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Scott Kettner’s Nation Beat Nation Beat Music Talk about your big beat—the relentless percussion of maracatu music, from northeastern Brazil, is one of the most thunderous, soul-shaking sounds around. Some folks may have encountered it on Paul Simon’s The Rhythm Of The Saints, others in the music of Brazilian avant-rockers Naçao Zumbi here, the whomp ’n’ crash of maracatu is played by the Maracatu Naçao Estrela Brilhante alongside percussionist Scott Kettner’s Brooklyn-based group Nation Beat, with a few guests along for the ride, most notably Frank London, who arranges a horn section on three tracks. This fusion of north and south isn’t 100 percent successful “Old Wooden Chair” drains away all momentum built up by the preceding track, the convulsive “Somos De Agua Fria.” Interestingly, though, the English-language lyrics complement the violin, giving the music an almost Appalachian feel. And ultimately, this is a thrilling, multi-faceted disc with a bottom end that could get coma patients up and dancing. How did you first become interested in maracatu music? When did you first hear it? In 2000, after graduating from the New School, I used the remaining money from my student loans to travel through Brazil for 5 weeks. In Recife I met an ethnomusicologist named Larry Crook. He introduced me to Jorge Martins, the person who became my mentor and who taught me everything I know about maracatu. After returning to NYC from this short trip I decided that I needed to live in Brazil for an extended period of time to absorb the music and culture So I lived with Jorge in Recife, where he taught me about the culture, religion and the music of maracatu de baque virado. I’ll never forget the very first time I heard a maracatu nation perform, it was Maracatu Nação Estrela Brilhante during the 2001 Recife carnaval parades. This is probably why I chose Estrela Brilhante to collaborate with Nation Beat on this CD, because they were the first maracatu nation I heard that were steeped in tradition yet also bridged the gap between their deep African roots and modernity. How did you get Frank London to participate in the project, and what did he bring to the music? I met Frank London in 2004. He was putting together a CD that was going to include some northeastern Brazilian rhythms. His original idea was to use Frevo, another style of music from Recife, but when we met I convinced him that maracatu would work too. Since I already had a working group of drummers in NYC, I knew I could offer the big sound he was looking for. We did a few shows together with both groups, which led to the recording of Carnival Conspiracy. He had helped me develop the concept of crossing boarders and fusing music between cultures...it just made sense to ask Frank. What are your long-term goals with this project? I’m very lucky to be surrounded by a wonderful group of people who all share a similar vision. Our goals are to continue promoting the fusion of the music and culture of northeastern Brazil with the music of North America while collaborating and recording with artists from Pernambuco. I’m currently producing the Maracatu New York CD as well as working on producing artists in Pernambuco and the Nation Beat is currently putting together new material for our next CD.	99,649
The wind continued violent all night nor did it abate much of it's violence this morning, when at daylight it was attended with snow which continued to fall untill about 10 A. M. being about one inch deep, it formed a singular contrast with the 〈trees and other〉 vegitation which was considerably advanced. some flowers had put forth in the plains, and the leaves of the cottonwood were as large as a dollar. sent out some hunters who killed 2 deer 3 Elk and several buffaloe; on our way this evening we also shot three beaver along the shore; these anamals in consequence of not being hunted are extreemly gentle, where they are hunted they never leave their lodges in the day, the flesh of the beaver is esteemed a delecacy among us; I think the tale a most delicious morsal, when boiled it resembles in flavor the fresh tongues and sounds of the codfish, and is usually sufficiently large to afford a plentifull meal for two men. Joseph Fields one of the hunters who was out today found several yards of scarlet cloth which had been suspended on the bough of a tree near an old indian hunting cam[p], where it had been left as a sacrefice to the deity by the indians, probably by the Assinniboin nation, it being a custom with them as well as all the nations inhabiting the waters of the Missouri so far as they are known to us, to offer or sacrefice in this manner to the deity watever they may be possessed off which they think most acceptable to him, and very honestly making their own feelings the test of those of the deity offer him the article which they most prize themselves. this being the most usual method of weshiping the great sperit as they term the deity, is practiced on interesting occasions, or to produce the happy eventuation of the important occurrances incident to human nature, such as relief from hungar or mallady, protection from their enemies or the delivering them into their hands, and with such as cultivate, to prevent the river's overflowing and distroying their crops &c. screfices of a similar kind are also made to the deceased by their friends and relatives. the are was very piercing this evening the [water] friezed on the oars as they rowed. the wind dying at 5 P. M. we set out.— \|S. 70° E.\|\| to the upper point of the timber on the Lard. side in a bend passing a point of timber on the Lard. side at ¼ of a mile \|S. 10° E.\|\|to a point of woodland on the Stard. side\|\|½\| \|S. 30° W.\|\|to a point of low timber on the Lard side, a little above which on the Stard. side we encamped, having passed some 〈extensive〉 wider fertile bottoms and beatifull high level every thing which is incomprehensible to the indians they call big medicine, and is the opperation of the presnts and power of the great sperit. this morning one of the men shot the indian dog that had followed us for several days, he would steal their cooked provision. The wind blew verry hard all the last night, this morning about Sunrise began to Snow, (The Thermomtr. at 28 abov 0) and Continued untill about 10 oClock, at which time it Seased, the wind Continued hard untill about 2 P. M. the Snow which fell to day was about 1 In deep, a verry extroadernaley Climate, to behold the trees Green & flowers Spred on the plain, & Snow an inch deep. we Set out about 3 oClock and proceeded on about five ½ miles and encamped on the Std Side, the evening verry cold, Ice freesing to the Ores, I Shot a large beaver & Drewyer three in walking on the bank, the flesh of those animals the party is fond of eating &c. \|S. 70° E.\|\|2\|\|miles to the upper point of the timber on the Lard Side in a bend, passing a point of timber on the L. S. at a quarter of \|S. 10° E\|\|½\|\|mile to a point of wood Land on the Starboard Side\| \|S. 30° W\|\|2\|\|miles to a point of Low timber on the Lard Side a little above which on the Starboard Side we encamped 2 deer and 3 Elk killed Thursday 2nd May 1805. at day light it began Snowing & continued Snowing & blowing So that we did not Set off. Some of the party went out a hunting. they killed Some buffaloe & Deer, & found Several pieces of red cloath at one old Indian camp that we expect they left their as a Sacrifice as that is their form of worship, as they have Some knowledge of the Supreme being, and any thing above their comprehention they Call Big Medisine—&.c. about 3 oClock it left off Snowing. the wind Shifted in to the West. we Set off & proceeded on. the Snow lay on the edge of the Sand bars & Sand beaches where the wind had blew it up one foot deep, but on the hills it was not more than half an Inch deep. Capt. Clark & one of the hunters Shot 3 beaver in the edge of the River s. s. the air & wind verry cold. we Camped at a handsom bottom on the N. S. which is a very large bottom part c. w. timber & part prarie high plains back from the River. Came only abt. 5 miles to day. Thursday 2nd. At day break it began to snow; and the wind continued so high, we could not proceed until the afternoon. While we lay here our hunters went out and killed some buffaloe and deer. They found some red cloth at an old Indian camp, which we supposed had been offered and left as a sacrifice; the Indians having some knowledge of a supreme being and this their mode of worship. The snow did not fall more than an inch deep. At four we set out, went six miles, and encamped on the North side in a beautiful bottom. Thursday 2nd May 1805. at day light it began to Snow & blow So that we did not Set off this morning. Some men went out to hunt. Killed Some buffaloe & Some Deer. one of the party killd two beaver last night. the men who was out a hunting found Several peaces of red cloath at an Indian camp, where we expect they left last Winter for a Sacrifice to their maker as that is their form of worship, as they have Some knowledge of the Supreme being, and any thing above their comprihention they call, big medicine. about 3 oC the wind abated & quit Snowing. we Set off. proceeded on. the [wind] had shifted & blew from the west. the Snow lay on the Edge of the Sand beaches where the wind blew it against the bank about 12 Inches Deep but their was not more than about one Inch on a level. Capt Clark & one of the party Shot 3 beaver on the South Shore. the air verry cold. we Camped on the N. S. at a handsom bottom partly covered with timber. came mes. 5 miles to day. Thursday May 2nd At day light this morning it began to Snow 〈with〉 & we had a hard Wind, we lay by the fore part of the day, some of our party went out to hunt, they killed some Buffalo Calves, and Deer; and caught some Beaver in their Traps, which they brought to our Camp, The hunting party found several pieces of red Cloth, at an Indian Camp; which we expect the Indians had left there, the last winter, as a Sacrafice to their maker, the Indian woman mention'd is the custom when they break up their encampment, & which shows that they have some knowledge of the supreme being, The Indians generally call every thing beyond their comprehension Medecine; and are fearfull of it.— This we learnt from the Indians at the Mandan Villages.— about 3 o'Clock P. M the Wind abated, and it quitted snowing.— We sett off, and proceeded on our Voyage—the wind having shifted to the Westward, and the snow lying on the Sand Bars edge, (where the wind blew the snow against the bank,) and it, lay 12 Inches deep 〈it〉 but was not 〈being〉 more than one Inch on the level ground.— As we proceeded on our way, Captain Clark and one of the party shot 3 Beaver on the South shore, The Air was cold during the whole of this day. In the Evening we encamped on the North side of the River; in a bottom nearly covered with Timber.	138,269
Mapping the Body Mapping the Body Jolene Harju was lying on her back, right hand on her upper torso, left hand on her abdomen, simply breathing. She was paying attention to what her lungs were doing, what her stomach was doing, picturing their movement in and out. She had learned that the ribs should move during breathing, so she wanted to feel the expansion, see it in her head. But she noticed, instead, that her ribs were barely moving. Somewhat perplexed, she adjusted her air intake to fully fill her torso. Her ribs expanded. She inhaled deeply—more deeply perhaps than she ever had. And with the fresh air, a new range of possibility opened up. Harju is a flute player. Optimal breathing is central to performance. A senior music performance major from Carver, Massachusetts, Harju spent the summer researching Body Mapping, a technique that addresses not only breathing, but all manner of physical tension that can hamper the performance, practice, or health of a musician. Students learn the anatomy of a body in motion and then practice being aware of their bodies in order to prevent tension. With a grant from the UNH Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research and the guidance of UNH Music Professor Peggy Vagts, Harju researched the Body Mapping technique, took flute lessons in Durham and Boston, and attended a workshop in Michigan and a conference in New Jersey. It was during the first day of that conference, at Montclair State, that she found herself on the floor, breathing, during a lesson with flutist and Body Mapping trainer Amy Likar. “I had been taught early on that a full breath should ‘push the stomach out,’ so I had started doing it habitually,” says Harju. “When I changed my breathing to consciously move my ribs instead of my abdomen, my flute tone improved, and I felt like I filled up with three times as much air.” Throughout the remainder of the conference, the importance of rib movement cropped up again and again, so Harju kept playing with the ribs in mind. When she returned home, Harju practiced an excerpt from Mendelssohn’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” one that requires significant breath capacity and control. The last series of notes had always been impossible for her to play—the long stretch required single breath execution. For the first time, Harju was able to play the section through. She was ecstatic. “That’s when it all came together,” says Harju. “Conquering the breathing in that excerpt was really the one big test for me. I didn’t think it was possible to change my breathing so much in so little time. I was so excited, I played the excerpt 18 times in a row.” Now Harju hopes to train other musicians in the benefits of Body Mapping. She is working on a self-guided Body Mapping manual for flutists and, starting this fall, will hold a series of presentations for fellow students with the goal of helping them to help themselves play better and avoid physical pain. She is so impressed with the technique, in fact, that she envisions becoming a certified Body Mapping trainer one day. Harju also plans to videotape her recital this fall so she can compare her pre- and post-research performances. Before her research, Harju says, “I was completely unaware of my own body as I played, and I was making grand gestures and distracting movements in an effort to give the performance life and passion. This research has taught me how to internalize that and allow the emotion to come from the music, not the flutist.”	35,810
Bed and Breakfast as a Business Start your own Bed & Breakfast Bed and Breakfast is like a hotel with basic amenities. Also known as B&B, Bed & Breakfast simply means providing a room to check-in and a breakfast before check-out. You don’t offer any extra services like laundry, concierge, gyms or spas. This type of business can be run by just the owner, you need not have any staff. B&B businesses have a limited number of available rooms provided in the private homes of B&B owner. The rooms have in-room bathroom. Around country side, a B&B can comprise of 3-4 rooms whereas, in a metropolitan city, a B&B can have 10-15 rooms. The proprietor generally stays in the same premises. The breakfast is usually home cooked sumptuous meal served in the bedroom. With the changing times, now the breakfast is also served in garden area or at the patio. Who can start the B&B Business? If you are someone who loves attending to guests and welcome them with a smile, Bed and Breakfast can be a good business for you. All you need to have is rooms that are available to be rented out. 1. You own a Farmhouse but it isn’t used much. Rent out the empty rooms to people travelling for a day or two. That way you can maintain your farmhouse and earn money too. Travelers coming to stay will have a pleasant experience. 2. You own a Holiday house and seek a regular income out of it; Bed & Breakfast can be a good option. The time when you are not holidaying, you can start your own Bed & Breakfast business. The best way to take care of your holiday home is to actually utilize it. 3. You have a cottage or a villa on the country side, you can use it as a Bed & Breakfast. Travelers love to stay at a traditional place which is away from the daily chores. 4. Anybody who has extra space to give out as rent can actually opt for a Bed & Breakfast accommodation. Things to Remember: People coming from anywhere would first seek clean and hygienic surroundings. You need to make sure that the rooms you are renting out should be cleaned regularly. The bathrooms should be hygienic to meet standards of any traveler. Breakfast should be usually something that is home cooked. You should love serving your guests and make their stay as welcoming as possible. To make the stay memorable for traveler, you can actually decorate the rooms you want to rent out. You can paint the room with bright colors, use matching drapes, arrange a small writing table and give closet space. A double-bed or twin beds is what a traveler would expect. Taking an Extra step: For traveler coming for the first time you can drive them at nearby areas to see places of interests. You can guide them with popular places to visit. Tell them about all good restaurants and parks to visit. For the regulars or the locals, you can always assist them with any help they need or strategize to highlight on some unique points of your area. Also the breakfast can be served according to the traveler’s choice. For e.g. you can prepare an American Breakfast if you know they are coming from the United States. You can also keep books and travel guides handy for any international travelers coming your way. Things to be considered: A Bed & Breakfast accommodation is the mini version of hotel accommodation, so similar steps should be taken while taking into consideration, the rules & regulations, security, permits and licenses. a. There are certain rules and regulations that you follow when you open a B&B accommodation. In some places selling alcohol is not permitted without license. So before selling alcohol, acquiring proper license is mandatory. Even serving a complimentary drink would need a license. So get yourself a premises license first. b. You cannot trust all people coming for B&B accommodation. So it’s always a good practice to keep a copy of any of their identity cards. You can also monitor the area outside the B&B rooms. Keeping surveillance cameras outside the B&B rooms is not at all a bad idea. c. Set some ground rules for check-in and check-out time, cancellations, smoking/drinking permission and also for allowing/not allowing pets. Some advertising will not cost you much. You can market your new venture on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word fast. Lastly enjoy being the host for B&B and let your guests have the most pleasurable stay. More by this Author Aji-no-moto is “Soul of Taste”. It is used extensively by most of the fast food restaurants in over 100 countries. Being able to talk in a foreign language brings a self confidence and enhances your experience. Negotiating in local language can be lot of fun. I was introduced to “Kori rotti” by my best friend invited me at his place for dinner. I had no clue what would it taste like and looking at the crispy rotti I thought I would not enjoy eating it. Just the... No comments yet.	54,030
America's Diverse Family Farms: 2010 Edition American farms vary widely in size and other characteristics, but farming is still an industry of family businesses. Ninety-eight percent of farms are family farms, and they account for 82 percent of farm production. Small family farms make up most of the U.S. farm count and hold the majority of farm assets, but they produce a modest share of U.S. farm output. In contrast, large-scale family farms and nonfamily farms—only 12 percent of all farms—account for 84 percent of farm production. Small farms are less profitable than large-scale farms, on average, and the households operating them tend to rely on off-farm income for their livelihood. Because small-farm households receive most of their income from off-farm work, general economic policies—such as tax policy or economic development policy—can be as important to them as traditional farm policy. \|Date of creation:\|\|Jul 2010\| \|Contact details of provider:\|\| Postal: 1400 Independence Ave.,SW, Mail Stop 1800, Washington, DC 20250-1800\| Web page: http://www.ers.usda.gov/ More information through EDIRC When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:uersib:96653. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc. For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: (AgEcon Search) If references are entirely missing, you can add them using this form.	263,483
Day 1 : Safehand Consulting Limited, UK Keynote: Maintaining patient safety in the design and implementation of health IT information systems Time : 09:00-09:35 Adrian Stavert-Dobson is the Managing Partner of Safe Hand Consulting Limited. He is a leading expert on the safe implementation of health technology. Formerly Head of Clinical Risk Management at BT Global Services, Adrian has operated as a Clinical Safety Officer for ten years overseeing the risk assessment of national health IT systems. In 2016 he published the world’s first book on the subject (ISBN-10: 3319266101). Adrian is a medical doctor, computer programmer and health informatician and speaks regularly at conferences, seminars and workshops. He was pivotal in the development of the UK Safety Standards ISB 0129 and ISB 0160. The use of technology to influence clinical decision making is growing rapidly. The need to improve patient safety is frequently cited as a key driver in the business cases of those procuring new health IT systems. Whilst research has shown that technology can reduce clinical risk it is becoming increasingly apparent that health IT systems introduce hazards of their own. When systems are suboptimally designed or implemented in a vacuum of clinical input, a worrying scenario can result. The UK is leading the world by introducing the first mandatory national standards that require suppliers and healthcare organizations to proactively manage clinical risk in health IT systems before they go live. Conforming to the standards not only protect patients, but also drives product quality, engages clinicians, facilitates project success and reduces the risk of litigation. But complying is a challenge-clinicians are expected to construct complex documentation more commonly formulated by experienced safety engineers. In this presentation the speaker will outline the requirements of the UK standards, the benefits of complying and the challenges they present to suppliers and healthcare organisations in the UK. United States National Defense University, USA Keynote: Global food safety product management: A holistic, integrated, strategic approach (Proposed) Time : 09:35-10:10 William S. Boddie is the Professor of Systems Management at the U.S. National Defense University (NDU) iCollege since 2002. Boddie provided graduate-level education in organizational leadership, management, enterprise architecture, and program management. Boddie led programs for organizations including the U.S. White House, U.S. Treasury Department, U.S. Commerce Department, and the U.S. Social Security Administration. Boddie developed several frameworks and models that enable organizational leaders to improve enterprise performance. Boddie published peer-reviewed journal articles, authored chapters in book publications, and facilitated numerous presentations. Boddie is the NDU iCollege Professor of the Year for 2006 – 2007. The safety of millions of the world’s population is at significant risk. Unsafe food products and foodborne diseases cause the preventable deaths of over two million people annually globally. This situation represents a global sense of urgency in which nations and food product safety-oriented organizations seek to develop and implement actionable strategies to address unsafe food products and foodborne diseases. Food product safety management is critical to enabling safe food products throughout the food product lifecycle. The food product lifecycle represents the activities involved with food products from origin to consumption and/or ultimate disposition. Effective management of food product lifecycle activities is critical to enable safe food product consumption globally. However, virtually every nation, from the least to the most advanced, and every food product safety-oriented organization, lacks a holistic, integrated, strategic approach to enable effective food product safety management. The presenter proposes that nations and food product safety-oriented organizations adopt the Food Product Safety Management Integrated Framework (Proposed). This proposed framework prescribes a holistic, integrated, strategic approach to enabling global food product safety management that includes effective food product safety management, governance, a food product safety management strategy, a food product safety management, enterprise architecture, a food product safety management portfolio management capability, and a food product safety management capital planning and investment management capability. Adopting the proposed framework would enable nations to achieve effective food product safety management by leveraging a holistic, integrated, and strategic approach. Brigham Young University, USA Time : 10:10-10:45 Ray M. Merrill received his academic training in statistics and public health. He is a former Cancer Prevention Fellow at the National Cancer Institute, USA, and visiting scholar at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France. He has won various awards for his research and is a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology and of the American Academy of Health Behavior. He is the author of over 250 peer-reviewed articles and the following books: Environmental Epidemiology, Reproductive Epidemiology, Principles of Epidemiology Workbook, Fundamentals of Epidemiology and Biostatics, Behavioral Epidemiology, and Statistical Methods in Epidemiologic Research. He teaches classes in epidemiology and Biostatistics and is a full professor in the Department of Health Science, College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University. This study explores whether participation in a worksite wellness program differed by age and sex and was associated with frequency and the average cost of medical claims. Healthcare cost data were available for school district employees during the academic years ending in 2009 through 2014. The wellness program was available in the later three years. The frequency and average cost of medical claims were compared between the three years prior to and the three years during the wellness program. Wellness program participation increased from 65.6% 2011-12 to 79.7% 2012-13. The increase occurred within age groups and for males and females. The average age of program participants was significantly lower in 2011-12 (48.2 vs. 49.4, p = 0.0099), but similar in the next two years. Participation in at least one behavior change campaign in each year was 52.1%, 53.7%, and 73.7% of all wellness program participants, respectively. Female employees were significantly more likely to complete one or more behavior change campaigns in each year of the wellness program (p < 0.0001). The percentage of employees filing at least one claim per time period were higher for those in the wellness program (p < 0.0001), but average medical claims payments were lower for those in the wellness program. After subtracting program costs, the cost savings from the wellness program was $3,612,402. The benefit-to-cost ratio was 3.6. Therefore, participation in the wellness program resulted in lower average medical claim costs than non-participation but number of claims were higher in program participants. University of Haifa, Israel Time : 11:10-11:45 Osnat Rubin is a senior lecturer, with the specialties including Educational Counseling and Psychology. She is the head of a track of M.A. studies on Counseling and Human Development at the University of Haifa, Israel. She has also been the editor of the peer-reviewed journal KAET (Hebrew). Her fields of research include: counseling and positive-technologies, human development and PP, minorities in education. Rubin founded an organization that develops technologies to assist therapists, and trains counselors to provide online counseling for minorities. Rubin received important grants for her research and publications in these areas. The positive-psychology (PP) research aims at understanding the positive, adaptive, fulfilling aspects of human behavior, focusing on strengths and quality of life, rather than an illness. Among the highlighted themes of PP (such as happiness, meaningfulness, and spirituality), Hart and Sasso (2011) mark the engagement in resilience and coping, as a significant theme of the “PP second-generation” (“PP 2.0.”). This theme focuses on individuals who are situated in difficulty and limitation, and seeks to characterize the quality of life of people with disabilities (physical, mental or intellectual). The lecture will present the findings of a study concerning the sense of burden and the sense of growth of mothers of adolescents with intellectual disabilities, as it relates to the severity of their children’s retardation. This population is considered to be vulnerable, and these mothers tend to experience a high prevalence of depression, burden and psychological distress. The hypothesis was that among mothers of children with severe mental retardation, the sense of burden will be higher and the sense of growth will be lower. However, no differences in the sense of burden were found between the groups (sever/mild), and the sense of growth among the mothers of adolescents with severe mental retardation was higher. The lecture will afford an extensive presentation of the research findings and insights with regard to the theme of 'meaning', providing a bridge between the 'traditional' approach, which focuses on the parents’ difficulties and pathologies, and the PP approach that recognizes the strengths and positive ways of coping.	186,828
Northern California's Biggest County Sues Glaxo Over Avandia Santa Clara County, the largest county in Northern California (nearly 1.9 million people), has filed a federal lawsuit against pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, alleging that Glaxo knowingly sold its type 2 diabetes drug Avandia for several years despite indications the drug causes heart attacks and strokes. Avandia, which began selling in 1999 and has been a major source of revenue for Pennsylvania-based Glaxo, has been under fire in recent years as evidence accumulated that the drug has been a major factor in thousands of deaths from cardiovascular events. (This Diabetes Health article discusses recent news surrounding Avandia in more detail.) The county's lawsuit is the first time that a government entity has entered court against Glaxo. Santa Clara, which spent $2 million on Avandia from 1999 through 2007 for indigent patients, is claiming that Glaxo's silence about harmful side effects forced the county to have to spend more money, unknowingly, to treat the heart problems Avandia caused. The county says that while it has been planning the lawsuit for some time, a recent U.S. Senate subcommittee report criticizing both Glaxo and the Food and Drug Administration for their handling of Avandia's problems was the final spur to action. Santa Clara's suit seeks compensation not only for itself but also for California diabetes patients and healthcare providers who have used or prescribed Avandia. Avandia is Glaxo's trade name for rosiglitazone, a member of the family of anti-diabetes drugs known as thiazolidinediones. TZDs are drugs that increase the body's sensitivity to insulin. * * * Source:Click Here To View Or Post Comments	45,285
Jennifer Johnson is the K-12 education reporter for The Grand Forks Herald. Contact her if you have any story ideas or tips and visit www.grandforksherald.com. - Member for - 3 years 9 months Lutheran Social Services in Grand Forks is preparing for up to 100 new refugees to resettle in the city this year, but the impact on the school district is uncertain, according to the site supervisor of resettlement services. As is the case every year, the resettlement agency projects a number based on what the community can accommodate, and that is usually up to 100 people, Reggie Tarr said. LSS mostly assists with family reunification, which means refugees are joining family members already established in the area. ROSEAU, Minn.-- Seniors at Roseau received one last lesson before graduating this year. Late last month, the whole class attended a so-called "wisdom retreat," a day of reflection, games and connection before they exit high school. Staff from Youth Frontiers, a character education organization based in Minneapolis, lead part of the retreat but leave much of it in the hands of students. The retreat was especially meaningful for Reilly Stroot, who said he struggled with loneliness at the start of the year. A Friday groundbreaking ceremony for East Grand Forks Senior High's renovation succeeded despite some chilly resistance. Snow, cold and aggressive winds challenged the celebration of a $20.6 million addition and renovation on the school football field. But a small, bundled-up crowd still appeared to recognize what School Board Chairman Tony Palmiscno referred to as "one of the biggest projects since the flood of 1997." Habitat for Humanity in Grand Forks has always been in the position of helping others, but now a local ad agency wants to return the favor. Ad Monkeys has launched a fundraising campaign to replace several tools stolen from the Red River Valley Habitat for Humanity site at North 24th St. Thieves raided a wooden shed belonging to the organization March 31, the second time since Christmas. Kyle Kosier, Habitat's local executive director, said the loss has "severely" set back progress on the home of a family who recently immigrated to the U.S. They are renting an apartment. MANVEL, N.D.—When Richard Ray started teaching at Manvel Public School in 1974, gasoline was 55 cents per gallon, he said. A lot has changed since then, but he hasn't strayed far from the small grade school. After 40 years as principal and superintendent, overseeing significant enrollment growth, leading a migrant student program and witnessing the school win a national academic achievement award in 2014, Ray is retiring. His last day is July 29. A Grand Forks program's effort to champion children has gained recognition from the White House. Grand Forks Head Start was among 15 programs nationwide that recently was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award for being a champion for healthy families, Director Jerry Jonnson said. A new demographic report predicts enrollment at Grand Forks Public Schools could increase by more than 6 percent over the next five years. The district's demographer, Robert Schwarz of Kentucky-based RSP & Associates, gave the School Board a detailed look Monday at future growth expected in the district, including enrollment growth at individual schools. The Grand Forks School Board unanimously approved hiring between 16 and 20 educators Monday to help the district provide better coverage in areas such as special education. Several of the educators are elementary teachers who were added because of enrollment growth expected next year. The total cost is estimated to be between $788,500 and $1.1 million, according to finance committee documents. A North Dakota robotics team finished strong at the World Championship competition late last month in St. Louis. Thunder Robotics Team 876, made up of students from Aneta, Hatton, Emerado and Northwood, were the runner-up for its division, which included 75 teams, said volunteer adviser Mike Voglewede. The team lost the first match by 1 point and the second match by 2 points, but students weren't too disappointed, he said. From "crazy cat lady" grandmas to tough-but-funny grandpas, older Americans were recognized for their general awesomeness Monday in Grand Forks. Fourth-grade winners of an annual contest read essays about their favorite older person before dozens of families and educators at the Grand Forks Senior Center. Judges from Service Providers for Seniors, which holds the contest, selected winners after reading essays from 41 classrooms in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.	103,877
Amnesty Petition of J. B. Carpenter, August 15, 1865 Petitioned under the first clause, having been a Post Master at "Butler" in Rutherford County Jonathan Beattie Carpenter was born to Cynthia and James Hines Carpenter in 1838 in Rutherford County, North Carolina. James Carpenter was a successful merchant, owning $1,000 in property in 1850, which grew to over $7,000 by 1860. And yet, the Carpenter family owned no slaves. From the beginning, Jonathan Beattie Carpenter, or J. B. Carpenter as he signed his name, was the product of his environment. Slaves were present in Rutherford County, but even many of the wealthiest in the county did not own them. It is unknown why most of Rutherford County, and in fact much of this area of North and South Carolina, decided to forgo a paid laborer, but what is know is that J. B. Carpenter continued to follow the overall feelings of the county by supporting the Confederate States of America, and then becoming a Republican after the Civil War, and was the founder and co-editor of a â€œconservativeâ€ newspaper, The Rutherford Star. There being no known personal manuscripts of J. B. Carpenter, the only way to know his feelings regarding the Civil War is by his voting record while serving in the North Carolina House of Commons between 1862 and 1864. He tended to vote for a small government, voting to maintain the writ of Habaus Corpus and to encourage North Carolina Senators and Representatives of the Confederate States of America to abolish the law allowing the President to suspend the writ. He was also a supporter of the war as late as 1864, voting for the substitution of words in a bill giving ultimate power of peace negotiations to the Confederate States of America, but supporting continuation of the war if the Union would not recognize the Confederate States of America as a sovereign nation. He also served as a soldier briefly during the war, but was discharged in October of 1861 due to disability after contracting measles. After serving in the North Carolina House of Commons, he served as Postmaster at Butler in his home Rutherford County. His amnesty letter was written on August 15, 1865. In it, he applied under the first clause, having served as a Postmaster for the Confederate States of America. Within two years of the end of the war, J. B. Carpenter appears to have made a complete political turn around. In 1866 he began a newspaper with Robert Logan, the son of George W. Logan who was elected Superior Court Judge in the 9th Judicial District in 1868 following the passage of the North Carolina Radical Republican Constitution. J. B. Carpenter and Robert Logan opened the first newspaper to be printed in Rutherford County since 1861. In their first edition, they described their newspaper as being conservative, but editorials soon show support of President Johnsonâ€™s plan for Reconstruction for the improvement of the Union. In the Prospectus, printed from the beginning, Carpenter and Logan expressed their â€¦desire to make The Star a welcome visitor to all those who feel an interest in the prosperity and welfare of our country as a whole, and the perpetuity of our institutions, as handed down to us by our noble ancestry, a Federal Republican Government. Our people have but lately emerged from a gigantic civil war, waged by and between Sections of a once glorious Unionâ€¦ We shall be governed by principles and not men, for according to our honest conviction, the present condition of our country is owing to the abandonment of principles, we mean the abandonment of those fundamental principles upon which the Government of the United States was reared.â€¦Politics, we are True Conservatives, believing neither in the Fire Eaters of the South, nor the Radical of the North, but in the Constitution, the Union, and enforcement of all Constitutional laws, whether State or Federal, and a ready and willing obedience to the sameâ€¦ This shows that, even if not admitting to be so, the founders of The Rutherford Star did lean Republican as the country emerged from the â€œgigantic civil war.â€ J. B. Carpenterâ€™s preference for the Republican Party was further shown during the growth of the Ku Klux Klan. By 1869, the Klan had grown in nearby Cleveland County, as well as in Spartenburg County, South Carolina. But in Rutherford County, J. B. Carpenter and the Logans were not the only Republicans. It was feared in 1871 that Rutherford County would suffer more from Klan violence because their Republican majority was so large. Aside from publishing The Star, J. B. Carpenter also turned to the state and federal government for assistance in fighting the KKK. He wrote to the Governor and the President for assistance, and traveled to Washington, DC to testify against the KKK. In fact, leaders of the Cleveland County KKK expressed a desire to kill J. B. Carpenter and others in order to continue the KKK. From birth, it is apparent that J. B. Carpenter followed the general beliefs of those in his county. His family did not own slaves, but few in the area did no matter their wealth. J. B. Carpenterâ€™s voting record while serving in the North Carolina House of Commons often followed that of the majority, including supporting the war effort to the bitter end. By 1866 he was beginning to lean toward the Republican Party, supporting President Johnsonâ€™s plan for Reconstruction in his newspaper, and even printing an editorial encouraging the education of African Americans. A statement by a neighbor shows that J. B. Carpenter and the Logan family were not alone in their Republican preferences. In 1869, it was feared that the strong Republican majority would lead to an increase in Ku Klux Klan violence in Rutherford County. But J. B. Carpenter appears to have become a leader in the fight against the KKK. Carpenter was a strong leader. From serving the Confederate States of America to defending the Union after the war, he helped lead a secluded section of the country through the shadows of rebellion to the reconstruction of the Union. To His Excellency Andrew Johnson President of the Unite States of America The petition of J. B. Carpenter a resident of the County and State aforesaid, aged twenty seven years, last June and by occupation a Farmer represents unto your Excellency that in the Beginning of the late rebellion he was an original Union Man and during the Continuance of the same his political opinions underwent no change. He entered the service of the Confederate States as a volunteer in June 1861 and was relieved from the same in October following. [H]e was elected to the Legislature of No Ca in 1862 and served for two years as a member of that body, he purchased and sold to the soldiers articles of necessity frequently during the continuance of the rebellion. [H]is general conduct was quiet and orderly. Your petitioner was Post Master at â€œButlerâ€ in said County under the so called Confederate States. The offense chargeable against your petitioner is contained in the first clause of the amnesty Proclamation of 29th May 1865. The petition has taken oath of amnesty as prescribed in the Presidentâ€™s Proclamation of 29th May 1865 and intends to observe the same; Your Petition desires to be pardoned and to be placed on a footing with loyal citizens of the United States, as in duty bound will every pray. Sworn to and subscribed this 15th Augt. 1865. Carpenter, Robert C. Carpenters A Plenty. Gateway Press, 1982. Cole, Timothy. The Forest City Lynching of 1900: Populism, Racism, and White Supremacy in Rutherford County, North Carolina. McFarland, 2003 (123). Journal of the House of Commons of North-Carolina at its Adjourned Session 1862-’63. Raleigh: W.W. Holden, Printer to the State, 1863. Wednesday, January 28, 1863, 197-8. Journal of the House of Commons of North-Carolina at its Adjourned Session 1864. Raleigh: W.W. Holden, Printer to the State, 1864. Tuesday, May 24, 1864, 41; Thursday, May 26, 1864, 52-55; Saturday, May 28, 1864, 66-67. Prospectus. The Rutherford Star. V. 1, no. 1, May 2, 1866. General Assembly Session Record November-December 1862 Certificate of Election House of Commons, Joseph Bailey Carpenter, Rutherford County, North Carolina. J.B. Carpenter, First Corporal, Company G, 16th Regiment Confederate States of America. Pension Application, July 7, 1925. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. Military Collection, Civil War Collection, Petitions for Pardon, Box 6.2, Folder Carpenter, J. B. U.S. Census, 1850: Heads of Families. Washington: Government Printing Office. U.S. Census, 1860: Heads of Families. Washington: Government Printing Office. It is also important to note that I have gone by the spelling of Jonathan Beattie Carpenter in James Hines Carpenters will. It is spelled differently in in Carpenter appear to be the same. Copy the code below into your web page	239,061
In very exciting news, David McCloskey's new map of the Cascadia bioregion has been chosen to grace the cover of the new 2015 map book being put out by the geography organization ESRI. It will also be featured at their upcoming conference. As written by McCloskey and the Cascadia Institute, this map shows for the first time the natural integrity of Cascadia as a whole bioregion. "Cascadia is named for the whitewaters that pour down the slopes of her mountains. Home of salmon and rivers, mountains and forests, Cascadia rises as a Great Green Land from the Northeast Pacific Rim. Cascadia curves from coast to crest—from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains and Continental Divide. On the seafloor, Cascadia ranges from the Mendocino Fracture Zone to the Aleutian Trench in the corner of the Gulf of Alaska." He also goes on to explain that: This layered, information-rich, award-winning map shows the distinctive character and context of the wider bioregion in several ways for the first time: - Integrity in Depth: Shows the natural integrity of the whole bioregional fabric across borders (instead of cut-up political space); with accurate scale, features, and mutual proportionality, enabling new insight into in-depth relationships between locations and layers, revealing configurations helping create the distinctive character of Cascadia. - Orientation: Aligns the body of the land and coastline correctly along the 125th meridian (rather than tipping it over awkwardly to fit on the page). - Layers in the FIELD: Building the map through several layers—Terrain, Geology, Seafloor & Coastline, Icefields, Hydrology—Rivers & Lakes, Vegetation, Urban areas, etc.—shows the dynamic FIELD in depth, where composition of map layers follows the way the world works (in contrast to standard geography’s reductionistic “spatiology” of flat container space); here the Bioregional path offers a new approach for in-depth ecological mapping of dynamic weaves creating bioregions as “a place of places.” - Boundaries: Delineates the natural boundaries of Cascadia clearly with accurate locations and identifying labels; especially in terms of the Cascadia Divides and the Continental Divide. - Context: Locates the bioregion as riding the verge of Mountains & the Sea, in relation to the Northeast Pacific Ocean Rim and Cordillera of the North American continent in terms of terrain, rivers, etc.; especially situating Cascadia as one of the 21 major bioregions of Western North America (see Locator Globe). - Land & Sea: Shows the many intimate intertwinings of Land & Sea characteristic of Cascadia, especially its fabulous intricately carved glacial coastline, and sheltered seas amongst islands. - Seafloor: Shows the entire Cascadian seafloor with all its major features clearly delineated, with updated naming from current understanding of marine geophysical processes. - Bathymetric Colors: Calls out the distinctive contour depths in an artistic way so they can be seen. - Terrain: Uses 3-way directional illumination to add dimensional depth to physiographic shaded relief; especially calling out the alternating rhythm of windward and leeward rainshadowed sides. - Hydrology: In tectonically controlled watersheds of the Northern Cordillera, the map shows perennial rivers & lakes as entire drainage networks across borders, including the major continental rivers Cascadia feeds beyond her boundaries. - River Labels: Ranked hierarchically by size in long-term annual average flow volumes (m3s, cfs) so you can grasp at a glance their relative size and significance. - Icefields: Shows the 79 major Icefields of Cascadia—the greatest non-polar Icefields in the world—by geographic section, with proposed names for over half for the first time so they can be better tracked; and shows connections of Icefields to Rivers, as well as to glaciated submarine valleys, canyons, and channels. The Icefields layer provides a key historical baseline in a rapidly melting environment. - Vegetation: The major contribution of the new Cascadia map! Providing a seamless integrative cross-border coverage of Forest Types and other Land Cover in detailed 30 meter resolution; offers a new comprehensive region-wide Forest Framework of 27 major Forest & Woodland assemblages presented in the Legend, with each type’s abbreviation appearing in a color box—e.g. ICH—which is also pinned to its specific locations on the map for ready reference. - Legend: Along with other Land Cover, the contextual legend shows each forest type—e.g. ICH or “Interior Maritime Cedar-Hemlock”—in terms of: (a) its species composition, (b) in order of prevalence, (c) by geographic section—North, Center, South (which can be checked on separate species distribution maps), for (d) both conifer and broadleaf trees. This innovative Legend sets a new standard. - Key: The contextual Legend is linked to a diagnostic Key listing 72 Native Trees of Cascadia organized by Families, translating common-language abbreviations used in the Legend—e.g. WRC for Western Red Cedar—into the scientific Thuja plicata; with the distributions on the map, Legend and Key together offer a new level of comprehensive detail for understanding the composition of Cascadia’s forest assemblages on the ground, for comparison of species occurring across different types, as well as shifting floristic geographies, providing another baseline for understanding change. - Color Palette: Reserving color here for Vegetation (rather than conventional elevation tints), this map provides a coherent and grounded color palette for Cascadia in terms of (a) intrinsic color (e.g. cinnamon-orange for Ponderosa Pine), (b) distribution along regional gradients of moisture and temperature, (c) figure/field contrasts with adjacent colors, and (d) resonance of the overall color field. (Dialing in “just so” over sixty mutually-influencing colors so they work together part-and-whole was a Herculean task, and offers a new Bioregionally grounded strategy for color palette design). - Labels: A Region is a House of Names! Over a year was invested in choosing feature names that most significantly express bioregional character and context; organized in 15 different layers, these labels were carefully composed to best articulate a particular feature (e.g. the massif of Mt Logan) and not compete with one another; overall, label names were laid out to settle into the landscape naturally, so landscape remains primary and labels secondary. - Colors of Landscape vs. Labels: Great care was taken in design to keep Vegetation colors and Bathymetric-Seafloor colors vibrant and saturated so the landscape stayed as foreground with labels as background; (reverse of conventional toning down of landscape and vegetation into muted monotones to increase label contrast and readability, so human labels domesticate nature). - Readability: this map was designed to be readable from different distances—from across the room, from four feet away, as well as nose close-up for detailed inspection. - Memory & Depth: Landscape is the holder of memories… As maps tell a story, depth is found in time as well as the layers depicted—so care was taken to include several lost or submerged features such as The Great Cascades of the Columbia, Celilo Falls, and Kettle Falls. Similarly, the caldera of the great Yellowstone HotSpot Volcano is outlined in fiery orange-red magma, etc. - Evocative: The Cascadia map is intended to be evocative as well as informative. A good map opens a window onto a world—a special one opens up that world as well! We want a map with depth, significance, and resonance—so that if you immerse yourself in its life, it opens and flows out around you. We hope this map opens up the world of Cascadia in a new way…"	287,093
Web scraping describes techniques for automatically downloading and processing web content, or converting online text and other media into structured data that can then be used for various purposes. Data driven work, be it for journalism, poetry or analytics is predicated on having data. The world wide web hosts our virtual city halls, community centers, libraries. Scraping is often step one of deconstructing and understanding these spaces. This workshop offers a simple guide to collecting, crawling, scraping the vast landscape of the internet. You will leave with an idea of how to make sense of huge sets of information, gather what you need and use it for your own creative pursuits. Denny and Tarunima from Tattle will walk participants through the basics of scraping text on the internet with the help of an online poetry repository. The first hour of the workshop will focus on understanding and using tools to scrape data from the internet. The second hour will be a hands-on session for participants to try scraping on their own with support from the facilitators when required. Scraping has become an important research tool in fields such as journalism and sociology. We welcome all creators, makers, journalists, and anyone who wants to explore digitality and text. Please note: This workshop does not require any prior programming or coding experience Participants must have access to a computer, an internet connection and a web browser. No special software is required. This open workshop is a part of the ongoing ‘Collaborative Text Lab’ by dra.ft, under the upcoming Electronic Literature Organization Conference & Festival 2021. dra.ft is a movement, a festival, a community, a long-term research project that explores emergent ideas of text and its future. dra.ft draws from the idea of poetic computation where the machine and author are collaborators. Tattle is building community centered tools for combating misinformation by enabling mobile first users to learn more about the content they receive on chat apps, in languages that they are comfortable with. The data collected by Tattle is helping researchers understand trends on misinformation in closed messaging apps and regional social media.	123,204
a country passing legislation empowering the president to lock up citizens and throw away key. Then, on the same day, the evening news (instead of covering the massive power grab) runs a story showing the president defending civil liberties by cracking down on “unconstitutional policing”. This would be called government propaganda, and it is happening in America. The Reality: On December 15, the Obama administration was granted (as requested) the legal authority to send Americans to jail without charges, without trial, without end. The video below explains how Habeas Corpus (the right to due process) died. The Day Habeas Corpus Died World Net Daily reports that bill empowers president to lock up citizens, throw away key. LIFE WITH BIG BROTHER Are Americans really to be jailed at Gitmo? Critics warn bill empowers president to lock up citizens, throw away key Posted: December 16, 2011 7:50 pm Eastern By Drew Zahn © 2011 WND Buried within an 1,844-page bill currently sitting on Barack Obama's desk awaiting his signature is text that many critics are warning could give the president legal authority to send Americans to jail without charges, without trial, without end. Both the U.S. House and Senate have passed the National Defense Authorization Act, a sweeping piece of legislation that affects dozens of aspects of foreign and military policy, but that was designed primarily to give the military – and not civilian courts – the clear authority for prosecuting and jailing terrorists. But voices from across the political spectrum are concerned that the bill opens the door for the military – led by the president as commander in chief – to indefinitely detain American citizens, even within the U.S. "We're talking about American citizens who can be taken from the United States and sent to a camp at Guantanamo Bay and held indefinitely," explains Rand Paul of Kentucky, one of 13 senators who voted against the bill. … "It's something so radical that it would have been considered crazy had it been pushed by the Bush administration," said [Tom] Malinowski [of Human Rights Watch]. "It establishes precisely the kind of system that the United States has consistently urged other countries not to adopt. At a time when the United States is urging Egypt, for example, to scrap its emergency law and military courts, this is not consistent." Fox19 reports that the Obama administration demanded power to detain U.S. citizens. Reality Check: The Obama administration demanded power to detain U.S. citizens Posted: Dec 15, 2011 11:08 PM EST Updated: Dec 16, 2011 7:40 AM EST By Ben Swann According to Sen. Carl Levin, who helped to craft this bill, not only did the President want the power, THIS ADMINISTRATION WAS THE ONE WHO DEMANDED THE POWER TO DETAIN U.S. CITIZENS INDEFINITELY BE PLACED INSIDE THE BILL. more, check the links below: Transcript of House Debate on the NDAA (lawfareblog) Obama insists on indefinite detention of Americans (RT, December 12) The National Defense Authorization Act: You, Your Body, and Your Country (thebaynet.com, December 15) Disappointment on 220th Anniversary of Bill of Rights (Yahoo News, December 16) Obama Throws Away Civil Liberties With Defense Bill (Newser, December 16) Rights Activists "Appalled" as Senate Passes Prison Without Trial Bill (The New American, December 16) Death To Civil Liberty: The National Defense Authorization Act Passes (eCorsair.com, December 16) Indefinite Detention Bill: Obama's Trail of Broken Promises (International Business Times, December 16) The Nightly News With Brian Williams: On December 15, the Obama administration defended civil liberty by cracking down on “unconstitutional policing” in Arizona. The Nightly News did not report on the death of Habeas Corpus. Instead it aired the segment below: Nightly News: Arizona Sheriff Targeted Latinos, Feds Say This is called government propaganda. Conclusion: It isn’t just Nightly News that is ignoring Obama’s power grab: the entire mainstream media is dead silent. Just Google habeas corpus or indefinite detention. By the way, the only Republican candidate speaking out against the “indefinite detention act” is Ron Paul (See Ron Paul furious over indefinite detention act). This outspokenness is the reason why mainstream media wants his candidacy to die.	192,959
1. The airport bus is cheaper that a taxi. Taxis are more expensive than the airport bus. 2. They sell duty-free goods in the departure lounge. Duty-free goods are sold in the departure lounge. 3. There is a post office in the main building. The main building has a post office. 4. The Hotel Atlanta belongs to one of the airlines. One of the airlines owns the Hotel Atlanta 5. The happy Traveler café is very unpopular. Nobody goes to the happy traveler café. 6. The doctor hasn’t enough time to see you now. The doctor is too busy to see you now. 7. The new hospital is bigger than the old one. The old hospital was smaller than the new one. 8. The doctor is not available on Sunday. You cannot come on Sunday. 9. You don’t need an appointment on Saturdays. Appointments aren’t necessary on Saturdays. 10. You should take these tablets after meals. These tables should be taken before meals. 11. The librarian told Danny to return the book on Monday. The librarian said: you must return the book on Monday. 12. There are 80,000 in this library. The library has 80,000 books. 13. The library lends books to both student and teachers. Both students, and teachers can take the books. 14. The science librarian is more helpful than the history librarian. The history librarian less helpful than the science.	277,935
Decoding the Smurf Phenomenon: Exploring the Meaning Behind the Blue Characters The Smurfs, those small blue creatures created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo, have become a worldwide phenomenon. From their inception in the 1950s to the popular animated TV series in the 1980s and the recent Hollywood film adaptations, the Smurfs have captured the hearts of both children and adults alike. But what is the meaning behind these charming blue characters? The Metaphorical Interpretation One possible interpretation of the Smurfs is that they represent a harmonious society. Each Smurf has a specific role and contributes to the well-being of the whole community. They are depicted as living peacefully, respecting one another, and solving conflicts in a non-violent way. This portrayal of a utopian society can be seen as a metaphor for the ideal community. The Symbolism of the Color Blue The blue color of the Smurfs can also hold symbolic meaning. Blue is often associated with feelings of calmness, trust, and security. The Smurfs’ blue skin reflects their positive and peaceful nature, as well as their capacity to bring joy and happiness to others. Additionally, the color blue has been linked to wisdom and intelligence, suggesting that the Smurfs possess valuable knowledge and insights. The Smurfs as Archetypes Furthermore, each Smurf character embodies a different personality trait or archetype. Papa Smurf represents wisdom and acts as a mentor to the other Smurfs. Clumsy Smurf represents innocence and humility. Smurfette, the only female Smurf, stands for grace and femininity. The existence of these archetypal characters allows viewers to identify with different aspects of their own personalities, fostering a sense of relatability and connection. Decoding the Smurf phenomenon reveals a deeper meaning behind the beloved blue characters. They serve as a representation of an ideal society, promoting harmony, respect, and non-violence. The use of the color blue symbolizes their positive nature and wisdom, while the diverse range of archetypal characters offers viewers the opportunity to relate to different aspects of themselves. Ultimately, the Smurfs remind us of the importance of community, understanding, and embracing our individuality.	285,823
\|Home\|\|Biology\|\|Chemistry\|\|Driver Ed\|\|Physics\|\|Psychology\|\|Learning Tips\|\|Contact\| If you ask people about the importance of Anthropology, you would different answers depending on whom you ask. The fact that Anthropology is important as a discipline is universally recognized and acknowledged by experts in the field. As humans, we are inquisitive and curious by nature. We want to know where we came from, why we are the way we are. We turn to different explanations offered by different subjects like economics, biology and history.And, Anthropology is the one field that can provide comprehensive answers that tie in the different strands of thought from all these fields. Hence, Anthropology and its study are indeed important from the perspective of knowing more about us. Anthropology has different branches and each of the branches provides for a certain aspect of the inquiry into our origins and evolution as a species. For instance, the study of language is the domain of linguistic anthropology. We all know that there are different languages spoken around the world and dialects among these languages as well. To know more about the linkages between these different languages and the differences that exist in the use of words is something that Anthropologists explain. Anthropology is also important from the point of view of studying about human nature and the rituals and customs practiced by different tribes and clans of people. Some practices that are taboo in certain cultures might be accepted as normal in others. It is this bridging of the gap between our innate sense of our own culture and the other cultures is the reason for the importance of Anthropology. More Articles : \|Sponsored Links :\|	267,245
Do You Have to be Elite Defensively to Win an NBA Title? The oldest saying in sports: Defense wins championships. Is it true? It definitely seems to be in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks dismantling the top offense in the Denver Broncos this past Sunday. But what about the NBA? There's an ongoing myth about the NBA that many people (who probably don’t watch the game regularly) think is that there is a lack of defense. It’s all just great offensive players dribbling around aimlessly and dunking at will. This certainly isn't true. Defenses are creative and complex in today's NBA, and GMs are hiring defensive-minded coaches more and more frequently after the success of Tom Thibodeau in Boston and Chicago, Frank Vogel in Indiana, and Erik Spoelstra in Miami. The top of the current NBA standings is loaded with good defensive teams, headed by Indiana who is performing at a historic level on the defensive end this season. However, there are also a couple teams at the top who have subpar defenses and make up for it on the offensive end. How have past NBA champions been defensively? Is a prolific offense or stout defense more important for a playoff run? Is a bad defense, even if it’s coupled with a great offense, a historical disqualifier for a title? Let’s take a look at the last 25 years and see. Note: DefRtg is defensive efficiency, measured as points allowed per 100 possessions \|East Champ\|\|DefRtg Rank\|\|West Champ\|\|DefRtg Rank\|\|Finals Champ\| Over the past 25 years, there were a total of six times that a team with a non top-10 defense made the NBA Finals. To get even more specific, there have only been two teams - the '98 Jazz and '01 Lakers - that made the Finals despite having a defense in the bottom half of the league. Although the Jazz lost to the Bulls in their series, somehow the '01 Lakers ramped up their defense in the Finals to take their series 4-1. I repeat: only two in the past 25 years. That's about as definitive as it gets. The data strongly says having a league-average or worse defense, despite how prolific the team might be on the offensive end, makes it very difficult to have sustained success in the playoffs and ultimately win a championship. Seeing the statistics makes it interesting as to why Rockets big man Omer Asik is still with Houston, despite the need of several teams to solidify their defensive core. A shot blocking force in the middle is quite the commodity in today's NBA, as shown by Roy Hibbert, who anchors the best defense in the NBA in the Indiana Pacers. So how does all this apply to this year's season? Are there any teams that have an elite offense but a below-average defense? Rip City Defense Trail Blazers fans should hope that they can channel the 2001 Lakers this postseason, because the historical data is not kind at all to teams who rank in the bottom 50% of the league in defensive efficiency. The Blazers do have the NBA’s second-best offense (recently surpassed by the Miami Heat, who we’ll get to in a minute), but again, there is less correlation to playoff success with a high powered offense than a top-10 defense. Currently the Blazers have a 109.2 OffRtg, so despite their bad 105.4 DefRtg, they still have a positive NetRtg of 3.8. However, what happens in the playoffs when teams have time to scout and prepare for the Blazers offense? If it dips down a little will that be a back-breaker? As seen by the data, a good defense can compensate for a bad offense far more often than the opposite. The Blazers are shooting 59.7% in the restricted area, per nba.com, which is a little below league average. For comparison, the Heat are first in the NBA in that area, shooting 68.3%. They are shooting 40.2% from corner 3’s, which is sixth in the league, and have a pretty good volume of them as well with 306 on the year, a lot of that in part to very good shooters in Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum. Matthews' efficiency is especially off the charts this season, as he's ninth in the NBA in adjusted field goal percentage. In the paint (non-restricted area), they’re only shooting 37.7%, which is below average as well. Those two areas are generally efficient zones for good offenses, and the top ones usually stack up in those categories at the end of year. Relying on mid-range jumpers at such a high volume (they've taken a league-high 1,359 mid-range shots on the season), which the Blazers do and shooting a top-five percentage at it is typically a hard style of play to sustain. They’re efficient now, but when teams have time to scout this in the playoffs and the mid-range shots aren’t falling, where can they go then? The Defending Champs The Miami Heat are in a similar spot to the Blazers, though a bit less dramatic. As mentioned before, they have the league’s most efficient offense with an OffRtg of 109.3, but they’ve slipped out of the top 10 in defensive efficiency for the first time in a couple years. They’ve had some defensive limitations in the past, heavily relying on small lineups that can blitz the opposing offense and get steals and transition buckets. Despite all that, they still managed to end up with a top-10 defense every year since the Big 3 came to Miami. Last year, they utilized Shane Battier very often as a small-ball power forward, which allowed LeBron James to move back onto the wing and be a part of that incredibly fast moving help defense with Dwyane Wade. This season both Battier and Wade have been in and out of the lineup so frequently that the Heat haven't been able to put this game plan together effectively this year. They currently stand at 14th in the league with a DefRtg of 102.7. Whether this is the Heat “coasting” or not is something that has been discussed ad nauseam by NBA writers. Regardless, the defense will likely need to improve if they want to capture their third title in a row. A league average defense just simply won’t cut it in the playoffs, as we’ve seen year after year. Defense relies a lot on hustle along with scheme, so it's likely that the Heat will ramp things in the playoffs, as their specific style can get pretty exhausting over a season-long schedule. Once Dwyane Wade plays more often with the starting lineup, they'll be able to get better chemistry defensively. The Heat get a bit of a pass until the playoffs (sorry, Blazers fans) since we've seen this story before. With an inevitable Pacers and Heat clash in the Eastern Conference Finals, we're likely going to get a Seahawks/Broncos situation of the league's best defense against the best offense. Though that will be the most publicized aspect of the series, it will likely come down to how the Heat defense fares against the Pacers offense. The Heat have had a top-10 defense each of the past three championship runs, and will probably need to tighten it up to get within that range if they want to make it past Indiana. So, does defense win championships in the NBA? The data resoundingly says yes.	160,790
Even without any deformity the rachitical process is accompanied from an early time with bronchial and tracheal catarrh. There are two tracheal openings just behind the openings of the lungs. Respiratory organs in the form of tracheal tubes opening by a pair of stigmata in the 2nd and 3rd somites of the opisthosoma. It is difficult to determine if the nerves supply the tracheal end cells or the photogenic cells. Section through a tracheal pit and diverging bundles of tracheal tubes taken transversely to the long axis of the body. He believed that the "air-vessels" or tracheal elements, tended to draw the plant upwards, and the roots to pull it downwards. The dorsal rows of tracheal apertures are continued into the head and give rise in this situation to enormous bundles of trache. We remember that the transverse processes are often, from their relation with the trachea, known as the tracheal processes. The tracheal opening is in the middle of the abdomen, nearer the epigynum than the spinnerets. The tracheal opening is not as far forward as in bimaculata, being nearer the spinnerets than the epigynum.	144,980
Now comes news of the first ever drone photography competition, publicised by Huffington Post as ‘Dronestagram photography’ which gives a drone’s eye view of Planet Earth. The organisers claim that drone photography showcases beautiful aerial photography but also geographic data. Popular equipment included the DJI Phantom drone fitted with a GoPro Hero 3 camera. More details are on the Dronetagram site. Here at MBF Blogs we have raised drones before, and also art/photography: Learning About Truth, But Not Through a Camera Lens, 4 August 2014 Fearsome Drones Now Making Art and New Friends, 30 May 2014 Time to Stop the Selfie, It’s Got Beyond Ridiculous, 14 May 2014 Art to Admire for Art’s Sake in the Digital Era, 29 January 2014 Time-Lapse Photography Is a Form of Time Travel Accessible to All, 20 November 2013 Forward to the Past as Polaroids Make a Comeback, 25 March 2013	158,162
Cadernos de Saúde Pública On-line version ISSN 1678-4464 Print version ISSN 0102-311X TEIXEIRA, Claudio Luiz dos Santos; KLEIN, Carlos Henrique; BLOCH, Kátia Vergetti and COELI, Claudia Medina. Probable cause of death after reclassification of ill-defined causes on hospital admissions forms in the Unified National Health System, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2006, vol.22, n.6, pp.1315-1324. ISSN 1678-4464. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2006000600020. This article describes the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of deaths from ill-defined causes in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1998, and reclassifies the groups of probable causes based on data from death certificates in the Mortality Information System and the Hospital Information System of the Unified National Health System (SIH-SUS) for 1997-98. Reclassification required a random sample of defined causes from the SIH-SUS. The technique used was probabilistic relationship of records. As compared to deaths with defined causes, in those with ill-defined causes the individuals were predominantly non-white, had less schooling, had died in Greater Metropolitan Rio de Janeiro, were less likely to have been hospitalized in the SUS, and were more likely to have died at home and without medical care. It was possible to reclassify 20% of deaths with ill-defined causes. Reclassification had a minor impact on proportional mortality, due to the size of this group (10% of the deaths). However, if the results could be applied to all deaths with ill-defined causes, the impact might be greater on proportional mortality. Keywords : Information Systems; Mortality Registries; Death Certificates.	57,515
ORIGO GENTIUM LANGOBARDUM The Origin of the Lombard Nation Written c. 650 AD IN THE NAME OF GOD, HERE BEGINS THE ORIGIN OF THE LOMBARD NATION I. There is an island that is called Scadanan, which is interpreted destruction, in the regions of the north, where many people dwell. Among these there was a small people that was called the Winniles. And with them was a woman, Gambara by name, and she had two sons. Ybor was the name of one and Agio the name of the other. They, with their mother, Gambara by name, held the sovereignty over the Winniles. Then the leaders of the Wandals, that is, Ambri and Assi, moved with their army, and said to the Winniles: Either pay us tribute or prepare yourselves for battle and fight with us. Then answered Ybor and Agio, with their mother Gambara: It is better for us to make ready the battle than to pay tributes to the Wandals. Then Ambri and Assi, that is, the leaders of the Wandals, asked Godan that he should give them the victory over the Winniles. Godan answered, saying: Whom I shall first see when at sunrise, to them will I give the victory. At that time Gambara with her two sons, that is, Ybor and Agio, who were chiefs over the Winniles, besought Frea, the wife of Godan, to be propitious to the Winniles. Then Frea gave counsel that at sunrise the Winniles should come, and that their women, with their hair let down around the face in the likeness of a beard, should also come with their husbands. Then when it became bright, while the sun was rising, Frea, the wife of Godan, turned around the bed where her husband was lying and put his face towards the east and awakened him. And he, looking at then, saw the Winniles and their women having their hair let down around the face. And he says, Who are these Long-beards? And Frea said to Godan, As you have given them a name, give them also the victory. And he gave them the victory, so that they should defend themselves according to his counsel and obtain the victory. >From that time the Winniles were called Langobards. II. And the Langobards moved thence and came to Golaida and afterwards they occupied the aldionates of Anthaib and Bainaib and also Burgundaib. And it is said that they made for themselves a king, Agilmund by name, the son of Agio, of the race of Gugingus. And after him reigned Laimaichio of the race of Gugingus. And after him reigned Lethuc and it is said that he reigned about forty years. And after him reigned Aldihoc the son of Lethuc. And after him reigned Godehoc. III. At that time king Audochari went forth from Ravenna with the army of the Alani and came into Rugiland and fought with the Rugians and killed Theuvane king of the Rugians, and led many captives with him into Italy. Then the Langobards departed from their own territories and dwelt some years in Rugiland. IV. Claffo, the son of Godehoc, reigned after him. And after him reigned Tato the son of Claffo. The Langobards settled three years in the fields of Feld. Tato fought with Rodolf king of the Heruli and killed him and carried off his banner and helmet. After him the Heruli had no kingly office. And Wacho the son of Unichis killed king Tato his paternal uncle together with Zuchilo. And Wacho fought, and Ildichis the son of Tato fought, and Ildichis fled to the Gippidi where he died. And to avenge his wrong the Gypidis made war with the Langobards. At this time Wacho bent the Suabians under the dominions of the Langobards. Wacho had three wives : (first) Raicunda, daughter of Fisud king of the Turingi. After her he took as his wife Austrigusa a girl of the Gippidi. And Wacho had from Austrigusa two daughters; the name of one was Wisigarda whom he gave in marriage to Theudipert king of the Franks, and the name of the second was Walderada whom Scusuald king of the Franks had as his wife, but having her in hatred he transferred her to Garipald for a wife. He had as his third wife the daughter of the king of the Heruli, Silinga by name. From her he had a son, Waltari by name. Wacho died and his son Waltari reigned seven years without posterity. They were all Lethinges. V. And after Waltari, reigned Auduin. He led the Langobards into Pannonia. And there reigned after him Albuin, his son, whose mother is Rodelanda. At that time Albuin fought with the king of the Gippidi, Cunimund by name, and Cunimund died in that battle and the Gippidi were subjugated. Albuin took as his wife Cunimunds daughter Rosemund, whom he had captured as booty, since his wife Flutsuinda, who was the daughter of Folthar, king of the Franks, had already died. From her he had a daughter by name Albsuinda. And the Langobards dwelt forty-two years in Pannonia. This Albuin led the into Italy the Langobards who were invited by Narses of the secretaries. And Albuin, king of the Langobards, moved out of Pannonia in the month of April after Easter in the first indiction. In the second indiction, indeed, they began to plunder in Italy, but in the third indiction he became master of Italy. Albuin reigned in Italy three years, and was killed in Verona in the palace by Rosemund his wife and Hilmichis upon the advice of Peritheo. Hilmichis wished to be king and could not because the Langobards wanted to slay him. Then Rosemund sent word to the prefect Longinus that he should receive her in Ravenna. When Longinus presently heard this he rejoiced; he sent a ship of the public service and they brought Rosemund and Hilmichis and Albsuinda, king Albuins daughter, and conducted all the treasures of the Langobards with them to Ravenna. Then the prefect Longinus began to persuade Rosemund to kill Hilmichis and become the wife of Longinus. Having given ear to his counsel, she mixed poison and, after the bath, gave it to him (Hilmichis) to drink in a goblet. But when Hilmichis had drunk, he knew that he had drunk something pernicious. He commanded that Rosemund herself should drink although unwilling, and they both died. The prefect Longinus took the treasure of the Langobards and commanded Albsuinda, the daughter of king Albuin, to be put in a ship, and sent over to Constantinople to the emperor. VI. The rest of the Langobards set over themselves a king named Cleph, of the stock of Beleos, and Cleph reigned two years and died. And the dukes of the Langobards administered justice for twelve years and after these things they set up over themselves a king named Autari, the son of Cleph. And Autari took as his wife Theudelenda, a daughter of Garipald and of Walderada from Bavaria. And with Theudelenda came her brother Gundoald, and king Autari appointed him duke in the city of Asta. And Autari reigned seven years. And Acquo, the Thuringian duke, departed from Turin and united himself with queen Theudelenda and became king of the Langobards. And he killed his rebel dukes Zangrolf of Verona, Mimulf of the island of St Julian and Gaidulf of Bergamo, and others who were rebels. And Acquo begot of Theudelenda a daughter, Gunperga by name. And Acquo reigned six years, and after him Aroal reigned twelve years. And after him reigned Rothari, of the race of Arodus, and he destroyed the city and fortresses of the Romans which were around the coasts from the neighbourhood of Luna up to the land of the Franks and in the east up to Ubitergitum (Oderzo). And he fought near the river Scultenna, and there fell on the side of the Romans the number of eight thousand. VII. And Roathari reigned seventeen years. And after him reigned Aripert nine years. And after him reigned Grimoald. At this time the emperor Constantine departed from Constantinople and came into the territories of Campania and turned back to Sicily and was killed by his own people. And Grimoald reigned nine years, and after him Berthari reigned. IN NOMINE DOMINI INCIPIT ORIGO GENTIS LANGOBARDORVM I. Est insula qui dicitur scadanan, quod interpretatur excidia, in partibus aquilonis, ubi multae gentes habitant; inter quos erat gens parva quae winnilis vocabatur. Et erat cum eis mulier nomine gambara, habebatque duos filios, nomen uni ybor et nomen alteri agio; ipsi cum matre sua nomine gambara principatum tenebant super winniles. Moverunt se ergo duces wandalorum, id est ambri et assi, cum exercitu suo, et dicebant ad winniles: " Aut solvite nobis tributa, aut praeparate vos ad pugnam et pugnate nobiscum". Tunc responderunt ybor et agio cum matre sua gambara: "Melius est nobis pugnam praeparare, quam wandalis tributa persolvere". Tunc ambri et assi, hoc est duces wandalorum, rogaverunt godan, ut daret eis super winniles victoriam. Respondit godan dicens: "Quos sol surgente antea videro, ipsis dabo victoriam". Eo tempore gambara cum duobus filiis suis, id est ybor et agio, qui principes erant super winniles, rogaverunt fream, uxorem godam, ut ad winniles esset propitia. Tunc frea dedit consilium, ut sol surgente venirent winniles et mulieres eorum crines solutae circa faciem in similitudinem barbae et cum viris suis venirent. Tunc luciscente sol dum surgeret, giravit frea, uxor godan, lectum ubi recumbebat vir eius, et fecit faciem eius contra orientem, et excitavit eum. Et ille aspiciens vidit winniles et mulieres ipsorum habentes crines solutas circa faciem; et ait: "Qui sunt isti longibarbae" ? Et dixit frea ad godan: "Sicut dedisti nomen, da illis et victoriam". Et dedit eis victoriam, ut ubi visum esset vindicarent se et victoriam haberent. Ab illo tempore winnilis langobardi vocati sunt. II. Et moverunt se exhinde langobardi, et venerunt in golaidam, et postea possiderunt aldonus anthaib et bainaib seu et burgundaib; et dicitur, quia fecerunt sibi regem nomine agilmund, filium agioni, ex genere gugingus. Et post ipsum regnavit laiamicho ex genere gugingus. Et post ipsum regnavit lethuc, et dicitur, quia regnasset annos plus minus quadraginta. Et post ipsum regnavit aldihoc, filius lethuc. Et post ipsum regnavit godehoc. III. Illo tempore exivit rex audoachari de ravenna cum exercitu alanorum, et venit in rugilanda et inpugnavit rugos, et occidit theuvane regem rugorum, secumque multos captivos duxit in italiam. Tunc exierunt langobardi de suis regionibus, et habitaverunt in rugilanda annos aliquantos. IV. Post eum regnavit claffo, filius godehoc. Et post ipsum regnavit tato, filius claffoni. Sederunt langobardi in campis feld annos tres. Pugnavit tato cum rodolfo rege herulorum, et occidit eum, tulit vando ipsius et capsidem. Post eum heruli regnum non habuerunt. Et occidit wacho, filius unichis, tatonem regem barbanem suum cum zuchilone. Et pugnavit wacho, et pugnavit ildichis, filius tatoni, et fugit ildichis ad gippidos, ubi mortuus est. Iniuria vindicanda gippidi scandalum commiserunt cum langobardis. Eo tempore inclinavit wacho suavos sub regno langobardorum. Wacho habuit uxores tres: raicundam, filia fisud regis turingorum; et postea accepit uxorem austrigusa, filiam gippidorum; et habuit wacho de austrigusa filias duas, nomen unae wisigarda, quam tradidit in matrimonium theudiperti regis francorum; et nomen secundae walderada, quam habuit uxorem scusuald rex francorum, quam odio habens, tradidit eam garipald in uxorem. Filia regis herulorum tertiam uxorem habuit nomen silinga; de ipsa habuit filium nomine waltari. Mortuus est wacho, et regnavit filius ipsius waltari annos septem; farigaidus: isti omnes lethinges fuerunt. V. Et post waltari regnavit auduin; ipse adduxit langobardos in pannonia. Et regnavit albuin, filius ipsius, post eum, cui mater est rodelenda. Eo tempore pugnavit albuin cum rege gippidorum nomine cunimund, et mortuus est cunimund in ipsa pugna, et debellati sunt gippidis. Tulit albuin uxore rosemunda, filia cunimundi, quae praedaverat, quia iam mortua fuerat uxor ipsius flutsuinda, quae fuit filia flothario regis francorum; de qua habuit filia nomine albsuinda. Et habitaverunt langobardi in pannonia annis quadraginta duo. Ipse albuin adduxit langobardos in italia, invitatos a narsete scribarum; et movit albuin rex langobardorum de pannonia mense aprilis a pascha indictione prima. Secunda vero indictione coeperunt praedare in italia. Tertia autem indictione factus est dominus italiae. Regnavit albuin in italia annos tres, et occisus est in verona in palatio ab hilmichis et rosemunda uxore sua per consilium peritheo. Voluit regnare hilmichis, et non potuit, quia volebant eum langobardi occidere. Tunc mandavit rosemunda ad longinum praefectum, ut eam reciperet ravenna. Mox ut audivit longinus, gavisus est, misit navem angarialem, et tulerunt rosemunda et hilmichis et albsuindam, filia albuin regis, et omnes thesauros langobardorum secum duxerunt in ravenna. Tunc ortare coepit longinus praefectus rosemunda, ut occideret hilmichis et esset uxor longini. Audito consilium ipsius, temperavit venenum, et post valneum dedit ei in caldo bibere. Cumque bibisset hilmichis, intellexit, quod malignum bibisset; praecepit, ut ipsa rosemunda biberet invita; et mortui sunt ambo. Tunc longinus praefectus tulit thesauros langobardorum, et albsuinda, filia albuin regis, iussit ponere in navem et transmisit eam constantinopolim ad imperatorem. VI. Reliqui langobardi levaverunt sibi regem nomine cleph de beleos, et regnavit cleph annos duos, et mortuus est. Et iudicaverunt duces langobardorum annos duodecim; posthaec levaverunt sibi regem nomine autarine, filio claffoni; et accepit autari uxorem theudelenda, filia garipald et walderade de baiuaria. Et venit cum theudelenda frater ipsius nomine gundoald, et ordinavit eum autari rex ducem in civitatem astense. Et regnavit autari annos septem. Et exivit acquo dux turingus de thaurinis, et iunxit se theudelendae reginae, et factus est rex langobardorum; et occidit duces revelles suos, zangrolf de verona, mimulf de insula sancti iuliani et gaidulf de bergamum, et alios qui revelles fuerunt; et genuit acquo de theodelenda filiam nomine gunperga. Et regnavit acquo annos VI. Et post ipso regnavit aroal annos duodecim. Et post ipso regnavit rothari ex genere arodus, et rupit civitatem vel castra romanorum quae fuerunt circa litora apriso lune usque in terra francorum quam ubitergium ad partem orienti, et pugnavit circa fluvium scultenna, et ceciderunt a parte romanorum octo milia numerus. VII. Et regnavit rothari annos decem et septem. Et post ipsum regnavit aripert annos novem. Et post ipsum regnavit grimoald. Eo tempore exivit constantinus imperator de constantinopolim, et venit in partes campaniae, et regressus est in sicilia, et occisus est a suis. Et regnavit grimoald annos novem; et post regnavit berthari.	117,779
Global Warming Isn't Suddenly a Myth Because It's Really Cold The 'polar vortex' and cold weather don't mean climate change isn't happeningJanuary 27, 2014 This article originally appeared in U.S. News & World Report on Jan. 25, 2014. By Yarrow Axford With December snow still sitting on my Chicago lawn, and the latest blast of arctic air now moving through most of the country, more reasonable weather seems a distant memory. To make temperatures that freeze your nostril hairs even less welcome, the lousiest weather every winter brings out a corresponding blast of hot air from climate change skeptics, who annually present the seasons as evidence that modern science is a scam. Take Donald Trump’s recent tweet, for example, delivered to his almost 2.5 million followers, that “global warming [bulls**t] has got to stop. Our planet is freezing...” The Donald is wrong, but many people may share his misperception. There appears to be a psychological basis for the way our collective concern about global warming tends to fall with the autumn leaves and rise whenever the mercury does. A 2011 study by researchers at Columbia University found that study participants who described the day they were surveyed as warmer than usual expressed more concern about global warming, and were willing to donate more money to a relevant charity. The opposite effects were observed in participants who described the day as colder than usual. A recent follow-up study sought to understand the underlying reasons for this effect, and found that study participants showed a preference for forming opinions based upon accessible and simple information (like today’s temperature), rather than complex and impersonal data (which probably describes anything you’ve ever heard about the science of climate change). Unfortunately, although winter marks the end of many things – fall semester, baseball season, wearing sandals in Chicago – even the frostiest winter cold snaps do not stop or even slow down global warming. Climate change is a painstakingly well-documented long-term global trend, in which each recent decade has been warmer than the decade before. This is generally true for most parts of the globe, but more importantly is true when one considers the Earth as a whole. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change described in its Fifth Assessment Report released last September, “Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since 1850,” and “In the Northern Hemisphere, 1983–2012 was likely the warmest 30-year period of the last 1400 years.” Despite the overwhelming evidence that our planet is warming, there are two points of perpetual confusion that combine with our psychology to make winter weather a seasonal boon for climate skepticism. For one, a cold snap where we live should not be confused for a global event. While the recent polar vortex weirdness had communities across the eastern U.S. scrambling to deal with frigid weather earlier this month, it may have seemed to Americans like the whole world was locked in an icy grip. It was easy to forget that only hours before the arrival of that record-setting cold, parts of the eastern U.S. were enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures. And while Midwesterners were bundling up against the frigid cold, unusually warm winter temperatures were making the news in parts of Europe, including Russia, leading to (likely premature) speculation that the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi might not be wintery enough for winter sports. Farther away, Australia was baking in a record-setting continent-wide heat wave, which later led to suspension of play during the Australian Open due to the risks of dangerous heat for athletes. While I was worrying about my bathroom plumbing freezing up in Chicago, a friend in Adelaide wrote to say, “Just to warm you up, it is currently >110 F.” Not only has this winter’s seemingly epic cold weather been matched nearly point-for-point by unusually warm weather in other places, but there is an even more important point to keep in mind: climatically speaking, all weather should be considered short-term noise superimposed over longer-term climate. Lately, that means superimposed over the unmistakable decades-long warming trend described by the Panel on Climate Change. Even if it is a global event, a cold season or cold year alone does not give us a cooling climate. Similarly, the evidence for a warming climate is not based upon a single warm season or year. Take Arctic sea ice, for example. As can be seen clearly in data available from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, in recent summers sea ice has covered about half to two-thirds the area of the Arctic Ocean as it did in summers of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The downward trend is astonishing when one views the data over decades. Last year saw the 6th smallest ice extent ever recorded – better news than the record low reached in 2012, but by no means the “global cooling” touted by climate skeptics. Of course, the same faulty conflation of short-term weather and longer-term climate sometimes goes in the opposite direction, applied to hot weather. One very bad year for Arctic sea ice will not necessarily be followed by another equally bad year. A hot summer in one part of the country is not, by itself, evidence for climate change – although hotter and more frequent heat waves are an expected consequence of global warming and the probability of hot summers is going up, up, up. The bottom line is that the problem of climate change has not gone away, despite the fact that some of us can’t remember what our yards look like without snow or our spouses look like without long underwear. Given that we may be wired to worry more about climate change when we’re warm than when we’re cold, maybe it was a blessing that Trump’s misinformed tweets made me so angry and hot under the collar. - Yarrow Axford is an assistant professor of earth and planetary sciences at Northwestern University.	247,960
\|Knee Braces by Form Hinged braces are commonly more strong than other types. They limit lateral (aspect to facet) actions and can also be used to restrict the quantity of flexion (bending) or extension (straightening) at the knee joint. Neoprene is a thick stretchy substance which will stretch in all four instructions. It is a normally utilized materials in knee braces and is very adaptable. Neoprene braces can occur in the kind of a basic sleeve, with extra support close to the knee cap, in a wrap about design and style for a more contoured match, or with added lateral rigidity. Elastic braces are manufactured of stretchable materials and are normally deemed to be very at ease. They are usually only applied for gentle support in quite mild accidents. Knee bands are normally substantially smaller than other braces and are generally utilised only for tendon and bursa difficulties. They wrap about the distressing region to 'offload' anxiety by way of the damage. Knee bands are rather uniform in their design and style a excellent range are readily available. Knee Braces by Harm Arthritic or degenerative problems will gain from a wrap model brace offering compression and support. If the patelofemoral joint is impacted, a cutout brace which stabilizes the patella (kneecap) ought to be regarded as. For arthritis inside the knee joint by itself an 'unloader' brace really should be thought to be. Ligament injuries will profit from a far more dynamic, hinged brace. Collateral ligament (MCL or LCL) really should be limited from any lateral (aspect to facet) movement but nevertheless permitted to totally flex and prolong. An ACL injury (either surgically repaired or non-surgically managed) can benefit from a identical kind of unit but might even more reward from a knee extension constraint brace. A knee extension constraint brace is a variety of hinged brace, it limits lateral movement, prevents twisting and lowers loading on the ACL. The DonJoy customized defiance brace is utilised for ACL accidents and is produced to measure which allows with ease and comfort and perform. Moderate to moderate meniscus injuries can be served by a compression/wrap around brace. A additional considerable injury or tear will call for a hinged brace which limits twisting/turning sort movements. The moment you have chosen the form of brace you will need, it is also really worth contemplating about how long and what action you are most likely to require the brace for. If it is for limited-term and mild use only then a generic 'off the shelf' system is most likely to be enough while if you are likely to want the brace for lengthy phrase or weighty duty use (as is generally the situation with ACL damage or repair or pursuits which demand a whole lot of effect/twisting & turning) then a more lengthy lasting produced to measure brace would be far better. Skiers in unique will need to consider how the layout of the brace will have an impact on their action. ACL tears are generally related with ski injuries. Assuming that a great restoration has been built, there is no motive why a total return to activity ought to not be manufactured. However, most skiers will need bracing subsequent fix and rehabilitation, especially higher amount aggressive skiers. Bracing companies have developed braces especially for this intent. 1 illustration is the DonJoy Ski Armor. An inappropriately selected knee brace can bring about more hurt than good and the choice to use a brace ought to not be taken lightly. The most critical issue in deciding on a knee brace really should be dependent on an precise prognosis of your injuries. If you are in any doubt more than this then you really should find suggestions from a registered overall health expert. I like the story of how the initial Donjoy knee braces ended up generated. It is a genuine case in point of how sometimes, solutions are invented in response to a actual "need" and not off the achievement of competitors. In fact, the first "brace" was created relatively unceremoniously in quite inauspicious surroundings! Back in 1978, one particular of the footballers in the Philadelphia Eagles wrapped an outdated bicycle internal tube about his unstable knee for support. Despite the fact that this supplied a measure of relief, it wasn't acceptable for very long phrase use. He and a couple of his close friends teamed up in his garage to search at the chance of making use of other products for the identical principle and settled on neoprene, with the very first kneesocks becoming produced from aged diving fits. The company was born and the identify "Donjoy" came from an amalgamation of two of the men's wives-Donna and Pleasure. The company moved on at a quickly charge and quickly embarked on a appropriate plan of study and engineering which would sooner or later take their unique strategy to a completely unique level and was the innovation at the rear of the planet of knee bracing. The initially official Donjoy knee braces to be professionally built were the Defiance and the Legend. These have been produced in 1992 and 1995 respectively. The Defiance grew to become the Donjoy flagship, probably because of to the actuality that it was so customisable and consequently appealed to so numerous different men and women with diverse amounts of harm and knee joint instability. The firm was purchased back again in 1987 by Smith and Nephew who continued to perform on the by now very well-known Donjoy knee braces. In addition, new goods have been produced and the array expanded swiftly into other connected regions this kind of as braces for ankles, elbows, wrists and the again. Donjoy has a repute around the world for providing superior good quality braces and materials many athletic groups for around the world occasions this kind of as the Olympics and Commonwealth Game titles. Certainly, its mother or father firm was chosen as the official health care supplier and unique knee brace provider for the U.S Ski and Snowboarding groups. Bringing items up to day, the selection of Donjoy knee braces now is composed of a assortment of through 30 various goods-a far cry from the internal tube which created up the initially supportive "brace". As expected, numerous have mimicked the items manufactured by Donjoy, but no other organization can claim these kinds of a humble starting in terms of how their very own knee brace items came about. Any human being with arthritis knows the pain and discomfort this situation can cause. An arthritis knee brace is made to relieve this suffering. Arthritis discomfort normally happens in the knee joint. These products are recommended to reduce strain on the knee and leg. Prior to you decide on to use this system, suitable consultation need to be executed to figure out the bring about of arthritis of the knee. This, in flip, determines the sort of reinforcement for use. The brings about of arthritis of the knee Inflammation in the knee brings about ache of arthritis. This problem can take place in the two knee joints and for all ages. Middle-aged men and women may also have arthritis. This is wherever the cartilage bones absence of moisture, which leads to them to rub. This would in flip get the bones to rub against just about every other leading to discomfort. The downside is that this problem will get worse more than time. Right after a knee injuries occurs, it can lead to arthritis. These damages can not be recognized right away immediately after it takes place. When is begins it prospects to a huge ache in the knee joint. Major good reasons to commence using arthritis knee braces The stress on the knees and legs can trigger arthritis. A knee brace minimizes the stress to decrease arthritis suffering. When you have a rare kind of knee framework, braces can be applied to correctly align the knee. When you have a great deal of excess weight pressing down, it can trigger soreness. In this circumstance, the knee support is applied to manage the pressure of excess weight on the knees. There are health care experts do not suggest these units for a extended time. Experts say that these kinds of use may well lead to a deterioration of the muscle groups of the knee and leg, which prospects to abnormal use of all their functionality. Kinds of braces for the Knee These braces are of two varieties: off the shelf and customized knee braces. The off the shelf form of stock is comfortable to use due to the fact it is readily accessible. Customized, on the other hand, just take a couple of days ahead of delivery to the consumer. These braces are intended to meet the certain demands of its people. Consequently, they are a lot more high-priced than their counterparts. These braces are for certain parts of discomfort. They are suggested for men and women with exceptional kinds of the knee. Knee supports are obtainable in both equally small and massive dimensions. Great healthcare guidance really should be sought before utilizing the knee supports. For the most serious arthritis soreness, the brace is suggested. A knee brace is suggested for people with arthritis discomfort. This band is one particular of the greatest approaches to handle this affliction. There are in essence 3 kinds of braces: Submit-operative, useful and preventative/prophylactic knee braces. Post-op braces are typically recommended subsequent surgical treatment or an injury when the knee demands comprehensive immobilization. These braces are commonly long braces that may possibly extend from the higher thigh to the lower leg. Right after surgical procedure or serious knee damage, mild to reasonable soreness and edema of the knee occurs. Your medical professional may well prescribe a knee immobilizer which prevents the knee from bending. These products are used as an substitute to forged immobilization. The health practitioner may well also prescribe a post-operative brace that has hinges that offer you assortment of movement capabilities. These post-operative braces are modern, uncomplicated-to-use braces that can modify the assortment of motion with the click on of a button. These braces can immobilize the knee and then let managed boosts in selection-of-movement as the knee heals and the individual commences physical remedy. There is no controversy with these sorts of braces, as they have established powerful and successful as an choice to cast immobilization. Purposeful braces are hinged supports that support and consider over the function of ruined knee ligaments in and around the knee. These braces can be cloth model with hinges, or complete metal frames or carbon fiber. These braces are made to guard the MCL (Medial Collateral Ligaments), LCL (Lateral Collateral Ligament), Meniscus, ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament). You may possibly have observed some qualified football gamers working with these sorts of braces. Prophylactic or preventative braces are supports that are applied by some athletes that do not have an harm, but desire to wear a brace to protect against injuries, specially in high impact and make contact with distraction like football, rugby, skiing and h2o jeu. This is wherever we get some controversy. A lot of doctors experience it is not only pointless to have on a brace to support a usual joint, but may possibly trigger hurt, as it may well impact the biomechanics of the individuals gait. Some medical professionals are also worried about weakness in the knee joint from prolonged use of knee braces. The more rigid braces will eliminate stress away from the knee and the bordering muscle groups and ligaments and may well result in atrophy and damage of bone density. Quite a few doctors however really feel that given the proper situation, these braces, when utilised effectively, can provide a level of protection for athletes, especially in high influence jeu. Some patients with inherited unstable knees can advantage from this type of brace. It is critical that you talk to with your medical doctor and therapist ahead of deciding on a knee brace. There are hundreds of companies and thousands of knee braces to opt for from, so it can be very perplexing. There are braces specific for ACL tears, and ones for patella tracking. If you obtain the incorrect brace for your affliction, you might not only chance more harm, but may possibly cause other issues. What brings about Iliotibial Band (ITB) syndrome? ITB syndrome is triggered by irritation in your iliotibial band. This band runs along the outside of your leg. It commences at your hip and runs alongside your outer thigh. From the thigh, it attaches to the outdoors edge of your shin bone just under your knee joint. Your iliotibial band will help hold the exterior of your knee steady in the course of pursuits like operating, strolling, or playing sports. It functions with your thigh muscle groups (quadriceps) to provide stability. If you irritate it you could experience ache alongside the outside the house of your knee. You may also feel soreness in your decrease thigh. Your can irritate this band and result in it to develop into inflamed if you use it as well significantly. Runners can get ITB syndrome if they take part in unbalanced and repetitive work outs. An instance of an unbalanced workout is when a runner only runs one way around a monitor. This repetition and imbalance can lead to the ITB to be overused. Overusing the band can bring about irritation. It is widespread that the suffering from ITB syndrome could not hit household till a person or two miles into a operating work out. The ache can be persistent the moment it begins and can keep and get even worse undertaking this sort of attractions as running downhill and walking down stairs. You may possibly come to feel the discomfort up and down your leg. And when you halt running, and commence to walk with shorter techniques and additional little by little, the soreness can almost disappear as strange as this would seem. Will making use of knee braces for Iliotibial Band Syndrome aid? Making use of some form of brace can assist with the ache from ITB syndrome. Knee braces for iliotibial band syndrome use compression in the spot in which you experience soreness and discomfort. Knee braces for iliotibial band syndrome can avoid friction of the ITB. This will help with the healing course of action. These braces can aid you increase your activity stage. And can aid strengthen your leg purpose. If you are a runner, knee braces for iliotibial band syndrome can aid you increase your jogging endurance. Knee braces for iliotibial band syndrome that you can decide on from incorporate: the Cho-Pat Iliotibial Strap, Bioskin Compression Shorts with Cinch Strap, and the ProCare Thigh Sleeve. At the Cho-Pat is an superb decision. This strap is ideal for discomfort relief from ITB syndrome. The Bioskin Compresion Shorts and the ProCare each enable offer compression for your hamstrings and quadriceps. These braces can also support with ITB syndrome suffering.	132,540
The issue of ionizing radiation interacting with the environment has become a disaster to think with in Asia following the catastrophes in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. Awareness of radiation in post-disaster sites, the environment, and in workplaces, has lodged anxieties inseparable from everyday life and various imagined futures that implicate societies beyond the archipelago. The spaces and places of Asia bear no exception to the history of modern life sciences efforts to understand the relationships between varying exposures to different substances (not only ionizing radiation) and their various effects. The normalization of anxieties about “exposure and effect” suggests how the chronic radiation issue in Japan represents a galvanizing consciousness about how people of different locations and languages around Asia may be grappling with the consequences of industrial developmental models that seem irreversible within a single human generation. In order to understand why such anxieties of the future have arisen within Asia, it has become necessary to gain a deeper historical comprehension of what the post-industrial, post-disaster moment means to humans inseparable from the biotic world. In this workshop, analysts whose research sites, archives, and interests are situated within Asia have been invited to explore uncertainty, transparency qua opacity, experimentation, risk, and trust surrounding a series of questions that transcend multiple disciplinary and geographical worlds: How have people investigated the relationships between the minimal rates of exposure to potentially harmful substances and effecting a change in life? What sorts of deliberations and judgments have been constructed through processes of ascertaining safe dose rates for a substance, not just ionizing radiation? How have understandings of the historiography of scientific causality resonated within Asian history of the life sciences, including epidemiology and environment? How have the difficulties of pinpointing the relationships between cause and effect, whether discussed in terms of gross deformities, point mutations, latent illnesses, or in ecological changes, been handled within Asia? To what extent have these discussions or scientific efforts been transnational, and what have the consequences of collaboratively- or nationally-produced science thus been? To what extent have different views in Asia about the role of the environment in engendering generational change informed scientific positions about how the environment interacts with a life form’s hereditary constitution? Highly reflexive discussion of these questions should contribute to a greater knowledge base that bears implications for understanding how to navigate and narrate the problem of living with chronic uncertainty about life itself. By using the cross-hairs of unnatural disasters and biology studies, conventional questions in existing disciplines—such as about technocracy and modernization development, gene-environment interactions in history of biology, and cultural explanations for disaster—can be brought into deeper conversation with environmental studies of Asia in order to develop new scholarly strategies for studying the inheritance of industrialization. Exposure and Effect: Measuring safety, environment and life in Asia (11-12 Oct. 2014) is sponsored by Centre for Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in collaboration with the History Programme and the Humanities, Science, and Society Research Cluster (HSS@HSS) at Nanyang Technological University, and Teach 3.11. Day 1: 11 October 2014 (Sat.) \|10:00 – 10:30\|\|Welcoming Addresses\| \|10:30 – 12:30\|\|Panel 1: Institutional Responses and Imaginaries Chair: Sulfikar Amir, Nanyang Technological University \|12:30 – 13:30\|\|Buffet Lunch\| \|13:30 – 15:30\|\|Panel 2 Negotiating Genetic Histories in Japan Chair: Tyson Vaughan, Asia Research Institute and Tembusu College, National University of Singapore \|15:30 – 16:00\|\|Tea Break\| \|16:00 – 17:45\|\|Film Screening: A2-B-C, followed by Q&A with filmmaker Ian Thomas Ash. (HSS Auditorium)\| Day 2: 12 October 2014 (Sun.) \|9:45 – 10:00\|\|Coffee & Tea\| \|10:00 – 11:00\|\|Panel 3, Ecologies of Radiation, Part I Chair: Miles Powell, Nanyang Technological University \|11:00 – 11:10\|\|Break\| \|11:10 – 12:15\|\|Panel 3, Ecologies of Radiation, Part II Moderators: Lisa Onaga & Harry Wu \|12:15 – 13:15\|\|Lunch\| \|13:15 – 15:15\|\|Panel 4, Disciplines Engaged Chair: Rohan Williams, Singapore Centre on Environment Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University \|15:15 – 15:45\|\|Roundtable Discussion The Exposure and Effect Working Group Reading List on Teach311.org \|15:45 – 16:00\|\|Closing Remarks\| Riding the Whirlwind, Directing the Storm: The Mental Health Unit Experts of the WHO on Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy Harry Yi-Jui Wu, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore This paper examines the role and function of advisory experts of the Mental Health Unit during the early years of the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding their assigned task to study the impact of atomic radiation on mental health. The Mental Health Unit of the WHO was created according to the International Congress of Mental Health held in London, 1948, as a taskforce to facilitate international collaboration on mental health research and postwar mental rehabilitation. During the first decade since its was in effect, the Unit was reluctant in proposing systematic research apart from conducting study groups to meet the objectives and priorities defined by the United Nations. These study groups covered a wide range of topics associated with issues world citizens collectively faced during the immediate postwar period, such as the psychobiological development of children, psychological impact of automation and industrialization, and the transforming purpose of psychiatric hospitals. Among them, the Study Group on the peaceful uses of atomic energy was formed to find means of preventing or attenuating undesirable mental effects during the period of technical change. The Study Group, nevertheless, was closed in 1959 according to the agreement between the WHO and International Atomic Energy Agency, which prevented health scientists to speak autonomously at odds with the WHO’s stated objectives in the field of radiation protection. “Riding the whirlwind, directing the storm” was written in the concluding remark of the Study Group by the experts to explain their ineffectual role, limited function and suspicion while facing the years of uncertainty coming ahead. By examining the structure of the WHO, the activities of its Mental Health Unit and the collective or individual pursuit of involved experts, this paper attempts to reconsider relationship between science and institutions, and the distance between scientific idealism and the realpolitik of global health governing. An epidemiology without end: The Radiation Effects Research Foundation and scientific planning for unknown future risk Susan Lindee, Visiting Professor, IDEC, Hiroshima University, and Janice and Julian Bers Professor of the History of Science, University of Pennsylvania Scholars in science and technology studies have long been interested in the ways that technical risk configures modern and post-modern life–how it shapes health policies, daily experience, state power and economic systems. From Ulrich Beck’s analysis of the “risk society,” to more recent studies of responses to climate change, environmental disasters like Hurricane Katrina, risk assessment in biomedicine and clinical care, and other scientific and medical domains, questions of how scientifically-mediated risk functions in institutional and social contexts have become important in our field. Risk is, at one level, an elaborate technical invention, a meaning-machine, codified in quantitative terms, requiring consensus standards for agreed-upon levels that trigger institutional action. At another level, it is viscerally embodied, engaged with the direct study of suffering and trauma, and with the moral and social problem of anticipatory trauma. By no means is the world of risk calculation void of moral order. It is about the modern moral order of who can suffer, when, and why. Studying the systems that produce the rules about risk is a way of seeing or excavating the 21st century distribution of vulnerability and safety. In this paper, I explore the history and contemporary practice of a particularly compelling scientific institution, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), where the processes of imagining responses to risk can be excavated. RERF has emerged as a possible permanent center for risk calculation–now expected possibly to outlive the atomic bomb survivors that have been the focus of the institution’s research for almost 70 years. I consider the anticipated futures that have shaped its research program, and its emerging role as an international resource for radiation risk. International Genetics Symposia in 1956: Discussing Lysenkoism and radiation in postwar Japan Kaori Iida, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai), Japan Various scientific and sociopolitical interests affected differently how geneticists in Japan and the U.S. discussed two controversial topics of genetics: Lysenkoism and radiation. In this paper I discuss how Japanese geneticists’ various goals affected the discussion of these topics, through the analysis of the International Genetics Symposia in 1956, the first international conference hosted by Japanese geneticists. This meeting was an important occasion for the Japanese to display the nation’s postwar recovery and reconnection with the international community. In addition, the conference was the first international meeting of genetics for Russian scholars to attend since 1932 and the first occasion for the American Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission to present a report on their investigations. Therefore the Symposia stimulated widely discussions of Lysenkoism and radiation. Japanese geneticists’ discussions were shaped partly by their long-standing interest in the role of environment and cytoplasm in heredity. However, both Lysenkoism and radiation were sensitive political topics domestically and internationally. I discuss how Japanese geneticists’ interests—such as advancing a scientific theory, facilitating the internationalization process, and shaping an appropriate image of their discipline domestically and internationally—affected the discussions of the two topics in the mid-1950s in Japan. Measuring the particular: The metamorphosis of low dose radiation effects research in Japan Lisa Onaga, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore A goal of the Fukushima Health Management Survey (FHMS), in addition to monitoring and treating the health of the residents of Fukushima Prefecture following the 2011 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and the associated nuclear disaster, is to determine whether long-term low dose exposure to radiation will bear an impact on human health. This paper seeks to understand why that question about the low dose became paramount in Japan and how it shaped the work of geneticists of nonhuman systems. Inquiries about the effects of radiation exposure, especially following the 1954 nuclear fallout incident in Bikini Atoll, posed great importance for articulating different models of low dose effects that were jockeyed for credence in Japan and elsewhere. Considering the particularities of organisms, research methods, and environments in Japan, prominent geneticists grappled with how they could accurately test and measure low dose effects and ultimately produce results that could contribute to an international corpus of knowledge. These efforts also gave rise to new research directions and development opportunities. Focus on silkworm genetics, one of Japan’s major research programs of the twentieth century, shows how scientists rallied about and negotiated the low dose topic during the late 1950s and 1960s in lieu of returning to a fallout-free past. Ultimately, consideration of these processes is used to understand why the historically dominant linear no-threshold model for low dose effects of radiation came to the fore and how the posing of the FHMS today engenders scrutiny of it. Consequences of Radiation in the Environment for Individuals, Populations and Ecosystems: Lessons from Chernobyl, Fukushima and Other Hot Places Timothy A. Mousseau, Visiting Professor, Chubu University, Nagoya, Japan; Professor, University of South Carolina, USA, and Anders P. Møller, CNRS – University of Paris-Sud, France Recent empirical studies and literature surveys provide strong evidence for significant biological consequences of low dose-rate radiation such as that found in Chernobyl and Fukushima affected regions, as well naturally radioactive regions of the world. These effects are observed at all levels of biological organization from DNA to ecosystems and in many cases suggest significant injuries stemming from the Chernobyl and Fukushima radiological disasters to individuals and populations that can impact ecosystem functioning. Most of these studies have been actively ignored by governmental and intergovernmental organizations (e.g. United Nations organizations IAEA and UNSCEAR) because they were not conducted specifically with nuclear regulatory ends in mind. However, it is evident that a greater effort must be made to consider the implications of these recent findings not only for the plants and animals of these regions, but also the human populations in the surrounding areas. Taidan: Orbiting in the field: Ecology and filmmaking in Tohoku Japan Over the past few years, filmmaker Ian Thomas Ash and biologist Timothy Mousseau have orbited around each other in the course of their fieldwork in and around Fukushima, Japan. One traces human stories; the other tracks signs of biological change in wildlife. Both have and continue to pursue important questions about the exposure of bodies to radiation. What conversations may arise if Ian Ash and Tim Mousseau are brought momentarily into the same gravity well? What new insights may be drawn about the difficulties, challenges and futures of conducting work in the field that has come to be known as Fukushima? Taidan is the Japanese term for a face-to-face public dialogue. In this taidan, the filmmaker and biologist engage in a series of questions that we hope will provide provocative and constructive food for thought. Challenging Mainstream Science: Trichloroethylene and Female Electronic Workers’ Occupational Diseases in Taiwan Yi-Ping Lin, National Yangming University, Taiwan For decades, the health effects of trichloroethylene (TCE) have been neglected by international regulation bodies. However, TCE had devastating consequences in Taiwan. In 1972, there were several cases of liver disease and sudden death of young female electronic workers in the Philco and Mitsumi factories in Taiwan. It was believed that these young female workers suffered from the acute intoxication of TCE from their worksites. In 1974, TCE was banned in Taiwan, and the government promulgated a law to protect workers’ health and to regulate solvent usages. Twenty years later, in 1994, the RCA (Radio Corporation of America) factory in Taiwan was impeached for polluting groundwater with TCE, perchloroethylene (PCE), and other industrial solvents. Subsequently, former RCA workers, who had been diagnosed with cancers, organized to voice their health concerns and potential exposure to the environmental and occupational hazards. In 1998, the government responded by initiating research in animal experiment, environmental health risk assessment, environmental epidemiology, and occupational epidemiology. These public health studies, however, did not sufficiently verify correlation between industrial pollution and health. Up until 2014, the RCA toxic tort remained unsettled. Following a strategy utilized in feminist epistemology, I explore what happened historically at the margins of mainstream scientific medical research on the health effects of TCE. I trace the industrial applications of TCE, the rise of young female electronic workers in Taiwan, and how the scientific evidence of health effects and TCE toxicity was produced in the Western countries. I relied on archives that included news reports, government archives, company magazine, and scientific papers published in Chinese and English. I also conducted in-depth interviews with former RCA workers, members of the labor movement group, government officials, lawyers, and scientists. Money and Mercury: Minamata Disease and the limits of Japan’s Postwar Democracy Robert Stolz, University of Virginia, USA With the tragedy at Fukushima academics in the humanities and social sciences have turned their attention to physics, physiology, and ecology, in an effort to avoid technologizing the problem—conceding the ground to the work of engineers. What “toxic events” like Fukushima show us is, in fact, the mutual penetrations of the natural and the social. But as bad as the current crisis may be, a further danger, is to focus on the unprecedented nature of Fukushima. Previous cases of environmental crisis already prefigured the chaos of categories and methods adequate to a disaster like Fukushima. From the 1960s to today academics such as Kurihara Akira and Ui Jun to doctors such as Harada Masazumi, activists Ogata Masato, and artists like Ishimure Michiko have all been studying the enormity of the issues spawned by the outbreak of Minamata Disease (methyl mercury poisoning) since its discovery in 1956. These efforts have coalesced around a new form of thought: Minamatagaku (Minamata Studies)—itself an earlier version of Yanaka Studies (Yanakagaku) from the early 20c Ashio Copper Mine Incident. My paper will investigate the not only the methods of Minamata Studies. It will also explore the possibilities opened up by conceiving of Minamata disease not as a singular event, but as a discipline (学) and a political practice potentially beyond civil society (市民社会) or NIMBY politics (住民社会). Ian Ash earned an MA in Film and Television Production at the University of Bristol, UK, in 2005. His first feature documentary, ‘the ballad of vicki and jake’ (84 min/ UK/ 2006), received the Prix du Canton Vaud prize at the 2006 Visions du Reél International Documentary Film Festival in Nyon, Switzerland. At the 2012 Rhode Island International Film Festival, Ian’s film ‘In the Grey Zone’ (89 min/ Japan/ 2012) won the “Audience Choice Award First Prize for Best Documentary”, and at the same festival Ian was presented with the “Filmmaker of the Future Award”. Ian’s film, ‘A2-B-C’ (71 min/ Japan/ 2013), received the “Nippon Visions Award” (best film by new-coming Japan-based director) at the 2013 Nippon Connection Film Festival, Germany, the “Best of Festival” award at the 2013 Guam International Film Festival, and the award for “Best Documentary” at the 2013 STEPS Rights Film Festival, Ukraine. Ian has lived in Japan for 10 years and currently lives in Tokyo. Susan Lindee, Professor, Visiting Professor, IDEC, Hiroshima University, and Janice and Julian Bers Professor of the History of Science, University of Pennsylvania Professor Susan Lindee is the Janice and Julian Bers Professor of History and Sociology of Science and Associate Dean for the Social Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. A distinguished historian of science, Dr. Lindee has special interests in the history of genetics, gender and science, science and popular culture, and science and war. Her books include Moments of Truth in Genetic Medicine (2005); The DNA Mystique: The Gene as a Cultural Icon (1995, with Dorothy Nelkin); and Suffering Made Real: American Science and the Survivors at Hiroshima (1994). She has received a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Burroughs Wellcome Fund 40th Anniversary Award and support from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Wenner-Gren Foundation. She has been a member of the Penn faculty since 1990, and she spent ten years as a journalist before earning her Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science from Cornell. She is also associate dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. Kaori Iida, Assistant Professor, Sokendai, Hayama, Japan Assistant Professor Kaori Iida holds two Ph.D., the first in Genetics from Pennsylvania State University, and the second in History of Science from Johns Hopkins University. Her dissertation was entitled “Practice and Politics in Japanese Science: Hitoshi Kihara and the Formation of a Genetics Discipline.” Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), in Hayama, Japan. Yi-Ping Lin, Associate Professor, National Yang-Ming University Yi Ping Lin is Associate Professor at the Graduate Institute of Science, Technology and Society at National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan. Previously trained as a public health and health policy expert, her research interests cover environment and gender issues of health, epidemiology, medical anthropology, risk management and communication. She has been following ex-workers’ collective lawsuit against RCA company and published extensively on related issues. Timothy Mousseau, Professor, University of South Carolina Professor Timothy Mousseau received his doctoral degree in 1988 from McGill University and completed a NSERC (Canada) postdoctoral fellowship in population biology at the University of California, Davis. He joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina in 1991 and is currently a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences. Professor Mousseau’s past experience includes having served as Dean of the Graduate School (2010-11), Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Education (2010-11), Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education in the College of Arts & Sciences (2006-10), as a Program Officer for the Population Biology program at the National Science Foundation (1997-98), on the editorial boards for several journals, and on NSF, USGS, and a variety of international grant foundation advisory panels. He recently served on the National Academy of Sciences panel to analyze cancer risks in populations near nuclear facilities. Lisa Onaga, Assistant Professor, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Lisa Onaga is an assistant professor in the History Programme at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She is finishing a book that examines the intertwined histories of Japan’s pursuits of the ideal silk cocoon and the mastering of heredity. She was previously a postdoctoral fellow at the U.C.L.A. Institute for Society and Genetics, and earned her Ph.D. in Science & Technology Studies from Cornell University. Her research interests include agricultural craft, biological experimentation, and engineering life in relation to modern Japan. She also serves as the project leader of Teach311.org. Robert Stolz, Assistant Professor, University of Virginia Robert Stolz is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Virginia. He is the author of Bad Water: Nature, Pollution, and Politics in Japan 1870-1950 (Duke University Press, 2014), and editor and contributor of Tosaka Jun: A Critical Reader (Cornell University Press, 2013). Harry Wu, Assistant Professor, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Harry Yi-Jui Wu is an Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He was previously qualified as a medical doctor with further psychiatric training in Taiwan and psychoanalysis in the UK. He received his D.Phil. in History from The University of Oxford. His research interests include the history of international health organizations, cultural aspects of mental health and medical humanitarianism. Currently Harry teaches at the History Programme and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine. Getting to and from campus: A summary of the public bus and shuttle bus services. Campus Hotel (Nanyang Executive Center): Address: 60 Nanyang View, Singapore 639673. Telephone: +65 6790 6699 / +65 6790 6697 School of Humanities and Social Sciences: Address: 14 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637332 Eating on campus: There are quite a variety of food options on campus: In addition to Google maps, this map is helpful (especially because it has the subway exits labeled): http://www.streetdirectory.com/ Subway (MRT) map: http://www.smrt.com.sg/Trains/NetworkMap.aspx Taxis are relatively cheap in Singapore. Here are some taxi numbers: Comfort: +65 6555 1188 SMRT Taxi: +65 6369 0111 Transcab: +65 6555 3333 Public transport is generally cheap and efficient, although it won’t take you everywhere. The website can be found here, although it’s not very useful. If you’re staying for longer than a couple of days, we recommend getting an EZ-link pass. When we last checked, these cost $12 and come with $7 worth of value (ie. the card costs an unrefundable $5). These can then be topped up at any station. A subway ride between Pioneer MRT and downtown costs about $1.50. Things to do: National Museum of Singapore: http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/NMSPortal/ Asian Civilisations Museum: https://www.acm.org.sg/home/home.html Singapore Science Centre: http://www.science.edu.sg/Pages/SCBHome.aspx Singapore Botanic Gardens: http://www.sbg.org.sg/ Gardens by the bay: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/home.html Singapore Zoo: http://www.zoo.com.sg/ Night Safari: http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/ River Safari: http://riversafari.com.sg/ Jurong Bird Park: http://www.birdpark.com.sg/	267,916
Ford Differentials: How to Rebuild the 8.8 and 9-inchby Joseph Palazzolo The Ford 8.8- and 9-inch rear differentials are two of the most popular and best-performing differentials on the market. While the 8.8-inch differential is commonly used in late-model Mustangs, the 9-inch is the more popular and arguably the most dominant high-performance differential for muscle cars, hot rods, custom vehicles, and race cars. Built from 1957 to 1986, the 9-inch Ford differential is used in a huge range of high-performance Ford and non-Ford vehicles because of its rugged construction, easy-to-set-up design, and large aftermarket support. The 9-inch differential effectively transmits power to the ground for many classic Fords and hot rods of all types, but it is the choice of many GM muscle car owners and racers as well. These differentials have been used extensively and proven their mettle in racing and high-performance applications. The Ford 8.8- and 9-inch must be rebuilt after extensive use and need a variety of different ratios for top performance and special applications. This Workbench book provides detailed step-by-step photos and information for rebuilding the differentials with the best equipment, installing the gear sets, and converting to Posi-Traction for a variety of applications. It describes how to disassemble the rear end, identify worn ring and pinion gears, other damage or wear, and shows step-by-step rebuilding of the differential. It also explains how to select the right differential hardware, bearings, seals, and other parts, as well as how to set ring and pinion backlash so that the rear end operates at peak efficiency. Aftermarket 9-inch performance differentials from manufacturers including Currie, Moser and Strange are reviewed and you learn how to rebuild and set up these high-performance aftermarket differentials. In addition, this book provides a comprehensive identification chart to ensure readers properly identify the model and specifics of the 9-inch differential. Chapters include axle identification, inspection, and purchasing axles for rebuilding; differential tear down; ring and pinion gear removal; inspection and reassembly; drive axle choices; and more. Meet the Author Joe Palazzolo is currently a chief engineer at GKN Driveline Torque Technology Group where he manages the mechanical design and development of new automotive torque transfer devices, concepts, and integration into production applications. He has received numerous patents for his innovative work and creativity in advancing vehicle mobility systems. and post it to your social network Most Helpful Customer Reviews See all customer reviews >	88,450
Cash on delivery (C.O.D.), also called collect on delivery, a common business term indicating that goods must be paid for at the time of delivery. The payment is usually due in cash but may be made by check if acceptable to the seller. The transfer agent very often used is the postal service, but it is common for consumer and business shipments to be sent C.O.D. by express companies, commercial truck forwarders, or the seller’s own delivery organization. Cash on delivery sales usually involve a collection charge levied by the delivery agent and usually paid by the buyer. In retailing and wholesaling transactions, shipments are made on a C.O.D. basis when the buyer does not have a credit account with the seller and does not choose to pay in advance. C.O.D. terms are also often used when the amounts involved are small and the cost of advancing credit would be high in proportion to the size of the purchase. C.O.D. general postal service was first introduced in Switzerland in 1849, India and Australia in 1877, the United States in 1913, Canada in 1922, and Great Britain in 1926.	233,456
May 31, 2006 Historian Carol Kammen brings undergraduate experience to life in her book 'First-Person Cornell' "First-Person Cornell" (Cornell University Library, 2006), written by historian and Cornell lecturer Carol Kammen, invites us into the daily lives of Cornell students and captures, through their own words, the undergraduate experience. We hear their voices and listen intently as they share their joys, sorrows and enthusiasm for life at Cornell: "The crowning event of the day was a reception given at Cascadilla Place by Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Cornell" (Royal Taft, 1869). "Well, I'm a regular bona fide freshman now. Went up and registered this morning. I got 80 on my English exam, German only got 73 ... Went down to football practice this afternoon. Got it good and hard" (W. Forrest Lee, Sept. 23, 1902). Kammen's latest work includes excerpts from diaries, letters, scrapbooks and other memorabilia from the day Cornell opened in 1868 to the present. The book's entries are drawn primarily from documents in the library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections that were collected by archivists or donated by students and their families. In Kammen's hands they entertain, cause us to ponder and transport us through time to experience student life in a particular period. Perspectives may change, but students' interest in writing about their classes, professors, friends and Ithaca's weather remain a constant over the generations. "First-Person Cornell" provides a journey that rekindles the reader's own reflections. Cornell President Hunter Rawlings writes in the book's foreword, "Their four years in Ithaca are a memorable time for Cornell students -- a time when they are cut adrift from family and home and thrust into a world of intellectual challenge and college culture. ... Their descriptions -- of their courses and professors, of their friends and activities, of themselves -- are the heart of this engaging book." Cornell Library will host a book signing for "First-Person Cornell" during Reunion Weekend on Friday, June 9, in Olin Library from 11 a.m. until noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. Books will be available for sale during these times. Kammen also is the Tompkins County historian and the 2005-06 Public Historian of the Year, appointed by the New York State Board of Regents. She has lectured and written extensively on New York history, including articles for the New York State Historical Association's Heritage magazine and History News, the journal of the American Association for State and Local History. For 30 years she has written a weekly newspaper column on local history in The Ithaca Journal. She has written three local history books, "What They Wrote" (1978, published by the Cornell Library), "The Peopling of Tompkins County: A Social History" (1985) and "On Doing Local History" (1986), which is now in its second revised edition. In addition, she has written "Pursuit of Local History" (1996) and "The Encyclopedia of Local History" (2000), which she co-edited with Norma Prendergast. "First-Person Cornell" is Kammen's second book on Cornell University; her first, "Cornell: Glorious to View," was published in 2003. For more information about the book signing, contact Lynn Brown at (607) 255-4813 or e-mail email@example.com. Media Relations Office	22,536
Experiments in Art and Technology Poster EAT is Experiments in Art and Technology, a movement from the 1960’s. In 1966 engineer Billy Kluver, artist Robert Rauschenberg and others launched “EAT – Experiments in Art and Technology” at the 60th Street Armory show in New York City. Since then, many have followed their lead. In 1968 Steve Beck became a charter member of the Chicago chapter of EAT, based at the Museum of Contemporary Art on east Ohio Street in downtown Chicago. There he met a fellow member, sculptor Paul Mohr, and they collaborated on an electronic multimedia sculpture entitled “Our Darling” which included 18 separate neon tubes set in and around and above a granite tombstone with lamb, all set upon a 10 foot square section of Astroturf with 300 pounds of earth soil into which was embedded an electromechanical analog computer of Beck’s design and fabrication which controlled the sequencing of the neon tubes as well as fading the ambient room lighting up and down from light to darkness. The flashing sequence was controlled by a primitive digital computer build with NAND and NOR gates using transistors, unistable multivibrators for timing circuits, mechanical stepping relays and slave relays with triacs to control separate 3,000 volt AC transformers to activate the neon lights. The repeating pattern of the sequencing required 24 days for a complete sequence before it repeated the same pattern. The “Our Darling” neon tombstone sculpture was exhibited in Chicago at the Contemporary Art Museum in 1969, then it was presented at the Ward Nasse gallery in Soho in New York City in 1971, from whence it was acquired by a private collector. Since then it has been said that the piece was later aquired by Mr. Steve Wynn of Las Vegas, Nevada, who plans to place it on his remains at his final resting place someday.	197,490
The kidney is one of those organs that everyone knows is important, but few people can explain what it actually does. The easiest way to describe how our kidneys function is that they remove waste and extra fluid from our bodies. But when these two bean-shaped organs fail, the situation becomes dire—and expensive. As of 2017, there were about 18,000 residents of North Carolina undergoing a difficult and costly procedure called dialysis. This treatment is what’s frequently ordered for patients whose own kidneys can no longer support their body’s needs. Though it’s been around for decades, the process remains both physically and emotionally draining for patients who must undergo treatment three times per week. And then there’s the cost. While nailing down exact healthcare costs can be more of an art than a science, there are a few pieces of the puzzle we know to be true. Medicaid and Medicare pay around $250, but according to publicly available data from the Blue Cross NC cost estimator, that cost could skyrocket to thousands per treatment. There’s no doubting that modern medicine has eased the physical burden on patients undergoing treatments of many different types. We’re happy to report that there are a handful of promising and industrious companies out there who see dialysis as one of those areas ripe for disruption—and they’re focusing on early detection to do it. Of those with chronic kidney disease, only about 10% are currently diagnosed and aware of what they’re facing. As a result, diagnosis often happens when a condition has gotten to the point that it’s beyond repair. In fact, 80% of all patients crash into dialysis because there wasn’t a comprehensive preventive plan in place. Simply put, better management of kidney disease is an opportunity to keep people healthier and health costs down. And that’s precisely what disruptors like Strive Health, Cricket Health, and Somatus hope to do by instituting value-driven and patient-centered kidney care. With each of these innovative companies, the goal is to inspire earlier diagnosis so that patients can avoid crashing into the system. As with any preventive plan, it starts with the PCP and working with those doctors to increase the level of awareness related to kidney disease. The next step is implementing more at-home dialysis treatment, which is already popular in other places around the globe. For example, 80% of patients’ cases in Hong Kong involve at-home dialysis, compared to about 13% in North Carolina. Currently, there is a national duopoly of two dialysis clinics: Fresenius and DaVita. These two giants do a great job of treating their patients, but without competition or incentives to keep patients healthy, the population of dialysis patients keeps growing—and so do the costs. Traditionally, the at-home setup has been a challenging venture to accomplish for these large dialysis centers. Plus, many kidney doctors are not well-trained on home dialysis. If Strive, Cricket, and Somatus have their way, that paradigm will flip and the shock to the system associated with traveling for treatment will cease. At-home peritoneal dialysis allows patients to receive treatment while they sleep, which is much more comfortable and provides easier access. It’s also gentler on the body, due to the process being slower and more natural than four-hour sessions at a center. Unfortunately for North Carolinians, current laws will keep these healthcare pioneers out of our state. Certificate of Need or CON laws are government regulations that restrict the number of medical facilities which can operate in any given area. Dialysis clinics fall under CON, which means if a new facility wanted to open, there must be a demonstrated “need” for more clinics. Essentially, these archaic laws prevent new dialysis providers from entering the market and offering new competition that could lower prices. The time is now for market disruption, and the players are willing and able to be here. Unfortunately, that won’t be possible without a change to CON. Have the sky-high costs of healthcare in our state impacted you and/or your family’s lives? Do you want to do something about it? Join the Coalition now to receive updates about new legislation and policies that will affect YOUR healthcare. Sign up now! Email Your Legislator to Help Control Dialysis Costs Outdated Certificate of Need laws are preventing competition among dialysis clinics. This results in some of the highest costs per treatment in the country which hurt our families and businesses. Some clinics charge thousands of dollars per treatment - millions of dollars for a single patient per year - while Medicare pays around $250 for the same treatment. Tell your representative to reform CON for dialysis, now!	196,930
From a Zenit article about the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments is preparing a booklet to help priests celebrate the Mass properly and the faithful to participate better. The prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments criticized existing abuses such as showmanship, and praised moments of silence “that are action,” which enable the priest and the faithful to talk with Jesus Christ and which exclude the predominance of words that often becomes showmanship on the part of the priest. The correct attitude is the one “indicated by Saint John the Baptist, when he says he must decrease and the Messiah must increase.” The cardinal criticized the effort to make the Mass “entertaining” with certain songs – instead of focusing on the mystery – in an attempt to overcome “boredom” by transforming the Mass into a show. Wow silence, what a concept. I would love to have more prayerful silence during the Mass. Often it seems we go overboard with trying to create a soundtrack for the Mass where every moment has to be filled with sound. I am probably more guilty than the majority in filling my day with sound from music, podcasts, audiobooks, and other media. Yet I can still feel that the Mass becomes cluttered with sound in that there is no room to just breath and pray. While actual sacred music can be a great help in prayer, the same is true regarding silence. We don’t have to have a hymn at every point of the Mass or transitional music to fill in all gaps. There is certainly a both/and for music and silence. From the Pope’s 7 March 2012 General Audience which has a lot to say about silence. In the preceding series of Catecheses I have spoken of Jesus’ prayer and I would not like to conclude this reflection without briefly considering the topic of Jesus’ silence, so important in his relationship with God. In the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini, I spoke of the role that silence plays in Jesus’ life, especially on Golgotha: “here we find ourselves before ‘the word of the cross’ (cf. 1 Cor 1:18). The word is muted; it becomes mortal silence, for it has ‘spoken’ exhaustively, holding back nothing of what it had to tell us” (n. 12). Before this silence of the Cross, St Maximus the Confessor puts this phrase on the lips of the Mother of God: “Wordless is the Word of the Father, who made every creature which speaks, lifeless are the eyes of the one at whose word and whose nod all living things move!” (Life of Mary, n. 89: Testi mariani del primo millennio, 2, Rome, 1989, p. 253). The Cross of Christ does not only demonstrate Jesus’ silence as his last word to the Father but reveals that God also speaks through silence: “the silence of God, the experience of the distance of the almighty Father, is a decisive stage in the earthly journey of the Son of God, the Incarnate Word. Hanging from the wood of the cross, he lamented the suffering caused by that silence: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Mk 15:34; Mt 27:46). Advancing in obedience to his very last breath, in the obscurity of death, Jesus called upon the Father. He commended himself to him at the moment of passage, through death, to eternal life: ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit’ (Lk 23:46)” (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini, n. 21). Jesus’ experience on the cross profoundly reveals the situation of the person praying and the culmination of his prayer: having heard and recognized the word of God, we must also come to terms with the silence of God, an important expression of the same divine Word. The dynamic of words and silence which marks Jesus’ prayer throughout his earthly existence, especially on the cross, also touches our own prayer life in two directions. The first is the one that concerns the acceptance of the word of God. Inward and outward silence are necessary if we are to be able to hear this word. And in our time this point is particularly difficult for us. In fact, ours is an era that does not encourage recollection; indeed, one sometimes gets the impression that people are frightened of being cut off, even for an instant, from the torrent of words and images that mark and fill the day. It was for this reason that in the above mentioned Exhortation Verbum Domini I recalled our need to learn the value of silence: “Rediscovering the centrality of God’s word in the life of the Church also means rediscovering a sense of recollection and inner repose. The great patristic tradition teaches us that the mysteries of Christ all involve silence. Only in silence can the word of God find a home in us, as it did in Mary, woman of the word and, inseparably, woman of silence” (n. 66). This principle — that without silence one does not hear, does not listen, does not receive a word — applies especially to personal prayer as well as to our liturgies: to facilitate authentic listening, they must also be rich in moments of silence and of non-verbal reception. St Augustine’s observation is still valid: Verbo crescente, verba deficiunt “when the word of God increases, the words of men fail” (cf. Sermo 288, 5: pl 38, 1307;Sermo 120, 2: pl 38, 677). The Gospels often present Jesus, especially at times of crucial decisions, withdrawing to lonely places, away from the crowds and even from the disciples in order to pray in silence and to live his filial relationship with God. Silence can carve out an inner space in our very depths to enable God to dwell there, so that his word will remain within us and love for him take root in our minds and hearts and inspire our life. Hence the first direction: relearning silence, openness to listening, which opens us to the other, to the word of God. However, there is also a second important connection between silence and prayer. Indeed it is not only our silence that disposes us to listen to the word of God; in our prayers we often find we are confronted by God’s silence, we feel, as it were, let down, it seems to us that God neither listens nor responds. Yet God’s silence, as happened to Jesus, does not indicate his absence. Christians know well that the Lord is present and listens, even in the darkness of pain, rejection and loneliness. Jesus reassures his disciples and each one of us that God is well acquainted with our needs at every moment of our life. He teaches the disciples: “In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Mt 6:7-8): an attentive, silent and open heart is more important than many words. God knows us in our inmost depths, better than we ourselves, and loves us; and knowing this must suffice. In the Bible Job’s experience is particularly significant in this regard. In a short time this man lost everything: relatives, possessions, friends and health. It truly seems that God’s attitude to him was one of abandonment, of total silence. Yet in his relationship with God, Job speaks to God, cries out to God; in his prayers, in spite of all, he keeps his faith intact, and in the end, discovers the value of his experience and of God’s silence. And thus he can finally conclude, addressing the Creator: “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you” (Job 42:5): almost all of us know God only through hearsay and the more open we are to his silence and to our own silence, the more we truly begin to know him. This total trust that opens us to the profound encounter with God developed in silence. St Francis Xavier prayed to the Lord saying: I do not love you because you can give me paradise or condemn me to hell, but because you are my God. I love you because You are You. As we reach the end of the reflections on Jesus’ prayer, certain teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church spring to mind: “The drama of prayer is fully revealed to us in the Word who became flesh and dwells among us. To seek to understand his prayer through what his witnesses proclaim to us in the Gospel is to approach the holy Lord Jesus as Moses approached the burning bush: first to contemplate him in prayer, then to hear how he teaches us to pray, in order to know how he hears our prayer” (n. 2598).	174,737
It is possible that it will not be long before Shakespeare is normally seen first not in the theatre but on YouTube. To celebrate the bard’s birthday, then, this page will begin to collect links to weird and wonderful Shakespeare-related video clips. For many they will be a comic respite from more serious academic study, while they could also form the basis for an as yet unwritten thesis on Shakespeare on the tube. What can be said about the cultural capital of a moment, for example, when The Beatles perform Shakespeare which, years later, becomes replayble again and again around the world? - “Television special featuring The Beatles. At the beginning of the show the group performs a parody of the Pyramus and Thisbe scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a 1960’s version of the Globe Theatre complete with thrust stage. Ringo raises a flag on the theatre roof that announces the show’s title, AROUND THE BEATLES. The performance is interrupted by planted hecklers, an odd notion which appears to perturb the screaming fans who believe that the hecklers are criticising their beloved Beatles.” For more information click here. Please send in (via email or the Cardiff Shakespeare facebook group) any other clip links that you think should go up.	250,184
- Wall to be worked on. Identify areas of damp and exceed by minimum 250mm either side and above, usual heights for hacking off are 1000mm, 1200mm and 1500mm. Please note we now supply 1200mm high rolls of membrane too! - Carefully remove skirting board. - Carefully hack off plaster back to stone, brick or blockwork. - Drill 12mm holes 150mm over external ground level and inject DPC cream. - Apply primer sealer to wall. - Affix membrane to the wall . (see pic 12 – Floor Type Detail for the bottom edge of the membrane) finishing). PB2 is Isola Membrane from Sweden and CM3 Membrane is Wykamol membrane made in the UK, both do the same job. Depending on the area of damp you may need one of the following sized membranes, PB2 Membrane 1000mm high x 10 metres long roll PB2 Membrane 1000mm high x 20 metres long roll PB2 Membrane 2000mm high x 20 metres long roll CM3 Membrane 1000mm high x 10 metres long roll CM3 Membrane 1000mm high x 20 metres long roll CM3 Membrane 1200mm high x 20 metres long roll CM3 Membrane 2000mm high x 20 metres long roll The membranes are fixed by drilling an 8mm hole through it into the wall behind, Membrane fixing plugs are then wrapped with sealing rope and hammered into the holes to hold the membrane on the wall. - Affix sealing rope around perimeter of membrane and squash onto primer. - Affix Overtape around the perimeter of membrane half on membrane and half on primer. - Bond the membrane to blend with the wall. You can either Bond the membrane to blend with the wall if thin coat required or dot’n’dab with board adhesive castled to the required depth to blend with the existing wall, ensure dabs go onto plugs to get a good mechanical fix. - Check skirting for rot etc. If okay stick skirting back on with saves nails or similar. - Skim the plaster boards to blend with remaining old plaster. - Floor finishing detail. Article by Mike Davison CSSW, M.Inst.SSE. Mike is the Director of the Preservation Shop and also works as a freelance surveyor. Mike is a member of the Institute of Specialist Surveyors and Engineers and a certified surveyor in structural waterproofing (CSSW) registered with the PCA. Mike has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and specialises in Building Pathology, remedial works and structural repair. Got questions??? – Ask our in-house expert Mike questions related to damp, condensation, black mould, timber preservation and treatment, basements etc.	161,571
The Need for Caring in North and Central Brooklyn -- New Report on Health Needs, Gaps and Barriers to Care in North and Central Brooklyn Governor Cuomo Announces $72.9 Million in Grants for 10 NYC Hospitals and Nursing Homes New Report on Health Needs, Gaps and Barriers to Care in North and Central Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY (April 10, 2013)—In conjunction with the proposed redesign of Brooklyn’s Health Care System the Community Health Planning Workgroup (CPHW), a consortium of community stakeholders, healthcare providers and community health planners, today released The Need for Caring in North and Central Brooklyn, A Community Health Needs Assessment, sponsored by The Brooklyn Hospital Center, the I M Foundation, and the New York State Department of Health. The Community Health Needs Assessment, conducted by the Brooklyn Perinatal Network, the Commission on the Public’s Health System, and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, sheds additional light on North and Central Brooklyn residents’ perception of the needs, gaps and barriers to care in their communities. “In order to improve delivery of healthcare in Brooklyn, we needed to look at what exists and where it falls short, especially with regard to primary and specialty care access for low-income patients with common but significant illnesses,” says Dr. Richard Becker, President and CEO of The Brooklyn Hospital Center. “This study provides important insight into how we can better focus our resources to help Brooklyn residents who continue to have difficulty receiving basic primary care.” “The experience of this project partnership that resulted in this CHNA Report The Need for Caring in North and Central Brooklyn has been in every way unique, refreshing and ground breaking. It indicates that a paradigm shift is occurring in the way information is secured to inform our healthcare system delivery planning,” said principal investigator Ngozi Moses, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Perinatal Network. The report covers 15 zip codes, including Bedford Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Brownsville, Crown Heights, Cypresss Hills, East Flatbush, East New York, Flatbush, Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn, Gowanus and Greenpoint, and addresses key findings, focus group results, and recommendations. Field surveys and focus groups were used to capture the voices of the community. Community residents completed over 600 surveys, and 79 residents participated in nine focus groups targeting groups underrepresented in the survey sample, including teens; individuals with disabilities; Spanish speakers receiving mental health services; immigrants; men aged 18-35 and 45-55; senior citizens; pregnant women; and LGBTQ individuals. Following the completion of the Community Health Needs Assessment, listening sessions were held to solicit community input and feedback concerning the findings. Among the key findings: • The report found the most common illnesses/health conditions among residents surveyed were high blood pressure/hypertension (24.8%), followed by asthma (19.9%); diabetes (15.7%); and hearing or vision problems (15.2%). • 85% of respondents said that it would be most convenient to receive care in their neighborhood; almost 20% of the sample (18.7%) received none of their care in their community. • 50% of residents surveyed said they or members of their household had visited an emergency room in the past two years. • When asked which healthcare services households had difficulty accessing in their neighborhood, 100% of respondents said a dentist. • Half of respondents had a limited ability to secure health care services. When asked why, 48% said barriers to health care included quality of care, culture and language differences, hours of service and attitudes of providers; 19.8% said insurance issues or lack of insurance; 23.1% said long waits for or at appointments; and 9.1% said cost of care. “We are really pleased to have had the opportunity to ensure that the community’s voice is a driving factor in how healthcare is delivered and look forward to the healthcare planning developments that come from the CHNA process. We are hopeful that our process will serve as a model way to meet the needs of communities being served,” said Shena Elrington of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest who served as co-lead partner in the development of the report. The report concluded with approximately 15 critical recommendations to improve healthcare in Brooklyn. These included addressing accessibility; improving screening, outreach, cultural and linguistic competency, patient-centered care, and customer service training; providing extended hours for primary care; increasing awareness and access to low-coast health services/insurance; providing financial support of efforts by grassroots community-based organizations (CBOs) to promote community resources; coordinating a network of health care and social service providers; engaging community residents; targeting services to focus on particular illnesses and communities; increasing access to specific health care services; working with Access-A-Ride to address transportation issues; increasing the number of providers who accept public health insurance; and increasing availability and access to mental health services. To see a copy of The Need for Caring in North and Central Brooklyn, visit: http://www.tbh.org/building-better-healthcare-delivery-system-brooklyn-communities. Report sponsored by The Brooklyn Hospital Center, I M Foundation and New York State Department of Health The Brooklyn Hospital Center Testimony NYS Assembly Commitee On Health Members of the New York State Assembly Committee on Health, My name is Dr. Richard Becker, President and CEO of The Brooklyn Hospital Center. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on how to improve the current state of health care in Brooklyn. As existing information and research clearly show, Brooklyn residents have a healthcare system that is filled with inadequacies despite the efforts of many good people and organizations to deliver high quality care. This is complicated further by the generally lower state of health of many Brooklyn residents, especially in the eastern and central areas of Brooklyn. Patient Quality Indicators (PQI) that standardize metrics for severity of illness show that for most common conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and pneumonia, patients in Brooklyn require hospitalization at a rate that is almost twice as high as in many areas of New York City and even more frequently relative to national rates. There are many patients who cannot navigate the challenges of accessing primary, secondary or tertiary healthcare. Instead, they wait until their conditions require more urgent attention, seeking care in emergency rooms for illnesses that become more advanced—all of this leads to significantly worse outcomes with often profound health, social and economic impact. The design and distribution of our healthcare delivery system has not kept up with the needs of our patients, many of whom tend to be more ill and less mobile than others. Aging and outdated physical plants and infrastructure, inadequate access to primary and specialty care professionals and services, poor coordination and inefficiency of care between providers in a financial context of expenses that outpace revenues have yielded exactly what one would expect—healthcare that, in its current configuration, cannot meet the objectives of the triple aim—better quality healthcare for individuals, improved health of populations, and higher efficiency of care delivery. Allow me, then, to put forth some ideas that could change this for the better: 1. Focus on developing a system of healthcare in Brooklyn that prioritizes the goals of the triple aim as stated above. Such a system would develop services based upon healthcare needs of residents and regions rather than economic needs of communities. A consolidated and well‐coordinated healthcare system in Brooklyn that utilizes scarce health care dollars intelligently and efficiently will improve the health and the economics of our communities. 2. There are many areas of our healthcare delivery system that require immediate investment, but there are few dollars to invest. Public dollars are increasingly scarce and private lenders, since the financial crisis of 2008, see the safety net as a very high risk investment. The net effect is enormous limitation on access to much needed capital. Help us design a model system for urban healthcare delivery, and then ensure that the investment for its creation and maintenance is made available from public or private resources. 3. We are all aware of the significant health disparities that exist between residents in Brooklyn vs. residents in other more economically secure areas. But these disparities are also accompanied by inequities in reimbursement that hurts organizations delivering health care in low income, high need geographies. Delivery of good care to people in need should be reimbursed equitably. Use your positions to improve reimbursement for safety net providers. 4. Too often in Brooklyn’s history have the needs of an individual hospital been addressed in a vacuum without real attention to how precious resources might best be applied to create a healthcare system that is responsive to the communities health needs. With numerous hospitals and providers now on the brink of failure and others headed in that direction, the result is a fragmented and fractured system that lacks significantly in coordination of care, consistent levels of quality and financial sustainability. Make sure that funds are spent to develop a healthcare system rather than to buy a little more time for individual providers. Assist hospitals and providers, through influence and incentives, to abandon the “stand alone” model. 5. Numerous studies show too few primary care physicians and specialists in Brooklyn’s high need, low income areas. Despite training more physicians in Brooklyn than almost anywhere in New York, our collective ability to recruit and retain physicians and nurses is limited because of compensation and work environment issues. Many of these providers would eagerly stay if the practice opportunities were more competitive with what is available in other nearby areas. Create incentives for physicians, nurses and mid‐level providers to work in underserved areas. 6. Brooklyn’s behavioral health patient population is both medically and socially complex. Every hospital is challenged to care for these often fragile and chronic patients, yet the infrastructure does not yet exist to consistently deliver to them the best possible care. In addition, the cost of caring for these patients is burdensome and often exceeds the reimbursement available. Help us create a system that delivers better care for behavioral health patients in a manner that is not a financial drain for any provider. 7. Brooklyn Hospital, with help from Senators John Sampson and Vilmanette Montgomery, has built a coalition of community based organizations, FQHC’s, social and support service agencies, elected officials and providers (the Community Health Planning Workgroup) that meet on a regular basis with the goal of recommending effective and rational changes to the health care delivery system in Brooklyn. This group, a unique collaboration between hospitals and non‐hospital community health providers, is working effectively to propose real changes that will improve the health of the system and of residents in Brooklyn’s highest areas of health care crisis. We need more help from you to move forward these and other proposals. This list is by no means exclusive or exhaustive. Each of these items, however, is significant, and if our elected officials use their power and influence to deliver on these issues, the dream of a healthier Brooklyn will become a reality. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your time and attention. Richard Becker, MD President and CEO The Brooklyn Hospital Center PDF: The Brooklyn Hospital Center Testimony NYS Assembly Commitee On Health Building a better healthcare System for Brooklyn: Over the summer, The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC) and Interfaith Medical Center (IMC) representatives continued to meet regularly on development of the HEAL-NY Phase 21 feasibility study report. On September 21, steering committee members, along with the board chairs and several board trustees of both TBHC and IMC, met with representatives from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) where a presentation was made regarding the draft findings of the study. A vision was articulated for an expanded and enhanced ambulatory care delivery network building upon the strengths of existing outpatient facilities, which both organizations operate, and collaborating with existing providers of care within the communities of North and Central Brooklyn, including an integrated approach to care engaging community physicians and groups, FQHCs, community-based organizations, school based services and other social and supportive care providers. TBHC's Community Health Planning Workgroup: The Brooklyn Hospital Center, on behalf of its Community Health Planning Work Group (CHPW), submitted a proposal to assess the health status and needs of residents to the NYSDOH, which was approved in June. The results of this assessment will help inform and contribute to the planning process that will continue beyond the HEAL-NY Phase 21 feasibility study time period. During September, the CHPW team conducted several focus groups and distributed / conducted 644 surveys. The CHPW also met with representatives of the NYSDOH on September 21st and reported on the status of the assessment project. The results of the surveys and focus groups are under review and the final analysis and report is expected by the end of October. Governor Cuomo Announces $72.9 Million in Grants for 10 New York City Hospitals and Nursing Homes Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $72.9 million in grants to ten hospitals and nursing homes in New York City, continuing efforts to transform the state’s health care system to improve patient care, reduce costs, and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to quality treatment. The grants are made available through New York State's Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law (HEAL NY). Statewide, the $301.1 million in HEAL NY grants will help 40 hospitals and nursing homes across the state improve primary and community-based care, eliminate excess bed capacity, and reduce over-reliance on inpatient care in hospitals and nursing homes. Included in these grants, $5.4 million in discretionary HEAL NY funding is being awarded to St. John's Episcopal Hospital to expand services after the recent closure of Peninsula General Hospital (read more) In March, The Brooklyn Hospital Center formed the Community Health Planning Workgroup (CHPW) with members from myriad community stakeholders, healthcare providers and community health planners. The purpose of the Community Health Planning Workgroup (CHPW) is to assess community health care needs and to consider the scope of health care resources within the community; develop a framework for a health system in North and Central Brooklyn which will provide the full range of highest quality health care services; develop options for meeting the needs of the community; and help inform the implementation of the HEAL 21 proposal submitted for funding by TBHC / Interfaith / Wyckoff. The following member organizations are represented: The Brooklyn Hospital Center Richard B. Becker, MD, President and CEO Leroy Charles, Director, Government Relations and External Affairs Joan Clark, SVP, Strategic Planning Catherine Derr, Vice President, Marketing and Communications Gary Stephens, MD, Chief Medical Officer Beryl Williams-Augustin, Director, Community Outreach TBHC Community Advisory Board Rev. Earl Jones, Pastor, First Cavalry Baptist Church Bedford-Stuyvesant Family Health Center Patricia Fernandez, CEO BMS Family Health Center Harvey Lawrence, President and CEO Brooklyn Borough President’s Office Italia Guerrero, Policy Analyst Brooklyn Perinatal Network Ngozi Moses, Executive Director Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center Lazetta Duncan-Moore, CEO Community Healthcare Network Luis Freddy Molano, MD, Assistant Vice President for HIV Programs Chris Quinones, Vice President of Administration and Corporate Compliance Officer Judy Wessler, Director Interfaith Medical Center Luis Hernandez, CEO and President Diane Porter, Board Member Kings County Hospital Lutheran Medical Center Mary Quinones, Vice President for Strategic Community Partnerships NY Lawyers for the Public Interest Aletha Maybank, MD, Assistant Commissioner John Palmer, Executive Director, Harlem Hospital Center State Senator Velmanette Montgomery’s Office Jim Vogel, Community Coordinator In a significant milestone toward its vision for the creation of a single sustainable healthcare delivery system to serve the more than one million residents of northern and central Brooklyn, The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC), has submitted an application for a HEAL-NY Phase 21 Grant. This transformative grant would be used to consolidate three safety net healthcare institutions, TBHC, Interfaith Medical Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, into an integrated healthcare delivery system consistent with the recommendations of the Brooklyn Health Systems Redesign Work Group (MRT Work Group), the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). The announcement was made by Richard Becker, MD, president and CEO of TBHC, the lead applicant, who said the three institutions currently provide ambulatory and inpatient services to over one million Brooklyn residents, more than half of whom rely on Medicaid Services. “This proposal will have a transformative impact on the health of Brooklyn’s residents, while creating a new, financially sustainable health care delivery model,” said Dr. Becker, adding that the vision for the new system was also inspired by the Brooklyn Healthcare Working Group’s report from NY State Senator John Sampson and Borough President Marty Markowitz. “With the creation of an integrated system, we will have a more effective healthcare delivery system to address the needs of the Brooklyn community.” According to Dr. Becker, HEAL funding will assist in the development, establishment and implementation of the proposed integrated healthcare system in three key areas: clinical service, infrastructure development and financial reorganization. The integration would take place over two phases to create more effective and efficient outpatient and inpatient care delivery systems. Through a separate and related application, the applicants are requesting temporary increases in Medicaid reimbursement rates and temporary enhancement of APG (ambulatory patient group) rates. Phase One, which will take approximately six months, includes a due diligence planning and development process to establish the System as well as a description of governance, management, service reconfigurations, a financial and operations restructuring, and an overall implementation plan. Phase Two of the proposed project, with expected completion in February 2014, involves the implementation of the plan including the clinical, infrastructure and financial restructuring efforts at each institution to create a robust and sustainable health system. The Brooklyn Hospital Center: Founded as the borough’s first voluntary hospital, The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC) has been keeping Brooklyn healthy since 1845. Today, it is a 464-bed teaching hospital, offering primary and specialized medical care, sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic services, cutting-edge technology, and specialized surgery to nearly 300,000 patients annually. Located in the heart of Brooklyn’s downtown revitalization district, TBHC is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and the Brooklyn academic and clinical affiliate of Weill Medical College of Cornell University. TBHC has fully accredited, independent residency programs in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, General Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and trains more than 250 physicians each year.	54,600
Have questions? We have answers! Why First-Class Postage? We have conditioned ourselves to immediately judge the importance of the mail we receive based on the type of postage it contains. We automatically know that important items are usually sent with First-Class postage; we know that advertising and most solicitations are usually sent with Standard/Bulk Rate postage. First-Class postage is appropriate for highly focused and targeted lists that are not considered “mass mail”. Sending First-Class provides these benefits to the sender: - USPS forwarding and re-delivery rules apply. This is critical for certain courthouse triggered leads that may have move-outs, stop mail orders or forwarding orders in place. - “Undeliverable” First-Class mail is sent back to the sender. This enables the sender to maintain their database to ensure it is an efficient and usable tool for future mailings. - First-Class postage has a delivery time of 1-3 days. Standard Class (bulk) mail has delivery times of between 10-21 days. In sum, First-Class is treated differently by the mail carriers and USPS system as a whole, has faster delivery times, follows forwarding and return to sender rules, and results in a substantially higher recipient open rate. Why a Stamp instead of metered? Stamps (and we even like to apply ours a little crooked) indicate a more tedious and manual process undertaken by the sender. A lot of advertising mail is metered, but personal letters, birthday cards, sympathy cards, etc., are hand-stamped. Can you use a machine to mimic handwriting? We certainly can and sometimes we do! We have collected feedback and data on this question for years. Although technology is getting closer to mimicking human handwriting, current machines and robots simply cannot produce the authenticity needed to convey the personal nature of a hand-written letter. A handwritten notecard or letter will have occasional ink smudges, pen impressions, and even corrections. We still know and can tell if a machine produced the handwriting. We have tested many realistic handwriting fonts and found that the open rates and response rates match those of a standard Arial font. Do you do postcards? Our bread and butter product suite is the handwritten envelopes and/or handwritten content. Our research has shown us that such approaches yield a higher return on marketing investment for our clients. With that said, there are certain circumstances that may merit the use of less costly mailings– such as, non-responsive leads through several previous attempts. We recommend the USPS First-Class postcard in a 3×5 size. Mail carriers are trained to put these at or near the top of the stack so they are noticed at the same rate as a “Sorry we missed you” delivery notification. How do I get my local postmark applied? Most of our mailings are placed into the USPS system in Texas and will have a North Texas-Dallas postmark applied. While we have never seen negative consequences from this practice, some clients prefer to have their local postmark applied to match their handwritten return address on the envelope. In those instances, we ship the “mail ready” items directly to our client (usually with a two-day delivery) allowing them to place the items into their local mail system. Do you have a minimum order amount? No, there is no minimum order amount. Whether your list is 5 or 5,000, give us a call! How effective is handwritten mail? Most of our clients have come to us with disappointing previous Direct Mail experience of varying types and many had given up hope. Then they found us. Our open rates, read to completion rates, degree of message absorption, positive impression impact, and mailing- piece shelf life are unparalleled. Our clients claim that handwritten mail is VERY effective. They tell us the results are actually shocking now that their mail is being opened instead of thrown out, now that their mail is being read instead of quickly scanned. The handwriting approach truly sets them apart from their competition.	84,350
LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The first ballots for Wisconsin's first-ever statewide recall primary are being cast this week. Absentee voting started Monday across the state. La Crosse City Clerk Teri Lehrke said it's hard to know what voter turnout is going to be like over the next several weeks because there's really no precedent for this type of election. But she does say we could see greater turnout than we had for the presidential primary earlier this month. But with hectic schedules and vacations, getting to the voting booth on May 8 for the recall primary can be a challenge for some people. That's where absentee voting comes into play. "It's a convenience to voters. Some people really like that because they can come to the municipal clerk's office on their own time or they can request an absentee ballot," said Lehrke. Either way, Wisconsinites no longer have to give a reason why they want to vote absentee, whether they're going to be out of town or if they just want to avoid long lines at the polls. "It used to be that you had to have a reason such as being an election official, or age, or illness, disability, that kind of thing. But then the legislature eliminated that requirement quite a few years ago," said Lehrke. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political analyst Joe Heim said that's one way Wisconsin tries to make it as easy as possible to vote. "Wisconsin historically has had very easy access to ballots -- same-day registration, for example, easy registration in advance. The absentee ballots, system has always been pretty easy. Like I said, you don't even have to give a reason. All those are designed to increase participation in the state. We rank historically in the top five in turnout in the United States," said Heim. He said both parties are encouraging their supporters to vote absentee more and more. "That has expanded greatly as the parties have become more adversarial. And every vote counts. You know, we've had some really close elections. And the parties now are looking for every advantage they can," said Heim. There's been a lot of talk about the Democratic challengers for governor, but what you may not know is there's a Republican candidate running against Walker in the primary, too. Voters can only choose one candidate in the primary, not one from each party. The deadline for in-person absentee voting is May 4 at 5 p.m. Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by election day on May 8 and received by May 11. Voters will not be required to show a photo ID at the polls.	190,278
POETS Day is Mark’s premier play. Set in a London pub in 2008, the audience is propelled into the disturbing, entangled story of a dysfunctional builder and how his inability to deal with a trauma mars the lives of those close to him. POETS Day was originally written in 2013 for Mark’s teenage son as a cautionary tale about pubs, alcohol, substance abuse and the devastating ramifications it can bring not only the abuser but those around them. After a few readings, it quickly became a more serious piece and in 2016, (in aid of the children’s charity Barnardo’s), it was performed for four nights at The Compass Theatre, Ickenham to emotionally charged acclaim. Since the premier, TSL Publications signed Mark into their family and Barnardo’s have received considerable donations, A level drama students have studied it as part of their curriculum and the BBC have accepted its submission into their Writers’ Room for Drama. One of Mark’s favourite comments about POETS Day is: ‘You are both repelled and drawn in by the main characters … waiting with nervous anticipation to the conclusion.’ Visit poetsday.org.uk to see how well the performances were received and how it is helping to change lives.	82,854
German Upper Intermediate - Year 3 Short Courses Taught in German, this is a course for upper intermediate students, running once a week. Upper Intermediate German course is a follow-up to German Lower Intermediate (Year 2) for those wishing to consolidate both active and passive language skills for the purpose of practical communication. Each term of the Upper Intermediate German course consists of ten two-hour classes in central London. This is a three-term course for upper intermediate students. If you miss an October enrolment and you already have some significant knowledge of German, you can join the Upper Intermediate German course in Term 2 or 3 but you will need to have your level assessed. You can either do this by contacting us on 020 7040 8268 or by checking your level using our online guidelines. \|Start Date\|\|Start Time\|\|Duration\|\|Cost\|\|Course Code\|\|Apply\| \|Wednesday 3 October 2012\|\|18:30 - 20:30\|\|10 classes over 1 term\|\|£195.00 (Module 1)\|\|CE1834\|\|Enrollment Closed\| \|Wednesday 23 January 2013\|\|18:30 - 20:30\|\|10 classes over 1 term\|\|£195.00 (Module 2)\|\|CE1834\|\|Course Cancelled\| \|Wednesday 1 May 2013\|\|18:30 - 20:30\|\|10 classes over 1 term\|\|£195.00 (Module 3)\|\|CE1834\|\|Course Cancelled\| \|Wednesday 3 October 2012\|\|18:30 - 20:30\|\|30 classes over 3 terms\|\|£500.00 (All Modules)\|\|CE1834\|\|Course Cancelled\| Boris Born has an MA in German and Philosophical Studies (Berlin, 1988). He has been teaching German in various institutions in London such as North London University, and in language schools and at City since 1998. You should have one of the following: - approximately 100-120 hrs prior formal study - successfully completed German Lower Intermediate - Year 2 - be able to express wishes; give advice (present conditional); voice intentions and planning in the future, relate past events and express opinion and obligation; narrate memories and past events using the imperfect tense. For students who can carry out a conversation. You should be able to follow discussions on topics of current interest in the language - a (good but) rusty German A-level. What will I learn? Topics covered include: work and leisure time; personal and social environment; cultural events and celebrations; education; current affairs and events. Grammar topics include: subjunctive II; modal and reflexive verbs; cases system; tense system. Topics include: food and drink; environment; film; travel; current affairs and events. Grammar items include: passive; relative clauses; local prepositions. Topics include: travel and tourism; people and places; work; family; social issues; politics; culture and economy of Germany. Grammar items include: verbs and prepostions; comparative and superlative; adjective endings. Teaching and Assessment The course will include formative evaluation (to help you assess your strengths and weaknesses), an oral presentation and continuous support from your tutor. All evaluation will take place in a relaxed and informal setting. There is no textbook required but you are advised to read and listen to authentic material regularly. The tutor will discuss course material during the first class. At the end of the course students are expected to be able to understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularty encounted in work, school, leasure, etc. Students are able to deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. They can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal intest. Students can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.	140,712
Papaya leaf juice helps fight dengue fever - L-G Jung functioning as if there is President's Rule in Delhi: Sisodia - Suicide car bomb kills at least 6, injures 9 in Kabul - VIDEO: Teased by bodyguard, Agra woman smashes SP leader's Mercedes - Amid Delhi Chief Secy row, at least dozen govt officers ready to leave city - Modi govt calls for 'fitting' commemoration of Rajiv Gandhi death anniversary With the rising number of people catching dengue fever, the demand for papaya leaf juice has soared. The extract of raw papaya leaf helps boost platelets, also known as thrombocytes. Dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be fatal. Common symptoms include fever with headache, severe muscle pain, joint pain and rashes on the body. There is no effective medicine for dengue. Traditionally, the juice of papaya leaf has been found to be useful in the treatment of dengue fever. Few recent studies have shown the effect of papaya leaf juice in curing dengue fever. A recent study done on five dengue patients by Indian Institute of Forest Management has shown some interesting observations. Among five patients, papaya leaf juice was found to be effective in curing dengue. The number of platelets increased in all five patients within 24 hours of drinking the juice, with all patients reporting significant improvement in their health. It seems that this bitter green juice is promising without posing any serious ill-effects. As a result, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies are already formulating papaya leaf extract preparations. Interestingly, papaya leaf has also been found to possess powerful anti-malarial and anti-cancer properties. Papaya leaf extract has been used in some parts of the world as a prophylactic to prevent malaria in endemic regions. According to research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology published in 2010, doctors and researchers from US and Japan have discovered that enzymes found in papaya leaf have cancer fighting properties and are known to work against cervix, breast, liver, lung and pancreatic cancers. According to the study, papaya leaves are not known to have toxic effects and their consumption does not have side effects. Some doctors are beginning to recommend papaya leaf tea as part of chemotherapy.	139,680
- Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building - http://inhabitat.com - South Korea Announces $8.2 Billion Offshore Wind Farm Posted By Timon Singh On November 9, 2010 @ 1:58 pm In Environment,Renewable Energy,Wind Power \| No Comments South Korea recently announced a massive $8.2 billion offshore wind power farm that will provide a major boost to its renewable energy infrastructure. The wind farm, which will be built off the country’s west coast by 2019, will also aid the country’s wind turbine exporters. Speaking about the new project, the South Korean Knowledge Economy Ministry said that the wind farm will generate about 2,500 megawatts of electricity once it is finished. The project will be developed near the southwestern counties of Buan and Yeonggwang by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering , and current plans project the construction of 500 turbines. The project will be partly funded by the South Korean government, but a large amount of the investment will come from private firms and investors. South Korean machinery firms such as Samsung Heavy Industries and STX Heavy Industries are also expected to aid in the wind farm’s development, as they are both hoping to gain a foothold in the lucrative global wind power market. The Ministry defended the project from critics, saying that “the small size of our land, offshore wind farms, with less environmental damage and fewer potential complaints from residents, are far more promising sources of energy than onshore wind farms.” South Korea is currently Asia’s fourth largest economy, but it imports 97 percent of its energy from overseas. As such, it has made major investments in diversifying its energy sources and cutting its economy’s dependency on fossil fuels. Last month, Seoul announced an ambitious five-year plan to spend $36 billion developing renewable energy as its next economic growth engine. It hopes that it will become one of the world’s five top players in the sector, although it will have to go a long way to beat China . Via PhysOrg Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/south-korea-announces-8-2-billion-offshore-wind-farm/ URLs in this post: Image: http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/06/lake-erie-to-become-the-united-states-first-fresh-water-wind-farm/windfarm-ed02-2/ offshore wind power farm: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/10/25/china-starts-construction-on-worlds-biggest-offshore-wind-farm/ South Korean Knowledge Economy Ministry: http://www.mke.go.kr/language/eng/ Hyundai Heavy Industries: http://english.hhi.co.kr/ Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering: http://www.dsme.co.kr/en/ Samsung Heavy Industries: http://www.shi.samsung.co.kr/eng/ STX Heavy Industries: http://www.stxhi.co.kr/eng/ ambitious five-year plan: http://www.physorg.com/news/206163619-skorea-unveils-huge-energy-investment.html PhysOrg: http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-11-skorea-billion-dollar-offshore-farm.html Copyright © 2011 Inhabitat Local - New York. All rights reserved.	21,490
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Sony Corp(6758.T) said on Wednesday that about 535,000 units of its "Vaio" brand personal computers globally may be in danger of overheating and that it has provided software on its website to eliminate the problem. The company said in a statement that there have been 39 overheating cases in total, all reported outside Japan. Some of these have resulted in damage to computer bodies, but no burn injuries have been reported. Some of Sony's F and C series Vaio PCs made in January this year and some custom-made models from the same series have been affected, the firm said. A Sony spokeswoman said the company has not estimated possible costs stemming from the problem. (Reporting by Yumiko Nishitani) (For more business news on Reuters India click in.reuters.com) Trending On Reuters India's parliament began debating the goods and service tax (GST) on Friday that seeks to transform the country into a common market, but experts said compromises made to enlist the support of states risked diluting the impact of the biggest tax reform in decades. Article India to host Afghan leader, seeks to regain ground lost to China, Pakistan Full Article	232,193
Nhek Ren is a true inspiration in her small village of Pu Tru, in the hills of Mondulkiri province. Though she dropped out of school when she was in Grade 8, she dreams of a different future for her two daughters. Nhek Ren confides in Victoria Laroche Creux that she will try her hardest to motivate her daughters to continue school until grade 12, ‘even if it’s hard and even if we don’t have a lot of money’. In the small village of Pu Tru, in Mondulkiri province, Nhek Ren has big dreams for the future of her two daughters. “When I was young, I didn’t receive education, so I want my daughters to go to school so they can have good jobs. They could work in another country. I don’t want them to be farmers like me,” said the 21-year-old mother while her daughters were busy playing with a puppy outside. Nhek Ren dropped out of school when she was in Grade 8 and dreams of a different future for her two daughters – four-year-old Nhoy Sreyploy, and two-year-old Nhoy Sreyply. Nhek Ren works as a farmer and a labourer when she is not at home taking care of her daughters or doing house chores. Her husband, Sran Nhoy is a 23-year-old farmer and a labourer as well. They live with their daughters and Nhek Ren’s parents and youngest sister, who is now in Grade 6. “I want to send my daughters to university in the future,” she said quietly, but determinedly. Nhoy Sreyploy has been attending the Community Preschool Patru Ler in Pu Tru village for a year and was enrolled as soon as she turned three years old. “Before she attended preschool, she couldn’t speak properly, but after attending preschool she came home and said greetings and told me what she learnt during the day. She cannot write or read yet, but she just learnt to draw,” explained Nhek Ren. “My youngest daughter is two and she already goes to school with her sister. But she will be officially enrolled next year,” added Nhek. The youngest daughter, Nhoy Sreyply, accompanies Sreyploy to preschool every day and she will be officially enrolled when she turns three years old but, in the meantime, she is learning a lot from her sister. Nhoy Sreyploy is among the 24 preschool students that received school materials and a school uniform from Saen Monourom Commune in 2018. The UNICEF Community Development section has been working closely with commune councils in different Cambodian provinces in the past years. In 2014, a Social Services programme was developed with UNICEF support. As part of the project, commune chiefs received trainings on how to use the new Social Service Implementation Manual. They learn new techniques, such as village mapping and data collection, to identify vulnerable households in their commune. “There are 864 households in the commune and about 100 of them are identified as vulnerable,” said Tvan Trel, who has been the commune chief of Saen Monourom Commune for the past six years. “In the future, I want to share my knowledge about social services with all the village chiefs in the commune to better identify the poor households,” explained Tvan Trel. The commune also provides food supplies such as rice, salt and soy sauce, but also school materials and blankets for vulnerable households. Nhek Ren and her family are identified as a vulnerable household in Saen Monourom Commune and received food supplies for the first time in 2018. “My income is irregular. Sometimes I get 30,000 riels ($7.50) and sometimes up to $10 a day. My husband is paid 30,000 riels per day, but we are paid 60,000 ($15) riels if we go together. But mostly I stay home with the girls,” said Nhek Ren. Thanks to the commune support in school materials but also in counselling parents about the benefits of education, Nhek Ren is aware of the importance of sending her daughters to school. “I will try my hardest to motivate my daughters to continue school until grade 12, even if it’s hard and even if we don’t have a lot of money,” she confided. Nhek Ren is a true inspiration in her small village of Pu Tru, in the hills of Mondulkiri province. “I don’t know what kind of job I wish for my daughter. It’s my daughters’ decisions and they will decide on their own when they are old enough,” said Nhek Ren, confident about her daughters promising future. UNICEF Cambodia	301,678
For a long time, television series were mediocre, and people's standards were low. Now, series like The Wire and The Sopranos have taught us things that we didn't know were possible in the medium. Look at Marc Shmuger's resume and the curriculum vitaes of other film executives. Look at the bios of the executives behind the best TV series. All in all, it's great to know that there are teams who are creating commercially viable, stunning art for our viewing pleasure. Breaking Bad follows the story of Walt, a chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Instead of focusing on getting better, Walt turns to the underworld and begins selling and manufacturing methamphetamine. The show takes us on a journey as Walt visibly changes before our eyes. We are so invested in the character that we sympathize as he descends into darkness, seemingly losing the sense of humanity that was central to his character at the start. Breaking Bad becomes a bit fantastical at times, which makes it different from the other top TV series of the decade. You can sometimes feel like you're watching Prison Break when Walt is trying to bug his brother-in-law's office just before he returns. At the same time, the show explores morality, questions of agency, and has deeply textured narrative. "I want to tell a story about this particular man. I want to tell the story about the reality of being a mobster – or what I perceive to be the reality of life in organized crime. They aren't shooting each other every day. They sit around eating baked ziti and betting and figuring out who owes who money. Occasionally, violence breaks out– more often than it does in the banking world, perhaps," said David Chase, creator of The Sopranos. The mafia genre, until The Sopranos, focused on characters like Michael Corleone who would lead the lives of criminal masterminds with billion-dollar empires. But The Sopranos focused lower down the food chain, and was therefore able to take us much closer toward the lives of the characters. The show grappled with issues of family, Italian American culture and the journey of one man to release himself from the world into which he was born. The Wire gave us 60 episodes of deep insight into human nature, politics, education and the goings on in Baltimore. While the best TV series mostly focus on crime from the criminal's perspective, The Wire lets us see the perspective of the police and the criminals at the same time. The first season focuses on drug dealing, and then later seasons expand into the shipping ports, education and politics. The characters tend to have true human motivations. Not the type you see on TV, but the type you see in everyday life. Someone might be driven by ego, for example, or a desire to get one up on someone else. \|< Prev\|\|Next >\|	96,526
Questions and Answers About Declarations of Homestead in Massachusetts Each Type of Homestead Exemption Was Automatically Increased to $500,000.00 on October 26, 2004. What is a Declaration of Homestead? A “Declaration of Homestead” is a simple and inexpensive legal document that can protect part (or perhaps all) of the value of your home from most of your future creditors and lawsuits against you. Unless you own a mobile home, it must be recorded in your county at the Registry of Deeds or Registry District of the Land Court. If you own a mobile home, it must be filed at your Town Hall or City Hall. Why should I have a Declaration of Homestead? If you do not have a Declaration of Homestead in place, and are sued and lose, there is a chance that you could lose your home if your insurance does not fully cover the lawsuit. If you have a Declaration of Homestead in place, and are sued and lose, your home may instead be totally protected during your lifetime. Other than in foreclosure actions for failure to make mortgage payments, cases where a person gets sued and loses his or her home are rare. Unfortunately, until your case is tried and settled, you may not be sure that your home is safe. You cannot know until that time whether the verdict would be in excess of the amount which would be paid by your applicable insurance (i.e., homeowners insurance for an accident at your home, or automobile insurance for a motor vehicle accident). Even if you are represented by a good lawyer who assures you that you have nothing to be worried about, you would probably be nervous if you were sued, and for at least a short time you would probably fear the worst. Knowing that you have taken action to protect your home would undoubtedly lessen your fears, so, if you are eligible, why not make a Declaration of Homestead? Just about anyone who owns a home is eligible for one of the three types that exist. What is a regular Declaration of Homestead? A regular Declaration of Homestead can be made by almost anyone. Until November 1, 2000, it protected the first $100,000.00 of the home’s value for you and your family; from November 2, 2000 through October 25, 2004, it protected $300,000.00. From October 26, 2004 on, it has protected $500,000.00. It gives your surviving spouse protection until his or her death or remarriage, whichever occurs earlier. It also gives each child of yours protection until he or she reaches the age of 18 years or becomes married, whichever occurs earlier. Can a regular Declaration of Homestead ever pose any problems? You can release a regular Declaration of Homestead at anytime and eliminate the rights that it gives to your spouse and minor children. You therefore should not have any problems if you later want to sell or mortgage the home. If you die and an unmarried child of yours who is under the age of 18 years continues to live in the home, however, a regular Declaration of Homestead could cause your surviving spouse to have problems in selling or mortgaging the home. These problems occur because the spouse’s rights conflict with the child’s rights. Thus, a married person who has young children should not make a regular Declaration of Homestead without consulting an attorney who is thoroughly experienced in this area of law. What is an Elderly or Disabled Declaration of Homestead? Until November 1, 2000, an Elderly Declaration of Homestead protected the first $200,000.00 of the home’s value; from November 2, 2000 through October 25, 2004, it protected $300,000.00. From October 26, 2004 on, it has protected $500,000.00. Only a person who is at least 62 years of age can make it. Until November 1, 2000, a Disabled Declaration of Homestead protected the first $200,000.00 of the home’s value; from November 2, 2000 through October 25, 2004, it protected $300,000.00. From October 26, 2004 on, it has protected $500,000.00. Only a person who has a physical or mental impairment which is considered a disability by the Social Security Administration can make it. While the other types of Declarations can be very simple to prepare, the disabled type is more complicated because it is not valid unless you produce and record or file written proof of the disability. Are Elderly or Disabled Declarations of Homestead fairly new? The elderly and disabled types have only been available since 1987. If you recorded or filed a Declaration of Homestead prior to 1987 and wish to take advantage of the additional protection that an elderly or disabled type can give you, you can record or file a new one. Must I record or file a new Declaration of Homestead to increase my protection to the new amount as of October 26, 2004? No, the law has automatically increased each type of Declaration of Homestead to $500,000.00 of protection, although not against a creditor whose enforceable rights existed before the change in the law. Can more than one person make a Declaration of Homestead? Generally, only one owner of the home can make a regular Declaration of Homestead if the home is owned as joint tenants or as tenants by the entirety. More than one person can make an Elderly or Disabled Declaration of Homestead, and increase their total protection. What does a Declaration of Homestead not cover? No type of Declaration of Homestead protects any of the home’s values against a pre-existing debt or mortgage, but it can protect you against some lawsuits. Further, no type of Declaration of Homestead protects any of the home’s value against the possible impact of nursing home costs. My home is in a revocable trust, so isn’t it already safe from creditors? No, not at all. Merely deeding your home into a revocable trust is just about the worst move you can make if protection from creditors (including nursing homes) is a concern. A home that is in a revocable trust has no automatic protection against the creditors of the person who established the trust, but a person whose home is in a revocable trust can receive the benefit of a Declaration of Homestead; the Trustee of the trust must record it. If a Declaration of Homestead will not protect my home if I have to go into a nursing home, what must I do instead? The only way to protect your home in case you have to go into a nursing home is to make some sort of legal transfer of the home. To protect the home fully under current law, such a transfer sometimes (but not always) has to be made 60 months before you have to enter a nursing home. What happens if I am sued and my home is worth more than the amount protected by my Declaration of Homestead? If your home is worth more than the amount which is protected by our Declaration of Homestead, anyone who sues you may still be able to force a sale of your home (again, assuming that your homeowners or automobile insurance does not fully cover the lawsuit). After the sale, however, you would be able to walk away with the protected amount. Should I make a Declaration of Homestead, then? As our society seems to be becoming more litigious all the time, protecting your home against future lawsuits may be of great psychological (if not financial) importance to you. Recording or filing a Declaration of Homestead is not the only way to protect your home, nor is it necessarily the best way for married couples, but it at least affords a good deal of protection and peace of mind. Anyone who has not yet made one of the three types described above should strongly consider doing so, but keep in mind that a Declaration of Homestead is your last line of defense against losing your home, and you would likely be filing for bankruptcy for it to be of help to you. Purchasing an umbrella policy is often a better move.	72,520
Literacy fundraiser coming up May 8 was a red-letter day in Athens-Clarke County. Almost 200 people celebrated the completion of their GED at Athens Technical College’s GED graduation. This provides a great opportunity to point out the impact of literacy on our community. A U.S. Department of Labor study revealed that low literacy skills in the workplace cost Georgia employers more than $2 billion annually. Did you know that 15.4 percent of adults over 25 in Athens-Clarke County do not have a high school diploma or the equivalent? That’s 13,000 people. Did you know that having a high school diploma or GED certification will nearly double an adult’s lifetime earnings? On average, a person who has a high school diploma or equivalent earns $10,000 more per year than one who does not. The Athens-Clarke Literacy Council’s mission is to promote and support learning opportunities for adult residents in the Athens community. We do this through GED scholarships, postsecondary scholarships, training for literacy volunteers and technical assistance to local providers. The Spirited Spectacular Spelling Bee is the ACLC’s primary fundraiser, and this year’s bee is scheduled for Aug. 25 at Hotel Indigo. Save the date; we hope to see you there. • Pat Waldrip serves on the board of the Athens-Clarke Literacy Council.	139,347
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Lovebots, a robot being granted citizenship, crossing the uncanny valley, neopets, and more. Hi there! Have a track for this newsletter: Baths - Ocean Death. It sounds simple at first but becomes unexpectedly intense, powerful, and verved with emotion. Great for contemplating the increasingly human-like expression of robots. I can't wait until androids are making electronic music. "Hiroshi Ishiguro builds androids. Beautiful, realistic, uncannily convincing human replicas. Academically, he is using them to understand the mechanics of person-to-person interaction. But his true quest is to untangle the ineffable nature of connection itself." A great long read on a man's dedication to reverse-engineering humanity, in order to reproduce it. 'Cause if you can't be fooled into thinking a thing is human, you can't trust it. (I mean, there are some implications here on the respect we have for non-human things here too, aren't there?) Mostly a publicity stunt with what must be a set of fairly canned responses, but it's pretty wild symbolic showing, hopefully one that will keep the robots from completely destroying us when they take over. OK, OK, again, I keep going back and forth on this AI singularity thing. I can't tell if we're going to die horrible deaths because the robots will attain superhuman consciousness and intellect and then paperclip us, or if it's just going to be something lame and boringly apocalyptic like climate change. How tedious would that be? This is definitely a more technical article/interview on the work done to render Rachael in Blade Runner 2049, which is interesting because of the complete and totally incredible jumping of the uncanny valley. I haven't seen the new Blade Runner yet, but just from the stills this looks completely convincing. Wild! Granted, it sounds like it's still a ton of work to pull off in such high-fidelity. Good. (But for how looong? :ghost:) I wasn't particularly aware that Neopets was an important part of "girl culture" until this article, but it makes sense: Neopets was an incredibly open world that allowed for a tremendous amount of personal expression and customization. Heck, the Neopets store pages even let you use custom HTML--that was my first introduction to web development, at a tender age. Not just that, but I actually met my best friend on Neopets on the roleplaying forum when we were 10 years old, and we're still friends to this day. So, thanks, Neopets! I love /r/outside. The idea of dressing up the entire world as a game is... well, perhaps a little infantile (to those of us without any joy whatsoever), but a surprisingly interesting mental model for assessing reality and having some fun while you do it. Besides being a source of incredibly clever jokes, it's also a great way to set goals, rationalize the unfairness of reality, interface with questions of metaphysics, and take "the grind" a little bit more lightly. Cue lots of Twitter jokes about Amazon Murder, Amazon dressing you in the pajamas you ordered in your sleep, etc. This is a pretty alarming (but obvious and logical) next step for corporations to get ever closer and closer until they're implanted into your brains and product placement is beamed into your brains and you have to pay microtransactions to not think in ad slogans constantly and	124,677
UN:19 December 2007 – The Security Council today called on all sides in Somalia to use peaceful means to consolidate peace in the East African nation that has not had a functioning national government since 1991. Foreign Minister Massimo D’alema of Italy, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency this month, read out a statement urging “all Somali parties to reject violence and… to enter into substantial dialogue aimed at achieving a full and all-inclusive national reconciliation.” The 15-member body lauded last month’s appointment of Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, which “offers a renewed opportunity to make further progress on dialogue and political reconciliation,” as well as on tackling the humanitarian crisis in the country. Mr. Hussein’s appointment, the Council said, also bodes well for the implementation of the National Reconciliation Congress’ outcomes, “leading to a road map for the remainder of the Transitional Period and democratic elections in Somalia, as set out in the Transitional Federal Charter.” The Council also welcomed a briefing it received earlier this week from Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, who warned the body that “the situation in Somalia is dangerous and becoming more so each day.” He cautioned that “business as usual” would have dire consequences for both the country and the greater region, and called for immediate and effective action on the political and security fronts, with the objective of forming a government that can support itself and administer the country effectively. In today’s statement, the Council also took note of the 6 December briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, who recounted his recent visit to Somalia and estimated that some 1.5 million people there are in need of aid. “The Security Council expresses its deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation, aggravated by the prevailing security conditions in Somalia, and emphasizes again the need for strengthened efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Somalia,” Mr. D’alema said. In addition, the Council appealed for unobstructed access for aid workers to vulnerable populations.	140,957
THE Walvis Bay corridors performed strongly in the movement of commodities through the port of Walvis Bay to southern Africa, with a record cargo increase of more than 54% during the past financial year. This represents a total of 682 333 tons of cargo that moved along these corridors, which is 240 000 tons more than the previous financial year. The Trans-Kalahari Corridor, which connects Walvis Bay with Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, showed 115% growth; the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor, which connects Walvis Bay with Zambia and the DRC, showed 75% growth; and the Trans-Kunene Corridor, which connects Walvis Bay to Angola, showed 29% growth. "We have continued our campaign to communicate and engage with the shipping and logistics community to attract them to Walvis Bay and to create more capacity amongst our corridors. New shipping lines have started to call at Walvis Bay as well as some have set up new offices to expand their services via Walvis Bay into the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. We have also seen more logistics service providers from the region and further abroad that have started to develop their footprint in Walvis Bay. This allows more choice for our customers within SADC and also allows for a bigger variety of service aspects to attract new customers along our corridors," said Johny Smith, chief executive officer of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG). Bisey Uirab, chairman of the group, said: "Continuously the WBCG's work is being distinguished in the regional and international market for its attitude in growing through persistence, and its unique private-public participation at various levels in the region, on the continent and further abroad. This recipe of success continues to bring new and more rewards of growth as we also strengthen our role, create new partnerships and networks to develop trade ... with the SADC region." The growth of the Walvis Bay corridors can be attributed to intensive international marketing campaigns.	196,402
Monday, April 11, 2011 [MN] Progressive Policing: 3 departments drafted polices & trainings to handle officer-involved domestic violence ...The Crystal Judson name in McFarland’s title has to do with a tragedy that has been an impetus to formulate officer-involved domestic violence policies within law enforcement agencies across the United States... ...Department members will be trained to be on the alert for fellow officers having domestic issues so that appropriate help or intervention can be given. Also, whenever there is a domestic assault call in which an involved individual is a law enforcement officer, then a supervisor in the police department must also respond to the call, Payne said, to supervise how the primary or nonsupervisory officer handles the situation... [police officer involved domestic violence professional professionalism oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety minnesota state politics] POLICE ESTABLISHES DOMESTIC ABUSE POLICY The Princeton Union-Eagle By Joel Stottrup April 7, 2011 Fact: Police officers are human and not immune to committing domestic abuse, even fatal, nor are they immune to being victims of same. Fact: Law enforcement officers have been found to have committed domestic assault crimes in various degrees in the state, country and beyond. Fact: The Princeton Police Department is one of three police departments in Mille Lacs County who have recently finalized drafting for their departments the new Domestic Violence and Stalking and Sexual Assault Policy. Actually, all the law enforcement agencies, as well as the Mille Lacs County attorney’s office and the Pearl Crisis Center in Mille Lacs have been drafting the same policy for their departments, according to Krista McFarland. She is the Crystal Judson Advocacy Coordinator at Pearl Crisis Center. The Crystal Judson name in McFarland’s title has to do with a tragedy that has been an impetus to formulate officer-involved domestic violence policies within law enforcement agencies across the United States. The tragedy that led to action It was on April 26, 2003, when Crystal Judson, in her mid-30s, was fatally shot by the husband she was divorcing – David Brame, the police chief of Tacoma, Wash. David and Crystal were in a shopping center parking lot when David shot Crystal and then shot himself as their two young children were running up to them. David died that day but Crystal lived until the following May 3 when doctors disconnected her from life-support machines since she did not have brain activity nor chance for survival. But before she died, her father, Lane Judson, vowed to Crystal that he would do all that he could to prevent others from being victims of violence committed by an officer of the law. McFarland, with Pearl Crisis Center, has been working since 2009 with the Princeton, Milaca and Mille Lacs Tribal Police Departments that have just finished their policy writing, and with the other agencies. Princeton Police Chief Brian Payne said last week, that his department is targeting August to get it implemented in his department. McFarland said last week that the Princeton, Milaca and Tribal Police Departments have received the training for it. “Throughout this process,” McFarland said, “we have not only addressed this issue specifically, but also improved services to victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault.” Payne noted that all officers in his department will sign off that they have read and understood the new policy and that any new member of the department will have to do the same. Extension of policies Payne noted that the state has already mandated that law enforcement officers become trained in handling domestic assault. What this policy does is deal with any potential domestic assault among law enforcement officers, Payne explained. Actually, the laws on responding to domestic assault calls was stiffened some time ago by the state, Payne said. He explained that the old law stated that an officer could arrest someone who has shown probable cause to have committed a domestic assault crime. The current law states that officers must make the arrest. As far as the new policy goes for the three mentioned police departments, it will do several things, Payne said. One, is that the department members will be trained to be on the alert for fellow officers having domestic issues so that appropriate help or intervention can be given. Also, whenever there is a domestic assault call in which an involved individual is a law enforcement officer, then a supervisor in the police department must also respond to the call, Payne said, to supervise how the primary or nonsupervisory officer handles the situation. “It’s to make sure all the bases are covered and there is no preferential treatment,” Payne said. “I would like to think that wouldn’t happen…without a representative of the department there.” Another part of the policy, Payne explained, is if there is a resident in Princeton who works in law enforcement outside of Princeton and has committed a domestic assault in the locality, then Payne’s department will notify the employer of the alleged assault suspect about the situation. But what happens if it is a police chief who is alleged to have committed a domestic assault? In that case, Payne said, a senior investigator or sergeant is called in to respond. Payne said he doesn’t see domestic violence among law enforcement in Minnesota being any larger proportionally than in other professions. Payne also said he hasn’t seen any preferential treatment for officers in the 23 years he has worked within law enforcement in Howard Lake, Wright County, Zimmerman and Princeton. “The reason why I like this policy,” Payne said, “is it makes it much easier for senior officers and young officers to make an arrest of a supervisor when there is a policy backing the decision.” Payne also addressed the potential situation of there being a need for a senior officer beyond the chief to respond to a domestic call. In that case, he said, another agency can handle it. And that is also true if an officer doesn’t feel comfortable handling the call, Payne said. One way the head of a department can help if it appears one of their officers is having relationship difficulties at home, Payne continued, is they can change the shifts to reduce stress for that officer. One more way this policy is beneficial, Payne said, would be in a hypothetical situation of a report made of him assaulting his wife, but the evidence shows the allegation to be unfounded. Then if stories go around that the allegations were true, the new policy, with its safeguards would counteract the false rumors, Payne said. “This policy,” Payne said, “makes us accountable to make sure we do everything correctly. It’s a very professional department that polices their own as they police the ones they are sworn to protect.” McFarland, at Pearl, said the new policy can help in situations where the person wanting to report a domestic abuse has a spouse or partner who is in law enforcement. Without such a policy they would be hesitant to call the department the alleged abuser belongs to, McFarland said. What adds to the tragedy of the fatal assault of Crystal Judson, McFarland said, is that Crystal had been making reports about the abuse she was receiving some time before the date of her fatal wounding. Just the day before the shooting, McFarland added, the city of Tacoma, Wash., had declared that it was not going to investigate her case reasoning that this was a “personal matter.” McFarland pointed out that Crystal’s husband carried out the murder-suicide with his law enforcement-issued handgun.	16,839
A World-Class Business Education in a Single Volume Master the Art of Business 2nd Edition, Revised & Expanded Cognitive Scope Limitation “One death is a tragedy. A million deaths is a statistic.” — Kurt Tucholsky, German satirist - The Cognitive Scope Limitation is the way we simplify the reality when it becomes too overwhelming for the mind. This is what happens when you walk on Times Square: you can’t possibly feel emotionally connected to so many strangers. - It’s not possible to expand the scope of information in our minds, we just can’t handle so much reality. - Personalizing an issue is the best way to overcome this limitation. It helps to personalize decisions by imagining they affect someone close to us. Questions for Consideration: - How can you personalize the results of actions or decisions that affect people outside of your immediate circle of peers? - How can you remember to use the ‘newspaper rule’ and ‘grandchild rule’ before making major decisions that affect others? Share this concept:	235,468
Yesterday I taught the basics of geometric optics to my Physics 202 students. We did plane mirrors, spherical mirrors, and thin lenses. All told it’s a fairly straightforward chapter that’s all theme and variations on one equation. The sign rules for object and image distances have to be remembered correctly, but that’s not so difficult. Now while students aren’t necessarily going to come into class with previously built intuition for Ampere’s law and all the rest of the fun equations of the electromagnetic fields, they do have many hundreds of hours of experience looking in mirrors. All of them know how mirrors work. Or at least I’m sure they all think so! But even simple things can have subtle complications. I’m thinking about giving this as a quiz question: Why do mirrors reflect right and left, but not up and down? Give it a try!	143,027
Reviewing F. William Engdahl's "Full Spectrum Dominance: Totalitarian Democracy in the New World Order:" Part I is located here. For over 30 years, F. William Engdahl has been a leading researcher, economist, and analyst of the New World Order with extensive writing to his credit on energy, politics, and economics. His newest book is titled "Full Strectrum Dominance: Totalitarian Democracy in the New World Order." Part I was reviewed earlier. Part II continues the story of America's quest for global dominance and why its own internal rot may defeat it. The Significance of Darfur in Sudan In a word - oil in the form of huge potential reserves with Chinese companies involved in discovering them. Washington's genocide claim is a hoax. Yet it's trumpeted by the media and foolhardy celebrities used as props for the charade. By 2007, China was getting up to 30% of its oil from Africa prompting its "extraordinary series of diplomatic initiatives that left Washington furious" and determined to respond. Beijing offers African countries "no-strings-attached dollar credits" compared to exploitive IMF and World Bank terms. It paid off with important oil deals with Nigeria, South Africa, and Sudan's Darfur region. China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) is now Sudan's largest foreign investor, around $15 billion in the past decade, and it co-owns a refinery near Khartoum. It also built an oil pipeline from southern Sudan to Port Sudan on the Red Sea from where tankers ship it to China. With its need for oil growing at around 30% a year, China must have all the secure sources it can arrange, so what Africa can supply is crucial. Hence the Darfur confrontation, fake genocide charges, and Washington pressuring the government to sever its ties with China, something Khartoum won't countenance. For years as well, America used proxy Chad, Eritrea, and other forces, poured arms into Southeastern Sudan and Darfur, and trained the Sudan People's Liberation Army's (SPLA) John Garang at the School of the Americas for his role as a Pentagon's stooge. His campaign in the country's south, and that of others in Darfur, killed tens of thousands and left several million displaced. At stake is vital energy and other resources from Sudan and elsewhere, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, long reeling from Washington-initiated aggression using proxy forces for the dirty work. For one, Chad's thuggish "President for life" Idriss Deby's elite troops, trained and armed by the Pentagon, for attacks in Darfur and to aid rebel forces against the Khartoum government in Southwestern Sudan. A US/World Bank-financed pipeline also extends from Chad to the Cameroon coast as "part of a far grander scheme to control the oil riches of Central Africa from Sudan to the Gulf of Guinea" - an area with reserves potentially on a par with the Persian Gulf making it a great enough prize to go all out for. Enter China with "buckets of aid money" offered Chad the result of Deby wanting a greater share of the revenues, creating his own oil company, SHT, and threatening to expel Chevron for not paying its required taxes. Things got resolved, "but the winds of change were blowing" with China taking advantage, something "not greeted well in Washington." "Chad and Darfur (are) part of a significant Chinese effort to secure oil at the source(s), all across Africa," a matter Washington's Africa policy is addressing with AFRICOM and various military bases on the continent plus others planned. Washington wants global control of oil. Because of its growing needs, China represents a challenge everywhere but especially in Africa and Latin America. The result - "an undeclared, but very real, New Cold War (is on) over oil." Tibet is another battleground with unrest unleashed ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The operation dates from when George Bush met the Dalai Lama publicly in Washington for the first time, signaled his backing for Tibetan independence, and awarded him the Congressional Gold Medal. It clearly angered China that considers Tibet part of its territory. Known and very popular cialis coupon which gives all the chance to receive a discount for a preparation which has to be available and exactly cialis coupons has been found in the distant room of this big house about which wood-grouses in the houses tell. China also worried that Washington targeted Tibet with a Crimson Revolution much like earlier ones in Georgia, Ukraine and elsewhere while at the same time embarrassing Beijing ahead of its Olympics - intended to display its prosperity to a world television audience round the clock from August 8 - 24. The stakes on both sides are huge and remain so going forward. The Dalai Lama plays a pivotal role, but not what most people think. Although promoted in the West as spiritual and concerned for human rights and justice, as far back as the 1930s he "traveled in rather extreme conservative political circles," including with extremist Nazis when he was a boy. Later in 1999, he joined with Margaret Thatcher and GHW Bush in demanding the British government release Augusto Pinochet, under house arrest in London, and not extradite him to Spain for prosecution. Also, US government documents dating from 1959 revealed that he was was financed and backed by "various US and Western intelligence services and their gaggle of NGOs." He continues to serve them today and got a White House meeting and Congressional Gold Medal for his efforts. In 1959, the CIA helped him flee Tibet to Dharamsala, India where he's lived for the past 50 years, surfacing where Washington sends him for whatever purpose is intended. He's also gotten millions of NED dollars to engage in disruptive activities benefitting the West against designated adversaries. "The most prominent pro-Dalai Lama Tibet independence organization in the destabilization attempt of 2008 was the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), founded in Washington in 1988." Its board of directors includes former US State Department officials revealing Washington's clear involvement. For the past 15 years, NED provided funding for its usual type mischief. Other anti-Beijing organizations are also active, including the US-based Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), founded in 1994 as a US Tibet Committee project, financed by NED for "made-in-the-USA" subversion. Tibet is also important as one of the world's most valued water sources and for its "treasure of minerals....oil (and) some of the world's largest uranium and borax deposits, one half of the world's lithium, the largest copper deposits in Asia, enormous iron deposits, and over 80,000 gold mines." Also its forests contain China's largest timber reserve, and its "treasure basin" border with Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has 57 types of mineral reserves, including oil, natural gas, coal, crude salt, potassium, magnesium, lead, zinc and gold worth an estimated $1.8 trillion. Truly a "treasure" worth contesting for and the reason for America's interest. Human rights and promoting democracy are subterfuge, the same as everywhere America has a strategic interest, usually focused on resources. Destabilizing Tibet "was part of a shift of great significance....at a time when the US economy and the US dollar....were in the worst crisis since the 1930s....By the end of 2008 (America looked) more and more like the British Empire of the late 1930s - a global imperium in terminal decline" yet determined to impose its will on an increasingly reluctant world wanting better alternatives than they're getting. Quashing it requires "full spectrum dominance," something the Pentagon clearly understands. So do nations like China, Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and others on every continent. Global Bases As the Basis of Empire NATO currently includes 28 member states, including 10 former Soviet Republics and Warsaw Pact countries. Prospective new candidates include Georgia, Ukraine, Croatia, Albania and Macedonia and potentially others later to more tightly encircle Russia. At the same time, the Middle East and part of Eurasia have been increasingly militarized with a network of US bases from Qatar to Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond - a clear breach of GHW Bush's promise to Mikhail Gorbachev that paved the way for unifying Germany in 1990 and dissolving the Soviet Union. The Pentagon has hundreds of bases globally, 1000 or more by some estimates, including secret and shared ones for greater control - at a time when no nation threatens America yet trillions of dollars are spent anyway and over time may bankrupt the nation. Many of them were built in the last 10 years starting with Camp Bondsteel in occupied Kosovo. Numerous others followed in Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and new ones planned for Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean - to be closer to potential targets like Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Cuba. In recent years, it's become clear that America seeks more than the strategic control of resources. It wants global dominance, without challenge, by political, economic and military means. In other words, "full spectrum dominance" to become master of the universe. Along with encroachment, encirclement and control, another agenda is in play - over a dozen built or planned Afghanistan bases to defend the country's opium fields and the lucrative billions they provide. Much like Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle in the 1960s and 1970s, they supply CIA with significant drug revenues, then laundered through front company banks abroad and at home to finance covert and intelligence activities along with the agency's generous black budget. Pentagon planners regard Afghanistan as strategically crucial - to project military power against Russia, China, Iran, and other oil-rich Middle East States. It's also for a proposed oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea to the Indian Ocean and close to Kyrgyzstan where another US base is planned at Bishkek's international airport. In all, 13 new US bases will cross Eurasia, including three in Pakistani cities. Most, perhaps all, are permanent, especially in occupied Iraq and Afghanistan. America in Terminal Decline? Like ancient Rome, Ottoman Turkey, Britain, Austria-Hungary, and dozens of other previous empires, America increasingly shows signs of "terminal decline as Bush and Cheney launched their bold military policies to extend its imperial life, or as George HW Bush (called it), the New World Order." Friendly persuasion no longer works. Raw military power is the strategy, "a de facto admission of the failure of the American Century" and a sign of its terminal decline. At the end of the Cold War, a "leaner and meaner" nuclear force" was deployed with little fanfare, including (post-2004) Conplan 8022 (for contingency plan) putting nuclear bombers on Ready Alert status from global locations - to conduct "Global Strikes" anywhere with devastating force, nuclear or conventional. In addition, NATO "would be subject to US desires and adventures" - a very disquieting situation for potential targets and planet earth if nuclear weapons are used. The Curious History of "Star Wars" As mentioned above, Ronald Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative (dubbed "Star Wars") on March 23, 1983 even though the whole idea is fantasy as independent experts then and now assert. MIT's Theodore Postal for one, a leading authority on ballistic missile defenses. He flatly states: "the National Missile Defense System has no credible scientific chance of working (and) is a serious abuse of our security system." Nonetheless, the program was launched, and according to a former economic studies head of the Soviet Union's Institute of World and Economy & International Relations (IMECO), it forced his country to spend so much that it contributed greatly to the Warsaw Pact's collapse and Germany's 1990 reunification. NASA and Military Secrecy In 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Act created NASA's Space Program in response to the Soviet's successful October 1957 Sputnik 1 launching. The Space Race was on to see which side could trump the other but not without inevitable problems. A major one happened on January 28, 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in flight killing all on board. Official causes cited faulty O-rings to hide the truth. Contrary to NASA being "devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of mankind," it's really to control space, weaponize it, launch first-strikes against adversaries like Russia, and achieve "full spectrum dominance." In December 2000, prior to Donald Rumsfeld becoming Defense Secretary, the Pentagon's newly released Strategy Report for Europe and NATO included a Theater Missile Defense section in clear violation of the ABM Treaty. Russia and China expressed "grave concern," and with good reason. They're the main targets and they know it. "Missile defense" is for offense, but not against "rogue states" or "terrorists." It's for nuclear supremacy ("unilateral assured destruction") and "full spectrum dominance." It's also to intimidate rivals like Russia and China, and potentially unleash a first-strike attack with catastrophic consequences if it happens. Iran threatens no other nation, and so far as known, its commercial nuclear program complies with NPT unlike notorious nuclear outlaw states - Israel, India and Pakistan. Nonetheless, Tehran may also be targeted for its huge oil and natural gas reserves and to remove Israel's main regional rival. But that's a sideshow. "Full spectrum dominance" depends on eliminating any challenge from Russia mainly, a nuclear superpower, then China, a less formidable nuclear threat but growing economic rival. Washington's Nuclear Obsession Russia knows that "missile defense" is for offense and nuclear supremacy to enforce America's will on the world without challenge. After September 11, 2001, the Bush administration renounced its treaty obligations, like ABM, then pursued "explicitly banned weapons....with hardly a peep of protest from Congress" or most other nations. Studies like the 1995-96 Air Force 2025 elaborately detailed "hundreds of technologically advanced, super-sophisticated space-based weapons systems intended to provide the United States with global combat support capabilities in space (to let America) remain the dominant air and space force in the future...." One example is a laser cannon to: "successfully attack ground or airborne targets by melting or cracking cockpit canopies, burning through control cables, exploding fuel tanks, melting or burning sensor assemblies and antenna arrays, exploding or melting munitions pods, destroying ground communications and power grids, and melting or burning a large variety of strategic targets (of every imaginable kind) - all in a fraction of a second." During the Cold War, Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) restrained both sides. However, with space-based capabilities, America could think the unthinkable - the insane idea that nuclear war harms only the target, not the US or rest of the world. That's "really and truly mad." Secretly under development since the 1970s, Nuclear Missile Defense (NMD) includes: -- radar installations to detect enemy missile launches and track them; and -- ground-based interceptor missiles to destroy them in flight before they reach US air space. The Bush administration planned interceptor sites in California, Alaska, and Poland. Installing "infrastructure in East Europe was far and away the most reckless enterprise of a cabal that had already demonstrated its bent for dangerous and foolish brinkmanship." With missile "defenses" within minutes of Russian targets, Moscow wouldn't know if they were nuclear armed or not, but the possibility puts the world "on a hair-trigger to possible nuclear war, by design or miscalculation," and thus the greatest ever threat to possible Armageddon if leaders on either side react wrongly. Yet that's precisely the path still on with Obama pursuing the same recklessness as George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld - "full spectrum dominance, the New World Order, and the elimination of Russia, once and for all, as a potential rival for power." China potentially as well. Installing NMD is one part of the grand scheme. Launching offensive nuclear missiles another, and today the chance it may happen is greater than ever, despite the sheer madness of doing it. Yet NMD is "coupled with the Top Secret order by the Secretary of Defense....to implement Conplan 8022, 'which provides the President a prompt, global strike capability.' (It means Washington) decided to make nuclear war an 'option' " - an absolutely insane strategy. Dr. Strangelove Lives! The 1964 Stanley Kubrick film portrayed a nuclear Doomsday Machine with the subtitle: "How to stop worrying and love the bomb." It ended with "an accidental, inadvertent, pre-emptive US nuclear attack on the Soviet Union," today more possible than ever, something the film only portrayed as black comedy. Conplan 8022 is offensive and preemptive on "the mere perception of an imminent threat, and carried out by Presidential order," with no Congressional authorization, internal debate, or consultation with allies. Today, the world risks Armageddon based solely on perception, US intentions, and whether the president of the United States pulls the nuclear trigger. The Permanent War State Lobby Post-WW II, US dominance "depended on two main pillars:" -- maintaining the dollar as the world's reserve currency, with oil and other hard commodities dollar denominated; and -- unchallengeable US military power. The American Security Council Founded in 1956, the Washington-based American Security Council (ASC) is "One of the least-known and most influential organizations to formulate policy initiatives for (the) military-industrial complex....(It's) played a prominent role in almost every important foreign policy or national security program since World War II." According to its web site, its "inner circle" included some "of the most influential names in the American establishment of the day." Figures like Time magazine's founder Henry Luce and his wife Clare Boothe Luce, closely tied to CIA chief Allen Dulles who considered Henry one of his key media assets. Noteworthy others as well - a who's who, including Walt Disney, Averell Harriman, Senator Thomas Dodd (Chris Dodd's father), Senator Henry (Scoop) Jackson, General Douglas MacArthur, House Speaker Sam Rayburn, Nelson Rockefeller, Eugene Rostow, Senator John Tower, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, and "some of the most aggressive military organizations in the United States." Throughout the Cold War, "the ASC was at the heart of propaganda and lobbying initiatives which supported the military-industrial complex and the establishment of America's permanent Security State and war economy." After the Soviet Union's dissolution, a New Military-Industrial Complex emerged, according to writers Ian Mount, David Freedman, and Matthew Maier in the March 2003 issue of Business2.0. It embraced "the latest generation of high-tech weaponry (and) the military's new doctrine of faster, lighter, smarter warfare - combat in which cutting-edge technology becomes US troops' deadliest weapon." The Pentagon calls it a Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) or a blueprint for "full spectrum dominance." Its proponents include "some of the most powerful people ever (in) Washington, including Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney," out of office but still influential. The Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) Afghanistan and Iraq are examples of "alternative methods to secure the American Century well into the future." So is the notion of first-strike with enough force to prevent any significant retaliation. The Pentagon's notion of "counterforce" means the ability to destroy an adversary's nuclear missiles pre-launch with Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), then "cleaning up" the few still remaining to precude retaliation. The idea isn't new and first surfaced in the 1970s under Nixon, Kissinger, and other prominent military-industrial complex figures. In a word, it's that "nuclear war is not only 'thinkable,' it was do-able" to secure US Nuclear Primacy. In January 1974, in the midst of the Watergate crisis, Nixon signed National Security Decision Memorandum 242 (NSDM-242) titled "Policy for Planning for Employment of Nuclear Weapons....for Deterrence." It stated that: "The United States will rely primarily on US and allied conventional forces to deter conventional aggression by both nuclear and non-nuclear powers. Nevertheless, this does not preclude US use of nuclear weapons in response to conventional aggression." It also said "The fundamental mission of US nuclear forces is to deter nuclear war (and) attacks - conventional and nuclear" and implied that first-strike would be used to do it as part of new nuclear war options. "The USA was going for it all." Defense Secretary James Schlesinger directed the development of new technologies to achieve it, including: -- miniaturization of nuclear warheads enough for one missile nose cone to carry up to 17; and -- atomic physics and computerized navigational device advances to improve accuracy to within 50 feet of a target. These breakthroughs gave America a first ever strategic edge - the ability to destroy hardened silos, submarines and aircraft. Even so, the "essential element to make the entire program workable and operational remained (elusive): a Ballistic Missile Defense (BDM) system to take out any (surviving) Soviet missiles" that could be launched in retaliation. So in 1973, RAND think-tank specialist Dr. Andrew W. Marshall became Director of the Office of Net Assessment, US Defense Department, and created what was called the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). He described it as: "a major change in the nature of warfare brought about by the innovative application of new technologies which, combined with dramatic changes in military doctrine and operational and organizational concepts, fundamentally alters the character and conduct of military operations." Marshall became known as "Yoda," referring to the Star Wars film character Grand Master of the Jedi Order. At age 86, he's still active because of his expertise, skills, and value. His job is "to assess regional and global military balances and to determine long-term trends and threats." Developing first-strike systems continued after Richard Nixon, including Jimmy Carter's Presidential Directives PD 18 - 59 calling for: -- developing Anti-Satellite weapons (ASAT) to destroy Soviet early warning systems; -- Pershing II missiles to decapitate the Soviet leadership; and -- a Counterforce Nuclear First Strike to destroy almost all Soviet nuclear weapons. During his tenure, Carter "authorized the greatest commitment to war-fighting of any President in history." Nonetheless, an effective anti-missile defense remains "the missing link to a First Strike capability." The Cold War ended in 1990. America's quest for a First Strike advantage still continues. It's considered the "grand prize for global domination through Nuclear Primacy." That along with a new way of waging wars: "by spy satellites and long-range missiles, by computer viruses that would disable the enemies' offensive and defensive systems, and by a 'layered' defense system that would make the US impenetrable." The political climate and neoliberal heyday under Bill Clinton held new military technological advances at bay. That changed under George Bush, even before 9/11, with Andrew Marshall still around and active at an advanced age. His proteges include a rogues gallery of hawks, including Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, and Dick Cheney who with others comprised the hard core defense and intelligence team, neocons in the Bush administration. "As a group, Andrew Marshall's proteges formed the most powerful military lobby in the US policy establishment in the first years of the 21st century. They advocated radical force transformation, deployment of anti-missile defense, unilateral pre-emptive aggression, and militarization of space in order to use the US military to achieve for the United States and its closest allies, total domination of the planet (and) outer space. It was perhaps the most dangerous group of ideologues in United States history," and their influence remains. Marshall advocates weaponizing new technologies and testing them in real conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama's security appointments reflect the same ideas and goals so expect continuation of Bush policies ahead. He favored preemptive aggressive wars. So does Obama as evidenced by his stepped up offensive in Afghanistan and Pakistan, permanent occupation of Iraq, challenging Russia with offensive missiles, and encirclement with new military bases. Challenging the Official 9/11 Scenario Skeptics abound and with good reason. The idea that 19 Arab terrorists "could commandeer, with only primitive boxcutters, four sophisticated Boeing commercial jets and redirect three of them, successfully, as apparently poorly-trained amateurs in air maneuvers which seasoned pilots claimed were near impossible" seemed utterly preposterous. Eckehardt Werthebach, former German domestic intelligence service president said: "the deathly precision and the magnitude of planning behind the attacks would have needed years of planning (and would require the) fixed frame (of a state intelligence organization unavailable to a) loose group" of terrorists. Werthebach's conclusion: the attacks were "state organized actions." Andreas von Bulow, a former German Parliamentary Commission member in charge of three branches of German secret service, believes the Israeli Mossad and CIA were responsible for the attacks using corrupt "guns for hire" to pull it off. The lack of an open and serious investigation was incomprehensible in their view and proof of an official cover-up. Other experts agree. The 9/11 story is preposterous on its face - concocted to hide the truth. Just as Franklin Roosevelt used Japan's Pearl Harbor attack (known well in advance to be coming) to launch The American Century, the neocons around George Bush used 9/11 for the Global War on Terror, attacking Afghanistan and Iraq, and waging permanent war on the world ever since with defense appropriations topping a trillion dollars annually in spite of America having no enemies. In a bid for "full spectrum dominance" to extend many years into the future, "It was to be an increasingly desperate bid to prop up a crumbling empire, that like ancient Rome, the Ottoman Empire, Czarist Russia, the British Empire," and all others in history, "had already rotted far too deeply from within." The price of imperial arrogance yields bitter fruit. America is no exception. It's not a question of if it will fall, just when and with what fallout. Full Spectrum Dominance or Fully Mad Under George Bush, "defense" spending "exploded beyond all precedent" and annually way exceeds $1 trillion dollars now with all categories included. The official Pentagon budget alone more than doubled from $333 billion in FY 2001 to $711 billion for FY 2009, and Obama's proposed FY 2010 budget is the highest ever requested. Today, America accounts for around half of all global military spending - at a time it has no enemies but seeks global dominance through wars, intimidation or other means. Supporting a "Mafia state" in Kosovo is one example. When Kosovars declared their independence in early 2008, Washington extended recognition despite objections from several EU countries and the fact "Kosovo independence and its recognition openly violated UN resolutions for Kosovo, making a farce of the UN, as well as violating international law." Equally troublesome is Kosovo's prime minister, Hashim Thaci, a known criminal whom Interpol and German BND intelligence connect to organized crime, including drugs trafficking, extortion, and prostitution. No matter, as Washington, NATO, and the EU embrace a man they can control, and for America it secured a strategic foothold in Southeast Europe - "a major step in consolidating NATO's control of Eurasia...." Moscow objected vehemently as it compromises its own security. Georgia's August 2008 South Ossetia invasion did as well, another provocation very troublesome to the Kremlin, and with good reason. Like most others, it was made-in-the-USA and Moscow knew it, especially after uncovering incriminating evidence besides what was already known about Washington and Israel's involvement. After Russia easily defeated the Georgian army, its spy satellite spotted a convoy with Georgian special troops en route to Poti, the port city under Russian occupation. It was captured along with its weapons and "a large trove of top-secret NATO documents concerning their hightly secret satellite technology." It was analyzed, used to capture large stocks of US military equipment stored in Georgia, and humiliate Washington and Israel at the same time. It was also learned that captured Pentagon electronic equipment was manufactured in the Ukraine (a non-NATO state) under US license, yet "NATO-compatible sensitive military equipment" was being made there sub rosa. The discovery for Russia "totally compromised both the American and Israeli intelligence networks set up in Georgia (to spy) on Iran, Russia and Turkey." Later it was learned that Ukraine president Viktor Yushchenko was involved in illegal Georgian arms sales, fraudulently under-reported their value to his own tax authorities, and engaged in extensive embezzlement exceeding $1 billion for himself and associates. Yet along with Georgia, Washington supports Ukraine's admission to NATO for greater chokehold control over Russia. Gangster dictatorships in both countries make them all the more attractive to America's strategic aim for global dominance. AFRICOM, China and Resource Wars China's rapid growth requires increasing amounts of all types of resources, especially oil, natural gas and all others for its industries plus enough food to feed its huge and growing population. Getting them puts it in competition with America that wants global control of them all. For its part, geologists believe Africa holds the world's largest mineral riches. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for one, an immense country the size of Western Europe with its Kivu region bordering Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi in the East being one of the most mineral-rich regions in the world, which is why so much conflict vies to control it. Overall, Congo has over half the world's cobalt, one-third of its diamonds, and three-fourths of its vital columbite-tantalite or "coltan," essential for computer chips, circuit boards, mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices. Having the right leadership in the country and its neighbors is thus crucial, and when any outlive their usefulness they're removed, by assassination or other means. "The common thread linking Kivu with Darfur" and other vital regions of the continent is that America wants control of their resources to be able to deny them to China and other non-strategic partners. For its part, Beijing needs a reliable present and future supply and has taken effective non-military means to secure them. The toll on Congolese has been horrific, the result of Washington-engineered conflict to split the country and control its eastern riches. According to the International Rescue Committee, over 5.4 million civilians have been killed in ongoing fighting since 1996, without a word of outcry from the Western media compared to fraudulent genocide claims in Darfur. Also unreported was that Congo's president, Joseph Kabila, was negotiating a $9 billion trade agreement with China - his "irreversible choice" as preferred trading partner to the displeasure of Washington. Shortly afterwards, eastern fighting broke out with regional US stooges attacking the DRC - Rwanda's president Paul Kagame (trained at Fort Leavenworth, KS) and Laurent Nkunda (another Fort Leavenworth product), his ally and henchman with all signs pointing to a US role sure to intensify with the establishment of AFRICOM. America's two key Eastern Africa military partners, Rwanda and Uganda, are used freely against Eastern Congo to counter China's influence in the region. "The balkanization of Congo appeared to be a major objective behind the organized chaos (and mass slaughter) in the Great Lakes region." Throughout the continent, the Pentagon under George Bush signed base agreements with numerous countries, including Botswana, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia - besides many others in Iraq and other Middle Eastern oil-rich states. China is the target - seen as a threat to Washington's control of the continent's riches. Its rapid industrialization requires growing amounts of "every mineral commodity imaginable...." AFRICOM was established to secure them for America and deny them to Beijing by blocking its economic presence in the region. Obama supports it, and it's why he retained Robert Gates as Defense Secretary. He's said publicly that he backs offensive missiles in Poland and connected radar in the Czech Republic - both targeting Russia, not Iran, the official claim. In addition, Marine General James Jones, a former NATO commander, was appointed National Security Advisor and played a central role in establishing AFRICOM. After retiring, he served on the boards of Boeing and Chevron Oil and is closely connected to the military-industrial-oil complex as well as neocons in the Bush administration. Obama also appointed Admiral Dennis Blair, a former Pacific Fleet commander and China specialist, as Director of National Intelligence - the top intelligence job. Afghanistan as "The Main Geopolitical Prize" Straightaway in his new administration, Obama ordered an additional 17,500 more troops to the country, potentially more to follow, and just recently appointed a new commander, General Stanley McChrystal, described earlier as a hired gun with a reputation for brutishness and indifference to slaughtering civilians. America's interest in Afghanistan has nothing to do with bin Laden (likely dead since December 2001), Al Qaeda, or the Taliban. It's all about "geopolitics and the geopolitical encirclement of both China and Russia" with Eurasia the grandest of grand prizes. To do it after the 2001 invasion, America built at least 19 military bases in Central East Asia and Middle Asia, including 14 in Afghanistan - for regional control and "air and space surveillance systems to monitor air traffic throughout all of Eurasia, from China to Russia." America's obsession with militarism includes the homeland with an array of post-9/11 police state laws destroying constitutional checks and balances and Bill of Rights protections. Illegal spying on Americans is now widespread and commonplace, and the Pentagon, for starters, ordered 20,000 combat troops deployed inside the country by 2011. In addition, the Bush administration funded FEMA with hundreds of millions of dollars to retrofit former military bases and construct other facilities as detention camps. Currently, over 800 are in every state, ready if ordered, with enough capacity for many tens of thousands of internees. They're not ordinary in any sense. They're concentration camps for dissidents or others targeted by order of the president or others he directs. In addition, National Guard forces will be employed, and local police have been militarized to work cooperatively with the Pentagon to achieve police state enforcement on the pretext of "respond(ing) to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe." It's why this writer calls the country Police State America, and unless addressed will get more hardline until fast disappearing civil liberties no longer exist and the nation is isn't safe or fit to live in. That's where we're heading without a hint from Big Media. Equally alarming is an Obama administration proposal calling for a National Civilian Security Force that will be "at least as powerful and well-funded as the US military." Early in the new administration, it's clear that continuity, not change, is planned with "full spectrum dominance" the goal, globally, including hardline in America. What's unclear is "the extent to which the most devastating economic crisis since the Great Depression would affect the ability of Washington policymakers to project that power." Going forward, today's choices "could spell the end of the American Century from the rot of its own internal policy since the Vietnam War." The nation's militarism threatens its own survival "as a functioning democracy" and the planet. In his writings, Chalmers Johnson explains that America is plagued by the same dynamic that doomed past empires unwilling to change - "isolation, overstretch, the uniting of local and global forces opposed to imperialism, and in the end bankruptcy" along with authoritarian rule and loss of personal freedom. Nixon's chief economic advisor, Herb Stein, explained it saying: "Things that can't go on forever, won't." Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman/blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening. by Stephen Lendman On December 3, 2006 voters in Venezuela will again get to choose who'll lead them as President for the next six... by Stephen Lendman Agitprop, electoral fraud and dirty tricks may not have been invented in the US, but they certainly were perfected in... by Stephen Lendman As the dominant corporate media in the US made sure everyone in the country would know just ahead of the mid-term... by Stephen Lendman The political firmament shook briefly post-November 7 raising hopes change would follow the Republican's drubbing at the... by Stephen Lendman Lyndon Johnson was a conflicted man about Vietnam almost from the time he took office. As early as May, 1964, he...	121,792
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2014 (During Riverside Arts Walk) Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm Ages: Best suited for teen and adults. All children (under 18) must be accompanied by an adult (18+). Book: Dr. Hanks's book will be on sale in the Museum Gift Shop. Cash/Credit Card accepted. "Vermont’s Proper Son: The Letters of Soldier and Scholar Edwin Hall Higley, 1861-1871" follows the life of Edwin Hall Higley who served as 2nd lieutenant in the First Vermont Cavalry during the Civil War. During the war, Higley wrote several letters to close friend Calvin Day Noble, a bulk of which concern his time in various battles in Virginia. Noble eventually moved to Riverside in 1874, bringing the letters with him. The Riverside Metropolitan Museum acquired the letters in 2000 as a part of the Samuel Cary Evans, Jr. Collection. The transcriptions for all the letters concerning the war are printed in full. In addition to serving in the Civil War, Higley later became a professor of German and Greek and was on the staff of Groton School in Massachusetts when he died. About The Author Upon receiving his Master’s Degree in 1998, Richard Hanks was hired as a public historian and archivist for the Riverside Local History Resource Center and a year later he got the opportunity to lead this talented group of historians and archivists. It was there that he first read the collection of Civil War letters from Edwin H. Higley in the Samuel C. Evans papers. For the next decade he continued to work as an archivist for the RLHRC in Riverside, A.K. Smiley Public Library and the Lincoln Memorial Shrine in Redlands, California. In 2006, he earned a PhD in Native American History. He went on to teach American History and Native American Studies at various community colleges and in 2012 he published his dissertation, "This War Is For A Whole Life: The Culture of Resistance Among Southern California Indians, 1850-1866" with Ushkana Press of Banning, California. In December 2013, Hanks retired to concentrate on his writing. He was asked to write a book based on the Higley letters, by the Riverside Metropolitan Museum which houses the collection. 3580 Mission Inn Avenue Riverside, CA 92501 Phone: (951) 826-5273 \|Tuesday - Friday\|\|9am - 5pm\| \|Saturday\|\|10am - 5pm\| \|Sunday\|\|11am - 5pm\| \|Open 9am – 9pm on the First Thursday of the Month for Arts Walk\| \|Closed Major Holidays\| 8193 Magnolia Ave. Riverside, CA 92504 Open Sept (1st weekend after labor day) to June. \|Monday - Thursday\|\|Closed\| \|Friday - Sunday\|\|11:30 am – 4:00 pm\| First Tour of the Day – 11:45 am\| Last Tour of the Day – 3:30 pm Gates close at 4:00 pm \|Closed Major Holidays\| \|Not Open to the Public\|	96,041
Introduction \| Overview \| \| Surface ocean \| Subsurface ocean \| Sea Ice AO \| NAO \| PNA \| \| SAM \| SOI \| AMO shorter series \| longer series Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) The Pacific Decadal Oscillation is a pattern of climate variability with a similar expression to El Niño, but acting on a longer time scale, and with a pattern most clearly expressed in the North Pacific/North American sector. More about the PDO can be learned on the UW/NOAA JISAO PDO page » Data source and calculation Calculated by Nate Mantua (U. Washington) and and served from NOAA/ESRL (CDC) (last update 15-JUL-2016). The PDO index is based on a projection of sea surface temperature anomalies onto a pattern defined by the leading principal component of monthly SSTs in the North Pacific poleward of 20°N. The standard deviation of the index over the period 1948-2005 is indicated on the plot. get series (netcdf 12kB) »	88,911
Dispute Resolution Office Open sessions are available for individuals. These workshops can also be customized for Organizations, workplaces and/or groups This Workshop is designed to help improve skills in dealing with conflict, as a participant or a third-party in a problem-solving process. This three-day workshop will be of interest to anyone wishing to gain a general understanding of the mediation process, its principles, techniques and applications. This three-day workshop is for those interested in enhancing their conflict resolution skills for situations where they are expected to lead a process and also present their own interests. This three day workshop is an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills for effective negotiation. This two-day workshop will be of interest to leaders, managers, supervisors and human resource professionals who wish to gain understanding and insight in the areas of conflict, change and enhancing capacity for change in organizations. This workshop provides an opportunity for those who have completed Introduction to Mediation and/or Leading By Example to return for more advanced practical skill development. This two-day workshop will provide participants with opportunities to learn various collaborative models for different levels of engagement with stakeholders. This one day introductory workshop is targeted to new and existing members of administrative tribunals. Mini-Modules feature components of longer workshops and are designed to fit into your time frame.	84,885
Opium and marijuana are two very different substances. Opium is derived from the opium poppy plant and has been cultivated and in use, since around 3,400 B.C. Marijuana, or weed, comes from the Cannabis sativa plant and has been around for over 12,000 years. Opium and weed differ in their mechanisms of action, their effects on the human body, their level of clinical usefulness, and their relative risk for addiction. These substances are very different, but still the question remains – what’s the difference between opium vs weed? The Mechanism of Action: Opium vs. Weed Mechanism of action refers to the way in which a drug exerts its effects on the human body. Opium and weed each have a distinct mechanism of action. Once opium enters the body, it binds to opioid receptors. There are four main types of opioid receptors; the one that is bound by most “abused opioids” like opium is the mu-opioid receptor. The majority of mu-opioid receptors are found in an area of the brain known as the limbic system. The limbic system is involved in memory formation, motivation, and emotional responses. Once bound, opium exerts its effects on the body, which are discussed in more detail below. When weed is ingested, its active ingredient–delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (i.e. THC)–binds to cannabinoid receptors in the body. There are two main types of cannabinoid receptors; the one that THC binds to mainly is the CB1 receptor. The majority of CB1 receptors are found in areas of the brain including the frontal cortex, the cerebellum, and the basal ganglia. These areas of the brain are involved in cognition and movement. Once bound, weed exerts its effects on the body, which is discussed in more detail below. Though opium and weed have very different mechanisms of action, they have similar effects on the brain by virtue of the fact that they are both addictive substances. All addictive substances lead to a rapid and intense release of the neurotransmitter dopamine into the brain. The intense feeling of pleasure that this dopamine release induces each time a substance is used is what contributes to the development of substance abuse disorder/addiction. How Do Weed and Opium Affect the Body? Most people know that when an opiate like opium is ingested, an individual may experience pain relief, feelings of euphoria, and a sense of calm. But opium has even more effects on the human body. When opium binds to mu-opioid receptors, it can impact the brain, the digestive system, and the immune system. Mu-opioid receptors in the brainstem have an inhibitory effect on the respiratory centers in the brain. If an individual uses too much of an opiate, his or her respiratory center may become so profoundly inhibited that he or she stops breathing and dies. Mu-opioid receptors in the digestive system have an inhibitory effect as well. Use of opiates in the short and long-term can lead to constipation. In addition, mu-opioid receptors have a suppressive effect on the immune system. Those who use or abuse opiates are at high risk for infections. Like opium, weed can provide pain relief once its active ingredient binds to CB1 receptors. Weed can also stimulate appetite. Also like opium, weed can have negative effects on the body and lead to constipation. More serious, negative side effects associated with weed involve the areas of the brain where most CB1 receptors are found and include “impaired motor coordination,” “impaired judgment,” and memory loss. Clinical Usefulness: Opium vs. Weed Some substances classified as opioids are clinically useful. For example, medications such as Vicodin and Oxycontin are opioids that are indicated in the treatment of severe pain that is associated with traumatic injury, major surgery, and cancer. When opioids are used appropriately by healthcare providers and their patients, opioids can offer very needed pain relief. When opioids are misused, however, individuals have a higher likelihood of becoming addicted, overdosing, and dying. And, when it comes to illicit opioids like heroin and opium, these drugs have absolutely no utility in the clinical setting. Heroin and opium are highly addictive substances that can easily lead to overdose and death. Similarly, weed, or its active component THC, can be clinically useful. THC–in the form of the medications Marinol or Cesamet–is often used as an appetite stimulant in patients battling cancer or AIDS. With the help of these medications, patients may regain their desire to eat, gain weight, and avoid wasting. Current research is also investigating how weed can be used to treat disorders as diverse as chronic pain and epilepsy. At the same time, misuse or abuse of weed can lead to very negative side effects. Long-term use of weed can lead to structural brain changes associated with memory loss and a loss of cognitive abilities. And, while the risk of addiction is quite low, there have been reports of individuals who identified themselves as being addicted to marijuana. Opium vs. Weed – Which is More Addictive? Opium and weed differ greatly in their relative risk for addiction. In Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, Dr. Christian Luscher–an expert on drugs of abuse–introduces a relative risk of addiction scale. A drug with a rating of 1 has the lowest risk for addiction, whereas a drug with a rating of 5 has the highest risk for addiction. Opium has a relative risk of 4. Weed, on the other hand, has a relative risk of 2. Clearly, the risk for addiction is much higher with opium vs. weed. Opium and weed are two distinct drugs with addictive potential. If you or someone you know is battling an addiction with either of these drugs, help is available. You don’t have to fight alone.	291,192
Saint Matthew 12:14-21. Book of Exodus 12:37-42. The Israelites set out from Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the children. A crowd of mixed ancestry also went up with them, besides their livestock, very numerous flocks and herds. Since the dough they had brought out of Egypt was not leavened, they baked it into unleavened loaves. They had been rushed out of Egypt and had no opportunity even to prepare food for the journey. The time the Israelites had stayed in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. At the end of four hundred and thirty years, all the hosts of the LORD left the land of Egypt on this very date. This was a night of vigil for the LORD, as he led them out of the land of Egypt; so on this same night all the Israelites must keep a vigil for the LORD throughout their generations. Psalms 136(135):1.23-24.10-12.13-15. Praise the LORD, who is so good; God's love endures forever; The LORD remembered us in our misery, God's love endures forever; Freed us from our foes, God's love endures forever; Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, God's love endures forever; And led Israel from their midst, God's love endures forever; With mighty hand and outstretched arm, God's love endures forever; Who split in two the Red Sea, God's love endures forever; And led Israel through, God's love endures forever; swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, God's love endures forever; Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12:14-21. Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many (people) followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope."Commentary of the day Philoxenes of Mabbug (?-c.523), Bishop in SyriaHomily no.5, On simplicity, 137-139 "He will not contend or cry out" Listen to the prophet announcing our Lord. He compares him to a lamb, a sheep, the most innocent of animals: «Like a lamb led to the slaughter, or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth» (Is 53,7)... Our Lord was not compared to a lion when he was led to death... Like a lamb, a sheep, he remained silent when he was led to his Passion and death. In his humiliation «he was silent and opened not his mouth». Confirming the word of prophecy by his actions, he remained silent when they led him out: he did not speak a word when they judged him, he did not complain when they scourged him, did not argue when they condemned him, was not angered when they bound him. He did not dissent when they struck him on the cheek, did not cry out when he was stripped of his garments like a sheep of it fleece. He did not curse them when they gave him sour wine and vinegar; was not angered with them when they nailed him to the tree.	132,569
It's not a record, but it looks and feels like one. The Ann Arbor area saw only three-quarters of an inch of rain during August, about one-fourth of what is typical for the month, according to University of Michigan weather observer Dennis Kahlbaum. And the last rainstorm of any consequence was Aug. 8, when a quarter of an inch fell. Area crop farmers are struggling with the unusually dry late summer season. While vegetable farmers are mostly having a good harvest, crop farmers who grow hay, corn and soybeans are struggling. Reporter Tracy Davis can be reached at 734-994-6856 or firstname.lastname@example.org. "The corn seems like it dries up more and more each day," said Ned Birkey, Michigan State University Extension agent for the area. Soybeans are also drying up and turning yellow, although better weather in September could still help. "Alfalfa is taking it in the chin now, too," Birkey said. Kelven Braun of York Township said the corn and soybeans on his farm's 500 acres are looking pretty rough. "We haven't had a good rain in six weeks," he said. "The corn and soybeans that are on (sandier soil, which dries more quickly than clay) are already gone." Dale Lesser of Dexter Township said his apples fattened up after he was forced to turn his irrigation system on. Pumpkins were looking pretty poor too, and the second cutting of his grass-alfalfa hay mix is "non-existent." Denny Huehl of Freedom Township farms about 1,000 acres, and estimates yields will be down 50 percent for soybeans and 30 percent for corn. "It's getting to the point where it won't do much good even if it does rain," he said. There is a chance of thunderstorms today and later this week, according to the National Weather Service. The good news for farmers is that crop insurance is still available, with a deadline of Sept. 16, Birkey said. For more information, farmers should contact their extension agent.	245,255
What are latency and jank, and why are they important? Latency is a delay between input and response. Try dragging the two boxes below. I have no added latency and I feel snappy. I have 10 frames of added latency and I feel sluggish. Jank refers to short interruptions in the middle of an animation or interaction. I move smoothly because I am jank-free. My movement is periodically interrupted by 10 frames of jank.	258,994
Trenchless Sewer Repair – What Is It Anyway?Trenchless Sewer Repair is just as the name implies. It is a means available to you, the homeowner to have your broken, dysfunctional old sewer line replaced without having to dig a trench across the entire length of your yard. Thanks to new technology, you can now have your residential sewer pipe repaired or replaced without digging or having to knock down structures like porches, garages, or that new marble walkway you had put in last year. How Does It Work?The 2 most common methods used for residential trenchless sewer repair include pipe relining and pipe bursting. Pipe Relining – This technology is usually referred to as “No Dig” trenchless sewer repair as it rarely requires any digging at all. It involves relining the interior of your worn existing, cracked, and leaking existing sewer pipe with a brand new super strong seamless liner. The new sewer liner can usually be installed through an existing access point called a clean-out. The new sewer liner is made of a super strong, flexible PVC infused material that is coated with resin epoxy and literally blown into the existing sewer line with air pressure. The air pressure forces the liner to unravel inside the old sewer pipe pushing the epoxy coated side against the interior of the old sewer pipe. Once in place, a bladder is inserted through the entire length of the sewer line and inflated with heated, high pressure air. This secures the new liner against the walls of the old sewer pipe sealing all cracks, leaks, and voids leaving a brand new smooth pipe that is water tight and highly resistant to root intrusion, the leading cause of sewer pipe failure. Pipe Bursting – This residential trenchless sewer repair method is used when pipe relining is not an option due to severely damaged or collapsed sewer lines. With this procedure, only 2 small access holes usually about 3’ x 3’ are dig at each end of the sewer line. A heavy cable is fed through the entire length of the old pipe and secured to a cone shaped tool called a bursting head. The bursting head is fastened to a new sewer line and pulled underground using a power hydraulic winch. The bursting head breaks up the old sewer line while pulling the brand new pipe in behind it. This method of trenchless sewer line replacement fast, efficient, and again no digging up your yard or that beautiful patio you put in last year. Is It Expensive?When compared to the costs involved with traditional “dig up and replace” residential sewer repair methods, both pipe relining and pipe bursting are more economical. Prices can vary depending upon where you are in the country and other variables however you can be assured it is by far the most economical and smartest way to have your sewer line repaired or replaced today. Especially when you weigh in the cost and headaches of re landscaping your yard, repairing structures, etc. that is required with traditional “dig up and replace” sewer repair methods. The range is around $20-$80 a foot for pipe relining and around $40-$90 a foot for pipe bursting. Where Can I Get Some Quotes?We have put together a list of contractors across the country that specialize in new residential trenchless sewer repair and can give you all the information you need to decide which residential trenchless sewer repair method is best for you as well as provide you with an estimate. Find Your Local Trenchless Sewer Contractors	18,113
Saturday, December 22, 2012 The Placebo Phenomenon From Harvard Magazine: Two weeks into Ted Kaptchuk’s first randomized clinical drug trial, nearly a third of his 270 subjects complained of awful side effects. All the patients had joined the study hoping to alleviate severe arm pain: carpal tunnel, tendinitis, chronic pain in the elbow, shoulder, wrist. In one part of the study, half the subjects received pain-reducing pills; the others were offered acupuncture treatments. And in both cases, people began to call in, saying they couldn’t get out of bed. The pills were making them sluggish, the needles caused swelling and redness; some patients’ pain ballooned to nightmarish levels. “The side effects were simply amazing,” Kaptchuk explains; curiously, they were exactly what patients had been warned their treatment might produce. But even more astounding, most of the other patients reported real relief, and those who received acupuncture felt even better than those on the anti-pain pill. These were exceptional findings: no one had ever proven that acupuncture worked better than painkillers. But Kaptchuk’s study didn’t prove it, either. The pills his team had given patients were actually made of cornstarch; the “acupuncture” needles were retractable shams that never pierced the skin. The study wasn’t aimed at comparing two treatments. It was designed to compare two fakes. Although Kaptchuk, an associate professor of medicine, has spent his career studying these mysterious human reactions, he doesn’t argue that you can simply “think yourself better.” “Sham treatment won’t shrink tumors or cure viruses,” he says. But researchers have found that placebo treatments—interventions with no active drug ingredients—can stimulate real physiological responses, from changes in heart rate and blood pressure to chemical activity in the brain, in cases involving pain, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and even some symptoms of Parkinson’s. The challenge now, says Kaptchuk, is to uncover the mechanisms behind these physiological responses—what is happening in our bodies, in our brains, in the method of placebo delivery (pill or needle, for example), even in the room where placebo treatments are administered (are the physical surroundings calming? is the doctor caring or curt?). The placebo effect is actually many effects woven together—some stronger than others—and that’s what Kaptchuk hopes his “pill versus needle” study shows. The experiment, among the first to tease apart the components of placebo response, shows that the methods of placebo administration are as important as the administration itself, he explains. It’s valuable insight for any caregiver: patients’ perceptions matter, and the ways physicians frame perceptions can have significant effects on their patients’ health. Posted by Azra Raza at 11:00 AM \| Permalink	136,843
Eating well for a healthy heart is so often associated with all the foods you can’t eat. But there is a delicious variety of foods that are still completely on the table. Add these five options to your weekly meal rotation—and no, we’re not just talking kale and egg whites—and your heart will feel the love. Game-day foods just got a whole lot healthier. According to research from Penn State University, adding an avocado to your daily diet may help lower bad cholesterol, which can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. This green fruit is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, and researchers found that people who ate a daily diet that included avocados for five weeks saw more improvement in their LDL cholesterol levels than people who followed other types of moderate-fat diets. Break out the chips! According to a Harvard University study, eating a handful of nuts twice a week can reduce the risk of heart disease by nearly a quarter. The study, which followed more than 200,000 people, found that all types—including walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans, and peanuts—help prevent cardiovascular problems. And in equally good news, researchers also found no evidence that nuts lead to weight gain, despite their high fat content. Snack on! If you haven’t already heard, let us be the ones to share the great news. Studies show that a small serving of dark chocolate (made with 70 percent or more cacao) contains flavonoids that boost heart health and help lower blood pressure. And, a 2017 study in the journal Heart found that this sweet treat may also lower the odds of developing atrial fibrillation, a heart condition also known as AFib that causes an irregular heartbeat and increases the odds of stroke and heart failure. No, we’re not recommending that extra-large buttery tub at the movie theater, but popcorn is a whole-grain that contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants associated with better heart health. Research from the University of Scranton found that popcorn, gram for gram, contains more polyphenols than fruits and vegetables do. And while a bowl of air-popped popcorn doesn’t weigh nearly as much as, say, a pineapple, it’s a munching-friendly way to add to your healthy nutrient intake. Who knew this fuzzy fruit packed such a powerful punch? A Taiwanese study found that men and women who ate two kiwis a day for eight weeks had significant improvements in HDL, LDL, and total cholesterols. And other research has shown that kiwis may help lower blood pressure too. Not sure of the best way to eat them? Start fresh in the morning. Try adding them to your breakfast cereal or yogurt, or as a pancake topper.	101,365
The hormonal swings that accompany menopause can be particularly difficult to navigate alongside bipolar. Here’s more: #1 Sharing similar symptoms Besides classic complaints of hot flashes and cold sweats, menopause symptoms also include insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depression, fatigue, brain fog and memory blips. (Estrogen plays a role not only in mood but also in cognitive functions such as verbal recall and focus.) This list is eerily familiar to someone with bipolar. And the overlap of symptoms means that when menopause contributes to a bipolar flare-up, the underlying connection can get overlooked. #2 Hormonal imbalances Hormonal imbalances are typically listed among risk factors that trigger or cause bipolar disorder. It’s not surprising, then, that the rapid rise or decline of hormones during menopause (and also puberty, pregnancy, postpartum and a woman’s monthly cycles) can have a major impact on mood and is associated with more symptoms. #3 Onset of depression Several studies have linked the menopausal transition to increased risk for depressive symptoms, recurrence of depression, and onset of a depressive disorder. Depressive episodes may become more severe as menopause sets in. Ditto for anxiety. There’s far less scientific literature on how hormonal shifts affect bipolar. Psychiatric medications of proven worth sometimes seem to lose their oomph, or don’t play well with standard treatments for menopausal symptoms. #4 Be proactive in your care Few practitioners—whether gynecologists or mental health professionals—will have the possible interplay of menopause and bipolar front-of-mind. Yet it’s vital for women to recognize what’s going on and find the right team to negotiate the complex interactions between fluctuating hormones, therapies for menopause, and treatments for bipolar disorder. bp Magazine and bphope.com are dedicated to inspiring and providing information to people living with bipolar disorder and their families, caregivers, and health-care professionals. bp Magazine works to empower those diagnosed with bipolar to live healthy, fulfilling lives by delivering first-person success stories—including celebrity profiles and essays by people with lived experience—as well as informative articles addressing topics such as relationships, employment, sleep, exercise, stress reduction, mood management, treatments, and cutting-edge news and research. Postmenopausal women have a higher risk of tardive dyskinesia, and estrogen levels may play a role. While there are theories, further research is needed to understand the complex link between this sex hormone and the movement disorder. Tardive dyskinesia can strike anyone taking certain antipsychotic (neuroleptic) drugs or select other medications, but older women may... Understanding that cognitive difficulties often accompany bipolar disorder can go a long way toward accepting challenges and implementing practical solutions to cope with everyday memory lapses and thought spirals. Difficulty remembering information, affected cognition, and symptomatic thought patterns (like rumination or obsessive thinking) are among some of the more disconcerting influences of bipolar disorder on... Too often, bipolar disorder goes untreated, but it can be managed with the right medical help. Many people with bipolar disorder don’t recognize the extreme changes in their moods and the effect those changes have on their lives and their loved ones’ lives. As a result, too many people with the condition don’t get the...	268,173
116 STAT. 44 PUBLIC LAW 107-147—MAR. 9, 2002 "(B) SCHOOL. — The term 'school' means any school which provides elementary education or secondary education (kindergarten through grade 12), as determined under State law. "(2) COORDINATION WITH EXCLUSIONS.^A deduction shall be allowed under subsection (a)(2)(D) for expenses only to the extent the amount of such expenses exceeds the amount excludable under section 135, 529(c)(1), or o30(d)(2) for the taxable year. ". Applicability. (c) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendments made by this section 26 USC 62 note. shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2001. Subtitle B—Technical Corrections SEC. 411. AMENDMENTS RELATED TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TAX RELIEF RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2001. (a) AMENDMENTS RELATED TO SECTION 101 OF THE ACT. — 26 USC 6428. (1) IN GENERAL.— Subsection (b) of section 6428 is amended to read as follows: " (b) CREDIT TREATED AS NONREFUNDABLE PERSONAL CREDIT.— For purposes of this title, the credit allowed under this section shall be treated as a credit allowable under subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1.". (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— (A) Subsection (d) of section 6428 is amended to read as follows: "(d) COORDINATION WITH ADVANCE REFUNDS OF CREDIT. — "(1) IN GENERAL.— The amount of credit which would (but for this paragraph) be allowable under this section shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the aggregate refunds and credits made or allowed to the taxpayer under subsection (e). Any failure to so reduce the credit shall be treated as arising out of a mathematical or clerical error and assessed according to section 6213(b)(1). "(2) JOINT RETURNS.—In the case of a refund or credit made or allowed under subsection (e) with respect to a joint return, half of such refund or credit shall be treated as having been made or allowed to each individual filing such return.". (B) Paragraph (2) of section 6428(e) is amended to read as follows: "(2) ADVANCE REFUND AMOUNT.— For purposes of paragraph (1), the advance refund amount is the amount that would have been allowed as a credit under this section for such first taxable year if— "(A) this section (other than subsections (b) and (d) and this subsection) had applied to such taxable year, and "(B) the credit for such taxable year were not allowed to exceed the excess (if any) of— "(i) the sum of the regular tax liability (as defined in section 26(b)) plus the tax imposed by section 55, over "(ii) the sum of the credits allowable under part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 (other than the credits allowable under subpart C thereof, relating to refundable credits).".	160,981
WSJ Social Media Policy To address the issues of journalists using social media, The Wall Street Journal has issued a list of rules detailing “professional conduct” for their staff. Some of the rules follow (abridged): - Never use a false name. - Do not use family or friends to promote your work. - Contact editor before networking with any contacts who may need to remain confidential. - Don’t detail how an article was reported or created. - Don’t discuss articles yet to be published. - Do not engage in inappropriate dialogue. - Separate work from pleasure. Visit Editor and Publisher for the full list of rules. Journalism professor Jeff Jarvis responded critically. This misses the chance to make their reporting collaborative. Of course, they should discuss how an article was made. Of course, they should talk about stories as they in progress. Net natives – as WSJ owner Rupert Murdoch calls them – understand this. Twitter, blogs, Facebook, etc. also provide the opportunity for reporters and editors to come out from behind the institutional voice of the paper – a voice that is less and less trusted – and to become human. Of course, they should mix business and pleasure.	91,985
An outstanding backpack reference for day-to-day neurosurgical practice Now in an updated eighth edition, the Handbook of Neurosurgery has enjoyed legendary status on the bookshelf of every neurosurgery department for over a quarter of a century. Renowned for its scope and accessibility, the portable, single-volume guide is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in the care of patients with disorders of the central nervous system – neurosurgical residents, nurses, neurologists, and allied healthcare practitioners. This classic handbook covers the full depth and breadth of the complex field of neurosurgery – including inherited and acquired neurological disorders, developmental anomalies, and more esoteric topics such as toxins that impact the central nervous system. The text also covers conditions treated primarily by neurologists that may come to the attention of a neurosurgical care provider such as Parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, motor neuron diseases, and dementia. The latest information is provided on anatomy and physiology, differential diagnosis, and current principles of nonsurgical and surgical management covering the full age continuum – from pediatric to geriatric conditions. Expanded four-color graphics and illustrations Packed with more than 1,600 pages of practical information, including thousands of literature citations, handy cross-references, and a comprehensive index Fundamentals of neurocritical care, with a comprehensive overview of conditions – from SAH to head and spine trauma – and complications such as rebleeding, vasospasm, cerebral salt wasting, and brain death Comprehensive and conveniently compact, this is a must-have daily reference, a perfect study companion for board exams, as well as ideal for maintenance of certification preparation. It is certain to be a treasured tome for legions of new neurosurgery residents and an essential tool for anyone working in the clinical neurosciences.	2,713
The White House today unveiled a “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” intended to serve as a guideline for new legislation to protect people’s online privacy. The Privacy Bill of Rights outlines what types of information Internet companies may collect, how that information may be used, ways for users to easily access their private data, and correct any errors in the information. “American consumers can’t wait any longer for clear rules of the road that ensure their personal information is safe online,” said President Obama in a statement. “As the Internet evolves, consumer trust is essential for the continued growth of the digital economy. That’s why an online privacy Bill of Rights is so important. For businesses to succeed online, consumers must feel secure. By following this blueprint, companies, consumer advocates and policymakers can help protect consumers and ensure the Internet remains a platform for innovation and economic growth.” The rights outlined in the measure are outlined by the White House as such: - Individual Control: Consumers have a right to exercise control over what personal data organizations collect from them and how they use it. - Transparency: Consumers have a right to easily understandable information about privacy and security practices. - Respect for Context: Consumers have a right to expect that organizations will collect, use, and disclose personal data in ways that are consistent with the context in which consumers provide the data. - Security: Consumers have a right to secure and responsible handling of personal data. - Access and Accuracy: Consumers have a right to access and correct personal data in usable formats, in a manner that is appropriate to the sensitivity of the data and the risk of adverse consequences to consumers if the data are inaccurate. - Focused Collection: Consumers have a right to reasonable limits on the personal data that companies collect and retain. - Accountability: Consumers have a right to have personal data handled by companies with appropriate measures in place to assure they adhere to the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights. The Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights serves as one of four key elements to the total “blueprint.” The other parts include: enforcement of these rights by the Federal Trade Commission; a “stakeholder-driven process” to define how these rights will apply to specific businesses; and a plan for coordinating the framework of these rights with those of international partners. The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration will in the coming weeks meet with a number of parties that will be affected by the establishment of these rights, including business, privacy and consumer rights advocacy groups, technical experts, international partners, and academics. During these meetings the Commerce Department will “establish specific practices or codes of conduct” that will allow for the implementation of the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights. In addition, the White House announced that Google, Microsoft, AOL, and Yahoo — which together deliver more than 90 percent of all behavioral advertising on the Web — have agreed to support the use of Do Not Track technology in most major Web browsers. Do Not Track allows users to block companies from tracking where they move around the Internet, and is strongly supported by digital rights advocacy groups, like the Electronic Frontier Foundation. In other words, this move is well past due. To read more about the White House’s full plan, click here: pdf. [Image via White House/Flickr]	238,330
Magnesium is a chemical element, number 12 on the periodic table. The Paulson Nebula contained small amounts of this element. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds") The planet Arakis Prime in the Delta Quadrant had an atmosphere of magnesium vapor. (VOY: "One Small Step") See also Edit	86,278
"10 Little Known Facts about Bucks County" Today is National Trivia Day! In honor of this exciting day, we’ve put together a list of “10 Little Known Facts about Bucks County” to keep the trivia fun going. Let’s get started! Did you know… - Bucks County was founded in 1682 by William Penn. He named the county after Buckinghamshire, his family home in England. - The Logan Inn in New Hope is the oldest continuously running inn in Bucks County. Established in 1727, it offered its services to George Washington and his men and is said to be home to at least four ghosts. - Sesame Place is the only amusement park nationwide solely themed after the television show, Sesame Street. It will re-open April 27, 2013 to welcome in a fun new season all year through the holidays! - John Fitch built the first steam-powered boat in the U.S. in Warminster in 1785. It traveled nearly 3,000 miles in 1790, transporting passengers and freight between Philadelphia and Trenton. A six-foot long, steam operated model of the first steamboat can now be seen at the John Fitch Steamboat Museum in Warminster. - The movie Signs directed by M. Night Shyamalan, starring Mel Gibson was filmed and takes place in Bucks County. The scenes in the bookstore and pizza shop were filmed in Newtown and the scenes of the house and cornfield were shot on 40 acres of land belonging to Delaware Valley College in Doylestown. The pharmacy scene was shot in Morrisville. - Bucks County is home to twelve remaining covered bridges, many located on the beautiful country roads of Bucks County. A self-guided driving tour itinerary is available on Visit Bucks County’s website. - In 1777, General Washington had his headquarters at The Moland House in Hartsville, where it is believed that the "Betsy Ross" flag was first flown. Guided tours of The Moland House are available between 1 PM and 4 PM on the second Sunday of every month. - The Bucks County Playhouse opened on July 1, 1939 and over the next 70 years hosted the Who’s Who of Hollywood and Broadway legends including Grace Kelly, Angela Lansbury Bea Arthur, Walter Matthau and many more. - The massive stone walls and warden’s house that reside on the grounds of the James A Michener Art Museum began as the Bucks County Prison back in 1884. The museum is now home to a world class collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings. - Bucks County is home to the Bucks County Wine Trail, comprised of nine wineries, each with their own distinct charm and specialty wines. The gentle rolling hills, deep well-drained soils, and moderate climate combine to make Bucks County one of the premier grape growing regions of the East Coast. Do you have any “little-known facts” about Bucks County? If so, share in the comment section below or on our Facebook page.	117,880
Artist Collection: (6 of 15)< Previous \| Next > Tags: National Park, Wales, Tryfan, Llyn Idwal, Ogwen Valley, wooden bridge, foot bridge, rickety bridge, rocks, boulders, mountain - + MOUSE OVER image to zoom in - + CLICK to enlarge bridge to tryfanby wayne molyneux - Artist Notes - The imposing figure of Tryfan stands proud in Snowdonia National Park, Taken from the foot bridge leading to Llyn Idwal also known asThe Devils Kitchen near the Rangers station Tryfan in the Ogwen Valley was used as the training camp for the successful attempt to climb Everest in 1953. - Contact Artist Send Artist an Email More about wayne molyneux - east cheshire, united kingdom - Artist Biography - A British photographer originally from London, I moved to the North West of England to pursue my love of Landscape photography. I live close to some of Britains finest National Parks & Coastline & hope you will be inspired to visit them or appreciate their beauty through my FineArt ...	257,473
Have you ever wanted to hit the reset button on your life? Have you ever found yourself just wishing that you could simply start over? Who hasn’t? And this year, for so many millions of people, that feeling is especially powerful. With two record-setting hurricanes in as many weeks, a third — Jose — threatening to bring more of the same and major fires burning in the western and northwestern reaches of our nation, the desire to start over is not just some philosophical question brought on by the dawning of a new year. It is an immediate issue of physical survival for millions, and a question about how people, any people, make life and find joy in the wake of such epic loss and destruction. And even for those of us fortunate enough not to be confronting such massive public losses, who among us have not had an experience we wish we could roll back and start over? Who in their lives over the course of a year has not experienced something over which they wish they could hit the reset button, and start over? In fact, that desire to start over is one of the best things about us as humans. It is the essence of moving from regret and despair over the past, to accessing our ability to move into a healthier present and a more promising future. After all, it’s not really possible to fix what we don’t admit is broken. So in many ways, the remorseful feeling that comes with looking for our personal reset button is actually the beginning not only of finding it, but of using it to help create the lives we wish we had and the world in which we lived. At its core, Rosh HaShanah promises each of us that we can find and hit the reset button we seek — whether we seek it individually, as families, as a nation or as part of the global human community. Whether one imagines that the world is 5777 years old, or that it has been around for billions of years, Rosh HaShanah celebrates that it is all reborn again, and we can be as well, if we want to be. ‘Starting over versus working from where you are: Both are always occurring in our lives, in our culture and in our politics.’ Rosh HaShanah promises each of us that we can hit that giant reset button we seek, no matter how big the reset will be. Whether we are talking about the rebuilding of storm-tossed communities, the distribution of health care benefits, the pain of Charlottesville or the current debate about DACA and immigration reform, let alone the “smaller” breakdowns that happen in the arcs of lives on a regular basis, we have options about how to approach the solution we seek — whatever it might be. The real question is how to get the reset we seek — whether we seek to rebuild a flooded home, repair a washed-out relationship or mend the fabric of our increasingly frayed human community — be it here at home, or around the world. One path, made popular during debates about healthcare policy, is that of “repeal and replace.” It imagines that starting over is about starting from scratch. It imagines that the best path forward demands that we wipe out the past — be it past health plans, past public monuments, past narratives or past communities — in order to craft the new deals and policies which we want and need. Repeal and replace, whether applied to people, policies or storm-ravaged communities, imagines that we wipe out the past to achieve our goals for the future, and that we must do so by finally and fully letting go of everything that happened in the past to build the future we want. There is another path, however — the path of “return and renew.” Were we naming this path in Hebrew, we would call it the path of “teshuvah,” which literally means “return.” This path suggests that we don’t necessarily need to fully erase our past in order to realize our hopes and aspirations for a better present and future. In fact, that fresh start or reset for which we yearn has always been a part of us, according to this path, and we are “simply” returning to that positive potential that has always existed within us — now recommitting to renewing its presence in our lives. Starting over versus working from where you are: Both are always occurring in our lives, in the world, in our culture and in our politics, so we should put aside the debate about which is right, and instead consider when and why each might be the better path to pursue. How might that look? For starters, it might begin by asking a series of questions about any issue where we need to hit that reset button in life. For example, in what circumstances or around what issues do you most acutely feel the tug to repeal and replace? What would be the genuine benefit found in pursuing a path that requires making a clean break with the past? But before walking down that path, we would also need to do a careful and complete accounting of the costs we incur by doing so — cost to us, and cost to others as well. Whatever we decide, making such breaks is never as cost-free as we often like to imagine. And how about taking time to consider when and with whom, including yourself, it might be better to return and renew — building on what’s already working, or has worked in the past and even more, to push yourself to see possibilities and potential where you currently see only problems and failure. Each of these paths can be found in the practices, stories and liturgies of Rosh HaShanah, and the invitation here is less about choosing one; it’s more about carefully and consciously choosing when and where to start walking, especially if we can always appreciate that both paths have real purpose and value when we are celebrating nothing less than our ability to start our lives, and our world, anew.	181,596
Halloween is THE day to explore magic! So in honor of all you wizards and sorceresses, it is my pleasure to remind you today, on this sacred Feast of the Ancestors, JUST HOW IMPORTANT your pointy hat is! And why your forebears started wearing one in the first place. Did you know that Trick-or-Treating was originally a May Day tradition? Or that our American tradition of leaving plates of cookies for Santa Claus, originated on Halloween? That’s right! Before weary folks went to bed on Halloween night in many countries (including the British Isles,) they would honor their ancestors by leaving a real, honest-to-goodness feast on the table, complete with all the place settings. That’s why Halloween (or Samhain, in the Pagan vernacular) became known as the Feast of the Dead. What do these facts have to do with witch hats? I just thought they were cool. In pagan circles, the witch represents the Crone, which is one of the three traditional aspects of the Goddess (the other two being the Maid and the Mother.) Trick or Treaters are perpetuating some of the world’s most ancient and revered traditions when they wear a witch’s costume. - The witch’s tall, pointed hat was thought to utilize the geometrics of a pyramid to draw power down to the Crone’s head (the crone being the wise woman of ancient villages). - The hat’s flared brim was the vehicle by which the Crone sent out her power to do her bidding. - Her black dress represented the dark side of the Goddess’s nature (dormant, nurturing, or “womblike,” rather than evil.) - Her broomstick was the shaman’s horse upon which she took her astral journeys, riding over the moon to other realities.	83,087
Digital paintings has turn into an enormous modern artwork shape, however it has but to accomplish attractiveness from mainstream cultural associations; it really is infrequently gathered, and rarely incorporated within the examine of artwork background or different educational disciplines. In MediaArtHistories, prime students search to alter this. They take a much wider view of media paintings, putting it opposed to the backdrop of paintings heritage. Their essays display that cutting-edge media artwork can't be understood by way of technological information on my own; it can't be understood with out its heritage, and it has to be understood in proximity to different disciplines -- movie, cultural and media stories, computing device technological know-how, philosophy, and sciences facing images. Contributors hint the evolution of electronic artwork, from thirteenth-century Islamic mechanical units and eighteenth-century phantasmagoria, magic lanterns, and different multimedia illusions, to Marcel Duchamp's innovations and Sixties kinetic and op artwork. They reexamine and redefine key media paintings thought phrases -- computing device, media, exhibition -- and look at the blurred dividing strains among artwork items and client items and among artwork photos and technology pictures. ultimately, MediaArtHistories deals an procedure for an interdisciplinary, increased picture technological know-how, which wishes the "trained eye" of artwork history. ContributorsRudlof Arnheim, Andreas Broeckmann, Ron Burnett, Edmond Couchot, Sean Cubitt, Dieter Daniels, Felice Frankel, Oliver Grau, Erkki Huhtamo, Douglas Kahn, Ryszard W. Kluszczynski, Machiko Kusahara, Timothy Lenoir, Lev Manovich, W.J.T. Mitchell, Gunalan Nadarajan, Christiane Paul, Louise Poissant, Edward A. Shanken, Barbara Maria Stafford, and Peter Weibel. Read Online or Download MediaArtHistories (Leonardo Book Series) PDF Best Art History books The stunning secrets and techniques of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ArtworkThe fresh cleansing of the Sistine Chapel frescoes got rid of layer after layer of centuries of gathered tarnish and darkness. The Sistine secrets and techniques endeavors to take away the centuries of prejudice, censorship, and lack of knowledge that blind us to the reality approximately one of many world's most famed and loved paintings treasures. As wonderful because it is incisive, Stoned is a raucous trip throughout the heritage of human wish for what's infrequent, and consequently important. What makes a stone a jewel? What makes a jewel important? And why can we covet attractive issues? during this terrific account of ways 8 jewels formed the process heritage, jeweler and scientist Aja Raden tells an unique and infrequently startling tale approximately our unshakeable dependancy to attractiveness and the darker facet of human wish. Paintings grants us with a sensory adventure that provokes us to reconfigure how we predict approximately our international and ourselves. Theories of paintings have usually sought to discover a few function of artwork that isolates it from the remainder of adventure. Keith Lehrer argues, in competition, that artwork is attached, now not remoted, from how we predict and think, characterize and react. Within the Nineteen Sixties artwork fell out of time; either artists and critics misplaced their temporal bearings according to what E. M. Cioran known as "not being entitled to time. " This anxiousness and uneasiness approximately time, which Pamela Lee calls "chronophobia," lower throughout hobbies, media, and genres, and used to be figured in works starting from kinetic sculptures to Andy Warhol movies. Additional info for MediaArtHistories (Leonardo Book Series) Eleven within the analog artwork varieties (op and kinetic paintings, Fluxus, taking place) the intuitive use of the concept that of the set of rules ended in mechanical and guide practices of programming, procedural directions, interactivity, and virtuality. within the ‘‘New Tendency’’ exhibits of the early Nineteen Sixties in Zagreb, Milan, and in other places, viewer participation within the building of a piece of artwork performed a substantial function. In works linked to Fluxus, occurring, or functionality, the article of portray or sculpture was once completely changed by means of directions to behave. besides stepwise directions to lead to occasions, the directions to be used that implicitly accompany any merchandise of day-by-day use took where of the particular merchandise, during this approach resulting in the categorical integration of the viewers. Op and Kinetic paintings Kinetic paintings completed significant ancient and well known inﬂuence within the Nineteen Sixties, as evidenced by way of exhibitions like ‘‘Ro¨relse i Konsten’’ (Moderna Museet, Stockholm, May–September 1961), equipped through ok. G. Pontus Hulte´n and ﬁrst proven less than the name ‘‘Bewogen Beweging’’ in Amsterdam (Stedelijk Museum, March–April 1961), ‘‘Kinetic and Optic paintings Today’’ (Albright Knox artwork Gallery, Buffalo, 1965), and ‘‘Licht und Bewegung—kinetische Kunst’’ (Kunsthalle Du¨sseldorf, 1966). The titles of the exhibits element to the intertwining of the matter of representing flow with that of representing optical phenomena within which kineticism originated and constructed. In either instances, mere illustration was once renounced in desire of actual circulate, actual gentle. Optical illusions grew to become recognizable as such. actual flow and genuine mild grew to become media of paintings. Perceptual phenomena and optical illusions have been used no longer as tools yet as topics, now not as technique of illustration yet as activated perceptual reports during which the viewer was once now an important issue. As early as 1955, okay. G. Pontus Hulte´n had curated the exhibit ‘‘Le Mouvement’’ (featuring Agam, Bury, Calder, Duchamp, Jacobsen, Soto, Tinguely, Vasarely) on the Galerie Denise Rene´ in Paris, and contributed the textual content ‘‘Petit moments des arts cine´tiques. ’’ With a name alluding to Moholy-Nagy’s booklet imaginative and prescient in movement (Chicago, 1947), the exhibition ‘‘Vision in Motion—Motion it really is Forbidden to not contact 25 in Vision’’ on the Hessenhuis, Antwerp that very same yr confirmed paintings by way of artists together with Roth, Macky, Piene, Tinguely, Spoerri, Bury, and Klein. even supposing the chronology of kinetic paintings could be traced again to 1900, the de facto starting used to be in 1920. The sources—avant-garde ﬁlm (Walther Ruttmann, Viking Eggeling), Constructivism, Bauhaus, De Stijl, futurism—are as varied because the stations (arte cinetica, 1914–16; Viennese kineticism, 1920–24, with protagonists together with Franz Cizek). the first resource is Russian Constructivism, which produced geometrical items freed from any mimetic functionality (Tatlin, Rodchenko, El Lissitzky, Gabo, Pevsner). In Moscow in 1920, Naum Gabo established to his scholars unmarried rod of cord, if set in movement by way of a clock spring, can turn into a quantity or, extra adequately, a digital quantity.	155,186
How can you get involved with the Healthy Communities strand? Contact Dr. Amy Schultz at amy.schultz@AllegianceHealth.org The Health Improvement Organization’s vision is to “create a culture of continuous health improvement in our community.” The HIO Coordinating Council represents more than 30 community health agencies, providers, and local businesses dedicated to creating a unified health improvement infrastructure that addresses Jackson’s highest priority health issues. The HIO Coordinating Council created the Community Action Plan, which includes goals, objectives and strategies to improve physical activity, nutrition, and reduce tobacco use and depression in Jackson County. The HIO looks forward to building on their success by supporting community health initiatives with shared goals and visions. For more information, visit www.myhio.org. Health Improvement Organization (HIO) Founded in 2000 as long term solution to vicious cycle of poor health/high cost. Community Health Measures Percent of adults Overweight or Obese 2008 - 70% 2011 - 69% - Percent of Adults who Meet recommendations for Physical Activity 2008 - 47% 2011 - 54% Percent of Adults who Meet recommendations for Fruit and Vegetable intake 2008 - 18% 2011 - 31% Percent of Adults who are current Smokers 2008 - 27% 2011 - 22% Percent of Adults who would ‘definitely’ seek help for a mental health problem 2008 - 52% 2011 - 54% - Percent of adults Overweight or Obese - Improve the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of residents of Jackson County related to behavioral health, physical activity, nutrition and smoke-free life styles. - Reduce the obesity rate amongst Jackson County residents to be at or lower than the national average. - Reduce smoking rate and secondhand smoke exposure in Jackson County - Improve the behavioral health and emotional wellness of Jackson County residents. - Enhance collaborative action planning, resource alignment, and linkages among clinical and social systems to achieve collective population health impact	119,526
Alternative Methods in the Education of Philosophy of Law and the Importance of Legal Philosophy in the Legal Education: Proceedings of the 23rd World Congress of the International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy "Law and Legal Cultures in the 21st Century: Diversity and Unity" in Kraków, 2007 [Book Review] David Bourget (Western Ontario) David Chalmers (ANU, NYU) Rafael De Clercq Jack Alan Reynolds Learn more about PhilPapers Franz Steiner (2010) \|Abstract\|\|This article has no associated abstract. (fix it)\| \|Keywords\|\|Law Study and teaching Law Study and teaching\| \|Categories\|\|categorize this paper)\| Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server Configure custom proxy (use this if your affiliation does not provide a proxy) \|Through your library\| References found in this work BETA No references found. Citations of this work BETA No citations found. Similar books and articles James R. Maxeiner, The Rules of Law in the Reform of Legal Education: Teaching the Legal Mind in Japanese Law Schools. David T. Ritchie (2008). Mastering Legal Analysis and Communication. Carolina Academic Press. Tomasz Gizbert-Studnicki & Mateusz Klinowski (eds.) (2010). Law, Liberty, Morality and Rights: 23rd World Congress of Legal and Social Philosophy, 2007, Cracow. Oficyna Wolters Kluwer Polska. Theodore M. Benditt (1978). Law as Rule and Principle: Problems of Legal Philosophy. Stanford University Press. Henrique Schneider (2008). Legalism as Legal Positivism? Proceedings of the Xxii World Congress of Philosophy 40:163-168. James R. Maxeiner, More Than Just Law School: Global Perspectives on the Place of the Practical in Legal Education. Joseph Raz (1979). The Authority of Law: Essays on Law and Morality. Oxford University Press. Kim Economides & Christine Parker (2011). Roundtable on Legal Ethics in Legal Education: Should It Be a Required Course? Legal Ethics 14 (1):109-124. John Arthur & William H. Shaw (eds.) (2010). Readings in the Philosophy of Law. Pearson Prentice Hall. John B. Quigley (2007). Soviet Legal Innovation and the Law of the Western World. Cambridge University Press. Roger A. Shiner (1992). Norm and Nature: The Movements of Legal Thought. Oxford University Press. James R. Maxeiner, American Law Schools as a Model for Japanese Legal Education? A Preliminary Question From a Comparative Perspective. Sorry, there are not enough data points to plot this chart. Added to index2011-03-22 Recent downloads (6 months)0 How can I increase my downloads?	142,991
Scientists have figured out how to vaccinate a person without using a needle, potentially giving the public one less excuse to avoid getting immunized. The new found technique, reported in the April 1 issue of the German journal Angewandte Chemie, relies on the use of a patch that administers the vaccine with the help of a special molecule. While some people can take some vaccines orally, most have to be injected directly into a muscle. Victor C. Yang, a researcher at the University of Michigan, and colleagues developed a protein that can pass through the outer membranes of cells into the interior, carrying the vaccine with it. The researchers noted that it may be possible for people to get booster vaccinations without needing to even visit a doctor. They may be able to use patches that they administer themselves. If patients cooperate, this could make it easier to vaccinate people in poor areas of the world where it is difficult to get access to medical care.	302,462
\|Core in version\|\|4.3\| \|Core since version\|\|3.0\| glGetTransformFeedbackVarying: retrieve information about varying variables selected for transform feedback void glGetTransformFeedbackVarying(GLuint program, GLuint index, GLsizei bufSize, GLsizei length, GLsizei size, GLenum type, char *name); - The name of the target program object. - The index of the varying variable whose information to retrieve. - The maximum number of characters, including the null terminator, that may be written into name. - The address of a variable which will receive the number of characters written into name, excluding the null-terminator. If length is NULL no length is returned. - The address of a variable that will receive the size of the varying. - The address of a variable that will recieve the type of the varying. - The address of a buffer into which will be written the name of the varying. Information about the set of varying variables in a linked program that will be captured during transform feedback may be retrieved by calling glGetTransformFeedbackVarying. glGetTransformFeedbackVarying provides information about the varying variable selected by index. An index of 0 selects the first varying variable specified in the varyings array passed to glTransformFeedbackVaryings, and an index of GL_TRANSFORM_FEEDBACK_VARYINGS-1 selects the last such variable. The name of the selected varying is returned as a null-terminated string in name. The actual number of characters written into name, excluding the null terminator, is returned in length. If length is NULL, no length is returned. The maximum number of characters that may be written into name, including the null terminator, is specified by bufSize. The length of the longest varying name in program is given by GL_TRANSFORM_FEEDBACK_VARYING_MAX_LENGTH, which can be queried with glGetProgram. For the selected varying variable, its type is returned into type. The size of the varying is returned into size. The value in size is in units of the type returned in type. The type returned can be any of the scalar, vector, or matrix attribute types returned by glGetActiveAttrib. If an error occurred, the return parameters length, size, type and name will be unmodified. This command will return as much information about the varying variables as possible. If no information is available, length will be set to zero and name will be an empty string. This situation could arise if glGetTransformFeedbackVarying is called after a failed link. GL_INVALID_VALUE is generated if program is not the name of a program object. GL_INVALID_VALUE is generated if index is greater or equal to the value of GL_TRANSFORM_FEEDBACK_VARYINGS. GL_INVALID_OPERATION is generated program has not been linked. glGetProgram with argument GL_TRANSFORM_FEEDBACK_VARYINGS or GL_TRANSFORM_FEEDBACK_VARYING_MAX_LENGTH glGetProgramInterface with GL_TRANSFORM_FEEDBACK_VARYING and either GL_ACTIVE_RESOURCES or GL_MAX_NAME_LENGTH Copyright © 2010 Khronos Group. This material may be distributed subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Open Publication License, v 1.0, 8 June 1999. http://opencontent.org/openpub/.	253,633
Bamako, The Hague, 12 July 2022 – Ten years after the destruction of the mausoleums of Timbuktu, reparations are continuing to be provided for the victims in the case of Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, who is due to be released on 18 September of this year. Following on from the symbolic and individual reparations, the Trust Fund for Victims of the International Criminal Court and its partners have launched the collective reparations programme for Timbuktu, on 6 July, in the presence of the city and regional authorities. “Launching the collective reparations exactly ten years after the commission of this war crime is a powerful symbol. Although Mali is still facing a major crisis and the security situation in the region of Timbuktu remains highly precarious, this nevertheless demonstrates that justice is possible and that the victims’ right to justice can and must be guaranteed. The cultural and religious heritage that was targeted during these attacks is now reconstructed and stands at the heart of daily life in the community of Timbuktu, which will now be able to benefit from specific measures intended to address the harm suffered”, states Ibrahim Sorie Yillah, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims. Following the implementation of the symbolic reparations, which took place on 30 March 2021 in Bamako, more than 880 victims have benefited from individual reparations, in accordance with the corresponding Decision of Trial Chamber VIII of the International Criminal Court. Now that the individual reparations are almost complete and the necessary consultations have been conducted among the Timbuktu community, the collective reparations can now commence. On 6 July 2022, the Trust Fund for Victims and its partners, CFOGRAD, UNESCO and CIDEAL, launched their reparations at a ceremony held at the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Learning and Islamic Research (Institut des hautes études et de recherches islamiques Ahmed Baba) of Timbuktu, in partnership with the local and regional authorities and attended by the Mali Representative of the International Criminal Court. Canada and Norway, which are contributing to the Trust Fund’s reparations programme, were both represented on this occasion. These reparations consist of three components: i) restoration of the cultural heritage (UNESCO); ii) commemorations to address the moral harm caused to the community of Timbuktu (CFOGRAD); iii) an economic resilience facility to address the damage caused to the Timbuktu economy as a result of the destruction of its cultural heritage (CIDEAL). “The collective reparations are especially important as they are long-awaited by the whole of the community following the individual reparations, which involved only a limited number of beneficiaries based on their particular connection to the destroyed mausoleums. In the context of these reparations, the commemorations will play a key role in passing on and conveying the role and significance of our heritage to future generations,” states Aboubacrine Cissé, Mayor of Timbuktu, during the launch ceremony. In order to support the commemoration initiatives, CFOGRAD, a partner organisation of the Trust Fund, set up participatory commemoration committees throughout the whole city, which brought together all sections of the population to reflect on the commemoration. Once the initial proposals had been prepared by the various committees, it was then necessary to share and consolidate these with the administrative and political authorities in Timbuktu in order to jointly determine the form that the commemorations should take. “Commemorations are not a simple matter and raise numerous questions. What is it that we want to commemorate? The destruction of our heritage? Its reconstruction? What form must they take, and how can they be integrated into our life and community in a manner that will have meaning and enable them to be passed on to future generations? These are the questions that the commemoration committees need to address in co-operation with the city and regional authorities. And it is only in this way that the commemorations will be able to provide a restorative dimension for our community, in the spirit of the decision issued by the judges of the International Criminal Court”, states Alpha Touré, Director of CFOGRAD. At the same time, on 5 July 2022, the Governor of the Timbuktu Region, Mr Bakoun Kanté, established a regional commission to coordinate and monitor the collective reparations measures [Decision attached as an annex], which was tasked with supporting the measures implemented by the Trust Fund for Victims. Supporting the city authorities should help to facilitate implementation of the activities associated not only with the commemorations but also with the economic assistance and the heritage restoration. “The heritage that was destroyed in Timbuktu is of exceptional universal value. As part of its mandate, UNESCO has already contributed significantly to its reconstruction. In supporting the Trust Fund for Victims with the implementation of a historic decision in the field of international criminal justice, in favour of cultural heritage – and at a time when this is threatened in numerous regions of the world – UNESCO intends to go even further in terms of restoring the heritage that constitutes an important part of the identity of this city and its inhabitants,” states Edmond Moukala, Representative of UNESCO in Mali. On 26 September 2016, Mr Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi was found guilty by the International Criminal Court of the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against buildings of a religious and historical character and was sentenced to nine years’ of imprisonment. Since that date, he has been serving his sentence. In November 2021, the ICC granted his early release, which is due to take effect on 18 September 2022. “In the case of Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, which is drawing to a close with the implementation of the reparations and his upcoming release, the International Criminal Court acts – as it does in all its proceedings in Mali and elsewhere – in complementarity with the State concerned. In the wake of the work carried out by the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (Commission Vérité Justice et Réconciliation), Mali has an ambitious reparations programme at the national level. The launch of the collective reparations is fully in line with this process, which is aimed at upholding the rights of the victims to receive reparations,” states Nouhoum Sangaré, Representative, Chief of Field Offices of the International Criminal Court in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali.	194,720
While towns along the east coast battle the blazes threatening to devour their homes, Sydney is fighting a different enemy: the pall of smoke that's choking the city. The air quality is already three times worse than at any moment in the past five years — and it's not showing signs of slowing down. Cue the familiar jibes about something not being taken seriously until it reaches Sydney. But fire ecologist Professor David Bowman says the city's woes are a sign of the state's bigger problem. "The classic disaster narrative is disaster, [and then] disaster ends," he says. "But this [fires] is not behaving like that. This has been going on for six weeks or two months." We're familiar with the climate-change warnings of heatwaves, bushfire risk and coastal flooding, but this week Sydney has had a reality check about another danger: our air. The message from authorities is simple: stay indoors and limit your exposure. But while that might work for a day or two, what happens when it becomes the new norm? Cities aren't built for the heat It's been a shocking reminder as to just how vulnerable the country is to the power of the environment. Hundreds of houses have been lost in these fires alongside swathes of heritage-listed bushland. While Sydney continues to function, if predictions for how the climate will change in the future bite harder it isn't difficult to imagine catastrophic consequences for urban life across the country. UNSW Canberra climate scientist Sophie Lewis says our big cities are already being challenged by extreme temperatures — and our infrastructure simply isn't prepared for it. "When we have heatwaves hit, we know that certain urban infrastructure doesn't cope very well, things like rail lines, transporting large numbers of commuters across Melbourne and Sydney is a real challenge," she says. "Buildings really trap in that heat and make it difficult for people to escape." According to the CSIRO's State of the Climate 2018 report, Australia is projected to experience increases in sea and air temperatures, with more hot days and marine heatwaves, and fewer cool extremes. "Some of the record breaking temperatures we've had over summer in eastern Australia are likely to become mild or average in a few decades time," Dr Lewis says. According to Dr Lewis, many regions across Australia are already experiencing more frequent fire weather with more catastrophic or extreme fire days — and it's something that's projected to continue. "So we really have to be preparing now for more fires in more locations to be occurring throughout the year," she says. "That's going to have consequences not just on those in rural or regional areas who are directly affected by the fires, but in terms of things like air quality and smoke pollution and how that affects things like respiratory illness and asthmatics." Smoke comes with a healthcare cost Prepare to get used to hearing the acronym AQI — air quality index. Along with the danger to lives and homes, there's a mortality rate associated with the poor AQUI due to the subsequent smoke haze — and Professor Bowman says we need to be taking it more seriously now and into the future. "There's a pretty significant strata of people who are going to be flooding hospitals with respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and that has a pretty big price tag "There's a misapprehension among healthy people that the smoke is a nuisance, but that's not true. It's a threat if you're a baby or pregnant or elderly." Otherwise healthy people aren't immune from the impacts. Sotiris Vardoulakis, a professor of global environmental health at the ANU National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, says a sore throat and nose are the most common complaints. "And potentially some difficulty breathing, but these symptoms are typically reversible and go away once air quality levels return to normal," he says. "But having visual impacts, having the smell of air pollution, that can help us realise we're exposed and take some precautionary measures." Prepare to accept masks as fashion They're hard to find on Sydney's shelves, but ask someone where they got their high-quality mask in Sydney this week, and you'll keep hearing the same muffled answer: China. Tactics to survive in smog and smoke have become part of everyday life in a country that has battled what is wryly termed the airpocalypse, or airmageddon, for years. The health effects of bad air have encouraged a booming industry in consumer items designed to minimise the impact of air pollution. For residents of Beijing, first on the anti-pollution must-have list is a face mask to wear outdoors that can filter the most dangerous air pollution particles. The key here is that the mask must be rated to filter at least 95 per cent of the tiny particulate matter known as PM2.5. These pollution particles are just 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter, 20 times smaller than a human hair. They are most dangerous because they are capable of crossing into the bloodstream. Lise Floris and her husband Francesco moved from Europe to Beijing with their three children in December 2015. "When we first arrived in Beijing, we hadn't even stepped off the plane before we had our masks on," Floris says. "We landed on a day where the AQI was 300 and we did take it very seriously in the beginning. We decided that the kids had for wear masks as soon as the AQI was over 100." Dozens of international retailers now offer air pollution masks — from disposable versions that leave you looking like you've just stepped out of surgery — to an embroidered and jewel-encrusted fashion statement from MeHow. For an item that is worn so prominently on the face it is no surprise that "smog chic" is now big business. International brands like VogMask markets itself just like fashion clothing brands, complete with top-end ad campaigns and fashion parades to launch their seasonal mask ranges that trade on fun, colourful designs. They also have a range for children and toddlers. These masks are no good if you are a jogger or like exercising outdoors. In that case brands like Respro and Totobobo, offering a tighter seal that won't move during high impact sport, have you covered. Beware the outdoors Across NSW, there have been widespread cancellations of sporting matches and other public events this weekend. In the next decade, an indoor plan B will become central for planning, not just for barbecues beset by summer storms or total fire bans, but for the danger brought by air quality spikes too. Professor Vardoulakis says staying indoors is still the best bet of limiting your exposure to the smoke — but that doesn't mean you should become a hermit. "During long periods of poor air quality, it's important people carry on with their normal lives and exercise as well," he says. "Of course, when the levels are hazardous we advise people to refrain from strenuous physical exercise outdoors, so exercise indoors, in a gym." But a mask is not always enough to reduce the risks of outdoor exercise and weighing up the risks and benefits of exercise versus exposure to pollution is constantly debated in cities with air pollution problems. In Beijing, Floris's husband Francesco runs marathons in his spare time and belongs to the running club Hey Running. The club cancels outdoor training sessions when AQI rises above 160 — a figure that Sydney and much of the NSW coast has seen regularly over the past week. The World Health Organisation's air quality guidelines state air pollution should remain below 50. "Many people believe that when the AQI is below 160 the benefit of doing sports and exercise outweighs the danger of being exposed to air pollution," Floris says. This philosophy is backed up by US-based doctor Richard Saint Cyr who spent 10 years working at Beijing United Family Hospital and writes regularly about managing air pollution. Dr Saint Cyr believes that up to a point outdoor exercise offers "much more benefit than harm" when a mask is worn. What about children? The developing lungs of small children can be most vulnerable to pollution and smoke. Some Sydney schools — including Newport and Stanmore Public Schools — have kept students inside during recess and lunch in recent days in an effort to reduce their exposure to smoky pollution. And many weekend sporting clubs for children advised parents to be prepared for matches to be cancelled over the weekend if pollution rises. China's most expensive schools now market their ability to deliver near perfect air quality in classrooms. "My children's school has a state-of-the-art air purifying system," says Floris. "Whenever a door is open the 'bad air' is pushed outside. This guarantees an indoor AQI of about 1." These elite schools also offer one or even two sporting "domes" — giant inflatable structures that contain tennis or basketball courts and even soccer pitches and are pumped full of purified air so children can breath clean air while they exercise. Once air pollution hits 200 on the air quality index a series of bell combinations signals to students that they are not to go outside, or that they can walk from main buildings to the sports domes. For Floris, managing pollution has become a routine part of life and "is not defining our everyday lives in Beijing". But she is wary of moving to another polluted city when the family's expat contract ends next year. "We do miss clean air and occasionally dream about the forests and parks back in Europe," she says. "We had the opportunity of applying for a position in Delhi after Beijing but for me, that was a no-go simply because we've seen a huge improvement in air quality in Beijing over the past four years. From what we hear, the Indian government is not taking the same measures." But what about the air inside? So you've followed the advice and have stayed in doors all day. Yet closing the windows and doors is not enough to stop those tiny air pollution particles from finding their way inside. As indoor air quality monitors — another appliance that most middle-class Beijing families have at home — make clear, smoke and pollution particles can sneak inside. "Air purifiers are the most valuable item we own for making life with pollution bearable," says Floris. "We live on the seventh floor of a city apartment block so as soon as we wake up we can gauge the level of pollution depending on which skyscrapers are covered in smog. We know when to turn on the purifiers. We have six of them in our apartment and on bad days they will be running on high all day." Floris says on days when pollution is bad she will often work at home and not leave the house. Dodging air pollution causes such anxiety in Beijing that restaurants and cafes are now starting to market their air quality credentials. And one of Beijing's most high-end malls, Parkview Green, spruiks its filtered air to attract shoppers. If pollution descends for several days at a time Chinese authorities issue a "red alert" which closes schools and restricts traffic. How will buildings need to change? We're already talking about how to better bushfire-proof regional homes. But how do we future-proof our houses if the haze is here to stay? According to the experts, the best way to stop smoke from getting in is to ensure that, well, nothing can. They point to the Passivhaus design as a model we should — and probably will — be looking at more closely in the future. The German concept uses high-performance glazing, insulation and an airtight building envelope to control the internal temperature. Think of it like a vacuum seal, with no heater, air conditioner or afternoon breeze required. "Highly developed countries [have] all gone down the route of air-sealing buildings for energy efficiency and having controlled ventilation systems to make sure you've got good air quality all the time," says Jesse Clarke, an engineer and building science manager with Pro Clima. "And we're just a few decades behind." It's something Oliver Steele knows all too well. The Sydney developer designed the first Passivhaus apartment block in the southern hemisphere — The Fern in Redfern — to combat air pollution problems. Mr Steele — who used the Passivhaus design when building his own home — said the recent smoke pollution had shown it was a viable option. "In these bushfires, I walked out the door and was just struck, it smelt like I was standing next to a campfire, whereas inside I couldn't smell anything," he said. How does fire management need to change? Researchers credit the comparatively low level of fatalities this fire season to emergency services, and improvements in their warning systems in the decade since Black Saturday. But Richard Thornton, CEO of the Bushfire and Natural Hazard Cooperative Research Centre, says there's always more that could be done — including a national fire rating system that's currently in the works. "We're going to be struggling for a few years, so that does mean that as a community, we need to think about what we want to do about that," Dr Thornton says. "There are things we can do in terms of fuel reduction... [but] those windows for safely doing prescribed burning are getting more difficult." According to Professor Bowman, the current smoke haze is an indicator of "something that's wrong with our fire management". He says while planned burning is an important tool in managing fire hazards, the inevitable side effect is more smoke pollution. "Planned burning is also injurious to people and it can actually cause more harm than flames from bushfires, so you've got a paradox," he says. Professor Bowman says the answer going forward likely lies in alternative forms of fuel management. "Where we try to reduce the amount of smoke emissions, particularly around our suburbs and cities... so really, a complete redesign of [our] thinking." Dr Thornton says it's a discussion that will need to take place, one way or another. "It's a matter of do we have smoke from prescribed burning or smoke from uncontrolled wildfires during the summer? That balance is something we still need to have a conversation around." Morrison enacts coronavirus emergency plan as he extends travel ban The Federal Government has extended its coronavirus travel ban for another week as it activates an emergency plan to deal with the outbreak of the coronavirus, amid expectations a global pandemic will soon be declared. Car hit by freight train north of Adelaide Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash between a train and a car at a level crossing at Mallala, north of Adelaide. ANZ compensates families evicted to make way for Cambodian sugar plantation ANZ agrees to pay the profit it made from a controversial $40 million sugar refinery loan to Cambodians who were forcibly evicted from their land almost 10 years ago. Pregnant widow pleads for allergy awareness following husband's fatal meal of barramundi Cassandra Hall urges anyone with allergies to always carry an EpiPen, following the shock death of her husband after a night out for dinner at a Ballarat restaurant. Scientists contaminated crucial Claremont evidence with own DNA, serial killings trial told Scientists at West Australia's state-run forensic laboratory contaminated crucial samples relating to the Claremont serial killing case on multiple occasions with their own DNA, the trial of the man charged with the three murders is told. If you pay your power bill late, it might not sting as much — but only if you shop around for a new deal New rules will force electricity and gas providers to reduce hefty late fees and stop offering large pay-on-time discounts, but it will only apply to contracts entered into from July 1. Should I cancel my travel plans because of coronavirus? International travellers are being forced to navigate flight disruptions, city lockdowns, travel bans and quarantine rules. It's making careful holiday planning more important than ever. After that summer, a neutral autumn outlook is very welcome indeed After summer 2019-20, you'd be forgiven for looking at the forecast for autumn with trepidation, but the BOM's latest outlook offers some optimism. He pushed his wife's wheelchair into a pond. Now he's going to jail for life. Adelaide man Peter Rex Dansie is sentenced to life in prison, with a non-parole period of 25 years, for murdering his wife in Adelaide's parklands in 2017 by pushing her wheelchair into a pond. These 'scientists and professionals' say there is no climate emergency. So who are they? A petition signed by over 500 people worldwide (including 75 Australians) asserts there is no climate emergency. They call themselves "scientists and professionals", but who are they? RMIT ABC Fact Check investigates.	142,310
CLEVELAND -- A huge day in the fight against breast cancer began early this morning at Key Bank as 50 Community Health Advisors began training to help save lives in their own neighborhoods. In March 2011, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® received a $1 million grant from the KeyBank Foundation to establish the Susan G. Komen Community Health Advisor Training Program. This largest-ever national grant awarded by the Foundation will help Komen activate its network to address the significant breast cancer burden facing uninsured and minority women. The use of community health advisors (CHAs) is well documented as an effective and sustainable method for: Promoting health education, Empowering women, and Improving health outcomes in communities that are difficult to access. The Susan G. Komen Community Health Advisor Training Program, made possible by the KeyBank Foundation, will certify nearly 500 CHAs in 18 different cities that Key Bank serves to provide peer-to-peer breast health education and support to underserved women. At the end of the four-year grant period, it is estimated that trained Susan G. Komen CHAs will have reached more than 110,000 medically underserved women, empowering them with the knowledge and resources to prevent a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis. Training began today in Cleveland, but the local affiliate is still looking to recruit more CHAs. Training will begin next month in Akron and Canton. If you're interested in the program call 216 292 CURE for more information.	105,314
Hurshat Tal Lies on the banks of the Dan, one of the tributaries of the river Jordan. It lies amidst the green and well watered bushland, between the hills of the Upper Galilee and the snow-capped Mount Hermon. Horshat Tal Is Hebrew for "Forest of dew", a name partly taken from Psalms 133 - "the dew of Hermon" and by its proximity to Mount Hermon. It has been into a 500 dunam national park by the Nature and Parks Authority in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and the upper Galilee Regional Council who together have cleard, landscaped, and provided footphats, access roads and amenities for visitors. Its principal features are the ancient oak trees, the natural pools, a large artificial lake, and the river Dan itself which winds through the park. The lake is fed by the icy waters of the Dan which is never more than 12 degrees centigrade even on the hottest day and through artificial stream, channeled over mounds and rocks with gentle waterfalls cascading throughout the park. Benches, dressing rooms for bathers, resturants and other buildings have been tastfully designed to merge with the pastoral landscape and can be found alongside a number of other attractions including: water slides, camping grounds (very recomended, one of the best sites for camping in Israel), bungalows and fhishing ponds. Hurshat Tal is the most pupolar picnic and recreation area in the upper Galilee, while it might be very busy during the summer, it is one of the best places for camping in israel 08:00 - 17:00 (pools closed at 17:00 for those who are camping at the site as well) By Car, Traveling east on route 9 from Kiryat Shmona to Mount hermon and after 5.5 KM make a right turn (south) to Hurshat Tal Phone: 04-6942360 Fax: 04-6959360	186,348
Girl Scouts spend day off school having fun with science By Karen Caffarini Post-Tribune correspondent February 18, 2013 1:18PM Girl Scouts from Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana listen closely during a National Engineers Week program at NIPSCO and NiScource corporate headquarters in Merrillville Monday Feb. 18, 2013. Girls were introduced to opportunities in engineering and engaged in fun activities during the event. \| Andy Lavalley~Sun-Times Media Updated: February 19, 2013 9:19AM MERRILLVILLE — It was President’s Day, a day off school, but about 100 girls in second through sixth grades spent part of Monday tackling an assignment that tested their engineering and math skills, as well as their creativity. The girls, members of the Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Girl Scouts, participated in a first-time event to Introduce a Girl to Engineering hosted by Northern Indiana Public Service Co. and organized by the Developing and Advancing Women at NiSource (DAWN). DAWN is a women’s affinity group at NiSource, NIPSCO’s parent company. The event was held at the utility company’s Merrillville headquarters as part of National Engineering Week. It primarily drew scouts from Northwest Indiana, but some girls came from Illinois communities including Country Club Hills, Orland Park, Matteson and Inverness. The scouts’ assignment: To put together an object that will hold a bag of Hershey Kisses. Their tools: Water bottle, styrofoam cup, pipe cleaners, straws, cardboard and foam. Their helpers: Female NIPSCO engineers. At one table, a group of girls from Hammond and Griffith made a submarine on skis, a skier named Bob or a Girl Scout trophy on skis, depending on the scout you ask. “It was the first thing I thought of,” said Haley Meyer, 8, a student at Wadsworth Elementary School in Griffith, who called it a submarine. Meyer said the straws placed at the bottom of the cup looked like skis, the middle portion looked like a person and the water bottle on top looked like a submarine. But Morgan Fornaciari, 8, a student at Hess Elementary in Hammond, thought it looked more like a skiing Girl Scout trophy. She added a breast cancer ribbon to the skier, among other decorative touches. They were assisted by Abby Frank, 7, Justine Bohn, 9, and Aylona Hillard, 7, all students at Wadsworth Elementary, and NIPSCO engineer Natalie Conlon. At another table, NIPSCO engineer Kelly Hays watched as Emma Waller, 9, and sister Claire Waller, 6, of Lake Prairie Elementary School in Lowell, took over their project. “I’ve done very little,” Hays said as the Waller pointed out the pipe cleaner antenna on top, along with the arms and hands. Another group decorated their project with hearts and diamonds, and another took on a more difficult task, making a cooling tower and generator like the ones NIPSCO has. The water bottle was the generator and the cup filled with Kisses was the cooling tower. Following the assignment, the scouts toured NIPSCO’s electric and natural gas dispatching centers, had a hands-on demonstration on electric generation with a hand crank, saw parts used in generating systems and listened as some female engineers at NIPSCO talked about what they do and how they decided to become engineers. “This gives (the girls) a chance to invent something, to see if they have an interest in engineering or technology,” said NiSource’s Violet Sistovaris of the first-time event. Vicki King, director of new business ventures and alliances with the Girl Scouts, said the participating scouts primarily included local troops’ Science, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) teams and Lego Robotics teams. “Everything here is experiential. This is not school. It’s fun, but it sparks their interest at the same time,” King said. She believes girls who get engaged in engineering at a young age tend to continue to like engineering as the become adults. To that end, the Girl Scouts are planning to lower the age at which scouts can get involved in STEM to 5 from the current age 9.	193,033
"About a third of auto loans for new vehicles taken in the first half of 2019 had terms of longer than six years, according to credit-reporting firm Experian PLC. A decade ago, that number was less than 10%." Availability of longer term loans don't just provide a flexible option for buyers, they may also entice buyers to purchase cars outside of their big-picture means by acquiring long term debt on depreciating assets. Large spends on products and services with negative returns mirrors the root risk of students assuming large sums of college debt for degrees that may not result in lucrative careers. Both auto and student loans are thought to be at risk of "bubbles" that could have a serious impact on the American economy. It will be interesting to see if the CFPB eventually views these longer car loans as "predatory," not dissimilar to some early 2000's mortgage practices. See subprime loans targeting those with poor credit history who may be more likely to take on extended terms. Predatory lending is any lending practice that imposes unfair or abusive loan terms on a borrower. It is also any practice that convinces a borrower to accept unfair terms through deceptive, coercive, exploitative or unscrupulous actions for a loan that a borrower doesn't need, doesn't want or can't afford. Car loans that are increasingly stretched out are a pronounced sign that some American middle class buyers can’t afford a middle-class lifestyle. Incomes have risen at a sluggish pace in the past decade, but car prices have grown rapidly. New technological and safety features, such as larger and more sophisticated multimedia displays, have made even the most basic cars more expensive. U.S. consumers have also veered toward pricier rides such as sport-utility vehicles that tend to dominate auto showrooms. The result is that consumers are seeking bigger loans than ever to purchase a car.	14,729
“The Gastronomical Me,” by M.F.K. Fisher. North Point Press Does each one of us have a personal madeleine, waiting to be discovered? There is so much good writing out there about food that it's easy to take for granted the ability of a hot fried oyster or a creamy slice of buttermilk pie to suck us into the vortex of memory. So an eater can be forgiven for feeling insecure if she has not found her personal madeleine. The emotional pull that food has over us is such an established truism that every bowl of tired pasta seems as though it has the potential to be a life-changing event. But it was not always so. The Puritan streak that animated early American life looked askance at too much enjoyment of food, which could be taken as gluttony. The whole of the first Thanksgiving gets little more than a sentence in a first-hand account of the Pilgrims, which says simply, “For three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation.” With a few notable exceptions (Thomas Jefferson and Mark Twain, for example), not many Americans devoted themselves to waxing rhapsodic about creamed onions or roast mutton. Cookbooks were straightforward affairs, and most home cooks focused on stretching their food dollar as far as possible. Enter M.F.K. Fisher, née Mary Frances Kennedy. In 1929, she fled her family home in California for France with her first husband, and spent the next few years discovering a culture that proudly embraced a more epicurean tradition. All the while, she was learning to combine a growing love of food with a passion for writing. The beautiful, impetuous Fisher was drinking sherry, learning French, and eating everything from snails to soufflés to potato chips “fried in real butter.” And she was taking notes. Her books eschewed page after page of recipes in favor of an amalgam of memoir, travelogue, essay and of course, food writing. In his 1942 review of Fisher's “How to Cook a Wolf,” The New York Times' Orville Prescott noted that cookbook writers were not known for their writing talents, “. . . until a knowing lady who signs herself austerely M. F. K. Fisher began conducting her one-woman revolution in the field of literary cookery.” For M.F.K. Fisher, food is not just evocative; it is a unique language she wields to explain subtleties glossed over by the written word. The following year, Fisher published “The Gastronomical Me,” which celebrates its 70th anniversary this month. The collection of essays, which stretches from her childhood to her life in France, the beginning of World War II, the dissolution of her first marriage and the death of her second husband, marked Fisher's emergence as one of the great voices of her time. It is telling that Fisher, who wrote so hedonically of food, so often chose to discuss hunger in these pages. The book is not about dumb indulgence but the constant roving of human appetites, be they for love, power, money or food. She relates a train trip with an uncle while she was still an adolescent, when her teen-age habit of blithely ignoring the menu was finally quashed by a stern look. “I looked at the menu, really looked with all my brain, for the first time,” she writes, and then orders her iced consommé and sweetbreads sous cloche with determination and poise. We are all hungry, she tells us, but we must remember to make choices, not drift to whatever is at hand. Our hunger unites us; our choices, in restaurants and in life, make us individuals. Fisher's sensual accounts of the connection between food and emotional inner lives severed food writing from kitchen drudgery. She begins another essay with an account of her landlords in France, a family with which she and her first husband boarded. But she interrupts herself from a straightforwardly gastronomic account, describing the “cold meats and salads and chilled fruits in wine and cream . . .” only to stop herself and realize, “When I think of all that, it is the people I see. My mind is filled with wonderment at them as they were then, and with dread and a deep wish that they are now past hunger. They were so unthinking, so generous, so stupid.” The reader travels with her from a jolly 1930s French kitchen to the desolate aftermath of World War II. For Fisher, food is not just evocative; it is a unique language she wields to explain subtleties glossed over by the written word. Despite critical acclaim (W.H. Auden once declared her America's best prose writer), “she never sold more than a few thousand books,” Judith Jones, one of her editors, said of her early career. Fisher herself felt that she was initially dismissed as a writer on the grounds that “it was woman's stuff, a trifle.” For decades her books sometimes went out of print, but the 2004 re-release of “The Art of Eating,” a compilation of her best-known work, including “The Gastronomical Me,” helped to introduce her work to a new generation of readers. She is the subject of a few biographies but remains slightly outside of the mainstream zeitgeist while claiming an expanding group of followers, including Ruth Reichl, former New York Times food critic and author of the memoirs “Tender at the Bone” and “Comfort Me With Apples,” who said that “growing up in the 1950s, if you wanted to read this kind of stuff about food, there wasn't anybody else.” Fisher wrote “The Gastronomical Me” at a whirlwind pace; she claimed afterward that it was written in 10 weeks. It was not as though she had nothing else on her mind. The love of Fisher's life, Tim Parrish, had shot himself almost exactly two years earlier, after years of a debilitating, painful illness that required the amputation of one leg. More pressingly, she was pregnant and unmarried, still scandalous in 1943. After telling friends and relatives she was on a classified government assignment, she withdrew to Altadena, Calif., where both the baby and the manuscript gestated. She finished the book in July, just after her 35th birthday. The baby, Anne Kennedy Parrish, was born in August. She never revealed the father. “The Gastronomical Me” covers some of the dramatic highlights of her life, but this is no gushing tell-all. Her authorial persona is eccentric at times, but dignified and intelligent. Her first husband is represented in the book but entirely eclipsed as a central player by her second, Parrish, called Chexbres on the page. She's deliberately ambiguous about when one relationship ended and the second began. Her biographer, Joan Reardon, once complained, “On the one hand, [Fisher] tells all — kind of a confessional element. On the other hand there are whole gaps, there is a lot of subterfuge.” But few people read literary memoirs for strict devotion to chronology or unalloyed truth. Fisher's accounts of her anxiety and melancholy in pre-war Europe, her heartbreak at watching the death of her true love, ring true, 70 years later. In the preface to Gastronomical Me, Fisher wrote: Like most other humans, I am hungry . . . it seems to me that our three basic needs, for food and security and love, are so mixed and mingled and entwined that we cannot straightly think of one without the others. So it happens that when I write of hunger, I am really writing about love and the hunger for it. “The Gastronomical Me,” by M.F.K. Fisher. North Point Press.	208,543
Established in 1850, named for the large round rock in the bed of Brushy Creek. Site of the historic St. Charles Hotel, which was built in 1850. Best known as the site of the killing of notorious outlaw Sam Bass, whom is now buried in Round Rock Cemetery. Basss gang plagued stagecoaches, trains and banks in the area and was the object of an intensive chase by the Texas Rangers. An informer warned the Rangers and Round Rock lawmen of a planned raid on a local bank. The Bass gang was ambushed there on July 18th., 1878. Wounded in the gun battle, Bass died two days later. Palm House Museum & Visitor Center - Restored home of founding family with authentic furnishings and elegant parlor. Moved to its present location in 1976, this home features exhibits on Round Rock history and its Swedish roots. 212 East Main Street. Open Daily. Call (512) 255-5805 The Purple Sage Elementary School- Wonderful poems and stories from the local students	31,692
Prime Minister Naoto Kan instructed Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato on Wednesday to tell local people not to eat certain leafy vegetables, including spinach, cabbage and broccoli harvested from Fukushima Prefecture, after finding radioactive materials well beyond the legal limit. In addition, shipments of milk and parsley from Ibaraki Prefecture as well as vegetables from Fukushima were also suspended. But government officials once again stressed there were no immediate health risks and the orders were given as “precautionary” measures. “Even if people have already consumed (the listed vegetables or milk from Fukushima and Ibaraki), their health will not be endangered,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano. “But we gave these orders . . . as precautionary measures from early on as the current situation, unfortunately, is expected to extend over a long period of time.” According to the health ministry, out of 35 sampled vegetables, 25 exceeded the government’s limit of cesium of 500 becquerels per kilogram and 21 exceeded the iodine limit of 2,000 becquerels. The highest amount of cesium was found in “kukitachina,” a vegetable, with a total of 82,000 becquerels, 164 times the legal limit. Edano, however, said that even if someone were to eat radioactive kukitachina for 10 days in a row, the total amount of radioactive material consumed would be half of what a person is exposed to in the natural environment in a year and would pose no future health risks. Under the new orders, people are urged not to eat spinach, “komatsuna” mustard plant, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower from Fukushima. Shipments of such vegetables and turnips have been halted “for a while.” Other examples of vegetables found to be over the legal limit included broccoli, with 17,000 becquerels of iodine and 13,900 becquerels of cesium and cabbage with 5,200 becquerels of iodine and 2,600 becquerels of cesium. Both were from Fukushima. Edano said that while the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (JA Zennou) had stopped shipments of all outside-grown vegetables from Fukushima since Monday, some may have been distributed outside the JA network. The government had Sunday suspended shipments of spinach and and “kakina,” another leafy vegetable, from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma prefectures. Milk from Fukushima was also suspended the same day. But this is the first time since the damage at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant that people have been asked not to eat certain items. “Higher levels (of radioactive material) have been found since we halted shipments and . . . the possibility of risks has increased,” Edano said. “Therefore, we consider it advisable as a precaution for people not only to avoid shipping but also consuming” these items.	224,222
There is something endlessly alluring about a port town, the yearning to connect with far-away places is played out through ships coming and going in the harbour, while exotic spices and tastes bring foreign cultures into everyday proximity. The Greeks landed here in 600 BC and started trading in the natural harbor; it was an important Roman Empire hub and held a strategic position in the French Empire, until steam took over from sail and eventually the port was obliterated in WWII during the Battle of Marseille. The city was also an entrance point for newly independent Algerian immigrants and settlers from the 1950s, creating a vibrant French-African quarter. The port of Marseille has a rich artistic tradition, the special light created by the Mistral wind making it a favourite haunt for artists including Renoir, Cézanne, and Braque. The main street leading to the old port, the Canebière is named after the cannabis (hemp) grown in town for nautical rope; while the Frioul archipelago in the Bay of Marseille is a famous location in the novel “The Count of Monte Cristo”. Marseille's many theatres include la Criée, le Gymnase, Théâtre Toursky, while the Arts centre La Friche is housed in a former match factory. The Marseille Vieux Port, or Old Port is the city hub, offering a rich and lively contemporary cultural scene, recognised in the designation of Marseille as European Capital of Culture 2013, alongside Kosice in Slovakia. The new Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilization (MUCEM) is currently being built on the Vieux Port, along with the Centre Régional de le Mediterranée (CeReM ) exhibition space and auditorium built along the sea front between the Fort Saint Jean and La Major Cathedral, and Le Silo, a new concert arena in a converted silo on the docks. The city plans for 2013 include hundreds of cultural and artistic events from circuses, exhibitions, street entertainment, fireworks, open air concerts, street food, art and cultural activities from around Europe and the Mediterranean. Visit Marseille any time for a cultural experience not to be missed!	269,850
After state officials booted 17,000 people off Basic Health in cost-saving move this year, a federal judge has ordered the state to invite 11,000 of them to rejoin the subsidized health-care program. In a ruling Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge James Robart said the state had violated constitutional and due-process rights when it kicked thousands of legal immigrants off Basic Health in March. To help fill a $367 million deficit, the state had deemed large categories of people as ineligible for the program, including kids, seniors and legal immigrants who hadn’t lived in the country for at least five years. Shrinking Basic Health saved $9.8 million. But advocates filed a class-action lawsuit in April, saying the removal of some immigrants while serving other immigrants and citizens violated the Constitution’s “Equal Protection Clause.” The complaint also said the ejection process, rushed to meet a budget deadline, violated due process. The state had mailed out confusing and incomplete disenrollment notices that gave people just 10 days to prove legal residency before getting the boot, advocates said. “We are very pleased with the court’s ruling, which restores health coverage to many deserving Washington residents who lost it March 1st,” said Blake Marks-Dias, an attorney who represented the plaintiffs, in a statement Wednesday. The potential financial impact to the state was not immediately clear. “I don’t think we know,” Sharon Michael, a spokeswoman for the state’s Health Care Authority. The plaintiffs included a woman named Rattiya Unthaksinkun, a low-income Snohomish County woman diagnosed with breast cancer. She had been in the country legally for four years when she lost coverage. Robart ordered the state to send re-enrollment letters to people by November 3. Michael said people must pay premiums by Nov. 21 for December coverage. People can also re-enroll retroactively through September. But Basic Health may not be around much longer. With the state facing a $2 billion shortfall, the program is once again the chopping block.	104,073
Zain, R. B. and Roswati, N. and Ismail, K. (1989) Radiographic evaluation of lesion sizes of histologically diagnosed periapical cysts and granulomas. Annals of dentistry, 48 (2). 3-5, 46. ISSN 0003-4770 A total of 149 periapical lesions were classified histologically into cysts, granulomas and other lesions. It was found that 53 were cysts, 39 were granulomas and 8 were other lesions. Of the 149 periapical lesions classified, 69 selected cases of cysts and granulomas were obtained and radiographic measurements of area (mm2), largest diameter (mm) and largest root-to-border distance (mm) were recorded. It was found that there is an apparent increase in cystic prevalence with an increase in the area, largest diameter or largest length of the periapical lesions radiographically. A cystic prevalence of 92-100 is observed with a radiographic area of greater than 200 mm2, a radiographic distance and diameter of greater than 20 mm. \|Uncontrolled Keywords:\|\|Evaluation Studies; Human; Methods; Periapical Granuloma; Prevalence; Radicular Cyst\| \|Subjects:\|\|Medicine and Dentistry\| \|Depositing User:\|\|Prof. Dr. Rosnah Mohd Zain\| \|Date Deposited:\|\|08 Feb 2012 08:17\| \|Last Modified:\|\|08 Feb 2012 08:17\| Actions (login required)	184,073
Chronic fatigue is characterized by extreme tiredness, often with no clear cause. Further compounding the problem, there is no single test that can be used to diagnose the disorder. Unfortunately, many patients are turned away by their doctors due to the complexity in treating fatigue and lack of treatment options in western medicine. The largest problem with treating chronic fatigue is that it could be a symptom of another disorder, thus requiring extensive testing in order to find the cause. Most physicians do not understand this and fail to order the necessary testing for their patients. Fatigue is Complicated, But Not Impossible to Treat Just to show how complex fatigue is, these are just a few of the possible causes of your constant sleepiness: - >Toxins / environmental pollution - Genetic / Methylation problems - >Hormone issues - Autoimmune disease - Nutritional deficiencies - Mental illness including neurotransmitter issues As you can see, chronic fatigue is complicated and the solution isn’t to just “get more sleep” or “drink caffeine”, as some medical professionals have said. Because the causes vary, so will the treatment. However, most treatment plans will include dietary changes, supplements, and exercise. Remember – you don’t have to be stuck half-awake forever. You can experience the joys of an energy-filled life. If you’re experiencing an excessive lack of energy, seek out a chronic fatigue doctor for help.	231,131
While most students, staff, and faculty are preparing and/or cramming for Finals Week here at JSRCC, there is currently an even more epic struggle unfolding on television. The final season of LOST is playing out on millions of screens across the world and, as it does, fans in online communities theorize over the meaning of the island’s mysteries and the intertwined lives of its inhabitants. Will the Smoke Monster succeed in his plan to escape his bonds on the Island? Will the Losties manage to survive the showdown and ultimately realize their destiny? Is the fate of humanity as we know it hanging in the balance? How can I possibly concentrate on my studies when these questions are being answered at 9pm every Tuesday? Now I know what you’re thinking. Is a librarian really advocating for a television show rather than fighting the good fight for books and literacy? The answer is this: I’m doing both. The intricate themes, in-depth character development, and complex plot construction on LOST have been praised by critics and audiences alike as some of the best writing ever seen on television. Many fans attribute this phenomenon not only to the talents of the writers tasked with the job, but furthermore to the very literariness of the show itself. Hardcore LOST fans have identified over ninety works of literature referenced within the show. Some of these books can be found strategically placed in the background of a scene, others are conspicuously read by characters, and many have direct connections to the overarching themes found within the show. Here are just a few of the titles: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce In this Civil War-era short story, a man waits to be hanged at the titular bridge by two soldiers. In the moments before the man’s death, time seems to distort and slow down, and he considers the possibility of escape if the rope were to snap. The reader is drawn into the man’s past by way of a flashback that is eventually broken by the snapping rope and the man’s apparent escape. He makes his way back to his wife and attempts to embrace her, but before he can, he is enveloped in a blinding white light. In the end, the man is revealed dead at the end of his noose, all of the action having taken place in his mind in the mere seconds before his death. Is everything occurring on the island simply a hallucinatory dream? Are the Losties themselves already dead? Theories abound folks! Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor The collection’s stories are generally in the style of O’Connor’s Southern Gothic, portraying grotesque characters and problematised familial relationships. Furthermore, they function as an examination of the role of religion in the internal and interpersonal lives of her characters. These are, of course, major tropes in the Lost series. Jacob, the seemingly omnipresent “protector” of the island is seen reading this book just as John Locke falls to his possible death from a hospital window. The title of the story collection is taken from a work by the French philosopher Pierre Teilhard De Chardin titled the “Omega Point”: “Remain true to yourself, but move ever upward toward greater consciousness and greater love! At the summit you will find yourselves united with all those who, from every direction, have made the same ascent. For everything that rises must converge.” Lord of the Flies by William Golding An allegory in the form of a novel, Lord of the Flies details the struggle of a group of schoolboys to establish a stable society after being stranded on an island. Before long, their makeshift world self-destructs and the savage side of human nature overshadows reason, accountability and human empathy. The central conflict in the book is the growing ideological gap between Ralph, the rational and moral leader who wants to establish order, and Jack, who demands a hedonistic, animalistic anarchy. The book is referenced a number of times throughout the series and shares a number of LOST themes including the ideological struggle between the Man in Black and Jacob, an unseen amorphous monster, and the premonitory power of dreams and visions. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller Set during WWII, Catch 22 was written by Heller as a satirical take on both the complexity and absurdity of conflict. A significant aspect of the novel is its structure. The plot is cyclical and non-linear in design, made up of flashbacks within flashbacks within flashbacks. In fact, there is no clear distinction between what is happening in “real-time” and what has already happened in the past. In many ways, Heller suggests that events in the present, past, and future are deeply interconnected in ways that are not often easy to see. Catch 22 can be seen in at least two LOST episodes, but its narrative structure mirrors the show’s proclivity for flashbacks, flashforwards, and even flashsideways. Oftentimes the audience is left to decipher what is happening to who and when. Heller’s focus on conflict mirrors the struggles of the Losties, their collective histories, and ultimately their connected destinies. As LOST’s Man in Black says, “They come. They fight. They destroy. They corrupt. It always ends the same.” Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck This novella is set in California during the Depression and focuses on the friendship shared between two men; George, a practical yet sensitive protagonist and Lennie, a mentally disabled but physically strong companion. The two men find themselves employed at a ranch, where they run into trouble as a result of Lennie’s slow wit, but continue to dream of a harmonious life unencumbered by the complexities of modern reality. The work is largely critical of dreams in general, as they function only as a temporary escape from the problems of the real. Steinbeck’s themes of fate, independence, and loneliness are on display in this work and mirror the Losties’ own evolution as characters who appear destined to reach their destination together, whether they want to or not. Furthermore, the two seemingly co-existing realities depicted in LOST’s final season suggest that one reality is simply not real. If you could choose to exist in reality or in a dream that wasn’t real, which would you choose? Perhaps the Losties will face a similar decision when they confront their destiny. As a reminder, all of the aforementioned books are available here, at your beloved JSRCC Library. If you’re interested, look them up in our online catalog, or simply ask your nearest library associate. And remember, there are plenty of good shows to “read” out there in televisionland, but the book is always better. Continue reading L O S T Books	149,660
By David Kelly, LATimes.com "We always knew we had a lot of pit bulls, but when we analyzed the data we saw that half our population was dominated by this breed," said Robert Miller, director of Riverside County Department of Animal Services "I don't want Frankie to have a lot of puppies who then wind up in dysfunctional homes," Hernandez said. Like many pit bull owners, he blames the way a dog is raised and not the breed for its sometimes aggressive behavior. The pit bulls sprawled around the Riverside County Animal Control office this week were an unusually tranquil lot -- more fluffy the cat than hound from hell. Each had been sedated before its turn on the operating table to get fixed, part of an ambitious project aimed at putting a dent in their exploding population here. "We always knew we had a lot of pit bulls, but when we analyzed the data we saw that half our population was dominated by this breed," said Robert Miller, director of Riverside County Department of Animal Services. "It's a problem born out of community decisions. Sometimes it's machismo or the dogs are highlighted in the latest rap video or some young men think it's cool to own them." Pit bulls have been responsible for a number of vicious attacks, including one Monday in which three children were badly mauled. The high-energy, powerfully built dogs can be difficult to handle. Males will leap 6-foot-high fences to mate with females, who can bear as many as 14 puppies. The result has been a pit bull boom. In 2008, Riverside County shelters euthanized 3,000 of them. That led Miller to launch the Pit Bull Project last month to try to stem the tide. Under the new program, county residents with a pit bull or pit bull mix can have it spayed or neutered for free, but must pay for a license and microchipping if they haven't already. So far more than 300 people have signed up and 60 dogs have undergone the free surgery. "Lots of people are calling but we don't have the staff to get back to all of them so we are asking them to be patient," said John Welsh, an animal control spokesman. "If you call, we will get back to you eventually." Welsh said most pit bulls in the shelters were found roaming the streets. "They languish and they are not adopted, not even those with the sweetest dispositions," he said. "The average person walks in and takes a look at the pit bull and says, 'That's a big dog,' and they have heard bad things about them so they go for the Labradoodle." The puppies are often sold at swap meets for as little as $20. "In my neighborhood, at the age of 12 or 13 it's almost a rite of passage to give a boy a pit bull," said Chris Alderson, a veterinary technician from Riverside who was prepping a woozy pit bull for surgery. "They buy it at the swap meet. Then the boy gets tired of it and ties it to a tree in the backyard." The Inland Empire is awash in dogs, many of them feral. In the Coachella Valley, thousands of ragged canines roam rural areas, especially Indian reservations where they scavenge for food and occasionally menace residents. Many are pit bulls or pit bull mixes. The dogs are often found in low-income areas, where many are used to guard people and property. A Fontana family walking to a park Monday was attacked by five dogs, including a pit bull and pit bull mixes, leaving 5-year-old Destiny Colon on life support at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Her two siblings were badly injured and required hundreds of stitches. Police had to shoot one pit bull at the scene. In January, 3-year-old Omar Martinez of Apple Valley boy was killed by the family's pit bull. And a Hemet woman, who was attacked along with her dog, recently asked the City Council there to ban the breed, as cities such as Denver have done. Last year, the city of Lancaster adopted an ordinance requiring owners of pit bulls, Rottweilers and mixes of the two to have the dogs spayed or neutered. "Pit bulls are a macho dog," said Cynthia Comer, operations chief for Riverside County animal services. "They can be trained to be quite aggressive. Most are very friendly toward people, but they are a pack animal. If you get two or three together and one is aggressive the others will jump in with it." Dr. Terry Maltz was busy in animal control's operating room doing his bit to change that behavior. He was working on his eighth dog of the morning: a pit bull on its back, a ventilator in its mouth, its legs curled. "There are multitudes of advantages to this and almost no disadvantages," he said. "It makes them less aggressive and less likely to roam. I don't think they are any more difficult to manage than any other large breed. The ones with the temperament problems are the ones that are tied up all day." George Hernandez and girlfriend Charlene Holt of Riverside brought their dog, Frankie, in for spaying. "I don't want Frankie to have a lot of puppies who then wind up in dysfunctional homes," Hernandez said. Like many pit bull owners, he blames the way a dog is raised and not the breed for its sometimes aggressive behavior. "She gets along great with kids and I have a 3- and 7-year old," he said. "Besides chewing on the table leg, she's awesome." Any Riverside County resident interested in getting a pit bull sterilized can call 951-358-7387 or 951-358-7135.	260,470
Notes for Sarah Esling:\| Esling, the maiden name of Sarah Fonde, was found in the marriage records of Christ Church, (now known as St. Peter's, Episcopal) Philadelphia. We have copies of a letter written to Sarah by Andre after he had arrived in New Orleans while she was still in Philadelphia. The letter was written in French which leads me to believe that Sarah spoke French even though her name appears likely to be German. This may mean that she was Swiss (where both German and French is spoken) or Belgian (where Flemish and French are spoken). She may also have been married before and Esling could be the name of her first husband. Until I know otherwise, however, I will consider it her maiden name. The information from Christ Church was sent to me by my cousin David Fonde and is also found in "Record of Pennsylvania Marriages, Prior to 1810, Vol. 1, p. 92 and p. 83" originally published in volume VIII of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives. \|8\|\|i.\|\|John Philip Fonde, born Abt. 1795 in Philadelphia, PA; died Dec 13, 1831 in at sea between Baltimore and New Orleans, (ship Alfred) of illness or duel; married Elizabeth Stewart Mar 9, 1820 in Washington, D.C..\| \|ii.\|\|Charles Fonde, born Feb 22, 1798 in Philadelphia, PA; died May 15, 1849 in New Orleans, LA.\| Notes for Charles Fonde:\| Charles Fonde was baptised July 20, 1798, at Christ Church, Philadelphia (Episcopal). It was Charles who wrote the letter to Elizabeth Stewart Fonde in 1831 informing her of her husband's death (John Philip). And I believe that Charles was the uncle (or relative) who C.H. Fonde went to see in New Orleans when he was a young man, after the death of his father. C.H. Fonde recorded the date of death of this uncle in his family Bible. \|iii.\|\|Calipso Fonde, born Abt. 1799 in Philadelphia, PA; died Jul 1803 in Philadelphia, PA.\| Notes for Calipso Fonde:\| There is a record of the burial of Calipso, daughter of Mr. Fondy, in July 1803, at Christ Church Philadelphia. The 1800 census for Pennsylvania has an Andrew Fonday (who I believe to be Andre Fonde) living in Philadelphia with 2 sons under 10, and 1 daughter under 10. Calipso may be this daughter, which would put her birth in or before 1800. It is also possible that she was born and died in the same year, 1803 and that the daughter under age 10 is another unrecorded child. The only confirmed birth date before 1800 for Andre and Sarah's children, based on records from Christ Church, Philadelphia, is for Charles, born and baptised in 1798. The death notice for John P. Fonde in the National Intelligencer indicates that his year of birth was probably 1795. \|iv.\|\|Andrew Fonde, born Bef. Oct 7, 1801 in Philadelphia, PA; died Bef. Oct 7, 1801 in Philadelphia, PA.\| Notes for Andrew Fonde:\| There is a burial record for Andrew Fondy on Oct 7, 1801, in Christ Church, Philadelphia records. Since there is also a baptism record of an Andrew Fonde in 1806 at the same church, it is likely that this Andrew was the first son of this name, (named for his father, of course). When this first Andrew died, the next son born was also named Andrew (in 1806). Another possibility is that the burial record from Christ Church Episcopal, (which is extracted from handwritten records) was misread, and the year of burial is actually after the recorded year of birth and baptism, possibly 1807. This would mean that there was only one Andrew Fonde, not two, as I have recorded here. \|v.\|\|Harriette Fonde, born May 11, 1804.\| Notes for Harriette Fonde:\| Harriet Fondy was baptised at Christ Church (Episcopal), Philadelphia on June 6 or 8, 1804. \|vi.\|\|Andrew Fonde, born Jul 11, 1806 in Philadelphia, PA.\| Notes for Andrew Fonde:\| Andrew Fonde was baptised at Christ Church (Episcopal), Philadelphia, on August 8, 1806. \|vii.\|\|Henry Fonde, born Abt. 1808 in Philadelphia, PA; died Apr 6, 1827 in New Orleans, LA.\| Notes for Henry Fonde:\| Among the Fonde papers gathered by Dorothy Fonde there is a handwritten poem "On the Death of Henry Fonde". It may have been written by John Philip Fonde (or another Fonde sibling) on the death of this younger brother Henry. The year of birth for Henry was not known (his baptism is not recorded at Christ Church) until the newspaper record of his death was found. This gives his age as 19 when he died in 1827, so he would have been born in 1808. We knew there was a son named Henry from the evidence of the poem on his death, and from silhouettes of the Fonde children which Aunt Dot copied. One is labeled Henry, one Charles, one Harriet, and one Andrew. The silhouette labeled Henry looked older than the one for Andrew or Harriet so I had guessed that he was born in 1802. The poem on his death indicated that Henry died and was buried in New Orleans. If the poem is written by John P. Fonde as supposed, we estimated that Henry's death was before December 1831, when John P. died. Nov 12, 1998: From CD210 NGS Quarterly, Disk 1, Vol. 46, Vital Statistics from the National Intelligencer 1827: Fonde, Henry, youngest son of Andrew Fonde, Sr., aged 19 years, died at New Orleans 6 Apr. (12 May). This information indicates that Henry Fonde was born in 1808 not 1802 as I had originally surmised. And that he died in 1827. \|viii.\|\|Mary Ann Fonde, born Apr 14, 1810 in Philadelphia, PA; died Unknown.\| Notes for Mary Ann Fonde:\| Mary Ann Fonde was baptised at Christ Church, Philadelphia, on June 13, 1810. This may be the "Aunt Mary" that Elizabeth McClester Fonde referred to in one of her letters to Charles Henry Fonde (son of John P. Fonde). She may be the mother of Camilla Welch who became the second wife of Charles Henry Fonde. Camilla was mentioned in the same letter as "Aunt Mary". (Look for marriage records between Fonde and Welch, possibly in Louisiana where Andre and Sarah Fonde died). \|i.\|\|Mary Stewart, born 1790; died Jul 2, 1851; married (1) John Fleury 1807; died Bef. 1817; married (2) Edward Owen Nov 12, 1817 in London, England; born Abt. 1793 in Wales.\| \|ii.\|\|Samuel Stewart, born Abt. 1792.\| \|iii.\|\|John Stewart, born Abt. 1794.\| \|9\|\|iv.\|\|Elizabeth Stewart, born Abt. 1796 in Scotland or Ireland; died Oct 2, 1856 in Mobile, AL; married John Philip Fonde Mar 9, 1820 in Washington, D.C..\| \|v.\|\|William Stewart, born Abt. 1798.\| \|vi.\|\|Hamilton Stewart, born 1801; died Unknown; married John Guzman Sep 19, 1849 in New Orleans, LA; born 1792; died Sep 15, 1858 in Bonfuca, St. Tammany Parish, LA.\| Notes for Hamilton Stewart:\| She was known as Aunt Hammie and was supposed to have been named after Lord Nelson's love, Lady Hamilton. Her father was supposed to have fought with Lord Nelson, been captured and given up for dead. When he returned this daughter was born. Her year of birth is not certain since there is a record that she married in 1849 and had two sons. If she were 48 (born 1801) at the time of her marriage I don't think this would have been very likely, although it is possible. Another possibility is that her husband had married before and already had the two children when he married Hamilton. She may have been their stepmother. Notes for Mary Deas:\| When widowed, Mary Deas moved into Charleston and lived with her daughter Anna Caroline (Mrs. Thomas Lesesne) where she survived the Captain by 60 years. She was affectionately known as "Greatie". The Federal Government approved a pension of $480/year on 6/22/1840, making it retroactive to 1831 because of his Revolutionary War service. She is buried in St. Philip's Churchyard in Charleston. Her family home was Thorowgood Plantation. \|i.\|\|Robert Broun, born Dec 23, 1781; died 1809; married Harriet Singleton 1804; born Mar 13, 1779; died Jun 2, 1817.\| \|ii.\|\|Elizabeth Allen Broun, born Mar 17, 1783; died Jun 3, 1821; married William Sinkler.\| \|iii.\|\|Anna Caroline Broun, born Dec 22, 1786; died May 18, 1874; married Thomas Lesesne Oct 5, 1804.\| \|iv.\|\|Mary Deas Broun, born Apr 26, 1789.\| \|v.\|\|Harriet Broun, born Dec 19, 1791.\| \|vi.\|\|John Deas Broun, born Jul 13, 1793.\| \|12\|\|vii.\|\|Archibald Broun, Jr., born Nov 7, 1795 in Charleston, S.C.; died Aug 17, 1863 in Mobile, AL; married Ann Harleston Dec 15, 1818 in Mobile, AL.\| \|i.\|\|James Burn Harleston, born Jul 5, 1795; died Sep 21, 1828.\| \|13\|\|ii.\|\|Ann Harleston, born Jan 3, 1797 in Charleston, S.C.; died Jan 5, 1860 in Mobile, AL; married Archibald Broun, Jr. Dec 15, 1818 in Mobile, AL.\| \|iii.\|\|Susan Somers Harleston, born Jul 20, 1798; died Jul 21, 1850.\| \|iv.\|\|Nicholas Harleston V, born Feb 27, 1800; died Nov 28, 1853.\| \|v.\|\|Elizabeth Harleston, born Dec 4, 1801; died Apr 2, 1890.\| \|vi.\|\|John Ashby Harleston, born Feb 28, 1804; died 1833.\| \|vii.\|\|Mary Deas Harleston, born Dec 29, 1805; died Nov 16, 1813.\| \|viii.\|\|Somers Harleston, born Dec 30, 1807; died Jan 19, 1876.\| \|ix.\|\|Ashby Harleston, born Apr 5, 1810; died Nov 1, 1813.\| \|x.\|\|Olney Harleston, born Apr 14, 1814.\| Notes for Nancy Eddins:\| After the death of her first husband, Wesley Reynolds, Nancy Eddins Reynolds moved to McMinnville, TN, with her three children. She later married Marcus Stroud and had two more children. \|14\|\|iii.\|\|Elisha Reynolds, born Aug 2, 1816 in Wilkes Co. N.C.; died 1872 in Shelby Co., AL; married Nancy Petty Mar 5, 1835 in Warren Co., TN.\| \|© 2009 Ancestry.com\|	299,510
Ever since I was a wee lad, I've been interested in astronomy. I've also been a long-time reader of the Astronomy Picture of the Day site (APOD), which has hundreds of interesting and informative pages about various subjects in astronomy. (To see the full archive going back to June 1995, visit the index page.) However, APOD doesn't have an RSS feed, and the index page is text-only, so it isn't easy to browse through APOD to find an interesting picture. That's where the gadget comes in! The sidebar gadget presented in this article lets you easily browse through APOD pages, and shows a thumbnail of each day's picture. Installing and Using the Gadget When you download the source code from the link at the top of the article, you'll see the APODViewer.gadget file in the root of the zip file. Double-click this file and click Install at the prompt to install the gadget. This will automatically add the APOD gadget to the Sidebar, however there is one manual step you need to The gadget installation procedure cannot register DLLs. The APOD viewer uses an ActiveX control in a DLL, so the gadget won't work until the DLL is registered. Follow these steps to register the DLL: - Remove the APOD Viewer gadget from the Sidebar so it gets unloaded. - Open an elevated command prompt. - Navigate to this directory: - Run the command regsvr32 apodhelper.dll to register the DLL. Once the DLL is registered, the gadget will be fully functional. You can add it back to the Sidebar using the Add Gadgets dialog. In this screen shot, the APOD gadget is in the top-left: The gadget will then run and show the APOD page for the current date. Here is the gadget showing the APOD picture for January 29: The four links at the top of the window change the APOD page. The left-arrow and right-arrow buttons move one day backward and forward, respectively. Click the Today link to return to the APOD page for the current date, and click Random to jump to a random APOD page. Clicking the date below the links brings up a date picker, where you can jump to any date between 1995 and the present: A new feature for version 1.1 is the search field. You can enter keywords in the edit box, and click the OK button to search the APOD site for those words. When you click OK, the flyout window closes and the gadget opens a new browser window that shows the search results. The bottom part of the gadget shows the title of the APOD page, along with a thumbnail of that day's picture. Click the title to open the APOD page in a new browser window, and click the thumbnail to jump directly to the If you browse to a date for which there is no APOD, the gadget will display an error message saying that no APOD page is available. Another new feature in version 1.1 is a slide show mode, where the gadget changes to a random APOD page every so often. To turn on slide show mode, click the options button next to the gadget window (the one that looks like a little wrench) to open the options dialog: Check the View random APOD pages box to enable slide show mode. You can also change the interval at which the picture changes; the choices range from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. How the Gadget Works Since the APOD site doesn't have an RSS feed, the gadget has to scrape the web pages and extract the information in C++ and packaged in an ActiveX control. The ActiveX control is initialized in the function in APODViewer.js, which is called when the gadget is loaded: g_helper = new ActiveXObject("MDunn.APODViewer.Helper"); if ( g_helper ) g_helper.SetGadgetPath ( System.Gadget.path ); As one of the initialization steps, gadget_init() tells the ActiveX object what directory it can create temporary files in by passing the predefined variable System.Gadget.path to the object's Getting APOD Info When you change the date in the gadget, the gadget tells the ActiveX object what the new date is, then calls GetApodInfo() method. For example, clicking the Today button runs this script: if ( g_helper ) datepicker.innerText = g_helper.CurrDateString; if ( g_helper.GetApodInfo() ) apodtitle.href = g_helper.ApodPageURL; apodtitle.innerText = g_helper.ApodPageTitle; apodimg.src = g_helper.SmallImgURL; apodimglink.href = g_helper.LargeImgURL; GetApodInfo() is responsible for downloading the APOD web page and caching the data that will be shown in the gadget. It begins by instantiating an HTML parser object and downloading the APOD page for the new date. The HTML is fed into the parser, and then the code iterates through all the links in the page. We're interested in the thumbnail, which is the first <a> tag that has a child If such a link is found, the code saves the href of the <a> tag (the URL to the full-size picture), and the src of the <img> tag (the smaller version of the picture). If those URLs are found, the code then reads the <title> from the HTML, which is shown in the gadget as the caption above the thumbnail. GetApodInfo() succeeds, the gadget reads the URLs and page title from properties exposed by the ActiveX object. For example, the LargeImgURL property is the URL to the full-size picture. These strings are assigned to the corresponding HTML elements in the gadget UI. The gadget relies on two details of the APOD site, both of which have been consistent over the years (and hopefully will remain that way!): - The URL for a given date must be: - The first link in an APOD page that has an <img> child tag must be the link to the full-size picture, and the child <img> must be the thumbnail. Files in the Gadget Directory If you browse to the APODViewer.gadget directory, you'll see all the files there unpacked from the original .gadget file. This section lists the contents of each directory, so you'll know what files are where if you want to look at the inner workings of the gadget. - root directory - APODViewer.js: Script that controls the main gadget UI - flyout.js: Script that controls the flyout page - options.js: Script that controls the options dialog - APODViewer.css: CSS file used by the main gadget UI - bin directory - APODHelper.dll: The ActiveX control used by the gadget - en-US directory - gadget.xml: This XML file describes the gadget, along with other info like the version number - APODViewer.html: The web page for the main gadget UI - flyout.html: The web page for the flyout - options.html: The web page for the options dialog - strings.js: This script file contains localizable strings - images directory - Various icons and images used in the gadget's web pages and the Add Gadgets dialog You might notice that the en-US directory is never referenced in the other files. This directory contains localizable resources, and Vista automatically searches it when looking for files. For example, this section of gadget.xml lists the web page for the main UI: <base type="HTML" apiVersion="1.0.0" src="APODViewer.html" /> <platform minPlatformVersion="1.0" /> src attribute in the <base> tag doesn't have a directory name, so Vista first looks in the gadget's root directory. Since APODViewer.html is not there, Vista then looks in en-US, and finds the file there. To localize the gadget into a new language, all that's required is to add a new language directory alongside en-US, and put the translated files in that directory. Building and Packaging the Gadget A .gadget file can be either a ZIP or a CAB file that contains all the files for the gadget. I chose to use a CAB for the demo download, since CABs can be digitally signed. This section lists the steps necessary to package the gadget into a CAB and sign it. - Set up all the gadget files in the APODViewer.gadget directory. - Build the DLL that contains the ActiveX control. Copy the DLL into the APODViewer.gadget\bin directory and register it there. - Open a command prompt and navigate to the APODViewer.gadget directory. cabarc -p -r -s 6144 n APODViewer.cab . (The -s switch reserves space in the CAB for a digital signature, you should omit this switch if you don't plan on signing the CAB.) - If you have a signing certificate, sign the CAB file. - Rename the CAB to have a .gadget extension. Then distribute the .gadget file! If you sign the file, the prompt will show the gadget name and the name of the company as listed in your signing certificate. The gadget file in the demo download is signed with my company's certificate, so our name appears in the prompt: See the resources section in the Gadgets Competition page "A Console Application HTML Parser Using Microsoft's XML Technologies" by Jeffrey Walton. Copyright and License This article is copyrighted material, ©2007 by Michael Dunn. I realize this isn't going to stop people from copying it all around the 'net, but I have to say it anyway. If you are interested in doing a translation of this article, please email me to let me know. I don't foresee denying anyone permission to do a translation, I would just like to be aware of the translation so I can post a link to it here. The demo code that accompanies this article is released to the public domain. I release it this way so that the code can benefit everyone. (I don't make the article itself public domain because having the article available only on CodeProject helps both my own visibility and the CodeProject site.) If you use the demo code in your own application, an email letting me know would be appreciated (just to satisfy my curiosity about whether folks are benefitting from my code) but is not required. Attribution in your own source code is also appreciated but not January 17, 2007: Article first published. January 29, 2007: Version 1.1 released, added search and random page viewing features.	10,645
We’re building excitement! Learn about the Indoor Activities Center Core Planning Group Orono Schools is committed to making its schools safe for students and staff. We work closely with national, state and local safety officials – including police, fire, emergency medical services and public health – to ensure that we are well prepared and that children are protected. We have a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan that helps our staff and our public safety partners respond swiftly should an emergency occur. Dear Parents and Community Members, Orono Schools is an organization dedicated to continuous improvement. Just as we will never become complacent with academic achievement, the same is true for campus security. We must continuously review and strengthen efforts in this area. All of our efforts can be organized into three areas of action: proactive, preventative and preparation. The first “P” brings me great pride and, frankly, is what distinguishes us from other districts. In many instances of school violence, you will read how a student had been bullied and eventually reacted in a violent way. By being proactive, we accomplish both the creation of safe and respectful learning environments and diminish the possibility of our students hurting others or themselves. Our anti-bullying initiative and character education program are at the foundation of being proactive. Certainly, issues still arise and, when they do, our staff members are trained and ready to help. On an ongoing basis, staff concentrates on cultivating trusting relationships with students. This allows students to come forward if they are troubled or helps our staff recognize when they are concerned by a student’s behavior and to address the issue(s) in a productive manner. We are also fortunate to have a full-time School Resource Office from the Orono Police Department, and have worked to build positive and productive working relationships with the Orono Police Department and West Hennepin Public Safety, as well as the Long Lake and Maple Plain fire departments. By employing Rapid Responder helps our public safety partners be even more effective in any type of emergency situation. The second “P” characterizes all of our efforts in preventing a crisis. Perhaps the most recognizable of these is the relocation of the main offices and, as a result, building access at Orono High School, Orono Intermediate School and Orono Schumann Elementary. We were able to accomplish these important changes during the renovations of each school. At Orono Middle School, a security system is now being used in the main entrance to achieve the same benefit. We never wish to be tested on the final “P” – preparation – but we have done our homework. Did you know that key staff members have studied with the Department of Homeland Security beside police chiefs and officers? Or that staff members have been trained in the same threat assessment techniques used by the United States Secret Service? We have both taken active roles in live crisis drills and worked through various threat scenarios in training sessions designed by Homeland Security, police and the FBI. The district has a well-developed plan with internal response teams assigned to specific responsibilities. All of these team members receive regular training. Each classroom and office has an Emergency Plan flip chart posted for quick reference. Students and staff engage in safety drills (fire, lockdown and tornado) throughout the school year. In addition, we have shared training with Wayzata Public Schools and local clergy members to increase our ability to respond in the event of a major crisis. All of the actions in these three steps have enhanced our capacity to protect everyone. But we also need your cooperation. Keeping students and staff safe is our highest priority and, as such, it goes beyond the scope of being “just” the responsibility of the schools and/or “just” the responsibility of the police. It is a community effort. We can always benefit from another set of eyes and ears working to keep our schools safe. If you see or hear anything that concerns you, report it immediately. Dr. Karen Orcutt, Superintendent of Schools Understandably, parents and guardians want assurances that personal information and data about their children are secure and protected by the district. These questions are rising as we use the Internet, mobile apps, cloud computing, online learning and other technology to deliver instruction in exciting new ways. In Orono, we strive to be clear about what data we collect, how data supports your child’s education and the safeguards in place to protect that data. For a quick understanding of our practices, view an infographic on our commitment to clear privacy practices. For the full School Board policy regarding protection and privacy of student records (512), please click here. Additional online resources:	210,247
Prostitution Pelacur Facts Malaysia October 18, 2006Posted by airforceone in Call Girl Malaysia, Massage Parlour Malaysia, pelacur, Prostitute Malaysia, Whore Malaysia. * In 1998, the Minister of National Unity and Social Development stated that 150 to 160 underage girls are detained each year for involvement in immoral activities and sent to rehabilitation centres. (US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1999) * An ILO study estimated that there were roughly 40,000 to 140,000 prostitutes in 1998. (US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1999) * Malaysia is a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking in women and girls for sexual exploitation. In 1998, the Deputy Home Minister stated that 2,250 foreign prostitutes had been arrested in Malaysia. (US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1999) * There are 43,000 to 142,000 or more prostituted persons in Malaysia. Prostituted persons are mainly adult women, but there are also male, transvestite and child prostitutes, both girls and boys. (CATW Fact Book, citing Dario Agnote “Sex trade key part of S.E. Asian economies, study says”, Kyodo News, 18 August 1998) * There are 142,000 women in prostitution in Malaysia, 8,000-10,000 in Kuala Lumpur. (CATW-Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific, 1996) * Girls are lured from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and south China for the sex markets in Thailand or to be diverted to Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. (“Human Trafficking: Gangs make Thailand a regional hub”, Bangkok Post, 6 September 2000, reprinted in Stop Trafficking Archive, September 2000) * NGOs and the media report that Indonesian women and girls are trafficked to Malaysia, Taiwan, and Japan as sex workers. (US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1999) * Police believe that the overwhelming number of prostitutes in the country are foreigners from Indonesia, the Philippines, Burma, Thailand, and China. These women often work as karaoke hostesses, guest relations officers, and masseuses. Russian women work in smaller numbers as prostitutes. (US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1999) * Malaysian women are trafficked for sexual purposes mostly to Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, but also to Japan, Australia, Canada, and the United States. (US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1999) * Child prostitution exists in the country. (US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1999) * Although statistics are not available, the incidence of child prostitution appears to have decreased in recent years. (EI Barometer, 1998) * Studies show that more than a half of those ‘rescued” from various sex establishments were under age 18. (CATW Fact Book, citing Dario Agnote, “Sex trade key part of S.E. Asian economies, study says”, Kyodo News, 18 August 1998) * Recreation business, such as entertainment and fitness clubs, are the main channels for prostitution. Almost every town has a red-light district. (CATW-Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific, 1996) * Malaysia is a destination for various nations’ sex tours. (CATW-Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific, 1996) * Thai and Filipino girls are trafficked into Malaysia for prostitution. (Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Action, The Flesh Trade Report, 1995-1996) A nice fact for 1998 from http://www.indianngos.com/issue/child/sexual/statistics/statistics22.htm Prostitute Pelacur Malaysia October 18, 2006Posted by airforceone in Call Girl Malaysia, pelacur, Prostitute Malaysia. How bad is Bad? Drop by any hotel, Take a look at the massage section, Give them a call, and you may get to choose! Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, White, Vietnamese and so forth (for further detail read my Human Traficking Industries Asia) Mama or Papa will definately send their chicks to your doorstep. Cool a great call for The Malaysian Tourism Department, maybe they can give additional boost if they advertise via their ads somthing like this “Visit Malaysia Get Laid! We have all the Female Prostitute in our Nation, enjoy and have a bang!” Sounds rude, but thats not bad enought, drop by the Bukit Bintang Walk or the Chow Kit area, open pimps will as you if you are looking for a quick fits. Open and friendly environment for Malaysia. An open yet shy trades! Oh My God! Crime In The Name of Timber? October 13, 2006Posted by airforceone in Green Peace Malaysia, Timber Crime Malaysia, Uncategorized. add a comment As a citizent of Malaysia we are lucky that we are protected by the Law of the Land. At least our lives meant something. A criminal may be brought to the face of Justice. Malaysia also present itself as a peace and loving nations, eager to help out during natural disaster as examplified by the recents, tsunami and the Lebanon Crisis. Yet are we an angel in the eyes of the world? At first i would say yes and I am proud to be called a Malay and Malaysian. But that is before I stumbled into Green Peace Reports regarding Malaysia. What I found out is quite shocking. Let see what Green Peace have to say about Malaysia. Check Out thru Google a pdf file under the tag of “The untouchables”- rimbunan Hijau’s world of forest crime and political patronage!. The report deals with Rimbunan Hijau, a global conglomerate of companies controlled by the Tiong Family from Sarawak Malaysia. Rimbunan Hijau dominates the logging, timber processing, publishing, property investment, new technology and travels. Papua New guine is one of its area where they exercise their ruthless power and illegal treatment of native. Rimbunan Hijau is also alleged to have significant interest in Gabon, Indonesia, Vanuatu, New Zealand and Russia. “Land owners were forced to sign papers with a barrel of a gun at their back. In the presence of Police and Company Official without proper legal advise, with Guns pointed at them- Annie Kajir Human Rights Lawyer Port Moresby Papua New Guinea. When i encounter this testimony in the Untouchable Report by Green Peace, i was shocked , to me “shame on Malaysia in the eyes of the world! Note: this article will be continued later, Writer disclaimer- this is what i read from Green Peace report, Some may say Green Peace is a Natural Radical, but may be the is truth in it, shocking yet read my next article… The Reality Of Pirated Goods Consumer In Malaysia October 11, 2006Posted by airforceone in Malay vcd, Pirate VCD Malaysia, Triad Malaysia. I can still recalled my first day at Imbi Plaza, the first moment I walk in I was suprised by the amount of pirated software, dvd’s and pirated inks or clones. It was a man made heaven for the information age. Since I spend most of my hey day in California I would say that the’ place for me is Fry Electronic, or best yet compusa but that was in the states, over here in Malaysia, it cheap damm cheap since its stolen and pirated. Lets not talk about the issue of piracy in Malaysia for the moment. Lets focus back to the Malays, My dear Brothers and sister, how many of you own or purchase pirated goodies? Raise your hands don’t be shy! i knew almost all of my friend have at least a few. but is it logikal for a Muslim to own stolen Goods, gee wish , lets see what your religion says, wich i have never heart any Iman or preacher raise up this issue on friday, shall we walk along the aisle of …………….. وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُواْ أَيْدِيَهُمَا جَزَاء بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَالاً مِّنَ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ [5:38] Laki-laki yang mencuri dan perempuan yang mencuri, potonglah tangan keduanya (sebagai) pembalasan bagi apa yang mereka kerjakan dan sebagai siksaan dari Allah. Dan Allah Maha Perkasa lagi Maha Bijaksana. English: As to the thief, Male or female, cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in power. فَمَن تَابَ مِن بَعْدِ ظُلْمِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ [5:39] Maka barangsiapa bertaubat (di antara pencuri-pencuri itu) sesudah melakukan kejahatan itu dan memperbaiki diri, maka sesungguhnya Allah menerima taubatnya. Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Pengampun lagi Maha Penyayang. English: But if the thief repents after his crime, and amends his conduct, Allah turneth to him in forgiveness; for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful Ummmm, staright to the point eh, my brother and sister, but lets be frank at least we can rest assure we can still ask forgiveness to God!, but shall we steal again and again or keep onturning the C…Triad into the monster they are today! In my Bahasa Malaysia Blog today, i did a simple calcualtion as how much does the C… Triad gain in RM in a month. well it turn out if 1 million of us poor Malay keep on assisting this robber well be giving them at least fromm RM120 million to 5oo million a month! , Wow a tremendous figure, yet in the end maybe well also did manage to make some of the government official (which is Malay unfortunately) rich . Alhamdullillah some P……. and our fellow Muslim is eating robbery money! At this point in time i would like to ask the reader, if there are any P………. which do received bribery along the line, at how much does this Towkey give you in a month, i do not want to start a war between the p…….. and the triad towkey now do i, since now they might want more. umm, half a billion a month , guess thats why in my hometown at there is atleast three pirated VCD store operating and one is just a walking distant in front of the town Pol…… (shessh) I cant say this thing , its quite sensitif. Bahasa Malaysia Site October 10, 2006Posted by airforceone in Bahasa Malaysia Site. Can be view here http://malaymelayu.blogspot.com Into The Battle Fields October 10, 2006Posted by airforceone in Into The Pit. add a comment Today marks the day we shall walk into the trench of Malaysian truth and realities, the real truth that shall shock you as to how strong is the forces behind our lines. Think Again do you think you know the world around you yet what is the dark kept secret? Thanks to the Various Law Enforcement Reports available thru respective agency which I have provided a link next to this Blog. so wait and see what I shall unveils next , what you shall see next is a few of the shocking Truth that most Malaysian are aware yet they are afraid to expose!. In the line of fire, countless life of Law enforcement officer have lost their life in the line of Justice. This brave Policeman, womens and other Justice personnel have stood their ground and sacrifes their life for the safety and the well being of the general public! In their memory we should also say today that they did not die in vains. May Allah bless all the soul of this Law enforcement officer across the globe and may their memory comfort their children, wifes and daughter! Broken Arrow October 10, 2006Posted by airforceone in Broken Arrow, Uncategorized. 1 comment so far Broken Arrow, I repeat Broken Arrow ,Broken arrow confirm! These are the lines that Mel Gibson in the Movie We Were Soldier said when the American line of defense is broken thru and his soldier are being gun down. My Dear Malays and fellow Malaysian, our defenses have been overrun, we cannot run anywhere else ! this is our motherland, this is our forefather home, It is up to us brother, sister, son and daughter for we are the Prince Of This Earth, we must do our own battle in this battle fields. What is the battle field? It is the battle fields to uphold justice, to serve and to protect. To combat what I am about to expose here. It is a call for freedom and justice. To the Malays your ketuanan prinsip shall be torn assunder as it is not you who are the lords of this lands but……………..reads on Prince, Sons Of The Earth? October 10, 2006Posted by airforceone in British Malaysia, Bumiputra, Malay, Malaysia, Melayu, Uncategorized. 1 comment so far Historically the Malays can be devided into three classes, Orang Merdeka (freeman or women) , Hamba (slaves) and the Bangsawan (Nobilities). The majority of Malays in the oldens days live primarily with close interaction with nature and we are part of the hunter and gatherer and also farmer and fisherman. This co- existence with nature have resulted in several ritual with respect and honour the spirit of the Earth (animistic). The introduction to Islam on a massive scale have slowly diminished this respect to the power and the role of Nature Conservation. Islam have clearly define that “thou shall not commit destruction on this earth rampantly!, but unfortunately the respect and the conservation of nature education from the Ulama or religious Leader have failed to compensate this model or animistic respect of nature. Slave may be the result of an individual or family which have became indebted or thru the act of War. Nobilities group is a result of the title or rank granted by the ruler or clans leader within certain congregation or village. The royalties refer to the present day Sultans and the various Nobilities that later emerge as the ruler of each of the respective states within Malaysia. So as a conclusion, Malays are similar to the Western Native American , we are a people which depend on our surrounding and Nature. We co-exist, respect nature and does not rampantly destroy our environment. Unfortunately with the fall of the Malay Empire or because our liberty and freedom have been bartered of by our ruler to the British, Portugese for a meager monthly allowences, we as a people have from that point onward loses our pride and dignities. This action for allowing foreign power is a direct result of our obedience and loyalty to our ruler and Sultans. Our forefather remains a close knit communal society and maintain the tradisional self sustaining activities comprising of farming and hunter and gatherer. With the institution of British mode of Government, slowly the second generation of Malays began venturing into government servant sector, military, police and administartion. At this point in time we as a people have already loses the race, The immigrant imported by the British to ransacked our natural resources have gain vast wealth and power close patronage with our leaders. Their close business venture within the old British East Indian Company and their native land have form and intricate networks of trading, export and import. Again the majority of our great grand dads and elder remain asleep and happily ever after with their paddy field, durian orchard, gathering and their Kampung live lihood. As we approches independence, our nobilities whom are capable of sending their children to obtain higher education have manage to began the formation and the management of what to be called Malaysian. (Malayan Union is what the British proposed). At this stage, finally we sees these aristocrat venturing into our Village seeking the Malays power to vote and the right for self governence. The sultan power will sees its role diminished at this point, they will from henceforth be classified as “Constitutional Monarchy” .So finally our second generation of Malay have risen from village life to modern days role, as managerial,tradesman and civil servant. The elite of the Malays which close relationship to the nobilities is now taking the helm of this Nation from the British. Soon we will see how well they steer this nation of the Majorities of “Prince of the Earth future. Yet history have proven no single nation can be formed peacefully without bloosdhed. Racial Clash and Communist insurgency prevail during the early days of Malaysian Independence. So during this period of time from the formation, nobility interference and conflict , where is the Malays informational Modal Insan? (Human Capital). It seem there is a gap within this historical period, power, clashes, hatred and instabilities and a new self identity conflicts. So lets summarize the progress of the Prince Of The Earth! A race of people whom co-existed with nature, later held in bondage under Union Jack (British), enter into modernization thru independent acheive from the British, yet by now this new nation is a blend of other immigrant whom arrive here for sole financial purpose. We are here in the midst of the 21st Century yet in my point of view we are still blinded by who we are and what we are! Why? read ons , since the Title Of Bumiputra or Prince Of The Earth, is just a title we have lost our eutopian state of Nature Dweller’ since now we are the modern days unchain power hungry materialistic race whom exploits our land, rivers, sea and air. Such harsh word but read on so you may open your eyes. Note: In this third word that I type I would also like to remember our only true hero, Mat Kilau a Malay worthy in my eyes as Geronima whom stood up against the British and the Sultans and died as an old man, similar to Geronimo. May Allah Bless His soul. Why This Blog? October 10, 2006Posted by airforceone in Malay, Malaysia, Melayu, Son Of The Earth, Uncategorized. 1 comment so far This Blog shall seek to enlightened the Malays. What do I meant by this? It seem nowadays the essence of the Malay is gradually being polished to be Malaysian! Am I against this National Agenda? The answer is no! What do I meant by this? First premise 1) What is Malaysian , Can you Define Malaysian ? Have the Government address and define the actual characteristic of a Malaysian. The answer is pure and simple, The government have failed to address this National self Identity!. Second Premise 2) Malay self identity! We are losing our forefather etiquette and moral code of conduct! We are producing a confuse young generations of Malays. Third Premise 3) The Problem of Religion Namely Islam! Islam in reality would be the pushing factor to uplift and codified the conduct of Malays. But it turn out it has produce the negative effect, which is backward effect instead of forward! The fault lies with the Islamic scholar and leader within Malaysia who failed to perform their duties, Instead they have became the civil servants. 4. Poverty Gap! While the nation is being portrayed as a nice and well to do Asian country, the reality is the opposite. Majority of Malays earn meager wages and they are living based on their monthly salary, just enought to support a family. There are other reason for this Blog, but as a Malay I would definately want to share my feeling with my fellow Malay and those who are not blind to the future of our race. My dear Malay, what do you see is happening around you? Is this country treating you fairly Let walk together along the path of enlightenment and revival, it is not for me and you now but for our future Malays and for this Land that our fore father explored and call this this home! Malay? What? Define? October 10, 2006Posted by airforceone in Bumiputra, Malay, Malaysia, Melayu, Son Of The Earth. add a comment Who are the Malay? The World may not know who we are, but they will definitely know KLCC Twin Tower , the world ex tallest building and maybe Mahathir Mohamed , the out spoken Malay leader whom stood up against The West. He also imprisoned Anwar Ibrahim, his second man; Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Gee what else can I say about Malays, which is synonymous with Malaysia. Let see. Wikipedia says something like this; Malays (Dutch, Maleiërs, ultimately from Malay: Melayu) are a diverse group of Austronesian peoples inhabiting the Malay archipelago and Malay peninsula in Southeast Asia. The word “Malay” was adopted into English via the Dutch word “Malayo”, itself from Portuguese “Malaio”, which originates from the Malay word “Melayu”. According to one popular theory, the word Melayu means “migrating” or “fleeing”, which might refer to the high mobility of these people across the region.Generically, the name “Malay” is used to describe all the numerous related groups inhabiting the Malay Archipelago, and which are not of older aboriginal stock. These include the Aceh, Minangkabaus, Bataks and Mandailings who live in Sumatra ; Java and Sunda in Java ; Banjars, Ibans, Kadazans and Melanaus in Borneo ; Bugis and Torajas in Sulawesi ; the various dominant ethnic groups in the Philippines such as the Tagalogs, Ilocanos and Ifugao of Luzon island, the Bisaya of the central Philippines, the Maguindanao, Tausug and Bajau of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago ; and the people of East Timor (again, excluding those of older Papuan stock). Bumiputra or Bumiputera (from Sanskrit Bhumiputra; translated literally, it means “sons of the Earth”; Malay, translated literally, it means “princes of the Earth”), is an official definition widely used in Malaysia, embracing ethnic Malays as well as other indigenous ethnic groups such as the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and the tribal peoples in Sabah and Sarawak. Economic policies designed to favour Bumiputras (including affirmative action in public education) were implemented in the 1970s in order to defuse inter-ethnic tensions following the May 13 Incident in 1969, but these have not been fully effective in eradicating poverty among rural bumiputras and have further caused a backlash of resentment on the part of non-bumi ethnic groups. The above defination of Malay is derived from Wikipedia Online. My focus for this blog is only for Malay Residing In Peninsular Malaysia. I agree with the term the son of the earth but would not agreed on the prince of this earth.	73,754
The Real Cost of Raising the Minimum Wage January 6, 2014 If raising the minimum wage were cost-free, why stop at $10 or $15 an hour, as some have recently proposed? Why not go straight to $24 an hour, the average hourly wage? That might be considered fair, because no one would have to earn less than average, says Diana Furchtgott-Roth, former chief economist of the U.S. Department of Labor and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. The answer, of course, is because some people are displaced at any minimum wage. It is obvious to the general public that increasing the minimum wage to $24 an hour would displace workers. It is less obvious when amounts are smaller. But when the minimum wage is raised, employers hire higher-skilled people, or switch to different forms of technology, such as placing orders through touchscreens. - Finding the effects of raising the minimum wage is challenging, because 97 percent of American workers now make above the minimum wage -- not because it is the law, but because employers have to pay higher compensation packages to retain workers. - That is one reason that some academic studies do not find major negative effects of minimum-wage increases. Those who would be harmed by increasing the minimum wage are young people. - Half of minimum-wage workers are under age 25 and 24 percent are teens. - This group's unemployment rate is already higher than the 7.3 percent overall rate. - The teen unemployment rate is 21 percent, and the African-American teen unemployment rate is 36 percent. - The youth (ages 15 to 24) unemployment rate is 12 percent. About 1.8 million Americans aged 16 to 24 worked for minimum wage in 2012, and many more young Americans coveted those jobs. Many young people start successful careers with minimum-wage jobs without expecting that the job will become a lifetime career. Doug McMillon, who will take over as Walmart CEO, started out as a teen unloading trucks at a Walmart distribution center. Raising the minimum wage is not cost-free, even to Washington. More low-skill Americans would be out of work. People would buy less of the higher-priced services. Supersizing a wage is not as simple as supersizing a hamburger. Source: Diana Furchtgott-Roth, "The Real Cost of Raising the Minimum Wage," MarketWatch, December 20, 2013. Browse more articles on Economic Issues	143,438
Advocating Knowledge & Progress. Lincoln community groups have a new resource when planning their next meeting or event: professional guest speakers addressing city related topics. The City of Lincoln Speakers Bureau is a free educational program which allows city representatives to travel throughout the community to serve as speakers for clubs, civic groups, and other organizations. The Speakers Bureau is a great way for residents to learn about the many programs and services offered by the City of Lincoln. Organizations can select a presentation from numerous diverse topics. The representatives from the departments who make up the speakers bureau are also available to participate in special events such as informational fairs. The bureau is an excellent opportunity for city staff to meet with citizens and obtain valuable input from them, as well as to share important information about essential city programs and services. Groups such as home owner associations, clubs, and civic organizations can submit requests to the City of Lincoln Speakers Bureau. We will do our best to accommodate all requests, so please allow two weeks advance notice if possible.	118,202
In the following code,the code generates compile time error as instance variable age is not initiazed. Options are - 1)Compiles and runs with no output 2)Compiles and runs printing out The age is 1 3)Compiles but generates a runtime error 4)Does not compile 5)Compiles but generates a compile time error Whats the difference in the options 4 and 5 . Doesn't it mean that,When compiler error occurs,the code has not compiled..?? Thanx Just a suggestion. Be VERY careful when taking any mock exams and relying on any answers to the questions provided. I have read quite a few very poorly worded questions. Hopefully one can assume that the official programmer exam is written in proper English, but do not assume under any circumstance that the mock exams are written correctly.	65,730
NEW! Get the book: Gustave Whitehead - a Short History Early in 1901, Gustave Whitehead built his 21st manned aircraft. He called it the “Condor”. That summer – more than two years before the Wright Brothers – he made history's first manned, powered, controlled, sustained flight in a heavier-than-air aircraft. On March 8, 2013, the world's foremost authority on aviation history, "Jane's All the World's Aircraft", formally recognized Gustave Whitehead's claim. (Later, its editor, Paul Jackson, explained his reasons for doing so in more detail). Upon conclusion of peer review, both houses of the Connecticut legislature unanimously resolved to commemorate Whitehead's achievement. The law was signed by the State's Governor and took effect on June 26, 2013. When the Australian historian, John Brown, was hired to research an aviation documentary for Smithsonian Channel (aired April, 2013), the last book about Whitehead was more than 20 years old. Since then, publicly-funded Whitehead Research Committees in the USA & Germany had continued their efforts. And over 50 million pages of old newspapers had become accessible for online key-word searches. Furthermore, photographic technologies had entered the computer age. This led to some unexpected findings. Within the first five days of research, known information about Whitehead more than doubled. This caused Dr. Tom Crouch Ph.D., Senior Aeronautics Curator at the Smithsonian, to write he was “incredibly impressed” and Dipl.-Ing. Univ. Hans-Günter Adelhard, Chairman of the Gustav Weisskopf Research Committee in Germany, that it was “atemberaubend” (breathtaking). The research revealed unknown aircraft, unknown public flight attempts (some, years earlier than previously thought), more than 250 unknown newspaper articles, – many of them front page items – and several other surprizes, including the rediscovery of significant facts regarding the long-lost photo of the world's first powered aeroplane flight in 1901. Over the decades, other leading historians have chimed in and recognized Whitehead's pioneering achievements: Research by the Library of Congress's Chief Aviation Historian, Prof. A. Zahm, Harvard University's Prof. J. Crane and, lately, many others has independently concluded that Gustave Whitehead flew before the Wright brothers.) Whitehead was trained as an engine-builder in Augsburg at a predecessor company of M.A.N. Gustave Whitehead (born Gustav Weißkopf), son of a bridge-construction engineer, grew up in Germany. At school, he was keenly interested in flight; performed lift-measurement experiments on birds; built models; and jumped off roofs with self-built wings. Orphaned at age 13, he was housed with various relatives before being sent away to a machinist apprenticeship in Augsburg. (It'S known that the manufacturer was later absorbed into M.A.N. Co..) Gustave completed his apprenticeship, becoming a trained engine-builder. Based on his age and later travels, previous commentators falsely assumed he quit his apprenticeship. However back then, German apprenticeships lasted only two rather than the current three years and started younger. No primary source mentions him quitting his machinist apprenticeship. (When his mother died, he did quit his previous bookbinder apprenticeship.) In 1890 he left his home town, saying he was headed for the USA. But when he reached the coast, he met a German family emigrating to Brazil. He joined them and worked on their plantation there. He then became a sailor working on several ships including the Norwegian ship “Gomünd” plying the route between Europe and South America. In 1893, he arrived in the USA. His first job was at Blue Hill Weather Observatory near Boston. There he met James Means, a retired manufacturer, who’d just published a booklet titled “Manned Flight”. In January 1895, Means announced his intention to found America’s first aviation organization – the Boston Aeronautical Society (which he duly did on March 19, 1895). In the announcement, Means outlined his plans to hire a team of mechanics to build Lilienthal gliders, set up a facility on Cape Cod to perform flight tests and run a flying contest which was to include a “powered flight” category. Whitehead's first US job was for Harvard Prof. W. Pickering According to a written statement by Albert Horn (one of the mechanics hired) it was at the turn of 1894/1895 that Means and A. Merrill hired him and Whitehead to start building Lilienthal gliders. Apparently, Whitehead landed the job by claiming he knew Otto Lilienthal. It was also around this time that Means began corresponding with Otto Lilienthal, an event widely associated with the origins of heavier-than-air aviation in America. (Six drafts of Means’ letters to Lilienthal survive – only the drafts remain because the actual letters sent to Lilienthal were in German. This is acknowledged by Means in annotations he made stating “German translation sent”. And when Lilienthal responded, he wrote to Means in German. However, Means spoke no German. At the time, Means did have a German-speaking, full-time employee. Gustave Whitehead not only spoke German but also had a good command of German engineering and aeronautical terms (demonstrated in correspondence with Austrian and German aviation journals). Furthermore, Whitehead was building Lilienthal-type gliders for Means. So, when Whitehead often stated he’d corresponded with, been associated with and studied the work of Lilienthal, the circumstances of his Boston employment would appear to substantiate this. His aircraft’s layout and wing structure certainly show Lilienthal’s influence. Whitehead was Chief Mechanic for America's first aviation organization On many occasions, Whitehead also stated he’d been an “assistant” to Otto Lilienthal. It’s unclear, however, when this contact might have taken place. In a multi-year research effort, historian Col. Walter Prüfert† identified a possible time-frame between October 1893 & July 1894. Unfortunately, most of Lilienthal’s records were destroyed, making confirmation difficult. Almost all Lilienthal’s visitors rely on their own statement as proof of their visit. Whitehead said that in 1896 he went back to Europe again to see Lilienthal. And iIn a letter to Lilienthal dated April 30, 1896 (sent May 30, 1896), Means suggested sending his staff to Germany to learn from Lilienthal. LIlienthal was enthusiastic and suggested that the delegation should consist of young athletes, preferably trained machinists. Subsequently, in August 1896, the Society’s co-chief, Samuel Cabot, did, in fact, visit Lilienthal in Berlin, accompanied by a delegation. And since Whitehead was 22 years old at the time, a trained machinist, a native German-speaker and had the job of building Lilienthal gliders in Boston, it’s probable Whitehead accompanied Cabot. [Cabot also visited Germany previously in 1894 while Whitehead was working at Blue Hill. This is recorded in a letter from the German-American aviation pioneer, Carl Dienstbach, to his sister in 1895.] Whitehead built at least 4 gliders Regardless of whether Whitehead actually accompanied Cabot on either visit, the Berlin visit was an opportunity for the Boston Aeronautical Society to check if Whitehead’s claim about having worked with Lilienthal was true. Cabot and Lilienthal would have certainly spoken about Gustave and his construction effort in Boston. And while Cabot’s later correspondence with Octave Chanute (President of the US Engineers' Association) often referred to Gustave’s work, it never doubted his association with Lilienthal. On balance, Whitehead’s claim to have assisted Lilienthal would therefore appear to be credible. Whitehead built several gliders for the Boston Aeronautical Society. The first may have been a biplane-glider with air-paddle propulsion of a similar type to what Lilienthal himself had been planning to build before he died. A photo shows Whitehead strapped to that glider (below, left). It's not know to have flown. However photos exist of two other gliders he built in the air. One, an improved biplane Lilienthal-type glider, shows Whitehead himself flying it several meters above the ground. Another shows Whitehead's boss, Albert Merrill, flying a biplane with more modern type wings, even higher above the ground. Whether a fourth photo exists is unclear. It was a monoplane Lilienthal type and may have been the one built for Society member Charles Lamson. In that case, several photos do exist. Octave Chanute helped finance Whitehead’s glider construction According to Horn, the Lilienthal monoplane did fly for short distances. Horn stated, Whitehead would have made longer flights if he’d been lighter. Cabot agreed. Octave Chanute, President of the American Engineers' Association and America’s aviation commentator during that period, helped finance the glider with the more modern wing structure to the tune of $50. Chanute referred to it as the "Weiskopf apparatus". Recently-found photos show that it had a two-axis steering system. Otto Lilienthal was previously known to have sold only one glider to the USA (to William Hearst) and only two sets of original plans to engineers in New York (presumably Augustus Herring) and Boston (presumably S. Cabot). At around the same time, a member of the Boston Aeronautical Society, Charles M. Lamson, had a Lilienthal glider built for him based on original plans, however a newly-found source states that he bought it directly from Lilienthal. Descriptions of how Whitehead’s Lilienthal glider and Lamson’s Lilienthal glider flew are almost identical. And the instructions accompanying Cabot’s set of plans in Boston were all written in German. However, Lamson spoke no German. Whitehead may be the constructor of the so-called „Lamson-Glider", which would be notable inasmuch as a photo of it adorns the cover of Tom Crouch’s book, „A Dream of Wings“, one of the best-known histories of American aviation. One of the best references for the quality of Whitehead’s work was Samuel Cabot. Cabot initially described Whitehead unfavorably but later changed his opinion, expressing regret when Gustave left in 1897 and hoping Gustave could be hired again in the future. Indeed, the Society's J.B. Millet, did rehire Whitehead briefly in Sept. 1897. (Millet experiemented with kites which were built by Whitehead's subsequent employer in New York)... One of the participants in kite flying events at Blue Hill was Edward I. Horsman. Horsman was a professional kite-flyer and well-connected businessman who’d been named by an Act of Congress as an organizer of the 1892 World Fair in New York. Horsman headhunted Whitehead away from the Aeronautical Society to become a member of his “Scientific Kite Team”. The team performed meteorological measurements, aerial photography and public kite & firework displays for New York and other cities. The displays included regular events at Coney Island as well as on Independence Day, Flag Day and at the welcoming of ships into New York and other Harbors, including, for example, the return of US Admiral Dewey after a successful military campaign. Horsman’s team experimented with the lifting-power of kites. Indeed, the earliest known newspaper article mentioning “Gus” Whitehead is an interview with him on the roof of The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York on Flag Day in June, 1897. At the time, he was operating bright red Horsman box kites and measuring their lift as having attained as much as 100 pounds. (On later occasions, the Scientific Kite Team performed experiments with kites lifting both sandbags and humans and announced plans to add rudders and a motor. Horsman was a member of the US aeronautical community and even exhibited his kites 10 years later next to Whitehead and the Wright Bros. at the first exhibition of the Aero Club of America in New York in 1906. Experiments with man-carrying kites were an important part of aviation’s development. The Wright Bros. began kite experiments in 1899 and referred to them as their “Scientific Kite Flying”.) Whitehead had been hired by Horsman to build a Lilienthal-type, man-carrying kite and add a small, 3 hp gasoline motor with a propeller. However, problems with delivery of the motor ended up in court and may have led to the end of their employment relationship. (In 1897, Horsman also began marketing a keeled box kite called the “Airship”. Horsman obtained a license for that kite's design from one of Whitehead’s former bosses at Blue Hill and its patent owner, Henry Clayton.) While employed by Horsman, Whitehead continued to test his own manned aircraft. Two are known. The first is referred to in a letter by Samuel Cabot to Chanute dated May 7, 1897 in which Cabot inquires whether Chanute knows of Whitehead’s aircraft “out west” (presumably, in New York – west of Boston). The other, called “Condor Gus”, was successfully tested by Whitehead during the summer of 1897 at Blue Hill (possibly 1896) and reported internationally. Whitehead did public flight displays 1897 in New York On October 4, 1897, Whitehead invited reporters from at least six New York newspapers along with international news correspondents to an unveiling of his two new aircraft in the courtyard of his residence on Prince Street. One was a bright red tri-plane, box kite glider. The other was a partly-finished biplane with retractable wings (according to him, his 42nd aircraft). Ensuing articles contained drawings of these two aircraft and described their planned motorization with a 3 hp gasoline motor. On October 6, 1897, Whitehead made two public flight attempts at Jersey City Heights witnessed by hundreds of spectators. The attempts were reported as far away as Pittsburgh. One of the spectators was “a young man” who told reporters he’d “witnessed flights by both Chanute and Lilienthal”. (The only known person who fits this description was the New Yorker and aviation pioneer, Augustus Herring.) After the demonstration, Whitehead put his machine in storage and moved to Buffalo. Six weeks later, on November 24, 1897, he married. When the clerk asked his profession, he replied “aeronaut”. [Some commentators alleged, this is evidence of Whitehead’s tendency to fantasize or self-aggrandize. But research makes it clear, Whitehead would have lied if he’d said anything else.] At that moment he was probably the only person in the world who could honestly state he’d been steadily employed for the past three years building heavier-than-air aircraft. Whitehead’s qualifications were impressive. He’d been formally trained as an engine-builder; had spent at least four years at sea handling and maintaining sails, rigging, motors and marine propellers; had worked for Harvard’s Prof. Pickering testing kites at the Blue Hill Weather Observatorium; possibly translated Lilienthal’s works into English (and probably assisted Lilienthal too); built several Lilienthal-type gliders; and had been Chief Engineer of America’s first aviation organization. He’d then worked for New York’s Scientific Kite Team designing, building and testing a powered, manned kite, all the while building and testing his own flying machines and demonstrating them publicly. Records at the Buffalo Library show Whitehead spent his time there studying aviation literature including that of Count d’Esterno, whose 1864 aircraft patent bears great similarity to Whitehead’s 1901 aircraft. (Not only the configuration but also the number of ribs is identical.) Whitehead’s handwritten notes made in Buffalo show that the propeller he selected for his future aircraft was very similar to the “Type J” developed by the British aviation pioneer, Hiram Maxim. This wasn’t a simple “air-screw” but a more modern design where the blades were airfoils and their pitch was optimized at varying angles along their length. In Buffalo, Whitehead also settled on his wings’ future airfoil. He chose one with its arc peaking near the leading edge designed by the British pioneer Phillipps rather than with a symmetrical arc of the type favored by Lilienthal. Whitehead went even one step further by filling out the concave area under the wing as is now done on modern airfoils (below). [In a pre-Wright interview - given when Whitehead invited a reporter to fly one of his gliders - he expounded on the 250% lift-increase provided by his curved airfoils.] Hargrave and Arnot/(Herring) used Whitehead motors Whitehead soon introduced a new, wheeled version of his aircraft to the press. The images and descriptions of Whitehead’s October 1897 and March 1898 aircraft provide a snapshot of Whitehead’s progress in aircraft design. Firstly, the triplane configuration is reminiscent of Hargraves' box-kites which completely replaced the diamond-shaped, so-called “Malay” kites during his 1894 tenure at Blue Hill. Secondly, Gustave was still using a symmetrical airfoil (as in the three known Lilienthal-type gliders he’d built for the Boston Aeronautical Society 1895-97). Thirdly, his aircraft had a stabilizing, cruciform tail. This was to become a key feature in the enablement of controlled flight. Existing literature often attributes this invention to others, notably to the young man who’d been watching Gustave’s public flight displays in New York, Augustus Herring or to an early Franch inventor, Penaud. It’s claimed, Herring’s triplane glider was built in October 1896, however a motorized version wasn’t disclosed until 1898, i.e. after Gustave’s press conference and public displays. It wasn’t until late March of 1898 that Herring, together with Octave Chanute, sent plans for an almost identical, wheeled version to be patented by a middleman (Moy) in London. Construction of the Herring-Chanute Glider was farmed out to Charles Lamson and financed by the Banker, Matthias C. Arnot, for whom Whitehead provably built motors. However, the exact nature of affiliations between Herring, Arnot, Lamson and Whitehead is still unknown. Whitehead soon moved to Pittsburgh. There, according to a stack of affidavits, he fulfilled his prediction and flew an acetylene-Gas-powered monoplane in late 1899 or early 1900, ending in a firey crash. (In a later interview, Whitehead himself referred to the Pittsburgh flight as "more or less successful".) Despite this, the lightweight acetylene-gas engine he’d used impressed other designers. In Australia, Lawrence Hargrave’s 29th engine was a “Whitehead”. He displayed it on July 1, 1901 to the Royal Society of New South Wales. It’s unclear what the connection to Whitehead was. However, since Hargrave was a member of the Boston Aeronautical Society, it could have been from one of the other members like Alexander G. Bell, who visited him in Sydney, James Means, who published Hargrave’s work alongside Lilienthal’s in his 1896 “Aeronautical Annual” or Octave Chanute, William Eddy, Albert Zahm and Albert Merrill, with whom Hargrave corresponded. Mid 1900, Whitehead, accompanied by a friend, Louis Darvarich, left Pittsburgh and headed for Boston. They soon changed their destination to Bridgeport. Press coverage of Whitehead resumed in June 1901. Newspapers from Washington to Minnesota and as far away as England and France reported his flight-test of an acetylene-powered, monoplane with sandbags in the cockpit (his 57th aircraft in total and his 20th manned aircraft, he said). The test took place at a site some 1.5 miles from Bridgeport near the village of Fairfield. Two months later, on August 14, 1901, he invited the press to witness his first, successful, manned, powered flight. Whitehead's aircraft was "roadable". It's wings could be folded and it had wheelpower for driving on roads. Leaving Bridgeport shortly after midnight, he, his helpers and the press drove the aircraft under its own power 1.5 miles to the same Fairfield site as the previous tests. After rigging and testing the machine unmanned in the pre-dawn light, Whitehead took off at dawn, flying half a mile at a height of up to 50 feet, making a shallow turn along the way to avoid a clump of chestnut trees. At least 300 newspapers reported Whitehead’s 1901/1902 flights So far, using only non-pay research resources over three-hundred newspaper reports of Whitehead’s 1901/1902 flights have been found, many of them front-page news. The reports came from all inhabited continents. [Note: Orville Wright’s main argument in his attempt to discredit what he called “The Whitehead Myth” (August 1945, “US Air Services”, p.9) was his claim that Whitehead’s flight was only reported on a back page of a local newspaper and not anywhere else. Wright also questioned why that paper had waited four days before reporting the story, oblivious to the fact that it was a weekly newspaper which published the report in its next edition. (In his criticism, Orville neglected to mention that the first report by a journalist who had claimed to see himself fly was published in a fortnightly beekeeper’s journal in the following year and that it had been rejected for publication by Scientific American because it was “too far-fetched”.)] The weekly newspaper, Bridgeport Herald, whose Chief Editor was present, reported Whitehead’s flight on August 18, 1901. The article included an etching (lithograph) based on a photo he’d taken (above). [The search for the photograph is summarized here.] Whitehead’s plane had 3-axis steering After the August 14 1901 flight, Whitehead continued to make short flights over the next five months. He then developed a more powerful, diesel engine, calling his new plane “No. 22” and performing even longer flights, one including a full circle. (Flying a 360° circle was the accepted standard for proving an aircraft was controlable in early aviation.) The circular flight was made over the shallows between Charles Island and Bridgeport on Jan. 17, 1902. (Making flights over water was a safety precaution used by the aviation pioneers, Kress (Austria) and Blériot (France). Others, like Herring, Chanute and the Wrights (USA), used sand dunes to cushion any mishaps.) Affidavits and statements by 17 people, some of them recorded on audio and video, bear witness to the many powered flights made by Whitehead between August 1901 and January 1902. Parts of the original aircraft, one motor and a large number of photographs still exist. Extensive statements by Whitehead himself survive, illustrating his advanced thinking compared to his contemporaries. And replicas based on the original flew successfully in 1986/ (in the USA) and 1997/8 (in Germany - click for video, below). As a result, in 1968, the Government of the State of Connecticut declared Whitehead the “Father of Flight”. On September 14, 1983, the State Dept.’s Information Service made the following press release: „On August 14 1901 a German-American succeeded in the first motorized flight in the history of aviation. [ ] Though Whitehead’s flight happened two years before [ ] the Wright brothers, [ ] it is Whitehead who is the legitimate father of modern aviation.” And on June 25, 2013, after unanimous resolutions by both houses of the Connecticut Assembly, the State's Governor signed legislation withdrawing first flight recognition from the Wright brothers and assigning it, instead, to Gustave Whitehead. While Whitehead's No. 21 aircraft did have "steering apparatus", not many details are known about it. According to a 1934 affidavit by Whitehead’s brother, John, it had roll-control via wing-warping employing cables attached to the wing-tips. Statements by family members have low evidentiary weight. Until now, historians have generally rejected this statement and attributed it to sour grapes. After all, the central feature of the Wright Bros.' patent was wing-warping. However, proof the aircraft really did have wing-warping has now been found in a description of Whitehead’s aircraft appearing in the December 1902 issue of "Aeronautical World": “The set or angle of the aeroplanes will be altered and controlled by levers which will regulate the force of compressed air which actuates them in order to deflect the aeroplanes so as to incline or steer a circular course without shifting the position of the ballast or aeronaut.” Apparently, Whitehead'S aircraft also had a rudder for yaw control. Whitehead himself described it on many occasions. Smithsonian Director, Paul Garber, was kind enough to draw in the rudder in a diagram he himself sketched while interviewing Whitehead’s assistant, Tony Pruckner, in 1966: Together with the large, vertical elevator, Whitehead’s aircraft therefore had three-axis steering. (Such steering had been invented even before Whitehead. But it’s also claimed by the Wright Bros. citing domestic US patent law which at the time required an invention to be proved by live demonstration.) Three-axis steering was one of the most important developments leading to the invention of the aircraft. Whitehead appears to have had ist early on. Articles in New York and Texas refer to setting the wings "at different angles".] Following the success of the No.s 21 and 22, Whitehead planned a No. 23. Blueprints dated early 1902 show he originally intended to use a canard elevator. It’s not known why he decided against a canard (as later used by the Wrights), but instead chose to use an empennage only. Knowing his reasoning would be helpful to aviation historians. That’s because his monoplane, empennage, tractor-propeller, wheeled-landing-gear configuration was about 25 years ahead of its time. Today, almost all aircraft bear these features. (The plans shown above are among the few Whitehead plans which have survived. However, it’s known Whitehead made precise plans of all his aircraft and motors.) The No. 21 employed several other features of technical interest. Firstly, the smaller of its two motors had 10 hp and provided power to the wheels for takeoff. Upon rotation, its link to the wheels was shut off and its power was added to the other, 20 hp motor which drove the propellers so that a total of 30hp was available for flight. The No. 21’s acetylene engine was like a steam engine inasmuch as it didn‘t have internal but rather external combustion. (Definitions back then weren't as clear-cut as they are now. Apparently, Whitehead ignited the acetylene-gas and added further components to it just before it entered the cylinder, causing him to refer to it as an internal combustion engine.) The compressed gas which was created and enhanced outside the cylinder was ducted into the cylinder. This way, the pressure created by the lower engine could be redirected via a steam hose to the upper engine by simply pushing a lever. Secondly, using the same lever, the fabric surface of the wings could be stretched tight. This procedure is similar to what modern kite-surfers and paragliders do when they keep their wing devices in a safe, low-lift mode for preparation then suddenly tighten them for launch. This explains why reports of Whitehead’s flights referred to his machines “shooting into the air”. After the widespread press coverage Whitehead received following his unmanned test flights in May 1901 and after becoming a media star subsequent to his manned flights in August 1901, Whitehead was besieged by opportunists, hoping to cash in on his invention. Prof. Langley sent spies The first was H.S. Le Cato from Philadelphia who, after first watching the airplane fly, offered Whitehead a six-month contract to display it at Atlantic City. Day later it was loaded onto a railcar and shipped there. While at Atlantic City, the Smithsonian Institute sent two spies, Traylor (a clerk and Prof. Langley's personal secretary, below center) & Hodge (an ethnologist, below left), to examine the aircraft. Written instructions were issued by the Director, Prof. Langley’s assistant, Charles Manly (below, right) asking that measurements of Whitehead’s machine be made surreptitiously. The Wrights deny coming The Wright brothers were among the next visitors. After receiving a July 1, 1901 letter from Octave Chanute recommending a 10 HP, 30 lb. Whitehead motor (which Whitehead was building for M.C.Arnot and for Prof. C.E.Meyers), Wilbur replied on July 4, 1901 as follows: “The 10-horsepower motor you refer to is certainly a wonder if it weighs only thirty lbs. with supplies for two hours, as the gasoline alone for such an engine would weigh some ten or twelve lbs. thus leaving only 18 or 20 lbs. for the motor or about two lbs. per horsepower. Even if the inventor miscalculates by five hundred percent it still would be an extremely fine motor for aerial purposes”. At the time, the Wrights were actively looking for a motor. They invariably followed Chanute’s advice (as they’d done previously by hiring Herring, Spratt and Huffaker). Three witnesses attested to their visit under oath*. Yet, the Wrights denied visiting Whitehead or even Bridgeport before 1909. Circumstantial factors appear to support their visit. The Wrights had a good friend in Bridgeport. He was the submarine inventor, Simon Lake, with whom they discussed their glider and their patent options before their claimed 1903 flight. And prior to 1902, the Wrights were in almost constant contact with known aviation pioneers such as Means, Cabot, Chanute and Herring. It’s hard to believe the only one they ignored was Whitehead, especially since his experiments had been so widely reported in "Scientific American", Prof. Langley was spying on him, Chanute was recommending him and he was producing motors for their competitors, Herring/Arnot. For aviation experts, perhaps the most important discovery about Whitehead may not be the additional evidence of his first flight. In Dec. 1902, Whitehead published a precise description of the wing-warping mechanism on his aircraft in "Aeronautical World". The wing-warping was combined with the rudder movement - just like in the Wrights' patent. But Whitehead disclosed it almost 4 months before the Wright brothers applied for their patent (on March 23, 1903). The significance of this is that the Wrights' whole claim to preeminence rests on their claim to have both discovered and practically applied a wing-warping system combined with rudder movement first. (Contrary to popular belief, in their court proceedings, the Wrights freely admitted they weren't the first to have invented a powered aircraft.) Undeniably, Whitehead was the first to publish and practically apply a system of wing warping combined with rudder movement. Chanute’s mid-1901 letter to the Wrights offers yet another snapshot of Whitehead’s status in the aeronautical community. Long before his famed August 1901 flight, he was not only providing motor ideas to Hargrave in Australia, but building Motors for Arnot/Herring’s aircraft, Meyers’ airships and possibly for many other efforts too. When Le Cato’s promised contract in Atlantic City didn’t materialize, Whitehead returned to Bridgeport where the Texan, William D. Custead was waiting for him. Custead promised to invest $100,000 but soon left when Whitehead refused to divulge the secret ingredient in his acetylene motor’s fuel. However, Custead did buy a motor from Whitehead and became one of the first dealers for Whitehead motors. Whitehead’s most fateful visitor was Herman Linde, a German immigrant who made his living as a Shakespearean actor. Needless to say, things didn’t add up. Linde agreed to finance Whitehead’s project and built a new workshop. Encouraged, Whitehead himself took out a $1,700 loan and wrote to his family in Germany stating that he was now the owner of an aircraft factory. However, secretly, Linde planned to take over the venture and started colluding with workers. Mid-January 1902, right when Whitehead was short of cash, Linde withdrew support and announced the formation of his own aviation company, refusing to pay any more bills. Linde was later convicted of multiple criminal offences and admitted to an insane asylum. But that came too late for Whitehead. He was now broke. Four to six unfinished aircraft remained in Linde’s workshop to which Whitehead no longer had access. Whitehead's No. 22 aircraft was left outdoors for the rest of the winter for lack of a place to store it, becoming unserviceable as a result. In April, Whitehead’s brother, John, arrived and contributed some of his savings. But it wasn’t enough. Soon, John left. It was then that Whitehead decided to stop building his own airplanes. Clearly, no-one was willing to actually pay for them. From then on, he would only build them for others – cash in advance. Instead, he concentrated on selling motors. These were immediately in high demand, especially among airship and flying machine builders. Having thus secured his livelihood, he spent the few years (until 1905) building a house for himself, his wife and his nearly four year old daughter, Rose. This decision led to Whitehead becoming a central figure in the early years of US aviation. He quickly made a name for himself as an aviation supplier. As early as 1902 the “Automobile Trade Magazine” reported that customers could order lightweight kerosene, gasoline, acetylene, steam and gunpowder motors along with dirigables and airplanes from Gustave Whitehead in Connecticut. Whitehead became a major motor & airframe supplier At the 1904 World Fair in St. Louis, Whitehead exhibited one of his motors. The winning dirigible at the flying machine contest held there was Thomas Baldwin’s “California Arrow”, flown by Roy Knabenshue. It, too, was equipped with a Whitehead motor – at least that’s what a qualified aviation journalist wrote after examining it. American historians later claimed it was a Curtiss motorcycle engine, which isn’t necessarily a contradiction. Indeed, two sources report Whitehead built aircraft motors for Curtiss, which may explain why many early Curtiss and Whitehead motors looked so similar. And when the Curtiss-Herring Co. went bankrupt, Whitehead's motor distributor, George Lawrence, was one of the listed creditors owed money by the venture. (Knabenshue went on to make one of the first dirigible flights over New York and become chief pilot of the Wright Exhibition Team. Baldwin became Vice President of the Aero Club of America. And in 1908 Baldwin’s airship and the Wright Flyer won the US Army’s Contest to select a military flying machine.) Yet another Whitehead motor was present in St. Louis. It powered Prof. Carl E. Meyers’ Sky Cycle. Meyers was the balloon supplier for the US Weather Service and the US Army Signal Corps. The Sky Cycle had been patented in 1897 and sold successfully – as the name suggests – as a pedal-powered airship. Just four days after the July 1901 Chanute-Wright correspondence, a New York newspaper reported that the 30 lb./10 hp motor the Wrights were interested in was to be installed in the Sky Cycle so it could compete in St. Louis. At the contest, the local press reported on the motor’s use. The Sky Cycle went on to become one of the first commercially successful aircraft ever. For many years, Meyers sold it via classified ads appearing in technical magazines across the USA, offering single, twin, three and four cylinder, powered versions. The world record balloonist, H.E. Honeywell, also ordered two Whitehead motors. In 1904, the physics professor, John J. Dvorak, examined Whitehead’s work and in a front-page newspaper article publicly declared Whitehead to be ahead of all other aviation pioneers. He, too, hired Whitehead to build a motor. In summer, 1905, Whitehead installed an 18-20hp motor in the "Flying Machine" of Israel Ludlow. Ludlow's pilot was Charles K. Hamilton from Connecticut. In 1906, Hamilton moved on and later became a Curtiss Show Pilot. He was replaced by J.C. ("Bud") Mars who later also joined the Curtiss Team. Edward M. (Colonel) House, who was living in New York at the time and later became US President Wilson’s special envoy for foreign affairs, was a Whitehead customer. Another Whitehead motor customer was Wipple S. Hall of Fresno, California. 1906 was a year in which Whitehead’s prominent position in the American aeronautical community was clearly apparent. A detailed analysis of panorama photos taken at the first exhibition of the Aero Club of America in January 1906 revealed not only the location of the long lost photo of Whitehead’s No. 21 in powered flight but also an indication of Whitehead’s status among his aeronautical contemporaries. The aviation exhibition was housed in a single room around which visitors proceeded in a clockwise manner. It started with ten photographs of Whitehead’s aircraft and motors. The very first ones (at top, left) showed his 1901 flight. Next, they saw thirty-three photographs of balloons and dirigables including those of Knabenshue and Santos-Dumont. Following them were eight photographs of Lilienthal’s gliders, six of Herring/Arnot’s glider, six of the Wright brothers’ gliders & kites, eight of Prof. Langley (including one of his flying model) and twenty of Hiram Maxim’s failed powered aircraft. As a highlight, Baldwin‘s previously Whitehead-powered „California Arrow“, in which Roy Knabanshue had performed a flight over New York just a few months previously, was on display. In 1906 aviation, Whitehead was pre-eminent It wasn’t until September 1, 1908 that the Wright Brothers first released a photo of their claimed 1903 powered flight in the New York Times. (The first photo of them flying was captured by a reporter hiding behind a sand dune at Kitty Hawk on May 20, 1908, just days after they went back to Kitty Hawk on May 6, 1908 - returning for the first time since 1903). Up until then, they only showed photos of their kites and gliders (and the crank-shaft of their motor, resting on a stool). At the January 1906 exhibition, Herring/Arnot didn’t show any photos of their powered flight either. The only exhibitor besides Whitehead who showed powered flight was Prof. Langley with his scaled model. It’s therefore understandable why the photograph of Whitehead’s 1901 manned, powered flight was given a place of such prominence at the beginning of the exhibition. After all, only Whitehead and dirigible airships were able to freely control their movement through the air. Ironically, during this transitional period (December 17, 1903 until May 20, 1908), the Wrights faced the same dilemma as Whitehead did in the years 1906-2012 when people asked, “where’s the photo?”. The Feb. 10, 1906 Editorial of "The New York Herald" (Paris Edition) wrote about the Wrights and bore the headline: “Flyers or Liars?” Whitehead's stature appears to have reached a zenith in December 1906 at the second exhibition of the Aero Club of America. There, he had three newer motors and an intricately balanced propeller along with the original fuselage and motor of his 1901, "No. 21 Condor" aircraft on display. The aircraft was clearly labelled as having flown. (The Wrights, on the other hand, only showed their motor.) Whitehead Motors Powered the First US Military Aircraft In 1907, Whitehead was registered as one of the participants in the flying events at the World Fair in Jamestown, Virginia. It's not known if he himself displayed anything there. But one of his motors was accompanied Israel Ludlow's Whitehead-powered "Flying Machine". The construction of that machine had been financed by the US Navy. It was displayed as a hydroplane in Jamestown (without the motor), then with wheels at the Gordon-Bennet & Scientific American events in October 1907 in St. Louis (which were part of the Expo). Also in October 1907, Whitehead was one of the lead speakers at a national aeronautical congress in New York. A Whitehead-Powered Airplane Took Off on the Smithsonian's Front Lawn Development of the Ludlow aircraft for the US Army Signal Corps.' trials at Fort Meyer continued until 1908. During tests just before the trials commenced, Ludlow's Whitehead-powered aircraft got briefly airborne. The test location was the front lawn of the Smithsonian Institute on the Washington Mall. The flight was only brief because the propeller shaft broke. Ludlow admitted ignoring Whitehead's advice about using the correct fly-wheel and had instead replaced it with a lighter one of less than half the correct weight. Alongside his brisk motor business, Whitehead took on aircraft construction jobs. One of his customers was Wild-West hero, Buffalo Jones, for whom he built an ornithopter. His main customer was "Scientific American"’s Aviation Editor, Stanley Yale Beach, whose father edited – and grandfather founded – that magazine. Beach was also co-founder of the New York Aeronautical Society. Whitehead built at least three aircraft for Beach. However, Beach had his own ideas about aircraft design. In one particular case, the two argued so vehemently that Beach had Whitehead arrested. The disagreement arose when Beach hacked off the upper wing of a biplane to make it a monoplane (which he believed would fly better). That led Whitehead to confiscate the engine – presumably for safety reasons. Ultimately, Beach did build a monoplane based on Bleriot's design. One of the three engines successively installed in it was a 4 cylinder, 25hp Whitehead engine. In another incident, Whitehead, his brother, John, and a certain William J. Snadecki built a 200hp, V8, engine for a racing boat (later developed into an aircraft engine) which Beach insisted on testing. John Whitehead wrote, Beach overrevved the engine and ended up sinking it and the boat it was on in Long Island Sound. (In unrelated incidents, Beach ran over and killed a pedestrian in Bridgeport, then refused support for his wife and child causing his father to cut off all funds, thus ending his aviation experiments.) A Beach aircraft was one of three Whitehead-built planes to compete at the very first air show of the New York Aeronautical Society in Morris Park in 1908. The second was built for Louis R. Adams, President of the Long Island Automobile Club and Vice President of both the New York Aeronautical Society and the Aero Club of America. And the third was built for Bridgeport resident, Howard Booth. In 1909, all winged, heavier-than-air aircraft in America were grounded by injunctions obtained by the Wright brothers to protect their patent. If an aviator wanted to continue flying his own aeroplane, he was required to buy a Wright License which cost more than $25,000. The only other legal option was to buy the Wrights' canard-biplane-pusherprop invention which most were unwilling to do – especially Glenn Curtiss. (Curtiss ended up ultimately taking over the Wright Aircraft company when it failed and modernizing its aircraft designs.) Whitehead’s final aircraft construction job was for a helicopter (which didn’t violate the Wrights’ patent). He built it for the President of the Aeronautical Society of America, Lee S. Burridge. That was shortly after he'd stopped flying altogether when, in 1910, the monoplane he was piloting crashed into a bridge, crushing his rib-cage. Starting in 1910, Whitehead’s motor business boomed all the more. He continued building motors for retail customers like C.S. Wilson, who successfully competed in events in his Whitehead-powered biplane. But he also wholesaled his engines to dealers and aircraft manufacturers. One of them was America’s first successful, commercial aircraft builder, Charles & Adolph (C. & A.) Wittemann. (Charles was co-founder of the New York Aeronautical Society). When asked later about Whitehead’s abilities as a motor-builder, Charles Wittemann described him as “a genius”. Both C.W.Miller’s & Barberton Aviation's aircraft, were built by C. & A. Wittemann and equipped with Whitehead motors. Other Whitehead motor dealers were Cleve Shaffer, President of the Pacific Aero Club and the West Coast’s first commercial aircraft builder, and Geo A. Lawrence, an international aircraft and aviation motor dealer who advertised Whitehead motors across the USA and even in Europe. (Lawrence also built a hydroplane powered by a Whitehead motor.) So far, over forty different types of Whitehead motors have been identified. A steam engine and parts of an eight-cylinder engine exist to this day. Whitehead’s daughter, Rose, remembers there were sometimes more orders for motors than she could hold in her hands when she fetched the mail. She also remembers her father returning more than 50 orders (including down-payment checks) on one single day due to overcapacity. Even Whitehead’s enemies grudgingly acknowledge his abilities as a motor builder. There are many hints as to where Whitehead’s motors were used in the years 1902-1915. In this regard, Whitehead research is at an early stage. However, that’s not the main issue. On October 15, 1964, Charles Wittemann made a written and tape-recorded statement under oath in which he declared he’d spent a week working alongside Whitehead in his Bridgeport workshop, had examined Whitehead’s 1901 aircraft and found it capable of performing the claimed flight. The significance of Wittemann’s statement is not only his personal knowledge of the facts but also his legal standing. Wittemann was appointed by US President, Woodrow Wilson, as America’ Chief Aviation Expert in WW1. His expert witness statement therefore has added evidentiary weight. Another aviation and motor expert, Carl Dienstbach, made an earlier examination of the same engine. Both reports are here. Although existing evidence eliminates any need for circumstantial corroboration, - the proven airworthiness of both the Whitehead engine and the Lilienthal wings employed in the No. 21 aircraft, and - successful flights of two replicas of the No. 21 (1986, USA and 1997, Germany) lend further support to Whitehead’s claim to have successfully flown such an aircraft in 1901. Whitehead pioneered powered flight and was prominent in early aviation In summary, Gustave Whitehead was instrumental in the transfer of Otto Lilienthal’s advanced aviation knowledge to the USA in 1895-6. In 1901, Whitehead built and flew the world’s first powered aircraft which, in various iterations, had three-axis control. And his motors played an important role in pre-WW1 US aviation. His 1902 decision to become a supplier rather than continue development of aircraft was based on his lack of funds and his devotion to his young family. Rather than detract from his legacy, it shows he was not only a talented inventor and mechanic but also a decent human being. History of Whitehead Critics The last eight decades brought forth the occasional Whitehead critic. For a nostalgic look back, click here.	131,905
- About Us The evolution of computing is characterized by a vertiginous acceleration of speed and capacity. As we install sophisticated applications and make use of computers in more creative ways, storage needs are pushed even further. You can improve your disk performance by using a RAID-enabled desktop system running common OSS applications. A typical hard drive is 100 times slower than memory while reading sequential blocks of data. If the data is scattered across the disk, the performance becomes even worse. Add multi-tasking to the equation, and the typical computer will start showing little progress on the screen. Fortunately, Linux makes Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks (RAID) accessible on the desktop, even for cost-conscious users. To see how RAID can improve performance, I created a test rig out of an average desktop machine with two identical Serial ATA hard drives. The results are shown in the table below. \|Processor\|\|AMD BE-2400 (Dual Core, 2.3 GHz)\| \|Motherboard\|\|MSI K9MM-V (Micro ATX, 2 SATA 1.5 GHz channels)\| \|Memory\|\|2 x 1 GB, OCZ Dual Channel DDR2 800\| \|Hard Drive\|\|2 x 160 GB, Hitachi Deskstar 7K250\| \|OS/Desktop\|\|Kubuntu 7.10 32-bit, KDE 3.5.8\| \|Productivity\|\|OpenOffice.org 2.3, Firefox 220.127.116.11\| \|Development\|\|KDevelop 3.5.0, GCC/G++ 4.1.3\| \|Multimedia\|\|Kino 1.1.0, Gwenview 1.4.1\| To better understand the benefits of a RAID, I looked at the performance of a KDE-based Linux desktop using three different disk configurations: The goal is to evaluate performance gains of a two-disk configuration (2 and 3) over a single-disk setup (1). Using each of the three configurations, I performed a series of disk-intensive tasks and measured the total execution time. The selected tasks represent operations that need to be repeated on a regular basis by three categories of users: In theory, you can double sequential reads using a two-disk mirrored array. You can also double sequential writes by making it a striped array. In practice, the real-world performance gain is much smaller in most areas. As you can see on the Productivity Results chart (Figure 1), the total system startup time is reduced by 12 seconds for both dual disk setups, which is not bad if you are in a rush to check the local weather before leaving for work in the morning. But the best improvement comes when you're running more than one disk-intensive operation at the same time. In that situation, the performance gains are astonishing. Rather than waiting for the browser to start for almost a minute, you can have a Web browser up and running in 8 seconds while some other programs are intensively searching for data. The mirrored array has a clear advantage for multiple reads. This is in line with the theory; the same data can be found on two independent disks. The system can therefore distribute concurrent read operations thus significantly improving the overall performance. Software is rarely assembled from large blocks of data; it is usually spread across multiple small files to increase the readability of source code. For that reason, there is little to be gained from a striped setup because that configuration works better for sequential reads. Mirroring, on the other hand, could prove more useful for development tasks that run multiple operations in parallel. With the exception of the full compilation, none of the development tasks I ran is multithreaded, so only small performance gains are apparent on the chart (Figure 2). Even the full compilation doesn't show a big improvement because it is CPU-intensive and the disk is seldom being accessed during the test. The test results could have been different if more tasks were simulated at once, such as loading files while a large project is being compiled. It is also possible that a quad-core CPU could benefit more from a dual-disk array during the full compilation. Home video editing is a rewarding hobby, but since uncompressed video requires huge amounts of disk space, the performance of the storage system is critical to quick execution. With inadequate disk throughput, videos will load and save for extended periods of time, distracting you from the task at hand. In the content creation arena, the RAID 0 striped array contender is the hands-down winner. As you can see on the Multimedia Results chart (Figure 3), videos will save in half the time, and you can browse years of digital photography in a snap. The chart shows less benefit for RAID 0 in creating DVDs because it is a CPU-intensive process. But once you are satisfied with the movie, you can relax while Kino is creating and burning the DVD. My tests show a significant improvement with dual-disk desktop performance. The performance gain is more significant in some areas, such as video editing. If you store large amounts of data and need to load it on a frequent basis, you will benefit from RAID configuration for a little extra investment in hardware. It is strongly recommended that you use identical disks for an array -- so for your next upgrade or new desktop computer purchase, order two hard drives instead of one. In choosing a configuration, you should consider several factors. For instance, for valuable data, you should think twice before choosing a striped array. RAID 0 is less reliable than a single disk setup: you will lose your data if either of the disks fails. For this reason, if striping works best for you, frequent backups are a must. On the other hand, you can also mix and match both configurations. You could set up a mirrored array for the operating system and most of your user directory, and a striped array for temporary work folders that have a need for speed. Simon Kaczor is a software developer who lives in Roanoke, VA. He has been an avid Linux fan since v0.99.	304,283

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