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About the Association Armenian Association of Specialists in Evidence-Based Medicine (AASEBM) was registered in 2013 and is a voluntary, non-profit organization, acting on the basis of the Charter The main aim of AASEBM is to improve the quality of medical education, scientific-research and healthcare activities basing on the use and dissemination of the methodology and principles of evidence-based medicine. AASEBM objectives in educational activities: - conducting educational cycles, elective courses and workshops directed towards teaching of the methodology of evidence-based medicine for students, graduates, resident physicians, tutors, practitioners; - preparation of information and training materials according to the methodology of evidence-based medicine. AASEBM objectives in scientific-research activities: - consulting services in planning, organizing and conducting research; - studying, generalization and dissemination of experience of leading international organizations in the field of methodology of evidence-based medicine; - creation, evaluation and replenishment of the database of published local scientific clinical trials, in accordance with the principles of the Cochrane Community; - expert evaluation of the methodological quality of local scientific publications (articles, dissertations), standards of medical care, patient management protocols. AASEBM objectives in healthcare activities: - Information and methodological support of the standardization process of local healthcare; - expert evidence-based evaluation of the developed protocols and algorithms for the patients’ management; - development and implementation of information technologies into medical practice, which will enhance the evidence-basedness of clinical decisions. Membership of AASEBM Doctors and medical students, who accept the Charter, may become members of AASEBM. To become a member of AASEBM the following is needed: 1) be guided by the Charter of AASEBM while practical activities (see above) 2) fill in the application form and send to: firstname.lastname@example.org	131,885
Tuesday, June 2, 1998 Published at 19:43 GMT 20:43 UK Chronology of the march Up to a million children from all over the world took part in the Global March Against Child Labour: The marchers crossed 80,000km in 107 countries spanning Asia, Africa, America and Europe. The International Labour Organisation, the United Nations Children's Fund, Scouts and other organisations sponsored the campaign, which was first announced on November 20, 1997. The Global March kicked off at the start of 1998 from the Philippines. January 17: The march starts from the Philippines. Hundreds of children march through Manila, the Philippine capital, at the start of the march. February 2: The Asian section of the Global March Against Child Labour arrives in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. February 25: The American section of the March starts from Sao Paolo, Brazil. March 11: The African section of the Global March Against Child Labour kicks off from Cape Town in South Africa. April 4: More than 1000 children march through the streets of the Indian capital, Delhi, demanding an end to child labour. April 13 The Asian participants in a global march against child labour reach Pakistan, crossing the border from India. April 29: The first European marchers start from Norway and Finland. May 1: Marchers leave London, Catania in Italy and Portugal for Geneva. May 2: The American leg of the march reaches the United States. From Los Angeles the marches leave to Washington. May 5: The Global March Against Child Labour arrives in London and delivers a petition to No 10 Downing Street. June 2: Hundreds of children from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America received a standing ovation from delegates of the International Labour Organisation, in Geneva, for completing their six-month global march against child labour.	172,102
Two years ago, the University Libraries and the Provost’s Office launched an Open Access Fund to pay the processing fees related to open access publishing. The fund is meant to encourage the University community to publish their research in open access platforms. The open access publishing model allows free, immediate access to research and allows authors to retain intellectual property rights to their research. To recoup publishing costs, some open access journals charge article processing fees to make the work freely available online. More information about the fund can be found here. To date, 73 funded items have been funded, published and added to our institutional repository, with 10 published in 2015, 40 2014, and 23 in 2013. An additional 17 items have been approved and are awaiting publication. The author publishing charges for these 73 articles total $101,605.03, for an average cost of $1,391.85. The articles come from a wide variety of colleges, with majority of articles having authors in the Carver College of Medicine and in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Open access journals which charge author fees are more common in the sciences. Our collection of articles is similarly heavy in the sciences. Most of the articles are in journals that are completely open access. A few are in hybrid journals. (If you have an item in a hybrid journal, you can may be able to post a version of the article in IRO without paying an additional fee. Contact your subject specialist for more information.) One article is available freely on the publisher’s site, but we cannot add it to our collection, in part because the publisher required that the authors give away their copyright of the article to the publisher as a condition of publication. We are very happy to have been able to support open scholarship at the University of Iowa with this fund.	275,617
According to a 2011 report by CNN Health, there are 22 million Americans who are addicted to illegal drugs in the United States and all around the world. Addictions vary from gambling, food, and sex, but probably the one which needs the greatest attention are drug addictions. Drug dependency not only ruins the lives of those who are addicted, but also the lives of those who are closest to them. Listed below are 5 of the most addictive drugs and their symptoms. Addiction Takes Its Hold There are several illegal and prescription drugs that are addictive and dangerous. Here are the 5 most addictive drugs: Heroin: Addicts are first drawn to the intense euphoria that is brought on by heroin. This happens soon after injection/snorting when the drug is converted into morphine in the brain, which quickly attaches to opioid receptors. Along with the euphoric rush, the user will often become flushed and experience dry mouth as well as a heavy feeling of the arms and legs. Nausea and vomiting along with severe itching is also common. Once the beginning effects of the drug have worn off, the user will feel drowsy and their breathing will become very slow, sometimes fatally. They may become foggy and slow, mentally, because of the heroin’s effect on the body’s central nervous system. Addicts easily build up a tolerance to the drug, which in turn causes them to use higher doses more frequently in order to obtain the same desired high. Once addiction occurs, the addict’s life revolves around the next high and will remain that way until they get help. Cocaine: It is typically smoked, injected or snorted. The effects last around two hours and include high energy, alertness and euphoria followed by agitation, depression, anxiety and paranoia. Methamphetamine: This extremely addictive drug is mostly made in illegal meth labs using toxic chemicals that can be found in common household products. The effects may include euphoria, increased libido, hyperactivity, restlessness, insomnia, heart attack and stroke. Because meth is highly addictive, the “crash” that the users feels is so intense that they’ll continue to abuse it to keep the inevitable “crash” at bay, making many addicts only focus in life to continue their high at any cost. Prescriptions: Opioids are used to treat acute pain and include such prescription drugs as morphine, methadone, hydrocodone and oxycodone. Opioids stimulate the areas of the brain that receive pleasure and in turn produce a sense of well-being and euphoria. Repeated use of these types of drugs begin to overwhelm the system with dopamine and, in time, the body thinks it needs the drug in order to survive and this is how addiction begins. Many people become addicted to prescription painkillers after being prescribed them for an injury or to manage the pain after an operation. Alcohol: Though it is acceptable to drink alcohol in moderation, for many people alcohol is a daily, even hourly, need. Abuse of alcohol can lead to liver damage, destructive behavior, and domestic violence. It can also mask depression and other symptoms of mental illness. [Ref: DEA Drug Facts] Getting Help For Addiction Though some drugs may seem harmless, they are not. Each drug comes with its adverse effects as well as the potential for addiction. To learn more about these drugs and how to treat addiction, contact your local drug treatment facility. Learn more about why drugs are addictive by watching this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQsgEtO6B6A.	168,865
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Susan Buchanan News Releases 2003 NOAA Home Page NOAA Public Affairs The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is seeking input from the public on its research direction and priorities for the coming years, as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The National Marine Fisheries Service is part of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “This plan affirms the agency’s ongoing commitment to science-based conservation and management and will serve as a guide for carrying out our science activities for the next five years,” said Bill Hogarth, NOAA Fisheries director. “I strongly encourage the public to review and comment on the research priorities presented in this plan.” NOAA Fisheries is required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act (Act) to develop a plan to cover four major areas of research: (1) research to support fishery conservation and management; (2) conservation engineering research; (3) research on the status of fisheries; and (4) information management research. The Act requires that the plan be updated every three years. The draft plan outlines several objectives, including: continued implementation of the Marine Fisheries Stock Assessment Improvement Plan, establishing an inventory of living marine resource habitats and implementing measures to monitor the trends in habitat availability, and improving the socio-economic data and models that are available both to monitor the performance of federally managed fisheries and to support the analysis of fishery management actions. The plan is consistent with the recently released Priorities for the 21st Century: NOAA Fisheries' Strategic Plan for FY 2003 - FY 2008 and also aligns with NOAA’s Strategic Plan for FY 2003- FY 2008 and Beyond: New Priorities for the 21st Century. Both require the support of research to meet their objectives. NOAA Fisheries’ research program consists of fisheries research and the publication of peer-reviewed studies and analyses. Agency scientists provide this information to industry, environmental groups, resource managers, and others who are dependent on fisheries science to accomplish their missions. Ensuring that this information is of the highest quality and responsive to stakeholders’ needs is a major aim of this plan. The draft strategic research plan is available online at: www.st.nmfs.gov/st2/index.html. NOAA Fisheries will accept comments through January 6, 2004. Comments may be sent to Mark Chandler, Research, Office of Science and Technology; NOAA Fisheries; 1315 East-West Highway; Silver Spring, MD 20910-3225; by fax to (301) 713-1875, or e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is dedicated to protecting and preserving the nation’s living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management, and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. On the Web:	177,156
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and top Republicans are making plans to initiate an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden this fall. McCarthy has privately informed Republicans that he intends to pursue an impeachment inquiry into Biden and hopes to begin the process by the end of September. While he has already publicly threatened to launch an inquiry based on allegations from IRS whistleblowers and noncompliance from the Biden administration regarding Republicans’ Hunter Biden probe, McCarthy has conveyed even stronger signals about his intentions behind closed doors. However, it is recognized that not all members of the House Republican conference are in favor of the politically risky idea of impeachment. Therefore, a significant question that Republicans have been discussing is whether they would need to hold a floor vote to formally authorize their inquiry. There is no constitutional requirement for such a vote, and Republicans currently lack the necessary 218 votes to initiate an impeachment inquiry. Opting to skip the formal vote would allow Republicans to proceed with the inquiry while giving leadership more time to convince the rest of the conference to support impeachment. During former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment, House Democrats eventually held a vote to formalize their inquiry after initially delaying it due to divisions within their ranks. GOP Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who supports a Biden impeachment and serves on the House Judiciary Committee, believes that a vote of the House is not required to open an impeachment inquiry. Another potential complication for the timeline of an impeachment inquiry is that government funding expires at the end of September. McCarthy has indicated that a short-term spending patch will be necessary to avoid a government shutdown, a proposition that hardline conservatives have opposed. Officially moving forward with an impeachment inquiry may help alleviate pressure from conservative members on McCarthy. The speaker himself has connected the issues of a government shutdown and continuing investigations into the Biden administration, emphasizing that a shutdown could hinder House Republicans’ ability to conduct these inquiries. Republicans have cited unverified allegations of Biden’s involvement in his son’s foreign business dealings and alleged political interference in the ongoing Hunter Biden criminal case as grounds for impeachment. However, Republicans have been unable to provide proof for these claims, which the White House and Democrats have consistently denied. Some Republicans remain unconvinced that they have uncovered evidence of impeachable offenses. President Biden maintains that he did nothing wrong regarding his son, Hunter, and the White House confirms that the president was not involved in his son’s business. Attorney General Merrick Garland and other top Justice Department officials have vehemently denied GOP allegations of political interference in the Hunter Biden probe. Despite some Republicans working to rally support for an impeachment inquiry during the August recess, it remains uncertain whether there are enough votes to proceed with the process. McCarthy has stated that further discussions will take place when Congress reconvenes and new information continues to emerge.	245,030
Wikipedia is universally relied on and universally distrusted. On the one hand, it’s a stunning repository of knowledge that has rendered the World Books of my not-so-distant childhood utterly obsolete; on the other hand, it’s always partly tethered to the wisdom of crowds, meaning that diligent scholars and fact-checkers must perform a two-step: look it up on Wikipedia, then confirm it elsewhere. Studies have shown that Wikipedia’s accuracy rate compares well with that of “official” encylopedias, which can’t be updated as fast or expanded as comprehensively. And yet there are still those occasional articles that land it shy of perfect respectability… My favorite irregularities aren’t the glaring errors, the garbled sentences, or the instances of cheerful bias (from an article on Indian mystic Swami Shivananda: “Though his suffering was intense, he was always happy, as he never felt alienated from his Lord whose presence he was constantly aware of”). No, what I love most are the passages ingested from old public-domain reference books. So many articles borrow from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica, for example, that the site has developed a special attribution template for editors to use in annotating them. And yet what must give Jimmy Wales fits gives my heart convulsions of delight. It’s sheer magic: flyblown tomes you'd otherwise never encounter are suddenly thrust under your nose. People and events with zero impact on the modern world somehow become relevant again. Need to learn about New Hampshire conchologist Augustus Addison Gould? Of course you don’t, but thanks to the zombified 1911 Britannica, you can! It’s easy enough to seek these anachronisms out, but it’s even more fun when you find them by accident. If libraries die, this may become the closest future generations get to the special kind of serendipity they provide. Recently I stumbled across an entry on painter Joshua Cristall, which contained the following excerpt from Bryan’s Dictionary of Painters and Engravings (1886–89): He was first apprenticed to a china dealer at Rotherhithe, but, finding that business too irksome, he left both his master and his home, and went to the Potteries, where he found some employment as a china painter. Finding this too monotonous, he came to London, and commenced a life of great privations and hard efforts to study the fine arts. It is said that at this period of his life he seriously injured his health by trying to live for a year on nothing else but potatoes and water. Try getting that kind of information from the World Book. By the time you click the links above, by the way, the articles may very well have been brought up to date. The Wikignomes are sleepless. Their system, mostly, works. But I hope it never works too well. Encyclopedias by their nature are quixotic endeavors—what resource can seriously hope to provide all the knowledge in the world?—so it’s fitting that they should contain a little romance. Maybe even some sobering wisdom, as in the entry on Crinoline: The crinoline had grown to its maximum dimensions by 1860. However, as the fashionable silhouette never remains the same for long, the huge skirts began to fall from favour. Ah, how true: style is fleeting. But old-timey anecdotes are hilarious forever: However there is one instance of a crinoline possibly saving a life, in the case of Sarah Ann Henley who jumped off the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol in 1885 after a lover's quarrel, but survived the 250 ft drop because her skirts supposedly acted like a parachute and slowed her descent. Although it is debated if the skirt actually saved Ms. Henley from the fall, the story has nevertheless become a local Bristol legend. That entry, by the way, doesn’t properly cite its sources, so I have no idea where this yarn comes from. Once in a while, it’s better not to know. [Image from Crinoline article, Wikipedia. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.]	305,886
Young Vern often saw people outside his house at night. From age five to six, Vern would look out his bedroom window in Orrick, Mo., and people with large, fishlike eyes would walk around his yard and sometime into his neighbor’s houses. At the time, this wasn’t strange to him. “They were the Night People,” Vern said plainly. Everyone Vern knew – himself, his family, his friends – lived in the real world during the day. The people he saw outside his bedroom window lived there when the sun went down. “In my mind we were the Day People and they were the Night People. I know that sounds weird but that’s how it seemed.” Vern, now an adult living in Liberty, Mo., thought the Night People were normal. “I’d wake up at night and see these people with big eyes living a regular life,” he said. “I could see faces, clothes, they had kids… I do remember the adult mowing the yard. But I thought it was weird because I couldn’t hear the mower.” He also watched them walk up and down the street, pausing to speak with each other. “They seemed like they were talking and interacting normally,” Vern said. “Like down home. You’d just see people talking.” Then Vern’s family moved from Orrick to nearby Liberty and he saw the same fish-eyed Night People outside his window. One night, he finally made contact … and never saw them again. “The children were playing in the yard next door and I thought, hey, I might go play with them,” he said. “What’s weird, though, is the last time I saw them, it seemed like all of a sudden they seemed to notice that I’d noticed them. One of the adults just looked at me and just realized, ‘they see me now.’ And the next thing I see is it’s daylight and I never see (them) again.” Vern had blacked out and came to hours later. “If this was real, I probably wasn’t perceived as a threat until I decided to come out and play,” Vern said. But who were these Night People only Vern could see? Vern’s memories of them are similar to that of alien abductees who also wake up to see large-eyed, friendly, familiar beings they later identify as classic gray aliens. Margie Kay, host of the Quest paranormal radio program, ghost hunter and psychic, said Vern’s experiences were related to alien abduction. “This is more common than most people think,” Margie said. “Vern is likely an abductee.” Extraterrestrials, Margie said, live in another dimension and are capable of entering and leaving ours whenever they want to – like Vern’s Night People. Another piece of evidence may have come out of Vern’s nose when he was 14. “I had a nose bleed and didn’t stop it,” he said. “I finally blew my nose.” What he found shouldn’t have been there. “It looked like a capsule of silvery something,” he said. “At first it felt hard then started dissolving. I was trying to figure out what it was and it dissolved in my hand.” Many people who claim they’ve been abducted by extraterrestrials report similar metallic objects coming from their nose. UFO researcher and physician, Dr. Roger Leir, has reported surgically removing many similar objects from patients. “I wonder if I wasn’t tagged or something,” Vern said. Margie thinks he was. “This sounds like a typical implant in the nose scenario,” Margie said. “And he probably saw aliens, too.” Whatever the true origin of Vern’s Night People – whether they are the product of a child’s imagination or alien abduction – it’s affected his life for decades. “You have to realize I was five and six at the time,” Vern said. “It’s vivid enough I still remember it after 45 years.” Copyright 2007 by Jason Offutt Got a scary story? Ever played with a Ouija board, heard voices, seen a ghost, UFO or a creature you couldn’t identify? Let Jason know about it: Jason Offutt c/o The Examiner, 410 S. Liberty, Independence, Mo. 64050, or email@example.com. Include your name, address and telephone number. Your story might make an upcoming installment of “From the Shadows.” Jason's book of ghost stories, “Haunted Missouri: A Ghostly Guide to Missouri's Most Spirited Spots,” is coming in May. FREE SHIPPING when you order online at: https://tsup.truman.edu/store/ViewBook.aspx?Book=849. Visit Jason’s Web site, www.jasonoffutt.com, for his other books.	260,778
Pope Eng. Co., P. O. Box 236, Newton Centre, MA 02159 While careful attention is given to the visual appearance of most meeting spaces, the aural appearance often is neglected. Meeting rooms serve a multiplicity of functions in a variety of configurations. Typical of rooms at Acoustical Society meetings, for example, is a lecture-style setup with a presenter at the front of the room addressing an audience of 30--300 listeners. A good room will facilitate the communication of the presenter's message. The listener perceives, comfortably, only what the presenter wants heard. In practice, a number of acoustical defects and distractions may exist. Problem areas include air-handling (HVAC) noise, sound transmission from adjacent spaces, inappropriate reverberation, noise from audio-visual presentation equipment, and audience-generated noise. In addition to bad luck, the causes appear to include design, construction, maintenance, meeting planning, and facility staff issues. The use of a sound reinforcement system can mitigate some problems, while introducing new ones. The intent of this paper is to raise questions for discussion, and to provide an introduction to the session.	162,733
Gaming the Archives There’s no shortage of fabulous archival material lurking in college and university collections. The trick is finding it. Without good metadata—labels that tell researchers and search engines what’s in a photograph, say—those archives are as good as closed to many students and scholars. But many institutions don’t have the resources or manpower to tag their archives thoroughly. Enter Metadata Games, an experiment in harnessing the power of the crowd to create archival metadata. A team of designers at Dartmouth College, working with archivists there, has created game interfaces that invite players to tag images, either playing alone or with a partner (sometimes a human, sometimes a computer). Solo players think up tags to describe the images they see; in the two-player scenario, partners try to come up with the same tag or tags.	46,731
The German conductor and composer, Neithard Bethke, the eighth of 10 children of a pastor family, was surrounded by music from his earliest childhood. His mother was a professional musician; she was piano pedagogue and at her times the youngest professor of her profession. She became his first piano teacher. Already at 7, he played the organ in the service in Wöhrden, at 13 years he was engaged there on a permanent basis. He studied church music, composition, piano and a conducting in Lübeck, Freiburg, Paris, Madrid and Hamburg. Neither Betake was first active as a church musician in Wöhrden and in Lübeck. In 1969 he became cathedral organist in Ratzeburg. In the same year he created the Sommerakademie (summer academy) in Ratzeburg. In 1972 he was appointed as the director of church music and was thereby the youngest acting director of church music in Germany. In 1981 he became principal conductor of the renowned Deutschen Bachorchester consisting of first-class specialists, which had at that time its seat in Cologne and whose seat he shifted to Hamburg. Apart from all the activities in his Ratzeburg period, he retrieved the Abitur and Latin, studied at the Christian-Albrechts-Universität in Kiel music science, history and theology, and in 1988 attained a doctorate in philosophy. His thesis is concerned with the life and the work of Kurt Thomas, who was a Thomaskantor for a short period. Professor Doctor Neithard Bethke is the father and organiser of the Ratzeburger Dommusiken. However, his musical activity is not limited to the Ratzeburger Domkonzerte. Nearly annually international organ weeks take place in Ratzeburg in the summer, in which organists from all over the world are involved. Since 1969 he organises and leads the Ratzeburger Sommerakademie, with which renowned music pedagogues and artist accomplish master-classes for music students. Over 1,000 students have participated so far in these courses; some of them have become in the meantime renowned artists, lecturers and professors. Neithard Bethke has also taught in St. Petersburg, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sidney, Perth, Milan, and Santiago de Chile. Neithard Bethke with his choir have given numerous guest concerts abroad. He was active as organist, harpsichordist and conductor in Belgium, England, Holland, Ireland, France, Italy, Iceland, in Estonia, Lettland, Litauen, Finland and Sweden, in Poland, Tschechien, Russia, Romania, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia; in Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Yugoslavia, Norway, Denmark, Liechtenstein; in other continents in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, North and South America, in Canada and China. Neithard Bethke has made himself a name not only as a church musician but also as an opera conductor. Le Nozze di Figaro, La Traviata, Aida, Nabucco, La Bohéme, Carmen, Meistersinger, Tannhäuser, Parsifal, Freischütz belong among other things to his repertoire. As a composer, Neithard Bethke is widely varied. So far he has composed 77 works, including 30 works for organ, 1 Mass, 3 oratorios, 8 Motets, 12 Cantatas, 12 other choral works, 4 Lieder cycles, 3 humorous choral works, 1 symphony, 6 other works for orchestras. He wrote music to texts of various authors: Jochen Klepper, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hilde Domin, Uwe Steffen, Chines poetry, Erwin Lüddecke, and Eva Zeller. His works are characterised often by original instrumentation, e.g. clarinet, harp and alto voice.	184,792
Made by the well-known Edinburgh goldsmith Ebenezer Oliphant, this elaborate set of portable cutlery and wine beakers was among the possessions of Prince Charles Edward Stuart Scotland during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. Following Charles’s defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the canteen, with other items belonging to Charles, was seized by William, Duke of Cumberland, commander of the Hanoverian forces. The canteen can be used with students to develop enquiries into the events leading up to the Rebellion, its aftermath and the subsequent role of Scots in the growth of the British Empire. Made in Edinburgh, Scotland made AD 1740 – 1741 National Museum of Scotland (Please always check with the museum that the object is on display before travelling)	12,592
Guide for laboratory animal facilities and care Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources (U.S.) Committee on Revisions of the Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and care, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources (U.S.). Committee on the Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care, National Institutes of Health (U.S.). Animal Resources Branch U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, National Institutes of Health, 1968 - Science - 57 pages 12 pages matching appropriate in this book Results 1-3 of 12 What people are saying - Write a review We haven't found any reviews in the usual places. Academic Press Accreditation adequate animal cages animal care programs animal diseases animal facilities animal housing animal rooms Animal Technicians appropriate ATCB autoclave barbiturate Breeding cage-washing cats ceiling certification clean clinical communicable disease detergents disinfectants disposal dogs equipment Euthanasia experience experimental feed floor space foot-candles Group cage Guide Guinea pigs hamsters Handbook Health housing system incineration infectious disease units Institute of Laboratory Iowa Iowa State University LABORATORY ANIMAL FACILITIES laboratory animal medicine Laboratory Animal Resources Laboratory Animal Science large domestic animals maintenance Mice minimum National necessary necropsy nonhuman primate operating Philadelphia physical postsurgical practical examinations primary enclosure Primate procedures quarantine Rabbits racks radiation safety officer radioactive rats recommended requirements Research Council routine sanitation sealed Senior Animal Technicians separate species Standards storage areas surgical temperature tion treatment U. S. Government Printing ventilation Veterinary Washington waste waterproof written examination York	209,782
Senior citizens are the usual victims of foot problems. This is due to the daily use of poorly fitted, wear and tear footwear over a long period of time. Foot problems are also indications that a patient is experiencing serious problems like diabetes, circulatory disorder and arthritis. That is why medical experts give emphasis on practicing foot care practice. If possible, visit your physician regularly for a checkup. This is important especially when you have a serious disease/condition. You can also do exercises like brisk walking, stretching, elevating your feet, and foot massage. Also refrain from using shoes that you don’t feel comfortable wearing. There are a lot of foot help tips and exercises that you can do. On the other hand, there are few tips on wearing shoes and how to choose them correctly. To help you with that; below are some tips in choosing the right type of shoes to use foot care: • As you grow old your feet will also grow and/or expand. This means that you also have to change your shoes every now and then. If possible measure your feet from time to time. Do this from 6pm to 7pm. • In most cases, people’s feet are not identical in size. So in choosing footwear always consider the larger foot. • Bring your shocks and try the shoes with it when shopping. • Walk a couple of times and take your time until you get a good feel of the shoes. This is one of the important parts in choosing and buying. • Remember not to base your decision on the design. Always consider the level of comfort first. • See to it that your foot’s ball is comfortable when standing, running or walking. • Do not assume that the shoes will expand or stretch as you continue using it. • Make sure that the heels of your feet do not slide to-and-fro when walking. • The upper part of the shoe should be made of soft bendable material to match the shape of your foot. • Check if the upper part of the shoe is made of flexible, soft bendable material for easy walking or running. • Check the cushioning and shock support of the shoes if they are at the right level you needed. • If possible choose those that are low heeled because they are easier and safer to use. Consider all of these tips and you will surely avoid serious problems and foot disease in the future. It is important to take care of your feet as much as you take care of your body. Make sure that you spend time learning more about footwear and foot inserts. If you are already experiencing diseases like peripheral artery disease or diabetes, keeping your feet in good shape is very, very important. Diabetic patients in particular should refrain from injuries and wounding the foot because this can lead to infection and amputation.	260,796
A: There’s some exciting early data where scientists have been able to use stem cells for regeneration of cardiac tissue, in particular certain parts of the heart or maybe even an entire heart in mice or rats. However, it’s not been done yet in humans reliably and that would be the next step. If the research bears out, we may see this as an option for heart patients in perhaps five to 10 years. The area where stem cells might first be used is in patients who have had damage to their heart because of a heart attack. These patients have scarring on the heart and that area of the heart is not beating anymore. If we can regenerate cardiac tissue to replace this scarred tissue, the hope is to get the heart fully working again. Growing whole new hearts will likely be later down the line and will depend on the success of the research. — Preventive cardiologist Haitham Ahmed, MD, MPH	68,242
What to make of the mixed message in Sunday’s New York Times op-ed by David Leonhardt? Dispelling the prevalent and stubborn myth that environmental measures are a drag on economic recovery is critical to efforts to gain public and political support. Leonhardt attempts to help, but misses some of the most important points. In a piece with the overused title “It’s Not Easy Being Green” (and, speaking of mixed messages, the opposing title, “It’s Easy Being Green,” is just as cliché), Leonhardt at first downplays the promise and economic viability of a national policy to address climate change. “The alternative-energy sector may ultimately employ millions of people. But raising the cost of the energy that households and businesses use every day — a necessary effect of helping the climate — is not exactly a recipe for an economic boom.” With that, he seems to validate the environment versus economy faceoff. He then tempers that a bit when he writes “Alternative energy may not be a solution to our economic problems. But neither is it guaranteed to make those problems much worse, despite the continuing claims of opponents.” Faint praise, but at least it’s not condemnation. And he starts to get it right with “The stronger argument for a major government response to climate change is the more obvious argument: climate change.” Problem is: climate change, in and of itself, has not proved to be a strong enough argument, at least not in our current head-in-the-sands, corporate-driven political arena. It’s clear that in a head to head battle, even with a public relations boost from Sandy and Nemo and the like, the environment still loses out to the economy. So it doesn’t help when Leonhardt continues: In some cases, [government environmental programs] may even save taxpayers money over the long run. In most cases, however, they probably will not. Government agencies, like households and businesses, use dirty energy today because it is cheaper. And while it’s true that new clean-energy companies may help the economy by earning profits and employing workers, the same is true of coal and oil companies. Leonhardt misses the boat in exactly the same way, as I pointed out last week, the pro-nuclear power advocates do – seeing only parts of pictures rather than wholes. When he says dirty energy is cheaper, he is looking only at a partial set of costs, ignoring major “external costs” like public health, resource depletion and national security. The savings he refers to are merely the direct ones like reduced energy bills and (inconclusively, in his mind) new jobs. Those are well and fine, but it’s incomplete accounting. This is the same reason elected officials from coal mining states think they’re doing the right thing in opposing environmental regulations on coal; the loss of coal industry jobs, according to this type of partial accounting, will hurt their constituents. But when true costs such as the health costs for miners and those living nearby and the costs of polluted waters and ravaged land are taken into account, that calculation is turned on its head. (Help me out here – I read a post just last week which cited numbers for exactly this example, but I can’t find it now. Send me the link if you have it.) The same point can be made with mass transit. The benefits are not only in the reduced fuel consumption and air pollution that people tend to focus on, but also in time saved due to less congestion and even improved well-being arising from commuting less stressfully as a passenger rather than a frustrated driver. Not to mention the fact that you can safely text your heart away. (See “Public Transportation Saved 865 Million Hours Of Delay On US Roads In 2011.”) At the very bottom of his column, Leonhardt almost gets it. “In the end, the strongest economic argument for an aggressive response to climate change is not the much trumpeted windfall of green jobs. It’s the fact that the economy won’t function very well in a world full of droughts, hurricanes and heat waves.” Ahah, now we’re talking about the larger picture, or at least some of it. But it’s so far down at the end that it’s all but a footnote, and an incomplete one at that. Yes, in that battle for public support, if it’s the environment versus the economy – especially in a troubled economic time like this – the environment’s gonna lose. But that’s an entirely wrong scenario, one created by the limited vision of conventional political-economic thinking (and avidly supported by corporate self-interests). I’ve noted this in earlier posts as, of course, others have as well. In a blog post wonderfully titled “It’s not the economy, it’s the stupid paradigm,” Paula Williams writes “the economy and the environment are not separate (contrary to the claims of many economists).” Public support for environmentalism has been waning since the start of the Great Recession, and not just in the US, as Greenbiz.com notes. Across eighteen countries, public concern about all six issues – water pollution, fresh water shortages, natural resource depletion, air pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss – is way down from its peak in 2009, with double-digit falls in the proportion of the public considering them “very serious.” [O]ur figures suggest people are starting to tune…out [messages of doom and gloom]. Ultimately, the challenge for the environmental movement is to articulate an alternative to our current economic model that empowers people rather than constrains them, and that is politically achievable in difficult times. The alternative economic model is the understanding that our environmental solutions are our economic solutions. That, along with the observation that those combined solutions – contrary once again to the claims of many economists and others — will also improve the quality of our lives, is the foundation of EcoOptimism.	10,721
Occupy Wall Street is now a favorite subject for the media. They seem to vacillate between admiration and disdain. Certainly Fox News leans more towards disdain while MSNBC is more open to examining their complaints. I hope that Wall Street is paying attention. Whether you like them or not, Occupy Wall Street is one symptom of a greater issue – falling confidence. Each month consumer confidence is reported as an indicator of expected future economic performance. Confidence in the value of the dollar is evidenced by foreign currency exchange rates. Confidence in the Federal Government is reflected in surveys with the general public and by investors with the yield rates on treasury bills. Confidence is a valuable indicator and positive economic outcomes in the long run require confidence – the confidence to spend, the confidence to borrow, he confidence that you will have a job and the confidence to invest. The Occupy __ (fill in your city) movement is, fundamentally, about fairness; the belief that the economic system is not fair to most people in the United States. Protestors believe that if you work hard to get an education and a job, that you should be able to prosper. The reality they see is that people in finance who game the system have prospered enormously while following the rules may leave you jobless and in debt. They believe that if you should start to get ahead, the financial system is set up to fleece small investors while the powerful prosper at the rest of society’s expense. That is, they have lost confidence in our economic system. As long as that loss of confidence is limited to scattered encampments in large cities around the country (and world) the protestors are merely a noisy distraction to Wall Street, and perhaps a tourist draw for the curious. But surveys taken since the beginning of the protests indicate that the OWS movement is the true cutting edge of a wave of dissatisfaction with the direction of our country. TEA Party groups blame the government for their dissatisfaction, while OWS blames greed and the influence of money on the political process. Both groups know something is wrong, and the OWS movement has been growing in influence. Our stock markets require investor confidence to attract capital. No investor will send money to his broker with the expectation that he will be fleeced. As more investors examine the arguments of the OWS movement, they may come to agree that the system is rigged against them. If this results in dollars slowly being pulled out of the market, then Wall Street ignores the complaints of the OWS movement at its peril. This loss of confidence will likely not result in a run on the markets, rather is would be evidenced by a slow decline as individuals come to the conclusion that the American dream does not flow through Wall Street. Is Occupy Wall Street the tip of the iceberg or an annoyance to the wealthy? The public is now focusing on the growing income gap and time will tell.	171,154
I’m a talented nobody. I don’t even have an associates degree. And it’s been my experience that some of the the most educated people tend to underestimate the importance of educating the general public. Professionals tend to see the public as people to be managed by professionals. They see them as people who are sick, and themselves as doctors dispensing medicine. The public doesn’t have time to read all the books. They need things condensed. They have bright minds that are sponges for wisdom, but the wisdom never reaches them. A lengthy booklist won’t help them, no matter how many good books are on the list. It’s a tough problem, but I have one solution. Can you ask all the people you know, who are copacetic with Collective Wisdom and Open Source, to collect their favorite wisdom quotes from the books they’ve read? Then you can post them to phi beta iota. That’s almost an archaic method compared to open source technology, but it’s a reliable and kitchen-tested recipe! Wisdom quotes are like data visualization. They condense complex perspectives into readily graspable concepts. One of my favorites, at the moment, is: In a room full of intelligent people, the smartest person in the room is the room. Verbosity is the enemy of spreading the word about anything. Verbosity slows the information cycle—-Open Source Everything included. Someone needs to collect wisdom quotes from your field to condense all the main ideas. The great unwashed masses are far smarter than most people realize. They’re just lacking in important feedback! Wisdom quotes, widely circulated, accelerate the flow of information.	15,707
Squad is aptly named. The Mexico-based company was founded in 2008 as a marketing firm that wanted to be an employee-centric workplace, according to co-founder Adrian Goya. It had enough marketing acumen to draw regional business from global brands such as Coca-Cola and Samsung, but along the way something else bloomed at the firm. It transitioned into a kind of ideation lab, encouraging staff to take advantage of a program the company labels ‘make your dream come true with Squad’. Teams can pitch any new venture, and Squad will fund it as long as there is a potentially successful business case behind it. The program is what gave birth to Kerbal Space Program, a rocket science simulation game that’s long on originality and gaining a dedicated player following. "Kerbal-nauts" on a mission Some of the same tenets that seem to underpin Squad as a company also apply to Kerbal Space Program, or KSP, as a game. The brainchild of Squad’s Felipe Falanghe, KSP is one big adventure in courageous risk taking and learning on the go. There’s also much more to it than initially meets the eye. It’s a serious and solidly designed science-based simulator with physics rooted right here on earth. Yet it’s wrapped in the veneer of a quirky, otherworldly IP where the characters that populate it, called Kerbals, are something right out of a Nickelodeon cartoon. That hasn’t hindered the game from attracting a following among serious PC gamers, including loyalists in the game press like PC Gamer’s Ian Birnbaum , who has a running journal dedicated to his KSP exploits. “Our lead developer, Felipe, played with fireworks as a kid and built little tin men to strap onto his bottle rockets,” says Bob Holtzman, who runs PR and marketing for KSP. “He called them Kerbals. The Kerbals are there for comedic relief. They’re pretty fearless, in a sort of stupid way. So they’re always good for a laugh and help you enjoy yourself, even when your rocket blows up. Felipe told me players come for the explosions and stay for the rocket science.” Squad thinks the appeal of the IP helps overcome one of KSP’s biggest challenges from a game play standpoint. True to its source material, much of the experience is rooted in trial and error as players tinker with designing rockets, launch pads, space vehicles and everything else needed to build a space program from the ground up. When it comes to figuring out what works and doesn’t, the emphasis is on learning from failure, and lots of it. “It’s not a casual experience and takes effort,” says Holtzman, adding, “The development team understood that attempting to realistically recreate a space agency was going to be a real challenge for most gamers, myself included! So one of the team’s major focuses is making sure failure is fun in Kerbal Space Program. The Kerbals make that happen. They’re like a running joke version of ‘did you see the look on his face?’ while you’re blowing your latest rocket or spacecraft to smithereens.” With KSP as its first foray into game making, Squad might have been impatient about quickly recouping what it invested. Instead, the company is taking a patient approach to marketing and monetizing the game that’s surprisingly cognizant of how gamers embrace a product. It’s using the freemium version of the free-to-play model, but it's doing it in a much more calculated way compared to how many games come at free-to-play on a wing-and-a-prayer, essentially begging players to go ahead and play for free while hoping they'll eventually buy something. Goya explains, “After several months in development we made a free public release of the game on our website, just to test and see how people reacted and see if the idea was a good one worth keeping up developing. There was a very positive reaction so we decided to carry on with free updates. After a while, almost a year in development, we decided to start accepting pre-orders for the game, while still giving it for free. If you gave us seven dollars at the time, you would have the full version of the game forever. The pre-order price has increased over time and we eventually released a free demo version and a paid version you’d only have access if you made a pre-order.” “It was a natural process for us and you can say it’s a sound marketing strategy,” adds Holtzman. “Developers who understand the market for their game can form a powerful community of word-of-mouth marketers while funding a longer runway for their team to develop the game. The important part, and this is where teams can’t slack off, is making sure the game is developed to the utmost of its potential with each new update. One bad update can ruin your relationship with your community. Their support is fueling your takeoff so you can’t let them down." “You have players who are in direct contact with you, who start loving your game, help you shape the game and talk about your game. And added to that, in our case, you get very talented people out there creating mods that make our game grow," says Goya. A big part of experiencing this game is getting exposed to that robust modding community around it. Modders are playing a critical part in helping lower the barrier for entry for new players. The game is all about building and testing parts that work within larger systems, and while failures that explode are fun not everything that fails explodes. Once a player is past the basics of building a rocket that flies into space, there’s room for all sorts of improvements. Ultimately the player moves from building rockets to the other fun aspect of KSP, space exploration. Thanks to mods, which in KSP’s case could very well stand for ‘modules’, players can get past the time sink of testing every little component of their growingly complex enterprise by installing parts and systems developed by other players. As one example, the currently most popular mod for the game is a nifty looking, and presumably tried and tested, escape pod for players who are building space stations. Shopping for mods almost adds a game within a game to KSP. Squad’s robust online hub for modders, Kerbal Spaceport, feels like an e-commerce site. Browsing through categories such as “Structural and Aerodynamic” or “Command and Control,” and considering items such as the aforementioned space pods, the site makes you feel as if you’re a NASA acquisition specialist sifting through a database of government contractors. Given the level of sophistication for some of the mods, it’s not surprising to hear Goya say that they’ve actually hired modders to the development team. There’s seemingly an opportunity to monetize this side of the game too, though Squad says they’re not ready to for that just yet. “It’s definitely something we’ve considered,” says Goya. “One of the challenges is the legal side since our game is played globally and if you start to allow people to sell the mods, it opens up a number of legal issues. It’s something we’re working on but haven’t made any final decisions.” From here out, the emphasis for Holtzman, Goya and the KSP team is to broaden appeal for a game that may not have mainstream hit written all over it, at least not at first blush. Overcoming that has a lot to do with how the product is communicated, and who’s doing the communicating. Here, Squad is still relying on the people who play the game and get what it’s all about. “We’re trying to make sure the community has all the tools they need to share this game with their friends. We recently updated the website to make it more user friendly. We’re also looking to expand our social media options. Right now, our focus has been on our forums, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch.TV. We’re really making an effort to show people how much fun it is to stream KSP and had our social media manager, Miguel Pena, and one of our developers, Chad Jenkins, join the GamesRadar team on a stream the day we launched update 0.21. It was a chance for us to introduce the game to a new audience and some of our core audience members showed up to both tease and support some of the new players from the GR team.” “Kerbal Space Program hasn’t approached its potential, both as a game and its brand,” Holtzman adds. “It’s going to be a lot of fun to see new players discover the game and see how future updates help it grow. We’re also working hard to strategically invest in the brand. We just want to make sure it makes sense with where the game is in development too.”	167,714
Journals from the First Fleet The State Library holds the world's largest collection of original First Fleet journals and correspondence. Of the eleven known journal manuscripts, nine are held in the Mitchell Library and Dixson Library collections, State Library of New South Wales. Of the contemporary records which survive documenting the First Fleet, the original, private manuscript journals written by those who actually sailed with the expedition occupy a central place. The manuscript journals held by the State Library are written by John Hunter, Second Captain and Philip Gidley King, Second Lieutenant; William Bradley, First Lieutenant; Jacob Nagle, a seaman; and George Worgan, surgeon, all serving on the Sirius; Ralph Clark, Second Lieutenant of Marines on the Friendship; James Scott, Sergeant of Marines on the Prince of Wales; John Easty, private Marine on the Scarborough; and Arthur Bowes Smyth, surgeon on the Lady Penrhyn. All give insights into shipboard life, the convicts, officers and crew, ports of call, discipline, injuries and deaths and daily life in the colony. Select a name below to read selected accounts: - Arthur Bowes Smyth - William Bradley - Ralph Clark - John Easty - John Hunter - Philip Gidley King - Jacob Nagle - James Scott - George Worgan	304,588
Peasant by Jules Dalou (1838-1902), one of the most important representatives of nineteenth-century naturalistic sculpture. 43cm tall. A student of Carpeaux and Duret, Dalou debuted at the Salon of 1867, but within a few years became active in the leftist politics of the French Commune, which greatly influenced his career and subject matter. He joined the Federation of Artists, directed by Gustave Courbet, and was named a curator at the Louvre in the new administration. With the fall of the Commune, he was forced to flee to England, where he became a professor at the Royal College of Art in London, but under the amnesty of 1879, he was allowed to return to France. He then won important commissions for Triumph of the Republic for the city of Paris and Monument to Victor Hugo in the Pantheon. this bronze is a reduction of a figure that Dalou had originally planned for his great Monument to Labor, begun in 1889 and still unfinished at his death in 1902. He made a number of clay sketches of industrial and agricultural workers, based on first-hand studies of laborers at sites such as Grenouvilliers, outside Paris, in 1894. The sympathetic and heroic portrayal of a peasant rolling up his sleeves recalls the work of other nineteenth-century French painters such as Courbet, Millet, and Pissarro. Dalou's original 1897 terracotta sketch for Large Peasant is today at the Musée du Petit Palais in Paris, as is a plaster model made in 1898-99. In 1899, he signed a contract with the Susse Foundry in Paris, granting exclusive rights to cast bronzes after his work. A full-size bronze of Large Peasant, approximately 78 inches tall, was exhibited at the Salon of 1902, the year of Dalou's death. (It was acquired by the Louvre in 1905 and is now at the Musée d'Orsay.) Dalou considered the subject his own memorial. This bronze is a lost-wax cast reduction of the full-scale work, produced by Susse in the early decades of the twentieth century, as authorized by a 1903 contract with Dalou's heirs. It is an excellent example of the high quality of French bronze-casting technique with its refined chasing of surface details and warm tones of the patina.	247,452
I was recently contacted by the witness of a winged humanoid that was originally reported to researcher Stan Gordon. The witness states that he had subsequent sightings after his first report. Below is Stan Gordon's first sighting report...then followed by the new information given to me by the witness. On March 21, 2011, I was contacted by a witness who reported having an encounter with a very strange creature during the early morning hours of March 18, 2011. The incident occurred on a rural road in Butler County between Chicora and East Brady. The witness, a businessman passing through the area, stated that “this was the freakiest thing I ever saw, and it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.” The man told me that he was driving down the road when from about a ¼ mile away, he observed something on the right side in a grassy area. His first thought was that it was a deer. The driver stepped on the gas to move closer to get a better view. From about 50 yards away, he observed something that appeared to be hunched down, and then stood up. The driver then observed a very tall muscular creature. At this point, the driver had his high beams on and watched as the creature walked in front of a yellow reflective road sign, then crossed the two lane road in three long steps and continued into a wooded area. What he saw was a humanoid figure that stood at least 8 feet tall that appeared to have smooth leather-like skin that was of either a darker tan or light brown color. The creature never looked at the witness, and was only observed from its side. The head appeared to be flat in the front section, and then rounded out. “At the top back of skull, it was like one of those aerodynamic helmets. The top was not quite a point, but looked like a ridge on top of the head.” The face was flat, and the eyes were not clearly defined, but the man thought that they might have been pointed in the corner. The ear that was observed on the left side was long and flat, and came up and back and was pointed backwards like a flap. The arms were muscular and a little longer than that of a human. The hands looked more like a claw, but the number of fingers was unclear. One physical trait that stood out were the extremely muscular legs. The witness stated that it was hard to explain, but the legs did not move like that of a human, and “looked like they bent backwards.” The witness also saw what appeared to be wings on its back which were tucked into its body, with the wing tips extending toward the side of its head. No unusual sounds or smells where noticed during the observation which was estimated to have been about 7-8 seconds. As the motorist approached the location where the creature entered the woods, it could no longer be seen. The next day the witness decided to drive back to the location of the encounter to look for any evidence. The ground conditions were not suitable for tracks, and nothing was found. The witness did, however, measure the road sign that the creature had walked in front of. The sign was just over 8 feet high, and the head of the creature was estimated to have reached about 4 inches above the sign. Stan notes later sightings reported to other investigators: Since that initial report that I received concerning this strange encounter, it has been learned that other local residents from that same area also reported seeing a similar unknown creature. Dan Hageman, Director of BORU (Butler Organization of Research on the Unexplained), also received several reports from that same time period and general location. The following are some of the BORU summary reports on these incidents: March 26, 2011 - Kepple’s Corner - Two witnesses were driving to Butler when they witnessed a dark tan, 8 feet tall winged entity. The face appeared smashed in. It had a muscular body and a head that went to a point. The arms were long and it appeared to have claws for fingers. When it crossed the road it seemed to lope with each stride. The witnesses stopped the car in shock and sat there until another car came and they had to move. The witness is willing to take a lie detector test to prove what he saw. March, 2011 - East Brady - A witness was riding his motorcycle two miles past a custard stand and saw a large animal. It was bent over as if looking for something. As the witness got to within 75 feet of the creature it stood up. It was at least 8-9 feet tall, and the arms hung down below its knees. The skin looked like leather and it was very dark. Its eyes were swept up in the corners and it had a pointed head. It was very muscular and looked like it had wings on the side of its head. It also appeared angry. The creature then bolted into the woods. The witness stated that if anything it was straight from hell and it needed to go back. March, 2011- Rimersburg - Two witnesses had just left the ice cream stand headed for Rimersburg and noticed something crossing the road. They came to within about 35 feet of the creature. They stated that it was at least 9 feet tall and had dark brown skin, long arms and broad shoulders. It had a pointed head, flat forehead, and pointed ears and what appeared to be wings on its back. The body was extremely muscular and there were four finger-like claws on each hand. The eyes were squinted but swept upwards at the corners. As the creature turned, the whole body would turn. The movement of the arms was not normal. The mouth looked like a slit. The wings looked like see-through mesh and resembled wings on a bat. The claws were black as coal. The witness stated that this thing was straight from hell. There is information coming in that a similar creature has been reportedly seen again in the same general areas of Butler County since about mid-July of 2012. Campers and others are rumored to have seen a strange large winged creature. \|ALL KNOWN SIGHTINGS WERE CONCENTRATED IN THE CIRCLE AREA\| Here is the report I received from the original witness and his subsequent sightings: About two weeks later (2 weeks after March 18, 2011, the original sighting) I was driving on the same road in the opposite direction. It was just after daylight. Not even a mile from initial spot of first sighting, I witnessed on my left in a field the same creature hunched down about 10 feet beside a round bale of hay. Even hunched down this thing was about 3 feet taller than the bale. It was looking straight at me. I did not notice any glowing or strangeness to its eyes. In the light of the morning and being to the west side of the bale it had a gray cast to it. It's hands/claws were black and down on the ground like you would see a gargoyle statue. There was not any snow on the ground, just the hay field and round bales. I slowed down and watched it. The wings were partially seen on it's back above the shoulders, just like a gargoyle statue. About a month after that I witnessed it next to a wooded area in a hollow about 500 yards from previous sighting. It was going into the woods around dusk. I saw it from the side and then its back as it entered the woods. I know others have seen it as well. I intentionally left out details of my first sighting. I did not report my second or third sightings in order to wait and see if anyone else would report it. And if they did, what they had seen. I was hoping I was not the only one to see it. Turns out many people have seen it and a few reported it. When I had my sighting I did not know where or who to report something like this to. After a search on internet I found Stan Gordon's web site, so I asked him not to give out my name. I have heard from locals in the area that it's been seen for years. There are many farms in this location and a family had a history of something going on, but never told too many people about it. I even did some research into the sightings. There are newspaper reports going way back of this. It's the same area the historic “Chicora Meteor” explosion took place. Although not related I did find out that in the 70’s there had been a bunch of sightings of this and a hair creature that is still seen north of there. It was great to talk on the phone and know I am not the only one seeing these things. I am still looking into it. I had not been a paranormal or weird creature person. But after this, I have been trying to figure out what it is. RK Encounters with Flying Humanoids: Mothman, Manbirds, Gargoyles & Other Winged Beasts Monsters of Pennsylvania: Mysterious Creatures in the Keystone State Strange Pennsylvania Monsters Silent Invasion: The Pennsylvania UFO-Bigfoot Casebook	282,431
Abrash tells the dominant tale on this good condition restricted light palette eastern Turkish [if it's a Sivas] scatter. The generally subdued palette works straw, sand, golden brown and other brown shades into a subtle medallion pattern with extended arabesque filled corners, in a classic "bookcover" layout. The abrash does not follow any pattern or formal order. But it stretches across the bottom border, just inside of the lower border, again from edge to edge near the upper field end, and halfway up within the upper border. These broader bands have sub-abrashes within them,. There are additional bits of abrash at the centre and you can find still more subtle ones when you look closely. Some abrashes are more subtle than others, but none are out of tone and too starkly visible. The abrash indicates changes in the dye lots. These variations may not be visible when the rug was first woven, but subsequent manipulations have brought them out. How many dye lot changes were there? The abrashes add character to a mellow, tone-on-tone rug, and indicate its handmade character. There is also some vertical abrashes, especially along the right hand side border. Sivas rugs are urban creations of a substantial town in eastern Turkey and share many characteristics with Persian Tabriz work. The most active Sivas period is from about 1920 until 1940. The industry was developed by Armenians and when they left, Sivas carpet weaving declined to a lower level, both in quantity and quality. This versatile example is in good condition, with a medium-close weave of symmetric (Turkish) knots on an all-cotton foundation. "Decorative" in the current sense, Works anywhere. Colour manipulation may be recent or old, Turkish or American.	109,462
The sun rose on Wallace and his brave legions as they traversed the once romantic glades of Strathmore; but now the scene was changed. The villages were abandoned, and the land lay around in uncultivated wastes. Sheep, without a shepherd, fled wild from the approach of man; and wolves issued, howling, from the cloisters of depopulated monasteries. The army approached Dumblane; but it was without inhabitant; grass grew in the streets; and the birds which roosted in the desert dwellings flew scared from the windows as the trumpet of Wallace sounded through the town. Loud echoes repeated the summons from its hollow walls; but no other voice was heard, no human face appeared; for the ravening hand of Cressingham had been there! Wallace sighed as he looked around him. “Rather smile,” cried Graham, “that Heaven hath given you the power to say to the tyrants who have done this, ‘Here shall your proud waves be stayed!’” They proceeded over many a hill and plain, and found that the same withering touch of desolation had burned up and overwhelmed the country. Wallace saw that his troops were faint for want of food; cheering them, he promised that Ormsby should provide them a feast in Perth; and, with reawakened spirits, they took the River Tay at its fords, and were soon before the walls of that well-armed city. But it was governed by a coward, and Ormsby fled to Dundee at the first sight of the Scottish army. His flight might have warranted the garrison to surrender without a blow, but a braver man being his lieutenant, sharp was the conflict before Wallace could compel that officer to abandon the ramparts and to sue for the very terms he had at first rejected. After the fall of Perth, the young regent made a rapid progress through that part of the country; driving the southron garrisons out of Scone, and all the embattled towns; expelling them from the castles of Kincain, Elcho, Kinfauns, and Doune; and then proceeding to the marine fortresses (those avenues by which the ships of England had poured its legions on the eastern coast), he compelled Dundee, Cupar, Glamis, Montrose, and Aberdeen, all to acknowledge the power of his arms. He seized most of the English ships in those ports, and manning them with Scots, soon cleared the seas of the vessels which had escaped, taking some, and putting others to flight; and one of the latter was the fugitive Ormsby. This enterprise achieved, Wallace, with a host of prisoners, turned his steps toward the Forth; but ere he left the banks of the Tay and Dee, he detached three thousand men under the command of Lord Ruthven, giving him a commission to range the country from the Carse of Gowrie to remotest Sutherland, and in all that tract reduce every town and castle which had admitted a Southron garrison. Wallace took leave of Lord Ruthven at Huntingtower, and that worthy nobleman, when he assumed, with the government of Perth, this extensive command, said, as he grasped the regent’s hand, “I say not, bravest of Scots, what is my gratitude for thus making me an arm of my country, but deeds will show!” He then bade a father’s adieu to his son, counseling him to regard Wallace as the light in his path; and, embracing him, they parted. A rapid march, round by Fifeshire (through which victory followed their steps), brought the conqueror and his troops again within sight of the towers of Stirling. It was on the eve of the day on which he had promised Earl de Warenne should see the English prisoners depart for the borders. No doubt of his arriving at the appointed time was entertained by the Scots or by the Southrons in the castle; the one knew the sacredness of his word, and the other having felt his prowess, would not so far disparage their own as to suppose that any could withstand him by whom they were beaten. De Warenne, as he stood on the battlements of the keep, beheld from afar the long line of Scottish soldiers as they descended the Ochil Hills. When he pointed it out to De Valence, that nobleman (who, in proportion as he wished to check the arms of Wallace, had flattered himself that it might happen), against the evidence of his eyesight, contradicted the observation of the veteran earl. “Your sight deceives you,” said he, “it is only the sunbeams playing on the cliffs.” “Then those cliffs are moving ones,” cried De Warenne, “which, I fear, have ground our countrymen on the coast to powder! We shall find Wallace here by sunset, to show us how he has resented the affront our ill-advised prince cast on his jealous honor.” “His honor,” returned De Valence, “is like that of his countrymen’s-an enemy alike to his own interest and to that of others. Had it allowed him to accept the crown of Scotland, and so have fought Edward with the concentrating arm of a king; or would he even now offer peace to our sovereign, granting his prerogative as liege lord of the country, all might go well; but as the honor you speak of prevents his using these means of ending the contest, destruction must close his career.” “And what quarrel,” demanded De Warenne, “can you, my Lord de Valence, have against this nice honor of Sir William Wallace, since you allow it secures the final success of our cause?” “His honor and himself are hateful to me!” impatiently answered De Valence; “he crosses me in my wishes, public and private; and for the sake of my king and myself, I might almost be tempted-” He turned pale as he spoke, and met the penetrating glance of De Warenne. He paused. “Tempted to what?” asked De Warenne. “To a Brutus mode of ridding the state of an enemy.” “That might be noble in a Roman citizen,” returned De Warenne, “which would be villainous in an English lord, treated as you have been by a generous victor, not the usurper of any country’s liberties, but rather a Brutus in defense of his own. Which man of us all, from the general to the meanest follower in our camps, has he injured?” Lord Aymer frowned. “Did he not expose me, threaten me with an ignominious death, on the walls of Stirling?” “But was it before he saw the Earl of Mar, with his hapless family, brought, with halters on their necks, to be suspended from this very tower? Ah! what a tale has the lovely countess told me of that direful scene! What he then did was to check the sanguinary Cressingham from imbruiting his hands in the blood of female and infant innocence.” “I care not,” cried De Valence, “what are or are not the offenses of this domineering Wallace, but I hate him; and my respect for his advocates cannot but correspond with that feeling.” As he spoke, that he might not be further molested by the arguments of De Warenne, he abruptly turned away, and left the battlements. Pride would not allow the enraged earl to confess his private reasons for this vehement enmity against the Scottish chief. A conference which he had held the preceding evening with Lord Mar, was the cause of this augmented hatred; and, from that moment, the haughty Southron vowed the destruction of Wallace, by open attack, or secret treachery. Ambition, and the base counterfeit of love, those two master passions in untempered minds, were the springs of this antipathy. The instant in which he knew that the young creature whom at a distance he discerned clinging around the Earl of Mar’s neck in the streets of Stirling, was the same Lady Helen on whose account Lord Soulis had poured on him such undeserved invectives in Bothwell Castle; curious to have a nearer view of one whose transcendent beauty he had often heard celebrated by others, he ordered her to be immediately conveyed to his apartments in the citadel. On their first interview he was more struck by her personal charms than he had ever been with any woman’s, although few were so noted for gallantry in the English court as himself. He could hardly understand the nature of his feelings while discoursing with her. To all others of her sex he had declared his enamored wishes with as much ease as vivacity, but when he looked on Helen the admiration her loveliness inspired was checked by an indescribable awe. No word of passion escaped his lips; he sought to win her by a deportment consonant with her own dignity of manner, and obeyed all her wishes, excepting when they pointed to any communication with her parents. He feared the wary eyes of the Earl of Mar. But nothing of this reverence of Helen was grounded on any principle within the heart of De Valence. His idea of virtue was so erroneous that he believed, by the short assumption of its semblance, he might so steal on the confidence of his victim as to induce her to forget all the world-nay, heaven itself-in his sophistry and blandishments. To facilitate this end he at first designed to precipitate the condemnation of the earl, that he might be rid of a father’s existence, holding, in dread of his censure, the perhaps otherwise yielding heart of his lovely intended mistress. The unprincipled and impure can have no idea what virtue or delicacy are other than vestments of disguise or of ornament, to be thrown off at will; and therefore, to reason with such minds is to talk to the winds-to tell a man who is born blind to decide between two colors. In short, a libertine heart is the same in all ages of the world. De Valence, therefore, seeing the anguish of her fears for her father, and hearing the fervor with which she implored for his life, adopted the plan of granting the earl reprieves from day to day; and in spite of the remonstrances of Cressingham, he intended (after having worked upon the terrors of Helen), to grant to her her father’s release, on condition of her yielding herself to be his. He had even meditated that the accomplishment of this device should have taken place the very night in which Wallace’s first appearance before Stirling had called its garrison to arms. Impelled by vengeance against the man who had driven him from Dumbarton and from Ayr, and irritated at being delayed in the moment when his passion was to seize its object, De Valence thought to end all by a coup de main-and rushing out of the gates, was taken prisoner. Such was the situation of things, when Wallace first became master of the place. Now when the whole of the English army were in the same captivity with himself, when he saw the lately proscribed Lord Mar, Governor of Stirling, and that the Scottish cause seemed triumphant on every side, De Valence changed his former illicit views on Helen, and bethought him of making her his wife. Ambition, as well as love, impelled him to this resolution; and he foresaw that the vast influence which his marriage with the daughter of Mar must give him in the country, would be a decisive argument with the King of England. To this purpose, not doubting the Scottish’s earl acceptance of such a son-in-law, on the very day that Wallace marched toward the coast, De Valence sent to request an hour’s private audience of Lord Mar. He could not then grant it; but at noon, next day, they met in the governor’s apartments. The Southron, without much preface, opened his wishes, and proffered his hand for the Lady Helen. “I’ll make her the proudest lady in Great Britain,” continued he; “for she shall have a court in my Welsh province, little inferior to that of Edward’s queen.” “Pomp would have no sway with my daughter,” replied the earl; “it is the princely mind she values, not its pagentry. Whomsoever she prefers the tribute will be paid to the merit of the object, not to his rank; and therefore, earl, should it be you, the greater will be your pledge of happiness. I shall repeat to her what you have said; and to-morrow deliver her answer.” Not deeming it possible that it should be otherwise than favorable, De Valence allowed his imagination to roam over every anticipated delight. He exulted in the pride with which he would show this perfection of northern beauty to the fair of England; how would the simple graces of her seraphic form, which looked more like a being of air than of earth, put to shame the labored beauties of the court? And then it was not only the artless charms of a wood-nymph he would present to the wondering throng, but a being whose majesty of soul proclaimed her high descent and peerless virtues. How did he congratulate himself, in contemplating this unsullied temple of virgin innocence, that he had never, by even the vapor of one impassioned sigh, contaminated her pure ear, or broken the magic spell, which seemed fated to crown him with happiness unknown, with honor unexampled! To be so blessed, so distinguished, so envied, was to him a dream of triumph, that wafted away all remembrance of his late defeat; and he believed, in taking Helen from Scotland, he should bear away a richer prize than any he could leave behind. Full of these anticipations, he attended the Governor of Stirling the next day, to hear his daughter’s answer. But unwilling to give the earl that advantage over him which a knowledge of his views in the matter might occasion, he affected a composure he did not feel; and with a lofty air entered the room as if he were come rather to confer than to beg a favor. This deportment did not lessen the satisfaction with which the brave Scot opened his mission. “My lord, I have just seen my daughter. She duly appreciates the honor you would confer on her; she is grateful for all your courtesies whilst she was your prisoner, but beyond that sentiment, her heart, attached to her native land, cannot sympathize with your wishes.” De Valence started. He did not expect anything in the shape of a denial; but supposing that perhaps a little of his own art was tried by the father to enhance the value of his daughter’s yielding, he threw himself into a chair, and affecting chagrin at a disappointment (which he did not believe was seriously intended), exclaimed with vehemence, “Surely, Lord Mar, this is not meant as a refusal? I cannot receive it as such, for I know Lady Helen’s gentleness, I know the sweet tenderness of her nature would plead for me, were she to see me at her feet, and hear me pour forth the most ardent passion that ever burned in a human breast. Oh, my gracious lord, if it be her attachment to Scotland which alone militates against me, I will promise that her time shall be passed between the two countries. Her marriage with me may facilitate that peace with England which must be the wish of us all; and perhaps the lord wardenship which De Warenne now holds may be transferred to me. I have reasons for expecting that it will be so; and then she, as a queen in Scotland, and you as her father, may claim every distinction from her fond husband, every indulgence for the Scots, which your patriot heart can dictate. This would be a certain benefit to Scotland; while the ignis fatuus you are now following, however brilliant may be its career during Edward’s absence, must on his return be extinguished in disaster and infamy.” The silence of the Earl of Mar, who, willing to hear all that was in the mind of De Valence, had let him proceed uninterrupted, encouraged the Southron lord to say more than he had at first intended to reveal; but when he made a pause, and seemed to expect an answer, the earl spoke: “I am fully sensible of the honor you would bestow upon my daughter and myself by your alliance; but, as I have said before, her heart is too devoted to Scotland to marry any man whose birth does not make it his duty to prefer the liberty of her native land, even before his love for her. That hope to see our country freed from a yoke unjustly laid upon her-that hope which you, not considering our rights, or weighing the power that lies in a just cause, denominate an ignis fatuus, is the only passion I believe that lives in the gentle bosom of my Helen; and therefore, noble earl, not even your offers can equal the measure of her wishes.” At this speech De Valence bit his lip with real disappointment; and starting from his chair now in unaffected disorder, “I am not to be deceived, Lord Mar,” cried he; “I am not to be cajoled by the pretended patriotism of your daughter; I know the sex too well to be cheated with these excuses. The ignis fatuus that leads your daughter from my arms, is not the freedom of Scotland, but the handsome rebel who conquers in its name! He is now fortune’s minion, but he will fall, Lord Mar, and then what will be the fate of his mad adherents?” “Earl de Valence,” replied the veteran, “sixty winters have checked the tides of passion in my veins; but the indignation of my soul against any insult offered to my daughter’s delicacy, or to the name of the lord regent of Scotland is not less powerful in my breast. You are my prisoner, and I pardon what I could so easily avenge. I will even answer you, and say that I do not know of any exclusive affection subsisting between my daughter and Sir William Wallace; but this I am assured of, that were it the case, she would be more ennobled in being the wife of so true a patriot and so virtuous a man, than were she advanced to the bosom of an emperor. And for myself, were he to-morrow hurled by a mysterious Providence from his present nobly-won elevation, I should glory in my son were he such, and would think him as great on a scaffold as on a throne.” “It is well that is your opinion,” replied De Valence, stopping in his wrathful strides, and turning on Mar with vengeful irony; “cherish these heroics, for you will assuredly see him so exalted. Then where will be his triumphs over Edward’s arms and Pembroke’s heart? Where your daughter’s patriot husband; you glorious son? Start not, old man, for by all the powers of hell I swear that some eyes which now look proudly on the Southron host, shall close in blood! I announce a fact!” “If you do,” replied Mar, shuddering at the demoniac fire that lightened from the countenance of De Valence, “it must be by the agency of devils; and their minister, vindictive earl, will meet the vengeance of the Eternal arm.” “These dreams,” cried De Valence, “cannot terrify me. You are neither a seer, nor I a fool, to be taken by such prophecies. But were you wise enough to embrace the advantage I offer, you might be a prophet of good, greater than he of Ercildown, to your nation; for all that you could promise, I would take care should be fulfilled. But you cast from you your peace and safety; my vengeance shall therefore take its course. I rely not on oracles of heaven or hell; but I have pronounced the doom of my enemies; and though you now see me a prisoner, tremble, haughty Scot, at the resentment which lies in this head and heart. This arm perhaps needs not the armies of Edward to pierce you in your boast!” He left the room as he spoke; and Lord Mar, shaking his venerable head as he disappeared, said to himself: “Impotent rage of passion and of youth, I pity and forgive you.” It was not, therefore, so extraordinary that De Valence, when he saw Wallace descending the Ochil hills with the flying banners of new victories, should break into curses of his fortune, and swear inwardly the most determined revenge. Fuel was added to this fire at sunset, when the almost measureless defiles of prisoners, marshaled before the ramparts of Stirling, and taking the usual oath to Wallace, met his view. “To-morrow we quit these dishonoring wall,” cried he to himself: “but ere I leave them, if there be power in gold, or strength in my arm, he shall die!” Last updated Sunday, March 27, 2016 at 11:59	226,528
Securitization in the foreclosure industry is what happens when there is too much money on top of the economic ponzie scheme and not enough investment opportunities to go around. Until interest rate dividends are inverted, and the poorest receive the highest rate of return on their savings, and the richest receive the smallest rate of return on their savings, we are doomed. The internet has created a communication efficiency paradigm that cuts profit margins because of the consumer ease of cost comparisons. Because of the internet, the days of higher profit margins are basically over, unless slave labor is added in to the formula. You want huge profits, own part of a satellite, another huge JOB KILLER. Every time a satellite sends a signal to a new subscriber, another angel gets its wings cut off. Nowadays, huge profits mean someone has figured out a way to produce the same product with less people, aka, digitalizing the process. Increased efficiency means less overall jobs, yet the banksters continue to try and indenture their customers with obscene interest rate charges. Rich people need to back off and simply PROTECT what they already have, and leave the remaining profit crumbs for the masses to survive off of, if they don't, we are all doomed, sooner, rather than later.	211,682
Summary and Analysis Nursing the baby, Kitty reflects on her husband's unceasing search for belief. Since the death of his brother, Levin examined the questions of life and death through reading philosophy and through modern scientific concepts which replaced the religious faith of his childhood. Though these ideas are intellectually interesting, Levin thinks, they provide no guidance for life. Feeling like a man "unprepared for life who must inevitably perish because of it." Levin reads tirelessly, but still finds no explanation. "Without knowing what I am and why I am here, life's impossible," he thinks. If I am just a little "bubble-organism" in the immensity of time and space which lasts a little and then bursts, then life is not just a lie, but the "cruel jest of some evil, hateful power to whom one could not submit." Death is the one way to escape this power, and Levin hides gun and rope for fear of committing suicide. But he exists happily, he discovers, when he ceases worrying about the meaning of life. Absorbed among the thousand daily tasks of his existence — farming, livestock, his family, his hobbies and shooting and beekeeping — Levin finds satisfaction, but he does not know why. On an especially busy day, Levin chats with one of his peasants. Remarking on the differences among people, the old man explains why some extend credit and why other don't. "Some men live for their own wants, nothing else," he says, "while some like Fokanitch (an upright old peasant) live for their soul. He does not forget God." Suddenly inspired, Levin asks how one lives "for his soul?" "Why that's plain enough," answers the worker, "It's living rightly, in God's way. Like yourself, for instance. You wouldn't wrong a man . . ." Feeling wonderfully illuminated, Levin finds the ideas he struggles with so clear they "blind him with their light." And he has been solving the problem of life's significance all along without having realized it, he thinks. One must live with "the greatest goodness possible," and reason and intellect have merely obscured this simple, natural, irrational truth. In light of the truth of "natural goodness" Levin finds everything clear and simple. He returns home with a joyful heart. While Kitty, the nurse, and the baby are still walking in the woods, Levin gets drawn, against his will, into an argument with Koznyshev and Katavasov about the Serbian war. Levin believes that a man would sacrifice himself for the sake of his soul, but not for murder. He does not agree that Russia's entry into the war expresses the "will of the people," since a common peasant, for instance, is interested in his immediate material needs. Changing the subject, Levin observes the gathering storm clouds and suggests they all seek shelter. At the height of the storm, Levin struggles through the forest to search for Kitty and the baby. He finds them drenched, but safe. Fear and relief having torn him from the world of sophistic argument, Levin feels restored by nature and this atmosphere of family love now that the thundershower has passed. As he and Kitty stand on the terrace, gazing into the clear night sky. Levin feels at peace. My life will still be the same despite my new realization, he thinks. He will still quarrel with Kitty, scold the coachman, express himself tactlessly, and feel remorse afterwards. Though I am still unable to understand with my reason why I pray, he thinks, I will go on praying. But my life is no longer meaningless as it was before. Now "it has the positive meaning of goodness which I have the power to put into it." Book 8 can be considered, on one level, as Tolstoy's polemic against the Russo-Turkish war which broke out in April, 1877 while he was completing the novel. The author's view was so unpopular at the time that Tolstoy's publisher refused to accept the manuscript even though its tone was softened in two successive versions. Levin expresses Tolstoy's pacifist views, based on the idea that the "general welfare" can be achieved only by the strict observance of "the law of right and wrong which has been revealed to every man." The argument with Koznyshev convinces Levin he must pursue his own moral code despite the views of knowledgeable intellectuals. The imminent thunderstorm — an act of nature — turns his thought from these irritating transient matters to his more meaningful concentration on his family. As a literary device, the storm clears Levin's thoughts, while the same storm — that of the war — is merely a vehicle whereby the other characters avoid self-scrutiny and submerge their individual life quests by repeating of cliches like "fighting for freedom," "brotherhood of all Slavs," "national honor," and "upholding Christian faith." Though Anna Karenina concludes with Levin's salvation, Tolstoy has raised many problems he leaves unanswered, and characters who must still confront unresolved lives. Vronsky is embarked on a course of atonement whose end is uncertain, Karenin remains a pitiable cuckold, and Levin, newly inspired by a love of God, remains at the beginning of a long and difficult career.	80,843
Mt. Lebanon has been trying to reduce its deer population with a controversial program in which deer are baited, trapped into a small area, and then shot. Township officials have said they are trying to reduce the number of incidents involving deer and cars.Tom Fazi, Information and Education Supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Southwest Region, says the plan was developed by Mt. Lebanon's community leaders, and that the Commission is there to guide their decision-making. "They met the provisions of the law in all respects. We are duty-bound to offer them the permit. That doesn't mean we'll wash our hands of it. We have the authority to revoke this permit immediately if the provisions aren't met." -Tom Fazi But some members of the community say the deer cull is inhumane and barbaric. Leila Sleiman, a representative of Pittsburgh Animal Rights believes that the process is not being accurately presented to the community. "From its conception, this plan has not been transparent. It has nothing to do with public safety or how inhumane it is. It's been hurdle after hurdle for [local government], of doing things wrong with public safety not in mind." -Leila Sleiman They were joined by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter John Hayes, who has been covering this issue. Also in the program is a discussion of Hillary Clinton's email account usage, with former U.S. Ambassador Dan Simpson.	130,105
Powerful ILS Atlas V Launches High-Speed Mission to Pluto The Global Man-Portable Military Electronics Market 2013-2023 This was the most powerful Atlas vehicle launched to date, and the 78th consecutive successful launch for the Atlas series. ILS, a Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) joint venture, markets launch services on the Lockheed Martin-built Atlas vehicle. NASA's Kennedy Space Center procured the launch under a long-term contract with ILS. This was ILS' first launch of the year. "Today's launch once again demonstrates the capabilities and flexibility of the Atlas V," said ILS President Mark Albrecht. "This mission had a need for speed, so we provided our biggest and most powerful vehicle. This was our seventh Atlas V flight, and the second Atlas V mission for NASA. We're proud that Atlas vehicles of all configurations have launched a total of 135 NASA missions." The New Horizons observatory is the first dedicated spacecraft to explore Pluto and its moon Charon, at the outer reaches of our solar system. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at its destination, 3 billion miles away, in 2015. It carries seven scientific instruments designed to characterize the geology and environment of Pluto and Charon, map their surface compositions and temperatures and examine Pluto's complex atmosphere. The Atlas V series is designed to lift payloads up to nearly 8,700 kg to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). It was developed both for ILS commercial missions and to meet the U.S. Air Force requirements for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV). The Atlas V incorporates state-of-the-art designs, materials and processes, including the variable-thrust Russian-built RD-180 engine, provided by RD-AMROSS, a joint venture of Pratt & Whitney in the United States and Energomash of Russia. The Atlas rockets and their Centaur upper stages are built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. at facilities in Denver, Colo.; Harlingen, Texas; and San Diego, Calif. Aerojet of Sacramento, Calif., provides the solid rocket boosters. Contraves of Geneva, Switzerland, builds the 5-meter payload fairing. International Launch Services is the global leader in the space launch industry, offering the two best launch systems: Atlas and Proton. With a remarkable launch tempo, the Atlas and Proton launch vehicles have consistently demonstrated the reliability and flexibility that have made them preferred choice among satellite operators worldwide. ILS, a Lockheed Martin joint venture, was formed in 1995, and is based in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C. Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2004 sales of $35.5 billion. International Launch Services, McLean Fran Slimmer, 571-633-7462 Source : ILS	159,486
GRIZZLY SUMMER Experience the amazing wildlife, and incredible natural history at America's first National Park - Yellowstone. With breathtaking visuals, captured by revolutionary new cinematic tools and techniques, you will see and feel, the power of all 4 seasons. Watch the crescendo towards Summer, when Yellowstone explodes into a wildlife paradise and playground for grizzly bears, wolves and hundreds of other animals that call America's largest Volcano home. FROZEN FRONTIER Winter rears its hazardous head; temperatures plummet, food sources become scarce, there's no shelter or respite from the snow and ice, and dangerous predators force the inhabitants of Yellowstone National Park into a fight for survival. In natureGÇÖs ultimate test, every creature must create it's own survival strategy, to see the toughest season through in this extraordinary world of fire and ice. SHE WOLF SYNOPSIS Packs of wolves rule the vast landscape of Yellowstone National Park, alpha males are in a constant battle to provide for, and protect their pack. Yet this is not the story of an alpha male, this is an epic biopic about one female wolf. We trace her rise against the odds to a position of rare and unparalleled power: leader of her pack. The She Wolf became one of the most famous wolves to have ever roamed Yellowstone, overcoming incredible challenges and creating one of the ParkGÇÖs most legendary wolf packs. This is her story. The Yellowstone Collection No place on Earth is like Yellowstone.	241,886
Despite a drive to succeed, poor careers advice appears to be stunting young people’s career aspirations, a study has found. New research from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has found that, while four in five young people aged between 14-19 have already given thought to their chosen career path, the careers advice they receive is neither relevant nor at pace with their demands. The study found that, although 14-19 year olds are broadly optimistic about their prospects – with 84 per cent believing they are ‘quite likely’ or ‘very likely’ to enter their chosen career – 43 per cent said that formal careers advice hadn't been influential in this decision. As a result, a quarter of young people are taking their next career or education steps on the advice of parents, while more than one in six are opting to simply do the same as their friends. The report suggests that advice from education providers would be welcome, with 84 per cent of young people surveyed saying they would like more advice from their school or college regarding their future options. 70 per cent said they would like guidance from teachers, 61 per cent stated direct advice from those already in the industry and 36 per cent acknowledged trade bodies and employers as potential sources of guidance. This lack of careers advice may be having a detrimental effect on young people’s choices, with 71 per cent believing that you need a degree to enter the professional services industry. Mark Farrar, chief executive of the AAT said: “This research shows that the young people who have grown up through the recession are remarkably driven in thinking about their future career plans and acting on them. "However, careers advice in schools and colleges isn’t keeping pace with this demand, meaning that some young people are relying on what their friends or parents tell them. “An absence of advice is also resulting in myths, such as that you need a degree to enter a career like accounting. This absolutely isn’t true, and young people should be aware of alternatives such as apprenticeships and professional training which can create a route into fantastic careers.” Corinne Mills, MD of Personal Career Management, feels a lack of careers guidance not only does a disservice to the next generation but a disservice to the economy. "Young people do not know what's available to them, and because of that, their potential is limited, as is their social mobility," she said. "Most young people are solely influenced by their family and what they see directly around them. "But parents do not necessarily know what is best for their children career wise. They may not know of the available digital roles, available work in social media and technology. They're parents- not career experts. She says schools should have access to specialist knowledge and increased employer interaction in order to introduce the idea of employment to children at an earlier stage. "Personalised advice allows students to be realistic in what to expect from future employment. There are some great careers advisers within the country but this isn't the case across the board. It shouldn't matter whether you attend a good school or not, quality careers advice should be available to everyone. "If we want an industrious, prosperous, well equipped workforce, then careers advice is integral. We're missing a trick by under-resourcing our future workforce and, if we continue to, we'll pay for it later."	143,621
Craigievar Castle is a pinkish harled castle six miles (10 km) south of Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was the seat of Clan Sempill and the Forbes family resided here for 350 years until 1963, when the property was given to the National Trust for Scotland. The setting is among scenic rolling foothills of the Grampian Mountains. The contrast of its massive lower storey structure to the finely sculpted multiple turrets, gargoyles and high corbelling work create a classic fairytale appearance. Copyright: CC 3.0	109,872
Cloud computing takes hold despite privacy fears As consumers flock to the cloud computing world to store photos online, back up hard drives or use Web-based e-mail, many harbor worries about the security of that personal data, according to a study released late last week from the Pew Internet & American Life project. The study found that 69 percent of online users use Web e-mail services, store data online or use Web-based applications like Google Documents. Breaking cloud computer use down further, the survey found that: - 56 percent of online users use Web e-mail services like Hot Mail or Gmail; - 34 percent store photos online; - 29 percent use online applications like Google Doc or Adobe Photoshop Express; - 7 percent store personal videos online; - 5 percent store computer files online; and - 5 percent back up hard drives online. More than half (51 percent) of the active cloud computing users say they turned to the technology because it is easy and convenient, while 41 percent said they like having the ability to access their data from multiple computers. Despite those advantages, the survey found that: - 90 percent of cloud application users fear the sale of their personal data; - 80 percent are concerned that their photos or other data may be used in marketing campaigns; and - 68 percent do not want companies to display specific ads based on an analysis of their online actions. “Even as large numbers of users turn to ‘cloud computing’ applications, many may lack a full understanding of possible consequences of storing personal data online,” said John Horrigan, associate director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project and author of the report, in a statement. “These findings give consumers, the technology community, and policymakers a chance to discuss the trade offs between convenience and privacy and figure out where there are needs for education to improve public understanding.” Pew surveyed 2,251 adults in April and May of 2008; of those, 1,553 were Internet users.	296,288
OS & Software January 03, 2013 Added by:Gary McCully This is a real world story around the dangers of not following proper change control processes when placing new systems in production. In this blog I will discuss how one person’s actions could have resulted in an attacker gaining complete access to the organization’s internal network. I am hoping this example will cause organizations to take their change control processes a little more seriou... January 02, 2013 Added by:Rafal Los Now, admittedly you already probably know I'm not a huge proponent of "bug bounty" programs, as I see the abuses and failure potential outweigh the redemption value in the cases I've seen outside of the few 'big names'... but this caught my attention because they may actually be onto something. December 27, 2012 Added by:Jeffrey Carr Most malware writers just want to be paid for their research; something that isn't happening frequently enough or at a rate that's considered fair by the researchers. As a result, some of those researchers are exploring grey markets in offensive malware development or are selling 0-days to clients... December 27, 2012 Added by:Pierluigi Paganini Everytime news related to Stuxnet is spread on the Internet, immediately the worldwide security community writes on cyber war and the possible consequences of a cyber attacks, but what is really happening this time? December 26, 2012 Added by:Simon Moffatt Technology evolves so quickly that 12 weeks is an age when it comes to new ideas and market changes - and security is no different. However, the main areas I will personally be following with interest though, will be the BYOD/BYOA, personnel, preemptive security and social intelligence... December 19, 2012 Added by:Spencer McIntyre This vulnerability would be useful for penetration testers and attackers alike depending on how it could be exploited and any other limiting factors. The following information is the result of a technical analysis of the patch on a Windows XP SP3 system... December 19, 2012 Added by:Pierluigi Paganini Analysis revealed that the malicious code has a simple and efficient design that allows it to wipe files on different drives in various predefined times. The malware wipes disk partitions and user profile directories avoiding ordinary anti-virus software detection... December 17, 2012 Added by:Keith Mendoza ZD Net had an article entitled "Kernel vulnerability places Samsung devices at risk" and I thought "so, what's new" until I followed the link to the forum post on xda-developers. Then I just lost it because I'm certain that this is a result of plain and simple laziness... December 14, 2012 Added by:Pierluigi Paganini Security experts posted a video that demonstrates how it is possible to attack a Samsung Smart TV exploiting a 0-day vulnerability to gain root access on it. The hacker could remotely wipe data from attached storage devices, monitoring and controlling the victim TV... December 10, 2012 Added by:Pierluigi Paganini In September 2012 the German security firm G Data Software detected a botnet with a particular feature, it is controlled from an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) server running as a hidden service of the Tor... December 09, 2012 Added by:Jeffrey Carr Some of the more forward-looking DOD contractors who have robust internal CERT with engineers who do reverse-engineering could be in the best position to offer free or low-cost network defense to corporations who want to "flip" the malware found on their network for a nice profit... December 07, 2012 Added by:Pierluigi Paganini Sophos was one of the first security firms that has published a report on the security landscape the upcoming year. The document provides an interesting overview on most common and dangerous cyber threats to determine the level of penetration in different countries... December 03, 2012 Added by:Pierluigi Paganini The New Your Times has recently published the news the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency was hit by a virus that stolen secret information on newest rockets from an internal computer... November 25, 2012 Added by:Kyle Young I still believe the best phone for hackers is the Nokia N900 and it is a shame that Nokia decided to go the way of Microsoft. I personally believe that Nokia should have gone the route of an Android/Linux hybrid mobile operating system, but that’s just my opinion... November 25, 2012 Added by:Pierluigi Paganini W32.Narilam is a worm that attempts to spread by copying itself to all drives and certain shared folders on the compromised computer, the malware doesn’t include modules to steal information from the victims.... Hacker to Release Symantec's PCAnywhere Sour... Kajal Singh on 04-21-2015 Financial Malware Fell in 2014 As Takedown O... Kajal Singh on 04-21-2015 Weaknesses in Air Traffic Control Systems ar... Kajal Singh on 04-21-2015	166,450
URUMQI, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Police in Kashgar, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Thursday denied claims by Rebiya Kadeer, the separatist World Uyghur Congress leader, that police had killed more than 100 Uygurs while breaking up mass demonstrations in the city. In a response to the deadly violence that began in the region Sunday, a statement by Kadeer was published in U.S. media on July 8. In it, she said, "Kashgar has been the worst effected of these cities and unconfirmed reports state that over 100 Uygurs have been killed there. "Troops have entered Kashgar, and sources in the city say that two Chinese soldiers have been posted to each Uighur house." However, the public security bureau of Kashgar, 1,600 km southwest of Urumqi, the regional capital of northwestern Xinjiang, issued a written statement to Xinhua, denying the allegations. The statement said more than 200 people tried to gather at the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China, and created a "disturbance" there at about 5:15 p.m. on Monday. Local security forces and armed police rushed to the scene, "using vehicles mounted with loudspeakers to disperse the masses who were ignorant of facts" surrounding the previous day's violence in Urumqi, the statement said. "They reacted immediately to round up troublemakers and quell the incident." The crowd was dispersed by police at about 6 p.m. with "no deaths or injuries," the police said. Xinhua reporters saw most of the shops in Kashgar were closed on July 7. A few restaurants run by Uygur people were open at about 10 p.m., normally a busy time. Few people were in the streets. No military police or anti-riot vehicles were seen in the streets. Some police vehicles passing by reminded people to ignore rumors. At a basketball court outside the Kashgar Stadium, a group of teenagers played basketball. Sedan cars, pickups and taxis went by occasionally. Taxi drivers waiting for fares chatted while cleaning their cars outside hotels. Some foreign tourists, in twos and threes, bargained with vendors or took pictures of children playing in the street in Kashgar. In a riot Sunday evening in Urumqi, at least 156 people died and more than 1,000 were injured, said Li Yi, head of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xinjiang regional committee.	700
William Fairfax (1691–1757) was a political appointee of the British Crown and a politician: he was Collector of Customs in "Barbados, and Chief Justice and governor of the "Bahamas; he served as Customs agent in "Marblehead, Massachusetts before being reassigned to the "Virginia colony. There he was elected to the "House of Burgesses and then as President of the Governor's Council. As a tobacco "planter, he commissioned the construction of his "plantation called "Belvoir in northern "Virginia. He was the son of Henry Fairfax (d. 1708), a grandson of "Henry Fairfax, 4th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, and first cousin of "Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. He acted as land agent for his cousin's vast holdings on the "Northern Neck of Virginia. William Fairfax was born in London in 1691, the son of Henry Fairfax and grandson of "Henry Fairfax, 4th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. As a young man, he went to the English colonies in the "Caribbean, where he served as the Customs agent in "Barbados and as Chief Justice of "the Bahamas under "Woodes Rogers. He served as governor of the Bahamas after Rogers' departure. William was the cousin of "Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, proprietor of the extensive grant of land on the "Northern Neck of Virginia. Residing in England in "Leeds Castle, Lord Fairfax used a succession of land agents to manage his vast Virginia property. Upon reading the 1732 obituary of his last resident agent, "Robert "King" Carter, and learning of the vast personal wealth Carter had amassed, Lord Fairfax decided to place a trusted member of the family in charge of his 5-million-acre (20,000 km2) Northern Neck proprietary. He arranged for William Fairfax to be transferred from Massachusetts to Virginia, to be assigned as that colony's customs collector for the Potomac River and to act as his land agent. In the Bahamas, Fairfax had married Sarah Walker (c. 1700 - January 21, 1731). Her father was a former Justice of the "Vice admiralty court and acting deputy governor of the Bahamas, and served as a fellow Justice with Fairfax in the Bahamas. The Fairfaxes first had a son a son "George William Fairfax, followed by a daughter Anne another daughter Sarah. William's wife Sarah died January 21, 1731 in Marblehead, Massachusetts. After Sarah's death, Fairfax married Deborah Clarke, of Marblehead. Together they had three sons: Thomas, William Henry "Billy," and "Bryan, and a daughter Hannah. In June 1743, the eldest Fairfax daughter Anne (then aged 15) was hastily married to "Lawrence Washington. At age 25, Washington had recently returned to Virginia from two years at war in the Caribbean. He had served with distinction as a senior company officer in the American Regiment, under Admiral "Edward Vernon, as "Captain of the Soldiers acting as Marines", aboard the admiral's flagship HMS Princess Caroline (80 guns). Upon his return in 1742, Washington was appointed Adjutant (commander) of the Virginia militia, at the colonial rank of major. In the spring of 1743, the young Anne disclosed to her parents that she had been sexually molested by Charles Green, the Anglican priest of "Truro Parish. Surviving court documents suggest Lawrence Washington may have been staying with the Fairfax family at Belvoir in the spring of 1743, awaiting the completion of his new home at nearby Little Hunting Creek, which he named "Mount Vernon. In 1745 Washington took Green to court over his actions with Anne Fairfax; he and the senior Fairfax tried to have the priest deposed for the scandal, but were unsuccessful. Green rallied support in the county, and the trial was aborted. Lawrence and Anne Washington had four children together. Only one, a daughter Sarah, survived to inherit the estate upon Lawrence's death in 1752. George William Fairfax married "Sally Cary; they had no children. Sarah Fairfax married "John Carlyle, and their descendants were prominent in Virginia. William Fairfax's two younger sons both died in combat while serving the Crown: Thomas (1726-1746) was killed in action on 25 June 1746 (Old Style) against the French Navy off the coast of India, aged about 20, while serving as a newly enrolled midshipman in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Harwich (50 guns). Lieutenant William Henry "Billy" Fairfax died of wounds received during the British Army's capture of "Quebec in fall 1759 during the "Seven Years' War. From 1738 to 1741, William Fairfax and his second wife Deborah Clarke lived along the lower Potomac. He picked out a site for a home overlooking the river adjacent to the Washington family's estate, which was later known as Mount Vernon. Fairfax commissioned a two-story brick home, which was completed in 1741 and named "Belvoir Manor. He and his descendants lived there for the next 32 years. In 1757 after William's death, George William Fairfax inherited Belvoir and lived there for years with his wife Sally Cary. They had no children. In 1773, they sailed to England on business and never returned after the American Revolutionary War disrupted society. Fairfax wrote his good friend and neighbor "George Washington to look after the estate and put it up for rent. Historic documents and "archeological artifacts found at Belvoir Manor attest to the elegant lifestyle enjoyed by the Fairfax family. The mansion, described in a 1774 rental notice, was spacious and well-appointed. Its furnishings consisted of "tables, chairs, and every other necessary article ... very elegant." The Fairfaxes had imported ceramics from Europe and China to grace their tables. Unoccupied after the Revolution, the manor home was destroyed by fire in 1783. Prominent citizens of the colony, including Washington, had visited frequently. "Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, the first member of the British nobility to reside in the colonies, lived at Belvoir briefly, in 1747. He moved to the Shenandoah Valley and established an estate at Greenway Court. Despite the grandeur of their surroundings and the refinement of their furnishings, planters such as the Fairfaxes, Masons, McCartys, and Washingtons did not lead indolent lives. Conscious of their civic duty and of the elite class, they were the political, social, economic, and religious leaders of their immediate neighborhood and of the colony at large. In 1741, Fairfax was elected a member of the House of Burgesses. He introduced the bill that created Fairfax County as a separate political jurisdiction in 1742 (carved out of the northern portion of Prince William County). He subsequently served as presiding Justice of the County Court, and as County Lieutenant, the county's chief law-enforcement officer. At the same time, he managed his own large properties throughout Fairfax County and served as the land agent for his cousin, Lord Fairfax. The senior Fairfax managed the Northern Neck estate until his death in 1757. Fairfax was elected President of the Governor's Council in Williamsburg, a position equivalent to today's "Lieutenant Governor. In this position, he represented the colony at an important conference with the "Iroquois Confederacy in "Albany, New York in 1753. New York and Virginia officials worked to gain agreement with the Iroquois to allow passage and settlement of colonists in the Shenandoah Valley, which had been an area of their warring with southern Indians. As the senior colonial official in Fairfax County, William Fairfax was nominally in command of the county's "militia. As such, he was entitled to be called a "Virginia colonel." This county rank was largely honorary and carried no pay or benefits, and did not extend to a higher echelon. Formally, the entire Virginia colonial militia fell under command of the resident governor, as colonel. Day-to-day command of the militia was exercised by the Adjutant (at the rank of major). But, at the county-level, all the local militia officers adopted a separate "colonel-major-captain-lieutenant" rank structure for use at the local level. In his will of 1757, Fairfax left Belvoir and his plantation of "Springfield, containing 1,400 acres (5.7 km2), to his eldest son "George William Fairfax. He left his plantation "Towlston Grange, with 5,500 acres (22 km2), to his youngest son "Bryan Fairfax; he left land in Culpeper County of 3,250 acres (13.2 km2) and 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) to his daughter Hannah.	122,382
To address racial equity in health, the CT legislature is expected to take up these key goals State legislators are expected to address medication affordability and nursing shortages this coming session, according to the Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health. The 28-member group was established by Gov. Ned Lamont after a 2021 bill that declared racism a public health crisis in Connecticut. Members said the Connecticut General Assembly most likely will focus on long-term funding for community health workers. “They are not covered by Medicaid yet, although groups hope that [they] will be eventually,” said Muna Abbas, a data analyst for the commission. “Right now, they are grant-funded for the most part. There are efforts to look at ways to implement sustainable reimbursement for community health workers.” Medical debt will be another hot issue. “We also believe that there will be efforts to include mandatory reporting on the demographics of patients being sued for unpaid charges,” Abbas said. Members called attention to expanding HUSKY Health coverage to undocumented immigrants and also expanding coverage for obesity and violence intervention. “We believe there are going to be proposals to tackle health care affordability, for example, prescription drugs, to tackle the high prices that many consumers are facing,” Abbas said. At a meeting on Oct. 20, the commission set 35 metrics across the statutorily defined focus areas, comprising health and the social drivers of health — housing, environment, education, economics and criminal justice. “We’re following up with state agencies and other identified sources of data,” said Pareesa Charmchi Goodwin, executive director of the Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health. “Were on track to have a data report by the end of , which will include the majority of the metrics and an update to the General Assembly.” A website has been launched, and it is connected to the state General Assembly website found under the "commissions" tab. “We’ll be building up content over time, but to start, we’ll have information on our reports to the General Assembly, disparity data snapshots and meeting information,” Goodwin said. “It’s important that communities are not only aware of our work and what we’re doing, but also inform our work. Our commission also has an executive branch-facing charge, providing practice and policy recommendations to eliminate structural racism in state hiring, contracting and procurement and operations.”	285,732
\|University of California, Berkeley\| \|Jepson eFlora: Taxon page Key to families \| Table of families and genera Index to accepted names and synonyms: \| A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z \| \|Family: Papaveraceae\|\|View Description\|\|Dichotomous Key\| \|Genus: Papaver\|\|View Description\|\|Dichotomous Key\| \|Species:\|\|View Description\|\|Dichotomous Key\| Papaver argemone L. Habit: Plant 20--50 cm, stiff-hairy. Leaf: 3--12 cm. Inflorescence: peduncle appressed-stiff-hairy. Flower: petals +- 2 cm, dark red, base dark-spotted or not; filaments purple, anthers blue. Fruit: 1.5--2 cm, narrowly obovate; sparsely soft-hairy. Ecology: Uncommon. Disturbed areas; Elevation: < 500 m. Bioregional Distribution: CW, expected elsewhere; Distribution Outside California: native to Eurasia. Flowering Time: Apr--May Note: Cult. eFlora Treatment Author: Gary L. Hannan Jepson Online Interchange Previous taxon: Papaver Next taxon: Papaver californicum Citation for this treatment: Gary L. Hannan 2016. Papaver argemone, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=36203, accessed on February 06, 2016. Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2016. Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html, accessed on February 06, 2016.	126,139
At mth, we want our environmental impact to be as minimal as possible. That is why we carefully consider the source of everything, from the packaging we use for gifts, to the cleaning products we use in our shop. For full transparency, here is a list of some of the products we use and love: Grauman Packaging is a family run business located in Toronto, and their custom printed shopping bags are FSC certified and made using recycled materials. Our balloons are made with latex, which is a natural product. Latex balloons are biodegradable and photodegradable. When you see a clear balloon start to "fog" when in the sun, you are seeing it beginning to oxidize and photodegrade. The rate of degradation is highly variable as it's influenced by many variables such as temperature, the amount of light, the presence of latex consuming microbes, etc. However, we recently discovered new research indicating that balloons that are advertised as biodegradable have not passed independent studies, most likely due to plasticizers and colours that are added in the manufacturing process. We are currently researching alternatives. We use a variety of products for cleaning, including Ontario sourced Guests on Earth hand soap and all-purpose cleaner from our neighbour Coco Market , a reusable mop for floors that mechanically removes bacteria (so no harsh chemicals!), 100% recycled paper towels, and Honest Company wet wipes for cleaning up sticky hands that may result from one of our complimentary popsicles! Whenever possible, we re-use boxes from our incoming shipments for our online orders that get shipped out. We package items using re-used materials as well, including artwork created at the art table in our shop! noissue stickers are made from acid-free, FSC-certified paper, and are compostable and recyclable. Their Compostable Paper Stickers are printed using soy-based inks, allowing them to be compostable at home. Conventional toilet paper is made using virgin tree pulp sourced from our precious boreal forest, and processed with 27 gallons of water per roll, as well as over a gallon of bleach, chlorine, formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals per roll! When we found out that 27,000 trees per day flushed down the world’s toilets, we switched to PlantPaper. Plant Paper is tree-free and toxin-free, made from fast growing FSC-certified bamboo. It is not bleached or dyed, and is septic safe. Our wrapping paper is from one of our most beloved toy brands, Maileg, and is made using recycled content.	110,810
November 15, 2007 About six years ago, when China was far off the radar screen of most investors, I interviewed Paul Matthews of the Matthews Asian funds to gain some insight as to the promise of the Asian markets. I was turned off by the long-term prospects of Japan, but was very intrigued with Asia, excluding Japan. In retrospect, given the enormous returns of Chinese stocks in 2006 and year-to-date 2007, accepting that additional risk would have paid off pretty well. Without a doubt, risk sometimes comes with rewards. But in that premise I am certainly preaching to the choir – there would be no reason to ever own any sort of equity if that were not a shared belief. Nonetheless, at some point risk must be closely examined because with risk comes the potential for great losses. And there has been much discussion about whether or not China is now in a bubble. I don’t know if you have yet had a chance to read Dr. Alan Greenspan’s book “The Age of Turbulence” (it is a worthy read), but in it (as well during his tenure as Fed Chairman) he explains that it is impossible to identify bubbles until after it has burst. That may very well be true, but as investors we have to at least identify the risks associated with a possible bubble. And as a nervous investor I have been fervently trying to convince myself that a Chinese bubble exists and that I should back away from these trades (if that research exploration sounds odd, please read my Nov. 10th article “Conflicting Data”). But the information I have so far found does not justify that concern. Comparisons to Past Bubbles Over the past six years the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) China Index has gained about 575%, which is more than the six-year gains by the NASDAQ into the 2000 peak, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) into its 1929 peak, Japan’s Nikkei average into its 1989 peak, and gold into its 1980 peak. That is not very reassuring, but there is one very big difference. The Chinese rise is the only one of the bunch that started after a prolonged decline in prices. From 1997 to 2003 Chinese stock prices dropped 88%. Looking back I am quite confident that that destruction in capitalization combined with the then just merely a hope of a flourishing economy played at least a role in my more conservative approach in exposure to this market. And with the luxury of now being able to look back, it has become clear that the culmination of that 88% decline marked the end of a secular bear market and economic downtrend – and the last six years has likely been the advent of a secular economic (if not market) uptrend. The other bubbles inflated at the end of secular uptrends. The MSCI China Index, on the other hand, has yet to break above its 1997, or even its previous 1993, high. In past bubbles new price records became commonplace, which fed waves of optimism and euphoria into the investor pool; investors felt as if the good times could never end. This time talk about an existing bubble is commonplace, but the MSCI China Index is still below where it was a decade ago. Mr. Biggs is the former global investment strategist of Morgan Stanley and now is the manager of the Traxis Partners hedge fund. Well, he isn’t really the reason why China is not yet a bubble, but he said something that led me to do a little exploration. He said that right now China “feels like” the NASDAQ did in early 1999. Like most of us in this business he has been both right and wrong on calls, but interestingly he did call the tech bubble about a year before the decline started. As I said, Mr. Biggs isn’t the reason, but he did put the bug in my ear regarding what is happening one year out. And one year out, in August 2008, Beijing, China will host the Olympics. This allows me to make some comparison to South Korea, who hosted the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. In September 1987, a year before the Seoul Olympics, an economic boom that was transforming South Korea into a major industrial producer and important partner global trade was continuing. Not only did the South Korean KOSPI market gain 233% from December 1984 through August 1987, but it largely shook off the global stock market turmoil from then through the December global market low. The KOSPI continued its rally into 1988, went sideways before and during the Olympics, and then made a final surge to an April 1989 peak. The end tally was a 622% return over four-years. Long-story short, GDP growth slowed from its peak in March 1998 and the KOSPI trended down for the next three year to the tune of 54%. Twenty years later China has emerged as the engine that leads the global economy and, as indicated, is looking to host the Olympics a year out. The Chinese stock market has followed a similar course of the KOSPI and has gained about 200% since December 2004 and remained resilient during the corrections from July. Anecdotal evidence is important, but our good friends at Ned Davis Research went one step further and put together the below table outlining some important similarities which support the possibility of a rhyming (if not repeating) Asian stock market advance. Regarding valuations, which are important in determining bubbles, the S&P 500 had a p/e ratio of about 35 in 2000 (and a much higher ratio for the tech sector itself) vs. a long-term ratio of about 16 (I used a long-term ratio so as not to skew the ratio with that bubble p/e data). That’s a ratio of about 2.2:1. The MSCI China Index has a p/e of about 25 vs. a 10-year average of 13. That is a ratio of about 2:1. That is not a very favorable ratio, but the good news is that in the US the prior year’s GDP growth rate was 4.75% whereas it is closer to 12% for China. Also, earnings growth began to contract in the US in 2000, whereas China’s year-to-year earnings growth rate is 28% with no trace of an earnings contraction evidenced for 2008. I certainly do not mean to try and put a rosier than deserved spin on the valuation of the Chinese stock market, but the bottom line is that in the US stocks had been priced-to-euphoria. In contract, China is currently valued at anywhere from priced-to-reality to priced-to-optimistic, but nothing that denotes a bubble ready to pop. Modified June 5, 2008	157,628
\|Color Atlas & Synopsis of Pediatric Dermatology, 2e\| Section 23. Cutaneous Viral Infections Topics Discussed: dermatology; herpesvirus 4, human; infectious diseases; mononucleosis, infectious. Sections: Human Parvovirus B19, Human Herpesvirus 6 and 7, Measles Virus, Rubella Virus, Coxsackie Virus, Others. Excerpt:"Infectious mononucleosis is a contagious viral disease caused by the EpsteinBarr virus (EBV) and characterized by fever, malaise, tonsillitis, hepatosplenomegaly (HSM), lymphadenopathy, ± rash. The disease is notorious for its association with debilitating fatigue.Age All ages, adolescents, 13 to 25 years.Type Macules, papules, vesicles, edema, urticaria, purpura...." The content above is only an excerpt. For full access, log into an existing user account below, purchase an annual subscription, or purchase a short-term subscription to the complete website. offers pediatrics students, educators, and practioners access to leading McGraw-Hill texts, interactive imaging content, exclusive multimedia, and flexible curricular tools. Timed access to all of AccessPediatrics 24 hours for $29.95 48 hours for $49.95	1,612
On Dec. 4, the Montana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) celebrates its 30th anniversary. For three decades, this sparsely-staffed state affiliate has championed the cause of civil liberties in the courts and the Legislature, staving off governmental encroachments on such fundamental liberties as due process, privacy, freedom of expression, reproductive self-determination, and the separation of church and state. In some cases, the Montana ACLU has been instrumental in establishing and codifying those rights into law, including voting rights for Montana’s Native Americans, gender equality in public education and athletics, and the humane treatment of the mentally ill, to name a few of its successes. Formed in the wake of the Vietnam War at a time of unprecedented domestic turmoil, widespread governmental abuse of power and heightened civic awareness, the Montana ACLU was born at the same time as the Montana Constitution, still one of the nation’s most enlightened safeguards of individual liberties. Not surprisingly, powerful ideas often coalesce and take shape in history when they are most needed. Consider, for example, the events of 1920. The passage of the 19th Amendment had just given women the right to vote, leading to the formation of the League of Women Voters. On Sept. 16, 1920, a terrorist bomb rocked Wall Street, killing 30 bystanders. Then U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer staged the infamous “Palmer Raids,” rounding up and deporting thousands of labor organizers, anti-war activists and other immigrants, who were never charged with any crime, tried in a court of law, given legal representation or allowed to face their accusers. Out of this wholesale denial of due process the national ACLU was born. If these events have an eerie familiarity to them, they should. Since Sept. 11, this nation has witnessed an unprecedented trampling of civil liberties that took two centuries to establish. We’ve seen the detention of more than 1,000 immigrants, mostly of Middle Eastern descent, whose names and whereabouts have still not been released, despite numerous Freedom of Information requests. With a single stroke of the executive pen, the U.S. Secretary of Defense has been granted the power to form secret military tribunals to try suspected terrorists overseas, including the power to set the rules of the trial and hand down sentences of life imprisonment or death. A new federal Bureau of Prisons regulation now allows the government to listen in on conversations between inmates and their attorneys, a gross violation of the long-recognized right of attorney-client privilege established under the Sixth Amendment. Or consider the “USA Patriot Act of 2001,” signed by President Bush into law last month with only minimal debate in Congress and no public hearings. This sweeping act broadly expands the power of law enforcement to search homes and offices without a warrant, to conduct surveillance on American citizens and suspected “domestic terrorists,” and obtain sensitive financial, medical, mental health and educational records without judicial oversight. Some members of Congress later admitted that they didn’t even know what they were voting on because they were never given a copy of the bill to refer to. “I think there’s a storm brewing,” says Montana ACLU Executive Director Scott Crichton. “I think people are pretty concerned about what’s going on, but they don’t know the details of what’s going on.” Happy birthday, ACLU. You’ve got your work cut out for you. • Number of people detained by the U.S. Department of Justice in connection with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks: 1,182 • Number of days that Dr. Al-Badr Al-Hazmi, a 34-year-old Saudi Arabian doctor living in San Antonio, was incarcerated by the FBI as a “material witness” to the Sept. 11 attacks before “being cleared”: 13 • Number of days that passed before his family and attorney could speak to him, or were told where he was being detained: 6 • Number of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers who were holding U.S. Social Security cards: 19 • Estimated number of identity theft cases nationwide each year, according to the General Accounting Office: 40,000 • Estimated cost of issuing to the American public “enhanced” Social Security cards with facial-recognition technology that identifies and validates cardholders: $4 billion • Number of images stored in the database of Viisage Technologies, makers of the facial recognition software used to scan the crowd during last February’s Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla.: 7 million • Number of facial images Viisage claims it adds to its database each day: 15,000 • Number of children whose names, addresses and confidential psychological records were accidentally posted on a University of Montana Web site last month: 62 • Number of “puppet-making activists” arrested by police before they got a chance to march outside the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia last year: 64 • Number of those activists whose charges were later dismissed by a judge: 64 • Number of hours that 600 protesters were detained (but never charged) on buses by Washington, D.C. police for demonstrating against the U.S. prison-industrial complex: 16 • Number of people executed in the United States since Sept. 11: 13 • Number of them who were children: 1 • Number of children executed in United States in the last four years: 9 • Number of other nations in the world that allow the execution of children: 3 • Number of months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that President Franklin Roosevelt said, “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety:” 1 • Number of months after Roosevelt’s eloquent call to conscience that the War Department persuaded him to order the internment of Japanese Americans: 13 • Number of saboteurs secretly tried and executed by a military commission under President Franklin Roosevelt during World War II: 6	108,153
Target: Victory Fund Goal: Applaud Wisconsin’s election of Tammy Baldwin On November 6, 2012, the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional district, Tammy Baldwin, was elected to the U.S. Senate. Baldwin beat out former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson with 51% of the vote. Not only is Baldwin the first woman to serve as Senator in the state of Wisconsin, but she is also the first openly gay politician to fill this position. This makes Senator Baldwin one of four openly gay members of Congress, including fellow Democrats Barney Frank of Massachusetts, David Cicilline of Rhode Island, and Jared Polis of Colorado. This election is a historic victory not only for LGBT Americans but, as a political commentator said, also “for communities who aren’t the typical straight, white, wealthy men elected to Congress.” That this victory occurred in Wisconsin is even more impressive, as the state six years ago approved a ban on gay marriage. Nonetheless, Baldwin never attempted to conceal her sexual orientation during her political tenure and her record shows a strong commitment to LGBT rights. She was the co-founder and co-chairwoman of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and has led efforts to pass hate crimes legislation, to extend benefits to same-sex couples, and to advance anti-discrimination legislation. Baldwin’s victory comes during an election cycle that saw three states (Maryland, Maine, and Washington) approve same-sex marriage. LGBT rights are clearly becoming a bigger issue to voters, and political action committees such as Victory Fund have helped organize voters to come out in support of them. Applaud Victory Fund for helping Tammy Baldwin become America’s first openly gay senator. Dear Victory Fund, The election of Tammy Baldwin as Senator of Wisconsin is a tremendous step towards diversifying the U.S. Congress. There are presently only four members of Congress who are openly gay. Women only make up 17% of the current 112th Congress. Tammy Baldwin will not only become the first woman to be Senator of Wisconsin, but will be the first openly gay senator in U.S. history. It is remarkable that Wisconsin, a state that only six years ago approved a ban on same-sex marriage, could come out and elect an openly gay candidate with a strong record of supporting pro-LGBT legislation. This speaks to the effectiveness of the organization and support Victory Fund provided to Baldwin’s campaign. Thank you for your help in bringing diversity and equality to Congress. [Your Name Here] Photo Credit: Wikipedia.org	53,890
Diary of Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels JANUARY SATURDAY 26 1918 Swope of N.Y. World came here to study & inclined to criticize. After investigation he found things going so well he had in honesty to praise. World got off on wrong foot on Garfield’s coal program - He took other ground. He wanted Ralph Pulitzer released from naval reserve to guide the World. More important than commanding naval patrol ships Talked to Benson about assignments. He told Fiske if he discussed strategy again he would recommended that he be court-martialed. Bryan in town. Had been speaking for ratification of prohibition amendment – 5 states ratified. He had no other business now but to advocate adoption of amendment. To Boston voters he said Miss. (Jefferson Davis’s home) had ratified; S.C. (Calhouns); Va. Lee & Jackson. In other days Wendell Philips was the voice of conscience. Has Mass no voice now? Will it wait till Democratic States impose prohibition on the people? Billy Sunday came after tabernacle to talk about some boys on the Harvard- “Miss Mary Lee: My father said “Never is a long time, my child & I rarely use it[”]	196,981
‘We must not let it define us’: Miss. House Speaker wants Confederate emblem off state flag Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn (R) broke ranks on Monday and called for his state flag to be changed by removing the Confederate emblem that was approved by voters in 2001, the Jackson Clarion-Ledger reported. “We must always remember our past, but that does not mean we must let it define us,” he said in a statement. “As a Christian, I believe our state’s flag has become a point of offense that needs to be removed. We need to begin having conversations about changing Mississippi’s flag.” Gunn’s remarks came hours after South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) called for the Confederate flag to be removed from her state’s capitol. Criticism surrounding the flag was reignited after photos surfaced of terrorism suspect Dylann Roof posing with it prior to his shooting attack at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston last week, which resulted in the deaths of nine people. The flag was also shown on his car’s license plate. According to the Clarion-Ledger, an online petition has been posted calling for the emblem to be removed from the Mississippi flag, citing the Charleston attack. As of Monday night, the petition had amassed just under 5,500 signatures. “It is time to remove all symbols of hate and from state and other government buildings,” the petition stated. “It is time for us to come together and move into the future in solidarity.” As the Washington Post reported, Mississippi is the only US state currently using the Confederate flag as part of its overall flag design. Sixty-four percent of voters chose that design over one without Confederate iconography in a 2001 referendum. Gov. Phil Bryant (R) said earlier in the day that he did not expect lawmakers to “supersede the will of the people on this issue.”	92,367
Abortion Law Among Themes Addressed by Irish Bishops at Autumn Meeting Also Look at Education, Synod, Year of Faith, Eucharistic Congress Follow-up \| 1996 hits MAYNOOTH, Ireland, SEPT. 28, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The bishops of Ireland concluded their autumn general meeting Wednesday, having focused on the issue of abortion law in Ireland given "widespread misinformation" about the implications of the December 2010 judgement of the European Court of Human Rights, recalling that the Irish government is under no obligation to legislate for abortion because of the court's ruling. The issue of abortion law was one of the many themes the bishops addressed during their assembly. They also looked at the Year of Faith, the upcoming synod of bishops, and local issues regarding budget and Catholic higher education in Ireland. Regarding the abortion issue, the bishops considered the point in the context of the Day for Life in Ireland and the successive month of prayer initiative. Parishes will be praying a "Prayer for the Child in the Womb" during Masses throughout the month of prayer, which ends on the Nov. 6 feast of All the Saints of Ireland. Year of Faith Addressing the Year of Faith, which begins Oct. 11, the bishops asked the faithful to take up the challenge of more widely distributing the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In particular, they noted that during the Year of Faith, the national directory for catechesis in Ireland will be promoted. The directory is forming the basis for faith community development in six dioceses and a multitude of parishes around Ireland. In addition, the Web site www.adultfaith.ie is being developed to host new developments across the Church in Ireland for the forthcoming Year of Faith. --- --- --- See www.catholicbishops.ie/2012/09/26/autumn-2012-general-meeting-irish-catholic-bishops-conference/ for a complete overview of the bishops' discussions on the following themes: · Referendum on Children Rights on 10 November 2012 · Day for Life in Ireland - ‘Choose Life!’ · Safeguarding of Children · Reflections on the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Ireland · Year of Faith 2012 – 2013 · Share the Good News · Catholic education at third level · General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome · Budget 2013 · Legislation on prostitution and human trafficking in the North and South · October is Mission Month – ‘Growing in Communion’ · Conflict in the Middle East	16,429
WASHINGTON — A program that was supposed to help the National Security Agency pluck out electronic data crucial to the nation's safety is not up and running more than six years and $1.2 billion after it was launched, according to current and former government officials. The classified project, code-named Trailblazer, was promoted as the NSA's state-of-the art tool for sifting through an ocean of modern-day digital communications and uncovering key nuggets to protect the nation against an ever-changing collection of enemies. Its main goal when it was launched in 1999 was to enable NSA analysts to connect the 2 million bits of data the agency ingests every hour - a task that has grown increasingly complex with the advent of the Internet, cell phones, and instant messaging - and enable analysts to quickly pick out the most important information. The stakes could scarcely be higher. A major failure leading up to Sept. 11, 2001, involved communications intelligence, investigators found. More than 30 hints of the impending attack had been collected in the previous three years but had sat, unnoted, in the NSA's databases, according to a joint congressional inquiry into pre-Sept. 11 intelligence operations. The NSA initiative, which was designed to spot and analyze such hints, has resulted in little more than detailed schematic drawings filling almost an entire wall, according to intelligence experts familiar with the program. After an estimated $1.2 billion in development costs, only a few isolated analytical and technical tools have been produced, said an intelligence expert with extensive knowledge of the program. Trailblazer is "the biggest boondoggle going on now in the intelligence community," said Matthew Aid, who has advised three recent federal commissions and panels that investigated the Sept. 11 intelligence failures. Complex from the start - the initial Trailblazer plan called for more than 1,000 priority items - the project ballooned as it was passed through three separate NSA divisions, each with its own priorities, former intelligence officials said. And, they said, Trailblazer's overseers lacked either the influence or the time to clearly define their goals and keep the project on track. When the agency's inspector general looked at the NSA's handling of the project in its first three years, it found in a 2003 report "inadequate management and oversight" of private contractors and overpayment for the work that was done, according to a recently declassified version of the report obtained by The Sun through a Freedom of Information Act request. Meanwhile, Science Applications International Corp., the lead contractor on the project, did not provide enough people with the technical or management skills to produce such a sophisticated system, according to industry and NSA experts familiar with Trailblazer. And, they said, the company did not say no when the NSA made unrealistic demands. The company was initially awarded $280 million in 2002 to begin construction. SAIC spokesman Jared Adams declined to comment, saying, "We have been asked to defer all comment regarding the NSA Trailblazer contract to the NSA." The reporting in this article includes interviews conducted over the past three months with 25 intelligence professionals, 13 of whom worked on or had oversight of Trailblazer. Because the program is classified, most would not allow their names to be used. Although the Bush administration spent much of the past week defending the NSA's eavesdropping work as vital to keeping Americans safe from terrorism, virtually no attention has been paid to the agency's failure to deliver the system the NSA said was key to fulfilling that mission. That means the government has been standing by while the agency has been gradually "going deaf" as unimportant communications drown out key pieces of information, a government official with extensive knowledge of Trailblazer told The Sun. NSA spokesman Don Weber said the agency would have no response to requests for comment. Based at Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County and with field offices around the world, the NSA harvests virtually every form of electronic communication - including phone calls, e-mails, video links and bank transactions - through a vast array of satellites, clandestine posts at U.S. embassies, ground-based listening stations, and military airplanes, ships and submarines. The information collected and culled by the agency's approximately 40,000 employees accounts for an estimated 75 percent of the president's daily intelligence briefing, said Aid, an intelligence consultant who is writing a multivolume history of the NSA. But there are huge holes in the agency's information filter. As a result, a congressional report on 9/11 intelligence failures found, "potentially vital" information is lost, particularly with regard to terrorist groups. That is what Trailblazer was designed to fix.	73,553
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (CNN) -- Bare brick houses stacked one on top of another cling to the hills of Rio de Janeiro. Raw sewage trickles down the winding paths of these shanty towns, known as favelas, and in many, shootouts between drug dealing gangs and police are a daily ritual. The shanty towns are resented and feared by the rest of the city. But residents in the Santa Marta slum have transformed their community into a living, breathing canvas. With the help of two Dutch artists and a pioneering paint firm, the main square is now a kaleidoscope of color. "It gives the community life!" said Edimar Marcelinho Franco, who helped paint the 34 buildings and walked away with a professional painting title. "People who come to the favela today say, 'Wow, how pretty.' It doesn't have that image of an ugly favela," he said. The project is the brainchild of Dutch artists Dre Urhahn and Jeroen Koolhaas, who visited Rio's favelas for the first time in 2005 to shoot hip hop videos. They rented rooms in one of the city's most dangerous slums, Vila Cruzeiro, and worked with local youths. "We suddenly had this clear vision that it would actually be great to transform their living environment together with them into something artistic that would install pride in their life," Urhahn told CNN. They created the Favela Painting project. "We wanted to do something that would give them an opportunity to become painters and that would call attention to the outside world to their situation," he said. They first painted "Boy Flying a Kite," an enormous mural covering the sides of three buildings. Then residents painted a cement hillside with fish leaping in a river, which caught the eye of the local media. "If you are able to get a positive message out about this place in the newspaper, then your project is a success. And we did. So that was very inspiring," Urhahn said. While crime hasn't abated, the project put Vila Cruzeiro on the map for something other than drug trafficking. Next, Urhahn and Koolhaas put Santa Marta on the drawing board. They found residents excited about the idea of a facelift for their community, a slum tamed by police and showing signs of a newly acquired purchasing power. But even here, sewage runs down the paths of the hillside community, accessible only on foot. Brazilian paint company Coral, a subsidiary of Holland's AkzoNobel, offered to help with raw materials and training for locals. Tigrao, or Big Tiger, was a drug dealer before he got involved with the project. "It gave me a different outlook on life, showing me that an honest job can be a good thing," he said. "If Coral had 30 or 50 more job openings, I'm certain they would pull another 50 people off that wrong path." They created a massive artwork covering 34 buildings that has attracted foreign and local tourists and boosted the self-esteem of residents. "Color brings status," said Carlos Piazza, AkzoNobel's communication director for Latin America. "What divides the city, the formal city, from the informal city? Painting, that's it." If donations come in, an entire favela could be next -- a monument created by the people who live in it for the entire city.	202,952
Vilnius Travel Guide Vilnius Old Town © Iulius The Lithuanian capital of Vilnius is somewhat unique compared to the major cities in the rest of the Baltic States, its old architecture being a hodge-podge of styles with Scandinavian, Russian and German influences. The mix blends well into a charming 'Vilnian Baroque', that fills the cobblestoned, winding streets of the old quarter. The city is further enhanced by its picturesque setting in a valley at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers, nestling beneath wooded hills in the southeast corner of Lithuania. Overlooking the city from a central hill is the landmark Gediminas Castle (named for the medieval Grand Duke who founded the city) with its impressive tower, from which visitors can enjoy an unrivalled view of the old town and the shiny new section on the right bank of the Neris. Gediminas Square is the heart of the old quarter, featuring the splendid classical cathedral. The city boasts numerous other interesting churches, beautiful historic buildings, museums, monuments and parks, and the splendid University of Vilnius, one of Europe's oldest institutions of learning, chartered in 1579. In its 'golden age' in the Middle Ages, Vilnius was renowned as the region's centre for culture and learning, and today it has reclaimed that reputation, with a packed programme of events always on the go, from classical music evenings at the Philharmonic Society Hall and performances at the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Youth Theatre and Academic Drama Theatre, to exhibitions in numerous art galleries and a vast modern art centre. The city also plays host to numerous commercial fairs and exhibitions annually. Last, but not least, when the sun goes down Vilnius reveals the fun side of its nature, with a nightlife that is fast gaining a reputation as one of the hottest in Eastern Europe. Become our Vilnius Travel Expert We are looking for contributors for our Vilnius travel guide. If you are a local, a regular traveller to Vilnius or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.	150,335
The vision of the ACT project is to create a CTSA federated network to increase accrual to clinical trials. The goal of the ACT project is to create a federated network of sites from the National Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Consortium to significantly increase participant accrual to the nation’s highest priority clinical trials. The project leverages the widespread implementation of the electronic health record (EHR) and the well-established extensive informatics and regulatory expertise within the CTSA Consortium. Leaders from CTSA programs across the country set the groundwork for the project and committed to participate in the creation of this national federated network. A major strength of the NCATS CTSA program is its networking of academic medical centers across the nation. This was recognized by the Institute of Medicine’s report of its objective evaluation of the CTSA program, which stated that the CTSA program should “…establish a national network that will accelerate the development of new diagnostics, therapeutics, and preventive interventions and, at the same time, drive innovation in clinical and translational research methods, processes, tools, and resources.”1 Many individual CTSAs are capable of identifying and engaging local patients for clinical trials and research studies through their EHR. The challenge for the CTSA consortium is to develop the informatics tools, regulatory infrastructure, and governance structures that are required to leverage the EHR across CTSA sites and thereby across the nation. If our goal is accomplished, we will revolutionize clinical and translational research across America and position America to become the leading “go to” site for human clinical trials by all Biotech and Pharma companies. For more information regarding CTSA please see: https://ctsacentral.org/about-us/ctsa/. More information regarding the project’s structure, participation, and other project details can be found in the ACT Structure tab. Reference: Institute of Medicine. The CTSA Program at NIH: Opportunities for Advancing Clinical and Translational Research. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.; 2013.	261,165
Winter term Montgomery Fellow Lucille Clifton, a poet, historian, children's author, memoirist, and professor, will hold a public poetry reading and conversation on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 4:30 p.m. in Filene Auditorium, Moore Hall. Clifton is also participating in the College's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Community Lunch on Monday, Jan. 15, at noon in Collis Common Ground. Poet Laureate of Maryland from 1979 to 1985, Clifton has published 11 collections of poems, including Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems, 1988-2000 (2000), winner of the National Book Award for Poetry. She is the author of the 1976 memoir, Generations, and of some 20 children's books. Clifton received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Dartmouth in 2005. Her citation read in part, "By telling the stories about your past-both your own family history and your wider African and African American heritage-you have helped tell all our stories, and by chronicling injustices and problems of our current world, you underline our obligations to each other." Questions or comments about this article? We welcome your feedback. Last Updated: 12/17/08	36,043
Design thinking has the capacity to benefit K-12 educators across any subject year after year through its emphasis on building collaboration, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. Using Cooper Hewitt’s world-renowned design collection, lessons developed by K-12 educators trained in design thinking, and many more museum resources, K-12 educators will find a wealth of strategies to help implement design thinking in their classrooms. DESIGN THINKING resources on smithsonian learning lab To learn more about how to use design thinking in the K-12 classroom, take a look at Cooper Hewitt’s collections on the Smithsonian Learning Lab, a digital platform designed to inspire the discovery and creative use of rich digital materials—more than two million images, recordings, and texts from the Smithsonian’s 19 museums, 9 major research centers, the National Zoo, and more. DESIGN-BASED LESSON PLANS Cooper Hewitt offers over 400 design-based lesson plans written by educators from all disciplines that are aligned to National and Common Core Standards. Explore lesson plans. COOPER HEWITT’S COLLECTION Cooper Hewitt is home to a diverse collection, spanning thirty centuries of historic and contemporary design. Explore the collection. Cooper Hewitt works with designers from every field, discussing their work, the design process, and more. Watch hundreds of videos and presentations by designers here. OBJECT OF THE DAY Cooper Hewitt’s Object of the Day is a blog that offers a daily dose of design, featuring expert commentary on design objects from Cooper Hewitt’s permanent collection. Read more about Cooper Hewitt’s collection. Cooper Hewitt’s Design Dictionary is a video series that vividly illustrates a wide variety of creative techniques. Covering everything from glassblowing to bobbin lacemaking to 3D printing, the series aims to demystify the making of objects by providing a highly visual, behind-the-scenes look into designers’ studios, schools and homes as they work. Each video in the fourteen-part series is under 3 minutes long and features a different designer or artisan hand-picked to demonstrate their skill in action. All videos were shot entirely on-location in New York City. Watch the video series. OTHER COOPER HEWITT RESOURCES - Take a free half-hour online class on Skillshare with curators Andrea Lipps and Ellen Lupton, who discuss beauty as an inspiration for design and engage viewers in a design project to explore personal expressions of beauty. Take the class. HOW might i USE DESIGN IN MY CLASSROOM? Discover how to incorporate design thinking as a teaching tool, no matter the subject area. DESIGN IN THE MATH CLASSROOM See a lesson on how design can be integrated into a math lesson for middle school: DESIGN IN THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM See a lesson on how design aligns with the scientific method: DESIGN IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS CLASSROOM See a lesson on how design can help students learn in the English Language Arts classroom:	138,146
Dal lake is situated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the northern-most state of India, strategically surrounded by four countries, on the East by Tibet, on the North-East by China, on the North by Afghanistan and on the West by Pakistan. Dal Lake is an Himalayan Urban Lake, located in the heart of Srinagar (Latitude 34o 18’N Longitude 74o 91’E) at an average altitude of 1,583 M. Srinagar is the summer capital of J&K. The top crust of the Lake has also been observed to freeze during winters when the mercury falls to -11o C. Early spring and summers are the wet periods when maximum rainfall occurs and average annual rainfall recorded is 655 mm. It is in this season that the snow thaw in the higher catchment results in maximum discharge in Dachigam & Dara Nallah which inflows into the Lake. Lakes and Waterways Development Authority has been created by the Government of J&K as an autonomous body under development Act, 1970 AD vide Government order No.117 of HUD dated 11.04.1997 to serve a one point agency to look after, Mange and Conserve the waterbodies and Waterways of the state of J&K. World famous Dal/Nigeen Lakes in the city of Srinagar at the moment form the core areas of attention of J&K LDA. Dal - Nigeen Lakes The dwellers who have settled in the Dal lake areas form part of the history of the lake. Walter. R. Lawrence reports in the book: “The Valley of Kashmir” that the half amphibious dwellers on the Dal lake practised cultivation on floating gardens and demb lands in late 19th century and had property rights on the marsh land and related water channels. We have tried to summarize various problems and recommendations made from time to time by various agencies starting with the ENEX report (1978) prepared by ENEX consortium of New Zealand.	246,909
Apr. 13, 2006 – While the nationâ€™s pension system creaks with age, Congress is finalizing legislation designed to rescue retirement benefits from a projected financial crisis. But the proposed reforms have drawn criticism from advocates for workers and retirees, who say that Washington is more interested in reducing government and corporate liabilities than preserving a source of retirement security for millions of Americans. Legislative fixes have gathered steam in the wake of high-profile pension failures tied to the recent economic downturn; in the steel and airlines industries in particular, tens of thousands of employees saw their benefits terminated. Alarmed lawmakers warn that the federally administered Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), which backs up private pensions and bails them out when they collapse, may be pushed toward insolvency unless tighter funding requirements are imposed on companies. The agency estimated last fall that the private sector pensions it backs were underfunded by $450 billion. Pension-reform bills passed in both chambers of Congress and now under negotiations in a conference committee, would increase employersâ€™ obligations to cover benefits for current retirees as well as projected future pensions. But labor groups and some analysts predict the reform legislation will in many ways hurt more than it will help, by insufficiently addressing corporate abuses, undermining the power of unions to advocate for better benefits, and in the long run, making the pension system so financially unpalatable as to drive companies away from offering pensions altogether. Turning Benefits into â€˜Riskâ€™ Labor groups say that instead of expanding corporate accountability, the reforms would reduce workersâ€™ leverage over their contracts. To stem "volatility" in the pension system, both the House of Representatives and Senate have moved to restrict companies from providing or pumping up certain types of benefits if their plans are deemed financially "at risk" or under-funded. For instance, if an employer has not paid enough to keep its pension plan more than 60-percent funded, the proposed rules would automatically "freeze" the pension. Under a pension freeze, employees typically stop accumulating earned retirement benefits, which normally grow over the course of their career. Dallas Salisbury, president of the centrist think tank Employee Benefit Research Institute, predicted that the more restrictive funding rules "would make it more likely that employers would freeze plans, [and] make it less likely that new plans will be formed." The reforms could even give employers an incentive to under-fund plans in order to avoid paying out promised benefits, according to Christian Weller, an economist with the liberal think tank Center for American Progress. Offering corporations this escape hatch, Weller told The NewStandard, would make workers pay for their bossesâ€™ irresponsibility by "punishing people who have no control over what happens to the pension plan." Pension-rights advocates say the legislation is laced with corporate giveaways that could undo crucial safeguards. Pension reform could also shift the balance of power in labor negotiations, as some legislators cite instability in the pension system as a reason to curtail collective bargaining. In a letter to fellow lawmakers, House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), who also chairs the Committee on Education and Workforce, called for "reasonable restrictions on the ability of employers and union leaders to make empty benefit promises when a plan is significantly underfunded." The House reform bill would bar employers from negotiating future benefit increases for plans less than 80 percent funded. But labor groups view pensions as a crucial bargaining chip during labor negotiations, often offered in lieu of wage increases. They say that instead of expanding corporate accountability, the reforms would reduce workersâ€™ leverage over their contracts. Calling proposed restrictions "anti-worker legislation," Robert Betts, president of United Auto Workers Local 2151 in Michigan, said that by trying to restrict union advocacy, lawmakers "are blaming the UAW for negotiating a good deal for itself." "We view pensions simply as deferred compensation for services rendered in the past," Betts said. "So we donâ€™t view pensions as something that corporations or anybody should be allowed to just walk away from." Corporate Nest Eggs As profit motives push companies away from traditional pensions, some say legislative reforms could paradoxically accelerate such a trend. The American Benefits Council, which represents employers and pension administrators, has warned that the reform proposals might deter companies from maintaining pensions, citing the financial burden of tougher funding requirements and unstable interest rates that cause yearly funding obligations to fluctuate widely. Critics say the real problem is not that pensions are underfunded in the short term, but that they are simply vanishing. The groupâ€™s Vice President Lynne Dudley told TNS: "When you ask people to be in a [traditional pension] system, youâ€™re asking them to take on an obligation for many years. Well, they can only do that if they have some predictability." At the same time, pension-rights advocates say the legislation is laced with corporate giveaways that could undo crucial safeguards established in the landmark federal pension law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The Pension Rights Center has opposed a proposal in the House bill to loosen regulations on financial-service providers, which are designed prevent conflicts of interest among companies that manage pension assets. In a letter to the congressional conferees last month, the Center wrote that the restrictions are vital "to ensure that pension assets are invested exclusively for the benefit of workers and retirees â€“ not to enrich investment managers or others" closely connected to plans. The National Retiree Legislative Network, a retiree-advocacy organization, supports increased funding requirements, but says the bill does not go far enough in strengthening disclosure requirements to inform employees when companies manipulate or under-fund pension plans. Jim Norby, the groupâ€™s president and a retiree of Northwestern Bell Telephone, said that often, if employees want to know how their earned pensions are being invested, "they have not a clue, and nobody has to tell them nothing." Under the current system, he added, "there is no law that says they canâ€™t screw the retirees out of what they promised them." Retiree groups have also called on lawmakers to thwart proposals to legitimize conversions of pensions to "cash-balance" or "hybrid" plans, in which older workers are not rewarded for their seniority and see their benefits grow at the same level as those of new hires. Companies have faced lawsuits charging that mid-career pension conversions have effectively reduced employeesâ€™ entitled benefits. In one major class-action suit, current and former IBM employees have contended that the companyâ€™s conversion to a cash-balance plan in the 1990s was age-discriminatory; the ongoing litigation has so far led to a partial settlement of more than $300 million. The Senate bill would protect companies by limiting future lawsuits. Janet Krueger, an IBM retiree who has helped organize employees at the company, commented that these caveats would "[legalize] something thatâ€™s purely being used to cut benefits, for no reason at all other than the companies saying, â€˜We donâ€™t want to be sued.â€™" Krueger concluded, "So I donâ€™t know who they think theyâ€™re helping, but theyâ€™re not helping us." Some progressive analysts say the reform proposals betray the White Houseâ€™s pro-business agenda, which has touted individual accounts like 401(k) plans as alternatives to traditional employer-sponsored pensions. Referring to the Bush administrationâ€™s catch phrase, Nancy Hwa, a spokesperson for the Pension Rights Center, said, "Itâ€™s part of the whole idea of the â€˜Ownership Societyâ€™... that you should be responsible for your own [well-being], whether itâ€™s your health insurance or your retirement money or whatever. But the current system that we have now just does not work, in terms of providing sufficient retirement income." Questioning whether the proposed reforms are needed at all, critics say the real problem is not that pensions are underfunded in the short term, but that they are simply vanishing. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation reported last year that the portion of private-sector workers participating in government-insured traditional pensions dropped sharply from 35 percent in 1980 to less than 20 percent in 2002. The agencyâ€™s most recent data indicates that overall, nearly one in ten private pensions has been frozen. Shaun Oâ€™Brien, the AFL-CIOâ€™s assistant director for social policy, argued that the pension systemâ€™s vulnerability is due not to funding gaps in the PBGC or the private sector, but to "companies that are simply walking away because they can." The billâ€™s critics say it ignores the value of offering workers a guaranteed stream of retirement income, and that no effective alternative has emerged to replace pensions. Labor advocates say that 401(k) plans, which typically receive some funding from employers but do not guarantee set benefits, enable companies to cast off liabilities while leaving workers less financially secure. Betts of the UAW said: "The corporations are trying to break the social contract that we hadâ€¦ And frankly, theyâ€™re not paying people enough money for them to afford to be able to provide that [security] for themselves." Several progressive think tanks have modeled comprehensive retirement programs that would expand and strengthen the benefits system, especially for lower-income earners who generally lack pensions. Some proposals would establish nationwide mandatory benefits plans to essentially provide retirement security for the entire workforce. But with Capitol Hill focused on the finances, rather than the structure of pensions, Oâ€™Brien said the question Congress should be asking is: "Are we going to have a system in which we expect employers to continue to play a role, to have a share of the responsibility in delivering retirement security?â€¦ Nothing in this legislation really begins to address that issue."	217,808
St Peter, Carlton Colville \|I'm sure that there are some very good reasons for this church being locked without a keyholder. What the reasons are, though, is beyond me. Here we have a large church in its well-kept graveyard, surrounded by prosperous modern housing. Surely there must be some demand for opportunities for private prayer? Or perhaps I just came at a bad time. Maybe times other than 10 o'clock on a sunny Spring Saturday morning, this place is a hive of 19th century opulence against a 13th century tower. St Peter benefitted from a wealthy rector in the late 19th century, who had the church almost completely rebuilt at his own expense. It is easy to be sniffy about this, but we need to remember the dereliction of many churches, particularly in this part of East Anglia, by the 19th century. Also, in those days before Lowestoft reached out and engulfed it, this church was isolated in the fields. But here was a vicar with vision, who restored it thoroughly, so that future generations could use it - or, at least, they could if it wasn't kept locked. The tower is the original 13th century one, restored rather than replaced; the rest is all 19th century work. But it is still a fine building; the interesting looking south transept is apparently an organ chamber, and several of the old windows were reused. Apparently, the church contains a picture of itself before the rebuilding, and Mortlock assures us of large quantities of very good 19th century glass. But that is more than I know. St Peter, Carlton Colville, is located on the western edge of Lowestoft, on the road to Beccles. Locked, locked, locked.	184,231
GstarCAD Successfully Applied in Open University, Vietnam GstarCAD, one of the world leading providers of 2D/3D CAD software, today announced that GstarCAD software successfully applied by Saigon Water, Environment And Infrastructure Joint Stock Company (SAIGON WEICO) in technical design and construction design of technical infrastructure, water supply, drainage and wastewater treatment system in Open University HCMCity. - (1888PressRelease) January 27, 2011 - Beijing, China - GstarCAD, one of the world leading providers of 2D/3D CAD software, today announced that GstarCAD software successfully applied by Saigon Water, Environment And Infrastructure Joint Stock Company (SAIGON WEICO) in technical design and construction design of technical infrastructure, water supply, drainage and wastewater treatment system in Open University HCMCity, Vitenam. SAIGON WEICO specializes in consulting on water supply, sewerage, sanitation and environment projects like construction for water supply plant of the peninsula in north of Cam Ranh and medium towns development in central region. However, in May 2009, SAIGON WEICO got into the trouble with the development trends of CAD software legalization in technical design and construction design of Open University. "We were targeting at high-end consultant services and construction works by using innovative technologies, but how could we afford the high cost and deal with the risks of former data reuse?" says Mr. Pham Nguyen Binh, Head of Technical-Project Department. SAIGON WEICO eliminated the distress when GstarCAD software was approved and adopted in design works. Mr. Pham Nguyen Binh says, "We were very pleased to be introduced and recommended software GstarCAD Trial. GstarCAD drawing software ensures data reuse as it is compatible with AutoCAD but costs much lower. Now we have decided to invest the entire system CADs software in the company by GstarCAD license. Data safety and well-supported policy of GstarCAD makes us feel secure and confident!" GstarCAD is the fast, powerful and DWG-compatible CAD software for the industries involving AEC, mechanical, manufacturing, electrical, GIS, survey and mapping, civil, etc. It is the world-class 2D/3D CAD (Computer aided design) software platform based on IntelliCAD technology. GstarCAD's powerful functions, AutoCAD-compatible programming platform, cost-effective solution and ease-of-use operating interface ensure that your design inspiration comes true skillfully and thoroughly at high speed. Avenue,Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu, 215021, China Tel:+86 512 62870220 Fax:+86 512 62528938 Beijing Branch Block C, Beijing Chuangye Tower, NO.11, Anxiangbeili, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China Tel:+86 10 64861076 Email: sales ( @ ) gstarcad dot net support ( @ ) gstarcad dot net	92,004
Posted Aug 01, 2014 12:11 pm CDT A federal judge in Manhattan has upheld a magistrate’s ruling requiring Microsoft to give federal prosecutors emails and other data stored on servers in Ireland. Chief U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska ruled on Thursday that Microsoft had to comply with the U.S. warrant because it controlled the data, report the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.), Courthouse News Service, Reuters, the Washington Post and the New York Times Bits blog. “It is a question of control, not a question of the location of that information,” Preska said. Preska cited a 1984 case that required businesses to disclose business records no matter where they are held, according to the Washington Post. She said Congress was aware of the decision when it passed the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act, so the law implicitly authorizes overseas production of data. Preska stayed her order pending appeal. Microsoft had argued that Microsoft could not be forced to turn over the emails unless the government obtained them through a legal treaty with Ireland, the Wall Street Journal says. But Preska said any intrusion on a foreign sovereignty “is incidental at best,” according to Courthouse News Service. Several technology companies filed amicus briefs supporting Microsoft, including Apple, AT&T and Verizon. The companies fear that turning over data to the United States could alienate foreign governments seeking more privacy for their citizens, the Wall Street Journal says. Another fear is a loss of business to foreign to competitors, according to Reuters. Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith vowed to “appeal promptly,” according to the Wall Street Journal.	248,153
Support DePorres Place on GIVING TUESDAY! We are strengthening communities with literacy programs that teach, connect, and encourage. But we can’t do it alone! Please help us by remembering our efforts on Giving Tuesday 2020. DePorres Place is open for tutoring pairs and smaller classes, and we also have a full slate of classes meeting online. Please call 561-863-5778 to get more information, or to register. ADULT LITERACY CENTER DePorres Place teaches reading, writing and spoken English language skills to adults over the age of 18 who are reading below eighth grade level. DePorres Place offers classes in basic adult literacy (reading and writing) and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). Students meet with a volunteer tutor twice or once a week, tutored either one-to-one or in small group classes. ONE IN SEVEN PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA CANNOT READ OR WRITE AT A THIRD GRADE LEVEL Deporres Place focuses on strengthening communities with literacy programs that teach, connect, and encourage. But we can’t do it alone! DePorres Place provides one-to-one tutoring and small group classes for adults who are learning to read, write, and/or speak English. Adults progress in our programs! How exciting it is to meet new people and form new relationships. Volunteering reduces stress, boosts our self-esteem and makes us feel good about making a difference! Learning to read, write and speak English can be a daunting experience for many adults. However, at DePorres Place, classes are small and learning is fun. Volunteer tutors teach classes either in small groups or one-to-one. Classes are held in a relaxed atmosphere, with staff and volunteers. - Classes are held twice a week for 1 1/2 hours each, or once a week for 2 hours. - Tutoring is continuous and lasts as long as the student wants to continue. - There is no cost for the classes. Students pay for their own books, but those who cannot pay are provided with books at no charge. - New students must register and take a placement test.	249,945
Celebrating rice, health, and nutrition The Philippines celebrates Nutrition Month every July to create greater awareness on nutrition among Filipinos. We salute the National Nutrition Council (NNC) of the Department of Health for spearheading this nationwide campaign. This year, Nutrition Month espouses the theme, Kalamidad paghandaan: gutom at malnutrisyon agapan (Prepare for emergencies: prevent hunger and malnutrition). The focus on nutrition in emergencies aims to provide a venue for the general public to realize the importance of preparedness and learn what recovery measures can be taken to prevent death and the worsening of malnutrition among affected groups. IRRI has been actively participating in nutrition month activities for the past few years. In 2013, one of the highlights of the Institute’s celebration was the conduct of Kanin Get It, a one-day event that focused on tailored discussions and field tours to introduce selected media members to IRRI’s work on healthier rice. As a development institution, IRRI believes that nutrition is a crucial component of poverty alleviation. IRRI supports NNC and the government’s call to strengthen food-based approaches to address malnutrition. We believe that the gains from increased farm productivity and income will be amplified and produce longer-term benefits if the health and nutrition of a population, especially of vulnerable communities, are enhanced. Being the staple not only of Filipinos but half of humanity, rice can play a major role, globally, in improving public health and nutrition. There are over 120,000 types of rice in the International Genebank housed at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna, and around 10,000 Philippine varieties at the Philippine Rice Research Institute Genebank in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Taken together, these rice varieties are the raw materials that rice scientists and nutrition researchers use to improve the grain quality and nutritional aspects of rice, which has been part of the human diet for thousands of years. Rice can indeed become part of a healthy diet and, to realize this, IRRI and PhilRice are pursuing research projects that: (a) look into the potentials of rice in providing a sustainable, diet-based source of micronutrients that could help address malnutrition problems; (b) study the glycemic index of rice and how it could still become part of a healthy diet for those who are at risk of diabetes, as well as for the average consumer; and (c) advocate for the responsible consumption of different kinds of rice, including brown rice, and minimizing wastage. Into the future, rice will remain an important food staple for billions of people. This month and beyond, let us celebrate the potential contributions that this important crop can make for a more food- and nutrition-secure population in the Philippines and around the world. Happy nutrition month! About the Author Aileen is the manager for project coordination and stakeholder advocacy for Golden Rice and healthier rice varieties at IRRI. She also worked as a communication specialist for Golden Rice.	311,195
... If translation leaves the bottom of a page still English, copy and translate HERE. Institutional Housing, orphanage and hostel. Look at - Shack or Squat . Private Slums . Nomad / Gypsy . Big Social Estates . Affluent Poverty and Government .. Religion and Society .. Revolution and Reform Or see - Affordable Housing . Development Problems . Housing Design . Estate Exclusion . Scheme Appraisal . - Site Search at bottom - v Homeless hostel shelter. Those who become homeless in many countries can find themselves in disastrous fearful hostels or orphanages. Families becoming homeless for whatever reason can find themselves split up, with the children put into orphanages and the parents into single person hostels. This may often be said to be temporary, while actually being effectively indefinite and destroy lives and intensify social exclusion of the less fortunate in societies. Included here are state or charity workhouses, poorhouses and flophouses, some of which are still in use of course. Such shared institutional housing will often be understaffed low-pay employers, using low-quality employees who care little about 'inmates' or who may even enjoy abusing them. This can be an extreme problem in many children's homes, with children being regularly beaten or otherwise abused and very badly brought-up along the lines that Charles Dickens so graphically described. There will of course be some of a somewhat better standard, but none really good for children to be brought-up in or as supposed solutions for homeless families. Shared hostels for 'single' adults will often be similar and also often be badly overcrowded and promote the spread of chronic untreated diseases like TB - though the poor often have more urgent problems than their health. Also adults living in them will often find it impossible to get or keep reasonable work. Some countries may also have some 'battered-women' hostels to house women with their children, akin to women's prisons taking women with their children. Nobody reasonable can consider these good housing. They are just more of the forms of housing that can help to destroy lives and intensify social exclusion of the less fortunate in societies. It is clear that in many countries the less fortunate, and indeed the whole of society, are seriously failed by institutional housing systems when there is really no great problem to supplying more acceptable housing. see Shack or Squat NOTE : this site gets Google market advertisements, some of which may be examples of social exclusion at work now ! Websites you may wish to visit:- Homeless International . Homeless USA . Workhouses UK . Homeless UK otherwise, if you have any view or suggestion on the content of this site, please contact :- firstname.lastname@example.org You are welcome to link to any page on this site, eg © Social Exclusion Housing, 2013 - taking care with your privacy, see Social Exclusion Housing HOME.	15,798
Slang for poorly written, kludgie software. The term refers to "Japan code," a slang nickname for the software written in Japanese companies, which has a reputation for being overly complex. J-code is also slang for rules that are enforced only to preserve a hierarchy of management. This refers to the multiple layers of management in Japanese business culture (layers that do not exist in Silicon Valley start-ups). NetLingo Classification: Online Jargon	174,718
10 October 2012 In this image from 16 October 2011, Coptic Christians conduct a candlelight protest at Abassaiya Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, one week after more than two dozen people were killed during clashes with soldiers and riot police. (photo: CNS/stringer via Reuters) Thousands march to remember killing of Egypt Copts (Associated Press) Several thousand Egyptians marched for miles through Cairo on Tuesday, marking the year anniversary of a military crackdown on Christian protesters that killed 26 people and demanding retribution against army leaders they hold responsible for the deaths. Muslim clerics, Christian priests, activists and liberal former lawmakers joined the procession, filling large boulevards to memorialize the “Maspero massacre,” referring to the name of the state TV building overlooking the Nile River where the violence took place a year ago. In Syria, “humanitarian emergency increases” (Fides) As the conflict continues, “humanitarian crisis increases more and more: although we do our best, we are not able to meet all the needs of refugees. We urgently need other humanitarian aid.” That is how the lay Catholic Pascal Kateb, secretary general of Caritas Syria, describes the situation in Syria to Fides. Warm welcome for Apostolic Nuncio in Malyankara (Indian Express/IBN) Malyankara is the place where the light of Christianity was ignited first, and it has to glow brightly shedding the light all over the world, said Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Dr. Salvatore Pennacchio to the believers while visiting the St. Thomas Pilgrim Center at Malyankara on Monday. The Mar Thoma Pontifical Shrine, at the Pilgrim Center, is a monument to St. Thomas situated at Marthoma Nagar at Kodungallur. Some Russian Orthodox call for closing gay clubs in Moscow (The Moscow Times) A group of Russian Orthodox believers on Monday called for the closure of all gay clubs in Moscow as part of the drive to ban the promotion of homosexuality. The People’s Council, a nationalist Orthodox organization, said in a statement that homosexuality is “a grave sin” and that it was seeking to close gay clubs that “entice fragile members of society into the gay community,” Interfax reported. Christians show love of Israel in Jerusalem (Huffington Post) The mainstream news media can leave the average Israeli with the impression that much of the world has hostile, hateful feelings towards the Jewish state or, at the very least, does not want to be friends. It gets a little lonely at times in the Middle East. But there was love in the air of Jerusalem this past Thursday afternoon. Marching through the streets of Jerusalem, approximately 6,000 Christian friends of Israel made their way with flags and smiles, which they readily shared with Israeli bystanders — from secular to ultra-orthodox Jews of all ages and backgrounds. Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov welcomed the Christian visitors, who were led by evangelical Protestant community leaders visiting from across the world to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, the Christian celebration of the seven-day Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Tags: Syria India Egypt Violence against Christians Israel	63,963
Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory Analysis: What's Up With the Ending? In the last book of Le Morte D'Arthur, the whole Round Table comes crashing down around Arthur's ears. Some of Arthur's knights, who also happen to be his blood relations, really have it in for Sir Launcelot. They use Launcelot's continued affair with Gwenyvere to take the guy down, causing civil war to break out among the knights. This turn of events is especially sad because the Knights of the Round Table have an unspoken agreement specifically to not fight with each other. On the other hand, it's not completely unexpected: hints of the discord brewing among Arthur's knights, and between Arthur and his vassals, are present right from the very beginning of Arthur's reign. Soon after he becomes king, Arthur's uncle, King Lot, leads an alliance of kings that challenge his lordship. And very soon after Lot's sons come to court, another one of Arthur's knights, King Pellynore, kills King Lot. Unable to let it go, Lot's sons kill Pellynore's son, Sir Lamerok. (You with us? That's a lot of killing.) Arthur's knights take sides in the feud, which means that even before Arthur's nephew and son accuse Launcelot of treason with the Queen, factions have been formed. The line in the sand has already been drawn. Alas, it seems the unity of the Round Table was doomed from the very beginning. The discord and blood feuding and hatred among the Knights of the Round Table are all very depressing. And, with this, the story could be trying to make the point that a kingdom divided against itself will inevitably fall, or even that a perfectly united kingdom can never exist in the first place. On the other hand, though, the very end of the book shows Gawain giving up his enmity toward Launcelot on his deathbed in a letter in which he asks him to pray on his tomb. It also shows Launcelot and all his knights following Gwenyvere's lead into the religious life, and Launcelot being received in heaven by choirs of angels. This ending is not wholly unexpected, either: the book about the "Sankgreall," or "Holy Grail" showed Arthur's knights reaching for spiritual, rather than earthly, glory. So, with this ending, the story suggests that maybe Galahad, the virginal knight whose spiritual prowess eventually achieved him eternal bliss, had the right idea after all. Unity between men on earth will necessarily be destroyed by our sinful pride; even the code of chivalry is not strong enough to withstand it. For that reason, why not pursue a higher goal – unity with God in heaven?	223,063
Help Notes from Kidnapped Woman - I March 13, 2009 It was late in 2006 when a Florida woman was kidnapped. FBI Special Agent Anne LaHaye in Mississippi says that the victim was very brave and left notes in women’s restrooms for about a week... Mr. Schiff: It was late in 2006 when a Florida woman was kidnapped. FBI Special Agent Anne LaHaye in Mississippi says that the victim was very brave and left notes in women’s restrooms for about a week... Ms. LaHaye: "The reason that we probably located him; she was smart enough to leave all these notes and it helped create a trail that we could follow.” Mr. Schiff: From Florida to Georgia to Alabama and Mississippi. LaHaye says the woman left notes crying out for help... Ms. LaHaye: "It was always at restaurants, maybe one gas station, where she would enter the ladies restroom and leave a note.” Mr. Schiff: LaHaye got a call from the FBI’s Oxford, Mississippi, office about the kidnapper’s car possibly being in the state. She saw the car near Leland… Ms. LaHaye: "I contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and alerted them to the fact that I did have the subject in front of me; I was following him at a safe distance and that I needed some help from the highway patrol and the sheriff’s office.” Mr. Schiff: Police caught the kidnapper and rescued the women. She was upset but not harmed. The kidnapper is in prison for life. I’m Neal Schiff of the Bureau and that's the FBI's Closed Case of the Week." - 05.25.2017 — Wanted by the FBI: National Missing Children’s Day - 05.25.2017 — FBI, This Week: National Missing Children’s Day - 05.24.2017 — Esta Semana en el FBI: El FBI Lanza una Nueva Iniciativa Contra la Trata de Personas con Fines de Explotación Laboral - 05.18.2017 — Esta Semana en el FBI: La Delincuencia Organizada de Ventas al Detalle Puede Presentar Peligros a la Salud - 05.18.2017 — FBI, This Week: Preliminary Statistics for Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty in 2016 Released	28,527
All financial services organizations, regardless of their stance on crypto, should review regulatory warnings about crypto and OFAC sanctions evasion. As a result of the current situation in Ukraine, the U.S. and the global community have raced to enact an extraordinary number of sanctions in a short period of time. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and its regulatory counterparts around the world have imposed a variety of complex sanctions and export controls targeting individuals and entities as specially designated nationals (SDNs) and placed certain areas of the Russian economy under Sectoral Sanctions Identifications (SSI) List. Adding to the complexity of this situation is the rise of popularity of cryptocurrency and digital assets and their potential use to evade sanctions. U.S. regulators and government representatives have issued warnings to financial markets and organizations about managing the impact of OFAC sanctions and the risk of entities using crypto assets to skirt the sanctions. On March 9, 2022, President Biden signed an executive order that outlines a directive for digital assets and sets in motion needed due diligence for both the benefits and risks of crypto and digital assets. Now is the time for financial services organizations and fintechs to heed warnings and address risks. A regulatory anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions risk framework specific to the impacts of crypto has yet to be established, but that should not stop financial services organizations and fintechs from implementing controls that can help mitigate the risk of unwittingly enabling OFAC sanctions evasion via the use of crypto. Three Crowe specialists highlight four of the most pressing risks and provide an action plan for enacting meaningful controls to help mitigate risks. \|Risk concern\|\|Risk rationale\|\|Action plan\| \|Incomplete OFAC risk assessment\|\|Crypto is a means of value transfer, like writing a check or sending a wire. Even if an organization is not directly exposed to crypto risk through established relationships or partnerships with crypto-based businesses, customers still might use the organization to send or receive funds tied to crypto through so-called on-ramp and off-ramp transactions. As a result, financial services organizations might be understating the impact of crypto on their OFAC risk.\|\|Confirm that the OFAC risk assessment for the organization is updated with relevant metrics related to crypto exposure, including the population of customers engaging with crypto and transactional volumes.\| \|Incomplete customer risk profiles related to crypto use\|\|Although widespread adoption of crypto by U.S. consumers and businesses is limited, it is easily accessible and virtually any customer of the organization could become engaged with cryptocurrency at any time. As a result, without proper and effective know-your-customer, customer due diligence, and enhanced due diligence controls, a financial services organization might be unaware of the amount of crypto exposure within its customer base.\|\|Confirm that the organization has the ability to recognize and categorize customers conducting crypto transactions, including businesses that accept crypto and consumers who buy and sell crypto.\| \|Incomplete transaction data related to crypto use\|\|At present time, many transaction monitoring systems have not developed or implemented robust alert triggers for crypto. As a result, financial services organizations might be unable to accurately identify and assess crypto transaction risk.\|\|Confirm that the transaction monitoring process addresses crypto transactions and provides the organization with valuable alerts to stay vigilant.\| \|Ineffective sanctions screening\|\|While crypto is a means of value transfer, its decentralized nature allows for a disintermediated flow of funds, which reduces transparency into the true original sender or ultimate beneficiary of the transferred value. As a result, most standard OFAC interdiction software might not be as effective for crypto-related transactions and require additional due diligence.\|\|Confirm robust counterparty (sender and beneficiary) screening is being conducted by the organization on crypto transactions whenever possible, using all available data and a strong, risk-based approach.\| Crowe specialists understand both the opportunities and risks associated with the cryptocurrency and digital asset markets. We can help you examine the regulatory, legal, and reputational impacts faced by your organization. For specific questions about OFAC sanctions, organizations can contact OFAC directly, either via its hotline number (+1 800 540 6322) or its Contact OFAC page.	221,343
By Peter A. Hazzan Everyone is looking for answers to the Buffalo Public School District’s “abysmal and falling graduation rates at many of its underperforming high schools.” Some community leaders “pointed to poverty as the biggest reason.” Others said more resources and early intervention are what is needed most. How do you take a company from good to great or a professional sports team to a championship? One way is to provide the best leadership, resources and personnel in key positions. What is missing in the district is an overall lack of differentiated accountability in and service and support to its schools. There is no evidence of coherent support or oversight from the district for priority schools. Principals say that they are disconnected, unguided and unsupported due to lack of services and support from the district. All this, and more, is spelled out in the outline of the action plan by distinguished educator Judy Elliott, Ph.D., which was submitted to the district Oct. 5, 2012. In addition, the consulting firm of Cross & Joftus submitted a systems review of Buffalo Public Schools to the district May 15, 2012. In that review, it was stated that “BPS does not have a systemic approach to or plan for preparing all students for college and careers. Without a plan or appropriate supports in place, district departments and schools operate as islands.” The good news is that Superintendent Pamela Brown is working on these issues, among other strategies, to move the district forward. There is a 2013 Strategic Planning Process Task Force in place made up of school district personnel and community stakeholders working on these very issues. Task force members have been meeting since January. Brown is working on building trust, collaboration and communication in a thoughtful, transparent and coordinated manner. Implementing the recommendations from the strategic planning process and creating a culture in which all school employees bind together in support of their district’s new grand vision and strategic direction is the next step for Brown. When conducted collaboratively, the visioning process can contribute to a school culture that demonstrates cooperation, meaningful involvement and dedication to continuous improvement. Peter A. Hazzan is a member of the Buffalo Public Schools 2013 Strategic Planning Process Task Force (Talent Management) and co-chairman of the Multilingual Education Advisory Committee.	8,359
How to Make Salmon With Creamy Lemon Sauce Few foods can bring many health posts to your diet in large quantities as wild Alaskan salmon. Wild salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are necessary for the health of mothers and optimal health of children. The main benefits of wild salmon: - Omega-3 fatty acids - High-quality protein - essential amino acids - vitamin A - Vitamin D - vitamin B6 - vitamin B - vitamin E Prep Time: 10 min Cooking Time: 30 min - 1⁄2 tablespoon olive oil - 1⁄2garlic clove, minced - 1⁄8 cup lemon juice - 1 tablespoon capers - 1⁄2 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning - 1⁄4 cup fat-free sour cream - 3⁄4 lb salmon fillets Step By step method Salmon With Creamy Lemon Sauce - Preheat oven to 350 ° F. Spray a baking sheet greased. - Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. - Then add the garlic and cook for one minute. - Reduce heat adds lemon juice, capers and lemon pepper and cook for 5 minutes. - Sour cream and cook for 5 minutes or until heated thoroughly. - Meanwhile, put the salmon on the hob. - Bake 20 minutes or until the dark fish. - Serve with sauce. Why This is good for you - Very low in sugar - High in niacin - Very high in selenium - High in vitamin B6 - High in vitamin B12 Calories 299 , Calories from Fat 183 Total Fat 20.3g, Saturated Fat 5.7g Trans Fat 0.0g ,Cholesterol 80mg Sodium 165mg , Potassium 483mg Total Carbohydrates 2.2g , 0.3g ,Dietary Fiber 0.2g	27,852
Posted on December 5th, 2001 by Also called transillumination, this is a method of examining the breast. It is used primarily in younger women (40 years of age or less). This technique uses bright light to illuminate inner structures, in much the same way that children observe the blood and bones in their hands with a flashlight. It has limitations and by itself is not an adequate method of examination. You must be logged-in to the site to post a comment.	171,041
View Full Version : Breaking a wall... 07-30-2003, 10:59 PM I have a project where i need to break a wall as something flies through it. Similar effect as in the Levi's commercial where they run through the walls. Anyway, what would be the most effecient way of going about this. I assume it would be some sort of rigid body simulation, but how would i add dimension to the chunks of wall coming out. 08-01-2003, 10:50 PM 08-03-2003, 11:37 PM I don't know yet very well this sort of thing but you should take a look in the help and look for Scatter effect, I think you'll find what you need to make this type of Vfx. Hope it helps u 08-04-2003, 08:55 AM Make your wall. Delete history and use effects>shatter. Don't add any dynamics at this point. Grab the shattered pieces and duplicate them, and hide the original pieces on a layer. Convert the duplicates to triangles (better for the dynamics) and also cut them down in resolution (perhaps 50%) These pieces will be your initial state. Move the verts (use move normal and scale the pieces so that none overlap) Set the pieces to be active rigid bodies. Set the objects with which these will collide to be passive rgd bdies. Test to see if it's all okay (collisions, friction, etc...) When it's looking like "kinda nice" go to frame 1 or the initial state of the simulation and parent the original pieces to your low poly wall objects. Hide the low poly ones (in the attribute editor...visible) The replacement is complete! Save scene as Then, bake the simuation (under modify..keys, or somewhere) You have a scrollable sim. Then, you can work on the particle effects for dust, etc. There are a variety of methods: Create particle grid...make visible on collision Create soft bodies, goal PP=1 for the pieces, and then use collision events to make it look like the wall pieces emit dust on secondary collisions Instance rock particles to a few other particles for the finer shatterd rocks. Hope it helps!:) 08-04-2003, 03:41 PM That is exactly what i was looking for. 01-15-2006, 07:00 PM This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.	119,942
While the new POTUS may not be the reader our last president was, it’s never too late to learn to love books. To... Read More An Interview with Megan McDowell Change is coming, but books will help to take us where we need to go. Works in translation, especially, will help us to peer over all manner of walls. Translators like Megan McDowell are the key to our access; we asked her about her translation work. Adulting We Will Go In these eight young adult novels, which range from light and humorous to serious and thought-provoking, protagonists navigate new friendship, relationships, and responsibilities as they come of age in strange and sometimes hostile worlds. The High Road to Middle Grade Middle grade books are generally geared towards ages eight to twelve, but there’s plenty for adults to engage with, too. We’ve chosen eight outstanding new titles on a broad range of topics. In a World of Possibilities The picture books we’ve reviewed in our Children’s 2017 Spotlight are fantastical and sure to incite a child’s imagination. Monsters and fairy tales, dreams and goals are bountiful. Speaking of High-Functioning Sociopaths Jacob M. Appel delves into the mind of a high-functioning sociopath, drawing upon his experience as a psychiatrist, in his latest book. In our interview, Appel discusses how he can enter this scary head-space. But what about psychoanalyzing politicians? Interested in the Past? Young Adult Books from Winter 2017 Who needs history class when you can learn about the ’80s in America, the ‘40s in Poland, and the 1590s in Italy all in these young adult books reviewed in our Winter 2017 edition? Islam and Hip-Hop An Unorthodox Beat To Purdue scholar Su’ad Abdul Khabeer, hip-hop and American Islam are a natural match: both flourish beyond, and comment upon, a hostile status quo. And both provide a place of refuge and expression for African Americans held at the margins. A Thousand Words on Every Page Graphic Novels of Winter 2017 Graphic novels can translate facial expression, landscape, and minute detail from words to art, which can make for an invaluable reading experience. These graphic novels from our Winter 2017 issue offer that experience. Lessons to Love: Clever Winter 2017 Children's Books There’s a reason children love to be read to; their books are instilled with wonder and fun characters. But the depth of children’s books cannot be overlooked. It’s easy to love children’s books when the lessons are as good as these. Change is coming, but readers know of places that will offer refuge, that are more rewarding than dim rhetoric and... Read More I am an older brother to four siblings, and the father of four children whose ages now range from twenty-four to... Read More Middle grade books are generally geared towards ages eight to twelve, but there’s plenty for adults to engage with,... Read More Young adult novels grapple with some of the most difficult issues in life, including romance, identity, friendship, and... Read More In worlds like our own, where anyone can be anything, picture books are the place to go for imaginations wild and... Read More Facts Mission: “Zone 3 Press is a literary press dedicated to publishing and promoting the work of emerging... Read More Back in 1964, there was an ultraconservative presidential candidate named Barry Goldwater. He was considered so far... Read More	196,789
The Federal Kivalina sits at anchor in the St. Lawrence Seaway. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation A Hong Kong-flagged freighter that lost its steering during transit of the St. Lawrence Seaway south of Hammond and sits at anchor near the Thousand Islands Bridge. The freighter Federal Kivalina, a 656-foot vessel, is anchored and is awaiting inspection and repair. There are no reported injuries to the crew and no reported pollution at this time, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. A 911 dispatcher notified the Coast Guard yesterday at about 2 p.m. that that a freighter was adrift in the channel. A response crew from Coast Guard Station Alexandria Bay was dispatched, along with members of the New York State Parks Police, New York State Police, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and inspectors from a Marine Safety Detachment at Massena and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. The captain of the vessel reported losing steering in the Seaway. The crew of the freighter dropped three anchors to slow its drift. The Coast Guard notified the New York State Bridge Authority of the situation, and the Thousand Island Bridge was shut down for about 10 minutes as a precaution while the vessel was still adrift. There are 22 crew members aboard the freighter. which is carrying 23,000 metric tons of canola seeds bound for Montreal. The crew will remain on board as long as the situation does not worsen, according to the Coast Guard.	89,760
Thomas John Rose University of Birmingham, Institute of Applied Health ResearchEngland - West Midlands Standards in the NHS are very high, unfortunately they are sometimes not all met. Standards are maintained through quality control. Good quality control provides quality assurance to clients. I have a view that a first step in a good quality control system is good process management. A first step in good process management is a clear understanding of your processes. I have another view that is that the best way to gain a clear understanding of your processes is to map them. To this end I have set myself the task of mapping all the processes used in the NHS and to identify best practice in each. The process maps, or visualizations as I call them, could be used, by hospitals, to reduce variation in the NHS. Whilst working in industry some years ago I was tasked with designing and implementing Quality Management systems to meet the International standard for quality management ISO9000, for four SMEs. One of these SMEs undertook the design of software so the TickIT requirements were included in the certification. Experience to date had shown that many such quality management systems consisted of a vast array and volume of printed documentation, often beyond the reach of the people actually doing the work, thus defeating the initial objective. My solution to overcome the documentation overload issue was, for every process, to create a simple process map to show what was done that in turn referenced written procedures that showed how it was done. The process maps and supporting procedures implemented all the requirements of the quality standard ISO9001. Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Ltd. certified all four SMEs as having met the required standard for quality management, and commended the pioneering approach taken. I then went on to further develop process mapping and procedure writing skills whilst undertaking research at Cranfield University in 2002. The 'process management approach' is gaining popularity in the UK and, in fact, the ISO9000-2015 standard, which must be implemented by September 2018 for certified organisations, has fully adopted this approach. Many organisations, like the NHS, still rely on too many written documents. Advances in 'digital technologies' have enabled a big step forward in the design, development and promulgation of the 'process management approach'. In the NHS quality improvers talk like academics, in industry quality improvers get on with it. Tom Rose May 2018 Q Exchange ideas It's important that everyone understands the meaning of the words being used when the conversation is about quality. Juran, in his Quality Handbook, even has two definitions for quality. Herein lies the problem. Which of the two quality definitions are we talking about when we talk about QI? To embed patient self management and an associated peer support facility into newly formed Neighbourhood Teams and existing GP practices in a large, mainly rural, county. There are around 40 professional engineering institutions in the UK many of which have health care related special interest groups amongst their members. Lets communicate with them! To explain and promulgate process management as a key requirement of continuous process improvement in the NHS. To demonstrate that performance is a key measure of quality. To design a methodology. Social Prescribing for young people is an exciting opportunity for development. The national focus has been very much on working with adults through primary or secondary care, with pre-existing health conditions. In Shropshire, a large rural county in the West Midlands we are looking at how we can support young people, 16-24 years who are potentially isolated, in particular those young people who have not progressed into higher education, who may be in low paid roles, or who are unemployed. A recent national loneliness report found 16-24 years at higher risk than other age groups, this was part of the Community Life Survey (CLS) 2016-17. Thomas Rose - Research Fellow, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham - shares his improvement journey from electrical engineering to the NHS, and invites new members to join the Process Visualisation SIG. Areas of interest - Exploring Adaptive Space – community of practice - Improvement Capability framework project - Mental health and persistent pain - Sustainable Healthcare - Radiotherapy Quality - Process Visualisation in the NHS - Q Lab – peer support group - Communities of Practice	223,761
Meng-Yu Chen, M.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues used data from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health to estimate the prevalence of heart conditions Purpose: The goal of the book, as stated in the preface, is to serve as a refresher on the basics of general medical conditions , providing the quick and useful information necessary to understand each condition , especially those that may not be seen every day. * a target section for permanent attachment to a landing area on another portion of the article, when the fastener is in the closed condition thereafter, a fastening section connected to the target section when the fastener is in conditions prior to the opened condition ; disconnected from the target section when fastener is converted from the closed condition to the opened condition , and attachable to and from the target section when the fastener is converted between the re-closed condition and the re-opened condition When a planning permission is granted, it is usually granted subject to conditions . These conditions can vary from the approval of further detail by the planning authority before development can commence, for example the materials to be used, or an ongoing condition such as a restriction on the way in which the development is used, such as the opening or operating hours. 1 : state of physical fitness or readiness for use <The car was in good condition When applied individually for a set of conditions , the separate condition-specific expenditure estimates, each expressed as a fraction of total expenditures, can add up to more than 100 percent and thus generally cannot be interpreted as shares. Anxious to submit her payment information and complete her purchase, Sally quickly clicks the "I agree" box without paying much attention to the terms and conditions displayed on her screen. This topic presents a conceptual discussion as to how General Systems Equilibrium conditions are predicated by the assumption that equilibrium conditions exist in macroeconomic-system models based upon a foundation of underlying micro-economic-system models. Governor Easley of North Carolina has made a sustained commitment to listening to educators and reforming schools to create the working conditions necessary for student and teacher success. Specifically, the note in Karns stated that the "annual payment shall be forgiven if" certain conditions To determine the optimal conditions of application of the coating for best wear resistance for each of the conditions tested, 12 to 16 castings were poured in two identical molds (Fig. In order to grant a variance, however, the owner must prove five conditions with each condition acting as a stepping stone to the next.	18,515
Mobile crushing station works on fluorite ore The mining machinery industry in China has grown under the aura of scientific and technological progress, and the crusher industry has also had a very good development. Swarmed by offers, Cradle Systems is currently assessing future choices. The gradually increasing size of the market and the increasing competition situation has created a breakthrough opportunity for the development of the mining machinery industry, and at the same time, boosts the green, energy-saving and emission reduction hydraulic cone crusher become an outstanding representative of the crusher industry.Mobile crushing station is the production line, which can move with the production sites. Mobile crushing station can’t realize automation production totally with the advantages of compact structure, strong adaptability; It can save a lot of manpower and resources. To know more about this subject visit Koch Industries. Mobile crushing station is the powerful production line to mine fluorite ore with high efficiency and precision. It is the best production line of fluorite mining ore. There are many cobras in a little hill, they all pace up and down around big stones, which causes the exploring mystery interests of local people. Under most conditions Solo Cups would agree. When the night fall, the big stones in this place in the light of blue shone, insects with phototoxic danced over the stones, the frogs jumped out to episite, then the cobras hided nearby were came out to prey on frogs. So, people called these stones as Snake eyes stones, later, the people understood that the snake eyes stones were fluorite Owers. Hongxing Mining Company adopts the stage-wet grinding magnetic separation process, it uses two to one grinding process with two one-stage ball mill one against one-stage ball mill. Grinding and wet magnetic separating the crude concentrate of 25% grade, finally we can Haz 66.00% grade iron ore concentrate. The cost is lower than 200 yuan per tonne. Beijing Science and Technology University is performing a process test of a certain ultra-poor magnetite. It is found that the crude Owers can discard 75.66% qualified gangue after the wet pre-selection. In this way, only one fourth of the Owers are going to enter the subsequent operation, which has greatly alleviated the follow-up operation load. Coarse grinding adopts the drum sieve and mill to construct the closed-circuit.	169,140
- Be informed - Get involved - Donate now - News & media When considering whether to approve the expansion of the Olympic Dam mine, authorities should weigh up the benefits and the costs. WHEN a company seeks approval to exploit our most significant natural resource – the world’s fourth-largest copper resource and largest uranium reserves – we ought to be sure there are benefits for Australia far beyond the life of the mine. BHP Billiton has outlined plans in an environmental impact statement to expand the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia. Submissions close tomorrow. It wants to make Olympic Dam the largest open-pit copper and uranium mine in the world with gold and silver as valuable byproducts. The Australian Conservation Foundation is opposed to the mining and export of uranium, but let us look purely at the economics of this project. Australians need to be sure this project – which exploits a major non-renewable resource – will bring benefits that overwhelm the risks and costs. In 40 years, when this project is complete, will Australia’s balance sheet be stronger? An examination of the EIS goes part of the way to showing the value of such a project to Australia. But it leaves out critical factors that prevent us from ascertaining whether this project is a good investment. The three major components that are poorly tackled in the EIS are government-funded infrastructure costs, subsidies and, most significantly, the impact of a carbon price. South Australia and the Northern Territory are expecting greater tax revenues from the project. But the measure of benefit is impossible to know. Estimates for required government spending – on items such as roads and ports – are either not there or are roughly estimated. An unsubstantiated figure of $100 million is used in the modelling for SA alone. In effect, BHP Billiton is set to privatise profits for at least 40 years while directing state government spending priorities, but without providing estimates of what these might cost, despite the explicit requirement in EIS guidelines. At $100 million, this surpasses the current stream of royalties from the mine. Another unreported cost comes in Australia's fuel-tax credits for industry. The company is set to get a subsidy of $350 million in the mine's five-year expansion phase through a diesel fuel rebate. It will continue to get an effective subsidy of $85 million a year to 2050. But most significant is the huge greenhouse gas emissions liability. By 2020, the mine will be responsible for up to 1.4 per cent of Australia's total emissions. This has significant repercussions. Expanding Olympic Dam will make it harder and more costly to achieve state and federal targets. International offsets for a 1 per cent increase in Australia's emissions could be worth more than $300 million in 2020. Costs can rapidly erode benefits. It’s time to reverse this scenario. Olympic Dam can create long-term benefits to Australia. BHP Billiton should be required to power its new mine with only renewable energy. It was involved in a consortium with WorleyParsons that proposed building 34 solar thermal plants in Australia by 2020. These plants use existing technology, including heat storage, producing power long after the sun has gone down. Olympic Dam is ideally located in a renewable energy hub of sun, wind and geothermal resources but this option has not been sufficiently assessed in the EIS. Such a sizeable investment in this emerging renewable energy industry has the potential to secure much greater benefits for Australia by seeding a 21st-century economy. Australia needs corporate and government leadership now before we are left behind with an excessive reliance on unrefined, low-value commodities. Simon O’Connor is the Australian Conservation Foundation’s economic adviser.	69,039
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Cases of eosinophilic meningitis caused by the rat lungworm parasite have risen sharply in Hawaii over the past 5 years. The parasite, a nematode (Angiostrongylus cantenosis), was carried from SE Asia to Hawaii by rats, which are the host. There is a possibility that there may be two species of the parasite in Hawaii. Angiostrongylus cantonensis has been identified in Hawaii, which causes human eosinophylic meningitis. Angiostongylus costaricensis has not yet been identified here but causes human abdominal angiostrongylisasis, affecting the digestive track and bowels. Many victims in Hawaii have had symptoms that suggest infection by Angiostongylus costaricensis. The parasite can be transferred to slugs, and snails in the 3rd larval stage; it has also been found in flatworms. Humans pick up the parasite by ingesting slugs/slug slime contaminated fruits /vegetables/water or raw or undercooked slugs, snails, mollusks, prawns and monitor lizards. Humans are a dead end host, the parasite will not develop to sexual maturity and may live for up to a year in the human body but will eventually die. While the parasite has been in Hawaii a long time, cases of illness have risen with the introduction and increase in the population of an invasive semi-slug (Parmarion martensi), which is native to SE Asia. Studies done in Hawaii in 2005 have shown 75.5% of semi-slugs collected on the Big Island to be infected with the parasite. To best protect yourself from getting the parasite be informed & proactive. There has been little research done in the U.S., most comes from South America and SE Asia. Extreme caution is your best protection. Most people we have asked do not know how they got it. It is mostly through ingestion of a slug or slug contaminated vegetables/fruits, however, one person who had a severe case of rat lung this winter believes she contracted it by stepping on a slug and another believes she got it from handling them. As no research yet disproves this, take extreme caution and wear shoes and gloves. Collecting slugs is a good way to keep numbers down, but use a tongs to pick them up and deposit them in a jar of 10% vinegar, bleach etc. They usually come out a few hours after dark and are numerous in the cooler wetter months. The semi slug seems to be less active in the summer hotter season but in early fall the tiny babies can be found and they too can carry the parasite. The semi slugs love the food that we and our pets eat. They can crawl up the sides of houses and get into homes. They can crawl into water systems where the slug will drown and release the parasites which can survive for up to 72 hours in water. Slugs will get into compost bins and trash cans, crawl under tarps, weed cloth, plastic, and plastic plant pots. They appear soon after food sources (including pet foods) become available. Slugs may leave parasites in their slime trails including on countertops, cooking /eating implements and even toothbrushes. A very small piece of a slug can contain as many as a thousand parasites. Developing slugs (neonates) carry the parasite as well; they are very small, approx. 2mm in length, and can be difficult to see. Animals can also get rat lungworm. A sloth at the Hilo Zoo got rat lungworm and became paralyzed in the hind legs. There have been reports of people’s cats and horses contacting it. To avoid ingestion of a slug or slug slime look closely (put on your glasses if you wear them) and thoroughly wash all vegetables and fruit under running water. Take more time with curly leafy vegetables, wash leaves individually. People advise soaking veggies in grapefruit seed extract, hydrogen peroxide, salt water, etc., but there has been no research done to show that any of these will kill the parasite. Avoid bringing slugs into your home with locally grown produce. Check pineapple tops or twist tops off just above the leaf base and leave outside. Flatworms prey on the semi-slug and it is suspected that they may carry even higher loads of parasites. They easily hide in leaves or tight heads of produce and their soft bodies fall apart into small pieces when handled or under water pressure. Cooking food will kill the parasite however the exact time/temperature has not been scientifically determined. Err on the side of caution. People in SE Asia do not eat raw vegetables or salads; cases there result from eating raw or undercooked snails. Do not eat salads or other raw food dishes if you are at a potluck or out for dinner at friends or a restaurant unless you know for a fact that the person /people preparing the dish know about rat lungworm and are careful about food preparation. Slugs can crawl onto food left uncovered at potlucks and picnics. KEEP FOOD COVERED! How do you know if you have rat lungworm and what do you do? We all need to know this, even guests visiting the island. What if you have been vacationing in Hawaii and get sick when you go home? Doctors on the mainland know even less about this than doctors in Hawaii. The number of cases of rat lungworm this past year has changed the medical protocol at Hilo Medical Center for early diagnosis and treatment. It is important that we all know symptoms of rat lungworm as early treatment is much more effective in preventing serious neurological damage. Diagnosis is usually done with a lumbar puncture and collection of cerebral spinal fluid, which is examined to determine if eosinophils (a specific type of immune cell) are present. There is also a blood test that has been developed which shows antigens the body develops to combat the parasite, however the antigens will not be present in the blood until 3 or more weeks after infection. Symptoms are flu-like and usually start with a headache, most often severe, and stiffness in the neck. There may be fever, joint pain, fatigue and nausea. The skin may feel itchy, like something crawling under it, and then become extremely sensitive to touch. There are reports of people who years after having had rat lung cannot wear shirts or long pants because their skin is still so sensitive. There are victims who take daily doses of morphine to help them endure the nerve pain they still experience 2 and 3 years later. The inability to urinate, called Elsberg Syndrome, has been reported in other cases of rat lungworm. Rat lung victims may also experience hallucinations, disorientation, vision problems and visual impairment. Complete paralysis may set in. Short-term memory loss seems to be common in serious cases. Hawai'i and US mainland medical centers have very little or no experience with rat lungworm, and scientific and medical research is sorely lacking. Medical treatment in Hawaii is currently based on that used in China, Thailand and Taiwan for rat lungworm victims. If a person is hospitalized, steroids and possibly anti-parasite medication will be administered. The steroids dampen the body’s immune system response, which goes into overdrive attacking the parasite. Inflammation in the brain (meningitis) becomes the major concern, spinal taps may be used to reduce pressure in the brain/spinal column and the patient will be put on pain medication. Whether to give the patient anti-parasitic medications will be carefully weighed, as they can cause a die off of parasites and create even more inflammation. If a person is hospitalized, steroids, pain medication and possibly anti-parasite medication may be administered. The steroids decrease inflammation caused by the body’s overactive immune system response, to the parasite. Inflammation in the brain (meningitis) becomes the major concern. Spinal taps may be used to reduce pressure in the brain/spinal column. Whether to give the patient anti-parasitic medications will be carefully weighed, as some medications can cause a die off of parasites which can create a greater inflammation reaction. Doctors and medical centers on the Big Island are beginning to recognize the problem due to the number of recent cases. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential. As the rainy season begins, slugs will begin to emerge and the potential for infection will become greater. Personal diligence is key to prevention until science can provide us with more knowledgeable information. Rat lungworm affects everyone living in Hawaii, whether you buy your vegetables in Costco or at the local market. The problem is not with home gardens or locally grown food, it lies with invasive species finding their way to Hawai’i, such as rats, the primary carrier, snails and slugs that carry high loads of the parasite and whose populations are increasing and spreading on the islands. It would be wise for scientists to determine if mongooses also carry the parasite, as they are quite similar to rats.	63,375
Establishing the Society of Black Archaeologists The field of African American historical archaeology witnessed a boom in social and political consciousness… This year the Gender and Minority Affairs Committee (GMAC) is hosting its first annual Diversity Field School Competition. In an effort to continue making the field of historical archaeology more inclusive of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, and socio-economic background, the competition will recognize those who have shown a commitment to increasing diversity in the field and encourage further discussion of the topic. Applicants are required to submit a short essay on diversity, a summary of their field school, and some form of multimedia (photo, pamphlet, video clip, etc.) that highlights diversity in their field school. All awardees will be acknowledged at the 47th Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology and recognized on the SHA website, while the first place winner will receive special commendation. GMAC encourages submissions from all SHA members and conference attendees. The Application Form is available online and completed applications—as well as additional questions—may be directed to GMACdiversityfieldschool@gmail.com. For more information, please refer to the Submission guidelines. Toward A More Diverse SHA The idea for the Diversity Field School Competition developed out of a series of larger discussions within the SHA about viable ways to increase diversity within the organization. At the 2011 SHA conference, GMAC members determined that increasing diversity was an important step toward social justice and helping the SHA reflect the diverse communities historical archaeologists serve. These calls for greater diversity were reinforced by subsequent GMAC panels and initiatives such as the GMAC Student Travel Award and diversity training for SHA board members. Earlier this year current SHA president, Paul Mullins, announced his commitment to “make diversity an increasingly articulate part of the SHA mission and our collective scholarly practice.” Additionally archaeologists abroad are discussing the issue of diversity, particularly after the recent release of the Archaeology Labour Market Intelligence: Profiling the Profession 2012-2013 report which identified 99% of archaeologists working in the UK as white. As a result we hope this competition helps to not only recognize those who have shown a commitment to diversity, but also open dialogue about ways to increase the presence of archaeologists from the many underrepresented groups. We encourage you to also visit the SHA Events website for more information about other SHA competitions, events, and workshops. Hope to see you all in Quebec! Interested in becoming a part of the conversation? Let us know how archaeologists can work together to increase diversity in the field, and please consider joining or volunteering for the GMAC.	143,164
Zeolites: A group of naturally occurring, hydrous aluminosilicate minerals with a unique porous crystal structure. Economically mineable deposits of these minerals primarily form through the alternation of volcanic ash in desert lake systems. Due to their unique porous crystal structure, Zeolites are capable of absorbing large amounts of water and other substances. This occurs mainly in the interior of the mineral crystals, not on the surface. On the molecular level, holes and channels in the structure account for this phenomenon. The channel size, specific for each mineral species, controls what can enter the crystal. For this reason, Zeolites are commonly referred to as “molecular sieves”. Certain cations in the crystal structure are exchangeable. Depending on concentration and other characteristics, cations in solution may exchange for the sodium, potassium, and calcium which naturally occur in the mineral. In general, Zeolites prefer, or are selective for, larger cations such as metals, ammonia, radionuclides and a variety of organic molecules. This makes natural Zeolites useful for many applications such as water treatment and agriculture. In agriculture, natural Zeolites give excellent performance as a soil amendment, and improve the utilization of nutrients and water. Clinoptilolite, a specific zeolite mineral, increases the feed efficiency for many animals. As an absorbent material, Zeolites have been used for solidification of hazardous wastes and cleaning up other pollutants. It also works well as an oil and grease absorbent and as an odor absorber for animal bedding. Zeolites can provide the raw material for ceramics, paper, and other products as functional filler. They also have fire-retardant properties. Their thermal absorption characteristics also allow their use in solar-powered heating and cooling systems. Gas absorption and catalytic properties may allow the use of natural Zeolites for dealing with many airborne pollutants. They can absorb many oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. Zeolites can also absorb moisture from air, giving excellent performance as a desiccant for many applications. With research and use, continual discovery of new uses occurs. Many remain in the research and development stage, but are coming into wider use as Zeolites prove their effectiveness. - Animal Feed - Odor Control - Adsorbing Various Radionuclides and Other Contaminants - Adsorbing Heavy Metals and Ammonia - Carrier for Fungicide - Carrier for Water Filtration	173,374
By Richard Hoshino Follow Bethany, a small town Nova Scotian girl, as she overcomes many challenges on her road to success at the International Math Olympiad. The most common question students ask math teachers at every level is “When will I use math?” WeUseMath.org aims to help to answer this question. This website describes the importance of mathematics and many rewarding career opportunities available to students who study mathematics. This Is Statistics showcases the diversity of careers which involve statistics, and has pages specifically for students, parents, and educator. The site includes videos, career profiles, and much more! This website features articles and information about careers in mathematics for students of all levels. The site includes career profiles, and fun activities that involve mathematics. In addition, there is a page of resources for teachers. Nova Scotia Math Circles is dedicated to enriching the experiences of Nova Scotia student in all areas of mathematics. They aim to foster enthusiasm for math through interactive, creative, and meaningful presentations. Math Circles hosts monthly events at Dalhousie University for senior high and advanced junior high students, and will visit schools ( of all grade levels) across the province for free. Horse Lover’s Math is a website that brings children, horses, and math together. The website is for students ages 8 and up, and follows the math curriculum guidelines for grades 4 to 6. This is a collaboration between Khan Academy and Pixar that gives us fun videos on how physics and math concepts are used in creating animations. The website offers behind the scene videos, and tutorials on animation. From technology to nature, learn more about how a career in mathematics helps build the world around you! This video was created by WISEatlantic in partnership with Techsploration.	162,145
Please, you might want to warn your customers that they and their neighbors, could be BURIED in ivy within a few years of planting one clump. In a few more years, nearby and distant woodlands, other wild spaces and yards, may have lost many native and ornamental plants to the unstoppable spread of English ivy. Up and down the Pacific Coast, and in some states in the southeast, English Ivy is very invasive. It has taken over my back yard and I'm fighting to keep it from choking out mature pine trees. I had to clear out access to my back faucet recently, along a little sidewalk, and I yanked and threw away a half-cubic-yard of ivy without even making much of a dent in the area over-run by it. Where I work, English Ivy just rolled right over every other plant, stomping them flat and choking them out. It spreads like kudzu does in the South. Maybe English Ivy is "no problem" in the other 40 states, I don't know. But if I were selling kudzu, even very inexpensively, I would say this in large print: "INVASIVE in many regions". I hope I'm not TOO pushy in bringing this up. I know that some things are horribly invasive thugs in one region, but well-behaved or even hard to grow in other regions. This site seems to say that 10 states have listed English Ivy as invasive: " English ivy can invade woodlands, fields and other upland areas and is spread by runners. Seeds can also be spread by birds. It can grow both along the ground, where it can displace native understory species, and in the tree canopy, often covering branches and slowly killing trees." This site says that: "English ivy has been reported to be invasive in natural areas in 18 states and the District of Columbia. " "On the ground, English ivy forms dense and extensive monocultures that exclude native plants. English ivy also serves as a reservoir for Bacterial Leaf Scorch (Xylella fastidiosa), a plant pathogen that is harmful to elms, oaks, maples and other native plants. " "NOTE: The leaves and berries of English ivy contain the glycoside hederin which could cause toxicosis if ingested. Symptoms include gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, hyperactivity, breathing difficulty, coma, fever, polydipsia, dilated pupils, muscular weakness, and lack of coordination. This feature also helps ensure effective seed dispersal by birds." I admit, I never saw any people or pets stumbling around in a feverish, hyperactive coma after a close encounter with ivy. People here are too busy cursing it to eat much of it! I can tell from our plant database (47 named cultivars) that gardeners SOMEWHERE must like it and plant it deliberately.	77,896
Dori Tempio from ABLE SC provided training in Emergency Preparedness to our IMPACT in SC group February 13, 2020. The training was designed to help people with disabilities learn how to plan for an emergency. Participants were given an emergency kit and radio to provide them with essential supplies needed in case of a natural disaster. There were roughly 20 or more in attendance onsite, and another 10 who participated by phone. This is Margaret. Margaret is a student in the IMPACT Leadership Training in Anderson. This is what she had to say about the training: “The class has done so much for me. I really enjoyed getting to know everyone, and learning to be a better leader. I now know that we all have a voice to get the attention of others by speaking softly but passionately.”	155,847
Ethos' retirement planning checklist guides you through preparation for this exciting chapter, so you can feel confident — and as fully prepared as possible — entering the Golden Years of life. The first step on your retirement checklist should be taking an honest assessment of the state of your finances. Knowing your net worth is a critical first step and easy to determine. Your net worth is simply a calculation of what you own minus what you owe.\ \ First, add up all your assets, including cash, savings, retirement accounts, real estate holdings, investments, and vehicles. Then figure out what you owe, including a mortgage, loan payments, student loans, and credit card debt. If, after calculations, your net worth picture doesn't exactly reflect the financial shape you'd like to be in when you retire, it's the perfect time to establish some new goals —such as paying off all credit cards or other debt within a specific timeframe. Your 35 highest-earning years determine your typical social security benefit amount. You can begin receiving a social security benefit at age 62, although it's reduced significantly. When you turn 66, you're eligible to receive 100% of your social security benefit. If you wait until age 67 to draw social security benefits, then you'll receive an 8% increase. If you wait until age 70, you'll be eligible for a 32% increase above your original benefit. Your social security benefit could be a significant portion of your monthly income, so understanding this number is a crucial financial factor. As you evaluate your current financial state and prepare for your future one, ask yourself what kind of lifestyle you want for your retirement. This includes the daily activities you want to participate in, such as exercising, traveling, or volunteering, and it also means choosing where you want to live. Your lifestyle could include moving to a new area of the country to fulfill a lifelong dream or being closer to your family. Whether you're planning to travel or pay for a move, narrowing in on the lifestyle you want is a crucial step in planning ways to save for retirement. Creating a monthly budget for retirement is another key step on the retirement checklist. Here, you'll list out your expected expenses, ranging from healthcare and housing to groceries and gas. It's essential to have a realistic view of how much money you have coming in and out as you're planning. Expenses fall into a few categories, including fixed and variable. Your fixed expenses are the ones you know won't likely fluctuate and are due at the same time each month. Examples of fixed expenses are housing and insurance premiums. Your variable expenses are harder to predict since they fluctuate in amounts and timing. But identifying both of these types of variables before you retire will set you up for retirement planning success. When you're preparing your retirement planning checklist, it also needs to include healthcare. This involves two phases. The first phase falls under the "What do I need to do before I retire" timeframe and involves getting up-to-date on all your health checkups, including dental and vision. Take advantage of every benefit of your company's health insurance plan while you can, and focus on setting up as many years of good health as possible. Enrolling in Medicare is the second phase when you're factoring in healthcare. Your eligibility for Medicare starts at age 65. As you're planning for Medicare, keep in mind that it doesn't cover all costs, such as prescriptions. If you want additional coverage, you'll need to make plans in your budget for supplemental insurance. A financial advisor is a great resource, even if you've never worked with one prior to retirement. Not only can they answer questions regarding investments and budgeting, but they can also help you determine the best timeframe for withdrawals. A financial planner can guide you through withdrawing money from your 401(k), Roth and Traditional IRAs, and other investment options. When your children are grown and you're approaching retirement age, it's a prime time to re-evaluate your life insurance needs. Most employers offer some amount of life insurance coverage, but you'll lose this benefit when you retire. There may be expenses you'd like to ensure are covered for your loved ones. After you establish your financial goals and determine what you want your life insurance policy to cover — all while keeping your retirement budget in mind — you can calculate how much coverage you need. Get a quote now for life insurance online with Ethos. The information and content provided herein is for informational purposes only, and it is not to be considered legal, tax, investment, or financial advice, recommendation, or endorsement. You should consult with an attorney or other professional to determine what may be best for your individual needs.	75,580
History is showing its face along the Minnesota River, thanks to the driest fall on record in the Twin Cities. The river is so low that it's exposing large sandstone ledges and rapids for the first time in many years at a couple of spots between the cities of Carver and Jordan. The "Little Rapids," also known as "Carver Rapids," are rich in history and one of the main reasons why the riverfront towns of Chaska and Carver were founded in the 1850s. Jerrod Larson, who runs and hikes in the Louisville Swamp area in Scott County, said the massive outcroppings of rock in the Minnesota are impressive. The more dramatic stretch of rapids requires a 3-mile hike to view, he said, but another set is easier to access. "A lot of the rest of the season, the river's too high or it's swamped out," Larson said. The rapids are more than just landmarks. They are an enduring but largely forgotten part of history in what is now the southwest metro area. "In the early years, rivers were the only roads, and steamboats couldn't pass much beyond Carver because of the rapids there," said John von Walter, vice chairman of the Carver Heritage Preservation Commission. Passengers and merchandise heading upriver from St. Paul to New Ulm and Mankato had to stop at the rapids and transfer to smaller boats, he said, or continue their journeys by horse, stagecoach or oxcart. The rapids and huge exposed sandstone bars are covered with water during most years and are sometimes barely visible for only short periods. Larson and others said this fall is different, with rocks or rapids showing nearly all the way across the river. The two stretches of rapids are about one-quarter of a mile apart at a bend in the river. At one location, the river falls about 2 feet, and at the other it drops a foot. The upper rapids are reached through trails in the Louisville Swamp Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The smaller rapids can be seen from the Carver side of the river by taking a short hike near the refuge's Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center. "It's a nice, peaceful area away from traffic," park ranger Leanne Langeberg said. "There are no houses in view, so you feel like you're almost in a wilderness situation." Von Walter said that the rapids were a busy trading center in the mid-1800s, and prehistoric people lived along the rapids intermittently for thousands of years before that. "Last time the river was this low, my neighbor and his daughter were canoeing at the rapids and he found a stone spear point sitting right on top of the rocks," von Walter said. "I think they pegged that at 8,000 to 10,000 years old." In the early 1800s, a Wahpeton Dakota village with about 325 people was thriving near the upper rapids, and early European settlers established a fur trading post nearby in 1802. The late University of Minnesota archaeologist Janet Spector wrote a book about the village's 1830s culture, "What This Awl Means." When steamboats began cruising the river in the 1850s, they could go no farther than the rapids during summer periods of shallow water. To accommodate the trade, settlers built a town called San Francisco on the Carver side of the river across from the Dakota village. "The town was of use only when water was low and the steamboats had to stop, so it wasn't a commercial success," said Paul Maravelas, former director of the Carver County Historical Society. While the flat area between the river and its bluffs seemed like a perfect place for a town, he said, pioneers learned the hard way about the river's seasonal power. "There was a big flood in 1863, and it pretty much carried everything away," he said. Tom Meersman • 612-673-7388	220,397
Warren County Local History by Dallas Bogan \|Dallas Bogan on 30 August 2004\| \|original article by Dallas Bogan\| \|Return to Index to see a list of other articles by Dallas Bogan\| This week we shall examine the mannerisms and traits of the Native Americans of Ohio. In an address to the Franklinton Centennial by Col. E.L. Taylor, dated September 15, 1897, the Colonel goes into great detail regarding the Ohio Indians. We shall now take from this source. Ohio was an excellent location for the American Indian. With an ideal climate, the streams plentiful with fish and the forests overflowing with game, the scene was set for habitation. The red deer, the buffalo and elk were found in considerable numbers in certain areas of the State. With these animal resources available, food was furnished for the Indians along with hides that provided covering for their quarters and clothing for their community. Wild fowl was also found in abundance on the waters at certain seasons of the year. The livelihood of the tribes depended on all these gifts of nature. All Ohio tribes had essentially the same government or tribal organization. However, they may have differed in many particulars. The social organization of the Wyandotte consisted of four groups: the family, the gens, the phratry, and the tribe. 1. The family was the household and consisted of the persons who occupied one lodge or wigwam. 2. The gens were composed of consanguineous (having the same ancestor or related by blood) kindred in the female line. The woman was the head of the family and "carried the gens," each gens having the name of some animal. The Wyandottes were composed of eleven gentes, namely: Deer, Bear, Striped Turtle, Black Turtle, Mud Turtle, Smooth Large Turtle, Hawk, Beaver, Wolf, Sea Snake and Porcupine. 3. The phratry applied to medical and religious rites and ceremonies. 4. A tribe was a body of kindred and it was deemed necessary, in order to become a member of the tribe, to belong to or to be adopted into a family. Many white captives were often embraced into families and given the kinship. Military and social governments were virtually separated. A council of women chose the councils and chiefs in the social government from the male members of the gens. The chiefs of the gentes selected the Sachem, or tribal chief. Heads of the households and all the leading men of the tribe took part in their grand councils, from which great ceremonies were conducted. A council was called for by the Sachem and assembled with the purpose that each person was at liberty to express his own opinion as to what was reasonable or best to be done. If the majority of the tribe agreed that the Sachem should not speak, then his general function was only an announcement of the decision. If an equal portion of sentiment was divided, the Sachem was expected to speak. Once a tribe member had stated his opinion, a reversal meant dishonor. Avenging wrongs and in times of war was reserved to all male members of each gens. They also had a right as hunters in supplying game to the villages. When in times of need and destitution all game was brought to the camp or village and fairly divided amongst all tribe members. The military council was reserved for all able-bodied men of the tribe. Separate property was held by the wife, which consisted of everything in the lodge or wigwam except the implements of war and the chase, which belonged exclusively to the men. Women of each gens were required to be tillers of the soil. It was beneath the dignity of the hunter or warrior to toil in the fields, or to engage in manual labor other than in battle or the hunt. Children were required to assist the women in tending the crops, which mainly consisted of corn; also cultivated were beans and peas. And in some parts of Ohio, the Indian had a variety of potato that the white captives say, "When peeled and dipped in coon's fat or bear's fat tasted like our own sweet potatoes." Nuts and berries were beneficial, particularly the walnut, hickory nut and black haw, all of which were found in most parts of the State. The Indian's dominant annual event was the green corn festival. For this occasion the hunters supplied the forest game, while the women furnished the corn and vegetables from the fields. They not only filled themselves but paid homage to the Great Spirit for his blessings. Each year during this festival the council of women of the gens selected the names of the children born during the previous year, and the chiefs of the gens announced their names at the festival. These names were permanent, but an additional name could be earned by some act of bravery or occurrence. The Ohio tribes customarily recognized and punished crimes such as murder, treason, theft, adultery and witchcraft. If the case was murder it was the duty of the gentile chiefs of the culprit's gens to investigate the facts for themselves, and if they failed to settle the matter, it was then the duty of the nearest relative to avenge the wrong. Theft was punished by twofold compensation. Treasonous undertakings consisted of revealing the secrets of medicinal ingredients as well as giving information or support to the enemy, and were punishable by death. Witchcraft was also sentence by death, either by stabbing, burning or with the tomahawk. A woman convicted of adultery experienced her hair being cropped, for repeated offenses her left ear was cut off. When anticipating a war, the Indians usually executed their war dance and then proceeded to their objective point. Rather than move in a large group, each party broke up into small bands and would take a different route to a point of gathering. Reasoning for this was they had to secure for themselves a supply of game, which would be consumed while in battle. It was next to impossible to acquire sufficient game to maintain a large number of warriors. The warrior's strike would be swift and unexpected against their enemy, subsistence being one of the principle guideline. Some white captives adopted the ways of the Indian, they acquiring the woodcraft and habits of their captors. Many became established and active foes of the white man. Simon Girty, called the "White Indian," was considered of this class. In his cunning and craftiness, no Indian eclipsed him of these qualities. Summer seasons found the Indians assembled in their villages. This was the season of war with the white man. During the winter season the villages were practically deserted, as it was their general custom to separate into small parties and live with their relatives, including the old men, women and children. Temporary home sites were usually selected along a stream of water, or by the side of a lake or spring. Here they would erect a place of encampment where the old men, women and children might endure for the winter. The assigned hunters would then separate and travel in different directions and choose a place or camp from which to hunt and trap, always keeping a safe distance so as not to interfere with each other. They would stay in contact with the main camp to which they supplied meat for survival. Changes in the campsites were according to their necessities. At the end of the season they would gather the results of their winter's hunt, if at all successful, and proceed back to the village. Collecting the fat of the beaver, the raccoon and the bear was customary. This ingredient was then secured into the entrails (inner organs of animals) of large animals that the women had prepared for that purpose, and was carried to their villages for future use. Sugar was made in the spring of the year when the sap began to run, and this was also put into the entrails of animals for preservation. This sugar was mixed with the fat of the bear and that of other animals and cooked with green corn and other vegetables. The Indians were often in need of food and many frequently died from hunger and exposure. They had no means of acquiring large hordes of food for future use, and never secured any recourse for doing so. When plentiful, the food would be used with extravagance, but it was not uncommon for the Indian to go days without food of any kind, and, they never seemingly profited from these experiences. Winter was the worst time. They often saved themselves from starvation by digging hickory nuts, walnuts, and other nuts, out from under the snow. The Native American was a survivor. He endured for thousands of years before the white man ever appeared on this continent. His pattern of life, primitive as it was, was secured around a never-ending love for the land and its natural treasures. NOTICE: All documents and electronic images placed on the Warren County OHGenWeb site remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. These documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the submitter, or their legal representative, and contact the listed Warren County OHGenWeb coordinator with proof of this consent. This page created 30 August 2004 and last updated 28 September, 2008 © 2004 Arne H Trelvik All rights reserved	53,899
On a 4 to 1 vote, commissioners in Sedgwick County, Kansas have approved a resolution to allow concealed carry in most, though not all, county government buildings. “The people have the right to keep and bear arms and we shouldn’t arbitrarily infringe upon that right,” Commissioner Richard Ranzau said during deliberations, as reported by KSN Television. Some county officials, though, argued against the change, including District Attorney Nola Foulston. “This is a public safety issue, and one that could cause tragedy,” Foulston said. “Any statement that alleges public safety will be jeopardized and an environment of fear will be created as a result of this resolution is not based on reality nor is it supported by the facts,” Ranzau said. Under the new regulations, “The buildings that will allow [concealed carry]…include 10 fire stations, the historic courthouse, and four county tag offices, but not the main courthouse.” Source: KSN Television 9/1/11 Recommended Concealed Carry Resources Effective Handgun Defense, A Comprehensive Guide to Concealed Carry Find more resources at gundigeststore.com/tactical	102,500
With another $10 billion in IPO deals expected to be completed by the end of this year, the total amount raised worldwide for all of 2010 will approach $145 billion. With $76 billion raised - including $22.1 billion from Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., alone - China topped the field by raising the most money of any single country. No U.S. company raised more than $700 million. This says a lot about the respective outlooks for the two countries' economies. And it also tells us a great deal about how we should be investing our money. Let me explain. This disparity in dealmaking is certainly a dramatic one, but the chasm wasn't created overnight. Indeed, the latest data from Bloomberg News shows us that the Asian region's share of global initial public offerings has increased 600% from 1999, when it represented a mere 12% of the world's IPO market. U.S. IPOs have dropped 75% to an all time record low of 11% during that same period, according to Bloomberg. This despite the fact that investors in Asia are willing to pay an average of 24 times earnings or roughly twice what they would pay for comparable U.S. equities. I can't say I'm surprised and you shouldn't be either. Asian companies are expected to grow five times as fast - or more - than their newly minted U.S. counterparts. Bloomberg reports that Hong Kong's AIA Group Ltd. and Coal India Ltd. raised almost the same amount this month as all U.S. deals have this year. That's why this disproportionate relationship is only going to become more lopsided as time goes on. According to various reports, Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industry Group Co., Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd. and QR National Ltd. are just three of the many companies reportedly preparing to sell more than $10 billions' worth of shares beginning this month. This is on top of the $134 billion already raised in 2010. Six other China companies have already raised at least $1 billion each this year while Chinese IPOs have attracted some $76 billion all by themselves, paced by the Agricultural Bank of China's $22.1 billion IPO, the largest stock-offering on record. This shift in capital to Asian markets is about growth in its rawest form. It's simply "what the market needs and wants," according to Jeff Urbina of William Blair, a Chicago-based firm managing more than $41 billion. A look at the data will tell you very quickly why investors "need and want" to invest in Asia. Just consider that: - Six of the Top 10 IPOs this year are companies from India and China. - IPOs from India could exceed $8.5 billion this year, exceeding the $8.2 billion record set in 2007. - Asian companies completing IPOs in 2010 have increased revenue by 31% this year, a top-line growth rate that's four times faster than the average for India-based firms and a full nine times faster than the growth rates of U.S. companies. - IMF data shows the U.S. economy declining to a mere 2.3% growth rate this year, while China remains on track to post growth of nearly 10%. As a whole, Asian economies, including China, are expected to advance at a 6.6% pace. - The U.S. Standard & Poor's 500 Index has risen a mere 7% so far this year. At the same time, Asian IPOs have risen an average of 36%. Some, like China's JinkoSolar Holding Co. (NYSE: JKS), which gained 155%, have actually climbed a lot more. And it's not just Asian companies listing on Asian exchanges. U.S., European and South American companies are headed that way, too. I have heard unconfirmed reports that blue-chip companies are evaluating listings on China's Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. Other companies, such as the London Stock Exchange Group PLC (OTCPK:LDNXF), Seaspan Corp. (NYSE: SSW), HSBC Holdings PLC (NYSE ADR: HBC), and even NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) have already publicly stated they intend to list there. Given the interest and activity, two key questions must be answered: - First, is there a hidden wildcard here that might mean that something other than Asia's promise is driving the intense interest that's creating this dramatic disparity between the U.S. and Asian IPO markets? - And, second, is the Asian IPO market yet another financial bubble in the making? My take is that we're seeing our own zero-interest-rate policies here drive capital there and the reason is really quite logical. Because the United States and Japan are both now maintaining what are essentially "zero-interest-rate" policies, the investors who have traditionally viewed these two markets as safe havens or refuges from risk are now sending their capital into other markets around the world. These investors are willing to brave the higher presumed risks of other markets in return for a better return on their money. That does a lot to explain why that money is flowing into Asian IPO deals at such a dramatic rate. By keeping interest rates down so long, our government is actually driving capital out of our markets and into the hands of our global competitors - effectively blunting the economic recovery. But is all that "easy money" creating a "bubble" in Asia? Zero interest rates aside, there's no question valuations are out of line when measured against much more conservative U.S. and European standards. Paying an average of 24 to 28 times earnings seems patently silly when our markets suggest that single-digit valuations represent the best investment opportunities. If you take a deeper look, however, that silly feeling disappears pretty quickly. Those market valuations do seem out of whack when measured against the backdrop of a problem-plagued and far-more mature economy such as the United States. That really shifts your frame of reference. Or, at least, it should. Asian markets are radically different than their U.S. counterparts, which is why, when faced with growth rates that are literally five to 10 times higher than our own, I'm okay with that and you should be, too, at least in measured doses. The bottom line is that Asian markets are where the growth is and will be which is why the amount of capital headed that direction is accelerating. Make sure you don't miss it: If you don't get in on the ground floor now, chances are you'll have to risk a climb through an upstairs window later. - Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund (NYSE: CAF): Recent Price: $31.07 - This closed-end fund invests in China "A" Shares listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen. As such, it's one of the few ways individual investors can participate directly inside China's rapidly growing domestic market. - iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index (NYSE: EWH): This U.S.-listed ETF tracks the broader Hong Kong markets and all publicly traded securities there. While there's no doubt you'll sweep up the trash, odds are good you'll also collect a few diamonds as newly listed IPOs flock to the markets there. Disclaimer: Money Morning and Stansberry & Associates Investment Research are separate companies, and entirely distinct. Their only common thread is a shared parent company, Agora Inc. Agora Inc. was named in the suit by the SEC and was exonerated by the court, and thus dropped from the case. Stansberry & Associates was found civilly liable for a matter that dealt with one writer’s report on a company. The action was not a criminal matter. The case is still on appeal, and no final decision has been made.	47,445
What is cross-platform analytics? If your project works on different platforms (say, on iOS, Android and web), and it is important to synchronize the user/player progress regardless of the platform, then you have the cross-platform project. And devtodev can provide you with the set of analytic reports designed specially for cross-platform projects. Cross-platform projects are very popular in every genre: games (Hearthstone, Minecraft etc.), social networks (Instagram, Facebook etc.), services (Booking, Uber) and so on. How can I integrate the cross-platform project to devtodev? Cross-platform project consists of different applications working on different platforms but the user progress is synchronized between all these applications. To integrate your project to the cross-platform analytics you need first to integrate the SDK to every application of the cross-platform project. Attention! The version of SDK should be not earlier than - iOS 1.6 - Android 1.6 - Windows Phone 1.2 - Web 1.2 If the application you integrate SDK in is a part of cross-platform project, then the user data initialization is required. Since the analytics of cross-platform projects is based on an unique user (unlike the usual projects where it is based on device identifiers), you have to: - Set the unique cross-platform user identifier (it will be used for cross-platform project data collection). - Actualize the user data. Mostly it is about game applications where the player has a game level as a characteristic. For such projects we recommend you to set the current player level. If your cross-platform application supposes to be used without cross-platform authorization, don't use the setUserID method or use the empty string ("") as the user identifier . SDK will assign the unique identifier to user. This identifier will we used until the real cross-platform identifier assigns to the user. There are some terms you need to observe before creating the cross-platform project in devtodev interface: - You need to integrate at least 2 different SDKs for different applications (which are the parts of cross-platform project). - SDK versions should support the cross-platform functionality (see the versions of SDK above). - Your SDKs should work not in test mode. - The cross-platform project should not be the part of some other cross-platform projects. If your project meets all the requirements, you can add the cross-platform project to devtodev. The algorithm is the following: - Check that all the applications are ready to be added. - Press the "Add new app" and select the "Cross-platform project" element on the right. - After the system check all the application SDKs, you can add the applications to the cross-platform projects. - Please double check the applications added, otherwise it can influence negatively on the accuracy of reports. - Set the name of cross-platform project and upload the picture for it (optionally). - Press "Finish" to confirm the creation of cross-platform project. - Now you can see the cross-platform project and its applications in "My Apps". Where can I find the cross-platform reports? Press "My Apps" and find the cross-platform project you need to analyze. Here you can see the same reports as in Daily Trends report for single platform projects, but there are some useful cross-platform novelties: - Gross is divided by single platform and multi-platform users. - Gross is also divided by platforms. Usage & Monetization - You can see all the metric values not only for the whole set of users but also for single platform and multi-platform users (the users who use more than one platform). To do this, press the "All users" button above the report and select the segment you need. - You can separate registered users from non-registered ones. It is useful for those services which are possible to use without registration. Find the lower part of report and select the "Registration" worksheet. - You can separate single platform users from multi-platform ones. Find the lower part of report and select the "Cross-activity" worksheet. - You can separate the users by platform. Find the lower part of report and select the "Platform" worksheet. Please note that Usage & Monetization reports start working one day after creation the cross-platform project. If you want to check it earlier, you will see the error message.	44,706
Support During Labor I really enjoy treating infants and children. One of my favorite things is to be the attending homeopath at the birth of a new baby. Homeopathy can help labor go more smoothly, without the need for medical intervention. Care During Pregnancy and New Motherhood Homeopathy is one of the few safe and effective medicines that a pregnant or nursing mother can take to help with any bothersome symptoms of pregnancy and new motherhood. When the mother has had constitutional treatment before or during her pregnancy, she often experiences a much easier and quicker birth. It is also completely safe to give remedies to newborns and very young children. Some of the issues that can be treated relatively simply are the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, breast infections, insomnia, colic, eczema, etc. Also, if the mother has chronic issues that are more problematic while she’s pregnant, homeopathy is safe to use, with the help of a qualified homeopath, to heal her symptoms so she can concentrate on being the healthiest she can be for herself and her baby.	149,016
A customer stopped by the boat store last week to ask about a project he was contemplating. He had been given an old Glastron outboard hull and was thinking about restoring it. One thing led to another and he mentioned that water was leaking from several holes in the transom. While we have talked about replacing decks and repairing fiberglass damage, replacing a transom hasn’t been covered here before. So here goes… Most production boat hulls are made in a female mold. The gel coat is sprayed into the mold and then the fiberglass laminate is added. Certain areas of the hull need extra reinforcement and the transom is one of the main ones. After the initial layers of gel coat and fiberglass cloth are in the mold, the transom reinforcement is put in place. This most often consists of one or more layers of plywood, cut to shape and bonded in place with resin. After the plywood is in place additional layers of fiberglass and resin are applied. This layer is what you can see inside the boat. As long as there are no places for water to reach the plywood, things are fine. But, it the case of an Inboard/Outboard installation, a big hole is cut through the transom. In other cases, holes are drilled to mount swim ladders, transducers or other accessories. When the sealant fails around these holes, water begins to leak into the plywood core. After a while, the plywood begins to rot and delaminate. Long term the plywood in the transom looses strength and becomes very flexible, allowing the gelcoat and fiberglass to crack. While it is a pretty complicated job, replacing the transom core isn’t impossible. The first step in replacing the transom core is being able to get to it. This means removing all the internal structure, seats, and tanks, etc. so you can work on the transom. If the boat is an I/O, that means removing the engine. This is also a great time to look at the state of the decks and possibly replace them too. Once you can get to the transom from the inside, it is time to cut away that inside layer of fiberglass. This needs to be done in a way that doesn’t stress or crack the exterior fiberglass layers and gel coat. An angle grinder with a cut-off blade works well. If the plywood is in bad shape, the fiberglass will probably be easy to peel off. Other wise, judicious use of pry bars may be necessary. Once the inside layer of fiberglass has been removed the plywood core can then be taken out. While much of the plywood will be wet and some of it may be rotten, there will be sections that will still be bonded to the hull. These will need to be carefully chiseled off, again without damaging the exterior hull. Remove all traces of the old plywood then sand and clean with 80-grit sandpaper. Be sure and sand the edges where the inner layers of fiberglass attach to the hull, it will make bonding the new transom in place much easier. Vacuum up the dust and wipe down the fiberglass with acetone. The next job is to make a pattern of the inside of the transom so the new plywood can be cut to shape. A good choice for pattern material is artist’s foam board. You can tape smaller pieces together with masking tape to get the sizes you need. Brown wrapping paper also works as long as you tape it in place so it doesn’t slip around. The pattern (and the plywood cut from the pattern) needn’t fit precisely around the edges. In fact, the radius of the corners may well prevent a tight fit. Any gaps will be filled in when the plywood is bonded in place Let’s talk about plywood before actually cutting any. Most transoms are on the order of one and a half inches thick. If there is any curve to the transom, this thickness is best made up of two three-quarter inch or three half inch thick layers of plywood. You can use top-of-the line marine plywood or lumberyard exterior ply. The marine ply will be expensive and somewhat hard to get. The exterior lumberyard plywood will be cheaper, easier to get but will be rougher and poorer construction and will probably have voids. Both will be made using exterior glue. A better choice would be MDO plywood. This plywood is designed for use in exterior signs, has few or no voids and has a smooth exterior surface of phenolic resin paper. This surface accepts epoxy and paint very well. The plywood is made using exterior glues. It is cheaper than marine plywood and much better than lumberyard exterior ply. It can be ordered at most good lumberyards. You may have to make the new transom in several pieces if fitting it back in the boat is a problem. If you need to make the transom in several pieces or you are using multiple layers of plywood for your new transom, stagger the joints for maximum strength. Once the plywood is cut to size, you can start the assembly process. The transom should be bonded in place using epoxy resin and appropriate fillers. Epoxy will give a solid, strong bond to the old fiberglass while polyester resin, though cheaper, will not. Dry fit the first layer of plywood in place. You will need to apply some pressure to the plywood, to hold it in place, seat it in the epoxy and to conform to any curve in the transom. This can be done a number of ways, but one of the best ways is to simply drill several holes though the plywood and the fiberglass transom and bolt it in place. Be sure to spray the bolts with a cooking spray so the epoxy won’t stick. These holes can be filled in with epoxy/filler after the epoxy has set and the bolts popped out. Mix some epoxy and pre-coat the plywood surface that will be going against the fiberglass transom. Add filler to the epoxy and trowel onto the fiberglass transom. A notched plastic squeegee will help get a uniform layer of epoxy. It is better to use a little too much epoxy and clean up the squeeze out than to risk any voids or poorly bonded areas. Press the first plywood layer into the epoxy and apply pressure. Use any squeezed out epoxy to fill in the voids around the edges. Make sure you don’t leave any drops or lumps of epoxy on the surface of the plywood, as this will cause problems when installing the next layer of plywood. The second and third (if used) layers can be epoxied in place. Use self-tapping screws to hold the layer in place while the epoxy cures. Use the squeezed out, or extra epoxy/filler if necessary, to fill in the voids around the edges. With the plywood bonded in place, it can then be covered with layers of fiberglass reinforcement and epoxy. The reinforcement can be cloth, biaxial cloth with mat, roving or a combination of all these. The intent is to build up a thickness equal to the one you cut out. Mix a little colloidal or foamed silica to the epoxy to keep it from sagging. A grooved roller is an excellent tool for getting any air bubbles out of the fiberglass. The fiberglass should lap over the inside of the hull all around the edges of the transom. This seals the plywood core and forms a strong structural bond to the hull. Once the epoxy has cured, it can be scrubbed with warm soap and water to remove any amine blush and then painted if desired. If the boat is an I/O model, you will need to cut out the opening for the stern drive as well as the necessary mounting holes. Even an outboard installation may require drilling holes in the new transom. Unless you want to repeat this project in the future, you will need to take some care with these holes. All edges of any openings should be completely sealed with epoxy. This will prevent any water from reaching the plywood core. In the case of fasteners, it is a good idea to drill the holes oversize, fill them with epoxy/filler and then re-drill the holes to the proper size. This way any fastener hole is drilled through solid epoxy and the plywood is protected from any water leaks. Replacing the plywood core of a transom isn’t the simplest project in the world but is certainly within the reach of most boat owners. Take your time and do it right, this is one job you don’t want to do more than once.	351
Why Android is better than iOS General Purpose: Provide a contrasting analysis of the two prevalent electronic platforms. Specific Purpose: Persuading that the Android platform is beneficial for the user, given its peculiarities and user-friendliness. Central Idea: Android phones combine quality, good price, and functionality, and thus are preferable for the general audience. Whenever you decide to buy a new phone, you are immediately placed in the heart of the everlasting battle between Android and iOS. No wonder that sometimes you may feel the desire to cover your head with your hands and escape to the air-raid shelter to get away from the informational bombarding. However, once you are safe and away from the advertising frenzy, the aftershocks of the struggle can still stand in the way of clear decision-making. Thus, abstracting from consumer conscience can be a winning strategy, as logic is the best advisor. Hence, if you experience the desire to follow the conformist tendency and be in the mainstream, iPhone with iOS is your choice; but for everyone more sophisticated than that there is Android – a successful combination of functionality, price, and convenience. A Comparison Table of Android and IOS Systems \|Highly customizable with many options for personalization and flexibility. \|Limited customization options and a more uniform user experience. \|Android offers a greater level of customization, allowing users to personalize their devices to a greater extent. \|Google Play Store offers a vast selection of apps, including many free options. \|Apple’s App Store is known for its quality control, and apps tend to be more curated and of higher quality. \|Android offers a larger selection of apps, but iOS apps tend to be of higher quality. \|More susceptible to malware and viruses, but Google has implemented many security features over the years to address these issues. \|Known for its strong security measures, including its closed system and app sandboxing. \|While iOS is considered more secure, Android has implemented many security features and has improved over the years. \|Integration with other devices \|More open system and allows for integration with a wider range of devices, including non-Apple products. \|Tightly integrated with other Apple products, such as Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches. \|Android offers greater flexibility and interoperability, while iOS offers seamless integration with other Apple products. \|Google Assistant is highly advanced and offers more functionalities than Siri. \|Siri is well-integrated with the iOS system and offers a more natural language processing. \|While Google Assistant offers more functionalities, Siri is more user-friendly and well-integrated with iOS. \|Offers devices at a variety of price points, including budget-friendly options. \|Tends to be more expensive, with fewer budget-friendly options. \|Android offers a wider range of price points, making it more accessible for users on a budget. \|Battery life can vary greatly depending on the device and usage. \|Known for its efficient battery management, leading to longer battery life. \|iOS tends to have better battery management, leading to longer battery life. \|More open and flexible, allowing for greater customization and personalized experiences. \|Known for its intuitive and user-friendly interface, with a consistent look and feel across devices. \|Android offers greater flexibility, while iOS offers a more consistent and user-friendly interface. \|Navigation can vary greatly depending on the device and manufacturer. \|Known for its simple and intuitive navigation system. \|iOS offers a more consistent and intuitive navigation system, while navigation on Android can vary greatly. \|Updates can be slower due to the many different manufacturers and devices running Android. \|Known for frequent updates and timely security patches. \|iOS is known for frequent updates and timely security patches. \|Allows for greater multitasking capabilities, including split-screen and picture-in-picture options. \|Tends to have more limited multitasking capabilities, although the introduction of Split View has improved this. \|Android offers greater multitasking capabilities, while iOS has improved in this area in recent years. \|Compatibility with older devices \|Older devices may not receive updates or be compatible with the latest version of Android. \|Known for its long-term support and compatibility with older devices. \|iOS offers better support and compatibility with older devices. Android phones are a one-time investment, in which you pay for quality instead of a brand name. Android phones were originally designed to be accessible to the general audience, thus offering high-quality products at a reasonable price. At the same time, Apple Company aimed at creating exclusive products that pertain to a different price range. While their quality was out of the question, the affordability was significantly decreased. Consequently, products with a “nibbled apple” were a marker of the social status for people who were concerned about it before acknowledging its functionality. However, once the company’s policy adopted an orientation at conquering the general market, the spectrum of functions had to be limited to match the price. Thus, new products can be regarded as “cut-off replicas” of previous phones, with the price that still includes the fare for a renowned brand name. As a result, although iPhones still preserve the exclusive graphical interface, the range of available functions resembles Android phones. On the other hand, the Android platform provides users with the original smartphone experience at budget prices, which do not surpass the old feature phone costs significantly (Hill). Likewise, with iOS the customer’s choice is limited to Apple iPhones only, which have a stable price on the market, and thus create a fixed profit for the single company (Hill). On the contrary, the Android platform can be installed on a series of mobile devices developed by various companies, and about different price categories. As a result, the customers are capable of selecting a phone that will match their functional and price requirements, instead of adjusting their budget to the cost of a new iPhone. The variety of Android smartphones includes such manufacturers as HTC, Samsung, LG, Sony, Motorola, and Huawei, which create a wide selection of products. Ergo, customers can choose a large touchscreen phone, a compact phone with a physical keyboard, or even a device with dual screens or dual SIM – whichever they believe will work best. Android platform provides customers with more opportunities. It cannot be debated that Google services dominate over other similar electronic mechanisms due to their convenience and operability. Therefore, given the fact that Android phones have seamless integration with such Google services as Google+, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Music, Google Docs, Google Cloud, and Google Maps, the aforesaid platform can be characterized by the increased usability that simplifies the operating process. At the same time, the Google Chrome browser is acknowledged as one of the most user-friendly programs that make working with the Internet easy and uncomplicated. Thus, having the above mentioned browser installed on the smartphone is a success factor, especially considering the variety of customization options the browser offers. Moreover, Google’s Android App Market helps fill the mobile device with necessary applications suited to any taste. Apart from that, phones equipped with Android OS provide more free applications and games, whereas phones with iOS can hardly make a great display of the latter. Furthermore, some applications that belong to the premium category on iOS are free on Android (Clark & Connors). Most importantly, the Android platform is open to functional and graphic customization, which allows the user to create an individual system that will be adjusted according to his/her requirements. Ergo, the icons, the interface, and the widgets create a series of customization patterns for the customer, who wants the smartphone to bear a trace of his/her unique personality (“Android vs iOS”). Unlike iPhones, which resemble an army of clones due to various restrictions they impose on the user, Android phones can be customized virtually to the work of modern electronic art. Android is an open OS that can be controlled by the customer. Whereas iPhones solely depend on the Apple Company’s scientific findings, the Android platform combines the innovations presented by various organizations. At the same time, the Android platform provides the customer with an opportunity to perform such actions as overclocking the processor, uninstalling bloatware, and adding kernelling codes to the ROM via rooting. Furthermore, the Android platform demonstrates less dependence on the Internet, while with iOS network connection is required even for fixing system errors. Apart from that, Android phones do not distinguish between the original built-in and downloaded applications, which can be characterized by the equally high functionality of the described programs. At the same time, while Android phones are capable of storing hundreds of applications, this does not affect the multitasking ability of the system. Hence, customers are capable of listening to their favorite songs while surfing the Internet and chatting on social networks without productivity loss (“Android vs iOS”). On the other hand, with iOS you have less flexibility, and a large number of applications can hardly be restored after being transferred to the background mode. Similarly, Android devices are less dependent on supporting programs while being connected to the PC opposed to iOS devices. Hence, for instance, users can upload music directly from their computer, instead of having to struggle with iTunes. Logically, simplicity and operability is a key to success, and all the above-mentioned illustrate that Android technologies have mastered the process. Plenty of statistical data demonstrate the increase in Android smartphone sales both in the U.S. and worldwide, which can be regarded as a sign of audience approval of the production. Therefore, why overpay for the limited control and the loud brand name, when Android is capable of providing customers with more than equal opportunities in combination with high quality and functionality at a more affordable price?	62,768
Complaints from neighbors are making Florida's environmental agency rethink a JEA campaign to sell power-plant ash as road-building material. The gritty gray ash has been used to cover dirt roads in Baker County and Charlton County, Ga., and poured into lower layers of asphalt street projects in Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. But people living near the road projects have complained about the ash, sold under the name EZBase. They say it drifts into yards, covers cars and irritates some people's breathing. "I can't believe there's not harmful things in that," said Bob Cowell, whose neighborhood streets off Scott Mill Road in Mandarin were torn up for sewer work and are being rebuilt with EZBase. "I just feel that we were being experimented with. ... Who knows how much hazardous material was in that stuff?" JEA says some road contractors probably used the material incorrectly but insists it is safe. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved using EZBase in roadwork two years ago. "There is really nothing negative about EZBase other than the term 'ash,' " said Scott W. Schultz, the utility's director of byproduct services. JEA officials say selling ash for roadwork has cut the Jacksonville-owned utility's costs by about $8 million. But there are negative reviews from neighbors. A mile away from Cowell's home, Bobbie Zontini said her husband has spent a month vacuuming the bottom of their screened-in pool each day to get the grit that blocks the pool filter. "I kept seeing all this fine silt-like stuff everywhere," said Zontini, who said her asthma got worse when roadwork started. The same stuff has to be swept up from the patio, she said. Since May, DEP has received EZBase dust complaints from people in Mandarin, Lake Forest in Northwest Jacksonville and Glen St. Mary in Baker County. The agency has asked JEA for more information about EZBase and how it's being used. The stuff is made of ash from JEA's Northside Generating Station, which burns petroleum coke and coal mixed with limestone, a common road material. EZBase becomes cement-like when wet but can dry out and turn brittle. Now, DEP wants to see whether JEA and road contractors are following rules that were spelled out for those projects. The agency is also reconsidering whether covering rural dirt roads with the material is a good idea. "We do, of course, have the right to remove approval," DEP spokeswoman Jill Johnson said. "It's definitely something we're still investigating." JEA representatives argue people really should think of EZBase a lot like they do limestone. Schultz said more than 90 percent of the material's weight is lime and gypsum. Gypsum from power plants is normally sold as material for drywall, but the Northside plant's low-emissions design results in gypsum that contains enough unburned fuel that it's undesirable. Cowell, one of the people worried about the ash, notes EZBase comes with a safety sheet warning about exposure to crystalline silica, a material that can damage people's lungs over time. That's probably not too big a danger, said Guerry H. McClellan, a University of Florida geology professor who has worked on power plant pollution control systems. He said Florida's ground is full of crystalline silica, such as quartz. The ash also contains relatively high levels of a metal called vanadium. But a toxicologist hired by DEP concluded in 2005 it didn't pose a serious risk. To see whether the ash produced now is any different, DEP recently asked JEA for results of chemical tests the utility is required to perform on ash every three months. A few weeks ago, DEP employees found a hill of EZBase stored long-term in Baker County for county road projects. That wasn't allowed under rules set up in 2005, but JEA told the state agency the material will be removed soon. JEA sells some ash to out-of-state oil refineries that take shipments by rail. But the utility sees road projects as an important way to reuse ash, which it calls byproduct, in hopes of improving public perceptions. It was used in construction on the Wonderwood Expressway and in subdivision roads and parking lots in Jacksonville and St. Johns County. About 300,000 tons of EZBase have been sold in Florida, according to spokeswoman Gerri Boyce. That's at least 258,000 cubic yards, enough to pour a 12-inch layer over a quarter of a square mile. Selling ash saves the expense and trouble of dumping it in a landfill, Schultz said, adding that it means mining companies won't have to dig for as much new limestone. The utility charges contractors just $1 per ton but saved about $8 million on landfill fees, Boyce said. Even dumping ash can be a problem. Last year, when a company that was talking with JEA proposed dumping ash at a Ware County, Ga., landfill, neighbors there filled public meetings to keep the ash out. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy have both supported projects to recycle ash from power plants. The EPA has studied power plant ash for more than 20 years and doesn't consider it a hazardous waste, said David Goss, executive director of the American Coal Ash Association, a trade group. But it can still annoy people if it's not handled well. "When you're putting ash down ... almost any kind of ash, you have to be cognizant of what kind of conditions you have," Goss said. Covering dirt roads with ash isn't common, said Debra Pflughoeft-Hassett, a researcher at the University of North Dakota's Energy & Environmental Research Center. She studied Florida's handling of ash for a federal report last year and spent time talking to JEA about EZBase. "My suspicion is they have a good product that they can probably use with some tweaking," she said. email@example.com, (904) 359-4263	277,511
If you run a social enterprise, or a charity that bids for public contracts, you may be thinking that it’s about time you started to scale up. The number of people in politics and ‘intermediary’ organisations that want you to scale up your social venture is far greater than the number of people who care what your social venture is or does. It’s an interesting progression from the situation in the 2005 – 2009 period, when the number of social enterprise consultants helping people to write business plans vastly exceeded the number of social entrepreneurs with a viable plan for a business. So, there is now a growing artificial market primarily focused on not scaling up the viable social ventures that weren’t started then. Unfortunately, while the government in particular is artificially stimulating the market for people to help companies get bigger, it has been simultaneously shrinking the markets that most social enterprises and contract-focused charities would be most likely to trade in, in order to get bigger – partly through cutting public spending in general and partly through spending money in ways that favour massive private outsourcing companies rather than social enterprises. Whatever our views on particular government policies, though, most of us would accept that – whichever parties end up in power – for the foreseeable future there will be less money in the overall social pot. For that reason, it’s a shame that there’s been so much emphasis on helping organisations to scale up and so little support and advice for organisations who are forced to scale down. The story of Wiltshire Mind has been prominent in the voluntary sector world this week. The charity lost its core funding from the local council in 2010 and, according to Third Sector, its approach since then has been: “The charity also sold one of its offices, applied for a variety of grants and set up a funding arm, Friends of Wiltshire Mind, to try to bolster its finances. The latest published accounts show the charity’s income was £89,792 in 2010/11 and its spending was £191,379.” And the current situation is: “Wiltshire Mind employs 10 staff and receives support from about 13 volunteers. The charity runs eight groups that provide support to almost 100 people.” There are situations where it does make sense for a business to spend twice as much in a year of trading as it brings in – the launch of this now profitable free magazine being an example – but, from the varied but limited information available, this doesn’t seem like one of them. Whether or not it’s entirely true in this case, there are many organisations around the UK who’ve responded to the challenge of having what they regard as ‘their funding’ cut by throwing absolutely everything they’ve got into trying to continue to deliver the same services, with the same number of paid staff but without the income. In some cases because they’re fighting to get ‘their funding’ back. In other cases because they’re trying to raise similar amounts of money from other sources. While the Old Testament stories of Moses may have a lot to teach us, it’s unlikely that the story of his adoption – where the baby Moses is set adrift in a basket on the Nile by his mother and ultimately adopted by the Pharoah’s daughter – was intended to be interpreted by charity trustees and social enterprises directors as a business strategy. Moses’ mother didn’t have any other options and the positive result was so gloriously unlikely that at least three major religions are still talking about thousands of years later. Unfortunately, plenty of charities and social enterprises are effectively pursuing the approach of putting their organisations in the river and hoping that a public sector agency, grant-making trust or corporate sponsor will miraculously come along and fish them out. The point is not that it’s wrong – when faced with funding cuts – to approach public sector bodies, trusts and anyone else who may be interested and make clear to them what will be lost if your services have to stop and what will be gained if they support you to enable those services to continue. It’s the right thing to do but, once that hasn’t worked, it is wrong to just repeat the same approach over and over again until you run out of reserves (or worse). When faced with a situation where some of your income streams are reduced or no longer available, it’s vitally important to stop and consider what your organisation’s for – who you’re there to help, what outcomes you’re meant to be achieving – and then explore all available options for doing that sustainably. Unless they’re specifically involved in delivering supported work placements, charities and social enterprises do not exist to preserve the employment of their existing staff team for as long as possible. Most of us, as trustees and directors, do want to keep our staff in work – and that’s a legitimate position – but it’s vitally important to separate that intention from the vision and mission of the organisation. That’s easier said than done. From a personal point of view, the honourable intention to keep staff in post has been the single factor most likely to lead to wrong decisions being taken or, more often, right decisions being idiotically postponed. That’s not to say that a better approach for organisations who lose funding is to just make everyone redundant and go home. The point to find different ways to do things you exist to do and help the people you exist to help. In the case of a local mental health charity that loses funding the key question to ask at that point is not: ‘how can we preserve our existing services?’ but ‘what can we do to help our members and other people with mental health difficulties in our area?’ The right answers would depend on the combination of what members and people with mental health difficulties want and the money available to pay for those things. It’s seems unlikely that, in most cases, the only two choices are: (a) get a set amount to provide a particular set of existing services or (b) close. I don’t know enough about the specific situation of Wiltshire Mind to know the extent that this applies to them but, in a general sense, if an organisation has £100,000 to spend on temporarily preserving unfunded services for a year, it has £20,000 a year (subsidy not total income) to spend over five years supporting members to do stuff for themselves. Scaling down properly isn’t easy but it’s just as important as scaling up. In the social enterprise sector, we’ve seen several regional and national support organisations close or dramatically reduce their activities very suddenly rather than move to new, more sustainable ways of working. Sometimes there isn’t always a new, more sustainable model to be found and, in other cases, there is no longer a need for the services that organisations have been providing but as organisations dedicated to delivering positive social change, it’s vitally important that we keep on putting creative and enterprise into achieving our social goals, rather than maintaining the existing structures and approaches of our organisations.	38,892
Solid rocket booster Solid-fuel rocket boosters (SRBs) are large solid propellant motors used to provide thrust in spacecraft launches from initial launch through the first ascent stage. Many launch vehicles, including the Ariane 5, GSLV MK3, Atlas V, and the NASA Space Shuttle, have used SRBs to give launch vehicles much of the thrust required to ascend from the launch pad. The Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters were the largest solid propellant motors ever built and designed for recovery and reuse. Solid-fuel rocket boosters (SRBs) are large solid propellant motors used to provide thrust in spacecraft launches from initial launch through the first ascent stage. Many launch vehicles, including the Ariane 5, Atlas V, and the NASA Space Shuttle, have used SRBs to give launch vehicles much of the thrust required to place the vehicle into orbit. The NASA Space Shuttle used two Space Shuttle SRBs, which were the largest solid propellant motors ever built and the first designed for recovery and reuse. The propellant for each solid rocket motor on the Space Shuttle weighed approximately 500,000 kilograms. Compared to liquid propellant rockets, the solid-propellant SRBs have been capable of providing large amounts of thrust with a relatively simple design. They provide greater thrust without significant refrigeration and insulation requirements. Adding detachable SRBs to a vehicle also powered by liquid-propelled rockets known as staging reduces the amount of liquid propellant needed and lowers the launch vehicle mass. Solid boosters are cheaper to design, test, and produce in the long run compared to the equivalent liquid propellant boosters. Reusability of components across multiple flights, as in the Shuttle assembly, also has decreased hardware costs. One example of increased performance provided by SRBs is the Ariane 4 rocket. The basic 40 model with no additional boosters was capable[when?] of lifting a 4,795 lb. (2,175 kg.) payload to Geostationary transfer orbit. The 44P model with 4 solid boosters has a payload of 7,639 lb. (3,465 kg) to the same orbit. Solid propellant boosters are not controllable and must generally burn until exhaustion after ignition, unlike liquid propellant or cold-gas propulsion systems. However, launch abort systems and range safety destruct systems can attempt to cut off propellant flow by using shaped charges. As of 1986[update] estimates for SRB failure rates have ranged from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 100,000. SRB assemblies have failed suddenly and catastrophically. Nozzle blocking or deformation can lead to overpressure or a reduction in thrust, while defects in the booster's casing or stage couplings can cause the assembly to break apart by increasing aerodynamic stresses. Additional failure modes include bore choking and combustion instability. Failure of an O-ring seal on the Space Shuttle Challenger's right solid rocket booster led to its disintegration shortly after liftoff. Solid rocket motors can present a handling risk on the ground, as a fully fueled booster carries a risk of accidental ignition. Such an accident occurred in the August 2003 Brazilian rocket explosion at the Brazilian Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara VLS rocket launch pad, killing 21 technicians. Liquid rocket boosters generally cannot be moved after preparation is completed. - Liquid rocket booster - Solid-fuel rocket - Graphite-Epoxy Motor - Comparison of orbital rocket engines - Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster - Wilson, Jim. "NASA - Solid Rocket Boosters". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-08. - "Data", Assets (PDF), Lockheed Martin, archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2011 - "HSF - The Shuttle". spaceflight.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-08. - "Solid rocket boosters". USA: NASA. 2009-08-09.. - "What are the types of rocket propulsion?". www.qrg.northwestern.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-08. - Hoover, Kurt. "Doomed from the Beginning:The Solid Rocket Boosters for the Space Shuttle". Texas Space Grant Consortium. University of Texas. - Ariane 4, Astronautix, archived from the original on 2012-07-27. - Ariane 44P, Astronautix, archived from the original on 2011-05-13. - Tasker, Douglas G. (1986-08-01). "Shock Initiation Studies of the NASA Solid Rocket Booster Abort System,". - WINES, MICHAEL (1986-03-05). "NASA Estimate of Rocket Risk Disputed". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-02-08. - "Solid Rocket Motor Failure Prediction - Introduction". ti.arc.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2016-02-08. - VLS Archived 2005-08-12 at the Wayback Machine.	238,405
An astronaut works outside a spacecraft cockpit in this still from the 2013 science fiction film ‘Europa Report.’ Credit: Wayfare Entertainment NEW YORK — The minds behind the movie "Europa Report" allowed reality to shape the fictional world they created. Everything from real NASA science to the commercial space industry played a role in the script and making of the film, released in theaters today (Aug. 2), but "Europa Report" was initially much smaller in scope. "At first it was just me and a bunch of books," screenwriter Philip Gelatt told the packed crowd at the movie's New York premiere here at the American Museum of Natural History. "There are two parts of the science: There's the space travel and then the science of Europa. I thought I had a pretty good handle on the space travel concept, so I started with the Europa science and then once there was a version of the script that was just me and the books, then we started talking to scientists which got much more intense and specific." [See Photos from "Europa Report"] The movie follows the fate of the first crew to leave Earth bound for Europa. Sent to Jupiter's icy moon by the fictional private spaceflight firm, Europa Ventures, the international team of astronauts works toward a singular mission: to search for life on the moon. Private spaceflight plays a pivotal role in the film partially because Gelatt wanted to model his script after the real world of spaceflight today. "It was always part of the design that it would be a private space mission, because, in some sense, it just felt more realistic," Gelatt told SPACE.com "That's kind of the direction we're headed. In an early version of the script, it was still a private mission but it was a private mission [with] a NASA contract. There was a little bit of a government element, which was taken out. All that stuff going on on Earth wasn't as interesting as the actual mission." NASA scientists Kevin Hand and Steven Vance helped craft the script, acting as science advisors during production and after filming ended. "When I read the first version of the script that came my way, it already had quite a bit of research and quite a bit of accurate information which was one of the things that drew me to it." That attention to detail also extended to the stars of the film. They immersed themselves in their characters to understand the science that motivates them. "I did a bunch of reading," Karolina Wydra, who plays a marine biologist going to Europa in the movie, said during the premiere. "I bought a book on oceanography. I spoke to a marine biologist, so it was really interesting to get into the mind of somebody that has devoted her life to research. When I asked her about [what she would do] if she got the chance to go to Europa, if she would say yes. She said 'absolutely.'" "Europa Report is also available online through video on demand services.	170,024
First published in hardcover by Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers in 1999, Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak is a YA novel that gave a voice to teenagers suffering their emotional trials in silence. And it clearly spoke to many readers. A National Book Award finalist, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, and winner of numerous awards, the novel, which tackles the subject of date rape, has been translated into 20 languages and has sold more than 2.5 million hardcover and paperback copies in the U.S. With Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group’s May 10 release of an e-book and a Square Fish paperback edition, Speak has new presence in the marketplace. The Square Fish edition (before rights reverted to Macmillan, an earlier Speak paperback was published under Penguin’s Speak imprint) had an announced first printing of 150,000 copies. Addressing the book’s ongoing appeal, Jon Yaged, president of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, says, “The novel’s message is one of empowerment. It lets teens know that no matter how bad things are, speaking up is the best possible thing to do. It is a timeless story.” The fact that the new Square Fish edition has been sold into such mass-market outlets as Target and Walmart, he adds, “speaks to the wide appeal of the novel.” Yaged remarks that Speak is “a natural” for release as an e-book, and that this past week it was the top seller among Macmillan children’s imprints’ e-books. “People today are choosing where and how they want to read,” he says.” “Some readers like print, some like e-books, some buy both to suit their different reading purposes. Macmillan has made a commitment to publishing e-books; starting in 2011, every middle-grade and YA novels published will be released simultaneously in an e-book edition.” The children’s division will release an estimated 350 e-books this year. Macmillan is supporting the new incarnations of Speak with Facebook advertising and other on-line initiatives, including a Figment.com promotion with Anderson, a Goodreads.com giveaway of the new paperback, and a new video of the author reading her Speak poem on MacKids.com and MacTeen.com. Also planned is an October promotion with RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network). And the company is doing outreach to mother-daughter book clubs, promoting the novel as a way to spark dialogue about a difficult topic. “This novel clearly has an important message that still resonates today,” Yaged says. “We are thrilled to give Speak renewed life and to ensure that readers can get the book in any format they’d like.” Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Square Fish, $9.99 paper ISBN 978-0-312-67439-7; e-book $9.99 ISBN 978-1-4299-9704-1	127,495
Individual differences \| Methods \| Statistics \| Clinical \| Educational \| Industrial \| Professional items \| World psychology \| A family is a domestic group of people, or a number of domestic groups, typically affiliated by birth or marriage, or by comparable legal relationships including domestic partnership, adoption, surname and in some cases ownership (as was the case in the Roman Empire). Although many people (including social scientists) have understood familial relationships in terms of "blood," many anthropologists have argued that the notion of "blood" must be understood metaphorically, and in that in many societies family is understood through other concepts rather than "blood." Article 16(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says, "The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State". According to sociology and anthropology, the primary function of the family is to reproduce society, either biologically, socially, or both. Thus, one's experience of one's family shifts over time. From the perspective of children, the family is a family of orientation: the family serves to locate children socially, and plays a major role in their enculturation and socialization. From the point of view of the parent(s), the family is a family of procreation the goal of which is to produce and enculturate and socialize children. However, producing children is not the only function of the family. In societies with a sexual division of labor, marriage, and the resulting relationship between a husband and wife, is necessary for the formation of an economically productive household. In modern societies marriage entails particular rights and privilege that encourage the formation of new families even when there is no intention of having children. The structure of families traditionally hinges on relations between parents and children, between spouses, or both. Consequently, there are four major types of family: patrifocal, matrifocal, consanguineal and conjugal. (Note: these are ideal families. In all societies there are acceptable deviations from the ideal or statistical norm, owing either to incidental circumstances, such as the death of a member of the family, infertility or personal preferences). A patrifocal family consists of a father and his children and is found in societies where men take multiple wives (polygamy or polygyny)and/or remain involved with each for a relatively short time. This type of family is rare from a worldwide perspective but occurs in Islamic states with considerable frequency. In some emirates the laws encourage this structure by allowing a maximum of four wives per man at any given time, and automatic deflection of custody rights to the father in the case of a divorce. In these societies a man will often take a wife and may conceive a child with her, but after a relatively short time put her out of his harem so he can take another woman without exceeding the quota of 4. The man then keeps his child and thus a patrifocal structure emerges. Even without the expulsion of the mother, the structure may be patrifocal because the children (often as infants) are removed from the harem structure and placed into the father's family. A matrifocal family consists of a mother and her children. Generally, these children are her biological offspring, although adoption of children is a practice in nearly every society. This kind of family is common where women have the resources to rear their children by themselves, or where men are more mobile than women. A consanguineal family consists of a mother and her children, and other people — usually the family of the mother. This kind of family is common where mothers do not have the resources to rear their children on their own, and especially where property is inherited. When important property is owned by men, consanguineal families commonly consist of a husband and wife, their children and other members of the husband's family. A conjugal family consists of one or more mothers and their children, and/or one or more spouses (usually husbands). This kind of family is common where there is a division of labor requiring the participation of both men and women, and where families are relatively mobile. A notable subset of this family type is the nuclear family, in which one woman has one husband and they raise their children together. Family in the West Edit The preceding types of families are found in a wide variety of settings, and their specific functions and meanings depend largely on their relationship to other social institutions. Sociologists are especially interested in the function and status of these forms in stratified, especially capitalist, societies. Non-scholars, especially in the United States and Europe, use the term "nuclear family" to refer to conjugal families. Sociologists distinguish between conjugal families that are relatively independent of the kindreds of the parents and of other families in general, and nuclear families which maintain relatively close ties with their kindreds. Non-scholars, especially in the United States and Europe, also use the term "extended family". This term has two distinct meanings. First, it is used synonymously with consanguinal family. Second, in societies dominated by the conjugal family, it is used to refer to kindred (an egocentric network of relatives that extends beyond the domestic group) who do not belong to the conjugal family. These types refer to ideal or normative structures found in particular societies. In any society there is some variation in the actual composition and conception of families. Much sociological, historical and anthropological research is dedicated to understanding this variation, and changes over time in the family form. Thus, some speak of the bourgeois family, a family structure arising out of 16th and 17th century European households, in which the center of the family is a marriage between a man and woman, with strictly defined gender roles. The man typically is responsible for income and support, the woman for home and family matters. In contemporary Europe and the United States, people in academic, political and civil sectors have called attention to single-father-headed households, and families headed by same-sex couples, although academics point out that these forms exist in other societies. Economic function of the familyEdit In a traditional society the family is often supposed to have been the primary economic unit. This role has gradually diminished in modern times and in societies like the United States is much smaller except for certain sectors such as agriculture and a few upper class families. In China the family as an economic unit still plays a strong role in the countryside. However, the relations between the economic role of the family, its socio-economic mode of production and cultural values are highly complex. A kinship terminology is a specific system of familial relationships. The now rather dated anthropologist Louis Henry Morgan argued that kinship terminologies reflect different sets of distinctions. For example, most kinship terminologies distinguish between sexes (this is the difference between a brother and a sister) and between generations (this is the difference between a child and a parent). Moreover, he argued, kinship terminologies distinguish between relatives by blood and marriage (although recently some anthropologists have argued that many societies define kinship in terms other than "blood"). But Morgan also observed that different languages (and thus, societies) organize these distinctions differently. He thus proposed to describe kin terms and terminologies as either descriptive or classificatory. "Descriptive" terms refer to only one type of relationship, while "classificatory" terms refer to many types of relationships. Most kinship terminologies include both descriptive and classificatory terms. For example, in Western societies there is only one way to be related to one's brother (brother = parents' son); thus, in Western society, brother is a descriptive term. But there are many ways to be related to one's cousin (cousin = mother's brother's son, mother's sister's son, father's brother's son, father's sister's son, and so on); thus, in Western society, "cousin" is a classificatory term. Morgan discovered that what may be a descriptive term in one society can be a classificatory term in another society. For example, in some societies there are many different people that one would call "mother" (the woman of whom one was born, as well as her sister and husband's sister, and also one's father's sister). Moreover, some societies do not lump together relatives that the West classifies together (in other words, in some languages there is no word for cousin because mother's sister's children and father's sister's children are referred to in different terms). Armed with these different terms, Morgan identified six basic patterns of kinship terminologies: - Hawaiian: the most classificatory; only distinguishes between sex and generation. - Sudanese: the most descriptive; no two relatives are referred to by the same term. - Eskimo: has both classificatory and descriptive terms; in addition to sex and generation, also distinguishes between lineal relatives (who are related directly by a line of descent) and collateral relatives (who are related by blood, but not directly in the line of descent). Lineal relatives have highly descriptive terms, collateral relatives have highly classificatory terms. - Iroquois: has both classificatory and descriptive terms; in addition to sex and generation, also distinguishes between siblings of opposite sexes in the parental generation. Siblings of the same sex are considered blood relatives, but siblings of the opposite sex are considered relatives by marriage. Thus, one's mother's sister is also called mother, and one's father's brother is also called father; however, one's mother's brother is called father-in-law, and one's father's sister is called mother-in-law. - Crow: like Iroquois, but further distinguishes between mother's side and father's side. Relatives on the mother's side of the family have more descriptive terms, and relatives on the father's side have more classificatory terms. - Omaha: like Iroquois, but further distinguishes between mother's side and father's side. Relatives on the mother's side of the family have more classificatory terms, and relatives on the father's side have more descriptive terms. Societies in different parts of the world and using different languages may share the same basic terminology; in such cases it is very easy to translate the kinship terms of one language into another, although connotations may vary. But it is usually impossible to translate directly the kinship terms of a society that uses one system into the language of a society that uses a different system. Some languages, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Hungarian, add another dimension to some relations: relative age. There are, e.g., different words for "older brother" and "younger brother". Thus, although Westerners may naturally agree with Morgan that "brother" is descriptive rather than classificatory, speakers of these languages might disagree. English kinship terminologyEdit Most Western societies employ English kinship terminology. This kinship terminology is common in societies based on conjugal (or nuclear) families, where nuclear families must be relatively mobile. Members of the nuclear family use descriptive kinship terms: - Mother: the female parent - Father: the male parent - Son: the males born of the mother; sired by the father - Daughter: the females born of the mother; sired by the father - Brother: a male born of the same mother; sired by the same father - Sister: a female born of the same mother; sired by the same father It is generally assumed that the mother's husband is also the genitor. In some families, a woman may have children with more than one man or a man may have children with more than one woman. Children who share one parent but not another are called "half-brothers" or "half-sisters." Children who do not share parents, but whose parents are married, are called "step-brothers" or "step-sisters." If a person is married to the parent of a child, but is not the parent of the child themselves, then they are the "step-parent" of the child, either the "stepmother" or "stepfather". Children who are adopted into a family are generally called by the same terms as children born into the family. Typically, societies with conjugal families also favor neolocal residence; thus upon marriage a person separates from the nuclear family of their childhood (family of orientation) and forms a new nuclear family (family of procreation). This practice means that members of one's own nuclear family were once members of another nuclear family, or may one day become members of another nuclear family. Members of the nuclear families of members of one's own nuclear family may be lineal or collateral. When they are lineal, they are referred to in terms that build on the terms used within the nuclear family: - Grandfather: a parent's father - Grandmother: a parent's mother - Grandson: a child's son - Granddaughter: a child's daughter When they are collateral, they are referred to in more classificatory terms that do not build on the terms used within the nuclear family: - Uncle: father's brother, father's sister's husband, mother's brother, mother's sister's husband - Aunt: father's sister, father's brother's wife, mother's sister, mother's brother's wife - Nephew: sister's sons, brother's sons - Niece: sister's daughters, brother's daughters When separated by additional generations (in other words, when one's collateral relatives belong to the same generation as one's grandparents or grandchildren), these terms are modified by the prefix "great". Most collateral relatives were never members of the nuclear family of the members of one's own nuclear family. - Cousin: the most classificatory term; the children of aunts or uncles. Cousins may be further distinguished by degree of collaterality and generation. Two persons of the same generation who share a grandparent are "first cousins" (one degree of collaterality); if they share a great-grandparent they are "second cousins" (two degrees of collaterality) and so on. If the shared ancestor is the grandparent of one individual and the great-grandparent of the other, the individuals are said to be "first cousins once removed" (removed by one generation); if the shared ancestor is the grandparent of one individual and the great-great-grandparent of the other, the individuals are said to be "first cousins twice removed" (removed by two generations), and so on. Similarly, if the shared ancestor is the great-grandparent of one person and the great-great-grandparent of the other, the individuals are said to be "second cousins once removed." Distant cousins of an older generation (in other words, one's parents' first cousins) are technically first cousins once removed, but are often classified with "aunts" and "uncles". Similarly, a person may refer to close friends of one's parents as "aunt" or "uncle," or may refer to close friends as "brother" or "sister". This practice is called fictive kinship. Relationships by marriage, except for wife/husband, are qualified by the term "-in-law". The mother and father of one's spouse are one's mother-in-law and father-in-law; the spouse of one's son or daughter is one's son-in-law or daughter-in-law. The term "sister-in-law" refers to three essentially different relationships, either the wife of one's brother, or the sister of one's spouse, or the wife of one's spouse's sibling. "Brother-in-law" is similarly ambiguous. There are no special terms for the rest of one's spouse's family. The terms "half-brother" and "half-sister" indicate siblings who one share only one parent. Specific distinctions vary among Western societies. For instance, in French, the prefix beau- or belle- is used for both "-in-law" and "step-"; in other words, one's belle-soeur could be the sister of one's spouse, the wife of one's sibling, the wife of one's spouse's sibling, or the daughter of one's parent's spouse. In Spanish, each of the roles that English creates with the suffix "-in-law" has a different word (suegros parents-in-law, yerno son-in-law, nuera daughter-in-law, cuñados siblings-in-law), but there is a separate suffix -astro or -astra that is equivalent to "step-". In Swedish, terms for grandparents differ on the mother's and father's sides: "mormor" and "morfar" (mother-mother, mother-father) vs. "farfar" and "farmor" (father-father, father-mother). Kin terms may not always be translatable, and if translatable, may be culture specific. For example, the Spanish word consuegro indicates the parent of one's son- or daughter-in-law (that is, two people whose children marry are consuegros to each other); there is no equivalent term in English. In polygynous African societies where English and French are official languages, a sister-wife (in French belle-épouse) is another wife of one's husband; although these terms are in common use ("I would leave my husband, but I like my sister-wives"), they are not readily understood in European cultures. The words brother, sister, aunt, uncle have stronger fictive-kinship nuances in many African cultures than in European ones, as exemplified by the phrase "he is my brother: same mother, same father" for a biological brother. - Domestic Violence - Interpersonal relationship and Intimate relationship - Sociology of the family - The Family: A Proclamation to the World - American Kinship, David Schneider - A Natural History of Families, Scott Forbes, Princeton University Press, 2005, ISBN 0691094829 - More Than Kin and Less Than Kind, Douglas W. Mock, Belknap Press, 2004, ISBN 0674012852 - WikiTree.org - freely-edited family tree of all human beings. - Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences: http://bitbucket.icaap.org/ - Cousins: http://www.tedpack.org/cousins.html - Muslim Matrimonial and Muslim Family - Grandparent Connection: http://www.thegrandparentconnection.org - The Good Enough Family: http://samvak.tripod.com/family.html - Cousin marriages: http://www.cousincouples.com/ - Family Court: http://www.stephenbaskerville.net/ - Family Research Laboratory - Wiktionary entries for Western kinship terminology providing multilingual translations de:Familie cs:Rodina da:Familie es:Familia (institución) eo:Familio fr:Famille parentale io:Familio is:Fjölskylda he:משפחה lb:Famill hu:Család ms:Keluarga nl:Familie (verwanten)no:Familiept:Família simple:Family sl:Družina sv:Familj tl:Pamilya uk:Сім'я zh:家庭 \|This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).\|	300,794
A MISSING LINK TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT by Sharon Pettey-Taylor “Intelligence plus character – this is the goal of true education.”—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr While attending a Professional Development Session at the Entertainment, Visual Arts and Design Technology Academy of Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, New York, I heard a delightful and informative “point of view” presented by Ms. Michelle McRae – a special education paraprofessional of the highest caliber. I immediately wanted to ask Ms. McRae if she would like to share her thoughts with a wider audience and she graciously agreed to do so, as follows: SPT: Ms. McRae, in your welcoming presentation at our professional development conference, you revealed to us the correlation between “good manners” in the learning environment and student academic achievement. Most educators usually associate improvement of a student’s social skills with some form of behavior modification that proved to be effective. Have you actually noticed first-hand that students who are focused and diligent in their studies are also respectful to adults, exhibit good manners, and reflect sound, home-training in etiquette? MM: Yes. For example, in an English class today, the students were fully engaged in a dialogue that brought up life experiences that lead to a “moment of truth.” Within this brainstorming session, one very articulate student recognized the need for appreciating the student-inspired policies of the school, which do integrate basic manners of etiquette (including the uniform policy). She spontaneously commented, “We need to stay on the right track by focusing on the things we need to do to succeed.” She also spearheaded a discussion on the principal’s core values for BGHS students: “Knowledge, Respect, Fairness, Integrity and Peace.” These words of self-actualization are highly-transparent throughout the school community, as well. As a follow-up activity, the students decided to write letters of appreciation to the Administration. This whole experience became even more revealing in terms of proper etiquette in our school community when the entire administrative staff welcomed all of us with warmth and kindness, as the students made a hand delivery of their letters to the main office. I felt overwhelmed emotionally seeing all of these character-building principles of etiquette coming full circle. SPT: You also noted that when the teaching and administrative staff take the time to greet each other and their students (particularly, when passing in the hallways) it seems to set a pleasant tone to the school day. Can you elaborate on this? MM: Certainly. Just a simple greeting in the morning can jump start any day with positive feelings. Many of our colleagues have asked me what keeps me upbeat and looking happy, as we exchange pleasantries throughout the day. I can honestly say that the “etiquette” that motivates my actions are strongly influenced by secular and spiritually-based knowledge, which does not stem from any purely, emotional feelings but rather are deeply-rooted in acknowledging the highest standards set for human behavior. SPT: I completely agree. In fact, after doing a little research on this topic, I discovered that many educational experts agree with your findings. In fact, many of them are serving as etiquette consultants and presenting workshops to school districts. I further concur with you in addressing the need for students to be socially prepared to learn, even as early as kindergarten. The students of Boys and Girls High School are very fortunate to have you guiding them charmingly toward success on a daily basis, always knowing they will be received with your winning smile and impeccable manners. MM: Thank you. I love my work with students and truly believe by simply not overlooking the fundamental rules of etiquette, we can easily improve the quality of our daily interactions within the learning environment. As previously discussed in our professional development meetings, this approach provides an opportunity for us to “analyze [our] teaching to understand what contributes to student learning . . . and promote collaboration between [staff], school and community” (PTS, p. 9), adding one more decisive link to student achievement. SPT: Absolutely. And I want to thank you again, for your insight into revisiting “manners” that were once commonplace throughout our society and in our schools. The resurgence of these social graces with the help of caring professionals in the educational community, such as yourself, will promote: “social development and responsibility . . redirecting student behavior in the most productive and time effective way,” according to the Standard for Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning (PTS, p. 5). As you have advised, it will certainly help to demonstrate and model a little “class” in the classroom, on our way to student-teacher success. Engaging and Supporting Students in Learning. Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning. Developing as a Professional. The Professional Teaching Standards. New Teacher Center at The University of California, Santa Cruz, 2004. Davies, Leah, M.Ed. “24 Ideas for Instilling Manners in Children,” www.Kellybear.com/TeacherArticles/TeacherTip62.html Bortolot, Lana. “She’s a digital Miss Manners,” amNewYork, April 26, 2010, p. 8. Rogaski, Faye. socialsklz:-) Starr, Linda. “Do Good Manners Contribute to Academic Success?” Education World, National Education Association, http://nea.org/tools/31212.htm Zauber, Karen. “Social Skills Kids Need to Succeed,” National Education Association, http://nea.org/home/ns/16763.htm Many thanks to the students, staff and administration of Boys and Girls High School; Brooklyn, NY Bernard Gassaway, Principal Christopher Smith, AP Organization Entertainment, Visual Arts and Design Technology Academy Ms. Catrina Williams, Assistant Principal Supervision Ms. Victoria Bozeman, Academy Director Ms. Jennifer Prensky, Coordinator of Instructional Support Services Do you have a comment, question, or suggestion about this article? E-mail Sharon.	264,614
Facsimile of extremely rare 1794 edition of von Steuben's basic manual of military training and procedure — the official U.S. military guide until 1812. Invaluable reference for historians, military buffs details drill and field service regulations: formation of a company, marching, firings, inspection, much more. Publisher's Note. 8 black-and-white illustrations. Reprint of Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States, I. Thomas and E. T. Andrews, Boston, 1794.	30,843
Christian minjung theologies arose in the 1970s and 1980s in South Korea. They were articulated by a small group of Protestant pastors and intellectuals who became part and parcel of the late 20th century minjung movement—a cultural phenomenon led by artists, students, labor organizers, and intellectuals—that included a retrieval of traditional artistic forms, a democratizing movement, activism on behalf of exploited workers, and a raising of consciousness about the deep suffering of the Korean masses throughout history. The focus of these theologies was the han-ridden minjung, a term loosely translated as the “masses of people” victimized by oppressive cultural, economic, religious, and governmental systems. The touchstone for its inception was the self-immolation of the young worker-activist Chun Tae-Il in 1970. Chun protested the abuse and exploitation of thousands of Korean garment factory workers, and during a protest in which police were dispatched to attack them, he set himself on fire as the ultimate act of protest. Chun’s death became a rallying point for social change and was seen theologically as a Christ-like sacrifice. Similar to the military dictatorships that provided the context for the Latin American theologies of liberation and the white supremacy that was the context for U.S. Black Liberation theologies Korean minjung theologies arose in the context of violence and oppression—the military dictatorships of Park Chung-Hee (1961-1979) and Chun Doo-Hwan (1979-1988). They were truly contextual, or local, theologies that focused upon finding Christ among the minjung. As the military dictatorships fell, a democracy slowly arose, and the Korean economy became a “tiger” economy in the 1990s, the Christian theologies of the minjung seemed irrelevant not only to their native context. They seemed to be short-lived, provincial, theologies of liberation that had run their course. Also, they did not seem to have great intercultural resonance for outsiders. Minjung theologian David Kwang-Sun Suh points out “As for dialogue with theologians outside of Korea, we declared in 1979 that Minjung theology is not for export and not for sale. For it is local theology, and we have no intention of making it universal or normative, as well as dogmatic” (xvi). Nevertheless, the question remains: did it run its course? Are minjung theologies now a mere museum exhibit or have they a future? Rev. Dr. Volker Küster, Professor of Cross-cultural Theology at the Protestant Theological University in Kampen (The Netherlands), investigates these questions in A Protestant Theology of Passion. He writes, “To many Korean contemporaries, the historical-theological project of the minjung movement appears to be a myth of times long gone. The question as to who is minjung today, still asked now and then, indicates that for many, not only has this story come to an end, but its subject seems to have gone missing” (139). In this book, Küster analyzes the context in which this theology arose, along with the break that its theologians made with Western theology, and speculates that “…the spirit of the minjung movement is still alive in the civil movements of South Korea” (139). Even though the vast majority of Korean Christians and theologians have dismissed minjung theology, Küster sees an opportunity for continued Christian theological reflection within this tradition that could speak meaningfully to the local and global context. In the foreword, David Kwang-Sun Suh points out, “I am particularly grateful to [Küster] for his ‘revisiting’ Minjung theologians from his own ‘German’ or ‘European’ perspective, while most Korean theologians and even some Minjung theologians nowadays say openly that there is nothing left to ‘revisit’ in Korean Minjung theology” (xi). Suh also describes Küster as “perhaps the only European theologian who could in some sense claim to be a Minjung theologian” (xi). Küster explores its contemporary relevance in this valuable book and points out that despite all of the contextual changes and challenges, the theologies of the minjung remain relevant but in need of further development. Küster begins with a reflection on the method of contextual and intercultural theology. Here, he provides an outline for doing contextual theology in order to help the reader better understand the starting point of the Christian theologians of the minjung. He moves on to a discussion of Korean history and subsequently to an excellent and invaluable chapter discussing and analyzing numerous works of art by various minjung artists. These works of art, which are reproduced in an appendix to the book, enable Küster to assist a cultural-outsider in gaining a better grasp on the context, concerns, ethos, and plurality that resided within the minjung movement. Küster also attends to the traditional religions of Shamanism and Tonghak/Cheondogyo. This is important because cultural outsiders often are unfamiliar with the various religious currents that have intermingled into the ethos of the minjung movement. Many may not be fully aware of the immense importance of Shamanism and Tonghak/Cheondogyo religions (more so than Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism) to the first generation minjung movement and its Christian theology. The heart of Küster’s book is a series of theological/biographical sketches of five foundational minjung theologians—Ahn Byung-Mu, Suh Nam-Dong, Hyun Young-Hak, Kim Yong-Bock, and Chung Hyun-Kyung. He provides perhaps the best introductions to their work available in English. The primary source material for these sketches is personal interviews with the theologians (except Suh, who passed away before Küster conducted the original research for this book during a trip to South Korea as he was writing his dissertation) as well as his informed reflections upon their theologies. He focuses his sketch of each thinker/activist upon his or her most enduring contributions to minjung theology. Küster devotes the most space to Ahn Byung-mu and Suh Nam-Dong. This is because “many consider these two to be the grand old men of Minjung theology” (79). Regarding Ahn, Küster highlights his studies in Germany, his break with Western theological concerns, and the importance of Ahn’s biblical scholarship that demonstrated the relationship between the ochlos (undesirable, motley crowd or “socially uprooted people”) and Jesus in Mark’s Gospel. This insight provided the foundation for pastors and theologians to seek Jesus among the Korean minjung and claim Jesus’ presence with them. Regarding Suh, Küster highlights his work as the “systematic alter ego of the exegetically-oriented Ahn Byung-Mu” (79) in bringing the message of Jesus together with Korean culture with an emphasis on the problem of unwarranted suffering. Küster includes an illuminating discussion of the influence of the poet Kim Chi-Ha on Suh’s theology and in particular upon how Suh accounted for the difference between sinning and being sinned-against. Küster then moves to Hyun Young-Hak’s critical retrieval of the mask dance and his articulation of a theology of holy fools for Christ, and then to Kim Yong-Bock’s work on the historical character of minjung theology. He concludes his overview with a discussion of the work of Chung Hyun-Kyung, who contributed one of the most forceful critiques of minjung theology—its disinterest with sexism and patriarchy. Chung pointed out that women were the minjung within the minjung, the most han-ridden of a han-filled people and therefore must be privileged subjects within minjung theologies. The mosaic of Küster’s brief sketches of these theologians clearly depict the life situations, ideas, and actions that led to the development of minjung theology. Küster then returns to his guiding question: does minjung theology have a future? He observes that “Though the first generation Minjung theologians were ahead of the minjung culture movement and later used artistic resources, nowadays most of the small group of [Korean] progressive theologians has lost contact with secular intellectuals and artists. Whereas the latter have responded to the contextual changes in a variety of ways, theological reflection on these matters is still very limited. While there is at least some reaction from theologians to the socio-economic impact of globalization and empire, the cultural religious side is neglected” (139-140). Küster thinks that minjung theology does indeed have a future. In order to speculate where the future may reside, Küster revisits the artists discussed in Chapter Two and examines the continued development of their work as the minjung movement subsided. He finds a turn in their artwork to recounting memories of suffering and to hopes for reconciliation, to showing ordinary life and expressing ecological concerns, and a turning away from Christianity and towards the religious motifs of Buddhism, Cheondogyo, and Shamanism. Küster points out that during the same time period, the original minjung theologians attempted to rearticulate the fundamental theme of their theologies to focus upon salim (life) and ki (energy of life) rather than han (abyss of pain and suffering). These developments, however, have not necessarily led to a revitalization and rethinking of minjung theology for the current context. But they hold great potential for doing so. To quote Küster at length, To be sure, Minjung theology was more public theology than church theology, but it brought a lot of recognition to the Christian faith in Korea. As stated before, nowadays, both theology and the church have become alienated by public discourse. According to the few progressive theologians, a passionate theology of life could induce a ‘new reformation’ and break the isolation. If the term Minjung theology should gain acceptance as umbrella term for such emerging theologies then it will nevertheless carry a quite different connotation. Once confined to the experience of the Korean people, now its scope would be glocal. Minjung theology then would simply become the brand name of a Korean-made theology (148-149). There are many reasons why I would highly recommend this book. It is impeccably researched, theologically subtle, cogently argued, and provides an excellent entryway into minjung theology. It may be helpful, however, to make two minor observations that will assist readers in assessing the suitability of this book to ministerial settings. First, this work has its roots in Küster’s dissertation and as such its primary audience is more academic and less pastoral. Küster’s primary audience is not necessarily people in the pews or those ministering to them. Whereas an earlier book, the impressive The Many Faces of Jesus Christ (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2001), was more easily accessible and immediately useful for pastors and laypeople, along with seminarians, graduates students, and academics, Protestant Theology of Passion has a different purpose. A second observation is that Küster’s intercultural examination of minjung theology primarily focuses upon the reception and frequent dismissal of minjung theology by German academics. Küster is a European contextual theologian and as such is most concerned with the serious theological engagement (and lack thereof) of Korean minjung theology within his own context. And rightly so. But for an American audience, it is important to acknowledge that Küster is focusing upon his own context rather than ours. He is a true contextual theologian and as such is not compelled to make this work connect explicitly with the U.S. context (although theologians in the U.S. should read this book). In sum, A Protestant Theology of Passion is a valuable addition to theological scholarship and for understanding the inception, development, and future of minjung theology. The target audience may be narrow but it deserves to be broader. Küster’s book could easily become the standard entryway to the study of minjung theology by cultural outsiders. Kevin Considine is Visiting Professor of Religious Studies at Calumet College of St. Joseph (Whiting, IN). His dissertation focused upon salvation, intercultural dialogue, and the potential influence of minjung theology and Korean-American theologies of Han and upon western Roman Catholic theologies of salvation.	132,340
Provide free treatment to Gaucher disease patient: HCPublished On: Thu, Apr 17th, 2014 \| Indian Health \| By BioNews Saying that “just because someone is poor, the government cannot allow him to die”, the Delhi High Court Thursday directed the state government to discharge its “constitutional obligation” and provide free treatment to a Gaucher disease patient. The court ordered that enzyme replacement therapy be provided to a rickshaw puller’s seven-year-old son suffering from the life threatening Gaucher disease, a genetic disorder. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is a medical treatment to replace an enzyme that is deficient or absent in patients. Justice Manmohan remarking that “health is not a luxury” and “should not be the sole possession of a privileged few” asked Delhi government to discharge its constitutional obligation and provide the child with ERT at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here free of cost as and when he requires it. The court was hearing a plea filed by the father of Mohd. Ahmed, who has been suffering from Gaucher disease Type-I, and was denied treatment by AIIMS after his parents were unable to pay Rs.4.8 lakh per month. The father has already lost four children to Gaucher’s disease that is an inherited disorder that affects many organs and tissues. Fat accumulates in cells and organs and the disease is characterised by bruising, fatigue, anaemia, low blood platelets and enlargement of the liver and spleen. The court said the government is bound to ensure that poor and vulnerable sections of society have access to treatment for rare and chronic diseases, like Gaucher especially “when the prognosis is good and there is a likelihood of the patient leading a normal life”. It further opined that by virtue of article 21 of the Constitution, the state is under a legal obligation to ensure patients have access to life-saving drugs. The court also said “government cannot cite financial crunch as a reason not to fulfil its obligation” to ensure access of medicines or to adopt a plan of action to treat rare diseases. “In the opinion of this court, no government can wriggle out of its core obligation of ensuring the right of access to health facilities for the vulnerable and marginalized section of society, like the petitioner by stating that it cannot afford to provide treatment for rare and chronic diseases,” Justice Manmohan said. Passing the judgment, the court also expressed displeasure that unfortunately the central government does not have any policy measure in place to address rare diseases, particularly those of a chronic nature. “All the central and state schemes provide for a one-time grant for life-saving procedures and do not contemplate continuous financial assistance for a chronic disease such as Gaucher, which involves lifelong expenditure. There are even no incentives in place for Indian manufacturers to develop local alternatives to orphan drugs (those used for rare and chronic diseases),” the court stated. Justice Manmohan further said the court is of the opinion that neither any promising orphan drug will be developed nor the prohibitive cost of “orphan drugs” will see a reduction unless changes are made in the applicable laws to reduce the cost of developing such drugs. It added that every person has a fundamental right to quality healthcare — that is affordable, accessible and compassionate. “Undoubtedly, availability of finance with the government is a relevant factor. Courts cannot be unmindful of resources and finances. No court can direct that entire budget of a country should be spent on health and medical aid. After all competing claims like education and defence cannot be ignored. “At the same time, no government can say that it will not treat patients with chronic and rare diseases due to financial constraint. It would be as absurd as saying that the government will provide free treatment to poor patients only for stomach upset and not for cancer/HIV/or those who suffer head injuries in an accident,” said the court.	212,110
Like a line of falling dominos, a cascade of molecular events in the bone marrow produces high levels of inflammation that disrupt normal blood formation and lead to potentially deadly disorders including leukemia, an Indiana University-led research team has reported. The discovery, published by the journal Cell Stem Cell, points the way to potential new strategies to treat the blood disorders and further illuminates the relationship between inflammation and cancer, said lead investigator Nadia Carlesso, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Bone marrow includes the cells that produce the body's red and white blood system cells in a process called hematopoiesis. The marrow also provides a support system and "home" for the blood-producing cells called the hematopoietic microenvironment. The new research demonstrates the importance of the hematopoietic microenvironment in the development of a group of potentially deadly diseases called myeloproliferative disorders. "It has been known for years that there are links between inflammation and cancer, but these studies have been challenged by the lack of genetic models, especially for blood-based malignancies," said Dr. Carlesso, a member of the hematologic malignancy and stem cell biology program within the Wells Center for Pediatric Research at IU. The researchers focused on what happens when there are abnormally low levels of a molecule called Notch, which plays an important role in the process of blood cell production. Using a genetically modified mouse, they found that the loss of Notch function in the microenvironment causes a chain of molecular events that result in excess production of inflammatory factors. The high levels of inflammation in the bone marrow were associated with the development of a myeloproliferative disorder in the mice. Myeloproliferative diseases in humans can result in several illnesses caused by overproduction of myeloid cells, which are normally are used to fight infections. These diseases can put patients at risk for heart attack or stroke, and frequently progress into acute leukemia and bone marrow failure, which have fatal outcomes. Unfortunately, there are no effective therapies for the majority of myeloproliferative diseases. When Dr. Carlesso's team blocked the activity of one of the molecules in this biochemical cascade, the myeloproliferative disorder in the mice was reversed. In addition, elevated levels of the blocked molecule were found in samples from human patients with myeloproliferative disease. These findings suggest that developing drugs that target this inflammatory reaction at different key points could be a promising strategy to limit the development of myeloproliferative disease in humans. The molecular cascade leading to inflammation was not occurring directly in the bone marrow cells that produce blood cells, but in cells of the bone marrow microenvironment, especially in endothelial cells that line the capillaries -- tiny blood vessels -- inside the bone marrow. This was a key discovery, Dr. Carlesso said. "This work indicates that we need to target not only the tumor cells, but also the inflammatory microenvironment that surrounds them and may contribute to their generation," she said. "We believe that this combined strategy will be more effective in preventing myeloproliferative disease progression and transformation in acute leukemias." Dr. Carlesso also noted that the Notch molecule is mostly known as an oncogene -- one that can cause cancer -- and so is often targeted by therapies for other types of cancer. The new research indicates that clinicians need to be aware of the effects that reducing levels of Notch function could have on the blood development process, she said. Cite This Page:	112,899

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