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The work of the scientists, who will benefit from the Antarctic Quest 21 expedition is intricate, complex, interdisciplinary and connected to many environmental issues that matter to all of us. Here I’ll try to bring closer to you the work of Andrew Smedley.
His project, for which the expedition will collect data on the intensity of ultraviolet light at the Earth’s surface while crossing the Antarctic Peninsula, I have introduced on the Science Page of the Antarctic Quest 21 website. Here, in the first of the AQ21 Scientist series of publication digests, I am covering a different aspect of his work, which highlights his expertise in using solar irradiation data to understand the internal temperature profile of ice and in turn, processes that affect ice sheet near-surface melting or ice shelf crack formation.
The paper ‘Solar radiative transfer in Antarctic blue ice: spectral considerations, subsurface enhancement, inclusions and meteorites’ was published by Andrew RD Smedley, Geoffrey W Evatt, Amy Mallinson and Eleanor Harvey in the scientific journal The Cryosphere (Volume 14, pages 789-9809) in March 2020. It is open access and you can read it here: LINK.
The article’s title may not roll of your tongue easily, but the story is intriguing: it’s a deep dive into detail and offers a glimpse into the world of modelling. This story is about the behaviour of ice in sunlight and, at its core, is a puzzle stone of knowledge relevant to one the most important environmental challenges of the day: climate change.
At first glance, it’s all common sense: sunlight (solar radiation) arrives at the Earth’s surface and, depending on the properties of that surface, it is either reflected or absorbed. Different surfaces reflect and absorb different amounts of radiation. You know that from daily life: Wear a black t-shirt in the sunshine and you’ll feel the warmth of the absorbed sunlight more intensely than while wearing a white, but otherwise identical, t-shirt. The glare reflecting off a large snow surface has a different effect on your eyes than sunlight filtered through the canopy of a woodland in full leaf. You’ll see light scattering in action when you watch the appearance of a freshly pulled pint of real ale change, as tiny bubbles swirl and finally clear out of the liquid…
When it comes to understanding the processes that determine the temperature profile of ice, and therefore the way ice melts and cracks, we need to go beyond common sense and consider a lot more detail.
Andrew and his colleagues combined the laws of physics with Monte Carlo simulation to extend insights from previously developed models with a broader inclusion of processes that affect ice behaviour. Monte Carlo simulations are a widely used approach to simulating physical, biological and economic processes that uses randomness in the generation of numerical results. I will not go further into the mathematical detail here.
The model simulates photons (of which sunlight, or solar irradiance, consists) that have entered the ice (i.e. they were not reflected at its surface) travelling along random pathways into and through the ice. They may be scattered by trapped air bubbles, absorbed by the ice or particles enclosed within it, or escape the ice through its surface into the air. Figure 1 illustrates these ideas schematically. The purpose of the model is to calculate how light travels up and down in ice and how much of the incoming light is present at a given depth below the surface.
Figure 1 Schematic illustration of interaction between solar irradiance (sunlight) and the ice surface (reflection, admittance), trapped air bubbles (scattering, absorption) and embedded particles (absorption), as well as with the ice itself (movement through, absorption).
By definition, a model is a simplified version of the system we are seeking to understand. The architect’s drawing of a house is not the house itself, but it conveys information for the purpose of illustrating design. Equally, in the design of a mathematical model, the number of processes and parameters considered, the resolution in time or space, the sophistication of the algorithms used, depend on what we want to know and on what we know already.
To me, discovering the level of detail incorporated into the model of how sunlight interacts with ice, reinforced my respect for the art of modelling:
Think back to school and you’ll remember that light consists of a whole spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, waves of different wavelengths. These may be in the visible range (think of a rainbow) or outside the visible range, for example the ultraviolet light we tend to protect ourselves from using sun cream and sunglasses. The solar irradiance that arrives at the Earth’s surface depends on the angle of the sun (solar zenith angle) and its interaction with the atmosphere. Light of different wavelengths interact differently with the atmosphere, including clouds, particles and vapour. The model uses parameters for solar irradiance spectra measured near a mountain range in Antarctica for both, diffuse and direct sunlight.
- Optical properties of ice that contains bubbles.
Perhaps suffice to say that a set of mathematical expressions is used to describe the optical properties of the ice in relation to the wavelength of the photons being tracked through the ice, the number and size of the trapped bubbles and the way they scatter and absorb photons.
Only one set of data seems to exist that describes the density and properties of ice bubbles in Antarctic blue ice. These were used and adjusted with other data from literature to provide a more general estimate of bubble number concentration and their geometry in ice with and without cracks, for use in the model. As an example, one of the results presented in the paper was based on 415 bubbles of 0.4 mm diameter in each cubic centimetre of ice.
Particles trapped within the surface ice literally fall from the sky, as part of ‘atmospheric deposition’ (entrained and carried by wind or snow) or meteorites, which is surprisingly common. Particles of different geometries were considered, including spherical, planar and ellipsoidal (‘balls’, ‘plates’ and ‘eggs’) of less than 1 mm in size. The model was also applied specifically to iron-rich meteorites of several cm across.
In the model, the positions of individual photons of specific wavelengths are tracked. Where they arrive at the surface of the ice at a particular angle, their reflection or entry into the ice is calculated, as well as refraction. Once within the ice, photons either return to the atmosphere, are absorbed or pass below a depth where they are deemed not to make a significant contribution (below 16 m ice) to ice behaviour. The model uses an innovative set of calculations that determines whether, where and how a photon interacts with a bubble or particle and at what point it will cease to be tracked because it left the ice or travelled below 16 m depth. The record of photon position over time provides the data necessary to calculate the fluxes of and number of photons at each depth.
Every scientific experiment requires quality control and has limitations. Mathematical models are no different, and quality assurance is undertaken in a process called validation, which compares model output data against independently generated data set or empirical data, running the model repeatedly to check reproducibility and tweaking individual parameters within the model to assess the model’s sensitivity and stability. In this paper that was an elaborate process and let’s just summarise: the model lived up to the standard required for its purpose.
The model calculation results confirmed some phenomena already known to science: photons with lower wavelength, such as infrared, were attenuated rapidly in the surface layer of the ice, while shorter wavelength in the ultraviolet and short visible range penetrated to greater depths. There were also some new findings. For example, the scattering of photons by air bubbles means that eventually, some photons return to the surface, where they may be undergoing internal reflection back into the ice. This means that, at any given time, there may be up to 73.5% more low wavelength photons bouncing around within the ice than are supplied to the ice from the sun.
Why is this relevant? Photons are energy and if they are absorbed by small contaminants, inclusions or heating the ice itself, they contribute to the energy budget of the ice at depth and hence, the behaviour of the ice with respect to cracking and melting. In addition, the model showed that particle inclusions within the ice may absorb enough energy from photons to cause the surrounding ice to melt and the particle to sink within the resulting cavity. This in turn, at very small scales, means that the melting of ice surrounding particles causes the released air bubbles to gather in the molten cavity, and photons will be refracted in different ways at the water-air, air-ice and water-ice interfaces within this cavity, with yet more consequences for the energy budget (sub-surface radiative field) within the ice.
Although the paper concludes with an application of this work to explaining the differences between rocky and iron meteorites when it comes to sinking within the ice and where they may be found, it clearly has wider implications. The insights provided here show that the energy budget within surface ice needs to be re-considered in modelling of ice behaviour and for direct measurements of irradiance within the ice column.
If you were interested enough to read to the end, I thank you and share a final thought with you: when you next hear about model predictions of global warming, sea level rise or glacial melt, think back to what you have read here and reflect upon the intricate work that lies behind this specific, seemingly small contribution to the field of climate change. Perhaps it will be easier to understand the large uncertainty associated with some predictions that go far into the future and appreciate that each new model is constructed with the best current expertise, breaking new ground, while the scientists behind it know that their effort is just one along a timeline of improvements that reaches from the beginning of modelling into the future. | <urn:uuid:ccb63f0f-f4ea-44b3-9954-8471bf0053e6> | CC-MAIN-2021-49 | https://challenginghabitat.com/2021/06/20/aq21-scientists-andrew-smedley/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-49/segments/1637964362930.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20211204033320-20211204063320-00607.warc.gz | en | 0.936679 | 2,074 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Practical help, consultation and design.
Cutting topiary – shapes, hedges, cloud pruning, parterres, mazes, labyrinth and knot gardens.
Restoration and re- shaping old topiary specimens.
Formal, Contemporary, Sculptural, Landforms – Turf Topiary
Elton Hall, Peterborough
Topiary restoration of hundred year old plants, (left of terrace), creation of new topiary shapes, (right hand side) and maintenance.
Topiary doughnuts, Greater London
Designer Cleve West, maintained by Topiary Arts.
Topiary Bird, Hampshire
Topiary restoration. When restoration commenced, this piece of topiary first resembled a tap. It has taken 3 years to complete restoration.
Wethered Park, Berkshire
Topiary restoration and maintenance of two hundred year old yew, cloud pruned hedge.When first contracted to work on this hedge, it had been cut into straight lines and has taken five years to restore the hummocky cloud pruned shape, which is ongoing. This 300 foot long cloud pruned yew hedge, 25 foot high, 15 foot wide hedge requires 3 tons of horse manure per year plus dead wooding. | <urn:uuid:d915cdcd-a1a2-4cf5-88f8-b57e1e59d5a1> | CC-MAIN-2019-04 | https://www.topiaryarts.com/tips-techniques/landscaping | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547583804001.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20190121172846-20190121194846-00386.warc.gz | en | 0.869054 | 252 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Based on the experience with the atrocities of the Nazi regime, human rights in Germany are protected extensively by the constitution and the courts. Germany has ratified most international human rights treaties. Reports from independent organizations such as Amnesty International certify a high level of compliance with human rights.
Monitoring communication and “censorship” of media by government or courts is allowed only in a very restricted manner to gurantee freedom of expression. Privacy and Data Protection is strongly protected by law.
According to the “Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index”, Germany is currently ranked 18th (USA: 20th) out of 175 countries in the world in terms of press freedom. But: the internet challenges the German laws regarding privacy and the possibility of national law enforcement. Due to political symbolism and helplessness, a tendency can be noted to limit the freedom of internet more than would be considered with regard to classic media.
I was invited by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give a lecture on the Internation Blogger Tour about the LEGAL FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION IN GERMANY. The presentation of the speech can be downloaded by clicking on that link. | <urn:uuid:95d6bcc3-13e3-4e83-b53d-2d83eb5136cd> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.moenikes.de/2010/05/15/legal-framework-conditions-of-online-communication-in-germany/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473871.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20240222225655-20240223015655-00212.warc.gz | en | 0.933291 | 244 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Beginning writers will explore the steps of the writing process as a path for discovery and communication. Weekly papers explore several modes of writing, including description, nonfiction narrative, and both analytical and argumentative essays. The course primarily emphasizes the art of essay construction by focusing on rhetorical patterns, by introducing research techniques, and by using critical reasoning skills to explore and to amplify ideas. The class routinely uses group editing and other collaborative techniques in a discussion setting and gives special attention to the development of editing and rewriting skills. It also sharpens analytical reading ability through careful analysis of literature. The schedule includes individual tutorials. | <urn:uuid:d66f398e-dc75-4de0-b526-61b4a1e38c7c> | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | https://curriculum.bennington.edu/fall2016/2016/04/14/pathways-an-introduction-to-writing-essays/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780057417.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20210923074537-20210923104537-00593.warc.gz | en | 0.928471 | 120 | 2.671875 | 3 |
The Port of Brisbane lies on Australia's eastern shores at the mouth of the Brisbane River as it enters Moreton Bay. The Port of Brisbane is about 220 kilometers north of the Port of Yamba and about 235 kilometers south of the Port of Maryborough. The third largest city in Australia, the Port of Brisbane was home to over 1.6 million people in 2001.
Capital and major port for the State of Queensland, the Port of Brisbane serves a large agricultural region. The port exports dairy products, wool, grain, meat, mineral sands, sugar, and preserved foods. The metropolitan area of the Port of Brisbane contains over half of the State's manufacturing. Plants in the Port of Brisbane include food processors, sawmills, oil refineries, paper mills, shipyards, and manufacturers of fertilizers, cement, automobiles, and rubber products.
There is a large white-collar industrial sector in the Port of Brisbane. Government, information technology, higher education, and financial services occupy the central business district and inner suburbs. Tourism is also a major contributor to the Port of Brisbane's local economy.
Before Europeans arrived at the Port of Brisbane,the indigenous Turrbal peoples called the place "Mian-jin." In 1799, explorer and cartographer Matthew Flinders landed below the red cliffs of Moreton Bay at a place that is now called Woody Point.
When the Governor of New South Wales ordered the construction of a new penal settlement in the north in 1823, John Oxley led a party to explore Moreton Bay and recommended Red Cliff Point for the settlement because it was easy for ships to reach. The Oxley party, with 14 soldiers and their families and 29 convicts, settled Redcliffe in Finding they did not have a good water supply, the new settlement moved to the Brisbane River site now called North Quay.
In 1828, convicts built the Windmill in Wickham Park and the Old Commissariat Store. The windmill was used for grinding grain and to punish convicts. The Old Commissariat Store was a grain house and later a hostel for immigrants. Today, it is home to the Royal Historical Society of Brisbane and a museum.
Initially called Edenglassie, non-convict settlers began to arrive in the Port of Brisbane region in 1838. Missionaries from Germany began settling Zions Hill in 1837 on 260 hectares of land that was known as German Station. Over the next five years, free settlers came to the area. In 1842, the Port of Brisbane was declared a free settlement.
The first exports leaving the Port of Brisbane included timber from local forests. The logs were rafted down the Brisbane River to Moreton Bay and moved by ship to Sydney. In the middle 1800s, the Port of Brisbane was recognized as the commercial center of the Queensland colony.
In 1850, the Port of Brisbane handled over 8.1 thousand tons of cargo. By 1885, the port handled almost 691 thousand tons. During the same period, the city's population grew from less than eight thousand to more than 100 thousand. During this period, water was the dominant transportation mode, and ships carried coal and agricultural products away from the port and brought manufactured goods into the Port of Brisbane. By 1888, production of frozen beef became an important component of the local economy and of Port of Brisbane exports.
The Port of Brisbane was part of a rivalry with the nearby town of Cleveland, which was a busy port at the time. In 1854, the wharves in Cleveland burned, and the Port of Brisbane began to grow as the leading port in Queensland.
Queensland became a separate colony in 1859, and the Port of Brisbane was made its capital. Incorporated in 1902 as a city, more than 20 small towns and shires were combined in 1925 to create the City of Brisbane.
The Port of Brisbane was important to the Allies during World War II, as it was used for General Douglas MacArthur's Southwest Pacific Headquarters, from which he managed the one million United States troops that passed through Australia. In 1942, the Battle of Brisbane resulted from a violent clash between US personnel and Australian soldiers and civilians. The Port of Brisbane was an important part of the Allied war effort. The Cairncross Dockyard was built to meet demands for ship repair facilities.
In the late 1940s, a new era began in the development of the Port of Brisbane and the community. Meat-, sugar-, mining-, and meat-processing became important contributors to the local economy and to port exports. The population grew significantly between 1947 and 1961 from 457 thousand to 693 thousand people. By the early 1960s, the Port of Brisbane was handling about 2.6 million tons of cargo per year.
In the 1960s, two phases of development changed the Port of Brisbane forever. The Moonie oil fields were discovered, bringing two new oil refineries to the mouth of the Brisbane River and a whole new area of activity to the Port of Brisbane. By the end of the 1960s, containerized cargo was becoming an important aspect of commercial shipping. The Port of Brisbane's first container terminal was built in 1969 in the Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River. | <urn:uuid:5f4618fa-e072-49a8-89b5-d873132cad7e> | CC-MAIN-2018-39 | http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/review/AUS_Port_of_Brisbane_40.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-39/segments/1537267159470.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20180923134314-20180923154714-00007.warc.gz | en | 0.972203 | 1,057 | 3.3125 | 3 |
who specialise in anaesthesiology are known as the Anaesthetist.
These are the doctors who specialise in administering the anaesthetic
agents. The nature of their job often involve looking after unconscious
patients and patients on various life supports and, because of this, the
Anaesthetist is often a very important member of the intensive care
team. The other area of great importance is in the area of pain management.
The Anaesthetists through their detailed knowledge in the action the
various drugs which can affect the nerves, an able to use this expert knowledge to control pain.
Cardiology is the area of medicine involved with the heart. Heart
disease is the commonest cause of death in Malaysia today. Patient with
heart disease usually complains of chest pain, shortness of breath,
swelling of ankles or legs or blackouts. Another common disease seen by
cardiologist is hypertension or high blood pressure. Disease of the
heart can now be treated by medicine, surgery or by putting a thin wire
in through a blood vessel in the groin or wrist and rectify the narrowing in
the artery that supply blood to the heart- angioplasty.
Cardiac electrophysiology is the science of elucidating, diagnosing, and treating the electrical activities of the heart. The term is usually used to describe studies of such phenomena by invasive (intracardiac) catheter recording of spontaneous activity as well as of cardiac responses to programmed electrical stimulation (PES). A specialist in cardiac electrophysiology is known as a cardiac electrophysiologist, simply an electrophysiologist. Cardiac electrophysiology is considered a subspecialty of cardiology. Cardiac electrophysiologists are trained to perform interventional cardiac electrophysiology studies (EPS) as well as surgical device implantations.
The Surgeons who specialise in operating diseases of the heart, lungs
and the thoracic cage are known as Cardiothoracic Surgeon. This specialty
is dealing with a very wide range of problems affecting the lungs and
the heart and the tissues inside the thoracic cage. This is especially
so when the illness requires surgical intervention. The more prominent
illnesses that require the help of the Cardiothoracic Surgeon are Coronary
Artery bypass, repair of Vulvular Heart disease, Resection of lung especially
in Lung cancer etc. Sometimes surgical intervention is also needed in
order to find out the diagnosis of the disease process that affects
the organs in the chest.
Dentistry is the branch of science which deals with diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely necessary for complete oral health. Those in the practice of dentistry are known as dentists. Prosthodontics is the dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing ordrficient teath and/or oral and maillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes.A prosthodontist is a dentist who specializes in prosthodontics, the specialty of implant, esthetic and reconstructive dentistry. Prosthodontists restore oral function through prostneses and restorations (i.e., complete dentures, crowns, implant retained/ supported restorations). Cosmetic dentistry, implants and temporamandibular joint disorder all fall under the field of prosthhodontics.Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions (improper bites), which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both. The word comes from the Greek words ortho meaning straight and odons meaning tooth.
The doctors who specialise in skin diseases are known as Dermatologists.
The skin is the body's largest organ and many disease processes can
affect it. Diseases that are deep in the body may also affect the skin.
Dermatologist is generally very skilled in using topical medications
and sometimes either oral or parenteral medications are added to treat
certain more severe skin illnesses. Many skin diseases can often be
recognized by inspection alone, however in other occasions a more detailed
investigation like blood test, X ray or taking a small biopsy of the
skin is needed to make a proper diagnosis.
Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery
Ear, nose, and throat surgery is the surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, or deformations of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck areas. The purpose of surgery to the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck is to treat an abnormality (defect or disease) in these anatomical areas. Ear surgery is usually performed to correct specific causes of hearing loss. Nose surgery can include different types of procedures necessary to treat sinus problems (sinus surgery). Throat surgery can include complicated procedures such as cancer of the larynx (laryngectomy), or more simple procedures such as surgical removal of the adenoids (adenoidectomy) or tonsils (tonsillectomy). Head and neck surgery may be necessary to remove a tumor or reconstruct an area after disfigurement from trauma or injury.
This discipline covers diseases of the digestive tract which comprises
the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, the
liver, gallbladder, and the pancreas. Physicians who practice gastroenterology, ( which is therefore a sub-speciality
of internal medicine), are trained to investigate and treat patients
with these conditions.
Some of the symptoms that may show up include abdominal pain, vomiting,
abdominal swelling, jaundice, diarrhoea and bleeding. Certain gastroenterological diseases such as hepatitis (inflammation
of the liver ) require purely medical (i.e. non-operative ) treatment.
Other conditions eg. gastrointestinal bleeding may require combined
management by both physician and surgeon. Therefore in practice gastroenerologists
work closely with their surgical colleagues and will refer or accept
patients for consultation where appropriate.
Hepatology is the branch of medicine that incorporates study of liver, gallbladder, biliary tree and pancreas as well as management of their disorders. Although traditionally considered a sub-specialty of gastroenterology, rapid expansion has led in some countries to doctors specialising solely on this area, who are called hepatologists. Diseases and complications related to viral hepatitis and alcohol are the main reason for seeking specialist advice from a hepatologist. Up to 80% of liver cancers can be attributed to either hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus. In terms of number of mortality, Hepatitis B is second to smoking among known agents causing cancer. And in countries where alcohol intake is on the rise, the number of people with cirrhosis liver and other related complications is increasing.
General & Interventional Radiology
Interventional Radiology is a subspecialty of radiology in which minimally invasive procedures are performed using image guidance. Some of these procedures are done for purely diagnostic purposes (e.g., angiogram), while others are done for treatment purposes (e.g., angioplasty). Pictures (images) are used to direct these procedures, which are usually done with needles or other tiny instruments like small tubes called catheters. The images provide road maps that allow the Interventional Radiologist to guide these instruments through the body to the areas of interest.
Common interventional imaging modalities include fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Doctors who specialise in general surgery are known as Surgeons.
The Surgeons are well known for their skills in performing surgical
operation. Many individual surgeons in addition to their general surgical
skill would also have developed an interest in a field of their personal
liking. Examples are like colorectal surgery, endocrine surgery, and
in the recent years endoscopic- surgery and minimally- invasive surgery.
Besides these, surgeons are also familiar and skilled in performing diagnostic
and sometimes therapeutic endoscopic examinations.
Doctors who specialise in Internal medicine are generally known
as Physicians. They are skilled in using medications to treat all kinds
of ailments. In the course of their training to become physicians they
would also have learned many practical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Hence, many Physicians are skilled in performing endoscopic examinations,
ultrasound imaging, and the interpretation of test results.
Oncology is the branch of medicine that studies tumors (cancer). A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist.
The oncologist organizes the care of cancer patients, which may involve various treatments of different disciplines such as physiotherapy, counselling, clinical genetics.
Oncology is concerned with:
• the diagnosis of cancer
• therapy (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other modalities)
• follow-up of cancer patients after successful treatment
• palliative care of patients with terminal malignancies
• ethical questions surrounding cancer care
• screening efforts:
- of populations, or
- of the relatives of patients (in types of cancer that are thought to have a hereditary basis, such as breast cancer)
Haematology is the branch of biology (physiology), pathology, clinical laboratory, internal medicine, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases. Haematology includes the study of etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention of blood diseases.
Physicians specialized in haematology are known as haematologists. Their routine work mainly includes the care and treatment of patients with haematological diseases, although some may also work at the haematology laboratory viewing blood films and bone marrow slides under the microscope, interpreting various haematological test results. Haematologists may specialise further or have special interests, for example in:
• treating bleeding disorders such as hemophilia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
• treating haematological malignancies such as lymphoma and leukaemia (onco haematology)
• treating haemoglobinopathies
• in the science of blood transfusion and the work of a blood bank
• in the bone marrow and stem cell transplantation
Neonatology is a subspecialty of paediatrics that consists of the medical care of newborn infants, especially the ill or premature newborn infant. It is a hospital-based specialty, and is usually practiced in neonatal intensive care units. The principal patients of neonatologists are newborn infants who are ill or requiring special medical care due to prematurity, low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, congenital malformations (birth defects), sepsis, or birth asphyxias.
A nephrologist or kidney specialist treats patients with
all of types of kidney diseases. At the early stage of kidney disease,
a nephrologist uses his clinical skills and investigative tools to reach
a diagnosis and uses medications to reverse the disease process. When
the kidney disease is more advanced, he strives to preserve the kidney
function and manage the associated complications. If a patient's kidney
failure is very advanced and irreversible, he will prepare the patient
for dialysis and kidney transplantation. A nephrologist also manages
ill patients who develop kidney problems as a result of other systemic
diseases or surgery. One of the nephrologist's main areas of work is
dealing with kidney diseases and kidney failure that result from long-standing
diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Doctor who specialises in looking after female reproductive life
is known as Obstetrician & Gynaecologist. These two areas of work
often are fused and trained as one. Obstetrics is basically the specialty
that involve looking after the process of pregnancy and delivery in
the female patient while gynaecology involves the management of problems
that arise from the female reproductive organs. The field is obviously
very wide and the doctor in this field can expertly treat many seemingly
unrelated problems like urinary incontinence in female. The other very
important area often investigated and treated is infertility. Menopause
and women with other sex hormone imbalances can also be helped by getting
the right advice and treatment from the Gynaecologist.
The doctor who is specialised in treating eye conditions is known
as Ophthalmologist. He is trained to examine the eye in detail and to
make accurate diagnosis. He will then advise on the optimal treatment
for the condition with medication, surgery or both. Detailed examination
of the eye sometimes can also reveal underlying systemic illness like
diabetes, high blood pressure etc.
Doctors who specialise in orthopaedics are known as Orthopaedic Surgeon.
The orthopaedic surgeons are skilled in treating diseases affecting
the bone, skeleto- muscular system and the joints. They are well known
for fixing fractured bones, they are also skilled in treating various
painful conditions due to degenerative changes or other pathological
processes that are affecting the bone, muscle or the joints.
Sports Injury Surgery
Sports injury surgery is a branch of orthopaedic surgery concerned with treating injuries involving the musculoskeletal that occur to athletes in major sporting events. In many cases, these types of injuries are due to overuse of a part of the body when participating in a certain activity. For example, runner’s knee is a painful condition generally associated with running, while tennis elbow is a form of repetitive stress injury at the elbow. Other types of injuries can be caused by a hard contact with something. This can often cause a broken bone or torn ligament or tendon.
Spine surgery is a branch of orthopaedic surgery to treat conditions of the spine.
Doctors who specialise in paediatrics are known as Paediatricians.
Paediatricians are skilled in treating illnesses that affect the children.
Special training is needed because many diseases that affect the children
can be very different from that of adults. Moreover, certain complications
may be very different, for instance the patients seen by the Paediatrician
may be affected by illnesses that are congenital or is hereditary. Another
example is that the young patients are still growing, hence the disease
process quite apart from causing problems to the particular system may
also disturb or delay the developmental process of the patient. Like
fields in medicine, the psychological and the social impacts for the
patient of any particular illness may also be very different from that
of adults. The Paediatrician who has his counterpart in the General
Physician is skilled in using medications in treating a very wide range
Surgeons who specialise in performing operations on newborns and
children are known as Paediatric Surgeon. After qualifying as a surgeon,
a paediatric surgeon has additional training to deal with many rare
and complicated conditions affecting young patients especially newborns.
These rare conditions are usually congenital problems affecting the
organs in the chest and abdomen especially those related to the intestine.
Not all surgical conditions in children need to be operated on and the
paediatric surgeon will be able to give the appropriate advice. He is
also able to perform diagnostic procedures such as endoscopy.
Pathology is the study and diagnosis of diseases through examination of organs, tissues, bodily fluids and whole bodies (Autopsy). The term also encompasses the related scientific study of disease processes called General pathology. General pathology, also called investigative pathology, experimental pathology or theoretical pathology, is a broad and complex scientific field which seeks to understand the mechanisms of injury to cells and tissues, as well as the body’s means of responding to and repairing injury. This study includes cellular adaptation to injury, necrosis, inflammation, wound healing and neoplasia which facilitate the knowledge to diagnose diseases in humans. Medical pathology is divided in two main branches, Anatomical pathology and Clinical pathology. Medical pathologists are physicians who diagnose and characterize diseases in living patients by examining biopsies or body fluid. Most cancer diagnoses are made or confirmed by pathologists. Pathologists may also conduct autopsies to investigate causes of death. Forensic pathology is a branch of Pathology concerned with determining the cause of death by examination of a cadaver. The autopsy is performed by the pathologist at the request of a coroner usually during the investigation of criminal law cases and civil law cases in some jurisdictions. Forensic pathologists are also frequently asked to confirm the identity of a cadaver.
The service provided can be divided into medical treatments, such as skin lumps & bumps, skin cancers and various other lesions of the skin including some congenital abnormalities, and cosmetic or aesthetic procedures. The cosmetic procedures offered include:
Botulinum toxin injections:
These are used for the treatment of fine lines & wrinkles. It can also be used to treat excess sweating under the arms (hyperhidrosis), muscle spasms eg blepharospasm and migraine.
The commonest filler used is Restylane (hyaluronic acid). This is used to fill furrows, dents & smaller defects.
The lasers we have are able to treat vascular lesions eg thread veins, spider veins, smaller leg veins and some vascular ‘stains’ of the skin. They are also able to treat pigmentation of the skin. The lasers are also used for hair removal.
Keloid scar treatment:
These are treated by a combination of methods including laser, injections and surgery where needed.
Eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty):
Surgery of the upper eyelids is performed to remove excess skin or to create the ‘double eyelid’. Lower eyelid surgery is performed to remove the lower lid ‘eye-bags’. Both upper & lower eyelid surgery can be performed under local or general anaesthesia. They may also be performed together with other procedures.
Nose surgery (Rhinoplasty):
Surgery to change the shape of the nose is always performed under general anaesthetic. Surgery may involve making the nose smaller (reduction) or making it larger (augmentation). Enlarging the nose is mostly done to increase the height of the nose. The shape of the nose, particularly the tip, may also be refined with either of these operations.
Face & neck lift:
As we get older, the skin & soft tissues of the face & neck lose their elasticity. As a result, they begin to sag. This can be corrected by means of a face lift. The neck is often tightened as part of this operation.
If the ears are protruding from the side of the head they can be set back in a more satisfactory position. This operation is called a pinnaplasty or otoplasty.
Women who want larger breasts can have these enlarged by inserting a prosthesis either under the breast tissue or under the muscle of the chest.
Some women as they get older develop excess skin in the upper arms. These are often called ‘bat–wings’. These can be reduced by removing the excess skin and fat.
Unattractive scars can often be improved by revising them surgically.
A Prosthodontist is a Dental Surgeon who specialise in procedures such as union and bridgework, denture work, tooth implants, root canal
treatment and other cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry
like fillings and extractions.
Doctors who specialise in psychiatry are known as Psychiatrist.
A Psychiatrist is skilled in treating mental illnesses. The recent advances
in the field of psychiatry has equipped the Psychiatrist with a wide
range of medications that are able to restore the imbalance to the chemicals
in the brain when there is mental illness. A Psychiatrist is also trained
in treating patients who become mentally disturbed due to certain traumatic
life events by guiding and identifying the problems for the patient-
The doctors who specialise in radiology are known as Radiologists
and the technicians who help to take the X-ray pictures are the radiographers.
Radiologists are trained and skilled in interpreting the X-ray films
and other medical images. Their skills are crucial to secure the diagnosis
of a wide range of illnesses. This is possible because the Radiologist
is able to use his unique medical knowledge and combine that with
the findings on the radiological images taken. The field of radiology
like all the other fields in medicine continues to improve and expand.
Hence there are more and more sophisticated radiological methods which
not only are able to visualize body parts better, less invasive but also
offer the Radiologist important and detailed information on the structural
changes to the organ investigated. This hospital is blessed with the
latest CT Scanner and Magnetic Resonance machine that give superb radiological
pictures. Some radiologists are also very skilled in carrying out certain
invasive procedures and some of these are diagnostic while others may
Respiratory, pulmonology on chest medicine is a specialty that deals with diseases of the lungs and the respiratory tract. This specialty is considered a branch of internal medicine and is closely related to intensive care medicine and thoracic surgery. When dealing with patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Respiratory medicine is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases as well as secondary prevention as in tuberculosis.
Urology is the surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological disorders. The organs covered by urology include the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, and the male reproductive organs (testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis). Urology combines management of medical (i.e., non-surgical) problems such as urinary infections, and surgical problems such as the corrections of congenital abnormalities and the surgical management of cancers.
Emergency Medicine and Traumatology
Accident & Emergency Department is a medical treatment facility, specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance. Due to the unplanned nature of patient attendance, the department must provide initial treatment for a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries, some of which may be life-threatening and require immediate attention.
The services that are provided in an emergency department can range from simple x-rays and the setting of broken bones to those of a full-scale trauma center. A patient's chance of survival is greatly improved if the patient receives definitive treatment (i.e. surgery or reperfusion) within one hour of an accident (such as a car accident) or onset of acute illness (such as a heart attack). This critical time frame is commonly known as the "golden hour". | <urn:uuid:d2f88c7f-f3b5-4c29-b561-69bfb56fc909> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hlwe.com.my/specialties.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940799 | 4,840 | 3.09375 | 3 |
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Tent ring from the Thule culture on the Meliadine River, near Rankin InletPre-Dorset culture is said to begin when the Paleo-Eskimos settled on the islands of the Canadian archipelago and northern Greenland. The descriptions "Dorset" and "Pre-Dorset" come from Cape Dorset on Baffin Island, the source of an assemblage which in 1925 anthropologist Diamond Jenness identified as originating from a hitherto unknown "Dorset Culture." The Paleo-Eskimos weathered the winter of the high Arctic with much more difficulty than their later descendants because they lacked technologies such as boats, harpoon-tips, dog sleds, dwellings other than skin tents, and sources of warmth other than small fire pits and wood fuels. In the central Canadian Arctic, they mainly hunted muskoxen and caribou with bow and arrow, and fished with barbed devices. Groups living near the coastline hunted seals, walruses and smaller whales by throwing harpoons from the shore or from sea ice.
Independence I culture 2300 BCE-1500 BCE
This Paleo-Eskimo culture was named after Independence Fjord, where traces of a large settlement were found. Their lodgings were erected on elliptical foundations centered upon box-shaped hearths made of flat stones set on end. These they filled with driftwood, musk ox dung, and bones. They might have started fires with the help of a bow drill operated by sinews, which was in general use some centuries later.
Saqqaq culture 2400-900 BCE
Hunting place of the Saqqaq culture on Disko Bay, photo by Jan KronsellIn the western and southern parts of the eastern coast of Greenland, the Saqqaq culture developed around 2300 BCE and lasted 1500 years. The center of their settlements was Disko Bay near the place Saqqaq, which lent its name to the culture. The people extended their culture along the fjords and coastlines in the area. The culture of the Saqqaq people shows marked similarity to the culture that in the Canadian Arctic is described as "Pre-Dorset", and the two cultures developed around the same time. Scholars believe that the people of the Saqqaq split off from the Pre-Dorset culture, migrated into Greenland from Ellesmere Island in the north, and later migrated to the southern coast.
Period IV (1000 BCE-1000 CE)Western Arctic
Choris, Norton, Ipiutak (in northern Alaska, the forerunners of the Thule)
Independence II culture 800/600-1 BCE
Presumably for climatic reasons, northern Greenland was not populated for about 500 years afterward. Archeological evidence has shown that before the disappearance of the Saqqaq culture from southern Greenland, a new culture arrived from the Canadian archipelago. The newer people showed a more developed culture from an archaeological standpoint. That culture is called Independence II culture, and it seems to have developed from the Canadian Pre-Dorset cultures. Possibly, they came in close contact with the Saqqaq culture.
The range of distribution of the Independence II people approximately corresponds to that of the Independence I people. The oldest finds have been dated to 1400 BCE, and the most recent to 400 BCE. Researchers have not confirmed whether the farthest northern regions of Greenland were constantly settled during this 1000 year period, because only about 10 dwellings are extant. The climate of that time steadily worsened; the warmest temperature of the Independence II period approximately matches the coldest temperature of the Independence I period.
Archaeological research has focused its fieldwork on areas of Greenland below 83 degrees latitude north for traces of the Independence II culture. In 1987 the remains of a larger Independence II settlement was discovered on the Île-de-France (at about 78 degrees north). The Independence II people hunted the same animals as earlier cultures (seals and musk-oxen), but for the first time also walruses. The houses of the Independence II period were similar to those of the Independence I period, only more complex. So far no connection between the two cultures has been proven. Independence II tools are more reminiscent of the Pre-Dorset and the later Dorset culture. The fate of the Independence II culture is unknown; it is possible that they migrated south along the east coast of Greenland and merged into the Dorset Culture.
Dorset Culture (500 BCE-1000 CE)
Thule artefacts on Mallikjuaq Island, near Cape DorsetArchaeological evidence shows that between 500 BCE and 500 CE, remarkable technological and cultural advances took place in the area of northern Canada and Greenland known as the Dorset region. Today this period is known as Dorset I. The Dorset people are probably identical to the Tuniit (singular Tuniq, also Tornit or Tunirjuat), who are described in Inuit mythology as powerful giants who dwelt in stone houses. They were believed to have been capable of enormous feats of strength, such as carrying walruses or moving enormous boulders.
Their hunting methods were greatly improved over previous Arctic cultures. They probably invented the igloo, which is difficult to determine because such ephemeral structures leave no archaeological evidence. They spent the winters in relatively permanent dwellings constructed of stone and pieces of grass; these were the precursors of the later qarmaqs. They were also the first culture to carve seal-oil lamps (qulliq, also spelled kudlik) from soapstone.
In the next 500 years, known as the Dorset II period, the Dorset culture expanded to occupy the region between Victoria Island in the west to Greenland in the east to Newfoundland in the south. A shift in climate, which enabled them to settle high-Arctic regions, probably contributed to this. It is remarkable that the Dorset II culture uniformly maintained the stylistic attributes of the Dorset I culture despite this rapid territorial expansion.
IglooIvory carvings date to as early as the Dorset I period, but artistic activity appears to have greatly increased in the Dorset II period. The presence of tiny human masks that subtly suggest animal features, carvings of bears with incised spirit lines indicating skeletal structures, and enigmatic tubes that may have been used to suck spirits out of the possessed; indicate the shamanistic, ritual character of this art. This cultural trend probably results from socio-economic pressures exerted upon the Dorset by the presence of new ethnic groups in the region.
This period's climate was responsible for the Vikings' naming of Iceland and Greenland, labels that in our times sound paradoxical.
Period V (1000 CE-present) Western ArcticKoniaq
Old Bering Sea
_"Western Thule" of North Alaska
Thule---Bering Sea Thule
\ __Canadian Thule
\____Inugsuk Thule of Greenland
Thule Culture (1000-1800 CE)
An Inuk explains Thule settlement artefacts at Chesterfield InletThe relatively temperate climate of the Alaska had allowed much greater cultural advances among the peoples there during the 3000 years since the Pre-Dorset had left the region.
Cultural and technological advancementsThe various peoples of the Alaskan coasts had in that period developed entirely new techniques for hunting and fishing; these technologies also fundamentally changed their lifestyle and culture. Developments included boats constructed of watertight seal skin stretched over wooden frames such as the kayak (Inuktitut: qajag), used by hunters, and the umiaq, a large boat used by groups of up to 20 women; new styles of spears, and harpoons equipped with weights and floats. These technologies enabled the hunting of whales, which provided a valuable source of food (especially whale skin, rich in vitamin C) and expanded the range of available materials to be processed for construction (bones and skin) and heating (whale oil). The development of dog sleds and of igloos that could be entered by a tunnel provided easier travel for the people and warmer dwellings during the winter. All of these advances promoted the formation of new social, religious, and artistic values.
The wave of Thule migrationsThe warmer climate of North America in 1000 CE increased the amount of habitable territory in the Arctic and contributed to population growth. Presumably, this development, along with the constant pursuit of quarry into higher latitudes and the search for meteorite iron, was a major impetus for the migration of the Alaskan Thule into northern Canada and Greenland. In the so-called “second migration”, some of the displaced groups migrated south, settling in the Hudson Bay area. As Inuit myths explain, the Dorset-culture residents were assimilated by the technologically superior Thule in most areas but were massacred in others. The Dorset culture subsequently died out throughout the Arctic in a short period around 1000 CE. They held out for a few centuries longer in northern Labrador and in the Ungava region (until about 1300 CE); the isolated Sallirmiut survived until the early 20th century on the southern coasts of Southampton Island and two islands nearby, Walrus Island and Coats Island.
Remains of a Thule dwelling (Ukkusiksalik National Park)The new arrivals were the direct ancestors of today's Inuit. They originated from the area around the Bering Strait, but are named the Thule after the location of the first traces of their settlements to be excavated: Thule, Greenland.
Thule dwellings
Whalebone house (with reconstructed whalebone dome), near ResoluteThe typical Thule house was constructed from a framework of whale jawbones and ribs anchored in the tundra soil with rocks. Animal hides were stretched over the frame, which was covered with sod. As accommodations for long hunting trips, the Thule used hide-tents in the summer.
Artistic activities
Inunnguaq, "like a human form" (Inuksuk)While the artistic productions of the Dorset were almost exclusively shaped by shamanic ritual and myths, such influences are barely detectable in Thule art. The utensils discovered in excavations of well-preserved Thule dwellings show only decorative incisions. These utensils were almost entirely functional, with no ritual purpose. Small figurative carvings in ivory of female figures, water birds, and whales have also been found in Thule sites, but in relatively small numbers. Occasionally water birds would be depicted with the heads of women and vice versa, but such shamanic carvings are few among the already small proportions of figurative carvings in Thule art.
Among the art of the Thule, the depictions of bears especially contrasts with the art of the Dorset. In Dorset art, bears are realistically depicted within stylistic conventions; today, these objects are interpreted as spirit-helpers or amulets against dangers encountered in the hunt. In Thule art, images of bears are limited to carved bear heads that attached to harpoon shafts. Whether they served a decorative or functional purpose is uncertain (probably both). The Thule used bear teeth as jewelry, or hunting trophies. The artifacts left by the Thule generally suggests that they led a more comfortable lifestyle and had leisure time to artistically decorate their personal effects- their art was not the result of social or economic anxieties.
They constructed diverse and numerous Inuksuit (like a man), piled-stone landmarks that survive. Some are examples of an impressive art form.
Transitional Phase (1300-19th century)From the beginning of the 14th century, a gradual cooling occurred throughout the Canadian Archipelago and the Arctic Ocean coast of the Mainland. The period between 1550 and 1880, the so-called "Little Ice Age", caused temperatures significantly lower than today's in North America and Europe (with a brief period of higher heat around 1800). The effect of the drop in temperature upon the hunting-dependent lifestyle of the Thule was significant. Entire regions of the high Arctic were depopulated, partly by mass migrations but also by the starvation of entire communities. The traditional way of life was maintained only by communities in the relatively hospitable regions of the Arctic: the southern end of Baffin Island, Labrador, and the southernmost tip of Greenland. In Greenland, the Thule developed a different social structure and new dwelling types, and became what is known as the Inugsuk Culture.
In Greenland, the beginning of the 17th century brought the first European whaling ships and sudden change. In the following 150 years, up to 10,000 whalers would annually pass the coast of Greenland and substantially influence the culture of the Thule living there. The emerging trade relationships made intermarriage with European-Canadians and European-Americans common; there were few genetically pure Inugsuk after several generations.
Historical period of the Inuit (from 1800)The 19th century is regarded as the beginning of "Inuit culture." Although the Thule traditions endured in a limited way, the living conditions of Inuit in the Historical period were considerably worse than those of their ancestors 1000 years before. The technical standards and spirit of their artwork likewise began to decline. Carving and decorative engraving, for example, became rarer and less differentiated. The colder climate of the period and the resulting decline in animals as game meant that the Inuit were forced to abandon their winter settlements in search of quarry. In their newly nomadic way of life, the Inuit built more temporary winter dwellings. These were tent-like huts constructed of stone, grass, and snow. The Inuit called them qarmaqs. The technique of constructing igloos was further developed and became more widespread.
Contact with EuropeansContact with Europeans was another important impetus for change in the culture of the Inuit. The earliest contacts with the Vikings, later with explorers, fishermen and whalers, affected Canadian Inuit (as opposed to Greenland's) less profoundly and more locally. Those early European arrivals did not intend to settle Canada. Such contacts proved fatal for many Inuit due to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, smallpox and other infectious diseases.
In contrast, tradesmen, missionaries and representatives of the Canadian administration established themselves in the region and directly influenced the life of the natives. The Canadians erected the first administrative and police stations in 1903, near the important whaling base of Fullerton Harbour on the Hudson Bay and on Herschel Island northwest of the Mackenzie Delta. In that same year, the Norwegian Roald Amundsen started to transit the famous Northwest Passage with his ship Gjøa on a more southerly course than that of his predecessors, alongside the Canadian mainland.
Starting at the beginning of the 20th century, radical changes occurred for the Arctic people. Greenland was visited with increasing frequency: Alfred Wegener led an expedition in 1912-1913, and the Thule expeditions by Knud Rasmussen took place in 1915-1924. In 1933, the Permanent Court of International Justice attested Denmark's authority in Greenland, with cultural, political and structural impacts for the Inuit.
In Canada, the Hudson's Bay Company tapped the previously unexplored "Barren Lands" of the Kivalliq Region to the west of the Hudson Bay for trade. The Inuit no longer hunted animals for food and clothing, but mainly to acquire goods for barter with the emissaries of markets in the South and in Europe. The fur of the Arctic Fox was especially in demand, but other kinds of fur and the ivory of walruses and narwhals were also desirable. Due to trade, the Inuit could acquire goods of the European-Canadian civilization, such as weapons and ammunition, tobacco, coffee, tea, sugar and flour. To keep the hunters associated with the trading posts, the traders lent them traps were lent and extended credit to the Inuit. Becoming more dependent on another people meant that the native society had lost its former self-sufficiency. It changed their cultural development.
19th century social structure and way of life
Traditional Inuit clothes; AmautiThe basic social structure of the Inuit in the 19th century consisted of an estimated 50 groups of 200 to 800 members apiece. The membership was based upon the voluntary association of large and loosely composed clans. The clans in turn were made up of extended families- the grandparents, parents, and children. Such a loose social structure, which allowed families self-sufficiency and self-governance, increased the chances of social survival in times of scarcity.
Hunting provided the Inuit with a balanced diet and the raw materials for clothing, housing, household implements and heating, boat and sled-building, hunting weapons, toys, and art-objects. Stones, carefully chosen and carved, were used for select but important objects: arrow, spear, and harpoon heads, hide-scrapers, and knives. Soapstone, a relatively soft and easily carved material, was used for the production of oil lamps (qulliqs) and cooking vessels.
Women eating maktaaq, a traditional Inuit delicacy (the skin of a Greenland whale)Plant-materials played a small role in Inuit culture, as they were so rare. Wood is scarce in the Arctic, except in the form of occasional driftwood. The bones, tusks, and antlers of hunted animals were used in its place. Berries were collected in large numbers during the late summer, but while they provided a source of some vitamins, they were far from sufficient. The people met their vitamin requirements by eating raw animal products, such as maktaaq (whale skin), meat and fish.
The Inuit tradition of living in tents during summer and in igloos and Qarmait (singular: Qarmaq, warm half-subterranean houses made from boulders, whale bones and sod) in winter still followed the Thule practices. The most important principle of all building constructions was the lowered entrance tunnel, which served as a windscreen and cold trap. The inner living area was constructed at a higher level so that the heavier cold air could not easily enter it. Girl children played with string figures within the igloos, as preparation for learning to sew and partly as a ritual act. The girls of the Chugach people mainly played this in autumn because it was believed this weaving captured the sunrays and thus delayed the beginning of winter. Often the creation of string figures was accompanied by rhymes and songs describing tales, legends and myths.
The Inuit had developed winter clothing that ensured an effective use of the body heat, avoiding holes that would allow air to leak out. Apart from seal, mostly caribou skin was used, and in Greenland polar bear fur. In order to create a cushion of warm air, the clothing was loosely tailored and worn in two layers, the outer one with the hair inside, the inner one with the hair outside. In summer, only the inner layer was worn. The hood fixed on the inside of the coat avoided the leaking of warm air at the neck. Mothers used an additional part of their hoods for carrying the toddlers in their parka (amauti).
Nomadic life in the first half of the 20th century
Camp Ikirasaq (Southern Baffin Island), abandoned in the late 1940s.Many elders still remember the time, more than 60 years ago, when the Inuit lived a nomadic lifestyle. Depending on the seasons (up to sixteen according to old traditions), they followed the animals they hunted for clothing and nourishment. They had to relocate and reconstruct their camps frequently, and followed the same traditions for generations.
At the turn to the 20th century, most Inuit still lived in hide tents during the summer. Sometimes, they already owned canvas tents obtained from the Hudson's Bay Company. The interior was divided into a back part used for sleeping, usually raised by coat underlays, and a front part for cooking and living; a tradition still in practice today. The woman's sleeping place was always beside the kudlik, an oil lamp usually carved from soapstone used for lighting, heating and cooking, because it was her duty to operate it. The man's sleeping place was near the weapons and hunting equipment; the children were nestled between their parents for warmth. Today the kudlik is replaced by a product of modern industry, the Coleman stove, which is easy to transport and operated by gasoline and naphtha.
Dressing a Ringed Seal
Fishing for Arctic charIn the few months of summer, the people moved camp to the estuaries, because there it was easier to catch the favored Arctic char, e.g. by using artificial weirs, and the eggs of seabirds. For the inland Inuit, the caribou was the most important resource; it provided meat, a hide for clothing, and sinew for rope. The coastal Inuit hunted mostly pinnipeds and walruses and, depending on the region, narwhals and Belugas; of course also the occasional caribou. The seals were used for food for men and dogs. Their oil was used for the kudliks, and their skin and sinews for seal boots (kamik), kayak coverings, ropes (also drag ropes for dog sleds) and dog whips.
During the winter, the Inuit lived in igloos, which were erected separately or connected by tunnels. Snow of a specific consistency was necessary to build them. They had the same general interior arrangement as the tents. The most important element was a lowered entrance tunnel, repelling the heavier cold air and the wind from entering inside. As additional prevention against cold, the sleeping area was elevated by a layer of snow as compared to the living area.
Some of the families that wanted to live in permanent camps, built themselves a partially subsurface home of rocks, whale bones, coat and sod, the so-called Qarmaq. The construction of such camps is certainly based on the Thule tradition. During the winter, they used quarmaqs, but in summer preferred the more airy tents.
A traditional dog sled (qamutik), today almost entirely replaced by the snowmobile, except for festive occasions.Due to the hard weather conditions in winter, in this season the families joined closer together. Mutual visits at hunting places of different groups were for the exchange of news and experiences, but mostly for the exchange of food from different sources. In winter, traveling was done by dog sleds, partly presumably also by foot.
During the warmer seasons, mainly the people used the kayak, or, mostly as "women boat" for families, the large umiak, and traveled by foot. Traditional land routes were, e.g., from Wager Bay to Repulse Bay in North, to the Chesterfield Inlet with the adjacent Baker Lake in Southwest and to the Chantrey Inlet at the Arctic Ocean in Northwest.
Transition into the 21st century Fundamental change of living conditionsBetween 1800 and 1950, the culture and way of living of the Canadian Inuit, who had not known any monetary system before, changed fundamentally. Complete self-sufficiency and independence were to a large extent replaced by dependence on goods of western industrialized countries, such as clothing, many kinds of foodstuffs, weapons, tools and technical equipment. This development was largely due to the fact that as hunters and trappers, they could develop only a low level of productivity that could not financially cover the Western way of living. Moreover, the products of the kill depended too much on market and fashion fluctuations, not to speak of concerns related to protection of species and of the environment.
Life on the land, following tradition (Camp Najutaqtujuq, North Baffin Island)Post-World War II, the northern regions were increasingly incorporated into a Cold War strategic defense concept, and military and radar stations of the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW Line) were established. Although this developed the infrastructure and created jobs, it also led to a sudden urbanization that not every community could adapt to. Traditional ways of living were increasingly constrained and eliminated, with no provision made for the transition to the new way of living. The transitional difficulties were further enhanced, for example, by the fact that at the end of the 1940s, the Kivalliq Region had to be placed under quarantine because of the appearance of serious infectious diseases such as polio (for which there was as yet no vaccine). At the same time, the caribou population west of the Hudson Bay nearly perished. As a consequence, the Inuit of that area lost their food supply. Those Inuit still mostly living in camps faced an increasing threat from tuberculosis; many who contracted the disease had to be treated in sanatoriums in the south. Many Inuit tried to continue their traditional way of living in their ancestral regions while adapting to the new conditions. But, they became more dependent on governmental welfare.
The Canadian state had primarily scientific interest in its northern regions during the first half of the century. Beginning in the 1950s, it became concerned about three issues: military security requirements, discovery of economically important natural resources, and an increasing sensibility for the special concerns of the Inuit. The government felt the need to exercise governmental control and sovereignty over the territory. The Canadian government created a Department of Indian Affairs and Natural Resources in 1953 (now Indian and Northern Affairs Canada). This department established social benefits such as unemployment aid, social welfare, care of the sick and of the elderly, child allowance, comprehensive educational and welfare programs of the industrial areas of Canada. At the same time, the Canadian government forcibly moved many Inuit families from their traditional hunting grounds into new and empty areas, to reinforce claims of Canadian sovereignty.
Drum dancer in a Camp near Meliadine RiverBy the mid-1950s, dramatic changes had occurred for the Canadian Inuit, which lasted well into the 1960s. There were differences among the regions of Nunavut, such as Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin), Kivalliq or Kitikmeot. The common characteristic was the extensive change from the nomadic to the sedentary way of living. Inuit left their camps and moved into settlements with permanent buildings. The wooden building replaced the igloo, qarmaq and tents originally made from hide. Since then, the Inuit have lived in residential buildings prefabricated in the south of Canada and - because of permafrost - built on stilts. These buildings are heated with oil stoves (every building has a holding tank for heating oil). Fresh water is delivered by tankers, and waste water is brought away the same way. The buildings contain cooking sites with electric range, sink, and freezer; a bathroom with shower and/or bathtub, and flushing toilet; washers and dryers have become common. Like other westerners, many households keep their TV sets on almost 24 hours a day. The people use fax machines and e-mail for correspondence.
Traditional customs MarriageChildhood of the Inuit was still very brief the first half of the 20th century. Especially girls entered marriage at an early age. Before the arrival of Christian missionaries, it was mostly the families who decided which children should marry whom, i.e. arranged marriages. Marriages often served to strengthen family ties, and girls had no say in choosing their partners. Sometimes a young man who had not yet been pledged, sent to the parents of the girl, without being personally present in those negotiations. The wedding was completely unceremonial (the same was true for birthdays). After Christianization, the only change was that now the couples also received Christian marriage ceremonies whenever a priest traveled their areas (often months after the actual marriage). When finally government administration had been established, marriages were also registered by the administration, initially by police officers, later by the local administrations. Since moving from the camps to the settlements, more couples live together without marriage. This way, they feel less tied but also less responsible. But still in the 1970s, it was in no way unusual to make agreements regarding newborns about eventual marriages. However with these promises of marriage becoming due now (i.e. twenty or thirty years later), they are taken less and less serious: The young people increasingly defy tradition and follow their own wishes.
Before Christianizing (referred to as Siqqitiq by the Inuit), polygamy, more often polygyny, less so polyandry, were not unusual among the Inuit. Extramarital relationships were accepted especially during extensive hunting trips, and there were so-called "lamp extinction games" with ritual partner exchanges. According to a popular theory, these traditions reduced the danger of inbreeding and resulting population bottleneck in small and isolated settlements. With colonization, these customs led to great conflicts: On one hand such traditions were fought by missionaries as sinful, on the other, they were interpreted as sexual arbitrariness and taken advantage of, often leading to prostitution and sexual exploitation.
Family life
Inuit cabin built for use while on the land hunting and fishingUntil the middle of the 20th century, i.e. until the move from disperse camps to settlements, the division of labor between men and women within the families and family groups in northern Canada was traditionally arranged fairly well, and rather different: The men were responsible for the acquisition of food, especially for hunting and fishing, and for technical work (including the construction of igloos, qarmaqs and tents). The women were predominantly in charge of intra-family concerns, such as caring for little children, taking care of the kill (conservation of meat, cleaning of furs, and the like), the sewing of clothing, fire keeping in the qulliq, etc. (their participation in hunting and fishing was limited). Whenever a family lost its breadwinner (for example in an accident), it was usually dependent on support by other families, and the widow was sometimes adopted as additional wife by a close relative of the deceased (see widow inheritance).
The move from the camps to the settlements, which essentially took place during the 1950s, brought about significant changes in this respect: The Inuit now were immediate subjects of governmental administration and care (also social welfare). By occupations that were completely new to them, like in health care and local administration, but also in Inuit arts, the women with their earned money were able to contribute like the men to the livelihood of their families. Nowadays, the division of tasks and responsibilities between male and female Inuit are, following Canadian legislation, not very different from western industrialized nations, of which the Inuit are considered part. In the Territory of Nunavut, female representatives and ministers are as common as their male counterparts. There are Inuit municipalities with female mayors, for example.
Health center in Chesterfield Inlet, Kivalliq RegionIn the time of the camps it was usual for experienced women to give advice to first-time mothers and to tell them about many precautionary measures, such as chewing gum would lead to the child being born with a sticky layer on the skin, or that the use of loops in wool braiding could cause the strangulation of the unborn by the umbilical cord. Such prenatal taboos still persisted to the 1930s. At that time, a woman in labor pain stayed alone, only with water against her thirst, in a qarmaq or an iglu constructed specifically for that purpose. She gave birth onto a caribou hide, tied the umbilical cord with caribou sinews, and buried the placenta. She was not allowed to return to the family clan until the umbilical cord of the baby fell off, and was left to her own resources for several days. The following generation did not have to undergo such customs anymore. Now the child-bearing women were assisted by midwives during labor. Nowadays, women give birth with the aid of trained specialists in their residential buildings or in the health center of the settlement, or even in one of the few hospitals of the Arctic, such as in Iqaluit or Churchill.
Human remains on a beach near Bathurst Inlet
Cemetery of Resolute on the Barrow Strait (Parry Channel)When the Inuit still lived in camps or as nomads, they had no special tomb sites, much less cemeteries. Before burial, the women of the camp washed the body of the deceased and adjusted the hair; on dead women they braided the hair starting at the forehead. Then they wrapped the body in a large blanket of caribou hide or wool and laid it down far out in the tundra, face up. They stacked cairns on top, to protect the body from being eaten by animals. Nevertheless, scattered human bones can be found throughout the tundra, testifying to the work of carnivores.
Similar burial customs have been found through the centuries. For example, Qilakitsoq mummies dating from 500 years ago show that the Thule people, ancestors of the present Inuit, wrapped and protected their dead the same way.
The Inuit believed the aurora borealis to be visible signals from the dead. Children feared the ghosts of those deceased long ago and often whistled or blew air against their hands, in order to "blow away" those supernatural beings. In pre-missonary times it was usual to give a newborn child the name of a close relative who had died shortly before. This way, ancestors could experience a kind of return to a new life in the child. This customs has survived to this day, although the traditional animism religion has largely given way to Christianity.
Since the move to the settlements, the dead are buried in cemeteries. All members of the community participate in requiems that last for hours, during which the towns appear deserted. Due to the frozen permafrost, burial sites are not deep, and are covered with rocks. Sometimes a blue plastic layer can be detected between the rocks. Here and there, a wooden box with a vitrified cover a few fading artificial flowers and other decorations can be seen. Crosses stand askew on the shifting permafrost. The inscriptions show that many of the dead are children, victims of accidents or natural disasters, and also suicides. Often there is a wooden hut outside of the town, where the dead of winter are preserved in natural cold, until the warmer season permits their burial.
Challenges by changed walks of lifeGiven such changes in their way of life, keeping their own identity and recollection of history and ancestors proved to be an extraordinary challenge many Inuit could not meet. These changes led to alcohol and drug problems. The suicide rate of the Inuit rose four times as high as the one of the remaining population of Canada.
In the early 21st century the infant mortality rate is still high, about four times higher than the rest of Canada, and the lifespan relatively short, about 13 years less than the rest of the country. However, the Inuit population has grown considerably since the 1960s when there were about 12,000 and, as of the 2006 Canadian census, increasing to just over 50,000, distributed among some 70 settlements, some of which have a population of a few hundred only. They account for about 0.142% of the total population of Canada, and about 4% of the indigenous population, as of 2011.
Within a very short time, modern technology replaced methods and technologies that had been passed on for centuries. Firearms replaced lances and harpoons, snow mobiles, mainly Polaris, Ski-Doo and Yamaha took the place of dog sled teams (the name Ski-doo is often used for the whole category, since Joseph-Armand Bombardier 1922 built the first snow mobile Ski-dog, which mutated to Ski-doo by a typographical error). ATVs (all-terrain vehicles, quad-bikes) became widely accepted as a general means of transportation..
The Inuit have become consumers who make their living by fishing, hunting, trapping and production of artwork. They also perform wage labor, and often must be supported by additional social welfare. Government support is often the only source of income. The number of recipients is much higher than the average of Canada. Also, the share of employees in public service is 20 to 30 percent, compared to 7 percent for Canada. This is extremely high, and has been rising even higher since the creation of Nunavut Territory. Nowadays only a few areas are left where traditional methods of hunting and fishing have been preserved in their original form.
Adjustment to conditions of living in a modern industrial nation
Square Dance from the time of Scottish whalers, which today the Inuit dance in many variationsThe capitalist way of thinking in the south of Canada has been a large challenge for the Inuit. It was a drastic experience for the population of a homogeneous, that in an earning-focused, achievement-oriented society authority, power and wealth were defined in a very different way. Before, they were independent in their way of living, but now they saw themselves tied to the chains of a monetary system. Consequently new patterns of behavior arose, which put enormous strain on family ties. The adjustment to totally different conditions of living, even more so in new administrative centers that were organized by Canadian public employees by the rules of an industrialized country, was understandably difficult for the Inuit. Many have not come to terms with the changes to this day, they do not feel part of either the modern culture nor of that of their ancestors.
The proselytizing by the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church in the first half of the 20th century, which must be critically viewed in some respect, was also of fundamental significance for the cultural change of the Inuit. Although the Arctic nowadays is considered largely Christian, elements of Shamanism appear to persist fairly well at the subliminal level, side by side with Christian thought, despite its condemnation by the missionaries.
Day Care Center, (Cape Dorset)The adjustment to life in a modern industrialized country is easier for the young people who find new types of opportunities, but also all the problems that can be paraphrased by the keyword "TV culture". Compulsory education was introduced in the 1950s, replacing the traditional master-apprentice relationship between parents and children that did without reading and writing skills. Some Inuit were trained to be teachers and clergymen, but their numbers still were much too low. Basic education nowadays takes place in nearly all settlements. During the first three school years, Inuktitut is the relevant language of instruction. In many schools of the Arctic, "elders", older residents who are recognized for their experience, are teaching knowledge about culture, customs and way of living from the pre-settlement time, during planned lectures. Despite all efforts, the number of dropout is generally rather high, because of lack of motivation, among other reasons.
Distribution of frozen, fermented walrus meatNot in every Arctic town it is possible to attend secondary school and therefore mostly means leaving the home town during the school year, which is very difficult for many. Because of this, there are only a few Inuit with higher education, since they would have to leave during the years of study. Vocational training was offered for a short time only, but was not accepted by most youths, because it often teaches occupations and skills that apparently are not yet needed in the Arctic.
There has been no lack of intensive effort to find ways for the Inuit into a largely self-designed future, and to help them with a recollection of their own values and of their personal identity. It was important in this context to convey a new role of men and women. In the past, the man was responsible for family life and survival, while the women in the camp were charged with the young. Now often both of them have to master new tasks, thereby skipping several stages of development, with this process taking a course different from what happened in the European cultural area. It is not seldom that the woman assumes the sole role of the breadwinner, while the man is unemployed.
Cooperatives, a formula for successBig hopes were put into the establishment of cooperatives that were to help convey to the Inuit the skills of creating added value, so they would take care of themselves again and at the same time preserve their traditional culture. These cooperatives, mostly managed by Qallunaat (non-Inuit), did in fact prove very successful, because they succeeded in connecting economic thinking with traditional activities and values not only theoretically.
The cooperatives developed activities in disparate areas. They were active in the provisioning of goods and services, such as trading with oil, gas, gasoline and construction materials, the organization of supermarkets with foodstuffs, clothing and technical goods, of hotels and restaurants, the construction of recreational and tourism facilities. On the regional level, the cooperatives ran commercial fur trade and fishing, as well as the production of downs and feathers.
Stone carver in front of his houseIn the area of culture, the cooperatives and similar associations were intensely devoted to fostering artistic skills, which were, and still are unusually pronounced among the Inuit. The production and trade of Inuit art, i.e. of artistic and crafted objects, mainly sculptures made from serpentine, steatite and marble, and soon afterwards also of graphics (drawings, lithotomies, lithographs, erasures) and tapestry (for example hangings), yielded excellent economic and cultural successes.
In the course of the past 50 years this branch of the cooperatives reached an extraordinary importance for value added in the Inuit regions, and clearly ranks first, far ahead of trading hunting products: antlers, fur, or ivory, but overproduction is a growing problem. There is a similar problem with this type of art in Greenland, like the tupilaks from East Greenland made from walrus ivory.
In 1965, the turnover of Inuit cooperatives with trade of artistic objects and true arts was still below 100,000 Canadian Dollars, but two or three decades later it has risen to 5 Million Dollars, at gross prices, respectively (turnover not registered is estimated at a few additional Million Dollars). Despite manifold attempts in expanding the areas of activity, real added value still occurs mainly in the consumer goods sector, and scarcely in the real branch of production.
Current developmentsDuring a period of five thousand years, the Eskimo groups have grown apart ethnically. However, the increasing integration into nations foreign to them that were extending into the Arctic made them realize after World War II that they could maintain their cultural identity only if they appeared united at the international level. Therefore the Eskimo groups of Canada united with their relatives in Alaska and Greenland (after the dissolution of the Soviet Union also with the Siberian Chukchi) to the "Pan-Eskimo Movement". This Movement is supported by the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, that was founded in 1977 after a lead time of four years and to which its protagonist Eben Hopson (North Slope Borough, Alaska) was invited with his vision of constituting a unified, independent Eskimo nation.
During the 1980s and 1990s a nationalistic trend could indeed be felt, and there was no lack of wishful thinking to achieve the dream of circumpolar unity. But in the reality of daily life, rational and last but not least fiscal thinking prevailed.
Nunavut Parliament building in Iqaluit
Government building in Cape Dorset (Kinngait)With all efforts to preserve and cultivate cultural values of the past, the Inuit also want the progress of the modern industrial society. They show concern about the endangering of the environment by technical processes associated with the exploitation of resources, but are also interested in a future of western standards. They have also recognized that they are much better able to influence their conditions of living to their own ideas, when they agree within regional bounds on the goals to be pursued.
The Canadian Inuit, just like the other indigenous peoples (First Nations) of Canada, grew the demand for collective ethnic rights and a territory of their on, with a government composed of their kind, and Inuktitut as one of the official languages. On the federal level, the Inuit got the right to vote in 1962. The first Inuk to be elected Member of Parliament was Peter Ittinuar in 1979. In 1976, the organization Inuit Tapirisat ("Inuit Brotherhood") for the first time demanded the creation of a separate territory in the northeast of Canada. After more than 15 years of negotiation between Inuit and the Federal and Territorial Governments, finally an agreement was reached, the so-called "Nunavut settlement", which determined that from April 1, 1999, the north of Canada should be composed of three territories: Yukon Territory, Nunavut and the remaining Northwest Territories. Like the two other territories, Nunavut was placed under direct control of the Canadian federal government and received increasing administrative autonomy. The Inuit have substantial local rights of control. They participate in the execution of important administrative positions, including police, legal and social welfare offices. Inuktitut is official government language, besides English and French.
Accord of NunavikAn accord (Agreement of James Bay and North Québec) between the Canadian federal government, the Province of Québec and Inuit representatives resulted in the establishment of a Kativik regional government and gave a bigger political autonomy to the Nunavik region. As a result, all residents of the 14 Nunavik settlements elect their own representative in regional elections.
Settlement of land claims and titlesAn important chapter of Canadian Arctic policy regarding development of the Inuit culture is reflected in the agreements settling Inuit land claims opposed to the Canadian state. The advancing exploitation of the Canadian Arctic and if its mineral resources led to ever more conflicts about land ownership and title between Inuit representatives and Federal Government. Land that is not under private ownership is considered as Federal land, but the Inuit claim large areas that they have inhabited and utilized for many centuries. The agreement reached in 1984 regarding land claims of the Inuvialuit (relatives of the Inuit in the western Arctic) provided means to improve the situation of the indigenous residents of this region, by assuring 91,000 square kilometers of land to 2,500 Inuvialuit, as well as monetary compensation, funds for improving the social structure, hunting right, and more influence on dealing with the fauna, on natural and environmental protection.
The final agreement signed in 1993 with the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut is the most comprehensive agreement ever reached in Canada. As a result, about 17,500 Inuit receive 350,000 square kilometers of land, monetary compensation, a share of the profits from exploiting the mineral resources, hunting rights and a larger voice in questions regarding land and environment.
Also in the north of the province of Québec, land claims of Inuit groups were settled successfully. In addition, there are ongoing negotiations with the Association of Labrador Inuit, which represents about 3,800 Inuit living in the interiour and on the eastern coast of Labrador, a part of Newfoundland province.
Traditional Inuit culture and self-determined life
Traditional game with stones (1995)
Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak playing pool billiards in a hotel in Berlin (2004)The Inuit place a high value upon self-determination. The parliament of Nunavut Territory does not have political parties, but emanates from individual candidatures. It underwent a re-election for the first time in 2004. The territorial government's largest challenges are employment, social welfare, law, health and education. Difficult questions are common in judicature, where traditional Inuit concepts are opposed to the legal system of the Canadian state.
Preservation of tradition and cultureIn general, the government of Nunavut sees one of its most important tasks to be the preservation and care of Inuit tradition and culture. Currently, it puts great effort into recording and archiving the oral accounts of "Elders" about the time before the move of the Inuit into the settlements. It is high time for this, because the number of Elders with this knowledge are dwindling.
Contemporary literatureA special part of the century-old cultural heritage of the Inuit are their myths and legends, which had been passed exclusively by word of mouth, because the Inuit had no written language and consequently had no literary tradition. In the Inuit culture story telling had the function that in other cultures literature has. The oral recital of passed-on knowledge gave the Inuit families particularly a feeling of immediate togetherness. At the same time, narrating made a connection between past and present, because the essential statements had been passed from generation to generation and accepted as the truth, without reservations. Among the Inuit, there are even nowadays no authors in the strict sense: writers mainly produce reports, summaries and essays about traditional contexts, or their own experiences ("non-fiction"), in seldom cases poems (mostly anthems) or songs.
Among the best-known Inuit authors are the former Commissioner of Nunavut (the highest governmental representative of the territory), Peter Irniq (born 1947 on the Lyon Inlet, Kivalliq Region), the writer, poet, cartoonist and photographer Alootook Ipellie (born 1951 in a camp near Iqaluit, died 2007 in Ottawa), and the former president of the Makivik Corporation and active author Zebedee Nungak (born 1951 in the south of Puvirnituq, Quebec).
Contemporary musicThe Inuit did not have a very distinct tradition of music. There were "Aya-Yait", songs used for passing experiences from generation to generation, and so called because of their refrain "aya-ya". In a musical sense, they were simply-structured compositions. The traditional "throat singing" as well as the ritual drum dance by no means claim to be artistic compositions, but they were used for entertainment and for mythological-religious customs. The Inuit first heard European melodies by listening to the whalers. With those, they saw European instruments for the first time, the fiddle and especially the accordion, which has been very popular among the Inuit to this day. They also learned the square dance from the whalers. For the past twenty years, a kind of pop music is catching on in the Arctic, which the Inuit adopted from the south and then modified their own way. Today Susan Aglukark (born in 1967 in Churchill, Manitoba, and grown up in Arviat) is perhaps the most popular Inuit singer.
Contemporary fine artsContemporary Inuit art and handicrafts did not come about before the late 1950s as important resources for added value. soapstone sculptures, artistic drawings, hangings and tapestries (the latter mainly in Arviat, Baker Lake and Pangnirtung), attire, ceramics and dolls are providing a basic livelihood to a large number of Inuit artists of all ages today, just like hunting and fishing.
Added value in the Arctic
Modern Inuit yacht in a bay of Qikiqtarjuaq, available for tours to remote fjords and glaciers along the east coast of Baffin IslandIt is extremely important for the territorial government to look at the same time for ways to clearly rise the national product, which also means to conciliate the Inuit's deeply rooted tradition with the challenges of modern life. Hunting, trapping and fishing essentially serve their subsistence and by far do not contribute enough added value, as would be needed. In addition,the trade with more significant products gained from these activities, like seal furs, or ivory from narwhal or walrus, is subject to international restrictions. The revenue from artistic or handicraft work, although a significant contribution to added value, provides a sufficient livelihood to only a few, particularly because of the large family sizes that must be supported. This branch of economic activity by its nature can secure the future of only a limited number. The growth of tourism is also limited. It is difficult to secure sufficient enrollment for group tours to the Arctic, and customized tours do not bring much money to the area. Cruises contribute more to added value than other types of tours.
Given all of the above, the central task of the territorial leadership is the conciliation of tradition and modern life. Whether the exemplary Nunavut model of self-determination will be successful, finally depends on the question if there will be trained Inuit in sufficient numbers in the foreseeable future who will be able to provide leadership.
The backlog of education and training is still immense. Big opportunities will open for the Inuit to maintain their traditional culture and still live up to the claim of being members of a nation that embraces diverse cultures within a modern industrial country, but only if those responsible for Nunavut succeed in training executives in sufficient numbers for the immense tasks that are the consequence of creating a self-governed territory. | <urn:uuid:012f7a23-fedb-4dc9-b5ed-8579dc5cb1f4> | CC-MAIN-2018-39 | https://prezi.com/y3jhkofeohql/untitled-prezi/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-39/segments/1537267159938.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20180923232129-20180924012529-00143.warc.gz | en | 0.969654 | 11,054 | 3.5625 | 4 |
The second perek of Mikvaot begins by discussing doubts related to whether one immersed in a valid mikveh. The second Mishnah also includes a case where the Mishnah was measured and found to be too small. The Mishnah rules that any tameh objects that were immersed in that mikveh are retroactively considered tameh.
Despite the fact that in all the cases where there is only a doubt whether the immersion was invalid, the Mishnah rules that it is irrelevant whether the doubt arose in a private of public domain. Recall, that previously we learnt that doubts regarding tumah that originate in the public domain are treated leniently. The Bartunera explains that we ruled leniently in those cases since there was doubt whether the item became tameh. Here however the item was already tameh and there is a doubt whether it became tahor. Consequently, since the person or item has a chazakah (established and presumed status) of tumah, it endures in the case of a doubt. The Tifferent Yisrael adds that because of this difference, it is different to the case of Sotah from which the leniency of reshut harabim is derived.
The Mishnah continues with a debate regarding the scope of this rule. The Chachamim maintain that this rule only applies for tumah chamurah. According to the Bartenura this refers to an av ha’tumah whose source is from the Torah. For tumah kala, lighter forms of tumah,the ruling would be tahor. R’Yossi however disagrees arguing that in both cases the ruling is tameh. How do we understand the debate?
The Bartunera explains that while the Chachamim were lenient in the case of doubt regarding rabbinic forms of tumah, R’ Yossi argues that the chazaka endures even in these cases.
Returning now to the original ruling. Rashi (Gittin 31b) explains that not only are the keilim that were immersed in the mikveh tameh, but also those taharot and terumah that came into contact with those keilim are tameh as well. Indeed, the language of the Mishnah appears to imply this conclusion since it explains “all the taharot” are tameh (and not simply “all the keilim”).
The following question is posed on the opinion of Rashi. We undersant that the kli is considered tameh since it has a chazak that it was tameh. The taharot however had a chezkat tahara. It should follow that all the taharot should be tahor.
The Ritva (Eiruvin 36a) provides two answers. The Ritva explains that since the taharot definitely came into contact with the kli in question it loses its chazaka. One might explain that this is since it definitely touched the kli, it loses it chazaka since its status it tied to the status of the kli.
The Ritva brings another answer in the name of HaRam bar Shniur. He explains that we only consider the chazaka at the point of the doubt. In our case the doubt is regarding the kli and whether it was immersed properly. The chazaka there is that it was tameh and that is the only chazaka being considered.
Perhaps we can explain this answer using the concepts presented in a recent issue (Volume 12, Issue 47). Recall there were to ways to understand a ruling in a case of doubt. Either it was a simply a hanchaya – a direction in how the individual is to respond to the doubt. No decision is being made about the nature of the doubt – the matter is no clearer. Considering our example, we are still unsure as to the real status of the kil. Alternatively, the ruling is a hachra’ah – a definite decision - the kli is tameh.
We might suggest that these two understandings are behind the two opinions above. According to the second understanding, the chazaka is only relevant at the point where that doubt is. This is because we make a hachra’ah. Using our case, from that point onwards the kli is tameh and the chazakah of the taharot is irrelevant. According to the first explanation, perhaps the ruling is a hanchaya and one would therefore think that we should consider the chazaka of the taharot. The Ritva however answered that since it definitely came into contact with the kli, it lost its chazaka and its status is dependent on the kli.
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Genes invest you with unique facial identitySeptember 14th, 2012 - 8:08 pm ICT by IANS
Amsterdam, Sep 14 (IANS) Scientists have isolated genes that shape our facial form and structure, besides explaining why twins and siblings have more similar faces than unrelated people.
This study, carried out on behalf of the International Visible Trait Genetics (VisiGen) Consortium, used head magnetic resonance images together with portrait photographs to map facial landmarks.
Researchers from the Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, then applied a genome-wide association (GWA) approach, with independent replication, to finding DNA variants involved in facial shapes in almost 10,000 individuals, the journal Public Library of Science reports.
One of the three of the five genes identified was reported to be involved in facial morphology (form and structure) in a study on children published earlier this year. The remaining two genes potentially represent completely new players in the molecular networks governing facial development, according to an Erasmus statement.
Manfred Kayser, professor from the Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, who led the study, said: “These are exciting first results that mark the beginning of the genetic understanding of human facial morphology.”
“Perhaps some time it will be possible to draw a phantom portrait of a person solely from his or her DNA left behind, which provides interesting applications such as in forensics. We already can predict from DNA certain eye and hair colours with quite high accuracies,” concluded Kayser.
- Scientists identify genes involved in human eye color - May 07, 2010
- DNA test can now tell hair colour - Jan 06, 2011
- Test can tell suspect's age from blood drop - Nov 23, 2010
- Breakthrough: Culprit's DNA can be used to predict probable hair colour - Jan 04, 2011
- Fracture prone? Blame your genes - Apr 22, 2012
- Genetic variant linked to TB susceptibility in Africans identified - Aug 09, 2010
- DNA can reveal eye colour - Mar 10, 2009
- Gene therapy helps regenerate injured brain cells - Feb 16, 2012
- Geneticists seek ban on mail-order DNA testing kits - May 31, 2011
- How a drop of blood can reveal your age - Nov 23, 2010
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There were 1.07 million young people (aged from 16 to 24) in the UK who were Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), down 19,000 from April to June 2013 and down 28,000 from a year earlier
The percentage of all young people in the UK who were NEET was 14.9%, down 0.2 percentage points from April to June 2013 and down 0.3 percentage points from a year earlier.
Just over half (55.0%) of all young people in the UK who were NEET were looking for work and available for work and therefore classified as unemployed. The remainder were either not looking for work and/or not available for work and therefore classified as economically inactive.
73.4 million young people – 12.6 % – are expected to be out of work in 2013, an increase of 3.5 million between 2007 and 2013.
The global youth unemployment rate is projected to reach 12.8 per cent by 2018
In advanced economies, the youth unemployment rate in 2012 was 18.1 per cent. It is likely to remain above 17 per cent until 2015 and is not predicted to drop below 17 per cent before 2016. In Greece and Spain, more than half of the economically active youth population is unemployed.
The share of young people being out of work for at least six months is also increasing. In the OECD countries, more than one third of young, unemployed persons were classified “long-term unemployed” in 2011 – up from one quarter of the unemployed in 2008.
The number of NEETs in advanced economies – those neither in employment, nor education or training is growing and stands at one in six – putting them at risk of labour market and social exclusion. | <urn:uuid:17e3d7f2-33ab-40c8-9cb9-a86f2bad2831> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | https://drbriandear.wordpress.com/tag/neet/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232260658.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20190527025527-20190527051527-00557.warc.gz | en | 0.980575 | 354 | 2.75 | 3 |
Read the Passage: Isaiah 31
Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Isaiah 31
Error of Mistrust (31:1–3)
Generally speaking, in Isaiah 28–33 God is confronting Israel for their self-reliance, their dependence upon others, and their lack of trust in Him. More specifically, in Isaiah 30–31 God warns the people about their tendency to rely upon Egypt for help. Note the irony of Israel looking to their former captors for deliverance. Indeed, in Scripture Egypt stands for sin and bondage, not for liberty and freedom. Biblically defined, true freedom is not the ability to do whatever we desire to do; rather, it is the opportunity to do that for which we were designed to do—that is, to worship God and to enjoy Him forever. Rather than looking to Egypt for deliverance from the Assyrians, the Israelites should have repented of their sins and heeded the words of David in Ps. 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (cf. Ps. 33:16–17).
Isa. 31:1 is the fifth of six “woes” that Isaiah pronounces in this section of his book (cf. Isa. 28:1; 29:1, 15; 30:1; 33:1). Israel would experience woe, writes Isaiah, not just because they looked to Egypt for help, but because they “did not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord” (Isa. 31:1). Indeed, it is not inherently wrong to prudently prepare for trials. However, it is sinful to not recognize, as Solomon wrote, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord” (Prov. 21:31). This is helpful advice coming from Solomon, who himself had erred in accumulating many, many horses from Egypt (cf. 1 Ki. 10:28–29), contrary to God’s instructions at Deut. 17:16, “But the king shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’”
Assurance of Deliverance (31:4–5)
Although the book of Isaiah continually warns Israel about the coming judgment, it also frequently appeals to Israel to repent. In Isa. 31:4–5 God promises to defend His people with the idea that they would repent of their sins and rely solely on Him for deliverance. In this passage Isaiah specifically mentions “Mount Zion” (Isa. 31:4) and “Jerusalem” (Isa. 31:5); yet, by implication the promises here apply to all of God’s people. God’s care for and jealously over His people can be seen in the two illustrations Isaiah uses here—that is, a lion and a bird. First, Isaiah notes that God’s care for Israel is like a young lion circling its prey who will not be distracted or deterred by shepherds summoned again it (cf. Isa. 38:13; Lam. 3:10; Hos. 5:14; 3:8). Second, Isaiah writes that God’s concern for His own people is like that of a mother bird hovering over her fledglings. Observe that much later Jesus would use this same exact illustration at Matt. 23:37.
Call to Repentance (31:6–9)
God’s call to His people to repent is crystal clear in Isa. 31:6, as Isaiah writes, “Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.” It is important for us to remember that behind God’s warnings of judgment is His desire that mankind repent of his sins and return to Him. Note that in Isa. 31:7 Isaiah writes prophetically about “that day,” which is a reference to the Day of the Lord when Christ will return to judge mankind. In “that day,” writes Isaiah, man will realize the error of his ways, as idols have no power to deliver from the wrath of God (cf. Isa. 40:18–28; 44:9–20; Jer. 10:1–10). Later, in writing about idols and idol worshipers, Isaiah teaches, “A deceived heart has turned him aside and he cannot deliver his soul” (Isa. 44:20). In a similar manner, Jeremiah writes, “They are altogether dull-hearted and foolish, a wooden idol is a worthless doctrine” (Jer. 10:8).
In Isa. 31:8–9 God focuses specifically upon the pressing concern in Isaiah’s day—that is, the threat of attack by Assyria. Here God declares, “Assyria shall fall by a sword . . . he shall flee” (Isa. 31:8). This would be fulfilled when God sent his angel to kill 185,000 Assyrian troops encamped against Jerusalem (cf. 2 Kings 19; Isa. 37:36–37). Note that God would eventually use the Babylonians to overpower the Assyrian empire. The destruction of Assyria would ultimately be by “a sword not of man . . . a sword not of mankind” (Isa. 31:8). As Daniel later taught, “God changes the times and seasons, He removes kings and raises up kings” (Dan. 2:21). Indeed, Christ is “the stone . . . cut out of the mountain without hands” (Dan. 2:45). Be encouraged as Daniel teaches that God’s Kingdom shall overtake all earthly nations and it “shall never be destroyed . . . it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2:44).
- When faced with material needs, how can we balance man’s preparations with God’s promises? Is planning and foresight a mark of one’s lack of faith and trust in God?
- When faced with trials and suffering in the fallen world, to what or to whom do you look for security and deliverance?
- Can you testify to a time in your life when you relied upon God, rather than upon your own resources, and saw deliverance from God’s hand?
- Given God’s history of delivering Israel, as well as the heartache that sin always causes, why did God’s people not return to Him when called to repent?
- What types of idols are most-often worshiped in the contemporary culture (e.g., money, sex, power, reputation, sports, etc.)? | <urn:uuid:e3f1f825-07bf-48ba-990a-6a6a039bf4ce> | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | https://redeemedmind.com/2021/03/12/trust-and-mistrust-isaiah-31/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446711417.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20221209144722-20221209174722-00569.warc.gz | en | 0.951093 | 1,426 | 2.84375 | 3 |
1762 - Ann Franklin became the editor of the Mercury of Newport in Rhode Island. She was the first female editor of an American newspaper.
1770 - Australia was claimed under the British crown when Captain James Cook landed there.
1775 - The American colonies were proclaimed to be in a state of open rebellion by England's King George III.
1846 - The U.S. annexed New Mexico.
1851 - The schooner America outraced the Aurora off the English coast to win a trophy that became known as the America's Cup.
1865 - A patent for liquid soap was received by William Sheppard.
1902 - In Hartford, CT, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt became the first president of the United States to ride in an automobile.
1906 - The Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden, NJ began to manufacture the Victrola. The hand-cranked unit, with horn cabinet, sold for $200.
1911 - It was announced that Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" had been stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The painting reappeared two years later in Italy.
1938 - Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appeared on the cover of "LIFE" magazine.
1950 - Althea Gibson became the first black tennis player to be accepted into a national competition.
1951 - 75,052 people watched the Harlem Globetrotters perform. It was the largest crowd to see a basketball game.
1984 - The last Volkswagen Rabbit rolled off the assembly line in New Stanton, PA.
1989 - Nolan Ryan became the first major league pitcher to strike out 5000 batters. (MLB) | <urn:uuid:a3db2e10-fd09-4840-ab99-d255f75036ae> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.fox44.com/class-reunions/day-history-william-sheppard-receives-patent-liquid-soap-0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394678705768/warc/CC-MAIN-20140313024505-00043-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972122 | 345 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Stevens explores using virtual reality for real learning
By Shay Carroll
Imagine you are back in your seventh-grade history classroom, learning about the tomb of King Tutankhamun. You look at your textbook and see a small, outdated picture or two of part of the site, and then a short description that ultimately doesn’t tell, or show, very much at all.
Now imagine if you could actually go to King Tut’s tomb and explore it for yourself, complete with dark lighting, eerie music, an explorative environment and information points throughout the tomb that tell and show you more than your textbook ever could.
This is just one of many games that Mark Stevens from the BGSU’s College of Education and Human Development (EDHD) uses to demonstrate the uses of virtual reality (VR) technology, and one that he hopes to implement in K-12 school in the future. While it is next to impossible for students to see wonders of the world such as King Tut’s tomb in person, with Stevens’s use of VR, they would be able to explore a lifelike, realistically detailed version of it without ever leaving their classroom.
Stevens, an alumnus of BGSU’s master’s program in classroom technology and instruction design, is a full-time education technology instructor in EDHD, and he has a passion for not only emerging technologies, but also exposing his students to them. At BGSU, he creates immersive learning environments through virtual world creation — the same effect he hopes to achieve in school classrooms through VR. His BGSU students, all of whom are studying to become teachers, work with him to help develop the best ways to implement learning techniques into the VR games.
Additionally, Stevens has worked closely with Foundry 10, a Seattle-based company whose mission is to better understand the way children and teens learn, with an approach that includes research, action and community to expand the way people think about learning.
“They were doing research with students, and I asked, ‘Well, what about the teachers?’” Stevens said. “They said that they hadn’t really given that much thought. You never know when a new technology is going to become commonplace or be adopted by K-12 schools, and when it does, both students and future teachers need to know how to use it.”
Now, Stevens is working with nearly 300 educators in EDHD and exposing them to VR. To bring both faculty and students together to explore the development of VR, he uses the Collab Lab at BGSU’s Jerome Library. He is holding weekly meetings in the Collab Lab for anyone who is interested in exploring virtual reality as educational technology, and hopes to attract a number of participants.
“Having the Collab Lab adds a way for faculty to work together in a more structured environment in a shared space, instead of having to pack into someone’s office,” said Stevens. “And having the Collab Lab act as the intermediary helps us find collaborators in other areas, since we tend to otherwise work within our own silos.”
Stevens also holds weekly meetings in the Collab Lab for anyone who is interested in exploring virtual reality as educational technology. While he mainly works with students from EDHD, Stevens also works to draw in students from all majors and fields.
“If you think about it, there’s something for everyone in VR with every major on campus,” Stevens explained. “You need the game designers, but also artists, writers, musicians and content creators. And we have them all here at BGSU. It’s about creating a game, but it’s also about bringing people in together from all the colleges to gain experience in their fields.”
However, one thing you don’t see a lot of is VR in schools. But with more technology becoming steadily more affordable, it has become increasingly realistic for VR to be adopted by schools, which is exactly what Stevens wants to see in the future.
Stevens has argued that VR can help students learn more through experiential learning, and with the games he is developing, he hopes they will be able to get more out of school and learning while gaining new experiences.
“That’s why schools have field trips, after all — to give a ‘being there’ experience. That’s what we’re hoping to implement with this technology.”
If VR can be offered in this way, it will give students a better alternative than just their textbooks and can be viably used in a classroom environment.
In addition to the game that allows students to explore King Tut’s tomb, Stevens has been developing a wide variety of other learning games, each which focuses on a different field of study. For example, there is a puzzle game where you can design a maze and navigate a mouse through it, teaching critical-thinking skills and the basics of implementing an experiment.
In addition to his work with VR, Stevens has previously explored game-based learning and ways to use the popular game Minecraft as a teaching tool. Two years ago, he piloted a program in which BGSU education majors used the game to deliver curriculum to students in a K-12 setting to determine if game-based learning can effectively deliver the same knowledge as traditional methods.
The work with VR goes above and beyond regular classwork, with students in EDHD participating on a voluntary basis in addition to their respective classes. As a result, the work can be slow, but Stevens as well as all the students involved with this project are steadily making progress, and Stevens is open to broader collaboration.
“This technology is emerging, and we’re currently at the front of the wave,” Stevens said. “With this work, we’re hoping to put BGSU on the map as a leading school with VR. Technology isn’t going away, and if you can find a way to utilize it, you can help benefit yourself and others in your line of work.” | <urn:uuid:836fa2e2-f3fd-4fd9-a8ce-55a76d8f765b> | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | https://www.bgsu.edu/news/2017/11/stevens-explores-using-virtual-reality-for-real-learning.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794865595.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20180523102355-20180523122355-00489.warc.gz | en | 0.968487 | 1,265 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Beryl is a group of minerals that belongs to the silicate family and consists of several other stones like emerald, morganite, golden beryl, aquamarine etc. It is made up of beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate and has a hard hexagonal texture. The name ‘Beryl’ is derived from the Greek word ‘beryllos’ that refers to a sea colored (blue-green) stone.
Beryl is the alternate birthstone for November and the zodiac birthstone for the people born under the sign of Scorpio. It is also the talismanic stone for Sagittarians.
When granite or pegmatite rocks chemically combine with the silica deficient rocks to go through a process known as exometamorphism, the resultant mineral is beryl. This formation process usually takes place in the mica schist of metamorphic hydrothermal origin and granitic pegmatites, in compact, massive and columnar structures, and results in the formation of prismatic crystals of this mineral.
Large deposits of Beryl stones are found in the Southern Urals’ Sanarka River, Altai Mountains in Asia, and in the Nerchinsk district of Siberia. In addition to that, small deposits of this stone are also found in Norway, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Russia, Sweden, Idaho, Zambia, Colombia, North Carolina, Utah, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Maine, Madagascar and Brazil.
Prehistoric Hebrews used to worship this magic stone and believed that it strengthened one’s belief in god. In some cultures it was believed that this stone possessed psychic powers that can protect the wearer from evil spirits and promote marital love.
According to historical documents, the famous Roman author Pliny used the powder of this stone to treat eye problems. Arnoldus Saxo recorded in around 1220 that if worn in litigations or battles, the wearers would acquire high intellect which would render them unconquerable and hence, victorious. Ancient Greeks were a step ahead of all the communities and utilized its refracting properties to create spectacles. At that time White Beryls were found at the island of Elba and they were cut and trimmed to create glasses.
All Beryl crystals are attributed to the Sumero Babylonian goddess of chaos, Tiamat. These chaotic forces led to the creation of two worlds: earth and heaven, and this is the reason why people ask for her assistance when fighting with emotional and mental battles. Mother Tiamat is often depicted with a dragon or serpent.
Physical Healing Properties
Since ancient times Beryl has been used to treat problems related to the stomach and nervous system. It can stimulate the mind and reduce depression, anxiety and stress. Moreover, kidney, intestines, eyes, and liver can also benefit from the healing effects of this stone. It has proven very effective in treating asthma, leprosy and cataracts. | <urn:uuid:f70f8b0c-299f-4d17-83ab-0a5432e8e2f0> | CC-MAIN-2021-49 | http://gemstoneworld.com/beryl/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-49/segments/1637964362619.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20211203091120-20211203121120-00414.warc.gz | en | 0.94383 | 613 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Saving rhinos: by shaving their horns off?
In this photograph taken Sept. 26, 2012, Indian villagers look at a wounded endangered one-horned rhino that was shot and dehorned by poachers near Kaziranga National Park, about 250 kilometers east of Guwahati.
Can rhinos be saved from extinction if their horns are humanely shaved of?
That is the controversial subject of a recent paper in Science journal by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia.
In their report, the researchers argue that by humanely shaving the horns of live rhinos, the material generated could meet global demand. Rhinos grow about .9 kilogram of horn every year and scientists say that the risks to the animals from horn “harvesting” are minimal.
That way, the demand for horn could be met legally by humanely shaving the horns of live rhinos, and from animals that die of natural causes, the scientists said.
It would save rhinos from poachers.
At present in South Africa, poachers are killing two rhinos every day on an average.
It is estimated that there are around 20,000 White rhinos left now, with the majority in South Africa and Namibia. There are also an estimated 5,000 Black rhinos still alive but in South Africa, poachers are killing two rhinos every day.
Trade in rhino horn is prohibited but the article in Science says the ban is boosting illegal poaching by constricting the supply of rhino horn and driving up the price: for example, in 1993, a kilogram sold for around $4,700 but in 2012, it was selling for as much as $65,000.
South-East Asian countries like China, Vietnam and Thailand use rhino horns for traditional medicines.
Raveena Aulakh is the Toronto Star's environment reporter. She is intrigued by climate change and its impact, now and long-term. Follow her on Twitter @raveenaaulakh | <urn:uuid:35b5b174-4048-4bed-af40-06f6bde343f9> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://thestar.blogs.com/worlddaily/2013/03/saving-rhinos-by-shaving-their-horns-of.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395166.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00070-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954898 | 411 | 2.953125 | 3 |
The Nuclear Threat as an Instrument of National Policy.
Military issues research memo.,
ARMY WAR COLL STRATEGIC STUDIES INST CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
Pagination or Media Count:
This paper analyzes the impact of nuclear armaments on US national and military policy since World War II. The immediate post-World War II years are reviewed with the conclusion that the threat of the atomic bomb was of little value for specific application during this period of US nuclear monopoly. The era of US superiority during the 1950s is assessed, including the nuclear threat during the Korean conflict, the concept of massive retaliation, and the 1956 Suez crisis. Evidence supporting the efficacy of the nuclear threat remains inconclusive. In the 1960s, with the move to parity, the issues become more sophisticated. The Cuban Missile Crisis provided a theater for nuclear threats but Cubas proximity to the United States gave conventional military power the major role. Because of the threat of escalation of a conflict to mutual annihilation, the United States and the Soviet Union tend to avoid direct political or military confrontation thus the nuclear threat appears to have great utility in deterring conflict but less value in deterring initial aggression. In the present and future, it becomes necessary to balance desires for meaningful limitations on strategic nuclear weapons against the possibility that reduced levels may make general war more acceptable. The nuclear threat, as posed by both superpowers, has utility as an instrument of national policy but not when employed as an act of desperation.
- Humanities and History
- Nuclear Warfare | <urn:uuid:23311ac7-0244-40c1-b7d2-0113fdd8406a> | CC-MAIN-2021-10 | https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA037649 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178358064.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20210227024823-20210227054823-00260.warc.gz | en | 0.930465 | 313 | 2.75 | 3 |
A recent study suggests that there are 7.8 connected Internet devices per household in the U.S. This poses a challenge to survey security and deduplication that most companies do not fully understand.
Assuring respondents’ answers are not duplicated is a fundamental principle of data collection, and as the number of connected devices grows, so too does the complexity of assuring respondents are unique.
High “survey N” sizes, low incidences, short timelines, and niche markets drive the need for multi-faceted fielding tactics. Employing a robust deduplication solution will ensure data integrity, reduce costs, and eliminate uncomfortable client discussions. Unfortunately, many of today’s solutions haven’t kept up with market needs.
Let’s look at some of the more prevalent deduplication technologies in use today and see where they fall short.
“IP,” also commonly referred to as an Internet address, facilitates online communication. In the same way that someone needs your phone number to give you a call, a remote computer needs your IP address to communicate with your computer.
IP Deduplication technologies catalogue the IP addresses of the computers asking to enter a survey. If a participant tries to enter with the same IP, they are considered a duplicate and refused entry. This appears to be a great solution, however, it has drawbacks.
1. IPs addresses are not always static - an IP address can change.
2. Multiple devices and users share the same IP address
3. If you travel, your home or work IP doesn’t travel with you
IP Deduplication in and of itself is not a bad technology. However, having a survey with a unique IP address does not guarantee a duplicate-free project. Conversely, a survey with duplicated IP addresses does not necessarily signify duplication issues.
“Cookie” Drop Deduplication
Cookies are small files stored in a computer’s browser directory or program data subfolders. In short, they are used to make online experiences go as smoothly as possible.
Cookie Deduplication Technologies function by requesting information that can be retrieved at a later time. This sounds like a great solution. However, there are several disadvantages to Cookie Drop Deduplication Technologies.
2. Most browsers allow users to delete cookies after each online session.
3. Each browser on each device a respondent uses has its own cookie repository.
Browser Fingerprint / Digital Fingerprint Deduplication
A browser or device fingerprint is information collected about a computing device for the purpose of identification. Comparable to a human fingerprint, a computing device has several values that can determine uniqueness
Unfortunately, browser-fingerprinting isn’t fool-proof. It mistakenly assumes points of identification distributed among users are random, when in fact, mainstream devices fall into a more homogenous ecosystem. For example, the number of iPhone and iPad versions and models are not diverse and will more often incidentally fingerprint identically between two unique survey participants.
Another environment to consider is the corporate network. Here, you are likely to find many dozens or hundreds of potential participants with the exact same browser, plugins, fonts etc., leading to false-positive results.
Standard practice is to ensure those invited to a survey are correctly re-routed and credited. In this case, security is often temporarily bypassed; there is a security “on/off switch” that the survey host system can “flip.” An ideal security solution will eliminate accidental errors in security bypass.
Resetting IDs – Allowing disqualifies to attempt again
In small universe or low qualification studies, it may become necessary to relax survey qualification points. In these conditions, there is a need to allow past participation re-entry without the requirement to modify, script or turn off security. A flexible solution will have this ability.
Customized deduplication solutions will facilitate the concept of blacklisting and whitelisting of IP addresses, cookies, and digital profiles.
The ideal tool will allow adjustments for more or less selective detection. For example, a consumer-based survey may require unique IP addresses, but a healthcare survey may allow respondents with the same IP (i.e. unique respondents at the same location) to participate.
A robust deduplication solution will prevent fraud. Participants who try to obscure or hide their identity should be disallowed.
A deduplication solution should employ all reasonable techniques and methods together. In other words, it is best to develop a systematic way of knowing all the devices, IP addresses, and digital fingerprints of any single survey participant.
At SHC Universal, we are committed to quality and Perfect Data. Our years of experience have taught us how valuable, and indeed, necessary, a robust deduplication solution is. This solution needs to solve all of the challenges inherent with current deduplication tools and we look forward to working with industry participants to draft a roadmap for creating one. | <urn:uuid:e9dd90a8-9fbc-494b-933e-eca1939151e4> | CC-MAIN-2017-51 | http://www.insightsassociation.org/article/next-generation-de-duplication-tech-marketing-research | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-51/segments/1512948569405.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20171215114446-20171215140446-00285.warc.gz | en | 0.910186 | 1,033 | 2.75 | 3 |
Machine tools, semiconductor and medical industries all use linear motion guides to a significant extent. The performance of their machines relies on high speeds and very accurate positioning. These industries require micron accuracy, and linear motion guides are responsible for it.
Design News: Linear motion has many applications across a wide variety of different industries. Have you seen any common trends among the various manufacturing industries?
Yamada: There is a common need to make machines faster and more accurate. This translates into greater efficiency and throughput. There is also a trend toward designing machines with a smaller footprint so the manufacturer can get more machines on the floor. Manufacturers' profits have been shrinking and greater efficiency can help the bottom line. Manufacturers also want greater flexibility from their processes and machines. Machines must now be able to change over from one product to another quickly. This is being driven by shorter product life cycles. Additionally, maintenance is becoming more of an issue, with companies demanding less downtime for their machines. Companies also want the amount of waste lubricant they need to dispose of to be reduced. Lastly, many manufacturers have a difficult time finding qualified labor. Because of all these factors, many industries are looking at smart, flexible automation to help.
Q: How does linear motion address these issues?
A: Linear motion, which is a key aspect of any automation process, can have a very positive effect on all these trends. The faster a machine can produce a part with the least amount of waste, the more efficient it is, and this improves the bottom line. Motor and control packages are getting more accurate and faster all the time. The mechanical components like our linear motion guides need to be compatible. By using a smart and flexible automation scheme in the automation process, product changeovers can be done in minutes with very little human intervention. All types of technology are making advances faster than ever before and this is leading to shorter product life cycles. Manufacturers recognize this and want to be able to adapt quickly. A good linear motion system can help them with this.
Q: What about the design engineer, how do you see his or her role changing in these industries?
A: The need for greater efficiency and flexibility isn't limited to machinery. Design engineers are being required to design more products in less time than ever before. Where product life cycles used to be measured in years, now many are measured in months. Often these engineers are asked to perform several functions, including the mechanical design, the electronic design, and product sourcing. They are looking for ways to speed up the design process and improve the quality and performance of the new machine. Because of the engineer's time constraints, he or she is making more demands on component suppliers for shorter lead times, higher quality and faster response.
Q: How can a linear motion company help the design engineer meet these challenges?
A: As an industry, linear motion component manufacturers need to improve our service to the OEM. The design engineer needs to design and build faster and they are expecting us to be able to support them. We are also seeing a growing number of OEM design engineers looking to us to design a complete positioning system or package.
Q: What changes and innovations will we see in the linear motion industry in the future?
A: On the product side, I think our new caged-ball technology will revolutionize the industry. With it, machines will be able to run faster, with more accuracy and less maintenance than even before. Linear motors will also have a dramatic effect on the industry. The speed, acceleration and accuracy of these motors are amazing. I also think over the next couple of years, we'll see more and more smart automation and positioning systems in industries that aren't using those systems now. | <urn:uuid:272d77d8-bcd2-4156-9e99-bcb383a0b6a5> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://www.designnews.com/document.asp?doc_id=224925 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163048970/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204131728-00030-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961253 | 756 | 2.59375 | 3 |
December 5, 2013
One of the greatest challenges right now in the implementation of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics is determining the quality of resources, materials, and professional learning that claim to be aligned to the standards. Illustrative Mathematics is a website and growing community focused on illustrating the standards with high quality tasks reviewed by a math expert as well as a classroom expert. Illustrative Mathematics is building a community of expertise that writes and reviews tasks, discusses tasks and standards, and works together to better understand strong mathematics instruction.
The idea of Illustrative Mathematics came from the writing of the Common Core Standards. The author team envisioned example tasks to clarify the meaning and nuances of standards but these examples were not finished in time for the publication of the standards document. These examples became the basis for Bill McCallum’s project, The Illustrative Mathematics Project. The project aimed to illustrate the standards with tasks, and at the same time give recognition to the difficult art of task writing and reviewing. The community worked together to determine the necessary pieces of a good task, and formulated criteria for task reviews. As tasks were discussed, reviewed, edited, and revised expertise developed within the community, and The Illustrative Mathematics Project grew into its current form, Illustrative Mathematics. Illustrative Mathematics images a world where people know, use, and enjoy mathematics and we are collaborating together as a community to create that world.
Currently, on the Illustrative Mathematics website you can find more than 800 task illustrations of standards. Tasks are accessible either by clicking through the domains, cluster headings, and standards to the “see illustrations“ links or in a searchable list where it says “Illustrations” on the left navigation bar. Also, available on the website are task, video, vignette, and lesson sketch illustrations for the Standards for Mathematical Practice. The first of the Common Core progressions documents has been illustrated with seven units on teaching fractions, including videos and tasks aligned to each topic. More Common Core progressions documents will be illustrated in the future.
There are many ways to get involved with the Illustrative Mathematics community. All of the tasks are available for free on the website and do not require a login. If you do choose to login, you can up vote your favorite tasks and make public comments on tasks. Additionally, tasks are used as fodder to bring members of the community together virtually. Once a week on Monday nights, community members join a Task Talk via adobe connect, focused on a different task every week. At least once a month community members come together to think about a particular standard, and then write and review tasks related to that standard in a WebJam. Illustrative Mathematics offers professional development for teachers across the country, bringing together our community of expertise with our illustrative tasks to start conversations and inspire teachers. In-person workshops are available in single day and multi-day formats either in pre-made or tailor-made versions and can be browsed on the website from the left navigation bar where is says “New! Professional Development for teachers.”
Determining the quality of a product and its alignment to the Common Core is not only one of the most difficult tasks at this stage of implementation, but also one of the most important. Using materials of poor quality helps spread the misconceptions that lead to Common Core resistance. By building a community of individuals dedicated to mathematics education who together think deeply about tasks and the way they are used in the classroom makes Illustrative Mathematics a reliable resource for expertise and quality.
Join us at The Intersection by subscribing here. | <urn:uuid:3714e7dc-8195-4b67-83f3-3e86ebfc9d7f> | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | https://hunt-institute.org/resources/2013/12/quality-resources-to-implement-the-mathematics-common-core-standards/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103036099.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20220625190306-20220625220306-00455.warc.gz | en | 0.945537 | 728 | 3.78125 | 4 |
The mechanical maintenance crew is tasked with maintaining equipment to increase reliability, ensuring that any piece of equipment is available for operation when needed. This work can include greasing equipment, completing oil changes, and pulling oil samples, which allows them to find any contaminants and predict impending failures. This crew is also responsible for repairing mechanical failures that could occur in pumps, valves, hydraulic systems, fans, and more.
Communication among this group is primarily verbal. Even when separated, most technicians carry radios that allow for verbal communication. They hold daily meetings to distribute assignments and team up for their shift. While work orders explain the work scope, a conversation is still held to discuss any special conditions the job might have. The team then works together to gather necessary tools, identify any safety concerns, and maintain continual verbal communication on any issues that may arise.
According to Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor, John Mansker, “Safety is ensured by placing at least two technicians on each work order, which allows them to observe the actions of one another and catch any unsafe behavior. During the pre-job briefs, emphasis is placed on identifying any hazards. This team brief gives each member an opportunity to provide input. Also, it is not uncommon to see the technician talking to fellow technicians within the shop to gain insight into how to perform the job safely.” | <urn:uuid:49117bf4-fe2f-425c-a5aa-096e5a461982> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://prairiestateenergycampus.com/mechanical-maintenance-crew/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875146187.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20200226054316-20200226084316-00526.warc.gz | en | 0.939411 | 268 | 2.6875 | 3 |
In North Carolina, when the threat of frost has passed, termites emerge from their subterranean tunnels in order to find a mate and create a new nest where they can feed on a near endless supply of wood and cellulose. Often, that is inside someone’s home, but most homeowners don’t realize they have a termite infestation until they discover damage. By then, repairs and extermination can set you back thousands of dollars.
To help you spot whether or not you have a pest problem, our termite control company in Raleigh is sharing the key things to look for in a termite infestation. If you think that you might face a termite infestation problem, you should check out our termite prevention tips.
Different Types of Termites
There are three main sub-groups of termites:
- Subterranean: These are in all states but Alaska and live underground, building vast mud tubes that allow them to travel from underground into homes and buildings to look for a source of food, typically soft wood and cellulose. Subterranean termites do the most damage due to their massive colonies and ravenous appetites.
- Drywood: They don’t require soil for their habitat, able to tunnel through hard wood. While they are destructive, their colonies are smaller, so they aren’t as destructive.
- Dampwood: These termites require damp wood, like rotting logs, so they are rarely found in homes.
In North Carolina, subterranean termites are the common pests, whereas drywood termites are found in the Western United States typically. They thrive in the damp, humid climates and short winters where they build a maze of tunnels through the soil and build mud tubes up the sides of homes until they find cracks in cement foundations, wood, or siding where they can enter the home. There are also plenty of other reason why termites swarm.
How Do I Know if I Have Termites
As we mentioned, in spring, they emerge en masse to find a mate and build a new colony, but as they emerge, they form massive swarms. These swarms are easy to spot and let you know to call pest control before they come into your home. As they land, their wings fall off and they go back into the soil. Piles of thin, translucent wings in your flower beds, on your window sills, or near your home are cause for concern.
Can I See Termites?
Termites are small, and they spend much of their life in hiding underground, within their mud tubes, or eating. So, they are hard to see, but they’re definitely not invisible. They are about a quarter of an inch in length, and while swarmers are dark-brown to black in color, the workers within the nests are cream-colored. As we mentioned, their wings fall off and those are a key clue it’s time to call termite control.
Can I Hear Termites?
While you won’t hear them while your home is active, ie: the TV is on, conversations are going on, kids and pets are running around, when there’s no other sound, you may hear a low, dry rattling sound. It’s not the sound of them eating, termites communicate through the nest by banging their head on wood, and when there are hundreds or more within your walls, it becomes a rattling sound.
Does Mulch Cause Termites?
While termites may eat the wood in mulch, having mulch doesn’t cause termites. They live underground, so it doesn’t even create a hospitable habitat for them. However, it’s not a bad idea to keep any mulch raked about six inches away from your home’s foundation to make mud tubes more visible.
Do I Have Termites or Flying Ants
Flying ants are often mistaken for termites, but they don’t cause nearly the damage that termites do. While they both swarm in a similar fashion, there are a few key differences when trying to identify them. You may have to get closer than you want to, but you can see the differences between:
- Color: Flying ants are often black or a red color whereas termites in North Carolina are dark brown, cream, or black.
- Wings: Both insects have two sets of wings. Termites’ wings are the same size, but flying ants have one pair that is large, one pair that is small.
- Body: Termites are straight up and down with no real “waist,” whereas flying ants have a “pinched” waist.
Both are unpleasant pests that should be gotten rid of, but again, flying ants aren’t as destructive.
Contact Us for Termite Control in Raleigh
If you’re seeing signs of termites, or you’re worried you may have an infestation, check out our Termite FAQs to learn signs of an infestation, how we treat for termites, and how to prevent them from coming back! Then, reach out to us by filling out the form below or giving us a call at 919-231-3292. We offer quick, effective termite extermination in Raleigh and the surrounding area and will be happy to help you eliminate the problem. | <urn:uuid:494babbc-02ec-4a9f-835e-7a0998f3ff22> | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | https://www.stomppestcontrol.com/how-to-tell-if-you-have-termites/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618038088731.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20210416065116-20210416095116-00541.warc.gz | en | 0.941841 | 1,112 | 2.765625 | 3 |
- Included in Eastons: Yes
- Included in Hitchcocks: No
- Included in Naves: Yes
- Included in Smiths: No
- Included in Websters: Yes
- Included in Strongs: Yes
- Included in Thayers: Yes
- Included in BDB: Yes
- H1165 Used 3 times
- H2123 Used 1 time
- H2416 Used 41 times
- H2423 Used 13 times
- H2874 Used 1 time
- H2966 Used 2 times
- H3753 Used 1 time
- H4480 Used 3 times
- H4806 Used 2 times
- H929 Used 50 times
- G2226 Used 16 times
- G2341 Used 1 time
- G2342 Used 6 times
- G2934 Used 3 times
- G4968 Used 1 time
- G5074 Used 3 times
This word is used of flocks or herds of grazing animals (Exodus 22:5; Numbers 20:4, 8, 11; Psalms 78:48); of beasts of burden (Genesis 45:17); of eatable beasts (Proverbs 9:2); and of swift beasts or dromedaries (Isaiah 60:6). In the New Testament it is used of a domestic animal as property (Revelation 18:13); as used for food (1 Corinthians 15:39), for service (Luke 10:34; Acts 23:24), and for sacrifice (Acts 7:42).
The Mosaic law required that beasts of labour should have rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10; 23:12), and in the Sabbatical year all cattle were allowed to roam about freely, and eat whatever grew in the fields (Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 25:7). No animal could be castrated (Leviticus 22:24). Animals of different kinds were to be always kept separate (Leviticus 19:19; Deuteronomy 22:10). Oxen when used in threshing were not to be prevented from eating what was within their reach (Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Corinthians 9:9).
This word is used figuratively of an infuriated multitude (1 Corinthians 15:32; Acts 19:29; comp. Psalms 22:12, 16; Ecclesiastes 3:18; Isaiah 11:6-8), and of wicked men (2 Peter 2:12). The four beasts of Daniel 7:3, 17, 23 represent four kingdoms or kings.
BEAST, noun [Latin bestia. See Boisterous.]
1. Any four footed animal, which may be used for labor, food or sport; distinguished from fowls, insects, fishes and man; as beasts of burden, beasts of the chase, beasts of the forest. It is usually applied to large animals.
2. Opposed to man, it signifies any irrational animal, as in the phrase 'man and beast ' So wild beast
3. Figuratively, a brutal man; a person rude, coarse, filthy, or acting in a manner unworthy of a rational creature.
4. A game at cards. Hence to beast
BEASTISH, adjective Like a beast; brutal.
BE'ASTLIKE, adjective Like a beast; brutal.
BE'ASTLINESS, noun [from beastly.] Brutality; coarseness, vulgarity;
filthiness; a practice contrary to the rules of humanity.
BE'ASTLY, adjective Like a beast; brutal; coarse; filthy; contrary to the nature and dignity of man.
1. Having the form or nature of a beast. | <urn:uuid:eb4273a1-d0ae-45d4-bc2e-fe201b8c15c3> | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/beasts | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103360935.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20220628081102-20220628111102-00222.warc.gz | en | 0.880054 | 797 | 2.546875 | 3 |
A new supercomputer in the top coal-mining state has begun critical climate-change research with support from even some global warming doubters, but scientists worry President Donald Trump could cut funding for such programs.
The $30 million, house-sized supercomputer named Cheyenne belongs to a federally funded research center. It got to work a few weeks ago crunching numbers for several ambitious projects, from modeling air currents at wind farms to figuring out how to better predict weather months to years in advance.
It's the fastest computer in the Rocky Mountain West - three times faster than the 4-year-old supercomputer named Yellowstone it is replacing and 20th-fastest in the world. Capable of 5.34 quadrillion calculations per second, Cheyenne is 240,000 times faster than a new, high-end laptop.
Located in a windy business park near the city of Cheyenne, the National Center for Atmospheric Research-Wyoming Supercomputing Center that houses the water-cooled machine continues to enjoy support even from Wyoming's coal cheerleaders who doubt humankind is warming the Earth.
"Before we start making policy decisions on this, the science has got to be good," said Travis Deti, executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association.
The vast majority of peer-reviewed studies, science organizations and climate scientists have found the Earth is warming and that the warming is man-made and a problem, but Wyoming's relationship with climate science is complicated at best.
The University of Wyoming in 2012 removed a campus artwork made of charred logs after the fossil fuel industry objected to the piece's climate-change-awareness message. The state also has vacillated on whether and how K-12 students should learn about climate change.
Gov. Matt Mead, who is suing to block Obama administration efforts to limit carbon emissions from power plants and other sources, calls himself a climate-change skeptic. Still, he supports the supercomputer's role in driving Wyoming's small technology sector, spokesman David Bush said.
Even so, scientists worry Trump, who has called climate change a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese to harm U.S. economic interests, could cut such projects. About 70 percent of the supercomputer's cost comes from the National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency with a $7.5 billion budget.
Traditionally the foundation has had bipartisan support, but some Republicans have suggested redirecting the agency away from the earth sciences - and from climate change research in particular.
In December some 800 U.S. scientists, including 23 affiliated with the University of Wyoming and three at the organization that runs the supercomputer, signed an open letter urging Trump to take climate change seriously.
"To be ignorant doesn't really prevent it from happening," said Shane Murphy, a University of Wyoming assistant professor and climate researcher who signed.
The White House didn't immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment on Trump's plans for funding the science foundation.
Like its predecessor Yellowstone, Cheyenne will help better predict weather and, over the long term, climate change.
"We believe that doing better predictions of those things have apolitical benefits - saving lives and saving money, and improving outcomes for businesses and farmers," said Rich Loft, a National Center for Atmospheric Research supercomputing specialist.
The center moved its supercomputing to Cheyenne from Boulder, Colorado, in 2012, enticed by a $40 million state incentive package.
These days, Wyoming doesn't have money to lure a supercomputer or much of anything else. Downturns in coal, oil and natural gas extraction - in part because of competition from renewable energy - have pinched state revenue.
Wyoming continues to supply close to 40 percent of the nation's coal, however, and in 2014 the state put $15 million toward a $20 million facility to study carbon capture at a power plant near Gillette.
The Yellowstone and Cheyenne supercomputers each use about 1.5 megawatts of electricity, or as much as 750 average-sized homes use on average at any given time. Some of the electricity comes from a wind farm 7 miles up the road.
The supercomputers will work side-by-side until Yellowstone is decommissioned later this year.
The center's scientists are aware of the political winds surrounding their work but plan to maintain the course on projects planned since long before Trump's election.
"I really don't think that anybody at NCAR is talking about changing our science mission," Loft said. | <urn:uuid:332855a6-cbf3-46c6-91cc-6820559cfe73> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://www.agweb.com/article/will-this-climate-change-supercomputer-survive-naa-associated-press/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818695726.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20170926122822-20170926142822-00383.warc.gz | en | 0.954897 | 928 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Short, concise lessons and concepts helpful to students
"Dao" or "Do"
By Terry Bryan
Dao, also spelled Tao, is a very important concept in ancient Chinese
thought. It is often translated as "the way" or "the path,"
but these words do not do justice to the true meaning. In English we use
the word `way' to describe concepts like course, method, manner, mode,
means, practice, fashion, technique or style. These tend to lead us to
believe that way is a method of action, but in Chinese thought, non-action
is of equal importance in the dao.
The other commonly used term is "path" and can be equally misleading.
For example, one might inquire "the way to Denver", and yet
the path could be a multitude of responses. Responses could range from
head north on I-25 to giving specific latitude and longitude coordinates.
Those that understand the backwoods of Colorado understand that there
many types of paths one follows in the wild, as well as many different
methods of marking those paths so others can follow. The art and science
of tracking animals and other humans that have gone down a path ahead
of you is an art and science unto itself. Yet those of us who study this
method soon find that the natural paths created by nature’s engineers,
like the deer and sheep, are the most
economical and easiest to use when traveling. It seems most animals are
very in tune with nature and automatically follow the dao.
In problem solving, we usually brainstorm and identify several ways to
solve a specific challenge, and then try to select the best way. While
there are many solutions that will work, we assume that there is one course
of action that is better than all the others. This one method would include
every little detail of this particular course. This one best method could
be described as the dao.
Many times the word dao or do is added to another word to describe a
new concept. For example, jiang dao is the word for "to preach"
or "to speak the dao". In Japanese language the concept of dao
is translated as do and is used in many of the martial arts to describe
the total aspect of the way of their martial art. For example, judo, karate-do,
or kendo, implies that their martial art form is a complete and well thought
out art form that includes aspects of mental, physical and spiritual training.
Lao Tzu once stated that the dao that can be explained is not the dao.
This is in reference to the idea of the dao is a constant and changing
thing, and one can experience it, and use that experience to understand
it, but if you try to study or analyze it, it is no longer the dao. Take
for example the martial arts teacher or student. It is impossible to teach
students to defend themselves against an attacker in the street, because
combat is alive and constantly changing. Yet we can share principles and
concepts that may enable the student to go with the flow and adapt to
a specific situation, and increase his ability to find the proper path
at that time.
This leads us to the concept of karate-do; the way of karate. Many people
believe that the path is different for each of us, but has common roots.
This is why we spend time to working on goal setting and values clarification
with our students. Your path must be congruent with your personal values
and goals, and only then will your karate training begin to experience
the do aspect.
The path of karate-do is hard to explain and even harder to experience.
Each of us needs to find a good Sensei (one who has walked before), to
help guide us down this path and to remind us when we step off the path.
I can assure new students that the benefits of self-confidence, higher
self-esteem and the overall success they will experience in their life
because of this journey will be well worth it, but it is they who must
keep putting one foot in front of the other along the path of black belt
excellence. As you begin or continue along your path in karate-do, I wish
you the very best in your journey and hope your journey is as blessed
as mine has been and more.
About the Author:
Terry Bryan is the former General Secretary for the USA-NKF (National
Karate Federation), the official governing body for the sport of karate
with the US Olympic Committee. He currently is the Executive Director
for the American Black Belt Academy, a 501c3 non-profit organization located
in Colorado Springs. | <urn:uuid:796d3b1b-5afe-499d-b09b-22b59528deb0> | CC-MAIN-2015-27 | http://fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=314 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-27/segments/1435375096579.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20150627031816-00303-ip-10-179-60-89.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950066 | 1,011 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Desert (not to be confused with "dessert", an after-meal treat, or "desert", to go AWOL) is a happy, occupiable land infrequently occupied by those unfamiliar with the word "unoccupiable". It is formally defined as a region that receives more than 5,000,000 Ml of rainfall per year. Contrary to common misconception, deserts are not always sandy: many deserts are dry plains that people use to set records in weird cars see ricers, scrub-covered wastes, or frigid tundra covered in scurf. However, since at least 110% of the world's desert regions are of the sandy variety (known as "Sam" to experts), they are easily the most familiar to laypersons. Deserts have a reputation for being relatively lifeless, but a closer look at their natural ecology reveals, on average, that sun stroke can make a person hallucinate some of the most diverse zoology on Earth.
Life in deserts
A desert is a hostile, potentially deadly environment for unprepared humans. In hot deserts, high temperatures cause rapid loss of water due to sweating, and the absence of water sources with which to replenish it can result in dehydration and death within a few days. In addition, unprotected humans are also at risk from heatstroke.
Humans may also have to adapt to sandstorms in some deserts, not just in their adverse effects on respiratory systems and eyes, but also in their potentially harmful effects on equipment such as filters, vehicles and communication equipment. Sandstorms can last for hours, sometimes even days. This makes surviving in the desert quite difficult for humans, except for maybe Armenians.
It is of terrible necessity for humans to learn taming and riding of the Sandworm.
Despite this, some cultures have made hot deserts their home for thousands of years, including the Bedouin, Tuareg tribe and Pueblo people. Modern technology, including advanced irrigation systems, desalinization and air conditioning have made deserts much more hospitable. In the United States and Israel for example, desert farming has found extensive use.
Most traditional human life in deserts is nomadic. It depends in hot deserts on finding water, and on following infrequent rains to obtain grazing for livestock. In cold deserts, it depends on finding good hunting and fishing grounds, on sheltering from blizzards and winter extremes, and on storing enough food for winter. Permanent settlement in both kinds of deserts requires permanent water and food sources and adequate shelter, or the technology and energy sources to provide it. In addition sandstorms or blizzards may cause disorientation in severely reduced visibility.
Features of Deserts
Many deserts are flat and featureless, lacking landmarks, or composed of repeating landforms such as sand dunes or the jumbled ice-fields of glaciers. Advanced skills or devices are required to navigate through such landscapes and inexperienced travellers may perish when supplies run out after becoming lost.
Dangers of Deserts
The danger represented by wild animals in deserts has been featured in explorers' accounts but does not cause higher rates of death than in other environments such as rain forests or savanna woodland, and generally does not by itself affect human (mainly Arab) distribution. Defence against polar bears may be advisable in some areas of the Arctic, as may precautions against venomous snakes and scorpions in choosing sites at which to camp in some hot deserts.
In cold deserts, hypothermia and frostbite are the chief hazards, as well as dehydration in the absence of a source of heat to melt ice for drinking. Falling through pack-ice or surface ice layers into freezing water is a particular danger requiring emergency action to prevent rapid hypothermia. Starvation is also a hazard; in low temperatures the body requires much more energy to maintain body heat and to move. As with hot deserts, some people such as the Inuit have adapted to the harsh conditions of cold deserts.
The Mojave Desert is particularly dangerous. Patrolling it almost -almost- makes some people wish for a Nuclear Winter.
Uses of Deserts
Mexicans are known to flee from America to Mexico through various deserts, and are known for their lack of employment in both countries, particularly America. They always demand a large salary, and are usually found driving bland, unaltered cars, and motorcycles.
Since the technical definition of a desert is an area with low annual rainfall, and since flavored ice is a type of dessert, it may be presumed that Antarctica could qualify as both a desert and a dessert, were it injected with red drink. This, however, is impossible, because the amount of sugar required to dessertify the Ross Ice Shelf alone would exceed the total amount of produced in the history of the planet.
A few wackos have suggested that if a grape-flavored southern ice cap were to enlist and then go AWOL, that it would be a "dessert desert that's deserted". However, such people may be disregarded, as that's obviously too much of a stretch for the pun, and continents are barred from enlisting anyway.
Formation of a Desert
See Sand volcano
The highest record temperature for this desert is 527.343 degrees celsius. This is where most of the pie cooking company is located due to its extremely high temperature. The lowest temperature recorded is 527.342 degrees celsius. Many humans die due to frostbite due to this outrageously cold weather. | <urn:uuid:d05ca4aa-0565-43c8-ab66-d8d2fd1e8524> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Mojave_Desert | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323588246.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20211028003812-20211028033812-00391.warc.gz | en | 0.963093 | 1,114 | 3.421875 | 3 |
Traditional Thai Self Defence System that became the modern version of Muay Thai.
Muay Boran was originally developed for self defence and was taught to the Thai military for use during warfare. Using a variety of striking attacks (fists, elbows, knees and feet), combined with joint locks, throws, sweeps, and grappling. During the 1920’s-30’s, King Rama VII modernized the Thai martial arts competitions, introducing referees, boxing gloves, rounds and western boxing rings. Many of the traditional Muay Boran techniques were banned or were not practical with the addition of the new rules, and so Muay Boran went into decline. The decline of Muay Boran led to the rise of Muay Thai.
The Muay Boran classes taught at JAI are for self defence. A great compliment to the Muay Thai program, or a stand alone program on its own, Muay Boran has featured in various seminars at JAI and has always been a favourite. | <urn:uuid:92904f76-b23e-4115-bf4a-4fe83014b91e> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | http://www.jaimartialarts.com.au/adult-programs/muay-boran/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084887973.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20180119105358-20180119125358-00129.warc.gz | en | 0.976525 | 205 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Even for professional writers, academic writing and literacy can be challenging.
A great way to hone your academic literacy is by joining a Research Writing Group. Research Writing groups are made up of HDR candidates in your faculty/department. You can join or start a Research Writing Group by contacting HDR Learning Skills at email@example.com.
For additional Research Support, head to the HDR Learning Skills page.
Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
OWL is a great, independent site for brushing up on your grammar and improving your academic writing.
Academic Literacy for Research Students (ALRS)
The Linguistics Department offers a web-based course in Academic literacy for research students (ALRS). While the focus is on Human Sciences, the content is open to all HDR students across the University. Each module involves a discussion of academic writing and examples, followed by a text analysis task. ALRS modules include:
- Module 1: Writing a thesis proposal
- Module 2: Writing a Literature Review
- Module 3: Writing a Research Article
- Module 4: Expressing Your Voice
- Module 5: Stance: Interacting with your readers
- Module 6: Organising an argument: The role of topic sentences
- Module 7: Constructing cohesive and coherent paragraphs
- Module 8: Inductive and deductive organisation of arguments
If you have any problems, please contact Jean Brick.
StudyWISE is the University’s academic literacies iLearn space. Students can find materials they need to solve specific assignment-related questions or build their reading, writing and other academic skills.
Structure and topics
The landing page is designed so that users can see all the topics and select the pages they need. Resources are organised into five sections:
- Uni basics: Get ready to learn
- Key skills: Read, think, argue and write
- Steps in the assignment process
- Assignments and exams, including example assignments in different disciplines
- English language resources
Students can select some or all sections of StudyWISE to support them when needed. There is no need to work through the resources in order.
Access and enrolment
New students are automatically enrolled into StudyWISE and will find it on their iLearn homepage under 'Student Support: Skill Building and Help Resources'.
If you cannot find it, you can self-enrol using your OneID and password.
The Academic Integrity Module
The Academic Integrity Module for Students is an iLearn resource created by Learning Skills to help you learn about:
- What ‘academic integrity’ is and why it's important
- Acceptable and unacceptable academic behaviours at university
- What plagiarism is and key strategies to avoid it
- Your responsibilities in relation to academic integrity and your rights under the Macquarie University Academic Integrity Policy.
Once you enrol in the Academic Integrity Module for Students, you can access it from your iLearn course list under the category 'Skill Building and Help Resources'. | <urn:uuid:143b59d2-717b-4ddf-9e12-8565509576bc> | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-research-program/training-support-and-tools/academic-writing | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141181179.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20201125041943-20201125071943-00192.warc.gz | en | 0.909977 | 622 | 2.71875 | 3 |
“Joyce Banda presents persuasive evidence, enriched by her first-hand accounts, of the importance of granting the girl child the same openings as the boy from the very beginning. Her important work examines the impact of this unfulfilled potential for the African continent and provides actionable recommendations for government, civil society, international organizations, and individuals.”
— Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President, Republic of Liberia
The case for narrowing the gender gap is well established, and programs seeking to empower women in sub-Saharan Africa have multiplied. Yet a critical piece is missing: a focus on rural girls from zero to 10 years old. Discrimination and social norms that penalize girls and women do not start at adolescence, and by the time girls are 10, it is often too late to undo the damage that has already been done.
As an African woman leader who grew up on African soil, Joyce Banda has seen firsthand how young rural girls face obstacles that shape the rest of their lives. From Day One makes the case of how, if African girls are to realize their potential and become the leaders that their continent so badly needs, gender interventions should and can start from day one.
From Day One: Why Supporting Girls Aged 0 to 10 Is Critical to Change Africa’s Path is available for purchase in paperback and ebook versions from Amazon, Google Play, and Brookings Press. 6 X 9, 100 pp. paper, 978-1-944691-07-3, $17.95. For review or desk copies, please email email@example.com.
Rights & Permissions
You may use and disseminate CGD’s publications under these conditions. | <urn:uuid:6c2d1351-4d92-4a69-92b6-7011052b841f> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://www.cgdev.org/publication/day-one-why-supporting-girls-aged-0-10-critical-change-africas-path | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764499816.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20230130101912-20230130131912-00274.warc.gz | en | 0.9264 | 346 | 2.609375 | 3 |
How do I know when you use their or they're?
'Their' is used when referring to possession of something. 'They're' is a conjunction of the words 'they are'.
How do you multiply fractions?
To multiply fractions, you multiply the numerators, the numbers on the top of the fraction, and this is your new numerator. Then you multiply the denominators, the numbers on the bottom of the fraction, to find your new denominator. For example, 3/4*2/3=? First, multiply 3*2. This is 6. Then, multiply 4*3. This is 12. Your answer is then 6/12. This simplifies to 1/2.
How do you solve 2(5x-2)-(3x-2)=3x for x?
We will begin by working with the left side of the equation. First, you multiply (5x-2) by 2. You must distribute the 2, so this becomes 10x-4. Rewrite the entire equation as 10x-4-(3x-2)=3x. Now, you must distribute the -1 through (3x-2). Do this by multiplying 3x by -1 and -2 by -1. This becomes (-3x+2). Rewrite the entire equation as 10x-4-3x+2=3x. We can simplify by adding and subtracting numbers with the same variable and power. 10x-3x-4+2=3x becomes 7x-2=3x. Now, we want to get the variables on the same side of the equation. We can do this by subtracting 7x from both sides of the equation. 7x-2-7x=3x-7x -2=-4x To solve for x, we must divide both sides of the equation by -4. This becomes -2/-4=x which simplifies to x=1/2. | <urn:uuid:e94feabd-c598-4b1a-b7e6-e3bafa7d4369> | CC-MAIN-2019-09 | https://tutorme.com/tutors/27411/interview/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-09/segments/1550247489425.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20190219061432-20190219083432-00322.warc.gz | en | 0.911859 | 410 | 3.859375 | 4 |
Is there such a thing as privacy?
Most people would like to think there is, especially when it comes to what you view or buy online. However, many internet sites share information about your habits and purchases without you ever knowing they are doing this. If you’ve ever received unsolicited emails from companies you’ve never heard of offering you products surprisingly like the ones you’d previously been searching for online, then your details and browsing history have more than likely been shared without your knowledge and agreement.
There has been concern for some time about this practice, particularly in the United States: the Federal Trade Commission published a report recently criticising the time it was taking for the major companies to come up with a solution to the issue of user privacy. In response Microsoft has announced that it is to release an application called IE9 which is set for release in 2011.
Microsoft calls this new tool Tracking Protection and it will enable the user to list and define the limit to which their information is shared between companies: personal details will only therefore be disclosed to those companies and organisations that the consumer wishes. In effect it acts like an ex-directory telephone system and should in theory prevent cold calling and unwanted advertisements. The default setting of the new application will be off and consumers will have to ‘opt in’ in order to use the facility. It is also working on a generic version of the application which will be released under an open licence so that other browser makers can adopt them.
Microsoft isn’t the first company to have offered this functionality – other browsers like Firefox, Chrome and Opera have already produced tools that allow users to create a list of trusted sites.
However, Microsoft believes the true value of this new tool is that it will enable users to create a list of the sites they trust and then share this information with others so that they receive the same protection. | <urn:uuid:cd7dc3a2-b0cf-4ce5-9013-6be47097fa6a> | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | https://www.searchandmore.co.uk/news/microsoft/microsoft-builds-online-tracking-blocking-ie9/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917123560.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031203-00099-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962596 | 382 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Thanks to everyone who made it out to orientation today! This is our class blog, and it’s now up and running. I will share details with you for posting to it at our next meeting. You should feel free to share it with your world– family, friends, teachers, and each other.
If you weren’t able to make it, here’s a recap of what we did:
- Introductions and Origins.
- Icebreaker: What makes you different? On small slips of paper, we all filled in the blank for the sentence “I am _______,” crumpled them up, passed the anonymous answers around, and then read them aloud. In the discussion that followed, we determined that we are:
- Open-minded and nonjudgmental
- Artistic, creative, smart, and accomplished!
- Curious about other cultures and our own
- Generous of spirit
- Proud of ourselves
- Committed to encouraging each other
- Creative Writing Exercise: Opening Lines from Yvonne Lamore-Choate’s “Untitled.” We used Lamore-Choate’s introduction to her untitled memoir about growing up Quechan-Mojave on a Native American reservation as a template for outlining the beginnings of our own backgrounds. A sort of literary Mad Libs, we each filled in the blanks of her identifiers (location, race/ethnicity, feelings, etc.) to inflect her strategy with our own spin.
Next week: Gender with Jamaica Kincaid (Antigua) and Lysley Tenorio (Philippines) | <urn:uuid:9616e943-05d3-40d1-a2a4-64cb64e16e3d> | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | https://kaleidoscopeprojectnyc.wordpress.com/2016/05/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891816912.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20180225190023-20180225210023-00241.warc.gz | en | 0.92189 | 339 | 2.8125 | 3 |
A reflective essay refers to a piece of writing that analyzes a scene, event, interaction, or encounter. A personal reflection paper incorporates a writer's thoughts, experiences, and ideas about a specific issue. In other words, this writing piece mirrors an author's thoughts, real-life situations, feelings, and emotions.
This type of essay requires students to highlight their opinions on a topic and support them with real-world experiences and their observations. Although it can focus on any topic, it is limited to the writer's thoughts or experiences. A reflective paper narrates a story about a theme relating to the journey in which a person discovered the issue and how it has influenced their growth, change, or development.
When writing a personal reflective essay, you can consider an event or scenario from different angles and try to explain a situation using various models and examples. However, you should note that a reflective essay follows a formal structure and format to serve the intended academic purposes. A reflective paper should have the following sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. However, it is advisable to develop an outline exploring your topic and main points to help write quality work.
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If you are struggling to write a reflection paper, our AssignmentDoers are ready to support you at any time. We can help you rewrite your reflective assignment from scratch to boost your grades and improve your course outcomes. We will complete your order before your deadline, allowing you to review it, use it as a study document, and make the necessary changes. Sign up today to enjoy our exceptional services! | <urn:uuid:ec3d97dd-d339-4dba-b256-b2efc9e8dca4> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.assignmentdoers.com/reflection-paper | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100448.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20231202172159-20231202202159-00035.warc.gz | en | 0.923199 | 458 | 3.046875 | 3 |
The biggest news in West-European imperialism in 1682 CE was the French announcement of the establishment of Louisiana. It was very much bigger than today’s US state of that name (see sketch map at right.) France’s actual ability to hold and control large parts of this land-mass was very limited– see blow. But the establishment of “Louisiana” was a French land claim that (a) split the Spanish-held land of Florida off from the rest of Spain’s extensive empire in North America, and (b) asserted a limit to the degree to which the English colonies perched on the Atlantic seaboard could extend further west.
Also in 1682, a 10-year-old boy in Moscow called Piotr/Peter became “Tsar of all the Russias.” In its initial years, his tsardom was held jointly with a slightly older half-brother, Ivan, known to be of unsound mind, and effectively overseen by Ivan’s older sister Sophia. English-Wikipedia tells us this:
Sophia acted as regent during the minority of the sovereigns and exercised all power. For seven years, she ruled as an autocrat. A large hole was cut in the back of the dual-seated throne used by Ivan and Peter. Sophia would sit behind the throne and listen as Peter conversed with nobles, while feeding him information and giving him responses to questions and problems…
Peter was not particularly concerned that others ruled in his name. He engaged in such pastimes as shipbuilding and sailing, as well as mock battles with his toy army.
But “Great”-ness would lie ahead, for the boy and his large land-based empire.
The final thing worth noting this year was that, of course, the Spanish-colonial powers in the Americas continued to strengthen their presence. But in “New Spain”, they were still reeling from the large intifada that a large number of Pueblos had mounted two years earlier, which drove large numbers of (mainly armed) Spanish settlers, their priests (= mind-control agents), and their hangers-on out of a chunk of the SW of today’s United States. Thus in 1682, we saw the establishment or strengthening of these three replacement colonies to which the Spanish and their hangers-on had retreated:
- The Ysleta Mission, located in the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo within the municipality of today’s El Paso, Texas.
- The Nuestra Señora de la Concepción del Socorro mission, located south of today’s El Paso, and established specifically by the Franciscan monks who had played such a large role in attempting mind-control against the Pueblos.
- The village of Senecú (Senecú del Sur, San Antonio de Senecú) now located on the outskirts of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. It had originally been located north of the Rio Grande but its originally-Pueblo residents had fought against the also-displaced people in Ysleta, so they and their “village” got relocated.
Further south, off the coast of Venezuela, in 1683 the Spanish colonial powers built a massive fortification called Santa Rosa Castle on Margarita Island, after the island had been targeted by “French pirates.”
Yes, there was certainly still plenty of money in Spain’s sprawling imperial venture in the Americas to invest in a large-scale infrastructure project like this.
So about those French…
Here’s what English-WP has to say about the founding of Louisiana:
In 1660, France started a policy of expansion into the interior of North America from what is now eastern Canada. The objectives were to locate a Northwest Passage to China; to exploit the territory’s natural resources, such as fur and mineral ores; and to convert the native population to Catholicism. Fur traders began exploring the pays d’en haut (upper country around the Great Lakes) at the time… Priests founded missions, such as the Mission of Sault Sainte Marie in 1668. On May 17, 1673, Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette began the exploration of the Mississippi River, which they called the Sioux Tongo (the large river) or Michissipi. They reached the mouth of the Arkansas River, and then returned upstream, having learned that the great river ran toward the Gulf of Mexico, not toward the Pacific Ocean as they had presumed…
In 1682, René-Robert Cavelier and the Italian Henri de Tonti descended [presumably along the river] to the Mississippi River Delta. They left Fort Crèvecoeur on the Illinois River, accompanied by 23 Frenchmen and 18 Indians. They built Fort Prud’homme (later the city of Memphis) and claimed French sovereignty on the whole of the valley, which they called Louisiane in honor of the French king, Louis XIV. They sealed alliances with the Quapaw Indians. In April 1682, they arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi.
Cavelier eventually returned to Versailles, where he convinced the Minister of the Marine to grant the command of Louisiana to him. He claimed that Louisiana was close to New Spain by drawing a map showing the Mississippi as much farther west than it really was.
By the way, the banner image up above is a fanciful depiction of Cavelier declaring the establishment of Louisiana.
Also: Cavelier had the title “Sieur de la Salle” and is often referred to as “La Salle.”
His page on English-WP tells us this about what later happened to him and his grand colony-building ambitions for Louisiana:
On July 24, 1684, he departed France and returned to America with a large expedition designed to establish a French colony on the Gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the Mississippi River. They had four ships and 300 colonists. The expedition was plagued by pirates, Natives defending their land, and poor navigation… They founded a settlement, near the bay which they called the Bay of Saint Louis, on Garcitas Creek in the vicinity of present-day Victoria, Texas. La Salle led a group eastward on foot on three occasions to try to locate the mouth of the Mississippi. In the meantime, the flagship La Belle, the only remaining ship, ran aground and sank into the mud, stranding the colony on the Texas coast.
During a final search for the Mississippi River in 1687, La Salle got lost and for “two years he wandered, without maps, in the marshes of the Mississippi delta”.
Some of his men mutinied, near the site of present Navasota, Texas.
On March 19, 1687, La Salle was slain by Pierre Duhaut during an ambush… One source states that Duhaut was a “disenchanted follower”. Duhaut was shot and killed by James Hiems to avenge La Salle. Over the following week, others were killed; confusion followed as to who killed whom.
The colony lasted only until 1688, when Karankawa-speaking Natives killed the 20 remaining adults and took five children as captives. Tonti sent out search missions in 1689 when he learned of the colonizers’ fate, but failed to find survivors. | <urn:uuid:35075b61-bbbc-4a09-b9c4-782843cc5aa9> | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | https://justworldnews.org/2021/06/11/1682-french-found-louisiana-peter-later-great-becomes-tsar-etc/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623487640324.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20210618165643-20210618195643-00343.warc.gz | en | 0.973415 | 1,558 | 3 | 3 |
Part 1 of this series sketches the history of journalism in the U.S. from the pre-Revolutionary era to the present day.Part 2 recalls the emergence of the Internet and the growth of the long tail of online advertising. Part 3 delves into the rise of social media.
Ask someone about the future of journalism, and it’s likely that most people will point to something like E-Ink or perhaps the Amazon Kindle — high-fidelity readers that use millions of embedded, magnetically sensitive spheres which can show a black, white or in-between state to create dynamically refreshing text content. Such readers no doubt have a great deal of potential (along with a number of other display technologies), but while it’s entirely possible that future newspapers will be displayed on such readers, they will also be displayed on laptops and netbooks, on cellphones, on car heads-up displays, the refrigerator, specialized glasses, and ultimately even our shirt-sleeves.
This highlights the real future of journalism — it is increasingly ubiquitous, increasingly participatory, and increasingly germane. Ubiquity is a function of search; participatory is a function of social media; while increasingly germane has to do with a relatively new concept that’s been of largely academic interest in the last few years, but is increasingly entering into common usage — the semantic Web.
What Is Community?
Semantics is one of the more obscure (and philosophical) branches of linguistics, and in the acaddemic sense, semantics is largely preoccupied with the concepts of meaningfulness and relevancy. As such, it tends to be seen as too technical or abstract to be of use to most people. However, in point of fact, semantics (and especially computational semantics) is going to become increasingly central to the way that people work with information systems of all sorts, and most especially news.
One of the most profound changes that the Internet has introduced is the idea that we are transitioning from communities of place to communities of interest. A community of place is geographical — your house, your neighborhood, your city, your region, your state or province, your country, your continent, your hemisphere, your world. For most of recorded history, the degree of relevance of any given thing was inversely proportional to the distance away that thing was. Not surprisingly, your allegiances likewise followed the same relationship. The king may have had more overall power, but in most cases the local lord had far more power over you, and in a struggle between your lord and your king, there was seldom any question of where your true loyalty lay.
Newspapers are very much artifacts of this idea of community of place. A paper is typically associated with a city, or in many cases, with a specific community within that city. A newspaper’s National section may contain news about the country, but in most cases even that news is cherry picked for those pieces of information that may affect the newspaper’s region. The Sports, Business and Lifestyle sections focused on the most proximate sports teams, the doings of the businesses that had a presence in the region, and human interest stories that dealt primarily with the local culture or environment. There are a few exceptions (USA Today comes to mind) but even here its notable that most of their content is still segmented by geography — the USA Today that you pick up in Seattle will have very different news beyond the front page content than the same issue in Atlanta.
In communities of interest, on the other hand, the basis for the community is a particular theme, topic or cause — such as the community surrounding a given computer language, sports team or political ideology. Such communities of interest have, of course, been around for some time, but the difficulty in coordinating communication between members of a given community has typically kept the size of such organizations small and its influence limited. With the rise of the Internet, this is changing.
An interesting case in point is an organization such as Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners. As the name would imply, the Mariners are located in Seattle, and as such its fan base tends to be drawn largely from the Puget Sound — with one notable exception. Because the team features two very popular Japanese ball players (Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima) and the first Asian American coach (Don Wakamatsu), the Mariners have a large and vibrant fan base in Japan, despite appearing only once a year for exhibition games. This latter community is one of interest.
The Web has accelerated a shift that has been underway for a while: As it has become easier for people to communicate with one another across different social media, it has also made it easier for people to find others who have similar interests, coordinate activities, share information, and often to buy and sell within interest-based markets, regardless of where on Earth these people may actually live.
Most social media sites are built around the concept of community interest. Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and countless others provide a centralized place for a person to project a particular representation of themselves (an avatar) to the rest of the world, while at the same time acting as windows into interest groups of one form or another. Over time, the more a person becomes involved in a particular media space, the more they invest of themselves in that space, and the more that they shape their particular information sphere.
This filtering process was formerly one of the functions that a news editor performed, determining which particular content would be passed to the readers or viewers within that particular community. The editor as generalist is disappearing; instead, they are being replaced by moderators who act primarily to insure that the inbound content from contributors does not stray too radically from the role of the interest group.
It can be argued that even that function is disappearing, as users of many media services are increasingly able to enable or disable particular channels or news providers. This is the filtering mechanism that is core to Twitter, for instance. You can choose to follow people who other people in your interest circle recommend, and you can also choose to “unfollow” people who provide comparatively little value of interest to you personally. The effect of this over time is the development of a filter “envelope” that provides references to content that is most interesting to you, with comparatively little noise (i.e., the signal-to-noise ratio goes up dramatically). While this may have been an unintended side effect of the original architecture, it is surprisingly effectively.
Put another way, such services let you create your own “newspaper” incrementally, without necessarily choosing to explicitly choose given interest groups or categorizations. This process of increasingly transparent categorization is one of the hallmarks of the current age of journalism; the categorization becomes a function of the likes and dislikes of the reader rather than the editor. Add into this the fact that the reader also is able to effectively “vote” on their favorite news provider (where this information is increasingly at the level of a given writer rather than of an entire news organization), and what emerges is a powerful medium for shaping the news in ways appropriate to the user.
One argument that’s been raised about this particular filtering and categorization mechanism is that over time, it tends to lock a person into a narrow view of the world, one where alternate ideas are not presented as often and majority viewpoints become self-reinforcing. There’s some validity in that criticism, though it can also be argued that having a human editor in the question provides no guarantee that the content involved will be any more free of bias toward a particular mindset or viewpoint.
Yet consider the counterpoint to this: As such self-filtering becomes the norm, the reader needs to take on more responsibility in seeking out alternate viewpoints. Indeed, this raises the concept of the “responsible information consumer,” in which the information profiles that a person sets up (either directly or indirectly) reflect a more thoughtful approach to understanding the world.
The amount of information on the Internet is reaching a point of inconceivability — the information space is growing faster than any one person, even a voracious reader of this information, could ever take in. It is this fact as much as any that is causing the profession of journalism to collapse — once you remove the requirement that only “formally recognized” journalists can produce content and only “formally recognized” editors can determine what constitutes news, then the amount of content can grow without limit. Through social media tools like Twitter, through blogs, through other similar media, the editorial function becomes a preferential one — “this link is interesting to me … if you have a similar profile to mine, you will likely find the content at the other end of this link interesting too.”
Most of these filters act at the document level, but current developments in Semantic Web technology are likely to start performing a fair amount of the analysis at the sub-document level. Document enrichment, encoding terms, people, events, places and things within documents through the use of specialized markup, makes it possible to analyze a document and determine what it’s “about” even if the document doesn’t necessarily use specific terms in that topic.
At a minimum, such semantic analysis makes it easier to create compelling abstracts of articles without human intervention — a remarkably difficult task for humans to accomplish, let alone computers. Yet in conjunction with specific Semantic Web technologies such as RDF, RDFa, OWL, Sparql and other sometimes cryptic acronyms, this also makes it possible for systems to read through collections of blogs, articles and other Web content and make inferences that may not necessarily be obvious to people.
Such an inference engine opens up both possibilities and raises some disturbing issues. One benefit of such a tool is that it makes it possible to perform better prognostications and forecasts (financial and resource allocation, especially), and be able to better determine when there is questionable activity taking place in business, government or elsewhere. The danger here is in failing to recognize that user-generated content does not necessarily just represent true facts, but also contains opinions, distortions, analyses and biased content.
Kurt Cagle is the managing editor for XMLToday.org.Follow Kurt Cagle on Twitter.
The Rise and Fall of Traditional Journalism, Part 1
The Rise and Fall of Traditional Journalism, Part 2
The Rise and Fall of Traditional Journalism, Part 3 | <urn:uuid:3c25ab54-072c-45c0-90d5-bb2d07a7a26d> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://www.technewsworld.com/story/the-rise-and-fall-of-traditional-journalism-part-4-67270.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945030.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20230323065609-20230323095609-00053.warc.gz | en | 0.949206 | 2,169 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Church of Colònia GüellEdit profile
Coordinates: 41°21′48.9″N 2°1′40.5″E / 41.363583°N 2.027917°E / 41.363583; 2.027917
The Church of Colònia Güell (Catalan: Cripta de la Colònia Güell, IPA: ) is an unfinished work by Antoni Gaudí. It was built as a place of worship for the people in a manufacturing suburb in Santa Coloma de Cervelló, near Barcelona (Spain). Colònia Güell was the brainchild of Count Eusebi de Güell. However with Güell losing profits from his business, the money ran out and only the crypt was completed.Gaudí's design
The technique Gaudí used to design the church was to hang little bags of birdshot from chains. Gravity would pull these bags downwards, giving even weight distribution and stretching the chains to form a model structure, thus showing him the shapes and angles his pillars would need to be. By using a mirror placed under the model, Gaudí could then see the model as it should look. A replica of his model for the crypt is in the Museum under the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. The model looks dated; however, this would allow Gaudí to perform designs only computers could do today. It put him a good 75 years ahead of the designs of the time.Recent history
In 2000, local architects set about repairing the crypt. This took away aspects of the unfinished nature of the buildings. However it did present a more tourist-friendly structure, and now visitors can stand on the roof, what would have been the church floor. | <urn:uuid:68bff275-e1fa-4f85-aa83-62297f25e420> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | http://openbuildings.com/buildings/church-of-col-nia-g-ell-profile-8024 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084891546.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20180122232843-20180123012843-00472.warc.gz | en | 0.953455 | 374 | 2.78125 | 3 |
The last of the mobile food hawkers were banished from the streets of Singapore in 1986. Over were the days when the food hawkers of the country were allowed to roam neighborhoods clanging bells or clacking bamboo poles enticing customers to buy their “siew yeh” (supper) from them. It had taken the Singaporean government over 15 years to get the hawkers off the streets and into an enclosed space. The reasons for their being relegated to open-air, urban food courts or hawkers centres had nothing to do with the love of rule-making that Singapore is infamous for and more to do with matters of hygiene. People were getting sick. Some were getting very sick, even fatally so. To combat this the government reorganized a socioeconomic and cultural institution that sprang up after World War II and grew as a result of the rapid urbanization of the 50‘s. Understanding early on that by eradicating the street hawkers the government would be tearing a wide hole in the social fabric, mainly by wiping out a hawker’s income and eliminating one of the few ways a person could purchase a cheap, cooked meal, then leader Lee Kwan Yew, ordered the construction of the outdoor food courts now found throughout the country.
Like everything in Singapore, the planning and location of the new vendor stalls was extremely well thought out. Nearly all were placed in established market areas, public housing centers or near bus and subways interchanges. All were fitted out with running water, sewage lines, public toilets, washing facilities and gas and electricity lines. In terms of improving food safety the move was remarkably effective, reducing the average number of food poisoning incidents linked to hawker stalls to around just four a year.¹ And, in terms of modifying, rather than losing a cultural institution completely, the emergence of the hawkers centres ushered in a new era. Now locals head to the hawker’s food stalls for their makan (literally makan translates as, “to go out for a stroll” but has also come to mean “dine out”) instead of the food hawkers coming to them.
Since the inception of the system the hawkers centres have been watched over by three separate government organizations. The National Environment Agency, the Ministry of Environment & Water Reserve and the Housing & Development Board. This is Singapore after all and why have one oversight committee when three will do? These agencies oversee about 120 public food centers. Each center houses about 150 stalls making for roughly 18,000 individual vendors nationwide. Along with the food courts there are numerous cafés, coffee houses, noodle and soup joints and restaurants across the country offering Singaporeans more dining options than most of their southeast Asian neighbors. A recent count determined that in a nation of 5 million people there is one food vendor for every 570 people.
In a hyper-productive microstate that marches on its stomach people have transformed the act of eating into a form of communication with its own rules. Over the years a hawker centre form of etiquette has emerged. Some food court rules might strike some as rude. For example, when tables are full it is not considered bothersome to linger very near an occupied table and wait for the occupants to finish eating and leave. It is bad form to not hurry up if you occupy a table in a busy hawker centre and you are aware that others are waiting for your place. Another practice some might find bothersome is the art of the “chope.” Definition of chope: verb, from Singlish; to place a package of tissue on a table or chair to signal to others that that place is taken or reserved.
Not all Singaporeans care to perform the hawker stall courtship dance. Many now prefer the indoor food courts that have opened in many of the nation-state’s shiny, new shopping malls. Most of the indoor versions sell many of the country’s signature dishes like kampong chicken, roti prata, chili crab and black pepper crab, nasi padang and the less ordinary plates of gong-gong (periwinkle) and chut-chut (snail), however most of the mall vendors operate as entities of large, national franchises.
Fans of the indoor food courts like the air-conditioned climate, the relative calm of the dining setting, the absence of open flames and smoke and the fact that none of the vendors aggressively approaches and attempts to coerce customers into eating at their stall. Detractors of the indoor food courts dislike them for the same reasons in the inverse.
Not surprisingly there is the new “retro” view as expressed by a local cab driver. “I am third generation here,” the driver explained, “I have been here my whole life and the one thing I miss the most about the old Singapore is the food hawkers who used to come to our neighborhood and sell their food to us right there off the street.”
Like much else in Singapore, the well-intentioned relocation of the food hawkers and the increased regulations that improved the overall safety of food preparation has resulted in an unfortunate byproduct and that is: vigilant oversight has flattened the experience. This difficult to define character, energy, type of élan, je ne sais quois, whatever it is called, has been quietly smothered under a nice yet obnoxious governmental wet blanket. There is no denying that maintaining public safety is a top priority and Singapore is still rightly famous for its food scene and there are vendor/chefs who are masters of their craft. However, the once rough-edged personality and excitement that was part of the makan experience has been polished to a lusterless dull by institutions more interested in soothing the senses rather than igniting them.
1.) In February 2010 there were fatal food poisonings that claimed two victims. The tainted food was traced back to an Indian rojak stand at the Geylang Serai Market. The incident triggered stricter governmental enforcement of hygiene standards. The State Coroner Victor Yeo issued a verdict of “misadventure” regarding the fatalities. | <urn:uuid:28a38a03-4c24-4d2a-9587-12f3e53a38b2> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.nativefoodandwine.com/features-journal/singapores-food-hawkers.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719754.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00346-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964126 | 1,259 | 2.8125 | 3 |
The common raven (Corvus corax) is a member of a family of birds known as the Corvidae, which includes jays, crows, and magpies. The raven is found throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere in many types of habitats. The raven is a permanent resident in California, but none nest at Kaweah Oaks Preserve that we know of. They are often observed flying by.
General description: Up to 24" from beak to end of tail. The raven is the largest species of songbird and largest all-black bird in the world. The raven can only be confused with a hawk or crow. Ravens have large, stout bills, shaggy throat feathers, and wedge-shaped tails, visible best when in flight (as compared to the square tail feathers of a crow).
Ravens are excellent fliers, engaging in aerial acrobatics and sometimes soaring to great heights. Flight is often an alternation of wing flapping and gliding and is deceptively fast, as ravens move quickly with seemingly slow wing beats. There is no mistaking the raucous call of the raven; the deep, resonant “kaw” is its trademark. However, the raven can produce an amazing assortment of sounds. One study showed ravens have more than 30 distinct vocalizations.
Life history: Ravens probably first breed at 3 or 4 years of age and mate for life. Ravens are probably very long-lived in the wild; one captive bird died of old age at 29 years.
Ravens begin displaying courtship behavior in mid-January, and by mid-March adult pairs are roosting near their nesting locations. The female lays from 3 to 7 eggs. Only the female incubates the eggs; she is fed by the male while on the nest. The chicks hatch after about three weeks and grow quickly, leaving the nest about four weeks after hatching. Both parents feed the young by regurgitating food and water which is stored in a throat pouch. Young ravens leave the nest by the first week of June.
Ravens often form loose flocks during the day and congregate for roosting at night. As many as 500 ravens have been seen in one roost.
Ravens do not undertake long migrations like many birds, but breeding birds usually relocate for nesting each year.
When not breeding they may travel 30 to 40 miles each day from roost to daytime feeding areas.
Food habits: Ravens consume
a wide variety of both plant and animal matter. They are notorious scavengers
and are at times predatory on small animals. They are common visitors to
garbage dumps. Ravens will hide or cache food supplies. They also have
the habit, like most hawks and owls, of regurgitating undigestible food
in the form of a pellet. | <urn:uuid:a491e765-c711-4686-952d-156b99cbf286> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.kaweahoaks.com/html/raven.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257823963.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071023-00150-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964451 | 588 | 3.984375 | 4 |
If you are reading this after Friday, December 21, 2012, it means you survived the Mayan Apocalypse!! Congratulations!!
For those who are unaware of the existence of the Big Day, the Mayan Long Count calendar, an extremely lengthy and complex calendar, began on a mythical creation date in 3114 BCE. After 5125 years, the calendar—which is linear rather than cyclical—reaches the end of 13 “B’aktun” cycles. This end date happened to be Dec. 21, 2012.
For many, this has become a catalyst for end of world theories. 12% of Americans believe the apocalypse will come on Dec. 21. Others are using the date as a source for non-Mayan apocalyptic beliefs. Some new Age/UFO followers are flocking to France to make sure they are on the last spaceship to leave earth.
So what ought to be the Jewish response to all this apocalyptic furor? Oddly enough, I think it should be the same as the Mayans’ approach. For, despite all the hoopla in the media, the Maya themselves did not see December 21, 2012 as the end of the world but merely as the end of a cycle; like a car’s odometer, the calendar simply resets to zero and starts over again. Judaism, too, holds a reluctant attitude towards apocalyptic thought. “Apocalypse” is typically defined as a literary work containing a revelation of hidden things given by God to a chosen individual about events to come. The only apocalyptic work to make it into the Hebrew Bible is the Book of Daniel. Other works, such as the Book of Enoch, Assumption of Moses, II Esdras (also 4 Ezra), Apocalypse of Baruch, the Book of Jubilees, and the Apocalypse of Moses, amongst others, never made it into the canon. Indeed, apocalyptic thought has been relegated to the background of normative Jewish thought over the past 2000 years.
The reason for this, I believe, speaks volumes about the way we perceive the world around us. Apocalyptic thought is based on the premise that the world we are living in is awful and irredeemable in its current form; that we need a cataclysmic divine intervention to redeem the world and take us to the end of days. Rabbinic Judaism, however, by and large has privileged a “this-worldly” view; while the world to come (olam ha’ba) is an important component of rabbinic theology, engaging in mitzvot in the present tense is prioritized.
In other words, our lives matter. In contrast to apocalyptic thought, which can lead either to depression about the hopelessness of the world we live in or hedonistic practices since this life does not really count, Judaism teaches that our daily lives hold the potential for meaning and even holiness if we choose to honor them in this way. So on December 21, and on all succeeding days, let’s join with the Maya in celebrating life rather than death. Let’s make the most of each day rather than anxiously awaiting a mythic tomorrow. | <urn:uuid:11ef63a2-9078-4e06-9427-0171b709d95b> | CC-MAIN-2015-14 | http://www.myjewishlearning.com/blog/rabbis-without-borders/2012/12/24/finding-meaning-in-life-after-the-mayan-apocalypse/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-14/segments/1427131304444.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20150323172144-00260-ip-10-168-14-71.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947649 | 645 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Eastern and Western Europe: A Political Comparison
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This paper discusses how Eastern and Western Europe have always been different from each other, both politically and socially. Clear distinctions have always been drawn between the two areas. It shows how from their ancient beginnings, shrouded in the mists of history to modern times, Eastern and Western Europe have followed different paths in their development. Even today, the political and social climate in these two areas is distinctly different, and it is obvious to a traveler that they are in one or the other without being told. This paper explores the divergent developments of Eastern and Western Europe and looks for the various factors that contributed to the different paths each region has taken.
Cite this Comparison Essay:
Eastern and Western Europe: A Political Comparison (2003, June 23) Retrieved August 25, 2016, from http://www.academon.com/comparison-essay/eastern-and-western-europe-a-political-comparison-28165/
"Eastern and Western Europe: A Political Comparison" 23 June 2003. Web. 25 August. 2016. <http://www.academon.com/comparison-essay/eastern-and-western-europe-a-political-comparison-28165/> | <urn:uuid:537b6606-75fb-4ac5-bd92-eb23bf791da5> | CC-MAIN-2016-36 | http://www.academon.com/comparison-essay/eastern-and-western-europe-a-political-comparison-28165/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982292944.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823195812-00256-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924742 | 277 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Parkinson’s disease occurs when nerve cells, or neurons, in an area of the brain that controls movement become impaired and/or die. Normally, these neurons produce an important brain chemical known as dopamine. When the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine, which causes the movement problems of Parkinson’s.
This frequency audio helps you:
- Relieve tremor (trembling) in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head.
- Relieve stiffness of the limbs and trunk.
- Improve the slowness of movement.
- Keep impaired balance and coordination.
We suggest listening to this at least 2-3 times a day to see a possible effect. And It depends on your needs and personal situation to choose volume level. We recommend maintaining moderate volume at a comfortable level in order to prevent any hearing injury. Make sure you have enough lemon water or pure water to flush the die-offs from your body. | <urn:uuid:7f1921e2-a3e9-4d49-9faf-e7a8119530ac> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://www.spooky2-mall.com/blog/healing-frequency-for-parkinsons-disease-spooky2-rife-frequency-healing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030337524.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20221004184523-20221004214523-00611.warc.gz | en | 0.890742 | 197 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Passing on composting methods through education is another way to secure that you're able to hand the legacy to newer generations. Though packaging the teaching process is a different facet that the composting enthusiast should not miss. There are several ways of instructing composting to adults, but kids have different needs and might require more than the expertise of supervising your heap's temperature.
Here are other techniques for teaching composting processes to kids. It can truly be fun and rewarding to transfer this skill to younger children when you are very familiar with composting, and it would actually help yield awareness to their parents and others in the community.
Nothing pounds the boring feel a kid catches from pure text. Unless the child is bent on enjoying pure words, visuals are the best way to go about inculcating a love for composting. Make the best of pictures, Powerpoint presentations and different technical devices you could use. If you're on an offhand teaching class, make use of vibrant words to assist the kids to envision the scenario of composting. At any rate, encourage the kids to envisage the whole process.
Do a complete demonstration.
The demonstration would be able to teach a ton to the kids, better than any discussion could. Using demonstration, you not only display to them how it's done, you also show them that you're well capable of doing what you're instructing them. Looking the actions immediately will also get rid of the need for them to ask questions when their turn for trying it arrives because they will be able to ask their questions as you go along with the demo.
Children can become opinionated about things that they like. Hit their fancy even further by drawing out some feedbacks from them once in a while. Also encourage them to ask their questions to you. Taking away their inhibitions would help you instruct them more concepts than when you're dealing with a restive crowd.
Entertain every question and give adequate time to answer every question.
Children get easily disheartened. So be sure that you're able to set aside judgment and entertain questions, regardless how “stupid” or minor they might appear to you. Keep in mind, you're dealing with kids here. Whenever possible, get an assistant teacher who's also a kid to help you gain a greater perspective of teaching composting to kids.
Talk about benefits at the beginning so they'll know what composting is really for. If the kids are oriented from the start that what they're doing has great importance, they're more expected to cooperate and do the projects cheerfully. Check that you're completely able to help them realize how composting aids the environment and how it would make a positive difference to many people.
Allow them to do it, and resist interfering when possible.
The main point for educating them about composting is to get them outfitted with the skills they require to be able to execute composting themselves. So, looking at them doing the composting may help you see where possible problems might dwell. You could also quickly praise them and correct them as needed.
At any rate, encourage them for each form of advancement attained, regardless how small it is, so as to help build up their confidence.
Copyright © 2011 Athena Goodlight | <urn:uuid:b992b3d3-82b9-4914-b103-99cc81194b30> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://mylifesmagnumopus.blogspot.com/2011/05/science-activity-teaching-composting-to.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934807084.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20171124031941-20171124051941-00748.warc.gz | en | 0.967765 | 663 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Hunting Cancer With DNA Robots
So what will hunt out the cancerous cells in our body and terminate them with minimal collateral damage? We'll need a robot -- one made out of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
As you can tell from the illustration, the DNA robot doesn't look all that much like a typical bucket-of-bolts automaton. He has neither the charm of a WALL-E nor the deadly symmetry of a U.S. Air Force Predator Drone, but there's a very good reason. In order to build a robot at such a small scale, you have to build it out of small things. The material of choice in this machine is DNA itself.
DNA, of course, is the blueprint for most forms of organic life. The way you look, the way you think -- all of it's contained in a code of chemical bases. But DNA is more than just information. Since complementary sequences of DNA can bind together, individual molecules can self-assemble into complex shapes and structures. Develop a machine out of this stuff and you benefit from a building material that's both readily available and self-assembling. You'll save lives, and you'll also save research and development money.
Using a method called DNA origami, researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering folded strands of synthetic DNA into a barrel-shaped cage roughly 35 nanometers in diameter [source: Katsnelson]. By contrast, a strand of human hair is only 20,000 nanometers wide [source: EPA].
This cage holds up to 12 payload molecules inside it, such as cell-destroying antibodies [source: Katsnelson]. On the outside, two aptamers keep the cage from flying open and releasing the deadly payload. Aptamers are short DNA strands with special sequences for recognizing specific molecules. Think of them as locks holding the basket closed.
When the DNA robot comes in contact with targeted cancer cell, the locks spring open, the cage flies open and the antibody destroys the target cell. In 2012, the Wyss Institute research team reported "almost zero collateral damage" after releasing its bots on a mixture of target cells and bystander cells [source: Bachlet].
The technology promises to revolutionize health care with smart, targeted drugs and even more complex nanomachines to police our insides. Scientists have a number of hurdles to overcome as they fine-tune their DNA robot designs, however.
For starters, it currently takes weeks to fold together complex DNA structures. And if these nano-size hot pockets of destruction are to get any work done, it will help if we don't pee them out an hour later. Researchers are working on modifications to prevent the bot from hitting the kidneys or liver before it carries out its attack on targeted cells.
Still, the fact remains: We're building tiny robotic weapons to aid the endless war between the denizens of your body and the endless hordes that strive to conquer it. The technology, like the future, is here. | <urn:uuid:8b205df5-187c-4be0-b86a-fb229a0b6465> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/other-gadgets/dna-robot1.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371858664.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20200409122719-20200409153219-00386.warc.gz | en | 0.933192 | 620 | 3.765625 | 4 |
Loss of skeletal muscle in patients who have undergone gastric bypass is a consistent observation. Skeletal muscle constitutes the largest protein/amino acid pool in the body, and loss of skeletal muscle has important implications in health and disease. Sustaining a given level of muscle protein requires a balance between the rates of muscle protein synthesis and breakdown. Current evidence suggests that reduced rate of protein synthesis is implicated in the loss of muscle after gastric bypass. This is not surprising given a less than optimal dietary protein intake after the procedure and because, unlike other macronutrients, protein/amino acids are not stored in the body. Ingesting essential amino acids (EAAs), which cannot be synthesized de novo and have the primary role in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis, can potentially ameliorate loss of muscle protein after gastric bypass. At the same time, ingestion of EAAs provides a more efficient nutritional approach (i.e., greater stimulation of protein synthesis relative to the amount of amino acids ingested) to enhance muscle protein synthesis compared with the ingestion of intact protein. Changing current dietary practices toward increasing ingestion of EAAs provides an approach that can potentially prevent loss of lean body tissue and ultimately achieve a more sustained level of health in patients who have undergone gastric bypass.
|Original language||English (US)|
|Number of pages||5|
|State||Published - Jan 1 2016|
- Weight loss surgery
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Nutrition and Dietetics | <urn:uuid:3b4daf6d-6cec-460b-9670-93ce7827182e> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://mayoclinic.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/essential-amino-acid-ingestion-as-an-efficient-nutritional-strate-2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948756.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20230328011555-20230328041555-00209.warc.gz | en | 0.909342 | 369 | 2.515625 | 3 |
The Challenge: Build accurate clocks
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
was the portable clock made?
Making a portable
clock or wrist watch, with no small springs, no battery and no precision
tools ruled out making a mechanical clock, so we opted for a mini-sundial.
To make sure that the sundial wristwatch was accurate, the gnomon had
to point at the correct angle. This meant that the wristwatch had to be
kept level using a plumb line or spirit level. The gnomon also had to
face north so a compass was needed.
Roll up Mike Leahy's
'compact two-piece time-piece': a ridiculous contraption that looked like
a miniature radar station. Amazingly, it worked, and even more incredible is
the fact that during the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries people actually
used to carry portable sundials around, complete with compasses and they're
still made in India! No doubt they looked a little smarter than the Rough
Science creation though!
The producers are not responsible
for the content of external websites.
a sundial from the book on the Web "From Stargazers to Starships"
by David P. Stern on the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics page
on the NASA site
Links about sundials
on The North American Sundial Society site
Sundials on the Internet
- information about all aspects of sundials
about sundials on Jack Aubertís webpage
from Reesís Clocks, Watches and Chronometers, 1819 on Gordon T.
Uberís Home Page
do Clocks Keep Time? on the Physical Science Lessons page on the Reach Out! Michigan website
Theory and Practice by RRJ Rohr, Dover Publications 1996, ISBN 0 4862
Making a Clock-Accurate Sundial Customized to Your Location (for the
Northern Hemisphere) by Sam Muller, Naturegraph Publishers, 1997;
Time by A.
Waugh, Headline 1999; ISBN: 0747221782 Longitude by Dava Sobel, Fourth
Estate 1998 ; ISBN: 1857025717
Longitude by Dava Sobel Fourth Estate, 1999 ; ISBN 1841152331
by E. G. Richards, pub Oxford 1998, ISBN 0 19 286205 7
Albert Waugh, pub Dover 1973, ISBN 0 486 22947 5 Sundials by Christopher
St J. H. Daniel, pub Shire Album 1986, ISBN 0 85263 808 6
Challenges main menu | <urn:uuid:6e2d2079-728a-4555-ba1b-6458455793dc> | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | http://www.pbs.org/weta/roughscience/series2/challenges/time/page8.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891815500.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20180224073111-20180224093111-00119.warc.gz | en | 0.705542 | 526 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Multiplication mastery has been a challenge for my 3rd graders this past year. We’ve worked on multiples for a couple of years now through skip counting and repeated addition.
They understand the theory behind multiplication, but they became frustrated more than a few times with mastering those facts.
So one day in March, I decided to combine our art and math time to create these mosaics. I had the paper scraps cut into squares and ready on the table.
We had been observing the emerging insects in nature, so they naturally came up with the idea to create an outdoor scene.
I allowed them time to finish their mosaics and reminded them to use patterns within each separate piece of art on their paper, so they could write out multiplication sentences to describe their mosaics.
Since I also have a PreKer, I asked her to write out addition sentences for her beautiful mosaic.
They had a lot of fun and critical thinking was at work for this Math in Art lesson.
After completing their mosaics, my 3rd graders wrote out their math sentences on paper and we attached those to the bottom for display! Of course, they always love to display their work and show Daddy when he comes home in the evenings.
What have you done to incorporate Math in Art in your learning environment? Please share in the comments! Link up to your blog posts if you’d like to share! | <urn:uuid:8e578cd5-2fa5-4d9b-920d-4682e5a0b33d> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://www.leapingin2learning.com/math-in-art/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549424756.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20170724062304-20170724082304-00258.warc.gz | en | 0.979576 | 290 | 3.40625 | 3 |
Why should a company re-design the product strategy? Because it would be a smart choice to get better product performance through improved resource efficiency and to strengthened market position.
A green approach is not just about producing a more sustainable product, it’s the way it is produced that matters too. adopting strategies as the green chemistry principle for example, in the way to prevent wasting, design safer chemicals, reduce the use of derivatives.
To develope a sustainable product strategy companies have to be aware of how their choices are shaping sustainability so they can identify resources to improve them, questinoning about:
• How sustainable is this material? How toxic, renewable, reusable, recyclable, biodegradable and ethical is the product as a result of its use?
• Where in our organization do we have information and/or need to have information to guide decision making about this material? Who has access to it and how efficiently can they access it?
• How much of this material are we using in our product or in the processes that make it? What are the implications for our employees? What are the implications for the way that we envision customers using it?
Here we can find a clear explanation of how and why develope a sustainable product strategy in the way to trasform it into a benefit, a competitive advantage or a business opportunity.
A report written by Chad White with Emma Stewart present a management model to develope a sustainable product re-design.This A-B-C-D model highlights these four behaviors as components of “sustainable design intelligence,” a dynamic learning model to help companies build more sustainable products.
• Assessing: The ability to analyze the social and environmental impacts of products and production and to evaluate organizational capacity to address them.
• Bridging: The ability to connect ready parties and to bring the right functions and the right people together to redesign products.
• Creating: The ability to generate projects that enable exploration and learning about product sustainability and about changes needed to the design process.
• Diffusing: The ability to deploy tools that build literacy, integrate learned design principles and build accountability.
People is everyday more sensible to environmental issues, a way to align with emerging consumers interests is to adopt a Green Marketing strategy. Aspirational consumers love shopping, prize social connections and they also want to make a difference for people and the planet, these are the three people’s attitudes companies have to consider to catch their attention envolving them into a green methodology. | <urn:uuid:00090955-2956-4395-8379-8f659940d320> | CC-MAIN-2014-42 | http://businessastronauts.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/strategic-re-design/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-42/segments/1414119653672.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20141024030053-00034-ip-10-16-133-185.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937569 | 513 | 2.890625 | 3 |
This tusk from an extinct mammoth was unearthed in China sometime after the rule of the Great Khan. For over a century, artists labored to create a lively and complex scene with hundreds of individual carvings. If straightened, the tusk would be over four feet long. It is carved on more than 80% of its length and throughout most of its radius.
This is one of the two tusks on display at Treasure Island. One has a palace theme, the other, military. | <urn:uuid:b1f3d4a2-8544-4dab-9996-b65b81807b34> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.pbase.com/image/120497474 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988718034.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183838-00148-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959356 | 102 | 2.578125 | 3 |
We all know it is healthy to exercise. But many people face a major challenge in integrating sports into their lives. There are several reasons for this. For some, it is work, family, or spending too much time at the National Casino.
But let us face it, some people are just lazy or do not see the results fast enough.
You should know that it takes time. And you just feel better after you have done some exercise. No one does a whole workout every day and pushes their limits. But exercise is good. It helps you focus more on your goals. It also makes you feel what you are capable of. From time to time, you can do more exercises or switch to other exercises. You will see your development and others will see it too. And not only because your body will be in better shape, but also because you will be more positive and calm.
But exercise is not only important for adults. It is also important for your children! You can never start sports too early.
You can also advise your child to join a sports club where he can play and be active with other children. This way, he will easily make friends and improve his social skills. But even more important is the fact that your child will have less time to sit at home in front of the TV. While your kids are busy, you have time to yourself and can do what you want.
If you have a full-time job, the easiest thing to do is to just get up earlier. This way you will start the day refreshed and less tired. It will be hard to really build this early rising into your routine, but it is worth it. And people can get used to new habits very quickly. Be very careful, though, if you are sick and taking a break, for example. It can hurt you more than you think.
What Are The Benefits?
No matter what your age, physical activity is important for your body and brain. If you have the right gym clothes and a good trainer or do not overexert yourself, you can only benefit. Being active significantly reduces your risk of obesity. And that is a big problem in some countries like the US.
Aside from the benefits to your health and skin, your sleep and social and personal skills also improve.
Imagine falling into bed after a hard workout after taking a nice shower. That is one of the best feelings. Especially when you have successfully completed a very hard workout for the first time, you feel more confident.
It is natural to make new friends in sports clubs or gyms. But when you participate in group sports, both your leadership and communication skills are strengthened. Just watch a soccer or basketball game. You will notice that the players are constantly talking to each other.
You will also be able to relax better because you have achieved a good balance between mind and body. It cannot be stressed enough how important this balance is. You cannot just work on the computer in your office.
Constantly sitting at a desk has negative consequences for your muscles and bones. Even school children sit for long periods to study and do homework. This can hurt their development. So be careful. | <urn:uuid:f7152355-4c96-44cb-88d5-2d71f197b81a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.sportsoddshistory.com/why-it-is-so-important-to-incorporate-exercise-into-your-daily-routine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-it-is-so-important-to-incorporate-exercise-into-your-daily-routine | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573197.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818124424-20220818154424-00660.warc.gz | en | 0.973052 | 645 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Carpenter Ant Larvae
Carpenter ants go through complete metamorphosis, passing through the egg, larval, pupal and adult stages.
When male and female winged reproductives leave a colony, they mate. Soon after mating, females shed their wings and males die. Each wingless female will now look for moist locations where she will lay her first batch of eggs and establish a new colony.
It takes an individual ant six to 12 weeks to develop from egg to adult, and it takes three to six years to develop an active and stable colony. This development timeline depends on a steady warm temperature. Colder weather can lengthen the process up to 10 months.
Carpenter ant larvae are small, white, legless and grub-like young. During this stage, adult workers forage for food for the carpenter ant larvae.
Carpenter ant larvae process the solid food given to them by workers and regurgitate it so that other ants can consume the liquid. Even at an early stage in their lives, carpenter ant larvae are necessary for their colonies to develop and survive. As long as a colony houses a queen, there will always be larvae developing within it.
Treatment & Damage
- Carpenter Ant Bites
- Finding Carpenter Ant Nests
- Carpenter Ant Infestation
- Natural Carpenter Ant Pesticide
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Resources Mobilization to Ensure the Right to Food
Some 70% of all poor and hungry people in the world are rural and the majority of the poor will remain rural for at least two more decades. Rural areas in developing countries are the best hope for solving the problem of world hunger and rural people must be at the center of all valid initiatives to reduce hunger. A rural focus of anti-hunger initiatives does not mean to neglect the growing urban poverty problem. The world's urban population will surpass the rural population between 2020-2025, but, in developing countries, urban poverty is seeded in the countryside. Rural poverty is the precursor of urban poverty if it accelerates rural-urban migration beyond the ability of cities to furnish jobs and infrastructure. It needs to be tackled now, and not later when an urban-dominated economy eventually creates the means to support the rural sector. The following discussion consequently assumes a rural perspective of the poverty and hunger problem.
Why apply a rights approach in food policy?
The persistence of hunger in a world of plenty and the slow progress of hunger eradication since the WFS in 1996 will, sadly, remain the key concern of the WFS;fyl. Spearheaded by the UN system and supported by many of the world's NGO and several governments in developing and developed countries, a rights-based approach towards hunger eradication, a right to food (RTF), long enshrined in International Law, has been gaining momentum in the years following the WFS. The recent upsurge of interest in the RTF is in part driven by two social developments:
The rights-based approach obliges states, that have not yet done so, to establish food and nutrition objectives and introduce policies to meet them. A rights based approach to food security imposes obligations of the state towards its citizens, the rule of law and the involvement of the poor and hungry themselves in articulating, planning and implementation of anti-hunger programmes. In this sense the plight of the 800 million hungry people in the world is moved to a higher ethical and political level, making it more visible and compelling and prompting states and the international community into more forceful action.
Following the prevailing concept on food security, that is, availability, accessibility and stability of food supply, the key issue is entitlement to food (Amartya Sen) more than mere production1. A policy for the creation of food entitlements must therefore do one of two things: help the food insecure with their own production, if they are farmers, and, if they are not, with acquiring purchasing power to buy food in the market. This approach is however only part of the solution. A large number of food insecure and hungry persons cannot, in the short or medium term when they need it, be helped in this fashion. This is because there are market failures of various kinds, inequitable access to land, vulnerability to external shocks, illness, financial, social, educational, ethnic and gender-related exclusion, conflicts, natural disasters and failures in the intra-household food distribution.
Economic reasoning dominating development cooperation over four decades has promoted growth that kept the numbers of hungry in check. This has happened not without setbacks and could not prevent that a large number of hungry persons still remain behind. A reason why hunger reduction has not been higher on the agenda up to now is the failure to recognize chronic hunger as a humanitarian catastrophe, similar to war and major natural disasters which usually trigger prompt action, and instead to rely exclusively on economic recipes.
The human rights notion of food security cuts across any possible divergence between the economically determined, effective demand for food and the physiologically and nutritionally perceived food requirement. The RTF concept is neutral and overarching in that it recognizes the right for every hungry or malnourished person. As a human right, the RTF stands above the state whereas a food security policy is subject to political choice. Commitment, accountability, transparency and due process under international scrutiny are more compelling rules of conduct to governments under a human right than under a policy option.
The Right to Food - where it comes from and where it stands now
Human rights in modern times experienced their greatest advance during the European age of enlightenment. Human rights began as political and civil rights, later extended to economic rights. Legal experts insist that the body of human rights is a whole; there is no difference or ranking between political/civil rights and economic rights. As much as political rights cannot be enjoyed by people without a minimum standard of living, so are economic rights unattainable and not sustainable without political and civil rights such as freedom of expression, non-discrimination and democratic and due legal process. It is a moot question whether economic rights can be totally fulfilled. Their importance, as for political rights, lies in committing authority at all levels to specific patterns of behavior.
The RTF was originally included in Article 25 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights promulgated in 1948 and was more explicitly formulated in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESC), approved in 1966 and in force since1976. Article 11 of ICESC states the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living including food. A number of other international agreements, conventions and laws deal with the RTF for special groups, for instance, the Convention on the Right of the Child. They may also protect the RTF indirectly, as in the case of Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and other ILO conventions. The ICESC has so far been ratified by 142 countries, but the acceptance of the RTF as legally binding, rather than broadly guiding, principle is not universal. Some key countries have still to ratify the ICESCR and few have amended national legislations to suit the Convention.
Compliance with human rights is monitored by the UN Commission for Human Rights and its `treaty bodies'. These are expert committees set up under the various human rights conventions. The human rights institution is serviced by a High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) and a secretariat (Office of the HCHR/OHCHR) The Commission can appoint Special Rapporteurs for either, specific thematic areas or selected countries. It has appointed a Special Rapporteur for food, Prof. Jean Ziegler of Switzerland whose task is to help governments with the realization of the RTF. General Comment no. 12 (GC12) of 1999 on the ICESC, issued by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the treaty body of the corresponding International Covenant recommends, inter alia, that states enact framework legislation for the implementation of the RTF that should describe the purpose, targets, timeframe and the means, including the role of the state, civil society and the private sector, of the realization of the RTF. States should also establish benchmarks against which progress in implementing the RTF can be measured and state performance be monitored. A special framework law is not the only possible way of implementing the RTF in national legislation. Effective welfare legislation in developed and several developing countries includes a RTF implicitly. The Special Rapporteur has therefore recommended, as an alternative, selective legislative reviews and amendments to existing legislation based on concrete identified obstacles.
FAO has an obligation enshrined in its Constitution to assist member states raise levels of nutrition and standards of living and thus ensuring humanity's freedom from hunger. The FAO-sponsored World Food Conference of 1974 adopted a Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition affirming everybody's right to be free from hunger and calling especially upon the developed countries to help eradicate hunger.
Definitions and Demarcations
GC12 to the ICESC has defined the RTF as follows (ECOSOC - E/C.12/1999/5, 12 May 1999):
"The right to adequate food is realized when every man, woman and child, alone or in community with others, have physical and economic access at all times to adequate food or means for its procurement. The right to adequate food shall therefore not be interpreted in a narrow or restrictive sense which equates it with a minimum package of calories, proteins and other specific nutrients. The right to adequate food will have to be realized progressively. However, States have a core obligation to take the necessary action to mitigate and alleviate hunger .........., even in times of natural or other disasters..... The core content of the right to adequate food implies the availability of food in a quantity and quality sufficient to satisfy the dietary needs of individuals, free from adverse substances, and acceptable within a given culture, (and) the accessibility of such food in ways that are sustainable and that do not interfere with the enjoyment of other human rights."
The RTF therefore involves economic and physical access to a balanced diet for everyone at any time within the cultural norms of their society and without withdrawing resources from other basic needs.
There is a close relationship between the RTF and poverty reduction that is becoming the guiding principle of international assistance agencies. Hunger is the major, but not only, manifestation of extreme poverty. Treating poverty, for many, means treating hunger. The cause-effect relationship is however complex: hunger is both caused by and contributing to poverty. In East Asia poverty has decreased faster than under- and malnutrition in the 1990s. Statistics show that worldwide 50% more people seem to be living in extreme poverty (less than US$1 per day), than suffering from chronic hunger. Evidence exists that the hungry disproportionately comprise women and children, pointing to deficiencies in intra-household food distribution, as well as minority groups. There are further hungry and malnourished people who do not fit the standard definition of poor. They may own non-performing assets that institutional or market failures prevent from being productively used, poor nutritional education or they may be living in remote locations without affordable access to adequate food. An essential pre-condition for anti-hunger strategies is therefore to develop measurable indicators that cheaply and quickly detect hunger in all its facets in order to target it within general poverty reduction programs.
What RTF is, what it is not and gray area
The RTF is in the first line an obligation of the state towards its citizens to create an enabling environment for the poor and hungry. Concerns have been expressed that a RTF could deplete the budgets of governments, overwhelm courts with lawsuits and cultivate a welfare mentality. It is the merit of Mr. Asbjörn Eide, former Director, Norwegian Institute of Human Rights, and member of the UN Sub-Commission on Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, to have conceptualized the RTF obligation and defused such concerns for all practical purposes. His analytical framework has now been adopted by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Accordingly, the obligation of the state to ensure the RTF is broken into a cascade of successively more intensive interventions when attempts to reach food security at preceding stages fail. The box below illustrates the relationships.
source: U. Kracht, A human rights-based approach to food and nutrition development - Reflections from the ACC/Sub-Committee on Nutrition, presentation at workshop during 17th International Congress on Nutrition, Vienna, August 2001
At the first three levels few financial resources are required, but instead a strengthening of policing and judiciary functions and formulation of appropriate policies, strategies and programs. Civil society and the private sector will, within their established roles, contribute much to food security provided the state creates and maintains the conditions for them to operate. Only the last level, provide, requires a pro-active role of the state in assuring access to food. The question whether this or previous stages should be legally enforceable is a matter of ongoing debate. In practice, the obligation to provide carries limited weight in countries that have still to implement the first three steps which would resolve most of their hunger problem. In other countries, that already enjoy an anti-hunger environment, there may however be a hesitation to embrace the concept of a residual, legally enforceable obligation to provide.
If the state is unable to provide it is expected to launch international appeals for food, agricultural inputs or other supplies needed in the fight against hunger. Although no legal sanctions are foreseen in international conventions to coerce states into implementing the RTF, the international attention a government attracts when not meeting its obligations is a forceful incentive to comply. The burden of proof lies with the state that it has taken the necessary action.
The cost of business as usual
Even though ultimately, the costs of hunger and malnutrition must be gauged in terms of psychological and physiological suffering and loss of human dignity, economic reasoning is being increasingly used in the advocacy for fighting hunger. Common sense suggests that a hungry person is less active and productive and that a hungry child learns less well. Chronic hunger causes long-term damage to health, lowers life expectancy, spreads its damaging effects from affected individuals to others through inter-generational transfers and contributes to social and political instability. The afflicted person, the family, the community and the country, in consequence, suffer losses from unrealized potential. A growing body of evidence shows quantified relationships between the prevalence of hunger and macro-economic performance and between poverty and food insecurity and frequency of conflicts.
What kind of resources are needed to ensure a RTF?
The RTF steers the process through which hunger is reduced and does not make demands on resources per se, although the resultant policies and strategies do. Anti-hunger strategies and policies, are likely to vary greatly by country. Before claiming additional resources, a reallocation of existing resources can already make a large impact. Reallocation of resources towards poverty and hunger reduction detracts from other uses causing trade-offs. Concerns about the efficiency of such a redirection are usually unfounded. It is widely accepted that equitable allocation of resources, including for hunger and poverty reduction, has a stronger impact on national welfare and economic growth than inequitable allocation of resources.
Development practitioners recommend a simultaneous, two-track approach towards hunger reduction, via general economic growth and via specific targeting. A humanitarian approach by itself can be ineffective. Without supportive policies or, possibly, against political or military obstacles, the cost can be too high for donor constituencies to support or the numbers of hungry affected with given resources too low. Economic growth alone may not be inclusive enough of all food insecure persons.
Economic growth in rural areas is the appropriate path to sustainable hunger reduction in the long term. Assistance requirements and policy interventions on this track include the provision of public goods and services and policy advice that create an environment for farmers to produce, agri-businesses to buy, process and sell and the landless to find employment on farms or in the non-farm economy. The other track, aiming at poverty and hunger directly involves food supply for school feeding and food-for-work programs and the expenditure often is, and is meant to be, temporary to overcome an emergency situation.
The two track concept is one of convenience, but in practice, there are large areas of overlap. A distinction between productive, income-generating, and non-productive, welfare programs is superseded once the implicit cost and foregone social and economic benefits of hunger and destitution are understood. Land reform programs that provide productive assets to the landless poor can be both, long-term growth enhancing and short- and medium term hunger reducing.
Resources for RTF - how much and how to secure them?
As argued above, the RTF is an absolute and omnipresent human right with no inherent funding implications and resources to implement it depend essentially on the food strategies pursued. The international community has agreed on a broad global strategy for the implementation of the RTF in terms over the coming 13 years in the WFS Goal and Action Plan. It is possible therefore to equate the cost of pursuing the global RTF with the cost estimates for reaching the WFS Goal.
Cost estimates for the reduction of hunger are inherently uncertain. Methodological problems caused by the intersection of RTF with other human rights make it difficult to attach a cost figure to the removal of one deprivation, hunger, in isolation. There is a wide range of possible outcomes of hunger reduction programs at given resource levels, depending on the policies assumed by concerned states. Important constraints other than financial resources need to be overcome such as those related to the internal organization and operation of funding institutions and to priorities in the borrowing countries themselves.
Cost estimates for reaching the WFS and the MD goals have been attempted by different sources3. They are in the broad order of US$ 10-20 billion extra annual total cost of which about one half additional ODA, chiefly for investments in the rural sector under the two-track approach. By comparison, some US$ 40-60 billion extra ODA are estimated by the World Bank to be needed annually for investment in all social sectors in rural and urban areas to attain the full range of MD Goals. Raising resources of this order will not strain the international financial markets and government budgets and they will remain below the 0.7% of GDP target that OECD countries have set for themselves decades ago.
Additional financial resources are not the decisive element for advancing the RTF. The realization of the RTF requires above all a broad international consensus and agreement that hunger is the most important problem in the development arena today. Experience shows that public resources are available to causes with high political support. To muster the necessary political will for raising resources for the RTF the advocacy must be strengthened. The justification must be based on first, the ethical argument that the persistence of chronic hunger is an intolerable disgrace in today's world and, second, on the realization that it makes good sense to eradicate hunger also on economic grounds. The strategy must be based on, first, the understanding that permanent, sustainable, reduction of poverty and hunger is impossible without economic growth and, second, on the recognition that growth alone is not acting fast and inclusive enough and needs to be supplemented by targeted measures.
How can the international community help?
The international community has directly assisted in hunger reduction mainly through food and rehabilitation assistance to communities suffering form natural or man-made disasters. Development efforts, despite fostering general economic progress have often failed to reduce hunger in the short and medium run. Where the cause of poverty is hunger and where extreme poverty is due to market and institutional failures or man-made or natural disasters, direct food assistance and safety nets are appropriate to supplement general growth promotion.
The international community can assist states to implement the RTF through financial, technical, political and humanitarian and emergency assistance. Respect for the RTF can be enhances through international monitoring and diplomacy and assistance with the preparation and completion of a legal framework for RTF. Infringements of the RTF are more typical from private or corporate violators or from individual officials than part of a deliberate central government policy. The international community has in recent years developed an elaborate system of monitoring mechanisms and safeguards against graft, corruption and violation of minority and gender rights and environmental abuses that alert governments and assist them to act against violations.
Protection of the RTF can be assisted through the provision of technical and financial support to the executive and judiciary branches of government. This may include the institution of an ombudsman, assistance with legislation in food safety and inspection, poverty mapping and monitoring of hunger, early warning systems and supporting NGO observers to raise awareness for cases of violation of the RTF and other human rights.
International assistance is and will continue to be most active at the fulfillment stage of the RTF supplying development, technical, financial and humanitarian assistance in cooperation with governments. At the facilitation stage it includes assisting the state to ensure the smooth working of markets, undertake trade negotiations, secure ownership and land tenure rights, give policy advice and finance programs and projects in poverty and hunger reduction and general development as well as providing an array of global public goods that help increase agricultural productivity and sustain the environment worldwide. At the provision stage the international community can assist with the design of safety nets, provision of food aid, seed and fertilizer supply after emergencies like drought, flood and conflict and implement school feeding schemes. It can also help with capacity building, beneficiary group formation and support and with drafting and response coordination of international appeals for food and input aid.
How to move the RTF forward?
The RTF is by now well established in international law but it needs practical approaches towards its implementation. Some key issues that emerge from the above discussion could benefit from further reflection by the international community are summarized below.
The Right to Food and Economic Efficiency
As a universal human right the RTF is in potential conflict with international concerns over aid efficiency. There are views that human rights are absolute and cannot be discussed at all on the same plane as economic efficiency. Others argue that the international support for mobilizing resources will erode if assistance is not used efficiently. The compromise between the claim of universality of the RTF and practical progress in its realization needs further reflection and discussion. In particular, the issue of how to guarantee a RTF to the hungry in countries that are termed "poor reformers" or those afflicted by conflict needs to be addressed with urgency.
Overcoming institutional constraints
By all accounts, the additional financial resources needed for reaching the WFS and MD goals are not excessive in terms of their share of GDP in OECD countries. The greatest bottlenecks, after the political ones, are institutional. The international community must find ways to double aid flows within a short period and focus them on poverty and hunger in narrower geographical regions and fewer sectors without sacrificing accountability, transparency and quality. New delivery channels and innovative financing mechanisms are urgently needed to meet the 2015 deadline. In recipient countries policy reforms, smoothed by safety nets, need to be speeded up.
Globalizing the Support for RTF
Central to the concept of human rights is their universality. For the RTF as for other human rights, this means ensuring their acceptance and support by all countries. Implementation details need to be formulated in ways to ensure the largest possible consensus on the practical implementation of the RTF. The proposed International Code of Conduct on the Human RTF could become an important step forward provided it is formulated in a way to allow countries at all levels of development to subscribe to it. Only about 20 developing countries out of 142 signatories of the ICESCR have so far given explicit recognition of the RTF in their national legislation. The process of drafting framework legislation or equivalent changes to existing national laws and formulating corresponding policy and administrative implementation measures in poor countries needs to be accelerated. The international community should reflect on incentives to the concerned countries to do so and increase its assistance to drafting the legislative and policy agendas. International assistance agencies - multilateral, bilateral and NGO should further explore the policy and operational implications of a rights-based orientation of their own activities. The global level benefits of the RTF in terms of geopolitical stability need to be further researched, in addition to what has already been done at household, community and national levels, for use in the advocacy campaign.
Integrating RTF into PRS
Poverty reduction is replacing general economic development as the main focus of international assistance in poor countries. Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) will in future be needed not only under the HPIC initiative, as originally started, but for all non-commercial finance. The RTF will have to be included into national poverty reduction strategies by specifically addressing rural development, hunger reduction and nutrition. Countries need policy advice and technical assistance to formulate hunger-focused PRSP as part of a grant package to increase pre-investment activities and the provision of global public goods and in this manner to improve the environment for a focused attack on hunger. .
The "Cost" of RTF
The following section describes recent attempts to estimate financial resources requirement for food security and rural development to achieve WFS and MD goals. The political will, another essential ingredient that must be mobilized for the RTF, is being discussed in another context4.
In preparation of the 1996 WFS FAO has estimated investment in agriculture needed to keep pace with population and economic growth as projected in its Agriculture Towards 2010 study. The exercise identified total investment needs in primary agriculture and downstream storage and processing based on simplified, linear agricultural input/output relationships and unit cost of agricultural investment. The initial investment estimate was based only on effective demand, that is, demand backed by purchasing power, and did not cover food security for people unable to participate in food production and food markets. Subsequent refinements5 expanded the coverage of food security and considered resources to reach WFS goals. Accordingly, additional public investment required for halving the number of hungry by 2015 were US$ 20 billion per year. Of this increment, one half would be required as ODA, the rest assured from extra resources or reallocations within national budgets6.
At the Development Finance Summit in Monterrey in March 2002 the World Bank has made a plea for a doubling over five years of ODA from US$ 50 billion to US$ 100 billion annually to 2015 in order to reach the Millennium Declaration Goals. Supporting the plea is a background document entitled: "Goals for Development, History, Prospects and Cost"7 in which the authors estimate additional total resource cost and extra ODA needed to reach the MDG. The approach is from two angles: one, through the economic growth needed to halve the number of people in extreme poverty (anticipating that such growth will create the effective demand for social and environmental services pursued under the MDG in education, health and environmental sustainability) and two, by adding the cost of reaching six specific social and environmental MDG (table 1) through direct investment. Both, the indirect and the direct approach yield similar orders of magnitude for total additional resource needs: US$ 54-62 billion annually to reach the growth and poverty reduction target and, alternatively, US$ 35-75 billion to reach the social and environmental targets.
To estimate the extra ODA the countries were divided into two groups. The first, mainly middle income, countries were already on track and could achieve the MDG under current efforts, without additional ODA. The second, mainly low income countries with a combined population of about 1 billion, were unable to achieve MDG without extra ODA. For these countries nearly all additional funding must be met from international sources. Concerned with aid efficiency the countries were further divided into good reformers and poor reformers (using savings rate and incremental capital output ratio as indicators). Depending on a (politically chosen) share of resources going to efficient aid users or good reformers, additional ODA required to reach the MDG could range from US$ 39 to 54 billion p.a.
According to these estimates, ODA needs to raise from 0.25% to about 0.4 of GNP in OECD countries, still far below the recommended rate of 0.7%. Below is a summary of the World Bank estimates.
Alternative additional average resource needs for reaching MDG
As part of its 2020 Global Food Outlook IFPRI has estimated the cost of food security, defined as gross public sector investment in agriculture and human welfare. Using its International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT) IFPRI assumes three scenarios, baseline, optimistic and pessimistic. The baseline scenario extrapolates current trends to 2020 with investments of, cumulatively, US$ 578 billion for irrigation, rural roads, education, clean water and national agricultural research. Little progress is expected under the baseline scenario and the majority of indicators continue to point downward. Under an optimistic scenario food security and human well-being will be `dramatically' improved (not quantified) with US$ 802 billion of investment. The additional cost over baseline, US$ 223 billion, are about US$ 10 billion extra per year. A pessimistic scenario at investment of 45% below baseline would result in a serious deterioration of human development indicators.
The explicit aim of USAID8 was to estimate the resources needed to meet WFS goals. It distinguished between global, national, sector and household level interventions. Global and national level interventions involved barely any additional expenses as they typically concerned international agreements, conflict prevention, trade and legal reform and civil participation and advocacy, challenging the political will more than the budget. Sector and household level investments, in contrast, included rural roads, technology generation and transfer, targeted food aid, women's education and safe water and sanitation. Four scenarios were evaluated: (i) equitable per caput allocation of aid, (ii) efficient allocation favoring countries that were more efficient aid users, (iii) a compromise between equitable with efficient resource allocation and (iv) a situation where no policy support would be given by governments and the MDG had to be reached by humanitarian action alone. Alternative investment cost are given as follows.
Under the most likely scenario 3. extra investment amount to just under US$ 5 billion per year.
Comparison of estimates of additional annual investments to reach WFS and/or MDG
The ease with which the WFS goal can be achieved, if resources are available, will vary by region, depending on how radically prevailing trends have to be changed. During the 1990s the share of undernourished people decreased in most regions, though at rates less than necessary to reach the 2015 goals. In the countries of the ex-Soviet Union the numbers of undernourished increased sharply though only poverty, no hunger figures are available. Only the East Asia region appears ready to reach the goals without major difficulty. In South Asia and Latin America, the rate of hunger reduction would need to accelerate by half (from -2 to -3%). In Sub-Sahara Africa an uphill battle will have to be fought to accelerate the rate of hunger reduction by nearly ten times over that of the last decade. In the Middle East a sharp reversal from an annual increase of hunger by 3% in the 1990s to an annual decrease of -5% between 2002 and 2015 is needed, although absolute numbers are small in this region.
How to mobilize resources for the implementation of the RTF?
ODA and domestic resources for agriculture and rural development have been falling in the 1990s. Although the decline seems to have bottomed out the committed amounts remain far below of what international agencies believe is needed. Perhaps more ominously, the unanimous view of a High Level Panel of Experts that met in Rome on 25-26 June 2001 to discuss the subject of resources mobilization for food security and rural development was that declining commitments to agriculture and the rural sector were not caused by a lack of loanable funds, even of the concessional kind, but by bottlenecks connected with the internal organization and operations of international financing institutions and with priority setting by the borrowing countries. Resource gaps existed on the other hand for grants to carry out economic and sector work, pre-investment studies and pilot operations and to finance global public goods that underpinned and created the environment for sound rural and agricultural investment programmes and projects.
The view that financial resources for lending are not a limiting factor may need to be qualified if rather large increases are at stake over short periods, as for reaching the MDG. This does not obviate, rather reinforces, the need to act on the other constraints. Concessional lending by the major IFIs is likely to remain the backbone of ODA for fighting poverty and hunger. The extra resources have to be requested from contributing governments during periodic replenishment negotiations. A hypothetical example may illustrate the implications of doubling ODA9. During the replenishment period of 1999-2002 the World Bank had IDA resources of approximately US$ 15 billion at disposal for all purposes, about half of which were new injections and the remainder reflux from loan repayments. To double concessional lending, the Bank would need, for future replenishment periods, new resources at nearly three times the previous level since reimbursements from prior lending would not immediately rise and be available for re-lending. At the same time the Bank would have to double the speed at which it commits new financing. As staff resources cannot be built up quickly, much greater use would need to be made of programmatic lending that needs less preparation time and resources than project lending but requires stronger institutions in recipient countries. Another constraint could follow from the increased poverty focus. Poverty is concentrated mainly in rural areas of two regions, Sub-Sahara Africa and South Asia. Not only must disbursement of concessional resources be doubled, it must also be concentrated geographically and by sectors with the risk of encountering more bottlenecks.
The phasing of the build-up is critical. Imaginative ways of speeding up loan preparations and disbursements are urgently needed. Larger use could possibly be made of sub-regional financing institutions and, selectively, national development banks as sub-contractors or on-lenders for the major international financing institutions. Such institutions would however need to have their mandate extended that usually restricts them to financially profitable investment.
The debate, started by the US government, of extending a much higher proportion of development assistance as grants rather than loans does not fundamentally change the issue of institutional bottlenecks on donor or recipient side for handling greatly increased aid flows. Justification, accountability and transparency remain necessary for all types of financing. In pre-investment work, grant funding will have to grow in line with extra lending for poverty and hunger reduction10. In addition, more global public goods are needed. They are provided at the moment to the tune of US$ 3 billion11 annually and are believed to require doubling or tripling.
Grant funds from bi-lateral donors, the UN system and the financing institutions themselves are notoriously short. To increase their impact they need to be more strongly focused on pipeline building, upstream economic and sector work and pre-investment activities which have prospects for up-scaling. Larger efforts are needed for identifying the poor and hungry (by age and sex, given that food needs vary with these two variables as well as over the life cycle), developing poverty, hunger and nutrition indicators and measurement tools, targeting interventions to undernourished and monitoring outcomes of assistance programmes. FAO and other agencies have developed an array of instruments for such activities, including FIVIMS, remote sensing, GIEWS and others that need to be greatly expanded.
Trade liberalization, internal and external, has the potential to generate substantial welfare gains. Open markets and unimpeded trade that multiply opportunities and reduce cost, including of food, can benefit the poor more than targeted assistance. It is estimated that reducing worldwide protection by one half could lead to welfare gains of US$ 200 billion p.a. by 2015 in developing countries. Among the regions with the highest numbers of poor people, South Asia could benefit much from a reduction of protectionism. Sub-Sahara Africa would benefit much less since the region already enjoys preferential access to OECD countries in several important commodities and is handicapped by poor infrastructure, institutions and management capacity that hinder its trade potential to unfold.
In the actual round of HPIC some US$ 60 billion are to be unlocked through debt relief in about 35 countries, mostly in Africa. The freed resources are to be used for poverty reduction and could make a major contribution to attain WFS and MD goals in many of the poorest countries12. The PRSP required by the HIPC debt relief process are rarely of the necessary quality. In many cases the rural, agricultural or nutritional dimensions of poverty reduction are ignored. Substantial assistance is required for countries re-focusing their policies and strategies on poverty and hunger reduction in order to allow them to take full advantage of the debt relief initiative.
Food aid has been constant in the last decade but its importance for development purposes has much declined. Available food surpluses in OECD countries were mainly used for a growing number of emergencies. In emergency situations food aid is a critical first line of defense while the local economy recovers and will have to continue. In development situations, food aid enables marginalize, food insecure groups to escape consumption driven constraints. Food aid is viewed as an enabling pre-investment that can free people to take up development opportunities that increase human capital and acquisition of assets. It has been argued that food aid is limited in terms of development impact. Critics have viewed food aid as competing with local production, being insensitive to local consumer preferences and, in food-for-work programmes, diminishing nutritional benefits by requesting heavy physical work. However, food aid is rarely a stand-alone food security tool. It is most appropriate in combination with other assistance types and has its greatest impact if targeted to the most food insecure where additionality is greatest and the adverse impact on food production lowest.
There are important niches for food aid in the context of resources mobilization for RTF. Hungry rural (and urban) poor are net food consumers and naturally benefit from cheap food. If markets are segmented, geographically or seasonally, well targeted food aid ought not to depress farm prices. School feeding programmes are generally found suitable to help food insecure children, especially girls, to get access to both, food and an education. Targeted food aid coupled with labour-saving, simple technologies can be vital for ensuring the RTF in communities and households suffering from acute shortages of labour for food production as a result of HIV/AIDS. Making more cash available to food aid donor agencies for the financing of collateral cost and buying some of the food on local or neighboring countries markets would fend off much of the criticism and contribute to an urgently needed diversification of resources and agencies for RTF implementation.
International Taxation and FDI
Speculations have been rife in some quarters whether a carbon tax or a Tobin tax could be tapped as extra sources of finance for poverty and hunger reduction. These reflections have not yet led very far since vested interests and the need for universal consensus appear insurmountable at the moment. FDI has made substantial inroads in the last decade, interrupted by the Asian crisis, but touches few countries and sectors and avoids those that need it most under a poverty perspective.
1 Food production is understood to include reduction of post-harvest losses that can be as high as 40-50%
2 See Attachment 1
3 see Attachment 2
4 see report of the High-Level Panel on Mobilizing the Political Will to Fight Hunger, Rome, August 2001
5 Committee on Food Security, 25th Session, Rome, 31 May to 3 June 1999 and Anti-hunger programme submitted to the WFS;fyl
6 The extra requirements may appear small in relation to the perceived magnitude of the problem. However, due to Engel's Law, the additional demand, production capacity, and hence net investment, for food is relatively limited as incomes rise. Most investment is needed for keeping the existing capital stock intact, that is, keep existing irrigation infrastructure from crumbling, reclaim or replace cultivated land suffering from salinization and overexploitation, replace aging plantations, raise young stock to maintain the herd and so forth. The required investment would fall further if technology improvements in production and distribution were factored in. Also, a thought experiment shows that the cost of extra kcal to supply an adequate intake for the 800 million undernourished would be limited. At current international cereal prices the supply of additional 300 Kcal per day for each of the 800 million would cost some US$ 3 billion per year, or under 1% of farm support in OECD countries. This, evidently, says nothing about the far more important aspects of targeting and sustainability of the effort.
7 by Shantayanan Devarajan, Margret J. Miller and Eric V. SwansonCillier. The paper draws heavily on Paul Collier and David Dollar. 2000. Can the World Cut Poverty in half? How Policy Reform and Effective Aid can Meet International Development Goals. World Development 29 (11):1767-1802
8 Costs and Benefits of Meeting the Food Summit Target, by Styker, Plunkett, Nash, USAID, Sept. 2001
9 This section might need to be drafted omitting reference to the World Bank.
10 For example, experience shows that preparation cost of investment projects average from 1-2% of the loan amount suggesting extra preparation cost of the order of US$ 100 million annually for poverty-targeted rural projects and programmes unless a strong move away from project lending proves feasible.
11 not all of them hunger or agriculture-related
12 The amounts of debt relief must, of course, be collectible in order to form an additional resource for poverty reduction | <urn:uuid:974572a0-8c4d-48ba-9c38-4137de05f8e2> | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | http://www.fao.org/WorldFoodSummit/sideevents/papers/y6667e.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698542414.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170902-00134-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945601 | 8,249 | 3.125 | 3 |
Monday, February 28, 2011
This past weekend as I was pulling into my driveway I noticed a large mass of insects crawling on my neighbors foundation. Closer inspection confirmed that what I was seeing was actually Box Elder Bugs. This time of year, these insects are very active, especially on warmer days.
Boxelder bugs are elliptical and about 0.5 inch long. The thorax has 3 red stripes; the leathery parts of the wings are outlined in red; and the eyes are red. The remainder of the insect is dark gray or black.
Adult boxelder bugs emerge from their overwintering shelters in March and early April and feed for about 2 weeks before mating. These insects prefer sunny areas and, therefore, are found most abundantly on trees in a southern exposure and on sides of buildings facing south. Eggs are deposited in masses of 10 or 11 eggs usually in bark crevices.
These insects are more of a nusience than anything and control is not normally needed. However, if you would like more information on how to control these insects see: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/houseplants/ort040e/ort040e.htm | <urn:uuid:bd2a30c6-0cd0-43f4-b3b1-7c9de6271a44> | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | http://masteryourgarden.blogspot.com/2011/02/boxelder-bugs.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917121355.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031201-00281-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967089 | 256 | 3.03125 | 3 |
"Herod also got together a great quantity of wild beasts, and of lions in very great abundance, and of such other beasts as were either of uncommon strength or of such a sort as were rarely seen. These were trained either to fight one with another, or men who were condemned to death were to fight with them. And truly foreigners were greatly surprised and delighted at the vast expenses of the shows, and at the great danger of the spectacles, but to the Jews it was a palpable breaking up of those customs for which they had so great a veneration." -Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews.
Judaism places great stress on proper treatment of animals. Unnecessary cruelty to animals is strictly forbidden, and in many cases, animals are accorded the same sensitivity as human beings. This concern for the welfare of animals is unique to Judaism; Christianity does not share this value, nor did most civilized nations until quite recently. Cruelty to animals was not outlawed until the 1800s.
Judaism expresses no definitive opinion as to whether animals are capable of experiencing physical or psychological pain as humans do; however, Judaism has always recognized the link between the way a person treats animals and the way a person treats human beings. A person who is cruel to a defenseless animal will undoubtedly be cruel to defenseless people, and a person who cares for the lowest of creatures will certainly care for his fellow man.
Jacob, Moses, and David were all shepherds, people who cared for animals. The Talmud specifically states that Moses was chosen for his mission because of his skill in caring for animals. "The Holy One, Blessed Be He, said 'Since you are merciful to the flock of a human being, you shall be the shepherd of My flock, Israel.'" Likewise Rebekah was chosen as a wife for Isaac because of her kindness to animals. When Abraham's servant asked for water for himself, she volunteered to water his camels as well, and thereby proved herself a worthy wife.
On the other hand, the two hunters in the Bible, Nimrod and Esau, are both depicted as villains. A great rabbi who was insensitive to the fear of a calf being led to slaughter was punished with years of pain.
In the Torah, humanity is given dominion over animals, and has the right to use animals for legitimate needs. Animal flesh can be consumed for food; animal skins can be used for clothing; the Torah itself must be written on parchment, that is, animal hides.
However, we are permitted to use animals in this way only when there is a genuine, legitimate need, and we must do so in the manner that causes the animal the least suffering. Kosher slaughtering is designed to be as fast and painless as possible, and if anything occurs that might cause pain (such as a nick in the slaughtering knife or a delay in the cutting), the flesh may not be consumed. Hunting for sport is strictly prohibited, and hunting and trapping for legitimate needs is permissible only when it is done in the least painful way possible.
The laws regarding treatment of animals are referred to as Tzaar Baalei Chayim, prevention of cruelty to animals.
Under Jewish law, animals have some of the same rights as humans do. Animals rest on Shabbat, as humans do. We are forbidden to muzzle an ox while it is working in the field, just as we must allow human workers to eat from the produce they are harvesting.
Several commandments demonstrate concern for the physical or psychological suffering of animals. We may not plow a field using animals of different species, because this would be a hardship to the animals. We are required to relieve an animal of its burden, even if we do not know its owner, or even if it is ownerless. We are not permitted to kill an animal in the same day as its young, and are specifically commanded to send away a mother bird when taking the eggs, because of the psychological distress this would cause the animal. In fact, the Torah specifically says that a person who sends away the mother bird will be rewarded with long life, precisely the same reward that is given for honoring mother and father. This should give some indication of the importance of this law.
We are permitted to relax certain rabbinical rules for the Sabbath to rescue an animal in pain or at risk of death.
In the Talmud, the rabbis further dictated that a person may not purchase an animal unless he has made provisions to feed it, and a person must feed his animals before he feeds himself.
Jewish law does not prohibit keeping pets, and indeed many observant Jews have dogs, cats, or other household pets.
As with all animals, we are required to feed our pets before ourselves, and make arrangements for feeding our pets before we obtain them. Also, like all animals, household pets are entitled to Sabbath rest, thus you cannot have your dog retrieve the paper for you on Shabbat, etc.
It is permissible to feed non-kosher food to pets. In fact, it is permissible to use products of non-kosher animals as long as you do not eat them; for example, it is permissible to use a toothpaste that contains non-kosher ingredients as long as the toothpaste is not fit for human consumption. Likewise, it is permissible to feed non-kosher food to your pets, as long as you do not consume it yourself.
The laws of Passover, however, are somewhat broader. During Passover, it is impermissible to have any chametz (leavened grain products) in your home, or to derive any benefit from chametz, thus you cannot use chametz to feed your pets. You must either feed your pet something that contains no chametz (such as 100% beef dog food, kosher for Passover table scraps, or matzah meal to feed fish or rodents) or temporarily sell the pets to a non-Jew.
It is a violation of Jewish law to neuter a pet. The Torah prohibits castrating males of any species. This law does not apply to neutering female pets.
It is a violation of the general prohibition against cruelty to animals to have your pet physically altered in any way without a genuine, legitimate need. For example, declawing cats and docking the ears or tails of dogs are forbidden.
Got a question or comment? | <urn:uuid:7f750975-bbf9-4dfd-b06a-2d83f2e03a34> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.mechon-mamre.org/jewfaq/animals.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719139.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00163-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970673 | 1,311 | 3 | 3 |
Richard Chancellor Facts
Richard Chancellor (died 1556) was the first Englishman to penetrate the White Sea and to establish relations with Russia.
Richard Chancellor, evidently a native of Bristol, acquired geographical and maritime proficiency from the explorer Sebastian Cabot and the geographer John Dee. Cabot had always been interested in making a voyage to Asia through the Arctic, and for this purpose King Edward VI chartered an association of English merchants in 1552-1553, with the Duke of Northumberland as principal patron. They hoped not only to discover a Northeast Passage but also to find a market for English woolen cloth.
Sir Hugh Willoughby was given three ships for the search, and Chancellor went as second in command. A Norwegian coastal storm separated them; Willoughby, with two ships, sailed east and discovered Novaya Zemlya but died with all his men on the Lapland coast. Chancellor, with the ship Edward Bonaventure, found the entrance to the White Sea and anchored at the port of Archangel. Englishmen had visited Russia earlier, but all recent contact had been through the German merchants of the Hanseatic League. Leaving the Edward at Archangel, Chancellor traveled overland to Moscow, where he was favorably received by Ivan the Terrible. The Czar seemed glad to help in breaking the Hanseatic trading monopoly.
When Chancellor returned to England in the summer of 1554, King Edward was dead, and his successor, Mary, had executed Northumberland for attempting to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne. No stigma attached to Chancellor, and the Muscovy Company, as the association now was called, sent him again to the White Sea in 1555. On this voyage he learned what had happened to Willoughby, recovered his papers, and found out about the discovery of Novaya Zemlya. Chancellor spent the summer of 1555 dealing with the Czar, organizing trade, and trying to learn how China might be reached by the northern route.
In 1556 Chancellor departed for England, taking with him the first Russian ambassador to his country. They left Archangel in autumn; the Edward reached the Scottish coast but was wrecked at Pitlago, where Chancellor lost his life. The Russian envoy survived to reach London. Chancellor had found a way to Russia, and though in time it was superseded by a better one it remained for years the only feasible route for the English.
Further Reading on Richard Chancellor
There is no biography of Chancellor; little is known of his life other than his trips to Russia. A convenient summary of his and Willoughby's voyages is in James A. Williamson, The Age of Drake (1938; 4th ed. 1960). Joseph K. Hamel, England and Russia: Comprising the Voyages of John Tradescant the Elder, Sir Hugh Willoughby, Richard Chancellor, Nelson, and Others to the White Sea (trans. 1854; repr. 1968), provides extensive discussion of Chancellor's ancestry but few biographical details. The material on Chancellor in T. S. Willan, The Early History of the Russia Company, 1553-1603 (1956), is based on Hamel's work. Eva G. R. Taylor, Tudor Geography, 1485-1583 (1930), furnishes background for the English Northeast Passage search. | <urn:uuid:bd5d6808-0fff-4eb2-85e8-f6007005bedb> | CC-MAIN-2016-18 | http://biography.yourdictionary.com/richard-chancellor | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-18/segments/1461860111868.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20160428161511-00218-ip-10-239-7-51.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967252 | 685 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Definition of IPX/SPX – Compatible Protocol in The Network Encyclopedia.
IPX/SPX stands for Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange is a set of network protocols that provide packet switching and sequencing for small and large networks, used initially on networks using the Novell NetWare operating systems. Shortly after, they became widely used on networks deploying Microsoft Windows LANs, as they replaced NetWare LANs.
IPX works at layer 3 of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model and SPX works at layer 4.
Microsoft’s version of the Novell NetWare IPX/SPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange) protocol for Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000 is called IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol.
IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol supports the 32-bit Windows Sockets 1.1 and NetBIOS over Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) programming interfaces.
Novell is largely responsible for the use of IPX as a popular computer networking protocol due to their dominance in the network operating system software market (with Novell Netware) from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s. IPX/SPX was standard for DOS-era multi-user network games.
Because of IPX/SPX’s prevalence in LANs in the 1990s, Microsoft added support for the protocols into Windows’ networking stack, starting with Windows for Workgroups and Windows NT. Microsoft even named their implementation “NWLink”, implying that the inclusion of the layer 3/4 transports provided NetWare connectivity. In reality, the protocols were supported as a native transport for Windows’ SMB/NetBIOS, and NetWare connectivity required additional installation of an NCP client (Microsoft provided a basic NetWare client with Windows 95 and later, but it was not automatically installed, and initially only supported NetWare bindery mode).
NWLink was still provided with Windows (up to and including Windows Server 2003), but it is neither included with nor supported in Windows Vista. Its use is strongly discouraged because it cannot be used for Windows networking except as a transport for NetBIOS, which is deprecated.
IPX/SPX on Windows 95/98
Although the Windows 95 and Windows 98 user interfaces allow you to configure multiple bindings for IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol to multiple network interface cards (NICs), only the first binding is actually used. You cannot use IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol for connecting to NetWare over an ARCNET network; you must install real-mode IPX drivers instead.
IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol tip
IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol is set by default to autodetect the frame type used on a NetWare network. If no frame type is detected, the default 802.2 type is used. If multiple frame types are detected, the predominant one is selected.
IPXROUTE is a Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000 utility for viewing and modifying Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) routing table information when NWLink IPX/SPX-Compatible Transport is installed on machines running Windows NT and Windows 2000.
You can use ipxroute to display the current IPX settings, such as frame type, IPX network numbers, and internal network number. You can also use it to display the IPX routing table, Service Advertising Protocol (SAP) table, and IPX routing statistics.
The Ipxroute Table command shows the IPX routing table, while Ipxroute Config shows binding information for IPX, such as the IPX network number. | <urn:uuid:eb36dd1c-96e1-48de-aeb3-47715889891a> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://networkencyclopedia.com/ipx-spx-compatible-protocol/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949506.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20230330225648-20230331015648-00298.warc.gz | en | 0.873107 | 789 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Scanned and proofed by David Price email@example.com
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
CHAPTER I - START IN LIFE
I WAS born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull. He got a good estate by merchandise, and leaving off his trade, lived afterwards at York, from whence he had married my mother, whose relations were named Robinson, a very good family in that country, and from whom I was called Robinson Kreutznaer; but, by the usual corruption of words in England, we are now called - nay we call ourselves and write our name - Crusoe; and so my companions always called me.
I had two elder brothers, one of whom was lieutenant-colonel to an English regiment of foot in Flanders, formerly commanded by the famous Colonel Lockhart, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk against the Spaniards. What became of my second brother I never knew, any more than my father or mother knew what became of me.
Being the third son of the family and not bred to any trade, my head began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts. My father, who was very ancient, had given me a competent share of learning, as far as house-education and a country free school generally go, and designed me for the law; but I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and my inclination to this led me so strongly against the will, nay, the commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of my mother and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in that propensity of nature, tending directly to the life of misery which was to befall me.
My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious and excellent counsel against what he foresaw was my design. He called me one morning into his chamber, where he was confined by the gout, and expostulated very warmly with me upon this subject. He asked me what reasons, more than a mere wandering inclination, I had for leaving father's house and my native country, where I might be well introduced, and had a prospect of raising my fortune by application and industry, with a life of ease and pleasure. He told me it was men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or of aspiring, superior fortunes on the other, who went abroad upon adventures, to rise by enterprise, and make themselves famous in undertakings of a nature out of the common road; that these things were all either too far above me or too far below me; that mine was the middle state, or what might be called the upper station of low life, which he had found, by long experience, was the best state in the world, the most suited to human happiness, not exposed to the miseries and hardships, the labour and sufferings of the mechanic part of mankind, and not embarrassed with the pride, luxury, ambition, and envy of the upper part of mankind. He told me I might judge of the happiness of this state by this one thing - viz. that this was the state of life which all other people envied; that kings have frequently lamented the miserable consequence of being born to great things, and wished they had been placed in the middle of the two extremes, between the mean and the great; that the wise man gave his testimony to this, as the standard of felicity, when he prayed to have neither poverty nor riches.
He bade me observe it, and I should always find that the calamities of life were shared among the upper and lower part of mankind, but that the middle station had the fewest disasters, and was not exposed to so many vicissitudes as the higher or lower part of mankind; nay, they were not subjected to so many distempers and uneasinesses, either of body or mind, as those were who, by vicious living, luxury, and extravagances on the one hand, or by hard labour, want of necessaries, and mean or insufficient diet on the other hand, bring distemper upon themselves by the natural consequences of their way of living; that the middle station of life was calculated for all kind of virtue and all kind of enjoyments; that peace and plenty were the handmaids of a middle fortune; that temperance, moderation, quietness, health, society, all agreeable diversions, and all desirable pleasures, were the blessings attending the middle station of life; that this way men went silently and smoothly through the world, and comfortably out of it, not embarrassed with the labours of the hands or of the head, not sold to a life of slavery for daily bread, nor harassed with perplexed circumstances, which rob the soul of peace and the body of rest, nor enraged with the passion of envy, or the secret burning lust of ambition for great things; but, in easy circumstances, sliding gently through the world, and sensibly tasting the sweets of living, without the bitter; feeling that they are happy, and learning by every day's experience to know it more sensibly,
After this he pressed me earnestly, and in the most affectionate manner, not to play the young man, nor to precipitate myself into miseries which nature, and the station of life I was born in, seemed to have provided against; that I was under no necessity of seeking my bread; that he would do well for me, and endeavour to enter me fairly into the station of life which he had just been recommending to me; and that if I was not very easy and happy in the world, it must be my mere fate or fault that must hinder it; and that he should have nothing to answer for, having thus discharged his duty in warning me against measures which he knew would be to my hurt; in a word, that as he would do very kind things for me if I would stay and settle at home as he directed, so he would not have so much hand in my misfortunes as to give me any encouragement to go away; and to close all, he told me I had my elder brother for an example, to whom he had used the same earnest persuasions to keep him from going into the Low Country wars, but could not prevail, his young desires prompting him to run into the army, where he was killed; and though he said he would not cease to pray for me, yet he would venture to say to me, that if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless me, and I should have leisure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected his counsel when there might be none to assist in my recovery.
I observed in this last part of his discourse, which was truly prophetic, though I suppose my father did not know it to be so himself - I say, I observed the tears run down his face very plentifully, especially when he spoke of my brother who was killed: and that when he spoke of my having leisure to repent, and none to assist me, he was so moved that he broke off the discourse, and told me his heart was so full he could say no more to me.
I was sincerely affected with this discourse, and, indeed, who could be otherwise? and I resolved not to think of going abroad any more, but to settle at home according to my father's desire. But alas! a few days wore it all off; and, in short, to prevent any of my father's further importunities, in a few weeks after I resolved to run quite away from him. However, I did not act quite so hastily as the first heat of my resolution prompted; but I took my mother at a time when I thought her a little more pleasant than ordinary, and told her that my thoughts were so entirely bent upon seeing the world that I should never settle to anything with resolution enough to go through with it, and my father had better give me his consent than force me to go without it; that I was now eighteen years old, which was too late to go apprentice to a trade or clerk to an attorney; that I was sure if I did I should never serve out my time, but I should certainly run away from my master before my time was out, and go to sea; and if she would speak to my father to let me go one voyage abroad, if I came home again, and did not like it, I would go no more; and I would promise, by a double diligence, to recover the time that I had lost.
This put my mother into a great passion; she told me she knew it would be to no purpose to speak to my father upon any such subject; that he knew too well what was my interest to give his consent to anything so much for my hurt; and that she wondered how I could think of any such thing after the discourse I had had with my father, and such kind and tender expressions as she knew my father had used to me; and that, in short, if I would ruin myself, there was no help for me; but I might depend I should never have their consent to it; that for her part she would not have so much hand in my destruction; and I should never have it to say that my mother was willing when my father was not.
Though my mother refused to move it to my father, yet I heard afterwards that she reported all the discourse to him, and that my father, after showing a great concern at it, said to her, with a sigh, "That boy might be happy if he would stay at home; but if he goes abroad, he will be the most miserable wretch that ever was born: I can give no consent to it."
It was not till almost a year after this that I broke loose, though, in the meantime, I continued obstinately deaf to all proposals of settling to business, and frequently expostulated with my father and mother about their being so positively determined against what they knew my inclinations prompted me to. But being one day at Hull, where I went casually, and without any purpose of making an elopement at that time; but, I say, being there, and one of my companions being about to sail to London in his father's ship, and prompting me to go with them with the common allurement of seafaring men, that it should cost me nothing for my passage, I consulted neither father nor mother any more, nor so much as sent them word of it; but leaving them to hear of it as they might, without asking God's blessing or my father's, without any consideration of circumstances or consequences, and in an ill hour, God knows, on the 1st of September 1651, I went on board a ship bound for London. Never any young adventurer's misfortunes, I believe, began sooner, or continued longer than mine. The ship was no sooner out of the Humber than the wind began to blow and the sea to rise in a most frightful manner; and, as I had never been at sea before, I was most inexpressibly sick in body and terrified in mind. I began now seriously to reflect upon what I had done, and how justly I was overtaken by the judgment of Heaven for my wicked leaving my father's house, and abandoning my duty. All the good counsels of my parents, my father's tears and my mother's entreaties, came now fresh into my mind; and my conscience, which was not yet come to the pitch of hardness to which it has since, reproached me with the contempt of advice, and the breach of my duty to God and my father.
All this while the storm increased, and the sea went very high, though nothing like what I have seen many times since; no, nor what I saw a few days after; but it was enough to affect me then, who was but a young sailor, and had never known anything of the matter. I expected every wave would have swallowed us up, and that every time the ship fell down, as I thought it did, in the trough or hollow of the sea, we should never rise more; in this agony of mind, I made many vows and resolutions that if it would please God to spare my life in this one voyage, if ever I got once my foot upon dry land again, I would go directly home to my father, and never set it into a ship again while I lived; that I would take his advice, and never run myself into such miseries as these any more. Now I saw plainly the goodness of his observations about the middle station of life, how easy, how comfortably he had lived all his days, and never had been exposed to tempests at sea or troubles on shore; and I resolved that I would, like a true repenting prodigal, go home to my father.
These wise and sober thoughts continued all the while the storm lasted, and indeed some time after; but the next day the wind was abated, and the sea calmer, and I began to be a little inured to it; however, I was very grave for all that day, being also a little sea-sick still; but towards night the weather cleared up, the wind was quite over, and a charming fine evening followed; the sun went down perfectly clear, and rose so the next morning; and having little or no wind, and a smooth sea, the sun shining upon it, the sight was, as I thought, the most delightful that ever I saw.
I had slept well in the night, and was now no more sea-sick, but very cheerful, looking with wonder upon the sea that was so rough and terrible the day before, and could be so calm and so pleasant in so little a time after. And now, lest my good resolutions should continue, my companion, who had enticed me away, comes to me; "Well, Bob," says he, clapping me upon the shoulder, "how do you do after it? I warrant you were frighted, wer'n't you, last night, when it blew but a capful of wind?" "A capful d'you call it?" said I; "'twas a terrible storm." "A storm, you fool you," replies he; "do you call that a storm? why, it was nothing at all; give us but a good ship and sea-room, and we think nothing of such a squall of wind as that; but you're but a fresh-water sailor, Bob. Come, let us make a bowl of punch, and we'll forget all that; d'ye see what charming weather 'tis now?" To make short this sad part of my story, we went the way of all sailors; the punch was made and I was made half drunk with it: and in that one night's wickedness I drowned all my repentance, all my reflections upon my past conduct, all my resolutions for the future. In a word, as the sea was returned to its smoothness of surface and settled calmness by the abatement of that storm, so the hurry of my thoughts being over, my fears and apprehensions of being swallowed up by the sea being forgotten, and the current of my former desires returned, I entirely forgot the vows and promises that I made in my distress. I found, indeed, some intervals of reflection; and the serious thoughts did, as it were, endeavour to return again sometimes; but I shook them off, and roused myself from them as it were from a distemper, and applying myself to drinking and company, soon mastered the return of those fits - for so I called them; and I had in five or six days got as complete a victory over conscience as any young fellow that resolved not to be troubled with it could desire. But I was to have another trial for it still; and Providence, as in such cases generally it does, resolved to leave me entirely without excuse; for if I would not take this for a deliverance, the next was to be such a one as the worst and most hardened wretch among us would confess both the danger and the mercy of.
The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads; the wind having been contrary and the weather calm, we had made but little way since the storm. Here we were obliged to come to an anchor, and here we lay, the wind continuing contrary - viz. at south-west - for seven or eight days, during which time a great many ships from Newcastle came into the same Roads, as the common harbour where the ships might wait for a wind for the river.
We had not, however, rid here so long but we should have tided it up the river, but that the wind blew too fresh, and after we had lain four or five days, blew very hard. However, the Roads being reckoned as good as a harbour, the anchorage good, and our ground- tackle very strong, our men were unconcerned, and not in the least apprehensive of danger, but spent the time in rest and mirth, after the manner of the sea; but the eighth day, in the morning, the wind increased, and we had all hands at work to strike our topmasts, and make everything snug and close, that the ship might ride as easy as possible. By noon the sea went very high indeed, and our ship rode forecastle in, shipped several seas, and we thought once or twice our anchor had come home; upon which our master ordered out the sheet-anchor, so that we rode with two anchors ahead, and the cables veered out to the bitter end.
By this time it blew a terrible storm indeed; and now I began to see terror and amazement in the faces even of the seamen themselves. The master, though vigilant in the business of preserving the ship, yet as he went in and out of his cabin by me, I could hear him softly to himself say, several times, "Lord be merciful to us! we shall be all lost! we shall be all undone!" and the like. During these first hurries I was stupid, lying still in my cabin, which was in the steerage, and cannot describe my temper: I could ill resume the first penitence which I had so apparently trampled upon and hardened myself against: I thought the bitterness of death had been past, and that this would be nothing like the first; but when the master himself came by me, as I said just now, and said we should be all lost, I was dreadfully frighted. I got up out of my cabin and looked out; but such a dismal sight I never saw: the sea ran mountains high, and broke upon us every three or four minutes; when I could look about, I could see nothing but distress round us; two ships that rode near us, we found, had cut their masts by the board, being deep laden; and our men cried out that a ship which rode about a mile ahead of us was foundered. Two more ships, being driven from their anchors, were run out of the Roads to sea, at all adventures, and that with not a mast standing. The light ships fared the best, as not so much labouring in the sea; but two or three of them drove, and came close by us, running away with only their spritsail out before the wind.
Towards evening the mate and boatswain begged the master of our ship to let them cut away the fore-mast, which he was very unwilling to do; but the boatswain protesting to him that if he did not the ship would founder, he consented; and when they had cut away the fore-mast, the main-mast stood so loose, and shook the ship so much, they were obliged to cut that away also, and make a clear deck.
Any one may judge what a condition I must be in at all this, who was but a young sailor, and who had been in such a fright before at but a little. But if I can express at this distance the thoughts I had about me at that time, I was in tenfold more horror of mind upon account of my former convictions, and the having returned from them to the resolutions I had wickedly taken at first, than I was at death itself; and these, added to the terror of the storm, put me into such a condition that I can by no words describe it. But the worst was not come yet; the storm continued with such fury that the seamen themselves acknowledged they had never seen a worse. We had a good ship, but she was deep laden, and wallowed in the sea, so that the seamen every now and then cried out she would founder. It was my advantage in one respect, that I did not know what they meant by FOUNDER till I inquired. However, the storm was so violent that I saw, what is not often seen, the master, the boatswain, and some others more sensible than the rest, at their prayers, and expecting every moment when the ship would go to the bottom. In the middle of the night, and under all the rest of our distresses, one of the men that had been down to see cried out we had sprung a leak; another said there was four feet water in the hold. Then all hands were called to the pump. At that word, my heart, as I thought, died within me: and I fell backwards upon the side of my bed where I sat, into the cabin. However, the men roused me, and told me that I, that was able to do nothing before, was as well able to pump as another; at which I stirred up and went to the pump, and worked very heartily. While this was doing the master, seeing some light colliers, who, not able to ride out the storm were obliged to slip and run away to sea, and would come near us, ordered to fire a gun as a signal of distress. I, who knew nothing what they meant, thought the ship had broken, or some dreadful thing happened. In a word, I was so surprised that I fell down in a swoon. As this was a time when everybody had his own life to think of, nobody minded me, or what was become of me; but another man stepped up to the pump, and thrusting me aside with his foot, let me lie, thinking I had been dead; and it was a great while before I came to myself.
We worked on; but the water increasing in the hold, it was apparent that the ship would founder; and though the storm began to abate a little, yet it was not possible she could swim till we might run into any port; so the master continued firing guns for help; and a light ship, who had rid it out just ahead of us, ventured a boat out to help us. It was with the utmost hazard the boat came near us; but it was impossible for us to get on board, or for the boat to lie near the ship's side, till at last the men rowing very heartily, and venturing their lives to save ours, our men cast them a rope over the stern with a buoy to it, and then veered it out a great length, which they, after much labour and hazard, took hold of, and we hauled them close under our stern, and got all into their boat. It was to no purpose for them or us, after we were in the boat, to think of reaching their own ship; so all agreed to let her drive, and only to pull her in towards shore as much as we could; and our master promised them, that if the boat was staved upon shore, he would make it good to their master: so partly rowing and partly driving, our boat went away to the northward, sloping towards the shore almost as far as Winterton Ness.
We were not much more than a quarter of an hour out of our ship till we saw her sink, and then I understood for the first time what was meant by a ship foundering in the sea. I must acknowledge I had hardly eyes to look up when the seamen told me she was sinking; for from the moment that they rather put me into the boat than that I might be said to go in, my heart was, as it were, dead within me, partly with fright, partly with horror of mind, and the thoughts of what was yet before me.
While we were in this condition - the men yet labouring at the oar to bring the boat near the shore - we could see (when, our boat mounting the waves, we were able to see the shore) a great many people running along the strand to assist us when we should come near; but we made but slow way towards the shore; nor were we able to reach the shore till, being past the lighthouse at Winterton, the shore falls off to the westward towards Cromer, and so the land broke off a little the violence of the wind. Here we got in, and though not without much difficulty, got all safe on shore, and walked afterwards on foot to Yarmouth, where, as unfortunate men, we were used with great humanity, as well by the magistrates of the town, who assigned us good quarters, as by particular merchants and owners of ships, and had money given us sufficient to carry us either to London or back to Hull as we thought fit.
Had I now had the sense to have gone back to Hull, and have gone home, I had been happy, and my father, as in our blessed Saviour's parable, had even killed the fatted calf for me; for hearing the ship I went away in was cast away in Yarmouth Roads, it was a great while before he had any assurances that I was not drowned.
But my ill fate pushed me on now with an obstinacy that nothing could resist; and though I had several times loud calls from my reason and my more composed judgment to go home, yet I had no power to do it. I know not what to call this, nor will I urge that it is a secret overruling decree, that hurries us on to be the instruments of our own destruction, even though it be before us, and that we rush upon it with our eyes open. Certainly, nothing but some such decreed unavoidable misery, which it was impossible for me to escape, could have pushed me forward against the calm reasonings and persuasions of my most retired thoughts, and against two such visible instructions as I had met with in my first attempt.
My comrade, who had helped to harden me before, and who was the master's son, was now less forward than I. The first time he spoke to me after we were at Yarmouth, which was not till two or three days, for we were separated in the town to several quarters; I say, the first time he saw me, it appeared his tone was altered; and, looking very melancholy, and shaking his head, he asked me how I did, and telling his father who I was, and how I had come this voyage only for a trial, in order to go further abroad, his father, turning to me with a very grave and concerned tone "Young man," says he, "you ought never to go to sea any more; you ought to take this for a plain and visible token that you are not to be a seafaring man." "Why, sir," said I, "will you go to sea no more?" "That is another case," said he; "it is my calling, and therefore my duty; but as you made this voyage on trial, you see what a taste Heaven has given you of what you are to expect if you persist. Perhaps this has all befallen us on your account, like Jonah in the ship of Tarshish. Pray," continues he, "what are you; and on what account did you go to sea?" Upon that I told him some of my story; at the end of which he burst out into a strange kind of passion: "What had I done," says he, "that such an unhappy wretch should come into my ship? I would not set my foot in the same ship with thee again for a thousand pounds." This indeed was, as I said, an excursion of his spirits, which were yet agitated by the sense of his loss, and was farther than he could have authority to go. However, he afterwards talked very gravely to me, exhorting me to go back to my father, and not tempt Providence to my ruin, telling me I might see a visible hand of Heaven against me. "And, young man," said he, "depend upon it, if you do not go back, wherever you go, you will meet with nothing but disasters and disappointments, till your father's words are fulfilled upon you."
We parted soon after; for I made him little answer, and I saw him no more; which way he went I knew not. As for me, having some money in my pocket, I travelled to London by land; and there, as well as on the road, had many struggles with myself what course of life I should take, and whether I should go home or to sea.
As to going home, shame opposed the best motions that offered to my thoughts, and it immediately occurred to me how I should be laughed at among the neighbours, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and mother only, but even everybody else; from whence I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth, to that reason which ought to guide them in such cases - viz. that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make them be esteemed wise men.
In this state of life, however, I remained some time, uncertain what measures to take, and what course of life to lead. An irresistible reluctance continued to going home; and as I stayed away a while, the remembrance of the distress I had been in wore off, and as that abated, the little motion I had in my desires to return wore off with it, till at last I quite laid aside the thoughts of it, and looked out for a voyage.
CHAPTER II - SLAVERY AND ESCAPE
THAT evil influence which carried me first away from my father's house - which hurried me into the wild and indigested notion of raising my fortune, and that impressed those conceits so forcibly upon me as to make me deaf to all good advice, and to the entreaties and even the commands of my father - I say, the same influence, whatever it was, presented the most unfortunate of all enterprises to my view; and I went on board a vessel bound to the coast of Africa; or, as our sailors vulgarly called it, a voyage to Guinea.
It was my great misfortune that in all these adventures I did not ship myself as a sailor; when, though I might indeed have worked a little harder than ordinary, yet at the same time I should have learnt the duty and office of a fore-mast man, and in time might have qualified myself for a mate or lieutenant, if not for a master. But as it was always my fate to choose for the worse, so I did here; for having money in my pocket and good clothes upon my back, I would always go on board in the habit of a gentleman; and so I neither had any business in the ship, nor learned to do any.
It was my lot first of all to fall into pretty good company in London, which does not always happen to such loose and misguided young fellows as I then was; the devil generally not omitting to lay some snare for them very early; but it was not so with me. I first got acquainted with the master of a ship who had been on the coast of Guinea; and who, having had very good success there, was resolved to go again. This captain taking a fancy to my conversation, which was not at all disagreeable at that time, hearing me say I had a mind to see the world, told me if I would go the voyage with him I should be at no expense; I should be his messmate and his companion; and if I could carry anything with me, I should have all the advantage of it that the trade would admit; and perhaps I might meet with some encouragement.
I embraced the offer; and entering into a strict friendship with this captain, who was an honest, plain-dealing man, I went the voyage with him, and carried a small adventure with me, which, by the disinterested honesty of my friend the captain, I increased very considerably; for I carried about 40 pounds in such toys and trifles as the captain directed me to buy. These 40 pounds I had mustered together by the assistance of some of my relations whom I corresponded with; and who, I believe, got my father, or at least my mother, to contribute so much as that to my first adventure.
This was the only voyage which I may say was successful in all my adventures, which I owe to the integrity and honesty of my friend the captain; under whom also I got a competent knowledge of the mathematics and the rules of navigation, learned how to keep an account of the ship's course, take an observation, and, in short, to understand some things that were needful to be understood by a sailor; for, as he took delight to instruct me, I took delight to learn; and, in a word, this voyage made me both a sailor and a merchant; for I brought home five pounds nine ounces of gold-dust for my adventure, which yielded me in London, at my return, almost 300 pounds; and this filled me with those aspiring thoughts which have since so completed my ruin.
Yet even in this voyage I had my misfortunes too; particularly, that I was continually sick, being thrown into a violent calenture by the excessive heat of the climate; our principal trading being upon the coast, from latitude of 15 degrees north even to the line itself.
I was now set up for a Guinea trader; and my friend, to my great misfortune, dying soon after his arrival, I resolved to go the same voyage again, and I embarked in the same vessel with one who was his mate in the former voyage, and had now got the command of the ship. This was the unhappiest voyage that ever man made; for though I did not carry quite 100 pounds of my new-gained wealth, so that I had 200 pounds left, which I had lodged with my friend's widow, who was very just to me, yet I fell into terrible misfortunes. The first was this: our ship making her course towards the Canary Islands, or rather between those islands and the African shore, was surprised in the grey of the morning by a Turkish rover of Sallee, who gave chase to us with all the sail she could make. We crowded also as much canvas as our yards would spread, or our masts carry, to get clear; but finding the pirate gained upon us, and would certainly come up with us in a few hours, we prepared to fight; our ship having twelve guns, and the rogue eighteen. About three in the afternoon he came up with us, and bringing to, by mistake, just athwart our quarter, instead of athwart our stern, as he intended, we brought eight of our guns to bear on that side, and poured in a broadside upon him, which made him sheer off again, after returning our fire, and pouring in also his small shot from near two hundred men which he had on board. However, we had not a man touched, all our men keeping close. He prepared to attack us again, and we to defend ourselves. But laying us on board the next time upon our other quarter, he entered sixty men upon our decks, who immediately fell to cutting and hacking the sails and rigging. We plied them with small shot, half-pikes, powder-chests, and such like, and cleared our deck of them twice. However, to cut short this melancholy part of our story, our ship being disabled, and three of our men killed, and eight wounded, we were obliged to yield, and were carried all prisoners into Sallee, a port belonging to the Moors.
The usage I had there was not so dreadful as at first I apprehended; nor was I carried up the country to the emperor's court, as the rest of our men were, but was kept by the captain of the rover as his proper prize, and made his slave, being young and nimble, and fit for his business. At this surprising change of my circumstances, from a merchant to a miserable slave, I was perfectly overwhelmed; and now I looked back upon my father's prophetic discourse to me, that I should be miserable and have none to relieve me, which I thought was now so effectually brought to pass that I could not be worse; for now the hand of Heaven had overtaken me, and I was undone without redemption; but, alas! this was but a taste of the misery I was to go through, as will appear in the sequel of this story.
As my new patron, or master, had taken me home to his house, so I was in hopes that he would take me with him when he went to sea again, believing that it would some time or other be his fate to be taken by a Spanish or Portugal man-of-war; and that then I should be set at liberty. But this hope of mine was soon taken away; for when he went to sea, he left me on shore to look after his little garden, and do the common drudgery of slaves about his house; and when he came home again from his cruise, he ordered me to lie in the cabin to look after the ship.
Here I meditated nothing but my escape, and what method I might take to effect it, but found no way that had the least probability in it; nothing presented to make the supposition of it rational; for I had nobody to communicate it to that would embark with me - no fellow-slave, no Englishman, Irishman, or Scotchman there but myself; so that for two years, though I often pleased myself with the imagination, yet I never had the least encouraging prospect of putting it in practice.
After about two years, an odd circumstance presented itself, which put the old thought of making some attempt for my liberty again in my head. My patron lying at home longer than usual without fitting out his ship, which, as I heard, was for want of money, he used constantly, once or twice a week, sometimes oftener if the weather was fair, to take the ship's pinnace and go out into the road a- fishing; and as he always took me and young Maresco with him to row the boat, we made him very merry, and I proved very dexterous in catching fish; insomuch that sometimes he would send me with a Moor, one of his kinsmen, and the youth - the Maresco, as they called him - to catch a dish of fish for him.
It happened one time, that going a-fishing in a calm morning, a fog rose so thick that, though we were not half a league from the shore, we lost sight of it; and rowing we knew not whither or which way, we laboured all day, and all the next night; and when the morning came we found we had pulled off to sea instead of pulling in for the shore; and that we were at least two leagues from the shore. However, we got well in again, though with a great deal of labour and some danger; for the wind began to blow pretty fresh in the morning; but we were all very hungry.
But our patron, warned by this disaster, resolved to take more care of himself for the future; and having lying by him the longboat of our English ship that he had taken, he resolved he would not go a- fishing any more without a compass and some provision; so he ordered the carpenter of his ship, who also was an English slave, to build a little state-room, or cabin, in the middle of the long- boat, like that of a barge, with a place to stand behind it to steer, and haul home the main-sheet; the room before for a hand or two to stand and work the sails. She sailed with what we call a shoulder-of-mutton sail; and the boom jibed over the top of the cabin, which lay very snug and low, and had in it room for him to lie, with a slave or two, and a table to eat on, with some small lockers to put in some bottles of such liquor as he thought fit to drink; and his bread, rice, and coffee.
We went frequently out with this boat a-fishing; and as I was most dexterous to catch fish for him, he never went without me. It happened that he had appointed to go out in this boat, either for pleasure or for fish, with two or three Moors of some distinction in that place, and for whom he had provided extraordinarily, and had, therefore, sent on board the boat overnight a larger store of provisions than ordinary; and had ordered me to get ready three fusees with powder and shot, which were on board his ship, for that they designed some sport of fowling as well as fishing.
I got all things ready as he had directed, and waited the next morning with the boat washed clean, her ancient and pendants out, and everything to accommodate his guests; when by-and-by my patron came on board alone, and told me his guests had put off going from some business that fell out, and ordered me, with the man and boy, as usual, to go out with the boat and catch them some fish, for that his friends were to sup at his house, and commanded that as soon as I got some fish I should bring it home to his house; all which I prepared to do.
This moment my former notions of deliverance darted into my thoughts, for now I found I was likely to have a little ship at my command; and my master being gone, I prepared to furnish myself, not for fishing business, but for a voyage; though I knew not, neither did I so much as consider, whither I should steer - anywhere to get out of that place was my desire.
My first contrivance was to make a pretence to speak to this Moor, to get something for our subsistence on board; for I told him we must not presume to eat of our patron's bread. He said that was true; so he brought a large basket of rusk or biscuit, and three jars of fresh water, into the boat. I knew where my patron's case of bottles stood, which it was evident, by the make, were taken out of some English prize, and I conveyed them into the boat while the Moor was on shore, as if they had been there before for our master. I conveyed also a great lump of beeswax into the boat, which weighed about half a hundred-weight, with a parcel of twine or thread, a hatchet, a saw, and a hammer, all of which were of great use to us afterwards, especially the wax, to make candles. Another trick I tried upon him, which he innocently came into also: his name was Ismael, which they call Muley, or Moely; so I called to him - "Moely," said I, "our patron's guns are on board the boat; can you not get a little powder and shot? It may be we may kill some alcamies (a fowl like our curlews) for ourselves, for I know he keeps the gunner's stores in the ship." "Yes," says he, "I'll bring some;" and accordingly he brought a great leather pouch, which held a pound and a half of powder, or rather more; and another with shot, that had five or six pounds, with some bullets, and put all into the boat. At the same time I had found some powder of my master's in the great cabin, with which I filled one of the large bottles in the case, which was almost empty, pouring what was in it into another; and thus furnished with everything needful, we sailed out of the port to fish. The castle, which is at the entrance of the port, knew who we were, and took no notice of us; and we were not above a mile out of the port before we hauled in our sail and set us down to fish. The wind blew from the N.N.E., which was contrary to my desire, for had it blown southerly I had been sure to have made the coast of Spain, and at least reached to the bay of Cadiz; but my resolutions were, blow which way it would, I would be gone from that horrid place where I was, and leave the rest to fate.
After we had fished some time and caught nothing - for when I had fish on my hook I would not pull them up, that he might not see them - I said to the Moor, "This will not do; our master will not be thus served; we must stand farther off." He, thinking no harm, agreed, and being in the head of the boat, set the sails; and, as I had the helm, I ran the boat out near a league farther, and then brought her to, as if I would fish; when, giving the boy the helm, I stepped forward to where the Moor was, and making as if I stooped for something behind him, I took him by surprise with my arm under his waist, and tossed him clear overboard into the sea. He rose immediately, for he swam like a cork, and called to me, begged to be taken in, told me he would go all over the world with me. He swam so strong after the boat that he would have reached me very quickly, there being but little wind; upon which I stepped into the cabin, and fetching one of the fowling-pieces, I presented it at him, and told him I had done him no hurt, and if he would be quiet I would do him none. "But," said I, "you swim well enough to reach to the shore, and the sea is calm; make the best of your way to shore, and I will do you no harm; but if you come near the boat I'll shoot you through the head, for I am resolved to have my liberty;" so he turned himself about, and swam for the shore, and I make no doubt but he reached it with ease, for he was an excellent swimmer.
I could have been content to have taken this Moor with me, and have drowned the boy, but there was no venturing to trust him. When he was gone, I turned to the boy, whom they called Xury, and said to him, "Xury, if you will be faithful to me, I'll make you a great man; but if you will not stroke your face to be true to me" - that is, swear by Mahomet and his father's beard - "I must throw you into the sea too." The boy smiled in my face, and spoke so innocently that I could not distrust him, and swore to be faithful to me, and go all over the world with me.
While I was in view of the Moor that was swimming, I stood out directly to sea with the boat, rather stretching to windward, that they might think me gone towards the Straits' mouth (as indeed any one that had been in their wits must have been supposed to do): for who would have supposed we were sailed on to the southward, to the truly Barbarian coast, where whole nations of negroes were sure to surround us with their canoes and destroy us; where we could not go on shore but we should be devoured by savage beasts, or more merciless savages of human kind.
But as soon as it grew dusk in the evening, I changed my course, and steered directly south and by east, bending my course a little towards the east, that I might keep in with the shore; and having a fair, fresh gale of wind, and a smooth, quiet sea, I made such sail that I believe by the next day, at three o'clock in the afternoon, when I first made the land, I could not be less than one hundred and fifty miles south of Sallee; quite beyond the Emperor of Morocco's dominions, or indeed of any other king thereabouts, for we saw no people.
Yet such was the fright I had taken of the Moors, and the dreadful apprehensions I had of falling into their hands, that I would not stop, or go on shore, or come to an anchor; the wind continuing fair till I had sailed in that manner five days; and then the wind shifting to the southward, I concluded also that if any of our vessels were in chase of me, they also would now give over; so I ventured to make to the coast, and came to an anchor in the mouth of a little river, I knew not what, nor where, neither what latitude, what country, what nation, or what river. I neither saw, nor desired to see any people; the principal thing I wanted was fresh water. We came into this creek in the evening, resolving to swim on shore as soon as it was dark, and discover the country; but as soon as it was quite dark, we heard such dreadful noises of the barking, roaring, and howling of wild creatures, of we knew not what kinds, that the poor boy was ready to die with fear, and begged of me not to go on shore till day. "Well, Xury," said I, "then I won't; but it may be that we may see men by day, who will be as bad to us as those lions." "Then we give them the shoot gun," says Xury, laughing, "make them run wey." Such English Xury spoke by conversing among us slaves. However, I was glad to see the boy so cheerful, and I gave him a dram (out of our patron's case of bottles) to cheer him up. After all, Xury's advice was good, and I took it; we dropped our little anchor, and lay still all night; I say still, for we slept none; for in two or three hours we saw vast great creatures (we knew not what to call them) of many sorts, come down to the sea-shore and run into the water, wallowing and washing themselves for the pleasure of cooling themselves; and they made such hideous howlings and yellings, that I never indeed heard the like.
Xury was dreadfully frighted, and indeed so was I too; but we were both more frighted when we heard one of these mighty creatures come swimming towards our boat; we could not see him, but we might hear him by his blowing to be a monstrous huge and furious beast. Xury said it was a lion, and it might be so for aught I know; but poor Xury cried to me to weigh the anchor and row away; "No," says I, "Xury; we can slip our cable, with the buoy to it, and go off to sea; they cannot follow us far." I had no sooner said so, but I perceived the creature (whatever it was) within two oars' length, which something surprised me; however, I immediately stepped to the cabin door, and taking up my gun, fired at him; upon which he immediately turned about and swam towards the shore again.
But it is impossible to describe the horrid noises, and hideous cries and howlings that were raised, as well upon the edge of the shore as higher within the country, upon the noise or report of the gun, a thing I have some reason to believe those creatures had never heard before: this convinced me that there was no going on shore for us in the night on that coast, and how to venture on shore in the day was another question too; for to have fallen into the hands of any of the savages had been as bad as to have fallen into the hands of the lions and tigers; at least we were equally apprehensive of the danger of it.
Be that as it would, we were obliged to go on shore somewhere or other for water, for we had not a pint left in the boat; when and where to get to it was the point. Xury said, if I would let him go on shore with one of the jars, he would find if there was any water, and bring some to me. I asked him why he would go? why I should not go, and he stay in the boat? The boy answered with so much affection as made me love him ever after. Says he, "If wild mans come, they eat me, you go wey." "Well, Xury," said I, "we will both go and if the wild mans come, we will kill them, they shall eat neither of us." So I gave Xury a piece of rusk bread to eat, and a dram out of our patron's case of bottles which I mentioned before; and we hauled the boat in as near the shore as we thought was proper, and so waded on shore, carrying nothing but our arms and two jars for water.
I did not care to go out of sight of the boat, fearing the coming of canoes with savages down the river; but the boy seeing a low place about a mile up the country, rambled to it, and by-and-by I saw him come running towards me. I thought he was pursued by some savage, or frighted with some wild beast, and I ran forward towards him to help him; but when I came nearer to him I saw something hanging over his shoulders, which was a creature that he had shot, like a hare, but different in colour, and longer legs; however, we were very glad of it, and it was very good meat; but the great joy that poor Xury came with, was to tell me he had found good water and seen no wild mans.
But we found afterwards that we need not take such pains for water, for a little higher up the creek where we were we found the water fresh when the tide was out, which flowed but a little way up; so we filled our jars, and feasted on the hare he had killed, and prepared to go on our way, having seen no footsteps of any human creature in that part of the country.
As I had been one voyage to this coast before, I knew very well that the islands of the Canaries, and the Cape de Verde Islands also, lay not far off from the coast. But as I had no instruments to take an observation to know what latitude we were in, and not exactly knowing, or at least remembering, what latitude they were in, I knew not where to look for them, or when to stand off to sea towards them; otherwise I might now easily have found some of these islands. But my hope was, that if I stood along this coast till I came to that part where the English traded, I should find some of their vessels upon their usual design of trade, that would relieve and take us in.
By the best of my calculation, that place where I now was must be that country which, lying between the Emperor of Morocco's dominions and the negroes, lies waste and uninhabited, except by wild beasts; the negroes having abandoned it and gone farther south for fear of the Moors, and the Moors not thinking it worth inhabiting by reason of its barrenness; and indeed, both forsaking it because of the prodigious number of tigers, lions, leopards, and other furious creatures which harbour there; so that the Moors use it for their hunting only, where they go like an army, two or three thousand men at a time; and indeed for near a hundred miles together upon this coast we saw nothing but a waste, uninhabited country by day, and heard nothing but howlings and roaring of wild beasts by night.
Once or twice in the daytime I thought I saw the Pico of Teneriffe, being the high top of the Mountain Teneriffe in the Canaries, and had a great mind to venture out, in hopes of reaching thither; but having tried twice, I was forced in again by contrary winds, the sea also going too high for my little vessel; so, I resolved to pursue my first design, and keep along the shore.
Several times I was obliged to land for fresh water, after we had left this place; and once in particular, being early in morning, we came to an anchor under a little point of land, which was pretty high; and the tide beginning to flow, we lay still to go farther in. Xury, whose eyes were more about him than it seems mine were, calls softly to me, and tells me that we had best go farther off the shore; "For," says he, "look, yonder lies a dreadful monster on the side of that hillock, fast asleep." I looked where he pointed, and saw a dreadful monster indeed, for it was a terrible, great lion that lay on the side of the shore, under the shade of a piece of the hill that hung as it were a little over him. "Xury," says I, "you shall on shore and kill him." Xury, looked frighted, and said, "Me kill! he eat me at one mouth!" - one mouthful he meant. However, I said no more to the boy, but bade him lie still, and I took our biggest gun, which was almost musket-bore, and loaded it with a good charge of powder, and with two slugs, and laid it down; then I loaded another gun with two bullets; and the third (for we had three pieces) I loaded with five smaller bullets. I took the best aim I could with the first piece to have shot him in the head, but he lay so with his leg raised a little above his nose, that the slugs hit his leg about the knee and broke the bone. He started up, growling at first, but finding his leg broken, fell down again; and then got upon three legs, and gave the most hideous roar that ever I heard. I was a little surprised that I had not hit him on the head; however, I took up the second piece immediately, and though he began to move off, fired again, and shot him in the head, and had the pleasure to see him drop and make but little noise, but lie struggling for life. Then Xury took heart, and would have me let him go on shore. "Well, go," said I: so the boy jumped into the water and taking a little gun in one hand, swam to shore with the other hand, and coming close to the creature, put the muzzle of the piece to his ear, and shot him in the head again, which despatched him quite.
This was game indeed to us, but this was no food; and I was very sorry to lose three charges of powder and shot upon a creature that was good for nothing to us. However, Xury said he would have some of him; so he comes on board, and asked me to give him the hatchet. "For what, Xury?" said I. "Me cut off his head," said he. However, Xury could not cut off his head, but he cut off a foot, and brought it with him, and it was a monstrous great one.
I bethought myself, however, that, perhaps the skin of him might, one way or other, be of some value to us; and I resolved to take off his skin if I could. So Xury and I went to work with him; but Xury was much the better workman at it, for I knew very ill how to do it. Indeed, it took us both up the whole day, but at last we got off the hide of him, and spreading it on the top of our cabin, the sun effectually dried it in two days' time, and it afterwards served me to lie upon.
CHAPTER III - WRECKED ON A DESERT ISLAND
AFTER this stop, we made on to the southward continually for ten or twelve days, living very sparingly on our provisions, which began to abate very much, and going no oftener to the shore than we were obliged to for fresh water. My design in this was to make the river Gambia or Senegal, that is to say anywhere about the Cape de Verde, where I was in hopes to meet with some European ship; and if I did not, I knew not what course I had to take, but to seek for the islands, or perish there among the negroes. I knew that all the ships from Europe, which sailed either to the coast of Guinea or to Brazil, or to the East Indies, made this cape, or those islands; and, in a word, I put the whole of my fortune upon this single point, either that I must meet with some ship or must perish.
When I had pursued this resolution about ten days longer, as I have said, I began to see that the land was inhabited; and in two or three places, as we sailed by, we saw people stand upon the shore to look at us; we could also perceive they were quite black and naked. I was once inclined to have gone on shore to them; but Xury was my better counsellor, and said to me, "No go, no go." However, I hauled in nearer the shore that I might talk to them, and I found they ran along the shore by me a good way. I observed they had no weapons in their hand, except one, who had a long slender stick, which Xury said was a lance, and that they could throw them a great way with good aim; so I kept at a distance, but talked with them by signs as well as I could; and particularly made signs for something to eat: they beckoned to me to stop my boat, and they would fetch me some meat. Upon this I lowered the top of my sail and lay by, and two of them ran up into the country, and in less than half-an- hour came back, and brought with them two pieces of dried flesh and some corn, such as is the produce of their country; but we neither knew what the one or the other was; however, we were willing to accept it, but how to come at it was our next dispute, for I would not venture on shore to them, and they were as much afraid of us; but they took a safe way for us all, for they brought it to the shore and laid it down, and went and stood a great way off till we fetched it on board, and then came close to us again.
We made signs of thanks to them, for we had nothing to make them amends; but an opportunity offered that very instant to oblige them wonderfully; for while we were lying by the shore came two mighty creatures, one pursuing the other (as we took it) with great fury from the mountains towards the sea; whether it was the male pursuing the female, or whether they were in sport or in rage, we could not tell, any more than we could tell whether it was usual or strange, but I believe it was the latter; because, in the first place, those ravenous creatures seldom appear but in the night; and, in the second place, we found the people terribly frighted, especially the women. The man that had the lance or dart did not fly from them, but the rest did; however, as the two creatures ran directly into the water, they did not offer to fall upon any of the negroes, but plunged themselves into the sea, and swam about, as if they had come for their diversion; at last one of them began to come nearer our boat than at first I expected; but I lay ready for him, for I had loaded my gun with all possible expedition, and bade Xury load both the others. As soon as he came fairly within my reach, I fired, and shot him directly in the head; immediately he sank down into the water, but rose instantly, and plunged up and down, as if he were struggling for life, and so indeed he was; he immediately made to the shore; but between the wound, which was his mortal hurt, and the strangling of the water, he died just before he reached the shore.
It is impossible to express the astonishment of these poor creatures at the noise and fire of my gun: some of them were even ready to die for fear, and fell down as dead with the very terror; but when they saw the creature dead, and sunk in the water, and that I made signs to them to come to the shore, they took heart and came, and began to search for the creature. I found him by his blood staining the water; and by the help of a rope, which I slung round him, and gave the negroes to haul, they dragged him on shore, and found that it was a most curious leopard, spotted, and fine to an admirable degree; and the negroes held up their hands with admiration, to think what it was I had killed him with.
The other creature, frighted with the flash of fire and the noise of the gun, swam on shore, and ran up directly to the mountains from whence they came; nor could I, at that distance, know what it was. I found quickly the negroes wished to eat the flesh of this creature, so I was willing to have them take it as a favour from me; which, when I made signs to them that they might take him, they were very thankful for. Immediately they fell to work with him; and though they had no knife, yet, with a sharpened piece of wood, they took off his skin as readily, and much more readily, than we could have done with a knife. They offered me some of the flesh, which I declined, pointing out that I would give it them; but made signs for the skin, which they gave me very freely, and brought me a great deal more of their provisions, which, though I did not understand, yet I accepted. I then made signs to them for some water, and held out one of my jars to them, turning it bottom upward, to show that it was empty, and that I wanted to have it filled. They called immediately to some of their friends, and there came two women, and brought a great vessel made of earth, and burnt, as I supposed, in the sun, this they set down to me, as before, and I sent Xury on shore with my jars, and filled them all three. The women were as naked as the men.
I was now furnished with roots and corn, such as it was, and water; and leaving my friendly negroes, I made forward for about eleven days more, without offering to go near the shore, till I saw the land run out a great length into the sea, at about the distance of four or five leagues before me; and the sea being very calm, I kept a large offing to make this point. At length, doubling the point, at about two leagues from the land, I saw plainly land on the other side, to seaward; then I concluded, as it was most certain indeed, that this was the Cape de Verde, and those the islands called, from thence, Cape de Verde Islands. However, they were at a great distance, and I could not well tell what I had best to do; for if I should be taken with a fresh of wind, I might neither reach one or other.
In this dilemma, as I was very pensive, I stepped into the cabin and sat down, Xury having the helm; when, on a sudden, the boy cried out, "Master, master, a ship with a sail!" and the foolish boy was frighted out of his wits, thinking it must needs be some of his master's ships sent to pursue us, but I knew we were far enough out of their reach. I jumped out of the cabin, and immediately saw, not only the ship, but that it was a Portuguese ship; and, as I thought, was bound to the coast of Guinea, for negroes. But, when I observed the course she steered, I was soon convinced they were bound some other way, and did not design to come any nearer to the shore; upon which I stretched out to sea as much as I could, resolving to speak with them if possible.
With all the sail I could make, I found I should not be able to come in their way, but that they would be gone by before I could make any signal to them: but after I had crowded to the utmost, and began to despair, they, it seems, saw by the help of their glasses that it was some European boat, which they supposed must belong to some ship that was lost; so they shortened sail to let me come up. I was encouraged with this, and as I had my patron's ancient on board, I made a waft of it to them, for a signal of distress, and fired a gun, both which they saw; for they told me they saw the smoke, though they did not hear the gun. Upon these signals they very kindly brought to, and lay by for me; and in about three hours; time I came up with them.
They asked me what I was, in Portuguese, and in Spanish, and in French, but I understood none of them; but at last a Scotch sailor, who was on board, called to me: and I answered him, and told him I was an Englishman, that I had made my escape out of slavery from the Moors, at Sallee; they then bade me come on board, and very kindly took me in, and all my goods.
It was an inexpressible joy to me, which any one will believe, that I was thus delivered, as I esteemed it, from such a miserable and almost hopeless condition as I was in; and I immediately offered all I had to the captain of the ship, as a return for my deliverance; but he generously told me he would take nothing from me, but that all I had should be delivered safe to me when I came to the Brazils. "For," says he, "I have saved your life on no other terms than I would be glad to be saved myself: and it may, one time or other, be my lot to be taken up in the same condition. Besides," said he, "when I carry you to the Brazils, so great a way from your own country, if I should take from you what you have, you will be starved there, and then I only take away that life I have given. No, no," says he: "Seignior Inglese" (Mr. Englishman), "I will carry you thither in charity, and those things will help to buy your subsistence there, and your passage home again."
As he was charitable in this proposal, so he was just in the performance to a tittle; for he ordered the seamen that none should touch anything that I had: then he took everything into his own possession, and gave me back an exact inventory of them, that I might have them, even to my three earthen jars.
As to my boat, it was a very good one; and that he saw, and told me he would buy it of me for his ship's use; and asked me what I would have for it? I told him he had been so generous to me in everything that I could not offer to make any price of the boat, but left it entirely to him: upon which he told me he would give me a note of hand to pay me eighty pieces of eight for it at Brazil; and when it came there, if any one offered to give more, he would make it up. He offered me also sixty pieces of eight more for my boy Xury, which I was loth to take; not that I was unwilling to let the captain have him, but I was very loth to sell the poor boy's liberty, who had assisted me so faithfully in procuring my own. However, when I let him know my reason, he owned it to be just, and offered me this medium, that he would give the boy an obligation to set him free in ten years, if he turned Christian: upon this, and Xury saying he was willing to go to him, I let the captain have him.
We had a very good voyage to the Brazils, and I arrived in the Bay de Todos los Santos, or All Saints' Bay, in about twenty-two days after. And now I was once more delivered from the most miserable of all conditions of life; and what to do next with myself I was to consider.
The generous treatment the captain gave me I can never enough remember: he would take nothing of me for my passage, gave me twenty ducats for the leopard's skin, and forty for the lion's skin, which I had in my boat, and caused everything I had in the ship to be punctually delivered to me; and what I was willing to sell he bought of me, such as the case of bottles, two of my guns, and a piece of the lump of beeswax - for I had made candles of the rest: in a word, I made about two hundred and twenty pieces of eight of all my cargo; and with this stock I went on shore in the Brazils.
I had not been long here before I was recommended to the house of a good honest man like himself, who had an INGENIO, as they call it (that is, a plantation and a sugar-house). I lived with him some time, and acquainted myself by that means with the manner of planting and making of sugar; and seeing how well the planters lived, and how they got rich suddenly, I resolved, if I could get a licence to settle there, I would turn planter among them: resolving in the meantime to find out some way to get my money, which I had left in London, remitted to me. To this purpose, getting a kind of letter of naturalisation, I purchased as much land that was uncured as my money would reach, and formed a plan for my plantation and settlement; such a one as might be suitable to the stock which I proposed to myself to receive from England.
I had a neighbour, a Portuguese, of Lisbon, but born of English parents, whose name was Wells, and in much such circumstances as I was. I call him my neighbour, because his plantation lay next to mine, and we went on very sociably together. My stock was but low, as well as his; and we rather planted for food than anything else, for about two years. However, we began to increase, and our land began to come into order; so that the third year we planted some tobacco, and made each of us a large piece of ground ready for planting canes in the year to come. But we both wanted help; and now I found, more than before, I had done wrong in parting with my boy Xury.
But, alas! for me to do wrong that never did right, was no great wonder. I hail no remedy but to go on: I had got into an employment quite remote to my genius, and directly contrary to the life I delighted in, and for which I forsook my father's house, and broke through all his good advice. Nay, I was coming into the very middle station, or upper degree of low life, which my father advised me to before, and which, if I resolved to go on with, I might as well have stayed at home, and never have fatigued myself in the world as I had done; and I used often to say to myself, I could have done this as well in England, among my friends, as have gone five thousand miles off to do it among strangers and savages, in a wilderness, and at such a distance as never to hear from any part of the world that had the least knowledge of me.
In this manner I used to look upon my condition with the utmost regret. I had nobody to converse with, but now and then this neighbour; no work to be done, but by the labour of my hands; and I used to say, I lived just like a man cast away upon some desolate island, that had nobody there but himself. But how just has it been - and how should all men reflect, that when they compare their present conditions with others that are worse, Heaven may oblige them to make the exchange, and be convinced of their former felicity by their experience - I say, how just has it been, that the truly solitary life I reflected on, in an island of mere desolation, should be my lot, who had so often unjustly compared it with the life which I then led, in which, had I continued, I had in all probability been exceeding prosperous and rich.
I was in some degree settled in my measures for carrying on the plantation before my kind friend, the captain of the ship that took me up at sea, went back - for the ship remained there, in providing his lading and preparing for his voyage, nearly three months - when telling him what little stock I had left behind me in London, he gave me this friendly and sincere advice:- "Seignior Inglese," says he (for so he always called me), "if you will give me letters, and a procuration in form to me, with orders to the person who has your money in London to send your effects to Lisbon, to such persons as I shall direct, and in such goods as are proper for this country, I will bring you the produce of them, God willing, at my return; but, since human affairs are all subject to changes and disasters, I would have you give orders but for one hundred pounds sterling, which, you say, is half your stock, and let the hazard be run for the first; so that, if it come safe, you may order the rest the same way, and, if it miscarry, you may have the other half to have recourse to for your supply."
This was so wholesome advice, and looked so friendly, that I could not but be convinced it was the best course I could take; so I accordingly prepared letters to the gentlewoman with whom I had left my money, and a procuration to the Portuguese captain, as he desired.
I wrote the English captain's widow a full account of all my adventures - my slavery, escape, and how I had met with the Portuguese captain at sea, the humanity of his behaviour, and what condition I was now in, with all other necessary directions for my supply; and when this honest captain came to Lisbon, he found means, by some of the English merchants there, to send over, not the order only, but a full account of my story to a merchant in London, who represented it effectually to her; whereupon she not only delivered the money, but out of her own pocket sent the Portugal captain a very handsome present for his humanity and charity to me.
The merchant in London, vesting this hundred pounds in English goods, such as the captain had written for, sent them directly to him at Lisbon, and he brought them all safe to me to the Brazils; among which, without my direction (for I was too young in my business to think of them), he had taken care to have all sorts of tools, ironwork, and utensils necessary for my plantation, and which were of great use to me.
When this cargo arrived I thought my fortune made, for I was surprised with the joy of it; and my stood steward, the captain, had laid out the five pounds, which my friend had sent him for a present for himself, to purchase and bring me over a servant, under bond for six years' service, and would not accept of any consideration, except a little tobacco, which I would have him accept, being of my own produce.
Neither was this all; for my goods being all English manufacture, such as cloths, stuffs, baize, and things particularly valuable and desirable in the country, I found means to sell them to a very great advantage; so that I might say I had more than four times the value of my first cargo, and was now infinitely beyond my poor neighbour - I mean in the advancement of my plantation; for the first thing I did, I bought me a negro slave, and an European servant also - I mean another besides that which the captain brought me from Lisbon.
But as abused prosperity is oftentimes made the very means of our greatest adversity, so it was with me. I went on the next year with great success in my plantation: I raised fifty great rolls of tobacco on my own ground, more than I had disposed of for necessaries among my neighbours; and these fifty rolls, being each of above a hundredweight, were well cured, and laid by against the return of the fleet from Lisbon: and now increasing in business and wealth, my head began to be full of projects and undertakings beyond my reach; such as are, indeed, often the ruin of the best heads in business. Had I continued in the station I was now in, I had room for all the happy things to have yet befallen me for which my father so earnestly recommended a quiet, retired life, and of which he had so sensibly described the middle station of life to be full of; but other things attended me, and I was still to be the wilful agent of all my own miseries; and particularly, to increase my fault, and double the reflections upon myself, which in my future sorrows I should have leisure to make, all these miscarriages were procured by my apparent obstinate adhering to my foolish inclination of wandering abroad, and pursuing that inclination, in contradiction to the clearest views of doing myself good in a fair and plain pursuit of those prospects, and those measures of life, which nature and Providence concurred to present me with, and to make my duty.
As I had once done thus in my breaking away from my parents, so I could not be content now, but I must go and leave the happy view I had of being a rich and thriving man in my new plantation, only to pursue a rash and immoderate desire of rising faster than the nature of the thing admitted; and thus I cast myself down again into the deepest gulf of human misery that ever man fell into, or perhaps could be consistent with life and a state of health in the world.
To come, then, by the just degrees to the particulars of this part of my story. You may suppose, that having now lived almost four years in the Brazils, and beginning to thrive and prosper very well upon my plantation, I had not only learned the language, but had contracted acquaintance and friendship among my fellow-planters, as well as among the merchants at St. Salvador, which was our port; and that, in my discourses among them, I had frequently given them an account of my two voyages to the coast of Guinea: the manner of trading with the negroes there, and how easy it was to purchase upon the coast for trifles - such as beads, toys, knives, scissors, hatchets, bits of glass, and the like - not only gold-dust, Guinea grains, elephants' teeth, &c., but negroes, for the service of the Brazils, in great numbers.
They listened always very attentively to my discourses on these heads, but especially to that part which related to the buying of negroes, which was a trade at that time, not only not far entered into, but, as far as it was, had been carried on by assientos, or permission of the kings of Spain and Portugal, and engrossed in the public stock: so that few negroes were bought, and these excessively dear.
It happened, being in company with some merchants and planters of my acquaintance, and talking of those things very earnestly, three of them came to me next morning, and told me they had been musing very much upon what I had discoursed with them of the last night, and they came to make a secret proposal to me; and, after enjoining me to secrecy, they told me that they had a mind to fit out a ship to go to Guinea; that they had all plantations as well as I, and were straitened for nothing so much as servants; that as it was a trade that could not be carried on, because they could not publicly sell the negroes when they came home, so they desired to make but one voyage, to bring the negroes on shore privately, and divide them among their own plantations; and, in a word, the question was whether I would go their supercargo in the ship, to manage the trading part upon the coast of Guinea; and they offered me that I should have my equal share of the negroes, without providing any part of the stock.
This was a fair proposal, it must be confessed, had it been made to any one that had not had a settlement and a plantation of his own to look after, which was in a fair way of coming to be very considerable, and with a good stock upon it; but for me, that was thus entered and established, and had nothing to do but to go on as I had begun, for three or four years more, and to have sent for the other hundred pounds from England; and who in that time, and with that little addition, could scarce have failed of being worth three or four thousand pounds sterling, and that increasing too - for me to think of such a voyage was the most preposterous thing that ever man in such circumstances could be guilty of.
But I, that was born to be my own destroyer, could no more resist the offer than I could restrain my first rambling designs when my father' good counsel was lost upon me. In a word, I told them I would go with all my heart, if they would undertake to look after my plantation in my absence, and would dispose of it to such as I should direct, if I miscarried. This they all engaged to do, and entered into writings or covenants to do so; and I made a formal will, disposing of my plantation and effects in case of my death, making the captain of the ship that had saved my life, as before, my universal heir, but obliging him to dispose of my effects as I had directed in my will; one half of the produce being to himself, and the other to be shipped to England.
In short, I took all possible caution to preserve my effects and to keep up my plantation. Had I used half as much prudence to have looked into my own interest, and have made a judgment of what I ought to have done and not to have done, I had certainly never gone away from so prosperous an undertaking, leaving all the probable views of a thriving circumstance, and gone upon a voyage to sea, attended with all its common hazards, to say nothing of the reasons I had to expect particular misfortunes to myself.
But I was hurried on, and obeyed blindly the dictates of my fancy rather than my reason; and, accordingly, the ship being fitted out, and the cargo furnished, and all things done, as by agreement, by my partners in the voyage, I went on board in an evil hour, the 1st September 1659, being the same day eight years that I went from my father and mother at Hull, in order to act the rebel to their authority, and the fool to my own interests.
Our ship was about one hundred and twenty tons burden, carried six guns and fourteen men, besides the master, his boy, and myself. We had on board no large cargo of goods, except of such toys as were fit for our trade with the negroes, such as beads, bits of glass, shells, and other trifles, especially little looking-glasses, knives, scissors, hatchets, and the like.
The same day I went on board we set sail, standing away to the northward upon our own coast, with design to stretch over for the African coast when we came about ten or twelve degrees of northern latitude, which, it seems, was the manner of course in those days. We had very good weather, only excessively hot, all the way upon our own coast, till we came to the height of Cape St. Augustino; from whence, keeping further off at sea, we lost sight of land, and steered as if we were bound for the isle Fernando de Noronha, holding our course N.E. by N., and leaving those isles on the east. In this course we passed the line in about twelve days' time, and were, by our last observation, in seven degrees twenty-two minutes northern latitude, when a violent tornado, or hurricane, took us quite out of our knowledge. It began from the south-east, came about to the north-west, and then settled in the north-east; from whence it blew in such a terrible manner, that for twelve days together we could do nothing but drive, and, scudding away before it, let it carry us whither fate and the fury of the winds directed; and, during these twelve days, I need not say that I expected every day to be swallowed up; nor, indeed, did any in the ship expect to save their lives.
In this distress we had, besides the terror of the storm, one of our men die of the calenture, and one man and the boy washed overboard. About the twelfth day, the weather abating a little, the master made an observation as well as he could, and found that he was in about eleven degrees north latitude, but that he was twenty-two degrees of longitude difference west from Cape St. Augustino; so that he found he was upon the coast of Guiana, or the north part of Brazil, beyond the river Amazon, toward that of the river Orinoco, commonly called the Great River; and began to consult with me what course he should take, for the ship was leaky, and very much disabled, and he was going directly back to the coast of Brazil.
I was positively against that; and looking over the charts of the sea-coast of America with him, we concluded there was no inhabited country for us to have recourse to till we came within the circle of the Caribbee Islands, and therefore resolved to stand away for Barbadoes; which, by keeping off at sea, to avoid the indraft of the Bay or Gulf of Mexico, we might easily perform, as we hoped, in about fifteen days' sail; whereas we could not possibly make our voyage to the coast of Africa without some assistance both to our ship and to ourselves.
With this design we changed our course, and steered away N.W. by W., in order to reach some of our English islands, where I hoped for relief. But our voyage was otherwise determined; for, being in the latitude of twelve degrees eighteen minutes, a second storm came upon us, which carried us away with the same impetuosity westward, and drove us so out of the way of all human commerce, that, had all our lives been saved as to the sea, we were rather in danger of being devoured by savages than ever returning to our own country.
In this distress, the wind still blowing very hard, one of our men early in the morning cried out, "Land!" and we had no sooner run out of the cabin to look out, in hopes of seeing whereabouts in the world we were, than the ship struck upon a sand, and in a moment her motion being so stopped, the sea broke over her in such a manner that we expected we should all have perished immediately; and we were immediately driven into our close quarters, to shelter us from the very foam and spray of the sea.
It is not easy for any one who has not been in the like condition to describe or conceive the consternation of men in such circumstances. We knew nothing where we were, or upon what land it was we were driven - whether an island or the main, whether inhabited or not inhabited. As the rage of the wind was still great, though rather less than at first, we could not so much as hope to have the ship hold many minutes without breaking into pieces, unless the winds, by a kind of miracle, should turn immediately about. In a word, we sat looking upon one another, and expecting death every moment, and every man, accordingly, preparing for another world; for there was little or nothing more for us to do in this. That which was our present comfort, and all the comfort we had, was that, contrary to our expectation, the ship did not break yet, and that the master said the wind began to abate.
Now, though we thought that the wind did a little abate, yet the ship having thus struck upon the sand, and sticking too fast for us to expect her getting off, we were in a dreadful condition indeed, and had nothing to do but to think of saving our lives as well as we could. We had a boat at our stern just before the storm, but she was first staved by dashing against the ship's rudder, and in the next place she broke away, and either sunk or was driven off to sea; so there was no hope from her. We had another boat on board, but how to get her off into the sea was a doubtful thing. However, there was no time to debate, for we fancied that the ship would break in pieces every minute, and some told us she was actually broken already.
In this distress the mate of our vessel laid hold of the boat, and with the help of the rest of the men got her slung over the ship's side; and getting all into her, let go, and committed ourselves, being eleven in number, to God's mercy and the wild sea; for though the storm was abated considerably, yet the sea ran dreadfully high upon the shore, and might be well called DEN WILD ZEE, as the Dutch call the sea in a storm.
And now our case was very dismal indeed; for we all saw plainly that the sea went so high that the boat could not live, and that we should be inevitably drowned. As to making sail, we had none, nor if we had could we have done anything with it; so we worked at the oar towards the land, though with heavy hearts, like men going to execution; for we all knew that when the boat came near the shore she would be dashed in a thousand pieces by the breach of the sea. However, we committed our souls to God in the most earnest manner; and the wind driving us towards the shore, we hastened our destruction with our own hands, pulling as well as we could towards land.
What the shore was, whether rock or sand, whether steep or shoal, we knew not. The only hope that could rationally give us the least shadow of expectation was, if we might find some bay or gulf, or the mouth of some river, where by great chance we might have run our boat in, or got under the lee of the land, and perhaps made smooth water. But there was nothing like this appeared; but as we made nearer and nearer the shore, the land looked more frightful than the sea.
After we had rowed, or rather driven about a league and a half, as we reckoned it, a raging wave, mountain-like, came rolling astern of us, and plainly bade us expect the COUP DE GRACE. It took us with such a fury, that it overset the boat at once; and separating us as well from the boat as from one another, gave us no time to say, "O God!" for we were all swallowed up in a moment.
Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt when I sank into the water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver myself from the waves so as to draw breath, till that wave having driven me, or rather carried me, a vast way on towards the shore, and having spent itself, went back, and left me upon the land almost dry, but half dead with the water I took in. I had so much presence of mind, as well as breath left, that seeing myself nearer the mainland than I expected, I got upon my feet, and endeavoured to make on towards the land as fast as I could before another wave should return and take me up again; but I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy, which I had no means or strength to contend with: my business was to hold my breath, and raise myself upon the water if I could; and so, by swimming, to preserve my breathing, and pilot myself towards the shore, if possible, my greatest concern now being that the sea, as it would carry me a great way towards the shore when it came on, might not carry me back again with it when it gave back towards the sea.
The wave that came upon me again buried me at once twenty or thirty feet deep in its own body, and I could feel myself carried with a mighty force and swiftness towards the shore - a very great way; but I held my breath, and assisted myself to swim still forward with all my might. I was ready to burst with holding my breath, when, as I felt myself rising up, so, to my immediate relief, I found my head and hands shoot out above the surface of the water; and though it was not two seconds of time that I could keep myself so, yet it relieved me greatly, gave me breath, and new courage. I was covered again with water a good while, but not so long but I held it out; and finding the water had spent itself, and began to return, I struck forward against the return of the waves, and felt ground again with my feet. I stood still a few moments to recover breath, and till the waters went from me, and then took to my heels and ran with what strength I had further towards the shore. But neither would this deliver me from the fury of the sea, which came pouring in after me again; and twice more I was lifted up by the waves and carried forward as before, the shore being very flat.
The last time of these two had well-nigh been fatal to me, for the sea having hurried me along as before, landed me, or rather dashed me, against a piece of rock, and that with such force, that it left me senseless, and indeed helpless, as to my own deliverance; for the blow taking my side and breast, beat the breath as it were quite out of my body; and had it returned again immediately, I must have been strangled in the water; but I recovered a little before the return of the waves, and seeing I should be covered again with the water, I resolved to hold fast by a piece of the rock, and so to hold my breath, if possible, till the wave went back. Now, as the waves were not so high as at first, being nearer land, I held my hold till the wave abated, and then fetched another run, which brought me so near the shore that the next wave, though it went over me, yet did not so swallow me up as to carry me away; and the next run I took, I got to the mainland, where, to my great comfort, I clambered up the cliffs of the shore and sat me down upon the grass, free from danger and quite out of the reach of the water.
I was now landed and safe on shore, and began to look up and thank God that my life was saved, in a case wherein there was some minutes before scarce any room to hope. I believe it is impossible to express, to the life, what the ecstasies and transports of the soul are, when it is so saved, as I may say, out of the very grave: and I do not wonder now at the custom, when a malefactor, who has the halter about his neck, is tied up, and just going to be turned off, and has a reprieve brought to him - I say, I do not wonder that they bring a surgeon with it, to let him blood that very moment they tell him of it, that the surprise may not drive the animal spirits from the heart and overwhelm him.
"For sudden joys, like griefs, confound at first."
I walked about on the shore lifting up my hands, and my whole being, as I may say, wrapped up in a contemplation of my deliverance; making a thousand gestures and motions, which I cannot describe; reflecting upon all my comrades that were drowned, and that there should not be one soul saved but myself; for, as for them, I never saw them afterwards, or any sign of them, except three of their hats, one cap, and two shoes that were not fellows.
I cast my eye to the stranded vessel, when, the breach and froth of the sea being so big, I could hardly see it, it lay so far of; and considered, Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore
After I had solaced my mind with the comfortable part of my condition, I began to look round me, to see what kind of place I was in, and what was next to be done; and I soon found my comforts abate, and that, in a word, I had a dreadful deliverance; for I was wet, had no clothes to shift me, nor anything either to eat or drink to comfort me; neither did I see any prospect before me but that of perishing with hunger or being devoured by wild beasts; and that which was particularly afflicting to me was, that I had no weapon, either to hunt and kill any creature for my sustenance, or to defend myself against any other creature that might desire to kill me for theirs. In a word, I had nothing about me but a knife, a tobacco-pipe, and a little tobacco in a box. This was all my provisions; and this threw me into such terrible agonies of mind, that for a while I ran about like a madman. Night coming upon me, I began with a heavy heart to consider what would be my lot if there were any ravenous beasts in that country, as at night they always come abroad for their prey.
All the remedy that offered to my thoughts at that time was to get up into a thick bushy tree like a fir, but thorny, which grew near me, and where I resolved to sit all night, and consider the next day what death I should die, for as yet I saw no prospect of life. I walked about a furlong from the shore, to see if I could find any fresh water to drink, which I did, to my great joy; and having drank, and put a little tobacco into my mouth to prevent hunger, I went to the tree, and getting up into it, endeavoured to place myself so that if I should sleep I might not fall. And having cut me a short stick, like a truncheon, for my defence, I took up my lodging; and having been excessively fatigued, I fell fast asleep, and slept as comfortably as, I believe, few could have done in my condition, and found myself more refreshed with it than, I think, I ever was on such an occasion.
CHAPTER IV - FIRST WEEKS ON THE ISLAND
WHEN I waked it was broad day, the weather clear, and the storm abated, so that the sea did not rage and swell as before. But that which surprised me most was, that the ship was lifted off in the night from the sand where she lay by the swelling of the tide, and was driven up almost as far as the rock which I at first mentioned, where I had been so bruised by the wave dashing me against it. This being within about a mile from the shore where I was, and the ship seeming to stand upright still, I wished myself on board, that at least I might save some necessary things for my use.
When I came down from my apartment in the tree, I looked about me again, and the first thing I found was the boat, which lay, as the wind and the sea had tossed her up, upon the land, about two miles on my right hand. I walked as far as I could upon the shore to have got to her; but found a neck or inlet of water between me and the boat which was about half a mile broad; so I came back for the present, being more intent upon getting at the ship, where I hoped to find something for my present subsistence.
A little after noon I found the sea very calm, and the tide ebbed so far out that I could come within a quarter of a mile of the ship. And here I found a fresh renewing of my grief; for I saw evidently that if we had kept on board we had been all safe - that is to say, we had all got safe on shore, and I had not been so miserable as to be left entirety destitute of all comfort and company as I now was. This forced tears to my eyes again; but as there was little relief in that, I resolved, if possible, to get to the ship; so I pulled off my clothes - for the weather was hot to extremity - and took the water. But when I came to the ship my difficulty was still greater to know how to get on board; for, as she lay aground, and high out of the water, there was nothing within my reach to lay hold of. I swam round her twice, and the second time I spied a small piece of rope, which I wondered I did not see at first, hung down by the fore-chains so low, as that with great difficulty I got hold of it, and by the help of that rope I got up into the forecastle of the ship. Here I found that the ship was bulged, and had a great deal of water in her hold, but that she lay so on the side of a bank of hard sand, or, rather earth, that her stern lay lifted up upon the bank, and her head low, almost to the water. By this means all her quarter was free, and all that was in that part was dry; for you may be sure my first work was to search, and to see what was spoiled and what was free. And, first, I found that all the ship's provisions were dry and untouched by the water, and being very well disposed to eat, I went to the bread room and filled my pockets with biscuit, and ate it as I went about other things, for I had no time to lose. I also found some rum in the great cabin, of which I took a large dram, and which I had, indeed, need enough of to spirit me for what was before me. Now I wanted nothing but a boat to furnish myself with many things which I foresaw would be very necessary to me. | <urn:uuid:befc21dc-cdf0-4898-8854-5e4a83e4916b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hotfreebooks.com/book/Robinson-Crusoe-Daniel-Defoe.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00092-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.991791 | 22,440 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Emergency Waste Assessment for Yemen
During the month of July 2015, Disaster Waste Recovery and UNDP conducted an emergency waste assessment in six governorates to investigate the impact of the current crisis on the waste management cycle and identify possible entry points for immediate intervention. The governorates of Aden, Amran, Hadramaut, Hajjah, Sa’ada, and Sana’a were targeted during the assessment, which was severely limited by access and security constraints. The survey targeted four different stages of the waste management cycle, from generation to disposal, through four different questionnaires: 1) the Neighbourhood Assessment Tool, for assessing waste collection status in the cities; 2) the Infrastructure Assessment Tool, to evaluate disposal sites; the 3) Local Authorities Assessment Tool, to appraise the capacity of Cleanliness Funds to deliver waste management services; and 4) the Private Sector Survey, to evaluate state of the recycling sector in light of the crisis.
The findings highlight the reduction in capacity by local authorities to provide waste collection services due to lack of resources to pay for staff salaries, vehicle repair and fuel for transport; furthermore, the state of collection coverage was already insufficient before the crisis, with a general lack of resources for investments and effective operation and maintenance of the vehicle fleet. Furthermore, some vehicles were reported stolen or damaged by the warring parties during the conflict.
This led to a reduction waste collection frequency in the assessed cities, as well as the use of improvised alternative disposal sites in light of the reduced fuel availability. Many traditional disposal sites are not currently operational, with those still working being operated as open dumps. Open fires, presence of scavengers on site, damaged infrastructure and vehicles are common features of the assessed disposal sites, some of which have also been directly targeted during the fighting.
Based on the identified needs and the support provided to local authorities by other humanitarian actors such as UNICEF, ICRC, Mercy Corps and GIZ, the study identifies several entry points for interventions.
These actions are just an immediate response to the most pressing needs and have an envisaged timespan of six months; additional responses with a longer temporal horizon are still needed in support of the solid waste management cycle in Yemen.
Entry points for interventions
- First, extraordinary waste collection operations and continued support to day-to-day operations of local authorities through fuel provision, cash-for-work and the payment of salaries to local waste collection staff will allow for a rapid solution to waste accumulating in the streets.
- Second, to re-establish the capacity to provide waste collection by local authorities, the repair and rehabilitation of broken down vehicles through the provision of spare parts and tools.
- Third, the improvement of disposal sites by extinguishing landfill fires, repairing the perimeter fencing, and the rehabilitation of broken down heavy machinery.
- Fourth, the establishment of a safe handling and treatment cycle for healthcare waste by the provision of a power generator and fuel to Sana’a treatment plant, along with container provision and training of medical staff on segregation practices.
- Finally, the reactivation of the recycling sector by providing power generators, grants for the substitution of damaged machinery and buildings, and the support of informal recycling sector through their organization in associations and cooperatives. | <urn:uuid:3f83b0da-d8ce-45d1-9592-1f255678bc2d> | CC-MAIN-2018-51 | http://www.ye.undp.org/content/yemen/en/home/library/poverty/emergency-waste-assessment.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-51/segments/1544376823621.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20181211125831-20181211151331-00111.warc.gz | en | 0.946815 | 655 | 2.53125 | 3 |
What is MS Physics? What’s grounding in Physics?
All of us have our preferred procedures of grounding, but I guess that 1 has to find out to compromise. Sadly, for students in physics, some individuals might not like compromises and this could be a factor essay writer inside the students’ education.
Let us appear at physics in a small more detail. When a plane falls on the earth, it will not rise up out of the ground and fly away. As an alternative, the earth absorbs the energy that was present when the plane came down, the ground absorbs the power in a slow way and also the plane does not leave the ground.
Eventually, when waves type about the plane, the surface of your earth absorbs them and they push upward on the surface of your earth. Sooner or later, the plane leaves the ground, and returns for the starting with the earth.
Then, the power contained inside the waves passes by way of the ground to the plane and from the plane for the ground as well as the complete procedure repeats. This really is what we contact ground absorption.
A question about this method came from a web-based questioner and also the answer stated that the ground-absorbing energy is known as Refraction Physics Definition. It’s defined because the energy in waves that travel via the medium.
For example, once you make a sound by blowing air, the sound waves will travel through the air and then the air passes via the sound wave. The water passes through the air and at the very same time, the air and water are making stress, just as we described above.
This is www.maths.usyd.edu.au how do air waves travel from one side of an ocean for the other. When the waveis traveling towards the suitable, the wave passes via water and becomes much less dense. The denser water leaves the wave’s path as it goes right and becomes a part of the air.
After the wave has left the water and passed by way of the air and water once again, it moves back to its original starting point and that’s where the power is absorbed within the earth and stored in the ground. Hence, it truly is named Refraction Physics Definition.
The way refraction physics operates is the fact that if the waves hit the surface in the earth at a particular angle, the waves adjust direction. This change will be the energy that one particular particular person thinks of when they hear “reflection”. Hence, when the wave hits the earth, the waves alter path then go back in to the sea and eventually come back towards the spot where the waves originated from.
If you would take that final step and say that the reflection around the surface would payforessay.net be the “power” of the waves that came from a different point and went by way of the water, then you would have gotten your answer, “Refraction Physics Definition”. Now, what is that?
The answer to the question of what exactly is refraction physics is, to place it simply, reflection, energy, and water. If you would prefer to find out far more in regards to the topic, the following post might be regarding the law of reflection in refraction physics. | <urn:uuid:c3cb7e8c-c71e-43cc-a1f5-59ce307162a6> | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | https://sikhiu.go.th/%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B9%E0%B9%88/what-is-refraction-physics-definition/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780056297.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20210918032926-20210918062926-00345.warc.gz | en | 0.954212 | 675 | 3.546875 | 4 |
A History of Japanese Political Thought, 1600-1901
by Watanabe Hiroshi, translated by David Noble, I-House Press, International House of Japan, 2012, 543 pages including notes, bibliography and index, ISBN 978-4-903452-24-1
Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi
Professor Hiroshi Watanabe is professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo and a specialist in the history of Japanese and Asian political thought. Students of Japanese history, philosophy and politics will find this book of outstanding value. It is clear, well-constructed and informative. The translation by David Noble reads well; indeed it rarely seems like a translation.
Professor Watanabe begins with a summary of Confucian thought and much of the book is devoted to an analysis of the various interpretations of Confucian precepts made by Japanese scholars in the Edo period including Hakuseki Arai [新井 白石], Sorai Ogyû [荻生 徂徠] and Shõeki Andõ [安藤 昌益].
Confucianism was not a religion, but was regarded as the official philosophy of the ruling elite. Confucian teaching, however, did not always conform to the realities of Tokugawa rule. The Confucian concept of meritocracy which lay behind the Chinese selection of bureaucrats through competitive examinations was at odds with the Tokugawa system where ‘the army was the bureaucracy, the bureaucracy, the army.’ The army consisted of the samurai who were an hereditary elite whose ‘stock in trade was the violence, maiming, and slaughter demanded by warfare.’ [pp 27-28] ‘The looting and pillage…often associated with the warrior class’ were hard to reconcile with the benevolence (jin -仁) of Confucianism. The ‘way of the warrior’ (bushi -武士道) as it developed in the peace enacted by the Tokugawa, which was ‘based on a very personal sense of honor and shame’ was ‘reduced to little more than sham and playacting’ [p.38].
Tokugawa rule was accepted for over 250 years if only because peace and civil order were preserved and there was no recurrence of the decades of terror that had prevailed before Tokugawa hegemony was achieved. But if the Tokugawa had received ‘the mandate of heaven’ should this mandate be preserved for ever? The Confucian precept of dynastic overthrow or hõbaku seemed sound to Ieyasu who usurped power, but ‘began to seem disruptive and traitorous in a world at peace’ [p.99]. Confucian precepts could thus be used against the maintenance of Tokugawa rule.
Confucianism was not the only philosophy which potentially undermined the shogunate. The researches and teaching of Mabuchi Kamo [賀茂 真淵] and above all of Norinaga Motoori [本居 宣長] on Japan’s ancient texts also challenged Confucian philosophy and undermined the basis of Tokugawa rule. Norinaga thought that ‘the ancient way’ signified ‘the great and honourable customs of our august land’ before they were polluted by the importation of teachings from the Asian continent [p.238].’ Norinaga believed that ‘the emperor rules not by virtue, but by heredity. Therefore, his sovereignty is absolute’ [p.245].
Another force for change was the perception which developed in the Edo period of Japan as an entity or country. As Japan became more prosperous under the pax Tokugawa, travel increased and there was increased demand for maps not only of Japan but of the rest of the world. Rangaku (Dutch studies) led to more information becoming available about the world outside Japan. By the middle of the nineteenth century it was apparent to many in Japan that the land of the rising sun could no longer remain isolated from the rest of the world. The idea that Japan was opened in one fell swoop by the force of Perry’s Black ships is a oversimplified myth. The time was ripe for change.
Watanabe has much else of interest to say about the Edo era and its codes and beliefs. His chapter sixteen on ‘Sexuality and the social order’ underlines the differences between China and Japan in relation to the role of women. Men and women mixed much more freely in Japan. Women ‘were expected to join men in performing quite arduous outdoor labor’ and women could and did participate in commerce [p.296]. Virginity was not a prerequisite for marriage. Women were expected to exercise their charms whether they were wives or courtesans or as Watanabe puts it ‘Ordinary women were courtesans in plain dress, courtesans were gaudier and more gorgeous wives’ [p.304]. The section of this chapter on homosexuality ends with this comment: ‘Homosexuality was an emblem of the misogyny arising out of the solidarity and machismo of the warrior class, as well as a symbolic expression of warrior rule in the realm of gender relations’ [p. 309].
Coming to the Meiji period Watanabe notes that ‘It was commonly (though tacitly) understood that restoring imperial rule did not actually mean reinstating personal rule by the emperor.’ He also points out that the Meiji leaders were frequently inconsistent in their beliefs and actions, ‘Many underwent multiple conversions’ [p.355], but this should not be held against them. Pragmatism was justified. He stresses that the Meiji state was not ‘a simple fusion of Western institutions of representative government with the ‘traditional’ Japanese emperor system.’ Indeed ‘the emperor system was modelled in certain respects on the monarchies of the contemporary West’ [p.389].
In the context of the Meiji Revolution (he prefers this to Meiji Restoration) he discusses in some detail the writing on political issues of Yukichi Fukuzawa who saw freedom as ‘liberation from a hereditary caste system.’ For Fukuzawa ‘the purpose of government is to guarantee order and advance the welfare and happiness of the people.’ Watanabe comments that Fukuzawa’s political philosophy at times ‘seemed a cynical pragmatism, at others lukewarm compromise, at others an effectively restrained idealism.’
Watanabe’s book explodes various historical myths and contains much food for thought. I commend it to all students of Japanese history and politics.Share | <urn:uuid:a2b2bd94-a987-4368-981b-fafbec8720af> | CC-MAIN-2015-22 | http://www.japansociety.org.uk/27585/japanese-political-thought/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-22/segments/1432207927427.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20150521113207-00242-ip-10-180-206-219.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967957 | 1,423 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Algebra-still need some help
posted by Jena on .
Homework Help Forum: Algebra
Posted by Jena on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 7:32pm.
Find the domain of the function.
Write your answer as an interval or union of intervals.
Algebra - David, Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 7:42pm
Algebra - Reiny, Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 7:46pm
the simplest way to describe the domain:
x ? -6 , x ? -5/2
Algebra - Jena, Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 7:52pm
For the domain, the denominator can't equal zero.
-2x - 5 = 0
-2x = 5
x = -5/2
So, x cannot equal -5/2
All x not equal to -5/2
For the numerator, you cannot have a negative inside the square root.
x + 6 >= 0
x >= -6
All x >= -6
(-inf,-5/2)U[-6,infin) but it doesn't look right
Is this a question? | <urn:uuid:562f7298-918f-4e7d-8a07-cecc58375011> | CC-MAIN-2017-22 | http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1296783835 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463615105.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20170530124450-20170530144450-00158.warc.gz | en | 0.867648 | 249 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Sore, fatigued and achy muscles are most often caused by exercising too hard, and generally feel better with time. But if you haven't exercised recently, sore muscles for "no reason" could be an indicator of an illness or other health condition. See your doctor if you experience muscle soreness with no apparent cause, or pain lasting more than three days.
Muscle soreness after exercise is to be expected. However, if you haven't exercised recently and you have sore muscles for no reason, it's time to visit the doctor to rule out underlying medical conditions.
Consider Chronic Fatigue
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition that can trigger a group of symptoms, particularly extreme fatigue and weak, tired or sore muscles. If you experience muscle pain and soreness in addition to unusual headaches, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating and severe exhaustion that lasts for 6 months or longer, chronic fatigue syndrome could be to blame. This condition typically causes muscle soreness in multiple areas of the body. Regular sleep, a healthy diet and regular physical activity can help manage chronic fatigue syndrome.
Soreness From Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by pain throughout the body and sore muscles, joints and other tissues. Fibromyalgia may also cause mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, in addition to headaches and insomnia. This condition typically causes muscle soreness in the back and neck. The cause is unknown, but it often occurs along with chronic fatigue syndrome. No cure is available for fibromyalgia, but lifestyle changes and regular exercise — within your body's limits — can help manage muscle soreness and other symptoms.
Sore Body for No Reason
Even without exercise, unexplained muscle soreness and joint pain can be caused by an injury or damage to the muscles during the course of daily activities. You may have strained a muscle lifting something heavy or doing vigorous house cleaning or yard work. An infection such as flu or Lyme disease can also trigger muscle pain and soreness in multiple areas of the body. Muscle soreness, pain or cramping may also be caused by an imbalance of important minerals such as calcium or potassium, or even dehydration.
Review Recent Workouts
If you have a sore body for "no reason," exercise could be responsible for your symptoms. Delayed-onset muscle soreness — or DOMS — typically appears within about 24 to 72 hours after a workout. It can cause mild or very severe muscle pain that can make daily activities difficult. The cause of delayed-onset muscle soreness is unknown, but contributing factors may include the breakdown of tissues or inflamed muscles.
Get Enough Rest
If you are working out regularly, unexplained muscle soreness and joint pain can be a sign of overtraining. The National Strength and Conditioning Association points out that a properly planned exercise routine is an important part of preventing overtraining. Consult a personal trainer to ensure you've planned enough rest and recovery into your workout plan. | <urn:uuid:c00b8a2b-df21-4e85-bfb1-598cadac6ad5> | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | https://www.livestrong.com/article/407191-why-are-my-muscles-sore-if-i-did-not-exercise/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027314752.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20190819134354-20190819160354-00367.warc.gz | en | 0.946244 | 600 | 3.15625 | 3 |
What Causes Allergies in our Pets?
Common environmental allergens are found everywhere and food allergens will be often found across many dog food brands – for the canine sufferer, their life can be rendered miserable, resulting in very poor health, a lack of energy, mood changes etc. Common environmental triggers include fleas and dust mites as well as moulds and pollens from trees, grasses, weeds and flowers. Allergies are caused by an overactive immune system that perceives harmless substances as threats. This triggers a reaction which can include any of the common symptoms we associate with allergies such as itching and sneezing.
How to Order:
If you are interested in this test, kindly contact us directly with a detailed explanation of the service you require including how many Dogs you wish to have tested. We can provide you with a personalised consultation and quote. Orders can then be place over the phone or by email.
How does the test work?
You can collect samples for this test using our home sample collection kit. We will send out your kit once we have processed your order and you may collect samples quickly and painlessly from your dog following the instructions in the kit. It’s just a simple saliva sample!
This test is designed to help you learn the sensitivities your pet may be experiencing so you can have a better understanding of what your pet may not be able to tolerate. There are a number of options available to deal with these sensitivities. We recommend discussing them with your veterinarian to find the solution that is best for you. This can include introducing a new diet to your pet, eliminating certain foods and medications.
Our test covers over 100+ common allergens. Each allergen is ranked in one of three ways. The dog tested may be:
- Positive for the allergen tested
- Negative for the allergen tested
- Be reacting to the allergen but levels are not high enough for a positive reading
Why should I purchase an Allergy Test for my Dog?
A dog allergy test is a powerful tool to determine exactly what is causing your dog’s discomfort. This allergy test will not only provide you with a list of the allergens that are making your dog uncomfortable or triggering their allergic reactions. The results will also provide you with detailed information about the supplements and foods you should avoid feeding to your dog at all costs and some important guidelines as to what household products, food, treats and supplements can be beneficial for your dog or for which he or she shows no allergic reaction to. You will also have details about the allergens your dog tested positive for and include dietary and lifestyle guidelines such as the use of corticosteroids, elimination diets, topical treatments, supplements; like probiotics and Omega-3 oils- and much more!
Results for this test will be sent by email after 2-3 weeks from receipt of samples.
– What are the most typical allergens?
- Mold spores
- Dust and house dust mites
- Insecticidal shampoo
- Rubber and plastic
– What are the most common symptoms that are commonly exhibited in dogs with allergies?
- Itchy, red, moist or scabbed skin
- Increased scratching
- Itchy, runny eyes
- Itchy ears and ear infections
- Constant licking
– Do different dog breeds suffer from different allergies?
Yes, different dog breeds may be more susceptible to specific allergies.
The following are some breeds that are sensitive to issues with food and/or airborne allergies: Maltese terrier, Pekingese, German Shepherd, Bull Terriers, Bichon Frise, English Cocker Spaniel, Brussels Griffon, American Hairless Terrier, Bohemian Terrier, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, American Pit Bull Terrier, Wire-Haired Fox Terrier, Chinese Crested/Powderpuff, Poodle, Irish Setter, English Bulldog, Pugs.
– How can allergies be treated?
Allergies can be managed by avoiding the allergens which trigger the allergy. It is also possible to manage the allergies through the use of medication or medicated shampoos – however, many times such treatments only mask a problem without finding the root cause. Importantly, allergies cannot actually be treated but rather managed – if a dog has an allergy, there are no actual cures that will make that allergy disappear. | <urn:uuid:dde24e6f-02ec-4905-af22-5914a4742188> | CC-MAIN-2019-13 | https://www.gtldna.com.au/dna-tests/dog-allergy-test/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-13/segments/1552912202628.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20190322034516-20190322060516-00124.warc.gz | en | 0.936833 | 905 | 2.609375 | 3 |
What Are Elections and What Levels of Government are there?
Presidential: In a primary election or a caucus (publicly held), presidential candidates are nominated. A primary can be closed (only party members can vote in their party’s primary) or open (anyone of any political party affiliation may vote) or semi-open (voters cast their ballot in one primary of their choosing).
In a general election, the presidential candidates are voted upon.
House of Representatives:
The Importance of Voting
At the very minimum, we should participate in our democracy by voting, and at every level of government. It is the most basic responsibility we have as citizens. The highest level of voter turnout is naturally for Presidential elections, held every four years, but even among those voters, there is a high level of drop-off voting, or people who show up to vote for President, but not for any of the down ballot (more local) races. Usually, only 60-70% of voters make it to the bottom of the ballot.
Unfortunately, a lot of the decisions that affect people on a daily basis are made at the state and local level, and these elections are taken less seriously. For example, the New York City Council makes decisions that affect the lives of those in NYC a lot more than the President; for example, paid sick leave, zoning and land use (which affects new construction, gentrification, and neighborhood affordability) and policing tactics like stop and frisk. Public health policies implemented by Mayor Bloomberg, such as no smoking and posting calorie counts at restaurants, have gone national, and the next Mayor has promised to implement universal pre-K, which would revolutionize their education system. Even in smaller cities, the impact of local officials is dramatic. Take hydrofracking – Town councils and local officials across Pennsylvania, Ohio and other parts of the Midwest have opened up their municipalities for natural gas companies to blast toxic chemicals to extract natural gas, but have poisoned their town’s water supplies in the process.
Voting in state level elections also has a long term effect on the electoral process because of how the redistricting process works in most states. While most voter focus on the federal level, the most basic decisions about who will be elected get made at the state level in the redistricting process. In most states, this process is overseen by the Governor, the state legislature or a combination of both; therefore, the party that controls those offices can control who gets elected to the federal level. Republicans placed a huge emphasis on winning state houses and Governor’s mansions in the 2006-2010 election cycles, and gerrymandered most districts to be safe for the GOP, while making Democratic districts much more moderate or competitive in terms of registration and turnout. Something like 75% of current Congressional districts are nearly impossible to flip.
So voting in general elections is vital, however, it can’t be stressed enough how important it is becoming for the everyday voter to also stand up in primary elections. This is obviously well known, but primary voters tend to be much more extreme than general election voters, so our choices in November elections are becoming more extreme. If more moderate people started voting in primaries, we would have better choices in our general elections, and would have less extreme elected officials.
When are Elections?
Federal elections occur every two years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Every member of the House of Representatives and about one-third of the Senate is up for reelection in any given election year. A presidential election is held every fourth year.
For specific dates, see: USElections.com or MyTimeToVote.com
The Importance of Knowing who you are Voting for and Knowing the Issues
Of course it is important to vote, however, just as important is to know who we are voting for! If we judge candidates by headlines or small sound clips we hear from them/commentators or how they present themselves on TV, we lose the most relevant facts of who that person is and what their stances are. It is important to check if they are consistent with their views in both words and actions. In addition, how can we judge our politicians’ stances if we do not understand all the facts of the issues? While it is impossible to be an expert at every issue relevant to elections, we can try to defer to the experts.
Research should be done: OnTheIssues.org, Politifact, Article on Issues and Political Trends | <urn:uuid:dbe1fc6e-328e-407e-83ae-4f8f10f57d05> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | https://examinedliving.com/self-development/government-participation | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084887054.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20180118012249-20180118032249-00378.warc.gz | en | 0.966613 | 918 | 3.671875 | 4 |
Vernonia amygdalina Del was grown in soil treated with a mixture of cadmium and zinc in different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) to investigate the effect of the treatments on the growth of V. amygdalina. Identical stem cuttings were collected and sown in buckets filled with 5 kg dry soil. These were allowed to grow for a month before the soil samples were treated with the mixture of metals. The experiment included control and four concentrations in three replicates. Data were collected monthly for 12 months. Results on plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and girth showed adverse effect of treatment unlike leaf area which was enhanced. There was significant difference between height values recorded for control and the various treatments – the heights for control, the 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg and the 100 mg/ kg treatments at 12 MAT were 77.43±1.03, 59.23±2.80, 55.83±1.57, 35.13± 0.86 and 31.47±2.08 cm respectively. There was decreased soil pH, microbial load and nutrients. There was however an increase in soil carbon. The presence of zinc reduced the uptake of cadmium in the plant. The increased presence of heavy metals affected the cell division process of the plant, lowered the soil pH – causing an increase in bioavailable heavy metals for uptake, decreased the available nutrients for plant growth due to competition and disrupted the soil’s natural microbial flora. Though the accumulation of heavy metals in the plant were below tolerable limits, prolonged consumption may result in poisoning.
Key Words: Mixture, Treatment, Cadmium, Zinc, Vernonia amygdalina | <urn:uuid:2706614a-c5ae-45c7-b23f-53d30a1168fa> | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | https://ejesm.org/2019/07/24/effect-of-mixture-of-cadmium-and-zinc-on-the-growth-and-development-of-vernonia-amygdalina-del/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656104240553.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20220703104037-20220703134037-00401.warc.gz | en | 0.960885 | 363 | 2.78125 | 3 |
A marksman standing on a motionless railroad car fires a gun into the air at an angle of 30.0° from the horizontal (the figure below). The bullet has a speed of 175 m/s (relative to the ground) and a mass of 0.0110 kg. The man and car move to the left at a speed of 1.20 10−3 m/s after he shoots. What is the mass of the man and car? [Hint: A component of a system's momentum along an axis is conserved if the net external force acting on the system has no component along that axis.] I know that Pi = Pf where there is conservation of momentum. so M1V1i + M2V2i = M1V1f + M2V2f 0 = M1V1f + M2V2f but I'm not sure what numbers to plug in because there is also an angle involved. | <urn:uuid:c8608540-7229-4301-bd99-652f22f71d0b> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/marksman-on-a-railroad-car.140750/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676591543.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20180720061052-20180720081052-00198.warc.gz | en | 0.952429 | 194 | 3 | 3 |
Is this group of stars belonging to one generation, or more? That’s one of the things that was puzzling astronomers for decades, particularly when they were trying to pin down the age of IC 4499 — the globular cluster you see in this new picture from the Hubble Space Telescope.
While astronomers now know the stars are from a single generation that are about 12 billion years old (see this paper from three years ago), for about 15 years before that at least one paper said IC 4499 was three billion to four billion years younger than that.
“It has long been believed that all the stars within a globular cluster form at the about same time, a property which can be used to determine the cluster’s age,” stated information from the European Space Agency reposted on NASA’s website.
“For more massive globulars however, detailed observations have shown that this is not entirely true — there is evidence that they instead consist of multiple populations of stars born at different times.”
IC 4499 is somewhere in between these extremes, but only has a single generation of stars — its gravity wasn’t quite enough to pull in neighboring gas and dust to create more. Goes to show you how important it is to re-examine the results in science. | <urn:uuid:1bea3cf6-934d-4303-ab6a-e64291bf9111> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://www.universetoday.com/113913/diamond-pinpricks-gorgeous-shot-of-star-group-that-once-baffled-astronomers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400190270.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20200919044311-20200919074311-00648.warc.gz | en | 0.962826 | 268 | 3.9375 | 4 |
If you have a pup, then it’s more like a part of your family. We tend to love play and take care of them, not less than our child. And yeah, it’s most vital too.
You need to take care of your friend to win its love and loyalty in return, right. However, winters are not a very good time for pets. A slight carelessness and then your puppy will take days to heal.
On a cold night, when you walk along the roadside with your dog, it may feel cold. So, when you buy coats for your children, mind buying one for your four-legged little friend. Do animals really feel cold? Can they also fall ill due to cols? The answer is yes!
Many factors can contribute to the sensitivity of feeling cold to a dog, such as age, size, coat color, etc. Try to keep them warm on such cold nights. But how you could know that your dog is feeling chilly. What should you do if you find your dog shivering with cold? Read the article to the very end to learn all the risk factors to your pup in winters, symptoms of cold, and how you can help them in this situation.
The risks of sensitivity to cold weather vary between different dog types. If your dog has poor health conditions, there are chances that it feels cold in winter. If you think animals are born with a natural coat and do not bother the surrounding rise and fall in temperature, then you may be wrong.
Just like when it is cold outside, human beings put on cold clothes to keep them warm. The surrounding cold temperature also affects the dog. Do not take your dog outside too much when it is too cold.
If your dog is one that is not good with low temperature, then he may manifest the following symptoms
More blood is supplied to vital organs than peripheries like ears, nose, paws, and tail in cold weather. The blood vessels become narrow and constrict, and tissues of these parts can freeze. So, these body parts may get dark red or black, so make sure to warm up the dog. Some signs associated with frostbite include:
- The skin may become discolorated, pale, or bluish.
- The rea of the skin can be inflamed and painful to touch.
- Redness or ulcers can form in extreme conditions.
- There are the areas of blackened, dead tissue (in severe cases)
- There is swelling of the affected area (due to edema)
- There is blistering or skin ulcers
- It may face Joint stiffness or clumsiness
- Pain and tenderness in the affected area
It is the most common reaction shown by the dog when it is feeling cold. Due to trembling, its tail becomes close to the body. Other body parts will also feel chilly to you. It is one of the body’s processes to generate heat to keep it warm. It is body shivering thermogenesis. Make your dog sit beside a heater or any other heating system to provide warmth.
Tiredness is another symptom in this situation. Your dog will be low on energy and do not want to get up and move a lot. He would instead stay put and crumble in its den. If your dog is getting too lazy in winters, even if he has thick fur like one of Poodle pups, you still need to consider he is behaving so because of being ill.
Watch out if your dog is barely walking and trying to hide. You need to consider that it may be feeling cold when it moves around with its tail near its body. If it is trying to hide in places, e.g., under the couch or try to get too close to the radiator, you need to keep it warm.
You must have seen your pet curl up on floors in average weather. Most dogs like to do so. They feel good when it is warm. However, at low temperatures, you will feel them like a ball of fur lying on the floor. They will curl us so much that their nose is touching their tail. Most commonly, it is coming along with shivering. It may be trying to stay warm or get extra heat. Give it instant attention in this case.
If your dog is not cared for duly in the cold, its body temperature may fall below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It is 7 degrees Fahrenheit blow than its average body temperature. This condition can be life-threatening for your pup. When the body’s regular thermogenesis system stops working due to lack of further energy or just burn up due to extra work. In this case ;
- Your dog will be a lot, sleepy and lethargic. In the worst case, it will have no energy to respond to your calls even if it tries to get up.
- It moves around in a sluggish, passive clumsy way.
- The muscles go a lot stiff. It is due to the lack of energy.
- Breathing can also become problematic. There is also a wheezing sound when it breathes.
I do not think you need to ask what you need to do in this condition. Run to your vet right away!
How Cold Is Too Cold For Your Dog
A cold can be too cold for your dog if your dog has a little fur and a small beard. Moreover, it may feel too cold. If their body temperature falls below 45 degrees Celcius, it can cause a great dog and pet owner problem. Keep a close on your dogs during cold weather. Dogs can get cold from other infected dogs or other contaminated water sources. If your dog is presenting any cold symptoms, make sure they don’t get too serious. Healthy dogs may have light sneezing, which is only noticeable if you give attention. In case of heavy sneezing, seek some medical advice right away.
How To Keep Your Dog Warm
Now, if you know that your dog is feeling cold, try to keep them warm. Following are some essential tips to keep them warm and cozy during the cold winter.
Taking The Dog's Temperature
During cold weather, take your dog’s temperature with a digital thermometer. Wear gloves on your hands while taking the temperature. The average temperature varies between 101 F-102.5 F. If the temperature deviates from these values, take the help of a veterinarian to treat hypothermia. Do not wait any longer. It can be devastating for your pup. You need to be really quick if your think your dog has hyperthermia. Do not forget to wrap him up in a really thick blanket right away and keep him near the radiator to give it extra warmth.
Keeping Your Pets Living Area Insulated
If you are not keeping your dog inside the house and not in a pet house, keep their living area insulated. A blanket should always be there. Moreover, you can also consider using
- Fiberglass insulation
- Reflective foil
- Bubble wrap
- Polystyrene foam
- Expanding foam spray
- Some old rug
- And wood to insulate your dog’s den.
Put on Dog's Winter Wear
While going outside on a cold night, the sweater or winter coat on your dog protects it from cold weather. There is a lot of variety of these available in store. Also, Amazon offers some really economic yet worth your bucks collection of dog’s winter wear. You may also have seen dog boots. They are most uncomfortable for most of the pets. However, if your dog really wants to go outside in severe weather, they might be the best option to keep it safe.
Rub your dog’s skin to increase the blood circulation so that it feels warm. Consider rubbing the whole body along with its limbs and trunk where all the vitals lie. You can consider sneaking your hands in the blanket and not removing it if you rub the skin. Rubbing will instantly soothe the body as it is the fastest way to generate heat in the body.
Protect From Frostbite
If you suspect that dog has frostbite, dry your dog with a warm towel immediately. Give analgesic in case of pain to your dog.
Contact your vet for a recommendation. You can also use warm water on the affected area. However, using direct heat can worsen up the case and is too dangerous to your pet. So, avoid it. If the situation is complicated, contact your vet right away.
Cold Weather Dog Safety Tips
- Never leave your dog in a car. It can act as a refrigerator in the winter and causes the animal to freeze. The dogs are reported to experience severe hypothermia when they were left unattended in cars for long hours.
- Don’t let the dogs outside. They can get lost, be exposed to infectious diseases, freeze, and get injured. Sometimes your little carelessness will cause immense pain to your little friend. Take its care as if your small child. You will not then have to question what to do.
- Avoid haircuts in the winter as a fuller coat provide warmth. A sweater coat helps to retain heat. It is one of the best natural mechanisms to maintain heat in animals. The air insulation between the fur proves an extra layer to retain heat. So, never try to lighten up the hair or have a trim.
- Clean your dog’s paws and legs to remove salt and other chemicals, which can increase the chance of getting cold.
- Keep a close eye on your pet in winters. If you see any of the signs mentioned above, take precautions right away. If the situation is complicated, run to fetch your vet.
- Invest in a dog sweater or dog’s coat, and you will never regret it.
- A professional dog house is the best solution to fight the cold weather. It must be insulated, have nice bedding and a blanket. It should be kept off the floor to avoid getting cold from the ground.
Dogs are not one of the polar creatures. They can feel cold and can fall ill with it. Many visible signs indicate your pet is feeling chilly. However, many pet owners often overlook them as they seem close to the pet’s normal behavior. The alarm only rings when the pet is in a lot of pain and has fallen ill. Winters are not really friendly to pups, especially the younger ones. So, you need to keep an eye on your dog this season.
Watch out if anything is unusual, especially the position of its tail and its resting place. Rush over to the vet if anything is unusual. However, it is too easy to keep your pet warm in winters. So, you don’t have to worry a lot. Just make sure to consider the symptoms as mentioned earlier, and you are good to go.
Hey, I am a licenced veterinary practitioner. Since my childhood, I have always dreamed to be a vet and play with these adorable creatures all day long. My love to write and spread awareness pushed me towards blogging. So, I decided to merge both of my passions and create highly knowledgeable blogs for the people struggling with their new pets. There are multiple cases you may face with your pets in everyday life and also multiple odd behaviours may pop hundreds of questions into your mind. Every behaviour has a reason, and I am here to provide the very logical reasons and easy solutions. Let us take care of our pets in the best possible way! | <urn:uuid:6d3637d3-6044-49a2-815a-c8c80ab23826> | CC-MAIN-2021-10 | https://petshopes.com/how-do-i-know-if-my-dog-is-cold-at-night/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178362513.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20210301121225-20210301151225-00551.warc.gz | en | 0.955052 | 2,352 | 2.578125 | 3 |
WHAT DO THE OVARIES LOOK LIKE?
The ovaries are small, walnut - sized lumps of tissue that are about one inch away from the top of the uterus on either side. They are off-white, and, in young girls and adolescents, are smooth. After the onset of menstruation, however, the ovaries begin to go through a series of events that leads to a change in their appearance.
Just prior to ovulation, a small (1/2 inch) clear collection of fluid forms around the developing egg and becomes visible below the surface of the ovary. This combination of the fluid, hormone producing cells and the egg is called a follicle . During ovulation, the surface of the ovary bursts open, and the egg is carried away in a surge of fluid towards the fallopian tube. The surface cells of the ovary heal quickly, leaving behind a yellow-appearing pocket of cells called the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum produces the hormone progesterone, but if no pregnancy occurs, it disappears shortly after the menstrual period. As time goes on, the surface of the ovary becomes pitted and irregular, evidence of many ovulations and subsequent healings. After the menopause, the monthly formation of follicles and ovulation cease. The ovaries decrease in size to that of an almond and become a pale white.
WHAT DOES THE DOCTOR FEEL WHEN YOUR PELVIC EXAMINATION IS PERFORMED?
The manual part of the pelvic examination allows the doctor to feel the size and shape of the uterus, tubes and ovaries. During this part of the examination, the doctor pushes the cervix upward from the inside of the vagina. This moves the top of the uterus closer to your abdominal wall, where the size and shape of the uterus can be felt between the doctor's two hands. Thus, the doctor should be able to detect conditions that increase the size of the uterus, such as fibroids.
Prior to the menopause, the ovaries are normally about the size of a small walnut and during the examination, can be felt on either side of the uterus. Abnormally large ovaries usually indicate the presence of cysts, benign tumors or, very rarely, cancer. The fallopian tubes are so soft and mobile that they are normally not detected during the examination. Tenderness in the area of the tube sometimes indicates infection. If endometriosis or scar tissue from previous infection or surgery is present near the tubes, tenderness may also be present during the examination. | <urn:uuid:325ad0f5-f458-4805-9799-6caca657ff5e> | CC-MAIN-2018-43 | http://www.ovaryresearch.com/normal_ovaries.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-43/segments/1539583514005.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20181021115035-20181021140535-00242.warc.gz | en | 0.945606 | 529 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Titanic global forces create a band of deserts along the Tropic of Capricorn at 23 degrees South. Warm air above equatorial oceans cools as it rises, creating torrential rains. Scrubbed of moisture, the air descends clear and brittle-dry along the tropics, creating a band of drylands. Other factors intensify - or offset - this global aridity: distance from the sea, rain-shadow effects of nearby mountains, and cold ocean currents that slow the supply of moisture to the atmosphere. All of the deserts in Extremes are linked by the Tropic of Capricorn.
23 degrees South
How do you know you're standing on the Tropic of Capricorn? One way is to head north from Alice Springs. When you pass the 'Tropic of Capricorn' monument on the side of the road you know you're there. If you're in Namibia on the west coast of Africa, head south of Walvis Bay and you will soon find another road marker (the signs are now in English, but they used to read 'steenbokskeerkring' or 'antelope circle'). Or, when in Chile, head inland from Antofagasta and by the highway you'll see a large rock inscribed 'Linea del tropico de capricornio'. All these spots are linked by an invisible line running around the earth at 23º 27' S: that's the Tropic of Capricorn.
There are other ways to figure it out. In fact the Tropic of Capricorn relates to the sun and is not, as commonly thought, the half-way line between the equator and the South Pole, although it is close. The tropics of Capricorn and Cancer are calculated by the movement of the sun in relation to the earth. The Tropic of Capricorn marks the farthest point south at which the sun can be seen directly overhead at noon. That day is the longest day of the year and is the summer solstice on our side of the equator.
So, if on 22 December at noon you find yourself in the Northern Territory, Namibia or northern Chile, and the sun is directly overhead, you will be standing at latitude 23º 27'. That means you will be standing on the Tropic of Capricorn and you will also be standing in one of the incredible southern deserts.
|Southern Africa||Australia||South America| | <urn:uuid:437f7026-d4df-410a-ab23-7b5168cf412d> | CC-MAIN-2014-42 | http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/extremes/capricorns_deserts | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-42/segments/1414119654194.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20141024030054-00059-ip-10-16-133-185.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923092 | 500 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Broadcast: April 19, 2004
This is Robert Cohen with the VOA Special English Development Report.
Four years ago, the World Health Organization and other groups began a campaign to end lymphatic filariasis. This disease is a leading cause of disability in developing countries. Left untreated, fluid collects in tissue. Lymphatic filariasis can cause severe enlargement of the legs, arms and areas around the sexual organs. The disease is commonly known as elephantiasis.
The cause is a parasite. It is spread to humans through the bite of mosquitoes that carry the organism. Early signs of the disease in children include learning problems and reduced growth. Once infected, humans can pass the parasite back to other mosquitoes that bite them.
About one-hundred-twenty-million people in eighty countries are infected with lymphatic filariasis. Most of these people are in Africa, Southeast Asia, South America and islands of the Pacific Ocean. The countries have a total population of more than one-thousand-million people.
The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis has released a progress report on the treatment campaign. The group says eighty-million people have begun treatment against the disease. Two drug companies, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck, are providing medicines for free.
Individuals take two drugs once a year. This combined treatment stops the spread of elephantiasis. But it will not undo any damage already caused by the disease.
The first drug is albendazol, made by GlaxoSmithKline. This drug also kills several other kinds of parasites that can infect the intestines. These include roundworm, whipworm and hookworm.
A second drug commonly given against lymphatic filariasis is called ivermectin. The Merck company manufactures it. This drug is also used to fight river blindness.
The parasite that causes lymphatic filariasis grows slowly. It is not expected to develop a resistance to the drug treatment. In addition, treatment costs are low – between ten cents and two dollars per person per year. Health officials want to put people on five-year treatment plans. The goal of the campaign is to end the disease worldwide within twenty years.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss. This is Robert Cohen. | <urn:uuid:87473338-057f-48ed-a4b2-e2f6b677ec58> | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/a-23-a-2004-04-18-2-1-83122672/123476.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141735600.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20201204101314-20201204131314-00466.warc.gz | en | 0.949575 | 475 | 3.15625 | 3 |
The purpose of the action phase is to put the assessment’s findings and recommendations into practice. At a minimum, this may mean encouraging local actors to follow through on plans discussed at the in-country validation meeting. For assessments conducted with the goal of informing a broader health initiative, this phase will include program design and laying the groundwork for implementation. The three steps in the action phase—decide the type of action, determine the level of action, and develop an action plan—are sometimes iterative, rather than sequential, and are largely shaped by assessment findings, available resources, and local stakeholder capacity.
The action phase has three main steps, each shaped by assessment findings and recommendations, donor goals and available resources, and local stakeholder capacity. Unlike other phases in the assessment process, these are sometimes iterative, rather than sequential.
The first step towards action is deciding what type of action is both indicated and feasible. The types of action following an assessment will vary depending on proposed recommendations, donor and stakeholder priorities, and the country context. The following types of action may be carried out individually or in a myriad of combinations.
The level, or intensity, of follow-on actions can be categorized as high, moderate, or low. The largest determining factor may be the availability of funding, but other factors such as existence of other projects, timing, and government interest may also play a role.
The action plan consolidates decisions regarding the type and level of action into a working document. With increasing frequency, an action plan, or at least a “blueprint” for action, is initiated at the in-country dissemination workshop, where the findings and recommendations of the assessment report are presented to local stakeholders for feedback and validation. This serves as a solid foundation upon which to base a plan for action, which articulates WHO will do WHAT by WHEN, with WHAT RESOURCES.
See an example of an action plan developed with stakeholders in Dominica. In the event that a dissemination workshop was not possible, or the workshop concluded with building consensus around priority recommendations, there will be more work to do at this stage.
The main output of the action phase is an action plan that outlines proposed activities, followed by actual implementation. The initial output could be a detailed concept note incorporating one or more recommendations stemming from the assessment, or a written strategy for public-private engagement. Much as assessments are varied in terms of scope, and technical and health focus—so are activities that follow an assessment. Some examples of outputs in the action phase include:
- Terms of Reference for a public-private forum or working group
- Terms of Reference for establishing a PPP unit or desk within a ministry
- Revised training curriculum for private providers
- Private health insurance policy reforms
- Establishment of a coalition of private sector stakeholders
Phase 5 Team Roles and Responsibilities | <urn:uuid:f280acd2-fa5e-4667-a243-f5672b13ea2b> | CC-MAIN-2018-39 | https://assessment-action.net/assessment-phases/act/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-39/segments/1537267161638.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20180925123211-20180925143611-00168.warc.gz | en | 0.928425 | 583 | 3.21875 | 3 |
- Historic Sites
It took five thousand American troopers a year and a half to run down the great Apache raider and his lethal band. They did it by tough persistence and skill—or was it guile?
June 1966 | Volume 17, Issue 4
Physically, the Apaches had become a specialized type. Implacable natural selection, helped along by infanticide when a child seemed to be feeble, had produced over the course of a few centuries a formidably rugged breed. Not tall—the typical Apache warrior was perhaps five foot seven—they were lean and muscular, broad of shoulder, deep of chest, and with legs that seemed thewed with spring steel. Their women, though they aged fast, were lithe and tough: childbirth, for instance, was but an hour’s interruption to whatever other labor a wife happened to be occupied with at the time. It was no news to hear that a band of these Indians, including women and children, had travelled forty miles a day on foot, across precipitous mountain canyons or the most arid stretches of desert. The Apache’s resistance to heat and his water metabolism almost rivalled that of the camel: he could be “hilarious and jovial” (observed an army officer who knew the tribe well) “when the civilized man is about to die of thirst.”
But the most important fact about the Apaches was simply this: they were marauders by profession. As far back as the oldest of them could remember, plunder had been their regular way of life. Above a bare susbsistence level they depended on their victims for nearly everything: horses, cattle, weapons, ammunition, domestic utensils, clothing, tobacco, liquor—and amusement. Apaches hunted Mexicans almost as the Plains Indians hunted buffalo: they seemed to be natural prey, and there was a sporting aspect to a raid on a Mexican settlement that overlaid the practical matter of replenishing supplies. An Indian camp high in the Sierras would become wildly excited when plans for a big sortie were afoot.
Yet once a raid was actually in progress, a sinister efficiency took over. Masters of stealth, the Apaches would meticulously survey the scene so as to anticipate just what resistance they might encounter; then they would pounce out of the night upon their quarry, killing all males over ten or twelve, and capturing women and little children for use as slaves or hostages. It is significant that scalping was not a common Apache practice: loot, not trophies, was what they were after, and honor was to be measured as much by material gain as by valor. Their ferocity was, so to speak, of a professional variety.
The history of American-Apache relations, starting with America’s acquisition of much of the Apache homeland after the Mexican War, was a bloody one, relieved only by scattered attempts at peaceful coexistence. Both Confederate and Union troops in the Southwest fought Apaches during the Civil War, and grew grimly accustomed to their maddening guerrilla tactics. The Confederate governor of Arizona, Colonel John R. Baylor, declared to Jefferson Davis that “extermination of the grown Indians and making slaves of the children is the only remedy.” Davis, shocked by the harshness of the prescription, indignantly vetoed it. But General J. H. Carleton, Union commander in the Southwest, instituted a scarcely gentler policy by ordering that all Apache men “are to be slain wherever and whenever they can be found”; the women and children were to be taken prisoner. Meanwhile, in 1863, Mangas Coloradas, the greatest of Apache chiefs, was “captured” by Federal soldiers while discussing a possible peace treaty; then he was provoked into “trying to escape” and was shot to death.
But by the 1870’s, the most sanguine and sanguinary hopes for wiping out Apache manhood were foundering. The ravished towns and haciendas of northern Mexico lay more helpless than ever under the strokes of the marauders, and across the border in Arizona and New Mexico settlers were endlessly haunted by the Apache spectre. An investigator appointed by President U. S. Grant reported in 1871 that the “extermination” policy “has resulted in a war which, in the last ten years, has cost us a thousand lives and over forty millions of dollars, and the country is no quieter nor the Indians any nearer extermination than they were at the time of the Gadsden purchase.” It was decided to combine the stick with the carrot: as many Apaches as possible would be lured onto reservations, while the adamant hostiles would be hunted to earth bv new and more vigorous methods.
It was to effect this approach that General William T. Sherman, the Army chief of staff, sent to Arizona an officer who, when his long career was over, would often be called the greatest Indian fighter the West ever knew. General George Crook, however, was more than a successful subduer of the red man: he was at the same time a sympathetic friend. He was free of the ethnic bias that made most Americans regard Indians as possibly higher animals but decidedly lower humans: “With all his faults,” Crook once declared to a graduating class at West Point, ”… the American Indian is not half as black as he has been painted. He is cruel in war, treacherous at times, and not over cleanly. But so were our forefathers.” Along with such blunt views as these, Crook had a personal demeanor that was disconcerting to some but impressive to all. He disliked official uniform, usually dressing in comfortable hunting clothes; he had a great, forked beard which he sometimes braided for convenience; he was taciturn and often moody—and he attracted to his staff some of the most intelligent and devoted young officers in the frontier army. | <urn:uuid:546503f4-b60b-4b48-b1ad-82ee3f159189> | CC-MAIN-2016-18 | http://www.americanheritage.com/content/geronimo?page=3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-18/segments/1461860111868.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20160428161511-00019-ip-10-239-7-51.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983508 | 1,228 | 3.390625 | 3 |
TeachersFirst Update Archives
Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers™
This week we honor a man who made the world stop and think about civil rights. Every day as teachers, we hear students moan about what is “fair.” Take some time to talk about the real nature of fairness. No matter what your curriculum, fairness fits.
Respect your elders
Share a little to learn a lot. Across the World Once a Week (#xw1w) takes just a moment or two of class time for students get a peak into everyday life in other places. Share responses about life where you live and learn about others with Across the World Once a Week (XW1W). This quick activity uses microblogging and something called a hashtag. It’s easy! Get started now with these simple directions and FAQ. Tell your teacher friends!
XW1W for the week of January 20: Describe the oldest person who lives in your home.
MLK and more
This week we honor Martin Luther King Jr. TeachersFirst has exclusive lesson plans for celebrating MLK in elementary grades. It is also the presidential inauguration (formal swearing in Jan 20 with public celebrations Jan 21). Look ahead to the 100th day of school and Feburuary’s Black History Month. Find resources for these events and more on the TeachersFirst Classroom Planning Calendar.
Confused by copyright?
Sometimes it just seems easier to say, “No images, no copy/pasting, and no copies.” But we know we should model and teach the right thing to do. If you are confused by all the variations of Copyright, Creative Commons and ethical use of electronic resources, TeachersFirst’s Copyright and Fair Use Resources will help you find helpful sites to clarify what you can legally do. We also share reviewed sources for finding images , music and more that are permissible for classroom use.
FREE for YOU to learn
Winter is peak season for OK2Ask®! Registration is now open for OK2Ask® FREE learning opportunities through March. Registration for April and May sessions will open about 60 days in advance. Join other teachers in live, friendly, online sessions for self-directed professional development. Most sessions are 75 minutes, but please read the details of each. Check for times and descriptions to register NOW:
Energizing Math: Ideas, Resources, and Collaboration for K-8 Math Teachers; Thursday January 24
Google Goodies! Hidden Treasures and Teacher Favorites; Thursday February 7
Light up Literacy: PreK-3 Reading/Language Arts Ideas and Resources; Monday February 11
Wiki Workshop: An Open Help and Collaboration Session (Extended Time Session); Monday February 25
Hands Off, Vanna: Giving Students Control of Interactive Whiteboard Learning; Thursday March 7
Blooms 2.0: Promoting ALL levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy through Technology; Monday March 11
Sharing and Solutions for Technology Coaches/Trainers (60 min session); Thursday March 21
Where to next?
Geo and Meri are trying to decide where to go after Sydney as they hunt for Dewey on Globetracker’s Mission. Your students in grades 2-6 can vote to help as they learn geography, map skills, landforms, and more by following Globetracker’s Mission, Ready to Go any time at bottom center on the TeachersFirst home page. Discover why teachers send fan mail to Globetracker (and what Holy Idaho means).
- Lincoln and Whaling sites
- Science and math simplified—in Spanish!
- Blooms, Marzano, and questions
- Sickness symptoms mapped
- A new view of Ethanol
- Dirty jobs
- Poetry brought to life
- Excellent elementary activities
- Instant activities from your copy/paste
- A trio of useful tools
And more. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are reading this January 27 or later, the link above will take you to the Featured Sites for the current week. Find the archived January 20 Features here, and don’t miss our many additional recent additions from the link at the bottom of the Featured sites page.
May you witness random acts of fairness this week.
Your “teacher to go,”
Candace Hackett Shively
Director of K-12 Initiatives | <urn:uuid:58931070-daa3-468b-944c-24bd4b7d6efd> | CC-MAIN-2021-04 | https://www.teachersfirst.com/whats-hot/update-archives.cfm?date=2013-01-20 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610703519984.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20210120085204-20210120115204-00506.warc.gz | en | 0.913458 | 900 | 3.21875 | 3 |
- Architects: FT Architects
- Location: Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
- Architects In Charge: Katsuya Fukushima, Hiroko Tominaga
- Area: 711.0 m2
- Project Year: 2017
- Photographs: Shigeo Ogawa
From the architect. Architecture as Archaeology
This architecture is a renovation of a brick warehouse built in 1896. It was designed and built 120 years ago by Shimizu-ten (currently one of the biggest construction companies in Japan) to storage cocoons, which were high-end products and uses the latest technology at that time. It could be seen in the high-quality bricks and laying of it, the large column-free space of 9m by 36m achieved by a king post truss and the window fittings that could ventilate and control humidity. This was the first time in Japanese history that a brick building achieved the same quality built in the western countries. Eventually it became a national listed building as a valuable industrial heritage and a preservation and renovation project was planned to transform it to a community center for the city of Honjo.
A preliminary research was conducted by a team of Waseda University across various fields, such as history, structure, material, urbanism and disaster management and several things became clear. The existing architecture’s brick wall and timber truss were still acting as structural elements even today, but the yield strength on the short side was insufficient. Another thing was that, there were no detailed drawings when it was completed existing and several renovations were conducted since it was privately owned. The information gained from the research were fragments due to the warehouse being 120 years old. However, it became a valuable clue to determine the direction of the renovation. Through the collaboration of this research team and us architects, 2 themes for this project were determined. One is the seismic reinforcement not interfering with the existing space of brick masonry and timber truss as much as possible and another is the spatial design where we deal with the traces of the conversions pragmatically, as representation of the past events.
The seismic reinforcement was done by steel structure, in order to clearly distinguish with the existing architecture and we aimed to have the same seismic performance as a contemporary architecture. The insufficient yield strength of the short side was reinforced with the horizontal elements such as the floor of the upper storey and roof, where it becomes completely unseen when completed. The vertical elements such as columns becomes the minimum size by mutually depending on the existing brick wall and appears as a contrast to the brick space. Scrap and build is the dominant culture in Japanese architecture and even if we were able to preserve old buildings, the existing structure is usually only used as a façade. It was innovative for us in Japan that we were able to structurally evaluate and utilize the existing architecture.
The existing architecture was built in the eclectic period of the new Western tectonics and the traditional Japanese tectonics, resulting in the mixed use of Japanese and Western order (dimension system). For instance, the beams are built in the Japanese traditional module “Shaku” whereas the columns are built in the Western module “inch”, and other elements are built in different modules, thus a gap occurs between them. The seismic reinforcement is carefully inserted in these gaps of different orders, so it is possible to detach them in the future.
The traces of the conversions are the results of the gap between the change of the function and the space. We thought of them not as defects but as the representation of the accumulated events of the past. This doesn’t mean to leave the past renovations as it is. We removed the unnecessary and repaired the broken parts, but didn’t try to imitate or restore them to the original. This skillful handling was the most important point in the spatial design of the renovation. Sometimes it might become grotesque but we kept in mind more of the pragmatic firmness of them.
We would be glad if people could think of this architecture as a prototype for preservation and renovation projects where there is few documents and little construction budget. It is not about reversing the flow of time, but reconstructing its history by connecting the historical fragments left through filling the gaps with imagination and connect them to the future. This is an archaeological way of thinking in architecture and here stands the meaning of architects to participate in renovation projects of old architecture. When you actually visit the warehouse, it would seem that the architect didn’t do anything. However, that is the most fortunate thing for this architecture.
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"The good news is right now there's a bipartisan group of senators working to end Fannie and Freddie as we know them. And I support these kinds of reform efforts."
- President Obama, August 6th
Ending Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will mean two things to the housing industry: higher rates and probably shorter mortgages. This will result in larger monthly mortgage payments.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government run agencies that have propped up a troubled real estate market over the last several years. The agencies always had a place within the mortgage sector but over the past several years have been involved in over 90% of new mortgage originations. As they wind down this involvement, the mortgage space may change dramatically.
David Stevens, CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association and a former Obama administration housing official, in a recent AP article explains what will be the result of winding down Fannie and Freddie:
"You have to assume that almost in any future model being drafted, loans will be more expensive."
This will be felt in two ways.
Higher Interest Rates
In the same AP article, Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, reveals:
"It will mean higher mortgage rates. The question is how much higher."
According to Zandi, borrowers could pay about ½ point higher in interest rate ($75-$135 extra in interest payments per month to the average purchaser on a $200,000 loan).
Why a projected increase in rates? The average 30 year mortgage rate over the last three decades is 8.69%. From 2003-2008, it was 6.06%. Part of the government’s stimulus program was spent on keeping mortgage rates low while the economy recovered. Many think that rates will return to the 6-6.5 range should Fannie and Freddie cease operations.
Shorter Loan Terms
Once Freddie and Fannie no longer exist, the question becomes whether or not the private sector will any longer feel comfortable issuing a fixed rate loan for 30 years. In Canada, for example, they don’t even have 30 year fix rate mortgages available. The vast majority of Canadian home loans have a 25 year payout with the interest rate being renegotiated every five years. If rates go down, the borrower will wind up with a lower rate. If rates go up, the borrower ends up paying a higher rate. If you want a fixed rate mortgage for 25 years you pay a rate approximately two percentage points higher than the going rate at the time of your closing.
Some believe that the private sector will no longer make the 30 year mortgage option available for at least a portion of borrowers.
It will be interesting to see how the winding down of the two agencies impacts the housing market going forward. | <urn:uuid:c683496a-a14c-4b8b-a121-cdccb667d615> | CC-MAIN-2015-35 | http://www.kcmblog.com/2013/08/13/real-estate-without-freddie-and-fannie/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-35/segments/1440645315227.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20150827031515-00017-ip-10-171-96-226.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947919 | 558 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Dr. Joseph Warren, Samuel Adams' protégé and the man who had assigned the two midnight riders, Paul Revere and William Dawes, their mission, knew that the story of what had happened in Lexington and Concord was still in flux in the days following April 19. Warren chaired the Committee of Safety of the Provincial Congress in John Hancock's absence. From the British perspective, unruly citizens who had set up an illegal shadow government were amassing weapons -- and had to be stopped to prevent a civil war. From the American opposition's perspective, an intrusive government had harassed its own free citizens.
The Committee of Supplies at Concord wrote a letter "expressing their joy at the event of the preceding day." This was the wrong message. Warren understood that the story of the battlewas evolving and spreading quickly. He felt the revolutionaries needed to issue a statement of outrage that focused on the injustices of what had occurred, not celebrate the remarkable rout of the British forces. The first circular on the subject from the Committee of Safety was a propagandistic screed decrying the crimes of the British soldiers and inciting paranoia within all the colonists. Sent out to other local Committees of Safety, Warren's letter motivated the patriots to create a provincial army.
In response to the alarms, militiamen from as far away as New Hampshire and Connecticut came to join the militia groups that had chased the British regulars back into Boston. In all, some 20,000 men volunteered to confront the 4,000 British soldiers in Boston. Some of the troops stayed in Cambridge and Charlestown, across the Charles River from the city. Others went to Roxbury, to control the small strip of land that connected the city to the mainland. The Siege of Boston had begun.
A Spy's Work
The Americans went to work to create an official record of clashes in Lexington and Concord. The Provincial Congress appointed a committee to take statements from witnesses to the battles -- among them three British prisoners -- and commissioned a written narrative. All the witnesses stated that the first shots, both at Lexington and Concord, came from the British troops. Even "witnesses" who could not have seen the first shots agreed. The final report did not limit itself to the facts of the deposition, painting a picture of innocent American farmhands menaced by armed British soldiers. The document's pro-American bias was undoubtedly exaggerated by its author, Benjamin Church, who expressed his loyalty to the American cause all the more emphatically to disguise the fact that he was a British informant. In fact, Church was integral to the events of that April -- he was the one who had sold information about the munitions in Concord to the British government.
News Travels Fast
The battles were big news. Copies of the report and depositions were sent to papers throughout the Colonies, as far south as Georgia. Newspapers everywhere published some of the most lurid details of the events. Copies were sent to England; a cargo ship carrying General Thomas Gage's report to his British superiors had a four-day head start, but Captain John Derby's lighter American schooner arrived in the British Isles a fortnight earlier. The London Evening Post published the American account weeks before the government had any of its own information ready. Derby's quick sailing ensured a public relations victory; the British public was split about the way the government was treating their colonial cousins.
A Unifying Virginia Commander
Back in the soon-to-be United States, the second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. Massachusetts representative John Adams needed the Congress toassume responsibility for the ad hoc army that had gathered in Cambridge. Adams wanted all of the colonies to participate, so that the conflict would not be simply between Britain and New England. He realized that the best way to achieve full colonial participation was for the body to appoint a unifying leader. After some maneuvering, Adams nominated George Washington, a charismatic Virginian and veteran of the French and Indian War, as the Commander of the Continental Army. On July 13, Washington arrived in Cambridge to take command.
In the aftermath of April 19, 1775, it was clear that the day had served as the spark for revolution. It would be immortalized as a mythic American moment, in poems, engravings, songs, and in celebrated phrases like Ralph Waldo Emerson's "the shot heard round the world." The day is honored with a Massachusetts state holiday and its events are reenacted each year. Though historians today still discuss the question of who fired first and what exactly took place on Lexington Green, the battles of Lexington and Concord provided a few motivated men with the spark that they needed to ignite the passions of their countrymen. A war had begun, but more importantly, an epochal idea -- democratic government of, by, and for the people -- took root. | <urn:uuid:50ae9f25-7034-492d-932a-14fe00e9efe6> | CC-MAIN-2017-09 | http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/patriotsday/peopleevents/e_aftermath.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-09/segments/1487501170609.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20170219104610-00304-ip-10-171-10-108.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974917 | 979 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Economic empowerment and social justice
The energy, skills and aspirations of the poorest and most vulnerable youths are most commonly ignored. YEJ focuses on providing opportunities for economic engagement among these most disadvantaged young people, including: residents of urban slums, single mothers, victims of domestic violence, victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, former offenders and former substance abusers.
‘YEJ provided sewing machines for girls who are living in the urban slums of Nairobi, through the Euphrasia Women’s Centre. The machines allowed the girls to complete a government certificate in sewing. These students, many of whom are former victims of the violence and abuse that is endemic in Kenyan slums, have proceeded to set up businesses and establish links to fair trade handicraft networks.’
When young women and men become economically engaged, they are able to escape cycles of abuse and violence. The alternative income that they are able to earn means that they need not be dependent on their abusers to survive. For people who typically experience social discrimination, finding fairly paid work can raise their standing both in the home and the community. It can also give young men and women a voice in the political system as their contribution to economic growth is recognised. Most importantly, women who earn extra income will typically invest in education and healthcare for their family, which helps prevent intergenerational poverty.
‘In Embu, Kenya, YEJ is working with the Embu Empowerment Programme to develop a range of environmentally-sound cleaning products for local market. The young people working on the detergent project are residents of urban slums. Many are ostracised from the general community because they are single mothers, former victims of commercial sexual exploitation or former offenders. YEJ is working to improve business networking, management skills and business development skills, as well as access to credit and access to market information. The Kenyan Bureau of Standards has recently approved the cleaning products as environmentally sound.’ | <urn:uuid:a077c0cc-ebfd-463c-9e97-cb6151e27f74> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.yej.org.uk/index/?page_id=69 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371813538.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408104113-20200408134613-00479.warc.gz | en | 0.970138 | 399 | 2.8125 | 3 |
The big snooze
Imagine a cure-all that helps prevent cancer, weight gain and heart disease; one that can improve memory and athletic performance and even fend off colds. Now suppose that this panacea is pleasurable. It's not a daily pill, painful injection or bizarre-tasting tonic. And then imagine that only about 30 percent of you bother to take full advantage of this remedy.
You've likely guessed we're talking about sleep, and you know your body needs it, yet you're still depriving yourself: Nearly 60 percent of you log fewer than the seven to eight hours a night that experts say is optimal, according to our recent Self.com poll. Worse, more than 15 percent of you get by on fewer than six.
"Sleep is no different from diet or exercise," says Carol Ash, D.O., a sleep specialist in Jamesburg, New Jersey. We know that eating 10 percent more calories a day can add 15-plus pounds to our frame in a year. But we fail to understand that sleeping 10 percent less carries a similar risk for weight gain. In fact, women who sleep five or fewer hours a night are one third more likely to gain 33 pounds over the next 16 years than those who get seven hours of slumber, the American Journal of Epidemiology reports.
And that's just for starters. It's best for our body to cycle through the five sleep stages four or five times a night: The first four stages are key to maintaining healthy metabolism, learning and memory; the fifth (rapid eye movement sleep, or REM) is important for regulating mood and forming emotional memories. Miss a cycle or two and our immune system, heart health, brain function and more can suffer Give it a rest! It's time to get the curative shut-eye you crave.
Droopy eyelids and low energy are the least of your worries when you're sleep-deprived. If you aren't getting the seven to eight hours that's ideal, you can seriously compromise your health.
More than 8 hours Sadly, you can have too much of a good thing. Regularly amassing more than eight hours a night disrupts blood sugar levels, which makes type 2 diabetes a concern, according to findings in the journal Diabetes Care. And sleeping more than nine hours is linked to an increased risk of dying due to any cause, say researchers at the University of California at San Diego and elsewhere, possibly because other health conditions that cause fatigue are a factor.
Fewer than 7 hours You're three times more likely to catch a cold if you sleep fewer than seven hours per night than if you get eight, possibly because sleep helps regulate the body's response to infection. Weight gain also becomes a worry: We produce more of the appetite-promoting hormone ghrelin and less of the satiety-producing hormone leptin when we're low on sleep.
6 hours or fewer You may think you function fine on this little sleep, but snoozing six hours or fewer a night for a period of only two weeks will impair your memory, reaction time and general cognition in the same way that staying awake for up to 48 hours straight would, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
5 hours or fewer Averaging five hours or fewer of sleep weakens your body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels, which may double your risk for type 2 diabetes, according to Diabetes Care. And people who sleep five or fewer hours a night are 50 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure than are those who get more than six, possibly due to their elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which strain the heart, the journal Sleep reports.
Photo Credit: John Dolan | <urn:uuid:f48d81b8-0daa-4e25-a03e-681fc204e3e2> | CC-MAIN-2018-34 | https://www.self.com/story/lack-of-sleep-health-risks | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-34/segments/1534221211146.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20180816171947-20180816191947-00002.warc.gz | en | 0.943424 | 761 | 2.5625 | 3 |
The Corps Badge (The Royal Arms)
On 10 July 1832 King William IV granted the Royal Regiment of Artillery and the Corps of Royal Engineers permission to wear on their appointments the Royal Arms and Supporters, together with a cannon and the mottoes Ubique above the cannon and Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt below it. In 1868 the cannon was omitted from the Corps Badge. Since then the actual design of the Royal Arms has changed slightly with each reining monarch.
The Corps badge for the reign of our present Queen Elizabeth II is shown above:The Corps Badge used to be worn on an Officer's sabretache and cartouche, and on parts of his charger's saddlery. It was worn by all ranks of the Corps of the Regular Army on their full-dress blue spiked helmet up until 1914. The RE Militia, Volunteers and Reservists, however, had a slightly different Badge in that the motto Ubique was omitted from the scroll under the Royal Arms and its place taken by a laurel branch.
The Cap Badge
Replicas of the Cap Badge in colour are often placed on unit notice boards and in stained glass windows in churches.
The Cap Badge is worn by officers and soldiers in Nos 1 and 2 Dress and by soldiers on berets.
The Monogram of Cypher
The Monogram or Cypher, as it is sometimes called, may be used on notepaper and on Christmas Cards and other similar documents.
It is not worn on uniform but is emblazoned on the Fanfare Trumpet Banners of the RE Band.
The Corps Colours as used on unit flags and plaques and the Tactical Recognition Flash (TRF), which is worn on the sleeve of the upper right arm in Combat Dress.
An embroidered grenade was first worn on the tail of an RE Officer's full dress scarlet coatee in 1824, and the following year a brass grenade was introduced for Other Ranks of the Royal Sappers and Miners.
The grenade was later worn on the epaulet and then on the collar. The number of flames to the grenade has varied, but in 1922 a nine-flamed grenade, with the motto Ubique below it, was authorized.
The Royal Artillery grenade is similar, but has only seven flames.
Officers' Collar Badge No 2 Dress
Soldiers' Collar Badge No 2 Dress
Officer Beret Badge
The officer's beret badge is an embroidered grenade.
Officer's Beret Badge
Grenade Arm Badge
The embroidered Arm Badge is worn above the chevrons by Sergeants and Staff Sergeants.
Grenade Arm Badge | <urn:uuid:08537298-a4b5-4abd-a625-f28f42e82eea> | CC-MAIN-2015-22 | http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/26401.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-22/segments/1432207928019.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20150521113208-00040-ip-10-180-206-219.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949399 | 552 | 2.546875 | 3 |
COLUMBUS , Ohio Current methods used to sniff out dangerous airborne pathogens may wrongly suggest that there is no threat to health when, in reality, there may be.
But researchers have found a better method for collecting and analyzing these germs that could give a more accurate assessment of their actual threat. For example, the findings may make it easier to detect airborne pathogens in low concentrations.
Our results suggest that commonly used sampling methods detect only a small fraction of what is actually in the air, said Timothy Buckley, the study's senior author and an associate professor of public health at Ohio State.
And what they detect is often so damaged due to the collection method that the pathogens no longer possess the same infectious potential as they did while in the air.
Such damage can make it nearly impossible for public health workers to determine if a pathogen is viable that is, whether or not it has the potential to infect.
Buckley and his colleagues found that a relatively new device called the BioSampler caused the least amount of damage to the non-infectious microorganisms used in this study. The BioSampler was developed in the late 1990s by a team of researchers from the University of Cincinnati . Although it's not yet a commonly used method for detecting airborne pathogens, it gave Buckley and his team the most accurate reading of the degree of the microorganism's viability, its ability to grow in the human body.
The results currently appear online at the website of the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Ana Rule, a postdoctoral researcher at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, led the study.
In a series of experiments, the researchers tested the BioSampler along with two traditional methods used to sample air a simple membrane filter, which traps microorganisms on a tightly-woven mesh screen, and the AGI-30 (All-Glass Im
Contact: Timothy Buckley
Ohio State University | <urn:uuid:c6f4d7dd-4dfa-4516-b8c5-0948c7003dd3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.bio-medicine.org/biology-news-3/Researchers-find-best-way-to-detect-airborne-pathogens-2303-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704054863/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113414-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945758 | 387 | 3.234375 | 3 |
Melatonin and Sleep Disorders
By Marcus M. Reidenberg, MD, FACP
Weill Cornell CERT
Summary by Kathleen Mazor, EdD
HMO Research Network CERT
Recently, melatonin has been promoted in baked goods and drinks to help people get to sleep and relieve anxiety (1). It has been available as an over-the-counter nonprescription drug for many years to relieve jet lag and trouble falling asleep, also called “delayed sleep-phase syndrome” (2).
Melatonin is a part of the body’s clock system. This clock system regulates many functions of the body that appear to cycle every 24 hours. This is based on our night-day cycle. Decrease in the perception of light starts impulses from the brain to the pineal gland at the base of the brain to cause it to secrete melatonin. This melatonin acts to make one feel sleepy. Bright light decreases melatonin secretion helping us feel awake (3). This is one of the body’s biological clock mechanisms to have us asleep at night and awake in the daytime. Bright lights at night such as working late in front of a bright computer screen or on a night shift can disrupt this biological clock. Both melatonin and the similar prescription drug, ramelteon (Rozerem R), make people fall asleep faster than when they take inert placebos (4).
Melatonin is also made by many other cells in the body and does a variety of things. It is antioxidant (3). In animal experiments, it decreases seizures (3), has cardiovascular effects (5), and regulates parts of the inflammatory process (6).
It is subject to a drug interaction of real importance. This is the additive effect of taking several drugs, each of which causes sleepiness. Alcohol is the most common of these. Many over-the-counter as well as prescription medications also cause sleepiness. One must avoid taking alcohol and other drugs that cause sleepiness when alertness and accurate or prompt responses are needed.
Another type of drug interaction is due to drug metabolism. When melatonin is swallowed, only 15% of the dose is actually absorbed into the body. Most is metabolized during absorption into inactive compounds (7). Because much melatonin is metabolized during its path into the body, various other medicines can affect the rate of this metabolism and therefore, the amount of melatonin that actually enters the body. Caffeine slowed the metabolism increasing the amount of melatonin that got into the body (8). The antidepressant drug fluvoxamine did the same thing (9). Taking melatonin with another medicine may lead to more or less melatonin in the body with increased or decreased level of sleepiness.
Many studies have shown that melatonin, 5mg, taken 3 or 4 days at the intended bedtime after flying east speeded recovery from jet lag. It also has been effective in relieving anxiety when used as preoperative medication (10) but has not been adequately compared to other medicines used for this purpose to learn which is really best.Melatonin is regulated in a way that does not require FDA review and approval before marketing. Little is published about its safety when taken for more than a few days. As a medicine, the melatonin made chemically is identical to the natural product and is less likely to be contaminated by other substances.
- Saint Louis C. Dessert. Laid back and legal. New York Times 2011; May 14
- Srinivasan V, Singh J, Pandi-Perumal SR, Brown GM, Spence DW, Cardinali DP. Jet lag, circadian rhythm sleep disturbances, and depression: the role of melatonin and its analogs. Adv Ther. 2010 Nov;27(11):796-813.
- Rios ER, Venâncio ET, Rocha NF, Woods DJ, Vasconcelos S, Macedo D, Sousa FC, Fonteles MM. Melatonin: pharmacological aspects and clinical trends. Int J Neurosci. 2010 Sep;120(9):583-90.
- Wilson SJ, Nutt DJ, Alford C, Argyropoulos SV, Baldwin DS, Bateson AN, Britton TC, Crowe C, Dijk DJ, Espie CA, Gringras P, Hajak G, Idzikowski C, Krystal AD, Nash JR, Selsick H, Sharpley AL, Wade AG. British Association for Psychopharmacology consensus statement on evidence-based treatment of insomnia, parasomnias and circadian rhythm disorders. J Psychopharmacol. 2010 Nov;24(11):1577-601.
- Reiter RJ, Tan DX, Paredes SD, Fuentes-Broto L. Beneficial effects of melatonin in cardiovascular disease. Ann Med. 2010 May 6;42(4):276-85.
- Radogna F, Diederich M, Ghibelli L. Melatonin: a pleiotropic molecule regulating inflammation. Biochem Pharmacol. 2010 Dec 15;80(12):1844-52.
- DeMuro RL, Nafziger AN, Blask DE, Menhinick AM, Bertino JS Jr. The absolute bioavailability of oral melatonin. J Clin Pharmacol. 2000 Jul;40(7):781-4.
- Härtter S, Nordmark A, Rose DM, Bertilsson L, Tybring G, Laine K. Effects of caffeine intake on the pharmacokinetics of melatonin, a probe drug for CYP1A2 activity. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Dec;56(6):679-82.
- Härtter S, Grözinger M, Weigmann H, Röschke J, Hiemke C. Increased bioavailability of oral melatonin after fluvoxamine coadministration. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2000 Jan;67(1):1-6.
- Yousaf F, Seet E, Venkatraghavan L, Abrishami A, Chung F. Efficacy and safety of melatonin as an anxiolytic and analgesic in the perioperative period: a qualitative systematic review of randomized trials. Anesthesiology. 2010 Oct;113(4):968-76.
This note can be found online at http://www.weill.cornell.edu/cert/patients/melatonin.html
Health information for everyone from the Weill Cornell/HSS CERT http://www.weill.cornell.edu/cert/patients/ | <urn:uuid:e292879f-becd-423d-9dc9-48068e0efb63> | CC-MAIN-2015-40 | http://weill.cornell.edu/cert/patients/melatonin.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-40/segments/1443736673439.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20151001215753-00140-ip-10-137-6-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.861724 | 1,373 | 3.28125 | 3 |
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company.
Learn more about Allen...
Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Defining Shortcut Keys for Symbols.
John uses Excel to keep a maintenance log. He frequently needs to add a symbol from the Insert Symbol dialog box. He'd like to assign the symbol to a shortcut key (it doesn't have one already), but cannot find a way to do it.
Some symbols have obvious shortcut keys, defined by the folks in Redmond. One of the lesser-known facts is that every symbol has a "shortcut" key, but using that shortcut may not seem that short. How does this work? By holding down the Alt key as you type the ASCII or ANSI code for the symbol.
For instance, let's say you want to enter the cents symbol. If you display the Insert Symbol dialog box and select the cents symbol, at the bottom right of the dialog box you can see the character code for the symbol (it is 00A2). This is a hexadecimal number; you need to convert it to regular decimal notation. You can do this by using the formula =HEX2DEC("00A2"), which returns the value 162. If you remember this code, you can hold down the Alt key as you type the code, with a leading zero, on the numeric keypad.
This approach works great if you only need to input a few symbols on a regular basis; it doesn't take much work to remember those few codes you need. However, if you have a lot of symbols you need to work with, then remembering codes becomes more problematic. You could develop your own printed "cheat sheet" for the symbols so that you can refer to it all the time, or you could rely on Excel's AutoCorrect feature to do the remembering for you. Follow these steps:
Figure 1. The AutoCorrect tab of the AutoCorrect dialog box.
Now you can just type the mnemonic when you want the symbol to appear. When you type the space bar after the mnemonic, AutoCorrect kicks in and replaces it with the symbol.
If you prefer, you can install a third-party software solution to handle the shortcuts for you. For instance, you could use AllChars (http://allchars.zwolnet.com), a free, open-source solution that works with most versions of Windows.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3221) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Defining Shortcut Keys for Symbols.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today! | <urn:uuid:81fc5684-dd95-4164-9d7d-198a35010e5c> | CC-MAIN-2015-18 | http://excel.tips.net/T003221_Defining_Shortcut_Keys_for_Symbols.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-18/segments/1429246639057.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20150417045719-00180-ip-10-235-10-82.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.891293 | 760 | 2.8125 | 3 |
By Margaret Thomas
From the traditional Mediterranean global to the current day, our conceptions of what's common in language have interacted with our stories of language studying. This ebook tells tales: the tale of ways students within the west have conceived of the truth that human languages percentage very important houses regardless of their visible modifications, and the tale of the way westerners have understood the character of moment or overseas language learning.In narrating those tales, the writer argues that sleek moment language acquisition concept must re-evaluate what counts as its personal prior. The e-book addresses Greek contributions to the prehistory of common grammar, Roman bilingualism, the emergence of the 1st overseas language grammars within the early heart a long time, and the Medieval speculative grammarians efforts to outline the necessities of human language. the writer indicates how after the renaissance multiplied people's understanding of language ameliorations, students lower back to the questions of universals within the context of moment language studying, together with within the 1660 Port-Royal grammar which Chomsky notoriously celebrated in Cartesian Linguistics. The publication then seems to be at how Post-Saussurean eu linguistics and American structuralism as much as smooth generative grammar have every one otherwise conceived of universals and language learning.Universal Grammar in moment Language Acquisition is a amazing contribution to the background of linguistics and may be crucial interpreting for college kids and students of linguistics, experts in moment language acquisition and language teacher-educators.
By Charles F. Meyer
Apposition in modern English is the 1st full-length remedy of apposition. It presents distinct dialogue of its linguistic features and of its utilization in several types of speech and writing, derived from the knowledge of British and American laptop corpora. Charles Meyer demonstrates the inadequacies of earlier experiences and argues that apposition is a grammatical relation discovered via buildings having specific syntactic, semantic and pragmatic features, of which sure are dominant. The language of press reportage, fiction, realized writing and spontaneous dialog is analyzed.
By REV. DAVID GILMORE, M.A
By Florent Perek
The argument constitution of verbs, outlined because the a part of grammar that offers with how members in verbal occasions are expressed in clauses, is a classical subject in linguistics that has bought massive cognizance within the literature. This publication investigates argument constitution in English from a usage-based viewpoint, taking the view that the cognitive illustration of grammar is formed by way of language use, and that an important features of grammatical association are tied to the frequency with which phrases and syntactic buildings are used. at the foundation of numerous case reviews combining quantitative corpus reports and psycholinguistic experiments, it truly is proven how a usage-based technique sheds new gentle on a couple of matters in argument cognizance and provides frequency-based reasons for its organizing ideas at 3 degrees of generality: verbs, structures, and argument constitution alternations.
By Ayesha Kidwai
Essentially the most hotly debated phenomena in common language is that of leftward argument scrambling. This ebook investigates the homes of Hindi-Urdu scrambling to teach that it has to be analyzed as uniformly a focality-driven XP-adjunction operation. It proposes a singular thought of binding and coreference that not just derives the coreference results in scrambled structures, yet has vital results for the correct formula of binding, crossover, reconstruction, and representational financial system within the minimalist application. The publication may be of curiosity not just to experts in Hindi-Urdu syntax and/or scrambling, yet to all scholars of generative syntax.
By G. David Morley
This well-illustrated publication outlines a framework for the research of syntactic constitution from a standpoint of a scientific sensible grammar. In oart, the booklet is going again to the grammar's "scale and type" roots, yet now with the purpose of featuring how
By Jean Dubois, René Lagane
Полный грамматический справочник французского языка.
Une grammaire uncomplicated et complète, conforme aux programmes scolaires, pour maîtriser le français.
Du mot à l. a. word, toute los angeles grammaire expliquée pas à pas, illustrée dexemples:
• le vocabulaire français, ses origines et son évolution
• les mots, leur nature et leurs emplois les règles daccord
• le sens des temps et des modes du verbe
• les propositions et leurs fonctions.
De l. a. word au texte, les notions essentielles:
• les niveaux de langue et le style
• le petit traité de versification.
Un index de plus de 500 notions et difficultés.
By Christian Abbadie
L'objectif de ce livre est de revoir les issues de grammaire ?tudi?s au niveau moyen mais, surtout, observer, analyser et travailler sur les nuances et les subtilit?s de l. a. syntaxe et du lexique du fran?ais en tenant compte des divers registres de langue. Sommaire : constitution de los angeles word fran?aise; los angeles nominalisation; Nature de l. a. word et ordre des mots; Verbes transitifs et intransitifs; Participe cross? des verbes transitifs et intransitifs; Verbes impersonnels; Verbes pronominaux; Adjectif verbal, participe pr?sent, g?rondif; Infinitif; L'adjectif (place et sens); Mots invariables; L'article (quelques rappels); Les ind?finis (principales difficult?s); Les pronoms personnels; Les pronoms d?monstratifs (quelques remarques), and so forth.
By Edwin Williams
During this theoretical monograph, Edwin Williams demonstrates that once syntax is low cost, it economizes on form distortion instead of on distance. in line with Williams, this new concept of economic climate demands a brand new structure for the grammatical system--in truth, for a brand new proposal of derivation. the hot structure deals a mode of clausal embedding--the point Embedding Scheme--that predictively ties jointly the locality, reconstructive habit, and "target" style of any syntactic strategy in a fashion that's detailed to the version. Williams calls his thought "Representation concept" to place the inspiration of economic system on the vanguard. Syntax, during this thought, is a chain of representations of 1 sublanguage in one other.
By E. Matthew Husband
This monograph pursues a structural analogy among the supply of an existential interpretation in states and the telicity of occasions. targeting proof from either verbal and adjectival predicates, it argues that quantization types the root of a unified conception of aktionsart and offers a idea during which the provision of an existential interpretation in states is, just like the telicity of occasions, made up our minds compositionally by way of the predicate and the quantization of its inner argument. Quantization is additional argued to mirror the inner temporal structure of the phases of a person that's tied to the new release of an existential interpretation. This monograph can be of curiosity to syntacticians and semanticists who're particularly interested by compositional techniques to situations, and to people who have a extra common curiosity within the position linguistic idea can play in picking middle houses of the brain. | <urn:uuid:ac3ae50b-ee2f-4cbf-8773-7f5943589ebf> | CC-MAIN-2017-51 | http://gomadfestival.com/library/category/grammar/page/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-51/segments/1512948512208.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20171211052406-20171211072406-00138.warc.gz | en | 0.796423 | 1,651 | 2.609375 | 3 |
A global system to regulate runaway greenhouse gas emissions from aviation is technically and economically feasible and could help rein in climate change, according to a new World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report.
The report comes ahead of a critical meeting of the High Level Group established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal this week, where governments will attempt to revive a decade-long effort to address aviation emissions.
Aviation is the most emission-intensive form of transport on the planet and, together with shipping, is the fastest growing source of carbon emissions contributing to climate change.
Aviation Report: Market Based Mechanisms to Curb Greenhouse Gas emissions from International Aviation outlines four options, and weighs their pros and cons, to develop a global system to regulate emissions from aircraft.
These include offsetting, offsetting with a revenue generating mechanism, a cap and trade emissions trading system, and a levy with offsetting.
The report finds that the latter three options can both reduce emissions at the least cost to industry, and also generate funds that could be used to support global efforts to address climate change, while maintaining a level playing field between airlines.
“We’ve got to ensure that transportation costs include the cost to society of spewing carbon into our atmosphere – and aviation needs to do its part in global efforts to address climate change,” said Keya Chatterjee, World Wildlife Fund’s director of international climate policy. “What we’ve found is there are practical and feasible options for a truly global agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.”
“President Obama has been talking a lot about dealing with climate change, and this is a great opportunity for him to actually do something about it,” Chatterjee said. “We’ve got a venue to deal with this problem, we’ve got a deadline in just a few months, and now we just need the political will and courage to make a global market-based measure happen.”
In November, Congress directed the US government “to conduct international negotiations to pursue a worldwide approach to address aircraft emissions, including the environmental impact of aircraft emissions.”
The report finds that an ICAO decision to implement an appropriate global system “could provide an acceptable solution for parties on all sides of the debate”
Absent such an agreement in ICAO this year, airlines will face a growing patchwork of international regulations and compliance costs, while aviation emissions will continue to rise and contribute to dangerous climate change, Chatterjee said. | <urn:uuid:5de3b132-1ee0-48b9-9980-95bfb6bed5a2> | CC-MAIN-2015-40 | https://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/global-system-to-rein-in-aviation-emissions-could-easily-take-flight-wwf | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-40/segments/1443737922497.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20151001221842-00168-ip-10-137-6-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934732 | 527 | 3.640625 | 4 |
Get a paper written
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site located in the Sultanate of Oman (22°31′ N, 50°47′ E), at the point where the Arabian coast turns from running southeastward to running southwest-ward and the Gulf of Oman joins the Arabian Sea. The Arabic name, meaning “headland of the limit,” corresponding roughly to “Land's End,” describes its situation and has been used since before AD 1500 when the Portuguese recorded the toponym.
A small modern town stands on the neck of a sandy promontory which encloses a shallow lagoon, with low hills behind. Though strategically placed, the region has little fresh water, but marine resources are abundant. Archaeological remains, scattered at different sites (designated HD 1–HD 27) across some 1,000 ha (2,470 acres) and representing most periods from modern times back to 4000–3000 BC or earlier, document substantial continuity in lifestyle coupled with long-distance trading relations overseas. Remains of fish, shellfish, and turtles dominate the organic finds from excavation; there is also evidence for dates, today grown in inland oases with which there are close traditional links. Donald Whitcomb (1975) first drew attention to the Islamic remains. Bronze Age material was identified In 1986 by Julian Reade, who directed excavations during 1988, 1989, and 1992. The site complements nearby Ra's al-Junayz.
The earliest site identified, HD 2, is a midden producing small flints and molluscs, to be dated before 3000; terebralia shells suggest the presence of a mangrove swamp in the lagoon. At HD 6, dating to about 3000–2500, there is evidence for the use of copper and of distinctive large flint tools, and for the manufacture of stone and shell ornaments; contemporary tombs at HD 10 are circular stone structures with corbelled roofs.
HD 1 (c. 2500–2000), has stone ovens (for fish preparation) and much cooper, including fishhooks and a bun ingot; there are a few bronze pieces. Pottery was introduced during the occupation of HD 1 and mainly comprises Mature Harappan types, including one inscribed with two Indus signs. Buildings of this phase have not been located. The mangroves were declining. An aceramic village at HD 18, beside the lagoon, with subrectangular stone house-footings, is tentatively dated about 2000–1500.
Early “Iron Age” tombs abound on the hills. Those excavated at HD 9, perhaps dated about 1000, are stone, roughly oblong in shape, often abutting on one another. Copper or bronze arrowheads and some pottery vessels recall Wadi Suq types. There are many beads, stone vessels, and scraps of copper or bronze bowls. No contemporary settlement has been identified, but a Late Iron Age village was established at HD 21 (perhaps c. 500 BC), significantly located on the hills out of sight of the sea and exploiting animal rather than mainly marine resources. The village comprises agglomerations of rounded rooms and yards, with stone footings to the walls. The pottery is mainly a very coarse gritty ware similar to that found at Samad (in central northern Oman).
Hellenistic-Sasanian settlement has not been securely identified, but traces of a well-built stone structure with rectangular walls suggest a strongpoint near the lagoon. Islamic occupation is widely attested, and the HD 2 area on the promontory is rich in sherds dating from before AD 1000 to recent times. Plain and glazed wares probably derive from Oman, the Gulf, Iran, India, and Pakistan; Chinese and African wares are common. Excavations at HD 4 exposed a building of coral blocks. There is much glass, and evidence exists for the manufacture of lapis lazuli and carnelian beads. An oyster midden extends beside the sea.
The modern town has developed around a castle, which may have been built within a century of AD 1700, because no older traces were observed during restoration work about 1990.
- Reade, Julian E. “Excavations at Ra's al-Hadd, 1988: Preliminary Report.” In The Joint Hadd Project, edited by Serge Cleuziou et al., pp. 33–43. Rome, 1990.
- Whitcomb, Donald S. “The Archaeology of Oman: A Preliminary Discussion of the Islamic Periods.” Journal of Oman Studies 1 (1975): 123–157.
Julian E. Reade | <urn:uuid:d842d47b-bb79-46e4-ae92-76dc1e5706bc> | CC-MAIN-2015-27 | http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com/article/opr/t256/e885?_hi=6&_pos=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-27/segments/1435375096209.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20150627031816-00098-ip-10-179-60-89.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957369 | 951 | 2.9375 | 3 |
Dianna Cohen, an artist and environmentalist, remembers well how her hometown of Los Angeles changed in the 1970s when local grocery stores started offering plastic bags in addition to paper ones. During her family’s frequent trips to the beach, she could see the effect of that shift on the surrounding environment—something that inspired her to use plastic materials in her visual-art projects in college.
Later on, Cohen resolved to put her energy into reducing waste. She began an effort to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a gyre in the middle of the ocean filled with marine debris. She soon discovered that the “patch” wasn’t actually an island at all, but a vortex of water clogged with plastic waste. Discoveries such as this and others led Cohen to co-found the Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC), a nonprofit that aims to reduce the use of disposable plastic. The organization has started initiatives such as Refill Revolution, which works with music festivals to encourage concertgoers to use metal cups instead of plastic ones.
Cohen’s activism is inspired by, among others, Sylvia Earle, an oceanographer and a National Geographic explorer in residence. Cohen first met Earle at a book signing and says the biologist’s work convinced her of the importance of protecting the ocean and its inhabitants. I spoke with Cohen, about Earle and environmentalism more broadly, for The Atlantic’s series on mentorship, “On the Shoulders of Giants.” The following conversation has been edited and condensed.
Elisha Brown: When did you become interested in environmental activism?
Dianna Cohen: I was born in the 1960s during the birth of the environmental movement. When I was a kid, every glass bottle was sterilized and refilled. We now live in a society of convenience. We use things designed for disposability, but it’s not convenient for the environment, our own health, or our children. I grew up in Los Angeles, and my parents enjoyed going to the ocean. You’d look down the beach and it looks like a postcard, but as you walk along beaches, you see plastic here and plastic there.
Brown: Was there someone doing work on oceans and the environment whom you have looked up to?
Cohen: The marine biologist and explorer Sylvia Earle. I look to her as a great mentor and a tremendous influence. I’ve learned a lot of great lessons from her. When Sylvia wants to bring people into what she’s talking about—it doesn’t matter if she’s giving a speech to a room of 10 people or a room of thousands—she brings her voice down, soft and deep, and draws you in. It’s very powerful, intimate, and commanding—much more so than raising one’s voice.
Brown: How did you first meet Sylvia?
Cohen: The first time I met her, I traveled from Spain to Washington, D.C., and then drove to Virginia to a book fair where she was talking. I spoke to her after the presentation, and I told her I wanted to go clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and was reconsidering the apex predators from the ocean that I ate. Sylvia asked me if I would eat a tiger or lion. She said, “When you’re eating a tuna, that’s what you’re doing.”
Brown: Coming from a background in art, how did you approach founding the Plastic Pollution Coalition, which wasn’t in your area of expertise?
Cohen: I developed a business plan to go out and clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. I was approaching it as a visual artist and thought I could get a couple of artists to help clean up the ocean floor. I started talking to environmental bloggers, scientists, and activists to help me understand what I was looking at. We started talking about creating an alliance.
Brown: Who did you lean on to help you figure that out?
Cohen: I built a large group of advisers. My life feels enriched by having other people I can reach out to for help and advice. Prior to co-founding PPC, as an artist, I was always curating exhibitions while I was a student at UCLA. I like different opinions and a diverse array of people who bring different solutions and approaches to the table.
Brown: How do you balance your careers as both an artist and an activist?
Cohen: PPC is the biggest art project I’ve ever worked on in my life. It allowed me to create a nexus between the arts, science, and communication, and turn it into action. I meet young people who dual-major in science and art, and I’m envious but also happy. There’s recognition of value in interdisciplinary work.
Brown: Who are the young people that you provide guidance to?
Cohen: Grayce Nichols—she’s one of the daughters of Wallace J. Nichols, a PPC founding member. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing a bunch of young people and watching them grow. One of the things you learn is that kids are mostly positive and make corrections in everything they do. They’re open to receiving information in a way that adults aren’t. It’s important to keep that sense of curiosity. Being a mentor or mentee doesn’t have anything to do with age. You can learn a lot from people who are younger than you or older than you. | <urn:uuid:230ed8a2-2ffb-45f8-bf9a-73422cadec66> | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | https://newsesource.com/2017/10/13/dianna-cohen-an-artist-whose-mentors-are-scientists/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125944982.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20180421032230-20180421052230-00374.warc.gz | en | 0.967897 | 1,158 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Established by Congress as a branch of the Department of the Interior in 1879, the U.S. Geological Survey has a truly national mission that extends beyond the boundaries of the nation’s public lands to positively impact the lives of all Americans. The USGS plays a crucial role in protecting the public from natural hazards, assessing water quality, providing geospatial data, and conducting the science necessary to manage our nation’s living, mineral, and energy resources. Through its offices across the county, the USGS works with partners to provide high-quality research and data to policymakers, emergency responders, resource managers, civil and environmental engineers, educators, and the public. A few examples of essential USGS services include: Water: The USGS monitors surface and groundwater availability and quality. It collects data that are used by other agencies to issue flood warnings and to assess drought impacts. Monitoring of water pollution helps protect drinking water quality. Natural & Man-Made Hazards: The USGS monitors and forecasts the threat of earthquakes, floods, and wildfires, and informs response efforts to man-made disasters, like oil spills, saving lives and helping to reduce the economic impact of such events. Energy & Minerals: USGS surveys of energy and mineral resources inform environmentally prudent development and conservation, contributing to the nation’s energy independence and economic growth. Geospatial Data: States, federal agencies, and the private sector depend upon geographical data from the nation’s mapper – the USGS. With its partners, USGS provides a new generation of high-quality, digital geospatial data products. Environment: USGS research informs management of endangered species, aids in the control of invasive species (e.g. zebra mussels), and monitors wildlife diseases (e.g., Avian Flu, Chronic Wasting Disease). Climate Change: USGS research is vital to predicting the impacts of climate change on sea level, water resources, wildfires, and ecosystems. The USGS is also assessing the nation’s potential for carbon sequestration. The USGS Coalition is an alliance of over 75 organizations united by a commitment to the continued vitality of the unique combination of biological, geographical, geological, and hydrological programs of the US Geological Survey (USGS). The Coalition supports increased federal investment in USGS programs that underpin responsible natural resource stewardship, improve resilience to natural and human-induced hazards, and contribute to the long-term health, security, and prosperity of the nation. Photo Credits: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Julie Palakovich Carr Version: 4-2014 Addressing a Funding Shortfall The need for science in support of public policy decision-making has never been greater. USGS scientists and engineers provide hydrological, biological, geological, geospatial, and other types of data that support the effective management of water, wildlife, ecosystems, and energy and mineral resources, as well as contribute to protection and prevention measures for natural disasters. Over the years, Congress has worked in a bipartisan fashion to invest in USGS science. These efforts have paid dividends and helped the USGS continue to provide answers to the challenging questions facing decision-makers across the country. The enacted 2014 budget for the USGS is less than the agency received in fiscal year 2009. In order to meet the tremendous need for science to support public policy decision making, more investment is needed. That investment should be used to strengthen vital USGS partnerships, improve monitoring networks, produce high quality digital geospatial data, and deliver the best possible science to address societal problems and inform decision makers. Please help to ensure that the USGS is adequately supported in future appropriations. We appreciate the support of Congress on this important issue. USGS Coalition Member Organizations American Association of Petroleum Geologists • American Fisheries Society • American Geosciences Institute • American Geophysical Union • American Institute of Biological Sciences • American Institute of Professional Geologists • American Society for Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing • American Society of Agronomy • American Society of Civil Engineers • American Water Resources Association • American Water Works Association • Applied Technology Council • Association of American Geographers • Association of American State Geologists • Association of Ecosystem Research Centers • Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists • Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies • Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies • Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities • Association of State Floodplain Managers • Boise State University • Botanical Society of America • Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin • California Institute of Technology • California Seismic Safety Commission • Cartography and Geographic Information Society • Clean Beaches Council • Council of Entomology Department Administrators • Council of Science Editors • Crop Science Society of America • Earthquake Engineering Research Institute • Ecological Society of America • ESRI • Geo-Institute of ASCE • Geological Society of America • Geoscience Information Society • The Groundwater Foundation • Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology • International Association of Emergency Managers • Interstate Council on Water Policy • Kansas Geological Survey • National Association of Clean Water Agencies • National Association of University Fisheries & Wildlife Programs • National Cooperators’ Coalition for USGS Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Units • National Council for Science and the Environment • National Flood Determination Association • National Geographic Society • National Ground Water Association • National Institutes for Water Resources • National Mining Association • National Society of Professional Surveyors • Natural Science Collections Alliance • NatureServe • NBII Coalition • OhioView • Ornithological Council • Phycological Society of America • Renewable Natural Resources Foundation • Seismological Society of America • Society for Freshwater Science • Society for Range Management • Society of Economic Geologists • Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry — North America • Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration • Soil Science Society of America • Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California • UNAVCO • Universities' Council on Water Resources • University Consortium for Geographic Information Science • University Corporation for Atmospheric Research • University of Colorado • University of Southern California • Water Environment Federation • Weed Science Society of America • Western States Seismic Policy Council • The Wildlife Society For more information about the USGS Coalition, please visit our web site at www.USGSCoalition.org or contact coalition chair Robert Gropp ([email protected]). | <urn:uuid:8c711617-7598-4797-a0f2-a36e00a712b6> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | http://slidegur.com/doc/3950587/slide-1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232257605.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20190524104501-20190524130501-00362.warc.gz | en | 0.839239 | 1,292 | 3.765625 | 4 |
Canada, you might be surprised to hear, is a world leader in climate change.
Canada leads the world in presenting plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and Canada leads the world in the size of the gap between plans and deeds.
The Mulroney government had a plan (1990). The Chrétien government had plans (1995, 2000, 2002). The Martin government had a plan (2005). And now the Harper government has a plan, sort of.
The plans had two things in common. They carried ringing titles: Green Plan, Action Plan, Project Green, that sort of thing. And they all failed, which is what the Harper government’s plan will do.
The Harper government offers a target for reducing emissions that contribute to climate change by 17 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020. Over and over, ministers repeat this target, even though every environmentalist, oil company expert, academic, diplomat and bureaucrat who has studied the government’s plan agrees the target cannot be met, at least not the way the government is going about it.
It is typical of the Harper government to keep repeating statements that are implausible in the extreme or simply false, as in this case. The theory, presumably, is that the truth arrives too late to catch up to the implausible assertion, that the media has given up tracking the gap between statement and reality, and that the people don’t fundamentally care, so disillusioned are they with Ottawa and its ubiquitous spinning and information control.
This week the Auditor-General’s office added its voice to the chorus that has already dismissed the 17-per-cent target as a joke. Scott Vaughan, commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, part of the A-G’s shop, looked at the government’s supposed plan to achieve the 17-per-cent reduction and said, politely but firmly, that he couldn’t find a plan, or at least a complete and coherent one.
His numbers are simple and easy to understand. On current trends, emissions by 2020 will rise by 7.5 per cent from 2005 levels rather than drop by 17 per cent. This gap between what is happening and what is supposed to happen amounts to 178 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
Only a fraction of those 178 million tonnes has been reduced. Therefore, said Mr. Vaughan, “it is unlikely that enough time is left to develop and establish regulations that together will contribute sufficient GHG reductions to meet the 2020 target.”
The commissioner, like most auditors, has mastered understatement. A clearer way of expressing himself would have been to say there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of the target being reached – which is what everybody in civil society and foreign embassies has understood and been saying, publicly and privately, for a long time.
One reason (among many) why the target won’t be reached is the Harper government’s methods. While regularly denouncing excessive regulations and red tape in the field of reducing emissions the government is overwhelmingly relying on – regulations and red tape!
Each industry – trucking, aviation, shipping, rail, oil and gas, electricity generation, chemicals, fertilizer, iron and steel – is to be regulated to the pips. Rather than use economic tools such as carbon-trading markets or a carbon tax, the government is going to use the least economically efficient tool, the very one it continually decries – regulations.
Their sheer complexity, coupled with backroom lobbying by industry, means there are still no final regulations for coal-fired power plants and not even preliminary ones yet made public for the oil and gas industry.
As Mr. Vaughan observed, the government does not know the cost of the regulations for the economy, whether they will work or how they will be implemented. Moreover, once regulations are produced, it will take some years for them to take effect, another reason why the 17-per-cent reduction by 2020 is a pipe dream.
Canada has been embarrassed in the world’s eyes so many times on the climate-change file that another embarrassment matters little. The Harper government has many climate-change deniers and skeptics in its ranks – in caucus and the country. Doing nothing, or as little as possible as slowly as possible, suits them just fine. | <urn:uuid:c023f494-97d8-45c5-a799-73f9bf7470bf> | CC-MAIN-2015-22 | http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/canada-and-climate-change-all-plan-no-action/article4106617/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-22/segments/1433195035572.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20150601214355-00019-ip-10-180-206-219.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95888 | 884 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Stroke can happen to anyone including babies and children. The causes of stroke for children are very different from those for adults. This leaflet explains what can cause stroke in babies and children and how they are treated.
The Childhood Stroke Support Service offers information, advice and support to families affected by stroke in childhood. For more information please visit the Childhood Stroke webpage or contact Anna Panton on 07715 065925.
A donation to the Childhood Stroke Project will help provide face-to-face support and tailored information for children, young people, carers and families affected by stroke, about the nature of their stroke or related diagnoses.
Sources of information for families and young people affected by stroke in childhood.
The Child Stroke Project is a collaboration between the Stroke Association and the Evelina London Children's Hospital.
Published online (ahead of print in the journal Annals of Neurology), the results of a new study found that one year after arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS), the rate of death, recurrence of stroke, and neurological impairment was lower than reports in previous studies.
This week the Child stroke project celebrates its second anniversary helping young stroke survivors.
We are putting together a library of publications, Stroke Association materials and video clips relating to stroke in childhood. | <urn:uuid:d0a750b9-92d6-42b7-8ef0-9a5858660209> | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | https://www.stroke.org.uk/tags/dysphasia?key=Childhood%20stroke | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218188773.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212948-00444-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930034 | 269 | 2.984375 | 3 |
The military history of Pakistan encompasses an immense panorama of conflicts and struggles extending for more than 2,000 years across areas constituting modern Pakistan, and the greater Indian subcontinent. The history of the modern-day military of Pakistan begins from post-1947, after Pakistan achieved its independence as a modern nation-state.
The military holds a significant place in the history of Pakistan, as the Pakistani Armed Forces have played, and still continue to play, a vital role in the Pakistani establishment and shaping of the country since its inception. Although Pakistan was founded as a democracy after its independence from the British Raj, the military has remained one of the country's most powerful institutions and has on occasion overthrown democratically elected civilian governments on the basis of mismanagement and corruption. Successive governments have made sure that the military was consulted before they took key decisions, especially when those decisions related to the Kashmir conflict and foreign policy. Political leaders of Pakistan's developing democracy know that the military has stepped into the political arena before at times of crisis through Coup d'état to establish military dictatorships, and could do so again.
The military was created in 1947 by division of the British Indian Army and was given units who had a long and cherished history during the British Raj such as the Khyber Rifles, and had seen intensive service in World War I and World War II. Many of the early leaders of the military had fought in both world wars.
The military draws on inspiration from the rich combat history that has occurred within the area of modern day Pakistani soil and uses example of sacrifice and perseverance to embolden troops, and has named medals of valor, nickname for combat divisions, and indigenous weapons; Such as the short-range ballistic missiles Ghaznavi, which is named in honour of Mahmud of Ghazna who founded the Ghaznavid Empire, and ruled from 997 to 1030.
Since the time of independence, the military has fought three major wars with India. It has also fought a limited conflict at Kargil with India after acquiring nuclear capabilities. In addition, there have been several minor border skirmishes with neighbouring Afghanistan. After the September 11 attacks, the military is engaged in a protracted low intensity conflict along Pakistan's western border with Afghanistan, with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants, as well as those who support or provide shelter to them.
In addition, Pakistani troops have also participated in various foreign conflicts usually acting as United Nations peacekeepers. At present, Pakistan has the largest number of its personnel acting under the United Nations with the number standing at 10,173 as of 31 March 2007.
Read more about Military History Of Pakistan: UN Peacekeeping Missions
Other articles related to "military history of pakistan, pakistan":
... Nations peacekeeping missions involving Pakistan Date Location Mission August 1960 - May 1964 Congo Pakistani troops working under the auspices of the UN were first deployed in Congo and ... March 1992 - March 1996 Bosnia Pakistan contributed two battalions of troops to form part of the United Nations Protection Force ... April 1992 - March 1995 Somalia Pakistan contributed over 7,200 troops for the humanitarian mission in Somalia ...
Famous quotes containing the words military and/or history:
“The military mind is indeed a menace. Old-fashioned futurity that sees only men fighting and dying in smoke and fire; hears nothing more civilized than a cannonade; scents nothing but the stink of battle-wounds and blood.”
—Sean OCasey (18841964)
“To summarize the contentions of this paper then. Firstly, the phrase the meaning of a word is a spurious phrase. Secondly and consequently, a re-examination is needed of phrases like the two which I discuss, being a part of the meaning of and having the same meaning. On these matters, dogmatists require prodding: although history indeed suggests that it may sometimes be better to let sleeping dogmatists lie.”
—J.L. (John Langshaw) | <urn:uuid:98ced758-f5fe-4817-8f4a-620a332bf409> | CC-MAIN-2018-34 | http://www.liquisearch.com/military_history_of_pakistan | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-34/segments/1534221211126.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20180816152341-20180816172341-00028.warc.gz | en | 0.965196 | 818 | 3.6875 | 4 |
Researchers to compile Earth's 'book of life'
Over the next 10 years, they vow to gather information about the planet's 1.8 million species and make it available on the Web free of charge.
It will be called the "Encyclopedia of Life." And it is, as they say in Boston, wicked cool.
Imagine a website where you can research, or just read about, every living thing on earth, from a microbe that lives next to an underwater volcano to a California redwood tree. A website where you can even add your knowledge of some life form or species.
Over the next 10 years, researchers vow to gather every scrap of information available about the planet's 1.8 million known species of animals, plants, and other organisms. And once the information is gathered, it will be available on the Internet entirely for free.
This project has been initiated by five top US universities and institutions of higher learning: Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.; The Field Museum in Chicago; the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass.; the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; and the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Other scientific institutes, like The Natural History Museum and Royal Botanic Garden in England, will make their vast collections of historic records available through the encyclopedia.
"I'm really excited about this for a number of reasons," says Prof. James Hanken, who heads Harvard's involvement in the Encyclopedia of Life. "As a scientist, it's a tremendous resource for people who study biology professionally. And it will be a real help to anyone who will need information in a hurry."
And while it will be useful to universities and scientists worldwide, Professor Hanken also says it will also be a real boon for K-12 education.
"Kids just gravitate to this kind of thing," he says in a telephone interview. "If we keep it accessible and helpful and cool, they will use it all the time."
The project is the dream of several top scientists, including renowned Harvard biologist and philosopher E.O. Wilson, who described such a project in a widely read essay written in 2003. In a news release from Harvard last week, he said that since he first put the idea forward, "science has advanced, technology has moved forward. Today, the practicalities of making this encyclopedia real are within reach as never before."
In a speech he gave after receiving this year's Technology, Entertainment and Design award (watch it at: www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/83), he asked people around the world to help make the encyclopedia a reality.
"Working together, you can make this real," Dr. Wilson said. "The encyclopedia will quickly pay for itself in practical applications. It will transform the science of biology in ways of obvious benefit to humanity. And, most of all, it can inspire a new generation of biologists to continue the quest that started for me 60 years ago. To search for life, to understand it, and to preserve it."
Yet if the Internet didn't exist, it's not likely this project would, either. Scientists have been cataloguing life on Earth for about 250 years. That information, however, is scattered throughout universities, museums, and research institutes around the planet. Scientists often have to travel to other parts of the world to research flora or fauna in their own country. Having a global communications and storage network available, like the Internet, means those scientists can stay at home to do their research.
The site will be modeled after Wikipedia, the popular online encyclopedia. According to Science Daily, each species will have a "Wikipedia-style Web page detailing each organism's genome, geographic distribution, phylogenetic position, habitat, and ecological relationships."
The project coordinators will open scanning centers around the world (they already exist in Boston, London, and Washington, D.C.), where researchers will scan tens of millions of pages of research, clean up the data, and prepare it for the publication on the Internet.
Like Wikipedia, the project will also be "open source." So birders, amateur naturalists, school children, and others will be able to contribute to the project in a special section. Unlike Wikipedia, however, all the articles in the main section will be reviewed and approved by scientists before they are published.
A project like this not only takes a lot of time, but also a lot of money. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation will support the Encyclopedia of Life with a $10 million grant, while the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has agreed to give $2.5 million. A condition of both of these gifts, however, is that the project become self-sustaining financially (but free to users).
You can visit the Encyclopedia of Life at: www.eol.org. The website already has a development timeline along with an extensive Frequently Asked Questions section that describes the project in greater detail. The EOL site also contains a few test pages: a page for the polar bear at www.eol.org/vision/bear_expert.html and for the yeti crab at www.eol.org/vision/crab_expert.html. There is also a four-minute information video at YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NwfGA4cxJQ).
Biweekly columnist Tom Regan also hosts NPR.org's Newsblog. | <urn:uuid:d12095cc-0c31-43f4-9dfa-8e718fd9fd5b> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0516/p15s01-stct.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187822668.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20171018013719-20171018033719-00498.warc.gz | en | 0.92958 | 1,120 | 3.203125 | 3 |
Families of Fishers, both those fish in the sea and in the other inland waterbodies and those who belong to the traditional fisher communities though not actively fishing have to be protected on
Right to Life:-
The threat they suffer both man made (cross border arrest, natural disaster impacts, precarious travel of fisher women hawkers on non common transport, lack of rest room facilities in sales places) and the like are to be address
Right to livelihood:-
Threatening actions (encroachment of fishing areas by mechanized boats and non ecological fishing gears, lack of financial support for non land holding fishers, lack of proper fuel subsidies, lack of transportation for fish hawker women, lack of financial support for them for augmentation of entrepreneurship) and the like are addressed
Right to Development:-
Through Right to Development, we want all aspects meant to further their skills (enlisting as Scheduled Tribe to have reservation to education and employment and in all bodies making decisions on fishers / fisher related environment) and regulation of all so called development activities that are detrimental to their well being (industrial development on the coast, privatization of sea and coast, letting industrial pollution into the sea, projects that deny access to traditional occupation sites) etc. | <urn:uuid:75b4bdd7-56df-422b-8177-00e10d2bc889> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | http://guideindia.org/fisher-rights/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662545090.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20220522063657-20220522093657-00797.warc.gz | en | 0.944926 | 254 | 2.703125 | 3 |
An unhappy, orphaned boy in Canada’s far north finds a new way of life with the help of a group of tiny, magical dwarves who adopt him.
Christopher, a researcher and publisher of Inuit legends and history, and Neal, a Canadian journalist, team up for a relatively lengthy, original story incorporating traditional Inuit characters and setting. Little Ava is alone and unwanted, an outcast orphan in his Arctic village. One day, he stumbles on a tiny, dwarflike man who takes Ava home to his group of family and friends (including sled dogs the size of squirrels). Ava learns that in this new world, time, size and shape can shift, according to one’s own perceptions and inner strength. He proves himself a worthy hunter, accepts the love and respect of his new family, and finds that he is now the same size as the tiny people, the Inugarulligaarjuit. Dreamy watercolor illustrations in muted tones show Ava’s growth from a cowering child to a brave and strong boy who can fight a lemming or a bear.
The story is long for the picture-book format, but children who enjoy fairy and folk tales will find the story of Ava an unusual and compelling one. (author’s note, glossary, pronunciation guide) (Picture book. 6-9) | <urn:uuid:661f7d0c-f1e2-4d85-828a-7696a23e1dcb> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/neil-christopher/ava-and-little-folk/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514574018.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20190920113425-20190920135425-00231.warc.gz | en | 0.919938 | 285 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Skunks have become accustomed to humans, thriving in semi-open agricultural areas, mixed woods, meadows and even urban areas. In the fall, skunks feed voraciously, building up fat reserves for winter dormancy. With the onset of cold weather, skunks seek out dens, becoming inactive for the winter. Areas that provide dark secure hiding places such as under barns, utility sheds and porches are common denning sites. They may appear for short periods in winter during prolonged mild spells. Mating occurs in late February and early March when males become active, leaving their dens in search of females.
After a gestation period of 62 days, females produce five kits on average with the young being born in late April or May. Within a month, the females and young can be seen actively foraging for food. Skunks are omnivorous, eating both animal and plant material, with insect larvae forming a large part of their diet.
The Great Horned Owl is their main natural predator but coyotes, foxes and dogs can take the occasional skunk. Vehicles and disease are other causes of mortality. Skunk numbers are periodically reduced with outbreaks of distemper.
Skunks in the Urban Environment
Skunks readily adapt to the urban environment and their offensive odour and habit of digging holes in lawns in search of insect larvae, make it an unwelcome urban resident. Irrespective of chance encounters by family pets, the skunk can be beneficial to homeowners when foraging for June bug larvae. June bug larvae feed on grass roots resulting in damage to the lawn and in cases of severe infestation can kill large areas of grass.
Traps and Trapping
Traps suitable for live-trapping skunks can be rented, purchased, or constructed. Local rental agencies have a number of traps available at a reasonable fee or they may be purchased from a hardware store. On the other hand, a suitable trap is easily constructed from scrap material using the plan illustrated.
Nuisance animal control operators can trap problem animals for a prescribed fee. There are a number of licensed individuals who are prepared to assist anyone with a skunk problem.
Minimizing Skunk Problems
June bugs mate in May and June and are attracted to yard and window lights. The use of amber coloured lights and the drawing of window blinds in the evening will lessen the attraction of June bugs to a property. Fewer June bugs will result in fewer larvae. As well, you can treat the lawn with insecticides to reduce the incidence of larvae. Insecticides are available from farm and garden supply stores. Garbage left out-of-doors in unsecured containers is not only a source of food to local cats and dogs, but to skunks as well. Garbage should be confined in a secure container indoors.
Utility buildings and porches that have no secure foundation are open invitations to skunks as denning areas. Concrete foundations or wire screening extending into the ground will make these areas inaccessible to skunks.
Always check provincial and municipal regulations before disturbing any wildlife. Skunks can be trapped at entrances of known denning sites, or trapped about their feeding areas. A wooden box trap with a wire mesh end is ideal. Leg hold traps or any kill device such as a conibear trap should be avoided. Skunks caught in box traps can be safely moved if caution is taken to avoid shaking the trap. Wire mesh traps must be carefully covered with a cloth material before moving. To release an animal, the door is opened permitting the animal to leave on its own, unmolested. It is advisable to stand upwind when releasing an animal.
The following recipe was developed to neutralize the odour-causing compound in skunk spray.
SKUNK DEODORANT RECIPE
1 Quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
¼ Cup of Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
1 Tsp. Liquid Soap (Dish Detergent)
Mix the above together in a plastic bucket and wash the infected object, be it human, canine, feline, garage, shed, car basement, etc. Make sure you keep the solution away from eyes, nose and mouth. The skunk odour should disappear immediately!
This product is fast and safe – and best of all, it works! | <urn:uuid:a56ed8ef-baf0-4ca3-8718-453544efe7b0> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://pestcontrolcanada.com/wildlife-control/skunks/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320257.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624101204-20170624121204-00341.warc.gz | en | 0.94448 | 887 | 3.421875 | 3 |
Cyclopentolate/phenylephrine (Into the eye)
Cyclopentolate (sye-kloe-PEN-toe-late), Phenylephrine (fen-il-EF-rin)
Used to dilate your eyes.
CyclomydrilThere may be other brand names for this medicine.
When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to cyclopentolate or phenylephrine, or if you have untreated narrow-angle glaucoma.
How to Use This Medicine:
- Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.
If you are giving this medicine to a child:
- Watch your child closely for at least 30 minutes after you give this medicine. Side effects occur more often in children.
- Make sure you do not get any medicine in your child's mouth. Wash your hands and your child's hands with soap and water before and after you use this medicine.
- Ask your doctor about feeding your child. Your child may not tolerate food for 4 hours after receiving this medicine.
- Lie down or tilt your head back. With your index finger, pull down the lower lid of your eye to form a pocket.
- To use the eye drops: Hold the dropper close to your eye with the other hand. Drop the correct number of drops into the pocket made between your lower lid and eyeball. Gently close your eyes. Place your index finger over the inner corner of your eye for 2 to 3 minutes. Do not rinse or wipe the dropper or allow it to touch anything, including your eye. Put the cap on the bottle right away. Keep the bottle upright when you are not using it.
- Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
- Store the medicine at room temperature, away from heat and direct light.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
- Some medicines can affect how this medicine works. Tell your doctor if you are using medicine for glaucoma, such as carbachol or pilocarpine.
Warnings While Using This Medicine:
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have an overactive thyroid, heart disease, or high blood pressure.
- This medicine can caused blurred vision. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous if you cannot see well.
- This medicine will make your eyes sensitive to light. Wear sunglasses when you are outside.
- This medicine is not for long-term use.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
- Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
- Eye pain
- Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
- Unusual behavior, confusion, restlessness, or seeing things that are not there (especially in children)
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
- Mild burning in your eyes
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088
Last Updated: 1/27/2017 | <urn:uuid:225b8ff9-7685-40aa-8275-451fc60d0ff6> | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | https://www.stlukes-stl.com/health-content/drug-notes/45/5054.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618038060927.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20210411030031-20210411060031-00273.warc.gz | en | 0.88488 | 796 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Dr. Bonnie Schmidt
President & Founder, Let’s Talk Science
Technological advancements are driving significant transformation in every field. According to the World Economic Forum, 65% of the children now entering primary school will ultimately work in a job that doesn’t exist today. In addition to the changing competencies required, attitudes toward career paths are changing. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills are inherently transferable and are critical for success in this rapidly-changing world. Yet, most students leave STEM studies early simply because they don’t understand where they can lead.
“It’s critical that children and youth remain curious, and learn to ask great questions, capable of challenging the status quo. Digital skills are also becoming the new ABCs, fundamental to jobs of the future,” says Dr. Bonnie Schmidt, President and Founder of Let’s Talk Science. Exposure to real careers and STEM role models helps youth rethink preconceived ideas about what a path in STEM looks like.
With this in mind, Let’s Talk Science has recently launched a dedicated career resources webpage to help students explore real career profiles from STEM role models. On its website, users can explore a diverse selection of career profiles, ranging from professionals like Iker Martin, New Product Development Lead at Amgen, to Danika Strecko, Manager of Ocean Literacy at Ocean Wise, to Allison Rumbolt, Helicopter Pilot at Cougars Helicopters Inc.
Students can explore career paths, advice from experts, and what motivated each individual to pursue a career in STEM.
Let’s Talk Science is collaborating with ChatterHigh to present a Canada-wide competition for career discovery. Explore careers, post-secondary options, the labour market, and health and financial literacy information for a chance to win a $25,000 cash prize pot! | <urn:uuid:1b5e97e3-d8e0-4796-bea2-d087b03a58ac> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://www.yourcareerguide.ca/insights/careers-are-changing-how-do-we-prepare-canadas-youth/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030337537.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20221005042446-20221005072446-00742.warc.gz | en | 0.929837 | 383 | 3.296875 | 3 |
For entrepreneurs in many parts of Africa working to make a positive difference in heath, agriculture, education, and beyond, the road is often tough – and full of potholes. Especially when delivering goods and services to people in remote areas: it’s expensive and unreliable. But what if this transportation barrier could be overcome using drones? Imagine the potential impact of connecting places that are otherwise cut off due to bad roads, the rainy season or even natural disasters.
Cellphone technology, backed by widespread network coverage and Internet connectivity, opened the door for new solutions to pressing issues in African countries. Why? Because in a relatively short space of time digital information could now be delivered anywhere within the mobile network, and anyone with a cellphone could join. New and inclusive business models were developed that used the mobile network for good: farmers gained access to real time market prices; patients in remote areas gained access to specialist doctors based in the cities, and mobile money completely change the ease of receiving and sending money in remote areas. Within 15 years, the landscape of digital goods and services changed drastically. What if the same were possible for physical products and services? Could drones today, offer Africa the same opportunity that cellphone technology offered the continent 15 years ago? Our answer to this question is Yes! Quite possibly! We think drones can have the same leap frogging and disruptive potential that cellphone technology did back then.
Drones are already achieving social impact in a range of ways, see the infographic below. In Rwanda for example, drone delivery company Zipline is able to deliver blood anywhere in the country within 15 minutes. Having access to blood in such a timely manner is saving lives particularly in remote areas where excessive bleeding is a leading cause of maternal deaths. This is a brilliant idea but only a handful of other examples of drones doing good can be found on the continent. So the question remains: How can we go from potential to seismic impact?
At the moment, any entrepreneur that wants to use drones must have the specialized knowledge and significant financial resources necessary to develop, maintain and operate an entire drone system. But what if entrepreneurs could tap into a drone “postal network” to deliver services and goods to remote areas of Africa?
How can we build a drone network that can enable local entrepreneurs to deliver goods and services to remote areas with the click of a mouse or an sms message and in so doing unlock significant social impact? Endeva along with IBA, IXDS and IBAN is organizing an event this October that aims to begin to answer this question. It’s called Inclusive Innovation 2030 (ii2030). Over 2 days we will co-create 5 separate technology-led solutions to global challenges by bringing the right set of actors into a design thinking process. It will be fun, it will be interactive, but, above all, it will be a powerful engine of change. By the end of the 2 days we will have a roadmap for at least one possible solution to creating a drone network that is multifunctional, cost effective, energy efficient, locally produced and that can meet the needs of entrepreneurs in Africa.
Ahead of the event we are holding an online discussion. The conversation is now live! It will run through to the end of next week (6 October 2017).
We want to hear from you!
- Entrepreneurs in Africa: Could such a drone network help you with your current business model? Does this possibility spark any new business ideas?
- Drone expert or enthusiasts: What do think is driving and holding back the sector the most? What are possible solutions to the challenges?
- Anyone interested in social impact in Africa: How can we maximize the social impact of drones? What are key considerations to not look over?
Join the online discussion here (simply login with your linked in account or fill in the basic sign-in form). We will also have an expert’s live chat next week.
About the authors: Mariska Van Gaalen is an Associated Expert at Endeva and Tendai Pasipanodya is a Director at Endeva. They are organising the “Drone delivery in Africa track” at ii2030. This track is sponsored by Airbus’ Aerospace Accelerator, Airbus BizLab. | <urn:uuid:9859c1c2-4971-4b60-8c01-9d643441f07b> | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | http://www.endeva.org/blog/drones-social-impact-africa | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891814393.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20180223035527-20180223055527-00130.warc.gz | en | 0.940843 | 869 | 2.75 | 3 |
Skin, the largest organ in the human body, works like a flexible rubber band. It stretches and adjusts matching to the growing body needs but can be damaged if it is stretched beyond its capability too quickly (just like how your rubber band breaks) causing stretch marks. In fact, between 50 and 90 percent of women bear stretch marks according to a study from the University of Michigan Health System. Gone are the days when mommies took pride in their stretch marks! Mommies today take pride in climbing the ladder of success at work through their ultimate efforts along with their responsibilities of child rearing and family commitments. Some regard these marks as a symbol of motherhood, some are extremely self-conscious about its presence and try to veil it over and few others are double-minded, they do feel embarrassed but also want to take it in their stride! Which of these categories do you belong to?
The Name Speaks for Itself
Women and pregnancy are all that get associated with stretch marks. But it can affect men, teenagers or any person of any age. There is no clue why these marks affect some people and leave the rest unaffected. But there is a journal study that suggests that women who get pregnant at a younger age are more prone to stretch marks and so do women who put on excess weight during pregnancy. As the name suggests, a stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly. To understand how these marks make themselves visible, it becomes necessary to become aware of the skin layers in our body.
The epidermis forms the outermost layer of the skin below which exists the dermis. Dermis is composed of connective tissue and provides elasticity and strength to the skin with the help of collagen, the main structural protein of the connective tissue. Elastin is another protein of the connective tissue that supports many tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. During periods of rapid growth in the body, the skin stretches abruptly which damages the collagen and elastin and ruptures them. When the skin stops expanding (that is, growth stops gradually), the epidermis appears wrinkled and stretched as the collagen beneath it is damaged and not available for support.
Puberty, pregnancy, rapid weight gain or increased muscle mass are some examples of rapid growth phases during which these marks begin to appear. Save yourself from excess weight gain during pregnancy by meeting a registered dietitian nutritionist at www.firsteatright.com who can suggest a healthy diet and lifestyle plan to keep you and your fetus healthy. Certain people get affected by stretch marks after using creams containing steroids in them and these marks also make their presence felt in people with Cushing’s disease (excess weight gain is a critical symptom) and Marfan syndrome (a condition that affects connective tissues). Even having a family history of stretch marks puts you at a greater risk.
Most stretch marks appear discolored initially or sometimes with a red, purple, pink, reddish-brown or brown tinge depending on your skin color. They might itch and also have a distinct texture that is different from the surrounding skin. These marks start diminishing in course of time but never do they disappear totally in most people.
Stretch marks are not painful but it makes some individuals lose their self-confidence and might even seem disfiguring rarely. Due to these mental effects, there have been numerous research carried out for years together to find a remedy for these marks. But none of them provide 100% results but the different ways provide us interesting clues on reducing these marks as much as possible.
There are home remedies as well as clinical treatment procedures available for treating stretch marks.
Clinical Treatment Procedures
Various studies prove two ingredients to be useful for treatment-hyaluronic acid and tretinoin. Tretinoin is a type of retinoid that helps early stretch marks to fade and this is backed up by strong study results. Dermatologists also make use of the following procedures to make stretch marks less visible, but they do not completely leave them untraceable.
There are multiple home remedies prescribed for stretch marks but there are no valid proofs supporting their success. Some of the common treatments prescribed include:
Gels, lotions and creams: Individuals might see effective results when they apply any of these continuously daily for several weeks as soon as they find stretch marks appearing. But, dermatological associations don’t back up these and neither are there supportive proofs stating their success rate. Using a moisturizer on the damp skin soon after bathing can help keep the skin soft and supple. Pregnant women often find the skin on their belly itch prominently and using a moisturizer provides relief to some extent.
Applying Oils: Many people suggest massaging cocoa butter, almond oil, olive oil or vitamin E oil to diminish stretch marks. Research proves that none of these products aided in fading stretch marks. But none of these are dangerous too and people might sometimes benefit from using them.
Sunscreens: While sunscreen lotions don’t improve stretch marks, they help to improve skin’s health and appearance. Sunlight exposure makes these scars more noticeable and also makes the person more prone to stretch marks as sun exposure can break down collagen.
But before trying any of these remedies, pregnant women are advised to speak to their doctor regarding its safety as some of these products might contain ingredients such as retinol that can harm the fetus. Also, while some people advocate tanning as a remedy, in fact it makes the marks even more visible. But there are limited evidences that prove that products containing hyaluronic acid or the herb centella can help to prevent stretch marks.
Trying these treatment options is not wrong but don’t remain stubborn and determined to get rid of stretch marks at the risk of your health. Learn to love your natural body! Then, you would start realizing its beauty.
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Dr. Nafeesa Imteyaz of First Eat Right clinic, is the Best Dietitian Nutritionist in Bangalore. Best Dietitian Nutritionist in Pune. Best Dietitian Nutritionist in Hyderabad. Best Dietitian Nutritionist in Chennai. Best Dietitian Nutritionist in Mumbai. Best Dietitian Nutritionist in Delhi. Best Dietitian Nutritionist in Kolkata. | <urn:uuid:895c3926-c894-49a2-827a-1c6382d10a92> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.firsteatright.com/dietitian-nutritionist-nafeesa-blogs/stretch-marks-learn-to-love-it-or-lose-it | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100057.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20231129073519-20231129103519-00790.warc.gz | en | 0.929461 | 1,597 | 2.6875 | 3 |
The myth about Dutch light started circulating in the 19th century. In the 1850s, the Netherlands became popular with painters and writers. Monet, Manet, Liebermann, Whistler, Boudin, Fromentin, Mirbeau and the Goncourt brothers all came to see Holland’s famous 17th-century paintings and the typical Dutch countryside for themselves. And along with them came writers, painters and photographers from America, Germany, France and Britain. From their diaries and journals it seems almost as if the Dutch countryside was discovered through 17th-century paintings, as if the landscapes and the light were the inventions of artists.
The French writer Octave Mirbeau remarked that the ‘real Holland, the land of water and sky… the pearl grey realm’ started at the confluence of the country’s large rivers, about 10 kilometres north of Breda. The German painter Max Liebermann wrote that ‘the mists that rise from the water and shroud the world in a translucent veil give that country its extraordinarily picturesque quality … everything is bathed in light and air.’
Eugène Fromentin, the author of a study of 17th-century Dutch art, said that one could identify the very spot where 17th-century artists like Willem van de Velde and Jan van Goyen had painted their pictures along the coast of Scheveningen. It was as if nothing at all had changed. The Goncourt brothers described Holland in their famous journal as ‘a country lying at anchor’, where light shimmers as if it were filtered through ‘a carafe of salt water’, and in the sky, the constant presence of ‘Ruisdael’s swollen, leaden clouds’.
The French philosopher Hypolite Taine had this to say: ‘Holland’s flat horizons have little to offer. The air is always hazy, which makes all the contours blurred and indistinct. It’s the small touches that matter most. A cow grazing in the landscape is simply tones among other tones. What we notice are the nuances, the contrasts, the values and tonality of the colours. The shades of brightness and the gradations of colour are astonishing… a delight to the eye.’
Descriptions of this kind, contradictory as they were, gave birth to the myth that Dutch light was special. | <urn:uuid:df6417bb-7349-4748-834d-c5ba5efe47a1> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.dutchlight.nl/the-origins-of-the-myth/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106990.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820204359-20170820224359-00338.warc.gz | en | 0.96977 | 508 | 2.984375 | 3 |
NAME: California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
WEIGHT: 20 to 24 pounds
WINGSPAN: Up to 9.5 feet (3 meters)
BODY LENGTH: 46 to 55 inches
VOICE: None, but may grunt or wheeze
NEST SITE: Usually a cave in a cliff or a crevice among boulders on a steep slope.
INCUBATION PERIOD: About 56 days for egg to hatch.
FOOD SUPPLY: Historically, carcasses of bison, elk or deer in inland areas and seals and beached whales along coasts. With the loss of wild game and the introduction of cattle and sheep, the condor changed to feeding on carcasses of domestic animals. Has ability to travel 150 miles a day in search of food.
RANGE: Occurred historically from British Columbia south to northern Baja California and in other parts of southwestern United States.
POPULATION: There are currently 164 California Condors in the world -- 53 in the wild in California and Arizona and 111 in captive breeding facilities (World Center for Birds of Prey, Zoological Society of San Diego, and Los Angeles Zoo).
REPRODUCTION: Usually one egg every other year in the wild. Up to three eggs per year in captivity.
CAUSE OF DECLINE: Shooting, poisoning, and loss of food supply and habitat.
The goal of the California Condor Recovery Plan is to establish two geographically separate populations, one in California and the other in Arizona, each with 150 birds and at least 15 breeding pairs. Eleven of the sixteen California condors currently inthe wild in Southern California should be capable of breeding this year.
Archaeological evidence indicates that condors have been revered by western Native Americans for thousands of years and played a major role in their legends and rituals. Condors were considered sacred and capable of providing communication with the supernatural world as well as supernatural powers.
In more recent times, the California condor has become the subject of an intense and sometimes controversial effort to save the species from extinction. Faced with rapidly declining numbers, scientists began collecting wild-laid eggs and capturing free-flying birds to breed them in captivity with the goal of eventually restoring the condor to its rightful place in the California skies.
California condors are the largest birds in North America. They may weigh up to 25 pounds and have wingspans of 9 1/2 feet. California condors have bare heads and necks, dull gray-black feathers, and blunt claws. They have a triangle-shaped patch of white, visible only when airborne, that adorns the underside of their wings.
California condors can soar on warm thermal updrafts for hours, reaching speeds of more than 55 miles per hour and altitudes of 15,000 feet.
Normally, California condors do not become sexually mature until the age of 6 and may not start breeding until age 7 or 8. They nest in caves or clefts on cliffs that usually have nearby trees for roosting and a clear approach for easy take-offs and landings. Typically, an adult pair lays one egg every other year, with the fledgling being dependent upon its parents through the next breeding season.
Like all vultures, condors are carrion-eaters. They prefer large dead animals like deer, cattle, and sheep, but will also eat rodents and more rarely, fish. If a meal has been particularly big, they may have to spend hours on the ground or a low branch before they can take off again. Condors are fastidious birds -- after eating, they clean their heads and necks by rubbing them on grass, rocks, or tree branches. Condors also bathe frequently and spend hours preening and drying their feathers.
Condors were probably never very numerous in North America. The species once ranged along the entire Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Baja California. Fossils have been found as far east as Texas, Florida, and New York. More recently, however, they were confined to a horseshoe-shaped area north of Los Angeles.
For years, no one knew precisely how many California condors existed, although they have been considered to be a declining species since the 1890s. One estimate put their number at 100 in the early 1940s. Another indicated there were 50 to 60 in the early 1960s. By the late 1970s, the estimate had dropped to 25 to 30 birds.
Despite years of study, scientists have been unable to pinpoint the precise reason for the bird^s decline. Some factors include illegal collection of condors and their eggs, poisoning from substances put out by ranchers to eradicate livestock predators, poisoning from ingesting lead fragments from bullets embedded in animal carcasses the condors feed on, and collisions with structures such as power lines. In addition, the roads, cities, housing tracts, and weekend mountain retreats of modern civilization have replaced much of the open country condors need to find food. Their slow rate of reproduction and years spent reaching breeding maturity undoubtedly make the condor population as a whole more vulnerable to these threats.
Recognizing the California condor^s perilous state, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the bird as an endangered species in 1967 (under a law that preceded the Endangered Species Act of 1973), meaning it was considered in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the National Audubon Society, among other government and private groups, began a joint effort in 1979 to study and preserve the bird. | <urn:uuid:a8ee0567-a437-4ed2-82bc-65b1fcc11ee4> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://www.outdoors.net/Outdoors/Article/471 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514573124.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20190917223332-20190918005332-00079.warc.gz | en | 0.951827 | 1,161 | 3.953125 | 4 |
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