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Tofu is a nutritious and versatile food that should not be viewed as just a meat substitute. It is a curd made from soy bean milk with a process similar to cheese production. Rich in protein, B vitamins, iron, and magnesium, it also contains calcium, is low in fat, sodium, and calories. Tofu helps lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, assists in reducing hot flashes during post-menopause, and aids in the prevention of prostate, uterus, and breast cancers.
The soy bean originated in East Asia and is a member of the legume family of beans, peas and lentils. Soy foods, such as tofu, miso, soy sauce, milk, tamari, tempeh, and flour are a staple of Asian cuisines. They are popular in Western countries as well, particularly among vegetarians because of the foods’ high concentration of protein, replacing meat and fish. These products can be found in most supermarkets, ethnic, and health food stores. You can even find margarine, ice cream, yogurt, and cheese made from soy.
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The Society’s popular 64-page magazine —American Ancestors: New England, New York, and Beyond— features a wide range of article topics and styles, and appeals to family historians of all levels.
Read American Ancestors Magazine.
American Ancestors Magazine features several regular columns:
We also offer:Genealogies in Progress, Genealogies Recently Published, Other Books & CDs Recently Published, Family Associations, and DNA Studies in Progress.
“I want you to know that I joined NEHGS because I was so impressed with the outstanding quality of American Ancestors magazine when I picked up some old copies available for patrons at the Fairfax County, Virginia, library. The quality of this magazine reflects very well on the whole organization. Keep up the outstanding work!”
— Richard English, Arlington, Virginia
“I have been receiving this magazine for years and love it. I cannot part with back issues and have saved dozens. Today I re-read six past issues and picked up bits of information, especially sources, that I had missed . . . . So, thank you so much for adding your high level of genealogical professionalism to the rich history of my family.”
— Anne Louise Clap Van Nostrand, Boston, Massachusetts
As genealogists poking around in archives and attics, we are reminded regularly how much we owe to casual notes, correspondence, and other artifacts of daily life — and to the often serendipitous survival of those items. In this age of increasing reliance on digital solutions for the development, presentation, and storage of research, we muse (and sometimes obsess) on what will become of our research one hundred years from now. I’ve yet to see a clear solution to this problem. Despite my early and continued use of computers in my research, as an archaeologist I know that paper (like parchment, clay disks, and animal skins), when properly preserved, lasts. Non-digital records fail slowly over time, leaving a document usually partially readable even if worn or faded, but digital records fail completely and at once, and recovery, if possible, requires great effort and expense.
This essay looks briefly at personal archives and digital archiving, presents current established recommendations, and adds some new thoughts to assist the longevity of our research.
Genealogists and local historians need to be responsible for their universe of materials. Family archives have long been the foundation of public archives, and we need to recognize that the long-term preservation of our digital records needs more than the benign neglect that our ancestors’ diaries, correspondence, and business papers received. When paper materials left in boxes or desk drawers are rediscovered they may have faded and become brittle, but they are readable. The box of disks or the hard drive on our computers will not be similarly accessible. Yet many of the recommendations for digital preservation anticipate continued and long-term active involvement and intervention — often impossible beyond the genealogist’s lifetime.
People now engaged in research generally recognize that doing nothing to safeguard their digital files is dangerous. Since it is rare to find someone who hasn’t lost whole files and documents due to personal or technical failure, we all know we should back up our data on multiple devices. Back-ups, however, are not long-term archives, and are useful only as long as the software to open the records is available. Many people use their free email programs to store material as attachments. But the efforts of assembling and maintaining an email archive (made even more laborious when multiple email addresses are used) are significant. Other researchers use combinations of social media sites (Facebook, Flickr, Windows Live Spaces, YouTube, DropBox, and other cloud options). While these systems may continue for some time, in perpetuity, or even throughout our lifetimes, “forever” is never promised. Finally, some people save the computer, the operating system and the software that created the documents and, after progressing to a new model, store the older computers in the basement. While this addresses the need to keep all forms of digital records, no guarantee exists that these machines will boot up a century from now or that our descendants will continue to value and provide the necessary physical storage for all these old computers.
The Library of Congress has a website devoted to personal archiving that offers advice on preserving digital photographs, digital audio, digital video, electronic mail, personal digital records, and even websites.The issue of digital media longevity is addressed, and the following guidelines are provided:
File names, tags, and metadata (providing both contextual and historical information), and a good directory/ file folder structure are critical components of future access to these archives. Saving emails is heavily dependent on the specific email program(s). Similarly, saving websites is dependent on the website program, and whether individual pieces or entire web pages and sites will be saved — if that is even possible. Both activities are labor intensive.
The Library of Congress guidelines are excellent, yet leave two unresolved issues. The first is the considerable time involved in checking records in each digital format annually and creating new media copies every five years or as required. The second issue is how to ensure that records remain available for family members and other interested genealogists in the future, after the compiler’s death.
The issue of obsolescence can be addressed by the use of the Portable Document Format (PDF), a file format used to present documents independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems; these files are expected to provide readability well into the future. PDFs allow documents created with different software (e.g., Word, Excel) to be organized within another document, and accessed without needing the software that created the original files. Using PDFs eliminates both the need for the original software and the necessity of media migration, as recommended by the Library of Congress guidelines, leaving simple transfer of PDF documents to new generation storage devices, if required.
Many of us heavily invested in digital documents continue to routinely print and physically organize critical documents. This effort, of course, is an alternative or supplement to turning critical files into PDF documents. Such printed material, organized into three-ring binders or file folders, will continue to be readily available to future generations.
Once genealogists follow the recommendation that important documents (both digital and non-digital) be selected and organized in one or more PDFs (or easily accessible printed versions) and that a list of the full archive prepared, four options are proposed to address the issue of access after the family historian’s death. All of these steps may be utilized, following the LOCKSS principle — “lots of copies keeps stuff safe.” The first two options apply to both digital and paper records; the third addresses specifically data gathered for an individual family tree; and the fourth applies exclusively to PDF files.
Complementing all four options is a concept that has developed recently, as digital assets replace tangible ones. The legal designation of a digital executor, who need not be the executor of the will, is a recent development. While clearly of interest for researchers preserving family archives, the digital executor also plays a critical role regarding access to the digital information that may need attention online, on external storage devices, or on a computer’s hard drive. This designation allows the family historian to document his/her wishes and make certain that survivors, through the digital executor, know how to obtain the digital assets. Whatever plans are made for accessing material for the long term, the digital executor will be able to retrieve material and even, if necessary, place it in the environments selected. So if you do not complete your own archive, your digital executor can — if the executor is given a full list of digital assets and passwords, plus your plans for these assets’ disposition.
While it is true that those who don’t remember their past are doomed to repeat it, those who don’t preserve their digital assets for future generations will surely forfeit the fruit of their labors. The options and steps outlined above can help assure that collected genealogical and historical research need not be gathered again.
1 For more on this subject see Gary T. Wright, “Preserving Your Family History Records Digitally,” https://familysearch.org/techtips/2011/09/getting-started-digital-preservation (accessed June 21, 2012). ↩
2 PARADIGM, “Guidelines for Creators of Personal Archives,” www.paradigm.ac.uk/workbook/appendices/guidelines.html (accessed June 26, 2012), which includes a model gift agreement; the Oregon Historical Society offers “A Guide to Donating Your Personal or Family Papers to a Repository,” prepared by the Society of American Archivists, www.ohs.org/get-involved/upload/personal-records-donations.pdf (accessed June 11, 2012); and the South Carolina Historical Society, “Placing Your Family Papers in a Manuscript and Archive Repository,” www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/?page_id=391 (accessed June 11, 2012).↩
3 More on the Family Tree can be found at https://familysearch.org/help/self-help.↩
4 http://blogs.loc.gov/digitalpreservation/2011/06/personal-archiving-in-the-cloud ↩
5 The Internet Archive is working to prevent the Internet — a new medium with major historical significance — and other “born-digital” materials from disappearing. The collection includes PDFs of some earlier print-published material as well and is a useful resource for genealogists. See much more at www.archive.org. ↩
6 http://ia601204.us.archive.org/31/items/AksGenealogyBlogBook/t13vfm04-book.pdf. ↩
7 For more on the digital executor see www.deathanddigitallegacy.com/2010/01/08/what-is-a-digital-executor or www.thedigitalbeyond.com/tag/digital-executor. ↩
Susan Lukesh is an archaeologist, librarian, and retired higher education administrator. Her interest in genealogical research, specifically as a foundation for local histories, continues her archaeological research using everyday objects to develop history. Her website is www.SusanSLukeshLLC.com.
Like this very much. I have tried to encourage friends and family to retain their paper copies of photos and documents, but many don't see the worth. When the digitial versions fail, they will have nothing to go back to. I'm holding onto to all my
more» paper copies and making digital copies to take with me on trips.«less
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Did anyone outside of New York City happen to catch this story about Baruch College? In the scope of international Internet policy it is a proverbial drop in the bucket. But for higher education information technology policy it is an important story. And a good step that administrators there made in how they handled a challenge that in the past has stymied administrators and angered students.
Here is the story in a nutshell. Some students come up with software program for course registration. They do not run it by anyone in IT or Student Services, but they also do not intend for it to be destruction or shy away from identification with it. Some of student founders authenticated openly to it. Nonetheless, the program places a considerable load burden on servers, and possibly on bandwidth, as it pings over a million times to maintain current status of courses and selections.
T professionals register the spike, investigate and administrators contact the students. But instead of reading them the riot act (in the form of Responsible Use Policy), it would appear as if they educate … each other! The students to whom we will give the benefit of the doubt may not have appreciated the adverse impact that the program would have on the servers and network. The administrators to whom we will give credit did not throw the book at them. Together they learned more about students' needs, the complexity of technological operation of a network and IT policy.
Students should be encouraged to innovate and know that when they come up with something to meet needs of the community there is an office or somewhere on campus to go to discuss it operationally first before deployment. Intention matters. Nefarious disruption of the network should be the cause for discipline, but innovation is of a different ilk. Providing students with an appropriate outlet results in a win-win innovative and educational environment, which, is, of course, what higher education should be all about!
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The Moti Shahi Palace in Ahmedabad. Picture by Habib Khan
Ahmedabad, July 15: Mumtaz Mahal was still alive. The Taj Mahal wasn’t even in the picture. And Rabindranath Tagore stayed here as a teenager.
For a 391-year-old, steeped in history, Moti Shahi Palace, perhaps, deserved a little more respect.
Today, the Ahmedabad palace that inspired Tagore’s short story Kshudita Pashan (Hungry Stones) is a structure hemmed in by renovations that heritage activists say are “obscene”.
The extensions, which include elevator shafts and galleries, have come up on three sides, prompting at least one activist to say that a “cage has been made out of a monument”.
Strictly speaking, the palace that Shah Jahan built in 1622, some 30 years before he dedicated the Taj Mahal to his late wife Mumtaz, is not a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India Act. That shield disappeared in 1961. The newly formed state of Gujarat needed a Raj Bhavan and the two-storey palace, on the banks of the Sabarmati, was “delisted” as a national monument.
While that did not trigger the makeover, the renovations couldn’t have taken place had the structure — the only full-fledged Mughal palace in western India with a durbar hall and octagonal rooms — been still listed as a monument.
The renovations, going on for a year now, were started by the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Society which bought the palace in 1979 for Rs 52.73 lakh. The state government had funded the “sale”.
One condition for the sale was the memorial trust would approach the state archaeology department before introducing any change. The 1979 sale circular said the society would be “required to approach the state archaeology department before altering, executing repairs or even adding a new brick to Moti Shahi Palace... or adding new structure(s) to the existing building”. Last year, the Sardar Patel Smarak got a central grant of Rs 17 crore from the culture department to “renovate the Mughal building”.
Asked why such renovations were being allowed, director of archaeology Y.S. Rawat said: “There is nothing we can do about it. The palace has been handed over to the (memorial) trust by the state government.”
The trust uses the same defence. Dinsha Patel, Union minister and chairperson of the Smarak, said: “It is not a monument or (a) heritage (structure) but a residential property.” The minister also claimed the trust was “strengthening the structure”.
Conservationists say the makeover has made a mess of the Mughal architectural elements. The jharokhas, overhanging enclosed balconies, have been replaced with modern-day features like air traps, while elevator shafts and alterations like cement galleries were a sign of “lack of vision”, say Tagore scholars.
“As part of celebrating Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary, there was a plan to protect all monuments associated with him. On the contrary, this palace is being vandalised,” said poet Sankha Ghosh. Tagore, whose elder brother Satyendranath was posted here as a district judge, stayed at the palace in 1878 as a 17-year-old.
“It does not matter if the palace is a protected monument or not, it is still a heritage structure,” said architect Balkrishna Doshi, founder of CEPT University. “They have made a cage out of the monument.”
P.K. Ghosh, chairperson of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s heritage conservation committee, agreed. “Even if the palace is not protected under the ASI Act, it does not mean it has lost heritage value.”
Some read a “political angle” to the makeover that went against objections raised by the conservation committee, though none wanted to go on record. The state’s ruling BJP leaders have often invoked Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the key figures in the Independence movement.
“What they are doing is terrible,” said Manvita Baradi, convener of the Gujarat chapter of heritage body Intach.
Professor Narang Bhagat, 88, writer and Tagore lover, summed it up. “What they have done to this beautiful monument is sheer barbarism,” he said.
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Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either laparoscopic gastric banding or a nonsurgical program. Nonsurgical treatment involved very-low-calorie diets, weight loss drugs, and behavioral change to improve diet and exercise habits. The researchers measured weight change and the presence of the metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndrome is a condition in which people have at least 3 of the following abnormalities: overweight, high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels (a bad type of fat in the blood), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (“good” cholesterol), and high blood sugar levels. People with the metabolic syndrome are at risk for diabetes and heart disease. The researchers also evaluated patients' quality of life and side effects.
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American Old Time Song Lyrics: 52 He Was An Old Friend Of The Family
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 52
He Was an Old Friend of the Family.
Copyright, MDCCCXCVI, by Henry J. Wehman.
Words by Charles A. Taylor. Music by John Harding.
You ask me why I'm friendless, one day a poor tramp said;
I don't believe in friendship, in me all love is dead
'Twas a man I called my best friend that brought me this disgrace;
I'll tell you why a drunken sot I tramp from place to place;
I and a wife as pure as gold and a little baby boy-
Alas! for faith in friendship, it robbed me of my joy:
I loved him with a brother's love, but he stole my wife away,
That is why you and me, sir, a friendless tramp to-day.
He was an old friend of the family. I'd known him for many a year;
We had been schoolboys together, his friendship I cherished most dear:
I knew that his life had been lonely, so my home he was welcome to share,
But, alas, he has robbed it of sunshine and filled my poor heart with despair.
I was good to my dear Nellie, she made a loving wife;
God sent our darling baby to cheer us on through life.
Our home, though nothing grand, had plenty there to share
With the friend I'd known in boyhood, he was always welcome there;
He bit the hand that gave him food, and betrayed a sacred trust.
Then stole the flower I worshipped And trailed it in the dust.
My baby boy they left behind, and 'twas ad that saved the life
of the man who called me friend, yet stole away my wife.- Chorus.
I can't forget my sorrow, or how my heart did yearn,
As I tried to tell the baby when his mother would return.
For he grew so sick and restless, and sometime" in his sleep,
When he'd sigh and call for mamma, I would turn away And weep;
The autumn passed and winter came, yet it brought no truant wife;
As I watched my failing baby, all hope fled from my life:
It's buried 'neath that little mound, where the babe was laid to rest,
And that la why there's not a spark of friendship in my breast. Chorus.
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Events that occurred on 15 October.
On Earth
- 1844 - Philosopher and author Friedrich Nietzche is born.
- 1931 - J.R.R. Tolkien's poem "Progress in Bimble Town" is published in The Oxford Magazine.
- 1937 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes Letter 17.
- 1959 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes Letter 220.
- 1963 – While dining, J.R.R. Tolkien saves the life of an old lady who nearly choked on a whiting bone.
- 1999 - Author Barbara Strachey dies in Oxford.
- 2007 - Ring*Con 2007 in Fulda, Germany.
- 2009 - Mereth Aderthad XV, or "EstelCon", in Cardona, Spain.
In Arda
- F.A. 495:
- T.A. 3018:
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Back to Basics: Safe Egress
Ensure all employees are trained and know what is to be done in an emergency. Review the plan with new hires or newly assigned employees so they know the plan and their responsibilities.
- By Leo J. DeBobes
- Jul 01, 2010
In the years since fire, building, and life safety codes had initially been developed, safety professionals and researchers have looked at increasingly technical means of ensuring life safety from fires in buildings. Unfortunately, many property owners and managers continue to forget one of the most basic elements of life safety: maintaining a safe means of egress.
One of the first considerations should be placement, capacity, and numbers of exits. Exit doors that exist in buildings often are not situated so occupants can readily see them or know they are present. This is particularly true in theaters, clubs, concert halls, and other entertainment venues. In locations such as these, occupants, including patrons and staff members, often will resort to retracing the route they took to enter the facility rather than leaving through the nearest means of egress.
An example is the Station fire that took place in a nightclub in West Warwick, R.I, in 2003. In this case, theatrical pyrotechnics used on stage as part of a performance by the band Great White ignited combustible soundproofing foam, and fire spread quickly through the unsprinklered nightclub. One hundred of the approximately 462 occupants inside the club at the time died and 230 were injured. Most of the panicked occupants attempted to exit through the same front entrance by which they had arrived, unaware of or disregarding three other direct exits that were present. Part of the reason they might not know the locations of the other exits was that these were not readily discernible to occupants because of their placement or insufficient exit identification.
The number of exits and the path of exit travel is a significant consideration in emergency evacuation planning. The Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in Southgate, Ky., in 1977 killed 165 occupants and injured more than 200 others. The facility had barely more than half of the required exits, and many of these were insufficiently marked or identified. In addition, because of a series of construction projects that had taken place over a period of time, occupants had to travel through a series of doors in order to reach safety.
Keeping Paths Open
An additional factor in maintaining a safe means of egress is the need to prevent improper storage in corridors, stairs, and exit routes. Building occupants and event building managers frequently may tend to ignore items that have been placed in corridors "temporarily," especially when they perceive they lack adequate storage space. It could be the transient clutter caused by a large number of college dormitory residents trying to move in simultaneously, each with large amounts of personal items and carts being left in a corridor. Similarly, it might be the long-term placement of carts and equipment in hospital and health care facility corridors under the mistaken assumption that wheeled items won't be a constraint to evacuation or to access by emergency responders.
Yet another consideration is the failure to ensure that exit doors swing in the direction of exit travel when a space is occupied by more than 50 people or is considered high-hazard occupancy. Unfortunately, spaces are often modified after the initial construction or renovation, and door swing is often not considered as the occupancy type or number of occupants changes. In the Iroquois Theatre fire in 1903, 602 occupants died when they were unable to escape from a fire in this supposedly "fireproof" building. In this case, many doors opened inward so that people attempting to escape blocked the door swing and were trapped behind the doors they could no longer open as the crowd surged behind them. Additionally, many of the doors were equipped with an unfamiliar vertical lock at the top and bottom of the door. As a result of this fire, panic hardware that would enable occupants to push against an exit bar and escape began to become required by codes.
The locked exit doors at New York City's Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that resulted in the deaths of 146 people, mostly young women, during a 1911 fire are well known and helped lead to the establishment of a variety of improved safety codes nearly 100 years ago. In fact, the American Society of Safety Engineers was formed in New York City only a few months after this tragedy, partially as a response to this large loss of workers' lives.
In many cases, even in recent history, exit doors have been locked or blocked to prevent pilferage or to prevent access by unauthorized persons.
At the Happyland Social Club Fire in the Bronx, N.Y. in 1990, a disgruntled suitor used gasoline to ignite the only stairway in the unlicensed club. Because the fire exits had been blocked to prevent people from getting into the club without paying the required cover charge, many of the occupants were unable to escape, and 87 died. Only two years before, the club had been cited for not having adequate fire exits.
A 1991 fire in a McCrory’s store in a Long Island, N.Y. enclosed shopping mall resulted in the deaths of two young workers who were unable to exit the store, and 29 shoppers were injured. The corporation agreed to a $500,000 OSHA penalty settlement for allowing exit obstructions.
The fire at the Imperial Foods chicken processing plant in Hamlet, N.C., in 1991 caused 25 deaths and 54 injuries of workers who were trapped behind locked exit doors. The plant's owner pleaded guilty to 25 counts of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the company was assessed $808,150, the largest such fine the state had ever levied.
The elimination of required exits is an additional concern. In February 2010, a fire occurred in the Carlton Towers in Bangalore, India, killing at least nine people. In this case, fire exits on many floors were eliminated due to corridor encroachment. Apparently, each floor had 16 units, but in several areas purchasers bought two units and then closed the corridors, combining the two units and preventing access to the fire exits from other units in the same area.
Similarly, improper modification of dwelling units in the Bronx resulted in the deaths of two firefighters and serious injuries to three others in 2005 when the firefighters were forced to jump from a fifth-floor window. Tenants in this building had built partitions that divided up the apartments, blocking egress and creating a maze.
Finally, even administrative controls can be inappropriate and can lead to loss of life during fire emergencies. In Mexico City's Lobohombo nightclub, patrons trying to use the club's only exit were stopped by security guards who wanted proof they had paid their bills before leaving. This 2000 fire killed 20 people and injured about two dozen others. Witnesses described panic when smoke began filling the club and occupants rushed to reach the sole exit. The nightclub had been repeatedly cited for safety violations but obtained numerous appeals and injunctions in order to remain open.
In many cases, fire safety personnel in high-rise buildings have encouraged occupants to remain in their areas during fires on other floors or areas. The delayed evacuation during the 2001 World Trade Center attacks has often been described as having prevented some employees from escaping before the buildings collapsed.
Summary of Back to Basics Steps to Take
- Have at least two means of escape remote from each other that are to be used in a fire emergency.
- Do not allow fire doors to be blocked or locked when employees are within the buildings, except where an approved alarm system is integrated into the fire door design.
- Ensure exit routes are clear and free of obstructions.
- Ensure exit routes are properly marked with signs designating exit paths.
Emergency evacuation plans
- Ensure there is a written emergency action plan for evacuation of employees that describes the routes to use and procedures to be followed by employees. The plan must be available for employee review. Procedures for accounting for all evacuated employees must be part of the plan.
- Ensure a plan exists for assisting employees and visitors with handicapping conditions.
- The plan must include procedures for those employees who must remain behind temporarily to shut down critical plant equipment before they evacuate.
- Ensure the means of alerting employees to a fire is part of the plan and an employee alarm system is available throughout the workplace and is used for emergency alerting for evacuation. The alarm system may be voice communication or audible signals such as bells, whistles, or horns.
- Ensure all employees are trained and know what is to be done in an emergency. Review the plan with new hires or newly assigned employees so they know the plan and their responsibilities.
Leo J. DeBobes, MA (OS&H), CSP, CHCM, CPEA, CSC, EMT, is Assistant Administrator, Emergency Management & Regulatory Compliance at Stony Brook University Medical Center and a past president of the American Society of Safety Engineers' Long Island Chapter.
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Although there is some controversy over the issue, human-induced green house gas emissions are generally considered to be the primary cause of global warming. Carbon dioxide is considered to be the most important of these “greenhouse” air pollutants, and the burning of fossil-fuels a main source. This is because fossil fuels have carbon atoms that are released as carbon dioxide when they are burned. For example, gasoline consists of atoms of hydrogen and carbon (about two hydrogens per carbon). When it burns, the hydrogen combines with oxygen to make water, and the carbon combines with oxygen to make carbon dioxide. If the combustion is incomplete, it also makes carbon monoxide.
In contrast, renewable non-combustible energy sources (such as wind or sunlight) do not convert hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide. That means that renewable energy technologies have a better chance at competing with fossil fuels (such as petroleum and coal) if you take into account the full energy cost, including the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during energy production. Solar plants cost more to construct than coal plants, but they don’t pollute. So economists argue that solar might actually be cheaper if you include the damage done by carbon dioxide pollution in the cost of coal. Basically, if you give a monetary value to the cost of polluting the air, then emissions become an internal cost of doing business that is visible on the balance sheet.
In order to address this issue, President Obama has pushed to establish carbon emission trading (known as “cap-and-trade”). The basic idea of this carbon exchange market is that the government sets a limit (cap) on the total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted nationally, and the market sets the price. In other words, a business would have to pay a carbon tax, buying the right to emit carbon dioxide from the government. The basic idea is to create a financial incentive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while boosting energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts.
President Obama specifically proposes a 14% emission reduction from 2005 levels by 2020 (and 83% reduction by 2050). He also proposes that companies buy an allowance, or permit, for each ton of carbon emitted at an estimated cost of $13 to $20 per ton to start. Rather than following Obama’s proposed system of “full permit auctioning,” the House of Representatives passed a bill last June that would establish a variant of a cap-and-trade plan for greenhouse gases. I’m not going to get into the details of this American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which is still under consideration in the Senate. However, I did want to note that this bill’s cap-and-trade program allocates 85% of allowances to industry for free, auctioning only the remaining 15%. There is a tremendous amount of debate on the best system to curb emissions of climate-changing gases. There are other competing bills currently in the House and Senate. However, it appears that none of these bills are likely to pass Congress. “Realistically, the cap-and-trade bills in the House and the Senate are going nowhere,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, who is trying to create bipartisan climate and energy measures. “They’re not business-friendly enough, and they don’t lead to meaningful energy independence.”
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For this photograph titled A Room Filled with an Obnoxious Amount of Money, I simply withdrew $871 from the bank and then used the multiplicity photography effect to fill the room up with cash.
This process roughly took 7-10 hours: roughly 4 hours taking the actual pictures of the money with my DSLR on a tripod; as you can see, I've put the money inside of picture frames, taped it walls, folded it around window blinds, mounted it in piles, and stuffed it in drawers and glass jars. Post-processing the 170 individual frames in Adobe Photoshop CS5 took roughly 5 hours. This is a 2 shot vertical panorama (Everything shot in JPEG) with some HDR toning applied at the very end with the Topaz Photoshop plug-in.
This looks like an obnoxious amount of money, but it was really only $871, as you can see below.
In order to make the heaping "piles" of money seen on the tables, I simply took a small pillow and covered it with the $871, making sure no part of the pillow was visible, then moved the money to the next spot, and repeated 170 times:
If you take this $871 and then multiply it 170 times, this room would be filled with $148,070 USD. If you add the amount of money perceived inside the glass jars and underneath the heaping piles, this room could easily add up to a million US dollars or more.
Pretty cool! I'm rich with American currency, and it only took me 9 hours!
The multiplicity photography effect is explained in the video tutorial linked above. Plus, if you want an entire structured library of unique photography techniques, consider purchasing my instructional how-to e-book and online video course Trick Photography and Special Effects, which explains the camera techniques used to create creative images just like these ones.
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Be A Good Neighbor
BE A LOCALIST
By Candace Mattingly
Localism starts with you -- THE LOCALIST. The way we interact with our neighbors, neighborhoods and towns affects our lives and the lives of others. Everything we do at home and in our surrounding area matters -- all of it. The places we choose to spend our money, how we connect to other community members and the way we use the land reflects the type of society we want to create. Relationships are the bedrock of a community. Small town living is about knowing your neighbors. Buying from local entrepreneurs helps maintain a town’s unique flavor. Maintaining that unique culture starts with your actions and the way you strengthen or weaken the fabric of your town. Your everyday decisions reflect the community and cause powerful ripple effects to every aspect of a culture. One commitment to your community spreads the idea that localism matters. How you serve your community matters. Why you choose to participate is up to you.
Preventative care begins with the food you eat. Eating food from local farms is not only good for the local economy and the farmer, but it serves your body’s well-being too. Buying from a local farmer gives you direct access to fruits and vegetable that are at their peak time for consumption. Foods that are grown chemical-free contain the most benefits and vitamins for your health. Fruit and vegetables from the farm and from the supermarket may visually appear similar, however, the taste and nutrients vastly differ. Donald Davis and his team of researchers at the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry published a study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition on the nutritional data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on 43 different vegetables and fruits from 1950 and 1999.
The study found “reliable declines” of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B2, and vitamin C. The study concluded that the “efforts to breed new varieties of crops that provide greater yield, pest resistance, and climate adaptability have allowed crops to grow bigger and more rapidly, but their ability to manufacture or uptake nutrients has not kept pace with their rapid growth.”
Commercial farms need to meet a quota to keep up with demand. Their goal is to improve production and streamline processes. If more demand for their product means squeezing out the nutrition, then that is the business decision that is made.
Small farms do not have to keep up with mass production. They can take care of their growing process to protect the purity of the food they grow and their career. These farmers are also your greatest ally. Their livelihood depends on people purchasing their goods.
Anyone that came of age during the height of music CD sales in the 1990s knows the chain stores Sam Goody, Camelot Music, and Musicland. They can also tell you that they went to those stores to buy the latest top-selling albums, but asked the advice of the music nerd at the local independent record shop for the coolest, underground CDs.
Today, it feels like we have a million choices, but really it is only preference of a few options. Do you want the original Nacho Cheese Doritos or one of the other sixteen flavors?
Local shops bring the individuality that is missing from big box stores like Target and Walmart. You can walk into any Target and generally find the same items for sale.
Independent retailers carry a smaller selection, but the discovery and diversity of selection cultivate culture. Each item in their store is hand-picked for local customers. Cobble together enough local businesses to replace the need for the big box stores and suddenly you have a vast array of options.
Artisan maker and entrepreneur opportunities also open up. They are no longer competing against massive brands and needing to shell out thousands of dollars for an opportunity to undercut their business to land on the biggest shelves in the world -- Walmart.
This big-box store is not only the largest retail store in the world, it’s the world’s largest company. Bigger than General Motors and ExxonMobil. They were able to achieve it with one business strategy -- deliver the lowest price to their customer at all cost.
At all cost. This was a lesson that was learned by national brands like Vlasic pickles. In the late 1990s, they struck a deal with Walmart to sell their novelty gallon jars in the store priced just under three dollars. The pickles flew off the shelves. The store and the pickle company were only making about a penny per jar, but they were selling 240,000 jars a week. Both companies were happy. That is until the gallon novelty jar started eating into their profit margin.
Customers stopped buying the high-profit margin items like pickle spears and hamburger chips in favor of the low-low priced gallon jars. Vlasic saw their profit plummet by more than 25 percent. When they asked Walmart for relief, Steve Young, a former vice president of grocery marketing for pickles at Vlasic, recalled to Fast Company that their response was, “If you do that, all the other products of yours we buy, we'll stop buying.' It was a clear threat.”
Walmart finally gave Vlasic reprieve and allowed them to change the size of the jar to just over a half-gallon. Young recalled their response was, “Well, we've done to pickles what we did to orange juice. We've killed it. We can back off." Vlasic filed for bankruptcy in January 2001.
The number one thing you can do to help your community create jobs is to stop shopping at Walmart. Vlasic is not the only company squeezed out by the big box store. Walmart favors low prices and requires their vendors to drop their prices every year they do business together. That means less profit for the makers.
Like corporate farmers, when a business needs to turn a profit or go out of business, they are forced to meet the pricing demands of their distributor. Makers in every department were forced to lay off American workers, close plants and move their operations overseas.
Carolina Mills, a leader in textiles headquartered in Maiden, North Carolina supplies thread, yarn, and textile to apparel makers. The company supplies about half of the makers that are distributed by Walmart. The pricing affects their business, too. As their customers moved overseas, there business dropped off. The company was forced to reduce to 1,200 employees from 2,600 and 7 factories from 17. They were also forced to move their production to Asia.
Small businesses are invested in their community. They support local nonprofits, little league teams, and buy girl scout cookies. They also employ over 77 million Americans, will never send their business overseas and account for 65 percent of all new jobs created in the past 17 years.
Do them a favor and stop “showrooming” in their stores to find a better deal online. This is one of the biggest problems small businesses face. Over 80 percent of small businesses are affected by this tactic to save a few bucks. It significantly impacts 47 percent of small businesses.
It’s the little changes that make the greatest impact. A study in San Francisco found that if only 10 percent of the dollars spent went into small businesses, there would be 1,300 new jobs and $192 million in additional economic activity.
Think Local First
The independent retailer is also more likely to source from other local companies and return three times as much money per dollar of sales back into the local community.
Local restaurants return more than double per dollar than national food chains.
When you’re asked for the name of your favorite restaurant, what is the first place that comes to mind? Over ninety percent of you will recall your favorite local cafe or family-owned restaurant. We are naturally drawn to a unique place where people know our name. Yet, we’ve been conditioned to think of the chain restaurants when we’re hungry.
Make a concerted effort to take the extra ten minutes and dine at a local restaurant. Drive the extra twelve minutes to the store with bad parking. Buy your insurance from a local broker, and get your taxes done by an independent CPA. Every choice you make builds or breaks the community.
The community depends on you. These businesses depend on you. You owe it to yourself to consider the quality of experience, customer service, and variety these small independents bring to the community.
Freedom of choice at a big box store is a fallacy. Purchasing that shirt also bought by three of your neighbors is like shopping at Camelot Music for that new Britney Spears album. When you could have had a unique shirt and The Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs.
About Candace Mattingly
Candace Mattingly studied English literature and interpersonal communications at UNC. She lives with her husband, twin toddlers, and their dog in North Carolina.
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The invention of internet revolutionized the world as it opened new paradigms of almost every aspect of life. It altered every aspect of life and hence could not go unnoticed. People were so amazed at this invention that they were awed. The introduction of the internet was really something big. Never had anyone imagined that they would be able to video call their loved ones from a distance of thousands of miles.
Neither did they imagined having a map of the whole world in their cell phones. This was something really impressive. One of the biggest changes that internet brought was access to every kind of skill learning online. People started making videos of everything they knew and posted it on the internet.
It is perhaps the best part of the internet. This is what a revolution is. An online institution that has no physical presence and is all codes and algorithms but still it continues to affect so many lives positively. People benefited themselves from it. Talent got acknowledgement through internet.
Never did anyone cared whether there’s some exceptional artist living in the ruins of Palestine or an amazing photographer living in some third world country. Before the internet, life was close to what we call unfair. All a startup owner could think of was expanding his business to some other town or maybe city. Things stayed Intra-city. Span of every human activity was very limited and so was the growth. Growth is subjective though. People seldom imagined things that we consider normal today.
Rise of Social Media and AI
An online shop, YouTube, AI and Siri are the giant revolutions whose importance can only be understood if they disappear for some days. All in all internet came in like a wrecking ball and destroyed all the orthodox and limited beliefs and hope of people. It showed them the horizons of new world. The online world.
It was not long after the internet started being referred to as an alternate world. A world of both good and evil. The proportion might not be the same but the recipe contains both of them. The internet was no exception. As people started shifting their life, their assets, their business, the banks introduced digital currency and cloud storages were introduced, the evil side of the world started giving a vehement demonstration of its presence.
Internet Security Risks
The only difference was thieves started being called hackers and robberies were referred to as digital thefts. With so much of data online, hackers could see a great opportunity of blackmailing people and sabotaged their privacies. The private lives of people held them hostage by the hackers. The situation worsened when the hackers started targeting the intelligence agencies and law regulating authorities. The governments and bureaucrats all were deep into the ocean of internet.
It was too late to back off because almost every record was online. After all, the temptation was really worth it. The idea of storing things online was something that seeped into every mind. The change was all over the place.
Something had to be done to get rid of these hackers and everyone started working on how to solve this issue. People started making their websites and online systems more secure. Everyone presented their own solution. Proxy servers were the solution that was standing out. It was because of the effective technique used in the proxy servers.
How Internet Works
The user of internet when requests to access a webpage, has to send a request that carries the information of the user such as IP address. The websites accepts the request and sends back the requested data along with it. This all transfer of data is not encrypted and is open and accessible to the rest of the world. This is where hackers started messing up with the internet users information. The proxy servers were an effective solution to this issue as these servers encrypted the data between user and the client.
In this way no one else could have access to the data being transferred. Another thing that proxy server provided was online anonymity and secure browsing. People could sign up for proxy servers and every browsing activity was done with the IP address of the proxy server. This acted as a shield to the actual user’s IP address. Sometimes the proxy server was in some other area and it disguised the user’s location i.e. the user would be in USA and proxy server would show Germany as the location because the proxy server is located in Germany.
How Proxy Servers Work
These traits of a proxy server are being used effectively today and it produces great results. These are life hacks for the people on the internet. A proxy server lets one access the content that is blocked within their country due to many different reasons. Anyhow, if they need the content or want to view every aspect of a particular topic, (as in research) they can simply use proxy servers to unblock the content blocked in their country.
People use social media for marketing of their business or a service they’re providing. One account is often not sufficient to generate a huge campaign and target multi-national audience. So this is where proxy servers jump in. They not only help the user to target international customers but also lets them handle multiple accounts at once. This way they can easily create an impactful social media marketing campaign.
People also use proxies for gaming as some games are banned in some regions. However, this ban could not keep them from doing what they like and hence they use the proxy servers to play the games they like. They can also hide their identities to keep safe from threats online.
All of the things mentioned made it clear that proxy services are being used by people all across the globe and for various purposes.
Chromium browser is widely used due to its flawless performance and high speed. However, you can also integrate proxies onto your Chromium browser. The Chromium proxy can be added easily in some steps. After going into the browser settings, click the “Advanced” and then “System”. There you’ll find “change proxy settings”.
Now all you have to do is add the details i.e. IP address and port number of the proxy server and you are ready to use the proxy server.
There are some add-ons of Chromium browser that uses Chromium proxy to function. Privacy Badger is one of those. It cloaks your IP address and your does not let your digital footprint on the internet. HTTPS Everywhere is also an add-on of the Chromium browser. Once integrated into the browser it acts as a Chromium proxy server because you no longer need to get some other proxy connected.
Chromium Proxy Add-ons
All of your searched would be safe and secure. Another example is the Keywords Everywhere add-on. It is basically a keyword research tool but it often uses proxy to find country specific keywords.
The proxy Chromium or any other browser uses are of three main kinds based on the quality and cost. You must be wondering everything we buy depends on the aforementioned aspects but there is more to it when it comes to proxies.
Free Chromium Proxy
There are proxy servers that are free for all. These are the ones that anyone can access from the internet. They are free from any kind of discrimination. This makes them available for everyone. It must sound nice of them who made this free for people.
The dark side of free proxy is a really crowded and slow server. It is evident from its name. Now who would want to waste time to save some bucks? Time is precious. Of course no one would do that unless they’re planning to achieve something big in life.
Apart from wastage of time, the free proxy servers are so exposed that they are prone to hacking. When anyone can access them, it can be anyone. The hackers too.
Shared Chromium Proxy
The second type of proxy servers are the shared proxy servers. They are somehow of better quality and performance than the free proxy servers and that too because they come with a cost. Yes, the shared proxy servers, as the name suggests, are shared among a group of people who paid for the server. The speeds are better here but the problem still exists. When a server is shared between people, one of them might do something that violates a website’s rules and get the server blocked from that website.
Now this is when you have to pay for what others did. These situations really challenge the peace of mind and therefore decrease the productivity of user. It can lead to other problems as well.
Dedicated Chromium Proxy Servers
The third type of proxy servers are dedicated proxy servers. As the name suggest, they are solely dedicated for one user or organization. They are faster in speed due to its dedicated only nature. This really comes with great benefits.
Private proxies are going to provide the most secure and efficient way to work. A private server with no issues that might act as barriers in your work is often said to be a blessing. The choice of a proxy provider should be made wisely. One should keep in view all the market rates and compare the customer reviews. When the reviews are viewed in correspondence to the price of that thing, a lot can be judged about a brand.
Long payment plans should be avoided at first. You should pay for a week or less so you can check and have a trial version of the server. It can save you from any scammers or poor service providers.
Chromium Proxy Integration
Moreover, a proxy server integrated into browser is the best and safest way to surf. The Chromium proxy settings make it very easy to integrate a Chromium proxy server. Therefore providing a safe and secure search for the user. A browser proxy is said to be safer as it’s like a built in security system. You won’t have to worry about whether the proxy is working or not because it’s installed.
If it stops it notifies and addresses the issue itself. Otherwise it will let you know that you’re disconnected from the proxy server. The add-ons also work properly and efficiently when the Chromium proxy server is being used.
The choice of proxy server matters a lot in any kind of work. This is because of the reasons mentioned before. When you keep all the things into consideration and invest time and energy into getting proxy server. You will get the best results without a doubt. There are some other factors that decide whether or not a business will be successful but here we are talking about proxy servers in specific.
The reputation of a server should be checked before making any payments. Secondly the server might be blocked from the list of websites that you aim to work with. This could result in all of your money being wasted. Therefore a free trial or a weekly probation period should be taken before finalizing a server. The Chromium proxy server is the best solution to all your proxy related tasks.
Never is success going to come to the one who does things to achieve mediocre results. Your preparation should not be mediocre, your target should not be mediocre. This is because mediocrity is addictive. It makes a person feel safe and hence he starts liking that environment. If you ever want to achieve something big, you will have to put something big at stake too.
This is how things work in reality. All the big achievers are the ones who had a lot at risk but their heart and mind were so aligned towards a goal that they succeeded. The recipe is everywhere, the chef is the one who decides these days.
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Study Reveals Blowing Out Birthday Candles Is a Bonanza of Vile Bacteria
When you blow out the candles on your next birthday cake, you may want to wish that everyone around you remains healthy.
A new study out of Clemson University has found that blowing out the candles on a birthday increases bacteria on the sweet treat by a staggering 1,400%.
Maybe a birthday cupcake would be better. Or a birthday donut. Or a birthday raisin. Anything, really, that doesn't have to be shared after you weeze and inadvertently spit all over it.
Clemson professor Paul Dawson spearheaded the study and cautioned that it all differs based on the individual. "Some people blow on the cake and they don’t transfer any bacteria,” Dawson told The Atlantic. "Whereas you have one or two people who really for whatever reason...transfer a lot of bacteria."
What's even more mind-blowing is the fact that this news shouldn't necessarily change how you celebrate turning the big-whatever-age-you've-reached. "It’s not a big health concern in my perspective," Dawson said. "In reality if you did this 100,000 times, then the chance of getting sick would probably be very minimal."
We should also point out the study did not actually employ real cake. Researchers "frosted a piece of foil atop a cake-shaped styrofoam base" before inserting candles and blowing after having eaten pizza, a common food to devour at birthday parties.
Still, if this doesn't make you think twice about having a piece of cake the next time you're at a birthday party, we don't know what will.
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The U.S. Conference of Mayors is meeting this week in Miami Beach, a perfect locale for a group that, following President Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, sees itself as the heir to America’s global leadership on climate change.
And then some: U.S. cities (and states) have also recently supplanted the federal government in negotiating with Canada. They have crafted their own immigration policies at odds with federal wishes. They are increasingly responsible for the provision of the safety net, especially as it relates to housing, as Washington and some statehouses have disclaimed responsibility for anti-poverty programs.
The enthusiasm of mayors for that role—as D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser led the chant at January’s Women’s March, “Leave us alone!”—is matched only by their unsuitability for it. Constitutional power limits and meddling legislatures in both red and blue states have curtailed municipal initiatives from the minimum wage to plastic bag bans. Any effort to effect a greater redistribution of wealth is severely hamstrung by suburban separatism. We may have new stereotypes about urbanites, and need new ones about suburbanites, but one thing remains true: Most American metropolitan areas are still doughnuts, poverty surrounded by wealth.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is here to help, he told the conference on Monday, with a new grant-making program called the American Cities Initiative. Over the next three years, Bloomberg Philanthropies will distribute $200 million to U.S. cities, beginning with a “Mayor’s Challenge” to grant $5 million to an urban project on any issue and millions more to runners-up.
The return of Bloomberg’s urbanist philanthropy, which has more recently focused on Latin America and Europe, to the American city is in response to two things, the billionaire told the New York Times. First, the recognition that cities now "replace Washington and, in some cases, state governments, to provide services.” And second, the more abstract concept that innovative urban governance is a way of restoring America’s image and influence in spite of Trump's anti-urban agenda.
First: This is a very small amount of money for Bloomberg to dangle, especially for the big-city mayors who conduct foreign state visits and so on. The $100,000 grants dedicated to runner-up proposals in the new Mayor’s Challenge, which reprises a Bloomberg project from 2013, wouldn’t buy a public toilet. The grand prize is small potatoes relative to billion-dollar big-city budgets, and the entire dedication of $200 million is pocket change against the billions the Trump budget cuts from the transit grants, housing voucher programs, and other federal outlays on which cities depend.
Still, small grants give mayors the political capital to try new things, or go out on a limb with endeavors that might not seem like an obvious use of public money. The development of 911, for example, was spurred largely by small local grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Urban resilience efforts in the U.S. (to say nothing of city-focused journalism, including much of my own work at, say, Next City or the Guardian) have been fostered by the Rockefeller Foundation. The last time Bloomberg Philanthropies tried its challenge here, in 2013, big cities like Houston and Chicago won grants—and plenty more applied. These little gifts spur matching investments from cities and states, functioning as affirmations that something is a good idea and worthy of investment.
Since then, Bloomberg has turned his focus in the U.S. toward politics, via the quietly effective Everytown for Gun Safety project, started in the spring of 2014, and donations to candidates who support gun control or others that Bloomberg likes. In 2016, he threw $65 million into races and referenda, especially those supporting charter schools and soda taxes.
But maybe Bloomberg, a Clinton supporter who spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, has come to the conclusion that money in politics is a little less effective than money with no politics. Why bother spending money on getting a candidate elected who supports your project when you can just pay for it yourself? This is a philosophy that is, on a superficial level, perfectly tailored for American mayors, whose political aims have coalesced so closely that one administration is almost indistinguishable from the next. The question is less who to elect but which of an array of competing but favored projects to pay for; Bloomberg has an answer.
Listen to the technocratic veneer that Mitch Landrieu, the mayor of New Orleans and the current head of the USCM, applied to mayoral control in the New York Times: “We’re moving to a different model in this country, and it’s really going to be nonideological,” he told the paper. “It’s going to be problem-solving driven.” Technocracy is its own ideology, of course. But what Landrieu really means is that Bloomberg is going to focus on the easy stuff in cities: free money for good projects, the type that we would all fund if we could.
The more daunting, underlying problems—like regressive tax regimes, no annexation power, and political independence—will have to wait for some other benevolent billionaire.
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These villages have a unique ecosystem. The amount of hardships that they face to make sure they have a cooked meal in their house every night is astonishing. But I have shared this sort of experience last time.This time round, I will focus on the other side of this system. Our NGO, Dhas Gramin Vikas Kendra, that is working so that they can bring a change in the lives of these struggling citizens of our wonderful nation.During our village trips, we had to make a journey on motorbike à busàsmall rowboatàbig motorboatàwalking the final phase to reach the village. One day, when we reached Akdia village on the banks of the River Narmada by motorbike, we came to know that the motor boat which was to take us to Bada Amba village had been seized by some people since the boat owner had failed to pay them back. Sounds exciting, but that’s not what the story is about. The story actually begins from here. Considering where we were, we still had two boats to interchange and then walk about 5 Kms to reach the people we had committed to meet in Bada Amba. To fulfill that commitment, we needed a small rowboat to get us to another bigger motorboat. To get there, we have to find a boat. But how???
These are areas without any cell phone network. To arrange for another boat actually meant travelling another five kms on our self propelled two leggers to another village, Chilakda, where we MIGHT get a boat. Most of us would have called it a day. But not the activists of DGVK. They had committed to the villagers that we would be there for the meeting. And a journey back would have meant a failure on that commitment. The hallmark of a true leader is someone who doesn’t compromise on his commitment. We took the risk and the fortunes did favour the brave! We found a rowboat, reached midway in the river, changed to a motorboat and finished the journey! All this happened just because we took the risk of going to the next village and not giving up.
At Bada Amba, the activists and I interacted with the women and told them to become aware of their rights and fight for them. The way the activists interacted with them and enthused the women to chalk out a programme of action was one of the most inspiring moments in this week. A fitting example that true leaders are born out of situations. That there are many books outside the books. The invaluable books of experience which we ourselves write, we ourselves understand.
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The history of the Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence regarding the proper standard of protection for the free exercise of religion is complicated. In determining how the First Amendment speaks to situations in which generally applicable health, welfare, and safety laws incidentally or accidentally burden certain individuals' religious practices, the Court has vacillated between different standards and different extremes, overruling itself several times. Early on, the Court held that, provided the government did not interfere deliberately with religion for religious reasons, an inadvertent interference with religious practice raised no Free xercise Clause problem,' "no matter how trivial the state's nonreligious objectives, and no matter how many alternative approaches were available to the state to pursue its objectives with less impact on religion."
That doctrine soon was overruled, and a series of cases from the 1960s through the '80s, known as the Sherbert line, or the Sherbert-Yoder line, established that even generally applicable health, welfare, and safety regulations could be struck down if their burden on religious practice, however accidental, did not meet certain constitutional requirements. The Sherbert line of cases boldly asserted that for a law of general applicability to bind religious objectors, the state must demonstrate a "compelling state interest."
Yet, the rhetoric of the Sherbert line notwithstanding, rather than employing a "compelling state interest" test or "strict scrutiny"- both names for the most demanding standard of judicial review-the Court in fact was applying an intermediate and more refined level of scrutiny. The Court balanced the state's regulatory interest against the burden imposed on the religious adherent's practices, accounting for (albeit subconsciously or implicitly) the availability of alternative means for both parties. As a result, later cases in the Sherbert line declined even to employ the language of "compelling state interest" or "strict scrutiny." As the Sherbert line progressed, the Court moved ever closer to the recognition that the appropriate approach to accidental interference cases was a simple balancing test.
But the earlier cases' invocation of the compelling interest test, despite the fact that another standard was in fact being applied, resulted in the Sherbert line ultimately being overruled in the case of Employment Division v. Smith. The Smith Court, taking Sherbert at its word, found that the compelling interest test was an impermissibly strict constitutional bar for the state to meet* should any law incidentally burden an individual's religious practice. Ignoring the fact that the Sherbert line had not in fact applied a true strict scrutiny standard, and mischaracterizing cases in which the religious objector had prevailed to avoid explicitly overruling prior cases, the Court held that accidental interferences with religion posed no Free Exercise problem and that the state was not required to meet strict scrutiny, or any level of scrutiny for that matter.
Toward a RFRA That Works,
61 Vanderbilt Law Review
Available at: https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/vlr/vol61/iss3/6
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Ember bowls had numerous uses: they could be used as braziers, or for transporting embers from one fire to make another. They could be used to light smoking pipes, or they were used simply to warm one’s hands and feet (placed inside a wooden or metal foot warmer). Our footed ember bowl is fashioned in the style of original specimens. There is a secret to using ember bowls: fill them first, about half-way, with a bed of ashes, then add a few embers. Omitting the ashes, or filling the bowl too full with embers will crack the bowl. Handmade by our local potter. 3” high by a little over 6” in diameter.
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Musidoku® is a musical variation on the hugely popular Sudoku number-place puzzle. So, if you’re a musician who loves Sudoku, then Musidoku will definitely be your forte. The fascinating number puzzle from Japan which has taken the world by storm now has a musical version, using the same pattern of rows and columns, but with musical symbols instead of numbers.
Get started with these simple tuning up examples to get a feel for the challenge.FREE PDF
A comfortable stroll now you’re getting up to speed with these enjoyable puzzles.FREE PDF
Ready for a more rigorous challenge with a selection of Rigoroso level examples.FREE PDF
Not for the feint-hearted, only to be attempted by serious Musidoku soloists.FREE PDF
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Disaggregated data — data that can be broken down and examined based on different characteristics like racial and ethnic identity, gender identity, age, employment status, and so on — can be an incredibly powerful tool for community understanding and decision-making. Individual organizations and entire networks can use the same data to target their work, track progress, and ultimately create better outcomes for all.
We are always grateful to hear how people and organizations use data to further their missions — and we hope their ideas and efforts can inspire others, as well. Research manager Melyssa Tsai O’Brien recently spoke to Stacy Stout, director of equity and engagement with the City of Grand Rapids, to learn more about how the City is using the Economic Inclusion in Grand Rapids Data Update.
Melyssa Tsai O’Brien: What data from the Economic Inclusion in Grand Rapids Data Update report was of most interest to your organization?
Stacy Stout: What stuck out was something that we felt, and that the community was feeling — that we’re losing our African American population.
This report points to a number of reasons why: it’s measuring gentrification, lack of affordable housing, and equitable opportunities. It could also speak to the environment; whether or not our city is a welcoming environment for new residents, or even for those who have been here for generations but are being priced out, or who feel pushed out. Having the data affirm and reflect what we know anecdotally was heartbreaking and eye-opening for many, yet not shocking for others.
Right, and especially in the Neighborhoods of Focus featured in the report, where the housing costs were increasing at a faster rate than the City of Grand Rapids and Kent County. That leads right into our next question: how have you applied the data to your organization when making decisions?
This data happens to be greatly aligned to the City’s new strategic plan, which we adopted in April 2019. This data will be our baseline to measure progress and change.
The very first objective in the strategic plan is to embed equity throughout government operations. A key part of that work is to disaggregate all data to the furthest extent possible. In the past, the City would measure indicators primarily by wards; now we measure them by race, ethnicity, and gender identity. For geography we first ask, “is this a Neighborhood of Focus?” Now when someone at the City enters a budget request, for instance, we can ask “who is this impacting? Is it in a Neighborhood of Focus?” This allows us to really concentrate some of our intentionality in those neighborhoods of greatest need.
Interesting. Could you talk a little bit more about how this data informed the City’s budget or budget process?
Well, this year’s budget process was historic — we had to redo the budget about four times because of COVID and our changing revenue projections. But the data in this report — coming from 2018, so, pre-COVID — helped reinforce the importance of equity more than ever. This is about something more than a pandemic, and recovery will need to go deeper than ”returning to normal.” “Normal” wasn’t equitable; we can use this data to build back better as we recover from COVID-19.
This commitment is demonstrated in so many of our outreach programs.
We have a small contracts program where we invest anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 to neighborhood groups or individuals primarily in the Neighborhoods of Focus. They don’t have to be an organization, per se, to do projects in their neighborhoods or communities — and that could be a cultural community or geographic community. For instance, there’s a conference going on right now [mid-September], the Southeast Grand Rapids Economic and Community Conference, organized by the Grand Rapids African American Community Taskforce — it’s these types of projects where we make investments.
We also work closely with neighborhood associations. We’re currently working in a large area that doesn’t have a neighborhood association and so over the last couple of years we’ve been helping to establish one. They just got their 501(c)(3) status. Outside those neighborhoods, we can help by providing tools, guides, taking calls. But we really concentrate on walking alongside associations in our targeted areas.
In fact, our work with the Johnson Center and GVSU’s Division of Inclusion & Equity to provide the Neighborhood Leadership Academy program was really the first time we facilitated direct capacity-building training and offered financial resources to neighborhood associations, standing up a new, community-led model. It used to be that many of these associations had a, “we’re watching you” approach, but now the dynamic is very much, “we’re here to listen, convene, and help. We see you. Welcome.”
How do you see your organization promoting inclusive growth and/or racial equity in Grand Rapids?
Using this data as our baseline, we can target economic, educational, and environmental programs to support communities that are hurting the most. One thing we’re doing is reimagining the incentives we offer to developers in order to leverage the equity outcomes we want to see. That includes utilization of minority- and women-owned businesses as subcontractors or direct contractors. And, importantly, we follow up to make sure they hold up their end of that bargain. We emphasize the importance of wealth creation in communities of color.
That’s also the goal of how we’re working across City departments, such as purchasing and engineering. We’ve doubled the number of Micro-Local Business Enterprises (MLBEs) registered to do business with the city in the last year. When we know an RFP is coming out, we can work with small businesses to get them ready to submit bids in a short turn-around. My office disaggregates the MLBEs by minority-, women-, and veteran-owned status.
The river restoration, for instance, is another major project we’re working on. We hired an equity analyst that is 100% dedicated to the river to make sure that equity and economic justice is embedded through all of it — through the governance model, through programming and outreach, design, all of that. We want to make sure that communities of color have a real chance to build wealth on that project through the actual land and water restoration, and as part of the business development along the river banks, as well. Yes, I want my Brown family to be able to kayak, but I also want to see Black and Brown people owning the businesses that I’m renting those kayaks from.
The last example I’ll share is that the City recently released the “Welcome Plan for Kent County,” a two-year project incorporating immigrant voices and aiming to make our area more welcoming for immigrants. We hope it will also serve to make Grand Rapids more welcoming for the people who already live here – many who have deep, multi-generational roots — but are being marginalized or facing challenges to keeping their homes and their community status.
So, what’s next for the City?
Well, pre-COVID, we were gearing up to create and release a new Master Plan for the City — something we haven’t done in about 20 years. We’ve updated the old plan here and there, but it hasn’t gotten an overhaul in a generation. We intend to get back to that work, ramping up our engagement efforts to find out what residents want to see in their neighborhoods, the roles they want to play. I believe that this report from the Johnson Center will inform that work by providing those key baseline metrics for us to grow against.
For me, I’m always gonna ask, “okay, but what does the African American community say? What does the Latino community say? What are the Neighborhoods of Focus feeling, what’s the vibe there?” We aren’t going to make progress without being deeply intentional about it. Our resources are finite, but our potential is limitless.
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Drape your coat
Do not put your arms through sleeves. It’s too basic. Casually hang a jacket or coat over your shoulders. Better if you’re jumping in to a car with a driver who holds the door open for you, and not frantically scrambling to find your bus pass in your handbag while getting on the Number 52. In this scenario the coat WILL fall off your shoulders and it WILL be trampled on by the crowd of school kids behind you as you sob ‘but it’s PRADA !’
See above. Particularly avoid the small ones in London, or any that start with a letter. Taking the 14 along Sloane Street for some window-shopping is, however, encouraged.
Claim to be ‘high on Matcha’ in the mornings
Coffee is OVA. Green Juice is practically Jurassic. Drink matcha, or pretend you have.
Never use a plural when talking about clothes
‘And what shoe will you wear with that?’ does not imply that you will only be dressing the one foot - true fashionistas speak in the singular. See also ‘the trouser’.
Always eat dessert
The biggest myth about true fashionistas is that they are obsessed with eating clean. Some of the major names in the business have Krispy Kreme loyalty cards and can be found decanting handfuls of Haribo into the pockets of their Vuitton jumpsuit at parties. For further evidence may we refer you to Tom Ford’s penchant for a Percy Pig (note the singular).
Insert the words ‘a’ and ‘moment’ into sentences as much as possible
'I love a matcha moment', 'I love a Rick Owens shoe', 'I love a Percy Pig', 'I love a public transport moment'.
Make wildly definitive assertions
‘Oh my god that doughnut was THE most amazing thing in the world EVER…’ (was it?); ‘THIS, is the only shoe you will need all season’ (is it though?), ‘I am NEVER eating doughnuts again’ (are you not? Really?)
If in doubt, call it ‘basic’
A zeitgeisty catch-all for pretty much any ‘meh’ reaction to an item of clothing that isn’t THE most AMAZING thing you have EVER seen in your ENTIRE LIFE.
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Extra-curricular and professional activities that will enrich your Classical Civilizations Education
D-Term Study Abroad - Italy
November 29 - December 13, 2016
This course offers students a firsthand introduction to the art, architecture and archaeology of central Italy, as well as a survey of Italian history from the founding of ancient Rome through the first half of the 20th centurey. During our 10-day study tour, we will visit sites in Rome (including the Colosseum and Vatican), Florence and Naples, as well as the ancient ruins of Ostia and Pompeii and the Etruscan necropolis (or "city of the dead") at Cerveteri. The objects we will examine will give us windows into the cultures of ancient Rome, early Christianity, the Italian Renaissance, as well as the Baroque and Counter-Reformation periods, and the rise of Italian nationalism in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Find more information on D-Term here.
Travel Opportunities to Enhance your Education
Classics major Brianna Hyslop '09 traveled to Turkey and Tunisia during D-term 2008 to explore the classical roots of Orientalism.
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A number of posts on LaxAllStars.com have focused on how changes to the game of lacrosse could improve the product, and these changes have been considered and argued for NCAA Lacrosse, the MLL, and the NLL, and I’m sure it’s not going to stop anytime soon. But in today’s Hot Pot we’ll be taking a look at past game changes that didn’t exactly work out as intended, and we’ll try to keep this in mind when our next set of suggestions comes up!
The first example of unintended consequences has to do with increased padding in the NHL and increased risk of concussion. An article in Boston.com highlights how bigger, tougher shoulder pads are actually more dangerous than smaller shoulder pads even though they tout better protection. So how does this work? Well, the shoulder pads do provide better protection… to the shoulders of the guy who is wearing them. But they ALSO have an unintended effect: helping create worse concussions. When a player isn’t as worried about getting hurt, they will hit harder. And when the padding exteriors get harder and made of tougher materials, the impacts become worse. What seemed like a smart protective move may actually be even more dangerous. Crazy, right?
Thankfully, the NFL realized this truth back when helmet and shoulder combination pads were introduced. The idea was that by connecting the helmet to the shoulder pad, neck injuries could be reduced. The counter argument was that this would allow all NFL players to turn themselves into projectiles with no fear of neck injury. Thankfully, the latter argument won out because players do that now even with the risk of severe injury. Imagine how hard and violently James Harrison would hit if he had NO reason not to.
These glaring examples have to do with padding and safety, but rule changes don’t always have to do with safety… sometimes they just have to do with the quality of play, and soccer starting to use offsides is a perfect example of this.
I remember playing soccer without offsides. The game was even more open, and in a couple passes you could goal to goal with ease. It was spread out, and you could never forget about your man if you were on defense. There were breakaways, one on ones and more offensive opportunities than I could ever remember. 22 players were spread out all over the field, and there was plenty of space to operate. However, once offsides was introduced players were forced to bunch up more and more, as more of the field could be in “offsides territory” due to a good defensive back line. This resulted in fewer offensive chances, many fewer breakaways and one on ones and changed the game in a major way. Now teams were looking for free kicks to create offense, and how do you get free kicks? By getting fouled! So welcome in even more diving… sweet. So now it’s harder to score a goal and there is more diving. Just what we wanted.
I don’t think that better protection in hockey was designed to increase concussions. And I don’t think that offsides in soccer was meant to promote diving. But both of these moves helped produce the outcomes in some way, shape or form, so it’s important for us to REALLY think through any rules changes before they are implemented.
Right now the raging debate in college lacrosse surrounds the shot clock. Some are strong advocates for it, and others against. But before we even think about really making this change, I think we need to look a little deeper at what could possibly result from a major change like this. If you’ve got any crazy ideas for what might happen if the shot clock becomes reality we’d love to hear them!
Could it eventually result in zone defenses being made illegal, like in the NBA?
Could it actually lower scoring?
WHAT AM I MISSING?
LACROSSE IN OTHER NEWS:
– Lacrosse Reunions are always pretty special. Get Raccio and Seaman together and the stories just keep coming. | Post Chronicle
– Stealth rally around coach Chris Hall as he battles cancer. Our best wishes go out to Chris in his fight!!! | MyNorthWest.com
– Eye injuries down dramatically in the women’s game. | Reuters
– Jury selection begins in the Yeardley Love case | CBS News
– Marygrove College to add lacrosse. NAIA Schools are picking up lacrosse at an increasing rate. | Market Watch
LACROSSE VIDEO OF THE WEEK:
Video of the week? Video of the year? Quite possibly the Video of the DECADE!
It’s a story about a single man’s courage, a team’s feeling of brotherhood, and the true community aspect that lacrosse can bring to the table when it’s done right. Everything wasn’t perfect from day 1, but in the end, the team came together and showcased the true bond that team sports can create by simply accepting and loving one of their own for who he is.
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SOURCE: Melbourne University, news release, Nov. 25, 2015
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Even sugar-free sodas, sports drinks and candy can damage your teeth, a new study warns.
Australian researchers tested 23 sugar-free and sugar-containing products, including soft drinks and sports drinks, and found that some with acidic additives and low pH levels (a measure of acidity) harm teeth, even if they are sugar-free.
"Many people are not aware that while reducing your sugar intake does reduce your risk of dental decay, the chemical mix of acids in some foods and drinks can cause the equally damaging condition of dental erosion," said Eric Reynolds. He is laureate professor and CEO of the Oral Health Cooperative Research Center at Melbourne University.
Dental erosion occurs when acid dissolves the tooth's hard tissues. "In its early stages erosion strips away the surface layers of tooth enamel. If it progresses to an advanced stage it can expose the soft pulp inside the tooth," he explained in a university news release.
Reynolds and his colleagues found that most soft drinks and sports drinks caused dental enamel to soften by between 30 percent and 50 percent. Both sugar-free and sugar-containing soft drinks and flavored mineral waters caused measurable loss of the tooth surface.
Of the eight sports drinks tested, six caused loss of tooth enamel. The researchers also found that many sugar-free candies contain high levels of citric acid and can erode tooth enamel.
Just because something is sugar-free doesn't necessarily mean it's safe for teeth, Reynolds said. The study highlights the need for better product labeling and consumer information to help people choose food and drinks that are safe for their teeth, he added.
Reynolds offered several tips to help you protect your teeth. Check product labels for acidic additives, especially citric acid and phosphoric acid. Drink more water (preferably fluoridated) and fewer soft drinks and sports drinks. And, finally, after consuming acidic food and drinks, rinse your mouth with water and wait an hour before brushing your teeth. Brushing immediately can remove the softened enamel, he said.
The American Academy of Family Physicians outlines how to keep your teeth and mouth healthy.
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I love the beauty God provides in winter. Don’t get me wrong, I used to tolerate winter at best. I don’t like to be cold. Matter of fact, I can pick out a draft in the room before anyone else – just ask my family. My fear of slipping, falling and hurting myself is all too real. I don’t like dreary weather. So why do I love the beauty of winter? The gloomy, cloudy days growing up in Michigan made moving to Iowa winter sunshine a real blessing. The blanket of snow provides an excellent means of “sneaking” up on animals to get a closer view. The intricacies that are created by God in winter are truly amazing.
I just finished my 3 mile hike in the woods and down to the river. I heard woodpeckers, saw an owl, peregrine falcon, eagle and evidence of deer, rabbit, raccoons and otters. Then there was the wonder as the ice has begun to melt and hangs up about 2 inches above the river, making incredible patterns and shapes. There are bubbles in the ice. The birds are gathering around birdfeeders. Cats are sunning themselves in the sunny windows.
The Book of Job has provided me with a wealth of insight and reminders of God’s abundant blessings in my life. I know I am too much like Job when it comes to questioning God’s wisdom as recorded in Job 31. Then Elihu reminds Job and his friends of God’s amazing love and incredible power (Job 32-37). It is in these verses from Job 37 I see God’s hand in the beauty of winter:
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
He does great things beyond our understanding.
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ [vs 5-6 NIV]
Then everyone stops working
so they can watch His power.
(I love this image of pausing to look at God’s majesty.)
The stormy wind comes from its chamber,
and the driving winds bring the cold.
God’s breath sends the ice,
freezing wide expanses of water.
He loads the clouds with moisture,
and they flash with His lightning.
The clouds churn about at His direction.
They do whatever He commands throughout the earth. [ vs 7-12 NLT]
Just take a moment to picture what it must be like for God’s breath to create the ice. Living near the river we often enjoy hoar frost during January. It truly looks as if someone has breathed on everything and given it a frosty coating of ice crystals. Or as Psalm 147:16 describes it as scattering frost upon the ground like ashes. You know what it is like to take ash and let it blow in the wind – it goes everywhere. Look at these descriptions of God’s creativity portrayed in Psalm 147:16-18 from the New Living Translation:
He sends the snow like white wool;
He scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.
He hurls the hail like stones.
Who can stand against His freezing cold?
Then, at His command, it all melts.
He sends His winds, and the ice thaws.
I am awed by the incredible delicacy of creation and the majestic power of weather – all created by God. I’ve learned the past 3 winters to bundle up tight, wear several layers, get out the Thinsulate gloves and face mask to keep me warm. I have even been known to take handwarmers with me just so I can head outside, camera in hand, and thoroughly bask in God’s gift of artistic love shown to us. I hope you take time to enjoy His abundant blessings in His indescribable creation as well ~ Faye
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The Great Wall of China and the palaces of Nimrud and Nineveh are on the watch list of 100 endangered sites released by the World Monuments Fund.
It includes sites on every continent, among them Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1908 expedition hut in Antarctica and Australia's Dampier Rock art complex, which dates from 8000BC.
"The sites on the watch list speak of human aspirations and achievements," said Bonnie Burnham, president of the fund. "To lose any one of them would diminish us all."
The biennial watch list was begun in 1995 by the fund, a New York charity.
The list was compiled by a panel of international experts.
The threats to endangered sites include natural disasters, deterioration caused by age, and human neglect, mismanagement and inappropriate development, fund officials said.
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Related Posts: North Korea
May 25, 2011
At a State Department briefing earlier this week, the spokesman stated that U.S. Special Envoy for Human Rights in North Korea Ambassador Robert King may be tasked to lead a food assessment mission to North Korea. This announcement comes following a round of consultations…
May 11, 2011
There has been a protracted debate over whether the United States should give food assistance in response to North Korea’s appeals for assistance from earlier this year, with an exchange between Stephan Haggard and Lee Jong Cheol as the most recent example.
May 4, 2011
Over the last months, the world has watched as uprisings and revolutions have spread across the streets and squares of the Arab world. In Egypt, entire families – mothers, wives, daughters, grandmothers, showed remarkable courage in standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their brothers, sons, and fathers…
May 4, 2011
Journalist David Ignatius recently wrote on Foreign Policy‘s website that the “Arab Spring” may be part of a “global political awakening,” a concept he borrows from former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski.
April 27, 2011
NHK live broadcasts on the tsunami that swept coastal villages in Eastern Japan on March 11 were a shocking scene to the Korean people. Japan now confronts the aftermath of triple natural disasters – an earthquake of a record 9.0 magnitude, a devastating tsunami, and the threat of radioactive contamination…
March 23, 2011
While the events of the past weekend have shifted the world’s attention to Libya, there are clearly reverberations for North Korea, especially given that Muammar Qadhafi pursued, then gave up in 2003, a nuclear weapons capability as part of what seemed then like a step toward normalcy with the rest of the world. Qadhafi’s strategic decision to give up Libya’s nuclear program in return for rapprochement with the United States was held up to North Koreans as a model for pursuing diplomatic normalization with the United States.
February 9, 2011
Less than three months after North Korea’s shelling of South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island, North and South Korea opened preliminary, colonel-level talks yesterday to set an agenda and date for ministerial-level defense talks. However, the talks adjourned without reaching an agreement, raising questions about prospects for renewed diplomacy…
February 2, 2011
Both North and South Koreans appear to have had disproportionately high expectations in the run-up to last week’s Hu-Obama summit, judging from their reluctant willingness to edge toward tension reduction and dialogue following the November 23rd Yeonpyeong Island artillery shelling…
January 19, 2011
Recent turbulence on the Korean Peninsula raises several key questions: What is the best way to assure stability there? How can the U.S.-ROK alliance play its due role while still being perceived as a stabilizer by other stakeholders, and how can China positively interact with the two allies? If China still feels that the “evidence” that the ROK-led investigation secured regarding the Cheonan’s sinking…
January 5, 2011
In a new report published by The Asia Foundation’s Center for U.S.-Korea Policy, Research Associate See-Won Byun assesses regional security in Northeast Asia in the aftermath of the Cheonan sinking and the Yeonpyeong artillery barrage. The report focuses on dynamics among the United States, China, and the two Koreas. Read an excerpt below, or download […]
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Project: The King and I is an interesting project to read the entire KJV bible in a year and comment on it. I heard about this over on Skepchick, and it looks like fun. Unfortunately, I’ve been trying to post on the site but nothing will go through. I still want to participate, so I guess I’ll have to do it here. Which is fine. It’s long past time to dust off the old blog.
I’ll be reading from the KJV version (free!) just like the project says, but I plan on supplementing it with the World English Bible (also free!) and whatever else I have lying around the house or find on the web. I might also supplement with the Jewish Study Bible if I can find one at a good price. I’ll be sure to note whenever doing so.
So, on with the first day of this, Genesis 1-3 In the beginning…
The Lord tells Adam (because he hasn’t created Eve yet):
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of
the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
But the serpent explains to Eve a bit later:
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Wait just a second, here. God only says in the earlier passage that eating from the tree will cause death. But Eve seems pretty confident that merely touching the fruit is deadly. Where would she get such an idea? It’s unlikely that the Lord would get this wrong since it’s all his, and nothing is written about him saying anything to Eve. It’s also unlikely that the serpent originally told her that, since he’s telling her something different now. So unless Mr. Ed was hanging out in the garden, I can only assume that Adam told her this big fat lie.
So, Eve holds the fruit and doesn’t die. And why wouldn’t she then take a bite when the first of the threats doesn’t come true? It makes sense to me that she would go ahead when half the warning is so obviously false. So, for any of you idiots out there who want to blame all of this on Eve or the serpent or women in general, none of it would have happened if Adam wouldn’t have been such a huge liar.
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life
So, only now the serpent is going to crawl on the ground? This is a new condition? That’s sure how it appears to me. What was he doing before the punishment? The explanation I have heard is that the serpent is actually Nehushtan, who was one of the gods who the originally polytheistic tribes worshiped. And Nehushtan was sometimes pictured with wings, which gives the grounding some sense.
The story as told in chapter 3 is a way to write him out of the book and out of the temple. Nehushtan couldn’t simply be ignored, as he would have been in the minds of the worshipers of the time. But, if he could be shown to be a bad guy who didn’t deserve to be part of the temple practices, then his worship could be stamped out with good reason.
If the above is true, then the original writers were not referring to Satan. That’s just a late interpretation added over the text. Satan doesn’t appear until later.
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Britain could be set for one of the hottest summers this year with forecasters predicting three months of scorching weather.
Temperatures could reach 30C by the middle of June, which would match last years sizzling numbers.
The hottest day was in July 2018 when temperatures reached 35.3C in Faversham, Kent.
And according to The Mirror, The Exeter-based Met Office has predicted there are likely to be "above average temperatures" from June to August, raising hopes that we could see another scorching summer.
Highs of 30C next month amid tropical air were forecast by ex-BBC and Met Office forecaster John Hammond of weather trending and The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze.
The bright forecasts are expected to bring warmer temperatures to summer events like Glastonbury and Wimbledon.
The Met Office three-month forecast said: “For May-July, above-average temperatures are more likely than below-average.
Five of the best sun creams
Don't get caught out when the sun comes out and ensure you have adequate protection for all the family.The advice is to ensure you use products with a high SPF (30 as standard) as well as a high UVA protection. Here are our pick of the best creams and where to buy them
Garnier Ambre Solaire, 200ml
SPF 50, 3* UVA
Asda Protect baby, 50ml
SPF50, 5* UVA
Banana Boat kids ultra mist tear free spray, 220ml
SPF50, 4* UVA
Piz Buin in sun moisturising ultra light sun spray, 200ml
SPF30, 4* UVA
Nivea Sun Protect and Refresh, 200ml
SPF50, 3* UVA
Prices correct at time of publishing
“The probability the UK average temperature will fall into the warmest of our five categories is 45-50 per cent. The coldest of our five categories is five per cent.
“Long-range prediction systems show a consistent increase in the likelihood of high pressure, associated with warmer-than-average conditions.”
Forecaster Mr Gaze added: “Blocking areas of high pressure suggest echoes of last year's record summer, with 30C highs likely in June.”
Weathertrending forecaster John Hammond added:“30C heat is quite possible from brief influxes of tropical air into June.”
But before the warm weather moves in Britain will be battered by rain and thunderstorms as the gloomy May weather continues into the end of the weekend.
Four of the best paddling pools
For babies - UV whale pop-up shade pool
Cost £31.99. Buy here from ELC
For toddlers -Unicorn inflatable pool
Cost £12 Buy here from Poundtoy
For adults - Lay-Z-Spa Vegas hot tub
Cost £349.99 Buy here from Amazon
For the dog - The foldable swimming bath.
Cost £21.90 Buy here from Amazon
Prices correct at time of publication. This article contains affiliate links, we may receive a commission on any sales we generate from it
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge warned there will be “mist and murk” across the east coast of England during a cloudy start to Sunday morning.
Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northeast England will bear the brunt of the wet and miserable conditions which will persist into the start of the working week.
But forecasters say some parts of England and Wales could enjoy outbreaks of sunshine with temperatures of up to 21C.
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All around us, kids are encouraged to reveal their wishes of candy, gingerbread cookies, and overstuffed stockings next to shiny new bikes/game systems/toys-of-the-year, complete with giant bows on top.
Whether for budgets or a desire to live a less cluttered lifestyle, parents everywhere are looking for ways to cut back.
Without spoiling the fun and fantasy of the holidays, how can you reasonably manage their lists this year?
How to Manage Your Child’s Holiday Gift Expectations
- Good communication is key. Using opportunities daily to teach your values to your children can preserve the excitement of the holidays while keeping realistic expectations. If your children know you don’t approve of violent video games, they won’t be surprised when Santa doesn’t bring one. Be firm and honest with your reasons for not following along with the crowd: “John’s parents make decisions they feel are right for their family, and Daddy and I make decisions we feel are right for our family. While our answer on X is no, we do enjoy saying yes to other things we know you’re wishing for.”
- Children need to learn how to make choices, prioritize, and deal with disappointment. Consistently giving in to a child’s gimme attitude can morph into selfishness and a sense of entitlement. Children hear they can have anything and everything they want. It’s your job as a parent to clue them into reality. Encourage children to prioritize their wish lists. When they bring you that long list, ask them to choose the top one or two things they really want. If Santa stops at your house, explain to younger children that Santa likes to focus on the gifts they want the most (he DOES have a lot of kids to please, after all!) But don’t ignore the rest of the list. Discuss each item to find out the why’s behind the wishes — understanding why a child wants something can help you find out their true desires, and it’s often not about the “stuff.”
- Set limits up front about what kids can expect on Christmas morning. Consider the Want-Need-Wear-Read approach — each kid gets one thing they want, one thing they need, something to wear and something to read. While you can’t control what other people give your kids, you can set the expectation of what they’ll get from you.
- Emphasize gratitude. Even when children are disappointed, it’s important for them to learn how to be gracious recipients. Expressing gratitude so others’ feelings don’t get hurt is a must-have skill, and it goes beyond the pouty-faced “thank you.” Teaching kids to be genuinely gracious and thankful for all they have can go a long way to helping them understand the concept of “enough,” particularly when there are so many people who don’t have anything.
- Highlight the rewards of giving. Nothing lifts a child’s disappointment more quickly than giving a heartfelt gift to someone else. Shifting the emphasis from receiving to giving helps children see the exchange of presents from a different perspective. Kids love picking out gifts for other people. In addition to helping kids thoughtfully choose gifts for friends and family, choose a charity, toy drive, food pantry or other group and lend a hand.
- Make a “family wish list” together and be sure to include non-material wishes—such as taking a walk in the snow or drinking hot cocoa by the fire. These wishes can be granted through “coupons” when it comes time to open gifts, or woven into the weeks surrounding the holidays to extend the celebration beyond one “special” day.
- Focus on the “magic” of the season — which does not come from lots of toys. Get past the gift grab by making new holiday traditions. Make time for listening to seasonal music, baking treats, making decorations or crafting simple gifts for friends and family. It doesn’t just save money—it makes memories. Focus on activities you can do together as a family, instead of focusing on what gets unwrapped Christmas morning. You’re free to create any tradition you want, so be creative. It could include a walk on Christmas morning, attending a special concert or a lazy day at home. These are the things they remember and talk about year after year — not the toys that were under the tree.
Sandy Kreps is a writer, graphic designer/art director, and mom to two little boys. Through her Modern Simplicity blog, she is committed to teaching others about choosing a greener, simpler lifestyle. She has been writing, teaching and speaking on green living and simplicity subjects since 2007.
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Ernest Rutherford is called the Newton of atomic physics. He was recognized by his fellow scientists as a man of colossal energy and tireless enthusiasm. As he himself remarked he lived in the "heroic age of physics". Ernest Rutherford was born in New Zealand. He graduated from New Zealand University and entered Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1919 he was appointed a Professor of experimental physics in the University of Cambridge. E. Rutherford's early researches concerned electromagnetic waves. His experiments led him to develop a magnetic detector, which at that time was the best detector of electromagnetic waves. His detector was later used by Marconi, one of the inventors of the radio, in his well-known investigations. Rutherford's big triumph began when he turned his attention to radioactivity. His brilliant researches established the existence and nature of radioactive transformations. He also investigated the electrical structure of matter and the nuclear nature of atom. He was one of the founders of the atomic theory of physics and creators of the first atomic model. He stated that the atom consisted of a nucleus around which electrons revolved in orbits. Even today his works did not lose their importance.
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Synonyms of forge
- 1. forge, furnace
- usage: furnace consisting of a special hearth where metal is heated before shaping
- 2. forge, smithy, workplace, work
- usage: a workplace where metal is worked by heating and hammering
- 1. forge, hammer, beat
- usage: create by hammering; "hammer the silver into a bowl"; "forge a pair of tongues"
- 2. forge, fake, counterfeit, re-create
- usage: make a copy of with the intent to deceive; "he faked the signature"; "they counterfeited dollar bills"; "She forged a Green Card"
- 3. invent, contrive, devise, excogitate, formulate, forge, create by mental act, create mentally
- usage: come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort; "excogitate a way to measure the speed of light"
- 4. forge, advance, progress, pass on, move on, march on, go on
- usage: move ahead steadily; "He forged ahead"
- 5. forge, spurt, spirt, travel, go, move, locomote
- usage: move or act with a sudden increase in speed or energy
- 6. shape, form, work, mold, mould, forge, create from raw material, create from raw stuff
- usage: make something, usually for a specific function; "She molded the rice balls carefully"; "Form cylinders from the dough"; "shape a figure"; "Work the metal into a sword"
- 7. fashion, forge, make
- usage: make out of components (often in an improvising manner); "She fashioned a tent out of a sheet and a few sticks"
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Definition and meaning of forge (Dictionary)
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I examine how strong beliefs change or remain stable over time. Thus far, I have investigated this issue mostly in the context of marriage, where changes in such beliefs are unfortunately common. That nearly half of all U.S marriages end in divorce, and that spouses in the majority of intact marriages do not maintain their initial levels of satisfaction, suggests there are limits to social psychological theories of belief stability. Given people’s propensities toward perceptual and behavioral confirmation, belief perseverance, confirmation biases, and motivated reasoning, why do these important beliefs so frequently change over time?
My program of research suggests that the broader context of the relationship is one overlooked factor that explains such change. The important role of context in determining the expression and implications of various psychological traits and processes was a central lesson taught by social influence research that dominated early social psychology. Yet, this lesson has been all but lost among many researchers who now study the more cognitive aspects of social psychology. My research highlights the importance of the broader context to current theories of social cognition by showing that the broader context of the close relationships in which we so frequently interact moderates the extent to which various psychological traits and processes are associated with stable or unstable social beliefs.
I have published my research in, among other journals, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Psychological Science, Current Directions in Psychological Science, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Social Psychological and Personality Science, and the Journal of Family Psychology. I was awarded with the 2009 Early Career Award in Close Relationships, by the Relationship Researchers Interest Group of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. I was also awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Child Health and Development to study the implications of positive expectancies for global and specific marital outcomes.
- Baker, L., & McNulty, J. K. (2011). Self-compassion and relationship maintenance: The moderating roles of conscientiousness and gender. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100, 853-873.
- Baker, L., & McNulty, J. K. (2010). Shyness and marriage: Does shyness shape even established relationships? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36, 665-676.
- Little, K. C., McNulty, J. K., & Russell, V. M. (2010). Sex buffers intimates against the negative implications of attachment insecurity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36, 484-498.
- Luchies, L. B., Finkel, E. J., McNulty, J. K., & Kumashiro, M. (2010). The doormat effect: When forgiving erodes self-respect and self-concept clarity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 734-749.
- McNulty, J. K. (2011). The dark side of forgiveness: The tendency to forgive predicts continued psychological and physical aggression in marriage. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37, 770-783.
- McNulty, J. K. (2010). Forgiveness increases the likelihood of subsequent partner transgressions in marriage. Journal of Family Psychology, 24, 787-790.
- McNulty, J. K. (2010). When positive processes hurt relationships. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19, 167-171.
- McNulty, J. K. (2008). Neuroticism and interpersonal negativity: The independent contributions of perceptions and behaviors. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34, 1439-1450.
- McNulty, J. K., & Fisher, T. D. (2008). Gender differences in response to sexual expectancies and changes in sexual frequency: A short-term longitudinal study of sexual satisfaction in newly married couples. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 37, 229-240.
- McNulty, J. K., O’Mara, E. M., & Karney B. R. (2008). Benevolent cognitions as a strategy of relationship maintenance: “Don’t sweat the small stuff”…but it’s not all small stuff. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 631-646.
- McNulty, J. K., & Russell, V. M. (2010). When “negative” behaviors are positive: A contextual analysis of the long-term effects of problem-solving behaviors on changes in relationship satisfaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 587-604.
- Meltzer, A. L., & McNulty, J. K. (2010). Body image and marital satisfaction: Evidence for the mediating role of sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction. Journal of Family Psychology, 24, 156-164.
- Meltzer, A. L., McNulty, J. K., Novak, S., Butler, E., & Karney, B. R. (2011). Marriages are more satisfying when wives are thinner than their husbands. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2, 416-424.
- Russell, V. M., & McNulty, J. K. (2011). Frequent sex protects intimates from the negative implications of their neuroticism. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2, 220-227.
- Widman, L., & McNulty, J. K. (2010). Sexual narcissism and the perpetration of sexual aggression. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 926-939.
- Advanced Social Psychology
- Close Relationships
- General Psychology
- Multilevel Modeling
- Psychology of Intimate Relationships
- Research Methods
- Social Psychology
- Stereotyping and Prejudice
Department of Psychology
Florida State University
1107 W. Call Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4301
- Work: (850) 644-6065
- Mobile: (865) 548-2780
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The highest point of the site lies at its southeastern corner where the burial or the mazar of shah sultan Balkhi Mahisawar dominates attention. The area is shaded by large trees and the surface is litterer with miscellaneous structural debris. There is also a mosque nearby which , according to the inscription over its entrance , was built in 1718 . The area is much disturbed but the inescapable conclusion is that a part of the mazar complex lies squarely on the fortification itself , or rather , atop the corner of the fortification at that point . The height at the point does not denote the highest point of accumulated cultural debris at the site .When cunningham visited the site in 1879-80 he found in the courtyard of the tomb a mutilated jaina tirthankara figure the pedestal of a life size sculpture of the boar incarnation of Vishnu and also two bases of lingam of phallic stone. There is nothing to show that they belonged to the spot and were not collected from elsewhere. The gap in the southern section of the eastern fortification is called the Dorab shah gate .Excavations were conducted near the mazar and the Dorab shah gate area revealing four building phases .The last two of them possibly represented temporary shelter to accommodate visitor s to the mazar. The fourth building phase from the top could be excavated to a very limited extent and does not permit any positive inference. It is only in the third phase that one gets some clear evidence of early structures. There was a large rectangular structural complex with 6-7 ft. Thick walls. Three rooms were partially exposed , with one of them measuring 28 ft. 3ft, 9 ins, The eastern wall of this massive complex was exposed up to a length of 76ft.9ins. Carved stone columns m plain stone slabs and ornamental bricks were occasionally used in the plinth and this suggests that the earlier building material were partly utilized for this building which is said to have undergone additions and alterations in the subsequent periods . An interesting find associated with this level was that of three large and heavy storage jars with their bottoms filled up by a mixture of shell power and some adhesive material what lends these jars great interest is that some skeletal materials, essentially bones and ashes , were found deposited haphazardly in them with loose earth and brickbats. These jars were set in a large pot whose margin was outlined by a circular brick wall. There were also some cross walls between the jars and the border of the large circular structure. Also associated with this third building phase were three round sandstone slabs, which possibly served as pillar bases. At one place the floor was found paved with 5 stone slabs with indistinct geometric designs. The antiquities from this building phase included fragmentary stone images is inscribed in sanskrit with the legend that it was donated by Bindaka for ‘precious stone etc. The back of a fragmentary black stone image is inscribed in sanskrit with the legend that it was donated by Bindaka for ‘Deva Dharma’ .Our impression is that the third building phase of this excavated area belongs to the eighth ninth century.
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Staff Favorites: 18 Must-Read Children's Books
17 of 19
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
by Bill Martin Jr.
As all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree, one thought comes to mind: Is there enough room for everyone? This engaging alphabet chant shows what happens when X,Y, and Z try to crowd into the tree...chicka chicka boom boom! Everyone falls to the ground! The cheerful, colorful pictures show the aftermath of the letters' tumble...and A's bold dare for another race to the treetop!
Next: The Great Kapok Tree
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Four days on the trail, high in the Himalayas, in one of the most remote and unspoiled spots on earth, with all the comforts of home
It was quite an entourage. A dozen mules, lugging the tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, gas stoves, and enough food for both humans and animals for four days. Managing the animals were three pony men. The group also included two cooks, two campground managers, and one guide in charge of keeping everything in order. Oh yes, and two guests: my wife and me.
We were gathered on the edge of Paro, a small town in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, as we were about to embark on the Druk Path, a four-day trek that would take us through forests of blue pine, past monasteries of whitewashed stone that look a bit like Swiss chalets, above the tree line to yak-herder shelters, along snowy ridges with stunning views of the high peaks, and finally down to the valley of Thimpu, a bustling town of government ministries, international aid-agency offices, small museums, and tourist shops, which is the closest Bhutan has to a city.
A country the size of Switzerland sandwiched between the plains of India and the plateau of Tibet, Bhutan is renowned for its challenging trekking: One of the toughest mountain treks in the kingdom, the Snowman, involves weeks of Himalayan ascents and descents through some of the most isolated—and beautiful—places on earth. Such treks are definitely not for beginners. But you don't have to be hard-core to trek in Bhutan. The Druk Path (druk means "dragon" in Bhutan, and the Bhutanese call their country Druk Yul, or "Land of the Thunder Dragon") is certainly challenging: We started at 7,500 feet above sea level and walked and walked till we were at 13,800 feet. But the trek is also quite accessible, assuming you're in reasonable shape and not prone to altitude sickness.
This accessibility has made it a favorite for a small number of Western tourists looking for a taste of Himalayan trekking while maintaining a bit of luxury. I'm no hiker, but my wife had wanted to go to Bhutan for years. So, equipped with sturdy boots, four-season sleeping bags, and altitude-sickness pills, we headed for the Himalayas.
Keeping the World at Bay
Bhutan, with a population under 1 million, has an ambivalent attitude toward outsiders in general and tourists in particular. The landlocked Buddhist kingdom is famously isolated: TV broadcasts and Internet access weren't available until 1999. There are few roads. Cell-phone service didn't arrive until 2003. The telecom network is hit-or-miss. And forget about trying to use a BlackBerry to get e-mail.
The country's young king, a graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard who last month forced the reluctant Bhutanese to have their first ever parliamentary elections, is determined to protect the country's culture—not to mention its countryside—from outside influence. The government is keen to keep Bhutan from becoming a backpacker haven like nearby Nepal. Bhutan has policies designed to keep out the Lonely Planet crowd and appeal to more affluent travelers. Tourists must to spend a minimum of $200 a day and can't trek without a licensed guide. Not surprising, then, that we barely saw anyone else during our four days on the Druk Path.
Further complicating travel to Bhutan, there's no competition among airlines to keep fares down: The country has only one airport, in Paro, and only one airline flies in and out. Druk Air operates two incoming flights a day, one from Bangkok via Dhaka and the other from Delhi via Katmandu. Once the two flights have departed again in the morning, the airport simply shuts down. On our first afternoon in Paro, we hiked to a hill overlooking the airport, and there wasn't a plane in sight below.
So Bhutan is not for the bargain hunter. But the kingdom enjoys the sort of political stability unheard of among its neighbors. While the Bhutanese share a similar language and religion with Tibet, the border with the Chinese-ruled region is closed, and there's no spillover from the Beijing's crackdown on supporters of the Dalai Lama. Similarly, there's nothing in Bhutan similar to the Maoist rebellion in Nepal that is now close to ending the rule of the Nepalese royal family. And unlike the Indians, the Bhutanese don't have to worry about local insurgents or attacks from Pakistan.
The focus on high-end tourism has provided an opening for a handful of five-star international hotel chains. Singapore's Amanresorts International, for instance, operates the Amankora, five posh hotels around the country. Guests not keen on walking can easily hop aboard an Aman car to shuttle from one hotel to the next. Taj Hotels, owned by India's Tata Group, has just opened its first Bhutanese hotel, the Taj Tashi, in Thimpu. We stopped by to visit, and while riding in the elevator heard a hotel staff member proudly explain that the lift was one of the first anywhere in the country.
Another international luxury chain with a relatively new outpost in Bhutan is Singapore's Como Hotels & Resorts, which a few years ago opened the Uma, a traditional Bhutanese-style complex of whitewashed stone and intricately painted wooden beams in the hills overlooking the Paro Valley. The Uma, which has all the features that typify a luxury hotel—a spa, a health club, an indoor pool, yoga classes, and an upscale restaurant—offers a standard seven-night package for tourists interested in the Druk Path trek. We went on a few gentle hikes near the hotel for the first two days as we adjusted to the altitude and then, on our third day in Bhutan, we set off on the Druk Path. It was early April, when the thermometer is supposed to be climbing and the ubiquitous wild rhododendrons are in bloom. But for whatever reason—climate change or quirk of nature—the weather has become more unpredictable and temperatures were low enough that we had snow every day. To stay warm, we wore layer upon layer upon layer.
Trekking through the snow was surprisingly easy, though sometimes it turned into slush and mud. We typically started around 8:30 in the morning and went until 4:30 in the afternoon. We weren't exactly roughing it, of course: The mules carried most of our stuff, and the two cooks prepared delicious multicourse breakfasts and dinners as well as elaborate picnic lunches. Time was never really an issue, and we had plenty of chances to stop and enjoy the spectacular scenery. Indeed, had we decided to splurge, we could have gone for even more luxury: The Uma actually offers guests the option of taking a masseuse from the hotel spa along on the trek. Given how many layers of clothing we were wearing just to keep warm, there didn't seem much point in taking advantage of that luxury service.
We quickly realized the importance of keeping the mules happy. Every morning a few of us would set off first, and the pack animals and the rest of the team—who walked at a much faster pace—would start later and then pass us. One day we saw a mule rebellion: One decided it didn't like the looks of the path and suddenly turned around. That led other mules to follow suit. A few even fell off the path, with a cooking stove sliding down the side of the mountain. Would we have to abandon the trek? How could we go on without the animals cooperating? Eventually the handlers managed to restore order and got the mules moving. By the time we got to the campsite that afternoon, the team had already been there for hours, with hot ginger tea waiting for us in the dining tent.
No mules, no trek. So sometimes we had to make compromises to accommodate the animals. On our last night on the trek, the guys in charge of the mules nixed a campsite because they fretted there wouldn't be enough grass there for the animals. So we stayed in a mule-friendly area. Good for the animals. For the people? Less so. The spot had terrific views of the peaks on one side and the Thimpu Valley far below on the other. But we were also exposed to harsh winds that seemed to pick up as the sun went down. Even standing around the campfire didn't make us any warmer, and my wife and I shivered in our sleeping bags much of the night. Turns out we weren't the only ones who spent a restless night: The next morning we heard that many of the Bhutanese guys were also too cold to sleep.
By then, though, the wind had disappeared, the clouds cleared, and we had beautiful blue skies and unimpeded views of some of the highest mountains in the country. Soon we started our descent to Thimpu. We were done. The mules and their handlers set off for their next job, and we drove 90 minutes along the country's main highway—sometimes paved, sometimes not—back to the hotel in Paro. Surprisingly, we had no muscle aches and no blisters, and we had weathered the high altitude without a glitch. We're not about to embark on the Snowman Trek or one of the other insanely difficult treks in Bhutan. But no matter: We had completed—with assistance from man and beast—the Druk Path.
Check out the BusinessWeek.com slide show for a closer look at the Druk Path trek.
Lodging Web Sites:
Uma Paro: www.uma.como.bz/paro/
Taj Tashi: www.tajhotels.com/Leisure/Taj Tashi,THIMPHU/default.htm
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During normal walking parts on the soles of our feet endure 100 to 300 kPa pressure. Just to remember: 100 kPa is equivalent to a pressure of 1 atm. Standing barefooted on the floor causes local strain which corresponds to a multiple of this pressure. In other words: With regard to mechanical stress, our feet are among those parts of the body that endure the most strain. That is why the skin of our feet is particularly thick, specifically the external horny layer on the part of the soles that we walk on.
On the other hand, our upright posture or orthostasis which is the medical term, causes a high intravascular pressure that is compensated by the high venous reflux. Symptoms of circulatory and vascular disorders are swollen legs among others.
To get down to the root of the trouble...
External as well as disease related influences quickly end up in problems and among them mechanical strain by inadequate shoes as e.g. high heeled ladies shoes, and narrow or worn shoes. The feet will deform and callus and blisters develop. Prolonged standing affects the micro circulation, airtight shoes or boots support a humid microclimate with soaking of the barrier layers which altogether provides the optimal nutrition for ubiquitously existing spores of pathogenic fungi.
With a weak connective tissue on top of it, the area below the ankle reacts very sensitive to external pressure and spider veins may easily form which tend to grow with advancing years. Diabetes patients may develop circulatory problems and open sores which may take a long time to recover.
Pedicure products can only come into effect after the causes of the foot problems have been adequately dealt with. In a next step then long term cosmetic therapies can be started.
Cosmetic care - just enough and not too much
Priority should be given to the horny layer of the feet - it should be smooth and soft. Skin care creams which support both skin hydration and skin lipids are helpful in this case. On the other hand however specifically in the foot area it is important to find the adequate dose. Excessive fattening causes a swelling of the skin barrier and reduces the natural recovery of the skin. Excessive moisturizing of the skin supports the activity of odor creating bacteria. Hence it is important to find the golden mean. Superficial films feel pleasant and smooth, in the long term however they are rather counterproductive particularly when they are based on mineral oil products like paraffin oils and vaseline. Thus easily penetrating emulsifier free creams are the best solution.
The treatment of diabetic patients should focus on long term smoothing effects of the lipids in order to avoid that freshly closed wounds or edges of wounds open again. Also helpful in this specific case are oleogels, i.e. products without watery phase. They should contain linoleic acid, alpha or gamma linolenic acid (essential fatty acids) with their high anti-inflammatory potential. Like the skin-related cholesterol, phytosterols have long term preventive effects. They are contained in the unsaponifiables of vegetable oils.
The skin smoothness can easily be improved with native phosphatidylcholine (PC) which forms a complex compound with the keratin of the skin. In addition PC provides the skin with natural linoleic acid and also has positive influence on brittle nails. In this specific case PC should be used in form of nanoparticles which are applied directly on and around the nails in form of a watery solution. The oil component of the nanoparticles will smoothen the skin.
In case of deep cracks (rhagades) in the soles of the feet and especially in the heels the neighboring horny layer is largely removed in order to ease the strain in this area. It is also important to keep the skin smooth. The combination of PC with urea which increases the skin hydration, together with an easily penetrating barrier cream supports the recovery process. Evening primrose oil or linseed oil with their content of essential fatty acids has anti-inflammatory effects.
It is recommended to keep the toenails short as the permanent compression in tight shoes may lead to deformations of the nail bed, split nails or in extreme cases also cause bruises underneath the nails which take a long time to heal. The latter mentioned problem frequently happens when mountain hiking and especially when going downhill i.e. that the foot continuously slides into the tips of the shoes and the long toenails then hit the tips.
Cleansing with warm water
Unless walking bare-footed and therefore ending up with dirty feet, it is sufficient to cleanse the feet with warm water only. An excessive use of soaps not only disturbs the natural skin protection with regard to the moisture and lipid balance but also affects the natural skin flora and therefore increases the susceptibility to fungal infections.
The more negligent the skin in between the toes is dried after showering the higher the probability to catch a fungal infection. As the toes on top continuously touch each other there is also a high risk of a fast contamination with the germs.
Emulsifier free cleansing milk products allow a mild cleansing as well as the adequate care for the skin. The same effect have vegetable oils and their compounds though. They can also be used for a massage of the feet which improves the micro circulation in this area. Cracked skin can be treated with astringent tannins or hamamelis extract before the application of the oils.
Hot and cold baths against cold feet
In order to improve the micro circulation and elasticity two quite traditional remedies may be beneficial besides massages, i.e. walking bare-footed and taking hot and cold baths. Cold feet should definitely be avoided not only because they affect the circulation but also in order to prevent negative impulses on other parts of the body. Pains in the spinal area or morning stiffness may frequently be attributed to cold feet which were not adequately covered while sleeping. Hence, on the other way round it can be said that warm foot baths or a treatment with hot stones have soothing effects for the whole body. Adding essential oils to the bath which stimulate the circulation will complement the treatment. If oil containing PC concentrates are combined as well the baths are even more effective. In this case the particles formed in the water will cover the skin with a layer and thus provide an agreeable smooth and soft skin surface.
Not every type of water is appropriate for baths: the water should be as soft as possible as the calcium salts contained in hard water form lime soaps which may affect the skin barrier. By contrast, sea salt compounds are excellent additives for foot baths.
Massaging the feet after the bath and then putting the legs up will decongest both feet and legs. Persons with problems with the connective tissue will experience this as particularly helpful in the evening hours after a stressful working day. It is also an excellent relief for persons with spider veins below the ankles and the efficacy can be optimally supported by echinacea extract and vitamin K. Vitamin K has stabilizing effects on the vascular system and will reinforce the tissue.
Infections: preventing instead of ...
If infections have started to spread between the toes it is recommended to ask the physician for an effective antimycotic or a combined preparation which in this specific case will also take care of the pathogenic bacteria in the destroyed barrier layers that generally accompany a fungal infection. The treatment should not be stopped too early as the skin takes its time to discard the infected barrier layers and form replacements. As the focus in this case is on a fast recovery of the skin the remedy here is to start a preventive cosmetic treatment with a mix of the vitamins A, C and E combined with D-panthenol in emulsifier free cream.
Erythema and destroyed barrier layers sometimes lead to itching and the cosmetic treatment here consists of a combination of urea and evening primrose oil. Warts also penetrate the barrier layers and can easily be caught in spa areas. The only remedy here is to apply antiviral ointments, cryotherapy or laser.
Corns and Co
A very annoying cosmetic problem is the formation of callus in the areas where mechanical pressure occurs. They may become very painful spots if they form in areas without enough tissue between skin and bones. The tissue slowly modifies and the corn or clavus as the Latin term says, will form. Depending on the specific type the corn either is removed with keratolytic agents as e.g. salicylic acid or alternatively by surgery. In the pedicurist practice cornifications are removed with grinding or milling devices. The best long term therapy however is to use adequate footwear. PC containing barrier lotions help to keep the skin surface smooth.
Moist feet that tend to sweat are not only a nuisance but also are accompanied by an embarrassing odor due to the microbial metabolites forming in this condition. The cosmetic treatment mainly consists of creams with astringent (see above) and antibacterial active agents like e.g. elemental, finely distributed silver (micro silver), essential oils like farnesol, or thyme oil. Further active agents, comparable to the ones used in deodorant creams e.g. are aluminum salts and sage oil. Footbaths with essential oils are also beneficial.
Besides chamomile, salix extract, calendula, evening primrose oil, allantoin and different extracts as e.g. from centella asiatica (tiger grass), micro silver also is a component of products for the wound care.
Massages & physical exercise
Massage oils for the feet mostly consist of a base oil, as e.g. almond oil, avocado oil, olive oil, jojoba or soybean oil, and additives like essential oils with warming, cooling or fragrant effects. The massages are frequently carried out with adequately prepared herb stamps. They stimulate the circulation, improve the elasticity and may be optimally supplemented by regular foot exercises and frequent bare-foot walking.
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History of science in classical antiquity
The history of science in classical antiquity encompasses both those inquiries into the workings of the universe aimed at such practical goals as establishing a reliable calendar or determining how to cure a variety of illnesses and those abstract investigations known as natural philosophy. The ancient peoples who are considered the first scientists may have thought of themselves as natural philosophers, as practitioners of a skilled profession (for example, physicians), or as followers of a religious tradition (for example, temple healers). The encyclopedic works of Aristotle, Archimedes, Hippocrates, Galen, Ptolemy, Euclid, and others spread throughout the world. These works and the important commentaries on them were the wellspring of science.
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As human beings of the technological age, it is fair to say that waste management and the management of food preservation has been developed to such an extent that it is now a process nearly entirely dependent on technology. The contradiction in this fact, however, as Korean designer Jihuyn Ryou highlights, is that mankind has forgotten a most obvious factor when it comes to natural food preservation – the fact that as a living organism its existence should remain within a natural, not technological, environment. As the world grows alongside developing global issues such as waste, over population and poverty, society has often looked to its most powerful force – technology – for the answer. However when it comes to waste management, has the answer been aligned with traditional food practices all along?
On average, globally, an everyday household wastes close to 30% of its food through a misuse / misunderstanding of proper preservation (UNEPF 2011). Ryou calls this a ‘blind trust’ that mankind has developed in technology, specifically the refrigerator, in which a lack of observation and knowledge of food has led to an increase of food waste in the 21st century (2009). By studying traditional food preservation through oral tradition, Ryou has developed her ‘Save Food From the Fridge’ initiative to which specific foods are given a more suitable and sustainable means to exist in the everyday household. Her project serves two purposes, one being to save food from being wasted, and the other to save food from loosing its nutrients through correct preservation. Ryou highlights a laziness that general society has adopted towards food due to its abundance in first world countries, compared to the thorough management and observation of food in olden times that was necessary for survival.
In designing ‘Save Food From the Fridge’ Ryou has cleverly considered the creation of physical objects as a means to bring back a closer relationship between food and people. She looks into the symbiosis of potatoes and apples in a dual storage system whereby an understanding of the emission of ethylene gas from apples helps to prevent the sprouting of potatoes.
In another design, Ryou creates a simple, beautifully designed storage system for root vegetables, in which keeping roots in their natural, upright position allows the organism to re-align with its original vertical development, preserving more energy and keeping appropriate humidity placed in moistened sand.
Finally, in what now seems a most obvious management for eggs, Ryou has constructed a storage shelf where eggs may remain in natural air, free from absorbing the smells from refrigeration through their millions of surface pores with an additional glass for testing the freshness of the egg.
It is clear to see that Ryou’s simple realignment with traditional food preservation can make quite a drastic change on the preservation and management of food. By taking the time to observe the natural being of such foods, mankind would benefit not only from the duration of purchased goods, but also from an improvement of taste with nutrients thriving in their natural condition. Check out her blog to see more of Ryou’s ideas and to communicate with like minded people across the world deterring from technology and re-aligning with traditional methods of food preservation: http://shareyourfoodknowledge.tumblr.com/
Tedx Talks – Jihyun Ryou on ‘Save Food From the Fridge’ 2012
Nickel-Kailing, G, April 9th 2013, ‘Food Waste in the 21st Century’, Good Food World, viewed 25th April 2015, http://www.goodfoodworld.com/2013/04/food-waste-in-the-21st-century/
Ryou, J, 2015, ‘Save Food From the Fridge’, viewed 25th April 2014, http://www.savefoodfromthefridge.com/
TEDx Talks, February 9th 2012, ‘Save Food From the Fridge: Shaping Traditional Oral Knowledge: Jihyun Ryou at TEDx’, Video Recording, viewed 25th April 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NByNOOaCzI
UNEPF, 2011, ‘Food Waste Facts’ viewed on 25th April 2014, http://www.unep.org/wed/2013/quickfacts/
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So what are we going to be installing in the DF-85? Our test system is comprised of an Intel Core i7-965 processor, Gigabyte X58A-UD3R motherboard, ATI Radeon 4870 X2 video card, 6GB of memory, NZXT 1200W power supply, Blu-ray drive and a 1TB SATA hard drive. The first thing you want to do is install your motherboard, which goes in easily. I notice there was a good amount of room between the top of the motherboard and the top of the case. Because of this installing the top screws in the motherboard was very easy.
Next you are going to want to install your optical drives. I first wanted to install my Blu-ray drive in the top 5.25-inch drive, but upon sliding it in it, it did not fit because the top fan of the case was in the way. Many people do not use optical drives that much anymore, but really you are only limited to 2 in the DF-85 because of the top fan. Once you have the optical drive in place just secure it with screws. Next you can install your video card, which easily goes in to place. The 4870 X2 is a longer video card and we had no issues at all fitting it in the case.
Next is your power supply. It slides in and you secure it with screws. There is also a significant amount of space between the power supply and motherboard. This makes connecting all of the USB and front panel connections a lot easier.
Finally we have our hard drive. We are going to use the Fleet Swap system for our 3.5-inch SATA drive. We already have the fittings connected to power and data so all we have to do is open the front door of the DF-85 up and slide the drive in. It goes right into place and connects with the other side of the fitting. You can lock it into place with a thumbscrew.
There are a lot of fans and other things to connect to power and your motherboard. You can hide many of these cables on the back side of your motherboard. This not only makes the other side of the case look nice, but at the same time improves airflow where it matters. Antec has 2 cable ties already pre-installed, but they also include many more to keep everything together behind the motherboard. Now we can put the right side panel on the case.
When you are connecting everything to your motherboard you will notice a USB connection. This is for the USB connection on the front of the case. What you do is route it through your case out the back through the bottom expansion slot cover. There is a fitting on the cable the fits into the slot cover. Then you can just connect the cable to the USB 3.0 connection on the back of your motherboard.
When you have everything installed and power the system on the 2 red LED fans in the back of the case really do not light up the inside of the case that much. If you want some attention for the side of this case you are probably going to want to get some cold cathodes. Now on the other hand the 3 red LED fans on the front of the case just look awesome. I’ve already had 3 people comment on them!
Aug 31, 2015 0
Aug 28, 2015 0
| 95,054
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Protect your PC from Viruses and Malware today
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July 13, 1997
By BROOKE ALLEN
By Colleen Dewhurst with Tom Viola.
Lisa Drew/Scribner, $27.50.
olleen Dewhurst was one of the great stage actresses of this century, famous above all for her portrayals of Eugene O'Neill's tragic women. In the theater business and among her large circle of friends she was as notable for her exuberant eccentricity as she was for her talent. In her autobiography -- completed after her death in 1991, at the age of 67, by Tom Viola, who filled out the narrative with interviews from more than 50 of her friends and colleagues -- Dewhurst chats openly and engagingly about her peripatetic childhood, ruled by the formidable mother she adored; her arrival in New York in the late 1940's, when she worked so often and in such a range of roles that she became known as the Queen of Off Broadway; and the moment when she took her place, some 20 years later, as one of Broadway's most respected stars. In the process she creates a lively picture of the postwar American theater and some of its more colorful figures, including Harold Clurman, Jose Quintero and Edward Albee; Dewhurst's fellow good-time girls, the actresses Maureen Stapleton and Zoe Caldwell; and George C. Scott, whom Dewhurst twice married and divorced. The book drags toward the end, where Viola, the producing director of Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, includes far too many adulatory interviews with people who were not intimately acquainted with Dewhurst. An attractive figure, she was not without a dark side, and by minimizing it Viola takes some juice out of her story.
Return to the Books Home Page
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New Polymer Injection Valve with significantly less degradationSince 2013 Typhonix has, together with TOTAL, ENI and Equinor developed a new valve for polymer injection applications. This new valve design reduces mechanical shear and thereby degradation of the polymer solution.
Polyacrylamide molecules are very long flexible chain molecules that are broken when submitted to high shear rates. This causes an irreversible loss of viscosity of the solution, which has to be compensated by increasing the amount of polymers used. Mechanical degradation of polymers is a well known technical challenge in the petroleum industry. A full scale prototype test of the technology in 2017 has shown that it is possible to reduce the mechanical degradation of polymers from 50% to 10%. This means that you can reduce the costs of chemicals by more than 25%. The next step of the development is to install the valve at a live field. Regarding this Typhonix currently are seeking pilot candidates for the valve to join our TRL 6 qualification program.
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The Sword is Drawn [Opinion]
[ This article is taken from a facebook page (courtesy Pankaj Kr Patel - one of SikhNet readers - acknowledged gratefully) that has overwhelming support shown for Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana ~ ED]
The Sword is Drawn
I have just realized that our legacy is nothing without my Sikh brothers joining their hands and demanding their rights in a Nation that is well known not to respect Sikhs as valued citizens, the same Sikhs that don’t think twice before offering their lives again and again for a country that has 98% Non-Sikhs who just sit back and watch or cheer-on. Why is it that when there is a war in the horizon, the Sikhs are the only ones seen head on with the enemy?
So in the past few days we have woken up when our brother Rajoana said that he does not recognize the judicial system of India and would rather be hung. We as Sikhs could not digest a brother of ours who helped rid the world of a tyrant proudly sitting in wait on death row. What about the hundreds of Sikh brothers whose voices have been shut behind Indian jails for decades and the hundreds that got arrested for standing against India’s abuse of human rights the past week? What about the 18 year old martyr Bhai Jaspal Singh whose fathers’ tears could break anyone’s heart? What about the thousands of mothers crying for Justice after 1984? What about villages where Sikhs were practically wiped out during Sikh genocide and ethnic cleansing? What about India forcing us to live as slaves of India? What about Sikh sovereignty? What about justice for thousands dead in Delhi? Justice for the demolition of Akal Takht, where the military tanks and Sikh blood spilled even today haunts us day and night.
I personally live in a city where I haven’t seen Sikhs for years but proudly asked dozens of my Caucasian and African friends to sign petitions so even if my contribution to our fight as Sikhs against a government that has given my people nothing but pain can still be something but insignificant. My senior manager even encouraged me to protest outside the local Indian mission which is 600 miles away. He even agreed to give our entire staff of 60 the weekend off to travel and protest. He valued what was hurting and burning me inside that my people are in pain worldwide and I can’t stand it. The man has unshaken belief in human rights and its vital stand in society. I even printed the story of Bhai Rajoana and distributed it to entire of our staff for knowledge and the support was priceless.
If a man who is not even Sikh but an Atheist along with my work mates who are mostly Christian and two Jewish brothers can be willing to support us, then why are we as Sikhs not open enough to demand our rights from the Indian Government and the release of hundreds or thousands of our brothers who are in Indian jails from fabricated cases to protesting which took place in recent days. Are we so weak that we can give the life of an eighteen year old but cannot demand the Punjab government for a probe into this cold-blooded killing of this young man Jaspal Singh?
What is saddening is that when Sikhs have started a revolution, we await for Rajoana to give us the next signal. The Man is beyond words but lets look at where he got his strength from. The blessing has come from Guru Gobind Singh Ji, when he has used this Khalsa to wake the entire Sikh Nation! The sword has been drawn and we are at a battle with the Indian Government. Twenty – two million Sikhs can now demand everything from a transparent pro-sikh government in Punjab, the return of our historical Gurudwaras grabbed by the Indian Government especially in Delhi, the protection of Sikh rights, bringing the perpetrators of 84 to book, to all else. We cannot stop now. We have taken one step by Bhai Rajoana putting voice in our silent to speak for our rights and now we are silent once again. Bhai Hawara gave his life for us and so did Jinda and Sukha. Then again there are hundreds who gave their lives for Sikhs and Justice. Not to forget the young Jaspal Singh from Gurdaspur. Can you ask yourselves what you have done for your Sikh brothers and Sisters or for the brotherhood of the Khalsa and the Sikh Nation?
The point is Bhai Rajoana, Hawara, Jinda and Sukha all had a choice. They could have joined a University in Punjab and gained a qualification and chase status by travelling to another country but instead they decided to give their lives in the services of the Khalsa. What I have done all my life is run after better pays for work and better countries for greener pastures but all I was doing was running away from myself and the truth. I made a mistake.
I did not realize the truth then. I have now. I have taken a six month leave from my work and have decided to return to Punjab which was once our home but is now a Shiv sena hold and a Center of grabbers from states such as UP and Bihar who live on our land, do business, work and burn our turbans instead of thanking Punjabi hospitality. They are the same who come right back into langars across Punjab for free meals right after burning our turbans.
I have realized that the one home my future generation will have is almost gone and soon my children will be living as slaves in their own homeland. If my children see the videos of the Indian people who our past generations spent centuries protecting first from Mughals and then from enemy nations are now burning our turbans and trying to tarnish the existence of the Khalsa and the Khanda Flag, my children will despise me for not having done all I could when I had the chance and instead leaving them with oppression to tackle. I will now for six months in Punjab spread the word of Human rights and get various institutions involved. I will write letters to Indian Authorities and the Authorities in the West to understand the oppression we Sikhs are facing today. I feel like before I get strangled from being extremely ashamed (I am more than enough already) of returning to Punjab I may as well contribute to getting Sikhs with more knowledge and Understanding of where they stand now and where they need to be as sons and daughters of the tenth guru who always taught us to never stand down, never give up and never say Quit. Even if it drenched your last drop of blood! Which was all far from succumbing to oppression, don’t you think? I am sure I will face hundreds of people who will oppose anything I do but I am ready for this challenge. If I get arrested and shut behind a prison, the so be it. My father has already asked me to do as much as I can to help the Khalsa rise and nothing would make him more proud. The time of shutting up and watching the injustice is over for me. The sword is drawn! I would be humbled to give my life in the services of the Sikh Nation.
Waheguri ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
Baldev Singh Sangha (United States of America)
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There seems to be a bit of a trend over on ScienceBlogsTM. First Razib decides that it's finally time to read The Structure of Evolutionary Theory, then John Lynch figures he should too. And now Laelaps gets into the act.
I have long maintained that you can't have a serious discussion about evolutionary theory until you've read Gould's tome. You don't have to agree with him but at the very least you have to understand the arguments and there's no better way to do it than by reading all 1432 pages. Take lots of notes. Write in the margins. Use a highlighter.
There are several things you need to get out of this book. First, Charles Darwin Was a Gradualist. Second, try to understand punctuated equilibria. Don't just assume that you know what it is. Listen to Gould explain it in his own words. An open mind helps. Third, understand what Gould means when he talks about hierarchical theory. Fourth, pay attention to the description of species sorting. Don't read your own biases into the concept.
Enjoy. It's worth the effort.
Warning: The Structure of Evolutionary Theory is written at a very high level. It's not for high school students. If the language and style turns you off then maybe it's not for you. Try Dawkins or Dennett. Their version of evolutionary theory can be understood by 5th graders.
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U.N. humanitarian chief in Syria to discuss crisis
United Nations humanitarian chief Valerie Amos arrived in Syria Tuesday to address the “deteriorating humanitarian situation” in the conflict-ravaged country and discuss ways of scaling-up relief efforts.
She will meet government officials and humanitarian partners including the local Red Crescent as well as families affected by the conflict, at the start of a three-day visit to both Syria and Lebanon, her office said in a statement.
The visit “aims to draw attention to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria and the impact of the conflict on people either remaining in Syria and who have fled to other countries, including Lebanon,” the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) said.
While in Syria, Amos is expected to discuss ways of “urgently scaling-up relief efforts and reducing the suffering of civilians caught up in the fighting with the Syrian authorities, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and other humanitarian partners.”
In Lebanon, Amos, the under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, will meet families who have fled from Syria and liaise with the government and humanitarian agencies.
Two million people are now estimated to have been affected by the Syria crisis and more than one million are internally displaced as fighting continues in Damascus, Aleppo and other cities, OCHA said.
More than 140,000 people have fled the violence and crossed into Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, according to the UN agency, many of them living in tent camps on the borders.
At least 21,000 people have been killed across Syria since the anti-regime revolt broke out in March 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
[Syrian refugee file photo via Agence France-Presse]
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Part-time faculty members are just that — they’re at PCC part time, and because of that, students and teachers struggle every day to make up for the missing hours.
Teaching part-time suits some professors, but it can be a stressful way to make a living for those seeking a career in education.
Finding full-time work is difficult and obtaining tenure is akin to winning the lottery. Part-time teachers do a good job, and colleges save money by hiring them. Unfortunately, both the educators and their students may be paying the price.
Sixty-eight percent or 787 of the 1,150 faculty members at PCC teach part time, according to Alex Boekelheide, a college spokesperson.
Nationwide, part-time faculty teach 58 percent of classes and more than half of the students at community colleges, according to a 2014 report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE). Seventy percent of new hires are part time. Yet they are not involved in important faculty functions, and their efforts are not being supported by schools, the report states. Since community colleges enroll 45 percent of U.S. undergraduates, the impact of part-time faculty is widespread and significant.
The plight of these adjunct or contingent teachers has been reflected in nationwide coverage of the subject: “There is No Excuse for How Universities Treat Adjuncts,” and “9 Reasons Why Being an Adjunct Faculty Member is Terrible” (Huffington Post, November 11, 2013).
Some writers refer to the “adjunctification” of community colleges as if it were a swear word.
Compensation is the biggest issue for part-timers. The CCCSE report found that these instructors have lower pay levels than full-time faculty and receive minimal, if any, benefits, such as health insurance.
“In order for me to make the same pay as a first-year teacher [at PCC], I have to teach 64 units,” Janet Mitchell-Wagner, a part-time PCC English teacher who has been teaching for 15 years said. “This is equivalent to two full-time jobs.”
She tries to achieve this by teaching at PCC, Citrus College in Glendora, and Fullerton College.
PayScale, an online career position pay calculator, predicts that a 40-year-old female adjunct professor of English at Pasadena City College with 15 years of experience and a master’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles could earn $40,660 (median salary).
To pay the bills, philosophy teacher Sanja Morris shuttles between PCC, College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita and Glendale Community College. She generally teaches eight classes, two online. She is paid $3,000 per semester course at PCC, she said. Pay differs from school to school, even within the state community college system.
Each week, part-timer Morris spends 18 hours in class, and a minimum of nine hours doing homework, grading papers, working on exams, and holding office hours. Another four hours are spent in online discussions. Driving alone takes up five hours. This semester, due to a teacher’s unexpected medical leave at another college, she is teaching 10 classes.
The biggest challenge is not receiving pay for out-of-class work,” Nikoo Berenji, a former PCC business law teacher who was hired full time at Los Angeles Valley College, said. She said part timers were paid for only five hours of office hours per semester when they spent much more time meeting with students.
An issue related to compensation is job insecurity. Part-timers are unable to plan from semester to semester. They cannot be guaranteed even one course at any particular college.
Morris said it is challenging not knowing for sure if she will be offered classes. “I have always been offered classes during the regular semester, but in summer 2015 I had no classes at all.” She said often this is due to low enrollment, which she has found cannot be predicted.
At PCC, a re-employment agreement adopted in 2015 states that adjuncts who have worked at PCC for six semesters and who had good evaluations would be guaranteed an offer of at least one class. However, an article on the PCC Faculty Association website noted that the association “is already hearing that some adjuncts have been warned that they will not be offered classes in the fifth or sixth semester of their employment, in order to undermine the intention of the Reemployment provision.”
In spite of challenges, it’s apparent that many part-time instructors are highly committed, working many hours without pay and attending professional development programs on their own dime.
“I love teaching,” Mitchell-Wagner said. “I want to dedicate more of my time to students from a single campus.” She said that student pathway programs are extremely important for student success. “I could better participate fully in those programs if I am full time as my schedule would be centered on my participation.” Other part timers expressed strong desire to spend more time being involved with students and on campus.
When the instructor teaches and then leaves the campus for another job,“the students suffer,” sociology teacher Anthony Francoso said. Full time since 2015, Francoso spent six years teaching at four colleges.
“I’d be at one school in the morning, another in the afternoon, and another in the evening,” he said. He might have 115 students on any one day.
“Students don’t get the teacher’s full attention. I would go to class, see students’ faces a few times a week, and then leave,” Francoso said. “[Students] don’t come by during office hours, and at most places, there is no office for part timers. Students don’t get to know the teacher.”
Francoso said having a relationship with a professor is crucial. “The more connected students are, the more invested they will be in the class,” he said.
“It means a lot when the students see me at Starbucks and we can talk informally,” he said.
This is especially important with students who are at risk of not completing the course. More than half of the nation’s most vulnerable college students are in courses taught by part-time faculty members who are less prepared than full-time faculty, a 2014 “Inside Higher Ed” report stated.
Francoso said that PCC is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). This means it participates in a federal program aimed at retaining first-generation, low-income Hispanic students and bridging this population’s recognized “achievement gap.”
Hispanic students at PCC represent 45 percent of the population, an increase from 34 percent in 2009, according to a 2014 PCC report of educational quality and institutional effectiveness.
“The students look at me and say to themselves, ‘Hey, this guy looks like me, he talks like me, and he has a Ph.D. If this knucklehead can do it, I can do it.’”
Francoso said that when he was teaching part time, students dropped out.
“I might lose up to half of my students in any one class,” he said. “Now that I am full time and am highly visible and involved in campus, I might lose one to two out of 50 students.”
Full-time faculty members have more time to advise students and give feedback. They also spend more hours per week preparing for class than part-time instructors, according to the same “Inside Higher Ed” report.
Some students agreed that availability of part-timers outside of class is an issue.
“With part timers, you have to make an appointment,” Michael Cabrera, a history major, said.
“You might set up an appointment and it might not work out. And there is no privacy,”
Francoso said that as a full-time faculty member, he has a real office. He spends more time advising students — in private for the first time.
Antonina Alvala, a child education major, said that when she has questions for a part-time instructor, she sends an email.
“It takes 1-2 days to receive an answer,” she added.
- ‘Bizforum’ inspires while setting students straight - December 5, 2016
- PCC food service poses serious health risks - December 1, 2016
- Props 51 and 55 to improve PCC campus and benefit staff - November 26, 2016
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Same-sex couples hoping to wed in New Jersey will have to wait a little bit longer.
Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey stepped up their push to legalize same-sex marriage Tuesday, urging Gov. Chris Christie to allow GOP legislators to vote for the bill.
A New York City Councilman said he expects the Council to override Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s veto of a bill that would have prevented employers from shunning out-of-work job-seekers.
The aid for cities was among dozens of items Gov. Chris Christie vetoed before signing the new state budget into law.
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Heritage Studies 6 (2nd ed.) provides a richly illustrated narrative of the history and culture of ancient civilizations. This history textbook is written for the elementary school level, yet still providing a detailed account of ancient history. Special maps contrast ancient land masses with the topography of present countries.
The IWB is a complete editable version of the student textbook, designed specifically for use with a classroom equipped with an Interactive Whiteboard (such as SmartBoard, Promethean, or Mimio technology). The eTextbook can be accessed on a desktop computer or a laptop (Mac or PC).
This innovative teaching tool includes many common IWB features, allowing teachers to highlight, annotate, link to video or audio clips, and even add new content or pages into their own unique version. To enhance student interaction during the class period, teachers can build quizzes directly into their version of the eTextbook.
The Teacher can
|Heritage Studies 6 Teacher's Edition with CD (3rd ed.)||$60.56|
|Heritage Studies 6 Tests Answer Key (3rd ed.)||$10.28|
|Heritage Studies 6 Student Text (3rd ed.)||$38.89|
|Heritage Studies 6 Student Activities Manual (3rd ed.)||$27.22|
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Learn something new every day More Info... by email
In the United States, a Joint Committee on the Judiciary is one name for a legislative committee that oversees all the functions, decisions and administrative matters of the courts and the judiciary system. Although not all states use this name, each state has its own committee that is responsible for the proceedings in its own jurisdiction. Members of the committee are also members of the Senate or House of Representatives, and hail from different districts within the state and different political parties to help ensure the fairness of the committee.
In most states, each committee is made up of two chairs or co-chairs, two vice-chairs, and two ranking minority members. Each set of ranked individuals is made up of one member from the Senate and one member from the House of Representatives, hence the reference to a joint committee. The rest of the committee is filled out by equal members from both the House and Senate.
In addition to being kept apprised of all judicial procedures, including criminal law proceedings, parole hearings, wills, adoptions, appeals and divorce cases, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary also oversees the courts' observances of the preservation of public documents and keeps track of all claims made against the state. The committee may keep track of all court-related nominations, including those for workers' compensation commissioners, members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and for new judges. Also usually falling under the watchful eye of the committee is all matters of the Department of Corrections and the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
The passing of certain bills may go before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Bills that can result in a civil ruling with punishments of fines above a certain amount and all bills with criminal penalties will usually go before the committee. In this capacity, the committee serves as a failsafe to ensure that the bills have appropriate punishments and penalties that are in line with constitutional law.
Judicial reforms are usually presented to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, and members veto or pass the reforms. Bills of any kind may go before the committee, as long as they meet the requirements for criminal or civil penalties. For example, acts that have done before Connecticut's Joint Committee on the Judiciary include acts concerning organized retail theft, those involving the protection of domestic violence victims, those prohibiting the unreasonable confinement of dogs, and those specifying the punishments and evidence needed to prove failure of a driver to stop for a school bus.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!
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Different industries in the world, have different job requirements. Some jobs are said to be simple with less physical movement or exertion like programmer, banker or accountant. But the majority of the professions require physical work, on-site presence and working in confined spaces. Especially in industries like construction, manufacturing or infrastructure maintenance etc. The people working in these industries are always in the exposure of unforeseen situations. Sometimes these situations become life-threatening and at that time the right training of the people will help them to survive. The confined space training is vital for all the professional who is in exposure to such risks. Same is the case with people working at heights because as you go vertically, the risk of accidents may increase. At that heights there are many factors like wind speed, inadequate safety measures may lead to serious disaster. This is the reason that now the company’s spend money on training their people on confined space training or working at heights courses. Looking into details, there are multiple benefits of these training not only for personnel but also for companies.
Nowadays, for the public or private sector, every contractor has to ensure that their contractor must provide the confined space training to their employees. Maybe this training will not be for all employees but to specific lot who have to work on the projects that may include particular hazards. Even the contractors will not be allowed to bud for such projects if they don’t have an employee who these sets of training. Nearly every government have such legalisation for any contractor to qualify for bidding in these particular projects. This means if the contractor wants to be qualified for bigger projects then they have to train their staff accordingly.
For any project, one of the critical performance indicators is zero accidents or causality. Especially, when the projects are hazardous like working underground or at extreme heights, this indicator gets more spotlight. Not only this, any client or contractor is concerned about the safety of the people working on their projects because any accident may attract bad publicity. Nothing is costlier than human life. The confined space training is essential to train your staff the right method of working on such projects. Because many fatal accidents at such projects, happen due to insufficient knowledge and training of the staff.
The confined space training will always educate an organization or its employee, to do a risk assessment before taking up the task. This risk assessment will make them more aware of the hazards they can face and they will be knowing how to protect themselves. This will inculcate the culture of safety in the employee. The good thing is the confined space training is available online and the same is the case with working at heights refresher course online, they can easily be accessible online.
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Answer: Blood in the anterior chamber is called a hyphema. Blood tends to settle to the bottom of the anterior chamber, and can clog up the trabecular meshwork and cause pressure problems.
You might want to hop over to RootAtlas and watch this hyphema video to get a better idea of what they look like.
eww!what is that green thing!
the “green thing” looks like fluorescein to me!
it is fluorescein ofcourse!
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War Do You Think of That?
War Do You Think of That? was a short-lived feature during the second series of Xfm Shows. It was not dissimilar to Educating Ricky; however this version was supposed to be focused more on events of war.
- The first was a small story about a chess expert called in during World War II to help out with war maneuvers.
- The second was about the first bomb being dropped on Berlin. Apparently, the only victim was an elephant.
- The last was about the French during World War II. Everyone needed a code to give the go-ahead to "go into battle and stuff." Their code for "Right, yep, go on" was, "John's got a moustache." Karl didn't think it was a very good code and said, "it was a bit daft, and could've been said by mistake".
This feature contained what may be Karl's most distinguished and angry "I can't be bothered".
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A stock represents a stake in a company. When you own a share of stock, you are a part owner in the company with a claim - however small it may be - on every asset and every penny in earnings.
Now, unless you own a significant chunk of one company's stock, it's not as if you have a real say in how things are done. Owning 100 shares of Facebook makes you, technically speaking, Mark Zuckerberg’s boss, but that doesn't mean you can call him up and give him a tongue-lashing. Nevertheless, it's that ownership structure that gives a stock its value. If stockholders didn't have a claim on earnings, then stock certificates would be worth no more than the paper they're printed on.
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Seventeen Iowa school districts have launched Registered Apprenticeship programs, which are an outstanding pathway for students to earn valuable postsecondary credentials.
The state’s goal is to expand these programs and participating employers. Weekly webinars in March and April will feature leaders from Iowa high schools and participating employer and government agency representatives.
The series is hosted by Iowa Workforce Development in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship and the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
Here are the dates, times and links to each of the webinars:
Monday, March 2, 10-11 a.m.
How to Start a Registered Apprenticeship Program
Guest Speakers: Linda Fandel, Governor Reynolds’ Office; Greer Sisson, director, U.S. Department of Labor/Office of Apprenticeship; and David Ottavianelli, director, Strategic Projects-Labor Relations, John Deere
Thursday, March 12, 10-11 a.m.
Advanced Manufacturing Discussion
Guest Speakers: West Delaware Community School District, North Scott Community School District, and participating employers
Friday, March 27, 10-11 a.m.
Federal and State Funding Opportunities
Guest Speakers: Jill Lippincolt, team lead, Innovation and Apprenticeship, IEDA; Amy Beller, RA program coordinator, Iowa Workforce Development
CANCELLED - Wednesday, April 1, 2-3 p.m. -
CTE Instructor Requirements & RA
Guest speakers: Greer Sisson, director, U.S. Department of Labor/Office of Apprenticeship, and David Wempen, consultant, Board of Education Examiners
CANCELLED - Tuesday, April 7, 3-4 p.m.
Guest Speakers: Career Academy of Pella, Davenport Community School District, West Delaware Community School District and participating employers.
Each webinar has the capacity for 500 attendees. Webinars will be taped and shared on www.earnandlearniowa.gov following each session. If you have further questions about this series, contact Amy Beller, RA program coordinator with Iowa Workforce Development at 515-725-1035 or firstname.lastname@example.org
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The great Illinois poet Carl Sandburg — the scribe of his big-shouldered city — published “Chicago Poems” in 1916. A prolific non-fiction author and poet, Sandburg wrote volumes upon volumes chronicling the childhood and the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln — a fellow man of the Midwest—fascinated him, and Sandburg’s fascination spawned one of his most unassuming poems: a mere quatrain entitled “In a Back Alley.”
“Remembrance of a great man is this,” wrote Sandburg. “The newsies are pitching pennies. / And on a copper disk is the man’s face. / Dead lover of boys, what do you ask for now?”
Two hundred years later, the conversation between Lincoln and his legacy has tempered. Sandburg encapsulates this kind of passive remembrance. We remember Honest Abe in token places: our pennies and our Presidents’ Day, crammed in with George Washington as a demigod of American history.
We remember Lincoln in token catchphrases, too. Lincoln freed the slaves; he had a wife named Mary Todd. He lived in a log cabin and taught himself to read, so stay in school and eat your vegetables. Abraham Lincoln liked to wear a big black top hat, and at the end of his life, a bad man shot him in the neck at a theatre in Washington D.C. As children, we listened. And we learned — legs crossed in a kindergarten carpet on a Presidents’ Day past — that evil existed in the world. Sic semper tyrannis, or something like that.
Last Sunday, Abraham Lincoln turned 203 years old. He celebrated his birthday with little fanfare—as dead men often do. His life merited a token Twitter mention from @Yale. One day later, 20th Century Fox released the teaser-trailer for “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” a new film — based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel of the same name — that imagines Honest Abe as a vampire slayer-cum-abolitionist, wielding his trademark axe against the evils of slavery and vampirism alike.
But Abraham Lincoln’s life deserves a complexity of understanding that we do not afford him on the front of a five-dollar bill. We tend to remember Lincoln as though he were eternally great — and as though any acknowledgement of flaw or fault poses an existential threat to Lincoln’s legacy of greatness. Abraham Lincoln deserves more.
Lincoln’s evolution of thought — not some sort of static exceptionalism — made him remarkable. Over the course of his life, and especially during the Civil War, Lincoln did a lot of thinking. He grappled with his moral objections to slavery and the political realities of his time. He thought about realism and idealism and tried to find where, if anywhere, the two might intersect. Sometimes, he even changed his mind. His beliefs evolved — not as a result of politically prudent flip-flopping, but rather of genuine thought.
Lincoln was not — as we are so often told as children — born perfect. But in actively and affirmatively wrestling with issues — and in challenging himself and others — Lincoln became more perfect, much like the Union he tried to create. And he became, in a way, like us — or, more accurately, how we could be — as he and we and Americans everywhere work through the issues of our time.
This Presidents’ Day, if you remember Abraham Lincoln at all, do not remember Abraham Lincoln because he was perfect. Remember him as someone who, as it turns out, really did have the complexity of someone who secretly fought vampires in his spare time. Lincoln said it best: “with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in.”
Like Lincoln, we’re all striving to be better.
Marissa Medansky is a freshman in Morse College. Her column runs on alternate Thursdays. Contact her at email@example.com.
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President Donald Trump has signed into law a coronavirus stimulus plan. Under the plan passed today by the U.S. House, Americans who make $75,000 or less a year would get a check for $1,200 – $2,400 for married couples – plus $500 per kid.
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat of Kansas City, says the pandemic is ravaging the country and the resulting economic downturn.
“It has driven millions of Americans into unemployment,” says Cleaver. “In this legislation, you will find a massive expansion of unemployment insurance to help Americans weather this storm until they can return to work.”
Cleaver says the plan includes $150 billion to address spending shortages the virus has put on state and local governments.
“Even though this bill is the largest stimulus package in the history of our nation, it will not be enough,” says Cleaver. “The pandemic will outlast these funds and we must be unflinching in our commitment to provide relief.”
The package delays student loan payments, gives relief to people with federally backed mortgages, more than $150 billion in protective equipment to healthcare workers, low-interest loans for small businesses and hundreds of millions in food assistance.
On the House floor, West-central Missouri Republican Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler says the legislation gives the nation hope.
“Hope that we will get through this by supporting our healthcare workers, enabling businesses to stay open, and sending Americans funds needed to get them through,” says Hartzler.
Hartzler says the plan will support healthcare workers, help businesses to stay open and help get Americans by.
“While this bill is far from perfect and the price tag is sobering, I believe we are in an unprecedented battle and it is imperative that we win this war,” says Hartzler.
Congressman Lacy Clay, a Democrat from St. Louis, applauds passage of the legislation and says Missouri is estimated to get $2.38 billion in funds to benefit residents.
East-central Missouri Republican Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer supports the bill.
provides the badly-needed resources and supplies for hospitals and the medical community who are working around the clock to keep people safe. It gives relief for families who need help to make ends meet and supports businesses to make sure they can stay afloat and continue to provide their employees with paychecks. As President Trump has said, we can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. While far from perfect, this is a good bill and its passage was critical to getting this country the relief it so desperately needs and through this crisis.”
Trump wants to get stimulus checks out by April 6 but be prepared for them to take a few weeks.
Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet
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Here's a good example of bad reporting and dangerous conclusions:
A highly inaccurate news report out of California blaming the European wool carder bee for colony collapse disorder (CCD) is forcing the University of California, Davis to work overtime in an attempt to clear the air.
This report has gone viral:
...and according to noted California entomologist Randy Oliver "We will likely be besieged by the public now wanting to know if this bee is the cause of colony collapse!
For the facts, see http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/24881
DAVIS — The European wool carder bee is not the terrorist that some folks think it is.
The pollinator doesn't cause colony collapse disorder (CCD). It's not a newcomer to California. It doesn't have five stingers. And it doesn't target honey bees leaving behind a "blood-soaked battlefield."
Entomologists at the University of California, Davis, are fielding a flurry of phone calls and emails as a result of a Sacramento-based news story gone viral. A Sacramento resident told an area TV station Jan. 24 that he discovered the first-ever European wool carder bee in California on May 23, 2009, and that it targets honey bees: It "cuts off their wings, cuts off
their antenna, cuts off their heads, cuts off their torsi (tarsi) and stabs them to death."
It's a pollinator and it does what pollinators do, say UC Davis entomologists.
"The species *(Anthidium manicatum)* was first collected in Sunnyvale, Calif. in 2007 and it was well established in the Central Valley by 2008," said entomologist Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology<http://bohart.ucdavis.edu/> (home of more than 7 million insect specimens, including wool carder bees) and professor and former chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology."
However, the above facts are unlikely to deter some groups from circulating petitions to call for the destruction of this dangerous bee!
- Randy Oliver
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Right in our wheelhouse, wherever it is
Idioms enrich our language with the word pictures they suggest, but they work best when we understand the concrete images behind them.
Are you in your wheelhouse? If so, is there something special in there with you?
Wheelhouse has been popping up in the news flow often enough lately to catch my eye (and ear). When people use it, they get their point across, but it’s not always clear what they think a wheelhouse actually is.
It’s “an enclosed area on a boat or ship where a person stands to steer.” Thank you, Merriam-Webster. Another dictionary definition explains that the pilothouse (another term for wheelhouse) is the place “from which the ship is usually conned,” or navigated.
WNPR, the public radio station serving Connecticut, has a weekly news roundtable program called “The Wheelhouse.” That title makes sense if a wheelhouse is a place from which to look at what obstacles the ship of state is facing, and how it needs to chart its course going forward.
The show title suggests a latter-day counterpart to “The Conning Tower,” the long-running newspaper column written by Franklin P. Adams (1881-1960).
Another outfit whose name draws on this same idea is Wheelhouse LLC, in Tennessee. It describes itself as “an innovative executive management firm specializing in growing shareholder value.” It evidently seeks to distinguish itself from the kind of backward-looking management firms that specialize in losing their investors’ money. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) To be fair, though, they’ve picked a good image from which to build a corporate name: the place from which you steer.
But what do we make of this headline from a Canadian news site: “John Morris in his wheelhouse as Canada’s third for curling championship.” Now curling is one of those phenomena that serve to remind us that Canada and the United States are two very different countries. But the nub of the story was that this fellow Morris demoted himself to third position on his curling team for the good of the whole.
He was exercising what is sometimes known as “lateral leadership.” But maybe he was in “the” wheelhouse when he was doing it, rather than just “his” wheelhouse.
And what about this comment on the prospects of Tyanna Jones of being able to do a good job in the “American Idol” competition, in which her task was to perform a song made famous by Kelly Clarkson? “Kelly Clarkson songs are so in her wheelhouse.”
So it’s the thing, and not the person, that’s in the wheelhouse? Where was Tyanna when Clarkson’s songs were in her wheelhouse? Out on the promenade deck?
Was the commenter trying to suggest that Clarkson’s songs were, to use another familiar idiom, “right up her alley”? Or perhaps better yet, to borrow a phrase from sports, “in her sweet spot” – the point from which she is most effective?
Idioms enrich our language with the word pictures they suggest, almost like subplots in a movie. But they work best when their metaphorical origins are still clear – and clearly understood by both speaker and listener.
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Nairobi's heart is a grid of old streets, colonial-era buildings and modern glass and concrete.
Video of Nairobi
NairobiKenya’s sprawling, traffic-choked capital is an unavoidable stopover on many itineraries, and most people wouldn’t choose to spend longer in the city than necessary. But Nairobi is not nearly as bad as its ‘Nairoberry’ reputation might suggest: there are some great hotels and restaurants, and the shopping opportunities – in malls or outdoor curio markets (so-called ‘Maasai markets’) – can be very good. More importantly, Nairobi has some creditable must-sees of its own, of which the standout attraction is the remarkable Nairobi National Park.
Flying into Nairobi and where to stayThe main Nairobi airport is Jomo Kenyatta International, known as JKI or JKIA. The city’s second airport is the domestic airport, Wilson airport, which is closer to the city centre. Most safari flights leave from Wilson. There are no flights between the two airports and transfers between the two frequently take an hour or more.
Nairobi may leave every visitor with a different impression, but one thing everyone agrees on is the indescribable madness of the traffic. Traffic jams of stationary vehicles lasting for hours are commonplace on many of what would be the city’s arterial roads if the traffic were moving. Tales of Nairobi residents who took less time travelling from European capitals to Nairobi than from the airport to their homes are legion and commutes of three to four hours – in both directions – are not unusual. All the traffic to the central highlands, the Rift Valley and northern and western Kenya passes through the city. While major road-building projects are beginning to relieve the pressure, you shouldn’t underestimate the potential for delays in one of the most snarled-up cities in the world. Bearing that in mind, and depending on your timing, there’s a lot to be said for staying close to the airports in the southeast, or even in Nairobi National Park itself, which now has highly recommended options.
- All our road transfers in Nairobi are handled by a very long established and highly reputable safari operator and you will be met outside the arrivals hall by a uniformed driver-guide.
The Mombasa RoadIf you want to avoid the city’s traffic, which as the rush hours get longer, is increasingly unavoidable for most of the day, then staying out of town in the south-east, close to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), is probably the best solution. As well as two popular hotels – the Ole Sereni and the Eka – about 12km from the airport, there are two excellent options in Nairobi National Park – the traditional, luxury-under-canvas Nairobi Tented Camp on the west side of the park, and a superb safari lodge, The Emakoko, on the south side of the park, closer to the airport. Then if you take a 30-minute drive down the Mombasa highway towards the coast you’re on the Athi Plains, where the Swara Plains Conservancy, a former game ranch, offers a charmingly rustic safari lodge and surprisingly good wildlife viewing.
Karen & LangataMany visitors opt to stay in the leafy suburbs of Karen and Langata, in the south-west of the city where there are several very pleasant and comfortable country-house style hotels and guesthouses. There are several worthwhile activities out here, too, including the captivating elephant orphanage run by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where you’ll get close encounters with tiny pachyderms; the Giraffe Centre run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, where you can look into the eyes of a Rothschild giraffe at treetop height; a number of interesting crafts shops and workshops; and the Karen Blixen Museum celebrating the life of the colonial-era, Danish writer who lived here.
The Central Business District & West NairobiIf nothing but central Nairobi will do, or you want to stay in one of the city’s iconic old hotels, dating back to the early years of the last century, than you’ll be staying in the central business district (CBD), or simply ‘town’ to most Nairobians. You’ll be able to walk to the Kenyatta International Conference Centre for 360-degree, rooftop views of the city, to the National Archives and City Market, and to take a short cab ride to the National Museum for an introduction to Kenya’s cultures and wildlife.
Westlands and GigiriThese relatively central parts of Nairobi to the north of the CBD offer the convenience of being close to some of the city’s best shopping centres and restaurants and not far from the National Museum and the city centre’s handful of attractions. Gigiri has the Village Market, Nairobi’s best shopping mall and entertainment complex, which is also close to one of the city’s best green spaces, the beautiful Karura Forest, where you can safely go birdwatching, walk to caves and waterfalls, or go for a run.
History of NairobiThe first inklings that a city was going to appear here came in May 1899, when the British builders of the railway into the interior built a camp here as they figured out how to get the line up the steep slopes ahead and then down the vertiginous escarpment into the Rift Valley beyond. The city started life as a supply depot, railway switching yard and campground for the Indian labourers working on the line. The location was originally called Nakusontelon, ‘Beginning of all Beauty’, but the name it came to be known by came from the Maa words enkare nyarobi, ‘the place of cold water’, which the Maasai used to describe the area.
Without any planning, the settlement took root and was made the capital of the newly formed ‘British East Africa’ in 1907. In 1902, the Stanley hotel (now the Sarova Stanley) had opened, followed two years later by the Norfolk. The city grew rapidly in the run-up to World War I and was the capital of the dissolute ‘Happy Valley set’ in the inter-war years. There was a further burst of settler arrivals, and increased migration from the countryside, after World War II. After independence in 1963, the city centre started sprouting high-rise buildings, but as the city spread out in every direction, the old central business district lost its shine in the 1980s and early 90s and acquired a notoriety for beggars, street children and muggings. Since the late 1990s, it has been transforming again as businesses return, and a limited amount of beautification has taken place: even street lighting has been installed and the term “nightlife" once again has a meaning.
Meanwhile, the relentless spread of the suburbs – up to Kiambu and towards Thika, down to Kitengela and Athi River, out to Kiserian, and to the lip of the Rift Valley – continues unabated.
MarketsIf you want to do some souvenir shopping, Naiobi’s markets are irresistible. Try to visit one of the weekly, so-called ‘Maasai markets’ that rotate around various car parks and shopping mall rooftops: their prices tend to be lower than those in the curio shops. City Market, in the CBD, tends to be quite pricey, but it’s open daily. Other markets, like Kariokor and Gikomba, are very much markets for local produce and daily needs. If you’re interested, your driver would be able to escort you.
Nairobi landmarksIf you’re going to be stopping over in Nairobi for a day or more, one excursion option would be a half- or full-day city tour. These normally take in Nairobi’s broad Kenyatta Avenue, lined with shops and offices and with its palm tree central reservations. Just a stone’s throw from Kenyatta Avenue is the first president’s mausoleum, City Square and nearby the Kenyan Parliament building. Just behind, stands the iconic Kenyatta International Conference Centre, with its heli-pad roof. It’s easy to take the elevator to the top for superb views of the city. To the south you’ll see the sidings and railway yards at Nairobi station, where the Railway Museum makes for a fascinating brief visit. There are more substantial exhibits at the often overlooked National Archives on Moi Avenue, which includes some very good ethnic crafts and weaponry. For this kind of thing, plus a lot of stuffed animals and birds, you should reserve a couple of hours for the National Museum. While it doesn’t match everyone’s expectations, it does do a reasonable job of preparing you for what you’ll see on safari.
Nairobi National ParkThis is no Central Park or Wimbledon Common: Nairobi National Park covers 117km² and, in an area that in any other capital would be suburbs, the park is a rolling wilderness of grasslands, streams, woodland and ravines, where lions hunt, black rhinos browse, white rhinos graze and giraffe do their slow motion cantering against a skyscraper background. At the other end of the wildlife spectrum, on one recent visit, we stopped to watch a young python moving off the earth road one evening, and paused to look at a large leopard tortoise – significantly out of its species’ normal comfort zone at this altitude. If you stay either in the camp or lodge located in the park, you may be able to do a short night game drive, as they have permission to transfer guests to or from the airports after dark.
Dozens of species of plains wildlife, including wildebeest, impala, zebra, hippo, waterbuck, warthog, eland, jackal and hyena (the only major absentee is the elephant) live completely natural lives in Nairobi National Park, only stopped from wandering into the city by a fence along the northern boundary, but free to move out onto the plains to the south across the Mbagathi River.
You have a good chance of seeing lions in the park (on our last visit, two big males were tussling over the weighty head of an eland) and sightings of leopards and cheetahs, although much less common, are far from unknown. Leopards used to be notorious for making nocturnal sorties out of the park to hunt dogs in the south-west suburbs. That unauthorised activity seems to have been taken over by lions, which sometimes appear unexpectedly in suburban streets.
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Do you like to plan, organize, lead people or manage resources? The University of Minnesota Crookston's (UMC) Management degree program prepares students to manage business firms, institutions, small businesses and other organizations.
- The University of Minnesota Crookston's (UMC) online degree in management has been ranked among The Best Colleges list of "Top 10 Online Bachelor of Business Administration Degree Programs of 2011."
- The Management program gives graduates the know-how to effectively and efficiently manage people, methods, materials, equipment, and money to gain a solid foundation in business that prepares them for the many opportunities and challenges that exist in the new economy and the e-business age.
- The program focuses on entrepreneurial leadership, effective communication, technology mastery, critical thinking, and teamwork.
- Our distinct balance of theory and hands-on application, along with an applied internship, prepare you for a career connection.
- Students enrolled in UMC's Management program develop:
- Knowledge of large and small business operations
- Strategies in marketing, management, and financial considerations
- Effective communication skills for reports and business documents, personal networking, and professional presentations
- Experience in ethical business decision making
- Knowledge of business plan proposals
- Skills in analyzing marketing opportunities
- An understanding of local, regional, and global economic structures.
- Behavioristic curriculum that seeks to prepare students with a background in team dynamics, communication, innovation management, and a strong understanding of the cultural and diversity demands of managing
- An applied and technology rich teaching and learning environment with a strong emphasis on current managerial practice, the study of management foundations, real time case and business situational discovery, and domestic and global business exposure, that provides students with the computing and analytical tools needed to meet the quantitative demands of managing.
- Flexibility to consider elective courses or a minor from multiple disciplines so that additional specialization in personal areas of interest are possible.
- UMC has an excellent placement record for graduates in Management.
- We have professional, enthusiastic educators with industry experience who can give individualized attention to student needs.
- A Management minor available online.
Program Requirements & Curriculum
- Small Business Ownership and Management
- Retail Management
- Human Resource Management
- Operations Management
- Market Research
- Sales Management
- Credit Management
- Product Development
Graduates have gone on to use the skills attained through UMC's Management program to find employment at many companies including:
- Northwestern Mutual
- Best Buy
- Wells Fargo
- Frito Lay
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Tia Leaf is a 2014 graduate with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Marketing. Tia chose UMC online because of the cost, reputation, and degree options. More about this article here.
Senior Tiffany Gerhart, an online management major at the University of Minnesota Crookston talks about her experience in "Online Learning Takes Discipline and Motivation" from the Spring 2014 version of the Torch magazine.
Sarah Domoradski, 2009, graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Business talks about her experience at the University of Minnesota Crookston taking classes initially on-campus and then moved to the online version of the program.
Program Mission Statement
Program Mission Statement
Management Program Mission
The Management program prepares students with a foundational understanding of the management role in planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the resources of organizations. This is accomplished with a creative and adaptable curriculum, supported by co-curricular and extracurricular activities, which prepares learners to meet demands of evolving world economies and employers.
The UMC Online Advantage
The UMC Online Advantage
Earn a prestigious University of Minnesota degree in an affordable, close-knit campus setting. The University of Minnesota is one of the most comprehensive public universities in the United States and ranks among the most esteemed. As a coordinate campus of the University of Minnesota system, the U of M, Online offers access to world-class teaching, learning and research resources, as well as enhanced internship and undergraduate research opportunities. As a graduate, your diploma features one of the most respected names in higher education.
Individual Attention and Mentorship
You expect an education that not only focuses on your needs but also allows your talent and interests to shine through. The dedicated faculty and staff at the U of M, Online serve as true mentors, offering prompt personalized attention catered to an online learner. You will have the opportunity to communicate with advisers and other students by participating in discussions, and other interactive tools to give you an exceptional educational experience.
A Technological Edge
The University of Minnesota, Online allows you to learn anywhere, anytime. You will have the flexibility to access your courses 24/7 without having to worry about leaving work or home to get to class. The U of M, Online utilizes a broad variety of technological tools that make learning online easy! Employers consistently report that the U of M, Online graduates they hire are extremely well prepared for the demands of today's technological workplace.
As a University of Minnesota, Online student, you have the opportunity to study abroad! The U of M, Online through the Crookston campus has made it a priority to promote an understanding of diversity and global perspectives and to offer you the resources, programs and activities necessary for you to succeed in today's global economy. Our international recruitment efforts bring students from more than 20 countries, and our Study Abroad program offers more than 300 opportunities for you to study in 67 different countries. There are also numerous cultural activities and clubs to participate in. We offer many ways for you to expand your worldview, gain international experience, and make connections with people from across the globe.
Applied Learning and Internships
Learn and do! Online learners have the opportunity to participate in hands on internships. Our internship programs give you the chance to practice the principles and theories you've learned in your courses and make contacts with potential employers that are near you. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) is also available to all students and allows online learners to design and conduct research as an undergraduate!
No Out-of-State Tuition and Transfer-Friendly
The U of M, Crookston is the affordable choice for anyone! Whether you live just across the border, across the country or on the other side of the ocean, you pay the same as those who live in Minnesota. We offer an incredible value that's also extremely transfer-friendly. Our staff will work with you to make sure your credits count. Our faculty advisers will personally talk with you about career goals, degree interests and review your records to develop a plan, and our transfer specialist will help make the process as smooth as possible.
Excellent Job Placement
The Crookston campus has a reputation for a job placement rate of more than 93% for students in their field of study within six months of graduation. Some programs on our campus have even a higher rate of placement.
Emeritus Associate Professor
112-B Dowell Hall and Annex
Teaching Specialist, Online Academic Advisor
143-4 Kiehle Building
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During my 31 years as an educator I taught my students using facts – dates and figures that could be substantiated. Facts are what we should focus on now as we discuss pensions. Grandstanding and exaggerations have no place in a discussion about something as important as the financial health of our state and its citizens. ["Invested in a fallacy," Editorial, Feb. 17]. And "one size" does not fit all when describing the different systems. CalSTRS is different.
The California State Teachers' Retirement System has been providing retirement security for more than 97 years, even through the Great Depression. Here are some facts about CalSTRS and educators' retirements:
•CalSTRS earned 8.2 percent over the past 20 years and 12.7 percent last year. The CalSTRS pension fund is not in immediate crisis. It has assets to pay benefits for at least the next 30 years.
•As a percentage of payroll, the state is paying less now (roughly 2 percent) than it did 14 years ago, when the state paid 4.3 percent of payroll.
•I paid for my CalSTRS retirement with 8 percent of my monthly paycheck. That is higher than private-sector workers pay into Social Security.
•CalSTRS retirement benefits are based on age, years of service and final pay. The formula used is 2 percent of pay, not the higher percentages you often hear about.
•Most CalSTRS retirees don't receive their own nor their spouse's earned Social Security benefits (they are penalized for being teachers via the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset).
•Just as private-sector retirees rely on Social Security, teachers rely on their CalSTRS pension to remain self-sufficient.
•Most CalSTRS retirees don't receive any employer-paid health care.
•CalSTRS is already a hybrid retirement plan, with a defined-benefit formula for one type of compensation and a cash balance plan for other compensation that is similar to a 401(k). The system was created to avoid pension spiking.
•CalSTRS has actually cut retirement benefits in the past year. Most of the CalSTRS benefits that were provided in 2000, at the peak of the dot-com boom, were limited term benefits and have sunsetted. Those who earned the benefits prior to the sunset will receive them; however, no new retirees can earn those benefits.
Opponents of public pensions have lumped all the pension systems together in their attacks, yet CalSTRS is very different in their formulas and benefits. Even the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility is quoted as saying, "Teachers have a more modest formula, and it has been fixed for a number of years now." (North County Times, Jan. 10, 2011).
I am a proud member of the California Retired Teachers Association, which sponsored the Elder Full Funding Act that brought CalSTRS to full funding in 1998. CalRTA has every expectation that Gov. Jerry Brown will find a funding balance now that is fair to taxpayers and fair to workers, just as we have experienced in the past.
Retirement plan opponents believe that all public retirement systems are the same. The facts don't support that argument.
CalSTRS is different.
FOLLOW US @OCRegLetters WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor: E-mail to email@example.com. Please provide your name, city and telephone number (telephone numbers will not be published). Letters of about 200 words or videos of 30-seconds each will be given preference. Letters will be edited for length, grammar and clarity.
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Notice of termination and redundancy pay forms part of the National Employment Standards (NES). The NES apply to all employees covered by the national workplace relations system, regardless of any award, agreement, or contract.
The NES establish the minimum entitlement to a notice period, or payment in lieu of notice that an employer must give an employee to end their employment. This applies to all employees (other than casuals), not just those covered by the national workplace relations system.
The NES also outline the redundancy pay an employee may receive at the end of their employment. This entitlement only applies to employees covered by the national workplace relations system.
An employer must provide an employee with written notice of the day of termination when ending their employment. An employer may give notice to the employee by either:
- delivering it personally
- leaving it at the employee’s last known address
- sending it by pre-paid post to the employee’s last known address
An employee may also need to give their employee notice of termination if their award of agreement specifies it.
An employer must not terminate an employee unless they have either:
- given the minimum period of notice
- paid the employee’s full rate as if they had worked the minimum notice period
1. Minimum period of notice
Length of continuous service Minimum period of notice
Less than 1 year At least 1 week
More than 1 year but less than 3 years At least 2 weeks
More than 3 years but less than 5 years At least 3 weeks
More than 5 years At least 4 weeks
2. An employee’s full rate includes the following:Employees over 45 years old who have completed at least two years of service when they receive notice are given an additional week of notice.
- incentive-based payments and bonuses
- monetary allowances
- overtime or penalty rates
- any other separately identifiable amounts
If you have a query regarding termination obligations and require assistance, please contact one of our payroll experts on (02) 9223 9166 to discuss. Alternatively, you can submit an online enquiry form.
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Aberdare Valley a Hundred Years Ago
W HAT was the Aberdare Valley like
when the first British School was built? What a great transformation has taken place
since that time. Nearly all the population was then collected around the iron works
at the head of the Valley, around Hirwaun, Llwydcoed, Abernant, and at the “village” of
Aberdare, then generally called “Y Pentre.” Cwmbach began to grow at about 1840,
and Aberaman from about 1845, and soon afterwards, Capcoch (or Abercwmboi). Apart from
a few houses around the bridge at Mountain Ash, all the rest of the Valley dawn to the
Navigation (now called Abercynon), was a beautiful glen, occupied by fields and woods
from the bottom of the Valley right up the steep sides of the hills to their summits,
with a few farm-houses here and there. For about thirty-five years, the only communication
link with Cardiff was the canal.
To convey goods, coal, iron, lime, etc., from Penderyn, Hirwaun and the iron works
to the canal, there was established the slow-travelling transport system along the tram-road
to the canal-head. There was another tram-road from Hirwaun through Rhigos, the goods
then being lowered along an incline to Pont Walby, in the Neath Valley, and carried
by the Neath canal to Neath and on to Swansea.
But the Aberdare T.V.R. Railway made a great difference. This was opened in 1846.
It commenced at Mill Street (Trecynon), near the old tin works, and joined the T.V.R.
at Aberdare Junction (Navigation, or Abercynon), known to the natives as Ynysfeirig.
At Aberdare Junction, the train was drawn up the steep Merthyr Valley by means of a
strong rope attached to a drum on the top of the hill, worked by a stationary engine.
The third-class passengers travelled in open trucks, and opened umbrellas when it rained.
THE WALK TO SCHOOL IN 1848
How strange the Aberdare of to-day would have appeared to the children who trudged
through all weathers from the lower end of the Valley to their lessons in the new school.
The children from Abernant and Cwmbach would cross the Cynon by means of a narrow iron
bridge, and after crossing the Aberdare railway, would walk up the street with houses
beginning to be erected on their left (the present Commercial Street). On their right,
where we have the level streets of Maesydre, there were then wide fields where hay-making
would be carried on in its season. At the top of Commercial Street they would have a
narrow wooden bridge to cross the River Dare, which was then a beautiful clear open
stream, crossing the little square (Welsh Harp), between the present Woolworth's shop
and the rising ground covered with trees, on which St. Elvan's Church was built. The
present spacious Victoria Square was then occupied by gardens with narrow paths leading
to the cottages on both sides, behind the present shops.
Luscious apples grew on a tree where Caradog's monument now stands. The present Wind
Street and High Street were then the main thoroughfares, but very narrow. Near the present
Post Office, was the bridge to cross the Dare. On the right was the ancient corn mill,
which had ground corn for centuries. Later, it gave way to a woollen factory (which
was later converted into a clog and boot and shoe factory). On their left, they would
pass the four Alms Houses in Green Fach, built by Eleanor Mathews, of Aberaman, about
the year 1720, which stood in the space now leading to Williams's Garage.
The present Town Hall was then the Market Hall, with the Wellington Inn opposite,
with but a narrow street between. The old parish church would be seen on their left,
surrounded by the unenclosed churchyard, then rapidly filling up, while on their right
would be the big shop or warehouse of Mr. Evan Griffiths (now Ty Mawr). Canon Street
had not been built in 1848. At the place where Trinity Church now stands, a few houses
stood on the very spot along which the street now runs, facing an orchard. These were
called “Tai y Berllan,” or “Tai'r Berllan” (i.e. “The
GADLYS IRONWORKS “TRUCK SHOP”
Crossing a little stream skirting the churchyard, they would wend their way (with
no railway or Gadlys bridge to cross as at present), past “the Company's shop,” then
in the basement of the present Dover Terrace. This was one of the “Truck Shops” organised
by the iron-masters (there being another at the foot of Llwydcoed Hill, where the present
Shop Houses stand). On their right would be green fields, now occupied by the Gadlys
Central School, and beyond were the Gadlys Iron Works. At the foot of Gadlys Trip there
were houses known as the Malt Houses (Brewery), and called “Tai'r Bragdy.” They
are the tall houses on Gadlys Road, at the foot of Morgan Street.
Passing up the “Gadlys Trip,” which was then much steeper than at present
they would pass several thatched cottages, walk under a bridge conveying iron-ore and
coal, cross tram lines carrying trains of coal from the Gadlys Colliery to the coal-yard
on their right (where we now have the entrance to Gospel Hall Terrace). Further along,
on their left, they would pass a row of houses with wooden shutters on their windows,
then called “Watchmakers' Row,” and soon would pass through the turnpike
gate, and cross the open common to the little school just opened. Beyond their school,
to the north, and between the present Mount Pleasant Street and Mill Street, was a field
called “Cae Jacki.”
Such was the position in 1848. But soon afterwards, with collieries being sunk in
Cwmaman, a village sprang up there, but for another half century, Godreaman remained
a series of fertile fields. Soon after 1850, with the sinking of the Deep Duffryn and
Navigation Collieries, Mountain Ash commenced to grow.
From a little above Carmel English Baptist Chapel (which was originally the Welsh
Chapel called “Penpound”), there were no houses in the Monk Street of that
time. Amid green fields, a path zig-zagged up to the top of the Graig Mountain. This
path, called “Heol-y-Mynach” (“The Monk’s Road”), had
been worn by the countless feet of monks, pilgrims and friars during many centuries,
travelling from Penrhys Monastery between the two Rhondda Valleys, on their way to the
small monastic cell at Ty-Draw (the ruins of which are now situated inside the grounds
of the Aberdare Co-operative Central Offices), where they rested before resuming their
journey over Merthyr Mountain to Caerleon or Llantarnam Abbey.
Clifton Street, Pendarren Street, and the streets of Foundry Town, were built on
the fields which formed part of the Ynyslwyd Estate, owned by Mr. Jenkin Davies, and
his son Griffith Davies, and later by the latter’s son, David Price Davies, J.P.
So we have streets named after members of this family, such as: Jenkin Street, Griffith
Street, David Price Street, Rachel Street, Davies Town, Ynyslwyd Street, etc.
At this time, there were no ash carts to carry away refuse from the houses. All kinds
of rubbish were thrown into the street (if there were no gardens attached). Dirty water,
soap-suds, potato peelings, cabbage stumps, bones, etc., were thrown out. No fresh water
was available in the homes of the people, and water was obtained from wells, springs
and pumps, which were often contaminated. During hot summers, women and children had
to queue up with jars (ystên) for long hours to collect water trickling from the rocks.
One such spring was to be found behind the present clinic, underneath Clifton Street.
The prevailing overcrowding, accompanied by a lack of pure water, with cess-pools,
instead of a proper sewage system, caused the fell disease, cholera, to visit Aberdare
in 1849, carrying away scores of people. The effect was somewhat like the plague which
wrought such havoc in London.
Hundreds died in Merthyr and Dowlais during the same period. The lack of proper sanitary
arrangements in Aberdare caused the Government to hold an inquiry, which led to the
election of the first Aberdare Local Board of Health in 1854. Mr. R. H. Rhys, J.P.,
the blind man of Llwydcoed, was elected on this first Board, and it was he above all
others, who “saw” the need for a Park, when those who had
the gift of eyesight, wanted to convert it into potato patches.
Cynon Valley History Society is a Registered Charity. Charity No. 510143.
All information © Cynon Valley History Society
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FREE SHIPPING on orders of $85 or more
An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2015
Where did the English Bradham family come from? What is the English Bradham family crest and coat of arms? When did the Bradham family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the Bradham family history?The name Bradham is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as a maker of ropes or cords.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bradham are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Bradham include Bradnam, Bradenham, Bradinham, Bradinam, Bradnem and others.
First found in Norfolk, at Bradenham, a village and civil parish that dates back to before the Domesday Book where it was listed with the same spelling. The place name literally means "broad homestead or enclosure" derived from the Old English words "brad" + "ham". Bradenham is also a village and civil parish in Buckinghamshire, near Saunderton. This village also dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Bradeham. Bradenham Manor is a grand red brick manor house that dates back to the 13th century when it belonged to the Earl of Warwick.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bradham research. Another 559 words(40 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1177, 1273, 1337, 1500, 1612, 1739, 1699 and 1769 are included under the topic Early Bradham History in all our PDF Extended History products.
Another 91 words(6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bradham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products.
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bradham or a variant listed above:
Bradham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Bradham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
The Bradham Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Bradham Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.
This page was last modified on 29 April 2013 at 14:41.
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Our Rich History
Norwalk’s Third Taxing District was originally known as the East Norwalk Fire District of the Town of Norwalk, and prior to that it was known as the Down Town School District.
The original purpose of assigning “Districts” was to assess residential taxes to support the community. The East Norwalk Fire District owned and maintained a fire department, an electric utility, parks, and roads.
In 1913, the City of Norwalk was formed by consolidating separate municipal governments in the area, including the Town of Norwalk, City of South Norwalk, and the East Norwalk Fire District. The East Norwalk Fire District was renamed and became the Third Taxing District of the City of Norwalk. TTD was permitted to continue to operate its electric utility, the same electric utility serving the people of East Norwalk today. The District also retained its parks and Firehouse and later acquired the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery and the building housing the East Norwalk Association Library.
In 2013, Norwalk’s Third Taxing District celebrated its 100th Anniversary of serving East Norwalk, and is proud of its continued commitment to the community. On July 11, 2013, TTD broke ground on the Fitch Street Substation, which will help TTD serve its customers more efficiently into the next century and beyond.
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SEA TEMPERATURES - The Adriatic Sea belongs to the group of warmer seas with a noticeable annual change in the surface temperature of the sea. The average annual temperature is 11°C, maximum temperatures are in July and August, and minimum temperatures in February. The lowest winter surface temperature of the sea is around 7°C but on rare occasions can be even lower. Temperatures rise in spring and reach around 18°C, and in summer rise to 22°C-25°C and in the southern Adriatic to 27°C.
DEPTHS - The sea is the shallowest in Istria where maximum depth reaches only 50 m. From Pula, the sea bottom mildly lowers, creating a long and narrow valley, going from the island of Žirje towards Italy. This is called the Jabučka kotlina. The maximum depth reaches 240 m. From this area the seabed rises towards Palagruža Reef, lowering the maximum depth to 130 m. After this point the seabed lowers steeply towards South Adriatic Valley where the highest measured depth reaches 1,300 m.
TIDES - Tides have relatively small amplitudes in Adriatic. In the south area, the amplitudes rarely reach 40 cm, and in Istria and Bay of Trieste it rises up to about 1 m. In narrow channels and bays, high tides can get pretty high during the strong SW wind. This phenomenon is characteristic for large and deep bays of south Adriatic. Tides change on semi-diurnal basis during the full and new moon and on daily basis during the first and last quarter. Their amplitudes are very irregular.
SEA CURRENTS - Sea currents are influenced by winds, changes in air pressure, temperatures and salinity of the sea but they don't change dramatically and do not have a significant influence on the safety of shipping. Sea currents are difficult to notice in the Adriatic. They are mostly felt when maneuvering a boat in harbors or near river mouths. Their speed changes depending on the area and seasons. Average sped is about 0.5 knots, but sometimes they can reach speed of 4 knots.
SALINITY - Average salinity of the Adriatic Sea is on average 38.3‰. Near the coast and near river mouths the salinity is somewhat lower that this figure, and it is lower in the northern compared to the central and southern Adriatic.
THE WAVES - Adriatic waves usually reach 0.5 – 1.5 m in height. Very rarely they rise above 5 m. Although they are not high, the waves in Adriatic can be very unpleasant, even dangerous, for smaller boats. Southern winds cause higher waves than the northern ones, but that doesn’t mean they are more dangerous. The highest wave ever measured caused by Jugo was 10.8 m, and from Bora 7.2 m.
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In a time of Teslas and solar panels, going green can come off as expensive. But there are many ways we can live sustainably at home without investing thousands of dollars upfront.
Save Water in the Kitchen and Bathroom
The kitchen and bathroom are the two rooms you probably use the most water in. But there are ways to cut back on how much water you’re using every day!
Use the Dishwasher
Washing the dishes by hand means either filling up the sink with water or letting water flow down the drain and wasting large amounts of water with every dish. Using your dishwasher to wash a set amount of dishes with a set amount of water means that you always know how much water is being used. Upgrade your dishwasher to an EnergyStar model to save even more water and energy while washing your dishes.
Tip: Make sure to only run the dishwasher when it’s full to prevent wasteful cycles.
Steaming vegetables uses less water than other methods of cooking, plus it helps vegetables retain their vital nutrients better. Why wouldn’t you steam veggies from now on?
Save Energy in the Laundry Room
Doing laundry uses a lot of energy at home, but there are simple ways to cut back on this energy without affecting your clean clothes.
Wash Clothes in Cold Water
Did you know that as much as 90% of the energy used in a washing machine goes towards heating the water? You’ll reduce your energy bill AND cut back on carbon dioxide emissions. Win-win!
Dry Clothes Outside
Life in California is almost always sunny--which makes line drying our laundry a viable option most of the year! Clotheslines are much less expensive to purchase and use than a dryer, and drying your clothes on a line can reduce the average home’s carbon footprint by up to 2,400 pounds per year!
Saving the planet is about more than saving money. It’s about leaving the world better for our children, grandchildren, and future generations. Saving water can be a conscious choice, or it can be as simple as fixing hidden leaks at home. Contact the plumbers at EJ Plumbing to learn how we can help you conserve water and save money today!
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ZooKeeper Quota's Guide
A Guide to Deployment and Administration
ZooKeeper has both namespace and bytes quotas. You can use the ZooKeeperMain class to setup quotas. ZooKeeper prints WARN messages if users exceed the quota assigned to them. The messages are printed in the log of the ZooKeeper.
Notice: What the
namespace quota means is the count quota which limits the number of children under the path(included itself).
$ bin/zkCli.sh -server host:port**
The above command gives you a command line option of using quotas.
You can use
setquotato set a quota on a ZooKeeper node. It has an option of setting quota with
-n(for namespace/count) and
-b(for bytes/data length).
The ZooKeeper quota is stored in ZooKeeper itself in /zookeeper/quota. To disable other people from changing the quotas, users can set the ACL for /zookeeper/quota ,so that only admins are able to read and write to it.
If the quota doesn't exist in the specified path,create the quota, otherwise update the quota.
The Scope of the quota users set is all the nodes under the path specified (included itself).
In order to simplify the calculation of quota in the current directory/hierarchy structure, a complete tree path(from root to leaf node) can be set only one quota. In the situation when setting a quota in a path which its parent or child node already has a quota.
setquotawill reject and tell the specified parent or child path, users can adjust allocations of quotas(delete/move-up/move-down the quota) according to specific circumstances.
Combined with the Chroot, the quota will have a better isolation effectiveness between different applications.For example:
# Chroot is: 192.168.0.1:2181,192.168.0.2:2181,192.168.0.3:2181/apps/app1 setquota -n 100000 /apps/app1
Users cannot set the quota on the path under /zookeeper/quota
The quota supports the soft and hard quota. The soft quota just logs the warning info when exceeding the quota, but the hard quota also throws a
QuotaExceededException. When setting soft and hard quota on the same path, the hard quota has the priority.
You can use listquota to list a quota on a ZooKeeper node.
You can use delquota to delete quota on a ZooKeeper node.
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Lightsabers. The weapon of a Jedi knight. An elegant weapon for a more civilized time. The most efficient limb-removal device in the galaxy. But who made them? How did George Lucas determine their colors? Are there other light-weapons in the Star Wars universe? Here are more than a dozen lightsaber facts only the wisest Jedi Masters know.
1) They were essentially created by the Dark Side
The first proto-lightsaber was called a forcesaber, and was essentially dark side energy channeled into a blade via crystals and alchemy. If, say, a Jedi picked up a forcesaber, he or she would run the risk of immediately and unwillingly turning to the dark side simply by using it. The early Jedi made the first lightsabers in order to use these weapons without becoming evil.
2) They used to need battery packs.
The earliest lightsabers — also called protosabers — didn't include internal power cells, mainly because they hadn't been invented yet. Protosabers had external power sources, meaning the Jedi had to carry around battery packs on their backs or waist, which were attached to the lightsaber by a power cord. If the cord was cut, no more lightsaber. The Sith were the first ones to develop power cells that essentially cut the lightsabers' cords.
3) They used to be called lazerswords.
Not in the Star Wars universe, just in George Lucas' earliest drafts of the Star Wars script. "Lightsabers" is very definitely an improvement.
4) Luke and Darth Vader's lightsabers were made out of camera flashes.
Obi-Wan's hilt was made from a Rolls-Royce Derwent Mk.8/Mk.9 Jet Engine Balance Pipe.
5) A lightsaber can be any color.
A lightsaber blade's color is determined by the crystal it uses to focus the energy, Jedi and Sith alike could and did wield any color blade. The Sith got in the habit of using red after popular Darths Revan and Malax both used red lightsabers; Jedi fell into the habit of exclusively using blue and green when they started using the natural crystals of the planet Ilum to make their blades, where green and blue were the only naturally occurring colors.
6) A lightsaber can even be black.
Although there's only one black-bladed lightsaber, known as the Darksaber. It's an ancient weapon the Jedi had that was stolen by the Mandalores, way back. Weirdly, the Darksaber's blade is actually shaped like a regular blade, thin and with an edge, although the blade is slightly curved and the back of it is somehow serrated, too.
7) Luke's green lightsaber in Return of the Jedi almost didn't happen. Luke's new lightsaber was going to be blue, and was even shown as such in early Return of the Jedi promos. But Lucas made the call to switch it to green solely because the blue blade was more difficult to see during the fight scene at the Sarlacc, as it was getting lost against the blue sky.
8) Lightsabers were actually illegal during the Empire.
It wasn't enough that Emperor Palpatine tried to kill all the Jedi, he made owning a lightsaber a crime, as well as forbidding the trade of the crystals needed to make lightsabers across the galaxy, no matter what planet they grew on. Darth Vader has special dispensation to wield his lightsaber.
9) Lightsaber blades are animated because the original special effects sucked.
The first attempt at lightsabers used long, reflective, three-sided rods. The rods were spun with motors inside the hilts, which were supposed to mean the blades would continually reflective the stage lights. Not shockingly, this looked horrible, and the animation was later added. It was then that Lucas decided the lightsaber blades should have colors — originally, they were going to just be white.
10) Lighsabers aren't the only light-weapons.
While relatively uncommon, lightsaber can be created as pikes, essentially lengthy handles with a short lightsaber blade at the end. These were used by Jedi guards, like at the Jedi temple, and were co-opted by many of Palapatine's guards, secret and otherwise. And one of the Emporer's assassins, Lumiya, had a lightwhip — which was like a regular whip studded with lightsaber crystals, allowing the beam to move freely. There are also lightsaber tonfa, which are really just lightsabers with special hilts. But sometimes double-bladed lightsabers designed to separate could remain connected by a cord, essentially making them lightsaber nunchaku. There are also lightclubs, although these are basically just giant lightsabers.
11) There are seven forms of lightsaber combat.
1) Shii-Cho, or "the Way of the Sarlacc"; 2) Makashi, or "The Way of the Ysalamiri": 3) Soresu, or "The Way of the Mynock"; 4) Ataru, or "The Way of the Hawk-Bat"; 5) Shien/Djem So, "The Way of the Krayt Dragon"; 6) Niman, or "The Way of the Rancor"; and 7) Juyo/Vaapad, or "The Way of the Vornskr."
12) Lightsabers can't cut through everything.
There are a few materials that resist lightsaber blades, and thus have often been used to make armor. Cortosis is the most popular, and its original state actually had the ability to make lightsabers which touched it short out. Unfortunately Cortosis is deadly to the touch, and thus needs to be refined in order to turn into armor, at which point it can only deflect lightsaber blades. Some creature, like lava dragons, also have skin that's naturally resistant to lightsaber blades.
13) Cutting off somebody's hand with a lightsaber is actually a technique.
It's called Cho Mai. Cho Mak is when you cut off a more substantial portion of an opponent's limb. Cho Sun is a term to specifically describe cutting off your opponent's weapon-wielding appendage. Mou Kei is when you cut off several limbs in one attack. The fact that they have specific terms fo all kinds of limb removal somewhat explains why so may people get their hands cut off in Star Wars films.
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To make prune juice taste better, mix it with other fruit juices or sweeteners. Prune juice is a nutrient-rich beverage that is a great source of dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamin a.
However, its distinct taste can be unappetizing to some, leading them to seek ways to make it more palatable. Fortunately, there are various ways to improve the flavor of prune juice without compromising its nutritional benefits. Mixing prune juice with other fruit juices like apple, grape, or orange can help mask the prune taste.
Sweetening it with honey, agave, or stevia can also enhance its sweetness. Additionally, adding spices like cinnamon or ginger can give it a unique twist. By experimenting with different combinations and ingredients, you can make prune juice a delicious and healthy part of your diet.
Understanding The Nutrient Value Of Prune Juice
Prune juice is an excellent natural remedy for digestive concerns such as constipation. It’s packed with essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to overall health. While the taste of prune juice may be off-putting for some, there are ways to make it more palatable.
In this post, we’re going to discuss how to make prune juice taste better by understanding its nutrient value and highlighting its health benefits.
Health Benefits Of Prune Juice
Prune juice offers several health benefits, which include:
- Acts as a natural laxative due to its high fiber content
- Promotes bowel regularity and helps relieve constipation
- Helps to maintain healthy blood pressure levels due to its potassium content
- Can boost the immune system due to its antioxidant properties
- Helps to maintain healthy bones due to its high calcium content.
How The Nutrients In Prune Juice Contribute To Overall Health
The nutrients in prune juice work together to provide several benefits to overall health, such as:
- Fiber: Prune juice is a great source of fiber, which aids in digestion, promotes regular bowel movements, and helps to lower cholesterol levels.
- Potassium: Prune juice is an excellent source of potassium, which helps to regulate blood pressure, supports muscle function, and aids in fluid balance.
- Vitamin a: Prune juice is high in vitamin a, which helps to support healthy skin, eyes, and immune function.
- Iron: Prune juice is a good source of iron, which supports the production of red blood cells and helps to prevent anemia.
Understanding The Nutritional Value Of Prune Juice
Prune juice contains essential nutrients that are beneficial to overall health. One serving of prune juice provides:
- 182 calories
- 2 grams of protein
- 0.9 grams of fat
- 45 grams of carbohydrates
- 3 grams of fiber
- 20% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin a
- 7% of the daily recommended intake of potassium
- 7% of the daily recommended intake of iron
Prune juice is also rich in antioxidants, which helps to combat the effects of free radicals in the body.
With its numerous health benefits and essential nutrients, prune juice deserves a place in your daily diet. By understanding its nutritional value and incorporating it into your diet, you’re sure to reap the rewards for overall health.
Common Reasons For Unpleasant Prune Juice Taste
Factors That Contribute To The Unappealing Taste Of Prune Juice
Prune juice may not be everyone’s cup of tea due to its less-than-pleasant taste, but understanding what makes it taste bad can help improve its flavor. Here are some factors that contribute to the unpalatable taste of prune juice:
- Processed prunes: Most commercially available prune juice is made from dried prunes, which have been treated with preservatives to extend their shelf life. These preservatives can give the juice an unpleasant chemical taste.
- High sugar content: Some brands of prune juice have high levels of added sugar or sweeteners to counteract the natural tartness of prunes. This added sugar can make the juice taste syrupy and cloyingly sweet.
- Bitter notes: If the juice is made from overripe or spoiled prunes, it can have a bitter taste that is hard to shake off.
Common Complaints About Prune Juice Taste
Now that we know why prune juice can taste bad, let’s delve into common complaints about its taste. Here are a few reasons why people may dislike the taste of prune juice:
- Strong aftertaste: Many people complain that prune juice leaves a strong, lingering aftertaste in their mouth. This could be because of the high sugar content or preservatives used in the juice.
- Sourness: Prunes are naturally tart, which can make the juice sour and unappealing to some people.
- Chemical or artificial taste: Some brands add natural or artificial flavors, which can give the juice a chemical or artificial taste.
To sum it up, prune juice can taste unpleasant due to a few factors like preservatives, added sugar, and overripe fruit. However, understanding why prune juice may taste unpleasant is the first step towards making it taste better. In the next section, we will cover easy ways to make prune juice taste better.
Simple Tricks To Transform Prune Juice Taste
Prune juice can be a tough drink to love. It’s tart, sour, and just not as appealing as other beverages. Thankfully, there are a few ways to make prune juice taste better. Here are five simple tricks you can use to transform prune juice taste, making it more palatable and enjoyable.
Adding Natural Sweeteners To Improve Taste
Adding some natural sweeteners to prune juice can improve its taste. Mix prune juice with honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup for an added sweetness. Here are some key points you should keep in mind when adding natural sweeteners:
- Use minimal amounts of sweeteners to create a balance between sweetness and tartness.
- Choose natural sweeteners instead of artificial ones to avoid consuming harmful chemicals.
- Stir properly to ensure that the sweeteners mix well.
Mixing Prune Juice With Other Beverages For A Better Taste
Mixing prune juice with other beverages can significantly improve its taste. Here are some tips to help you mix prune juice with other drinks:
- Mix prune juice with pure orange juice to add sweetness and mask the tartness.
- Blend prune juice with almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk to balance the tartness and add creaminess.
- Add prune juice to your smoothies to enhance their flavor and nutritional value.
Topical Applications Of Herbs And Spices To Enhance Prune Juice Flavor
Herbs and spices can be used to enhance the flavor of prune juice. Here are some of the most popular herbs and spices you can use:
- Cinnamon is a great choice to add warmth, and sweetness to the juice.
- Nutmeg is a powerful herb to mask the tartness and add a nutty flavor to the juice.
- Ginger can be added to the juice to create a spicy and refreshing drink.
Improving The Texture Of Prune Juice For A More Enjoyable Drink
The texture of prune juice can be a little off-putting for some people. Here are some tips to improve the texture of prune juice:
- Blend prune juice with ice cubes to make it cold and refreshing.
- Add chia seeds to the juice to create a thicker texture and add fiber.
- Strain the juice to remove any pulp for a smoother texture.
Using Natural Flavorings And Extracts To Create Unique And Delicious Prune Juice Blends
Using natural flavorings and extracts can help you create unique and delicious prune juice blends. Here are some tips for using natural flavorings and extracts:
- Use vanilla extract to add a natural sweetness and a creamy flavor to the juice.
- Add mint extract to create a refreshing and cool beverage.
- Mix prune juice with acai juice to create a fruity and nutritious beverage.
By following these simple tricks, you can transform the taste of prune juice into a more pleasurable drinking experience. Experiment with different combinations to see which suits your taste buds the most.
Recipe Ideas To Transform Your Prune Juice
Delicious And Easy To Make Prune Juice Smoothie Recipes
If you’re not too keen on the taste of prune juice, you might be looking for alternative ways to consume it. One excellent way to enjoy this healthy drink is by adding it to smoothies. Here are some fantastic prune juice smoothie recipes that you can make in no time:
- Prune juice and banana smoothie: In a blender, combine a cup of prune juice, one banana, and some yogurt. Blend until smooth.
- Chia seed and prune juice smoothie: Mix a cup of prune juice, one tablespoon of chia seeds, and some crushed ice in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Prune juice and strawberry smoothie: Combine a cup of prune juice, a cup of frozen strawberries, and a banana in a blender. Blend until smooth.
Prune Juice Cocktail Recipes That Are Perfect For Parties
Hosting a party can be a lot of fun, but you’ll want to make sure that you have a variety of drinks available for your guests. Here are some exciting prune juice cocktail recipes that are sure to be a hit:
- Prune juice and vodka: Mix a cup of prune juice with one shot of vodka. Add some ice and garnish with a slice of lemon.
- Prune juice champagne cocktail: Combine a cup of prune juice with some champagne in a glass. Add a raspberry for garnish.
- Prune juice margarita: In a shaker, mix a cup of prune juice, one shot of tequila, some lime juice, and ice. Shake well and serve.
Fun And Creative Ideas For Prune Juice Popsicles And Slushies
Prune juice popsicles and slushies are both perfect for the summer months when you’re looking for a cool and refreshing treat. Here are some creative ideas to get you started:
- Prune juice popsicles: Mix a cup of prune juice with some water and some honey in a bowl. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze for a few hours.
- Prune juice slushie: In a blender, mix a cup of prune juice with some crushed ice and a dash of honey. Blend until smooth and serve chilled.
With these delicious recipe ideas, you’ll never have to dread drinking prune juice again! Mix and match ingredients to create your own unique combinations and enjoy the health benefits of this excellent drink.
Frequently Asked Questions On How To Make Prune Juice Taste Better
What Can I Add To Prune Juice To Make It Taste Better?
You can add a splash of apple or grape juice to prune juice to enhance its flavor. Alternatively, you can mix prune juice with cold water or sparkling water for a refreshing drink that’s not too sweet.
How Can I Sweeten Prune Juice Without Adding Sugar?
You can add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to your prune juice to add a natural, sweet flavor without adding any sugar. Alternatively, you can add a little honey or maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter taste.
How Much Prune Juice Should I Drink For Constipation?
The recommended dose of prune juice for constipation is 4-8 ounces a day. However, this may vary depending on your individual needs and health condition. You should always consult your doctor before making changes to your diet.
Can Drinking Too Much Prune Juice Be Harmful?
While prune juice has many health benefits, drinking too much of it can cause side effects like diarrhea, gas, and bloating. It’s important to stick to the recommended dose to avoid any negative effects.
Is Prune Juice A Good Source Of Vitamins?
Yes, prune juice is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin c, vitamin k, potassium, and iron. It’s also high in antioxidants and fiber, which makes it a healthy addition to your diet.
Prune juice is not the most appealing drink, but it is healthy and offers numerous benefits for our health. If you have tried prune juice and found it unpleasant, you have now learned simple tips to improve the taste without compromising its nutritional value.
A glass of this juice should be consumed daily to maintain regularity and improve digestion. Adding flavors like ginger, lemon, and honey, as well as blending with other fruits, can make the taste more tolerable. You can also make it bubbly and have a fizzy drink.
Remember to keep it chilled, and never forget to shake well before drinking. Finally, if you’ve never tried prune juice, it’s time to consider giving it a chance. These tips can help you enjoy the taste and all of the incredible benefits that come with it.
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This is the seventeenth in a series of examinations of baseball-related legends and whether they are true or false. Click here to view an archive of all the previous baseball legends.
This installment is a re-format edition, 2/3 of these legends have already been posted on this site, just not in this format.
BASEBALL LEGEND: Ken “Hawk” Harrelson invented the batting glove.
Before becoming the extremely popular (in Chicago, at least) announcer for the Chicago White Sox for most of the past three decades (and ALL of the past two), Ken “Hawk” Harrelson was a good baseball player for many years for a few different teams.
Whatever his successes ON the field (which included coming in third in the 1968 MVP balloting) and in the radio booth, for years he has been credited for something that is perhaps more notable than all of those things – the invention of the batting glove, now a staple in Major League Baseball.
Here‘s a site making the claim.
As the story goes, Harrelson was golfing one day when he wasn’t in the staring lineup (Harrelson WAS an avid golfer) and when he showed up at the ballpark his hands were blistered like mad. However, he ended up having to bat that day, so he figured that wearing his golf gloves would help protect his blistered hands and, voila – the batting glove was born!
Now, even if you believe that story (and I don’t know if I do, as that particular story has really gained momentum in the years since Harrelson has been an announcer – in the past he said stuff like “I was in a slump and I thought it might help” when it came to why he began wearing golf gloves, even “they looked cool”), it does not mean that he invented batting gloves.
As a point of fact, he most certainly did NOT.
Ballplayers were using golf gloves for decades before Harrelson, with Bobby Thomson of the New York Giants probably being the most famous example (Larry Doby, the first African-American player in the American League, also wore golf gloves).
These players, though, did not wear their gloves during official baseball games.
There ARE some players close to the beginning of the 20th Century who did occasionally wear gloves during games to protect their hands.
Paul Lukas, of the great UniWatch column, detailed a few of them here, as he decidedly debunked the whole “Hawk Harrelson invented the batting glove” myth.
What IS true is that Harrelson POPULARIZED the use of the batting glove in the early 1970s, and as more and more stars got involved, the movement got the point where it is today – where basically all baseball players use batting gloves.
So Harrelson has something to be proud of when to comes to batting gloves – just not inventing them.
Thanks to Paul Lukas for his tireless uniform-related research! You’re the tops, Paul!
BASEBALL LEGEND: At least two players of the Washington Nationals wore jerseys with the team name spelled incorrectly
The Washington Nationals are a baseball team that play in Washington DC. They are in the Eastern Division of the National League.
This is what their jerseys are supposed to look like…
And here is what they looked like on star players Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman in an April 17, 2009 loss to the Florida Marlins…
And no, the “O” is not hidden under the buttons…
On April 23, 2009 the Majestic Athletic company apologized to the Nationals for the error, according to ESPN.com…
“All of us at Majestic Athletic want to apologize to both the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for accidentally omitting the ‘o’ in two Nationals jerseys,” Majestic Athletic president Jim Pisani said in a statement distributed at Nationals Park on Tuesday.
“We take 100 percent responsibility for this event and we regret any embarrassment for the Nationals organization, players and fans,” the statement continued.
The normally weak-hitting Nationals (third from last in the National League in runs in 2008) actually did better on offense in 2009 (ending up JUST below the National League average), so that takes away the jokes from Washington fans who would like to say, “So THAT’s where the ‘O’ went!”
Okay, that’s it for this week!
Feel free (heck, I implore you!) to write in with your suggestions for future installments! My e-mail address is email@example.com
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In my younger years, I never thought that weight will become a problem that will haunt me everyday. Years passed and I became the person I never thought of. I used to hate people who weigh everyday and would freaked out over a line of weight gain. Today, I imbibed the person I hate. Every time I stepped on that metal scale, I wanted the pointer to stop or move back. Wait, this is not me at 138 lbs and still counting… grrrr!
I am not the best person to carry out a diet, I mean a “strict and disciplined diet.” I eat what I want to eat. The next best remedy for me is exercise but the courage to start is the problem. While I lack sleep during weekdays, I overcompensate myself during weekends. I sleep for almost 10 hours and when I wake up, it’s usually past lunch already.
I always thought that sleep deprivation is in one way or another synonymous to food deprivation. When you don’t eat, you are depriving your body of its needed nutrients. In effect, it could possibly lead to weight loss. In the case of sleeping, I thought the system works the same. Lesser sleep means depriving your body of its needed rest. In effect, you lose something and it contributes to weight loss too. To my biggest surprise, I was wrong.
While watching the Philippine Edition of The Biggest Loser, I learned that sleep deprivation could contribute to weight gain and even Diabetes. I googled additional sources and it was true enough. The simplest explanation I received was during the state of sleep, our body is breaking down more glucose. People who deprive themselves of sleep is altering this normal process of our body. In effect, our system can’t fully transform or decompose all those glucose. In the long run, the practice of sleeping late leads to weight gain and worst is acquiring Diabetes.
Lesson learned: Not all forms of deprivation leads to weight loss. In this case less sleep, more weight.
Sleep deprivation equates to weight accummulation.
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Article 17 — Training for the ministry
The churches shall support or, if possible, maintain an institution for the training for the ministry. The task of the professors of theology is to expound the Holy Scriptures and to defend the sound doctrine against heresies and errors, so that the churches may be provided with ministers of the Word who are able to fulfil the duties of their office as they have been described above. The churches together are obliged to provide for the professors of theology and for their widows and orphans.
Here our Church Order differs from that of our sister-churches in Canada and The Netherlands. Our churches had to add the words “support, or, if possible”, since they are not strong enough to maintain their own seminary.
Notwithstanding this, the task of the professors of theology is described.
The positive side is: They have to expound the holy Scriptures. The negative aspect is: They have to defend the Scriptural doctrine against heresies and errors.
This distinction has been derived from John Calvin. It clearly shows that the foundation, and even the fountain, of theology is: holy Scripture.
For us today theology is a science that has as its field of inquiry God’s revelation, as it:
1. is contained in holy Scripture (the bibliological section).
2. gives shape to the church (the ecclesiological section).
3. is confessed in the dogma (the dogmatological section).
4. is proclaimed by the ecclesiastical office (the diaconological section).
The professors are ministers who have been set apart for the training of students in the Ministry of the Word. Therefore they remain bound to the last church in which they have served, and keep their ‘radical’ as ministers.
This article suggests that the training for the Ministry of the Word ends as soon as one has passed the final exam at the seminary. However, such an institution should open the possibility for ministers to continue their theological studies until the degree of ‘doctor of theology’ is obtained.
In tandem with Article 11 this article stipulates that these professors receive financial support, as should also their widows and orphans in case of their demise. However, this support has then become the duty of the bond of churches, as they were the ones responsible for the professorial appointment.
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Many years ago, I first saw Dr. Derrick MacFabe speak at an autism conference. It was among the most memorable talks I’ve ever seen. Dr. MacFabe’s research centers around the cognitive and behavioral effects of bacterial metabolites (especially short chain fatty acids).
Propionic acid (PPA) is present in our diets, but more importantly, it is a byproduct of fermentation by autism-associated bacteria, including Clostridium. Clostridium is a family of bacteria that includes some good and some bad species. For example, the bacteria that causes botulism is in the family of Clostridium. In fact, Clostridium is particularly associated with the gut bacteria that cause diarrhea during antibiotic use. Many of you may have heard of recurrent Clostridia infections (C. difficile) occurring after antibiotic use: this can actually be fatal.
While I knew, from my very first appointment for Alex with Dr. Sidney Baker, that there was this “gut-brain” connection in autism, it wasn’t until 2005 that I saw “proof” in the medical literature of these microbiotic differences, including excessive Clostrida: “Differences between the gut microflora of children with autistic spectrum disorders and that of healthy children.”[i] Dr. MacFabe’s first paper[ii] on the subject was written a year later. He injected PPA directly into the ventricle of the heart (so into the blood stream) in rats to see what would happen and found that it induced, “…abnormal motor movements, repetitive interests, electrographic changes, cognitive deficits, perseveration, and impaired social interactions. The brain tissue of PPA-treated rats shows a number of ASD-linked neurochemical changes, including innate neuroinflammation….”
What really amazed me, watching his talk on this paper, was the video footage he presented of rats before and after exposure to the PPA. This is something you won’t want to miss. You can view these films starting around minute 33 of this video [iii]of one of Dr. MacFabe’s talks. I mean, come on! – that rat who takes 3 steps and lies down, over and over!…absolutely wild!
According to Dr. M[iv], PPA can readily enter the blood stream from the gut. In his rat models, in the short term, small amounts immediately produce hyperactivity, repetitive behaviors and social impairment. The animals also, “…display brain electrical changes resembling some types of human epilepsy, which often co-exists with autism.” Repeated administration of PPA over time, increases the severity and effects, which suggests “…that PPA can exert permanent effects on brain and behavior.”
The connection between autism and PPA from clostrium is not yet definitively proven. However, this metabolomic idea – that byproducts of gut bacteria can directly affect the brain, behavior and development – is pretty well established.
Completely coincidentally: this morning, just before I got ready to post this, I came across the transcript of a Q&A with Dr. Kim Barrett, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, who is also the editor of The Journal of Physiology. A summary[v] of that highlights one of the key points she made:
“… there are thousands of different species of bacteria in your gut microbiome, but Professor Barrett suggested the specific types of bacteria might be less important than the bacteria’s metabolic output — that is, the chemicals they excrete, and the effect those chemicals have on how your body works.”
How’s that for serendipity?!
[i] Parracho, HMRT, Bingham, MO, Gibson, GR, McCartney, AL. Differences between the gut microflora of children with autistic spectrum disorders and that of healthy children. Journal of Medical Microbiology: 2005, 54, 987-991.
[ii] MACFABE, Derrick F.. Short-chain fatty acid fermentation products of the gut microbiome: implications in autism spectrum disorders. Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease, [S.l.], v. 23, aug. 2012. ISSN 1651-2235. Available at: <http://www.microbecolhealthdis.net/index.php/mehd/article/view/19260>. Date accessed: 18 Jan. 2017. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/mehd.v23i0.19260.
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Arrival of the Canada at Halifax.; Lord John Russell's Distinction Between Rebellion and Civil War. Particulars of the French Recognition of Italy.
Published: July 11, 1861
SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE POPE.
The Foreign Policy of Turkey Unchanged.
STATE OF THE MARKETS.
HALIFAX, Wednesday, July 10.
The R.M. Steamship Canada, from Liverpool at 10 A.M. of Saturday, the 29th ult., via Queenstown evening of the 30th, arrived here at 4:30 P.M.
She has 36 passengers, and $516,000 specie for Boston.
The R.M. steamship Australasian, from New-York, arrived at Queenstown at 9 P.M. of the 28th.
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This blog was written by Hiba Salem, the University of Cambridge.
For the 2017 UKFIET conference, 23 individuals were provided with bursaries to assist them to participate and present at the conference. The researchers were asked to write a short piece about their experience.
Refugee = Oncoming masses. War. Fight or flee. Perish. Crisis. Others.
This is the meaning of the word in our modern times. Refugees are a routine fixture of news and global debates. Over the last few years, forced migration has tested the agendas of political establishments. The speed by which refugees have entered countries has unsettled nationals. The consequences of their migration are vast. Fear has arisen and propagated.
In the midst of these effects are the real lives and well-being of over 65.6 million people who have been forcibly displaced. Forced displacement thrusts individuals into an alien world, stripped of any sense of normalcy or familiarity. Loss of education, work, relationships, safety, and assets is widespread. Governments and international agencies have enforced limitations and permissions that determine the present and future prospects of displaced persons.
For refugee children, life after displacement is met with boundless difficulties. However, the protection of all children, including refugees, and their right to access education is universally recognised. Nations participating in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a mission to ensure that all refugee children will have access to high quality and inclusive education by 2030. However, the success of these targets are at risk when applied to the complex and varied factors in play across numerous contexts.
Based on my PhD research, which focuses on Syrian refugee students in Jordan, I argue that studying specific contexts requires paying heightened attention to the voices of those directly affected by forced displacement. This approach could significantly shape the way we as researchers, governments, and organisations assess contexts and develop optimised strategies for the best possible outcomes. In Jordan, despite large efforts and resources committed by the Ministry of Education and international agencies, students remain at high risk of dropping out of secondary school. The challenges that underpin this alarming circumstance have been reported to include financial hardship, tensions and violence between the national and refugee communities, insufficiently trained teachers, and overcrowded classrooms.
The experiences and voices of Syrian refugee students have largely been understudied. During my research, I interviewed 80 Syrian refugee students using visual-based methods and personalised diaries. It became evident that paying heightened attention to student experiences would be highly valuable to researchers and organisations when assessing, in the plainest terms, what works and what doesn’t. Participants of my research were aged 13-16 and attended evening school hours across four formal schools in Jordan. Students who attend these hours are segregated from Jordan’s home students.
The study focuses on understanding these students’ own reflections and evaluation of their well-being, and the ways in which they view their educational settings, aspirations, and futures. The interviews and discussions with students reveal a wealth of visceral examples of the ways by which educational settings contribute positively or negatively to their well-being, ability to belong, aspire, and participate in school and society. These included dimensions of school that expose students to discrimination, harm, lack of safety, and feelings of unhappiness. Additionally, students shared specific examples of their educational experiences that have helped them feel included, encouraged, stimulated, and more able to learn.
During the time from the beginning of my research through to its end, I was deeply moved by the growing empowerment shown by the children engaging with the project. By giving voice to their opinions and by guiding them to delve into their experiences, the children were afforded the time to consider their own goals. Many children expressed that they had not been spoken to in this way or cared for in years.
The allowance of this project for the children to express themselves provided them with an unprecedented sense of relief and hope. In feeling that their experiences have been disregarded by the world at large, the children felt that it was imperative that their stories be heard by as many individuals as possible as a call for action. Over the months that the students completed this project, students felt an increased sense of normalcy and value for their individualism.
There is hope for the lives and well-being of refugee children when they can be heard.
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I recently got my digital hands on a review copy of Packt Publishing’s new book Cinder – Begin Creative Coding by Krisjanis Rijnieks, the first of what will hopefully be many books centered around Cinder.
The book begins with a brief description of what creative coding is and eases into how Cinder fits into the equation. Before jumping into any actual code examples, the author does his due diligence and walks through how to get Cinder downloaded and set up on both OSX and Windows, showing how easy it is with the release version of Cinder. To get your first glimpse into seeing Cinder in action, the book guides you through some of the included samples. It’s an exercise that every first time Cinder user should go through anyway and continues to be a good resource when playing with a feature for the first time.
This is the first tutorial in a series designed to help Flash developers transfer their skills to the C++ creative coding framework Cinder. I’ll provide links to sample code at the end of the post. There’s a lot to learn, so lets get started.
Timing events to happen in a repeating loop is a common technique used in games and applications. It’s commonly used in games when for instance, you want a missile to attack you’re hero every 2 seconds or in an application when you want to remind the user where to click if they haven’t touched anything in a few minutes. I recently used a timed event loop for an installation that required an image transition every 30 seconds.
I’m about to start putting together a series of short tutorials dedicated to helping Flash devs get up to speed with using Cinder. Since there seems to be a wave of Flash developers making this move, I wanted to share some useful bits of code that are a result of research that I’ve done myself and put together into something that someone else might find useful. Cinder can be an intimidating environment to get going with, especially if you’ve never touched C++ at all before (as was my experience). My hope is to try and take some of the intimidation out of the process and maybe even save some of you some time so that you can go ahead and start using those flash skills to make some cool shit in Cinder too.
If anyone has requests for things you’d like to know how to do with Cinder, let me know. I hope to put one of these out every couple of weeks. The first one should be out shortly.
This post is really for myself so that I have somewhere that I can look this up again. Maybe it’ll be helpful to someone else in to the future too.
When working in flash (which I find myself doing less and less now a days), one of my favorite ways to work with assets is through the use of swc files. That’s what they’re there for anyways right? Well what’s not so obvious is how to use swc files to load assets at runtime without using the import command. There are times that it’s useful to refer to an asset at runtime by name that you may or may not use, so you don’t want to explicitly go through the hassle of writing the lines to embed it. This often happens with sounds or items that are easier to loop through to use, such as when using a map of the US. It’s much easier to write a loop vs writing 51 embed statements (yes, I know that there are a million different ways of doing this without writing all of that).
When you do something like going through a loop and saying getDefinitionByName(“state_”+i) to grab a library item that resides in the swc asset file, there are no compiletime errors because Flash Builder can find that swc in the library. But once it runs, the debugger will yell at you. To fix this, you need to embed the swc file at compile time. In Flash Builder, this is done in the Actionscript Compiler settings and all you have to do is add this line (replacing it with the path to your asset swc file obviously)
Now when you run your swf, it’ll work like a charm and you’ll have those assets available without having to import them in the head of your class file. That being said, be sure to only do this when it makes sense. This embeds the swc file into your swf. So if there are assets in the library that are outdated and set to export at compile time, they’ll be included adding extra senseless bloat. As I write this, I’m using this method for a prototype where bloat doesn’t really matter, but just be mindful of that.
For a recent motion graphics project that I was working on, I needed to use a sucking-in vacuum effect where some logos were being sucked into a TV. Not being a motion graphics expert and jumping into after effects for the first time in a while, I first went searching some forums to see if anyone else asked the question and had gotten answers. Indeed people have asked how to get this affect, but not too many useful answers were out there. Fortunately, I was able to put together something I was happy with and wanted to show anyone that’s interested how the effect was achieved.
Have you ever completed a flash project and started testing it online only to realize that the swf is looking for assets either in a different directory than the one you specified? Or that the folder that you have all your media stored is not in a relative directory like it was when working on it locally?
The solution that I mustered up in the past was to create a flashvar called something like “mediafolder” and put that in the embed code. From there, I would go back into my actionscript code and make sure all external media had the passed “mediafolder” variable appended to the beginning of the url for each external asset and then republish my swf.
This always worked well, so I usually plan for this, but my latest project didn’t have that built in. When it came to testing and we realized that the media folder was going to be in a different location than the base swf file and it was supposed to launch soon, it was time to see if there was another alternative to the usual solution. That’s when I discovered the “base” attribute in the swf object embed code.
The “base” attribute is actually an href attribute that specifies a base URL for all relative URLs on a page. Traditionally, you should be able to put it in the head of an html page and have all links on a page link relative to the string specified in the base attribute. For this it’s just specified for the swf, which picks it up when passed as a param and picks up any external asset from that folder by default instead of the folder that the actual swf is in.
With the example above, any asset that the main swf is trying to load relative to itself can now be placed in “../project/subfolder” without having to change any actionscript and republishing your swf. This is a tip that has saved me hours of work and would have saved me even more time had I discovered it in the past.
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REPORT: New Energy Economy Comes With Hefty Price Tag
A report from an analyst with the Independence Institute and Competitive Enterprise Institute released Tuesday found that initiatives undertaken as part of Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter’s energy agenda cost the state nearly $484 million in 2012.
What’s more, much of the energy generated under the agenda exceeded demand for electricity, meaning that ratepayers were billed nearly half a billion dollars for electricity that they did not use.
William Yeatman, energy policy analyst for CEI and the Institute, said that the Ritter administration changed the state’s mandate from providing the least expensive energy to providing clean energy.
“In fact, it seemed not to matter whether the electricity generated by these ‘new energy technologies’ was even needed,” said Yeatman. “The bill is now coming due, and it is not pretty. In 2012, Colorado ratepayers spent almost half a billion dollars on New Energy Economy policies, in return for unneeded energy.”
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- 2. Their instruments detected very faint radiowaves at a frequency of 3 kilohertz.
1. a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain
1. pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
1. barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc;
- "a faint outline"
- "the wan sun cast faint shadows"
- "the faint light of a distant candle"
- "faint colors"
- "a faint hissing sound"
- "a faint aroma"
2. lacking clarity or distinctness;
3. lacking strength or vigor;
- "damning with faint praise"
- "faint resistance"
- "feeble efforts"
- "a feeble voice"
- synonym： feeble
4. weak and likely to lose consciousness;
5. indistinctly understood or felt or perceived;
- "a faint clue to the origin of the mystery"
- "haven't the faintest idea"
6. lacking conviction or boldness or courage;
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says cost-cutting in large government-benefit programs is possible as long as Social Security isn't part of the discussion.
Reid says that Social Security hasn't contributed to the deficit and therefore isn't part of the problem.
Reid's spokesman, Jon Summers, says the Nevada Democrat opposes any cuts for Social Security recipients, as well as any reduction in benefits promised to future retirees.
The Senate's top Democrat also rejects an increase in the age at which workers can begin to draw full Social Security retirement because he sees that as a cut in benefits.
Senior lawmakers in both parties have talked about seeking a broad deficit-reduction agreement. Reining in the costs of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are widely cited as essential ingredients in any such compromise.
© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Auckland Weight Loss Surgery specialises in the surgical management of obesity.
We offer the full complement of weight loss procedures, including gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgery (also known as a sleeve gastrectomy), allowing us to select the surgery best suited to each patient.
Our surgeons Grant Beban, Richard Babor and Jon Morrow are specifically trained in obesity surgery for weight loss and perform these operations frequently. They work together to optimise patient care.
At Auckland Weight Loss Surgery, Grant, Richard, Jon and welcoming Nicholas Evennett to the surgical team, all work as part of a multidisciplinary team that provides an holistic approach to obesity surgery. Other team members include our clinical nurse specialist, dietitian and psychologist.
You can contact us directly to make an appointment for a consultation. You do not require a referral from your GP.
Surgery for morbid obesity (bariatric surgery) has helped many people lose more weight than is possible by diet and maintain that weight loss. It can dramatically improve quality of life and improve medical conditions associated with obesity.
Bariatic surgery may help you if
your weight is significantly greater than you would like
you find it difficult to lose weight by diet and exercise
you are concerned about the health consequences of your weight
your weight affects your quality of life
Surgery for extreme obesity has helped many people lose more weight than is possible by diet, and maintain that weight loss.
Bariatric Surgery versus Intensive Medical Therapy for Diabetes — 5-Year Outcomes
New England Journal of Medicine 2017;376:641-51.
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Phenylketonuria is a rare birth defect in which a mutation causes the inability to metabolize phenylalanine, an essential amino acid. Why phenylalanine can’t be broken down is because a required enzyme is not produced by your body due to a genetic error.
With this health condition, the consumption of too much phenylalanine causes musty odor and mental impairment symptoms. The diet restriction of this protein is the fundamental treatment for relief of phenylketonuria symptoms and effects.
However, dietary restriction of phenylalanine must be initiated shortly after birth for the best results. Otherwise, the buildup of this amino acid may cause some serious permanent health problems, especially to your brain and central nervous system. Therefore, in the U.S. babies are routinely screened for phenylketonuria soon after their birth.
It is recommended that those with phenylketonuria follow a strict diet that limits phenylalanine for life. During the formative years, if your diet isn’t restrictive, too much phenylalanine can cause the development of these symptoms:
- stunted growth
- mental retardation
- behavioral, social issues
- musty odor ~ breath, skin, urine
- jerking movements of arms & legs
The musty odor is caused by too much phenylalanine in your body and this symptom is a good indicator that you need to restrict it more extensively in your diet.
The enzyme deficiency of phenylketonuria can be total or just not enough. In those without it, untreated phenylketonuria usually causes permanent mental retardation. With less severe forms, the risk of significant brain damage is reduced, but a special diet will be necessary to prevent other health complications.
Phenylketonuria is a very treatable health condition. The main treatment is a dietary restriction involving an extremely low intake of phenylalanine.
Generally, you’ll need to consume some phenylalanine for healthy growth and body processes. But the amount you can safely consume will be unique for you. And this amount will be determined via blood test monitoring phenylalanine levels and dietary adjustments in response.
Phenylalanine occurs in a significant amount in high protein foods. As such, it’s crucial to avoid foods like:
- all types of meat
In addition, you’ll possibly need to restrict your intake of:
- certain fruits & vegetables
The artificial sweetener aspartame also contains phenylalanine. Thus, any product containing aspartame needs to be out of your diet. Unfortunately aspartame is slipped into numerous processed foods, so read those labels.
As part of a diet restriction treatment, you may be prescribed a special formula composed of protein that’s extremely low in phenylalanine.
Although the diet restriction treatment for phenylketonuria is very challenging, the dietary limitations are critical to preserve your health and keep that musty odor away.
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The event will be held at the Denver Botanic Gardens on Thursday, September 19th to support early literacy in Colorado.
Denver, CO – Reach Out and Read Colorado, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Denver, CO, has a 20-year history of improving early literacy across the state by partnering with pediatricians to provide developmentally- and language-appropriate books to children at well-child visits and encourage families to read aloud together. Currently, Reach Out and Read Colorado serves more than 125,000 children in 331 clinics.
Reach Out and Read Colorado is excited to host their inaugural gala, Where the Wild Things Read, on September 19, 2019 from 6:00 to 9:00PM at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The evening will include drinks, a seated dinner, live auction, and entertainment, featuring Mistress of Ceremony Denver7’s Lisa Hidalgo and auctioneer Reggie Rivers!
The event will celebrate the transformative power of reading aloud together as a family while raising much-needed support for this evidence-based program designed to reach our state’s most vulnerable populations.
“Reading has the power to unlock a child’s curiosity and imagination. When a parent reads to a young child, parts of the child’s brain are stimulated that are not stimulated by any other activity. Promoting early childhood reading with family is a powerful way to combat the adverse events of childhood, or toxic stress, which can impact the lives of too many children.” -Simon Hambidge, MD, PhD | Denver Health Pediatrician & Reach Out and Read Colorado Board Chair
Where the Wild Things Read is presented by GSK. As a literacy and health equity champion, GSK is focused on delivering the greatest possible long-term impact on improving health around the world and in the communities they work. Through this partnership, GSK will directly impact more than 3,000 Reach Out and Read Colorado families. The event would not be possible without a generous community of supporters, including media sponsor Denver7 and platinum level sponsor Cimarex.
Where the Wild Things Read Gala
September 19, 2019 | 6:00-9:00PM
Denver Botanic Gardens | Mitchell Hall
For more information or to purchase event tickets contact Rebecca Oehl at 720.623.3800 or [email protected] Tickets can also be purchased at www.reachoutandreadco.org/event/where-the-wild-things-read.
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About Reach Out and Read Colorado
Reach Out and Read Colorado is an evidence-based nonprofit that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.
Reach Out and Read Colorado partners with health care providers to prescribe a developmentally- and language-appropriate book and talk with parents about the importance of reading aloud at well-child visits from 6 months to 5 years of age. By building on the unique relationship between parents and health care providers, Reach Out and Read Colorado helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for success. Children served by Reach Out and Read enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies, stronger language skills, and a three- to six-month developmental edge. To learn more, connect with Reach Out and Read Colorado on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ReachOutandReadColorado.
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On the recommendation of actor Jan Werich, VH starts working as a stagehand at the ABC Theatre. It is due to this job that he determines to "get into the theatre".
He starts working as a stagehand at the Theatre on the Balustrade (Divadlo Na zábradlí). He is later permitted to work as a dramaturge and assistant director. He co-authors a number of plays and meets, among others, director Jan Grossman who offers him creative guidance. At the same time, je works at the Prague Municipal Theatres as assistant to Alfréd Radok, one of the most distinguished Czech theatre directors.
3rd December, 1963
His play The Garden Party (directed by Otomar Krejča) premieres at the Balustrade. Diligent Hugo Pludek grasps the rules of success and, thanks to a gift for adapting and dazzling people with empty phrases, comes to control the world of inaugurators and liquidators. However, his careerism causes him to lose his own personality, which he perhaps never had. Due to the positive reception of the play, regarded as an original Czech take on the Theatre of the Absurd, he suddenly becomes one of the most celebrated figures in Czech culture.
9th July, 1964
After an eight-year relationship, VH marries Olga, née Šplíchalová (born 11 July 1933). The marriage will last for more than 30 years.
VH achieves his first international success when the German premiere of The Garden Party takes place at West Berlin's Schiller Theatre. His rise to the world stage is made possible by Klaus Juncker of the Rowohlt publishing house. Juncker becomes Havel’s friend, lifelong literary and theatre agent, and, in tough times, connection with the free world.
Premiere of The Memorandum (Vyrozumění), a play based on the motif of an artificial, totalitarian language called Ptydepe.
VH joins the editorial board of the literary monthly Tvář (The Face). Its open and critical tone soon gets it into trouble with official structures. He speaks out in its defence and organises a petition against its dissolution, becoming publicly engaged as an activist for the first time. The authorities prove stronger, however, and Tvář is dissolved early in 1966.
VH publishes his first book, The Protocols, containing the plays The Garden Party and The Memorandum, a collection of calligrams entitled Anticodes and other texts.
VH completes a distance learning course in dramaturgy at the Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts (DAMU). His thesis consists of original play Eduard (later performed as The Increased Difficulty of Concentration) and a theoretical analysis of it.
A speech about the need for creative independence at the fourth congress of the Union of Czechoslovak Writers marks the beginning of Havel's public engagement in the Prague Spring, a process of renewal of Czech society.
During the events of the so-called Prague Spring, VH is among those pushing for more than mere reform of communism. However, despite his sober distance from the stirred up, revolutionary mood in society, he devotes a lot of energy to the struggle for the survival of the suspended critical magazine Tvář, becomes involved in the reforms of the Union of Writers, sets up the Circle of Independent Writers and becomes chairman of the Coordination Centre of Independent Organisations, which brings together nascent opposition forces, in particular KAN, the union of former political prisoners K231 and the Social Democrats. In addition, he contributes to Literární listy an article titled On the Theme of Opposition, in which he calls for the de facto abolition of the Communist Party's monopoly on power.
Premiere of The Increased Difficulty of Concentration, a play based on the motif of artificial intelligence that satirizes the "robotization" of human existence.
Spring sojourn in the USA, where he attends the premiere of The Memorandum in New York, contacts Czech émigré intellectuals, follows his father's pro-American sympathies and is inspired by 1960s US culture (music, the human rights movement, hippies). Soon after his return he takes a trip around Western Europe.
In the summer, before the August invasion, VH quits his post as dramaturge at the Theater on the Balustrade of his own accord. He becomes a freelance writer.
VH is in Liberec, northern Bohemia when the dramatic events of the August 1968 occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops begin. He becomes involved in the civil resistance and writes a series of radio announcements on the need to resist the occupation and on the forms such resistance might take. The texts are read on air by his actor friend Jan Tříska.
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SACRAMENTO - The H1N1 flu virus - also known as the "swine flu" - is putting more people in the hospital in Sacramento County.
As of Monday, there were 15 patients in hospital intensive care units with H1N1, according to Laura McCasland, speaking for the county's Health and Human Services division.
Three people have died from complications of the virus. McCasland said the two most recent were a woman in her 30s and a man in his 50s. They are in addition to the death of a 61-year-old woman from the influenza virus reported last week by the county.
Flu virus symptoms can include body aches, fever, headache, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and tiredness.
This season's flu vaccine, which protects against the H1N1, Influenza A and Influenza B strains showing up, is still available and recommended for anyone over 6 months of age. This link will help you find where you can get inoculated.
Monday, Stanislaus County public health officials said they had received reports of three people who had died in their area after contracting the flu this season.
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A Note for Muslim Students
Knowledge of the Arabic language is a primary and indispensible tool in studying liturgical topics such as Qur’an and Hadith. It is part of the retinue of religious knowledge. Other members of this retinue include knowledge of logic, as well as piety, good morals, and respect for one’s instructor.
As such, a student should always begin learning the language with the correct intention and direct his or her heart towards the Almighty. Without this requisite, proficiency in the language will yield no favour and its pedagogy will have gone to waste.
Therefore, a student must have correct intentions, begin with the name of God, and always be humble. May God help us in this pursuit.
Arabic: Classical or Modern?
Arabic is somewhat unique in the sense that the classical and modern dialects are not too different from one another. The divergences are largely limited to the lexical meanings of words, a few grammatical constructions, and some stylistic elements. Other than this, the two are quite similar.
Classical Arabic is roughly considered to have ended at around the mid-19th century. Of course the transition from classical to modern was very gradual, but it was during the industrial revolution that linguists began to systematically create new words and take advantage of the language’s framework in order to express new concepts like engines, steam, and factories.
But the similarity between the two only means that a speaker of one brand will need minimal instruction to learn the other brand. It does not mean that a speaker from the seventh century will completely understand a modern speaker, or that a modern speaker can pick up the Qur’an and start analyzing it without proper training. By no means.
For this reason, we focus on classical Arabic. After having a good grasp of this, one can extend his or her knowledge to easily learn modern standard Arabic (MSA). Such knowledge of the two dialects of Arabic can be learned and practiced from courses such as the Shariah Program. One is highly encouraged to join such courses in order to correctly learn the Arabic language.
Classical Arabic: Which Tribe?
In modern Arabic, we have the standard (or formal) dialect. Then each region of the Arab world has its unique colloquial brand of the language differing from others to such an extent that speakers of the same language sometimes can’t even understand each other.
In classical Arabic, there is a similar schism. Each tribe of ancient Arabia had some differences in pronunciation, in style, and in the grammar as well. Over the centuries, these differences were formalized into schools and, during the apex of Arab civilization (ca. 8th – 10th century ce), the two schools of Basra and Kufa were the dominant grammatical schools of thought.
Here we study classical Arabic as it was understood by the Basran scholars. It is noteworthy, however, that not all the authors upon whom we rely are Basran and not all our grammatical rulings are based on the Basran school, but this is largely the case.
How we Approach the Study
Below is a list of all the sciences related to the study of Classical Arabic.
· Arabic Phonology – this includes reading, writing, and pronunciation
· Morphology – this includes both morphology and etymology
· Arabic Grammar – the study of grammatical inflection and all associated issues of grammar
· Arabic Vocab – this is primarily focused on vocabulary
· Literature – practice with the above theories and learning classical Arabic style
· Rhetoric – elevated speech, literary techniques, poetry, etc
Learn Arabic Online offers detailed tutorials on each of these topics (except literature). The tutorials range from the most basic to the most advanced. They are relatively self-contained and are easy to follow.
Learn Arabic Online does not cover literature. Literature is an absolutely essential category of study that is used to help students practice their verb conjugation, translation skills, learn idiomatic expressions, practice reading Arabic with and without vowels in front of a teacher, and much more. This is very essential, but something that cannot, unfortunately, be done through tutorials. For this, a student must learn Arabic through the medium of knowledgeable teachers and well-established courses.
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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Friday, March 14, 2003
Class offered on famous rock art
The Lower Pecos River region of southwest Texas is widely known for its
world-class pictographs and prehistoric archeological remains spanning more
than 11,000 years of human prehistory. On March 22-23, Joseph Labadie will
present a field seminar entitled, "Rock Art and Archeology of Lower Pecos,"
as part of the Big Bend Seminars program.
This seminar will provide a basic understanding of the material culture
of the prehistoric inhabitants of the Lower Pecos River region.
The seminar will include detailed discussions on the four distinct prehistoric
rock art styles and two historic periods of Native American pictographs
in the region. On day one participants will see several slide and video
programs and participate in discussions.
The seminar is conducted as part of the Big Bend Seminars program sponsored
by the Big Bend Natural History Association. Each year experts in various
fields meet with small groups to offer in-depth knowledge and insight. Cost
for the seminar is $100 per person or $90 for members of the Big Bend Natural
History Association. To register for the seminar or to receive a complete
catalog of seminars, write to the Big Bend History Association at P.O. Box
196, Big Bend National Park, Tx. 79834, call 915-477-2236, or e-mail to
Spring revival set in Monahans
First Baptist Church of Monahans is hosting a spring revival meeting
March 23-26. According to guest speaker Rev. Jason Craft, the theme of the
four-day meeting is "The Character of God." Craft will be discussing "God's
character and how we need to respond to who God is." Joining Craft will
be worship leader Mike Andress.
Worship services will be held at 10:50 a.m. and 6 p.m, Sunday, and 7
p.m., Monday through Wednesday. There will also be revival choir practice
one hour before each of the evening services. Monday through Wednesday there
will be a Bible Study with a free lunch at noon in the church's Fellowship
Hall. The Bible Study will conclude by 12:50 p.m.
A nursery will be provided during the noon Study and the evening services
for birth through four years old. It is requested that all children be fed
before coming to the nursery.
The public is invited to attend all the events. For more information,
contact the church at 943-4031.
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 2003 by Pecos Enterprise
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Try your luck on these exercises! Most of them are for intermediage students, but some are easier and others are harder.
ADJECTIVES & ADVERBS
NOUNS & ARTICLES
Assure, Ensure & Insure *Please note: there is one mistake in this exercise. I will try to fix it as soon as possible. I lost the original in a virus attack and need to make up a new one. Sorry for the inconvenience!
COMPARATIVES & SUPERLATIVES
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Thomson Reuters predicts Prof. Howard (Chaim) Cedar and emeritus Prof. Aharon Razin will win in field of medicine or chemistry.
Biochemists Chaim Cedar and Aharon Razin. (Photo: Hezi Hojesta)
It’s not the first time Hebrew University biochemists Prof. Howard (Chaim) Cedar
and emeritus Prof. Aharon Razin have heard their names come up as potential Nobel laureates. But now Thomson Reuters, which has accurately forecast the names of 27 Nobel laureates since 2002, predicted that Cedar and Razin are the front-runners for the 2013 honor in medicine or chemistry.
Cedar and Razin are world famous for their fundamental discoveries concerning DNA methylation and gene expression.
The award for Physiology or Medicine will be announced on Monday, Oct. 7 and the award for Chemistry will be announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Israel has 10 Nobel laureates, four of them in chemistry.
“Just a prediction is a compliment,” Cedar told The Jerusalem Post. “We have a chance. Everybody has been hugging us since the prediction was made.”
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Watch and listen to this move by Michigan State’s Keith Appling:
First, while a great move, he carried the ball. The ball appears to come to rest in his hand between the behind-the-back dribble and the in-and-out dribble.
That being said, listen to the commentary. The analyst is extra-impressed that a right-handed player can perform a fairly simple move (in-and-out) with his left hand.
When I coached with Hoop Masters in Los Angeles, Johnny West played in the program, so Jerry West was around every now and then. He told our directors that the most important move for a young player to learn is the in-and-out move. We practiced the move with eight-year-olds, and it was a staple of our ball-handling drills.
Not to take anything away from Appling, but should we be that surprised that a point guard can make a move with his weak hand? If so, what does that say about the collective skill development of our players? It’s a nice move, and he completely shook his defender. However, for the analyst to suggest that “you rarely ever see” a right-handed player make an in-and-out dribble with his left hand suggests to me that his excitement over the move says less about the move and more about overall skill deficiencies in today’s players (or possibly bad defense that allows players to play to their strong hands too much).
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Thursday, 27 February 2014
Vaccine safety, can we make our monitoring system better?
Public Health Ontario has released its first report on vaccine safety PHO AEFI 2012 report . Great news for those objectively trying to ensure we utilize quality and safe vaccines. It is not a first, Health Canada used to release such reports decades ago and then stopped in the pre-PHAC days. There are vestiges of a vaccine safety system in Canada, actually a very good one, but lacking in national or even provincial reporting, until now.
Canada has a solid adverse events following immunization (AEFI) reporting system CAEFIS . Standardized reporting forms, electronic data collection and transmission, formalized causality assessment processes - all of which seems headed into a black hole. The data are available for those who want to mine the data sets and know who to ask. The problem is a lack of dedicated resource focused on vaccine safety surveillance. Hence we collect the data and it sits. Occasionally at an immunization conference one may find a poster on a provincial sub-analysis of the data, but rarely has anyone been so bold as to put the data out in the public eye.
So congratulations to PHO despite the shortcomings in the data. We know that AEFI reporting by physician delivered systems is substantively less frequent and qualitatively different than where public health nurses diligently collect and submit the data. Physicians are less likely to report, and much less likely to report what public health calls ‘mild’ AEFIs even though they are very disconcerting to parents.
Underestimation of actual rates because of relatively poor data quality is likely the main reason most jurisdictions are uncomfortable in data release (it is not that the findings suggest that there are significant harms of vaccines that there is a reluctance). To this end, releasing the Ontario data does everyone a service. It demonstrates the safety of vaccines, it demonstrates that public health does seriously care about AEFIs, and it demonstrates to the immunizing community that all those forms and time spent collecting AEFI information is being put to use. Where generators of the data see the data being put to use, data quality and quantity will improve. Can the other provinces follow suit? Or perhaps agree to let PHAC release the Canadian data.
Canada has for over 17 years poured money into the major pediatric hospitals to have nurses intensively investigate cases admitted with events after immunization. Probably the most biased method of data collection, and given the sparse funding for the universal data collection system, clearly something that needs questioning. The IMPACT program does produce a plethora of scientific publications carefully listed at the IMPACT website. The impact of IMPACT deserves greater scrutiny but appears to have become a sacred institution in Canada and a diversion of the scarce vaccine safety resources nationally.
Why in Canada have we perpetuated an elitist and biased surveillance system while allowing a standardized national system crumble should raise questions. Worse, the IMPACT system skews what we can say about vaccines as it biases towards supporting vaccines as safe rather than stating vaccine safety in an objective and clear manner so that consumers can make an informed choice. PHO’s report also contains biases towards communicating vaccines as safe.
And then we wonder why parents remain skeptical about public health claims of the safety of vaccines. Until we objectively and consistently report on the actual risks, that skepticism will continue to grow, fueled by what amounts to bad science.
Internationally those interested in vaccine safety should follow the Brighton Collaboration as a body that is applying scientific rigor to the questions of vaccine safety. The US approach of allowing anyone to submit a report on adverse events following a vaccine likely biases to overreporting of the effects of vaccines, but does present the worst case scenario VAERS and is transparent.
A closing note, the routinely available vaccines remain the best and safest way to protect ourselves and our families. It is almost unconscionable and unethical to withhold immunization from our children and ourselves. While we should be critical of the current AEFI reporting system and accountability which has room to improve, there is nothing hiding in the data or reports that would do anything but provide further assurance about the safety of the vaccines we use. In this respect, PHO should again be congratulated for challenging the Canadian public health system to be transparent and accountable on one of its foundational pillars.
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John Stott sums up the evangelical case for the need to make a “decision” for Christ in his classic little book Basic Christianity:
I myself used to think that because Jesus had died on the cross, everyone in the world had been put right with God by some kind of rather mechanical transaction. I remember how puzzled, even offended, I was when it was first suggested to me that I needed to take hold of Christ and his salvation for myself. I thank God that he later opened my eyes to see that I must do more than face up to the fact that I needed a Savior, more even than admit that Jesus Christ was the Savior I needed; it was necessary to accept him as my Savior.
Stott uses the image of Christ waiting at the door, pictured here, to explain the need and the process by which a person receives Christ as Lord and Savior. He ends the chapter with one of the nicer versions of the sinner’s prayer that I have read.
As I read this chapter, two sets of questions that emerge.
First, as a Wesleyan, it still feels pretty mechanical — to use Stott’s word above. The prayer — which I have prayed myself — is treated in some ways like an incantation. If it is prayed, it is done. Stott even goes so far as to warn us not to worry about how we feel after we pray that prayer. Just be know that it is done and be grateful.
This runs directly in the face of Wesleyan assurance. The old Methodist teaching was that we would have a perceptible awareness of the Holy Spirit speaking to our spirit that we are children of God. It was not about feelings, so much, but it was about a palpable spiritual sensation. It is what Wesley referred to when he described his heart being strangely warmed.
The Methodists were also known for the tarrying that often happened between crying out for Jesus and receiving this assurance. The crying out was not conversion. It was not a sign of justification. The sign of justification was the faith that God gave to sinners that Jesus Christ had died for them and pardoned them. It was this faith and assurance that also marked the moment of pardon. I do not believe the old Methodists would tell a sinner that a single prayer without any sense of assurance should be taken as a token of salvation.
Whether we should side with the Methodists or with Stott — or neither — of course is not a settled question. But it helps to be aware of the differences.
Second, I find myself asking about those who cannot respond in the way Stott prescribes. This system of his is built upon a stack of cognitions and the use of language. What about those for whom such things are difficult to impossible? What about people with mental disabilities?
This is a place where I find Scripture does not help immensely. This troubles me at times. At other times, I am aware that Scripture was written for people who are literate — or in communities of literacy — and is mostly addressed to adults with what we call normal mental faculties. It is a means of grace for those who can receive it. But I’m not convinced that means it maps out the ways of grace for those who are not equipped to operate in the cognitive and literacy-based world of Scripture.
Interestingly, for me at least, in a Wesleyan context, it may not be that those with cognitive disabilities need to hear Jesus knocking at the door. It may be that they never shut the door. John Wesley, famously and controversially, argued that we are not condemned for Original Sin but only for actual sins. And for Wesley, actual sins were willful breaches of the law of God. Although Leviticus speaks of unintentional sins, Wesley argued that only intentional sins were actually sins.
In other words, those who cannot understand what they do in terms of God’s commands, are by definition not sinning.
Now, I know this opens a whole can of worms and is not easily dealt with in a simple blog post. Wesley’s notion has been criticized and dismissed by many learned Christians.
But I am not ready to dismiss him. Not, at least, while I struggle to understand what may, in the end, be too high for me to understand.
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While looking into Google's new +1 recommendation button and seeing that they were planning on including it in web pages, I decided to revisit Buzz and my Google Profile to take another look. Lo' and behold there it is, a meta-data driven social network that uses the entire internet as it's platform.
Most people will have sussed this out already (I've just had lunch, remember), but what's important here is everyone's wider understanding of how the internet works and how this isn't just an orphan product that isn't important yet.
Your Account, Your Profile and Your Settings
Google splits an user's information into separate products:
This is where Google stores information it uses to ensure you are who you say you are when you visit any Google site. This includes your username, password and access rights to their services. It also contains the link to your Profile.
Your Profile is where you tell Google things about you that helps it's products provide a better service. These include your name, your avatar, where you live, and most importantly, what other websites you use.
Other Google products, such as GMail or YouTube, don't store information about you, that's already in your Profile. They don't store information on your username and password, that's in your Account. What they do store is information on how you want that particular product to work - your Settings. Each Google product has its own specific and unique Settings. There's no point duplicating information, right?
Google Account manages your access to all Google products (this is called a Single Sign-On mechanism), making it easier and quicker for you to switch between various Google products as you do different tasks.
Your Profile and the wider internet
As well as some information about you, your Profile also stores links to your other profile pages on other websites. For example, Google suggests you can add your Facebook public profile page, your Twitter page, your Flickr photostream and any other page that is specifically about you.
This seems like a simple list for others to use in finding out more about you, but there's more going on here. The links in Google Profile use something called a microformat to tell the internet that this page is about you.
If you looked at the specific links, you would see, in the HTML, something like this:
What that little snippet does is tell your Profile that the page is about the same person as the Profile. But the page at the other end of the link could be doing the same back to your Google Profile; again, using the rel="me" link.
This creates a bi-directional link that let's Google do something even more interesting (am I stretching that?).
Google Buzz is Google's microblogging product where updates are shared with and can be followed by Friends or Contacts from GMail or can be completely public. It allows you to post items to it directly, through e-mail, or by having them fed automatically from other websites.
By confirming that a link about you is bi-directional, Google knows that it really is about you, so it is safe to add any updates from that page to Buzz. It will suggest what sites are already confirmed from the list in your Profile (remember how unimportant that seemed?) and will allow you to add them to Buzz. Before long there's a near-live activity stream of content from all over your social internet appearing in your Buzz feed and being shared to your social circle.
The Big Picture
So let's compare all these components to other social networks, and see what we have.
- Social networks need a Profile where you maintain your own information - check
- Social networks need an Activity Stream where your updates and those of your connections appear, just like Buzz - check
- Social networks have Friends and Connections to create social circles - check
- Social Networks have Recommendations, where you can influence your Friends with your ratings of websites or services, using something like +1 - check
What makes Google's social network different is that it is not limited to a single website, where all your friends already have to be members, it interacts with the entire internet and allows you to carry on with your usual social online activity, knowing all the while that it's being collated and fed to a single stream that you control.
Google don't always get everything right, but they do understand technology. And when they create a true social network, they create it big! And that's why you should care.
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DB Differential Bypass Dimensions
The differential bypass valve is used in systems where heating loads may be excluded from the circuit as zone valves close. It controls the excess flow in the system by acting as a bypass while ensuring adequate flow to the remaining open circuits. The differential bypass valve helps reduce velocity noise caused by excess flow through the circuits while maintaining the pump head at a constant value.
The differential by-pass valve should be installed after the pump between the supply and return piping. It can be installed either in the horizontal or vertical position provided it is in accordance with the direction of flow as indicated by the arrow on the valve body.
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Robert Read , of the Parish of St. Brides , was indicted upon an Inquisition taken before the Coroner, for the Murder of Daniel Vaughan , with a Blunderbuss, value 5 s. charged with Gunpowder and Bullets , on the 24th of July last. The Indictment preferred to the Grand Jury for the Murder of the said Daniel Vaughan was returned Ignoramus
John Bill depos'd, That the Night before (viz. the 23d of July last) after he had shut up Shop, he went out for his Supper, and at his Return found several Watchmen at the Mug-house Door, which occasioned a great Mob, and he saw them throw Stones at the Windows, upon which two Gentlemen came out with their Swords drawn. Next Morning he saw the Windows broke very much, so that there was scarce 4 Panes whole; but saw none of the Watch endeavour to prevent the Mischief. After this he saw the Prisoner and a Grenadier go from the Mug-house Door to the End of Salisbury-Court, but were drove back by the Mob. Then he heard the Proclamation read, upon which the People advanced with great Shouts for the space of 3 Minutes, and then the Prisoner fired, the Mob being within 20 Yards of the Prisoner's House, the Deceas'd about 10 Yards before them, and the Prisoner 5 from his House. That he could not remember any particular or general Cry used among the Mob, but believed the Deceased did not belong to them, and that he had no Stick in his Hand; however he had heard he was a Mobber.
Charles Tuckey depos'd, That on the Day mentioned in the Indictment, he was in a Balcony over against the Mug-house, and about 1 a-Clock saw the Prisoner come out with a Blunderbuss in his Hand, and saw the Mob advancing from Fleet-street to the Mug-house Door hollowing, as the People did in the Mug-house; and being ask'd what their Cry was in the Mug-house, he answered, King George for ever. That some of the Mob had Sticks; That then the Prisoner push'd on 4 or 5 Yards from his own Door, and fired, and the Deceas'd fell, much about the same Distance before the Mob. He saw no Stick in his Hand. That 2 or 3 Soldiers came out at the same time, and one of them fin'd; but he believed the Prisoner did the Execution.
And Bill stood up again, and said, he thought the Blunderbuss did the Mischief.
Katharine Bennet depos'd, That she saw the Prisoner level his Piece at the Deceas'd. That she kept Shop over against the Mug-house, and heard a great Noise in it the Monday Night before, insomuch that she sate up all Night; and she heard some of the Gentlemen there say, Come, let's go to the Swan; which they did, and she heard them beat against the Windows; and when they returned, she heard a Voice say, Come Gentlemen of the Roe-buck, let us drink the King's Health. That about 1 a-Clock they went to the Swan again, and as they went she heard them say, Down with the Butchers, Down with the Barbers (whose Door was beat open) Down with the Pawnbrokers; and that they beat against her Door, but could not break it open. She saw no Watch nor Constable then. The next Morning about 10 a Clock, she saw the Mug-house Windows broke; there was no Stones thrown at them, till a Gentleman came out of the House, and several more with Sticks. That she saw a Mob in Fleet-street, but upon her Oath did not see them advance up the Court, but stood stock still, till after she saw the Prisoner kill the Deceas'd. That the Prisoner was 3 or 4 Yards from his House when he fin'd , and then she looked and saw the Deceas'd fall. That the Prisoner levelled his Piece once before, but it would not go off. And that she saw no Stick in the Prisoner's Hand when he dropt.
Sarah Dawson depos'd, That being a Servant at a Neighbour's House to the Prisoner, she was sent about eleven a Clock of an Errand, but the Crowd being very great she turn'd down a Passage into a fort of an Ally by St. Brides Church-yard Wall, and coming back again the same way, the Deceased stood at the End of the Passage; and she push'd him to get through, and the Piece went off at that time and the Deceased fell against her and frighted her. That there had been a great Disturbance all Night, that the Mug-house Windows were broke before this happen'd; and that she has been ever since under an uneasie Conscience, as fearing her self to have been in some measure the Cause of his Death.
Joseph Harris depos'd, That he was at work that Morning in Fetter-lane, where he heard there was a great Disturbance in Fleet street, upon which he went there to see what was the Matter, and saw the Deceased, whom he knew, and a great Crowd of People, and ask'd him what was the Matter; and the Deceased said, he did not know, that he would not be concern'd, but would go to work, and that he had some Bread and Cheese in his Pocket. That he saw the Mug-house Windows broke; but staid a very little while, and about a quarter of an Hour after he heard the Deceas'd was kill'd.
John Holmes swore, He was going through the Court about 10 a Clock, and staid till half an Hour past eleven, in which time he observ'd a great Crowd of Women and Children about the Mug-house Door, and a Constable and some Men come out of it, and read a Proclamation with three Huzzus ; and then saw the Prisoner bring out a Blunderbuss, which he discharg'd and the Deceased fell, who was about four Yards from him, as he was from his House. This Evidence being ask'd some Questions concerning a Mob, their Cry, and whether they had Sticks at that time; answer'd, Not as he saw, he heard nothing on it, he did not took towards Fleet-street.
Thomas Moultfier depos'd, That between ten and eleven a Clock on Monday Night he was going to Bed at a House overagainst the Prisoner's, and saw no Stones thrown then; but saw some Gentlemen in the Court, who went to the Swan, and beat against the Windows; after which some of them said, Come, Gentlemen of the Roc-buck, walk in. Next Morning about six a Clock he saw a Crowd about the Swan, whole Windows were broke, as some were at the Mug-house, but did not know who broke them. That he saw a little Gentleman read a Proclamation, and a great Number of People were then at the end of the Court, many of them with Sticks; and he saw them advance three or four Yards in the Court; but some Persons came out of the Mug house and drove them back into Fleet-street, but at last were forc'd to retire themselves; and he believes it was half an Hour after the reading of the Proclamation before the Prisoner fired, when the Mob was about twenty Yards in the Court; and he heard them cry, Down with the Mug-house. The Deceased was between the Prisoner and the Mob, and the Prisoner about a Yard and half from his House. He could not tell whether the Deceased came out of the Passage or no, tho' he saw him before he was shot, nor whether he had a Stick.
William Stratton depos'd, he was going to Work about 11 a Clock, and saw a great Mob in Salisbury-Court, and going in the saw the Deceas'd in the Swan, who call'd him to drink with him, and then told him there was a great Mob; but he was going to Work, and had some Bread and Cheese in his Pocket. By and by the Mob increased, and he heard the People at the Mug-house cry King George for ever, and the Mob High-Church and the King. But the Deceas'd said he would not meddle. That he heard the Proclamation read; That the Mug-house People drove down the Mob, but being forced back again, he and the Deceas'd went out, and they parted at the Corner of the Passage, where he left the Prisoner.
This was all the Evidence that appeared against the Prisoner to support the Indictment upon the Coroner's Inquest on the Behalf of the King. Then the Prisoner called his Witnesses, who being sworn, deposed as follows.
Mr. John Boyles depos'd, That he was at the Mug-house the Night before, between 6 and 7 a Clock; and about 9 a Constable and several Watchmen drew up in a Rank against the Door, which occasioned a great Mob; and as Gentlemen came to the Mug-house, they hiss'd them; upon which he went to the Door to know why they hiss'd, but they threw Stones at him, and at the Windows, which had been broke once before to the Value of 7 s. 6 d. That afterwards being in the Coffee-Room, a Stone hit him on the Leg, and then he went to the Constable, one overs, and asked him, if he was not ashamed to suffer such Things, having Authority and Watchmen enough to prevent it, by securing such Persons as threw the Stones; who answered him, I was the People in the Mug-house that did it, and broke their own Windows; that his Hour was not come, viz. 10 a Clock. After this Mrs. Read sent a Quart of Ale to the Watchmen to drink the King's Health, but another Constable who was there then refus'd it, and forbid his Watchmen to drink it. Then one Mr. Hucks offered them a Crown, saying, Come, these look like honest Watchmen, there's a Crown for them to Drink; which they took, but the Constable made them return that also. Then a Constable who was in the House read the Proclamation, upon which the other with his Watch came in, and demanded the Reason of that Rout, and was answered by the other Constable, There was no Rout but what was made by your Mob, and therefore they had just read the Proclamation to disperse them; to which he replied, he was no Constable in that Ward, and therefore was not to direct him, and went away. A little while after some Mischief happened at the Swan Ale-house, and Mrs. Read beg'd the Favour of some Gentlemen to stay in her House all Night, as he and some others did; and about 6 a Clock the next Morning the Mob began togather, and continued till 9, throwing Stones at the Windows, and seemed inclined to do more Mischief; upon which the Deponent ventured out to them to reason with them, and to desire them to be easy and quiet, and not ruin a Man who had done them no harm; in which Time he received two Knocks by Stones, one of which broke his Head and made him bleed very much, whereupon he ran into the House for a Stick, and drove them, but struck no body but the Person who hit him with the Stone. After this, being informed that an armed Mob was preparing to pull down the Mug-house, they sent two Expresses, one to the Lord Mayor, the other to the Lord Townsend; and it was not long before a great Mob armed, with Sticks and Clubs, appeared in Fleetstrees making up the Court; whereupon they consulted what had best to be done for the Security of the House; and it was his Advice to attack them before they joined the Mob in the Court, and became too formidable; and so they did, having a Blunderbuss which was brought to them about half and Hour before in a Coach: He and the Prisoner went out, and after they were repulsed, the Prisoner bid the Mob have a Care, stand off, near a quarter of an Hour before he fir'd, which was done about a Yard and a half from his House, and then he went in to make a Barricade.
Thomas Arrowsmith (the Grenadier) depos'd, That he was at the Mug-house all Night; and from 8 a-Clock, as Gentlemen came into it, they were assaulted by the Mob at the Door, who threw Stones at them. That a Constable was there with his Watch, but did not discharge the Duty of his Office, but encouraged the Mob by Connivance. Next Morning about 8 a-Clock, the Mob (Men Women, and Children) began to show their Colours, by crying out, High Church and Ormond for ever, and Down with the Mug-house. At last, about 11 a-Clock, their Number was very great, and he having his Arms, drove them from the Door 2 or 3 times into Fleet-street. Then the Proclamation was read, which served but to encrease their Rage and Number, who threw Stones so thick, that the Gentlemen were obliged to go into the House; and then he with the Prisoner, who was also armed, went out and presented their Pieces, bidding them he gone, true a Care, stand off, &c.6 Minutes, during which Time they were pelted with Stones, so that they could take no Aim; the Mob still advancing upon them, and hollowing out Down with the Mug-house, and then they both fired; after which he posted himself for the Defence of the House, but in a little time some of them broke into it behind, and pushed him into the Court; and then he was so beat with Sticks and Clubs, and dragg'd along the Channel, that had it not been for the Guards and the Care of Mr. Tobias Cheesbrook , he had certainly been murdered; and others at the same time were pulling the House to Pieces. That before this he saw no Harm offered to any body by the Gentlemen of the Mug-house.
Mr. John Collins depos'd, That he was at the Mug-house all Night for its Defence; and the Society was informed, that a Gentleman was carried to the Swin, for crying out King George for ever; upon which some of them went in a civil Manner to speak with the Constable, and know what he had secured him for, and knocked at the Swan Door, but they would not open the Door; but some Persons up Stairs, opened the Windows and untiled the Penthouse, and threw the files upon the Gentlemen, which broke some of their Heads; and thereupon they broke some of the Windows with the Tiles that had been thrown at them, but that no Windows were broke at the Swin, till after the Tiles were thrown from the Penthouse.
Thomas Arrowsmith , the Grenadier, being then called again, deposed, that he was with them at the Swan, and received a Cut over the Nose by a piece of a Tile from the swan, tho' no body had given them the least Provocation; upon which some Gentlemen returned there Tiles, and broke their Windows.
Then Mr. Collins returned to his Evidence, and swore, That next Morning the Mob broke their Windows; and one of their Company went out, and took a Fellow whom the Mob called Vinegar, and brought him into the Mug-house, and about an Hour after he fell on his Knees, begged Pardon, and drank King George's Health, and then they let him go. After which the Mob much encreased, and he heard them cry out, High Church and Ormond, No King George, No Hannoverians, Down with the Mug-house. But some Gentlemen went out, and drove them quite down to the Street; but being repulsed, Mr. Read and the Grenadier went out again, and bid them stand off, keep back, &c. That the Deceased was at their Head, with a great Stick in his Hand, brandishing it and bauling out, Fall on, brave Boys, for the Duke of Ormond is landed with 20000 Men. And he verily believed he was the same Person they had released in the Morning, but was not sure; a little after which the Prisoner fired. Then the Mob fell upon them, and some Gentlemen got away, but he and some others went up Stairs, and made a Barricade upon the Stairs; after which they heard great clattering and breaking of the Goods below, which were thrown out, for their more speedy Destruction, to the Mob in the Court.
Richard Newell depos'd, That he was sent of an Errand into the Court between ten and eleven a Clock on Tuesday Morning; he had heard of a great Disturbance there the Night before, and was willing therefore to see what would be the Consequence. Whilst he was observing things, he saw a great Mob come up the Court, and a Constable come out of the Mug-house and read a Proclamation; and then the Gentlemen huzza'd for King George, and he made a Huzza himself; and the Mob huzza'd, after which they advanc'd to the House, and the Prisoner and some Gentlemen came out and sought the Mob, but were beat at last and forc'd to return; and then the Mob cried out, High Church and Ormond, No King George, No Hannoverians, Down with the Mug-house, louder than ever, with Sticks in their Hands. And being ask'd whether many of them said so, he answer'd, It was universal. Then he saw the Prisoner come to the Door, and lean there; and the Deceas'd with a Stick held up with his two Hands like a Quarter-staff , and he was making up to the Prisoner when he fell. That he saw some of the Mob-fling Sticks and Bricks at the House, whilst others advanc'd with Sticks in their Hands.
James Harbottle depos'd, That as he was talking with a Friend that Tuesday Morning about eleven a Clock near the Rose-Inn at Holbourn bridge, about a dozen Men past by him with Sticks, hollowing; and he followed them, and ask'd what was the meaning of it; and they said, they were going to attack the Mug-house; upon which he trac'd them, and at one Mr. Nicholls's a Soap-boiler by Fleet-ditch, about half a dozen Sticks were deliver'd to them; from thence they went down Shoe-lane, and at a Braziers near Adams's the Cook, they had more Sticks given them, and then they said, Come Boys, here's Sticks enough now. That he went to give the People of the House an Account of it; and the Mob having arm'd themselves with Clubs to their Satisfaction, and thrown away their small Sticks, they went directly to Salisbury-court; and after the Proclamation was read they press'd forward, but were beat back by the Grenadier; but growing stronger they return'd to the Charge with a very great Shout. Then he went up to the Mug House and hear'd the Prisoner say, Stand off, Have a Care, &c. and in a little time the Piece fired, the Mob at the same time throwing Sticks and Stones at the Prisoner and his House.
Dr. John De la Caste deposed, that he went with three Gentlemen through the Mob into the Mug-house that Tuesday about eleven a Clock in the Forenoon, and they followed him almost to the Door. When he saw Mr. Read the Prisoner, he asked him what Provision was in the House for a Defence; and finding none, he wrote a Letter to the Lord Townsend, to inform his Lordship of their Danger, and blamed the Prisoner for not doing so before; and by and by he heard a small Gun go off, which he thought was a Warning-gun for the Mob to fall on; for immediately after they did so with great Fury; and he, being above Stairs with some other Gentlemen, they got out at a Window behind the House; and the Sexton of the Church had the Cruelty to turn a Mastiss loose upon them; but they drew their Swords and told him, they were on the Defence of their Lives, and if he did not call him off,
Michael Burrel deposed, That he was going home about 10 a Clock on the Monday-Night before this Action happened, and heard a Noise in Salisbury-Court, where he had been informed their was a Mug-house, but he had never been in; and saw a Constable and some Watchmen there, who he thought incouraged and encreas'd the Mob. by taking no Care to keep the Peace, or to prevent the ling Stones to the Windows, tho' the Persons who threw there just by them, and all the Action done in their fight, and Stones were brought in Baskets and laid down by them. Being asked what Constable this was, he said some told him his Name was Johnson. That after the House had been battered some Time, the Gentlemen came down, and desired him as well as he could understand them (being at some distance) to do his Duty: but he went away, and left the Mob there. Next Day about Noon coming from his Chambers in the Temple, he saw a great Mob in the Court breaking the Goods of the Mug-house, and throwing them out at the Windows; and as they were gutting and pulling Things down, he heard some of the Mob say, just thus will we pull King George from the Crown, which is none of his own.
Then Dr. De ls Coste said he had something more that was material to offer, and standing up, depos'd, That he heard too some of the Mob say, the Duke of Ormond, and some the Duke of Berwick, was landed with 20000 Men. That the Friday-Night before he was Chairman at the same Mug-house; and he received Information, that the Mob threatned to pull it down that Night; and fearing he should want Assistance, he sent a Messenger to the Loyal Society in Tavistock-street , desiring their Company and Assistance if Need should be, on that Occasion, who came very readily and disperst the Mob, so that no Mischief was done that Night; but a few of them went by with a Harp and Fiddle, playing The King shall enjoy his own again. Then the Court told him, that since he said he had been Chairman of that Mug-house; he would do well now he was upon his Oath to give an Account of their Orders and Behaviour. Upon which he told him, That about 8 a Clock at Night the President generally enters the Chair, and after profound Silence is made, they always begin a hearty Mug to the Health and Prosperity of His Most Sacred Majesty King GEORGE; some time after that another to their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales and their Issue, and all the Royal Family; a third to the Glorious and Immortal Memory of the late King William, and seldom or never miss a fourth to the Prosperity of the Church of England, sometimes with a supplement, as wishing she may never want Power nor Inclination to protect and encourage all Protectants, and sometimes without; for the rest, if any are inclined to stay longer, they fill up the Time with other Loyal Healths of lesser Note, as the Chairman or President shall think proper; but never to the Confusion or Damnation of any Person or Thing, as the Enemies to the Government and theirs have falsly given out.
Mr. Carleton Smith depos'd, That on the Tuesday aforesaid, my Lord Mayor sent him to the Mug-house in Salisbury-Court to see what was the Matter there; and he found the court full of Mob, which made him go thro' the Passage by St. Brides Wall to Mr. Read's House, and he turning himself about saw two Parties engaging, and the Grenadier making a Longe at the Mob with his Bayonet fixed; but at last they broke thro' his Force, and made him and the Prisoner retire, bearing down upon them with a great Torrent, the Deceas'd at their Head; and at the very Instant that he was endeavouring to save himself thro' the Passage, he heard a Piece go off, as the Deceas'd (to his thinking) was advancing to the Grenadier to close in with him. He did not observe the Prisoner particularly; but the Deceas'd fell down just by him, starting and heaving one of his Legs, and died, after which he helped to convey him into St. Brides Passage, and immediately he heard a violent Noise of Boards breaking and crashing, which made him think it high Time to give an Account of it to my Lord Mayor.
Mr. Paul Burdeau deposed, That he was in Salisbury-Court that Tuesday Morning, and saw a violent Mob affaulting the Mug-house; and going into the Coach and Horses, an Alehouse over against Mr. Read's, he saw 3 or 4 Constables; at which he was surprized, there being so much need of their Assistance elsewhere; and therefore told them he was asham'd to see so many Constables in that House, when just by there was so great a Call for them to Duty; and then they went out; but he did not see them afterwards in the Court. About ten a Clock, as he walkt about in Fleet-street to observe what passed, he heard a Fellow say, Damn that Granadier, if it was not for him we would have a little Fun; and the Deceased replied, Damn his Blood, I will have him down by and by; upon which he asked some who knew him, who that Person was; and they told him his Name was Daniel, the Captain of the Mob. After this he heard a Man was killed, and he went to St. Brides Wall, where he lay, and knew the Deceased to be the same Person.
Mr. Luke Whitson deposed, That he was at Salisbury-Court about 12 a Clock, and heard a Consultation among the Mob to pull down the Mug-house, upon which he went to Mr. Read's and told him of it, and then the Proclamation was read; which served but to increase the Mob, who made great Shouts. He saw the Deceased knock down a Soldier, after which the Mob pressed forwards with the Deceased at their Head with a Club in his Hand, and thereupon he bid the Prisoner fire, saying, You have Law, you have Justice, you have Reason on your side, why don't you fire; and presently the Deceased sell, and dropt his Stick. He heard him cry, High Church and Ormond, and Down with the Mug house.
Mr. Richard Bennet deposed, That he had been at the Mug-house the Monday Night before this Action, till past eleven a Clock, when the Mob was numerous, and the Stones thrown in great Plenty; that one of the Company going out, was wounded with a Stone, and came back to be dre . Next Morning he was told by one of his Boys, that a great Mob was in Salisbury-Court, upon which he went to them, and heard them say they would pull down the Mug-house; and getting up to it, he saw a Fellow bring out three Bottles in his Hand, kneel down by the Swan Door near the Channel, and drink the Pretender's Health by the Name of James the Third, and hollowed, and the People in the Swan hollowed too. He also saw the Engagement between the Mob and the Grenadier, who was knockt down, and his Boy took some care of him, and helped him up.
Mr. Edward Harding deposed, He saw the Deceased throw a Stone at two Soldiers, as big as his two Fists, about an Hour or two before, as they were going up to the Mug-house: He knew him very well, and some of the Mob called him Vinegar, some Little Daniel. After he was killed, he saw the Mob destroy all the Goods they could come at in the Mug-house; and by and by a Fellow came out with three Bottles and drank the Pretender's Health; between twelve and one. But Mr. Bennet standing up again, deposed, that he thought it was before the Deceased was killed.
And lastly, Mr. Badcock was sworn, who deposed, That having been informed on Monday Night by a Friend, that there was a Design to pull down the Mug-house; he being a Constable, and being desired to keep the Peace, went to the House and found a great Mob at the Door throwing Stones; and being asked whether there was any Riot or Disorder in the House, he said there was not. That a Constable (whose Name he did not know) and some Watchmen being before the Door, he desired the Constable and his Watch to keep the Peace; who replied, they in the House occasioned the Breach of it themselves; which was false, they having done nothing that could give a just Offence. That going up Stairs he heard a great Clatter against the Windows, and saw another Constable, one Johnston, whom he desired likewise to keep the Peace and disperse the Mob, promising to assist him, there being about 20 Watchmen with them; but he replied as the other, that the Mug-house People threw the Stones themselves, tho' he knew himself that that was impossible, (the Window-Shutters being shut; so that they could not fling any out. ) and that he had nothing to do there, not being a Constable of that Ward; the Mob throwing Stones all the while in their very sight. He also heard this Constable say the House deserved to be pull'd down; and then one of the Watchmen took hold of him, and would have pulled him out of the House; after which they came in, and made a Bustle and Disturbance in the House, so that he was obliged to read the Proclamation, the Mob throwing Stones at him all the while. The next Morning he went to see what Mischief was done, about 8 a Clock, and found the Windows broke, and a Gentleman wounded; That one of the Mob threw a Stone at him, and as he was about securing him, the Mob knocked him down and resoned their Brother.
The Prisoner had several Witnesses of Substance and Worth to speak to his Character and Reputation, but the Court thinking it needless, they were not examined.
The Recorder having summ'd up the whole Evidence, the Jury considered of it, and acquitted the Prisoner.
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These days, my research is focused on the impact that changing climate will have on global ecosystem patterns and the implications of those changes for biodiversity and the carbon cycle.
In the last decade, I have used and developed dynamic vegetation models, especially LPJ, to explore biogeochemical fluxes between the atmosphere and the terrestrial biosphere focusing on the terrestrial carbon cycle which remains the most weakly constrained element of the global carbon cycle. But I have also done some fundamental work on the climatic influences on non-CO2 terrestrial fluxes of critical importance to atmospheric chemistry, such as isoprene ...
View complete publications list in the University of Bristol publications system
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All details on one page > for printing etc.
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By Sharna Johnson: Freedom New Mexico
Health investigators probing three Curry County cases involving an
invasive bacteria have found no direct connection between the victims,
according to an epidemiologist with the state health department.
Wednesday, the New Mexico Health Department announced that two Curry
County residents — a 23-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man — have
died and a 58-year-old man is hospitalized, suffering from an invasive
bacteria known as group A streptococcus.
Citing medical privacy, officials have declined to release any identifying information other than age and gender.
However, two Amarillo television stations reported late Thursday
that the 23-year-old was a pregnant woman who, along with her infant,
died in childbirth because of complications from the bacteria.
Stations KFDA and KAMR said the woman and her baby died on New
Year’s Eve at Plains Regional Medical Center. The stations also
reported the 53-year-old man was transferred from PRMC to Veterans
Affairs Hospital in Amarillo, where he died from the infection.
The 58-year-old man is reportedly recovering in a Lubbock Hospital.
Dr. Chad Smelser, a medical epidemiologist with the state, is
working with local, state and federal disease agencies to investigate
Investigators are interviewing people who had contact with the three
individuals and examining their circumstances in an effort to
understand how and why they came down with the infections.
“We haven’t found a link (between the three) but we’re investigating
to determine if there was any link other than (the fact) there was a
similar time frame and they’re from Curry County,” Smelser said
Thursday, explaining if a link is identified that could impact others,
the public would be notified.
For now, officials want residents to be aware, and to seek help if
they develop symptoms, such as: fever, severe pain and swelling,
redness at the site of a wound, a rash over large areas of the body,
dizziness or confusion.
Trying to communicate with and educate the public on incidents of
group A strep is a difficult chore because experts recognize the
symptoms are somewhat nondescript and similar in many ways to other
common ailments, NMHD spokeswoman Deborah Busemeyer said Thursday.
“It’s a hard public health message because you have a mild illness
that can escalate very quickly and we don’t have great advice for
(people),” she said.
“With other kinds of diseases, we can say ‘look for this’, but (it’s
harder with group A strep). … It’s one of those bacteria that’s
But doctors and medical providers know what to look for and when to test, Smelser said.
“Doctors will know what to do. … It’s a common bacteria. The
invasive, deadly disease is less common, but doctors are relatively
(familiar with the condition),” he said.
Group A strep is found on the skin, in the throat and can cause strep throat.
While it can often be easily treated with antibiotics, Smelser said,
it can also cause an invasive infection in the blood, skin or organs,
which progress rapidly and with high mortality rates.
“The biggest issue is these stories are tragic because these people
are a little sick and all of a sudden they get sicker very fast,” he
Often by the time people seek help, they are already in the throws
of rapid progression, he said, explaining, “It can be difficult when
you see them because they’re already having multiple medical issues.”
People with diminished immune systems, young children, the elderly,
people with skin wounds or lesions and those with a history of alcohol
or intravenous drug use, he said, are particularly susceptible, though
healthy people too can develop it.
Of the three Curry County cases, Smelser said one was discovered
through a throat culture and the other two through blood cultures.
Group A strep is a reportable condition in the state of New Mexico,
he said, meaning health officials must be notified when it’s discovered
and its occurrence is tracked.
Medical providers throughout the region and even hospitals in
neighboring Texas communities have been alerted to the incidents and
given protocol for diagnoses, treatment and reporting, Smelser said.
Interviewing those who had contact with the three Curry County
patients and continuing to do active surveys to monitor the region are
all part of the investigation being conducted by health officials.
As with any contagious disease or bacteria, people can help protect
themselves by using basic health precautions — sanitation, hand
washing, covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when sick and
seeking medical attention if serious symptoms develop, Smelser said.
Facts about severe strep infections:
Some types of group A strep bacteria cause severe infections, such as:
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A group of St. Augustine residents are positioning themselves to have a stake in a Lincolnville landmark.
The Friends of Excelsior is a group made up of about a dozen people who want to preserve the old high school on M.L. King Avenue and use it as a community cultural center and museum. Lincolnville is a historic black community in St. Augustine.
Organizers of the group are in the process of completing the necessary documents to become a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, said the Rev. Ron Stafford, one of the members.
Stafford announced the group's progress to the St. Johns Board of County Commissioners Tuesday.
"We are still fighting to maintain Excelsior as is, hoping that when this structure becomes available that you would continue to consider us as being a part of it," Stafford said.
The group has already selected officers and former St. Johns County Superintendent Otis Mason is the president. He graduated from Excelsior High School.
"We want to keep the history of Excelsior and Lincolnville alive," Mason said.
The building was a school for 50 years and also served as a state social service center. But recently, the old school has been the center of controversy.In September, the county ended its contract with the National African American Archives and Museum after allegations of the museum not following procedures or opening when expected. The situation wound up in court and is still unresolved.
The Friends of Excelsior want to create the Excelsior Museum and Cultural Center of Lincolnville. Mason said the group does not want to replace the National African American Archives and Museum, but rather tell the story of Lincolnville. The Friends are not in competition with the museum and it is an entirely different issue, he said.
"We're simply here to begin a program whenever the facility becomes available," Mason said.
He also said the intentions of the group is not to co-exist with the National African American Archives and Museum.
"We want to have our own program and tell our own story," he said.
County Commission Chairman Marc Jacalone said he did not know much about the group but is keeping an open mind.
"We're going to have to be receptive to anybody that has an interest in that site and consider all parties on an equal footing," Jacalone said.
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an increase in rail fares
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A lot of kids from strict backgrounds go off the rails when they leave home.
The campaign for independence seems to have gone off the rails.
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a video advertisement that appears immediately before an online video
a very light type of cake made with flour, eggs, and sugar
a rave … that takes place early in the morning and where there is no alcohol or drugs …
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Consciousness in Satisfaction as the Prereflective Cogito
by Stefan Schindler
Stefan Schindler, 88 Wenham St., No. 1, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts 02130, received the Ph.D. from Boston College in 1975. The following article appeared in Process Studies, pp. 187-190, Vol. 5, Number 3, Fall, 1975. Process Studies is published quarterly by the Center for Process Studies, 1325 N. College Ave., Claremont, CA 91711. Used by permission. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock.
In his article "A Suggestion on ‘Consciousness’ in Process and Reality" (PS 3:41), John Bennett argues that there can be consciousness in the satisfaction of an actual entity, even though there cannot be consciousness of that satisfaction. In support of this claim, I suggest we may look to Jean-Paul Sartre for a partial answer to the question: What is this strange consciousness, and how shall we define it?
Bennett begins his article by quoting Whitehead and follows by stating the problem:
No actual entity can be conscious of its own satisfaction; for such knowledge would be a component in the process, and would thereby alter the satisfaction." (PR 130) Yet this is puzzling, for consciousness is a feature of the subjective forms of at least some phases of some concrescences, and the subjective forms of earlier phases of concrescence cannot be simply eliminated in later phases, of which the satisfaction of course is last. How then are we to understand this passage? (PS 3:41)
Bennett’s answer takes the form of distinguishing between two types of consciousness: "datal" and "adverbial." The first is an "awareness of," which is inappropriate to the satisfaction of an actual occasion, and the second is an "awareness with," which is appropriate to that satisfaction as part of the subjective form belonging to it. In Being and Nothingness, Sartre makes a similar distinction when he differentiates between the cogito as such (pour-soi as thetic consciousness of the world) and the prereflective cogito (pour-soi as nonthetic self-consciousness).1
The cogito as such is datal: it posits (or intends) its object as a datum for positional (or intentional) awareness. In the datal mode, consciousness stands in a thetic, intentional relation to that of which it is conscious; and that of which it is conscious is transcendent to it as an object of awareness. On the other hand, the prereflective cogito is adverbial: it stands in a nonthetic, nonintentional relation to that of which it is conscious. That of which it is conscious is the cogito itself, not as a transcendent object of awareness, not as something separate and distinct, but as itself in the moment of its living experience.
The prereflective cogito is not something different from the cogito; it is the very heart of it. A consciousness which could reveal and intuit an object without being conscious of itself as doing so would be an unconscious consciousness, which (as Sartre points out) is absurd. Consciousness, to a be a consciousness of something, must be conscious (of) itself as such. (We put the second "of" in parentheses in order to signify its nonthetic character.2) For Sartre, every consciousness is also self-consciousness. "Every positional consciousness of an object is at the same time a non-positional consciousness of itself" (BN lxiii).
What Bennett accomplishes with his distinction between "awareness with" and "awareness of" is precisely what Sartre accomplished when he distinguished between nonthetic and thetic awareness. The attention to language arises out of the need to distinguish between thetic consciousness of objects and nonthetic consciousness (of) that consciousness. Utilizing Sartre’s epistemological idiosyncrasies, we may agree with Whitehead’s statement that "no actual entity can be conscious of its own satisfaction," if the "of" here is taken as thetic, indicating phenomenological intentionality. What we want to argue, however, is that we may still assert that an actual entity can be conscious (of) its own satisfaction, where the "of" is taken as nonthetic, indicating an absence of the intentional structure of awareness. We are allowed this latter statement because, as Bennett says, "the consciousness in question is not the objectifying ‘awareness of’ by means of which we attend to data, but the ‘awareness with’ by which much of our experience is lived" (PS 3:42).
Now, whereas Whitehead would restrict consciousness to an awareness of what "has been," our interpretation allows us to have an awareness (of) what "is" in the present; that is to say, nonthetic self-awareness is immanent in the present moment of experience. But a distinction has to be made, not only between thetic and nonthetic modes of consciousness. but also between mere consciousness and knowledge. In the present moment of experience, there is no knowledge of the cogito, because awareness of the cogito is strictly prereflective and nonthetic. There is self-consciousness, but no self-knowledge. Knowledge is a later development of consciousness and occurs only when consciousness reflects on itself by turning back upon itself and positing a former moment of experience as an object of awareness. It is a consciousness of consciousness, a taking by the subject of its own past, now become objectified for present intuition. For Sartre knowledge arises only out of reflection.
According to the Sartrean scheme, therefore, Whitehead is correct in asserting that no actual entity can have a knowledge of its own satisfaction. But if we look closely at Whitehead’s own statement, we see that his denial of knowledge is also a denial of consciousness: "No actual entity can be conscious of its own satisfaction; for such knowledge would be a component in the process, and would thereby alter the satisfaction" (PR 130; italics mine). Whitehead here identifies knowledge with consciousness. But consciousness is as distinct from knowledge as causal efficacy is from presentational immediacy; in each case, it is the former which is the ground of tie latter. And while we agree that no actual entity can know its own satisfaction, we do not agree that this lack of self-knowledge is equivalent to a lack of self-consciousness. As Sartre says: "We must abandon the primacy of knowledge if we wish to establish that knowledge. Of course consciousness can know and know itself. But it is in itself something other than a knowledge turned back upon itself" (BN II). That is to say, consciousness is, first of all, a nonpositional consciousness of itself as positional consciousness of the world, in which there is no reference to reflection, i.e., to a turning back upon itself.
We must note, however, that the distinction between reflective and prereflective awareness is not equivalent to the distinction between thetic and nonthetic awareness. The prereflective cogito (nonthetic self-awareness) is involved as a necessary structure in both consciousness as mere revealing intuition (prereflective positional consciousness of the world) and consciousness as knowledge (reflective positional consciousness of the past self). In each case consciousness must be aware of itself as being what it is. Each case is, therefore, a positional consciousness with a non-positional consciousness of itself.
Hence we cannot distinguish between consciousness and knowledge simply in terms of the positional and nonpositional modalities. The difference lies in reflection. When consciousness becomes its own intentional object, that which is reflected upon and that which is doing the reflecting are not one and the same; the consciousness which is reflected upon is always in the past -- often the very immediate past, yet always a consciousness which has been. Knowledge is always of "what was," and here Sartre sounds very much like Whitehead. But nonthetic prereflective self-consciousness is the very condition for the possibility of that knowledge. In Sartre’s own words:
In the act of reflecting I pass judgment on the consciousness reflected-on; I am ashamed of it, I am proud of it, I will it, I deny it, etc. The immediate consciousness which I have of perceiving does not permit me either to judge or to will or to be ashamed. It does not know my perception, does not posit it; all that there is of intention in my actual consciousness is directed toward the outside, toward the world. In turn, this spontaneous consciousness of my perception is constitutive of my perceptive consciousness. In other words, every positional consciousness of an object is at the same time a non-positional consciousness of itself. . . . Thus reflection has no kind of primacy over the consciousness reflected-on. It is not reflection which reveals the consciousness reflected-on to itself. Quite the contrary, it is the non-reflective consciousness which renders the reflection possible; there is a pre-reflective cogito which is the condition of the Cartesian cogito. (BN liii)
Sartre’s distinction between consciousness and knowledge, along with the distinction between nonthetic and thetic awareness, helps us to understand Bennett’s argument. What is agreed upon is that the self-consciousness involved in the satisfaction of an actual entity cannot have the status of knowledge (for knowledge refers us to reflection, and hence to an additional process), nor can it have the structure of intentionality (for intentional self-awareness fractures unity and leads to an infinite regress). And yet there is still room for a self-awareness which has the status of consciousness and a nonthetic structure.
There are, of course, problems. Sartre is talking about human poursoi, whereas Whitehead is talking about actual occasions. Moreover, from the Whiteheadian point of view, Sartre’s ontological mistake is in thinking that there is such a thing as en-soi. He is subject to the criticism which Whitehead levels at Cartesian dualism, of which Sartre is the twentieth century paradigm.
Yet Sartre is, in his own way, a process philosopher. To use his own language: consciousness is an event which happens to Being. And the world has intelligibility, purpose, meaning, and value only in virtue of that event, i.e., only in virtue of purposive process. We should not be surprised, therefore, if there are elements in Sartre’s philosophy which are applicable to the Whiteheadian cosmos. Certainly if Bennett is correct, as I think he is, then to talk about consciousness at all is to talk about self-consciousness, and any actual entity which has consciousness as a feature of the subjective form of some phase of its concrescence will have nonthetic self-awareness both in that phase and in the final satisfaction.
On the other hand, we must raise the question: Can we borrow the prereflective cogito without bringing the cogito as such along with it? For Sartre, nonthetic self-awareness is a function of intentional consciousness, and you cannot have one without the other. My description of the prereflective cogito as the sole form of consciousness in satisfaction is, consequently, at odds with the Sartrean scheme. Of course, Sartre’s model is thoroughly temporal, and part of the problem here involves envisaging just how the intentional consciousness in an earlier phase of concrescence might act as a sufficient ground for the nonthetic consciousness of self isolated in satisfaction; it is the temporal isolation of these different moments which seems untrue to the Whiteheadian model. Thus there are problems in both Sartre and Whitehead as I use them. The viability of Bennett’s argument -- and my supportive elaboration of that argument -- rests on the possibility of further solving these epistemological mysteries.
BN -- Jean-Paul Sartre. Being and Nothingness. Translated by Hazel Barnes. New York: Philosophical Library, 1956.
1See especially Sartre’s "Introduction" ("The Pursuit of Being"); also, part one, chapter two, sections one and thee ("Bad Faith and Falsehood" and "The ‘Faith’ of Bad Faith"). and part two, chapter one, section one ("Presence to Self’).
2In French. there is no word for self-consciousness. There is only conscience de soi, consciousness of self. But there are two modes of consciousness of self: nonthetic prereflective self-awareness and the thetic reflective self-awareness, only the latter of which has the structure of intentionality. which occurs when consciousness reflects upon itself by turning back upon itself and positing a former moment of experience as an object of awareness. To distinguish between the two. Sate refers to the nonthetic (prereflective) mode as conscience (de) soi, and the thetic (reflective) mode as conscience de soi. Parentheses around the "of" however, are not normally used for nonthetic awareness if that awareness is already designated as such, for example, by use of the words "nonthetic" or "nonpositional," or if its meaning is contextually obvious.
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