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Every cell in our bodies contains water, and we need a constant supply to stay alive and healthy. We can do without food for a surprising period of time if we must, but we survive only a few days—3 to 4 in hot weather—without water. When we are dehydrated, our kidneys begin to shut down, our heart races, our body temperature rises, and our electrolytes get out of balance, causing fuzzy vision and thinking (making it even harder to find sources of water). How much water do we need to store? Whatever kind of emergency arises, we soon realize that clean, drinkable water is the most important substance we need. At least one gallon per person per day is recommended—not only for drinking, but for cooking and hygiene. It’s wise to store at least two weeks’ worth (14 gallons) for each person in your household. What kind of containers are best? Water is heavy—8 lbs. per gallon. It’s great to have a couple of 55-gallon barrels for sheltering in place—but once filled, they can’t be moved. If you had time in an emergency situation, you could siphon some of that water into 1 or 5-gallon containers to take with you. We suggest, however, that you store some water in small, portable containers that you can grab and go in case of an evacuation order. Keep some in your car for unforeseen situations. Here is a list of the types of containers that work best for water storage: - You can purchase water in small boxes—AquaBlox or Datrex metallized (Mylar-type) pouches for total convenience. - Be sure that whatever containers you choose are BPA-free, Polyethylene-based plastics or those numbered #1, #2, or #4, or “Mylar” are safe for water storage. It is true, however, that plastic is porous (even though it doesn't appear to be), and eventually allows the water to absorb odors and tastes from the environment. Because of this permeability factor, we do not recommend using plastic milk bottles or similar bottled-water plastic gallon jugs for long-term water storage. Another reason is that they usually allow light through, and light encourages growth of any microorganisms that might be present. It’s difficult to get all bacteria out of a milk jug, for example. - For your personal water bottle that you carry with you, be sure it also is BPA-free. If it’s marked with a #1, “PETE,” or “PET,” it should be fine. Water Barrels and Combos - Large, shelter-in-place storage containers start with the 160-gallon reserve. It is made from an enhanced plastic which is BPA-free, UV resistant, and non-permeable, and which has a faucet for easy access. These can be stacked two-high. - Our water barrels (55-gallon, 30-gallon, and 15-gallon) are made from thick, durable food-grade plastic, blue in color to limit light-exposure and discourage bacterial and algae growth. - You will need a siphon and a bung wrench to fill and access these barrels. For both the barrels and the 160-gallon reserve, it’s advisable to place them on a wooden pallet rather than a cement floor, and away from sunlight. Portable water containers and Aqua pods - Several other portable water containers are available as well, including 5-gallon Mylar-type bags which are good for short or long-term storage, and jugs with handles and spouts which are useful in case you must carry water from your large container to your kitchen or fetch water home from another source such as an emergency relief truck. - A unique, temporary water storage device is the AquaPod Kit—a giant bladder that fits into your bathtub and holds 65 gallons of clean water. This is excellent when a hurricane is threatening, or when you know ahead of time that your water supply is going to be cut off a while for repairs. How long does water keep? Since water (unlike food) does not “go bad” or expire, you can safely store it for an indefinite period of time in clean, appropriate containers. It can, however, become contaminated if chemicals or microorganisms get in, so there are ways to treat and purify it—see our next blog on that subject! If it makes you feel better, you can rotate your water supply every year or two to be sure it’s still good. Any “stale” taste in stored water can be quickly overcome by pouring some back and forth between glasses or pitchers to re-introduce oxygen into it. However you choose to store water, it’s a gift to your present peace-of-mind as well as a protection against possible dehydration—and in any emergency situation in which your water supply was disrupted or contaminated, you and your family would be very glad for your foresight!	184,403
It's wonderful what percentage of them are promising fast weight reduction without any effort. One of them even guarantees that their new ‘super tonic ‘ is the new fountain of anti-aging. The sole real Fountain of Youth ( at least, the nearest thing we’ve found ) is EXERCISE. It appears that our doctor was right, the Surgeon General was right, the North American Medical organisation was right, and your old coach was right too. From miracle tablets to the newest trend diet, the gimmicks just keep coming. Even less will end in real, permanent and lasting weight reduction. For example consider the prescription diet drug Meridia. Is it able to kill you? The solution to this query looks to be a scared ‘maybe ‘. Here’s a educational piece on Weight Loss. Even before Meridia was given approval for sale, the FDA knew it may increase users ‘ blood pressure, the group said. Before taking part in any exercise plan or activity, you must find the guidance of your surgeon or other qualified health pro.	258,916
Join millions of students and instructors in the world’s largest online learning marketplace. French for all language learners, from beginners to advanced. 80 million of French speakers are native speakers. In total, more than 220 millions of people speak French worldwide. French is a romance language, an official language in 29 countries, such as France, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Congo, Mali, Senegal and it is spoken on every continent. It is the European Union’s fourth-most widely spoken mother tongue. The number of French speakers is expected to reach 700 million by 2050, mostly in West and North Africa.	212,943
News Releases from Region 4 EPA Approves Redesignation of Atlanta Area to Attainment for Ozone Release Date: 12/02/2013 Contact Information: Dawn Harris Young, (404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main), email@example.com ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it is taking final action to approve the state of Georgia’s request to redesignate the Atlanta area to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone standard. This action is based on air quality monitoring data for the three-year period of 2008, 2009, and 2010 that meets the standard. The area continues to attain this standard. “This is a great accomplishment for the Atlanta area, a product of strong collaboration among government, the business community, environmental organizations and ordinary citizens." said Acting EPA Regional Administrator Stan Meiburg. "Together with our partners at the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, we look forward to continued progress in improving Atlanta's air quality." The Atlanta area has made significant progress in improving air quality. This progress is a result of hard work and great cooperation among local, state and federal agencies, private partners and the over four million Georgians who live and work in the Atlanta area. The Atlanta area impacted by this proposed action includes the following 20 counties: Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton. “All of metropolitan Atlanta can be proud of this major accomplishment. Everyone should be applauded, from citizens who keep their vehicles in good running condition to industries and power plants that have invested in improved emission controls,” said Judson H. Turner, Director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. “It has taken many years, but the results are cleaner air and a healthier place to live and work.” Ground level or "bad" ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. Emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents are some of the major sources of NOx and VOC. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Ground level ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissue. For more information on the Atlanta area proposed 1997 8-hour ozone redesignation, visit docket number EPA-R04-OAR-2012-0986 at www.regulations.gov. Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4 And on Twitter: @USEPASoutheast	53,268
Adventures with primary documents, sustainability-analysis edition This chart, from the European Commission’s debt sustainability analysis of Greece, has been doing the rounds today. I posted it last night, and it got picked up by Joe Weisenthal as his chart of the day; it’s a very striking visualization of the degree to which the Greece bailout plan lies somewhere between optimistic and delusional. I’m happy to say that Reuters was the first organization to get its hands on this analysis. At 4:21 EST, we ran our exclusive story, by Jan Strupczewski in Brussels, with the headline that Greek debt would still be 160% of GDP in the European Commission’s downside scenario. Jan took the 2,800-word analysis, and its wealth of charts and tables, and boiled it down into a 965-word story which was avidly read by news consumers around the world. Later on, the FT’s Peter Spiegel also got his hands on the Commission’s analysis. His story ran at 6:15 EST, and was even shorter, at 566 words. Necessarily, both stories cut out material from the original report, and as it happens neither of them mentioned the sharp uptick in future GDP growth. The first place I saw that was at Alphaville, with an anonymous post timestamped 02:44 GMT (someone was up late), which was 9:44 EST. “The baseline scenario in the report forecasts 4.3 per cent decrease in GDP this year,” said Alphaville, “followed by flat growth in 2013 and 2.3 per cent growth in 2014.” Clearly they had the analysis themselves, since those figures weren’t being reported anywhere else at the time. But it wasn’t until 10:47 EST that the report finally appeared online, at Zero Hedge, allowing me to write my post. The Zero Hedge post has now reached 20,000 pageviews — a very big story by ZH standards. Once the analysis was freely available online, it started propagating elsewhere, too: Alphaville (which, remember, had had access to it six hours earlier) finally posted it at 08:49 GMT, or 3:49am EST. The analysis is very well written, clearly by a native English speaker: There is a fundamental tension between the program objectives of reducing debt and improving competitiveness, in that the internal devaluation needed to restore Greece competitiveness will inevitably lead to a higher debt to GDP ratio in the near term. In this context, a scenario of particular concern involves internal devaluation through deeper recession (due to continued delays with structural reforms and with fiscal policy and privatization implementation). This would result in a much higher debt trajectory, leaving debt as high as 160 percent of GDP in 2020. Given the risks, the Greek program may thus remain accident-prone, with questions about sustainability hanging over it. As such, I think it’s fair to say that the analysis itself was intrinsically superior to any of the news reports written about it. Given the choice between reading the Reuters story, or the FT story, or the primary document, virtually all market participants would plump for the primary document. And yet neither Reuters nor the FT posted the document when they got their hands on it, preferring instead to simply write it up in their own words. Zero Hedge got the document more than six hours after Reuters did, but still gets all the glory of being the first site to post it. There are three lessons here. The first is that reporters still don’t like posting primary documents, for various possible reasons. They might be worried about being sued for copyright violation, or they might have promised their source they wouldn’t post the document. More generally, reporters tend not to want to give away to their competitors information which they worked very hard to obtain. And as such, they’re often perfectly happy to promise not to post such documents: because they didn’t really want to in the first place. The second is that legacy news organizations like Reuters and the FT still don’t think digitally: the unit of news is always the story, rather than, say, a primary document in PDF form. So if you obtain a primary document, the first thing you do is turn it into a story, rather than simply letting that document be the story. Finally, it’s silly to assume that reporters are going to be particularly expert at extracting all the germane information from a report when they write it up. Especially when you’ve had a very long day, it’s late at night, you’re under time pressure, and you are looking at the document from a particular, inside-baseball perspective. Sometimes, reporters can add value when they write up primary documents, by putting them in perspective and in plain English. Other times, they miss important things. Either way, posting the document itself along with the write-up can only make the news story richer and more valuable. Even if doing so also helps the competition.	295,900
Marijuana Use May Increase The Risk of Testicular Cancer According to a study conducted at the University of Southern California (USC) and published in the Cancer Journal, marijuana increases the risk of testicular cancer. These findings draw an alarm signal regarding marijuana use for both therapeutic and recreational purposes. Studies on the link between marijuana and testicular cancer have been also conducted in the past, and the discovery made by researchers at the University of Southern California confirms this connection. Testicular cancer compared with other cancer types, has aÂ good prognosis, but it seems that marijuana leads to a more agressive subtype of testicular cancer. Testicular cancer occurs in people aged between 20 and 40 years and it seems that environmental factors play a key role. To see if marijuana has any role in causing this type of cancer, Victoria Cortessis and other researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, investigated 163 young men who had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. They were compared with a control group consisting of 292 healthy men. The two groups compared wereÂ of the same race and same age. Researchers found that those who used marijuana had a higher risk of developing two specific types of testicular cancer associated with a worse prognosis (with non-seminomaÂ and mixed germ cell tumors). Although it is unknown exactly how marijuana cause cancer, CortessisÂ believes that marijuana induces carcinogenesisÂ throughÂ the endocannabinoid system. What is even more interesting is that scientists found that those who used cocaine had lower risk of developing these two types of testicular cancer (non-seminomaÂ germ cell tumors and mixed). It looks like cocaine destroys sperm-producing cells of the testis, an effect shown in laboratory animal experiments. So cocaine induces infertility. However, Cortessis noted that epidemiological studies are needed to verify this hypothesis. “We do not know what marijuana triggers in the testis that may lead to carcinogenesis, although we speculate that it may be acting through the endocannabinoid systemâthe cellular network that responds to the active ingredient in marijuanaâsince this system has been shown to be important in the formation of sperm,” said Cortessis.	224,695
Many people recall that John Maynard Keynes characterized “practical men” as being the “slaves of some defunct economist.” Fewer people recall that Keynes accorded political philosophers equal weight in influencing the opinions of those practical men. I note this to justify why I spent several hours of my spare time reading the political philosopher John Tomasi’s new book Free Market Fairness, which according to the blurb “offers a bold new way of thinking about politics, economics, and justice—one that will challenge readers on both the left and right.” It’s also why I now feel compelled to spend a bit more time recommending it to others and outlining why I think it’s important. As Tomasi himself notes in the book, political philosophy is not like mathematics, an exercise in pure thought divorced from everyday considerations. Politics is the mechanism by which some individuals and groups acquire and exercise power over others in pursuit of their own interests. Political philosophy in some sense is then just a special case of the general contention that we reason not to discover truth but in order to convince others: Its goal is to furnish plausible arguments as to why the institutions of society should be arranged to some people’s liking and not to others’. However political philosophy can also serve a higher goal of pointing to more productive and congenial ways of managing those political conflicts that will inevitably arise, and more effective ways of evolving the institutions of society to “establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”—to quote the Constitution created by politicians influenced by the defunct political philosopher John Locke. In general I see Free Market Fairness as being written in service of this higher goal, as part of a “research program” (as Tomasi puts it) to explore new and better ways to meet the political, economic, and related challenges of the 21st century. As Thomas P.M. Barnett emphasizes, we are partway through the decades-long project of integrating billions of people into the global economy, raising their standard of living and opening up new opportunities for personal freedom and fulfillment.1 We also look to technological and economic innovation to help address predicted crises related to climate change and resource depletion, among others. Historically liberal democracies with free market economies have proved best at meeting such challenges, as evidenced by their surviving and thriving while other systems did not. However such societies face their own internal challenges in mustering the political will and skill to effectively promote globalization and innovation: As more people participate in the global economy, their entry into the labor force supporting globally-integrated supply chains erodes the wage premium that many workers in more developed countries were previously able to command, contributing to stagnation in the growth of those workers’ real incomes. This trend is made worse by technological advances that enable software to increasingly substitute for people, extending the possibility of wage stagnation from unskilled and semi-skilled workers to college-educated middle-class professionals.2 Finally, the global economy of “real work” is tied to a complex global financial system prone to periodic crises, crises which further increase the stress and instability placed on the bulk of the population not part of the global economic elite. These trends imperil the project of innovation-fueled globalization: Why should people support policies that may make the world better in the long run but leave themselves worse off (at least in the short run)? And how should politicians respond to these concerns: With a simple reiteration of the joys of capitalism and a dismissal of concerns about the disruptions the future might bring? Or with a call to slow down or even turn away from globalization and economic growth and innovation? Both of these seem insufficient to the situation in which we find ourselves. Or perhaps there is another option: Pursue growth, innovation, and globalization through policies that promote a dynamic market economy, but do so in a way that limits the stress placed on those likely to be adversely impacted by the changes associated with such dynamism, and helps ensure that changes in the global economy will benefit the many and not just the few. Free Market Fairness can be seen as providing the philosophical underpinnings for such a project. In the coming week the folks at the Bleeding Heart Libertarians blog will be hosting an online symposium on Free Market Fairness. If past experience is any indication they’ll be focusing most closely on the details of Tomasi’s philosophical arguments. If I have time I’ll give my own layperson’s take on Tomasi’s ideas and how likely it is that they’ll have any impact in the real world of politics. See for example Barnett’s column “In Globalized World, Time is On America’s Side”, his book Great Powers: America and the World After Bush, or the full “World according to Tom Barnett” brief on YouTube.↩ For a brief and relatively optimistic discussion of this trend see Marc Andreessen’s column “Why Software is Eating the World” in the Wall Street Journal; for a more nuanced book-length treatment see Race Against the Machine by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee. See also Venkatesh Rao’s Forbes column “The Rise of Developeronomics” for interesting thoughts on software developers as the key factor of production in this new world.↩	244,459
The Irish Times view on the Australia fires: The horror and the pain What is happening in Australia will become increasingly common elsewhere without aggressively combating climate disruption A kangaroo rushes past a burning house in Lake Conjola, Australia, on Tuesday. Photograph: Matthew Abbott/The New York Times The world is reacting with horror as much of Australia suffers from the ravages of wildfires that look set to worsen in coming weeks. Driven by high temperatures and fierce winds, bushfires continue to sweep through southern New South Wales and eastern Victoria. The toll is all too apparent in the many lives lost and the destruction of homes and wildlife. Whole towns in Gippsland and the south coast have been razed. Dense smoke enveloping vast tracts of land has made the rescuing of many thousands of people, who fled to the coastline, precarious. Meanwhile, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison seems increasingly ill-equipped in dealing with the unfolding disaster. He is overly sensitive to criticism, and he persists with his distinct form of climate science denial. He hates negative publicity and tends to react to it by attacking his critics. The fears of those needing to be evacuated, sensing there is no let-up, are palpable. Conditions are set to worsen yet again over the weekend with predicted temperatures of well over 40 degrees. The past few weeks provide further confirmation climate change is making Australian wildfires larger and more frequent due to the dryness of plantations, thereby creating conditions for dreaded “fire weather”. Australia's leader Scott Morrison is perpetuating an environmental fraud Australia’s climate has warmed by more than 1 degree over the past century, leading to an increase in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. Central Australia is becoming too hot to live in, even for resilient Aboriginal people who have lived there for centuries. What’s more, the continent is home to some of the most important ecosystems on the planet, including the Great Barrier Reef, which are already showing decline caused by ever-increasing emissions. Morrison has been condemned for his intransigence and dogged defending of plans to open new coal mines – Australia already produces a third of global coal exports – while insisting the country will meet its promised emissions reductions. He is perpetuating an environmental fraud, whereby the emissions impact, known as the carbon budget, is applied to countries that buy Australian coal. Politicians and climate activists around the globe have expressed solidarity with those experiencing devastation, and cite the wildfires as evidence of the here-and-now climate emergency. What is happening in Australia will become increasingly common elsewhere without aggressively combating climate disruption, adapting for the inevitable consequences of a warming world and transforming energy systems away from fossil fuels. Big economies such as Australia, the US and Brazil have set a firm course of fossil fuel expansion for the next decade, but the decarbonisation imperative could not be clearer.	248,656
The reasons why clients opt to set up trusts in Malta as opposed to other jurisdictions are various. To mention a few: - Malta, whilst being a civil law jurisdiction, has a fully fledged trust law that has been in place since the late 80’s. In addition, - Malta has also ratified the Hague Convention on the Law applicable to Trusts and their Recognition. - Trusts are available to non-residents and residents alike. - Trusts in Malta are considered to be transparent for tax purposes, in the sense that income attributable to a trust is not charged in the hands of the trustee if it is distributed to the beneficiaries. - Additionally, a trust with non-resident settlors, beneficiaries and assets are generally not subject to tax in Malta. - Moreover, a trust may opt, in certain cases, to be taxed as a company with the benefits of being so taxed when taking into consideration Malta’s attractive corporate tax regime and double tax treaty. Provided that all the requisite documentation and information mentioned below is in place (including the receipt of the trust property) and provided further that the Instrument of Trust and Letter of Wishes are finalised and executed by the parties concerned, the trusts may be set up in one day. For the purposes of the preparation of the Instrument of Trust as well as the Letter of Wishes, we would require the full identification details (i.e full name, passport number, residential address) of both the settlor and the beneficiaries of each Trust as well as full details of the nature of the trust property. You may wish to note that trust property may consist of as little as one Euro/USD. In so far as the due diligence documents are concerned, we would require further documents on behalf of both the settlor and the beneficiaries. Kindly note that the beneficiaries will not be required to provide us with the due diligence documents until the trustee exercises its discretion in their favour. Position of Protector of the Trust The reader may wish to note that Maltese legislation provides for the appointment of a protector in Article 24A of the Trusts and Trustees Act, Chapter 331 of the Laws of Malta (‘the Act’). The Article also provides that subject to the terms of the trust the protector shall have the following powers: - to appoint a new or additional trustee; - to remove a trustee; - to require the trustee to obtain his discretion. The Act only sets out general parameters for the appointment of a protector and therefore the actual terms and conditions of appointment of the protector are up to the parties involved. It is also common for our clients to nominate an individual to act as a protector on their trusts. Put simply, a protector’s role is principally to safeguard the interests of the settlor as well as those of the beneficiaries. Taxation applicable to Trusts Where the income ‘attributable to a trust’ consists of income arising outside Malta or is made up of interest, discount, premium or royalties, or gains or profits on the disposal of units in a collective investment scheme and the beneficiaries are persons not ordinarily resident in Malta or not domiciled in Malta, it shall be deemed that such income is not income attributable to the trust but rather income directly derived by such beneficiaries. Even when the income arises outside Malta but is received in Malta by the trustee, it shall be considered that such income has been received in Malta by such beneficiaries. In this instance, the trustee will notify the beneficiaries of such income and shall also inform them of his duties under the income tax acts. When the income attributable to a trust comprises solely: - Income arising outside Malta - Interest, premiums, discounts and royalties - Dividends distributed out of profits allocated to the foreign income account - Dividends form profits of an international trading company and - All the beneficiaries under the trust are persons not resident in Malta, provided that the trustee issues a certificate to this effect, it shall be deemed that such income does not constitute income attributable to the trust but income which has been derived directly by the non-resident beneficiaries. This structure would be tax transparent in the sense that the trustee would be able to claim all tax refunds on behalf of the non-resident/domiciled beneficiaries as if same were to be claimed directly by them AND naturally said refunds would not be subject to the investment income provisions. A Qualified Person needs to be appointed by an overseas trust which is not authorised by the Maltese Authorities holding: - Securities in a Maltese company, - Interest in securities in a Maltese company - Immovable property in Malta Given that the Maltese Authorities have no control over the overseas Trust, such qualified person will act as the local representative and intermediary between the non-resident trustee and the Authority. The responsibility of the Qualified Person is to ensure that due compliance with local legislation is maintained.	52,930
All the buzz There is so much buzz about machine learning and AI today. With the estimated spend of 1.2 trillion to 2 trillion in supply chain and manufacturing, businesses are encouraged to use these new techniques to modernize their operations and remain competitive. We spent the last decade collecting data. Now is the time to use it right? However, there are few who can identify an area where they have used it to solve a quantifiable problem, successfully. We’ve learned that machine learning can help manufacturing with predictive analytics, preventative maintenance, demand forecasting, etc… How do we get down to doing it? Hype vs Reality Let’s briefly talk about Artificial Intelligence(AI) vs Machine Learning. AI is a more advanced form of machine learning where the machine uses large sets of data and changes the algorithm based on intelligence aka learning. That’s when we start training a machine to start thinking more like a human – This is no easy task though because human beings are said to be irrational in their decision making. Decades of psychological research has shown, most people (and probably most philosophers too) are pretty irrational in their decision-making. For example, in 2014 the Hong Kong based investment firm Deep Knowledge Ventures made headlines about bringing in an AI algorithm as a board member mostly as a veto mechanism. Today, the company no longer uses the algorithm because big strategy decisions are based on intuition says Brian Uzzi. Largely because we don’t have enough data to make the “more human” decision. The majority of businesses today are using machine learning ( where the program does not morph an algorithm) to solve complex business problems. No magic bullets yet… The reality is that problem solving still matters. There are no magic bullets. We need to close the loop between business and technology by having technologists understand the business goals and outcomes so instead of picking the tools that are hyped, they will choose the right technology for the business. Monica Rogati had an interesting article about the AI pyramid. She says, “Think of AI as the top of a pyramid of needs. Yes, self-actualization (AI) is great, but you first need food, water and shelter (data literacy, collection and infrastructure).” Step 1 . Defining the problem is 90% of the heavy lifting (Discovery) As with any technology, this is the first step to a successful outcome. Define the problem we are trying to solve. A Discovery or Assessment is what most technology firms call the process of trying to isolate and validate the problem area. Make it measurable and try to add a price tag or cost to it. This helps validate the need for the tool. When Bob says this problem costs the company $100,000.00 and he can have it fixed for $80000.00, that’s an easier sell to Katie the CFO. Step 2. Roadmap (Ideate) – Refer to AI pyramid Once we have the problem defined, then comes the next step of where can we find the data? How do we collect it? What’s the hardware we use (if any)? How do we store it? A large part of this portion is working with subject matter experts to validate the solutions against the defined problems. This stage involves low cost ideation where you use simple tools (whiteboard, sticky note, Miro) to communicate an idea across effectively. Questions about where we store the data (on prem or in the cloud), security of that data, the cost related, can all be discussed at a high level. Step 3. Software Implementation Most times this involves setting up applications that collect data. They can be connected devices, mobile devices or IoT devices. These devices then collect the data and push into a storage, either within premises or in the cloud. Data privacy and security come into play when implementing this layer. The infrastructure for software development environments for developing, testing, staging and production are built for continuous integration and continuous deployment. (Full CI/CD pipelines). How do we transform the data? How do we manage the data integrity? How do we identify and remove the outliers? How do we start versioning the models (machine learning algorithms) used? Step 4. Validate to drive trust and reliability In a world where everything is fast paced and we want to keep moving on to the next best thing, it’s easy to pay less attention to this step. Especially because it may seem mundane but it is crucial. How do we test and validate the models? It’s not an easy task to pay attention to detail. We need people who specialize in modeling and validating. I would say doing this right is very critical to building end user trust in the system. The reliability of the data and the data model is central to the success of this project. The pyramid is an important fixture in this article. Paying attention to the infrastructure and being able to collect the right data, matters. If we can shorten the time needed to make changes to the implementation of steps down the pyramid so we are gathering the most insightful data in the top, that means we are making real progress. I want to thank Delbert Cope, the CTO of Blue Newt Software for sharing some amazing stories, learnings and ideas for this article. This article features information from the September 2019 issue of Fortune’s article, Learning to Love the Bot – Managers Need to Understand A.I. Logic Before Using it as a Business Tool. The artwork used is Nemanja Rosic’s 2011 piece called Epilogue. Acrylic on alluminum.	284,186
Read books online at our other site: The Literature Page Quotations by Subject - Be thou the first true merit to befriend, his praise is lost who stays till all commend. - Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744) - There are two modes of establishing our reputation: to be praised by honest men, and to be abused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the former, because it will invariably be accompanied by the latter. - Charles Caleb Colton (1780 - 1832) - Such praise coming from so degraded a source, was degrading to me, its recipient. - Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC) - He who praises you for what you lack wishes to take from you what you have. - Don Juan Manuel (1282 - 1349) - It is a sign of a creeping inner death when we no longer can praise the living. - Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983) - The meanest, most contemptible kind of praise is that which first speaks well of a man, and then qualifies it with a "but". - Henry Ward Beecher (1813 - 1887) - Praise the young and they will flourish. - Irish Proverb - The praise that comes from love does not make us vain, but more humble. - James M. Barrie (1860 - 1937) - You do ill if you praise, but worse if you censure, what you do not understand. - Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519) - We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. - Mark Twain (1835 - 1910), Mark Twain's Autobiography - Don't discuss yourself, for you are bound to lose; if you belittle yourself, you are believed; if you praise yourself, you are disbelieved. - Michel de Montaigne (1533 - 1592) - Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity. - Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784) - Be not too hasty either with praise or blame; speak always as though you were giving evidence before the judgement-seat of the Gods. - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD) - You can tell the character of every man when you see how he receives praise. - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD), Epistles - Praise from the common people is generally false, and rather follows the vain than the virtuous. - Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626) - Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile. - Sir Wilfred Grenfell (1865 - 1940) - If a man is proud of his wealth, he should not be praised until it is known how he employs it. - Socrates (469 BC - 399 BC) - Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults. - Socrates (469 BC - 399 BC) - Their silence is sufficient praise. - Terence (185 BC - 159 BC) - I do not confer praise or blame: I accept. I am the measure of all things. I am the centre of the world. - W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965), 'Of Human Bondage', 1915 - People ask for criticism, but they only want praise. - W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965), "Of Human Bondage", 1915 - I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings. - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)	285,555
With its finances in relatively good order and abundant resources, this country looks like nirvana to economically beleaguered eurozone Spain has been gripped by protests against further austerity With most of Europe trapped in a bleak cycle of economic deterioration and despair, Stephen Harper's assertion that Canada is "a great nation rising" has a special resonance here today. "Canada is No. 1," the editor of France's usually patriotic L'Express magazine gushed in a special edition this month that encouraged its readers to emigrate not only to Quebec but to every corner of the country. Similar thoughts have been expressed by many ordinary Europeans during a trip I just took by rail and sea from Greece, Italy and Spain to Ger-many, Norway, France and Britain. Word is filtering out that Canada is one of the few western countries with solid finances and an optimistic long-term economic outlook. Canada has never presumed that it was or could be the economic equal or superior of Spain or Italy, let alone France, Britain or Germany. But with much of Europe in what looks like terminal decline, and Asia keen to purchase staggering amounts of Canadian natural resources, one way or another Canada is going to end up with a more influential role in the world. The crushing 10-and 13-digit numbers (billions and trillions) that describe Europe's stupendous debt have begun to have an effect. Canada's books - while hardly pristine - are far cleaner than those of every European country except Nor-way and perhaps Germany. The Bank of Canada trimmed its growth estimates for the country a bit this week, but this is like a hiccup compared to the squeeze that Europe's contracting economies face. Recent headlines from European newspapers hint at the storm: "Spain is in the danger zone." "Eurozone is warned 4.5-mil-lion jobs are at risk." "Spain is bigger, scarier and harder to solve than Greece." "Britain facing zero economic growth." "Hollande paints bleak picture of French economy." "Monti says Italy faces war." "Italian debt still hangs in the balance." "Portugal: Please switch off the lights when you leave." There are so many dire fore-casts out there today about so many different countries that it is impossible to track or measure them all. Or their dramatic consequences for pensioners and on schools and hospitals. The British army is losing 20,000 soldiers and must abandon or amalgamate many of its storied regiments. Hospitals were closed in Portugal for several days last week because of strikes by medical staff protesting health care and wage cuts. France's Peugeot is to close one of its biggest car manufacturing plants. Bargain-hunting Chinese are buying prime vineyards and much else at discounted prices across the continent. Qatar - whose women appear in very conservative Islamic dress in public - is purchasing Italy's Valentino design house. Rich families from Greece and Italy are boosting already sky-high real estate prices in London's fanciest boroughs as they scramble to find a comfortable bolt hole for themselves and their fortunes. The top civil servant in Britain, where the debt will reach more than $2 trillion in four years, claims a decade of spending cuts is coming. Life is grand in oil-and gas-rich Norway. Danes are thriving. Germans are doing well, too, although they are full of angst over how so many of the European Union cousins have designs on their money. The south is a wreck everywhere, with youth unemployment at catastrophic levels. Many, per-haps most, businesses that still survive there are reeling. The fear - and it is expressed more often now than when I was in Europe six months ago - is not whether but when Europe turns from anger to mayhem. Frustration is already spilling over in Athens. Despite a huge, constant police presence, there have been riots. Economic and genuine refugees from the Third World have become easy initial targets of right-wing extremists. Twice earlier this week in Madrid, I was trapped in whistle-blowing flash mobs. As riot police watched and followed, thousands of protesters marched down the Gran Via and through the grand plazas of this imperial city, declaring their opposition to drastic austerity measures announced last week to lower Spain's budget deficit by $80 billion. The unwelcome calculations include a hike to 21 per cent of what Canadians would call the GST; sharp cuts to unemployment benefits; and an across-the-board seven-per-cent cut in civil service wages that includes King Juan Carlos I and his family. In an ominous new development, many individuals are to lose their savings, having trusted their money to banks that made improvident investments. Some economists believe Europe has not yet gone nearly far enough to address its problems. Others are convinced that spending more money is the only way out of the crisis. Whichever school is right, there is general agreement that the continent's downward arc has only just begun. It is inevitable that Canada - by virtue of relatively prudent fiscal management and nature's generous bounty - will take on greater responsibilities and have more influence because it is one of the few western bulwarks in a time of widespread economic gloom.	148,554
In 1464, we find Scanderbeg in a position to disturb the armed repose of Mahomet. The latter sent his best generals as usual, but as usual, only to hear of their defeat, with incalculable slaughter. At last, the haughty conqueror determined to go himself, at the head of the most numerous and best equipped army his dominions could furnish, against Scanderbeg. This vast host was divided into two divisions. One, two hundred thousand strong, advanced upon Krujë. Another still more formidable commanded by the sultan in person, followed. Slowly, but in steady conquest, this immense array spread over the land, subduing, as in the time of Amurath, fortress after fortress; and at last, leaving not a particle of ground for Scanderbeg to stand on, but his capital. The first army was met by a handful of hardy Catholic mountaineers, who never deserted their leader; and again, to the wonder of the world, was utterly routed with terrific slaughter. Even as Amurath, so the proud and might Mahomet, had in humiliation and shame, to withdraw the remnant of his shattered forces from Albania. This was in 1464. Scanderbeg, worn out with twenty-four years incessant fighting, was drawing to the close of his career. He felt that the shadow of death was upon him, and he made the last arrangements for his country with care, as became a faithful Christian. Knowing that when he should be gone, his beloved sanctuary of Our Lady in Scutari, could not resist the Turks, he handed it over for safekeeping to the Catholic Republic of Venice. He went and prayed there for the last time, and then, though exhausted, he took again to the mountains for the defense of his people. In January 1467, we find him in the city of Lezhë spent and dying, but dying the death of the just. He that never feared death in the field, knew well how to meet it upon his couch of infirmity. He was recollected and calm. All his thoughts were directed to eternity. His last confession was made. For the last time he received the holy Viaticum. The holy Unction had been applied to all the senses of his body. The last blessing of the Church, which from its Supreme head to its lowest member, loved him tenderly, was pronounced upon him. The brave men who followed him to victory so often, wept like little children, as they encircled his bed. There was sorrow deep in Lezhë; wailing over all the valleys and hills of Albania. Our Lady of Good Counsel of Genazzano The shadow of death seemed to be upon the land. Castriota [Scanderbeg], though away from his beloved Madonna, had doubtless Her holy Image near him. God’s Virgin Mother, never absent from his thoughts in life, in his last extreme hour was not wanting to him. His great heart beat with the hope, soon to see revealed in the light of heaven, that benign countenance which he gazed upon with such rapture in the sanctuary of Scutari, and which cheered and consoled him so often on earth. Mary, Who never permitted him to fall into the hands of the enemy, or to be even once vanquished or wounded, was now determined to keep the powers of darkness from troubling his last moments. Sweetly, the might warrior was sinking like the calm setting sun of some glorious day, when it pleased Her, Who in him, Her client, had ever proved Herself “formidable as an army set in battle array,” to glorify once again even in death, him whom She had so wonderfully glorified in life. As his eyes, therefore, were closing gently and peacefully upon the world, a shriek came from the streets of Lezhë, and even the strong limbs of the warriors around the bed of their dying Monarch trembled. It was a too well known cry: “The Turks! The Turks are upon us!” And truly it was so. The hordes of Mahomet were at the city gates. Scanderbeg and his forces in battle. They had heard, that the terror of their accursed creed was dying, and hoped, in his helplessness, even at his death, to have one victory over him. But Mary, as if to show the supernatural power with which She blessed him, was again at the hero’s side, and showed Her love to the last. Those dying eyes of his once more opened. Those ashy cheeks flushed. The drooping head was elevated. The sweat of death was wiped from the pallid brow. Scanderbeg, himself once more, looked for the sword, that did such execution upon the enemies of his country. It was given him, and the genius that never failed, flashed forth as vigorously as it did in his manhood’s prime. He ordered his veterans with his own matchless skill to prepare for the conflict. It was as ever, bloody, but decisive. The Turks routed with the usual slaughter, fled, alas for the last time from Albania. The cries of victory, which gave glory to God, and to Our Lady of Scutari, resounded once more through the streets of Lezhë. The Christian hero smiled, for these sounds were ever the gladdest of his life. And then, as if he knew that all was over, he smiled again, and looking up as if he saw the Virgin Mother open her loving arms to receive him, he sank back upon his couch, and gave forth his noble soul to God and to Mary. Albania at that hour, indeed, was desolate. All Christendom mourned. The very horse of the hero refused its food in grief, and died. Agony worse than death, may be said to be the condition of his faithful followers left behind. The people, like sheep without a shepherd, awaited but for the moment, when the wolves, no longer to be hindered, should devour them. Worse than all, the Madonna of Albania, Our Lady of Scutari, would stay no longer in the land. The events of the miraculous translation we have narrated, took place when Her beloved son and client, had been but three months dead. Then in swift but steady conquest the hosts of Mahomet passed over the land, and the horror of death fell upon its Christian inhabitants. Many, unfortunately, apostatized. Those who remained faithful, passed into a kind of bondage, since almost unbroken. Their condition has been greatly ameliorated of late years, and in religion, they are now, it may be said, free. The recollections, however, of their glorious Christian past, are never absent from their minds. They delight to speak of the exploits of their ancestors. The memory of their last great heroic king is as fresh as it was the day he died at Lezhë. Msgr. George F. Dillon is the author of The Virgin Mother of Good Counsel: A History of the Ancient Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, from which this article is taken, and of the Wonderful Apparition and Miraculous Translation of Her Sacred Image From Scutari in Albania to Genazzano in 1467 (Rome: Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda Fide, 1884), pp. 131-134.	41,846
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Sustainable Development Goal 9 addresses three important aspects of sustainable development: infrastructure, industrialization and innovation. Infrastructure provides the basic physical facilities essential to business and society; industrialization drives economic growth and job creation, thereby reducing income inequality; and innovation expands the technological capabilities of industrial sectors and leads to the development of new skills. The untapped manufacturing potential of the least developed countries suggests significant growth opportunities Manufacturing is one of the principal engines of economic growth. However, inequalities in the value added in the manufacturing sector point to the steep challenges faced by the most disadvantaged countries, as well as their potential for growth. For example, in 2015, manufacturing value added (MVA) per capita was less than 100 US dollars a year in the least developed countries (LDCs) compared to 4,926 US dollars in developed regions. Significant investment is needed in the LDCs to boost technological progress and economic growth, and to achieve the target of doubling industry’s share in the gross domestic product of these countries. Trends in MVA show steady increases in developing regions and a slight decline in developed regions, which is similar to trends in manufacturing jobs. The potential for growth in manufacturing employment is particularly high in the LDCs, because large segments of the population continue to work in agricultural and traditional sectors. Manufacturing value added per capita, 2005 and 2015 (constant 2010 US$) Energy efficiency and cleaner fuels and technologies have reduced carbon dioxide emissions per unit of value added As countries shift to less energy-intensive industries, cleaner fuels and technologies, and stronger energy efficiency policies, almost all regions have shown a reduction in the carbon intensity of their GDP. The proportion of the world’s energy use covered by mandatory energy efficiency regulation has almost doubled over the last decade, from 14 per cent in 2005 to 27 per cent in 2014. More extensive deployment of clean technologies will increase the likelihood of achieving the proposed target of upgrading infrastructure and retrofitting industries to make them sustainable, with increasingly efficient use of resources and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per unit of value added, 2000 and 2013 (kilograms per constant 2010 US$) Although expenditures on research and development have grown, the poorest countries lag behind In 2013, global investment in research and development (R&D) stood at 1.7 trillion US dollars (PPP), up from 732 billion US dollars in 2000. This represented an annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent, which suggests that 1.7 per cent of global GDP was devoted to R&D in 2013. While substantial, this global average masks wide disparities among regions: developed regions dedicated almost 2.4 per cent of their GDP to R&D in 2013, while the average for the LDCs and landlocked developing countries stood at less than 0.3 per cent. More concerted efforts are urgently needed to enhance research capabilities in these countries. Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP, 2005 and 2013 (percentage) Mobile broadband networks reach almost 90 per cent of the urban population, but less than 30 per cent of the rural population Technological advances in the communications sector, expanding networks and falling prices have driven the spread of mobile-cellular services around the world. People in previously unconnected areas have joined the global information society and, in 2015, 95 per cent of people living in the LDCs were covered by a mobile-cellular signal. However, higher-speed Internet access through third-generation (3G) mobile-broadband networks is less widespread: Only 29 per cent of the rural population are covered. Increasingly, Internet access is a requirement for producers and entrepreneurs to remain competitive and greater efforts are needed to expand this type of coverage to rural and remote parts of the world.	199,950
On September 18, the residents of Scotland will determine whether to remain in the United Kingdom or become independent for the first time since 1707. On the surface, this referendum seems to only affect those living in the United Kingdom, but a more detailed look reveals an issue of significant international importance—the future of Great Britain’s nuclear deterrent. The Scottish independence debate has been fiercely fought on both sides since First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond and his Scottish National Party won the Scottish Parliamentary elections in 2011 on a platform that promised to hold an independence referendum. Accepting the democratic legitimacy of the election, British Prime Minister David Cameron and his government said they would allow the referendum to occur, pledging to respect the vote regardless of outcome. Cameron and his Conservative Party are opposed to Scottish independence, as are the two other major UK political parties, Labor and the Liberal Democrats. The three political parties formed a coalition—Better Together—that is united in its opposition to Scottish independence, even though they have divergent views on other issues. Another policy all three parties agree upon, albeit with extreme hesitance from the Liberal Democrats, is the need for a nuclear deterrent in Britain. This is where the independence vote gets tricky. Since the mid-1990s, the UK Trident program has been the only nuclear deterrent in Britain’s arsenal and its successor is scheduled to enter service in 2028. Here’s the issue: All active Vanguard submarines and accompanying Trident nuclear weapons are stationed at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde in Scotland. The Scottish government, led by Salmond, has pledged to safely remove and permanently ban nuclear weapons from Scottish territory within the first term of a newly independent parliament. To be sure, the polls are not currently in favor of independence. It could happen, though, and if it does, Scotland will remove Trident nuclear weapons that have no destination in what will remain of the United Kingdom. The UK government and Ministry of Defence have repeatedly argued that they believe Scots will vote against independence, and thus Britain is not preparing for the possibility of Scottish disarmament. But it is risking a tricky situation: unilateral disarmament of the British Isles. In addition to rejecting a backup plan for independence, the Ministry of Defence has said that removing Trident to the English coast would be extremely difficult and abhorrently costly. Great Britain has thus staked out its position as having no fallback, arguing that even if one did exist, it would be a logistical and financial nightmare. This would be all well and good—if the Scottish government was not especially clear that it will remove the weapons as quickly and safely as possible after independence. With Scotland at that point an independent state, the remaining United Kingdom would have no legal authority to prevent this from happening. If moving Trident nuclear weapons to England would be that much of an ordeal, only one realistic alternative exists. That would be to place them in Kings Bay, Georgia, in the United States, where Britain already stores and maintains some nuclear warheads, thereby disarming the British Isles altogether. But this situation wouldn’t really be necessary. Multiple analysts—including Malcolm Chalmers of the respected think tank the Royal United Services Institute and Francis Tusa of the newsletter Defence Analysis—have suggested that the entire Trident system could be moved to England relatively quickly and at an affordable cost. So why is the Ministry of Defence arguing that any move would be catastrophic? The answer is simple: politics. The UK Government is not encouraging the Ministry of Defence to acknowledge or publish a backup plan for independence because it is sticking with its policy of “no pre-negotiations.” This might be a good line for those opposed to the Scottish National Party, but talking points are not enough for the severity of any situation involving nuclear weapons. It is almost laughable that the government of one of the most powerful nations on Earth is trying to dismiss its opposition by keeping the fate of some of the most powerful weapons on Earth uncertain. Right now, the choice is clear. Britain must stop playing games and acknowledge or publish a backup plan for its Scotland-based nuclear weapons, even if it has to be heavily redacted for national security purposes. Most of the independence debate has been caught up in political maneuvering. But the UK government must stop using nuclear weapons as political pawns.	213,030
Green Bonds: Effectiveness and Implications for Public Policy You may be able to download this chapter for free via the Document Object Identifier. This paper studies green bonds, a relatively new instrument in sustainable finance. I first describe the market for green bonds and characterize the "green bond boom" witnessed in recent years. Second, using firm-level data on green bonds issued by public companies, I examine companies' financial and environmental performance following the issuance of green bonds. I find that the stock market responds positively to the announcement of green bond issues. Moreover, I document a significant increase in environmental performance, suggesting that green bonds are effective in improving companies' environmental footprint. These findings are only significant for green bonds that are certified by independent third parties, suggesting that certification is an important governance mechanism in the green bond market. I conclude by discussing potential implications for public policy. I am grateful to Matthew Kotchen and Catherine Wolfram, as well as participants at the NBER Conference on Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy for helpful comments. The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.	89,186
A lipid is a non-soluble molecular organically produced supplements consisting of hydrogen and also carbon. As much as their needs in the body comes, lipids are of elementary worth for both of energy storage case as well as cell membrane growth. Functions of Lipids: Generating heavy amounts of energy and carrier: The typical action of lipids within your body is always to supply strength for muscle mass and also for body systems. Body fat is energy lush, formulated with 9 calories per gram, where protein with carbs carry only just 4 calories per gram. Concerning half the fuel in your body requires while resting or during the course of daily exercise results from lipids. If you happen to devour excess calories rather than that is required per day, the surplus energy is accumulated as lipids in adipose cellular material. In the middle of daily meals and in the time of exercising the body utilizes all these fats stores to render energy. Protecting the internal organs from damage and insulate all the bodily organs: Lipids are effective accustomed to insulate and also provide help to to the whole body. You probably have a overlaying of fats slightly below your skin layer that assists in to put your bodily temp normal regardless of the outside temp. The enthusiastic body parts, including the kidneys, comprise a covering of fats surrounding them that functions alike bubble wrapper to counter them from an injury. Without this lipid deposit, every bump and bruise can adversely affect your bodily organs. Create an ease in digestive process and also in assimilation: Lipids inside your body are very important for appropriate digestive break down together with assimilation of cuisine and vitamins and minerals. Bile acids generated from lipids in the right liver cause body fat and H2O to blend all of your intestinal tract that facilitate the digest and assimilation of small particles. Lipids are subsequently helpful in carrying the fat-soluble nutritional vitamins, A, D, E and K, from all of your intestinal tract to the bloodstream. Your cellular material exploit these particular nutritional vitamins to sustain the fitness of your vision, pores and skin, bone fragments, tooth and also in cleaning blood flow. Makes your cell wall structures uphold and tight: The primary lipids, linolenic acid and also linoleic acid, are significantly to your good health; they simply cannot produced in the entire body and be obliged to are obtained from your daily diet. They are accustomed in the productivity of cell membranes and then bodily hormones, simultaneously for retaining vision and strengthening the immunity mechanism. These lipids cater building and assistance for the walls of each and every cellular inside your body. Interaction between units can also be relying on lipids in your cells membranes. Helps in generating sex hormones increasing the sex traits: Cholesterol is a sort of lipid important to generate special steroid bodily hormones in the body. Estrogen, testosterone, progesterone or even the active sites of supplement D are usually generated from ldl cholesterol as they are helpful to manage pregnancy, manifest sex traits and restraint calcium quantities within your body. - Generating heavy amounts of energy and carrier. - Protecting the internal organs from damage and insulate all the bodily organs. - Create an ease in digestive process and also in assimilation. - Makes your cell wall structures uphold and tight. - Helps in generating sex hormones increasing the sex traits.	145,360
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 — When President Bush informed the nation last Sunday night that remaining in Iraq next year will cost another $87 billion, many of those who will actually pay that bill were unable to watch. They had already been put to bed by their parents. Administration officials acknowledged the next day that every dollar of that cost will be borrowed, a loan that economists say will be repaid by the next generation of taxpayers and the generation after that. The $166 billion cost of the work so far in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has stunned many in Washington, will be added to what was already the largest budget deficit the nation has ever known. With a force that has surprised even critics of the administration, the Iraqi occupation has pushed to the forefront a budget deficit that had previously existed mostly as an abstract red stain on Democratic bar charts. With no extra money available for the foreseeable future, real choices are being illuminated on Capitol Hill — choices between electronic bombs and electrical grids, between low taxes now and lower retirement payments later. Should Washington reconstruct Iraq's schools and hospitals, lawmakers are asking, or America's? Should it pay for more than 100,000 American troops to stay in Iraq, or for 40 million seniors to be offered prescription drugs through Medicare? And if it tries to do it all, should it keep cutting taxes? The Bush administration says it can do all of the above, once the tax cuts inaugurate a burst of economic growth. Democrats and virtually every mainstream economist say that something will have to give, very possibly the government's retirement promises to millions of aging baby boomers. These questions have emerged as the most fundamental political issue dividing the two parties, affecting almost every vote on Capitol Hill and every speech in the current presidential campaign. The deficit, once confined to Congressional committee rooms and Washington research organizations, has become a constant refrain among all the Democratic candidates, who use it to attack the administration's tax cuts and financial stewardship. (None, however, have proposed a cutback in spending or a serious rethinking of big-ticket entitlement programs.) The bleak choices now facing politicians and policy makers were hard to imagine when George W. Bush was inaugurated just 32 months ago, before the drastic turnabout of the federal budget. As the decade opened, the overheated economy of the 1990's had left the government with a flush of cash that seemed never-ending. There were 281 billion extra dollars in the budget that year, and the Bush administration, looking a decade ahead, predicted that a cumulative $5.6 trillion surplus would build up by 2011. It seemed to be the brink of a golden era for Washington, "an unprecedented moment in history," in the words of the administration's first budget plan, issued a month after Mr. Bush was inaugurated. He vowed that almost all the national debt would be paid off and that retirement and health plans would be strengthened for the future by setting aside trillions in savings. Balanced budgets, so long in arriving, seemed to promise an end to wasteful interest payments and years of arguments pitting military spending against domestic programs. And then, within months, the glittering promises crumbled. The budget was upended by what economists now say were three independent forces gathering in power at once: a steep economic decline, a political consensus to slash taxes and the effects of the 2001 terrorist attacks. The surplus disappeared, replaced the next year with a budget deficit that has since grown to a record size. The $5.6 trillion surplus once predicted for the 10 years ending in 2011 is now a $2.3 trillion cumulative deficit under the best-case prediction issued by the Congressional Budget Office two weeks ago. The $8 trillion difference between those numbers has little precedent in American history. The long-term budget forecast has declined as much in the last two years as the total revenue collected by the United States government from 1789 to 1983. A Fall Worthy of Milton "It really has been a Miltonian experience, from the heights to the depths," said Robert D. Reischauer, a former director of the Congressional Budget Office, invoking "Paradise Lost" as a metaphor for the budget's fall. The current fiscal year, which ends this month, was supposed to have ended with a surplus of $353 billion, the Congressional Budget Office predicted two years ago; today, the office says the year will end in a $401 billion deficit. Next year's deficit was projected to be $480 billion, but the new Iraq spending will bring that to $540 billion or higher — close to the 5 percent of the gross domestic product that many experts warn is a serious danger zone for the economy. And now the painful effects of the budget's free fall are beginning to emerge. Though the deficit hardly spells ruin for the federal government, it already means spending battles over a variety of popular nonmilitary programs, from education to space flight to veterans hospitals. To make room for the initiatives the administration favors — like $1.5 trillion in tax cuts and at least $100 billion in new defense spending — other programs are being squeezed more tightly than they have been in years.	232,732
Foods and us have a relationship, and this course defines that relationship. Personally, this course provides positive experience for me in regards of food, meal preparation, and eating in moderation. It was an amazing course that allowed for me to be much more conscious of what I was eating and pushed me to strive to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Overall, it was very entertaining and informative! 교육 기관: surya p• it was wonderful.thank u coursera!!! thank u professor 교육 기관: Ujjvalfadia• Amazing information and presentation on the subject . 교육 기관: Lance W• excellent manner in which the course is formulated 교육 기관: TAYLOR A D A D S• Muito bom e educativo. Deve ser divulgado amplamente. 교육 기관: Anish M• Love the recipes here and also extremely informative! 교육 기관: Olaoye V O• It interesting but I don't know to get my certificate 교육 기관: Francine S• Lindo curso! Obrigada pelos conteúdos e oportunidade! 교육 기관: Farrel M• Good layout , easy to understand. Tought very well . 교육 기관: Tracy P• I learned a lot from course! It was very interesting! 교육 기관: Kurt M• Good practical course on nutrition and healthy eating 교육 기관: Ramya K• enjoyed the course. My favorite part was the recipes. 교육 기관: Jim h• Great understandable, practical, usable information! 교육 기관: juan p• Food is the one and most important of our medicines. 교육 기관: Jane C• Very informative and well explained. I learned a lot. 교육 기관: dani r b m• Thanks for everything, I have learned a lot from you 교육 기관: Non• An excellent intro to the science of food and health! 교육 기관: Kalpana A• In my views this course is magnificent and everyone 교육 기관: Indraveni K• This was easy to do and informative at the same time. 교육 기관: Sebastian C• Great Introduction, easy to follow, very interesting! 교육 기관: Osmanoglu E• The course is very informative and easy to understand 교육 기관: Fatimah S• excellent starting place for learning to eat healthy. 교육 기관: Laura R• Muy completo y fácil de seguir, buenas explicaciones. 교육 기관: Donald S• Good basic information. Easy to understand by anybody 교육 기관: vigna s• Very knowledgeable subject it makes my life new ways 교육 기관: Monika C• Excellent. The recipes on the end were a nice touch.	144,097
Quarter ♉ Taurus First Quarter is the lunar phase on . Seen from Earth, illuminated fraction of the Moon surface is 45% and growing larger. The 7 days young Moon is in ♉ Taurus. * The exact date and time of this First Quarter phase is on 8 February 2060 at 21:41 UTC. Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight. It is visible high in the southern sky in early evening. Moon is passing about ∠14° of ♉ Taurus tropical zodiac sector. Lunar disc appears visually 0.5% wider than solar disc. Moon and Sun apparent angular diameters are ∠1955" and ∠1945". Next Full Moon is the Snow Moon of February 2060 after 7 days on 16 February 2060 at 09:56. There is medium ocean tide on this date. Sun and Moon gravitational forces are not aligned, but meet at very acute angle, so their combined tidal force is moderate. The Moon is 7 days young. Earth's natural satellite is moving through the first part of current synodic month. This is lunation 743 of Meeus index or 1696 from Brown series. Length of current 743 lunation is 29 days, 10 hours and 49 minutes. It is 1 hour and 23 minutes longer than next lunation 744 length. Length of current synodic month is 1 hour and 55 minutes shorter than the mean length of synodic month, but it is still 4 hours and 14 minutes longer, compared to 21st century shortest. This lunation true anomaly is ∠323.8°. At the beginning of next synodic month true anomaly will be ∠342.5°. The length of upcoming synodic months will keep decreasing since the true anomaly gets closer to the value of New Moon at point of perigee (∠0° or ∠360°). 4 days after point of perigee on 4 February 2060 at 10:39 in ♓ Pisces. The lunar orbit is getting wider, while the Moon is moving outward the Earth. It will keep this direction for the next 11 days, until it get to the point of next apogee on 20 February 2060 at 10:06 in ♎ Libra. Moon is 366 686 km (227 848 mi) away from Earth on this date. Moon moves farther next 11 days until apogee, when Earth-Moon distance will reach 405 550 km (251 997 mi). Moon is in ascending node in ♉ Taurus at 08:15 on this date, it crosses the ecliptic from South to North. Moon will follow the northern part of its orbit for the next 14 days to meet descending node on 22 February 2060 at 12:39 in ♏ Scorpio. At 08:15 on this date the Moon is completing its previous draconic month and is entering the new one. 8 days after previous South standstill on 30 January 2060 at 15:28 in ♐ Sagittarius, when Moon has reached southern declination of ∠-27.245°. Next 3 days the lunar orbit moves northward to face North declination of ∠27.319° in the next northern standstill on 12 February 2060 at 09:28 in ♋ Cancer. After 7 days on 16 February 2060 at 09:56 in ♌ Leo, the Moon will be in Full Moon geocentric opposition with the Sun and this alignment forms next Sun-Earth-Moon syzygy.	288,173
Musculoskeletal System: Lower Extremity Impairment Assessment of tibial shaft fracture, rotational deformity This material is issued by the Motor Accidents Authority under s.65(2) of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (the Act) in the interests of promoting accurate and consistent medical assessments under the Act. The interpretation provided here is not legally binding but represents the clinically recommended interpretation in an area where more than one interpretation of existing provisions may be possible. This recommended interpretation is publically available. Any medical assessment which does not adopt this interpretation should be accompanied by clinical justification for the interpretation adopted, supported by full, robust reasons. - The Motor Accidents Authority Permanent Impairment Guidelines – Guidelines for the assessment of permanent impairment of a person injured as a result of a motor vehicle accident 1 October 2007 (MAA Guidelines): Chapter 1 Clause 1.26, page 5. - The American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 4th Edition (AMA 4 Guides): Chapter 3 3.2i Diagnosis-based Estimates page 84, Table 64 page 85. "1.26 A condition may present which is not covered in the MAA Guidelines or the AMA 4 Guides. If objective clinical findings of such a condition are present, indicating the presence of an impairment, then assessment by analogy to a similar condition is appropriate. Include the rationale for the methodology chosen in the impairment evaluation report." Rotational deformity of tibial shaft fractures is not dealt with in Table 64 AMA 4 Guides. Issue requiring clarification In the absence of any impairment rating for rotational deformity following tibial shaft fractures it is possible that some Medical Assessors may not focus attention on this deformity and may not provide an impairment rating. Medical Assessors should assign the values for Tibial shaft fracture, malalignment of (Table 64 page 85 AMA 4 Guides) for rotational deformity. Recommended method for measurement of rotational malalignment (tibial torsion) following tibial shaft fracture Tibial torsion is the degree of rotation of the tibia along its long axis from the knee to the ankle. The recommended method of assessment is by measuring the thigh-foot axis (TFA) with the person prone with knees flexed to 90°. The examiner looks at the foot from above. The relevant measurement is the angle between the line of axis of the thigh and the line along the axis of the foot. By convention, external rotation values are positive, and internal rotation values are negative. A normal TFA is 10-15° of external rotation. The value of the normal side should be used as a baseline. Both legs are measured and the discrepancy between the injured and the uninjured leg constitutes the amount of malrotation. Suggested method of assessment of impairment The level of impairment for tibial rotational malalignment following tibial shaft fracture is derived from Table 64 page 85 AMA 4 Guides. It is recommended that the same Table should be used for longitudinal and rotational malalignment. (This is then analogous with the methodology used for femoral shaft fractures). Justification for preferred interpretation In the absence of an impairment rating for rotational deformity of tibial shaft fracture, the preferred interpretation and methodology is suggested to promote consistency of assessment. Injury Strategy Branch	11,745
England - Full Moon 127 - 02/02/07 Following up our retroscope series of last year - here's Speakers' corner! Luna Kafé's focused eye on great events, fantastic happenings, absolute milestones, or other curious incidents from the history of rock. This album should've seen the light of day 40 years ago this month... Strawberry Fields Forever b/w Penny Lane It was about 40 years ago today that the band started to play, in a new way. Well, Mr. Lennon had written a couple of psychedelic songs earlier. "Rain", the single B-side of "Paperback Writer" and "Tomorrow Never Knows" that ends Revolver are classics in their own rights. Still, "Strawberry Fields" was a lot more, not only where he reached his psychedelic peak. My main source says The Beatles' third double A-side single was released on February 13 1967 in the USA and four days later in Britain. Or it might have been the other way round... · It was the first studio recordings after The Beatles stopped touring. By now they didn't have to bother about how the songs were to be performed live when they arranged and recorded them. · It was the first Beatle single about places in their native Liverpool. · It was the first pop single to include the mellotron. (Wasn't it?) It's Paul who plays the flute mellotron at the start. · It was the first single with a promotional film for both songs. A very early celluloid start of the video age, really. · It was the first Beatle single in the UK with a picture sleeve. (Wasn't it?) · It was the first Beatle single not to be a no. 1 hit in the British charts since "Please, Please Me" climbed to that position in early 1963. It only reached no. 2, after "Release Me" by Englebert Humperdinck. What a shame, Mary Jane! · "Strawberry Fields Forever" was the first recording by the Beatles that included extensive editing and tape manipulating; backwards percussion, editing different takes together, slowing down and speeding up those takes to match the tempo and keys of the takes, audio compression and equalisation. And only four analogue tracks available. Beatles' engineer Geoff Emerick and producer George Martin were the masters of the latter. But there are more. If you listen to the early simple demo version and start of the studio recording take 1 of "Strawberry Fields" on The Beatles Anthology 2, only guitar and John singing, it's easy to notice what a strong song it is. A quite different melody line compared to the average Beatles' song until then. And the mystic hazy lyrics... 'No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low. That is you can't you know tune in but it's all right. That is I think it's not too bad.' Anyways, the arrangements with a fairly straight rock band instrumentation plus mellotron from the first recording edited together with the heavy orchestrated version were a stroke of genius. It made a great song unique and fabulous. It is said that Brian Wilson abandoned his Smile project after he had heard "Strawberry Fields Forever" for the first time. He reckoned The Beatles had achieved what he was striving for with Smile. Oh yes, the other song of the single "Penny Lane" is one of Paul McCartney's better nostalgic feel-good songs with a French horn and all. But, well, you know, "Strawberry Fields" is my favourite Beatles' song. Forever! Of course I mean the original 1967 single version of the song. The 2006 Love version doesn't add any new dimensions, methinks... PS! What does John really say towards the end of the song? Some believes 'I buried Paul', that added to the Paul is dead myth. The official version by now is 'Cranberry sauce'. I still think it is 'I'm very bored'... Just remember: Nothing is real! Copyright © 2007 JP	227,286
/* Style Definitions */ mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; There’s a necessity for electrical services any point with them whenever new offices and homes are renovated or built. Electrical contractors will be the one who may take up all the electrical installation or electrical services are employed in flats, homes, building sites or start up business establishments. Those who are renovating their properties always hires the electrical contractors or electrical engineers for installing of ceiling fans or security lighting which they can’t do themselves. Thus, in Electrician plays an important in supplying the electrical installation and repair of these electrical appliances. Even though it could be quite easy to discover a power contractor to undertake electrical repair work on your own home, but an array of correct one will make every one of the differences. These contractors can be called even for work beyond home remodeling electrical services is usually necessary. As an example, when a wire is damaged due to storms or hurricanes, homeowners will need the service of electricians or even the Electrician . There are lots of factors to be considered prior to buying a mason. It is important to select an electrician in London who’s thoroughly experienced to consider the job. The advice of friends and family ought to be taken in prior to hiring domestic electricians to execute the service. Or else you will need to take the pro’s advice regarding your electrical requirements. It will be advantageous to employ a full service electrician company since it offers a selection of electrical services at a cheaper price. These companies are generally licensed with all government regulations. They’re fully equipped to set up, maintain, design and repair commercial, residential and industrial electrical projects and electrical systems. Additionally they provide every one of the necessary electrical parts which are needed for the projects. Besides these services supplied by these contractors all electrical benefit indoors and outdoors are managed by them within the limits of the residential and commercial arena. They can assist junction box, Electrical wires, outdoor and indoor lighting, ceiling fan repair and water heaters. All of these electricians London are designed to gain a few principles. The assurances these service contractors they work with are knowledgeable persons appraised of the latest energy savings provided by the manufactures plus the safest and well organized manner of installation. Even though some other contractors focus on new installation, many of them are willing to inspect a preexisting system and provide no obligation. Obviously, they stand prepared to make any necessary repair or upgrades depending on the estimation. For satisfaction, creating a service contract with Electrical Contractor FL ensures regular check up for the system in addition to replacement of consumable that causes expensive repairs if neglected specifically in all electrical appliances. Thus, it is better to experience a qualified electrical contractor who not just understands the job but in addition gets it done in a professional manner. Finding the certified electricians in London will just improve your chances of having better services performed in your homes or offices and will let you have efficient power supply. To find certified electricians log on to: http://www.mmelondon.co.uk	291,385
LYONS, Colo. (AP) - Rescuers are continuing to get through to flood-ravaged Colorado towns and are issuing a stern warning to anyone thinking of staying behind: Leave now or be prepared to endure weeks without electricity, running water and basic supplies. National Guard helicopters and truck convoys are carrying that admonition into paralyzed canyon communities where thousands of stranded residents are eager to escape the Rocky Mountain foothills. But not everybody is willing to leave their home. Today, the surge of water reached the plains east of the mountains, cutting off more communities. Hundreds of people still haven't been heard from in the flood zone, which has expanded to cover portions of an area nearly the size of Connecticut. A woman is missing and presumed dead after witnesses saw floodwaters destroy her home. Four people have been confirmed dead since the floods began Wednesday, but authorities say that number is likely to grow. The military has put more troops on the ground and helicopters in the air to aid in the search-and-rescue effort. So far, the National Guard says nearly 800 people and their pets have been evacuated. (Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)	289,226
Junior Achievement of Western New York Unveils New Websiteby system Junior Achievement of Western New York launched its new website www.jawny.org with 360 Professional Services Group. Founded in WNY in 1958, Junior Achievement (JA) empowers young people to own their economic success. Their volunteer-delivered, K-12 programs foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire kids to dream big and reach their potential. Each year JA reaches more than 12,400 students in 686 classrooms in 136 schools throughout the WNY community. In need of a website that reflected their commitment to the organization's mission, the graphic designers at 360 PSG delivered a custom design that highlights JA's dedication to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. In addition to custom design, the site also provides visitors with easy-to-find information such as a complete calendar of events, information on how to volunteer, and a one-click online donation form. With the Fission Content Management System (CMS), JA has the ability to create, edit, and update an unlimited number of content pages from any computer with internet access at any time. JA's new website operates on the Fission Web System, which contains built-in search engine optimization tools that have the potential to increase search engine ranking and improve visibility online. Junior Achievement of Western New York's site is securely hosted on 360 PSG's servers at their business class datacenter in downtown Buffalo, NY.	93,106
'It was an attack' - Cyber attacks shut down Australian online census Australia's first attempt to conduct an online census is in disarray after a series of cyber-attacks on the website. The Australian Bureau of Statistics shut down the site to protect data on Tuesday night after four denial-of-service attacks that came from somewhere overseas, chief statistician David Kalisch said. "It was an attack," Mr Kalisch told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "It was quite clear it was malicious." The two million Australians who managed to access the site before it was shut down were assured that their private data was secure. "There has been no attack on the information, it was an attack on the system. The information is secure and safe," Mr Kalisch said. Australia's privacy commissioner Timothy Pilgrim said he was investigating the cyber-attack "to ensure that no personal information has been compromised". Australian security officials were attempting to determine the source of the attacks, Mr Kalisch said. He said "a gap" in the digital defences of the bureau of statistics had been fixed and the site would be reopened on Wednesday. The census is conducted every five years. The decision to conduct the national survey online and to keep the information for four years before it was destroyed instead of the usual 18 months heightened privacy concerns this year. Several senators announced that they would risk fines by refusing to include their names and addresses in their census forms. Officials attempted to allay fears by boasting that the bureau of statistics had never been hacked. The site was shut down after a fourth cyber-attack on Tuesday evening and people who telephoned the bureau of statistics for an explanation were told by a recorded message to call back on Wednesday. While the census focuses on people's circumstances on August 9, forms started to be accepted a week before that date and will continue to be until September. Traditional paper census forms were provided to householders on request. Conducting most of the survey online was estimated to save 100 million Australian dollars (£58.4m). Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said the Bureau of Statistics shut the site "out of an abundance of caution" and would be reopen it once the bureau, government security agency Australian Signals Directorate and the systems provider IBM were confident that it was safe from cyber-attack. "I want to assure Australians that the unequivocal advice we have received ... is that their Australian census data is safe, it has not been compromised," Mr Turnbull said. Alastair MacGibbon, the prime minister's special adviser on cyber-security, said while government agencies routinely weathered such attacks without disruption, the Bureau of Statistics was the victim of a confluence of events. "There were a series of events that only by lining them up end-on-end led to the unfortunate circumstances of last night," he said. The opposition blamed underfunding for the bureau for the failure, saying it would reduce responses to the census and compromise the results. "This has been the worst-run census in Australian history and one of the worst IT debacles Australia has ever seen," opposition MP Andrew Leigh said.	257,951
Driving Factoids and Tips - An estimated 32 million cars and trucks in the U.S. have at least two tires that are underinflated. If these were properly inflated, it would result in savings of nearly 560 million gallons of gas each year, which equates to more than $777 million. For an individual, that’s an estimated savings of 19 gallons, or $30 per year. - Keep your engine tuned properly. Checking spark plugs, oxygen sensors, air filters, hoses and belts are a few examples of maintenance that can save a vehicle owner up to 165 gallons of gas per year, resulting in potential savings of $350. - In highway driving, over 50% of the energy required to move your car down the road goes to overcoming aerodynamic dray (pushing air out of the way). As you drive faster, aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance increase. As a result, at speeds above 55 mph, fuel economy decreases rapidly. By driving 65 mph, instead of 70 mph, you’ll save gas. Of course it will take you longer to get to your destination, but for each extra hour you spend driving you’ll save $5.00. - Overdrive gears improve the fuel economy of your car during highway driving. When you use overdrive gearing your car’s engine speed decreases. - In city driving, nearly 50% of the energy needed to power your car goes to acceleration. Unnecessary braking wastes that energy. - Avoid extreme acceleration except in emergency situations. - If you anticipate traffic conditions ahead of you and don’t tailgate, you can avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration, and improve your fuel economy by 5-10%. - Changing the engine oil regularly will help boost fuel economy and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Fresh oil does a better job of lubricating, cooling and protecting the engine against corrosion, which improves fuel economy and cuts emissions. Changing the oil also purges tiny bits of metal that can harm engine parts. - A poorly maintained car will consume more fuel and produce 5 to 10 times more emissions than a car in proper running order. - Natural gas and propane can be excellent alternatives to gasoline, especially for high-mileage vehicles. Natural gas and propane are available in many parts of the country, cost significantly less than gasoline and create fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Some manufacturers offer a limited number of models that are especially built to operate on these alternative fuels. In addition, existing gasoline vehicles can be converted.	31,598
BusinessWeek Lifestyle: Personal Tech Cutting All the Cords New gadgets let your computer shed its wires How many wires do you have snaking around your PC? Two? Four? Ten? Not only are they unsightly. Wires limit the arrangement of your workspace and your freedom to move around, since all your peripherals--mouse, keyboard, modem, printer--have to be tethered to your PC. Not anymore. A few wireless gadgets have come on the market that promise an unfettered future. The technologies--infrared and radio frequency--used in these devices are not new, but they have been tweaked to allow you to compute without cords. Setting them up is easy. Simply plug the transmitter into your USB, PS/2, or serial port, and you're ready to go. The devices usually rely on AA or AAA batteries, which should last 6 to 12 months in wireless keyboards and mice but less time in speakers and game pads.NEATNESS COUNTS. Infrared devices work by pulsing beams of light between the transmitter and receiving mechanism--the way your TV's remote control operates. Fujitsu (FJTSY) makes an infrared mouse and keyboard that talk to the same transmitter ($127 for the trio), and Acer (ACRRF) offers a keyboard with mouse buttons built in ($45). You can get various infrared adapters from ACTiSYS and Extended Systems (XTND) ($90-$160) that let your computer transfer data to any other device that has an adapter attached, like a printer, or has a built-in infrared transceiver, as do many laptops, PDAs, and digital cameras. Infrared accessories are reliable and have a range of about 30 feet. But they require line of sight, meaning the transmitter and receiver need an unobstructed view of one another to communicate. If you have piles of papers on your desk, this could be a problem. Radio waves will go through walls and have a range of up to 150 feet. It's possible you can encounter interference from other radio-frequency devices such as cordless phones and baby monitors as well as a lamp plugged in near your desk. However, most of the latest devices are configured to minimize the chance of signal interruption. Logitech's (LOGIY) wireless keyboard and mouse operate at 27 MHz--far from the frequency at which your typical, 900-MHz cordless phone operates. Proxim's wireless networking cards and adapters ($99-$129) send data between PCs and laptops in the even higher, 2.41-to-2.48 gigahertz range (table). They also change frequency randomly during transmission to reduce the chances of running up against another signal traveling at the same wavelength. Because of radio waves' range and their ability to transmit through obstacles, the more innovative wireless devices tend to be radio-frequency ones. Take Mind Path's Gyromouse ($89) that has an internal gyroscope, allowing you to wave in the air to move your cursor. The Gyromouse also has a charging cradle so you rarely, if ever, have to replace batteries. Another nifty accessory is Akoo's Kima, which allows you to transmit Internet radio or MP3s to a radio anywhere around the house. You hook up the transmitter to your computer's speaker port and then put the receiver next to any radio. Tune to 88.1-88.3 FM and it will broadcast whatever is playing on your computer. Finally, Proxim (PROX) and RCA have wireless modems that allow you to log on to the Internet from as far as 100 feet away.BLUETOOTH BLUES. Bear in mind when considering purchasing wireless devices that Bluetooth is coming. Bluetooth is a radio-frequency standard being developed by such heavy hitters as IBM (IBM), Microsoft (MSFT), and Motorola (MOT) that will enable wireless communications among all peripherals regardless of brand. You won't have to hook up transmitters or receivers; they'll all be built in. The first Bluetooth products are just hitting the market. Widespread use is years away. Safety is another consideration with wireless peripherals. The debate goes on over whether radiation emitted by cellular phones causes cancer. What about radio waves emitted by computer accessories? Most scientists say you shouldn't worry since the devices transmit at very low power or wattage--too low to cause DNA damage. However, we don't yet know whether exposure to radio waves has a cumulative effect. If you're concerned, you might want to opt for an infrared device. Whichever method of transmission you prefer, most wireless PC accessories are affordable and work well despite occasional interference. So start dispensing with the cords that bind.By Kate MurphyReturn to top	7,813
23 Day of the Dead Facts You Need to Know One of the most important things to know about Day of the Dead is it’s a family affair. A time for reflection of ancestors that have moved on to the afterlife. Stories of gratitude and humor are retold in a celebration of life. Large family meals are prepared ritually, involving all family members in an aspect of decoration and food preparation. Whether you’re religious or not, there is an intensity in the air while you stroll through the brightly decorated cemeteries, each grave lit by colorful lights and candles. The parades and festivals leading up to this holiday will leave you with a lifetime of stories. Here’s our favorite facts about Day of the Dead you need to know. Death is celebrated in Aztec culture Day of the Dead in Mexico is not a time of mourning, but a time of celebration. Before the Spanish forced Christianity on the Aztec and other tribes of the Nahuatl, death is not to be feared. In fact, they believe when you cry over the dead it creates a treacherous journey for the deceased by making the path slippery. It is not Mexico’s Halloween Dia de los Muertos, an ancient ritual dating back more than 3,000 years, was originally a month-long festival in August that coincided with the harvest of maize. During Day of the Dead, flowers and offerings adorn the altar to celebrate the spirit’s long journey navigating the afterlife. Day of the Dead is celebrated over two days While Day of the Dead festivities begin as early as a week ahead of time, there are two official days in November. Dia de los Inocentes on November 1st is to honor the children who have passed. Dia de los Muertos on November 2nd celebrates the adults that have passed. Families spend the night in the cemetery A traditional Day of the Dead celebration is spent in the cemetery, telling stories and celebrating the life of the deceased. Families bring food and drink to accompany their evening in the cemetery. Tall candles light the decorated graves while the smell of incense permeates the air, creating a rich and vibrant scene. Maintaining the graves is very important Each year around Day of the Dead, the graves are cleaned, repaired, and some years painted. Maintenance of the gravesite reflects to the spirits that they are welcome. Some traditions take it a step further, such as this small town in the Yucatan. La Catrina was created as a political statement José Guadalupe Posada created La Calavera Garbancera in 1912 to protest a trend of pre-revolution women lightening their skin with makeup and adopting a European style. Calavera meaning ‘skull’ and Garbancera, a nickname to describe someone ashamed of their heritage. In 1947 Diego Rivera made the image popular when he used it in his famous mural, Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon Along Central Alameda) and renamed La Calavera Garbancera to La Calavera Catrina. It has become Mexico’s most iconic Day of the Dead skull. Death is democratic, because when it comes down to it – fair or dark, rich or poor – everyone winds up a skeleton. – José Guadalupe Posada Altars are created to honor and welcome the deceased One of the most important Day of the Dead traditions is to build an altar in memory of the deceased. A photograph is the centerpiece, surrounded by flowers and candles, with food and drink offerings for the dead. Ofertas range from fruit, sugar skulls, and hot chocolate for children to tequila, cigarettes, and favorite foods for adults. Providing food, water, and entertainment helps the spirit’s journey through eternity. Orange marigolds are the Day of the Dead flower Flowers are an integral part of festivals in Mesoamerica. Marigolds are often referred to as flowers of the dead. Lining the path from a home’s entry to the altar, the bright color and strong scent of marigold petals help guide the spirit to the offerings. Incense helps guide the spirits to the altar Incense plays an integral part in guiding the dead back and helping to ward off evil spirits. Made from the sap of the Copal tree this incense is used year-round in the Catholic church. During Day of the Dead, you will find it in large quantities in the markets and street vendors. The Aztecs created the original papel picados (cut paper) These banners, cut into Catrina’s, skeletons, and flowers, are found stretched over altars and crossing the streets in every Mexican town. The Aztec created the original papel picados cut into the shape of spirits. The Aztecs believe the Monarch butterflies hold the spirits of the deceased Each Fall, Monarch butterflies migrate to the states of Mexico and Michoacan where the Aztec believe the butterflies are their ancestors’ spirits returning home. Today, butterflies are incorporated into Day of the Dead decorations. Day of the Dead traditions vary by region Celebrations for Day of the Dead vary by region in Mexico and Latin America. In the Yucatan Peninsula, the region celebrates Hanal Pixan – a Mayan term for Day of the Dead. In the town of Pomul, Yucatan the local tradition is to clean the bones of the deceased. A white blanket embroidered with the name of the deceased is laid on the ground upon which the bones are unearthed and dusted off. They use this as a time to talk to the deceased, updating them on their lives. Traditional Day of the Dead Food Pan de Muerto The shapes of the sweet ‘Bread of the Dead’ differ depending on regions. Some Day of the Dead bread is dusted white to represent bones, while others are decorated with colorful flowers and stems made from a flour paste and food coloring. Calabaza en Tacha, or candied pumpkin, is made from the large green skinned variety. It’s boiled down with orange, cinnamon, and traditionally sweetened with honey to form a syrupy glaze, though sugar is typically used now. The word Mole comes from the Nahuatl word Molli, meaning sauce. There are hundreds of different types of moles varying from town to town. In Puebla and Oaxaca states every town has a molinero, where personalized mixtures of spices and ingredients are freshly milled together. Calavera or Sugar Skull Originally made using amaranth seeds, sugar skulls have been around since 1630. The small sugar skulls represent children that have passed, celebrated on November 1st, and the large skulls are for adults, observed November 2nd. Often the name of the intended individual is printed on the forehead. Reserved for royalty during the Aztec reign, powdered chocolate is mixed with water or milk and sweetened with sugar to make a chocolatey drink for children. Mezcal and Tequila You can’t forget the Day of the Dead beverages for adults – mezcal and tequila are typical offerings left on the altars for adults, as are cerveza and whiskey. Water is another important gift for the soul of the deceased as it has traveled a long way. It’s not your status in life that determines where your soul ends up In Aztec culture it was not your status in life that determines where your soul goes after death, but how you die. Those who drown, are killed by lightning and sacrificed children go to the first level of heaven where Tlaloc, the god of rain presides. While most find themselves in the underworld after death, it is significant to find oneself in one of the paradises of heaven. The God of Rain – Tlaloc Tlaloc, is the oldest god in the Aztec religion, dating back to before the creation of the Aztec empire. Most human sacrifices are carried out for this god. There are multiple levels to the afterlife 13 Heavens and 9 Underworlds. Each level is overseen by no less than two gods – one male and a female counterpart. Heaven is a paradise, but the occupants of the levels of heaven still have responsibilities, such as helping to guide the sun across the sky. Each level of the underworld contains a new obstacle the soul must complete in order to find rest in Mictlan, the final resting place for those in the underworld. It takes four years for souls to successfully reach Mictlan After four years of overcoming many obstacles, the souls finally reach Mictlan. Some accounts keep the souls of those who have reached Mictlan there for the rest of eternity, but there are other scholars who believe that after eight years you are reincarnated. You must experience Day of the Dead Day of the Dead should be on everyone’s bucket list. The decorations, foods, and smells are magical. There is a festiveness in the air that makes it a more important holiday than Christmas (Feliz Navidad). The liveliness of the community, the expansion of the mercados spilling into the street as vendors sell their specialty wares, and the ancient celebration of death are not to be missed. Have you experienced Day of the Dead? Tell us about it in the comments! Read Next: Searching for Flamingos in Celestun Mexico Did you learn new facts about Day of the Dead? Pin it! About Julien Casanova I’m happy you found me. I’m a solo female traveler and the creator of Cultures Traveled. I specialize in Mexico and Colombia travel with an emphasis on getting out of routine bucket list travel so you can immerse yourself in the local culture, make new friends, and experience different traditions.	123,786
This topic contains 9 replies, has 5 voices, and was last updated by Jamelin 1 year ago. - Subscribe Favorite September 12, 2018 9:12pm #2827 Like the title says, does anybody have any tips for controlling a tablet? Would using a beat game like OSU work? Is there a good way to learn better hand eye coordination?September 12, 2018 11:43pm #2829 I always recommend using your tablet pen as your regular mouse for random browsing. Point and click games would work just as well! I even played first person shooter games with my drawing tablet in the past. The most important part is to allow yourself time to get used to it. It can take a few weeks to a few months before your brain adjusts and it starts to feel natural. Just don't stop using it, and you'll see improvement relatively quickly.September 13, 2018 2:58am #2834 Allow yourself time to get used to it! Get busy, make messes - the more you play the quicker you'll get it. The best possible advice I can give you for getting through the tablet-monitor drawing disconnect is to carefully position your tablet to be parallel with your monitor, do not have it off to the side or at an angle. Make sure it is directly in front of your monitor and straight, this will help your hand do what your eye is telling it to without the cursor going all wonky. Also, If you're drawing and you reach a point where you would usually rotate your sketchbook to get a better stroke, instead of turning the tablet, look for an option in your software to rotate the canvas. Cheers!September 13, 2018 11:07am #2839 Sanne, do you have any point and click games to recommend? Also, the first person shooter games with a tablet sounds like a nightmare. What was it like? Ooh, I'll try random browsing. That might work.September 13, 2018 11:09am #2840 Wolfypaints, does putting your tablet parallel to your monitor help you learn the tablet enough to put it flat on the table? I'm curious because I want to try and develop that. Also, rotating the canvas sounds like good advice. I should try that. Do you think games is a good way to develop hand-eye coordination?September 13, 2018 11:16am #2843September 13, 2018 4:13pm #2848 What I mean is, set it up like the image below where your tablet is flat on the table, parallel to the monitor. Don't turn or tilt the tablet to get stronger marks, turn your canvas instead. I use a very small keyboard so I can overlap it on the top (non active area) of the tablet. Lining your tablet up with your monitor should help you get the hang of the hand-eye disconnect. As for your second question. Personally, I would stick to practicing by drawing, but ultimately you have to do what is fun for you, otherwise you might burn yourself out. I hear of artists and designers all the time who do away with having a mouse at their computer entirely and only use the pen. Whatever you decide to do to practice just make sure that it's FUN!September 13, 2018 5:41pm #2849 Using your tablet as your everyday mouse, as Sanne suggested is a great way to get accustomed to using a stylus and tablet. Using it to draw is even better as Wolfypants suggested. If you find drawing on a blank screen too daunting or frustrating, I'd like to suggest grabbing a scanned drawing or some line art (a pencil drawing of yours if you have one) and "inking" it. Otherwise doing some tracing over any digital line art should help you get a sense of how to move your hand to put lines where you want them. Using a tablet is mostly a muscle-memory task, so after awhile using one becomes more sub-conscious, so just find a way that you enjoy to simply use it and you should find it gets easier with time. One thing I want to add, if you are using a computer set-up with multiple monitors, if you are able, try restricting the stylus to a single screen. I'm only really familiar with Wacom tablets, but I -assume?- other brands will have a similar options to restrict the cursor to one screen. If the tablet is mapped to multiple screens it will make the stylus very sensitive, shooting the cursor about with small movements, since each monitor only gets a part of the tablet's surface (2 monitors means each gets mapped to half of the tablet and so on). Mapping it to one monitor means it should match up closer to the whole surface of the tablet, making a little less wild to use.October 23, 2018 5:41pm #3191 Find a good hand position! Just like when drawing with pencils on a paper you need to be able to freely move your hand without convulsing any part of your body and especially your arm. Even when you got a comfortable position for a pencil, work on the position with the tablet because the stylus is different from your other pens. Also the surface is differently thus the tactile feedback is too. This leads to a different feeling of control over the lines. But there only making a mess of colors and brushes like Wolfpaint suggested. Draw fast and learn to use stabilizers. A fast swing over the tablet usually gets your really smooth and dynamic lines. Drawing slow usually creates little bumps in the lines. This is also the case on paper but it's far worse with any tablet I've drawn on. Stabilizers try to smooth out/correct your lines while your drawing. This seem like cheating a bit at first, but it really helps so much. Many programs contain them with a controllable amount of stabilization, so you need to find out how much correction you want for wich step. I personnally use something like 20% for outlines and very little to nothing while sketching but that's different for every digital artist I know. Good luck :)	218,118
The South Dakota state House has passed a bill that would outlaw abortion and challenge the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision. Approved 54 to 14 after two hours of emotional debate Tuesday, the bill would make the practice of abortion a felony carrying a five-year sentence. A public-interest law firm that worked with lawmakers to draft the bill says it is designed to have the U.S. Supreme Court reconsider its 1973 Roe decision, which struck down state laws banning abortion. “This is new and unique legislation that has never been considered by the Supreme Court,” said Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. ” … While we cannot predict the future, we do know that this legislation establishes significant facts that the courts will not be able to ignore.” House Bill 1191, sponsored by Rep. Matt McCaulley, says the legislature determined that based on the best scientific and medical evidence, life begins at fertilization and that South Dakota’s Bill of Rights applies equally to born and unborn human beings. The bill also finds abortions impose significant risks to the health and life of the pregnant mother, including significant risk of suicide, depression and other post- traumatic disorders. “Abortion is an important moral issue that transcends party lines,” McCaulley said. “Protecting unborn human life is something the vast majority of South Dakota residents support, and Democrats and Republicans joined together and passed a bill that will protect unborn human life in our state. We are ready to fight for the right to life, as opposed to waiting for it.” The bill now goes to the Senate where support continues to be strong, the More Center said, noting South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds is pro-life. The bill requires physicians to make every effort to preserve the life of both the mother and her unborn child. Committee testimony on the bill included women who recounted their personal grief, severe depression and thoughts of suicide after having an abortions. Planned Parenthood representatives strongly opposed the measure, but the panel passed it 11-2, sending it to the House for Tuesday’s vote.	289,227
Researchers at the Boonshoft School of Medicine are leading the charge in understanding what makes people different. Their research is providing physicians with a greater understanding of human growth and development. But it can also provide valuable insights useful to another field of scientific discovery: physical anthropology. Richard J. Sherwood, Ph.D., director of the Division of Morphological Sciences and Biostatistics of the Lifespan Health Research Center and professor of community health and pediatrics, and Dana Duren, Ph.D., associate professor of community health and orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine and rehabilitation, say that the growth and development data gathered over generations by the Fels Longitudinal Study can provide valuable insights for scientists in the physical anthropology community. Their research and that of others was published in the January 2013 special issue of the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, the official journal of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. The special issue, guest edited by Sherwood and Duren, commemorated the 80th anniversaries of the Fels Longitudinal Study, the longest continuous study of human growth and development in the world, and the founding of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists (AAPA). In 2011 a symposium, “Growth of a Species, an Association, a Science: 80 Years of Growth and Development Research,” was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to celebrate the longevity and interrelated nature of the Fels Longitudinal Study and the AAPA. Several of the participants had current or historical connections to the Fels Longitudinal Study, which began in 1929 in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Today, the Fels Longitudinal Study focuses on physical growth, skeletal maturation, craniofacial growth, genetics, longitudinal biostatistical modeling, body composition, risk factors for cardio - vascular disease, and aging of the musculoskeletal system. In 1977, the Fels Research Institute and Fels Longitudinal Study became part of the Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine, residing first in the Department of Pediatrics and later within the Department of Community Health in the Lifespan Health Research Center. Participants in the study range from infants to the elderly.	152,499
Things to know before buying a cooktop Simply put, a cooktop is a range minus the oven component, but what a cooktop lacks in functionality it makes up for in flexibility. The cooktop is an appliance that is extremely versatile and the beauty of this product is that it can be built into any spot in your kitchen without any major remodeling or rearrangement of your kitchen. A cooktop comes in both electric and gas models and can have different element arrangements that will cater to how you like to cook. In the end it all boils down to personal preference, price range and available space in your kitchen. To appropriately familiarize yourself with cooktops, let’s take a deeper look into the types of cooktops you can buy at Nebraska Furniture Mart: Electric – These types of cooktops generally have smooth surfaces and host four to five radiant-heat elements under a layer of ceramic glass. If you strongly prefer coils over a smoothtop you can still buy coil cooktops which are the most economic option from a price standpoint. The two largest benefits to having an electric cooktop is that they control heat output very well and they are extremely easy to clean because of the ceramic glass surface. The most common sizes for electric cooktops are 30 and 36 inches wide. Induction – This is the newest in cooktop technology and it uses electromagnetic technology to heat pots and pans directly. Induction cooktops heat much faster than electric or gas cooktops and are so responsive that they can adjust heat instantaneously. Since induction cooktops are so efficient and precise they have the highest price point and will require pans made out of cast iron or steel to cook with. Like electric cooktops, the most common sizes for induction cooktops are 30 or 36 inches wide. Gas – These types of cooktops are powered by natural gas, which requires gas accessibility and hookup parts. Typically gas cooktops have either four or five burners that are made out of cast iron, but if you need a larger cooking space you can find some that have up to six burners. The down side to gas cooktops is that they are harder to clean because of the grate style cooking surface. However, many cooks love how you can see the flame which makes temperature adjustments easier. The most common sizes for gas cooktops are 30, 36 and 48 inches wide. Below are some final things to consider before you go out and purchase a cooktop for your kitchen: - Cleaning Up – Gas cooktops have cast iron grates that are harder to clean. Go with an electric smoothtop that will easily clean in seconds. - Control Panel – There are either control knobs or touchpads and they both have their ups and downs. Choose based on personal preference. - Cookware – If you are going to buy an induction cooktop, you must have to have magnetic cookware for the pan to heat. Normal pans will work for both gas and electric. - Element Arrangement – Make sure that the cooktop you buy has enough space for all the pans you want to use so your cooktop is not clustered or crowded. National Kickoff Day Giveaway: The Homegater... August 7, 2014 \| Adam Logan 5 Tips to Keep Your Leather Furniture Looking Brand New... April 26, 2015 \| Dan Moluf	77,475
Beloved writer and teacher Doris Betts (1932-2012) was a Statesville, North Carolina, native and attended The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was Phi Beta Kappa. During her student days she won the Mademoiselle Magazine college fiction award and a Putnam award for her collection of short stories, The Gentle Insurrection. She served as Assistant Dean of the Honor Program ni the English English Department of UNC-Chapel Hill from 1978-1981, and held the title of alumni distinguished professor until her death. Ms. Betts won three Sir Walter Raleigh awards, the Southern Book Award, the North Carolina Award for Literature, the John Dos Passos Prize, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Medal for the short story, among other recognitions. “The Ugliest Pilgrim,” the most widely printed of her stories, was the basis of a musical that won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and later became an Academy Award winner as a short film entitled “Violet.” Her Souls Raised from the Dead was on the New York Times’ list of top twenty best books in 1994. Among her many other acclaimed works are The Astronomer and Other Stories, Beast of the Southern Wild and Other Stories, and The Scarlet Thread. Ms. Betts died at her home in Pittsboro. The North Carolina Writers’ Network annual Doris Betts Fiction Prize is one more tribute to this extraordinary writer. The Gentle Insurrection and Other Stories by Doris Betts (LSU Press, 1997):	152,267
Plagues and the boredom that accompanies surviving them are not new to humankind. They are as old as Angela Landsberry warbling Beauty and the Beast. Take a lesson from the famed plague of 1347 that sacked Europe. It immigrated through the toe of Italy’s boot. The plague entered port aboard a dozen ships returning from a multi-national sales gathering in the Black Sea. Most of the crews were dead but the fleas and rats aboard gave the trip Five Stars on Yelp for its incredible all day buffet. The root cause of Europe’s deadly pestilence was the stowaway germ, Yersina pestis. Over the next five centuries, despite bloodletting, boil splitting, vinegar baths, and donating old clothing to the less fortunate, the germ ebbed and flowed wreaking death on 20 million folks. The Bubonic Plague was persistent. Fortunately, back in Sicily in the port of Ragusa (“the slab” – or “losagna” in Italian) where the stowaway Yersina petis first made landfall, local officials declared mandatory social distancing for all sailors entering the port city of Ragusa. Crews and masters alike were not allowed to de-board for 40 days (in Italian – “quarantine”) Quarantines spurred a novel coastal Italian cuisine consisting of spicy tomato sauce (ragu) layered between slabs of pasta and cheese. Losagna became a quarantine staple. Sailors who survived were allowed to mingle with the local ladies if they could say no to the question, “Ya seen a pestis?”. They may have left behind a few love bugs but the plague itself was abated. The Prince of Sicily declared Wednesdays as “spaghetti day” (a tradition still followed today by descendants of Anthony Martignetti de Norte Boston) to honor the boon to the local economy. Spinning a hyperbole on history helps to explain why yearning for a hot slab of lasagna at Sunday dinner is actually triggered by a subconscious awareness that we’re going to get through this together. DNA holds a secret code for remembering things that make us feel better. Wellness is beckoned when we recall memories of being in a noisy kitchen crammed with family and friends. The yeasty scent of freshly baked bread reminds us of a favorite quilt on a winter’s eve. Tastebuds Tango as bites of melted cheese nestled between steamy layers of briny pasta glide down our throats. We share a misty moment of gratitude for the freedom to gather, hug, and plan our next voyages. Raise a glass to the day when all the rats and their nasty little fleas have left the sinking ships and be thankful that Boat US towed us safely back to home port. These are the day dreams of the dog days of August. It’s a tale as old as time. 4 thoughts on “Cruising the Dog Days” This is one of your best, Big Sis! Touché!! LikeLiked by 1 person “Cute intellectualism” sums this up much like a can of tomato paste, your writing style makes the hot peppers go done easy ! Luv, big G Thank you. It’s too hot today for cooking but I promise you we’ll have some by the weekend. Reposting in tomorrow’s edition of www.RiverBills.com webpage \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| http://www.RiverBills.com webpage Riverbills.com is a website for the pleasure boaters of pool 26 of the Mississippi River near St. Louis and beyo… \|	24,860
Understanding the Work of Nurse Theorists: A Creative Beginning A new and updated version of this best-selling resource! Jones and Bartlett Publisher's 2011 Nurse's Drug Handbook is the most up-to-date, practical, and easy-to-use nursing drug reference! It provides: Accurate, timely facts on hundreds of drugs from abacavir sulfate to Zyvox; Concise, consistently formatted drug entries organized alphabetically; No-nonsense writing style that speaks your language in terms you use everyday; Index of all generic, trade, and alternate drug names for quick reference. It has all the vital information you need at your fingertips: Chemical and therapeutic classes, FDA pregnancy risk category and controlled substance schedule; Indications and dosages, as well as route, onset, peak, and duration information; Incompatibilities, contraindications; interactions with drugs, food, and activities, and adverse reactions; Nursing considerations, including key patient-teaching points; Vital features include mechanism-of-action illustrations showing how drugs at the cellular, tissue, or organ levels and dosage adjustments help individualize care for elderly patients, patients with renal impairment, and others with special needs; Warnings and precautions that keep you informed and alert. What people are saying - Write a review We haven't found any reviews in the usual places. What 1s Nursing Theory? O The Development of Nursing Theories Evaluating a Theory Florence Nightingales Definition of Nursing Virginia Hendersons Definition of Nursing Ernestine Wiedenbachs Helping Art of Clinical Nursing 41 Theories about Broad Nursing Practice Myra Estrin Levines Conservation Model Dorothea Orems SelfCare Model 85 1da Jean OrlandoPelletiers Nursing Process Theory Katharine Kolcabas Theory of Comfort 15 Nola Penders HealthPromotion Model 2 Hildegard Peplaus 1nterpersonal Relations in Nursing Theories that Defy Classification jLO Margaret Newmans Health as Expanding Consciousness Betty Neumans Systems Model Sister Callista Roys Adaptation Model 1nternet Adaptation Model approach assess basic nursing Betty Neuman blank pages canvas central concept Chapter color insert Color Plate comfort components create creative cultural development of nursing dots of color Eichelberger environment Envision evaluate experience explore Feel free Find Web sites Florence Nightingale George Georges Seurat Hildegard Peplau Hubble Space Telescope individual interaction Jones and Bartlett journal articles knowledge Kolcaba learning activities Leininger links listed Logical Positivism Madeleine Leininger middle-range theories Neuman nurs nurse and patient nurse-patient nurse's nursing actions nursing practice nursing process nursing research nursing theory origami Orlando-Pelletier pattern Pender Peplau performing a search pointillism points of color professional relationships Rogers School of Nursing search might include Seurat's paintings sites or journal sitzman specific spiritual text http://nursing.jbpub.com theorists theory development Tomey & Alligood understanding unique Unitary Human University Victorian era Virginia Henderson visual representation Watson wholistic	115,374
If you are on your sailing holidays in Thailand this week then you won’t have failed to notice that today is King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 87th Birthday! Sadly this year the King has had to cancel his appearance at the Royal Palace in Bangkok due to concerns surrounding his health and on guidance from his doctors. The King is much revered in Thailand and events are often held throughout the country to celebrate his birthday, not least the Kings Cup Regatta held annually in Phuket. King Bhumibol is the world’s longest-reigning monarch and many of the Thai people will never have known life under another monarch. The King’s heir is Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, however strict laws prevent discussion of succession. He was last seen in public in November and has spent recent time in hospital recovering from an operation to remove his gall bladder. Thailand has very strict lese majeste laws which have been pretty much unchanged since 1908 when the country’s first criminal code was agreed. The laws were designed to protect Thailand’s royal family from insult or threat and any offense against the dignity of the monarch, but despite these laws, there remains a great respect and reverence of the King from the Thai people as demonstrated by the thousands of people who turn out to pay their respects every year on his birthday. 22nd May 2017 22nd February 2017 8th September 2016	154,893
Introducing electoral reforms to reduce the influence of money and muscle power in politics Genuine public desires find expression in election results Vijay Bhaskar Semwal Arpit Bansal Shiv Ashutosh Katiyar Ankit Purnendu Shekhar Pandey •Electoral Reforms, associated with rectification & awareness about – Election Procedure, Contestant ,Voter •The electoral system of any country should strengthen the people by promising an equitable framework of economic and social justice. •if citizens do not have faith in the way our elected representatives are chosen, there is danger to the very idea of democracy itself. •Failure of existing framework leading for abysmally low on economic and social justice front and reflected in massive rural unemployment, lack of adequate health care and education, a sharp drop in the purchasing power of the people and a sharp growth in rural indebtedness. •some basic questions that are needed to be addressed ..Is our system is really functioning properly, or policies made are responsible ?D o we really need to change this system ? •Do the measures, which fructify as outcomes of election, reflect the aspirations of those who are excluded from their due share of welfare? •If all question will not address now the future will ask us lot of Our nation is not performing up to its credentials. Policies Economy is at abysmal low i.e. on ventilator.Which is not seen as productive planning, which doesn’t attract for investment from global giant or entrepreneur. At present our country crawling on borrowed money hence financial crisis at any place directly affects. No transparency in political system neither politician are accountable. Corrupting is now prevalent everywhere. There is therefore a widespread and increasing disenchantment with politics and politicians in India.There is a growing public awareness of the rampant entry of criminal elements into the political arena. Illiteracy, lack of public awareness No political dedication/commitment/red-tapeism.While token attempts at reforming the electoral system have been made from time to time over the last many years, to take care of some these distortions, particularly whenever it has suited the party in power, there has hardly been any attempt at making any significant and substantial changes in the electoral system. Corruption/Nepotism/religion based politics. Wide gap between rural & urban area. Misuse of resource(natural, human, even borrowed). Muscle & money power driven Systems. Asymptotically uncontrollable system. No clear ideology. Policy paralyzation. System is not flexible. Criminalization in politics, unprecedented money flow. Flouting of rules. We are the ones who get affected, Everyone wants to do something for country , contribute to its progress. Making public aware about their share in country’s present situation, their role in bringing accountable governance. Bringing out the desires of common people in front of global audience in forum so that existing model can be renovated. We want this debate to end here itself with formidable recommendations to the policy makers actually finding a place in draft. The present electoral system in India encourages corruption and use of muscle power and communal pull to gain the slight margin of winning votes. Parties that have the power to manipulate voters using their economic power a combination of the FPTP and the PR systemsThus only parties with more percentage of voter support can come to power, with inner party democracy Make transparent and fool proof registration process for candidates.A candidate must file his income tax return for the previous two years from the constituency which he/she wants to represent.All candidates if elected (each year) and their close relatives must publicly declare their total assets, before and after the election. Making false declarations in election affidavits is an public service Should have represented masses in any form. If lost last two election not eligible to file. Not a poor person and special contribution or achievement in social service, public administration, country service and honesty.Whole property must be less then 5 lacs. Do not have more then two child and an upper age limit to contest & hold post. Filmstars/ Sportpersons/Celebrities are not allowed to contest as well as Right to reject or right to recall and right to promote in hand of common people Electronic voting system t reach even travelling voters. Single-day single-election for both Union and state legislatures. Scrutiny of election manifesto (no freebies, subsidies, lucrative false promises), report on adherence to it after coming into power Review factors which affect the rate of voter participation (voter turnout) mobile voting inclusion If an elected representative resigns her seat, she will be disqualified for the term of the house and cannot contest that or any other constituency during this period.A new candidate will have to contest in his/ her No whimsically or based on money giving party ticket there should be a criteria; Parties have to choose their candidates by primaries following democratic selection process from within the party.The names of two alternative candidates are to be publicly declared and published on the Internet. If any objections are raised to the candidatures, the objections should be publically declared and automatically recorded in a webpage put up by the Election Commission. Parties have to nominate their candidates at least 6 months before the election and give sufficient time for the Election Commission to verify the credentials of the candidate, his/ her criminal record, property details etc. If the candidate’s nomination is invalid, the Party can not contest the seat. All voting will be electronic and a voter can cast his/her vote from anywhere in the country for parliament elections and from anywhere outside the state for assembly elections.Voter identification will be by bio-metric ID and a voter ID card is not compulsory. If a voter wants to cast his/ her vote from outside an election area (for example: outside the state where elections are being held) or outside the country or for a valid reason while being within the country, he/ she should register his/ her name by past or through Internet and will be given a unique ID number, which he/she can use to cast his/her vote by post or through Internet. Voter ID will be through an Intelligent Card, which may also be used for obtaining government permissions, drawing money from banks, making payments, buying air/ train tickets etc.TheVoter Intelligent ID Card is activated for 5 years, only after a vote is cast. If someone does not cast his/ her vote, without a valid reason that act should be made a punishable offence. The criteria after vote counting based on following criteria = 30%(vote) + 10% (eligibility) + 10%(social service) + 30% (contribution + debate about recent problem + opinion + innovative solution + accountability + political will power)+10%( popularity between people) + 20% (national survey)+ view about other group(women etc) Right to reject will allow runner up to take hold of government will save money Right to direct and demote, if you are not accountable, ban for 10 year and need to pay fine for all the work which got delayed all will done under the supervision of high court judge . Maintenance of Regular Accounts by the Political Parties-Auditing and publishing – making audited accounts available for open inspection quarterly. Must show passport, ration card,Voter card ,proper bank account details and IT return form. Electronic voting system t reach even outstation travelling voters. Financing of candidates’ and referendum campaigns election expenses are sponsored by the State.This prevents corruption, money and muscle power, malpractices, play of emotions on communal and caste basis Reviewing the government. every elected representative should seek the confidence of the voters in his/ her constituency once a year.The confidence vote will be recorded electronically. In case, an elected member loses the confidence (gets less than 50%+1 of the valid votes) there will be re-election in that constituency.There will be no campaigning for the confidence vote. Support to be rendered to any government from “outside”, i.e. without joining the coalition government, should be legally barred. Only a party having at least 25 percentage of seats in the The proposed system will stop money and muscle power. It is more fault tolerance The country will get ideology and though process. Will stop criminal background people and more reliable policy check as intellectual people Will meet the demand of country people Proportionate Electoral System provides ample space for formation of coalitions representing smaller communities that do not have the chance of being represented in FPTP. Smaller parties representing unrepresented communities can make a coalition and gain required percentage of votes in order to come to a winning position of power.This is very important for the survival of democratic governance in India in favour of the poor and also minimization of corruption and electoral violence and enhancement of inner party Will develop the evm machine as per new proposed solution with right to reject or +ve or –ve comment People appointed for by election commission for proper document verification. Make constitution amendment for right to recall rule Make portal for those who are either out side or tour for there vote after proper verification of code on mobile and some biometric verification using Impact of solution The most popular will rule The system will become more robust and fault tolerance. It will make more scalable and practice system. People have direct representation No biased policy will be help any No discrimination based on cast, religion, Reservation only one time in life by either one member of family. Open debate, political dedication, Policy transparent. Public account accountability. Huge population and communicating them also illiteracy hinders process of bringing reforms. Huge geographical and demographical differences. Profile or personality influence. Adhering to the self-ethics, ethics of governance and elections. Inflow of black money, can be curbed by transfer of money Basic education a fundamental right and awareness Survey of local residents and citizens. BACKGROUND PAPER ON ELECTORAL REFORMS (PREPARED BYTHE CORE-COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL REFORMS) LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE GOI, ECI 2010 NEED FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS IN INDIA All India Progressive Forum (AIPF) www//progressiveforum.in Thanks for Casting your Vote to Change the Face	283,097
Renewing California’s commitment to new teachers Oct 29, 2012 \| By Ellen Moir \| 2 Comments Over the past year, I was privileged to serve on State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson’s Educator Excellence Task Force. As a native Californian and founder of a nonprofit that does extensive work developing teachers and leaders in this state, I am pleased at the Task Force’s vision for how the state can broaden educator effectiveness in districts to provide a much higher quality of education for California students. The strength of the Task Force’s recommendations, released last month and aimed at accelerating the effectiveness of beginning teachers, is notable. This is a critical priority because new teachers are more common in schools today than ever before. Whereas 25 years ago the most typical teacher was a veteran with 17 years of experience, today’s students are more likely to be taught by a novice teacher. The recommendations focus on restoring the structured professional support that once made California a national leader in meeting the needs of this burgeoning cadre of beginners. This professional support is called new teacher induction, and it should include one-on-one guidance from an accomplished teacher who has been trained to mentor new teachers and create regular, relevant opportunities for groups of new teachers to learn collaboratively. The best induction programs help beginning teachers thrive and deepen the impact of their teaching. Research shows that comprehensive, multi-year mentoring and induction reduces new teacher attrition and improves student learning. At New Teacher Center (NTC), based in Santa Cruz, we’ve witnessed these benefits in the induction programs we’ve designed and operated across California for nearly 25 years. But comprehensive induction programs affect more than just individual teachers. They also provide opportunities for teacher leadership and contribute to the development of a system of teaching excellence. NTC-led induction programs across the nation have blossomed into leadership pipelines for school districts and have created cultures of collaborative improvement within schools. Such intensive support sets new teachers on the path to excellence and serves as a driver in transforming how all teachers are developed. Before we embark upon restoring support for beginning teachers in California, we must reflect upon where we’ve been. The state’s Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program was one of the first in the nation to structure and fund a high-quality approach to new teacher support, built around California Professional Teaching Standards. Since the early 1990s, every teacher in California has been afforded mentoring support and assistance during their first two years in the classroom. But all novice California teachers are not provided equal opportunities to succeed. NTC sounded the alarm in 2010 in our New Teacher Excellence paper, warning that the overall quality of BTSA programs was in danger of being compromised as a result of a lost focus on individualized teacher growth and learning. Many BTSA programs were high quality, but unfortunately some focused too heavily on completing a checklist rather than providing differentiated and personalized support to new teachers. The negative experience of some new teachers undoubtedly contributed to the state’s decision to allow school districts to sweep BTSA funding for “any educational purpose,” further accelerating this downward spiral and eroding the comprehensiveness of many successful programs. The Task Force report (Greatness By Design) recognizes these trends: “[I]n the current context, existing strong programs of beginning teacher induction are imperiled … due to budget cuts, and many programs have suffered from lack of guidance to ensure that investments are made efficiently and effectively in the most important supports.” As John Fensterwald wrote in EdSource last month, however, “California doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. It could start by fixing the one that’s bent and broken because of years of neglect.” That’s the path suggested by the Task Force with regard to developing and supporting new educators. We recommend four key changes [beginning on page 44 of the report] to strengthen BTSA and to expand coaching and mentoring assistance to school principals: - Define the standards for quality induction programs and embed them in state accountability systems for funding and accreditation. This includes identifying and training skilled mentors, providing personalized learning and targeted mentoring support, and ensuring dedicated time for teacher collaboration and learning. - Clarify the competencies that beginning teachers, administrators, and their mentors should be expected to acquire, and ensure they are represented in appropriate assessments. This includes a standards-based approach to achieving competency in all relevant subject areas prior to recommendation for a clear credential. - Provide a strong statewide policy and programmatic infrastructure and adequate resources to allow all local providers to offer high-quality programs. This requires restored state oversight, clearly articulated state policies, and a reinvestment in regionally based program leadership and support. - Align the early career system so it allows a seamless transition from preparation to career and through ongoing development. To meet the needs of individual educators, this requires coherence and shared goals between pre-service, induction, certification, and evaluation policies and programs. I hope that the Task Force’s recommendations for developing and supporting beginning educators carry weight with policymakers and program administrators in Sacramento. Let’s learn from the best. Let’s build upon what’s working. Let’s fix what’s not. Most importantly, let’s never lose sight of the ability and willingness of teachers to learn and improve every single day. With our help, they will. Ellen Moir is founder and chief executive officer of the New Teacher Center, a national nonprofit organization that she created in 1998 to improve student learning by accelerating the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders, especially in underserved areas. Today this organization has a staff of over 150 who work closely with educators and policymakers across the country to ensure that the nation’s low-income, minority, and English language learners – those students most often taught by inexperienced teachers – have the opportunity to receive an excellent education.	253,973
Primary Secretory Otitis Media (PSOM) in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - What It Is - Relation to Other Disorders - What You Can Do - Research News - Related Links - Veterinary Resources Primary secretory otitis media (PSOM) -- also known as "glue ear" or "middle ear effusion" or "otitis media with effusion" (OME) -- has become more frequently diagnosed in cavalier King Charles spaniels recently. It consists of a highly viscous mucus plug which fills the dog's middle ear and may cause the tympanic membrane to bulge. The mucus has also been referred to as "hyperintense material". PSOM has been reported almost exclusively in cavaliers. Because the pain and other sensations in the head and neck areas, resulting from PSOM, are similar to some symptoms caused by syringomyelia (SM), some examining veterinarians may have mis-diagnosed SM in cavaliers which actually have PSOM and not SM. Other breeds in which PSOM has been diagnosed are boxers, dachshund, and shih tzu. The cause of PSOM is unknown. Dr. Lynette Cole reports that it is speculated to be due to a dysfunction of the middle ear or the Eustachian (auditory) tube: either (a) the increased production of mucus in the middle ear, or (b) decreased drainage of the middle ear through the auditory tube, or (c) both. The auditory tube connects the middle ear to the back of the nose. The tube serves to maintain equal air pressure both inside and outside of the middle ear, to allow the eardrums (tympanic membranes) to vibrate properly. The tube also allows fluid from mucous membranes in the middle ear to drain through the nose. If the Eustachian tube is not working properly, the air in the middle ear is absorbed, but it cannot be replaced, causing air pressure inside the middle ear to be lower than the air pressure outside, in the ear canal, creating a partial vacuum. This difference in air pressure causes the mucous fluid to collect inside the middle ear. The fluid then begins to become thicker and build up, becoming an ever-enlarging mucus plug. In a ten year study conducted in Sweden and reported in 2003, 61 cases of primary secretory otitis media were diagnosed in 43 cavaliers. In that study, conducted by Wiwian Stern-Bertholtz, Lennart Sjöström, and Nils Wallin-Håkanson, they explain the condition technically as follows: "The Eustachian tube is kept closed by the surface tension caused by contact between air and mucus. A particular agent, identified as a combination of different phospholipids, decreases the surface tension in the Eustachian tube of dogs, thus reducing the pressure needed to open the tube. When the tube is closed, the pressure in the middle ear is reported to become negative in relation to the pressure in the tube, which is equivalent to atmospheric pressure. This negative pressure, caused by lack of aeration, draws out the sterile transudate from the glandular tissues in the middle ear to the surface of the mucous membrane. The negative pressure remains and the process of accumulation of mucus carries on as long as the tympanic membrane is intact and the Eustachian tube is closed. Failure to open the Eustachian tube and thereby release the secretory products is believed to be the cause of secretory otitis media. An obstruction of the osseous part of the Eustachian tube is reported to be the most common cause. In PSOM, the overfilling of the middle ear with mucus and the subsequent bulging of the tympanic membrane, and the pain and neurological signs that are common, indicate that the pressure within the middle ear is high rather than low, at least in the final part of the disease process." Photo above shows mucus plugs removed from a cavalier. Courtesy, Downs Veterinary Practice, Bristol, UK. In a 2010 study (and a 2013 report of the same study), UK veterinary researchers examined MRI scans of the skulls of 34 cavalier King Charles spaniels, each of which had been scanned twice over periods from one month to 46 months. They concluded in their report that PSOM is a progressive condition in the CKCS and can progress from none to unilateral or bilateral; or from unilateral to bilateral on sequential scans, and that PSOM is an acquired condition in the CKCS and will not resolve spontaneously once it has developed. However, a few breeders report that second MRI scans of their PSOM-affected cavaliers show that the PSOM has disappeared without treatment. In a 2010 report, UK researchers found an association between PSOM and brachycephalic conformation in cavaliers. They stated: "in CKCS, greater thickness of the soft palate and reduced nasopharyngeal aperture are significantly associated with OME [otitis media with effusion, meaning PSOM]." However, they did not explain why PSOM is so nearly limited to the cavalier, while so many other breeds are brachycephalic. They also concluded that bilateral PSOM was associated with CKCS with more extreme nasopharyngeal conformation, than unaffected CKCS. In an October 2010 presentation before a meeting of the UK's Association of Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgeons, Robert N. White, a board certified veterinary soft tissue surgeon practicing at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull, West Midlands, observed that the cavalier does not appear to be a classically brachycephalic breed, despite the extent of BAOS in the breed, and that the extent of both PSOM and SM in the breed suggests that the CKCS may suffer from a combination syndrome of the three disorders, all associated with Chiari-like malformation. EDITOR'S NOTE: A uniqueness of the CKCS's morphology is that the breed was created in the 1920s from a more extreme snub-nosed English toy spaniel -- the King Charles spaniel -- by breeding to elongate the muzzle, rather than to shorten it. It is as if the cavalier's muzzle has been treated like an accordion -- first compressed to create the predecessor King Charles spaniel, and then stretched. (See a profile of a 1910 English toy spaniel, at right.) Infection as a cause of PSOM in the cavalier has been discounted by the researchers. The principal symptoms are moderate to severe pain in the head or neck, holding the neck in a guarded position, and tilting the head. Other signs may include scratching at the ears, itchy ears, head tilt, excessive yawning, crying out in pain, ataxia, drooping ear or lip, inability to blink an eye, rapid eyeball movement, facial paralysis or nerve palsy, Vestibular disease, some loss of hearing, seizures, and fatigue. These symptoms, in many cases, are very similar to those of syringomyelia and, to some extent, to those of progressive hereditary deafness. Therefore, the examining veterinarian should take care to consider these other possible causes of the dog's symptomatic behaviors. In a 2009 UK study of 23 cavaliers with PSOM, the researchers (who choose to refer to the disorder as middle ear effusion) tested the dogs' hearing with the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Reponses (BAER) test and found that, even though the dogs' owners considered their dogs' hearing capabilities to be normal, the BAER tests demonstrated a conductive hearing loss in ears affected by middle ear effusion (PSOM). See same study in 2011 Veterinary Journal. PSOM may be detected by veterinary neurology or dermatology specialists from either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan. Both require that the dog be under general anesthesia. It also may be observed using an operating microscope with good lighting and at a suitable magnification. If the case is severe enough that the pars flaccida, a portion of the dog's tympanic membrane, is bulging, the condition may be visible on x-rays and diagnosed with an otoscope. In extreme cases, the tympanic membrane may have ruptured and the mucus plug clearly seen. In the MRI scan at the right, the two bowl-shaped bullae are shown to contain accumulated mucus. Courtesy, Downs Veterinary Practice, Bristol, UK. Tympanometry (impedance audiometry) is a noninvasive method of examining the function of the middle ear while varying the atmospheric pressure in the external ear canal and inferring the amount of sound energy that is transmitted through the tympanum by measuring the reflected sound energy. In a February 2015 study, Dr. George Strain reported that the sensitivity and specificity of tympanometry for the diagnosis of PSOM in cavaliers were 84 and 47%, respectively. He recommended that clinical studies of conscious dogs with PSOM need to be performed to validate the clinical usefulness of these recordings. (See tympanometer at right.) Other possible alternative instruments for diagnosis of PSOM include pneumotoscopy, tympanic bulla ultrasonography, and the brain-stem auditory evoked response test (BAER). Click here for a list of BAER test sites. Also, check our health clinics webpage for upcoming clinics offering BAER tests. Look for the symbol U Veterinary dermatologists in the United States may be located on the American College of Veterinary Dermatology website. Treatment traditionally has consisted of performing a myringotomy (see photo at right), making a small cut in the eardrum (tympanic membrane), followed by flushing the middle ear to force out the mucus plug. The photograph at right is of a myringotomy in progress. The ring in the middle of the photo is the eardrum. The tube tip at the top is the device used to flush the inner ear and force out the mucus. You may watch a close up video of a myringotomy actually being performed on a cavalier named Baylee on YouTube here. Topical and/or systemic corticosteroids and antibiotics then are administered. The procedure may have to be repeated, in some cases several times, depending upon how the dog responds. In a March 2008 study conducted by Australian researchers, they inserted tympanostomy tubes within the myringotomy incision in order to provide continual tympanic cavity ventilation and drainage. They found that in the cases of the three CKCSs which they operated on, all three dogs were asymptomatic at the time of follow-up, 8, 6 and 4 months later, and they concluded that the use of tympanostomy tubes may be an acceptable alternative to repeated myringotomy. However, Dr. Cole reports that "no long-term prospective studies have been published on the outcome after extrusion of the tympanostomy tubes as far as the length of time the bulla remains effusion free. In addition, no studies have reported on the efficacy of a more “permanent” or long-term tympanostomy tube for treatment of PSOM." In a February 2013 report, a team of UK researchers also have questioned the effectiveness of repeated tympanostomies. An alternative procedure is a ventral bulla osteotomy (see photo above at right), which involves making an incision on the under side of the neck behind the jaw bone. The auditory bulla, a hollow bony sheath that encloses parts of the middle ear, then is exposed and is opened. In the photograph above at right, the exposed bulla is being opened. Some specialist veterinarians have been prescribing N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC), a mucolytic -- mucus thinning agent or expectorant -- for cavaliers with PSOM, following surgeries. (See, e.g., this May 2014 report.) However, no studies have been performed to determine the effectiveness of NAC in managing PSOM. February 2015: Dr. George Strain finds tympanometry can be recorded in conscious dogs to assist in the evaluation of the middle ear conditions. In a February 2015 study, Drs. George Strain (right) and Asia J. Fernandes of Louisiana State University veterinary school evaluated tympanometric measurments of 16 dogs' ears. Tympanometry (impedance audiometry) is a noninvasive method of examining the function of the middle ear while varying the atmospheric pressure in the external ear canal and inferring the amount of sound energy that is transmitted through the tympanum by measuring the reflected sound energy. The researchers found that tympanograms can be recorded in conscious dogs to assist in the evaluation of the middle ear structures. They also reported that the sensitivity and specificity of tympanometry for the diagnosis of PSOM in cavaliers were 84 and 47%, respectively. They recommended that clinical studies of conscious dogs with PSOM need to be performed to validate the clinical usefulness of these recordings. May 2014: Texas A&M specialists report on PSOM case in a cavalier. In a May 2014 report, Texas A&M veterinary specialists Megan Stout Steele and Jonathan Levine describe the case study of a 7 year old female cavalier King Charles spaniel with "chronic intermittent cervical pain and scratching of the head and neck". They diagnosed bilateral PSOM plus CM/SM and performed a myringotomy and bilateral deep ear flushing. Large, clear mucus plugs were removed from both middle ears; culture of the plugs was negative for bacteria. N-acetylcysteine was prescribed as a mucolytic to lower the risk for PSOM recurrence. They reported that a month later, the dog’s hearing seemed to have improved, but her gait abnormalities and phantom scratching persisted. September 2013: UK's Downs Veterinary Practice reports PSOM case in CKCS. In a report posted by Downs Veterinary Practice of Bristol, UK, on its website, it describes a case study of a cavalier King Charles spaniel with primary secretory otitis media. It states: "Bilateral myringotomy was performed and the bullae were flushed with sterile saline; large amounts of yellow tinged mucus were removed from both bulla and sent for cytology and bacteriology. The dog was treated post operatively with meloxicam and amoxiclav pending culture results. The owners were contacted one week after surgery and reported an improvement in the dog’s hearing." The report also included a photo of the mucus plugs and an MRI scan showing the bullae filled with mucus fluid, which we have added to sections of this webpage. September 2013: UK researchers' survey finds that chronic otitis media may be associated with higher grades of hearing loss. In an October 2013 study by a team of UK veterinary dermatologists, they report the results of questionaires answered by owners of 100 dogs referred for chronic otitis investigation, including six cavalier King Charles spaniels. They concluded that "Chronic otitis media may be associated with higher grades of hearing loss." NOTE: This study was not limited to dogs with PSOM. April 2013: Dr. Charles Bluestone tones down his fantasy about CKCS evolution but still gets it all wrong. In an article* published in April 2013, Dr. Charles D. Bluestone (right) (along with his cohort J. Douglas Swarts and others) persists in likening PSOM in the cavalier King Charles spaniel with the human condition, but at least he has walked back his irresponsible prior statements about "greater than 50%" of cavaliers having PSOM (see our February 2012 entry), and that the cavalier "has been bred over 300 years to have a short snout." (See our November 2011 entry.) Instead, this time he gets the name of the disorder right (it's not "persistent", it's "primary"), and he more mildly states (with actual citations): "Primary secretory OM [otitis media] is the term veterinarians use to describe chronic OM with effusion in canines. It has been reported to occur almost exclusively in short-faced canines, and its prevalence in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel breed is estimated at about 40%. ... Bluestone and Swarts have speculated that the Cavalier King Charles is a natural animal model, induced by artificial selection for those breed characteristics, which secondarily elicit chronic OM with effusion due to ET dysfunction." But, they still get the "evolution" of the CKCS totally backwards. They write: "Artificial selection of this breed has, until recently, focused on producing a shortened front-to-back diameter of the skull, a result of premature fusion of the coronal sutures." This shows the authors' continued and seemingly intentional ignorance of the development of the cavalier breed from its King Charles spaniel roots -- with that breed's shorter skull -- in the 1920s. (See our Editor's Note above and our November 2011 entry below for the skull comparison.) We are not sure of what they mean by "until recently". Perhaps to them, "until recently" means "until the 1920s", some 90 years ago. Finally, as has been their modus operandi in the past, our federal tax money funded their little screed. March 2013: Alabama specialist analyzes PSOM in 9-month old female CKCS. In the March 2013 issue of Clinician's Brief, Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf (right), a pet ear and skin specialist, reports a case study of a nine-month old female cavalier with neck stiffness and head tilt. His "bottom line": "CKCS eardrums should always be evaluated. If PSOM is suspected, a high-magnification eardrum examination may require referral. PSOM can be asymptomatic in CKCSs, in which case myringotomy is not required; however, the owner should be educated to take appropriate steps if signs are displayed. The Take-Home: CKCSs often have a genetic defect of their eustachian tube that results in PSOM, which may be asymptomatic. Bulging eardrum and ear pain are typical of PSOM in CKCSs. PSOM should be differentiated from SM via eardrum evaluation and MRi (if necessary). Myringotomy can relieve PSOM signs. Antibiotics will not be helpful. Periodic treatment is required." February 2013: UK researchers find PSOM is progressive in cavaliers and will not cure itself. In a February 2013 report in Veterinary Journal, a team of UK researchers (S. J. McGuinness, E. J. Friend, S. P. Knowler, N. D. Jeffery, C. Rusbridge) examined repeat MRIs (two each) of 34 cavalier King Charles spaniels for PSOM. (See a September 2010 entry on this same study.) At the first scan, 23 of the CKCSs had no effusion, 10 had unilateral effusion, and 1 had bilateral effusion. They found that, from the first to the second MRI, 26.5% had progressed from no PSOM to unilateral or bilateral PSOM, or from unilateral to bilateral. None of the 11 dogs which had PSOM at the time of the first MRI had resolved themselves. Significantly, none of the affected cavaliers in this study displayed any symptoms of pain associated with the PSOM. The authors suggest that, "it is possible that the clinical signs [discomfort symptoms] seen in these [earlier reported] cases could be explained by undiagnosed syringomyelia." The authors refer to the condition as "otitis media with effusion" (OME) because none of the dogs evidenced any associated pain. The researchers conclude: "In conclusion, this study suggests that OME is an acquired and progressive condition in the CKCS and will not resolve spontaneously once it has developed. As the clinical signs associated with OME are minimal, it is unclear if treatment is required. If treatment was required in any one case, an alternative method to repeated myringotomies or tympanostomy tube placement needs to be developed in order to treat the hearing loss associated with this condition." October 2012: Dr. Cole publishes a definitive guide to PSOM. Dr. Lynette Cole (right) of Ohio State University has issued a definitive guide to diagnosing, treating, and managing primary secretory otitis media, along with a discussion of the possible pathogenesis of PSOM. In summary, she states: "Primary secretory otitis media (PSOM) is a disease that has been described in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS). A large, bulging pars flaccida identified on otoscopic examination confirms the diagnosis. However, in many CKCS with PSOM the pars flaccida is flat, and radiographic imaging is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Current treatment for PSOM includes performing a myringotomy into the caudal-ventral quadrant of the pars tensa with subsequent flushing of the mucus out of the bulla using a video otoscope. Repeat myringotomies and flushing of the middle ear are necessary to keep the middle ear free of mucus." September 2012: UK Dr. Gert ter Haar heads RVC's new ear, nose, and throat clinic. UK's Royal Veterinary College has commenced an ear, nose, and throat referral clinic at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in London. Dr. Gert ter Haar heads the unit, which offers services including advanced diagnostics and treatment for PSOM in cavaliers, as well as CT and BAER diagnostics for deafness (plus hearing aid implants for selected patients), and diagnostics and treatment of cavaliers with brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome (BAOS). Telephone 01707 666 365 for more information. May 2012: OSU’s Dr. Cole needs normal hearing CKCSs for BAER tests, CT scans, and MRI scans. Dr. Lynette Cole of Ohio State University’s Veterinary Dermatology and Otology Service needs cavaliers between the ages of 1 to 2 years old with no history of hearing loss for a two-day evaluation by BAER hearing tests, computed tomography (CT) scans, and MRI scans. The study pays for all testing. She writes: “In the dog breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS), hearing disorders may be due to conductive hearing loss, which may occur with primary secretory otitis media (PSOM), or due to sensorineural hearing loss, which may occur when there is damage or an abnormality of the sensory cells in the cochlea or the auditory nerve.” If you are interested in possibly enrolling your cavalier in the study, contact Dr. Cole at telephone number 614-292-3551 or email firstname.lastname@example.org A pedigree is required for entry into the study, but will be kept confidential, as will all test results. Details of the study will be given individually on the phone or via email. February 2012: Bluestone is still monkeying with the CKCS. Dr. Charles D. Bluestone, renowned self-styled chimpanzee descendant, is still monkeying with the Eustachian tubes of our cavaliers. (See December 2010 entry and November 2011 entry.) In a brief resume released by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, he states: “Another ongoing research project involves a potential animal model, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which has a greater than 50% incidence of chronic otitis media effusion. Research being conducted with his colleagues in this animal involves histopathology of the middle-ear cleft in cadavers, and Eustachian tube function tests in live animals, conducted at the Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine in Columbus Ohio. ” So now he tells us that the prevalence of PSOM in the CKCS is "greater than 50%". Each time he makes a public statement, the ante goes up, without ever providing any statistical data to support his assertions. This is much like the non-existent data supporting his claim to be descended from chimpanzees.* * The notion of man's alleged descent from chimpanzees has long been rejected by evolutionists and creationists, alike. See, e.g.: "The common chimp (Pan troglodytes) and human Y chromosomes are 'horrendously different from each other', says David Page of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts." The fickle Y chromosome, Nature, Jan. 2010;463(14):149. November 2011: Bluestone keeps mucking up research of PSOM in the cavalier. In a video released in November 2011 by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Dr. Charles D. Bluestone, noted self-styled chimpanzee descendant, insists he still is researching PSOM in the cavalier King Charles spaniel. (See December 2010 entry.) He claims to be basing his research on what in fact is the patently false premise that the cavalier "has been bred over 300 years to have a short snout." He goes on: "So how did the Cavalier King Charles develop chronic persistent [sic] secretory otitis media? Their short snout changed the palatal anatomy. So the question is does the middle ear effusion with this very thick mucus in that Cavalier, it causes trouble by the way with hearing loss, have a consequence? There are two muscles that are related to this issue, the muscles that come from the palate, the tensor veli palatini, TVP, and the LVP muscles are altered causing the eustachian tube dysfunction, that’s our hypothesis. It’s a current research project which we are undergoing now." As noted above, Dr. Bluestone also mis-names the disorder he claims to be researching. PSOM stands for "primary secretory otitis media". He oddly and repeatedly calls it "persistent" secretory otitis media. So he does not even know the name of the disorder, and he is under the abject mistaken belief that the cavalier "has been bred over 300 years to have a short snout" when, in fact, the breed was created less than 85 years ago, from the King Charles spaniel, and has been bred to have a longer snout. Note in the comparison of skulls at left: the King Charles spaniel skull is at the far left, and the skull of the cavalier King Charles spaniel is to its right. (Specimens from the collections of the Albert Heim Foundation, Museum of Natural History, Bern.) He also has upped his stated prevalence of PSOM in the breed from "up to 40%" to a flat "50%", all without providing any statistical data to support either assertion.* Once again, we can only hope that this misguided gentleman's federal funding runs out as quickly as possible. * Click here for some more interesting reading about Dr. Bluestone's credibility. December 2010: Pitt Medical Center's self-styled chimpanzee descendants muck up PSOM study of cavaliers on taxpayers' dime. Drs. Charles D. Bluestone (left), a human ear, nose, and throat specialist, and J. Douglas Swarts (middle), an anthropologist, both at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who apparently still harbor the disproven belief that humans evolved from chimpanzees (They even include a tiresome skull comparison of the two completely separate species, in profile, and therefore, so do we; the chimpanzee is at far right), have also gratuitously and erroneously concluded in their federally-funded "research" article, Human evolutionary history: Consequences for the pathogenesis of otitis media, that "up to 40%" of cavalier King Charles spaniels have PSOM because they have been "artificially selected to have a shortened front-to-back diameter of the skull, a term called brachycephaly". This is an utter (and easily provable) falsehood. So much for their scientific method. We suppose that if one must "publish or perish" (and with a taxpayer-funded grant, to boot), these two had to come up with something no one else would dare think to write about. But how do they get around the fact that PSOM is essentially unique to the cavalier, while many other canine breeds are brachycephalic, and some even more so? The answer is, they do not. There is a little value in their article, however, because Dr. Lynette Cole provided them with some quite accurate (albeit not new) information about PSOM in the cavalier, which is summarized below. Dr. Cole's input makes that part of the article worth reading. But the scariest part of the article is their statement (threat?) near the end that: "The underlying pathogenesis of the Cavalier's ME disease is currently under investigation in our laboratory." We sure hope not. Leave that to Dr. Cole, please. October 2010: UK surgeon opines CKCS's brachycephalic disorders and PSOM are related to Chiari-like malformation. Robert N. White (right), a board certified veterinary soft tissue surgeon practicing at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull, West Midlands, observed in an October 2010 presentation before a meeting of the UK's Association of Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgeons, that the cavalier King Charles spaniel does not appear to be a classically brachycephalic breed, despite the extent of BAOS in the cavalier, and that the extent of both PSOM and SM in the breed suggests that the CKCS may suffer from a combination syndrome of the three disorders, all associated with Chiari-like malformation. September 2010: UK researchers find PSOM (OME) to be progressive. A team of UK veterinary researchers (S.J. McGuinness, E.J. Friend, C. Rusbridge, P. Knowler and N. D. Jeffery) examined MRI scans of the skulls of 34 cavalier King Charles spaniels, each of which had been scanned twice over periods from one month to 46 months. They concluded in their report that PSOM (OME) is a progressive condition in the CKCS and can progress from none to unilateral or bilateral; or from unilateral to bilateral on sequential scans, and that OME is an acquired condition in the CKCS and will not resolve spontaneously once it has developed. (See also a February 2013 entry on this same study.) July 2010: UK researchers find association between PSOM and brachycephalic conformation in cavaliers. In their report, they find, "in CKCS, greater thickness of the soft palate and reduced nasopharyngeal aperture are significantly associated with OME [otitis media with effusion, meaning PSOM]." 2010: Ohio State Vet School needs cavalier cadavers for Eustachian tube study. Dr. Lynette Cole of the Dermatology Service at the Ohio State University's veterinary teaching hospital is seeking deceased cavaliers and candidates for euthanasia, with or without PSOM, for a study of the muscles which open the Eustachian tube. The study will include dissections of the Eustachian tube, its muscles, and the inner ear, and imaging with advanced MRI. The veterinary research is in conjunction with an OSU medical school otolaryngology study of secretory otitis media in humans. The otolaryngologists are looking for abnormalities within the muscles that open Eustachian tube, that prevent secretions from being removed from the tube, thereby causing a build-up of the mucus causing secretory Dr. Cole asks: "If at all possible, I would prefer to have the cavalier brought to me at the Ohio State University for euthanasia. Please contact me prior to make proper arrangements. If that is not possible, please have your veterinarian refrigerate the dog after euthanasia, and then have your veterinarian contact me." Contact Dr. Cole at telephone number 614-292-3551, email email@example.com September 2009: Drs. Andrew Hillier and Lynette Cole and others of the Dermatology Service at the Ohio State University's veterinary teaching hospital are conducting research into the prevalence of PSOM in the cavalier King Charles spaniel breed in the United States, as well as the mode of inheritance, data about the clinical signs of the disorder, alternative methods of diagnosing it (CT scan, tympanic bulla ultrasonography, BAER test, impedance audiometry, otoscopic examination, and pneumotoscopy), and methods of treatment. The diagnostic tests will be compared to the results of the CT scan for the diagnosis of PSOM, to determine which test or group of tests are the best to use for the diagnosis of PSOM. In their August 2007 interim report to the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club's charitable trust, Dr. Cole reports that 75 Cavaliers are to be "enrolled, placed under general anesthesia, and the following diagnostics performed: CT scan, tympanic bulla ultrasonography, BAER test, impedance audiometry, otoscopic examination, and pneumotoscopy. If the CT scan is suggestive of otitis media (i.e. a soft tissue density present in the tympanic bulla-the bony part of the middle ear), then a myringotomy (incision into the ear drum) will be performed and the mucus flushed out of the middle ear. Cytology and bacterial cultures will be performed on the mucus from the middle ear. A BAER and CT scan will be performed post-middle ear flush on those CKCS with PSOM." Dr. Cole states that as of August 2007, 13 CKCS have been examined, with ages ranging from 5 months to 9 years of age. Of those, 8 (62%) cavaliers had PSOM (6 had PSOM in both ears, 2 had PSOM in one ear) and 5 (38%) did not have PSOM. The doctors still are seeking cavaliers to participate in this study. They may be reached by telephone at 614-292-3551 and email Dr. Hillier at firstname.lastname@example.org and Dr. Cole at email@example.com and website www.vet.ohio-state.edu/876.htm The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club's charitable trust has contributed a grant to help underwrite this project. Insertion of a transtympanic ventilation tube for the teatment of otitis media with effusion. Cox C,J., Slack R.W.T., Cox G.J. J.Sm.Anim.Prac., Sept. 1989;30(9):517-519. Quote: "In this paper, a case of otitis media with effusion ('glue ear') is described in a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Its presentation, diagnosis and surgical management by the insertion of a trans-tympanic ventilation tube (grommet) is discussed." Evaluation of radiography, otoscopy, pneumotoscopy, impedance audiometry and endoscopy for the diagnosis of otitis media in the dog. Cole LK, Kwochka KW, Podell M et al. August 2002. In: Advances in Veterinary Dermatology, volume 4. Thoday KL, Foil CS, Bond R, eds. Oxford: Blackwell Science; pp. 49–55. Quote: "45 dogs with chronic recurrent otitis externa were evaluated for otitis media using radiography, otoscopy, pneumotoscopy, tympanometry and the acoustic reflex. The results of these diagnostic tests were compared with the results of culture and cytology from the middle ear obtained by myringotomy. The diagnosis of otitis media was made if infection was detected by either method. Of the 90 ears evaluated, 80 (88.9%) ears had concurrent otitis media and the tympanic membrane was intact in 58 of 80 (72.5%) ears. 17 different organisms (Staphylococcus intermedius, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus, Proteus, Corynebacterium, Escherichia coli, Moraxella, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella, Citrobacter, Lactobacillus, β-haemolytic streptococcus, group D non-enterococcus, α-haemolytic streptococcus, coagulase-negative staphylococcus and non-group D streptococcus) were isolated from the horizontal ear canal and 16 organisms from the middle ear. The high false-negative rates of all the tests resulted in low sensitivities and negative predictive values; therefore, many ears with otitis media were not identified and myringotomy appears to be the optimum technique for the diagnosis of otitis media. However, in the ears with an abnormal test, over 90% had otitis media. Therefore, otitis media should be suspected when an abnormal test is obtained radiographically, otoscopically, pneumotoscopically or by impedance audiometry in a dog with chronic recurrent otitis externa." Primary secretory otitis media in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel: a review of 61 cases. Stern-Bertholtz W.; Sjöström L.; Wallin Håkanson N. J Small Animal Practice, 30 June 2003, 44(6): 253-256(4). Quote: "Sixty-one episodes of primary secretory otitis media (PSOM) were diagnosed in 43 Cavalier King Charles spaniels over a 10-year period. The principal findings were signs of moderate to severe pain localised to the head or cervical area, and/or neurological signs. Diagnosis was made by examination of the tympanic membrane and middle ear with the aid of an operating microscope under general anaesthesia. A bulging, but intact, tympanic membrane was found in most cases. he cytological and bacteriological examinations that were carried out in a few cases, and the macroscopic appearance of the contents of the middle ear, suggest that infection is not a part of the pathogenesis of PSOM. Following myringotomy, a highly viscous mucus plug was found filling the middle ear. Treatment, consisting of removal of the mucus plug, flushing of the middle ear, and local and systemic medical therapy, had to be repeated between one and five times. The prognosis was good in all cases. PSOM is an important differential diagnosis in Cavalier King Charles spaniels with signs of pain involving the head and neck, and/or neurological signs." Neurological signs and results of magnetic resonance imaging in 40 cavalier King Charles spaniels with Chiari type 1-like malformations. Lu D, Lamb CR, Pfeiffer DU, Targett MP. Vet Rec. Aug 2003;153(9):260-3. Quote: "In human beings a Chiari type 1 malformation is a developmental condition characterised by cerebellar herniation and syringohydromyelia. Abnormalities compatible with such a malformation were identified by magnetic resonance imaging in 39 cavalier King Charles spaniels with neurological signs and in one neurologically normal cavalier King Charles spaniel that was examined postmortem. The dogs with these abnormalities had a wide variety of neurological signs, but there was no apparent correlation between the neurological signs and the severity of cerebellar herniation, syringohydromyelia or hydrocephalus." Material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance imaging for investigation of neurologic signs. Owen MC, Lamb CR, Targett MP. Vet. Radiology & Ultrasound, Mar 2004, 45(2):149-155. Quote: "The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential significance of finding material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Of 466 MR studies reviewed, an increased signal was identified in the tympanic bulla in 32 (7%) dogs. Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Cocker spaniels, Bulldogs, and Boxers were over-represented compared to the population of dogs having MR imaging. Five (16%) dogs had definite otitis media and one (3%) had a meningioma invading the middle ear. Of the remaining dogs, 13 (41%) had possible otitis media and 13 (41%) had neurologic conditions apparently unrelated to otitis media. The most common appearance of material in the middle ear was isointense in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2-weighted images. There was no apparent correlation between the signal characteristics of the material and the diagnosis. Enhanced signal after gadolinium administration was observed affecting the lining of the bulla in dogs with otitis media and in dogs with unrelated neurologic conditions. In dogs without clinical signs of otitis media, finding an increased signal in the middle ear during MR imaging may reflect subclinical otitis media or fluid accumulation unrelated to inflammation. Brachycephalic dogs may be predisposed to this condition." Primary secretory otitis media in Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Clare Rusbridge. J Small Anim Pract. 2004 Apr; 45:222. Primary Secretory Otitis Media (Glue Ear). Hillier A., Cole L. CKCSC,USA Bulletin, Fall/Winter 2005:16. Diagnosis and management of otitis media. Thomas, Randall C. Proceedings, No. Am. Vet. Conf., Vol. 20, Jan. 2006: 979. Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomographic Imaging of the Auditory Tube in Mesaticephalic Dogs. Lynette K. Cole, Valerie F. Samii. Vet. Radiology & Ultrasound, Vol 48(2): 125-128, Mar 2007. Quote: "Auditory tube dysfunction has been speculated as the cause of primary secretory otitis media (PSOM), reported recently in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. A simple, noninvasive technique is needed for evaluation of the canine auditory tube." The method of application and short term results of tympanostomy tubes for the treatment of primary secretory otitis media in three Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs. Corfield GS, Burrows AK, Imani P, Bryden SL. Aust Vet J. 2008 Mar;86(3):88-94. Quote: "Primary secretory otitis media is an uncommon disease affecting predominantly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs. Current treatment recommendations include repeated manual removal of the mucoid effusion from the tympanic cavity through a myringotomy incision and topical or systemic corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tympanostomy tubes to provide continual tympanic cavity ventilation and drainage for the treatment of primary secretory otitis media in three dogs. Tympanostomy tubes were placed within a myringotomy incision in the pars tensa with the aid of an operating microscope. Clinical signs resolved rapidly in all cases following the procedure and all cases were asymptomatic at the time of follow-up, 8, 6 and 4 months later. Results of this study indicate that tympanostomy tubes provide continual tympanic cavity ventilation and drainage and may be an acceptable alternative to repeated myringotomy for the treatment of primary secretory otitis media." A Practical Guide to Canine and Feline Neurology. Curtis W. Dewey. John Wiley & Sons; 2008; 273. Effect of Middle Ear Effusion On The Brainstem Auditory Response Of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. T. R. Harcourt-Brown, J. E. Parker, N. D. Jeffery. 22nd ESVN Annual Symposium, Sept. 2009; J Vet Intern Med, Jan/Feb 2010;24(1):242. Quote: "The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of middle ear effusion on the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Reponses (BAER) of cavalier king charles spaniels. BAER’s were obtained from dogs following Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging screening for syringomyelia. Middle ear effusion was diagnosed if the auditory bulla was completely filled with material that was isontinense to brain parenchyma on T1 weighted images and hyperintense on T2 weighted images. Dogs with otitis externa were excluded from the study. BAER’s were obtained at sound intensities ranging from 10 to 100 dB nHL (normal hearing level). The BAER threshold was determined for each ear as the last trace that showed a recognisable wave V. The latency of wave V was recorded for each intensity where it was identified and the interwave latency between waves I and V was calculated at 90 dB nHL. ... Each dog’s hearing was considered normal by their owner. The median BAER threshold was 60 dB for ears with effusion and 30 dB for those without. The proportion of ears with abnormal BAER thresholds (4 30 dB nHL) was greater for ears with effusion (11/16) than those without (8/30) (Fishers exact test, p = 0.011). Severity of hearing loss for ears with effusion was calculated by linear regression of wave V latencies to be 23 dB (95% confidence 18 to 31 dB). The mean interwave latency between waves I and V at 90 dB for ears with and without effusion was not significantly different (Students t-test, p > 0.05). These data show that middle ear effusion is associated with conductive hearing loss of 21–30 dB in affected ears." Relationship between pharyngeal conformation and otitis media with effusion in Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Hayes GM, Friend EJ, Jeffery ND. Vet Rec. 2010 Jul 10;167(2):55-8. Quote: "Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common incidental finding in otherwise normal Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS). ... The incidence of OME as an incidental finding in a sample of 68 CKCS undergoing MRI was 54 per cent in this study, which is comparable to previously reported incidences of 47 per cent ... and 28 per cent ... in this breed. The CKCS in this study were reported to be ‘clinically normal’ by their owners, who did not report clinical signs of neurological disease or otitis in these dogs. ... In this study, measurements made on MRI were used to determine whether there was an association between OME and brachycephalic conformation. The results confirm that association and also demonstrate that, in CKCS, greater thickness of the soft palate and reduced naso-pharyngeal aperture are significantly associated with OME. ... An overlong soft palate has long been accepted as contributing to the [brachycephalic airway] syndrome, but more recently the importance of abnormally thick soft palates has also been recognised ... [B]rachycephalic airway syndrome may occur as a consequence of the selection for morphological neotony in this breed ... Although the aetiology is probably multifactorial, OME is more frequently found in patients with more severe anomalies of nasopharyngeal conformation. Changes within the nasopharynx may impair auditory tube drainage. ... These results suggest that auditory tube dysfunction and OME may represent a previously overlooked consequence of brachycephalic conformation in dogs." Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs & Cats (2d Ed.). Alex Gough, Alison Thomas. 2010; Wiley-Blackwell Publ. 53. Progression of Otitis Media with Effusion in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. S.J. McGuinness, E.J. Friend, C. Rusbridge, P. Knowler and N. D. Jeffery. Abstract at 23d ECVN symposium, Sept. 2010. Investigation of 34 MRI scans of CKCS having 2 scans as part of CMSM screening. Interpreted by the same author (S.J. McGuinness). The scans were classified according to negative, unilateral or bilateral OME based on the absence or presence of hyperintense material on T2 weighted MRI images. ... A total of 34 dogs had 2 MRI scans a median of 20 months apart (range 1 to 46); the incidence of OME at the first MRI was 32%, which increased to 50% at the time of the second MRI, which is comparable with previous studies. At the time of the first MRI, 23 CKCS had no effusion, 10 had unilateral effusion and 1 had bilateral effusion. By the second MRI, 3 cases had progressed from unilateral to bilateral; 5 had progressed from no effusion to effusion being present (4 negative to unilateral, 1 negative to bilateral) and 8 of those having effusion at the first scan remained the same. No cases that had OME at the first MRI had resolved at the time of the second MRI and no case had clinical signs that could be associated with OME. This study demonstrates that OME is a progressive condition in the CKCS and can progress from absent to unilateral or bilateral; or from unilateral to bilateral on sequential scans. It also suggests that OME is an acquired condition in the CKCS and will not resolve spontaneously once it has developed." Brachycephalic Airway Obstructing Syndrome: Some Further Controversies. Robert N. White. Assn. of Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgeons. Oct. 2010. Quote: "The Cavalier King Charles spaniel also warrants further discussion. Previous reports from the UK and Australia would suggest that this breed in commonly presented for the investigation and management of BAOS (Lorinson and others 1997, Torrez and Hunt 2006) in both these countries. Surprisingly, a recent retrospective series of 62 dogs from North America (Riecks and others 2007) contained no individuals of the breed. Like the three breeds discussed above [Yorkshire terrier, the Norfolk terrier and the Norwich terrier], it is my experience that the Cavalier King Charles spaniel presented for the further investigation of ʻBAOSʼ commonly does not have the classic findings seen in the bulldog, French bulldog, Pekinese, Pug, etc. Their nasopharyngeal obstruction is often characterised by a subjectively narrow (smaller than expected for a breed of their size) nasopharyngeal space and it is quite common that they do not show evidence of overlength of the soft palate. Interestingly, a recent report (Hayes and others 2010) confirmed a significant association between the presence of otitis media with effusion (on MRI) and an increase thickness of the soft palate and reduced nasopharyngeal aperture. Many of the cases show evidence of otitis media with effusion (OME) on either otoscopic examination or other imaging studies of the tympanic bullae. Malformation of the nasopharynx and soft palate is recognised to be associated with the formation of otitis media with effusion in the dog (White and others 2009). The prevalence of caudal fossa (craniocervical junction abnormalities including occipital hypoplasia) malformations is high in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel and is considered to be associated with the presence of neurological signs observed in individuals suffering from cerebellar herniation and syringohydromyelia (Cerda-Gonzalez and others 2009). It would seem reasonable to hypothesise that the Cavalier King Charles spaniel might suffer from a syndrome of conditions (syringomyelia, OME, nasopharyngeal airway obstruction, etc.) that are all associated with the malformation of the caudal aspect of the skull." Human evolutionary history: Consequences for the pathogenesis of otitis media. Charles D Bluestone, J. Douglas Swarts. Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery; Dec 2010; 143(6):739-744. Quote: "Among veterinarians, chronic ME effusion (termed primary secretory otitis media) is a well-known disease in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It has been reported to be present in up to 40 percent of these animals. The effusion is mucoid and fills the entire ME. Diagnosis is made by operating microscopic examination, computed tomography scanning, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and has been confirmed at the time of myringotomy. Myringotomy and tympanostomy tube placement has been recommended for treatment. This breed has been artificially selected to have a shortened front-to-back diameter of the skull, a shape termed brachycephaly, which arises due to premature fusion of the coronal sutures. The term neotenous (retention of juvenile characteristics into adulthood) is also appropriate for these breeds. The Cavalier snores habitually like other brachycephalic dogs, including the English Bulldog, a breed that has been reported to be the only animal known to develop obstructive sleep apnea. The snoring is undoubtedly secondary to its constricted pharynx, a consequence of the shortening of the snout. ... Figure 5 compares the head shape of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, with its extremely short face, to that of a Golden Retriever, which has a classic prognathic snout. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an animal model of chronic OM with effusion. It has been “artificially selected” (Charles Darwin's term) for its short snout and globular head, but an unintended consequence of breeding for this characteristic is the propensity for chronic OM with effusion. In a recently reported study using MRI, veterinarians from England found that not only did the Cavalier have OM (54%), but another brachycephalic breed, the Boxer, also had ME disease (32%), which was not present in Cocker Spaniels, a mesaticephalic breed. The investigators suggested that the reduced nasopharyngeal space in the Cavalier and Boxers, when compared with the Cocker Spaniel, predisposed them to OM. It might be that one or both of the paratubal muscles is dysfunctional due to the abnormal palatal anatomy in these breeds and is the cause of their OM. The underlying pathogenesis of the Cavalier's ME disease is currently under investigation in our laboratory. Analogously, one could speculate that with the loss of their prognathic face, humans became susceptible to OM, an unintended consequence of “natural selection” for another adaptation (again, Darwin's term), as described above." Middle ear effusions in dogs: An incidental finding? H.A. Volk, E.S. Davies. Vet.J. June 2011; 188(3):256-257 Effect of middle ear effusion on the brain-stem auditory evoked response of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Thomas R. Harcourt-Brown, John E. Parker, Nicolas Granger, and Nick D. Jeffery. Vet.J. June 2011; 188(3):341-345. Quote: "Brain-stem auditory evoked responses (BAER) were assessed in 23 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with and without middle ear effusion at sound intensities ranging from 10 to 100 dB nHL. Significant differences were found between the median BAER threshold for ears where effusions were present (60 dB nHL), compared to those without (30 dB nHL) (P = 0.001). The slopes of latency–intensity functions from both groups did not differ, but the y-axis intercept when the x value was zero was greater in dogs with effusions (P = 0.009), consistent with conductive hearing loss. Analysis of latency–intensity functions suggested the degree of hearing loss due to middle ear effusion was 21 dB (95% confidence between 10 and 33 dB). Waves I–V inter-wave latency at 90 dB nHL was not significantly different between the two groups. These findings demonstrate that middle ear effusion is associated with a conductive hearing loss of 10–33 dB in affected dogs despite the fact that all animals studied were considered to have normal hearing by their owners." Diagnosis of primary secretory otitis media in the cavalier King Charles spaniel. VCole LK, Samii VF, Wagner S, and PJ Rajala-Schultz. Dermatol April 2011;22:297. Genetic Connection: A Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs, Second Edition. Lowell Ackerman. July 2011; AAHA Press; pg 59. Quote: "Primary secretory otitis media (PSOM), sometimes referred to as glue ear, is a poorly defined disorder of the middle ear that is most commonly reported in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. ... The cause of PSOM has not been determined, but because of the predominance of Cavalier King Charles spaniels affected, a genetic link is suspected." Primary Secretory Otitis Media in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Lynette K. Cole. Vet Clin Small Anim; Oct. 2012. Quote: "Primary secretory otitis media (PSOM) is a disease that has been described in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS). Signs suggestive of primary secretory otitis media include hearing loss, neck scratching, otic pruritus, head shaking, abnormal yawning, head tilt, facial paralysis, or vestibular disturbances, with an individual Cavalier King Charles spaniel presenting with one or multiple signs. A large, bulging pars flaccida identified on otoscopic examination confirms the diagnosis. However, in many CKCS with PSOM the pars flaccida is flat, and radiographic imaging is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Current treatment for PSOM includes performing a myringotomy into the caudal-ventral quadrant of the pars tensa with subsequent flushing of the mucus out of the bulla using a video otoscope. Until a treatment is found to prevent the mucus from recurring or the cause of the disease is identified and controlled, repeat myringotomies and flushing of the middle ear will be needed to keep the middle ear free of mucus. At present, the cause of PSOM is unknown; however, it has been speculated to be due to a dysfunction of the middle ear or auditory tube (increased production of mucus in the middle ear) or decreased drainage of the middle ear through the auditory tube, or both. Until a treatment is found to prevent the mucus from recurring or the cause of the disease is identified and controlled, the fact that these CKCS had a relapse of PSOM is not surprising." Electrodiagnostic Evaluation of Auditory Function in the Dog. Peter M. Scheifele, John Greer Clark. Vet.Clinics of N.A.:Sm.Anim.Prac. Nov. 2012; 42(6):1241-1257. Quote: "Given the high incidence of deafness within several breeds of dogs, accurate hearing screening and assessment is essential. In addition to brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing, 2 other electrophysiologic tests are now being examined as audiologic tools for use in veterinary medicine: otoacoustic emissions and the auditory steady state response (ASSR). To improve BAER testing of animals and ensure an accurate interpretation of test findings from one test site to another, the establishment of and adherence to clear protocols is essential. The ASSR holds promise as an objective test for rapid testing of multiple frequencies in both ears simultaneously." Progression of otitis media with effusion in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. S. J. McGuinness, E. J. Friend, S. P. Knowler, N. D. Jeffery, C. Rusbridge. Vety.Rec. Feb. 2013. Quote: "Previously, the term ‘Primary secretory otitis media’ (PSOM) has been used to describe an effusion present in the tympanic bullae of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) (Stern-Bertholtz and others 2003). All these cases were associated with moderate to severe pain and/or neurological signs. As no cases in our study had associated pain, and due to the chronicity of the condition, the authors have classified the condition described in this study as OME [otitis media with effusion]. This study aimed to determine if, once present, OME resolved without treatment; and also if OME in the CKCS was a progressive condition. ... At the time of the first MRI scan, 23 CKCS had no effusion, 10 had unilateral effusion and one had bilateral effusion. By the second MRI scan, nine cases had progressed (26.5 per cent), three from unilateral to bilateral effusion; six to acquire an effusion (five negative to unilateral effusion; one negative to bilateral effusion). Eight CKCS having effusion in the bullae at the first MRI scan remained with this effusion (either unilateral or bilateral) at the time of the second MRI scan (Fig 2). No cases that had OME at the first MRI had resolved at the time of the second MRI. No dog had a hearing test as part of the investigation. ... The incidence of OME in CKCS in this study was 32 per cent at the first MRI scan and 50 per cent at the second MRI scan and is comparable with previous studies (Owen and others 2004, Hayes and others 2010). In this study, six cases progressed from having no effusion to either unilateral (five cases) or bilateral (one case) OME. ... The dogs reported in [previous] studies were described as having severe clinical signs including vocalising and pain localised to the head or cervical area; none of these cases underwent an MRI scan at the time of treatment, and it is possible that the clinical signs seen in these cases could be explained by undiagnosed syringomyelia. ... The possibility of extrusion of the tympanostomy tube (Cox and others 1989), the inability to allow the dog’s ear to become wet and the possibility for tracking infections make the tympanostomy tube less suitable for long-term use in the CKCS, as the anatomical changes that are the likely cause of the OME are present in the adult (Hayes and others 2010). In conclusion, this study suggests that OME is an acquired and progressive condition in the CKCS and will not resolve spontaneously once it has developed. As the clinical signs associated with OME are minimal, it is unclear if treatment is required. If treatment was required in any one case, an alternative method to repeated myringotomies or tympanostomy tube placement needs to be developed in order to treat the hearing loss associated with this condition. Neck Stiffness & Head Tilt in a Young Spaniel. Louis N. Gotthelf. Clinician's Brief. March 2013: 23-25. Quote: "A 9-month-old female Cavalier King Charles spaniel presented for apparent neck pain when walked on a leash. History: The owner reported neck stiffness and head tilt. After the leash had been removed, the signs continued to persist for more than 24 hours. The puppy appeared bright, alert, and responded when called. Examination: Physical examination did not elicit a painful response when the head and neck were manipulated in any direction. A slight head tilt was observed when the puppy walked freely in the clinic; however, laboratory diagnostics were not performed. Evaluation may reveal a bulging eardrum, indicative of primary secretory otitis media (PSOM). PSOM of Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCSs) commonly occurs as head and neck pain that may be difficult to localize. With pressure in the bulla, Horner syndrome or facial nerve palsy may be evident. Vestibular disease may be present with increased bulla pressure and can manifest as nystagmus or head tilt. Breed-Specific Considerations: Careful examination can reveal an abnormal or bulging eardrum. Clinicians adept at visualizing a normal eardrum with a handheld otoscope can detect a bulging eardrum; the tip of the cone has to be small yet long enough to make the bend in the ear canal. The tip of the otoscope cone should be placed in the horizontal ear canal close enough to the eardrum to focus on the tympanic membrane. A highly magnified, well illuminated examination should be done with a video otoscope to determine eardrum status. Bottom Line: CKCS eardrums should always be evaluated. If PSOM is suspected, a high-magnification eardrum examination may require referral. PSOM can be asymptomatic in CKCSs, in which case myringotomy is not required; however, the owner should be educated to take appropriate steps if signs are displayed. The Take-Home: CKCSs often have a genetic defect of their eustachian tube that results in PSOM, which may be asymptomatic. Bulging eardrum and ear pain are typical of PSOM in CKCSs. PSOM should be differentiated from SM via eardrum evaluation and MRi (if necessary). Myringotomy can relieve PSOM signs. Antibiotics will not be helpful. Periodic treatment is required." Use of a hearing loss grading system and an owner-based hearing questionnaire to assess hearing loss in pet dogs with chronic otitis externa or otitis media. Carly L. Mason, Susan Paterson1, Peter J. Cripps. Vet. Dermatology; Oct. 2013;24(5):512–e121. Quote: "Background: Hearing loss is important when assessing the suitability of dogs with otitis externa/media for medical or surgical therapy. Hypothesis/objectives: To assess an owner-completed questionnaire as an indicator of hearing loss and a canine hearing loss scoring system in chronic canine otitis. Animals: One hundred hospital population dogs referred for chronic otitis investigation [including 6 cavalier King Charles spaniels]. Methods: Owners completed a questionnaire to assess their dog's response to common household noises. The presence of otitis externa or media was determined and brainstem auditory-evoked response measurements were performed on each dog. The minimal hearing threshold (MHT) in decibels normal hearing level (dB NHL) was recorded and categorized according to the human World Health Organization grading system into five grades from 0 to 4 with cut-off values of ≤25 dB NHL, 26–40 dB NHL, 41–60 dB NHL, 60–80 dB NHL and ≥81 dB NHL. Results: The questionnaire correctly determined normal hearing in grade 0 cases, but did not reliably detect unilateral or grade 1 bilateral hearing loss. For dogs with bilateral hearing loss ≥ grade 2, questionnaire sensitivity was 83% [24 of 29, 95% confidence interval, (CI) 64–94%] and specificity was 94% (67 of 71, 95% CI 86–98%). Higher grades of hearing loss were significantly associated with the presence of otitis media (P < 0.01). Conclusions and clinical importance: The questionnaire may be a useful in-practice screening tool in chronic canine otitis for moderate to severe bilateral hearing deficits (MHT ≥41 dB NHL). The hearing loss grading system may help clinicians make therapeutic decisions. Chronic otitis media may be associated with higher grades of hearing loss." CASE REPORT: Primary Sectetory Otitis Media in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Downs Veterinary Practice. Quote: "Bilateral myringotomy was performed and the bullae were flushed with sterile saline; large amounts of yellow tinged mucus were removed from both bulla and sent for cytology and bacteriology. The dog was treated post operatively with meloxicam and amoxiclav pending culture results. The owners were contacted one week after surgery and reported an improvement in the dog’s hearing. ... PSOM can cause deafness, neck pain and vestibular disease. It occurs predominantly in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and should be considered as a differential diagnosis along with syringomyelia, cervical disc disease and progressive hereditary deafness. ... Diagnosis of PSOM can be challenging. In one report an operating microscope was used to examine the tympanic membrane as it can be difficult to accurately assess opacity of the tympanic membrane or changes in pressure with an auroscope. In this case, MRI clearly revealed bilateral fluid accumulation in the bullae. When presenting signs include head and neck pain, this imaging modality is invaluable in differentiating PSOM from syringomyelia secondary to Chiari malformation. Treatment of PSOM is surgical; myringotomy with subsequent flushing of the bulla is the standard recommendation. In addition, steroids have reportedly been used in conjunction with lavage of the bullae. In some cases, repeated surgeries may be required as the underlying abnormality leads to a potential recurrence of signs." Intermittent Pain & Scratching in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Megan Stout Steele, Jonathan Levine. Clinicians Brief. May 2014. Quote: "Lucy, a 7-year-old spayed Cavalier King Charles spaniel, was presented for chronic intermittent cervical pain and scratching of the head and neck. History: ... Lucy had a 2- to 3-year history of intermittent episodes of vocalization and reluctance to be touched around the head and neck. In addition, the dog frequently attempted to scratch her head, neck, muzzle, and ears, although rarely did the paws come into contact with the skin surface. During the past year, the dog had progressive difficulty using her pelvic limbs on slippery surfaces. The owners also suspected some hearing loss. Examination: ... Bilateral mild ceruminous otic debris was noted. The dog’s mentation appeared normal and no cranial nerve deficits were noted; however, response to auditory stimuli was absent bilaterally. On gait analysis, mild generalized proprioceptive ataxia, cerebellar ataxia, and tetraparesis were noted. Myotatic reflexes were increased in the pelvic limbs, and thoracic limb flexor withdrawal reflexes were diminished bilaterally. Cervical pain and phantom scratching were elicited during vertebral column palpation. Lesions were localized to the C6-T2 spinal cord segments, cerebellum, and auditory apparatus. Diagnostics: CBC, serum chemistry panel, and urinalysis results were within reference ranges. Three-view thoracic radiographs showed no abnormalities. MRI of the brain and cranial cervical vertebral column showed cerebellar compression and coning secondary to the malformed caudal occipital bone, with lack of normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the caudal cerebellum. A T2 hyperintense–T1 hypointense lesion within the spinal cord parenchyma from the level of C1 caudally was noted. The tympanic bullae contained T2-hyperintense and T1-isointense material. No contrast enhancement was identified. Diagnosis: Chiari-like malformation (CLM) and syringohydromyelia (SHM); bilateral primary secretory otitis media (PSOM). Treatment: Lucy was admitted for additional diagnostic testing and treatment and underwent myringotomy and bilateral deep ear flushing. Large, clear mucus plugs were removed from both middle ears; culture of the plugs was negative for bacteria. These findings and the MRI results were most consistent with PSOM. The patient recovered well from anesthesia and the next day was reanesthetized for foramen magnum decompression and C1 dorsal laminectomy with durotomy. Surgical recovery was uncomplicated. After 3 days, the patient was discharged with pregabalin at 2 mg/kg PO q12h for neuropathic pain associated with SHM, omeprazole at 1 mg/kg PO q24h to decrease CSF production, and tramadol at 4 mg/kg PO q8h for 5 days to address temporary soft tissue pain. In addition, N-acetylcysteine at 600 mg PO q24h was prescribed as a mucolytic to lower the risk for PSOM recurrence. Outcome: At the 1-month reevaluation, the dog’s hearing seemed to have improved, but her gait abnormalities and phantom scratching persisted." Handheld tympanometer measurements in conscious dogs for the evaluation of the middle ear and auditory tube. GM Strain, AJ Fernandes. Vet. Dermatology. February 2015. Quote: "Background: ... Evaluation of the patency of the tympanum can be very difficult in infected ears; assessment of the middle ear and auditory tube are difficult without expensive imaging techniques. The availability of a low-cost method of assessing the tympanum, middle ear and auditory tube would be a significant tool for practitioners. Primary secretory otitis media (PSOM), also known as glue ear, is a condition observed primarily in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS) dog breed, but also reported in the dachshund, boxer and shih tzu. Incidence in clinically normal CKCS may be as high as 54%. Primary secretory otitis media is similar to the condition of otitis media with effusion that is frequently seen in young children. With PSOM, the middle ear becomes filled with a sterile, viscous plug of mucus that typically must be removed by myringotomy and middle ear flushing, often repeatedly, and in some cases by bulla osteotomy. Aetiologies of PSOM are unknown; a pharyngeal conformational predisposition has been suggested, and auditory (Eustachian) tube dysfunction has also been proposed. Due to its nearly exclusive occurrence in CKCS, there may also be a genetic component. Deafness may result from loss of neurons in the cochlea (sensorineural deafness) or from obstruction of sound transmission into the cochlea (conductive deafness). Conductive deafness may result from a variety of causes, including otitis externa and/or media, cerumen impaction, ear canal inflammation, ear canal foreign bodies (awns) and middle ear polyps. Tympanometry, or impedance audiometry, is a noninvasive method of examining the function of the middle ear while varying the atmospheric pressure in the external ear canal and inferring the amount of sound energy that is transmitted through the tympanum by measuring the reflected sound energy. ... Hypothesis/Objectives: The objective was to develop techniques for tympanometry testing in conscious dogs and to present normative data for clinical use of this equipment to enable assessment of the tympanum, middle ear and auditory tube. Animals: Sixteen hounds (14 female) from a school teaching colony. Methods: Dogs were gently restrained in a standing position. After cleaning of the ear canal, a tympanometer probe tip extension was placed in the vertical canal and automated testing performed using a handheld device. Both ears were tested in all dogs. [See, at right, Otowave 102 tympanometer with eartip modified for dog use, showing 14, 15 and 19 mm mushroom-shaped eartips.] Results: Acceptable recordings were obtained from both ears of 13 dogs, from one ear in each of two dogs and from neither ear of one dog, resulting in data from 28 of 32 (88%) ears. Otoscopic examination confirmed the absence of inflammation or any other obvious explanation for the noncompliant dogs. No significant differences were seen between ears for any measure. Normative data are reported for peak compliance, peak compliance pressure, gradient and ear canal volume. ... The sensitivity and specificity of tympanometry for the diagnosis of PSOM in Cavalier King Charles spaniels were 84 and 47%, respectively (L. Cole, personal communication), results that are better than those for suspected otitis media cases. ... Conclusions and clinical importance: Tympanograms can be recorded in conscious dogs to assist in the evaluation of the middle ear structures. ... Clinical studies of conscious dogs with otitis media, perforated tympanums, PSOM or auditory tube disorders need to be performed to validate the clinical usefulness of these recordings."	248,512
Also available in a 3-pack with Leadbelly's IN THE SHADOW OF THE GALLOWS POLE and Woody Guthrie's EARLY MASTERS. Recording information: 1957. Editor: Patrick Clancy. An exceptional 15-track compilation released on Rykodisc's Tradition imprint (also available as part of a box set with similar compilations by Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie), AT THE GATE OF HORN is a long-overdue reappraisal of the work of Odetta Gordon. The singer/guitarist is so closely identified with the late-'50s/early-'60s collegiate folk revival that her music has often been dismissed, or simply forgotten, in the decades since. Focusing on her striking versions of traditional folk tunes, sung in a clear, deep voice and most often backed only with her acoustic guitar and the occasional bass work of Bill Lee, AT THE GATE OF HORN offers one surprise after another. "Gallows Tree," a variant of a traditional British folk tune best known to modern audiences as Leadbelly's "Gallis Pole," is a stunning, doomy opener, and Odetta's version of the lullaby "All the Pretty Horses" is simply beautiful. In between these tracks are 13 other pure folk gems.	271,221
How to dress for success You probably don’t need to be told that it’s important to reflect the most professional and appropriate image towards potential employers at a job interview. But if you have no clue what is considered “professional” or “appropriate”, read on. Studies show that it takes on average about 2 years to eliminate a negative first impression, and your physical presentation can affect the impression you make. “You might be surprised at how many young people have no idea what is considered appropriate to wear for interviews” said Jovana Ubiparip, hiring manager at one of Vancouver’s busiest downtown restaurants. “Your look must be impeccable and put-together regardless of the position you’re interviewing for” explained Ubiparip who interviews about 5 – 10 people a month, mostly youth, for a myriad of positions. Although it takes more in-depth coaching to achieve a confident presence, it is easier to control how you look. By dressing well and taking good care of your physical appearance, you will impress the interviewer from the get-go and with that out of the way you will be able to focus more on your interview skills. Here are a few rules to follow to make sure you are dressed appropriately for your first job interview: 1: First, do some research on the industry and the organization to determine their “style” and culture. Always dress “one up” from what you see. Remember, it’s always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed! Don’t be afraid to show your personality, but keep your look classy at all times. 2: Long sleeves are essential to a “take-me-serious” look. A tailored jacket or blazer is a must, but if it’s not available, make sure that at least you’re wearing a long-sleeve shirt. “There is nothing worse than showing up in a tank-top with visible bra straps” noted Ubiparip. 3: Stay away from shorts, t-shirts, jeans, mini-skirts, pants that are too low-rise or too tight, blouses that are too tight, too low-cut or too short to make sure you’re not showing any cleavage or belly. Shorts and t-shirts are too informal, while shorter skirts tend not to leave much to the imagination. 4: For girls, wearing socks or hosiery is non-negotiable. Having bare legs screams unprofessional and adding that extra layer ensures a more polished and complete look. 5: For business wear, shoe styles must be closed-toe and closed-heel and they must be in mint condition. For girls, consider a pump with 1’’ – 2’’ heel for the added lift but no higher. Girls and guys should avoid platforms, strappy sandals, sneakers or flip-flops no matter the time of year. Nicked heels, scruffy toes, or unpolished footwear make you seem careless and unkempt. Same goes for your clothing: check your outfit for holes, tears, stains, scuffs and wrinkles. 6: In our society, well-applied makeup conveys high self-esteem and confidence. Keep it light with natural foundation and blush, mascara and neutral eyes and lips. 7: Carry a briefcase or simple folder to hold important papers. Don’t wear a backpack, fanny pack or any other non-professional gear carriers. 8: If you are wearing a new suit, try it out beforehand. There is nothing worse than baggy, overly tight or dragging pant legs. 9: Eliminate distracting fashion statements such as overlong, ornate fingernails, exotic hair-dos, overly trendy or flashy clothing including too much colour, too bright, too shiny, distracting glitter and too many accessories or flashy jewelery. Always remember to tone down the perfume or body spray. 10: A stylish and neat haircut is essential to a professional image. A great hair cut saves you time because it’s far easier to style. Always remember to wash and care for your hair in preparation of the big day. By following these simple rules, anyone can be seen as attractive and professional and you’ll be sure to land the job.	73,609
Cherokee Indian Facts The Cherokee Indians were a very large Native American tribe that originally settled in the southeast portions of the United States. They settled in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee after migrating south from the Great Lakes region. The word Cherokee translates into "those who live in the mountains". Read on for facts about who these Native American Indians are and what makes them so historically significant, what their beliefs were, what clothing they wore, and how men and women's roles were defined. - The Cherokee were able to learn to read and write thanks to a brilliant scholar named Sequoyah. He is the only documented Native American to successfully create a writing system for his tribe. The alphabet he created allowed the Cherokee people to become literate in a language all their own. - Over 4,000 Cherokee men and women died in the 1800's when President Andrew Jackson forced them to leave their homelands and relocate to Oklahoma. He had the U.S.army march them there during the cold winter months and many suffered from starvation, disease, and hypothermia. This is known as the Trail of Tears. - The men and women both had distinct yet equal roles. The men would hunt, fight when necessary, and make political decisions while the women would farm, tend to the children and the property and make social decisions on behalf of the clan. Only the men could become war chiefs yet the women were the landowners and could also become peace chiefs. - During the American Civil War most Cherokee sided with the Confederacy. Cherokee Indian Facts - Clothing - Cherokee men did not wear much other then simple loin cloths made of deer hide in the warm summer months along with moccasins on their feet. In the cooler weather, they added to fur to their moccasins and wore deer skin shirts and leggings, and fur robes and hats. - Cherokee women usually wore short deer skin skirts or "tear" dresses and loose blouses in the warm months and like the men, they wore fur or animal hide robes that were sometimes decorated with jewelry and feathers to indicate their status. - Once cloth was introduced by the Europeans, cotton blouses and skirts became popular, especially the well-known ribbon blouse. - Primitive Cherokee men and women were primarily hunters and gatherers. The men hunted deer, foul, and small forest animals. Later on fishing became a secondary source of food. The women harvested beans, corn, squash, pumpkins, and other wild food items. Cherokee Indian Facts- Weapons and Tools - The Cherokee became expert weapon makers in an effort to protect them selves from other tribes and eventually the white man. - Hunting weapons of choice included bows and arrows, blowguns (some of which could be as long as nine feet), clubs made out of stone, and spears. - Fighting weapons included arrows, tomahawks (made and used with enough accuracy to split a coconut tree from 30 feet away), and later on axes and guns. - Tools used in daily life were stone adzes or hand axes, hoes, various knives, shovels, wooden rakes and fish hooks made from bone and sticks. Cherokee Indian Facts - Arts and Crafts - This particular tribe was and still is well-known for their talented artwork. One such example is the Cherokee Star Quilts. These quilts are made from many different torn pieces of cloth that have been sewn together. - The Cherokee also made clay pots, carved pipes, wooden canoes, clothing, river cane baskets, bead jewelry, soapstone carvings, elaborate dance masks and rattles, and double wall baskets. The baskets were another Cherokee specialty. They would often dye them early on with black walnut and blood root. They were later able to add other colors by using butternut, wild berries, and yellow root. Cherokee Indian Facts - Shelter - Cherokee houses resembled an upside down basket. They were solidly constructed, made of river cane and interwoven branches and plastered with mud. They had thatched roofs and the entire dwelling was a bit sunken into the ground. - There were usually anywhere from 30 to 60 of these dwellings in a village. - In later periods the Cherokee built log cabins with bark roofs.	181,264
- Open Training Calendar - Open Training Courses - FM1: Practical Financial Management for NGOs - FM1Fr Maîtriser les Fondamentaux - FM2: Financial Sustainability Essentials - FM2Fr: L’Essentiel de la Pérennité Financière des ONG - FM3: Financial Management for Effective Programmes - FM5: Financial management for effective & sustainable programmes - FM8: Grant Management Essentials - FM8Fr: Les Fondamentaux de la Gestion des Subventions - FM9: Assessing Partners' Financial Management Capacity - TFT1: Training for Finance Trainers - BE2: Budgeting for Project Proposals - ZT0: Zero-tolerance apporach to bribery - Other Courses - Practical "Taster" Sessions - Make a booking - Course fees & discounts - Bursary scheme - Booking terms & conditions - In-house training - Training Partnerships - We've been Mango'd! - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Training for Finance Trainers: How to Take the Fear out of Finance "It has been the most effective, beneficial and fun training I have attended in the last 15 years. I can’t wait to use my new skills!" \|Course Title:\|\|Training for Finance Trainers: How to Take the Fear out of Finance\| \|For:\|\|NGO finance staff who have finance training as part of their job\| \|Fee basis\|\|Non-residential: fee excludes accommodation\| To build the confidence and course design and facilitation skills of finance staff to deliver relevant and effective financial management training to NGO personnel. This course is specially designed for finance staff who offer financial management training and support to work colleagues and partner NGOs. Participants do not need previous training experience to attend this course but they must have experience of NGO financial management or accounting. Strong written and verbal English communication skills are also required as all participants are required to complete a practical presentation. We recommend that you read this course outline carefully to make sure the content is relevant and meets your learning requirements. If you are not sure if this course is for you, please contact us. The final balance of course content will be decided by those attending the course, according to their interests and training needs. The core components of the course include: - the challenges of finance training - how adults learn and what that means for trainers - course design basics: learning objectives, lesson plans, selection of approach - participatory training techniques and when to use them - how to make financial concepts and jargon interesting and clear - creating effective resource materials to support the learning - how to deal with things that go wrong in the training room. Also see the Programme Guide. At the end of the course, participants will be able to: The Mango training approach is highly practical, participatory and fun! We focus on real issues and help participants to use the tools covered, rather than just discuss them. We work especially hard to de-mystify financial concepts to overcome the fear of finance. “Mango training really does take the fear out of finance!” We keep the group size small so that we can be sure to meet the needs of individual participants. We use a wide variety of learning methods to stimulate interest and meet the differing learning styles of participants – including group activities, quizzes, games and practice sessions. During the course, participants design and develop, with full support and guidance, a short finance training session to be delivered in pairs or threes on the final day. A comprehensive course resources folder packed full of advice and ideas is provided. We also offer a free follow-up service by email or phone to all Mango trainees for 12 months after the course takes place. Graduates of the TFT1 course are also welcome to observe one day on our FM1 course free of charge and are invited to join Mango's LinkedIn group for finance trainers. How to Book All courses can be booked online or by completing a booking form and sending it to the training team. Full terms and conditions are also available on our website, as well as the latest calendar, current availability and course fees. You are also welcome to telephone us with enquiries on +44 (0)1865 423818. The course fee covers: tuition, all course materials including a course handbook and workbook; complementary Mango pen, ‘jargon ball’ and calculator; lunch and refreshments during the course; and a course certificate. The course fee does not include the cost of overnight accommodation or travel to and from the training venue. \|Course Planning and Design\|\| \|Making your training effective\|\| Communicating and supporting your \|Practice makes perfect!\|\|	258,778
Home / News 49. Chapter Forty-nine IN WHICH MRS HARRIS ASSISTED BY A TEAPOT, IS THE CAUSE OF A DIVISION BETWEEN FRIENDS Mrs Gamp's apartment in Kingsgate Street, High Holborn, wore, metaphorically speaking, a robe of state. It was swept and garnished for the reception of a visitor. That visitor was Betsey Prig; Mrs Prig, of Bartlemy's; or as some said Barklemy's, or as some said Bardlemy's; for by all these endearing and familiar appellations, had the hospital of Saint Bartholomew become a household word among the sisterhood which Betsey Prig adorned. Mrs Gamp's apartment was not a spacious one, but, to a contented mind, a closet is a palace; and the first-floor front at Mr Sweedlepipe's may have been, in the imagination of Mrs Gamp, a stately pile. If it were not exactly that, to restless intellects, it at least comprised as much accommodation as any person, not sanguine to insanity, could have looked for in a room of its dimensions. For only keep the bedstead always in your mind; and you were safe. That was the grand secret. Remembering the bedstead, you might even stoop to look under the little round table for anything you had dropped, without hurting yourself much against the chest of drawers, or qualifying as a patient of Saint Bartholomew, by falling into the fire. Visitors were much assisted in their cautious efforts to preserve an unflagging recollection of this piece of furniture, by its size; which was great. It was not a turn-up bedstead, nor yet a French bedstead, nor yet a four-post bedstead, but what is poetically called a tent; the sacking whereof was low and bulgy, insomuch that Mrs Gamp's box would not go under it, but stopped half-way, in a manner which, while it did violence to the reason, likewise endangered the legs of a stranger. The frame too, which would have supported the canopy and hangings if there had been any, was ornamented with divers pippins carved in timber, which on the slightest provocation, and frequently on none at all, came tumbling down; harassing the peaceful guest with inexplicable terrors. This is page 869 of 977. [Mark this Page] Mark any page to add this title to Your Bookshelf. (0 / 10 books on shelf) Buy a copy of Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit at Amazon.com Customize text appearance: (c) 2003-2012 LiteraturePage.com and Michael Moncur. For information about public domain texts appearing here, read the copyright information and disclaimer.	138,563
An airtight canister in which a cold launched missile is stored to protect it from the elements, and from which it is eventually launched. Usually designed with quite a bit of care, a launch canister usually has an external data and power port to run all the cool features inside, like Well, no launch canister has all of those. But when you use a launch canister, your options for how to fire the missile in question expand greatly. You can slide the canister into a missile silo--the process looks extremely sexual, but then any process involving missiles has sexual connotations. When you use a canister to sheath the mighty ICBM before placing it in the silo, then after the launch, cleanup is much easier. Just remove the hot, dirty canister and dispose of it properly! No hard feelings, no wet spot. If silos aren't your style, you can also mount the launch canister on a road- or rail-mobile TEL, giving it the mobility that every seventy-ton steel penis yearns for. Drive around the scenic Iraqi countryside in your studly MAZ, threatening Kurds and CNN reporters with your mighty protruding technological transfer. What's that you say? Saddam Hussein's SCUDs don't use a launch canister? I always knew he was a dirty bugger, but come on! Even the Soviet Union had the sense to protect their assets. If he's lucky, all he'll get is rust spots. If he's not lucky, the hydraulics on his TEL could get weathered, and the transporter-erector-launcher will eventually experience an erectile dysfunction.	83,807
Material Promoting Homosexuality in British Schools 'Waiting in the Wings' July 7, 2008 - 7:02 PM London (CNSNews.com) - The Blair government's effort to scrap a law banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools came to an abrupt - if temporary - halt Monday night when the upper House of Lords defeated draft legislation. On a 210-165 voter, peers passed an amendment proposed by a Conservative Party lawmaker to retain Section 28 of the Local Government Act. Introduced by a Conservative government in the 1980s, Section 28 says local authorities "shall not promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship." Monday night's vote makes it unlikely that the ban on promoting homosexuality in schools will be lifted before the next general election. The setback for the government came shortly after pro-family activists got a look at the kind of material that would be used in schools should Section 28 be abolished. "It's there, it's waiting in the wings," said Valerie Riches of Family and Youth Concern, who examined some of the material this week and said it was "not the sort one would wish to have in schools." "I think that if the clause [Section 28] is repealed the place would be flooded with this," she told CNSNews.com Tuesday. "This is the reason why the clause was [introduced] in the first place." Riches said the teaching aids were sending "entirely the wrong message" to pupils, especially to vulnerable early adolescents "going through this phase of wondering about their sexual orientation, and the vast majority pass through it." One example of the type of message already being offered is a teaching pack and video directed at 14-16 year olds in at least 200 secondary schools in the west of England. Critics say it not only encourages homosexual experimentation, but also skirts around the legal age of consent. Called Beyond a Phase: A Practical Guide to Challenging Homophobia in Schools, the video invites children to discuss whether 15-year-old "Michael" should have sex with his boyfriend without using a condom. "College student Karl" then shares his sexual experiences, saying that "when you are growing up, you try experimenting with both boys and girls to see who you feel most comfortable with." "Matt" tells how his mother told him at 14 his feelings were a phase. "A year later, I woke them up by bringing one of my boyfriends home. That really shook them up. It was right in their face. It isn't a phase ... you have got to live with it." The pack encourages teachers to have pupils role-play, by imagining themselves as such characters as a married man who has sex in secret with other men, a bisexual grandmother, and a black lesbian in a wheelchair. Pupils are invited to discuss ways in which "we have been taught to be heterosexual" by media images and other pressures. The teaching pack was commissioned by the Avon Health Authority in the west of England. Spokesman Lee Barnes told CNSNews.com the authority had received "some concerns and letters" but no official complaints. He denied that the video was encouraging children to experiment sexually, saying it took the form of pupils discussing issues among themselves, with no adult participation and no script. "We stand by the video. Teachers are pleased with it, they are using it. They don't shove it down their students' throats. It's for them to decide to show it to their students if they think their students are mature enough," Barnes said. "We don't see it as promoting homosexuality, we see it as promoting tolerance." The only reason Beyond a Phase is not illegal is because it was produced by health authorities, who are exempt from Section 28. If the Section 28 goes, campaigners say, this type of teaching tool will become commonplace. Some of the material already being used is raising eyebrows. Riches pointed to a workbook aimed at teachers of five to 11-year-olds, which recommends to teachers: "Don't talk about marriage; talk about the specialness of sexual relations." The book contains "as much about homosexuality and lesbianism as there was about heterosexuality." Seven-year-olds could be told "mutual masturbation" was a form of safer sex. "We're talking about primary school children," she said. When Family and Youth Concern complained to the Education Department, officials there responded that the subject was handled "sensitively." The workbook was "not withdrawn, it was praised." Riches said she was "pleased and surprised" at the result of the Lords' vote, and particularly gratified to hear Labor lawmakers describe the debate on Section 28 as a conscience issue. But while she saw the vote as a victory, she and other Section 28 supporters had no doubt the struggle would continue. "I don't think the battle is over. I don't think in this area it ever will be, because there's a powerful [advocacy lobby] involved, heavily financed." Indeed, the government already has announced it will press ahead with removing what it calls "bad legislation," offering to replace it with new guidelines encouraging teachers to emphasize the importance of marriage and family life. But guidelines will not work, Riches says. If ways were found to get around the law, then guidelines that carried no sanctions would be useless. "Guidelines have no legal status; they're merely guidelines. And people can ignore them, with impunity, apparently." Peter Tatchell, spokesman for the advocacy group OutRage, said in reaction to the Lords vote: "The retention of Section 28 will give comfort to homophobes everywhere." Riches shrugged off the allegations of "homophobia." "You can't even have a reasonable debate, you can't present research material showing something they don't like - like health hazards - without being called homophobic. It's disgraceful, it is a form of bullying, of silencing people."	203,667
Ms Abbott, the shadow public health minister, urged the left to recognise that problems such as obesity and alcoholism, often stem from such breakdown. Feminists should be able to talk about these issues and they should not be confined to the pages of women’s magazines, she argued. She told The Guardian newspaper: "As a feminist, perhaps we have been ambivalent about families. “In the 1980s, we used to say: 'A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.' “The more academic version was: 'The family is the site of women's oppression.' So those of us who came of age at the height of feminism had very mixed views about the family, since it seemed to be defined as a heterosexual thing with a certificate, children and mum at home." But “some kind of stable family structure” was vital and was what most people want around them, she said, adding: “I do not think we should abandon that terrain to the right." Ms Abbott also called for local authorities to be given greater powers to stop fried chicken shops and other fast food outlets from proliferating, and to stop alcohol from being sold cheaply, especially near schools. She claimed young people were not only eating fast food on a regular basis but that their lives were also being “saturated with porn and sex” to a much greater degree than children’s lives were two decades ago. She called for tighter controls on children's access to the internet to help tackle this. Parents also had their own part to play, she argued, accusing some of being guilty of “McParenting,” compensating for a lack of parental responsibility by buying consumer goods for their children. Instead of reading to their children or taking them to a library, such parents might be dressing their children in branded clothing and mistakenly believing they were fulfilling their parental duties in so, she said.	157,732
Professional Designation for Master of Education in Educational Leadership By virtue of the interprovincial and territorial Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT), an accredited degree specifically accepted for the certification process in one province is to be accepted in all provinces and territories. Yorkville University is designated by the Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour under the New Brunswick Degree Granting Act to offer its Master of Education in Educational Leadership. The Teacher Certification branch of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Education has approved the Master of Education in Educational Leadership for use towards a higher Teacher Certification, as well as for Principal’s Certification. Note that students planning to apply for Principal’s Certification in New Brunswick must have included in their program successful completion of both EDEL6213 – Assessment and Evaluation in Education and EDEL6223 – Supervision of instruction. In other jurisdictions, it remains the responsibility of students to contact their regional boards of education to determine if similar additional requirements unique to a region exist.	91,357
"Lec Last MIT 7.012 Introduction to Biology, Fall 2004" Future of Biology (Prof. Robert A. Weinberg) View the complete course: http://ocw.mit.edu/7-012F04 License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA More information at http://ocw.mit.edu/terms More courses at http://ocw.mit.edu Video is embedded from external source so embedding is not available. Video is embedded from external source so download is not available. No content is added to this lecture. This video is a part of a lecture series from of MIT	231,758
Bollinger Bands is a trading tool developed by John Bollinger in the early 1980. The use of Bollinger Band in Equity market has been so intensive, which makes us think that this indicator is one of the greatest indicators ever developed. Bollinger Band consists of 3 elements: a) A Simple Moving Average: Period used for this MA should coincide with your highest MA-period. (For example: SMA 20 in VN-stock market and 55 for US) b) Upper and Lower Band: These band by default are 2 standard deviation away from the SMA. 1) Signal correction in trending market. Whenever price violates the upper band in an uptrend or the lower band in a downtrend, the price will have a tendency to correct to the middle SMA before the trend resumes. On Vinamilk daily chart. Whenever Price goes out of the Bollinger Band ( orange cycles), it tend to come back in and give us a perfect opportunity to buy (point marked with blue arrows) On GAS (VN market) daily chart, we see the price correct into the Bollinger Band if it violates the lower band(downtrend), which gives us opportunity to sell ( point marked with red arrows). As nothing works 100% of the time, the orange cycle marks a situation in the market where the crowd is panicking, which makes the selling pressure so strong. In the situation where oil prices drops dramatically like this, the fundamental might disregard all the technical indicators. As mentioned in Moving Average section, we need to buy near a support. In a trending market, if price already breaks out of the Bollinger Band, we should patiently wait until the price correct into the SMA and buy/sell (in uptrend/downtrend). Executing trade “in the middle of nowhere” faces a very big risk of market correction so again, market only rewards those who are patient. However, there are times you should ignore the fact that price is already outside the Bollinger Band. We will talk about in it in the next part. 2) The squeeze of Bollinger Band When volatility is so low, 2 bands will squeeze toward the SMA. It is usually an indication of SUPER HIGH volatility coming. Trade should be executed (buy/sell) when Price breaks the highest/lowest point of the consolidation. Let’s take a look at some examples: Viettin Bank and Visa provide us with very nice Bollinger Band Squeeze setups. Price rallies unstoppably after the breakout- anyone catch this move might have a vacation for the rest of the year because it is so profitable. However there are always downsides of a strategy. Let’s discuss the risk of this strategy. With experienced traders, they might tell which breakout is false but for new traders, this task would be impossible. There are times when price breaks the Bollinger Band just to come back into the consolidation the day after(as marked in CTG daily chart). There are some guidelines we think would help new traders recognize a legitimate breakout: a) Price breakout due to a news release ( M&A or earning report) b) Long candle close above the extreme point of the consolidation The hardest part of trading “the squeeze of Bollinger Band” is that you don’t know when the price will break out. Sometimes it takes weeks, sometimes months or even years to complete the squeeze of Bollinger Band, which mean you will need to check out the price of that security 5 days a week for months. However, as you might see, the reward is always worth your patience! If you make a loss in a false breakout, just close the trade and wait. A legitimate breakout should compensate for 5 times the loss you made. Patience and courage are the key.	229,947
How to Watch Tonight's "Curiosity" Rover Landing NASA's latest and greatest Mars rover, known as Curiosity, will attempt to land on Mars early Monday morning (or late Sunday night, depending on where you are on Earth). The landing is scheduled for 05:31 (UTC), which is Monday morning at 1:31am Eastern in the US, or 10:31pm Pacific time Sunday night. Because Mars is quite far from us, there will be a 14-minute delay before transmissions related to the landing will reach us -- which will make the viewing party that much more of a nail-biter. Prep for Landing Several Star Trek alums have made videos for NASA explaining Curiosity's journey and planned landing. Because they're reading from the same script, it's fun to compare their dramatic readings. Here's one from Wil Wheaton: And William Shatner: You can find all kinds of launch info (including a countdown ticker and a way to find and join "Landing Parties") on GetCurious.com. If you can't make it to an in-person social event, a "Virtual Landing Party" by means of a Google+ Hangout will be hosted by Fraser Cain of Universe Today, featuring appearances by "Bad Astronomer" Phil Plait, reporters at the Jet Propulsion Lab, and perhaps you! The good geeks at io9 have an excellent roundup of viewing opportunities, noting the Times Square screen in New York City, Planetfest in Pasadena (with Bill Nye!), and of course NASA TV, among others. Where Will You Be? Share your plans for the landing in the comments. If you have a Curiosity-related place to be, let us know!	263,579
The intent of this inventory is to identify all hazardous and radioactive materials. Hazardous chemicals purchased since the mid-1980's should have hazard warnings on the container label which will aid laboratory personnel in determining what chemicals should be included on the inventory. Chemicals purchased prior to that time are 20 years old and likely need to be disposed of. Information on proper disposal of hazardous chemicals can be found in the Waste Disposal section of the DEHS web site. Radioactive materials can be identified by a label as well. Radioactive materials have been required to have identifying labels since the early 1970’s. Materials that are non-hazardous do not have to be placed on the inventory. List the following materials on the inventory: - Flammable and Combustible Liquids - Flash Point < 200 deg. F. - Compressed gases of any type - Flammable solids - Air and/or water reactive materials - Toxic/poisonous materials - Organic Peroxide and other oxidizers - Pyrophoric materials - Unstable chemicals - Radioactive materials - Corrosive acids and bases - Controlled Substances Materials that should not be listed on the inventory: - Amino acids - Buffer solutions - Non-hazardous materials - Assay or other testing kits - IV fluids and drugs that are neither controlled substances or hazardous materials To assist you in creating an inventory, a chemical inventory template has been developed by DEHS. Other formats are acceptable as long as they contain the same information. If you have any questions concerning what should or should not be listed on the inventory, contact the Lab Safety Coordinator at 852-2830.	144,353
Life has ups and downs. There are challenges in life as well as successes. Will you rise up and overcome those obstacles? When you conquer an obstacle, a fear, or anything that has kept you from moving forward or going after a dream, you will feel empowered. Making mistakes is a part of life, a way to learn who you are and just how strong you are. Most of the time you learn more from your mistakes than your successes. Don’t look at your mistakes as failures instead see them as learning opportunities. I have made my share of mistakes and my share of not taking opportunities due to fear. I have learned over time life is not perfect, I am not perfect so I need to stop thinking there is a perfect way to live. Instead, I live embracing fear and overcoming it. I love the person I have become. I know each experience, each success, each mistake has made me the person I am today and I love that person. There is no right path, instead the path is full of curves. Life can be like a roller coaster but with God the ride is better. I trust God’s plan is better than my own so I buckle up, hold on and enjoy what is about to come.	29,257
In recent years, researchers have begun to fight cancer by genetically engineering a patient’s own immune system to target the disease. Quad Technologies, a company that grew out of a Northeastern research lab, has been developing technology to facilitate this process. This summer, Quad Technologies was acquired by a global life sciences company that will help move its prototypes closer to being able to assist in manufacturing cancer treatments. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first two such therapies for this approach, known as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. These treatments equip a patient’s immune cells with genetically engineered molecules that help them identify and attack the cancer. These cells are grown in massive quantities in the lab and then infused back into the patient in a concentrated assault. “These therapies are the latest frontier in the treatment of cancer,” said Shashi Murthy, an associate professor of chemical engineering at Northeastern University. But before the specialized immune cells, called T-cells, can be modified, they must be isolated. In 2013, Murthy co-founded Quad Technologies with three Northeastern graduates to improve this process. “The challenge,” said co-founder Sean Kevlahan, “is that you’re extracting T-cells from a complex suspension like blood.” Currently, T-cells are separated from blood samples using small magnetic particles. The particles are specifically designed to bind to T-cells, which allows scientists to manipulate the cells into a separate container. But the magnetic particles can be toxic to patients. They need to be removed before the cells can be used, and those bonds are tough to break. Cells can be lost or destroyed as the beads are being removed, leaving fewer for researchers to use to fight cancer. Quad Technologies has designed a material, called QuickGel, that can be used to isolate T-cells without needing to use magnetic beads. “We essentially make our polymer into a sphere similar to the size of a magnetic bead,” Kevlahan said. “The cell is attached in the same way.” When the sample is run through a strainer, the T-cells attached to the polymer remain there, while everything else passes through. This still leaves the problem of breaking the bonds between the cells and the polymer, but that’s where Quad Technologies’ product is special—it dissolves harmlessly, leaving the cells behind. “It was part of my thesis research,” said Kevlahan, who received his doctorate from Northeastern in 2013. “I saw the broad capabilities of the polymer and how much it could really disrupt the market.” The company was named a finalist in the MassChallenge startup accelerator program in 2013, and received early-stage funding from IDEA, Northeastern’s student-led business accelerator. Now, the recent acquisition by Bio-Techne will provide the necessary infrastructure to bring Quad Technologies’ products closer to human clinical trials. “It’s a really nice fit between the two companies,” Kevlahan said. “There’s a variety of different applications and avenues that we can open up using their platform.”	178,589
"Ensuring Strategic Stability in the Past and Present: Theoretical and Applied Questions" Author: Andrei A. Kokoshin Belfer Center Programs or Projects: US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism In the Foreword to this paper by Andrei Kokoshin, Belfer Center Director Graham Allison writes: "The global nuclear order is reaching a tipping point. Several trends are advancing along crooked paths, each undermining this order. These trends include North Korea’s expanding nuclear weapons program, Iran’s continuing nuclear ambitions, Pakistan’s increasing instability, growing doubts about the sustainability of the nonproliferation regime in general, and terrorist groups’ enduring aspirations to acquire nuclear weapons. Andrei Kokoshin, deputy of the State Duma and former secretary of Russia’s Security Council, analyzes these challenges that threaten to cause the nuclear order to collapse in the following paper...... Kokoshin, who has spent decades helping to formulate Russia’s defense policies, describes other challenges to strategic stability as well, including the development of ballistic missile defenses, incapacitation of early warning or targeting or navigational systems, and breakthroughs in research and development that devalue existing nuclear weaponry systems. Kokoshin’s writing is instructive for those of us trying to understand the rationale behind Russia’s response to U.S. missile defense plans in Europe. The proposition that offense and defense are inextricably connected in the realm of strategic stability holds as true in the eyes of Russian policy-makers as the law of gravity, even though many in Washington see the sword the United States has, and the shield it is now building, as belonging to separate realms. In Russia’s view, U.S. assurances that the planned missile defenses will not target Russian strategic nuclear forces do not repeal the law of gravity, and Russia’s capability to deliver a retaliatory strike will be eventually called into doubt as these defenses develop. To prevent loss of this capability, Russia will have to further modernize its strategic offensive forces, goes the Russian argument, as comprehensively presented by Kokoshin. Kokoshin’s grasp of these cardinal challenges makes this paper a must-read, not only for scholars of Russia’s policies in the sphere of international security, but also for practicing policymakers in the field of non-proliferation around the world." See full text of Kokoshin paper attached (pdf). - Ensuring Strategic Stability by A. Kokoshin.pdf (738K KOKOSHIN.PDF) For more information about this publication please contact the Belfer Center Communications Office at 617-495-9858. For Academic Citation:	76,242
This week we've seen a movement swell. The movement has been to boycott the 2014 Olympics in Russia, in protest against Russia's draconian laws against LGBTQ people. Harvey Fierstein in the New York Times and Nancy Goldstein in the Guardian have both eloquently and rightfully explained why this is something we should speak up about. Goldstein points out that if Russia had instated new laws about Jewish people, for example, "The American Jewish community and the Obama administration would have (rightly) enacted trade sanctions instantly. There would have been no statement from the State Department like the one issued the same day as the IOC announcement saying that it does not support a boycott of the games." I'd hope that it wouldn't just be the American Jewish community that would have fought against such laws, but rather that people around the world would have seen fit to argue. Likewise, I'd expect that if Putin had signed bills against blacks, or Chinese, or Buddhists, or Tatars, or Kazakhs, or any other religious or ethnic group, people in dozens of countries would have been horrified and would have protested. So why do we allow many countries to continue to have laws that are clearly prejudiced against LGBTQ people? For some reason, we tend to be cultural relativists when it comes to LGBTQ rights. We act as though it's okay for every culture to make its own rules about which people it will treat with respect and dignity. We tend to assume and accept that Russian culture might be different and thus that Russians have the right to, for example, not allow same-sex couples to adopt children or act in a "pro-gay" way. We may disagree, but we find it hard to step in and enact sanctions or boycotts. Because, after all, it's their culture, their beliefs. It's absolutely true that we should be respectful towards other people's beliefs; I may not personally want to belong to any religious organisation or attend services, but I wouldn't want to stop others from doing so, or I may not understand a ritual that a group of people perform, but I wouldn't want to get in the way of them performing it. But that only goes so far. If someone speaking at a religious service began to rant about a particular group and to incite prejudice and violence against that group, then it is our duty to silence that speaker. If a ritual includes, say, genital mutilation or some other form of mental and physical harm, then we must halt the ritual. We are often more willing to step in if it's a group that we perceive as having no choice. In other words, for the most part, women don't choose to be women, or brown-skinned people to have brown skin. But one of the reasons why there is so much prejudice against LGBTQ people is that it is frequently, erroneously assumed that you choose to be LGBTQ. And if you choose what many perceive as a sinful, shameful life, then you deserve to suffer. It is time for us to change these views and to educate more people. No one deserves to suffer. No one deserves to be forced to follow ridiculous laws that infringe on their lives. We should not let cultural relativism get in the way of us doing the right thing. Not all opinions are equally valid, and a prejudiced one is not owed respect. Why, then, are we allowing Putin and other politicians in Russia to do this? We can speak up. We can tell the Russian government what we think. And we can show them what we think. Simply sitting back and muttering that we should understand that these are their cultural beliefs is not acceptable, in this or any other situation. Suggested For You SUBSCRIBE AND FOLLOW Get top stories and blog posts emailed to me each day. Newsletters may offer personalized content or advertisements.Learn more	202,053
The selenate-respiring bacterial strain SES-3 was able to use a variety of inorganic electron acceptors to sustain growth. SES-3 grew with the reduction of arsenate to arsenite, Fe(III) to Fe(II), or thiosulfate to sulfide. It also grew in medium in which elemental sulfur, Mn(IV), nitrite, trimethylamine N-oxide, or fumarate was provided as an electron acceptor. Growth on oxygen was microaerophilic. There was no growth with arsenite or chromate. Washed suspensions of cells grown on selenate or nitrate had a constitutive ability to reduce arsenate but were unable to reduce arsenite. These results suggest that strain SES-3 may occupy a niche as an environmental opportunist by being able to take advantage of a diversity of electron acceptors. Additional publication details Growth of strain SES-3 with arsenate and other diverse electron acceptors	132,079
Simplified multiscale resolution theory for elastic material with damage 2011 (English)In: Computational plasticity XI : fundamentals and applications: proceedings of the XI International Conference on Computational Plasticity - fundamentals and applications held in Barcelona, Spain, 07 - 09 September 2011, Barcelona: CINME , 2011, 576-586 p.Conference paper (Refereed) The multiscale resolution continuum theory (MRCT) is a higher order continuum mechanics. A particle is represented by a point that is deformable. This enables the possibility to include the effect of microstructure features in the continuum model on the deformation behavior through additional nodal variables for the higher order scale. This reduces the need for a very fine mesh in order to resolve microstructure details. It is possible to further reduce the computational effort by keeping the additional degree of freedoms to a minimum by tailoring the theory to specific phenomena. The latter is illustrated in a simplified context for an elastic material with damage. Place, publisher, year, edition, pages Barcelona: CINME , 2011. 576-586 p. Research subject Material Mechanics IdentifiersURN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-36951Local ID: acb15268-0853-475e-8c80-78fcb3b7a493ISBN: 9788489925731 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-36951DiVA: diva2:1010450 International Conference on Computational Plasticity : 07/09/2011 - 09/09/2011 Godkänd; 2011; 20120404 (andbra)2016-10-032016-10-03Bibliographically approved	258,722
Estimated reading time: 1 minute On 8th May 2000, qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix took place. The battle between Michael Schumacher’s F1-2000 and Mika Hakkinen’s McLaren was very close. The German managed to squeeze everything out of his car and was fastest in 1.20.974, 78 thousandths faster than Hakkinen, to claim his 24th pole, the 129th for Ferrari. However, roles were reversed in the race. Schumacher had a particularly troubled time, hitting the Scuderia’s chief mechanic, Nigel Stepney, at his pit stop and then suffering a puncture which meant he had to make a further pit stop. Rubens Barrichello saved Ferrari honour with a third place behind the two McLarens and ahead of Ralf Schumacher in the Williams, while Michael came home in fifth.	293,719
FOREST COVER REDUCED FROM 40% TO 3.1% In the past, Ethiopia was known for its wealth of natural resources; however, this situation changed during the last century as huge tracts of land were claimed for agricultural use. Severe soil erosion and degradation reduced the fertility of the land, lessening agricultural productivity. Deforestation has had a major impact on both the country’s ecology and its economy. Ethiopia’s economic backbone is its agricultural potential, so measures for reversing deforestation need to regain as much fertile land as possible. Confronted with this condition, we propose Foresticity, a project that uses reforestation as an urban design strategy for Ethiopia. This proposal for a new settlement provides benefits not only for the inhabitants, but also for the entire ecological system. When reforestation occurs in conjunction with the expansion or generation of cities, the growth of those cities acts as a tool for forest regeneration. Ultimately, cities become a means to spread forests throughout the country. Status: School Project Location: Jima, Ethiopia	168,383
These students at Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma voted in the Mock Election Friday morning. (Photo courtesy Lindsay Pryor) If the results for this year’s Mock Election are an accurate barometer for how the adults will vote in the General Election ending Tuesday, supporters of Initiative 522 will be pleased, but not backers of Initiative 517. Almost 9,000 students took part in the 2013 Student Mock Election from Monday through Friday. The annual civics program for Washington students has been conducted by the Office of Secretary of State since 2004. Students rejected I-517, the Tim Eyman-sponsored measure that seeks to increase protections for signature gatherers, expand access to places where signatures may be collected, and add another six months to the time period initiative sponsors can gather signatures. More than 57 percent (5,087 students) voted against that measure, while 42.5 percent (3,760) favored it. The Mock Election voters gave a thumbs up to Initiative 522, which would require that genetically engineered foods be labeled. More than 62 percent (5,547) voted yes on I-522, while 37.7 percent (3,357) said no. Seattle students were asked whether they supported incumbent Mike McGinn or challenger Ed Murray for Seattle mayor. Of the 383 students who weighed in, nearly 58 percent (221) of the Seattle students picked McGinn, while 42 percent (162) sided with Murray. “I’m pleased that so many students voted in the Mock Election this year and had a taste for what voting is like,” said Secretary of State Kim Wyman. “The Mock Election is a great way to introduce students to voting and why it’s important.” Go here to view the Mock Election results, which can be broken down by county, city or school.	163,038
Applied Behaviour Analysis “Applied Behaviour Analysis is not a limited science: it really has something to say about every aspect of education.” Professor Carl Hughes, an internationally noted practitioner and academic, outlines the definitions of ABA, clarifying misconceptions and giving concrete examples of how ABA enables professionals to transform lives. If you are new to ABA, this address is an excellent place to start. This workshop by renowned educator Professor Bill Heward outlines the core principles, application and utility of the science of Applied Behaviour analysis. It is illuminated by a number of video extracts demonstrating teaching tactics derived from or enhanced by ABA. This is a must for anyone who wants to be effective through the systematic use of evidence in the daily operation of the classroom. One of the most prevalent misrepresentations of Applied Behaviour Analysis is that it focuses on robotic, stimulus-response methods of controlling subjects. Nothing could be further from the truth. In this short article, Edward Carr shows how ABA science seeks to identify the reasons behind behaviours, and to improve lives through the ethical application of scientific discoveries. About Inferred Functions (Engelmann S, undated): retrieved from zigsite.com The current fashions for brain imaging and cognitive theories are rife with problems, not least of which is their lack of explanatory power. This short article explaining the premises of Inferred Functions of Performance and Learning, by Engelmann and Steely (2004), shows the insights that can be gained from logical inferences about internal performance processes, based on the analysis of observable behaviours. Far from being restricted to external behaviours only, the analysis in Applied Behaviour Analysis allows us to gain powerful insights into the workings of the mind. The Negative Side Effects of Reward (Balsam, P D and Bondy, A S 1983): Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 16(3) 283-296 retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information website Contrary to the spurious misrepresentations of Alfie Kohn, behaviour analysts discovered and categorised the negative side effects of reward long ago. In this classic article, the researchers outline some of the common errors that teachers and therapists make. One of the key goals of behaviour researchers is to ensure that rewards and punishments are not misused. The goal is always to move towards the learner as less dependent on external consequences and more self-controlled. Good Noise! Using Choral Responding to Increase the Effectiveness of Group Instruction. (Wood, C L and Heward, W L 2013): The Ohio State University In this practical outline, Wood and Heward explain why choral responding is so important to maximising student responses through a few short sessions every day. The technique is neither rote learning nor ‘drill and kill’, but a means of ensuring that all students are actively engaging with content and of enabling the teacher to quickly identify students who have not acquired content accurately. The article contains many practical guidelines to ensure that choral responding is used judiciously for maximum impact. Autism and ABA: The Gulf Between North America and Europe. (Keenan M, Dillenburger K, Rottgers H R, Dounavi K, Jonsdottir S L, Moderato P, Schenk J J A M, Virués-Ortega J, Roll-Pettersson L and Martin N 2015): Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders While the title of this article suggests that its focus is autism, it actually provides an incisive and comprehensive overview of the state of Applied Behaviour Analysis in Europe. Having clarified the difference between ABA as a scientific discipline and applications of ABA which are interventions, the authors highlight the confusions and misinformation that have hindered government support for behavioural treatments for autism and which, as a result, have prevented thousands of ASD children from receiving effective help. The updated edition of a classic that shows how teachers can apply the principles discovered in Applied Behaviour Analysis to their classrooms, to achieve the emotional and learning climates that produce confident, successful students. (NB This link takes you to Amazon, not the book itself.) This article defines positive reinforcement, clears up misconceptions and explains why the use of positive reinforcement techniques in the classroom is useful, humane and pro-social. This practical article explains the key ideas and practices for implementing student behaviour plans, why teachers need to be conscious of punishment techniques, and how they should take great care in using such procedures. How to use ABA principles to improve learning outcomes for low-progress readers. Dr Kelly's illuminating website explains many of the most common acronyms and terms in the field. These terms may serve as an introduction to key principles and techniques in the study of Applied Behaviour Analysis. Reprinted from 1968, this classic article simplifies the elements of classroom management as illustrated through a reversal design experiment conducted in two classrooms. The writers are bold enough to suggest one key principle as the foundation of good management. See if you agree! Richard Foxx, professor of psychology at Penn State University, is famous for his demonstrations of the impact of carefully applied behavioural principles to patients with severe behaviour problems. Here he sets out twenty years of distilled experience. His observations of why systems are reactive rather than pro-active, why they seek to eliminate rather than to resolve problems, and why they resist the implementation of effective interventions, are relevant not only to mental health insitutions but also to schools.	128,232
- About Us - Local Savings - Green Editions - Legal Notices - Weekly Ads Connect with Us A lifetime of painting reveals a Whidbey Island artist’s mettle Painting, for me, has become a synthesis of communication in my attempts to understand consciousness and the nature of the mind. With silence and solitude amid the noise and crowds, one may perceive insights to understanding. — Richard Engstrom Richard Engstrom has been painting for 52 years. His mainly figurative and landscape acrylic works are loose with color and stroke. They are the paintings of a confident hand, steeped in stories imagined by the artist. Engstrom’s most recent work will be shown through Dec. 3 at the Raven Rocks Gallery at Greenbank Farm. The Clinton resident of 30 years said he works from photographs and life only minimally, and that most of his paintings grow as his brush continues to hit the canvas, much as a writer’s story grows with each stroke of the pen or click on the keyboard. “Things occur to me. An idea happens, I’ll get a plot and see what happens. It evolves into the story of the painting from there,” Engstrom said. His influences range from the impressionist school and from such impressionist painters as Nicolai Fechin, to the Northwest School painters Guy Anderson and Morris Graves and even the eclectic, sometimes Byzantine style of Gustav Klimt. Engstrom said that although he doesn’t paint from life, he loves to look at things, and uses his memory to create images from things and places that have impressed him. “I love to look — at light, color, the play of light on a place,” the artist said. “But I rely on my memory a lot.” In 1958, Engstrom became an apprentice at a commercial art studio, where he learned studio art before there was even a glint of computers on the horizon. There he learned the “psychology of things,” and how to catch the eye. He also took classes at the Frye Art Museum during that period. “Things have changed,” Engstrom said, referring to the years he spent as a commercial artist, a day job that helped him to support his young family. The age of technology changed all that, and Engstrom found himself solely a painter. “There was nothing else I wanted to do,” he said. His painting went from tight, realistic work to the looser, light-filled, broad-stroked work he makes now. “For me, a brush with paint on it is a heck of a lot of fun. I sketch with my brush.” The show will number about 15 pieces, all relatively small in size and affordable. For this artist, painting is also a study in consciousness. He reads Eastern philosophy, which informs his work and which he said he has been interested in ever since he became an artist. To see more about Engstrom and his work, click here. Also at the gallery this month is the mosaic work of Carl and Sandra Bryant. Raven Rocks Gallery is at Greenbank Farm. For info, click here.	75,418
The Faith That Conquers (3) Gold has been a store of value for millennia. It took that mantle because it is relatively rare and never deteriorates. Part 3: The Golden Key Refined Faith Saves Us Gold has been a store of value for millennia. It took that mantle because it is relatively rare and never deteriorates. As one brother has told me, every atom of gold ever created on earth still exists. Gold matters because God uses it to describe perhaps the most important subject He wants us to understand — faith. Faith is golden in two vital ways. It has extraordinary value to us — it saves us. And it is derived from a process exactly like the one that yields pure gold — refining. Both features of faith deserve some deep pondering. Peter puts both ideas together in one passage that should be bedrock for us as we think about faith and how to grow it: There is no escaping the simple power of Peter’s words: Faith saves us. We also cannot avoid the conclusion that our faith gets refined through a fiery process, just like gold. That fiery process is difficult to go through, but just as with the noble metal, the outcome is beautiful in the end. The gold standard of faith Before we take up those two ideas, though, it’s useful to start with the true gold standard of faith — Abraham. Over and over, he is presented as the towering example of trust in the Almighty to which we should all aspire. That is exactly why Abraham is often called the “Father of the Faithful.” The gold standard was established when God told Abraham to go out, look up at the sky and try to number the stars. Then God told Abraham that his offspring would be just as numerous, even at a time when he had no children. Having stood at night on the shores of a wilderness lake where the nearest manmade light is far away, I know what an impossible counting that is. Undaunted, Abraham believed God. God was extremely pleased by that act of trust. Genesis puts it simply: “Abraham believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness” (15:6). God created the heavens and all those stars. He created the earth and all its amazing forms of life. Yet He left one thing to us to create — faith. He gave us the innate capacity to believe in a Higher Being. The choice, however, is ours to make. God apparently did this because He is immensely pleased when we freely and willingly put our trust in Him. That seems to explain the simple principle we’ve noted several times in this series: We also cannot avoid the conclusion that our faith gets refined through a fiery process, just like gold.Abraham’s expression of faith while gazing at the star-filled sky is quoted no less than three times in the New Testament (Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6; Jas 2:22-24). The Romans 4 passage is helpful because it not only drives home how critical faith is to our salvation, but it also gives insight on the vital ingredient in Abraham’s faith. When he was Saul, Paul lived under a Pharisee’s formula of salvation. Get your doctrine straight, believe it completely and then earn your salvation through good works. That is the very legalistic thinking that he tackled head-on in the book of Romans. Salvation, Paul said, is about faith in Jesus: If we want to be righteous in the eyes of God, if we want to be saved, faith is the key. That faith is all about trust — trusting God in every decision, in every corner of our life. That was the defining characteristic of Abraham’s faith — his unassailable trust in God when confronted with decision and adversity. He had a comfortable home in Ur. But he left for parts unknown — trusting God to lead him. He had no son with Sarah, but he trusted the angel’s message. He loved his son Isaac and was willing to sacrifice him when asked, because he trusted in God’s promise. This kind of unflinching trust in the Almighty is, quite simply, the gold standard for us. Paul powerfully sums it up: There can be no doubt in our mind. We must be fully persuaded that God can do what He has promised. That is what triggers God’s counting us as righteous. Faith saves us The older I get the more I conclude we too often try to complicate the subject of salvation. The Bible presents it forcefully and simply, a sort of formula on which the whole creation rests. The formula can be put this way: Our Faith, His Grace. The two parts imply that salvation requires something from us and something from God. The faith we supply is a rare thing, one that God did not create. He created the capacity for it (unique to humans in all his creation), but He leaves it to our choosing. The grace He supplies is beautifully given through His Son. Together, the four words frame a very deep topic. But the formula is brilliant, elegantly simple in its design. A highly intelligent design. Paul expresses it this way: No matter how hard we try (and the Pharisees tried mightily), we cannot earn salvation to eternal life. It is a gift from God, but one predicated on our faith — the very kind of faith that Abraham had in God. Such faith is also the very kind that Paul discovered after being struck blind on the road to Damascus. Why did God choose this formula for salvation? That’s a question worthy of some very deep reflection. Yet, no matter how far we go in understanding the answer, I believe the essence of the formula reveals much about who we are and who our God is. Paul offers this tantalizing glimpse into the mind of the Almighty: Our faith, His grace. This is salvation simplified. If we would be saved, we need the same Golden Key that Abraham found. God spoke; Abraham believed what He said. Does this lead to other faithful steps, including baptism? Of course. But the key, as Paul drives home over and over again, is our faith. That essential trust is what connects us to God’s power to save. Here’s another way in which Paul describes faith as the key: The things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ are truly good news. They represent the blueprint by which the powerful hand of God is creating a beautiful new creation. But from first to last, from Abraham to us, the key to connecting with that power is our faith. Faith Is Refined Faith is key to our salvation, but it is no ordinary key. It’s made of gold. Gold has always been refined by only one process: fire, a very hot fire. Peter plainly compares our faith to gold. He’s telling us that our faith will be refined by fire — fiery trials. Each of us wonders why there is suffering in life. We wonder when we watch terror attacks on our televisions. We wonder when we see those we love battling cancer or other ailments. We wonder when someone suffers a horrible accident. We wonder when we lose a loved one. I’ve passed through my own period of deep wonder on why there is suffering. Our beloved daughter died tragically nearly four years ago. Her loss is with us daily. There is no rational explanation, no matter how often my mind seeks it. The pain remains. The questions remain. I’ve learned I cannot explain my daughter’s death, no matter how hard I try. But I have taken great comfort from gaining a much deeper understanding that there is an intentional design to our state of suffering. A design for our good. Suffering is the soil in which faith grows. In ways we will never fully wrap our minds around, suffering is God’s design for us. When we are brought low by suffering, we are far more likely to turn to God for strength. Paul learned and later expressed this very principle, “When I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor 12:10 KJV). Real strength comes from our God, not from ourselves. True for Job, true for Paul, true for us today. There is a method to our affliction. When we pass through fiery trial, we learn to trust him more. Without that fire, we are far more likely to rely only on self. Yet, when we rely on our own instincts, we never learn the true essence of faith. Without his own fiery trial, Saul would have kept going right on to Damascus. He would have continued to terrorize Christians because he was absolutely convinced it was the right thing to do. It wasn’t, of course. God literally brought Saul low and made him blind so that Paul could learn what real trust in God is. Saul went blind only to discover true sight — the sight that comes only from faith. (Paul alone speaks of walking by faith! How ironic.) When all seems darkest, when we seem weakest, that is exactly when our trust in Him grows. God seeks a faith that proves it is genuine. We have a good metaphor for this “proof” every time we watch the Olympics. One image lingers from every Games — the champions putting their gold medal between their teeth. This “bite” is actually an ancient image, one that dates from a time when coins were made of gold. Kings had a nasty habit of replacing the gold with counterfeit alloys that looked like gold. In doing so they were able to keep more of the gold for their own pleasure in the palace. So, before accepting a coin in payment, peasants quickly learned to bite the coin and see if it was as malleable as real gold (and hope they didn’t break a tooth if it wasn’t!). This is exactly why our faith is refined — to prove it is genuine, the real deal. Do you trust God through thick and thin? Or only part of the time, only when you need Him? This is Peter’s core message: God wants genuine trust in him — not a counterfeit faith that merely blows in the wind. He wants trust that lasts a lifetime. The refining process cannot be avoided but it is good for us in the end. What is that end? It is surely a faith just like Abraham’s. We can too easily come to think of our salvation as depending on some sort of bar exam — being able to answer all the right questions about first principles. Is that knowledge really what’s being refined? Are we passing through tribulation so we can correctly answer 92 out of 100 questions on first principles instead of just 77? The lives of countless faithful people in Scripture supply the answer. Life, with all its trials, is about developing a deep, abiding trust in God. That trust is going to be tested in ways we cannot anticipate. When all seems darkest, when we seem weakest, that is exactly when our trust in Him grows. And the most beautiful part of all, as discussed in Parts 1 and 2 of this series, is this: When we trust God, victory is always assured. Faith brings nike. Faith is the Golden Key to the greatest victory of all. (Kansas City, MO) Read Part 4, the Conclusion: Click Here	218,335
\| Title of Document \|\| Toward Sustainable and Energy Efficient Urban Transport \|\| The objective of this guidance note is to present a systematic, practical, and comprehensive approach to dealing with the problems of urban transport. It outlines a framework of possible interventions and demonstrates how such interventions relate to the overall objectives of improving mobility and energy efficiency as well as reducing air pollution and road accidents. \| File Download ► English: file on external website \| Original Source \| Document Type \|\| Case Studies - Incentive Mechanisms, Removal of Barriers, Technology\|	75,713
Effective Performance of Bessel Arrays The Bessel array is a configuration of 5, 7, or 9 identical speakers in an equal-spaced line array that provides the same overall polar pattern as a single speaker of the array. This study reports the results of a computer simulation, using points sources, to determine the effective operating frequency range, working distance, efficiency, power handling, maximum acoustic output, efficiency-bandwidth product, and power-bandwidth product, etc., of the array. The various Bessel configurations are compared to 1, 2, and 5 source equal-spaced equal-level equal-polarity line arrays. As compared to a two-source equal-level in-phase array, a five source Bessel array is 2.4 dB less efficient, can handle 1.75 (+2.4 dB) more power, has the same maximum midband acoustic output power, and is usable for omnidirectional radiation 10 times higher in frequency! A working distance of twenty times the length of the Bessel array was assumed, with the length of the Bessel array (center to center measurement) being four times that of the two-source array. Analysis reveals that the three Bessel arrays have equal maximum acoustic output, but that the five-element Bessel array has the highest efficiency and power-bandwidth product. The 7 and 9-source Bessel arrays are found to be effectively unusable, as compared to the 5-source Bessel, due to much lower efficiency, requirement for more sources, and poor high-frequency performance. Judging polar peak to peak ripple and high frequency response, the performance of the Bessel array is found to improve in direct proportion to working distance away from the array. Unfortunately, the phase vs. direction and phase vs. frequency characteristics of the Bessel array are very non-linear and make it difficult to use with other sources. Click to purchase paper or login as an AES member. If your company or school subscribes to the E-Library then switch to the institutional version. If you are not an AES member and would like to subscribe to the E-Library then Join the AES! This paper costs $20 for non-members, $5 for AES members and is free for E-Library subscribers.	164,134
We have compiled a to-do list that will make writing an autobiography much easier If you’ve ever thought about writing your autobiography, at LifeBook we have compiled a to-do list that will make the task much easier. Read our tips and start your life story today. A little preparation and forethought will make writing your autobiography a quicker and more efficient task – and reduce the risk of leaving something out. Decide on the era you want to cover – will it be all your life or will you be restricted to a specific period, such as childhood or working days? Think about how you wish to structure your book – do you want it to be purely chronological with all aspects of your life during certain years included or do you want it to be structured according to topic? If you wish to include something about your family history, draw up a family tree as far as you are able, adding short background notes where relevant. Make a list of events you wish to cover, adding dates if possible. Under every event, jot down any thoughts that come to mind in relation to it. Create a list of the main people who have featured in your life. Under each name, record any special memories relating to that person. Writing a list of decades can help you think about things that have happened to you at certain times in your life. Make a list of schools you attended; add the names of any teachers you recall and note any specific memories. Create a CV covering your work life, recording anything of note (including people you met, worked for etc) in each role. If you have travelled, list the countries visited, adding any relevant experiences or observations. Make a list of any random thoughts and events that you may wish to include, even though you might be uncertain as to where ‒ or if ‒ they will appear in your life story. Note anything that you wish to check on or query ‒ you might want to clarify dates, names, places, sequence of events etc with other people, for example. Don’t be afraid to ask for help ‒ others can assist by jogging the memory or offering opinions on what you should and shouldn’t include. A word of warning: always bear in mind that you should be wary of including anything that is likely to upset other people, invade a person’s privacy or damage their reputation. You’re now ready to get started With these steps complete, you’re now ready to get started on creating a written record of your life, that lasting legacy to pass on to your family and friends ‒ and if you feel you can’t manage that task unaided, our team at LifeBook will be happy to offer you all the support you need to achieve your goal, from words and images to design and typesetting, plus we will even get your books printed for you.	91,659
Henry IV, Part 2 is a historical play by William Shakespeare probably written between 1596 and 1599. This is the third part of a tetralogy formed together with Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry V. After defeating his main opponents, Henry IV has to face the rebellion of other lords. But the defection of the Earl of Northumberland gives the advantage to the king's troops, his commanders being merciless with the rebels. As the Scottish and Welsh protests fade, peace seems to have finally been restored. But it is then that Henry IV finds himself in an ill state and dies. His eldest son then becomes king under the name of Henry V.	92,124
Tervuren Xylarium Wood DatabaseSearch \| Browse \| More information \| Contact persons Lignified plant tissues are omnipresent in the terrestrial living nature. Also a big part of the material culture consists of wooden objects. Because of the multifunctional character of wood, the Tervuren Xylarium (abbreviation: Tw) is established to serve the different disciplines interested in wood research: technology, ecology, palaeontology, art history, archaeology,... Since the Tervuren Xylarium is the only governmental wood collection in Belgium there is no geographical limitation: it has a worldwide concern, though being housed in the Africa museum. Because of the scientific nature of the collection, the value of it depends largely on derivative collections like thin sections for microscopy and microphotographs. Moreover there are collections of stem discs that make dendrochronological research possible. Three databases constitute the information accompanying the collection: (1) the Tervuren Xylarium Taxa, (2) Tervuren Xylarium Specimens and (3) Tervuren Xylarium Images. "Tervuren Xylarium Taxa" groups all the information on the abstract entities (the taxa: species and some other taxa). The scientific names and the botanical families of the species present in the xylarium are being listed. These are the names that are actually being used to manage the collection. They do not necessarily follow the most recent botanical nomenclature. Additionally synonyms, commercial names and local names are being given. This information is being compiled from the available literature and is not corrected. Vernacular names of Central African species are being modified according to linguistic conventions.	189,004
259 US 260 Olin v. Kitzmiller 259 U.S. 260 42 S.Ct. 510 66 L.Ed. 930 KITZMILLER et al. Argued April 21, 1922. Decided May 29, 1922. Messrs. Arthur I. Moulton and James E. Fenton, both of Portland, Or., for appellant. Messrs. Willis S. Moore and W. W. Banks, both of Portland, Or., for appellees. Mr. Justice McREYNOLDS delivered the opinion of the Court. The bill was dismissed upon motion by the trial court for want of equity and the Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed this action. 268 Fed. 348. Appellant—a native of Russia who has declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States—claims the right to fish in specified locations in the Columbia river and seeks a mandatory injunction requiring the master fish warden and other officers of Oregon to issue a license therefor. His prayer is based upon the theory that so much of chapter 292, General Laws of Oregon 1919, as directs that no fishing license 'shall be issued to any person who is not a citizen of the United States' impairs the obligation (Const. art. 1, § 10) of the compact and agreement between the states of Washington and Oregon ratified by an Act of Congress approved April 8, 1918—40 Stat. 515, c. 47—which follows: 'The Congress of the United States of America hereby consents to and ratifies the compact and agreement entered into between the states of Oregon and Washington relative to regulating, protecting, and preserving fish in the boundary waters of the Columbia river and other waters, which compact and agreement is contained in section twenty of chapter one hundred and eighty-eight of the general laws of Oregon for nineteen hundred and fifteen, and section one hundred and sixteen, chapter thirty-one, of the session laws of Washington for nineteen hundred and fifteen, and is as follows: "All laws and regulations now existing, or which may be necessary for regulating, protecting, or preserving fish in the waters of the Columbia river, over which the states of Oregon and Washington have concurrent jurisdiction, or any other waters within either of said states, which would affect said concurrent jurisdiction, shall be made, changed, altered, and amended in whole or in part, only with the mutual consent and approbation of both states.' 'Nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect the right of the United States to regulate commerce, or the jurisdiction of the United States over navigable waters.' The statutes in which the states accepted the compact are not identical, but each one provides: 'No license for taking or catching salmon or other food or shell fish, required by laws of this state, shall be issued to any person who is not a citizen of the United States, unless such person has declared his intention to become a citizen, and is and has been an actual resident of the state for one year immediately preceding the application for such license, nor shall any license be issued to a corporation unless it is authorized to do business in this state.' Oregon Act (Laws 1915, p. 227) § 5—Washington Act (Laws 1915, p. 82) § 43. Appellant's postulate is that the quoted provision read in connection with the compact inhibits each state from restricting its fishing licenses to citizens of the United States without consent of the other. If this is unsound, no foundation exists for his claim and all other questions may be disregarded. Considering the object and nature of the compact and the two acts of 1915, we cannot conclude that the parties intended by the identical provision to obligate themselves to issue any fishing license; the purpose was to limit the classes of persons who might have them—beyond which the state might not go. There is no inhibition against narrowing these classes nor indeed against a refusal to issue any license. The Oregon Legislature acted in harmony with the compact when it excluded aliens; there was no impairment, and the judgment of the court below must be affirmed.	126,209
I have now been recruited to make a card for every event in my office! I started this handmade farewell card with a 5-inch flower cut from my Cricut Expression using the Walking in my Garden cartridge. I also used the “shadow” feature to get the dark blue background. The yellow center is another cut feature. I cut the ladybug from the same cartridge at 1-inch, and the letters are 1-inch from the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge. I used my black, fine point Sharpie pen to make the imperfect dashes and dots around the border of the flower — just to add a little dimension. Background Paper Choices Once I have an idea for a card, I explore several color options for paper for the card base, background and envelope. Here, you can see some of my choices. Four ways to use a 5-inch flower: It was easy to quickly eliminate the white, and I knew I wanted to add a red ladybug, so the red was out too. I really could have used any of the other papers. I chose the dark green for the card base, and the light green as a background for the front. It’s hard to see in this picture, but there is a subtle circular pattern that compliments the flower. I also had enough of that color to make the envelope. It all comes down to what I think looks good. You can judge for yourself if you think I made the right choice! Use your own judgment for your cards — just choose something you would like to receive. How I Designed The Inside Of The Card For the flight pattern dashes of the butterfly, I used a pencil to draw the path, then I used the Sharpie pen to add my sentiment. This is a technique I use frequently, because it’s easy and much more fun than just words in the middle of the card. The pencil marks are easy to erase once the ink has dried, and Sharpie is good for not smearing. Because the card was going to be signed by about 20 people, I knew that some would be writing on the dark green paper, where it would be hard to read. I have a gold and a silver Pentel metallic ink pens, and I planned to send it around with the card for everyone to sign with. The back of the card had another personal touch — one that I try to add to all my cards. I use the Cricut or handcut a small emblem (1/2-inch) that matches the card. Then I use the Sharpie to write my name and the year. I also have a couple of rubber stamps that say “handmade by” that I can use to sign my cards. UDPATE: Variations Of This Flower Card I used the same format for a handmade Birthday card, as well as a Mother’s Day card…	92,241
Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública Print version ISSN 1020-4989 WALLACE, Steven P. and GUTIERREZ, Verónica F.. Equity of access to health care for older adults in four major Latin American cities. Rev Panam Salud Publica [online]. 2005, vol.17, n.5-6, pp. 394-409. ISSN 1020-4989. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1020-49892005000500012. OBJECTIVES: To identify if older adults have equitable access to health services in four major Latin American cities and to determine if the inequities that are found follow the patterns of economic inequality in each of the four nations studied. METHODS: Data from persons age 60 and over in the cities of São Paulo, Brazil (n = 2 143); Santiago, Chile (n = 1 301); Mexico City, Mexico (n = 1 247); and Montevideo, Uruguay (n = 1 450) were collected through a collaboration led by the Pan American Health Organization. For our study, three process indicators of access (availability, accessibility, and acceptability) and one indicator of actual health services use (visit to a medical doctor in the past 12 months) were analyzed by wealth quintiles, health insurance type, education, health status, and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Each of the four cities had a different level of access to care, and those levels of access were only weakly related to per capita national wealth. Given the relatively high level of wealth inequality in Brazil and the lower level in Uruguay, older persons in São Paulo had better-than-expected equity in access to care, while older persons in Montevideo had less equity than expected. Inequity in Mexico City was driven primarily by low levels of health insurance coverage. In Santiago, inequity followed socioeconomic status more than it did health insurance. CONCLUSIONS: In the four cities studied, health insurance and the operation of health systems mediate the link between economic inequality and inequitable access to health care. Therefore, special attention needs to be paid to equity of access in health services, independent of differences in economic inequality and national wealth. Keywords : Aged; aged, 80 and over; health services for the aged; health services accessibility; socioeconomic factors; health policy; Latin America.	42,534
Trent J ACEO’s Weight Loss Tips – September 2012 Although this is not the season most people decide they want to lose weight (The Holidays), I wanted to put these tips out there to encourage you to live this healthy lifestyle by not only looking good but feeling food as well. Please check out my tips for losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle below! Hope you enjoy. 1) You didn’t get FAT overnight, you will not lose all the weight over night. If you haven’t noticed, you did not gain the “Freshman 15” in two weeks, so do not expect to lose it in two weeks. A key tip to weight loss is setting realistic goals that allow you to lose weight in a safe and healthy way. In a way that will not cause you to gain it all back once you change your diet patterns. 2) Focus on the Mirror, not the Scale. STOP spending so much time worrying about what you weight, and more about how your body is sculpted. It’s possible for you to stay the same weight or fluctuate 5lbs either way or your body drastically changed. I encourage anyone starting a weight program, or looking to make body changes to take body photos, and track their progress. Maybe taking pictures every 2-4 weeks and compare. This is an accurate ‘picture’ of your fitness success. 3) Starving yourself will cause you to gain more than lose. It really bothers me when people (especially women) say they are going to eat 500 calories a day, and think that is going to solve their overweight problems. Our bodies need a certain amount of calories a day at minimum to function. This is where you want to start measuring your calorie deficit to decide how many calories to eat a day. If you are very active this will be different from someone who is sedentary on a daily basis. You should be eating 5-6 times a day in moderation. Break your meals down and eat smaller meals relatively all day. 4) A Cheat Day is just that, not 3-5 times a week. “Today is my cheat day” is one of the most common excuses of eating badly. The only issue here is, a day is singular not plural. Yes, cheat days are good to keep you motivated and actually good for your metabolism during a strict diet regiment. BUT just because you have started to workout does not mean that it’s OK to eat what you want, this will most definitely set you back. 5) Abs are shaped in the gym, but made in the kitchen. We all want those 6/8 pack abs. Period. Just about every person that has started a diet/workout regiment is looking to improve upon their mid-section. BUT what many fail to realize is that you can do all the crunches in the world, but if you do not burn the layer of fat covering your abs you’ll never see them. Work hard on burning body fat to “reveal” the abs you probably already have! 6) Surround yourself around like-minded people. If you have 9 broke friends, you’re bound to be the 10th. This is absolutely true when it comes to working out. I’m not saying drop your overweight friends, but find some people that are gym rats, or losing weight, etc just like you that can help keep you motivated. Those that will encourage you to get up go to the gym, eat the right foods, and push yourself more and more. 7) Stay Consistent. Last but not least… being fit is a lifestyle not just something you do for 60 or 90 days with Shaun T. Getting started is tough, overcoming a plateau is tough, and continuing to workout once you reached your goals is tough. Keep getting up, change your workout/diet frequently, and continue to set new goals. Stick to it, and don’t slack off when you start to see results that should be your motivation to working even harder. NO STRUGGLE, NO PROGRESS! With Passion, Purpose, & Pride, Trent J ACEO	153,962
"This book is well written and inclusive with a realistic approach to problems encountered in schools today. Practical and useable interventions are included which makes this text a valuable resource to the school social worker." Terry Housteau-Hill, LSCW, Lead Consultant, Knox County School Social Services "An invaluable resource . . . [and] extremely reader-friendly." Michelle Alvarez, MSW, LCSW, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work University of Southern Indiana School Social Work thoroughly covers all aspects of this burgeoning field, from the history and function of school social workers and up-to-date, empirically and developmentally supported interventions to effective methods for implementing and evaluating school social work programs. Educational policy and legislation, community-based interventions, and prevention programs are also covered. Supported by case vignettes and discussion questions that engage the reader in every chapter, this book: In addition, this book provides current assessment methods for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions; recently developed standardized measures designed to assess change at the classroom, school, family, neighborhood, and community levels; guidelines for successfully planning, implementing, and evaluating new programs based on Comprehensive Quality Programming (CQP) strategies; and detailed information on the most current student-focused violence prevention programs. Complete with lists of Internet resources and other references at the end of each chapter, School Social Work is a valuable tool for students and a hands-on resource for school social workers, psychologists, counselors, and administrators.	2,719
We depart for Europe — a misunderstanding arises between the Captain and the Surgeon, through the scandalous aspersions of Crampley — the Captain dies — Crampley tyrannises over the surgeon, who falls a Victim for his Cruelty — I am also ill-used — the Ship strikes — the behaviour of Crampley and the Seamen on that occasion — -I get on shore, challenge the Captain to single combat — am treacherously knocked down, wounded, and robbed Now that I could return to my native country in a creditable way, I felt excessive pleasure in finding myself out of sight of that fatal island, which has been the grave of so many Europeans: and, as I was accommodated with everything to make the passage agreeable, I resolved to enjoy myself as much as the insolence of Crampley would permit. This insidious slanderer had found means already to cause a misunderstanding between the surgeon and captain, who, by his age and infirmities, was rendered intolerably peevish, his disposition having also been soured by a long course of disappointments. He had a particular aversion to all young men, especially to surgeons, whom he considered unnecessary animals on board of a ship; and, in consequence of these sentiments, never consulted the doctor, notwithstanding his being seized with a violent fit of the gout and gravel, but applied to a cask of Holland gin, which was his sovereign prescription against all distempers: whether he was at this time too sparing, or took an overdose of his cordial, certain it is, he departed in the night, without any ceremony, which indeed was a thing he always despised, and was found stiff next morning, to the no small satisfaction of Crampley, who succeeded to the command of the vessel. For that very reason, Mr. Tomlins and I had no cause to rejoice at this event, fearing that the tyranny of our new commander would now be as unlimited as his power. The first day of his command justified our apprehensions: for, on pretence that the decks were too much crowded, he ordered the surgeon’s hencoops, with all his fowls, to be thrown overboard; and at the same time prohibited him and me from walking on the quarter-deck. Mr. Tomlins could not help complaining of these injuries, and in the course of his expostulation dropped some hasty words, of which Crampley taking hold, confined him to his cabin, where, in a few days, for want of air he was attacked by a fever, which soon put an end to his life, after he had made his will, by which he bequeathed all his estate, personal and real, to his sister, and left to me his watch and instruments as memorials of his friendship. I was penetrated with grief on this melancholy occasion; the more because there was nobody on board to whom I could communicate my sorrows, or of whom I could receive the least consolation or advice. Crampley was so far from discovering the least remorse for his barbarity, at the news of the surgeon’s death, that he insulted his memory in the most abusive manner, and affirmed he had poisoned himself out of pure fear, dreading to be brought to a court-martial for mutiny; for which reason he would not suffer the service of the dead to be read over his body before it was thrown overboard. Nothing but a speedy deliverance could have supported me under the brutal sway of this bashaw, who, to render my life more irksome, signified to my messmates a desire that I should be expelled from their society. This was no sooner hinted, than they granted his request; and I was fain to eat in a solitary manner by myself during the rest of the passage, which, however, soon drew to a period. We had been seven weeks at sea, when the gunner told the captain that, by his reckoning, we must be in soundings, and desired he would order the lead to be heaved. Crampley swore he did not know how to keep the ship’s way, for we were not within a hundred leagues of soundings, and therefore he would not give himself the trouble to cast the lead. Accordingly we continued our course all that afternoon and night, without shortening sail, although the gunner pretended to discover Scilly light; and next morning protested in form against the captain’s conduct, for which he was put in confinement, We discovered no land all that day, and Crampley was still so infatuated as to neglect sounding; but at three o’clock in the morning the ship struck, and remained fast on a sand-bank. This accident alarmed the whole crew; the boat was immediately hoisted out, but as we could not discern which way the shore lay, we were obliged to wait for daylight. In the meantime, the wind increased, and the waves beat against the sloop with such violence, that we expected she would have gone to pieces. The gunner was released and consulted: he advised the captain to cut away the mast, in order to lighten her; this expedient was performed without success: the sailors, seeing things in a desperate situation, according to custom, broke up the chests belonging to the officers, dressed themselves in their clothes, drank their liquors without ceremony, and drunkenness, tumult, and confusion ensued. In the midst of this uproar, I went below to secure my own effects, and found the carpenter’s mate hewing down the purser’s cabin with his hatchet, whistling all the while with great composure. When I asked his intention in so doing, he replied, very calmly, “I only want to taste the purser’s rum, that’s all, master.” At that instant the purser coming down, and seeing his effects going to wreck, complained bitterly of the injustice done to him, and asked the fellow what occasion he had for liquor when, in all likelihood, he would be in eternity in a few minutes. “All’s one for that,” said plunderer, “let us live while we can.” “Miserable wretch that thou art!” cried the purser, “what must be thy lot in another world, if thou diest in the commission of robbery?” “Why, hell, I suppose,” replied the other, with great deliberation, while the purser fell on his knees, and begged of Heaven that we might not all perish for the sake of Jonas. During this dialogue I clothed myself in my bed apparel, girded on my hanger, stuck my pistols, loaded, in my belt, disposed of all my valuable moveables about my person, and came upon deck with a resolution of taking the first opportunity to get on shore, which, when the day broke, appeared at the distance of three miles ahead. Crampley, finding his efforts to get the ship off ineffectual, determined to consult his own safety, by going into the boat, which he had no sooner done, than the ship’s company followed so fast, that she would have sunk alongside, had not some one wiser than the rest cut the rope and put off. But before this happened, I had made several attempts to get in, and was always balked by the captain, who was so eager in excluding me, that he did not mind the endeavours of any other body. Enraged at this inhuman partiality, and seeing the rope cut, I pulled one of my pistols from my belt, and cocking it, swore I would shoot any man who would presume to obstruct my entrance. So saying, I leaped with my full exertion, and got on board of the boat with the loss of the skin of my shins. I chanced in my descent to overturn Crampley, who no sooner got up than he struck at me several times with a cutlass, and ordered the men to throw me overboard; but they were too anxious about their own safety to mind what he said. Though the boat was very deeply loaded, and the sea terribly high, we made shift to get upon dry land in less than an hour after we parted from the sloop. As soon as I set my foot on terra firma, my indignation, which bad boiled so long within me, broke out against Crampley, whom I immediately challenged to single combat, presenting my pistols, that he might take his choice: he took one without hesitation, and, before I could cock the other, fired in my face, throwing the pistol after the shot. I felt myself stunned, and imagining the bullet had entered my brain, discharged mine as quick as possible, that I might not die unrevenged: then flying upon my antagonist, knocked out several of his fore-teeth with the butt-end of the piece, and would certainly have made an end of him with that instrument, had he not disengaged himself, and seized his cutlass, which he had given to his servant when he received the pistol. Seeing him armed in this manner, I drew my hanger, and, having flung my pistol at his head, closed with him in a transport of fury, and thrust my weapon into his mouth, which it enlarged on one side to his ear. Whether the smart of this wound disconcerted him, or the unevenness of the ground made him reel, I know not, but he staggered some paces back: I followed close, and with one stroke cut the tendons of the back of his hand, Upon which his cutlass dropped, and he remained defenceless. I know not with what cruelty my rage might have inspired me, if I had not at that instant been felled to the ground by a blow on the back part of my head, which deprived me of all sensation. In this deplorable situation, exposed to the rage of an incensed barbarian, and the rapine of an inhuman crew, I remained for some time; and whether any disputes arose among them during the state of my annihilation, I cannot pretend to determine; but in one particular they seemed to have been unanimous, and acted with equal dexterity and dispatch; for when I recovered the use of my understanding, I found myself alone in a desolate place, stripped of my clothes, money, watch, buckles, and everything but my shoes, stockings, breeches and shirt. What a discovery must this have been to me, who, but an hour before, was worth sixty guineas in cash! I cursed the hour of my birth, the parents that gave me being, the sea that did not swallow me up, the poniard of the enemy, which could not find the way to my heart, the villainy of those who had left me in that miserable condition; and in the ecstacy of despair resolved to be still where I was, and perish. Last updated Monday, December 22, 2014 at 10:54	78,249
More bad sun news: Turns out that sunscreen you've been lathering yourself with doesn't work all that well, according to experts interviewed by The Associated Press, who say that most people don't apply enough sunscreen, which generally doesn't protect against UVB rays anyhow. And it washes off when you go swimming, too. Bummer! Dermatologists recommend that you use more sunscreen and spend less time in the sun if you want to avoid coming down with skin cancer and/or having moles carved off your body, as The Range did just last week. If you ask real nice the next time we see you, we'll show the scars. And even worse news: The journal Science reports that permafrost in Siberia that now covers 400,000 square miles is melting and could release 75 times the amount of carbon now generated annually. "Unfortunately, it's another large pool of carbon on the list that could move into the atmosphere with continued warming," co-author Ted Schuur, an assistant professor of ecology in the University of Florida botany department, said in a press release. "You start thawing the permafrost, microbes release carbon dioxide, that makes things warmer, more permafrost thaws and the process continues." Local angle: Tucson's evacuation plan isn't going to work, but--on the bright side--"its emergency public-information plan was sufficient." So at least the flacks know what they're doing! Speaking of FEMA: The General Accounting Office told Congress that the federal government was handing out so much money in the wake of Katrina that up to $1.4 billion in aid was totally "bogus," in the words of AP reporter Larry Margasak. Among the wacky payouts: season football tickets, a 70-day stay in Hawaii, a copy of Girls Gone Wild, cases of booze, a divorce lawyer and a sex-change operation. Rancher Jack Ladd told the AP that he doesn't expect the fence, which has already been vandalized, to keep people out, but he hopes it will stop Mexican cows from coming on his property. In the same release, Olson noted: "We are happy to have Mustafa back. I think he has a better idea of the things he needs to do to make it as a professional." So you'll find us at the Loft Cinema on Saturday, June 24, for the "Best Damn Joss Whedon Double Feature Ever!" Not only will the theater be screening Serenity, the movie that resolved lingering plot points from the Firefly series, but we'll also see two of our favorite Buffy episodes: "Hush," in which the creepy gentlemen come calling in Sunnydale, and "Once More With Feeling," the spectacular Season 6 musical that the whole audience will be singing along with. And if that's not enough, the Serenity screening will be a benefit for Equality Now, "a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure," which is just the sort of thing that Buffy would approve of. The show starts at the Loft, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd., at 7 p.m., with an admission price of $10 for Serenity, $5 for the Buffy sing-a-long, and $12 for both. If you're a committed fan of Firefly, head over to Bookmans, 6230 E. Speedway Blvd., between 2 and 5 p.m. for a gathering of the Arizona Browncoats.	47,638
Can you over grease Moog ball joints? When greasing MOOG chassis parts, a hand grease gun is preferred. If a pressured grease gun is used, take care not to exceed the grease relief valve’s output to prevent damage to the boot. MOOG engineers suggest using a premium heavy-duty lithium or synthetic grease. Are MOOG ball joints made in China? After a search of our Moog inventory, we found out that Moog makes their parts everywhere from Japan… and of course, the United States of America.7 Aug 2015 Do new ball joints make a difference? Modern ball joints are sealed, while this prevents dirt, grit and other impurities from damaging the joint, it also prevents maintenance. This means that if you have a problem with your ball joint, the entire assembly will usually need to be replaced. Is Moog brand good? Moog being a trusted brand, its parts are durable, sturdy, reliable, and of high quality. For instance, Moog Control Arm can last for a long time and does not need replacement until they wear out or tear. I have also used Moog wheel bearing. They lasted for around 136,000 km (85,000 miles).24 Feb 2022 How long do MOOG ball joints last? Where are Moog made? In a North Carolina synthesizer factory in downtown Asheville, however, manufacturing is a way of life. Since 2011, a red brick building in the town’s north end has been the home of Moog Music Inc, where its 81 employees assemble every one of its instruments. What company makes Moog parts? MOOG Parts \| DRiV Brands. MOOG is an industry-leading brand of premium replacement steering, suspension, wheel end and driveline products for passenger car, light truck, SUV, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Are MOOG control arms any good? 5.0 out of 5 stars great quality. easy to install. has a zert fitting that oem equipment dose not have. this is a part that helps with suspension ride. Do ball joints wear out? To do this, joints like ball joints in the suspension allow the wheels to articulate without transferring that motion to the cabin. However, over time, these joints can wear out. They can lose lubrication, come loose or seize up entirely.5 May 2021 How do you grease Moog ball joints? Are Moog products made in China? After a search of our Moog inventory, we found out that Moog makes their parts everywhere from Japan… and of course, the United States of America.Aug 7, 2015 Is Moog better than Mevotech? Many Reddit users believe that Mevotech products are of a lower quality compared to Moog, though they are affordable. Moog vs. Mevotech tie rod ends reviews indicate that the products are equal in terms of performance. Are Moog parts high quality? Moog being a trusted brand, its parts are durable, sturdy, reliable, and of high quality. For instance, Moog Control Arm can last for a long time and does not need replacement until they wear out or tear. Do MOOG ball joints have grease fittings? On applications with tight clearances and on the end of the cap on MOOG Super Strength ® U-joints, a low-profile grease fitting is used. A needle fitting is required to inject grease for these applications. Are Moog bearings made in USA? From the United States Moog hubs are still made overseas in Korea, but the quality difference between a Korean made Moog and a Chinese Timken are astronomical. How long do stock ball joints last? Stock JK OEM ball joint life expectancy varies widely. Some have gone out in 20,000 miles; some have lasted over 100,000 miles. Mine lasted 76,000 miles. One variable may be people’s opinions of what constitutes a worn out ball joint.9 Jan 2016 Are Moog ball joints safe? MOOG Lower ball jointsView 3+ more Where is Moog parts made? Search Party: Around the World and Back. After a search of our Moog inventory, we found out that Moog makes their parts everywhere from Japan… and of course, the United States of America.Aug 7, 2015	185,374
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Mary Tabin’s legal advice to her clients might seem unfriendly. She encourages companies to restrict or discourage their supervisors from accepting “friend” requests from lower-level employees. “Supervisor equals employer under this law,” said Tabin, an attorney with Grand Rapids law firm Rhoades McKee. “Employees can only sue employers for discrimination” if a manager knows the personal information. Before Gov. Rick Snyder signed the law Dec. 28, which went into effect immediately, Tabin joined MLive for a Live Chat about the potential impact of the law. It bans employers from requesting an employee or job applicant to disclose user names, passwords or other information that would give them access to a social networking account. Those restrictions also apply to educational institutions making similar requirements of students or prospective students. Related: Live chat replay: Why asking for your Facebook password is like your boss peeking into your wallet Tabin calls the new law - triggered by a school district asking for an employee’s Facebook password – is another step by the Legislature to ensure that personal information remains personal information, and to make sure employers judge a person’s skills and qualification rather than personal activity. Although employees have more protections, the new law doesn’t prevent employers from gaining access to any electronic devices they provide such as an iPad, laptop or cellphone. Which is why employers should have a clear policy so employees know what to expect when they use company-owned technology. Employers can still restrict and prohibit access to certain websites on electronic devices if they pay for them in whole or part. While the law doesn’t prohibit employers from Googling or otherwise accessing public information on an employee or applicant, Tabin advises against it. “I would go through a controlled access to public information such as securing a third party to conduct background checks with appropriate authorization.” She summed up advice in a newsletter sent out to clients this month. But she adds she doesn’t think many West Michigan employers were asking for passwords of employees or job applicants to see what they were posting on Facebook or other social media so they might not think the new law impacts them. “I think they don’t realize that it’s something much broader than that,” said Tabin. “I don’t think they realize that supervisors being friends with non-management employees can be a liability for them.” While the workplace may seem like it’s become a hierarchical place, Tabin says there should always be a line between leadership and the workers. “It’s always been my advice to discourage managers from going out and having drinks with non-management employees or generally hanging out with them,” Tabin said. Beyond business, the new legislation is expected to curb practices at schools from K-12 to college, including cases where passwords were required as part of the application process to some colleges. Still, educational institutions like companies can still gain access to information deemed personal, such as emails if the students use an iPad or laptop or email account provided by the college.	68,344
MP3 Information Page Cranford Pub Search Engine Cranford Publications soundclips are genrally given as MP3s, the standard for Internet audio content. To allow easier streaming the clips have been encoded at lower bit rates than what is used for commerciially available tracks. The fidelity is however good for educational usaage Both to simplify and because of the educational nature of our site our site, links to sound clips are accessed a-tune-at-a-time, from the page devoted to the source recording. These are long enough to learn a melody but don't give complete tracks (tracks are availabe if you purchase the CDs or individuals tracks from the artists sites). Other clips are accessed from pages of music notation - single transcriptions which can be found by following links from source recordings. MP3s are the most popular format for listening, transferring and storing audio from the Internet. On-line, MP3s can be streamed or you can download MP3s to your hard drive for later use. These files can then be catalogued and played by both home computers and portable MP3 devices. MP3s can be backed up on any hard drive or floppy disc and can even be burned to a CDR for playback on any CD player. Today, this is the most popular format for the personal playback of MP3s. The MP3s on our site are mostly short clips taken off of the CDs we sell providing you: - Free demos from the recordings which Cranford Publications sells mail order as conventional CDs and cassettes. - Recorded reference for melodies which are supplied in standard musical notation as GIF or ABC files. Most of these seetings are also found in books books which we sell or are currently compiling - Familiarily with this technology. In the next few years, more and more artists will be selling their music this way. With the exception of the link that brought you to this page, any time you click the symbol below, assuming your browser is configured with the proper plug-in, a separate window will open and a sound clip will start to load. We find that the Quicktime plug-in is best. Depending on monitor /software used you may have to resize or minimize the playback window so that you can see music notation at the same time as playback. If you go to our recordings section, the links to individual recordings will lead to samples of music notation and /or sound clips. Our sound clips are almost all partial tracks (including a minimum of once through a featured melody). Tune titles, composer and performer information etc. are all included with each clip. Although MP3 files can be streamed without copying them onto your PC, unless you have broadband Internet access like cable, DSL or better, we recommend downloading and saving before playback. This will reduce the buffering time at slower connection speeds. Regardless of connection speed, anyone who wants play a melody repeatedly will find it advantageous to download the desired MP3. Save all the tunes you want o learn in one place, and then listen and learn at your own pace. NOTE - no sound files contained in this web site are to be copied and retransmitted unless permission is received both from Cranford Publications and from the artist / label/copyright holder. Most modern Browsers are already set up to play MP3s. You may however need to "fine-tune" your settings, plug-ins installed etc. Because of the number of players, browsers and versions that exist, it's impossible for us to give specific instructions. With most software you install, set-up happens automatically. Programs such as Firefox, Safari Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator are best used with transparent plug-ins such as Quicktime. All can be downloaded for free for both Windows and MacIntosh platforms. Any browser with a properly installed plug in will open our MP3 files exactly the same way as activating a text link on the web. We have programmed the links so that while the MP3 loads into your cache, a new resizable window opens ... so that you can look at the musical notation to the tune while you wait for the sound to begin. If you have more than one audio player on your computer you should assign each one as the default player for specific audio files. Use your Realaudio player to listen to the Realaudio files. Use MP3, Windows Media or QuickTime players to listen to MP3 files. Using your Realaudio player to listen to MP3 files may cause a minor crash in the audio software and you may have to shut down the program. For both sound quality and functionality we prefer the Quicktime Plug-in. Clips play automatically after they have completely loaded. Alternatively, partial clips can be listened to during the loading process. We've tested this using all connection speeds - from very slow cell modem connection of 9600 baud to broadband - all without problem (other than the length of time to load). For the "audiophiles" Quicktime offers the best sound quality either as a browser plug-in or as a standalone media player. Download Quicktime Plugin You can preview the clip by letting it load to approximately 10% and then manually activating the player. If it's the tune you want, let the entire clip load before saving. Once loaded, it is in your cache it should play flawlessly. If you want to save it just go to the file menu and choose the appropriate Save As option and file it away in an appropriate directory. (this differs depending on Browser, platform etc. -- for Mac Internet Explorer users choose download link to disk). ... for Netscape choose "Save as Source". For Windows use your computer's find command and type in *.mp3 as the file name, looking in all directories (C: for most computers) (Mac just go to the Finder and issue a seach command for .mp3). This tells the computer to look for any MP3 files on your hard drive. Your browser typically will save by default to a temporary folder. Many programs prefer you save downloads into their default folder, which can make finding tunes a little confusing. You can avoid this situation by creating a new folder that you use to store all of your MP3 downloads. Or, choose to save all downloads to your desktop. Either way, your files won't get buried deep inside your computer where you can't find them. There are also dozens of hardware devices which act as portable stand-alone players. Other multi-purpose devices are proliferating include cell phones with players built in, PDAs with MP3 capability, the I-Pod etc. etc. - For best sound quality use the Quicktime plug in or the stand alone media player for previewing and downloading theses files. - Position your computer speakers in a standard stereo array to enjoy optimum stereo and depth of image detail. Speakers should be positioned in a triangle with your seating position the same distance apart as they are from the listener. If possible, position these without the monitor in the middle for even better sound quality. - If you are having trouble configuring your browser and wish to download the clip immediately, choose the save-as link, (saving "as source" to your desktop, or to a specificl directory or folder) and download it to your hard drive. The MP3 can then be opened by a variety of MP3 media players. - If you get stuttering or skips, it's possibe that you are short of RAM. If you're running multiple background programs make sure you have plenty of headroom.. recordings \| Recent MP3 Additions	74,553
226 IM Used The server has fulfilled a GET request for the resource, and the response is a representation of the result of one or more instance-manipulations applied to the current instance. The actual current instance might not be available except by combining this response with other previous or future responses, as appropriate for the specific instance-manipulation(s). If so, the headers of the resulting instance are the result of combining the headers from the 226 response and the other instances, following the rules in section 13.5.3 of the HTTP/1.1 specification. The request MUST have included an A-IM header field listing at least one instance-manipulation. The response MUST include an Etag header field giving the entity tag of the current instance. A response received with a status code of 226 MAY be stored by a cache and used in reply to a subsequent request, subject to the HTTP expiration mechanism and any Cache-Control headers, and to the requirements in section 10.6. A response received with a status code of 226 MAY be used by a cache, in conjunction with a cache entry for the base instance, to create a cache entry for the current instance. - Source: RFC3229 Section 10.4.1 226 Code References Rails HTTP Status Symbol	49,708
Miriam, Hilda, Kenyon, Donatello FOUR individuals, in whose fortunes we should be glad to interest the reader, happened to be standing in one of the saloons of the sculpture gallery in the Capitol at Rome. It was that room (the first, after ascending the staircase) in the centre of which reclines the noble and most pathetic figure of the Dying Gladiator, just sinking into his death-swoon. Around the walls stand the Antinous, the Amazon, the Lycian Apollo, the Juno; all famous productions of antique sculpture, and still shining in the undiminished majesty and beauty of their ideal life, although the marble that embodies them is yellow with time, and perhaps corroded by the damp earth in which they lay buried for centuries. Here, likewise, is seen a symbol (as apt at this moment as it was two thousand years ago) of the Human Soul, with its choice of Innocence or Evil close at hand, in the pretty figure of a child, clasping a dove to her bosom, but assaulted by a snake. From one of the windows of this saloon, we may see a flight of broad stone steps, descending alongside the antique and massive foundation of the Capitol, towards the battered triumphal arch of Septimius Severus, right below. Farther on, the eye skirts along the edge of the desolate Forum (where Roman washerwomen hang out their linen to the sun), passing over a shapeless confusion of modern edifices, piled rudely up with ancient brick and stone, and over the domes of Christian churches, built on the old pavements of heathen temples, and supported by the very pillars that once upheld them. At a distance beyond--yet but a little way, considering how much history is heaped into the intervening space--rises the great sweep of the Coliseum, with the blue sky brightening through its upper tier of arches. Far off, the view in by the Alban Mountains, looking just the same, amid all this decay and change, as when Romulus gazed thitherward over his half-finished wall. We glance hastily at these things--at this bright sky, and those blue distant mountains, and at the ruins, Etruscan, Roman, Christian, venerable with: a threefold antiquity, and at the company of world-famous statues in the saloon--in the hope of putting the reader into that state of feeling which is experienced oftenest at Rome. It is a vague sense of ponderous remembrances; a perception of such weight and density in a by-gone life, of which this spot was the centre, that the present moment is pressed down or crowded out, and our individual affairs and interests are but half as real here as elsewhere. Viewed through this medium, our narrative--into which are woven some airy and unsubstantial threads, intermixed with others, twisted out of the commonest stuff of human existence--may seem not widely different from the texture of all our lives. Side by side with the massiveness of the Roman Past, all matters that we handle or dream of nowadays look evanescent and visionary alike. It might be that the four persons whom we are seeking to introduce were conscious of this dreamy character of the present, as compared with the square blocks of granite wherewith the Romans bulk their lives. Perhaps it even contributed to the fanciful merriment which was just now their mood. When we find ourselves fading into shadows and unrealities, it seems hardly worth while to be sad, but rather to laugh as gaily as we may, and ask little reason wherefore. Of these four friends of ours, three were artists, or connected with art; and, at this moment, they had been simultaneously struck by a resemblance between one of the antique statues, a well-known masterpiece of Grecian sculpture, and a young Italian, the fourth member of their party. "You must needs confess, Kenyon," said a dark-eyed young woman, whom her friends called Miriam, "that you never chiselled out of marble, nor wrought in clay, a more vivid likeness than this, cunning a bust-maker as you think yourself. The portraiture is perfect in character, sentiment, and feature. If it were a picture, the resemblance might be half illusive and imaginary; but here, in this Pentelic marble, it is a substantial fact, and may be tested by absolute touch and measurement. Our friend Donatello is the very Faun of Praxiteles. Is it not true, Hilda?" "Not quite--almost--yes, I really think so," replied Hilda, a slender, brown-haired New England girl, whose perceptions of form and expression were wonderfully clear and delicate. "If there is any difference between the two faces, the reason may be, I suppose, that the Faun dwelt in woods and fields, and consorted with his like; whereas, Donatello has known cities a little, and such people as ourselves. But the resemblance is very close, and very strange." "Not so strange," whispered Miriam mischievously; "for no Faun in Arcadia was ever a greater simpleton than Donatello. He has hardly a man's share of wit, small as that may be. It is a pity there are no longer any of this congenial race of rustic creatures for our friend to consort with!" "Hush, naughty one!" returned Hilda. "You are very ungrateful, for you well know he has wit enough to worship you, at all events." "Then the greater fool he!" said Miriam, so bitterly that Hilda's quiet eyes were somewhat startled. "Donatello, my dear friend," said Kenyon, in Italian, "pray gratify us all by taking the exact attitude of this statue." The young man laughed, and threw himself into the position in which the statue has been standing for two or three thousand years. In truth, allowing for the difference of costume, and if a lion's skin could have been substituted for his modern talma, and a rustic pipe for his stick, Donatello might have figured perfectly as the marble Faun, miraculously softened into flesh and blood. "Yes; the resemblance is wonderful," observed Kenyon, after examining the marble and the man with the accuracy of a sculptor's eye. "There is one point, however, or, rather, two points, in respect to which our friend Donatello's abundant curls will not permit us to say whether the likeness is carried into minute detail." And the sculptor directed the attention of the party to the ears of the beautiful statue which they were contemplating. But we must do more than merely refer to this exquisite work of art; it must be described, however inadequate may be the effort to express its magic peculiarity in words. The Faun is the marble image of a young man, leaning his right arm on the trunk or stump of a tree; one hand hangs carelessly by his side; in the other he holds the fragment of a pipe, or some such sylvan instrument of music. His only garment--a lion's skin, with the claws upon his shoulder--falls half-way down his back, leaving the limbs and entire front of the figure nude. The form, thus displayed, is marvellously graceful, but has a fuller and more rounded outline, more flesh, and less of heroic muscle, than the old sculptors were wont to assign to their types of masculine beauty. The character of the face corresponds with the figure; it is most agreeable in outline and feature, but rounded and somewhat voluptuously developed, especially about the throat and chin; the nose is almost straight, but very slightly curves inward, thereby acquiring an indescribable charm of geniality and humor. The mouth, with its full yet delicate lips, seems so nearly to smile outright that it calls forth a responsive smile. The whole statue--unlike anything else that ever was wrought in that severe material of marble--conveys the idea of an amiable and sensual creature, easy, mirthful, apt for jollity, yet not incapable of being touched by pathos. It is impossible to gaze long at this stone image without conceiving a kindly sentiment towards it, as if its substance were warm to the touch, and imbued with actual life. It comes very close to some of our pleasantest sympathies. Perhaps it is the very lack of moral severity, of any high and heroic ingredient in the character of the Faun, that makes it so delightful an object to the human eye and to the frailty of the human heart. The being here represented is endowed with no principle of virtue, and would be incapable of comprehending such; but he would be true and honest by dint of his simplicity. We should expect from him no sacrifice or effort for an abstract cause; there is not an atom of martyr's stuff in all that softened marble; but he has a capacity for strong and warm attachment, and might act devotedly through its impulse, and even die for it at need. It is possible, too, that the Faun might be educated through the medium of his emotions, so that the coarser animal portion of his nature might eventually be thrown into the background, though never utterly expelled. The animal nature, indeed, is a most essential part of the Faun's composition; for the characteristics of the brute creation meet and combine with those of humanity in this strange yet true and natural conception of antique poetry and art. Praxiteles has subtly diffused throughout his work that mute mystery which so hopelessly perplexes us whenever we attempt to gain an intellectual or sympathetic knowledge of the lower orders of creation. The riddle is indicated, however, only by two definite signs; these are the two ears of the Faun, which are leaf-shaped, terminating in little peaks, like those of some species of animals. Though not so seen in the marble, they are probably to be considered as clothed in fine, downy fur. In the coarser representations of this class of mythological creatures, there is another token of brute kindred--a certain caudal appendage, which, if the Faun of Praxiteles must be supposed to possess it at all, is hidden by the lion's skin that forms his garment. The pointed and furry ears, therefore, are the sole indications of his wild, forest nature. Only a sculptor of the finest imagination, the most delicate taste, the sweetest feeling, and the rarest artistic skill--in a word, a sculptor and a poet too--could have first dreamed of a Faun in this guise, and then have succeeded in imprisoning the sportive and frisky thing in marble. Neither man nor animal, and yet no monster, but a being in whom both races meet on friendly ground. The idea grows coarse as we handle it, and hardens in our grasp. But, if the spectator broods long over the statue, he will be conscious of its spell; all the pleasantness of sylvan life, all the genial and happy charac teristics of creatures that dwell in woods and fields, will seem to be mingled and kneaded into one substance, along with the kindred qualities in the human soul. Trees, grass, flowers, woodland streamlets, cattle, deer, and unsophisticated man. The essence of all these was compressed long ago, and still exists, within that discolored marble surface of the Faun of Praxiteles. And, after all, the idea may have been no dream, but rather a poet's reminiscence of a period when man's affinity with nature was more strict, and his fellowship with every living thing more intimate and dear.	48,874
In just overthree years, more than 2.9 million Syrians (three-quarters are women and children) have been driven from their homeland because of the country's internal conflict. So when English author Neil Gaiman asked Marchesa's Georgina Chapman to accompany him on a two-day trip to Jordan to collaborate on a storytelling project, she didn't hesitate in saying yes. In May, along with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), they traveled to two camps—Zaatari, home to more than 80,000 refugees, and Azraq, established this spring—to record video footage of the work that UNHCR and its partners are doing, from distributing food and water to providing health care and schooling. "It can be hard to identify with those affected by humanitarian injustices overseas—but they are just like us," Chapman says. "They feel love, loss, trauma, tragedy, and hope exactly the same way we do." A particularly affecting moment was seeing children at a play center. "Two weeks prior, they were drawing images of bloodshed and weapons," she recalls. "Now they are drawing hearts and flowers. The resilience of the human spirit filled me with optimism." Chapman plans a return trip to Jordan to document more stories from the camps: "They speak to the very core of who we are as humans. It's about our sense of family, home, safety, and identity." Georgina recounts her trip to the Syrian refugee camps in Jordon. DAY 1 – 13 MAY 2014 I'm here in Jordan with the UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, writer Neil Gaiman, and my husband Harvey Weinstein. Our purpose is to raise awareness for the Syrian refugees. The more-than-three-year Syria Crisis has driven millions of women, children and families from their homes to escape violence, death and destruction. In Jordan alone, nearly 1 in every 10 people is a Syrian refugee. As such, I don't know what to expect on my first day here. I don't have any preconceived ideas coming into this mission because it's so foreign to anything I've ever experienced, or imagined experiencing. Just after dawn we headed to Zaatari refugee camp. What struck me most is how normal life seems—how incredible and self-sufficient everyone is. They've built this sort of city in the middle of the desert, and it's full of vibrant people who are setting up enterprises like baklava stalls, beauty salons, grocers, clothes shops, and little restaurants. There's an amazing spirit, which I find so enlightening. But at the same time, amidst all the bustle, I remembered the undercurrent of terrible sadness that people are working through. Every family we encountered has a heartbreaking story of horror. I heard stories of parents digging their children out of rubble, of fathers taking bullets in their backs while trying to save their families, and of those searching for their disappeared loved ones. The lives of these people have been so damaged, and these children have been so traumatized. This reality struck me when Neil and I visited a classroom of young adults being taught English. One of the men in the classroom suddenly started crying while speaking about his brother, who had been lost trying to enter Jordan. There was also a university student who had been working to get his doctorate in archaeology before the crisis began. This felt so tangible to me—that it could have been me at that age, trying to get my degree with a bright future full of possibilities lying ahead. In this moment I realized that while these young men and women are now in a safe haven, they are living in a terrible state of limbo; they can't settle yet they can't leave, they can't work and they can't really continue their studies. Their future is utterly uncertain, and this must make it so difficult to be hopeful. Yet despite that, there is this amazing sense of resilience in the camp because there is such strength in the people. A refugee boy in front of a transitional shelter in Azraq. The units were specifically designed to address housing concerns in Zaatari. Chapman and Neil Gaiman (far right) help a family collect water. A view of the Zaatari camp, which houses more than 80,000 refugees. Marchesa's Georgina Chapman (right) speaks with a Jordanian UNHCR staff member. DAY 2 – 14 MAY 2014 Today was very different. When Neil, Harvey, and I first turned up at Azraq camp, we were a bit shocked at the difference from yesterday's camp. Azraq only opened very recently and compared to the bustling life and activity of Zaatari it felt eerily quiet, and the barren and rocky desert landscape felt less hospitable. Thankfully, that quickly changed once we started meeting the refugees who now live here, all very recent arrivals. We met one family of around 30 brothers, cousins, wives and children who had literally crossed the border into Jordan hours before. They kindly agreed to share their stories with us. The men recounted not just their journey to the camp, but also talked of their experiences back in Syria. They had been displaced inside Syria for nearly three years, moving from village to village to avoid the fighting, and their stories were raw and shocking. They talked about having no option but to eat dogs, cats and leaves to survive. They talked about walking through body parts while crossing the border, and about nearby families who were shot and killed on the road out. It was very surreal and yet very real at the same time. I cannot imagine what they are thinking or what they are feeling. I think one of the wives felt angry that her family is in this situation. It was a very heavy-hearted morning. In the afternoon, the mood shifted. We went to a children's play center in the camp and the children were incredible. We learned that just two weeks prior, they were drawing images of bloodshed and weapons. But now, in this safe space, they are drawing hearts and flowers and are laughing. It was unbelievable to see first hand the resilience of the human spirit. It filled me with such a sense of optimism, but also of real concern for the children of Syria, this potential lost generation who has witnessed such horrors and whose lives, education, family units, and childhood memories have been so broken. And yet, we can all do something to help safeguard their chance of a promising future. This is such a compelling part of UNHCR's work. Before we left Azraq, we met a man whose story impacted me greatly. He recounted his life in Syria, where his village had been torn apart by the oppressors. The violence he spoke of was truly unfathomable: he had witnessed grotesque forms of torture and barbaric killings. His experiences with those in uniform were those of horror and fear. As he continued his story, he spoke of crossing the border from Syria into Jordan. He mentioned that when he saw the Jordanian army, his immediate instinct was one of terror. But as he spoke of the army taking his bags, and giving him food, water, and shelter, he broke down into tears of gratitude and relief. What struck me most in that moment is that the kindness of the human spirit brought him to tears, not the atrocities he had experienced in Syria. This was one of the most moving parts of this trip so far. Despite the darkness of so many of the stories we have heard and the unbelievable loss and pain, Neil, Harvey, and I are inspired by the strength and courage of the human spirit and the generosity of heart that somehow still exists inside the refugee families. Despite having next to nothing, they are doing all that they can to provide for themselves so they are not a burden. It is impossible for them to restart their lives totally on their own and they need the support of UNHCR. But the UNHCR can't do it alone either, as it is drastically underfunded. It desperately needs our support to continue providing lifesaving care and assistance to Syrian refugees. Syrian refugee Um Murad, the sole breadwinner in her family, runs a successful beauty salon and wedding dress rental business in Zaatari. Food for thought: Bread is distributed daily to each refugee family. For more information/how you can help: www.unhcr.org/neilandgeorgina Photos via Getty Images/UNHCR/Kalpesh Lathigra/Jordi Matas	194,692
Support for P & RD sector in Assam NIC, Assam State Centre has been identified as the technical consultant for e-Governance solution and Computerization of the Department of Panchayat and Rural Development. Technical support for following national level soft wares are being provided: NREGASoft: Data entry for NREGASoft is being done in all the districts of Assam with the technical support of NIC. NIC has conducted a number of batches of training and workshop on the software for all the 27 districts at the state capital and later on these participants conducted the trainings in their respective districts. PlanPLUS: State level and district level Trainings on PLANPLUS software for creating the Annual and Perspective Plans have been conducted for the 11 BRGF districts of Assam. The State co-ordinator has provided training support for other NE states like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Monitoring software for the Department: All technical support for implementation of other monitoring software for the schemes like Rural Housing, IWDP, SGSY, DRDA Admin, etc. is being provided to the Department. Contact DetailsNational Informatics Centre Block-F, Assam Sachivalaya Old Secretariat Complex P.O. Assam Sachivalaya	153,606
Some women say it feels like they’re sitting on something. Others develop incontinence. There also are women who can literally see the problem but aren’t sure exactly what to do about it. It’s called pelvic organ prolapse, a medical condition that happens when the muscles in a woman’s “pelvic floor” weaken due to age or trauma, causing organs such as the bladder, uterus and small bowel to drop into the vagina. Doctors say women are often too embarrassed or uncertain about their symptoms to seek medical help. But they should. It’s much more common than most women think, a Twin Cities gynecologist said. “In any given day I probably see one or two patients who could benefit from pelvic floor therapy or some procedure,” said Dr. Kellie Stecher, an OB/GYN physician at Clinic Sofia in Edina and Maple Grove. One particular procedure has come under fire. In 2010 alone, the FDA said U.S. doctors performed at least 100,000 surgeries using something called vaginal mesh inserts to correct the problem. Recently, the parent company of a Minnetonka-based manufacturer of the vaginal mesh used in such operations agreed to pay $830 million to settle thousands of lawsuits from patients who said the mesh caused pain and other issues. Doctors say there are several alternatives to dealing with this pervasive problem. We asked Stecher and another local gynecologist with expertise in diagnosing and treating pelvic organ prolapse for a primer on how best to treat it. A group of muscles known as the “pelvic floor” forms a hammock across a woman’s pelvic opening — holding in place the bladder, uterus, urethra, vagina, small and large bowel and rectum. Prolapse means sagging or a descent. “Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the support of the vagina and/or uterus are lost,” said Dr. Elizabeth Frankman, a urogynecologist at Park Nicollet Women’s Center in St. Louis Park. “Most women become aware of prolapse when tissue comes to or beyond the opening of the vagina.” The biggest risk factors for prolapse are pregnancy, vaginal births (and the number of births), delivery of large babies, a woman’s age and menopause, Frankman said. Genetics also play a role. “It’s probably a combination of things, not any one thing,” she said. Stecher added: “Over time, or because of different traumas, you can have decreasing strength of those muscles.” Here’s what you need to know about the condition: Q How common is pelvic organ prolapse? A WebMD report estimates about a third of women are affected by prolapse or similar conditions over their lifetime. Stecher said that among patients older than 50, at least half have some sort of prolapse. Just how many women are affected is difficult to say, Frankman said. “What we do know is about 11 percent of women will undergo surgery for either prolapse or urinary incontinence during their lifetime,” she said. “That’s only the women who have surgery. The number of women out there with this condition is larger than that.” Q What are the risks with vaginal mesh surgery? A In some cases the mesh can erode, degrade or become exposed, causing pelvic pain and pain during sexual intercourse. Frankman said some women don’t experience any problems at all. Though not life-threatening, prolapse can greatly hamper a woman’s quality of life. But in some cases, complications from surgery to repair the problem have made it worse. Q What other treatment options are there? A “The tide has certainly changed,” Frankman said, since the FDA warned in 2011 that serious problems resulting from vaginal mesh surgeries were not rare. “I no longer use transvaginal mesh myself.” Other surgical options include using the patient’s own tissue from another part of the body — instead of mesh — to repair the affected area. Another option: using mesh but entering through the abdomen instead of through the vagina. Frankman referred to the abdomiwnal procedure as “the gold standard.” A surgeon can either use “laparoscopic” surgery, or small incisions on the abdomen, or else make a larger abdominal cut to insert the mesh support. For milder cases, pelvic floor therapy offers women exercises designed to strengthen their pelvic muscles. Another alternative to surgery is a device known as a “pessary.” The little, plastic circle is inserted into the vagina to help hold the pelvic organs in place, Stecher said. “If fitted properly, it can be a great adjunct to keeping the structure where it needs to be,” she said. Q Why are so many women in the dark about this issue? A “It’s something that is very embarrassing to a lot of women,” Frankman said. “Often, women feel like these things are just part of what happens when you have a baby.” She added that they may not have even heard of the issue before. She’s seen many patients who did not know that their organs could drop. But once they learn about the condition, Frankman said, they start talking about it with their friends and realize that they’re not alone.	53,947
Three in a bed: it's a kinky cultural affair. I had better identify the partners. Politics and morals, as concepts, need no introduction, although their relationship is ambiguous. But fiction has defining responsibilities that I shall question, so I shall begin right away with the basic, dictionary definition of what fiction is supposed to be. Fiction, says the Oxford English Dictionary, is "the action of feigning or inventing imaginary existences, events, states of things." Fiction, collectively, is prose novels and stories; and so poetry, according to the OED, is not fiction. The more I ponder this, the more it amazes me; the more I challenge it. Does the poet not invent imaginary existences, events, states of things? If I should ask you to give examples of the powers of the poet's invention of imaginary existences and events, of the poet's matchless evocation of "states of things," all drawn, just as the prose writer's are, from life—from the fact of life—as the genie is smoked from the bottle, you could fill an evening with quotations. If fiction is the suprareal spirit of the imagination, then poetry is the ultimate fiction. In speaking of fiction, then, I should be understood to be including poetry. What are morals doing in bed with fiction? Morals have bedded with storytelling ever since the magic of the imaginative capacity developed in the human brain—and to account for this faculty, in my ignorance of a scientific explanation of changes in the cerebrum, or whatever, I believe it was the inkling development of the notion that the truth about being alive might lie here, in the transforming imagination; that the harsh lessons of daily life, of coexistence of human with human, and with animals and nature, could be made sense of in the ordering properties of the transforming imagination working upon the "states of things." With this faculty fully developed, great art in fiction can evolve in imaginative revelation to fit the crises also of an age after its own, undreamt of when it was written. Thus, Moby Dick can now be seen as an allegory of environmental tragedy. "The whale is the agent of cosmic retribution," Harry Levin has written: We have sought to destroy the splendid creature that is nature, believing we could survive only by "winning" a battle against nature; and now we see our death in the death of nature, brought about by ourselves. But the first product of the faculty of the imagination was, of course, religion. And from the gods (what a supreme feat of the imagination they were!), establishing a divine order out of the unseen, came the secular, down-to-soil-and-toil order of morals, so that humans could somehow live together, and in balance with other creatures. Morals are the husband/wife of fiction. And politics? Politics somehow followed morals in, picking the lock and immobilizing the alarm system. At first it was in the dark, perhaps, and fiction thought that the embrace of politics was the embrace of morals, didn't know the difference. And this is understandable. Morals and politics have a family connection. The ancestry of politics is morality—way back, and generally accepted as forgotten. The resemblance certainly has faded. In the light of morning, however, if fiction accepts the third presence between the sheets, it is soon in full cognizance of who and what politics is. Let me carry my allegory just one generation further: From this kinky situation came two offspring, Conformity and Commitment. And you will know who fathered whom. Until just two years ago I would have said that the pressures to write fiction that would conform to a specific morality, secular or religious, long had been, and still could be, safely ignored by writers. The Vatican still has its list of proscribed works, but in most countries one assumed that there was freedom of expression so far as religion was concerned. (There is an exception in certain American schools.) Blasphemy? A quaint taboo, outdated, like the dashes that used to appear between the first and last letters of four-letter words. Where censorship was rigidly practiced, in Eastern Europe, for example, and in the Soviet Union, the censors were concerned with what was considered politically subversive in literature, not with what might offend or subvert religious sensibilities. This was true even in my own country, South Africa, where the Dutch Reformed Church, with a particular form of Calvinistic prudery, had twisted religion to the service of racism and identified the church, including its sexual morality based on the supposed "purity" of one race, with the security of the state. A decade ago an actor in South Africa could not get away with exclaiming "My God!" on the stage, and Jesus Christ Superstar was banned; but by 1989 savage satire of the church and its morality was ignored. As for sexual permissiveness, full frontal nudity in films was not snipped by the censor's scissors. But in holding this illusion about freedom of expression in the orbit of religious and sexual morality, I was falling into something like the ignorance that Islam finds reprehensible in the Judeo-Christian-Atheist world (more strange bedfellows …), the ignorance of the absolute conformity to religious taboos that is sacred to Islam. I should have known that that particular tradition of censorship was not evolving into tolerance, least of all into tolerance of the rights of non-Muslims, but was instead becoming an international gale force of growing religious fanaticism. Then came the holy war against The Satanic Verses, in which the enemy was a single fiction, a single writer, and the whole might and money of the Islamic world was deployed in the fatwa that sentenced Salman Rushdie to death. It was then that I, like other writers, was stunned to know that situations in which religious persecution is turned on its head, and religion persecutes freedom (not only freedom of expression but a writer's freedom of movement and finally a writer's right to life itself) are back with us. And now, in a new decade of freedoms rising, we see that while a writer becomes president in one country, another writer is hounded to death throughout the world. We see how a religion has the power to terrorize through its followers around the world. Political refugees from repressive secular regimes can seek asylum elsewhere, but Rushdie has nowhere to go. Islam's edict of death takes terrorist jurisdiction everywhere, in contempt of the laws of any country. Pre-Freudian hypocrisy, puritan prudery, may be forgotten. But the horror of what has happened to Rushdie is a hand fallen heavily on the shoulder of fictions pressures to write in conformity with a specific morality still can arrive, and pursue a writer with incredible vindictiveness, even if this is unlikely to happen to most writers. Am I positing, then, that morals should be divorced from fiction? That fiction is free of any moral obligation? No. Fiction has a morality. Fiction's morality lies in taking the freedom to explore and to examine morals, including moral systems such as religions, with unafraid honesty. This has not been an easy relationship, whether in the ghastly extreme of Rushdie's experience or, say, in Flaubert's. Commenting on the indecency case against Madame Bovary after he won it in 1857, Flaubert wrote of the establishment of spurious literary values and the devaluation of real literary values that such a trial implies for fiction: My book is going to sell unusually well….But I am infuriated when I think of the trial; it has deflected attention from the novel's artistic success…to such a point that all this row disquiets me profoundly….I long to… publish nothing; never to be talked of again. The relationship of fiction to politics has not had the kind of husbandly or fatherly authoritarian sanction that fiction's relationship to morals, with their religious origins, lingeringly has. No literary critic I know suggests that moralizing—as opposed to "immorality"—has no place in fiction, whereas many works of fiction are declared "spoiled" by the writer's recognition of politics as a great motivation of character, as great a motivation as sex or religion. Of course, this lack of sanction is characteristic of an affair, a wild affair in which great tensions arise, embraces and repulsions succeed one another, distress and celebration are confused, loyalty and betrayal change place, accusations fly. And whether the fiction writer gets involved with politics through his or her convictions as a citizen, pushing from within against the necessary detachment of the writer, or through the pressure of seduction from without, the same problems in the relationship must be dealt with, in the fiction as well as in the life. For when have writers not lived in times of political conflict? Whose Golden Age, whose Belle Epoque, whose Roaring Twenties were those so-named lovely times? The time of slave and peasant misery, while sculptors sought perfect proportions of the human torso? The time of revolutionaries in Czar Alexander's prisons, while Grand Dukes built mansions in Nice? The time of the hungry and the unemployed, offered the salvation of fascism while playboys and girls danced balancing glasses of pink champagne? When, explicitly or implicitly, could writers evade politics? Even those writers who have seen fiction as the pure exploration of language, as the equivalent of music in the exploration of sound, even the babbling of Dada and the page-shuffling attempts of Burroughs, have all been a revolt against the politically imposed spirit of their respective times—literary movements that were an act (however far-out an act) of acknowledgment of a relationship between politics and fiction. It seems that there is no getting away from the relationship. We live, on the one hand, in what Seamus Heaney calls a world where the undirected play of the imagination is regarded at best as luxury or licentiousness, at worst as heresy or treason. In ideal republics…it is a common expectation that the writer will sign over his or her venturesome and potentially disruptive activity into the keeping of official doctrine, traditional system, a party line, whatever. When he entered the order of the Jesuits, Gerard Manley Hopkins felt obliged to abandon poetry "as not having to do with my vocation," a submission of the imagination to religious orthodoxy exactly comparable to the one that is demanded of writers, in many instances in our epoch, by political orthodoxies. We are shocked by such clear cases of creativity outlawed. But things are not always so drastically simple. Not every writer of fiction who enters into a relationship with politics trades imagination for the hair shirt of the party hack. There is also the case of the writer whose imaginative powers are genuinely roused by, and involved with, the spirit of politics as she or he personally experiences it. This may be virtually inescapable in times and in places of socially seismic upheaval. Society shakes, the walls of entities fall. The writer has known the evil, the indifference, or the cupidity of the old order, and the spirit of creativity naturally pushes toward new growth. The writer is moved to fashion an expression of a new order, accepted on trust as an advance in human freedom that therefore will be the release of a greater creativity. "Russia became a garden of nightingales. Poets sprang up as never before. People barely had the strength to live but they were all singing": so wrote Andrey Bely in the early days of the Russian Revolution. And one of Pasternak's latest biographers, Peter Levi, notes that Pasternak—popularly known to the West, on the evidence of his disillusioned Dr. Zhivago, as the anti-Communist writer—contributed manifestos in his younger days to the "infighting of the day." In a poem to Stalin he sang: We want the glorious. We want the good. We want to see things free from fear. Unlike some fancy fop, the spendthrift of his bright, brief span, we yearn for labor shared by everyone, for the common discipline of law. This yearning is addressed by writers in different ways, as fiction seeks a proper relation with politics. In the Soviet Union of Pasternak's day, some fell into what the Italian writer Claudio Magris calls, in a different context, and with devastating cynicism, "a sincere but perverted passion for freedom, which led…into mechanical servitude, as is the way with sin." The noble passion deteriorated into the tragically shabby, as the Writers' Union in the 1930s turned on itself to beat out all but mediocrities mouthing platitudes, driving Mayakovsky to suicide and turning down Pasternak's plea to be granted somewhere other than a freezing partitioned slice of a room in which to write and to live. Yet Pasternak had not abandoned belief—he never did—in the original noble purpose of revolution. When Trotsky asked why he had begun to abstain from social themes, Pasternak wrote to a friend, "I told him My Sister, Life [his then recent book] was revolutionary in the best sense of the word. That the phase of the revolution closest to the heart … the morning of the revolution, and its outburst [is] when it returns man to the nature of man and looks at the state with the eyes of natural right." But for him the writing of this period had become, by the edicts of the State and the Writers' Union, "a train derailed and lying at the bottom of an embankment." In this choice of an image there is a kind of desperate subconscious assertion of the creativity so threatened in himself and in his fellow writers, since trains, perhaps symbolic of the pace at which the meaning of life passes, recur so often in Pasternak's work. Yeats's "terrible beauty" of the historic moments when people seek a new order to "return man to the nature of man," a state of "natural right," does not always make politics the murderer of fiction. The Brechts and the Nerudas survive, keeping that vision. But the relation, like all vital ones, always implies a danger. The first dismaying discovery for the writer is again best expressed by Magris's cynicism: that "the lie is quite as real as the truth, it works upon the world, transforms it." The fiction writer, however, in pursuit of truth beyond the guise of reasoning, has always believed that truth, however elusive, is the only reality. But we have seen the lie transforming. We have had Goebbels. And we have had his international descendants, practicing precisely such a transformation on the people of a number of countries, including the white people of my own country, who accepted the lie that apartheid was both divinely decreed and secularly just, and created a society on it. To be aware that the lie can transform the real world places an enormous responsibility on art: it must counter this lie with its own transformations. The knowledge gained by the writer's searching and intuition instinctively contradicts the lie: We page through each other's faces we read each looking eye … It has taken lives to be able to do so writes the South African poet Mongane Wally Serote. We may refuse to write according to any orthodoxy, we may refuse to toe any party line, even that drawn by the cause we know to be just, and our own; but we cannot refuse the responsibility of what we know. What we know beyond surface reality has to become (again in Serote's words) what "we want the world to know." We must in this, our inescapable relation with politics, "page for wisdom through the stubborn night." At its crudest and most easily identifiable, the stubborn night is politically inspired censorship, and in some countries (read the pages of the Index on Censorship) it is imprisonment and torture. But even in countries where no writer is locked up or beaten for his fiction, and censorship is minimal and open to challenge by the law, fiction may be threatened by the power of the lie. Harold Pinter has spoken recently of a disease at the very center of language, so that language becomes a permanent masquerade, a tapestry of lies. The ruthless and cynical mutilation and degradation of human beings, both in spirit and body...these actions are justified by rhetorical gambits, sterile terminology and concepts of power which stink. Are we ever going to look at the language we use, I wonder? Is it within our capabilities to do so? … Does reality essentially remain outside language, separate, obdurate, alien, not susceptible to description? Is an accurate and vital correspondence between what is and our perception of it impossible? Or is it that we are obliged to use language only in order to obscure and distort reality—to distort what is—to distort what happens—because we fear it? I believe it's because of the way we use language that we have got ourselves into this terrible trap, where words like freedom, democracy, and Christian values are still used to justify barbaric and shameful policies and acts. The writer has no reason to be if reality remains, for him or for her, outside language. The writer must seek an accurate and vital correspondence between what is and his or her perception of what is, finding the real meaning of words to express "the states of things," shedding the ready-made concepts smuggled into language by politics. All very fine in theory, yes. But how would you refer in a novel to the term "Final Solution," coined by the Nazis? Or to the term "Bantustans," coined by the South African government in the 1960s to cover up the dispossession of blacks of their citizenship rights and land? Or, for that matter, to the term "constructive engagement," coined by the government of the United States in the 1980s for its policy toward apartheid? How would you refer to all these counterfeits of reality without a paragraph of explanation (which has no place in a novel) of what they actually were? The false currency of meaning jingles conveniently in our vocabularies; but it is no small change. It becomes accepted value, and for this writers bear responsibility. Every fiction writer, therefore, must struggle to expose it, by discarding it in favor of the reality of the "states of things." (Journalism, which is supposed to be "fact" as opposed to "fiction," generally will not accomplish this.) Here, on the primal level of language itself, by which we became the first self-questioning animals, the ones able to assess our own behavior, is where fiction finds its footing in relation to politics. My own country, South Africa, provides what can be cited as the paradigm of the problems of the full development of the relationship. Perhaps echoes of the present debate over what postapartheid fiction will be, ought to be, have reached you. Of course, the very term "postapartheid fiction" reveals an acceptance that there has been, that there is, such an orthodoxy as "apartheid fiction," or more accurately, "anti-apartheid fiction." In the long struggle against apartheid, it has been recognized that an oppressed people needs the confidence of cultural backing. Literature, including fiction, became what is known as "a weapon of struggle." There is now a debate taking place among the writers. There are those who, perceiving that the cost was the constraint of the writer's imaginative powers within what was seen narrowly as relevant to the political struggle, think that the time has come for writers to release themselves, if they are to be imaginatively equal to the fullness of human life that is predicated for the future. (The revolutionary and writer Albie Sachs, with the undeniable authority of a man who lost an arm and the sight of one eye in the struggle, has gone so far as to call, if half-seriously, for a five-year ban on the slogan "culture is a weapon of struggle.") And there are others who believe that literature must still be perceived as a weapon in the hands, must still exist under the direction of the liberation movement come to power in a future democracy. But there are some writers who have been—I adapt Heaney's phrase to my own context—"guerrillas of the imagination": In their fiction they serve the struggle for freedom by refusing any imposed orthodoxy of subject and treatment, but they also further the struggle by attempting to take unfettered creative grasp of the complex "states of things" in which, all through people's lives, directly and indirectly, in dark places and light, that struggle has taken place. As a citizen, as a South African actively opposed to racism all my life, as a supporter and now a member of the African National Congress, in my conduct and my actions, I have myself submitted voluntarily and with self-respect to the discipline of the liberation movement. For my fiction, however, I have claimed and practiced my integrity to the free transformation of reality, in whatever forms and modes of expression I need. There, my commitment has been to make sense of life as I know it and observe it and experience it. In my few ventures into non-fiction, in my few political essays, my partisanship has no doubt shown my bias, and perhaps a selectivity of facts. But then, nothing I write in such "factual" pieces will be as true as my fiction. So if my fiction and that of other writers has legitimately served the politics in which I believe, it has been because the imaginative transformations of fiction, in the words of the Swedish writer Per Wästberg, "help people understand their own natures and know they are not powerless." "Every work of art is liberating," he asserts, speaking for all who write. That should be the understanding on which fiction enters into a relationship with politics, however passionate the involvement may be. The transformation of the imagination must never "belong" to any establishment, however just, however fought for, however longed for. Pasternak's words should be our credo: When seats are assigned to passion and vision On the day of the great assembly Do not reserve a poet's position: It is dangerous, if not empty.	133,541
Rob Carli sits in front of a huge TV screen in his home-office. He is surrounded by instruments—saxophones, guitars, drums, flutes and a clarinet. Sheet music and vinyl LPs are scattered all over his office, next to computers and keyboards. On the TV screen, a man is perched high on an overhead billboard, painting graffiti on it. It’s a scene from a new Canadian police drama called Cracked. Rob watches the man for awhile, and then backs up the scene and plays it again. There’s something strange about the scene. It seems a little cold, a little unreal. That’s because the scene is missing the music. Rob is the one who will add the music, and with it the emotion, to the scene. He’s a music composer for television shows and films. Carli has won five Gemini Awards (which celebrate excellence in Canadian television) and he’s been nominated for six more. He’s in a bit of a rush right now because, he says, “I’ve got six minutes of music to write before dinnertime.” It takes about a week of composing and digitizing to add music to a one-hour TV episode. One of the best-known shows Carli writes for is Murdoch Mysteries, a detective drama set in the 1890s. The show’s producers typically send Carli a video file that has dialogue but no music with it. He usually receives notes telling him what kind of emotion the producers want him to bring out in the scene. Then, Carli either creates new music from scratch or uses something he has already recorded. He goes scene by scene, adding the music until the show feels the way it’s supposed to. Carli always thought he’d grow up to become an engineer. But one day when he was in university, a friend asked him to write some music for a film he was making. Carli played piano and saxophone and he agreed to give it a try. The film was a success and Carli hasn’t looked back. “It’s like that old adage,” he says. “Do what you love and everything else will follow.” Compare scenes with and without music Music plays a vital role in adding emotion to a scene. Below are two clips (1:22) from Murdoch Mysteries. The first has dialogue but no music and only temporary sound effects, and the second one includes music written by Rob Carli. Watch the dramatic difference between the two scenes. Scenes courtesy of Shaftesbury Films. Note: The clips below are kid-friendly. However, Cracked and Murdoch Mysteries are TV series meant for adults; they may not be suitable for children. By Kathleen Tilly After comparing clips – with and without music – which do you think is better? What kinds of emotions did Rob Carli have to create with his music? How does the music reflect those emotions? Reading Prompt: Extending Understanding When Carli receives a video, he has to create music to set the mood and tone of the clip. What instruments or sound effects could you use for the following scenes? 1. Teenagers exploring a haunted house 2. Kids winning a baseball game 3. A family driving a very long time in the car 4. A little boy learning to ride his bike 5. A snowball fight Extend understanding of texts by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge and experience, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them (OME, Reading: 1.6). Extend understanding of texts by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience, and insights, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them (OME, Reading: 1.6). Extend understanding of texts, including increasingly complex or difficult texts, by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience, and insights, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them (OME, Reading: 1.6). Grammar Feature: Adage A famous saying (also called an adage) that Rob Carli refers to is: “Do what you love and everything else will follow.” What do you think this saying means? How does this saying apply to Rob Carli’s life? Can you connect this saying to your own life?	69,274
\|Phone: (714) 628-5451 Fax: (714) 628-4056 Elementary Course of Study The Orange Unified School District has adopted the California State Content Standards for each of the curricular areas of study. Please click on the link below for information from the California Department of Education. \|Elementary Instructional Minutes\| You need to have Adobe Reader installed to view PDF files. Please click on the above image to download this free software.	157,364
\|Scientology Video Channel\|\| WHAT ARE FIELD MINISTRIES AND SCIENTOLOGY RELIGIOUS GROUPS? At the first level of the Scientology ecclesiastical hierarchy are the individual ministers of Scientology who do not serve on the staff of a Church or mission. These field ministers organize groups to provide introductory religious services to their families, friends and members of their communities. They provide religious services and minister to the spiritual needs of individuals. They are also involved in the myriad activities one traditionally associates with a community ministry such as marriage counseling and helping others overcome drug abuse and other problems. Field auditors form Auditors Associations or Dianetics Counseling Groups as a means of expanding their activities to include organized lectures, seminars and other dissemination activities.	182,828
Wilson's Storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) - Wiki From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Photo] Wilson's Storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus, Location: Gulf Stream off of Hatteras, North Carolina, United States. Date created 2007-06-23. Author Patrick Coin (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Cotinis). The Wilson's Storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus also known as Wilson's Petrel is a small seabird of the storm-petrel family Hydrobatidae. It is one of the most abundant bird species in the world. The Wilson's Storm-petrel breeds on the Antarctic coastlines and nearby islands such as the South Shetland Islands. It nests in colonies close to the sea in rock crevices or small burrows in soft earth and lays a single white egg. This storm-petrel is strictly nocturnal at the breeding sites to avoid predation by gulls and skuas, and will even avoid coming to land on clear moonlit nights. Like most petrels, its walking ability is limited to a short shuffle to the burrow. The Wilson's Storm-petrel spends the rest of the year at sea, and moves into the northern oceans in the southern hemisphere's winter. It is much more common in the north Atlantic than the Pacific. It is strictly pelagic outside the breeding season, and this, together with its remote breeding sites, makes Wilson's Petrel a difficult bird to see from land. Only in severe storms might this species be pushed into headlands. The Wilson's Storm-petrel is common off eastern North America in the northern summer and the seasonal abundance of this bird in suitable European waters has been revealed through pelagic boat trips, most notably in the area of the Isles of Scilly, Great Britain. The Wilson's Storm-petrel is a small bird, 16-18.5 cm in length with a 38-42 cm wingspan. It is slightly larger than the European Storm-petrel. It is essentially dark brown in all plumages, except for white rump. It differs from the that species by its pale bar on the upper wing, plain underwings and longer legs. It has a more direct gliding flight than Storm Petrel, but shares the habit of pattering on the water surface as it picks planktonic food items from the ocean surface, though with more upraised wings. Like European Storm-petrel, it is highly gregarious, and will also follow ships. A soft peeping noise is often heard while the birds are feeding. The name commemorates the Scottish-American ornithologist Alexander Wilson. Widespread throughout its large range, the Wilson's Storm-petrel is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Wilson's Storm-petrel is the mascot of Oglethorpe University. \|The text in this page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article shown in above URL. It is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.\|	105,228
Being among the most typical kinds of composing could be the essay. That is a really very considerable and crucial portion of analytical article that will often be used in your mind. We ought to keep the precision and detachment of the matter in your article. If you should be ready tonot find a specific person to deal with the composition to next be sure to ensure that it remains as elegant as feasible. ONE means of looking at writing will be to think of your personal composing as an person. By the end of your own brainstorming, look Paper help away what’s appropriate and proper for your private dissertation from what’s not. Then we inquire further most to consider a sample article I’ve published utilizing a account they’ve not study or defintely won’t be evaluating in writing. However do make sure that the usage of irony doesn’t seem out -of- spot in comparison with the remaining of the publishing. It is undoubtedly not that hard to build your dialog or composition end-on a powerful notice. These important thing will be to actually choose the setting of your personal logical article. As a way to become productive in senior high school activities today, learners should agree to a sport and play on club groups all-year.	198,747
When you think of ancient history, you probably imagine people whose dental and overall health is less than stellar. But while orthodontia and dentistry may seem like relatively new technology, it’s actually older than many of us might think. After all, why shouldn’t the good people of 300 BC want straighter teeth too? Here’s a quick overview of the history of orthodontics and how dental health became the industry it is today. From BC to Gen Z Believe it or not, the history of orthodontics begins as far back as 400 BC. In ancient Greece and Rome, great thinkers like Aristotle and Hippocrates mused on how to straighten teeth. These early ideas led to what would become the first types of braces, and would be discovered by archaeologists in Etruscan and Roman tombs centuries later. When it comes to what we consider modern dentistry, many of the methods we use today can be credited to French dentist Pierre Fauchard. Considered the father of modern dentistry, Fauchard wrote about techniques and created devices to straighten teeth in the 18th century. However, it wasn’t until the 1800s that orthodontia earned a place as a separate dental specialty. By the 1900s, there was an American Association of Orthodontists and the first classification system for malocclusions. Not your dad’s dentistry The history of orthodontics is long and rich, with many more notable events and innovations than we can mention here. For example, many technological developments took place between the 1900s and today, and the field of orthodontics has certainly benefited from those innovations. From metal braces to clear aligners, there are a variety of methods for straightening teeth in the modern world of orthodontics. Interested in more dental history? Check out our piece on when Invisalign was invented to learn more about the background of one of orthodontics’ most popular innovations.	19,623
The Best Funny Puns For Kids And Adults Puns for kids are a type of wordplay joke that play on the fact that words can have more than one meaning. They're one of the oldest forms of jokes and also one of the funniest. They're also great for educating kids and expanding their vocabulary and thinking ability (clean puns, of course!). Below is a huge selection of the best clean funny puns for kids and adults alike. You can also find more grown-up punny jokes here. Enjoy these funny puns for kids.. What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator. This boy said he was going to hit me with the neck of a guitar. I said, "Is that a fret?" Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now. How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh? Ten tickles. Whiteboards are remarkable. My leaf blower doesn't work. It sucks. Would a cardboard belt be a waist of paper? Never give your uncle an anteater. I’m very good friends with 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know why. I woke up this morning and forgot which side the sun rises from. Then it dawned on me. Learning how to collect trash wasn't that hard, I just picked it up as I went along. A golf ball is a golf ball no matter how you putt it. If you need help building an ark, I Noah guy. My dog can do magic tricks. It's a labracadabrador. Never marry a tennis player. Love means nothing to them. I tried to catch some fog. I mist. I knew a couple who met in a revolving door. I think they're still going round together. Did you know taller people sleep longer in bed? I heard a funny joke about a boomerang earlier. I'm sure it'll come back to me eventually. I asked the lion in my wardrobe what he was doing there, he said it was "Narnia Business". Pencils could be made with erasers at both ends, but what would be the point? I was struggling to figure out how lightning works then it struck me. Sue broke her finger today, but on the other hand she was completely fine. I've just been on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. I'll tell you what, never again. I often say to myself, "I can't believe that cloning machine worked!" Some people say I'm addicted to somersaults but that's just how I roll. What do you call Dracula with hayfever? The pollen Count. Never lie to an x-ray technician. They can see right through you. My friend made a joke about a TV controller. It wasn't remotely funny. I have a speed bump phobia but I'm slowly getting over it. I'm working on a device that will read minds. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I saw an advert that read: "Television for sale, $1, volume stuck on full" I thought to myself, I can't turn that down. I thought about becoming a witch, so I tried it for a spell. Those new corduroy pillows are making headlines. When it comes to cosmetic surgery, a lot of people turn their noses up. I went to a restaurant last night and had the Wookie steak. It was a little Chewy. Broken puppets for sale. No strings attached. Don't drink with ghosts, they can't handle their boos. I asked my mom to make me a pair of pants. She was happy to. Or at least sew it seams. If Satan ever lost his hair, there would be hell toupee. I applied for a job at the local restaurant. I'm still waiting. I was going to look for my missing watch, but I could never find the time. I've been learning braille. I'm sure I'll master it once I get a feel for it. If a judge loves the sound of his own voice, expect a long sentence. I just walked past a shop that was giving out dead batteries free of charge. When it came to getting even with my local bus company, I pulled out all the stops. The best way to communicate with fish is to drop them a line. I used to be addicted to soap, but I'm clean now. If you don't pay your exorcist, will you get repossessed? It was an emotional wedding. Even the cake was in tiers. Once you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall. The person who invented the door knock won the No-bell prize. Jokes about German sausage are the wurst. Singing in the shower is all fun and games until you get shampoo in your mouth. Then it becomes a soap opera. The other day someone left a piece of plasticine in my house. I didn’t know what to make of it. The other day a clown held the door open for me. I thought it was a nice jester. I'd tell you my construction joke but I'm still working on it. There was a recent study that tried to pinpoint the effect that alcohol had on walking. The result was staggering. My Grandma is having trouble with her new stair lift. It's driving her up the wall. To the guy who invented Zero: Thanks for nothing! Have you ever tried to eat a clock? It's very time consuming. What jumps from cake to cake and smells of almonds? Tarzipan. There was a big paddle sale at the boat store. It was quite an oar deal. I tried to finish the left-overs but... foiled again... My sister was engaged to a man with a wooden leg but she broke it off. I really wanted a camouflage shirt, but I couldn't find one. I couldn't work out how to fasten my seatbelt. Then it clicked. Did you hear about those new reversible jackets? I'm excited to see how they turn out. I'm glad I know sign language, it's pretty handy. My friend's bakery burned down last night. Now his business is toast. A man just assaulted me with milk, cream and butter. How dairy. When the cannibal showed up late for lunch, the others gave him the cold shoulder. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, the nurse said "No change yet". How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it. What do you call a sleeping bull? A bull-dozer. I used to have a fear of hurdles, but I got over it. Inspecting mirrors is a job I could really see myself doing. Someone just stole my mood ring. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Yesterday I accidentally swallowed some food coloring. The doctor says I'm OK, but I feel like I've dyed a little inside. Never trust atoms, they make up everything. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me. I've accidentally swallowed some Scrabble tiles. My next poop could spell disaster. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says, "Dam!" Shout out to everyone wondering what the opposite of "in" is. Did you hear about the guy who got hit in the head with a can of soda? He was lucky it was a soft drink. I don't trust these stairs - they're always up to something. Getting paid to sleep would be a dream job. I can't believe I got fired from the calendar factory. All I did was take a day off. I was going to buy a book on phobias, but I was afraid it wouldn't help me. I can hear music coming out of my printer. I think the paper's jammin' again... It's really difficult to find what you want on eBay. I was searching for cigarette lighters and found over 15,000 matches. When a clock is hungry, does it go back four seconds? I had a neck brace fitted years ago and I've never looked back since. What do you get if you cross a snake and a lego set? A boa constructor! The other week the cops arrived on the scene to find me upside down in my car. They told me not to be so silly, and to sit properly..... My mom just found out that I've replaced her bed with a trampoline. She hit the roof. What do you get when you pour cement on a burglar? A hardened criminal. A pet store had a bird contest with no perches necessary. People in Dubai don’t like the Flintstones, but the people in Abu Dhabi Doo. My time machine and I go way back. My fear of moving stairs is escalating. Why are teddy bears never hungry? They are always stuffed. Wind turbines - I'm a big fan. A man ended up in hospital today, covered in wood and hay, with a horse inside him. His condition is described as stable. Regular visitors to the dentist are familiar with the drill. I used to be a train driver but I got sidetracked. I left my last girlfriend because she wouldn't stop counting. I wonder what she's up to now. You would think that, if you pulled a snail's shell off, then it would be able to move faster. I tried it, but they seem to be more sluggish. My sister bet me $100 that I couldn't build a working car out of spaghetti. You should've seen her face as I drove pasta Where do polar bears vote? The North Poll. I did a theatrical performance about puns. Really it was just a play on words. My girlfriend asked me to stop impersonating a flamingo. I had to put my foot down. When I finally worked out the secret to cloning, I was beside myself. What does the dentist of the year get? A little plaque. How do you kill a circus? Go for the juggler. A book just fell on my head. I’ve only got my shelf to blame. I love Switzerland. I’m not sure what the best thing about it is, but their flag is a big plus. My dad never loved me as a child. I can't blame him really. I wasn't born until he was an adult. Someone threw cheese at me. Real mature! What did the judge say when the skunk walked into the court room? Odor in the court! I’ve just written a song about tortillas. Actually, it’s more of a rap. I shot someone with a starting gun the other day. I've been charged with a race crime. You can tell the sex of an ant by dropping it in a bowl of water. If it sinks: girl ant If it floats: boy ant Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie. Two antennas met, fell in love and eventually got married. The wedding ceremony wasn’t much but the reception was excellent. I used to be a baker, but I didn't make enough dough. My Granddad got his tongue shot off in the war but he doesn't talk about it. Why did the lion spit out the clown? Because he tasted funny. The first time I got a universal remote control I thought to myself "This changes everything"... What's purple and 5,000 miles long? The Grape Wall of China. Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again. If I'm not mistaken, Tippex is pretty useless… Two peanuts are walking down the street. One is assaulted. Why can't a bicycle stand up on its own? Because it is two tired. If a dog gave birth to puppies near the road would it be cited for littering? Reading while sunbathing makes you well red. Someone ripped some pages out of both ends of my dictionary today. It just goes from bad to worse! Why did the golfer wear two pairs of pants to the game? In case he got a hole in one. A new type of broom has come out. It is sweeping the nation. Don't trust people that do acupuncture, they're back stabbers. People are choosing cremation over traditional burial. It shows that they are thinking out of the box. When you dream in color, is it a pigment of your imagination? I haven't slept for ten days. That would be far too long. The Best Puns For Kids If you found our collection of the best puns for kids and adults as funny as us, then check out this page of puns too, and also our stupid jokes for kids, as well as all the rest of our funny puns, such as these:	269,458
You Have an Idea - Now What? Starting a business is a challenge. Where do I start? Is my idea viable? What's a business plan? Luckily, there is a wealth of information available to Michigan entrepreneurs looking for advice and guidance. You don't have to do it alone! See full post for more information. There are a number of organizations willing to assist you as you explore the viability of your business idea. Factors such as location, available funding, potential return on investment, and the available time you have to invest are several important considerations. Writing a business plan, probably the most important exercise for a potential business owner, will address these issues, and many more. Where do you begin? The Michigan SBTDC, locally located at Kettering University and headquartered at GVSU, should be the first appointment you make. Not only do they offer a free "Starting a Business" class, they will guide you as you write your business plan. Equipped with the knowledge gained at SBTDC, you can then begin to gather the information required for your plan; this is where the GDL Business Center can help. Librarians are in the business of information. We know how it's organized and who is collecting it. So what information related to your business plan can we locate? Competition - Is someone already operating a similar business in your area? Using DemographicsNow, a database made available to all Michigan residents via the Michigan e-Library, we can quickly export a current list of similar businesses located across the country, or in your county. Industry / Market Research - Using information from both online databases and government data, the Business Librarian can locate a significant amount of hard data concerning your industry and market. Business codes assigned to each business type unlock a wealth of information. Contact the Business Librarian for more information about these resources. Sizing Your Market - Your Business Plan should include your intended market and the corresponding demographics. Are you focused on a specific group of people? How many potential customers exist? What is the average expenditure on your product or service each year? Using DemographicsNow can also yield this information. Choosing a Location - This is a critical aspect of your business. A bad location could potential ruin an otherwise excellent idea. By locating similar businesses in a given area and pairing that demographic information such a average consumer expenditure or population growth/decline, you can make a more informed decision. Locating Business Partners & Sales Leads - It is also possible to locate those businesses that you wish to market to or engage a business relationship. Maybe you need a supplier or distributor? Need to find all the businesses which could benefit from your services? The Business Center has several reference books that contain such information; it is also possible to use our electronic resources to find similar information. Yet another local resource is SCORE, a national organization devoted to counseling entrepreneurs. Available by appointment once a month in the Business Center, take advantage of the opportunity to speak with a current local business owner regarding your idea, your business plan, or any other business concerns or questions. Sessions are free of charge and must be made in advance, please contact the Business Center for more information. As you can see, there are a number of organizations ready and willing to assist you. Better information will equip you to make more informed business decisions. Let us know how we can help!	86,231
Those who are entering the communications industry today face the fact that social media expertise is a must in every job posting. For many of us life without Facebook or Twitter is hard to imagine and it is hard to find a person who couldn’t tweet or use Facebook. But employers look for more than just tweeting ability; they look for thought leaders and communications strategists. This is why it is important to sell yourself correctly. For this purpose a piece with your social media engagement analyses will add value to your PR portfolio. If you are a student graduating from a communications program and looking for employment, probably you have no access to expensive social media analytics that give social media engagement overviews with just few clicks. However you can demonstrate your influence online and at the same time showcase your understanding of social media metrics using free tools and basic arithmetic functions. There is a broad variety of social analytic tools out there and you can find a use for the free services many of them offer. My own research showed that combining topsy.com and hootsuite.com gives a significant flexibility in measuring your influence on Twitter. For every Twitter conversation you can measure your participation following three easy steps. There is a number of approaches to calculate your tweet reach and unfortunately neither of them is 100% accurate. For a detailed overview of these methods visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/2014-02-12.asp Here is an easy formula to estimate your tweet reach: Total tweet reach = number of hashtags multiplied by number of followers the user had at the moment of tweeting + number of followers for each user who retweeted the original tweet. Let’s look at each formula element separately. Number of hashtags from a particular user can be quickly determined with topsy.com. Just go to advanced search and put in the hashtag you are tracking and your user name. The search results will produce your tweets that include the hashtag you requested. Note, you can adjust the time period for the tweets using a submenu on the right side after you fill in the search parameters. The number of followers on a particular date can be pulled out using analytics on hootsuite.com. One of the services you can get from Hootsuite for free is a user overview report. It provides a graph called “follower growth” where you can see the number of your folloowers on each day over a selected time range. To pull out the data for the time period you want, make sure to select the time range for your users report at the top of the report page. Following of the people who retweeted you can also be found via free Hootsuite services on your Hootsuitehome page at the retweets trend. The trend keeps track of all your tweets retweeted by other users. To get the information about the people who retweeted your post, click on the number of retweets under your original post and then click on each individual to find their following. For the tweet reach formula sum up the followers of those who retweeted you. There is no single way to determine top contributors as identifying them can be based either on followers or on conversation engagement. Measuring conversation engagement on Hootsuite is a paid service. But if you want to determine top contributors for the reach of your tweets, you can do it manually by using the Hootsuite retweets trend described above. All you have to do is to figure out users with the largest following who retweeted you. You can base the evaluation of how much you contributed to a trending conversation on identifying the percentage of your tweets from all posts on Twitter with the same hashtag. Analytic topsy.com is a useful tool to go about the task. Using the advanced search find all your tweets with the hashtag. Then go to topsy analytics and find the total amount of the hashtag mentions. Use these two figures calculate what part of posts with the hashtag in question belongs to you. To further demonstrate your influence in the conversation, you can find the number of responds to your tweets through Hootsuite trends and then calculate the ratio of the responses to your original tweets. The figures and graphs received as the result of the described manipulations are great to put in the summary about your own social media engagement and to add impressiveness to your portfolio. However what you can do with free analytics, by no means, is limitted to these three steps. Play around with number and graphs and see where your creativity leads you.	99,616
Created on 2 January 2012 Status: 6 January 2012 On request of Mr. Helwig Schmied this discussion page is being created. Nachtfee working hypothesis 3, by Helwig Schmied My comments and reflections - created on 2 January 2012 That Vierling might have worked on all sorts of secrets projects is not my point. Nachtfee carried a military designation FuG136 Do we have any other GAF project number of the many projects Vierling was engaged to or, apparently, should have worked on? Trenkle is quoted - when it fits into the frame of thinking, Schmied's referring is entirely based on some TICOM reports. Most of these reports are in many respects at least brief reflections of what really had been done. A downside of the TICOM reports - is the fact that these mainly deal with what is being found in the US occupied areas. The many BIOS and CIOS reports are covering more widely, what existed in the two Allied zones in the west. The US FIAT reports are the only serious ones, which sometimes go into the very details. However, the French territories were hardly covered, as they often refused cooperation. That they were brief ones can be seen in what is available already on this website (see previous link), they are, saying it frankly, very very brief reports. One gets the impression that they were not much interested at all, maybe with some exceptions. The striking exception is the US summary report: No. F-SU-1109-ND called "The High-Frequency War" by Lt. E.S. Henning. Release date 4 June 1946. Trenkle mentioned that Rechlin was engaged, which actually was their main GAF test and research centre. For instance, also FuG16ZY was developed there. Bearing in mind military tradition of resisting to anything that is not theirs, it is most unlikely that Vierling could have done this undertaken; accomplishing a military project where a very close cooperation was to be engaged. EGON A or EGON B was an existing military system technique. I highly doubt, that a civilian entity might have brought together the implementation of a Nachtfee like technique – at the same time getting the crew being trained as well as implementing it into a tactical operational system. Albeit, still an experimental one, but it was doubtless used against London in February 1944 operationally. Neglecting, however, the possibility that Vierling’s lab might have done some assembling or construction work. Let us be aware, that Vierling went to establishing his own private lab after 1942, thus after the university lab where he was engaged to was bombed out. His staff was only 15 people. When the Nachtfee was becoming operational, be it in a preliminary state in February 1944, the Nachtfee prototypes must have been tested in late 1943. Regarding the pre-phase of Vierling’s lab, this is not very much likely. I would like to compare Vierling with Fritz Wankel, also an independent personality having Nazi backings in the higher Berlin circles, relying, however, on different contacts. When quoting Trenkle, we also have to confront ourselves with inconvenient statements. Trenkle points that it was the GAF research centre of Rechlin where it had been developed. Trenkle could, in contrast to TICOM which organisation was dissolved (ceased) in autumn 1945, relying on eyewitness reports (aural story). When what he had pointed out was not according the actual facts (truth), a tremendous row would have been created; following the German attitude (habit) focussing (criticising) at even ‘comma’ level. A general comment, which should not be underestimated, is the fact the Erstling (FuG25a) wobbled the incoming signal over a range of 6 MHz. We must thus forget, that under 'the state of the art of 1944', a phase shift- or jump technology was practically possible. My basic point is: let us wait for what signal information is finally shown on the control-screen above the ‘oder compass’. I strongly believe, that this small display (LB2) is showing what should be equally painted on the CRT screen inside the aircraft cabin. Phase shifting inside our Nachtfee is accomplished by means of the servos (selsyn or Drehfeldgeber), which are each mechanically coupled with the three controls at the front panel; in this case acting, in contrast, as phase-shifters (goniometer like). That this actually is the fact is very recognisable on the scope screen. Sadly, not reproducible owing to the fact that the recurrence frequency of the scope time base is many times faster than the photographic exposure time of my camera. Let us forget, in first instance, that the 10 quartz channels were used as to code the commands towards the aircraft, via EGON-B. My guess, but it has not been proven yet, is that the quartz-channels might have caused a virtual vector shift of a command towards an aircraft (order rotation clock- or anti-clockwise). Again, my guess, which a command might have been pointing at a different position at the repeater-display in the aircraft. The electrical concept is, in some respect, quite straightforward. I highly doubt, that in the very limited space inside the aircraft cabin, very delicate technology was employed. The operator had to cope with so many things, that he must not have been bothered with complicated technology. Again, my guess, accepting that I may be having it wrong. An important detail, which we should not neglect, is the fact that the drawing shown (Fig.6) in this paper, which originates from the post war translation of the German radar periodical Funkmessnachrichten 19 issued on 25 February 1945 - which the British correctly translated in: Radar News 19, is being manipulated. Sadly, the original German language issue cannot be found in the British NA (formerly PRO) in Kew Gardens; although, according their index, it should exist. It has to be understood, that the Germans are most accurate people, and that putting pointers in a drawing at least should have been dealt within the text. Far more likely, is that it is the result of PoW interrogation, maybe a bit mixed up with what is in the original German explanation. We must, however, be grateful for this drawing exists - as it is the nucleus of unravelling the secrecy about Nachtfee. I guess, that Trenkle might himself never have seen a technical drawing of it, nor otherwise have had information on what was reflected in his publications. The first page drawing of Schmied’s paper is originating from a DEGON publication of the mid 1960s. Many old fellows were then member of it, and must have provided some information, long before the British archives became accessible in the 1970s and 1980s. Quite curious, is that Trenkle nowhere else has used it later. Sadly, I did not know about Nachtfee yet, I otherwise would certainly have raised this matter with him. Arthur O. Bauer On 4 January we received from Hans Jucker the following drawing I trust that Hans Jucker's drawing is self-explaining Please double click at this drawing as to open it in pdf I would not like to give any comment as it is a basic trial, without having notice of our recent findings of 3 and 4 January 2011 On 6 January 2012 I would like contributing myself (AOB) Hypothesis 8 AOB After being engaged in the Nachtfee survey since 12 November 2011, and having expressed my various opinions on what Nachtfee technology is about, time has come to express how the Nachtfee data might have been conveyed towards an aircraft. We have noticed that our investigation on 4 January (http://www.cdvandt.org/nachtfee-page-3a.htm) brought to daylight how de “Freya-Polwender” signal might have looked like (I believe, that our signal still is more or less faulty). I know, that calling this data line “Freya-Polwender” is not entirely accurate, but it shows what kind of signal we are dealing with. The term ‘Polwender’ does imply only: that by means of a double-pole-switch at the front panel the two data wires is at will interchanged. This does only make sense, when there is a sort of data coherence. Hence, the phase of the input pulse provided must have been correlated to the Nachtfee data output signal. For better understanding – the data line is completely kept free from ground; hence, we are dealing with a two-wire data line. My second guess - it does make sense using a sinusoidal carrier with some data fit onto it (superimposed). This sinusoidal carrier is then to be transmitted towards the accordingly equipped aircraft. In this case allowing that this sinusoidal signal is in some way fed onto the CRT deflection system inside the aircraft. However, fading and eventually Doppler shift might cause vector data deviation. I have not a clear judgement how this principle could cope with the frequency wobbling inside the FuG25a aircraft transponder receiver. It might cause a sort of data sampling, but its audio phase will not be shifted. Not yet clearly measured is the exact frequency of the sinusoidal data signal versus the impulse phase. I would not be surprised when this is about the same as the pulse recurrence frequency send from the Freya or EGON system towards the Nachtfee order apparatus. The Nachtfee 220 V ac mains connector is accompanied by the information that the source is, or has to be, stabilised. My guess, they might themselves have encountered how delicate the internal free running oscillators respond onto environmental conditions. It is also likely, that Nachtfee and EGON were operated in the same cabin. Paul Reuvers suggested already op 12 November 2011, that the strange way the moveable order section (and photo 2) is mounted might point to the path that some personnel must use the flexible space (moveable about 45 degrees) for entering or leaving. This is a rather logical conclusion, as we never have seen elsewhere a comparable like apparatus layout. When we look at the Würzburg apparatus arrangement, then we also recognise similar way of thinking, but now being fit to operational conditions. CRTs placed under different angles and that like. This hypothesis is, as the word expresses a hypothetical estimation, which, nevertheless, might be incorrect. However, this is the way it goes. Arthur O. Bauer 6 January 2012 Everybody is strongly invited to join this discussion, as long as it contributes to the aims of our website. Please contact us at: please entre what you read Please don't forget to use the handsome: Nachtfee Chronology page (up to August 2012) And, the PowerPoint progress page (converted into PDF) Survey page 1 & 2 (date 21 and 23 November 2011) Survey page 3 (started on 30 November 2011) (status: 21 December 2011) Survey page 3a superseding page 3a (status: 5 January 2012) MLK-lab. survey (started on 2/5 December 2011) (status: 13 December 2011) Please notice also our: query page By Arthur O. Bauer Please go back to, or proceed with: Handbooks papers and product information	259,820
From the bumps to the backcountry, the terrain park to the trees, these mountains are the best places to learn how to take your skiing and riding to the next level. Ski and ride lingo these days talk about “the progression”—advancing from smaller to bigger features on the mountain, building technique and experience, and in the case of the park and pipe, gradually learning to hit bigger airs and throw more complicated tricks. Glades, moguls, the terrain park, you name it—make all of them part of your well-rounded arsenal, focus on your favorite, or improve your “weakest link.” These mountains are the best places to hone your skills. Best place to learn to ski/ride for kids & family Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont Smuggs is an all-around mountain that offers something for everyone. Experts will gravitate toward a series of runs known as the Fab Five, which includes The Black Hole, a heart-pounding gladed run that Travel+Leisure included in its list of “World’s Scariest Ski Slopes” and the only triple black diamond run in the East. But Smuggs really shines with its children’s programming. Self-titled as “America’s Family Resort,” Smuggs backs up the boast—readers of SKI Magazine have named it #1 in North America for family programs an incredible 13 times. You’ll find most of the kid-friendly beginner terrain on Morse Mountain and Morse Highlands. Chairlifts such as the Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift are designed specifically with kids in mind, with lower chair heights and slower speeds. Kids enrolled in formal programs wear colored vests so instructors and students can keep track of who’s with what group. And Smuggs utilizes the Flaik GPS system, enabling the tracking of each child—great not only for mountain safety, but also for downloading and viewing on a computer at the end of a ski day. New for this season is the Burton Riglet Park. Designed in cooperation with Vermont’s Burton Snowboards, it’s a terrain park for the most pint-sized boarders and skiers. And as ever, Smuggs’ renowned staff are there to guide your children through it all. “We focus on hiring people who are good teachers with kids,” says president Bob Mulcahy. “They don’t necessarily have to be expert skiers. That’s not what’s critical. We care about how they relate with the kids, that they love being with them and entertaining them. Our approach is for the children to find it really fun to learn.” That approach is working. Between on-mountain programs and off-mountain activities (including weekly magic shows, science programs, ski school instructors doing skits in character and a fun zone with inflatables) there’s no lack of activity for the little ones. “If they want to be busy until eight or nine at night, they can,” says Mulcahy. “But the younger ones usually conk out by then. Those kids get a good night’s sleep every night at Smuggs.” Best place to learn to ski/ride for adults Belleayre Mountain, New York Located in New York’s Catskill Forest Preserve and operated by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, Belleayre laid claim to New York’s first chairlift when it opened in 1949. Think what you will of New York State politics… This is essentially state-subsidized skiing, with weekend and holiday full day lift tickets running just $54 (compared to, say, $68 at nearby Hunter Mountain). Belleayre is in part known for the Beast, an open-air snowcat that shuttles skiers and riders along the mountain’s ridgetop, making it easier to access your chosen run from the top of the lifts, especially the challenging Cathedral Brook trail. Over the years, though, Belleayre has really built its reputation as a beginner-friendly mountain known for its adult-oriented learn-to-ski programs. The lower mountain features almost exclusively novice terrain. Once you’re ready to graduate to bigger and more challenging slopes, the upper mountain is basically divided in two: one half intermediate runs, one half expert runs. Though you can opt for formal ski lessons, Belleayre also features a special teaching area of the mountain. For just $15 on top of your lift ticket, you get continual access to instructors who can answers questions and offer technique tips when you need them. It’s a more casual approach to the traditional, formal ski school. This season, Belleayre also unveiled a pair of new women’s only ski school programs, including one for first timers. Consider it one more reason why skier/snowboarder visits have nearly tripled here in the last decade and a half. Best place to learn to carve “real” snow Mad River Glen, Vermont It’s a fact of life that 99% of resorts these days have snowmaking on some, if not most, of their trails. It’s a way to extend the ski season with deeper snowpack and to give better coverage to trails that otherwise might be thin and bony. But skiing the white stuff that comes from snowmaking systems—no matter how modern or high tech—just isn’t the same as what Mother Nature and Old Man Winter give us. The “real” thing skis—and feels—different. Learn that lesson for yourself by heading to Vermont’s Mad River Glen, where the slogan is “Ski It If You Can.” This cooperative—comprising skier-shareholders—is home to the only remaining single chair in the country. Set across the slopes of General Stark Mountain, all the trails funnel back to a single base area. And here’s the clincher: MRG has just 15% snowmaking coverage, exclusive to the low elevation, high traffic areas around the base. Up on the mountain, it’s 100% au naturel, to the tune of 250 inches of average annual snowfall. There’s just one catch, and it’s potentially a big one: You need two sticks on your feet to sample MRG’s authentic powder. MRG is one of the only mountains in the country that’s skier-only. Snowboarders are out of luck here. If you’re a boarder, or a mixed skier-boarder group, head just down the road—Vermont Route 100—to Sugarbush, and sample the natural snow in Slide Brook Basin, off the backside of North Lynx Peak. Best place to learn to navigate the glades Mont Sutton, Quebec Just north of the Vermont border, you’ll find Quebec’s Eastern Townships. With the French-speaking populace, it can feel surprisingly “international” for how close it is to major Northeast locales, such as New York. Thankfully, the same friendly relations that govern the U.S.-Canadian border also seem to extend to weather systems. When northern Vermont ski areas such as Jay Peak are getting dumped on, often so are the mountains of the Eastern Townships. And if you’re into skiing the trees, Quebec’s Mont Sutton is the place to go. Its glades have been compared to British Columbia’s Big White ski resort, no small compliment. A full 45% of the mountain is dedicated to glade skiing and riding. Most ski areas thin the trees to open up their glades. Sutton does that, too. But the mountain also plants trees, up to 1,000 per year, to give its various glades different character, from easy to expert. That means you can progress from easy, open glades to the steep, tight stuff (if you so choose). Four new glades are open for this winter season. Best of all, Mont Sutton doesn’t just send you into the trees and wait for the glades to chew you up and spit you out at the bottom. The resort offers glade-only lessons to help you hone your technique in the mountain’s birch, hemlock and maple forests. It makes for an experience that prompted a writer for the Toronto Star to declare Sutton “exceptional for its glades,” and a place “where skiing meets nature.” Best place to learn to brave the bumps Moguls. Some people love ‘em; others hate ‘em and avoid them at all costs. But here’s the plain truth: at some point, you’re going to have to brave the bumps (if only to make it down the mountain and into the bar for a bit of après-ski). The massive resort of Killington—which culminates in Killington Peak, Vermont’s second tallest mountain—does the bumps better than most. The resort purposefully leaves many trails ungroomed for the mogul junkies out there. That includes Outer Limits, the steepest, longest mogul run in the East (which, depending on your perspective, may either sound awesome or like the worst thing in the world). Killington’s ski school uniquely features an Adult Moguls Program, and the Killington Mountain School has a freestyle moguls team. In other words, the resort knows how to teach moguls right. Which is why the mountain has given birth to the likes of Michael Morse, former national mogul champion and US Olympian from the Vancouver Winter Games. While some say Killington’s moguls aren’t what they used to be, it’s hard to argue with a testament like that. Best place to channel your inner Shaun White Loon Mountain, New Hampshire It’s undeniable: the influence of Shaun White and other X Games-type athletes have changed the face of skiing and riding. Terrain parks and half pipes have become an integral part of the mountain experience, especially for younger generations. And if the park and pipe are your thing (or you think they might be your thing), head to New Hampshire’s Loon Mountain, along the Kancamagus Highway in the heart of the White Mountains. With seven terrain parks on the mountain, it offers no shortage of places to “play” for freestyle skiers and snowboarders. The newest is the Missing Link, a natural terrain park with wooden features. There’s the Burton Progression Park. And, of course, there’s the signature Loon Mountain Park, complete with a 32-foot-tall wall ride and a superpipe with 18-foot walls. Variety is the name of the game here. You can go as big (or as small) as you desire. “Our biggest goal has been to make features that people of different levels of ability can hit and still have a good time,” says Jay Scambio, terrain park development manager at Loon. “Beginners, intermediates, experts can all ride and have a good time. We’re not just about having the biggest, tallest, fastest. We’re user-friendly for everybody.” Not sure you’re ready to catch air or throw a trick on your own? Loon won’t just pair you with the next ski instructor in the day’s rotation. Request a park-and-pipe-specific lesson, and the resort will pair you with an instructor who specializes in terrain park skiing and riding. It’s no wonder Loon Mountain usually ranks as having the top terrain park in the East in any given season, and why Transworld Snowboarding and Snowboard Magazine have rated it one of the best in North America. Best place to learn to dabble in backcountry Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine As the second highest peak in Maine, Sugarloaf is big mountain country: the summit snowfields; King Pine Bowl; 360-degree views of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Quebec from the top; and the only above-treeline, lift-served skiing east of the Rockies. But the big deal here this season is Brackett Basin, the recently opened expansion terrain as part of Sugarloaf’s 2020 plan. When complete, the expansion will fully double the size of the resort’s skiable terrain. Last season, Sugarloaf opened 270 acres of Brackett Basin—backcountry-style glades, complete with steeps, chutes and cliffs. This season, another 100 acres have come online, offering 2,300 vertical feet of sidecountry and further expanding the resort toward adjacent Burnt Mountain. What exactly is sidecountry terrain? It’s like true backcountry wilderness mountain skiing, with one major exception: ski patrol will come find you if you get into trouble. That’s an important safety net, making Sugarloaf the best place to dabble in backcountry skiing and riding. “Brackett Basin offers all of the adventure and challenge of a backcountry experience. But,” says communications manager Ethan Austin, “with the safety and security of inbounds, resort skiing. There’s really nowhere else on the East Coast with that kind of off-piste/on-piste hybrid experience.”	249,690
We are what we eat. But does the food we consume play a role in our brain function? Foods have been known to affect moods, performance and energy levels. It has also been seen that foods can go a long way in perking brain activity, from improving memory to even prevent brain aging. There are a number of easily available foods that enhance brain functioning and provide optimum brain health. Turmeric, sage, walnuts and wild salmon are among the notable brain foods. Remember to maintain a regimen of physical exercise, healthy drinks and snacks everyday to achieve optimal brain health. Have a generous helping of fruits and vegetables, adequate protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, water and supplements. Remember to keep away from saturated fat, alcohol, smoking and other foods that are detrimental to brain health and functioning. Wild salmon is proven to be an excellent choice not only for brain health but also for a number of other health benefits. It is a good source of essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 fatty acid, which is touted as one of the most beneficial for brain health. It has low levels of unhealthy saturated fat and contaminants. It is good for your mood, your arteries and helps prevent brain degenerative diseases. However, make sure you get natural salmon and not processed artificial salmon that is colored to make it look more appealing. Cacao beans in their purest, most naturally available form are good for the brain. Processed chocolate is not the best source as it is over refined and actually has very low levels of the cacao bean. Dark chocolate has a much higher level of cacao content although not as much as pure cacao powder. Cacao contains antioxidants that destroy free radicals, which damage healthy tissues and cells in the body. It boosts cognitive functioning and makes you feel good due to the Theobromine content. Soy milk that is unsweetened and organic gives you a good helping of protein and also enhances your brain health. Cinnamon also has nutrients good for improving your brain functioning. Matcha or stone ground green tea powder has the complete goodness of green tea. By consuming ground green tea powder, you are consuming the green tea leaves as well and gaining the whole benefit of its antioxidant and vitamin and mineral content. Green tea that comes in bags or as leaves do not offer the maximum benefit you can extract from consuming it. It is calming and helps relieve stress. It keeps you fit, protects you from diseases such as cancer, aids concentration ability and has anti-aging properties. Choose a high quality stone ground Matcha and not brands with artificial coloring. Acai berries and blueberries are rich sources of antioxidants and contain the all important ingredient for optimum brain health, the Omega 3 fatty acid. Fresh, whole acai berries contain the complete goodness of the fruit although they very often need to be processed to be preserved. Eat blueberries and acai berries everyday if they are available. Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It helps slow down and prevent diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia which slowly depletes the brains capacity to function adequately. As with the other food items, coffee too is best consumed in its unprocessed, natural form sans cream, sugar or artificial sweeteners. As with all the other brain healthy foods, this too must be consumed regularly over an extended period of time to help combat memory loss and keep your cognitive abilities intact even as you grow older. Egg yolks, asparagus, small quantities of red wine, herbs such as rosemary and tomatoes also are good brain foods with a host of other health benefits. Tofu is good for verbal and non verbal memory and its antioxidants help protect the brain and build tissues. Brain Food Snacks Brain Food Recipes A blueberry smoothie can be made in the following way. You will need half a cup of blueberries, half a cup of blueberry yoghurt, half a banana and half a cup of ice. Blend all the ingredients except the blueberries and finally add the blueberries on top. You can add a tablespoon of honey for added taste. A brain healthy salad can be made with the following ingredients - baby greens, spinach, broccoli sprouts, diced red onion, a blend of blueberries, cherries and cranberries, crushed or chopped walnuts, small pieces of low fat cheese, extra virgin olive oil and a few small slices of lemon. Mix the baby greens and spinach, sprinkle nuts in moderation, add plenty of sprouts and add a bit of cheese and the blend of berries. Add a dash of lemon juice in the end and dress it with olive oil. Your brain snack is ready in a matter of minutes!	161,633
A new study on Federal Aid ranked Alabama the 19th in federal revenue for state spending. Tax foundation conducted the study. It says 38.2 percent of the state government’s revenue comes from federal funds. It is a tight call across the tri-states. Florida came in at 36.9 percent and Georgia measured 41.1 percent. The study only looked at state’s tax revenue and didn’t consider state income from investments.	11,303
Copyright notice: The story and characters are all ours. Handle them gently and return them to us undamaged. Otherwise we will have to sic a warrior chicken on you, or, even worse, an extremely talkative yellow chick. For this Fable we have dropped the Xena and Gabrielle vignettes at the beginning and the end; so it is not really uber - maybe unter would be a better term. Everything here belongs to the authors. We can, however, be bribed cheaply. Disclaimers: Some violence - just like in the real world! The story starts out in a serious vein, but halfway through it degenerates into our usual idiocy. There are padded cells somewhere with the authors' names on them. There are references to incidents that took place in earlier Fables, especially The Rabbit and the Hawk; it is not necessary to read that story to enjoy this one.This Fable, like all of the earlier Fables, while not written with children in mind, is suitable for the childlike of all ages. *Apologies to W. Shakespeare - who only has himself to blame for being such a good writer that lesser lights steal his words. Speaking of lesser lights, we have also used a phrase culled from the 64-page Xena/Hercules catalog. Any comments, feedback, praise, constructive criticism may be sent to firstname.lastname@example.org. The first thing Aquila noticed was the wind ruffling her feathers. She looked over her shoulder and saw that the sky was beginning to darken near the western horizon. The former free-range chicken was very familiar with the signs of a thunderstorm. She began to look for shelter for herself and her two companions. They were travelling through flat country, but she saw some hills not too far ahead. She figured they could reach them before the storm hit. There would be some kind of protection there, maybe even a cave big enough for all three of them. "Stop a minute, Ergo," she called to the mare. The pale gold horse paused in her plodding and looked inquiringly at their leader. She let out a small sigh. Even though it had been her idea to go east and see her ancestral homeland, she hadn't realized how much East there was. They had been walking for weeks, and the country was getting browner with each day. She missed the green grass and the trees, and even the farms she was familiar with. She would have suggested turning back days ago if it hadn't been for the optimistic enthusiasm of her current rider. Billie, as usual, had managed to keep up a running commentary on everything they saw. Her energy and breath never seemed to be exhausted; however her feet did need rest once in a while, which is why she was riding at the moment. When Aquila asked Ergo to stop, she looked down at the dark-feathered chicken who was walking beside the horse. "What's the matter," she asked brightly. "It's too early to camp for the night and there's no water and the grass is brown and Ergo doesn't like to eat brown grass anyway ... you're not tired, are you, and need to rest I didn't think you ever got tired ..." "There's a storm coming," Aquila said, interrupting Billie's discourse. She pointed toward the dark clouds in the west. Both Billie and Ergo looked where Aquila was pointing. Billie, the forward-looking chick, was always more interested in where she was going than in where she had been, and so wouldn't have noticed the dark clouds until she felt the rain. Ergo sniffed the air. "There is a storm brewing alright. But we have a little time before it gets here." Aquila hopped up on the mare. "Let's head for those hills. We should be able to find shelter there." Ergo nodded and set a fast pace, wanting to get there before the storm. In her experience, this looked like it would be a bad one. They reached the hills just as a loud clap of thunder echoed overhead. Billie gave a startled jump. "That was close we better hurry and find a cave or something I don't like thunder and lightning they're so loud and rain makes my feathers droop I guess the plants and trees and things need rain but it can wait until we're in a dry place can't it why is lightning so bright it hurts my eyes ... Aquila, where are you going?" she yelped as the older chicken jumped down and seemed to disappear into the ground. "Ergo, Aquila's gone," she cried. The horse looked around. She knew the warrior chicken hadn't abandoned them, but she couldn't see where she could have gone. She was trying to see if there was a hole in the ground where at least the two chickens could be dry when she gave a surprised whinny. Aquila had suddenly reappeared in front of her. The dark chicken smiled briefly at the effect she had caused. "I thought that looked like a hidden entrance. There's a cave through those bushes; it's big enough for all of us. Come on." "Hurry up it's starting to rain," Billie called as she urged Ergo on, kicking the horse's back with her little feet as she had seen people do. The big farm horse pushed her way through the bushes, not worrying about scratches at this point. When she was past the bushes, she saw that Aquila was right. It was a big cave; the bushes and the storm made it dark inside, but even so she couldn't see the back of it. She was bending down to let Billie jump off when she realized that Aquila was not among those present. "Aquila?" she spoke hesitantly. "Yes," an amused voice came out of the dark. "I was looking at those bushes. They were cut and placed there to hide the cave entrance." Now that she was out of danger from getting wet, Billie was eagerly examining their refuge. "You mean somebody doesn't want this cave found? You don't suppose somebody else is living here, do you ... I don't see any leftover food or straw or anything maybe they just hid the cave for a game or something ... Ow!" she exclaimed, as thunder and lightning boomed outside. She could hear the rain coming down in torrents. "It looks like we made it just in time ... I'm sure glad you know everything, Aquila, like where to find caves ..." She stopped talking when she heard noises coming from the back of the cave. The warrior chicken loomed out of the dark, dragging a sparrow by a wing. Ergo and Billie hurried over to see what was happening. Aquila let go of her catch; the sparrow was shaking so hard it wasn't likely to escape. "I found this bird hiding in the shadows. Maybe you can find out what it's doing here, Billie. I didn't mean to scare it; it was shaking when I found it." She felt she needed to explain to Billie. The sympathetic chick was already patting the bird and trying to calm it down. She reassured it that no one would hurt it and that it was safe with them; the warrior chicken would protect it. Billie broke off her soothing talk when Aquila suddenly grabbed the magic ring from her waist and stood poised for action. Ergo was in defensive mode, too. They saw that the back of the cave was filled with animals and birds - squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, sparrows, robins, and others hidden in the shadows. Some of them carried sticks or rocks in their paws. Billie was just beginning to wonder what they had wandered into when a familiar voice came out of the crowd. "Is dat youse, Aquila?" "Hoplea?" Aquila was surprised. Whatever she had expected, it wasn't this. The jersey rabbit eased his way past the armed animals and hopped up to Aquila. "It's okay, everybody, dese are friends o' mine," he told them. "And now dat dey're here, we can get rid of dat swan gang once an' fer all." He smiled. "Hey, Billie, Ergo. What are youse doing in dese parts? A long way from home, ain't ya?" Aquila grasped the paw Hoplea held out to her; but she kept hold of her magic ring. Nothing was making sense to her and she didn't want to be caught off guard. Ergo relaxed when she saw that their friend, Hoplea, was in charge of the mob of animals. For once Billie was too surprised to speak. She was mechanically patting the sparrow and staring at the rabbit. The warrior chicken was forced to pick up the conversational slack. "You're a long way from home, too, Hoplea. Who are all these animals and why are you hiding in this cave?" She had learned to try and get as much information as she could before giving out any. The rabbit looked over at the animals who were still bunched up and holding their weapons. "I told youse it's alright. Dese are friends and dey'll help us. Dey're all mighty warriors, especially dat yellow chick." He winked at Aquila. The animals lowered their weapons and cautiously moved away from the back of the cave. The three wanderers might be friends of Hoplea, but that black-feathered chicken looked like one tough bird. They weren't sure if they could trust her to help them. With all this movement going on, Billie came to life. She stopped patting the sparrow, who had stopped shivering and had quickly joined the others. Billie, the mighty warrior chick, walked up to Hoplea and shook his paw enthusiastically. "It's really good to see you, Hoplea ... what are doing here though I guess it isn't any funnier that you're here in the east than it is that we are too since you told us you travel all over ... we came east to help Ergo find where her mother grew up ... she told Ergo stories about it and in this town we were in a while back - they had a fair and we had lots of fun and adventures I'll tell you about it later - this other horse talked about the east and Ergo remembered her mother's stories and wanted to see for herself so here we are ... then this storm came up and we found this cave just in time ... Aquila found it because she knows everything and you're here too ... that's great." Billie's speech had brought smiles to the faces of many of the animals; they relaxed for the first time since their refuge had been invaded by strangers. With the lowering of tension, Aquila put her magic ring back on its belt. The bemused rabbit turned to Billie's companions, "Don't she ever need to breathe? Anyways I don't care why youse are here; I'm just glad to see youse. Dere's a big problem in dis area. It's a kinda long story. " "Well, let's sit down while you tell it," Aquila, the practical, said. While everyone found a comfortable spot to sit, Ergo nodded her head to Hoplea. "How's your foot? It looks like it healed nicely." "Yeah, whatever dat stuff wuz dat Aquila put on it, it sure woiked," the roaming rabbit replied. "It ain't bothered me at all. And I've done a ton of walkin' since den." Billie decided to sit close to Hoplea; she still had a little trouble understanding his accent. Out of habit, Aquila had her back to the cave wall close to the entrance. Ergo, being the biggest one there, kept to the background. Hoplea began his story. "Dere's dis gang, see, it's mostly swans wit' some geese and ducks. And it's led by dis really mean swan called Swan Tilla." The jersey rabbit continued his explanation. From what he had learned, Swan Tilla had showed up just over a year earlier and had quickly gathered birds of a feather to her side. They had easily intimidated all the smaller animals and birds. Whatever the swan gang demanded, their victim had to hand over or get beat up. When the explanation reached this point, Aquila interrupted to ask, "Did anybody try to stop them or fight back?" Her busy mind was already thinking of different ways to stop this gang. Hoplea shook his head. "Nobody dared to try to fight dem alone. And dey have spies everywhere so da poor folks couldn't get togedder to fight da swan an' her gang." A robin piped up, "My son, Cock, stood up to her when she came to take our food. I haven't seen him since." She dabbed at her tearful eyes with one wing. Some of the others comforted her. Ergo asked, "How did you get mixed up in this situation? You seem to know your way around pretty well." "I got to dis place a coupla months ago. Youse know how I like seein' da world," Hoplea went on with his story. "I wasn't gonna stay, just passin' t'rough, when I finds myself surrounded by a bunch of swans. I wuz playin' dumb and lookin' to get away from dem when da leader comes up." The rabbit shivered a little when he remembered the way she had looked him up and down. "She saw I wasn't from dese parts, and figured she could use me to spy for her since some of her other spies wuz bein' found out. She didn't give me much choice. So I found out what wuz really goin' on; and I've been helpin' dese guys to hide out and practice fighting," Hoplea continued. "We hoped to outnumber da gang soon and get rid o' dem. Now dat youse t'ree are here, we'll teach dem a lesson!" Billie had been listening closely to Hoplea's explanation. Now she said, "Does the gang leader really think you're working for her? I hope you're being careful." Hoplea tried to look modest. "Well, ya see, dat boss swan t'inks I'm just a dumb bunny. I don't know where she got dat idea." Billie had to laugh at the rabbit's innocent expression. "Anyways, she lets me hang around and dat way I can find out what plans dey have. And I can help dese guys." Billie jumped up and began hopping back and forth. She could never sit still for very long. "We have to help these folks we can't let that swan get away with doing mean things to folks who never did anybody any harm ... so how are you going to stop her, Aquila?" The reformed free-range chicken smiled. She had wondered how long it would be before her young friend volunteered their services. Not that she had any objection in this case. She had had a bad reputation in her past, which still followed her; but that was mainly the result of wanting to be left alone. Now she used her survival skills to help folks. Aquila rubbed her wings together in anticipation. "First I think we need to see exactly what the situation is. Once this storm is over ..." she looked toward the cave entrance. The lightning and thunder had stopped and it was only raining lightly. "... we'll go on as if we don't know any of this. Hoplea, since the gang leader thinks she is using you, you go to her and tell her you saw us in the area. Tell her you knew me in the west and that if she doesn't take care of me right away, I'll try to take over her gang. You can make it sound like I'm moving into her territory. That should get her to acting before she can think." "What about Billie and me," Ergo protested. "We aren't about to let you take on that whole gang by yourself." "Not that you couldn't do it but we don't want to be left out of the fun," Billie added her two drachmas' worth. "Don't worry," their leader reassured them. "If this Swan Tilla thinks I want to take over her gang, she'll come by herself to fight me. She won't want to take a chance on being beaten in front of her followers. Gangs like that always shift loyalty as soon as someone stronger comes along." Aquila was happy. She may spend her time helping folks and doing good, but she still enjoyed a good fight. Mrs. Robin had only been half listening, thinking about her missing son. Now she chirped unceratinly, "Is the dark chicken going to take over the gang? Will we have to pay her as much as we do the swan?" Hoplea and Billie both protested at the same time. The little chick, having more practice, won out. "Of course not ... Aquila's not taking over the gang we're going to get rid of it then you won't have to give anybody your food and nobody will be hurt again ... Aquila helps folks she's not mean like that swan ... why would you think that?" Hoplea patted Billie's wing and whispered to her, "Miz Robin's upset about her boy and ain't t'inkin' straight." Aloud he said, "So how're we gonna woik dis scheme, Aquila?" Aquila sighed. She looked around at everybody and saw them looking hopefully at her. "We have a couple of hours until sunset, and the storm is just about over, so we'll leave in a few minutes and find a good place to camp for the night." "Dere's a good spot in da valley on da other side o' dis hill," Hoplea interrupted. Aquila smiled at him; she remembered how scared he was of her the first time they met. "Good; we'll camp there. Hoplea, you go to Swan Tilla and give her the news that I'm in the neighborhood. Build up the threat to her as much as you want, but make sure she comes to see me without any of her gang. With any luck, we might be able to get rid of her quickly." "Yeah," Billie growled. She was hopping around and practicing her fight moves. "It will be fun taking care of that gang." She never had any doubts about who would win this fight. "We haven't had an adventure in a long time ... I know you do exercises every day, Aquila, and are always keeping an eye out and protecting me and Ergo so you shouldn't have any problem beating that mean swan ... and you have your magic ring." She eyed it longingly; she had been trying to talk the warrior chicken into teaching her how it worked, but without any success so far. Ergo let out a quiet chuckle as she watched Billie moving around. It had been a little boring lately. Maybe that was what she had been missing on their trek east - the almost constant adventures they had been having back home. Anyway, the next few days should be lively enough to satisfy all of them. Their preliminary plans made, Hoplea left with Billie and her companions. After showing them a good camping spot in a nearby valley, the double agent rabbit went off to find the swan. She was standing in some shade, watching her gang members practice their fighting skills. She was just wondering to herself why it was so hard to get good help these days when she noticed her rabbit spy approaching. As soon as he was close enough, she uncoiled her neck part way and hissed at him, enjoying his scared expression. Since she had hissed at him every time he came to her camp, Hoplea expected it and looked scared because it was what the swan wanted to see. "And what little tidbit of news do you have for me today, Hopless?" The swan sneered and stretched her neck to its full length. Hoplea moved back a few feet and looked up at the intimidating gang leader. Smiling to himself, he began his report. "I got news for youse, alright. Youse'll never guess who I saw campin' in dat valley back dere." He paused, but hurried on when Swan Tilla cocked an impatient eye at him. "It's dis warrior chicken I sees one time back where I come from. Boy could dat boid fight! She had her own gang and nobody could stop 'em. Not dat she needed any help in a fight. I saw her take on a dozen all by herself. Aquila she calls herself, and anybody who t'inks she's just a chicken is gonna be surprised real bad." Swan Tilla looked over at her followers and frowned at their clumsy fighting techniques. She thought to herself, 'If this 'warrior chicken' is as good as the rabbit says,' she squinted at her agent for a moment, 'of course he is a timid rabbit so maybe he's exaggerating some. But if he isn't, that chicken could be a real threat.' She said casually, as if it didn't really matter, "Did this Aquila have her gang with her?" "Nah, she only had one little chick - maybe she's trainin' her to fight - and her horse. She's most likely scoutin' out da territory on da sly, lookin' to move in and take over. Lucky for youse dat I recognized her and could tell youse all about her." Hoplea smiled ingratiatingly at the swan; he had had lots of acting practice the last few months. Yawning, the swan asked, "Did you see them setting up camp in the valley?" "Yeah, and it looked like dey wuz makin' demselves at home and stayin' for a while." The swan slapped Hoplea lightly on one cheek. "Thanks. Go nibble on a carrot or something." She walked away. Hoplea managed not to laugh until he was out of sight of the camp. The next day dawned bright and sunny. Swan Tilla saw the sunrise. So did Aquila. Ergo woke up a few minutes later. The swan's gang slept in, undisturbed by their leader who had her own plans for the morning. Billie lingered in dreamland until the sounds of breakfast preparation penetrated. After breakfast, the three travellers stayed around their camp. Aquila was waiting for the swan to show up. She hoped Hoplea had been convincing enough about the "threat" she posed to the swan's leadership. If she could defeat the swan now, that might end the gang's hold over the other folks. A simple solution to a simple problem. Billie and Ergo felt anticipation, too. Their lives had been quiet lately, but that was about to change. They could hardly wait. Billie noticed that Aquila had gone very still; the little chick had gotten to know the warrior's moods. "What's the matter," Billie whispered. Without moving or giving any other sign, Aquila answered, "We're being watched; I can feel it. Get ready." The free-range chicken stood up and stretched, turning in a circle. She couldn't see anyone, but the feeling of being watched grew stronger. Swan Tilla had been watching her enemies for several minutes. When the black-feathered chicken stood up and looked around, she thought she had been spotted. She came out into the open and sauntered toward the little group. Aquila faced her, relaxed but wary. Ergo and Billie stood a little behind their leader. Now that she was finally seeing the swan, Billie wondered just how Aquila was going to defeat the bigger opponent. "She's big, isn't she? And look at that long neck. Maybe you should throw your ring now before she gets any closer." The warrior chicken ignored this well-intentioned strategy. She kept her eyes on the approaching opponent, sizing up the possibilities. The swan stopped several feet away from them. She uncoiled her neck a few inches toward Billie and hissed. The yellow chick was startled but managed not to jump back. Still Aquila didn't move. Swan Tilla looked at the dark chicken. "This is my territory. Leave now while you can still walk," she threatened. "And take your sidekicks with you." Billie was curious. "What's a sidekick?" It was a term she hadn't heard before. Ergo answered her, "It's someone who fights beside the warrior, who helps the warrior win." The young chick swelled with pride. She was finally being taken seriously as a fighter! And by a gang leader, too. "I go where I want," Aquila said quietly. "And I take what I want. Now I want this territory. It's your choice - stay or leave. We're staying." Billie and Ergo had never heard Aquila talk like this before. They exchanged a look, glad that they were on her side. Suddenly the swan charged Aquila. Waiting until the last possible second, the chicken jumped up and to her right. The swan had expected her enemy to jump straight up and was caught off balance by this maneuver. She had taken several steps before she could stop and turn to face the wily warrior chicken. Hissing in frustration, she took a deep breath and attacked more cautiously. Meanwhile, Billie was leading the cheering section. "Way to go, Aquila! Watch out for her neck ... hit her, hit her ... throw your ring ... Ohhh." The last exclamation came as the swan managed to graze one of Aquila's wings, breaking off a couple of feathers. Barely noticing her injury, Aquila jumped onto the swan's back and dug her claws into the white feathers. Howling in anger, the swan twisted her neck around to peck her uninvited rider. The warrior chicken dodged the swan's beak and flew off to the ground. Unable to stop herself, the swan pecked her own back. She let out a wild scream. Billie and Ergo had started to laugh at the gang leader hitting herself but this sound made them shudder instead. For the first time they began to realize the seriousness of the situation. Swan Tilla stood panting for several seconds, staring at Aquila who looked back at her menacingly. The swan thought she heard a low growl coming from her opponent. Abruptly the gang leader turned and almost ran back toward her camp. When Ergo and Billie saw the swan retreat, they came up to congratulate the winner. Before they could say anything, Aquila looked at them. She was breathing heavily and still looked like she wanted to fight somebody. She stared at Billie for a second, then quickly walked away. The yellow chick had never seen her friend look like that before, and it scared her. Maybe her reputation and the stories folks told about the free-range chicken were more true than Billie wanted to admit. She looked up at Ergo for reassurance. The calm horse had a worried expression as she watched Aquila disappear into the trees. "What's the matter with Aquila? Why isn't she happy she beat that mean swan? I've never seen her look at me like that ... will she be alright? should we go after her?" Ergo smiled as she looked at her companion. "Don't worry. She'll be okay in a minute. She needs to calm down after that fight. We should leave her alone for a while." The two concerned friends settled down to wait. Swan Tilla stopped halfway back to her camp. She had some thinking to do. Also she needed to cover up her wounds. She couldn't let her gang see that she had been injured in a fight; no one had been able to do that to her before. So the rabbit hadn't exaggerated about the fighting ability of the chicken, she mused. And the chicken seemed determined to move into her territory. The other two - the little chicken and the horse - must be good fighters too or they wouldn't be travelling with the warrior chicken. She had no illusions about the fighting ability of her gang members. The only reason they were successful at all was that they picked on smaller, weaker creatures and left stronger ones alone. She stood, staring off into the distance for some time. Slowly a smile of pure joy spread over her face. She had an idea. She would tell her gang that the pickings were running out here and that they should move to a new area. But first they would make one last, big haul. If she moved fast enough, they could loot the territory and be gone before that chicken knew what was happening. The swan was laughing as she hurried to her camp. Billie was sitting and slowly shredding a twig she had picked up. She stared at the spot where Aquila had disappeared into the trees. The yellow chick was worried about her friend. And a little scared too. She had been in a couple of fights with the warrior chicken before, but she had never seen anything like this fight with the swan. The other battles had been almost like playing because there was never any doubt who would win. But this fight was different, Billie was beginning to realize. Even though she had run away today, that Swan Tilla might be a match for her hero. What if she came back with her gang? Could the three of them defeat an entire gang? Yesterday she wouldn't have had any doubts; but today she wasn't so sure. She shivered a little as she remembered the look Aquila had given her after the fight when Billie ran up to congratulate her. It was almost like the dark-feathered chicken didn't know her. The little chick looked up at Ergo, who was walking in circles a few feet away. "Aquila's been gone an awful long time," she said quietly. "Do you think anything's happened to her?" The big farm horse smiled at her. "She'll be okay. We just have to wait here for her to come back. Don't worry. Everything will be alright." Billie was slightly reassured and went back to staring at the trees. A short while later, the two watchers were relieved to see a dark figure emerge from the trees and walk toward them. Billie jumped up and would have run to her friend, but Ergo stopped her. When Aquila reached them, she began to speak without any preliminaries. "Before I became the 'free-range chicken', I was living at home on a farm like Billie's. One day in the farmyard a young rooster threw a pebble and hit me on the back of the head. I turned around and told him not to do it again. I went back to eating the grain on the ground. I felt another pebble hit me on the back. I turned to tell him to stop when something hit me in the face." She paused and looked down at the ground. "The next thing I remember was sitting on that rooster and slapping his face. I was younger than Billie then. When I realized what I was doing, I stopped and got up. The rooster wasn't hurt - except maybe his ego. But when I looked around, I saw that all the other chickens and most of the animals were afraid of me. Since I didn't know what had happened to me, I was afraid too." The free-range chicken continued, "It wasn't much later that I left the farm; I think most of them were glad to see me go. I knew I needed to learn to control myself. I tried to stay away from folks, but it seemed there was always someone who wanted to pick a fight. And then I got my 'title' and reputation so more folks wanted to fight me to make their own reputations. All I wanted was to be left alone." Aquila looked straight at Billie and smiled happily. "Until a lost chick stumbled into my camp one night and made me realize that adventures are more fun when you have them with friends." She opened her wings and Billie rushed to hug her. Ergo smiled at the two chickens, relieved that everything was back to normal in the world. Billie stepped back but kept hold of one of the free-range chicken's wings. "So, Aquila, do you think that swan - Tillie or whatever her name is - will go away now? And take her gang with her?" she asked. "You sure beat her good and getting her to hit herself on the back was a great move ... She has a really strange scream, doesn't she, Ergo, and do all swans hiss like that ... I don't think that's very polite ... Should we go find Hoplea and ask if the gang has left already?" Aquila had tried to break into Billie's speech a couple of times. She should have known better. When the chatty chick paused, the warrior chicken seized her chance. "The swan ran away, but I don't think she is finished with us yet. She still has her gang to back her up. We'll have to wait and see. Hoplea will tell us what she decides to do. Let's relax while we can." Hoplea had seen the fight from a safe distance. He wanted to know what would happen when the warrior chicken and the gang leader met so he would know how to act the next time he reported to Swan Tilla. From his point of view, the fight had ended most satisfactorily. He had found it hard not to join in Billie's cheering, but he didn't want to give himself away - not just yet. When he saw the swan retreat, he left for the gang's campground. He wanted to know what she would do next. Ah, the busy life of the double agent. The jersey rabbit stopped a little ways from the camp. He figured it would be better if he showed up after Swan Tilla returned. He didn't have long to wait. The gang leader was smiling when she entered her camp. The members of her gang were still sleeping, but she had a cure for that. "Get up, you lazy oafs!" she hissed in their ears. She accompanied this verbal advice with some physical encouragement in the form of kicks and pecks with her beak to the slower moving birds. Any grumbling by her sleepy followers was cut short when they saw the expression on their leader's face. She looked happy, and that always meant that someone was going to suffer - and very painfully too. None of them wanted to be her next victim. Once her gang was fully awake, Swan Tilla told them, "While you birds have been wasting your time sleeping, I've been thinking and making plans." Her speculative look swept around her followers; each of them shifted uneasily, and none of them wanted to meet her eye. 'Good,' she thought to herself. 'None of them has the guts to think for himself.' She continued, "And I have come to the conclusion that we've taken just about all we can from the folks around here. So we'll be moving to a new territory in a few days." All of the gangsters looked at her in surprise. A few of them managed to question her in the form of saying "What?" Swan Tilla ignored this reaction. "Don't worry. We are going to leave here with everything that isn't growing out of the ground. We'll teach these folks what plucked really means." A beatific smile lit up the swan's face. "But first we are going to throw a party for everyone! Where's that rabbit?" As if on cue, Hoplea, who had been eavesdropping from some nearby bushes, hopped hesitantly into the camp. "Hey, Hopless, come over here," the swan leader called. "I have a little job for you." She wrapped one wing around the rabbit's shoulders and led him away from the others. Hoplea tried not to squirm too much under the swan's wing. Keeping a firm hold of her captive, Swan Tilla began the conversation, "I have this teensy, weensy little favor to ask of you. You want to help me, don't you?" She sqeezed his shoulder painfully. Wincing, because he knew the gang leader wanted to see it, Hoplea replied, "Sure, anyt'ing I can do to help youse, just ask." The rabbit twitched his mouth in a smile. "Good. I knew I could count on you, my little friend. I have decided to move on to new territory. But before we leave, I want to give a token of my appreciation for the generosity shown by everybody here to me and my friends. I am going to throw a party for the entire territory." The swan paused and got a puzzled look on her beautiful face. "But for some reason folks here don't seem to like me - I have no idea why. So I want it to look like you are throwing this party. That way nobody will suspect that I, the great Swan, am behind it. I'm giving you a free hand, er paw, in the details, Hopless, but get my approval for everything you do first. Understand?" She gave another sqeeze to the rabbit's shoulders. Thinking that he was going to have to consult Dr. Warrior Chicken again for his shoulders, Hoplea nodded eagerly. "Yeah, dat's a great idea! And all da folks around here will be real surprised when dey finds out who's givin' dis party. I just had an idea. How about we make it a dance? Dere's dis goose band from somewhere north of here dat's on tour. We could get dem to play and make dis a party to remember." Swan Tilla smiled down at her helper. "Yes, music is a nice touch. Do it. And if they want too much, let me know, and I'll send some of my associates to negotiate with them. Now go, hop along, little rabbit; you have a lot to do." She hurried the rabbit on his way with her wings. Smiling at the golden future she anticipated, the swan returned to her camp. Hoplea skimmed across the ground in his hurry to get to Aquila and the others. Swan Tilla hadn't fooled him a bit. He knew she was planning to rob everybody at this "party" of hers. He was in a hurry to find out what ideas the warrior chicken might have for stopping the swan and her gang from carrying out their plan. Aquila saw the rapidly moving figure first. "Hoplea's coming. And fast," she commented. Ergo and Billie looked up. But before either of them could say anything, the panting rabbit had arrived. It took him several seconds to get his breath. Then he began his tale. "Big news, guys. Swan Tilla's leaving and taking her gang wit' her. I guess she don't want her gang to know she got beat by a chicken." Hoplea paused to take a couple of deep breaths. That was a mistake since it gave Billie a chance to talk. "That's wonderful news, Hoplea! You should have seen how Aquila took care of that bird it was a great fight and Aquila even got Tillie the swan to hit herself ... I guess she isn't so tough against someone who fights back ... we sure showed her ........ But shouldn't we stop her from doing the same things somewhere else? We can't just let her leave she'll keep on hurting and stealing ... we have to do something!" Hoplea had been waving his paws at the little chick to get her to be quiet, but without any result. It took more than that to stop Billie in midstream. Finally the rabbit could continue. "Shush, Billie, I ain't finished my story. Like I said, da swan gang is leaving, but Swan Tilla wants to take everyt'ing she can from da folks here before dey go. So she wants me to organize a dance and invite everybody; den she and her gang will rob dem. She didn't tell me all dis in so many woids, but I heard her telling her gang dat dey were going to take everyt'ing dat wasn't stuck in da ground wit' dem. So we gotta make plans to toin da tables on her." He looked hopefully at Aquila. The former free-range chicken looked at her friends. "Alright; let's see how we can turn this dance into a trap for Swan Tilla and the rest of her gang." They began some serious conspiring. Ergo looked around at all the dance decorations. It was her only chance as she would be waiting outside to catch any gang members who tried to escape once the real party started. Everything appeared very festive. She looked up into the rafters where Hoplea and his helpers were finishing hanging colored streamers. She smiled. It had been a busy two days since the jersey rabbit had told them about Swan Tilla's plans. The first step had been to find the right place. A barn that had been abandoned a few months before turned out to be perfect. Then Hoplea went to all the folks he trusted and enlisted them to help him with getting everything ready for the swan gang's final song. He had no trouble hiring Gustav Gander and his Toot-Ons to provide the music for the dance. Of course Swan Tilla had insisted that a couple of her followers go with the rabbit when he talked with the goose; the band agreed to work cheaply. While Hoplea was doing all this, Ergo, Billie, and Aquila had had to keep on pretending that the warrior chicken was planning to take over the swan's territory. They acted as if they knew nothing about the plans for the big dance. Aquila walked up and stood next to Ergo. The big horse looked at the black-feathered chicken and said, "Hoplea's done a good job. He really organized all the folks and got everything set up perfectly. That swan and her followers won't suspect a thing." "Yes," Aquila nodded. "He has some surprising skills. I think Swan Tilla will find that she underestimated him." She looked around for the third member of her group and spied Billie talking with some of the band. The inquiring chick was having the time of her life. She had never seen musical instruments before. She wanted to know how each of them sounded and how the musicians knew what to do to play the different notes. She didn't see how they could all start playing and stop at the same time; it must take a lot of practice and talent, she enthused. All the goose musicians were amused by Billie's questions and were happy to satisfy her curiosity. It wasn't often they had such an appreciative audience. When Aquila saw her, Billie was trying to blow into one of the horns. But her beak wasn't big enough and all she could manage were puffing sounds. The yellow chick stopped trying to make music when Aquila tapped her on her shoulder. She looked at her friend and smiled. The free-range chicken smiled back. "It's time for us to get into our disguises. Folks will start coming any time now." Aquila and Billie were going to be present, but didn't want to be recognized - at least not until the fun started. Billie hadn't realized it was that late already. "I'm sorry, Aquila, but we've been having such a good time playing music and talking that I didn't know it was time for the dance to start ... I hope I didn't keep you guys from getting all set up," she said to the goose band, "but you're all so good you don't need much practice and you sure look nice in those clothes." She looked admiringly at their brightly sequined jackets and the lederhosen on their legs. She sighed. "Our disguises aren't that pretty ... oh I guess I better go ... see you guys later," she called as Aquila grabbed her wing and pulled her away. "Ergo," Aquila said, "you'd better get in place outside. You know what to do." The pale gold horse nodded and left. Aquila continued, "Come on, Billie, it's time for us to act in a play. You should like that." They went off to don their disguises. Ten minutes later Swan Tilla arrived with her gang in tow. She directed them to various hiding places. Then she looked around at all the decorations. Brightly colored streamers hung from every rafter; some of them almost touched the ground. The doors of the animal stalls were open and angled to break up the space and to mark off the dance floor; pieces of abandoned harness were festively draped over the stall doors and walls. Even the cobwebs were decorated; Hoplea had sprinkled some of the bands extra sequins on them so they reflected the candlelight and shed multi-colored patterns on the floor. And the final touch was a banner over the door announcing that this was the First Day of Summer Dance. She smiled approvingly and looked around for Hoplea, who had seen her come in and was standing nearby. She gave him an almost friendly smile. "Is everything ready for my little thank you for everyone's generosity to me and my friends? Does that silly-looking goose ..." she paused and frowned slightly as she stared at the lederhosen-wearing musicians "... understand the signal?" "Yeah, yeah, when I gives him da signal, he'll play da duck dance. He wanted to know why so I told him it's a custom in dese parts." The rabbit was nervous and shifting from foot to foot. Swan Tilla patted him on his cheek. "That's a good little rabbit. I'll see you after the dance, Hopless." She gracefully moved off to her hiding place. The party coordinator rubbed his cheek thoughtfully. "You'll see me after da dance alright." Meanwhile, out of sight Billie and Aquila were in disguise so Swan Tilla wouldn't recognize them. Billie was helping the caterers and was wearing a tall chef's hat. It made her look almost as tall as the warrior chicken. But she had trouble keeping her balance and was spending a lot of time swaying back and forth. Since it was only a disguise, she didn't have to actually try to help the kitchen staff. Which was just as well. At one point, trying to help, Billie reached for a can. But before she could open it, the head cook - a brightly colored peacock - yelled, "Don't open that can of worms! We don't need it yet." The startled chick dropped the can and spent the next several minutes wondering what it would be like to live on a diet of worms. Aquila was wearing a hooded cloak which covered her completely and kept her face in shadow. She was acting as the doorkeeper. And was in place to block the exit once the real fun started. The cloak gave her an aura of legendary mystery that was commented on by several folks as they entered. A couple of hours later the former free-range chicken had her jaw clamped tightly shut and was controlling herself with difficulty. She had had no idea that there were so many dancers in the area. For the first hour she had been almost constantly opening the door to new arrivals. It seemed that everyone who was anyone, or who thought they were anyone, had come to this summer dance. And they all were showing off their finery. Several of the more matronly geese were trying to outdo each other, and had worn gold, egg-shaped pendants around their necks. Aquila reluctantly admired Swan Tilla's tactics. Since none of the folks suspected the real purpose of the dance, they would have been easy victims for the swan gang. Giving Hoplea a pleading look, she mouthed 'duck dance?' The master of the revels shook his head slightly and shrugged one shoulder toward where Swan Tilla was hiding. The warrior chicken sighed. It had already been a long evening. She leaned against the door ... waiting. She only had time to sigh two or three more times when she saw Hoplea stiffen and nod. The jersey rabbit signalled to Gustav, and the band began playing the duck dance. As the first notes sounded, all the ducks and geese recognized the traditional dance and formed a line to begin dancing. They had taken the first couple of steps when Swan Tilla leaped over everybody's head and landed in the middle of the dance floor. The members of her gang came out of their hiding places and surrounded the party-goers. The dancing came to an abrupt and awkward halt. Swan Tilla assumed her naive smile. "Why thank you all for coming to my little party," she simpered. "We're going to be leaving soon, and it's so nice of you not to want us to go empty-handed. We'll start by accepting those golden eggs from the geese ... and whatever else you have." Gasps and cries of anguish greeted this speech. A couple of the more sensitive geese even fainted into their husbands wings. The white-feathered gang leader was too intent on the effect she was having to notice that Hoplea was giving another signal. Several squirrels and rabbits, who had waited all evening for their big moment, jumped and grabbed the hanging streamers and pulled. Suddenly nets that had been cleverly hidden in the rafters behind the colored cobwebs fell and covered several of the gangsters, who got more tangled as they tried to free themselves. At the same time, Billie emerged from the food area leading a line of mixed fowl. They weaved their way around the barn, tripping the swans who had avoided the nets. Other folks then jumped on the gang swans and tied them up using the pieces of harness that had been placed for just this purpose. The yellow chick was singing the song she had learned on an earlier adventure - cluck-cluck, cluck-cluck, cluck CLUCK. She had tried to teach it to the other birds; they had the rhythm but they all sang their own songs. Amidst the clucks could be heard - peep-peep, peep-peep, peep COOO-O-O and chirp-chirp, chirp-chirp, chirp COOO-O-O; and many other songs. When Gustav Gander saw what was happening, he had his band play some of the louder popular music from their northern homeland. The birds cheeped louder in competition with the band. The noise level was stupendous. And everybody seemed to be running in all directions at once. Everybody but Aquila and Swan Tilla, that is. When the action started, Aquila had whipped off her cloak, and given her battle cry. When Swan Tilla heard it, she turned slowly to confront her enemy. The swan was trying to come to grips with the crumbling of her plans for wealth. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. She'd deal with that traitorous rabbit later; first she had to take care of this upstart chicken. She hissed, stretching her neck. Round two of their grudge match was about to begin. Since she lost the first time they fought, Swan Tilla was a little more cautious this time. That was her mistake, because the warrior chicken fought with complete abandon. Moving swiftly, Aquila ran around her opponent, avoiding the swan's long neck and sharp beak. The swan twisted herself in her attempt to hit the fast moving black-feathered chicken; she started to fall. Aquila jumped on the white back and threw a net over Swan Tilla's head. Then she quickly tied her wings and legs with the special streamers provided for this special party. Completely helpless, the gang leader gave a loud shriek of anger and anguish. It was so unearthly that everyone, even the goose band, was startled into silence. Then the barn door opened, and Ergo entered. She was dragging a net that held several gang members who had managed to get outside, only to be caught by the horse who was waiting for them. She looked around at all the destruction. "You sure know how to throw a party, Aquila," she said mildly. Billie came out of her trance. "Good job, Ergo, it looks like we caught all of them they aren't so tough now, are they, when folks fight back and won't be pushed around ... you missed all the fun in here but I guess you had some fun yourself ... it was kinda boring until that swan tried to rob folks but got caught herself ... I was busy so I missed seeing Aquila tie her up we'll have to get her to tell us all about it ..." She turned to the line of birds behind her, "Guys, we gotta work on our song ... you're supposed to go cluck not peep ... who's that behind you, Ergo?" She pointed at a young robin who had hold of one side of the net. Before anyone could say anything, Mrs. Robin gave a happy cry and rushed over to hug her boy. Ergo smiled at the family reunion. "This is Cock. He showed up a little while ago and helped me catch these crooks. He told me that he left because Swan Tilla threatened to hurt his mother if he didn't. But he wanted to know what was happening here, so he came back. Just in time for the dance!" "Hey, dat's great," Hoplea joined the conversation. "I'm glad he's okay; we wuz all worried, not knowin' what happend to him. So what are we gonna do wit' dese guys?" He poked one of the tied up swans. Aquila had been checking the knots to make sure all the gang members were securely tied. "That's for the folks here to decide. But for now you'd better get them locked up some place they can't escape from." One of Hoplea's assistants piped up, "There's a root cellar behind this barn. We can put them there until we decide what to do." "Good idea," Aquila agreed. "We'll help you lock them up. Come on, Billie, Ergo." Hoplea walked over to where Swan Tilla was lying, all trussed up. He looked her in the eye. "By da way, Tillie, my name is Hoplea." The next day, Aquila, Ergo, and Billie were lazing around their camp, waiting to hear from Hoplea about the fate of Swan Tilla and her gang. Billie had recounted several times the stirring events of the previous evening. Ergo had told her about Cock Robin and how they had captured the fleeing swans, so she could add this to her version of their latest adventure. The persuasive chick had had a tougher time getting Aquila to describe her epic battle with the forces of evil as embodied in the swan leader. At first the dark chicken had only said - we fought and I won. But Billie kept at her until she added a few more details. That was all Billie needed to add to her chronicle of heroic deeds by the warrior chicken. The eager chick was never stopped for long by a lack of detail. It was early afternoon before Hoplea arrived to give them the latest update. The roaming rabbit was all smiles as he hopped into the camp. "We been busy while youse have been takin' it easy," he began. Billie tried to look indignant at this slur on her hyperactivity, but Ergo laughed at her expression. Aquila cocked an eye at him inquiringly. "No offense, Billie," Hoplea was still smiling. "Anyways, dis is what we decided to do wit' dose crook swans and geese. We're banishing all da followers. Since most of dem ain't smart enough to do anyt'ing on their own, and we beat dem dis time, we figure dey won't come back unless dey want more of da same treatment." He paused, but went on quickly before Billie could interrupt. "We knew we had to do somet'ing more about Swan Tilla; she's a mean one. So we're takin' her to dis castle where da people who lives dere keep a bunch of swans in cages. We'll drop her inside da walls and let da people have her. And welcome to her I say!" "Well I hope she learned her lesson not to rob and hurt folks," Billie said. "But will she stay there won't she fly away after you leave her at the castle?" Hoplea smiled. "Nah, we clipped her wings; she won't be flying anywhere for a while." "Good," Ergo joined the conversation. "You don't want her getting out any time soon." Aquila asked, "What about you, Hoplea? Are you going to settle down here and stop wandering? You seem to fit in and they need a leader." The jersey rabbit was startled at this thought. "I don't know," he said slowly. "Dis place ain't so bad; and now dat da swan gang is gone, it should be peaceful. Maybe I will stick around for a while. Youse t'ink I'm leader material?" "You're a great leader," the chatty chick encouraged. "Look how you got all the folks organized to fight the gang and how you got everything ready for the dance and hid the nets and traps in the decorations and talked Gustav and his Toot-Ons into playing ... by the way just before we left last night I heard them talking about leaving ... Gustav said they should try farther south where it's warmer and quieter, is there a place called Turkey ... I said good-bye to them and they said when I'm bigger I should learn to play a horn or something - that I have the lungs for it ....." Billie broke off when all the others started laughing. That night after they had eaten and were getting settled for the night, Billie was lying on her back, looking at the stars. She was thoughtful. "Aquila," Billie's voice wafted out of the darkness. "I've been wondering. If a sidekick is someone who fights beside the warrior, and we fight beside each other, does that make you my sidekick?" The fierce warrior chicken smiled at her little friend. "I guess it does," she said. Billie smiled contentedly, turned over and was immediately asleep. Ergo gave an amused whinny. The next day, after delivering Swan Tilla to her new, and hopefully permanent, home, Hoplea led all the folks in the territory to Aquila and company's campsite. They wanted to thank the three adventurers for helping them. The former free-range chicken still wasn't used to folks thanking her so she let the other two take the lead in acknowledging the gratitude of the masses. Billie enjoyed the role. Hoplea let the other folks do most of the talking. Mrs. Robin, especially, was most tearful in her praises of their courage. She was holding her returned son, who was trying not to act embarrassed by her emotional speech. Hoplea finally had to take charge, telling everyone that the heroes had places to go and other folks to help. With many expressions of thanks, everyone went back to their homes. Only Hoplea stayed. Billie waved one last time at the departing crowd, and turned to the rabbit. "It sure was good seeing you again ... do you want to come with us to find where Ergo's mother grew up or are you going to stay here ... everybody likes you and they all look up to you ... see I told you you're a good leader and they probably need somebody like you to protect them if another bully comes along ... anyway it's been fun, hasn't it, guys, and maybe we'll have more adventures next time we meet ..." Hoplea finally had to grab one wing and shake it lightly. "Billie, look over dere. What's on top of dat mountain?" The yellow chick looked where he was pointing. She squinted her eyes. Then she got the biggest smile of her young life. "Snow!!"	132,663

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