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=163435
Story Retrieval Date: 4/17/2015 12:37:39 PM CST
Jordan K. Turgeon/MEDILL
Jeannie Pritchard knows what an oncoming seizure feels like. The 26-year-old’s heart drops into her stomach, and she is immobilized by fear. She pores through pages of magazines and books, searching for an explanation to a disease that can strike without warning. Two months without a seizure is an accomplishment worthy of celebration.
But Jeannie doesn’t suffer from epilepsy.
Her husband, Zak, does.
“He feels bad, and he apologizes to me after he has a seizure,” Pritchard said. Zak was diagnosed with epilepsy a year before they wed.
Jeannie understands that epilepsy is unpredictable – a sudden storm of abnormal electrical impulses in the brain that trigger a seizure.
“You can’t do anything to prevent it. You can’t do anything to stop it,” she said.
Both Jeannie and Zak joined approximately 800 guests, including keynote speaker Katie Couric of "CBS Evening News," at Chicago’s Field Museum Friday evening. Families gathered to celebrate with Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for a disease that affects 50 million people worldwide.
“I know that you all really are making a difference,” Couric said. “I know how committed you all are to your cause, and the blood, sweat and many tears that have created this organization.”
Until recently, epilepsy research received less attention and federal funding than most other major neurological disorders. Yet, according to CURE, the disease affects more Americans than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s combined.
Despite a landmark year for epilepsy awareness, an estimated 50,000 Americans lost their lives to epilepsy-related causes in 2009 – more than the number of people who died from breast cancer.
But 2009 marked a year of escalated media coverage and unprecedented fundraising for epilepsy awareness and research.
Starting with a February 2009 feature in Parade magazine, to a spread in Newsweek two months later, and culminating with a segment on “60 Minutes” with Couric last October, public awareness about epilepsy is increasing dramatically, and so is the toll it takes on the 200,000 Americans diagnosed each year.
12 years, 3 mothers, 1 CURE
CURE came from humble beginnings: 3 mothers – tired, frustrated and dreaming of a future without epilepsy – sitting around a kitchen table.
Since then, the organization has grown, both in size and prominence, raising more than $10 million to date for epilepsy research.
One of those moms was Susan Axelrod, CURE’s co-founder and chair. She had never heard of epilepsy before her daughter, Lauren, was diagnosed with the disease when she was seven months old.
Over the years, Lauren Axelrod, 28, who now lives in the Misericordia home for the developmentally disabled in Chicago, would eventually try 20 different drugs and a five-hour neurosurgical procedure, among countless other hospitalizations, in an effort to stem the seizures.
“If I told you about the day our lives changed forever, when I found her lying blue and limp in her crib, after what I quickly learned was a night filled with seizures, that would only be the beginning,” said Susan Axelrod in a statement on CURE’s website.
Since its inception 12 years ago, CURE’s focus has been on funding innovative epilepsy research initiatives –100 to date – some in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense.
Investigators around the country use the awarded funds to explore new areas of research in an effort to derive new treatments for the 40 percent of epilepsy patients who don’t respond to therapies currently available.
“We have a lot of work ahead,” Susan Axelrod said. “We haven’t yet made a dent in that statistic. Young brains continue to be ravaged.”
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 70 percent of epilepsy cases have no known cause – and even when the cause is clear, the disease is still unpredictable.
Captain Pat Horan, who was featured on the original “60 Minutes” segment, was diagnosed with post-traumatic epilepsy following a brain injury he suffered while serving with the Arrowhead brigade in Iraq.
Horan was to be a guest at Friday’s event, but an email from his wife, read during the program, explained their absence: a grand mal seizure – the type commonly associated with epilepsy – left Horan unable to make the trip.
Taking center stage
An estimated 14 million viewers watched the original “60 Minutes” airing featuring Susan, Lauren and Susan’s husband, David Axelrod, White House senior adviser. For her role in promoting epilepsy awareness, CBS’ Couric was honored with the 2010 CURE Excellence in Journalism Award at Friday’s benefit.
Couric praised CURE for its work in promoting epilepsy research and fundraising. Just recently, CURE announced a line-up of new research grants for 2010, totaling more than $1 million.
“This is a disease that has been around since biblical times,” Couric said. “It’s maddening to me and needless to say, to all of you, that more attention hasn’t been paid – but of course, we’re starting to change that.”
Like many attending guests, Couric has experienced firsthand the devastating effect a disease can have on a family. Her husband, Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer in 1998 when their children were still young.
Millions watched as Couric turned her grief into action when she launched the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance in 2000, and again when she went a step further and aired footage of her own colonoscopy on national television to encourage others to get tested.
“I know what it’s like to try and bring attention to a disease that no one really wants to talk about because it makes them uncomfortable,” Couric said.
Friday’s benefit showed promise for the year ahead while honoring those who fight epilepsy daily – including the many parents and family members who are forced to watch their loved ones battle the merciless disease.
Jeannie Pritchard knows this helpless feeling all too well.
“I worry about him every day,” said Pritchard of Zak’s epilepsy. “If he calls me from work…I automatically think he’s had a seizure.”
Susan Axelrod recognized the parents of children with epilepsy at Friday’s benefit, calling them on stage and praising them for their unwavering strength and perseverance.
“Your role in this effort is paramount,” she said. “In such tough economic times, we so value your support.”
At the end of Friday’s program, Susan Axelrod announced a new fundraising initiative called the CURE Mother’s & Father’s Day Campaign. The goal is to raise $300,000 by June 30 to fund three “Taking Flight Awards” – research projects designed by a new generation of young, talented scientists.
But Susan Axelrod said there is still much work to be done.
“We can’t rest now,” Axelrod said. “We need you more than ever to help us build on this momentum, to continue to help us as you are doing tonight, to fund the research that will one day put an end to this devastating disease." | <urn:uuid:8d018753-ed94-40a9-ae2f-4dfd3a9b551e> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://newsarchive.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news-163435.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721355.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00014-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958253 | 1,631 | 2.171875 | 2 |
A larva was a distinct form some animals took before transforming into their adult form.
In 2153, the ECS Horizon carried stromatopod larvae among its cargo, intended for the Demerians. (ENT: "Horizon")
The Pyrithian bat fed on moth larvae. (ENT: "Extinction")
The Norcadian Museum of Entomology had an exhibit of beetle larvae from the equatorial subcontinent of Norcadia Prime. (VOY: "Tsunkatse")
Photonic fleas were also known to produce larvae. (VOY: "The Voyager Conspiracy")
Larval forms notable by themselves included the tadpole, the Orillian lung maggot, the techno-larva, and the Lyssarian Desert Larvae. (TAS: "The Terratin Incident"; ENT: "The Shipment", "Similitude") | <urn:uuid:902c8969-12f3-48fe-be3e-cf4f533a18e8> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Larva | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280872.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00311-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965824 | 187 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Exercise's rewards have been extensively documented. Exercise is a key factor in preventing and treating conditons such as high blood pressure and has also been shown to help counter many health problems, including heart disease, depression, diabetes, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, and stress. Beginning and maintaining a successful fitness routine can be challenging. Your motivation to exercise may begin as a concrete goal of losing a few pounds before a vacation or combating osteoporosis. This may later spin off into incorporating a regular exercising program into your life. Since it’s easy to come up with excuses to avoid exercise, beginning your new healthy habit may require some creativity.
- Start slowly. Since any exercise is better than no exercise, it doesn’t matter how small your first steps are. For example, two five-minute walks a week may be all you feel comfortable with at first.
- Read success stories. Feed your need for inspiration by seeing how regular exercise truly changes lives.
- Set specific, realistic goals.
- Give yourself the time. Make “exercise” an entry on your daily “to do” list.
- Don’t expect to be perfect. Try not to punish yourself for missing a day’s routine.
- Shop for toys. Find a fun new piece of exercise equipment, such as a heart-rate monitor or pedometer, to help inspire your workout.
- Get support. Supportive, non-judgmental family members, friends, and coworkers can be powerful, creative allies in your quest for fitness and better health.
Establishing a Routine
Experts agree that you don’t have to spend hours at the gym to reap exercise’s rewards. You can exercise any time of day, virtually anywhere—in front of the television, at your desk in the middle of the day, even in your backyard.
Some easy-to-maintain workouts grow out of everyday tasks, such as bending, stretching, and lifting while doing housework and yard work. Other opportunities for healthy multi-tasking include:
- Take the stairs instead of an elevator.
- Walk to a coworker’s office instead of emailing or telephoning.
- Recruit an office buddy to take a power walk at lunch.
- Stand up whenever you talk on the phone.
- Walk on the treadmill or ride a stationary bike while watching television.
- Walk or ride your bike to the store instead of driving.
- Do simple stretches at your desk or while watching television.
- Plan a vacation that includes physical activities such as biking, hiking, or swimming.
Keeping Fitness Fresh
Once you’ve settled into a regular exercise regimen, you’ll still need to guard against burnout and boredom.You can break out of an exercise rut without breaking your fitness resolve. Try these tips for motivating yourself to exercise:
- Keep a diary. Fill it with inspiring advice and a clear record of your accomplishments.
- Find a partner or a support group. Buddy systems work well because you’re less likely to disappoint someone other than yourself.
- Listen to music to motivate your muscles.
- Spice up your routine. Vary your workout’s intensity; try a new sport or use different exercise equipment.
- Reward yourself. Do something good for yourself—a bubble bath, dinner at your favorite restaurant, a new outfit—when you meet specific exercise goals.
- Take a break. If you need to scale back your routine, don’t let it dampen your determination. Do your best to get back on the exercise track quickly. | <urn:uuid:fce76389-b793-4316-96b8-c4d9eda967b5> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://blakemedicalcenter.com/hl/?/38495/How-to-Start-and-Stay-on-the-Right-Fitness-Track&com.dotmarketing.htmlpage.language=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280835.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00048-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922612 | 756 | 2.328125 | 2 |
The Fire Service has called on community leaders and parents to use their influence to control young people after a firefighter was injured in the second attack on emergency services in North Belfast in the space of a month.
The firefighter received injuries to the foot and leg after his crew were attacked last night with bricks at Ballysillan playing fields as they responded to a report of debris on fire. When the crew arrived from Springfield fire station there was a large crowd of young people gathered at the scene, some of whom began hurling missiles at firefighters.
“As they were extinguishing the fire there was a large group of youths present,” said group commander Chris Fee. “The majority were good natured, however a small number of these youths started to throw stones and bricks. The firefighter sustained injuries to his foot and lower leg. He was taken to the Mater Hospital where he was x-rayed and examined.”
Mr Fee asked community leaders and parents to use their influence to bring such attacks to a halt.
“It’s always a very small minority of people who do this,” he said. “The majority of the community are very supportive of the firefighters. These are community firefighters. These are men and women carrying out a job to help the community. I would ask that community leaders and parents bring whatever influence or good counsel they can to bear to stop this sort of behaviour from happening in the future. If firefighters are injured and are not on duty this will have a knock-on effect on our ability to attend more serious incidents.”
On September 11, two firefighters were injured when a crew was attacked with bricks, a baseball bat and an iron bar in the New Lodge district of North Belfast. Firefighters were dealing with a burning car when a number of youths launched the attack. A female firefighter received bruising to the ribs and arm and a male firefighter received a leg injury.
The female firefighter has not yet returned to work. The firefighter injured in last night’s attack is back on duty. | <urn:uuid:fb4f9296-41bf-4bc9-b45a-a59ae9862313> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://belfastmediagroup.com/fire-service-calls-for-action-after-firefighter-is-injured-in-latest-attack-on-crew/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279224.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00482-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.989828 | 419 | 1.664063 | 2 |
- 28. 2. 2017
- 16.00 — FESTIVAL MALÁ INVENTURA 2017
- 20. 3. 2017
„Those who are not able to poses a certain proportion of a shame and justice are nothing but an infection of a village, and should be killed.“ (Plató)
Hartl and Hartlová define the emotion of shame as a reaction to any wrongdoing or violation of social norms and/or rules. Zimbardo and Henderson list a series of symptoms, in which shy reactions manifest on the physiological level: fast heartbeat, dry mouth, sweating skin. Shame has a wider psychological sense, in the narrower sense, you can distinguish different types of shame; sexual, moral and social. To experience shame, confrontation between a personal imperfection or failure and one's social environment is essential. Shame is associated with loss of capability in the public's eyes, unconfidence, embarrassment, etc.
concept & interpretation: Andrea Vykysalá, Karolina Křížková and Eva Stará. | <urn:uuid:0b413361-9692-4b98-952c-a9ef4107eb1c> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.prague.eu/en/event/11477/shames | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560284405.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095124-00042-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.843385 | 221 | 2.96875 | 3 |
So why is IDOT delaying designs that several American cities have already been implementing for years?
The agency says it wants to measure safety impacts based on robust statistical evidence, and that three years provides a representative sample. The rationale for requiring this information would be reasonable if Chicago was the first city to ever implement protected bike lanes, but it doesn’t hold up because the results have been the same wherever protected bike lanes have been installed:IDOT, The injury rate of all street users is reduced, be they walking, biking, or driving.
I lived there for a few years in the 1980's and there are no mountains or canals or natural impediments to this smart plan being adopted other than IDOT's intent to keep it at bay for reasons that don't pass the smell test.
If I ever hear of anything even half as asinine as this by FDOT, policy-wise, you can count on reading about it here in detail, but I doubt they'd try it, because IDOT has set such a jaw-dropping low standard to replicate.
They'd have to try awfully hard to fail their taxpayers this badly. | <urn:uuid:7ba747b6-8976-4c2e-b648-c756d2f5dc05> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/barrier-protected-bike-lanes-are-smart.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721405.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00314-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977544 | 233 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Silver Ion Sterilizer :
Disinfecting fresh water by doing silver ion is a traditional but effective method; Silver Ion Sterilizer is a way that does not change taste, smell and color of treated water; a way that does not effect the water's physical and chemical properties. Therefore it is harmless to human body.
Main FeaturesMore Silver Ion Sterilizer can be offered, pls contact us for more details.
• Sterilizing capacity max. 15 m³/ h
• Compact design
• Long lasting residual disinfection
• No change to taste, smell or colour of water
• No change to physical or chemical properties of water
• Easy to change electrodes | <urn:uuid:ece47ffe-5b4a-40c9-a242-4f62eac45400> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.atupapa.com/24122400001en.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279650.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00440-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.839889 | 141 | 1.867188 | 2 |
The Black Artist’s perform in America is to assist in the destruction of America as he knows it. His operate is to report and mirror so exactly the character of the society, and of himself, in that society, that totally different males could be moved by the exactness of his rendering, and in the event that they’re black men, develop sturdy by means of this shifting, having seen their very own strength, and weak point, and in the event that they’re white males, tremble, curse, and go mad, on account of they are going to be drenched with the filth of their evil. It is not the mission of art to wallow in filth for filth’s sake, to paint the human being solely in a state of putrefaction, to draw cretins as symbols of motherhood, or to present deformed idiots as representatives of manly power. Artwork should be the handmaiden of sublimity and beauty and thus promote no matter is pure and wholesome. If artwork doesn’t try this, then any money spent on it is squandered.
I do not think about myself an artist. I’m going out there and I try and play what’s correct for the music. It appears to be a far more open technique and it would appear to permit me to have the ability to extend as a result of the music of the time expands. I feel individuals who get hung up in their own artistry usually get right right into a positive vogue they assume is them and in the event that they do something completely totally different the public is not going to have the power to find out their artistry, which is type of limiting. I do not assume that way. I’ve a superb time taking part in. I try to play among the finest I can. I do know I can play the drums and I want to play the most effective that I can presumably play. I want to play higher a 12 months from now than I am having fun with now, not because my artistry is at stake, but just because I like it.
Artwork is a discovery and enchancment of elementary guidelines of nature into beautiful varieties suitable for human use. Though, regardless of their notion as leaning in some way politically, assorted surveys state that primary TV information retailers are considered to be mostly trusted information sources by the vast majority of People. The BBC is required by its charter to be free from both political and business have an effect on and options solely to its viewers and listeners. This political objectivity is usually questioned. For instance, The Day by day Telegraph (three August 2005) carried a letter from the KGB defector Oleg Gordievsky , referring to it as “The Red Service”. Books have been written on the topic, along with anti-BBC works like Truth Betrayed by W J West and The Truth Twisters by Richard Deacon.
Cicero , Oratio Skilled Licinio Archia, I. In Hoyt’s New Cyclopedia Of Sensible Quotations (1922), p. forty three-forty five. Wherever you’re on the planet, The South African will convey you all the latest information – domestically and internationally. We’ve the newest from parliament because the ANC government strikes within the direction of a life after president Jacob Zuma – all whereas underneath fireplace from the Democratic Alliance, EFF and the remainder of the SA opposition parties. We’ll also keep you in the loop on property information, crime, sport and local weather. From the problems that matter on a nationwide scale proper right down to an space diploma, we have got you covered proper throughout South Africa with our in-depth safety. Théophile Gautier , L’Art. In Hoyt’s New Cyclopedia Of Sensible Quotations (1922), p. 43-45.
Briefly, if newspapers were written by people whose sole object in writing was to inform the truth about politics and the reality about art we must always at all times not think about in warfare, and we must always consider in art. That’s going to be a controversial article, no matter which information websites we advise. Some individuals will disagree with those we choose. Others shall be offended that we did not embrace their favorite media shops. Otto von Bismarck ; presumably a phrase of Frederick the Great In Hoyt’s New Cyclopedia Of Smart Quotations (1922), p. forty three-forty five. Friedrich Schiller , The Artists, Stanza 2. In Hoyt’s New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. forty three-45. Slowly, beneath our toes, beneath our consciousness, is forming that new philosophy, and it is in events of latest philosophies that Art, itself in essence at all times a discovery, should flourish. | <urn:uuid:8eb85cba-514d-451d-bf23-c1fd43f979af> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://tvserial-online.net/the-inexplicable-secret-in-to-painting-art-found | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572198.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815175725-20220815205725-00275.warc.gz | en | 0.95813 | 1,025 | 1.773438 | 2 |
The Neutral Islands during the Late Epoch of Reionization.
The large-scale structure of the ionization field during the epoch of reionization (EoR) can be modeled by the excursion set theory. While the growth of ionized regions during the early stage are described by the "bubble model", the shrinking process of neutral regions after the percolation of the ionized region calls for an "island model". An excursion set based analytical model and a semi-numerical code (islandFAST) have been developed. The ionizing background and the bubbles inside the islands are also included in the treatment. With two kinds of absorbers of ionizing photons, i.e. the large-scale under-dense neutral islands and the small-scale over-dense clumps, the ionizing background are self-consistently evolved in the model.
Publisher URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/1801.04038 | <urn:uuid:ef3361ba-2808-4108-8b96-0e78479b11ca> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.researcher-app.com/paper/259410 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570793.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808092125-20220808122125-00665.warc.gz | en | 0.895136 | 218 | 1.828125 | 2 |
- Price AED 10,101
- Duration 3 Days
- Locations Deira
This intensive treasury risk management training course is designed to offer treasury executives, whether in corporations or financial institutions, a thorough coverage of the techniques available for modern treasury management and evaluating treasury risk. The complexity of cash management in modern financial markets has placed much more emphasis on the treasury function. This not only involves keeping control over increasingly complex interest rate and currency exposures, but also keeping abreast of the latest techniques for managing those risks whilst effectively managing the funds of the institution.
Who Should Attend?
- Corporate Treasury Executives
- Corporate Finance Executives
- Relationship Officers
- Money Market Managers
- Foreign Exchange Executives
- Accountants and Auditors
- all those involved with Treasury Risk Management
FRAMEWORKS FOR IDENTIFYING AND ANALYSING RISKS
- Outline of a treasury function
- The treasurer’s role
- Risk versus return
- Finance versus business risk
- Types of risk
- Identification, analysis and control of risks
- Hedging approaches and costs
- Corporate case study
- The importance of policies, internal
- control and audit
PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND CAPITAL ALLOCATION
- Why measure performance?
- The problems involved
- Meaningful benchmarks
- Examples of methodologies
- The capital adequacy directive
- Efficient use of capital
- Value-at-Risk approaches
- Risk adjusted returns on capital
DEBT MANAGEMENT AND THE DEBT / EQUITY RATIO
- Managing cash and working capital
- Forecasting cashflows
- Financing with debt versus equity
- Maturity profiles
- Fixed versus floating
- The question of mismatches
MEASURING INTEREST RATE RISK
- Gap analysis
- Types and uses of gap analysis
- Macaulay duration
- Examples of Macaulay calculations
- Modified duration
- Convexity adjustments
- Rate shocks
- Simulation approaches
GAP CASE STUDY
Delegates, in small groups, will prepare and comment upon a gap report for a multi-national corporation.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK MANAGEMENT
- Types of transactions
- Spot, forward and FX swap transactions
- Translation exposure
- Economic exposure
- Currency options
- Put / call parity explained
- Hedging decisions
THE TOOLS OF RISK MANAGEMENT
- Forward - forward transactions
- Forward Rate Agreements (FRAs)
- Financial futures
- Interest rate and currency swaps
- Interest rate options
- Relationships between products
RISK MANAGEMENT EXERCISES
Delegates, in small groups, will work through some examples to ensure a thorough understanding of the mechanics.
FUTURES IN TREASURY MANAGEMENT
- FRAs versus futures
- Measuring exposure in futures equivalents
- Designing a futures hedge handling basis risk
- Spot, interpolated and extrapolated hedges
- Option versus futures hedges
USING SWAPS AND ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS
- Analysing cash flows
- Constructing the discount function
- Hedging with swaps
- Swaps and the capital markets
- Basis swaps
- Asset swaps
SWAP CASE STUDIES
Delegates, in small groups, will be required to analyse hedging, funding and investing decisions using derivatives
STRUCTURED FINANCE - CASE STUDY
Delegates, in small groups, will work through a complex structure of issuing a fixed income bond to produce cheap domestic funding.
ASSET SWAPS - CASE STUDIES
Delegates will construct a long dated discount function using log linear interpolation and structure an asset swap using a fixed income bond and a forward start swap followed by the structuring of low income, tax effective structures.
INTRODUCTION TO ASSET AND LIABILITY MANAGEMENT
- Why manage the balance sheet?
- The problems
- Net interest income versus market value
ASSET & LIABILITY MANAGEMENT CASE STUDY
Delegates, in small groups, will assume the role of an ALCO and using some typical reports will decide upon the validity of a particular strategy.
CASE STUDY: RESULTS AND ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS
Each group will report on their decision. This will be supplemented by additional analyses.
On completition of the course you will receive a certificate from ASTC Dubai.
Advanced Studies and Training Centre was established in the to bring together local business inpiduals with professional international trainers, with a view to facilitate learning
Keeping in mind the different cultural persity in Dubai, They offer trainings in a variety of subjects in both English and Arabic languages.
It is our mission to engage people in learning that inspires them to be involved and take action.
Our services – from leadership coaching and development to employee motivation – reflect our belief that engaged and inspired people build success in businesses.
Advanced Studies and Training Centre creates highly structured customized learning programs that engage people, They help build success and inspire people to envision and achieve shared goals.
Advanced Studies and Training Centre provides trainings and development programs in a variety of fields.See all Advanced Studies & Training Centre courses | <urn:uuid:5bf0b215-a360-4ad9-9db8-4a3ed1b3a672> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://courses.laimoon.com/course/treasury-risk-management | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285315.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00572-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.850367 | 1,093 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Exercise RX is a mobile app that supports patients to engage in physical activity and meet their health goals
January 2022- Present
Lead UX Designer and Researcher
What I did
UX / UI design
User research strategy
1 x Engineer
2 x Project Manager
3 x Designer
1 x Physician
1 x Medical Student
2 x Business Strategist
In conjunction with UW Computer Science & Engineering Ubicomp Lab and UW Department of Human-Centered Design & Engineering, The Sports Institute at UW Medicine developed Exercise RX. Exercise RX is an app that supports sedentary patients in increasing movement in their daily lives through behavior change interventions, physician feedback, and tracking.
Sedentary lifestyle affects 80% of Americans who do not meet the US National Physical Activity (PA) Guidelines. Research has shown that physical inactivity contributes to over 40 chronic health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancers, mental illness, and obesity.
While it is well known that PA is effective in managing and preventing these conditions, it is under-discussed and prescribed in clinical practice.
When I joined the team, I was tasked with assessing the efficacy of the Exercise Rx platform in supporting insufficiently active patients to increase their mean daily step count.
Hence, I led the design team in conducting user research and analysis to derive insights into the experience of users who used the application. In addition, I also led the design process by formulating design recommendations for the redesign of the application.
To better understand how patients stay motivated and the problems of increasing their step count, I worked collaboratively with the team to define the goals of this research study. The main objectives are as follows:
Evaluate the app’s usability and evaluate associations between app engagement and step count changes
Understand the barriers, opportunities, pain points, or hesitations patients experience with the app’s use
ThemHealth app usability questionnaire (MAUQ)was also used to evaluate the app's usability. I used it to support the data from the interviews and perform a psychometric analysis.
I analyzed the survey data, which I later used to support the findings derived from the data analysis process. The questions asked during the survey were aimed at identifying the apps:
Ease of Use
Interface and Satisfaction
To better understand how patients increased their step goals,15 usability interviews were conducted with patients who had used version 1 of the Exercise RX application. The interviews lasted from 45-minute to 1 hour.
The participants were recruited from the physician involved in this project. The objective was to identify user needs and opportunities for redesigning the Exercise Rx patient-facing mobile application.
Speaking to the patients revealed information about the application's impact in motivating them to achieve their health goals and objectives. I also learned the challenges they faced external to the app that influenced their experience with the application.
After the interviews were concluded, I led the data synthesis process. Upon joining the team, some interviews had not yet been transcribed. In addition, I had new interviews to conduct and analyze. Hence, I decided to break the affinity process into 2 phases.
The first phase involved analyzing previous interviews and analyzing them. During the second phase, new interviews were conducted and analyzed in addition to the analysis done in the first phase.
Both phases started with the design team extracting quotes from the interviews and mapping the quotes against the "main buckets" we derived from the interview stage. We used Miro to gather our research findings. Afterward, we broke down each primary bucket to reveal sub-categories and identify our themes and findings.
How did the app support users goals?
The entire affinity analysis process revealed 6 key themes. These were then broken down into 16 detailed findings with corresponding design recommendations. For this portfolio, I will be focusing on the findings that directly influenced my design process. The key findings are below :
Participants found the app rudimentary and not intuitive to use
10 participants cited that the application was difficult to navigate and understand. They were unsure about the actions to take and did not find their experience intuitive.
2 participants cited that the app's functionality was basic hence not providing enough value
" I did not know how the app was supposed to be used
UNDERSTANDING THE PARTICIPANTS MEANS OF COMMUNICATION
This insight led me to conduct a heuristic evaluation of the application. I wanted to uncover elements of the app that did not provide clear direction, increased cognitive overload, and identify aspects of the app that would benefit from an improved visual design.
The following are the heuristic findings on the home page, trends page, and messages page:
" I could not visualize how far I had to walk to achieve the goal
Participants could not visually understand their progress, specifically graphs, and different metrics
Exercise RX is primarily a step count application; hence the metric used to measure progress is step count.
However, participants often cited that having solely a number of steps were challenging to estimate how much more they needed to walk to achieve their goal.
Participants want input in the goal-setting process and want their barriers and facilitators to be recognized
ExerciseRX sets step goals based on a patient's ability to reach previous goals. However, participants cited that they wanted to be able to either increase or decrease their step goals. This was due to barriers such as time, health concerns, bad weather, etc.
" I wish the app asked me if I wanted to increase my steps per week
DESIGN AND ENGINEERING COLLABORATION
I then presented the first phase's insights to the team via a workshop I conducted over Zoom. I designed the workshop session and solicited feedback from the team about emergent themes and subcategories. It was also helpful to gain insight and further understanding of the insights from a clinical standpoint provided by the domain expert, the physician.
For the second phase, I led another design workshop with other team members, including software engineers, doctors, business strategists, professors, and a project manager, to present the final/ aggregate insights and corresponding design recommendations.
While the data analysis process uncovered various areas of opportunity, such as creating personalized provider messages, displaying alternative exercise visualizations options, and allowing for journaling and messaging between provider and patient, I had to keep in mind the business goals and organizational capacity.
The project was running on funding from Seattle Children Care Alliance, and the release date for the next version of the app was set for July. Hence, we needed to push out the most "effective" design recommendations and changes. Therefore, the team decided to prioritize:
Improving user experience through user interface design
Facilitating progress tracking on a daily and weekly basis
Empowering users with control and freedom to perform actions
How can I make progress tracking more intuitive and discoverable?
When users log into the app, they first see a progress chart, and below are sections that provide additional progress information. However, users expressed confusion because there was a lot of information on the screen, particularly step count numbers.
Therefore, I tried differentinformation architectures and designs to inform users of their progress as well as their daily and weekly goals to make the flow clearer and more intuitive:
In the daily targets achieved section, users are supposed to identify the days they did not reach their step count goal, the days they met their goal and the current day. However, the original design failed to signify thisaffordance.
To begin, I explored various ways of representing this information that the user can easily understand. They are below:
The design team best understood the second iteration as meeting the requirements for the design. However, we continued to iterate on how best to design the daily targets achieved section and other screens.
The iterations helped me to confirm the team's design decisions before we spent more time refining the final prototype.
A vibrant new look
I also built comprehensive components librarywithin Figma that would later reflect in various parts of the app, i.e., colors, typography, grid setting, etc. This included icons, buttons, form elements, graphs, selection tools, and content cards.
One critical feedback from the interview session revealed that participants thought the app was dull and not exciting. Hence, for this redesign, I wanted to preserve the primary color and incorporate more bright and complementary secondary colors to the general visuals of the application.
Restructured Information Architecture
I refined the concept with research outcomes in-line with our business goals and went through a few rounds of iteration using hand sketching. I also devised arevised and simplified information architecture focused on progress discovery and tracking, straightforward understanding of step information, and provision of flexibility and control to users.
With the critical components identified, I brainstormed flows that aligned with the patient's use cases and sequences that can help them quickly and smoothly navigate between different features. Below are the information architecture of the homepage and trends page.
In addition to adding a new container to highlight the weekly step goals, I added an edit functionality that allows users the freedom and control to modify their step count figure based on their personal wellness needs.
From the insight of “providing more ways to visualize goals,” I added two more progress spheres to provide varying visualizations that users can use to understand their progress.
I added “miles left” and “times left” to allow users who might have difficulty conceptualizing how many steps they had to take, especially when the numbers were large. I chose time and miles as they are commonly used metrics in exercise applications and are easily understandable.
I added a calendar input field where users could manually insert dates. In addition, with the calendar icon, users can click on it, browse through the entire calendar, and select their desired dates.
I redesigned the bar graphs to be interactive so that users could view their step count for that day. The weekly goal was also clearly stated by creating a container element that displayed the goal.
I added additional containers such as the “ Distance Covered” and “ Steps Completed” that provided more information on the user's progress. This was in response to the need of better visualization, which I derived from the interviews.
I changed the visibility and hierarchy of step count information. With the new screes, users first see how many steps they covered and can also view steps left within the progress chart.
I also redesigned the daily and weekly progress bars to make progress easily understandable. Here users have a clear understanding of the steps they have taken as well as their goals.
Communicating with non-designers
As the lead designer on the team, I faced several hurdles, trying tocommunicate the rationale behind specific design recommendations and advising why some suggestions made by the team might not be the best approach to take from a usability and design standpoint.
I learned that when working with an interdisciplinary team, it is necessary to communicate findings, results, etc., in ways they best understand. I also found it helpful when showing designs to include what things can "ideally look like" and “what is possible” to enrich their understanding of the design capabilities.
Working with limitations
Surprisingly, I loved working on this project because of the restrictions we faced as a team. The team needed to release the product to clinics and was also operating under a tight budget; hence the most ambitious ideas had to be put to rest for the time being. This forced me to think more critically and make better decisions that serve both the organization and the users.
It was initially challenging to part ways with several design recommendations that I felt would significantly impact the user experience. Still, I learned that the best solutions are ones that align with a company’s object and user's needs. | <urn:uuid:9e37a84e-8891-4fa5-94f1-4c1e332cd3f7> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.rahmatraji.com/exrx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573197.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818124424-20220818154424-00665.warc.gz | en | 0.953242 | 2,649 | 1.5 | 2 |
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Ever since the beginning of COVID, shortages have been a way of life. That first emptying of the grocery stores was a shock to us all. It was months before the stores filled back up.
But as soon as things were back to normal, a new wave of shortages began, this one caused largely by shipping problems. As of this writing, we have yet to see the end of that string of shortages.
If that wasn’t bad enough, gasoline prices going up. There are a variety of reasons for this. Some of it is due to government spending, some of it is due to supply chain problems, and some of it is due to the war in Ukraine. Some experts are saying that it’s going to go higher still.
The unseen side of this is that diesel prices have gone up even more. While it varies from state to state, diesel is running an average of $1.10 more per gallon than gasoline is. That’s about $2.40 more per gallon than truckers were paying a year ago, and it’s the highest recorded average price.
Seeing as over-the-road trucks have two fuel tanks, each of which holds 120 to 150 gallons, truckers could be paying over $1,500 per fill-up.
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What makes that even worse (if possible) is that 91.5% of the trucking companies in the US operate 6 or fewer trucks; 97.4% of them operate less than 20. These are small companies we’re talking about, so they don’t have a lot of cash reserves.
Unless truckers are able to charge enough to cover their costs, especially all those small businesses, they’re going to have to shut down their trucks in a matter of days.
But it may not be the truckers who make the decision to shut off their trucks, as the worldwide shortage of diesel is even worse than that of other petroleum products. Diesel is critical to all kinds of industrial engines, from the tractors that farmers use to grow our food to the ships that ply their commerce upon the open seas.
Trucks are just one more category of user that are suffering from those shortages. Right now, that’s driving prices up, but it could quickly turn into there not being fuel to even keep the trucks on the road. It’s not like there are non-essential uses of diesel fuel that can be shut off to alleviate the shortage.
Some people may think that’s no big deal; but it is. Literally everything we depend on is moved by trucks, carrying raw materials and parts to factories, then carrying finished goods to warehouses, and finally carrying the products to the retail stores where we buy them.
Both UPS and FedEx have been working on moving their respective fleets of vehicles away from traditional fuel sources to hybrid, natural gas, and more renewable fuel sources. But don’t think that’s going to save the day.
The more that our nation’s fleet of 2 million trucks fall short of moving necessary goods, the more pressure that will be put on UPS and FedEx. Their combined fleets don’t quite make a tenth of the semis, and their average truck size is much smaller.
So, what’s going to happen when the truckers are forced to park their trucks, waiting for fuel?
The first day that the trucks stop, nobody will notice. The roads will be clearer and people won’t be complaining about not being able to see around the semis. But in reality, few people will even notice.
Shortages won’t actually show up, although the groundwork for them will already be laid. By the next morning, local deliveries will be off, leaving empty spaces on grocery store shelves.
It won’t take long for shortages to start showing up in our local grocery stores. The first shelves to go empty will be the fresh foods. Supermarkets receive shipments of fresh foods of all kinds on a daily basis. Milk, eggs, meat, bread, fish and produce all arrive at their docks early in the morning, giving the workers time to stock the shelves before the store fills up.
Most of those shipments won’t arrive this morning. Even Frito-Lay makes daily deliveries to all their retail outlets; but not this day, unless they’ve got their own stash of diesel fuel.
If things are bad enough, trucks from the gas companies won’t be able to make deliveries of gasoline and diesel to our local gas stations, although it would seem that they would take care of their own trucks first.
Still, the typical gas station receives deliveries of fuel every day, so by the end of this day, we can expect them to start putting out signs saying “Out of Fuel.”
People will see what is happening and start scrambling. We’ve all lived through the COVID-induced shortages in our stores, so people will be rushing to stock up while they can. It is quite possible that our grocery stores will be largely wiped out by the end of the day.
Grocery stores only stock about three days’ worth of food; so even without a run on the stores, those grocery stores are going to be running dry. Even things that never sell out, like flour and condiments, will be running short as people buy whatever they can.
The shortages will start spreading out from there to other stores. As people begin to realize the seriousness of the situation, they’ll start hitting hardware stores, sporting goods stores, and liquor stores; basically, anyplace which has anything that might help them survive.
Camping gear, firearms, fishing gear, and ammunition will all be popular purchases. Not all choices will be that logical though. Even so, the sheer mass of purchases will pretty much ensure that anything useful is cleared off the shelves.
Some retail businesses will start shutting down, as they reach a point where their inventory is too low to meet their customers’ needs. Staying open would be risky for those businesses, even with the inventory they still have, because of angry customers getting out of hand.
Manufacturers and wholesalers will be shutting the doors as well, as they can’t get materials in and out the door without shipping. Retail businesses in some areas will be broken into, with people looting whatever they can find.
Some people will think they’re smarter than others and “beating the system” by ordering online, instead of filling the stores. Those people will be shocked to find that the items they were accustomed to having delivered in a day or two are going to take a week to 10 days.
They’ll be even more shocked when most of those items never arrive.
After a Week
Within a week, the country will largely shut down as a large percentage of businesses will have closed, even if it is only intended to be temporarily. Shortages will be widespread, even to the point where Amazon doesn’t have inventory to ship out anymore.
The big issue at this point is that many people will be running out of food in their homes. Most will be out of gas too, making it more or less impossible to go out looking for more, other than locally.
Tensions will rise and people will be looking for a way to let the government know about their concerns. Local demonstrations will form in front of government buildings, with some turning violent.
Relief organizations such as the Red Cross will be rolling out, setting up soup kitchens to feed those who don’t have food. Those kitchens probably won’t last long though, as every one of those non-profit organizations depends on the same supply system that won’t be getting food to the grocery stores.
People who are already living on the edge of lawlessness will begin to look for ways to get what they need, whether through home invasions, kidnapping for profit, or other means. Police will be hard-pressed to keep up with the increase in crime.
After a Month
By the time a month has passed, shortages of food will be driving people to starvation. While some local neighborhoods and communities will come together, in many cases the people trying to organize those efforts will be people who don’t have food either, so they may try to forcibly take food from people who do have it; not only preppers, but farmers as well.
It takes longer than a month to starve to death, so that won’t quite be happening yet, although people will be debilitated by the lack of nourishment. Many overweight people will lose weight, which is a good thing; but at the same time, they will lose strength, as their body cannibalizes muscle tissue for the protein needed to make new cells.
The people who will suffer the most are those who are on prescription medicines for chronic conditions. The first massive die-off will be of people who need medications to regulate their body. Most will have a month or less of those medications on-hand, so we can expect to see them starting to die off at about this time.
That will soon be followed by people starting to die of starvation. Hopefully, the trucks will never be down for that long, but it’s certainly possible. Right now, Sri Lanka is in a state of collapse with all the gas pumps empty.
Like this post? Don’t Forget to Pin It On Pinterest! | <urn:uuid:1cf0a874-80e5-48de-95ec-a179e8493ad3> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://urbansurvivalsite.com/what-happens-when-the-trucks-stop/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00275.warc.gz | en | 0.966409 | 1,989 | 2.1875 | 2 |
John Neely Kennedy was born on November 21, 1951, in Centreville, Mississippi, and grew up near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended Vanderbilt University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1973. He later earned a law degree (1977) from the University of Virginia as well as a bachelor’s degree in civil law (1979) from the University of Oxford. He then returned to Louisiana and entered private legal practice.
From 1990 to 1992 Kennedy served as secretary to the cabinet of Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer. In 1996 Roemer appointed him secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Three years later Kennedy ran successfully as a Democrat for state treasurer. He was reelected to that post four times. In 2004 he was defeated in his bid for the U.S. Senate, losing to U.S. Representative David Vitter. Kennedy subsequently changed his party affiliation to Republican. He ran again for the U.S. Senate in 2008 but lost to Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu.
In 2016 Kennedy staged a third bid for the U.S. Senate, this time to replace Vitter, who declined to seek reelection. Kennedy ran on a campaign that emphasized fiscal conservatism and that highlighted his position as a Washington outsider. In addition, he was a vocal supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. In the November general election, Kennedy placed first with about 25 percent of the vote in a field of some two dozen candidates. However, because he did not receive a majority of the vote, a runoff was required. Kennedy easily won the election in December against Democrat Foster Campbell and took office in January 2017. | <urn:uuid:645d0c04-6507-415f-aa0f-b24d51b693ed> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/John-Kennedy/629849 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572089.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814234405-20220815024405-00075.warc.gz | en | 0.983711 | 328 | 1.875 | 2 |
Indoors: Ants, Roaches & Flies: In a well-ventilated room, with nozzle pointing away from your face, spray to sufficiently wet, kill and then repel crawling ants, roaches and other listed insect pests in homes, restaurants, hospitals, schools, food processing establishments and elsewhere. Spray kitchen cabinets, drawers and closets, under sinks and into wall and floor cracks and crevices. Use in both edible and non-adible product areas of Federally-approved meat, poultry and egg producing establishments. Kill flies and mosquitoes in the air and on all surfaces attracting them using the wide-spray nozzle setting. Reapply as needed.
Fleas: Before spraying, test a corner of fabric for compatibility. Hold container tilted down away from your face and, using the wide-spray nozzle position, spray with a sweeping side-to-side motion to kill adult fleas hidden in carpets, rugs, dog and cat bedding and under furniture. One pint (16 oz.) will kill fleas on contact over a 200 sq. ft. area. Reapply as needed.
Outdoors: Crawling & Flying Pests: Hold container upright. Spray away from your face sufficiently to wet, kill and then repel crawling ants (including fire ants), roaches, flies, and mosquitoes in the air and on surfaces. Thoroughly spray around windows and doors; wet ant trails on sidewalks, paths and buildings; and spray one foot on either side of these areas. Spray ground holes where ants live. Spray garbage cans, dumpsters and manure piles to kill on contact flies, roaches and ants and their eggs, larvae and pupae. Do not spray plants.
Barbecues & Picnics: Control Pesky Insects Outdoors: To keep pesky insects away, lightly spray tables and outdoor furniture, BBQs, grills, paths and grass a few minutes or so before your party starts and food is served. Do not spray open flames or hot coals. Spray all surfaces you wish to keep free pf flying and crawling insects. Reapply as needed.
Storage & Disposal: Storage: Store container in a cool, dry place. Disposal: If empty: Non-refillable container; do not reuse or refill this container. Clean container promptly after emptying, then offer for recycling if available. Otherwise, place in trash. If partly filled: Call your local solid waste agency for disposal instructions. Never place unused product down any indoor or outdoor drain. | <urn:uuid:df7e94a2-5705-4497-8489-7868da69b3f2> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-18123-enviroman-bugs-r-done-insect-spray-orange-fragrance-16-oz | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281649.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00439-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.89426 | 516 | 1.976563 | 2 |
AbstractHave you ever had to dig a hole in really hard soil? It is a lot of work! In this science project you can make an instrument to test the soil and find out how compacted it is, before you dig!
Sara Agee, Ph.D., Science Buddies
Brynie, F.H., 2005. Parent's Crash Course: Elementary School Science Fair Projects, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing Inc. pp 165-168.
Test the level of compaction of soil at different locations.
Have you ever wondered why it is so much work to dig a hole in really hard soil but it is much easier to dig a hole in soft, loose soil? Soil that is hard and dry is often compacted, which means that it has been packed down solid, making it denser and more difficult to penetrate.
Just as it is difficult for you to dig in compacted soil, it is also difficult for soil dwelling organisms, like bugs and worms, to tunnel in compacted soil. You will not usually find many organisms living in compacted soils because they cannot get the air, water, space, and nutrients that they need to survive. Also, compacted soil makes it difficult for plants with delicate root systems to thrive. Very compacted soil tends to support the growth of weeds, which have thick tap roots which penetrate deeply into compacted soil and out-compete other plants.
Which areas are most susceptible to soil compaction? In this geology science project you will make an instrument to test different areas to see where the soil is the most compacted. You should test places like gardens, walkways, turf, sunny areas, shady areas, and moist and dry areas. Where do you think the most compacted soil will be? Can you think of creative ways to avoid soil compaction in these areas?
Terms and Concepts
- Soil dwelling organisms
- How does soil become compacted?
- How can soil compaction be measured?
- How does soil compaction affect the organisms that live in the soil?
- U.S. Geological Survey. (2004). Recovery and Vulnerability of Desert Ecosystems: Soil Compaction. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- Whiting, D., Card, A., Wilson, C., and Reeder, J. (2011, December). Soil Compaction. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
- Brynie, F.H., 2005. Parent's Crash Course: Elementary School Science Fair Projects, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing Inc. pp 165-168.
Materials and Equipment
- Metal knitting needle; size 7 or small enough to fit inside the spool.
- Small spool of thread
- Permanent marker
- Rubber band
- Metric ruler or measuring tape
- Lab notebook
- Place the needle into the spool to see that it fits.
- Place the apparatus, pointy side down, onto a table. Mark where the knitting needle sticks out of the top of the spool with your permanent marker, as shown in Figure 1 below. This line will be zero.
- Tightly wrap a rubber band around the knitting needle and push it towards the non-pointy, capped end of the needle. You will use this to mark the depth of your soil measurements.
Figure 1. Putting the knitting needle inside the spool, mark where the knitting needle sticks out of the top of the spool.
- Choose different locations to test the soil for compaction. Make a data table in your lab notebook, like Table 1 shown below, and describe each location in it. Where is each location? What type of soil is there? Is it wet or dry? Are there any plants?
At each location place the spool on the ground pointy side down. Push down hard on the knitting needle until it stops moving into the ground, as shown in Figure 2 below. Slide the rubber band down against the top of the spool.
Figure 2. Placing the knitting needle and spool on the ground, push down on the needle until it stops moving. Slide the rubber band down until it touches the top of the spool.
- Carefully remove the knitting needle from the ground, making sure not to move the rubber band, and measure the distance between the line and the rubber band with your ruler or measuring tape, in centimeters (cm), as shown in Figure 3 below.
Figure 3. After removing the needle from the ground, measure the distance between the line on the needle and the rubber band.
- Record the measurement in the data table in your lab notebook.
- Where is the soil most compacted? The least compacted? What characteristics did you notice about the most compact soils? What characteristics did you notice about the least compact soils? Think about things like foot traffic, soil type, moisture, and plant covering. Why do you think it is important not to walk in an area where plants are trying to go, such as in a garden bed?
- Based on your results, what do you think could be done to reduce soil compaction?
Ask an Expert
- You could do a science project similar to this one to investigate the effect of walking on soil compaction. Dig up some soil so that it is loose. Measure the compaction of the soil with your spool. Now walk over the site and measure again. How did it change? Will it continue to change if you keep repeating the experiment, walking over the soil repeatedly?
- Do wet or dry soils become more compacted? Collect some dry soil samples and add different amounts of water to some of the dry soil samples (but leave some samples dry). Use a tamper or water roller to compact the soil in each sample. Measure each sample with your spool. Which soils are the most compacted? What happens if you let them dry out and measure them again afterwards?
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers: | <urn:uuid:b43ee2eb-5418-43f3-8e30-f76ba6f13e60> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Geo_p010/geology/soil-compaction | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808213349-20220809003349-00470.warc.gz | en | 0.930518 | 1,296 | 3.96875 | 4 |
In cases with a sufficiently strong bar in the disc component, the halo does not stay axisymmetric, but shows also a bar-like or oval deformation. An example can be seen in Fig. 2 of Holley-Bockelmann, Weinberg & Katz (2003; HBWK). I found such structures also in my own simulations and I call them, for simplicity, halo bars. Preliminary results show that, in cases with a strong disc bar, the halo bar is triaxial, but prolate like, with axial ratios of the order of 0.7 or 0.8 in the inner parts, and becomes more spherical as the radius increases. The length of the halo bar increases with time, but always stays considerably shorter than that of the disc bar. It is roughly aligned with the disc bar at all times (at least within the measuring errors), i.e. it turns with roughly the same pattern speed. This means that it is a slow bar. The bisymmetric component in the halo extends well beyond the end of the halo bar, and there it trails behind the disc bar, much as seen in Fig. 2 of HBWK. The properties of these halo bars will be discussed in detail elsewhere (Athanassoula, in prep.). | <urn:uuid:d7429276-db7e-4bd6-85a9-e59a93f7b187> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/Sept03/Athanassoula/Athan5.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280587.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00557-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938537 | 271 | 2.03125 | 2 |
Terror under Jewish Bolshevik forced Famine in Russia 1921-23
Published on May 6, 2020
The horror of Lenin’s Red Terror cumulating in Russia’s forced Famine (1921-23) and Ukraine’s 1st Holodomor (1921-22) served as a template for a second and third culling of Europe’s best.
For more video's and stories go here - http://holodomorinfo.com
- Your Subscription
- AntiTraitors - | <urn:uuid:a355ec87-ebf1-4375-bb5f-0bba6076487d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.goyimtv.tv/v/2985105340/Terror-under-Jewish-Bolshevik-forced-Famine-in-Russia-1921-23 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570793.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808092125-20220808122125-00677.warc.gz | en | 0.758326 | 114 | 2.375 | 2 |
We fail to realize that one of the things that we cannot avoid is getting older and do not prepare ourselves from our young days. Then during our old age, we lose ourselves for no real reason and become emotionally, physically, and financially dependent on others around us. Why can we not forget that we are old and keep us happy and healthy? Of course, there is an unavoidable reason for serious illness. Apart from that, we should learn to take things easy and keep us engaged invaluable ways of living a contented and independent life.
Some of the ways that you can keep yourself active at old age.
Keep you busy
The only thing that not all of us can avoid is getting old, most of us become frustrated & depressed when we reach old age, but I am different working harder than before for that, I have many rejections for what I do. However, that does not bother. I think that people who show contradictions will work like me and will face the same thing. Then it will be too late for them to regret that. I do what young people usually do, so there is a reason for others to get annoyed with it. However, nobody can change me and make me stay without doing anything useful to society and me.
Avoid developing problems
Older adults have developmental and physical problems, and their personalities change, then they stop doing anything valuable or interesting to keep them occupied and happy. They all do the whole day eating, sleeping, watching TV, and sometimes chatting to people but never attempt to remain the better people they were before. Then they feel neglected, overlooked, and ignored. They forget to realize that age is not a barrier to contribute to society, which gets them some recognition as long as they live.
Reaping what they have sowed
Reaping what they have sowed
I will never allow myself to fall into that category. I do the impossible against all odds, but I want to “feel” normal even if I cannot walk, and I will continue to do so. These people are reaping what they have sowed, and this why they face negligence and ignored. Besides, I am a person who cannot stay in bed or watch TV for a long time. I make sure that I keep myself busy all the time, but maybe others around me may not appreciate what I do now, but that does not bother me.
Do things helpful to you & others.
I make sure that I do things that are useful to me, the people around me, and society. I do write all the time now, creating online courses and writing many eBooks as much as possible. In addition, I do some accounting work for my clients. Even if I have a pleasant time with my family, I start work that makes me happy when I return home. I think that I have an addiction to what I do which nobody can take away from me.
I never do anything wrong.
I am not doing anything wrong I keep doing all these, but finding customers to sell my work has become a bit difficult for me. I do all this work but never spend much money on anything. I am sure the quality of my work is good, but it needs good marketing tactics to make money.
Further, I do not have much interaction with people as I spend all my time accomplishing the tasks that I allocate to finish in a day. If you are reading this, you must have understood that I am an older adult who does all this work on my own without any help or appreciation. I cannot blame anybody as we all live in a busy world.
Make money as long as you can.
I said all these, and you might think that I am not keen on making money, that is not true. I write and publish posts and articles on social media platforms every day, so I am sure that someone who becomes interested in my work and wants to work with me then hopes things will change for the better. My attempt to keep myself like the person that I was before will become successful. I would not stop there but will continue until the last minute, as I do not believe in changing myself for no reason just because that I am aging. I have written this to motivate people like me but not to find any mistakes in anyone. We have to bear in mind that life goes on and on, so we have to spend our time doing something worthwhile.
Regardless of the age when we achieve our goal, it might be minor we feel proud and valuable to everyone that is the way to live our lives, and that my belief. | <urn:uuid:b93bbebe-cf05-4518-8d7f-3811ef391faa> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://discover.hubpages.com/family/How-to-remain-the-better-person-you-were-before | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570741.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808001418-20220808031418-00071.warc.gz | en | 0.982562 | 930 | 2.34375 | 2 |
English bulldogs are an old breed, but they are also much different than they were centuries ago. Today, the nose is flatter, the head is bigger, the shoulders are broader and the breed has a friendlier temperament than its forebear. Bulldogs have a lot of health issues. They need a considerable amount of care and live relatively short lives.
Basic Bulldog Facts
English bulldogs are fairly short animals, standing around 12 to 16 inches tall, and weighing about 50 pounds for males and 40 pounds for females. They are heavy for their size. They are muscular and carry their weight in their upper bodies. These dogs are great with children, but can knock a child over with body weight. English bulldogs are friendly if socialized early as puppies. Due to breathing difficulties, bulldogs are less energetic than many dogs. They are contented lap dogs and are happiest when relaxing with people.
Routine Bulldog Care
Bulldogs have very deep wrinkles on their faces. These are breeding grounds for bacteria, so they need to be cleaned regularly with a warm, wet washcloth. Simply lifting up each wrinkle and washing beneath and around it helps keep down bacterial infections of the skin. When giving the dog a bath, pay special attention to the face, particularly the rope, the wrinkle that lies across the top of the nose. With repetition, the dog will get used to this.
Bulldogs have flatulence issues due to having short noses and difficulty breathing. They swallow a lot of air while eating, only to expel it as belches or flatulence. The breed is known for this, but the veterinarian has medications that help, as well as instructions for finding easily digestible foods. The short nasal passages make it common for English bulldogs to have breathing difficulties. The dogs snort and wheeze, often snore when sleeping, and frequently suffer from brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.
Bulldog Training Techniques
Train the bulldog puppy early to know that you are top dog, so he develops respect. Persistence is key to training the bulldog. He is testy with stubbornness, but he must learn the only option is to do what you want. He is taught sit, stay, come, walk and good behavior by positive reinforcement. Anything negative, such as pain, slows the training. Don't tug on the leash to make him walk. Use gentle words and let him sit thinking about it. Eventually he chooses to walk because there are no other options.
- Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images | <urn:uuid:f58b1bd0-623b-4e57-9689-8fff5f1287b2> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/english-bulldog-care-training-7098.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280364.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00036-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971154 | 519 | 2.96875 | 3 |
How to make a Balloon Column/Pillar
If you’ve seen our previous tutorial and blog post, we showed you how to create your own mini column. Now, let’s move on to the next step by making it bigger! With more celebrations and events on the way, we wanted to show you how to make your own balloon column along with the balloon stand to get creative with your decorations.
What do you need for a Balloon Column/Pillar?
Depending on the height and design of your balloon column, this can certainly be adjusted but we will provide you first with the list of basic items you’d need. Let’s see what’s listed down below for this simple tutorial.
What you will need:
- Balloon stand/pillar set (You can easily purchase this from us at Wonder Balloons online)
- 12″ (inches) latex balloons (About 30-40 balloons at least. It doesn’t hurt to have more just in case some balloons pop)
- Hand pump/Electric pump (Hand pump is best used to inflate the foil balloons and electric pump helps easily inflate your latex balloons especially when you have a lot to inflate)
- Topper for your balloon column (Typically a bigger balloon on top or like in the tutorial, a foil balloon)
- Nylon fishing line/string (this is to help tie up your balloons together in order to keep them stable/secure)
- (OPTIONAL) A balloon sizer to help size up your balloons equally.
What to do:
- Since we are using the balloon stand/pillar set, you can start but assembling the stand as displayed in the tutorial. Fill the base with water or sand then start taking the pipes and connect them with the connectors. Arrange this to the desired height of the column.
- Next, begin to inflate the 12″ latex balloons. Be sure to inflate them all equally in size which is where the balloon sizer will be helpful if you’re unsure. Just as in the video, inflate two at a time and tie two of those balloons together and set aside.
- Once all your balloons are blown and tied into pairs, take two pairs and merge them together into a quad/cluster. You’d then have about 7 or 8 quads/clusters of balloons.
- Based on your design/colour theme, you can mix and match different colours and patterns.
- Since you are using the balloon stand, place your quad through the stand and start stacking your balloon quads one after another but ensure they are completely snug.
- An alternative to this is to use a nylon fishing line/string and tie up your balloons together (also ensuring they are snug). Then when they are all tied up, you can insert the stand through to the middle of the balloons.
- Once you’ve completed and arranged the look of your balloon column, you can then set it upright and finish off with a balloon topper.
- Since we’ve used a foil balloon, we’ve used a modelling balloon to tie at the valve of the foil balloon which we then tied to the top of the balloon column. Ensure everything is snug and tight.
- Be sure to keep your balloon column/pillar in a place that’s cool and dry and away from any sharp objects.
It’s not too hard to create your own balloon pillar now. But if you’re still unsure, you can always refer to our tutorial video and practice it out yourself. Next time you pass by stores with special decorations or some other event, you can look at the balloon column and think to yourself, “I know how to make that too!”
Purchase your own balloon column stand by clicking the links below: | <urn:uuid:fb324a38-0864-4c0d-b9fa-ef699578ede4> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://balloonshopmalaysia.com/diy-wonder-class--how-to-make-a-balloon-column-with-a-stand | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570793.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808092125-20220808122125-00667.warc.gz | en | 0.917461 | 792 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Salma Hasan Ali, Saanya Ali, 16, and Zayd Ali, 10, bake moon and star cookies by the dozen, for neighbors, classmates and friends.
Potomac Many local area children will be missing school this Friday as hundreds of Muslims gather at local mosques, community centers and in their homes to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid-ul-Ahda.
"I love wearing the special clothes that I get just for Eid. It’s fun to spend the day with my cousins and visit my friends,” said Aden Ahmad, a sixth-grader at Cabin John Middle School. For her brothers, Yusuf and Isa, who attend Churchill High School, the favorite part about eid is the food.
“On this holiday we remember the act of complete submission of Prophet Abraham when he was asked by God to sacrifice his son Ishmael and Ishmael’s consent to being sacrificed,” said Anser Ahmad, a lawyer by profession and president of the Potomac chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. “Before the actual sacrifice happened God stopped Abraham and provided a lamb, telling Abraham he had passed the test and he should sacrifice the lamb instead, and we follow that same tradition of sacrificing an animal on this holiday.”
Eid-ul-Ahda is one of two holidays celebrated by Muslims each year. While the first, Eid-ul-Fitr, marks the end of the month of fasting, this eid marks the completion of the Hajj — the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the rites of which are rooted in the story of Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
Hundreds of Muslims from the region will participate in prayers, hear sermons, visit family and friends and those who can afford it will sacrifice a lamb and share the meat amount family, friends and the poor, who each get a third share.
“Many people fulfill this requirement by sending money overseas through charitable organizations so the meat can be distributed to the poor,” Ahmad said. “But there are plenty of ways to give right here in our county that many Muslims avail.”
Salma Hasan Ali, a freelance writer and co-head of MoverMoms, an non-government organization that promotes service for busy families, plans to celebrate this holiday with friends and family.
“It is a holiday that celebrates faith and sacrifice and intention to God,” Ali said. “For us it is a very special holiday as both eids are. We celebrate by sacrificing a lamb and feeding the poor, understanding what it means to have so much and be able to share with others who don’t have as much as we do”
This year Ali and other area Muslims are planning to contact a butcher in Baltimore and have meat distributed to Muslimat Al Nisa, the shelter for women who are victims of domestic abuse.
“There are needy people everywhere. This holiday is very much about recognizing our blessings and helping those that need our help particularly through meat distribution. We can do that right here in our own communities, and help feed people of all faiths,” Ali said.
Bano Makhdoom is an active member of Montgomery County and is co-founder of Chai Time, a forum for speakers and published authors that was started 12 years ago. Makdoom has been able to perform Hajj twice, once in 1978 and again in 2003.
“Hajj is the annual pilgrimage that Muslims have to perform once in their lifetime if they are able and as everyone converges there is a deep sense of unity, of purpose and Eid-ul-Ahda is the celebration that follows,” Makhdoom said.
Makhdoom says that recently the Montgomery County Muslim Council has become very active in soup kitchens and in providing for the needy and very often a lot of people will contribute to them to do the sacrifice and to distribute the food to the needy of the community.
“The beauty of this holiday is that it brings all the commonalities of all religions together,” Hanan Elbakry, an active member of the Muslim community and mother of three, said. “Abraham is the father of all prophets and his story, also found in the Torah and the Bible, holds on and carries through with everyone regardless of where you were in-between.”
“For Muslims around the world this holiday is a reminder of unquestionable faith in God and that no matter how desperate things seem just because you can’t find a way, you have to turn to God because he will always find a way,” Elbakry said. | <urn:uuid:b2afa04f-afc2-47cf-b983-4bc95f899f24> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2012/oct/24/celebrating-eid-ul-ahda/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280292.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00337-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967313 | 973 | 1.9375 | 2 |
My life has not always been easy. I have experienced a lot of pain in my lifetime, including loosing my 11 year old half-brother to Leukemia at a young age. Truly, I had no idea what was happening. I was only 7, and we did not talk about his death much. However, it took such a toll on my family.
I feel sometimes like being blessed today means that I have to remember to feel that way. Not to wallow in the past or worry about the future. I have to take moments to love life and be grateful, and let those high points of joy fill my soul. I practice every day gratitude and joy therapy. It doesn’t just happen automatically for me.
When I think about critically ill children and how much they endure at a young age, giving them joy is a greatest gift. The innocence and the pure happiness of children is a beautiful thing.
Make a Wish Foundation
Tens of thousands of volunteers and donors have the vision to grant the wish of every child diagnosed with critical illness. A wish is granted every 34 minutes in the US, and it can be a game changer for these children. There are 8,000 kids waiting for a wish today.
When I read these stories of kids who can experience pure joy for a day as a princess at Disneyland or on a Firetruck riding about, I think of how healing joy can be. That a period without doctors and worries may be just what they need to heal or find some peace. Experiencing a dream come true.
As a parent, watching your child get their wish has to be powerful as well.
Making Wishes Come True
If you want to see some of the amazing wishes that have been fulfilled here are their stories.
Compelling excerpt from the Make a Wish Website:
A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their critical illnesses. For many, the wish marks a turning point in the fight against their illnesses. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals say, the wish experience works in concert with medicine to make their patients feel better emotionally and even physically. That is why wishes matter. That is why we grant wishes.
Some of the Wishes Made:
- 7 year old William wished to be a pilot. Read his story.
- 6 year old Noah wished to be a cowboy and learned to ride horses.
- Cindi wanted to be an ear, nose, throat doctor.
Kids can wish to be something, like these above. They can meet someone or go somewhere. Their stories are amazing.
Help us Do More:
You are here, reading and that awareness helps. There are so many charities to love and yet this one gives joy and hope to so many children from every background.
Every Tinselbox product gives back to charity. Many give 1% directly to Make A Wish! For every purchase, we give back . Because joy is all part of our mission.
Donate directly today to help fulfill wishes for another child.
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Compassionate Care through Play
Caring for someone with dementia is emotionally demanding work that can lead to exhaustion and burnout. To maintain your caring energy, to be “resilient” in the face of daily challenge it helps to remain emotionally attuned, looking after yourself and, importantly, maintaining your sense of humour.
In this introductory workshop we will give you a taster of the playfulness and emotional connection that arises through warm-up games, physical and vocal exercises leading to improvised play in the safe supported setting of a group of about twelve. This work, with its origins in the European clown-theatre tradition, encourages us to be more physically present, empathic and authentic in relating to others, which participants have found very uplifting. No prior theatre experience is needed.
This course is suitable for family and formal caregivers, psychologists, therapists, support workers or anyone working with people with dementia or acquired brain injury.
Renew positive emotional energy and optimism
Be more emotionally present in the moment, responding from the heart
Enhance a healing, helpful relationship between carer and person with dementia
Discover an alternative, creative way of being with others
Find lightness through laughter
By the end of the course, participants will have:
- Learned the value of letting go of conditioned thought
Experienced and valued being creative in the moment
Learned the importance of “staying with a problem” in order to promote emotional connection and creativity
Learned how stillness can foster emotional self-awareness
Through humour felt liberated from everyday concerns and stress
Learned to be playful and optimistic in their everyday lives
This is an introductory physical theatre workshop in which we give you a taster of the playfulness and emotional connection that arises through warm-up games, physical and vocal exercises, leading to improvised play in the safe supported setting of a group of about twelve participants.
This is essentially an introductory day to clown-theatre improvisation, a novel and creative way of experiencing in the moment one’s own emotional state in relationship to others in a playful and fun way. Participants who enjoyed discovering something of their “inner clown” can take it further by attending courses run by Nose to Nose (see www.nosetonose.info/)
For articles about clown improvisation supporting resilience, seewww.clowndoctor.co.uk
Trainers: David Wheeler and Laura Knobloch
David is a GP in Greenwich since 1988. He is a trainer of junior doctors and a teacher of supervision skills. He has trained in clown improvisation with Nose to Nose since 1993 and published an article on the benefits of this work on doctors’ communication skills in the British Medical Journal in 2008. Links to this and other articles on clowning may be found at www.clowndoctor.co.uk or on the Nose to Nose website: www.nosetonose.info/
Laura has trained with Vivian Gladwell (Nose to Nose) and Didier Danthois (Sacred Clowning). She is a State regd. + HPC registered Art psychotherapist (BAAT) and a Hatha Yoga teacher (British Wheel of Yoga).
When & Where
Dementia Pathfinders CIC
'Encouraging togetherness and learning in dementia care'
Dementia Pathfinders Community Interest Company is a social enterprise delivering education and learning for people working in the dementia care field and providing therapeutic care and support for people with dementia and their families.
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Helpful tips to make life in the kitchen easier and food taste better.
Mother knows best! When it comes to the kitchen, this idiom couldn’t hold more true. But it’s not only your female superiors who have so graciously passed on their secrets – with the rise of celebrity chefs and the number of Food Network productions, the general public is increasingly more educated on ways to become the master of mealtime making.
Sometimes however, it’s the information that gets lost between the lines that matters most, so we’ve assembled 60 of the most important kitchen tidbits that have stood the test of time and experience. This guide is packed with essential culinary pointers that will not only help you cook better meals but also navigate the kitchen with even greater ease and effectiveness.
Keep your onions in the refrigerator. A chilled onion is easier to chop, and causes fewer tears.
If you switch out seltzer for tap water or milk, you’ll end up with fluffier pancakes, waffles and scrambled eggs.
Want to boost the antioxidant power of your green tea? Add some lemon to it.
If your bananas are black, spotty and on the verge of turning from ripe to rotten, put them in the freezer so you can keep them on hand for a batch of banana bread on a rainy afternoon.
Put a dash of cinnamon or cardamom in your coffee for an extra spice boost.
Wow your guests when it’s time for dessert by adding cinnamon to your whipped cream.
Make your own vanilla sugar by placing a whole vanilla bean in a small jar and filling it with sugar. Screw on the lid and store until you need sugar with just a little extra flavor.
Not sure if your eggs are still good or not? Test their freshness by dissolving 2 teaspoons of salt in a cup of cold water. Place your egg in the water and if it floats it is an old egg, if it sinks, it’s fresh.
If you’re freezing summer’s bounty, spread berries out over a baking pan. Place pan in freezer until the berries are well frozen, then transfer to freezer bags. This keeps the berries individually frozen instead of in one big mass.
Not sure if spaghetti is fully cooked? Pull a noodle out of a pot of simmering water, let the water drip from it for a few seconds, and then chuck it against the nearest kitchen wall. If it adheres to the wall, it’s al dente!
Always keep dough covered with a moist cloth to avoid a dry crust from forming on it.
Never refrigerate tomatoes and citrus fruits. Refrigeration kills their flavors, nutrients, and textures.
Knock on a watermelon to check for signs of hollowness. It is sounds hollow, its ripe. If it doesn’t sound hollow, it’s unripe.
Pour oil into a pan that has already been preheated. This will prevent sticking later on.
Only add vegetables to a saucepan if they begin to sizzle upon impact. To check if the oil is hot enough to add vegetables, flick a few drops of water into the pan – if the oil makes a sizzling sound, it’s ready.
Oil biochemically changes for the worse when cooked. Enjoy extra-virgin oils in their raw state and benefit in both taste and nutrition.
Want to dehydrate without splurging on an expensive dehydrator? Set your oven on its lowest temperature setting and keep the door slightly ajar.
Squeeze lemon juice over half-eaten fruits and prevent them from rotting or turning brown.
Pour some vinegar over defrosting meat to accelerate the thawing process as well as tenderize the meat.
To keep cookies fresh, toss a piece of bread in the cookie jar. The cookies will extract moisture from the bread and retain their softness.
Keep milk fresher for longer by adding a dash of salt into the carton right after opening it for the first time.
Soak almonds in hot water for 20 minutes to make removing their skins easy.
Place dough in the freezer for a few minutes to prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin.
To smoothen the icing on a cake, use a knife dipped in hot water and gently rub it over the top and the sides.
Cut a cheesecake with a wet knife to ensure that the filling doesn’t stick to the knife’s edges and ruin presentation.
To get the most digestive benefit from bananas, wait until they’re browned and spotted – the more spots, the better.
Under-ripe or just ripe bananas can lead to constipation. Overripe bananas have developed their sugars and induce the complete opposite effect.
Ice-creams set faster and better in aluminum containers.
A pinch of soda in your icing will keep it moist and prevent it from cracking on the cake.
Is the salt in your shaker clumping? Put a few grains of rice into the shaker to absorb excess moisture.
Added just a pinch too many of salt to your soup? A raw potato added to the soup white cooking absorbs the extra sodium. Toss a chunk in the pot and let it linger in there until the soup is appealing to your tastes.
Adding a little bit of baking soda to dish water will help to remove pungent odors from utensils and dishes.
The key to smooth dressings, sauces, and gravy is to put all ingredients into a tightly sealed jar and then shake until all lumps and inconsistencies disappear.
Rub hands with dry salt to remove onion and garlic odor.
Add a tablespoon of butter or olive oil to a pot of boiling pasta to stop the water from boiling over the edge of the pan.
Dip fish into scalding water for a minute to scale more easily.
Another way to spread icing more easily on a cake is to sprinkle the top with flour as soon as the cake is removed from the oven.
To make rice as white and fluffy as possible, add approximately 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar per quart of water while cooking.
If you want to eliminate eggs, try this easy egg replacement: mix one tablespoon ground flaxseeds with three tablespoons warm water. Let sit for a few minutes and substitute for one egg in baking recipes.
Avoid storing onions near potatoes. Doing so will cause the potatoes to spoil sooner.
Forget to bring butter to room temperature for a recipe that calls for it? For a quick fix, fill a glass with hot tap water and let it sit for a few seconds. Empty the water and place the glass upside down over the amount of butter required for the recipe. Wait one minute and the butter should be ready to use!
Don’t have a rolling pin? Use an empty bottle.
In a recipe with both salt and some sort of acid, such as citrus, vinegar, or wine, you can offset one of the flavors by adding more of the other. For example, in a dish with too much vinegar, add salt to balance it out. Likewise, in an over-salted dish, add more vinegar.
Dust raisins, berries, or chocolate chips with flour to prevent them from sinking in while baking in a cake.
Always add sea salt to vegetables before roasting. The salt brings out the juices from the vegetables and gives them a caramelized flavor and deliciously browned appearance.
To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.
When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to the mix to help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.
Can’t stomach an entire avocado? Mash the remaining flesh and smooth it onto your skin for an impromptu, but highly effective, face and body mask. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then wash clean.
To prevent potatoes from budding, place them in a bag with apples.
Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to end up with a deliciously glossy finish.
Store spices in a cool, dark place that is not above the stove. Humidity, light, and heat will cause herbs and spices to lose their flavor.
Boil pasta 1 minute less than the package instructions and cook it the rest of the way in the pan with sauce.
For rich, creamy dressings made healthy, substitute half the mayo with Greek-style yogurt.
For best results when you’re baking, leave butter and eggs at room temperature overnight.
To easily peel a mango, cut a small part of the end off and you will be able to easily stand it up while you peel it.
Don’t like watered down iced coffee? Freeze coffee in an ice cube tray, and use those instead of regular ice cubes.
Put berries on a toothpick or skewer and freeze them for colorful and tasteful additions to spruce up a glass of champagne or sparkling water.
For a milder garlic flavor in dishes, roast garlic in the oven and then freeze the cloves until you are ready to use. Perfect for adding to sauces, mixing with olive oil for a spread and more.
Store bunches of basil in a glass of water so it keeps longer.
Instead of lemon, add cucumber or apple slices to your water. | <urn:uuid:eec95348-34e2-465e-b72d-9967526bff29> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://ecosalon.com/60-amazing-tips-for-food-and-the-kitchen-your-mother-may-have-forgotten-to-tell-you/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281353.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00069-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91432 | 1,962 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Firefox is an open source web browser that was released in 2004. The web browser has an ‘Awesome
Bar’ that adapts to your search preferences so that you won’t need to type a specific web address each
time you want to visit a certain website. The auto-complete function includes matches from sites you
bookmark, websites you have open, and your browsing history. You can have multiple websites open
with the help of tabbed browsing, wherein multiple web pages can be viewed in one browser window.
Firefox also has a feature that allows you to sync desktop preferences to your mobile device running on
Firefox. You can access your bookmarks, open tabs, passwords, and browsing history when you sync.
A search box is located at the right of the location bar. The search bar provides several search services,
such as those of Google, Yahoo, and Bing. The search bar can also act as a calculator and converter.
Other features of Firefox include private browsing, anti-virus integration, anti-phishing, and automated
updates. Users are also able to customize the web browser’s security settings for passwords,
installation, and blocking of websites.
This web browser is customizable. There are add-ons available for alerts, management, shopping,
security, and more. The Add-ons Manager allows you to browse descriptions, recommendations, and
ratings of the add-ons that are available for downloading. | <urn:uuid:3bc77999-d261-4f00-9d29-886689886ea2> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.filefacts.com/firefox-info/6599 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280835.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00053-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918796 | 304 | 1.976563 | 2 |
Summertime. Something about the ultraviolet rays, backyard BBQs and late night bonfires is truly centering. Or, actually, maybe it can be attributed to the lack of sleep deprivation and a not-so henious schedule.
Whatever it is, the free flowing spirit in the air from months June to August, is something most students look forward to every year. It is the oxen, the stronghold behind second semester, pulling us in our wagon of exhaustion.
It is an opportunistic time. One in which time is no longer spread thin between classes, work, organizations, and trying to be a functioning human being.
Instead, we have the opportunity and capacity to invest time in hobbies, habits, relationships, and (sigh) what it means to have balance.
So, looking to reset this summer? Purr. Here are some ways to do so.
Revisit your new years resolutions.
Yes, those bad boys collecting dust in your notes. I love Janurary and the nature of reset it brings, but it is also a busy time academically and professionally, making it difficult to implement new habits. So now that time is a bit more variable, look at that list again, tweak it to mirror your current ambitions, and find ways to integrate your goals in your daily life.
For more on building systems, not just habits, read the blog post Ritual vs Routine.
Pick up a new hobby (or two!)
Or, go back to one of your old hobbies that you used to love. Whichever it is, spending time on something on a regular basis also comes with newfound excitedness. And what a better time to learn or grow a hobby than now?
I planted a garden the other day. Have I ever gardened in my life? No. Will anything I planted grow? No idea. But it was fun, and new, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll have some homegrown veggies come fall.
Find a new way to grow your brain
What is a skill you’ve always wanted to acquire, but just did not have the time? There are so many learning mediums out there for languages, coding, science. Not to mention professional development classes available. Whether its Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, or something at your local community college, build in knowledge in this season of investing in yourself.
Have regular dates, check ins, and meetups with those you love.
I love being a student, but schedules and academic demands truly strips us of our ability to cultivate relationships. Ones that have regularity. So in this time, in additon to summertime events, concerts and festivals, pursue your friendships by setting up regular coffee dates, wine nights, or phone calls.
Lastly, reflect on the spring as you prepare for the fall.
Back to school season is more than buying pens and notebooks. It is a time to prepare for the semester ahead. And while summer is for rest and reset, it is also time to reflect on the months before to prepare for the months ahead. However that looks for you, look at:
- What went well?
- What would I do again?
- Why didn’t that go like I thought it would?
- What am I proud of?
- And, how can this upcoming semester be my best on yet.
Summer is a beautiful time to recenter through practices you love. In discovering new places, and finding your people, I hope these tips help you kickstart your days of reset. | <urn:uuid:39287071-34bd-4038-b494-78ff3575b026> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.lisagachara.com/ways-to-reset-in-summer-2022/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573104.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817183340-20220817213340-00470.warc.gz | en | 0.955238 | 726 | 1.507813 | 2 |
|An Equity Analysis of Performance-Based Financing in Rwanda: Are Services Reaching the Poorest Women?|
||Priedeman Skiles M, Curtis SL, Basinga P, Angeles G.
||Health Policy and Planning, 28(8):825-37. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czs122. Epub 2012 Dec 6.
||Maternal health services continue to favour the wealthiest in lower and middle income countries. Debate about the potential of performance-based financing (PBF) to address these disparities continues. As PBF is adopted by countries, it is critical to understand the equity effects for maternal services. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of PBF on equity in maternal health service use when no specific provisions target the poorest in the population. In Rwanda, PBF was designed to increase health service use, which was universally low. Paired districts were randomly assigned to intervention and control for PBF implementation. Using Rwanda's Demographic Health Survey data from 2005 (pre-intervention) and 2007-8 (post-intervention), a cluster-level panel dataset of 7899 women 15-49 years of age from intervention (4477) and control districts (3422) was created. The impact of PBF on reported use of facility deliveries, antenatal care (ANC) and modern contraceptive use was estimated using a difference-in-differences model with community fixed effects. Interaction terms between wealth quintiles and PBF were estimated to identify the differential effect of PBF among poorer women. The probability of a facility delivery increased by 10 percentage points in the intervention when compared with the control districts (P = 0.014), while no significant effects were noted for ANC visits or modern contraceptive use. Service use increased for intervention and control populations and across all wealth quintiles from 2005 to 2007, with no evidence that PBF was a pro-poor or a pro-rich strategy. Insurance remained a positive predictor of service use. This research suggests that if service use is uniformly low then a PBF programme that incentivizes select services, such as facility deliveries, may improve service use overall. However, if the equity gap is extreme, then a PBF programme without equity targets will do little to alleviate disparities. | <urn:uuid:b231a405-f7f2-4423-a28f-823001a76709> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.dhsprogram.com/Publications/journal-details.cfm?article_id=1624&C_id=54&T_ID=0&P_ID=0&r_id=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571745.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812170436-20220812200436-00477.warc.gz | en | 0.9181 | 550 | 1.53125 | 2 |
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An area that some people often forget about is their eyelid complexion. Many ladies tend not to know that vision cream is an essential part of your respective total splendor strategy. Your vision cream can certainly help maintain simply click the up coming article complexion easy and young searching. In fact, simply click the up coming article greatest results when using eyes product are found on simply click the up coming article uppr lid of your respective sight. This is where bacterias generally reasons luggage. So, factors to consider to make use of an eye ointment that includes a medically confirmed contra –microbial substance including Noxzema, which is derived from the wool of sheep.
A different item that should definitely maintain your collection is a good bad acne struggling cream. Acne scarring can shape both on account of your skin area developed an excessive amount of gas or a lot natural oils. You must think of working with medications just like Retin-A should your acne cases are quite significant. By using treatments and also other healthy skin care treatment options will provide you with a lot better benefits. | <urn:uuid:25bfd7d9-48da-41b5-8710-27ee23d38ac6> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://condecris.xyz/healthy-skin-care-solution-for-acne-prone-women/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571097.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810010059-20220810040059-00266.warc.gz | en | 0.925294 | 948 | 2.046875 | 2 |
Place-Based Impact Investing: Catalyzing women-led enterprises in Ontario’s COVID recovery
“It is not more bigness that should be our goal. We must attempt, rather, to bring people back to the warmth of community, to the worth of individual effort and responsibility, and of individuals working together as a community, to better their lives and their children’s future” — Robert F. Kennedy
As communities consider how to rebuild their local economies in a post-COVID era, it is critical to ensure that our investments generate community value in addition to financial value. SVX has written extensively on the need to catalyze community investment to build more resilient and equitable communities across Ontario, but in this article, we will highlight the need to support women-led and women-serving businesses with place-based impact investment solutions. Investing in women-led organizations will be a critical part of our path to a just recovery that champions equity, innovation, and prosperity for all.
Although collectively the term ‘women’ is used throughout this article, it is critical to underscore that place-based impact investing solutions must seek to support women-identified and gender non-binary entrepreneurs from underserved and underrepresented communities. This includes, but is not limited to, Indigenous women, women in rural or remote regions, racialized women, newcomer women, LGBTQ2+, women with disabilities, and those who identify as gender non-binary.
This post is part of a series of knowledge assets created for the Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN), supported by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
What is place-based impact investing?
Place-based impact investing refers to the local deployment of impact capital, meaning that investments are made with the intention of generating both financial returns and community benefit to address the needs of particular communities, regions, or ecosystems. Specifically, place-based impact investing uses repayable financing and equity investment to support the startup or growth of a community-based project or social enterprise that looks to achieve specific community outcomes. The place-based impact investing movement is growing rapidly, as capital moves into the broader impact investing sector at unprecedented rates. In fact, the RIA reports that as of 2019, there are $20.3B in impact investment assets in Canada, up 38 per cent from 2017.
How does place-based impact investing work?
Place-based impact investing primarily occurs through funds that aggregate local capital to finance local organizations, enterprises and projects. Because community needs vary, place-based funds typically invest in a variety of sectors, business types, and impact areas. These funds also leverage local capital from a variety of investor types, including high-net worth individuals, local foundations, corporations, governments, etc. This form of impact investing provides funds with the unique ability to bring private capital, public resources, and philanthropic assets together to build a stronger and more resilient community. There is a range of approaches to place-based impact investing across a variety of asset classes:
- Cash and cash equivalents: Depositing money into local community development banks and credit unions that are socially or environmentally-focused (like Vancity) builds the local social impact ecosystem and extends credit to local and underserved communities. This may take place through insured debt products like Impact GICs or community-based term deposits.
- Fixed income and debt: Stable, long-term community contribution companies and community organizations may choose to expand using private debt financing or issue community bonds. Municipalities are increasingly issuing social impact bonds and green bonds to finance projects that contribute positively to the city’s environmental or social objectives. Notable examples include the City of Ottawa’s 2017 green bond issuance and the City of Toronto’s $100M social bond which was used to finance social and affordable housing. There are also many examples of community loan funds in Canada and the US including the Saint John Community Loan Fund, Social Enterprise Fund, and VERGE Capital.
- Private equity and venture capital: Place-based impact investing funds can make equity, debt, and hybrid investments in local private enterprises and Social Purpose Organizations (SPOs) to allow them to scale and grow their operations and ability to contribute to environmental and social solutions. Noteworthy examples include Upper Canada Equity Fund and Local Investing YYC.
- Real assets and infrastructure: Place-based investing is also a means of financing local infrastructure, social purpose real estate, renewable energy projects, and other commodities that generate positive social and environmental impact for their community. There are large scale examples of place-based impact investing supporting affordable housing in Ontario, including Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB)’s partnership with the Parkdale Community Land Trust or the Hamilton Community Foundation’s partnership with Indwell.
Why is place-based impact investing important?
Place-based impact investing is responsive to local community needs and can address specific social, environmental and economic issues with greater efficiency. Communities have enhanced proximity to local issues and can be more reflexive in addressing critical needs than national entities. Particularly, place-based impact investing can invest in solutions that solve core local needs and take a patient capital approach that may be required when addressing embedded community issues. This presents a great opportunity for governments to invest in place-based social finance intermediaries who can act as more effective disbursement agents for investments that achieve local economic, social and environmental objectives. In particular, the Canadian government’s commitment of $755 million of co-investment capital for social finance intermediaries through the Social Finance Fund, which will be leveraged with additional private capital, will allow for many place-based impact investing funds to solve difficult societal challenges in their local communities.
Rural Canada in particular is faced with a lack of new business creation, an exodus of young people, and underinvestment. The Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote a report around impact investing and its ability to strengthen rural economies in a COVID-19 context, saying, “Impact investments can fill the financing gap while addressing pervasive problems like connectivity and access to finance, creating a more sustainable economic model for rural economies going forward.” With undercapitalization being a clear challenge in rural communities, Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) were created. The Community Futures Network operates and supports 267 non-profit CFDCs across Canada as a centralized agent, allowing the federal government to drive smart investments into rural Canada. CFDCs operate with a volunteer Board of Directors made up of local community members and typically have four staff members: an Executive Director, a Business Analyst, a Community Economic Development Officer, and an Administrator.
Place-based impact investing has been a driver for job creation and attracting further investment. CFDCs have had tremendous success in the past, and since 1995, CFDCs have invested $2.13B in 27,196 businesses influencing 138,479 jobs. They have also provided capacity support to 69,631 businesses and leveraged an additional $2.09B in equity and third-party financing.
We have an opportunity to mobilize billions in local capital to tackle local challenges. In Nova Scotia alone, the Community Economic Development Investment Fund (CEDIF) model has mobilized approximately $100M in local capital to be invested in local enterprises. According to StatsCan, Nova Scotians collectively had approximately $166.3B in financial assets in 2019 while Ontarians had over $3T in financial assets. If we could mobilize just 0.1% of this, we would unlock over $30B in private capital for place-based impact investing.
How does place-based impact investing support women-led and women-serving enterprises?
As the place-based investing movement continues to grow, an intentional focus on place-based investing for women-led and women-serving enterprises presents an important gap and opportunity. Investing that focuses on women-led businesses is often referred to as gender-lens investing, defined by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) as investing with the intent to address gender issues or promote gender equality and/or investing with a process and strategy that focuses on gender effects, organizational culture, and gender equality. Capital providers are continuing to develop a gender-lens for their operations because of the multitude of benefits that come from increased gender diversity. Countless studies have demonstrated that gender diversity at the executive level is correlated with greater profitability, higher levels of performance, and enhanced value creation. By advancing gender-lens investing in the place-based investing arena, we can work to dismantle systemic barriers by including women at decision-making tables, while also enhancing financial profitability and operational success.
Women founders may often be unincorporated, hindering their ability to access new financing opportunities. The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) reports that 66% of self-employed Canadian women are unincorporated compared to only 46.2% of self-employed men. This contributes to the fact that women are less likely to receive financing than men (32.6 percent vs. 38 percent), and firms owned by men are more likely to receive venture capital or angel funding and other forms of leverage such as trade credit or capital leasing. This disparity in access to growth financing prevents women from growing and scaling their businesses and powering the broader engine of Canada’s innovation and economic development. However, this also presents a massive opportunity to capitalize strong founders with viable products and services that offer innovative solutions to wicked issues faced by various communities.
Place-based investing is a critical way, particularly for rural communities, to drive sustainable entrepreneurship. Women entrepreneurs may be particularly attracted to starting a business in a rural community because they face lower start-up costs, meaning the cost of trying something new is relatively low. Additionally, over 18% of Canadian women live in rural or remote areas but only 20% of self-employed rural women earn an income of $20,000 or more, which is almost 50% less than their rural male counterparts.
The Centre for Creative Leadership found that women tend to seek out work opportunities that are purpose-driven and want flexibility in where, when, and how they work. Entrepreneurship provides those types of work opportunities for women who may be looking for flexible work arrangements or to generate additional income. Additionally, training programs and accelerators specifically designed for women-led businesses are gaining traction, like the Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN) and Compass North. As of April 2021, WOSEN has supported over 500 women through programming, business coaching, and peer-to-peer network building, helping them build their businesses and prepare for raising capital.
Investing in women-led enterprises in rural communities may also work to reverse startling trends in Canada’s rural communities. By empowering rural townships to introduce female-focused innovation programming alongside national support, they can work to increase their tax base and business start-up growth, powering their communities for decades to come.
Place-based investing in women-led enterprises is more important than ever in the wake of COVID. There is a renewed need to focus on women-led enterprises, particularly because we have seen that the COVID-19 pandemic had disproportionate effects on women’s employment. In the early days of the pandemic, women made up 70% of employment losses for Canadian workers between 25–54 years old. In fact, according to RBC and Statistics Canada, between February — October 2020, 20,600 women left the workforce whereas 68,000 men entered the workforce. But there is also a utilization issue. Workforce underutilization measures those who are unemployed, those who gave up looking for work, and those who are still employed but lost all or the majority of their hours. This figure peaked in April at 36.1% and has declined consistently as the pandemic wears on. However, what has not changed is the fact that women have experienced consistently lower workforce utilization rates than men, and the labour utilization rates of men and women were nearly equivalent prior to the pandemic.
In no uncertain terms, the COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating economic, health, and social implications for marginalized groups including women, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, BIPOC and racialized individuals, and newcomer and refugee women. Place-based solutions are starting to show early signs of hope in reversing these trends and catalyzing growth in a more equitable and purpose-led recovery. The RE3 program was created to provide funding for Southern Ontario-based women-led SMEs out of recognition that women entrepreneurs have been severely affected by the pandemic and related restrictions. Through the RE3 program administered by the Northumberland CFDC across Eastern Ontario, they were able to provide support to 375 women-led enterprises and help maintain over 1,040 jobs.
Place-based solutions are key in dismantling systemic barriers faced by women entrepreneurs and necessary capacity is being created with targeted programming to inspire a more inclusive innovation ecosystem. However, investment opportunities for women-led enterprises are still lacking, meaning these capable enterprises lack the much-needed capital required to grow, and scale their business and subsequent impact. While there is much room for growth, there are emerging and leading models for place-based impact investing, particularly those that support women-led enterprises, organizations, and projects.
What are leading models for place-based impact investing?
Local models in Ontario
PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise: PARO is a nonprofit social enterprise that collaborates to empower women, strengthen small business, and promote community economic development across Ontario. They have been operating in Thunder Bay, ON, for over 26 years and the organization has supported over 22,000 businesses. PARO focuses on growing women’s enterprises, helping women’s businesses access new growth opportunities, and expand women’s businesses into new markets, both in Canada and abroad. They have distributed over $7.7M in grant funding to support women’s enterprises but they also run peer lending circles, where small groups of 4–7 women meet regularly to share their experiences, offer advice, and expand their networks. These peer lending circles also regularly make microloans of $500 to $5,000 to help their peers grow their businesses.
VERGE Capital: VERGE is a social finance intermediary that provides flexible and patient loans to social enterprises in Southwestern Ontario. VERGE Capital is part of the Pillar Nonprofit Network and operates two funds: a Startup Fund for early-stage social enterprises and a Breakthrough Fund for established social enterprises, community real estate, and affordable housing. VERGE invests in local impact, climate action, equity and inclusion, and systems change. However, they prioritize lending to social entrepreneurs from (or organizations that serve) underserved and underrepresented communities, including BIPOC individuals, women, newcomer Canadians, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2+ individuals, and folks who live in rural and remote communities. As a result, VERGE has invested in many women-led social enterprises including Loko Sport, Skilled Accents, and Lazara’s Beauty Supply.
Fair Finance Fund: The Fair Finance Fund is a non-profit social finance fund that provides loans between $20,000 to $200,000 to local food and farm enterprises in Ontario to support food that is grown, raised, and processed locally. Their mission directly benefits Ontario’s rural economies and strengthens regional local food systems across the province. It can be exceptionally difficult for rural social enterprises with an agri-food focus to access growth capital and Fair Finance Fund works to create equitable access to capital for social enterprises in Ontario’s food system. They also work alongside their loan clients and provide them with mentorship through the REAL Assist program, where loan clients have access to hands-on support from experienced advisors around business development, financial management, marketing, branding, etc. Many of the businesses they lend to are run by families and women, including Vintage Soil Farm, Split Rail Brewing Co., and Mulberry Moon Organics.
Outside of Ontario, there are many developed place-based impact investors that are solving critical community needs.
- Jubilee Fund: a Manitoba-based charitable ethical investment fund that provides loan guarantees, direct loans, and bridge financing to Manitoba nonprofits and social enterprises working to reduce poverty. Jubilee’s lending allows their clients to reach more people and provide more services for marginalized individuals and families in Manitoba, and their investors and donors include foundations, high-net worth individuals, community organizations, and credit unions.
- Rhiza Capital: Rhiza deploys venture capital and private equity for early-stage BC-based companies that have high growth prospects and strong SDG alignment for local impact. They are supported by the Powell River CIC, Community Futures Sunshine Coast, and Sunshine Coast Credit Union and have invested over $7M across four funds. Their latest fund, CVR3, is actively seeking out female and BIPOC-led ventures.
- Saint John Community Loan Fund: SJCLF sets out to build solutions through social impact and entrepreneurship in New Brunswick. The loan fund has invested over $3.3M in social-purpose real estate projects and has made almost 300 loans to social enterprises and local entrepreneurs. Their LaunchSocial program supported eight social enterprises with up to $50,000 in financing, and of those ventures, 62.5% were women-led organizations. SJCLF also runs a variety of training programs, including the Enterprising Women program, which has supported over 170 women with business planning and coaching support.
It is clear that there are a number of existing and emerging opportunities to support place-based investment funds that cater to women-led and women-serving enterprises. For the women-led social finance ecosystem to grow, it is crucial that investors work to catalyze investment with intentionality because there will be no economic recovery from COVID without women. There is significant work to do to ensure our place-based impact investing ecosystem is inclusive and diverse and investors must work alongside existing and emerging social finance funds so that we can build more resilient and equitable local communities. | <urn:uuid:805b1b92-12e5-4f27-b899-ba0dbd5755d7> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://thesvx.medium.com/place-based-impact-investing-catalyzing-women-led-enterprises-in-ontarios-covid-recovery-755f33ac7dcd?source=post_internal_links---------7---------------------------- | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571502.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811194507-20220811224507-00075.warc.gz | en | 0.955242 | 3,709 | 1.601563 | 2 |
"Should I stop taking my cholesterol-lowering drug (CLD) and switch to the natural product Sytrinol?"
"Can I take this remedy along with a CLD?
"Are there other natural ways to lower blood cholesterol?"
These and other responses to my column of two months ago about Sytrinol indicate that large numbers of people on CLDs are worried about their potential side effects, and would prefer a natural product.
To recapitulate, Sytrinol consists of citrus and palm fruit extract. This is why these products are often called plant sterols, as they're found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, cereals and vegetable oils. Sytrinol has been available for several years and passed the test of time by lowering total cholesterol 30%, LDL bad cholesterol 27 %, triglycerides 34%, and increases HDL good cholesterol by four percent.
Sytrinol contains polymethoxalted flavones and tocotrienols and works by decreasing the oxidation of bad cholesterol, a factor in plaque formation and narrowing of coronary arteries. And by decreasing inflammation of arteries and lubrication of platelets associated with clotting, there's less chance of a fatal coronary.
But there are several other natural products available, such as Oasis CholestPrevent, Vita Health Cholesterol and Cholesterol Essentials that lower blood cholesterol. Another product, Polycasonal, is made from sugarcane and also decreases blood cholesterol. Check with health food stores for other brand names.
Many readers ask, "Are these products safe?" Scientific studies have been carried out on plant sterols and Health Canada now permits their addition to dietary products.
Others ask if they can discontinue a prescription drug and take one of these natural products. The answer is "no". Your own doctor must decide on medication changes. It's been aptly said that, "He who treats himself has a fool for a patient". But you don't always have to go to health food stores to lower blood cholesterol. Why not try the grocery store?
Dr. David Jenkins, Director of Clinical Nutrition at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, placed 27 men and women with high cholesterol levels on two handfuls of almonds (75 grams) every day for the first month. They received half the amount of almonds in the second month.
The result was good news for the almond industry. The full dose of almonds reduced bad cholesterol by 9.4% and half the dose by 4.4%. Almond snacks also resulted in improvement in both total cholesterol and good cholesterol. Jenkins claims that two handfuls of almonds can decrease the risk of cardiovascular illness by 20% and one handful by 18%. But remember nuts are loaded with calories.
Jenkins also reported that the risk of cardiovascular disease can be decreased 25% if your diet includes other cholesterol-lowering foods such as oat bran, barley, psyllium and soy products.
Other studies show that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish can help to decrease bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.
Many patients don't realize that vitamin C also helps to decrease blood cholesterol. The best routine is to take 3,000 milligrams (mg) of ascorbic acid powder (vitamin C) after the evening meal. This converts cholesterol into bile acids that are then excreted in the bile to intestines. Then, before breakfast, take the same amount of ascorbic acid which often results in a bowel movement. This removes bile acids before they can be reabsorbed and converted back to cholesterol. If 3,000 mg of C does not cause a bowel movement, gradually increase the amount of ascorbic acid.
What about the liquor store? Before dinner I usually enjoy a cocktail, as many studies prove that alcohol increases good cholesterol. It also lubricates the blood, so there's less chance of a fatal blood clot. But don't take this advice if you don't drink alcohol or are not a moderate drinker.
Remember that Sytrinol and other natural remedies are less effective if you're still smoking and not getting regular exercise. Moreover, we know that excessive weight gain often leads to Type 2 diabetes, hardening of arteries and high blood cholesterol. A faulty lifestyle is killing millions of North Americans. | <urn:uuid:4b7f1fb1-9042-48da-87a8-fffed914e04d> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/news/2111/31889?newssource=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560283689.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095123-00353-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937392 | 878 | 1.679688 | 2 |
In release 7.2, we have opened up DataRobot for data science experts who love to code via Composable ML and code-centric data preparation and pipelines. MLOps adds Continuous AI to keep production models at peak performance, bias monitoring to keep models fair, and new Decision Intelligence flows that let you apply business rules to each and every prediction.
Keep reading to understand more about our most exciting release yet.
Powerful Tools for Data Science Experts Who Love to Code
Your Expertise Extended with Our World-Class Automation. To build best-in-class models, data scientists need to constantly experiment with data and algorithms. In reality, data scientists spend much of their time on repetitive or mundane tasks, like writing code for feature transformations or model operationalization, leaving them with little time to actually experiment.
New in release 7.2, DataRobot Composable ML provides customizable blueprints containing reusable building blocks that allow experts to save time on mundane coding tasks and focus on experimentation and other high-value activities. You can define your unique best-in-class machine learning algorithm, then combine it with built-in DataRobot’s capabilities to automate repetitive and laborious tasks, resulting in a dramatic boost in productivity.
Prepare and Publish Data Flows with Code. In release 7.2, we now offer code-centric data pipelines for data scientists, data engineers, and SQL savvy analysts. This new capability enables you to create a workspace in the AI Catalog, then connect to your data sources and build self-contained data preparation modules using the coding languages you know and love.
You can organize these code modules into a pipeline or graph format via an easy-to-use flow editor that can be scheduled and run how you choose. Code-centric data pipelines give your coding experts the ultimate flexibility to quickly create new datasets that can be used in any machine learning project.
Notebook Powered Data Science. DataRobot now has an integrated notebook solution with its recent acquisition of Zepl. Sign up for your free trial and get pre-built notebooks with all the code you need to connect to DataRobot using Python or R. Use Notebooks to explore data sets and do ad hoc analysis in Snowflake, Amazon S3, or other cloud data sources. Visualize your findings with our built-in Plotly editor or use the data visualization library of your choice. Easily share results with your business users with our “publish” features. Our cloud-hosted notebooks require zero maintenance from you or your team. Get all the goodness of notebooks without the headaches with DataRobot Notebooks fully-managed cloud solution.
External Prediction Insights
Out of the Box Explainability For Any External Model. New in Release 7.2, external prediction insights allow you to bring the output of any model you already created outside of DataRobot, into our machine learning development environment. Once uploaded, you can compare your existing model with any best-in-class model generated on the AutoML leaderboard. Additionally, you can evaluate your external model using our out-of-the-box visual insights and explainable AI tools, including the Lift Chart, ROC Curve, Bias and Fairness insights, and more.
Model Quality for your Production Models
Keep Production Models at Peak Performance. With Continuous AI, you can create multiple MLOps strategies to refresh your production models. You can base them on your own schedule or set them to be triggered when accuracy drops or data drift occurs. Continuous AI also uses DataRobot’s world-class AutoML capabilities to automatically create and recommend new challenger models for you. When combined, these strategies ensure that you always have the most up-to-date models generating the most accurate and timely predictions possible.
Bias and Monitoring in Production
Proactively Monitor Your Production Models for Bias. Bias monitoring is new in DataRobot Release 7.2 of MLOps. Machine learning models that do not exhibit bias at training time can become biased after they are deployed. As human behaviour changes so will data we generate, which could cause your model to become unfair. MLOps now allows you to monitor your production models using the fairness metric you selected when you trained the model, such as proportional parity. You can also apply thresholds to trigger alerts if your model falls below the benchmarks you set. If bias is detected, the data drift insight allows you to understand how your data is changing over time and help you diagnose the source of bias.
AI-powered Decision Making
No-Code AI Apps
Making AI Accessible to Front-Line Decision Makers. DataRobot’s No-Code AI Apps is now generally available. It allows you to quickly turn any model into an AI application without requiring any coding. Use our pre-built templates and drag-and-drop widgets to quickly configure your apps. Just pick the model features and data visualizations you want your app consumers to use in their decision-making process. This makes it much easier for business users and information workers to leverage predictions generated by their models and make more informed AI-driven decisions.
Decision Intelligence Flows
Automate and Scale Your Decisions. Realizing the full value of AI is not just about making predictions. It’s about the decisions and actions you take as a result. Decision Intelligence Flows allow you to move beyond predictions by building rules using complex business logic to drive decisions and desired outcomes. In our intuitive decision flow editor, you can quickly create sophisticated decision rules using prediction scores and features from one or more machine learning models already deployed. The decision logic you define is easily operationalized via a robust API enabling you to make decisions in real-time or in batch. Decision Intelligence Flows also provide full visual lineage for every rule you define giving you the transparency your organization needs to trust every single decision made.
Scaling Your AI Projects
Pathfinder Solution Accelerators
Quickly Get Started with the Most Popular AI Use Cases. DataRobot Pathfinder Solution Accelerators are an application-first AI exploration experience. Pathfinder Solution Accelerators provide a library of common AI use cases and a variety of tools and integrations to jumpstart your path to value with AI. Like an AI marketplace, Pathfinder Solution Accelerators make it easy to find, preview, and get started with popular AI use cases fast. In just a few clicks, you can go from theory to training your own model on DataRobot’s world-class AI platform in a completely seamless and guided experience.
Enterprise Platform Readiness
AI Cloud Platform
Even More Enterprise-Ready. In release 7.2, we have worked hard on our architecture and IT administration capabilities to make the platform even more enterprise-ready. DataRobot administrators can now set multiple roles per user and permanently delete users and their associated projects and deployment data. DataRobot modeling workers now run on Kubernetes for managed cloud offerings to improve the overall reliability, workload management, and auto-scaling capabilities of the DataRobot platform (support for non-premise and VPC offerings in the works).
More Coming Soon. Stay Tuned!
Other new features include Nowcasting for Automated Time Series, anomaly detection for Visual AI, new public documentation, and many other critical enhancements.
These are just some of the major highlights of the DataRobot 7.2 Release. For a complete list of new and enhanced features, please visit the DataRobot Documentation Release Center or join the conversation in the DataRobot Community. | <urn:uuid:89c10ff9-ed6d-4523-9afa-a913bec0d04c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.datarobot.com/platform/new/datarobot-7-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571502.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811194507-20220811224507-00072.warc.gz | en | 0.889817 | 1,569 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Eugene V. Debs
This is an address given Sunday December 10 1905 by Eugene V. Debs, leader of the Socialist Party of the United States, at Grand Central Palace New York, on the subject of the Industrial Workers of the World. Even though the Socialist Party was electoral, there was an overlap in members between them and the I.W.W.
There is a fair bit of sexist language.
There is inspiration in your greeting and my heart opens wide to receive it. I have come a thousand miles to join with you in fanning the flames of the proletarian revolution. (Applause.)
Your presence here makes this a vitalising atmosphere for a labor agitator. I can feel my stature increasing, and this means that you are growing, for all my strength is drawn from you, and without you I am nothing.
In capitalist society you are the lower class; the capitalists are the upper class — because they are on your backs; if they were not on your backs, they could not be above you. (Applause and laughter.)
Standing in your presence, I can see in your gleaming eyes and in your glowing faces the vanguard; I can hear the tramp, I can feel the thrill of the social revolution. The working class are waking up. (A voice: “You bet.”) They are beginning to understand that their economic interests are identical, that they must unite and act together economically and politically and in every other way; that only by united action can they overthrow the capitalist system and emancipate themselves from wage-slavery. (Applause. )
I have said that in capitalist society the working class are the lower class; they have always been the lower class. In the ancient world for thousands of years they were abject slaves; in the Middle Ages, serfs; in modern times, wage-workers; to become free men in socialism is the next inevitable phase in our civilisation. (Applause.) The working class have struggled through all the various phases of their development, and they are to-day engaged in the last stage of the animal struggle for existence; and when the present revolution has run its course, the working class will stand forth the sovereigns of this earth.
In capitalist society the working man is not, in fact, a man at all; as a wage-worker, he is simply merchandise; he is bought in the open market the same as hair, hides, salt, or any other form of merchandise. The very terminology of the capitalist system proves that he is not a man in any sense of that term.
When the capitalist needs you as a workingman to operate his machine, he does not advertise, he does not call for men, but for “hands”; and when you see a placard posted, “fifty hands wanted,” you stop on the instant; you know that that means you, and you take a bee-line for the bureau of employment to offer yourself, in evidence of the fact that you are a “hand.” When the capitalist advertises for hands, that is what he wants. He would be insulted if you were to call him a “hand.” He has his capitalist politician tell you, when your vote is wanted, that you ought to be very proud of your hands because they are horny, and if that is true, he ought to be ashamed of his. (Laughter and applause.) What is your status in society to-day? You are a human being, a wage-worker. Here you stand just as you were created, and you have two hands that represent your labor power; but you do not work, and why not? For this simple reason: That you have no tools with which to work; you cannot compete against the machinery of the capitalist with your bare hands; you cannot work unless you have access to it, and you can only secure access to it by selling your labour power — that is to say, your energy, your vitality, your life itself — to the capitalist who owns the tool with which you work, and without which you are idle and suffer all of the ills that idleness entails.
In the evolution of Capitalism, society has been divided mainly into two economic classes; a relatively small class of capitalists who own tools in the form of great machines they did not make and cannot use, and a great body of many millions of workers who did make these tools and who do use them, and whose very lives depend upon them, yet who do not own them; and these millions of wage-workers, producers of wealth, are forced into the labour market, in competition with each other, disposing of their labour power to the capitalist class, in consideration of just enough of what they produce to keep them in working order. They are exploited of the greater share of what their labour produces, so that while upon the one hand they can produce in great abundance, upon the other they can consume but that share of the product that their meagre wage will buy; and every now and then it follows that they have produced more than can be consumed in the present system, and then they are displaced by the very products of their own labour; the mills and shops and mines and quarries in which they are employed close down, the tools are locked up and they are locked out, and they find themselves idle and helpless in the shadow of the very abundance their labour has created. There is no hope for them in this system. They are beginning to realise this fact, and so they are beginning to organise themselves; they are no longer relying upon someone else to emancipate them, but they are making up their minds to depend upon themselves and to organise for their own emancipation.
Too long have the workers of this world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. He has not come; he never will come. I would not lead you if I could; for if you could be led out, you could be led back again. (Applause.) I would have you make up your minds that there is nothing that you cannot do for yourselves. You do not need the capitalist. He could not exist an instant without you. You would just begin to live without him. (Laughter and prolonged applause.) You do everything and he has everything and some of you imagine that if it were not for him you would have no work. As a matter of fact, he does not employ you at all; you employ him to take from you what you produce, and he faithfully sticks to his task. If you can stand it, he can; and if you don’t change this relation I am sure he won’t. You make the automobile; he rides in it. If it were not for you, he would walk; and if it were not for him, you would ride.
The capitalist politician tells you on occasion that you are the salt of the earth; and if you are, you had better begin by salting down the capitalist class.
The revolutionary movement of the working class will date from the year 1901, from the organisation of the Industrial Workers of the World! (Prolonged cheers.) Economic solidarity is to-day the supreme need of the working class. The old form of unionism has long since fulfilled its mission and outlived its usefulness, and the hour has struck for a change.
The old unionism is organised on the basis of the identity of interests of the capitalist and working classes. It spends its time and energy trying to harmonise these two essentially antagonistic classes; and so this unionism has at his head a harmonising board called the Civic Federation. This federation consists of three parts; a part representing the capitalist class; a part supposed to represent the working class, and still another part that is said to represent the “public.” The capitalists are represented by that great union Labor champion August Belmont. (Laughter and hisses.) The working class is represented by Samuel Gompers, the president of the American Federation of Labor (hisses and cry “Sick him”) and the public by Grover Cleveland. (Laughter.)
Can you imagine a fox and goose peace congress. Just fancy such a meeting, the goose lifting its wings in benediction, and the fox whispering, “Let us prey.”
The Civic Federation has been organised for the one purpose of prolonging the age-long sleep of the working class. Their supreme purpose is to keep you from waking up. (voice: “They can’t do it.”)
The Industrial Workers has been organised for an opposite purpose, and its representatives come in your presence to tell you that there can be no peace between you, the working class, and the capitalist class who exploit you of that you produce; that as workers, you have economic interests apart from and opposed to their interests, and that you must organise by and for yourselves; and that if you are intelligent enough to understand these interests, you will sever your relations with the old unions in which you are divided and sub-divided, and join the Industrial Workers, in which all are organised and united upon the basis of the class struggle. (Applause.)
The Industrial Workers is organised, not to conciliate, but to fight the capitalist class. We have no object in concealing any part of our mission; we would have it perfectly understood. We deny that there is anything in common between the workingman and the capitalist. We insist that workingmen must organise to get rid of capitalists and make themselves the masters of the tools with which they work, freely employ themselves, secure to themselves all they produce, and enjoy to the full the fruit of their labors. (Applause.)
The old union movement is not only organised upon the basis of the identity of interests of the exploited and exploiting classes, but it divides instead of uniting the workers, and there are thousands of unions, more or less in conflict, used against one another, and so long as these countless unions occupy the field, there will be no substantial unity of the working class. (Applause.)
And here let me say that the most jealous supporter of the old union is the capitalist himself. August Belmont, president of the Civic Federation, takes special pride in declaring himself a “union man” (laughter), but he does not mean by that that he is an Industrial Worker, that is not the kind of union he means. He means the impotent old union that Mr. Gompers and Mr. Mitchell lead, the kind that keeps the working class divided so that the capitalist system may be perpetuated indefinitely.
For thirty years I have been connected with the organised Labor Movement. I have long since been made to realise that the pure and simple union can do nothing for the working class; I have had some experience and know whereof I speak.
The craft union seeks to establish its own supremacy. Craft division is fatal to class unity. To organise along craft lines means to divide the working class and make it the prey of the capitalist class. The Working class can only be unionised efficiently along class lines; and so the Industrial Workers has been organised, not to isolate the crafts but to unite the whole working class. (Applause.)
The working class has had considerable experience during the past few years. In every conflict between Labor and Capital, labor has been defeated. Take the leading strikes in their order, and you will find that, without a single exception, the organised workers have been defeated, and thousands upon thousands of them have lost their jobs, and many of them have become “scabs.” Is there not something wrong with a unionism in which the workers are always worsted? Let me review hurriedly the history of the past few years.
I have seen the conductors of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, organised in the craft union, take the places of the striking union locomotive engineers on the same system.
I have seen the employees of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway, organised in their several craft unions, stand by the corporation as a unit, totally wiping out the union telegraphers, thirteen hundred of them losing their jobs.
I have seen these same craft unions, just a little while ago, on the Northern Pacific and Great Northern systems. I have seen them unite with the corporation to crush out the telegraphers’ union, and defeat the strikers, their own co-unionists and fellow-employees.
Just a few weeks ago, in the city of Chicago, the switchmen on the Grand Trunk went out on strike. All their fellow unionists remained at work and faithfully served the corporation until the switchmen were defeated, and now those union switchmen are scattered about looking for jobs.
The machinists were recently on strike in Chicago. They went out in a body under the direction of their craft union. Their fellow unionists all remained at work until the machinists were completely defeated, and now their organisation in that city is on the verge of collapse.
There has been a ceaseless repetition of this form of scabbing of one craft union upon another until the workingman, if his eyes are open, is bound to see that this kind of unionism is a curse and not a benefit to the working class.
The American Federation of Labor does not learn by experience. They recently held their annual convention, and they passed the same old stereotyped resolutions; they are going to petition Congress to restrict the power of the courts; that is to say, they are going to once more petition a capitalist Congress to restrict the power of capitalist courts. That is as if a flock of sheep were to petition a lot of wolves to extract their own fangs. They have passed these resolutions over and over again. They have been totally fruitless and they will continue to be.
What good came to the working class from these conventions Put your finger upon a single thing that they did that will be of any real benefit to the workers of this country!
You have had some experience here in New York. It was in March last that you had here an exhibition of pure and simple unionism. You saw about six thousand craft union men go out on strike, and you saw their fellow unionists remain at work loyally until all the strikers were defeated and sacrificed. Here you have an object lesson that is well calculated to set you thinking, and this is all I can hope to do by coming here, set you thinking, and for yourselves; for when you begin to think, you will soon begin to act for yourselves. You will then sever your relations with capitalist unions and capitalist parties (applause), and you will begin the real work of organising your class, and that is what we of the Industrial Workers have engaged to do. We have a new mission. That mission is not merely the amelioration of the condition of the working class, but the complete emancipation of that class from slavery. (Applause.)
The Industrial Workers is going to do all for the working class that can be done in the capitalist system, but while it is engaged in doing that, its revolutionary eye will be fixed upon the goal; and there will be a great difference between a strike of revolutionary workers and a strike of ignorant trade unionists who but vaguely understand what they want and do not know how to get that. (Applause.) The Industrial Workers is less than six months old, and already has many thousands of dues-paying members. (Applause). This splendid achievement has no parallel in the annals of Organised Labor. From every direction come the applications for charters and for organisers, and when the delegates of this revolutionary economic organisation meet in the city of Chicago, next year, it will be the greatest convention that ever met in the United States in the interest of the working class. (Applause.)
This organisation has a world-wide mission; it makes its appeal directly to the working class. It asks no favors from capitalists.
No organisation of workingmen has ever been so flagrantly misrepresented by the capitalist press as has been the Industrial Workers of the World; every delegate to the Chicago convention will bear testimony to this fact; and this is as it should be; the capitalist press is the mouthpiece of the capitalist class, and the very fact that the capitalist press is the organ, virtually, of the American Federation of Labor, is in itself sufficient to open the eyes of the working class.
If The American Federation of Labor were not in alliance with the capitalist class, the capitalist press would not pour its fulsome eulogy upon it.
This press has not one friendly word for the Industrial Workers, not one, and we do not expect it to have. These papers of the plutocrats know us and we know them (applause); between us there is no misunderstanding.
The workers of the country (the intelligent ones at least) readily see the difference between revolutionary and reactionary unionism, and that is why they are deserting the old and joining the new; that is why the Industrial Workers is building up so rapidly; that is why there is such a widespread demand for organisers and for literature and for all other means of building up this class-conscious economic organisation. (Applause. )
As I have said, the Industrial Workers begin by declaring that there is nothing in common between capitalists and wage-workers.
The capitalists own the tools they do not use, and the workers use the tools they do not own.
The capitalists who own the tools that the working class use appropriate to themselves what the working class produce, and this accounts for the fact that a few capitalists become fabulously rich while the toiling millions remain in poverty, ignorance, and dependence.
Let me make this point perfectly clear for the benefit of those who have not thought it out for themselves. Andrew Carnegie is a type of the capitalist class. He owns the tools with which steel is produced. These tools are used by many thousands of workingmen. Andrew Carnegie, who owns these tools has absolutely nothing to do with the production of steel. He may be in Scotland, or where he will, the production of steel goes forward just the same. His mills at Pittsburg, Duquesne, and Homestead, where these tools are located, are thronged with thousands of tool-less wage-workers, who work day and night, in winter’s cold and summer’s heat, who endure all the privations and make all the sacrifices of health and limb and life, producing thousands upon thousands of tons of steel, yet not having an interest, even the slightest, in the product. Carnegie, who owns the tools, appropriates the product, and the workers, in exchange for their labor power, receive a wage that serves to keep them in producing order; and the more industrious they are, and the more they produce, the worse they are off; for the sooner they have produced more than Carnegie can get rid of in the markets, then the tool houses are shut down and the workers are locked out in the cold.
This is a beautiful arrangement for Mr. Carnegie; he does not want a change, and so he is in favor of the Civic Federation, and a leading member of it; and he is doing what he can to induce you to think that this ideal relation ought to be maintained forever.
Now, what is true of steel production is true of every other department of industrial activity, you belong to the millions who have no tools, who cannot work without selling your labor power, and when you sell that you have got to deliver it in person, you cannot send it to the mill; you must carry it there; you are inseparable from your labor power.
You have got to go to the mill at seven in the morning and work until six in the evening, producing, not for yourself, but for the capitalist who owns the tools you made and use, and without which you are almost as helpless as if you had no arms.
This fundamental fact in modern industry you must recognise, and you must organise upon the basis of this fact; you must appeal to your class to join the union which is the true expression of your economic interests, and this union must be large enough to embrace you all, and such is the Industrial Workers of the World.
Every man and every woman who works for wages is eligible to membership.
Organised into various departments, when you join you become a member of the department that represents your craft or occupation, whatever it may be; and when you have a grievance your department has supervision of it; and if you fail to adjust it in that department, you are not limited to that craft alone for support, but, if necessary, all the other workers in all other departments will unite solidly in your defence to the very last. (Applause.)
Take a plant in modern industry. The workers, under the old form of unionism, are parcelled out to a score or more of unions. Craft division incites craft jealousy, and so they are more or less in conflict with each other, and the employer constructively takes advantage of this fact, and that is why he favors pure and simple unionism.
It were better for the workers who wear craft fetters if they were not organised at all, for then they could and would spontaneously go out on strike together; but they cannot do this in craft unionism, for certain crafts bind themselves up in craft agreements, and after they have done this they are at the mercy of the capitalist; and when their fellow unionists call upon them for aid, they make the very convenient excuse that they cannot help them, that they must preserve the sanctity of the agreement they have made with the employer. This so-called contract is regarded as of vastly more importance than the jobs, aye, the very lives of the workingmen themselves.
We do not intend that certain departments shall so attach themselves to the capitalist employers. We purpose that the workers shall all be organised, and if there IS any agreement it will embrace them all; and if there is any violation of the agreement, in the case of a single employee it at once becomes the concern of all. (Applause.) That is unionism, industrial unionism, in which all of the workers, totally regardless of occupation, are united completely within the one organisation, so that at all times they can act together in the interests of all. It is upon this basis that the Industrial Workers of the World is organised. It is in this spirit and with this object in view that it makes its appeal to the working class. Then, again, the revolutionary economic organisation has a new and important function which has never once been thought of in the old union, for the simple reason that the old union intends that the wage system shall endure forever.
The Industrial Workers declare that the workers must make themselves the masters of the tools with which they work; and so a very important function of this new union is to teach the workers, or, rather, have them teach themselves, the necessity of fitting themselves to take charge of the industries in which they are employed, when they are wrested, as they will be, from their capitalist masters. (Applause.)
So when you join the Industrial Workers you feel the thrill of a new aspiration; you are no longer a blind, dumb wage-slave. You begin to understand your true and vital relation to your fellow-workers. In the Industrial Workers you are co-related to all other workers in the plant, and thus you develop the embryonic structure of the co-operative commonwealth. (Applause.)
The old unionism would have you contented. We Industrial Workers are doing what we can to increase your discontent. We would have you rise in revolt against wage-slavery. The working man who is contented to-day is truly a pitiable object. (Applause. )
Victor Hugo once said: “Think of a smile in chains” — that is a workingman who, under the influence of a Civic Federation, is satisfied with his lot; he is glad he has a master, has someone to serve; for, in his ignorance, he imagines that he is dependent upon the master.
The Industrial Workers is appealing to the working class to develop their latent powers, and, above all, their capacity for clear thinking.
You are a workingman and you have a brain and if you do not use it in your own interests you are guilty of high treason to your manhood. (Applause.)
It is for the very reason that you do not use your brain In your interests that you are compelled to deform your body in the interests of your master.
I have already said that the capitalist is on your back; he furnishes the mouth, you the hands; he consumes, you produce. That is why he runs largely to stomach and you to hands. (Laughter.)
I would not be a capitalist; I would be a man; you cannot be both at the same time. (Applause.)
The capitalist exists by exploitation, lives out of the labor, that is to say the life, of the working man consumes him, and his code of morals and standard of ethics justify it, and this proves that capitalism is cannibalism. (Applause.)
A man, honest, just, high-minded, would scorn to live out of the sweat and sorrow of his fellow man — by preying upon his weaker brother.
We propose to destroy the capitalist and save the man. (Applause.) We want a system in which the worker shall get what he produces and the capitalist shall produce what he gets. (Applause.) That is a square deal.
The prevailing lack of unity implies the lack of class-consciousness. The workers do not yet understand that they are engaged in a class struggle, that they must unite their class and get on the right side of that struggle economically, politically, and in every other way (applause) strike together, vote together and, if necessary, fight together. (Prolonged applause.) The capitalist and the leader of the pure and simple union do what they can to wipe out the class lines; they do not want you to recognise the class struggle; they contrive to keep you divided, and as long as you are divided you will remain where you are, robbed and helpless.
When you unite and act together the world is yours. (Prolonged applause.)
The fabled Samson, shorn of his locks, the secret of his power, was the sport and prey of the pygmies that tormented him. The modern working class shorn of their tools, the secret of their power, are at the mercy of a small class who exploit them of what they produce and then hold them in contempt because of their slavery.
No master ever had the slightest respect for his slave any more than any slave ever had the least real love for his master.
Between these two classes there is an irrepressible conflict, and we Industrial Workers are pointing it out that you may see it, that you may get on the right side of it, that you may get together and emancipate yourselves from every form of servitude.
It can be done in no other way; but a bit of sober reasoning will convince you workers of this fact.
It is so simple that a child can see it. Why can’t you? You can if you think for yourselves and see for yourselves. But you will not do this if you were taught in the old union school; you will still look to someone else to still lead that you may follow; for you are trained to follow the blind leaders of the blind. You have been betrayed over and over again, and there will be no change until you make up your minds to think and see and act for yourselves.
I would not have you blindly walk into the Industrial Workers; if I had sufficient influence and power to draw you into it I would not do it. I would have you stay where you are until you can see your way clear to join it of your own accord. It is your organisation; it is composed of your class; it is going to fight for your class, for your whole class, and continue the fight until your class is emancipated. (Applause.)
There is a great deal of opposition to this organisation. The whole capitalist class and all their labor lieutenants are against it (applause); and there is an army of them, and all their names are on the pay-roll and expense account. They all hold salaried positions, and are looking out for themselves.
When the working class unite there will be a lot of jobless labor leaders. (Applause.)
In many of these craft unions they have it so arranged that the rank and file do not count for any more than if they were so many sheep. In the railroad organisations, for instance, if the whole membership vote to go out on strike, they cannot budge without the official sanction of the Grand Chief. His word outweighs that of the entire membership. In the light of this extraordinary fact, is it strange that the workers are often betrayed? Is it strange that they continue at the mercy of their exploiters?
Haven’t they had quite enough of this? Isn’t it time for them to take an inventory of their own resources?
If you are a workingman, suppose you look yourself over, just once; take an invoice of your mental stock and see what you have. Do not accept my word; do not depend upon anybody but yourself. Think it out for yourself; and if you do, I am quite certain that you will join the organisation that represents your class (applause); the organisation that has room for all your class; the organisation that appeals to you to develop your own brain, to rely upon yourself and be a man among men. And that is what the working class have to do, cultivate self-reliance and think and act for themselves; and that is what they are stimulated to do in the Industrial Workers.
We have great hope and abiding faith, for we know that each day will bring us increasing numbers, influence and power; and this notwithstanding all the opposition that can be arrayed against us.
We know that the principles of the Industrial Workers are right and that its ultimate triumph is assured beyond the question of a doubt; and if you believe in its conquering mission, then we ask you to be true enough to yourselves and your class to join it; and when you join it you will have a duty to perform, and that duty will be to go out along the unorganised and bring them into the ranks and help in this great work of education and organisation, without which the working class is doomed to continue in ignorance and slavery
Karl Marx the profound economic philosopher who will be known in future as the great emancipator uttered the inspiring shibboleth a half century ago:
“Workingmen of all countries unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains; you have a world to gain”
You workers are the only class essential to society; all others can be spared, but without you society would perish. You produce the wealth, you support government, you create and conserve civilisation. You ought to be, can be, and will be masters of the earth (Great applause.)
Why should you be dependent upon a capitalist?
Why should this capitalist own a tool he cannot use? And why should not you own the tool you have to use?
Every cog in every wheel that revolves everywhere has been made by the working class, and is set and kept in operation by the working class; and if the working class can make and operate this marvellous wealth-producing machinery, they can also develop the intelligence to make themselves the masters of this machinery (applause), and operate it not to turn out millionaires, but to produce wealth in abundance for themselves.
You cannot afford to be contented with your lot; you have a brain to develop and a manhood to sustain. You ought to have some aspiration to be free.
Suppose you do have a job, and that you can get enough to eat and clothes enough to cover your body, and a place to sleep; you but exist upon the animal plane; your very life is suspended by a slender thread
You don’t know what hour a machine may be invented to displace you, or you may offend your economic master, and your job is gone. You go to work early in the morning and you work all day; you go to your lodging at night, tired; you throw your exhausted body upon a bed of straw to recuperate enough to go back to the factory and repeat the same operation the next day, and the next, and so on and on to the dreary end and in some respects you are not so well off as was the chattel slave. He had no fear of losing his job, he was not blacklisted; he had food and clothing and shelter; and now and then, seized with a desire for freedom, he tried to run away from his master.
Do not try to run away from yours, he doesn’t have to hire a policeman to keep an eye on you. When you run it is in the opposite direction, when the bell rings or the whistle blows.
You are as much subject to the command of the capitalist as if you were his property under the law.
You have got to go to his factory because you have got to work; he is the master of your job, and you cannot work without his consent, and he only gives this on condition that you surrender to him all you produce except what is necessary to keep you in running order.
The machine you work with has to be oiled; you have to be fed; the wage is your lubricant, it keeps you in working order, and so you toil and sweat and reproduce yourself in the form of labor power, and then you pass away like a silkworm that spins its task and dies.
That is your lot in the capitalist system and you have no right to aspire to rise above the dead level of wage-slavery.
It is true that one in ten thousand may escape from his class and become a millionaire; he is the rare exception that proves the rule. The wage-workers remain in the working class, and they never can become anything else in the capitalist system. They produce and perish, and their exploited bones mingle with the dust.
Every few years there is a panic, industrial paralysis, and hundreds of thousands of workers are flung into the streets; no work, no wages; and so they throng the highways in search of employment that cant be found; they become vagrants, tramps, outcasts, criminals. It is in this way that the human being degenerates, and that crime graduates in the capitalist system, all the way from petty larceny to homicide.
The working millions who produce the wealth have little or nothing to show for it There is widespread ignorance among them; industrial and social conditions prevail that defy all language to describe. The working class consists of a mass of human beings, men, women, and children, in enforced competition with one another, in all of the circling hours of day and night, for the sale of their labor power, and in the severity of the competition the wage sinks gradually until it touches the point of subsistence.
In this struggle more than five millions of women are engaged and about two millions of children, and the number of child laborers is steadily increasing, for in this system profit is important while life has no value. It is not a question of male labor, or female labor, or child labor; it is simply a question of cheap labor without reference to the effect upon the working class; the woman is employed in preference to the man and the child in preference to the woman; and so we have millions of children, who, in their early tender years, are seized in the iron clutch of capitalism, when they ought to be upon the playground or at school; when they ought to be in the sunlight, when they ought to have wholesome food and enjoy the fresh atmosphere they are forced into the industrial dungeons, and there they are riveted to the machines; they feed the insatiate monsters and become as living cogs in the revolving wheels. They are literally fed to industry to produce profits. They are dwarfed and deformed, mentally, morally and physically; they have no chance in life; they are the victims of the industrial system that the Industrial Workers is organised to abolish, in the interest, not only of the working class but in the higher interest of all humanity. (Applause.)
If there is a crime that should bring to the callous cheek of capitalist society the crimson of shame, it is the unspeakable crime of child slavery, the millions of babes that fester in the sweat shops are the slaves of the wheel, and cry out in their agony, but are not heard in the din and roar of our industrial infernalism.
Take that great army of workers, called coal miners, organised in a craft union that does nothing for them, that seeks to make them contented with their lot. These miners are at the very foundation of industry, and without their labor every wheel would cease to revolve as if by the decree of some industrial Jehovah. (Applause.) There are 600,000 of these slaves whose labor makes possible the firesides of the world, while their own loved ones shiver in the cold. I know something of the conditions under which they toil and despair and perish I have taken time enough to descend to the depths of these pits, that Dante never saw, or he might have improved upon his masterpiece. I have stood over these slaves and I have heard the echo of their picks, which sounded to me like muffled drums throbbing funeral marches to the grave, and I have said to myself, in the capitalist system, these wretched are simply following their own hearses to the potter’s field. In all of the horizon of the future there is no star that sheds a ray of hope for them.
Then I have followed them from the depths of these black holes over to the edge of the camp, not to the home — they have no home — but to a hut that is owned by the corporation that owns them, and here I have seen the wife — Victor Hugo once said that the wife of a slave is not a wife at all; she is simply a female that gives birth to young — I have seen this wife standing in the doorway, after trying all day long to make a ten-cent piece do the service of a half-dollar, and she was ill-humoured; this could not be otherwise, for love and abject poverty do not dwell beneath the same roof. There is no paper upon the wall and no carpet upon the floor; there is not a picture to appeal to the eve, there is no statue to challenge the soul, no strain of inspiring music to touch and quicken what Lincoln called the better angels of human nature Here there is haggard poverty and want. And in this atmosphere the children of the future are being reared, many thousands of them, under conditions that make it morally certain that they will become paupers or criminals, or both.
Man is the product, the expression of his environment. Show me a majestic tree that towers aloft, that challenges the admiration of man, or a beautiful rosebud that, under the influence of sunshine and shovel bursts into bloom and fills the common air with its fragrance; these are possible only because the soil and climate are adapted to their culture transfer this flower from the sunlight and the atmosphere to a cellar filled with noxious gases, and it withers and dies. The same law applies to human beings; the industrial soil and the social climate must be adapted to the development of men and women, and then society will cease producing — (cry of “Down with Capitalism”) — the multiplied thousands of deformities that to-day are a rebuke to our much-vaunted civilisation and, above all, an impeachment of the capitalist system. (Applause.)
What is true of the miners is true in a greater or less degree of all workers in all other departments of industrial activity. This system has about fulfilled its historic mission; upon every hand there are the unerring signs of change, and the time has come for the organisation of the working class to prepare the way for this change. Education and organisation of the working class for the social revolution — (applause) — that is to lift the workers from the depths of slavery and elevate them to an exalted plane of equality and fraternity. (Applause.)
At the beginning of industrial society men worked with hand tools; a boy could learn a trade, make himself the master of the simple tools with which he worked, and employ himself and enjoy what he produced; but that simple tool of a century ago has become a mammoth social instrument, in a word, that tool has been socialised. Not only this, but production has been socialised. As small a commodity as a pin, or a pen, or a match involves for its production all of the social labor of the land; but this evolution is not yet complete; the tool has been socialised, production has been socialised, and now ownership must also be socialised; in other words, these great social instruments that are used in modern industry for the production of wealth, those great social agencies that are socially made and socially used, must also be socially owned. (Applause.)
The Industrial Workers is the only economic organisation that makes this declaration, that states this fact, and is organised upon this foundation, that the workers must own their tools and employ themselves. This involves a revolution and this means the end of the capitalist system and the rearing of a working-class republic — (prolonged applause) — the first real republic the world has ever known; and it is coming just as certainly as I stand in your presence.
You can hasten it, or you can retard it, but you cannot prevent it.
This the working class can achieve, and if you are in that class and you do not believe it, it is because of your ignorance, it is because you got your education in the school of pure and simple unionism, or in a capitalist political party. This the working class can achieve, and all that is required is that the working class shall be educated, that they shall unite, that they shall act together.
The capitalist politician and the labor lieutenant have always contrived to keep the working class divided upon the economic field and upon the political field; and the workers have made no progress, and never will until they desert those false leaders and unite beneath the revolutionary standard of the Industrial Workers of the World. (Applause.)
The capitalists have the mills and the tools and the dollars, but you are an overwhelming majority. You have the men, you have the votes. There are not enough of them to continue this system an instant; it can only be continued by your consent and with your approval, and to the extent that you give it you are responsible for your slavery; and if you have your eyes opened, if you understand where you properly belong, it is still a fortunate thing for you that you cannot do anything for yourself until you have opened the eyes of those that are yet in darkness. (Applause)
Now, there are many workers who have had their eyes opened, and they are giving their time and energy to the revolutionary education of the working class — (applause) — and every day sees our minority increasing, and it is but a question of time until this minority will be converted into the triumphant majority — (applause) — and so we wait and watch and work in all of the circling hours of the day and night.
We have just begun here in New York, and with a vim and an energy unknown in the circles of unionism. In six months from this night you will find that there is a very formidable organisation of Industrial Workers in New York — (applause) — and if you are a workingman and you have convictions of your own, then it is your duty to join this union and take your place where you belong.
Don’t hesitate because somebody else is falling back. Don’t wait because somebody else is not yet ready. Act, and act now for yourself; and if you happen to be the only Industrial Worker in your shop or in your immediate vicinity, you are simply monumental of the ignorance of your fellow-workers, and you have got to begin to educate them. For a little while they may point you out with the finger of contempt, but you can stand this, you can bear it with patience; if they persecute you because you are true to yourself, your latent powers will be developed, you will become stronger than you now dream, and then you will do the deeds that live and you will write your name where it will stay.
Never mind what others may say, or think, or do. Stand erect in the majesty of your manhood.
Listen for just once to the throbbing of your own heart, and you will hear that it is beating quick-step marches to Camp Freedom.
Stand erect! Lift your bowed form from the earth! The dust has long enough borne the impress of your knees.
Stand up and see how long a shadow you cast in the sunlight! (Applause) Hold up your head and avow your convictions, and then accept, as becomes a man, the consequences of your acts!
We need you, and you need us. We have got to have the workers united, and you have got to help us in the work. And so we make our appeal to you tonight, and we know that you will not fail. You can arrive at no other conclusion; you are bound to join the Industrial Workers, and become a missionary in the field of industrial unionism. You will then feel the ecstasy of a new-born aspiration. You will do your very best. You will wear the badge of the Industrial Workers, and you wear it with pride and joy.
The very contempt that it involves will be a compliment to you in truth, a tribute to your manhood.
Go out into the field and bring in the rest of the workers, that they may be fully equipped for their great mission. We will wrest what we can, step by step, from the capitalists, but with our eyes fixed upon the goal; we will press forward, keeping step together, with the inspiring music of the new emancipation, and when we have enough of this organisation, as Brother De Leon said so happily the other day — (applause) — when we are lined up in battle array and the capitalists try to lock us out we will turn the tables on the gentlemen and lock them out. (Applause)
We can run the mills without them, but they cannot run them without us. (Applause.)
It is a very important thing to develop the economic power, to have a sound economic organisation. This has been the inherent weakness in the Labor movement of the United States. We need, and sorely need, a revolutionary economic organisation. We must develop this kind of strength; it is the kind that we will have occasion to use in due time and it is the kind that will not fail us when the crisis comes. So we shall organise and continue to organise the political field; and I am of those that believe that the day is near at hand when we shall have one great revolutionary economic organisation of the working class and one great revolutionary political party of the working class. (Cheers and prolonged applause.) Then will proceed with increased impetus the work of education and organisation that will culminate in emancipation.
This great body will sweep into power and seize the reins of government; take possession of industry in the name of the working class, and it can be easily done. All that will be required will be to transfer the title from the parasite to the producers; and then the working class, in control of industry, will operate it for the benefit of all. The work-day will be reduced in proportion to the progress of invention. Every man will work, or at least have a chance to work, and get the full equivalent of what he produces. He will work, not as a slave, but as a free man, and he will express himself in his work and work with joy. Then the badge of labor will be the only badge of aristocracy. The industrial dungeon becomes a temple of science. The working class will be free, and all humanity disenthralled.
The workers are the saviours of society — (applause) — the redeemers of the race; and when they have fulfilled their great historic mission, men and women can walk the highlands and enjoy the vision of a land without masters and without slaves, a land regenerated and resplendent in the triumph of Freedom and Civilisation. (Long, continued applause.) | <urn:uuid:a87ef516-863f-4fed-aaf6-bd51b1cc1445> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/eugene-v-debs-industrial-unionism | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281419.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00486-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972317 | 10,134 | 2.4375 | 2 |
Division II Membership
Division II is a collection of 300 NCAA colleges and universities that provide thousands of student-athletes the opportunity to compete at a high level of scholarship athletics while excelling in the classroom and fully engaging in the broader campus experience.
Division II schools are located in 44 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and the District of Columbia. The division also expands its membership into Canada with the NCAA’s only international member institution, Simon Fraser University, and features three schools located in Puerto Rico.
Enrollments at Division II schools range from more than 25,000 to less than 2,500, though about 87 percent of the division’s member colleges and universities have fewer than 8,000 students.
Most Division II member schools are organized among 24 conferences for the purposes of athletics competition, though a handful of Division II schools are classified as independents. | <urn:uuid:695c1f82-0dbb-4317-9694-b123bede453f> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.ncaa.org/governance/membership?division=d2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279410.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00172-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973789 | 179 | 1.609375 | 2 |
A few more books for the beginning fiction writer — or for the poet long in the tooth who decides to give fiction writing a try — starting with a couple of good anthologies:
The Story Behind the Story — Andrea Barrett & Peter Turchi: This is a good anthology of short stories by many of the usual suspects in many of the usual modes. It includes fairly brief statements by each author describing the genesis of the story. These statements tend toward the personal rather than the technical, so, while they are interesting, they remain idiosyncratic and not terribly useful to the student, except insofar as a student needs to see what sorts of experiences (ulikely or ordinary) can generate a story. (Judith Grossman’s brief explanation of her story, “I’m Not Through” goes right to the heart of the fiction writer’s problem, however.)
12 Short Stories and their Making — Paul Mandelbaum: This anthology is similar in conception to the Barrett & Turchi book above, except that each author is interviewed by the editor and the interview appears after the story. Because Mandelbaum is interested in technical as well as personal matters, he pushes the writers to explain their methods, which the attentive student will find useful. Because Mandelbaum asks his various authors similar kinds of questions (while allowing the interview to find its own shape), there is much more consistency of response than in The Story Behind the Story.
Narrative Design — Madison Smart Bell: This is the most theoretical and narrowly focused of the books under discussion here, with the fewest stories. Bell divides narrative structures into “linear” and “modular” and provides several examples of each, with extensive analysis that includes an almost line by line set of notes for each story. His general discussion of each story is clear and useful; personally, I get bogged down in the detail of the notes, but others may find these useful. Again speaking personally, I liked the “linear” stories Bell selected much more than the “modular” ones, with the exception of a piece by Miriam Kuznets, “Signs of Life.”
The Half-known World: On Writing Fiction — Robert Boswell: This is a collection of essays dealing with specific issues and drawing on particular works of fiction with which the reader will need to be familiar. Not really a beginner’s book, it’s probably going to be most useful to those who have read a good deal and already written some fiction. One of the most useful things Boswell emphasizes is that in literary fiction, the writer only knows the half of things, that his / her characters and plot emerge from the unknown and must remain partly mysterious even for the reader. This was a great relief to me as a beginner, since that is how I find things in my stories.
Modern Library Writer’s Workshop — Stephen Koch: This book takes the attitude of a coach, addressing specific problems the writer will face in trying to get a story on the page. It covers the basics in a friendly and direct way, referring to many works of (mostly short) fiction to illustrate its points. It also quotes many writers — too many, sometimes — on various subjects related to the craft of fiction. Along with LaPlante’s book (see my earlier post), this is a sensible and encouraging guide. | <urn:uuid:145a9c6b-806a-4054-9210-491a0a909f1f> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.sharpsand.net/tag/writing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560283301.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095123-00504-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959736 | 698 | 1.789063 | 2 |
|The Library of Congress > American Memory|
RECORDED SOUND EXTERNAL SITES
Sound affords us the privilege of experiencing firsthand “Crazy Blues” as sung by Mamie Smith (1883-1946) in 1920—the first vaudeville blues recording by an African American—or a Verdi aria charmingly sung by ten-year-old Beverly Sills on a 1939 Major Bowes' Amateur Hour broadcast. A powerfully moving 1939 radio talk on the meaning of American democracy by Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) and a 1930s interview with social worker Jane Addams (1860-1935) about public relief are also available to us as recorded sound.1 The Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division (MBRS) holds one of the world's largest and comprehensive collections of sound recordings documenting twentieth-century American women's contributions in a great variety of disciplines and areas of achievement. The collections provide an aural gateway through which we can study both the most noteworthy and some less well-known American women of the century. These recordings offer an opportunity to study twentieth- and twenty-first-century American women not only through the words and songs of others but, most importantly, through the words and songs of the women themselves.
Audio Holdings and Methods of Collecting
Since it received its first cylinder recording in 1904 the Library has collected more than two million audio and radio broadcast recordings dating from 1890 to the present day and spanning the history of recorded sound technology and broadcasting. Nearly every medium ever used to record sound is represented, from wax cylinders and 78-rpm discs to digital compact discs and audiotapes. Diverse media such as wire recordings, aluminum discs, piano rolls, rubber compound discs, and translucent plastic discs also are found in the collections. The collections are predominantly American in scope and include both commercial releases and noncommercial archival recordings; the latter are unique, unpublished recordings that are usually the result of personal or corporate activity.
The Library did not begin to collect recordings systematically until 1925. At that time, the Victor Talking Machine Company gave the Library a selection of its phonograph records, prompting other companies to follow suit. The Library initially developed its collections almost solely through gifts from individuals and corporations. To this day, private collectors, performing artists, corporations, and associations contribute their recordings, radio programs, and archives to the Library. In 1972, the deposit of sound recordings became a United States copyright law requirement, providing the Library with another invaluable source for acquiring recordings. Copyright deposits include cassettes and recordable compact discs which offer insight into the thoughts and feelings of the “common American” and present an American musical panorama that cannot be found anywhere else. In addition, the division often receives recordings from the Music or Manuscript divisions that come into the Library as part of large, multiformat collections, such as the Margaret Mead Collection. The recorded sound holdings are rich in published recordings of ethnographic interest, as well as Library of Congress music and literary programs; material from other government agencies; voice transcriptions; and popular, folk, jazz, musical theater, and classical music from private sources.
The Immediacy of Audio
Sometimes content is not of primary importance in a recording. The fact that a recording provides one of the few, perhaps only, opportunities to hear a public person's voice may be of equal interest as is the fascination of hearing variations in oratorical styles, vocal expressions, and language dialects. In an unpublished 1952 recording (LWO 5114), Helen Keller (1880-1968) spoke to Library of Congress employees about the talking books for the blind program. Her speech was translated, however, as the words are almost entirely indiscernible. Corinne Roosevelt Robinson (1861-1933) [audio] spoke in crisp, patrician tones heard on a 1920 recording (included in the Library's “Compressed” audio collection) in which she supported the Harding-Coolidge presidential ticket. Robinson and her brother, Theodore, displayed a meticulous and refined way of speaking that may sound affected and strident to Americans today. Margaret Woodrow Wilson (1886-1944) [picture], President Woodrow Wilson's daughter who aspired to a career as a singer, recorded a medley of patriotic airs in 1915 with Columbia for the American Red Cross (Columbia A1685). A copy of an 1892 brown wax cylinder reveals a heartfelt message to “every white-ribboned sister” by Isabella (Lady Henry) Somerset (1851-1921), vice president of the World's Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
*Authored the original chapter in American Women: A Library of Congress Guide for the Study of Women's History and Culture in the United States (Library of Congress, 2001), from which this online version is derived. Others who contributed to this effort are identified in the Acknowledgments.[Top]
|Home||Table of Contents||About the Guide||Abbreviations||Search|
|The Library of Congress> > American Memory| | <urn:uuid:f8a4f1b0-8fa2-480d-a9c9-3f4f13434360> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/awhhtml/awrs9/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280730.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00249-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933444 | 1,044 | 3.078125 | 3 |
In 2013, nearly every state passed at least one new gun law. Almost two-thirds of those laws loosen restrictions and expand the rights of gun owners.
Since the Sandy Hook shooting, about 1,500 state gun bills have been introduced. Of those, 178 passed at least one chamber of a state legislature and 109 have become law.
Of the 109 bills that were made law, 39 tighten gun restrictions, and 70 loosen them.
The New York Times created detailed graphics that provide specifics on the laws that were passed in each state. Categories the laws fall into include gun permits, public carry, guns in schools, mental health, background checks, assault weapons, nullify federal law, gun access, and lost or stolen firearms.
There is a clear partisan divide; most of the bills that expand gun owners’ rights and ease restrictions are in Republican-controlled states, and those that enacted tougher restrictions are in Democratic-controlled states.
The Wire notes that the partisan split is the reason there weren’t any new gun laws passed at the federal level. When the Senate took up the issue in April, a minority of Republican Senators blocked a package of reforms, and the House never took on the issue.
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Contributed by Lily Dane of The Daily Sheeple.
Lily Dane is a staff writer for The Daily Sheeple. Her goal is to help people to “Wake the Flock Up!” | <urn:uuid:772397bb-b5e9-4116-90b3-c30c866c5449> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.thedailysheeple.com/gun-laws-passed-in-2013-nearly-two-thirds-ease-restrictions-and-expand-gun-owners-rights_122013 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281746.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00290-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955219 | 322 | 2.15625 | 2 |
We’re a society of consumers, and energy is no exception. Our gadgets gobble more energy than ever before, but the average consumer doesn’t really know how to conserve it beyond unplugging and powering down.
Following Energy-Saving Gadgets are available in the market –
- Ecoisme – A single device tracks the energy usage of all your appliances and makes recommendations on ways to save.
- Sense – This device tracks each of your appliances’ energy consumption like a grocery receipt. It reviews your use item by item so you know where your money is going.
- Thinkeco – This smart AC kit brings modern outlet, or “modlet,” smarts to all plug-in air conditioners. Users can capture their energy use, set a customized schedule, better control their room temperature, and do it all on the go.
- Rachio – Controls your sprinkler system and set the most efficient watering schedule for your lawn via your phone.
- Ecobee – This smart thermostat has individual room sensors and can adjust the temperature based on which rooms are occupied — saving you money and energy.
- Tado – With this device in place, your smart phone can command any A/C unit that has remote control capability — whether in-window, portable or wall-hanging.
- Nest – In as little as one week, the Nest “learning thermostat” programs itself to adapt to your lifestyle and seasonal patterns and adjusts accordingly to save energy.
- Bosch’s FlexInduction burners – These cooktops only heat the surface area of your pot to be faster and more efficient than gas or electric models.
- Blomberg’s energy efficient heat pump dryers – These completely ventless dryers are 50 percent more energy-saving than compact air-vented models – making then the most energy-efficient options in their class.
Please read more at Energy-Saving Gadgets
Source – http://thewire.oncor.com/ | <urn:uuid:7fefd24a-901d-4aeb-9f10-ed939deac2dc> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://gurubox.org/2018/06/29/what-are-the-energy-saving-gadgets-for-home-2/?replytocom=1433 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570871.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808183040-20220808213040-00276.warc.gz | en | 0.894909 | 424 | 2.265625 | 2 |
State employees should keep their eyes on the Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear a case on whether they are able to sue under the 14th Amendment when alleging age discrimination.
Harvey Levin was fired from his job as a lawyer in the Illinois attorney general’s office in 2006, when he was in his 60s, and sued the office for sex and age discrimination. Levin lucked out in August 2012 when the 7th Circuit became the only circuit to decide, affirming a trial court decision, that state employees can sue under Section 1983 of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
Other appellate courts that have considered this issue found that state employees have to bring age discrimination cases under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). What’s more, in 2009 the Supreme Court raised the bar for discrimination under ADEA in Gross v. FBL Financial Services, making it more difficult for workers to pursue cases under the statute.
Though the 7th Circuit dismissed Levin’s ADEA claims, it found that ADEA did not preclude Levin’s Section 1983 claims. Section 1983 gives plaintiffs remedies not included in ADEA, such as the ability to seek compensatory damages.
On Monday, the Supreme Court announced that it will hear Levin’s case next term, though a date has not yet been set.
Read more at Thomson Reuters.
For more Supreme Court news on InsideCounsel, see below: | <urn:uuid:5951d51a-c258-45b2-804c-7cea4d48c535> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.insidecounsel.com/2013/03/19/supreme-court-will-decide-if-state-workers-can-sue?t=corporate-crime | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721174.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00282-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969569 | 296 | 1.648438 | 2 |
In chapter four of The Substance of Style I discuss how unusual aesthetics often start as ideological or religious statements, only to have their meanings diluted over time, as more and more people adopt them, at first because they embrace some of the original meaning and then increasingly simply because they like the style. The same pattern occurs with such diverse styles as neo-Gothic architecture in the 19th century and dreadlocks in the 20th century.
In an article on the new book Queens: Portraits of Black Women and Their Fabulous Hair, the NYT's Guy Trebay delves a bit into the complex relationship between pleasure and meaning in the styling of black women's hair.
"Black people perhaps have always pushed the boundaries of creativity in this country," explained [Queens author] Mr. [George] Alexander, whose book is also the subject of an exhibition at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, N.C. "During the slave era there were obvious limits in terms of what you could do, since you were considered property. Basically, ever since, there has been this expanding desire to express oneself." That expression now takes the form of hairstyles that may involve the chemical processes that continue to stoke the multibillion-dollar, so-called ethnic personal-care market, but that equally results in Macy Gray Afros or the microbraids popularized by African immigrants, or else corn rows or Bantu knots or Bolga braids or the Barbie-style hair extension favored by Naomi Campbell and Beyoncé Knowles.
Most surprising perhaps, among the styles now popular among African-American women is dreadlocks (now called locks), an ancient coiffure often exclusively associated with the Rastafarians and now an ordinary hair-care option at many black hair salons.
"Fifteen years ago locks were still a heavily politicized thing," explained Shannon Ayers, the proprietor of the Harlem salon and day spa Turning Heads, who appears in "Queens" with her locked hair plaited into braids as thick as hawsers.
A decade ago, when Ms. Ayers decided to abandon her corporate job in publishing, she stopped processing her hair and let it lock naturally. Her early experiments involved nothing more radical than prim little twists. Even at that, "my family thought I had lost my mind," she said. "And if I met a Mr. Banker or Lawyer, the reaction was, 'I can't be bringing somebody with these little Buckwheat things in her head to my corporate functions.' "
Now about half the clients at Ms. Ayers's salon come to have their hair styled in the locks, twists and coils worn by women as disparate as Ms. Morrison and Lauryn Hill.
"It's not radical anymore," said Cherare Robertson, a police officer in Washington, whose rust-tinged and restyled locks were set to dry one afternoon last week beneath a cap dryer that anomalously brought the Donna Reed 1950's to mind. "A couple years ago I just stopped worrying about satisfying society and started to enjoy my own beauty," she said.
Queens, which I haven't seen, includes glamorous black-and-white portraits by Michael Cunningham, whose earlier book Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats is a favorite of mine.
A reader writes:
The part of Almost Girl's post that you left out in the middle of that paragraph actually interested me a great deal. You know, about arts patronage. The sort of socialite who's going to drop $20,000 for a handbag is, after all, exactly the sort who probably also sits on opera and orchestra boards and may have donated a wing to the art museum with her husband. That's not the same as shoving a briefcase full of cash at an individual starving artist, but buying artworks is; rich people do that, too.
Actually, I think that for those of us who are affluent but not super-loaded--a much larger segment of the population--Almost Girl's calculations are still somewhat off. I decided to splurge and spent $600 on two credit card wallets last week. (That's not a frequent event in my life, just so you know--though I did smirk and think, Take that, Anna Quindlen, as I handed over my credit card.) But I did so after I'd planned my holiday season budget, including what I was going to donate to charitable organizations. If I hadn't spent that $600 at Vuitton, it would have sat in my bank account. Of course, it would have been invested from there, anyway, but this way part of it goes directly to the wages of not only leatherworkers and vice presidents of marketing but also saleswomen, janitors, and security guards. I don't see why helping them make a living is wasteful.
Julie Frederickson, a.k.a. Almost Girl, has done a great job rounding up blog posts that provide a window into the attitudes of the young and fashionable. As someone who thinks Carrie Bradshaw had great attitude but hideous clothes (and don't get me started on the scary, misanthropic Jim Kuntsler), I feel a little out of place on her Black Friday blogroll. I'm more comfortable around computer geeks, not to mention economists, than fashionistas. But I do like beautiful, tactile clothes and the markets that provide them.
Those markets don't always behave the way fashionistas would like, leading to some contradictory blogging on Julie's part. In this post, she bemoans the latest trend in luxury markets, quoting a WWD article:
In a buoyant luxury market, ultraexpensive items--from $6,000 Azzedine Alaïa shearling jackets to $21,000 Bottega Veneta handbags--have become a surprise hit, selling briskly to a superrich clientele in search of the exceptional.
Julie has understandable sticker shock. What a waste of money! "I'll tell you what, you want to get something exceptional? Fund me for an entire year! I can easily live off of $21,000 (I live off of about $1,000 a month now and quite comfortably I might add, not including the cost of my college tuition). For the cost of one of your hand bags you could send me to New York City so that I could have the resources to pursue my dream in the glossies....So if anyone out there is reading this blog I would like a patron please! I promise to provide compelling articles, do valuable research, and add a needed dose of intellectualism to the fashion scene! Will you really miss the handbag?"
As an equally bourgeois person who considers my $400 purse (bought when I was 45 and had been self-supporting for more than two decades) a huge splurge, I sympathize. But this attitude directly contradicts an earlier posting on how the trendy but cheaply constructed "fast fashion" (analogous to fast food) at stores like H&M has eroded the public's appreciation of craftsmanship and fine design. Julie and other fashion bloggers also worry that big chains, with their mass merchandising, make it hard for young designers to find a market.
The "fast fashion" post mixes a lot of different issues, but the economic bottom line is that people should buy more expensive clothes, at more expensive stores, and keep them longer. "Let's appreciate everything that goes into our clothing, have less of it but make it better," she writes.
Here we have a classically bourgeois attitude, with an elitist twist. Cheap is bad, and so is expensive. The right price is the one I'm willing to pay. The right priorities are mine.
But those Bottega Veneta bags are expensive for a reason. They not only use luxurious, expensive materials, but require meticulous, time-consuming craftsmanship. Only a few people in Italy have the necessary skills. And since the "production runs" are quite small, distribution and logistic costs are quite high per bag. I'm not saying that everyone should lust after a $21,000 purse (my car didn't cost that much, and I bought it new), only that rare design and craftsmanship have a cost. You can't have Bottega Veneta quality at H&M prices. The ultra-high end market is preserving artisanal skills.
And luxury companies know that in a world of fast fashion, they need to sell the intrinsic qualities of their merchandise. "We are back to luxury as an indulgence, not a show," said Bottega Veneta CEO Patrizio di Marco at the World Luxury Congress, a conference last month in Paris. (I was one of the speakers, the only one who talked not about luxury per se but about the increasingly aesthetic economy in which luxury goods compete.)
The great thing about fashion markets today is how diverse they are, even outside of major metro areas. Many different styles coexist and there isn't a simple, price-based status hierarchy. You can buy trendy but disposable clothes--"fast fashion"--or classic, enduring pieces. Basic jeans, sweaters, and T-shirts cost about the same, in nominal dollars, as they did when I was a teenager in the late 1970s, and their materials and construction are generally much better. Those cheap clothes are also helping a billion Chinese climb out of abject poverty.
The bad thing about fashion markets today is how many empire-waist tops and dresses they sell. I don't care how cute, young, and skinny you are. Those things make you look pregnant.
Amazon has a horrible new feature--a customer-written "ProductWiki" on each book's page. Since the wiki is not supposed to include reviews, it's not clear what value customers are going to add to help people decide whether to buy a book (that's the point, right?) Worse, the now-vacant wikis produce browser error messages when I load an Amazon page. It all seems like trendiness, not customer service.
Phil Bowermaster at the Speculist is looking for examples of do-it-yourself innovations that represent "an unwillingness on [the inventors'] part to wait for big corporate R&D departments to produce what they want." This is an increasingly important--and increasingly recognized--phenomenon, on which I've blogged in the past.
Black Friday is not in fact the year's biggest shopping day, but it does kick off quite a shopping season. And now, reports the WSJ's Mylene Mangalindan, Black Friday has been joined by Black Monday: "On that day, consumers head back to work -- and their computers -- ready to shop after the long holiday weekend."
In a recent article in Economics Letters, University of Missouri economist Emek Basker examines whether sales increase if there are more days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Basker finds "a statistically significant increase in per-capita retail sales in November and December (combined) of approximately $6.50 per additional day over the relevant range." That doesn't sound like much, but it adds up: "The implied difference between the shortest and longest shopping seasons is $39 in spending per capita, or 20% of holiday spending in an average year."
Congratulations to my good friend Lynn Scarlett, who was confirmed on Friday as deputy secretary of the Interior. Lynn had been the department's assistant secretary for policy, management, and budget. She was was nominated as deputy secretary in February, but her confirmation was held up for months by a series of senators with unrelated grievances against the Interior Department.
Julie Frederickson of Almost Girl has organized a week of political fashion blogging, leading up to Black Friday:
Thus I am inviting you to participate in a fashion blogging event. Next Friday is Black Friday, the biggest shopping day in America. I am asking other fashion bloggers to join me in blogging about their own views on fashion, consumption, individuality, and the importance of fashion in our lives. I am encouraging any other fashion bloggers to join me in this endeavor, just make your own political fashion statements about your view on consumption and fashion and I will link up and we can hopefully dialogue about the importance of individuality in fashion! I would like this to grow organically so please email your fashion blogging friends to join the fun!
A slew of blogs are participating, and I will add my own thoughts over the next few days. For starters, I have to say that Julie's blog slogan, "Where Plato and Prada Meet," makes me feel really old. Back in the Dark Ages, when I was in school, girls who read philosophy did not follow fashion. (This essay suggests things may not have changed as much as I thought. For the record, it takes me 30 minutes to get ready in the morning, 45 minutes if I'm incredibly slow and do something complicated with my hair. But then I'm a nerd at heart.)
Greg Benford and Michael Rose have a cool new website featuring essays and promising a blog.
Authors in need of websites--or improved websites--should check out the site's designer, who specializes in authors at very affordable rates.
Megan McArdle has gift suggestions for the cooks in your life, with Amazon links.
The orange zester sounds like just the thing for my favorite new cake trick--chocolate orange. You take a regular chocolate cake mix, add zest from three oranges, and substitute orange juice for water. I use Duncan Hines devils food cake mix, and three oranges produce almost enough juice to replace the water the mix calls for. I usually make up the difference with Minute Maid, but you can just fill in with water if you don't have prepared juice handy. Or you can use four oranges. Yum.
UPDATE: On Thanksgiving, the orange-chocolate cake was a big hit with the extended Postrel clan. And I even got to give my sister-in-law's zester its first use ever. | <urn:uuid:7b4ed562-f80b-4e2f-a189-a9ab09274bbe> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://vpostrel.com/blog/2005/11/p2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571234.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811042804-20220811072804-00073.warc.gz | en | 0.963897 | 2,896 | 2.15625 | 2 |
The Internet Society has announced that it's working with major ISPs, makers of home networking equipment and Web companies to permanently enable IPv6. Said to be the largest transition in the Internet's history, the shift away from IPv4 will commence on June 6, 2012, building on the success of last June's "World IPv6 Day" event. Among the participants are AT&T, Comcast, Free Telecom, Internode, KDDI, Time Warner Cable, XS4ALL, Cisco, D-Link, Facebook, Google, Microsoft Bing and Yahoo.
"The fact that leading companies across several industries are making significant commitments to participate in World IPv6 Launch is yet another indication that IPv6 is no longer a lab experiment; it's here and is an important next step in the Internet's evolution," commented Leslie Daigle of the Internet Society. "World IPv6 Launch marks a watershed moment in Internet history. It breaks the limits of the original address space to open a vast new territory, trillions upon trillions of times larger," said Google.
In January 2010, the Number Resource Organization warned that IPv4 addresses were nearly tapped with under 10% left. That dipped to less than 5% by October 2010. IPv4 (32-bit) has roughly four billion IP addresses -- nowhere near enough to cover the explosion of people, devices and services on the Web. In fact, Asia's supply of IPv4 addressed dried up in April 2011, Europe is projected to run out this summer, while North America only has enough unallocated addresses to last through mid-2013.
However, IPv6 (128-bit) offers some 340 undecillion addresses (340 billion, billion, billion, billion -- that's 36 zeros). Crisis averted. The move has been underway for years and it will take several more to complete, but for industry titans like Google, June 6 will bring a nearly full adoption of the spec. The Internet Society says ISPs participating in World IPv6 Launch day will enable the protocol for enough users so at least 1% of their wireline residential subscribers visiting compliant websites will use IPv6. | <urn:uuid:73bca679-84b6-4833-b03a-28e03be61de5> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.techspot.com/news/47096-internet-society-announces-world-ipv6-launch-day-for-june-6.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280718.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00411-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940788 | 430 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Those with an interest in dinosaur cranial crests and exaggerated structures (which should really be everyone since they turn up in pretty much every major lineage one way or the other) will probably be aware of the exchanges going on in the literature over these features. Although myself and colleagues have been advocating that sexual selection (and or socio-sexual signaling: the two can be hard to separate) is a likely strong candidate as the prime driver for many of these features, others have been advocating that this is not the case and instead the answer lies in species recognition. The latest to delve into this area is a paper I’ve done with Darren Naish and is the first time we’ve addressed this issue directly. While we have written or contributed to a number of efforts looking at support for sexual selection in dinosaurs, this is the first time we have tackled the other side of the problem.
The paper originally started as a long section that was included in our paper on mutual sexual selection with Innes Cuthill, but as we were later forced to cut down the length of the submission, this was a section that was relatively easy to prune as tangential to the main issue. However, we felt it needed saying and with new data coming out and the discussion ramping up, we revived and revised the work and it is now out. (Well, it has been in press and available for a while but is now properly out).
This is an important area for discussion – after all, the horns, crests, frills, plates, bosses and the rest (not least feathers) are key features and adaptations in various dinosaur lineages and trying to work out how they might have been used and what this means for evolutionary drivers and patterns is going to be a major issue. It’s hard to really understand stegosaurs or ceratopsians say if you can’t say that much with confidence about their ‘bonus’ features. While obviously each clade, or even each genus / species probably needs to be taken on a case-by-case basis when it comes to detailed analyses, some gross patterns can be seen or at least discussed. In the case of species recognition, is it even an actual ‘thing’ when it comes to exaggerated structures, and if it is, how is it supposed to work. The hypothesis has enjoyed some support in the literature for some unusual dinosaur features so it’s well worth examining.
Species recognition (in the context of exaggerated structures) for those who don’t know, is the idea that individuals of a species use these features to help them recognise cospecifics with to ensure they mate with the right species, or to maintain herd coherence. In short, carry round a key feature and you should be able to make it easier to stay in touch with the right animals and avoid the wrong ones. Various lines have been put forward to support this idea (in general and specifically towards dinosaurs) but we feel that none of them actually stack up and some have some serious problems.
First off is a pretty big issue – to our knowledge there is no evidence of any living species using some form of crest or exaggerated structure for species recognition. Individuals of species do recognise each other (not a big shock) but actually things like antlers or casques don’t seem to form part of the pattern that conspsecifics recognise. This may not be a big shock, after all, you can recognise a species by the overall appearance (size, shape, colour), their smell or specific sounds they make, behaviour, and other features. On top of this, some species are very varied in appearance for the big features (antlers of deer look very different as they grow, and are different between males and females and between juveniles and adults etc.) so relying on one feature is a bad idea at best, and a plastic one an especially bad call.
Plus of course, you often get closely related taxa that are sympatric. Is some big set of horns going to help you correctly identify conspecifics if there are half a dozen similarly-looking species also in the area? Look at things like African antelope and gazelle, or more extreme examples like tyrant flycatchers. We have trouble telling them apart sometimes based on their morphology, yet they seem to have no trouble. If this is so critical to dinosaurs, why to the iguanodonts seem relatively free of crests, but the hadrosaurs go nuts with them? And why are they all so similar in general form between species when they are supposed to help separate them out? Surely they should be divergent, not all similar in appearance. And why do we see things like Wuerhosaurus or Spinosaurus running around with all this weight to make sure they don’t mate with the wrong species when there are no other members of their clade to get confused with?
In some cases we see both issues coming together. If we look at the various small protoceratopsians of China / Mongolia, we see disagreement between researchers as to how many species (or genera) there may be. What is notable however, is that the characters being used to separate them out don’t typically involve the frill or bosses of the skull, and where they do, may be things that are not externally visible (e.g. the width of the media bar in the frill). In short – if there are multiple species here, the frills are apparently similar enough that we can’t separate them and so are unlikely to be part of the identity concept of the animals. If however, there is only one species present, then we are back to the paradox of a large frill being carried around but with no other species that could confound any signals.
On top of that, is it really worth it? After all, while you do want to stay in touch and make sure you mate with the right species, bolting on a good few kilos of bone to your head, and then the extra muscle to support it, and then lugging that around for your entire life is a lot of effort. When you can probably already identify conspecifics by their colour, patterns, scent and calls (of simply because nothing else like them at all is on the same continent) surely these would experience strong negative selective pressures if they didn’t have any other support.
Furthermore, how would such features ever evolve? If the populations / species were allopatric then we return to the situation of them not having another group to get confused with and crests are unnecessary for recognition. If they were sympatric though, how would this work? Pretty much the definition of a natural biological population is one that is breeding within itself, but here we’d have to have a population diverging because some don’t recognise each other as conspecifics even though we would expect, pretty much by definition, there not to be too much difference in structure shape between them (e.g. a tiny crest vs no crest). Now some animals might prefer each other, but that’s mate choice, not recognition, and there would have to be enough individuals for this to work – one mutant with a crest when no one else has one is not going to start forming a new species, and if there were a bunch of the with the new crest they’d also have to identify each other as different and avoid mating or hanging around with the others. So how would a large feature that’s for correct recognition allow a population to split in this way? To us at least it appears most unlikely to occur at all, let alone repeatedly.
In addition to this, there is rampant hybridization of closely related species in the natural world (and indeed in captivity). Even extravagantly ornamented species like pheasants with numerous adornments and bright colours and patterns hybridise regularly – clearly no matter how extreme the cue, at least some animals regularly have problems with them or are indiscriminate, but either way they are not that effective.
While some data like the apparent rapid growth of structures late in ontogeny has been used to support the idea that they are characteristics involved in socio-sexual signaling, it’s also a problem for the herd coherency part of the model. After all, lots of juvenile dinosaurs are known from aggregations suggesting they spent a lot of time together, even when the adults did not appear to. If these features were key, we’d expect juveniles to have them, and adult perhaps to shun them when they were no longer needed, but instead the opposite is true. In general the herd coherency argument is a bit odd anyway, again you have lots of ways of identifying and keeping in touch with conspecifics and some are clearly better than visual aids. Scent can have a temporal component, and vocalizations can be interactive beyond line of sight (especially useful in forests, or when things are behind you, or you are foraging and looking down etc.). No matter how big they are, visual structures are not always going to be that useful, even if they are unique.
In the increasingly infamous issue of Torosaurus and Triceratops, if these animals are truly conspecific then for a start we are back to the issue of ‘lone’ taxa (I don’t think Leptoceratops is going to be much of an issue here) and the pointlessness of crests where none are needed. On the other hand, this is also potentially a problem for the mate recognition idea. We know that at least some dinosaurs were sexually mature before they were osteologically mature and this could be the case for these animals too. If so, then the alleged transformation between one morph and the other would create confusion – both the Triceratops morph and the Torosaurus morph (or indeed anything in between) would be viable mates.
In short, we really have no clear evidence for species recognition in any living species, and that alone should make it unlikely to have been a key player across dinosaurs for the whole Mesozoic. Such structures would be costly, and yet not necessarily do the job it is supposed to with other signals being cheaper and just as effective, or more effective in many circumstances. It’s not clear why it should be so important for some clades and not other similar forms (iguanodotids vs hadrosaurs for example) and is clearly either redundant for some taxa, or would not actually reduce confusion. Nor is it clear quite how this would evolve in the first place, or why it would be sustained, and hybridization suggests that crests alone would not even prevent incorrect matings. Put this all together and we feel that there really is no good support for the idea of crests and other structures being primarily used in species recognition. They did of course likely have an effect – it would be odd if Stegosaurus or Corythosaurus didn’t use their respective features as part of how they identified one another. But that does not make them the prime, or only, driving force of all these different features in all these different lineages.
There was a fashion in dinosaur palaeo to write off any odd structure as simply sexual selection and leave it there. This was rightly railed against, but what was often criticised was the fact that sexual selection seemed undiagnosable in the fossil record and so the problem was that it was untestable rather than the fact that such throwaway remarks devoid of context or explanation do little for the subject. Now we are in the odd position where rarely you see very similar comments (in terms of their style) about species recognition popping up in the literature about exaggerated structures despite the lack of support for it, and the now (well, we think), strong cases made for sexual selection, or at least it’s assessment. Although previously the case for sexual selection was pretty weak, it is at least an extremely common phenomenon in living taxa and with obvious powerful effects on anatomy and behaviour. Species recognition has not yet even been shown (in relation to exaggerated structures) in any living clade, and while offhand one-line explanations are not the way to go, it seems odd that one has been replaced with the other. | <urn:uuid:6c908cc9-e560-40d6-92ec-82330c438fec> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | https://archosaurmusings.wordpress.com/tag/sexual-selection/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721558.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00046-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970446 | 2,534 | 2.234375 | 2 |
Ready to make shamrock garland for St. Patrick’s Day decor? We’ll be using green and white burlap, and some cotton string to craft this farmhouse-style garland perfect for your mantel!
A question that popped into my head as I crafted this garland is, why do we decorate with clover for St. Patrick’s Day anyway?
Shamrocks are three-leaved clovers whose scientific name is Trifolium Repens. Just an aside…I had a friend in college who had the amazing ability to find the lucky 4 leaved variety of clover on many occasions. The odds of finding one are 1 in 10,000 by the way!
But why is the shamrock a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day anyway? It turns out that St. Patrick was a Christian missionary who used the shamrock as a way to explain the Holy Trinity to the people of Ireland. If you’d like to read more about the life of St. Patrick here’s a link to a post from thoughtco.com!
Therefore, this lucky little plant is used as the symbol of Ireland. What better way to celebrate it and its meaning than to use it as a decoration for the upcoming St. Patty’s Day holiday?
So, without further chit-chat, here’s the step-by-step tutorial on how to create this burlap shamrock St. Patrick’s Day garland DIY.
Annnnnd, if you’ve traveled on over here from my shamrock wreath tutorial, you can easily use your extra brown and green burlap (instead of the white) to create this garland. So be sure to pin this for later!
Material List for Burlap Shamrock Garland DIY
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First, Measure Your String or Twine
To start, I measured out about 8 feet of my cotton string. My mantel is about 5 feet long, but I wanted to leave some extra just in case.
Make a loop at one end of your string for hanging. Then it’s on to the next step! 😉
Print Out Shamrock Free Printable
Right above this sentence is the button for the shamrock free printable, which should make the project a bit easier!
You can print this out onto cardstock. Or, if you don’t have that on hand, you could print it out onto regular paper and then use that as your template.
Either would work, however, the cardstock may make tracing your shamrock easier.
Cut Shamrock Out of Cardstock and Trace Onto Felt
Next, cut your shamrocks out of your cardstock. Leave some room around the stem if you want your stem to be thicker.
Now it’s time to get out the white felt. I purchased this at Walmart for super cheap in the craft section. I only needed two sheets to make my 8 shamrocks.
Then I traced the shamrock out onto the felt using a regular pen. I tried to make this side (with the pen marks) the back of my shamrock. So decide which way you want your stems to go before tracing.
Cut Holes at Top of Felt Shamrock for String
Next, you’ll want to cut two small holes out of your felt shamrock with scissors. Then slide your string through the holes. It makes it easier if you wrap a little piece of scotch tape around the end.
I slid my string through the shamrock as shown in the pics below.
Glue White or Brown Burlap onto Felt Shamrock
Get out either your mod podge or trusty glue gun for this next step!
Place mod podge all the way around the felt shamrock avoiding the string. I just dipped my finger in and slathered it on. 😉 Then carefully lay your brown or white burlap on top of it.
I found it was a good idea to use an old book to push it down flat and then left the book on there for about 15 minutes to allow the glue to set.
If you don’t have mod podge, but instead have a glue gun on hand, you can also use that!
I applied it the same way as the mod podge, however, be careful not to burn your fingers when applying the burlap. This is shown below.
Use Scissors to Trim the Burlap
Now you’ll want to trim your burlap by using your scissors to cut all the way around the shamrock. As you can see, I left a little edge of burlap as I went.
Be careful not to cut your string as you go!
Use Green Burlap to Cut 3 Shapes to fit into each Clover Leaf
To make this burlap shamrock a little more like St. Patty’s Day, I decided to use my green burlap to cut 3 heart-like shapes to fit into each cloverleaf.
I free-handed the shapes, however, you could also use your shamrock templates. Just trim down the shamrock leaves a bit and use them as a template to cut your green burlap.
Glue Green Burlap to Shamrock
Mod podge the 3 green burlap shapes to your burlap shamrock. I used a book to flatten this out as in the previous step. Don’t worry the glue dries clear!
Continue creating your burlap shamrocks until you have the desired length of garland.
I made 8 shamrocks as shown. They are the perfect neutral and textured St. Patrick’s Day decoration if you like farmhouse decor as I do!
Finishing Up This Burlap Shamrock Garland DIY Tutorial
So, did you think this tutorial was easy peasy? I sure did, as long as you can avoid hot glue gun burns on your fingertips!
I’m loving this white burlap I found at Walmart and am looking forward to using it in future DIY projects! However, I think the brown burlap would work great too!
And of course, if you created my Dollar Tree Shamrock Wreath DIY, you may have had extra burlap on hand to make this garland too! Be sure to pin this post for later crafting!
Fabric, burlap, and felt are some of my favorites to work with. Let me know yours down in the comment section! | <urn:uuid:f7a418c3-5732-4128-a68f-a2a0bdc63e3a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://dappledskiesanddiys.com/burlap-shamrock-garland-diy-farmhouse-decor/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571909.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813051311-20220813081311-00269.warc.gz | en | 0.949028 | 1,396 | 1.914063 | 2 |
With this September/October issue, Bark strikes gold! To celebrate hitting 50 (issues, that is), we set a lavish table, loaded delights for both the mind and the eye. In the triple-article feature “Genealogy,” we look at the ways DNA testing attempts to unscramble the genetic secrets of well-mixed pups. Dogs of the Mississippi Delta are also on tap, captured by renowned photographer Maude Schuyler Clay. The irrepressible Martha, star of Susan Meddaugh’s classic children’s stories, Martha Speaks, debuts on PBS, and we score an in-depth interview with the creators of the series. Well-versed vet Nancy Kay tells us how to speak up for our dogs, and just in time for Halloween, we show you how to sculpt a pup-kin or stitch up a costume for your pooch. From nutrition editors Nestle and Nesheim, we learn what words really mean when it comes to pet food; Patricia McConnell takes issue that comforting a fearful dog is a bad idea—it isn't; and Karen London reveals that play is serious business. There’s more! Animal blessings, 10 healthy ways to add variety to your dog’s mealtime, canine eye care, cover dog Porchie, a mother/daughter matching DVMs, new smilers, and a Dogpatch potpourri round out the issue. Enjoy!
Martha Speaks to Bark The children’s classic comes to PBS! Program creators share their insights. By Claudia Kawczynska
Dog-o-Lanterns Step-by-step instructions for sculpting a pup-perfect pumpkin. By Terri Hardin
Delta Dogs Maude Schuyler Clay’s artful Mississippi photographs. By Beth Ann Fennelly
Becoming Your Dog’s Advocate The 10 (tried and true) commandments of veterinary office visits. By Nancy Kay, DVM
SPECIAL FEATURE: GENEALOGY
[Science] What Kind of Dog Is That? Jane Brackman, PhD, unravels mutts’ rich genetic tapestry.
[Essay] The Well-Mixed Mutt Michael J. Rosen finds that dogs are more than the sum of their parts.
[Tests] Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo Amy Young decodes the DNA test market.
ESSAYS AND HOWLS
Scary Math In a chance encounter, the only one not surprised is the dog. By Kim Lemon
Homer A great Hound who lived once upon a time. By Rick Bass
A Pooched Punt A football-loving Lab outfoxes the home team. By Ben Ginsberg
Poem: Fortune’s Talker By Stephen Kuusisto
[Career Moves] Degrees of Difference Mother-daughter duo graduate from vet school By Rikke Jorgensen
[Nutrition] Natural, Human Grade, Organic Dog Food Is there truth in labeling? By Marion Nestle, PhD, and Malden Nesheim, PhD
[People Who Matter] Andrew Kaplan, DVM A committed vet tackles NYC’s pet overpopulation. By Lee Harrington
[Wellness] 10 Easy Pieces Mealtime upgrades from the grocery basket. By Roschelle Heuberger, PhD, RD
[Behavior: Both Ends of the Leash] Comforting a fearful dog can be a good thing. By Patricia B. McConnell, PhD
[Celebration] Blessed Are the Animals A cathedral’s must-attend event—dogs are welcomed. By Laurel Maury
[Health] Eye Care By Shauna S. Roberts, PhD
[Crafts] Trick or Treat A costume with flower power. By Annette Howard
[Behavior: By the Numbers] Studies on Canine Play By Karen B. London, PhD
[Dog Law] PETS legislation and how to improve it. By Geordie Duckler, JD, PhD
[Reviews] The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Oh Behave!, Tell Me Where It Hurts, Eco Dog, See Spot Sit
[Endpiece] Battle of the Flying Fur By Jeffrey Shaffer
Opinion: Flood Relief—Displaced Iowa shelter needs a helping hand.
Amazing Greyts—a new book by photographer Barbara Karant.
Namesake—Philly’s White Dog Café.
Re-Use—Tote on the cheap.
Fabulous Prefab—Build your own and weigh in on the design.
Cover Dog—Soulful Porchie from Massachusetts .
Foreclosure Pets—Helping pets in hard times.
Fat Book—Artists unite to help a great rescue group.
How I Found My Dog—A new reader-based series; for our first, Joyce Freedman tells Honey’s story.
Smiling Dogs—A new & happy crew of smilers. | <urn:uuid:1894e19f-a476-4b62-ae9e-1e5d1e2af955> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://thebark.com/content/issue-50-septoct-2008?page=show | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988720941.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183840-00518-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.836299 | 1,024 | 1.984375 | 2 |
Turf-type tall fescue can handle the traffic
We have a question about lawn ground covers that might grow in our local soil and hardiness zone. We’ve seen dichondra repens and different types of clovers online and wonder how those would do in our high desert area? If those would not do well in Grand Junction, what would you suggest for a nice looking small lawn hardy enough to live with our two collie mix dogs? We realize lawns and dogs don’t mix, but we are willing to keep trying.
I’m afraid I can’t recommend either one. Dichondra makes a great lawn substitute, but it isn’t winter hardy here. We actually sell varieties of it in the spring to use as a foliage accent in people’s annual flower pots.
Clover will overwinter here, but I don’t think it’s all that good for that purpose, either. It looks good for a couple of years, but then starts thinning out and looks patchy and ratty. It also tends to be invasive, spreading and seeding into areas you didn’t intend such as your shrub and flower beds or your neighbor’s lawn.
Have you tried a turf-type tall fescue for your lawn? Though it does have its limits, this grass is much more wear tolerant than bluegrass. It has been used for years for athletic fields since it holds up well under frequent foot traffic. It means reseeding the lawn from scratch, I’m afraid, but it works well for most folks.
What can you tell me about zoysia grass? It sounds so good in the magazine ads. Will it grow here? Is it really as low maintenance and wonderful as it sounds?
The answer to your question is “no.” To tell you the truth, I’m not a big fan of zoysia grass here. In spite of what the advertising says, it’s much better in a milder climate. We can see winter dieback problems in this area.
Zoysia can become quite invasive and tends to form a thick thatch layer. It also needs to be mowed quite short (half to one third the height of bluegrass), which can increase maintenance. Zoysia is also a warm season grass, not greening up in the spring until May and browning out in late September to early October.
I still think our best “traditional” lawn grass around here is bluegrass.
Last fall we had a tree removed and the stump ground up. Now there is a space in the lawn approximately 8 feet by 4 feet which contains wood chips to a depth of 3–4 inches. We would like to put grass in the spot vacated by the tree and its stump. Should we seed or sod, and what should we do about soil preparation? I’m pretty sure the wood chips are not a good base for either method.
As you’ve guessed, those wood chips won’t make a good base for your grass. The grass won’t grow well on them and, as they decompose, the area will settle and you have a low spot in the lawn.
You will need to remove them and replace them with some topsoil. Try to get as many out as you can. Leaving a few behind isn’t going to be a problem, but you want to get rid of the bulk of them.
Once the topsoil is in and firmed, you can plant your grass. It really doesn’t matter whether you seed or sod it. The sod is faster, but costs more. In the end, you’ll end up with the same thing. | <urn:uuid:f136a081-c3a3-4a72-acb2-d90cc2d80a87> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.gjsentinel.com/lifestyle/articles/turftype-tall-fescue-can-handle-the-traffic | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280872.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00316-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966217 | 785 | 1.8125 | 2 |
The Gülen Movement, also known as Hizmet (service), is a social movement inspired by the Turkish Islamic scholar and peace activist Fethullah Gülen. It began in Turkey in the 1970’s and operates principally in education, dialogue, media and relief work. It has founded over a thousand schools; even more dialogue organisations; clinics; media outlets; humanitarian aid and other charitable NGOs in over a 130 countries worlwide. By all measures, the Movement is big, extensive, dynamic and successful. For many this means that it must be centrally organized and hierarchically structured — that is, it must be top-down with clear chains of command, various layers of operating systems with the necessary checks and balances that entails. The assumption is based on our everyday experience of getting things done (and fnding that the bigger the task the harder and more complex the organisational effort it requires) and on our knowledge of small and large organisations. The assumption is that large entities must have elaborate hierarchical structures and systems to even exist let alone achieve their goals.
But Fethullah Gülen himself and Gülen-inspired organizations and its volunteers have consistently denied that the Movement has any chain of command, central leadership or hierarchical structure. It claims that the diverse organizations it consists of are loosely and informally connected through the volunteers’ shared ideals and principles and that it achieves remarkable outputs through the inputs of self-motivated individuals. The problem with this account is that it does not conform to our preconceptions and day–to-day experiences in life. The reaction is then to suppose that ‘by denying it the Movement must in fact be hiding its structure.’ Most people do not find it conceivable that perhaps the Movement is telling the truth about itself and that it is our assumptions and preconceptions that are at fault. This is where I think looking at another example might help us see beyond those assumptions and preconceptions. The example I have in mind in Gore Inc.
Gore Inc. (full name W. L. Gore & Associates) was founded in 1958 by Bill and Vieve Gore. It is a privately-held multi-billion high-tech company headquartered in Newark, Delaware, USA. It manufactures and markets more than 1,000 products ranging from heart patches, synthetic blood vessels and fabric laminates to plastic-coated acoustic guitar strings. It currently has 9,000 employees located in 30 countries worldwide, with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Germany, Scotland, Japan, and China, and sales offices around the world. Its annual revenues are $2.5 billion.
Gore Inc. is a legally registered and incorporated entity and (unlike the Gülen Movement) its fundamental objective, like any non-charitable company, is to make profit. As such, we would expect Gore Inc. to have in place a strict, formal hierarchical structure to manage its $2.5 billion revenues, 9,000 staff located in over 30 countries, plants and offices across the world and its highly specialized and sensitive product manufacturing capability, not to mention the logistics of complex supply and distribution chains and schedules and all that is enatiled by its business. Actually it does not. It operates as a flat-lattice organization, which is non-hierarchical, has no bosses, no job titles, no fixed or assigned authority, no chains of command, no organizational charts and no predetermined channels of communication.
Bill Gore, co-founder of Gore Inc. and creator of the lattice organisation describes it as follows:
A lattice organization is one that involves direct transactions, self-commitment, natural leadership, and lacks assigned or assumed authority… Every successful organization has a lattice organization that underlies the façade of authoritarian hierarchy. It is through these lattice organizations that things get done, and most of us delight in going aroundthe formal procedures and doing things the straightforward and easy way.
The model which has evolved over the years as the company has grown is described by the company’s website as a:
[N]onhierarchical system based on interconnection among associates, [which] is free from traditional bosses and managers. There is no assigned authority, and we become leaders based on our ability to gain the respect of our peers and to attract followers.
With Gore’s lattice organisation there are no employees; instead everyone who works for the company is called an associate. There are no bosses or managers; instead there are sponsors (mentors) and naturally-emerging leaders who earn credibility and a following among colleagues. There are no formal structures; instead there is person-to-person communication with no intermediaries, small enough plants for people to know one another and dynamic and need-based team formation and dissolution. Objectives are set by the same people who are charged with making them happen and tasks are organized through a system of commitments.
Sponsors (who are also associates) engage in a one-on-one relationship and focus on the development and growth of the associate. The sponsor’s role is to be able to help the associate find opportunities within the company and business. Leaders (who are also associates) on the other hand focus on business objectives, co-ordinate activities and align teams to meet goals. A leader is an associate who is recognized by his or her team as having special knowledge or experience and is looked upon by the team for co-ordination to achieve agreed goals. In an internal memo Bill Gore explains that “Don’t assign leadership, let it emerge. The best leadership today is earned from those being led. Don’t let managers rely on the power of their positions, authority, or fear, to get work done when they manage others.”
Malcolm Gladwell argues in his international bestseller, The Tipping Point (2000), that Gore Inc. is able to run a big company as if it were a small entrepenuarial set-up by limiting the number of associates at any one plant to roughly 150 (although since Gladwell’s book the number at some plants is said to have gone up). Gladwell explains that that is the largest number of people in a group who could come to know one another sufficiently well to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Work is achieved more naturally as people know who is best at doing whatever is required for the given task(s) in hand without the need for elaborate structures. Any issues are resolved directly as and when they arise. The small group intimacy and affiliation also creates peer pressure to succeed.
This flat, bottom-up lattice-style management structure in business and commerce is not something completely unheard of. Although Gore Inc. is perhaps an exception in that it is a multi-billion dollar company that adopted this model from inception, the example is nonetheless spreading and the topic of self-management or supermanagement is being discussed among scholars and in popular publications.
If a large multi-billion high-tech international company can operate very successfully as a lattice organization, then surely a socially oriented non-profit movement can operate much more easily in that way, that is, without the usual chains of command and formal hierarchical structuring. Such a movement is by its very nature and purpose far more suited to a loose, organic and natural modus operandi. I am not saying that the Gore Inc. structure illustrates excatly how the Gülen Movement operates. But I am syaing that the widespread and, in this case, misleading preconception that such a large, extensive, consistent and focused movement must have a chain of command, top-down leadership system and a hierarchical structure does not necessarily apply. Those who are genuinely trying to understand this Movement must concede that it is possible that the Movement operates on a different model and paradigm than that which we expect – just as in the case of Gore Inc. And for those who are willing to concede this point and approach the issue without preconceptions, I will attempt to explain how the Gülen Movement does operate in my nextpost. | <urn:uuid:903d87db-3051-4fb2-9eef-89b66bc15cd7> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.hizmetstudies.org/commentary/understanding-structure-and-hierarchy-in-the-gulen-movement-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570921.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809094531-20220809124531-00269.warc.gz | en | 0.965842 | 1,650 | 1.914063 | 2 |
Is there a deterioration of press freedom in Ukraine?
Адаптований переклад англійською мовою статті Наталі Лигачової і Галини Петренко «Хто більший бот і менший патріот?». The adapted English translation of the article «Хто більший бот і менший патріот?».
The assassination of journalist Pavel Sheremet was a shock to Ukrainian society. It raised several versions and a number of important questions. During the following week, three well-respected Western media – The Guardian, The Economist and the Atlantic Council – offered their answers. However, in our view, each of them, instead of giving a balanced overview of Ukrainian media landscape, somehow mythologized the overall picture.
The publication in The Guardian is authored by Katya Gorchinskaya, executive director of Ukrainian “Hromadske” TV channel. She has concentrated on the attacks of what she calls Internet “trolls” against journalists, including her colleagues at “Hromadske” after a particular report from Avdiyivka in the Donetsk region. According to Gorchinskaya, the attack was successful enough, so that after the numerous “trolls” accused the channel in the lack of patriotism, her colleagues started receiving “angry phone calls from the troops on the front lines”, who also accused them “of betrayal and disloyalty”.
The Economist, in the anonymous article “Killing the truth: The assassination of a Ukrainian investigative journalist”, speaks about “the atmosphere of impunity that has taken hold in the country since the Maidan revolution”. Corrupt officials “roam free”, armed “volunteer battalions” “operate on their own terms”, and the killing of Sheremet “came amidst growing concerns over press safety in Ukraine”.
Melinda Haring, the editor at the Atlantic Council, recalls three attacks on journalists that happened in Kyiv during the last July. In addition to the assassination of Sheremet, she mentions the attacks on Maria Rydvan, the editor of Forbes Ukraine, and Sergei Golovnyov, the head of Business Censor, and also refers to canceling the work permit for Savik Shuster, a Canadian national, who runs a popular Russian-language talk show. Besides this publication, Melinda Haring expressed the same concerns on the air of “Chas-Time”, the VOA Ukrainian-language TV program.
All three articles also mention the list of journalists, published online by Myrotvorets website earlier this year, and make various conjectures regarding the role of Ukrainian government in this story. (The list contained names and contact details of several thousands of Ukrainian, Russian and Western journalists accredited during a certain period in the self-claimed “people’s republics” in Eastern Ukraine, and accused all of them in “collaboration with the guerillas of terrorist organization”). Thus, The Economist remarks that “human-rights activists and international observers worried about retaliation”, whereas “Ukraine’s interior minister, Arsen Avakov, backed Myrotvorets, castigating the journalists as ‘liberal-separatists’”.
The authors of all three publications draw a conclusion about “deterioration of press freedom in Ukraine” (Melinda Haring) and held Ukrainian government responsible for this decay.
We believe that the Ukrainian landscape presented in those three publications is unreasonably simplified and one-sided. E.g., more context is needed to understand properly the examples used as proofs for pessimistic assessment of press freedom and security of journalists. Thus, Maria Rydvan does not relate the attack on her to her professional activity. Savik Shuster appealed to the court against the decision of the governmental employment service and won; his show goes on as before. “Hromadske”, having a conflict with Ukrainian army press-office regarding the mentioned report, asked Presidential Administration for help and support, got it, and effectively proved its rightness. Moreover, the experts at Ukrainian Institute of Mass Information noticed certain improvement of the situation with violations of journalists’ rights: 129 cases in the first half of 2016 vs. 143 cases for the same period last year.
However, these figures, as well as the examples of effective self-organization of journalists and media experts for protection of their rights, promotion of the legislative basis for Ukrainian public broadcasting network, and other positive trends, are not mentioned in the said publications.
The danger of this unjustified one-sidedness is that such publications could turn the West away from Ukraine, due to traditional western sensitivity to press freedom and protection of journalists’ rights. An obvious analogy comes to mind. Whoever organized the assassination of Ukrainian investigative journalist Georgiy Gongadze back in 2000, now we understand that the primary beneficiary of this murder was Kremlin. One should recall that President Kuchma, at the beginning of his second term, drifted westward in his foreign policy, but, after the disappearance of Gongadze and a couple of subsequent scandals, was forced to seek support in Moscow, as the West was very disappointed in the “government that kills journalists”.
In the same fashion, currently the top-version of Sheremet’s assassination originated in Russian media is that “Ukrainian government dispatched the free-thinking journalist who knew too much”.
It seems that those who darken the picture for Western audience, as well as Ukrainian journalists and bloggers who argue in social networks accusing each other in “treason” or “lack of patriotism”, are not aware that their actions, intentionally or not, benefit primarily the country that currently wages a “hybrid war” against Ukraine.
In this article we share our opinion about both alleged and real, but underdiscussed, problems in Ukrainian media.
We’ll start with a set of general statements.
Every day Ukrainian nationwide and local informational channels broadcast a whole range of diametrically opposed opinions of politicians, experts, political commentators and lay people on all topical issues. The majority of Ukrainians everyday watch TV news, where, along with official governmental information, a considerable part of information contains critical assessments of this very government.
Among the most popular private media are those which are highly critical towards the acting government – e.g., “Inter” and “Ukraine” TV channels, newspapers “Segodnya” and “Vesti”, etc. All political parties who criticize the government have no problems with access to media resources, including nationwide TV channels.
Every week Ukrainian media (broadcasting, printed and online) publish a huge number of journalist investigations exposing corruptions at all levels of government, up to the very top. Several investigative projects, sharply critical to governmental corruption, appear on the air at “UA:Pershiy” – the TV channel that is currently owned by the state, and now undergoes the process of transformation into all-Ukrainian public television.
In addition to alleged armies of bots and trolls, supposedly under the guidance of some governmental structures or officials (?), certainly there are lay Ukrainians who, for any reason, may sincerely dislike either “Hromadske”, “Ukrainska pravda”, “Detector Media” or any other media. Indeed, there are some of them who might resort to accusations, and even threats, in their communication with journalists, including via social networks. One might add that many thinkers and activists who truly influence public opinions (including very critical towards these and other media) do not enjoy any compensation for their public performance but simply write and say what they think.
Indeed, Ukrainian tycoons still heavily influence various spheres of social life, including media. Sometimes journalists become the suffering side in the informational wars between media tycoons, political parties and leading politicians. There are no indicators that Cabinet of Ministries or Presidential Administration might carry systematic policy of silencing the free-thinking media and punishment of investigative journalists; there is no threat that the government would establish censorship and total dictate in the media sphere; however, the ex-vice-minister of information Tetyana Popova is certainly right when she says about pressure on journalists from certain politicians, officials and organizations.
One could also agree that the admitted cases of obstruction of journalist activities could be investigated by law enforcement agencies with more eagerness than up to now.
In the situation as described above, can we ascertain any serious danger to the pluralism of opinions, freedom of journalism and free criticism towards governmental structures in Ukrainian media? No, we can’t. There is no problem with finding a public outlet for any criticism, however harsh, towards any Ukrainian politician, official or businessman. And the situation is not going worse: if anything, it slowly goes better.
At the same time, is there a danger for investigative journalists, as well as other citizens who criticize either government or any other organizations and institutions? Sadly, we should say “yes” – especially as Ukrainian society is tangibly exhausted by constant high tension of the ongoing war and drastic social reforms. As in any other country, those who are criticized try to oppose their critics. Some of them do not hesitate to use the dirtiest methods, including lies, slander and manipulations. Of course, the assassination of a well-known journalist, especially as cynical and impudent as the murder of Sheremet, crosses the “red light”; however, although accusations of the government appeared in some circles almost immediately, so far there is not a single proof that Ukrainian government or law enforcement institutions have anything to do with planning and execution of this murder.
The internal climate in the milieu of Ukrainian journalists is also complicated: mutual aggression towards colleagues, high level of privately-sponsored materials presented as impartial, breaches of professional standards, and, on the other hand, discussions whether these standards should go unamended in the times of internal crisis and external aggression… These and other factors caused serious decline of trust to mass media as social institution, so that currently a considerable part of society actually supports baiting of journalists (both personally and generally). Karen Wykurz, Eurasia Programme Officer for the Rory Peck Trust, considers this as especially dangerous phenomenon.
At the same time, many grudges against particular journalists are reasonable, although sometimes improperly generalized. Ukrainian hackers from the mentioned Myrotvorets website recently published e-mail correspondence between top-management of some nationwide Ukrainian TV channels with Russian propagandists and certain officials of Russian-backed puppet government of “Donetsk people’s republic”, which proves that those Ukrainian journalists indeed collaborated with foreign aggressor and anti-Ukrainian separatists. On the other hand, Ukrainian patriotic community sometimes hastily transfers similar accusations also to other media, suspecting “treason” where actually there is none.
Thus, there are many actual problems. However, the situation is not black-and-white, and its deliberate or inadvertent simplification could be no less harmful than the actual challenges of our current standing. Here are the main problems we see in and around Ukrainian media community.
Owners’ censorship. The mentioned influence of tycoons to the media they own leads to “competition” of mercenary interests of political and business clans, instead of competition of positions and ideas. In addition to traditional media, these political and business clans now also actively enter the most popular social networks, including via the mentioned armies of paid bots and trolls.
Journalists’ self-censorship. This phenomenon is primarily caused by war. Many journalist believe that in the hard times they should postpone some kinds of criticism, e.g. regarding corruption, abuses in the army, etc. Some journalists also afraid that such criticism might entail aggression from the side of those who have contrary expectations about the role of Ukrainian media in the current “hybrid war”. The ongoing discussion on whether the journalist is called now also to be a propagandist, and/or put one’s patriotic affiliation above one’s professional standards, is very hot and often boils down to aggressive exchange of peremptory accusations.
Other reason of journalists’ self-censorship is fear to hurt the business interests of either owners or advertisers, even if there is no direct pressure.
Privately sponsored materials presented as impartial still appear quite often in many Ukrainian media. This traditional illness is currently sharpened by the war-related economical crisis. E.g., the national market of TV advertisement is now estimated about $170 millions per year vs. expected $1,5 billions if there were no war. Thus, virtually all Ukrainian media are unprofitable; they are supported by their owners primarily in order to protect their political and/or business interests.
An alternative group of media are those who financially depend on Western donors, rather than Ukrainian tycoons. Those radio/TV channels and news websites sincerely try to follow the international standards of fair journalism. However, their audience is many times smaller, and they depend on quite unstable financial sources, because Western donors usually prefer short-term special projects, instead of directly supporting daily journalist activities in the long run. As a result, now we have an overflow of western-sponsored journalist investigations (of very different quality), whereas other branches of journalist activities fall into decay.
Low social trust to media. According to sociology, Ukrainians are either losing, or just having no confidence in not only journalistic community, but also other governmental and social institutions. The figures of trust/mistrust balance, as reported by The Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (DIF) and sociological service of Razumkov Centre, show that only few institutions have relatively stable positive balance of trust (e.g., for July 2015, Church +34, Army +18, public organizations +13), whereas for most of the institutions the balance is deeply negative (e.g., for July 2015, courts and prosecution office -67, Parliament -63, banks -62, police -57, Government -56, President -33, etc.). Against this backdrop, Ukrainian mass media, until recently, showed disturbing decline of positive balance: +24 in May 2013, +19 in December 2013, +13 in December 2014, and +2 in July 2015 (figures for 2016 are not yet available).
This general mistrust could be explained by many factors. In addition to those mentioned above, one could also refer to high social expectations immediately after the “Revolution of Dignity” (2014), and current general atmosphere of nervousness, often exacerbated by journalists’ public quarrels. In addition, professional organizations of Ukrainian journalists are now also in the midst of internal crisis, while politicians sometimes use this atmosphere of general mistrust in order to undermine the credibility of even well-grounded journalistic accusations. All this adds up to the negative dynamics of trust that is indeed catastrophic for Ukrainian journalism.
Thus, although we consider an overestimation to talk about “deterioration of press freedom in Ukraine”, we do admit that there are many problems and challenges. Here is what we believe is to be done in the first place:
- To take care about the development of both advertising market and media market. A number of positive legislative initiatives are already in the Parliament waiting for consideration. Also we need legislative stimuli for business investments into independent media with the purpose of making direct financial profit instead of having political influence.
- To increase the professional culture of journalists and media managers; to deepen the level of discussion on proper relations between journalistic professionalism and civil patriotism, both in the peaceful times and in the times of war.
- To expedite the official investigations by law enforcement agencies of all crimes and offences against journalists.
- To increase mutual trust and coordinate the efforts of independent media, civil activists and journalists’ professional organizations. In addition to numerous critical investigations, we also need to promote positive reforms that actually take place, although maybe slower than one might wish. No important positive changes in economical, political and social life are possible if people mistrusts (not always justifiably) every single step of their own state and elected politicians.
- To introduce civil society control over media, with mutual and deepened understanding of what are the primary roles of national and local media in today’s Ukraine.
- To complete the transformation of state-owned TV and radio channels (both central and local) into nationwide public broadcasting network.
- To promote self-regulative processes in the media market; to oppose all external pressures on journalists with the purpose of censorship, intimidation, bribery, compulsion to abandon professional standards.
- To stop the current “war of everyone against everyone” within the journalists’ community.
- For international donors: to move from short-term program financing to long-term support of independent media, including their institutional development; to avoid the situations where some formats of journalism are heavily supported at the expense of others; to pay special attention to local journalistic initiatives.
All in all, we should find again the crucial points of our unity, and then go to our hard, systematic, everyday work. This is the only way to render totally impossible the deterioration of press freedom, threats to independence of media and journalists, and, generally, attacks on European values in Ukraine, so important both for us and for the authors of the mentioned articles in The Guardian, The Economist and the Atlantic Council.
Natalia Ligachova, Galina Petrenko | <urn:uuid:4faf9682-83dc-4802-9ac4-54a954054a46> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://detector.media/community/article/117851/2016-08-16-is-there-a-deterioration-of-press-freedom-in-ukraine/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560283008.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095123-00079-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945217 | 3,783 | 1.914063 | 2 |
Part 2 out of 6
you; and you will want all your wits about you, for it won't be many
hours before we are bumping on the sands, and stoutly built as the craft
is she won't hold together long in such a sea as this."
"Do you really mean it, Malcolm, or are you only trying to get me on
"I mean it, lad. We are drifting fast upon the French coast, and there is
no hope of her clawing off in the teeth of such a gale as this."
The news aroused Ronald effectually. He had not suffered at all on the
voyage down from Glasgow, and he was already beginning to feel better
when Malcolm went down to call him. He was soon on deck holding on by the
"There it is, that long low black line; it looks a long way off because
the air is full of spray and the coast is low, but it's not more than
three or four miles; look at that broad belt of foam."
For some hours the Dutch skipper did his best to beat to windward, but in
vain, the vessel drove nearer and nearer towards the shore; the anchors
were got in readiness, and when within a quarter of a mile of the line of
breakers the vessel's head was brought up into the wind, and the lashings
of the two anchors cut simultaneously.
"Will they hold her, do you think?" Ronald asked.
"Not a chance of it, Ronald. Of course the captain is right to try; but
no cables were ever made would hold such a bluff bowed craft as this in
the teeth of such a wind and sea."
The cables ran out to the bitts. Just as they tightened a great sea
rolled in on the bow. Two dull reports were heard, and then her head
payed off. The jib was run up instantly to help her round, and under this
sail the brig was headed directly towards the shore. The sea was breaking
round them now; but the brig was almost flat bottomed and drew but little
water. All on board hung on to the shrouds and bulwarks, momentarily
expecting a crash, but she drove on through the surf until within a
hundred yards of the shore. Then as she went down in the trough of a wave
there was a mighty crash. The next wave swept her forward her own length.
Then there was another crash even more tremendous than the first, and her
masts simultaneously went over the side. The next wave moved her but a
few feet; the one which followed, finding her immovable, piled itself
higher over her, and swept in a cataract down her sloping deck. Her stern
had swung round after the first shot, and she now lay broadside to the
waves. The Dutch skipper and his crew behaved with the greatest calmness;
the ship lay over at such an angle that it was impossible to stand on the
deck; but the captain managed to get on the upper rail, and although
frequently almost washed off by the seas, contrived to cut the shrouds
and ropes that still attached the masts to the ship there. Then he joined
the crew, who were standing breast high in the water on the lee side, the
floating masts were pulled in until within a few yards of the vessel, and
such of the crew as could swim made towards them.
The skipper cut the last rope that bound them, and then plunged in and
joined his men. The distance was little over fifty yards to the shore,
and the wreck formed a partial shelter. A crowd of people were assembled
at the edge of the beach with ropes in readiness to give any assistance
in their power. Malcolm and Ronald were among those who had swum to the
masts, but when within a short distance of the shore the former shouted
in the latter's ear:
"Swim off, lad, the masts might crush us."
As soon as they neared the shore a number of ropes were thrown. Most of
the sailors, seeing the danger of being crushed, followed the example of
Malcolm, and left the masts. Malcolm and Ronald swam just outside the
point where the waves broke until a line fell in the water close to them.
They grasped it at once.
"Give it a twist round your arm," Malcolm shouted, "or the backwash will
tear you from it."
The sailors on shore watched their opportunity, and the instant a wave
passed beneath the two swimmers ran up the beach at full speed with the
rope. There was a crash. Ronald felt himself shot forward with great
rapidity, then as he touched the ground with his feet they were swept
from under him, and so great was the strain that he felt as if his arm
was being pulled from the socket. A few seconds later he was lying at
full length upon the sands, and before the next wave reached him a dozen
men had rushed down and seized him and Malcolm, and carried them beyond
its influence. For a minute or two Ronald felt too bruised and out of
breath to move. Then he heard Malcolm's voice:
"Are you hurt, Ronald?"
"No; I think not, Malcolm," he replied, making an effort to sit up. "Are
"No, lad; bruised a bit, but no worse."
One by one the sailors were brought ashore, one with both legs broken
from the force with which he was dashed down by the surf, and one man who
stuck to the mast was crushed to death as it was rolled over and over on
to the beach. The captain and three sailors were, like Malcolm and
Ronald, unhurt. There still remained four men on the wreck. Fortunately
she had struck just at high tide, and so stoutly was she built that she
held together in spite of the tremendous seas, and in an hour the four
sailors were able to wade breast high to the shore.
They found that the spot where the vessel had struck was half a mile west
of Gravelines. They were taken to the town, and were hospitably
entertained. A small body of soldiers were quartered there, and the
officer in command told the Dutch skipper, that as the two nations were
at war he and his crew must be detained until he received orders
respecting them. On learning from Malcolm that he and Ronald were
passengers, and were Scotsmen making their way from England to escape
imprisonment as friends of the Stuarts, and that he had for twelve years
served in one of the Scotch regiments of Louis, and was now bound for
Paris, the officer said that they were free to continue their journey at
It was two or three days before they started, for they found the next
morning that they were both too severely bruised to set out at once on
the journey. As Malcolm had taken care to keep the purse containing
Ronald's money securely fastened to a belt under his clothes they had no
lack of funds; but as time was no object they started for Paris on foot.
Ronald greatly enjoyed the journey. Bright weather had set in after the
storm. It was now the middle of May, all nature was bright and cheerful,
the dresses of the peasantry, the style of architecture so different to
that to which he was accustomed in Scotland, and everything else were new
and strange to him. Malcolm spoke French as fluently as his own language,
and they had therefore no difficulty or trouble on the way.
They arrived at Paris without any adventure. Malcolm went to a cabaret
which had at the time when he was in the French service been much
frequented by Scotch soldiers, being kept by a countryman of their own,
an ex-sergeant in one of the Scottish regiments.
"Ah! Sandy Macgregor," Malcolm exclaimed as the proprietor of the place
approached to take their order. "So you are still in the flesh, man!
Right glad am I to see you again.
"I know your face," Sandy replied; "but I canna just say what your name
"Malcolm Anderson, of Leslie's Scotch regiment. It's fourteen years since
I left them now; but I was here again four years later, if you can
remember, when I came over to try and find out if aught had been heard of
"Ay, ay," Sandy said, grasping Malcolm's outstretched hand warmly. "It
all comes back to me now. Right glad am I to see you. And who is the lad
ye have brought with you? A Scot by his face and bearing, I will be
bound, but young yet for the service if that be what he is thinking of."
"He is the colonel's son, Sandy. You will remember I told you I had
carried him back to Scotland with me; but I need not tell ye that this is
betwixt ourselves, for those who have so badly treated his father might
well have a grudge against the son, and all the more that he is the
rightful heir to many a broad acre here in France."
"I give you a hearty welcome, young sir," Sandy said. "Many a time I have
seen your brave father riding at the head of his regiment, and have
spoken to him too, for he and his officers would drop in here and crack a
cup together in a room I keep upstairs for the quality. Well, well, and
to think that you are his son! But what Malcolm said is true, and it were
best that none knew who ye are, for they have an unco quick way here of
putting inconvenient people out of the way."
"Have you ever heard aught of my father since?" Ronald asked eagerly.
"Not a word," Sandy replied. "I have heard it talked over scores of times
by men who were in the regiment that was once his, and none doubted that
if he were still alive he was lying in the Bastille, or Vincennes, or one
of the other cages where they keep those whose presence the king or his
favourites find inconvenient. It's just a stroke of the pen, without
question or trial, and they are gone, and even their best friends darena
ask a question concerning them. In most cases none know why they have
been put away; but there is no doubt why Leslie was seized. Three or four
of his fellow officers were in the secret of his marriage, and when he
had disappeared these talked loudly about it, and there was sair grief
and anger among the Scottish regiment at Leslie's seizure. But what was
to be done? It was just the king's pleasure, and that is enough in
France. Leslie had committed the grave offence of thwarting the wishes of
two of the king's favourites, great nobles, too, with broad lands and
grand connections. What were the likings of a Scottish soldier of fortune
and a headstrong girl in comparison! In Scotland in the old times a
gallant who had carried off a daughter of a Douglas or one of our
powerful nobles would have made his wife a widow ere many weeks were
over, and it is the same thing here now. It wouldna have been an easy
thing for his enemies to kill Leslie with his regiment at his back, and
so they got an order from the king, and as surely got rid of him as if
they had taken his life."
"You have never heard whether my mother has married again?" Ronald asked.
"I have never heard her name mentioned. Her father is still at court, but
his daughter has never been seen since, or I should have heard of it; but
more than that I cannot say."
"That gives me hopes that my father is still alive," Ronald said. "Had he
been dead they might have forced her into some other marriage."
"They might so; but she was plainly a lassie who had a will of her own
and may have held out."
"But why did they not kill him instead of putting him in prison if he was
in their way?"
"They might, as I said, have done it at once; but once in prison he was
beyond their reach. The king may grant a lettre de cachet, as these
orders are called, to a favourite; but even in France men are not put to
death without some sort of trial, and even Chateaurouge and De Recambours
could not ask Louis to have a man murdered in prison to gratify their
private spite, especially when that man was a brave Scottish officer
whose fate had already excited much discontent among his compatriots in
the king's service. Then again much would depend upon who was the
governor of the prison. These men differ like others. Some of them are
honourable gentlemen, to whom even Louis himself would not venture to
hint that he wanted a prisoner put out of the way; but there are others
who, to gratify a powerful nobleman, would think nothing of telling a
jailer to forget a fortnight to give food to a prisoner. So you see we
cannot judge from this. And now what are you thinking of doing, Malcolm,
and why are you over here?"
"In the first place we are over here because young Leslie took after his
father and aided a Jacobite, whom George's men were in search of, to
escape, and drew his sword on a worshipful justice of Glasgow and the
"He has begun early," Sandy said, laughing; "and how did he get away?"
"They brought him down a prisoner to London, to interrogate him as to the
plot. I had a boat in the Thames and he jumped over and swam for it; so
here we are. There are rumours in Scotland that King Louis is helping
Prince Charlie, and that an army is soon going to sail for Scotland."
"It is talked of here, but so far nothing is settled; but as King George
is interfering in Louis's affairs, and is fighting him in Germany, I
think it more than likely that King Louis is going to stir up a coil in
Scotland to give George something to do at home."
"Then if there's nothing to be done here I shall find out the old
regiment. There will be many officers in it still who have fought under
Leslie, and some of them may know more about him than you do, and will
surely be able to tell me what has become of the lad's mither."
"That may well be so; but keep a quiet tongue, Malcolm, as to Leslie's
son, save to those on whose discretion you can rely. I tell you, if it
were known that he is alive and in France his life would not be worth a
week's purchase. They would not take the trouble to get a lettre de
cachet for him as they did for his father; it would be just a pistol
bullet or a stab on a dark night or in a lonely place. There would be no
question asked about the fate of an unknown Scotch laddie."
"I will be careful, Sandy, and silent. The first thing is to find out
where the old regiment is lying."
"That I can tell you at once. It is on the frontier with the Duc de
Noailles, and they say that there is like to be a great battle with
English George and his army."
"Well, as we have nothing else to do we will set out and find them,"
Malcolm said; "but as time is not pressing we will stop a few days here
in Paris and I will show the lad the sights. I suppose you can put us
"That can I. Times are dull at present. After '15 Paris swarmed with
Scotsmen who had fled to save their heads; but of late years but few have
come over, and the Scotch regiments have difficulty in keeping up their
numbers. Since the last of them marched for the frontier I have been
looking after empty benches, and it will be good news for me when I hear
that the war is over and they are on their way back."
For some days Malcolm and Ronald wandered about the narrow streets of
Paris. Ronald was somewhat disappointed in the city of which he had heard
so much. The streets were ill paved and worse lighted, and were narrow
and winding. In the neighbourhood of the Louvre there were signs of
wealth and opulence. The rich dresses of the nobles contrasted strongly
indeed with the sombre attire of the Glasgow citizens, and the appearance
and uniform of the royal guards filled him with admiration; but beyond
the fashionable quarter it did not appear to him that Paris possessed
many advantages over Glasgow, and the poorer class were squalid and
poverty stricken to a far greater degree than anything he had seen in
Scotland. But the chief points of attraction to him were the prisons. The
Bastille, the Chatelet, and the Temple were points to which he was
continually turning; the two former especially, since, if he were in
Paris, it was in one of these that his father was most probably lying.
The various plans he had so often thought over, by which, in some way or
other, he might communicate with his father and aid his escape, were
roughly shattered at the sight of these buildings. He had reckoned on
their resembling in some respect the prison in Glasgow, and at the sight
of these formidable fortresses with their lofty walls and flanking
towers, their moats and vigilant sentries, his hopes fell to zero. It
would, he saw at once, be absolutely impossible to open communication
with a prisoner of whose whereabouts he was wholly ignorant and of whose
very existence he was doubtful. The narrow slits which lighted the cell
in which he was confined might look into an inner court, or the cell
itself might be below the surface of the soil. The legend of the
troubadour who discovered King Richard of England's place of captivity by
singing without the walls had always been present in his mind, but no
such plan would be practicable here. He knew no song which his father,
and his father only, would recognize; and even did he know such a song,
the appearance of anyone loitering in the open space outside the moat
round the Bastille singing at intervals at different points would have
instantly attracted the attention of the sentries on the walls. Nor, even
did he discover that his father was lying a prisoner in one of the cells
facing outwards in the fortress, did he see any possibility of compassing
his escape. The slits were wide enough only for the passage of a ray of
light or the flight of an arrow. No human being could squeeze himself
through them, and even if he could do so he would need a long rope to
descend into the moat.
One day Ronald talked over his ideas with Malcolm, who declared at once
that they were impossible of execution.
"There is scarcely a case on record," he said, "of an escape from either
the Bastille or the Chatelet, and yet there have been scores of prisoners
confined in them with friends of great influence and abundant means. If
these have been unable, by bribing jailers or by other strategy, to free
their friends, how could a stranger, without either connection,
influence, or wealth, hope to effect the escape of a captive were he
certain that he was within the walls. Do not waste your thought on such
fancies, Ronald. If your father is still in prison it is by influence
only, and influence exerted upon the king and exceeding that of your
father's enemies, that his release can be obtained.
"Such influence there is no possibility of our exerting. Your father's
comrades and countrymen, his position and services, availed nothing when
he was first imprisoned; and in the time which has elapsed the number of
those who know him and would venture to risk the king's displeasure by
pleading his cause must have lessened considerably. The only possibility,
mind I say possibility, of success lies in your mother.
"So far it is clear that she has been powerless; but we know not under
what circumstances she has been placed. She may all this time have been
shut up a prisoner in a convent; she may be dead; but it is possible
that, if she is free, she may have powerful connections on her mother's
side, who might be induced to take up her cause and to plead with the
king for your father's liberty. She may have been told that your father
is dead. She is, no doubt, in ignorance of what has become of you, or
whether you are still alive. If she believes you are both dead she would
have had no motive for exerting any family influence she may have, and
may be living a broken hearted woman, firm only in the resolution to
accept no other husband."
"Yes, that is possible," Ronald agreed. "At any rate, Malcolm, let us
lose no further time, but set out tomorrow for the frontier and try to
find out from my father's old comrades what has become of my mother."
CHAPTER V: Dettingen.
After walking two or three miles Malcolm and Ronald came upon the rear of
a train of waggons which had set out from Paris an hour earlier. Entering
into conversation with one of the drivers they found that the convoy was
bound for the frontier with ammunition and supplies for the army.
"This is fortunate," Malcolm said; "for to tell you the truth, Ronald, I
have looked forward to our meeting with a good many difficulties by the
way. We have no passes or permits to travel, and should be suspected of
being either deserters or thieves. We came down from the north easy
enough; but there they are more accustomed to the passage of travellers
to or from the coast. Going east our appearance if alone would be sure to
incite comment and suspicion. It is hard if among the soldiers with the
convoy I do not know someone who has friends in the old regiment. At any
rate we can offer to make ourselves useful in case of any of the drivers
falling ill or deserting by the way."
As they walked along towards the head of the long line of waggons Malcolm
closely scrutinized the troopers who formed the escort, but most of them
were young soldiers, and he therefore went on without accosting them
until he reached the head of the column. Here two officers were riding
together, a captain and a young lieutenant. Malcolm saluted the former.
"I am an old soldier of the 2d Regiment of Scottish Calvary, and am going
with my young friend here, who has relations in the regiment, to join
them. Will you permit us, sir, to journey with your convoy? We are ready,
if needs be, to make ourselves useful in case any of your drivers are
missing, no uncommon thing, as I know, on a long journey."
The officer asked a few questions about his services, and said: "What
have you been doing since you left, as you say, fourteen years ago?"
"I have been in Scotland, sir. I took this lad, who was then an infant,
home to my people, having had enough of soldiering, while my brother, his
father, remained with the regiment. We do not know whether he is alive or
dead, but if the former the lad wants to join as a trumpeter, and when
old enough to fight in the ranks."
"Very well," the officer said. "You can march along with us, and if any
of these fellows desert you shall take their places, and of course draw
It was a short time indeed before Malcolm's services were called into
requisition, for the very first night several of the drivers, who had
been pressed into the service, managed to elude the vigilance of the
guard and slipped away.
The next morning Malcolm, with Ronald as his assistant, took charge of
one of the heavy waggons, loaded with ammunition, and drawn by twelve
"This is better than walking after all, Ronald. In the first place it
saves the legs, and in the second one is partly out of the dust."
"But I think we should get on faster walking, Malcolm."
"Yes, if we had no stoppages. But then, you see, as we have no papers we
might be detained for weeks by some pig headed official in a little
country town; besides, we are sure to push on as fast as we can, for they
will want the ammunition before a battle is fought. And after all a few
days won't make much difference to us; the weather is fine, and the
journey will not be unpleasant."
In fact Ronald enjoyed the next three weeks greatly as the train of
waggons made its way across the plains of Champagne, and then on through
the valleys of Lorraine and Alsace until it reached Strasbourg. Malcolm
had speedily made friends with some of the soldiers of the escort, and of
an evening when the day's work was over he and Ronald sat with them by
the fires they made by the roadside, and Malcolm told tales of the
campaigns in which he had been engaged, and the soldiers sang songs and
chatted over the probabilities of the events of the war. None of them had
served before, having been but a few months taken from their homes in
various parts of France. But although, doubtless, many had at first
regretted bitterly being dragged away to the wars, they were now all
reconciled to their lot, and looked forward eagerly to joining their
regiment, which was at the front, when the duty of looking after the
convoy would be at an end.
Little was known in Paris as to the position of the contending armies
beyond the fact that Lord Stair, who commanded the English army, sixteen
thousand strong, which had for the last year been lying inactive in
Flanders, had marched down with his Hanoverian allies towards the Maine,
and that the Duc de Noailles with sixty thousand men was lying beyond the
Rhine. But at Strasbourg they learned that the French army had marched
north to give battle to Lord Stair, who had at present with him but
twenty-eight thousand men, and was waiting to be joined by twelve
thousand Hanoverians and Hessians who were on their way.
The convoy continued its journey, pushing forward with all speed, and on
the 26th of July joined the army of De Noailles. The French were on the
south side of the river, but having arrived on its banks before the
English they had possession of the bridges. As soon as the waggons had
joined the army, Malcolm obtained from the officer commanding the escort
a discharge, saying that he and Ronald had fulfilled their engagement as
drivers with the waggons to the front, and were now at liberty to return
"Now we are our own masters again, Ronald," Malcolm said. "I have taken
part in a good many battles, but have never yet had the opportunity of
looking on at one comfortably. De Noailles should lose no time in
attacking, so as to destroy the English before they receive their
reinforcements. As he holds the bridges he can bring on the battle when
he likes, and I think that tomorrow or next day the fight will take
It was known in the camp that evening that the English had established
their chief magazines at Hanau, and were marching up the river towards
Aschaffenburg. In the early morning a portion of the French troops
crossed the river at that town, and took up a strong position there.
Ronald and Malcolm climbed a hill looking down upon the river from the
south side, and thence commanded the view of the ground across which the
English were marching. On the eastern side of the river spurs of the
Spessart Mountains came down close to its bank, inclosing a narrow flat
between Aschaffenburg and Dettingen. At the latter place the heights
approached so closely to the river as to render it difficult for an army
to pass between them. While posting a strong force at Aschaffenburg to
hold the passage across a stream running into the Maine there, De
Noailles marched his main force down the river; these movements were
hidden by the nature of the ground from the English, who were advancing
unconscious of their danger towards Dettingen.
"De Noailles will have them in a trap," Malcolm said, for from their
position on the hill they could see the whole ground on the further bank,
Hanau lying some seven miles beyond Dettingen, which was itself less than
seven miles from Aschaffenburg.
"I am afraid so," Ronald said.
"Afraid!" Malcolm repeated. "Why, you should rejoice, Ronald."
"I can't do that," Ronald replied. "I should like to see the Stuarts
instead of the Hanoverians reigning over us; but after all, Malcolm,
England and Scotland are one nation."
"But there are Scotch regiments with the French army, and a brigade of
"That may be," Ronald said. "Scotchmen who have got into political
trouble at home may enter the service of France, and may fight heartily
against the Germans or the Flemings, or other enemies of France; but I
know that I should feel very reluctant to fight against the English army,
except, of course, at home for the Stuarts."
"It will benefit the Stuarts' cause if the English are defeated here,"
"That may be or it may not.," Ronald replied. "You yourself told me that
Louis cared nothing for the Stuarts, and would only aid them in order to
cripple the English strength at home. Therefore, if he destroys the
English army here he will have less cause to fear England and so less
motive for helping the Chevalier."
"That is true enough," Malcolm agreed. "You are fast becoming a
politician, Ronald. Well, I will look on as a neutral then, because,
although the English are certainly more nearly my countrymen than are the
French, you must remember that for twelve years I fought under the French
flag. However, there can be no doubt what is going to take place. See,
the dark mass of the English army are passing through the defile of
Dettingen, and the French have begun to cross at Seligenstadt in their
rear. See, they are throwing three or four bridges across the river
In utter ignorance of their danger the English marched on along the
narrow plain by the river bank towards Aschaffenburg.
"Look at their cavalry scouting ahead of them," Malcolm said. "There, the
French are opening fire!" And as he spoke puffs of musketry rose up from
the line of the stream held by the French.
The English cavalry galloped back, but the columns of infantry still
advanced until within half a mile of the French position, and were there
halted, while some guns from the French lines opened fire. The bridges at
Seligenstadt were now completed, and masses of troops could be seen
pouring over. King George and the Duke of Cumberland had joined the Earl
of Stair just as the army passed through Dettingen, and were riding at
the head of the column when the French fire opened. A short time was
spent in reconnoitring the position of the enemy in front. The English
believed that the entire French army was there opposed to them, and that
the advance of the army into Franconia, which was its main objective was
therefore barred. After a short consultation it was resolved to fall back
at once upon the magazines at Hanau, which, from their ignorance of the
near proximity of the French, had been left but weakly guarded. Believing
that as they fell back they would be hotly pursued by the French army,
the king took the command of the rear as the post of danger, and the
columns, facing about, marched towards Dettingen.
But the French had been beforehand with them. De Noailles had sent 23,000
men under his nephew the Duke de Grammont across the river to occupy
Dettingen. He himself with his main army remained on the south side, with
his artillery placed so as to fire across the river upon the flank of the
English as they approached Dettingen; while he could march up and cross
at Aschaffenburg should the English, after being beaten back at
Dettingen, try to retreat up the river.
De Grammont's position was a very strong one behind a swamp and a deep
ravine hollowed out by a stream from the hill. There seemed no
possibility of escape for the English army, who were as yet absolutely in
ignorance of the position of the French. As the head of the column
approached Dettingen, Grammont's artillery opened upon them in front,
while that of De Noailles smote them in flank. As soon as the king found
that his retreat was cut off he galloped from the rear of the column to
its head. His horse, alarmed by the fire of the artillery and whistling
of balls, ran away with him, and was with difficulty stopped just as he
reached the head of the column. He at once dismounted and announced his
intention of leading his troops on foot.
There was a hasty council held between him, Lord Stair, and the Duke of
Cumberland, and it was agreed that the only escape from entire
destruction was by fighting their way through the force now in front of
them. This would indeed have been impossible had De Grammont held his
position; but when that officer saw the English troops halt he believed
he had only the advanced guard in front of him, and resolving to
overwhelm these before their main body arrived, he abandoned his strong
position, led the troops across the swamp, and charged the English in
De Noailles, from the opposite bank, seeing the error his nephew had
made, hurried his troops towards the bridges in order to cross the river
and render him assistance; but it was too late.
The English infantry, headed by the king in person, hurled themselves
upon the troops of De Grammont.
Every man felt that the only hope of escape from this trap into which
they had fallen lay in cutting their way through the enemy, and so
furiously did they fight that De Grammont's troops were utterly
overthrown, and were soon in full flight towards the bridges in the rear,
hotly pursued by the English. Before they could reach the bridges they
left behind them on the field six thousand killed and wounded. King
George, satisfied with his success, and knowing that the French army was
still greatly superior to his own, wisely determined to get out of his
dangerous position as soon as possible, and pushed on that night to
Although Malcolm and Ronald were too far off to witness the incidents of
the battle, they made out the tide of war rolling away from them, and saw
the black masses of troops pressing on through Dettingen in spite of the
French artillery which thundered from the opposite bank of the river.
"They have won!" Ronald said, throwing up his cap. "Hurrah, Malcolm!
Where is the utter destruction of the English now? See, the plain beyond
Dettingen is covered by a confused mass of flying men. The English have
broken out of the trap, and instead of being crushed have won a great
"It looks like it certainly," Malcolm said. "I would not have believed it
if I had not seen it; their destruction seemed certain. And now let us go
round to the camp again."
On their way down Malcolm said:
"I think, on the whole, Ronald, that you are perhaps right, and the
French defeat will do good rather than harm to the Stuart cause. Had they
conquered, Louis would have been too intent on pushing forward his own
schemes to care much for the Stuarts. He has no real interest in them,
and only uses them as cat's paws to injure England. If he had beaten the
English and Hanoverians he would not have needed their aid. As it is, it
seems likely enough that he will try to create a diversion, and keep the
English busy at home by aiding the Stuarts with men and money to make a
landing in Scotland."
"In that case, Malcolm, we need not grieve over the defeat today. You
know my sympathies are with the brave Empress of Austria rather than with
her enemies, and this defeat should go far towards seating her securely
on the throne. Now, what will you do, Malcolm? Shall we try and find my
father's friends at once?"
"Nor for another few days," Malcolm said. "Just after a defeat men are
not in the best mood to discuss bygone matters. Let us wait and see what
is done next."
The next morning a portion of the French army which had not been engaged
crossed the river and collected the French and English wounded, for the
latter had also been left behind. They were treated by the French with
the same care and kindness that was bestowed upon their own wounded. De
Noailles was about to advance against the English at Hanau, when he
received the news that the French army in Bavaria had been beaten back by
Prince Charles, and had crossed the Rhine into Alsace. As he would now be
exposed to the whole brunt of the attack of the allies he decided to
retreat at once.
The next day the retreat recommenced. Many of the drivers had fled at the
first news of the defeat, and Malcolm without question assumed the post
of driver of one of the abandoned teams. For another week the army
retired, and then crossing the Rhine near Worms were safe from pursuit.
"Now, Ronald, I will look up the old regiment, and we will see what is to
The 2d Scotch Dragoons were posted in a little village a mile distant
from the main camp which had now been formed. Malcolm did nor make any
formal transfer of the waggon to the authorities, thinking it by no means
improbable that they would insist upon his continuing his self adopted
avocation as driver; but after seeing to the horses, which were picketed
with a long line of transport animals, he and Ronald walked quietly away
without any ceremony of adieu.
"We must not come back again here," he said, "for some of the teamsters
would recognize me as having been driving lately, and I should have hard
work to prove that I was not a deserter; we must take to the old regiment
now as long as we are here."
On reaching the village they found the street full of troopers, who were
busy engaged in cleaning their arms, grooming their horses, and removing
all signs of weather and battle. Ronald felt a thrill of pleasure at
hearing his native language spoken. He had now so far improved the
knowledge of French as to be able to converse without difficulty, for
Malcolm had from his childhood tried to keep up his French, and had
lately always spoken in that language to him, unless it was necessary to
speak in English in order to make him understand.
These occasions had become more and more rare, and two months of constant
conversation with Malcolm and others had enabled Ronald by this time to
speak with some fluency in the French tongue. None of the soldiers paid
any attention to the newcomers, whose dress differed in no way from that
of Frenchmen, as after the shipwreck they had, of course, been obliged to
rig themselves out afresh. Malcolm stopped before an old sergeant who was
diligently polishing his sword hilt.
"And how fares it with you all these years, Angus Graeme?"
The sergeant almost dropped his sword in his surprise at being so
addressed in his own tongue by one whose appearance betokened him a
"You don't know me, Angus," Malcolm went on with a smile; "and yet you
ought to, for if it hadn't been for me the sword of the German hussar who
carved that ugly scar across your cheek would have followed it up by
putting an end to your soldiering altogether."
"Heart alive, but it's Malcolm Anderson! Eh, man, but I am glad to see
you! I thought you were dead years ago, for I have heard nae mair of you
since the day when you disappeared from among us like a spook, the same
day that puir Colonel Leslie was hauled off to the Bastille. A sair day
was that for us a'! And where ha' ye been all the time?"
"Back at home, Angus, at least in body, for my heart's been with the old
regiment. And who, think you, is this? But you must keep a close mouth,
man, for it must nor be talked of. This is Leslie's son. By his father's
last order I took him off to Scotland with me to be out of reach of his
foes, and now I have brought him back again to try if between us we can
gain any news of his father."
"You don't say so, Malcolm! I never as much heard that the colonel had a
son, though there was some talk in the regiment that he had married a
great lady, and that it was for that that he had been hid away in prison.
And this is Leslie's boy! Only to think, now! Well, young sir, there
isn't a man in the regiment but wad do his best for your father's son,
for those who have joined us since, and in truth that's the great part of
us, have heard many a tale of Colonel Leslie, though they may not have
served under him, and not a tale but was to his honour, for a braver
officer nor a kinder one never stepped the earth. But come inside,
Malcolm. I have got a room to myself and a stoup of good wine; let's talk
over things fair and gentle, and when I know what it is that you want you
may be sure that I will do all I can, for the sake baith of the colonel
and of you, auld comrade."
The trio were soon seated in the cottage, and Malcolm then gave a short
sketch of all that had taken place since he had left the regiment.
"Well, well!" the sergeant said when he had ended; "and so the lad, young
as he is, has already drawn his sword for the Stuarts, and takes after
his father in loyalty as well as in looks, for now that I know who he is
I can see his father's face in his plain enough; and now for your plans,
"Our plans must be left to chance, Angus. We came hither to see whether
any of the colonel's friends are still in the regiment, and to learn from
them whether they have any news whatever of him; and secondly, whether
they can tell us aught of his mother."
"Ay, there are six or eight officers still in the regiment who served
with him. Hume is our colonel now; you will remember him, Malcolm, well,
for he was captain of our troop; and Major Macpherson was a captain too.
Then there are Oliphant, and Munroe, and Campbell, and Graham, all of
whom were young lieutenants in your time, and are now old captains of
"I will see the colonel and Macpherson," Malcolm said; "if they do not
know, the younger men are not likely to. Will you go along with us,
Angus, and introduce me, though Hume is like enough to remember me,
seeing that I was so much with Leslie?"
"They will be dining in half an hour," the sergeant said; "we'll go after
they have done the meal. It's always a good time to talk with men when
they are full, and the colonel will have no business to disturb him then.
Our own dinner will be ready directly; I can smell a goose that I picked
up, as it might be by accident, at the place where we halted last night.
There are four or five of us old soldiers who always mess together when
we are not on duty with our troops, and if I mistake not, you will know
every one of them, and right glad they will be to see you; but of course
I shall say no word as to who the lad is, save that he is a friend of
A few minutes later four other sergeants dropped in, and there was a
joyful greeting between them and Malcolm as soon as they recognized his
identity. The meal was a jovial one, as old jokes and old reminiscences
were recalled. After an hour's sitting Angus said:
"Pass round the wine, lads, till we come back again. I am taking Anderson
to the colonel, who was captain of his troop. We are not likely to be
long, and when we come back we will make a night of it in honour of old
times, or I am mistaken."
On leaving the cottage they waited for a while until they saw the colonel
and major rise from beside the fire round which, with the other officers,
they had been taking their meal, and walk to the cottage which they
shared between them. Angus went up and saluted.
"What is it, Graeme?" the colonel asked.
"There's one here who would fain have a talk with you. It is Malcolm
Anderson, whom you may remember as puir Colonel Leslie's servant, and as
being in your own troop, and he has brought one with him concerning whom
he will speak to you himself."
"Of course I remember Anderson," the colonel said. "He was devoted to
Leslie. Bring him in at once. What can have brought him out here again
after so many years? Been getting into some trouble at home, I suppose?
He was always in some scrape or other when he was in the regiment, for,
though he was a good soldier, he was as wild and reckless a blade as any
in the regiment. You remember him, Macpherson?"
"Yes, I remember him well," the major said. "The colonel was very fond of
him, and regarded him almost as a brother."
A minute later Angus ushered Malcolm and Ronald into the presence of the
two officers, who had now taken seats in the room which served as kitchen
and sitting room to the cottage, which was much the largest in the
"Well, Anderson, I am glad to see you again," Colonel Hume said, rising
and holding out his hand. "We have often spoken of you since the day you
disappeared, saying that you were going on a mission for the colonel, and
have wondered what the mission was, and how it was that we never heard of
"I came over to Paris four years later, colonel, but the regiment was
away in Flanders, and as I found out from others what I had come to
learn, there was no use in my following you. As to the colonel's mission,
it was this;" and he put his hand on Ronald's shoulder.
"What do you mean, Anderson?" the colonel asked in surprise.
"This is Colonel Leslie's son, sir. He bade me fetch him straight away
from the folk with whom he was living and take him off to Scotland so as
to be out of reach of his foes, who would doubtless have made even
shorter work with him than they did with the colonel."
"Good heavens!" the colonel exclaimed; "this is news indeed. So poor
Leslie left a child and this is he! My lad," he said, taking Ronald's
hand, "believe me that anything that I can do for you, whatever it be,
shall be done, for the sake of your dear father, whom I loved as an elder
"And I too," the major said. "There was not one of us but would have
fought to the death for Leslie. And now sit down, my lad, while Anderson
tells us your story."
Malcolm began at the account of the charge which Colonel Leslie had
committed to him, and the manner in which he had fulfilled it. He told
them how he had placed the child in the care of his brother, he himself
having no fixed home of his own, and how the lad had received a solid
education, while he had seen to his learning the use of his sword, so
that he might be able to follow his father's career. He then told them
the episode of the Jacobite agent, and the escape which had been effected
in the Thames.
"You have done well, Anderson," the colonel said when he had concluded;
"and if ever Leslie should come to see his son he will have cause to
thank you, indeed, for the way in which you have carried out the charge
he committed to you, and he may well be pleased at seeing him grown up
such a manly young fellow. As to Leslie himself, we know not whether he
be alive or dead. Every interest was made at the time to assuage his
majesty's hostility, but the influence of the Marquis of Recambours was
too strong, and the king at last peremptorily forbade Leslie's name being
mentioned before him. You see, although the girl's father was, of course,
at liberty to bestow her hand on whomsoever he pleased, he had, with the
toadyism of a courtier, asked the king's approval of the match with
Chateaurouge, which, as a matter of course, he received. His majesty,
therefore, chose to consider it as a personal offence against himself
that this Scottish soldier of fortune should carry off one of the richest
heiresses of France, whose hand he had himself granted to one of his
peers. At the same rime I cannot but think that Leslie still lives, for
had he been dead we should assuredly have heard of the marriage of his
widow with some one else. The duke has, of course, long since married,
and report says that the pair are ill-matched; but another husband would
speedily have been found for the widow."
"Since the duke has married," Ronald said, "he should no longer be so
bitter against my father, and perhaps after so long an imprisonment the
king might be moved to grant his release."
"As the duke's marriage is an unhappy one, I fear that you cannot count
upon his hostility to your father being in any way lessened, as he would
all the more regret the interference with his former plans."
"Have you any idea where my mother is, sir?"
"None," the colonel said. "But that I might find out for you. I will give
you a letter to the Count de Noyes, who is on intimate terms with the
Archbishop of Paris, who would, no doubt, be able to tell him in which
convent the lady is residing. You must not be too sanguine, my poor boy,
of seeing her, for it is possible that she has already taken the veil.
Indeed, if your father has died, and she has still refused to accept any
suitor whom the marquis may have found for her, you may be sure that she
has been compelled to take the veil, as her estates would then revert to
the nearest kinsman. This may, for aught we know, have happened years
ago, without a word of it being bruited abroad, and the affair only known
to those most concerned. However, we must look at the best side. We shall
be able, doubtless, to learn through the archbishop whether she is still
merely detained in the convent or has taken the veil, and you can then
judge accordingly whether your father is likely to be alive or dead. But
as to your obtaining an interview with your mother, I regard it as
impossible in the one case as the other.
"At any rate it is of the highest importance that it should not be known
that you are in France. If it is proved that your father is dead and your
mother is secluded for life, we must then introduce you to her family,
and try and get them to bring all their influence to bear to have you
acknowledged openly as the legitimate heir of the marquis, and to obtain
for you the succession to at least a portion of his estates -- say to
that of those which she brought him as her dowry. In this you may be sure
that I and every Scottish gentleman in the army will give you all the aid
and influence we can bring to bear."
Ronald warmly thanked Colonel Hume for his kindness, and the next day,
having received the letter to the Count de Noyes, set out for Paris with
Malcolm. On his arrival there he lost no time in calling upon the count,
and presenting his letter of introduction.
The count read it through twice without speaking.
"My friend Colonel Hume," he said at last, "tells me that you are the
son, born in lawful wedlock, of Colonel Leslie and Amelie de Recambours.
I am aware of the circumstances of the case, being distantly related to
the lady's family, and will do that which Colonel Hume asks me, namely,
discover the convent in which she is living. But I warn you, young man,
that your position here is a dangerous one, and that were it known that
Colonel Leslie's son is alive and in France, I consider your life would
not be worth a day's purchase. When powerful people are interested in the
removal of anyone not favoured with powerful protection the matter is
easily arranged. There are hundreds of knives in Paris whose use can be
purchased for a few crowns, of if seclusion be deemed better than
removal, a king's favourite can always obtain a lettre-de-cachet, and a
man may linger a lifetime in prison without a soul outside the walls
knowing of his existence there.
"You are an obstacle to the plans of a great noble, and that is in France
a fatal offence. Your wisest course, young man, would be to efface
yourself, to get your friend Colonel Hume to obtain for you a commission
in his regiment, and to forget for ever that you are the son of Colonel
Leslie and Amelie de Recambours. However, in that you will doubtless
choose for yourself; but believe me my advice is good. At any rate I will
do what my friend Colonel Hume asks me, and will obtain for you the name
of the convent where your mother is living. I do not see that you will be
any the better off when you have it, for assuredly you will nor be able
to obtain permission to see her. However, that again is your affair. If
you will give me the address where you are staying in Paris I will write
to you as soon as I obtain the information. Do not be impatient, the
archbishop himself may be in ignorance on the point; but I doubt not,
that to oblige me, he will obtain the information from the right quarter.
A week later, Ronald, on returning one day to Le Soldat Ecossais, found a
note awaiting him. It contained only the words:
"She has not taken the veil; she is at the convent of Our Lady at Tours."
The next morning Ronald and Malcolm set out on their journey to Tours.
CHAPTER VI: The Convent of Our Lady.
Arrived at Tours, Malcolm took a quiet lodging in a retired street.
Colonel Hume had furnished him with a regular discharge, testifying that
the bearer, Malcolm Anderson, had served his time in the 2d Scotch
Dragoons, and was now discharged as being past service, and that he
recommended him as a steady man for any employment for which he might be
suited. Malcolm showed this document to his landlord in order that the
latter might, as required by law, duly give notice to the police of the
name and occupation of his lodger, and at the same time mentioned that
the relations of his wife lived near Tours, and that he hoped through
them to be able to obtain some sort of employment.
As soon as they were settled in their lodgings they went out, and after a
few inquiries found themselves in front of the convent of Our Lady. It
was a massive building, in a narrow street near the river, to which its
grounds, surrounded by a high wall, extended. None of the windows of the
building looked towards the street, upon which the massive gate, with a
small wicket entrance, opened.
"What building is this?" Malcolm, in a careless tone, asked a woman who
was sitting knitting at her door nearly opposite the entrance. "I am a
stranger in Tours."
"That needs no telling," the woman replied, "or you would have known that
that is the convent of Our Lady, one of the richest in Touraine, and they
say in all France. Though what they do with their riches is more than I
can tell, seeing that the rules are of the strictest, and that no one
ever comes beyond the gates. They have their own grounds down to the
river, and there is a walk along the wall there where they take the air
of an evening when the weather is fine. Poor things, I pity them from my
"But I suppose they all came willingly," Malcolm said; "so there is no
need for pity."
"I don't know about willingly," the woman said. "I expect most of them
took the veil rather than marry the men their fathers provided for them,
or because they were in the way of someone who wanted their lands, or
because their lovers had been killed in the war, just as if grief for a
lover was going to last one's life. Besides, they are not all sisters.
They say there's many a lady of good family shut up there till she will
do her father's will. 'Well, well,' I often says to myself, 'they may
have all the riches of France inside those walls, but I would rather sit
knitting at my door here than have a share of them.'"
"You are a wise woman," Malcolm said. "There is nothing like freedom.
Give me a crust, and a sod for my pillow, rather than gold plates inside
a prison. I have been a soldier all my life, and have had my share of
hard knocks; but I never grumbled so long as I was on a campaign, though
I often found it dull work enough when in garrison."
"Oh, you have been a soldier! I have a brother in the regiment of
Touraine. Perhaps you know him?"
"I know the regiment of Touraine," Malcolm said; "and there are no braver
set of men in the king's service. What is his name?"
"Pierre Pitou. I have not heard of him for the last two years. He is a
tall man, and broad, with a scar over the left eye."
"To be sure, to be sure!" Malcolm said. "Of course, Pierre Pitou is one
of my best friends; and now I think of it, madam, I ought to know without
asking, so great is his resemblance to you. Why, his last words to me
were, 'If you go to Tours, seek out my sister, who lives in a house
nearly opposite the entrance to the convent of Our Lady;' and to think I
should have forgotten all about it till I saw you!"
Malcolm remained for a quarter of an hour chatting with the woman about
her brother, and then, promising to call again the next day in the
evening to be introduced to her husband, he rejoined Ronald, who had been
waiting at the corner of the lane, and had been fidgeting with impatience
at the long interview between Malcolm and the woman.
"What have you been talking about all this time, Malcolm, and what could
you have to say to a stranger?"
"I have been telling her all about her brother, Pierre Pitou of the
Touraine regiment, and how he distinguished himself at Dettingen, and
will surely be made a sergeant, with a hope some day of getting to be a
captain. I have quite won her heart."
"But who is Pierre Pitou, and when did you know him?" Ronald asked
"He is a tall man with broad shoulders and a scar over his left eye,"
Malcolm said laughing, and he then related the whole conversation.
"But why did you pretend to this poor woman that you knew her brother?"
"Because she may be very useful to us, Ronald; and if you can't find a
friend in court, it's just as well to have one near court. She is a
gossiping woman, and like enough she may know some of the lay sisters,
who are, in fact, the servants of the convent, and come out to buy
supplies of food and other things, and who distribute the alms among the
poor. I don't know what advantage will come of it yet, Ronald; but I can
see I have done a great stroke of business, and feel quite an affection
for my friend Pierre Pitou."
Malcolm followed up the acquaintance he had made, and soon established
himself as a friend of the family. Ronald did not accompany him on any of
his visits, for as the plan of proceeding was still undecided, he and
Malcolm agreed that it was better that he should not show himself until
some favourable opportunity offered.
Sometimes towards evening he and Malcolm would take a boat and float down
the stream past the convent walls, and Ronald would wonder which of the
figures whose heads he could perceive as they walked upon the terrace,
was that of his mother. It was not until Malcolm had become quite at home
with Madame Vipon that he again turned the conversation towards the
convent. He learned that she had often been inside the walls, for before
her marriage she had worked at a farm whence the convent drew a portion
of its supplies; milk, butter, and eggs, and she had often carried
baskets to the convent.
"Of course I never went beyond the outer court," she said; "but Farmer
Miron's daughter -- it was he owned the farm -- is a lay sister there.
She was crossed in love, poor girl. She liked Andre, the son of a
neighbouring farmer, but it was but a small place by the side of that of
Miron, and her father would not hear of it, but wanted her to marry
Jacques Dubois, the rich miller, who was old enough to be her father.
Andre went to the wars and was killed; and instead of changing when the
news came, as her father expected, and taking up with the miller, she
hated him worse than ever, and said that he was the cause of Andre's
death; so the long and short of it was, she came as a lay sister to the
convent here. Of course she never thought of taking the vows, for to do
that here one must be noble and be able to pay a heavy dowry to the
"So she is just a lay sister, a sort of servant, you know, but she is a
favourite and often goes to market for them, and when she does she
generally drops in here for a few minutes for a talk; for though she was
only a child when I was at the farm we were great friends, and she hears
from me how all the people she used to know are getting on."
"I suppose she knows all the ladies who reside in the convent as well as
"Oh, yes, and much better than the sisters! It is on them she waits. She
does not see much of the sisters, who keep to their own side of the
house, and have very little to do with the visitors, or as one might call
them the prisoners, for that is what most of them really are."
"Now I think of it," Malcolm said, "one of the officers I served under
had a relation, a lady, whom I have heard him say, when he was talking to
another officer, is shut up here, either because she wouldn't marry some
one her father didn't want her to, I forget exactly what it was now. Let
me see, what was her name. Elise -- no, that wasn't it. Amelie -- Amelie
de Recambours -- yes, that was it."
"Oh, yes, I know the name! I have heard Jeanne speak of her. Jeanne said
it was whispered among them that she had really married somebody against
her father's will. At any rate she has been there ever so many years, and
they have not made her take the veil, as they do most of them if they are
obstinate and won't give way. Poor thing! Jeanne says she is very pretty
still, though she must be nearly forty now."
"That is very interesting," Malcolm said; "and if you will not mind,
Madam Vipon, I will write to the officer of whom I spoke and tell him his
cousin is alive and well. I was his servant in the regiment, and I know,
from what I have heard him say, he was very much attached to her. There
can be no harm in that, you know," he said, as Madam Vipon looked
doubtful; "but if you would prefer it, of course I will not say how I
"Yes, that will be better," she agreed. "There is never any saying how
things come round; and though there's no harm in what I have told you,
still it's ill gossiping about what takes place inside convent walls."
"I quite agree with you, my dear Madam Vipon, and admire your discretion.
It is singular how you take after your brother. Pierre Pitou had the
reputation of being the most discreet man in the regiment of Touraine."
Ronald was very excited when he heard from Malcolm that he had actually
obtained news at second hand as to his mother, and it was with difficulty
that his friend persuaded him to allow matters to go on as he proposed.
"It will never do to hurry things now, Ronald; everything is turning out
beyond our expectations. A fortnight ago it seemed absolutely hopeless
that you should communicate with your mother; now things are in a good
train for it."
Accordingly Malcolm made no further allusion to the subject to Madame
Vipon until a fortnight had passed; then he said, on calling on her one
"Do you know, my dear Madam Vipon, I have had a letter from the gentleman
of whom I was speaking to you. He is full of gratitude at the news I sent
him. I did not tell him from whom I had heard the news, save that it was
from one of the kindest of women, the sister of an old comrade of mine.
He has sent me this" -- and he took out a small box which he opened, and
showed a pretty gold broach, with earrings to match -- "and bid me to
give it in his name to the person who had sent him this good news."
"That is beautiful," Madam Vipon said, clapping her hands; "and I have so
often wished for a real gold broach! Won't my husband open his eyes when
he sees them!"
"I think, if I might advise, my dear madam," Malcolm said, "I should not
give him the exact history of them. He might take it into his head that
you had been gossiping, although there is no woman in the world less
given to gossiping than you are. Still, you know what husbands are.
Therefore, if I were you I would tell him that your brother Pierre had
sent them to you through me, knowing, you see, that you could not have
read a letter even if he could have written one."
"Yes, perhaps that would be the best," Madam Vipon said; "but you had
better write to Pierre and tell him. Otherwise when he comes home, and my
husband thanks him for them, he might say he had never sent them, and
there would be a nice affair."
"I will do so," Malcolm said; "but in any case I am sure your wit would
have come to the rescue, and you would have said that you had in fact
bought them from your savings; but that thinking your husband might
grumble at your little economies you had thought it best to say that they
came from your brother."
"Oh, fie, monsieur; I am afraid you are teaching me to tell stories."
"That is a very hard word, my dear madam. You know as well as I do that
without a little management on both sides husbands and wives would never
get on well together; but now I want to tell you more. Not only does my
old master write to say how glad he is to hear of his cousin's welfare,
but he has told me a great deal more about the poor lady, and knowing
your kindness of heart I do not hesitate to communicate the contents of
his letter to you. The Countess Amelie de Recambours was secretly married
to a young officer, a great friend of my late master, and her father did
not discover it until after the birth of a child -- a boy. Then she was
shut up here. The father got the boy safely away to Scotland, but he has
now come back to France. I do not suppose the poor lady has ever heard of
her little son since, and it would be an act of kindness and mercy to let
her know that he is alive and well."
"Yes, indeed, poor creature," Madame Vipon said sympathetically. "Only to
think of being separated from your husband, and never hearing of your
child for all these years!"
"I knew your tender heart would sympathize with her," Malcolm said; "she
is indeed to be pitied."
"And what became of her husband?"
"I fancy he died years ago; but my master says nothing about him. He only
writes of the boy, who it seems is so delighted with the news about his
mother that he is coming here to see if it is possible to have an
interview with her."
"But it is not possible," Madam Vipon exclaimed. "How can he see her,
shut up as she is in that convent?"
"Yes, it is difficult," Malcolm agreed; "but nothing is impossible, my
dear madam, when a woman of heart like yourself takes a matter in hand;
and I rely, I can tell you, greatly on your counsel; as to your goodwill,
I am assured of that beforehand."
"But it is quite, quite, quite impossible, I assure you, my good Monsieur
"Well, let us see. Now I know that you would suggest that the first
measure to be taken is to open communication between mother and son, and
there I heartily agree with you."
"That would be the first thing of course, monsieur; but how is that to be
"Now that is where I look to you, madam. Your friend Jeanne waits upon
her, you see, and I know your quick wit will already have perceived that
Jeanne might deliver a message. I am sure that she would never be your
friend had she not a warm heart like your own, and it will need very
little persuasion on your part, when you have told her this sad story, to
induce her to bring gladness to this unfortunate lady."
"Yes; but think of the consequences, Monsieur Anderson: think what would
happen if it were found out."
"Yes, if there were any talk of the countess running away from the
convent I would not on any condition ask you to assist in such a matter;
but what is this -- merely to give a message, a few harmless words."
"But you said an interview, Monsieur Anderson."
"An interview only if it is possible, my dear madam, that is quite
another matter, and you know you said that it was quite impossible. All
that we want now is just a little message, a message by word of mouth
which not even the keenest eye can discover or prevent; there can be no
harm in that."
"No, I don't think there can be much harm in that," Madam Vipon agreed;
"at any rate I will talk to Jeanne. It will be her day for going to
market tomorrow; I will tell her the story of the poor lady, and I think
I can answer beforehand that she will do everything she can."
The following afternoon Malcolm again saw Madam Vipon, who told him that
although she had not actually promised she had no doubt Jeanne would
deliver the message.
"She will be out again on Saturday, monsieur, at nine in the morning, and
if you will be here with the boy, if he has arrived by that time, you
shall speak to her."
At the time appointed Malcolm, with Ronald, attired now as a young French
gentleman, arrived at the house of Madam Vipon, who was warmly thanked by
Ronald for the interest she had taken in him.
"My friend here has spoken to me in the highest terms of you, Madam
Vipon, and I am sure that all that he has said is no more than the
"I am sure I will do all I can," replied Madam Vipon, who was greatly
taken by Ronald's appearance and manner; "it's a cruel thing separating a
mother from a son so many years, and after all what I am doing is no
hanging matter anyway."
A few minutes later Jeanne entered; she was a pleasant looking woman of
five or six and twenty, and even her sombre attire as a lay sister failed
to give a formal look to her merry face.
"So these are the gentlemen who want me to become a conspirator," she
said, "and to run the risk of all sorts of punishment and penalties for
meddling in their business?"
"Not so much my business as the business of my mother," Ronald said. "You
who have such true heart of your own, for madam has told us something of
your story, will, I am sure, feel for that poor lady shut up for fifteen
years, and knowing not whether her child is dead or alive. If we could
but see each other for five minutes, think what joy it would be to her,
what courage her poor heart would take."
"See each other!" Jeanne repeated surprised. "You said nothing about
that, Francoise; you only said take a message. How can they possibly see
each other? That's a different thing altogether."
"I want you to take a message first," Ronald said. "If nothing more can
be done that will be very much; but I cannot think but that you and my
mother between you will be able to hit upon some plan by which we might
"But how," Jeanne asked in perplexity, "how could it possibly be?"
"For example," Ronald suggested; "could I not come in as a lay sister? I
am not much taller than you, and could pass very well as a girl."
Jeanne burst our laughing.
"You do not know what you are saying, monsieur; it would be altogether
impossible. People do not get taken on as lay sisters in the convent of
Our Lady unless they are known; besides, in other ways it would be
altogether impossible, and even if it were not it might be years before
you could get to speak to the countess, for there are only two or three
of us who ever enter the visitors' rooms; and lastly, if you were found
out I don't know what would be done to both of us. No, that would never
do at all."
"Well, in the next place, I could climb on to the river terrace at night,
and perhaps she could come and speak to me there."
"That is more possible," Jeanne said thoughtfully; "but all the doors are
locked up at night."
"But she might get out of a window," Ronald urged; "with a rope ladder
she could get down, and then return again, and none be the wiser."
Jeanne sat silent for a minute, and then she asked suddenly:
"Are you telling me all, monsieur, or are you intending that the countess
shall escape with you?"
"No, indeed, on my honour!" Ronald exclaimed. "I have nowhere where I
could take my mother. She would be pursued and brought back, and her
position would be far worse than it is now. No; I swear to you that I
only want to see her and to speak to her, and I have nothing else
whatever in my mind."
"I believe you, monsieur," Jeanne said gravely. "Had it been otherwise I
dare not have helped, for my punishment if I was discovered to have aided
in an escape from the convent would be terrible -- terrible!" she
repeated with a shudder. "As to the other, I will risk it; for a gentler
and kinder lady I have never met. And yet I am sure she must be very,
very brave to have remained firm for so many years. At any rate I will
give her your message."
Ronald took from a small leather bag, which he wore round his neck, a
tiny gold chain with a little cross.
"I had this round my neck when I was taken away as a child to Scotland.
No doubt she put it there, and will recognize it. Say to her only: 'He
whom you have not seen since he was an infant is in Tours, longing above
all things to speak to you;' that is all my message. Afterwards, if you
will, you can tell her what we have said, and how I long to see her. How
high is her room from the ground? Because if it is high it will be better
that I should climb to her window, than that she should descend and
Jeanne shook her head.
"That could not be," she said. "The visitors have all separate cells, but
the partitions do not go up to the ceiling; and even if you entered, not
a word could be spoken without being overheard. But fortunately she is on
the first floor, and I am sure she is not one to shrink from so little a
matter as the descent of a ladder in order to have an interview with her
That same afternoon as Amelie de Recambours was proceeding from the
refectory to her cell, following several of her fellow captives, her
attendant Jeanne came out from one of the cells. Glancing behind to see
that no one was following, she put her finger on her lips and then
whispered: "Make some excuse not to go into the garden with the others
this evening. It is most important." Then she glided back into the room
from which she had come.
The countess followed the others in a state of almost bewilderment. For
sixteen years nothing had occurred to break the monotony of her
existence. At first occasional angry messages reached her from her
father, with orders to join an application to the pope for a divorce; but
when it had been found impossible to overcome her steady refusals the
messages had at last ceased, and for years no word from the outer world
had reached her, although she had learned from those who from time to
time came to share her captivity what was passing outside. Whether her
husband was alive or dead she knew not. They had told her over and over
again that he was dead; but the fact that she had never had the option
given her of accepting another husband or taking the final vows kept hope
alive. For she was convinced that if he was really dead, efforts would be
made to compel her to marry again.
What, then, she wondered to herself, could this communication so secretly
given mean? She regarded the lay sister who attended upon her as a happy
looking young woman whose face was in strong contrast to most of those
within the walls of the convent; but she had exchanged but few words with
her, knowing that she would be but a short time about her. For the policy
of the abbess was to change the attendants upon the ladies in their
charge frequently, in order to prevent them from being tampered with, or
persuaded into conveying communications without the walls.
"You look pale, Amelie," one of the other ladies said as they gathered in
a group for a moment before proceeding to their respective apartments,
where they were supposed to pass the afternoon in working, reading, and
"It is the heat," the countess said. "I have a headache."
"You look it," the latter said. "It is not often that you have anything
the matter with you. You know we all say that you must have a
constitution of iron and the courage of a Roland to be sixteen years here
and yet to have no wrinkle on your forehead, no marks of weeping round
The countess smiled sadly.
"I wept the first six months almost without ceasing, and then I told
myself that if I would be strong and resist I must weep no more. If a
bird in a cage once takes to pining he is sure not to live long. There
are few of us here the news of whose death would not give pleasure to
those who shut us up, and I for one resolved that I would live in spite
"Well, you must not get ill now, Amelie. We should miss you terribly in
the one hour of the day when we really live, the hour when we walk and
talk, and laugh if we can, on the river terrace.
"I don't think I shall be able to come this evening," the countess said.
"I shall lie down and keep myself quiet. Tomorrow I hope to be myself
again. It is a mere passing indisposition."
The hours passed slowly as Amelie lay on her couch and wondered over the
coming interview. There were so many things which she might hear -- that
her father was dead; that her family had hopes at last of obtaining her
restoration to the world. That it could be a message from her husband she
had no hope, for so long as her father lived she was sure that his
release would never be granted. As to the child, she scarce gave it a
thought. That it had somehow been removed and had escaped the search that
had been made for it she was aware; for attempts had been made to obtain
from her some clue as to where it would most likely have been taken. She
was convinced that it had never been found, for if it had she would have
heard of it. It would have been used as a lever to work upon her.
At last the hour when she was accustomed to go into the garden arrived,
and as the convent bell struck seven she heard the doors of the other
cells open, the sound of feet in the corridor, and then all became still.
In a few minutes a step approached, and one of the sisters entered to
inquire why she was not in the garden with the others.
She repeated that her head ached.
"You look pale," the sister said, "and your hand is hot and feverish. I
will send you up some tisane. It is the heat, no doubt. I think that we
are going to have thunder."
In a few minutes a step was again heard approaching, and Jeanne entered
with the medicament. As she closed the door the countess started into a
"What is it, Jeanne? What is it that you have to say to me?"
"Calm yourself, I pray you, countess," Jeanne said. "For both our sakes I
pray you to hear what I have to say calmly. I expect Sister Felicia will
be here directly. When she heard you were unwell she said she would come
up and see what you needed. And now, I will begin my message. In the
first place I was to hand you this." And she placed in Amelie's hand the
little necklet and cross.
For a moment the countess looked at them wonderingly, and then there
flashed across her memory a sturdy child in its nurse's arms, and a tall
man looking on with a loving smile as she fastened a tiny gold chain
round the child's neck. A low cry burst from her lips as she started to
"Hush, lady, hush!" Jeanne exclaimed. "This is my message: 'He whom you
have not seen since he was an infant is in Tours, longing above all
things to speak to you.'"
"My child! my child!" the countess cried. "Alive and here! My God, I
thank thee that thou hast remembered a friendless mother at last. Have
you seen him, Jeanne? What is he like? Oh, tell me everything!"
"He is a right proper young gentleman, madam. Straight and comely and
tall, with brown waving hair and a bright pleasant face. A son such as
any mother might be proud of."
The countess suddenly threw her arms around Jeanne's neck and burst into
"You have made me so happy, Jeanne; happy as I never thought to be again.
How can I thank you?"
"The best way at present, madam," Jeanne said with a smile, "will be by
drinking up that tisane, and lying down quietly. Sister Felicia moves
about as noiselessly as a cat, and she may pop in at any moment. Do you
lie down again, and I will stand a little way off talking. Then if she
comes upon us suddenly she will suspect nothing."
The countess seized the bowl of tisane and drank it off, and then threw
herself on the couch.
"Go on, Jeanne, go on. Have pity on my impatience. Think how I am longing
to hear of him. Did the message say he was longing to see me? But that is
"It is not quite impossible, madam; though it would be dangerous, very
dangerous. Still it is not quite impossible."
"How then could it be done, Jeanne? You know what our life is here. How
can I possibly see my boy?"
"What he proposes, madam, is this: that he should some night scale the
river wall, and await you on the terrace, and that you should descend
from your window by a rope ladder, and so return after seeing him."
"Oh, yes, that is possible!" the countess exclaimed; "I could knot my bed
clothes and slide down. It matters not about getting back again, since we
have no ladder."
"I can manage to bring in two light ropes," Jeanne said. "It would not do
for you to be found in the garden, for it would excite suspicion, and you
would never have a chance of doing it again. But it is not an easy thing
to climb up a rope ladder with no one to help you, and you know I shall
be at the other end of the house."
"That is nothing," the countess said. "Had I to climb ten times the
height, do you think I should hesitate for a moment when it was to see my
son? Oh, Jeanne, how good you are! And when will it be?"
"I will bring in the ropes next time I go out. Mind and place them in
your bed. You will know that that night at eleven o'clock your son will
be on the terrace awaiting you.
As Jeanne finished speaking she placed her finger on her lips, for she
thought she heard a slight noise without. The countess closed her eyes
and then lay down on her pillow, while Jeanne stood as if watching her.
The next instant the door opened noiselessly and Sister Felicia entered.
She moved with a noiseless step up to Jeanne.
"Is she asleep?" she whispered.
"Oh no!" Jeanne answered in a louder voice, guessing that the sister
would have heard the murmur of voices. "She has only just closed her
The countess looked up.
"Ah! is it you, sister? I have taken the tisane Sister Angela sent up,
but my hands are burning and my head aches. The heat in chapel was so
great I thought I should have fainted."
"Your hands are indeed burning," the sister said, convinced, as soon as
she touched them, that the countess was really indisposed. "Yes; and your
pulse is beating quicker than I can count. Yes, you have a touch of
fever. I will mix you a draught and bring it up to you at once. Hark!
that is the first peal of thunder; we are going to have a storm. It will
clear the air, and do you even more good than my medicine. I will leave
you here for tonight; if you are not better tomorrow we will move you
into the infirmary."
The next morning Sister Felicia found her patient much better, though she
still seemed languid and weak, and was ordered to remain quietly in her
apartment for a day or so, which was just what she desired, for she was
so filled with her new born happiness that she feared that if she went
about her daily tasks as usual she should not be able to conceal from the
sharp eyes of the sisters the joyousness which was brimming over in her,
while had she laughed she would have astonished the inmates of the gloomy
CHAPTER VII: Mother!
When Jeanne, after accomplishing her errands the next time she went out,
entered Madam Vipon's, she found Ronald and Malcolm awaiting her.
"You have told my mother?" the former asked eagerly as she entered.
"Yes, I have told her, and if I had been an angel from heaven, with a
special message to her, the poor lady could not have looked more happy."
"And you have been like an angel to us!" Ronald exclaimed, taking her
hand. "How can I thank you for your goodness?"
"For shame, sir!" Jeanne said, smiling and colouring as Ronald, in his
delight, threw his arms round her and kissed her. "Remember I am a lay
"I could not have helped it," Ronald said, "if you had been the lady
superior. And now," he went on eagerly, "is all arranged? See, I have
brought a ladder of silk rope, light and thin, but quite strong enough to
"You take all for granted then, sir. You know I said I would take your
message, but that I would not engage to meddle further in it."
"I know you said so; but I was sure that having gone so far you would do
the rest. You will, won't you, Jeanne?"
"I suppose I must," Jeanne said; "for what with the countess on one side
and you on the other, I should get no peace if I said no. Well, then, it
is all arranged. At eleven o'clock tonight you are to be on the terrace,
and you can expect her there. If she does not come you will know that
something has occurred to prevent her, and she will come the following
night at the same hour."
Jeanne took the silken cords and wound them round her, under her lay
sister's robe, and then, with a kindly nod at Ronald, and an injunction
to be as noiseless as a mouse in climbing up the terrace, and above all
not to raise his voice in speaking to his mother, she tripped away across
the street to the convent.
Malcolm and Ronald sallied out from Tours before the city gates were
closed at sunset, and sat down on the slope which rises from the other
side of the river and waited till it was time to carry the plan into
operation. Gradually the lights disappeared from the various windows and
the sounds which came across the water ceased, and by ten o'clock
everything was profoundly still. They had, in the course of the
afternoon, hired a boat, saying they were going out for a night's
fishing. This they had moored a short distance below the town, on the
side of the river where they now were. They now made their way to it and
rowed quietly across the stream; then they left it and waded through the
water, which flowed knee deep at the foot of the walls.
Although Tours was still a walled town the habit of keeping sentry in
time of peace had long since died out, and they had no fear, at that
hour, of discovery. There was no moon, but the night was bright and
clear, and they had no difficulty in finding that part of the wall which
now formed the terrace of the convent.
They were provided with a rope knotted at every foot, and with a grapnel
attached to one end. At the second attempt this caught on the parapet of
the wall, and Ronald at once climbed it and stood on the terrace, where,
a minute later, he was joined by Malcolm. The convent itself could not be
seen, for a screen of trees at the foot of the wall shut it off from the
view of people on the opposite bank of the river. They waited quietly
until a sudden peal of the bells of the numerous churches announced that
it was the hour. Then they moved towards the steps leading down into the
garden. A minute later a figure was seen approaching. Malcolm fell back,
and Ronald advanced towards it. As the countess approached she held our
her arms, exclaiming:
"My boy, my boy!" and with a cry of "Mother!" Ronald sprang forward into
For a short time not a word was spoken, and then the countess murmured:
"My God, I thank thee for this great happiness. And now, my son," she
said, recovering herself, "tell me everything. First, have you news of
"Alas, no!" Ronald said. "Nothing has been heard of him since the fatal
day when he was seized; but I am convinced that he is still alive, and
since I have found you, surely I shall be able to find him."
"Who is that with you, Ronald?"
"That is Malcolm Anderson; it is to him I owe everything. He carried me
off and took me away with him to Scotland the day my father was arrested.
He has been my best friend ever since, and it is he who brought me here
The countess advanced to Malcolm.
"My son has told me that we owe everything to you, my brave Malcolm!" she
said, holding out her hand. "I guessed that it was to you that my husband
had confided the care of the child when I learned that it had
disappeared. I remember what confidence he had in your devotion, and how
he confided everything to you."
"He was like a brother to me, madam," Malcolm replied; "and glad indeed
am I that I have been able to befriend his son and to bring him back to
you a gentleman who will be an honour even to his father's name and
"And now let us sit down here," the countess said, taking a seat upon a
bench. "It gets light very early, and you must not stay after two
o'clock, and there is so much for me to hear."
For the next two hours Ronald sat holding his mother's hand, while he
told her the story of his life. "And now, mother," he said, when he had
concluded, "we have but an hour left, for it has just struck one, and we
have not said a word yet about the principal thing of all. How are we to
obtain your freedom? Cannot you arrange to escape with us? I do not, of
course, mean tonight, for we have nothing prepared, and, moreover, I
promised Jeanne that there should be no attempt at escape; but we can
come again when everything is ready. We shall, of course, need a disguise
for you, for there will be a hot pursuit when your escape is known. But
we might manage to reach the coast and cross over to England, and so make
our way north."
"No, my son," the countess said. "I have thought it over in every way
since I knew you were here, and I am resolved to remain here. Were I to
fly, the last hope that your father might be freed would be lost. My
father would be more than ever incensed against him and me; and,
moreover, although that is but a minor consideration, there would be no
hope whatever of your ever recovering the rank and estate to which you
are entitled. No, I am resolved to wait here, at any rate so long as my
father lives. At his death doubtless there will be some change, for as
heiress to his estates my existence must be in some way recognized, and
my family may be enabled to obtain my release when his powerful
opposition is removed; if not, it will be time to take the idea of flight
into consideration; till then I remain here. Now that I have seen you,
now that I know you as you are, for I can just make out your face by the
light of the stars, I shall be as near contentment and happiness as I can
be till I meet your father again. In the meantime your good friend here
can advise you far better than I can as to what your course had better
be. If you can obtain any high influence, use it for obtaining your
father's release. If it be accompanied by a sentence of exile from France
it matters not, so that he is freed. You can then return here, and I will
gladly fly with you to join him in Scotland."
Malcolm now rose from his seat and left mother and son half an hour
together. When two o'clock struck he returned to them.
"There is the signal," the countess said, rising, "and now we must part."
She had already refused to accede to Ronald's entreaty that she would
meet him there again.
"No, my son, we have been permitted to meet this once, but we must not
tempt fortune again. Sooner or later something would be sure to occur
which would lead to discovery, and bring ruin upon all our plans. It is
hard to say no, and to refuse the chance of seeing you again now that we
have come together, but I am fully resolved that I will not risk it."
"We will see you safe up the ladder, mother," Ronald said. "It is no easy
matter to climb up a rope ladder swinging loosely."
"No, I discovered that in descending," the countess said; "but if you
come with me you must take off your boots -- the print of a man's
footstep in the garden would ruin us all; and mind, not a word must be
spoken when we have once left the terrace."
Taking off their boots they accompanied her through the garden. There was
a last passionate embrace at the foot of the ladder, then the countess
mounted it while they held it steady. Directly she entered the window she
undid the fastening of the rope inside and let the ladder drop down to
them. Five minutes later Ronald descended the rope into the river.
Malcolm shifted the grapnel so that it caught only on the edge of the
parapet and could be shaken off from below when the strain on the rope
was removed, then he slid down to Ronald's side. A sharp jerk brought
down the grapnel, and they returned along the edge of the river as they
had come, crossed in the boat, and waited for morning.
They waited two days longer in Tours in order that they might receive,
through Jeanne from the countess, a list of the noble families to which
she was related, with notes as to those persons of whom she had seen most
before her marriage, and who she believed would be most disposed to exert
their influence on her behalf.
"Jeanne," Ronald said, "I am troubled that I do not know what I can do to
show you how grateful I am. I should so like to give you some souvenir,
but what can I do -- you could not wear brooches, or earrings, or
"That I could not, monsieur," Jeanne broke in with a smile; "and if I
could I would not accept them from you. I have done what I have done
because I pitied your mother and you, and I am content that if I have
broken the rules I have done it with a good purpose."
"Well, Jeanne," Ronald said, "you may not be a lay sister all your life;
you have taken no vows that will bind you for ever, and I have no doubt
that the lady superior can absolve you from your engagements should you
at any time wish to go back to the world; if so, and if I am still in
France, I will come to dance at your wedding, and will promise you as
pretty a necklace and earrings as are to be found in Touraine."
"Very well, that is a bargain," Jeanne said laughing; "and it is not
impossible, young sir, that some day I may hold you to your promise, for
only last market day I met my father, and he spoke more kindly to me than
he used to, and even said that he missed me; and I hear that the miller
has found someone who will put up with him for the sake of his money. I
shouldn't be surprised if, when that comes off, father wants me home
again; but I sha'n't go directly he asks me, you may be sure, but shall
bargain that if there be again any question of a husband it will be for
me to decide and not him."
The next day Ronald and his companion started for Paris. They were highly
gratified with the success which had attended them, and Ronald felt his
whole life brightened now that he had found the mother who had been so
long lost to him. On arriving at Paris they found that Colonel Hume's
regiment had returned to the capital. It was not expected that there
would at present be any further fighting on the frontier, and two or
three of the Scotch regiments had been brought back. Ronald at once
called on Colonel Hume and related to him the success which had attended
the first portion of his undertaking.
"I congratulate you indeed," Colonel Hume said. "I own that I thought
your enterprise was a hopeless one, for it seemed to me impossible that
you should be able to obtain an interview with a lady closely imprisoned
in a convent. Why, Anderson, it is plain now that your talents have been
lost, and that you ought to have been a diplomatist instead of wasting
your time as a soldier. The way you carried out your plan was indeed
admirable, and I shall really begin to think that Ronald will yet
succeed; and now, my young friend, what do you mean to do next?"
"Would it be possible, sir, to ascertain where my father is confined?"
"I think not, my lad," the colonel said gravely. "In addition to the four
or five prisons in Paris there are a score of others in different parts
of France. The names of the prisoners in each are known only to the
governors; to all others within the walls they exist as numbers only. The
governors themselves are sworn to secrecy, and even if we could get at
one or two of them, which would be difficult enough, we could hope for no
more. Nor would it be much satisfaction to you merely to know in which
prison your father is lying, for it is a very different matter to
communicate with a prisoner in one of the royal fortresses to passing a
message to a lady detained in a convent. I can see nothing for you but to
follow the example of your mother and to practise patience, so conducting
yourself as to gain friends and make a name and influence, so that at
your grandfather's death we may bring as strong a pressure as possible to
bear upon the king."
"How old is my grandfather?" Ronald asked.
"He is a man about sixty."
"Why, he may live twenty years yet!" Ronald exclaimed bitterly.
"Do not look at the worst side of the question," Colonel Hume replied
with a smile. "But he may live some years," he went on more gravely, "and
in the meantime you must think what you had better do. I will tell you as
a great secret, that it has been finally resolved that an expedition
shall sail this winter for Scotland, and fifteen thousand troops will
assemble at Dunkirk under Marshal Saxe. Nothing could be more opportune.
We are to form part of the expedition, with several other Scottish
regiments. You are too young as yet for me to ask for a commission for
you, but if you like I will enroll you as a gentleman volunteer; in this
way you may have an opportunity of distinguishing yourself. I will
introduce you to the Chevalier, and it may be that if he succeeds in
gaining the crown of Scotland, if not of England, he will himself ask
King Louis as a personal favour to release and restore to him Colonel
Leslie of Glenlyon, who fought bravely with him in '15. If the expedition
fails, and we get back alive to France, I will then obtain for you a
commission in the regiment, and we can carry out our plan as we arranged.
What do you say to that?"
"I thank you greatly, sir, and accept your offer most gratefully. I see
that I am powerless to do anything for my father now, and your plan gives
at least a prospect of success. In any case nothing will give me so much
delight as to serve with the regiment he formerly commanded, and under so
kind a friend as yourself."
"That is settled then," Colonel Hume said; "and now about outfit. A
gentleman volunteer wears the uniform of the officers of the regiment,
and indeed is one in all respects except that he draws no pay. My purse
will be at your disposal. Do not show any false modesty, my lad, about
accepting help from me. Your father would have shared his last penny with
me had I needed it."
"I thank you heartily, colonel, for your offer, and should it be
necessary I will avail myself of it, but at present I have ample funds.
Malcolm carried off with me a bag with a hundred louis, and up to the day
when I landed in France these had never been touched. I have eighty of
them still remaining, which will provide my outfit and my maintenance for
a long time to come."
"There is another advantage in your being a volunteer, rather than on the
list of officers, Ronald; in that if it is necessary at any time, you
can, after a word with me, lay aside your uniform and go about your
affairs as long as you choose without question, which would be hard to do
if you belonged regularly to the regiment."
At the end of a week Ronald had procured his uniform, and was presented
by the colonel to the officers of the regiment as Ronald Leslie, the son
of an old friend of his, who was joining the regiment as a gentleman
volunteer. Malcolm joined only in the capacity of Ronald's servant. It
was painful to the lad that his old friend and protector should assume
such a relation towards him, but Malcolm laughed at his scruples.
"My dear Ronald," he said, "I was your father's servant, and yet his
friend. Why should I not act in the same capacity to you? As to the
duties, they are so light that, now I do not belong to the regiment, my
only difficulty will be to kill time. There is nothing to do save to
polish up your arms and your equipment. Your horse will be looked after
by a trooper so long as you are with the regiment. I shall call you in
the morning, get your cup of chocolate, and prepare your dinner when you
do not dine abroad, carry your messages when you have any messages to
send, and escort you when you go about any business in which it is
possible that a second sword would be of use to you. As I have said, the
only trouble will be to know what to do with myself when you do not want
It was now the end of August, and for the next four months Ronald worked
hard at drill. He soon became a general favourite with the officers. The
fact that his name was Leslie, and that he was accompanied by Malcolm,
who was known to many of the old soldiers as being devoted to their
former colonel and as having in some strange way disappeared from the
regiment at the same time, gave ground to a general surmise that Leslie
was the colonel's son.
Malcolm himself, when questioned, neither denied nor acknowledged the
fact, but turned it off with a joke and a laugh. He was soon as much at
home in his old regiment as if he formed a part in it, and when not
required by Ronald passed the greater part of his time with his former
comrades. As was natural, the opinion entertained by the men as to
Leslie's identity was shared by the officers. The avoidance by Ronald of
any allusion to his family, his declining when he first came among them
to say to which branch of the Leslies he belonged, and the decided manner
in which Colonel Hume, the first time the question was broached in his
hearing in Ronald's absence, said that he begged no inquiries would be
made on that score; all he could assure them was that Leslie's father was
a gentleman of good family, and a personal friend of his own -- put a
stop to all further questioning, but strengthened the idea that had got
abroad that the young volunteer was the son of Colonel Leslie.
Early in January the 2d Scottish Dragoons marched for Dunkirk, where
twenty thousand men assembled, while a large number of men of war and
transports were gathered in the port. One day, when Ronald was walking in
the street with Malcolm at his heels, the latter stepped up to him and
"Do you see that officer in the uniform of a colonel of the Black
Musketeers, in that group at the opposite corner; look at him well, for
he is your father's greatest enemy, and would be yours if he knew who you
are; that is the Duke de Chateaurouge."
Ronald gazed at the man who had exercised so evil an influence upon the
fate of his parents. He was a tall dark man with a pointed moustache, and
of from forty to forty-five years of age. His features were regular and
handsome; but in his thin straight eyebrows, the curl of his lips, and a
certain supercilious drooping of the eyelids, Ronald read the evil
passions which rendered him so dangerous and implacable an enemy.
"So that is the duke!" Ronald said when he had passed on. "I did not know
he was a soldier."
"He is an honorary colonel of the regiment, and only does duty when it is
called on active service; but he served in it for some years as a young
man, and had the reputation of being a good soldier, though I know that
he was considered a harsh and unfeeling officer by the men who served
under him. That is the man, Ronald, and if you could get six inches of
your sword between his ribs it would go a good long way towards obtaining
your father's release; but I warn you he is said to be one of the best
swordsmen in France."
"I care not how good a swordsmen he is," Ronald said hotly, "if I do but
get a fair chance."
"Don't do anything rash, Ronald; I have no fear about your swordsmanship,
for I know in the last four months you have practised hard, and that
Francois says that young as you are you could give a point to any officer
in the regiment. But at present it were madness to quarrel with the duke;
you have everything to lose and nothing to gain. If he killed you there
would be an end of you and your plans; if you killed him you would have
to fly the country, for a court favourite is not to be slain with as much
impunity as a bourgeois, and equally would there be an end of all hope of
obtaining your father's release.
"No, for the present you must be content to bide your time. Still it is
as well for you to know your foe when you see him, and in the meantime go
on frequenting the various schools of arms and learn every trick of the
sword that is to be taught. Look!" he went on, as a group of mounted
officers rode down the street; "that is Marshal Saxe, one of the best
soldiers in France, if not the best, and just as wild and reckless in
private life as he is calm and prudent as a general."
Ronald looked with some surprise at the great general. He had expected to
see a dashing soldier. He saw a man who looked worn and bent with
disease, and as if scarce strong enough to sit on his horse; but there
was still a fire in his eye, and as he uttered a joke to an officer
riding next to him and joined merrily in the laugh, it was evident that
his spirit was untouched by the disease which had made a wreck of his
A few days later a messenger arrived with the news that the French fleet
from Brest had sailed, and had met the English fleet which had gone off
in pursuit of it, and the coast of Kent was in consequence unguarded.
Orders were instantly given that the troops should embark on board the
transports, and as fast as these were filled they set sail. The
embarkation of the cavalry naturally took longer time than that of the
infantry, and before the Scottish Dragoons had got their horses on board
a portion of the fleet was already out of sight.
"Was there ever such luck!" Malcolm exclaimed, after assisting in getting
the horses on board, a by no means easy task, as the vessel was rolling
heavily at her mooring. "The wind is rising every moment, and blowing
straight into the harbour; unless I mistake not, there will be no sailing
This was soon evident to all. Signals were made from ship to ship, fresh
anchors were let down, and the topmast housed. By midnight it was blowing
a tremendous gale, which continued for three days. Several of the
transports dragged their anchors and were washed ashore, and messages
arrived from different parts of the coast telling of the wreck of many of
those which had sailed before the storm set in.
The portion of the fleet which had sailed had indeed been utterly
dispersed by the gale. Many ships were lost, and the rest, shattered and
dismantled, arrived at intervals at the various French ports. The blow
was too heavy to be repaired. The English fleet had again returned to the
coast, and were on the lookout to intercept the expedition, and as this
was now reduced to a little more than half of its original strength no
surprise was felt when the plan was abandoned altogether.
Marshal Saxe with a portion of the troops marched to join the army in
Flanders, and the Scotch Dragoons were ordered to return to Paris for the
For a year Ronald remained with the regiment in Paris. He had during that
time been introduced by Colonel Hume to several members of his mother's
family. By some of these who had known her before her marriage he was
kindly received; but all told him that it would be hopeless to make any
efforts for the release of his father as long as the Marquis de
Recambours remained alive and high in favour at court, and that any
movement in that direction would be likely to do harm rather than good.
Some of the others clearly intimated to him that they considered that the
countess had, by making a secret marriage and defying her father's
authority, forfeited all right to the assistance or sympathy of her
Twice Ronald travelled to Tours and sent messages to his mother through
Jeanne, and received answers from the countess. She had, however, refused
to meet him again on the terrace, saying that in spite of the love she
had for him, and her desire to see him again, she was firmly resolved not
to run the risk of danger to him and the failure of all their hopes, by
any rash step.
At the end of the summer campaign in Flanders Marshal Saxe returned to
Paris, and Colonel Hume one day took Ronald and introduced him to him,
having previously interested the marshal by relating his history to him.
The marshal asked Ronald many questions, and was much pleased with his
frank manner and bearing.
"You shall have any protection I can give you," the marshal said. "No man
has loved adventures more than I, nor had a fairer share of them, and my
sympathies are altogether with you; besides, I remember your father well,
and many a carouse have we had together in Flanders. But I am a soldier,
you know, and though the king is glad enough to employ our swords in
fighting his enemies, we have but little influence at court. I promise
you, however, that after the first great victory I win I will ask the
release of your father as a personal favour from the king, on the ground
that he was an old comrade of mine. I can only hope, for your sake, that
the marquis, your grandfather, may have departed this world before that
takes place, for he is one of the king's prime favourites, and even the
request of a victorious general would go for little as opposed to his
influence the other way. And now, if you like, I will give you a
commission in Colonel Hume's regiment. You have served for a year as a
volunteer now, and younger men than you have received commissions."
Ronald thanked the marshal most heartily for his kind promise, but said
that at present he would rather remain as a volunteer, because it gave
him greater freedom of action.
"Perhaps you are right," the marshal said. "But at any rate you had
better abstain from attempting any steps such as Colonel Hume tells me
you once thought of for obtaining the release of your father. Success | <urn:uuid:32e0a89f-cf21-41b9-9ef3-bf4acfd0fb4d> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.fulltextarchive.com/page/Bonnie-Prince-Charlie2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280718.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00401-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98652 | 25,901 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Editor’s note: This is part 1 of a two-part article. Part 2 will appear in the October/November issue of Geosynthetics.
Construction of a large mine waste stockpile was required at the Rainy River Mine in Ontario, Canada. The mine rock stockpile foundation has up to 131 feet (40 m) thick of low to high plastic, slickensided and lightly overconsolidated clay deposits. The stockpile required foundation ground improvement to support the planned ultimate height of more than 131 feet (40 m), to be raised over six years. Prefabricated vertical drains (wick drains) are used to accelerate the dissipation of excess pore water pressure due to stockpile loading, resulting in an increased rate of strength gain in the foundation clay. About 8,530,183 linear feet (2,600,000 linear meters) of wick drains over the area of 8,309,738 square feet (772,000 m2) were installed over the course of two field campaigns in 2019 and 2020. Wick drains were installed beneath the stockpile perimeter slopes and crest, over a width varying from 453 to 661 feet (138 to 203 m). The outer boundary of the wick drain ground improvement area was maintained at 89 feet (27 m) inside the toe of the stockpile. Overburden waste is placed at the interior of the stockpile and rockfill is placed at the exterior, buttressing the interior overburden fill. Only rockfill is placed above the wick drain zones.
The soil stratigraphy generally consists of (in order from ground surface to bedrock):
• A thin organic surficial layer
• Upper glaciolacustrine deposit
• Clay till
• Lower glaciolacustrine deposit
• Granular till
The foundation conditions have been characterized based on geotechnical investigations, including boreholes, cone penetration tests (CPTs), bedrock probe holes and electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) geophysics survey. At selected locations, sonic drilling was carried out to obtain continuous cores to log the overburden units, collect samples, determine the thicknesses of the deposits, and check for the existence of pre-sheared (slickensided) layers. At other locations, mud rotary drilling was carried out to collect high-quality samples using a thin-wall piston tube sampler and to carry out field vane shear tests. An ERI geophysics survey was carried out to profile the depth to bedrock. The undrained shear strength was measured using an electrical shear vane. Index testing and a program of advanced laboratory testing were carried out to measure the foundation clay deposits index parameters and the total and effective stress shear strengths, and to determine the consolidation parameters.
The advanced laboratory tests carried out consist of consolidated isotropic undrained (CIU) triaxial compression, consolidated anisotropic undrained (CAU) triaxial compression, consolidated constant volume direct simple shear (DSS), oedometer, constant rate strain (CRS), direct shear and ring shear tests.
The three cohesive soil units (i.e., the upper and lower glaciolacustrine units and the clay till) control foundation geotechnical stability of the stockpile.
Wick drain design
Geotechnical design parameters were selected based on a review of the results from field investigation and laboratory testing, and test fill observations. Selected design parameters are shown in Table 1. The overconsolidation ratio is generally more than 10 at the ground surface and reduces to 2 at 49 to 66 feet (15 to 20 m) below the ground surface.
The clay layers normally consolidated vertical coefficient of consolidation is 23 square feet/year (2 m2/year) and horizontal coefficient of consolidation is 108 square feet/year (10 m2/year). A triangular wick drain installation pattern was used in the design. Both radial drainage and natural (vertical) drainage were considered in the analyses. The spacing of wick drains was varied until the required rate of consolidation for the duration of stockpile construction was obtained. The required rate of consolidation at year six of the stockpile construction (end of construction) was 97%, resulting in 7-feet (2-m) wick drains spacing. A test fill was constructed to assess the performance of wick drains (Etezad et al. 2019). The stockpiles were designed to meet or exceed the required factor of safety of 1.3 for static undrained, 1.1 for slickensided and 1.0 for seismic conditions. The stockpile stability was checked for each year of the construction. The maximum calculated settlement is about 7 feet (2.2 m).
The construction was comprised of earthworks to prepare a graded foundation ground surface, placement of a geogrid, with crushed granular material, followed by the installation of the wick drains. The drainage blanket provided a drainage path for water released from the wick drains at the ground surface. It also provided a stable platform for the operation of the wick drain installation equipment. Monitoring instruments were installed to monitor the performance of wick drains during the stockpile operation.
The first step of wick drain construction was the stripping of organics and surficial debris to expose the competent subgrade.
Subgrade preparation included cut and fill grading and compaction of the subgrade to develop a uniformly graded ground surface (Figure 2). The earthworks were designed to provide a ground surface that was suitably graded for wick drain installation while at the same time reducing the required amounts of cut and fill.
A layer of either geosynthetic geogrid and geotextile composite or reinforced woven geotextile material was placed over the prepared ground, mainly to increase the foundation strength to support the wick drain installation rigs (Figure 3). For this project, due to the high cost of the drainage blanket material, the use of geosynthetic reinforcement was more cost efficient than simply increasing the thickness of the crushed granular drainage blanket. Due to the large quantities required, both Titan TE-BXC30 biaxial geogrid composite and Mirafi HP370 reinforced woven geotextile were used at different locations. The first noted geosynthetic is made of biaxial polypropylene geogrid heat bonded to nonwoven polyester geotextile.
A minimum 1 foot (0.30 m) thick granular drainage blanket was installed over the geosynthetic reinforcement layer. The drainage blanket primarily consists of sand and gravel-sized particles and has less than 5% fines. Loading, hauling, spreading and nominal compaction of drainage blanket material was carried out and the final surface of the drainage blanket was checked to be consistent with the required design grades.
Some construction activities were carried out during the winter. These activities included foundation soil cut, geosynthetic placement and drainage blanket placement (Figure 4). During the winter, the earthworks design was altered to use cut only; no fine-grained foundation fill placement was allowed over this period.
Wick drains installation
Wick drains were installed through the drainage blanket in a triangular pattern with 7-foot (2-m) spacing. The selected spacing was verified by means of a test fill (Etezad et al. 2019). The wick drains were generally pushed through the cohesive soil units to refusal in the lower granular till layer above the bedrock, thus providing double drainage for wick drains.
The installed wick drains were Mebra-Drain MD-88, which consist of a 4-inch (100 mm) wide fishbone profile polymer core wrapped in a nonwoven filter jacket. The installed wick drains were anchored at their base with a steel plate. The wick drains were installed using six hydraulic wick drain rigs mounted to tracked excavators of varying sizes and installation depth capacities. Wick drain installation data were collected through rig-mounted data acquisition systems (Figure 1, above). The Ontario Provincial Standard Specification (OPSS 220 2014) was generally followed for the wick drains installation. Water was used to lubricate the wick drain rig mandrels, as required to penetrate through the cohesive soil units to the required depths. Use of water was not practicable in freezing temperatures. As a result, the wick drain installation was not carried out during the winter.
Wick drain trials
Prior to utilizing a wick drain rig for production wick installation, the wick drain contractor installed at least 10 trial wick drains for each wick drain rig at designated locations, where geotechnical borehole and/or CPT information was available to verify installation equipment and methods (Figure 5). Results of wick drain trials were reviewed for each wick drain rig and approval was provided for the rig to commence the program.
Geotechnical instrumentations were installed to monitor the geotechnical performance of the foundation clay within the wick drain area as well as the overall stability of the waste stockpile during operation. The installed instrumentation consists of:
- Vibrating wire piezometers (VWPs)
- Settlement plates (SPs)
- Slope inclinometers (SIs)
VWPs and inclinometers were in-stalled in boreholes and grouted in place using a Portland cement-water-bentonite grout backfill selected to be appropriate for the surrounding soil stiffness. Inclinometers were anchored a minimum of 10 feet (3 m) into bedrock to provide a stable anchor point.
The VWPs were installed to measure the pore water pressure dissipation following the loading of the stockpile and to monitor the performance of the wick drains. Settlement plates were installed to measure the foundation settlement during and following the construction of the waste stockpile. Slope inclinometers were installed to monitor the foundation clay deformation and the stability of the stockpile. Monitoring threshold levels and the appropriate responses were provided.
VWPs were installed at several depths at locations centered between the adjacent wick drains. The VWP cables were mainly placed in trenches within the top of the clay foundation or within the drainage blanket and brought to the toe of the stockpile, where they were connected to data loggers. The VWP cables were snaked along the base of the trench allowing for ground settlement that is expected to occur during stockpiling. Inclinometers were installed close to the stockpile toe and incorporated telescoping sections to accommodate anticipated settlements.
Construction quality control and quality assurance
Construction monitoring consisted of construction quality control (CQC) and construction quality assurance (CQA) programs. CQC refers to measures implemented by the contractors to verify that materials used in construction and their workmanship meet the project requirements. CQA refers to measures implemented by owner or owner’s representative to ensure the contractor’s conformity to the CQA plan, the construction drawings, the technical specifications and any field changes implemented during construction. CQA includes reviewing the CQC plan, monitoring construction activities, verifying the suitability of construction material properties both visually and through laboratory testing, documenting on-site and off-site testing procedures and results, and ensuring quality workmanship.
Earthworks visual inspections were routinely performed to verify compliance with the construction drawings, the technical specifications and design changes implemented in the field. Earthworks inspections focused on confirming the use of suitable equipment, materials, lift thickness, compaction effort, and geosynthetic material coverage, overlap and quality. Additionally, inspections of the stripped subgrade, the prepared subgrade and the completed drainage blanket surfaces were carried out. Laboratory testing was carried out on representative samples of geosynthetic and drainage blanket materials used for construction.
CQC data were provided by the wick drain contractor through rig-mounted data acquisition systems. The data systems recorded information on the rig ID, wick ID, installation location, depth, inclination, heading, penetration rate with depth and crowd force with depth.
Wick drain installation data were reviewed as a CQA measure to confirm that wick drain installation was consistent with the intent of the construction drawings and technical specifications requirements and changes implemented in the field, as required and appropriate. The review included verifying the 7-feet (2-m) wick spacing, refusal depth, missing installations, wick drain inclination and crowd force data. Data were analyzed using CAD Civil 3D software. CQA visual inspections of the wick drain installation was performed daily to confirm the use of suitable wick drain material, wick drain rig inclination and wick drain installation depth. Post-installation CQA inspections were completed, including final walk-through inspections and spot-checks of potential non-conformances identified following the review of the CQC data (such as wick drain spacing issues or missing installations).
Daily CQA reports were prepared summarizing the construction activities, weather conditions, identified potential issues and non-conformances. Photographs were taken daily to document construction activity performed by the earthworks and wick drain contractors.
A literature review of wick drain ground improvement papers indicates that most of the documents are related to the theoretical aspects of wick drain design, with little to no consideration of aspects associated with field conditions. A practical document summarizing construction considerations is not readily available.
Part 1 of this paper provides details on the construction of a very large wick drain project carried out in North America. Special attention has been provided on the construction considerations of the wick drain installation and construction quality control and construction quality assurance to ensure that the wick drains performance would be in accordance with the design. Instrumentation monitoring was also carried out to check the performance of the wick drains during and following the stockpile construction.
Etezad, M., Riddell, B., Bocking, K., Becker, D, Hamdani, A., Buchanan, P., and DaSilva, F. (2019). “Interpretation and analysis of a test embankment in soft clay.” The 72nd Canadian Geotechnical Conf., St. John’s, Canada.
Leps, T. M. (1970). “Review of the shearing strength of rockfill.” Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, ASCE, 96(4), 1159–1170.
Ontario Provincial Standard Specification (OPSS) 220. (2014). “Construction specification for wick drain installation,” OPSS, Ont., Canada.
Michael Etezad, P.Eng., is a principal geotechnical engineer at WSP Golder in Mississauga, Ont., Canada.
Ben Riddell, P.Eng., is a lead geotechnical engineer at WSP Golder in Mississauga, Ont., Canada.
Ken Bocking, P.Eng., is a fellow geotechnical engineer at WSP Golder in Mississauga, Ont., Canada.
Dennis Becker, P.Eng., is a fellow geotechnical engineer at WSP Golder in Mississauga, Ont., Canada.
Travis Pastachak, PMP, is capital projects manager at New Gold Rainy River Mine.
Jason Bell is projects technical supervisor at New Gold Rainy River Mine.
Erik Wimmelbacher, P.Eng., was project coordinator at New Gold Rainy River Mine for the work and is now underground engineer.
Steve Boileau, P.Eng., P.Geo., is geotechnical engineer at New Gold Rainy River Mine.
All figures courtesy of the authors.
Rainy River Mine
OWNER: New Gold Inc.
LOCATION: Ontario, Canada
ENGINEERS: WSP Golder
GEOtextile PRODUCTs: Titan TE-BXC30 biaxial geogrid composite; TenCate Mirafi HP370 reinforced woven geotextile
Wick drains: Mebra-Drain MD-88 | <urn:uuid:9b259418-3527-4a4d-bd40-d950bd97f455> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://geosyntheticsmagazine.com/2022/08/01/wick-drain-ground-improvements/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572304.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816120802-20220816150802-00469.warc.gz | en | 0.934964 | 3,309 | 2.59375 | 3 |
|all ready vs already||
All ready means "completely ready".
For example: "Are you all ready for the test?"
Already is an adverb that means before the present time or earlier than the time expected.
For example: "I asked him to come to the cinema but he'd already seen the film." | <urn:uuid:5d8d68de-50a2-4c9b-8120-b23f46b0e4c1> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.learnenglish.de/mistakes/alreadyvsallready.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285001.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00304-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961005 | 67 | 2.546875 | 3 |
The book includes several attractive recipes, including starchless crab cakes bound by eggs. But there’s also solid information framed as first-person mini-adventures in the pursuit of healthy food. The central message reveals why organic produce is more expensive than factory produce — it’s not just a nasty scheme by Whole Paycheck to pick your pockets. The political infrastructure (think: senators of both parties collecting huge contributions to their reelection campaigns) supports agribiz with favorable laws, tax breaks, rare and lax inspections, and monetary subsidies that we pay for with our taxes. Agribiz food is initially cheaper, but we pay in other ways (air and soil pollution, chemical residues in our waters, etc., and E. coli and salmonella). In fact, we pay through the nose for the agri-billionaires to feed us, just not directly at the cash register.
Tom Standage: An Edible History of Humanity, Walker & Company, 288 pp., $16, paperback.
If you avoided anthropology and history in college in favor of fashionable psych or gut-course sociology, this book offers the fun of an ungraded elective on humanity’s development, centering on food in human life from the Neolithic to the now. It’s a rich route into the story of humankind, because nothing matters so much as food. What we eat and how we get it plays a central role in shaping our societies, whether we’re nomadic Kung tribesmen of the Kalahari or urban sophisticates glued to the Food Channel while gobbling Domino’s pizza.
In Standage’s account, hunting and gathering was humankind’s Eden, a life of relative leisure in egalitarian, communal social structures with shared food and minimal personal possessions. Agriculture brought our fall into a life east of Eden, of perpetual labor and anxiety. All too soon, surplus crops bred personal property, then wretchedly unequal social and gender roles, with leaders, warlords, kings, hierarchies, husbands, harems — plus cities and specialized artisans and artists, giving rise to the deadly vices of shoe-shopping and pedicures. Apparently, along with the stability it brings, surplus food breeds greed (and often slavery and war) the way rats breed fleas. A few chapters later, we’re into the Medieval spice routes to Asia, and eventually, the hostility between Christians and Muslims drawn from their spice-route rivalry — and, finally, some chapters later, life as it is today.
You’ll learn that the precious spices (and later, hot peppers from the Americas) were not, as the old canard says, employed to cover up the taste of rotten meat (nothing can do that!) but rather, to rub on the surfaces of meat to preserve it from rot. You’ll also discover that hot-water-bath preserving and canning in metal are products of the Napoleonic Wars. But it’s not all trivia-contest material: The book is a slow thrust through the ages to show us how food took us to where we are.
I do have a few carps, of course, especially in paleoanthropology. For instance, the author says that in nomadic hunting societies, where everybody had to move on foot to follow the game supply, women refrained from childbearing before a move. Did they refrain by using the pill or the IUD? Infanticide was one option, but almost all societies have invented infant-slings (ranging from animal hide to fair-trade organic Pima cotton) to carry babies on moms’ backs. Heavily pregnant women, toddlers, and tribal elders would be much more trouble on a trek (perhaps they were dragged on human-drawn sledges?). So, don’t take this book as a literal Bible of history with every aspect considered — just enjoy it as a survey course, larded with delicious food for thought.
From Terra’s Table, Jeff Rossman, Chefs Press $32.95, 208 pp., hardbound. Available from chefspress.com or at Terra Restaurant, across the street from Trader Joe’s in Hillcrest.
I originally intended to cover only food-writing rather than cookbooks, but then Jeff Rossman, chef-owner of the charming Terra Restaurant in Hillcrest, came out with a cookbook just in time for my deadline. (Official publication date is early November.)
Rossman’s aim is to help you “shop seasonally, cook simply, and taste the food that is grown near your home.” In light of the farm-to-fork movement, many Californians have changed the order of a typical shopping trip: Instead of choosing meats first, we look for the best produce items and then choose proteins. The cookbook encourages this new pattern. It’s organized in chapters according to specific produce (from avocados to root vegetables to vines, then various types of fruits) and finally, an appendix of resources. Almost anything seasonal that you find at the neighborhood farmers’ market, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, or even in the supermarket produce bins is likely to occupy a spot here with a few tasty recipes, with or without animal proteins.
Many chef cookbooks are nutsy (unless the chef has a normal human collaborating with recipe-testing, etc.) because restaurant kitchen routines and recipe quantities are so different from those used at home. Happily, Rossman’s recipes are down-to-earth, accompanied by Paul Body’s savory photos. I didn’t have a chance before deadline to try out any of the dishes personally, but I trust my gimlet eye as an ex–cookbook writer and cookbook consultant to spot any strange giraffes in the backyard. I do wish that fewer recipes served six to eight. It’s the old-style standard for cookbooks, but you can’t hold a dinner party every night, and these portions no longer reflect today’s smaller families.
The only serious recipe worries I found involved two preparations for duck, both roasted “hands off” for three hours at 350 degrees, which sounds to me like a recipe for fatty skin and overcooked breast, unless your duck is the size of a Churkendoose. (Most good cooks start off searing duck at about 425º for 20 minutes to render some of the subcutaneous fat and start crisping the skin; then you pour off the rendered fat to avoid a grease fire in the oven and lower the heat, turning the bird at least once, roasting about two hours for a four-pound Muscovy or Moularde.) With the alluring recipe for duck with fruited bread pudding, the steps are all in the wrong order — Rossman first makes the pudding, then starts the stock for the sauce, then roasts the bird. Ouch! First (even a day ahead) should come the stock, then assembling the bread pudding (also a do-ahead possibility), then roasting the duck, and finally baking the pudding alongside the bird; it can cool down a bit to serving temperature as the done duck rests. | <urn:uuid:c192be4f-4b8a-4ab3-b6a3-8698035a26b7> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2010/oct/20/restaruant-review-san-diego-cooks-books/?page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279410.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00164-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938725 | 1,495 | 2.046875 | 2 |
This editorial appeared in the Nov. 23 edition of The Criterion, newspaper of the Indianapolis Archdiocese. It was written by John F. Fink, editor emeritus.
Is the Catholic Church in the midst of a civil war?
Some people are making that claim. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat appears to be the first person to call it a civil war in print, but it seems at times that the church has never been as divided as it is now.
Much of this division has been caused by aspects of the clergy sex abuse scandal that has gone on far too long, even though many of those abuses happened decades ago. Why were some incidents of clerical sex abuse of children kept secret, and why did some bishops keep priests in clerical roles when it was known they had abused children?
Did Pope Francis know about the allegations against retired Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick and still retain him as an adviser, as Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano has charged? There are those who support Archbishop Vigano, former apostolic nuncio to the United States, and those who support Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops, who disputed the charges. There is now an investigation to learn who knew about Archbishop McCarrick’s alleged abuse of a minor decades ago and sexually harassing seminarians in more recent years.
Then there are those who have concerns about Pope Francis because they believe he is too liberal. They dislike his emphasis on serving those seeking immigration and asylum.
The issue of homosexuality also has divided Catholics. The church has always taught that homosexual acts are intrinsically wrong, but that we must not discriminate against homosexual persons. Yet today some Catholics would like to change our doctrines to accept homosexual acts as morally acceptable. On the opposite side, other Catholics would like to condemn homosexual persons.
The church teaches that there can be no true marriage between people of the same sex because of the church’s teachings about marriage, not because of its teachings about homosexuality. Based on the Bible and natural law, the church says that marriage is the natural union of one man and one woman for the procreation and raising of children and the mutual benefit of the spouses. Yet polls show that 66 percent of those who say they are Catholic support so-called same-sex marriage.
There are those who want to make it possible in some cases for Catholics who are divorced and remarried to receive Communion, and others completely opposed to that. The same is true of couples who live together outside of a sacramental marriage as the number of Catholics who marry outside the church — or those who don’t marry at all — continues to grow.
We could go on and on about things that seem to be dividing Catholics these days. In some cases, it comes down to ignorance about what the church teaches and why it teaches it. Many Catholics don’t know what the church teaches because they have never taken advantage of opportunities to learn.
There has long been some polarization in the church. An article in the Oct. 12 issue of The Criterion told about the division that occurred in 1983 when Chicago Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin called the church’s doctrine that human life must be respected consistently from conception to natural death a “seamless garment.” He was opposed by those Catholics who condemned abortion but not capital punishment.
Today, some Catholics don’t think that being pro-life necessarily applies to things like access to health care and education, or welcoming immigrants. As letters to the editor about that article showed, some Catholics are still one-issue voters.
Not everyone, though, agrees that we have a Catholic civil war. In an article in the Oct. 29 issue of America magazine, Jesuit Brother Joseph Hoover said that “there is no such thing as a Catholic civil war.” He says most Catholics do not focus on these issues, but more on the practice of their religion. We agree with him.
If we could learn to abide by the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt 7:12) and practice the beatitudes as taught by Jesus, maybe we could get away from any thought of a civil war in our church.
The views or positions presented in this or any guest editorial are those of the individual publication and do not necessarily represent the views of CatholicPhilly.com, Catholic News Service or of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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Philadelphia, PA 19103 | <urn:uuid:ced5570a-3962-4dac-8860-dd8db37bc942> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://catholicphilly.com/2018/12/commentaries/divisions-in-the-church-seem-to-be-getting-worse/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00677.warc.gz | en | 0.970533 | 1,236 | 2.1875 | 2 |
GitHub gets smart over open source licences
GitHub has launched a new site – choosealicense.com – as a way to simplify selecting an open source licence for projects and has added new licence setting options when creating new repositories for those projects. The company has been criticised in the past for not reminding users that putting code up in public doesn't place it in the public domain, but leaves it as copyrighted and unlicensed code.
Now, when a new repository is being created, as well as the options to initialise the repository with a readme file and .gitignore file, the user can now select Apache, GPL, MIT, Affero GPL, Artistic, BSD, Eclipse or LGPL licences to be automatically added to the project. Selecting which of these licences is appropriate is assisted by the ChooseALicense.com site, which approaches selecting a licence by asking what the user desires from the licence; from a desire for simple, permissive licences, a patent-aware licence, or one that enforces the sharing of improvements. Once a licence is selected, a summary of its attributes is shown, along with notes on how to apply it to a project; a one-click button can copy the licence text to the clipboard. The ChooseALicense.com site is also open source, under a CC Attribution 3.0 licence and MIT licence, and can be forked from its own project repository.
An unaffiliated application by GitHub employee Garen J Torkian has also appeared, AddALicence.com which works through the GitHub API and can visit each of a user's public repositories, let the user select a licence and then add the new licence file to the repository. This is ideal for developers with existing open source projects who want to tidy up their licensing issues. Again, licensed under an MIT licence, this project can also be forked and modified. | <urn:uuid:34170d36-07a3-4ab0-b672-ae6ba0df6d9d> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.h-online.com/developer/news/item/GitHub-gets-smart-over-open-source-licences-1918463.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285315.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00575-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929331 | 388 | 1.929688 | 2 |
A UN watchdog has called on Australia to release 46 refugees being held in indefinite detention, labelling it cruel and arbitrary.
The UN Human Rights Committee has slammed Australia's treatment of the group, saying the country broke global human rights rules by denying the group a chance to challenge their detention.
In a review of complaints from the refugees - 42 Sri Lankan Tamils, three Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar and a Kuwaiti - the committee said the detention was arbitrary and broke the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
"Australia's indefinite detention of 46 recognised refugees on security grounds amounted to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, inflicting serious psychological harm on them," the committee said in a statement.
The plaintiffs arrived at Australia's remote Christmas Island between March 2009 and December 2010.
Despite being recognised as refugees, who could not be sent home, they were kept in immigration detention centres on Christmas Island and mainland Australia because the Australia's intelligence organisation ASIO deemed them a security risk.
They filed their UN complaints in 2011 and 2012 and seven have since been released.
The committee, comprising 18 human rights experts, said Australia is obliged release the people and should offer them compensation and rehabilitation.
"The committee reached its conclusion based principally on the fact that the refugees were not told the reasons for the negative security assessment and so were unable to mount a legal challenge to their indefinite detention," the UN body said.
While Australia told the committee that releasing classified details would compromise the assessment system and national security, it nonetheless explained that they posed one or more of three specific risks.
The risks included the threat of fomenting violence in Australia, providing a save haven for organisations to prepare attacks against their homeland's government and raising funds in Australia for foreign terrorists.
Australia not bound by committee's finding
Ben Saul, a professor of international law at the University of Sydney, worked on the cases and says the findings are not legally binding in the same way as a court decision as in Australia.
"All in all, the committee has found that Australia has committed almost 150 violations of its international treaty obligation," he said.
"So these are commitments which Australia has voluntarily consented to by signing the international human rights treaties, this is the largest case of its kind ever decided against Australia in a procedural which Australia itself has agreed to."
Despite the findings, Professor Saul says it does remain open to the Government to thumb its nose at the committee.
"As an independent body of renowned legal experts, its decisions about the interpretation of Australia's human right obligations are widely regarded as authoritative and highly persuasive," Professor Saul said.
"Of course Australia is bound by the underlying treaty obligations which the, the breaches of which the committee has identified.
"So for that reason the committee has called on Australia to implement in good faith the treaty commitments which Australia itself has agreed to."
Professor Saul said between 40 and 60 people were still being held under these circumstances, in indefinite detention and most of them have been there for about four years.
"Most of them have been there for about four years and counting, which is a pretty dramatic period of time," he said.
"And most of them are going nowhere, the High Court in Australia won't agree to release them, no other country will take them, precisely because Australia says they're a security risk of some kind.
"So they're stuck in this limbo where they don't know the case against them." | <urn:uuid:4731cdc4-eead-4f2b-b9d0-eadc8f2c37d9> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-22/un-watchdog-urges-australia-to-release-refugees-held-in-inde/4906218?pfm=sm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281069.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00271-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975235 | 698 | 2.109375 | 2 |
Just the other day someone gave me a book that proved to be yet another translation of the Dhammapada. On seeing it my first thought was: “Here we go! Probably another rehash of an earlier rehash.” I was tempted to put it aside and not even bother flicking through it. But the blurb on the back about the translator (Ph.D in Sanskrit from Harvard, associate professor of religion, and meditation teacher at the Won Institute of Graduate Studies) made me think that it might be worth at least a quick look. Recently I wrote a review of the truly awful - one couldn’t in all honestly call it a translation or even a rendering – a massacre might be a better description, by Tai Sheridan which is everything a Dhammapada shouldn’t be. See http://sdhammika.blogspot.sg/search?updated-max=2013-09-07T01:25:00-07:00&max-results=7&start=21&by-date=false
Glen Wallis’ Dhammapada; Verses on the Way, is not only everything this little Buddhist classic should be, I would go so far as to say it is the best Dhammapada presently available.
Someone once said poetry translated from another language is like a desired woman; if its beautiful its not faithful and if its faithful its not beautiful. Well, Wallis seems to have managed to achieve both. His translation has a cadence that reads exceptionally well, and given Pali’s stylistic and grammatical particularities this is quite an achievement. And just as important, it is as faithful to the original as you could want. At the end of the translation Wallis has just over 100 pages of notes, but don’t let this put you off. These notes include a learned but accessible account of the history, grammar and meaning of the Dhammapada and its place in Indian Buddhist literature. His comments on some of the similes and his numerous quotes from the suttas illuminate the verses in a way that really gives them depth and increased understanding. Of course one could quibble (and so I will). “Unbinding” seems to be a rather odd translation/rendering of nibbana. But such minor things are more than made up for his truly informative comments on other technical terms. See what he says about bodhi on page 135. From now on I think I will stop using the terms “enlightened” and “enlightened one” and switch to “awakened” and “awakened one” instead. If you want a 100% word-for-word accurate translation of the Dhammapada get K. R. Norman’s The Words of the Doctrine with its 174 pages of notes on grammar, syntax, consonant groups, variant readings, the eastern form of am, etc, and do your best to keep awake. If you want an accurate, readable translation with helpful notes that is true to the Buddha’s Dhamma get Wallis’ The Dhammapada; Verses on the Way. I couldn’t recommend it higher. | <urn:uuid:3921a3a8-0a85-4f8a-b8e6-554d2ab709b8> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-best-dhammapada.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280310.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00191-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946256 | 667 | 2.09375 | 2 |
the rise of righteously, defended the rise of the poor and the needy. he was not content to decorate a at conferences —— decry apartheid at conferences, he was there with the freedom fighters, confronting the apartheid regime and comforting his victim. he was not content to preach about social justice from the was not content to preach about socialjustice from the pulpit, he was with the homeless, the helpless, the persecuted, these sick and the destitute in the streets, in additional touch and in homes. he embraced all who had everfelt additional touch and in homes. he embraced all who had ever felt the cold wind of exclusion and they in
turn also embraced him. he sought to emulatejesus christ, who embraced all those who society looked down upon and rejected. throughout his life he became involved and causes both here at home and abroad, went to the very heart of the quest for social justice. through the desmond tutu hiv foundation, he was involved in the treatment and care of people living with hiv and aids, and the provision of health care services to adolescents and empowerment of young women. he was an outspoken supporter of the palestinian cause and in 2014, he wrote to a powerful article
calling on the israelis and palestinians to find each other, and to make peace. in his words, peace requires the people of israel and palestine to recognise the human being in themselves and each other, and to understand their interdependence. he advocated for the lgbtq i plus rights and decried all forms of violence, and discrimination against this community. speaking of hate crimes, perpetrated against the lgbt iq plus community any powerful video message marking 20 years since the world conference on human rights, he said, i oppose such injustice with the
same passion that i oppose apartheid. 0ne same passion that i oppose apartheid. one of the causes that was dear to him and less well—known to many of us was campaigning together with her royal highness, who is here with us today, against child marriage across the globe. i have learned how the arch travelled to villages in ethiopia, in india and zambia, to understand the circumstances under which young girls were being forced into marriage. he also took up this cause with the elders, mary robinson is here, and others. the group of senior leaders brought together by
president nelson mandela in 2007. such was his stamina, such was his commitment to social justice for all, that he took up the cudgels on behalf of millions of people around the world. many would know his name, but many would not. but he did make a difference in taking up their causes. he never stopped fighting, he never stopped speaking out. and he never stopped speaking out. and he never stopped caring. since the passing of our beloved arch, we have been looking back on his life, on the part he played in our transition to democracy and to his towering role as the chairperson of the truth and reconciliation commission.
today, 27 years after the event of our democracy, we can still say with certainty that what we have achieved as a country was nothing short of a miracle. we could have chosen the path of retribution, but the project of national reconciliation, of recognising the injustices of our past, set us apart from many societies in transition. alongside president nelson mandela, archbishop desmond tutu helped to steer our nation through this very challenging and painful period. the heart—rending testimonies of many who had suffered and lost loved ones were broadcast for all to see. there
accounts open to deep apartheid wins, but they also opened a window, —— deep apartheid wounds. to know what crimes had been committed and perpetrated in their name. to the white minority community. helping us to come to terms with the past was among the most arduous tasks of our new nation and archbishop desmond tutu played a seminal role in this whole process. he led to the truth and reconciliation process with integrity, dignity and humility. while our beloveds was the father of
our democracy, archbishop desmond tutu was the spiritual father of our new nation. in considering how fortunate we are as a country to have been blessed with these two global icons, we think about soweto, the only street in the whole world that was home to two nobel peace laureates. we think are both of these two icons of our country played different but complementary roles in forging the nation we are today. archbishop desmond tutu has been our moral compass, but our national conscience also. even after
the advent of democracy, he did not hesitate to draw attention, often harshly, to our shortcomings as leaders of a democratic state. he saw our country as a rainbow nation, emerging from the shadow of apartheid, a united in its diversity with freedom and equal rights for all. the arch decrease us many things —— decreased us many things. the courage of having 1's convictions, solidarity with the oppressed, delivering on the promises made of the constitution and many others. but it was with this term, rainbow nation, that he
bequeathed a new nation the greatest gift of all. hope and forgiveness. hope and forgiveness for a better tomorrow. hope for a country free of tyranny and hope for a society where all the people of south africa, irrespective of their religious affiliation, their gender, the race, their origin, could live side by side in harmony. when he first spoke about us as this rainbow nation, south africa was a different place and we were going through a very difficult time. we are still finding ourfeet on a difficult time. we are still finding our feet on a long road to nationhood. he has left us at another difficult time in the life
of our nation, problems and challenges abound, and they are everywhere. poverty and inequality, racism, homophobia, gender—based violence, crime and corruption has left many people disenchanted. there are times when he felt let down and yet he never lost hope. the most fitting tribute to be can pay to him, whoever and wherever we are, is to take up the cause of social justice for which he tirelessly campaigned throughout his life. archbishop tutu has left a formidable legacy and we are enormously diminished by his
passing. his life and a park in a country first make history that has now come to an end. —— and e pot. although we say goodbye to him today with the heaviest of heights. we salute our beloved arch for all that he did to help build this nation. we thank him for giving us hope, for reminding us of our responsibility as a people, but more especially as leaders. and for giving us a reason to believe we are and can be a true rainbow nation that he spoke about. we celebrate him for what he was, life. to the family, our nation
shares in your sorrow. 0n life. to the family, our nation shares in your sorrow. on behalf of the government and the people of south africa, we thank you for sharing your husband, your father, your brother, uncle and grandfather with us. we know it was not easy and yet you did so willingly. he belonged to all of us and it is all of us who mourn him, but today we celebrate his life. i recently came across these words which provide a fitting end to any tribute to desmond tutu. tears are sometimes an inappropriate response to death. when he life has been left completely honestly, completely
successfully, orjust completely honestly, completely successfully, or just completely, the correct response to death's perfect punctuation mark is a smile. his was a life lived honestly and completely. he has left the world a better place. and he has left our country a much better place than we were prior to our democracy. we remember him with a smile, the type of smile that he would have flashed around, and we say, farewell, father. servant of god. rest in peace. thank you.
applause we now call upon the chief of the south african national defence force, the general to hand over the national flag to the nationalflag to the commander—in—chief national flag to the commander—in—chief thereafter. the commander—in—chief thereafter. tue: commander—in—chief thereafter. tue: commander—in—chief will commander—in—chief thereafter. tue commander—in—chief will hand over the nationalflag to commander—in—chief will hand over the national flag to mama tutu. i thank you.
as we close this ceremonial, the arch was a great saw, a truly wonderful example of gift, grit and gumption. we believe that beyond the absence, there is presence. beyond the pain, there is healing. beyond the pain, there is healing. beyond the brokenness, there is wholeness. beyond the turmoil, there is peace. beyond the turmoil, there is peace. beyond the turmoil, there is peace. beyond the heating, there is heaven. beyond the heating, there is heaven. beyond the heating, there is heaven. beyond the fighting, there is forgiveness. beyond the silence, god
speaks. commander—in—chief, permission to withdraw. i thank you. thank you so much. i was told i shouldn't thank the president but thank you for your homily. thank you so much. applause and lastly to our preacher, bishop michael, thank you so much. let's give bishop michael a round of applause, please. before the final blessing, we will have a cremation
service which is a private, family service. and then at the time and date known to the family, they will come and in terror the ashes of the arch —— in terror the ashes. again, it is a private service. thank you to the city. thank you to the state. thank you to the ip trust, to the tutu foundation, to the cathedral and all those, you know yourselves, that were in the planning team for the last six years. on behalf of mama leah and the family, we want to
say thank you. please stand. in the name of the lord, bless it to be the name of the lord. —— blessed be the name of the lord. —— blessed be the name of the lord. —— blessed be the name of the lord. the god of peace brought again from the dead our lord jesus, the great shepherd of the sea, by the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do god's will, working in which is pleasing in god's site, and the blessing of god almighty, the father, the sun and the holy spirit be amongst you always. amen.
may i just also may ijust also recognise our arch bishop has carried the load of an immense challenge, that he has finally submitted, gracefully with wisdom and i think it would be so beautiful if we give him some love. applause the hallelujah is four syllables. focus on that when we come to it. hallelujah, christ has risen. are you going to go that way? let us go forth in the name of christ, hallelujah, hallelujah.
studio: the funeral service of archbishop desmond tutu isjoined to a close. what we're feeling there is the bishops and clergy that are gathered around his simple pine coffin to carry it out of the cathedral, carried by his grandchildren and carried out by his peers. let's cross to cape town and speak
to our correspondent nomsa maseko. there have been members of the public viewing and following the service in the public viewing area. what has the atmosphere been like? fix, what has the atmosphere been like? lot of people saying they did not want to grieve alone at home, they wanted together amongst other south africans to say goodbye to the archbishop because they felt he pretty much held this nation together, both in what he said and also what he did. there is a lot, the sentiment here is that people here in south africa should follow in his footsteps in ensuring that south africa does become what he would have wanted, a united nations, despite all the difficulties that the country faces.— despite all the difficulties that the country faces. thank you very much. the country faces. thank you very much- the _ the country faces. thank you very much. the president _ the country faces. thank you very much. the president closing - the country faces. thank you very much. the president closing and | much. the president closing and bringing the story forward to modern
day current south africa, saying that he left the country a better place than before democracy. what would the arch have made of his mental nation today?— would the arch have made of his mental nation today? yes, a powerful eulo: b mental nation today? yes, a powerful eulogy by president _ mental nation today? yes, a powerful eulogy by president ramaphosa - mental nation today? yes, a powerful eulogy by president ramaphosa and l eulogy by president ramaphosa and pretty much on point, if i should say so. he leaves the mental nation in the much more difficult position than he had envisaged —— rainbow nation. than in the beginning of our democracy will stop but we are two steps forward, one step backward so we hope steadily the arch's wishes will be realised because in south africa, you have a country that belongs to all who live in it as the constitution of the republic says. i never forget desmond tutu cosmic joke when he said that when the
white men came in south africa, we had the land and they said let us pray. they had the bible. when we opened our eyes, they had the land and we got the bible. but we got the better of them because the bible is more superior. you better of them because the bible is more sunerior-_ more superior. you knew desmond tutu, ou more superior. you knew desmond tutu, you interviewed _ more superior. you knew desmond tutu, you interviewed him, - more superior. you knew desmond tutu, you interviewed him, he - more superior. you knew desmond | tutu, you interviewed him, he more or less grew up around him. he was a member of the community in soweto. what are yourfinal member of the community in soweto. what are your final personal reflections of the man? t what are your final personal reflections of the man? i remember a very dignified — reflections of the man? i remember a very dignified man _ reflections of the man? i remember a very dignified man with _ reflections of the man? i remember a very dignified man with a _ reflections of the man? i remember a very dignified man with a great - very dignified man with a great sense of humour. i am sad for his wife, who loved her garden, which we all admired wife, who loved her garden, which we alladmired in our wife, who loved her garden, which we all admired in our township, because she had a beautiful garden in the house in orlando west. and i remember him jogging to buy his newspaper at the station. i am left with memories that can be passed on to many others if they decided to follow his values. 0ur vicar,
desmond tutu, may his soul rest in peace. desmond tutu, may his soul rest in eace. : ~' desmond tutu, may his soul rest in eace. :, ~ ,, y desmond tutu, may his soul rest in eace. :, ~ y : desmond tutu, may his soul rest in eace. : ~' y : :, desmond tutu, may his soul rest in eace. :, ~ , . :, ., peace. thank you very much. you have been watching — peace. thank you very much. you have been watching the _ peace. thank you very much. you have been watching the special— peace. thank you very much. you have been watching the special coverage - been watching the special coverage of the funeral service for the archbishop desmond tutu, who passed away on the 26th of december. he had been suffering from cancer and passed away at the age of 90. his funeral service has just taken passed away at the age of 90. his funeral service hasjust taken place and is drawing to a close. in cape town. he was a noble laureate and a hero of south africa's fight against a white minority rule. the nation is saying its final goodbye from st george's cathedral, a private service will take place by the determinant of his remains ——
internment of his remains at a later date. the view you can see and the steps are the bishops and clergy were doing him the honour of carrying him out of his beloveds saint georges cathedral, where he once held the appointment of archbishop. we will leave you with the final sounds from inside, the music from inside st george's cathedral. you have been watching bbc news. hello, we had some records want to end 2021. it has been a very mild start to 2022. the record for a new year's day were set back in 1916 and
could be that we picked that 15.6 degrees today because of the wind direction. they are coming up from the tropics, a strong south—westerly wind, it is a dp area of low pressure settle to the north—west of us and that has prompted the met office to issue a warning for when strengths of 75 mph for western parts of scotland. it will be a windy day for all of us, gale—force is not severe gale—force winds up towards the north and west. building southwards and eastwards, some sharp showers, dragging their heels, plenty of sunny spells following behind. my show is coming in on that brisk winter. despite the strength of the wind, it will be mild amount of the wind, it will be mild amount of the wind, it will be mild amount of the north of scotland. 14, possibly 15 or 16 degrees in some spots which will put that record. more showers or longer spells of rain coming into night, the winds continued to blow from the south—west. it is going to be a very mild night. temperature not dipping much lower than 7—12 a bit of a wet
start wrestling black rain in the shower is clearly quite quickly, a dry spell of weather, but more showery rain on the way for sunday. not a wash—out, there will be dry weather, brighter weather. not a wash—out, there will be dry weather, brighterweather. it will not be quite as windy as weather, brighter weather. it will not be quite as windy as today and it will not be quite as mild. 10-13 c, a it will not be quite as mild. 10—13 c, a subtle change in our wind direction around to a more westerly wind. it will carry on more rain because of monday and during the second half of monday, we said this when slipping southwards and it is behind this by front we see a change to colder air coming behind this by front we see a change to colderair coming in behind this by front we see a change to colder air coming in across the north. and some showers. before that, we could have another spell of quite wet weather for a time. on monday, temperaturesjust quite wet weather for a time. on monday, temperatures just creeping down, closer to normal. monday, temperatures just creeping down, closerto normal. it monday, temperatures just creeping down, closer to normal. it is really by tuesday that we get that snap of cold air spinning by the way southwards, that weather front close away from southern areas, that i see north wind, at this very day, perhaps a day or two in some areas,
but it will not last that cold snap because it looks like we're back to the milder atlantic, more unsettled weather from the milder atlantic, more unsettled weatherfrom midweek the milder atlantic, more unsettled weather from midweek one. this is bbc news. the headlines... south africa bids a final farewell to archbishop desmond tutu, whose funeral has taken place in cape town. among those to pay tribute was his daughter, the reverend nontombi naomi tutu. we say thank you, daddy, for the many ways you showed us love, for the many times you challenged us, for the many times you comforted us. leading uk figures in the battle against covid — professors chris whitty and jonathan van—tam are knighted in the new year honours list. former prime minister tony blair is given a senior knighthood by the queen. | <urn:uuid:6b59b05a-2b06-49fa-8bcb-170f63257a25> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.aps.org.wstub.archive.org/details/BBCNEWS_20220101_100000_BBC_News/start/240/end/300?q=nelson | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571056.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809155137-20220809185137-00677.warc.gz | en | 0.976105 | 4,501 | 2.0625 | 2 |
House Republicans are looking to repeal
the healthcare reform law and replace it with one of their own early
next year without interrupting two popular parts the administration has already begun to implement.
They include a mandate that bars discrimination of pre-existing conditions and a stipulation that
allows young people to remain on their parents' insurance plans until age 26.
Incoming Republican Majority Leader Eric CantorEric CantorRyan reelected Speaker in near-unanimous GOP vote Financial technology rules are set to change in the Trump era Trump allies warn: No compromise on immigration MORE (R-Va.) said Monday that they
would do this by passing a GOP healthcare bill at the same time as repeal efforts are underway.
Speaking to more than 100 students at American University, Cantor said, "What you will see us do is to push for repeal of the healthcare bill, and at the same time, contemporaneously, submit our replacement bill, that has in it the provisions [barring discrimination due to pre-existing conditions and offering young people affordable care options]."
Cantor stressed that while he supports full repeal of the current law, Republicans share some of the same goals as Democrats, although they propose different ways of achieving them.
"We too don't want to accept any insurance company's denial of someone and coverage for that person because he or she may have pre-existing condition," Cantor said, addressing a young woman in the audience who noted that she had a pre-existing health condition.
"And likewise we want to make sure that someone of your age has the ability to access
affordable care, whether it's under your parents plan or elsewhere," Cantor added.
The Virginia lawmaker, who appeared at the event with Majority Whip-designate Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and soon-to-be Budget Committee Chairman Paul RyanPaul RyanSanders set for clash with Trump’s budget pick Is healthcare law really going into a ‘death spiral’? Trump hosts Hill leaders for ice breaker MORE (R-Wis.), said that Republicans have
taken "the positions that adequately address those problems but done it in a way that we can preserve what's good about our system without bankrupting this country."
The House is expected to pass such a measure, though it is not expected to move much in the Democratic-led Senate.
Editor's note: This article was changed at 1:57 p.m.. The Hill incorrectly reported in the initial version that Cantor wants to keep certain provisions of the healthcare law intact. The article was revised to emphasize that Cantor and House Republicans are pursuing a full repeal of healthcare reform while addressing issues in the law, such as pre-existing conditions and allowing young people to stay on their parents' insurance plan, in their replacement bill. Both provisions are in current law, but Republicans would deal with them differently than Democrats did in the bill that passed earlier this year. | <urn:uuid:0ef6a7d7-0480-47b8-8915-e6214c174063> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/131081-cantor-gop-will-keep-some-provisions-of-healthcare-law-intact | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560284405.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095124-00033-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968718 | 588 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Just recently I've been noticing some flashy footwear worn by some impressive athletes. Soccer players around the world have adopted eye-catching colorful cleats that send a statement: I'm confident and I'm worth watching. For European league superstars, such as Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo, it's OK to draw attention to one's spectacular footwork with sleek gold or neon yellow. But do they also gain an additional psychological edge over their less flashy colleagues? Could the person-in-the-street improve their game with some dazzling footwear?
(Friday's the day the Health Notes blog gets personal. Every other day it provides updates on both local and national health news. You can also friend Health Notes on facebook. Or follow on twitter, @dphealthnotes. Or receive a free e-letter every Monday with a weekly digest of the top health news. Go to www.dailypress.com and sign up under e-newsletters.)
I contemplated this one day in the course of a very pedestrian treadmill 'workout' at the Y while the girl on the machine in front of me hurtled along, pink shoes flashing, ponytail swinging. It had to be the shoes I thought to myself. When she finished, I brazenly asked her how fast she had set her machine. "Oh, I was doing sprints," she said, sounding nonchalant -- she was hitting a peak momentum of 10 mph for several minutes at a time, it turned out. That's fast! (The shoes, the shoes!)
Then there's one of my not-so-young tennis partners who routinely wears black sneakers. Their very appearance suggests an athleticism and youth quite different from the others on the court. She just looks as if she must be moving faster than the others. They have to be what adds the dynamism to her game.
It's hard to find "court" shoes rather than running shoes or cross-trainers. Routinely, once I find a pair I like, the maker discontinues that style. (I know that's true for lots of people -- we'd still buy shoes, they should know. They wear out within months. WHY DO THEY DO THIS?)
Anyway, fit IS still the most important -- so I compromised and went with the neon-pink laces to jazz up my almost the same-as-usual new shoes. (And I have found that replacing shoes before they're completely worn out is worthwhile in preventing injuries.) I don't know that I'm any faster. Nor could they possibly be construed as intimidating. But the distraction factor is working as I've posted a good record with them -- and received an extraordinary number of compliments! Just wait till I try the green ones. (One thing - the laces are 45 inches, as recommended in the store. They're too short and I have to miss the last two holes. Next time I'll get longer ones.)
(p.s. I'm thinking about making New Year's resolutions this week instead of waiting until after the holidays. That way I might not have to be so hard on myself in January! Just an idea.)
For more health news, go to www.dailypress.com/health | <urn:uuid:06c73f12-33e3-4bd6-b970-6b0590ab749c> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.latimes.com/dp-health-notes-fitness-fridays-faster-20111202-story.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719286.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00499-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969761 | 653 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Different stroke symptoms could be making them harder to spot early in women
New research shows that although the ‘classic’ early signs of a stroke such as problems with movement and speech occur in both women and men, women are more likely to have more generalised symptoms, like confusion and weakness.
But data was too limited to be able to say whether these differences are resulting in delays to diagnosis or a misdiagnosis in women.
Stroke occurs when there is a sudden loss of blood supply to a localised area of the brain and is the second major cause of disability globally. Women experience worse post-stroke disability and are more than three times as likely to be institutionalised after a stroke than men.
Lead author Dr Sultana Shajahan from The George Institute for Global Health said that early diagnosis is vital in the management of acute stroke, but previous studies have shown that women are more likely to experience delays, resulting in worse outcomes.
“One of the possible reasons for a delay could be sex differences in stroke symptoms when first presenting to a healthcare professional, but there is a limited number of studies that have analysed these sex differences,” she said.
To examine this more closely, George Institute researchers analysed data on a total of 36,636 people diagnosed with stroke from 21 studies that were conducted mostly in the United States or Europe, with results published between 2002 and 2020.
Between 45 and 55 percent of participants in most studies were women, and they were generally older than men when presenting with stroke (an average age of 62 to 79 years versus 58 to 70 years for men).
The researchers found that women had a higher risk than men of presenting with some more generalised symptoms not associated with a specific area of the brain such as confusion, fatigue, weakness, headache, loss of consciousness and mental status change.
Women also had a lower risk of some symptoms that are linked to particular parts of the brain, such as difficulty speaking, changes to their ability to walk in the usual way and being unsteady on their feet.
“We know that women who experience stroke are more likely than men to initially be given a non-stroke diagnosis, and this could be because they don’t always display what could be considered the ‘classical’ symptoms of stroke as often as men do,” said Dr Shajahan.
“While there wasn’t enough data available to see whether these differences do actually result to delays in or missed diagnosis, greater awareness of sex differences in symptom presentation amongst healthcare providers involved in the initial evaluation of acute stroke would be helpful.”
The researchers called for further epidemiological studies using consistent data collection methods that link symptoms to missed or delayed diagnosis outcomes, to improve the management of stoke for both women and men. | <urn:uuid:6914d4f5-267d-42e1-a323-cc9e23ca8cb0> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.georgeinstitute.org/media-releases/different-stroke-symptoms-could-be-making-them-harder-to-spot-early-in-women | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572212.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815205848-20220815235848-00467.warc.gz | en | 0.968591 | 573 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Senator Greg Kirk of Americus held a press conference on Tuesday calling on Governor Deal to sign House Bill 757, the Free Exercise Protection Act. The senator, who is the author of the Georgia version of the First Amendment Defense Act and is the sponsor of the Free Excersise bill in the Senate, cited printed reports covering the effects of marriage equality, produced the results of a poll he took to measure the opinions of Georgians about the bill, and explained how the final bill addressed concerns about the earlier version.
Senator Kirk cited several publications he had read concerning the possible effects of same sex marriage, including a study by the Witherspoon Institute that listed how changes in free speech laws, parental rights in education, and other portions of civic life changed following the 2002 legalization of same-sex civil marriage in Canada. Kirk also described an article in Western Journalism written just before the Supreme Court decision last June legalizing marriage equality that predicted unintended consequences following legalization:
The same people who first claimed only to want tolerance of their behavior will allow no toleration for other views. Will a physician be forced to perform an artificial insemination for a lesbian couple? Will a lawyer be forced to take a case defending gay marriage? Lawyers are already losing their “traditional prerogative to exercise absolute discretion in the selection of clients….” Provisions designed to advance the homosexual agenda have been incorporated into many state legal ethics codes.
Senator Kirk announced the results of a statewide poll of 720 Georgians by Rosetta Stone Communications conducted on March 21st. The poll found that 55.6% of the respondents are neutral on the portion of the Free Exercise Protection Act that contains First Amendment Protection Act provisions. 61.3% of Georgians support traditional marriage, while 27.1% support same sex marriage, and another 11.3% have no opinion.
When asked if government or employers should not be able to discriminate against those who hold traditional views of marriage, 44.7% agreed, while 29.1% were neutral, and 26.2% opposed. 43.1% of the survey responsents were Republican, 33.9% were Democrats, and 20.2% were independents. The survey had a 3.7% Margin of error.
The senator explained how the he had listened to criticism of the First Amendment Defense Act and modified several provisions in the original bill to assuage concerns, including making it clear that probate judges couldn’t use the law to deny someone a marriage license, limiting the definition of a religious organization to 501-C3 nonprofits, and tightening the definition of a sincerely held religious belief to make it less ambiguous, all in an effort to ensure the bill was non-discriminatory. Despite these efforts, however, at least one analysis of the final measure by former U.S. Prosecutor found reason to believe that the bill could enable discrimination.
Senator Kirk wrapped up his presser with a plea to Governor Deal to sign the measure:
It’s time for our governor to step forward and sign the bill that the people of Georgia clearly want. THe bill has been vetted thoroughly through both chambers of the General Assembly. I appreciate the fact that our governor has taken a slow and methodical view of the bill before he signs it. But in the end, I’m sure that he’ll find that this is the best bill to protect everyone in Georgia.
Will our state and nation going forward be a state and nation that is intolerant of those that express a sincerely held belief that marriage is between a man and a woman, and will expression of that belief in the workplace or marketplace lead to sanctions by local state or federal governments in the name of tolerance? I say no. That’s not the America that I grew up in, and by the governor signing this bill into law, it preserves freedom. Georgia is not a state of intolerance. | <urn:uuid:6af0a314-683f-4126-8774-fc63796fd407> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.georgiapol.com/2016/03/23/sen-kirk-defends-the-free-exercise-act-and-encourages-governor-deal-to-sign-it-into-law/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572833.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817032054-20220817062054-00473.warc.gz | en | 0.968121 | 794 | 1.59375 | 2 |
June 27, 2008
Levees Holding in Illinois, but Missouri Residents Not so Lucky
By Jennifer A. Bowen, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.
Jun. 27--The levees on the Illinois side of the river continue to hold back the Mississippi River, and pressure was eased somewhat when a levee that protects Winfield, Mo., failed early Friday."The word I'm getting from the teams out there checking on the levees every day is: Everything is working as predicted," said Alan J. Dooley, a spokesman with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis. "We continue to monitor the entire system. We are keeping an eye on the levees in East St. Louis. A very small cluster of sand boils was found early and have been handled. We're in good shape right now."
Even with problems associated with relief wells and a sand scour in the levees in Prairie du Rocher, those levees are "stable," Dooley said.
"The levees in Missouri that are failing are agricultural levees, they are lower protection levees," he said. "The Pin Oak levee is a 14-year levee. The urban levees, such as those in East St. Louis, are 500-year event levees and are fully expected to hold up against this flood."
The Pin Oak levee in Missouri failed around 5:30 a.m. Friday. The earthen, agricultural levee, which already had sandbags added to the top, was overtopped by floodwater when a muskrat reportedly burrowed a hole into the levee, causing a section of it to be blown out, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In Grafton the river had reached 30.53 feet Friday afternoon and is predicted to crest at 30.6 feet Saturday.
In Alton, the river was up to 32.36 feet Friday and expected to crest at 32.8 feet Sunday.
In East St. Louis, floodwaters had reached 37.7 feet Friday and is expected to reach its peak at 38.6 feet Monday.
With heavy rains expected along the northern portion of the river, the crest dates and heights could change.
The predicted crest dates and heights have continuously changed over the last week as severe thunderstorms drench states along the northern portion of the Mississippi River and levees are breached along the river's path. When a levee is breached, the water escapes the river channel and flows into floodplains, leaving less water in the river to crest further downstream.
A ceremonial signing of the official start of the Wood River Flood Protection system is scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday. The event is scheduled to take place on the Esplanade Overlook at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam in Alton.
The Wood River Project Partnership Agreement is the first step in moving the metro east levee restoration process forward. The agreement will allow the levee district to accelerate the expenditure of local construction funds and condense the timeline for recertification at the base-level standard.
The restoration process will provide improved flood protection to people in the region.
In Randolph County the Cora Levee at Illinois 3 was sandbagged Friday afternoon by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The sandbagging shut down Illinois 3 from the Mary's River bridge south of Chester to Rockwood to all traffic.
Sand boils have been discovered on Kaskaskia Island and the Army Corps of Engineers continue to monitor the situation. A ring of sandbags was placed around the sand boil to prevent further development.
A sand boil also was found at the Kaskaskia River lock and dam and one found on the Mississippi River levee near Fort Chartres. Both sand boils are being closely monitored.
On Friday the U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $3.5 million grant to Illinois to create approximately 200 temporary jobs to assist in flood cleanup and recovery efforts.
Contact reporter Jennifer A. Bowen at [email protected] or 239-2667.
To see more of the Belleville News-Democrat, Ill., or to subscribe, visit http://www.belleville.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. | <urn:uuid:90eadb0e-61d1-4184-8caf-acbde8c97250> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1454143/levees_holding_in_illinois_but_missouri_residents_not_so_lucky/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560283301.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095123-00502-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944074 | 961 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Važno obaveštenje: U slučaju da film neće da Vam se učita potrebno je da očistite Istoriju (Clear recent history), ponovo otvorite željenu stranicu i prihvatite ponuđenu aplikaciju.
While Camelot prepares to celebrate peace with Mercia's visiting prince Bayard, Nimueh forges a poisoned chalice and places it at the royal table where Arthur is to have his cup filled by Merlin. Then the sorceress warns the page-magician, blaming Bayard, so king Uther makes Merlin test the drink from the goblet (as he is a 'disposable' servant). Gaius diagnoses a fatal poison; the only cure is from a flower which grows only in certain caves, but the perilous journey to it may take too long. Arthur bravely rides, although Uther forbids him to 'risk a king' for a pawn.... | <urn:uuid:3fd394a0-d422-485f-8c7a-9d64e65cf072> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.filmozderi.com/season-1-merlin/episode-4-the-poisoned-chalice-movie_1c0a0b53f.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988720737.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183840-00219-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.654893 | 221 | 1.921875 | 2 |
interdependence of countries worldwide through increasing volume and variety of crossborder transactions in goods and services, free international capital flows, and more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology. •
According to Dr. Ismail Shariff, globalization is the worldwide process of homogenizing prices, products, wages, rates of interest and profits
The term “globalization” is used to refer to these collective changes as a process, or else as the cause of turbulent change.
Globalization relies on three forces for development:
the role of human migration
international trade, and rapid movements of capital integration of financial markets.
The Pros and Cons of Globalization
Productivity grows more quickly when countries produce goods and services in which they have a comparative advantage. Living standards can go up faster.
Global competition and cheap imports keep a lid on prices, so inflation is less likely to derail economic growth.
• • •
An open economy spurs innovation with fresh ideas from abroad. Export jobs often pay more than other jobs. Unfettered capital flows give the U.S. access to foreign investment and keep interest rates low.
Millions of Americans have lost jobs due to imports or production shifts abroad. Most find new jobs–that pay less.
Millions of others fear losing their jobs, especially at those companies operating under competitive pressure.
Workers face pay-cut demands from employers, which often threaten to export jobs. Service and white-collar jobs are increasingly vulnerable to operations moving offshore.
U.S. employees can lose their comparative advantage when companies build advanced factories in low-wage countries, making them as productive as those at home.
Aspects to Globalization
There are 4 aspects to globalization. 1. We are global in our information exchange–obviously the internet is the best example of this. 2. We are also global in our travel–with airplanes and also cars, people move all over the place, and we get to see other countries across the world. 3. Thirdly, we are global in our resource depletion. No society can isolate itself from global environmental degradation.Problems such as air pollution, acid rain, and climate change don’t respect international boundaries. 4. Finally, we are global in our economy. There are 3 aspects to this global spread of capitalism: 1. Production 2. Finance 3. Markets With regards to production, the products we buy are better traveled than we are! There are many social and environmental impacts from this practice of producing goods in the third world for sale in the first. This practice is called the global integration of production. The second aspect to the global spread of capitalism is that of finance–financial trading is now a global practice. For example, you can buy stocks from a company anywhere in the world. The third aspect is that of markets. Nowadays, a seller sees its market as not just Canada, but as North America. The same products are being sold all around the world. Conversely, you can go anywhere in the world and buy the same things; McDonalds is everywhere. This has led to global way of living, but it really has lead to the standardization of life.
1) What is likely to happen to local employment and income distribution when a DC chooses to open (or becomes exposed) to globalization? As is obvious from the discussion in the previous sections, both the theory and the empirical evidence did not give us black and white, clear-cut results, but rather nuanced research outcomes. If one is to be found, a general result is that the optimistic HO/SS predictions do not apply to the current wave of globalization; indeed, neither employment creation nor the decrease in withincountry inequality... | <urn:uuid:cd98db7c-d630-4e85-9820-15d10e8732f9> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.studymode.com/essays/Globalization-433123.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280504.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00144-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945363 | 750 | 3.390625 | 3 |
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