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As the ruling in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, which overturned California’s Proposition 8, makes its way through the appeals process, one of the big questions concerns the impact of another case: Lawrence v. Texas. That 2003 Supreme Court decision overturned the Texas law making sodomy a criminal offense.
Judge Vaughn Walker clearly thinks that the line between Lawrence and his ruling is clear. His opinion not only cited Lawrence – it was, as many commentators have noted, practically written for an audience of one: Justice Anthony Kennedy, the author of the Lawrence decision, and the likely swing-vote on the Supreme Court.
But is the link as clear as Walker and his supporters say it is? No. Especially when you take public attitudes into account.
At the time Lawrence was decided, Texas was one of only thirteen states that made sodomy a crime. In the rest of the country, consensual same-sex acts had been made legal by legislation.
In other words, the public had adopted what could rightly be called a tolerant view of these acts: whatever people thought of homosexuality, they didn’t think it was a matter for the criminal law, and the political process reflected this cultural and political consensus.
Thus, the ruling in Lawrence, whatever its constitutional merits, ratified an already-existing consensus – it didn’t set out to impose one. Even justice Thomas, who dissented from the majority opinion, called the Texas law “uncommonly silly.”
The same cannot be said of the ruling overturning Proposition 8. Only five states and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage and half of those are the result of court rulings. What’s more, the trajectory of public, as distinct from elite, opinion has been clearly to ratify the traditional understanding of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Since 1993, when the Hawaiian Supreme Court upheld same-sex marriage, the American people have consistently made their opposition clear at the polls. Every time the issue has been on the ballot (31 states in all), voters have rejected same sex marriage.
This despite being outspent by same-sex marriage proponents and always being vilified in the media and elite opinion.
All of this exposes the claim that we’re trying to “impose” our view on others. We aren’t doing that. That’s ludicrous! We’re simply defending the democratic consensus.
The only way to counter this distortion is if we do it ourselves: present our case winsomely and persistently.
And, given what’s at stake in this battle, we don’t have any choice. The battle over this California case involves more than same-sex marriage or even the institution of marriage. As the Manhattan Declaration points out, the biggest threat to religious freedom comes from those who want to redefine marriage and impose a particular view of sexual morality on all of us.
How could pastors denounce sinful behavior held by a court to be a constitutional right? The only way to keep that from happening is to make clear—to make known—the great consensus in America in support of traditional marriage. Because courts rarely go against that. | <urn:uuid:1c996efc-61cd-449c-af10-dffe726b5f48> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://catholicexchange.com/gay-marriage-at-the-polls | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281746.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00280-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964729 | 654 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Dr. P. K. Mishra chaired the meeting of the High Level Taskforce constituted to improvethe air quality in National Capital Region of Delhi. Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, Secretaries of different department/ministries of the central government including M/o of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Agriculture, Road, Petroleum andCentral Pollution Control Board were present in the meeting.
Principal Secretary to Prime Minister emphasized that the meeting was called well in advance before the onset of harvesting and winter season to ensure proper precautionary and preventive measures to combat the causes of air pollution are taken well in time.
A review of the main sources of air pollution, measures taken and the progress made by the State Governments and various Ministries was carried out. It was noted that the incidence of stubble burning has reduced by more than 50% in last two years and the number of Good AQI days have gone up.
The efforts and plan made by the State of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for control of crop residue burning were examined in detail, including ground level deployment and availability of machinery for in-situ management of crop residue.
It was observed that after recent inclusion of residue based power /fuel plants under priority sector lending by Reserve Bank of India, both State and Central Governments should jointly work out action plans for rapid deployment of such units. Measures related to diversification of crop and strengthening of supply chains were also discussed.
Principal Secretary highlighted the importance of effective implementation of the existing in-situ management of crop residue scheme of Ministry of Agriculture by the States, and emphasized that State Governments should ensure that the new machinery to be deployed in the current year should reach the farmers before the start of the harvesting season. Ministry of Agriculture was directed to provide all necessary support in this regard.
To control stubble burning, it was stressed that adequate number of teams should be deployed at ground level and they should ensure that no stubble burning takes place especially in the State of Punjab, Haryana and UP. These States need to put extra efforts and appropriate incentives especially in the relevant districts.
Government of GNCT-Delhi was requested to ensure measures to control local sources of pollution. Principal Secretary mentioned that special emphasis should be laid on deployment ofteams for control of open burning of waste, IT-enabled monitoring of mechanical road sweepers, improvement in utilization of construction & demolition waste and site specific implementation of action plan for identified hot spots. It was decided that Haryana and Uttar Pradesh would prepare and implement similar site specific action plans in their area falling under NCR.
Principal Secretary emphasized that the envisaged measures should be implemented well before the onset of severe conditions, and focusshould also be laid on compliance of emission norms by industry in satellite industrial area. | <urn:uuid:a17ecc6b-cbd1-4fbc-9c89-faa09781dfd5> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.internationalnewsandviews.com/the-envisaged-measures-should-be-implemented-well-before-the-onset-of-severe-conditions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572581.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816211628-20220817001628-00068.warc.gz | en | 0.960548 | 588 | 2 | 2 |
‘Nudging’ travel behaviour change through the design of information systems…
Today’s travellers have a wealth of information at their disposal to help plan and execute their journeys. The availability of travel information to the public has changed dramatically in recent years with the increasing use of the internet and mobile communications. Millions of portable satellite navigation systems are sold every year in the UK and Europe. The number of people using web-based journey planners to inform their journeys is increasing. The rapid technological developments in the field of Advanced Traveller Information Services (ATIS) demand a greater understanding of what part this technology is now playing in relation to travel behaviour, and how such systems can be designed to benefit both individuals and transport systems as a whole.
It has been generally argued that when making choices between alternative transport options, travellers behave in a reasonably rational way, and can be approximated to act according to their interests, as long as they are provided with complete and accurate information on each of the alternatives – they try to minimise money and other costs, and maximise their utilities from the journeys they are making. Due to the size and complexity of the transport system, choosing between alternative routes, alternative modes of transport (car, bus, train, cycling, etc.) or the timing of their journeys is not always an easy task for travellers.
Providing travellers with reliable and updated information on travel options is therefore acknowledged as having the potential to improve travellers’ choices in ways that are beneficial for individuals and society. Stemming from its 1998 Transport White Paper, the Department for Transport has given, and continues to give, notable attention to traveller information systems as part of its approach to transport policy.
Individual travellers are commonly seen as rational human beings who, through choice making, maximise their utilities. However, insights and (theoretical) understandings from psychology and behavioural economics are now emerging through the literature to paint a more complex picture of decision-making processes. Empirical studies provide much evidence that in real life, the behaviour of travellers is typified by bounded rationality. Travellers’ limited cognitive resources have a strong effect on their use of information. Recent evidence showed that even when provided with explicit information on their travel choices, travellers turn out to interpret and value this information in a way that systematically violates the assumptions of rational behaviour. But it is not just the content of information that influences our choices. Inspired by the work of cognitive psychologists, researchers at UWE Bristol found that travellers are heavily influenced by context, ie. the manner in which travel information is being presented.
Thaler and Sunstein ( from the University of Chicago) argue in favour of the so-called Libertarian Paternalism approach, as a way to help people make the ‘right’ choices without restricting their freedom of choice. In their recent book (‘Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness’), they suggest the incorporation of small features in the environment to attract people’s attention and highlight the ‘right’ choices for them and alter their behaviour. The art and science of ‘nudges’ could inspire the further design of ATIS, to help travellers make better choices. The following are a few (out of many) examples that illustrate such nudges.
Defaults: a default is the option that individuals receive if they do not explicitly request something different. Defaults have strong influence on behaviour – and they tend to become a habit. Some journey planners provide travel information on more than one mode of transport. In the design of a journey planner, travellers could be provided by default with information about car transport, even if they are planning to use public transport – this default might increase the attractiveness of car transport.
On the other hand, setting public transport as the default mode could nudge people to consider this as the first option. No matter how defaults are set, it is important not to restrict the choices available for the traveller – making information on all alternatives available.
Framing and ‘loss aversion’: People tend to feel and behave differently when information about their choices is presented (or ‘framed’) as gains or losses. The following illustrates three possible ways of presenting the same information on two commuting choices.
Under the rational choice model, the format of the information should not matter. However, since people are more sensitive to losses, they might find the cycling option specifically attractive in the third alternative. This is a rather simple example of how the designers of travel information systems can help people to make more sustainable travel choices simply by choosing a specific format to present information about time (and other attributes) of the alternative choices.
Salience: A specific challenge ATIS designers are faced with is how to provide travellers with information on the environmental costs of their journeys. A growing number of travellers are already aware of, and have concerns about, the greenhouse emissions they generate. When informed about environmental impacts, they might make sustainable choices. However, many of the negative impacts of our travel choices are not salient. For example, it is difficult to the driver to easily imagine the air pollution and climate change caused by carbon emissions.
Carbon emissions are invisible to travellers; it is therefore difficult for them to associate their travel behaviour with environmental costs. Without feedback, a behavioural change is less likely. Providing drivers with daily information on their carbon emissions might make them ‘visible’, and could make it easier for them to do the right thing. Recent research reports on the effect of in-vehicle data recorders on drivers’ behaviour; this on-board technology collects and records information on the movement, control and performance of the vehicle. It was found that drivers, through the provision of daily feedback on their performance, tend to improve their safety behaviour. Using the same technology to provide drivers with environmental costs, against some targets or against previous performance, could provide them with a psychological incentive to change their behaviour.
The effectiveness of travel information systems may be enhanced if more consideration and emphasis is given to the design of the information context.
The libertarian paternalism approach is not offered as an alternative to other measures to influence travel choices. In some cases, synergy between the pricing and the soft intervention by nudges could be an effective policy. ‘Getting the prices right’ by taxes and subsidies could be the first step of a transport policy; however, the effect of pricing policies on behavioural change is limited – partly because of individuals’ bounded rationality. Travellers do not always associate their behaviour with the relevant costs and this slows down the process of behavioural change. Nudges can help individuals to overcome cognitive biases, highlight the better choices, and increase the size and the speed of behavioural change – without restricting choices or limiting travellers’ freedom of choice.
In liberal democratic regimes, where the public and political acceptability of regulation and enforcement are low, the libertarian paternalism approach, through the nudging of travellers, could be one of the most promising approaches to deal with the need for a radical and urgent behavioural change. The last 10 years have seen a rapid evolution of the field of travel information provision. The technological level of today’s systems, the widespread availability of travel information services, together with the insights from behavioural sciences, makes the incorporation of nudges into travel information systems more easy and cost-effective than ever. This could be the trigger to achieve the behavioural change we urgently need.
Dr Erel Avineri, Erel.Avineri@uwe.ac.uk
Reader in Travel Behaviour, Centre for Transport Society,
University of the West of England, Bristol
This article appears in the current edition of The Science & Technology Review, issue 2, pp. 133-134. Published by PSCA International. www.publicservice.co.uk. World Streets thanks them for permission to reproduce the full text of the article here.
* Listen to the author on "Nudging" in the following podcast presentation - http://www.tsu.ox.ac.uk/news/podcasts/eavineri081215.mp3
--> Read on: | <urn:uuid:e1f3ceec-1150-4072-94ac-715c779d9251> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://newmobilityagenda.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279933.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00121-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93736 | 1,659 | 2.921875 | 3 |
The only thing people love more than a Cinderella story is a good catastrophe.
People come out of the woodwork for a good catastrophe; they rush the court.
I call it "The Flood."
If someone in your family has cancer, you know about the flood. If you've lost a parent, or a child, or a spouse, you know about the flood. If you've endured a public humiliation, you know about the flood.
The flood is the influx of people that materialize out of thin air when you are in a state of catastrophe. The deluge of "Let us know if you need anything," "Call anytime," "Let's get lunch," "We're praying for you," and, if you're in the South, "Bless your heart."
If you're feeling alone, just wait for something horrific to happen and people will come in droves to get a front row seat to your hurt, your bravery, your healing, your redemption, your whole glorious story. People will want to be the ones to carry you, the ones who "knew you when." People will want to be the ones to give you the best advice, the most thoughtful offerings, the most sincere prayers. People will want to be the ones to know the most details, and the most intimate ones. People want to be the ones to hand you the tissue box.
When catastrophe strikes - like when our firstborn was diagnosed with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia and we learned she was blind - you are in a wasteland. It feels like everything around you is barren and there is not one single thing to hold on to. When catastrophe strikes, you are a man in the desert, clawing along, inhaling sand, praying desperate prayers for water.
The water is help; the water is hope; the water is someone who sees you. When you're dragging your undead self through the darkest days, you want someone to know. But when people catch wind of your catastrophe, you don't get a glass of water; you get a hurricane. You get The Flood.
I've weathered my share of catastrophes - my share of deserts and hurricanes - and this is what I've learned about The Flood:
You can resent it. You can say things like,
"Where were you before this happened?" "You never invited me to coffee before." "So now you decide to care?" "I haven't spoken to you in years." "You don't know anything about me." "Are you going to remember our situation a month from now? What about when we're six weeks into treatment? What about after the court date? What about the one-year anniversary of his death?"
You can accuse everyone of being a bunch of nosy ambulance-chasers. You can assume condescension, and you can feel patronized. You can gripe and rage against The Flood; you can moan about people only showing up when stuff goes wrong. You can pontificate about the insincerity and the over-the-top-ness of it all.
Or you can be thankful to high heaven that there are people in your life who give a crap.
You can choose to see people's eyes brimming with good intentions instead of nosiness. You can see sympathy instead of condescension. You can be gracious.
You can understand that time and friendship are limited resources, and you can be thankful that people chose to spend theirs on you in your hour of need. You can believe that people are doing the best they can.
You can believe that what you're really bucking against isn't condescension; it's vulnerability. You can allow yourself to be vulnerable, to be seen as you are, to be carried.
You can praise God for people that care, no matter how misplaced their concerns, no matter how ignorant their words.
What I've learned is to accept every prayer, every dinner invitation. I've learned to be honest about how I'm doing. I've learned to talk to someone. Not everyone, but someone.
I've learned to be thankful for The Flood. Because, believe me, it's always better to have a flood than not.
When have you experienced The Flood? Was it encouraging or suffocating? How do you handle the deluge? | <urn:uuid:253fc8e6-31f9-4626-9cc5-42b052083b4a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.kateelizabethconner.com/blog/the-flood | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280483.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00301-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970141 | 879 | 1.804688 | 2 |
We are proud to have launched the new CRVS Systems Improvement Framework, which allows you to assess and improve your CRVS system and processes. This important tool is designed to help countries around the world understand the root causes for low or non-registration in CRVS systems. Easily adaptable for many scenarios through its modular design, it can help you improve your entire CRVS system or a particular business process. The framework is available in English and French. Translations to Spanish and Portuguese will also be available soon.
Why is the framework important?
CRVS systems are complex. They involve many people, agencies, and ministries. This can make them hard for people to understand and navigate. The CRVS Systems Improvement Framework simplifies the process.
When CRVS systems are simplified, more births, marriages, divorces, and deaths are registered. As a result, people get more access to the rights and services they deserve. Planners and policy makers also get better quality information they can use in their CRVS work.
How do I use the framework?
The framework guides you through a three-step approach. You’ll work together with stakeholders to map out registration processes in your country. You’ll also identify obstacles and strengths when it comes to your CRVS systems.
Here are the steps you’ll follow:
1. Assess, analyze, and redesign
2. Develop a strategic action plan
3. Implement, monitor, and evaluate
Coming soon! To help you make the most of the framework, you will have access to three complimentary eLearning modules in English. Each module is free, self-guided, and takes between 30 and 60 minutes to complete. These resources are currently in development and will be available soon.
Launching the framework
On April 28th, 2021 the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Vital Strategies and the Centre of Excellence for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems co-hosted the launch of the Framework. More than 240 people attended the meeting chaired by Dr. Liya Mutale, Permanent Secretary, Home Affairs, Zambia. Mr Oliver Chinganya, Director, Africa Centre for Statistics UNECA made opening remarks. Mr William Muhvawa, UNECA presented the framework and shared that Angola, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi and Zimbabwe are being supported to implement it already. Additional presentations were made by Dr. Martin Bratschi, Vital Strategies and Ms. Anette Forsingdal. Three countries also shared their experiences in implementing the Framework (Ethiopia, Lesotho and Rwanda). Participants hailed from 50 different government ministries and agencies across 28 countries in Africa. There were also participants from 14 other countries in Asia, the Americas and Europe and representatives from international organizations and non-governmental organizations. About one third of participants were women and about one third joined in French or Portuguese. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive:
- 96% thought the Framework would be useful in their country.
- 88% thought their country could benefit from technical assistance to use the Framework.
- 97% noted their interest in following the eLearning course.
Download the presentations:
- By UNECA (PDF in English; en français, em português)
- By the Centre of Excellence (PDF in English, en français)
Watch the recording
This project was led by the United Nations Commission for Africa (UNECA), with financial and technical support from Vital Strategies through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative, and the Centre of Excellence for CRVS Systems at the International Development Research Centre. | <urn:uuid:e8a52eb2-d317-4c49-8003-6ab28cc39901> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://systemesesec.ca/news-and-events/introducing-crvs-systems-improvement-framework-0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571989.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813232744-20220814022744-00467.warc.gz | en | 0.925593 | 749 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Today, while outside for a fire drill, I noticed that it is almost December. It is cold. Frigid, almost. Considering that the temperature on Thanksgiving was a balmy 65 degrees, today’s high of 40 degrees seems practically Arctic. I notice the red noses on my students and the I’m-freezing-cold-can-we-please-go-in-now(whyisthistakingsolong) hoppity-dance they are doing to keep warm. The leaves are no longer on the trees and the ground is cold and hard; finally frozen, brown , and dreary. As I look around, the cold air on my skin and the chattering teeth I hear behind me remind me that Christmas is drawing nearer and winter is here for the long haul. This gives me the idea that winter and cold will be surrounding me for a while and I should get used to it.
Some people view winter as the dead time of the year, the low point in the wheel of seasons. Not so, says I. Look around you- the heartbeat of winter beats all around us. Notice the deer hoof prints in the newly fallen snow and imagine the small family scampering across the backyard in the dusky twilight. See the scarlet red flash of a cardinal as it alights from the snowy ground. Listen to the ‘chirp chirp’ of the winter birds as they eat at the birdfeeder. Taste the hot cocoa, with whipped cream and peppermint, as it passes over your lips. Feel the nip of the cold air as it chills your nose. Feel the warmth of the fleece gloves and scarf that you wrap yourself in to shield against the cold. See the snow-white moon in the navy blue sky, with the lone bright star shining in the distance.
Winter is beautiful. Stop, look around, appreciate it. Soak in the cold air and the bright sunlight. Relax under a blanket next to a warm, crackling fire. The wheel of seasons has been turning since time began and will keep turning when our time is up; now is our time to be a part of it. | <urn:uuid:b38d5339-3732-4701-b3da-32bc5a186fb3> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | https://thereadingzone.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/writers-notebook-wednesday-4/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=8ef4095fcf | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719908.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00157-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948875 | 447 | 1.585938 | 2 |
I made a makeshift but which worked but tore up the inside a bit (PETG drills pretty well but my crapy hammered bit was a bit unstable). This works but its not pretty and it could mess up the part.
I found a much easier way of dealing with the small holes: melting them
I ground the tip of the conduit like Vicious suggested. I did this here to ensure that the very tip of the conduit would be small enough to fit inside the small hole. I then just heated the conduit a bit with my torch so it would melt the plastic and slide in. Grinding the tip helps ensure that the tip fits in the small hole and thus the hot pipe is centered when it is slid in. (sounds a little dirty, I know 😉 ). I was also able to rig up a square to help guide it in straight as well.
I was worried that the hole would be too large but it is not. Additionally, this leaves a little residual plastic on the conduit which helps ensure a good grip as well. Using a square as a guide is also a good idea.
If anyone else with the same issue does this, then make sure to be careful. Conduit is generally galvanized. when galvanized metal gets heated very high (it has to get extreemly hot for this but a torch can do it), then it vaporizes into a harmful gas. welders know it as metal fume fever. | <urn:uuid:6925a512-033b-4316-b213-7db1350f3616> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.vicious1.com/forum/reply/11115/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988717783.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183837-00075-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971066 | 295 | 1.703125 | 2 |
|Last Date to Apply:||None|
Here at this page we will discuss about How to Apply Student Visa for France from Pakistan 2016-2017 (Forms, Fee, Consultants).France a well known country which is the capital of Paris “The City Of Fragrance” is also bests in the level of education and provides scholarship and many courses have been offered for the eligible candidates to. Here I am going to guide the applicants regarding the getting of Student visa for Pakistan that how they have to get inside this country in order to get the Student Visa. Most of the Pakistani students wishes to study in France and in rest of the European Countries in order to make their future on the peak of success. So, here at this page you will find the proper guide that how you will obtain the Student Visa and how many steps are there which one have to follow to reach the France. So, let’s take a tour to view the complete information. Before starting the applying criteria I want to inform you about the ways of getting enroll in the college and university of France after wards we will tap to Visa application and its applying criteria.
How to Apply Student Visa for France From Pakistan 2017 (Forms, Fee, Consultants)
|Embassy of France in Pakistan Details|
|Embassy||High Commission of France|
|Address||Diplomatic Enclave – G5 – GPO Box 1068 – Islamabad.|
|Telephone/Fax||(+92) 51 201 14 14 / (+92) 51 201 14 00|
Instructions to Enroll in College & University of France:
- There are some ways and rules to apply for the enrollment in any university and college which are as under:
- The applicants have to firstly complete the application process of College & University by filling all the forms and required documents should be attached.
- The applicants have to fill the application form through online system by putting the accurate and 100% true information.
- Mail the physical file of yourself to the university and college in which u want to enroll.
- Application along with all attached documents, recent photograph, copy of academic record along with a photocopy of money order paid to the college as admission fee.
- After sending all these documents and when the University or respective college will view your credentials and than you will be able to receive the “Confirmation Email” from the institute that the file which the applicant has sent has been processed.
- Now after wards the applicant have to print put the Bank Paid Draft Copy as well as the Confirmation Email. Because these documents are required in French Consulate while applying for the Student Visa.
How to Apply:
- After receiving the Confirmation Email the applicants are required to apply for the visa and those who have filled the online application form so they will get the access automatically to apply for the visa.
- Applicants have to visit with a set of documents and visa processing fee for the interview before the Consulate.
- Visa appointment will be dons 90 days before the Departure to France.
- While applying for a visa to study in France following are the important points and steps that have to taken with great caution such as.
- Filling up the complete online admission form
- Hard copy of application form should reach at the said address.
- Applying at French consulate.
Documents Required For Obtaining Visa:
- Photocopy of Passport which should be valid upto 1 year.
- Photocopy of Police Certificate which showcases the good and moral conduct of the applicant.
- Photocopy of bank Certificate
- Photocopy of Educational and Experience Documents
- Bank Statement which shows the bank balance of the applicant that he/she are liable to live in this country and are having the enough penny for their livelihood.
- Four passport size photographs
- Medical Certificate which shows the health of applicants who should be fit medically as well as physically.
- Copy of confirmation Email
- Copy of payment of admission fee to the respective college.
- University approval letter.
Visa Fee & Processing Time:
- Visa Fee: The applicants have to pay the amount in dollars for single entry the fee worths around France PKR. 6030/- And the cost of visa varies with respect to rules and policies while changing.
- Visa Processing Time: The processing of visa takes 12-15 days whereas if the documents and application are incomplete so they get late in such cases. | <urn:uuid:402392ac-c14e-4c59-87fa-cb34137e952f> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://jobsalert.pk/how-to-apply-student-visa-for-france-from-pakistan/44654 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560284411.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095124-00459-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925348 | 921 | 1.617188 | 2 |
On this day 57 years ago, the United States became a democracy — the full democracy right-wing extremists are currently working feverishly to overturn.
President Lyndon Johnson chose to hold the ceremony in which he signed “An Act to Enforce the 15th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States,” generally known simply as the Voting Rights Act, into law on Aug. 6, 1965, in the Capitol Rotunda beneath John Trumbull’s painting of Cornwallis surrendering at Yorktown. His purpose in doing it there was to send a message that the forces of racism had finally been defeated.
He referred to the incongruity at the base of American history that has now come to be known by the shorthand of 1619 and 1776. Noting that “the first Negroes had arrived at Jamestown” in chains three and a half centuries before, the president asserted that the nation was in 1965 finally striking “away the last major shackle of those fierce and ancient bonds.”
“Today is a triumph for freedom,” Johnson proclaimed, “as huge as any victory that has ever been won on any battlefield.”
Johnson was given to hyperbole, but his assertion was justified. The law was part of a struggle over the most basic question about America throughout its history: Can and will the United States be a free, diverse, inclusive democracy? Two years before the 1870 ratification of the 15th Amendment guaranteeing that the right of male citizens to vote would not be denied or abridged “on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude,” the 1868 Democratic presidential ticket ran on a motto stating the other view: “This is a White Man’s Country: Let White Men Rule.”
The “Democratic” Party then no more believed in democracy than the “Republican” Party now does in preserving the Republic.
The legislation Johnson signed on this day in 1965 was the crowning achievement of an extraordinarily progressive period that had begun following John F. Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963. During that time, the combination of pressure from the civil rights movement with LBJ’s extraordinary skill at getting things done in Congress produced a rebirth of the nation into a country that more nearly reflected the ideals set forth in 1776.
Five months earlier, on March 7, John Lewis and other freedom marchers had been severely beaten in Selma, Ala. Johnson immediately promised to introduce a bill to secure voting rights. On March 15, he appeared before a joint session of Congress and a national television audience and delivered a stunning speech.
“I speak tonight for the dignity of man and the destiny of democracy,” he began. Like Lexington and Concord and Appomattox, he asserted, Selma constituted “a turning point in man’s unending search for freedom.”
“There is no Negro problem,” the president declared. “There is no Southern problem. There is no Northern problem. There is only an American problem.”
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“There is no issue of States rights or national rights,” LBJ proclaimed. “There is only the struggle for human rights.”
“Their cause must be our cause too,” he affirmed. “Because it is not just Negroes, but really it is all of us, who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice.” Then this Southern Democrat paused before startling almost everyone by raising his arms and declaring: “And we shall overcome.”
The combination of the senseless war in Vietnam with urban uprisings against police brutality that began on a large scale in the Watts neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles just five days after Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act opened the way for Republicans to gain support. But the progress of the mid-1960s remained. As late as 2006, an extension of the Voting Rights Act was supported by all Senate Republicans.
A decade later, though, the Republican Party turned decisively against democracy. In late 2021, all 50 Republicans voted not even to allow discussion of a bill titled the Freedom to Vote Act, which would in part restore key voting rights protection that the Supreme Court overturned in 2013.
Though the timing presumably was unintentional, it is telling about where we are in 2022 that on the anniversary of the triumph of democracy in America, the leading organization on the Republican right, the Conservative Political Action Committee, is wrapping up a convention in Dallas to which it welcomed Viktor Orbán, the anti-democracy white supremacist prime minister of Hungary, and that the closing speaker tonight will be the most anti-democracy president in American history, Donald J. Trump.
The midterm elections this fall will be a referendum on the progressive revolution of 1964-65 in general, and in particular on the Voting Rights Act. The question remains what it has been across the sweep of American history: Is the United States to be a diverse, inclusive democracy or a white man’s country?
McElvaine teaches at Millsaps College. His latest book is “The Times They Were a-Changin’ — 1964: The Year the Sixties Arrived and the Battle Lines of Today Were Drawn.” | <urn:uuid:533618e8-ace7-4d93-81eb-9e1558d83702> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.therightnews.com/the-day-the-u-s-became-a-democracy-new-york-daily-news/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572286.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816090541-20220816120541-00269.warc.gz | en | 0.954807 | 1,109 | 4.0625 | 4 |
Mitt Romney tentatively, meekly, quietly, through spokeswoman Andrea Saul, took a position on something this weekend. He believes now, as he believed 18 years ago, that gay people should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts, though he doesn't believe the Scouts should be compelled to adjust policy in accordance with his personal opinion.
The news is buried very near the bottom of this AP story, which is otherwise about Eagle Scouts returning their medals:
In contrast to Obama, Republican candidate Mitt Romney does have a public position on the Scouts' policy -- he politely disagrees with it.
Back in 1994, during a political debate in Massachusetts, Romney said this: "I support the right of the Boy Scouts of America to decide what it wants to do on that issue. I feel that all people should be able to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual orientation."
A Romney spokeswoman, Andrea Saul, said in an e-mail that this remains Romney's position today.
The way in which this news was made suggests Romney doesn't want to make headlines, but the saucy people at GLAAD don't care. They issued a press release yesterday, which reads, in part:
Romney joins hundreds of thousands of Americans including politicians, celebrities, and corporate leaders from AT&T and Ernst & Young (who also happen to be board members of the BSA) in speaking out against the Boy Scouts of America’s ban on LGBT scouts and scout leaders ...
One note, though. At the time Romney made the statement about his personal beliefs vs. the right of the Boy Scouts to self-determination, he was actually on the Boy Scouts' National Executive Board. Which means his personal opinion should have been part of the Boy Scouts' self-determination. Saying that "they," the Boy Scouts, have the right to decide whom to admit to their ranks makes little sense. He should have said "we," and then explained when, why, and how he and the rest of the scouting world had parted ways on the issue.
See Romney's original, 1994 answer to the scouting question AFTER THE JUMP ... | <urn:uuid:9df02174-1748-4846-a96f-30c58c1c8383> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.towleroad.com/2012/08/mitt-romney-on-gay-scouts-video/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988720737.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183840-00221-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978273 | 434 | 1.648438 | 2 |
25% of South Africans have mental problemsJune 8th, 2008 - 12:16 pm ICT by ANI
Johannesburg, June 8 (ANI): Nearly 25 pct of South Africans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), says a leading psychiatrist.
Dr Eugene Allers, psychiatrist and former-president of the South African Society of Psychiatry (Sasop) revealed that up to six million South Africans suffer from PTSD and the country has become a “breeding ground” for psychiatric problems, reports News24.
Out of the 25 pct, nearly a third of these people are between the 30 and 40 years of age.
It was apparently said that up to 70 pct of people with psychiatric problems had major (serious) depressions.
Allers said that previous research had shown that up to half of people with major depression also had PTSD.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more terrifying events in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma.
Experts believed that about a quarter to a third of people who were raped, for example, or who witnessed a traumatic incident developed PTSD. The rest process the experience.
Allers said abuse and neglect during a person’s childhood could make him more susceptible to developing psychiatric problems.
He said that if for, instance, the South African population was at 50 million people now, a quarter of them would have psychiatric problems, of which 70 pct would be major depression.
Of the people with depression 50pct would fulfil the criteria for PTSD.
He further said that local studies showed that in some communities 58pct to 94pct of children had witnessed incidents of violence. About one out of 5 of these children fulfilled the criteria for PTSD.
There were 350 psychiatrists in the country. Allers said 177 worked full-time, 56 part-time and the rest worked for the state.
The country only had about 2 000 psychotherapists in the private sector but needed many more to be able to help everyone. (ANI)
Tags: abuse and neglect, allers, anxiety disorder, breeding ground, depressions, emotional reaction, grave physical harm, major depression, post traumatic stress, post traumatic stress disorders, previous research, psychiatric problems, psychiatrists, psychological trauma, psychotherapists, society of psychiatry, south african population, south africans, traumatic incident, which grave physical harm | <urn:uuid:faeb942e-5194-4ce9-985b-24f7b0e65b87> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/25-of-south-africans-have-mental-problems_10057751.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279368.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00320-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968859 | 515 | 2.203125 | 2 |
NSERC 2030: A Strategic Plan
Enhancing research access and impacts in society
This document is one of a series of discussion papers generated by NSERC staff to foster discussion during the development of the NSERC 2030 strategic plan. Items presented do not represent policy directions; they are meant to elicit discussion among NSERC’s stakeholders. Similarly, all themes discussed in these papers are cost-neutral: they would not require new program funding or cuts to existing programming in order to fund new initiatives.
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As Canada’s leading supporter of discovery and innovation in the natural sciences and engineering (NSE), NSERC plays an increasingly influential role as arbiter of scientific norms and practices such as research assessment, open science and public science engagement (CCA, 2021). As a publicly funded institution, NSERC must balance its role in supporting researchers in the pursuit of new knowledge and innovations with its obligation to ensure that the values and needs represented in Canadian society are being addressed by the research it funds. Several elements addressed in this paper have implications for the Tri-Agency (NSERC, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council [SSHRC] and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research [CIHR]) and thus provide additional opportunities for enhanced impact and harmonization.
A core element of NSERC's mandate is to support and promote NSE research that benefits all Canadians. Political decision-makers worldwide commit substantial amounts of public funds toward scientific research. In return, they expect publicly funded research to generate impact that will benefit the societies they represent. As stewards of these public investments, funding organizations have a key role in identifying and supporting research that generates such impact, using specific funding criteria and decision-making processes. However, these decisions must be made within a framework that considers how NSE research responds to societal needs.
The impacts of NSE research outputs are often unpredictable, and societal needs are diverse and in constant evolution. As a result, assessing such impacts is challenging. Evaluating disparate impacts such as new knowledge, economic development, or societal advancements require their own specific considerations, and our community encompasses a broad range of disciplines pursuing complex goals. NSE research can be a longer-term endeavour and, as a result, tangible results or benefits may not be inherently evident or could take years to reveal themselves. Despite these challenges, accurate assessment is vital for publicly funded research to successfully address social needs.
This paper topic also aligns with NSERC’s vision to make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. Publicly funded research should be returned to the public, and research funding organizations hold a position of influence that can ensure that results are accessible and beneficial for all populations in Canada. This means supporting scientists and engineers to share their knowledge and innovations in order to enhance access to, and understanding of, scientific results.
Therefore, NSERC must define its goals for how NSE research could benefit society, how to evaluate those benefits, and how to ensure results are proactively disseminated by researchers to populations in Canada.
Enhancing societal impacts
NSERC could enhance expectations for how researchers are asked to integrate social considerations into research activities at the proposal stage of funding programs. Identifying social, health, economic, and environmental benefits for new research directions and technologies at an early stage can help ensure that research challenges are driven by the needs of communities and/or society. The UK Research and Innovation agency indicates that 10 years of requiring an impact statement in proposals has changed its research culture; public benefit is now routinely considered in proposed research (CCA, 2021). Furthermore, increasing societal impacts often requires creating partnerships among non-traditional stakeholders and researchers working across disciplines. These partners each bring different approaches and outlooks that need to be considered from the outset to produce appropriate outcomes.
Evaluation of research and research impacts
NSERC has an opportunity to reflect on, and reconsider, how it defines “impact” when referring to research results and their subsequent effect on society. Recent internal studies associated with the Tri-Agency Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan have reinforced the value of breaking down societal assumptions when assessing research impacts. For instance, we must consider who benefits from research funding and whether beneficial impacts are evenly distributed in society.
How NSERC evaluates research and research impacts has been — and will continue to be — influenced by many factors. For example, NSERC signed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) because it recognized that many factors have and will continue to influence how research and impacts are evaluated (NSERC, 2019). While metrics for social impacts are currently a challenge, funding agencies worldwide are seeking reliable methods to assess a broad range of impacts. NSERC could seize opportunities to pilot promising methods as new approaches are developed. Additionally, NSERC could integrate novel impact assessment metrics, such as altmetrics (which include alternatives to traditional citations, such as mentions on websites and blogs, mainstream media coverage, bookmarks on reference managers, and mentions on social networks), to understand non-traditional impacts of the research that we fund and to adapt to changes in how knowledge and technology is disseminated.
NSERC has an opportunity to reassess its goals for knowledge mobilization and how it supports researchers to share their work with the public. NSERC currently promotes knowledge mobilization through the Discovery Horizons program (pilot) the new Donna Strickland Prize and the NSERC Alliance program. NSERC could harmonize its approach with CIHR and SSHRC to enhance the impact of the research it funds and broaden its reach into society by providing knowledge mobilization resources to its community.Footnote 1
Open access and science communication
Communicating impacts of NSE research to Canadians delivers the benefits of that research back to society, promotes greater understanding and trust in scientific outputs and helps citizens make informed decisions. Enhancing access to NSE research strengthens Canada’s knowledge economy, fosters innovations throughout its research community and builds trust through transparency with the public. In a post-pandemic world, greater attention needs to be paid to the growing gap between science and society. NSERC has an opportunity to determine its role in training scientists on how to widely promote and communicate their research.
Open science maximizes the benefits and impact of NSE research as it enables discovery, creates opportunities to build on knowledge, and develops trust with the public through transparent research practices. There are opportunities for NSERC to further examine its role and policies in the global open science landscape. For example, NSERC could engage with partners who have signed onto Plan S (which requires that, starting in 2021, scientific publications that result from research funded by public grants must be published in compliant open access journals or platforms), to better understand its impacts on research, and its implications for international collaborations and projects co-funded by NSERC. The new Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy is another example of how NSERC creates opportunities for research impact. Research data management practices are a necessary part of research excellence and promote knowledge transfer and innovation. NSERC can further explore data-sharing to better understand its ethical and legal obligations and to ensure that research results are as accessible and safeguarded as necessary.
- Evaluation of research and research impacts: How should NSERC define research impacts? What metrics can be used to assess enhanced research impacts?
- Enhancing societal impacts: How could NSERC adapt its practices to increase research impacts to meet societal needs, e.g., designated 10 urgent problems for Canadian science to tackle? How should NSERC define and measure what it considers a societal impact?
- Knowledge mobilization: How should NSERC support effective translation of research into impact?
- Science communications and enhancing public access to research: What role should NSERC play in supporting public understanding and trust in science, and how can it best support researchers in making their research accessible to the public?
Council of Canadian Academies. (2021). Powering Discovery: The Expert Panel on International Practices for Funding Natural Sciences and Engineering Research. Ottawa, ON: Council of Canadian Academies. Retrieved from https://cca-reports.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Powering-Discovery-Full-Report-EN_DIGITAL_FINAL.pdf
NSERC. (2019). San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment. Retrieved from https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/policies-politiques/DORA-DORA_eng.asp
Thank you for your interest in NSERC 2030. The comment form is now closed.
Send us your questions, comments and ideas at: | <urn:uuid:cdc3d64e-5eaf-4503-be39-53702f8667fd> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/NSERC2030-CRSNG2030/papers-documents/paper_10-document_10_eng.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573193.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818094131-20220818124131-00475.warc.gz | en | 0.927126 | 1,797 | 1.851563 | 2 |
The neoliberal economic experiment with Greece will make or break the European Union as we know it.
New York, NY - For the survival of the euro zone and global capitalism in general, Greece's elections on June 17 will be even more important than the landmark vote on May 6.
The May 6 electoral result demonstrated that the majority of the Greek people are refusing to accept the imposed dismantling of their social and economic infrastructure, the flash impoverishment across broad strata of society, the annihilation of the next generation's future, and the vilification of an entire way of life. Even more important, Greek society showed that it will not accept being used as an experiment of global neoliberal economics. As argued in recent article in The Wall Street Journal
, this was not merely an economic experiment. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is quoted admitting that, in imposing such painful austerity measures, the troika singled out Greece for punishment as a lesson to any other European societies who might consider resisting its commands.
Nothing surprises us here, least of all the cynicism of both global financial power and the mainstream media in its service. It is, in many ways, an old story. This is not the first time in history where the fate of whole societies was held in the hands of bankers, although it may be dutiful for us to remember that when this is pushed to the extreme, societies unravel in extraordinary violence and international war. Given that the European Union as a political ideal was constituted in order to prevent such unravelling, it is remarkable that its political and economic leadership is most responsible for pursuing this catastrophic course against all sense of prudence and measure.
There are both general and particular dimensions to this situation that must be reiterated.
The Greek particulars
According to the evidence of the popular political will, Greece is facing the prospect of a government of the Left in ways unparalleled in its democratic history. Not only the May 6 electoral outcome but subsequent evidence of public opinion shows that the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) is becoming the preferred vehicle of people's declaration of having had enough of this imposed impoverishment. But it is also - and this is often neglected in international reportage - a declaration of the people's opposition to a corrupt clientelist political system. While in previous years, a vote for SYRIZA may have been the luxury of the few who voted in opposition (in addition to those who belonged ideologically to this political space), it is now a vote of urgency with entirely practical demands and real consequences. SYRIZA is no longer the coalition of leftist intellectuals and rebellious youth. It has become a political hub for people who may not even be ideological adherents of SYRIZA principles strictly speaking, but who see there the prospect of an alternative - indeed, the necessity of an alternative.
Greeks are not spoiled and corrupt beneficiaries of a system of subsidies and kick-backs, as has been the dominant Orientalist representation in international mainstream media. Of course there has been a corrupt political elite that ruled with impunity for the last 30-some years. Of course there have been extensive tax violations - extensive but not spread indiscriminately throughout the ranks of an entire population. Of course there has existed corruption in the justice system and the public sector in the service of a clientelist state. But many such social and political phenomena, in various degrees and combinations, have existed (and continue to exist) in all countries that sustain themselves with whatever degree of capitalist economic relations, including the most advanced, most "rationalised," and most "modernised" economies. No serious analyst would want to discount Greek culpability in the current situation. But equally, no serious analyst should discount the fact that: 1) this culpability is not a specifically Greek phenomenon; 2) the culpability in the specifically Greek problem is as much to be attributed to international financiers doing business in Greece in the last 30 years and general European Union policies, both economic and political.
The majority of Greeks are aware of the endemic problems of their society. This is precisely why they punished the two previously ruling parties at the ballot box on May 6 and why they are inclined to support SYRIZA as an alternative prospect. It is well established that, except for a tiny minority of nationalists in both Left and Right, the Greek people are committed to the European project. But they are not committed to being disenfranchised of their sovereignty by extra-territorial political decisions in the name of the European project, and they are not committed to being pillaged by global markets in the name of European Union monetary policies. And why should they? What other European society would? This question is never posed.
Greek Matrushka, by Menekşe Çam
One of the many propagandistic vilifications in mainstream media has been to present SYRIZA as running on a fringe anti-Europeanist platform. Nothing is further from the truth. More than any other Greek political party, SYRIZA is committed to a total overhaul of the corrupt clientelist system of the Greek political state, including dire measures to overturn various privileges of the political elite that have enabled it to rule with impunity for decades. But SYRIZA cannot be committed to an externally imposed and administered austerity that lays a stranglehold on all economic and political capacities of the Greek people - an austerity programme that has been criticised and rejected by the world's most renown economists, independent of global financial interests (Paul Krugman chief among them), who have repeatedly laid out austerity's catastrophic consequences in real economic terms. SYRIZA cannot be committed to a status quo that robs a people of their sovereignty and debases their existence; it cannot be committed to act as a servant-government, servant to bankers, financiers, and foreign political elites. This is why the Greek people have put their political will behind it, regardless of ideological position.
The electoral outcome of June 17 is too close to call, as the neoliberal New Democracy Party is consolidating the Right flank in desperation of losing its privileges and in total disregard of safeguarding the country's sovereignty. But for SYRIZA, the task ahead is already set and carries real gravity. It is encouraging to see SYRIZA ranks organising open and public discussions on the question "what is a government of the Left?" In emerging as a real government option, SYRIZA is taking on an enormous responsibility to the Greek public, the first step of which is to overcome the Left's general taboo on governance. Outside revolutionary situations - indeed, because of its revolutionary legacy - the Left worldwide thrived in the role of mere opposition to ruling parties in parliament. One might say that the Left's attachment to opposition has traditionally been so great that any discourse about its taking on the responsibility of government was considered automatically a compromise or even betrayal of principles. That this attitude weakened the political capacity of the Left to express the popular will has not been given the proper attention among its ranks.
So, SYRIZA finds itself at the crossroads of an extraordinary decision, which has repercussions beyond Greece, as I elaborate below. It is being called upon to restore the country's lost dignity by fighting to regain the country's lost sovereignty against, on the one hand, ruthless external forces and, on the other hand, internal tendencies toward either stupid nationalist so-called defiance or self-serving capitulation by an established system that hopes to retain its catastrophic privileges. SYRIZA cannot steer this difficult road by acting as it has always been used to act: in opposition. It must govern - which, above all, means re-establishing and enacting a code of justice in a society that has been left virtually in total anomie, a broad lawlessness that was deliberately cultivated by the previous ruling parties for their own political and financial benefit. As government that legislates and protects the law of the people, one of SYRIZA's first acts will have to be to purge the Greek police of well-known fascist elements, to repeal laws that protect members of parliament from indictment, and to restore credibility to a bankrupt justice system.
Mainstream media pundits are obsessed with what SYRIZA will do with the Memorandum agreements and whether it will implement economic reforms, while in fact SYRIZA's call to implement social and political reforms from the highest level on down is precisely what is needed for Greek society to restore its financial credibility and its capacity for economic development that is both real and responsible fiscally and environmentally. Bankers and financiers worldwide, with the support of servile media, have established the language of numbers as the only language of truth, while at the same time their irresponsible manipulation of numbers have sent entire populations, real men, women, and children to ruin. But a battle against a society's corruption (which would include the ranks of these financial elites) cannot be calculated and conducted in the language of numbers; it takes place in the sphere of social struggle and the political capacity of a people to determine (and alter) their own ways.
The global significance
It has been amply and convincingly argued that the establishment of so-called globalisation went hand in hand with the weakening and waning of the sovereign state. We see a broad phenomenon of elected governments either unable to combat market invasions (being often at the mercy of credit rating agencies, as if nations are corporations) or bought straight out by powerful financial conglomerates (the scandalous Citizens United law instituted by the US Supreme Court is the most harrowing realisation of this phenomenon). No doubt, the capitulation of such governments has been enabled by the tacit consent of the majority of the population, which was sold (in more ways than one) to the pipe dream of economic prosperity and consumerist comfort.
But as international bankers and financiers margined themselves out in a relentless race of greed for capital accumulation, real wealth was summarily removed from households across the board, homes were lost, savings and retirement accounts were depleted, and insurmountable debt became the new economy. All the while, global conglomerates continue to rake in record profits and leading executives of banks and corporations continue to reward themselves with ever higher bonuses as master traders of debt. It is in this sense that investment banking becomes highway robbery, and one cannot but relish the brilliant verse that Bertolt Brecht endows to Mack the Knife in The Threepenny Opera: "What's robbing a bank compared to founding a bank!" Mackie's sardonic declaration exemplifies the quintessential principle of financial capitalism: banks have free reign to gamble with people's deposited savings or mortgaged properties, but while they keep billions of profits for themselves, they saddle people with billions of losses from their reckless bets. Austerity programmes are then essentially no more than ways of cashing in on such losses, as whole countries become enslaved in debt relations at loan shark rates.
Greece is a small country and a small economy. This is why it was selected as an experiment for these punitive neoliberal commands; the liability, in economic terms, is correspondingly small. But the peoples of Europe particularly - along with the peoples of the world watching - need to realise that Greek resistance to becoming such an experiment has vast consequences because it pertains to the future of all. If Greece goes down and is successfully shackled by the commands of global capital, there will have emerged within the ranks of the European Union a precedent that dismantles the EU's own sovereignty as a political project. However it is to happen, whether by total capitulation or by expulsion, to kill Greece is for the European Union to commit suicide. And it may be that global financial interests don't care (as they are indeed, by account of recent events, entirely careless), but real populations certainly do care about what and who determines their future, especially when their future seems endangered. The recent phenomenon of assembly movements in occupied public spaces, whatever their shortcomings, suggests that, in the wake of the crisis in the centres of financial capitalism, people are emerging from their consumerist stupor and realising that their relative prosperity is entirely manufactured outside their domain of control and so can be - with unfathomable speed and at unprecedented scale - almost instantly revoked.
MAENADS, by Dimitris The Athens
In Ancient Greek Mythology, the "Maenads"(Greek: μαινάδες, mainádes) were nymphs, the female companions and followers of the god Dionysus, their name literally translates as "raving ones. The word "mainas" (in singular) appears in Homeric texts as a synonym to the word "frenzy". Indeed, the main characteristic of the Maenads was their ecstatic frenzy where often inspired by Dionysus and through a combination of dancing and drunken intoxication, they would lose all self-control, begin shouting excitedly and engage in uncontrolled, hyperactive and beyond logic violent behavior.
In Modern day Greece, the Maenads exist and continue to upset…
This painful awakening includes the realisation that state mechanisms have become thoroughly compromised, as ruling elites have come to trade their country's sovereignty for a small piece of the financial pie. Hence, politics is taking an interesting turn toward its elemental aspects: mass citizen action, first of all out in the streets, which has become the only available uncompromised option, but then also at the ballot box, where citizens revoke their consent to the very clientelist relations they had helped foster. No doubt, as the political is violently overtaken by the economic in the very field of government - literally, as bankers or financial technocrats are appointed to manage the affairs of state (Greece and Italy being recent examples) - the only space to reclaim the political is in taking over the public spaces in mass numbers. We have reached a point that the very language of numbers that discredits the existence of the real social individual can only be conducted by large numbers of real individuals who demand back their abrogated self-determination against capitulation to the language of numbers.
In the era of globalised deterritorialisation by what we can call "the politics of finance" we observe the most elemental politics of all: the politics of real people producing a new democratic public that reclaims society's territory. This is not about defending some ancestral notion of the nation; it is about re-establishing the territory of self-determination, the essential ground for any real democracy. Although increasing phenomena of fanatic nationalism (even fascism) in Europe are equally consequential of the debilitating deterritorialisation of globalised economy, these must be combatted with equal force, for they trade one mode of capitulation (economic) for another (ideological). Radical democratic movements are in fact both indicative of redrawing the boundaries of self-determination of specific societies and redrawing the capacity for a new international, a solidarity among peoples in different societies who come together precisely in the co-incidence of resistance to globalised incapacitation.
In this respect, though small in numbers by global standards, Greek resistance continues to be at the forefront, especially for the people of European societies who now face the most dire decision since Europe was consolidated in the European Union project: whether this Union will be, in the end, nothing but a commodity to be bought and sold in the global market with utter disregard to the fate of its inhabitants, or a coalition of peoples who make their own political decisions as to how their future will be safeguarded together. | <urn:uuid:53542f92-3934-4b72-aa6c-4e563f3dd6f5> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.tlaxcala-int.org/article.asp?reference=7506 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988718866.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183838-00002-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963065 | 3,132 | 2 | 2 |
You are not doubt well aware of the importance of taking care of your teeth, but it’s easy to forget just how important it is to also protect your gums. There are a number of foods that can hurt your gums, leading to gingivitis and, if you’re not careful, a more severe condition called “periodontitis.” Gum health affects more than just oral health — gum disease has been linked to heart disease, as well as infertility — so it’s worth your while to keep your gums happy, healthy, and disease-free.
In general, the foods that negatively impact teeth also negatively impact gums. Gum disease is caused by plaque, the film of bacteria that coats the inside of your mouth and causes cavities in teeth. Good dental hygiene (i.e. brushing and flossing) disrupts the plaque in your mouth and keeps it from turning into tartar. However, certain foods can contribute to plaque buildup, triggering bacterial growth in the mouth that can lead to gum infection and tooth damage. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, “The bacteria in plaque … triggers an inflammatory response that causes the breakdown of the gums, bone, and other supporting structures of your teeth.” Yikes.
Gum inflammation may initially cause gingivitis, a fairly mild form of gum disease characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed easily. (If your gums bleed every time you floss, you may already be familiar with the condition.) Gingivitis is reversible if you treat it, but, unchecked, it can develop into periodontitis. Periodontitis causes tooth decay and loss, so, needless to say, you want to avoid it.
In general, you can support gum health with a balanced diet and regular flossing and brushing, but you may want to think twice about consuming these foods:
It should come as no surprise that soda is bad for your teeth and gums. Soda is high in acid and sugar, both of which are harmful to teeth. Acid is, well, acidic, and it breaks down tooth enamel, allowing bacteria to grow and, eventually, decay to set in. Sugar is just as bad — the bacteria in plaque love sugar, converting it to acid and leading to further tooth and gum damage. Caffeinated sodas are especially bad for gums, as caffeine can cause dry mouth (more on that, below).
2. Sport drinks
Sports drinks might seem healthier than sodas, but, when it comes to your oral health, they’re just as problematic. A study released in 2009 found that sports drinks can weaken tooth enamel due to their acid and sugar content. Kimberly Harms, DDS, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association, explained to Health, “Sugar is bad, and acid is bad, but many of these [sports] drinks have both. The combination causes tooth decay.”
3. Fruit juice
Fruit juice contains some healthy vitamins, but it’s not great for oral health. Juice is high in sugar, and the bacteria in your mouth feeds on sugar to produce acid. Furthermore, many popular types of juice are highly acidic, especially citrus, cranberry, and tomato juices. To reduce the amount of acid you're consuming, try out apple, carrot, or peach juice.
4. Candy (especially sticky candy)
Candy is essentially pure sugar, so of course it is bad for your teeth and gums. Especially harmful, however, are sticky candies — things like caramel or gummy bears — because the candy grips onto your teeth and encourages bacterial growth. Lollipops are also a no-go, for a similar reason: When eating a lollipop, you keep it in your mouth for a long time, which gives bacteria plenty of time to go wild. The University of Rochester Medical Center recommends that if you are going to eat candy (which, let’s face it, we all do), you eat candy that won’t linger in the mouth. (It’s also a good idea to follow up any candy eating with a rinse of water.)
5. Dried fruit
Dried fruit can be a good source of vitamins and antioxidants, but it has drawbacks for your oral health, due to its high sugar content and often sticky texture. That doesn’t mean that you have to give up dried fruit if it's your favorite snack. Just be sure to rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after eating it.
6. Citrus fruits
Tasty though they may be, citrus fruits— including oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and tangerines — are very high in acid. Acid erodes tooth enamel and can lead to decay and gum disease.
Tomatoes are acidic and therefore aren’t the best for your teeth and gums. When you’re eating acidic foods, from tomatoes to oranges, or sugary foods, it’s a good idea to eat them as part of a meal. That way, you’re consuming them (and thus exposing your teeth to them) over a brief time period, after which you can rinse out your mouth. What you don’t want to do is sip on tomato juice or lemon water all day, exposing your teeth and gums to acid hour after hour.
8. White bread, chips, and other starchy carbs.
White bread, pasta, and other starchy carbs are detrimental to your gums for a couple of reasons: First, simple carbs start converting to sugar very quickly, and, as you know, sugar is not the friend of gum health. Second, these foods become really sticky as you chew them, glomming on to all of the little nooks and crannies in your teeth and giving the bacteria in your mouth spaces to flourish.
Popcorn is yummy, but popcorn husks can easily get stuck in the space between the gum and tooth. Usually, it’s fairly easy to get the husk out with the aid of a toothbrush and floss, but a really entrenched popcorn husk can create a gum abscess, a painful bacterial infection surrounded by swollen, pus-filled tissue. (You're welcome for that mental image). Left untreated, a gum abscess can eventually harm your teeth and even lead to tooth loss.
Many of the various types of alcohol and cocktails can be sugary and acidic, which is problem enough, but booze presents a further impediment to gum health: Alcohol dries out the mouth, reducing the flow of saliva, which contains enamel-protecting proteins and minerals that make it one of your body’s natural tools for protecting the teeth and gums. If you have dry mouth, your teeth and gums are more susceptible to plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease.
11. Coffee and other caffeinated beverages
Life alcohol, caffeine can inhibit saliva flow, leading to dry mouth, which, in turn, makes your gums and teeth more vulnerable to germs and damage.
The fact that certain food items are on this list doesn’t mean that you have to — or even that you should— give them up. Some of these foods offer health benefits, even if they do have the potential to compromise dental health. It’s good to be aware of how these things can affect your teeth and gums, and to follow this general rule of thumb: Eat a healthy, balanced diet, and practice good oral hygiene. That means brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. And if you do eat these foods, follow them up with brushing your teeth, or at least thoroughly rinsing with water, UNLESS you’ve just eaten something acidic. In that case, rinse your mouth out with water, wait 30 minutes, and then brush. (The acid softens tooth enamel, and, if you brush too early, you can actually compromise your enamel further.) | <urn:uuid:05e63896-7775-439e-a219-b88500b5cf44> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.bustle.com/p/11-foods-you-didnt-realize-were-hurting-your-gums-31222 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572833.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817032054-20220817062054-00474.warc.gz | en | 0.944793 | 1,671 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Will writes –
“Ok, so here is the scenario: working with CCTV cameras a lot you find that most of your pro-sumer nightvision cameras run on 12VDC. Turns out that all the commercial solutions for distributing 12VDC are limited to 5 amps. Not a whole lot of juice when you are wanting to drive 16 cameras a 500+ milliamp.
After brainstorming on how to build a better system (and more stylish) I realized that a 400 watt PC power supply could kick 15 amps and keep trucking. That was the kind of power I was looking for, almost a full amp per camera if I needed it.
With that in mind, I chopped open a power supply I pulled out of a computer and I quickly came to realize this was going to be easier than I thought. Paying attention to where the yellow and black wires attached to the power supply’s circuitry I began hacking at the wires, removing them all.” Thanks Chrome Ghost – Link. | <urn:uuid:ca6643ef-4aab-4741-b5f0-f96b1a18e3bd> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://makezine.com/2007/01/23/12v-15a-power-distributio/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281450.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00180-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95806 | 206 | 1.664063 | 2 |
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
- Descartes, René 1596-1650. French mathematician, philosopher, and scientist who is considered the father of analytic geometry and the founder of modern rationalism. His main works, Meditations on First Philosophy (1641) and Principles of Philosophy (1644), include the famous dictum "I think, therefore I am.”
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- proper n. A French philosopher and mathematician, who lived from 1596 to 1650.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
- proper n. René Descartes, a French philosopher and mathematician, born 159, died 1650. See biography, below.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- n. French philosopher and mathematician; developed dualistic theory of mind and matter; introduced the use of coordinates to locate a point in two or three dimensions (1596-1650)
Sorry, no etymologies found.
The title Descartes first proposed for his Discours de la méthode (1637) was le projet d'une science uni - verselle qui puisse élever notre nature à son plus haut degré de perfection (“the plan of a universal science which can raise our nature to its highest degree of perfection”).
What evidence do you have for this assertion Captin Descartes? peace
These are not irrefutable proofs, but they are far more convincing than anything in Descartes 'Meditations.
October 16th, 2009 at 2: 23 am don provan: Since ID is no better than an imagined scenario … fifth monarchy man: What basis do you have for this claim Captain Descartes?
What basis do you have for this claim Captain Descartes? peace
"Rationalization," post-Descartes, is quite different from the quattrocento sense of ratiocinatione. back
Descartes is always there urging us to doubt whether my truth is true.
Claudia Brodsky brilliantly analyzes the discourse-method interdependence in Descartes in Lines of Thought:
Modern European philosophy as a whole, from its beginning (in Descartes) has this common flaw: for it nature does not exist, it lacks a living ground.
She saved her most sustained hostility for "the Cogito," as philosophers call Descartes 'celebrated declaration, usually translated in English as "I think, therefore I am." | <urn:uuid:e72508b8-fa3e-44b4-a8a1-a176b653f8ee> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.wordnik.com/words/Descartes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280761.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00091-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.883516 | 554 | 3.21875 | 3 |
The (NED Financed) Hong Kong Riots
Some organized "student groups" in Hong Kong tried to occupy government buildings and blocked some streets. The police did what it does everywhere when such things happen. It used anti-riot squads, pepper spray and tear gas to prevent occupations and to clear the streets.
The "western" media are making some issue about this as if "western" governments would behave any differently.
The alleged issue in question is the election of new Hong Kong chief executive in 2017. According to Hong Kong's basic law, which was implemented when Britain gave up its dictatorship over the colony, there will be universal suffrage - everyone will be allowed to vote - but the candidates for the position will have to go through some pre-screening by a commission. This is what China had promised and this is what the students, falsely claiming that China is backtracking from its promises, want to change.
Occupy Hong Kong decided to light it, starting with a class boycott and demonstrations organized by the Hong Kong Federation of Students. And, since I’m never afraid to mix a metaphor, the Hong Kong government poured fuel on the fire by pepper-spraying and teargassing it.
Who really "decided to light this"? To me the protests, and the "western" reporting about it, have the distinct smell not of tear gas but of some expensive Color Revolution perfume of "western" origin.
So lets look up the usual source of such exquisite fragrance. The 2012 annual report of the U.S. government financed National Endowment of Democracy, aka the CCA - Central Color-Revolution Agency, includes three grants for Hong Kong one of which is new for 2012 and not mentioned in earlier annual reports:
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - $460,000
To foster awareness regarding Hong Kong's political institutions and constitutional reform process and to develop the capacity of citizens - particularly university students - to more effectively participate in the public debate on political reform, NDI will work with civil society organizations on parliamentary monitoring, a survey, and development of an Internet portal, allowing students and citizens to explore possible reforms leading to universal suffrage.
So the U.S. government in 2012 (2013 numbers are not yet available) hands over nearly half a million to "develop the capacity" of "university students" related to the issue of "universal suffrage" in the election of Hong Kong's chief executive.
Two years after the money starts to flow from the U.S. government university students in Hong Kong provoke street riots with demands exactly on the issue the U.S. government money wanted to highlight.
That is just some curious coincidence - right?
PS (1): There is no reason to believe that a majority of the people in Hong Kong are supporting the U.S. induced demands of the "students". Hong Kong has some 7 million inhabitants. Ten to twenty thousands protesting amounts to some rather marginal 0.2% of the population.
PS (2): We noted earlier that the new Color Revolution scheme 2.0 - see Libya, Syria, Ukraine - now includes lots of violence:
Color revolutions in the old form had become too obvious a scheme to be of further use. The concept was therefore extended to include intensive use of force and mercenaries and to support those forces from the outside with weapons, ammunition, training and other means.
While earlier Color Revolutions employed mostly peaceful measures the aim now is blood in the streets and lots of infrastructure damage to weaken the forces resisting the regime change attempts. Accordingly the authorities in Hong Kong should prepare for much more than just unruly demonstrations.
PS (3): The NDI through which the NED money was funneled is the Democratic Party arm for regime change campaigns. It also does quite a bit of other Hong Kong meddling by financing various other organizations. Such foreign agents need to be restrained.
A "Responsibility To Protect" Mercenaries?
From a recent Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing on Iraq and Syria picked up by Micah Zenko:
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ): I take it from your answer that we are now recruiting these young men to go and fight in Syria against ISIL, but if they’re attacked by Bashar Assad, we’re not gonna help them?
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CHUCK HAGEL: They will defend themselves, Senator.
MCCAIN: Will we help them against Assad’s air…
HAGEL: We will help them and we will support them, as we have trained them.
MCCAIN: How will we help them—will we repel Bashar Assad’s air assets that will be attacking them?
HAGEL: Any attack on those that we have trained and who are supporting us, we will help ‘em.
The Pentagon confirmed to Zenko that Hagel meant what he said.
But what does this really mean? One hires a bunch of young fanatics, trains them to kill and sends them to fight some foreign government. Then, when that foreign government dares to defend itself against the mercenary goons, one has a "Responsibility To Protect" them? What a sorry illegal excuse for waging a war of aggression.
There is more of such nonsense coming up again. New talk of a "no-fly zone" as the U.S. is somehow the only one allowed to bomb civilians in Iraq and Syria and also new talk of some kind of buffer zone along the Turkish border.
I don't believe that any of these things will happen. Syria and its allies do have the means to block any legal justification for such issues and they have the means to deter against their implementation.
The policy the Obama administration is trying to implement now is too contradictory and not sustainable. It wants to destroy the ideological fighters of the Islamic State with the support of the states, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which are based on the same ideology the IS fighters espouse and in which significant parts of the populations support the Islamic State. Obama wants recruit Turkey while the Islamic State is fighting against the Kurd paramilitaries from the PKK/YPK. Turkey has for decades fought against the PKK and the struggle has cost tens of thousands of death. It is also supportive of the Islamic State and similar movements in Syria.
The U.S. wants to bomb the IS in support of the "moderate rebels" who are protesting against such bombing:
The protesters singled out the reported deaths of a dozen or so civilians in the town of Kafr Daryan in northern Idlib province, where a U.S. cruise missile allegedly struck a building that housed displaced people near a base belonging to al Qaida’s Nusra Front.
These "moderate rebels" will now likely put themselves under the command of the Islamic State.
This policy and the lunatic alliances it is based on will break apart. Has there ever been a coalition with such discrepancies that has held throughout the ups and downs of a war? I do not know where, when and how the breaking up will occur but such a mess is simply not sustainable.
That is why I believe that Hagel's "R2P for mercenaries" is just nonsense and something that will never be implemented.
A Too Complicated Game: Obama's Deals With The Saudis And Al-Nusra
According to the Wall Street Journal Obama made a deal with the Saudis. They will lend legitimacy for his attacks against the Islamic State and AlQaeda in Syria (aka Jabhat al-Nusra) and he will later overthrow the Syrian government under president Assad. Like the Saudi prince Bandar, who nutured the Jihadists, was ousted over it, but is now back in the deal, the neocon editors of The Economist are doing victory jumps. They managed to get the U.S. back into their war. Hurray!
But as I understand it Obama's part of the deal is supposed come only later. It will take a year to train the "moderate, vetted" insurgents in Saudi Arabia and only when those are ready, and Obama a lame duck, may such action start (or not). U.S. voters know very well that Obama always keeps his promises (not). A year can be a quite a long time and who knows what will happen in between.
The urgency of the deal with the Saudis may have come because some folks felt a time-critical need to attack the al-Qaeda (Jabhat al-Nusra) leadership in Syria. It may also have come from the low polls of Obama's leadership and his need to keep the Senate in the hands of Democrats after Novembers election. The second reason seems more likely.
To justify the hit on the leadership group it had to be differentiated from the ""the moderate Jihadis" al-Nusra organization with which there is cooperation on other issues. The "Khorasan" group was invented and a FUD campaign launched to justify the attack. The U.S. media predictably ate it all up and propagandized every fearmongering bit of what "officials said" about Khorasan. Only after the attack has taken place are doubts allowed to be aired:
Several of Mr. Obama’s aides said Tuesday that the airstrikes against the Khorasan operatives were launched to thwart an “imminent” terrorist attack, possibly using concealed explosives to blow up airplanes. But other American officials said that the plot was far from mature, and that there was no indication that Khorasan had settled on a time or location for the attack — or even on the exact method of carrying out the plot.
Some speculation: Jabhat al-Nusra is a nominal part of the al-Qaeda organization. It was led by al-Qaeda veterans who had been fighting in AfPak but came to Syria when the insurgency started. The U.S. relabeled these veterans the "Khorasan" group to have some reason to separately eliminate them. Their replacement may well turn out to be local men currently leading the groups in southern Syria and willing to further cooperate with USrael. A new version of the moderate cuddly homegrown al-Qaeda ploy.
The whole game played within the various proxy wars within the current Syriraq war is becoming increasingly complicate. I would not be astonished to see Obama throw the towel on this whole affair. After the November election he may well say "enough" and just leave the chaos behind him.
WaPo Propaganda vs. McClatchy Journalism
At least on the first day of bombing, there was little public backlash, with virtually no outcry beyond a pro-Islamic State protest in Istanbul."
On Facebook, critics of the U.S. and its Arab allies, calling them “aggressors” and the “Crusade Coalition,” dominated the postings Tuesday by almost 10 to 1.
The attacks against the Islamic State militants were openly welcomed by rebels who have fought for three years against the government of President Bashar al- Assad.
Raad Alawi, the commander of a smaller group of fighters, the Squadrons of Al Haq, told McClatchy he was very angry.“Starting the war with the bombing of Nusra is an indication that this is a war against the revolution and not Daash,” he said, using the pejorative Arabic acronym for the Islamic State. “Maybe next they will bomb the bases of the Free Syrian Army.”
The Hazm movement, which also receives U.S. and international support, issued a statement condemning the airstrikes, the failure to consult the Free Syrian Army and the deaths of civilians.
Concealed By U.S. Airstrikes Israel Opens Nusra Path To Lebanon
Screenshot from the current NYT homepage:
The first piece is about the U.S. air attack last nights against various targets in east Syria. The second piece right next to it explains that such strikes in Iraq have had little effect. The juxtaposition demonstrates the futility of today's bombing campaign, part of the ongoing wars of proxy in Syria. As a result the Islamic State will only gain further legitimacy.
The U.S. and some "coalition" of Arab dictatorships bombed various targets related to the Islamic State in east Syria. The Syrian government was informed about the attack and did not overly protest against it.
The U.S. did not attack IS positions around the northern Syrian city Kobane where the IS is fighting against Kurdish militia in an attempt to open up a new logistic path for the IS to Turkey. Agreeing to this new logistic path was probably part of the price Turkey paid for recently getting its diplomats freed from IS internment.
The U.S. alone additionally bombed a target related to one specific part of Jabhat al-Nusra in north west Syria. It claims that it hit the "Khorasan group". But that groups is just a Pentagon FUD invention. It is nothing but the a segment of the long established leadership group of al Nusra. While ISIS had prepared for the announced U.S. air attacks and dispersed its personal and material Jabhat al-Nusra was unprepared and lost some 50 of its fighters. One of the Nusra leaders, Mohsen al-Fadli al-Kuwaiti, was killed in this attack.
Also today the Syrian airforce wanted to bomb Jabhat al-Nusra positions in the Golan heights where Nusra is, as first reported here, opening a corridor from Jordan towards Lebanon and for attacks on Damascus right along the demarcation line between Israel and Syria. Israel, in quite open support effort for the Nusra plan, shot down the Syrian SU-24 using U.S. provided Patriot missiles. While Israel claims that the plane violated its border the reported crash site was far from the border near Kanaker, Syria which is halfway between the demarcation line and Damascus.
Under the protection of the U.S. attack on IS and other targets Israel now practically established a no-fly-zone next to the Golan which will allow Jabhat al-Nusra to safely use the corridor and to attack Hizbullah in Qalamoun and in south Lebanon. It also opens space for new attacks on Damascus.
The U.S. attack on the IS in Syria will, as the NYT headlines express, have as little effect as such attacks have in Iraq. Without coordinating air attacks with a capable, available ground force like the Syrian army such strikes on IS will make no conceivable difference. I have yet to see any report that the U.S. planes have hit some of the major weapons or ammunition depots the IS captured from the Iraqi army. There are some 50 main battle tanks and lots of heavy artillery pieces in the hands of IS. What is done to disable those?
Why The Islamic State Announced Retaliation
One Shaykh Abū Muhammad al-‘Adnānī ash-Shāmī, allegedly the number two of the Islamic State, gave a speech today (English translation, pdf) and asked Islamic State followers everywhere to attack the countries that promised to wage war against the IS.
One can argue that this is in attempt by the Islamic State to deter any additional attacks on it. But if that was the intend then it is likely to fail. The "west", i.e. the U.S., is much too aggressive and secure to be deterred and such threats will merely increase the push for another decade of wars. The military machine is already reeving up and by now nearly impossible to stop. The U.S. is rebuilding its former Forward Operating Base Speicher north of Tikrit as operations center for the next phases and coming escalations.
The Obama's administration argument that the IS was a threat to the "west", and those foggy "interests" it always claims to have, was false. The Islamic State did not start this war as a war against the "west". That happened for two reasons. One is obvious - it was attacked and it had to respond:
[E]fforts to establish its version of an Islamic caliphate unsettled the wider region, prompting U.S. airstrikes aimed at stemming its advance.
The Islamic militant group has responded by beheading three of its Western hostages in recent weeks
The killings of Foley and Sotloff took place after the U.S. military began airstrikes against ISIS positions in Iraq ..
Now, after nearly 200 U.S. and French airstrikes against it, a real threat of retaliation for these has been made.
To probably the surprise of many readers I had argued for airstrikes. But I was quite specific. Those airstrikes should have been against the heavy equipment the IS seized from the Iraqi and Syrian armies. It is that mountain of heavy equipment, not the running loons, that make IS dangerous to everyone in the Middle East.
It would take the U.S. air-force supported by special operation groups on the ground only a few weeks to reduce the Islamic State to an infantry force incapable of larger geographic actions.
This video of the recent IS attacks on the (Kurdish) Syrian city of Kobane show the IS fighters successfully using main battle tanks and several pieces of heavy artillery. The Syrian air-force for now stopped that attack on the city by destroying a bridge which the attackers needed. But it is the heavy equipment (and the ammunition for it) that needs to be destroyed.
But back to that speech. Shaykh al-Adnani claims another reason for his call to war:
The starting point of the psychology of ISIS is one of humiliation. The West has humiliated Muslim in all their ‘crusades’. Adnani especially mentions Iraq. The psychological goal of the Islamic State is clearly one of revenge for these humiliations, the feeling that the ‘crusaders’ finally fear them (again).
Allah has given you might and honor after your humiliation.
This feeling of humiliation is combined with one of betrayal. Sunnis have been under attack in Iraq and in Syria and nobody came to help them. Adnani concentrates on Syria, where the West didn’t seem to care about what happened there.
Its sentiments were not stirred during the long years of siege and starvation in Shām, and it looked the other way when the deadly and destructive barrel bombs were being dropped. It was not outraged when it saw the horrific scenes of the women and children of the Muslims taking their last breaths with their eyes glazed over due to the chemical weapons of the nusayriyyah – scenes which continue to be repeated everyday, exposing the reality of the farce of having destroyed chemical weapons belonging to its nusayrī (alawite) dogs, the guardians of the jews. America and its allies were not emotionally moved or outraged by any of this. They closed their ears to the cries of distress from the weak, and turned a blind eye to the massacres carried out against the Muslims in every one of those lands for years and years.
They see the Islamic State as the only real protector of Muslims in Syria and Iraq. And they seem to be surprised by the fact that their barbaric attitude did upset the rest of the world.
The IS has fallen for, or is just repeating, "western" propaganda. There is no difference between a "barrel bomb" and any "western" bombing device. The difference was only made up in the media to put a bad light on the Syrian government. The "chemical attacks" were also very likely false flag operations. But IS has eaten that up.
More important - the motivation of the foreign fighters that came to support the IS and its followers elsewhere has, to a large part, been created by "western" propaganda against the Syrian government. Would someone from Europe, largely secure in his/her environment, ever have thought of joining the IS if the "western" media had abstained from demonizing the Syrian government? I believe the answer is in most cases no.
I believe, like Marcy Wheeler, that the rise of IS in the last few years was a somewhat unintended creation of the "west" caused by letting the Saudi prince Bandar run the military part of the anti-Syria campaign. The people who run IS would have existed and would have fought without that campaign but on a much smaller base.
But another reason for the rise of the IS was the "western" media campaign that demonized the Syrian president and the Syrian government. That campaign now serves as justification for IS to retaliate. The "western" politicians and think tanks who drove that campaign are responsible for the blowback that was announced today and that is coming home soon.
U.S. Launches New FUD Campaign
Dear Americans, last week we told you to be very, very afraid of this Caliph guy. You know the one that may blow up your car tires or something else. We were all wrong with that.
Now look there, no there, THERE! Notice that other guy you never, ever heard about? He is the real menace. He will really blow things up. May be even your car engine!
As the United States begins what could be a lengthy military campaign against the Islamic State, intelligence and law enforcement officials said another Syrian group, led by a shadowy figure who was once among Osama bin Laden’s inner circle, posed a more direct threat to America and Europe.
American officials said that the group called Khorasan had emerged in the past year as the cell in Syria that may be the most intent on hitting the United States or its installations overseas with a terror attack. The officials said that the group is led by Muhsin al-Fadhli, a senior Qaeda operative who, according to the State Department, was so close to Bin Laden that he was among a small group of people who knew about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks before they were launched.
Scarry stuff, ain't it? 9/11, 9/11, 9/11. Now why care about the hundreds of Syrians, Kurds and Iraqis ISIS is killing with weapons we provided. Look at this new guy and his group who are a much better bogeyman because:
There is almost no public information about the Khorasan group, ...
That's right. No one ever heard of them. It's only us who tell you they are there. Now bend over already! Why?
Members of the cell are said to be particularly interested in devising terror plots using concealed explosives. It is unclear who, besides Mr. Fadhli, is part of the Khorasan group.
Bend over already! Open up! Can't let anyone fly without a thorough inspection. Now fear, Fear FEAR!
Fear, doubt, uncertainty. That's how we rule!
Open Thread 2014-22
News & views ...
CIA Anti-Syria Program Finances Wahhabi Headchoppers
The picture of the man above is cut from a one that accompanies a NYT piece about the CIA support for the Syrian "rebels". The caption says the man is "A rebel leader, Sheikh Tawfiq Shahabuddin, right, on Monday in Reyhanli, Turkey."
The type of beard (no mustache) and the cloth clearly identify the man as a Salafi/Wahhabi who believes that everyone should live like in the times of Mohammed.
As Ben Hubbard, one of the more reliable NYT journalists, writes:
In a secret office near the Syrian border here, intelligence agents from the United States and its allies are laying the groundwork for what they hope will become an effective force of Syrian rebels to serve as ground troops in the international battle against the extremist Islamic State.
The office, the Military Operations Command, has slowed funding to Islamist groups, paid salaries to thousands of “vetted” rebels and given them ammunition to boost their battlefield mettle.
most of the support from governments who back the rebels is now channeled through the Military Operations Command. [...] the military command has built direct ties with rebel leaders it deems moderate and active inside Syria.
It is now paying monthly salaries of at least $100 to about 10,000 fighters in northern Syria, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a covert program.
Now here comes the guy in the picture, very likely taken in the CIA run "secret office" Ben Hubbard visited:
“The international position has to be to fight all kinds of terrorism, both ISIS and the regime,” said Sheikh Tawfiq Shahabuddin, the head of the Nureddin Zengi Movement. “You can’t treat only one part of the disease.”
This Salafi nutjob is paid by the CIA. That he is no "moderate" is not only obvious from his outer appearance but also from the name he has chosen for his movement, Nureddin Zengi:
Nūr ad-Dīn Abū al-Qāsim Maḥmūd ibn ʿImād ad-Dīn Zangī (February 1118 – 15 May 1174), also known as Nur al-Din (from Arabic: نور الدين, "Light of the Faith") or Nur ed-Din, was a member of the Turkic Zengid dynasty which ruled the Syrian province of the Seljuk Empire. He reigned from 1146 to 1174.
In 1146, Nur ad-Din massacred the entire Christian population of [Edessa] and destroyed its fortifications, in punishment for assisting Joscelin in this attempt. Although according to Thomas Asbridge, the women and children of Edessa were enslaved. He secured his hold on Antioch after crushing Raymond of Poitiers at the Battle of Inab in 1149, even presenting to the caliph, Raymond's severed head and arms.
That, dear U.S. taxpayer, is the cause the CIA finances with your money.
The Dishonest Reporting Of Anne Barnard
Anne Barnard reports from Beirut for the New York Times on the war on Syria. The Angry Arab has several times called out her biased and misleading writings. But today's report on Syrian air attacks is probably the worst she has ever written:
In Talbiseh and across Syria, insurgent fighters who oppose the government of President Bashar al-Assad and the foreign-led militants of the extremist group called the Islamic State are being pummeled by a new wave of attacks and assassination attempts.
Insurgents of all stripes, except for the Islamic State group, say the Syrian government appears to be stepping up its attacks on them ahead of the threatened American air campaign. Pro-government and antigovernment analysts say Mr. Assad has an interest in eliminating the more moderate rebels, to make sure his forces are the only ones left to benefit on the ground from any weakening of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
Mr. Assad has maintained from the start of the conflict that he and his allies are the only force in Syria capable of battling the extremists effectively. But Islamic State activists in Homs said on Wednesday that there had been no recent government airstrikes against the group, adding to opposition suspicions that Mr. Assad prefers to focus on attacking his other opponents while letting the Islamic State’s unchecked brutality argue the case to Syria and the world that his rule is the best alternative.
Barnard is insinuating, not for the first time, that the Syrian government is not hitting ISIS but is solely hitting other insurgents. The "moderate", human liver eating insurgent groups the U.S. supports have claimed several times that there is some truce between ISIS and the government.
But that is a lie and Anne Bernard knows it is one because even her paper, the New York Times, reported on intensified Syrian air force attacks against ISIS targets only some ten days ago:
Raids by Syrian warplanes killed at least 25 people, most of them civilians crowding into a bakery, in the northeastern province of Raqqa on Saturday as government forces continued air attacks on territory controlled by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the extremist Sunni militant group.
The Syrian government has increased airstrikes on the group in recent months after it took over government military outposts in Raqqa in a series of newly assertive attacks.
Guess who wrote that report, just ten days ago, about "increased airstrikes on the group in recent months". Yes, the same Anne Barnard who now quotes and supports the false claims that the Syrian air force does not hit ISIS.
If there is something like journalistic honor Anne Barnard surely lost it.
There is of course a reason why Barnard is lying about the Syrian air-force attacks on ISIS.
Those attacks have indeed intensified and have become much more precise. During the last months Russia delivered new Yak-130 traing jets to Syria which are modified to enable ground attacks. The Syrian air-force MIG and Suchoi jets were update too and are now much more capable of precise targeting. The Syrian air-force is by now said to fly more than 100 sorties per day.
These new capabilities make it, of course, completely unnecessary for U.S. planes to attack ISIS targets in Syria. The Syrian air-force is quite capable of doing that on its own. Where it could need additional help is in intelligence on ISIS targets.
But the U.S. aim is "regime change" in Syria by whatever means and with total disregard of the consequences. Admitting that the Syrian air-force is capable and willing to attack ISIS would take away the pretense for those U.S. air strikes that are meant to destroy the Syrian government and to achive "regime change".
The Scottish Independence Vote
It would be quite astonishing if the "Yes" vote would be allowed to win. There are too much money, personal political reputations and too many strategic assets involved for the "powers that are" to allow or accept a result that would not fit their plans.
Then again - why not hope for some really game changing event like Scottish independence, and the end of the big perfidious Albion, would be for Europe, NATO and the whole world?
Confirmation Of Southern Damascus Attack Plans By Jabhat al-Nusra/CIA
The National newspaper published in the United Arab Emirates confirms our earlier report about the new Syrian insurgency positions in Quneitra at the Israeli Golan border as the launching pad for southern attacks on Damascus:
Western and Arab military advisers based in Amman have quietly stepped up their role on Syria’s southern front, helping win recent advances for opposition factions.
After weeks of heavy fighting, rebel groups announced the seizure of 80 per cent of Qunietra province on Saturday, including areas along the border with Israel. The territory could prove to be a key link between opposition forces in the south and those fighting in and around the Syrian capital.
Qunietra borders the south-west side of rural Damascus and rebel commanders say they will now be able to work on establishing a reliable supply chain to besieged opposition units in districts on the western and southern sides of the capital, areas that have been largely cut off by regime troops since last summer.
This is exactly what we, scooping The National, wrote about this plan.
What the new report misses though is the role Israel plays in protecting the insurgents in the Quneitra zone, mostly Islamists from Jabhat al-Nusra, from Syrian government attacks.
But The National does confirm the role of the joint Arab-American operations room in Amman, Jordan:
Rather than a dramatic increase in training or influx of weaponry [...] the growing role of a secretive Military Operations Command (MOC) centre in Amman has been subtle but distinct, in the form of increasingly focused, hands-on planning and coordination for rebel operations.
The organisational changes put in place by the MOC have helped clear jams in the chain of command that rebels complained had hamstrung their attempts to effectively work with international backers, in particular when it came to intelligence-sharing and coordinating units for attacks on regime forces.
McClatchy reporters recently interviewed the military commander of the Fee Syrian Army who claims that CIA is cutting him out and is, especially in the South, directly working with the insurgent groups on the ground:
Some 12 to 14 commanders receive military and non-lethal aid this way in northern Syria and some 60 smaller groups are recipients in southern Syria, al Bashir said. They report to the CIA.
“The leadership of the FSA is American,” says the veteran officer, who defected from the Syrian army two years ago and won respect for leading rebel forces in southern Syria. “The Americans are completely marginalizing the military staff. Not even non-lethal aid comes through this office.”
The National notes:
This timing coincides with the rapid rise of Jabhat Al Nusra, an Al Qaeda affiliate, on the southern front.
But The National report then makes it look, without evidence, as if the CIA/MOC involvement is a counter move to the Jabhat al-Nusra rise
Bolstered by an increase in fighters and funding, Al Nusra, once considered a bit-player in southern Syria, suddenly seemed poised to become its most influential actor.
That prospect appears to have galvanised the western and Arab states involved with the southern front into more concerted action designed to better organise moderate factions.
The last paragraph is a rather wild assertion. Facts on ground, especially the Israeli protection for JAN in Queintra, are inconsistent with that claim. Instead the rise of Jabhat al-Nusra in the south and its prominent role in the Quneitra launching pad operation seem to be a consequence of the greater CIA involvement.
This conclusion is also supported by the earlier campaign in U.S. media which falsely established JAN, despite its sworn allegiance to al-Qaeda, as Your Moderate Cuddly Homegrown Al-Qaeda which is, so it is claimed, much less evil than the savages of ISIS.
The Quneitra operation is already creating security problems in Damascus. A report in today's New York Times points to a first probing attack on Damascus from the south:
In Damascus on Tuesday, security forces carried out intensive raids in the Midan neighborhood, after insurgents not affiliated with the Islamic State infiltrated the district at dawn on Monday and clashed with government troops. It was the first ground attack in months across the broad bypass highway that divides the restive suburbs from the government-controlled city center.
State news media said insurgents entered through the sewer system and that all were killed. Rami al-Sayed, an insurgent spokesman in the Yarmouk refugee camp nearby, said that fighters from Islamist groups, including the Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham, entered from the south, attacking a checkpoint and clashing with government soldiers. Tallies of the insurgent death toll ranged from three to 18.
The Syrian army and its allies will have to make a counter move to clean up Quneitra and to secure the southern approaches to Damascus. Otherwise Jabhat al-Nusra, under Israeli protection in Quneitra and supplied through the CIA/MOC in Amman, could soon make more decisive attacks on Damascus and probably even establish a new foothold within the city.
In May 2013 Hizbullah general secretary Nasrullah announced that he will establish a Hizbullah like force on the Golan heights. Nasrullah is known for keeping his promises. It may be time for him to activate some of the newly established forces to counter the CIA/Jabhat al-Nusra/Israeli move in Quneitra and the attacks on Damascus.
Israel Introduces Iran Bogeyman To Cover Up Its Military Help For
Below I described the Islamist fighters covered by Israel in the Golan area as "ISIS". The sole source for qualifying those fighters as "ISIS" was from the UNDOC report quoted below: "the appearance of “black flags”—a symbol associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham".
"Black flags", associated by the UN report with ISIS, are also used by Jabhat al-Nusra and some other Islamic groups fighting in Syria. Current reports of insurgency activities in Quneitra do not mention ISIS at all but only Jabhat al-Nusra, Islamic Front and the Syrian Revolutionary Front which all have a different ideologies and are under different command chains than ISIS. It is therefore likely that these groups, not ISIS, were the ones observed by the UN forces in the area.
I have therefor now replaced the "ISIS" description in the original piece below.
In yesterday's post about attack plans against Damascus I mentioned Israeli cover fire for anti-Syrian Islamists occupying the Syrian side of the Golan demarcation zone:
This movement, [...], was supported by Israeli artillery strikes against Syrian units that tried to prevent it.
In what looks like an attempted to cover up the obvious Israeli military help for Islamist anti-government fighters the Jerusalem Post today quoted Israeli intelligence using the Iranian Revolutionary Guard bogeyman to justify such attacks (original link seem unreliable, copy here - Israeli Intel: Iranian Revolutionary Guards Directed Attacks On Israeli Border From Syria):
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which is present in Syria, directed a number of attacks by pro-Assad regime militias on Israel in recent months, according to Israeli intelligence evaluations.
In one such attack in June, a number of shells were fired by Syrian militias at IDF posts on Mount Hermon. There were no injuries or damages on the Israeli side, and the IDF responded by returning artillery fire.
That is quite a laughable tale. The story of that June incident is also definitely not what Israel told the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) which covered the area at that time:
On 17 June, Council members met to consider the 10 June UNDOF report, which detailed continued violations of the ceasefire line. [...] This report indicated that UNDOF had begun to observe that the more violent aspects of the conflict were now evident in its area of operations, including the use of airstrikes by the government, the use of heavy weapons and captured military equipment by armed opposition groups and the appearance of “black flags”—a symbol associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.
On 23 June, Israel targeted nine Syrian army positions with tank fire and air strikes after mortar fire from the Syrian side the previous day killed an Israeli civilian. Israel’s assessment is that most of these incidents are due to errant fire resulting from fighting in Syria. Israel said that armed opposition groups were probably responsible but that its forces fired on Syrian military positions to stress that Syria was responsible for security on its side of the ceasefire line.
There were ISIS "black flag" forces in the area fighting the Syrian army and some "errant fire" hit Israel. Israel suspected that ISIS "black flag" forces had fired the shells but responded by firing on Syrian government forces thereby helping ISIS "black flag" forces in its fight.
There were no ICRG force and no regime militias, only regular Syrian army troops. It were these troops that Israel attacked after ISIS "black flag" forces fired onto Israeli ground.
Similar happened on March 19:
Syria said one of its soldiers was killed and seven were injured when three army positions near the town of Quneitra were struck on the Syrian side of the cease-fire line between the two countries in the Golan Heights.
Israel said that the targets were an army training facility, a military headquarters and an artillery battery, and that the raid was a response to a bombing along the line Tuesday that injured four Israeli soldiers.
Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesman, said Israel did not know whether the Syrian army, its ally Hezbollah or the rebels they are fighting may have been responsible for planting the bomb. But Israel holds the Syrian army responsible, he said.
"Al-Nusra Front and other rebel groups took the Quneitra crossing, and heavy fighting with the Syrian army is continuing in the surrounding area," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Israeli army forces - whose posts lie around 200 metres from Syrian posts - fired upon two Syrian army positions, responding to six mortar shells hitting the Israel-controlled portion of the territory.
"In response to the errant fire from the internal fighting in Syria, which hit Israel earlier today and injured an IDF (Israel Defence Forces) officer, the IDF just targeted two Syrian army positions in the Syrian Golan Heights. Hits were confirmed," it said in a statement.
The army did not specify whether the rocket fire came from the pro-government Syrian army or from opposition forces.
The Israeli army said it struck a Syrian military position on Thursday after presumed "errant fire" hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
A military spokeswoman told AFP it hit an open field without causing any damage or harm to anyone.
"Initial reviews suggest that this was a result of errant fire from the internal fighting in Syria," the statement said.
"In response, the IDF (Israel Occupation Forces) targeted a Syrian army position. Hits were confirmed."
The common part of all these incidents is that some "errant fire" hits Israel while fighting between ISIS and the Syrian army is ongoing on the other side of the border. Israel always responds by shelling Syrian army position. This is of course direct military help to ISIS "black flag" fighters who might use such "errant fire" on Israel to receive the by now obviously predictable help against the Syrian army.
To now come out with a fantasy story involving the IRCG bogeyman and "pro-Assad regime militias" to cover up Israels direct help to ISIS "black flag" forces against the Syrian army is rather lame.
The New "Regime Change" Plan - Attack Damascus From The South
There are serious active preparations for a new attack on Damascus. Anti-government forces, including the Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, have been trained and equipped in Jordan and are now moving into their starting position in Quneitra governate in south-west Syria. (A similar plan in spring 2013 was only partially executed and later aborted,)
Quneitra governate is a strip next to the Israel occupied Golan heights with a southern border to Jordan and a north western border with Lebanon.
The anti-government forces cooperating for this operation are the Syrian Revolutionaries Front (SRF), which is backed by the United States, assisted by the Islamic Front, backed by Saudi Arabia, and al-Qaeda's Jabhat al-Nusrah which just received some $20 million from Qatar. These forces infiltrated from Jordan through Daara and then up north-westward along the border with Israel. This movement, during which some UN observers were kidnapped by these forces, was supported by Israeli artillery strikes against Syrian units that tried to prevent it. The sole border station between Israel and Syria is now in the hands of the anti-government forces. The Israeli military is also providing medical support to these anti-government forces. The UN has pulled out all peacekeepers from the Syrian side of the Golan height demarcation line.
The anti-government forces now control a 40 miles (70km) long, three miles (5km) wide strip from Jordan along the Golan frontier up to Lebanon. This strip can be used to infiltrate into Hizbullah territory in south Lebanon but its main purpose is likely an attack on Damascus from the south. The Syrian military would have great difficulties to dislodge the anti-government forces from this strip as it is covered by Israeli anti-air and artillery fire.
There are rumors that Jabhat al-Nusra is leaving positions it has been holding in Hama governate in north Syria. It's groups are pulling back into Turkey to be transferred to Jordan and then as reinforcements into Quneitra.
The rather empty Quneitra area makes little sense to conquer except to be used as a launching pad for an attack from the south towards Damascus. The distance to the capital is only some 40 miles (60km). While two Syrian army divisions are stationed between Quneitra governate and Damascus coordinated air attacks against them could open and secure a route from Quneitra governate into the capital. Recent truce agreements between the U.S. supported Syrian Revolutionary Front and ISIS in the area south of Damascus may have been concluded with these attack plans in mind.
The U.S. military in the joint Arab-American operations room for the Syrian insurgency in Amman Jordan may well plan to use the murky new "war on ISIS" as pretext for attacks on the Syrian army divisions protecting Damascus from the south. Coordinated with a ground attack by Jabhat al-Nusra and others from Quneitra such air attacks would seriously degrade the Syrian forces and enable a destructive push into Damascus.
(update) Obama already announced the escalation path for such air attacks:
He made clear the intricacy of the situation, though, as he contemplated the possibility that Mr. Assad might order his forces to fire at American planes entering Syrian airspace. If he dared to do that, Mr. Obama said he would order American forces to wipe out Syria’s air defense system, which he noted would be easier than striking ISIS because its locations are better known. He went on to say that such an action by Mr. Assad would lead to his overthrow, according to one account.
The stampede to attack ISIS may have been pure maskirovka to hide this violent regime change attack plan against Syria under some "anti-terrorism" label. This at the same time as the plan is coordinated with and actively supported by Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and made possible through truce agreements with ISIS.
The Caliphate's Anti-Imperial/Imperial Dualism
A bit more on the tweets by Peter Lee aka Chinahand I had quoted:
Westerners mock pretensns of IS Caliphate bt it seems 2 strike chord among quite a few Muslims: effort to reestablish theocratic rule in 1/3heartland of Umayyad/Abbasid caliphates, turn page on disastrus century of colonial/postcolonial rule, replace fragmented/corrupt states 2/3w/ united Islamic power. West passivty validates the caliphate & its transnational strategy. May be PRC/Rus that try 2 draw the line. 3/3
(BTW - Denigrating those ideas because of shortened spelling in a Tweet(!) is petty.)
After further thinking about that I believe that Peter is right. ISIS, the group now claiming a Caliphate, might have had roots in some sectarian scheme the CIA and the U.S. Special Forces were running in Iraq. But it has by now far exceed that realm. The Caliphate is based on original Wahhabi ideas which were in their essence also anti-colonial and at first directed against the Ottoman rulers.
See Alastair Crooke's essays, You Can't Understand ISIS If You Don't Know the History of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia and Middle East Time Bomb: The Real Aim of ISIS Is to Replace the Saud Family as the New Emirs of Arabia, on the origin and history of these thoughts.
After 1741 the minor Ibn Saud Bedouin tribe collaborated with the radical cleric Abd al-Wahhab to justify its expansion. Several decades later they became too successful and the Ottoman rulers, with the help of their Egyptian army, exterminated the movement and the first Saudi proto-state. When a hundred years later the Ottoman empire fell apart the Wahhabi ideas and the Saudi movement sprang back to life. But the Saudi rulers were now under British imperial influence and that required to put their Puritans down:
Abd-al Aziz, however, began to feel his wider interests to be threatened by the revolutionary "Jacobinism" exhibited by the Ikhwan. The Ikhwan revolted -- leading to a civil war that lasted until the 1930s, when the King had them put down: he machine-gunned them.
Wahhabism survived after that but in a crippled form subordinated to the ruling Saud family.
The new Caliphate followers are copies of the original Wahhabis who do not recognize nation states as those were dictated by the colonial "western" overlords after the end of the Ottoman empire. They do not recognize rulers that deviate, like the Saudi kings do, from the original ideas and subordinate themselves to "western" empires. It is their aim to replace them. As there are many people in Saudi Arabia educated in Wahhabi theology and not particular pleased with their current rulers the possibility of a Caliphate rush to conquer Saudi Arabia and to overthrow the Ibn Saud family is real.
In that aspect the Caliphate is anti-colonial and anti-imperial. That is part of what attracts its followers. At the same time the Caliphate project is also imperial in that it wants to conquer more land and wants to convert more people to its flavor of faith.
Both of these aspects make it a competitor and a danger to imperial U.S. rule-by-proxy in the Middle East. That is, I believe, why the U.S. finally decided to fight it. To lose Saudi Arabia to the Caliphate, which seems to be a real possibility, would be a devastating defeat.
Espousing a (reactionary) anti-imperial, anti-colonial ideology while at the same time furthering an imperial project is not as strange as it appears. The U.S. itself is of anti-colonial heritage and is now trying to establish a global empire. This dualism requires some serious doublethink. Billmon wrote a short Twitter essay yesterday on how the originally anti-colonial U.S. and its officials now have to lie to themselves to justify their imperialism. See also Guest77's comment on the unconscious doublethink of U.S. officials. They lie to a New York Times reporter one day then read their lies the next morning, believe them and feel confirmed in their false views.
There is not that much difference between the unaltered Wahhabi ideology ISIS espouses and the puritanical believes of the first white conquerors in North America. The anti-imperial/imperial duality is only one commonality. Indeed I believe that there are quite a lot parallels between both movements.
Some Links On That "War On ISIS"
Just some snippets and headlines on that non-war on ISIS.
On training, arming the "moderate rebels" there is pessimism all around:
- Obama strategy in Iraq, Syria hinges on long shots
- Syria rebels, IS in “non-aggression” pact near Damascus
- Syrian Rebels: We'll Use U.S. Weapons to Fight Assad, Whether Obama Likes It or Not
- Turkish aid to al Qaida-linked group shows finding allies in Syria is tough
- ISIS Starts Recruiting in Istanbul's Vulnerable Suburbs
- Islamic State Smuggles Oil Into Turkey—With Hostages as Insurance - Bomb the ISIS oil wells?
“We need to do everything we can to figure out who the non-ISIS opposition is,” said Ryan C. Crocker, a former United States ambassador to Iraq and Syria. “Frankly, we don’t have a clue.”
That's right. No clue at all. From a White House Briefing by a "Senior Administration Official":
"ISIL has been I think a galvanizing threat around the Sunni partners in the region. They view it as an existential threat to them. Saudi Arabia has an extensive border with Syria."
These clueless folks can't even read a map. But we saw that before with those neocons who didn't know that there were Shia in Iraq before they invaded it. There is anyway not much difference between those and the "liberal interventionist" in Obama's administration. As Melkulangara Bhadrakumar notes:
Obama’s presidency has come full circle by reinventing the neocon dogmas it once professed to reject. On the pretext of fighting the IS, which the US and its allies created in the first instance, what is unfolding is a massive neocon project to remold the Muslim Middle East to suit the US’ geopolitical objectives. Call it by whatever name, it is an imperial war – albeit with a Nobel as commander-in-chief.
Westerners mock pretensns of IS Caliphate bt it seems 2 strike chord among quite a few Muslims: effort to reestablish theocratic rule in 1/3
heartland of Umayyad/Abbasid caliphates, turn page on disastrus century of colonial/postcolonial rule, replace fragmented/corrupt states 2/3
w/ united Islamic power. West passivty validates the caliphate & its transnational strategy. May be PRC/Rus that try 2 draw the line. 3/3
Is ISIS an anti-Imperial movement?
Ukraine: As Economic War Escalates, Fighting May Resume Soon
The ceasefire of Minsk between the Ukrainian coup-government and the federalists of east Ukraine was something both sides needed.
The Ukrainian army was on the verge of completely loosing it. It was temporarily defeated and needed to rearm and reorganize. While the federalist insurgents were successful and probably able to continue their fight for a few days their forces were overstretched and needed to consolidate.
But many on the insurgent side did not like the ceasefire. It did not give them the federal autonomy they demanded. The neo-nazi "national-guard" battalions on the other side also criticized the ceasefire. They want the total destruction of their enemy and ethnic cleansing of all Russia-affine Ukrainians.
Russia had pressed for the ceasefire to avoid further sanctions. It was an offer to the "western" side to step back from the cliff of an economic war. Obama and NATO tried to sabotage the ceasefire through false claims of a Russian invasion and other propaganda. But the Ukrainian president had to ignore the pressure from Washington and Brussels or he would have lost another city, Mariupol, to the insurgents.
The main Russian reason to support the ceasefire, to hold back sanctions, has now vanished. Three days ago the EU, against the will of several of its members, decided on new sanctions on Russia:
The European Union adopted new sanctions against Moscow on Monday despite the leaders of Russia and Ukraine vowing to uphold a truce aimed at halting a devastating five-month war.
In Brussels, the EU formally approved fresh sanctions against Russia but said they would not come into force for a few more days, effectively delaying the measures to see if the current truce will hold.
The truce held and despite that facts and its earlier claims the EU today announced that the new sanctions will be implemented immediately:
The European Union has agreed to impose further sanctions on Russia on Friday over its role in the Ukraine crisis, diplomats say.
The move is aimed at maintaining pressure on Russia, the sources said.
Russia says it is preparing a response "commensurate with the economic losses" caused by the EU sanctions.
This is another catastrophic and escalating EU move with regards to Ukraine and Russia. This turns the conflict into an economic war between the EU and Russia in which no side can win. Only the United States and China will profit from it.
Additonally Poland had the crazy idea of supplying gas which it purchases from Russia to Ukraine which is not willing or able to pay for direct deliveries from Russia. This is a breach of contract as the deliveries from Russia to Poland are not allowed to be resold to other Russian gas customers. Russia allegedly responded by lowering the volume of gas it supplies to Poland and Poland immediately folded and stopped the reverse gas flow to Ukraine:
Russia’s OAO Gazprom limited natural gas flows to Poland, preventing the European Union member state from supplying Ukraine via so-called reverse flows.
Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo SA, or PGNiG, got 20 to 24 percent less fuel than it ordered from Gazprom Export over the past two days and is compensating flows with alternative supply, the company said today in an e-mailed statement.
Poland halted gas supply to Ukraine at 3 p.m. Warsaw time today, according to Ukraine’s UkrTransGaz.
We can be not sure that this is the whole story though. Gazprom says it provides all the gas Poland ordered through its pipelines but hints that Ukraine, where those pipelines cross, may be the party which is taking the gas:
Russia has denied that its state-run gas giant Gazprom has been limiting flows to Poland.
"Reports by news agencies on the reduction of volumes of gas supplies by Gazprom to Poland's PGNiG are incorrect,” Itar-Tass reported Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov as saying. “The same volume of gas as in previous days – 23 million cubic meters a day – is being supplied to Poland now."
Before Gazprom issued its statement, Uktransgaz’s Prokopiv blamed Russia for trying to “derail” the plan for Poland to supply Ukraine with “reverse” gas, while Ukraine refused to pay its debt to Gazprom and is currently cut off from Russian supplies, and accused Russia of limiting the supply of gas.
In August, Russia’s energy minister, Aleksandr Novak, warned that in the upcoming winter Ukraine may begin siphoning off Russian supplies intended for Europe if it fails to build up its reserves.
There is more conflicting news. The Ukrainian president Poroshenko claimed that most of the "Russian troops", which no one, including the OSCE observers in the area, has ever seen, have left Ukraine:
“Based on the latest information I have received from our intelligence services, 70 percent of the Russian troops have moved back across the border,” Poroshenko said. “This bolsters our hope that the peace initiatives enjoy good prospects.”
NATO, likely fearing that Poroshenko was again moving towards a peaceful solution, disputed the claim:
"The reported reduction of Russian troops from eastern Ukraine would be a good first step, but we have no information on this. The fact of the matter is there are still approximately 1,000 Russian troops in eastern Ukraine with substantial amounts of military equipment and approximately 20,000 troops on the Russian border with Ukraine," the NATO military officer said.
Push, push, push for war ...
But some parts of the "western" media are slowly waking up to the fact that not all is well with Ukraine and the "western" strategy. They note that Ukraine can not afford the IMF's 'Shock Therapy' and needs money without conditions which it will likely never pay back:
Absent this "bail-in" of foreign creditors, Ukraine will simply be taking on more debt that it lacks the capacity to service, risking a long-term compound debt spiral for the country and practically guaranteeing a wholesale default down the road -- and continuing political instability.
Russia best reason to hold the insurgents in east Ukraine back from further fighting has vanished. The economic war is escalating no matter what Russia does or does not do. As the media have more time to look into the real issues in Ukraine the state of the sorry affair will become more clear and "western" public support for Ukraine will decline. This is a threat to "western" warmongering and to again escalate to fighting is the best method to suppress such news.
Hawks on both sides now have reason to restart the fighting. Expect the ceasefire to completely fail very soon.
The Stampede Towards War On ISIS
The stampede towards waging war on ISIS and whoever else is quite weird. I see no real discussions of the sense of it all. How much will this cost? What are possible unintended consequences? How long will it take? How will we know when it is over?
No one seems to ask these questions. Instead this is considert to be journalism and reporting on teh issue:
Over a dinner of D’Anjou pear salad and Chilean sea bass, Obama, Vice President Biden and the outside experts engaged in a deep discussion of the options to combat the Islamic State, those who participated said.
"D’Anjou pear salad" - how interesting. But what are the options discussed, what are their up- and downsides and what are their costs? There is nothing about that in the Washington Post. The fourth estate is gone, nowhere to be found.
But what about the parliament. Isn't the United States supposed to be a democracy? What about those people who were voted into Congress? Cowards:
Democratic leaders in the Senate and Republican leaders in the House want to avoid a public vote to authorize force, fearing the unknown political consequences eight weeks before the midterm elections on Nov. 4.
“A lot of people would like to stay on the sideline and say, ‘Just bomb the place and tell us about it later,’ ” said Representative Jack Kingston, Republican of Georgia, who supports having an authorization vote. “It’s an election year. A lot of Democrats don’t know how it would play in their party, and Republicans don’t want to change anything. We like the path we’re on now. We can denounce it if it goes bad, and praise it if it goes well and ask what took him so long.”
Obama would be crazy to let Congress get with this position. A war on ISIS will certainly have some very bad consequences, as any war does, and he will be solely blamed for all of them should Congress be allowed to dodge its responsibility.
Should Congress be forced to vote the real discussion, missing now, would have to take place and the vote in the end would likely be a resounding "No!"
These are the two groups. Which one would have, after an open public discussion, more support with the people?
some lawmakers in both parties will team with conservatives who do not want to support Mr. Obama on anything to oppose or limit any authorization of force, Mr. Kingston said. Hawks in the Republican Party will team with pro-Israel lawmakers and humanitarian interventionists in support.
The warmongers are of course trying to avoid the discussion and the vote and that is why they are pressing the stampede and hope that everyone else will panic with them and jump off the cliff.
The reporting today makes it look as if Obama has already taken the decision to, illegally by the way, bomb Syria. I sense a lot of hawkish spin in that and will not be surprised should Obama kick the problem over to Congress and demand a vote.
Why Fight ISIS? And How Fight ISIS When There Are No Allies?
Why is there this artificial panic about ISIS in the United States? Why would a majority agree to air-attacks on ISIS, a "strategy" that is very likely to fail and that will certainly create more aggrieved people willing to fight the "west"?
The whole issue does not make sense. Yes, ISIS is dangerous as it is build on a brutal and strict ideology that can attract many, many followers. It was created in the aftermath of the U.S. attack on Iraq. The U.S. czar Bremer disbanded the Iraqi military creating a jobless army of several hundred thousand military men. Additionally his de-Baathification campaign send tenths of thousands of Sunni state employees and technocrats into poverty. The U.S. written Iraqi constitution enshrined sectarianism.
"Western" propaganda tales about the Syrian government "slaughtering Sunnis" - even when the majority of the government was and is Sunni - never made sense. But such claims, repeated over and over again together with empty words about "freedom" and "democracy" helped to mobilize an exceptional force of foreign fighters that has now joined ISIS.
ISIS is dangerous for the people living in Iraq and Syria. It is a threat to some of the governments in the area. But it is neither a threat to the U.S nor to Europe. Even if some ISIS influenced people would blow up something somewhere in Europe it would be jsut another minor event in a decades old series of various homegrown terror incidents. Why is there then a necessity to fight it?
And fight ISIS together with whom?
In Iraq the U.S. pressed for prime minister Maliki to go. The new prime minister Abadi is no less sectarian that Maliki. His cabinet now has 11 Sunni members while Maliki's had fifteen. The Kurds joined the new government only for a trial period of three month and the two most important ministries, interior and defense, will be, like under Maliki, in the hands of the prime minister himself. How then did this "regime change" move against Maliki change actually anything? Any Iraqi help against ISIS will be sectarian mass slaughter. Any foreign help to the Kurds or the Shia will be abused to create gains solely for that community.
The "moderate rebels" of the "Free Syrian Army" which the CIA is feeding with Saudi dollars and weapons are just a sham. They are criminals and/or religious fanatics and the difference between them and ISIS are tiny. In Lebanon the FSA is openly cooperating with ISIS:
“We are collaborating with the Islamic State and the Nusra Front by attacking the Syrian Army’s gatherings in ... Qalamoun,” said Bassel Idriss, the commander of an FSA-aligned rebel brigade.
Some FSA group seems to have kidnapped the journalist (and Mossad spy?) Steven Sotloff and sold him off to ISIS. The later beheading of Sotloff by ISIS was marketed by the Obama administration as one reason to bomb them. Why then not bomb the FSA who kidnapped him in the first place? Weapons delivered through the CIA to FSA rebels are now in the hands of ISIS fighters. Any thought that FSA groups, certainly thoroughly infiltrated by ISIS sympathizers, can somehow help in a campaign against ISIS is pure lunacy.
Then there is the lack of international cooperation in the area. The only two countries who have actually offered help are Iran and Syria. Jordan has asked not to be (officially) involved in the campaign for fear of internal revolt. Turkey, led by an Islamist, is giving comfort and logistic help to ISIS. It has not even labeled ISIS a terrorist group. Israel just helped the Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra to take the Syrian border station on the Golan by shelling the Syrian government position that was trying to prevent that. The Kurds are busy defending their home turf in the mountains against ISIS incursions. They are neither capable nor willing to go on a military offense. The Saudi Arabia dictators fear ISIS because it is more truly Wahhabi then the sham Wahhabi Islamic State construct in Saudi Arabia. Ironically ISIS will likely soon target the Saudi state which ideology and money helped its birth in the first place. The Saudis will not help against ISIS, their spiritual kin, out of fear of such internal strife.
None of the local allies the U.S. wants to use against ISIS is willing or capable to help. The only three forces that offered and could (Syria, Iran, Hizbullah) help against ISIS are seen as hostile by the United States.
How then please can anyone in the U.S. think of a military campaign against ISIS? Without any local allies? With no boots, not even friendly foreign ones, on the ground?
The U.S. now wants some kind of UN Security Council resolution against ISIS. Russia and China should be very, very careful about this. The U.S. is likely to abuse any such resolution to justify a new attack on Syria.
Open Thread 2014-21
News & views ...
"Moral" Interventions In Syria And Ukraine
When one reads the incredibly vague ceasefire agreement for Ukraine (in Russian, various English versions) it is immediately clear that this can not and will not hold. Russia had pressed for the ceasefire, despite battle advantage of the Novorossiya forces it supports, to avoid a further round of sanctions from the EU and in the hope that some of the warmongers in the "west" might come to their senses and listen to sane people. The Ukrainian president needed the ceasefire because his forces were defeated and, without reorganisation, would not have been able to defend against any further onslaught.
As soon as the forces on both sides have reorganized the battle will continue beyond the small skirmishes that are already taking place today. Neither side has full control over the various groups involved in the fighting and any flare up can immediately escalate.
Meanwhile NATO continues a increase its forces in East Europe for "troop training" and in the black sea. Military people in Moscow will certainly interpret this NATO build up as the threat that it is meant to be.
It was the "west" that provoked the war in Ukraine by organizing a coup against the democratically elected government. It is also the "west" that created the civil war in Syria. There the "west" and its various Arab poodles feed the war in Syria through money, weapons and substantial propaganda for the cause of the Jihadis fighting the Syrian government. It now wants to fight the Syrian government as well as the head choppers of ISIS by supporting the FSA organ eaters who are allied with the 9/11 plane hijackers of Nusra and Al Qaeda. That is seen as morally good even though no "western" country has any case for an involvement in Syria except for some very vaguely defined "interests".
Russia has an very important security interest in Ukraine. It is its immediate neighbor and the cradle of the Rus civilization. Several large attacks on Russia, by Napoleon as well as Hitler, used the plains of Ukraine as their concentration area and for their marches on Moscow. Many of the forces of the Ukrainian government now fighting against their Russia affine compatriots in the east are outright Nazis. 70 years ago over 20 million Russian lost their life to defeat that ideology.
Why is it seen as morally wrong when Russia, with much more immediate interest, is helping forces in Ukraine when similar intervention by the "west", much less, if at all justified, is depicted as morally right?
The sole answer one can get to that question is that whatever "we" do, no matter what, is right and whatever those oppose to what "we" do do is automatically wrong. That position is the recipe for much bigger conflicts than the ones we currently sees.
Obama Administration (Re-)Starts Marketing Campaign For Bombing Syria
White House officials said today that the administration was following a meticulously planned strategy to persuade the public, the Congress and the allies of the need to confront the threat from Saddam Hussein.
"From a marketing point of view," said Andrew H. Card Jr., the White House chief of staff who is coordinating the effort, "you don't introduce new products in August."
It is September 2014 and we are past the summer and past Labor Day. Time to roll out the (old) new product:
- NY Times: Syria May Have Hidden Chemical Arms, U.S. Says
- ABC News: US: Terrorist Could Get Syria Chemical Weapons
- HuffPo: US Warns Terrorist Could Get Hold Of Syria's Chemical Weapons
United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power says the United States is concerned that the most dangerous terrorist groups could get a hold of chemical weapons if Syria is hiding any stockpiles.
We know of course that Syria has disposed of all its chemical weapons and that these were destroyed under the eyes of the OPCW. But Iraq had also disposed of all its WMD and that it has none left was in fact one reason why it could be and was easily attacked.
So is Obama is doubling down (again) on Syria? Hoping that the mystical "Free Syrian Army" (Jihadis in disguise) heavily supports by the U.S. will fight the Islamic State and the Syrian government?
The chronic warmonger Juan Cole is already searching for flimsy legal excuses, using the false pretense of fighting ISIS, to bomb whatever in sovereign Syria even without a UN Security Council resolution. Maybe Syria should invite the Russian air force to help against ISIS. A few Russian jets in Damascus would likely keep despicable nuts like Juan Cole away.
The new big international enemy is the Islamic State which is fighting the Syrian government. It would likely replace it should the government fall. But the Obama administration is not willing to draw the consequences and to ally with the Syrian army. It still wants to dispose the Syrian government under president Assad. It hopes that more weapons given to its mystic "moderate rebels" will somehow enable those to win.
But for that they will need at least additional air support and to enable such some "legal" reasoning - ISIS, Al-Qaeda, WMD - must be found and marketed to the war tired public.
On Fighting ISIS NATO Members Tell Obama To Shove It
President Obama and his British poodle tried hard to push other NATO countries in repeating the mistakes the U.S. and UK made when they attacked Iraq:
President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain have called on NATO to reject “isolationist” impulses and confront the rising terrorist threat posed by Sunni militants in the Middle East, saying the United States and Britain “will not be cowed by barbaric killers.”
“We will not waver in our determination to confront” the militant group known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, the two leaders wrote in a joint opinion piece published in Thursday’s editions of The Times of London. “If terrorists think we will weaken in the face of their threats they could not be more wrong.
The problem with their call may have been that it was published behind the Times of London's pay-wall. Why should any NATO head of state bother to hand over a British Pound to Rupert Murdoch for the questionable fun of reading more U.S./UK lobbying for their weapon industries?
Mr. Obama and Mr. Cameron argued that NATO must transition to a “more effective security network that fosters stability around the world,” urging member nations to bolster military spending.
The leaders of other NATO states know that their tax-payers will not agree to higher military spending. They reject the call. But the effort to write the op-ed was not completely for naught?
NATO leaders are set to agree at a summit on Friday to help organize security assistance for Iraq in its fight against Islamic State militants, including coordinating the airlift of supplies, a Western official said.
NATO is expected to set up a clearing house that would match offers of military supplies to help the Iraqi authorities with available transport aircraft, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
NATO would not take part in any combat operations, and the security assistance would be provided by individual member states and partners, he said.
Somewhere in Brussels some U.S./UK sergeant stashed away in a dark corner of NATO headquarters will have some spreadsheet saying five mattresses are waiting to be flown from Croatia to Basra. That will "help" a lot.
Notice that this is a complete rejection of the Obama/Cameron request. The "help to coordinate" phrase means that there is not even the tiniest bit NATO will do. Anything to be actually done is up to "individual members" i.e. the U.S. and UK.
Two days ago I wrote that NATO is in decline:
there is little left of NATO that future taxpayers might want to support
At least with regards to Iraq (and Syria) NATO members just told the self proclaimed "leader of the free world" to shove it.
Count that as one positive outcome of the current NATO summit in Wales.
Do European Governments Buy Overpriced Steel From Ukrainian Oligarchs?
Anonymous Europe, allegedly some hacker group, claims in a video uploaded three days ago to have letters from officials near the German chancellor Merkel to officials in Poland. The letters are about deals of buying hundreds of thousand tons of Ukrainian steel from Ukrainian oligarchs at above market prices. Other countries supposed to buy overpriced Ukrainian steel are Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria.
I have no idea if these claims are true and the copies of the letters shown are legit. The uploaded video seems to have only some 820 views so far which seems very low.
If these claims are true there will certainly be some scandal about this abuse of taxpayer money for bribing Ukrainian oligarchs and subsidizing the coup government in Ukraine.
(Screenshots of the letters below the fold.)
Ukraine: Obama Doubles Down?
Included in yesterdays assessment of the Ukrainian loss of the war and the coming ceasefire was this caveat:
Obama may still decide to double down and that destroying Ukraine -like Afghanistan, Libya and Syria- by prolonging the conflict is in U.S. "interests".
Pat Lang believes that Obama will take the escalation path:
Will the United States let the world "off the hook" by accepting this outcome? Perhaps it will not. The lure of the Children's Crusader vision of a future devoid of schoolyard bullies may prove too strong to ignore. NATO exercizes are planned. Speeches have been made. Grand posturing has taken place. Obama wills it! pl
Mr. Poroshenko’s office first issued and then retracted a statement saying that the two had agreed to a “lasting cease-fire.” A spokesman for Mr. Poroshenko’s office said the initial statement, posted on the presidential website, went too far in describing the results of a telephone call between the two leaders, and that the call had not produced a formal agreement.
The statement, "The conversation resulted in an agreement on XXX in the Donbas." actual changed twice from XXX being first "lasting ceasefire" then "ceasefire" then "ceasefire regime". After the Poroshenko call Putin went public with a 7 point ceasefire plan which seems to have been the one Poroshenko had agreed to. But some "intervention", I assume from the U.S., took place to change Poroshenko's statement of a "lasting ceasefire".
The main U.S. puppet, scientology prime minister "Yaz" Yatsenyuk, is still throwing verbal bombs even though Ukraine has run out of significant military means:
“Putin’s real plan is the destruction of Ukraine and the resumption of the U.S.S.R.,” Mr. Yatsenyuk was quoted as saying. He said “the best plan to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine” would be if "Russia withdraws their regular troops, mercenaries and terrorists from Ukrainian territory — then peace will be reinstated in Ukraine.”
... and pink ponies will fly by.
To the delight of U.S. hardliners France has "postponed" the delivery of the two helicopter carrier of the Mistral type to Russia. The Russians will be happy about that. Such carriers are useful in small conflicts against minor enemies but Russia has now again to prepare for larger ones. The deal (once given to Sarkozy for his help in the 2008 Georgia conflict) included several ships some of them to be build in Russia. As part of the deal a shipyard in Russia has been modernized for the project and that important work has been finished. Russia can now (again) build such ships on its own.
If the two ships from France get not finally delivered Russia will demand back some €600 million already paid and a €1.2 billion contractual penalty. Without the Russia deal France may also have to close its shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. To hold back the ships is a terrible deal for France but president Hollande's poll rating is already so bad that the further drop in the polls for kissing Obama's ass will likely be irrelevant.
If Obama, as Pat Lang believes, wants to keep the conflict brewing we will see more destruction, more dead people and larger land losses for the current Ukraine. The end state will not change. Ukraine will become a bankrupt finlandized federation, not join the EU and not join NATO. The EU will lose a lot of business with Russia and take even longer to get out of the second great depression. China will win a lot. Not only in commerce but also because the U.S. will be busy to herd the NATO cats and to fight the non-existing Russian "threat". This will give China probably a decade of less pressure in south Asia. All for the genius of Obama and his Children's Crusader.
Ukraine: War, For Now, Over And NATO Still In Decline
There is only little news of new developments out of east-Ukraine. The insurgents kicked the Ukrainian troops out of the airport in Lughansk and the Ukrainian troops at the Donetsk airport are said to be confined in a basement and will have to negotiate their surrender.
According to Spiegel NATO generals assess (in German) that Ukraine has lost the war. It is out of material in decent shape and out of enough soldiers with the moral to successfully fight for the oligarchs. But that does not mean the fighting is over. Obama may still decide to double down and that destroying Ukraine -like Afghanistan, Libya and Syria- by prolonging the conflict is in U.S. "interests".
The "western" financed Kyiv Post is lamenting that the Ukrainian president Porochenko did not keep the promises he made before he got elected. That snub may well be a sign that his time is already over. The current Ukrainian campaign of claiming that Russia has "invaded" Ukraine is making his position weaker. Apparently all those T-90 tanks only fly in by night and their cloaking devices prevent any picture of them appearing anywhere.
Putin said somewhere that if Russia would really invade Ukraine it would take 14 days to get Kiev. "Western" media claimed that was a "threat". It was rather a somewhat pessimistic statement of fact. Kiev would probably fall in four days though preparing the victory parade may indeed take a bit longer.
The United Nation has found that 1 million Ukrainians have fled from their homes, more than 800,000 of them to Russia. The Ukrainian "Anti-Terrorist-Operation" is apparently a campaign of ethnic cleansing. But as that campaign for now comes to an end the population movement may well reverse.
There will hopefully now be some negotiated solution which will likely end in a federalized Ukraine with great autonomy for the federal states. Ukraine as a nation, if that has ever existed at all, is over. Ukraine as a confederation of states is still a possibility.
The sad reality is that such a development was foreseeable and indeed in detail foreseen. The whole war was completely unnecessary.
NATO will get some temporary propaganda push out of the conflict but I do not expect any longterm change in its downward trajectory. Defense budgets will not increase and the newly announced rapid reaction force for east Europe is at least the third version of such an multinational emergency force concept. These never can work as their activation still depends on the the lengthy political process NATO needs to go to war. Such forces also depend on rotating "pledged" units by member states and, as experience has shown, many such units get "pledged" even when they are not available or incapable to fight.
After this conflict the loss of credibility of NATO will likely be greater than its leaders today anticipate. Showing off satellite pictures even a naive can recognize as irrelevant and propagandizing an "invasion" when obviously none happened will leave marks. Top that with the catastrophic results in Libya and the strategic loss in Afghanistan and there is little left of NATO that future taxpayers might want to support.
Russia's State Media "Misinforms" Russians By Translating WaPo Editorial Lamenting Russia's "Misinformation"
In prosecuting his widening war in Ukraine, [Putin] has also resurrected the tyranny of the Big Lie, using state-controlled media to twist the truth so grotesquely that most Russians are in the dark — or profoundly misinformed — about events in their neighbor to the west.
Most Russians get their news from state-controlled broadcast outlets, which have moved beyond mere propaganda into outlandish conspiracy theories and unhinged jingoism.
To prove the Washington Post editors right the state-controlled Russian internet outlet inoSMI, personally advised by Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, "moved beyond mere propaganda into outlandish conspiracy theories and unhinged jingoism" by immediately translating the WaPo editorial into Russian so that Russians can now dive further "into the dark" and "profoundly misinform" themselves by reading this editorial of the Washington Post in their native language.
Dear Washington Post. Your funny pages can not beat Russian humor. | <urn:uuid:fdf61c4e-f829-45f4-87a3-d44b51dc6f0c> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.moonofalabama.org/2014/09/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281424.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00339-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965974 | 17,531 | 1.648438 | 2 |
For the investigation of retained strains during hot forming, which are related to the dislocation structure, single and double hit compression tests were carried out at different temperatures and strain rates for a stainless steel. Using microhardness measurements the retained strains after the first and second pass were investigated as a function of the amount of deformation, temperatures as well as strain rates and dwell durations. In general, the retained strain decreases with increasing dwell durations in both the deformed and recrystallized grains, respectively. At a given total amount of deformation in a double hit compression, the retained strains for the as deformed unrecrystallized grains are reduced for a lower deformation in the first hit. For the recrystallized grains the retained strain increases, when comparing double hit with single hit compression. | <urn:uuid:df227924-07b5-4e84-8677-04348884ca63> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.scientific.net/MSF.571-572.169 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280364.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00027-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959295 | 163 | 1.898438 | 2 |
Commentary: Progressives like Bernie Sanders may be confused about charter schools, but black parents aren’t
Cynthia Tucker Haynes | March 21, 2016
Bernie Sanders isn’t the only progressive who is confused about charter schools. On the left, misunderstandings and mischaracterizations about non-traditional public schools abound, many of them spread by an educational establishment that fiercely guards its turf.
One of the most popular misconceptions is that charter schools represent “takeovers” by wealthy corporate interests or rich conservatives who are indifferent to public education and greedy for the tax dollars that keep public schools open.
That helps explain Sanders’ bungled response, during a recent CNN Town Hall, that he didn’t support those charter schools that are “privately run.” (More from The 74: Feeling Confused by The Bern? 4 Theories on What Sanders Actually Thinks About Charter Schools)
In fact, public charters are no bastions of 1 percenters. Instead, many of them serve as lifelines for poor kids, rescuing them from schools where little learning takes place. That’s why they are so popular with black families.
The contentious debate over charter schools is a fault line through the political left, a divide pitting public education reformers against those who favor the status quo. Though many black educators, especially those employed in grades K-12, are fierce opponents of charter schools, black parents take a different view.
Last year, the Black Alliance for Educational Options released a survey of black voters in four states — Alabama, Louisiana, New Jersey and Tennessee. It found that majorities in each state favor charters. Roland Martin teamed up with TV One, where he hosts a black-oriented news show, to sponsor a similar poll, and it showed similar results: more than 70 percent of black voters support charter schools.
It’s easy to see why if you take a clear-eyed look at the state of traditional public schools, especially in poorer neighborhoods. Lots of them are sub-par, with low scores on standardized tests, principals and teachers who fail to inspire and mediocre graduation rates.
Given limited means, many black parents feel trapped. They have neither the resources to buy homes in neighborhoods with good schools nor the money to afford private or parochial schools. Suburban school districts, by the way, punish parents who enroll children who don’t live in the district — some going as far as to make arrests. (The 74: Opinion: Why Are We Arresting Mothers for ‘Stealing’ An Education?)
(The income gap helps explain the difference in support for public charter schools. In 2011, the median wealth for a white household was $111,146, while it was $8,348 for a Latino household and $7,113 for a black household, according to government data.)
Public charter schools are free to attend, just like traditional public schools. They have open attendance policies. (Many public charters have more applications than seats; those schools usually select students through a lottery.)
To be sure, charter schools are no panacea. Some have failed; others are not doing any better than nearby traditional schools.
But the best among the charters are posting substantial gains, even among students from less-affluent families. Those are kids whose best chance for gaining a toehold in the economic mainstream is through a first-rate education.
Progressive politics are supposed to promote the poor, stand up for the weak and advocate for the voiceless. If so, the progressive movement ought to be a strong supporter of public charter schools.
Cynthia Tucker Haynes is a Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist and a popular radio and television commentator. Her weekly column, which appears in newspapers around the country, focuses on political and cultural issues, including income inequality, social justice and reform of the public education system.
This article was published in partnership with The74Million.org. | <urn:uuid:44c80296-7dcd-4330-aad4-3fe1856c94ae> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.laschoolreport.com/commentary-progressives-like-bernie-sanders-may-be-confused-about-charter-schools-but-black-parents-arent/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570765.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808031623-20220808061623-00269.warc.gz | en | 0.95945 | 815 | 1.640625 | 2 |
On Tuesday, a press release from the ILA called for a shutdown of ports along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts to protest job losses and highlight hiring practices that purposely reduce the numbers of dockworkers, causing immeasurable damage to the nation’s economy. The ILA also states that the Waterfront Commission, which helps regulate the labor supply, is “damaging the regional economy of the Port of New York and New Jersey” by “causing hundreds of jobs at the port to remain unfilled.” The press release also stated “interference by the South Carolina Port Authority has reduced the number of dockworkers, injuring not only the port itself, but also the local and national economy.”
On Wednesday the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) responded with a statement, “The master contract between the ILA and the USMX forbids any unilateral work stoppage by the ILA for any reason. If the ILA engages in any unilateral walkout, USMX will enforce the contractual rights of its members to the fullest. USMX urges the ILA to remain in compliance with the master contract and thus continue to provide the stable labor environment that has existed on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts for decades.”
Further comments have continued to come in and include those of Peter Friedmann, executive director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC), in a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, “on behalf of U.S. agriculture, forest products and commodities exporters, we ask that you bring your experience and office to bear to prevent such a shutdown, and to protect the economy from injury that in some cases will be irreversible. Unfortunately, we have ample and recent experience as to the impact of the shutdown of operations of marine terminals. Another shutdown of our ports would again undermine our reputation as dependable suppliers.”
“Our exports constantly face the challenge of foreign competition,” Friedmann added. “There is nothing that we export in agriculture, forest products and many commodities, that cannot be sourced somewhere else in the world. If we do not deliver efficiently, affordably and dependably, our foreign customers have demonstrated that they can and will find another source in another country.”
With a shutdown threatening, shippers are concerned at the possibility of delays. The last shut down by the ILA is estimated to have cost the U.S. economy approximately $1.9 billion per day. Peter Friedmann explained that for every day a terminal is down, it will take a minimum of six days to recover.
This morning, ILA President Harold Daggett has expressly urged union members to avoid work stoppage until the ILA has met with Congress to express their concerns. Informal talks on February 15th in Delray Beach, FL between the ILA and USMX were called “productive and fruitful” in a joint statement.
Nelson International is closely watching as this unfolds and will continue to bring you updates as more information becomes available. | <urn:uuid:0ebc8d3a-a2eb-414f-9125-2f88898724da> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.nelsonint.com/synopsis-of-the-ila-usmx-negotiation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571147.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810040253-20220810070253-00473.warc.gz | en | 0.95949 | 617 | 1.734375 | 2 |
To watch Senator Capito’s remarks, click here or the image above.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today spoke on the Senate floor today to wish West Virginia’s own Hershel “Woody” Williams a happy 98th birthday, and to share his story of service and sacrifice. Williams is the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient.
Senator Capito previously introduced a resolution requesting a state funeral for the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient. This state funeral would not only recognize their individual service and sacrifice, but it would act as a final salute to the Greatest Generation and those who wore the uniform from 1941 to 1945.
FULL SPEECH TRANSCRIPT:
“It's an honor to talk about a good friend of ours, Woody Williams, here with my fellow senator from West Virginia to talk about our fellow West Virginian, Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams.
“He is just an incredible, incredible individual, and he turned 98 last week.
“He was born in 1923, which was the same year my father was born, and Woody and I have talked about this because when I see him I see my dad and that generation. My dad's no longer with us, and you know, they did incredible things at such a young age.
“So one day I was honored to sit next to Woody on an airplane flying home. He travels all over. It's amazing where he goes and what he does.
“He told me his whole story of joining the Marines, and signing up for the Marines, and why he wanted to do it. He was a country boy just born…they didn't even really actually know when he was born. He didn't have a full birth certificate. And he's a little guy. He wasn't quite big enough to be able to join, and he worried about that.
“And he was 17, but nobody really knew how old he was. I asked him, I said, ‘well what was your attraction being in the Marines?” He told me, he said, ‘One day he was in town, and he saw this guy walk by, and he was fully dressed in a Marine uniform, and he said, ‘I want to be that guy. I want to wear that uniform.’
“And he persevered as he has in every aspect of his life. And there's so many, as Senator Manchin said, so many brave from that greatest generation that served in “World War II, and he is the final World War II veteran Medal of Honor recipient of that award.
“We are so proud of him in West Virginia because it didn't stop there for him.
“He's spent a lifetime advocating for veterans, for veterans health, for fallen soldiers’ families, in a whole variety of roles and he never stopped.
“As Senator Manchin said, he fought valiantly at the Battle of Iwo Jima, storming those pillboxes, all four of them under relentless fire.
“He survived the entire five-week campaign in Iwo Jima, and as we know that was one of the most staunchly defended Japanese strong points at that time. His actions played a critical role in the eventual capture of that island.
“He’s inspired future generations to want to serve our nation.
“He's a hero for what he's done at home. He has committed himself for 75 years to veterans and their families.
“And he created the Hershel Woody Williams foundation. Through his foundation, Woody advocates for, and recognizes the sacrifices of, our Gold Star families who have lost loved ones in the military.
“Because of his tremendous efforts, Woody and his foundation are responsible for 60 Gold Star family memorial monuments.
“Senator Manchin and I have been to the grand opening. They just had a new one in Charleston on the grounds of the Charleston capitol.
“It’s beautiful to see and the other 70 additional monuments that are going to be built in the future.
“You know, we need reminders, I think. We need reminders of the sacrifices that people make. We need reminders of what it takes to defend our liberties, our freedoms, our families.
“We are really, really pleased to be here.
“The West Virginia Legislature included Woody in the West Virginia Hall of Fame, and named him a distinguished West Virginian in 1980, and again in 2013, and they’ll probably do it again next year.
“I mean, he's just so exceptional.
“His unending energy and passion have also inspired many generations. He has spoken to numerous schools, universities, community events and veterans receptions promoting patriotism and the ideals of service above self.
“I've been privileged to hear, and I know Senator Manchin has too, to attend several speeches given by Woody Williams, keeping in mind the last one I heard he was 98 years old.
"Oh my gosh, so inspiring. Makes you just want to feel pride for our country, but “for our people that our country boy from West Virginia could keep inspiring the next generations.
“You know he has been here to the halls of the U.S. Capitol, or you might have even seen him at the coin flip…how did he get there?...at the Super Bowl in 2018.
“He has gone on to really be a remarkable human being. And if you haven’t met him or haven't seen him make sure you get a chance if you hear he's coming your way.
“Abraham Lincoln famously said, ‘any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.’
“Today, I'm proud to honor my friend, with Senator Manchin, and many other West Virginians and others around the country, and to share his stories of courage, compassion, and the service, not only in the past, but the service that he has today.
“So, I'm glad to join a bipartisan group of our colleagues in honoring him, and honoring him in the future.”
# # # | <urn:uuid:bbaaf11e-5956-4b3a-8db7-5234fc52867f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-capito-honors-woody-williams_on-senate-floor | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571536.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811224716-20220812014716-00273.warc.gz | en | 0.9768 | 1,315 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Topics in Civic EducationCooperation in civic education What is honesty? Who is a dishonest person? Consequences of dishonesty Cultism: Characteristics of Cultism Cultism: Reasons why people join Cults Illiteracy: Causes of Illiteracy Responsibilities, Duties and Obligations of a Citizen What is Civic Responsibility and Who is a Citizen? Reputation: How to build a good reputation Characteristics of Democracy Cooperation - Factors that promote Cooperation Cooperation: Types of Cooperation Attributes and Benefits of Honesty Meaning and Types of Values in Civic Education Community Service and Volunteer Service - Benefits of Community Service Consequences of Cultism and Solutions to Cultism Origin of Cultism in Nigeria Consequences and Solutions to Illiteracy Honesty: True meaning of honesty explained with its attributes Scheme of work for Civic Education, SS1, 3rd Term Scheme of work for Civic Education, SS1, 2nd Term
Academic Questions in Civic Education
A legal process through which a citizen of one country gains citizenship into another country is termed _____.
A. International pass
B. Residential pass
E. Green card
A total estimation of a person's character and quality especially by those who know such person is termed _____.
B. Individual assessment
F. Cross examination
The following factors will promote cooperation except _____.
A. Achievement of a personal goal
B. Achievement of a common goal
C. Understanding the common goal
D. Understanding one another
F. None of the above options
Which of the following is not a benefit of honesty?
A. Respect and admiration is earned from other people
B. It makes one eligible for a greater responsibility
C. Honestly on oneself can eliminate negative peer pressure
D. It fosters a form of emotional, social and spiritual connection
E. Honestly leads to social segregation
F. Practicing honesty can favor goodwill
The attribute of honesty whereby a person is truthful, open and upright in whatever he or she does is termed _____.
Which of the following statement is incorrect regarding community service?
A. It is synonymous to volunteer service
B. It is defined as a service performed by an individual or group of people for the benefit of the community or its institutions without any form of payment
C. It can be done in any part of the world
D. Schools, churches and NGOs can carry out community service
E. Participating in community service can improve one's curriculum vitae
F. It may eradicate certain vectors wherever it is done
The following are consequences of cultism except _____.
A. Untimely death of members
B. They become feared by everyone
C. Expulsion of students involved in cultism from secondary and tertiary educational institutions
D. A cultist may go mad due to their brutal initiation processes
E. Cultists may end up as assassins, hired killers and robbers
F. They may end up bringing disgrace to themselves, their loved ones and families
Concerning cultism in Nigeria, the motto of the pyrates and magnificent seven was _____.
A. Against all odds
B. Against all limitations
C. Against all barriers
D. Against all enemies
E. Against all conventions
F. Against all evils
LEN ACADEMY SMART SCHOOL SOFTWARE
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Cooperation is defined as the process of coming together, working together and helping one another to achieve a common goal.
Cooperation can be achieved either directly or indirectly depending on the type of activity carried out. For this reason, the types of cooperation are generally considered as direct or indirect.
Cooperation is said to be direct when similar activities are carried out by a group in order to achieve a specific goal. Think of it as a group of people who carry out the same work (or activity) in order to achieve a common goal.
Examples of direct cooperation will include:
Cooperation is considered to be indirect when different activities are carried out in order to achieve a similar or specific goal.
Division of labor is an example of an indirect cooperation since the different individuals working together specializes in their respective (different) field.
Using the banking institution as an instance, the cashier collects money from the customers, the IT personnel oversees the computers and other IT facility, the cleaner does her specific job, the security guards oversees both external and internal securities within the banking environment. The main goal of cooperation in this instance is to ensure the smooth running of activities within the banking organization.
We have other types of cooperation that exist around us; and such cooperation will be based on the environment we find ourselves.
Below are types of cooperation based on our environment:
Social cooperation is usually common among social groups.
Within these social groups, the members are expected to work together towards the common good of the group. For instance, fans of a football team will usually come together to support and cheer up their team during a football match.
Whenever football fans unite and cooperate in this manner, some football analyst may refer to them as the 12th man on the pitch for their specific football team.
Religious cooperation will consist of people with the same faith and belief coming together under one head.
The christians will usually unite under one head in the person of Jesus Christ. Similarly, the Islamic faithful will also unite under one head.
In some countries; for instance Nigeria, associations are formed by these religious groups. Some of these associations will include the 'Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs' and the 'Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)'.
Financial cooperation is quite common in the past.
Here, different individuals come together to form a group where they contribute money with the aim of lending it to members of the group, one after the other. Each person may take their turn weekly or monthly depending on the agreement of the members within this group.
Groups that embark on financial cooperation are called cooperative society,
Community cooperation is seen in our respective communities, with an ultimate goal of developing the community where they are present.
If the government fails to perform its function in a community (let's say; the building of a community health center with its necessary infrastructure), the members of such community may cooperate towards delivering such project.
Other projects that may be achieved through community cooperation will include:
Trade or occupational cooperation is said to occur when members of the same trade come together for the common goal and development of their respective trade.
Trade cooperation is generally seen around us. In some cases, the people comprising this group will fight for their rights if need be, even against the government.
Example of trade/occupational cooperation present in Nigeria include:
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Amazing facts in Civic Education
Canadians are so popular for being incredibly polite. For this reason, the province of Ontario in 2009 passed the 'Apology Act'. The apology act states that:
Saying 'sorry', which can be an expression of sympathy or regret can't legally be considered an admission of guilt or fault
NOTABLE POINTS IN Civic Education
Cooperation can be defined as the process of coming together, working together and helping one another to achieve a common goal
According to A.W Green
Cooperation is the continuous and common endeavor of two or more persons to perform a task or to reach a goal that is commonly cherished
According to F.E Merrill
Cooperation is a form of social interaction wherein two or more persons work together to gain a common end.
There is this saying from the chairman of Microsoft concerning cooperation; and it goes thus:
Our success has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning - Bill Gates
Types of Cooperation:
- Direct cooperation
- Indirect cooperation
- Social cooperation
- Religious cooperation
- Financial cooperation
- Community cooperation
- Occupational cooperation
All human beings are entitled to their rights (human rights); but the truth is, we still have got limitations to some of these rights of ours. Below are 4 limitations: | <urn:uuid:56dc1322-f37e-477a-b9f4-bfe21cae7fda> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.len.com.ng/csblogdetail/333/Cooperation--Types-of-Cooperation | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571987.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813202507-20220813232507-00277.warc.gz | en | 0.937994 | 1,815 | 3.59375 | 4 |
A Short-Term Rental (STR), or vacation rental, is a licenced accommodation for a maximum one-month stay. This may include a room in a house, legal suite, carriage house or the entire home. It also includes Bed and Breakfasts (see below).
It’s important that STRs do not affect the comfort and enjoyment of neighbours and the surrounding community. As such, all STRs must have a business licence, adhere to zoning requirements and meet specific health and safety standards.
Apply for Your Business Licence
A business licence is required to operate a short-term rental. This is to ensure safety standards are met and to help prevent nuisances. The regulations provide guidelines to encourage property owners to host responsibly.
Step 1: Determine Your Business Licence Category
Before applying, you’ll need to determine which category best describes your business type. | <urn:uuid:556440cb-de1d-4458-b346-64c22218039b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.penticton.ca/business-building/business-licences-permits/short-term-rentals | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571472.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811133823-20220811163823-00668.warc.gz | en | 0.924541 | 183 | 1.703125 | 2 |
One Hundred Years of Socialism The West European Left in the Twentieth Century, by Sassoon, Donald
Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.
- ISBN: 9781780767611 | 1780767617
- Cover: Paperback
- Copyright: 2/27/2014
This new edition of Donald Sassoon's magisterial history of the Left in the twentieth century includes a substantial new introduction by the author. With unique authority and unparalleled scholarship, Sassoon traces the fortunes of the political parties of the left in Western Europe across 14 countries, covering the fortunes of socialism from the rise of the Bolsheviks through two World Wars to the revival of feminism and the arrival of "green" politics. | <urn:uuid:6db960ad-8925-400d-8cd7-b2a701ba9bf6> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.biggerbooks.com/one-hundred-years-socialism-west-european/bk/9781780767611 | 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 | 0.850398 | 152 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Preharvest Neutral Detergent Fiber Concentration of Alfalfa as Influenced by Stubble Height
- David Parsonsa,
- Jerome H. Cherney *b and
- Paul R. Petersonc
Regression equations can be used to estimate the preharvest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration of alfalfa. In New York, where the stubble height of alfalfa varies due to terrain, predictive accuracy of existing equations may be reduced. The objectives of this experiment were to develop and evaluate alfalfa NDF equations that incorporate intended stubble height. Stands of first-cut alfalfa were sampled in producers' fields in New York in 2007, and cut into 5-cm segments. Predictive NDF equations were developed for each segment and for the whole plant. To develop whole-plant equations, it was necessary to develop and use equations describing the change, with alfalfa height, in the contribution of each segment to the overall dry matter (DM). The r 2 values ranged from 0.90 to 0.93 for the individual segments and 0.93 for the whole-plant equations. The whole-plant equations performed comparably to existing models when evaluated using a dataset of 109 alfalfa samples cut at 10 cm, from 19 New York counties in 2004 and 2005. The derived equations were also fitted to samples collected at a range of stubble heights from New York and Minnesota in 2008. For the New York dataset, the r 2 values for whole-plant equations ranged from 0.86 to 0.87, compared with 0.66 to 0.68 for existing equations, which were also biased. The r 2 values for the Minnesota dataset were also high, but with some translational bias. The equations could be used by New York producers to obtain a more accurate estimate of preharvest NDF concentration.Please view the pdf by using the Full Text (PDF) link under 'View' to the left.
Copyright © 2009. | <urn:uuid:5493bba7-9bd4-4c94-9bf0-a68f4a116613> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/aj/abstracts/101/4/769 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988720000.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183840-00024-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922721 | 410 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Border tensions with India in 2019 were a major stress point for Prime Minister Imran Khan when he came to power, he revealed in an interview with international media.
Speaking to Middle East Eye (MEE), the PM said that there was a flare up between the two hostile states in 2019, in which an Indian pilots plane was shot down. PM Khan was referring to Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthamans plane being shot by Pakistani forces after he entered Pakistans airspace. PM Khan said the situation was particularly contentious because both India and Pakistan were nuclear states. PM Khan told MEE that the tensions were allayed after Varthaman was released by the Pakistan government.
During the interview, PM Khan also drew parallels between Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir and Israeli crimes against Palestinians. PM Khan accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being inspired by former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyahus anti-Palestine policies.
The PM added that diplomatic ties between Israel and India were strengthened after Modi visited Israel in 2017, following which Netanyahu visited India the next year. The military cooperation ran deep between the two countries, Khan said, after the two worked to develop aerial defence systems and the Israel Aerospace Industries.
PM Khan also said that India took notes from Israel in its occupation of Kashmir. The premier talked about the abolishment of Article 370 in the Indian constitution, which put an end to Kashmirs autonomy. He added that Kashmiris feared that the government was trying to change the demographic composition by eventually allowing settlers to buy land in Kashmir. This, PM Khan said was a page out of Israels playbook, which too let settlers brazenly inhabit Palestinian land.
The PM also spoke about the US role in the Kashmir issue and maintained that India enjoyed immunity from international scrutiny due to their hostility with China. PM Khan said that the United Nations General Assembly had full confidence in the veto powers of the US, who would use India as a bulwark against China. | <urn:uuid:e60213e6-abac-4d71-888f-688c109f41e6> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://minutemirror.com.pk/border-skirmish-with-india-in-2019-was-major-stress-point-for-pm-khan-5445/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570793.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808092125-20220808122125-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.98403 | 395 | 1.578125 | 2 |
In South Florida, and all of its jurisdictions such as Broward County, Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County, a person can be sentenced to a form of pretrial release instead of pretrial detention. This means that until their trial, the person will not be in custody.
There are various forms of pretrial release and all of them have their conditions to be followed, for example not contacting the victim. House arrest can be one form of pretrial release in which the defendant may be obligated to use an electronic device.
In South Florida, a person can be charged with a violation of pretrial release if he or she tampers with the electronic device while under house arrest, or also if he or she makes an attempt to contact the victim. However, in order for the State to violate the defendant, they need to show important findings such as sufficient evidence and reasonable belief that the defendant represents a threat to the community or to the victim.
If you or someone you know has been in house arrest and is now facing a violation of the pretrial release, you should contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer in South Florida. | <urn:uuid:86202298-6080-477b-88ec-b855666edaf9> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.southfloridacriminaldefenselawyerblog.com/2012/10/violating_the_conditions_of_pr.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280891.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00152-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963101 | 229 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Tips on taking care of woods from Eisenbrand Exotic Hardwoods
If wood stability is an issue for your project, we recommend kiln-dried (kd) woods. KD woods have a lower moisture content than air-dried wood so they tend to be more stable and less prone to move or to develop checks or cracks. Most of our woods have been kiln dried, but some of our woods, namely our Rosewoods and Ebonies, are not kiln-dried. If we offer a wood that isn't kiln dried, mostly it is because the wood does not do well in the kiln. You can tell whether or not a wood has been kiln-dried by looking under the ad/kd column on the “stocklist” in our brochure (which we send out with every order attached to this tip sheet), or you can look on our website www.eisenbrandhardwoods.com. If working with a kiln dried wood is important to you, you can also simply ask us and we can inform you.
Stabilizing woods that haven't been kiln-dried can be tricky. Here are some tips. The first thing to do is to dry the wood in stages. That is, instead of working from beginning to end in one session, break up the process. For example, if you are turning pens, split the board down into two thinner boards. Wait a day or two then cut blanks. A day or two later rough the blanks out a bit. After that turn it down to a finished dimension and finish it. There's no rhyme or reason to how long to take, because every city is different, and times of the year are different in terms of humidity etc. Heck your work space/basement might have more moisture than your front office/upstairs. But if you make a process out of it instead of trying to do it all at once, odds are you won't have any problems.
In the process remember to seal freshly exposed surfaces (especially the ends), even if you are only away from your project for a short time. We recommend "AnchorSeal", especially if you are in mountains or desert, where humidity is low. The idea is to slow down the evaporation.
Store wood in a cool area. Avoid direct sunlight. Use new sandpaper and low machine speeds to help reduce surface friction and heat which causes surface cracks. Use successively finer grades of paper. If surface cracks should develop, repair them with "Hot Stuff" or Crazy Glue, available in any specialty wood or model store. "Babysitting" some of your air-dried woods in this manner will help raise yield.
If you're willing to be patient and to make a process of it, you will end up with works of art that will last a lifetime and longer.
Disclaimer: Our responsibility is to send wood that is one face 90% clear. Sometimes cracks will develop en route. Your responsibility is to take inventory and to inspect the wood as soon as you receive it, and to return the shipment (if that is what you want to do) in its entirety within seven days of receipt and upon approval from Eisenbrand Inc. Return shipping is at your expense. Restocking fees are 25%. On custom orders (such as when we have resawn from thicker to thinner boards on your behalf) we offer only credits toward future purchase, not refunds. Practice safe woodworking habits using dust mask, eye protection, and gloves to avoid injury. We accept no liability for use of our woods.
Woodworking projects start & end with wood. Use only the best
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover! When you place an order with us it is done through a secure server. This keeps your credit card information safe!
If you are having trouble with our online Order Form:
Please let us know so we can fix it! Please call us. We have an (800) number just for your convenience! (800) 258-2587
If you have questions on ordering wood:
Call us! (800) 258-2587 We are here to help you find exactly what you need! | <urn:uuid:72599419-aadc-47d8-b971-75528a3d5121> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://eisenbrandhardwoods.com/pages.php?pID=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572286.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816090541-20220816120541-00270.warc.gz | en | 0.944174 | 870 | 1.9375 | 2 |
Accession Number : ADA314283
Title : Coping With Change: Operational Art and Force XXI,
Corporate Author : ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MIL ITARY STUDIES
Personal Author(s) : Cranford, Teddy C.
PDF Url : ADA314283
Report Date : 14 DEC 1995
Pagination or Media Count : 62
Abstract : This monograph discusses the relationship between Force XXI and operational art. It develops a construct demonstrating the Force XXI concept of leverage in warfighting and applies technology and operational art to that construct. The goal of the monograph is to identify the role of operational art in future warfighting. The monograph uses historical case studies outlining both successes and failures of nations preparing for future wars during times of peace. These case studies produce a construct for analyzing the role of technology and operational art in the Force XXI initiative.
Descriptors : *MILITARY STRATEGY, *MILITARY DOCTRINE, *MODIFICATION, *ARMY PLANNING, *MILITARY ART, MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES), MILITARY HISTORY, POLITICAL SCIENCE, ECONOMICS, CASE STUDIES, MILITARY CAPABILITIES, MILITARY MODERNIZATION, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, TECHNOLOGY FORECASTING, AIR LAND BATTLES.
Subject Categories : Administration and Management
Sociology and Law
Military Forces and Organizations
Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
Distribution Statement : APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE | <urn:uuid:634602b7-b8fe-4bde-9e54-0c04989ff26b> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA314283 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280761.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00098-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.750445 | 344 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Study Shows Labeling Reduced GMO Food FearsJuly 4, 2018
A new study from the University of Vermont (UVM) reveals that a simple disclosure can improve consumer attitudes toward food products containing genetically engineered (GE) ingredients.
On July 1, 2016, a Vermont law requiring labels on all foods containing GE ingredients or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) went into effect. But the labels were required only until July 27, 2016, when a federal law superseded it.
Led by Jane Kolodinsky, an applied economist in UVM's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the study compared levels of consumer opposition to GMO foods in Vermont – the only U.S. state to have implemented a mandatory labeling policy – with consumer attitudes in the rest of the U.S. The analysis showed opposition to GMO food fell by 19% in Vermont after the implementation of mandatory labels. The study is the first to examine the real impact of consumer attitudes toward GMO foods where consumers were exposed to mandatory labels.
Kolodinsky's study, co-authored by Jayson Lusk of Purdue University's Department of Agricultural Economics, suggests that a simple, straightforward label disclosing whether a product is "produced or partially produced using GMO ingredients" may improve consumer confidence in GMO technologies and enable consumers to make an informed decision.
The Crop Biotech Update is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. The CBU is distributed for free to over 23,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in agricultural biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
See more articles:
News from Around the World
- Study Shows Labeling Reduced GMO Food Fears
- GM Tomatoes Give Fish a Pinkish Glow
- Biotech Corn Variety Shows Resistance to Ear Rot
- ISAAA Reports New Record-High Adoption of GM Crops
- Australian OGTR Approves Commercial Release of GM Safflower
- New Mechanism for Plant Hormone Auxin Discovered
- "GMOs Are Vital Against Hunger," Says Nobel Laureate Sir Richard J. Roberts
- Arabidopsis HTT2 Improves Thermotolerance in Heading Chinese Cabbage
- OsIPMS1 Plays Key Role in Seed Vigor of Rice
Plant Breeding Innovations
- Application of CRISPR-Cas9 in China's Medicinal Yam
- Ms45 Homeologs Hold Key to Male Sterility in Wheat
- AgriLife Scientists Use Gene Knock in Approach for Broad Disease Resistance in Food Crops
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Chinese Scientists Complete Genome Sequencing of Tropical Sage Plant
- Scientists Develop Biological Switch to Control Genome Editing
- PagFBL1 Promotes Adventitious Root Formation in Poplar
From the BICs
- PABIC Organizes Science Writing Seminar
- Global Congress on Biotechnology
Read the latest:
- Crop Biotech Update (August 17, 2022)
- Genome Editing Supplement (August 10, 2022)
- Gene Drive Supplement (July 27, 2022)
Subscribe to CBU: | <urn:uuid:e05f4825-42cf-4890-8dec-0da5cdb60355> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16572 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573172.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818063910-20220818093910-00278.warc.gz | en | 0.878715 | 693 | 2.75 | 3 |
Toenges Avenue has a three block run west of Carondelet Park. Its street faces are lined with the outstanding 20th century revival-style masonry architecture that prevails across the Holly Hills neighborhood. On Toenges, as with each of the city's streets, the saying that no two houses in St. Louis are completely alike rings true. Want proof for the saying? Take your pick from ten thousand examples.
Today's proof are near-twin houses on the north side of Toenges between Ray and Leona. Shown above is the two-story house at 4079 Toenges, built in 1928. The wide eclectic net of Craftsman practice in St. Louis was cast upon this dwelling, producing a marvelously lop-sided gable and a finely-detailed front chimney. In fact, sight of that chimney caused this writer to take the photograph shown here. (I was out in the field on a subcontractor assignment, surveying garages in the area of Holly Hills north of Holly Hills Avenue.)
The step, shed rise of the chimney is made even more lovely by the red brick trace course against the ochre brick body. That same rise pattern repeats on the buttress at left, except only the shed bricks are in red. Then the red segmental arches and earmolds above each window play a trick on the first floor, where unlike the second floor tried-and-true arch profile the arches are set within a square-cornered head. Delightfully strange, to be sure!
Back to the premise of the no-two-houses saying. Just a few doors east is the house at 4071 Toenges, also dating to 1928 and nearly identical to the other house. Of course, the fenestration, roof line and side buttress are copied, but little of the detailing is similar. (The false stone porch cladding is nor original, by the way.) The brick body is a robust brown, with none of the dazzling drama of the ochre and red contrast. The biggest difference is that the chimney profile here is a simple shed-slant style, with no stepped rise.
Two houses -- so close and yet so distinctly unique! Ah, but in St. Louis this relationship is not news, so forgive this writer for taking your time on just one of thousands of such discoveries across our built environment. | <urn:uuid:36f08591-8161-4b4f-a988-18c05324cbfa> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://ecoabsence.blogspot.com/2009/10/near-twins-on-toenges-avenue.html?showComment=1254796355958 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721278.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00147-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946143 | 493 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Lent Pastoral Letter 2020
By the mercy of God Almighty
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
My brothers, Pastors of the Holy Church of Antioch
My sons and daughters, all over this Apostolic See
Beloved spiritual Brethren and Children,
At the beginning of Great Lent, it is a good thing to reflect on how the Church leads the ascent of the soul to the threshold of the Holy Resurrection. In this procession that we have joined, the soul accompanies Christ to reach His resurrection and her own resurrection, with Christ and through Him. The Holy Church established Great Lent to say that a person is their own master as long as they lean on God. The Church established Lent to say that the defilement of the soul must be washed before entering the threshold of Resurrection. She established it to say that God is satisfied with the one who works to achieve self-purification, taming oneself to become bright and clean.
Fasting is charity, mercy, and feeling with the other. Above all, it is continuous giving. It is not just deprivation from food, but rather a symbol through which we say to our Creator God that we deprive ourselves to feed the poor who is beloved to You. Fasting is giving, yielding and renunciation. Perhaps all its aspects are summed up in this point.
Fasting is forgiveness and forgiveness is a kind of renunciation, and thus it is giving to those whom God has not endowed with earthly money. Fasting is letting go of the anger in the soul and forgiving "those who trespassed against us" until the light of Christ irradiates in us so that we illuminate everyone else. The Holy Fathers have a saying that means: Let us not let the sun of this world set on our wrath, lest our soul be abandoned by the Sun of Justice and Righteousness, i.e., Christ to Him be the glory.
Fasting is a path by which we cleanse the depth of the soul with the balm of Christ. Fasting is a baptism by which we wash self-resentment in the font of repentance. Fasting is a Passover (Pascha), a transition from the routine of life to the spring of the souls. Fasting is a soul that falls on the knees in the Golgotha of Christ to rise with Him again.
Fasting is the nourishment of the soul that draws from its mortification the flood of life in the Lord; it senses in its strife and ascetic struggle the triumph of the Victorious Lord.
As Christians of the Levant, we have inherited this practice since the dawn of Christianity. At a young age, we have learned how to associate our temporal life with our eternal life. We have learned, especially during this period of Lent, how our ringing bells knock at the door of our heart to worship the "Lord of Hosts". We were acquainted with these bells calling upon us up to gather in one voice around the Virgin in the Akathist Hymn.
Our bells and churches these days invite us to blossom with the spring of nature into the spring of a relationship with the loving Creator. They call us to shake off from the soul every obstacle to our entry into the nuptial room of Christ, the Bridegroom of the soul, to light the lamp of the souls like the wise virgins by vigilance, wisdom, love, longing, and discernment amid this world. They shake us to stand watching the richness of a love that has not relented from walking the path of suffering and the cross for the sake of humankind. In the end, they urge us to seek the dawn of the Resurrection of Jesus and to spread on his empty tomb wreaths of triumph and laurel leaves, in commemoration of his victory over death and the glad tidings of his glorious resurrection.
We raise our prayers for the peace of the whole world and for this wounded Levant, which is in travail from pain of its countries and its people from all walks of life. We raise our prayers so that the roaring of wars melts away before the cheering of peace. We extend our prayers for every beloved person ripped away from us by the cruelty of our days. We also pray for all those who departed in the hope of resurrection and eternal life. We pray for God to keep a watchful eye on our homelands, and to be protected from all takfirism, terrorism, kidnapping, violence, and distress.
We raise our prayers for the kidnapped, including our two brothers John Ibrahim and Paul Yazji, the Archbishops of Aleppo, who have been kidnapped since April 2013, under a deep and dubious international silence that grieves our souls and leaves us as indignant as towards the horrid kidnapping itself.
We ask you forgiveness, my brothers and beloved ones, in these blessed days and may the Almighty Lord, who fasted first to guide us on this path, pour his everlasting mercies in all of your hearts, granting us the abundance of His divine blessings and “anointing” our whole lives by His holy presence, for He is blessed forever Amen.
From our Patriarchate in Damascus
February 23, 2020
Patriarch John X meets Oman's…
Patriarch John X concludes his…
Patriarch John X meets His…
His Beatitude Patriarch John X…
His Beatitude John X visits the… | <urn:uuid:00f88aed-3893-4041-9d3f-5e6362fbbd0f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.antiochpatriarchate.org/en/page/lent-pastoral-letter-2020/2355/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00669.warc.gz | en | 0.946968 | 1,145 | 1.75 | 2 |
How to use blur in a sentence. Journalists, professors, and people who just like words might especially benefit from this page. The lines of text below use blur in a sentence, and provide visitors a sentence for blur.
- He comported himself with absolute, with kindly deference to the lady whose more than vital spark he let the gossips puff at and blur. (10)
- His feet, knees, whole figure came into sight, his face just a dim blur. (8)
- The pale blur of her stretched-down arm and face did not stir; he moved the chair, and noiselessly mounted it. (8)
- The white blur of her new boudoir cap suddenly impinged on his consciousness. (8)
- There was no light anywhere, nor any shifting blur of white at her window below. (8)
Glad you visited this page with a sentence for blur. Perhaps also see a sentence for bitter and ways to use blighter in a sentence. Now that you’ve seen how to use blur in a sentence hope you might explore the rest of this educational reference site Sentencefor.com to see many other example sentences which provide word usage information. | <urn:uuid:cafd6a10-1c3f-4f5c-9610-1b5cfd0958ec> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://sentencefor.com/blur/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280410.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00455-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95833 | 251 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Geared up: New female-only auto shop class draws 75 students at BHS
BEMIDJI--A new class at Bemidji High School offers young women another way to learn basic car repair and maintenance. The high school now offers a beginning automotive class exclusively for female students, who split into groups last week and wor...
BEMIDJI-A new class at Bemidji High School offers young women another way to learn basic car repair and maintenance.
The high school now offers a beginning automotive class exclusively for female students, who split into groups last week and worked on oil changes, battery replacements and brake inspections without the been-there-done-that swagger teenage boys reputedly sometimes bring to the school's shop.
Tenth-grader Mariah Schwersinske said she's had a lifelong passion for cars and would have taken the mixed-gender "Auto Tech 1" class anyway, but felt more comfortable in the all-girls "Basic Auto for Women Only" class.
"Boys usually take the lead in the mixed class," Schwersinske said.
The mixed-gender class is overwhelmingly male, and fellow sophomore Serena Johnson said she never would have taken it.
"There's just a really big stigma that this is like a guy's place, and when a girl's there, there's lots of either catcalls or you're kind of treated like you're kind of stupid," she explained.
Andy Olson, a longtime industrial technology teacher at the high school, said he occasionally has to deal with young men who say they know the curriculum already. Others might puff their chest out about, say, the time they helped their dad rebuild an engine.
"Well, they handed him wrenches," Olson said.
Olson said he usually taught about four to six girls in Auto Tech 1 every school year. The girls-only class has 75 students enrolled this year and teaches the same curriculum as the mixed-gender class.
"I didn't want it to be a watered-down version," Olson said. "What we really wanted to do was create an environment that they didn't feel intimidated by." | <urn:uuid:b00f803b-9fc5-4846-a90c-a7ae3f45b8aa> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/geared-up-new-female-only-auto-shop-class-draws-75-students-at-bhs | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573667.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20220819100644-20220819130644-00066.warc.gz | en | 0.978419 | 449 | 1.890625 | 2 |
AUGUSTA, Maine — While consumer debt for most Americans has dropped dramatically since the financial crisis hit in late 2008, one segment of Maine’s population has fallen deeper into debt.
The Maine nonprofit group Legal Services for the Elderly announced Wednesday it has formed a consumer debt unit to help elderly residents struggling to pay off consumer debt.
In 2009, the organization saw a 27 percent increase in the number of people over the age of 60 seeking help in managing debt, according to Jaye Martin, executive director of Legal Services for the Elderly.
“We have seen a remarkable increase in calls from people looking for help with their debt over the last few years — from 866 cases in 2006 to over 1,200 cases last year,” she said in a press release issued Wednesday. “Many of our callers have always been able to pay their bills on time.
“When something happens in a senior’s life, and the senior can’t make ends meet, and on top of everything find they are being harassed by bill collectors, the situation inevitably adversely impacts the senior’s mental and physical health,” Martin continued. “Our new Consumer Debt Unit is focused on helping the growing number of seniors who face debt problems handle these very stressful situations.”
Many factors have contributed to the increase in consumer debt among the state’s older residents, according to Legal Services for the Elderly.
“The two big ones,” Martin said, “are there’s been a big growth in the elderly population in Maine, period. We’ve had more of an increase than any state but Virginia over the last eight years. The other factor is Maine has a high rate of poverty among the elderly.”
Increases in the cost of fuel, food and medicine over the past several years have forced seniors to make difficult and, sometimes, life-threatening choices, she said, when it comes to paying their bills. The elderly have turned to credit cards — applications for which they often receive unsolicited in the mail — then have been unable to keep up with the payments.
The death of a spouse and the loss of a second income from a pension or Social Security is one of the most common reasons an elderly Mainer becomes unable to pay his or her bills, according to Legal Services for the Elderly. Other common reasons are a medical problem or the misuse of a credit card by a senior’s relative or acquaintance.
When seniors seek help from Legal Services for the Elderly, staff in the Augusta office assesses their financial situation, including the amount of money they owe and their ability to pay creditors. Some clients simply are unable to repay their credit card debt and can be made collection-proof, Martin said. Others simply need advice on how to manage their debt responsibly and make modest payments.
“The most heart-wrenching calls we get are from seniors facing consumer debt,” Martin said. “Many of them have never failed to pay a bill on time before. They’re getting harassing phone calls from debt collectors. They’re afraid they’ll go to jail. Just trying to make ends meets puts an emotional stress on that’s so hard on an older person.”
The unit is staffed by a part-time attorney and a full-time paralegal, according to Martin. It has been funded for three years by a grant from the Administration on Aging in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For information on the program, call 1-800-750-5353. | <urn:uuid:1de37118-dd31-4b92-8f75-368e91329969> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://bangordailynews.com/2010/06/09/business/service-to-help-seniors-in-debt/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280835.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00464-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963636 | 748 | 2.203125 | 2 |
On the 20th anniversary of the killing of Italian anti-mafia judge Paolo Borsellino, the United Nations’ top anti-crime official has praised the work he did.
Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Yury Fedotov said investigation methods Borsellino used are still vital.
Borsellino, who was killed on July 19 1992, had predicted his own death, understanding that his fight against organised crime made him a target.
Those who gathered to remember him on the anniversary brought t-shirts asking the government not to send wreaths, as they blame the Italian
intelligence service for his death.
The allegation is that Borsellino was about to release details about a secret government deal with the mafia to end the violence – a pact which disgusted him.
At the time of his death, Borsellino was writing his memoirs in a notebook called the red agenda, which mysteriously disappeared from the crime scene.
His killing came less than two months after the assassination of his colleague and fellow anti-mafia magistrate Giovanni Falcone, who was also praised by Fedotov.
Both men were killed by car bombs in Sicily – Falcone first on the motorway to Palermo, then Borsellino 57 days later in a car park also in the Sicilian regional capital.
Get a different perspective
Every story can be told in many ways: see the perspectives from Euronews journalists in our other language teams. | <urn:uuid:f59ef826-1dab-4429-83d7-c30fb7e7fdea> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.euronews.com/2012/07/19/twentieth-anniversary-of-death-of-italy-anti-mafia-magistrate-borsellino | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560284411.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095124-00465-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977084 | 307 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Submitted by ccbldg on Thu, 2014-07-17 20:45
Electronics giant Panasonic Corp. is teaming with Tesla Motors Inc. to build batteries for the American electric car manufacturer.
Panasonic is expected to sign a contract this month to help Tesla construct a plant and produce batteries for its vehicles.
Initial operations at the plant are scheduled to commence in 2017 and become fully operational by 2020. The facility will produce batteries for 500,000 vehicles annually. | <urn:uuid:3f6c3c43-4f19-46bc-8186-6e173ec2912a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://forums.tesla.com/fr_BE/forum/forums/panasonic-battery-gigafactory | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280266.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00502-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93129 | 98 | 2.03125 | 2 |
GM eyes breakthrough in cellulosic ethanol
By Nick Carey
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp said on Sunday it has bought a stake in start-up biofuel company Coskata Inc. which has developed a commercially viable process to bring cellulose-based ethanol to the market in 2011.
"We are very excited about what this breakthrough will mean to the viability of biofuels and, more importantly, to our ability to reduce dependence on petroleum," GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said in a statement.
GM said it would not disclose the size of the stake or how much it had invested in Coskata.
"Cellulosic ethanol has a significant amount of potential," said David Friedman, a research director at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "But we'll have to wait until GM releases the data behind this and they actually launch production."
Cellulosic ethanol production currently costs about double that of traditional U.S. ethanol, a plant-based distilled alcohol derived mostly from corn in the United States and from sugar in Brazil.
The new U.S. energy bill signed into law by President George W. Bush in December mandates a huge jump in biofuels production for America's automobiles - 36 billion gallons by 2022, with 16 billion gallons from cellulosic ethanol.
"That bill sent a signal to ethanol producers that there will be a demand for their product," said Matt Hartwig, spokesman for trade group the Renewable Fuels Association. "The GM announcement underscores the ethanol industry is rapidly developing to meet that demand."
Cellulose is a structural material contained in nearly every plant, tree, and bush all over the world without agricultural effort or cost needed to make it grow. Switchgrass and wood chips are the main such "biomass" materials being researched today to produce cellulosic ethanol, which is identical to corn or sugar ethanol but needs more processing,
GM said the process developed by Coskata relies on gasification and patented microorganisms to produce cellulosic ethanol for less than $1 a gallon, about half the cost of producing gasoline.
Founded in 2006 with backing from venture capitalists including Vinod Khosla, a top Silicon Valley investor, Coskata is one of a handful of U.S. companies trying to develop commercially viable cellulosic ethanol.
Another is Range Fuels, which is building a biorefinery in Georgia to produce ethanol from sawdust, pine and wood bits.
"Whether Coskata is successful or not, the important thing is that there are companies out there trying to produce cellulosic ethanol," said Nathaniel Green, senior energy analyst at the Natural Resource Defense Council. "At some point, someone is going to be successful."
Coskata said its process uses less than one gallon of water for every gallon of ethanol produced and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 84 percent compared with gasoline.
Tests carried out by Argonne National Laboratory showed the ethanol generates 7.7 times the energy used to produce it, compared with 1.3 times for corn-based ethanol, Coskata said.
Coskata vice president Richard Tovery said by the end of 2008 the company will have a location for its first production plant, which will cost between $300 million and $400 million and produce 100 million gallons of ethanol a year by 2011.
GM said it aims to use the ethanol to revamp efforts to persuade more American drivers to use E85 biofuel -- an 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline mix -- in its FlexFuel vehicles. The company currently has 2.5 million FlexFuel vehicles on the road, mostly overseas.
So far, however, there are only around 1,400 E85 pumps in the United States out a total of more than 170,000 gas pumps.
Mary Beth Stanek, director of environment, energy and safety policy at GM, said the company aims to aggressively market the cellulosic ethanol with gas retailers nationwide.
"We have to get (E85) pumps into key markets," she said. "We think we'll be able to market it at a price that's attractive to retailers." | <urn:uuid:7249d10a-3d52-4cf6-b7d1-dd6177931496> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/29168 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281746.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00292-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956196 | 851 | 1.507813 | 2 |
We often tend to imagine that a technology such as the Internet simply arrives magically in our homes like water in the kitchen sink, or electricity, or TV. In fact, in rural areas, the installation of a high-performance Internet infrastructure is a major task.
For the last few days, road traffic between Pont-en-Royans and the neighboring village of Saint-Jean-en-Royans has been interrupted at Sainte-Eulalie-en-Royans because of improvements to the local Internet system. This road sign announces proudly that regional authorities are building a network in the Ardèche and Drôme départements to handle data flows described as "high-volume and very high-volume". I love their "very" (which is like the Super in Superman). It sounds great, but I'm not sure what it actually means. It's a little like the true clocked speed of Speedy Gonzales.
The photo is amusing in that the building on the left has a barely-readable old sign on the outside wall indicating that it was once the local railway station, many decades ago, for a tiny steam train (often referred to as a tram) that ran between Pont-en-Royans and Romans (in the Drôme).
The telecom boutique of my ISP [Internet service provider], Orange, is located in the former terminal city of the little train. So, I like to think that the soul of the lovely little train [What? You didn't know that trains have souls?] has been reincarnated in my Internet connection. Meanwhile, instead of fixing up railway lines, workers are busy at Sainte-Eulalie installing cables for the Internet network.
Don't let this photo mislead you into thinking that all the trenches are being dug manually. If I understand correctly, they only call upon human diggers when the Internet cables are located in the vicinity of existing infrastructural elements such as power lines, water ducts or sewage pipes. The rest of the time, most of the digging and cable laying is done by the following remarkable beast, whose powerful teeth (like those of a mythical prehistoric rodent such as a giant rat) could convert your front garden into a cable network in less time than it takes to down a hamburger and consult your emails at MacDonald's.
The latest models of mini-shovels are acquiring the look and feel of sports cars. [My blog friend Paul might not agree with me on that question.] The guys drive them as if they were powerful toys.
All these land-moving operations are directed from a civil-engineering base camp at the foot of the mountains.
The place where I took these photos this morning is about a minute, by automobile, from Pont-en-Royans. The antiquated steam tram took a quarter of an hour to make the journey from the bridge over the Cholet (seen in the earlier photo) to the terminus at Pont-en-Royans. As for the Internet, these words and pictures will be reaching the Antipodes, after I publish them on my blog, within a few seconds.
This Internet-oriented blog article is dedicated to the soul of the dear departed old train between Pont-en-Royans and Romans, whose rusty remains repose today, anonymously, no doubt, in some kind of graveyard for mechanical puffing elephants. If only I knew its address, I would love to send it an email. But do dead trains read their email? | <urn:uuid:8fc4c3e9-9105-4c4a-bdd6-142ad0be7f63> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://skyvington.blogspot.com/2009/10/communications-infrastructure.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721405.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00313-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96105 | 715 | 1.867188 | 2 |
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Black (10/15/09)
TITLE: True Colors
By Matthew Eldridge
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One time when poppa was workin’ in the field he came home cryin’, sayin’ he foun’ somebody. He wouldn’ say who, but I knew it was probably my uncle, or what was left of him. Momma held him tightly like he was a child, and jus’ rocked him. I came up and hugged him from behind. He stopped cryin’, not because he wanted to, but because I think he wanted to be strong for me. He wanted me to be strong, too.
Poppa took me by the shoulder and directed me outside and was showin’ me how to skin a rabbit he caught. I noticed him lookin’ at me, but he wasn’t sayin’ nothin’.
“Poppa, why do they do that?”
“Take people from here.”
“What do you mean…”
“Your skin, it’s black.”
I glanced down at my arm. I didn’t see the black. I saw brown – light brown, like momma. I didn’t quite understand. I didn’t really notice my skin before. I always thought it was neat that Mr. Smith’s sons had white hair and blue eyes. I thought they were kinda funny lookin’, but I would never tell them that. For a while, we were all best friends. But when school started, they got new friends and I was stuck workin’ the cotton fields.
“Poppa, is it wrong to be black?”
Poppa paused for a minute. “I guess.”
I felt something like a heavy blanket cover me, but there was nothin’ there. I was sad. I thought about the men in white with crosses who stole my uncle and how they kept talkin’ about doin’ God a favor.
“Does God not like black people?”
“I guess not,” Poppa said.
I ran back to momma and cried in her arms. “Momma, are we bad?”
“What do you mean, baby boy?”
“Poppa said God don’ like black people.”
“Oh, baby boy. Poppa don’t mean that.”
I showed her my arm, touching my skin. I wondered if God liked her more because she was a lighter skin than poppa.
“God does not like black. Poppa’s right, but what he meant is that God doesn’t like black on the inside. It doesn’t matter what your outsides look like. God looks to see if there is blackness in your heart.”
“Momma, what color is my heart?”
“It’s pure white, baby.”
“Are you sure?”
“What about your brother, was his heart black?”
“No baby. “
“Then why’d those men take him? Weren’t they followin’ God’s orders?”
Momma shook her head. “No baby!”
“Then why’d they take him?”
“They were jealous of him.”
“What do you mean?” I was confused.
“Because God loved him a whole lot,” she said with a smile.
“Because he was white on the inside.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel. | <urn:uuid:86830c7d-d54d-4087-bf3a-daefbc41197f> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article-level2-previous.php?id=32320 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560284411.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095124-00459-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97436 | 912 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Nestled among pillows with her black hair draped over a colorful blanket, 15-year-old Jahi McMath appeared to be peacefully asleep. The caption accompanying her photo supported this notion, describing “Jahi as healthy and beautiful as ever, proving the naysayers wrong.”
There was no mention, on the Facebook post that has been shared 2,521 times since last week, of McMath’s death certificate: a document signed by a California coroner in 2013, declaring her deceased after a routine tonsil removal surgery produced fatal complications.
In legal terms, McMath is no longer alive, because she is brain-dead. Her neurological processes have ceased, and unlike comatose patients in vegetative states, there is no hope for recovery from brain death.
The brain-dead will never open their eyes, nor speak, nor walk again.
And yet – with modern technology, it is possible for their organs to continue functioning, and for parts of their body (like hair, for instance) to keep growing. On life support, they maintain a heartbeat.
In the eyes of the law, McMath is dead. But many religions define life as breathing lungs and a beating heart, things that McMath has when connected to a respirator and a feeding tube.
With this in mind, McMath’s family has fought to have her death certificate overturned. After Children’s Hospital Oakland refused to keep McMath on life support, the family moved to New Jersey, where a state law allows for exemptions from neurological death declarations on religious grounds. All the while, they have harbored hope that their daughter – brain-dead for two years, “alive” for 15 – will one day miraculously awaken.
“Plaintiffs are Christians with firm religious beliefs that as long as the heart is beating, Jahi is alive,” read the family’s original lawsuit against the hospital to keep treating their daughter. “These religious beliefs involve providing all treatment, care and nutrition to a body that is living, treating it with respect and seeking to encourage its healing.”
The family and Children’s Hospital Oakland ultimately reached a settlement whereby McMath was released to her mother, Latasha Nailah Winkfield, with her ventilator and intravenous fluid lines intact.
McMath’s family filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital and McMath’s surgeon, Frederick Rosen, last March. The complaint alleges that Rosen failed to note an “anatomical anomaly” in McMath that put her at serious risk of the excessive bleeding that led to her brain death.
This suit’s success also hinges on whether McMath is considered alive or dead by the Alameda Superior Court. California’s malpractice law has $250,000 cap on monetary compensation in cases where a patient died from surgery and as a result does not require funds for continued care.
But if McMath is regarded as alive, and thus needing financial assistance to stay on life support, the award might be much greater if her family prevails.
McMath’s condition has attracted fervent supporters and detractors alike, with her family’s persistence at the center of raging debates about what it means to be living versus dead.
The discussion has been reignited after the Facebook post showing Winkfield sitting at her daughter’s bedside went viral on a group called “Keep Jahi Mcmath on life support.”
“Jahi Will Rise,” wrote user Eno Inyang, who posted the photo. “A recent picture of beautiful Jahi, doing very well, hair, skin and all very healthy, growing into a beautiful young lady in front of her mother’s eyes.”
The post has since been taken down. On Monday, the page administrator wrote the following: “if you are here to spew your negative thoughts please kindly delete your comments and remove yourself.”
While some supported the family’s assertion that McMath is still alive, others gently (and not so gently) implored them to let go.
“Looking beautiful as ever baby girl hang in there you have a huge comeback awaiting,” one commenter wrote. “God has blessed you and he will continue to bless you and nurse you all way back to health amen.”
Another person countered: “I’m sorry it’s modern medicine and modern technology. If God is so powerful and keeping her alive take her off the man made machines and let’s [see] what your God does. I fully understand your fate but it’s time to face reality.”
Many commenters shared stories of loved ones or acquaintances who had been on life support and deemed irrecoverable by doctors, only to be regain some or all of their neurological functioning. This is possible for patients in comas, but not for the brain-dead, unless the diagnosis was incorrect to begin with.
The determination of McMath’s family, however, has little waned.
“She’s still asleep,” Winkfield told NBC Bay Area in 2014. “I don’t use the word ‘brain-dead’ for my daughter. I’m just waiting and faithful that she will have a recovery. She is blossoming into a teenager before my eyes.”
She reiterated this sentiment at a press conference in December, appearing before reporters via Skype with a “Jahi’s Life Matters” button pinned to her chest.
“Jahi is healthy from the neck-down,” Winkfield said, the San Jose Mercury News reported. “She just has a brain injury, and I understand those things do take time to heal.”
Sandra Chatman, McMath’s grandmother, told the Mercury News that McMath responds to requests to “give a thumbs-up,” and reacts to music by wiggling her fingers. The family has not released any videos demonstrating these responses, though spontaneous movements have commonly been observed in brain-dead patients.
These small stirrings occur without any brain activity, but they continue to bolster the family’s hopes amid heavy criticism.
“I will not give up on Jahi, period,” McMath’s father, Milton McMath, told the Mercury News. “I will pull a trigger on myself before I pull the plug on her.”
(c) 2016, The Washington Post · Yanan Wang | <urn:uuid:282c9820-e1ae-44b3-bea5-189656d13052> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://matzav.com/why-a-family-fights-over-their-healthy-and-beautiful-daughter-legally-dead-since-2013/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279169.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00215-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958536 | 1,371 | 2.15625 | 2 |
Pag-Asa Christian Foundation Inc., established in 1990 is a
non-profit, non-stock Christian organization whose main purpose is to
assist street children and their families into becoming followers of
Christ and productive members of society in partnership with concerned
individuals, local churches, government and non-government organization.
Street Kids is a sixty-bed center that provides shelter, food and
educational and vocational programs for children in Angeles City,
It aims to provide dignity, self-worth, Christian values, housing, food,
education, medical and dental care and vocational training to street
children in Angeles City.
of Love International equips and empowers local churches and other
nationals to care for children at risk in their own communities.
sa Gugma Street Children is a non-government organization founded in
1993 which wants to cooperate with people round the world who want to
liberate street children from their life on the streets with drugs and
is a program for empowerment of abused and exploited street
children. It currently operates 4 centers for street children in the
established in 1998 in Iloilo extends its help to the street girls,
the sexually and physically abused girls and their parents by empowering
them through education, formation, leadership training, employment and
is an international organization working for and on
behalf of street children throughout the world. Individuals from
children’s agencies who saw the need for an international effort in this
area founded it in 1986.
is an evangelic mission to street children in the Philippines,
whose main aim is to deliver these children from street life and introduce
them to Jesus Christ through protection, shelter, discipline, care and
formerly known as The Children and Youth Foundation of the
Philippines, is an indigenous Philippine foundation seeking to help
improve the welfare and prospects of Filipino children and youth. It was
founded in 1993 as the Children and Youth Foundation of the Philippines
through an affiliation agreement between two US-based organizations –
the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation (or Consuelo Foundation) in Hawaii and
IYF. In 2002, CYFP officially changed its name to the Consuelo Foundation
and today manages a number of programs in the Philippines.
Inc. (Filipino Integrated Learning Through Mentoring, Inc.) was
conceptualized and established in 1994 to motivate and encourage these
street children to pursue higher education. It was formally organized as a
non-profit and voluntary organization involved in propagating Mentoring
schemes and develops supplemental learning particularly for the Filipino
Home Fr. Luis Amigo
a charitable, non-stock institution administered by the Amigonian Fathers
and Brothers. It is committed to the service of the youth, street
children, drug addicts and wayward youth in general.
Horizons Children’s Ranch is a humanitarian ministry of the
Assemblies of God, Philippines. It is a non-profit organization dedicated
to the rehabilitation and defense of street children in the Philippines.
Cares Foundation is
mission is to
with our lord
and to get
them off the
enable them to
Ermita Outreach Foundation
founded in 1986 is an independent,
non-profit, non-governmental organization devoted to the care and
well-being of street children and urban poor in different districts of
sa ERMA is a non-stock, non-profit child caring agency serving
children-in-need of special protection in the Ermita and Malate areas. It
was established in January 1988 in response to the growing menace of abuse
and exploitation among street children.
Pakikibahagi Program is a foundation established in Cotabato City,
Philippines that provides street education and drop-in and residential
services for street children and also provides intervention services to
young female victims of violence.
Children of The Philippines
(LCP) was incorporated in Cebu City in
December of 1989 as a branch corporation of Little Children of the World
LCP’s mission was from the beginning the same as that of its parent
organization, namely, to help develop “caring communities for children
at risk”, with primary emphasis on education. Little Children of the
World(LCW), LCP’s USA-based sponsoring agency, is a non-profit Christian
service organization incorporated in October of 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia
for the purpose of addressing the plight of street children in the
with a common
is a socially oriented organization established in 1985 from Ateneo De
Manila University aimed to help street children in several areas in and
around Metro Manila whose aim is to develop Christian and Filipino values
and realize these through social action towards the street children in the
process develop individuals oriented in the direction of society’s
Center was legally organized in 1992 to help and serve Cebu City’s
street children and later expanded its services to the other depressed
people groups in the city.
Shelter for Street Children was launched in 1989 with three main
components: a street education program, a drop-in feeding center and night
shelter, and a residential shelter.
Foundation began in 1973 as a community-based drug abuse prevention
and education agency with a practical rehabilitation program. Since 1974,
Preda has been providing protection, education and rehabilitation services
for street children and young people in desperate circumstances, as well
as employment and education for their impoverished parents. Preda stands
for People’s Recovery Empowerment and Development Assistance.
Foundation aims to promote a comprehensive approach in order to meet
the physical, economic, psycho-social, moral and spiritual needs of street
Hakbang Foundation (UHF) is a caring organization engaged in helping
children on the street and in urban poor communities by creating
sanctuaries for children and designing and promoting programs to help them
tap their potential and become useful and acceptable members of their
Foundation Inc. is a non-profit, non-stock child caring institution
duly licensed by the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and
Development. As a Non Governmental Organization, it is also a member of
the Special National Committee against Child Prostitution and the
Technical Working Group of the Department of Justice. | <urn:uuid:c8c2ab90-835e-4f1a-9387-c199aa5e8395> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://danilozuno.tripod.com/ngos.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281574.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00018-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.910525 | 1,309 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Bystanders who witness racist attacks believe the perpetrator will turn on them if they intervene, and laws do not protect victims of racism, a leading expert on racism says.
His comments come after a racist attack on French national Fanny Desaintjores on a Melbourne bus, captured on a smartphone, that saw a bus window smashed.
The video, posted on YouTube, has received international condemnation, and many Australians have commented that they would have intervened in the abusive attack.
But research shows bystanders do not stand up to racism, even when they believe it has occurred, Professor Kevin Dunn says.
Professor Dunn leads the Challenging Racism Project, a national research project based at the University of Western Sydney. He said just 30 per cent of bystanders were prepared to speak out when they heard racism.
He said studies found bystanders were afraid to intervene because they feared violence or vilification would be turned on them. They were worried their actions would be fruitless and were unaware of how to intervene.
He said a large national survey for the project had found 86 per cent believed racism was a problem in Australia and one in 10 identified themselves as having extreme racist views, including that they thought races should be segregated – as mentioned in the video.
"This is a large group of untapped bystanders who could intervene," Professor Dunn said.
He said bystanders often regretted not taking action.
Successful strategies to combat racist perpetrators included comforting a victim either during or after an attack and gathering support from other bystanders.
"Speak to the rest of the crowd," Professor Dunn said.
"Say: 'Does anyone else think that this is out of order?' Try gathering support from other bystanders so that you turn it into a majority view. Make the perpetrator the minority," he said.
"It is best not to inflame the situation and threats of violence are not a good idea. People should not put themselves at risk," he said.
He said racists often believed that their views were widely shared by others in the group.
Professor Dunn said laws failed to prevent racist attacks – particularly attacks motivated by religion – and only when a perpetrator threatened actual violence were police able to intervene using criminal law.
Community psychologist Heather Grindley said it was confronting for Melburnians to see the video but she said it was unlikely to be an isolated case.
‘‘We like to think that these things cannot happen here, but this is not Cronulla, it is Melbourne,’’ Ms Grindley said.
‘‘We don’t have the attitudes of overt racism from 20 or 30 years ago but the undercurrents are still there,’’ she said.
She said ‘‘mob rule’’ where a small group incited violence or anger against others was only possible when others believed there was an element of truth to what the instigators had said.
‘‘There has to be a seed of it in someone’s mind for it to come out,’’ Ms Grindley said.
Ms Grindley said research showed that even when a person said something that was clearly wrong, the next person to speak often questioned their own beliefs before speaking.
Ms Grindley said the graphic nature of the threats, including the use of particular weapons, was shocking.
‘‘That language has to be be in a person’s vocabulary to start with, you don’t dream it up on the spot,’’ she said.
A Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission survey in September found that 15 per cent of reports of racism occurred on public transport.
Professor Dunn said Victoria's laws were ahead of the rest of the nation, although "that is not to say that they are fully adequate".
"I don't think that our laws protect people who are victims of racism."
Professor Dunn is dean of social science and psychology at the University of Western Sydney. | <urn:uuid:5004efdf-8c1c-471b-92f6-ceb95b8b3792> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/bystanders-rarely-object-to-racism-expert-20121122-29rkb.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281649.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00438-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980655 | 812 | 2.46875 | 2 |
Honeybees communicate in several quite sophisticated ways. One of these is with pheromones — scents that bees secrete to inform others where to go. If you want to catch a swarm of honeybees, pheromones in the swarm trap greatly increase your chance of success. Bees interpret the pheromones as a recommendation of the place by other bees. Beekeeping suppliers sell vials of honeybee pheromones but you can make an approximation yourself with essential oils. The key is citral which is found in lemongrass, lemon and lime essential oil. By itself or combined with geronial, which is found in rose, lemon and geranium oils, citral has a powerful effect on bees.
- Lemongrass, geranium and lemon essential oils
- Cotton Wool
- Glass or plastic vial or other small container
- Swarm trap
Experiment with different recipes if your first attempt doesn’t work. Some beekeepers use lemongrass essential oil by itself; others try various combinations of citral- and geronial-containing oils.
Fill a vial or other small glass or plastic container with cotton wool.
Combine 10 drops of lemongrass essential oil with 5 drops of geranium and one drop of lemon or lime in a bowl and stir.
Drip the mixture into the vial. You can use a bit of cotton wool to soak up the last traces. Seal the vial if you do not plan to use it immediately.
Place the vial in the back of a swarm trap, removing the seal if necessary.
Things You'll Need
- Experiment with different recipes if your first attempt doesn't work. Some beekeepers use lemongrass essential oil by itself; others try various combinations of citral- and geronial-containing oils.
About the Author
Judith Willson has been writing since 2009, specializing in environmental and scientific topics. She has written content for school websites and worked for a Glasgow newspaper. Willson has a Master of Arts in English from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
bee bees apises beehive hive insect image by Pali A from Fotolia.com | <urn:uuid:88763af3-96b7-4d3f-843e-1edf5994819e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://sciencing.com/make-honey-bee-pheromones-7555977.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572833.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817001643-20220817031643-00266.warc.gz | en | 0.918769 | 468 | 1.953125 | 2 |
The overall goal of most team-building is to increase the levels of trust and cooperation between team members. A related goal can also be to increase team member skills. One particularly effective team building program we offer is entitled:
“The Several Habits of Highly Effective Teams”
This is a customized team development workshop, designed to bring a manager and staff closer together, as well as and resolve key issues faced by the team. The process often includes:
- A needs analysis and identification of team-specific issues
- Reviewing skills/practices of successful teams
- Identifying key lessons learned
- Enabling peer-to-peer professional feedback
- Sharing style and personal information
- Guiding team level problem solving, etc.
Other team building approaches and programs are also available. Please inquire.
2.Employee Skills Training
Every organization wants employees who have a positive attitude, are good communicators, and who are committed, engaged, and customer focused. Given senior management support, many of these attributes can be taught to staff at all levels and adopted through the right approach to training. Our programs are dynamic, interactive, require participants to practice new skills; and typically involve senior management playing some agreed upon role.
3.Supervisory Skills Training
In many ways, first line supervisors are the most important position in the organization. They influence morale, retention, performance, quality, customer service, cost containment, and many other metrics by which organizations measure success. Yet, most firms do not do a good job of preparing supervisors to be coaches, and to care more about the performance and well-being of their team than about their own personal achievement. As someone once stated: “It is your team that gets you promoted; not your boss”. Our programs focus on helping supervisors learn the key practical skills of managing others (e.g. coaching, giving feedback, setting goals, building teamwork, recognition, running effective meetings, etc.), while also being exposed to higher level concepts of leadership, project planning, managing change, and modeling the right attitudes.
4.Management and Leadership Development
Succession planning, and having the right leadership “bench-strength” (i.e. leaders in the pipeline) is a challenge for many organizations. One related area of weakness is understanding the difference between “managing” and “leading”. While both sets of behaviors and skills are important, most organizations cultivate and promote good “management”, while ignoring or under-developing good “leadership”. Our programs emphasize the distinction, while guiding participants to skill development in both areas. Managers must be good coaches, build strong teams, have good planning and organizing skills, etc. Leaders must be good communicators, align teams, recognize long term opportunities, and be good at empowering and motivating others.
Even world class athletes have a coach. And in most cases, the coaches are not better than the athletes’ themselves at the game. Rather, the value of the coach is in the outside and objective pair of eyes; and in the ability to ask powerful questions to help the coachee reach new levels of performance. That model applies exactly to executive coaching. The coach’s role is to be a confidential resource who can ask the tough questions, have the executive reflect on his/her behavior, and co-develop strategies to become more effective and satisfied.
6.Keynote Talks and Presentations
We conduct dynamic, informative and interactive presentations, 1-3 hours in length. Sample topics include:
- The Difference between Management and Leadership
- Managing Yourself; Influencing Others
- Creating the High Morale Workplace
- Making Empowerment a Reality
- Creating Customer Loyalty
- The Several Habits of Highly Successful Professionals
- Becoming a ‘Learning Organization’
- Making Mergers Successful
- Consulting Skills for Internal Staff Groups
- Developing a ‘Workplace Covenant’
- Workforce Engagement – Making it Happen in Your Organization
- Making Meetings Magnificent
7.Lunch and Learn Presentations
Many organizations struggle to find the time and resources to offer their supervisors and managers the training they know they need. So what is the answer? 90 minute doses of high impact training, over the lunch hour, delivered at your site, for groups of 10 up to 30, for a competitive fee. This is our “Lunch and Learn” approach, and it is a good fit for organizations that just can’t seem to release their people for longer periods. Custom topics are possible, as are the more ‘prepared’ topics listed above in Keynote Presentations.
© Seth Silver, Rochester, NY, 14618. 1999.
Call 585-241-3038 today to meet Seth and start to revitalize your organization. | <urn:uuid:d46737cf-7fc2-4131-8ea5-ef45573ea49b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://silverconsultinginc.com/skills-development-services/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572163.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815085006-20220815115006-00677.warc.gz | en | 0.947085 | 1,015 | 1.789063 | 2 |
I have recently started gardening, using the sq ft gardening method. My soiless mix is composed of equal portions of compost, vermiculite, and coco peat. My cucumber plants have grown up to 5' tall, and has many yellow flowers. It was looking healthy till last week, until the bottom most leaves have started to wither and have gotten brown. In a matter of few days, half the plant is now brown.
Please give me your advise and suggestions, as what I can do at such a situation. Why the same should happen? I don't want to loose my plants. Thanks. Archana
it could be a fungal disease. it could be caused by careless watering/overcrowding or caused by a fungus in the soil.
1. 100 grams of neem cake/manure should be applied in the top layer of ur soil( 1 foot length X 1foot breadth and 1 foot depth) and mixed before sowing/transplanting.
2. only 2 vines should be retained in pit (1 foot length X 1foot breadth and 1 foot depth).
3. the same place shouldnt be used to grow gourds again in the next cycle./follow crop rotation.
1. leaves crop(spinach/cabbage/kholrabi....)
2. fruit crop( cucumbers,tomatoes,egg plants,melon,pepper......)
3. root crop
4.soil building and cleaning crop(beans,lab lab,corns, peas...)
Thank you so much.
The vine is almost gone now. But still I will try what you told me.
I think it's careless watering. I pour water all over the leaves, and I'll stop that right away.
Thanks for the information. Will be trying out the same this weekend.
Please can you inform me where this solution is bought?
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As part of HuffPost’s “Reclaim” project, HuffPost Style will focus the month of September on simple ways to educate yourself on becoming a better consumer.
Most people don’t give much thought to what happens to flowers that don’t get sold at the florist, or that are used as centerpieces for an event.
Natural dyer and artisan Cara Piazza is not most people.
The Brooklyn-based artist work with florists, restaurants and organic providers like spice markets to collect their waste, which she uses to naturally dye clothing and accessories.
“If I weren’t taking these flowers they would probably go in the garbage,” she told The Huffington Post. “The second a flower begins to wilt, it won’t have a good shelf life for the customer, who is unfortunately concerned with the perfection of a first blooming flower.” As part of her business, Piazza also offers a service for brides to turn their bouquets into kimonos they can keep long after their wedding day.
A graduate of the Chelsea College of Arts and Designs in London, Piazza credits her work with natural, sustainable products to a workshop she took on dyeing with madder roots.
Her main issue with non-natural dyes? Their damaging effects on the environment. “Synthetic dyes and synthetic dye houses pollute water streams, creating toxic environments for the eco-system,” she said. “Synthetic dyes also contain known carcinogens such as formaldehyde, heavy metals such as zinc and chrome as well as dioxin, which is thought to be a hormone disrupter.”
Aside from the physical reasons to use natural dye, Piazza, a native New Yorker, says there is an emotional aspect, too. “In a city where everything is so loud and busy all the time, sometimes it’s just nice to feel something that was dyed with nature and was made with love,” she said.
Piazza, a firm believer in giving your clothing new life and being a smarter consumer, told The Huffington Post that while what she does can be done by anyone in their own home, there are even smaller steps you can take toward being a smarter consumer.
“The whole life cycle of a garment, I think a lot of people don’t really think about. Start asking questions. ‘Where did this come from?’ ‘Who sewed my garment?’ ‘How much water was used to make this garment?’ Don’t just buy things blindly,” she said.
Piazza says she hopes to “empower people” to take these practices into their own lives, and regularly hosts natural dye workshops, including two upcoming events in California and London.
Check out the video above to see Piazza’s process above and head to her website, Calyx, to see more of her beautiful, natural work. | <urn:uuid:4a0955dd-ea79-4391-b056-60dec43a9d42> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/09/07/this-designer-uses-flower-waste-to-make-truly-magical-clothing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279650.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00431-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973762 | 634 | 2.296875 | 2 |
With the murder rate falling to a near-historic low in New York City, the NYPD
has refocused its attention on a more pervasive life-taking hazard—vehicle crashes.
In March, the agency revamped its Highway Division Accident Investigation Squad, beefing up staffing, adding higher-tech tools, and broadening its mission to respond to serious, as well as fatal, crashes. The unit also got a new name: the Collision Investigation Squad.
The two dozen officers now assigned to unit investigate the dozens of accidents per day that could bring criminal charges. The unit has been profiled in several media outlets, including the New York Times, which broke the news of the revamp and published an in-depth look on Sunday. Read it here.
Officers in the unit, according to the Times article, "readily rattle off physics equations and discuss throw weights and friction coefficients like an odd hybrid of Sherlock Holmes and Bill Nye the Science Guy."
Additional resources have been added to the unit, including $400,000 in state money from DUI fines the help pay for additional investigations and new "3-D imaging centers" to help with accident reconstruction, reports the New York Post.
The trigger for a call-out by unit detectives comes whenever a paramedic lists a patient as critical. NYPD patrol officers will confer with medical personnel at the accident scene to determine whether to activate the unit, Commissioner Ray Kelly said in a March 4 letter to City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr.
In the letter, published by the Gothamist, Kelly said agency policies have been revamped "to provide our patrol personnel with additional guidance when making a determination as to whether the injuries that have been sustained in a vehicle collision warrant notification" of the unit.
Kelly also said unit detectives will receive specialized collision investigation training.
Editor's note: This special unit profile is the latest in a series of Web-exclusive career profiles on PoliceMag.com. Read more profiles here. | <urn:uuid:afb81458-4eb8-4b48-b85b-d9cde7b5d27a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.policemag.com/blog/careers/story/2013/06/nypd-s-collision-investigation-squad.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281226.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00384-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941443 | 401 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Older people are sometimes abused by family members and often for financial reasons, an academic has warned.
The Dean of Law at the University of South Australia Professor Wendy Lacey says tighter laws are needed to help protect older Australians from such exploitation.
"The first step we need to do is raising the community's awareness and understanding of what is elder abuse and what are the signs of the abuse and then what we need is a system-wide response framework that enables anyone to make a phone call, which would then trigger an investigation by agencies," she said.
"Our criminal laws are currently inadequate or there's a lack of awareness around how they might apply in cases of elder abuse and so therefore we're not seeing the prosecutions coming forward."
Professor Lacey has put her views to a conference on abuse issues which is being held in Adelaide.
There has been some progress in South Australia on the issue, with the launch of the first state-based charter of the rights and freedoms of older people.
It gives information on ways to recognise and report abuse.
A strategy to safeguard the rights of older South Australians also is to be implemented this year.
An international delegate has told the Adelaide conference a United Nations convention on the rights of the elderly needs to win greater backing but is being resisted by developed countries for economic reasons.
Dr Alex Kalache of the International Longevity Centre says the area has been overlooked for too long.
"Today we have a UN convention for the rights of women, children, immigrant workers, disabled people, you name it. The only one missing is older people which happens to be the fastest grown sub-group throughout the world. It doesn't make sense," he said. | <urn:uuid:ba4d68e5-36cb-4e91-9702-b5eae89e9fdc> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-16/tougher-laws-urged-on-financial-abuse-of-older-australians/5525780?pfm=sm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988718309.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183838-00404-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976919 | 345 | 2.359375 | 2 |
March of Dimes Provides $2.4 Million in New Funding
Five Scientists Aim to Make Strides in Predicting and Preventing Preterm Birth
White Plains, New York | Tuesday, March 08, 2011
With the help of funding from the March of Dimes, scientists will study whether low doses of inhaled carbon monoxide may prevent inflammation that triggers preterm labor, analyze the role genes play in causing preterm delivery, and develop blood tests to help identify women at risk of preterm delivery.
These topics are among the work of five researchers that will be supported for the next three years by new March of Dimes Prematurity Research Initiative (PRI) grants. The nearly $2.4 million in new grants is being given out by the March of Dimes to support scientific efforts to predict and prevent preterm birth. These 2011 grants bring the seven-year-old program’s grant total to nearly $20 million.
Louis J. Muglia, MD, PhD, the Edward Claiborne Stahlman professor, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, has been among the PRI grantees since the program began in 2005. Dr. Muglia has been working to identify genes that play a role in the timing of both full-term and preterm labor and delivery. He is applying genome-wide association technology to identify new therapies for prevention.
Nazeeh N. Hanna, MD, chief of neonatology and associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY, is examining whether low doses of inhaled carbon monoxide, known to be toxic in high doses but protective in low doses, can prevent preterm labor associated with infection.
“New research is critical if we hope to continue the recent two-year decline of our nation’s preterm birth rate,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “We’re proud to continue our support of grantees such as Dr. Muglia, and Dr. Hanna, with the hope that they will build on what we already know about the causes and prevention of prematurity so that more babies will get a healthy start in life.”
Preterm birth, birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, remains a leading cause of infant death in the United States. Infants who survive an early birth are more likely to face serious and sometimes lifelong health problems, including breathing problems, jaundice, developmental delays, vision loss and cerebral palsy.
Following three decades of increases, in 2008 the nation saw the first two-year decline in the preterm birth rate, to 12.3 percent. Despite the improvement, more than half a million babies are born too soon each year.
The March of Dimes has maintained an unwavering commitment to reducing the number of infants born preterm.
In addition to Dr. Muglia and Dr. Hanna, the 2011 PRI grant recipients are:
John J. Moore, MD, professor, Department of Pediatrics and Reproductive Biology, the MetroHealth Medical Center Campus of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; will examine what causes the fetal membranes – the bag of waters – to weaken and rupture.
Carole R. Mendelson, PhD, professor, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; will examine how microRNAs involved in inflammation affect the timing and start of labor.
Leslie Myatt, PhD, professor, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio; will study how the intra- and extra-uterine environments turn genes on and off and influence the timing of uterine contractions and the length of pregnancy.
About March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs.
For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. To participate in our annual signature fundraising event, visit marchforbabies.org. If you have been affected by prematurity or birth defects, visit our shareyourstory.org community to find comfort and support. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit peristats.org. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. | <urn:uuid:66be40ee-b9a4-4499-ba1f-7418b125ee60> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.marchofdimes.org/news/march-of-dimes-provides-24-million-in-new-funding.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280929.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00431-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925585 | 947 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Published in the November 6, 2015 edition
MELROSE — Professor Dr. Geza J. Jako from Melrose was a world famous surgeon, physician scientist, professor, inventor, educator, presidential appointee, loving husband, devoted father, cherished grandfather and visionary. He was the inventor of soft tissue microsurgery, laser surgery, modern techniques of minimally invasive surgery and a White House Advisor for Cancer to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.
He passed away surrounded by his family on Nov. 1. He was 85.
Dr. Jako was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1930 and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Semmelweis Medical University in 1954. He became interested in the field of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgery, as his maternal grandfather, Professor Geza Krepuska, was the first chairman of Otology at the Semmelweis Medical University. As a medical student, Dr. Jako’s interests included physics and engineering and he built one of the first electronystamograph (for vertigo investigations) in the world as well as hearing measuring instruments.
As a “Freedom Fighter” during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution against the occupying Soviet Union, Dr. Jako organized the ambulance and medical emergency service, after which he was forced to escape the Communist backlash. His former hospital in Budapest, Péterfy Sándor Street Hospital, is now recognized as the “Hospital of the 1956 Revolution” and two historic commemorative plaques attest to his contributions during the revolution, and in 2000 he was recognized for his efforts with a Hungarian Knighthood.
Dr. Jako arrived in Boston in 1957 after crossing the Atlantic Ocean aboard a U.S. Navy Military troop transporter named the U.S. Marine Carp as a refugee. He completed his specialty training in ENT, Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School and later served on the faculty. In 1962, while at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, he was the first to implant two electrodes into a patient’s cochlear to hear sounds. His pioneering efforts later lead to the development of cochlear implants.
Also in 1962, he developed the first microsurgical instruments for the surgical treatment of the vocal cords and throat cancer. In the same year, he established a private practice in Melrose while continuing to operate in Boston hospitals. At Melrose-Wakefield Hospital he first applied these techniques, which later became recognized as minimally invasive surgery.
In the late-1960s, he moved to Boston University School of Medicine (BU) while also continuing to operate at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. While at BU, he used the first surgical carbon dioxide (CO2) laser that he and his physicist friend, Dr. Thomas Polanyi†, developed. They used the laser on a number of preclinical experiments. The first successful human use of the laser in surgery, other than that of the eye, occurred in 1971. Dr. Jako and his colleagues, Drs. M. Stuart Strong and Charles Vaughn†, at BU conducted the surgery to treat a patient with a vocal cord tumor. Within a short period of time, Dr. Jako had demonstrated that the laser is suited to the treatment of a wide range of head and neck lesions and he promoted the wider use of lasers in “all” medical disciplines with special emphasis on cancer treatment. He continued to utilize the laser in his international surgical practice with patients from around the world at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital until he retired from surgery in 1995, however he continued practicing medicine in the VA Healthcare System until 2003.
In 1973, he was appointed Professor and Director of Research at BU. He received a Professorship in Biomedical Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston and was Senior Lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and conducted laser research in the MIT Spectroscopy Laboratory. In the 1970s, he spent two four-year terms in top advisory positions at the National Institutes of Health in Communicative Sciences and General Medical Sciences where he sanctioned matters concerned with biophysics, bioengineering and genetics. He was then involved in matters surrounding the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 where U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began the regulation of medical devices, at around which time he was the President of the Otolaryngology (ENT) Council.
In 1984, Dr. Jako published the new concept for fusing diagnostic (CT, MRI and Ultrasound) images for improved diagnosis and surgery, referred to today as computer–assisted, image guided surgical planning and therapy. In the late 1980s, in collaboration with his friend Dr. Ferenc A. Jolesz†, widely recognized as “the father of modern day image-guided therapy,” they pioneered and published the new concept of MRI-Guided Interstitial Laser Therapy.
In the 1980s, Dr. Jako was a Founding Member, Past President and Honorary Member of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. Additionally, he was an honorary and emeritus member of numerous international and domestic medical societies and received several international and domestic awards for advancing his medical specialty and pioneering laser and microsurgery. Of note, he received the prestigious “Hektoen Gold” award from the American Medical Association in 1972 for inventing Laser Surgery, the Semmelweis Memorial Medal awards from his alma mater in 1972 and 1984, the “Special Commendation Award for Advancing Medicine” by the Harvard University Senate in 1995 and the American College of Surgeons recognized his contributions in Laser Surgery as the architect of one of the 50 significant inventions in surgery during the second half of the 20th Century. Dr. Jako is recognized as “the father of laser surgery” and his students, such as Dr. Steven M. Zeitels at Massachusetts General Hospital, have gone on to become some of the top ENT and Laser surgeons in the world.
He was an early supporter and member to the Hungarian Society of Massachusetts with his close friend and former classmate Professor Dr. Károly Balogh. Dr. Jako was elected to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2001. His work, entitled “Hungarian Born Scientists who made the 20th Century”, is exhibited in the Hall of the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest. There he is among two dozen other scientists such as Eotvos, Szentgyorgyi, Teller, von Bekessy and other Nobel Prize Laureates.
Endoscopic laser surgery in ENT became one of the most important treatments for throat cancer in the United States, Europe and globally. It is the minimally invasive treatment for throat cancer that has saved thousands of “voice boxes” annually for three decades, and this continues today. In cooperation with his dentist colleague Dr. Harvey Apotheker, they pioneered Micro and Laser Dentistry. With his physician son, Dr. Ronald von Jako and surgeon colleagues in the U.S., Hungary and Germany, they developed and pioneered surgical instruments for Minimal and Direct Access Surgery in the areas of cardiothoracic surgery, urology, gynecology, general and vascular surgery, orthopedics and spinal surgery. This has been referred to as “Keyhole Surgery.”
In addition to his many contributions to medicine, in 1982, he received White House Advisory Positions appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the National Cancer Advisory Board and in 1990 to the three member President’s Cancer Panel appointed by President George H. W. Bush. Dr. Jako is listed in “Who’s Who in American Politics,” Chairman of American-Hungarian Republican National Federation 1970-1974 (with his theoretical physicist friend Edward Teller as Honorary Chairman). He was elected as “at-large Delegate” for the 1976 Republican National Convention.
Over his career, Dr. Jako generated over 150 publications including textbook chapters and seven U.S. patents relating to Minimally Invasive, Micro and Laser Surgery. His patents were licensed to several companies of which he became an advisor. In addition, there are over 120 surgical instruments bearing his name from several different leading medical device companies. Dr. Jako is especially known for his endoscopic instruments in which he designed, developed and first applied the use of high intensity fiber-optic light cables and source in surgery for microsurgical techniques of the larynx. This is now widely used and helped pave the way for modern endoscopic surgeries. In fact, one of his instruments known as the “Jako – laryngoscope” was mentioned twice in the popular paperback version of “M*A*S*H Goes to Paris.”
Dr. Jako was also an avid philanthropist where he donated medical instruments and assisted in renovating operating suites outside the U.S. He loved the theater, the arts and enjoyed playing tennis, swimming, skiing and vacationing with his family.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years Maria M. (Gal) von Jako; his three children; Dr. Ronald A. von Jako of Saugus and his wife Ava, Cynthia M. von Jako of North Reading and her husband Carl F. Taylor, Dr. Christopher R. von Jako of Lynnfield and his wife Sheri; his sister Klara Mertz and brother Ferenc Légrády of Budapest, Hungary. Dr. Jako is also the cherished grandfather of Nolan C. von Jako, Drew J. von Jako, Christian A. von Jako and by many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his older sister, Irene Esztergalyi, in 1998 of Budapest, Hungary.
Visitation will take place on Sunday, Nov. 8 from 2-5 p.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 5 p.m. at the Gately Funeral Home 79 West Foster St., Melrose.
To best honor Dr. Jako’s memory, it is requested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Geza J. Jako’s name to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (https://pulmonaryfibrosis.donorpages.com/tribute/drgezajako/).
To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com. | <urn:uuid:8c23dc33-240b-4e1e-bbbf-f15881bead66> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://localheadlinenews.com/dr-geza-j-jako-85/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570741.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808001418-20220808031418-00070.warc.gz | en | 0.970593 | 2,164 | 1.867188 | 2 |
Immigration New Zealand(external link) (INZ) is the government agency responsible for establishing New Zealand immigration policies.
New travel rules for New Zealand
The New Zealand Government has introduced a new travel requirement for some visitors (including visa waiver countries such as Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece and San Marino) and transit passengers.
It’s called the NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) and travellers need to request theirs via the official mobile app or website. Approval can take up to 72 hours, so get yours before you go.
The NZeTA is required for travel from 1 October 2019.
Visit Immigration.govt.nz/nzeta (external link)to find out if you need one. More information about the NZeTA can also be found here.
Applying for a visa
You'll need need a visa for NZ if you wish to:
- visit as a tourist(external link)
- work temporarily(external link)
- have a working holiday(external link)
- reside permanently(external link)
- study(external link)
The Immigration New Zealand website provides comprehensive information in English about visa requirements when coming to New Zealand including information on:
- Forms and guides (external link)
- Fees(external link)
- Doctors for immigration medicals(external link)
- Where to lodge your application(external link)
A reminder to all New Zealanders travelling to Europe’s Schengen area that visa-free access for New Zealand passport holders intending to stay for more than 3 months in the Schengen area can be complicated.
How to apply
Visa applications should be made using Immigration New Zealand’s online application service or sent physically to the New Zealand Visa Application Centre(external link) in London (external link). | <urn:uuid:7b702f08-1970-400e-bf8d-3acf9db20552> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/europe/italy/new-zealand-embassy/visas/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00669.warc.gz | en | 0.87015 | 375 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Sociology Degrees in Alabama
The information below is designed to help people explore potential careers, and find information about colleges offering related educational programs. If interested,each individual may contact multiple schools.
Also try online schools for sociology, for more choices and flexibility.
Featured Sociology Degrees in Alabama
More Sociology Degrees in Alabama
|Alabama A & M University||Normal||5706|
|Alabama State University||Montgomery||5608|
|Athens State University||Athens||3072|
|Auburn University Main Campus||Auburn University||24137|
|Show More schools| | <urn:uuid:10db104e-956c-4527-8e73-2ff8750d9718> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.edref.com/college-degrees/history-and-social-sciences/sociology/alabama | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279368.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00327-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.751495 | 131 | 1.65625 | 2 |
This species was formally added to the British list in 1971 and my first sightings were during trips to Norfolk in the mid 70's where there was a healthy feral population. Over the years other populations have formed and it is now a species that I regularly encounter in Surrey, particularly during visits to many of the local parks with rivers or lakes. The adults are identical in plumage although the males on average are slightly larger. Both sexes are aggressively territorial, particularly towards their own species, during the breeding season.
During a recent walk around Bushy Park we came across this circular huddle of brown and off-white goslings being watched over by their very attentive parents.
Linking up to WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY. | <urn:uuid:9d32a33a-12d9-4fed-80f2-77c4f22b1519> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://fabearlybirder.blogspot.com/2012/09/little-egyptians.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281331.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00228-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981571 | 148 | 2.0625 | 2 |
An exploit of an unpatched Internet Explorer vulnerability has been added to a popular crimeware kit, a move that will probably push Microsoft to fix the flaw with an emergency update, a security researcher said Sunday.
Meanwhile, a prominent vulnerability expert has sided with Microsoft, which has said the bug will be difficult to exploit in Internet Explorer 8 (IE8), the most popular version of the company's browser.
Last week, Microsoft warned users of its IE6, IE7 and IE8 browsers that hackers were already exploiting a vulnerability in the programs by tricking them into visiting malicious or compromised Web sites. Once at such a site, users were subjected to a "drive-by" attack that required no action on their part to succeed.
Symantec was the first to report the IE bug to Microsoft after the antivirus vendor captured spam posing as hotel reservation notifications sent to select individuals within several organizations.
On Sunday, Roger Thompson, chief research officer of AVG Technologies, said that an exploit for the newest IE flaw had been added to the Eleonore attack kit , one of several readily-available toolkits that criminals plant on hacked Web sites to hijack visiting machines, often using browser-based attacks.
"This raises the stakes considerably, as it means that anyone can buy the kit for a few hundred bucks, and they have a working zero-day," said Thompson in on his company's blog.
Microsoft has promised to patch the vulnerability, but last week said that the threat didn't warrant an "out-of-band" update, the company's term for a fix outside the usual monthly Patch Tuesday schedule. Microsoft will deliver three security updates Nov. 9, but won't fix the IE bug then .
Thompson disagreed with Microsoft's assessment.
"I think they'll have to [do an out-of-band update]," Thompson said via instant message on Sunday when asked to bet whether Microsoft will release an IE fix before Dec. 14, the next regularly-scheduled patch date after Tuesday. "I expect attacks will accelerate."
However, AVG -- like Microsoft and Symantec -- has so far seen only a small number of attacks leveraging the vulnerability.
The exploit added to Eleonore may have been cadged from the Metasploit open-source penetration testing kit. Last Thursday, researcher Joshua Drake added an exploit module for the IE bug to Metasploit.
"We do see a lot of exploits essentially cut and pasted from Metasploit [proof-of-concepts]," said Thompson.
Microsoft has urged IE users to enable DEP, or data execution prevention, for IE7, use IE8 or IE9, or run one of its automated "Fix-it" tools to add a custom CSS template to their browsers as protection until a patch is available.
The vulnerability is in IE's browser engine's parsing of HTML pages, and can be exploited with a specially-crafted CSS (cascading style sheet) tag.
Microsoft's security experts said that it was unlikely attackers could successfully exploit the flaw in IE8 because that browser automatically enables DEP, a defensive measure baked into Windows that's designed to make it impossible, or at least difficult, for hackers to reliably exploit bugs.
HD Moore, the chief security officer at Rapid7 and Metasploit's creator, echoed Microsoft.
"Due to the limited control of the memory overwrite, exploiting this flaw is likely to be difficult on all versions of IE, but the presence on DEP will make it even more challenging with IE8," said Moore in an e-mail reply to Computerworld's questions.
Microsoft also suggested that users consider migrating to IE9, the still-under-construction browser that was released as a public beta in mid-September.
But that route cannot be taken by users of IE6, the most vulnerable version and the one apparently targeted by current attacks, because those people are almost certainly running the browser in Windows XP. IE9 does not run in XP .
Rival browsers, such as Mozilla's Firefox, Google's Chrome, Apple's Safari and Opera Software's Opera, are not vulnerable to the malformed CSS tag attack.
According to the latest statistics from Web analytics company Net Applications, IE8 accounted for more than half of all copies of Internet Explorer used last month, while IE6 represented about a quarter of all Microsoft browsers run in the same period.
Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer , or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.org .
Read more about malware and vulnerabilities in Computerworld's Malware and Vulnerabilities Topic Center.
This story, "Unpatched IE hole targeted by hacker kit" was originally published by Computerworld. | <urn:uuid:a6debe54-87c3-4346-ae62-53bb0f5ce989> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.itworld.com/article/2751165/security/unpatched-ie-hole-targeted-by-hacker-kit.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279410.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00169-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944185 | 1,003 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Personnel doors are basically just walk doors used for passage in and out of a steel building.
Steel Building Personnel Doors
Today, typical personnel doors are made from 20 gauge galvanized steel and commonly come in white or bronze embossed finish. In terms of leaf, doors may be one of the following: flush, half-glass, or narrow lite. Nowadays, personnel doors are guaranteed sturdy, as they are built with vertical mechanical interlocking seams. These vertical seams join the door hinge and lock the edges as well. To further ensure the doors’ strength, companies use 16 gauge galvanized steel channels to secure the top and bottom parts. These channels are spot-welded onto every door’s inner edges, promising a light yet tough frame. Most personnel doors are also sound deadened. This is made possible by building the doors reinforced usually with a kraft honey comb core. This core fills the supposedly hollow part of the door and is laminated to the inner faces of the door panels. As a matter of illustration, this reinforcement makes a blunt thud out of knocking on the door instead of a resounding hammering noise. Personnel doors can be customized for whatever purpose. There are locksets, levers, and other hardware that are just as widely available in the market.
Today, there is a wide variety of personnel doors available. This is one of the advantages of steel buildings - their accessories, whether windows, doors, or vents, are all versatile, adaptable, and easily accessible. So whether the company needs a typical staff entrance or a reliable emergency escape route, personnel steel doors can be customized to accommodate that need.
Nowadays, customers demand that form and function go together in their steel buildings. Here are some special types of personnel doors:
Fire resistant doors
These are an indispensable part of any steel building’s safety and emergency equipment. Fire fighting schemes cannot consist only of fire hydrants or fire extinguishers, there has to be a fire resistant door to ensure the safe exit of the people inside the building. Most doors of this type can resist fire for up to 4 hours and can be further improved with smoke seals to guarantee that smoke gets locked in. Fire resistant doors are ideal for use in practically any building.
These doors are designed to hold out noise levels of up to 49 db and are ideal for environments with high level of sound. Acoustic doors are commonly found in a wide range of places, from recreational places like cinemas to industrial plants.
Steel door sets are specifically designed to fit external and internal steel building applications. These personnel doors are not only good in terms of function; they are also made to exude excellent aesthetic appeal. Companies have mastered the craft of producing steel building doors for steel buildings that are not only proven and tested safe but also pleasing in appearance – two factors that have not been normally found together in steel building accessories decades ago. | <urn:uuid:a6be8607-eaf1-402d-8bcf-f74df3f97e30> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.armstrongsteelbuildings.com/knowledge-base/Personnel-Doors.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281746.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00288-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941541 | 592 | 2.03125 | 2 |
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Tipbook Keyboard and Digital Piano: The Complete Guide to Your Instrument! helps keyboardists understand and appreciate their instruments without getting too technical.
It includes chapters on auditioning keyboards and pianos, appreciating sound, connections, MIDI, maintenance, and much more.
Tipbook Keyboard and Digital Piano includes:
|See and Hear What You Read with Tipcodes|
|Chapter 1: A Keyboard Player?|
|Chapter 2: A Quick Tour|
|Chapter 3: Learning to Play|
|Chapter 4: Buying an Instrument|
|Chapter 5: A Good Instrument|
|Chapter 7: Accompaniments|
|Chapter 8: Connections|
|Chapter 9: MIDI|
|Chapter 10: Maintenance|
|Chapter 11: History|
|Chapter 12: The Family|
|Chapter 13: Brands|
|Want to Know More?|
|The Tipbook Series|
|Table of Contents provided by The Tipbook Company. All Rights Reserved.|
Number Of Pages: 224
Published: 1st July 2009
Country of Publication: US
Dimensions (cm): 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5
Weight (kg): 0.386
Edition Number: 2
Edition Type: Revised | <urn:uuid:94c25166-38c0-4509-bcb3-267c5dc79be7> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.booktopia.com.au/tipbook-keyboard-and-digital-piano-hugo-pinksterboer/prod9781423442776.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279933.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00129-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.79914 | 325 | 2.4375 | 2 |
Half the world’s forests have now disappeared and, according to the UN, a further 13 million hectares are lost every year. Even more has been converted from rich primary forest to monoculture plantations.
At the current rate of deforestation, the world’s rainforests could disappear in 100 years.
Deforestation accounts for around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and is the biggest immediate threat to biodiversity.
Land grabbing occurs when land that was previously used by local communities is bought by or leased to outside investors, often multinational corporations. The land is then taken over for the production of food and agro-fuels to sell on the international market.
In some cases land grabbing by multinationals has led to serious human rights violations, as communities are forced off their land to make way for large scale plantations.
REDD stands for "reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries." It is a financial mechanism that was set up to ensure that governments, companies and forest owners in the South are compensated for not chopping down their forests. Find out more about how REDD works.
Indigenous peoples and local communities are being marginalised in the development of these schemes. Meanwhile corporations and major investors are intent on reaping huge financial rewards at the cost of local communities.
Large transnational corporations including BP, Shell and energy companies are honing in on REDD as a new business opportunity.
Read Friends of the Earth International’s latest report on REDD. | <urn:uuid:45b01df6-2dda-450a-abfb-81fbf8b087c3> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/forests | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279169.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00218-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962466 | 305 | 4 | 4 |
When a driver fails to check their blind spot before changing lanes, an accident can easily happen; similarly, when an accounting professional fails to have a clear understanding of their weaknesses, it can be very detrimental to their career. Today we want to talk about a potentially unpopular subject: assessing and understanding your own weaknesses.
Benefits of Understanding Your Weaknesses
Nobody really enjoys contemplating what they are bad at, but it is an exercise well worth the effort. Understanding your weaknesses can help you in a number of important ways, including:
- Knowing where to focus your efforts for improvement
- Understanding how to work best within a team (e.g., working cooperatively with someone whose strengths make up for your weaknesses and vice versa)
- Being able to give a good answer to the dreaded interview question, “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?”
Tips for Assessing Your Weaknesses
Understanding your weaknesses is no easy task. It can be hard to be honest with yourself. Clearly, you are operating from a biased viewpoint.
We recommend a combination of self-examination and input from outside sources in order to develop a well-rounded picture of your weaknesses. Here are some tactics to try:
- Do an honest self-assessment. Take the time to sit down and focus on evaluating yourself. Make sure that you are free from distractions during the process.
- Contemplate past failures or struggles on your part and what might have caused them. Think about areas in which you have required help on more than one occasion. Consider if there are certain types of projects or tasks that leave you feeling more drained than others.
- Take a personality test. There are many different types of tests available. Oftentimes, these exercises can reveal things about yourself that you had no idea were true. Here are some different personality tests to consider:
- The DISC Personality Test
- The Myers-Briggs Type Indicators
- The Enneagram Personality Test
- StrengthsFinder 2.0
- Ask a teammate to give you a blunt assessment. Be sure that you choose someone who you know will not sugarcoat the truth. You can even consider showing them the list of weaknesses you already developed to ask them to assess its accuracy. If you are not close enough with anybody on your current team, try reaching out to a former coworker with whom you are still in contact.
- Contemplate any issues brought to your attention at annual job reviews. What areas of improvement have you heard mentioned? Are there any issues that are regularly brought up during your evaluations?
Though this process may not be fun, it is certainly worthwhile. Your weaknesses can hold you back from achieving success in many areas—especially those weaknesses of which you are unaware. Understanding where you are lacking is the crucial starting point for self-improvement. Be sure to remember that you certainly do have the power and ability to improve. | <urn:uuid:c67fe262-e8b9-48ea-83d1-3088183a2e17> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.heimlantz.com/assessing-and-understanding-your-weaknesses/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573876.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820012448-20220820042448-00075.warc.gz | en | 0.963831 | 603 | 2.25 | 2 |
A newfound that the delta variant doubles the risk of hospitalization for individuals.
The new study, published in British journal The Lancet, looked at the effects of the delta variant on public health and social measures. The variant has been identified in 154 countries and has been the most prevalent variant in recent months.
The researchers looked at just under 8,700 patients carrying the delta variant and around 34,600 with the alpha variant, which was confirmed by genome sequencing. They found that patients infected with the delta variant are two times more likely to end up in hospital compared with patients with the alpha variant.
“Emergency care attendance combined with hospital admission was also higher for patients with the delta variant, showing increased use of emergency care services as well as inpatient hospitalization,”claimed.
The U.S. has reached a new peak of hospitalizations, with a daily average of 100,000 for the first time since the winter peak earlier this year as vaccinations first became available,.
In January 2021, the U.S. rolling seven-day average for hospitalizations hit around 137,500.
Florida is facing the most severe hospitalization crisis in the country, with 79 hospitalizations per 100,000 people over the past 14 days. Other states in the South, including Alabama (61 per 100,000), Mississippi (59 per 100,000) and Georgia (58 per 100,000) face similarly difficult situations – and also some of the lowest vaccination rates: Mississippi and Alabama each have fully vaccinated just under 38% of their populations.
Nationwide deaths have also jumped by 355% since early July, according to. Louisiana recorded a high of 139 deaths in a single day on Aug. 24. | <urn:uuid:fab86e54-89bf-47cb-bc66-0e35efb791a8> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://timesamerica.net/delta-variant-may-double-risk-of-hospitalization-for-the-unvaccinated-study-finds/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572221.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816060335-20220816090335-00065.warc.gz | en | 0.96556 | 346 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Development/VBA Unit Tests
There is a framework in Calc and Writer to allow testing of our VBA implementation. The concept behind these test allows to write and extend existing tests without any knowledge in C++ programming. The tests are executed during every build by loading a file into Calc or Writer and execute the macros in these files.
Capabilities and Limitations
The test concept only works in Linux so we can't detect Windows and macOS only bugs but these tests should ensure that our VBA implementation will no break through changes in Calc or Writer core. Since these tests start LibreOffice with the UI (in contrast to filters-test) they need much time and will therefore at some point in the future move to the subsequenttest target.
The tests are located in sc/qa/unit and consist of macros_test.cxx and the test files in sc/qa/unit/data/xls. There are also the normal filters-test XLS file so be carefull to pick the right files. The registered files are loaded and then the macro in them should be executed. All macros should test itself that their execution did not fail and return "OK". If there are parts that can not be tested by the macro itself there is the possibility to test these parts with C++ code in macros_test.cxx. If you have such a problem and are not familiar with C++ please attach a note to your mail explaining what needs to be tested in c++ and why it can't be tested in VBA (it might just be a bug).
Create new tests
- Create a XLS test file with a macro that tests itself
- Send it to the qa mailing list.
At the moment there is only one test file that executes anything useful. The file can be found at: | <urn:uuid:3b9709a9-4577-45b7-9372-6a7fc92c7571> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Development/VBA_Unit_Tests | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572908.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817122626-20220817152626-00065.warc.gz | en | 0.932682 | 376 | 2.328125 | 2 |
March 18, 2014
Common Core Jolts Prospective Teachers
by James Goodman, Staff writer -
Rochester, NY - Jolene Walter learned about the shortcomings of Common Core the hard way. Walter, a graduate student at the University of Rochester Warner School of Education, had to try to implement these educational standards last fall as a third-grade student teacher at School 33 in the City School District.
But the detailed lesson plans that Walter used left many of the third graders — and herself — frustrated."It was so much material jam-packed into each lesson. You'd have to rush through everything to get through," said Walter, 23.
Just as K-12 students are struggling with the Common Core, so are some of the local college students being trained as teachers.
Many, like Walter, come to the profession full of idealism — wanting to make a difference in the lives of the students they teach. But they feel that they have to spend too much time getting students ready for the tests that measure the success of the Common Core and teacher performance.
Although a Rochester school official who helps oversee the Common Core said that teachers have flexibility in their lesson plans, the new standards are a source of frustration echoed by other student teachers.
Local colleges are integrating Common Core concepts into their programs for training college students to become teachers — a task that takes on added importance since the City School District estimates that 75 percent of its 3,208 teachers at the end of last year were trained at Rochester area colleges.
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For more news articles, you can take a look at our archive. | <urn:uuid:3e4f482d-2888-4b3b-b4d3-d02a48a3038b> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.roberts.edu/news.aspx?id=1958 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988722951.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183842-00211-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970261 | 328 | 2.59375 | 3 |
The Anne Frank Trust UK coordinates different exhibitions about the life and times of Anne Frank and has regional offices to manage the activities. Apart from this, the Trust has developed a range of educational materials and activities in the field of Holocaust education and anti-discrimination.
The travelling exhibition Anne Frank in the World, 1929-1945 was presented in the United Kingdom for the first time in 1986. Thanks to great interest in the exhibition the Anne Frank Trust UK was founded. It serves as the permanent British partner organisation of the Anne Frank House. The Trust is responsible for organising the tour of the traveling Anne Frank exhibition in Britain and in Ireland.
Anne Frank - A History for Today
The Anne Frank – A History for Today exhibition is touring the United Kingdom. The exhibition focuses on youth between the ages of 11 to 18. Generally a copy of the exhibition can be seen in one region for a longer period of time. For this purpose, the Anne Frank Trust has established several regional centres at various locations in the United Kingdom to serve as support to local organisers. A copy of the Anne Frank exhibition is also used as part of a project in prisons.
Anne Frank + You
Especially for Great Britain, the exhibition “Anne Frank + You” was created in 2005. This exhibition links the story of Anne Frank with contemporary issues relevant for today’s youth, such as 'identity' and 'values'. Visitors are encouraged to think about the similarities between the dreams of Anne Frank and those of young people today.
Peer education in the English version of the Anne Frank exhibition.
Anne Frank Ambassadors
To further motivate young people who have participated as guides to the exhibition Anne Frank - A History for Today to be socially active, the Trust has created a special project. Participants can become Anne Frank Ambassadors, whereby they are trained to teach about Anne Frank in primary schools in their hometown or to act as public exhibition guides at Anne Frank + You.
Since 2002, the Anne Frank Trust has been taking the travelling Anne Frank Exhibition to prisons. Within the Anne Frank Prison Project, volunteer prisoners are trained to guide their fellow inmates through the exhibition. The prisoners get acquainted with the history of World War II and learn how they can transfer that knowledge to others. The aim of the tours is also to trigger a debate with the prisoners on issues such as exclusion, racism and discrimination. For the prisoners who are trained as guides, it is usually a special experience. They develop many skills that can be useful in their reintegration into life outside the prison.
UK prison tour of the Anne Frank travelling exhibition. | <urn:uuid:253f6ce3-8161-4f9d-93de-496f2ebe82bf> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://annefrank.org/en/Worldwide/Countries/United-Kingdom/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280835.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00471-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964664 | 524 | 3.28125 | 3 |
- By Vivien Williams
Mayo Clinic Minute: Optimism improves women’s health
Women may live longer if they are optimistic. Researchers analyzed surveys filled out by more than 70,000 nurses and found that those who were most optimistic had a 31 percent reduced risk of mortality, while those who were the least optimistic had a 25 percent reduced risk. Mayo Clinic's Dr. Richa Sood says optimistic people tend to have healthy habits, and they often have good coping skills when it comes to stress.
Journalists: A broadcast-quality video package (1:00) is available in the download. Read the script.
New research shows optimistic women live longer than their pessimistic peers.
“We have known that there is some benefit from heart-related deaths if people are optimistic, but the way this study adds to the whole body of evidence is that there were decreased number of deaths reported from stroke, from infectious diseases, from respiratory diseases, as well as from, I think, all cancers.”
Dr. Richa Sood says if you think about it, it makes sense.
“Optimism is basically a positive outlook for the future. You expect good things to happen.”
If you’re optimistic, you are less likely to be constantly stress out. Stress does two bad things to the body: It increases cortisol levels, which decrease your ability to fight infections, and it raises your blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease.
“It’s good to know that optimism is about 25 to 30 percent genetic. So what that means is it can be learned, and there are skills that can increase optimism.”
Dr. Sood says you can start by recognizing and being grateful for the good things in your life. | <urn:uuid:0b88e4fb-20d6-4c8c-b2c8-cc92ec316b11> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-optimism-improves-womens-health/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573399.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818185216-20220818215216-00064.warc.gz | en | 0.974254 | 367 | 3.046875 | 3 |
CHICAGO, May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama, after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said Sunday more work must be done before NATO troops can leave Afghanistan.
"There will be great challenges ahead," Obama said at the NATO summit in Chicago. "The loss of life continues in Afghanistan. There will be hard days.
"But we are confident we are on the right track and (what) this NATO summit reflects is that the world is behind the strategy we've laid out. Now it's our task to implement it effectively and I believe we can do so in part because of the tremendous strength and resilience of the Afghan people."
Karzai, Sunday thanked U.S. taxpayers for their support.
"I'm bringing to you and to the people of the United States the gratitude of the Afghan people for the support that your taxpayers' money has provided us over the past decade," Karzai told Obama after a meeting between the two, "and for the difference that it has made to the well-being of the Afghan people -- to our education and health and the building of the Afghan government."
After a separate meeting with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Obama said, "At this summit, we anticipate not only ratifying the plan for moving forward in Afghanistan -- a transition process that will bring the war to an end at the end of 2014 and put Afghans in the lead for their own security -- but we're also going to be talking about the progress that we've made in expanding NATO's defense capabilities -- ensuring that every NATO member has a stake and is involved and integrated in our mutual defense efforts."
The world economy poses a potential security challenge that NATO will be discussing at this week's summit in the United States, the head of the alliance said earlier.
Rasmussen told reporters in Chicago Sunday the austerity measures being implemented in Europe could make it difficult for the alliance to maintain its current military capabilities.
"Today, we will focus on security in an age of austerity," Rasmussen said before the opening of the high-level meeting. "We will ensure that the alliance has the capabilities to deal with the security challenges of the future – even as we tackle the economic challenges of the present."
NATO said in a written statement that the situation on Afghanistan would be on the agenda Monday. The discussions will include not only NATO member nations but partners in Asia and other areas of the world.
"Today's security challenges are global and they need global solutions," Rasmussen said. "That is why NATO will continue to cooperate with partners from right round the world."
Protest organizers at the summit said some protesters were injured in a clash with police late Sunday after a day of mostly peaceful protests. Video televised by WLS-TV, Chicago, showed police striking protesters with batons.
Occupy Chicago, an organizer of the demonstrations -- intended primarily to protest the Afghan war -- wrote on its Twitter page that police had "several demonstrators detained behind their lines, calling for medics. Bloodied protesters being dragged out of sight now."
A Chicago city official, speaking off the record, told CNN protesters identified as aggressors were "extracted" after an estimated 50-75 protesters threw objects at police and refused to leave the area. | <urn:uuid:569e20eb-ff63-4976-b225-b7d7478422fe> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/05/20/Obama-Hard-days-ahead-in-Afghanistan/UPI-54671337530957/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719646.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00126-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962325 | 671 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Ivo Ricardo Losekan
Beneath the pretext of creating uniform interstate charges, and thus ending the so-called “Harbor Battle”, Federal Senate Decision 13/2012 set a single ICMS charge of 4% on interstate gross sales of imported merchandise.
Nonetheless, the gathering of tax within the act of customs clearance to nationalize overseas items was nonetheless full, or “full”, often 18%.
Opposite to what was generally introduced at the moment, as a substitute of reducing and unifying the speed aimed toward reducing taxes, the alternative scenario occurred once more, leading to a rise within the tax burden.
an issue arose
It is because the decision of the Federal Senate 13/2012 made importing corporations collectors of the State Treasury. It is because within the act of customs clearance, ICMS is charged on the full charge – 18%, and when these merchandise are imported to different nations, the decision specifies that the sale takes place at a charge of 4%.
By shopping for 18% ICMS and promoting 4% every, these corporations pay ICMS upfront on one aspect and accumulate credit score balances on the opposite. What many don’t notice is that the credit score steadiness they accumulate can be utilized to repay this ICMS, thus bettering your money circulation. It occurs that the mortgage just isn’t instantly launched to withhold the tax due, which requires the prior consent of the Treasury.
Learn how to clear up
Within the State of São Paulo, an institution that has gathered credit score to be allotted as much as Ufesp’s 10,000 month-to-month restrict could go for the simplified accrualed credit score calculation as set out in Regulation CAT 207/2009. Recalling that in 2022 this quantity corresponds to 319,700.00 BRL (300 and nineteen thousand seven hundred reais) monthly.
If the above restrict doesn’t correspond to the quantity of the gathered credit score steadiness of the corporate, it should select the price calculation technique, in accordance with the ideas set out within the CAT 83/2009 Regulation. This modality is complicated because it requires, by its personal means, controls equal to a month-to-month back-scan of all the manufacturing unit, together with uncooked supplies, merchandise in preparation, semi-finished and completed merchandise, and their respective transformation processes.
Along with the fiscal and accounting complexity, this course of, to be efficient and quick, wants to investigate the authorized hypotheses that create cumulative credit score for tax authorities, demonstrating, along with accounting coaching, additionally an applicable framework for the ICMS Regulation, which additionally requires sufficient data of the authorized framework for getting ready a petition. Sufficient info know-how can be required to generate digital recordsdata within the applicable format required by legislation.
Some methods can pace up the method of granting gathered credit score, resembling requesting a particular regime that gives for the appropriation of the gathered credit score, via a financial institution assure or assure.
Within the state of São Paulo, by its personal administrative process and with the approval of the Secretary of Finance, Ready Tax (ICMS) on import customs clearance could also be deducted from the gathered credit score of this tax.
For such compensation to happen, an administrative course of with SEFAZ is important to first acknowledge or ratify the gathered credit score steadiness current within the firm’s tax books. After recognizing and together with within the fiscal checking account the Digital System for Managing Collected Credit score in Paulista Section, referred to as e-CredAc, the gathered credit score can be utilized to pay the ICS due within the DI – Import Declaration.
Particular tax cost system
To attempt to comprise the build-up of excessive and steady credit score balances, the São Paulo Division of Finance revealed Regulation CAT 108/2015 that regulates the granting of a particular suspension system to droop the ICMS entry due at customs clearance of imported items that can be topic to interstate clearance on the charge of 4 %.
As a way to receive this particular scheme inside the desired proportion of tax discount, the corporate should show, exterior the authorized framework, additionally the impression that this gathered credit-generating exercise has on its accounting and tax ledgers, in addition to the prices that the buildup of credit score balances, each of their outcomes. each financially and fiscally, since these values generate notional revenue and revenue tax on unrealized revenue.
Usually, the granting of this particular regime doesn’t inhibit the continuation of credit score balances as post-grant tax suspension doesn’t happen in full.
Utilizing an exterior mortgage If the importing firm doesn’t have its personal credit score for the tax deduction,
The ICMS regulation of the state of São Paulo permits using credit score from third events.
This may be carried out in two methods, the primary is to switch the gathered credit score after approval, as a part of your personal tax administration course of, in accordance with the situations set out in Artwork. 20 of the CAT regulation 26/2010.
One other means accepted by the ICMS Paulista Regulation, underneath the phrases of the normative instruction CAT 3/2009 and notification CAT 37/2010, is to attach the radars to Siscomex by personal account and third occasion import operations.
The necessities and situations for the implementation of those import operations are set out within the Normative Instruction of RFB 1861 of 2018, which stipulates that quantities obtained from the principal, in complete or partially, are thought-about the importer’s personal funds underneath the order, even when it came about earlier than the operation was carried out. import.
Using ICMS credit from third events to pay ICMS imports advantages the patrons (assigns) and sellers (assigners) as an organization that has a credit score authorised and authorised by the Treasury will recuperate the quantities to which it’s entitled, whereas the corporate that makes use of the credit score for tax equalization, it would cut back your tax burden.
Ivo Ricardo Losekam
– Taxpayer. Director of the LZ Tax Group. Author, amongst others for IOB, Thomson Reuters. Member of the Sao Paulo Tax Research Affiliation and the Brazilian Institute of Tax Planning. | <urn:uuid:cae93349-c454-45a6-b109-eeec537aab56> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://itakios.com/import-icms-payment-by-tax-credit/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573193.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818094131-20220818124131-00478.warc.gz | en | 0.931995 | 1,301 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Aadinath Lokeshwar Temple in Chobhar, Kirtipur, is unique thanks to the hundreds of copper vessels covering the walls. There is everything from plates and cups to spice dishes and spoons. The copper pieces are placed in honour of loved ones who have died or by newly married couples wishing for a happy future together.
There are also several unique festivals celebrated at Aadinath Temple throughout the year.
- The main festival of Aadinath is celebrated in March-April each year. It relates to the legend that Aadinath was found in the Bagmati River and then placed in the temple. The festival takes place on the 8th day of the Nepalese month Chaitra.
- A bathing ritual takes place in April (around Nepalese New Year). On this day, people will visit throughout the day to wash in the water from the nearby fountains.
- In October-November, local devotees make daily early morning pilgrimages for the entire Nepalese month of Kartik between 5:30-7:30am. The last five days of the month are the most important with many worshippers fasting. | <urn:uuid:6eebab6c-e9be-4fec-8933-1f9e8b68cdb3> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://visitkirtipur.com/aadinath-temple/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571056.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809155137-20220809185137-00670.warc.gz | en | 0.954791 | 245 | 2.421875 | 2 |
The Mountain Rats is a collection of short stories by Korean-American journalist and novelist Boklim Choi. The volume gives voice to an underrepresented narrative of American life: the stories of a first-generation immigrant man. Bolkim's stories often unveil new aspects of stories you believe you knew and provide insights into cloistered communities, and at other times evoke familiar sentiments. The title story, qThe Mountain Rats, q tells the tale of a Korean immigrant who renovates a dilapidated cabin in the Catskill Mountains of New York, which he then uses as his personal retreat. As he spends time in the cabin, he develops a greater appreciation of his surroundings and realizes what's important in life. The Death of a Deacon, narrates the fall of a man in the cloistered community of Korean Churches in U.S. Deacon Yoo was a long-time dedicated Christian, but after Pastor Kim s visit to Yoo s home one night, his faith begins to cost him all other aspects of his life: his career, his family, and finally, his life.I took all the papers and went home. I revisited the ... I went to Home Depot to get at least some idea of what was needed for the repair work. There were lots of ... There were various kinds of drywall and insulation fibers. There were manyanbsp;...
|Title||:||The Mountain Rats|
|Publisher||:||Seoul Selection - 2014-09-24| | <urn:uuid:d69cab1c-0c61-45b0-b8ff-0a76e130e39d> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.escort-project.eu/download-pdf-the-mountain-rats-book-by-seoul-selection.pdf | 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 | 0.976965 | 302 | 1.710938 | 2 |
- Limes are in a spiral of hyperinflation, with prices doubling every month this year
- Those hardest hit are working class Mexicans, who rely on limes for their dishes
- Profits are being squeezed and the pain may soon be felt beyond Mexico
Dressed in a white cowboy hat and shirt in the merciless sun, 63-year-old Juan Leana Malpica proudly pulls a branch down in his lime grove and cups a fruit. His limes, he says, set themselves apart by their juiciness.
He has been growing the fruit for the last 12 years and has never experienced a time of such upheaval.
Officially, lime prices are in a spiral of hyperinflation, the national average jumping at a monthly average of around 50% this year.
Leana Malpica says he is receiving an even wider margin for his produce in the state of Morelos. He pinpoints a variety of factors in Mexico for the soaring prices.
"There's the devastation caused by a citrus disease," he says. "Then there is climate change. With the arrival of winter there has been a cold snap in nearby states. And what I feel is most devastating are the price speculators."
Another factor is the continuing violence in the state of Michoacan, a top lime producer. Vigilante groups there are battling drug cartels, with the federal government caught in the middle. Many growers can't -- or won't -- put trucks on the road.
Those hardest hit are inevitably working class Mexicans, who rely on the staple for drinks, garnishes and ingredients for most dishes.
"I normally buy two kilos," one shopper at a market in Mexico City tells me. "But now I buy a half and only use them for absolute essentials."
Mexico is the world's largest lime producer and export markets have also felt the brunt of rising costs. Some U.S. airlines have announced they are restricting the service of limes on flights and Mexican restaurants are absorbing greater costs.
U.S.-based Rosa Mexicano is a high-end chain with 19 locations around the world. They buy more than one million limes a year.
"I can tell you this time last year we were paying approximately $36 a case," says manager Jay Holmes. "The first delivery this morning was $110 a case. We've not passed that onto the guest and don't plan to."
So while you may not be paying more for your margarita right now, profits are being squeezed. If lime prices stay the same, Rosa Mexicano estimates it will have to pay an additional $650,000 this year.
For Mexican producers like Juan Leana Malpica who have not been hit by shortages, all this represents a big payday. He plans to use the profits to expand, upgrading his fertilizer and irrigation systems.
The Mexican government, too, is trying to boost supply. Although the scale of the lime crisis is unique this year, the early months traditionally see a shortfall.
"We have just generated a technology in Morelos which will launch in September," says Agriculture Ministry official Rafael Ambriz Cervantes.
"We will trim the branches of lime trees and immediately apply nitrogen to induce flowering. And this flowering in the month of October will produce limes in February, March and April."
Consumers and businesses will have to wait until 2015 to see how effective the program is. The hope is that the brand of a key Mexican crop has not been tarnished. | <urn:uuid:3e55354a-ade1-420f-8c8c-fb18f86a3123> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/10/business/limes-hyperinflation/index.html?hpt=ibu_c2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281450.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00175-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971676 | 720 | 2.03125 | 2 |
The Nissan Frontier is a two or four-door pickup truck in production from 1997 to the present starting with the 1998 model year. Its predecessor was the Nissan Hardbody truck and this was one of the first hardbody trucks on the market. Nissan's hardbody style was introduced to North America with its Frontier models. Though first available in Japan (Nissan is an automaker based out of Japan), the Frontier has since been discontinued there and today is only sold in the Americas and is manufactured at the Smyrna, Tennessee Nissan factory. Original models were classified as compact pickup trucks. Today the Frontier ranges from midsize to large pickup trucks.
Known elsewhere as the Nissan Navara, the Nissan Frontier replaced the long-lived Nissan Hardbody in 1998. The Frontier was newly designed in the traditional truck body style with two doors and four doors added later.
The first generation models included those from the 1998 through the 2004 model years. The 1998 and the 1999 models were two-door only and four-door crew cabs were added in 2000. The 2001 models received a significant exterior redesign as well with body-colored bumpers, new griller, and logo area in the front, and overall larger dimensions. For a number of years during this time the Frontier enjoyed high sales compared to many of its competitors, and Nissan offered a wide range of power options from more fuel efficient 2.4-liter four-cylinder models, to large 3.3-liter V6 models, and several Diesel models all with four-cylinder engines. These could be fitted with a four speed automatic or a four or five-speed manual transmission. Other options included long beds, crew cabs, king cabs, and regular cabs. There were two-wheel and four-wheel drive options available.
The second generation models received a wide range of significant modifications to the exterior, the power plant, and the interior. These include the 2005 through the 2012 models with 2013 models to be announced. Nissan still offers either two or four-wheel drive. Engines include 2.5-liter four-cylinder models, a four-liter V6, and a three-liter, V-6 Turbodiesel. These are fitted with a five-speed automatic or a five or six-speed manual transmission. The compact body style was upgraded to a midsize and though the list of body style options is not as long as the previous generation Nissan still offers regular, crew, and king cabs as well as long beds. During this time the biggest changes were for the 2010 model year, this is when the turbodiesel model was added and it included redesigns to the front of the vehicle. The Nissan Frontier continued to enjoy good sales the first couple of years of the second generation models, but these began to taper off until 2012 when less than 30,000 units were sold. Production was in the hundreds of thousands. Despite initial doubts Nissan has continued production it is rumored. Details of 2013 models are not available from the manufacturer at this point though some features have been published by third part sources...
The Nissan Frontier is known for its dependability and affordability, with many original models still on the road and prices often thousands below competing models. Later models have become more expensive and today pricing is more comparable with other midsize trucks, but it has maintained its reputation as being a dependable vehicle. The first generation Nissan Frontier models were not highly rated on their appearance but later modes received better reviews in this regard, starting with the second generation changes.
In the power department Nissan Frontier is toward the middle of the pack with many options from makers like Chevrolet, GMC, and Ford boasting greater horsepower and torque, even within the compact to midsize classification. Generally the Frontier is priced below more powerful models however and it is known to perform well in the areas of towing capacity and off-road handling.
Recent Frontier models have been the recipients of several awards and notable accommodations including the 2011 highest rating from the IIHS for front, side and roof strength, 2011 Edmunds.com Top Recommended Compact Truck, 2010 U.S. NHTSA highest side-impact safety rating, and 2010 J.D. Power and Associates Highest Ranked Midsize Pickup in Initial Quality Award.
The 2012 Nissan Frontier comes with a more fuel efficient 152-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder or a large and powerful 261-hp four-liter V-6. The V-6 model is rated for 6500 pounds towing capacity. Models get a five or six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic transmission. 4x2 and 4x4 versions are available across the lineup and body styles include king and crew cabs with regular or extended bed styles. Trim levels include the S, SV, Pro-4X, and the SL ranging from the most basic to higher trim and power levels respectively. Prices range from under 20k through low to mid 30k range and competitors in the price range include the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and the Honda Ridgeline.
The Nissan Frontier has gone from a small utilitarian compact pickup to a relatively powerful midsize. It has come to be considered one of the more attractive trucks available but does not vary greatly in styling from most trucks within its class. | <urn:uuid:ac8e653c-6187-4173-9cf3-f33f81e219e3> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.fourwheeler.com/nissan/frontier/02/page-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988717783.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183837-00076-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967092 | 1,075 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Chapter 5: Networks
Chapter 7: Computer management
|Unit 6.1||Electronic communication tools|
|Unit 6.2||Email as a form of electronic communication (e-communication)|
|Unit 6.3||Social implications|
At the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- describe electronic communication
- describe the applications/tools that facilitate e-communication
- use email as a form of e-communications
- explain the social issues pertaining to ergonomics, green computing issues and health issues
- explain the social issues pertaining to e-communication.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF E-COMMUNICATION
In the past, communication between people was done either face to face, using the telephone or by writing letters. Now we live in a world where electronic communication (or e-communication) is the preferred way of communication. Electronic communication refers to any data, information, words, photos, emojis and symbols that are sent electronically to one or more people.
There are many ways to communicate, allowing you to:
- make phone calls using your computer
- share the same message with many people at the same time without sending the same message individually
- interact with different platforms on the internet and make comments, update statuses or even send messages
- use video conferencing.
In this chapter, we will look at the different electronic communication tools and the different types of applications used in electronic communications. We will also look at email and how to compose and send basic email messages as well as basic email netiquette.
6.1 Electronic communication tools
Electronic communication is any data, information, words, photos or symbols exchanged electronically using a computing device to communicate with one or more people.
Today, thanks to computers and the internet, we now have many different ways of communicating, from sending an email to uploading videos on YouTube.
OVERVIEW OF APPLICATIONS/TOOLS TO FACILITATE E-COMMUNICATION
The following section will briefly look at some of the most popular electronic communication tools.
One of the very first forms of internet communication was email (electronic mail). It allowed users to send and receive messages and documents electronically over the internet. Email is still widely used today in various ways. This includes:
- sending out marketing communication to potential clients
- communicating within and / or between businesses
- sending messages to many different people simultaneously.
Because it is so easy to send an email, users may receive hundreds daily. Email is still the most popular and important communication medium in the business world.
A web browser is a program that provides a user interface for accessing information on the world wide web. It allows you to browse webpages, search for websites containing information and to do activities.
Social media networks are a good way of keeping in touch with family and friends, especially those who are far away. Many companies and organisations also use social media to communicate with their users and fans.
social media network – a network of individuals, like friends, acquaintances, and coworkers who are connected by interpersonal relationships
Chat rooms can be dangerous and lead to unsolicited approaches by people who wish to take advantage of a young person. Do not reveal personal details to people you do not know and always consider safety
FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL (FTP)
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a client/server protocol used for transferring large files or folders. It can be secured with user names and passwords.
FTP allows you to access an FTP site. The site looks like a folder on your computer. Once you open the site, you can either upload files to the FTP site or download files from the site. It is still used for uploading new files to a web server.
Instant messaging is type of online chat that offers real time text transmission over the internet. It is used for real-time communications and is convenient. It mostly uses data, but can be accessed using a network service (such as Wi-Fi). Some of the most popular applications used are WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
Chat rooms are tools that allow you to join a group online and then exchange messages (or chat) in that group. Group chats have a similar structure to a physical social get-together. Group chats can be diverse, are not restricted, and people are able to have live conversations, often about different topics.
One of the popular chat applications is WhatsApp group chats. This application gives its users the platform to create and join a group that has a common topic or interest. Today, WhatsApp groups have become the preferred choice of communications among learners, committees and neighbourhood watches. There are also other social networks that allows you to create groups.
VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VoIP)
VoIP is a standard set of rules allowing you to make voice calls over a network. A popular application used for making VoIP calls is Skype.
The quality of VoIP calls depends on your internet connection. If the connection is weak, users may experience a slight delay when speaking.
VoIP calls can be used for personal voice calls, where users can speak directly to one another, or business and video conferences, when it is necessary to see the person you are speaking to.
A video call is mixed media using video and audio for communication. Hardware required can be:
Blogs (short for web logs) is an online platform that allows text and picture content to be created and shared with other people. Blogs can be in the form of an online magazine or a platform that is hosted on a website where a blogger (or a small group of people) post regular articles and photographs about topics they are interested in. The latest articles appear at the top of the blog, allowing website visitors to easily stay up to date with the newest stories. In South Africa there are many popular blog websites, such as WebPress.
Websites such as the Verge, Engadget and Gizmodo are also examples of blogs focused on technology.
Vlogs (short for video blogging) are like blogs, except that the posts are in a video format. Most vloggers do not have their own vlog websites, but rather place videos on popular video sharing websites like YouTube and Facebook TV. Some Vloggers have an audience of millions of viewers, meaning that their video posts have received billions of views.
A webinar is similar to a seminar, but it is hosted online. Webinars are usually used to deliver lectures, presentations or workshops to a group of people over the internet. They are mostly scheduled for a specific time.
Webinars are now commonly used in an online learning platform by many educational institutions. These webinars enable students to attend classes without physically going to a classroom.
Activity 6.1 Individual activity
6.1.1Match column A with column B. Only write the question number and the alphabet letter, e.g. 1 – M.
6.1.2Your grandparents have decided to join the online world! Their motivation: close family members recently moved overseas, and they want to keep in touch. They got a pamphlet that says the following and then gives some options for three Internet plans, option 1, 2 and 3.
VoIP (e.g. Skype or FaceTime) helps users stay in touch with family and friends by giving video messaging at little to no cost. Users can make high-quality audio and video calls to people anywhere in the world.
Now, your grandfather wants to understand the terminology to make an informed decision. He gave you a list of questions that he needs explained before making a decision.
a.Explain why one would need an internet plan to be able to communicate with family over the internet?
b.Expand on the acronym VoIP.
c.Give one or two disadvantages of having VoIP.
d.List three ways that email can be used.
e.If a friend wants to upload some books for you to read, how would they do it?
f.Your grandfather wants to know what the free night-surfer data is all about. Explain what it meant by this concept, why it is used as a selling point and whether your grandfather is likely to benefit from this aspect.
g.Would all three these options automatically be available in the neighbourhood where your grandfather lives? Explain your answer.
6.2 Email as a form of e-communication
In this unit, you will learn how to use email to communicate online. In addition, you will also learn about the following:
- the different uses of emails
- email accounts (internet service provider (ISP) and web-based)
- email addresses
- how to use email (best practices) .
COMPONENTS OF AN EMAIL ADDRESS
In order to receive emails, you need an email account and address, which will enable you to send and receive emails. Whomever you wish to communicate with, will also need their own email address.
An email address is a unique identifier of who owns an email account. It is important to understand how to type an email address correctly because, if entered incorrectly, the email will not be delivered to the intended recipient and might end up being sent to the incorrect person!
Email addresses are always written in a standard format. This standard format consists of two parts: a local-part (or user name) and a domain-part. These two parts are separated by the symbol, @. The local part of an email address is used by the receiving mail server to determine where the email must go and what must be done with it after it arrived at its destination.
The the email address email@example.com is explained below.
EMAIL ACCOUNTS: ISP AND WEB-BASED
When looking for an email service provider, you will first need to consider whether you want to use a web-based or an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to manage your emails. Because both have their advantages and limitations, which one you choose will depend on how much money you are willing to spend and how important it is for you to maintain your email account.
Table 6.1 compares the advantages and disadvantages of each type of email account.
Did you know
The top current webmail providers are Google’s Gmail, Yahoo and Microsoft’s Outlook. These are most commonly used because they allow you to access your email account from anywhere in the world, provided that you have an internet connection. You can also access webmail from a mobile device!
PARTS OF AN EMAIL
To: The recipient’s address
Cc (carbon copy): Lets all recipients see the email addresses of everyone the message was sent to.
Bcc (blind carbon copy): The identities of the other recipients will not be shown.
Subject: The title of the email, used to gain the attention of the recipients.
Attachment: Files that you want to share with the recipient.
HOW EMAIL WORKS
The following happens when an email is sent:
The QR code alongside will explain in detail how email works.
HOW EMAIL WORKS
HOW TO USE EMAIL (BEST PRACTICES)
Whenever you communicate on the internet – whether it is via email, instant messaging or by posting a blog – it is important that you follow proper netiquette. This will not only make the internet a more pleasant place for everyone, it will also save you from potential embarrassment in the future!
The following are some guidelines you can follow when communicating on the internet:
- Show people on the internet the same respect you would show to them in real life.
- Do not say things to people you would not say to them in real life.
- Do not post things on the internet that you would not want your mother or future boss to see.
- Things posted on the internet often last forever. This means that things you post as a teenager or young adult can negatively affect the rest of your life.
- Make sure your messages are clearly written and easy to understand.
- When joining an existing conversation, speak about subjects relevant to the topic.
- Try to make useful contributions and help people out on the internet.
- If you need help from the internet, do not expect other people to do all the work for you. Do as much work as you can before asking your question.
- See if there are existing conversations about your topic before starting new conversations.
- Do not spam people! Do not post the same advertisement repeatedly.
While the tips covered in this section are generally good guidelines, it is important to note that netiquette differs from site to site and changes rapidly without notice. When joining a new website, spend some time figuring out what is acceptable behaviour on that website before sending out your messages.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF E-COMMUNICATION
E-communications has many advantages over traditional modes of communication as well as disadvantages. We will look at these in terms of accuracy, time, distance, communication costs and speed.
ADVANTAGES OF EMAIL
- Provides a written record of a communication, which is available for a long time.
- Is inexpensive to send and receive email messages.
- Can be sent from anywhere in the world and at any time provided you have an internet connection.
- It is an environmentally friendly alternative to sending regular mail.
- Can be typed and temporarily stored and sent at a later stage.
DISADVANTAGES OF EMAIL
- Email attachments can be used to spread viruses.
- Spam (electronic junk mail i.e. advertising) is a big problem. Over time many institutions will acquire your email address and start sending advertisements to you via email.
6.2.1Fill in the missing words in the crossword puzzle below.
6.2.2Your friend has bought a new computer; he has a modem-router combination. He wants to connect to the internet to chat to his friends. Answer the following questions:
a.The priority is being able to receive and send email. List any additional hardware that he might need to accomplish this and briefly explain the function or purpose of the hardware.
b.Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of e-mail accounts (web-based or ISP-based).
c.Your friend has never actually sent email his entire life, but he has heard of people referring to something called Netiquette. Give the owner THREE practical rules of netiquette when it comes to sending out emails.
6.2.3Mpho sent Vusi a document via email. What can Vusi do to make sure that he gets the document without viruses?
6.3 Social implications
ERGONOMICS, GREEN COMPUTING AND HEALTH ISSUES
Using computers every day may result in several long-term health problems. This unit will look at the most significant health problems associated with computer use, before providing you with some tips on how to reduce the health risks associated with the daily use of computers. Regular computer use is not just bad for your own health, but also for the health of the environment. The last part of this unit will therefore look at green computing, and its importance to the environment.
green computing – the environmentally responsible and eco-friendly use of computers and their resources
Ergonomics is the study or science of how humans interact with man-made objects and then creating products to increase productivity, reduce discomfort and reduce injuries. In our modern environment these products include, keyboards, a mouse, computer desks and chairs.
COMPUTER DESK SETUP ERGONOMICS
Key ergonomic guidelines for safe computer usage include:
- Sit up straight with your back perpendicular to the ground.
- Your forearms should be at the same height as your mouse and keyboard.
- Your feet should be placed firmly on the ground or on a footrest.
- The back of your chair, height of your chair and height of your armrest should be adjusted to support your body in this position.
- Your monitor should be positioned at eye level and roughly 50 cm away from you. You may need to place something under your monitor to increase its height.
- Your monitor should be tilted to reduce glare.
- You should stand-up and take regular breaks while using the computer.
Did you know
Energy Star is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency. Energy Star provides simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions to save money and reduce emissions. https://www.energystar.gov/
Green computing aims to reduce the environmental impact of the daily use of computers. Below are some examples of green computing:
- Using bio-degradable materials
- Using low-power devices (LED backlit screen, Solid State Drives (SSD))
- Using a power management function on your computing device.
While it is probably not bad for your health to use a computer for a few minutes every day, spending hours in front of the computer every day can be bad for your health. The most common health problems associated with regular computer use include:
- Back and neck pain: sitting hunched forward or lying back in your chair can cause both back pain and neck pain.
- Hand or arm pain: this is caused by the overuse of a mouse and keyboard.
- Eyestrain: by focusing your eyes for hours on the screen.
- Obesity: inactivity sitting behind the computer for extended periods of time.
- Computer stress: being anxious or nervous when a computer malfunctions or does not perform optimally as expected.
Frequent use of a computer keyboard can increase the risk of:
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI): a general term used to describe the pain felt in muscles, nerves and tendons caused by repetitive movement and overuse.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS): a condition that causes numbness, tingling and other symptoms in the hand and arm.
6.3.1Choose a term/concept from COLUMN B that matches a description in COLUMN A. Write only the letter next to the question number (e.g. 1– A). Some of the questions (column A) may have more than one correct answer (column B)
6.3.2Which rules of ergonomics do you normally follow, and which rules do you break?
6.3.3Your mother has recently started working in an office environment. After the first month, she started complaining about regular headaches and back pain that you believe may be the result of poor ergonomics. Based on this information answer the following questions:
a.What is ergonomics?
b.How can poor ergonomics cause back pain?
c.How can headaches be caused by poor ergonomics?
d.Which five tips would you give your mother to help reduce her pain?
e.What are the advantages of using a standing desk? Could a standing desk help your mother?
6.3.4The image below shows the general structure for Google’s data centres.
To reduce their impact on the environment as well as their cost, Google has invested millions of Rand to improve the power use effectiveness (or PUE) of their data centres. As a result, Google’s data centres are 50% more energy efficient than the average data centre. Based on this information, answer the following questions.
a.Why is it important that data centres are energy efficient?
b.How does computer-use result in more greenhouse gasses being emitted?
c.Name four things that you, as a normal computer user, can do to conserve energy?
6.3.5Computing devices, including mobile phones, are mostly made of nonbiodegradable substances such as plastic. Think of two green computing practices that you could follow when buying a new mobile phone when your old one is still in good working order. Explain them.
CONSOLIDATION ACTIVITY Chapter 6: Electronic communications
1.Choose the correct answer.
a.Which one of the following is a use of video calling.
i.Allows you to see the person you are speaking to
ii.Allows you to give a presentation to a group of people over the internet
iii.Allows you to share media to people who couldn’t attend a function
iv.All of the above
b.This is an article posted in video format.
iv.None of the above.
c.What does FTP stand for?
i.File transfer process
ii.File transfer progress
iii.File transfer protocol
iv.File transfer practice
d.Which one of the following is untrue of emails.
i.Emails are usually short and to the point
ii.Email is more formal than messages
iii.Used for communicating within a business
iv.The recipient receives an email within seconds after it is sent
2.Choose the answer and write ‘true’ or ‘false’ next to the question number. Correct the statement if it is FALSE. Change the word(s) in bold to make the statement TRUE where necessary.
a.A web browser like Chrome or Firefox is designed to open and view websites.
b.Etiquette is having good manners when communicating on the internet.
c.VoIP is also used when lessons are presented over the internet.
d.A vlog i s a website where one person (or a small group of people) write regular articles about topics they are interested in.
e.The first step to communicating electronically is to make sure you have an account with the online service provider you would like to use.
3.Answer the following questions in your own words.
a.VoIP will be used for video calls over the Internet. Briefly discuss TWO possible problems that could be experienced when using VoIP.
b.List any TWO advantages of instant messaging.
c.Give a brief description of a chatroom and how it is an e-communication tool.
d.List any TWO uses of websites.
e.One of the world’s most popular types of websites are social network websites (or social networks).
i.Describe what a social network is and how it is used.
ii.Give ONE advantage of a social network.
f.Answer the questions based on the figure below:
i.What is the difference between Cc and Bcc in an email?
ii.List ANY three netiquette rules that have been violated.
g.Briefly explain what a blog is.
h.Briefly explain how a webinar is an example of an e-communication tool.
i.Email is a e-communication tool that allows you to send text messages. Give other THREE uses email has.
4.Mr Knowitall’s family’s Internet service provider is Bluedot. As part of their contract, the Knowitall family receives one free email address. Should they need more email addresses, they need to pay an additional fee per month for each additional email address. Mr Knowitall has a business organising weddings and outdoor events and the business name is Rain! Events
a.Suggest a suitable domain and thus an email address for Mr Knowitall’s business.
b.Mr Knowitall needs to make a few calls to a potential client in Brazil. Briefly explain to Mr Knowitall how he can make these calls without wasting a lot of money. State ONE disadvantage of this type of tool.
c.How would Mr Knowitall avoid viruses getting on to his computer via attachments to his emails?
d.Mr Knowitall finds that he Is getting a lot of junk mail. Explain what junk mail is.
e.Explain how do the senders of the junk email know Mr Knowitall’s email address.
5.Jonathan has recently been employed by ABC Corporation. He has just read some of the rules around the use of email at the company.
a.Jonathan is rather upset when he reads that the company reserves the right to monitor all employee emails. Comment on whether you think this is an ethical practice.
b.The company has placed a limit on the size of the attachments that can be sent via email. Explain why this restriction has been put in place.
c.What could the company do so that it would no longer really matter what the size of the email attachments are?
Chapter 5: Networks
|Table of Contents||
Chapter 7: Computer management | <urn:uuid:bf8a177f-3b24-4a4d-9097-6937fcae01b2> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.siyavula.com/read/it/grade-10-it/electronic-communications/06-electronic-communications | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572908.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817122626-20220817152626-00066.warc.gz | en | 0.925938 | 5,279 | 3.671875 | 4 |
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Bostons possess a selection of common health issues. They simply get over-heated when they're pushed too hard. As said before, they can also be painful and sensitive to extreme weather and any weather thats too warm or too cold can keep them with breathing difficulties. Center tumors and skin tumors are extremely common with this particular breed. So you must carry the dog to your vet frequently.
Still another problem you must watch out for can be a skull defect. It usually develops a bone defect that prevents the brain from developing, In case a Boston terrier is defectively bred. This, normally, can lead to a dog.. | <urn:uuid:4b5a4d55-e3af-4e90-a2bd-060d39fca5e6> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://viewsite333nye7.wallinside.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281746.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00291-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971807 | 708 | 1.773438 | 2 |
The Village of Memramcook is the latest group to take a stand against shale gas development in the province.
Village council unanimously passed a motion Monday night, calling on the New Brunswick government to bring in a moratorium on all exploration and drilling until the concerns of residents are addressed.
Mayor Donald O. LeBlanc said council took about a year to consider the issue, collecting and reviewing information.
But with the election coming up on May 14, council members wanted to take a position, he said.
"I think it adds Memramcook to the list of different organizations — a couple of weeks ago we had the doctors asking for [a moratorium on] shale gas — so maybe we're sending a message to other municipalities of taking a stand and that's what we are [doing]."
LeBlanc said the crowd in council chambers applauded when the motion was passed.
He estimates about three-quarters of Memramcook residents are opposed to shale gas development. He said many have signs on their front lawns that read: "Say no shale gas."
Among those opposed is Patricia Léger, of the group Memramcook Action, which has been lobbying for a moratorium on shale gas development.
"I'm really proud of them," she said. "I think it's a brave move and there are other communities that have taken a stand, but we're proud that we're the first French community and we hope that it sets an example for other people to present to council because if you don't pose the question, they might not take the stand that they might be perfectly willing to take."
Léger calls the moratorium a victory.
"Government's responsibility on every level is to protect its citizens and its environment from harm. And I feel that that got done last night and I think we have to celebrate those moments," she said.
"Personally I feel, you know, when I go out my door and I can see Albert County and the trees and everything and the environment can't protect itself, it needs people to stand up."
Alward's government has faced mounting criticism in the last year over shale gas exploration and the use of the controversial hydraulic fracturing process.
Hydro-fracking is a process where exploration companies inject a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the ground, creating cracks in shale rock formations. That process allows companies to extract natural gas from areas that would otherwise go untapped.
Opponents of the process say it could have a negative effect on local water supplies and many of them have held protests across the province.
The Opposition Liberals have repeatedly called for a moratorium on shale gas activities in the province.
Energy critic Brian Kenny has said a recent poll shows more than 80 per cent of New Brunswickers want a moratorium.
The Conservation Council of New Brunswick filed a 16,000-signature petition, calling on the government to abandon its plans for shale gas exploration.
Last month, the New Brunswick College of Family Physicians also called for a moratorium until more research is done.
The group, which represents about 700 family doctors in the province, is concerned about the potential contamination of public water supplies, as well as possible air pollution or toxic spills.
Four scientists at the University of New Brunswick have released an opinion paper, saying they have water-related concerns if hydro-fracking is used to extract shale gas.
Their concerns include the amount of fresh water required and the treatment needed for waste water.
Premier David Alward have committed to introducing an environmental protection plan this spring that would cover industrial developments.
Alward has said he wants to impose the continent’s toughest shale gas regulations on companies working in the province.
Meanwhile, Windsor Energy Inc. has been granted a five-year lease to continue exploring for oil and natural gas in southern New Brunswick.
Drilling could begin next year, with government approval, the company's chief executive officer Khalid Amin has said. | <urn:uuid:58f90f60-6cdd-4f8a-9c90-2779577db242> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/memramcook-calls-for-shale-gas-moratorium-1.1267456 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280587.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00566-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964944 | 803 | 1.953125 | 2 |
AGILE in Employee Skill Development
Skill Development through training and workshops were traditionally followed in most of the organizations to improve skills of the workforce. The skilled workers add value for the organization and one’s career growth. New tools and technologies flood the market in the 21st century and it becomes mandatory for any organization to plan for continuously training the employees to meet the market requirements.
The most important stage in the training process is to identify the skills to be developed based on the market studies and job needs. On the basis of the skill levels of the employee, organizations create training plans and define milestones. During training, it is required to continuously assess the skills and customize the training content.
A software platform is the need of the hour to support continuous skill assessment and development. A model of stages in Skill Development is shown in the underneath diagram. | <urn:uuid:cea91662-5015-4a20-b175-e4cdb3cee1dc> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.altencalsoftlabs.com/blogs/2016/03/22/agilie-in-employee-skill-development/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988717963.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183837-00375-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963589 | 170 | 2.390625 | 2 |
Pope Benedict XVI is set to arrive in Africa Tuesday for his first visit to the continent since becoming the head of the Roman Catholic Church four years ago.
Aboard the Alitalia plane headed to Yaounde, Cameroon, the pope told reporters that the distribution of condoms is not the answer in the fight against AIDS in Africa, according to The Associated Press.
"You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms," he said. "On the contrary, it increases the problem."
Benedict also stressed that the church is in the forefront of the battle against AIDS in Africa, as reported by AP.
The pope will visit Cameroon and Angola in a seven-day pilgrimage and is due to hold mass with 100,000 Catholics later in the week. He is expected to meet with political leaders in both African nations.
Speaking to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, the pope said he wished to embrace the whole continent of Africa with all of its differences and that he had the victims of hunger and injustice in his mind.
John Baptiste Odama, the Archbishop of Gulu Diocese in Uganda, told VOAnews that the Pope’s visit would bring hope and encouragement to suffering Africans.
"In Cameroon, the Pope is coming to give to the Church in Africa the agenda for the next synod (a council or assembly of church officials) of bishops of Africa," Odama said.
"That means the agenda for discussion for the African bishops in Rome next September or October about the Church in Africa in service to reconciliation, justice and peace," he continued. "That is the purpose of his visit. Of course, he's coming to give hope to the people of Africa who have been very seriously affected by so many unfortunate situations, economical, political."
The pope is also expected to raise the issue of human rights in Africa, although he is not expected to “point the finger” at specific individuals or governments.
Paul Biya, who has been president of Cameroon for almost 27 years has been criticized by Amnesty International for leading a government which represses political opposition through killings and torture. Cameroon and Angola have also faced criticism for corruption in their governments.
"Certainly he [the Pope] will address these issues as general setbacks for Africa to which he will call the attention of Africa as a whole and the leaders to direct their people together to address these issues," Odama noted. "I don't think he's coming for finger-pointing as such."
Odama added that the church had not done enough to help solve the issues of poverty and disease in Africa, but was optimistic that the pope introducing a synod on reconciliation, justice and peace would help redress that.
"As far as the faith is concerned, there is some growth in that," the archbishop said. "The church is on the better side in Africa. But as far as agitation of political, economic and things, we are rather on the negative side because many of our countries are infected by civil strives and continuous wars therefore causing more suffering to the citizens.
"Many countries are below poverty line in economic sense; there is a lot of this illiteracy situation in Africa, poor agriculture, hunger, migration, permanent refugees, corruption and the HIV/Aids."
He continued, "From my own outlook, we have done quite a lot, but not enough to really address the issues to logical conclusion. We have a lot more to do and that is the purpose of the forthcoming synod on Africa. It is meant to re-awaken and strengthen our determination to speak and act also in favor of addressing what I call the setbacks for Africa.” | <urn:uuid:6662d655-74a0-47ed-bb38-b38367e5c7ad> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.christianpost.com/news/pope-to-address-justice-human-rights-in-africa-37533/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988720000.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183840-00024-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983033 | 751 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Successfully pass the free certification exam at IW Academy and become an Infinet Certified Engineer.
In this chapter are presented the basic troubleshooting actions to be taken in case a problem occurs to the wireless link. The general fault classification can be checked below and the detailed indications for fault handling are described in the subsequent sections.
- The wireless link is down (it got lost)
- No access to the local unit
- Expected capacity is not met
- Errors on the wireless link, throughput fluctuations
- No data is being transferred
- Emergence Repair Console - the management of the unit is lost
- For each radio link, the local unit will be considered the one closest to the monitoring center and the remote unit will be its peer end like in the picture below.
- If the radio link (between the local unit and the remote unit) or the Ethernet connection (between the monitoring center and the local unit) become unavailable, all units/equipment behind the failure point will be unreachable. The debugging should begin in this case, at the unit that is closest to the failure point and has management access. | <urn:uuid:337f8a90-29a8-4d69-b66c-0e38dca2b824> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://wiki.infinetwireless.com/display/DR/Troubleshooting | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572212.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815205848-20220815235848-00477.warc.gz | en | 0.895247 | 234 | 1.710938 | 2 |
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
Explanation of Matt. 14:14 -36
THE ONLY MIRACLE RECORDED IN ALL 4 GOSPELS–Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-13
B. Jesus feeds the five thousand.
1. (verses 14-16) Jesus’ compassion for the multitude.
And when Jesus went out, He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, this is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” But Jesus said to them, they do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.
a.He was moved with compassion for them: The great compassion of Jesus for the multitude moved Him to heal the sick and to teach them. Jesus did this all the way until evening. His gracious compassion for the demanding crowds was remarkable.
Matt. 14: 14-22 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.”19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
14:14-21 and Yah Shua goes and sees a vast congregation and befriends over them and he heals their sick. Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
YAH SHUA FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND And when, being evening, his disciples approach to, wording to him, This is a place of desolation and the season passes: release the congregation of humanity to go to the villages and merchandise themselves nourishment. And he words to them, Seek not that they depart: you give them to eat. And they word to him, We having naught there but five loaves and two fish. And Yah Shua words to them, Bring them here to me. — and he misvahs the congegration to repose upon the earth — and takes he the five breads and the two fish: and looks to the heavens and eulogizes and crumbles and gives to his disciples — and the disciples placed to the congregation: And they all eat, and satiate: and they take the remainder of the crumbs — twelve baskets when filled: and those humans, those who had been eating, have been about five thousand besides of women and lads. And when he urges his disciples to ascend into the sailer and go across in front of him while he releases the congregation: Aramaic NC
C. Jesus walks on the water and comforts His disciples.
1. (verses 22-24) Another storm on the Sea of Galilee.
a. Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat: Jesus felt it was important for He and His followers to leave the area quickly. Perhaps this was to avoid the multitudes clinging to Him as a potential source of constant bread. Therefore, Jesus compelled (made) the disciples get into the boat.
1). Actually, there were several reasons why Jesus did this. He did this because He wanted to be alone to pray; because He wanted to escape the crowd and get some rest; and because He wanted the crowd to disperse so as to avoid a messianic uproar (John 6:15).
2). John 6:14-15 tells us that the crowd responded to the miraculous feeding with a rush of messianic expectation. If the disciples shared this enthusiasm – perhaps sensing that now was the time to openly promote Jesus as Messiah, the King – then it was more important than ever for Jesus to get the disciples away from the excited crowd.
b. He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Jesus was jealous for time spent alone with His Father. In the midst of His great ministry to others, He did not – He could not – neglect prayer.
c. The boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary: The Sea of Galilee is well known for its sudden storms, and during this storm Jesus wasn’t in the boat with the disciples.
2. Verses 25-27- Jesus comes to both help and comfort His disciples.
a. In the fourth watch of the night: This was somewhere between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. According to Mark (Mark 6:47-52), Jesus came to the disciples when the boat was in the middle of the sea and after they had exhausted themselves rowing against the waves and windy storm.
b. Jesus went to them, walking on the sea: This walk on the water must have been quite a shock to the disciples; they were indeed troubled and they cried out for fear.
c. Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid: Jesus didn’t come to the disciples to trouble them or make them afraid. Therefore, He immediately spoke to them these comforting words.
1). There are two good reasons to put away fear. One reason may be that the problem is not nearly as bad as one had thought; perhaps you are afraid because you exaggerate the danger. The other reason is that even though the problem may be real, there is an even greater solution and help at hand.
We dwell in the secret place of the Most High and there is nothing to fear!
3. (verses 28-33) Peter’s bold move and subsequent lack of faith.
a. Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water: We have no idea what prompted Peter to ask such a question, but his faith in Jesus was remarkable. He really responded to Jesus’ invitation and got out of the boat.
b. He walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink: This is a wonderful picture of walking in faith, showing that Peter was able to do the miraculous as long as he looked to Jesus. When he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was troubled by fear and began to sink.
c. Beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me”: Even when Peter failed, Jesus was there to save him. Peter knew who to call out to at the moment of crisis. Jesus then brought Peter back to the boat.
d. O you of little faith: Once Jesus rescued Peter, He spoke to Peter about his little faith. This little faith led to the doubt and distraction that made Peter sink under the wind and the waves. In actuality Peter didn’t use the faith of God which was in Him.
Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear is also a lack of Love.
Fearless Love (1 John 4:18)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (NIV)
1. The Protection of Perfect Love (there is no fear) This gives us security and when we have perfect love we will make other people
feel secure around us.
2. The Power of Perfect Love (drives out all fear. This enables us to change and experience freedom from fear and all its forms.
3. The Potential of Perfect Love (being made complete in love)-living without condemnation
Condemnation is simply saying that your faith doesn’t work-living free from rejection
A feeling of rejection is perpetuated by not knowing that you are accepted in the Beloved.
-living free from judgment
You have already been judged in Christ Jesus! Judged holy and righteous!
-living free from fear of man
We all must go through this: We are inoculated against the praise of man, the Lord then baptizes me in the criticism of man, until I die to the control of man. Fear is control and torment.
-living freely in a love that totally accepts you, forgives you, and restores you.
4. The Problem of Imperfect Love (the one who fears…)
When we are not living in the knowledge of God’s true love for us, we cause other people to become enslaved through what we teach about God.
Peter here shows us the weakness of little faith. As said: Certainly this was in his soulish realm because he had the faith of God. When Peter was restored after the resurrection Jesus said to him:
Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” as recorded in (John 21:15). This occurred when Jesus was having breakfast with His disciples soon after His resurrection. Jesus used this opportunity to encourage and exhort Peter about his upcoming responsibilities and even to prophesy the manner in which Peter will die. By asking Peter, “Do you love me?” three times, Jesus was emphasizing the importance of Peter’s love and unswerving obedience to his Lord as necessary for his future ministry.
Those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him: They moved quickly from fearing the storm to worshipping Jesus. This was a logical reaction considering the power Jesus showed in walking on the water, and the love He showed in taking care of a sinking Peter.
4. (34-36) Multitudes are healed as they touch Jesus.
a. When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret: The Gospel of John tells us that this crossing over was miraculous. As Jesus got into the boat with them, miraculously the boat was instantly carried over to the other side (John 6:21).
b. They begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment: Even the hem of Jesus’ garment provides an important point of contact for their faith. Like Paul’s sweatbands (Acts 19:11-12) and Peter’s shadow (Acts 5:15), Jesus’ hem provided a physical object that helped them to believe God for healing at that moment.
They made a demand on the priestly garment- bells- gifts of the Spirit and pomegranates- fruit of the Spirit- Love.
We will continue with Chapter 15 and Lesson 5 next week.
The blessings of the Lord are upon you whether by blood, adoption/sonship or assignment. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Prov. 10:22
David & Mary Sue | <urn:uuid:70e0a458-cf3e-4fc0-ab28-13cb83160f11> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://firestormministry.com/the-gospel-of-mathew-lesson-5-continued-05-15-21/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570977.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809124724-20220809154724-00474.warc.gz | en | 0.976981 | 2,430 | 2.515625 | 3 |
When Rick O’Donnell was editing a Newt Gingrich magazine in 1995, he advocated the end of Social Security, saying it was, in fact, “un-American” to expect government to care for seniors.
We wonder if he was aware that Americans were paying into the Social Security system, not just drawing from it.
Now O’Donnell is running for Congress and the Republican 7th District candidate is trying to get out from under his radical condemnation of the pension safety net.
The young O’Donnell wrote 11 years ago: “As we bury the rest of the welfare state in preparation for the 21st century, it is time to slay the largest government ‘entitlement’ program of all, Social Security.” The manifesto appeared in the February 1995 edition of the publication called American Civilization. “There is an even more important moral question raised by the government’s role as chief provider in old age. It sends the un-American message that it is not your responsibility to take care of yourself.”
He now admits his approach wasn’t a very good one, and it’s not a message O’Donnell wants voters to hear. But hear it, they will. Nationally, Democrats are sure to raise President Bush’s effort to overhaul Social Security in any race where there’s a Republican who supported the wildly unpopular plan.
The 7th CD race is one of the mostly closely watched in the country, and O’Donnell, who has never held elected office and thus has no voting record on Social Security, is on the defensive because of his essay.
At 35, O’Donnell is a long way from drawing Social Security. He said recently that when he wrote the essay, he diagnosed the right problem, but had the wrong solution.
He now says Social Security needs to be fixed, not junked. All options must be put on the table, O’Donnell says, but first Congress must stop spending Social Security’s surplus. In what sounds like an Al Gorean chant, he favors a “lockbox for each of us, where we can watch it grow and government can’t spend it.”
He hasn’t determined how that money in the lockbox should be invested – avoiding one of the political pitfalls of the debate. The thought of gambling with Social Security money in the marketplace doomed whatever plan Bush tried putting forth last year.
“We’d be better off if they put it in a savings account than let the federal government spend it,” O’Donnell said.
O’Donnell’s 1995 essay won’t play well in the 7th, where Social Security is a popular program that benefits seniors and disabled citizens. With companies cutting pensions, Social Security has become the most reliable part of a senior’s retirement plans.
Talk of eliminating Social Security is verboten nowadays. O’Donnell owes voters a straightforward real position on the issue. We hope he keeps that earlier glib talk of slaying Social Security in a lockbox. Workers pay into the system, and in return it provides a safety net for retirement. That’s as American as apple pie. | <urn:uuid:4aac1b77-9708-42d9-a38f-4880ec955eaf> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.denverpost.com/2006/07/27/odonnells-u-turn-on-social-security/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988722951.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183842-00210-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956451 | 671 | 1.710938 | 2 |
In general, it is intended to value the declared cultural and natural heritage, as one of the engines of the revitalization and increase of economic and tourist activity in the Center-Castilla y León cooperation area, in coordination with other centers of attraction close to it . heritage such as Coimbra and Salamanca.
In particular, the project initiates the implementation of actions for the conservation, enhancement and promotion of the Mata Nacional do Bussaco Historical Gardens and La Quinta El Bosque de Béjar , with the intention of creating a network of natural and cultural spaces of cross-border interest , given their common natural, historical and cultural outstanding values.
On the other hand, it is proposed to attract new tourist flows as a result of the planned activities in coordination: the definition and management of itineraries for the visit and the use of new information technologies for communication and interpretation; as well as the development of strategies and activities to improve accessibility and awareness of these spaces for groups with disabilities.
Among the activities included in the project, which include the adaptation of the Historic Gardens for their public enjoyment, the inclusive interpretation of the resources and communication and dissemination activities of the project; The following actions are contemplated in each of the Gardens:
QUINTA RENACENTISTA EL BOSQUE DE BÉJAR
Rehabilitation of the Formal Romantic Garden and the patrimonial elements associated with it, such as fountains and water games; prior preparation of the technical documents necessary for this, such as palynological and plant species studies, archaeological projects and actions, and engineering, landscaping and gardening projects.
Intervention in the Huerta de Abajo , with recovery of the architectural elements, as well as restoration of the hydraulic system, conditioning of pedestrian roads and the realization of an adequate plant treatment; also including previous studies and technical projects for its execution.
Intervention in landscaped terraces, central park and Alameda , in order to recover the historic path from the main access door.
Rehabilitation of the ground floor of the Palace for its adaptation as a reception center for visitors and an interpretation center, after drafting the technical document that describes the work to be carried out to adapt the spaces to use.
Repair and consolidation of the different elements that make up the hydraulic system (dam, pipelines, spillways …) for its efficient operation, avoiding water losses that could affect the built elements.
Provision of infographic and audiovisual media such as exhibition content and dissemination and information material, with an inclusive and accessible nature. To do this, it is planned to carry out:
- Digital informative elements, such as digital visit guides, multimedia content: texts, audios, videos and the design and production of 360º virtual visits.
- Design and implementation of interactive tables to support interpretation, based on a three-dimensional model and associated multimedia content (texts, audio and video), aimed at providing detailed information on the heritage of the resources.
MATA NACIONAL DO BUSSACO
Recovery of green spaces in the Palace Gardens and the Valley of the Ferns. These spaces, created in the 19th century, are, due to their location and surround, one of the most emblematic in La Mata. In addition, the installation of new irrigation systems is proposed, with profitable maintenance solutions, which in turn integrate improvements in energy and water savings. The total area of the intervention covers 9,520 m2 of Palace gardens , 6,822 m2 of gardens in the Valley of the Ferns .
Adaptation of the Chalet de Santa Tereza , to create a welcoming space for visitors and an accessible interpretation center.
Provision of infographic and audiovisual media such as exhibition content and dissemination and information material, with an inclusive and accessible nature.
KNOWLEDGE AND DISSEMINATION
In addition to the specific actions on each space, the project proposes a series of joint actions aimed at the dissemination and knowledge of the project and the promotion of the Mata Nacional do Bussaco Historical Gardens and La Quinta El Bosque de Béjar, which together with the development from this website the following:
- Design and production of a trilingual promotion stand (PT / ES / EN), for its participation in the AR&PA Biennial of Cultural Heritage.
- Conducting guided tours and educational workshops for schoolchildren, to involve the younger public in the knowledge of natural and cultural resources and in its preservation.
- Organization of congresses and technical seminars for cultural heritage managers, to transmit the results of the recovery of the Historic Gardens and to enhance these spaces.
- Creation of a traveling monographic exhibition of the project, which transmits the heritage value of these spaces, as well as the results of the project’s actions in each of the Gardens.
- Edition of printed and digital publications of the project in different formats for dissemination through the website as well as in the different scheduled events.
AREAS OF INTERVENTION
EL BOSQUE DE BÉJAR
The Bosque de Béjar is a suburban recreational village of Renaissance origin, created in 1567 by the Duke of Béjar and that today is jointly managed by the Béjar City Council and the Junta de Castilla y León. It is one of the few examples of historical gardens that are preserved in Castilla y León; It was declared in 1946 as an Artistic Garden and in 1982 as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), with the category of Historical Garden, of the Spanish Historical Heritage. A specific declaration of the protection environment, promoted by the JCYL, was also approved on June 8, 1995.
The whole of the Béjar Forest was built according to Renaissance canons, preserving at present its characteristic elements, with the transition from the natural space to the palace through stepped terraces, the hydraulic system that ended in the Tinte del Duque and an important set of architectural and landscape elements. Among the architectural elements include, in addition to the Palace, the house of the Forest and the stables with the hermitage. The monumental complex is completed by the large pond with a central island and its neo-Mudejar Temple, the exedra and the different fountains that are distributed through the routes through the terraces and garden spaces.The Romantic Garden stands out due to its landscape value, which, although not preserving the original layout, contains a great variety of plant species, some of them protected, such as the sequoia.
MATA DO BUSSACO
Classified as a National Monument, the monumental complex of Bussaco mobilizes an exceptional heritage wealth. To the central nucleus formed by the Palace Hotel do Bussaco and the Convent of Santa Cruz, the hermitages, the chapels of devotion and the Steps that make up the Via Sacra, the fence with the doors, the Military Museum and the memorial of the Battle of Bussaco. The cruise ships, the fountains (especially the Fonte Fria with its monumental staircase) and the cisterns, the viewpoints (“Cruz Alta” offers a privileged view over the entire region between Coimbra and Serra do Caramulo) and the houses in the forest, make up the vast ensemble heritage built in the Mata Nacional do Bussaco that is worthy of admiration.With 105 hectares of surface, it has one of the best dendrological collections in Europe, with about 250 species of trees and shrubs, some of them classified as notable specimens. It is one of the richest national forests in natural, architectural and cultural heritage, and can be divided into three landscape units: Arboretum, Gardens, Valley of the Ferns and Relíquia Forest.
RESULTS OF THE PROJECT
Improvement of the main and secondary access ramps.
Performance on the wall. | <urn:uuid:1379ed1f-7533-414b-8896-1f78dd082d13> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.jcyl.es/jcyl/patrimoniocultural/jarcultur/en/proyect/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573760.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20220819191655-20220819221655-00669.warc.gz | en | 0.924624 | 1,644 | 2.15625 | 2 |
Category Archives: Collections
Do you want to learn the language of the country your visiting? Do you want to improve your English skills? You can now do so with your home computer and your library card. Mango includes courses for the world’s most … Continue reading
Introducing a new RFL blog: treasures from our collection of scrapbooks! Scrap books, first known as commonplace books in the 1600’s, have always been a way for people to collect meaningful materials. Scrap booking became a popular hobby in the … Continue reading
If you are enjoying the PBS series Downton Abbey then you may enjoy reading about this time period. Â
The Newport Lions Club and the Newport Service Organization have made it possible for people with hearing difficulties to enjoy informational and cultural programs at the Richards Free Library and the Library Arts Center. Through the generosity of these two … Continue reading
Kindle users may now download e-books from the NH Downloadable Books Consortium with their library card. | <urn:uuid:9eee36e0-3129-4c35-86b9-21b6b898b43a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.rfltest.dreamhosters.com/category/collections/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560283689.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095123-00352-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92688 | 207 | 1.601563 | 2 |
At the top of the design on both covers is a strip of what seems to be some sort of Japanese closet with simple sliding doors. The similarity to such closets is suggested by the panels underneath the image, which seem to be larger doors in front of which the figures are standing: a woman with a lantern, a leaping sphinx, a crouching sphinx, and a woman with a garland.
|Charles Ricketts, design for Oscar Wilde's The Sphinx (1893): front cover|
|Charles Ricketts, design for Oscar Wilde's The Sphinx (1893): back cover|
A comparison of the back and front cover shows that the doors have knobs on either left or right. It seems that the dove appears when the left door is opened, and the bell when the door on the right is opened. The knob is visible on both sides. The other option - the sliding door has been moved to the left or right - does not explain the changed placement of the door knobs.
Conclusion, for now: there are no Japanese-style sliding doors in front of a row of closets on the cover of Oscar Wilde's The Sphinx. What we see, possibly, are shutters placed in front of the top windows. | <urn:uuid:cf816c34-eed4-4f18-9a73-0d02c811f43e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://charlesricketts.blogspot.com/2015/12/228-japanese-closets-in-rickettss-design.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572833.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817032054-20220817062054-00477.warc.gz | en | 0.935385 | 259 | 2.21875 | 2 |
Outdoor lighting is a great way to increase your home’s aesthetics, especially when you choose the right outdoor lighting color temperature. Besides, outdoor lights can help improve your home’s safety and security at night. You can also install lighting fixtures in your outdoor space to highlight focal areas, including pools and entertainment areas.
But before installing any light bulb in your outdoor space, you need to find the lighting color temperature that matches your style. The standard measuring unit for color temperature is in kelvins (K). It measures the visible light color to install in your outdoor area, from dull red to yellow, white, blue-white, and eventually blue.
What Color Temperature is Used Outdoors?
When investing in outdoor lighting, consider color temperature to determine the kind of light color that matches your home’s style. The number of kelvins (K) determines the intensity of the light shade. The lower the kelvin, the warmer the light color. As the kelvin rises, the closer the color moves towards cool white.
Different Color Temperature Ranges
If you plan to install LED bulbs, consider each bulb’s outdoor LED color temperature before investing. LED lighting color temperatures fall in the following ranges.
- Warm Light (2000K – 3000K): Most incandescent light bulbs fall within this range. They produce a nice, cozy, warm white light with few red or blue tons.
- Cool White Light (3100K – 4500K): The light fixtures offer a hint of blue color, creating a stunning cool white light to give a clear view of the surrounding.
- Blue Light (4600-6500K): The light color that falls within this range imitates natural moonlight and is ideal for security lighting. It’s crisp and clear, highlighting focal points in your home.
Using Color Temperature in Specific Areas
You can use different color temperatures to highlight various spots in your home. Lights with color temperatures within 2000K – 3000K are ideal for highlighting entertainment areas. The light brings a sense of calming relaxation to make your guests comfortable.
If you want to highlight beautiful plants, consider installing white LED light that falls within 3100K – 4500K. It gives your garden a more natural garden light highlighting its natural vibrant colors. You can also use this light color on sheds, stairs, and workshops.
Installing the Best Outdoor Color Temperature Lighting
Choosing the right outdoor lighting color temperature can make your outdoor living space more inviting. Use the best color choices for various architectural elements in your home, from warm white to cooler color temperatures. AM Garden can help you customize your outdoor color temperature to match your home’s style.
Contact us today to talk to our experts about your outdoor lighting project.
Undercap lighting is an excellent way to make your garden or backyard conducive for night parties and get-togethers. With this lighting design, you can make your outdoor living space more comfortable and secure for your guests. It makes your garden more useful even after the sun goes down. This guide explores how undercap lighting works.
Undercap lighting is one of the most reliable techniques to enhance any outdoor living space. This lighting design involves installing light fixtures to shine down and illuminate an area, provide safety, and extend dimensions in the outdoor space. The good news is that you can use undercap lighting in many spots.
What is Undercap Lighting?
Well, undercap lighting is an incredible technique where light fixtures are installed to illuminate the space beneath a structure, a wall, or bench. This helps define the space, improve safety along paths, and create unique dimensions for your garden space. Undercap lighting is popular for illuminating the area below objects.
Where Undercap Lighting Can Be Used
Now that you know what undercap lighting is, you may wonder where to use this lighting technique. Here are some of the places to install undercap lighting.
- Sitting Benches: Install the undercap lighting in your outdoor benches to define their edges and highlight the benches’ artistry. Use it on the seats near fire pits.
- Accent Walls: You can add flair to your retaining walls by installing undercap lights. This will increase the wall’s dimension and highlight its beautiful elements.
- Steps and Stairs: Undercap lighting helps to increase the safety of your steps and stairs by illuminating each step. This reduces the risk of stair-related injuries.
- Fire Pits: Undercap lights can highlight the gorgeous stones used to build fire pits. They can create a beautiful halo effect around your fire pit.
- Outdoor kitchens: If you love cooking outdoors, consider installing undercap lights in your outdoor kitchen to light it up. Add the lights under the countertops.
The Benefits of Undercap Lighting
Undercap lighting has numerous benefits for homeowners, such as improving a home’s aesthetics. You’ll be able to create a stunning and seamless look in your outdoor living space, making your home beautiful at night. This landscape lighting design also boosts the safety and security in your backyard. It prevents thieves from hiding in your home.
Design Your Outdoor Undercap Lighting with AM Garden
As a homeowner, don’t hesitate to invest in undercap lighting now that you understand how its applications and benefits. Let a professional help you install the lighting fixtures to make your home more functional and beautiful at night. Our experts at AM Garden can help you figure out the best undercap lighting design that matches your style.
Contact us today to talk to our landscape designers about your lighting project.
DIY landscape lighting mistakes are common among homeowners who don’t want to involve professionals in their outdoor lighting projects. Installing the lighting by yourself can save you the cost. However, you may end up with a poor landscape lighting design.
What are some mistakes that DIYers make with outdoor lighting?
Hiring professional lighting designers guarantees a beautifully lit landscape. You can opt for strategic uplighting on trees and vital architectural features to make your landscape more attractive. Unfortunately, that’s impossible with DIY lighting.
- Unrealistic Project Budget
- Wrong Fixture Location
- Lighting Glare
- Inferior Lighting Products
- Too Many Fixtures
- Not Enough Fixtures
1) Unrealistic Project Budget
While the lighting effect is the most crucial part of landscape lighting, it doesn’t mean that you should buy low-quality fixtures. Prepare a realistic budget for the fixtures and materials for installing them. Don’t invest much in cheap fixtures because they wear out quickly when exposed to sunlight, rain, and snow.
2) Wrong Fixture Location
Another costly mistake is installing fixtures in the wrong places, such as path lighting in turf areas. In that case, the fixtures can quickly get damaged. Don’t install the fixtures on lawns where hedgers and mowers pass because they can destroy the fixtures. Instead, install the fixtures on flower beds or core points to illuminate.
3) Lighting Glare
Most DIYers don’t always consider the effects of glaring lights. The primary objective of landscape lighting is to create a light effect that illuminates landscape elements and not the light source itself. If the light coming directly from the lamp is too bright for the eyes, it distracts your eyes from the overall effect you are trying to create.
4) Inferior Lighting Products
Most DIYers go for cheaper, low-quality products when buying landscape lighting lamps and fixtures. Unfortunately, these products have short lifespans. The best thing to do is hire a professional lighting designer to help you buy high-quality lighting fixtures.
5) Too Many Fixtures
You don’t need to install many fixtures on a landscape to make it look more beautiful. Unfortunately, that’s one of the biggest mistakes most DIYers make. Too many lights on the pathways make them look like airport runways and can blind you rather than help you see where to step. Strategically fixing a few lights encourages soft lighting.
6) Not Enough Fixtures
While most homeowners usually use too many lighting fixtures, some may install a few. Unfortunately, a few lighting fixtures may not bring out the desired effect. If you notice some dark areas after installing some landscape lights, consider adding some lighting to illuminate the remaining dark spots.
Avoid These Mistakes by Working with the Experts
These DIY landscape lighting mistakes are avoidable. The best way to prevent such errors from occurring is by hiring a professional lighting designer who understands all the landscape lighting ideas. The good news is that AM Garden can help you through each step of the process.
Contact us today for reliable and affordable landscape lighting solutions.
One of the best ways to illuminate your outdoor space and make it more inviting at night is installing inground and well-lighting fixtures. These up-lighting fixtures can highlight your home’s architectural features and landscaping elements, such as plants, trees, and fountains. It’s the best way to light up your landscape without cluttering it with fixtures.
If you don’t like lighting fixtures sticking up from your landscape’s surface, you better part with in-ground and well lighting. These outdoor lighting options offer directional light upward but are unobtrusive. In other words, they don’t stick out from the surface. The fixtures are less likely to get damaged during lawn care.
Benefits of In-Ground and Well Lighting
In-ground and well lights are safe because they are installed below the ground or leveled with the ground surface. This lighting option reduces tripping over them, especially when you have kids playing in the landscape. Here are the other benefits.
- There are many beautiful styles of well and in-ground lights, making it easy to choose what fits your style
- You can choose the lighting fixture material that suits your needs, whether stainless steel or antique bronze
- You can install the lighting fixtures near your favorite shrubs and flowers on your landscape
Where In-Ground and Well Lighting Should Go
These lighting fixtures can be used in accent and ambient lighting. For accent lighting, install the lights at the base of trees and other decorative elements in your landscape to make them conspicuous at night. But when it comes to ambient lighting, space the lights evenly around your home’s perimeter to make your home glow.
Choosing the Best Well Lights for Your Landscape
Since there are many designs of well lights, you need to choose the fixtures that match your style. For instance, you can opt for well lights with flat tops or shielded surfaces.
Well light fixtures also come in various materials, including copper, brass, and stainless steel. Remember to choose the fixtures that can withstand your climate. For instance, brass and copper are suitable for humid climates.
Professional Landscape Lighting Design and Installation
Inground and well lighting is a sleek, modern way to brighten up your home’s exterior at night. When installed by professionals, the stylistic lights will add beautiful illumination to your landscape. That’s why you should never hesitate to hire AM Garden for help.
Contact us today for professional lighting design and installation services.
One of the best ways to make your outdoor living space more inviting at night is outdoor specialty lighting for landscape designs. The lighting design you choose must bring the right feel and look that match your mood and style. With a vast range of custom lighting fixtures, you’ll find what suits your outdoor space. Invest in what will boost curb appeal.
As a homeowner, you want to make your landscape look beautiful and scenic at night, and that’s where specialty lighting comes in handy to help you. You may never find a template design to light up your home. You have to pick a lighting design that highlights your home’s central theme to make it more appealing.
Custom Lighting Designs
You can design custom lighting fixtures that match your landscape design, especially when you hire an expert to help you bring the perceived designs into reality. Look for custom designs of brass and copper of high quality and longevity. However, aluminum and powder-coated custom lighting fixtures are also available.
You can make your yard more welcoming at night with moon globe lighting designs. The globe is spherical at the top and has a hidden flat base for stability, although it looks like a whole globe. Moon globes come in varying sizes, from 10-inch to 30-inch in diameter. These globes can come with or without lights, with the lighted options having batteries. The good thing is that you can remotely switch the moon globes on and off.
Stained Glass Lights
Stained glass lights are a great addition to your landscape as it comprises attractive materials, for instance, solid copper, sculpted bronze, and colored stained glass. The stained glass lights are handcrafted using high-quality materials to make a landscape stand out. The good news is that these lighting bulbs can withstand severe climates and weather conditions. They can retain their beauty for many years after installation.
Creating a Fully Customized Landscape Lighting Design
Nothing makes your yard more stunning and inviting at night than an outdoor specialty lighting system. You can customize the landscape lighting design to match your home style. This guide has covered some lighting designs to transform your outdoor space into a paradise at night. Besides, AM Garden can help you with each step of the installation process.
Contact us today to talk to our lighting design experts about your home remodel project.
Every homeowner desires to make their homes beautiful even at night, and that’s where color-changing LED lighting comes in handy. You can brighten your outdoor space by installing colorful lights in your landscape. Your home will look stunning at night.
Besides improving your home’s curb appeal at night, installing a color-changing LED light bulb will improve security around the home. You’ll feel safe at home as the lights will keep away thieves. Thankfully, LED lighting saves on energy costs.
Types of Color Changing Lighting
The color-changing lighting technology has revolutionized the landscape designing sector. Advancements in LED lighting have hastened the development of the following types of color-changing lighting:
- Lighting the Landscape for Security: Color-changing lighting improves your home security by brightening all the dark areas. It illuminates your landscape to scare off potential intruders.
- Lighting the Patio for Beauty: You can install colored light bulbs on the eaves of your patio. Project the lights downward to highlight your patio. Everyone walking on the streets will want to turn their heads and admire your home.
- Lighting Your Curb Appeal: Install colored bulbs in flower beds to emphasize your plants. This will make your landscape stand out among other homes. You can use several color combinations on your outdoor elements.
How Color Changes Mood
Color-changing light bulbs can make your outdoor space more inviting, making them a perfect choice for mood lighting. You can change the colors from blue to red, purple, and green, depending on the mood you want to create in your home. For instance, red, orange, and yellow can evoke higher arousal emotions like love, happiness, or passion.
Mobile App for Easy Control
You can conveniently create your landscape lighting design with a color-changing lighting app. The app allows you to change the light bulb colors remotely depending on your desired theme. Invest in a highly versatile lighting automation app for a magical lighting experience. You can set up the lights for a special occasion like Christmas.
Get Creative with Full Color LED Landscape Lighting
So far, you understand how a color-changing LED lighting system works. You can brighten your space with a color option that matches your style. Invest in smart light technologies to automate and control lighting remotely. If you have trouble choosing color lights that match your style, let AM Garden help you get the best lights kit.
Connect with us to learn the benefits of color-changing LED lighting. | <urn:uuid:0984d8f4-07e7-4cf6-99c8-4bc8bf7f6d1a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.amgarden.com/blog/category/landscape-lighting-services/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572043.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814143522-20220814173522-00474.warc.gz | en | 0.913291 | 3,277 | 2.203125 | 2 |
Kids Can Be Published Authors, Too!
Kids of all ages can be encouraged to write when they know that their work will be returned in the form of a published book. With the help of this program, schools can provide vivid and "professional" books at little cost. Included: Learn how to get started with book-writing projects for whole schools or individual classes.
"Each student is excited to receive his completed book," observed Linda Ortego. "The children smile from ear to ear! Their names are typed on the covers as author and illustrator. The books are hardback and beautifully bound. Although teachers might complain as they are trying so hard to get their books in by the due date, they are so thrilled to get the books back each time that they can't wait to do it again next year."
|19 Different Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth is just one of the books created by Ortego's students. See a sample page spread from this book at the bottom of the article.
(Photo courtesy of Linda Ortego.)
A second grade teacher at Turtle Rock Elementary in Irvine, California, Ortego discovered the book-making program StudenTreasures in a previous teaching assignment. There, at the urging of parents, every student in the school experienced designing a book and received a copy of his or her finished product. The quality of the students' books and simplicity of the program so impressed Ortego that when she moved to her current school, she elected to continue it.
"The program supports our curriculum by reinforcing the writing process," Ortego explained. "We have to brainstorm an idea, and from there we begin our writing. In the primary books, in which the students write only one page each, they learn about sticking to a topic and paragraph writing. In the upper grades, our students are actually given a grade for their book. Did their stories make sense, and did their tales have a problem and solve it? Some upper-grade classes make poetry books, and the kids learn and illustrate different types of poems."
In StudenTreasures and its sister program for upper levels called StudenTales, whole schools or individual classes may participate. When entire schools join, publishing kits and materials are free, and schools pay minimal shipping and handling fees, if any. At the lower grade levels, whole-class books are created, with each student designing a single page. Students in grades three and up design entire books. About half of the teachers at Turtle Creek typically join Ortego in the endeavor.
"The first time I did this, I was surprised by how lovely the books were -- beautifully put together and all free!" Ortego reported. "Now that I work with second grade and receive a class book, it still amazes me at how bright and colorful the books come out. So few if any mistakes are made, and errors are corrected quickly and without questions."
Teachers receive publishing materials at the beginning of the school year along with notes for parents. According to Ortego, there is little effort required of the teacher. She makes sure that a parent signature card and money for any additional copies ordered are in each envelope and drops it in the mail.
"I share our book with everyone and let them know how simple and easy it really is," says Ortego. "I recognize that in some classrooms teachers feel pressed to stick to the basics, but the arts to me are so important, and this falls into that category. For a child to become a published author is amazing!"
Joe Gigous believes that this opportunity for students to become authors and publish original works for free is what most often compels schools to take part in StudenTales and StudenTreasures. As president of Nationwide Learning, the company that provides these programs, he takes pride in making publishing a tangible reality for schools and kids.
"Our goal is a book by every student from kindergarten to college," Gigous told Education World. "By offering the free component, we provide schools the opportunity to experience and celebrate the whole writing process with a free published book."
The profit for Nationwide Learning is derived from reprint purchases. Although they are not obligated to do so, many family members elect to purchase reprints of their children's creations. The books often become family heirlooms, and some schools order copies of the best student books for the library.
"Many teachers believe that experiencing the whole writing process from the beginning to an actual hardbound published book motivates students to become excited about writing," said Gigous. "Students feel a sense of accomplishment when creating the manuscripts and a sense of pride when they see their books."
In conjunction with their publishing projects, educators often use the Six Traits Writing model: ideas and content, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions to access and teach writing skills. Other teachers integrate the projects into prescribed language arts and content standards. Reading and language arts benchmarks include prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and proofreading, and publishing. Publishing an actual book can provide a strong motivation for revising and editing.
|This is a sample page spread from the book 19 Different Things Kids Can Do
to Save the Earth. In his part of the book, Antoine asks readers not to cut down healthy trees.
(Photo courtesy of Linda Ortego.)
"Teachers frequently say that our program has had a positive impact on reading, writing, and self-esteem," added Gigous. "The consensus is that it is a very worthwhile experience for students. It helps support what educators are teaching in the classroom and helps students develop a sense of ownership in their learning."
Part of the appeal of Nationwide Learning's programs is that administrators can spearhead whole-school participation to reduce costs and then hand off the materials to teachers for easy implementation. Teachers' guides are provided as well as knowledgeable, professional customer service support.
Ortego jokingly states that the customer service team "knows her by name" and vouches for its excellent assistance. "The customer service members send more of whatever supplies I need to me as soon as possible," she shared. "They never ask me why; they just send the materials. They make the process very easy. I can't say enough great things about them."
Nationwide Learning is located in Topeka, Kansas. Educators may reach its customer service department by phone at 1-800-867-2292 weekdays from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm CST. | <urn:uuid:167f7038-8b23-4497-9d5f-59851094d2d1> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin455.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719273.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00065-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97183 | 1,338 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Blog Pick :: abduzeedo.com
By Steve Marcelin, BArch candidate
Don’t you wish some times that your favorite blog that has all your inspirations and visuals could also have tutorials? With abduzeedo.com you don’t have to wish anymore because the dreams have become a reality.
What is abduzeedo.com?
Abduzeedo.com is a blog that focus on the world of design. The blog is a compilation of visual inspiration and useful tutorials. Most of their tutorials cover popular software that we love to use or are learning to use such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and many others.
Founded in December of 2006 by Fabio Sasso in Brazil, it was supposed to be a backup after an ugly robbery. Later it became an online resource that people from all over the world visited. The blog draws in about three million design enthusiasts a month.
This blog is great because as design students we can explore it for inspirations, learn digital graphics from the tutorials, and if we have a piece of work that we feel is great, we could add it to their collection. In a way, it is awesome because people from all over the world will see your work and show their appreciation for it.
Another reason why this blog might end up being our favorite is the learning section. It is always great when we can find resources that educate us. Browse over the tutorials and you will see tricks and tips that are not necessary related to architecture, but can help make life easier and work flow faster. The learning portions give use the perfect chance to learn from different disciplines within the field of design. For example, seeing how a photographer used Photoshop and realize that the same technique could be applied to architectural renderings.
Abduzeedo.com has something for everyone. Whether you are a design enthusiastic, a graphic designer, illustrator, or studying architecture; it will get your attention. So remember to check it out and share it with your friends and post your work or post a tutorial you really like. | <urn:uuid:1385f2c8-a87d-43c4-83bc-c6bad3ddc9b0> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://blog.the-bac.edu/2014/03/blog-pick-abduzeedocom.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279224.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00486-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956443 | 429 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Cardboard packing boxes are great for moving, storing, and shipping just about anything that will fit inside them. But as handy as they may be, they are not suitable for just any task, and they are not able to withstand some very specific punishments. One thing they are especially susceptible to is moisture.
Obviously, most of us understand that if you leave a packing box out in a pouring rain you'll retrieve it later only to find it completely useless. The water-softened cardboard has lost all its shape and strength. Even given time to dry, it may be adequate for a use or two, but its integrity has been compromised to the point of simply discarding it. However, there is another moisture threat that's not so obvious. It comes in the form of a slight dampness in a garage or basement; dampness that doesn't soak cardboard but can be equally damaging.
Cardboard is a very porous material to begin with. Add to that the fact that packing boxes are made of corrugated cardboard, which is made up of fluted panels, and you have a great place for mould to grow if conditions are right. That's where the damp basement or garage comes in. If you're using cardboard packing boxes for storage purposes, and your storage area is damp, you could have mould growing in your boxes very quickly.
The best way to avoid it is to use plastic storage boxes and metal shelving. Mould has a more difficult time growing on a plastic surface, and the shelving will keep the boxes off the floor. Between the two you should be able to keep the mould potential at a minimum; if you do find a little beginning to grow you can kill it with chlorine bleach. | <urn:uuid:496de9ad-263f-4a36-86e7-6067fd32f251> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.packingboxes.co.uk/blog/blog/2010/10/13/packing-boxes-dont-like-moisture/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572063.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814173832-20220814203832-00668.warc.gz | en | 0.973448 | 347 | 2.296875 | 2 |
You know it when you feel it, and you recognize it when you see it in another person. There is no faking inner joy. Positivism can help, but the peaks and valleys of life puncture positivism all the time. The joyous person stumbles just like the rest of us, and they tend to get back up quickly and with a hopefulness that accelerates their recovery.
We are all looking for joy, both in our lives and in our relationship with another person. If there is a huge imbalance in the levels of innate joy there will be trouble ahead. And maybe there are highly joyous people and people who are comfortable and fine in a more medium joyousness.
Perhaps I am asking for someone to match my highly-activated happiness. And maybe it’s more important to understand your own energy and set-point of joy, then you can align yourself with a similar inner smile.
What demonstrates joy? How do we recognize this joyousness?
Smiles that light up the eyes are a good start. But even from a distance, if you are tuned in, you can feel a joyous person enter a restaurant. It’s an amazing recognition. And when you see it, feel it, taste the hint of joy in the other person, you can no longer do without it.
I remember standing next to a date at an art reception and being rather painfully aware of her self-consciousness and over-thinking while being a bit blown over by a woman, several groups of people over, who I recognized as a fellow radiator.
Perhaps not everyone radiates at the same intensity. If you are a highly joyous person, like me, perhaps anything less will be painful and disconnecting. I know that I seek joy above all else in my next relationship. I will settle for nothing less.
2. Calm Center
All the tumbles in life and we all deal with setbacks and interruptions in our own ways. If there is drama in our lives we can either respond with more drama, or urgency, or we can pause and reevaluate. I am a slowdown and observe what’s going on type.
When the drama hits from outside my life, I do my best not to respond in kind with more drama. I have always scored very low on the “sense of urgency” scale. It’s one of the things, I think that drove my then-wife crazy. She always felt she was the only one responding with the appropriate action.
But I’m not looking for any more drama or urgency in my life. The world brings out enough of that in our lives without us contributing to the frenetic pace. Calm centering is one of my superpowers.
If your partner is also a centering person you might have a better chance at finding that inner peace together, in spite of the drama around you. Listen to their words. Listen to how they express the frustrations of the day. You want to hear a lack of victimization.
You want to hear a simple pragmatic approach to getting the tasks and chores of life accomplished without a struggle. Sometimes there will be frustration and energy, that’s okay. But what is not okay is the needless amplification of the urgency of an issue.
“Is someone going to the hospital?” If the answer is no, then you can take your time in the response. And, especially in dealing with your ex-partner, the pause is your friend. They no longer respond within minutes, they no longer have to. So you, toom have the option to wait a bit before responding to any request. Time is on your side. Not manipulative time, but time to pause, reset, think, and respond.
It is always a good idea to get your center before responding to a dramatic or urgent message.
Again, unless there is a fire or someone needs to go to the hospital, the urgency is probably falsely constructed to elicit a response. Give your response, on your time, by taking a moment to breathe and think about what you want as a result.
What keeps you up at night? How are you envisioning your life beyond the daily grind? Do you have goals that transcend your role as a parent or worker bee? If you don’t this might be a good time to figure out what other goals you can put out there for yourself.
You need bigger goals. Call them life work, hobbies, or passions. You need to have some bigger ideals and bigger visions for your own life.
And seeing that passion in another person may be the final critical element I look for. I want a passionate partner. I want to be a cheerleader for your dreams. Of course, I am sensitive to your needs and goals for your kids, but I’m most interested in what warms your synapses in the off times.
Tell me about your dreams. What are you passionate about?
I have a few things that I will slowly reveal to you as well, as we get to know each other. But I don’t want to overwhelm you. I don’t want to brag or show off with what I’m working towards. But it’s one of my most prized accomplishments.
Sure, I love my kids. And I am clear that they are the priority in my life, way beyond my ultimate dreams for myself. But they will grow older and no longer require my utmost attention and nurture. What will I be doing after they are gone?
Retirement is not an option for me. The time gained in divorce has been a boon to my big dreams. So as I continue to move through my life, I am growing my bigger dream. I am gathering momentum as an artist, writer, musician, and poet. I am happy with my alone time. I would love to have you alongside me, grooving to your own dream. And together we can bond and thrive in support of our mutual time together and our individual dreams.
I’m almost always hopeful and joyous about this new journey. As a single dad, I have more time and more complications than when I was married. And if we can find the balance of these three traits between us, perhaps we can build “what’s next” together.
Looking for a together partner, and a partner who is together already. | <urn:uuid:45f79747-cdab-4303-8c02-6dd0b8a58292> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://mysstory.com/if-your-relationship-doesnt-have-these-3-things-just-know-that-its-not-true-love/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571190.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810131127-20220810161127-00066.warc.gz | en | 0.958826 | 1,325 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Router tables are not just all about fences, straight lines, infeed and outfeed areas. They also have significant potential when used with bearinged router bits (where the bearing on the bit effectively becomes the fence, but a fence that doesn’t have the restriction of following straight lines).
To safely use a bearinged router bit without a fence to guide your workpiece into the router bit, it really pays to have a starting pin, something to rest the workpiece against before rotating it into the router bit and against the bearing. This really reduces the possibility of a kickback. It is not critical, but sure makes the process a lot safer.
The other thing that helps safety a lot, is a chip guard (like safety glasses fitted directly to the tool), and dust extraction. Many router tables have dust extraction for the fence, but when that is removed for some freehand routing, so is the dust extraction.
Triton for example really had freehand routing worked out, with the central portion of the fence removable so it could be fitted directly to the table, continuing the dust extraction, chip guard, and providing a pivot point both for starting and finishing.
So what is there for other router tables? The answer is simple, and elegant. (If you can’t guess, I really like this solution). It is the Woodpeckers Freehand Router Guard, available in Australia from Professional Woodworkers Supplies. There are a number of ways of fitting it to your table, depending on your router table. So all this talk, what does it look like?
Now there is one thing about the name that I change. Instead of calling it a guard, I call it a guide. Sure, the dust extraction is important, and the clear plastic guard is nice, the starting and finishing guides are the best features.
Now onto my specific application. As I mentioned there are a number of different ways of fitting the Freehand Guard to the router table. I have added one more to the list. The MagJig.
If MagSwitch only ever produced one version of their product, it would have to be the MagJig – I love em, and I can’t seem to get enough – every time I get another couple, I find even more would be useful. Sure, they can be moved from jig to jig, and I do that too, but I also like the most commonly used jigs to have their own dedicated MagJigs.
So onto adapting the Freehand Router Guard so it can be affixed to ferrous topped router tables (such as cast iron router wings, Triton router tables etc).
The kit looks more complicated than it is – each set of screws is provided in its own bag, (certainly a completely different philosophy to the Ikea solution, where you get a single bag filled with a couple hundred different pieces of hardware you need!)
If you compare this shape to the original (red) one in the previous photo, you can get an idea of where I am heading. I’m not replacing the red component either (although I could) – the full guard is going to be added to the top of this new base.
It is my Mickey Mouse solution, and I’m not sure if that is the look, or the quality of my solution – time will tell I guess. I wanted the MagJigs to be located out quite wide, and also away from the actual contact points of the Guard. As they say – location, location, location.
I have roughly cut out the shape on the bandsaw, and next, will use a template copying bit to duplicate the original component onto the hardwood (with the added mouse-ears of course!)
After assemblying the Freehand Guard, I used one of the mounting solutions provided (2 long bolts), to attach my mouse ears. These are countersunk from underneath. The benefit of this, is the Freehand Guard itself is fully self-contained, and I can easily remove it if I ever decide to. It is held on by the two knobs seen, so removing it is simplicity. One of the benefits of the MagJig solution is I can position the guard exactly where I want, and am not constrained by the location of holes in the router table.
Here you can see the pattern (or template) copying bit about to get the new base to match the base of the Guard. I started with the bit seen here, but as mentioned recently abandoned it because of its scary ability to grab pretty much any bit of timber that comes anywhere near it, rather than cut it. When I changed to my old Triton bearinged straight cutter, I had no problem what-so-ever.
After adding the new base, and using a 40mm forstner bit to cut a couple of holes for the MagJigs, here is the completed solution.
Final shot is the Freehand Router Guard with MagJig upgrade fitted, ready for use. The fact this jig can be added and removed with a quick 1/2 twist of the two MagJigs makes it so easy to fit and use.
The Freehand Router Guard was sourced from Professional Woodworkers Supplies. They are only about $50 too. Cool stuff. | <urn:uuid:8fa9b513-af5b-4d9d-b571-31422cfee294> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://stusshed.com/2009/04/15/freehand-router-guard-and-magjigs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281450.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00182-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959886 | 1,086 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Leonard is the prize
Apparently to the Cliven Bundy’s of the World….you don’t have to show actual ownership or even use….just waking on the land gives you ‘rights’……
‘At the Bunkerville camp next to Cliven Bundy’s ranch, there are constant reminders of history’.
‘His cattle, until recently, roamed freely on land managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management. Before the roundup that sparked protests, confrontations and gunmen taking a bridge, Bundy explained his “ancestral rights” to the I-Team’.
“I’ve lived my lifetime here. My forefathers have been up and down the Virgin Valley here ever since 1877. All these rights that I claim, have been created through pre-emptive rights and beneficial use of the forage and the water and the access and range improvements,” Bundy said’.
‘Water rights were transferred too, but only to the ranch, not the federally managed land surrounding it’.
‘The Bureau of Land Management was created 1946, the same year Cliven was born’.
“My rights are before the BLM even existed, but my rights are created by beneficial use. Beneficial use means we created the forage and the water from the time the very first pioneers come here,” Bundy said’.
The Republican mantra since Ronald Reagan has been, just ‘cut taxes on the corporations and wealthy ‘job creators’, and they will create jobs and everyone will benefit – a ‘raising tide floats all boats’.
The American Middle Class and poor, now are left stranded on the dock, watching a the wealthy, the corporations and even the rest of the industrialized World ‘raise’.
“Trickle down’ has killed the Middle Class.
‘The American middle class, long the most affluent in the world, has lost that distinction’.
‘While the wealthiest Americans are outpacing many of their global peers, a New York Times analysis shows that across the lower- and middle-income tiers, citizens of other advanced countries have received considerably larger raises over the last three decades’.
‘After-tax middle-class incomes in Canada — substantially behind in 2000 — now appear to be higher than in the United States.’
‘The poor in much of Europe earn more than poor Americans’.
‘The numbers, based on surveys conducted over the past 35 years, offer some of the most detailed publicly available comparisons for different income groups in different countries over time. They suggest that most American families are paying a steep price for high and rising income inequality’.
‘Although economic growth in the United States continues to be as strong as in many other countries, or stronger, a small percentage of American households is fully benefiting from it’.
‘Three broad factors appear to be driving much of the weak income performance in the United States’.
‘First, educational attainment in the United States has risen far more slowly than in much of the industrialized world over the last three decades, making it harder for the American economy to maintain its share of highly skilled, well-paying jobs’.
‘Younger Americans, though, are not keeping pace: Those between 16 and 24 rank near the bottom among rich countries, well behind their counterparts in Canada, Australia, Japan and Scandinavia and close to those in Italy and Spain’.
‘A second factor is that companies in the United States economy distribute a smaller share of their bounty to the middle class and poor than similar companies elsewhere’.
‘Finally, governments in Canada and Western Europe take more aggressive steps to raise the take-home pay of low- and middle-income households by redistributing income’.
‘Janet Gornick, the director of LIS, noted that inequality in so-called market incomes — which does not count taxes or government benefits — “is high but not off the charts in the United States.”
‘Yet the American rich pay lower taxes than the rich in many other places, and the United States does not redistribute as much income to the poor as other countries do’.
‘As a result, inequality in disposable income is sharply higher in the United States than elsewhere’.
While offering NO alternative, Republicans in the House have voted over 50 times to repeal, delay or defund all or parts of Obamacare.
Republicans in the Senate are already making plans that if they take over the Senate – the FIRST legislation will be to repeal Obamacare.
And now Republican Red States are passing legislation to ensure “If You Can’t Actually PAY For Health Care…You Go With Out Health Care.”
‘Republicans are taking no chances when it comes to Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion’.
‘They’re closing every possible door’.
‘Under bills passed in Georgia and Kansas recently, even if a Democratic candidate were to pull off an upset and take the governor’s seat, they would not be able to expand the program without the consent of the state legislature — which will almost certainly remain Republican’.
‘In other words, GOP lawmakers have taken steps to guarantee that many of their poorest residents will remain uninsured under the health care reform law, no matter what happens in the gubernatorial election’.
‘Georgia and Kansas have left a combined 487,000 residents uncovered under Obamacare because they refused to expand Medicaid’.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP, Heath Harrison) — ‘The West Virginia secretary of state is calling an Americans for Prosperity mailing about voter registration “misleading” and “confusing.”
‘The mailer says the recipient only has a few days to register to vote at his or her current address’.
‘Tennant said legitimate contact will only come from county election clerks, not third-party groups’.
“If you have not moved, changed your name, or switched political parties, then you should throw this mailer into the trash because your voter registration is still valid.”
“The secretary of state’s office did not send this mailer, and it did not come from county clerks. We don’t know what the purpose of the mailer is but we do know that it is confusing citizens.”
‘Americans for Prosperity state director Wendy McCuskey said the mailer was sent to people who aren’t registered, based on public record. She said it was legal and nonpartisan’.
‘The small-government Americans for Prosperity opened a West Virginia chapter in January. The national organization was founded by billionaire conservative activists Charles and David Koch, who are well-known for the political spending and campaign contributions for conservative and Republican causes’.
From : http://wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/140422_24865.shtml
‘On Thursday, Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX) introduced the Contempt Act — a bill that would withhold the pay of any federal officials who have been held in contempt by Congress’.
‘That would prevent exactly one member of the Obama administration from getting a paycheck: Eric Holder’.
‘Conveniently, Farenthold’s bill would not require a federal court to convict the employee in order for his/her pay to be cut off’
‘So the fact that the contempt vote against Holder was a thinly veiled partisan attack with little legal consequence would not stop House Republicans from penalizing the attorney general’.
From : http://www.nationalmemo.com/republicans-try-ban-eric-holder-getting-paid/
‘According to the Times-Picayune, “no abortion providers or mental health professionals that recommend abortions would be allowed on the panel.”
‘Louisiana lawmakers are currently advancing a measure that would require women to receive biased information about the mental health risks of abortion before being allowed to continue with the procedure’.
‘Under House Bill 1262, which passed the Louisiana House of Representatives on Monday, abortion providers would be required to distribute a pamphlet that includes information about the “alleged psychological effects of abortion,” and lists names of mental health resources for women who are seeking assistance’.
‘Patients would be required to sign a form confirming that they received the pamphlet, and then wait at least 24 hours before returning for abortion care’.
‘HB 1262 stipulates that the new abortion-related pamphlet will be created by a 14-member task force that includes’ : S
“And people who counsel women against having an abortion’.
From : http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/04/22/3429452/louisiana-abortion-risks-pamphelt/ | <urn:uuid:9d57a469-19bc-4e9a-b3e5-770e8fef8738> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://thelastofthemillenniums.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571147.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810040253-20220810070253-00472.warc.gz | en | 0.940826 | 2,052 | 2.03125 | 2 |
New Mexico State University or NMSU or NM State is the oldest state-run university in New Mexico. It has been around since 1888 and is one of the state’s two flagship state-run universities. The university is sprawled across its 900-acre campus where it houses 8 colleges for prospective students to choose from. In this article, we will be looking at the acceptance rate at New Mexico State University.
There is the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences or ACES where students can choose from among 22 bachelor programs. Students will gain highly marketable skills in such industries as agriculture, food production, hotel and restaurant management, tourism, clothing and fashion, animal sciences, and a whole lot more.
There is the Arts and Sciences College which is actually the largest college in NMSU. They offer courses in Fine Arts which include Creative Media that deals with modern media.
Students can also sharpen their business sense in the College of Business through any of the offered majors like accounting, marketing, management, international business, and information systems. There is even a PGA Golf Management program that the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) fully endorses and accredits.
If teaching is in your blood, the College of Education is where you should be. You can learn many specialties from early childhood to special education. There are also many other graduate programs to prepare students for a career in academics and even clinical therapy through highly specialized courses.
The Engineering college of NMSU offers Chemical and Materials Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical, and Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical, and Aerospace Engineering as well as Engineering Technology and Surveying Engineering. These majors are offered in Bachelors, Master, and Doctorate levels. You can join this excellent university since the acceptance rate at New Mexico State University is not very competitive.
The college of Health and Social Services is great for students who want a career in social work, nursing, and public health- all very noble professions needed in society.
The NMSU also has an Honors College for the select scholars who are given the opportunity to do interdisciplinary research in a very vibrant and diverse community of scholars under the guidance of apt faculty.
All of the colleges mentioned above have graduate programs that are accessed through the Graduate School. There are currently more than 50 graduate-level programs available for local, state, and international students.
Each enrollment sees more than 15,000 students composed of highly diverse ethnicity with Hispanics making up about 45% and whites 20% with other minority races making up the rest of the 35%. Enrollment, when divided by gender, shows more than half being female with 55% and 45% being male. 80% of all students are undergraduates with graduate students comprising the rest of the 20%. The student-to-teacher ratio is at 16 is to 1.
There are many on the campus as well as many affiliate housing options available for prospective students to choose from. You can choose the best that fits your housing needs.
Student life as an Aggie from NM State is filled with exciting activities in sports through the many intercollegiate athletic meets. There are also more than 30 clubs and organizations that allow students to fill their social lives with activities while meeting like-minded peers.
Acceptance Rate at the New Mexico State University
The acceptance rate is about 64% for all applicants and candidates should have an ACT score of 21, SAT average at 1030, and a GPA of 3.5.
I hope that this article on the New Mexico State University acceptance rate was helpful! To know more information on studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students. | <urn:uuid:fa95a5ec-fc08-4b03-b225-8df4a2cb0c38> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://uscollegeinternational.com/new-mexico-state-university-acceptance-rate/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00264.warc.gz | en | 0.964079 | 751 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Maharashtra Corona Update Sudden Rise In Deaths Due To Covid Know The Details Here
Maharashtra Corona Update: On Thursday, 1,862 new cases of Kovid-19...
Maharashtra Corona Update: On Thursday, 1,862 new cases of Kovid-19 were found in Maharashtra and seven patients died. An official gave this information. The official said that with the new cases, the number of patients infected so far in the state increased to 80,53,965, while the death toll reached 1,48,124. He said that seven patients who died on Thursday include two patients each from Mumbai, Pune, Satara and one patient from Thane.
The Health Department official said that 410 new cases of Kovid-19 were reported in Mumbai alone. He said that in the last 24 hours, 2,099 patients have been cured of the disease and so far a total of 78,93,764 patients have become infection free. According to the data of the state health department, the recovery rate from the corona virus was recorded at 98.01 percent.
53 deaths due to corona across the country
On the other hand, after the arrival of 19,893 new cases of corona virus infection in a single day yesterday, the number of infected people in the country increased to 4,40,87,037. At the same time, the number of patients under treatment decreased to 1,36,478. According to the latest data released by the Union Health Ministry at 8 am on Thursday, the death toll rose to 5,26,530 after 53 more people died due to infection in the country. The number of patients under treatment for Kovid-19 in the country has come down to 1,36,478, which is 0.31 percent of the total cases. In the last 24 hours, a decrease of 579 patients was registered in the number of patients under treatment. The national rate of recovery of patients is 98.50 percent.
According to the data, the daily infection rate is 4.94 percent, while the weekly infection rate is 4.64 percent. A total of 4,34,24,029 people have become infection free in the country so far and the death rate from Kovid-19 is 1.19 percent. At the same time, 205.22 crore doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccines have been given so far under the nationwide vaccination campaign.
Maharashtra Politics: CM Eknath Shinde’s name plate placed outside ‘Varsha’, when will the Chief Minister shift?
Such increased figures in the country
Significantly, on 7 August 2020, the number of infected people in the country had exceeded 20 lakh, on 23 August 2020, 30 lakh and on 5 September 2020, more than 40 lakh. The total cases of infection crossed 50 lakh on 16 September 2020, 60 lakh on 28 September 2020, 70 lakh on 11 October 2020, 80 lakh on 29 October 2020 and 90 lakh on 20 November. On 19 December 2020, these cases had exceeded one crore in the country. Last year, on May 4, the number of infected had crossed 20 million and on June 23, 2021, it had crossed 30 million. On January 25 this year, the cases of infection had crossed four crores.
Highest number of deaths in a single day in Maharashtra
According to the ministry’s data, 53 cases of death due to infection were reported in the country in the last 24 hours, out of which seven in Maharashtra, five in Delhi, four each in Assam, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal, three each in Punjab and Uttarakhand. Two cases were reported in Karnataka and one each in Chandigarh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. At the same time, under the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Kerala put the names of 15 more people who lost their lives in the list of deaths due to infection.
Patra Chawl Scam: ‘Sanjay Raut will never do corruption, BJP is scared of him’, statement of brother Sunil Raut | <urn:uuid:ae68f0af-9d5e-4000-9368-3cbd7fae6652> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.spinonnews.com/maharashtra-corona-update-sudden-rise-in-deaths-due-to-covid-know-the-details-here/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573760.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20220819191655-20220819221655-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.960181 | 863 | 1.515625 | 2 |
The EU-funded CHARTER research project is conducting a systematic map (a type of scientific review) of the evidence on long-term (centuries to millennia) variability in Arctic biodiversity. After completing the initial planning phase of the review, people with interest in the subject are now contacted to help improve the review protocol. The protocol is the formal method that will be used to find and interpret evidence.
The aim of our systematic map is to provide an as unbiased way as possible for gathering all information on long-term variability in Arctic biodiversity. The Arctic is undergoing rapid environmental change with a multitude of potential consequences for regional biodiversity. To put these changes into context and to make better predictions of future change, we need to know how Arctic biodiversity has varied in the past. A systematic map is often considered the gold standard for collating such information (you can find out more about systematic maps in additional links at the bottom of this email).
The knowledge, interest and experiences of your organisation and your members are important to us. We are now running a brief online consultation to find out:
- Whether your organisation or members would be interested in the outcomes of our research?
- Whether your organisation or members think our review protocol could be improved?
- Whether your organisation or members have any relevant knowledge (e.g., literature suggestions / own experiences) that could be included in the review process?
The web consultation can be found here: https://biodiversity.charter-arctic.org
We thank you in advance for your feedback and please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.
Dr Andrew C Martin (lead reviewer) and the CHARTER palaeoecology review team
Explainers about ‘systematic reviews’ that may be of interest
Quick introduction to systematic reviews (2 min video, medical sciences):
Interview with Neal Haddaway on systematic maps and reviews in environmental science: https://www.sei.org/featured/what-does-the-science-say-qa/
6 min video of above interview: https://youtu.be/HIiHDHG4AgY
Information for authors – Collaboration for Environmental Evidence: https://environmentalevidence.org/information-for-authors/aims-and-scope/
James et al. 2016. A methodology for systematic mapping in environmental sciences. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-016-0059-6h | <urn:uuid:f5f6699e-d67f-4698-98d1-40606140c792> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.apecs.is/news/polar-and-alpine-community-news/4692-systematic-map-on-arctic-biodiversity-is-seeking-your-input.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572063.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814173832-20220814203832-00667.warc.gz | en | 0.901101 | 663 | 2.25 | 2 |
What is a compound semiconductor?
Compound semiconductors as the name suggests are made up of two or more elements. In technical terms, it is noted that compound semiconductors are made up of a combination of elements like Group III and Group V of the periodic table. According to the market database, other compounds are made up of Group II and Group VI elements from the periodic table. In the past, it was recorded that the use of compound semiconductors was minimal across commercial applications as well as high production applications. Market research tools suggest that these crystals are noted to be more difficult to grow as compared to silicon primarily due to the number of crystal defects being higher. Moreover, the cost of production associated with compound semiconductors is noted to be high owing to which their application was curtailed to high-value products.
The market analysis states that in recent years, the advancement of innovation and technology aggradations have led to a reduced cost of production for compound semiconductors. Compound semiconductors are noted to have distinct physical and chemical characteristics as opposed to silicon which promotes its application across other commercial markets.
Market research tools state that on doing a comparative study, it is noted that compounds like GaAs and InP have higher electron mobility as compared to Silicon. Thus their application in high-speed operations is considered more optimal as compared to regular semiconductors. Compound semiconductors can also produce and receive a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, from long-wavelength infrared light to high-frequency ultraviolet and visible light. Thus it is noted that they have the capacity to the sensor and emit light in the form of communications and general lighting (LEDs) (lasers and receivers for fiber-optics).
Applications of Compound Semiconductors as per Market Database
According to compound semiconductor market analysis, it is noted that compound semiconductor wafers are used commonly across applications including photonics, microelectronics, spintronics, photovoltaic, etc. Business intelligence tools state that the compound semiconductors market growth is predominantly accelerated by its increased usage in consumer electronics as well as the automotive industry. The use of compound semiconductor wafers across the said verticals over silicon is poised to accelerate the mentioned sector’s market growth dynamics.
The market analysis presents that the increased market penetration for semiconductors within the ICT domain and the growing proliferation of IoT-based technologies are expected to be another factor that is anticipated to bolster the compound semiconductor market growth. The high sensitivity associated with compound semiconductors is expected to be one of the key factors that promote its usage across sensors.
They are noted to be sensitive to both lights as well as magnetism. The high sensitivity of semiconductors towards light supports its application in devices such as photodetectors.
As per business intelligence tools, the increased use of compound semiconductors in LED-based applications is also poised to boost the market growth dynamics. The market analysis states that compound semiconductors are popularly known for their ability to function across low voltage applications and their ability to generate light, both of which can apply to LEDs. Compound semiconductors are also recorded to be highly resistant to both heat and light. This property promotes their usage across space applications in solar cells for satellites.
Compound Semiconductors market trends
GaN semiconductors account are one of the key types of compound semiconductors that are commonly used across both commercials as well as automotive applications as per business intelligence tools. The commercialization of this compound took place in the year 2010 and increased usage across high-value products has led to an overall acceptance of its high price across the whole market. According to the market database, the GaN market is anticipated to attain a value of USD 2 Billion by the year 2027. The market entry of new players such as STMicroelectronics is poised to increase the adoption of monolithic powered ICs based GaNs in a variety of mobile chargers with powers ranging up to 130 W. These chargers are known for their consumer-friendly prices which are poised to bolster the overall adoption of GaNs within the market.
Market research tools suggest that one key drawback of compound semiconductors is their high price, i.e. the high cost of material translates to limited usage of this product across high-volume production applications. | <urn:uuid:6f1de0b5-735f-450c-8b7f-6b111deba586> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://globalmarketdatabase.com/by-the-year-2027-compound-semiconductors-market-size-of-over-usd-15-87-billion/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571758.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812200804-20220812230804-00675.warc.gz | en | 0.974414 | 890 | 3.390625 | 3 |
The Mexican War was a conflict between the United States and Mexico. It is one of the most important wars fought by the United States because of the vast area of land annexed, about one-third of Mexio. It has, however, been given relatively little attention by American historians, possibly because it does not fit well into America's self image. Assessments of the War vary among both Mexican and American historians. Mexican historians generally agree, American historians do not. And these assessments have varied over time. The War began when Mexican units attacked U.S. troops in dispured territory between Mexico and Texas (April 25, 1846). Ther initial fighting took plasce in northern Mexico when General Zacrarry Taylor attacked across the Rio Grande. A small American force took New Mexico and California. When Mexico refused to make peace the United States invaded Mexico at Vera Cruz. The forced commanded by Gen. Winfield Scott moved inland and occupied Mexico City (September 14, 1847). A peace treaty was signed a few months later at Guadalupe Hidalgo (February 2, 1848). Mecico recognized the U.S. annexation of Texas and ceded California and New Mexico to the United States. Mexican historians have always seen the Mexican War as naked agression by the United States. Some American historians in recent years have also come to this conclusion. This is some truth in this, but a strong jigoist element in Mexico desiring to retake Texas has to be considered. One often ignored question is why so few Mexicans moved into the northern territories. One reason the United States prevailed in the War was what is now the southwest (California, Nevad, Arizona, and New Mexico) wa very lightly poulated. The War is important because by undoing the Missouri Compromise, the Civil War became almost inevitable. Also notable was the roles played by key figures in the coming American Civil War.
The Mexican War was a conflict between the United States and Mexico. It is one of the most important wars fought by the United States because of the vast area of land annexed, about one-third of Mexio. It was the last War fought by the United States before it emerged as an industrial power. The War has been given relatively little attention by American historians, possibly because it does not fit well into America's self image and and national narative. Of course it was soon overshadowed by the great crisis of the American Republic and much larger conflict--the Civil War (1861-65) which dominates American 19th century histrography. Assessments of the Mexican War vary among both Mexican and American historians. Mexican historography has been fairly consistent. American historians have offered a more varied view of the war. And the American assessments have varied over time, colored by the changing ideological outlook of the authors. Undisputed is the fact that the Mexican War was a major step in determining the modern political map of North America.
Northern Mexico at the time of the Mexican War for Indeoencence and the Mexican=A,erican Wat, while in may seem strhe was not occupied by many Amexicans. Rather it was occupied by many Native American tribes wjo forecely defendenced their lands. Both the arid territory and the fierce tribes discuased many Mexicans from moving north. Neither the Spanish army or subsequwntly the Mexican Army was able to offer securuty to Mexican settlers. Before the invention of repearing riffles, the highly mobile tribes like the Comanche and Apache were able to effectively defend their territory. The horse abd mastery of light calvlry tactics were major facors in the ability of the Native americamso defend their territory.
The Spanish Government had bruttaly supressed a rebellion by Tejanos during war for independence. Santa Anna had participated in that action. American interest in Texas increased after the Louisana Purchase (1803). Lightly settled Texas proved an irresistable draw for Americans moving west. Moses Austin received a land grant from the Spanish government (1821). His son Stephen Austin obtained conformation from the new Mexican Republic (1823). Texanos and Americans resisted Santa Anna's efforts to impose centralist rule resulting in Texas indepndence (1836). For nearly 10 yeats Texas existed as an independent republic, the so-called Lone Star State. Texans wanted to join the Union. Texas admisson into the Union became a major issue in American politics. The southern states wanted Texas admitted as a slave state. Growing anti-slave forces blocked the admission of Texas for several years. One concern was that several slave states would be created from Texas changing the ballance of power in Congress. The issue was further complicated when Britain began promoting an independent Texas. This pushed out-going President Tyler to promote the annexation of Texas. he United States annexed Texas by a joint congressional resolution (1845).
A The term Manifest Destiny began to be used by Americans in the 1840s. Here they had in mibd the western territories of Texas, California, and Oregon. The two most emotional issue was Texas and Oregon. Texas became embroiled uin the slavery debate. Oregon became part of the still intensely anti-British feeling in America.
The Democratic Party in the 1844 election championed expansion. The Party supported the annexation of Texas to appeal to the southern wing of the Party and asserted a claim to all of the Oregon Territory up to 49º40' which appealed to the northern wing of the Party. Nominee James K. Polk was adament about Texas which would mean war with Mexico. Southern Democrats were increasingly interested in expanding slavery even at the cost of undoing the Missouri Compromise. Gaining Texas a a new slave state was first step in this enterprise. Whig nominee Henry Clay opposed expansion. This probably cost him the election. The possibility of a third war with Britain loomed. And by a 1840 American-British relations were approaching a crisis. Polk was, however, willing to compromise over Oregon as the United States could no go to war with both Mexico and Britain. Polk's bold statements were designed to obtain an acceptable compromise with the British.
President James Polk won the 1844 presidential election in large measure because of his biligerantly anti-British campaign. He focused in particular on the Oregon Territory. His campaign slogan was 54-40 or fight". Assuming office he declared that "the people of this continent alone have the right to decide their own destiny." In the end Polk wisely settled the Oregon dipute with the British, agreeing to a compromise of following the already established eastern border with Canada to the west, bisecting the Oregon Territory. This was consideraly south of 54° 40'. The settlement with Britain allowed Polk to focus on Mexico which objected to the annexation of Texas. President Tyler had stolen amarch on Polk an annexed Texas. This left Polk. however, with the issue of how to deal with Mxico. Mexico never recognized Texan independence and warned the United states nit to annex it.
I am not sure to what extent President Polk assessed the political situation in Mexico. As far as I can tell, his poicies were persued without any real consideration of Mexican political developments. Mexico in the mid-1850s was a divided country with an unstble government. Spanish colonial rule was highly expolitive, draining Mexico of its mineral wealth. An independence movement began with Hildalgo's "Grito de Dolares" while Spsin was emersed in the Napoleonic Wars (1810). The Holy Alliance emerging from the Congress of Vienna desired to reimpose Spanish and royalist rule in the SAmerica. This resulted in the Monroe Doctrine (1820) and more importantly the opposition of the British with the powerful Royal Navy. Mexico finally achievved its indepedence from Spain (1821). Mexico emerged as am independent republic. The Constitution off 1824 set up a federal system. Military dictator General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna replaced it with a more centralized system in the Constitution of 1835. Two factions emerged in Mexican politics, the Federalists who wanted a decentralized constitutional democracy and the Centralists led by Santa Anna who wanted a centralized autocratic government led by a monarch or dictator. Sabnta Anna and the Centralists controlled the government (1835-44). His policies set off regional revolts, one of which resulted in Texas independence. Moderates and federalists seized contro of the government (December 1844) and forced Santa Anna into exile. José Joaquin Herrera became acting president of Mexico. Centralists schemed to overthrow Herrera and the federalists. The U.S. annexation of Texas (1845) provided the centralist with a rallying issue. Santa Anna who was in Cuba wanted to return to Mexico to lead the opposition to the federalistas and the Americans. This was complicated by an American naval blockade. He managed to convince Polk that he would sort out the issdes without war, Polk ordered that he be allowed to travel to Mexico. Once in Mexico, he seized control of the government and began preparing for war.
Authors writing about the Mexican War often display their ideological biases by the way they describe the social systems of the two countries. And this is important not only because thge bias of many authors clouds their work, but it this period before the United States was heavily inbdustrialized, the social systems largely determined the outcome of the War. It is true that about half of the American states were slave states, but it is also true that the great bulk of the male population were free citizens and as a result of the Jacksonian reforms, fully enfranchised. The great bulk of the American population enjoyed liberites and freedom of opportunitues unavailable to any other people on the planet. We do not dismiss the blight of slavery or the mistreatment of Native Americans, but only point out the wider achievement of liberty for the great bulk of the population at a time when most countries were governed by monarchies and narriow aristocracies. This is the issue that President Lincoln raised in the Gettsburg Address--arguably the greatest oration in the English language. Mexico it is true had aboklished slavery, but the Afro-American population in Mexico was very small and relstively few individuals were affected. And Mexican society was dominated by the crilllo elite, a very narrow sliice of society. A much larger mumber of Mexicans were compesinos living in serf-like conditions on hsciendas. The difference between the two national societies who largely determine not only the War, but the trajectory of national development after the War. And it is part of the reason that Mexicans today seeking economic opportunity have to cross the Rio Grande.
The Mexican and American armies were very different. The Amerucan Army was an entirely volunteer force. American officers had been trained at West point and had a degree of professionalismm especially the younger offocers, men like Jefferson Davies, Usslyess Grant, and Robert E. Lee. The Mexican Army was a conscript army. Many had been press ganged. The ordinary soldier was an illiterate campansino with no real sence of national identity. They were exploited by land owners and after being forced into the army by their officers, many of whom had purchased their commissions and profted from them. This began at the top wih President Santa Ana. The soldiers were poorly equipped and supplied and terribly led. Despite this, the Mexicans soldiers fought tensaciously and with great courage. [Clary]]
President Santa Anna made it clear that American annexation of Texas was unacceptable to his government. Tensions escalated as Congress began to move toward Texas anexation. The Mexican government informed the Tyler administration that it would consider annexation "equivalent to a declaration of war". The Federalists that ousted Santa Anna (December 1945 took a more moderate position. Herrera was moving toward recognizing the Republic of Texas, a step the Nritish Governent was promoting. As Santa Anna warned, his ambassador in Washington took the first step toward war and broke diplomatic relations with the U.S. government ias soon as Congress passed the Texas annexation resolution. The Herrera government wanted to avoid war. He forwarded a message indicating his government's willingness to resume diplomatic relations relations (August 1845).
Herrera was willing to accept not only the loss of Texas, but annexation. Herrera seems to have come to the conclusion that it was wise to settle all outstanding issues with the United States.
Besides Texas Herrea wanted to settled the claims issue. As a result of Mexican independence, foreigners has unpaid monetary cliams on the Mexican government. European governments (Britain and France) with navies had used military force to compel payment. The United States attempted to use diplomacy and, as a result, Mexico never paid the claims. Herrera wanted to remove all outstanding issues between Mexico and the United States to make sure there would be no war. He asked President Polktp appoint a minister plenipotentiary. Polk selected John Slidell. Polk may have not been that concerned with the claims issue. Here historians disagree. What he wanted now that Texas had been annexed was New Meico and California.
Slidell arrived in Mexici City with an offer to purchase California and New Mexico and to resolve the Texas boundary. The Republic of Texas had claimed the Rio Grande as its southern boundary. The Mexican state of Tamaulipas, however, claimed the area north of the Rio Grande to the Nueces River. Even Mexcicans willing to settle the Texas issue were not willing to compromise in the boundary issue. Herrera's accomosationist foreign policy was not popular in Mexico. The Centralists sharply criticized Herrera for offering concessions to the Americans. The Centralist nationaistic stance proved popular in Mexico. Centralist leader Mariano Parades y Arrillaga demanded that Herrera attack the United tates and resolve the Texas issue by force (August 1845). The Centralist agitation proved so popular that when Slidell arrived in Mexico City, Herrera decided it was wiesest not to meet with him (December 1845). Parades sensing Herrera's weakness proclaimed his revolutionary manifesto (December 14). He marched with his supporters to Mexico City. When he entered the City, Herrera fled (January 2, 1846). Herrera was proclaimed president (January 4). One of his first acts as president was to order Slidell to leave Mexico.
The enormous differences between Mexico and the United States did not exist in the 1840s. America was not yet an industrial nation, alouth manufacturung had begun in the northeast. America had a larger population, but not enormously so. Most of the American population lived east of the Mississppi, far from Texas where Parades thought the war would be fought. Mexico at the time the war occured had a larger and more experienced army than the United States. It was a32,000 men which Santa Anna had formed and used a considerable portion of governmeent revenues to arm and maintain. He used it to quel uprisings in various Mexican states, often with considerable brutality. The Mexican army was about five times the size of the United States army at the time war broke out. Parades thought that the logistics involved would favor the Mexican army. The Americans would have a hard tome reaching Texas and would find it even more difficult to move into Mexico.
He also was aware of the American slavery debate and thought this would prevent Polk from taking decisive action. Parades and other Mexican leaders were convinced that their military superority would enable them to win back Texas. Parades even talked about continuing east and taking New Orleans and Mobile, the two most important Aerican ports on the Gulf of Mexico.Some Mexicans thought a Mexican invasion of the United States would precipitate a slave uprising would leave the United States encapanle of continuing the war.
President Polk when the Slidell mission failed did not declare war. Polk did order General Zachary Taylor to move his army from his position on the Nueces River south to the mouth of the Rio Grande into the disputed territory and to defend Texas (January 1). Historians do not know why Polk did not ask for a declaration of war, but the annexation of Texas had been controversial, primarily because it added a slave state to the Union. Presumably Polk did not believe he could get firm support from Congress. Taylor reached the Rio Grande (March 28). Anti-slavery forces criticised Polk for moving forces to the Rio Grande, seeing it as a move to provoke Mexico into a war that would add even more slave states. Parades and the Centralists did not see the Texas question as a boundary issue. They wanted all of Texas back and like Santa Anna they saw the American annexation of Texas as reason for war. Even before Taylor moved his army to the Rio Grande, Parades began mobilizing the Mexican Army and restated his intention of attacking the United States. Parades ordered his commander stationed at Matamoros on the Rio Grande to attack the Americans (April 4). When the commander hesitated, Parades replaced him. Parades then declared war (April 23) and ordered the new commander to attack. Wiser consul might have convinced Prades that Santa Anna had failed to defeat a small, poorly armed Texas militia that he was unlikely to defeat the United States. But he had seized control by appealing to Mexican nationalism and exerting Mexico's clim to Texas and was determined to make good his appeal.
The fighting began when Mexican units crossed the Rio Grande and attacked a U.S. dragoon patrol commanded by Capt. Seth B. Thornton in the dispured territory (April 25, 1846). The Thornton Affair was a small engagement. Taylor reported that Thorton's patrol had been ambushed. Mexican forces staged two more attacks north of the Rio Grande resulting in battles at Palo Alto (May 8) and Resaca de la Palma (May 9). American forces repulsed both attacks. The Mexican offensive is someumes referred to as the siege of Fort Texas. Taylor's report of the Mexican attacks across the Rio Grande arrived in Washington (May 9). The following Monday, Polk finally presented a declaration of war to Congress (May 13). Ther was vocal opposition to war, especially from the anti-slave forces, but Congress voted the declaration of war (May 13).
President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to move his army into the disputed territory to the mouth of the Rio Grande. Anti-slavery forces criticised Polk for ordering Taylor to the Rio Grande, seeing it as a move to provoke Mexico into a war that would add even more slave states. Even before Taylor moved his army to the Rio Grande, Parades began mobilizing the Mexican Army and restated his intention of attacking the United States. Parades ordered his commander stationed at Matamoros on the Rio Grande to attack the Americans (April 4). When the commander hesitated, Parades replaced him. Parades then declared war (April 23) and ordered the new commander to attack. The War began when Mexican units crossed the Rio Grande and attacked a U.S. dragoon patrol commanded by Capt. Seth B. Thornton in the dispured territory (April 25, 1846). It was a small engagement. Taylor reported that Thorton's patrol had been ambushed. Mexican forces staged two more attacks north of te Rio Grande, at Palo Alto (May 8) and Resaca de la Palma (May 9). American forces repulsed both attacks. Taylor's report of the first attack arrived in Washington (May 9). The following Monday, Polk presented a declaration of war to Congress (May 13). There was vocal opposition to war from the anti-slave forces, but Congress voted the declaration of war (May 13).
Parades and his supporters were shocked when Taylor's numerically smaller army repulsed the initial Mexican attacks accross the Rio Grande. He ordered the new commander to move back from the Rio Grande thinking that the Americans would not persure the war in the difficult terraine of northern Mexico. The rest of the northern campaign took place south of the Rio Grande in northern Mexico. President Parades had though American divisions would impair the war effort. In fact, news of the Mexican attacks across the Rio Grande had the impact of increasing popular support for the War although a vocal opposition continued. Taylor finally began planning a campaign south to seize the principal northern city of Monterrey. Monterrey was fortified and had a garrison of over 10,000 men. Taylor's army reached Momterrey (September 19). He began his attack (September 21). After intense fighting, Mexican commander General Pedro de Ampudia requested an truce which Taylor accepted. Taylor permitted him to withdraw his battered forces from Monterrey (September 25). A key factor in the War proved to be Mexican domestic divisions. Santa Anna established his headquarters at San Luis Potosi, far to the south. It was there that he leaned of the Anerican redeoloyments through captured dispatches. Santa Anna began moving his 20,000 man army north to engage Taylor's weakened force of only about 7,000 men (January 1847). Despite having a much smaller force, Taylor decided to give battle. He set up defensive positions at Buena Vista. Santa Anna launched his attack (February 22). In two days of heavy fighting, Santa Anna almost overwealmed Taylor's inferior force. When he failed, he disebgaed and moved south to deal with political disorder in Mexico City and Scott's invasion. Buena Vista was the last iportant engagement fought in the north.
What is now the American southwest, was the far north of Mexico. The Mexicans and the Spnih bfore them had taken very little interest in the region. A small American force suceeded in taking New Mexico and California which were only lightly populated by Mexican settlers and lightly defended. Captain John C. Fremont proclaimed the independence of California (July 4). Navy Commodore John D. Sloat took Monterey, California (July 7) and then Yerba Buena (present San Fransisco) (July 8).
Public opinion is an interesting question during the Mexican War becuse we know there were varie opinion among Americans. It is difficult to assess, however, because there were no such thing aublic opinion polling. The War was presented to Americans by President Polk as a Mexican attack on American soil. It is true that the War began with a Mexicant attack. It is a matter of conjecture that the President was attempting to goad the Mexicans into attacking. This my be the case, but it is clear that the Mexicns showed no interes in a negotiated settlenent, It is true that the the attack took place on disputed territory. Many accounts indicate that the Texan claim to The Neuses was strong, but all the ay to the Rio Grande was less firm, but it is bot unreasonable to seend troops into disputed territory. The Mexicns did the same. There is no doubt that moving an army to the mouth of the Rio Grande was provocative. But Mexico sending troops into the disputed region and failure to pursue a negotiated settlement was also provocative. Opposition to the War was initially centered on the increasilgly contentious slavery issue. One of the outspoken critics of the War was Whig Congressman Abraham Lincoln. One history maintains that that opposition to the war grew and one of the reasons that opposition to the War grew was the very high casualty rate, mostly from disease. American soldiers experienced a higher casualty rate in the Mexican ar than in any other war America has fought. It alo seem clear that many Americans were entralled by the battle victories and completion of Americ's manifest destiny by seizing California. Thesewere matters that still affected Americans in both the North and South.
President Polk decided to persue a southern strategy and selected General Winfield Scott to comand the landing force. This became the decisive campaign of the War. This probably was a sound decesion. Driving south from Buena Vista would have required a long campaign over extremly difficult mountenous territory. When Mexico refused to make peace the United States invaded Mexico at Vera Cruz. A sige of the port ensued (March 9-29). Scott captured the fort at the Veracruz harbor (March 27). Scott, with 800 men, drove 15,000 Mexicans from the pass at Cerro Gordo (April 18). A young Robert E. Lee played an important role. Command of Cerro Gordo opened the way to Mecico City. The forced commanded by Gen. Winfield Scott moved inland and occupied Mexico City (September 14, 1847). Santa Anna renounced the presidency and split his remaining forces. He took half of the Mexican forces and attempted to retake Puebla. Thus on the same day Mexico City fell to the Americans, the siege of Puebla brefan (September 14-October 12). Colonel Thomas Childs commanded a small force of Ameicans that had been left by Scott to garison the city. General Joaquín Rea commanded the Mexican guerrilla forces in the area around Puebla which participated in the seige. It was the most important of Mexican guerilla efforts to cut the American supply lines between Mexico City and Vera Cruz. The siege proved to be the last significant threat to U.S. forces in central Mexico. Small-scale guerrilla raids continued to harass American supply lines (1847-48). Scott assigned General Lane to keep the supply lines ones.
A peace treaty was signed a few months later at Guadalupe Hidalgo (February 2, 1848). Mecico recognized the U.S. annexation of Texas and ceded California and New Mexico to the United States.
Santa Anna went into another exile in Kingston, Jamaica (1851). He then moved on to Turbaco, Colombia (1853). He was then supported by rebellious conservatives and he sucessfully again seized the presidency. His last reign was no more sucessfuly than the earlier ones. It was primarily notable for funneling government into his persoinal confers. He proved an addiditonal territory to the United States--the Gadsden Purchase (1853). Not satisfied with the presidency, he declared himself dictator for life and styled himself the "Most Serene Highness". This did not last long and the Ayutla Rebellion began his final fall (1854). Santa Anna made generous pay offs to the military. But by this time even Conservatives had lost faith in his leadership.
Liberals led by Benito Juárez and Ignacio Comonfort overthrew Santa Anna and the dispirited Conservatives.
Santa Anna again sught refuge in Cuba. The new Government found evidence of massive corruption and tried him in absentia for treason. As a result, the Government confiscated his enormous estates. He moved several times, living in the United States, Colombia, and the Virgin Islands. One actual ahievenment during this period was importing the first shipments of chicle, the first successful base for chewing gum, to the United States. He did not, howver benefit financially because he sought to use it gto replace rubber. The American working with him, Thomas Adams, worked with the chicle and called it "Chiclets". This was the foundation of the American chewing gum industry. Santa Anna's primary diversion during this period was cock fishing and he spent much of his dwindling resources on the fighting roosters. Late in his life Mexico declared a general amnesty and Santa Anna returned to Mexico for the last time (1874). He was in ill health ad almost blind from cataracts. The Government largely ignored him. He was not recognized when the anniversary of the Battle of Churubusco was celebrated. He died in Mexico City in virtual poverty (1876).
One often ignored question is why so few Mexicans moved into the northern territories. One reason the United States prevailed in the War was that just as Texas had been lightly settled, California and New Mexico were also lightly settled.
Taylor quarled with President Polk. The President through his support behind Army Chief of Staff of Staff Winfield Scott. Polk ordered some of Taylor'd best units to be transferred to Scott's command. Taylor was left with only a small force in northern Mexico. It was thus Scott's force which labded at Vera Cruz and took Mexico city. Taylor's run for the presidency was in large part due to anger over how he as treated by Pok and Scott.
The War is also notble because of the roles played by key figures in the coming American Civil War.
America's first initiative with Latin America began with the Monroe Doctrine (1820). America at the time did not have the military capacity to back up its proclamation. Here the major force preventing European colonization was the British Royal Navy. The first real engagement with Latin America was the Mexican War. It is one of the most controversial wars in which the United States has engaged. Historians still debate the War with considerable passion. Over time a historical consensus often emerges, but this is not the case with the Mexican War. Views of the War are colored by both national passion (mostly in Mexico) and ideological outlook (primarily in the United states). In both cases, histriological standads are often ignored.
Mexican historians have always seen the Mexican War as naked agression by the United States. Some American historians, usually those with left-eing orientation, in recent years have also come to this conclusion. This is considerable truth in this, but a strong jigoist element in Mexico desiring to retake Texas has to be considered. An important point here is that provocative actions (which the United States did take) and actual military attacks (which Mexico did) are two very different steps. There is a tendency to view the War in terms of the modern disparity in state power. The relative power of Mexico and the United States in the early- and mid-19th century was mush less disproporniate. The United States won the Mexican War, not by massive industrial might or overwealming large armies, but by superior military leadership, primarily emerging from the more eqalitarian American social structure.
The Mexican War was controversial at the time in the United States because abolitionist sentiment was growing in the North. And many northern Whigs saw the Mexican War as a veiled effort to extend slavery by evading the Missouri Compromise which covered only the territory acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. It is difficult to separate the nationalist and pro-slavery motivations of southerners at the time, but there is no doubt that extending slavery was a factor. Left-wing historians tend to portray Polk as a villian in American history for this reason. One historian writes that a nation founded on equality and proclaiming liberty for Latin American republics in the Monroe Doctrine, invaded the sister republic of Mexico that had successdfully fought for its independence from Spain and had eliminated slavery to boot, while the United States seemed to be invading for the express purpose of restoring it." [Widmer] The author's ideological miopia and manipulation of facts is mind boogling, but sadly all to common. The reference to American slavery is fair enough, but there is a convenient omission of the fact that a large part of the Mexican population were compesinos living in serf-like conditions.
It is generally the case today to view the Mexican War as an early example of American imperialism. A case can be made for that. But Mexican President Santa Ana himself wanted a war so it is somewhat unfair to view the war as a one-side exanple of American aggression. And after the War, Mexicans were granted U.S. citizenship which is not normally what is ddone by a colonial power. Now it is true that Latinos were treated unfairly by Anglo officials and businessmen. The general trend in modern histrography is to stress this. And we note a comparable trend by the media in the United States to pursue this thread. The American PBS network, for example, runs quite a few programs about how Hispanics are treated unfairly. Now we do not object to this in itself. It is part of the historical record and needs to be told. We do object to the relentlessy one-sided presentation, especially when the public funding is considered and PBS's claim to promote ideas and discourse. Completely absent from the PBS and other media presentation is that Mexican society has terribly exploited its own people theough both corruption and ideoligially based policies.
America has provided an opportunity for millions of Mexicans and other Latin Americans to find decent jobs and live at levels of prosperity impossible in Mexico. Completely absent from this discussion are two uncomfortable facts that liberal oriented historians and journalists refuse to confront because of their ideological banners. First, as badly as Hispanics were once treated in America, it was not as bad as they were treated in Mexico. There was no significant movement of Hispanics in the Southwest to Mexico. And the ladowners horrendous exploitation of the Mexican compesino finally exploded in the Mexican Revolution. Second, the exploitation of Mexican workers has not ended. Millions of Mexicans have chosen to forsake their country and families to seek ddecent jobs in America. This relentless left-wing mantra that Hispanics are mistrated in America sounds hollow indeed when confronted with the simple fact that millions of Hispanics choose to live in America.
Clary, David. Eagles and Empire: The United Stastes, Mexico, and the Struggle for a Continent (2009).
Widmer, Ted. Ark of the Liberties: America and the World (Hill and Wang, 2008), 355p.
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Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Dung, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Binh Chanh District Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People's Council, waters the newly planted trees. (Photo: NLDO)
On April 24, Binh Chanh District held the launching ceremony "Tet planting trees forever grateful to Uncle Ho" and launched the general environmental sanitation, restoring order on the roadside.
At the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Van Tai, Vice Chairman of Binh Chanh District People's Committee, said that following the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh, every year, Binh Chanh District always pays attention to planting trees and taking care of trees to create a green, clean and beautiful environmental landscape.
“This practical activity is a cultural beauty, contributing to beautifying the landscape and environment, improving the quality of people's lives, and at the same time learning and following President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style,” Mr. Tai emphasized.
Leaders of Binh Chanh District called on agencies, organizations, schools, companies, factories, industrial parks and all people in the district to actively respond to the movement "Tet planting trees forever grateful to Uncle Ho" and launched a general environmental sanitation campaign, restoring the order of the roadside so that the environment becomes greener, cleaner and more friendly, and worth living.
On behalf of the youth of Binh Chanh District, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Vinh Loc A Commune Pham Thi Thanh Tuyen promised to actively plant trees with all the spirit of the highest sense of responsibility, while continuing to encourage and mobilize all youth as well as their families and relatives to well implement the movement of planting trees to protect the environment, contributing to mitigating climate change and building rural areas.
After the launching ceremony, the delegates, together with leaders and people of Binh Chanh District, participated in planting 300 trees along 2,150 meters./. | <urn:uuid:34475436-3823-413b-9e8c-35c9ac386192> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://en.dangcongsan.vn/ho-chi-minh-city/southern-hub-plants-trees-to-show-gratitude-to-uncle-ho-596175.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571190.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810131127-20220810161127-00069.warc.gz | en | 0.932434 | 404 | 1.554688 | 2 |
A New Era? Afghan Presidential Hopefuls Court Women's Vote
On International Women's Day last month, Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani held a rally in Kabul attended by several thousand women. While they were all wearing headscarves, there was not a full-length burqa to be seen in the crowd. And the Western-educated Ghani did something highly unusual in Afghanistan: He let his wife, Rula, a Lebanese-American Christian, address the crowd.
Afghans head to the polls on Saturday to elect a successor to President Hamid Karzai in what will be the first democratic transfer of power in the country's history.
And women have been far more visible and vocal during this campaign than in previous elections — at least in urban areas. The candidates have made much more of an effort to address women's rights in their speeches and debates.
But that's not necessarily what's swaying female voters.
Take Khatera Tajamyar, for instance. What matters to her, the 24-year-old says, is that Ghani is a Western-educated, former World Bank official.
"Four years ago, I studied a couple of his books, and I prefer him as a candidate because of his knowledge," she says.
Parliamentarian Elay Ershad explains her support for Ghani this way: "We need someone who can build this country."
Ershad and other Afghan women say they fully back Ghani, even though one of the other leading candidates, Zalmay Rassoul, has a female vice presidential running mate.
"I would have not vote for someone because she is a woman or that person is a woman," Ershad says, adding that policies, not gender, are important to her.
The third front-runner, Abdullah Abdullah, has female supporters for a mix of reasons as well.
Hafezo Mir, 55, says she supports Abdullah because he's mujahid, referring to the anti-Taliban mujahedeen, Arabic for "holy warriors." Abdullah was one of the top political officials of the mujahedeen.
Activist Aqlima Moradi says that Afghan women are motivated to vote for different reasons.
"Women, like men, they are not one bloc," she says.
Some are concerned about security and the economy, while others are focused on preserving the gains in women's rights since the fall of the Taliban.
But Moradi argues the presidential candidates have failed to motivate many women to vote in this election.
"They were not specific, they were sort of conservative in their speeches about women," she says.
And as Moradi and Afghanistan expert Martine Van Bijlert both argue, many female voters who do vote don't end up voting for the candidate they personally prefer.
"It's not a given actually that women will necessarily vote differently from their men," Van Bijlert says — especially rural women who are still largely illiterate and subject to tribal or family pressure.
Van Bijlert also says that even if female turnout is high on paper, it doesn't mean all of them came out to vote. There is an illegal practice, especially in the conservative and violent parts of the country, where men cast proxy votes.
"Basically men coming in with large bags of voter cards for women, and voting en masse for the women of their family or for whoever," she says. It's one of the common forms of election fraud in Afghanistan.
The surge in pre-election violence, Moradi adds, could scare proportionally more women from voting, further diminishing their voice in this historic election. | <urn:uuid:afa9a761-c8a9-4444-864a-4ba1715ac28b> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://publicradioeast.org/post/afghan-women-upcoming-election-may-mark-new-step-forward | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988718957.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183838-00437-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979866 | 752 | 1.921875 | 2 |
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A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation in a dwelling or in a commercial establishment. A modern middle-class residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator, and worktops and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a microwave oven, a dishwasher, and other electric appliances. The main functions of a kitchen are to store, prepare and cook food (and to complete related tasks such as dishwashing). The room or area may also be used for dining (or small meals such as breakfast), entertaining and laundry. The design and construction of kitchens is a huge market all over the world.
Commercial kitchens are found in restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, hospitals, educational and workplace facilities, army barracks, and similar establishments. These kitchens are generally larger and equipped with bigger and more heavy-duty equipment than a residential kitchen. For example, a large restaurant may have a huge walk-in refrigerator and a large commercial dishwasher machine. In some instances, commercial kitchen equipment such as commercial sinks is used in household settings as it offers ease of use for food preparation and high durability.
In developed countries, commercial kitchens are generally subject to public health laws. They are inspected periodically by public-health officials, and forced to close if they do not meet hygienic requirements mandated by law.
Early medieval European longhouses had an open fire under the highest point of the building. The "kitchen area" was between the entrance and the fireplace. In wealthy homes, there was typically more than one kitchen. In some homes, there were upwards of three kitchens. The kitchens were divided based on the types of food prepared in them.
The kitchen might be separate from the great hall due to the smoke from cooking fires and the chance the fires may get out of control. Few medieval kitchens survive as they were "notoriously ephemeral structures".
In Connecticut, as in other colonies of New England during Colonial America, kitchens were often built as separate rooms and were located behind the parlor and keeping room or dining room. One early record of a kitchen is found in the 1648 inventory of the estate of a John Porter of Windsor, Connecticut. The inventory lists goods in the house "over the kittchin" and "in the kittchin". The items listed in the kitchen were: silver spoons, pewter, brass, iron, arms, ammunition, hemp, flax and "other implements about the room".
A stepping stone to the modern fitted kitchen was the Frankfurt Kitchen, designed by Margarethe Schütte-Lihotzky for social housing projects in 1926. This kitchen measured 1.9 by 3.4 metres (6 ft 3 in by 11 ft 2 in), and was built to optimize kitchen efficiency and lower building costs. The design was the result of detailed time-motion studies and interviews with future tenants to identify what they needed from their kitchens. Schütte-Lihotzky's fitted kitchen was built in some 10,000 apartments in housing projects erected in Frankfurt in the 1930s.
The Frankfurt Kitchen of 1926 was made of several materials depending on the application. The modern built-in kitchens of today use particle boards or MDF, decorated with a variety of materials and finishes including wood veneers, lacquer, glass, melamine, laminate, ceramic and eco gloss. Very few manufacturers produce home built-in kitchens from stainless steel. Until the 1950s, steel kitchens were used by architects, but this material was displaced by the cheaper particle board panels sometimes decorated with a steel surface.
Domestic kitchen planning
Domestic (or residential) kitchen design is a relatively recent discipline. The first ideas to optimize the work in the kitchen go back to Catharine Beecher's A Treatise on Domestic Economy (1843, revised and republished together with her sister Harriet Beecher Stowe as The American Woman's Home in 1869). Beecher's "model kitchen" propagated for the first time a systematic design based on early ergonomics. The design included regular shelves on the walls, ample workspace, and dedicated storage areas for various food items. Beecher even separated the functions of preparing food and cooking it altogether by moving the stove into a compartment adjacent to the kitchen.
Christine Frederick published from 1913 a series of articles on "New Household Management" in which she analyzed the kitchen following Taylorist principles of efficiency, presented detailed time-motion studies, and derived a kitchen design from them. Her ideas were taken up in the 1920s by architects in Germany and Austria, most notably Bruno Taut, Erna Meyer, Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky and Benita Otte, who designed the first fitted kitchen for the Haus am Horn, which was completed in 1923. Similar design principles were employed by Schütte-Lihotzky for her famous Frankfurt kitchen, designed for Ernst May's Römerstadt, a social housing project in Frankfurt, in 1927.
While this "work kitchen" and variants derived from it were a great success for tenement buildings, homeowners had different demands and did not want to be constrained by a 6.4-square-metre (69 sq ft) kitchen. Nevertheless, the kitchen design was mostly ad-hoc following the whims of the architect. In the U.S., the "Small Homes Council", since 1993 the "Building Research Council", of the School of Architecture of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign was founded in 1944 with the goal to improve the state of the art in home building, originally with an emphasis on standardization for cost reduction. It was there that the notion of the kitchen work triangle was formalized: the three main functions in a kitchen are storage, preparation, and cooking (which Catharine Beecher had already recognized), and the places for these functions should be arranged in the kitchen in such a way that work at one place does not interfere with work at another place, the distance between these places is not unnecessarily large, and no obstacles are in the way. A natural arrangement is a triangle, with the refrigerator, the sink, and the stove at a vertex each.
This observation led to a few common kitchen forms, commonly characterized by the arrangement of the kitchen cabinets and sink, stove, and refrigerator:
- A single-file kitchen (also known as a one-way galley or a straight-line kitchen) has all of these along one wall; the work triangle degenerates to a line. This is not optimal, but often the only solution if space is restricted. This may be common in an attic space that is being converted into a living space, or a studio apartment.
- The double-file kitchen (or two-way galley) has two rows of cabinets on opposite walls, one containing the stove and the sink, the other the refrigerator. This is the classical work kitchen and makes efficient use of space.
- In the L-kitchen, the cabinets occupy two adjacent walls. Again, the work triangle is preserved, and there may even be space for an additional table at a third wall, provided it does not intersect the triangle.
- A U-kitchen has cabinets along three walls, typically with the sink at the base of the "U". This is a typical work kitchen, too, unless the two other cabinet rows are short enough to place a table on the fourth wall.
- A G-kitchen has cabinets along three walls, like the U-kitchen, and also a partial fourth wall, often with a double basin sink at the corner of the G shape. The G-kitchen provides additional work and storage space and can support two work triangles. A modified version of the G-kitchen is the double-L, which splits the G into two L-shaped components, essentially adding a smaller L-shaped island or peninsula to the L-kitchen.
- The block kitchen (or island) is a more recent development, typically found in open kitchens. Here, the stove or both the stove and the sink are placed where an L or U kitchen would have a table, in a free-standing "island", separated from the other cabinets. In a closed room, this does not make much sense, but in an open kitchen, it makes the stove accessible from all sides such that two persons can cook together, and allows for contact with guests or the rest of the family since the cook does not face the wall any more. Additionally, the kitchen island's counter-top can function as an overflow surface for serving buffet-style meals or sitting down to eat breakfast and snacks.
In the 1980s, there was a backlash against industrial kitchen planning and cabinets with people installing a mix of work surfaces and free standing furniture, led by kitchen designer Johnny Grey and his concept of the "unfitted kitchen". Modern kitchens often have enough informal space to allow for people to eat in it without having to use the formal dining room. Such areas are called "breakfast areas", "breakfast nooks" or "breakfast bars" if space is integrated into a kitchen counter. Kitchens with enough space to eat in are sometimes called "eat-in kitchens". During the 2000s, flat pack kitchens were popular for people doing DIY renovating on a budget. The flat pack kitchens industry makes it easy to put together and mix and matching doors, bench tops and cabinets. In flat pack systems, many components can be interchanged.
In larger homes, where the owners might have meals prepared by a household staff member, the home may have a chef's kitchen. This typically differs from a normal domestic kitchen by having multiple ovens (possibly of different kinds for different kinds of cooking), multiple sinks, and warming drawers to keep food heated between cooking and service.
Restaurant and canteen kitchens found in hotels, hospitals, educational and workplace facilities, army barracks, and similar institutions are generally (in developed countries) subject to public health laws. They are inspected periodically by public health officials and forced to close if they do not meet hygienic requirements mandated by law.
Canteen kitchens (and castle kitchens) were often the places where new technology was used first. For instance, Benjamin Thompson's "energy saving stove", an early 19th-century fully closed iron stove using one fire to heat several pots, was designed for large kitchens; another thirty years passed before they were adapted for domestic use.
As of 2017, restaurant kitchens usually have tiled walls and floors and use stainless steel for other surfaces (workbench, but also door and drawer fronts) because these materials are durable and easy to clean. Professional kitchens are often equipped with gas stoves, as these allow cooks to regulate the heat more quickly and more finely than electrical stoves. Some special appliances are typical for professional kitchens, such as large installed deep fryers, steamers, or a bain-marie.
The fast food and convenience food trends have changed the manner in which restaurant kitchens operate. Some of these type restaurants may only "finish" convenience food that is delivered to them or just reheat completely prepared meals. At the most they may grill a hamburger or a steak. But in the early 21st century, c-stores (convenience stores) are attracting greater market share by performing more food preparation on-site and better customer service than some fast food outlets.
The kitchens in railway dining cars have presented special challenges: space is limited, and, personnel must be able to serve a great number of meals quickly. Especially in the early history of railways, this required flawless organization of processes; in modern times, the microwave oven and prepared meals have made this task much easier. Kitchens aboard ships, aircraft and sometimes railcars are often referred to as galleys. On yachts, galleys are often cramped, with one or two burners fueled by an LP gas bottle. Kitchens on cruise ships or large warships, by contrast, are comparable in every respect with restaurants or canteen kitchens.
On passenger airliners, the kitchen is reduced to a pantry. The crew's role is to heat and serve in-flight meals delivered by a catering company. An extreme form of the kitchen occurs in space, e.g., aboard a Space Shuttle (where it is also called the "galley") or the International Space Station. The astronauts' food is generally completely prepared, dehydrated, and sealed in plastic pouches before the flight. The kitchen is reduced to a rehydration and heating module.
Outdoor areas where food is prepared are generally not considered kitchens, even though an outdoor area set up for regular food preparation, for instance when camping, might be referred to as an "outdoor kitchen". An outdoor kitchen at a campsite might be placed near a well, water pump, or water tap, and it might provide tables for food preparation and cooking (using portable camp stoves). Some campsite kitchen areas have a large tank of propane connected to burners so that campers can cook their meals. Military camps and similar temporary settlements of nomads may have dedicated kitchen tents, which have a vent to enable cooking smoke to escape.
In schools where home economics, food technology (previously known as "domestic science"), or culinary arts are taught, there are typically a series of kitchens with multiple equipment (similar in some respects to laboratories) solely for the purpose of teaching. These consist of multiple workstations, each with its own oven, sink, and kitchen utensils, where the teacher can show students how to prepare food and cook it.
Kitchens in China are called chúfáng(厨房). More than 3000 years ago, the ancient Chinese used the ding for cooking food. The ding was developed into the wok and pot used today. Many Chinese people believe that there is a Kitchen God who watches over the kitchen for the family. According to this belief, the god returns to heaven to give a report to the Jade Emperor annually about this family behavior. Every Chinese New Year Eve, families will gather together to pray for the kitchen god to give a good report to heaven and wish him to bring back good news on the fifth day of the New Year.
The most common cooking equipment in Chinese family kitchens and restaurant kitchens are woks, steamer baskets and pots. The fuel or heating resource was also an important technique to practice the cooking skills. Traditionally Chinese were using wood or straw as the fuel to cook food. A Chinese chef had to master flaming and heat radiation to reliably prepare traditional recipes. Chinese cooking will use a pot or wok for pan-frying, stir-frying, deep frying or boiling.
Kitchens in Japan are called Daidokoro (台所; lit. "kitchen"). Daidokoro is the place where food is prepared in a Japanese house. Until the Meiji era, a kitchen was also called kamado (かまど; lit. stove) and there are many sayings in the Japanese language that involve kamado as it was considered the symbol of a house and the term could even be used to mean "family" or "household" (similar to the English word "hearth"). When separating a family, it was called Kamado wo wakeru, which means "divide the stove". Kamado wo yaburu (lit. "break the stove") means that the family was bankrupt.
In India, a kitchen is called a "Rasoi" (in Hindi\Sanskrit) or a "Swayampak ghar" in Marathi, and there exist many other names for it in the various regional languages. Many different methods of cooking exist across the country, and the structure and the materials used in constructing kitchens have varied depending on the region. For example, in the north and central India, cooking used to be carried out in clay ovens called "Chulha"s, fired by wood, coal or dried cow dung. In households where members observed vegetarianism, separate kitchens were maintained to cook and store vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Religious families often treat the kitchen as a sacred space. Indian kitchens are built on an Indian architectural science called vastushastra. The Indian kitchen vastu is of utmost importance while designing kitchens in India. Modern-day architects also follow the norms of vastushastra while designing Indian kitchens across the world.
While many kitchens belonging to poor families continue to use clay stoves and the older forms of fuel, the urban middle and upper classes usually have gas stoves with cylinders or piped gas attached. Electric cooktops are rarer since they consume a great deal of electricity, but microwave ovens are gaining popularity in urban households and commercial enterprises. Indian kitchens are also supported by biogas and solar energy as fuel. World's largest solar energy kitchen is built in India. In association with government bodies, India is encouraging domestic biogas plants to support the kitchen system.
- Cooking techniques
- Dirty kitchen
- Hoosier cabinet
- Kitchen utensil
- Kitchen ventilation
- Universal design
- "The Pros and Cons of Using A Commercial Sink at Home – Home Decor Expert and". Home Decor Expert. 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- Vogel, Carol (1982-12-09). "The commercial kitchen at home: pros and cons". New York Times.
- Thompson, Theodor (1992) Medieval Homes, Sampson Lowel House
- Christie, Neil; Creighton, Oliver; Edgeworth, Matt; Hamerow, Helena (2013), Transforming Townscapes: From burgh to borough: the archaeology of Wallingford, AD 800–1400, The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Series, Oxford: Society for Medieval Archaeology, p. 201, ISBN 978-1-909662-09-4
- Creighton, Oliver; Christie, Neil (2015), "The Archaeology of Wallingford Castle: a summary of the current state of knowledge", in Keats-Rohan, K. S. B.; Christie, Neil; Roffe, David (eds.), Wallingford: The Castle and the Town in Context, BAR British Series, Oxford: Archaeopress, p. 13, ISBN 978-1-4073-1418-1
- Trumbull, J. Hammond (1850). The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 1636–1776. Vol. 1. Hartford, Brown & Parsons. p. 476.
- Rawsthorn, Alice (2010-09-27) Modernist triumph in the kitchen. New York Times
- Moore, Rowan (2019-01-21). "Bauhaus at 100: its legacy in five key designs". The Guardian. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
- Blank, Christine (9 January 2014). "C-Stores Eating Your Lunch". QSR Magazine.
- "World's Largest 38500-meal Solar Kitchen in India". Retrieved 2017-03-17.
- Beecher, C. E. and Beecher Stowe, H.: The American Woman's Home, 1869. The American Woman's Home
- Cahill, Nicolas. Household and City Organization at Olynthus ISBN 0-300-08495-1
- Cromley, Elizabeth Collins. The Food Axis: Cooking, Eating, and the Architecture of American Houses (University of Virginia Press; 2011); 288 pages; Explores the history of American houses through a focus on spaces for food preparation, cooking, consumption, and disposal.
- Harrison, M.: The Kitchen in History, Osprey; 1972; ISBN 0-85045-068-3
- Kinchin, Juliet and Aidan O'Connor, Counter Space: Design and the Modern Kitchen (MoMA: New York, 2011)
- Lupton, E. and Miller, J. A.: The Bathroom, the Kitchen, and the Aesthetics of Waste, Princeton Architectural Press; 1996; ISBN 1-56898-096-5. The Bathroom, the Kitchen and the Aesthetics of Waste
- Snodgrass, M. E.: Encyclopedia of Kitchen History; Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers; (November 2004); ISBN 1-57958-380-6
Media related to Kitchens at Wikimedia Commons | <urn:uuid:65a3d5c9-47fe-4314-8f81-d28b331a2e84> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen#Domestic_kitchen_planning | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573908.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20220820043108-20220820073108-00274.warc.gz | en | 0.953442 | 4,293 | 3.3125 | 3 |
I think we were all blown away when the New Horizons spacecraft looked back at Pluto’s dark side and returned the first photos of a surprisingly complex, layered atmosphere. Colorless nitrogen along with a small percentage of methane make up Pluto’s air. Layers of haze are likely created when the two gases react in sunlight to form tiny, soot-like particles called tholins. These can ultimately grow large enough to settle toward the surface and coat and color Pluto’s icy exterior.
Now it seems Pluto’s atmosphere is capable of doing even more — making clouds! In an e-mail exchange with New Scientist, Lowell Observatory astronomer Will Grundy discusses the possibility that streaks and small condensations within the hazes might be individual clouds. Grundy also tracked a feature as it passed over different parts of the Plutonian landscape below, strongly suggesting a cloud. If confirmed, they’d be the first-ever clouds seen on the dwarf planet, and a sign this small 1,473-mile-wide (2,370 km) orb possesses an even more complex atmosphere than imagined.
Given the onion-like layers of haze and potential clouds, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprise that it snows on Pluto. The New Horizons team announced the discovery this week of a chain of exotic snowcapped mountains stretching across the dark expanse of the informally named Cthulhu Regio. Cthulhu, pronounced kuh-THU-lu and named for a character in American horror writer H.P. Lovecraft’s books, stretches nearly halfway around Pluto’s equator, starting from the west of the vast nitrogen ice plain, Sputnik Planum. At 1,850 miles (3,000 km) long and 450 miles (750 km) wide, Cthulhu is a bit larger than the state of Alaska. But ever so much colder!
Cthulhu’s red color probably comes from a covering of dark tholins formed when methane interacts with sunlight. But new close-up images reveal that the region’s highest mountains appear coated with a much brighter material. Scientists think it’s methane, condensed as ice onto the peaks from Pluto’s atmosphere.
“That this material coats only the upper slopes of the peaks suggests methane ice may act like water in Earth’s atmosphere, condensing as frost at high altitude,” said John Stansberry, a New Horizons science team member.
Compositional data from the New Horizon’s Ralph/Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC), shown in the right panel in the image above, shows that the location of the bright ice on the mountain peaks correlates almost exactly with the distribution of methane ice, shown in false color as purple.
New Horizons still has plenty of images stored on its hard drive, so we’re likely to see more clouds, frosty peaks and gosh-knows-what-else as the probe speeds ever deeper into space while returning daily postcards from its historic encounter. | <urn:uuid:d97fddca-a904-4468-bac2-bba79b992e01> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.universetoday.com/127711/clouds-spotted-on-pluto/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560282926.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095122-00402-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.916582 | 629 | 3.59375 | 4 |
The term “Staff Ride” is an internationally well-established term and is derived from a concept with foundations dating back to the Prussian Army. In the past century it has been used extensively by the US Army as a component of their officer development training program. Participants are no longer limited to “staff”, with Volunteers now also playing a significant role in bringing their unique perspective and experiences to this type of learning environment.
The Staff Ride (field case study) is an enhanced case study delivered in the field at the location of an actual historical incident, such as a fire or significant event. Unlike a simple historical tour, participants are provided the opportunity of “walking in the shoes of those involved”, and given the chance to analyse the fire ground or other incident area for themselves and make their own tactical decisions as to what they would have done in the same circumstances. This complements and builds on existing knowledge and experience of all fire agency personnel (volunteer and career) involved in decision making processes.
Participants are also challenged to push past the basic questions of "what happened" and examine the deeper questions of leadership, decision-making and human factors together with identifying opportunities to enable learning and professional growth for future events. By experiencing how other people make their decisions in complex, dynamic and changing situations participants develop a series of memory slides. They can then call upon these slides to help make robust decisions when faced with future unexpected events.
Sam Sunderland , Human Factors Advisor with the Incident Management Team and member of the Staff Ride Development Team, said “With every situation we find ourselves in we bring along personal biases gained over time through experiences that can affect our decision making, situational awareness, risk perception and leadership capacity. By examining the biases we bring to each circumstance and recognising their limitations we are better placed to make good decisions in time pressured and complex environment”.
The Cobaw Bushfire Staff Ride was developed by the Multi Agency Capability Committee which includes representatives from DSE, CFA, MFB and SES. The CFA IMT Training Project sponsors the development of this work. Attention is now turning to the identification and design of future Staff Rides to support the ongoing development of our incident management personnel. | <urn:uuid:c547156e-8d6d-41ef-9546-b72edb63e4a4> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/news/staff-ride-not-just-for-staff.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719416.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00363-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945292 | 455 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Targeted therapy directed against oncogenic BRAF mutations and immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed melanoma therapy over the past decade and prominently improved patient outcomes. However, not all patients will respond to targeted therapy or immunotherapy and many relapse after initially responding to treatment. This unmet need presents two major challenges. First, can we elucidate novel oncogenic drivers to provide new therapeutic targets? Second, can we identify patients who are most likely to respond to current therapeutic strategies in order to both more accurately select populations and avoid undue drug exposure in patients unlikely to respond? In an effort to evaluate the current state of the field with respect to these questions, we provide an overview of some common oncogenic mutations in patients with metastatic melanoma and ongoing efforts to therapeutically target these populations, as well as a discussion of biomarkers for response to immune checkpoint inhibitors—including tumor programmed death ligand 1 expression and the future use of neoantigens as a means of truly personalized therapy. This information is becoming important in treatment decision making and provides the framework for a treatment algorithm based on the current landscape in metastatic melanoma.
- programmed cell death 1 ligand 1
- tumor antigens
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all) | <urn:uuid:e7616213-d3b2-4c34-8db9-d46d438e48f3> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.scholars.northwestern.edu/en/publications/targeted-therapy-and-immunotherapy-emerging-biomarkers-in-metasta | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573744.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20220819161440-20220819191440-00472.warc.gz | en | 0.914831 | 290 | 1.5 | 2 |
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