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Believe it or not, a recent survey has found that only 49% of Americans floss daily and 10% of Americans don’t floss at all. These rough estimates are quite unfortunate, given howimportant flossing is to your oral hygiene routine. In fact, dentists agree that flossing is more important than brushing in the fight against periodontal disease, which could ultimately lead to tooth loss. People joke about how the only time they floss is when they’re due for their annual check-up. East Aurora dentist, Dr. Robert Meisner wants his patients to know that he can tell if you’ve been a long-term flosser or not. And, he wants you to put an end to your excuses for not flossing regularly. The main “culprit” people cite for not flossing is that they don’t have time. Although effective flossing does require a bit of time (about 3 to 5 minutes), Dr. Meisner says that even 60 seconds of flossing is better than zero seconds of flossing. The key here is to make flossing a daily habit. Other excuses vary from not knowing how to floss, not having enough dexterity to floss, or having dental work that makes flossing impossible, or that food doesn’t get stuck in your teeth. If it’s lack of knowledge that is keeping you from flossing your teeth, take a look at this video that clearly illustrates how to properly floss. Also, if you have dexterity constraints, consider a floss holder. These disposable plastic Y-shaped devices (some equipped with a spool of floss) hold a span of floss between two prongs to allow one-handed use. Furthermore, flossing doesn’t rid your mouth of food detritus, it gets rid of dental plaque, the very thing that causes gum disease. Another oft-used excuse is that flossing can be painful for some. Bleeding while brushing and flossing is the precise condition flossing aims to prevent. The good news is that once you regularly floss and brush, these symptoms subside. If they persists, it is wise to contact Dr. Meisner at his East Aurora office to figure out what is going on with your oral. Remember, brushing and flossing regularly is how you prevent periodontal disease!
Abstract: To review the state of stress utilizing our self-esteem indicators and the experiences of youth during an acute phase of the pandemic. To better understand their responses and coping strategies to stress and the various stimuli impacting them at this time. To learn more about real issues of their stress and understand the role of reflections and mindfulness practices in reducing stress for youth during an acute phase of the pandemic. Methods: Data was obtained through reflective research and diluted use of self-esteem indicators in the reflections. The format of qualitative and quantitative data was utilized. Data was obtained through interview and through filling out the reflection research. Youth group used were aged 19-32 years of age. Findings: The group revealed that 72% of them had increased stress during the pandemic in general. This involved stimuli such as personal image, online identity and reputation. Other findings revealed that social dynamics were stressful with dating as key stress for youth. The group reduced stress with daily exercise and mindfulness practices like yoga or journaling daily an average of 68% of them did on a regular basis and found it helpful during that time. A total of 28% revealed that they took themselves off all forms of social media during regular periods of the day to reduce stress and the extra input of information. The group consensus was that social dynamics were very stressful with a total of 78% revealing they missed friends and found social dynamics were far too isolating. This data revealed that dating was challenging and very difficult during this time of the pandemic. Communication was challenging about topics important to them as individuals and other pandemic topics were always taking priority. Of this group 82% of them revealed that they found it hard to really communicate the things they needed to like stress, or dating. The information overload of the pandemic made them feel mistrust in general with information about the pandemic and measures. A consensus of 92% of them felt that mistrust gave them more stress in general. A total of 72% of them felt that their online reputation was always a concern because dynamics in their own social groups were always changing and there was always a great deal of information and opinions that would sway in groups and affect the socialization experience for them. Online reputation seemed to have pivots and hurdles with their peer groups and their own positioning in these groups. A total of 82% felt that because of changes in routine and social dynamics they felt different about themselves and felt stress was the biggest factor in their daily lives. Interpretation: The Pandemic has placed additional stress in the lives of some youth. The alterations in their daily routines and changes in social patterns seemed to be a consistent stress for them. The extra information or infodemic had its challenges in interpretation and presentation to many youths. The extra time spent alone creating feelings of isolation that seemed to rebound into more time in online connections. This extra time online seemed to bring additional stresses and challenges to youth as with social dynamics and online reputation. Many youths felt that peer pressure and opinions based on pandemic information or parts of the infodemic further swayed social dynamics. The mistrust of too much information to interpret and understand brought additional stress to many youths during this acute time in the pandemic presentation. The entire socialization process from isolation to feeling socially limited presented in stress with social dynamics and continual challenges in dating and social dynamics within their own social circles. Youth who had little social dynamics felt isolated and found it to be a very stressful time seeing family and others also stressed. The stress response related to changes and experiences for youth during the pandemic proved to be most challenging and youth that were able to practice mindfulness practices and reflections and journaling kept a momentum to the stress. Conclusion: The Pandemic presented many additional stresses into the lives of young people. Changes in daily routine and socialization seemed to bring the greatest amount of continual stress experiences for them. Information and communication in general became key factors in the experiences they faced. The stress was recognized by them and many of them utilized mindfulness practices and daily outlets of exercise and journaling to help this stay more level. The challenges of the pandemic have proven that stress is a factor and can be managed with supportive strategies such as mindfulness and reflections daily exercise and journaling practices. The experiences of the pandemic proved that resilience and wellness are key factors in the health and wellness of youth. Building positive routines and mindfulness practices made a consistent difference in the lives of most youth involved in this learning reflection.
Citizen Science at Work August 23rd and 24th of 2019, citizens of Georgia will be conducting the first ever statewide pollinator census. This includes YOU if you live in Georgia! You will want to be a part of pollinator history! How will it work? Each citizen scientist (YOU) will choose a favorite pollinator plant that is blooming in their garden for counting. You will count all the insects that land on that plant during a 15-minute period. After you tally the counts, you will upload your data to the webpage. Very simple. The data will be used for researchers to see a snapshot of which pollinators are at work in Georgia on those dates. Do I have to be an entomologist to participate? NO, definitely NOT. We will be asking you to place the insects you see into one of eight categories: - Carpenter bees - Bumble bees - Small bees - Honey bees - Other insects
my father moved through dooms of love Introduction In A Nutshell No doubt about it, E. E. Cummings was a rebel. Even before he made his name as a poet, he was rubbing authority figures the wrong way. One famous story happened during World War I when Cummings was volunteering as an ambulance driver in France. Cummings got annoyed with all the rules and started sending coded messages back home just to see if anybody would notice. They noticed, alright, and Cummings got locked up in an internment camp under suspicion that he might be a traitor and a spy. Hardcore, right? He actually wrote a novel about the whole experience called The Enormous Room. Cummings's wartime rabble rousing was nothing compared to what he was soon to unleash on the literary world, though. See, our rebel-poet was also a painter and became really inspired by Modernist art movements like Surrealism and Cubism, which exploded the rules of traditional painting. Cummings didn't see any reason why poetry couldn't recreate itself just as radically as the world of art was doing at the time. So, he brewed up a signature style—also inspired by Modernist poets like Gertrude Stein and Ezra Pound—that thumbed its nose at traditional rules of poetry and took the form into new dimensions. Of course, you can't expect to go around breaking a bunch of rules without ticking some people off. Some critics accused Cummings of being weird for weird's sake, while others seemed to think that he just had no idea how to write a "real" poem. With "my father moved through dooms of love," first published in 50 Poems (1940), Cummings pulls from his favorite grab bag of stylistic eccentricities. You've got crazy uses of punctuation, capitalization, syntax, and spacing—all that good stuff. Though it has a bunch of Cummings's trademark rebellions, this is one of those poems that most every critic is down with. Even Cummings's detractors are like, "Okay, that one's pretty good." It's widely known that Cummings wrote the poem in honor of his father, Edward Cummings, who was killed when a train slammed into his car. Edward Cummings was a Harvard professor and later a Unitarian minister, who preached a Transcendental version of Christianity. Some have theorized that the shock of his father's sudden death pushed Cummings's poetry into new and more sophisticated realms. We don't know if that's true or not, but there's no doubt that this is one of most beautiful expressions of a son's love for his dad ever written… ever. Why Should I Care? Death. It's a depressing word. Just look at it: "Death." Ugh. Just... ugh. Still, ugh or not, death is something that we all have to deal with. The chances are high you know somebody who's died, even if it was your pet goldfish. Sooner or later every living thing's life will end. But just because death is inevitable doesn't mean we have to go around moping about for our whole lives. If this poem is any indication, E. E. Cummings would tell you that the most important thing is to live your life and live it on your own terms. The poet wrote it not long after his father died, but instead of moping about how horrible death is for the whole poem, the speaker holds up his father's brave life as an example of how to live. So the poem is not only good for people who are wrestling with the idea of death, it's also inspirational for people who are looking for ways to rock out the life they're living. And hey, who isn't looking to rock out their life, right?
Australia investigates washed-up turtles in Queensland Australian officials are investigating why dozens of turtles have been found on beaches in northern Queensland, many of them ill or dead. It is thought unseasonably cold weather or the flow of floodwaters into the ocean could be to blame. Conservationists say the number of turtles being washed up near the city of Townsville is unprecedented. They are worried there may be many more unreported fatalities along isolated stretches of the coast. Dozens of dead or stranded turtles have been found near Townsville and on Magnetic Island, a tropical resort popular with holidaymakers. Carcasses have also been found more than 800km (500 miles) to the south around the port city of Gladstone. There are various theories why this is happening. Some researchers believe a category-five cyclone that tore across the Queensland coast earlier this year wiped out many sea-grass beds throughout the Great Barrier Reef, leaving sea turtles with little to eat. Others blame unusually cold weather. Scientists say it could take years for damaged sea-grass beds to recover. The coastal waters of Queensland are important breeding grounds for several species of marine turtles, including the Loggerhead, Hawksbill and Flatback.
Throughout the 20th Century, the countries of Iran and Egypt have had a very complex relationship with one another. Among other things, Iran, a leading majority Shiite country that is also ruled by Shiites, and Egypt, the cultural and theological center of Sunni Islam, are home to two of the most important streams of modern Islamist revivalism—Shiite Islamism, and the Muslim Brotherhood, respectively. While the relations between Shiite and Sunni states and non-state movements have often been adversarial and even prone to violence, the relations between these two streams of Islamism, both of which stress as a matter of doctrine the ideals of pan-Islamist unity, have tended toward ideological convergence and collaboration. As one writer recently put it in an article on the Muslim Brotherhood’s website: Many commentators in the West still believe in the fairy tale that Sunni and Shia Islamists are at odds. Though most Sunni jihadists tend to see Shias as heretics and Hezbollah as a Zionist tool (go figure), the Muslim Brotherhood, by far the most popular of the Middle East’s radical Islamists, and the Shia Islamists’ history of mutual influence and collaboration traces back to the first Islamic revivalists of the 19th century and the political thought of the Brotherhood’s own founder.1 The Brotherhood’s origins may in fact be traced back to a Shiite cleric. The Persian activist-intellectual Said Jamal Assadabadi, who is perhaps more widely known today as Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, was a key architect of the first wave of religious revivalism that swept across the Sunni world during the latter part of the 19h Century. After migrating to Egypt in 1871, Afghani began spreading his reformist teachings, and influenced a new generation of Egyptian scholars who became passionate advocates of pan-Islamist ideals. Afghani’s most famous disciple, Mohammad Abduh, would become the rector of Cairo’s al-Azhar Seminary and a pioneer of the reformist socio-political approach to interpreting the Quran that underpinned the rise of salafism and its various streams. Later on, one of Abduh’s leading students, Rashid Rida, would take his teacher’s socio-political approach to the Quran in an increasingly more polemical and radical direction, becoming one of the first theoreticians of the Islamic state. Rida’s writings were enormously influential on the thinking of Hassan al-Banna, and by extension, Rida became one of the spiritual godfathers of the Muslim Brotherhood, which until today remains the most influential and the broadest of all Islamist movements. But the story doesn’t end there. In yet another twist in Muslim history, the Muslim Brotherhood would in turn requite Afghani’s gift to Sunni revivalism by directly stimulating the emergence of a unique form of Shiite Islamism in Iran in the 1950s. Indeed, the Islamic paradigm of pre-revolutionary Iran was profoundly shaped by the ideas of the Muslim Brotherhood as well as by kindred Sunni movements such as the Indo-Pakistani Jamaat-e-Islami and its founder SayyedAbul Aala Maududi.2 In this way, Sunni revivalist ideology helped pave the way for the 1979 Iranian revolution that culminated in Shiite Islamism’s greatest achievement: the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Since the founding of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Shiite Islamism and the Egyptian Brotherhood have continued to find ways to collaborate with each other in what they’ve sought to portray as their common Islamic struggle against the West and the reigning regional political order. Moreover, the Islamic Republic has been a continued source of inspiration for the Egyptian Brotherhood in its unfulfilled struggle for an Islamic state of its own. Yet despite their long history of cooperation in the spirit of pan-Islamism, religious differences have also complicated the relationship between Shiite Islamism and the Brotherhood, rendering their ideals of Islamic unity difficult, if not impossible, to implement in political practice. The Return to the Quran Throughout Islamic history, Sunnis have often criticized Shiite thought and practice for neglecting or, at best, paying insufficient attention to the Quran. That criticism—which is sometimes used to support the further claim made by radical Sunnis that Shiites are “rejecters” of Islam properly understood—is rooted in part in the fact that Sunnis privilege the Quran in their juristic or legal reasoning practices much more than Shiites do. Sunni jurisprudence, for instance, relies principally on the Quran and the Sunna of the Prophet Mohammad as expressed by the hadith, as well as on the consensus of scholars (ijma) as passed down through the four recognized legal schools. While Twelver Shiite jurisprudence makes use of these sources, it also draws heavily from the example put forth by the twelve Imams—from Ali ibn Abu Talib to the so-called “Hidden Imam,” Muhammad Ibn al-Hassan. Shiite tradition recognizes these Imams as having had a special connection to God, and their knowledge of Islam is believed to be infallible. Indeed, to many Shiites, the hadith, or recorded sayings and traditions of these twelve Imams, carry the same legal and theological weight as the Prophet’s hadith. Some Shiite scholars even equate the Imams’ hadith to the Quran. This view, which is scandalous to many Sunnis, maintains that the early Imams had the authority to interpret the Quran and to reveal its hidden sense. This is the case even if, Shiites insist, an Imam’s interpretation appears to be in conflict with the generally accepted apparent meaning of the Quran.3 Because of these divergent Islamic paradigms, Quranic exegesis has historically not occupied as significant a place in the traditional curriculum of Shiite seminaries as it has in Sunni seminaries. In fact, for a long time, in the Shiite seminaries of Iran and Iraq, teaching and studying the Quran was not considered a suitable calling and was not prestigious enough for a high-ranking cleric. Quranic exegesis was appropriate to professional preachers, but it was not seen as the highest form of religious practice or scholarship, at least not as reflected in the faqih style of education and discussion that predominated in the Shiite seminary. Indeed, Quranic exegesis was even perceived as being potentially damaging to a Shiite scholar’s religious prestige—a traditionalist view that has persisted into the modern era in important ways. This is one reason why the late Ayatollah Abul Qassem Khoi—one of the most influential of 20th Century Shiite scholars, and the predecessor to Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Sistani at the Najaf seminary—was deeply criticized by the Shiite faithful in the 1960s for publishing the first volume of a Quranic commentary, Al-Bayan fi Tafsir Al-Quran. The outcry over his focus on the Quran led Ayatollah Khoi to decide against publishing the rest of his commentary.4 In the modern era, however, Shiism’s traditional reluctance to engage in Quranic exegesis has been deeply challenged. This has been especially true as traditional Shiism has come into contact with certain reformist tendencies in the Sunni world, including the salafist call to “return to the Quran.” In fact, Egypt’s early 20th century Quranic commentators, which include most notably Mohammad Abduh (1849-1905) and his student, Rashid Rida (1865-1935), were instrumental in encouraging a similar tendency within Shiism. Under the influence of these Islamist reformist thinkers, Shiite scholars, especially those based in Iran, increasingly began to reorient the focus of their scholarship on the Quran and the practice of Quranic exegesis. Rashid Rida was perhaps the most important modern Sunni scholar of the Quran in influencing the growth of modern Shiite exegesis. The founder and editor of the reformist journal Al-Manar, Rida’s prolific Quranic commentary is regarded widely by Sunni and Shiite scholars as groundbreaking and a herald of a new era of socio-political exegesis of the Quran. Since Rida had a solid upbringing in Islamic theology, Al-Manar reflected a classical Sunni point of view as well as a more traditional mode of theological argumentation (especially when compared with the works of later revivalists such as Said Qutb’s Fi Zilal al-Quran). Although Rida did not succeed in finishing his commentary on the entire Quran, he did manage to publish his exegesis of the holy book from its beginning chapter until Sura Tawbah, the ninth chapter. While Shiite scholars learned from and appropriated many aspects of modern Sunni Quranic exegesis, they also sought to develop their own distinctively Shiite exegetical perspective. The Iranian scholar Sayyed Mohammad Hossein Tabatabai (1892-1981) is widely regarded as the author of the most important work of Shiite exegesis in modern times, the 20-volume Al-Mizan fi Tafsir-s al-Quran. In many ways, Al-Mizan can be read as a counter-argument to Rashid Rida’s Al-Manar as well as a Shiite commentary. Tabatabai frequently mentions Rida throughout the work, and like Rida, his innovative interpretations of the Quran also seem to stop abruptly at Chapter 9, Sura Tawbah. On many key issues—from the ideal Islamic society, to justice, jihad, and other topics of Islamic jurisprudence—Rida’s influence on Tabatabai is undeniable. Yet at the same time, Tabatabai clearly went to great lengths to develop a uniquely Shiite socio-political exegesis of the Quran. This exegesis rejected outright Rida’s characteristically Sunni criticisms of the Shiite theory of the imamate, as well as Shiism’s belief in the infallibility and knowledge of imams. One of the most significant implications of the modern Shiite scholars’ turn away from their tradition and toward the Quran is that it has helped pave the way for the emergence of a distinctly modern ideological and political interpretation of the Quran. In fact, the general discourse on ‘the return to the Quran’ found a most receptive audience among a new generation of thinkers that included clerics but also writer-intellectuals from the non-clerical class. These thinkers believed that the theological paradigm of traditional Shiism was not adequate to address the range of modern social and political challenges that Iranian society was confronting. This intellectual ferment, caused by Shiism’s increasing interaction both with Sunni reformists (islahiyun) or revivalists and Western political ideology, led to the development of a special school of religious thought. For the first time in Shiism’s history, a religious view emerged from outside the clerical establishment. These new ideas emanated from doctors, engineers and other university-educated intellectuals who, thanks to their direct engagement with the Quran, felt themselves experienced and knowledgeable enough about Islam to render the traditional Islamic sciences and institutions unnecessary. Once freed from the structural and ideological encumbrances of Shiite tradition, groups like Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK, the Islamic Socialist organization), and engineers like Mehdi Bazargan (Iran’s first prime minister after the 1979 revolution), and even revolutionary clerics like Mahmoud Taleqani (who blended Shiism with Marxist ideals, inspiring a generation of clerical revolutionaries) produced a new and unique type of Quranic commentary. This was intended to respond to the new socio-political requirements of the time, and its contributors were influenced by the secular ideologies of positivism and Marxism.5 They sought to present Islamist ideology as a superior alternative to secular political ideologies—one that provided a cure for all of humankind’s problems, both on earth and in the hereafter. It is true that these Iranian intellectuals greatly benefited from Shiite sources and notions. However, their emphasis on concepts like jihad and martyrdom were profoundly inspired by Sunni writer-intellectuals.6 Just as jihad and martyrdom were central to the thought of Sunni intellectuals like Said Qutb, these issues also came to be two pillars of Islam for Iranian Islamic lay writers like Ali Shariati. In the works of Shariati and others, jihad and martyrdom are colored and formulated with reference to Shiite culture and literature. But the idea of highlighting those notions among many others, as an attempt to create an Islamic ideology, was greatly inspired and shaped by the Muslim Brotherhood’s writers and members. The Revolutionary Clerics The aggressive secularization policies implemented by Reza Shah Pahlavi, who ruled Iran as Shah from 1925 to 1941, aimed to block the Shiite clerical establishment from two institutions that they had traditionally ruled: the schools and the judiciary. These policies created a new generation of ambitious young Shiite clerics who became more and more alienated from Iran’s ruling elites and culture. In addition to their growing disaffection, these young clerics found themselves increasingly with little reason to continue to adhere to traditional Shiite thought and political practice, in which the clergy was seen as the source of legitimacy for the monarchy. For this generation of scholars, traditional Shiism seemed unresponsive and ill-equipped to address the dramatic transformations taking place in Iranian society. In their view, the Muslim Brotherhood’s teachings on the Islamic state provided a fresh, religiously authentic, and politically compelling solution to the challenges they faced. One of Shiite Islamism’s most important founding fathers was a young cleric named Sayyed Mujtaba Mir Lowhi, also known as Navab Safavi (1924-1955). Safavi established a group called Fadaian-e Islam, or the “Devotees of Islam,” which led a popular movement against the Shah’s regime, and against the perceived corruptions of Iranian society from 1945 and 1955 that included a string of political assassinations. Like the early Brotherhood, the Fadaian-e Islam believed in a pan-Islamic ideology of religious purification and political revival. They rejected nationalistic ideology as inherently un-Islamic, and held that revivalist Shiites and Sunnis should unify in the face of Islam’s enemies, and struggle to repel modernity and its ideas from Islamic lands. The Devotees also held that Islam presents a perfect, comprehensive system for governing every aspect of human life. In their view, the only solution to the contemporary problems facing the Muslim world—including its backwardness and political weakness relative to Western countries—was the creation of a genuinely Islamic state that would implement the sharia. Fadaian-e Islam’s ideological view and agenda not only paralleled that of the Muslim Brotherhood, but it appears to have been directly inspired by it. In 1954, Safavi traveled to Jerusalem, where he participated in an Islamic conference. There he addressed the Palestinian cause and intermingled with Sunni revivalists. After speaking at the conference, he traveled to Egypt and met with Brotherhood leaders, where he became intimately aware of the Sunni movement’s plight under the iron-fisted rule of Gamal Abd al-Nasser, Egypt’s nationalistic, secularizing and autocratic leader. During his time in Egypt, Safavi actually penned a letter to the Egyptian president, excoriating him for his policies on the Brotherhood. Safavi wrote that the president’s “harsh reaction to the Muslim Brotherhood has provoked deep resentment in the heart of Muslims. Reconsider this issue and try to do something that would not bring you a painful regret.”7 After returning to Iran, Safavi began a campaign to promote the Muslim Brotherhood’s pan-Islamic ideology within his Persian homeland, and he successfully introduced the Brotherhood’s ideology to a new generation of Shiite clerics. When his Fadaian-e Islam was established, its members represented the first modern attempt within Iran to build an independent Islamic society—along with a militia—whose purpose was to reform Islamic life and to endeavor to establish an Islamic state. The Palestinian cause lay at the center of Fadaian-e Islam’s revivalist ideology, and in retrospect, the Devotees appear to have played a pioneering role in making the anti-Israel struggle a central issue for the Iranian religious community, which hitherto had generally not concerned itself with Arabian affairs. In Safavi’s view, the battle against Israel wasn’t simply a local conflict, but part of a larger, regional Islamic struggle against modern government, including the Iranian monarchy. In fact, one of the reasons for Safavi’s hostility toward the monarchy stemmed from an incident in which the Shah prevented Safavi from mobilizing and deploying 5,000 volunteers to fight against Israel. In a speech at the Faiziya religious school, Safavi said, “If we want to destroy Israel, we have to start from Tehran; that is to say we have to first eliminate [the] Pahlavi regime in order to be able to fight Israel.”8 For Fadaian-e Islam, the Shah’s regime was politically and morally corrupt, and complicit in supporting the “Jewish occupier” of Palestine. The movement unleashed a campaign within Iran to delegitimize the monarchy on the basis of its relationship with Israel and its lack of an Islamic identity. The group encouraged high-ranking Shiite clerics to take a stand against both Israel and the Shah.9 The Shah’s regime eventually apprehended Safavi, and in the course of his interrogations, the Devotees’ leader revealed extensive contacts between his organization and the Sunni revivalist movement, including the Iraqi Jamyyat Montade Al-Nashr, the Syrian Jamyyat Al-Ulama, the Egyptian Shobban Al-Muslemin, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood’s various branches in Egypt, Syria and Iraq.10 Because of these unorthodox relationships with foreign movements and the assassination of government officials like General Haj Ali Razmara, the Shah’s regime dealt with Fadaian-e Islam aggressively and condemned its leaders to death. Not surprisingly, the Arabian Muslim Brotherhood eventually emerged as a leading critic of Mohammad Reza Shah and his policies against Shiite Islamism. Safavi’s Brotherhood-inspired Fadaian-e Islam left an indelible mark on Iranian religious and political life. Among other things, it helped to steel popular Muslim enmity against the monarchy, and ultimately laid the philosophical groundwork for the Khomeinist Revolution of 1979. One of the Devotees’ most decisive achievements, which lasts to this day, was its radicalization of the culture, ideas, and institutions of the Shiite clerical establishment. For its part, the clerical establishment was initially split over Fadaian-e Islam and how to regard Safavi’s heterodox teachings. Safavi was of course himself a cleric, and many other younger scholars, including Ayatollah Abulqassem Kashani and Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini, the father of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, became early supporters of the Devotees against the regime and the perceived corruptions of Iranian society. Yet despite the Devotees’ emergence from within the clerical class, the traditional strata of the Iranian clerical establishment—including the most revered and emulated religious authority of the time, Ayatollah Mohammad Hossein Boroujerdi—shunned the Fadaian-e Islam and their ideas. Safavi dismissed the charges of the clerical establishment, claiming his movement followed a higher authority and ideals than the clerics and their traditional mores. For example, when Ayatollah Boroujerdi renounced Fadaian-e Islam’s use of coercive tactics in securing funding from the people to aid its struggle of creating an Islamic state, Safavi replied, “Our intention is to borrow from people. What we take is for establishing a government based on the model of Imam Ali’s government. Our goal is sacred and prior to these tools. When we established an Ali government-like state, then we give people their money back.”11 Fadaian-e Islam unleashed a string of pronouncements against the clerical establishment’s higher-ups. They found fault with the jurisprudence of Boroujerdi without explicitly naming him, and argued that traditional Shiite jurisprudence was irrelevant and unresponsive to the requirements of the modern era. Here, the Devotees’ assault on traditional authority resembled the attacks of revivalist movements like the Brotherhood and the Jamaat-e-Islami on the established ulama in the Sunni world. The Devotees even proposed a plan for dramatically transforming the clerical establishment so that it would best serve the establishment and goals of an ideal Islamic state.12 Eventually, this line of attack went so far as to call for the excommunication of Boroujerdi from the clerical establishment and a call to defrock him of his clerical turban and mantle.13 This request to forcibly remove a religious leader was the first of its kind in Shiite history. A few decades later, however, the defrocking of religious scholars who opposed Shiite Islamism had become common practice in the Islamic Republic. Revolutionary Iran’s founders—including Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s current Supreme Leader—were all deeply influenced by Fadaian-e Islam, and by extension, by the Brotherhood revivalist ideology that undergirded Safavi’s teachings. In his autobiography, Ali Khamenei says that he entered into the world of politics under the influence of Navvab Safavi. Today’s Supreme Leader himself became an early champion and translator of the works of the Brotherhood intellectual, Said Qutb. Had it not been for Fadaian-e Islam’s early sympathetic support of the Muslim Brotherhood, many of the philosophical writings of the Muslim Brotherhood might never have been as influential in Iran. But a massive process of translating Sunni revivalist authors from Arabic to Persian started less than a decade after Safavi’s execution. In addition to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s translations of Said Qutb, other Brotherhood revivalists—including Said’s brother, Mohammad Qutb—were also extensively translated into Persian. Besides the works of these Egyptian writers, the main writings of Abul Ala Mawdudi and other Pakistani and Indian Islamists were translated into Persian at around the same time. These books became the main source of nourishment for Iranian militant clerics’ sermons and writings during the pre-revolution era.14 Iran’s revolutionary generation discovered in the works of the Brotherhood a new conceptual apparatus that permitted them to both reject the sources of traditional Shiite authority and to elaborate a new Islamic ideology that aimed at being fully competitive with secular and modernist ideologies. Among other things, the Brotherhood’s writings provided enticing depictions of a militant Islam that sought political power, the implementation of the sharia, and resistance against the West and communism that helped shape the political rhetoric of Iran’s revolutionary era. But the Brotherhood thinkers also supplied theoretical nourishment for the development of a uniquely Shiite theory of the Islamic state. In fact, Ayatollah Khomeini’s own theory of Islamic government, or “the Guardianship of Jurist” (vilayat-e-faqih), was elaborated under the influence of Rashid Rida’s Al-Imamat al-Uzma va al-Khilafat al-kubra, in which Rida theorized about the construction of an Islamic government ruled by Muslim jurists.15 Sectarian conflict and ideological alliance The historically-rooted rivalry between Shiite and Sunni Islam is seldom addressed in the writings of modern Islamism’s spiritual fathers. In fact, writers like Jamal al-Din al-Afghani and Mohammad Abduh were more inclined toward the ideals of pan-Islamism and unity among Islam’s various sects. They sought to discover a common ground between divergent Islamic traditions on the basis of what they perceived as Islam’s original unity and its forgotten spirit of intra-Muslim solidarity. The ideal of Islamic unity also appealed to traditional Shiite and Sunni authorities such as the aforementioned Mohammad Hossein Boroujerdi at the Shiite seminary in Qom, and Shaykh Mahmoud Shaltut of Cairo’s Al-Azhar Seminary.16 Gradually, however, under the influence of Rashid Rida (who was more influenced by Wahhabi ideology than was his teacher, Abduh) and Said Qutb, Arabian Sunni revivalism began to exhibit some anti-Shiite leanings. In fact, the Muslim Brotherhood’s anti-Shiite inclinations were noticed by some Shiite clerics, including Hossein Modarressi Tabatabai, who traveled to Lebanon and Egypt during the 1970s. In his travelogue Tabatabai wrote that it seemed as if the Brotherhood believed that it is a religious “duty to avoid Shiite books, not to read them and not to let others to read them, because [they believe that] Shiite books are ‘religiously misleading’ [i.e. they contain theological errors or immoral points].”17 As we’ve seen, Tabatabai’s motivation for writing Al-Mizan wasn’t simply to produce a modernist commentary on the Quran on the model of Rida’s Al-Manar. Rather, he sought to develop a uniquely Shiite exegetical mode that was critical of Rida’s Sunni views and supplied a Shiite alternative to them. One of Tabatabai’s most prominent disciples, Ayatollah Abdullah Javadi Amoli, taught a course in which he insisted that clerics should study Al-Mizan in order to inoculate themselves against the anti-Shiite influence of Al-Manar. Al-Manar, Ayatollah Amoli argued, “did nothing but ignore the hadith [in which the Prophet appoints Ali as the first caliph of Muslims] and hence, beginner students should avoid reading Al-Manar . . . unfortunately our [Shiite] seminaries, instead of following the path of Al-Mizan, are following the model of Al-Manar.”18 Ayatollah Amoli’s concern, that Sunni revivalist influences were leading Shiites away from Shiism as such, was an anxiety shared by many Shiite scholars at the time, including both traditionalists and reformists. In the politically-charged atmosphere in Iran, into which Islamist revivalist ideology was introduced, the underlying anti-Shiite tendency of the Muslim Brotherhood tended to be overlooked. In fact, some revolutionary clerics who translated the Muslim Brotherhood’s works mentioned in their “translator’s notes” that, while they might not personally agree with certain ideas expressed in those books, their concerns over intra-Islamic sectarianism were secondary to their primary goal of disseminating the ideological core of the Muslim Brotherhood. Nonetheless, the doctrinal differences between the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Shiite Islamism that it helped inspire, could not be completely overlooked in favor of their mutually shared political agendas and pan-Islamic identity. This especially proved to be the case once the Shiite Islamists managed to seize power in Iran in 1979. Rather than merely reflect upon and advocate the creation of an Islamic state, Iran’s new rulers were forced to actually attempt to govern one. And while both Sunni and Shiite Islamism agree on the principle that the essential goal of the Islamic state is to implement the sharia, there are important discrepancies between different Islamic legal schools over what this actually means and requires. In a predominantly Shiite country like Iran, it was not surprising that Shiite clerics decided to propagate their own uniquely Shiite understanding of the sharia. Thus, while Iran’s revolutionaries insisted on the pan-Islamist character of their revolution, their uniquely Shiite identity, and the Shiite character of their regime stoked concerns and even fears among Sunnis. These have served to complicate Iran’s subsequent efforts to export its revolution and to become the leader of the pan-Islamist revival. The Dilemmas of Transnational Ideology The concept of Muslim unity lies at the core of many, though clearly not all, steams of Sunni and Shiite revivalism. As a political ideal, Islamic unity has often proven to be a powerful rhetorical tool in efforts to mobilize diverse peoples in the service of a common political agenda. Indeed, that political agenda often becomes the reason for Islamic unity itself: Sunni and Shiite Islamists routinely claim, for example, that resistance against the West requires that Muslims put aside their religious differences. Perhaps most notoriously, Iran’s championing of Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood offshoot in Gaza, is one way in which the largely Persian and Shiite Islamic Republic has sought to curry political favor and prestige within Arab and predominantly Sunni countries. This has certainly been a successful strategy for Iran in that it has helped the Islamic Republic win the hearts and minds of many elements, not only within Hamas but also within the larger Brotherhood universe in Egypt and elsewhere in the region.19 Yet despite its political utility, and despite the fact that both Brotherhood and Shiite Islamists see Muslim unity as a requirement of religious law, Islamic unity is difficult to justify much less sustain by existing Sunni and Shiite religious paradigms. In fact, from the perspective of traditional Islamic jurisprudence and theology, neither Sunnis nor Shiites are able to find sufficient common ground for convergence, since the points of divergence between these two branches of Islam are over concepts that define their respective religious beliefs and practices. Even the concept of God in both sects is shaped differently, and by two separate conceptual apparatuses. Of course, this has not prevented modern Sunni and Shiite Islamism, with their expressed contempt for the pieties and other encumbrances of Muslim tradition, from striving to find new ways to transcend their historically-rooted differences. The 1979 Iranian revolution—and the Islamic Republic’s subsequent efforts to export its revolution across the Muslim world, including to Sunni Arab societies—has marked the most ambitious effort to date to overcome these differences. Both the Brotherhood and the emergent revolutionary Shiite state have continued to seek to work together in a cross-national framework to promote Islamist ideology and political unity. Yet this agenda has also presented challenges for both movements. Among other things, it has required these movements to effectively ignore or to seek to minimize the legal and religious aspects of their respective traditions, and to focus more on Islam’s political dimension. Yet as a purely political matter, the spirit of transnational, intra-Islamic solidarity has proven difficult to sustain over the long term in an era where politics is shaped not only by religion, but also by national and other identities. The triumph of the 1979 revolution alarmed the Arab regimes. This was so because of revolutionary Iran’s belligerence toward them and its consequent expansionist regional policies. The Arab regimes were also fearful because Shiite Islamism’s success in toppling the Shah’s pro-Western, secular government encouraged Sunni Islamists to think that their own secular rulers could be overthrown. Within this context, it was not surprising that Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood at first welcomed the Iranian revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini, despite their divergent religious identities. But the Brotherhood’s public support for Iran faded after Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat was assassinated by Khalid al-Islamboli on October 6, 1981 and the Egyptian government unleashed a new wave of repression against groups espousing pan-Islamist ideology. The Muslim Brotherhood subsequently became more reticent in its praise of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Tehran, for its part, would eulogize Sadat’s assassin Islamboli as a martyr). Under Mubarak’s rule, crackdowns on the Brotherhood in Egypt forced the group to conceal its pan-Islamic ambitions. Other developments—including the Iran-Iraq War, which lasted for nearly a decade from 1980-1988, and exacerbated already tense relations between Sunni and Shiite and Arab and non-Arab populations throughout the Middle East—further worked to exert pressures on the pan-Islamist rhetoric and agenda of the Brotherhood.20 In part, as a consequence of the new pressures to downplay its pan-Islamic ideals in its political discourse, the basic religious differences between Sunnism and Shiism became a central problematic for the Brotherhood’s ideology. For instance, in January 1982, Umar Tilmisani, then the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, told the Egyptian weekly magazine al-Msuwwar: “We supported him [Khomeini] politically, because an oppressed people had managed to get rid of an oppressive ruler and to regain their freedom. But from the doctrinal point of view, Sunnism is one thing and Shiism is another.” The more the Sunni-Shiite divide was conceived by the Brotherhood as a problem of religion, the more the Brotherhood’s thinkers sought to develop religion-based means to overcome it. In 1985, for example, Tilmisani wrote in the Egyptian magazine Addawa (no.105) that “the convergence of Shiism and Sunnis is now an urgent task for the jurists.” He added, “The [early] contact between the Muslim Brotherhood and [Iranian clerics] was not done in order to make Shiites convert to Sunni Islam, but the main purpose was to comply with Islam’s mission to converge the Islamic sects as much as possible.” Despite this and subsequent efforts to discover a new basis for Sunni-Shiite convergence, political developments have continued to frustrate the Brotherhood’s search for Islamic unity. In recent times, the general resurgence of Iranian power and influence has stirred up considerable controversy within Sunni Arab circles, including within the Brotherhood, over what Iran ultimately seeks, and what, in turn, should be the proper Sunni and Arab reaction to it. On this issue, the Brotherhood is deeply divided between those who adhere to a pan-Islamist ideology and those who primarily see the Brotherhood as a Sunni, Arab, or nationalist movement. This internal Brotherhood debate will continue to be a defining dynamic in Sunni revivalism’s future, with no clear resolution in sight. Meanwhile, Shiite Islamism has sought its own resolution to the Sunni-Shiite divide and the dilemmas posed by the contradictions between its identity as a pan-Islamist movement and its actuality as ruling over a predominantly Shiite state. This resolution was found in a ruling elaborated by Ayatollah Khomeini that held that the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader is authorized to overrule what is prescribed by the sharia in favor of the regime’s interests. Khomeini made it clear that in any contradiction between Islamic law and the interests of the regime, the ruling jurist is obligated to prioritize the interest of the regime and to ignore the sharia. Accordingly, the Islamic government remains in an emergency state and considers safeguards to its survival its top priority, above both national and religious laws. On October 27, 2009, in a public speech, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander-in-chief of Revolutionary Guard said, “The Islamic Republic is a divine sacred government whose safeguarding is prior even to performed prayer”—(that is, the defense of the republic has priority over Salat or Namaz, the obligatory Islamic prayers). In practice, this view has meant that Iran has pursued Islamic unity as a principle of its foreign policy while simultaneously pursuing more exclusivist and discriminatory policies at home in accord with regime interests. The Iranian government, for example, has destroyed Sunni mosques and seminaries in the politically restive southeastern provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan, and exercises a comprehensive discriminatory policy against Sunni Kurds in Iranian Kurdistan. The government appears to be less biased toward the Brotherhood’s Iranian-based branch, whose activities actually appear to be favored by the government.21 Internationally, however, the government uses its relations with Sunni groups to serve its own agenda, with little concern for religious differences or for that matter, for stirring up sectarian conflict. The Islamic Republic has even forged strong working relations with anti-Shiite Islamists.22 Despite the historically-rooted political and religious rivalry between Shiism and Sunnism, various currents of modern Islamist revivalism, including most especially Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and Iran’s Shiite Islamism, have sought to overcome their respective traditions and to forge ever closer ties between Islam’s two branches in the spirit of Muslim political unity. Present day circumstances have given rise to new common ground, new boundaries and new frameworks between the two groups for ideological convergence and cooperation. As a consequence of this, both sects have taken on roles radically different from those they once played in the traditional world. And yet, none of modern Islamism’s various ecumenical efforts to bridge the Sunni-Shiite divide have been particularly fruitful or politically sustainable over the long-term. Despite their common sources in modern reformism and decades of efforts by both Sunni and Shiite clerics to peel away their traditional differences, problems inevitably arise when one of these branches of Islamism exercises power. These problems emerge, in part, from a basic ideological contradiction within some strands of Islamism between the ideals of pan-Islamic unity and the principle that Islamism’s primary goal is to implement the sharia. Since the latter goal requires seeking guidance and a model from the schools of traditional jurisprudence, efforts to implement the sharia inevitably reflect an exclusivist or religiously partisan character. Nevertheless, the ideal of Muslim unity persists in large part because of its political utility. The Islamic Republic of Iran especially has used it to make alliances with Sunni groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, in order to promote its foreign agenda. As such, while the mistrust between Shiites and Sunnis is not easily resolved, modern Islamist ideology has created common ground for cooperation between these historically rival sects.
Fewer taxonomy skills are allowing weeds to creep in By Australasian Systematic Botany Society A Western Australian academic, Margaret Collins, has drawn attention to how invasive weeds can be allowed to establish in a region by simply being mis-identified. In a case study of Crotalaria pallida, two instances are described where this invasive weed has inadvertently been allowed to grow. One instance was in a university greenhouse where a mis-identified seed sample led the researcher to believe the seed was a Lupinus species. The second case was outside the Western Australian Herbarium, where a plant was growing from commercially obtained 'native plant seed'. Most disturbingly, the government response was reported as being that this weed was unlikely to be a problem and that there were insufficient resources to react to 'anything other than the most dire of biosecurity threats'. The combination of reduced taxonomic skills and inadequate resourcing can lead to weeds being allowed to establish. Read the full article on the Australasian Systematic Botany Society website.
The Corps and the Shore 6 x 9 6 x 9 For more than a century, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been building fortifications along the American coastline in an effort to protect our vulnerable shores. With the prospect of seaborne invasion becoming increasingly unlikely, the Corps has turned its attention to a more subtle but no less dangerous threat: the insidious effects of coastal erosion. In The Corps and the Shore, Orrin H. Pilkey, the nation's most outspoken coastal geologist, and Katharine L. Dixon, an educator and activist for national coastal policy reform, provide a comprehensive examination of the impact of coastal processes on developed areas and the ways in which the Corps of Engineers has attempted to manage erosion along America's coastline. Through detailed case studies of large-scale projects in Texas, Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina, the authors demonstrate the shortcomings of the Corps's underlying assumptions and methodology. As they discuss the role of local citizens in the project process, they highlight the interaction between local Corps offices and community officials and residents. By focusing on different types of problems in various regions of the country, Pilkey and Dixon clearly show how the Corps has repeatedly failed to act in the best interest of those most affected by the projects. As well as criticizing Corps practices, the authors provide numerous suggestions for reforming the Corps and making it both more scientifically accountable and more accountable to the citizens it is intended to serve. The Corps and the Shore is essential reading for coastal residents, environmentalists, planners, and coastal city officials as well as geologists, civil engineers, marine scientists, and anyone concerned with the impact of human society on our shorelines.
- Criminal Defense Get a Free Consultation (401) 324-2992 Drivers should be familiar with the different kinds of field sobriety tests they might encounter on the road. Police are serious about drunk driving citations, and field sobriety tests, also known as FST’s, are becoming more and more common throughout the nation. To combat the high failure rate of FST’s, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association created standardized tests that called SFST’s. If a police officer is suspicious of drunk driving, he or she will pull over a vehicle and ask the driver to submit to a field sobriety test. Police use a failed SFS as evidence to convict someone of drunk driving or DUI (Driving Under the Influence). An FST is a divided attention test because many aspects of our attention are required when driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Associate has specific, standardized guidelines for the way police conduct tests on the road. There are three phases to DUI detection: Field sobriety tests are part of the third, pre-arrest screening phase. There are many types of test officers use to determine whether or not a driver is intoxicated. Here are some standardized field sobriety tests and their descriptions. The HGM measures the involuntary jerking of the eye or nystagmus when the participant gazes to the side. It is the first test administered by a police officer. First, they will hold up an object up close to the driver’s face, and ask the driver to keep their eyes on it as the officer slowly moves the object to the side. The officer watches for jerky eye movement, which is a sign of being intoxicated. The WAT is one of the psychophysical tests that officers use to make someone divide their attention by performing mental and physical tasks at the same time. It is also known as “walking the line.” During the walk-and-turn test, the officer observes the driver getting out of the vehicle and walking in a straight line down the road. They have to put one foot directly in front of the other. Then they have to turn around and walk back the same way. The OLS is another psychophysical test that requires the suspect to divide their attention. The driver will stand in front of the officer and lift one leg off the ground. They then have to remain in that position for 30 seconds. The officer watches to see if they lose their balance. The preliminary breath test, also known as a roadside breathalyzer, is used to determine whether the officer needs to arrest the driver. The officer uses the preliminary breath test results as probable cause, but it is illegal to use them as evidence in a court case. Also, submitting to a preliminary breath test is required if an officer reasonably suspects that you are intoxicated. When an officer asks you to perform a PBT, you are legally required to submit to it. However, if you refuse, the penalties are a fine and not the loss of your license. As well as the three main field sobriety tests, the officer may choose to check several additional criteria. These include: The results of failing a field sobriety test are significant. Getting arrested for drunk driving comes with severe consequences. For a first DUI, the penalties may be fines, license suspension, community service, or even probation. Depending on the circumstances, the judge may choose to inflict other punishments, including jail time. In addition, a second offense DUI in Rhode Island results in mandatory alcohol treatment, costs of over $1,200, license suspension of up to 2 years, and a mandatory minimum of 10 days in jail. In addition, the driver may also serve up to one year in jail. Field Sobriety Tests are not perfect, and can often are not reliable. If you fail a field sobriety test, contact a DWI attorney immediately to find out what your next steps should be. Remember, driving after drinking is deadly. If you plan on drinking, do not drive and make sure you have a plan to get home safely. You can call a taxi, a friend, or use the NHTSA Safe Ride app that will locate you and call a cab or friend for you.Different Field Sobriety Tests and Their Results
How To Calculate the Monthly Operation Cost of Pumps and other electrical devices The formula is simple. Somewhere on your pump or electrical device the wattage should be listed. If not, you can calculate the wattage if the Amps and Volts are listed. (Amps x Volts = Watts) Your local electrical company charges you by the "Kilowatt Hour". So to accurately measure the Monthly Operational Cost of any electrical device, it is important to start with its wattage. Watts x 24 = The total Watts used in a 24 hour period - or "Daily Watts". Next, multiply the "Daily Watts" by the number of days in the month. This will be the "Monthly Watts". Divide the Monthly Watts by 1,000 to convert the Monthly Watts into Monthly Kilowatts. Multiply the Monthly Kilowatt by the price your local power company charges per Kilowatt. That's it! You now know how to calculate the monthly power cost of any electrical device. You can also calculate the Monthly Operational Cost of a device by first converting the wattage to Kilowatts like this: Multiply the watts x 24 hours, then divide by 1000 for kilowatts. Multiply the total by your price per kilowatt hour which will equal your daily cost. Then multiply the number of days in the month to get your monthly total. Example; a 115 volt, 2.8 amp, 322 watt pump. To figure the monthly operation cost of this pump; 322 watts X 24 hours ÷ by 1000 kilowatts = 7.72 kilowatts per day the pump is consuming. Multiply 7.72 kilowatts by your kilowatt cost (in our case it is $0.08 per kilowatt hour) to get the daily cost of running the pump. 7.72 x $0.08 = $0.62 per day to run that pump. Multiply the daily rate by the number of days in the month, 30 for example, and you get the monthly operation cost. $0.62 per day X 30 days = $18.60 per month to operate this pump! Once again, the formula is:watts X 24 hours ÷ 1000 kilowatts X kilowatt cost X days in the month or amps X volts X 24 hours ÷ 1000 kilowatts X kilowatt cost X days in the month
Exoplanets near red dwarfs suggest another Earth nearer The nearest habitable, Earth-sized planet could be just 13 light-years away, research suggests. An analysis of small, dim "red dwarf" stars - which make up a majority of stars in our galaxy - shows that 6% of them host such a planet. The results will appear in Astrophysical Journal. Study co-author David Charbonneau of Harvard University said the findings had implications for the search for life elsewhere. "We now know the rate of occurrence of habitable planets around the most common stars in our galaxy," said Prof Charbonneau. "That rate implies that it will be significantly easier to search for life beyond the solar system than we previously thought." The hunt for exoplanets has reached a pace that is difficult to keep up with. The Kepler space telescope has been the source of most of the known candidate exoplanets. It stares at a fixed patch of sky, watching a field of more than 150,000 stars for the tiny dips in starlight that occur if an orbiting planet passes between a star and the telescope. A catalogue run by US space agency Nasa lists more than 800 "exoplanets", most of them spotted with this so-called transit method. That is just the tip of the planetary iceberg, however. On the basis of results from other methods, it has been estimated that on average, there are 1.6 planets around every star in the night sky. But a major goal has been finding something more like our home planet; because of the way that we search for exoplanets, it is easier to spot the largest examples, and many in the catalogue are far larger than the Earth. Yet, even roughly Earth-sized planets abound - more recent research suggests that one in six stars has a planet of about Earth's size in an orbit close to their host stars - making for at least 17 billion in our galaxy alone. But close orbits would broadly be too hot - the hunt seeks roughly Earth-sized planets orbiting at a sufficient distance that water, if it is there, can exist in liquid form - and not so distant that it freezes. This range is called the habitable zone - or colloquially, the Goldilocks zone. - An exoplanet is a planet that exists outside our Solar System - Many are giant planets believed to resemble Jupiter or Neptune - The first exoplanet was discovered in 1992, orbiting a pulsar - A few years later, the planet 51 Pegasi B was found orbiting a star similar to the Sun - More than 800 exoplanets have been found since The new announcement concerns Earth-sized planets in the habitable zones around red dwarf stars - far dimmer and smaller than our Sun. Their low light output means that the habitable zone is far closer in. Astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CFA) trawled through data from Kepler, plucking out a number of red dwarf stars. Red dwarfs make up three-quarters of the stars in our galaxy - and research has shown that older galaxies contain even more. The team found 95 planet candidates around the dwarfs, showing that at least 60% of them host planets smaller than Neptune. But from the analysis, three planets of about the right temperature and roughly Earth's size (between 90% and 170% of the Earth's radius) emerged - all between 300 and 600 light-years away. Taking into account the red dwarfs that are yet to be detected, the analysis suggests that 6% of the stars host an Earth-like planet in terms of size and temperature - that makes for at least 4.5 billion of them in our galaxy. And given the proximity of many red dwarfs to the Earth, the statistics suggest that our nearest cosy Earth-sized planet could be just 13 light-years away. "We thought we would have to search vast distances to find an Earth-like planet. Now we realise another Earth is probably in our own backyard, waiting to be spotted," said Courtney Dressing, lead author of the study. The findings hit at the heart of a question posed by the Kepler mission's principal investigator, William Borucki, during the American Astronomical Society meeting in January. "I think what we need to do, now we know most stars have planets, [is find out]: do most stars have small planets like the Earth in the habitable zone?," he told BBC News. "That's what we'd like to know - is there likely to be life? If we find lots of those planets, there probably is."
Interpreting and Analyzing Real-World Data: This GoogleTrek™ is designed for high school biology students. Its purpose is to provide practice in understanding, analyzing, and interpreting real-world data in the form of graphs, charts, and tables. MIT technical writing tutorial. This document describes how to properly put equations and figures into lab reports. It is written as a college level guide and other parts may need modification for use with middle and high school students. Science Buddies has printable worksheets that can be used for planning out an experiment in order to help with writing a lab report. See the Table of Contents of this teachers' guide to Writing Across the Curriculum in Science for descriptions, implementation ideas, and examples of some of these strategies for writing to learn in Science class: Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer: Have students complete a graphic organizer that explains the cause and effect relationship. Column Notes: Use a T chart to define terms or explain processes. Compare and Contrast: Use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast. Cornell Notes: A format for taking notes that uses boxes. It requires students to process material as they are learning it by formulating questions, summarizing, and analyzing. Students can draw lines or simply fold notebook paper to form the blocks. Vocabulary Trees: Use vocabulary organizers to study the parts of scientific words and their positions in sentences. GIST: GIST (Cunningham 1982) is a strategy designed to help students learn to write organized and concise summaries. Summaries restate only the author’s main ideas, omitting all examples and evidence used in supporting and illustrating points. For students who are at a loss as how to put a reading into their own words, GIST can be used as a step by step method. Journaling (Science Notebooks) or Learning Logs: Learning logs are different from traditional journals. Learning logs document the learning that occurs during a class, a project, or a unit of study. Learning logs are excellent tools for individual accountability during collaborative work. • Direct Analogy • Personal Analogy • Simile Review Quick Write/ Exit Slips: Quick Writing is a motivating pre-reading activity that prepares students for reading new material or reviewing material in preparation for understanding new information to be read. Word Bank Writing: Writing from a word bank is a strategy used from the earliest grades. Students write a paragraph utilizing words that the teacher has pre-selected. 8. Interactive Notebooks The purpose of the interactive notebook is to enable students to be creative, independent thinkers and writers. Interactive notebooks are used for class notes as well as for other activities where the student will be asked to express his/her own ideas and process the information presented in class. S: Study the problem. ("S" the problem.) The first step is to highlight the question. O: Organize the facts. ("O" the problem.) You must always "S" the problem first, then you may organize the facts about the problem. L: Line up a plan. Students must "S" and "O" the problem before they "L"the problem. In this steps students need to come up with a way to solve the problem. V: Verify your plan with action. The first step in this plan is to make an estimate of the answer. Next the students actually do the experiment. E: Examine the results. In this step, students will ask the questions: "Did you answer what you were asked to find in S?" "Is my answer accurate?" "Is my answer reasonable?" The last step in "E" is to write the answer as a complete sentence. Writing Across the Curriculum in Science (Michigan Department of Education) - Descriptions, implementation ideas, and examples of strategies for writing to learn and writing to demonstrate knowledge in Science class.
Any laboratory which works with potentially infectious material (i.e. blood, tissue, viruses, etc.) must comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Under this law, the employer is required to ensure that the laboratory employee is trained on appropriate methods to control accidental exposure to potentially infectious agents. Employers must communicate the potential hazards, provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, face shield etc.) and ensure these are used whenever the potential exists for accidental exposure. For more information on the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and associated vaccinations, contact the Biological Safety Officer at extension 3-7422. OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens program requires annual training for all potentially exposed employees. Jefferson Employees can receive the training through HealthStream. The following link will transfer you to the HealthStream page. Jefferson University employees can also take a classroom training session given by the Biological Safety Officer. These courses are given once a month and a schedule here. Bloodborne pathogens include any organism that is present in human blood or body fluids that can cause disease. Common examples of bloodborne pathogens are the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, and the Hepatitis B Virus, which causes the liver disease Hepatitis B. Additionally, each employee who is covered by the standard must also be offered a Hepatitis B vaccination by the employer at no cost to the employee. Employees may refuse the vaccination. If they choose not to receive the vaccine, they must sign a declination form provided by the employer. Additional vaccinations are available to employees who come into contact with other infectious agents such as rabies, vaccinia virus, etc. All vaccinations are available to employees at no charge.
Resources for People Who Can't Afford Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants by Paula Rosenthal, J.D. Hearing loss affects millions of people worldwide. It touches every demographic group, affecting the young, the aged, the wealthy, the poor and people from all ethnic backgrounds. With an accurate hearing assessment and proper fitting by an audiologist, hearing aids can offer many people with hearing loss a second chance. For those who do not gain significant benefit from hearing aids, a cochlear implant may be an option. Once aided, they may be able to effectively participate in educational, social and professional settings. In the United States, many health insurance carriers cover eyeglasses. Unfortunately, hearing aids are not typically covered. A cochlear implant device and its surgical operation are sometimes covered. With prices ranging from $600 for an analog hearing aid and more than $4000 for digital, hearing aids are financially out of reach for many families. Cochlear implant surgery and equipment ranges from $40,000 to $50,000. Due to their high costs, some people struggle without any device or accept hearing aids that don't offer significant benefit. As a result, adults are often isolated from friends and colleagues, forced to change jobs and are unable to easily pursue further educational and professional training. For infants and young children, the impact of unaffordability can be devastating to the development of their speech and language. Without appropriate access to sounds and speech, they will have great difficulty with comprehension and learning to talk. Results of a hearing aid insurance poll taken in March 2001 by the Listen Up web site revealed some disturbing facts and comments among its participants. Eleven percent of the adults polled were doing without hearing aids in one or both ears because of the cost. Of the 96 children in the poll, 99% had health insurance coverage, but only 16% had their hearing aid costs covered by a private health insurance plan. One parent commented, "Our son went a very long time--about 3 years--with hearing aids that provided little or no benefit to him. We didn't have the means to purchase appropriate aids without the help of insurance…" View the complete results of this poll at http://www.listen-up.org/poll.htm. If you are unable to afford hearing aids for yourself or your child or are a cochlear implant candidate and your insurance won't cover it, view the resources below to learn about funding sources that may be able to assist you. No one should be without an appropriate device that can help him hear and participate fully in his community. Remember these important tips when pursuing financial assistance: 1. Be diligent and follow up regularly. 2. Be prepared to show significant financial need. 3. Document medical and professional need. 4. Keep records of all inquiries and replies. Hear Now, the U.S. program of the Hearing Foundation, provides hearing aids to adults and children who are legal residents of the US, meet the financial criteria and are approved for assistance. Hear Now is an organization of last resort; all other options for service must be used before Hear Now benefit is approved. Contact Hear Now at 1-800-648-4327, by fax at 952-828-6946 or by mail at 6700 Washington Avenue S, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. (TTY number and web site are not currently available.) State Vocational Rehabilitation Programs - If you need a hearing aid or similar device to help you perform your job or obtain employment, contact your local state vocational rehabilitation office. Click here for listings: http://www.parac.org/svrp.html Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing – offers a hearing aid bank and serves the Northwest region of the U.S. Contact them at: 901 Boren Avenue, Suite 810, Seattle, WA 98104-3534, phone (206) 682-8500 or (800) 847-5786, web site http://www.lshfoundation.org/ Visit these comprehensive listings for additional sources of financial assistance. Sources of Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant Funding http://www.listen-up.org/haidfund.htm Funding Sources http://www.focusonhearing.org/funding.htm Hearing loss can have lifelong effects on children and adults. Hearing aids, cochlear implants and other assistive technology are available. Their high cost prevents many people from receiving them and can result in feelings of isolation, frustration and depression. If you know someone who needs financial assistance so they can hear, direct them to these resources that are available. It can make a significant difference in their lives both personally and professionally. Rosenthal, J.D. is married and a mother of two young children. She, her husband and daughter are all hearing impaired. Her son has normal hearing. Paula is the founder and publisher of http://www.HearingExchange.com, an online community of resources and support for people with hearing loss, parents of deaf and hard of hearing children and professionals who work with them. Subscribe to HearingExchange News and any of the other free newsletters available at http://lb.bcentral.com/ex/manage/subscriberprefs?customerid=6181 © Copyright Paula Rosenthal, 2001. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this article requires express, written permission of the author. Send an email to mailto:email@example.com with your request. to a friend
German physician and hygienist; born in Berlin Sept. 30, 1868; educated at the gymnasium in Berlin and the universities of Berlin and Freiburg (M.D. 1891). He settled in his native city, and from 1892 to 1894 was assistant physician at the Jewish hospital there. From 1894 to 1897 he was assistant at the dispensary of Martin Mendelsohn; and since 1898 he has been coeditor with E. Dietrich of the "Deutsche Krankenpflege-Zeitung," of which he was the founder. Jacobsohn's specialty is the improvement of nursing and the training of nurses. He founded the Deutsche Krankenpflegerbund (society of German nurses) in 1899. Jacobsohn has invented a special stretcher for the conveyance of patients, and a scale for weighing. Among his works may be mentioned: "Handbuch der Krankenversorgung und Krankenpflege" (with G. Liebe and G. Meyer), Berlin, 1898-1902.
If you have been around the internet for even a short while, you have probably heard the term “keyword” or “keywords”. What are Keywords? A keyword is a particular word or phrase that describes the contents of a web page. Keywords help search engines match a page to with an appropriate search query. When someone uses a search engine, they type in one or more words describing what they are looking for: ‘Cape Town florist’ or ‘cheap holidays Durban’, for example. The search engine then comes back with a list of web pages, with content that relates to the keywords used. Keywords can be found/placed in your meta data, tags or in the actual content of your website. Why are they so important? Originally, keywords were a major factor when it came to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Meta keywords were added to each page of a website in order to optimise it for search engines. A few years back after optimisers started misusing and overusing keywords, the importance and use of keywords was changed dramatically. While keywords are still relatively important for SEO, keywords are also important for your advertising campaigns and other online marketing endeavours. Basically, what it comes down to now is understanding your customer’s needs and making sure you content and keywords provide the answer. Which Keywords should I use? Through the detective work of puzzling out your market’s keyword demand, you not only learn which terms and phrases to target with SEO and online marketing, but also learn more about your customers as a whole. It’s not always about getting visitors to your site, but about getting the right kind of visitors. To help you on your way you can use free tools like http://keywordtool.io, for example, but remember – ultimately, it is about understanding your customers and looking at things from their perspective. Be careful of Black Hat SEO Tactics In the SEO process of incorporating keywords into a page and a site, it is extremely important to remember that keywords can be overused and become detrimental to search engine ranking. Keyword stuffing in Meta Tags, headings, anchor text, alt attributes, or within the page content is an indicator of spam techniques. This practice is frowned upon by the search engines and can ultimately result in penalisation. With that said, you can and should use appropriate keywords in those areas but only use them if they are truly relevant to the subject matter and in a manner that makes sense to the average user. How can small businesses compete with larger companies when it comes to Keywords? Here are 2 tips on how you can get the ‘edge’ as a small business: - Get Niche-Specific. One of the best things you can do as a small business is give yourself a niche focus. You may think that the better option for search visibility is to cover as many areas of expertise as possible. However, if you’re competing against your biggest competitors, it’s better to take more of a niche focus. Rather put all your effort into one or a small handful of keywords, you’ll be able to achieve a much higher visibility. Also, if you can, get more “Local” because Local is Lekker and because this will also help you get your niche on! - Focus on a long-tail keyword strategy. Long-tail keywords are extended phrases Google looks for such as “tips for installing a light in an upstairs bedroom” instead of the much shorter (more popular) “light installation.” Ranking highly for long-tail keywords is much easier than ranking high for shorter keywords, so even though they bring in less traffic they’re still more valuable for small businesses to go after and they produce better customer leads. I hope this has helped you understand Keywords a little better. If you have any ideas or questions, please share them in the comments below – I would love to hear from you.
A new report says schools are “soft targets” for tech companies that want to collect students’ personal data in order to market to them, the Washington Post reports. The University of Colorado Boulder published its 18th annual study, titled “Learning to be Watched: Surveillance Culture at School,” on Tuesday. According to the report, schools that are eager to accept (often free) technology are making their students vulnerable. By tracking the students’ online activities, the companies are able to collect significant amounts of data about them, which can be sold to other companies or used for targeted advertising to the children. Beyond privacy concerns, the report warns that the companies can influence how the students think and act. The researchers reject the data collectors’ claim that they cannot identify the children by name. Researchers say even if that’s true, the marketers collect enough information to follow individual students online and model their “interests, social networks, personalities, vulnerabilities, desires and aspirations.” The researchers explain: “By feeding children ads and other content personalized to appeal specifically to them, and also by choosing what not to show them, marketers influence children’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. As they do, they also test, adjust, and perfect their models of influence — and then track and target some more.” According to the report, the food industry is a leader in developing marketing methods to reach children online. And unfortunately, according to the researchers, they are peddling high fat and sugar foods that are fueling the rise in obesity and diabetes among young people. The researchers also say the marketers threaten the psychological health of vulnerable teenagers. They note that the companies can use peer pressure and image advertising to exploit adolescents. The study points to Google and Facebook as the two industry giants that data mine in schools—noting the industry tries to influence elected officials to avoid more regulations. SOURCE: Washington Post \| PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
Herders’ communal work revives degraded pastureland This summer, herder communities involved in UNDP’s “Sustainable Land Management for Combating Desertification” project harvested high yields of hay, which was the result of several years of effort to improve the soil condition in their localities, representing arid and semi-arid regions. With funding from the Netherlands and Switzerland Governments and UNDP, the Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project started in 2008 and operates in 13 soums (districts) of four provinces representating different ecological zones of Mongolia. It aims to introduce and promote sustainable land management practices, adjusted to local soil and climatic conditions and livelihoods. Herder communities involved in the project have fenced new hayfields to prevent livestock movement and obtained abundant harvest by improving irrigation and applying organic fertilizers. Mongolia is located in the arid and semi-arid zones of continental Asia, which are characterized by hot and dry summers, low soil fertility and scarce vegetation cover dominated by few species. Nomadic herders rear sheep, goats, cattle, horses and camels as their main source of income. They are often faced with insufficient hay and fodder in winter and spring, which is one of the main obstacles in sustainable livestock husbandry. In recent years, herders have become less mobile, leading to overgrazing, which hinders plant seed maturation. This in turn leaves pastureland barren and prone to wind and water erosion. From 1940 to 2007 the average annual air temperature in Mongolia rose by 2.1°C due to climate change effects, while annual precipitation decreased in most areas, resulting in intensification of droughts. - According to the definition provided in the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, 90 percent of Mongolia’s landmass is highly vulnerable to desertification and land degradation, and 72 percent is affected by desertification to a certain degree. - Following the experience of the “Bayantuhumiin Uguuj” herder group, 5 new groups involving 43 households were established in 2010, all working on soil improvement and pasture management. With UNDP support, the herders have created value-additions to and alternate income opportunities aside from livestock husbandry through small-scale vegetable farming and diversified dairy and wool products. - With UNDP support, the annual soum-wide pasture/land management plan was developed and implemented with the herder community participation. This plan will be the basis for achieving a significantly reduced area of degraded land towards the end of the project. The UNDP-supported herder groups pioneered a revival of collective action for pasture management and prevention of land degradation. With the collapse of the socialist system and dismantling of state owned cooperatives in the 1990s, livestock was privatised, but the land itself was not. Although the number of livestock have been steadily increasing, the practice of collaboration between herders was lost and the rearing of an excessive number of livestock over the pasture carrying capacity has significantly degraded the land during the past two decades. Before the start of the SLM project, 70% of Baruunbayan-Ulaan soum in Uvurkhangai province was degraded and featured increased sand invasion. The main cause of this was unsustainable use of pasture exceeding the carrying capacity. The “new generation” of herders lack knowledge about pasture use and have limited experience in haymaking, pasture rotation and fencing to support the natural regeneration of the pasture. The UNDP project provided support in forming herder groups and a series of training opportunities with field demonstrations on pasture management, hayfield fencing, soil quality improvement and maintenance techniques, as well as methods of planting alfalfa and barley. In 2009, the training courses organized by the UNDP project enrolled over 2600 participants, 60% of which were women. After the training and with support from the project, herder communities fenced off 12 hectares of pasture in the Taats river valley in 2009. The plot was previously used by a former state collective farm to grow barley and haymaking over 20 years ago; however, continuously declining water levels have made irrigation increasingly difficult and therefore herders have slowly abandoned crop farming in this location. The UNDP project also provided technical assistance in restoring old water ditches and establishing a borehole well to be used in case of severe water shortage. In 2009, under the technical guidance of the UNDP project, the “Bayantuhumiin Uguuj Horshoo” herder group planted alfalfa in 2.2 ha and barley in 1 ha. 10 ha of land was used for hay making. Due to their collaborative efforts to maintain hayfields, fencing and improved irrigation, herders were able to once again harvest crops and prepare their own hay for the winter. The herder community harvested 2.5 tons of alfalfa, 2 tons of barley and 80 tons of hay that fully met their needs. The herders who worked on the hayfield established a formal herder group involving 10 households and 23 members in 2010. The group leader Mr. D.Tumurchudur said “We worked as one to rest our field from livestock, irrigated and used organic fertilisers, which rewarded us with good amount of hay. Because of hay reserved, we did not lose a single lamb in the past severe winter. Neighboring herders now come to us to learn from our experience”. He also stated that herders can harvest five times more hay from one hectare by merely supporting natural regeneration. In itially, the herders were pessimistic about planting new crops; however, after seeing the first results, the community was very much inspired. Women from the herder group made barley flour and, besides using the flour for household needs, sold the excess on the provincial market generating a revenue of MNT500,000 (apprx. US$385). The herder group won first place in the brand product fair of Uvurkhangai province.
Subscribe To our E-Newsletter Here Comes the Sun: A 28-Year Ritual Dawns Once Again On April 8, 1981, the last time that Jews observed a rare Jewish ritual revolving around the sun, the Phillies were coming off a World Series championship, and a new president was set to steer the nation out of an economic crisis. Now, nearly three decades later, Jews are preparing once again to mark Birkat Hachammah, or the "Blessing Over the Sun" -- a prayer recited once every 28 years when, the Talmud says, the sun reaches the same spot in the firmament as when it was created. Jews across the denominational spectrum and around the globe are planning a range of celebrations, many of them environmentally focused. The prayer will be said on April 8, which this year falls on Passover eve. The prayer, whose origins lie in the Talmud, blesses God "who makes the work of creation," and is the same blessing said over other rare natural phenomena, like lightning or a meteor. In honor of the event, Rabbi Leonard Gordon of Germantown Jewish Centre has helped create Massechet HaChammah ("Tractate of the Sun"), a 68-page book drawing on two millennia of Jewish thought on the sun and heavens. Composed of commentary drawn from a number of Jewish texts and traditions, the work is intended as a resource for these times, with a focus on the environment, and energy consciousness and sustainability. ArtScroll Publications, an Orthodox publishing house, has also reissued an updated version of Rabbi J. David Bleich's seminal 1981 book Bircas HaChammah, probably the most definitive English-language treatment of the subject. And Canfei Nesharim, an Orthodox environmental group, is working on a number of initiatives, including a sun-themed mishloach manot -- the food baskets traditionally given on the holiday of Purim, which occurred earlier this week. Bleich's book includes a rigorously detailed discussion of the evolution of the Jewish calendar, as well as the complex calculations of lunar and solar cycles that determine the dates of Jewish observances. "The blessing on this occasion, it would seem, is evocative rather than responsive," wrote Bleich, a professor of Jewish law and ethics at Yeshiva University. "It is designed to arouse man from his lethargy, to force him to reflect upon this cosmic phenomenon, to summon him to contemplation. Marking yet another solar milestone in the calendar of eternity, the occasion calls out to man: Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these?" Despite the complexity of the talmudic discussion, the determination of April 8 is almost certainly inaccurate, Bleich told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. But the sages of the Talmud ordained the blessing not as a precise astronomical commemoration, according to the author, but as a pedagogic device to impress upon future generations God's continuing role in sustaining the universe. Marking the Event As chair of the Commission on Social Justice and Public Policy of the Leadership Council of the Conservative movement, Gordon has worked to increase Birkat Hachammah awareness by holding local workshops. With a similar eye toward increasing awareness of the ritual, Kolot: The Center for Jewish Women's and Gender Studies at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, has helped create Birkat Hachammah-related content for the Web site www.ritualwell.org. Elsewhere, 14 Jewish organizations nationwide have joined to launch BlessTheSun.org, a Web site with links to educational materials and ideas for this year's activities. The site asks users to sign a Covenant of Commitment in which they "pledge to hasten the day of environmental healing, social justice and sustainable living for all." "It's a perfect moment to link Judaism to environmentalism and to think about the sun as a resource for renewable energy," said Lori Lefkovitz, Kolot's director. She called it an opportunity "to notice that our tradition sometimes attends to cycles that are bigger than the week or even the annual cycle." When the ritual last took place, celebrations were held at sites such as the National Mall, Independence Hall, and atop the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center. This time around, Jews appear to be communing mostly on the Web, noted Rabbi Shawn Zevit, director of outreach and tikkun olam for the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation. Locally, a public event will be held on April 8, at 6:30 a.m., at the Curtis Arboretum in Wyncote, organized by Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington. So what's behind the event's relatively unknown status? "I think for a long time, Jews were concerned about rituals that might have seemed too pagan," explained Gordon. "The idea of focusing on the celestial bodies as being alive is something that a lot of people walked away from for a long time, as we were trying to present Judaism as being more rational."
Many computer vision papers tend to apply signal processing techniques rather than discrete geometry, to be very heuristic, or to simply describe coordinate systems or other geometric modelling tools. However there has been some work in the computational geometry community on exact solution of geometric pattern matching problems associated with vision, for instance by Dan Huttenlocher's group at Cornell. Several vision projects use Voronoi diagrams to represent the structure of the image under study. - 3d shape and surface matching. Elias Kalaitzis of Edinburgh uses 3d Voronoi diagrams in an iterated parallel procedure for approximating a geometric transformation aligning a pair of shapes. - Computational Topology. Survey paper by Dey, Edelsbrunner, and Guha, presented at the conference "Computational Geometry -- Ten Years After". Includes descriptions of applications in image processing, cartography, graphics, solid modeling, mesh generation, and molecular modeling. - Computer Vision home page (CMU). - Detecting actin fibers in cell images. A. E. Johnson and R. E. Valdes-Perez use minimum spanning trees for biomedical image analysis. - Extracting features from remotely sensed images. Mark Dobie and co-workers use minimum spanning trees to find road networks in satellite and aerial imagery. - Geometry references for computer vision. From Fleck and Stevenson's Computer Vision Handbook. - Hausdorff Distance Image Comparison, Dan Huttenlocher, Cornell. Processing and Pattern Recognition in Soil Structure. D. Luo of Glasgow uses convex hulls and other geometric techniques to analyze images of soil particles. - Image tilings. The PRISME group at INRIA proposes stitching together multiple images of a scene (e.g. multiple aerial or satellite views of a piece of land) using a form of Voronoi diagram to choose which image has the best quality for each piece of scenery. salient features for real-time face verification, K. Jonsson, J. Matas, and J. Kittler. Includes a minimum-spanning-tree based algorithm for registering the images in a database of faces. axis pruning. Robert Ogniewicz of Harvard uses medial axes for octree generation from rotating objects R. Szeliski of DEC uses octrees in computer vision. - SPIE Signal and Image Processing publication list contains abstracts from several vision conferences with geometric content, notably Vision Geometry Geometric Methods in Computer Vision Tuceryan's computational geometry research page describes an Voronoi diagrams to finding neighbor relationships between image tokens, and includes bibliographic references to related papers by Tuceryan, Ahuja, and Patent 4704694 uses convex hulls to recognize objects from video images. Patent 5054098 describes a method of detecting whether a scanned image has been turned at an angle from the original, using an algorithm for finding minimum enclosing rectangles along with other techniques. Patent 5483606 describes a method of registering (lining up) copied pages with each other in a copying machine, using the convex hulls of images of the pages. - Using the Voronoi Tessellation for Grouping Words and Multi-part Symbols in Documents, M. Burge and G. Monagan. - Yahoo directory of Computer Vision resources. Geometry in Action, a collection of applications of computational geometry. from a common source file.
Friday, February 22nd, 2013 Water resource managers can now estimate daily baseline streamflows in a matter of minutes for any location along Pennsylvania’s waterways. The Baseline Streamflow Estimator, called “BaSE,” provides users with estimated daily mean streamflow, minimally altered by human activities, for locations on Pennsylvania streams that don’t have streamgages. Pennsylvania is one of the first states in Thursday, February 21st, 2013 Droughts are more than simply climate phenomena. They can have profound social, environmental, and economic impacts and can also be a major threat to food security throughout the world. Though much progress has been made in monitoring droughts and understanding their causes, there is still a strong need for better precision in both the monitoring Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 For the first time, U.S. Geological Survey scientists have mapped long-term average evapotranspiration rates across the continental United States – a crucial tool for water managers and planners because of the huge role evapotranspiration plays in water availability. Wednesday, February 13th, 2013 A new study using data from a pair of gravity-measuring NASA satellites finds that large parts of the arid Middle East region lost freshwater reserves rapidly during the past decade. Tuesday, February 12th, 2013 Already strained by water scarcity and political tensions, the arid Middle East region along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is losing water reserves at a rapid pace. Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 A project called CADWAGO – Climate Change Adaptation and Water Governance: Reconciling food security, renewable energy and the commission of multiple ecosystem services is underway. The three-year, € 900,000 initiative, which involves researchers in Europe, North America and Australia, aims to find innovative policies and governance structures to address competing demands for water in the Wednesday, January 30th, 2013 A paper published in the February issue of Computers & Geosciences, describes a case study in which an earth-observing satellite tool, the Tool for High-Resolution Observation Review (THOR), using minimal coding effort, is converted into a practical web-based application, THOR-Online. In addition, a 3D visualization technique is also described in this paper. Wednesday, January 30th, 2013 The World Resources Institute (WRI) today launched a new online tool that maps water risk worldwide based on the most current, highest resolution data available. Companies, investors, and governments can use the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas to see how water stress will affect operations locally and globally, and help prioritize investments that will increase water security. Sunday, December 30th, 2012 Water levels in the Mississippi River south of St. Louis are falling faster than anticipated, requiring more urgent action to keep the nation’s busiest waterway open, according to a group of shipping companies. Debra Colbert, senior vice president of the Waterways Council Inc., said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers now projects river levels may fall to a point at which Saturday, December 22nd, 2012 The Central Ground Water Board will map water table five times deeper, even to village level, to stop water table depletion in areas that are in the danger zones. It will inform quality and quantity of water in a particular village. Experts say this is a positive step towards getting clean drinking water to every
Programmers prefer to stay focused on creating code but often find themselves encumbered by the process of maintaining infrastructure. Organizations are increasingly focused on setting up the best possible infrastructure for programmers so that they can leverage technology effectively to achieve business goals. Due to this, cloud computing platforms are becoming increasingly popular. According to an O’Reilly survey, cloud professionals in the U.S. can earn an average salary of $182,000. If you intend to take up cloud computing as a profession, you must have heard of ‘platform as a service’ (PaaS). In this blog, we will be looking into the question of what is PaaS in cloud computing. ALSO READ: How to Become a Cloud Engineer? What is PaaS in Cloud Computing? If you’ve been wondering what is PaaS in cloud computing, platform as a service, or PaaS, is a kind of cloud computing platform. In this platform, a third-party provider delivers the hardware, software, and infrastructure needed to develop, operate, and manage applications. This is done so that their customers don’t have to build them on-site. This helps customers avoid the cost and complexity of building these resources. Benefits of PaaS 1. Time to Market Decreases With PaaS, programmers don’t need to bother about building and provisioning their infrastructure, which means that they can build the applications they aim for more quicker. 2. Single Environment The PaaS platforms usually provide features that let programmers build, debug, test, deploy, host, and update their applications in the same space. This makes the development cycle much simpler. PaaS is usually very cost-effective; customers don’t have to spend to set up or manage infrastructure. How PaaS Works Solutions offered by PaaS work using three parts. These include: - Cloud infrastructure (virtual machines, storage, firewalls, etc.) - Software to build, deploy, and manage applications - A Graphic User Interface (GUI) on which development teams work Programmers can log in to the PaaS platform from anywhere to work on projects. Once they log in, they can develop applications directly on these platforms. Characteristics of PaaS in Cloud Computing This platform delivers high-end software and hardware infrastructure to companies on the cloud. It is used by programmers to develop applications and offers customers the flexibility to build their application and customize it to their requirements using the provider’s infrastructure. Customers can usually choose from various tiers depending on their needs. Hence, this works out to be cost-effective for companies that don’t need to spend on building or maintaining their development platforms. PaaS, IaaS, and SaaS PaaS, IaaS, and SaaS are both common service models in cloud computing. Infrastructure as a service, or IaaS, provides customers with access to basic IT infrastructures like physical servers, virtual machines, storage, and firewalls hosted by the cloud provider. It also eliminates the cost associated with setting up in-house infrastructure and is usually included in PaaS solutions to host the platforms. Software as a service, or SaaS, is a form of software you can use via the cloud. It lets companies use their software without needing to set up the infrastructure to run it. Nearly all web applications are considered SaaS. The SaaS models include IaaS and PaaS components needed to run them. Use Cases for PaaS PaaS is useful for several IT applications, including: - Application Programming Interface (API) development - Internet of things (IoT) - Cloud-native development - Hybrid cloud strategy Advantages and Disadvantages of PaaS in Cloud Computing The following are some advantages: - Low Cost: The PaaS platforms can be set up without the cost needed to set up and maintain infrastructure. - Easy Availability: Since it can be accessed through the cloud, PaaS can be used by programmers irrespective of their physical location. - Scalable: These platforms are flexible enough to accommodate the expansion of businesses without requiring significant investments. - Automatic Upgrades: Platform updates are usually delivered by the PaaS provider. - Support: The PaaS developers make sure that their applications are compatible with various platforms. The following are some of the disadvantages of PaaS: - Security Concerns: Private and sensitive information stored inside the cloud database can be viewed by the provider. - Unreliable: Solutions provided by PaaS can be unreliable. Due to things like power outages or connection issues, users can face downtimes that impact business operations. - Irrelevant Features: Some features of the PaaS platform may be irrelevant to the user, but will still be factored into the cost of the service. Purpose-Built PaaS Types Many PaaS providers offer specific solutions to build particular types of applications. Some of them include: 1. AIPaaS (Artificial Intelligence PaaS) It offers significant computing power, storage capabilities, and networking capacity required by AI applications. It typically includes pre-trained machine learning and deep learning models. 2. iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) Used for integrating applications, iPaaS provides companies with a standardized model to integrate data, processes, and services. 3. cPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) It lets programmers add voice, video, and messaging capabilities to their applications. 4. mPaaS (Mobile Platform as a Service) It simplifies development for mobile applications and provides methods to access mobile device features like the camera, motion sensor, etc. Learning, the Emeritus Way According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities in the cloud computing sector are set to grow by 15% between 2021 and 2031. Therefore, it is certainly a field worth entering. Now that you have an idea about what is PaaS in cloud computing, consider expanding your knowledge of the space; take up a course on online technology from Emeritus today. By Tanish Pradhan Write to us at firstname.lastname@example.org
For millennia, we studied the world without the benefit of a view from orbit. Then, in 1947, a camera flew 100 miles above ground. In an instant, our view expanded by far more than the millions of square miles captured in four black and white frames. The era of studying objects in space via remote sensing continues to this day, with the aid of detailed maps using visual, thermal and chemical data. The blue dunes — constructed images celebrating the Odyssey orbiter’s 20th anniversary — demonstrate how remote sensing satellites not only show us the geology of Mars but also allow us to map out future missions there. A Deceivingly Simple Mission At first glance, the Mars Odyssey explorer has a straightforward-sounding mission: to detail the amount and distribution of chemicals and minerals in the Martian surface. To do this, Odyssey first flew 200 days through deep space. Then, since real-time remote control from Earth isn’t possible 150 million kilometers (93 million miles) from Earth, it followed pre-written instructions: Slow down from 5.4 km/sec (12,000 mph) to 4.3 km/sec (10,000 mph). Insert into orbit. Photograph the same amount of land as the Earth using three instruments. Find water, if possible, and anything that might have been shaped by water. Look for hydrogen and other chemicals, too. And don’t crash. Simple and to the point — but far from easy. Twenty years ago, the imperative to go make a map of Mars came with a high risk of failure. Prior to Odyssey, 30 total missions from the U.S., Russia and Japan attempted to reach Mars. Only 10 managed to return images. Most either exploded on the launch pad, malfunctioned in transit or missed Mars entirely. The two missions immediately prior to Odyssey didn’t miss the planet enough. Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar lander were destroyed on arrival. By the time Odyssey came along, NASA needed to stick the Mars landing — not just for the sake of the eponymously named orbiter. When Odyssey successfully took up its survey of the red planet, the Spirit and Opportunity rovers were less than two years from launch. They would be the first Mars rovers since Sojourner in 1996. The maps they would use to land in 2004, made by Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), showed that many surface features seemed to have been made by flowing water, some of which seemed to still be on the move. Gullies were clearly seen changing shape from one year to the next. MGS images also showed boulders the size of houses in some areas. Spirit and Opportunity intended to avoid those as well as smaller obstacles during landing. But for that, they would need better maps. Much better maps. Thanks in part to Odyssey, both Spirit and Opportunity (or Oppy, as the rover came to be called) managed to avoid giant boulders and other calamities. The two rovers went on to exceed their original mission by more than a decade. That time was spent investigating the geology of Mars up close, observing targets picked by Odyssey and MGS scientists as possibly water-made or even water-containing. From 400 km (250 miles) up, Odyssey identified sites of interest not only by physical appearance but also by temperature and what each structure contained. That’s where the blue dunes come in. While not actually blue in any way, shape or form, the false-colored dunes are in fact much colder than the surrounding dunes at Mars’ northern polar cap. From an exploration standpoint, that’s very interesting. Water ice trapped there wouldn’t sublimate as frequently, making these dunes a potential target for finding the much-sought-after stuff of life. Then again, their lower temperatures indicate that the sun doesn’t reach there for as long or as often. Robotic explorers counting on solar power might well run out of juice before completing their study. It might take a remote sampling mission like Mars Ingenuity, an explorer powered by something other than sunlight or even a person to find out if these colder dunes hold the substance we’ve been seeking all over the planet for half a century. The long-term goals of Mars exploration are many and stacked: Find the water and look for life. Extract the water on Mars to make fuel supplies and air. Feed the habitat’s plants and people. For our dreams to come to pass, we first have to find a large, accessible supply of water — or, more likely, more than one. Enhanced-color images like the blue dunes highlight changes in geomorphology that guide major decisions about planetary exploration. Given how much we know about Mars today from the cameras mounted on MGS, Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, it’s amazing to think that the Solar System Exploration Committee argued against sending a mission to Mars with a camera onboard. The reason? In the 1990s, the images gathered from Viking in the 1970s were believed to be good enough for future mission planning. This line of reasoning appears now and again, most recently with the Juno mission to Jupiter. JunoCam, the onboard camera, isn’t even listed as a scientific instrument. Image processing from JunoCam has been outsourced to the public. Analysis from JunoCam and the handful of active Mars Orbiters is still taking place at NASA. In the near future, the distant dunes may be colored in by anyone with the curiosity, will and talent to make their mark on Mars exploration. Interested in all things in outer space and exploration? We are, too. Take a look at open positions at Northrop Grumman and consider joining our team.
UOP, Eni update on the complete conversion of Eni’s Venice refinery to renewable diesel. Why is renewable diesel getting traction – and where, and when? Most of the action and controversy on biofuels, advanced or otherwise, occurs on the gasoline side of the equation. Food vs fuel, blend walls, the “where are the gallons?” problems of cellulosic ethanol – these tend to occur in the drive to replace gasoline with renewable fuels. Over in diesel-land, there’s been controversy, but much less. Bio-based diesel has a much less controversial set of environmental attributes, for one. Secondly, ranchers, dairy and poultry farmers tend to freak out less over bio-based diesel mandates, since they generally do not compete with the livestock industry for feedstock. Biodiesel made from palm oil has attracted substantial criticism, merging as it does into a generally critical conversation over land conversion in Southeast Asia. Unlike biodiesel, Green Diesel is a drop-in replacement for traditional diesel. Chemically identical to petroleum-based diesel, Honeywell Green Diesel can be used in any proportion in existing fuel tanks without infrastructure changes. So it’s a positive sign, but not entirely a shocker, when Honeywell’s UOP and Italy’s largest energy company, Eni, offered new details about plans to produce renewable diesel using the Ecofining process at En’s Venice refinery. In a $125 million retrofit, Eni will retrofit existing equipment at its facility, currently being used to produce petroleum-based diesel, to produce 100 million gallons per year of renewable diesel at its Venice facility beginning in 2014. In addition to technology licensing, Honeywell’s UOP and its affiliates will provide basic engineering, specialty equipment and training for the project. The Green Refinery process will start with an initial conversion of existing facilities which will be launched in the second quarter of 2013 and completed by the end of that year. The UOP/Eni Ecofining process produces a renewable diesel fuel which is a drop-in replacement for traditional diesel. Unlike biodiesel, it is chemically identical to petroleum-based diesel and can be used in any proportion in existing fuel tanks without engine or infrastructure changes. This renewable diesel offers a lifecycle reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of as much as 80 percent compared with diesel derived from petroleum. It also offers high energy density and excellent performance at cold or warm temperatures. The fuel can be used as a high-quality blending stock for refiners seeking to enhance or expand their diesel pool. Honeywell’s UOP and Eni jointly developed the UOP/Eni Ecofining process, which uses hydroprocessing technology to convert non-edible natural oils and animal fats to a fully fungible renewable diesel. The fuel offers improved performance over biodiesel and petroleum-based diesel, including a high cetane value of 80 compared with a cetane range of 40 to 60 found in diesel at the pump today. Cetane value is the measure of the combustion quality of diesel. Higher cetane values help diesel engines operate more effectively. Elsewhere in renewable diesel The trend towards adding renewable diesel capacity is unmistakable. Last month, Aemetis announced an expanded, global license agreement with Chevron for renewable jet and diesel fuel. The expanded license grants Aemetis the use of an isoconversion process to produce fuels that meet the necessary ASTM requirements for 100% replacement, renewable jet fuel, and diesel in Aemetis biorefineries. The same week, In California, Biodico announced a new agreement with the U.S. Navy to produce renewable petroleum diesel equivalent liquid fuels, bio-based products and energy using renewable resources at Department of Defense (DoD) facilities. The collaboration is partially supported by grants from the California Energy Commission. According to Biodico’s President and Founder, Russell Teall, “As part of this agreement we are building a sustainable biorefinery at Naval Base Ventura County that will produce biofuel and bioenergy at prices competitive with unsubsidized conventional fuel and power.” In May, UOP announced an agreement to license the Ecofining technology to Emerald Biofuels to produce Honeywell Green Diesel at an 85 million gallons per year plant that will be engineered by International Alliance Group (IAG). Emerald is an Illinois-based transportation fuel company that focuses on building renewable diesel refineries that produce environmentally friendly transportation fuels at prices competitive to petroleum-based fuels. will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for the project. Diesel, CAFE standards and the Renewable Fuel Standard We’ve highlighted before that CAFE standards, which call for increasing average fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon for light-duty vehicles by 2025, could spell trouble fro the Renewable Fuel Standard. Estimates of US gasoline demand in 2025 are as low as 80 billion gallons, as CAFE takes impact, and where exactly will 36 billion gallons of mandated biofuels go? Two problems. One, ethanol blend walls. Two, what’s left for the traditional US refining industry to make – how are they going to survive? Keep in mind, they are the obligated blending parties. No blenders, no RFS2. That’s where renewable diesel may offer opportunities. The Ecofining process is based at a traditional refinery, and produces an infrastructure-compatible fuel that goes into the heavy-duty tanks in the fleet, not the light-duty ones. The bottom line Diesel and jet fuel – keep a sharp eye on those channels. There, we see eager offtakers and enthusiasm from refiners and their technology partners like UOP. We also see fewer market access problems, and on the diesel side we have a growing group of producers who can make diesel and refinery intermediates at parity cost to crude oil. Parity cost, parity performance, environmental attributes, and $1.25 per gallon retrofit costs. No wonder refiners and offtakers are excited. Category: Top Stories
In Hinduism, the leaf of the banyan tree is said to be the resting place for the God Krishna, who, after consuming all the universe during the time of destruction, absorbs everything created and turns himself to a child as small as he could fit into the tiny leaf of the banyan tree and keeps floating in the void space, until he himself decides to recreate everything back out from him. Parallels have been drawnbetween this story and the pulsating theory in modern physics which hypothesizes that the universe expands and contracts in a series of Big Bangs and Big Crunches. - In the Bhagavat Gita Krishna said “There is a banyan tree which has its roots upward and its branches down, and the Vedic hymns are its leaves. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.” (Bg 15.1) Here the material world is described as a tree whose roots are upwards and branches are below. We have experience of a tree whose roots are upward: if one stands on the bank of a river or any reservoir of water, he can see that the trees reflected in the water are upside down. The branches go downward and the roots upward. Similarly, this material world is a reflection of the spiritual world. The material world is but a shadow of reality. In the shadow there is no reality or substantiality, but from the shadow we can understand that there is substance and reality. - Elsewhere in the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says: - The banyan tree is also considered sacred and is called “Vat Vriksha” in Sanskrit, in Telugu; Marri Vrikshamu and in Tamil known as: ‘ஆல மரம்’ ; Ala Maram. God Shiva as Dakshinamurthy is nearly always depicted sitting in silence under the banyan with rishis at his feet. It is thought of as perfectly symbolizing eternal life due to its seemingly unending expansion. - In modern parlance in the Hindi language, it is known as Bargad, Vatavriksh, and Barh. - Buddha is believed to have achieved enlightenment in Bodhgaya in India while meditating under a banyan tree of the species Sacred Fig. The tree is known as Bodhi Tree - In Buddhism‘s Pali canon, the banyan (Pali: nigrodha) is referenced numerous times. Typical metaphors allude to the banyan’s epiphytic nature, likening the banyan’s supplanting of a host tree as comparable to the way sensual desire (kāma) overcomes humans. - In many stories of Philippine Mythology, the banyan, (locally known as balete or balite) is said to be home to a variety of spirits (diwata and engkanto) and demon-like creatures (among the Visayans, specifically, the dili ingon nato, meaning “those not like us”). Maligno (Evil spirits, from Spanish for ‘malign’) associated with it include the kapre (a giant), duwende (dwarves), and the tikbalang (a creature whose top half is a horse and whose bottom half is human). Children at a young age are taught never to point at a fully mature banyan tree for fear of offending the spirits that dwell within them, most especially when they are new to the place. Filipinos would always utter a respectful word or two to the spirits in the banyan tree when they are near one, walking near or around it to avoid any harm. Nearly every Filipino believes that provoking the spirits in a banyan tree can cause you great harm, illness, misfortune, untold suffering and death. - In Guam, ‘Chamorro people believe in tales of taotaomona, duendes and other spirits. Taotaomona are spirits of the ancient Chamorro that act as guardians to banyan trees. (Picture credits: Von Ahoerstemeier - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=287383)
Zora Neale Hurston: Writing Their Eyes Were Watching God By 1934, Hurston's freelance career was flourishing, with essays and short stories appearing frequently in journals. With the help of a grant from the Rosenwald Foundation she began studying for a doctorate at Columbia University (she never finished it). She also published her first novel, Jonah's Gourd Vine. The novel was based loosely on the lives of her parents, John and Lucy Potts Hurston. She followed that up a year later with Mules and Men, an acclaimed collection of black folklore compiled during her research expeditions in the Caribbean. The book highlighted both the fruits of Hurston's research and the unorthodox methods she used to obtain them. "Lying was for her both an art form and a methodology," a reviewer wrote years later. "When her shiny, late-model car made her suspect among the poor country folk she hoped to interview, she pretended to be a bootlegger on the lam in order to further her fieldwork—or so Hurston claims in 'Mules and Men.'"9 In 1936, Hurston received a Guggenheim Foundation grant to travel to the West Indies to study obeah and voodoo, local folk practices of sorcery. She traveled first to Jamaica, and then in typical Hurston fashion managed to talk the Guggenheim folks into extending her fellowship for another year so that she could continue her research in Haiti. While she was in Haiti, she wrote in just seven weeks the manuscript for a novel entitled Their Eyes Were Watching God. It told the story of Janie, an African-American woman in her forties (Hurston's actual age) and her discovery of love and identity. The novel was semi-autobiographical—like her protagonist, Hurston was at the time involved with a younger man (Albert Price). The novel was published 18 September 1937, just after Hurston returned to the United States. While many readers were drawn to the story of Janie's desire and self-awakening, black critics slammed the book as offensive to their community. Her use of the vernacular, they argued, pandered to a white public's expectations of how black people talked. Native Son author Richard Wright, who had also been a fixture in Harlem's literary scene, wrote a scathing review claiming that the book was "not addressed to the Negro, but to a white audience whose chauvinistic tastes she knows how to satisfy."10 Hurston was deeply wounded by the attacks, but refused to renounce her work. "I do not attempt to solve any problems [in my novels]," she wrote in a letter to the novelist Fannie Hurst. "I know I cannot straighten out with a few pen-strokes what God and men took centuries to mess up. So I tried to deal with life as we actually live it—not as the sociologists imagine it."11 As an anthropologist herself, Hurston understood the sharp differences between an outsider's expectation of a culture and the culture as it is actually lived. She refused to allow her own experience as an African-American to be pigeon-holed. Her views on race would cost her, keeping her out of the pantheon of great black writers during her lifetime. Despite the painful reaction to Their Eyes Were Watching God and the collapse of her doomed, months-long marriage to Albert Price in 1939, the next few years of Hurston's life proved to be professionally rewarding. She published Tell My Horse, another well-received volume of black folklore collected on her research trips. In 1939 she went to work for the Federal Writers' Project in Florida, collecting important cultural notes about the black communities in Eatonville and other places. She published her novel Moses, Man of the Mountain, as well as an acclaimed memoir of growing up in Eatonville called Dust Tracks on a Road. In 1947 she moved to Honduras to research the black experience there, and wrote and published a novel entitled Seraph on the Swanee.
In many ways, this Fellow-year has been a treasure hunt. The guiding question has been “Where are the richest opportunities for authentic, engaged, student-centered learning?” By extension, which approaches provide fertile ground for real-world learning and develop learners’ creativity, critical-thinking, and collaborative skills? Interestingly, one of the most exciting approaches I’ve come across has a humble origin: the process associated with design. “Design Thinking” is a process, a framework, a series of steps that designers go through in order to solve problems, to improve existing ideas, or to realize previously unseen potential. In short, it’s a deliberate process that can be used to increase curiosity, creativity, and critical-thinking. It’s also an approach that can be applied at multiple levels. Design Thinking can help a student tighten up the variables on a science lab; it can help a student bring a piece of writing to the level required for publication; it can help a class propose plans for the future of Burlington’s defunct Moran Plant. It can also be used to refine or improve school systems, from small-scale (e.g., a teacher’s tardy policy) to the large-scale (e.g., a school’s approach to parent-engagement). Once a problem is reframed as a design problem, a world of opportunities open up. Interest in the potential of Design Thinking has been growing in different corners of the Partnership for Change. In the Teaching and Learning Environments Implementation Team, many are interested in its ability to help us shift towards integrated and applied learning. The Community-Based Learning I-Team has been interested in Design Thinking’s emphasis on partnership. After all, how much more powerful for a group working on redesigning a school campus’ land-use to partner with landscape architects, conservation biologists, and facilities managers? Once students are working as designers, community partnerships immediately become real, necessary, and impactful. These I-Teams are co-sponsoring a trip to a one-day Design-Thinking workshop on 2/19. There, a group of thirteen (made up of teachers, I-Team chairs, students, and community partners) will be immersed in this approach, and return to Burlington and Winooski with energy, ideas, and a healthy list of questions about where and how these ideas can be infused into our school redesign-work. What follows is an embarrassment of riches: links from across the web, that help introduce Design-Thinking. Get curious–click around!–and then join the conversation about Design Thinking’s potential to shift the nature of teaching and learning in the 21st Century. - A VPR commentary by Rich Nadworny (Partnership for Change Steering Committee member) - For a video which offers a brief intro to Design-Thinking, click HERE… - …and Part II - For a video of Design-Thinking from a teacher’s perspective, click HERE. - A TED Talk by Tim Brown on Creativity and Play - A 60-Minutes interview with IDEO’s current CEO, Tim Brown - A TED Talk about how Design-Thinking is transforming rural schools - The Henry Ford Learning Institute — Resource Page - The D-School at Stanford - Playing with design at the D-School’s K-12 Lab School - Nueva school, Stanford’s school-partner - An intro to Design for America, founded by (BHS grad!) Liz Gerber - The organization that is facilitating on February 19th: Design Thinking for Educators - And, finally, here’s a document that I wrote up for the Teaching and Learning Environments and Community-Based Learning Implementation-Teams… A rationale, of sorts, for Design Thinking’s potential application in schools.
The Earth Shall Weep - A History of Native America The Earth Shall Weep is a groundbreaking, critically acclaimed history of the Native American peoples. Combining traditional historical sources with new insights from ethnography, archaeology, Indian oral tradition, and years of his original research, James Wilson weaves a historical narrative that puts Native Americans at the center of their struggle for survival against the tide of invading European peoples and cultures. The Earth Shall Weep charts the collision course between Euro-Americans and the indigenous people of the continent, from the early interactions at English settlements on the Atlantic coast, through successive centuries of encroachment and outright warfare, to the new political force of the Native American activists of today. It is a clash that would ultimately result in the reduction of the Native American population from an estimated seven to ten million to 250,000 over a span of four hundred years, and change the face of the continent forever. A tour de force of narrative history, The Earth Shall Weep is a powerful, moving telling of the story of Native Americans that has become the new standard for future work in the field.
Depending on the language and the alphabet used, a phoneme may be written consistently with one letter; however, there are many exceptions to this rule — see Writing systems below. Two words that are differentiated by one phoneme, such as "cat" and "rat", are known as a minimal pair. The exact number of phonemes in English depends on the speaker and the method of determining phoneme vs. allophone, but estimates typically range from 40 to 45, which is above average across all languages. Pirahã has only 10, while !Xóõ has 141. When representing phonemes in linguistic writing, it is common to use 'slash' markers as quotes around the symbol that stands for the sound. For example, the phoneme for the initial consonant sound in the word "phoneme" would be written as /f/. In other words, the graphemes are , but this digraph represents one sound /f/. Allophones, real speech variants of a phoneme, are often denoted in linguistics by the use of diacritical or other marks added to the phoneme symbols and then placed in square brackets [ ] to differentiate them from the phoneme in slant brackets / /. The conventions of orthography are then kept separate from both phonemes and allophones by the use of the markers < > to enclose the spelling. The symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and extended sets adapted to a particular language are often used by linguists to write phonemes, with the principle being one symbol equals one categorical sound. Due to problems displaying some symbols in the early days of the Internet, a hack called SAMPA was developed to represent IPA symbols in plain text. Now, in 2004, any modern browser can display IPA, and we use this system in this article. Examples of phonemes in the English language would include sounds from the set of English consonants, like /p/ and /b/. These two are most often written consistently with one letter for each sound. However, phonemes might not be so apparent in written English, such as when they are typically represented with combined letters, called digraphs, like (pronounced /ʃ/) or (pronounced /tʃ/). Phonology, or more specifically, phonemics, is the study of the system of phonemes of a language, although some conceptualize phonology as encompassing far more than sound segments. Thus phonology can be used as a more general term subsuming phonemics. What may be an allophone (a sound variant belonging to the same phoneme category) in one language may be a phoneme itself in another language. In English, for example, [p] has aspirated and non-aspirated allophones, e.g. aspirated in /pIn/, but non-aspirated in /spIn/. However, in some languages (e.g., Ancient Greek), aspirated /ph/ was a phoneme distinct from both unaspirated /p/ and /b/. As another example, there is no distinction between /r/ and /l/ in Japanese, there is only one /r/ phoneme in Japanese, although the Japanese /r/ has allophones that make it sound more like an /l/ or /d/ to English speakers. The sounds /z/ and /s/ are distinct phonemes in English, but allophones in Spanish. /dʒ/ (as in <Jill>) and /ʒ/ (as in sure>, ge>) are phonemes in English, but allophones in Italian. A sound that is a single phoneme in one language may be a phoneme cluster in another. For instance, /buts/ means leg-covering footwear in English and consists of four phonemes /b u t s/; but in Hebrew it means a kind of cloth and consists of only three phonemes /b u ts/. The phoneme is a structuralist abstraction that was later adapted to and formally psychologized in generative linguistics (after Chomsky and Halle). Rather than a basic mental unit of language, however, it may well be a perceptual artifact of alphabetic literacy (see the terms Phonemic awareness and Phonological awareness). If not that, it may be an epiphenomenal aspect to listening removed from face-to-face encounters, that is, text-like listening. Cf. Phone and Feature. Table of contents Phonological extremesOf all the sounds that a human vocal tract can create, different languages vary considerably in the number of these sounds that are considered to be distinctive phonemes in the speech of that language. Some dialects of Abkhaz have only 2 phonemic vowels, and many Native American languages have 3, while Punjabi has over 25. Rotokas (spoken in Papua New Guinea) has only 6 consonants, while !Xu~ (spoken in southern Africa, in the vicinity of the Kalahari desert) has over 100. The total number of phonemes in languages varies from as few as 11 in Rotokas and 13 in Hawaiian to as many as 141 in !Xu~. These may range from familiar sounds like [t], [s] or [m] to very unusual ones produced in extraordinary ways (see: Click consonant, phonation, airstream mechanism). The English language itself uses a rather large set of 13 vowels, though its 27 consonants are pretty close to average. This differs from the lay definition based on the Latin alphabet, where there are 21 consonants and five vowels (although sometimes y and w are included as vowels). The most common vowel system consists of five vowels: /i/, /e/, /a/, /o/, /u/. The most common consonants are /p/, /t/, /k/. Not all languages have these; the Hawai'ian language lacks /t/, and the Mohawk language lacks /p/, but all known languages have at least two of the three. If one of the three is missing, the language will have /?/ (glottal stop). Possibly the rarest sound is the one represented by the "ř" letter (called "r háček") (found in the name Dvořák) in the Czech language; it appears to be unique to the language. Only the Dyirbal language of Australia and some dialects of Norwegian use six (primary or contrastive) places of articulation; all other languages use fewer. The possible places of articulation include bilabial, labiodental, dental, alveolar, alveopalatal, palatal, retroflex, velar, uvular, pharyngeal, and glottal. Languages where a given symbol represents only one phoneme and every phoneme is represented only by one symbol are known by the layman as "phonetic languages", which might be better described as "phonemically-written". However, the split between phonemically-written and non phonemically-written languages is usually exaggerated. All languages are in fact written with conventional signs that represent meaning and are inspired to some degree by pronunciation. This is true at both ends of the scale: Chinese characters are first and foremost symbols of meaning, but they do also have some minimal phonetic information. At the other extreme, languages such as Serbian have systems that represent the educated spoken language perfectly, but the same system is valid for all accents within the language, and is therefore conventional. All other languages fall somewhere between these extremes. English is often given as an example of an "unphonetic" language; however, in reality its system is nowhere near as close to being a purely conventional system as Chinese writing is. English spelling conveys vast amounts of phonetic information and follows relatively consistent, if complex rules. Spanish is often given as an example of a "phonetic" language; however, it has numerous imperfections including silent letters. It is, at least, possible to know the correct pronunciation of any written Spanish word.
Peter Holmgren is Director General, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) The goal of producing enough food for a growing population has long been at the top of the global political agenda. But in pursuit of this aim, agriculture has expanded into forestland, creating an array of environmental problems: more than 50 percent of the Earth’s forests have disappeared, and an area of forest about the size of the state of Louisiana has been lost every yearin the past decade. At the same time, half of the food produced in the world is wasted. Food, Forests, and Landscapes: Solutions for Sustainable Development June 24, 12:15pm EDT We now face a dilemma: how can nutritious and affordable food be supplied to the 9 billion people who are due to occupy the Earth in 2050 without accelerating deforestation and climate change, destroying biodiversity, hurting rural livelihoods and disrupting water supplies? How can agriculture and forestry contribute positively to social, economic and environmental progress? This is a difficult equation to solve, but there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic. In recent decades, 90 percent of increases in food production have been realized on existing agricultural land. Scaling up investments in sustainable land use can improve productivity even further. Global deforestation is slowing somewhat and forests are expanding in regions whose economies are not highly dependent on agriculture. So far, we are managing to coax from the land not only enough food for everyone, but also wood and non-wood products. And with growing appreciation of the importance of forests for ecosystem services, income and nutrition, we can expect natural resources management to make a broader contribution to sustainable development. But first we need to accurately understand the food security challenge. We will not succeed if we persist in defining it as merely a need to produce more calories. The 870 million people who do not have enough food are hungry mainly because they are poor—not because of a lack of food on the market. Simply producing more corn or wheat will ultimately be of little help to these people. The focus on producing more calories has done little to tackle the “hidden hunger,” in which2 billion people worldwide are micronutrient deficient. In Indonesia, a G20 country, more than a third of all children are physically stunted, largely because of a lack of important nutrients in their diets: protein, vitamins and minerals like iron. Agricultural subsidies in countries such as the United States undermine local farming in developing and emerging economies. Furthermore, cheaper staple food is consumed at the expense of a more varied diet, including foods from forests. If we target better nutrition, not just more food, the importance of forests comes into focus. Forests have supplied food for humans for millennia. Forest foods—from fruits, vegetables and herbs to insects and bushmeat—are still vital sources of nutrition for hundreds of millions of people, many of whom are among the world’s poorest. Six million tons of bushmeat is consumed in the Congo Basin each year—nearly the same as the amount of beef exported from Brazil. In rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, children’s diets become more diverse—and diversity is a widely accepted proxy for good nutrition—with an increase in tree cover. Forests support food security indirectly also, by maintaining water supplies, providing wood-based energy and providing habitat for wild pollinators and the predators of agricultural pests. Forests and trees bolster the resilience of food-production systems to climate change and economic, social and political instability: studies have shown that rural people in forested areas often turn to the forest for sustenance when the growing season—or the local political situation—takes a turn for the worse. Research conducted by my organization and others has found that 1.4 billion people earn on average 20 percent of their income from forests—a critical safety net, especially when crops fail. Clearly, a new direction is needed for policy affecting both forests and food security. Researchers, policy-makers and everyone in between must think of forests and agriculture as inextricably linked—parts of a greater “landscape” that comprises not just the dynamic relationship between forests and farms, but also the socioeconomic, gender, cultural and political drivers that characterize it. Forests are direct economic and nutritional cornucopias for a quarter of humanity, and they prop up global food supplies for the rest of us. A landscape approach removes the sectoral boundaries that confine our analysis and limit our solutions. A landscape approach may come naturally to rural communities where sectoral boundaries are less prominent and livelihoods often benefit from a variety of activities, and where the synergies between, say, trees and farming may be evident. A bigger challenge will be to convince traditional institutions in agriculture, conservation and forestry that they should seek more effective, combined solutions that meet multiple objectives. It does not help that intergovernmental processes, such as the Convention on Climate Change, work within established sectoral boundaries. The main hurdle may be the institutional fences dividing forests and fields. The nourishment of 9 billion people, and the sustainable management of the resources on which they depend, will require all of us—scientists, governments, farmers, development experts—to think and act differently.
Before "Nostra Aetate" - the 1965 proclamation by the Roman Catholic Church that among other things denounced hatred of the Jewish people and rejected discrimination - relations between Jews and Catholics were progressing but there were always stumbling blocks, such as the belief that Jews killed Jesus after rejecting him as the messiah. Today, 40 years after the release of that historic document, members of both faith communities report that relations between them are strong, but that work still needs to be done to encourage mutual understanding. "The results that we're seeing now represent a sea change in Catholic-Jewish relations," said Murray Gass, a founder of the Catholic-Jewish Commission of Southern New Jersey. The group's 40th anniversary commemoration of "Nostra Aetate," attended by 70 people at the Cherry Hill Public Library on Dec. 4, featured an interfaith panel of theologians discussing the impact of the declaration. Giving a historical perspective, Rabbi Eugene Korn stressed that after the horrors of the Holocaust were revealed, Europeans were eager to move toward understanding. "World War II had devastating consequences for European culture. It destroyed assumptions of enlightenment," said Korn, national director of Jewish affairs at the American Jewish Congress and adjunct professor of Jewish thought at Seton Hall University, a Catholic institution located in South Orange, N.J. "We had to start all over with what kind of culture we were going to build." Sister Mary Boys, a professor of practical theology at Union Theological Seminary, told the group that since the document's adoption, Christian leaders have been actively trying to expand their knowledge of the Jewish religion. "For the first time in history, many in the Christian churches are beginning to learn about Judaism from Jews," said Boys. "They are beginning to develop something closer to a true understanding of Judaism." One of the most revolutionary proclamations in "Nostra Aetate" was the church's rejection of the claim that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus. "That's a major shift in what was taught before that," said Boys, who told the audience that Christian textbooks had to be "thoroughly rewritten." She believes that although the church rejected its previous claim of Jewish culpability, it's still up to individual teachers to educate accordingly. "Unless you really shape how educators think," said Boys, "it's a lot of window dressing." Korn said that to incorporate the ideals in "Nostra Aetate" into everyday practice, there needs to be more than just education. "The way it can be most successful is when human beings interact," said the rabbi. "Jews meeting Catholics and Catholics meeting Jews face to face, sharing with each other. That does more to destroy the old stereotypes than all the books in the world." The South Jersey group also gave its first ever "Nostra Aetate" awards to two members of the community - one Jewish and one Catholic - for their leadership in interfaith understanding and cooperation. Gass, the Jewish recipient, was honored for his work as chair of the interfaith committee for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey. Gloria Mazziotti, the Catholic recipient, won her award for her service as treasurer of the Richard C. Goodwin Holocaust Museum and Education Center of the Delaware Valley. Upon accepting her award, Mazziotti told the group of her affection for Jews. "It is a much better place and a much better world as long as Jewish people are in it," said Mazziotti. Korn stressed that acceptance is not a process that happens overnight; it needs to develop over time. "You have to realize that for 1,900 years, the Roman Catholic Church was the worst enemy to the Jews," said Korn. "You can't just wash that away. One document won't do it. It has to evolve over time. This is just the beginning of both a historical and theological evolution."
Area:10.33 sq. miles Altitude:152 m above sea level Languages:Telugu, English Annual Mean Rainfall: 710 mm Temperature in Summer :40C Temperature in Best Time to Visit : Throughout the year STD code: 08574 History of TirupatiVenkateswara Temple, Tirumala The glorious history of this temple spans for several centuries. There is literary evidence as well as a lot of engraved inscriptions that point out to the antiquity of this temple.Kings belonging to the Chola, the Pandya and the Pallava dynasty have been regular visitors to this temple. Sri Krishnadevaraya was an important contributor and endowed the temple with rich offerings. A permanent endowment fund was set up by the Maratha general Rajhoji Bhonsle so that regular worship in the temple could be carried out without any hindrance. With the coming of the Muslim rulers, the temple came under their supervision and at a further later period, the British were transferred the power. Eventually the East India Company decided that they would no longer take the responsibility of administering native religious institution. The Sri Seva Dossji of the Hatiramji Mutt at Tirumala was entrusted with the responsibility. They continued to hold power for over a century till 1933. Then in 1933 the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Committee took over. Finally in the year 1951, a Board of Trustees took over the administration of this grand temple. Introduction to Tirupati Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala The Tirupati Venkateswara Temple is one of the most important pilgrim sites for Hindus. It is visited by a large number of devotees every year. Located on the seventh peak of the Tirupati Hill, this ancient temple is a must see for all tourists. It is emblematic of wonderful architecture. One can also get an idea of the tremendous faith that people have in this deity when they visit the temple. Individuals willingly stand in long queues just to get a glimpse of the lord housed in the richest temple. A visit to the temple is like a spiritual sojourn that simply overwhelms the senses. Description of Tirupati Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala The outer Gopuram of the temple is inscribed with figures of Vaishnava gods. You will surely be impressed by the architectural brilliance of these craftsmen. There are several Mandapams in the temple. The Ranga Mandapam reflects the Vijaynagara style of architecture and was constructed between 1320 and 1360 A.D. It is believed that when Srirangam was occupied by the Muslim rulers, the idol of Lord Ranganadha was kept here. The Tiruamla Raya Mandapam is a spacious complex of pavilions. The Dhvajasthamba Mandapam is a complex with a large number of pillars. You will simply be fascinated to see the remarkable sculptures that are there in this Mandapam. The central pillar of this Mandapam is surrounded by several small pillars. Strike one of these pillars with a small stone and you will surely be amazed to find that they emit musicalsounds. Bronze statues also adorn this Mandapam. The Aina Mahal is rightly named because there are a large number of ainas or mirrors which reflects images on its walls. It consists of two parts. There is an open Mandapam with a total of 36 pillars and a shrine consisting an Antarala and Garbagriha. The portals of the temples are adorned with statues of Krishnadevaraya and his consorts which were installed by Krishnadevaraya himself. The Maratha general Rajhoji Bhonsle gifted valuable jewels and that included emeralds which have been retained to this day. Darshan at Swamy Temple As more than fifty thousand pilgrims visit the Sri Venkateswara Temple every day, TTD has organised efficient systems to ensure the smooth movement of pilgrims. Vaikuntam Queue Complex The entrance for darshan is through the Vaikuntam Queue Complex. The complex is a series of inter-connected halls that leads to the main temple. An efficient queue system ensures that pilgrims move in an orderly fashion through the Queue Complex, towards the main temple. The halls in the Queue Complex are clean, spacious and airy.TTD provides a wide range of facilities in the Queue Complex: * Canteens selling food packets at subsidized rates. * The Andhra PradeshDairy Development Corporation selling fresh milk. * Medical Aid. * Sale of photographs, calendars and other TTD publications. * Closed Circuit Television, through which devotional programmes and music are relayed. * Cloak rooms near the Vaikuntam Queue Complex entrance. * Places where footwear can be deposited, free of cost (at the entrance).SarvaDarsanam Sarvadarsanam means 'darshan for all'. The timings for Sarvadarsanam are different on different days of the week. Please refer the weekly temple programme for the timings. On normal days, about 18 hours are allotted for Sarvadarsanam and on peak days, it is open for 20 hours. Around 50,000 pilgrims visit the main temple every day.Special Darshan The entrance for Special Darshan is through the PPC (Queue Complex). The queue merges with the Sarvadarsanam queue at Bangaruvakili. Pilgrims who use this queue will have a shorter waiting time. There are two categories of special darshan, with tickets costing Rs. 40.00 and Rs. 50.00 per head. The darshan timings are the same as that for Sarvadarsanam.Sudharsanam Token System --The tokens are available free of cost at the First Choultry (opposite to the Tirupati Railway Station), Second Choultry (behind the Railway Station), Alipiri Bus Stand, Tirupati, Vaikuntam Queue Complex, Pilgrim Amenities Centre (Near CRO) and near the Rambagicha Guest House in Tirumala. --The time of darshan is indicated on the tokens. --Pilgrims can enter the Vaikuntam Queue Complex at Tirumala at the time indicated on the tokens. --They can have darshan within two hours of entering the Queue Complex. --As this system saves on waiting time, it provides pilgrims with enough time to visit temples in the vicinity like Sri Govindarajaswami Temple and Kapila Teertham at Tirupati, Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple at Tiruchanur and Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami Temple at Srinivasa Mangapuram.Special Darshan for the Physically Disabled and the Aged This special darshan is arranged for the physically disabled and the aged through a separate gate at the Maha Dwaram,the main temple entrance. If necessary, such pilgrims can be accompanied by an attendant.Facilities to Pilgrims Many pilgrims walk up the hills as a part of their vow to the Lord.The T.T.D. have provided the following facilities to them. * Transportation of luggage free of charge to Tirumala.The pilgrims can deposit their luggage at any of the choultries in Tirupati, or at the toll gate at Alipiri, against a token and take delivery of the luggage at the central reception office counter at Tirumala * Provision for cooking at Galigopuram, Chittiyekkudu, Mamanduru Mitta, Narasimhaswami temple, Mokallamitta and other places. * Availability of drinking water all along the foot-path. * Facility of canteen run under hygienic conditions by the voluntary organisation "ISKCON" at Mamanduru Mitta (Seventh mile). Availability of toilets. * Provision of sunshade at important points for taking rest. * Arrangements for patrol by Security guards, Gurkhas and Police all along the road through out day and night to prevent unwary pilgrims from being cheated or robbed by unscrupulous elements. * Relay of religious programmes through local broadcasting system. Other Facilities At tirupati * Canteen Complex: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Canteen Complex with most modern amenities provides wholesome food at moderate prices. * Free Meals: The wholesome free food (full meals) in the T.T.D Canteen Complex will be provided to the devotees from 10 a.m to 11 p.m continuously on production of free meals coupons distributed inside the Temple after worshipping the Lord. * Free Medical Aid: Pilgrims are given free medical aid at Aswini Hospital near Seshadri Nagar. * Post & Telegraphs: There is a Post & Telegraphs office near the Central Reception Office with all the facilities including Telegraph. * Free Bus: Facilities are available for pilgrims at Tirumala.Four buses are operated on prescribed routes for the benefit of pilgrims covering cottages, choultries, temples & other places. * Sale of Gold & Silver Dollars: Gold & Silver Dollars with the images of Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavati are available for sale at the counter inside the Temple near Vimana Venkateswara Swamy and T.T.D Administration Buildings,Tirupati. * Kalyanakatta: There is a Kalyanakatta for fulfilling the vow of tonsure to the Lord.Tonsure facilities are also available at cottages.Please do not pay any amount to barbers. The tariff at Kalyanakatta Rs 2.00; at Cottages Rs 10.00. * Railway Booking Office: This booking office located at the Central Reception Office, will issue tickets including reservation tickets for bus-cum-train journey. * Automobile Clinic: A mobile van with mechanics and spares is available to attend to the repairs of the vehicles stranded on the Ghat roads.The Toll Gates either at Tirupati or at Tirumala may be contacted.Temples at Tirupati In Tirupati there are number of Temples They are:tirupati-tirumla-lord-balaji * Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple,Tiruchanoor. * Sri Govindarajaswami Temple,Tirupati. * Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple,Tirupati. * Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple, Tirupati. * Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami Temple, Srinivasa Mangapuram. Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami Temple, Narayanavanam. Sri Vedanarayanaswami Temple, Nagalapuram Other Places to visit at Tirupati In Tirupati there are number of Places They are: * Chandragiri Fort. * Horsley Hills. * Grand World water park. How To Reach Tirupati Tirupati is well connected with all three major cities Hyderabad (555 km), Chennai (140 km) and Benguluru (280 km) in South India by road, rail and air. By Road:To reach Tirumala temple, one should first reach Tirupati. It is linked with important cities like Hyderabad (617 km), Benguluru (248 km), Chennai (151 km), Vijayawada (380 km) and Lepakshi (379 km) through good roadways At Tirupati there are four bus-stations located in different corners of the city. * Sri Venkateswara Bus Station (SVBS): Pilgrims arriving by train can use SVBS, which is located just opposite to the Tirupati Railway Station. Whenever trains arrive, buses are stationed right in front of the main gate of the railway station, for the convenience of pilgrims. * Balaji Link Bus Station (BLBS): For the convenience of pilgrims arriving from Benguluru, BLBS is situated at Alipiri, at the foot of the hills. Here, there is ample space for parking tourist buses and vans. * Sapthagiri Link Bus Station (SLBS): SLBS serves pilgrims who arrive from Chennai, Hyderabad and Vijayawada sectors. SLBS is located in the Central Bus Station Complex. * Sri Padmavathi Bus Station (SPBS): SPBS is located at the rear of the Tirupati Railway Station, and caters mainly to the needs of pilgrims arriving in tourist buses. By Rail : Tirumala temple is well connected by rail and proper transport services to the nearest railway station situated at Tirupati. This place is connected by rail with Hubbi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolhapur , Mumbai, Puri, Tiruchirapalli, Varanasi and Vijayawada. By Air : The nearest airport is at Renigunta (15 km). Tirupati is connected by air with Hyderabad, Chennai and Benguluru. From the airport you can hire a taxi or an auto rickshaw or you can take a bus to reach the temple.
Digital cameras are very much like all earlier cameras. Beginning with the very first camera all have been basically black boxes with a lens to gather the light, a wheel you turned to focus the image, an aperture that determines how bright the light is, and a shutter that determines how long the light enters. Both the earliest cameras and the most state-of-the-art models available today are really just black boxes. The big difference between traditional film cameras and digital cameras is how they capture the image. Instead of film, digital cameras use a solid-state device called an image sensor. In some digital cameras the image sensor is a charge-coupled device (CCD), while in others it's a CMOS sensor. Both types can give very good results. On the surface of these fingernail-sized silicon chips are millions of photosensitive diodes, each of which captures a single pixel in the photograph to be. An image sensor sits against a background enlargement of its square pixels, each capable of capturing one pixel in the final image. Courtesy of IBM. When you take a picture the shutter opens briefly and each pixel on the image sensor records the brightness of the light that falls on it by accumulating an electrical charge. The more light that hits a pixel, the higher the charge it records. Pixels capturing light from highlights in the scene will have high charges. Those capturing light from shadows will have low charges. After the shutter closes to end the exposure, the charge from each pixel is measured and converted into a digital number. This series of numbers is then used to reconstruct the image by setting the color and brightness of matching pixels on the screen or printed page. It's All Black and White After All It may be surprising, but pixels on an image sensor only capture brightness, not color. They record the gray scale—a series of tones ranging from pure white to pure black. How the camera creates a color image from the brightness recorded by each pixel is an interesting story with its roots in the distant past. The gray scale, seen best in black and white photos, contains a range of tones from pure black to pure white. When photography was first invented in the 1840s, it could only record black and white images. The search for color was a long and arduous process, and a lot of hand coloring went on in the interim (causing one photographer to comment "so you have to know how to paint after all!"). One major breakthrough was James Clerk Maxwell's 1860 discovery that color photographs could be created using black and white film and red, blue, and green filters. He had the photographer Thomas Sutton photograph a tartan ribbon three times, each time with a different color filter over the lens. The three black and white images were then projected onto a screen with three different projectors, each equipped with the same color filter used to take the image being projected. When brought into alignment, the three images formed a full-color photograph. Over a century later, image sensors work much the same way. Colors in a photographic image are usually based on the three primary colors red, green, and blue (RGB). This is called the additive color system because when the three colors are combined in equal amounts, they form white. This RGB system is used whenever light is projected to form colors as it is on the display monitor (or in your eye). Another color system uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) to create colors. This system is used in a few sensors and almost all printers since it's the color system used with reflected light. Since daylight is made up of red, green, and blue light; placing red, green, and blue filters over individual pixels on the image sensor can create color images just as they did for Maxwell in 1860. Using a process called interpolation, the camera computes the actual color of each pixel by combining the color it captured directly through its own filter with the other two colors captured by the pixels around it. How well it does this is affected in part by the image format, size, and compression you select. Because each pixel on the sensor has a color filter that only lets in one color, a captured image records the brightness of the red, green, and blue pixels separately. (There are usually twice as many photosites with green filters because the human eye is more sensitive to that color). Illustration courtesy of Foveon at www.foveon.com To create a full color image, the camera's image processor calculates, or interpolates, the actual color of each pixel by looking at the brightness of the colors recorded by it and others around it. Here the full-color of some green pixels are about to be interpolated from the colors of the eight pixels surrounding them. There's a Computer in Your Camera Each time you take a picture millions of calculations have to be made in just a few seconds. It's these calculations that make it possible for the camera to interpolate, preview, capture, compress, filter, store, transfer, and display the image. All of these calculations are performed in the camera by an image processor that's similar to the one in your desktop computer, but dedicated to this single task. How well your processor performs its functions is critical to the quality of your images but it's hard to evaluate advertising claims about these devices. To most of us these processors are mysterious black boxes about which advertisers can say anything they want. The proof is in the pictures. Cameras with the latest programmable digital media processors can perform functions that camera companies program them for. Currently these functions include in-camera photo editing and special effects such as red-eye removal,image enhancement, picture borders, stitching together panoramas, removing blur caused by camera shake, and much more. Where We Seem to be Headed As camera resolutions have improved, most people are satisfied with the quality and sharpness of their prints. For this reason, the marketing battle, especially in the point-and-shoot or pocket camera categories is now all about features. Since digital cameras are basically computers, companies can program them to do all sorts of things that older, mechanical cameras could never do. They can identify faces in a scene to focus on, detect and eliminate red-eye, and let you adjust colors and tones in your images. There is a tipping point somewhere in this endless checklist of possible features where complexity begins to increase rather than decrease and the usefulness of features begins to decline. We are probably already at that tipping point and perhaps beyond it. When you read about features ask yourself how often you would really use them and how much control you want to turn over to your camera. When considering features, keep in mind that most of the great images in the history of photography were taken using cameras that only let you control focus, the aperture, and the shutter speed.
The Jewish Vote, 2012 The Jewish vote, once pivotal in American politics, is still important, though not as much as it was seven decades ago. Back in the 1940s, Jews cast four percent of the votes in America, twice the percentage they do today. And they cast a much larger share in the state of New York, which in the politics of the first half of the 20th century was a closely fought state in any close presidential election. New York was then also the country’s largest state by far, with 47 electoral votes, and cast 13 percent of the nation’s popular votes (in the 1944 election a full seven percent of the popular votes, one out of every 14, were cast in the five boroughs of New York City). Jewish voters in New York had little affection for the state’s Republican Party, predominantly upstate-based and Protestant, or for the heavily Catholic machine Democrats of New York City; and Jews stood to the left of both parties on economic and cultural issues. One of their favorite politicians was Fiorello LaGuardia, Jewish on his mother’s side, who was elected to Congress from East Harlem in the 1920s as the nominee of the Republican and Socialist parties and elected mayor in 1933, 1937, and 1941 over the opposition of the machine-run Democratic party, the first time as the Republican Party candidate and the last two times on the leftish American Labor Party tickets as well. Thus, the politics of Jewish voters in New York, and to a lesser extent in some of the other large states, provided an incentive for both parties to nominate liberal candidates—often one from New York—and advocate liberal policies. In every presidential election from 1924 to 1952 (when Dwight Eisenhower ran from his perch as president of Columbia University), at least one major party had a New Yorker at the head of its ticket. In 1940 and 1944, both did. Franklin Roosevelt, who ran both times, owned a townhouse on East 65th Street. Wendell Willkie, the Republicans’ candidate in 1940, had an apartment on the museum block of Fifth Avenue; Thomas E. Dewey, their candidate in 1944, lived on East 71st Street. In 1948 Dewey, Harry Truman, and third-party candidate Henry Wallace all stressed their support of civil rights. The target of these appeals was not so much black voters—there weren’t many black voters in those days—as it was the Jewish vote. Dewey carried New York’s 47 electoral votes 46 to 45 percent, with eight percent for Wallace, who won nearly half his votes nationally from New York State. Things have changed. Jewish voters became solidly Democratic after the 1960 election, New York became solidly Democratic as well, and after 1963 New York was no longer the most populous state: it is now about to be passed by Florida, to become number four in population. Jews now constitute two percent of the national electorate, not four percent as in the 1940s. One reason is their low birth rates; another is the enfranchisement in the 1960s of Southern black voters and—because of the abolition of poll taxes—many Southern white voters. Since then, according to exit polls, Jews have voted between 64 percent and 80 percent Democratic in every presidential election but one. That exception was in 1980, when Jews favored Jimmy Carter over Ronald Reagan by margin of just six percentage points, 45 to 39 percent, and Reagan, to just about everyone’s surprise, carried New York, 47 to 44 percent. In the last four elections Jews have voted 78 percent for Bill Clinton, 79 percent for Al Gore (and Joe Lieberman), 74 percent for John Kerry, and 78 percent for Barack Obama. Republican nominees in those elections won, respectively, only 16 percent, 19 percent, 25 percent, and 21 percent of Jewish votes. This year, polling suggests, Barack Obama will find it hard to duplicate his 2008 margin of 57 percentage points over John McCain. A September, 2011 survey conducted for the American Jewish Committee showed Obama with negative ratings on the economy and his “handling of U.S.-Israel relations” and put him ahead of Mitt Romney, then a candidate for the Republican nomination, by only 50 to 32 percent, or 18 percentage points. A March, 2012 survey, also for the American Jewish Committee, showed Obama leading Romney, who had then not quite cinched the Republican nomination, by 61 to 28 percent, a margin of 33 percentage points. A Jewish Voters Values Survey, sponsored by the Public Religion Research Institute and conducted at about the same time, showed that 62 percent of Jews wanted to see Obama reelected and 30 percent would prefer a Republican. Of those preferring a Republican, 62 percent favored Romney, with between 12 percent and 15 percent each for Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul. In the crucial Ohio Republican primary, Romney may have owed his 38 to 37 percent win over Rick Santorum to the Jewish Republican voters—despite their relatively small numbers—in that state. Corroborating evidence of Obama’s slippage among Jewish voters comes from the Pew Research Center’s compilation, based on multiple surveys, of party identification. Pew found that between 2008 and 2012, Democratic Party identification among Jews dropped from 72 to 66 percent and Republican Party identification increased from 20 to 28 percent. Jewish voters’ switch towards the Republicans was higher than among any other religious group. It leaves Republicans still outnumbered among Jews by more than two to one but cuts the Democratic margin by about one-third. In a recent national poll by Investor’s Business Daily and its polling partner TIPP (IBD/TIPP), the two percent of poll respondents who were Jewish favored Obama over Romney by a 59 percent to 35 percent margin. The sample size was probably too small to be meaningful, but the result is roughly consistent with the other findings cited. What all these results point to is something less than a two-to-one advantage for Obama over Romney among Jewish voters, similar to the split in the Jewish vote in 1972, 1976, 1984, and 1988. The drop-off in the Democratic percentage among Jews could be crucial, as the Republican Jewish Coalition points out, in target states like Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan—particularly Florida, where in 2008 Obama carried the heavily Jewish Broward and Palm Beach Counties by 390,145 votes, much more than his statewide margin of 236,148. In other words, without the size of his margin in those counties, Obama would likely have lost Florida’s electoral votes. There is always a tendency to ascribe changes in Jewish voting patterns to issues relating to Israel. Dissatisfaction with incumbents’ Israel policies undoubtedly accounts for the very weak Jewish support, compared to other Democrats, of Jimmy Carter (45 percent) and the record low support for George H. W. Bush in 1992 (11 percent). But responses to issue questions in the AJC surveys suggest that while some of the decline in Obama’s standing is prompted by Israel issues, some is due more to economic and other issues on which Obama has had problems with voters generally. It should be noted that these polls (except for IBD/TIPP) were conducted well before the Democratic National Convention, at which reference to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was first omitted from the platform, then awkwardly reinserted, and before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement on red lines and red lights. The bottom line: it looks like Jewish voters will favor Obama by a little less than two to one, and not, as in 2008, by a little less than four to one. Michael Barone is senior political analyst at the Washington Examiner and a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Comments are closed for this article.
Latest update: September 4th, 2012 This was not necessarily the case, however, for the German immigrants who came in the 1840s and 1850s. Many of them were strict in their observance, doing their best to live according to the Torah. It was only in the 1860s and later, when the Reform movement swept the country, that things changed drastically and ritual observance declined. The first Jewish immigrants were men [and women] of strong Jewish loyalties and generally adhered to traditional Jewish practices. They were quite innocent of reformist ideology. To them Judaism meant living in accordance with the traditional orthodox code. As soon as a handful of these pioneers settled in one place, they usually instituted congregational high holiday worship. Shortly thereafter they bought a piece of land for a burial ground. With little delay they then advertised for a man to come to serve them as reader [Chazan], ritual slaughterer (shochet), circumciser (mohel) and teacher. If their religious practice was technically faulty, as it often was, it was not due to indifference on their part, but to circumstances beyond their control. Evidence of their desire to do their religious duty [comes from] the records we have of their observance of the three basic practices-kosher diet, circumcision and Sabbath. A licensed shochet was to be found in many settlements with even relatively small Jewish populations. In places where the Jewish population was too small to support a licensed ritual slaughterer, the service was provided by qualified, unpaid individuals who had studied the laws of shechita. In fact, even in the seventeenth century it was not unusual to find baalei batim who were qualified ritual slaughterers. Illustrative is the example of Michael Hart, Indian trader and merchant who, in 1773, set up shop in Easton, Pa. He acted as his own shochet. George Washington once ate a kosher meal. It was when he stopped for lunch at the home of this Michael Hart. Congregation B’nai Sholom was founded in Chicago in May 1852 by eleven individuals, many of whom came from the Prussian province of Posen. In 1854 Edward Meirs agreed to serve as the congregation’s unpaid shochet for one year. There was a non-professional shochet in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1858, and in Pueblo, Colorado, in 1870. A letter he wrote gives an interesting description of Jewish life in Pueblo: Another advantage we are beginning to have is as it regards circumcision. We were formerly compelled to send young ones 120 miles to have that rite performed, and now I have already officiated several times with success. I have no doubt, that, ere long, it will be in my power to afford you the information, that, even in Pueblo, the Jews observe the dietary enactments, honor the Sabbath day, and conduct themselves in every way becoming the descendants of those who suffered persecution, even martyrdom, for the cause they deemed right. – N. People began to openly neglect the observance of the dietary laws both at home and in public. It got to the point where on December 26, 1879, the Anglo-Jewish newspaper The Jewish Messenger published a letter from Reverend H. P. Mendes in which he condemned the serving of non-kosher food at banquets conducted under the aegis of Jewish organizations. Dr. Yitzchok Levine served as a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey before retiring in 2008.He now teaches as an adjunct at Stevens.Glimpses Into American Jewish History appears the first week of each month. Dr.Levine can be contacted at email@example.com.Dr. Yitzchok Levine About the Author: Dr. Yitzchok Levine served as a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey before retiring in 2008. He now teaches as an adjunct at Stevens. Glimpses Into American Jewish History appears the first week of each month. Dr. Levine can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.org. If you don't see your comment after publishing it, refresh the page. Our comments section is intended for meaningful responses and debates in a civilized manner. We ask that you respect the fact that we are a religious Jewish website and avoid inappropriate language at all cost. If you promote any foreign religions, gods or messiahs, lies about Israel, anti-Semitism, or advocate violence (except against terrorists), your permission to comment may be revoked.
Headings are important in HTML documents. Headings are defined with the <h1> to <h6> tags. <h1> defines the most important heading. <h6> defines the least important heading. Headings Are Important Search engines use the headings to index the structure and content of your web pages. Users skim your pages by its headings. It is important to use headings to show the document structure. <h1> headings should be used for main headings, followed by <h2> headings, then the less important <h3>, and so on. HTML Horizontal Rules The <hr> tag defines a thematic break in an HTML page, and is most often displayed as a horizontal rule. The <hr> element is used to separate content (or define a change) in an HTML page: The HTML <head> Element The HTML <head> element has nothing to do with HTML headings. The <head> element is a container for metadata. HTML metadata is data about the HTML document. Metadata is not displayed. The <head> element is placed between the <html> tag and the <body> tag: HTML Tip - How to View HTML Source Have you ever seen a Web page and wondered "Hey! How did they do that?" To find out, right-click in the page and select "View Page Source" (in Chrome) or "View Source" (in IE), or similar in another browser. This will open a window containing the HTML code of the page. HTML Tag Reference W3Schools' tag reference contains additional information about these tags and their attributes. You will learn more about HTML tags and attributes in the next chapters of this tutorial. \|<html>\|\|Defines the root of an HTML document\| \|<body>\|\|Defines the document's body\| \|<head>\|\|A container for all the head elements (title, scripts, styles, meta information, and more)\| \|<h1> to <h6>\|\|Defines HTML headings\| \|<hr>\|\|Defines a thematic change in the content\|
The following is from DNR Secretary-designee Preston Cole: I wanted you to know that DNR is pleased to report that we continue to make progress on advancing the Governor’s “Year of Clean Drinking Water” initiatives and returning Wisconsin to being a leader in the field of environmental protection. This morning, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) provided DNR and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) with recommended standards for 27 groundwater contaminants (ch. NR 140 compounds). These recommendations are intended to protect human health and the environment, as part of Wisconsin’s landmark groundwater law, Chapter 160, Wisconsin Statutes. Included in this package are recommended standards for glysophate, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Continue reading “NR 140 Groundwater Quality Standards Update” Today, Governor Evers and Secretary Cole accompanied Senators David Hansen (Green Bay) and Mark Miller (Monona) to announce one of the most comprehensive bills in the nation to address contamination by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This bill (LRB-2297/2), if passed, will protect public health as well as the air, waters and lands of Wisconsin. What would the legislation do? - This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to establish and enforce various standards for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). - The PFAS group of substances includes several thousand chemicals (4,000+); two of the most well-known are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). - The bill requires DNR to establish, by rule, the following: - acceptable levels and standards, - monitoring requirements, and - required response actions for any PFAS. - Applies to all media: - in drinking water, groundwater, surface water, air, solid waste, beds of navigable waters, and soil and sediment, if the department determines that the substance may be harmful to human health or the environment. - These rules must cover, at a minimum, PFOA and PFOS, as well as perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA). - In recommending a groundwater enforcement standard for a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance, the department of health services may recommend individual standards for each substance, a standard for these substances as a class, or standards for groups of these substances. Continue reading “Comprehensive Per- and poly-fluoroaklyl (PFAS) Legislation Proposed” The DNR’s Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program will convene a PFAS Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to discuss PFAS-related concerns that are specific to the assessment and cleanup of environmental contamination. The goal of the group is to examine the “what, where, when and how” of PFAS investigation and remediation by sharing concerns, identifying current and proposed practices, and strategizing on issues requiring solutions. The group does not have an appointed membership; any interested party may attend. Continue reading “RR Program’s PFAS Technical Advisory Group Meetings Scheduled”
According to twenty-first century climate-model projections, greenhouse warming will intensify rainfall variability and extremes across the globe1,2,3,4. However, verifying this prediction using observations has remained a substantial challenge owing to large natural rainfall fluctuations at regional scales3,4. Here we show that deep learning successfully detects the emerging climate-change signals in daily precipitation fields during the observed record. We trained a convolutional neural network (CNN)5 with daily precipitation fields and annual global mean surface air temperature data obtained from an ensemble of present-day and future climate-model simulations6. After applying the algorithm to the observational record, we found that the daily precipitation data represented an excellent predictor for the observed planetary warming, as they showed a clear deviation from natural variability since the mid-2010s. Furthermore, we analysed the deep-learning model with an explainable framework and observed that the precipitation variability of the weather timescale (period less than 10 days) over the tropical eastern Pacific and mid-latitude storm-track regions was most sensitive to anthropogenic warming. Our results highlight that, although the long-term shifts in annual mean precipitation remain indiscernible from the natural background variability, the impact of global warming on daily hydrological fluctuations has already emerged. 함유근 교수 삼프로tv 출연 [2023.07.19] This lab (Ocean & Climate Science Lab) conducts studies - Climate projection & forecasts using a deep learning technique - Seasonal to decadal prediction by using a global coupled climate model - The development of the initialization system including the data assimilation and the optimal perturbation method for sub-seasonal - Sub-seasonal, interannual and decadal climate variability over the tropics (e.g., El Niño, AMOC) - Climate change/sensitivity after the global warming To understand the physical mechanisms of the climate variability and the improvement of the seasonal predictability is the main aim of the research.
Research and report on the acute and long-term physical and behavioral effects of a drug of your choice and discuss opinions on the legalization of drugs. 1. Choose a substance described in your readings for the first three weeks of the class. Answer the following 8 questions about the substance, using your sources: 1. What are the behavioral effects of the substance? (cite your source) 2. What are the physiological effects of the substance? (cite your source) 3. What are the acute health effects of using this substance? (cite your source) 4. What are the chronic health effects of using this substance? (cite your source) 5. Are any of these effects worse when combined with other drugs? Which ones? (cite your source) 6. What did you learn that surprised you the most? (no citation needed) In order to answer questions 7 & 8, WATCH THESE THREE SHORT VIDEOS to learn the difference between legalization and decriminalization of drugs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OP8JFKMTcQ Big Think The Harvard economist explains why legalizing all drugs—including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine—would be a better policy than the current prohibition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_0CN_42YWg Dr. Carl Hart on Legalization vs Decriminalization of Drugs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQJ7n-JpcCk How Portugal Successfully Tackled Its Drug Crisis Then read the following from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_liberalization. Drug legalization calls for a return to the pre-20th century situation in which almost all drugs were legal. This would require ending government-enforced prohibition on the distribution or sale and personal use of specified (or all) currently banned drugs. Proposed ideas range from full legalization which would completely remove all forms of government control, to various forms of regulated legalization, where drugs would be legally available, but under a system of government control which might mean for instance: · Mandated labels with dosage and medical warnings, · Restrictions on advertising, · Age limitations, · Restrictions on amount purchased at one time, · Requirements on the form in which certain drugs would be supplied, · Ban on sale to intoxicated persons, · Special user licenses to purchase particular drugs. · A possible clinical setting for the consumption of some intravenous drugs and/or supervised consumption. The regulated legalization system would probably have a range of restrictions for different drugs, depending on their perceived risk, so while some drugs would be sold over the counter in pharmacies or other licensed establishments, drugs with greater risks of harm might only be available for sale on licensed premises where use could be monitored and emergency medical care made available. Examples of drugs with different levels of regulated distribution in most countries include: caffeine (coffee, tea), nicotine (tobacco), and ethyl alcohol (beer, wine, and spirits). Full legalization is often proposed by groups such as libertarians who object to drug laws on moral grounds, while regulated legalization is suggested by groups such as Law Enforcement Against Prohibition who object to the drug laws on the grounds that they fail to achieve their stated aims and instead greatly worsen the problems associated with use of prohibited drugs, but who acknowledge that there are harms associated with currently prohibited drugs which need to be minimized. Not all proponents of drug re-legalization necessarily share a common ethical framework, and people may adopt this viewpoint for a variety of reasons. In particular, favoring drug legalization does not imply approval of drug use. Drug decriminalization calls for reduced control and penalties compared to existing laws. Proponents of drug decriminalization generally support the use of fines or other punishments to replace prison terms, and often propose systems whereby illegal drug users who are caught would be fined, but would not receive a permanent criminal record as a result. A central feature of drug decriminalization is the concept of harm reduction. Drug decriminalization is in some ways an intermediate between prohibition and legalization, and has been criticized as being “the worst of both worlds”, in that drug sales would still be illegal, thus perpetuating the problems associated with leaving production and distribution of drugs to the criminal underworld, while also failing to discourage illegal drug use by removing the criminal penalties that might otherwise cause some people to choose not to use drugs. However, there are many that argue that the decriminalization of possession of drugs would redirect focus of the law enforcement system of any country to put more effort into arresting dealers and big time criminals, instead of arresting minor criminals for mere possession, and thus be more effective. In 2001 Portugal began treating use and possession of small quantities of drugs as a public health issue. This means rather than incarcerating those in possession they are referred to a treatment program. The drugs are still illegal, the police just handles the situation differently. This also decreases the amount of money the government spends fighting a war on drugs and money spent keeping drug users incarcerated. “As noted by the EMCDDA, across Europe in the last decades, there has been a movement toward “an approach that distinguishes between the drug trafﬁcker, who is viewed as a criminal, and the drug user, who is seen more as a sick person who is in need of treatment” (EMCDDA 2008, 22).6 A number of Latin American countries have similarly moved to reduce the penalties associated with drug use and personal possession” (Laqueur, 2015, p. 748). Portugal is the first country that has decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drugs, to positive results. Anyone caught with any type of drug in Portugal, if it is for personal consumption, will not be imprisoned. 7. LEGALIZATION: Do you think that all drugs should be legalized in general? Why or why not? (See pages 340-341 in the textbook). (No citation needed) 8. DECRIMINALIZATION: Do you think that all drugs should be decriminalized like Portugal did? Why or why not? (no citation needed) Format: Use the following headings: (See sample post – a separate document) 1. Behavioral effects 2. Physiological effects 3. Acute health effects 4. Chronic health effects 5. Combining with other drugs 6. What surprised me 7. Legalization of all drugs 8. Decriminalization of all drugs · Because this is college, you need to use at least TWO academic sources: from government reports or scholarly/peer-reviewed journal articles. This will give you experience doing academic research. You can use the course textbook or other sources as additional sources, but they will not count as one of the two required sources. Read the handout (below) on scholarly sources. · Use the NU library to find your sources. If you don’t know how, contact the NU library for help. · Use your OWN WORDS (e.g., do not cut and paste from an article). · Do NOT use any quotations. Paraphrase (use your own words) to report the information. · Use in-text citations. Write the source of your information at the end of the applicable sentences using APA 6th edition format. This will give you practice using APA to cite references. · List all the references in APA 6th Edition format at the end of your post in a References list. NOTE: If you are new to APA, I recommend that you use an online citation builder such as APA Style Central http://apastylecentral.apa.org.nuls.idm.oclc.org/ or the NU library database to automatically format your references correctly. You can also get help from the Writing Center https://nu.mywconline.com/ and the NU library on how to use APA to cite references. READ THE DISCUSSION RUBRIC BEFORE YOU START. COMPARE WHAT YOU WRITE WITH THE RUBRIC. READ THE SAMPLE POST BEFORE YOU START. IMPORTANT: Do NOT submit your first draft. First, read what you wrote out loud. Check for: – Missing words or letters – Missing or misplaced periods, apostrophes, commas – Incomplete sentences – 2 or more sentences strung together that should be made into separate sentences – Putting something is past tense that should be in present tense or vice versa – Plural words that should be singular or singular words that should be plural – Making the verb and subject match (plural or tense) AFTER you make these corrections, then post your discussion. Then post 2 responses to other student posts, at least 5-6 full sentences long. You do not need to include any citations in your responses, but you can if you would like. Contact the Library – email@example.com or (858) 541-7900 1-866-NU ACCESS x 7900 (toll free) This class also has a special NU library page that was created by librarian Zemirah Lee to help you do research http://nu.libguides.com/coh318 It contains references related to our assignments. Zem is available by appointment for one-hour consultations to help you find sources, format in APA and more. · https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/06/ 1-page instruction on Reference List format · http://nu.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=8766101 2-page handout on APA · http://apastylecentral.apa.org.nuls.idm.oclc.org/learn/browse/QG-29 Short video on in text citations · http://nu.libguides.com/training/apa_basics 13 minute video overview on APA · www.apastyle.com website with many APA resource links http://apastylecentral.apa.org.nuls.idm.oclc.org/learn/browse/QG-57 Short video on how to format your Reference list http://apastylecentral.apa.org.nuls.idm.oclc.org/learn/browse/QG-24 Short video on how to order your Reference list correctly
Hypoglycemia in the Newborn. Summary of "Hypoglycemia in the Newborn." Hypoglycemia in a neonate is defined as blood sugar value below 40 mg/dL. It is commonly associated with a variety of neonatal conditions like prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction and maternal diabetes. Screening for hypoglycemia in high-risk situations is recommended. Supervised breast-feeding may be an initial treatment option in asymptomatic hypoglycemia. However, symptomatic hypoglycemia should always be treated with a continuous infusion of parenteral dextrose. Neonates needing dextrose infusion rates above 12 mg/kg/min should be investigated for a definite cause of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia has been linked to poor neuro-developmental outcome, and hence aggressive screening and treatment is recommended. Department of Pediatrics, Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi, India. This article was published in the following journal. Name: Indian journal of pediatrics - PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20821280 - DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12098-010-0175-1 Neonatal hypoglycemia is common and can cause serious brain injury. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) could improve hypoglycemia detection, while reducing blood glucose (BG) measurements. Calibratio... Pheochromocytoma, a tumor characterized by catecholamine excess, is usually associated with impaired glucose tolerance. Hypoglycemia may occur after the abrupt withdrawal of catecholamines in the post... Although mouse models of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) suggest that hypoglycemia may be part of this syndrome, review of the literature shows little evidence that it is an issue in humans with PWS. Both... Hypoglycemia is a major problem associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes and is often a major barrier to achieving optimal glycemic control. Chronic kidney disease... Diazoxide is an oral hyperglycemic medication. Diazoxide has been proven effective for treating hypoglycemia in infants and children with some types of persistent hyperinsulinemic hypogly... Early breast feeding has shown to be important to mother-infant bonding and is associated with longer duration of breast feeding. However, little data is available regarding its contributi... Hypothesis: Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) decreases function of the lining of the blood vessels in normal humans. This study is designed to explore how hypoglycemia affects the function ... Hypoglycemia occurs frequently in intensively treated patients with diabetes. Although hypoglycemia was thought to occur almost exclusively in T1DM, with the advent of improved metabolic ... It has been found that in some cases, when a person with Diabetes Mellitus has an episode of low blood sugar,or hypoglycemia, and then later exercises, he or she is vulnerable to another b... Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions A syndrome of abnormally low BLOOD GLUCOSE level. Clinical hypoglycemia has diverse etiologies. Severe hypoglycemia eventually lead to glucose deprivation of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM resulting in HUNGER; SWEATING; PARESTHESIA; impaired mental function; SEIZURES; COMA; and even DEATH. An autosomal recessive fructose metabolism disorder due to absent or deficient fructose-1,6-diphosphatase activity. Gluconeogenesis is impaired, resulting in accumulation of gluconeogenic precursors (e.g., amino acids, lactate, ketones) and manifested as hypoglycemia, ketosis, and lactic acidosis. Episodes in the newborn infant are often lethal. Later episodes are often brought on by fasting and febrile infections. As patients age through early childhood, tolerance to fasting improves and development becomes normal. The event that a FETUS is born alive with heartbeats or RESPIRATION regardless of GESTATIONAL AGE. Such liveborn is called a newborn infant (INFANT, NEWBORN). A form of nontransient HYPOGLYCEMIA, unique to infancy, due to autosomal recessive mutations of the sulfonylurea receptor gene on CHROMOSOME 11. Defects in the sulfonylurea receptors (ATP-BINDING CASSETTE TRANSPORTERS) on the PANCREATIC BETA CELLS prevent negative feedback of GLUCOSE-regulated INSULIN release thus resulting in HYPERINSULINEMIA. Clinical phenotype includes SEIZURES; COMA; and often large BIRTH WEIGHT for GESTATIONAL AGE. The identification of selected parameters in newborn infants by various tests, examinations, or other procedures. Screening may be performed by clinical or laboratory measures. A screening test is designed to sort out healthy neonates (INFANT, NEWBORN) from those not well, but the screening test is not intended as a diagnostic device, rather instead as epidemiologic.
Grant's Colony, Huntsville (Walker County) Grant's Colony was located five miles east of Huntsville in central Walker County. It was founded by a white man named George Washington Grant in 1866 after he was introduced to the Church of Christ by his wife, Mary J. Grant. The Church of Christ taught the importance of education and racial harmony, so George Washington Grant set out to establish a farming community based on these ideals. He purchased 11,000 acres after trading and running a mail coach, and he set aside 6,000 of these acres located along Harmon Creek to be the site of the community which he referred to as the Harmony Settlement. In 1871, Grant became the sheriff of Walker County. African Americans began to move to the area beginning in 1866 after the Civil War. Most of them were sharecroppers or tenant farmers as they leased the land from George Washington Grant, and they grew primarily cotton and corn on the land. Since education was central to his religious beliefs, Grant set aside two acres of his land to be the site of two churches and a school, and it was overseen by a board of trustees that consisted of twelve people. In 1869, Grant traveled to Mississippi where he recruited Edward and Hannah Williams, along with their teenage daughter Sarah, to move to Grant's Colony so they could teach at the school. The Williams family remained in Grant's Colony for eight years and during their tenure they established the Colony Grove schoolhouse. After the Williams family left in 1878, a man by the name of Edward Williams who was the first African American to earn a teaching certificate in Walker County arrived to continue their work. Due to the work of the Williams family and Edward Williams, literacy rates in the area drastically increased from 16% in 1870 to 66% by 1900. As Grant's Colony grew, it became an important place for African American political life and it eventually became the center for the Populist movement in Walker County during the 1880s. One significant member of the colony was Richard Williams, who served as a social leader in the community and as the first African American representative from Walker, Madison, and Grimes County in the Texas State Legislature. While in office, Williams sought to establish a school in the Harmony Settlement and opposed the Texas convict lease system. In the 1880s, the Union Labor Party organized a county convention that was to take place in Grant’s Colony, and the Walker County Farmer’s Alliance regularly met in Grant’s Colony. In 1889, George Washington Grant passed away, and his land was purchased by his main creditor Sallie Mae Gibbs. Sallie Mae Gibbs continued to lease the land to its tenants. During this time, Grant's Colony lost its political power. How the colony came to an end is not entirely known, but over time the churches, schoolhouses, and bridges in the colony were either destroyed or moved. In 1936, the National Forest Service bought the land from Sallie Mae Gibbs, and there is little left of the community today aside from the cemetery and remains of roads they used. Handbook of Texas Online, Mary S. Estill, rev. by Brett J. Derbes, "Grant, George W.," accessed April 30, 2018, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fgr11.; Handbook of Texas Online, James L. Hailey, rev. by Zachary Doleshal, "Grant's Colony, TX," accessed April 30, 2018,http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ueg01. ; Doleshal, Zachary. "Grant's Colony." East Texas History. Accessed April 30, 2018. http://easttexashistory.org/items/show/252.; Handbook of Texas Online, Paul M. Lucko, "Williams, Richard," accessed April 30, 2018, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fwiuf.
Fully automated LEGO bridge layer using two MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 microcomputers communicating via Bluetooth. The robot utilizes four servo motors, two linear actuators, two ultrasonic sensors, two touch sensors and two color sensors to accomplish its task. The robot was programmed in Robot C. source/image: Digsys II HIOA The Bridge Layer is some sort of truck that carries a folded up bridge. When it comes across a gap it can unfold the bridge, and travel over the gap. Once across, the truck then picks up the bridge, folds it up, and moves on. The Department of Electrical Engineering built this robot with Lego Mindstorms 2.0. It has been programmed with Robot C, and it communicates using Bluetooth. On board there are 4 servo motors, 2 linear actuators, 2 ultrasonic sensors, 2 touch sensors, and 2 color sensors. Check out the video below to how everything works together to create a seriously impressive Lego vehicle.Nothing can stop the robot future.
Patients receiving orthodontic treatment are at a higher risk for cavities and other dental issues. This is largely due to the fact that flossing is extremely difficult with a fixed orthodontic appliance, and simply brushing your teeth can also be much less effective, unless you know how. This is why I aim to give a few simple instructions and options to make sure that you, dear reader, do not compromise the health of your teeth just because you need orthodontics. Be extra diligent when brushing your teeth, and do not neglect any part of your teeth at all! Food can get stuck between your brace and your teeth as well as in the tiny nooks and crannies of your braces. Floss is recommended to get between the brackets and your teeth. Make sure you use an extra soft toothbrush, as the powerful bristles of a harder toothbrush may damage your enamel, and seeing as how your teeth may well be demineralized, this may cause you to damage the enamel. So be thorough, but don’t be aggressive. Special orthodontic toothbrushes can also be purchased, and I have written about those in this blog - see some of our older posts for tips on what they are, how they are used, and where you can purchase them. Using mouthwash is absolutely mandatory! If you have not used it until now, start immediately, as this will not harm the braces but will kill the bacteria that reside in your mouth. The last thing of note is that bacteria can live on the brace itself, not just on and in between your teeth. Make sure you clean and brush the brace as well as your tooth surfaces, as this is the only way to be sure that you are getting rid of all unwanted plaque and detritus that can give bacteria a place to breed.
Locavores are starting a new movement, and it could ultimately be a good change for the community including the people who live there. Locavores main purpose is to eat healthy organically grown foods, and with their movement they’re trying to better not just themselves but others health as well. The locavore movement had been bettering the society and population for over a decade, starting in San Francisco California, where the idea of organic, healthy and fresh eating originated. According to the University of California, San Francisco’s Agriculture and plant sciences department, Eating locally preserves nutrients, and keeps the vital vitamins needed to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Another study at UCSF also found that Over 30% of the Vitamin B in food items, is lost during the packaging and shipping process, of the transportation of goods over the one hundred mile radius. Losing these valuable sources of nutrition in food items is only hurting the economy and the people who are consuming these “deprived” products, as Vitamin B and C are the main source of nutrition amongst Citizens of the United States Of America. Being a Locavore means much more than just buying fresh, and organic goods, as it means the bettering the economy and the people in a society. The word Locavore, has a deep and Considerate Meaning. The Idea of a locavore is someone who eats local grown foods, that are organic , and beneficial to their own health; however, the meaning of the locavore is much more diverse. According to Maiser Jennifer, of Source A “Local food equals Variety” . It’s often that people will go to the same old name brands like Dole, Sprouts, or Costco; however, these company’s goods are shipped and packaged just like other goods that are deprived or sucked from their key nutrients. Local supermarkets have diversity, and offer several different kinds of organic and healthy food sources for people to enjoy, and to add on top of that they are never packed and shipped . ” Long distance will have short life” Says Maiser of source B. To elaborate on this idea, the farther the good is from the supermarket that it’s being placed in, the shorter the life it will have, and the more likely it will be to be picked up by a consumer; hurting the overall health of the area. The Locavore movement, never brings items from a far distance(outside of a one hundred mile radius) meaning that the locavore movement never sucks their goods “Goods”. Americans tastes are slowly being altered, and in such a way where they’re wanting the fresh foods over the processed ones. Locavores are also not rich high class people, but instead they are “ordinary middle income folks” (Source E). As a result of them noticing the shift in their tastes they did the unthinkable and revived the small farms. From the revival and the Farm Bill that’s set in place. Farmers are going to be able to get up to 75% of reimbursements from their organic certification costs. In all; locavores have a valid point when speaking about their movement, but at the end of the day it’s up to that person’s preferences about their food and whether they care enough to support and follow the locavore movement.
EISENSTADT (Ger. also: Weniger Maertersdorf; Hung. Kismarton; Heb. א״שׁ; ציר ברזל), capital of Burgenland, E. Austria. Its community was the leading one of the "Seven Communities" of Burgenland, and from the end of the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century one of the most important communities in Europe. Jews are mentioned in the city records in 1373, and the bishop of Eisenstadt was permitted to settle Jews there in 1388. Others came to the city after the expulsions from Austria (1421), Styria (1496), and Sopron (1526). By 1569 the community numbered 81 persons, living in eight small houses. A Jewish quarter and community institutions are mentioned for the years 1547 to 1571. Each Jew had to In its days of fame as a center of Jewish learning the Eisenstadt community used to be referred to as "Little Jerusalem." It had many customs peculiar to itself. The entrances to the Jewish street were closed on Saturdays and holidays by chains. Above the entrance to the synagogue a silver ball was hung containing cord for ẓiẓit, free of charge, supplied by a donation (keren ẓiẓit). Those who were called to the Torah as an obligation, such as a bridegroom on the Sabbath before his wedding, paid a special due. The shammash served the rabbi a cup of wine after the sermon. On the eve of Simhat Torah it was the women's task to adorn the Torah scrolls before the hakkafot. At the beginning of the cherry season the first child to show the rabbi a worm in a cherry was rewarded, and the shammash would then proclaim in the street that henceforward it was forbidden to eat cherries without first examining them. At the end of the 19th century, the Wolf family, who concentrated the wine export in their hands, were prominent in local and communal affairs. Sandor Wolf founded a private museum in 1902 and published books on Jewish and general local history. After World War I, Eisenstadt remained the only Jewish community in Europe to have the status of a political community (until 1938). The Jews there suffered economically because of the disruption of their former commercial ties. The Jews were expelled from Eisenstadt immediately after the Anschluss in 1938; most of them moved to Vienna. Some were among the refugees thrust onto the land strip in the Danube (see Burgenland). On Nov. 10, 1938, the synagogue equipment and part of the houses in the Jewish street were destroyed by a mob. The synagogue building was demolished. (The trade-union headquarters was built on the site in 1952; it contains a plaque commemorating the synagogue.) Many of the tombstones in the Jewish cemetery were used to build anti-tank traps in 1945. One hundred and nine Jews from Eisenstadt perished in the Holocaust. Five survivors returned after the war. The community was not reorganized. The Jewish collection of the Wolf museum was incorporated into the Burgenlaendisches Landesmuseum; in 1972 a Jewish museum was opened, the first of its kind in Austria. Some 23,500 documentary items are preserved in the Juedisches Zentralarchiv der ehemaligen Judengemeinden des Burgenlandes. Rabbi Akiva Eger the Younger was a native of Eisenstadt; a plaque on the house where he was born was destroyed by the Nazis. Moritz Benedikt, the professor of neuropathology in Vienna and liberal politician, was also born in Eisenstadt. A. Fuerst, Sitten und Gebraeuche in der Eisenstaedter Judengasse (Minhag Asch) (1908); idem, in: Egyenlöség, 40 (Jan. 8, 1921), 6–7; O. Aull, Eisenstadt (1931); H. Gold (ed.), Gedenkbuch der untergegangenen Judengemeinden des Burgenlandes (1970), 37–50, 51–55; N. Gergely, in Új Élet, 24 (Oct. 15, 1969), 3, 17–36; MHJ, 1 (1903)–12 (1969), index locorum S.V. Kismarton; H. Weiss, in: Zikhronotai (1895), 29–41; R. Patai, in: Arim ve-Immahot be-Yisrael, 1 (1946/47), 41–79, incl. bibl.; B. Wachstein, Die Grabinschriften des alten Judenfriedhofs in Eisenstadt (1922); idem, Urkunden und Akten zur Geschichte der Juden in Eisenstadt… (1926); S. Wolf, Die Kunst im Eisenstaedter Ghetto (1912); I. Schwarz, in: Menorah, 4 (1926), 705–8; M. Eliav (ed.), Iggerot Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer (Heb. and Ger., 1965), passim. ADD. BIBLIOGRAPHY: J. Reiss, Weil man uns die Heimatliebe ausgeblaeut hat (2001). Source: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2008 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.
A friend, retired pharmacist, sent me a note about a study that was just done in Europe on hypertension (high blood pressure). What they found is very exciting. Vitamin D was effective in reducing blood pressure as drugs. “Vitamin D ‘as good as drugs’ in Reducing High Blood Pressure.” Of course there have been many other studies showing the same thing. I do not know why this is not the first course of action in medical treatment for high blood pressure. From a nutritional standpoint, there are two things that significantly drive blood pressure either through restriction of you arteries or an effect on your renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) which regulates arterial constriction and water balance in the body through the kidneys. - Vitamin D Deficiency - Eating too much fruit and sugar It seems like the pathway of sugar effects on high blood pressure is totally ignored by the medical profession. The fructose that is consumed in eating too much fruit and sugar is converted to uric acid in the liver and results in high blood pressure. Again, why this fructose-uric acid pathway for high blood pressure is ignored is unknown to me. Here is a summary PDF from the Cleveland Clinic on the topic. If this is an issue then you should control your sugar and fruit intake so that you are consuming no more than fifteen grams of fructose per day or thirty grams of sugar. A can of soft drink will generate just as much uric acid in your body as a can of beer. So think about that the next time you give you six year old a can of soft drink. As I was leaving a clients office five years ago on a bright sunny summer day, I made the remark, “I think I will just go home and soak up some of this wonderful sunshine.” My client inquired, “Are you into this vitamin D thing?” Well needless to say it was over an hour before I got out of his office. It turned out that he had had a life-long problem with high blood pressure. He had tried to control it with diet and drugs and was not effective. He tried ten thousand IU’s of vitamin D per day. His blood pressure came into normal control in just weeks. He tried this not because his doctor told him to but because a friend had suggested it. Of course the issue with high blood pressure is the strokes that occur and the heart attacks from too high blood pressure. Relaxation of arterial walls is very important in controlling blood pressure. So first, reduce your sugar intake. Then take enough vitamin D or spend time in the sun so that you serum 25(OH)D is above 60 ng/ml. Also things that generate nitric oxide to help your arteries relax like niacin and l-arginine are a good idea. The next time you are relaxing in the sun, do not drink a beer or a soft drink if you have high blood pressure. – Pandemic Survivor Resources for Vitamin D and Hypertension: From Henry Lahore and Vitamin D Wiki http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=1171 From Dr. John Cannell and the Vitamin D Council http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/cardiovascular-diseases/hypertension/
Both ESA and NASA are on the lookout for better and less resource intensive camera systems for current and future space missions. In the previous decades many applications involving traditional cameras and 2D-based imaging have been launched. The two agencies are now exploring the 3rd dimension for new high-quality camera systems that will give new opportunities in solving space missions. From 2D to 3D cameras The cameras currently used in space resemble the digital cameras in our mobile telephones, the main difference being they are of significant better quality. Cameras are used everywhere in space, from docking of space stations, during navigation on foreign planets and also for the safe landing of spacecrafts. In these scenarios, 3D data is required for operations, even though the cameras are incapable of providing it themselves. Instead, 3D images are created by mounting several cameras together in so-called stereo configurations, and using complex computations to measure the third dimension. These computations are both power-hungry and potentially unreliable, making them less attractive for space usage. Strength and weaknesses Cameras that provide full 3D images became fully mature around 2000. Such cameras obtain the 3D data by emitting a coded light signal, and measuring the time it takes from the signal is emitted until it is reflected back to the camera (Time-Of-Flight measurement). Numerous measurement principles and technologies exist for obtaining these measurements. A core part of the consortium's activity has therefore been to map and detail the strengths and weaknesses of each technology, and how the technologies relate to different space missions. Broad basis of experience French-Italian Thales Alenia Space has significant experience with space missions, and has mapped the requirements for the new 3D camera. Based on these requirements, SINTEF has evaluated a wide range of time-of-flight technologies, to determine their relative strengths and weaknesses in such a setting. This work has been based on SINTEF's long-time experience in working with 3D sensors for the industry. Building a prototype "Shortly the requirement and technological study will be delivered to ESA, and in the course of next year, a prototype breadboard 3D camera will be built. The next step then will be to test and evaluate the prototype,” says Henrik Schumann-Olsen of SINTEF ICT. The Danish company Terma, specialist in space sensor manufacturing, will build the first bread-board prototype around the most promising technologies, which then will be tested and evaluated by ESA and all three companies. Possibilities in automation, inspection and navigation The technology itself has also wide potential for use on ground in industrial settings. The real-time 3D measurements enabled by time-of-flight technology have potential to open up new applications both within industrial automation, inspection and navigation, and the relative low cost of the technology can allow for wide-spread adoption.
The ‘’Participatory Planning” is one of the types of intervention in the development of the state, when the population and interested citizens are involved in all the stages of the project implementation. They make their own decisions on the technical aspects of the project, such as: unctional analysis, architectural and design solutions, construction volumes and other details of the project tobject. What is the “Participatory Planning”? The “Participatory Planning” is mainly used in the planning and reconstruction of public utilities. Quote – “Act and you will change your city”. How does the “Participatory Planning” work? Would you like to learn more about the “Participatory Planning”? MUST KNOW – What do you need to know to start a “Participatory Planning” in your community? The “Participatory Planning” allows maximum satisfaction of the needs and expectations of potential users and the population. Ensures that each group’s interest is taken into account at the project implementation stage and at a detailed level of the project. Thanks to this method, which is focused on the outcome, you can eliminate potential conflicts and increase user satisfaction. A “Participatory Planning” method is a design that takes customer engagement and survey into account and fits the needs of the stakeholder, even if such a potential user is only one person or one social group. Mainly, the “Participatory Planning” is used in the planning and reconstruction of public facilities. When the interests of several functions and social groups intersect. This method can be used for any project when the interests of several functions and social groups intersect. In particular, it is used and works well in planning public spaces, such as parks, but also can be used in development plans and public services. It can be implemented in all municipalities and all settlements, be it a city, district centre, village, small town or another type of settlement. Examples can be found in Ozurgeti and Marneuli municipalities. The ‘’Participatory Planning” is a substantively democratic process in which each participant has voting right in making decisions. The final decision is worked out by the residents. The importance of votes shall not be determined by public, social and official status. Priority may be given to the following social groups such as children, the elderly, and the people with disabilities. The “Participatory Planning” is a complex process and requires appropriate knowledge and experience. However, to ensure the minimum involvement of the population, it is possible to implement it without additional budget. Minimal involvement may be a population survey, or a public presentation of a sketch project. The goal of any investment is a successful operation, and the success of public spaces is directly proportional to how busy and active the space is. Surveying and engaging the potential customers in the processes is the best guarantee for their future activity. The ‘’Participatory Planning” is a legitimate process. Moreover, the obligations of the Association Agreement of Georgia ( EU/ Georgia Association agreement) provides the participation of the population. The cost of the “Participatory Planning” depends on the scale of the project, the function and the number of people affected by the project. Its cost is calculated based on the working time of the persons involved in the processes, the mandatory number of the meetings with the population, the technical needs and the information campaign resource. For the implementation of the “Participatory Planning”, it is necessary to have an architect / landscape designer and a cost estimator, i.e. a person who will calculate the cost of future work. The legislation does not set deadlines. However, based on the practices, the implementation time of the “Participatory Planning” varies from three to six months, i.e. before the practical implementation of the project, and it should be completed before the approval of the annual budget, to avoid the need of the budget change.
Plants: Roots, Stems, Leaves. Students will be able to describe the aspects of roots, stems, and leaves and their impact on our daily lives. Plants. Plants and Animals interact on a daily basis. Plants are used by animals for food. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author.While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. Plants: Roots, Stems, Leaves Students will be able to describe the aspects of roots, stems, and leaves and their impact on our daily lives. 4) Root hairs- absorb water and nutrients from the soil. 3) Lateral buds- Are on the stem nodes, leaves and flowers grown from them. 1) The Blade- The expanded part of the leaf. When people think of a leaf or draw a leaf it is usually the blade. 2) The Petiole- Connects the stem to the blade. Not every leaf has a petiole and are called stalkless.
- Title Page - A Composer’s Manifesto - Introduction: Composing as a Set of Options - Melody and the Basic Idea - The Main Theme Types - Thematic Hybrids - Loosening Techniques - Overview of Sonata Form - Composing Your Basic Idea - Fleshing Out Your Theme - The Transition - The Development - The Recapitulation - The Coda - The Slow Introduction - Appendix 1: The Worksheets - Appendix 2: Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 1, Mvt. 1 - Appendix 3: Brantingham, Piano Sonata No. 1, Mvt. 1 - Afterword: The Mystery - Recommended Products A Composer’s Manifesto I will finish every composition that I start (except the 9th Symphony. In fact, just stop at the 8th). I will not bask in the glory of my finished composition – that is what amateurs do. I am a professional. I will find something good in every composition I listen to. All composers have something to teach us. I will be compassionate with other composer’s compositions, and uncompromising with my own. I understand that I must deliberately practice my composing. I do not choose if anything I write will be a masterpiece. I just compose what I need to compose, and leave it at that. I will give myself over to a higher power when I compose. Introduction: Composing as a Set of Options Thank you for purchasing this book. Whether you’ve been composing for a while and you want to expand your horizon, or you’ve just gone through my beginner’s course, I think you’ll find this book helpful in many respects. This book has an accompanying website, with musical examples, and links to various other resources. Please check it out at: If you are reading this on your computer, you should be able to click on any of the example titles, and they will take you to the musical examples online. The Genesis of this Book When I finally sat down to write this book, I had been thinking about writing a book for a long time. I wanted to create something that my audience from artofcomposing.com would find useful. My original idea was to create a book on chromatic harmony. The problem with that book, was the lack of practicality. The problem in dealing with harmony is that it requires lots and lots of theoretical assignments that are separate from composing, because you need to get down the skills of voice leading, as well as knowing progressions. Going in depth about chromatic harmony would have created a monster volume, and more than likely, it wouldn’t have been what people were looking for, so I abandoned that idea. Next came a follow up to my beginner’s course, in which I went into more depth on each topic covered. That was 8 lessons; each about the basic idea, harmony, sentence, period, and small ternary form, as well as additional details like dynamics, articulation, and gestalt, or the feeling of wholeness to a piece. But as I was creating that book, I realized that most of the information needed was already in the free course. When I sat down and thought about it, the original idea for the course came from what I had learned, and I thought others might want to learn this too. I spend a lot of time reading music theory books, combing the local college libraries for gems. Most of the time, this search is tedious, and not very fruitful. Music theoreticians, while often brilliant thinkers, tend to speak in a language foreign to most. So my goal was to take the golden nuggets I found, and translate them into useful – and more importantly – actionable and practical information. Something you could immediately use in your own composing… right now. The thing that really interested me recently was composing in sonata form. I had read descriptions of sonata form, and had made attempts at composing a sonata. I thought I knew what went on: an exposition, with a main theme in tonic and a subordinate theme in dominant. This is followed by the development, where you basically are free to go wherever you want, but which then leads back to the recapitulation, staying in the tonic key throughout. But, as you may have guessed, this leaves a lot of questions. What keys should I explore in the development? Is dominant the subordinate key? Can I use other subordinate keys? How long should each section be? Is the subordinate theme built the same way as the main theme? So I decided that I would put together a sort of road map for myself to compose in sonata form. So ultimately, this book became a mix of the second idea (an expansion on the basic course) plus the main focus, which is composing in sonata form. The goal is to cement the ideas from the basic course, expand a few more ideas, tackle a larger work, and to give a clear guide to writing in sonata form. The Path of the Composer I want to make my belief clear right from the beginning. Becoming a great composer is a life-long process. If you have read the Composer’s Manifesto, then you realize I am from the “school” or belief that being able to compose is a direct reflection of the amount of work put in. Ten thousand hours is what it is estimated that needs to be put in to become an expert in anything. That means 10,000 hours of composing. That is a lot of hours. But not just any hours; these are dedicated, deliberate practice hours. Deliberate practice is all about improving specific aspects of any set of skills you want to learn. You have to be able to identify your weaknesses, and then target those weaknesses. Deliberate practice is specific. When you know you have a weakness, you must practice the tasks that improve those weaknesses. It doesn’t help to attempt to write a symphony if you have trouble creating good chord progressions. You’ll just end up being overwhelmed and not improving either. Deliberate practice tends to be short tasks that are repeatable. This repeatability is helpful, because it allows you to ingrain the correct way of doing a task. If it is not repeatable, then you cannot legitimately practice it. Short in this case is also relative concept. If you are a beginner, short may be a single phrase. If you are Mahler, short is a ten minute symphony movement. When you are working on something that you are not very good at, having to repeat it over and over, this can be very mentally tiring. There is a limit to what most people can do, when deliberately practicing. This is usually around two hours. Inherently, Not Very Fun With things like “mentally tiring,” and “repeatable,” deliberate practice tends to not be as fun as unfocused work. This doesn’t mean it won’t be any fun, but at a certain point, you’ll probably have the desire to move on to something else. This is where you must have the drive to continue learning and pushing yourself. Work hard now and enjoy the benefits later. Not all of Your Composing Is Deliberate Practice But some of it definitely should be. Noodling every once in a while is okay, but if at least some of your composing is geared towards learning specific tasks or skills, then you will see improvements. Your enjoyment of composing will improve with more effort put towards learning the craft. What should you be improving though? The Skills of a Composer As a composer, there are certain things that you can improve directly, and certain things that you cannot. The things you cannot directly improve: the mystery (see afterword). Thats it. Everything else is up to you. Your ability to focus is probably the most important factor. It has repercussions through all of your composing related activities. This includes actual composing, working out exercises, analyzing music, listening to music, meditation; they are all affected directly by your ability to focus. How do you improve your focus? Sounds a little like circular reasoning but you improve focus by practicing focus. The best thing to do is be 100% committed to anything you are doing, while you are doing it. There are some other things you can do as well. - Make sure you complete one thing before you start the next. Not just composing itself. Make sure, when you are doing your taxes, or cleaning the dishes or whatever, that you complete the task. If not, it will be gnawing on your mind when you are doing something else; and you will not be able to focus. - Set up a reward system for yourself. If you do a good job focusing, treat yourself to some regeneration time (watching TV or additional sleep). One of the easiest ways to lose focus is not writing down your music while you compose. Most people noodle. On whatever instrument they use, they noodle around too much. You may write a bar, then play for about 10 minutes, saying “oooo, that’s good,” but then you look back at the page, and you still only have 1 bar. Make sure you write. Write, write, write! If it’s not good, you can scratch it out, or erase it. Forcing yourself to write is a skill in itself. Your ability to listen will improve with your growing understanding of the music. After a while, you will start to notice things in the music that you didn’t hear before. While this book goes over a good bit of music theory, it is not in itself specifically a music theory book. Theory is difficult to teach yourself. I recommend taking some college courses or finding a private teacher to teach you harmony, voice leading, counterpoint and orchestration. These four are really tricky to learn on your own. I plan on putting together a full course online covering those topics. As of writing this book, all of these topics are not yet completed, but continue to check out www.artofcomposing.com as they may be put up online while you are reading this. Checking Your Ego at the Door This is a tough one. I have always been sensitive to criticism, and most people with an artistic side are the same. Let me be frank – not everyone is going to like your music. Some people may hate it. Some will let you know, and they won’t be nice about it either. Remember in the manifesto: I will be compassionate with other composer’s compositions, and uncompromising with my own. Go into the ring with the expectation of being hit. The thing about it is, you have to put your music out there… You have to be willing to back up what you write. Many composers of the past were treated like garbage because of what they wrote. Mahler’s first Symphony was a resounding flop at its premiere. A reviewer of Beethoven’s Grosse Fugue wrote it is “as incomprehensible as Chinese.”1 Don’t be dissuaded from following your dream. Everyone gets bad reviews. You just need to “get back up on your feet,” and continue composing! Composing Is All About Options The process of creation is a mix of intellect, sweat, and luck. But what it really comes down to is options. When you sit down and stare at a blank piece of staff paper or a blank screen on your favorite notation software or sequencer, you have many, many options. With every constraint you put on yourself, either through decisions made away from the paper like, “I am going to compose in Sonata Form, in A minor, 4/4 time signature or,I would like the piece to last at least 3 minutes, and have a tempo of 100 beats per minute (bpm),” or, if end a phrase deceptive cadence, these are the myriad options and choices that face you.. the key is knowing the options in the first place. Knowing what is stylistically normal, what is adventurous, and what is completely out of the norm, you can decide how you want your music to develop, and ultimately be perceived. If you know all of your options, you are in a much better position to make a better choice; the right choice. That may sound very absolute, but when you really get down to it, and you listen to the music that you love, you cannot imagine it written any other way. It would just be… wrong. I am going to take a guess and say that you’ve also listened to music, and heard things that you weren’t anticipating, and thought had it been your composition, you would have written it differently. That composer probably knew the options, and decided to write something different, or possibly stayed “within bounds,” where you would have gone “out of bounds”. Know your options. Free Beginner’s Composing Course One last note. If you have not been through my free beginner’s course, and this book looks a little daunting, I recommend you check it out. Go to: http://www.artofcomposing.com/free and sign up for the course. Once again, it’s absolutely free, and will give you a great foundation for tackling a larger work like sonata form. I would like to thank my Dad for teaching me about real music and taking the time to proof this book. I know I would not be the composer I am today without his influence. I would like to thank my Mom for not letting me quit trumpet when I was 12, and having the idea to bribe me with a skateboard. Fortunately I stuck with the music, and not the skateboarding. I would like to thank William Caplin for writing his inspiring book on classical form, it has truly changed the way I look at, and think about form when composing. Most of the ideas in this book stem directly from his work, and I do not want to take credit for them. I cannot stress how important it is, if you want to learn to compose in the classical style, to buy and read his book. I would like to thank Carolina Gale, my high school music teacher, for supporting my composing. Most of all, I would like to thank my wife and my son, for giving me the drive… and time to write this. To everyone else not listed… you know if you deserve an acknowledgement. So if you do, give yourself a pat on the back. If not… well, sorry. 1: Melody and the Basic Idea The Basic Idea The basic idea is the foundation of your melody. The term “basic idea” was coined by William Caplin in his book Classical Form, in which he states, “The basic idea is small enough to group with other ideas into phrases and themes, but large enough to be broken down (fragmented) in order to develop its constituent motives.”2 Sometimes creating the basic idea can be the hardest part, because it is usually characteristic of your piece, and not conventional. Something that is characteristic, by definition, defines the character of your piece. For example, this basic idea from Mozart is very characteristic. I have no doubt that you could instantly identify it when heard. Conventional melody is something that is usually more “cookie cutter,” like a descending melodic line at a cadence, trills or what is termed passage work, with arpeggiation and dramatic virtuosic writing. This example is more along the lines of conventional melody. Basic Idea vs Contrasting Idea vs Random Music When I say basic idea, I am specifically talking about writing the two bar segment of music, that has an initiating or beginning function, and is found in the antecedent phrase or presentation phrase. But the things that go into a basic idea, harmonic clarity, shape, characteristic ideas – they all transfer to other parts of your composing. If you can write a good basic idea, you can write a good contrasting idea. If you can write a good basic idea, you can handle writing a good continuation phrase or consequent. The process is the same. The labels are specific. Sometimes, when I say basic idea, I probably mean “idea” which is a general two-bar phrase, not specifically the opening phrase that prolongs tonic. Just look at the context, and I apologize up front, if I misuse the term. The most important result from practicing basic ideas is improving your sense of balance, clarity and conciseness. You have to be clear about what you want to convey to your listener, because you only have two bars to do it. This also helps to get yourself out of, what someone called in an online forum that I like to visit, “The Ostinato Habit.” The ostinato habit is really noodling at the keyboard, with a pattern, and then playing random stuff on top. Sometimes, if you are really going for that minimalist sound, this can be good, but done too much it ends up being a copout. So practice developing good basic ideas, and all of your composing will improve. Melodic Shape of the Basic Idea The basic idea is what opens up your piece, so it is very common to have a rising melody, also called a melodic opening up, but this by no means is absolutely necessary. In fact, you can create any kind of melodic shape. A good exercise is to trace out the melodic shape of basic ideas written by composers that you admire, and then work within that shape, creating your own new basic ideas. Here are a few examples. These examples are all from public domain scores on http://imslp.org/wiki/. IMSLP is a public domain musical score library online. It is one of the greatest resources ever created for composers. What gives it that power, is your ability to look up a score, even multiple versions of the same score, and then jump over to youtube, to listen to ten different versions of that score. Invaluable. If You Want To Keep Reading… You’ll have to buy the book. Click the buy now button below for instant access to the ebook.
Black Rice has been linked to many health benefits and successes; and recent research suggests that there may be many more that we’re currently not aware of. Consumption of black rice has been linked to marked decreases in risk for dangerous conditions such as heart disease and cancer. High blood pressure, circulation and overall blood health also seems to be maintained well by those who add Black Rice to their diet. Because this special type of rice is considered to be anti-inflammatory and a great source of antioxidants, it may be useful in avoiding long term problems like Alzheimer’s and Diabetes. We’re just beginning to see the useful health related applications of Black Rice; it’s very possible that we’ll discover even more health related benefits from Black Rice as future research is conducted. The Main Point is…. Black Rice is becoming the new “it” organic food that everyone is talking about; and the attention it’s getting is well deserved. The myriad of health benefits that this wonderfully ‘nutty’ grain provides are staggering; it is truly one of those foods that could potentially cure diseases and solve problems. If you’re considering adding this wonderful grain to your grocery list and diet, do so without hesitation; you would be doing yourself and your family a favor. Black Rice and “Super Foods” Black rice falls into a category of what are quickly becoming recognized as ‘super foods’; or foods that offer many more health benefits than other types of similar foods, etc…. We’ve heard a lot about blueberries, and their healthy mind boosting properties; and acai berry with its weight loss applications. Even more recently it has been found that coffee offers some kind of long term protection against of host of fatal diseases and afflictions.
What is Serotonin? Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is synthesized, stored, and released by specific neurons in the brain. Natural Serotonin is involved in the regulation of several processes within the brain, including, depression, mood, emotions, aggression, sleep, appetite, anxiety, memory and perceptions. Serotonin regulates these processes through pathways that innervate (connect to) different brain regions. Most cells in the brain, over 40 million, are either directly or indirectly affected by serotonin levels as well as muscles, and parts of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. Because of this far reaching influence, low serotonin levels are often attributed to anxiety, panic attacks, obesity, insomnia, and fibromyalgia. The function of serotonin depends on the region of the brain into which it is released (it also depends on the type of serotonin receptor present in that region). For example, the serotonin neurons in the neocortex in the front of the brain (frontal cortex) regulate cognition, memory, and perceptions. The serotonin neurons in the hippocampus regulate memory and mood. The serotonin neurons in other limbic areas such as the amygdala also regulate mood. Causes and contributors of low Serotonin Levels and Deficiency Serotonin is synthesized in the brain and body from tryptophan an amino acid. Tryptophan converts into 5- hydroxytryptophan then into serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), if all of the co-factors are present. A shortage of tryptophan is believed to be a major culprit leading to depression. High levels of tryptophan in the brain directly influence increased serotonin production and new brain cell production begins to rise. The following factors can cause low serotonin levels: Low Serotonin Symptoms Low serotonin levels are often attributed to anxiety, depression, panic attacks, insomnia, obesity, fibromyalgia, eating disorders, chronic pain, migraines, and alcohol abuse. Determine Natural Serotonin Levels with a Serotonin Test Testing for low serotonin levels is available and helpful in determining an appropriate treatment. Neurotransmitter tests can now provide precise information on deficiencies or overloads in key neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. A serotonin test can measure serotonin levels to determine if a serotonin imbalance is present. Serotonin Foods help increase Serotonin naturally: Low Serotonin Treatment Once your natural serotonin levels are low enough to cause syptoms it is very difficult to significantly raise serotonin levels enough by food alone. SSRI's or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and SNRIs, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors do not actually increase the amount of serotonin molecules in the brain. SSRI’s are thought to block the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin by certain nerve cells in the brain. This theoretically leaves more serotonin available in the brain. However if you have low serotonin to begin with these medications either will not work well, or work for a while then "poop out". Natural serotonin supplements are likely to be the most effective means to raise serotonin levels in the brain while being safe and without the side effects of anti depression medications. Derived from seeds of Griffonia simpicifolia, a native African plant, 5-HTP, or 5-hydroxy tryptophan, is a safe dietary supplement that introduces higher levels of tryptophan into the blood stream which then enter the central nervous system and facilitate the needed synthesis of serotonin. 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Everything you wanted to know about the word “humic”, including spelling, parts of speech, “humic” meaning and origins, anagrams, rhyming words, encodings, crossword clues and much more! Table of Contents - How to spell “humic” - How many vowels and consonants in “humic” - How many syllables in “humic” - What type of word is “humic” - Word families for “humic” - Common misspellings of “humic” - Similar words to “humic” - Scrambled words derived from “humic” - Anagrams of “humic” - Fun facts about the word “humic” - Phonetic spelling of “humic” - “humic” spelled in Morse code - ASCII spelling of “humic” - Binary spelling of “humic” - Hexadecimal value of “humic” - Decimal spelling of “humic” - Octal value of “humic” How to spell “humic” Humic is spelled h-u-m-i-c and has 5 letters. How many vowels and consonants in “humic” The word “humic” has 3 consonants and 2 vowels. How many syllables in “humic”? There are 3 syllables in the word “humic”. What type of word is “humic”?The word "humic" can be a adjective and noun. Common misspellings of “humic”Homic Similar words to “humic”Humid, ohmic, cumic, huic, hemic Scrambled words derived from “humic”Ihmuc, uhcmi, mchui, hmiuc, hicum, cuhim, uimhc, himcu, iuhcm, chium, iumch, himuc, imcuh, mhciu, uhimc, ucihm, ciumh, mhiuc, michu, mhcui, cmuih, huicm, ichum, icmhu, uimch Anagrams of “humic”Chimu Fun facts about the word “humic” The word “humic” has a Scrabble score of 12 and reads cimuh in reverse. Phonetic spelling of “humic”Hotel Uniform Mike India Charlie The phonetic alphabet, specifically the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), is a system of notation for the sounds of languages created by linguists. Unlike conventional written alphabets, which vary across languages and can have inconsistent mappings of symbols to sounds, the IPA is designed to provide a consistent and universally understood means of transcribing the sounds of any spoken language. “humic” spelled in Morse code.... ..- -- .. -.-. (dot dot dot dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dash dot dash dot). Morse code is a method used in telecommunication to encode text characters as sequences of two different signal durations, called dots and dashes, or dits and dahs. It was developed in the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for their new invention, the telegraph, which required a simple way to transmit text messages across long distances. ASCII spelling of “humic” Lowercase: 104 117 109 105 99 Uppercase: 72 85 77 73 67 ASCII, which stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, is a character encoding standard used by computers and electronic devices to understand and represent text. Binary spelling of “humic” Lowercase: 1101000 1110101 1101101 1101001 1100011 Uppercase: 1001000 1010101 1001101 1001001 1000011 Binary encoding is a system that computers and digital devices use to represent and process information. It's based on binary numbers, which are composed only of zeros and ones, known as bits. Hexadecimal value of “humic” Lowercase: 0x68 0x75 0x6D 0x69 0x63 Uppercase: 0x48 0x55 0x4D 0x49 0x43 Hexadecimal is a number system commonly used in computing as a human-friendly way of representing binary data. Unlike the decimal system, which is base 10 and uses digits from 0 to 9, the hexadecimal system is base 16, using digits from 0 to 9 and letters from A to F to represent the values 10 to 15. Decimal spelling of “humic” Lowercase: 104 117 109 105 99 Upprcase: 72 85 77 73 67 The decimal system, also known as base-10, is the numerical system most commonly used by people in everyday life. It's called "base-10" because it uses ten digits: 0 through 9. Each position in a decimal number represents a power of 10. Octal value of “humic” Lowercase: 150 165 155 151 143 Upprcase: 110 125 115 111 103 Octal is a base-8 number system used in digital computing. Unlike the decimal system which uses ten digits (0-9), and the binary system which uses two (0 and 1), the octal system uses eight digits: 0 through 7. Each position in an octal number represents a power of 8.
Essay Topic 1 Jurgis has a motto of "I will work harder." Does this attitude ever help Jurgis? Describe how. List at least two situations in which this positive attitude does not help Jurgis? Do you think this is a good motto to live by? Why or why not? Essay Topic 2 The title, "The Jungle," is certainly applicable to the story itself. Explain the different ways a jungle relates to the characters, to the setting, and to the events in this story. How is Chicago like a jungle? Do you agree that this title was the best choice? Why or why not? Essay Topic 3 Sinclair makes it pretty clear in the text the he feels socialism is the answer to the world's problems. Did you think Sinclair's arguments were convincing? Why or why not? How does socialism help Jurgis in this story? Essay Topic 4 The character of Jurgis is... This section contains 1,280 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page)
The Shiva Purana also describes the origin of the lingam, known as Shiva-linga, as the beginning-less and endless cosmic pillar (Stambha) of fire, the cause of all causes. Lord Shiva is pictured as emerging from the lingam – the cosmic pillar of fire – proving his superiority over the gods Brahma and Vishnu. What is Shiva Lingam? Story of Shivling – HindUtsav - Story of Shivling Shiva Lingam or Shivling is considered to be the holy symbol of the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. It is a scared representation of Lord Shiva and is worshiped in all Shiva Temples around the world. From times immemorial, Lord Shiva is being worshiped in the form of Shiva Linga. The origin of the lingam has been described in the Hindu scripture of Shiva Purana in its first section of Vidyeshwar Samhita. Shiva-linga has been described as beginning-less and endless cosmic pillar (means Stambha) of the fire which is originally a cause of all causes. It never has any ending and beginning.The Shiva Purana also describes the origin of the lingam, known as Shiva-linga, as the beginning-less and endless cosmic pillar (Stambha) of fire, the cause of all causes. Lord Shiva is pictured as emerging from the lingam – the cosmic pillar of fire – proving his superiority over the gods Brahma and Vishnu. Why is Shiva Lingam important to the Hindus? - Thus, Shiva Lingam is a symbol of Lord Shiva, the omnipotent Lord, who is formless. Hindus have regarded Shiva Linga as a symbol of energy, spirituality, and the extent of infinity. Shiva Linga or Shivling makes the worship of Lord Shiva simple while upholding the principle that God does not have any definite form. The origin of the lingam has been described in the Hindu scripture of Shiva Purana in its first section of Vidyeshwar Samhita. Shiva-linga has been described as beginning-less and endless cosmic pillar (means Stambha) of the fire which is originally a cause of all causes. It never has any ending and beginning. - 1 Why is Shiva lingam in that shape? - 2 What does Shiva lingam symbolize? - 3 Who cursed Shiva as linga? - 4 What is Shiva lingam used for? - 5 Can female touch shivling? - 6 Was Shiva a human? - 7 What does seeing Shiva lingam in dream mean? - 8 What is a lingam and yoni? - 9 Can we place Shiva lingam at home? - 10 Why did Shiva cut his wife in 52 pieces? - 11 Why did Shiva kill Parvati? - 12 How did Lord Shiva died? - 13 How do you place a Shiva lingam? - 14 Why we pour milk on shivling? Why is Shiva lingam in that shape? According to the Linga Purana, the lingam is a complete symbolic representation of the formless Universe Bearer – the oval- shaped stone is the symbol of the Universe, and the bottom base represents the Supreme Power that holds the entire Universe in it. What does Shiva lingam symbolize? Lingam, (Sanskrit: “sign” or “distinguishing symbol ”) also spelled linga, in Hinduism, a votary object that symbolizes the god Shiva and is revered as an emblem of generative power. The lingam appears in Shaivite temples and in private shrines throughout India. Who cursed Shiva as linga? Angered by this the saint had cursed Lord Shiva. Prajapati Daksh cursed shiva that he will not be worshipped by anyone and later by with unknowingly help of sati, Vishnu and Brahma, worshipped her with having shivling in her hand. Hence, the curse was removed. What is Shiva lingam used for? Within ancient Hindu tradition, it’s believed the Goddess Parvati hand-shaped a Shiva Lingam out of the sand, to represent both the divine male and female energies using it to worship Lord Shiva. Shiva Lingam stones are a distinctive elongated egg shape thought to represent the cosmic egg of which all life has sprung. Can female touch shivling? This is because Lord Shiv remains in Penance and that’s why it is forbidden for women to touch the shivling. On the other hand, if women keep the fast of Lord Shiva for 16 consecutive Mondays, then unmarried women get a good groom. Was Shiva a human? Many believe that God Shiva is a Sayambhu – which means He is not born from a human body. He was created automatically! He was there when there was nothing and He will remain even after everything is destructed. That is why; he is also loving called as the ‘Adi-Dev’ which means the ‘Oldest God of the Hindu mythology. What does seeing Shiva lingam in dream mean? # If you see Lord Shiva’s Shivalinga avatar in your dream, then it means that you will soon get rid of the long-running troubles. # If you see a temple of Lord Shiva in your dream, it means that you are going to get rid of a long illness. What is a lingam and yoni? The lingam is often represented alongside the yoni (Sanskrit word, literally “origin” or “source” or “womb”), a symbol of the goddess of Shakti. The union of linga and yoni represents the indivisible two-in-oneness of male and female, the passive space and active time from which all life originates. Can we place Shiva lingam at home? Shiva lingas can be worshiped at home, but the general rule is, it should not be bigger than your thumb according to the scriptures. For worship at home, any idol should not be bigger than the thumb. Why did Shiva cut his wife in 52 pieces? Invoking a sacrificial fire, Goddess Sati sacrificed herself. Lord Shiva was furious after learning about Sati’s death. Lord Vishnu used his sudarshan chakra (a celestial weapon) to cut Sati’s body to pieces, which fell on earth. The total number of body pieces were 52, and they fell on 52 different places. Why did Shiva kill Parvati? In the Shiva Purana, when Shiva was meditating on Mount Mandara, Parvati was in a playful mood and covered Shiva’s eyes. This caused the whole universe to become covered in darkness. Brahmā granted Andhaka these wishes, but warned him that he could still be killed by Shiva. How did Lord Shiva died? The wrathful Yama assumed a fearsome form and threw his noose to capture Markandeya, who hugged the linga tightly. When the noose touched the linga, Shiva emerged from it in all his wrath and struck Yama with his Trishula and kicked his chest, killing the Lord of Death. How do you place a Shiva lingam? Put Shiva lingam towards North or Towards east. The Panapatta should be facing the north direction or east direction. As ling always on the top. No question in which direction it is. Why we pour milk on shivling? To soothe his throat, ingredients like honey, milk and curd are offered on the shivling. There is also a reason why people stay awake on Shivratri. After Lord Shiva drank the venom, gods were advised to keep him awake during the night.
PETOSKEY — Many businesses engaged in recycling do so based on a philosophy of care for the environment, for social responsibility and for economics. Some of these have found it challenging to gauge how much impact their recycling practices are actually having on the planet. But Petoskey-based plastics manufacturer and recycler Petoskey Plastics aims to change that with its recent introduction of a “Recycling Scorecard,” which is offered to customers that purchase products made with the company’s recycled blown plastic film. Working with nationally recognized sustainability consultants, Petoskey Plastics has developed a system of calculating the impact its closed-loop recycling partners are having on the environment. The company is measuring and providing documentation, free of charge, to their customers on landfill diversion, carbon footprint equivalents, emission offsets, and water savings. The data are based on the level of recycled content supplied within film and bags purchased from the Petoskey company. “The program is a first for the blown plastic film industry,” said Jason Keiswetter, Petoskey Plastics executive director of marketing, research and development. “Sustainability scorecards are not new, but they are typically more focused on internal sustainability practices such as recycling or energy saving measures. This is the first robust, proactive effort we have seen that is specifically targeted at customers purchasing products with recycled content. Moreover, the reporting highlights their involvement in a closed loop recycling program.” Petoskey is offering the program at no cost to its recycling partners in retail, distribution, shipping, automotive and other sectors. The scorecard is based on a Life Cycle Analysis approach to measuring sustainable practices. Typically, such analyses measure energy use, raw materials consumption, air emissions, water effluents and solid wastes along the entire life cycle of a production system — from the initial extraction of natural resources to the final disposal of wastes. The Petoskey scorecard is unique in that it calculates pounds of carbon emissions saved in purchasing plastic film products with post-consumer recycled content. In one scorecard example, a major retail chain saved close to 6 million kilograms of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere in 2015 through its partnership in Petoskey’s closed-loop recycling program. The scorecard also includes information on what that figure represents in real terms. In this case, more than 91,000 gallons of water saved and the equivalent of over 13,000 barrels of oil, or more than 645,000 gallons of gas not consumed that contributed to the reduction in CO2 emissions. “This new scorecard gives our customers and closed-loop partners the advantage of evaluating the actual impact of their purchasing and sustainability efforts, and communicating them in a way that investors, employees and their own customers can easily understand,” Keiswetter added. “Making a commitment to sustainable practices requires an investment, and this provides a quantitative evaluation of the return on that investment to the environment.” As the plastics industry places greater importance on business and consumer recycling of plastics products, everyone can benefit from measuring results, according to Kim Holmes, director of recycling and diversion at SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association. “With its pioneering efforts in closed-loop recycling and development of products containing PCR, Petoskey Plastics has long been a leader in the blown plastics film industry,” said Holmes. “This unique scorecard once again proves Petoskey’s leadership and can serve as a model for others in the industry.”
in Bible passages, the prophets rely on a naming of birds of eerie cry or lonely wasteland wandering to help their listeners picture a scene of utter desolation. Beasts may be named, too wolves, jackals, dragons but the birds alone could set the listeners shivering in remembered awe as they pictured the sort of lonely place where they themselves had heard owls hoot and bittern croak, seen vultures gathering beside sun-bleached bare bones. In these quotations, we have left the names of the birds untranslated since the author translates and identifies the birds in the text. The ka'ath, named first in both warnings, is uncertain but it would surely be the stalking scavenger, the marabou, rather than the pelican named in some old translations. The cormorant, which may well have shared the name, might also be a bird of doom, because of its black feathers. named also, means the "the bristler," and several early translators mistook it for the porcupine or hedgehog. But birds bristle, too, thought they do not have spiny quills, and when they are angry enough or frightened enough their feathers stand on end in fearsome array. The bittern bristles not only in threat or fear, but every time he brings out that deep-toned croak that echoes across the silent marsh like a sudden voodoo drumbeat. So of all the birds he is surely the "bristler," and his solitary ways second his impact as omen of doom and destruction. When you take up bittern watch in some lonely marsh you may think you're hearing a suction pump instead of a wild bull. First there is an ominous sucking in of breath to make you imagine a giant pulling his boots out of the ooze, and then a booming drumbeat, certainly no sound you can duplicate with ordinary word. If you can hear your first bittern while you are standing alone in a lonely place, and not want to turn and run, then you must have a clear conscience indeed. To top it off, the bittern's mottled feathering and long neck enable it to pose in veritable duplication of waving marsh grass, so that you can look right at it and not see it is there. Then suddenly it moves, seeming to materialize out of thin air like any ghost one more reason why the prophets of old thought their listeners might tremble at a world turned into a haunt for the bristler… the horned owl, could be a bird of doom as owls have been in all places and times. Oreb and ya'annah, the next two birds of doom in Isaiah's warning are [the] raven and ostrich. Lilith which is also the folk name for a certain witch or hag might be the ghostly barn owl or the pale Hume's tawny owl that lives in the desert. The last name on the list dayyoth is surely the plural of da'ah, the kite, another scavenger. But the next to last is a name that gives translators considerable trouble, for kippoz is listed among the birds but seems to mean "snake" or "darter." If you have followed bird trails through the Florida Everglades or other southern swamps and marsh country, you will immediately picture the dark feathers and sinewy neck of Anhinga anhinga, actually known as both snakebird and darter. It does look like a snake, for often only the head and neck come thrusting out from dangling vines or showing above the waves. And "darter" is certainly the one word to describe the sudden thrusting of [its] slim dagger beak as the anhinga spears an unwary fish for its dinner. Like the bittern, the anhinga is a bird of lonely places and eerie ways that seems like magic to watchers who do not understand bird life. It can soar on wide wings like an eagle or a hawk, hang there riding the air currents like a vulture, dive underwater like a cormorant, and paddle like a duck or deflate to instant submersion. In tropic lands all around the world, the anhinga has been counted a bird of special omen. Surely it is a more fitting denizen for Isaiah's land of desolation than the owls… Zephaniah, in repeating the same forecast of doom added another name, the kol, the voice. Of course this could be any ghostly sound, even the wind, but it also could be the blue roller, known by almost this same word in Israel today. The roller's voice issues forth from its beautiful blue throat in an unbeautiful crow-like croak in fact, "blue crow" or "blue rook" are some of its nicknames and like any corvine croak it s to carry an ominous overtone. Also the roller is a bird that keeps itself in lonely places. C. Holmgren, Bird Walk through the Bible, Copyright © 1972 by Dover Publications (Mineola, pages 68, 70-72. By permission of the publisher. This book is currently out-of-print. Table of Contents
When studying the acoustic guitar, many players will find themselves learning the blues, blues form or blues fingerpicking patterns at some point in their development. Because the blues is such a staple of the modern guitarist’s repertoire, and it has been used as the basis for countless fingerstyle and acoustic guitar songs, having an understanding of the blues form, and a few acoustic guitar patterns under your fingers, can go a long when in your development as an acoustic guitarist. For this reason, in this lesson we’ll be exploring an easy acoustic blues pattern that will help increase your technique, provide you with a fun rhythm pattern to use when songwriting or jamming with other musicians, as well as develop your ability to play bass notes and melody lines all at the same time. A note on the melody lines: If you are just starting out with acoustic guitar, you might want to pluck each note in the melody line. Then, after you have worked that out, or if you are an intermediate player, you can add the slides and hammer-ons in to take these examples to the next level in your practice. As well, this lesson is geared towards students that are not total beginners to the guitar itself, but those that are ready to begin exploring the Acoustic Blues genre. If you are looking for a lesson to help you with an introduction to the instrument, please visit out “5 Easy Fingerpicking Patterns for Acoustic Guitar Lesson.” So, grab your guitar and let’s dive into this fun, and easy acoustic blues pattern for guitar. Easy Acoustic Blues Pattern – Bass To begin, let’s look at the bass line for the pattern on it’s own. When working on any fingerpicking pattern, especially one that mixes bass notes and melody lines, it is always a good idea to divide the parts up when first working out the pattern on the guitar. Though it is only two notes per chord, and relatively easy to get down, make sure you use a metronome when practicing this pattern as keeping a steady pulse in the bass is key to working out this pattern as a whole, both on it’s own and when applied to a full, 12-bar blues form. Easy Acoustic Blues Pattern – Melody After working out the bass line on it’s own, you can move on to learning how to play the upper melody line on it’s own, before combining them to form the entire pattern in the next example in this lesson. Start by working one bar at a time, and then combining multiple bars to form the entire four-bar phrase. Doing so will allow you to really nail the time and feel of each bar on it’s own, before bringing things together to form the phrase as a whole. Easy Acoustic Blues Pattern – Combo With the bass and melody lines worked out separately on your fretboard, you are now ready to combine these two ideas to form the final easy acoustic blues pattern on your guitar. If you find it tricky to combine both parts over the entire four-bar phrase at first, then try just the first bar on it’s own, and then the second bar on it’s own as well. With both of those bars worked out separately, you can begin to combine bars one and two together, followed by one, two and three, and finally all four bars together. Take it slow and work with a metronome during this pattern, as playing it smoothly in time is just as important as playing the correct notes when it comes to applying this pattern successfully to a blues chord progression, as you can see in the next example in this lesson. Easy Acoustic Blues Pattern – Study To finish up with this easy acoustic blues pattern, here is a full chorus of a Blues in E that uses the pattern for each bar in the chord progression, over the E7, A7 and B7 chords respectively. Start slowly with this pattern, as it can be tricky to put everything together into one long idea such as this study. If you are having trouble getting the entire form to sound smooth, then feel free to break it down into three, four-bar sections as that will allow you to work on smaller chunks of the music at one time, before bringing them all together to form the chorus as a whole later on when things are more comfortable on the fretboard. Do you have any questions regarding this easy acoustic blues pattern? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Posted by Soojung on Monday, July 20, 2009 at 9:22pm. 1. net ionic equation for the reaction between silver nitrate and the arsenate ion 3Ag (+) + AsO4 ---> Ag3AsO4 2. net ionic equation for the precipitation of copper hexacyanoferrate (II). 2Cu (2+) + [Fe(CN)6] ---> Cu2 [Fe(CN6)] Can someone please check and see if I did these correctly. If not, can you please example how/ what I am doing wrong. - Chemistry - GK, Monday, July 20, 2009 at 9:41pm The total electrical charge on the left side of a chemical equation must be equal to the total electrical charge on the right side. That is not the case on either chemical equation as you typed it. - Chemistry - DrBob222, Monday, July 20, 2009 at 9:53pm The Ag3AsO4 equation is ok if we assume the ---(which looks like an arrow with the >) is actually the charge on the arsenate ion. You can write AsO4^3- and that way we don't confuse it with the arrow. 3Ag^+1 + AsO4^3- ==> Ag3AsO4(s) - Chemistry - Soojung, Monday, July 20, 2009 at 10:02pm Oh sorry I forgot to write the charges. For then for the second one, it is supposedly look like this? 2Cu (2+) + [Fe(CN)6]^(4-) ==> Cu2 [Fe(CN6)] would that make this ionic equation correct? - Chemistry - DrBob222, Monday, July 20, 2009 at 10:07pm That looks ok to me. Answer This Question More Related Questions - CHEMISTRY (HELP) - Which of the following is true about the reaction between ... - Chemistry - Which of the following is true about the reaction between sodium ... - chemistry-net ionic equations - Whats the net ionic equation for the ... - college chem - Two questions where I have to write a balanced net ionic equation... - Chemistry - I am having a bit of difficulty getting the net equation and the net... - Chemistry - For a reaction between sodium phosphate and strontium nitrate write ... - CHEMISTRY.. - 1. Will a precipitate form if solutions of potassium sulfate and ... - Chemistry - Consider the reaction in aqueous solution: 6 HCl + 2 KMnO4 + 5 H2O2... - AP Chemistry - Write the balanced molecular, complete ionic, and net ionic ... - chemistry - Write the overall ionic equation and the net ionic equation for the ...
The Grand Design - Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow (2010) Chapter 7. The Apparent Miracle HE CHINESE TELL OF A TIME during the Hsia dynasty (ca. 2205—ca. 1782 BC) when our cosmic environment suddenly changed. Ten suns appeared in the sky. The people on earth suffered greatly from the heat, so the emperor ordered a famous archer to shoot down the extra suns. The archer was rewarded with a pill that had the power to make him immortal, but his wife stole it. For that offense she was banished to the moon. The Chinese were right to think that a solar system with ten suns is not friendly to human life. Today we know that, while perhaps offering great tanning opportunities, any solar system with multiple suns would probably never allow life to develop. The reasons are not quite as simple as the searing heat imagined in the Chinese legend. In fact, a planet could experience a pleasant temperature while orbiting multiple stars, at least for a while. But uniform heating over long periods of time, a situation that seems necessary for life, would be unlikely. To understand why, let’s look at what happens in the simplest type of multiple-star system, one with two suns, which is called a binary system. About half of all stars in the sky are members of such systems. But even simple binary systems can maintain only certain kinds of stable orbits, of the type shown below. In each of these orbits there would likely be a time in which the planet would be either too hot or too cold to sustain life. The situation is even worse for clusters having many stars. Our solar system has other “lucky” properties without which sophisticated life-forms might never have evolved. For example, Newton’s laws allow for planetary orbits to be either circles or ellipses (ellipses are squashed circles, wider along one axis and narrower along another). The degree to which an ellipse is squashed is described by what is called its eccentricity, a number between zero and one. An eccentricity near zero means the figure resembles a circle, whereas an eccentricity near one means it is very flattened. Kepler was upset by the idea that planets don’t move in perfect circles, but the earth’s orbit has an eccentricity of only about 2 percent, which means it is nearly circular. As it turns out, that is a stroke of very good fortune. Seasonal weather patterns on earth are determined mainly by the tilt of the earth’s axis of rotation relative to the plane of its orbit around the sun. During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, for example, the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. The fact that the earth is closest to the sun at that time—only 91.5 million miles away, as opposed to around 94.5 million miles away from the sun in early July—has a negligible effect on the temperature compared with the effect of its tilt. But on planets with a large orbital eccentricity, the varying distance from the sun plays a much larger role. On Mercury, for example, with a 20 percent eccentricity, the temperature is over 200 degrees Fahrenheit warmer at the planet’s closest approach to the sun (perihelion) than when it is at its farthest from the sun (aphelion). In fact, if the eccentricity of the earth’s orbit were near one, our oceans would boil when we reached our nearest point to the sun, and freeze over when we reached our farthest, making neither winter nor summer vacations very pleasant. Large orbital eccentricities are not conducive to life, so we are fortunate to have a planet for which orbital eccentricity is near zero. We are also lucky in the relationship of our sun’s mass to our distance from it. That is because a star’s mass determines the amount of energy it gives off. The largest stars have a mass about a hundred times that of our sun, while the smallest are about a hundred times less massive. And yet, assuming the earth-sun distance as a given, if our sun were just 20 percent less or more massive, the earth would be colder than present-day Mars or hotter than present-day Venus. Traditionally, given any star, scientists define the habitable zone as the narrow region around the star in which temperatures are such that liquid water can exist. The habitable zone is sometimes called the “Goldilocks zone,” because the requirement that liquid water exist means that, like Goldilocks, the development of intelligent life requires that planetary temperatures be “just right.” The habitable zone in our solar system, pictured above, is tiny. Fortunately for those of us who are intelligent life-forms, the earth fell within it! Newton believed that our strangely habitable solar system did not “arise out of chaos by the mere laws of nature.” Instead, he maintained, the order in the universe was “created by God at first and conserved by him to this Day in the same state and condition.” It is easy to understand why one might think that. The many improbable occurrences that conspired to enable our existence, and our world’s human-friendly design, would indeed be puzzling if ours were the only solar system in the universe. But in 1992 came the first confirmed observation of a planet orbiting a star other than our sun. We now know of hundreds of such planets, and few doubt that there exist countless others among the many billions of stars in our universe. That makes the coincidences of our planetary conditions—the single sun, the lucky combination of earth-sun distance and solar mass—far less remarkable, and far less compelling as evidence that the earth was carefully designed just to please us human beings. Planets of all sorts exist. Some—or at least one—support life. Obviously, when the beings on a planet that supports life examine the world around them, they are bound to find that their environment satisfies the conditions they require to exist. It is possible to turn that last statement into a scientific principle: Our very existence imposes rules determining from where and at what time it is possible for us to observe the universe. That is, the fact of our being restricts the characteristics of the kind of environment in which we find ourselves. That principle is called the weak anthropic principle. (We’ll see shortly why the adjective “weak” is attached.) A better term than “anthropic principle” would have been “selection principle,” because the principle refers to how our own knowledge of our existence imposes rules that select, out of all the possible environments, only those environments with the characteristics that allow life. Though it may sound like philosophy, the weak anthropic principle can be used to make scientific predictions. For example, how old is the universe? As we’ll soon see, for us to exist the universe must contain elements such as carbon, which are produced by cooking lighter elements inside stars. The carbon must then be scattered through space in a supernova explosion, and eventually condense as part of a planet in a new-generation solar system. In 1961 physicist Robert Dicke argued that the process takes about 10 billion years, so our being here means that the universe must be at least that old. On the other hand, the universe cannot be much older than 10 billion years, since in the far future all the fuel for stars will have been used up, and we require hot stars for our sustenance. Hence the universe must be about 10 billion years old. That is not an extremely precise prediction, but it is true—according to current data the big bang occurred about 13.7 billion years ago. As was the case with the age of the universe, anthropic predictions usually produce a range of values for a given physical parameter rather than pinpointing it precisely. That’s because our existence, while it might not require a particular value of some physical parameter, often is dependent on such parameters not varying too far from where we actually find them. We furthermore expect that the actual conditions in our world are typical within the anthropically allowed range. For example, if only modest orbital eccentricities, say between zero and 0.5, will allow life, then an eccentricity of 0.1 should not surprise us because among all the planets in the universe, a fair percentage probably have orbits with eccentricities that small. But if it turned out that the earth moved in a near-perfect circle, with eccentricity, say, of 0.00000000001, that would make the earth a very special planet indeed, and motivate us to try to explain why we find ourselves living in such an anomalous home. That idea is sometimes called the principle of mediocrity. The lucky coincidences pertaining to the shape of planetary orbits, the mass of the sun, and so on are called environmental because they arise from the serendipity of our surroundings and not from a fluke in the fundamental laws of nature. The age of the universe is also an environmental factor, since there are an earlier and a later time in the history of the universe, but we must live in this era because it is the only era conducive to life. Environmental coincidences are easy to understand because ours is only one cosmic habitat among many that exist in the universe, and we obviously must exist in a habitat that supports life. The weak anthropic principle is not very controversial. But there is a stronger form that we will argue for here, although it is regarded with disdain among some physicists. The strong anthropic principle suggests that the fact that we exist imposes constraints not just on our environment but on the possible form and content of the laws of nature themselves. The idea arose because it is not only the peculiar characteristics of our solar system that seem oddly conducive to the development of human life but also the characteristics of our entire universe, and that is much more difficult to explain. The tale of how the primordial universe of hydrogen, helium, and a bit of lithium evolved to a universe harboring at least one world with intelligent life like us is a tale of many chapters. As we mentioned earlier, the forces of nature had to be such that heavier elements—especially carbon—could be produced from the primordial elements, and remain stable for at least billions of years. Those heavy elements were formed in the furnaces we call stars, so the forces first had to allow stars and galaxies to form. Those grew from the seeds of tiny inhomogeneities in the early universe, which was almost completely uniform but thankfully contained density variations of about 1 part in 100,000. However, the existence of stars, and the existence inside those stars of the elements we are made of, is not enough. The dynamics of the stars had to be such that some would eventually explode, and, moreover, explode precisely in a way that could disburse the heavier elements through space. In addition, the laws of nature had to dictate that those remnants could recondense into a new generation of stars, these surrounded by planets incorporating the newly formed heavy elements. Just as certain events on early earth had to occur in order to allow us to develop, so too was each link of this chain necessary for our existence. But in the case of the events resulting in the evolution of the universe, such developments were governed by the balance of the fundamental forces of nature, and it is those whose interplay had to be just right in order for us to exist. One of the first to recognize that this might involve a good measure of serendipity was Fred Hoyle, in the 1950s. Hoyle believed that all chemical elements had originally been formed from hydrogen, which he felt was the true primordial substance. Hydrogen has the simplest atomic nucleus, consisting of just one proton, either alone or in combination with one or two neutrons. (Different forms of hydrogen, or any nucleus, having the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes.) Today we know that helium and lithium, atoms whose nuclei contain two and three protons, were also primordially synthesized, in much smaller amounts, when the universe was about 200 seconds old. Life, on the other hand, depends on more complex elements. Carbon is the most important of these, the basis for all organic chemistry. Though one might imagine “living” organisms such as intelligent computers produced from other elements, such as silicon, it is doubtful that life could have spontaneously evolved in the absence of carbon. The reasons for that are technical but have to do with the unique manner in which carbon bonds with other elements. Carbon dioxide, for example, is gaseous at room temperature, and biologically very useful. Since silicon is the element directly below carbon on the periodic table, it has similar chemical properties. However, silicon dioxide, quartz, is far more useful in a rock collection than in an organism’s lungs. Still, perhaps life-forms could evolve that feast on silicon and rhythmically twirl their tails in pools of liquid ammonia. Even that type of exotic life could not evolve from just the primordial elements, for those elements can form only two stable compounds, lithium hydride, which is a colorless crystalline solid, and hydrogen gas, neither of them a compound likely to reproduce or even to fall in love. Also, the fact remains that we are a carbon life-form, and that raises the issue of how carbon, whose nucleus contains six protons, and the other heavy elements in our bodies were created. The first step occurs when older stars start to accumulate helium, which is produced when two hydrogen nuclei collide and fuse with each other. This fusion is how stars create the energy that warms us. Two helium atoms can in turn collide to form beryllium, an atom whose nucleus contains four protons. Once beryllium is formed, it could in principle fuse with a third helium nucleus to form carbon. But that doesn’t happen, because the isotope of beryllium that is formed decays almost immediately back into helium nuclei. The situation changes when a star starts to run out of hydrogen. When that happens the star’s core collapses until its central temperature rises to about 100 million degrees Kelvin. Under those conditions, nuclei encounter each other so often that some beryllium nuclei collide with a helium nucleus before they have had a chance to decay. Beryllium can then fuse with helium to form an isotope of carbon that is stable. But that carbon is still a long way from forming ordered aggregates of chemical compounds of the type that can enjoy a glass of Bordeaux, juggle flaming bowling pins, or ask questions about the universe. For beings such as humans to exist, the carbon must be moved from inside the star to friendlier neighborhoods. That, as we’ve said, is accomplished when the star, at the end of its life cycle, explodes as a supernova, expelling carbon and other heavy elements that later condense into a planet. This process of carbon creation is called the triple alpha process because “alpha particle” is another name for the nucleus of the isotope of helium involved, and because the process requires that three of them (eventually) fuse together. The usual physics predicts that the rate of carbon production via the triple alpha process ought to be quite small. Noting this, in 1952 Hoyle predicted that the sum of the energies of a beryllium nucleus and a helium nucleus must be almost exactly the energy of a certain quantum state of the isotope of carbon formed, a situation called a resonance, which greatly increases the rate of a nuclear reaction. At the time, no such energy level was known, but based on Hoyle’s suggestion, William Fowler at Caltech sought and found it, providing important support for Hoyle’s views on how complex nuclei were created. Hoyle wrote, “I do not believe that any scientist who examined the evidence would fail to draw the inference that the laws of nuclear physics have been deliberately designed with regard to the consequences they produce inside the stars.” At the time no one knew enough nuclear physics to understand the magnitude of the serendipity that resulted in these exact physical laws. But in investigating the validity of the strong anthropic principle, in recent years physicists began asking themselves what the universe would have been like if the laws of nature were different. Today we can create computer models that tell us how the rate of the triple alpha reaction depends upon the strength of the fundamental forces of nature. Such calculations show that a change of as little as 0.5 percent in the strength of the strong nuclear force, or 4 percent in the electric force, would destroy either nearly all carbon or all oxygen in every star, and hence the possibility of life as we know it. Change those rules of our universe just a bit, and the conditions for our existence disappear! By examining the model universes we generate when the theories of physics are altered in certain ways, one can study the effect of changes to physical law in a methodical manner. It turns out that it is not only the strengths of the strong nuclear force and the electromagnetic force that are made to order for our existence. Most of the fundamental constants in our theories appear fine-tuned in the sense that if they were altered by only modest amounts, the universe would be qualitatively different, and in many cases unsuitable for the development of life. For example, if the other nuclear force, the weak force, were much weaker, in the early universe all the hydrogen in the cosmos would have turned to helium, and hence there would be no normal stars; if it were much stronger, exploding supernovas would not eject their outer envelopes, and hence would fail to seed interstellar space with the heavy elements planets require to foster life. If protons were 0.2 percent heavier, they would decay into neutrons, destabilizing atoms. If the sum of the masses of the types of quark that make up a proton were changed by as little as 10 percent, there would be far fewer of the stable atomic nuclei of which we are made; in fact, the summed quark masses seem roughly optimized for the existence of the largest number of stable nuclei. If one assumes that a few hundred million years in stable orbit are necessary for planetary life to evolve, the number of space dimensions is also fixed by our existence. That is because, according to the laws of gravity, it is only in three dimensions that stable elliptical orbits are possible. Circular orbits are possible in other dimensions, but those, as Newton feared, are unstable. In any but three dimensions even a small disturbance, such as that produced by the pull of the other planets, would send a planet off its circular orbit and cause it to spiral either into or away from the sun, so we would either burn up or freeze. Also, in more than three dimensions the gravitational force between two bodies would decrease more rapidly than it does in three dimensions. In three dimensions the gravitational force drops to ¼ of its value if one doubles the distance. In four dimensions it would drop to ⅛, in five dimensions it would drop to and so on. As a result, in more than three dimensions the sun would not be able to exist in a stable state with its internal pressure balancing the pull of gravity. It would either fall apart or collapse to form a black hole, either of which could ruin your day. On the atomic scale, the electrical forces would behave in the same way as gravitational forces. That means the electrons in atoms would either escape or spiral into the nucleus. In neither case would atoms as we know them be possible. The emergence of the complex structures capable of supporting intelligent observers seems to be very fragile. The laws of nature form a system that is extremely fine-tuned, and very little in physical law can be altered without destroying the possibility of the development of life as we know it. Were it not for a series of startling coincidences in the precise details of physical law, it seems, humans and similar life-forms would never have come into being. The most impressive fine-tuning coincidence involves the so-called cosmological constant in Einstein’s equations of general relativity. As we’ve said, in 1915, when he formulated the theory, Einstein believed that the universe was static, that is, neither expanding nor contracting. Since all matter attracts other matter, he introduced into his theory a new antigravity force to combat the tendency of the universe to collapse onto itself. This force, unlike other forces, did not come from any particular source but was built into the very fabric of space-time. The cosmological constant describes the strength of that force. When it was discovered that the universe was not static, Einstein eliminated the cosmological constant from his theory and called including it the greatest blunder of his life. But in 1998 observations of very distant supernovas revealed that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, an effect that is not possible without some kind of repulsive force acting throughout space. The cosmological constant was resurrected. Since we now know that its value is not zero, the question remains, why does it have the value that it does? Physicists have created arguments explaining how it might arise due to quantum mechanical effects, but the value they calculate is about 120 orders of magnitude (a 1 followed by 120 zeroes) stronger than the actual value, obtained through the supernova observations. That means that either the reasoning employed in the calculation was wrong or else some other effect exists that miraculously cancels all but an unimaginably tiny fraction of the number calculated. The one thing that is certain is that if the value of the cosmological constant were much larger than it is, our universe would have blown itself apart before galaxies could form and—once again—life as we know it would be impossible. What can we make of these coincidences? Luck in the precise form and nature of fundamental physical law is a different kind of luck from the luck we find in environmental factors. It cannot be so easily explained, and has far deeper physical and philosophical implications. Our universe and its laws appear to have a design that both is tailor-made to support us and, if we are to exist, leaves little room for alteration. That is not easily explained, and raises the natural question of why it is that way. Many people would like us to use these coincidences as evidence of the work of God. The idea that the universe was designed to accommodate mankind appears in theologies and mythologies dating from thousands of years ago right up to the present. In the Mayan Popol Vuh mythohistorical narratives the gods proclaim, “We shall receive neither glory nor honor from all that we have created and formed until human beings exist, endowed with sentience.” A typical Egyptian text dated 2000 BC states, “Men, the cattle of God, have been well provided for. He [the sun god] made the sky and earth for their benefit.” In China the Taoist philosopher Lieh Yü-K’ou (c. 400 BC) expressed the idea through a character in a tale who says, “Heaven makes the five kinds of grain to grow, and brings forth the finny and the feathered tribes, especially for our benefit.” In Western culture the Old Testament contains the idea of providential design in its story of creation, but the traditional Christian viewpoint was also greatly influenced by Aristotle, who believed “in an intelligent natural world that functions according to some deliberate design.” The medieval Christian theologian Thomas Aquinas employed Aristotle’s ideas about the order in nature to argue for the existence of God. In the eighteenth century another Christian theologian went so far as to say that rabbits have white tails in order that it be easy for us to shoot them. A more modern illustration of the Christian view was given a few years ago when Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, wrote, “Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, faced with scientific claims like neo-Darwinism and the multiverse [many universes] hypothesis in cosmology invented to avoid the overwhelming evidence for purpose and design found in modern science, the Catholic Church will again defend human nature by proclaiming that the immanent design in nature is real.” In cosmology the overwhelming evidence for purpose and design to which the cardinal was referring is the fine-tuning of physical law we described above. The turning point in the scientific rejection of a human-centered universe was the Copernican model of the solar system, in which the earth no longer held a central position. Ironically, Copernicus’s own worldview was anthropomorphic, even to the extent that he comforts us by pointing out that, despite his heliocentric model, the earth is almost at the universe’s center: “Although [the earth] is not at the center of the world, nevertheless the distance [to that center] is as nothing in particular when compared to that of the fixed stars.” With the invention of the telescope, observations in the seventeenth century, such as the fact that ours is not the only planet orbited by a moon, lent weight to the principle that we hold no privileged position in the universe. In the ensuing centuries the more we discovered about the universe, the more it seemed ours was probably just a garden-variety planet. But the discovery relatively recently of the extreme fine-tuning of so many of the laws of nature could lead at least some of us some back to the old idea that this grand design is the work of some grand designer. In the United States, because the Constitution prohibits the teaching of religion in schools, that type of idea is called intelligent design, with the unstated but implied understanding that the designer is God. That is not the answer of modern science. We saw in Chapter 5 that our universe seems to be one of many, each with different laws. That multiverse idea is not a notion invented to account for the miracle of fine-tuning. It is a consequence of the no-boundary condition as well as many other theories of modern cosmology. But if it is true, then the strong anthropic principle can be considered effectively equivalent to the weak one, putting the fine-tunings of physical law on the same footing as the environmental factors, for it means that our cosmic habitat—now the entire observable universe—is only one of many, just as our solar system is one of many. That means that in the same way that the environmental coincidences of our solar system were rendered unremarkable by the realization that billions of such systems exist, the fine-tunings in the laws of nature can be explained by the existence of multiple universes. Many people through the ages have attributed to God the beauty and complexity of nature that in their time seemed to have no scientific explanation. But just as Darwin and Wallace explained how the apparently miraculous design of living forms could appear without intervention by a supreme being, the multiverse concept can explain the fine-tuning of physical law without the need for a benevolent creator who made the universe for our benefit. Einstein once posed to his assistant Ernst Straus the question “Did God have any choice when he created the universe?” In the late sixteenth century Kepler was convinced that God had created the universe according to some perfect mathematical principle. Newton showed that the same laws that apply in the heavens apply on earth, and developed mathematical equations to express those laws that were so elegant they inspired almost religious fervor among many eighteenth-century scientists, who seemed intent on using them to show that God was a mathematician. Ever since Newton, and especially since Einstein, the goal of physics has been to find simple mathematical principles of the kind Kepler envisioned, and with them to create a unified theory of everything that would account for every detail of the matter and forces we observe in nature. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century Maxwell and Einstein united the theories of electricity, magnetism, and light. In the 1970s the standard model was created, a single theory of the strong and weak nuclear forces, and the electromagnetic force. String theory and M-theory then came into being in an attempt to include the remaining force, gravity. The goal was to find not just a single theory that explains all the forces but also one that explains the fundamental numbers we have been talking about, such as the strength of the forces and the masses and charges of the elementary particles. As Einstein put it, the hope was to be able to say that “nature is so constituted that it is possible logically to lay down such strongly determined laws that within these laws only rationally completely determined constants occur (not constants, therefore, whose numerical value could be changed without destroying the theory).” A unique theory would be unlikely to have the fine-tuning that allows us to exist. But if in light of recent advances we interpret Einstein’s dream to be that of a unique theory that explains this and other universes, with their whole spectrum of different laws, then M-theory could be that theory. But is M-theory unique, or demanded by any simple logical principle? Can we answer the question, why M-theory?
How Does Tap Water Taste in Your State? Many people say water tastes like nothing. At least it should. The truth is, drinking water comes out of our sinks in a wide range of flavors and odors, especially if it hasn’t been through a residential water treatment system. Many of the flavors—ranging from musty to metallic—can be quite off-putting. Recently, we investigated variations in tap water flavor across different regions of the US. We found that thousands of Americans bemoan bad water taste in their Google search bar each month, entering searches like “Why does my tap water taste bitter” or “my water smells like rotten eggs.” The twelve tastes most frequently mentioned are enough to send a shiver down your spine. No wonder bottled water is a $200+ billion industry worldwide. In order of frequency: - Eggs / sulfur - Wet dog In most places, the “eggs / sulfur” profile is the most mentioned, by a wide margin. But we wanted to learn which tastes are unusually popular in different areas, thereby identifying local trends. The following graphic presents those trends in all 50 states and the 26 most populous metropolitan areas. While there was a small but noteworthy trend nationally for references to water tasting moldy and like wet dog, thankfully no specific state or city had an outsized volume of either taste profile. Among the regional trends we spotted: the eggs / sulfur seems most concentrated in the midwest and northeast; both Louisiana and Florida report a similar plastic taste, and America’s sweethearts are Oregon, Colorado and Oklahoma, each claiming “sweet” as the most unusually popular taste in their state. In addition to investigating specific taste profiles, we also measured the volume of searches indicating that local water tastes bad, without specifying details about the taste. Finally, we measured the volume of searches indicating concerns about water safety. While in many cases off-putting flavor and odor do not correlate with water’s cleanliness and safety, we consider concerns about water safety to be a natural part of this discussion. And of course, if there’s any doubt about the safety of your water, speak with your water provider or have it tested for contaminants. For high quality water throughout your home, invest in a premium water filtration system like one of our Chlorostatic® water softeners. In September 2021, we used Google AdWords to analyze 164 nationally popular search terms related to the taste and odor of drinking water, and whether tap water is safe to drink. Our localized results are based on search terms that are disproportionately popular in different areas of the country. For example, search terms related to “eggs / sulfur” were most popular in nearly every state, including California, but the volume of searches related to “bitter” water was disproportionately high in California when compared to search terms in other states. For media inquiries, contact email@example.com Feel free to use this data and research with proper attribution linking to this study. When you do, please give credit and link to https://puronics.com/
BRUSSELS — The international community was deeply divided on how to effectively deal with the potential threat of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Evidence that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein continued to maintain such an arsenal has yet to emerge from the rubble of the recent conflict. Now, beyond the challenge of restoring order and rebuilding a democratic Iraq for the Iraqi people, the challenge for the international community is to find new ways of dealing effectively with WMD elsewhere in the world, without resorting to the use of force. Never before have so many fingers been poised to unleash nuclear weapons. In North Korea, the regime has thrown out International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors and announced its withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). India and Pakistan, which have both carried out nuclear weapons tests, refuse to allow their weapons to be monitored. And in the Middle East, Israel must be convinced that its long-term interests lie in strengthening nonproliferation and should therefore sign up to the NPT. Moreover, a number of countries seem inclined to give nuclear weapons greater prominence in their military strategy. All these factors are a source of grave concern. Biological and chemical weapons, which are relatively simple and inexpensive to produce, also pose acute global threats. Such weapons programs are more easily concealed under cover of perfectly legal activities. Unless effective control mechanisms are implemented, through extensive weapons inspections, there will be a greater risk of chemical and biological weapons falling into the hands of international terrorist networks. All these considerations demand a concerted effort to combat the proliferation of WMD and the consequences for world peace and stability. The Swedish call for a new strategy to combat WMD, actively promoted by the Greek EU presidency, was endorsed by the European Union in April 2003. The EU can now take the lead in the global effort to reduce the threat of WMD. Together with like-minded countries in other parts of the world, we will seek to promote a new strategy against WMD in the United Nations and to restart disarmament negotiations in Geneva. We must now take a number of steps to make our commitment concrete. * The NPT must be strengthened, to deter other countries from starting nuclear weapons programs of their own. Countries pursuing and developing nuclear weapons capabilities must be persuaded to accede to the treaty as nuclear-weapon-free states and permit international monitoring. North Korea must be induced to fully comply with its international commitments concerning the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons in a visible and verifiable manner. * Nuclear-weapons states must be persuaded to live up to their pledges to disarm. These countries have no excuse to delay fulfilling their unequivocal commitment to eliminate their nuclear weapons and an immediate responsibility to ensure that the nuclear-weapons test ban is enforced. * The need for a zone completely free of WMD in the Middle East is more urgent than ever. This could be achieved by intensifying confidence-building measures that already exist within the framework of EU-Mediterranean cooperation, and by creating transparent verification procedures to destroy all WMD in the region. * Negotiations on a binding and verifiable agreement on tactical-nuclear-weapons disarmament must begin immediately. There are large numbers of these smaller weapons in our part of the world, but our knowledge about them is sketchy. These weapons are relatively easy to steal and transport, which makes them particularly attractive to terrorists. * Stronger export controls must be applied to prevent the spread of technologies and materials
The chart above shows the per capita annualized nominal gross domestic product (GDP) in each US region as of the fourth quarter of 2018 in dollars, the change from five years ago, and the per capita GDP ten years prior. Every single region's economy grew both over the past five and past ten years. - The difference between the region with the largest per capita GDP, the Northeast, and the region with the smallest, the South, is $16,514.03 (up from $13,977.10 five years ago and up from $10,516.53 ten years ago). The Northeast and the South had the largest and smallest per capita GDP respectively five years ago while the West and the Midwest had the largest and smallest per capita GDP respectively ten years ago. - The Northeast has 1.28 times the per capita GDP that the South does. The ratio of largest per capita GDP to smallest per capita GDP stayed steady at 1.28 from five years ago and up from 1.23 ten years ago. - All four regions saw their per capita GDP rise in current dollars over the past five years. - All four regions saw their per capita GDP rise in current dollars over the past ten years. - GDP data is from the fourth quarters of 2008, 2013, and 2018. - Census data is from 2000 and 2010. - The data is seasonally adjusted in current dollars. - Growth rates may differ from those provided by the Bureau of Economic Analysis as the BEA's growth rates are based on chained dollars in conjunction with the chain index or the quality index for real GDP. - All figures are rounded to the nearest hundredth. - The Northeastern US consists of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont. - The Western US consists of California, Washington, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Hawaii, Idaho, Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming. - The Midwestern US consists of Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. - The Southern US consists of Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia. In absolute terms, the Midwest saw the smallest increase over the past five years with a growth of $9,650.14. The West had the largest growth with a gain of $16,373.01. Over the past ten years, the South had the smallest increase with a gain of $11,391.48 while the Northeast had the greatest increase with a gain of $20,822.43. In relative terms, the Midwest had the smallest increase over the past five years with a 18.65% rise in per capita GDP while the West had the greatest increase with a 28.32% rise in per capita GDP. Over the past ten years, the South had the smallest growth with a 23.49% rise in per capita GDP while the Northeast had the largest growth with a 37.47% rise in per capita GDP. There were zero regions with a per capita GDP of over $60,000 ten years ago, one region five years ago, and three regions now. On the flip side, there were two regions with a per capita GDP of less than $50,000 ten years ago, one region five years ago, and zero regions now. The Midwest and the South each have a lower per capita GDP now than the Northeast did five years ago. Every region has a higher per capita GDP now than any other region had ten years ago. US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2019. "GDP by State." Accessed July 24, 2019. https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-state. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. "United States Summary: 2010: Population and Housing Unit Counts." Accessed January 23, 2018. https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-1.pdf.
Pygmalion Act 3 Higgins bursts into his mother's sitting room. Mrs. Higgins is writing at a desk in her elegantly decorated parlor. She is waiting for visitors to arrive as it is her at-home-day. Mrs. Higgins scolds Higgins for coming, and tells him to leave as he always offends her visitors. Higgins says he has picked up a girl. Mrs. Higgins hopes it is a love interest, but Higgins says he is not interested in young women and that his idea of a lovable woman is someone just like his mother. He tells her about his project and says that he has invited Eliza to practice at Mrs. Higgins at-home-day. He has instructed Eliza to converse only on two topics, the weather and everyone's health. Higgins jumps up to leave as Mrs. Higgins first guests, Mrs. And Miss Eynsford Hill, arrive. The mother appears reserved and the daughter gay and arrogant. Shaw attributes both of these characteristics to the women's social station of "genteel poverty." Act 3, pg. 70 Higgins attempted escape is unsuccessful. He is introduced and thinks he has meet the pair somewhere. Pickering arrives, followed by Mrs. Eynsford Hill's son, Freddy. Higgins is slightly spooked by these people he cannot quite remember. He is also irritated because his talk with his mother was interrupted. He therefore treats the guests quite rudely by his mother's estimation. Miss Hill commiserates with Higgins by saying that she wishes everyone would say what they really think. Higgins says it would be quite indecent if they did. Eliza arrives, and Higgins covertly indicates to her which woman is his mother, the hostess. Eliza is dressed exquisitely and greets Mrs. Higgins with studied grace. Mrs. Hill introduces her daughter, Clara, and son, Freddy. They are both impressed by Eliza's appearance. During the introduction, Higgins remembers the occasion on which he met the Hills. He swears but is silenced by his mother and retreats in exasperation. Mrs. Higgins asks about the weather, and Liza gives her an intricate scientific answer that causes Freddy to laugh. She then relates a story about her father pouring gin down her aunt's throat to cure her diphtheria. Mrs. Hill is confused by the vulgar terms that Eliza uses. Higgins explains that it is the new small talk. Freddy can barely contain his laughter. Higgins cues Eliza and she rises to leave. Freddy offers to walk her across the park, and she responds in perfect English, "Walk! Not bloody likely [Sensation]. I am going to take a taxi." Act 3, pg. 78 The Hills are shocked by Eliza's use of the vulgar term bloody, but with some coaching by Higgins accept it as part of the new small talk. Clara determines to use it at her next social engagement. Freddy is determined to see Eliza again. The Hills leave, and Higgins eagerly questions Mrs. Higgins on her opinion of Eliza's performance. She says Eliza will never be presentable while she continues to live with Higgins, because his language is so loose. He protests, but when Pickering sides with his mother he accepts the criticism. Mrs. Higgins inquires about the arrangement they have with the girl. After their explanation she cajoles them for playing with a live doll. Higgins replies saying, "You have no idea how frightfully interesting it is to take a human being and change her into a quite different human being by creating a new speech for her. It's filling up the deepest gulf that separates class from class and soul from soul." Act 3, pg. 82 Both Pickering and Higgins are effusive about Eliza's brilliant progress. They have a shouting match in which Pickering describes her skill at the piano and Higgins describes her precocious language acquisition. Mrs. Higgins reminds them that they should consider what they are going to do with this woman who they have educated beyond her social class. They brush off her concern, by saying they will find her some job, and leave discussing plans to take Eliza to the theater. Mrs. Higgins is exasperated and unable to continue writing letters. Near the end of the six-month bet, Pickering and Higgins take Eliza to an exclusive party at an embassy in London. They arrive in style. Eliza wears an evening gown and diamonds. As Higgins is taking off his coat, a smartly dressed, bearded man greets him with open arms. He reminds Higgins that he is Nepommuck, the Hungarian linguistic prodigy and his former student. He says he speaks thirtytwo languages and can place a man anywhere in Europe just by hearing him speak. Nepommuck is called away to translate for a Greek diplomat, and Higgins worries that he may be able to figure out Eliza. Eliza is presented to the Ambassador and his wife. They compliment Pickering on his adopted daughter, and the wife tells Nepommuck to find out everything about her. In the salon, the crowd admires Eliza's strange grace. The Ambassador's wife asks Higgins about Eliza, but is interrupted by Nepommuck who exclaims with pride that Eliza is a fraud. He says she is a Hungarian of royal blood. The Ambassador asks Higgins what he thinks, and he replies that she is an ordinary girl who has been taught to speak by an expert. They are not convinced, and think Higgins is stubborn and obsessed with cockney dialects. The group breaks up and Higgins and Pickering decide the bet has been decided in Higgins favor. The three leave the party.
The Home Language Accreditation Project (HoLA) was a partnership initiative between King Edward V11 School and the charity, Languages Sheffield, also involving the Sheffield Children’s University and the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS) within Sheffield City Council. HoLA was set up in 2011 and ran until December 2017. The aims of the project were to: - raise awareness of heritage languages - celebrate the achievements of bilingual young people - support bilingual young people to gain qualifications in their mother tongue - support Complementary Schools through training and bespoke guidance - facilitate links between Complementary Schools and mainstream schools in order to raise the overall attainment of bilingual young people and support their language learning Many successful activities were organised as part of the project including: enabling young people to gain qualifications at GCSE or A-level in their home language; giving bilingual young people the opportunity to gain ‘Young Interpreters’ Level 1 and Level 2 accreditation; use of the ASDAN Languages Short Course to reward and validate bilingual young people’s learning (especially in languages for which GCSEs do not exist); large annual events at Sheffield Hallam University to celebrate heritage languages and the achievements of the young people who speak them (photos from the end of project celebration event in November 2017 appear throughout this website). See below a short film about the HoLA project:
The stage was set, the seats were filled, and the evening candles lighting the Royal Society’s demonstration theatre were one by one extinguished. As all eyes adjusted to the blackness of the 1705 evening, Francis Hauksbee began to slowly crank the wheel of his contraption, which in turn began to spin a carefully suspended evacuated glass globe. As the globe picked up speed, Francis lightly placed his free hand against the vessel’s surface. To the astonishment and awe of all those gathered for the London evening lecture, along the outlines of Francis’ hand the globe undeniably began to glow a “hauntingly blue hue.” Francis’ machine – it seemed – had created light! Because of his obligations as Sir Isaac Newton’s lab technician, Francis was pulled in too many other directions to spend sufficient time, himself, to unravel the mystery of how his machine had “made light,” but he had done his part. For the Hauksbee machine would drive the research agenda of the brightest mind of the enlightenment for the decades to come. And, step-by-step the mysteries of “electricity” were unraveled. Making electricity (in this case static) seemed easy enough – but could it be transferred or better yet stored? The famous thought experiments of Benjamin Franklin and studies by others using Leyden Jars demonstrated unequivocally that the mystical thing called “electricity” could in fact be collected and stored. But it was the remarkable insights of Alessandro Volta and his “piles” of acid and metal discs that set the stage for another Royal Society evening about 100 years after Hauksbee’s. In 1805, using the then largest battery ever built (800 volta piles) Sir Humphry Davy stunned the evening Royal Society guests with a much, much more powerful form of electrical display. Powered by his battery array, Davy nearly blinded the crowd with a brilliant electric arc created between two charcoal rods that he held in each hand. Using stored electricity, Davy had brought the bright light of day into the darkness of night and thus began the race to wire, then light, the modern world. Although Volta’s batteries had proven useful in demonstrating the ability of current to flow between two “potential differences,” as he called them, it was the connection between magnetic fields and electricity made by Michael Faraday that set the stage for the most prevalent forms of power generation (and electric motors themselves) that we still rely on today. Once realizing that electrical current can induce the creation of a magnetic field, Faraday then worked backwards to demonstrate that by spinning a magnet around an electrical conductor an electric current is produced. With these electromagnetic current generating devices connected to hydraulic dams, steam or combustion engines and eventually to nuclear (and now even wind) turbines, it seemed that electricity could be produced in an endless supply. A newly harnessed force of nature that could transform every home, as long as it had a wire. Now approximately 100 years later, electricity has become almost ubiquitous and considered essential to the developed world. Without it, society as we have come to expect it would rapidly collapse. Having moved past metal wires and power grids to silicon wafers and algorithms, the electricity of our day is “information.” Not simply the storage or transfer of, but rather its creation, and not just by man but increasingly by machine. As in the earliest days of Hauksbee, our “information machines” are still in their infancy, though undeniably generating by themselves a new “current of knowledge” each and every day. With the cognitive computing self-learning systems of IBM’s Watson, to Google’s Deep Mind AlphaGo and many others we are witnessing the earliest beginnings of this type of newly created content, and machine derived decision support. Another example is Google’s Magenta Project, in which the TensorFlow machine learning platform is being used to produce new creative works of music and art. As prophetically imagined by Ada Lovelace while she wrote the code for the very first computer, “from these machines will come new works of creativity and beauty.” It will be these new insights, creative combinations and completely unanticipated contributions that will have been the “electricity of our day” and on which we will seem completely unable to exist not too far into our future. Tragically, we still have about 1.7B that live without access to electricity.
Hey Mike, Is there a way do to this sequence problem without using the “S=n[a1 + a…]” formula? In an arithmetic sequence, each term after the first is found by adding the same number to the preceding term. If the sum of the first six terms of an arithmetic sequence is 78 and the sixth term is 23, what is the second term? A) 3 B) 4 C) 7 D) 10 (The correct answer is 7) Sure! (Although I don’t think you’d see this on the SAT—maybe a Subject Test.) You know that every term in the sequence is the same distance from its adjacent terms. Call that common difference n. Then you can say that the first six terms are: You know those terms add to 78, so solve: If , then you can substitute into the expression we already have for the second term to get the answer. The second term is , so is the answer.
Bulk Modulus – Learn with Solved Numericals & FAQs 2 weeks ago . If you are preparing for BITSAT, JEE Main and VITEEE exams then it is important to cover all the topics from all the sections. To better your preparations we are sharing the article on Bulk Modulus that covers this topic in simple language. Moreover, also find solved problems and FAQs related to the bulk modulus. To understand the concept of bulk modulus let us first understand the various forces such as stress and strain which when applied externally on a body affects the shape and size of the body. In a deformed body the internal force also known as the internal restoring force that is acting per unit area of cross-section is known as stress. The unit of stress is given by Nm-2. Mathematically Stress can be defined as Stress are of three types: Longitudinal, Normal and shearing. For the understanding of bulk modulus we will be concentrating on Normal stress and volume strain. When a force is applied on a body uniformly and normally such that the shape of the body is not changed but the volume of the body is affected is known as normal stress. Strain is defined as the external change in dimension of the body such as length, shape or volume per unit dimension of the body. Stress can be of three types viz linear strain, volume or bulk strain and Shearing strain. On the application of a uniform pressure lets say ∆P across the body, there is a change in the volume of the body denoted by ∆V without change in the shape of a body. This ratio of change in volume to original volume is known as Volume strain Bulk Modulus is defined as the ratio of normal stress by volume strain. Let us assume that on uniform application of pressure ∆P also known as normal stress over a body, there is a change in the volume V of the body given by ∆V without the shape being changed then, Note that the reciprocal of Bulk modulus is known as compressibility. 1.The volume of a solid rubber ball reduced by 25% when subjected to uniform stress of 2 × 106N/m2. Find the bulk modulus for the rubber. Ans: Given ∆P = 2 × 106N/m2 Let the initial volume of the wire be V = 100 m The volume decreases by 25% i.e. new volume = 75 m Thus change in volume (∆V) = 100-75= 25 m Frequently Asked Questions Related to Bulk Modulus Bulk Modulus is used to measure the capacity of a material to withstand the change in its volume or it can be defined as the resistance of a substance to compression. The S.I unit of Bulk Modulus is N/m2 or Nm-2 Hope you understood all thWe hope these notes on Atomic and Molecular mass has helped you understand this concept easily. You should also refer to similar such articles like Ionic Bond, and Kossel-Lewis Approach to Chemical Bonding, and VSEPR Theory to improve your preparation and crack the competative exams! As we all know, practice is the key to success. Therefore, boost your preparation by starting your practice now.
Why Zone a SpacePak Central Air System? Uniform Comfort in Multilevel Construction When two or more levels are connected by an open stairwell or a balcony, the tendency is for the upper level to be too warm and the lower level to be too cold. (manual D, section 1, pg-1) To compensate for this difference in temperature, a second unit can be added, or the mini-duct system can be divided into zones. Energy and Cost Savings Typical HVAC system design is based on both average loads and peak loads. Peak demand is required less than 10% of the seasonal run time (manual J, 8th Edition). Room CFM quantities based on average load requirements will be undersized during times of peak load. A fixed branch damper setting will not balance the cooling (or heating) of the supply air with the room load because the room load continually changes as the outdoor temperature, solar gain and internal loads vary. (manual D, section 1, pg 1) Small Duct High Velocity requires a higher than average investment for a "No Compromise" benefit to the home owner, space is at a premium. Adding multiple units to meet variable load requirements is typically not an option due to space and cost limitations.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 11-12 - Students will learn David was staying in the Palace instead of doing his job as king in battle, which put him in a place to get into trouble. When we aren’t where we are supposed to be, sometimes we can put ourselves in places where it is easier to get into trouble. - Students will learn more sins do not erase previous sins or make things better or easier. - Students will learn it is important for Christians to help each other recognize sin in our lives so we can ask God’s forgiveness and stop sinning. - Students will participate in activities to help them understand what it means to covet and the difference between needs and wants. Guiding Questions: Why are we tempted to sin when we want something we don’t already have and what can we do about it? Materials: sealed envelope for each child – one with $1 bill in it, the others have blank paper, photos of lots of different items, two “signs” – one for “Needs” and the other “Wants” Procedure: Review the story of David and Bathsheba emphasizing the fact that David wanted something that was not his so badly; he would sin to get it. (For children, frame the story as David wanting to pretend Bathsheba was his wife, but she was already another man’s wife. David decided to “steal’ her from the other man. At first, he told himself he was just “borrowing” her, but since he didn’t ask – it was still stealing (no Bathsheba wasn’t a possession, but in that culture women were often thought of in that manner) and then sending her husband to the front lines to be killed. This of course was adding murder to theft (and adultery!), but David convinced himself he hadn’t stolen or murdered at all until Nathan told his parable. It’s really not necessary at this age to go into adultery in grand detail!) Tell students you have an envelope for each one of them (if you don’t have enough for every student – even better – they will be doubly upset!). Tell them when you say, “Go”, they can open their envelopes and keep whatever is inside. After the activity, ask students how they felt when they didn’t get the dollar. Ask the child who has the dollar how he/she would feel if someone “borrowed” his dollar without asking? What if someone took it when he wasn’t looking? Explain coveting means wanting something someone else has so badly, it really bothers you – a lot! Ask students what problems might come up when we covet something. (For younger students ask them what they feel like doing when another child is playing with the toy they wanted to play with at home or school.) You may want to share James 4:1-2 to get them started. Point out that those are all (probably) temptations to sin. Read Philippians 4:19. Explain to students God will provide what we need, but not necessarily what we want. He may bless us with those things, too – but He doesn’t promise us He will. Tell the children many grownups even confuse what they want and what they need. Hold up the various pictures and have students debate whether the various things are wants or needs. With older children, you may want to get really deep and discuss the possibility that God’s goal is for us to be with Him in Heaven and He may decide that need is the only real need we have – everything else is a want. You may want to reassure them with Luke 12:24 and Matthew 7:11 that God will most likely make sure they have enough food to eat, etc.. (Young or very immature children will be upset if they think God doesn’t promise them shelter, etc.) Ask students to think of other things that might confuse people (and fellow students) as to whether they are wants or needs. - When you have something good, and tell/show someone, how would you feel if they were jealous instead of happy for you? How should you react to others who have things you want? - Despite the many things we want in life why do you think that they do not give us true contentment? Where does true contentment come from? Supplemental Activity: If there is time left, ask children to think of godly strategies for what they should do when they realize they want something so badly they are tempted to sin to get it. Give them a few more coping strategies that are age appropriate, so they have plenty of tools they can use.
By convention the launch of the so-called “golden age” of wood-engraved illustration in Britain, also known as “the sixties,” is Edward Moxon’s publication, in May 1857, of Alfred Tennyson’s Poems, with 54 wood-engraved illustrations designed by 8 artists, including the Pre-Raphaelites John Everett Millais, William Holman Hunt, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Although the Moxon Tennyson was neither a commercial nor critical success on first publication, before the decade was out its Pre-Raphaelite designs were considered a touchstone for artistic illustration, a reputation that continues today. Without disputing the significance of this aesthetic achievement, I want to shift critical focus to the Moxon Tennyson’s status as mass-produced work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. My interest here is in how its visual communication was expressed through its reproductive technology at the historical moment of its production and reception. This essay re-positions the Moxon Tennyson as a textual event by reading it in the context of documentary, satiric, and artistic wood-engraved images selected from the crucial six-month period after its publication. By situating the Pre-Raphaelite illustrations for Tennyson’s Poems in relation to representations in the public press of such disparate events as the Art Treasures of the United Kingdom Exhibition in Manchester, the reportage on Indian uprisings at Meerut and Cawnpore, the Matrimonial Causes Act, and the Christy Minstrels show in London, I aim to show the complex ways in which the Moxon Tennyson was a worldly event, caught up in, and contributing to, ways of seeing and knowing in 1857. All books are, of course, textual events, but the publication of the illustrated volume that has come to be known as the Moxon Tennyson (Fig. 1) has proven to be a particularly generative one. 1857—the year in which Edward Moxon published Alfred Tennyson’s Poems with 54 wood-engraved illustrations designed by 8 artists, including the Pre-Raphaelites John Everett Millais, William Holman Hunt, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti—has traditionally been associated with the launch of the period known as “the ‘sixties,” the so-called “golden age” of wood-engraved illustration (Goldman; Reid; White). According to Gleeson White, “The whole modern school of decorative illustrators regard it rightly enough as the genesis of the modern movement” (105). White’s English Illustration: “The Sixties” 1855-70, directed at fin-de-siècle collectors intent on acquiring accessible Pre-Raphaelite art in the form of wood-engraved prints in books and magazines of the 1860s, established a long tradition of viewing the Pre-Raphaelite illustrations to Tennyson’s poems as stand-alone works of art. However, while this approach pays homage to the artistic achievement of the period’s gift books and illustrated periodicals, it also has the effect of dematerializing and decontextualizing the objects of study. The illustrations not only appear extractable from, and separate to, the book they were made for and bound up with, but also—insofar as they are considered in relation to the fine art of painting, rather than the mass art of wood engraving—detached from their mode of production and their conventions of visual communication with readers. In examining 1857 as a historical node, with wood engraving as its expressive medium, I propose to re-position the Pre-Raphaelite illustrations of the Moxon Tennyson within their contemporary visual moment. Viewed through the lens of mechanical reproduction, nineteenth-century visual culture displays two important characteristics: 1) the widespread circulation of images of all kinds in Victorian everyday life, shaping new ways of seeing and knowing; and 2) the blurring of boundaries between the categories of fine and popular art. The wood-engraved images of 1857—whether artistic, as in the Pre-Raphaelite designs for Tennyson’s Poems; documentary, as in the visual journalism of The Illustrated London News; or satiric, as in the political cartoons of Punch—were not authenticated by what Walter Benjamin calls the “aura” of a work of art. Detached from any sanctified location in space or time, Victorian wood-engraved images were given authority by the commercial processes and industrial conditions of mass publishing. The significance of wood-engraved illustrations thus lies in their plurality rather than their uniqueness, and in their ability to bring distant images into the user’s immediate presence (Benjamin 65). Moreover, as Brian Maidment reminds us, wood-engraved images, like other representations pervading every aspect of Victorian daily life, are “ideological formations which, whether consciously or unconsciously, are shaped by the cultural values and social aspirations of both make[rs] and audience” (Reading Popular Prints 11). This essay traces some of the ideological formations of racialized, gendered, and classed identity inscribed in works of wood-engraved art from a single six-month period of mechanical reproduction, May–October 1857. By situating the Pre-Raphaelite illustrations for Tennyson’s Poems in relation to representations in the public press of such disparate events as the Art Treasures of the United Kingdom Exhibition in Manchester, the opening of the British Library, the first Pre-Raphaelite Exhibition in Russell Square, the reportage on Indian uprisings at Meerut and Cawnpore, the Matrimonial Causes Act, and the Christy Minstrels’ show in London, I aim to show the complex ways in which the Moxon Tennyson was a worldly event, caught up in, and contributing to, ways of seeing and knowing in 1857. Wood Engraving: Art, Technology, and Codes of Representation The capacity of wood engraving as a technology of mass production was realized in the late eighteenth century in Thomas Bewick’s artisanal studio in Newcastle. The traditional woodcut method of cutting lines into the side of a plank with a knife had served as the technology for image reproduction in popular street culture’s broadsides and chapbooks for centuries. Bewick’s innovation was to use a graver to dig out the “whites” of a design on the end-grain of a piece of hard wood such as boxwood, notable for its close grain and light color. This methodology resulted in a finely detailed wood engraving, a form of relief reproduction ideally suited to being set up with letterpress type. Bewick’s artisanal method was quickly adapted to the conditions of industrial capitalism, with large engraving firms taking on the reproduction of images for the nineteenth century’s massive commercial outpouring of illustrated books and periodicals. The art of wood engraving in the age of mechanical reproduction was dependent on the division of labor and mediated by manual technologies. After the artist drew his design in reverse on the woodblock, the engraver would cut out the whites, establish shading by a series of cross-hatching and parallel lines, and allow the outlines to stand out in relief, ready for inking and printing. Since the ends of boxwood were small—generally not much bigger than 3” x 5,” and often even smaller—a large image would require a number of woodblocks. These would be bolted together to receive the artist’s design, then taken apart and distributed to various engravers to facilitate speed and efficiency, and finally reunited at press time. Although boxwood was a hard enough grain to withstand the printing process, the woodblocks were usually stereotyped or electrotyped. This process, which involved casting a mould of the block in metal, preserved the original woodblock, while the facsimile could produce multiple copies on high-speed steam presses. While other forms of mechanical reproduction were in use in the nineteenth century, “[t]he era of mass produced woodblock illustration very nearly coincided,” as Sally Mitchell observes, “with Queen Victoria’s reign” (870). Combined with improved technologies for mechanized paper making and steam-powered, multiple-cylinder stereotype printing, the possibilities inherent in wood-engraved reproduction were realized in large print runs of illustrated material at relatively low cost from the 1830s to the 1890s, when photomechanical processes replaced wood engraving as the dominant mode of image reproduction. In 1832, two important pictorial magazines of information and entertainment—the Penny Magazine, the organ of The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, and the Saturday Magazine, the organ of The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge—were launched. Profusely illustrated with wood engravings, these were among the first pictorial magazines to attract and maintain a large periodical readership, and may be seen as marking the beginning of a modern mass culture (Anderson 3). The illustrated format ensured the commercial success of the first popular weeklies to combine image and text: Punch (launched 17 July 1841) and The Illustrated London News (launched 14 May 1842). Although both were mass-circulation periodicals, shaping and reflecting the views of readers through a predominantly visual strategy, their images drew on distinct representational conventions. Punch carried on the longstanding tradition of British satiric illustration, with the “Large Cut” or full-page wood-engraved political cartoon on a topical event forming the definitive key to each week’s issue. In The Illustrated London News (ILN), on the other hand, the wood-engraved lines claimed documentary realism rather than caricature as their representational mode. The weekly illustrations of Victorian social life and topical events in these magazines and other periodicals constructed modern ways of seeing and knowing for a reading nation. By 1857, when Moxon published Tennyson’s illustrated Poems, these large-circulation magazines had established a range of visual codes and conventions, familiar to a broad middle-class readership, which brought news and public events up close and personal in the daily lives of ordinary Victorians. In designing illustrations for Moxon’s edition of Tennyson’s Poems, the Pre-Raphaelite artists realized the poetic potential of the wood-engraved image as a medium for pictorial response to literature. Established in September 1848 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was committed to a visual/verbal and collaborative aesthetic. (On Dante Gabriel Rossetti, see Elizabeth Helsinger, “Lyric Poetry and the Event of Poems, 1870.″) By 1857, the Brotherhood had long been disbanded, but Pre-Raphaelitism as an artistic movement continued to have significant impact on the development of decorative arts in Victorian Britain. (On the impact of the Pre-Raphaelites on the decorative arts, see Morna O’Neill, “On Walter Crane and the Aims of Decorative Art.”) Indeed, during the Long Vacation of 1857, Pre-Raphaelitism’s second phase got underway with the painting of the Oxford Union Debating Hall murals on Arthurian themes.> As literary artists whose paintings were inspired by poetic subjects, the Pre-Raphaelites might seem inevitably interested in the book arts and illustration. Yet it does not necessarily follow that easel painters, used to working in color in a tonal medium, will also be strong in linear black-and-white, or that fine artists accustomed to executive control over every detail of their work could adapt to the more-or-less industrial conditions of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. When Millais, Hunt, and Rossetti accepted the commission from Moxon to illustrate Tennyson’s poetry, they were able to choose their own poem (as long as another artist had not selected the same scene), subject, and style. But here artistic authority over their work was at an end. Having drawn their design on the woodblock provided (the size of which was pre-determined by the printers) they surrendered their work to an engraver selected for them by the Brothers Dalziel. Hired by Moxon to oversee the artistic contents and printing of the illustrated Poems, the Dalziels engraved about 25% of the 54 woodblocks themselves, subcontracting the rest to 5 engravers outside their own firm. From the artist’s point of view, the technology of wood engraving meant the engraver destroyed their original drawing in the process of translating a unique design into a format that could produce multiple copies. In the hands of the engraver, the artist’s drawing on the woodblock was cut out and its nuanced tonal effects interpreted “by the stern realities of black and white” (Dalziels 86n). The resulting relief was set up with the type and printed in ink and paper of the printer’s choosing; the Dalziels, not the artists, approved the impressions. Although illustrators (like authors) had the ability to make some corrections at the proof stage, they ultimately had to operate within the commercial conditions of collaborative authorship and industrial piece-work. In the age of mechanical reproduction and the wood-engraved print, “the presence of the original” could no longer be “the prerequisite to the concept of authenticity” (Benjamin 65). Instead, the bibliographic forms of verification that publishing practices confer on an author’s work became the authenticating structure for an artist’s design. Illustration in the ‘sixties was a mass art designed to be multiple rather than unique. Despite these constraints, Pre-Raphaelite artists insisted on treating illustration on a par with easel painting—thereby blurring the traditional distinctions between fine art and decorative art. They drew “from nature” for their illustrations, using live models, specific landscapes and architectures, and carefully selected domestic objects. Their compositions were the result of detailed studies of bodies, hands, draperies, positions. Rather than resisting the flat plane of the two-dimensional page, they embraced it as a design challenge, eliding the middle ground, focusing on a large central figure, and treating all pictorial details decoratively and symbolically. The final product was often a mini-masterpiece of critical, intellectual, and creative endeavor. The Pre-Raphaelite illustrations for the Moxon Tennyson appalled and delighted Victorian readers for all of these reasons. Collectively, they established an entirely new approach to the art of literary illustration, one that influenced book artists for the remainder of the century and well into the twentieth. John Ruskin, who had been the first art critic to champion the Pre-Raphaelites when they began showing their paintings, was also quick to praise their illustrations when they appeared in print. In an appendix to his Elements of Drawing, published a month after the Moxon Tennyson, Ruskin treated the Pre-Raphaelite designs as genuine works of art, “with which no other modern work can bear the least comparison” (224). Although he quibbled about wood engraving as an adequate reproductive process for fine art, Ruskin essentially acknowledged that the Moxon Tennyson had introduced the wood-engraved image as an art form in the age of mechanical reproduction by naming Rossetti’s “St. Cecily” (Fig. 2) the acme of artistic book illustration. The Moxon Tennyson was published in May 1857, perhaps the most eventful month of an eventful year. In London, the British Library Reading Room opened; for a week, a curious public streamed in for a special open viewing of its domed ceiling, elevated stacks of gilt-spined books, and blue leather reading tables radiating out from its central core of power and knowledge, the librarian’s desk. After this spectacle, the doors closed to all except those holding Readers Tickets, who could access, open, and read books deposited in the National Library—including, of course, Tennyson’s illustrated Poems. Around the corner in Russell Square, the Pre-Raphaelites held the first exhibition devoted solely to their work from 25 May-25 June. Included among the 72 works listed in the catalogue were “Designs on Wood for Tennyson’s Poems.” Rather than either pencil studies for the drawings, or the carved woodblocks themselves, this exhibit consisted of photographs of the illustrations drawn on the woodblock before the engravers had cut out their original lines (D.G. Rossetti II.181n1). May 1857 thus marks some curious moments in Victorian visual culture: books and reading were on view as mass spectacle, while the reproductive art of photography preserved the aura of unique originals, then existing only in multiple prints, in an exhibition of fine art.Meanwhile, on a much larger scale in Manchester, the Art Treasures of the United Kingdom Exhibition—the largest fine-arts exhibition ever held in Britain—opened its doors on 5 May. Urged by a barrage of stories and pictures in the popular press, over 1.3 million cultural tourists from all walks of life visited its galleries over the course of the next five months. Among its many halls were galleries devoted to wood engraving, featuring work by the Brothers Dalziels, and contemporary painting, featuring work by Pre-Raphaelite artists. Propinquity within the exhibition implied another kind of proximate relationship: a kinship between the engraver’s craft and the painter’s art. Housed within the Manchester Exhibition, wood-engraved print and easel painting were constructed as “art treasures” of the nation. This leveling was underscored by the prolific circulation of wood-engraved images of the Exhibition in the form of catalogues, commentaries, periodical articles, and other spin-offs of print culture (Fig. 3). Middle-class consumers who purchased a copy of the Moxon Tennyson that year might well come to see themselves as modest collectors, and to conceive of the book as a portable art gallery of unique multiples designed (and signed) by Pre-Raphaelite artists and engraved (and signed) by artistic national engravers. Far from these national scenes of making, viewing, and reading, a momentous event occurred on the edges of empire. On 10 May 1857 in Meerut, the so-called Indian Mutiny (or first Indian War of Independence) was launched when Bengali troops (Sepoys) revolted against their British officers. The rebellion quickly spread to other parts of India and continued throughout the next year. In the age of mechanical reproduction, the Indian Mutiny was very much a textual event for British readers, a historical narrative made and remade in a wide array of visual and verbal representations. During a year of violence between 1857 and 1858, The Illustrated London News carried these distant events into Victorian homes on a weekly basis. Readers could view wood-engraved maps of the subcontinent; portraits of British officers and Indian rebels; images of soldiers, women, and children; views representing local architecture, costume, and landscapes; and scenes of horrific massacre, execution, and slaughter. Peter Sinnema reminds us that, in order to sell, The Illustrated London News had to be perceived by the public as a guarantor of authenticity in visual and verbal representation: “[a]s a commodity, the news took as a precondition its anchorage in truth” (10). The images published in the ILN therefore claimed realism as their graphic convention, despite the necessary mediation of wood engravers and other makers. In fact, the process of bringing these documentary images of the rebellion to the public was long and complicated. At first, the ILN had to rely on photographs on hand in London representing Indian cities, forts, and settlements referenced in the reports received by telegraph and mail. As the military engagement continued, the newspaper began to receive drawings and maps from British civil servants, sea captains, travelers, and officers on location in India, who mailed in their sketches to the editor (Figs. 4 and 5). In the absence of an artist on site, the ILN had to rely on this ad hoc visual journalism by correspondents, with no means of verification other than that provided in accompanying letters. Translated by engravers into prints for the periodical, each of these images appeared to articulate actual conditions in India through the accepted graphic convention for documentary realism: the black-and-white wood engraving. When launched on 12 May 1842 (Fig. 5), the first issue of The Illustrated London News promised: “[t]he public will have henceforth under their glance, and within their grasp, the very form and presence of events as they transpire, in all their substantial reality, and with evidence visual as well as circumstantial” (“Our Address,” 1; my italics). As Maidment observes, “[s]uch an unequivocal yoking together of the wood-engraved image with realism had never been asserted so forcefully before, and the Illustrated London News capitalized heavily on this assumption, making wood engraving synonymous with claims for documentary accuracy in reportage” (Illustrated London News). Significantly, in this initial Address, it is the multiple prints themselves that guarantee authenticity: the eye (glance) and hand (grasp) of the ILN reader appears to have unmediated access to “substantial reality.” Fifteen years after this inaugural announcement, readers following reportage on the Indian Mutiny had been trained in viewing wood-engraved images in The Illustrated London News as authentic representations of human bodies, actions, and events. It was not, however, until 22 August 1857—three months after the rebellion erupted—that the ILN was able to publish its first wood-engraved illustrations after drawings created on location by British observers in India. Thus, there was always a time lag between articles based on telegraphed information and illustrations arriving later, with more detailed stories, by mail. In this watershed issue of Saturday 22 August, the ILN published a picture representing the “Defensive Operations at the Artillery Laboratory, Meerut” (Fig. 6), together with two related engravings and a recapitulation of the revolt that had occured on 10 May, all under the common title, “The Mutiny in India” (192-93). This visual/verbal reminder of the events surrounding the initial insurrection appeared in print just as the British public was reeling from news recently received of the massacre at Cawnpore through the apparent betrayal of the rebel leader, Nana Sahib. The publication of ”Defensive Operations at the Artillery Laboratory, Meerut” at precisely this moment must have been laden with emotional impact for contemporary readers, innocuous as the image may seem to us. Apparently sketched by a civil servant on location, the picture shows elephants and their native handlers tearing up trees in order to build up the buffers of defense around the compound. Invisible, except to the ILN reader/viewer’s imagination, are the women and children placed for safety in the depicted Meerut artillery laboratory. Nevertheless, the picture and accompanying story recording the successful protection of British civilians on 10 May, must have implied a sad contrast to the more recent reports of Cawnpore, where women and children were allegedly massacred and thrown down a well on 15 July. In terms of wood-engraved prints, visual culture, and ideological discourse, 22 August 1857 was also a critically important publication date at the offices of the comic magazine, Punch. Unlike the Illustrated London News, Punch did not claim documentary realism for its illustrations. Rather, the Large Cut, or central political cartoon, interpreted the most significant events of the week, as reported in the Times. Here the visual tradition of caricature, rather than graphic realism, demonstrates the role played by wood-engraved prints in forming and influencing public opinion. Extremely popular with readers, the Large Cut (a pun on technological method and satiric means), “represented,” as Patrick Leary comments, “Punch’s claim to a kind of serious influence, rooted in allegory and addressing prominent public issues and events” (35). For nearly half a century, John Tenniel (also known for his illustrations of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland), drew the political cartoon that formed the center of the magazine’s weekly issues. Surely the most famous political cartoon of Tenniel’s long career was the Large Cut—actually, a double-page fold-out illustration—published on 22 August 1857, in response to news of the massacre at Cawnpore. Entitled “The British Lion’s Vengeance on the Bengal Tiger,” the print depicts the landscape of the subcontinent, with the king of beasts leaping on a tiger who has struck down a woman and infant (Fig. 7). The image, which was copied, imitated, reproduced, and disseminated far beyond the Punch issue, provides us with a material trace of a national response with international impact. At this late date, in our own digital, televisual, and cinematic visual culture, it is difficult to grasp the social effect a wood-engraved print in a weekly magazine could have. However, as Frankie Morris’s research has shown, “[t]he cut was taken up as a symbol of retribution, was reproduced on banners (as shown in Tenniel’s double-page cut of the week following), and was so effective that. . . the authorities feared that public opinion might force them into measures more extreme than those they were prepared to take.” The image soon made its way from print to performative venues of visual culture. The Standard Theater’s Christmas pantomime that year concluded with “all parties . . . entrapped in Punch’s picture of ‘The British Lion attacking the Bengal Tiger,’ headed ‘Caught at Last.’” By early 1858 The Illustrated London News could declare that a copy of Tenniel’s “noble engraving” from Punch “is in every household” (Morris 63), a formative part of everyday life and national opinion in a tumultuous year. If the Punch Large Cut for 22 August 1857 became emblematic of the Indian Mutiny and British national feeling, it also came to represent the pinnacle of the artist’s achievement in 50 years of black-and-white illustration. In 1911, when an interviewer from the Daily Telegraph, congratulating a blind Tenniel on his 91st birthday, turned the talk to his career, he immediately adverted to the iconic cartoon: “‘I should like to ask you now, Sir John, whether you did not feel a savage thrill when you drew ‘The British Lion’s Vengeance on the Bengal Tiger’.” Tenniel’s reply is illuminating: ‘‘‘Well, perhaps I did; but you see it was all in a week’s work. Yet I recollect, now that you mention it, that I was interpreting the feeling that swayed us all at that stirring time’” (“Sir John Tenniel”). Neither artist nor reporter noted the slippage transposing “savagery” from Indian miscreants to British patriot. The nostalgic retrospective highlights the Punch print’s contradictory status within the ideological formations of Victorian visual culture: savage and noble, multiple and unique, popular cartoon and national art treasure. As reported by the Daily Telegraph, Tenniel’s memory of the textual event highlights some of the key features of wood engraving in 1857 that this essay is exploring. Significantly, the drawing “was all in a week’s work” for the artist. One of the 2,300 political cartoons Tenniel drew on the woodblock for engraving and publication in Punch, “The British Lion’s Vengeance on the Bengal Tiger” came out of an industrial economy of competitive newspaper production and circulation. Rather than a decision in the artist’s purview, as in the illustrations for the Moxon Tennyson, the subject of the political cartoon was determined in lengthy debate by staff around the Wednesday night Punch table—a debate that necessarily considered commerce and readership as well as national opinion. As Punch co-founder and editor Mark Lemon recalled, “although as a rule funny Large Cuts sold best, a ‘fighting cut’ like the ‘Bengal Tiger’ could boost circulation considerably” (qtd. in Leary 43). Readers, therefore, were also collaborators, both as consumers and as part of the mass “feeling” or public opinion that Tenniel and the Punch staff aimed to interpret, but also helped to shape. Yet while alluding to the commercial concerns of mass distribution, the Telegraph article simultaneously situates Tenniel’s memorable Large Cut within an artistic discourse first signaled by the Illustrated London News. Displayed in “every household,” the Punch cartoon is a “noble engraving,” a cherished work of art—perhaps even a national treasure—by the illustrator who was the first Briton to be knighted for black-and-white work of this kind. If, thanks to the liminal status yet ubiquitous presence of wood engraving in 1857, the lines between art and industry were far from clear, the lines of power could also shift. Notably, despite its caption—“The British Lion’s Vengeance on the Bengal Tiger”—Tenniel’s cartoon does not actually accord immediate victory to the king of beasts. Rather, the drawing represents the lion’s attack in mid-flight, and the two adversaries appear almost equally matched. With the outcome of the rebellion still uncertain in August 1857, such an image was, perhaps, politic if not prescient. Nevertheless, if the winner is unclear in the Punch interpretation of events, what is at stake is not: white middle-class motherhood and all the patriotic sanctities this domestic icon represents for the British nation. Lying under the tiger’s paws, the inert bodies of a half-naked woman and baby imply that British values have been ravaged by savage ferocity. In this interpretation of public feeling, the Punch cut registers contemporary nationalism, paternalism, and racism. The allegorical roles line up according to deeply inscribed black-and-white values: the noble British avenger, the savage native violator, the victimized and helpless mother and child. However, if the “noble engraving” is taken off the wall of the Victorian household, removed from our 21st-century gallery of historical prints, and returned to its actual context within the Punch issue for 22 August 1857, another narrative emerges. Less focused on black/white racial divisions at the edge of the empire, this story is colored by male/female gender relations within British patriarchal culture. In this scenario, the white middle-class woman no longer represents purity, frailty, and innocence abroad, but rather a clear and present danger to the power and authority of British men at home. Contemporary masculine anxiety about the agitation for women’s rights was metonymically captured in the popular press in the visual image of the crinoline—the skirt that took up more public space than a woman had any right to take. The issue featuring the virile British Lion in its Large Cut also reports, in “Punch’s Essence of Parliament,” on the passing of the Matrimonial Causes Act in the House of Lords on Thursday 13 August 1857. (On the Matrimonial Causes Act, see Kelly Hager, “Chipping Away at Coverture: The Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857.″) “The more Mr. Punch reflects,” according to the collective editorial voice ventriloquized through the magazine’s iconic figure, “the more convinced he is that Woman is the great impediment to man’s living in peace and amity with his fellow man” (“Punch’s Essence of Parliament” 71). This reflection would not have been a surprise to the Victorian reader. Throughout 1857, Punch was vigorously engaged in lampooning “Crinolineomania,” a means of attacking the emerging women’s rights movement through the visual image of female fashion. As Julia Thomas points out, “Punch seems to have perceived the crinoline as a threat, and one, moreover, that was never separate from questions of female education and emancipation” (Pictorial Victorians 80). Significantly, in Tenniel’s Large Cut for 22 August 1857, the victimized body representing violated British womanhood is not wearing a crinoline; her outer garments appear to have been shredded, leaving her with minimal covering. However, in the pages surrounding the Large Cut, image and text repeatedly use the comic trope of the crinoline to attack middle-class women’s pretensions to power and authority. Indeed, Punch even plays this card in conjunction with references to the military engagement in India, where peace and amity did not appear to depend on the absence of women. Immediately after “The British Lion’s Vengeance on the Bengal Tiger” is a long article headed by an inset wood engraving titled “Our National Defences” (Fig. 8). Depicting an army of crinolined women using parasols as shields, the decorated capital (a “T” flying on the women’s banner) introduces a topical news item, beginning: “The drafting of some thirty thousand troops for India has, of course, revived the cry about our national defencelessness. . . .” This allusion to an actual danger then moves into Mr. Punch’s tongue-in-cheek proposal that “England should rely on the protection of its women. Encased as they are now in whalebone and in steel, they are thoroughly well armed to act on the defensive, and surrounded by their wide circumference of petticoat, it is clear that they are quite secure from close attack” (“Our National Defences” 79). The default mode of misogynist satire blinds Mr. Punch to the ironic relationship between Crinelomania and Cawnpore, where British women’s skirts had not secured them from close attack. Juxtaposed to “The British Lion’s Vengeance on the Bengal Tiger” on the previous page, and to the newspaper reports about the violent deaths of middle-class British women that the Large Cut referenced, Punch’s satire in “Our National Defences” carves out some of the ideological fissures and faultlines confronting readers in 1857. All through the summer and autumn months of 1857, periodicals were conveying news of events in India, together with debates on the rights of women, critiques of female fashion, reports on the Art Treasures of the United Kingdom Exhibition, and reviews of performances, such as the Christy Minstrels at St. James’s Theater. This miscellany of topical reading matter and wood-engraved prints from 1857 provides a rich context for our return to the Moxon Tennyson as a textual event in its own historical moment. With its nationalist themes, focus on female subjects, and incidental orientalism, the collection’s Pre-Raphaelite pictures emerge as much more than the launch of a new illustrative style by an avant-garde group of artists. In the context of its own time and place, the black-and-white lines of letterpress and engraving are ineluctably caught up in “the inscription of values in word and image” (Thomas) circulating in Victorian print and visual culture. George Meredith’s omnibus essay in The Westminster Review in October 1857 highlights how a reader could inscribe contemporary ideologies of race and gender in the black-and white illustrations for Tennyson’s Poems. While noting the generally negative public reception (and poor sales) of the Moxon Tennyson, Meredith follows Ruskin’s lead in praising the unconventional and thought-provoking art of “the three chiefs of the pre-Raphaelites” (590). A prevailing orientalism, heightened by months of reportage on current events in India, illuminates his readings of the book’s “eastern” images, including Hunt’s for “Recollections of the Arabian Nights” (Figs. 9 and 10) and Millais’s for “A Dream of Fair Women” (Fig. 11). Although Meredith purports to assess the illustrations on aesthetic grounds, as meet companions to Tennyson’s “exquisitely pictorial” art, he actually holds them to the standard of journalistic truth in reportage—that is, visual accuracy inscribed in wood-engraved lines, authenticated by on-location knowledge. According to these standards, Hunt succeeds, where Millais fails. Attributing an element of documentary realism to the former, Meredith claims that in Holman Hunt’s “Recollections of the Arabian Nights,” “Oriental Kief is given with the hand of one who knows the East. We wish he had made us a present of the Persian girl as well” (591). Enhancing Hunt’s images of Oriental langor and luxury with the two elements needed to complete the stereotype—kief (marijuana) and a female beauty with “argent-lidded eyes /Amorous” (Tennyson 18)—Meredith credits these illustrations by Hunt, who had traveled in the middle east, with the stamp of the eye-witness report, simultaneously underscoring the role played by the Orient in the Victorian erotic imaginary. Although Meredith mourns the absence of the Persian girl from the collection of female subjects in the Pre-Raphaelite illustrations for Tennyson’s Poems, he objects strongly to the actual representation of another middle-eastern beauty: Cleopatra (Fig. 11). Without noting the irony of his critique, Meredith faults the black-and-white wood engraving of Millais’s design for “A Dream of Fair Women” for its representation of skin color. The illustration shows the Queen of Egypt in the dramatic act of applying the asp to “[t]he polish’d argent of her breast” (Tennyson 156). Perhaps in tribute to Tennyson’s intertext, Chaucer’s Legend of Good Women, Millais depicts Cleopatra sitting in an English grove wearing a vaguely medieval costume, rather than in a desert scene attired in robes associated with the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. However, it is not the anachronistic costume or landscape of Millais’s Cleopatra, but rather her dark face, that Meredith cites as inauthentic. This is despite the fact that the artist’s representation clearly responds to the poet’s description of the queen’s “flashing. . . smile,” “swarthy cheeks and bold black eyes” (Tennyson 155). In keeping with nineteenth-century Euro-centric traditions of representation, whose logic decreed that the Ancient Egyptians must have been Caucasian or they could never have built their civilization (Nelson 50), Meredith, in common with other contemporary art critics, “could not see aesthetic beauty in black features” (Marsh 15). Arguing that “Cleopatra was a daughter of Ptolemy, a Greek; and [that] the Egyptian climate would never have burnt and burnished her white blood to anything like the extent insisted upon by the artist,” Meredith complains: “She is absolutely made to point with a black finger to a black breast, which no sensible aspick [sic] would touch. . . . Mr. Millais has, moreover, made her expose her teeth—doubtless to get a little light into his drawing; but it wears the aspect of a curious case of insistence, as if the glorious beauty must not only be black like Dinah, but grin in sisterhood” (592). Recognizing that a wood-engraving can only show color by means of fine parallel lines and cross hatches in relative distances from each other, and in contrast to the dug-out “whites” left un-inked on the woodblock, Meredith nevertheless condemns the black-and-white print for its representation of skin tone. In aligning Millais’s Queen of Egypt with the stereotypical “Dinah,” a slang term for a black woman or servant, and the stock character of minstrel shows, Meredith simultaneously associates Millais’s art with the traditions of popular culture and denies his dark subject any royal beauty. To be beautiful, Cleopatra must be white—a technical impossibility, in wood engraving as in life. Tellingly, the black-and-white lines of Millais’s illustration confirm an entrenched stereotype for the observer. For a portrait of Cleopatra, the guarantee of authenticity cannot be eye-witness testimony; it can only rest on representation itself—literally, on multiples generated out of multiples, on copies rather than originals. “Historic and intuitive evidence,” the reviewer assures artist and reader, “tells us that the Serpent of old Nile was fair. The most destructive women are always fair” (Meredith 592). Hovering behind this critic’s evaluation of Millais’s Cleopatra is the misogynist attitude recorded in Punch attributing the destruction of masculine peace to fair British women. But also discernible is the image of the abject black woman, the de-sexualized, comic figure of the standard minstrel show, then playing to popular acclaim in London. After eight years of success in New York, the Christy Minstrels opened in St. James’s Theater on 3 August 1857, where they entertained audiences for the next twelve months with song, dance, and comic dialogue. Images of the minstrels and their stock characters circulated throughout print culture that year in multiple forms, from wood-engraved prints to photographs, jostling with contemporary anti-slavery posters and broadsides for representation of the black face (Fig. 12). The Moxon Tennyson was printed in 10,000 copies in its first edition. In order to preserve the original woodblocks from the wear and tear such multiple printings might cause, they were, as were most boxwood blocks in the second half of the century, duplicated using a process of electrolysis that created metal facsimiles. In other words, the illustrations of the Moxon Tennyson were printed from electrotypes, or what we conventionally call “stereotypes”—a term that actually refers to an earlier technology for making facsimiles of woodblocks from moulds rather than electrical processes—that is, the systemic, widespread reproduction of preformed conceptions. While we may no longer grasp the stereotypes that literally constructed beauty, victimization, predation, comedy, or violence in Victorian wood engravings, we can read some of their complex ideological formations when we examine them in context. As J. Hillis Miller observes, if we read images and words separately, we miss “the meanings and forces generated by their adjacency” (9). As I hope I have shown, the technology of reproduction is also crucially important to what we see, and how we see it. In addition to the adjacency of image and words, we need to be alert to the adjacency of events and the ways in which these were represented and circulated to Victorian readers. Nevertheless, as technologies change, so too do structures of representation and ways of seeing and knowing. Dear Reader, you are scanning this article in pixels on a screen, and the images and texts it reproduces are not only adjacent to, and juxtaposed against, other images and texts on the BRANCH timeline, but also enmeshed in the virtually infinite representations of the World Wide Web. Although we can never see with the eyes of 1857, or grasp our Victorian pages with the hands of 1857, reading words and images in their “now-time” of reception, and understanding the social, technological, and material conditions of their production, allows us to glimpse into the forces that shaped them and the meanings that branched out of them. Each of the textual events I have been tracing through the black-and-white lines of Victorian wood engraving, so different in kind, impact, and duration, is not simply a node on a timeline, but rather a network of associations traveling through time and space—textual events whose outcomes are still in process, and whose reverberations continue to touch our lives. HOW TO CITE THIS BRANCH ENTRY (MLA format) Kooistra, Lorraine Janzen. “The Moxon Tennyson as Textual Event: 1857, Wood Engraving, and Visual Culture.” BRANCH: Britain, Representation and Nineteenth-Century History. Ed. Dino Franco Felluga. Extension of Romanticism and Victorianism on the Net. Web. [Here, add your last date of access to BRANCH]. Anderson, Patricia. The Printed Image and the Transformation of Popular Culture 1790-1860. Oxford: Clarendon, 1991. Print. Benjamin, Walter. “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” The Nineteenth-Century Visual Culture Reader. Ed. Vanessa R. Schwartz and Jeannene M. Przyblyski. New York: Routledge, 2004. 63-72. Print. B. W. W. “The Christy Minstrels.” Rev. Theatrical Journal 19.975 (August 1858): 262. British Periodicals Database, C19: The Nineteenth Century Index. Pro-Quest. Web. 9 July 2012. Cassell, John. John Cassell’s Art Treasures Exhibition: Containing Engravings of the Principal Masterpieces of the English, Dutch, Flemish, French, and German Schools, with Biographical Sketches of the Painters, and Critical Notices of Their Production. London: W. Kent, 1858. Print. “Christy’s Minstrels.” Rev. Musical Gazette 2.32 (8 August 1857): 377. British Periodicals Database, C19: The Nineteenth Century Index. Pro-Quest. Web. 9 July 2012. Curtis, Gerard. Visual Words: Art and the Material Book in Victorian England. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2002. Print. Dalziel, Edward and George Dalziel. The Brothers Dalziel: A Record 1840-1890. London: Methuen, 1901. Rept. London: B.T. Batsford, 1978. Print. Goldman, Paul. Victorian Illustrated Books 1850-1870: The Heyday of Wood-engraving. London: British Museum, 1994. Kooistra, Lorraine Janzen. Poetry, Pictures, and Popular Publishing: The Illustrated Gift Book and Victorian Visual Culture 1855-1875. Athens: Ohio UP, 2011. Print. Leary, Patrick. The Punch Brotherhood: Table Talk and Print Culture in Mid-Victorian London. London: The British Library, 2010. Print. Maidment, Brian. The Illustrated London News. Dictionary of Nineteenth-Century Journalism. C19: The Nineteenth Century Index. Ed. Laurel Brake and Marysa Demoor. Pro-Quest LLC. Web. 8 June 2012. —. Reading Popular Prints 1790-1870. Manchester: Manchester UP, 2001. Print. “Our National Defences.” Punch 33 (22 August 1857): 79. Print. “Punch’s Essence of Parliament.” Punch 33 (22 August 1857): 71. Print. Marsh, Jan, ed. Black Victorians: Black People in British Art 1800-1900. Aldershot: Lund Humphries, 2005. Print. [Meredith, George]. “Belles Lettres and Art.” The Westminster Review 68.134 (October 1857): 585-604. C19 Index of British Periodicals. 2008 ProQuest LLC. Web. 24 June 2012. Miller, J. Hillis. Illustration. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1992. Print. Mitchell, Sally. Victorian Britain: An Encyclopedia. New York: Garland, 1988. Print. Morris, Frankie. Artist of Wonderland: The Life, Political Cartoons, and Illustrations of Tenniel. Charlottesville: U of Virginia P, 2005. Print. Nelson, Charmaine. “Vénus Africaine: Race, Beauty and African-ness.” Black Victorians: Black People in British Art 1800-1900. Ed. Jan Marsh. Aldershot: Lund Humphries, 2005. 46-56. “Our Address.” Illustrated London News 1.1 (Saturday May 14th, 1842): 1. Print. Reid, Forrest. Illustrators of the Eighteen Sixties: An Illustrated Survey of the Work of 58 Artists (1928). New York: Dover, 1975. Print. Rossetti, Dante Gabriel. Correspondence of Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Vol. II. The Formative Years, 1855-1862. Ed. William E. Fredeman. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer, 2002. Print. Ruskin, John. The Elements of Drawing. (1857). Intro. by Lawrence Campbell. New York: Dover, 1971. Print. Sinnema, Peter W. Dynamics of the Printed Page: Representing the Nation in The Illustrated London News. Aldershot: Ashgate, 1998. Print. “Sir John Tenniel, who celebrated his 91st birthday yesterday.” Photo and story excerpted from The Daily Telegraph and inserted beside “The British Lion’s Vengeance on the Bengal Tiger” from 22 August 1857, copy of Punch 33 held in the Pratt Library, University of Toronto, Special Collections. Print. Tenniel, John. “The British Lion’s Vengeance on the Bengal Tiger.” Punch 33 (22 August, 1857): 64. Print. Tennyson, Alfred. Poems. Illustrated. (1857). Facs. London: Scolar, 1976. Print. “The Mutiny in India.” Illustrated London News 875 (22 August 1857): 192-93. Print. Thomas, Julia. Pictorial Victorians: The Inscription of Values in Word and Image. Athens: Ohio UP, 2004. Print. White, Gleeson. English Illustration: “The Sixties”: 1855-70. (1897). Bath: Kingsmead Reprints, 1970. Print. Wood, Marcus. “Minstrelsy and the ‘Ethiopian’ and ‘Nigger’ songsters.” The Poetry of Slavery: An Anglo-American Anthology 1764-1865. Ed. Marcus Wood. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2003. 685-93. RELATED BRANCH ARTICLES See Brian Maidment for a history of the traditions of caricature and realism in Victorian prints, and an analysis of their respective codes of communication and associated ideological values. Literary illustration in both books and periodicals has, of course, a long history of its own representational strategies and conventions; to rehearse this history exceeds the scope of this paper, which takes as its starting point the generally accepted view that the Pre-Raphaelite approach to illustration in the Moxon Tennyson signaled a new departure in pictorial interpretation of poetry. In addition to Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the Oxford Union Debating Hall murals were painted by the young William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, among others. Although originally intended for Christmas sales, the illustrated Poems missed its market by some months, owing to delays to the publisher’s production schedule occasioned by the illustrations. For a fascinating analysis of the British Library Reading Room in relation to Victorian visual culture, see Gerard Curtis, Visual Words: Art and the Material Book in Victorian England. As is well known, Tennyson’s illustrated Poems did not sell well or immediately achieve critical acclaim when issued by Moxon. However, when issued by Routledge the following Christmas of 1858, the book sold well as a guinea gift-book, and continued to do so for the next decade; by 1860 it was already being hailed by critics as the benchmark for wood-engraved book illustration. For more details, see Lorraine Janzen Kooistra, Poetry, Pictures, and Popular Publishing: The Illustrated Gift Book and Victorian Visual Culture 1855-1875. For a detailed discussion of Sir Joseph Noel’s famous easel painting on the subject of the Indian Mutiny, In Memoriam, in the context of Victorian visual culture, see Julia Thomas’s chapter in Pictorial Victorians. The Illustrated London News had a foreign correspondent /visual journalist based in Hong Kong who also sent in images based on Indian immigrants in that corner of the empire. John Tenniel’s first cartoon appeared in Punch in 1851, and his last in 1901; in these five decades he produced a total of 2,300 woodblock designs (Morris 225). See Figs. 3 and 12 for contemporary images of women wearing skirts with crinolines at the Art Treasures Exhibition and (in drag) in minstrel shows. In “Minstrelsy and the ‘Ethiopian’ and ‘Nigger’ Songsters,” Marcus Wood reproduces some of the songs of minstrel shows; “De New York Nigger,” “Black Sam,” and “Long Time Ago” each refer to “Dinah.” As Wood observes, the “popular audience was a transatlantic one, and by the mid-nineteenth century the stars of North American minstrelsy, no less than the big stars of abolition, toured Britain” (685). Although the “Ethiopian Serenaders” had played in St. James’s Theater as early as 1846, August 1857 marks the first British performance of the Christy Minstrels, whose show was considered both more cultured and more authentic than the earlier troupe’s. As B. W. W.’s review for the Theatrical Journal recorded a year later, when the Minstrels were about to depart for a European tour: “It is not only the admiration of the general public that they can pride themselves upon having secured during their sojourn amongst us; persons of the highest rank in this country have been to witness their performances, and to appreciate them.” See also the review of the “Christy’s Minstrels” in the Musical Gazette of August 1857.
Learning Taken to a New Dimension As 3D technology wins over students, vendors are finding ways to make it more accessible, and teachers more intriguing ways to use it. While 3D technology’s first recorded use dates back to the 1800s, its popularity first surged in the 1950s with the rise of 3D films that paired the now classic red and cyan filter system with cardboard specs. Today, a state-of-the-art update to the technology from Texas Instruments called Digital Light Processing (DLP) uses millions of microscopic mirrors to reflect light and create the three-dimensional effects via a single lens projector. In movie theaters and television production, it has become—if not yet ubiquitous—increasingly prolific. In education, a newer frontier for the technology, its use has grown considerably over the past two years. Since T.H.E. Journal last wrote about 3D technology in K-12 education a little more than a year ago, the number of brand manufacturers now using DLP chips to create affordable 3D classroom projectors has doubled to 18. Consequently, more and more schools are equipping their classrooms with this technology. Complete 3D implementation can be expensive. In fact, so far many of schools that have pioneered its use have done so in partnership with vendors. Nevertheless, some of them have found intriguing ways to help their students learn and overcome obstacles to implementation. When other schools still waiting to make the transformation are ready, they’ll have the experience of several trailblazing schools and districts to call upon. With 28,000 K-12 students and 54 schools, the Boulder Valley School District (CO) was the first, and is still the largest, district to implement 3D, experimenting with the technology in four of its schools, including an elementary, a middle, three high school classrooms and a day school and treatment center for kids with special needs. According to Kristin Donley, a science teacher and STEM instructor at Boulder Valley’s Monarch High School, the implementation of 3D in her classroom has allowed her students to become much more adept at understanding abstract information. “I teach mostly biology and chemistry and a lot of that information is hard to visualize, so the 3D really helped them see in much more detail what I was trying to teach them,” says Donley. “As they would do an essay question about molecular processes, for example, they were able to recall details much better from a 3D representation versus a 2D and were able to put those details in their essays.” Donley notes that students also were more likely to notice details and enjoy correcting mistakes they found: During a 3D video on meiosis cell division they realized spindle fibers were attached at the wrong points, an unintentional error. “The kids were able to identify that, so they were able to jump to a higher level of understanding based on that video,” Donley says. “Then they started asking much deeper questions about the content much quicker. As far as motivation, you could hear a pin drop.” According to Len Scrogan, a former Boulder Valley director of instructional technology and library media and consultant with Texas Instruments, although stereoscopic 3D is indeed compelling for student learning, its power goes beyond just the “wow” factor of the visualization. “What happens with 3D in the classroom is the closer you bring it to the learner, the more they stop, totally focus, and want to understand a whole new world they haven’t seen,” Scrogan says. “We see it in all our schools and in our most difficult classrooms, including our lockdown schools. I call it the ‘ladybug effect.’ The closest thing I can think of is when you were a child and you had a little ladybug in the palm of your hand. You spent the time to investigate and to care.” For those students who are primarily visual learners, seeing a concept come to life in 3D and viewing it from different perspectives can promote a new understanding of material, says Jodi Szuter, sales manager of XpanD, a manufacturer of active shutter 3D glasses, which use technology that helps create a realistic illusion of depth perception for the wearer. “Just about every subject can be taught more effectively in 3D, but in particular subjects like geometry and biology, where you’re dealing with 3D shapes and objects,” Szuter says. Ocoee Middle School in metropolitan Orlando, FL, is an official State of Florida Demonstration School for Technology that has been using 3D in its science and math classes for the last 18 months. According to Ocoee Principal Sharyn Gabriel, teachers have noted improvements in student behavior and an increased interest in learning. “We have definitely seen significant anecdotal evidence about engagement,” Gabriel says. “(3D has) a way that’s engaging for kids and to put things in their hands without putting things into their hands. I can’t afford to put frogs in their hands or robots or DNA strands, but this does that without that cost. My teachers love it and their biggest concern is, ‘Give us more!’” To make sure the technology was worth the investment, the school participated in a pilot program with 3D AVRover, which provides a mobile 3D solution. Equipped with all the components needed to show 3D, including a projector, computer, software, glasses, educational content, and an integrated audio system, Ocoee’s math and science teachers have been able to share four units that can be rolled from classroom to classroom. Since budgetary restrictions can prevent schools from investing in new technology, dipping a toe in the water with one or two mobile units and gradually implementing more over time is one way schools can go forward with 3D, says Doug Smith, president of AVRover. “A large school district that has 30 schools might start by buying one of our systems and bringing it in with all the content and viewing the content to see how appropriate it is to the classroom,” Smith says. “They might match it to their standards or how they’re trying to teach, see whether it fits into their lesson plans, and, if it does, they would implement it.” Gabriel says 3D can also help schools cut costs without having to eliminate valuable learning experiences. Instead of dissecting live frogs in a biology class, for example, students can experience virtual dissection via an interactive 3D representation. Kids can pull the virtual frog apart, explore its anatomy, put it back together, and gain a deep understanding of the anatomy—all the while saving the school the expense of dissection frogs (not to mention countless amphibian lives). A Calming Influence Located in Dallas, the Shelton School is the largest private school in the US for children with learning differences, including dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and speech and language disorders. Like Ocoee, Shelton has used 3D for approximately 18 months, also as part of a pilot program with a vendor (in this case, Texas Instruments, which supplied the school with 3D projectors, XpanD glasses, and educational content). Lauren Sanders, who teaches math to Shelton sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders, says 3D—along with stirring up enthusiasm as others have mentioned—also has helped her students stay calm, focused, and engaged during her lessons. “The bell will ring and they won’t want to leave class,” Sanders says. “Our kids are very visual and kinesthetic, versus auditory, learners. 3D has really been helpful because (they) need to see how things turn and move. Any time you can get kids engaged in learning and actually learn something, it’s a plus.” Jaime Beringer, Texas Instruments customer marketing manager, says, “We’ve had a lot of the teachers tell us they have a better ability to control their classroom when they’re teaching in 3D and that the students really get engaged. It’s almost like putting blinders on when you put the 3D glasses on, so the kids get really focused and attentive.” Although Sanders believes 3D is a valuable and important educational tool, she said the biggest limitation for her school has been the lack of appropriate content. “For us to go to the next level, we’re going to have to make sure content is available,” says Sanders. “The hardware is there but now it’s going to be a software issue on what the content providers can create for the schools. I don’t see (3D) actually replacing the teacher in the classroom, but I could see maybe 30 to 40 percent of teaching being done using 3D if the content is all there.” The Future Landscape of 3D Although still in its infancy in education, 3D appears to be establishing its place as an emerging tool that not only complements the educational process but could drive a new way of learning that is more engaging, immersive, and, ultimately, more successful for students. “We’ve had an education system that’s functioned in the same way for 50 to 100 years and now technology is creating new opportunities and new ways to engage students,” says Chris Chinnock, founder and president of Insight Media, a consulting company that runs seminars for educators about 3D. “There’s a lot of experimentation and knowledge that has to be learned, but even some of the early experiments are showing benefits that are very encouraging.” What to Watch The 3D education market is not characterized by an overabundance of content but, while new offerings work their way through the development pipeline, schools can begin engaging students with 3D models, simulations, and lesson plans from these providers. Amazing Interactives – This British developer offers 3D lessons on everything from the solar system to Shakespeare, with content geared toward a wide range of ages. Cyber Science 3D – The Cyber Science VR is a complete turnkey system featuring a projector, peripherals, glasses, and content focused on anatomy. Designmate – Eureka software offers educators 3D science content, including videos, quizzes, and simulations with a library featuring more than 6,000 topics and 1,000 virtual experiments and lab-based activities. Discovery Education – Starting early next year, the company will begin rolling out interactive models compatible with 3D projector systems, focusing on anatomy and other subjects, through its Discovery Education streaming service. Later in 2012, Discovery will team up with partners IMAX and Sony to launch a series of consumer and educational videos on Blu-Ray with titles like America's National Parks and China Revealed. Eanim — This European content developer offers both standalone animation and 3D software applications, including Genom, its natural science and anatomy program, and Nobo, a comprehensive content library focused on history, literature, and art. JTM Concepts – The Classroom3 library features more than 60 lessons on mostly math- and science-related topics, from geometric models to simulated hurricanes. Tactus Technologies – Since debuting its interactive 3D dissection program V-Frog in 2008, the company has added additional species, including flatworm, sponge, and jellyfish. XpanD – In addition to selling 3D glasses, XpanD also aggregates content from a wide variety of sources, partnering with many of the companies listed here for schools not looking to shop around.
Quadratic graphs have several properties such as shape, vertex and direction that help us solve several types of application questions. The vertex, the quadratic minimum and the quadratic maximum are also helpful when answering problems associated with area, speed and direction. We find the minimum if the parabola opens "up" and the maximum if the parabola opens "down." Sample Problems (4) Need help with "Finding the Maximum or Minimum of a Quadratic" problems? Watch expert teachers solve similar problems to develop your skills. A rocket is shot up so its height in meters 't' sec. after launch is given by h(t) = -8t² + 80t + 25. A town is fencing in a playground whihc is bordered on one side by a building. The plan is to use 640 ft of fencing on the other three sides.
\|Golden Ratio facial grid\| Humans love patterns. We doodle patterns, buy patterns, wrap gifts in patterns, we even dance in patterns. Music and art, science and math, all have patterns. There are patterns in the tiniest things and in the expanse of the universe. Patterns are combinations of repeated shapes. The most perfect shapes are those of the golden mean, or golden ratio – a mathematical equation (1:1.618), a proportion which manifests throughout nature. Beautiful faces supposedly develop in accordance with this equation. Around the world and in every culture, assessments of beauty can be connected with the golden ratio. From prehistory this has been observed. Around 5000 BC, helen was a standard measurement of beauty: Helen of Troy was known as the woman whose face launched a thousand ships. A helen is an ancient term for the golden ratio. The ancients believed that a profound order underlies the universe, harmony in number that is expressed in geometry. The golden ratio is the foundation of Sacred Geometry, a term which refers to philosophical beliefs based on it. In ancient Egypt these geometric shapes were considered sacred, and by 550 BC the golden ratio became a philosophy taught by Pythagoras as Sacred Geometry. The shapes of Sacred Geometry date to prehistory; abstract geometric symbols such as spirals, circles, and squares have been used since before the Paleolithic Period, ca. 12,500 BC. Although credited to Pythagoras, the 3-4-5 triangle was known and used ca. 6000 BC by megalithic Vanir astronomers. Spirals, circles, and squares are basic shapes in Sacred Geometry. Spirals are found on megaliths such as Newgrange, and are associated with seasons, the cycle of birth, growth, and death. Jung considered them an archetypal symbol for cosmic forces. In cartoons spirals are used to indicate dizziness or hypnotism. Squares symbolize uprightness, honesty, and dependability; in fine art squares represent stability, and regulated life and actions. Masons ten thousand years ago knew the principles of geometry and used squaring tools in the construction of megalithic observatories to insure stable foundations. One of the oldest human-made symbols, circles symbolize the sun, infinity, inclusion, perfection, and centering. The Yogis and Priests of early Hinduism marked a circle around themselves as they knelt to pray; the circle represented the surrounding horizon. Sitting in the center of the circle they became associated with the center of the world, a place of stillness and peace. The Whirling Dervish priests dance in circles to “remember God.” Mandalas are designs, usually circular, that use the shapes of the golden ratio in concentric layers. These patterns of shape and color elegantly express Sacred Geometry. In Tibet and India mandalas are sacred works of art which function as meditative focus: by moving the eyes watchfully from the perimeter toward the center, the seeker becomes more centered. Theoretically, through the study of symbols, designs and patterns we can access knowledge contained in our genetic memory. Archetypal shapes reach deep into the unconscious and affect the observer, opening the heart and mind to conscious evolution through geometric models. Like all archetypal images, the geometric shapes of mandalas are powerful because they are perceived by the subconscious mind, bypassing the rational processes of thinking. Holistic healers, physical therapists, and other professionals recognize the centering and healing aspects of these designs, and hang them in treatment rooms. Carl Jung had his patients create their own personal mandalas to help them become more centered emotionally and mentally. The next time you’re feeling a little blue, create one of your own: an absorbing and centering task you may find fun! Michelle Paula Snyder Michelle Snyder is a professor of mythology, and an author, publisher, speaker, and artist. She did her post-graduate research at the University of Wales, decoding ancient and prehistoric symbolism, mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. Her artwork has appeared in galleries from Massachusetts to California. Michelle is co-owner of White Knight Studio. Symbologist Michelle Snyder Non-Fiction - Symbology: Symbology: Decoding Classic Images Symbology: Decoding Symbols through History Symbology: Fairy Tales Uncovered Symbology: Art and Symbols Symbology: Hidden in Plain Sight Symbology: World of Symbols Symbology: Secrets of the Mermaids Michelle Paula Snyder Fiction – Fantasy Wonder Tales: The Fairy Tales: Once Upon a Time Lessons, First Book Call of the Dragon and other Tales of Wonder A Tale of Three Kingdoms, book one: The Lost Unicorn A Tale of Three Kingdoms, book two The Lost Mermaid A Tale of Three Kingdoms, book three The Lost Dragon
Draws a point, a coordinate in space at the dimension of one pixel. Draws a point, a coordinate in space at the dimension of one pixel. The first parameter is the horizontal value for the point, the second value is the vertical value for the point, and the optional third value is the depth value. Drawing this shape in 3D with the z parameter requires the Use Py5Graphics.stroke() to set the color of a Point appears round with the default stroke_cap(ROUND) and square with stroke_cap(PROJECT). Points are invisible with stroke_cap(SQUARE) (no cap). strokeWeight(1) or smaller may draw nothing to the Py5Graphics drawing surface, depending on the graphics settings of the computer. Workarounds include setting the pixel using the Py5Graphics.pixels or Py5Graphics.np_pixels arrays or drawing the point using either Py5Graphics.circle() or Py5Graphics.square(). Underlying Processing method: PGraphics.point point(x: float, y: float, /) -> None point(x: float, y: float, z: float, /) -> None x: float - x-coordinate of the point y: float - y-coordinate of the point z: float - z-coordinate of the point Updated on November 12, 2021 11:30:58am UTC
The Personal Cloud gives you access and control over your own data and lets you do more with it than your vendors can. Who wouldn't want that? The question is, how do we get there from here? What do you say when someone asks “How much money do you make?”, or “How old are you?”, or “How much do you weigh?”, or “What is your address?” The quintessential response “that's personal” works because of an underlying assumption that we are within our rights to withhold that information and, more important, that privacy is the default and natural state of affairs. There is no government procedure on reaching the age of majority requiring you to check boxes on an interminably long list, enumerating all of the personal data attributes that you choose to keep private. As a sovereign person, they are all considered private. It is your choice whether to reveal your income, age, weight or any other piece of personal information. The ubiquity of the phrase “that's personal” speaks to a broadly shared understanding that we get to choose what information about ourselves we reveal and to whom we reveal it. There is no industry-standard definition of the term “cloud”, but we should at least all be able to agree on a few attributes. Many of these are optional depending on who you talk to, but the one essential element of the cloud is abstraction. An observer sees the cloud as a single logical thing with which to interact and need not be concerned with the individual elements that make up the cloud. In addition, a cloud will have one or more of the following elements: Elasticity: computing resources can be allocated dynamically to match variable load. Redundancy: the use of multiple physical servers increases the availability of the cloud service. Resiliency: the cloud service can survive interruption or loss of some physical components without loss of function. Runtime resolution: resource identities and addresses are resolved dynamically. Ubiquity: some clouds are public while others are private. However they are scoped, a cloud service is expected to be accessible from all points within that scope. By incorporating these elements, cloud architecture aims to deliver computing services that are as reliable and available as power or water. The ultimate expression of the cloud is that the computing infrastructure completely disappears except for the user interface. Imagine a cloud database filled with information about you and a vendor inquiring of that cloud “How much money do you make? How old are you? How much do you weigh? What is your address?” Whether the cloud is personal or not depends on who gets to decide the answers to these questions. It is not enough that the response back is “that's personal” if someone else can override your preferences and make the disclosure anyway. It is only a Personal Cloud if you have ultimate control over whether to disclose that information. A Personal Cloud starts with the assumption that privacy is the default and natural state of affairs and then incorporates that design philosophy into a cloud computing architecture owned and operated by an individual. Resist the temptation to read more into that statement than there is. For example, there is no requirement that a Personal Cloud must be self-hosted. Today there are commercial services for password management, storage, backups, VoIP, chat and more, all of which fit the definition of Personal Cloud. In all these cases, the custodians of the data have no access to it. Instead, they provide the framework in which the data owner sets policies that express the relationship between the data and any third parties authorized to access it. If it is a cloud architecture, respects the owner's privacy, and the owner is the ultimate authority over authorization decisions, it is a Personal Cloud. Much of the buzz about cloud computing is just that—buzz. But Personal Cloud is more. There is a parallel here with the way we purchase motive power. In San Francisco, halfway down the hill on Mason Street, there are giant motors transferring motive power to cables, which in turn run below the street to distribute that motive power along the cable car routes. When the cable car requires motive power, it gets it directly from the cable. Many years ago, factories worked the same way. Large motors distributed motive power to belts and pulleys that distributed it throughout the factory. But that method didn't scale very well. There is no tap from your house to an underground cable that provides power for washers and dryers, refrigerators and so on. Nor is there a giant motor in the back yard and a system of pulleys and belts running from it to the house. Instead, we self-host hundreds of tiny motors, invisibly built in to disk drives, DVD players, appliances, clocks and almost everything capable of movement. The magic of this is that we don't think of these things as motors that wash clothes, tell time or spin digital media. The motors have receded into the background, and we rarely think about them at all, unless they break. The same thing is happening now with computing. There is more computing capacity in the average modern phone than there was in the Lunar Lander. It's everywhere around you, and more is on the way. All of your devices that have an embedded motor soon will have embedded computing power, if they do not already. Things that currently have no motor or computing power—switches, outlets and bulbs, for example—soon will become smart. More important, all of these sensors, devices and computing platforms are increasingly interconnected and integrated with if-then-else rules engines that correlate events to generate complex behaviors in formerly dumb devices. Sensors, actuators and computing power are quietly but inexorably being woven into the fabric of your life. Is it reasonable to assume that with all this computing power available to individuals that we will fail to apply it in commercial settings for our own benefit, in much the same way that our vendors have applied it on the supply side? The value proposition of E-Commerce, Supply Chain Management and Customer Relationship Management always applied to individual users. We never delivered it to that market because of cost, but that barrier continues to fall. These applications radically transformed commerce on a global scale when they were first built out by large enterprises. We have the opportunity to transform commerce again, with even greater impact, by building out business functionality on the consumer side. Or we could continue to focus on making better versions of Angry Birds and moving light switches from the wall to the phone. Today's architecture, in which vendors have all the data and computing power, is a dying relic, left over from a world where computing was specialized and so expensive that only large businesses could afford it. It is the cable car wheelhouse or the big motor out back behind the factory. But in a world of cheap and abundant computing power, individuals are the natural points of integration for their own data. Now we have the choice to continue on with the legacy model or to move to a new model in which the individual's computing capacity improves the experience of both the individual and the vendor. Having all that computing power on the consumer side and not building out new business integration seems to me to be akin to ripping the motors out of all the disk drives, DVD players, clocks, refrigerators and other appliances, and equipping them with belts and pulleys. You could do it, but it doesn't scale and you won't like the experience. Let's revisit that cloud database filled with information about you and a vendor inquiring of that cloud “How much money do you make? How old are you? What is your address?” If that cloud is owned by a credit bureau or data broker, the responses will be the actual values. There is no default assumption of privacy. You have no say in how much data about you these commercial entities hold, whether it is accurate or with whom they share it. The entire business model of data brokers is to provide answers for questions to which, if you had been asked in person, you would have responded by saying “that's personal”. The impersonal cloud also hoards your data, preventing you from deriving any benefit from it. If you participate in a grocery loyalty program, somewhere out there is a database containing line-item records all your purchases. That's a rather intimate level of detail about you and your immediate household. If someone on the street asked you detailed questions about some of those line items, you undoubtedly would say “that's personal”. If that same person then offered to pay you a dollar for details of which personal hygiene products you use and how often you buy them, it would seem creepy. But that is exactly the kind of information we give out in exchange for a dollar off of a jug of milk. I've been told that the average person has no use for grocery line-item data. If that is true (and I don't believe that it is), it's only because we do not yet have access to that data and, therefore, have not written applications to use it. We don't know now what we'll do with that data any more than we could have looked at HTTP in 1983 and predicted Web 2.0. What we do know now though is that all the data is held by vendors, and wherever it is that Personal Cloud can take us, we can't get there from here. Getting access to our own data is the first step. Personal Cloud is Cloud 2.0. Twenty years from now, we will know what the Personal Cloud equivalents of Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram are, and they will seem obvious in hindsight. But if you want to get started in Personal Cloud today, where do you place your bets? Although the specific implementations have yet to be revealed—that's your job—we do know some general directions with a high degree of confidence. First and foremost among these is that the Personal Cloud wants to be invisible. Once the user sets up the connection and preferences, the fact that the apps are backed by a Personal Cloud should not normally be evident to the user. The exceptions exist mainly where the Personal Cloud provides enhanced functionality, such as prompting the user for permission to release information. Other than those exceptions, all the user should see is the exposed functionality. Some additional Personal Cloud directions are listed below. The strategy for deriving these is to imagine a future state where privacy is baked into the architecture and where sharing is enabled by policy. This is the opposite of today's model where the architecture is built for sharing and privacy is provided by policy. Also, assume a future state where individuals have access to all the transaction data their vendors currently collect, and to the data from all their devices, and that all of this is accessible to the user in aggregate through their Personal Cloud. Software — Extend Supply Chain management systems all the way to the consumer so that the merchant is the next-to-last rather than the last stop in the chain. The opportunity here is to create the API of Me and My Things and to assist large Enterprise to understand the value in integrating with it. Considerable momentum already exists in Vendor Relationship Management applications, the consumer counterpart to Customer Relationship Management. In short, re-imagine business software as owned and operated by and for the individual. There are a number of initiatives and groups working to provide infrastructure and resources to further these concepts. The unsurprisingly named Privacy By Design framework “advances the view that the future of privacy cannot be assured solely by compliance with legislation and regulatory frameworks; rather, privacy assurance must become an organization's default mode of operation”. The Personal Data Ecosystem Consortium's mission is to connect entrepreneurs and startups focused on user-centric personal data, advocate for individuals' rights to tools and access to their own data, and to help existing businesses dependent on the old personal data ecosystem transform to become profitable in the new one. The Respect Network extends the basic connectivity of the Internet with a community and context for trusted identity and interactions between people, businesses and devices. There is a growing collection of information, references and index of projects related specifically to Personal Cloud at Personal-Clouds.org. The folks at Kynetx have built and implemented CloudOS and an event network that are up and running today and built on the Personal Cloud philosophy. This is a non-inclusive list but will jump-start your investigation into Personal Clouds. Data aggregation and integration — Much of the value of data lies in the ability to correlate and analyze across many datasets to find valuable relationships. For example, consumers can participate in cradle-to-cradle tracking of recyclable resources by integrating data from their purchasing, waste and recycle streams. Add Health data to the mix for insight into how dietary purchasing habits affect wellness. Integrate power and water consumption for a total household greenness rating. But, which vendor will collect and manage all this information for you? Mint.com aggregates all your financial accounts into a single view but probably won't be adding your health records, power and grocery loyalty information any time soon, nor would you want it to. If Mint.com began asking for your health and grocery data, you probably would tell it “that's personal”. The Personal Cloud version of an aggregator operates more like FileThis.com. FileThis periodically fetches your bank statements, e-bills and purchase receipts, then loads them into a data store that you control. It never stores the information it collects on your behalf nor does it attempt to provide any analysis or presentation of that data. You supply the credentials and the storage, it supplies the integration. Apart from a few early examples, this field is wide open. Every loyalty program, interactive heath service, government-hosted citizen database, social-media service, utility provider, identity provider, bookmark sync service, contact list or other service that holds your information is a candidate either to aggregate that data into a single view or pull it into the individual's Personal Cloud. If those services hope to remain competitive, they will recognize the value in empowering individuals to access their own data and begin to cooperate with integrators and publish APIs. Hosted apps and plugins — hosting providers cannot process your data if they cannot see it. If you are to get any value out of the data you choose to keep private, you will need something that you control to correlate, analyze and visualize it. One approach, exemplified by OwnCloud, is a framework made up of database hosting, a plugin architecture and APIs. Out of the box, the system supplies cloud storage, calendaring, contact lists, music streaming and on-line photo galleries. But the real power is in the plugin architecture and APIs. For example, there is no personal health vault in the basic version of OwnCloud, but that easily could be added. Alternatively, some Personal Cloud applications will run standalone. Consider the FileThis service mentioned previously. Among the other accounts to which it integrates, it can download your bank statements. But this requires you to give it your on-line banking credentials, which is a bit problematic. That issue would go away if you could run its application locally. The standalone app model provides all the benefits of the vendor's integration know-how without exposing your banking account credentials. Retro-fit — There are a lot of “dumb” appliances out there with plenty of useful life in them. Similarly, there are very few existing houses wired for data or that have their own Personal Cloud servers. If we imagine a future world where all those devices are smart, how do we get from here to there? One way might be to take the Crutchfield approach and apply it to the Internet of Things. Crutchfield built an unlikely business by betting that ordinary people could and would install high-end stereos into their own cars if they had access to tools and instructions. Crutchfield provided custom wiring harnesses that eliminated most of the complexity, access to tools and comprehensive instructions from an exhaustive database of vehicle makes and models. The bet paid off and it grew into a formidable player in the consumer audio business. A similar model would work for Internet-enabling dumb devices. Assuming that you had the appropriate wiring harness, a Wi-Fi-enabled Arduino or Digispark could be dropped into a washer, dryer, refrigerator or other appliance in minutes. This could jump-start the Internet of Things and most of the research could be crowdsourced. There are business opportunities in performing the installations and in providing the code that sends and receives events from the devices and turns those into more complex behaviors. Of course, getting a data fabric into the home is a prerequisite, so the installation of home-automation servers, cabling, power-over-Ethernet and Wi-Fi access points also will be a growth opportunity. To seed your mind with ideas for Personal Cloud development, imagine a world in which the most mundane objects and surfaces are smart and in which you can program behaviors based on interactions of devices and events in your life. The cloud also has access to all your transaction and demographic data, location and preferences. Now combine these in the most far-fetched way that you can think of. Here's an example. My smart house would have individually addressable path lighting throughout. My dog would have an NFC or Bluetooth beacon on his collar so that the house could know exactly where he is. I would then program a behavior causing the path lighting to follow him around the house. Once he got used to that, I would train him that following the path lighting cues would lead to a reward. The last step would be to create a phone app (I'll call it “Fetch”) that leads the dog from wherever he is in the house to wherever I am. I admit this is a very stupid cloud trick. I criticized vendors for moving wall switches to phone apps, and I just did the same thing with the dog. The point is that if you own the data and your devices talk first to you instead of the vendor, you are not constrained by the vendor's choice of integrations and can invent weird and wonderful behaviors for your stuff. (But you have to admit that a phone app that remotely controls the dog is kinda cool.) So let's try something a bit more practical. Your power company has a rate plan that lets it shut off your water heater and air conditioner when it or a neighboring utility has a peak load shortage. But why limit this to water heaters and air conditioners? When the home is filled with smart devices, it will be possible for lights, fans, battery chargers or any powered device to take part in discretionary load abatement. For example, on receiving an abatement request, an LED bulb (or the dashboard controlling that bulb) might respond with an offer to cut 10% of its current drain during the abatement period. Because the house knows whether anyone is home, the degree of abatement can vary automatically and accordingly. You don't have to honor the pledge and can turn the light back up, but the closer your house gets to its projected abatement, the larger the rebate you get. With enough devices participating, discretionary load abatement will allow us to defer the need to build more power plants. But this considers only the first-tier effects. The system really gets interesting when social aspects are added. Your Personal Cloud knows how much load abatement you have provided, what your baseline usage is and the normal interior conditions in the house. Someone eventually will combine these into a competitive social app where individuals or groups can compete for energy-efficiency badges. How do you compare with your neighborhood? Your region? Households with similar demographics? Can your scout troop be the greenest in the pack? What will your Stupid Cloud Tricks be? Feel free to dream some up and send them to email@example.com. Or just wait a few years and create them for real. These types of applications are not only possible but trivial when we all have access to our own data and are not dependent on vendors for the integrations. Personal Cloud detractors claim that individuals have shown no interest in having access to their own data. Until PRISM, many said we have no interest in privacy either. But this is not a question of whether Personal Clouds will exist or whether individuals need or want access to their own data. Technology seeps into every niche that will support it, and this is hardly a niche. When the value of Personal Cloud apps exceeds their cost, they will flourish. It really is that simple. The market for Personal Clouds is a superset of that for mobile phones, game consoles, NAS devices, home-entertainment servers and home-automation servers because they are all potentially participants. That is a very large market, which with regard to Personal Cloud, is as yet untouched. Those who can make the value of Personal Cloud exceed the cost (as measured in currency, skill requirement and administrative overhead) can begin to carve out their own piece of that very large pie. Would you like your piece of that pie now? For more information on Personal Clouds and the ecosystem growing up around them, please visit the Personal Data Ecosystem Consortium, Project VRM and the Respect Network.
Ok, well provide us with the code you have first, and then we can help you more from there. Lets have a look at the design of a pyramid. First of all, since this is a 2 dimensional image (vertical and horizontal), we need a nested loop. A nested loop is a loop inside a loop. For example, the following code: will print out the word: Loop 25 times. The reason is because it will print it out 5 times for every loop of the outer loop. 5 x 5 is equal to 25, so it will run the inner loop a total of 25 times. Now, since we are making a pyramid we want the limit of our inner loop to be dynamic. Specifically, after row 1, each row has 2 more numbers than the preceding row. So, we want to probably base our inner loop condition off of our outer loop count variable. There is another thing to consider. How many spaces do we need before the first number on each line? Well, the design of a pyramid says the base is twice as wide as the height. But, we want our first number to be in the center of the pyramid, so that number will be half of the base, which is conveniently equal to height. That is for the first row. Continuing the design of the pyramid tells us the number of spaces before a number on any give line is 1 less than the number of spaces before the number of the preceding line. The last thing is the numbers. Notice how the first number on each row is equal to the number of the row in respect to the top, where: 1 is the top and the last row is the height. See if you can work with those instructions.
Calystegia - Plant False Bindweed grows best in the ground. Prepare a suitable hole in a sandy, nutritious soil. Improve your soil by mixing in some compost or granulated cow manure. Plant the False Bindweed horizontally at the appropriate depth in the hole. The top of the roots should be just slightly below ground level. Fill the hole with soil and press firmly. Water immediately after planting. False Bindweed grows and flourishes in an area with complete sunshine.False bindweed is a climbing plant False bindweed (Calystegia hederacea 'Flore Pleno') is not only a fantastic ground cover plant, but the long, winding stems of this perennial can also climb. This requires a climbing support such as a trellis or fence. False bindweed also grows well in a flower pot or balcony planter. The scientific name of Calystegia 'Flore Pleno' is 'hedereafolium referring to the ivy-like leaves that cover the ground quite well. The Calystegia originated in Japan and is also called Calystegia 'Flore Pleno Japanese or Japanese bindweed. Water your False bindweed regularly to prevent the soil around the roots from drying out. Remove the faded flowers of the False bindweed (Calystegia hederacea ‘Flore Pleno’) regularly to encourage a second flowering. For abundant flowering, we recommend adding plant food along with water regularly during the summer.False bindweed in the winter False bindweed is sensitive to severe frost. Protect during winter by covering with a layer of fallen leaves or conifer branches. It is preferable to store False bindweed in a pot in a frost-free area. Too much moisture in the winter is not well-tolerated. Prune a few of the older stems completely in spring.
The Cassini spacecraft takes a look through the atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon to spy light and dark in the area called Adiri on Titan. See PIA08995 to see a wider view of this albedo feature on Titan. This view looks toward the moon's anti-Saturn side and is centered on terrain at 2 degrees south latitude, 218 degrees west longitude. North on Titan (5,150 kilometers, or 3,200 miles across) is up and rotated 6 degrees to the left. The image was taken with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on Jan. 29, 2010 using a spectral filter sensitive to wavelengths of near-infrared light centered at 938 nanometers. The view was acquired at a distance of approximately 285,000 kilometers (177,000 miles) from Titan and at a Sun-Titan-spacecraft, or phase, angle of 45 degrees. Image scale is about 2 kilometers (about 1 mile) per pixel. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The imaging operations center is based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo.
Making art out of climate changeFebruary 12, 2013 2012 continued a 36-year streak where the average temperature for the year was above the 20th century average and record breaking ice melt was observed in the Arctic last summer. There to observe this grim record was Daniel Beltra, one of a number of artists and photographers using their craft to visually demonstrate the planet in decline. Daniel Beltra began his career as a photojournalist in his homeland of Spain. His love of nature led him to work with Greenpeace to shoot environmental disasters, including the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill in 2010. His large scale images of melting arctic ice are now on display in Aspen at Quintenz & Co, 501 E. Dean St. KDNK's Marilyn Gleason spoke to Beltra about the art of climate change in this week's edition of NRG with MG.
Pride – “A high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing & conduct Pride is basically feeling proud of something you accomplished or did. On the other hand pride can also be the total opposite. People can take advantage of their pride and hold it against others. In Antigone there were an exotic amount of examples of pride. Pride can from many characters; although the main signs of pride came from Antigone and Creon. It all started with the sons of Oedipus. Oedipus' sons were completely full of their own pride. Neither one of them could come to an agreement as to what was the best decision for the city of Thebes. Eteocles wanted the power to rule everything and so did Polyneices. Instead, Polyneices and Eteocles were constantly fighting over the kingship until they had both killed each other, leaving neither man to be the ruler. Creon then takes over; since he was their uncle he was entitled to the position. Creon- one who is a king; but full of overtaken power and pride. “You wait and see! The toughest will is first to break: like hard and untempered steel, which snaps and shivers at a touch, when hot from off the forge”, (pg 211). This shows Creon’s pride and self confidence. He refused to have anyone rule him, especially a woman. He showed no respect what so ever for females in general, not even for his own wife. He believed that only a man could have a final say. He believes that even the toughest willed of a person could be broken. Antigone- one who stands up for what she believes and stands up for her pride. Her pride took thing to another level which consulted to bad consequences. "Naturally! Since Zeus never promulgated such a law, nor will you find that Justice, Mistress of the world below, publishes such laws on humankind. I never thought your mortal edicts had such force they nullified the laws of heaven."(pg. 358)This is an excerpt...
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I can’t help myself. I have to tell you about this book because we are loving it! It’s called The Truth About Nature by Stacy Tornio and Ken Keffer. Their other books include The Outdoor Adventure Book, We Love Nature, and Project Garden. The boys ask to look at The Truth About Nature every day. They could easily read it themselves but this book is much more fun to go through together. It’s kind of an interactive book. The book is broken down into four sections on the seasons. In each section there are ‘Myths Debunked’. These myths are graded on a scale of 1-3 depending on their amount of truth, scale 3 being a total myth with no truth to it. The boys love me to read these to them and they guess the myth scale of each such as: •Porcupines can’t throw their quills. (Myth scale of 1, 2 or 3?) •The sun is yellow. •Owls can spin their heads all the way around. •Deserts are always hot. You’d be surprised at how many of these myths I believed growing up! Not only do they debunk the myths but they introduce you to the half-truths and real truths of nature. They also add some additional interesting facts such as … “Scientists estimate that only 20% of all deserts in the world are covered with sand.” Cool, right? Actually, yes, it is cool because deserts can get pretty cold at night. 😉 Other features include: •Stranger thank Fiction, forty amazing facts about nature •Luck Legends, cultures with superstitions on what to do for good luck •Weather legends, theories on predicting weather •Be a Scientist, activities and experiments where you bust some myths by doing your own testing (we did the water balloon experiment where you freeze water in balloons to see if the water expands when frozen) Cool again, right? This is surely a book to keep us guessing and learning all year long. Find it at your local library or just pick yourself up a copy!
Make a puzzle using the letters of the child's name (by Happy Hooligans) Making their name out of playdough (by Kindergarten Rocks) Searching for letters game (by Teach Preschool) Other ideas include: - Use game pieces (eg. Scrabble letters) to make own name. - Use magnetic letters - the child can write their name on the fridge. - Find letters in magazines/newspapers and cut them out and stick them together on a piece of paper to make their name. - Tear little pieces of coloured paper and stick them down on paper to make their name. - Use pavement chalk and write their name on pathways. - If chalk gets too messy, simply give a paint brush and water and they can 'paint' their name on pathways. Have a great weekend!
My project focused on the luminescence of silver-bearing hydrothermal calcite veins from Batopilas, Mexico, which is in southwestern Chihuahua. Luminescence is when an external energy source excites electrons in a mineral to a higher energy state, and then as they return to ground state they emit the extra energy as visible light. I used photoluminescence (stimulus from a UV light) and cathodoluminescence (stimulus from an electron beam). There were a variety of photoluminescent colors in the calcites ranging from red-violet to pink to orange. The red-violet and pink photoluminescent samples also contained metallic minerals such as galena, sphalerite, and native silver whereas the orange samples were barren. This makes photoluminescent color a useful indicator in the field for finding metallic mineral-bearing veins. The colors also correlate to an increase in Ce and Mn trace metal concentrations, as determined with Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). With cathodoluminescence there was no color variation or relationship with metallic mineral assemblages. There was a relationship between increasing cathodoluminescence intensity and Zn trace-metal concentrations. The implications of these relationships to the mining district are still being investigated.
Strictly speaking, menopause is your final menstrual period, but most doctors agree you need 12 straight months without a period before you can call that last period “final.” Gone along with your periods, however, are your “factory-installed” female hormones. These protect you against a host of conditions–heart disease and osteoporosis most prominently–and lack of them can lead to a variety of symptoms, known collectively by your mothers as “the change.” These may include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, weight changes and poor concentration. What you are now faced with is the decision of the Nineties and the new millennium: Is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) right for you? What you need to remember, however, is that every woman passing through menopause has different needs. Not everyone, for instance, is at risk for heart disease or osteoporosis. And indeed there are effective, safe, nonhormonal ways to bolster yourself against these conditions without HRT. Our approach at WholeHealth Chicago is to leave the final decision of HRT up to you. But we do suggest that you try some of our recommendations first and see how they can help. What is Menopause? Menopause is the natural process in a woman’s life that occurs when the ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone gradually decline. The lack of hormones eventually halts her monthly menstrual cycle, and the ovaries stop releasing eggs. A woman who hasn’t had a menstrual period in 12 months is said to have reached menopause, although menopausal symptoms can actually begin from 1 to 12 years earlier while she’s still having periods, a time frame commonly called perimenopause. Menopause itself typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, or on average about age 52. Although certainly not a disease, menopause is the gradual decline in estrogen that can produce some unpleasant symptoms in some, but certainly not all, women. These include hot flashes and night sweats; mood swings, irritability, or mild depression; an inability to concentrate; urinary urgency and frequency; vaginal dryness with painful intercourse; and sometimes a loss of interest in sex. Changes in body chemistry occur as well. The bones lose calcium, and osteoporosis (brittle bones) may develop. Blood pressure and cholesterol and homocysteine levels can all rise, increasing a woman’s risk for developing heart disease. - Absence of menstrual periods for at least six months - Hot flashes (a sudden sense of heat in the face, neck and upper back lasting less than a couple of minutes) - Night sweats (which may interfere with sleep) - Irritability, nervousness, or depression - Poor concentration or memory - Vaginal dryness with painful intercourse - Loss of interest in sex - Urinary urgency or frequency - Stress urinary incontinence - Increased incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI) - Heart palpitations - Bloating or water retention What Causes Menopause? Menopause means the ending of menstrual periods and for most women, the cause is simply a normal phase of her life, when estrogen production declines. The age that menopause starts usually coincides with the age menopause occurred in her mother or older sisters. Surgical menopause begins after a total hysterectomy, when both the uterus and the ovaries are removed. Treatment and Prevention Most conventional physicians prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for virtually all women entering menopause, whether or not they are experiencing symptoms. Their reasoning is that HRT will supply enough estrogen to prevent any of the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, prevent osteoporosis (thus reducing the risk of hip and spinal fractures), and lessen the risk of developing atherosclerotic heart disease. However, even though HRT is popular in America, physicians from other countries regard it as controversial because of certain side effects, including headaches, bloating, irritability, breast tenderness and increased risks of developing blood clots or gall bladder and liver disease. Physicians familiar with alternative options regard each woman as a unique individual and do their best to avoid the “one size fits all” thinking of their more conventional colleagues. If a woman has symptoms of menopause or is at risk for heart disease or osteoporosis, they may begin by suggesting dietary changes, nutritional supplements and herbs. They may recommend such therapies as an exercise program, acupuncture, yoga, aromatherapy or homeopathy. And if a woman really needs HRT, physicians may suggest gentler natural hormones that can be individually compounded to meet her specific needs instead of automatically turning to traditional hormone replacement therapy. The herbs, vitamins and minerals suggested here may also help lower the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis after menopause. Just a reminder: If you have a serious medical condition or are taking medication, it’s always a wise idea to talk with your doctor before beginning a supplement program. How Supplements Can Help Black cohosh, a relative of the buttercup, has long been prescribed to treat menstrual problems, including hot flashes and vaginal dryness. It does so by suppressing luteinizing hormone (LH) which is released by the pituitary gland. High levels of LH are considered to be one of the causes of hot flashes. Black cohosh also contains phytoestrogens, plant compounds that imitate the body’s own estrogen. These phytoestrogens may help with symptoms of vaginal dryness. Additionally, they may actually prevent breast cancer by keeping the body’s own estrogen away from breast tissue. Adding some vitamin C and flavonoids can help reduce mood swings. Siberian ginseng has been used for centuries in China as a general tonic for both men and women. This all-purpose herb not only helps relieve stress, boost mood, enhance immunity and increase mental alertness, but it may also alter hormone levels and reduce some of the symptoms of menopause. It is best used in combination or rotation with other herbs, and some caution may be needed as it can increase blood pressure. Chasteberry, the fruit of the chaste tree (often called Vitex), is frequently recommended by European doctors to help with both PMS symptoms and hot flashes. Although the berry does not contain any hormones, it acts on the pituitary gland, the master gland in the body that controls the levels of hormones from the ovary. Dong quai is often referred to as the “female ginseng.” Although it is not a phytoestrogen and doesn’t have any hormonelike effects on the body, this herb seems to have a balancing effect on the female hormone system. Like ginseng, dong quai is referred to as an adaptogen, a substance that can help increase energy, reduce the body’s response to stress and enhance both physical and mental capabilities. Soy isoflavones act as phytoestrogens and seem so potent that they not only prevent or relieve typical symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats but also may prevent atherosclerotic heart disease and osteoporosis. Most of the research on soy has been done with women who ate soy products regularly, so foods such as soy milk and tofu are probably a good bet. Alternatively, the major isoflavones of soy, genistein and daidzein are now available in capsule form. The essential fatty acids found in evening primrose and borage oils help regulate natually occuring hormonelike chemicals called prostaglandins. They can help control the irregular menstrual bleeding so common during menopause, including heavy or scant flow and cramping. Other supplements that may be helpful for reducing risks from heart disease and osteoporosis include vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. Vitamin E stimulates the body’s estrogen production and, as one of the antioxidant vitamins (along with the carotenes and vitamin C), acts to prevent LDL (“bad”) cholesterol from precipitating along the inside of artery walls. Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D help prevent osteoporosis and are often combined into a “bone-building” supplement. Even women on HRT should evaluate their calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D intake to make sure they are getting enough. Get supplement dosages and tips in our WholeHealth Chicago Supplement Recommendations for Menopause. Get regular exercise, which promotes heart health. Strength training with light weights protects bone strength. Increase your intake of calcium-rich foods and vitamin D to promote healthy bones. Regular intercourse increases the tone and lubrication of vaginal tissues. Products such as K-Y Jelly and Replens can improve vaginal lubrication. Your doctor can prescribe an estrogen-based cream as well. Avoid alcohol, coffee, chocolate and spicy foods, all of which may worsen your hot flashes. Practice deep breathing exercises, which have been shown to reduce hot flashes by 50%. The essential oil clary sage, either inhaled or added to a hot bath can help relieve hot flashes. Take frequent soaking baths in tepid water, just a little cooler than body temperature. When to Call a Doctor - If you think you have risk factors for heart disease or osteoporosis. - If natural remedies fail to adequately relieve your menopause symptoms. From David Edelberg, M.D. at WholeHealth Chicago: Most menopausal symptoms can be handled nicely with lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements. To begin, you’ll need a high-potency multivitamin as well as a good calcium/magnesium/vitamin D combination to prevent osteoporosis. And ask your doctor about a DEXA bone-density scan to help determine if hormone replacement therapy (HRT) would be beneficial. If you opt not to do HRT, you can use the additional supplements in the chart to control hot flashes and other symptoms. The supplements are safe to take as long as symptoms persist. How to Take the Supplements Start with black cohosh, a hormone stabilizer considered among the most reliable herbs for menopause. If your symptoms are especially uncomfortable, add either the chasteberry or an herbal combination product. The latter alone may be fine if your symptoms are mild, and you only need minimal doses of the various herbs. You can also add two more herbs: Siberian ginseng, which helps reinforce your physical and emotional energy, and dong quai, which seems to enhance the effects of other herbs. Both of these are widely used worldwide. If your symptoms still don’t respond, move on to the topically applied natural progesterone cream. Eating plenty of soy products may reduce your symptoms, improve your cholesterol profile, and lower your blood pressure. Soy isoflavone capsules are a reasonable alternative if you don’t want to consume soy. Recent studies have shown that antioxidant vitamins can be beneficial for menopause, too. In particular, vitamin E helped reduce the risk of heart disease (naturally heightened after menopause) by keeping LDL (“bad”) cholesterol from adhering to artery walls. The essential fatty acids found in flaxseed oil help stabilize hormonal shifts so prevalent in menopause. The oil’s also a source of omega-3 fatty acids, which protect against heart disease and breast cancer, and it may reduce some menopausal symptoms. Two other herbs have also proved to be helpful for certain menopausal symptoms. Ginkgo biloba can be beneficial for women with menopausal-related concentration or memory problems. And St. John’s wort has a long track record as a safe, effective remedy for the melancholy and depression that plague some women as their estrogen supply declines. Of special note: Adding a bone-building formula (two pills twice a day) can be a positive protective step against osteoporosis-induced fractures, and it’s particularly important during menopausal years. If you’re suffering from mercurial mood shifts, unpredictable anger, anxiety, and nervous tension, kava (250-500 mg 2 or 3 times a day) can truly be an herbal miracle. It works quickly, doesn’t make you drowsy, and improves your focus and concentration. Sleep disturbances during menopause are extremely common. Melatonin (1-3 mg at bedtime) can be a real lifeline–a safe, effective sleeping aid with no dangers of being habit-forming or addictive. Important: We at WholeHealth Chicago strongly recommend that everyone take a high-potency multivitamin/mineral and well-balanced antioxidant complex every day. It may be necessary to adjust the dosages outlined below to account for your own daily vitamin regimen. All of our supplement recommendations also assume you are eating a healthful diet. Be aware that certain cautions are associated with taking individual supplements, especially if you have other medical conditions and/or you’re taking medications. Key cautions are given in the listing below, but you need to see the WholeHealth Chicago Reference Library for a comprehensive discussion of each supplement’s cautions and drug/nutrient interactions. For product recommendations and orders click here for the Natural Apothecary or call 773-296-6700 ext. 2001.
There has been a lot of talk about superfoods lately, but have you ever heard of super fruits? Super fruits have become increasingly popular over the past several years and they can be found in a variety of food products. There are many claims that they will ensure longevity, great health and prevent aging, but do they really deliver on these promises? Super fruits deliver antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients that can help nourish your body and keep it functioning optimally. We have all been told growing up that fruits are good for you and the bottom line is that fruits are good for you What Are Super Fruits? Super fruits are a class of fruits that contain higher amounts of important antioxidants and phytochemicals that may contribute to good health as part of a well balanced diet. When compared to apples and bananas and other common fruit they score higher on the ORAC rating system. Super fruits include acai berry, Afrian mango and raspberry ketone. What Wikipedia say about Superfruit? Superfruit is a marketing term first used in the food and beverage industry in 2005. Superfruit has no official U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) endorsement. The designation of a fruit as a superfruit is entirely up to the product manufacturer. Resulting from a deliberate business strategy of a manufacturer to bring together marketing, science and potential health value to consumers, a superfruit product is specifically designed in manufacturing and marketing. Keys to marketing a successful superfruit product include the native fruit qualities, scientific evidence supporting a potential health benefit, marketing, protection of intellectual property and developing a strategy to attract consumers.Combined in the right way, these elements may allow a fruit to achieve “critical mass” as a superfruit. To date, superfruits have been developed mainly as juices, but began in 2007 to appear as single piece products or as ingredients for functional foods, confectioneries and cosmetics. Current industry development includes applications for creating novel consumer products, such as energy drinks, dietary supplements, and flavors with nutrient qualities, e.g. fortified water. Although used increasingly in new food and beverage products, superfruits have not been defined by scientific criteria that would allow consumers to objectively assess nutrient value and potential for furnishing health benefits. Consequently, the term superfruit is used liberally to include a growing list of fruits having sparse scientific evidence for being “super” other than being relatively unknown to common consumers. Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfruit Acai berries are loaded with antioxidants, but they are also full of other good stuff, such as dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, amino acids and essential fats. Acai berry is believed to help the body fight the effects of ageing better than most fruits. It can also reduce inflammation, reduce blood clots and improve digestion. There are hundreds of acai berry capsules available to purchase on the market, both, online and on the high street. Be very careful when buying acai as there are many products available. Acai berry should always be the first ingredient on the label, however you will probably see it third, fourth or sometimes even fifth. This means there is very little acai berry inside the product and it is more likely padded out with fillers, bulkers and anti-caking agents. It is often claimed that extra ingredients are necessary to process the acai into a useable form, this is simply not true. Acai berry capsules by Evolution Slimming are a 700mg capsule strength available in 60 capsule packs. 2 capsules are recommended daily, equalling 1400mg of pure acai berry fruit straight into your body. They are the highest quality Acai Berry without any hidden ingredients or costs. African Mango comes from the extracts from the Irvingia Gabonensis seed. African mango may be relatively new to the UK, but is starting to take over the weight loss industry in terms of its effectiveness. Irvingia Gabonensis is a fruit tree found in West and Central Africa, also known as ‘wild mango’ or ‘bush mango’. The African Mango Diet Pill is said to provide assistance in weight loss, improve total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and blood glucose levels. African Mango can develop significant weight loss with scientific results. African Mango’s potential to generate these remarkable weight loss results from the favorable changes to the bodies fat stimulating and fat producing hormones. The soluble fiber found in the African Mango also works as a laxative which can also works to suppress appetites. African Mango has been demonstrated to delay stomach emptying, which brings to increased absorption of dietary sugars. In this way, African Mango reduces blood sugar levels after a meal. The African Mango Diet Pill also is made up of cholesterol improving components with improvements in total and LDL cholesterol. Research subjects revealed a drop in cholesterol levels. Raspberry Ketone is a natural phenolic compound that is responsible for the heavenly aroma of red raspberries. According to certain studies, it is also a potent fat burner. It was discovered that raspberry ketone increased both the expression and secretion of adiponectin. This is important because adiponectin is a protein hormone which modulates a number of metabolic processes, including glucose regulation and fatty acidcatabolism. If weight loss is not enough, higher levels of adiponection have been shown to control the metabolic derangements that may result in type 2 diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome. As a result of all of this, Raspberry Ketone holds great promise as a fat-burning, health-improving herbal supplement. Is It Important To Include Super Fruits In Our Diet? Eating fruit is a way to increase vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals and fiber in the diet. Eating fruit can also satisfy a sweet tooth due to its natural sweetness. No one food including a super fruit is a magic bullet that has the ability to prevent or cure disease, especially if the diet is poor. Super fruits can add important nutrients, and antioxidants to any well balanced diet, and have a lower impact on blood sugar levels. The recommendation for fruit consumption is two to four servings for most people. Besides super fruits, you can also obtain many health benefits by eating other fruits containing high levels of antioxidants such as blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, cherries and black currants. It would therefore appear that fruit is not only good for us but can lead to severe weight loss – who know!!!
Men and women alike have turned to Botox to reverse the signs of aging, but now there is a new medical use for the injections. Botox is being used to treat overactive bladder. Overactive bladder is the sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate, which can lead to incontinence. It can affect both men and women of all ages, and risk for the condition increases with age. While it is more frequent in women, men may experience overactive bladder if they have prostate problems or following prostate surgery. Individuals with overactive bladder often awaken multiple times in the night to urinate and experience incontinence. This condition is urge incontinence — incontinence due to frequent urge to urinate. Many patients with overactive bladder experience poor sleep and increased stress because of frequent urination. Poor sleep can lead to other health problems, including a weakened immune system, lack of energy and even depression. The symptoms are commonly treated by medication. While there are several medications on the market to choose from, they all have side effects. And unfortunately, the less expensive medications often have more side effects. Common side effects include dry mouth (which can get worse if dosage increases are needed), dry eyes, constipation and confusion. These side effects can be especially troubling for patients who are taking medications for other conditions. Many patients stop taking their medications because of the side effects or need additional prescriptions to manage their side effects. In recent years, OnabotulinumtoxinA, commonly known as Botox, has been studied and approved as an alternative treatment for overactive bladder in certain patients with urge incontinence when another type of medicine does not work well enough or cannot be taken. Botox is a protein from the bacteria that cause botulism. Small doses of Botox injected directly into bladder tissue works by relaxing the bladder muscle, therefore reducing the urge to urinate. Botox injections are done via a simple, outpatient procedure performed by a gynecologist or urologist. The treatment usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes and is followed by 30 minutes of observation. In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, in nearly 250 women who had urge incontinence, a one-time Botox injection in the bladder worked as well as daily pills at reducing episodes of urinary incontinence at six months.
- The Devonian environment - Devonian life - Devonian geology Conodonts (recently recognized as toothlike elements of very primitive eel-like vertebrates) are abundant in many Devonian marine facies. Conodonts had perhaps their greatest diversification during the Late Devonian and are of major importance for the correlation of rock layers. More than 40 conodont zones are recognized within the Devonian, and these provide a high-resolution biostraphic framework for the period. Many groups of Devonian fishes were heavily armoured, and this has led to their good representation in the fossil record. Fish remains are widespread in the Old Red Sandstone rocks of Europe, especially in the Welsh borderland and Scottish areas of Britain; these are mostly associated with freshwater or estuarine deposits. In other areas marine fishes are known, and some of these, such as Dunkleosteus (Dinichthys) from the Upper Devonian Period of Ohio, U.S., may have reached 9 metres (30 feet) in length. The earliest fishes, comprising the agnathans, were without jaws and presumably were mud eaters and scavengers. These types are usually called ostracoderms. Some, such as the osteostracan cephalaspids, had broad, platelike armour of varied form; the brain and nerve structures in some of these are well known. The anaspids also were covered with armour in the form of scales. The heterostracans, which include the oldest known fishes, have an anterior armour basically of upper (dorsal) and lower (ventral) plates; Pteraspis is an example. The Early Devonian saw the entry of jawed forms or gnathostomes, and the armoured forms of these, the placoderms, characterize the epoch. The arthrodires, which had a hinged frontal armour in two portions, and the grotesque antiarchs belong here. The close of the Devonian saw the diminution and extinction of most of these groups, but several other groups continued and have a significant later history. Sharklike fishes, the chondrichthians, have been found in the Middle Devonian. The bony fishes, or osteichthians of current classification, include the climatioid acanthodeans, which had appeared before the period began, but the lungfishes (Dipnoi), the coelacanths, and the rhipidistians made their first appearance during this time. The last group is thought to have given rise to the four-footed amphibians as well as to all other higher groups of vertebrates. It is now known that some supposedly Silurian plants, such as those at Baragwanath, Vic., Australia, are actually from the Early Devonian. The Late Silurian record of Cooksonia fossils of the Czech Republic seems to be the earliest unquestionable evidence of vascular plants. Information on spores provided by palynologists would help determine the antecedents of the Devonian plants. There was a remarkable initiation of diverse types of vascular plants during the Devonian, and a varied flora was established early in the period. Evidence of algae is common; bryophytes first appear, and charophytes are locally common. Freshwater algae and fungi are known in the Rhynie Chert of Scotland. The first known forests are of late Middle Devonian age. The Psylotophytopsida is the most primitive group of the pteridophytes (ferns and other seedless vascular plants); this group did not survive the Late Devonian. Cooksonia, Rhynia, and others possessing a naked stem with terminal sporangia (spore cases) belong here. In other members, sporangia were borne laterally but no true leaves were developed, and the branching was often of a primitive dichotomous type. Psylotophytopsids form a basic stock from which other groups apparently evolved. Asteroxylon, which occurs with Rhynia, and other Rhynie plants in the Lower Old Red Sandstone Rhynie Chert of Scotland form a link with the lycopsids by having lateral sporangia and a dense leafy stem. Psylotophytopsids soon gave rise to treelike forms and later to the important lepidodendrids of the Carboniferous flora. Another apparent derivative, the sphenopsids, which has jointed branches, is represented by Hyenia and Pseudobornia. Pteropsids also appeared in the Devonian. Primitive gymnosperms are known, and trunks of Archaeopteris up to 1.8 metres (6 feet) in diameter are present in Upper Devonian deposits of the eastern United States and the Donets Basin of Russia and Ukraine. These trunks apparently were carried by water to their current positions. The rich record of land plants may be related to the fact that the Old Red Sandstone represents the first widespread record of continental conditions. However, the primitive nature of the stocks seen and the absence of a long earlier record, even of detrital fragments of vascular plants, suggest that the colonization and exploitation of land environments were real Devonian events. Fortuitous finds, such as the silicified flora of the Rhynie Chert and the pyritized tissue from the Upper Devonian of New York, have enabled the intimate anatomy of many of these plants to be elucidated in detail equivalent to that of modern forms.
Posted on: 26 May 2015Share Being environmentally friendly is often seen as something that happens only at an individual level, but this isn't necessarily the case. Entire construction businesses can also do their part as well. Here are some crane technologies that will help you make your business more environmentally friendly when it needs to use anything related to cranes. Efficient Intermodal Crane Yards If the type of crane you need is more for moving a container from the shore to a ship, there are eco-friendly versions of this type of crane as well. It's called an intermodal crane, also known as a container or gantry crane. There are now eco-friendly versions of this crane based on energy efficiency and recycled materials. A number of yards operating intermodal cranes can now be made with 100% recycled materials including recycled steel, for example. These crane yards can also be made more efficient due to cargo scanners placed at the right parts of the yard to increase the efficiency of the terminal. This increased efficiency reduces the carbon emissions of trucks bringing containers into the yard, for example. The more these trucks idle waiting for the yard to operate, the more fuel they will burn. The more fuel the trucks burn, the more carbon is released into the air. Using more efficient crane systems at dockyards or in construction yards will decrease cost and make for a greener business. Hybrid Electric Construction Cranes for Rent If you need to rent an intermodal crane for construction purposes (from companies like A C Jones Trucking Inc), one approach is to use a crane that doesn't use only fossil fuels. Traditionally, cranes used primarily fossil fuels to have enough energy to pull up the heavy loads required to create and repair buildings. The problem is that this caused a huge amount of wasted energy and carbon emissions. Now, there are hybrid cranes available that use both electricity and fossil fuels in order to function. These cranes can be used in any capacity including for traditional industry construction. The claim is that the cranes can use as much as 70% less fuel than other cranes that have a more traditional fossil fuel approach. Renting a crane like this will help save the environment through less fuel consumption on multiple fronts. For example, hybrid cranes don't just use less fuel, in general, they also avoid wasteful practices other cranes often have such as high-speed idling. This is because the crane can rely on its electric side instead.
By Tracy Brighten Australia has pledged to tackle the soaring feral cat population that threatens more native animals with extinction With 1800 nationally listed threatened species, the Australian Government has set targets for conserving 30 priority plant species, 20 mammals and 20 birds. “That means humane culling of one of our wildlife’s worst enemies – feral cats,” said Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt in a statement. Hunt presented Australia’s first national strategy for threatened species at the Threatened Species Summit, which he hosted to discuss native animal and plant conservation. Delegates included state and territory ministers, business leaders, scientific and conservation experts, and non-government organisations. Each day, feral cats are killing an estimated 75 million native animals—that’s more than 20 billion mammals, birds and reptiles each year. “Feral cats have contributed to the extinction of at least 27 mammal species. We don’t want to see that number grow,” said Hunt. Feral cats are descendants of domestic cats introduced by European settlers. Originally beneficial around farms and homesteads to control rabbits, rats and mice, feral cats are now out of control. On Australia’s mainland and islands, feral cat numbers are estimated at 15 to 23 million. Chris Johnson, professor of zoology at the University of Tasmania, said there is evidence that many species disappeared during the early colonisation of Australia by the British. “The leading candidate for that cause, I think, is the feral cat,” he told ABC Radio. Conservation biologist Dr John Woinarski supports this suggestion, having studied animals in the Northern territories in the late 1980s, before the latest surge in extinctions. “It was effectively a paradise for a zoologist, and then over the course of a decade we were getting less and less in our traps, until by about 2000, 2010, we were coming back with almost nothing,” he told ABC Radio. What are feral cats eating? Ecologist Dr John Read has dissected more than 1,000 feral cats over 25 years after trapping or shooting them in the South Australian desert. Talking to ABC Radio, he described stomach contents that reveal an opportunistic predator. “[Feral cats] eat falcons and cockatoos, bats, centipedes, scorpions… virtually every lizard, every snake, every frog, every bat, just about every bird in Australia and any mammal smaller than a large kangaroo, at least when they are joeys, are all susceptible to cat predation.” Successful implementation of the five-year plan with practical actions, measurable targets, and accountability will require co-operation and collaboration across all sectors of society. The proposed actions are to reduce numbers of feral cats, create safe havens on islands and the mainland for species most at risk, improve habitat, and intervene to prevent extinction. Australia’s first threatened species commissioner, Gregory Andrews, emphasised the strategy was not about hating cats but about not tolerating the impact of feral cats on wildlife. Priority species for protection The numbat, mala and greater bilby are included in the first 10 mammals selected for priority action, and the first 10 birds include the helmeted honeyeater, Southern boobook owl and Norfolk Island green parrot. Hunt also identified the Western ground parrot and the orange-bellied parrot for conservation action, “I want future generations to enjoy the colour, movement and song they bring to our lives,” he said. BirdLife Australia’s State of Australia’s Birds 2015 report, compiled from 15 years of data, provides a Bird Index that reflects the health of the environment in the same way that the Consumer Price Index measures the economy. The report states that 144 of the 1241 bird species and subspecies found in Australia are considered threatened according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with 18 species categorised as critically endangered and on the brink of extinction. The Southern boobook owl is in significant decline in every Australian region except one, and the well-known laughing kookaburra is in decline in south-eastern Australia. It’s not just about preserving biodiversity either. Bats and birds help to control pest insects and to maintain forests by spreading seeds. Native animals and plants are also important to a nation’s identity and culture, to a healthy environment and to the economy by way of tourism. Feral cats will be targeted through baiting, shooting and poisoning. Just $6.6m has been allocated to the Threatened Species Strategy, with the majority of the money focused on cat eradication. Hunt would like to see additional funding for the plan from private and public organisations. Although environmental groups welcomed the government’s new strategy, some were concerned about the low level of funding and the lack of stricter controls on habitat loss. Why is the feral cat cull imperative? People may argue that a cull of feral cats to protect native wildlife is interfering with the ‘survival of the fittest’, but humans upset the natural balance by introducing non-native animals. When predators are introduced, native animals may not adapt in time to survive, especially if the predator breeds quickly and has few or no predators. There will also be those who believe it’s hypocritical of humans to kill feral cats to protect endangered species when humans are guilty of species extinction. But if we take this view, we will simply increase our guilt by not having prevented further species extinction. We can restore the balance in the most humane way possible. Culling is always an emotive issue, and with viral cat videos, the cat bug is spreading faster than feral populations. But we need to be objective. Feral cats are not domesticated—hey are formidable killers. They don’t hunt wildlife for an extra treat on top of their Whiskas; they hunt to survive. Life as a feral cat is a far cry from life as a domestic cat. Feral cats can suffer disease, injury and starvation. Threat of toxoplasmosis infection Cats also carry the Toxoplasma Gondii parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis in mammals and birds. Disease transmission can be water- or food-borne via oocysts excreted in cat faeces. Oocysts can survive in the environment for up to 18 months, capable of infecting long after the cat has gone. Over 6 million people have been infected worldwide. Toxoplasmosis can cause retinal infection and blindness and can be life-threatening in people with compromised immune systems. When pregnant ewes become infected, they usually suffer an early abortion. University of Tasmania’s Bronwyn Fancourt reports that Australian marsupials are highly susceptible to toxoplasmosis. Fancourt says that infected animals are either found dead or stumbling around blindly during the day, at risk to predators or cars. In New Zealand, Massey University pathologist Dr Wendi Roe has linked feral cats to toxoplasmosis infection in Hector’s dolphins via estuaries and coastal waters where dolphins feed. There is some evidence that culling may not be effective when culled feral cats are replaced by neighbouring cats. Any culling plan needs to be carefully targeted, monitored, and maintained to ensure that culling outstrips breeding. Controlling the feral cat population will only be effective alongside other measures, such as preventing feral recruitment from domestic and stray cat populations through continued neutering. Australia is also considering a policy of keeping domestic cats indoors. Red foxes are also a native wildlife predator and population control must be maintained. Hunt invites all Australians to play their part in native animal and plant protection. “As Minister for the Environment, I am drawing a line in the sand and asking the community to join me.” Humans caused the global feral cat epidemic by introducing domestic cats. Now is the time to redress the balance. Australia must be commended for taking a strong and potentially controversial stand to protect its diverse native species. Southern boobook at night by A. Lumitzer Another Eye by Acechando. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Numbat by Martin Pot (Martybugs at en.wikipedia). Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons Norfolk Island green parrot by George Chapman.Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Southern boobook owl by Brisbane City Council. Licensed under CC By 2.0(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boobook_(7126975261) © All posts are protected by copyright with all rights reserved. You are very welcome to link to an article, but if you would like to re-publish my work, commercially or non-commercially, please contact me. Thank you. - Iconic curlew evicted from our changing countryside - 21st April 2019 - Can we justify culling some animals to save others? - 19th March 2019 - Have you seen the latest Wildlife Blog Collection? - 9th February 2019 - Remembering a blackbird fledgling - 4th January 2019 - Jewel in the crown: New Zealand’s yellow-eyed penguin - 1st January 2019
Purpose of Investigation This study of the geology and ground water in Linn County is one in a series of county investigations conducted in Kansas to evaluate the quality and quantity of ground water and the geologic parameters which control the occurrence of ground water. Cooperators in this project are the State Geological Survey of Kansas, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Environmental Health Services of the Kansas State Department of Health, and the Division of Water Resources of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture. Location and Extent of Area Linn County, located in east-central Kansas in the first tier of counties west of the Kansas-Missouri boundary, is bounded on the north by Miami County, on the south by Bourbon County, and on the west by Anderson County (fig. 1). Total area of the county is about 605 square miles. Figure 1--Index map of Kansas showing area described in this report and areas covered by other online geologic reports, as of June 2009. For additional information, please visit the KGS Geologic Maps of Kansas Page. Linn County is located in the Osage Plains section of the Central Lowlands physiographic province (Fenneman, 1931). Schoewe (1949) includes this area in the Osage Cuestas of the Osage Plains. In areas of Linn County directly underlain by bedrock of Pennsylvanian age, topographic form is a function of differential erosion of the various limestone, sandstone, and shale rock units. Four physiographic divisions, which correspond to the outcrop areas of the Marmaton Group; the Pleasanton Group; the Bronson, Linn, and Zahara Subgroups of the Kansas City Group; and the Lansing Group, are recognized and are shown on plate 1. The alluvial-filled valleys of the Marais des Cygnes River and its larger tributaries range from less than a mile to several miles in width in Linn County. The surface developed on these deposits is broad and featureless and is broken only locally by the erosional remnants of older alluvial deposits and by the scars of former meanders. All but the southernmost tier of townships in the county are drained by the Marais des Cygnes River and its tributaries; the remaining area is drained by tributaries of the Little Osage River. The width of the Marais des Cygnes flood plain ranges from 1 to 6 miles and averages about 4 miles in Linn County. The width of the river channel averages about 200 feet. The gradient of the Marais des Cygnes River in Linn County is about 1.1 feet per mile. The climate of Linn County is of the humid continental type and is favorable to the production of most of the crops grown in the State. The length of the growing season ranges from a minimum of 151 days to a maximum of 185 days; the average length is 181 days. The latest recorded date of a killing frost in the county was May 9th, and the earliest recorded date for a killing frost was September 9th. Average temperatures at Mound City range from 31.7° F in January to 78.6° F in July, with an annual average of 56.3° F (based on the period 1931-60 from the U.S. Weather Bureau records). Annual precipitation in Linn County averages about 39 inches (fig. 2, table 1) and increases very slightly from northwest to southeast. About 70 percent of the yearly precipitation occurs during the growing season (Furness, 1959, p. 41), and 95 percent occurs as rain. Figure 2--Variation of annual precipitation in Linn County and adjoining areas. Table 1--Monthly normal precipitation at La Cygne, based on the period 1931-60 (from published records of the U.S. Weather Bureau). Geological investigations in Linn County and adjacent areas in which the stratigraphy, structural geology, and economic geology have been discussed include reports by numerous geologists and scientists listed in the References in this report. Methods of Investigation Data on which this report is based were collected in the summer and fall of 1960 and 1961. A number of stratigraphic sections were studied and described, and the significant formational contacts were located in the field and traced on aerial photographs. Two hundred twenty-two water wells were inventoried (table 4), and water samples for chemical analysis were collected from 25 selected wells in the county (table 2). Test holes were drilled with a power auger across the Marais des Cygnes and several larger tributary valleys and with a hydraulic rotary drill in the upland bedrock areas. Samples were collected from all test holes and filed in the well-sample library at Lawrence. Geology and other data were mapped on aerial photographs obtained from the Production and Marketing Administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and on base maps obtained from the State Highway Commission of Kansas. In this report wells and test holes are located according to the General Land Office coordinating system. According to this system (fig. 3), the first three sets of numbers of the well number designate the township, range, and section, in that order. The letters which follow indicate the quarter section, the quarter-quarter section, and the quarter-quarter-quarter section. The quarter sections are lettered a, b, c, and d in counter-clockwise order starting in the northeast quadrant. When two or more wells or test holes are located within the same division, they are numbered serially in the order in which they were inventoried. Figure 3--Well-numbering system used in this report. The author is deeply indebted to Dr. J. M. Jewett, Senior Geologist of the State Geological Survey of Kansas, who gave so freely of his time and understanding of the Paleozoic rocks of Kansas. Appreciation is also expressed to the many residents of Linn County who supplied much of the basic data and to the well drillers in the area--especially Claude Crowder of Fort Scott, Roy Cook and Clarence Haynes of Pleasanton, and Mr. T. Nelson of La Cygne, who provided many logs from this area; Virgil Burgat and Frank Wilson of the State Highway Commission of Kansas, who provided geologic profiles along highways in Linn County; and Richard Gentile of the Missouri Geological Survey and Water Resources, who provided geologic information from adjacent areas in Missouri. Kansas Geological Survey, Geology Placed on web June 8, 2009; originally published November 1969. Comments to email@example.com The URL for this page is http://www.kgs.ku.edu/General/Geology/Linn/02_intro.html
What is fall and late summer without sunflowers?! Below are some activities to brighten up your program and late summer and autumn days! ART & CRAFTS START WITH A SUNFLOWER SEED - Glue a sunflower seed (or any kind of seed) onto paper. - Next paint an imaginary plant with the roots growing FROM the seed UNDERGROUND........and paint the leaves, and flowers or fruit of the plant above the ground level. - Match the drawing of the flower/fruit to the kind of seed you have "planted." - Cut the centers out of paper plates. - Have children make and glue yellow paper petal shapes around the plate rims--- to create "sunflower masks." - Staple a jumbo craft stick handle to the bottom of each mask. - Have children hold their masks so that their faces show through the open centers. What to do: 1. Once a sunflower head has gone to seed and started to dry, harvest the seeds to make a pretty necklace. 2. Thread a length of nylon string onto a thin needle and carefully push the seeds onto it, one by one. Push the needle through the fat end of the seed, from edge to edge. watch your fingers ! 3. Tie 2 lengths of nylon to the ends of the necklace so that you can tie it around your neck. If you have the clasps from an old necklace, sew these to the ends of the string. PAPER PLATE SUNFLOWERS Paper Plates, Construction Paper, Glue, Yellow Paint, Sunflower Seeds Have children cut out several yellow petals and paste on small paper plate previously painted yellow. Fill the centers with sunflower seeds. SUNFLOWER CLAY POT WINDCHIMES 5 mini, 2 1/2" clay pots Yellow, green and brown acrylic paint 10 round wooden beads 10 yd. spool of plastic cord Packet of sunflower seeds 1. Paint the sunflower designs on the pots first before assembling and let dry. 2. Cord must be at least 3 times the length of the 5 clay pots. This will allow enough cord to make knots when attaching the pots to one another. 3. Fold cord in half and tie a knot leaving the loop long enough for the hanger. Thread the two ends of the cord through a large bead. Beads must be large enough so that they will not fit through the hole in the bottom of the clay pot. 4. Thread the ends of the cord through the upside down clay pot that you want to be on the top. The top pot is the most decorated, with painted sunflowers. 5. Thread another bead on, inside the pot. This will secure the pot. Tie the cord at least five times after the bead. (Beads and knots become the spacers, to keep the pots apart.) 6. Repeat step 5 until all pots are threaded together. Be sure to knot cord sufficiently to keep them in place and separated on the cord. 7. After all five pots are attached, end it by threading on the packet of sunflower seeds. You will need to punch a hole in the packet first. Tie a knot in the cord, allowing enough space so that the seed packet when attached will be able to blow in the wind. Thread on the seed packet and tie a bow. (Source: Kansas City Library) MAKE SUNFLOWER STICK PUPPETS - Paint small paper plates yellow. - Cut triangle shapes out of the plate rims--- all along circular edge. This will give the "sunflower look"... - Paint craft sticks green; glue or tape them to the back of the plate. - You can either glue sunflower seeds in the middle...or have the kids draw/paint eyes, nose, moth, etc., to make sunflower faces for their stick puppets! ART with VAN GOGH (Oil pastels) Also see bottom of page Van Gogh Bulletin Board/Display Idea You can't think of a sunflower without thinking of Vincent Van Gogh's famous Sunflower series and his impressionist style. - Purchase a big and beautiful sunflower for the kids to do a still life. Show them examples of the artists' work, so they have a grasp of what the artist is about. There are many Van Gogh books and poster to be found. - Set the still life with the giant sunflower in a plain vase. Use 9 X12 drawing drawing paper; instruct children to lightly pencil sketch the still life. When they are ready to start coloring, encourage them to use a little bit of pressure, to release the oil pastel's color. - Always allow children to adapt art to their own unique vision! Encourge them to be creative with their vases, so they don't come out the same. As a final touch, have each sign their vase, just like Van Gogh did. The sunflower paintings were made by third grade children. Idea: CREATE MOSAICS with sunflower seeds. You can arrange sunflower seeds in patterns and glue to cardstock to make cards and other crafts. SUNFLOWER PUZZLE PIN by Ms. Brenda 1 Puzzle piece approximately 2" x 3" Black acrylic paint Picture of a sunflower White craft glue 3 Sunflower seeds Hot glue gun and glue stick Clear glossy acrylic sealer with or without gold glitter 1 - 1" pin back fastener This is a great way to recycle an old puzzle. Find your puzzle piece and paint the front with black acrylic paint. Let it dry thoroughly. Select a picture of a sunflower that will fit nicely on the puzzle piece. A picture may be found in an old magazine, seed packets, greeting card, stationery, stickers, etc. Cut out and glue the picture on the puzzle piece using the white craft glue. With the hot glue gun attach the 3 sunflower seeds to the puzzle piece. Let it dry thoroughly. Apply the acrylic sealer to the entire pin coating the flower and the sunflower seeds. Let this dry thoroughly. Turn the puzzle piece over and hot glue the pin fastener to the back. Source: Kansas Public Library HANG SUNFLOWERS IN A BIRD FEEDER for the birds. A lot of birds such as blue jays and gold finches love sunflowers and will thank you with their presence if you put out some for them. KEEP SUNFLOWER SEEDS TO PLANT NEXT YEAR Store the sunflowers in a dry cool place (such as a seed saver or plastic baggie). Make sure the sunflower seeds are completely dry before storing to be sure no mold grows on the seeds. Celebrate sunflowers by planting several varieties and sizes. Cut up seed catalogs to visually plan the garden. Turn the garden into a bird-feeding haven for the fall. Add a bird bath, bird ornaments, and birdhouses. FYI: In a warm temperate climate sunflowers grow from seed to flowering stage in about three months and another six weeks until the seeds mature in the flower head. This relates to the giant flowering types-some of the smaller varieties are quicker to mature. ROASTING SUNFLOWER SEEDS Sunflower seeds are fun to pick off the heads and roast in the oven for a quick snack. It will take a little over three months to get sunflower seeds. You can harvest the sunflower seeds when the middle of the flower starts to turn brown. You have a couple options at this point. You can either fight wildlife and leave the seeds to dry naturally on the stalk or cut the head, keeping about six inches of stem, and hang it up somewhere safe to dry. Put a piece of pantyhose or a bag on the head to catch any drying seeds that might fall out. Once you have the seeds, you can roast them. Preheat an oven to about 300 degrees. Lay out the seeds on a cookie sheet. Make sure they are evenly spaced for better roasting. You can add salt, pepper and other herbs to taste, but it's not necessary. Add a little cooking oil if you want to get them browned quicker. Olive oil works well because it will not brown them as fast and tastes good with the sunflower seeds' naturally nutty flavor. A SUNFLOWER SNACK Small paper plates Sunflower seeds, chocolate chips or raisins Mandarin Orange slices - On a small plate, take a round of bread and spread it with peanut butter; this makes the sunflower center. - Have children sprinkle on sunflower kernels in the very center. (You could also use raisins or chocolate chips to resemble the seeds) - Last have children place mandarin orange slices around the sunflower centers for petals. STUFFED APPLE SUNFLOWER Seed Snack 2 1/2 teaspoons sunflower seeds 1/2 teaspoon flax seeds (optional) 2 Tablespoons raisins Dusting of ground cinnamon (to taste) 1 Tablespoon orange juice concentrate (thawed) Peanut butter (to coat) - Wash apple. With a sharp paring knife, cut the top off horizontally (so that it makes a lid). Hollow out the apple, and keep all pieces that do not have core or seeds. - Cut all the usable apple (from the hollow process) into small pieces. Put them into a small bowl. - Mix in the sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and raisins. Dust with cinnamon to taste. Add the orange juice concentrate, mix well. - Next, coat the inside walls and bottom of the apple with peanut butter. Spread some peanut butter over the inside of the "lid" as well. - Stuff the apple with the filling mixture and then cover with the lid. It may not all fit back into the apple You can either eat your stuffed apple right away or keep it in an airtight container or baggy and eat later. It does not require refrigeration if eaten within 12 hours. These would also be delicious baked… FYI: DID YOU KNOW... Sunflower seeds are packed with polyunsaturated fats, essential linoleic acid, and vitamin E, all of which are heart healthy. Sunflower seeds also contain zinc and potassium! MAKE SUNFLOWER SHAPED COOKIES or CUPCAKES 1. Buy or make your favorite round cookies/cupcakes. 2. Frost your cookies with yellow frosting/icing. (KidActivities sample used white but it still looks good!) 3. Add candy corns (pointing outward) around the edge of the cookies or cupcakes.This will create the petals of the sunflowers. 4. Last, put chocolate chips in the center for the sunflower seeds. The image shown are 'Sunflowers' made using cupcakes. (Made by KidActivities.net) CHOCOLATE COVERED SUNFLOWER SEEDS (These come from the Josolyn House B&B in Little Rock, Arkansas and are said to be very good; guests rarely guesing sun flower seeds are the main ingredient!) Chocolate-flavored bark coating (Package containing 12 squares) 1/2 cup Roasted sunflower seeds - Melt 2 squares of chocolate in microwave oven. - Stir in 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds. (Consistency should be that of a cookie, only you don't want these flat.) - Drop in dollops onto wax paper. Let chocolate set up for approximately 20 minutes. Makes: 6 to 7 (medium size). Preparation time: 3 minutes. Set-up time: 20 minutes. - Tip: Chocolate coved sunflower seeds can also be purchased on stores and are great in may recipes including muffins! MAKE A SUNFLOWER CAKE! 1 round cake Chocolate hershey kisses candy 1.Bake 9" round cake. 2. Frost the cake yellow and place it in the center of a serving dish. Put mini Hershey Kisses or other roundish chocolate candy on top. These are the "sunflower seeds." Start in the center and work in circles to the outer edge. Frost about 16 Twinkies (yellow)-- and place them along the outer edge of the cake for "petals." SUNFLOWER PITA POCKETS 1. Mix toether cream cheese, raisins, grated carrots, and raw sunflower seeds. 2. Spread the cream cheese mixture inside half of a small pita. You could also first spread the cream cheese in the half-pocket --and then add the other food items as desired. HARVEST DASH (OUTSIDE GAME) Set up a fall relay with the kids. Fill large containers with SUNFLOWER SEED bird feed. Have smaller, clear containers at the opposite end. - Kids fill up a cup with seed and race to dump it into the empty container. They sprint back to the start and hand-off the cup to the teammates. Goal of the race is to be the first team to fill up the small container with the seeds. - As an extra challenge, give the kids an over-sized soup ladle instead of a cup. Don't worry if the seeds spill; that's part of the fun! The birds will easily find them later. Tips: Try a dollar store for inexpensive clear containers. They usually stock plastic ones in apple or pumpkin shapes in the fall. Popcorn or candy corn also can be used in place of seed. PLAY MUSICAL SUNFLOWERS (A version of musical chairs) Make pictures of sunflowers out of construction paper. Also make a picture of a bug out of construction paper. (To be able to use game props more than one time--laminate all pictures.) 1. Just as in musical chairs, place the pictures in a circle. Each child stands on a picture. When the music stops, the child standing on the insect/bug is out. 2. As each child is out-- remove a sunflower from the circle-- until one child is left standing on a sunflower. Guess the closest number of seeds in a live sunflower. The number can exceed 1000! Just put out the sunflower head---and pieces of paper and pencils. The children guess and---the closest is the winner! *Idea: If you have very young children and use a SENSORY TABLE---you can fill it with unshelled sunflower seeds. Provide measuring cups, spoons, pie tins, etc.... SUNFLOWER ART DISPLAY BOARD For this bulletin board/display-- paintings, collage and color mixing work were based around the theme of Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Photograph by Mrs. P on Display Photos BULLETIN BOARD IDEA... 1. Have each child make a sunflower. Cut out a circle out of brown construction paper. Cut long petal strips out of yellow paper. 2. Glue one end of each strip to the back of the brown circle. Wait until the glue dries a bit and then pull the other edge of the paper strip and glue it down on the circle. 3. Cut leaves and stem out of green paper and glue on. 4. In the middle of the sunflower write the child's name out; around it glue down a few sunflower seeds. Display the sunflowers on the bulletin board and in the middle place the the following poem. (Idea from CanTeach) The sunflower children Nod to the sun. Summer is over, Fall has begun! Some other pages that may interest you are: Back to top of page KidActivities would like to include more with 'Sunflowers'--If you have an idea, please share via the 'Contact Page'! Thank you, Barb
Real or computer-generated: can you tell the difference? February 22, 2016 As computer-generated characters become increasingly photorealistic, people are finding it harder to distinguish between real and computer-generated, a Dartmouth College-led study has found. This has introduced complex forensic and legal issues, such as how to distinguish between computer-generated and photographic images of child pornography, says Hany Farid, a professor of computer science, pioneering researcher in digital forensics at Dartmouth, and senior author of a paper in the journal ACM Transactions on Applied Perception. “This can be problematic when a photograph is introduced into a court of law and the jury has to assess its authenticity,” Farid says. Training helps … for now In their study, Farid’s team conducted perceptual experiments in which 60 high-quality computer-generated and photographic images of men’s and women’s faces were shown to 250 observers. Each observer was asked to classify each image as either computer generated or photographic. Observers correctly classified photographic images 92 percent of the time, but correctly classified computer-generated images only 60 percent of the time. But in a follow-up experiment, when the researchers provided a second set of observers with some training before the experiment, their accuracy on classifying photographic images fell slightly to 85 percent but their accuracy on computer-generated images jumped to 76 percent. With or without training, observers performed much worse than Farid’s team observed five years ago in a study when computer-generated imagery was not as photorealistic. When humans can no longer judge what’s real “We expect that human observers will be able to continue to perform this task for a few years to come, but eventually we will have to refine existing techniques and develop new computational methods that can detect fine-grained image details that may not be identifiable by the human visual system,” says Farid. Legal background - In 1996, Congress passed the Child Pornography Prevention Act (CPPA), which made illegal “any visual depiction including any photograph, film, video, picture or computer-generated image that is, or appears to be, of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.” - In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the CPPA infringed on the First Amendment and classified computer-generated child pornography as protected speech. As a result, defense attorneys need only claim their client’s images of child pornography are computer generated. - In 2003, Congress passed the PROTECT Act, which classified computer generated child pornography as “obscene,” but this law didn’t eliminate the so-called “virtual defense” because juries are reluctant to send a defendant to prison for merely possessing computer-generated imagery when no real child was harmed. Abstract of Assessing and Improving the Identification of Computer-Generated Portraits Modern computer graphics are capable of generating highly photorealistic images. Although this can be considered a success for the computer graphics community, it has given rise to complex forensic and legal issues. A compelling example comes from the need to distinguish between computer-generated and photographic images as it pertains to the legality and prosecution of child pornography in the United States. We performed psychophysical experiments to determine the accuracy with which observers are capable of distinguishing computer-generated from photographic images. We find that observers have considerable difficulty performing this task—more difficulty than we observed 5 years ago when computer-generated imagery was not as photorealistic. We also find that observers are more likely to report that an image is photographic rather than computer generated, and that resolution has surprisingly little effect on performance. Finally, we find that a small amount of training greatly improves accuracy.
I. Where’s the evidence? 1) Indians called “them” Sasquatch. For centuries people from around the world have called these huge creatures by different names: see list. 2) Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President of the United States recalls a Sasquatch encounter in his 1893 book, The Wilderness Hunter. 1) Hair samples found at sightings are that of an unknown primate. 2) Skookum Cast – a partial body cast obtained in 2000. 3) Increased Reports – the reasons: reporting has been made easier via the Internet and urban sprawl (we are invading more and more forests). 4) World renowned primatologist, Dr. Jane Goodall believes there is an unknown primate living in North America. Many scientists now place their reputations on the line, now openly support and conduct bigfoot research, such as Dr. Jeff Meldrum from Idaho State University. In the past a scientist would never admit they believed in bigfoot for fear of ruining their credibility, their university’s reputation, loose funding for research and possible termination. 5) Dermal Ridges found on numerous tracks around the world and throughout time. Formerly of the Conroe Police Department Jimmy Chilcutt, a fingerprint expert witness believes an unknown primate does exist. 6) Footprints – there is a ratio of length to width. 7) Videos (Memorial Day footage; Freeman Footage; Patterson footage) 8) Patterson footage – amazing recent technological findings. 9) Many Credible Reports – police officers, scientists, teachers, etc. 10) Why is there a law in California that you cannot kill a bigfoot, for an animal that supposedly does not exist? II. Why haven’t we found a body? A. Nocturnal – travel at night when most people are asleep; possibly using creeks as their sidewalks; traveling under bridges avoiding roads. B. Avoid humans (shy, fearful) -- keep migrating to the deepest forests. C. Population of Sasquatch is very low. D. Have you been camping, hunting or hiking in the woods? Let me ask you this, have you ever seen a dead raccoon in the woods? Probally not, yet raccoons are abundant. The Sasquatch population is much, much lower than the raccoon population. E. Highly intelligent – if these creatures are some where on the evolutionary chain between us and chimps, they would indeed be very intelligent. F. Might bury their dead. G. A body can decompose in about a month. MonsterQuest showed a time lapse sequence of a deer carcass – scavengers, maggots, leaf cover and acidic forest floor did a nice job in devouring every piece of evidence. III. Where are the fossils or bones? A. The fossil record for chimps and apes is extremely sparse, thus likewise for bigfoot. B. The forest floor is not conducive to preserving fossils. Only recently, the first ever chimpanzee fossils were found in 2005. Some may exist: Gigantopithecus or many large skeletons have been found: Nephilim Chronicles: Fallen Angels in the Ohio Valley describes over 300 historical accounts of giant human skeletons. IV. Where do they come from? (possible theories of origin) A. Gigantopithecus (a 10ft tall great ape who lived as little as 300,000 years ago in Asia). Pangaea, when all the continents were connected, could of allowed Gigantopithecus to migrate to North America from Asia; this is also why Asia has many bigfoot sightings as well – aka, the Yeti or abominable snowman. B. Or another Hominid. C. Paranormal. Or, if they emit infrasound as many researchers believe, the infrasound might be perceived as a ghostly sensation. D. Misidentification (usually with bears, but there is a huge difference) V. Any other recently discovered animals? (some thought to be extinct) A. Thousands of new species of animals and plants are discovered every year. B. Coelacanth – a fish believed to have gone extinct 65-plus million years ago was found alive in 1938. C. Mountain Gorilla – was first discovered as recent as 1902. D. Thylacine – the Tasmanian tiger was initially thought to be extinct; unfortunately the last one died in 1936. E. Colossal Squid –- discovered in 1925.
“By 2050, it is estimated that atrial fibrillation (AFib) will affect between 5.6 million and 12 million Americans.” The Heart & Diving Overweight and Obesity The terms overweight and obesity refer to a body weight in relation to height that is greater than is considered healthy; both conditions often (but not necessarily) result in a higher proportion of body fat, known as adipose tissue, compared with lean muscle mass. Overweight is applied to those with a somewhat elevated weight, and obesity to those who are extremely overweight. 69% of adult Americans (more than two-thirds) are either overweight or obese. Adult obesity rates have more than doubled in just over 30 years, from 15% in 1976–1980 to 36% percent in 2009–2010. 10 years ago, the obesity rate was significantly higher among women than men; currently, the rates are essentially the same — within a few decimal places of 36% for both men and women. Body mass index (BMI) is a common way of expressing the ratio between weight and height. The following equations are used to calculate BMI: BMI is an important measure for understanding population trends, but it does have some limitations, as follows: It may overestimate the proportion of body fat in athletes and others with a muscular build. It may underestimate the proportion of body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass. Accordingly, BMI is just one of many factors that should be considered in evaluating whether an individual is at a healthy weight — along with waist size, waist-to-hip ratio and a measurement known as "skin-fold thickness."
Political party, Sweden Liberal People’s Party; People’s Party Thank you for helping us expand this topic! Simply begin typing or use the editing tools above to add to this article. Once you are finished and click submit, your modifications will be sent to our editors for review. role in Swedish politics ...party system in Sweden has been relatively stable. Prominent parties include three nonsocialist parties—the Moderate Party (formerly the Conservative Party), the Centre Party, and the Liberal Party—and two socialist parties—the Swedish Social Democratic Workers’ Party (SAP; commonly called the Social Democratic Labour Party) and the Left Party (former Communist Party).... The Liberal–Social Democratic coalition In the general election of 1917, the left-wing parties (the Social Democrats and Liberals) secured a further increase in their majority in the second chamber, and the king was obliged to choose a Liberal–Social Democratic government. Under Nils Edén, the new government, as one of its first measures, amended the constitution. The main issues were suffrage for women and the... Political stagnation (1866–1900) ...the parties that still dominate Swedish politics today came into being: the Swedish Social Democratic Workers’ Party (SAP; commonly called the Swedish Social Democratic Party) was founded in 1889; liberal factions in the Riksdag merged into the Liberal Union in 1900; and conservatives united under the banner of the Conservative (later Moderate) Party in 1904.
Understanding What A Virus Is A virus is a self replicating program that spreads by inserting itself into living cells and manipulating them to replicate themselves. Viruses are caused by a virus known as a pathogen. These viruses live in many different places and can infect different types of cells. The name “virus” comes from the Greek word virusos, meaning “to attack.” They are most commonly spread through mosquitoes, although other pathogens can cause similar symptoms. Most viruses are single celled, but occasionally a virus will mutate into a cell within another organism. A virus is “cold,” since it does not require any living cells to cause an infection. Since they do not need to reproduce themselves, they have no means of spreading themselves. As a result, they cannot survive without living hosts. They must feed on something, and since their source of food is living matter, their hosts provide this nourishment. Since they require no living host to reproduce themselves, they can only survive on dead or infected tissue. Viruses are made up of a protein coat that envelopes an envelope of membrane surrounded by an outer membrane. Inside the coat is a RNA virus (short for RNA Virus) and genetic material. The RNA virus is the actual virus inside your body. Since there is no outside membrane to protect the genetic material from the environment, the virus travels rapidly through the body. This allows it to attach itself very quickly to living cells. Once a virus latches itself to an individual cell, it replicates itself millions of times during the course of a day. That is how a virus becomes a pathogen. Viruses also release toxins that irritate and sometimes destroy healthy cells. The body uses natural killer cells (T-cells) to fight these external toxins. Pathogens can cause many health problems including the flu, common cold, herpes, tonsillitis, viral encephalitis, and many more. A virus spreads from one part of the body to another when it invades a new target organ. When it enters the eyes, it causes a red rash and is often accompanied by discharge from the nose. In throat infections, the virus travels into the lungs causing a greenish yellow discharge. When the virus reaches the blood stream, it settles in the liver causing jaundice and serious hepatitis. Because the virus is so destructive and harmful, it is essential that the body develop ways to combat and avoid infections. Some of these defenses include vaccination against common diseases, such as yellow fever and smallpox. Many individuals have been successfully cured of chronic illnesses using these vaccinations. Many researchers are working hard to find new treatments for various forms of illnesses.
What is Physical Evidence? Physical evidence is any object that can establish that a crime has been committed or can link a crime and its victim or perpetrator. Almost anything can be physical evidence, to list the objects that could be used as physical evidence is impossible. (Saferstein, R. 2009) Common Types of Physical Evidence There are several common types of physical evidence that are found at a crime scene and can be used in cases. However, the weight of a given piece of evidence is ultimately decided by a jury. The types of physical evidence include but are not limited to; blood, semen, saliva, documents, hair, fingerprints, paint, fibers, and drugs. The collection of evidence must be thorough enough to include as many pertinent clues as possible, but selective enough not to delay the laboratory. (Saferstein, R. 2009) When handling evidence it must be done to where contamination does not take place. Contamination occurs when the transfer of extraneous matter between the collector and the evidence or multiple pieces of evidence, producing tainted evidence that cannot be used in the subsequent investigation. The use of latex gloves or disposable forceps when touching evidence can prevent contamination. Evidence should not be moved until investigators have documented its location and appearance in notes, sketches, and photographs. Blood, hairs, fibers, and soil particles should not be removed from garments, weapons, or other articles that bear them. Instead, package the items separately and send the entire object to the laboratory for processing. (Saferstein, R. 2009) The Examination of Physical Evidence Physical evidence is usually examined by a forensic scientist for identification or comparison. Identification is the process of determining a substance’s physical or chemical identity, whereas comparison is the process of ascertaining whether two objects have a common origin. The process of...
Institute of Museum and Library Services Institute of Museum and Library Services. Established in 1996, this federal agency’s function is to support libraries and museums.The agency was a consolidation of the Institute of Museum Services and the Library Programs Office that was a part of the Department of Education. Two laws set up the basic goals of the institute; The Library Service and Technology Act of 1996 and the Museum Services Act of 1996. The institute provides support for 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums nationwide. The agency has a budget of over $200 million dollars per year. Part of the budget is awarded in the form of grants to libraries and museums each year. There are numerous grant programs for each type of institution. For libraries, for instance, there is the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program which supports research, professional development, career building and information science to promote the education of the next generation of librarians. The Save America’s Treasures grant seeks to preserve the nation’s cultural treasures. This grant is intended to provide funds for the safekeeping of documents, artifacts and works of art that tell the story of the nation and should be passed down to future generations. Other programs include funding of public libraries, encouraging museums to interact with the community, and providing resources and cooperation between different institutions. Ongoing education is offered such as online seminars to educate leaders at institutions about public relations, community involvement, caring for collections, funding, and leadership skills. The institute also helps institutions to be more inclusive. From providing services to those who are disabled to providing resources to Spanish speaking community members. This might include providing funds and information about making libraries more wheelchair accessible or providing alternative languages at museum exhibits. Another function of the Institute of Museum and Library Services is to analyze libraries and museums. In cooperation with state agencies the institute reports on the effectiveness of library and museum programs, particularly with regard to the use of funds that were awarded by the institute.