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AOL Launches Publisher Side Of ONE Platform
For AOL, One plus One equals One.In April, the Verizon-owned company launched its ONE consolidated, programmatic<|fim_middle|> or the so-called Extended viewability standard devised by GroupM (100 percent of the player is in view, and at least half the ad plays w…
MarTech Today: Google Glass Shutters Social Accounts, UnsubCentral's Options & Fixing Link Rot
Here's our daily recap of what happened in marketing technology, as reported on Marketing Land and other places across the web.From Marketing Land:Google Glass Shutters Social Accounts
Jan 25, 2016 by Tamar Weinberg
Google Glass has killed its Twitter and Instagram accounts, and the social team has said goodbye to its followers on Google+.UnsubCentral Now Offers Choices Beyond Opt-Out For Email Recipients
Jan 25, 2016 by Barry Levine
In its new Preference Center for brands with multiple email service providers, recipients can choose other options besides unsubscribing.Cortana Providing Email-Based To-Do Reminders & Deeper Calendar Insights
Jan 25, 2016 by Greg Sterling
Microsoft's personal assistant, Cortana, has introduced two very useful new features for Windows 10. Both are related to task completion and schedule management. The first feature is to-do remainders gleaned from email. This is similar to how Cortana (and Google Now) mine your email to provide travel reminders.Local…
OpenX Aims To Make Guaranteed Buys Truly Programmatic With RTG
With programmatic becoming the dominant way digital ads are bought and sold, OpenX is launching a solution aimed at automating guaranteed buys, which are still largely conducted manually, in a way that will leave both buyers and sellers satisfied.OpenX unveiled Real-Time Guaranteed (RTG) on Tuesday in what it is calling the industry's first programmatic marketplace for direct, guaranteed deals."At a high level, RTG provides the best of two different worlds: guaranteed business terms and spend that come from manual buys or automated guaranteed, and the automation offered by private marketplaces," said Paul Sternhell, GM, Ad Server & Programmatic Direct by phone on Monday. Sternhell argues that publishers haven't been able to see the benefits from either angle. "RTG is a a truly programmatic way for buyers to spend and target their audiences and provides publishers with a way to lock in inventory sales in advance."Private marketplaces have become increasingly popular ways to facilit…
The 17 things Twitter should do to transform its fortunes
Twitter has been having a hard time of it in the past year or so, with various product missteps, plodding user growth and underwhelming results all negatively affecting its share price.Shares are now hovering just above the $17 mark, valuing Twitter at around $12bn. For a company that should post revenue of at least $2.3bn for 2015, its market price will be whetting the appetites of prospective acquirers.Where has it all gone wrong? That's been well documented here, there and everywhere, but in short, the product and strategic vision seem to be unfocused. I thought it might be more interesting to think about how it can put things right.I'm not a shareholder, but I want Twitter to win, to preserve and evolve a platform that I've grown to love. I am hugely invested in it as a user.Do share your own thoughts in the comments section below…Do much more with dataIn the past eight years I have posted and shared 33,500 tweets, and have liked (or 'favourited') another 1,000. That's a datagoldm…
China Smartphone Market 2015: Huawei and Oppo Shine as Xiaomi and Lenovo Lose Steam
Last year was the one wherein many of the incumbent smartphone manufacturers struggled to keep up their profit margins while new entrants in the market tried to entice the buyers with affordable handsets featuring top of the line hardware.It seems that Oppo had a great 2015 after it sold 50 million units amid which the R7 lineup itself constituted for a staggering 15-Million units. The report says that smartphones priced between $303.85 and $455 sold the most. This in itself is a very interesting trend unique to Oppo. What we need to realize is that unlike other manufacturers, Oppo doesn't believe in low priced smartphones, instead the phones are usually priced higher as opposed to its competition, which needless to say includes Xiaomi and Huawei.On the contrary, Xiaomi failed to reach its much aspired goal of 100-Million smartphones as the total shipments accounted for around 72-Million units. It seems that Xiaomi had initially pegged the 100-Million target in lieu with its expansion…
Amazon Prime Membership Grew 35% In U.S. Last Year [Report]
Amazon Prime's U.S. membership grew by 35 percent last year, according to new data from the investment research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).CIRP estimates that Amazon has about 54 million Prime members as of the end of 2015, a 35 percent gain from the 40 million estimated members at the end of 2014. The company says about half of those new members signed up for Prime in the 2015 holiday period. CIRP bases its estimates on surveys of 500 US-based Amazon customers who bought from Amazon.com between October-December 2015.Prime members pay $99 per year for benefits that include free two-day shipping, along with access to Amazon's streaming video and music services, plus other content and services.Growth in Prime membership is good business for Amazon. CIRP says that members spend about $1,100 per year, compared to about $600 per year for non-members. And that growth has been mostly consistent over the past two years:Amazon created Prime Day last summer to boost sal…
Click-to-Call: 5 Surprising Insights About the Automotive Industry
The automotive industry is no stranger to click-to-call advertising, where there is an estimated $4 billion spend on Google call extensions. And with the automotive industry expected to spend $44 billion in advertising this year, according to a Schonfeld & Associates report cited by Ad Age, it is vitally important that this money be put to good use. With 48 percent of all searches for car dealers coming from mobile devices, this industry understands the value of tying online behavior to offline actions. Data from Google shows that 60% of consumers who perform mobile searches regarding parts, service or cars will make a phone call. However, the vast majority of purchases are not made online or on the phone, but in the store, face to face. There is a huge opportunity for automotive service providers and dealerships to optimize every step of the customer journey — from the initial search all the way through walking into the store and finalizing the sale. Knowing when and where to ma…
Marketers Can't Target Ads to Twitter VIPs
If you were a marketer hoping to reach the Twitter elite through its ad platform, think again. Re/code reports that Twitter VIPs are not seeing these paid promotions, giving them a completely ad-free experience.The decision stems upon keeping these top users engaged on the service, which is especially important nowq more than ever due to its recent company shakeup. However, this disappearance of ads has been noted for several months, where these top users have an ad-free or near ad-free experience.According to several sources, Twitter ads are displayed based on criteria such as potential volume and reach generated by displaying these ads. Twitter isn't hurting too much for revenue in the ad department, making "likely… $2.2 billion in revenue in 2015, almost all of it from ads," the Re/code piece says.One wonders if this is a strategic direction that makes sense at the end of the day. Do top users engaged in the service feel bothered by ads, to the point that Twitter felt the necessity…
How hub pages and internal links are paying off for Mail Online
Combining hub pages for key topics and keywords with a well-planned internal linking can be a very effective SEO strategy.It helps to ensure that, when you are creating content around a topic regularly, that you can rank consistently for the relevant keywords.I'm going to use examples from Mail Online which, by some accounts, is the most visited English-language newspaper site on the web. That doesn't mean it's the best – far from it – but it does provide a useful subject for this post.Mail Online recently started using hub pages on a consistent basis for many of its most popular topics, though not for all.This gives us an opportunity to see what effect this has had. So here I'll look at the strategy for two topics, and an example of what happens when you don't do this.Hub pages: what are they and why do you need them?In this context, a hub page is a page themed around a certain topic or keyword. It could be a tag page, like this for SEO, or perhaps a category page.Sites which produce…
Microsoft's Curved Keyboard to Make Single-Handed Typing on Large Phones a Merrier Affair
Windows Phone is famous for its word flow keyboard which also held the record for the fastest keyboard (a title now held by the Flesky app). While we wouldn't mind much about it being the fastest keyboard but the accessibility and the ease of typing is something that would immensely interest me. It was being speculated for a couple of months that Microsoft will be readying a version of its keyboard for iOS and Android, and as a matter of fact, invitations were also sent out to Windows Insiders.Verge had recently published pictures of the Keyboard in flesh and this gives us a good idea of how the keyboard would actually look and if the layout can manage to score on the utilitarian front. Swipe keyboard has always been a problem in large screened phones even though I'm blessed with a relatively big sized palm, it still is difficult to clutch the phone tightly and swipe the message. Most of the ROMs/UIs on the Chinese phones offer a one handed mode that actually shrinks the size of the s…
2 New Reasons That Email Attribution Is Not A Stra...
Is Affiliate Marketing A Viable Business Model In ...
Snickers "Happy Birthday" Super Bowl Teaser Ad Rei...
Video Ad Platform Videology Adds Ability To Buy Vi...
MarTech Today: Google Glass Shutters Social Accoun...
OpenX Aims To Make Guaranteed Buys Truly Programma...
The 17 things Twitter should do to transform its f...
China Smartphone Market 2015: Huawei and Oppo Shin...
Amazon Prime Membership Grew 35% In U.S. Last Year...
Click-to-Call: 5 Surprising Insights About the Aut...
How hub pages and internal links are paying off fo...
Microsoft's Curved Keyboard to Make Single-Handed ...
Spotify Video Feature "Shows" Exits Beta and Hits ...
Google Offers More Details On Ads In AMP, Set To L...
Merger of Qualia And BlueCava Brings Together User...
Marketing Day: Pokémon's Super Bowl Ad, New Cortan...
Pokémon Releases Official Super Bowl 50 Ad To Kick...
Demystifying Brand Loyalty Among Millenials | platform for advertisers. Yesterday, AOL announced at the Internet Advertising Bureau's Annual Leadership Meeting in California that it is now adding another ONE, called ONE by AOL: Publishers.It's all the same "umbrella brand for monetization" with a publisher side and an advertising side, AOL president of publisher platforms Tim Mahlman told me. The company claims that about 75,000 publishers employ its services.While the announcement unveils a new brand with a portfolio of products, he acknowledged this is not an announcement about a fully integrated product.The publisher components — a variety of distinct products/ brands that AOL said cost about a billion dollars in acquisition or development over the last six years — are not yet one. Mahlman said that the technical unification of the products, starting with a single sign-on and eventually ending up in a single dashboa…
Twitter Names Leslie Berland CMO
A new CMO has been announced a Twitter. Leslie Berland has been named the company's new chief marketing executive. Hailing from the financial sector where Berland was Executive Vice President, Global Advertising, Marketing & Digital Partnerships at American Express, Berland brings expertise in working with a global team to create marketplace demand and driving commerce worldwide. Berland handled advertising, media, sponsorships, brand identity, content, and digital partnerships while at AmEx, allowing the company to forge successful partnerships that include Apple, McDonald's, Uber, TripAdvisor, VeriFone, Samsung, Foursquare, Facebook, Jawbone, and Google. Her connection and tie-in to the financial world will likely be instrumental in allowing Twitter to build a bridge with institutions that can benefit from the reach of the microblogging social network.Jack Dorsey announcement Berland's appointment today with this tweet, welcoming Berland to the team:Welcoming @leslieberland to T…
2 New Reasons That Email Attribution Is Not A Straight Line
Email has long had a reputation as a highly trackable channel. Marketers love it because you can see a subscriber open an email, click on links in the body content, visit their website and convert.The problem is that for many brands, this linear A-to-B-to-C-to-D email interaction is increasingly rare — and already rare enough to reduce most email attribution to the realm of proxies. It's meaningful, but in most cases, you're not getting the full picture by a long shot.Years ago, a retail client of the company I worked for did an exhaustive examination of their email marketing return on investment. Because of some unique circumstances, they were able to get visibility into email's influence across all their channels for roughly 90 percent of their customers.And by using only the easy-to-see attribution, they discovered that they were undervaluing email marketing by 50 percent! It was actually having twice the impact they previously gave it credit for — which, needless to say, had resul…
Announcing the winners of our Connect contest!
Last week we ran a contest on Twitter and Facebook in order to giveaway a bunch of free tickets to our new search event Connect, taking place in Miami next week on 4-5 February.Connect will bring together all the best and brightest of the search marketing industry to discuss how to thrive in the new customer-centric landscape, as well as have a big party on the beach.Will you be lucky enough to join 500+ SEO specialists, digital marketers, webmasters, developers, business leaders and industry professionals for two days of sun, sea and search in Miami?Let's find out…Between Tuesday and Friday last week we asked you to fill in the blank for a number of search-related statements. Below are the winning recipents of one free ticket to Connect and their replies…Jason Bauman:the biggest SEO trend in 2016 will be the shift from broad keyword based landing pages to personalized content. @sewatch#connectSEW— Jason Bauman (@JasonB_TI) January 19, 2016Amanda Dodge:@sewatch make their "Real Time" …
The War On Bots: No Time For Doom & Gloom
Last week, the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and White Ops, a leading digital ad fraud detection and prevention service, put out its annual study on digital bot fraud, which estimated a $7.2 billion loss for advertisers.This report marked an increase from the duo's 2015 report, which had pegged losses at $6.3 billion. Additionally, the IAB estimated $8.2 billion in losses from all fraud sources, including bots, infringed content and malware.Digital ad fraud and viewability issues were two lightning-rod topics in digital advertising in 2015, and this report may have a disheartening effect on the industry. Many might conclude that fighting ad fraud is too difficult, if not impossible.I'd like to take this opportunity to put the brakes on that engine of negativity before it becomes a runaway train. In this world of instant gratification, people seem to be losing the ability to cultivate patience.Sure, everyone in our ecosystem is rightfully nervous about the fraud challenge, …
Is Affiliate Marketing A Viable Business Model In 2016?
Affiliate marketing has been a long-standing monetization strategy on the web. But can publishers and business owners still find revenue success with it in 2016?In the early days of online marketing, most big brands struggled to see the yield of investing significant resources in things like SEO and paid search. The early SERP landscape consisted mainly of nimble small businesses and affiliate marketers who recognized the web's potential as a significant revenue stream.The original model for affiliate sites was simple: Find a product to promote; find the top 50 keywords for the niche; write 50 pages of technically unique content centered around those keywords and build a website around the program.As a career affiliate, I can admit those websites had little to no unique value to the consumer by today's standards. The value these websites had back then was in connecting consumers searching for a product and the underlying brand that sold it — that typically had no search presence thems…
Snickers "Happy Birthday" Super Bowl Teaser Ad Reimagines Marilyn Monroe's Iconic Performance
Snickers has dropped its first Super Bowl 50 spot, releasing its "Happy Birthday" teaser ad on YouTube this morning with the note "The Blonde Bombshell salutes Super Bowl 50."Filmed in black and white, the spot is a play on Marilyn Monroe's famous rendition of the "Happy Birthday" song for President John F. Kennedy during his 45th birthday celebration at Madison Square Gardens.Taking the stage in a long evening gown, heels, and a fur, the singer sounds a lot more like Harvey Fierstein than Marilyn Monroe. "Since we're kicking-off the '50' celebration of one of the world's most iconic events it seemed only fitting to cast Marilyn Monroe," says Snickers director Allison Miazga-Bedrick in a release announcing the teaser ad, "This is just a small glimpse of what America should expect from Snickers on Super Bowl Sunday."According to the announcement, the new Snickers commercial is the latest addition to its "You're Not You When You're Hungry" campaign. Produced by New York's BBDO, Snickers…
Video Ad Platform Videology Adds Ability To Buy Viewable Impressions Verified By Third-Party Vendors
Digital video advertising platform, Videology, is beefing up its options for advertisers to buy using viewability as a currency or metric.The company announced Tuesday that buyers on the Videology platform now have the option to buy impressions on a viewabile impression basis (vCPM), with all impressions verified as viewable by third-party vendors DoubleVerify, Integral Ad Science or Moat. With viewability set as the campaign currency, advertisers pay only for impressions deemed viewable by one of the independent measurement vendors at a guaranteed price. Videology stakes claim on being the first to offer third-party verified guaranteed viewability in a self-serve environment.Furthermore, advertisers can choose to measure viewability based on the MRC viewability standard (at least 50 percent of the video player must be in view for at least 2 seconds) | 1,691 |
Making an anime is not a simple process. It's a whole procedure for building and illustrating a world, finding motivations, weaving stories – this is a major undertaking! However, it is also a great exercise in creativeness. If you're passionate about anime you'll probably enjoy making your own.
Find out where you want your report to be placed. Is it going to be on an alien globe? Is it heading to be on a place that is relatively much like places on earth? You don't need to find out everything about the complete world, but you do need to determine where you want your history to occur.
For example, maybe you want the major action of your report to occur in a global where most people stay in caves because outside of caves there are always a ton of dangerous slime pits you could fall into.
Find the interesting reasons for having your world. Like slime pits! Animes frequently have elements of their world that are just a little magical or unusual for some reason. Maybe pianos converse and present people plenty of advice. Maybe there are soaring beasts that people use to get from destination to place. It doesn't need to be something amazingly fantastical or something out of an science fiction book – just choose something that works with your world and your story.
For instance, the magic of the world is actually a simple folk story which may or might not be true. Maybe on the slime pit world there is a history that if you belong to a slime pit and survive you'll be granted special forces but no one recognizes if this is true or not.
Decide the technological advancement of this world. Will be the residents of your world moving into apartment complexes or in solid wood huts? Are they hunting for their food, or can each goes out to dinner are restaurants? Clearly there are always a lot of other prospects in between and beyond these samples. The technological status of your world will advise most of the techniques your characters connect to the problems that face them.
Choose what they appear to be and their personalities. You should try to decide what they look like at the same time that you decide their personalities. Try attracting the characters and then jotting down beside them what their personality attributes would be. Maybe you have one persona that is really intelligent and perceptive but prone to getting rid of their temper. Maybe you have another identity that is very devoted but very unkind to strangers. Sketch drafts of your characters.
What sort of heroes look is important since it can play to their personality. For instance, maybe the very muscular identity is the hero. Conversely, maybe the muscular character is a total coward. In any event, his body informs his personality in an interesting way.
Consider providing them with special expertise. Anime often feature personas with special capabilities accomplishing incredible things. It could be smart to give your main character some kind of power that will assist him or her offer with whatever the condition in your anime is likely to be. Your character does not have to have the ability to take flight or have ultra durability – find something small and interesting that helps the type deal with unique challenges.
For instance, maybe your personality is incredibly fearless! That's a special potential, but it isn't magic.
Create relationships between your characters. Members of the family, love interests and friends of your protagonist should all play a significant role in your story. They are the strongest links that people have with others plus they help motivate, encourage, and create conflict. All of those things are positive features in a great story.
Find out each characters motivation. The other personas can play into the characters inspiration, but find a unique thing that drives them. It can be getting informed or getting the lady, it just needs to be something that the protagonist is very interested in.
Start by pulling your world within an animation program. You'll find many free web animation programs online that enable you to easily create a global and character. You've already chosen<|fim_middle|>ie up the knots in your tale. If there was a love interest at the beginning of the storyplot, there should be some acknowledgement of this by the end of the storyline. Not everything needs to tie up beautifully, but you want your anime to look well organized and professional. When you have a bunch of untied story lines it feels messy. | what you would like the world the look like, so now you just need to take it to life. Take your time and don't get worried if it changes from your original plan.
Draw your people. Make your individuals in the same animation program. Refer to the drawings and sketches that you have already done in order to see your final product.
Draw your characters interacting with the globe. Now all you have to do is combine the character types and the globe. This may immediately commence to give you ideas for stories and potential plot lines to check out. Maybe your individuals want to explore those substantial cliffs out in the length they have never gone to before. Maybe sunlight is getting dimmer and dimmer everyday and they have to determine what is going on. The surroundings can be a huge impetus in virtually any report, and anime is not any different.
For instance, maybe your world has huge slime pits all over the place. Maybe your main characters little sibling falls into one of these slime pits and the other characters have to figure out a way to save him. You now have the start of a plot!
Anime Lock Screen Wallpapers Phone Wallpapers Manga Anime Anime Magi Art Anime Anime Artwork Lock Screens Awesome Anime I Love Anime Find images and videos about anime, magi and morgiana on We Heart It the app to get lost in what you love..
Combine dialogue that fits the desire and personalities of the personas. Once you have characters and a global you could start turning the character types interacting with the world into a tale. This involves creating dialogue. Use dialogue that suits the problem and the type. Make an effort to make the dialogue as sensible as possible. Think about the way you discuss and create conversations like that. Interactions are hardly ever 100 % directed. They sway and change subject matter constantly. Figure out ways to add authenticity, and laughter to your dialogue.
Make sure that you have a new, middle, and end. The start, middle, and end does not have to be extremely distinctive, but keeping this business in mind can help you plan out your plot. Have a look at other classic literature and commence to find out what the start middle and end of those stories are.
For example, maybe the beginning of your anime has the protagonist's little brother slipping in a slime pit. The center could be when your protagonist deciding to visit alone into the slime pit wearing an anti-slime suit to try to find his little sibling. The end will be the thrilling conclusion where in fact the slime demons moving into the slime pit allow only one of the brothers to leave, as well as your protagonist remains behind so that his little sibling can go back home.
Include a figure arc. Character arcs don't need to be really simplistic and lifeless. Not every tale has to start out with a unfortunate personality and end with a happy character. Rather, a figure arc should allow the key character to undergo some kind of minor transformation or come to a realization. Regardless of whether that realization is that nothing improved from when the storyplot began, that still brings a dimension to the story. Everything you don't want is your character just running around doing assorted activities with no chain of reasoning.
For instance, maybe your protagonist is selfish at the start of the storyline but after aiding save his brother he starts to understand that he does indeed care about other folks but that he was shutting himself off to the planet. Now you can dwelling address why he was shutting himself off to the earth in the next episode.
Decide if you would like your anime to be one account or a series. This may regulate how your report ends, or if it ends whatsoever. If you want your stories to be a series then you have to figure out ways to keep people interested. If everyone is satisfied with the way the first story finished, then there is no reason behind them to watch your next show. Create cliffhangers.
Add a thrilling climax and realization. This is a major part of creating a cliffhanger. If you're making multiple shows you want to balance the lines between concluding the previous episode and setting up the next event up. They shouldn't feel like they viewed the first instance for nothing, however the viewer also needs to be fired up to see what goes on next. Find this balance.
T | 863 |
Q: We have a very small kitchen and are looking for ways to make the most of the limited space we have, can you help?
A: All good kitchen designers relish the challenge of small kitchens and take pride in creating space while incorporating generous storage facilities and all the appliances you want.
Quality kitchen manufacturers make a huge range of cabinet sizes especially to customer order so there is no need to waste precious inches with filler panels. Ingenious internal fittings give easy access within cabinets and again ensure that every inch of space is available for use. Special cupboards for hardware such as cutlery, and equipment can also be included to maximise the storage space.
Special slimline appliances give modern facilities in a reduced space while cooling and laundry appliances can be stacked.
Q: My sink has become quite badly stained with tea, coffee etc – is there any way of removing these?
A: Always wipe the sink down with warm soapy water and a cloth. This will remove everyday stains from your sink. In hard water areas limescale deposits can build up on the sink over a period of time. The limescale can become strongly coloured by such liquids as coffee and red wine. To remove limescale we recommend the use of mild acids as lemon or vinegar.
If<|fim_middle|> Rinse the sink with water afterwards.
Q: How do I remove limescale-marks other stains and scratches from my Granite worktop?
A: Firstly, try cleaning the granite with any branded lime-scale remover; there are several available from most supermarkets. Apply on a small area to test first just in case there is an unwanted reaction; some products are particularly strong. Then wash the worktop with clean warm water with a small dash of washing up liquid added, using a microfibre cloth and dry off immediately with paper kitchen roll.
Finally, buy a tin of Wax furniture polish; not spray polish, apply using a circular motion and remove with a clean soft duster and then buff to a shiny finish. This will require plenty of 'elbow grease' but should restore the high shine of the granite surface. Do a small area at a time. To prevent lime-scale build up, clean your top regularly with clean warm water and a drop of washing up liquid, rinse and dry immediately with paper kitchen roll. Do this regularly and your tops should stay in pristine condition.
An occasional re-wax (every 12 months or so) is perfectly acceptable and will not cause you any problems. However, do not prepare food directly on the granite until the wax polish has had chance to 'soak in' and will not contaminate any food placed on the worktop. | stains become ingrained in the bowls, a 30 minute soak using diluted bleach or diluted biological washing powder (1 part cleaning agent to 10 parts water ) should remove the marks easily. | 40 |
Home » Keith Martin
Keith's Blog: Twist and Shout – The Saga of the Broken Key
By Keith Martin on May 4, 2020 in Keith Martin
Don't try to solve the wrong problem. That's the moral of this story.
I keep most of my various car keys and condo garage fobs on separate lanyards. It makes it easier to grab a set when I am headed out the door.
Last week while re-organizing and decluttering, I put the keys to the Volvo 122 and the Jaguar S3 on the same lanyard, thinking I would never be driving both of them at once.
Thursday, I wanted to take the Jag out for a drive. I was running late and in a hurry.
I got into the Jag, put the key in the ignition and gave it a twist. Nothing. It turned a little then stopped. I jiggled the steering wheel a little, as sometimes the ignition steering lock will bind up. Still nothing.
I turned the key with a little more force and felt it move — in a bad way.
I pulled the key out and the narrow part had nearly broken off from the fat part. (One wag on Facebook offered that the act of breaking a key is called "Twist and Shout" – you turn the key then shout when you realize you have broken it).
"Breaking off the key in the ignition could be a very bad thing" I thought. The parking slot for the Jag is four floors down in the basement of my condo building. If I broke the key off in the ignition, the car would likely be stranded until the virus was over. I didn't want that.
Then I recalled that the seller of the Jag said they were including a spare key with the paperwork – which was under the floor mat on the passenger side.
Sure enough, along with the title work and repair records was a little plastic bag with a key in it. I was saved.
Not quite. Upon examination, the seller had sent me a blank, not a key.
So now I had to find a locksmith to cut the blank using the "almost broken" original key as a guide. I took my Hyundai and set out.
All the little locksmith shops were closed. I decided to go to Home Depot. The line to get in was about an hour long.
Before I got out of the car, I looked at the keys again. The uncut blank looked nothing like the broken key.
Then I realized the broken key was from the Volvo; in my rush to get going I had mixed the keys up. Oddly, the Volvo key had slipped easily into the Jag ignition switch.
I had a spare Volvo key. I located the correct Jag key on my lanyard.
If I had stood for an hour to get to the locksmith, he would have told me that the blank I had was not the blank that went with the broken key. If he had even had a Volvo-compatible blank, I<|fim_middle|> honors, including the Lee Iacocca Award, the Edward Herrman Award, was inducted into the Concorso Italiano Hall of Fame and more. He is on the boards of directors of The LeMay Museum and Oregon Ballet Theater, and was formerly the chair of the board of the Meguiar's Award.
rand wintermute says:
Keith. The way to prevent this is to always have a spare key ON the Chassis, in a " hide-a-key" magnetized box;
Typically, under the rear trunk on the frame. These are available
At any Ace Hardware store !
Gary Dowling says:
As the past owner of a number of 122's I always had spare keys. The big torque inducing head of the soft copper key along with the very narrow neck just beyond, is made for wrung necks.
Thankfully you can usually fish the broken part out when you reach the twist and shout stage.
Terry Turner says:
I know the feeling, midnight on a sub-zero December night in my Volvo 1800 circa 1974 with spare key 40 miles away at the ski camp. Moral, always take off you ski gloves before turning the key so you can feel that you are breaking the key in half.
Thomas Taylor says:
In the word of the immortal Homer Simpson: "Doh!" | would have returned home to find my newly-cut Volvo keys didn't work in the Jag ignition. I would have been back to exactly where I started from.
I posted a query to the Volvo Amazon FB group looking for Volvo 122 blanks. Within a few minutes David Geisinger from Boston had posted a link to an eBay listing. I ordered two blanks. For $24, including postage, they will be here in three days. As soon as locksmith shops are open, I will have new ones cut.
There were many ways this story could have ended badly. If I had broken the Volvo key off in the Jag ignition, the car would have been stranded.
If a towing service had even been able to get to my car, once it was delivered to a repair shop, they would have told me it was not a Jag key that was broken off in the ignition. I would have been back to square one.
If I had waited in line at Home Depot to get a key cut, the new key would have been for a Volvo, not a Jag — so after a few hours of frustration I would have ended up exactly where I was before. I would have eventually found out that I was chasing the wrong key, and that I had a perfectly working key on the lanyard around my neck the entire time.
But the key gods were smiling on me. The key didn't break off, I discovered I had a broken Volvo key not a broken Jag key. I had spare keys for both the Volvo and the Jag.
The only moral to the story here is that when something unusual happens — like the key not turning in the ignition, don't jump to conclusions. You may be jumping down a rabbit hole and trying to solve the wrong problem.
Take a deep breath, rethink your situation, and approach the problem again.
Today, I'm thankful for keys that didn't break off, and having plenty of spares.
Broken Volvo 122 key
Jaguar S3 uncut blank
Jaguar S3 key
The key lanyard
The 1965 Volvo 122S
1971 Jag S3
Written by Keith Martin
Keith Martin has been involved with the collector car hobby for more than 30 years. As a writer, publisher, television commentator and enthusiast, he is constantly on the go, meeting collectors and getting involved in their activities throughout the world. He is the founder and publisher of the monthly Sports Car Market, now in its 33rd year. Keith has written for the New York Times, Automobile, AutoWeek, Road & Track and other publications, is an emcee for numerous concours, and had his own show, "What's My Car Worth," shown on Velocity. He has received many | 567 |
iDVD and iWeb may<|fim_middle|> tie up all available CPU power when searching for missing files.
You can download either update by going to Apple's Support Downloads website or by launching Software Update on your Mac. For the iDVD patch, you'll need a Mac running OS X 10.6.8; for iWeb, OS X 10.6.4 or later. | not be as well-loved by Apple as the company's other iLife components, but they haven't been totally abandoned yet: On the heels of Monday's updates to iMovie, GarageBand, and iPhoto, Apple also released patches for both iDVD and iWeb.
Both updates, which run 36 and 179MB in size respectively, claim to provide stability improvements and fixes for minor issues. iWeb 3.0.4 provides no further explanation, only that the patch is "recommended" for all iWeb 3 users.
iDVD 7.1.2, on the other hand, highlights several of the fixes made to the program. Once updated, users can expect to see improved reliability when importing iPhoto '11 slideshows; a fix for an issue that prevented files from re-linking; and an adjustment for a problem that caused iDVD to | 183 |
What is your home decor brand and why?
By now you know what brands are popular in the home decor industry.
From handcrafted woodwork to high-end wall decor, these products are made to look as good as they are.
But what do you actually get for your money?
Most people don't think of their home as a collection of components that are used to create something beautiful.
In fact, it's the design of the home itself that really matters.
And with that in mind, here's a look at some of the most popular<|fim_middle|> enjoy."5.
Furnishiture Gifts and Gifts That are truly unique can often be found in stores, but you don't need to be a celebrity to find a quality product.
"They're all really good," says Brian Tinsley, the president of Home Goods, Inc. "There are a lot of products out there that are really great."
That means that it's really easy to find great products at affordable prices.
"A lot of people don
Tags: home decor brands
How to build a metal home decor theme
Which vintage home decor pieces are on sale at home? | home decor products on the market.1.
Furniture Brands YouTuber and designer Niki Gaddis has created Furniture Trends that show the best-sellers in a given category.
She also shows you which products are available on Amazon.
These days, there's more to a home decor product than just the materials.
"The way that the products are designed and how they're displayed is the key to success," says Gaddi.
"And that's why we really think that when you go to the store, you should spend more than you are spending."2.
Flooring Brands While most people think of flooring as a way to build a more functional and functional-looking home, flooring is more than just a decorative item.
"We really believe that flooring should be part of your home design," says Karen Epps, the founder of Home Furnishings Direct.
"You should be able to buy flooring for less than you pay for appliances, and that's something you can build yourself."3.
Woodwork Brands If you're interested in home decor, it might not be a stretch to think of furniture as part of the decor.
"People have been building furniture for centuries," says Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Woodworking Direct.
For many years, furniture has been a primary component of any home.
"But today, it is also a primary tool for creating an effective and functional home," he says.
"As you're building your home, you want to know what the materials you use are, and you want those materials to be durable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing."4.
Wall Decorations Brands like The House Party brand are popular because of their simplicity.
"I love how simple and elegant it is," says John Leung, the co-founder of The House Parties.
"If you go and look at their product, it really doesn't feel like anything special.
But the people who work there are really dedicated to creating products that people are going to | 390 |
A new Tabletop Exercise opportunity will conducted online by the National Information Sharing Consortium (NISC). Last year, thousands of people from various organizations across the globe participated in a similar exercise. The exercise is entitled "Earth Ex 2018- All- Sector Response Transnational Hazard Exercise" and is available at no cost to your organization. The exercise scenario focuses on severe malicious or natural "Black Sky" hazards associated with subcontinent scale, long duration power outages, with cascading failure of all our other increasingly interdependent infrastructures.
This exercise will take place on the morning of August<|fim_middle|> a "Come as you are" Exercise: Participation is voluntary and open to all organizations that need to be prepared for long duration power outages. The exercise is designed for self-evaluation, with distributed play conducted using electronic tools, and local facilitation for feedback and execution.
Prioritization and Coordination across Multiple Sectors: EARTH EX is constructed as a multi-sector scenario. Participants receive situational awareness updates from each of the critical sectors, providing a broad immersive environment simulating real world impacts of the scenario.
Phase 3 – The Path Ahead: Facilitated dynamic analysis and feedback.
EARTH EX 2018 includes two 90 minute, replayable dynamic exercise phases representing different aspects of the response and recovery timeline, and one reflective phase. Each phase begins with a video-based framing scenario inject, using sector-specific injects for each exercise "lane," developed by key stakeholders in that sector. | 22, 2018 (with webinars and additional information to be released prior). Any organization can register to participate at the link below as of June 1, 2018. Health care entities can choose between two "lanes" or paths of play at the time of registration. These paths are the "Medical and Health Care Provider Lane" for hospitals and the "Nursing and Other Long-Term/ Specialty Care Lane" for others. Webinar slides and additional information attached.
Please keep in mind this exercise will take approximately four hours to complete and is designed to be internally facilitated, assessed, and evaluated. Organizations are responsible for compiling their individual facility level AAR/IPs.
Today's lifeline infrastructures are interconnected and resourced on unprecedented scales, with supply chains spanning nations and, increasingly, the world. With this growing integration and global reach, they have brought us remarkable capabilities.
Concerns have grown over the potential for severe malicious or natural "Black Sky" hazards associated with subcontinent scale, long duration power outages, with cascading failure of all our other increasingly interdependent infrastructures. This creates a grim and difficult dilemma: Restoration of any sector will only be possible with at least minimal operation of all the others.
of our critical infrastructures in multiple regions for long durations.
To deal with this deadlock, careful sector by sector and cross-sector resilience planning is crucial. However, such plans, to be effective, must be exercised. With the diversity and the national and global scale of the infrastructures we now depend on, this requires an unprecedented, multi-sector, national and international exercise series.
EARTH EX is a state-of-the-art, video-enabled, distributed, collaborative partner-developed exercise designed to meet this need. Each year, the exercise is based on a different, selected Black Sky hazard. In 2018, an unprecedented combination of video-enabled and text-based injects will support interactive participation of 20 different sectors. Hosted by EIS Council as part of the EPRO® Resource Family, these annual multi-sector, international exercises are being developed to evaluate and improve restoration support, preparedness, response and recovery plans for severe hazards. As the series continues, it will provide increasing opportunities to enhance coordinated planning across all infrastructure sectors, and their corporate, government and NGO partners.
Decision Making for Disrupted Scenarios: EARTH EX simulates a subcontinent-scale, long duration power outage, with cascading failures of all other infrastructures. The exercise format offers executive and senior level operational decision makers the opportunity to review critical decision-making policies, processes, roles and responsibilities – essential to the success of all other response and recovery operations.
Develop or Review Resilience Policies and Plans in | 555 |
Officials from the City of Oxford and Miami University are joining together in the hopes of getting students registered to vote for the upcoming March Primary Election, as well as for all future elections.
Coordinator for Off Campus Affairs Bobbe Burke said her office wants students<|fim_middle|> they may decide to vote at home. Voting at home can become confusing especially if home is in another state, according to Burke.
"It's not like everyone can just vote here, because if students don't vote here, they may go home to another state, which can sometimes be a different process entirely," Burke said.
Thomas said the process is confusing.
If a student wishes to vote in Butler County, they must be registered 30 days before the election. The deadline to register for the March primary is Feb. 6 for all of Ohio.
"The most confusing thing is that March 6 is during Miami's spring break, so many students won't be here," Burke said.
There are many issues in Oxford that directly impact students' lives and wallets, Strychalski said.
Targeting student organizations like College Republicans and Democrats and producing brochures to inform students about voting are other ways that the university would like to help students become registered to vote, according to Strychalski.
If students wish to become registered to vote locally for Butler County by the March 6 primary, they need to register by 9 p.m. Feb. 6.
Students can get a registration form from Talawanda High School, Lane Public Library, the Municipal Building on High Street or online from the Butler County Board of Elections website, although they must print the form off and send it in to the address indicated on the website, according to Burke. | to become active voters.
"We want everyone to understand the importance of people in democracy so that if a student just turns 18 right now, they can become a life-long voter; that's what we're after," Burke said.
Thomas said it is part of the university's mission to engage citizens.
"Recently, there have been changes in state law, going back four or five years that revised what it is voters must bring to exercise their right to vote," Thomas said.
Their main focus is to simply educate students on what to bring to the polls, whether here in Butler County or where each student hails from, according to Thomas.
Deciding where to vote is one of the largest obstacles college students face when it comes to registering. If students decide to not vote in Butler County, | 159 |
Bats of the Republic
An Illuminated Novel<|fim_middle|> Adventures
The Washington Post: Notable Fiction Books of 2015
"Pick up Bats of the Republic and — even before you start reading — you're instantly transfixed. The author, Zachary Thomas Dodson, is a book designer who co-founded Featherproof Books out of Chicago, and his debut novel is a glorious demonstration of what old-fashioned paper can still do in the hands of a creative genius…Bats of the Republic cumulatively becomes a book about the way books are made and the way stories work. Novels, Dodson suggests, are contraptions, jury rigged together with parts of other novels, archived letters, remembered conversations, maps, scraps of info, imagined journeys, and creatures real and strange. Archetypes of the cowboy story, tropes drawn from sci-fi, love letters, diaries, confessions all abound in this relentlessly engaging tale. Dodson has quite brilliantly exposed the gears and cogs whirring in the novelist's imagination. It is a mad and beautiful thing."
"You want a taste of epic Western machinations filtered through epistles and transcripts and stories-within-stories? You want an arcane tapestry of weird fantasy enhanced by transgenerational mysteries and their possible solutions? You want a character-rich and treacherous journey through the ancient Republic of Texas with a reluctant, heartsick emissary from the Museum of Flying, and with his beleaguered blood relative hundreds of years in the mechanically surveilled future? Then you want to experience this thickly threaded wonderment that Doubleday's had the good sense to publish, citizen – you really, really do."
"Bats of the Republic is a waking dream of America gone sideways: it's familiar, enchanting, and just pretty damned weird in the most beguiling possible ways. Zachary Thomas Dodson has made a magnificent book."
—Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife
"A richly textured, deeply felt, magical trove of a book."
—Patrick deWitt, author of The Sisters Brothers
"Amazing. Actually amazing. Zachary Thomas Dodson has created a new form to tell his story, and in so doing, he has found a way to fuse adventure to love, weld science fiction to sorrow, and encircle everything in a winsome, mystifying experience of art, illustration, and design. Like the living secrets its hero finds in the deep, forgotten caves of Texas, Bats of the Republic is itself a hidden, undiscovered beauty."
—Patrick Somerville, author of This Bright River
"In Bats of the Republic, even the surprises are full of surprises."
—Amelia Gray, author of Gutshot and Threats
"Incredible … Dodson's vision of American society after the Collapse invokes all our fears of surveillance, nepotism, and discrimination."
—Barnes & Noble Review
"Honestly, this is the most beautiful book I've ever seen."
–Adam Morgan, SF.Signal.com
"Zachary Thomas Dodson's first novel feels destined to make a splash with its sprawling combination of science fiction and mysticism, art and text, western and dystopia … a puzzle box of a novel with beautiful art and astounding breadth of imagination, and the result begs to be opened."
"Dodson's ambitious literary debut combines elements of a Wild West adventure with aspects of a dystopian sci-fi thriller … Extravagant and mesmerizing, Dodson's complex, evocative tale gradually reveals a mythos surrounding love, adventure, and the natural world."
"Dodson's debut is a creatively illustrated tale of letters lost and found in the vein of J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst's S."
"Science fiction, the Old West, a book within a book, and wide-ranging graphics are among the paraphernalia that festoon this tale of bats, bloodlines, witches, and love played out over two centuries."
"An elaborately designed novel that weaves a 19th-century manuscript into its pages, this story of a future dystopia created through an alternate past (Texas gained independence, for one) is an original and thrilling ride."
"A fantastical adventure that stretches from revolutionary-era Texas to twenty-second-century Texas, is festooned with technical diagrams, animal portraiture, and newspaper clippings that somehow never overwhelm the story."
"A most imaginative book – ambitious in design and presentation … Fans of David Mitchell and Mark Z. Danielewski will rejoice."
—LitHub
"Bats of the Republic is a story that pushes the boundaries of what narrative can do … it invites us into its world as it enters our own."
"Zachary Thomas Dodson's novel Bats of the Republic weaves together a pair of narratives, one historical and one science fictional, along with innovative narrative techniques, impressive illustrations, and nestled narrative elements."
—Vol. 1 Brooklyn
More from Zachary Thomas Dodson and book picks sent right to your inbox |
By Zachary Thomas Dodson
Oct 06, 2015 | ISBN 9780385539838
About Bats of the Republic
"Archetypes of the cowboy story, tropes drawn from sci-fi, love letters, diaries, confessions all abound in this relentlessly engaging tale. Dodson has quite brilliantly exposed the gears and cogs whirring in the novelist's imagination. It is a mad and beautiful thing."
–Keith Donohue, The Washington Post
Winner of Best of Region for the Southwest in PRINT's 2016 Regional Design Awards
Bats of the Republic is an illuminated novel of adventure, featuring hand-drawn maps and natural history illustrations, subversive pamphlets and science-fictional diagrams, and even a nineteenth-century novel-within-a-novel—an intrigue wrapped in innovative design.
In 1843, fragile naturalist Zadock Thomas must leave his beloved in Chicago to deliver a secret letter to an infamous general on the front lines of the war over Texas. The fate of the volatile republic, along with Zadock's future, depends on his mission. When a cloud of bats leads him off the trail, he happens upon something impossible…
Three hundred years later, the world has collapsed and the remnants of humanity cling to a strange society of paranoia. Zeke Thomas has inherited a sealed envelope from his grandfather, an esteemed senator. When that letter goes missing, Zeke engages a fomenting rebellion that could free him—if it doesn't destroy his relationship, his family legacy, and the entire republic first.
As their stories overlap and history itself begins to unravel, a war in time erupts between a lost civilization, a forgotten future, and the chaos of the wild. Bats of the Republic is a masterful novel of adventure and science fiction, of elliptical history and dystopian struggle, and, at its riveting core, of love.
About Zachary Thomas Dodson
ZACHARY THOMAS DODSON co-founded featherproof books in 2005 in Chicago. He lives with his wife in Helsinki, Finland.
Published by Doubleday
Oct 06, 2015 | 448 Pages | 6-1/8 x 9-1/8 | ISBN 9780385539838
Oct 06, 2015 | 480 Pages | ISBN 9780385539845
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El Borak and Other Desert | 772 |
The good luck tale of an urban Gulf Fritillary caterpillar.
A couple of Gulf Fritillary caterpillars and a Cuban Treefrog in a mix of plants that include the Fritillary's host plant<|fim_middle|>uring in its new life. | , the passionflower vine, next to a well-travelled walkway at Audubon House.
A close-up of one of the Gulf Fritillary caterpillars showing the defensive spines protruding from along its body.
One of the caterpillars made its way to the railing along the paved walkway where it attached itself and made its pupal cases or chrysalis to protect it while it transformed into a butterfly. With so many people walking by or loitering on the walkway along the railing, it seemed the possibility of it being squished during its weeklong metamorphosis would be high. Here are two views of the pupa. Note the outward surface of the pupal case is marked where the spines on the caterpillar once were.
But, no, amazingly, the pupa survived and on Friday the Gulf Fritillary butterfly emerged.
Closeup of the new born butterfly with its proboscis neatly rolled up. The fur is quite alluring.
Gripping the remains of its pupal case, the butterfly stayed in this position for an hour or so before flying off to begin advent | 230 |
Home » Events » Questions for an Open Cultural Institution: Thinking Together in Provocative Places
Questions for an Open Cultural Institution: Thinking Together in Provocative Places
A Lecture by David Carr
Thursday, February 26th
S. Dillon Ripley Center, Lecture Hall
Join us for a discussion with Dr. David Carr about the potential of, and challenges facing, a cultural institution in the modern age. Carr speaks, writes, and teaches about the value of cultural institutions as essential instruments for nourishing public imaginations in democratic societies. For thirty years, he has consulted in diverse American museums as an advocate for collaborative adult experiences with collections and ideas. Carr invites us to think with him about how an organization such as the Smithsonian can help ignite new ideas in its users and visitors and how those conversations can be continued long after the initial experience – regardless of whether that experience takes place in a physical or virtual space.
Museum staff, librarians, archivists and anyone interested in preservation, curation, interpretation or outreach related to scientific and cultural heritage are welcome. This event is free and open to the public.
Please rsvp by email to SILRSVP@si.edu if you plan to attend.
An ASL Interpreter will be available. The lecture will be webcast and recorded. The live link will be: http://library.si.edu/webcasts/live
This lecture series is made possible through a collaboration between the Smithsonian Libraries, Smithsonian Institution Archives and the Smithsonian Office of the Chief Information Officer.
Lecture Abstract by David Carr:
The capacity of a rich cultural institution – like the Smithsonian Institution -- is both formidable and promising, as complex and daunting to its users as it is intriguing and convivial. It is also formative; great institutions transmit concepts of evidence and experience, inquiry and experiment. Museums, libraries and archives construct complex situations for understanding the possibility of knowing more. When a cultural institution proclaims an embrace of openness and clarity, the visibility of knowledge and the formative intentions of a rich collection expand. It can actively affect the future of knowledge and judgment among its present and virtual users, and awaken their tendency to reflect. How does an institution enact the values and practices of access and transmit them to users? How can the conversations begun here – and the reflections that follow these beginnings – serve the intellect of the nation? How might these conversations continue for us?
About David:
David Carr speaks, writes, and teaches about the<|fim_middle|> The Promise of Cultural Institutions (2003), A Place Not a Place (2006) and Open Conversations (2011), among numerous other publications.
Presentation Materials:
An archived version of Dr. Carr's talk is now available here: http://library.si.edu/webcasts/david-carr-questions-open-cultural-institution. In addition, below you may find a .pdf file of his talk as well as "Strands: Continuities and Possibilities of One Life", from Dr. Carr's book Open Conversations: Public Learning in Libraries and Museums (2011), which he references in his lecture.
Download smithsonian_revision_draft.pdf (205.59 KB) | value of cultural institutions as essential instruments for nourishing public imaginations in democratic societies. Following several years of school-teaching, university reference service and professional bibliography, he taught librarianship on two university faculties (Rutgers University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), emphasizing collection building, popular reading, and the exploration of reference tools. For thirty years, he has also consulted in diverse American museums as an advocate for collaborative adult experiences with collections and ideas. He has written three books: | 100 |
The Twelve Physics Pracs of Gove (Part Two)
June 1, 2014 e=mc2andallthat6 Comments
A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary
To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps
–William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona
A picture [of reality] . . . is laid against reality like a measure . . . Only the end-points of the graduating lines actually touch the object that is to be measured . . . These correlations are, as it were, the feelers of the picture's elements, with which the picture touches reality.
–Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus-Logico-Philosophicus 2.141-2.1515
What they say of disc jockeys is also true of teachers: that someone, somewhere will remember some of your words forever; or, at least, for the duration of their lifetime. The downside is, of course, that you never know which of your words are going to be remembered. The wittily-crafted,<|fim_middle|> than is dreamt of in his philosophy.
Unless, that is, he learns to make his plans out of string rather than out of marble…
* This joke ©Morecambe and Wise c.1972, as are most of the rest of my jokes
** Now where have I heard that word before?
Education, Philosophy, PoliticsCalculus, Chekov, Cummings, Education, Gove, Newton, Philosophy, Physics, Wigner | near-Wildean aphorism pregnant with socratic wisdom — probably not. The unintentionally hilarious malapropism that makes you sound like a complete plonker — almost certainly.
To this day, I still remember Dr Prys' sharp and appropriate response to a flippant comment (possibly from the callow 6th form me) about whether the scientific constants listed in the data book were truly trustworthy: "Look," he said, "people have dedicated their whole lives to measuring just one of these numbers to one extra decimal place!" True devoted pilgrims indeed, mapping out the Universe step by tiny step, measurement by measurement.
I have written before on what I consider to be the huge importance of practical work in Physics education. Without hands-on experience of the hard work involved in the process of precise measurement, I do not believe that students can fully appreciate the magnificent achievement of the scientific enterprise: in essence, measurement is how scientific theories "touch" reality.
I am encouraged that parts of this view seem to be shared by the writers of the Subject Content guidance. (All hail our Govean apparatchik overlords!)
Of course, this has to be balanced with the acknowledgement that (as I understand it at least) teacher-assessed practical work will no longer count towards a student's final exam grade. Many are concerned that this is actually a downgrading of the importance of practicals in Science and thus a backward step.
Sadly, they may turn out to be right: "We have to have this equipment for the practical/controlled assessment!" will no longer be a password for unlocking extra funding from recalcitrant SLTs (and from the exam budget too — double win!)
And, undoubtedly, some "teach-to-the-test" schools will quietly mothball their lab equipment (except for the showy stuff — like the telescope that no-one knows how to use — that they bring out for prospective pupil tours).
That would be sad, and although the DfE have, to be fair, nailed their pro-practical colours to the mast, we all know that the dreaded Law of Unintended Consequences may have the last laugh.
I would say it all depends on how the new A levels are actually put together. I will be attending some "launch events" in the near future. I will blog on whether I think we can expect an Apollo 11 or an Apollo 13 at that time.
In the meantime, I will be setting practicals galore as usual, as I'm old-fashioned enough to think that they give a lovely baroque feel to a scheme of work…
Look at me, I design coastlines, I got an award for Norway. Where's the sense in that? None that I've been able to make out. I've been doing fiords all my life, for a fleeting moment they become fashionable and I get a major award. In this replacement Earth we're building they've given me Africa to do, and of course, I'm doing it will all fjords again, because I happen to like them. And I'm old fashioned enough to think that they give a lovely baroque feel to a continent. And they tell me it's not equatorial enough…
–Slartibartfast, from The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Assessment, Education, Philosophy, Physics, Science, SocietyA level reform, Fjords, Gove, Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, Physics, Practical, Science, Slartibartfast, Wittgenstein
Assessing Without Levels: the Lewis Carroll Perspective
May 22, 2014 May 23, 2014 e=mc2andallthat5 Comments
An alternative look at assessment without levels…
As part of our reforms to the national curriculum , the current system of 'levels' used to report children's attainment and progress will be removed. It will not be replaced.
DfE, 2013
He had bought a large map representing the sea,
Without the least vestige of land:
And the crew were much pleased when they found it to be
A map they could all understand.
"What's the good of Mercator's North Poles and Equators,
Tropics, Zones, and Meridian Lines?"
So the Bellman would cry: and the crew would reply
"They are merely conventional signs!
"Other maps are such shapes, with their islands and capes!
But we've got our brave Captain to thank:
(So the crew would protest) "that he's bought us the best–
A perfect and absolute blank!"
— Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark
Assessment, HumourBellman, Education, Gove, Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark
The Twelve Physics Pracs of Gove (Part One)
April 26, 2014 April 2, 2017 e=mc2andallthat3 Comments
It's not often that a DfE publication makes me feel like Kent Brockman, the newsreader from The Simpsons.
Kent Brockman: "I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords."
This feeling stems from reading the "Use of apparatus and techniques – physics" section from the DfE's April 2014 Subject Content for AS and A level Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology publication (p.23).
I had the rather novel feeling that it's actually a sound list: and I, for one, welcome this intervention from our Govean-apparatchik overlords.
Why do I welcome this? Well, I feel that all too often we lose sight of the fact that, at its heart, Physics is, and must remain, a practical subject, the foundation of so much of the modern world.
Miroslav Holub's poem "A Brief Reflection on Accuracy" paints a haunting and disturbing picture of what could be described as an entirely postmodernist, deconstructed and relativist (rather than relativistic) universe:
A certain soldier
had to fire a cannon at six o'clock sharp every evening.
Being a soldier he did so. When his accuracy was
investigated he explained:
I go by
the absolutely accurate chronometer in the window
of the clockmaker down in the city.
Oh, said the clockmaker,
this is one of the most accurate instruments ever. Just imagine,
for many years now a cannon has been fired at six o'clock sharp.
And every day I look at this chronometer
and always it shows exactly six.
So much for accuracy.
And fish move in the water, and from the skies
comes a rushing of wings while
Chronometers tick and cannons boom.
Without the grounding supplied by the art and science of measurement, I believe that we would all inhabit a castle-in-the-air universe as outlined above by Holub (whose experiences as an immunological research scientist are said to have influenced much of his poetry).
Is Holub's nightmarish scenario even a remote possibility? Would we ever be in a world where "chronometers tick and cannons boom" but no-one actually checks the actual time by, say, looking out of the window to see if it's daylight or not?
As with most nightmares, it's probably closer than you think: "The sleep of reason brings forth monsters" as Goya suggested, and the steps that produce the monsters are often small, seemingly-harmless compromises of apparently little consequence.
One of my Y13 students, who has been attending a number of interviews for Physics courses, reports that some university departments have told him that "We spend a lot of the first year teaching students how to write formal laboratory reports as we find many of them have not learned how to do this during their A level courses.
Whaaa-aat? I nearly fell off my lab stool when Sam* told me this. In my opinion, that is unconscionable. "Oh, yeah," Sam went on, "some of the students there said things like 'Oh, our A level course content makes it unsuitable for practical teaching'."
Opinions like that, if they genuinely reflect the views of the schoolteachers involved, are steps on the road to bringing forth monsters. Of course, it may not seem like a big deal to either the students or the teachers who are probably following what they see as a reasonable path of little resistance. But it is a big deal, it really is.
"And what did you say, Sam?" I asked.
"I said that we do a formal write up with a full analysis of experimental uncertainties every lesson."
"Do we, Sam? Every lesson? Really?"
"Yeah, well," said Sam with a smile, "I lied about that, didn't I?"
"Exaggerated, Sam. I think you mean exaggerated."
"Whatever you say, sir," said Sam.
More on the 12 pracs of Gove in a later post..
* not his real name
Assessment, Education, Philosophy, Physics, Science, SocietyGove, Miroslav Holub, Physics, Science Practicals
A Letter from Talleyrand: 'Some Thoughts on Education and Political Priorities' by Dominic Cummings, aged 39¾
October 17, 2013 October 19, 2013 e=mc2andallthatLeave a comment
If Michael Gove can be likened to Napoleon, would that make Dominic Cummings his Talleyrand? (after Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord 1754-1838, Napoleon's éminence grise.)
The Duke of Wellington once remarked that the battle plans of Napoleon were made of marble, whereas his own were made of little bits of string. Napoleon's plans were brilliant and effective, as majestic as a triumphal arch. However, they all shared one fatal flaw: if one little bit went wrong then the whole edifice came crashing down. Wellington said that his own battle plans were different: if one string broke, he would merely knot two other strings together and the plan would continue on.
The pdf what Cummings wrote* has the feel of man attempting to build a Napoleonic battle plan in order to sort out, once and for all, all the tiresome disagreements about educational policy.
And there's no denying the man has been busy: he has read a lot. An awful lot. From a very wide range of authors. And it's quite an interesting and eclectic read.
But it also gives the impression of being no more than an energetic exercise in quote mining, and not a dispassionate investigation of the issues. In other words, I strongly suspect that Cummings read so widely in order to find extracts to support his pre-existing views, rather than thoughts or insights to help form or challenge them.
Reading this document, I was put in mind, more than once, of the fictional doctor, Andrey Yefimitch:
"You know, of course," the doctor went on quietly and deliberately, "that everything in this world is insignificant and uninteresting except the higher spiritual manifestations of the human mind … Consequently the intellect is the only possible source of enjoyment."
— Anton Chekov, Ward 6
Cummings laments that "less than one percent are well educated in the basics of how the 'unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics' provides the language of nature and a foundation for our scientific civilisation." That, though true, is not necessarily a reason for lambasting our current education system as "mediocre at best". For me, this seems a curious priority.
Sir Isaac Newton was roundly criticised by his contemporaries for lacking a solid theoretical foundation for the infinitesimal calculus: Bishop Berkeley accused him of trafficking in "the ghosts of vanished quantities". A couple of centuries later, the rigorous** notion of a limit laid that criticism to rest. Now of course it is generally better to understand more rather than less, but would learning about the foundational difficulties of the calculus be the most pressing priority of a 18th Century student of Physics? I would argue no, not necessarily.
For my part, I have thought long and hard about the "unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the natural sciences" (in Eugene Wigner's phrase). I have discussed it with students. I think it's a fascinating issue, and I adore far-ranging, off-spec discussions of this ilk. But is it an educational priority? Not in my opinion.
Other parts of the pdf seem just plain odd to me:
It would be interesting to collect information on elite intelligence and special forces training programmes (why are some better than others at decisions under pressure and surviving disaster?). E.g. Post-9/11, US special forces (acknowledged and covert) have greatly altered … How does what is regarded as 'core training' for such teams vary and how is it changing?
— Cummings, p.98
Interesting, sure. These special forces teams are (I presume) made up of already highly-motivated and highly-capable individuals. Cummings overarching priority always seems to be towards the individuals on far right of the "bell curve" (another Cummings hot topic: see pp.13, 20, 67, 224 and others). He genuinely seems to recoil in fastidious horror at the very concept of being "mediocre".
This essay is aimed mainly at ~15-25 year-olds and those interested in more ambitious education and training for them. Not only are most of them forced into mediocre education but they are also then forced into dysfunctional institutions where many face awful choices: either conform to the patterns set by middle-aged mediocrities (don't pursue excellence, don't challenge bosses' errors, and so on) or soon be despised and unemployed.
–Cummings p.4
Compare with Dr Yefimitch:
Life is a vexatious trap; when a thinking man reaches maturity and attains to full conciousness he cannot help feeling that he is in a trap from which there is no escape.
Apparently, Mr Cummings plans to leave the DoE and take up the headship of a Free School. Although I have serious reservations about the Free School programme, I welcome this as an encouraging example of a politician putting his money where his mouth is. And I wish him well. I genuinely do.
However, from my own experience I have to say that I do not think his abstract philosophy will be as reliable a guide for navigating the choppy waters of a headteacher's life as he believes it will be.
I have quoted from Chekov's Ward 6 already. This masterful short story is the best description I have ever come across of the result of a collision between a man with an abstract philosophy and real life. In a discussion with a lunatic, Dr Yefimitch proposes that: "There is no real difference between a warm, snug study and this [cold, freezing] ward … A man's peace and contentment do not lie outside a man, but in himself." However, disaster strikes and he is committed to the asylum:
Andrey Yefimitch was even now convinced that there was no difference between his landlady's house and Ward No. 6, that everything in the world was nonsense and the vanity of vanities. And yet his hands were trembling, his feet were cold, and he was filled with dread…
Now, I am not suggesting that our Dom will end up in an insane asylum, or even cold, hungry and alone. What I suggesting is that since one Free School head of what might be described as "the-how-hard-can-it-be?" tendency has, sadly, already bitten the dust, Mr Cummings may find that running a school (or just being a plain old teacher for that matter) requires far more | 3,232 |
This video introduces the tools available for cyberattacks.
- [Instructor] It's becoming easier to launch a cyberattack. Attackers still need some programming skills, but attack tools are readily available on the internet for them to leverage. The first step in a cyberattack is reconnaissance, or recon, which is all about gathering as much information as possible on your victim. Criminals can conduct much of this initial recon through the internet. Using a search engine like Google to figure out the organizational structure of a company is a popular technique. Which can in turn lead to a social engineering attempt in which an intruder impersonates<|fim_middle|>. | as a person of authority to gain access to confidential information such as a password. Internet searches can also produce Social Security Numbers, or SSNs, credit card numbers, and internet protocol, or IP addresses, just to name a few. There is so much recon you can do with a search engine like Google. Believe it or not, Google hacking is an established term, as you can see here on this Offensive Security website. Other recon tools such as Nmap, and its graphical user interface, or GUI version, Zenmap are even more powerful because they allow their users to directly probe what's vulnerable in cyberspace. Let's say that attacker's goal is to discover what devices are active in a network. All they need is to install Nmap on their computer, type Nmap, space, dash sn, dash 10.35.4.0/24, and then press enter. This command scans the network whose subnet ID 10.35.4.0. The forward slash and the number 24 indicate that the first three numbers of the given IP address 10.35.4 is the subnet ID. As you can see here, there are three hosts up and running, which is 10.35.4.150, 153, and 158. We'll go over the term subnet ID in more detail in another lesson. Based on the returned output we now know that the hosts with the IPs shown here are up and running in the 10.35.4 subnet. After learning what devices are active you can continue to use Nmap to investigate even more by learning what ports are open and what software and its version are tied to the open ports. What I'm showing here is only the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more you can do with Nmap, including its stealth options to minimize the possibility of detection. I always find it amazing that all these tools are available free of charge and so accessible, making the job of criminals easier. Once learning the vulnerabilities of a potential victim, the next step is to launch an attack to exploit the weaknesses. As you might have guessed already, there are even more tool choices out there which implement the exploits | 461 |
Development of an improved two-sphere integration technique for quantifying black carbon concentrations in the atmosphere and seasonal snow
Development of an improved two-sphere integration technique for quantifying black carbon concentrations in the atmosphere and seasonal snow Development of an improved two-sphere integration technique for quantifying black carbon... Xin Wang et al.
Xin Wang1,2, Xueying Zhang3, and Wenjing Di1 Xin Wang et al. Xin Wang1,2, Xueying Zhang3, and Wenjing Di1
1Key Laboratory for Semi-Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
2Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
3Jilin Weather Modification Office, Changchun 132000, Jilin, China
Correspondence: Xin Wang (wxin@lzu.edu.cn)
Received: 07 Aug 2019 – Discussion started: 06 Sep 2019 – Revised: 25 Nov 2019 – Accepted: 30 Nov 2019 – Published: 08 Jan 2020
An improved two-sphere integration (TSI) technique has been developed to quantify black carbon (BC) concentrations in the atmosphere and seasonal snow. The major advantage of this system is that it combines two distinct integrated spheres to reduce the scattering effect due to light-absorbing particles and thus provides accurate determinations of total light absorption from BC collected on Nuclepore filters. The TSI technique can be calibrated using a series of 15 filter samples of standard fullerene soot. This technique quantifies the mass of BC by separating the spectrally resolved total light absorption into BC and non-BC fractions. To assess the accuracy of the improved system, an empirical procedure for measuring BC concentrations with a two-step thermal–optical method is also applied. Laboratory results indicate that the BC concentrations determined using the TSI technique and theoretical calculations are well correlated (R2=0.99), whereas the thermal–optical method underestimates BC concentrations by 35 %–45 % compared to that measured by the TSI technique. Assessments of the two methods for atmospheric and snow samples revealed excellent agreement, with least-squares regression lines with slopes of 1.72 (r2=0.67) and 0.84 (r2=0.93), respectively. However, the TSI technique is more accurate in quantifications of BC concentrations in both the atmosphere and seasonal snow, with an overall lower uncertainty. Using the improved TSI technique, we find that light absorption at a wavelength of 550 nm due to BC plays a dominant role relative to non-BC light absorption in both the atmosphere (62.76 %–91.84 % of total light absorption) and seasonal snow (43.11 %–88.56 %) over northern China.
Wang, X., Zhang, X., and Di, W.: Development of an improved two-sphere integration technique for quantifying black carbon concentrations in the atmosphere and seasonal snow, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 39–52, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-39-2020, 2020.
Black carbon (BC) has long been recognized as the major light-absorbing particle (LAP) in both natural and anthropogenic emissions (Slater et al., 2002; Koch et al., 2009; Zhang et al., 2009; Pan et al., 2010; McMeeking et al., 2011; Pavese et al., 2012; Bond et al., 2013; IPCC, 2013). BC can impact the regional and global climate in several ways, including via the direct effects of scattering and absorbing visible solar radiation (Jacobson, 2001; Menon et al., 2002; Hansen et al., 2005; Ramanathan and Carmichael, 2008), the semi-direct effects of changing the temperature structure and relative humidity of the atmosphere by absorbing solar short-wave radiation (Ban-Weiss et al., 2012), and indirect effects on cloud formation and lifetime (Chuang et al., 2002; Baumgardner et al., 2004; Rosenfeld et al., 2008). Once deposited onto snow or ice surfaces, BC absorbs more solar radiation than pure snow or ice and reduces the snow albedo, thus accelerating snowmelt (Xu et al., 2009a; Flanner et al., 2012; Hadley and Kirchstetter, 2012; Carmagnola et al., 2013; Qian et al., 2014; Zhao et al., 2014).
Optically classified BC is also often referred to as elemental carbon (EC), which is typically thermally detected. The distinction between BC and EC has been debated since the 1980s (Heintzenberg, 1989; Horvath, 1993a; Andreae and Gelencser, 2006; Moosmuller et al., 2009). Given that BC and EC are both soot particles with diameters of < 1 µm, these terms have often been used interchangeably (Chow et al., 2001, 2004; Ming et al., 2009; Thevenon et al., 2009; Lim et al., 2014). BC is generally regarded as an ideal light-absorbing particle of carbon and is typically measured using optical attenuation methods (Clarke et al., 1967; Hansen et al., 1984; Ogren and Charlson, 1983; Grenfell et al., 2011). The term "EC" is often used interchangeably with "BC" when referring to optical absorption measurements (Clarke et al., 1967; Grenfell et al., 2011) and is only uniquely identified by thermal–optical methods (Xu et al., 2006; Cao et al., 2007; Jimenez et al., 2009). Poor agreement remains between measurements of BC and EC among available measurement techniques. The general techniques used to quantify the various fractions of BC mass concentrations are associated with the corresponding methods: thermal–optical methods, single-particle soot photometer (SP2) measurements, and filter-based optical techniques. Besides the above techniques, aerosol mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy are also useful and accurate methods to identify the various fractions of carbonaceous aerosols in the atmosphere (Ivleva et al., 2007; Spencer et al., 2007; Cross et al., 2010; Li et al., 2016; Petzold et al., 2013). Among these methods, the thermal–optical approach is regarded as the most effective and reliable for evaluating EC concentrations (Chylek et al., 1987; Cachier and Pertuisot, 1994; Jenk et al., 2006; Legrand et al., 2007; Hadley et al., 2010). However, the thermal–optical method can lead to large discrepancies in determining EC concentrations as a result of inference from positive artifacts caused by inadequately separated organics and mineral dust (Ballach et al., 2001; Wang et al., 2012). Further discrepancies are caused by the use of two main detection protocols (thermal–optical transmission, TOT; thermal–optical reflectance, TOR) to assess EC and OC concentrations based on their unique thermal properties. These protocols yield different OC and EC concentrations (Chow et al., 1993, 2001; Birch and Cary, 1996; Watson and Chow, 2002). The integrating sphere–integrating sandwich spectrophotometer (ISSW) method was developed by Grenfell et al. (2011) and has been used to analyze mass concentrations of BC in snow (Doherty et al., 2010, 2014; Wang et al., 2013). Doherty et al. (2010) noted that the total uncertainty in measuring BC in snow using the ISSW method is up to 40 % relative to the gravimetric standards of BC (fullerene soot). The total uncertainty associated with the filter-based ISSW technique on BC concentration determination for ambient snow has previously been estimated as 40 %, which is the sum, in quadrature, of 11 % for instrumental uncertainty, 15 % for undercatch uncertainty (loss of insoluble light-absorbing impurities), 17 % for BC mass absorption coefficient (MAC) uncertainty, and 30 % for uncertainty in the absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) of non-BC material (Doherty et al., 2010; Grenfell et al., 2011; Schwarz et al., 2012). Finally, the SP2 technique is well suited to the quantification of low BC concentrations with a small particle radius (< 500 nm). It is an optimized method for measuring BC concentrations and size distributions, and the substantially larger uncertainty of the SP2 instrument with respect to BC concentration measurements can exceed 60 % in snow and ice cores and 30 % for atmospheric sampling (Schwarz et al., 2012). They noted that the relative transmission efficiencies of polystyrene latex (PSL) sphere concentration standards in liquid to the SP2 after aerosolization are remarkably reduced to 20 % due to the larger diameter of BC particles (> 500 nm). Therefore, the larger diameter of BC (> 500 nm) is hardly captured by SP2 instruments with a collision-type nebulizer. Moreover, the mixing status of BC in snow is more complicated than the standard fullerene soot in the laboratory and the typical BC in the atmosphere.
Figure 1Sampling locations. Sites 90–102 are located in northeast China and were used for snow sample collection during January–February 2014. Snow sampling site 103 is located in Lanzhou in northwest China and was used for atmospheric sample collection during 5–25 August 2015. Sites are numbered according to Wang et al. (2013) and Ye et al. (2012).
Figure 2Schematic diagram of the improved two-sphere integrating spectrophotometer.
Although several field campaigns have collected atmospheric, snow, and ice core samples to measure BC and EC concentrations globally (Wolff and Cachier, 1998; von Schneidemesser et al., 2009; Doherty et al., 2010, 2014; Ming et al., 2010; Huang et al., 2011; Xu et al., 2012; Cong et al., 2015), biases remain in determinations of BC concentrations, as is evident from a comparison among the results obtained with the SP2, ISSW, and thermal–optical methods (Schwarz et al., 2012; Lim et al., 2014). As a result, it is difficult to assess the effects of BC and EC on recent climate change using different techniques, even in the same area.
Here we report the development of a new portable and accurate spectrophotometric method based on the two-sphere integration (TSI) technique that can be used to determine BC concentrations in both the atmosphere and seasonal snow. The improved TSI technique minimizes scattering effects related to BC and non-BC insoluble particles collected on Nuclepore filters and thus provides a simple and accurate means to assess BC concentrations in the atmosphere and seasonal snow. To assess the accuracy of the new technique, a two-step thermal–optical method is applied to determine BC concentrations on individual quartz-fiber filters. Finally, we investigate the spatial distribution of BC concentrations and the relative light absorption of surface snow over northeast China. We also analyze the diurnal variations of BC in the atmosphere during day and night over Lanzhou in northwest China.
2 Experimental procedures
2.1 Sampling sites and snow sample filtration
During the study period, less snow fell in 2014 than in 2010, and no seasonal snow was present in the western part of Inner Mongolia. Therefore, we collected 94 snow samples at 14 sites in January and February of 2014 across north China following the sampling route of Huang et al. (2011). The sites are numbered in chronological order from 90 to 103, following previous snow surveys (Ye et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2013). Figure 1 shows the locations of the snow field campaigns across northern China. The sampling locations were selected to be at least 50 km from any settlement and 1 km from the nearest road. Snow samples were kept frozen before being filtered. We set up a temporary laboratory along the sampling route. Owing to BC in snow often being hydrophobic, long-time melting could cause more BC loss to the container walls instead of being collected on the filter (Ogren et al., 1983). In order to minimize the loss of insoluble LAPs (ILAPs), we quickly melted the snow samples in a microwave within a very short time. Therefore, the loss of insoluble LAPs is very limited and can be neglectable. At present, this method is a widely performed snow-melting procedure (Dothery et al., 2010, 2014; Wang et al., 2013). Subsequently, we simultaneously filtered the snow samples using quartz-fiber filters with 1 µm pores and Nuclepore filters with 0.4 µm pores. Then, we refiltered the snow samples for the quartz-fiber filters using Nuclepore filters with 0.4 µm pores to account for the loss of BC mass in the 1 µm pore quartz-fiber filters. Finally, we stored the original and refiltered snow samples in clean high-density polyethylene bottles in a freezer at −30 ∘C for subsequent analysis. For details of the sampling and filtration procedures, see Wang et al. (2013).
To evaluate the accuracy of the TSI technique in measuring BC concentrations, the atmospheric samples were continuously collected on Nuclepore and quartz-fiber filters with high-volume samplers during the periods 09:00 to 17:00 (daytime; local time) and 23:00 to 07:00 (nighttime) at site 103 in Lanzhou from 5 to 25 August 2015. The pumps were operated at a flow rate of 10 L min−1. In total, 40 atmospheric samples were collected during this experiment and used to assess the accuracy of the atmospheric BC concentration measurements of the improved TSI technique.
2.2 Two-sphere integration technique
Light transmission techniques are the most commonly used methods for determining light-absorbing impurities in aerosol filter samples of the atmosphere and snow–ice. Since the 1970s, a series of optical attenuation techniques have been developed for estimating BC concentrations using light transmission changes through filters based on Beer's law. An integrating sphere (IS) technique was first proposed for measuring BC by Fischer (1970). The integrating sphere was coated with diffusely reflecting white paint through a small hole, and the reduction in signal after measuring the sample filters represented the absorption of BC. Subsequently, a new integrating plate (IP) instrument was developed to measure scavenging BC on filters based on the IS technique, which uses a light-diffusing support to provide a nearly Lambertian light source for light transmission using 0.4 µm Nuclepore filters (Clarke et al., 1967; Horvath, 1993b). However, the multiple scattering of solar radiation affects the accuracy of the IP technique (Clarke et al., 1967; Hitzenberger, 1993; Petzold et al., 1997; Bond et al., 1999). A new integrating sandwich configuration of the ISSW instrument was designed to measure the absorption of light-absorbing impurities based on the ISSW principle of Grenfell et al. (2011). The ISSW instrument can isolate the absorption properties of light-absorbing impurities deposited on polycarbonate Nuclepore filters. By assuming the mass absorption efficiency and non-BC Ångström exponent at 550 nm, this technique is currently capable of reliably measuring BC and non-BC light absorption (Wang et al., 2013; Dang and Hegg, 2014; Doherty et al., 2014). However, Schwarz et al. (2012) found that the total instrumental uncertainty associated with ISSW BC concentration determinations for ambient snow is 11 %, and this uncertainty is partially due to the scattering effects of insoluble impurities deposited on the filters (Doherty et al., 2010; Grenfell et al., 2011).
Figure 3Calibration curve for standard fullerene soot at a wavelength of 550 nm. The solid line is a best-fit curve for the filter measurements. S0 and S are the detected signals for the blank and sample filters, respectively, and −ln (S∕S0) is the relative attenuation.
Figure 4Comparison of the theoretical and measured BC mass determined by the TSI and two-step techniques in the laboratory. The solid and dot–dashed lines represent best-fit lines for the TSI and two-step techniques, respectively. The dashed line is a 1:1 line.
Table 1Series of 15 standard filters loaded with fullerene soot and a comparison of BC concentrations between theoretical calculations and the TSI and two-step thermal–optical methods in the laboratory.
The improved TSI spectrophotometer developed in this study is small, lightweight, and portable, and it can accurately quantify BC concentrations using a technique based on the integrating sphere and integrating plate transmission techniques (Fig. 2). The major improvement of this spectrophotometer is that we replaced the integrating sandwich of the ISSW instrument developed by Grenfell et al. (2011) with a new integrating sphere. In addition, an iron hoop is applied to the top integrating sphere surrounding the sapphire windows to reduce light scattering due to insoluble particles on the filters. Therefore, the total relative light absorption due to all insoluble impurities on the filter can be estimated from the visible to near-infrared wavelengths. The total light attenuation can be calculated from the light transmitted by a snow or atmospheric sample, S(λ), compared with that transmitted by a blank filter, S0(λ). Then, the relative attenuation (Atn) through the filter can be expressed as follows:
(1)Atn=ln[S(λ)/S0(λ)].
The total absorption Ångström exponent Åtot(λ0) of all the ILAPs on the filters can be calculated from the following formula:
(2)Åtotλ0=-ln[τtot(λ1)/τtot(λ2)]ln(λ1/λ2).
Ånon-BC is calculated as a linear combination of the contributions to light absorption made by OC and Fe:
(3)Ånon-BC=ÅOC×fOC+ÅFe×fFe.
The total absorption Ångström exponent of all ILAPs on a filter (Åtot) can be described as a linear combination of ÅBC and Ånon-BC weighted by the light absorption fraction:
(4)Åtotλ0=ÅBC×fBCλ0+Ånon-BC×fnon-BCλ0.
Using the mass absorption efficiency and absorption Ångström exponents for BC, OC, and Fe described by Wang et al. (2013), we can further estimate the following parameters: equivalent BC (CBCequiv), maximum BC (CBCmax), estimated BC (CBCest), fraction of light absorption by non-BC ILAPs (insoluble light-absorbing particles) (fnon-BCest), absorption Ångström exponent of non-BC ILAPs (Ånon-BC), and total absorption Ångström exponent (Åtot). These parameters are defined as follows.
CBCequiv (ng g−1): equivalent BC is the amount of BC that would be needed to produce the total light absorption by all insoluble particles in snow for wavelengths of 300–750 nm.
CBCmax (ng g−1): maximum BC is the maximum possible BC mixing ratio in snow, assuming that all light absorption is due to BC at wavelengths of 650–700 nm.
CBCest (ng g−1): estimated BC is the estimated true mass of BC in snow derived by separating the spectrally resolved total light absorption and non-BC fractions.
fnon-BCest (%): the fraction of light absorption by non-BC light-absorbing particles is the integrated absorption due to non-BC light-absorbing particles. This value is weighted by the downwelling solar flux at wavelengths of 300–750 nm.
Ånon-BC: the non-BC absorption Ångström exponent is derived from the light absorption by non-BC components for wavelengths of 450–600 nm.
Åtot: the absorption Ångström exponent is calculated for all insoluble particles deposited on the filter between 450 and 600 nm.
Furthermore, combined with the mass loading of Fe determined by chemical analysis (Wang et al., 2013), the mass loading of OC (LOC) was also estimated assuming that the MAC for OC is 0.3 m2 g−1 at the wavelength of 550 nm using the following equation:
(5)τtotλ-MACBCλ×LBCest-MACFe×LFe=MACOC×LOC.
All relevant equations and associated derivations are described by Grenfell et al. (2011) and Doherty et al. (2010, 2014). Note that the calculation of non-BC light absorption due to insoluble impurities assumes that the iron in snow is predominantly from mineral dust (Wang et al., 2013).
2.3 Calibration of the TSI spectrophotometer
In this study, a series of 15 Nuclepore filters with a pore size of 0.2 µm (lot no. 7012284, 25 mm, Whatman) loaded with fullerene soot (stock no. 40971, lot no. L20W054, Alfa Aesar, Ward Hill, MA, USA) is used to calibrate the spectrophotometer over the range 0.63–38.6 µg, which typically covers > 75 % of ambient accumulation-mode mass (left panel in Table 1; Schwarz et al., 2012). Fullerene soot is commonly used for calibrating the light transmission and thermal–optical techniques for measuring BC concentrations (Baumgardner et al., 2012). Standard fullerene soot particles are fractal-like aggregates of spherical primary particles with a diameter of ∼50 nm, with a mean density of 1.05 g cm−3 (Moteki et al., 2009). Multiple filters with various loadings are required, as the system response deviates from Beer's law exponential behavior; related equations can be found in Grenfell et al. (2011). Note that uncertainties in mass absorption efficiencies, which range from 2 to 25 m2 g−1, can lead to uncertainty in this technique. Here, we use a mass absorption efficiency of 6.22 m2 g−1 at 525 nm, which is consistent with Doherty et al. (2010) and Grenfell et al. (2011). Figure 3 shows the best-fit curve (solid line) of the loading of the filters at 550 nm. When the filter loading was 0–40 µg cm−2, all measured results were close to the best-fit curve, indicating that the TSI spectrophotometer is stable and accurate in terms of BC mass measurements.
Figure 5Mass loss of standard fullerene soot on 1.0 µm quartz-fiber filters determined by refiltration using 0.4 µm Nuclepore filters.
Figure 6Comparison of BC concentrations in snow samples over northeast China during January–February 2014 determined by the TSI and two-step thermal optical methods. A 1:1 line (dashed) is shown.
2.4 Thermal–optical measurements of EC concentration
There are several types of thermal–optical methods that can be used to quantify EC and OC concentrations, including two-step temperatures in oxidizing and non-oxidizing atmospheres (Cachier et al., 1989; Xu et al., 2006, 2009b), thermal–optical reflectance (Chow et al., 1993, 2001; Chen et al., 2004), and thermal–optical transmittance (Sharma et al., 2002; Yang and Yu, 2002; Chow et al., 2004). Using an optimized two-step method, Cachier et al. (1989) first confirmed that soot carbon not only comprises EC, but is also mixed with highly condensed organic material. An optimized two-step thermal–optical system has been developed to detect EC and OC concentrations in ice cores (Xu et al., 2006). Here, we use the optimized two-step method based on the thermal–optical technique to measure EC concentrations. In this experiment, quartz-fiber filters were first preheated in a muffle furnace at 350 ∘C to remove organic carbon prior to sampling. All filters were punched to yield appropriately sized samples for analysis. Snow samples were analyzed for EC and OC concentrations using a thermal–optical carbon analyzer (Desert Research Institute, model 2001A), following the thermal–optical reflectance (TOR) protocol of the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE_A). We developed a new method, referred to as the two-step method, to measure the concentrations of BC collected by the quartz-fiber filters. The two-step method is an updated measurement procedure that first extracts an OC fraction below 550 ∘C in a He atmosphere. The volatilized OC is oxidized to CO2, reduced to CH4, and detected by a flame ionization system. Next, two EC fractions (EC1 and EC2) are extracted above 550 ∘C in an atmosphere of 2 % O2 and 98 % He. Detailed procedures can be found in Xu et al. (2006) and Chow et al. (2004). The analytical uncertainty of this method is 15 % for BC and 16 % for OC measured via four parallel ice samples cut lengthways in an ice core with high dust loading (Xu et al., 2009a).
3.1 Comparison with theoretical calculations
To further assess the accuracy of the TSI system, we use standard fullerene soot and quantify BC concentrations using theoretical calculations for comparison with BC values measured by a laboratory-based TSI spectrophotometer. To ensure the stability and accuracy of the improved TSI spectrophotometer, two individual sets of standard BC filters were used: 0.4 µm Nuclepore and 1 µm quartz-fiber filters. All filters were preheated in a muffle furnace at 350 ∘C to remove organic carbon prior to sampling. A measured amount of BC was mixed into a known volume of ultrapure water. The mixture was then agitated by ultrasound for ∼10 min, and the same volumes of liquid were then filtered through the two types of filters. Using the calculated BC mass, seven filters with gradually increasing BC concentrations were obtained for both the 0.4 µm Nuclepore and 1 µm quartz-fiber filters. Next, all the filters were placed in a dryer for 24 h and then<|fim_middle|> OC on the filters, artificially contributing to the BC concentration. This may explain why the BC concentration measured using the thermal–optical method was higher than that measured using the TSI spectrophotometer.
A comparison of BC concentrations in the atmosphere measured by the ISSW and thermal–optical methods reveals that they are vastly different than that for the snow samples (Fig. 7). Results are in excellent agreement for BC concentrations of < 3 µg m−3. However, biases increased gradually with increasing BC concentrations, leading to two-step-to-TSI ratios as low as 0.5. The BC concentrations of > 3 µg m−3 obtained using the two-step thermal–optical method are much lower than those measured using the improved TSI technique, possibly due to the small particle sizes in the atmosphere, which lead to a lower filtration efficiency. Overall, we conclude that the improved TSI method is more stable and suitable for measuring BC concentrations in both the atmosphere and snow samples compared with the two-step thermal–optical method.
3.3 Spatial distribution of BC and non-BC light absorption measured by the TSI spectrophotometer
The above results show that the improved TSI method measures BC concentrations in the atmosphere and snow–ice with higher accuracy than two-step thermal optical methods. In this section we investigate the spatial distribution of BC concentrations and their relative light absorption due to BC and non-BC snow impurities in seasonal snow over northeast China during January–February 2014. All BC mass concentrations in surface snow measured by the TSI and thermal–optical methods during the snow field campaigns are listed in Table 2. There was less snowfall in January 2014 than in 2010, and seasonal snow did not cover all of central Inner Mongolia during this time. Thus, we only collected snow samples at site 90. Given that this region is windy, the surface snow collected included drifted and aged snow. The surface BC concentration was 350 ng g−1 in the central Inner Mongolia region. The lowest BC concentrations in surface snow, 55 and 28 ng g−1, were found on the border of northeast China (sites 91–97). We note that there were considerable variations in BC concentrations in these regions. The median BC concentration was 1100 ng g−1 with a range of 520–3900 ng g−1 for surface snow in northeast industrial regions. On 10 February 2014, fresh snow samples were collected in Lanzhou at a mean snow depth of 6–8 cm. The mean BC concentration in these fresh snow samples from Lanzhou was ∼170 ng g−1.
The relative light absorption due to BC and non-BC fractions in seasonal snow measured using the improved TSI technique across northern China is shown in Fig. 8. A similar pattern for the light absorption of BC (∼70 %) and non-BC (∼30 %) from insoluble light-absorbing impurities in surface snow indicates a similar pollution emission source over northeast China. However, the light absorption due to BC in seasonal snow plays a dominant role (43.11 %–88.56 %, with a mean of 73.10 %). The largest BC light absorption was at site 102. This site is located in the central part of Jilin province, which is polluted by heavy industrial activity. For one sample, the light absorption of non-BC impurities in seasonal snow reached 56.89 %, which is the only time it exceeded BC light absorption. Biomass burning and fossil fuel are likely the major emission sources during the winter in Lanzhou, unlike the case over northeast China. These results are consistent with those of Wang et al. (2013), who found that snow particle light absorption was dominated by BC in northeast China in 2010.
Finally, we investigate atmospheric BC mass concentrations and their relative light absorption measured by the TSI spectrophotometer in Lanzhou during 5–25 August 2015. During this experiment, there were no noticeable trends of BC concentrations in Lanzhou. However, a notable feature in Fig. 9 is that the BC mass concentrations at night are generally much higher than during the day (Table 3). The unique topography of Lanzhou likely plays an important role in this phenomenon. Lanzhou is situated in a valley basin with low rainfall, high evaporation, low wind speeds, and a high calm-wind frequency, which often leads to a thick inversion layer in which air pollutants accumulate during the night. The light absorption due to BC in the atmosphere ranges from 62.76 % to 91.84 %, with a mean of 75.43 %.
We developed an improved two-sphere integration (TSI) spectrophotometer to quantify BC concentrations in snow and atmospheric samples over northern China. The TSI technique significantly reduces scattering effects caused by insoluble impurities deposited on filters. Therefore, the system more accurately measures light absorption due to BC and non-BC impurities. A system calibration using theoretical calculations for standard fullerene soot revealed that the TSI system can be used to assess BC concentrations with low uncertainty. A laboratory comparison revealed that the thermal–optical method can lead to a significant underestimate (35 %–45 %) of BC concentrations for small-diameter particles (∼50 nm) due to the low filtration efficiency of 1 µm quartz-fiber filters.
To further assess the accuracy of the improved TSI system, two field campaigns were carried out to collect seasonal snow and atmospheric samples during January–February 2014 and 5–25 August 2015 across northern China, respectively. Although the BC concentrations measured by the TSI and thermal–optical methods are well correlated for both the snow and atmospheric samples, we find that some BC values in seasonal snow measured by the two-step thermal–optical method were significantly overestimated compared with those measured by the TSI technique, by a factor of 1.57. Overall, the improved TSI optical system developed here is applicable to quantifications of BC concentrations in the atmosphere and snow–ice.
The spatial distribution of BC concentrations in seasonal snow over northern China during January–February 2014 ranged from 60 to 3800 ng g−1, with a mean value of 700 ng g−1, and ranged from 0.78 to 7.75 µg m−3 in the atmosphere during 5–25 August 2015 in Lanzhou. The spatial distribution of BC concentrations shows that large BC values are found mainly in the center of industrial regions near the central part, whereas lower values are found in northeast China. Light absorption is dominated by BC (∼40 % to 90 %) in seasonal snow over northeast China, and this plays a dominant role in accelerating snowmelt. Atmospheric samples collected in Lanzhou show significant changes in BC concentrations between day and night. Frequent, stable atmospheric boundary layers at night during summer, caused by the valley–basin topography of Lanzhou, are largely responsible for air pollutant accumulation during the night.
The data and code used in this paper are available upon request from the corresponding author (wxin@lzu.edu.cn). The data used for analysis are also available via a Zenodo archive, which can be found in the references (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3597866; Wang et al., 2020).
The conceptualization and methodology were done by XW. The experiments were designed by XZ and WD. The formal analysis, investigation, writing of the original draft, and editing were performed by XW.
We thank Thomas C. Grenfell and Qiang Fu from the University of Washington for providing the standard filters.
Financial support.
This research has been supported by the National Key R&D Program of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 2019YFA0606801 and 41775144, 41675065, and 41875091).
This paper was edited by Mingjin Tang and reviewed by two anonymous referees.
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Spencer, M. T., Shields, L. G., and Prather, K. A.: Simultaneous measurement of the effective density and chemical composition of ambient aerosol particles, Environ. Sci. Technol., 41, 1303–1309, https://doi.org/10.1021/es061425+, 2007.
Thevenon, F., Anselmetti, F. S., Bernasconi, S. M., and Schwikowski, M.: Mineral dust and elemental black carbon records from an Alpine ice core (Colle Gnifetti glacier) over the last millennium, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 114, D17102, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD011490, 2009.
von Schneidemesser, E., Schauer, J. J., Hagler, G. S. W., and Bergin, M. H.: Concentrations and sources of carbonaceous aerosol in the atmosphere of Summit, Greenland, Atmos. Environ., 43, 4155–4162, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.05.043, 2009.
Wang, M., Xu, B., Zhao, H., Cao, J., Joswiak, D., Wu, G., and Lin, S.: The Influence of Dust on Quantitative Measurements of Black Carbon in Ice and Snow when Using a Thermal Optical Method, Aerosol Sci. Technol., 46, 60–69, https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2011.605815, 2012.
Wang, X., Doherty, S. J., and Huang, J. P.: Black carbon and other light-absorbing impurities in snow across Northern China, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 118, 1471–1492, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JD018291, 2013.
Wang, X., Pu, W., Ren, Y., Zhang, X., Zhang, X., Shi, J., Jin, H., Dai, M., and Chen, Q.: Observations and model simulations of snow albedo reduction in seasonal snow due to insoluble light-absorbing particles during 2014 Chinese survey, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 2279–2296, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-2279-2017, 2017.
Wang, X., Zhang, X., and Di, W.: Development of an improved two-sphere integration technique for quantifying black carbon concentrations in the atmosphere and seasonal snow [Data set], Atmos. Meas. Tech. Zenodo, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3597866, 2020.
Watson, J. G. and Chow, J. C.: Comparison and evaluation of in situ and filter carbon measurements at the Fresno Supersite, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 107, 8341, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001jd000573, 2002.
Wolff, E. W. and Cachier, H.: Concentrations and seasonal cycle of black carbon in aerosol at a coastal Antarctic station, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 103, 11033–11041, https://doi.org/10.1029/97JD01363, 1998.
Xu, B. Q., Yao, T. D., Liu, X. Q., and Wang, N. L.: Elemental and organic carbon measurements with a two-step heating-gas chromatography system in snow samples from the Tibetan Plateau, Ann. Glaciol., 43, 257–262, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756406781812122, 2006.
Xu, B. Q., Cao, J. J., Hansen, J., Yao, T. D., Joswia, D. R., Wang, N. L., Wu, G. J., Wang, M., Zhao, H. B., Yang, W., Liu, X. Q., and He, J. Q.: Black soot and the survival of Tibetan glaciers, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 106, 22114–22118, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0910444106, 2009a.
Xu, B. Q., Wang, M., Joswiak, D. R., Cao, J. J., Yao, T. D., Wu, G. J., Yang, W., and Zhao, H. B.: Deposition of anthropogenic aerosols in a southeastern Tibetan glacier, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 114, D17209, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD011510, 2009b.
Xu, B. Q., Cao, J. J., Joswiak, D. R., Liu, X. Q., Zhao, H. B., and He, J. Q.: Post-depositional enrichment of black soot in snow-pack and accelerated melting of Tibetan glaciers, Environ. Res. Lett., 7, 014022, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/7/1/014022, 2012.
Yang, H. and Yu, J. Z.: Uncertainties in charring correction in the analysis of elemental and organic carbon in atmospheric particles by thermal/optical methods, Environ. Sci. Technol., 36, 5199–5204, https://doi.org/10.1021/es025672z, 2002.
Yasunari, T. J., Tan, Q., Lau, K. M., Bonasoni, P., Marinoni, A., Laj, P., Menegoz, M., Takemura, T., and Chin, M.: Estimated range of black carbon dry deposition and the related snow albedo reduction over Himalayan glaciers during dry pre-monsoon periods, Atmos. Environ., 78, 259–267, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.03.031, 2013.
Ye, H., Zhang, R. D., Shi, J. S., Huang, J. P., Warren, S. G., and Fu, Q.: Black carbon in seasonal snow across northern Xinjiang in northwestern China, Environ. Res. Lett., 7, 044002, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/7/4/044002, 2012.
Zhang, R. J., Ho, K. F., Cao, J. J., Han, Z. W., Zhang, M. G., Cheng, Y., and Lee, S. C.: Organic carbon and elemental carbon associated with PM10 in Beijing during spring time, J. Hazard. Mater., 172, 970–977, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.07.087, 2009.
Zhao, C., Hu, Z., Qian, Y., Ruby Leung, L., Huang, J., Huang, M., Jin, J., Flanner, M. G., Zhang, R., Wang, H., Yan, H., Lu, Z., and Streets, D. G.: Simulating black carbon and dust and their radiative forcing in seasonal snow: a case study over North China with field campaign measurements, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 11475–11491, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-11475-2014, 2014.
Zhou, Y., Wang, X., Wu, X. Q., Cong, Z. Y., Wu, G. M., and Ji, M. X.: Quantifying Light Absorption of Iron Oxides and Carbonaceous Aerosol in Seasonal Snow across Northern China, Atmosphere-Basel, 8, 63, https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos8040063, 2017.
We developed an improved two-sphere integration (TSI) technique to quantify black carbon (BC) concentrations in the atmosphere and seasonal snow. The major advantage of this system is that it combines two distinct integrated spheres to reduce the scattering effect due to light-absorbing particles and thus provides accurate determinations of total light absorption from BC collected on Nuclepore filters.
We developed an improved two-sphere integration (TSI) technique to quantify black carbon (BC)... | measured using the TSI spectrophotometer. Using the BC mass and the volume of the ultrapure water used for filtration, we can estimate the theoretical BC concentration for each filter. The mass for each filter is listed in Table 1 (right panel).
Figure 7As for Fig. 6, but for atmospheric samples collected at Lanzhou in northwest China during 5–25 August 2015. A 1:1 line (dashed) and a linear regression fit passing through the origin (solid curve) are also shown.
Assuming a mass absorption cross section (MAC) of BC of 6.22 m2 g−1 at 525 nm, the BC concentrations measured using the TSI spectrophotometer were in good agreement with the theoretical BC values, with a slope of 1.07 (Fig. 4). The BC mass loaded on the Nuclepore filters was approximately equal to that measured by the improved TSI spectrometer, which indicates that the TSI system developed here can accurately measure BC concentrations with the assumed mass absorption efficiency. In contrast, the standard BC mass on the quartz-fiber filters was underestimated by 35 %–45 % using the two-step thermal–optical technique compared with the theoretical value. During the filtration process, we found that the time required to filter liquid snow samples on the 0.4 µm Nuclepore filters was much longer than was the case for the 1 µm quartz-fiber filters. Therefore, we first filtered the melted snow samples on the quartz-fiber filters and then refiltered the snow samples using the 0.4 µm Nuclepore filters. Using this process, BC mass losses can be obtained using the TSI technique, assuming that optical BC is equivalent to thermal EC.
As shown in Fig. 5, the fraction of BC mass collected during the second filtration (0.4 µm filter) ranges from 12 % to 21 % of the total collected mass (filter directly with 0.4 µm filters), as might be expected for the small particles of standard fullerene soot (< 50 nm). This under-sampled fraction decreases with increasing BC mass on the filters, possibly owing to blocking of the filter pores. As a result, the under-sampled fraction of the thermal–optical method was larger than that of the TSI technique, leading to a lower filtration efficiency. Note that these sampling efficiencies are strongly related to the BC size distribution. Therefore, the improved TSI technique developed here is more stable and accurate for measuring pure BC masses, and the data obtained using this method can be used as the standard BC mass. After correcting for systematic biases, the results of both methods were closer to the theoretical BC calculations. Note, however, that the size distribution of the laboratory BC standard was much smaller than those of the atmospheric and seasonal snow samples (Schwarz et al., 2012). Therefore, underestimates caused by the filtration efficiency for ambient BC should be lower than that for the standard BC.
Table 2Statistics of BC and EC concentrations measured using the TSI and two-step thermal–optical methods for snow samples during the experiments over northern China.
Table 3Statistics of BC and EC concentrations in atmospheric samples measured using the TSI and two-step thermal–optical methods.
Figure 8Spatial distributions of light absorption at 550 nm due to BC and non-BC fractions in surface snow across northern China during January–February 2014.
Figure 9Variations in 8 h (a) BC concentration and (b) BC and non-BC light absorption measured by the TSI spectrophotometer at 550 nm at Lanzhou during 5–25 August 2015 (day: 09:00 to 17:00; night: 23:00 to 07:00).
3.2 Comparison of BC concentrations in seasonal snow and the atmosphere
Recent studies have indicated that mineral dust can affect the accurate detection of BC concentrations using the ISSW and thermal–optical methods (Wang et al., 2012; Zhou et al., 2017). To eliminate the large uncertainty and bias due to dust particles, we only used snow samples collected in industrial areas over northeastern China, where the light absorption was dominated by fine-mode ILAPs (e.g., BC and OC; Wang et al., 2013). Hence, most of the snow samples did not contain very large coarse-mode particles, such as mineral and local soil dust.
During the snow field campaign, two series of snow samples were filtered through the Nuclepore and quartz-fiber filters and measured using the TSI and two-step thermal–optical methods (Fig. 6). Result shows that most of the BC values measured by the TSI and two-step thermal–optical methods are close to the 1:1 line in a comparison plot and are generally in good agreement (slope of 1.11, R2=0.93, n=22). However, some BC values in seasonal snow measured by the two-step thermal–optical method are much larger than those measured by the TSI technique. Consequently, for each sample the mean ratio of BC concentrations measured by the two-step method and the TSI spectrophotometer varies from 0.64 to 3.97, with an overall mean of 1.57. This discrepancy arises from two factors. First, Wang et al. (2017) found that snow grain sizes varied considerably (from 0.07 to 1.3 mm) during this snow field campaign. This range is much larger than that recorded in previous studies, owing to snow melting by solar radiation and ILAPs (Hadley and Kirchstetter, 2012; Painter et al., 2013; Yasunari et al., 2013; Pedersen et al., 2015). These results agree well with those of Schwarz et al. (2012), who found that the sizes of BC particles in snow are much larger than those in typical ambient air. Therefore, the sampling efficiency of the quartz-fiber filters could have been significantly higher than expected. The other factor is that the insoluble light-absorbing impurities in seasonal snow over northeast China contained not only BC, but also insoluble organic carbon. This result is consistent with a previous study by Chow et al. (2004), who reported that the charring observed when employing the two-step thermal–optical method at higher temperatures (> 550 ∘C) was incomplete and that certain organic compounds are not completely pyrolyzed below 550 ∘C. Therefore, incomplete charring of absorbed organic compounds by the two-step processes may lead to incompletely pyrolyzed | 1,486 |
Education and raising awareness, News
A Symposium in Agadir on Water and Wetlands
The International Symposium on Water and Wetlands in the Mediterranean 'From Grado to Agadir: The next twenty years' is being held in Agadir, Morocco. It commemorates the first symposium in wetlands which took place in Italy in 1991, when the first Mediterranean wetlands initiative from a regional approach, MedWet, associated to the Ramsar Convention (Iran, 1971)* was launched.
The Mediterranean<|fim_middle|> the Sahara and the Sahel, Plan Bleu, Tour du Valat Research Centre, UNEP-MAP RAC-SPA, Wetlands International, World Heritage Centre, Union for the Mediterranean and WWF International.
* The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) — called the "Ramsar Convention" — is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. It entered into force in December 1975.
This entry was posted in Education and raising awareness, News and tagged Agadir, water, Wetlands.
A simple home made garden
Water and Sanitation Congress and Exhibition in Marrakech | wetlands support high concentrations of animals and plants species, many of which are endemic to the region. Furthermore, those ecosystems cover directly the needs of millions of people. The wetlands are still considered to be unhealthy places, so it becomes necessary the implementation of conservation and protection measures.
Therefore, the Medwet Initiative came up, including 27 countries, 343 Ramsar Mediterranean sites and covering 6 000 000 hectares.
It will be also be discussed the new challenges faced by Mediterranean wetlands through six thematic sessions. On the first day of the Symposium, three thematic sessions will be held: "Ecosystem based approach to water resource management", "Adaptation to Climate Change", "Human Pressures and Wetland Services"
The second day, three more thematic sessions will be held on the "Values of wetland cultural services", "Sustainable use of Wetland Resources" and "Wetland ecosystems biodiversity and its values".
The thematic sessions will be divided into French and English groups; with high-level participants, which will provide interesting conclusions and a strategic approach for the present and the future.
Agadir Commitments
An important result of the Symposium will be the initiative on The Agadir Commitments. This will represent different projects that are on-going, just starting or being planned, promoted by national governments, regional and international organizations, NGOs and the private sector, and aiming at the conservation and sustainable use of water-related ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin. They are related to policies, strategies, administrative measures, legal instruments and frameworks, programmes, initiatives or measures at the local, national or regional level.
The Agadir Commitments will be a network to exchange information and an opportunity to create synergies among the projects involved. It will be also updated and enhanced during and after the Symposium, as the identification of positive activities and projects for wetlands is an ongoing process.
The hosts of the Symposium are the Ramsar Convention and its MedWet Initiative, as well as the High Commissariat for Water, Forests and Fight against Desertification of Morocco. Important actors in issues related to water and wetlands are participating, such as BirdLife International, Global Footprint Network, Global Water Partnership-Med, Institut Mediteraneen de l'Eau, IUCN, Observatory of | 467 |
Koepka, Johnson Capture<|fim_middle|>48, the PGA of America has honored the game's best players with the PGA Player of the Year Award. It is presented to the top PGA Tour profes-
sional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standing and scoring averages. Points for the 2017–18 season began with the Safe- way Open on Oct. 5, 2017 and concluded Sept. 23, 2018 at the Tour Championship. | PGA of America Awards
Reigning PGA Champion Brooks Koepka honored with PGA Player of the Year Award, World No. 1 Dustin Johnson wins Vardon Trophy
Three-time major champion Brooks Koepka, who turned professional just six years ago and overcame a serious wrist injury prior to this season, wrapped up a historic campaign by capturing the 2018 PGA of America Player of the Year Award, presented by the PGA of America for excellence by a PGA Tour professional.
Koepka, who followed up a second consecutive U.S. Open victory in June by claiming his third major at the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club, powered his way to PGA Player of the Year honors. He collected 126 total points based upon his two major championship victories, which guaranteed him 50 bonus points. He also finished fifth in the season money list and ninth in the Vardon Trophystandingsforadjustedscoringaverage.
Dustin Johnson, a two-time winner this season, earned his second Vardon Trophy in three years. The award, named in honor of legendary British golfer Harry Vardon, has been presented annually to the PGA Tour professional with the lowest adjusted scoring average since 1937.
In the Vardon Trophy race, Johnson finished with a 68.698 adjusted scoring average based upon 77 complete rounds. FedEx Cup Champion Justin Rose was runner-up at 68.993, followed by 2017 PGA Player of the Year Justin Thomas (69.118),
Webb Simpson (69.293) and Rory McIlroy (69.303). Thomas also finished second to Koepka in the Player of the Year race with 66 points, followed by Johnson with 58 and Rose with 54.
Since 19 | 389 |
Before I shower you with about 80 Kanji to start memorizing, I want to just talk a little bit about what exactly Kanji are and why they're difficult to learn.
Kanji are a set of characters coming from or inspired by Chinese logograms. They're logograms, not ideograms. An ideogram is like the man that's on a men's restroom sign. Logograms are not quite as explicit with that. They don't mean one thing. They represent a concept. That concept interacts with other concepts in compound words to create a new concept.
So, let's say 小, the concept is "small." By itself, it means "small." But when paired with 米, which by itself means "rice", the phrase means "crushed rice." You get there from the concepts of "small" and "rice" and in order to make rice small (or smaller than it already is), you have to crush it. That's how it generally works.
How many Kanji exist? Really, any logogram that exists in traditional Chinese can potentially become a Kanji, well over 50,000 already have. However, nobody knows 50,000. The Kanji one needs to know for regular reading (so no ancient texts or anything like that) are 2,136. These are the Kanji the Japanese government requires students to learn. These are known as the Jouyou Kanji. I've referred to them many times already. Then you may want to add to this the Jinmeiyou Kanji, which are the Kanji used for people's names, which are 861 Kanji not in the Jouyou Kanji list. Add 2,136 and<|fim_middle|> We're going to do something similar to the Heisig Method. The Heisig Method breaks down Kanji learning into 3 steps: 1) stroke order and concept, 2) readings, 3) same as the first two steps with some supplementary Kanji, which are mostly Jinmeiyou Kanji. If I were allowed to, I'd gladly make tutorials for this method if it were not someone else's intellectual property, particularly the little stories Heisig creates out of the components of the Kanji. So, I'm going to do something similar with the Kanji in the order students learn them in Japan. If I don't follow that order, I'd have to make up my own order; and we don't have time for that.
Therefore, my first recommendation for learning Kanji will be to invest in the Remembering the Kanji series by James W. Heisig. If you cannot afford that, stick around and we'll get through the Kanji together in a similar way.
Don't be scared. Be patient. Take the time to learn them. You cannot understand Japanese without them. | 861 and you get 2,997 Kanji one should learn. That's a lot.
Add to this the fact that most Kanji have multiple readings (I'm not going to get into the whole Kun'yomi and On'yomi thing now because it's not helpful.) and you have close to 10,000 things to learn.
Now, the Japanese can afford to learn them in a slow and wholesome way because 1) they live surrounded by Kanji and 2) they have all their schooling to do it. You finish learning the Jouyou Kanji in high school, after all. We, however, do not have 12 years to learn Kanji– and we will learn the Kanji– so we're going to learn them in big sets.
So how exactly are we going to do this? | 175 |
The University Alliances Program (UAP) opens up the world of SAP to more than 2,300 universities worldwide. Through our program universities gain access to an ever expanding range of exciting opportunities to engage with one of the world's leading technology companies. Associate members can take part in our competitions and contests, send students to our InnoJams, CodeJams and Design Thinking events, get involved with our Co-Innovation projects with customers and partners in the SAP universe and get directly involved in research and the development of new SAP solutions. Full members have all this and can also gain access to full SAP solutions from Business Analytics to Mobility<|fim_middle|> totalling almost 280 hours of learning material.
The University Alliances Community (UAC) brings together over 8,000 Professors and hundreds of thousands of students from our member institutions to download resources, share their stories, engage with the wider SAP Community and find out about how to get involved. For more information on the program and to play a part reach out to your local SAP University Alliances contact below.
If you have any questions about SAP University Alliances or if you would like to join the Program, please contact us at: ua-support@sap.com. | , HANA to BPM. Both membership types can become Student Academies (SAP) – an exciting concept that enables University Alliances members to offer to their students full access to the SAP Student Academies – online courses leading to SAP Certifications – as well as to the University Alliances subscription on the SA education Learning store – 60 courses | 70 |
stephmodo: Through the Front Door?
5) In order to slide the armoire over the crest of the railing, Batiste (on the ladder) had to stand on his tippy toes, grab onto the 2nd story railing, from the 1st story mind you, and tip<|fim_middle|> bathtub up there the same way! That's crazy!
This just made my day. Where there's a will, there's a way!! | it over the edge. Well executed don't you think?
6) Just barely inside...we made it! and only with a few very minor scratches. pfew.
oh my word! I was so worried this would be us with our couch when we moved out of our last German apt into the new one! Congrats on making it through!
Boxspring tip: you can make 2 cuts in their frames (if they're wooden) at the top and bottom centers to "fold" the boxspring in half and then just tack on a reinforcement strip of wood or simply let it rest as-is in the bed frame. Had to do this back in the US in an old house! So thankful most European furniture can be disassembled to smaller pieces!
The clawfoot tub must have been a terrifying feat! Those old cast iron ones are unbearably heavy!
I love that you documented the process!
wow - I hope you have the same 4 guys do all of this so there is no additional learning curve!
Everything looks so good! The garden eating area, the inside, the front. All so different from when we were there in April. You have done SO MUCH in such a short time. Soon you will be breathing a sigh of relief...well deserved!
I can't believe you got a | 264 |
Bitcoin has become an intense area of interest of mine as it overlaps several of my main interests: mathematics, monetary economics, technology, innovation. The more I learn about Bitcoin, the more I see how wrong the popular press presents it. To discuss and explore Bitcoin from a monetary economics perspective, we first need to understand what Bitcoin is because so few economists seem to know. The purpose of this post is to explain the Bitcoin protocol in a less technical format so that ordinary economists can understand how it applies to economic theory.
Bitcoin is merely a protocol. A set of rules. The protocol tells us how to assign ownership of bits of information without duplication — these bits are called bitcoins. As in other sources, I refer to the protocol as Bitcoin (with a capital B) and the units of currency as bitcoins (lowercase).
The Bitcoin protocol consists of two main components: a ledger and a network. The ledger, also called the blockchain, records all transactions that use the protocol. Copies of this ledger are stored on computers that comprise the network. Any computer can be part of the Bitcoin network, it just has to be set it up for such. If two people want to enter a transaction of bitcoins, they simply have to record their transaction on the ledger. To do this, they announce the transaction to the network, and each computer within the network records the transaction on their respective copy of the ledger. The ledger will identify the two people using their Bitcoin addresses, which you can think of as a Bitcoin account number. It is very easy and costless to create a Bitcoin address, and you don't need anyone's permission.
But before recording the transaction, the computers in the network will verify that the payer actually owns the bitcoins being transferred. To verify ownership, the payer must provide a digital signature that is associated with their Bitcoin address and the bitcoins being transferred. The computers use this signature to solve a (hard) mathematical equation which, if solved, proves that the bitcoins being transferred really do belong to the payer. After verifying ownership, the transaction is grouped with other yet-to-be-processed transactions to form a block, which still needs to be processed. To process the block, the computer solves another (very hard) mathematical equation — this process is called proof of work. Once the block is processed<|fim_middle|> ownership of those bits is well-defined, but that's an application that monetary economists need not worry about. I hope you truly grasp what a powerful technology Bitcoin and the blockchain are. It is also important to notice that the protocol doesn't tell us how to apply it or what to use it for. It especially doesn't tell us what the value of bitcoins are. Bitcoin is simply a tool — who knows what other applications are out there.
So there we have it, that's what Bitcoin is. It is a way of transacting digital bits which cannot be counterfeited. That is a very important quality for money to have, although not the only one. I will soon explain. | , the block is part of the blockchain, and the transaction is complete.
The proof of work for each transaction is dependent on the proof of work of the preceding transaction, and therefore every other preceding transaction. This means that the ledger is backward dependent, and it is thus impossible to go back and rewrite a transaction without affecting every transaction that follows. It is for this reason that the public ledger is referred to as a blockchain and each transaction is referred to as a block. The backward dependence of the blockchain makes it (nearly) impossible to rewrite the transaction history, as changing even one transaction would require the computational power to change every following transaction as well.
So how can you acquire bitcoins? Like I said, you have to mine them by donating your computer to the network to process blocks. The more computing power you donate to the network, the more bitcoins you are likely to be rewarded. So if you want a lot of bitcoins, you have to buy a lot of computing hardware, run them using a lot of electricity, and connect them to the internet with a lot of bandwidth. Of course, you can just buy bitcoins from people who have already mined some. At the time of this posting, you can buy 1 bitcoin for 550 US dollars in the open market.
You might be thinking: Why is this such a big deal? Remember, one of the key powers of computer technology is that bits and digital information can be easily copied and duplicated, which many media companies know all too well. But forget media companies, duplication is a fatal problem for financial assets to have. Credit card companies and financial institutions spend huge resources on security and fraud prevention, making digital transactions very slow and very costly. With Bitcoin, we now have an easy and low-cost way to create bits that cannot be duplicated. And as I've alluded to, Bitcoin is just one implementation of a crypto-currency protocol: We can easily create other crypto-currencies similar to Bitcoin by simply changing some of the underlying rules of the protocol (and people have, such as Litecoin and Dogecoin). So when I talk about Bitcoin, I am really talking about crypto-currencies, and more generally the blockchain, as a technology where "Bitcoin" is just one implementation. It is like talking about paper currency as a technology, as opposed to Dollars or Yen.
Now to be clear, Bitcoin doesn't actually stop the duplication of bits, it simply tells us who owns the bits (remember that it is impossible to rewrite the transaction history of the ledger). But for the sake of economic analysis, this distinction is not important: Economists can simply think of the protocol as telling us how to create bits that cannot be counterfeited. Bitcoin, or the blockchain in general, facilitates many applications, not just as a currency. For example, you could imagine using a Bitcoin-like protocol to trade shares in the stock market: you simply assign one share for one crypto-unit. Trading stocks then becomes very easy and without the need to have a broker (or pay their high fees). The creation and trading of options and other derivative contracts also then become seamless, transparent and very low-cost. The blockchain in general can be used to store bits of information where the | 648 |
Wishing You & Yours A Very Blessed & Beautiful Imbolc! Till tomorrow, my sweets….
and the souls of all I meet today.
no hatred or fear, may smother the flame.
that it may burn brightly through this season.
so that all may know the comfort of Brigid's love.
Imbolc (pronounced "IM-bulk", "IM mol'g" or "EM-bowl/k") is one of the Greater Wiccan Sabbats and is usually celebrated on February 2nd. In the Celtic tradition it is celebrated on February 1st or the first Full Moon in Aquarius. Other names Imbolc are known by include Imbolg, Imbolic (Celtic), Imbolgc Brigantia (Caledonii Tradition, or the Druids), Candlelaria (Mexican Craft), Disting (Teutonic Tradition – celebrated on February 14th) Candlemas (some Pagan Traditions and/or individuals prefer this name), the Feast of Candlemas and St. Bridget's Day (Christian), Oimelc, Brigid's Day, Lupercus (Strega), the Feast of Lights, the Feast of the Virgin, the Snowdrop Festival, or the Festival of Lights. The name "Imbolc" or "Oimelc", which is derived from Gaelic, means "ewe's milk" after the lactating sheep that are feeding their first born lambs of the new season at this time of year.
In many Wiccan traditions, Imbolc is celebrated as the point in the year when the Goddess recovers from giving birth to the Sun. The young God grows from an infant to a child. It is a time when the growing light promises the return of springtime. Many Wiccans tend to focus their rituals on the Maiden aspect of the Goddess at this time as well.
In Celtic lore, the Goddess Brighid, is primarily worshiped because of her triple aspect as the patroness of smith-craft(fire), healing and inspiration.
These sayings agree with those about Groundhog Day that link the length of winter to whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow on this day. An old northern English name of Candlemas is the Wives' Feast Day.
The festival of Candlemas has ancient roots, for in<|fim_middle|> which stories have pre-Christian beginnings. I think there is a seed of paganism in many of the later stories associated with her. We'll never know for sure, but in my own private practice I take many of her current customs and use them for my own worship of her – and I don't worry about the pre-Christian aspect of the story or not. Your mileage may vary, of course.
On the eve of Imbolc, a piece of linen, other cloth or ribbons is placed outside (some folks put them on their window sill). This piece of cloth is called Brighid's Brat or Brighid's Mantle. It is said that Brighid travels all over the land on Imbolc eve and if she sees this cloth, she will bless it and give it healing powers. Some folks in Ireland say that the older your brat is, the more powerful it is. Mugwort Grove (the grove to which I belong) destroys ours from year to year. We put out a whole piece of linen and tear it into strips for members of the Grove during our Imbolc ritual. People take the strips home to use for healing and some are kept on personal altars throughout the year.
Other folklore says that if the mantle gets bigger overnight, you will be especially blessed. It's a nice tradition, especially if you have a lot of illness to overcome for the following year, and a brat is nice to have for healing rituals later in the year.
Brighid's fiery aspect makes her the perfect goddess of the hearth – in fact, my hearth at home is dedicated to Brighid. There are many hearth prayers dedicated to Brighid, especially concerning smooring. Ashes and embers were often deposited in the fields. Also, indoor activity associated with Imbolc often took place near the hearth, and if there was a feast, an extra place was set for Brighid. It is also considered bad luck to do any type of spinning on Brighid's Day.
There is also the custom of Brighid's Bed. A small bed is made near the hearth and a doll (called a Brídeog), often made from a sheaf of corn and made into the likeness of a woman and is sometimes placed in the bed. In Ireland the doll was often made from a churn dash decorated in clothing (associations t milk again). Sometimes the doll was carried around town to visit houses in the neighborhood. Songs, music and dances are performed – then prayers are said to St. Brighid for blessings upon the house (this is similar to wassailing in other countries around Christmas). Then the family is asked to contribute a donation – which used to be bread and butter (there's that dairy again!) but now it's often money (sometimes given to charity).
There is much, much more about Brighid I could share, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. A bit of trivia – Brighid is so loved by the Irish people that in 1942 a survey was taken on "The Feast of St. Brighid". The replies about the customs run to 2,435 manuscript pages. A great book, if you can find it, is The Festival of Brighid Celtic Goddess and Holy Woman by Séamas Ó Catháin. There are many really cool stories and legends about her.
I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord; that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me.
I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking it through all eternity.
The Celtic festival of Imbolc celebrates the return of Spring from underground and the soul to renewed life.
These myths are not only about the return of Spring to the land, but also the return of the Soul–traditionally depicted as feminine–from its dwelling in the obscurity of the subconscious mind. In the western world, we tend to get so caught up in material pursuits that the soul is forgotten most of the time – even though we never feel truly at home to ourselves without that connection. At the dawn of the modern age, a poet wrote that "affairs are now soul size." His words are even more true today: with the escalating crises in the world from wars to global warming, now is the time to fully awaken into what each of us has been called to do during our time on Earth, to emerge into a life that catches fire from the soul-flame within each of us.
When humanity listens to the voice of the soul, rather than being seduced by the astral glamour of consumer-driven culture, then the Soul of the World, the Anima Mundi, will also emerge, like Bride or Persephone, from deep within the Earth where it has been hidden, and its long estrangement from the human race will be over. This is the true meaning behind the Quest for the Holy Grail, a symbol of the Divine Feminine that was withdrawn from the world when our insatiable desire for dominance turned it into the Wasteland. For the Grail to be found, for the Wasteland to be restored to the Courts of Joy, we must learn to become co-creators in partnership with all the Living Intelligences of our planet: human, animal, faery or Devic.
The Festival of Bride is also known as Candlemas, for it is marked by the lighting of candles to brighten the long February nights. This also gives us an opportunity to rekindle our own inner flame upon the shrine of the soul. So light your own candle this season, and as you do so, see this tiny flame as a spark of the One Light that shines through all the worlds. Then sense your own inner flame within your heart and know that you, too, are a spark of the Divine. Breathe in the peace of this knowledge, and listen to your soul telling you how to fully awaken into Light in the emerging year.
To the Romans, this time of year halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox was the season of the Lupercalia. For them, it was a purification ritual held on February 15, in which a goat was sacrificed and a scourge made of its hide. Thong-clad men ran through the city, whacking people with bits of goat hide. Those who were struck considered themselves fortunate indeed. This is one of the few Roman celebrations that is not associated with a particular temple or deity. Instead, it focuses on the founding of the city of Rome, by twins Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf — in a cave known as the "Lupercale".
The ancient Egyptians celebrated this time of year as the Feast of Nut, whose birthday falls on February 2 (Gregorian calendar). According to the Book of the Dead, Nut was seen as a mother-figure to the sun god Ra, who at sunrise was known as Khepera and took the form of a scarab beetle.
When Ireland converted to Christianity, it was hard to convince people to get rid of their old gods, so the church allowed them to worship the goddess Brighid as a saint — thus the creation of St. Brigid's Day. Today, there are many churches around the world which bear her name.
For many Christians, February 2nd continues to be celebrated as Candelmas, the feast of purification of the Virgin. By Jewish law, it took forty days after a birth for a woman to be cleansed following the birth of a son. Forty days after Christmas – the birth of Jesus – is February 2nd. Candles were blessed, there was much feasting to be had, and the drab days of February suddenly seemed a little brighter. In Catholic churches, the focus of this celebration is St. Brighid.
February is known as a month when love begins anew, in part to to the widespread celebration of Valentine's Day. In some parts of Europe, there was a belief that February 14th was the day that birds and animals began their annual hunt for a mate. Valentine's Day is named for the Christian priest who defied Emperor Claudius II's edict banning young soldiers from marrying. In secret, Valentine "tied the knot" for many young couples. Eventually, he was captured and executed on Feb. 14, 269 C.E. Before his death, he smuggled a message to a girl he had befriended while imprisoned — the first Valentine's Day card.
Among agricultural societies, this time of year was marked by the preparation for the spring lambing, after which the ewes would lactate (hence the term "ewe's milk" as "Oimelc"). At Neolithic sites in Ireland, underground chambers align perfectly with the rising sun on Imbolc.
Brighid is known as one of the Celtic "triune" goddesses — meaning that she is one and three simultaneously. The early Celts celebrated a purification festival by honoring Brighid, or Brid, whose name meant "bright one." In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed in her aspect as crone as Cailleach Bheur, a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. Brighid was also a warlike figure, Brigantia, in the Brigantes tribe near Yorkshire, England. The Christian St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptized by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare, Ireland.
White flowers, marigolds, plum blossoms, daffodils, Brigid wheel, Brigid's cross, candles, grain/seed for blessing, red candle in a cauldron full of earth, doll, Bride's Bed; the Bride, broom, milk, birchwood, snowflakes, snow in a crystal container,evergreens, homemade besom of dried broom, orange candle annointed in oil can be used to sybolize the renewing energy of the Sun's rebirth.
The time has come to call and welcome the forces of light!
Candlemas or Imbolc is the mid point of the dark half of the year. We welcome the rebirth and awakening of the Earth, the earliest beginnings of Spring.
renew the earth. A celebration of fertility.
Traditionally, Imbolc is a time to prepare for the goals one wishes to accomplish in the coming months, and to clarify and redefine our personal projects which were begun at Yule. the fires of Imbolc represent our personal illumination and inspiration, a celebration of ideas yet to be born. Imbolc has also become a time for new initiations into covens, self-dedication, and renewal of our bows. It is also a time for purification of oneself.
The colors for Imbolc are lavender, white and pink. Herbs include Heliotrope, Carnation, Poppy, Basil and Violet. Stones used for this celebration may include Amethyst for peace of mind or jet for heightened intuition and inner sight.
Offerings of cakes and wine may be presented to the Lord and Lady, to seek their assistance in helping to ignite your creative fires and energy.
May the fires of Imbolc burn brightly within all of you throughout the coming year!
Each year, we celebrate February 2nd around the world. We call it Brigid, Candlemas, Imbolc, St. Brigid's Day, and yes, of course, Groundhog's Day. Why do we celebrate on February 2nd? Is it like President's Day – providing a nice day for state and federal workers to stay at home? Not really… Brigid has been celebrated for many thousands of years. It is the day on which we recognize and honor the awakening of the maiden aspect of the Goddess.
Some of us celebrate the holiday as Brigid, in honor of Brigid who was a Celtic Goddess of poetry, healing, fire and smithcraft. In years past, the people of the British Isles would build a nice fire in their hearth, light torches and candles, and celebrate Brigid. What were they celebrating? The Maiden aspect of the Goddess awakes or returns from the underworld. At Winter Solstice she was impregnated with Spring. She sleeps until Brigid and returns, bringing Spring and renewal for the earth with her. The other names for this holiday are just different names for the same celebration.
what is upcoming for us. We may not even recognize it. We may not even think about it consciously, but subconsciously we are very much aware of it. We are very much a part of the spiral of birth, death, and rebirth throughout the year. We are interconnected with the earth and all that is on it. You have likely heard the old expression "Spring Fever" many times before. This is simply our anticipation of Spring's return, when we can go out and live a full life upon the earth once more.
Often if we look at our ancestors and the His/Herstory, we can find the answers to many of our questions. I hope that everyone has a beautiful Brigid and remember… Spring is just around the corner.
This psychic protection spell requires some visualization on your part. To begin, I recommend working this spell in daylight hours. Bundle up as needed and stand outside in nature, with your feet securely on the ground. Tip your face up to the February sun… know that its strengthening rays are slowly bringing life back. Spring is coming, and winter will lose its grip on the land.
During this in-between time as winter fades and a new season of growth awaits is your best opportunity to clear out any old negativity, psychic goop, or unhappiness that you may be carrying around. It's also an excellent time of the year to strengthen your personal psychic protection. So let's get started!
As you repeat this spell verse, imagine that sunlight swirls around you in a colorful stream; it's your call as to whether the energy streams clockwise or counterclockwise, so go with whatever seems correct to you. The light you are visualizing can be any color or a rainbow of colors, so feel that sunlight and get the circle of energy spinning around.
This psychic protection magick around me spins.
And strengthens this magick from where I stand.
I am refreshed and ready for whatever comes my way.
Serenity, hope, health, and strength this magick does bring.
Allow your hands to come down to your sides, and let the energy follow the motion of your hands so it grounds itself back into the earth. Take a nice cleansing breath in, hold it for four counts, and then slowly blow it out.
As I will, so mote it be, an' let it harm none.
Give your whole house a thorough cleaning at the end of winter.
A clean physical space feels good spiritually.
Be sure to clean your windows so they're free of winter's grime.
No one really likes to clean, but we all know we feel better when our physical space is tidy. It's one of life's necessary chores. Start your spring off with a good thorough cleaning, and then follow that up with a spiritual cleansing. This is a great ritual to perform at Imbolc — remember that for many of our ancestors, washing came only a few times a year, so by February, a house was probably smelling pretty ripe. Pick a bright sunny day to do a clean sweep, and then invite friends and family to join you in a blessing of your home.
First, do a complete physical cleaning of your house. Put on some music and thoroughly clean every room. Strip sheets off the beds, turn the mattresses, dust every surface, and vacuum every floor. Sort through those piles of paper on your desk, and get rid of things you don't need to keep; file everything else. Gather up the kids' toys and put them in baskets for easy storage. If you need to get rid of things, do it now — set aside a box for charity and put gently used items in it. Set aside another box for trash, and see if you can fill it up!
Once your house is clean — and this assumes you did the kitchen as well — it's time to have some fun. Call up some friends and invite them over for a potluck. Cook up some Imbolc-themed comfort foods, such as Braided Bread or Beer Battered Fish & Chips, and have a small potluck celebration. Ask each guest to bring a small token to bless your house — pebbles, shells, interesting bits of wood, beads, etc.
With the purifying power of water, with the clean breath of air, with the passionate heat of fire, with the grounding energy of earth we cleanse this space.
May the goddess bless this home, making it sacred and pure, so that nothing but love and joy shall enter through this door.
Finally, once you've gone through the house, ask each of your guests to deposit their blessing token in your bowl or bag. Keep it in a place of honor in your home — on the mantel or in your kitchen is a good idea. Gather around the dinner table, break out the goodies, and enjoy a feast with your friends and family!
* If you don't have Blessing Oil, you can use rosemary oil instead. Make your own by infusing fresh rosemary in grapeseed or flaxseed oil.
Imbolc is a festival of light — celebrate it with candles and flames!
** Note: although this ceremony is written for one, it can easily be adapted for a small group.
Prior to beginning your ritual, take a warm, cleansing bath. While soaking, meditate on the concept of purification. Once you're done, dress in your ritual attire, and begin the rite.
Although it is now dark, I come seeking light. In the chill of winter, I come seeking life.
I call upon fire, that melts the snow and warms the hearth. I call upon fire, that brings the light and makes new life. I call upon fire to purify me with your flames.
This light is a boundary, between positive and negative. That which is outside, shall stay without. That which is inside, shall stay within.
Like fire, light and love will always grow. Like fire, wisdom and inspiration will always grow.
Fire of the hearth, blaze of the sun, cover me in your shining light. I am awash in your glow, and tonight I am made pure.
Take a few momemnts and meditate on the light of your candles. Think about this Sabbat, a time of healing and inspiration and purification. Do you have something damaged that needs to be healed? Are you feeling stagnant, for lack of inspiration? Is there some part of your life that feels toxic or tainted? Visualize the light as a warm, enveloping energy that wraps itself around you, healing your ailments, igniting the spark of creativity, and purifying that which is damanged.
Regardless of what religion we grew up with, most of us have favorite memories of things we did every year for specific holidays. These traditions were what made our celebrations special. So what do you do when the holidays you celebrate now aren't the same ones you grew up with? How do you share the joys of Imbolc with your family?
Imbolc (or Candlemas/Brigid/whatever you choose to call this celebration) falls on February 2nd and is a time to honor the quickening of the earth and the first manifestations of spring emerging from winter. This Sabbat is sacred to the goddess Brigid in particular, and is a wonderful time to acknowledge your own creativity, expand your knowledge, and practice the healing arts. Here are my suggestions to get you started developing your own family traditions!
Help your kids go through all their clothes, toys, and books to find the unwanted and outgrown items. Donate everything to a charity that will give the items to children who need them.
Collect canned goods from family and friends to give to a food bank. Yule isn't the only time people are in need.
Go for a walk! Search for signs of spring. Take off your shoes and socks and squish your toes in the mud.
Open all the doors and windows and turn on every light in the house for a few minutes. Let the kids sweep all the old energies out the doors.
Lead the family on a parade around the outside of your home, banging on pots and pans or playing musical instruments to awaken the spirits of the land.
Make corn dollies and a cradle for them to sleep in.
Create a sun wheel out of stalks of grain and hang it on your front door.
Meditate as a family. Have everyone explore what it would feel like to be a seed deep in the earth, feeling the first stirrings of life. Lie on the floor and put out tendrils. Stretch and bloom.
Have your children hold some herb seeds in their hands. Talk to the seeds. Bless them with growth and happiness. Fill them with love. Plant an in-door herb garden.
Decorate candles with stickers, metallic markers, paint and anything else you can think of! Light your candles and give thanks to Brigid for her inspiration.
Help your kids make a special feast! Spicy foods and dairy dishes are traditional. Try Mexican or Indian cuisine. Top it off with poppy seed cake. Drink milk or spiced cider.
Set a fabulous dinner table with your candles, evergreen boughs spring flowers, dragons, sun symbols, or whatever says Imbolc to you. Use the good china.
Add a piece of rowan and a small hematite, garnet, and clear quartz crystal. A spicy, sunny scent for awakening the earth.
To this mixture add a pinch of the first flower (dry it first) that is available in your area at the time of Imbolc (February 1st). Burn during Wiccan ceremonies on Imbolc, or simply to attune with the symbolic rebirth of the Sun — the fading of winter and the promise of Spring.
What A Glorious Morning, My Precious Family & Friends, Let Us Rejoice It is Imbolc, The Sun Strengthens, Praise The Goddess For This Glorious Season!
A Pre-Happy Imbolc Greeting! Wanted to let you know about our special to you on this Beautiful Imbolc Morning!
On special days like today, we like to do our best to do something nice for you, our family. Most of the time it involves sales in the store and this time it still does. We have gotten in a new shipment of capes and we have marked them down so low (it ain't even funny) plus we are offering free shipment on them. Take a look, remember each of these capes are custom made to fit you. And at these prices, if you have ever wanted a cape now is the time to get one. Here it is…..
Happy Imbolc, everyone! Since it is Imbolc we have a very special item on sale for this wonderful Sabbat. We are offering from now till February 16, beautiful hand-crafted Witches capes. Each of these capes are hand-crafted so you are guaranteed to get a custom fit. They are made out of satin, just imagine the feeling of the cape blowing in the wind at your next gathering. Oh, how soft satin feels against the skin. The surface of each cloak is shiny, they are silky soft, and feel comfortable since they are made just for you. This cloaks are unisex and made in sizes S, M, L, XL. Color: Black. Delivery date for our little seamstresses to make these beautiful capes take 15 days since they are all customized to fit. We are offering free shipping on the capes, which we don't normally due. The total cost of the cape is just $30.00, plus once again, free shipping. Every witch wants his/her own cape and this is the time to get one.
So where can you get one, at Magickal Necessities of course. The special is listed on the front page, follow the link there to the capes. Please be sure to include your size when ordering.
We will be back shortly with our Imbolc Special! | Pagan Europe, fires were kindled at this time of year to reflect and encourage the growing strength of the Sun. It's name is Christian, however, being derived from the tradition of the future year's supply of candles being blessed before the first mass of February 2, and then being carried around the church in a pious procession. This is also the feast of the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple; the parallels between the Virgin Mary and the Goddess in Her maiden aspect, and Baby Jesus and the solar child of promise, are unmistakable.
White represents purity, pale gree denote a fresh start and growth, and a flame signifies the kindling of creativity. Light candles of these colors to commemorate the concepts symbolized by Candlemas. As you gaze at the flaming taper, ask the Goddess for inspiration.
Fire in the head…to quicken us.
Fire in the cauldron…to heal us.
Fire in the forge of the heart…to temper us.
In Irish mythological cycles, Brighid (or Brighit), whose name is derived from the Celtic brig or "exalted one", is the daughter of the Dagda, and therefore one of the Tuatha de Dannan. Her two sisters were also called Brighid, and were associated with healing and crafts. The three Brighids were typically treated as three aspects of a single deity, making her a classic Celtic triple goddess.
Brighid was the patron of poets and bards, as well as healers and magicians.
She was especially honored when it came to matters of prophecy and divination. She was honored with a sacred flame maintained by a group of priestesses, and her sanctuary at Kildare, Ireland, later became the home of the Christian variant of Brighid, St. Brigid of Kildare. Kildare is also the location of one of several sacred wells in the Celtic regions, many of which are connected to Brighid. Even today, it's not uncommon to see ribbons and other offerings tied to trees near a well as a petition to this healing goddess.
There are a variety of ways to celebrate the many aspects of Brighid at Imbolc. If you're part of a group practice or a coven, why not try honoring her with a group ceremoy? You can also incorporate prayers to Brighid into your rites and rituals for the season. Having trouble figuring out what direction you're headed?
Ask Brighid for assistance and guidance with a crossroads-themed divination rite.
In northern Britain, Brighid's counterpart was Brigantia, a warlike figure of the Brigantes tribe near Yorkshire, England. She is similar to the Greek goddess Athena and the Roman Minerva. Later, as Christianity moved into the Celtic lands, St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptized by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare.
In addition to her position as a goddess of magic, Brighid was known to watch over women in childbirth, and thus evolved into a goddess of hearth and home. Today, many Pagans honor her on February 2, which has become known as Imbolc or Candlemas.
One commonly found symbol of Brighid is her green mantle, or cloak. In Gaelic, the mantle is known as the brat Bhride. The legend has it that Brighid was the daughter of a Pictish chieftain who went to Ireland to learn from St. Patrick. In one story, the girl who later became St. Brighid went to the King of Leinster, and petitioned him for land so she could build an abbey. The King, who still held to the old Pagan practices of Ireland, told her he'd be happy to give her as much land as she could cover with her cloak. Naturally, her cloak grew and grew until it covered as much property as Brighid needed, and she got her abbey. Thanks to her roles as both a Pagan goddess and a Christian saint, Brighid is often seen as being of both worlds; a bridge between the old ways and the new.
In Celtic Pagan stories, Brighid's mantle carries with it blessings and powers of healing. Many people believe that if you place a piece of cloth out upon your hearth at Imbolc, Brighid will bless it in the night. Use the same cloth as your mantle each year, and it will gain strength and power each time Brighid passes by. The mantle can be used to comfort and heal a sick person, and to provide protection for women in labor. A newborn baby can be wrapped in the mantle to help them sleep through the night without fussing.
To make a Brighid's mantle of your own, find a piece of green cloth long enough to comfortably wrap around your shoulders. Leave it on your doorstep on the night of Imbolc, and Brighid will bless it for you. In the morning, wrap yourself in her healing energy. You can also make a Brighid's cross or a Bride's Bed to celebrate her this time of year.
Like many Pagan holidays, Imbolc has a Celtic connection, although it wasn't celebrated in non-Gaelic Celtic societies. The early Celts celebrated a purification festival by honoring Brighid. In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed as a sister of Cailleach Bheur, a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. In modern Wicca and Paganism, Brighid is sometimes viewed as the maiden aspect of the maiden/mother/crone cycle, although it might be more accurate for her to be the mother, given her connection with home and childbirth.
Imbolc is a time when the Wheel of the Year has reached a crossroads between light and dark. The earth is about to quicken, and yet no one knows exactly what lies ahead of us. There are twists and turns on the path to come, although where it leads is anyone's guess.
Among her many aspects, Brighid is considered a goddess of the crossroads. She is said to be able to see where we've been, and where each road might take us, should we choose to follow it.
A Brighid's Cross unites the four elements, and creates paths which travel in the four directions. Because of this, Imbolc is an ideal time for divination. Not sure where your headed this year, or what choices lie before you? Let Brighid help guide you as you weave a crossroads of your own in her honor. As you create a Brighid's Cross as part of this divination, ask her to inspire you, and guide you towards the right path in the coming months.
For this divination, you'll want to find a place where you can be alone and undisturbed. If it's warm enough, try to get outside, perhaps out in the woods where two paths intersect.
Before you begin, read the instructions here on how to Make a Brighid's Cross. Have all your supplies on hand prior to beginning your divination ritual.
Begin by closing your eyes, and thinking about where you've been in the past year, spiritually, emotionally, even physically. What things have you done that bring your regret? What things have brought you joy? Is there anything you wanted to do, but didn't get a chance to?
Picture yourself wandering along a path, out of the past and into the present. Let your mind roam freely, and visualize yourself approaching a crossroads. Perhaps it's a place in a forest, where a pair of deer trails run together. Maybe it's in the mountains, where streams intersect. Or maybe you picture yourself out in a wide open space, with roads connected in the middle of nowhere.
Regardless, see yourself at that crossroads. You are at the center, and branching out from where you stand are many paths. Each leads in a different direction. Each path will take you to something new. Begin creating your Make a Brighid's Cross, and as you weave the straws together, think about what may lie in each direction.
As you look out over your choices, thinking about which way to travel, Brighid herself is standing beside you. Continue weaving your cross, and watch her. She points out one of the roads.
When you've finished your cross, close your eyes once more, and meditate on the path which Brighid indicated for you. What lies in that direction? Is it something familiar and comforting? Something new and unknown? Focus on the cross you've made, and let this newly chosen path inspire you. Know that it will ultimately bring you to something good and positive and strong.
The goddess Brighid (also known as Brigit, Bride, Biddy and other names throughout Europe) is a goddess who is near and dear to my heart for many reasons. I like the fact that she is associated with both water (her wells in Kildare and other parts of Ireland) and fire (her fire pit in Kildare). I like the fact that she spans both the pagan and Christian worlds and some of her traditions are still celebrated today.
That is a sorry complaint.
Cormac mac Cuillenàin, who lived in the 9th century said, "Brighid i.e. a learned woman, daughter of the Dagda. That is Brighid of learning, i.e. a goddess who filid worshipped. For her protecting care was very great and very wonderful. So they call her a goddess of poets. Her sisters were Brighid woman of healing, and Brighid woman of smithcraft, daughters of the Dagda, from whose names among all the Irish a goddess used to be called Brighid" In this writing, Cormac mentions her triple aspect of three sisters, common among the Celts. I often call on one or more of her aspects of creativity, writing and healing, but she is much more than that.
The Christian aspects of Brighid and the pagan aspects often overlap, so it's difficult to figure out | 2,098 |
Home » Markets » The Federal Reserve signals rate hikes in 2022
The Federal Reserve signals rate hikes in 2022
A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business' Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here. You can listen to an audio version of the newsletter by clicking the same link.
London (CNN Business) Snarled supply chains, rising energy costs and skyrocketing commodity prices have caused inflation to spike. But what you think about prices will help determine whether inflation stays elevated or quickly drops.
That's right. Economists believe that our collective expectations for inflation play an important role in determining future prices, forcing central banks to pay close attention to what households and investors are thinking.
It works like this: If inflation expectations rise, consumers will buy more goods today instead of waiting until they are more expensive. At the same time, workers will demand higher wages and companies will put up prices.
All of which causes inflation to rise.
As a result, central bankers spend lots of time trying to get inside the head of consumers. But the psychology of prices remains poorly understood.
Our attitudes about inflation appear to be shaped by factors including politics, and whether the party we support is in power. Inflation expectations can also be influenced by time and age — some Americans can't remember a period of high inflation, while others have been scarred by the experience.
The big question for central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, is whether inflation expectations will become "un-anchored," which happens when long-run inflation expectations move away from their inflation target.
That's what happened in the 1970s and 1980s in the United States. Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker was ultimately forced to jack up interest rates to unprecedented levels to get inflation under control.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said last week that he doesn't believe inflation is a runaway train. So far, the Fed thinks inflation is manageable and mainly caused by the supply chain crisis and the labor shortage. But the central bank doesn't exactly have a great track record on predicting when inflation will ebb and flow.
US consumer price inflation rose by 6.8% over the 12 months ended November, a level not seen<|fim_middle|> are still eating more at home than they were before the pandemic, Campbell says consumers are indicating that they want quicker lunches while they work from home or eat at the office. They also want easily prepared dinners after a long day. Campbell says consumers aim to make dinner in an average of under 18 minutes.
In response, Campbell is advertising its Chunky soup brand as a lunchtime meal — "Lunchtime Is Your Halftime" — and Prego sauces as a quick recipe option. It's also creating more versions of Well Yes! microwavable soup bowls and Crunch Ins, a line of crackers and soup.
Don't forget snacks: This shift is also showing up in sales growth for foods like snack bars, which declined 4.7% in 2020 but are back up about the same amount so far this year, according to data from IRI.
General Mills CEO Jeffrey Harmening said in September that the company has "seen an uptick" in categories such as snack and cereal bars as "consumers get to be more on the go."
Earnings from CarMax are out before the opening bell.
Also today:
US consumer confidence for December at 10:00 a.m. ET
US existing home sales at 10:00 a.m. ET
Coming tomorrow: US initial jobless claims and personal income
← Bitcoin price flatlines as XRP hits $1 with 'massive' altcoin move set for 2022
NORAD tracker 2021 follows Santa's sleigh as it flies over the UK on Christmas →
Trade Tensions Put Global Economic Growth on a 'Subpar' Setting
AMP Chairman Murray Resigns, Pahari Steps Down Amid Scandal
Stock futures flat as stimulus deal remains unresolved | since 1982.
What do people think will happen in the future?
One measure of expectations is the breakeven inflation rate, which compares the yield on US Treasury bonds to similar securities that are protected against inflation. The difference tells you how much inflation investors expect.
The five-year breakeven inflation rate stands at 2.7%. The 10-year breakeven inflation rate is 2.4%. Both of those figures are higher than before the pandemic, but they're not too far off the Federal Reserve's 2% target.
Do everyday Americans have the same view as investors? Survey data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that consumers expect inflation to be 6% a year from now, but only 4% in three years time.
Age is a big factor. Americans under the age of 40 expect inflation to be 3.5% in three years, while people over the age of 59 — many of whom are on fixed incomes — expect 4.7% inflation.
Where do you think inflation is headed? The Fed wants to know.
China's economic growth will slow sharply in 2022
The World Bank has cut its forecasts for China's economic growth this year and next, as the world's second largest economy faces headwinds from the Omicron variant and a severe property sector downturn.
The numbers: The World Bank now expects China's GDP to expand 8% in 2021 compared with a year ago — that's lower than its previous forecasts. In October, the bank expected China to grow 8.1% this year. In June, it projected a growth of 8.5%.
It also cut its 2022 forecast from 5.4% to 5.1%, which would mark the second-slowest pace of growth for China since 1990 — when the country's economy increased 3.9% following international sanctions related to the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. China's economy grew 2.2% in 2020.
"Downside risks to China's economic outlook have increased," the World Bank said Wednesday in its latest report on China's economy.
Risk profile: Renewed domestic Covid outbreaks, including of the Omicron variant, could lead to more "broad-based and longer-lasting" restrictions and cause further disruptions to economic activity, it said.
In addition, "a severe and prolonged downturn" in the highly leveraged property sector might have significant reverberations across the economy.
China was the only major economy to record growth in 2020, but this year it has been dealing with pandemic-related curbs, an energy crunch and an unprecedented crackdown on private enterprises.
Cooking is out. Campbell's soup is in again
Early in the Covid-19 pandemic, everybody stuck at home tried their hand at cooking. People posted photos of their elaborate dishes on social media with hashtags like #Coronavriuscooking, and baking sales boomed.
Almost two years later, people have given up on their dreams of being a celebrity chef, reports my CNN Business colleague Nathaniel Meyersohn.
Consumers increasingly are opting for speedy meals and on-the-go bites as they commute back and forth from their offices, spend more time outside their homes and kids go back to schools, say top food brands like Campbell Soup, Conagra, General Mills, Kellogg, Amy's Kitchen and others.
"We want all the yum without as much fuss," said Emily Porter, who lives in Charleston, West Virginia. "The abundance of free time we had in spring of 2020 is pretty much nonexistent now."
Food manufacturers are attempting to respond to this shift in behavior by offering more convenient, healthier meals and snack bars.
The trend: Campbell has noticed a shift in cooking habits based on surveys it conducts with consumers. While many people | 802 |
Parenting Blog
16 And Pregnant star Jordan Cashmyer is found dead at age 26: Reality star had history of depression and drug addiction and attempted suicide in 2014
Farrah Abraham, 30, is arrested after she SLAPPED security guard while partying at LA club
FBI identifies Texas synagogue 'terrorist' as 44-year-old British man Malik Faisal Akram: US officials liaise with London police over gun-toting 'anti-Semite' who held four captive before being shot dead
The bleak, snowless landscape (apart from the fake stuff) that begs the question: Why DID the Winter Olympics go to Beijing?
Former Obama White House advisor, 42, pleads guilty to stealing $218,000 from charter school network he founded and using it to buy luxury $2M Manhattan apartment
Prince Harry takes legal action against UK government to have same police protection he enjoyed before renouncing royal duties - claiming it's 'unsafe' for<|fim_middle|>, there's a new crop of convincing models on the market with prices starting at an amazing 97p.
But no matter how low you go, your tree needn't look cheap. Celebrity interior designer Nina Campbell says that with the right decorations — and a good theme — it's possible to create a classy look whatever you spend.
Using Nina's tips, we've decorated five artificial trees with budgets of £10, £50, £100, £500 and £1,000, including the cost of the tree. So can you guess which is which? Try to match the correct price tag with each tree — then read on to see if you're right...
A: B&Q's fake tree and decorations which costs £50 (left). B: The Tesco fake tree with decorations £10
THE HOME-BAKED LOOK: £10
This is Tree B, with decorations you cook yourself! The ingredients for these butter biscuits and gingerbread men cost well under £5, and look stunning when dipped in chocolate and threaded with red ribbon.
'This can be a fun tradition for parents and grandparents,' says Nina Campbell. 'You can hang whole tangerines like baubles by threading wire through the centre. Orange slices dried in the oven on a very low heat look and smell lovely.' And you can thread popcorn on string to make eye-catching garlands.
* 6ft tree, Tesco Direct, £6.97; Three oranges sliced and dried, 60p; Plain flour, 500g, 40p; Everyday plain chocolate, 100g, 35p; Everyday value butter, £1.19, all from Tesco; Poundland popping popcorn kernels, 50p. Total: £10.01
The ugliest Christmas sweaters ever? From flashing lights to... Home sweet home: Students build replica of their home town...
THE MODERN LOOK: £50
Here's Tree A. And Nina says: 'Pep up your old decorations with a few new ones. I pick up baubles on my travels. You don't have to spend much, but if you add to your collection each year, you will soon have a box-full.
'Clear glass baubles and icy colours create a contemporary look. Try sticking to all one tone, or graduating the colours from light to dark.'
* 6ft Woodland Pine Christmas Tree, £15, B&Q; Star tree topper, £4.95, Conran Shop; 30 silver mixed baubles, £2.46, Tesco Direct; 18 turquoise baubles, £4.50, 18 pale blue baubles, £4.50, 18 royal blue baubles, £4.50, 12 small blue baubles, £3.75, all B&Q. 25 silver baubles, £6.50, Paperchase. Total: £46.16
A: Fake Pine & Needles tree with decorations £1000
D: Fake M&S Christmas tree and decorations £500
E: Lakeland fake Christmas tree and decorations £100
THE NORDIC LOOK: £100
This one is Tree E, and it's proof you don't have to pack the branches with decorations — with a good-quality tree and just a few sizeable, well-chosen decorations, less can be more. 'Choosing a simple colour theme can be effective,' says Nina. 'Tie this in to your table and mantelpiece decorations by adding a few baubles of the same colour.'
* Lakeland 4ft Christmas Tree, £44.99; Marks & Spencer Tree Topper, £8; 2x felt doves, £2.50 each, Graham & Green; owl, The Conran Shop, £6.95; 2x red felt hearts, £5 each, Brissi; Pines & Needles 9-pack wooden hearts, stars and trees, £14.95; 2x wire hearts, £1.50 each, B&Q; 2x wooden decorations £2.50 each, Marks & Spencer. Total: £97.89.
WINTER WONDERLAND LOOK: £500
Tree D. 'A tree like this one, which looks as if it has been dusted in snow, will always look appealing,' says Nina. 'You can achieve this effect yourself with a can of snow spray. Spray it on the tips and finish the tree off with a star or an angel.'
The white of this tree has been offset with bright, modern decorations — Habitat, Heals and Paperchase are great for these.
* 6ft Snow Covered Woodland Tree, £125, 2x tree lights, £19 each, Marks & Spencer; Liberty Star topper, £15.95; 3x red birds, £12.95 each, 4x glass birds, £14.95 each, 8x small feather birds, £2.50 each, 3x large cut-glass baubles, £14.95 each, 5x small cut-glass baubles, £9.95 each, all from The Conran Shop; B&Q 18-pack white baubles, £4.50; 3x deer, £7 each, 2x turkey, £6 each, carousel horse, £6, 2x angel dog, £7.50 each, 2x Elvis dog, £6 each, all Paperchase. Total: £462.70
TRADITIONAL LOOK: £1,000
Finally, Tree C. Nina says: 'If you have serious money to spend, there are some beautiful decorations in Harrods and the Conran Shop. I love hand-painted baubles. But don't forget there are some stunning antique ones in vintage shops and on eBay.
'When I was a child, everyone loved tinsel. Glittering tassels are very much in vogue but if you do that, keep the theme going and have a dozen or so.'
* Pre-lit woodland pine tree, Pines and Needles, £234.95; Star tree Topper, The Conran Shop, £14.95; Metallic tassels from £12.95 to £59.95, VV Rouleaux, £532.75 in total; Gold glass decorations, from £2.50 to £5, Marks & Spencer, £32.50 in total; Old gold and brown glass baubles, from £2 to £4, John Lewis, £124 in total; Clear Gisela Graham glass and silver baubles, from £4.95 to £5.95 each, Liberty, £55.50 in total. Total: £994.65
Pictures: TIM SMITH
Stylist: PORTLAND MITCHELL @ SARAH KAYE www.sarahkaye.co.uk
Keanu Reeves reveals he was so star-struck by musician Lou Reed that he asked for an autograph during Q&A on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Amy Schumer congratulates Screen Actors Guild Award nominees while nominating her BREASTS because they are 'members of the sag community'
Christina Ricci discusses her newborn daughter Cleopatra for the first time on Ellen... and how her name was originally supposed to be just Cleo
Sienna Miller cuts a fashionable figure in a black coat and wide-legged blue jeans while attending a Knicks game in New York City
Dakota Johnson says showing off her body in The Lost Daughter was 'difficult': 'Some days, I didn't want to take off my clothes'
Pete Davidson hangs courtside with fellow comedians Ben Stiller and Jon Stewart at star-studded Knicks game in New York... after low-key date night with Kim Kardashian in LA
Australia's PM hints Novak Djokovic WILL be booted out of the country despite the star being included in the Australian Open draw - but officials STILL haven't decided
Golden girl! Isla Fisher, 45, stuns in a $1,000 gold Versace mini dress as she prepares for a late-night TV interview
Giggling Mike and Zara Tindall appear in video call with tropical background and joke they're 'pretending to be on the Gold Coast' amid UK's 'miserable weather' after Covid stopped them from travelling to Australia
Parents of girl, 4, who is battling rare neuroblastoma cancer are raising £250,000 to fund trip to New York to receive a vaccine they hope will reduce the risk of recurrence
The best deals on Amazon to shop this weekend: From 56% off the Oral-B Pro 3 electric toothbrush to steep discounts on Echo devices, Shark vacuum cleaners and more
BBC podcast host Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, walks for the first time in nine days and admits she's 'cried on everyone' after nearly dying during 'acute medical emergency' last week
Woman who 'fell into a dark hole' and struggled to leave the house after losing her hair to alopecia reveals how the new 'hyperrealism' brow tattoo finally made her feel like her 'old self'
'You're twins!' Royal fans gush over Charles Spencer's resemblance to a young Prince Harry as Princess Diana's brother, 57, shares 'identical' childhood sketch of himself as a boy
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Nutritionist reveals her recipe for 'healthy' ice cream slice and it's the perfect guilt-free summer treat
When it rains, it pours! Fiendishly difficult brain teaser challenges you to spot the single hidden umbrella in this crowded street scene - so, can YOU see it? | his family to visit: Says he's prepared to pay for it himself
Can you match the price tag to the Christmas tree? How to get the perfect look, no matter what your budget
By Charlotte Kemp for the Daily Mail
With real Christmas tree prices shooting ever higher, it's no wonder that nearly half of us will be faking it this year.
If you're going artificial for the first time, or your old tree isn't looking as spruce as it should | 96 |
Are you an ACA/ACCA part-qualified<|fim_middle|> Audit Semi-Senior role, do not hesitate to get in touch. Interviews are taking place ASAP. | Accounts and Audit Semi-Senior looking to take your career to the next step?
Do you want to work in a highly reputable Top 50 accountancy practice?
This is a great opportunity for anyone looking for an Accounts and Audit Semi-Senior role in a forward-thinking firm. The team is highly supportive of new members and ensures they follow a structured training programme tailored on an individual level. From day one, you will be given the support you need to excel in your career with an assigned mentor who will train and develop your skills. This impressive practice has brand new offices and you would take advantage of the most advanced IT system in the market. Last but not least, everyone in the office is friendly and sociable and you can take part in numerous events throughout the year!
This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who wants to be a part of a company with established name in the market and strong reputation. If you want to learn more details about this Accounts and | 196 |
Allison Miller & Carmen Staaf – Science Fair (2018) [Hi-Res FLAC 24/44,1]
25 August 2021 24bit
Tags: Allison Miller
Allison Miller & Carmen Staaf – Science Fair (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 55:09 minutes | 562 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sunnyside
Scientists spend long hours investigating their passions, delving into the complex details of their research in pursuit of new knowledge. In a science fair, they demonstrate their findings, making them accessible and even fun. As a combustion reaction generates heat and light, a similar reaction happens between sound and movement. With the wonder of kids making a baking soda volcano, drummer Allison Miller and pianist Carmen Staaf combine bold musical concepts, tremendous collaborators, and a passion to challenge and explore into an eruption of energy on their fantastic new recording, Science Fair.
Miller is well-known in the jazz and pop worlds, having backed Natalie Merchant and Ani DiFranco, then going on to lead her own celebrated jazz ensembles, including Boom Tic Boom. Miller's collaboration with Staaf began a few years ago. When Miller needed a piano substitute for the Reykjavik Jazz Festival in 2015, she called her friend, bassist Todd Sickafoose. He suggested Staaf, who had just finished her time at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, and had recently impressed Sickafoose on a performance at the Blue Whale in Los Angeles.
The connection was made and a three-show trial by fire ensued. The connection between the two musicians was immediate. They found a kindred spirit in each other, as their musical orientations are straight ahead, rhythmically minded, and open to suggestion. The most important element was the level of trust they quickly developed, thus freeing them to tap into their creativity more fully and spur their musical dialog.
Miller and Staaf began to meet regularly. Their rehearsals led to collaborations in new ensemble configurations and with dancers. Dance and music for dance has been important for each of them. Miller grew up in a family enamored with movement and immersed herself in the Washington, DC youth dance scene. She went on to become musical director for a number of choreographers. Though not a dancer herself, Staaf has been drawn to music made for dancing, including Afro-Cuban, salsa, West African, and Indian vocal percussive music.
Miller and Staaf's experiments began to take shape as a recording project. They both began to bring tunes to their weekly rehearsals, and tinkered with arrangements and different ensemble lineups. They eventually picked bassist Matt Penman to round out their core trio. He proved to be of a similar mindset, fun-loving and open-minded, not to mention a highly swinging accompanist. For a number of pieces, the trio is augmented by one or two horns, namely the gifted trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and the wonderful saxophonist Dayna Stephens.
Assembling all of the pieces for Science Fair was akin to a science experiment. Miller and Staaf even had their own "mad scientist" in producer Ben Goldberg, who helped put the final pieces together. The two leaders wanted to insure that the compositions would be diverse yet balanced; there are four compositions from each composer, though they worked together to shape the final arrangements. Similarly, the leaders wanted to have a diverse ensemble representing a cosmopolitan mix of genders and races, but, most importantly, all sharing a passion for self and group expression.
The recording begins with Miller's attention grabbing "What?!," originally written for choreographer Michelle Dorance's "Speak" project, the piece features an interesting structure of 5 beat patterns and the outstanding Akinmusire. Staaf's dark and meditative "Symmetry" is a brave mood shift and shows the ensemble's flexibility on shifting rhythms and an elastic form. Miller's quietly turbulent "Ready Steady" is a Joni Mitchell inspired diatonic, medium swing tune, while Staaf's bluesy and direct "MLW" is a bouncy tribute to the great Mary Lou Williams, played as a duo. The<|fim_middle|>4/44,1-88,2]
> Allison Miller – Otis Was A Polar Bear (2016) [Hi-Res FLAC 24/96] | heart of the recording is Miller's two-part "Weightless" begins bombastically with blocked chords and ferocious drums but transforms with the addition of horns, which calm the waters.
Taking its title from a Jerry Bergonzi catch phrase, Staaf's "Nobody's Human" tries to emulate the great saxophonist/educator's vibe of methodical meets spiritual in a laidback piece featuring Stephens' s resonant tenor. Building off the chord changes of the standard "East of the Sun," Staaf's "West of the Moon" is pure energy and pushes the trio into the wilds of group improvisation. Staaf's stunning solo on Miller's "Skyway Intro" quotes the protest classic "This Land Is Your Land" (strangely enough, the song uses "skyway" in its lyrics, unbeknownst to Miller at the time of composing!) in one hand while playing the other melody in the other. The ensemble reading has a gospel influence, making the piece a torch song of utter beauty, aided by a heartbreaking Penman bass solo.
Mixed in the right amounts, the parts that Allison Miller, Carmen Staaf and Company bring to Science Fair are thoughtful, engaging, and incredibly grooving; a musical experiment that exceeds expectations and promises more musical discovery in the future.
1. What?! 08:18
2. Symmetry 07:37
3. Ready Steady 06:07
4. MLW 04:50
5. Weightless 10:08
6. Nobody's Human 06:01
7. West of the Moon 05:52
8. Skyway Intro 02:13
9. Skyway 04:03
Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet (1 & 5)
Dayne Stephens – tenor saxophone (1, 2, 5 & 6)
Carmen Staaf – piano
Matt Penman – bass
Allison Miller – drums & percussion
Allis0nMillerCarmenStaafScienceFair20182444.1.rar – 579.7 MB
< All India Radio & Josh Roydhouse – R E A L M (2020) [Hi-Res FLAC 2 | 486 |
Elite: Dangerous announced for Xbox One
By Ron Burke
For those of you who have played…no…experienced Elite: Dangerous, you have a good idea of just how difficult bringing such a complex and nuanced game to a console, but that is exactly what the team at Frontier Developments is going to do. Today, they've announced that Elite: Dangerous will be coming to the Xbox One and Mac later this year. We've got a few screenshots to check out from that GDC zero-day announcement, but let's get into the meat of that statement first:
Elite: Dangerous is the critically acclaimed third sequel to the genre-defining Elite, created in 1984 by David Braben and Ian Bell. Elite: Dangerous brings gaming's original open world adventure into the modern generation with a connected galaxy, evolving narrative and the entirety of the Milky Way re-created at its full gal<|fim_middle|> stand among the ranks of the iconic Elite. In an age of galactic superpowers and interstellar war, every player's story influences the unique connected gaming experience and handcrafted evolving narrative. Governments fall, battles are lost and won, and humanity's frontier is reshaped, all by players' actions.
Elite: Dangerous for Xbox One will include all content added to the PC version by February's Community Goals content update and March's Wings content update. Available for free next week on PC, Wings unites players to cooperate and collaborate across the galaxy and share in the rewards together. Wings will empower players to help protect friends on a risky trade run, spread out to map systems or hunt prey, and work together to reshape the galaxy.
Elite: Dangerous spells the return of a genre that many thought to be dead and gone, but don't think that gives it a pass by default. Niko took a look at the game in depth and gave it a pretty solid review, citing the enormous scale, unique activities, and incredible attention to detail as its highlights. Whether you play as a bounty hunter or a miner, Elite: Dangerous is a title you should have in your library. And now…even the console crowd can enter the fray.
Elite: Dangerous for Xbox One is planned to launch in 2015.
Related Articles: Elite: Dangerous, GDC | actic proportions.
Starting with only a small starship and a few credits, players do whatever it takes to earn the skill, knowledge, wealth and power to survive in a futuristic cutthroat galaxy and to | 40 |
I watched a third fellow climb on top of a pair, making it an awkward three-way until finally the top two fell off to the ground.
An outing to Peterson Farm in Falmouth was highlighted by a tolerant, though feisty, eastern garter snake.
Birding around my parents' yard is always fun, though on this trip birds were not exactly cooperative for photos. Grack<|fim_middle|> much bird life, but quite a few bugs and great views of the Boston skyline kept things interesting.
And that's it. I had another great trip to Massachusetts with lots of fun with my family. Good times!!
Hella diverse post. I'm glad you honor diversity. I would ask you what the big dig is but then you would be pissed at me for not googling it but I really don't care enough to do it so let us leave it at that. | les told me where I could stick my camera, as did Blue Jays. This hurts. I was happy to see Ruby-throated Hummingbirds there for the first time but they were not happy to see me.
They preferred the jelly feeder that the orioles had recently abandoned over the actual hummingbird feeder.
Right. I didn't get a great photo of it, but it's a crow with lots of white on its wings. When it flew over my first thought was magpie.
My last day in MA my brother and I took a ferry out to Spectacle Island, one of the Boston Harbor Islands. It was once a horse-rendering plant, then a landfill, then left to burn for a couple years, then smothered in sediment from the Big Dig, and then made a national park where people swim and picnic. Because America.
It's not very big so we were able to explore the whole island in a few hours. Not | 193 |
How does the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, repair of the world, fit into your life and the life of your community?
We know that you are already working to heal the world. Todah rabbah! Thank you so much!
Now, JCAN and the state of our planet are asking you to do more.
You can be an agent of change by responsibly, radically reducing the carbon footprint of your community, your home, and your business. Together, in the spirit of klal yisrael, a community of Jews working together, we can change the world. We can achieve the deep reductions in energy usage critical to the future, for ourselves, and our children, and we can strengthen our spiritual and emotional well-being, build stronger, more resilient<|fim_middle|>5% is fresh. Keeping fresh water clean and available is critical for life.
Use JCAN's new Water Bentschmarking Tool to assess your community's land use.
Click [link to come] to find resources to help your community reduce its water usage, or contact JCAN.
Climate change impacts everyone, but the impacts are not equal. The poor and people of color are more quickly and more profoundly impacted and less likely to have the resources to recover.
Use JCAN's new Environmental Justice Bentschmarking Tool to assess your community's land use.
Click [link to come] to find resources to help your community engage in environmental justice projects, or contact JCAN.
The ultimate key to our society moving off of fossil fuels is systemic change through the change in policies at the local, state, and national levels.
Use JCAN's new Advocacy Bentschmarking Tool to assess your community's land use.
We send out about 2 or 3 announcements per month. | communities, support vulnerable populations, and in general build the world of our dreams.
To assist you on your journey, JCAN's Holistic Sustainability Program provides you with a template for change. It is presented as being for a synagogue community, but you may wish to begin at home or with a small group. There is no particular order for the areas of transformation, so we invite you to start with whichever topic feels right for you or your community.
In order to fully transform your community in a world-sustaining way, the Jewish Climate Action Network suggests the following 10 areas of assessment and opportunity for reducing your carbon footprint and fostering spiritual and psychological resiliency. For each of these areas, we offer a simple tool that you can use to record your baseline, compare your community to other communities, and, over time, to be able to look back see the changes in your level of sustainability.
Some of these tools are data driven and some are more subjective. Some are more precise and some are less precise. We offer them to you as a way to get a visual and numerical reading of the status of your's synagogue's level of sustainability and resiliency.
NOTE: Except for the Energy Bentschmarking Tool, these tools are new and subject to revision. Please send any comments and suggestions to JCAN.
Confronted by the existential crisis of climate change, which carries with it the question of the very survival of the human species, people's responses can range from denial to eco-despair. Most communities hold among their members a wide range of emotional and spiritual responses.
Use JCAN's new Spirituality Bentschmarking Tool to assess and record your community's current spiritual response to climate change.
Set a Climate Wellness Goal: Decide how thoroughly you want to integrate spirituality related to the Earth into the life of your community.
Click [link to come] to find resources and ideas for integrating spirituality related to the environment and climate change into the life of your community, or contact JCAN.
Many people are concerned about climate change, but many people don't know enough about it to grasp its implications. In addition to understanding the science of climate change, Jewish texts and tradition can speak to us in this time of extreme climate.
Use JCAN's new Education Bentschmarking Tool to assess and record your community's current spiritual response to climate change.
Set a Climate Education Goal: Decide how thoroughly you want to integrate education about the environment and Jewish teachings related to the Earth into the life of your community.
Click [link to come] to find resources and ideas for integrating Jewish and secular teachings related to the environment and climate change into the life of your community, or contact JCAN.
Our dependence on fossil fuels is institutional and systemic and we are all participants. We need to change the system to renewable resources from the ground up.
Use JCAN's energy Energy Bentschmarking Campaign to assess your current energy usage.
Set an Energy Climate Goal: Once you've completed benchmarking, it is time to Set Climate Goals.
For assistance with setting goals and determining how to achieve them, contact JCAN.
Sign up for a Benchmarking Webinar. Email JCAN for dates and times.
Sign up for a Climate Goals Webinar. Email JCAN for dates and times.
Click [link to come] to find helpful resources for achieving your energy-reduction goals, including possible hidden sources of energy consumption.
Without even realizing it, you and your community may be supporting the fossil fuel industry and even profiting from it in ways you don't realize, depending on where your money is stored.
Use JCAN's new Financing Bentschmarking Tool to assess and record your community's current financial status.
Set a Climate Finance Goal: Decide what percent of your portfolio you want to have invested in fossil fuel related companies.
Sign up for a Climate Finances Webinar. Email JCAN for dates and times.
Click [link to come] to find resources to help you divest from fossil fuels and reinvest in renewable energy, or contact JCAN.
Paying attention to the food in your institution is another way to reduce its carbon footprint. In addition, you can insure that everyone who enters eats food that is kosher (literally "fit") in ways that go beyond a traditional hechsher, or certification, and are eco-kosher.
Use JCAN's new Food, Purchasing, and Waste Bentschmarking Tool to assess your community's current food and waste status.
Create a Climate-Conscious Food and Waste Policy: Decide what percent of the food in your community you want to be locally sourced, organic, and vegan. What percent of your community's paper do you want to be !00% recycled? How much waste is the minimum you want to produce? What else is important to your community?
Click [link to come] to find resources to help identify the strengths and weaknesses of your institution's food and waste policies and practices and to develop an action plan for improvement, or contact JCAN.
The exhaust from cars is a major source of carbon in the atmosphere and a contributor to many health issues, yet it is one of the thorniest issues to deal with.
Use JCAN's new Transportation Bentschmarking Tool to assess your community's current dependence on combustion engine vehicles.
Click [link to come] to find resources to help your community reduce its carbon footprint due to transportation issues, or contact JCAN.
Diverse and rich ecosystems sequester carbon, taking it out of the air and storing it in the soil, where it doesn't impact the climate. At the same time that we can reduce our carbon emissions, we can also enrich the diversity of species to pull carbon out of the air, and also to provide food for wildlife and people.
Use JCAN's new Ecoystem Bentschmarking Tool to assess your community's land use.
Click [link to come] to find resources to diversify your ecosystem or build gardens, or contact JCAN.
Life on Earth depends on water, and of all the water on the planet, only 2. | 1,237 |
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) initiated the tendering of the Union Oasis project and invites interested developers and investors to prequalify this month.
The revision of the project manual and bidding requirements for selecting the best partners is ongoing in line with law that rules public-private partnership in Dubai. According to the updated law, the agreement contract will be applicable for 30 years plus three years as<|fim_middle|>), it is expected to transform Dubai's urban landscape. The Union Oasis is intended to provide more accessible public transport for the residents and visitors. The project targets the improvement of Union Square by providing residential and commercial units suited for offices, essential utilities, and retail stores.
The RTA hands over to the investors the prospect of making up different architectural designs well-matched with the agreed architectural idea of the project including its phased construction. | an allowance to complete the construction including other facilities.
This said guide comprises complete information about the Union Oasis project which entails the construction of towers above the Union Square Metro Station spanning an area of about 15 thousand square meters. The set of revisions are derived from the comments and views of investors.
Being the Transit Oriented Developments (TOD | 69 |
Home / Wink'redible You! The Wink Bingo Blog / Male Bingo Players
Male Bingo Players
MEET THE WELSH MEN PLAYING BINGO ONLINE
Welsh men are perhaps best known for singing baritone or charging around a rugby pitch – but could online bingo be the new national pastime?
Welsh Male Bingo Players
"I won £4,000 the first time I ever played bingo," reveals Stuart, an office manager who lives in South Wales. "I was 18 at the time, and I'd only gone to bingo to take my grandmother. She'd been in ill-health, so she hadn't been for a long time, and I took her as a treat," recalls Stuart, adding: "I was shocked, because I thought I'd only won a £40 house - until the club staff came over and told me it had been a link with other clubs and the prize was £4,000!"
Stuart's grandmother had insisted on buying the tickets<|fim_middle|> he does play, it tends to be a family affair. "My dad plays now and then, and both my aunties are regulars – they've been playing for years," says Jordan, "so I normally play with my aunty and cousin, at home on the computer, or on our phones. We joke about, like, "give me some of your winnings!" but we're not really competitive," laughs Jordan.
Jordan sometimes plays when he's out and about. "Sometimes I'll sit in McDonald's and make the most of the free wifi, or I'll play at college, in the canteen or the library, and sometimes when I'm in the shops. I'll walk around Asda with my dad, playing bingo on my phone while he does the shopping – luckily I've never bumped into anyone!"
For Jordan, the stereotypes around bingo are out of date – but he doesn't think everyone's got the memo. "In the old days, uk bingo was mainly for woman. Now it's different, but I think there are still more women playing. I wouldn't be bothered if my mates took the mick out of me for playing bingo, but they're all fine with it. I think more men would enjoy it if they tried it!"
Samantha Rea can be found tweeting here.
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Online Bingo Players
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What is an virtual bingo room? No big mystery here: an online room where bingo goes forever. Virtual... | for both of them – but she refused to take a penny of Stuart's winnings. "We agreed before the game started that if either of us won, we'd keep the prize ourselves, but when I won such a big amount, I offered her half," says Stuart. "She wouldn't take it, though. Her reaction was, "I've got no need for it - I don't go anywhere to spend it," so I got to keep it all – I couldn't believe it!"
While Stuart's grandmother was happy for him, the club regulars weren't quite so generous in spirit. "They grumbled a bit, but in the end they all congratulated me," laughs Stuart, who spent the money on a three month trip to America. "I'd planned a short trip before the win, but the extra money meant I could extend it, and properly spoil myself." Looking back, Stuart says: "I think that win definitely cemented my love of bingo!"
Now 35, Stuart's an avid online bingo player. He's been playing nightly for the last four years, since his friend Tanya gave him a £5 free credit to sign up. "I'm not much of a TV watcher, so I use it to pass the time," says Stuart.
The first time Stuart played bingo online, he had a second burst of beginner's luck, winning £1,200. Tanya was the first person he told. "She's never won more than £50 on the site, so let's just say the air was blue!" jokes Stuart, adding, "she's never let me forget it"
At the time of the win, Stuart had just moved into a new flat, so his winnings covered all his moving and decorating costs. The flat was Stuart's first step on the property ladder, and his first home after moving out of his parents' house – which meant it was especially important to get everything right. "It was perfect timing," says Stuart, who admits, "these days I'm far less fussy!"
Stuart's winnings also stretched to celebratory drinks. "I had a few more nights out in Cardiff than I would normally have been able to justify that month," says Stuart, who bought drinks for all his friends. "No bubbly though, because I'm not a fan! It's overrated in my opinion!"
Since then, Stuart's had several wins of £140 and despite the bar being set high by the huge windfalls he's had previously, Stuart still gets excited. "£140 isn't bad considering it was only 10p a ticket, and any win is exciting - especially if it's for more than I've spent out that day." He adds, "I rarely play without winning enough to cover my day's play - I'm pretty lucky like that!"
Most of Stuart's smaller wins have gone on day to day things, "but I used my last win to buy a new jacket I'd been fancying. It was £120, which is more than I'd normally allow myself to splash out on a single item - I'm pretty frugal usually!" Despite the extravagance, Stuart has no regrets. "I'm glad I bought it - especially given the current weather – it's the warmest jacket I've ever owned!"
Bingo - not for females only anymore!
While bingo used to be seen as a game for women – particularly older women – Stuart is one of a growing number of men who play free bingo games online, and he thinks the stereotype is outdated. "I think the idea of bingo being a granny's game definitely doesn't exist anymore - at least, it doesn't amongst my friends, who are all pretty young. In fact, I'd actually say bingo's become quite trendy recently!"
For Stuart's friends, playing bingo is the norm – and he thinks more men are playing bingo than women. "I think most of the men I know are muscling in on their partner's enjoyment of it. They've also realised how much cheaper the drinks tend to be in bingo clubs than elsewhere, and then once they're into it, they start playing online because it's a cheaper way to play. Here in South Wales, a night out at a bingo club costs about £25, but the same number of games online costs less than a tenner!"
Stuart occasionally posts "Thanks for the win!" after getting a prize, but he doesn't tend to use the chat facilities, "unless a conversation the chatroom users are having happens to catch my attention!"
For 20 year old Jordan, however, chatting to other bingo players is part of the experience of playing bingo online. "We talk about movies or what everyone's doing at home - that sort of stuff. When you see the same people online regularly, you start making friends. It's nice to talk to other people while you're playing - especially the admins in the chat rooms on the bingo website, because they make such an effort to interact with everyone and to help."
Jordan, who's also from Wales, started playing bingo two years ago, when his aunt told him about an offer that meant he was guaranteed to win something. "I gave it a shot and she was right," says Jordan, who won over £130 that night. Jordan, who's studying Work Skills at college, currently lives with his parents. "I don't have any bills to worry about, so I spent the money on PS4 games, going to the cinema and meeting up with friends," he says.
Jordan plays bingo a few times a month. "I'm not a massive gambler – I just put money on it if I've got nothing else to do with it," he explains, but when | 1,174 |
Today I awoke feeling that my mind was rested, but my body was still a bit tired. Late yesterday afternoon I managed to get in an easy 3o minute run along then beach here in Nosara. It was amazing. I was thankful for the time to be able to do that, and equally thankful to give my legs a little shake out. They desperately needed it and felt better almost immediately.
This morning, as I climbed the "stairway to heaven" as I have unofficially nicknamed the path to the yoga<|fim_middle|> that may not have even been reality in the first place.
Just as we need balance in our physical body, we need balance over our mind as well. The daily mediation helps gives our minds a break and stop.
Treat yourself like the poses and the postures and install some balance. | room, I noticed my calves were feeling a bit crampy. After my climb, I settled into a spot in the yoga room for meditation and felt as though I had a successful session. My mind wandered some, but I didn't move my body out of posture for the duration of the practice. I did notice that my foot had fallen asleep halfway through and my entire body from the waist down felt very fatigued.
I drank extra fluids at breakfast in hopes that my hip, knee, and leg stiffness would soon seize. Halfway through the 90 minute morning yoga practice, my hips and legs began to lock up. I muddled through and by lunch knew that my plans to practice yoga again this afternoon needed to be changed.
Each day, Sarah Yax shares a phrase with us on the white board as we enter the yoga room. Today I noticed this mantra as I exited the morning session.
I felt that this was true and appropriate of how my afternoon would go. In a normal week, it isn't unheard of for me to have anywhere from 4-7 workout sessions and usually only 1 of those is yoga. It occurred to me that over the last 4 days, I had exercised 6 times and 5 of those had been yoga. I decided to take a hot relaxing shower and rest in my room before afternoon practice. It was cloudy, which made it easier to rest. At that point I had made the decision to give myself a little balance and a little break. I knew I would not actively participate in the next yoga session. I marched up the hill again late this afternoon and instead of practicing, I became the observer and the photographer. I enjoyed being a bystander as I witnessed people merge into the beautiful poses and postures before me. There was something beautiful about every single student and every single body in class. It was truly something to admire and witness what each individual was capable of. The way they each moved their body was a true balance of both grace and intensity.
After class, I pushed myself against the wall for some deep hamstring stretches. The balance of stretching and resting this afternoon is becoming noticeable as the tension in my legs is slipping away.
The leaders of our trip, John and Chris Yax gave a talk tonight on Witnessing The Presence of Pure Awareness. They discussed how we as individuals can get wrapped up at times in our sense perceptions or even our own emotions. A sense perception is something that we may believe to be true. We may sense something to be true about ourselves based on something we perceive.
For example, a couple of years ago faced with the same situation of a tired body just as I had been today, I may have still chosen to not participate in the yoga session. I may have also perceived others to think I was weak or a "slacker" for not practicing. But now after much soul searching and prayer, I am more comfortable with my decision. I was able to install a little balance into my life by giving my legs the rest they were asking for. The perception based on nothing factual could have eaten me up inside. It could have produced feelings of inadequacy or guilt. Often with those feelings, our minds continue down a path of negativity and we may even begin reacting to something | 661 |
Makrawank () ist ein ehemaliges Kloster der Armenischen Apostolischen Kirche in der zentralarmenischen Provinz Kotajk. Gegründet wurde es vermutlich im 13. Jahrhundert. Einige Bauten sind aber viel älter als das Kloster selbst. Heute ist es verlassen. Die Gebäude sind weitgehend zerstört und das Areal ist überwachsen.
Es ist nicht zu verwechseln mit dem Kloster Makarawank in der Provinz Tawusch.
Lage
Das Kloster liegt im Westen der Stadt Hrasdan (, wissenschaftliche Transliteration und englische Transkription Hrazdan). Die armenische Hauptstadt Jerewan liegt etwa 44 Kilometer Luftlinie entfernt.
Baubeschreibung
Der Klosterkomplex besteht aus einer Kirche mit vorgebautem Gavit und einer separaten Kapelle. Die Hauptkirche Surb Astwazazin (, "Heilige Muttergottes", westarmenisch Surp Asdwadsadsin, andere Umschriften Surb Astvatsatsin, Surp Astvatsatsin, Surb Astuacacin) wurde im 13. Jahrhundert errichtet. Es ist eine überwölbte Hallenkirche. Der zentrale Kirchenraum ist von einer Kuppel mit einem Tambour bekrönt. Sie wurde nördlich an die die kleine Heilandskapelle aus dem 10. Jahrhundert angebaut. Dieses Bauwerk, von dem nur noch die Fundamente stehen, konnte über einen quadratischen Eingang betreten werden. Der Gawit wurde ebenfalls im 13. Jahrhundert err<|fim_middle|>Einzelnachweise
Kloster in Armenien
Armenisch-apostolisches Kloster
Kloster (13. Jahrhundert)
Kotajk
Klosterruine
Ruine in Armenien | ichtet. Er wurde westlich an die Hauptkirche angebaut. Heute sind von ihm nur noch Teile der unteren Mauern erhalten.
Im Osten des Klosterareals gibt es einen kleinen Friedhof. Auf dem Gelände stehen einige Chatschkare (kunstvoll behauene Gedächtnissteine mit einem Reliefkreuz in der Mitte, das von geometrischen und pflanzlichen Motiven umgeben ist).
Weblinks
| 102 |
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Value and visibility
By Christine Elmer
In Blog, News
Value and visibility2020-11-252020-11-25https://vic.iabc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/iabc-victoria-20yrs-logo-rgb.pngIABC Victoriahttps://vic.iabc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/iabc-victoria-20yrs-logo-rgb.png200px200px
Who among us communication professionals would not like to be more valued or more visible?<|fim_middle|> as a means of setting government communication professionals apart.
The Global Communication Certification Council, an initiative of IABC, provides two certifications: the Communication Management Professional (CMP) and the Strategic Communication Management Professional.
For more information, visit https://gcccouncil.org/
Member Musing: Christine Dvoracek
Member Musing: Jonathan Ding
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Site by Gosh Creative | Not many, it would appear, if feedback to a presentation by Sia Papageorgiou FRSA, SCMP at the global GovComms Festival is anything to go by.
Speaking on the topic of 'Value and visibility for the modern day communication professional', Sia was one of 170 speakers from 17 countries delivering 100+ hours of content from five virtual 'stages' over 24 hours. The inaugural event held on 17 November 2020 was dedicated to the future of government communication. It was supported by the OECD and the European Commission and attended by more than 1500 people.
Sia Papageorgiou FRSA, SCMP spoke about elevating the value and visibility of communication professionals at the global GovComms Festival.
"Have the last eight months highlighted the importance of effective communication from governments around the world?" Sia asked the delegates. The answer: a resounding yes. According to Sia, some have done it effectively, and in those cases preserved the wellbeing of communities and their citizens. Others haven't been so effective, which has resulted in misinformation, confusion and in some cases, catastrophic consequences.
"It's a grind, and a slow process but maybe it takes a global pandemic for the world to realise the value of effective communication," said Sia. "But apparently that's not the case in Australia, where our Commonwealth Government has diminished the value of communication by recently passing a bill that will more than double the cost of communication and PR degrees for the next generation of communication professionals."
Sia argued that the responsibility to seize the moment and capitalise on our recent success rests with us. "I'm on a mission to elevate the value and visibility of communication professionals all around the world, and help them become trusted, strategic and in-demand advisors," she said. And according to Sia, one way of doing this is to join a global network of trusted, expert and credible communication professionals, through certification | 404 |
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story overstated the number of job cuts expected in Canada. Ford is offering early retirement and separation packages to about 600 Canadian employees.
Ford Motor Co. plans to offer early retirement and separation packages to 600 Canadian salaried workers as part of an effort to cut 10 per cent of its white-collar employees in North America and Asia.
Company spokesman Mike Moran says the offers will be made to about 15,300 workers worldwide in the hope of meeting job-reduction targets without layoffs. They come as the company battles slowing U.S. sales while ramping up investments in new technology.
News of the job reductions comes less than two months after Ford announced it would add 300 jobs at a new research and engineering centre in Ottawa.
Ford said nearly all of its "skill teams" will be affected, except for product development, Ford Credit, manufacturing, IT and global data and analytics.
The reductions will affect corporate staff, including the finance, legal, human resources, communications, government, marketing, sales and service departments.
The automaker's Canadian headquarters is in Oakville, Ont.
Ford expects the cuts to come by the end of September. Two-thirds of the offers will be made in North America, although Ford does<|fim_middle|> US$10.78 a share. | not know how the acceptance rates will break down by region.
"We remain focused on the three strategic priorities that will create value and drive profitable growth, which include fortifying the profit pillars in our core business, transforming traditionally underperforming areas of our core business and investing aggressively, but prudently, in emerging opportunities," the company said in a statement.
The buyouts are part of a strategy Ford laid out last September at its investor day conference, when CFO Bob Shanks said the automaker would be looking to save about US$3 billion per year each of the next three years as costs rise. He said at the time the "efficiencies" would come in materials, suppliers and manufacturing headcount.
Ford targeted Asia and North America because other regions across the globe have either already faced recent cuts or are too small to be pruned. Ford in Europe has cut hundreds of salaried and manufacturing jobs in recent years as part of its turnaround plan that's allowed it to make a profit each of the past two years. It also has reduced jobs in South America. The Middle East and Africa was spared because it's a new, emerging business unit, Ford said.
Last week, CEO Mark Fields faced questions from the company's board of directors about his strategy for the company. Shareholders complained about the lagging stock price and asked why Ford was investing in the future if it hurt profits today. Since Fields became CEO in 2014, Ford's stock price has fallen nearly 40 per cent.
It's unclear if Wednesday's announcement was a direct result of last week's events.
The Wall Street Journal reported the intended cuts on Monday, and Reuters later clarified roughly how many and where the cuts would come.
The jobs cuts come at a time when Washington has taken a keen interest in the auto industry. President Donald Trump throughout his early days in office has pushed for automakers to create jobs in the United States.
Ford recently announced it would add 700 manufacturing jobs in Flat Rock, Mich., as part of an investment to build autonomous and electrified vehicles there. It also said earlier this year that it would add or keep 130 jobs at its Romeo engine plant north of Detroit.
The president, who has been quick to comment on Ford and other automaker's jobs announcement, was silent Wednesday morning on Twitter. A spokesman said the company had "communicated with stakeholders in Washington" regarding the job cuts.
Ford's stock fell to a 52-week low Wednesday morning, trading down about 1.5 per cent as of 10:47 a.m. to | 526 |
Nourishing, anti-aging eye care serum for all skin types.
A highly effective specialized preparation to animate and tighten the eye area while moisturizing and protecting. It is especially successful<|fim_middle|>ated. The specific combination of active ingredients strengthens the area around the eyes and results in a smooth appearance regardless of any age. This light serum may be used in combination with the Augen Pflegebalsam (Eye Care Cream).
Instructions: Gentle apply thin layer to eye area with fingertips. May be used twice daily. Follow with Augen Pflegebalsam (Eye Care Cream) for enhance results.
Discontinued by Dr. Eckstein. Eye Gel Supreme replaces this product. | in deep penetration through its dual formula of biogenic active substances based on the combination of nanosomes and liposomes. The pH of Nano Augen Gel has been adapted exactly to that of the physiological pH value of the tear fluid and is therefore well-toler | 51 |
Gottfried Helnwein (* 8. října 1948 ve Vídni) je<|fim_middle|> pracích inspirovat také dalšími dvěma Vídeňany Hermannem Nitschem a Rudolfem Schwarzkoglerem, kteří zobrazovali svá těla ve stavech jednoznačně odkazujících k utrpení, bolesti a smrti.
Můžeme také vidět fascinaci pro řeč těla, která se vrací k expresivním gestům a vyjádření jako v práci Egona Schieleho.
Spolupracoval také s některými hudebníky. Obal alba vytvořil například pro skupiny Scorpions, Rammstein nebo Marilyn Manson.
Motiv dítěte
Hlavní námět zůstává konstantní napříč celou Helnweinovou kariérou. Jedná se lidské bytí. Metaforou pro jeho umění, ačkoliv zahrnuje autoportréty, je převážně zobrazení dítěte, ale ne bezstarostného nevinného dítěte, jako bývá oblíbená představa.
Externí odkazy
oficiální stránky česky
rozhovor pro centrum.cz
rozhovor pro iDNES.cz
helnwein-museum.com
výstava Angels Sleeping v Galerii Rudolfinum
The Helnwein-Exhibition at Galerie Rudolfinum at Youtube
www.helnwein.net
Narození v roce 1948
Žijící lidé
Rakouští malíři
Rakouští fotografové
Muži
Hyperrealismus
Absolventi Akademie výtvarných umění ve Vídni | rakousko-irský umělec. Věnuje se malbě, fotografii, ale také performancím a instalacím.
Dílo
Studoval na Akademii výtvarných umění ve Vídni (Akademie der Bildenden Künste). Bylo mu uděleno ocenění rektora Akademie výtvarných umění ve Vídni, Kardinal-König prize a Theodor-Körner prize.
Pracoval jako malíř, návrhář, fotograf, malíř nástěnných maleb, sochař, umělec věnující se performancím a instalacím, který používá nejrůznější techniky a media.
Jeho rané práce jsou převážně hyperrealistické kresby zachycující zraněné děti, stejně tak jako performance – často s dětmi – na veřejných prostranstvích.
Často se zaměřuje především na psychologické a sociální úzkosti, historická témata a politické náměty, zvláště na období nacismu. Výsledkem toho je jeho práce často považovaná za provokativní a kontroverzní.
Jako rodilý Vídeňan se tradičně navrací k 18. století, do kterého spadají i sochy Franze Xavera Messerschmidta. Je vidět, že se často nechává ve svých | 401 |
LOS ANGELES — Earlier this year, Rachael Farrokh made a desperate plea to the world for help as she battled a severe form of anorexia.
Now, she's working to help others.
When she posted a video to YouTube in April, 37-year-old Farrokh weighed about 40 pounds and was close to death.
In the video of her appeal for help, Farrokh was bedridden, breathless and skeletal.
But even with her shocking appearance, her will to live was palpable. She needed money for treatment, and the world answered in the form of almost $200,000 in donations to her GoFundMe<|fim_middle|> remarkable transformation.
Throughout her journey from one treatment center in San Clemente, California, to her current treatment center in Portugal, her many supporters have been kept up to date on her progress and setbacks on Rachael's Road to Recovery Facebook page.
With the blessing of her doctors in Portugal, Farrokh traveled to Washington this week to attend the second annual March Against Eating Disorders.
At the march, a healthier and vibrant-looking Farrokh told Los Angeles TV station NBC4 she's ready to use the platform she's been given to create awareness about the disease.
"My mind is so much more clear and my thinking has developed," she added.
Farrokh knows she still has work to do in her treatment, but she won't let this second chance go to waste.
"I'm excited about life, because what was a glimmer of hope 3 months ago has turned into a certainty to live. I regained the clarity and strength of my mind. My goal in this recovery process is to create awareness and education in order to help others battling this disease," she wrote on Facebook. | page.
In May, Farrokh told CNN she knew her time was limited and without help from strangers around the world, she'd lose the battle against her disease very soon. Since then she's made a | 42 |
With the advent of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) coming into effect in May 2018, data security issues – and courses to educate people working with information – have become even more important.
This security awareness training course demonstrates the importance of keeping data secure and<|fim_middle|>.
Course was very interesting, good for basic knowledge for work staff.
I really enjoyed this course and will continue to learn IT security. | lays out the 'dos' and 'don'ts' of information and cyber security. It also provides guidance as to what to do if you believe information you hold might be at risk.
This course is perfect for you if you work with or can access personal, confidential and/or sensitive information. It's a good grounding in information security for anyone who deals with the general public and their information.
Well designed and easy to follow, it is not complicated either.
I found the course so useful that I recommended it to all my colleagues.
I have found this course very helpful. I have gained a lot of knowledge from it.
I have recommended Me Learning to numerous colleagues and even co-delivered a session, teaching them how to use it.
The course kept my attention throughout. I would recommend the course.
Very good introduction into Information Security for employees of all companies | 172 |
Heterogeneous catalysis is widely used in chemical, refinery, and pollution-control processes. For this reason, achieving optimal performance of catalysts is a significant issue for chemical engineers and chemists. This book addresses the question of how catalytic material should be distributed inside a porous support in order to obtain optimal performance. It treats single and multiple reaction systems, isothermal and nonisothermal conditions, pellets, monoliths, fixed-bed reactors, and membrane reactors. The effects of physicochemical and operating parameters are analyzed to gain insight into the underlying phenomena governing the performance of optimally designed catalysts. Throughout, the authors offer a balanced treatment<|fim_middle|>idis University College London. | of theory and experiment. Particular attention is given to problems of commercial importance. With its thorough treatment of the design, preparation, and utilization of supported catalysts, this book will be an ideal resource for graduate students, researchers, and practising engineers and chemists.
7. Preparation of pellets with nonuniform distribution of catalyst; Notation; References; Tables; Captions for figures; Appendices.
Asterios Gavriil | 88 |
There are tragedies that don't make the headlines
Join Integration Group this year in supporting the people that support those in need.
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and the unique MCA Research
Integration, founded in 1994, is a global firm focused on providing metrics, tools and processes to drive marketing accountability, through the holistic measurement and assessment of marketing communications.
Integration's Market ContactAudit (MCA) provides accountability to marketing management by assessing the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of any brand's marketing communications (marcom) in a given category/market.
Through the evaluation of a comprehensive set of brand contacts (touch-points), it quantifies how consumers experience brands.
MCA<|fim_middle|>Integration was founded two decades ago and has audited more than 35,406 brands among 2.3 million consumers across 523 categories,
90 markets and 40 languages.
Effective. Efficient. Accountable.
Integration was founded two decades ago and has audited more than 35,406 brands among 2.3 million consumers across 523 categories, 90 markets and 40 languages.
© Integration 2021
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The downloaded file was not sent. | therefore provides a holistic measurement of the Brand Experience (BE) - a critical input factor of sales performance.
Leading global marketing enterprises are applying the MCA to increase marketing communications effectiveness and efficiency through:
Gaining new insights into consumer engagement
Realizing substantial cost savings
Gaining efficiencies in marketing decision-making
The MCA quantifies how successfully a brand engages with consumers by determining the extent to which they can recall connecting with the brand through contacts, providing a true outcome indicator of marketing communications.
The MCA provides a comprehensive set of metrics, or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), that provide a quantitative, actionable fact-based framework for brand planning
MCA/Metrics are the only validated multi-contact-measurement... right around the world. They correlate consistently with Market Share at > .80, validating the importance of monitoring Brand Experience Share (BES) for marketing communications.
| 177 |
Numbering the fighting men: population, bodies and the Militia lists of the eighteenth century
McCormack, M. (2013) Numbering the fighting men: population, bodies and the Militia lists of the eighteenth century. Invited Presentation presented to: Life-Cycles Seminar Series, Institute for Historical Research, University of London, 19 November 2013. (Unpublished)
Conference or Workshop Item (Invited Presentation)
The military power of the state relates to the number of men it can put in arms. Accurate population statistics are therefore a prerequisite of military planning and strategy but, prior to the 1801 census, the British government had no clear idea of what the population actually was. The eighteenth century is usually seen as a lacuna in the history of population statistics, but this paper makes a case for the Militia Lists, which were collected systematically from 1757 and which represent a<|fim_middle|> population, the gendered body and the state.
D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain > DA40 Political, military, naval, and Air Force history
U Military Science > UB1 Military administration > UB320 Enlistment, recruiting, etc.
U Military Science > U1 Military science (General) > U150 Military planning
McCormack, Matthew
Life-Cycles Seminar Series
Institute for Historical Research, University of London | nationwide census of adult males. The process of creating a national territorial force involved the collection of population data on a massive scale. Furthermore, some of this data is biometric in nature, and the authorities used the process to select men of appropriate health, age and stature in order to optimise the militia's physical stock. If the reform of the militia during the Seven Years War was partly prompted by concern about 'effeminacy' and national degeneration, the process of implementing the policy arguably sought to address these same concerns. National defence was a key obligation of citizenship and it also promised to reinvigorate the nation's men and restore the social order. By grounding citizenship in the male population in a biological sense, the New Militia marks a new departure in the relationship between | 156 |
Bigger Miss enjoying the first of our new weekly family time outings. This was her idea - to have a weekly family time so she got first choice. It doesn't have to be outings, could be playing games, lego, cooking - just time to spend as a family to make us all happier (it may take a few weeks!) Last week was a trip to Alice Holt Forest as it was a lovely day.
It was a frost<|fim_middle|> a great adventure playground, looks amazingly good fun and I'd have difficulty not joining in on it! You're right, the sheep in front of the church on the frosty grass look brilliant. | y Sunday morning and I took this after I took Bigger Miss to Sunday School - I rather liked all the sheep in front of the church.
Little Miss lost her first tooth on Monday - she was VERY excited, quite possibly the best thing ever apart from Christmas and Birthdays!
Bit of an odd one but I was taken by the frost patterns on the car!
Wow the frost patterns are amazing.
A great set of photos! Your family day looks like it was a lot of fun!
Lovely photo's! Glad you said what the last one is as I was wondering! Love the woods shots!
What | 122 |
Released earlier this month, Aesop's latest In Two Minds skincare range was created to balance combination skin.
And we're talking about the oily T-zone and chin, with dry and flaky cheek areas, kind of combination skin.
Three years in the making<|fim_middle|> the skin for a dose of the lightweight hydrator, which feels rich when dispensed but disappears into the skin with gentle massages. This moisturiser contains anti-inflammatory andiroba oil, copaiba, witch hazel, sandalwood, and acai extracts.
It gave my skin a slight tingling sensation, and left it feeling supple throughout the day.
My cheeks were moisturised, and the usually greasy T-zone and chin remained matte. | at the brand's lab in Melbourne, In Two Minds comprises of a cleanser (S$43 for 100ml), toner (S$45 for 100ml), and a hydrator (S$80 for 60ml).
The cleanser is a gel-based low-suds formula that is mild but contains witch hazel, sage leaf and salicylic acid for gentle yet thorough cleansing.
The toner is a refreshing blend of chamomile, witch hazel, niacinamide and panthenol.
It softens and primes | 119 |
I haven't had a kidney stone in a while, but I often find myself thinking: How do I know if my kidney stone pain is a single episode? What qualifies as chronic kidney stones? I don't have them often—maybe once every year or two—but I know a lot of people who seem to be affected every few months. Here's the scary thing: If you have chronic kidney stones, you and your physician need to talk. You need a strategy, because<|fim_middle|> likely to have more in the future. Uric acid stones are often not chronic, and they are easy to treat. Calcium stones are the most common and have the most widely-ranging outcomes.
If you go to the doctor for your kidney stone, talk to your doctor about getting a standard 24-hour urine kidney stone risk panel. This will be able to identify supersaturations that may develop into future stones. You'll also be able to see the chemical makeup of your urine, which could prove to be very important. If you haven't had a kidney stone for a year, ask for an annual follow-up with your doctor to see if your urine has changed or stayed the same. If you're able to go that long without a stone, it likely isn't chronic, but it never hurts to check. | kidney stones mean business. Of course, they're painful, but they can be extremely dangerous and be a signal of greater health issues.
Apparently, if you have a kidney stone once every one or two months, the condition is considered to be chronic. However, even if you get stones once or twice every year, you should consult a doctor. Though the cause can stem from varying factors, the largest reason for seeing a professional is, well, preventing new stones from forming. Those bastards hurt more than anything in the world, and if you think there's the potential for another to form, you need to talk to your doc ASAP.
So, what do I mean by "there's the potential for another to form?" There are a few ways to figure this out. The first is identifying the type of stone you most recently passed. Cystine stones are almost always hereditary, meaning you're very | 182 |
Active Heed — Visions from Realities
((Not on label) no#, 201<|fim_middle|> motion | 3, CD)
It's been a while since an album struck me so divergently as Active Heed's full-length debut. The opening track, "Flying Like a Fly," while sonically pleasant to listen to, has lyrics that at first seemed like really awkward English written by a non-native speaker. "Flying like a fly / Like if it was my very first flight, / Floating on the floor / In this sunny day." Then I was strongly reminded of Flight of the Conchords — as a parody of pretentious prog-rock lyrics, it works pretty well. The problem with that theory is that on the whole, Visions from Reality seems like a serious work, which puts me back to the first impression. Setting aside the lyrics for a moment, the music is melodic and varied enough to avoid stagnation, with all the players acquitting themselves admirably. Acoustic guitar forms the base of most of the songs, sometimes lending an jangly mood reminiscent of R.E.M., sometimes leaning more to the Classical nylon-string sound. Umberto Pagnini's compositions are nicely arranged by Lorenzo Poli, who handles a lot of the instruments himself; Pellek (Per Fredrik Åsly) contributes the lead vocals; others handle drums and backing vocals. Pellek has a very nice voice, strong when it needs to be, delicate when that's called for, and his accented pronunciation only occasionally mars the listener's experience. The vocal lines are often very "composerly" — giving the impression of having been written on paper without too much consideration of how they would sound in performance: the accents often come at very awkward places in the phrases, and many parts include rapid rhythms that Pellek struggles to keep up with. But don't let these factors deter you — if you're a fan of melodic symphonic prog without rough edges, this is a very enjoyable set of music, an admirable accomplishment.
Related artist(s): Active Heed
Lives & Times - The Great Sad Happy Ending – What remains to be said about Lives and Times? Their style has not changed markedly since their last release Waiting for the Parade less than a year ago (reviewed in issue #5), although it does seem... (1995) » Read more
"Motionless" in | 469 |
Home » Outtakes » Folksinger Writes Song About Adirondack Tank Cars
Folksinger Writes Song About Adirondack Tank Cars
November 2, 2017 Leave a Comment
Dan Berggren has<|fim_middle|> of unused tank cars on railroad tracks in the Adirondacks. It's of special interest to Berggren because his hometown is Minerva, where the cars are now sitting near the Boreas River. And so he composed a song about them. We won't reveal Dan's position on the controversy. Just click here and give a listen to "Junkyard Express."
To learn more about Berggren, visit his website.
More Tank Cars Roll Into Adirondack Park
Schumer joins fight against tank cars on Adirondack rail line
Cuomo Opposes Tank Cars On Adirondack Line | written a song about tank cars in the Adirondacks.
Dan Berggren is a well-known balladeer of the Adirondacks. Over the years, he has released numerous albums with such titles as Rooted in the Mountains, Cloudsplitter, and North River, North Woods. He has been following the news about the storage | 69 |
I used this super fun image from Your Next Stamp called Wicked Sweet. I paired her with some Fancy Pants Designs Oct 31st dp and the layout is the Sweet Stop Sketch #180.
Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!
eek! She's soooooo cute!!! Love her skull balloon....hehe!~ GREAT Halloween card!
OMGosh, TOO cute, Kerri! Your coloring is so fabulous! And I'm not normally a skull/skeleton liker, but this is definitely an exception! That image is darling!
What a fun card and gotta love that purple hair -<|fim_middle|> her purple hair and striped stockings crack me up!
What a super cute Halloween card, Kerri....the image is sooo adorable, especially with her amethyst hair and the bone balloon cracked me up!!!!!!
Too sweet! Love how you colored the image--and the fabulous spiderweb background, too. | lol!
Just adorable! I really love her amethyst hair!!
Love that adorable girl image and the cute girly skull. REALLY great looking card!!
What a fun Halloween card! I love how you've colored this cute image, | 46 |
Q: Can't send audio file with telegram bot I've got stuck trying to get<|fim_middle|>gong.mp3", "rb"), title="press play")
| my bot to send audio file and tried reading everything I can and for some reason still not working...
this is my code, its quite long so i've just included relevant parts:
import Constants as keys
from telegram.ext import *
from telegram import ReplyKeyboardMarkup,InlineKeyboardButton, InlineKeyboardMarkup, CallbackQuery, Update
import time
import Responses as R
import song
import logging
import emoji
import random
import requests
def yes_command(update, context):
time.sleep(5)
update.message.reply_text("Let's test here, press play to listen.")
time.sleep(3)
update.message.reply_audio("press play", audio=open("C:/Users/0836/Documents/omsk/bot2/song/bootgong.mp3"))
def main():
updater = Updater(keys.API_KEY, use_context=True)
dp = updater.dispatcher
dp.add_handler(CommandHandler("start", start_command))
dp.add_handler(CommandHandler("play", play_command))
dp.add_handler(CommandHandler("no", no_command))
dp.add_handler(CommandHandler("yes", yes_command))
dp.add_handler(MessageHandler(Filters.text, handle_message))
dp.add_handler(MessageHandler(Filters.photo, photo_command))
updater.start_polling()
updater.idle()
main()
I'm really new to bots and python so not sure what i'm doing wrong, please help! I've seen stuff about uploading it to a telegram server but not sure how?
A: try to add 'rb' in open
update.message.reply_audio(open("C:/Users/0836/Documents/omsk/bot2/song/boot | 341 |
Be sure<|fim_middle|>. | to see The Honeymooners every weekday night at 12:30 am on TV Land!
The Honeymooners, revered as one of the most uproarious sitcoms of all time, revolves around the desperate schemes of lovable New York City bus driver, Ralph Kramden (played by "the Great One," Jackie Gleason). Kramden lives in a rundown Brooklyn apartment with his sharp-tongued wife Alice (Audrey Meadows). Inspired by the almighty dollar, Ralph mires himself in get-rich-quick schemes (like investing in no-cal pizza or marketing plastic shoehorns), often coercing his pal and neighbor, Ed Norton, into going down with him. In direct contrast to Ralph's hotheaded, explosive temperament, however, Ed maintains an unflappable, positive attitude through it all.
Created by Jackie Gleason in 1951 as a segment for the Dumont Network's Cavalcade of Stars, The Honeymooners originally aired as a series of short sketches within the one-hour variety show. In 1952, after a substantial cash offer, Gleason moved The Honeymooners to CBS as The Jackie Gleason Show starring Art Carney as Norton, Audrey Meadows as Alice and Joyce Randolph as Trixie. In 1955, breaking from the weekly variety format, Gleason let the show's most popular segment stand on its own. The Honeymooners made its debut as a half-hour series, replacing its parent show for a full season of 39 episodes. Now referred to as "the classic 39," these episodes were filmed in front of a live audience and pioneered the standard single-set sitcom style.
Surprisingly, The Honeymooners was not the hit it was expected to be, and Gleason returned to the variety show format after one year. Nine years later, when Art Carney returned, additional episodes aired through the end of The Jackie Gleason Show in 1971, featuring Sheila MacRae as Alice and Jane Kean as Trixie.
The "classic 39" became a cornerstone of vintage television reruns soon after their original run. And in 1984, fans of the series were treated to "the lost episodes," a series of Honeymooners sketches culled from original kinescopes from the early days. As part of his contract, Gleason had received a copy of each episode and saved them for posterity. A get-rich-quick scheme worthy of old Ralphy-boy himself, Gleason sold them 30 years later to a Kramden-hungry nation | 543 |
Aryballe Unveils Digital Nose to Detect Odors in Near Real-Time
sumanthkuluru 30th August 2021 (Last Updated August 30th, 2021 13:12)
Credit: metamorworks/Shutterstock
Concept: French startup Aryballe has rolled out NeOse Advance, a digital olfaction solution that can<|fim_middle|> material characterization, prevention of hazardous and intoxicated driving, and vehicle health maintenance. Hyundai recently invested in and collaborated with Aryballe to leverage NeOse Advance to notify drivers about the interior conditions of their vehicles. American International Flavors & Fragrances has partnered with the startup to develop odor sensing and quality control applications in the food, fragrance, and cosmetics industries. In a nutshell, digital olfaction can fuse scientific areas like organic chemistry, silicon engineering, photonics, and machine learning to transform quality control in many consumer markets. | detect, embed, and recognize various odors. The device can find its application in automotive and consumer industries like food and beverage, appliances, and personal care. The startup has also launched a cloud-enabled software Aryballe Suite that collects data from the device and allows customers to access and customize analysis of odors based on their needs.
Nature of Disruption: NeOse Advance is a sensor device, which is smaller than a paperclip in size, is based on Aryballe's silicon photonics biosensor-based platform. It can be easily integrated into any existing smart sensor network. The device works by attracting and detecting odor molecules released by using chemical sensors and spectroscopy to analyze peptides. It then generates a unique digital signature for each item. The device collects and organizes all these digital signatures in a database and utilizes them to authenticate quality. The solution is integrated with the Aryballe Suite software, which assists users in determining quality through numerous data sources in a shorter period. The cloud-based data storage system provides indefinite access to data. It offers multiple features including odor analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), distance matrix, and cluster quality scores.
Outlook: Digital olfaction has gained traction in recent times across various industries. For example, the technology can help smart home appliance companies to develop new solutions based on growing consumer expectations for seamless experiences. In automotive, digital nose can assist in | 279 |
Later that day Santa arrived back at his Christmas toy workshop with a long list of Christmas gift requests from all the boys and girls who had come to visit him during the day. However, he was troubled on how he could possibly fulfil Tommy's Mums Christmas gift wish! Santa called out to his head<|fim_middle|> Christmas gift from Santa and immediately hung the mobile night light from the ceiling in Tommy's bedroom above the bassinet. She put the bedside night light on the drawer next to Tommy's bed, ready for bedtime.
That night, Christmas night, Tommy's Mums wish came true. Tommy not only settled into bed without a fuss but he slept right through the night! Thank you Santa for your Christmas gift, it is the best Christmas present ever! The lights look like fairy lights twinkling around Tommy's room. They have been a great success. I think I will be giving these wonderful night lights to all my family and friends with kids next Christmas so they too can get a full night of uninterrupted sleep. | Elf Jack in the workshop and gave him the challenge to work on a Christmas gift for Tommy's Mum that will ensure she gets a 'full night of uninterrupted sleep'. What a wonderful Christmas present that would be!
In no time at all Elf Jack had solved the problem; getting Tommy to settle early and sleep through the night was the key to Tommy's Mums Christmas wish. He had the answer, night lights! Night lights for kids were a proven way to relax and comfort kids before and during sleep. That's it! Elf Jack ran off to find Santa with the good news. Santa was with Mrs Clause when Elf Jack came running in yelling Night Lights! Night Lights! Night Lights! Kids' night lights are the perfect Christmas gift for Tommy's Mum. Mrs Clause immediately thought Elf Jack was right. Not just a great solution for Tommy's Mum but all those Mums and Dads with kids. Santa agreed, that would be the perfect Christmas gift for not only Tommy's Mum but for Tommy too.
Santa and his Elves loaded the sleigh with Christmas presents for all the boys and girls all around the world. Right on top was Tommy's Mums Christmas present, a beautiful moon and clouds mobile night light and a giraffe sleepy light, because Tommy's house was Santa's first stop on his list. Come on Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph, we're off to Tommy's. Christmas morning Tommy's Mum unwrapped her | 308 |
You have to get to know the meaning not just of joy but also of grief, before being allowed in the spacecraft cabin. Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon. July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind. We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth.
NASA is not about the 'Adventure of Human Space exploration We won't be doing it just to get out there in space – we'll be doing it because the to things we learn out there will be making life better for a lot of people who won't be able to go.
We're curious people. Look back over history, people have put their lives at stake to go out and explore. We believe in what we're doing. Now it's time to go.
I believe I never knew what the word round meant until I saw Earth from space.
It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth<|fim_middle|> of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win. | . I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best | 75 |
https<|fim_middle|> woman struck, killed by vehicle in hit-and-run collision Friday afternoon
Avalanche at Alpine Meadows leaves one dead, one 'seriously injured' | ://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/article/Visit-the-life-under-the-Hyde-Street-Pier-4407268.php
Visit the life under the Hyde Street Pier
Mary Ellen Hunt
Published 2:05 pm PDT, Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Fifth-graders from Fairlands Elementary in Pleasanton get their sea legs with a visit to the Balclutha at the Hyde Street Pier.
Not all the residents of San Francisco pay high rent - some of them just hang around. Under a pier.
On Friday you can visit with several of the denizens of Hyde Street Pier on a tour led by National Park Service ranger Rejane Butler that reveals some of the watery hiding places.
Butler says she likes to take an ecological perspective when teaching about the lives and habits of the creatures that live in and around the bay. At the end of the pier, she starts the tour by talking about the local birds, sea gulls and migratory birds. She helps visitors understand how to tell the difference between seals and sea lions. Then the tour heads down to the floating pier, which reveals new habitats at low tide, where the kids can get down on their bellies, look into the water, and touch and observe the invertebrates and sea life under the pier.
"If you look carefully, you can really see indicators of what's going on in the bay," Butler says. "For instance, I know the water is getting warmer because some of the species you usually see further south are moving up to San Francisco Bay and staying here. Species that are considered invasive to the Bay Area - like the feather boa kelp, the green crab and gooseneck barnacles - we see more of them nowadays."
The tour, which lasts about 45 minutes, is great for kids of any age, Butler says, noting that you can get a close-up view of some of the sea life.
"I love it when you get people who say, 'Hey there's stuff down here,' " she says, adding, "You can touch some of the animals, although of course, you always have the option not to. Some people say, 'No, we'll just look,' and that's fine."
The Hyde Street Pier, part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, is a great spot to take the kids. For $5 per adult - kids under 16 are free - you can get a pass good for seven days to visit all the ships on the pier. Children can see the giant mechanism that powers the paddle wheels of the steam-powered ferryboat Eureka, check out what the deck of a schooner looks like without masts and see boats being restored in workshops along the pier.
It's enormous fun clambering around on the 127-year-old three-masted square-rigger Balclutha, and the more intrepid seafarers can join in some hands-on fun, like learning to set a staysail. Below decks on the Balclutha, you can watch videos that bring the ship to life and describe her adventurous voyages from Cape Horn to Alaska.
Butler's animal tour is free, with or without the pass.
"There are no prerequisites," she says, "except to come with an open mind."
Animals of Hyde Street Pier: 3 p.m. Friday. Free. Meet at the end of Hyde Street Pier, S.F. (415) 447-5000. 1.usa.gov/ZDEMY6.
Mary Ellen Hunt is a freelance writer in San Francisco. E-mail: 96hours@sfchronicle.com.
San Leandro | 758 |
What Can Sound Healing Be Used For?
By Sally Painter Astrology and Tarot Reader
Sound healing is a form of therapy that is used to heal and realign the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual auric bodies. Energy systems are affected by sound whether it is a single note or a symphony. Energy therapies recognize the wrong sounds can have a negative impact on health while the right sounds can affect a person's individual frequency for improved heath.
Negative Health Impact From Noise Pollution
The wrong kind of sounds, such as those generated by industrial machinery, airplanes, trains, and cars contribute to noise pollution. These sounds have a direct adverse effect on people.
Chronic headaches are often the result of excessive noise pollution.
Exposure to noise can elevate blood pressure.
Noise pollution can affect mood and cause irritability.
Sleep cycles are interrupted by noise. The lack of sleep can contribute to a lower job performance while further impacting quality of life.
What Tools Are Used in Sound Healing?
Using Sound Energy to Heal
How to Unblock Chakras
Positive Sound Counters Noise Pollution
The<|fim_middle|> honey bees buzz to this frequency. According to Dr Leonard Horowitz, the frequency 528 Hz reflects sacred geometry and has been extensively studied by various scientists and researchers. He explains in an interview that upon reading his book, The Book of 528: Prosperity Key of LOVE, musicians re-tuned their instruments to the 528 Hz frequency. He states, "Playing 528 music not only heals you, but like a pebble in a pond radiates out touching the farthest heart." Other claims to the healing powers of this frequency include:
The 582 Hz frequency promotes healing.
It promotes DNA repair.
It also increases a person's energy level.
How Sound Healing Is Used
There are several sound healing systems that are believed to heal any number of illnesses. You may wish to try a few of these techniques to gauge if any work for you.
What Attracts the Virgo Man? By Ann Roberts
Types of Women That Taurus Men Like By Patricia Lantz C.Ht.
Scorpio Behavior When in Love By Patricia Lantz C.Ht. | positive sounds of classical music and nature counter the negative health effects of noise pollutions.
Listening to positive sound relaxes the body to release built-up tension causing headaches.
It reduces blood pressure with meditative frequency.
It elevates mood and clears the mind with relaxing soothing sounds.
Healing Sounds of Nature
Humans are naturally attuned to nature. Many illnesses reflect a disconnect with thus basic relationship to the planet.
Nature sounds can help you relax and allow positive energy to replace negative energy.
Meditation for restoring balance to the body systems can be enhanced with nature sounds.
Insomnia is one health problem that can be treated by exposure to the sounds of nature.
White Noise Sleep Aid to Counter Insomnia
Stress and anxiety caused by noise can result in insomnia and other serious diseases. Not everyone succumbs to nature sounds for a restful undisturbed night of sleep. White noise is considered a positive sound used to counter insomnia.
According to Popular Science, white noise can help some people suffering from insomnia.
White noise contains most of the sounds ranging from low to high frequencies and in equal amounts.
The white noise covers up or masks the sounds that ordinarily keep a person awake or that wake them from a sound sleep.
Different Instrument Sounds Used for Healing
Sound therapy is attributed to healing people with little more than playing music or a specific instrument. There are many sound tools and instruments used for healing, such as singing bowls.
Singing Bowls for Chakra Healing
Each singing bowl has a different sound that can resonate a healing vibration. One healing technique identifies the singing bowl tones that match the frequencies of each chakra. It's believed that when placed and played directly on the body, the close contact allows the bowl vibration to resonate deeper. This technique is used to heal and correct chakras that are blocked, out of balance, or spinning in reverse.
Percussion Instruments Remove Stagnant Energy
A drum or other percussion instrument vibration creates a resonating energy that's used to force stagnant energy to move from blocked areas of the body. Stagnant energy can occur in organs and interfere with blood flow and block chakras. A beating drum vibration is used to break up the blockage and allow the energy flow and blood flow to resume.
Tuning Forks Align the Human Biofield
This vibrational therapy uses calibrated tuning forks made of metal.
This sound treatment corrects abnormal changes in the body's natural rhythms.
The forks realign the natural flow of the nervous system.
Tuning forks treat strained muscles, heal inflammation, reduce swelling, and unblock chakras.
Chanting to Heal
There are many mantras you can chant at a specific frequency for healing purposes.
This sacred Sanskrit word means source or supreme. Chanting Om for extended periods is said to have great health benefits.
The repetitive chanting creates vibrations that travel up the head and clears the sinuses.
It stimulates thyroid from vocal cord vibrations.
It strengthens the immune system and bolsters the body's self-healing abilities.
Chanting Om charges the body with energy allowing hands-on self-healing while chanting.
It generates positive energy to cleanse the aura.
This sound is used for releasing and letting go whatever you need to discard in order to heal. It is a traditional morning mantra, but can be used anytime it is needed. It's especially helpful for releasing negative emotions causing chakra and other energy blockages.
Hrim
Hrim (hreem) is a healing mantra that when chanted is said to cleanse the heart.
Sound Frequencies for Healing
Certain frequencies are believed to offer healings through the sound's ability to alter on a molecular level as witnessed by Dr Masaru Emoto's research on sound frequency transforming polluted water into pure water. The two most recognized healing frequencies are 423 Hz and 528 Hz.
A healing sound the body instantly recognizes as being attuned to the natural frequency of all life is 423 Hz.
People respond to these sounds, especially music, tuned to 423 Hz with a feeling of peace, calmness, and an over-all good sensation.
The frequency is used as a de-stressing tool.
It is believed to have an immediate healing effect that the body responds to by releasing emotions that are blocking chakras and other energy systems.
The Om chant, a mindful prayer energy, is a 423 Hz vibration.
The love frequency, 528 Hz, is touted as the miracle vibration that is attuned to all living things, and even | 917 |
When USC takes the court Friday to face Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament, it will be unknown territory for every player. USC's players can only imagine the intensity of being in an NCAA Tournament game, because the last time the team was in the tournament was during the 2001-02 season.
Sophomore forward Keith Wilkinson believes that the novelty of this week could be a positive as well as negative for USC.
Though the<|fim_middle|>, deciding to rest players after they played Thursday, Friday and Saturday in their run to the Pac-10 Tournament final. They did report to Galen Center to watch film on Arkansas. | players lack NCAA Tournament experience, their coach does not. Tim Floyd has a 4-5 record in five previous trips to the tournament with Iowa State and New Orleans. His last three tournament teams at Iowa State all won at least one game.
Floyd's last trip to the dance was in 1997, when he led Iowa State to the Sweet 16. Iowa State missed the tournament the next season, then Floyd left to the NBA to coach the Chicago Bulls.
Haskins invited: Floyd said he invited Don Haskins to attend Friday's game. Floyd started his career as an assistant at Texas-El Paso under Haskins, who was immortalized in the movie "Glory Road" for starting an all-black team and winning the 1966 NCAA Championship over an all-white Kentucky squad.
Floyd said he was unsure if Haskins would be able to make it to the game because of his health. He's had multiple heart surgeries and needed to have part of his foot amputated due to complications from diabetes, according to Floyd.
No practice: Floyd canceled practice Monday | 227 |
AdHoc Studios has become<|fim_middle|>-screen image quality". | the first audio post production facility in Spain to purchase Sony's SRX-R510P 4K projector. The projector has been supplied and installed by Sony Solutions specialist Cinematografía Pereira.
One of Madrid's largest and most advanced post specialists, AdHoc offers audio mixing, editing, dubbing and sweetening services for a wide range of film, television, commercials and digital media industry clients.
The SRX-R510P projects crisply-detailed, high contrast 4K images onto an 8.5 x 4 metre screen in AdHoc's huge principal mixing room that occupies 250 square metres. It's complemented by a Dolby Atmos system – also supplied by Pereira – for truly immersive 360° multi-channel cinema sound.
"We wanted to be able to offer our customers, filmmakers, producers and sound professionals the optimum combination of image quality and sound together to achieve a flawless result. This is so the spectator can enjoy a true cinematic experience, with the sound quality of the film being as close as possible to the original envisaged during production" explains Javier Valdés, AdHoc Studios owner. "We carefully compared a lot of different projection solutions available in the industry, and it quickly became clear to us that Sony 4K simply delivered the very best on | 270 |
WPHS Teacher Wins Healthy Central Florida Challenge, and Trip to Dr. Oz Show
June 8, 2012 /in People, WPHF News /by admin
Surrounded by fellow teachers, administrators, friends, family and community leaders, a surprised Winter Park High School Teacher–Meg Pietkiewicz–on June 7 learned she had won the health and fitness challenge introduced by Dr. Mehmet Oz as part of the launch of the Healthy Central Florida (HCF) initiative in February in Winter Park.
Her prize is an all-expense paid trip for two to New York City to participate in a live filming of the Dr. Oz show.
Ms. Pietkiewicz, a popular marketing teacher at the school, has been successful in her own quest for better health, but she also inspired faculty, students and family to join her on the journey.
Her journey began more than 90 days ago when she attended the kickoff of Healthy Central Florida, an initiative founded by Florida Hospital and the Winter Park Health Foundation to make Central Florida the healthiest community in the nation, beginning with Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville.
At the kickoff, Dr. Oz delivered the keynote address and urged community leaders to make healthy changes in the places where people live, learn, work and play to help make the healthy choice the easy choice.
He also challenged residents to take a 3:30:3 Pledge to get active three times a week, for 30 minutes a day for the next three months, and hundreds did. Those who successfully completed the challenge were eligible to compete for a trip to New York City to sit in on the filming of the Dr. Oz show.
Of all the entries, the essay from Ms. Pietkiewicz stood out because she was able to create a healthier environment at home, school and the community. "She also brought to life a key Healthy Central Florida principle, that of making getting healthy<|fim_middle|> unanimous winner," said Hamilton Buss. "She exemplifies all that Healthy Central Florida stands for — getting people connected and having fun, moving more, eating healthier and enjoying active, energized lives!"
Healthy Central Florida is using evidence-based strategies, and research supports using a pledge to change behavior. Making a commitment and making it public helps people be accountable for change. Everyone is encouraged to take the pledge and can find it along with other information at www.HealthyCentralFlorida.org.
https://www.wphf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/meg-oz-winner.jpg 1305 2048 admin https://www.wphf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/wphf-new-header-logo-01.png admin2012-06-08 12:57:202014-01-03 18:53:16WPHS Teacher Wins Healthy Central Florida Challenge, and Trip to Dr. Oz Show
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Walk and Bike to School Workshop Coming Up Sept. 18
Recent News: People
And the Winner is…December 21, 2017 - 10:24 am
William Jones of Eatonville was recently awarded the Live with Purpose "Boldy" presented by Growing Bolder in partnership with the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF).
Leadership Eatonville Graduates Second ClassOctober 20, 2017 - 1:19 pm
The graduating class of 15 will work together to make the town a healthier, more vibrant place
Join the Fall Move60 ChallengeOctober 4, 2017 - 6:02 pm
Help move our community one step closer to being the healthiest community in the nation.
Arts in Action Classes Improve Health and Wellbeing of Older AdultsSeptember 25, 2017 - 11:47 am
The classes are experiencing early success in engaging older adults in performance based arts programs.
Faith Community Programs Boost Health of all Ages Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Program Launching in Eatonville | fun!" said Jill Hamilton Buss, Executive Director, Healthy Central Florida.
Ms. Pietkiewicz's pledge was to walk her dogs 30 minutes a day twice a day and to ride her horse three times a week for an hour. The pledge, she said was easy to keep because she loves getting out with her animals.
She lost 12 pounds in the process and inspired her husband to get back to golfing and walking. She also started cooking healthier meals and tried to shop the perimeter of the grocery store as Dr. Oz suggested at the HCF launch event.
At work, she recognized fellow staff members could use an after-school exercise program to relieve stress and improve fitness. She found a leader for the program and it was held once a week and included nutrition information and then exercise. "The leader introduced us to Zumba (which we quickly realized was hard work but a lot of fun), circuit training, interval training and the dreaded band workout," she said. The combined group lost just over 60 pounds during a 10-week period.
Ms. Pietkiewicz also has been working with her WPHS marketing class students to develop a program called Live.Life.Healthy which will focus on teen fitness, nutrition awareness and clean living. She plans to incorporate the 3:30:3 Pledge into the campaign and get students to participate beginning this fall.
"While we had many excellent entries and have continued to hear success stories from dozens of people who've taken the pledge, Ms. Pietkiewicz was our clear and | 316 |
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Series 5: Jesus' second tour of Galilee - with his disciples
9. The Parable of the Weeds
Video Uploaded: 19th May 2020 .
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19th May 2020 | Martin Charlesworth
Series 5: Episode 9
Matthew 13:24-30 Matthew 13:36-43
Law of Moses
(Old Testament) Scripture
Galilean Ministry
Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven
Satan/Demonic Forces
Agriculture/Farming
Land Owning
Jesus - Second Coming
Jesus' Mission
Jesus uses another agricultural parable to teach that at the same time as the Kingdom of God is growing, so too the power of evil. Ultimately, the victory will come at the Second Coming.
Hello and welcome to Series 5 Episode 9. We're studying parables at the moment and this is 'The Parable of the Weeds.' This is Matthew 13, which is a chapter given over to seven different important parables. We're going to be studying Matthew 13: 24 - 30 and then, later on, verses 36 - 43.
Introduction and Recap
We are at a very important time in the life and ministry of Jesus. After a successful first tour of Galilee (which we studied in Series 3) and after a very profound teaching which he gave on The Sermon on the Mount (which we studied in Series 4), we're now in the second tour of Galilee where he is taking his newly appointed Apostles around, extending his ministry and performing many miracles, engaging in key teaching and some debates and arguments with his opponents. We've definitely seen the sense of conflict between Jesus and his religious opponents increase during Series 5 in this second tour of Galilee, and this provides the context for the parables of Matthew 13. Matthew himself, in chapter 12, gives us an account of a fundamental moment of conflict and division and that casts a shadow over the rest of the Gospel story but it particularly helps us to understand the significance of parables.
In Matthew 12: 22 to 37 and then onwards to the end of the chapter, we have a major conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees over his identity. The crowds wanted to call him the Son of David (which is a title for the Messiah, the deliverer, the Saviour from God) and the Pharisees claimed, at the same time, that his power came from Satanic, evil forces - in other words, he was a totally false messiah operating with occult power. It was an astonishing conflict and that conflict will roll on through the story. Matthew notes that immediately after that moment of conflict - which represents a settled decision of the religious establishment (the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin and the priests) as far as we can tell - this is the moment when Jesus focuses on using parables. We discovered, earlier in the last episode, that a parable is a symbolic story which usually has one main meaning. Although some parables can have a detailed allegorical interpretation of individual details, we can only determine whether that's the case when those explanations are given by Jesus.
That was, in fact, the case for the first parable that we studied, which was the Parable of the Sower. That was in our last episode and that's an episode well worth reading in this context, if you haven't done so yet, because we looked at some of the introduction to the use of parables. The Parable of the Sower really emphasises the significance of the act of preaching and sharing the message of Jesus. The overwhelming message from that parable is that we should keep sowing the seed, as it were, of the Word of God - whatever the outcome. The parable determined four different outcomes: some of them very bad, some of them rather mixed and only one of them really good in terms of productivity and growth. The seed that's sown in the ground successfully, in good conditions, can be extraordinarily productive; Jesus said it can be up to a hundred times reproduced. That was the first parable and we also looked at the purpose of parables and the fact that they have a kind of almost prophetic purpose because they illuminate and illustrate and encourage the believer who is following Jesus and they sort of close the door and confuse the person who's set themselves against the Gospel message - they confirm decisions already made by being a little hard to understand. Jesus explained that by reference to a prophecy in Isaiah 6, which he quoted and applied to the current generation of Jewish people. I think Jesus was fundamentally concerned for the Jewish people of his time because, although he was popular in one level, he was aware that the whole establishment was against him and they could sway the nation against him in the long term and, therefore, prevent many people coming to be true believers, to being born-again, to becoming disciples and members of the Church community that would follow<|fim_middle|> it had been disrupted by exile and return, Roman occupation and other things like that. In the days of Jesus, generally speaking, most people had access to some land and big commercial farms were relatively few. People understood about sowing the seed and creating a harvest. Self-sufficiency on the land was a goal of many people and they were very sensitive to the weather, the climate and other economic conditions (irrigation, water supply) that affected the production levels for their agriculture.
Jesus is speaking their language and, as he does so, he now uses the concept of sowing the seed in a different way than he did in the earlier parable - the Parable of the Sower. He's not talking about different types of soil and rocks and the receptivity of the soil, he's actually comparing two different seeds. He's describing a social incident that might actually take place in a Jewish village, town or in a very remote area. He's describing the result of a kind of social conflict that might take place in a small community - he's describing someone who, maliciously, comes secretly at night and plants weeds in a field that has just been planted with healthy seed. This was the sort of thing that could happen and conflicts between families, and between individuals, often spilled over into agricultural incidents and issues - issues with land and farming, planting and sowing and reaping. Also, very often, incidents with livestock - particularly with cattle, with sheep or goats, shepherds would be in conflict over different areas that they might go roving with their flocks and, in terms of the actual farming, there was the possibility of conflict over many issues.
Old Testament Example
One such conflict that is recorded in the Old Testament is quite an interesting thing - the boundaries between land were usually marked by boundary stones - not so much with enclosed fencing, as we would have in the modern world (particularly the developed world and the Western world) that was very rare in those days. It would be boundary stones that would mark the land and the Old Testament is a place where we can see that there is a warning: "Don't move the boundary stone." Now, why would you move the boundary stone? Because you are in conflict with your neighbour and you're using the issue of land as a point of conflict and gaining an advantage against your neighbour. Proverbs makes the point clearly. Proverbs 22: 28, says: 'Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.'
A Mean Trick
In that context, it's easy to imagine that another way that a conflict could play itself out would be in this rather mean and nasty trick, whereby someone literally throws in the seeds of a particular weed. Many people have wondered what actual weed have we got in mind here? Many scholars have come up with the idea that this may be a weed called darnel which is a little bit like wheat, superficially, and it grows up initially (in the early stages of the plant) to look a little bit similar to wheat and other similar crops but then it is very different once it is fully grown. Darnel was available then and you could easily access it in seed form or collect the seeds and maliciously you could spread the seeds on your neighbour's plot of land. This is a very conceivable possibility and it's difficult to spot as soon as it's been done because the seeds look so similar to the wheat seeds and the early plant looks similar too. It's only as time goes on that you begin to realise, on closer inspection, that you've got two types of seed that have been mixed up together. This causes a really significant problem for the farmer because the weeds will be taking up space, nutrients and moisture, which restricts the growth of the wheat seed - or whatever other seed that there might be. When it comes to the decision of whether you pull out the weeds you've got a very complicated thing to do because you have to tread on the land. If there are a lot of those seeds, it's very difficult to identify each one and to pull them up without disturbing the wheat or the good seed that you have sown. Jesus is describing, vividly, a real difficulty that people might experience if someone maliciously came and tried to undermine your agricultural production in this direct way. There's no easy way to solve the problem. The instinct of people is to get rid of these weeds as quickly as we can but if they're there in large numbers, all over the field, it's almost impossible to do without an enormous amount of effort and great interference with the good seed - which will restrict its growth and make it less productive. On the other hand if you leave it until harvesting, it's all mixed up together.
As Jesus tells this story, you can easily imagine this being quite an emotional story to tell because people would be feeling this sense of anger and frustration and thinking, "Yes, this could happen to me," or, "I've heard it happen in these different situations." It's a living story and people were very sensitive about land. Again, just to emphasise the point, we didn't have enclosed land with heavy fencing and gates and any kind of security around land that is common in developed economies today. No, that wasn't the case at all. No - land was open, generally speaking. The boundaries were marked by stones and other indicators here and there and it was easy to cross over from one person's land to another; there was no real sense of any kind of security system or police to police these things. It was really an open situation. People were often feeling vulnerable about what happened on their land. Another issue that was easily problematical was if animals, like sheep, trampled on land which was being used for agricultural purposes; that was another common issue and those flocks of sheep and goats had to be kept separate from the productive areas of the land.
An Allegorical Interpretation
This story makes a lot of sense: it's the sort of thing that did happen; it's the sort of thing that could happen. In verse 36, the disciples approach Jesus after another parable has been told and they want some more explanation about what he means and what implications we should draw from it. Let's now turn to verses 36 to 43, which is the second half of our passage today:
'36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." 37He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, ... the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear."'
Jesus is very explicit; he creates an allegorical interpretation. As I said earlier, occasionally parables are given this more detailed interpretation by Jesus and that helps us to understand the meaning and the emphasis that he wants to give. The initiative of God is to take believers, disciples, and to place them in the world so that they will have influence and reproduce - multiply - but the context of the Son of Man doing this (that's one of Jesus' titles), is that the evil one - the spiritual enemy of the Church - Satan, the devil - is using a similar tactic. He is working through people who act, whether they know it or not, as his agents in the world to infiltrate the world and to control it. The basic message that Jesus gives is that over the passage of time the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness are both going to grow. This is a fundamental reality that Christians need to grasp and something that they find difficult. For example, some people find it difficult to believe that the Church will continue to grow, and is continuing to grow, because they've got a pessimistic outlook on the Church - they can see all the opposition, they can see all the difficulties that it faces. Jesus actually indicates to us that the Church is going to grow through time, not necessarily consistently every single year or decade, but over a longer period of time you'll see growth towards the ultimate point of this story - which is the Second Coming, the return of Christ and the Day of Judgement. Christians need to grasp hold of this way of thinking and take a positive view of the growth of the Church despite all the problems.
On the other hand, we also need to accept that the kingdom of darkness, and the many people who associate themselves with the world, against Christ, that's going to grow too. It's going to grow numerically and it's going to grow in spiritual power through the years. Jesus is anticipating an ongoing spiritual tension throughout every generation of the Church between the Church's ministry and mission and message, on the one hand, and forces in society and demonic spiritual forces that oppose it on the other. He is encouraging his followers to embrace both these realities and not to be intimidated by that reality or imagine there's any way the Church can resolve the conflict. There's no way the church can pull out the weeds; that's basically the point. We can't use force to do that, we simply haven't got the power and it's not a productive thing to do. We have to live in this time of conflict but - and this is an important but - the conclusion of the process will be an absolutely one-sided victory for the Kingdom of God under the authority of Jesus who, when he comes back in his Second Coming, will remove the spiritual darkness and the people who represent it will be judged. Jesus is saying, "Leave the judgement to God. Leave the resolution of this conflict into the future and commit yourselves to the present task of growing the Kingdom of God."
It's a fairly similar message to the message of the Parable of the Sower, where the ultimate message came over: we need to keep sowing, sowing, sowing the Word of God, getting the message out. Jesus is saying in this parable that his Kingdom is going to grow - it's got the DNA within it to grow - so commit yourselves to that task of growth and be aware that there'll be conflict and difficulty along the way as a result of the fact that the enemy is also seeking for his kingdom to grow.
I wonder if it helps you to make sense of your experience? For most people, this is quite a liberating parable because it really helps us to understand the positive dynamic of the Kingdom of God but also the fact that there is significant opposition and resistance to it in many different ways. Disciples, ultimately, will be vindicated at the Second Coming when 'they will shine like the sun.'
What concluding reflections can we bring? Expect the growth of the Kingdom of God and so when you pray that prayer: 'Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven', that prayer which we studied earlier on when we studied the Sermon on the Mount in Series 4, is really important. 'Your Kingdom,' we should be praying that regularly, believing that God is going to win more people to himself and strengthen his Church around the world. We also should be aware that, as that process goes on, there'll be setbacks, there'll be difficulties and there'll be opposition. There will be evil; there will be suffering; there will be spiritual battles; and, from time to time, there's going to be persecution. When that happens, we must not lose our confidence. It's what we expect from the pages of the New Testament and it's what we should expect, very specifically, from this parable and the teaching of Jesus.
Therefore, we're going to have to resist the temptation to think, as some people do, that the Church is simply going to take over the world - it's going to be so successful that it's going to take over the world. Some theological positions adopt that view but it is an unrealistic view from the point of the evidence of the New Testament and, particularly, passages like this one. We are praying for God's Kingdom to come now, knowing that it will only come in its fullness with the Second Coming of Christ.
The final thing to say on this passage is that it focuses on the Second Coming. It's incredible how much material in the Gospels speaks about Jesus' Second Coming - and in the rest of the New Testament for that matter. It is a major doctrine of the Church that Jesus comes twice to this world: once as Saviour and Redeemer and once, at the end of history, as judge and Lord. We know that our vindication is tied up with his return; we don't know when that's going to be but we know that the Church is going to be vindicated at that point and all the evil strategies that stand against it are going to be overturned. Let's not underestimate the power of the Gospel and let's not underestimate the extraordinary work that God is doing in our world today. Stories come to me, regularly, from different parts of the world telling me of incredible miracles, of revivals, of groups of secret believers in situations where they have to operate underground, of sudden conversions, of dreams, of visions, of tremendous interest in the Bible in people's individual languages and different nations around the world - and in some countries we see the growth of huge churches and huge missionary movements. Whatever the bad news in the world is, there's also good news and that good news is in this parable. The sons of the Kingdom, sown into the world, are going to be fruitful and productive and when Christ comes again they're going to be vindicated and we will be found to have been on, as it were, the winning side. Let's follow Christ wholeheartedly and, if you face difficult circumstances, as you read this, I want it to nourish you, to encourage you, to the very depths of your being and to give you that courage to be steadfast, to stand up against all the forces that might stand against you, to pray the Lord's Prayer with conviction: "Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Your will be done here, now, and in the future."
Up Next(Series 5)
10. The Parables of the Mustard Seed & the Yeast
(30m)
Series 5: Episode 10 (30m)
11. The Parables of the Hidden Treasure & the Pearl
12. The Parable of the Fishing Net
13. Faith, family & following Jesus
Jesus' second tour of Galilee - with his disciples Series 5
Martin Charlesworth Bible Teacher, Church Leader
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infoLog in or register to save your language preference. | after Jesus' resurrection and ascension. He is very concerned and he also points out in the Parable of the Sower that there is a Satanic opponent - Satan himself - all the powers of darkness are against the Gospel. They don't want the message to spread; they don't want the message to be understood; they'll even take the seed (the idea of the Gospel) out of people's minds directly, as quickly as they can - they are able. That point is made very explicitly in the Parable of the Sower.
Agricultural Conflict
We have another theme in this Parable of the Weeds concerning opposition and the reality of that opposition is very clearly stated. Let's read the Parable of the Weeds, which is the first of the two passages that we're going to study today. The second one which we'll read a little later, is Jesus' explanation of the parable. First of all, let's read it. We're now in Matthew 13: 24 - 30:
'24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds amongst the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 28"'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 29"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"
Matthew 13:24-30, NIV
As we said in the discussion of the last parable in the last episode, Jesus is speaking very familiar language to his listeners about agriculture, farming and smallholding. To make that point clear, not only (as I said last time) was Galilee - the area he was in - very fertile, very agricultural, one of the best parts of the country for agriculture; but the whole of Jewish society was set up around the principle that everyone had access to land. This didn't work out fully in practice but the Law of Moses actually had stated that the land was going to be distributed to all the twelve tribes in their different geographical areas and then the land would pass from father to son in the same family, without being sold outright to anyone else, from generation to generation. The Jews never fully followed this pattern and | 598 |
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Exoplanets in Debris Disks
Planetary Systems
Sean Andrews
David J Wilner
An artist's impression of a star's dusty debris disk, thought to be produced when asteroids or other planetesimals collide and fragment. Astronomers studying the debris disk around the star HD 206893 have imaged a wide gap in the disk extending from about 50 to 185 au from the star. After modeling the system, they conclude it contains a 1.4 Jupiter-mass planet orbiting about 79 au from the central star.
Debris disks around main-sequence stars are tenuous belts of dust thought to be produced when asteroids or other planetesimals collide and fragment. They are common: more than about a quarter of all main-sequence stars have debris disks and, since these disks can be hard to detect, it is likely that the fraction is even higher. Current instruments are only able to detect debris disks in systems that are at least an order of magnitude more luminous than the disk generated by the solar system's Kuiper Belt (the region extending from the orbit of Neptune at about thirty astronomical units out to about fifty au).
The dust in debris disks is worthy of study in its own right but also offers an opportunity to trace the properties of planetary systems. The largest dust grains (those as big as a millimeter), whose collective thermal emission is measured with telescopes like ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array), are relatively unaffected by stellar winds or radiation pressure. Rather, their distribution reveals the effects of gravity and collisions. The "chaotic zone" is the extended region around a planet within which dust has no stable gravitational orbits, resulting in a gap whose width depends among other things on the planet's mass. A planet in a debris disk can create such a gap, and measurements of the gap's dimensions can thus be used to deduce the mass of the planet – a key exoplanet<|fim_middle|> team that used ALMA to study the known debris disk around the star HD 206893 about 135 light-years away from us. The star also has a brown dwarf binary companion orbiting at about 10au and whose mass is about 15-30 Jupiter-masses. The ALMA images spatially resolve the disk - it extends from about 50 -185 au - and the astronomers find evidence for a gap stretching from about 63 – 94 au. If the gap was carved by a single planet in a circular orbit, chaotic zone theory implies the planet should have a mass of about 1.4 Jupiter-masses and orbit at about 79 au. Future, higher resolution ALMA observations have the potential to help constrain the dynamical behavior of the brown dwarf as well as to improve the characterization of the inferred new planet.
Reference: "Resolving Structure in the Debris Disk around HD 206893 with ALMA," Ava Nederlander, A. Meredith Hughes, Anna J. Fehr, Kevin M. Flaherty, Kate Y. L. Su, Attila Moór, Eugene Chiang, Sean M. Andrews, David J. Wilner, and Sebastian Marino, The Astrophysical Journal 917, 5, 2021.
Planets Form in Organic Soups with Different Ingredients
The Dust and Gas in Protoplanetary Disks
Planetary Remnants around White Dwarf Stars
Spotted: An Exoplanet with the Potential to Form Moons
News Feature, Prize Announcement
Harvard Radcliffe Institute Honors Astrophysics Senior with Highest Distinction
Three Incoming Postdoctoral Researchers Awarded NASA Hubble Fellowships
Doctoral Student Ellen Price Awarded 51 Pegasi B Fellowship
Growing up Stardust: Scientists Discover That Stars and Planets May Be Siblings
CfA Scientists Discover Mysterious Spiral Structures around a "Planet Factory"
Bright X-Ray Galactic Nuclei | parameter that is otherwise difficult to obtain.
CfA astronomers Sean Andrews and David Wilner were members of a | 22 |
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Bethel Lodge and A.H. Orr Lodge are residential aged-care services operated by Ashfield Baptist Homes Limited.
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A huge thank you for the wonderful care my father received when in residence at Ashfield Baptist Homes. Particular thanks to the care staff for their kind and compassionate care, delivered with a good sense of humour and regard for his family. It was greatly appreciated.
My wife Beverly and I appreciated the care, attention and support shown by management and staff. They did their best to make Beverly as comfortable as possible and made her feel as if she were at home.
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Q: Is it possible to use VMX CPU instructions inside VM? Is it possible that a Process inside a VM guest uses the VMX (AMD-V, VT-x) CPU instructions, that are then processed by the outer VMM instead of directly on the CPU?
Edit: Assume that the outer VM uses VMX itself to manage its virtual guest machine (i.e. it runs in Ring -1).
If it is possible are there any implementations of VMMs that support emulating/intercepting VMX calls (VMware, Parallels, KVM,...)?
A: Nor the Intel's VT-x nor the AMD's AMD-V support a fully recursive virtualization in hardware - where the CPU keep a hierarchy of nested virtualized environments in the same fashion of a call/ret pair.
A logical processor only supports two modes of operation: the host mode (called VMX root mode in Intel terminology, hypervisor in AMD's one) and the guest mode (called as such in AMD's manuals and VMX non-root mode in Intel's ones).
This implies a flattened hierarchy where every virtualized environment is treated the same by the CPU - the CPU is unaware of how many levels the hierarchy of VMs is deep.
An attempt to use the virtualization instructions them-selves inside a guest will yield control to the monitor (VMM).
But some support for accelerating frequently used virtual instructions has appeared recently making nested VM possible.
I'll try to analyse the issues to face to implement a nested virtualization.
I'm not dealing with the whole thing - I'm considering the base case only leaving out all the part dealing with the virtualization of the hardware; a part that itself is as problematic as the virtualization of the software.
Note
I'm not an expert on virtualization technology and have no experience on it at all - corrections are welcome.
The purpose of this answer is to make the reader conceptually believe that nested virtualization is possible and outline the problems to face.
VT-x
A logical processor enters the VMX operation by executing vmxon - as soon as the mode is entered the processor is in root mode.
Root mode is the mode of the VMM, it can launch, resume and handle the VMs.
The VMM then set the current VMCS (VM Control Structure) with vmptrld - the VMCS contains all the metadata necessary to virtualise a guest.
The VMCS is read and written not with direct memory accesses‡ but with vmread and vmwrite instructions.
Finally, the VMM executes vmlaunch to start executing the guest.
Incepting a VM
Now the logical processor is executing in a virtualized environment.
Suppose the guest is a VMM itself and let's call this the non-root VMM - it needs to repeat the steps above.
But Intel is clear in its manuals (Manual 3 - Chapter 25.1.2):
The following instructions cause VM exits when they are executed in VMX non-root operation:
[...]
This is also true of instructions introduced with VMX, which include:
[...], VMLAUNCH, VMPTRLD, [...] and VMXON
vmxon this instruction causes a VM Exit, the root VMM resume from the instruction after its last vmlaunch, can inspect the VMCS for the reason of the exit and take appropriate action.
I'm not a seasoned VMM writer so I'm not sure what the root VMM have to do exactly to emulate this instruction - since executing a vmxon in VMX root mode will fail and doing a vmxoff followed by a vmxon with VM Region given by the non-root VMM seems a security<|fim_middle|> things:
*
*Save its VMCS somewhere.
*Merge the current VMCS and the non-root VMM VMCS - Since the VMCS controls, for example, what events cause a VM Exit the merged one must be the union of the two in this regard.
*Load the merged VMCS as the CPU's current one
*Do a vmlaunch/vmresume.
Inside the dream
Now the CPU is executing the nested VM (a VVM - Virtual VM?).
What happens when a sensitive instruction or an event causes a VM Exit?
From the processor point of view, there are only two levels of virtualization: the root VMX mode and the non-root VMX mode.
Since the guest is in non-root VMX mode, control is transferred back to the root VMX mode code - i.e. the root VMM.
The root VMM now must understand if that event is from its VM or from its VM's VM.
This can be done by tracking the use of vmlaunch/vmresume and checking the bits in the VMCS.
If the VM Exit is directed to the non-root VMM the root VMM has to load its original VMCS, eventually set in it the link the non-root VMM, update the non-root VMM VMCS status bits and do a vmresume.
If the VM Exit is directed to it, the root VMM will handle it as any other VM Exit.
A dream within a dream within a dream
What if we want to create a VM inside the nested VM?
Kind of a Virtual Virtual VM (VVVM).
There are two things to notice:
*
*The root VMM is still the one invoked during every VM Exit.
Even if the VVVM is three levels deep it is not the non-root-non-root VMM the first and/or the only manager used to virtualise it.
From a security point of view, the root VMM is the weak link.
*The hardware doesn't really support arbitrary deep nesting.
A VMM may not need too much effort to go from supporting 1-level of nesting to n-levels of nesting (again I'm not seasoned here) but special support as outlined above is still needed.
It is not as easy as launch the VM and everything else will be taken care by the CPU.
AMD-v
There is no root vs non-root mode in AMD-v, the CPU starts executing a VM with vmrun that takes a pointer to a VMCB (VM Control Block) that serves the same purpose of the Intel's VMCS.
Upon a vmrun the CPU is in guest mode.
The VMCB is cached but it can only be read with usual memory accesses.
The vmload/vmsave instructions explicitly load into and save from the cache the VMCB fields subject to caching.
This interface is easier than Intel's one but it is as powerful - even when it comes to nesting virtualization.
Assume we are inside a VM and the code executes a vmrun - thus we are virtualizing a VMM.
Technically a VMM can choose whenever vmrun will or will not trigger a VM Exit.
Practically, however, AMD-v currently require the former to always be the case:
The following conditions are considered illegal state combinations:
[...]
* The VMRUN intercept bit is clear
Thus the root VMM (I'll use the same terminology as in the Intel case) will gain control and has to emulate a vmrun
(since the hardware only support a single level of virtualisation).
The root VMM can save and merge the current VMCB with the non-root VMM VMCB and go ahead with the vmrun as in the Intel case.
Upon an exit the root-VMM has to determine if the exit was directed to it or to the non-root VMM, again this can be done tracking the vmrun and the control bits in the VMCB.
Dreaming again
We have set up a VM inside a VM relatively easy - now what happens upon a VM Exit?
The root VMM receives the exit and if directed to the non-root VMM is has to restore its original VMCB and resume the run (i.e. use vmrun with its original VMCB).
AMD-v supports a fast virtualisation of the vmsave and vmload instructions by considering their addresses guest addresses and thus subject to the usual page-nesting virtualisation.
Bringing up Inception again
As with the Intel case, the virtualization can be nested again as long as the VMM support that features.
The critical security warning noted for the Intel's case is valid for the AMD's one as well.
‡ Due to its implementation-defined format and the fact the memory area can be used just as a spill area that is not updated in real time
A: After reading up a lot more on virtualization I stumbled onto this ticket at virtualbox.
It is a feature request for exactly this functionality and reading through the comments it seems that VMware Workstation has already implemented it, so it must indeed be working.
| vulnerability (or a lead to it) I believe that all the root VMM has to do is record that the guest is now in "VMX root mode".
The quotes are necessary here: this mode exists only in software when the root VMM will handle the control back to the non-root VMM the CPU will be in non-root VMX mode.
After that, the non-root VMM will attempt to use vmptrld to set the current VMCS.
vmptrld will induce a VM exit and the root VMM is in control once again - if the CPU doesn't support VMCS shadowing the root VMM has to record that the pointer given by the non-root VMM is now the current VMCS - if the CPU does support VMCS shadowing the VMM set the VMCS link pointer field of its VMCS (the one used to virtualise the non-root VMM) to the VMCS given by the non-root VMM.
One way or another the VMM knows which virtualised VMCS is active.
vmread and vmwrite executed by the non-root VMM will or will not cause a VM exit.
If VMCS shadowing is active the CPU won't do a VM Exit and instead will read the VMCS pointed by the VMCS link pointer in the active VMCS (called the shadow VMCS).
This will speed up virtualization of nested VMs.
If VMCS shadowing is not active the CPU will VM exit and the root VMM has to emulate the read/write.
Finally, the non-root VMM will launch its VM - this is a nested VM.
vmlaunch will trigger a VM Exit.
The root VMM has to do a few | 347 |
Olli picks up two podiums at Mugello
Olli Caldwell takes two more podiums at Mugello to add to his three rookie podiums on his debut at Vallelunga
ADAC & Italian F4
Olli continued his impressive run in the Italian F4 Championship with two more rookie podiums at Mugello on his just his second ever meeting in the championship. It was Olli's first visit to the track and the result means he has been on the rookie podium in five out of six races!
The Mugello circuit is the longest on the Italian F4 Championship and the visit marked the fourth round of the championship. Before the weekend officially kicked off a pre-event test was laid on for all drivers and teams on the Wednesday which would give Olli his first taste of the circuit. It was tough, fast and very physically demanding with Olli making progress all day.
A day's rest then took the drivers into Friday practice which would see two practice sessions and two qualifying sessions. The practice sessions never quite went the way Olli or the team had planned. For various different reasons Olli was only able to put in a total of 19 laps over the two forty minute sessions leaving him on the back foot going into qualifying.
But in true Olli Caldwell fashion when the pressure was on and a good result looking somewhat unlikely, he turned things around and qualified 14th in both sessions in a grid that had over 20 of the best F4 drivers in Europe! It was a brilliant result and in the rookie class<|fim_middle|>Olli Caldwell was recently nominated for three Motorsport Awards! Find out how you can vote for Olli here
Olli Caldwell takes Italian F4 championship podium
Olli finishes 3rd in 2018 Italian F4 Championship
Olli to challenge for Italian F4 title at Mugello!
This weekend sees the Italian F4 championship come to a close with Olli Caldwell bidding to take the title | it put Olli 3rd and 4th on the grid with three podiums now the aim once again!
Olli got off to a decent start in race one and placed himself perfectly for turn once which took one or two prisoners and immediately brought out the safety car. At this point Olli was 11th and on the restart he was very much involved in a battle for the lower order of the top ten. Setting consistent lap times even the likes of Artem Petrov were unable to catch him (a second year driver) and he fell just short of a top ten finish. But that wouldn't matter as he made it his fourth consecutive podium of the season keeping his one hundred percent record going!
Race two was a much more difficult race for Olli, he lost a few places off the start and then got involved in a frustrating battle which seemed to last the entirety of the race. Despite it's long straights it became apparent Mugello was not so easy to overtake on, particularly when drivers take defending rules into their own hands! Despite this Olli finished 13th which is far from a disaster considering the lengthy safety car periods.
The weekend would end on a high though with Olli back on the rookie podium in race three! It was another stellar performance from Olli who could already be mistaken for a second year driver. It meant that Olli would take two out of three podiums to add to his clean sweep from his very first meeting at Vallelunga just a couple of weeks ago. The fact he was 11th twice and knocking on the door is also hugely promising going forwards when you take the rookie element away from it.
Olli Caldwell: "It was great to finish on the rookie podium twice at such a tough track. It was a shame that we couldn't make it three but finishing on the podium after a very tough third race made the result even better. I want to say a big thanks to the whole team for the weekend as well as all my sponsors and family for the continued support.:
The next race for Olli in the Italian F4 Championship will be at the legendary Imola Circuit on the 9th/10th September, but before then he has his next British F4 race at Snetterton next weekend and a trip to Nurburgring for ADAC F4 round five.
Olli Caldwell nominated for three Motorsport Awards
| 493 |
How to Lay Off With Dignity
By Tom Ryan
What to Say When Firing for Performance
How to Respond to an Employee Complaint Letter
How to Deal With Difficult Callers in a Business
How to Address Employee Bickering
How to Handle Manager and Executive Differences
Laying off employees is a universally thankless task -- there is rarely an easy way to deliver to someone the uncomfortable news that he is being let go. Unfortunately, this is a reality that almost every manager must face -- and when you do, you must be prepared to treat the issue and the employee with dignity, professionalism and respect. By doing this, you sever your ties with the employee on as positive a note as possible -- if you don't, your actions reflect poorly on your company and your management capabilities.
Give Employees Notice
While nobody likes to be laid off, employees may be even more bothered when it comes as a surprise<|fim_middle|>'t even have to like it -- but allow the employee to share his feelings. If he needs a few quiet moments to take in the news, allow him that time. If he cries or needs tissues, provide them. Do not touch the employee. Do not say anything that could confuse your message or blame someone else for the decision.
Your employee may feel unprepared, frightened, confused and anxious. You can help the employee process the layoff decision by offering support and concrete information, such as what assistance and benefits are available for him. For example, you may direct the employee to support groups, employee assistance programs and information centers than can help him prepare for the next step in his career. If the employee still has time left with your company, make yourself available in case he has any questions about what comes next.
Tom Ryan is a freelance writer, editor and English tutor. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English writing, and has also worked as an arts and entertainment reporter with "The Pitt News" and a public relations and advertising copywriter with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
How to Deal With Subversive Team Members
How to Lay Off an Employee With Compassion
Notification of the Staff of a Terminated Employee
How to Be Confident in Disciplining Employees
How to Criticize Your Staff Without Looking Like a Bad Boss
How to Deal With Accusations in the Workplace
How to Deal With Employees Who Raise Their Voices to You
How to Approach Laying Off Staff
The Importance of Business Communication in an Organization
1 How to Deal With Subversive Team Members
2 How to Lay Off an Employee With Compassion
3 Notification of the Staff of a Terminated Employee
4 How to Be Confident in Disciplining Employees | . When you have come to the realization that layoffs are inevitable, you owe it to your staff to let them know ahead of time. Be open, honest and frank with your staff regarding where cuts may be made and when -- this makes the news less likely to incite panic, and it strengthens the sense of trust between you and your staff.
Offer Privacy
.When you are ready to lay someone off, do so in private -- the employee may feel vulnerable when given the news, and emotions may run high. Call the employee into a private meeting. If you must have an HR representative present, make sure that it is someone with whom the employee is familiar. Resist stalling for time or dancing around the issue and tell your employee right away about your decision, giving a clear explanation. Remain focused and to the point. Staying on message is key to executing this decision without incident.
Listen with Boundaries
Your employee may become emotional during the layoff meeting, and however impatient you may feel, it is your responsibility to listen and hear out the employee. This is the key to a dignified, respectful layoff. You don't necessarily have to agree with anything the employee says -- you don | 240 |
Last Friday, Uniting Partners (UP) for Women and Children had their grand opening as the first women's only day shelter in Louisville. UP Louisville is located in the basement of the Diocesan house, adjacent to Christ Church Cathedral on 2nd Street.
The Mayor of Louisville, Greg Fischer, officiated the ribbon-cutting and he also took a few minutes to talk about the city's efforts in reducing homelessness in Louisville. "We know it is really challenging<|fim_middle|> Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon.
RAK Louisville is partnering with UP Louisville to set up volunteers opportunities for students. RAK Louisville thanks all members of the community who contributed towards the women's toiletries, laundry and cleaning supplies that were needed for the opening of this facility.
December 23rd has been proclaimed Random Acts of Kindness Louisville Day! | and sometimes it's complicated. We know people are looking into it from the outside telling us how we should do it and how easy it can be. We are going to keep working at it. When we have a challenge, we lean in as a city and work together", the Mayor added as he addressed guests.
The Founders of Up Louisville, Andrea Scott and Amy Schutz also spoke to guests about why they started this organization. Scott talked about the 7,000 people who are homeless in Louisville, and cited that a third of those are women. The city currently does not have enough services to meet the needs of this population. Their mission at UP Louisville is to provide a healthy and safe place for homeless women and children that include services such as shelter, showers, laundry, case management and life skills.
District 4 Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith shared stories about her experiences with the homeless community. "I have met the women who are living in the camps in District 4, and they want the same things you and I want. " She praised the Mayor for all the work he has done in Louisville and gave credit to Andrea and Amy for what they're doing in the community.
The Grand Opening was attended by representatives from other nonprofits in Louisville who work with the homeless. The center is open Monday, | 266 |
CCSD59 would like to sincerely thank the 1,414 parents and guardians who participated in our Fall 2018 Parent Survey<|fim_middle|>SD59 is to prepare our students to be successful for life. It is a tremendous goal and one we truly take to heart for every single student. With your help, we now have a stronger understanding of how to best partner with you so that together we can help prepare students for success now and in the future. Thank you.
To view the results of the parent survey, please click on the link below. | . This honest, in-depth feedback is invaluable to our process as we continue to refine, improve, and expand upon all our students' learning experiences. The results tell us what we're doing right and what we can do better as a district, what you find most valuable for your child's learning experience, and what our district looks like through the eyes of our families. We appreciate everything you took the time to tell us and would like to reiterate that your voices were heard.
Finally, we understand the importance of hearing and evaluating critical feedback and recognizing areas of growth and development. We appreciate the honest and diverse opinions of all of our parents.
Our mission statement in CC | 134 |
Traction Orange anyone ?
As work on Centenary car 641 is entering the final phase in August - the application of Blackpool FC tangerine (as opposed to Blackpool Transport's orange) brings back memories of the many US trolley systems which favoured what is known as 'traction orange'. A classic example from a little known system - Altoona and Logan Valley car 70 heading for '<|fim_middle|> even the roofs. | Eldorado' above. This was one of the 'Electromobiles' built by Osgood Bradley company in the late 1920s - referenced in an earlier blog in July. While it is very difficult to detect the detail - the front fender has the same sprung metal features as the design adopted by English Electric for its new streamline models introduced in Blackpool and Sunderland in 1933 - and on subsequent designs for Belfast, Rotherham, Darwen and Aberdeen. The Altoona traction orange, white and black colours are reflected in Blackpool's Football Tram display to be introduced during this year's Illuminations courtesy
of the FHLT and a host of supporting organisations and companies.
Another traction orange example at the Branford Trolley Museum, Connecticut. Johnstown was famous for operating PCC cars in its later years - being the smallest US trolley system to purchase PCCs with just 17 examples. When Johnstown closed the trucks and equipment were sold to Brussels where they provided the running equipment for a further batch of that city's famous standard design - seventeen in total... Number 356 of course is a more traditional US car - double ended and showing off its fender with 'Benscreek' on its blind. Number 1414 is one of the Connecticut company's very large fleet of open crossbench cars which survived into the 1950s to provide capacity for the 'Yale Bowl' University
football game - an annual event drawing massive crowds which clung to every possible part of these by now venerable survivors, | 328 |
What is POPzilla's POPcade? I'm glad you asked.
POPcade is POPzilla's 5th art show event, featuring over 70 artists, with more than 120 brand new original video game inspired pop art. As one of the curators of POPzilla, we have learned a lot from putting on our past shows, such as Rat Trap, SteamPOP, DUOS and MegaMou$e. Each time we do a show we<|fim_middle|> from the show, enjoy. See you at the show. | make it better and bigger, and with POPcade, I don't want to say we nailed it, but WE NAILED IT.
But don't take my word for it, come down to Anaheim's Rothick Art Haus on May 10th, between 6pm – 10pm to see for your self. As usual, there is no cover to get into the POPcade show. Be there for the "somewhat" family friendly opening night reception as we "Press Start" on Orange County's largest celebration of video game pop art. We will be offering free art print contests throughout the night for best costume, best POPzilla social media plug, and other random contests we haven't thought of yet.
Each POPzilla show we do takes a theme we are passionate about and mashes it up with endless pop culture references. I like to think it is what we are known for. And this show features almost every art medium from paintings to sculpture, photography and digital. The show runs for a month at Rothick Art Haus, (please check hours). For more information please see our Facebook Event page.
I didn't think it was humanly possible but our next show in November promises to be even more exciting. Look for more information on 'the BURTON show" over the summer. We will pay tribute to the many films of Tim Burton through pop art in this tribute show. If you, or someone you know is interested in becoming an artist in future shows, you can email popzillagallery@gmail.com. Please include some of your art samples and place "Art consideration/BURTON" in the subject.
But in the mean time, as we wait for POPcade to open it's doors, you can get a sneak peek of the entire show as we do an online "collector's preview" of the entire gallery. This is for anyone who wishes to get there hands on some art before the public has a chance to. Look for that online store to be featured on THIS website, Friday May 9th from 9pm – 9:30pm. You want more? OK, here are some more teasers | 436 |
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Volvo Cars forecasts record sales for 2016
Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, expects to make record sales in 2016 for the third consecutive year, Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars' President and Chief Executive said.
Mr Samuelsson also forecast that operating profits would improve in 2016, driven by growth in all of Volvo's three main sales regions of China, Europe and the US.
The forecast came the same day Volvo reported it trebled its operating profit in 2015 to SEK6.6bn, up from SEK2.13bn for the same period in 2014, while revenues for the year hit SEK164bn compared with SEK137.6bn in 2014. The full Interim Report Second Half and Full Year 2015 is available for download here.
Volvo also today reported an all-time sales record of 503,127 cars in 2015, the first time it has sold more than half a million cars in its 89-year history. Sales were boosted by the introduction of its new 90 series cars and strong sales of existing models. It also reported record sales for 2014 of 466,000 cars.
Volvo is implementing a SEK75bn transformation programme as part of its long-term strategic ambition to become a global premium car maker. Driven by the complete renewal of its product range, Volvo is aiming to almost double sales to around 800,000 cars a year in the medium term.
In 2015, the company made significant progress towards achieving these goals.
Production of the much-anticipated XC90 SUV commenced. By the end of the year, the company had received more than 88,000 orders, far surpassing its initial expectations. Production of the XC90 also led to the introduction of a third shift at the Torslanda plant in Sweden for the first time since 2008, creating nearly 1,500 new manufacturing jobs.
In the first half of 2015, Volvo also restructured the company to more accurately reflect how and where it does business by incorporating its three joint-venture operations in China, providing a more accurate financial and operational picture of the company.
In the second half of the year, construction started on Volvo's new USD500m manufacturing facility in South Carolina in the United States, which is due to be operational in 2018. The new plant means Volvo will be able to build and sell cars in each of its three core regions – Europe, the US and China – highlighting its global aspirations.
In December 2015, Volvo revealed its new S90 premium saloon to wide acclaim at an event in Gothenburg. The S90 is the second new model on Volvo's modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), and has already attracted positive reviews and started winning awards.
The results for the full year 2015 will be revealed today at 10:00 CET during a press conference at the Volvo Showroom in Kungsträdgården, Stockholm. The press conference can be followed via the web here.
Volvo has been in operation since 1927. Today, Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world, with sales of 503,127 in 2015 in about 100 countries. Volvo Cars has been under the ownership of the Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely Holding) of China since 2010. It formed part of the Swedish Volvo Group until 1999, when the company was bought by Ford Motor Company of the<|fim_middle|> in 2015 | US. In 2010, Volvo Cars was acquired by Geely Holding.
As of December 2015, Volvo Cars had almost 29,000 employees worldwide. Volvo Cars' head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars' head office for China is located in Shanghai. The company's main car production plants are located in Gothenburg (Sweden), Ghent (Belgium) and Chengdu (China), while engines are manufactured in Skövde (Sweden) and Zhangjiakou (China), and body components in Olofström (Sweden).
Volvo Car UK Ltd
Volvo Car Group profit trebles to SEK6.6bn | 156 |
Muruga Das - The Voice of Devotion
Muruga Das - The Voice of Devotion Nov 18, 2015 6:43:13 GMT 5.5
Post by Amritha Varshini on Nov 18, 2015 6:43:13 GMT 5.5
Muruga Das - The Voice of Devotion - Article by Sri. V.S. Krishnan
The dark glasses, the grey beard, a maroon shawl tied around the head, a prominent 'tilak' on the forehead; that completes the picture of Balasubramanian, popularly known as "Muruga Das". There is yet another important part of his personality, the harmonium, which accompanies him wherever he goes. Just as Karna was born with armour and earrings stuck to his body, it would appear that Murugadas and harmonium are the two inseparables. Even while climbing the footsteps of Marudha Malai, the annual ritual he was following for many years on his birthday, the harmonium used to be hung around his shoulders, adding concordant notes of music. Born with a deep, resonant and golden voice, Murugadas has dedicated his life to sing the glory of Muruga. Wherever he does his concert, at Erode or Edinburg, he gets overwhelming response from devotees. Fans kept demanding to sing their favourite numbers on Muruga or Krishna and the servant of Muruga always obliged them with his characteristic smile.
It was on a 'Thai Poosam', the most auspicious day of Lord Muruga, in the year 1920, this disciple of Mur<|fim_middle|>Article by Sri V.S. Krishnan (vsk1940@gmail.com) | uga was born to Alamelu -Sundaram Iyer couple at Coimbatore. At the age of 7, when Balasubramanian was being led to the sanctum sanctorum at Palani, the articles for Puja offerings carried by the escort suddenly fell on him. Seeing the Balasubramaniam fully immersed in Vibhuti (the sacred ashes) the escort yelled: "Oh! Saravana Bhava"! That Sadakshara Mantra, the young lad realised, was the message for him. That name, like a flash of lightening, brought him the realization that Muruga alone would give him fulfillment in life. Then on, singing the glory of Muruga became his life-long mission; the mission which he carried on with devotion and dedication.
Gifted with a powerful voice, it was natural that he had chosen the medium of music in accomplishing his goal. He received basic lessons in music from Nadhayogi Brahmananda Paradesiyar. This teacher then conferred him the title 'Pithukuli'. While staying with his sister at Bangalore he started rendering Kritis himself. The harmonium connection came now. He met saint Ramadas at the Kanhangad Ashram and received blessings from Him to carry forward his mission. It was Sri Ramadas who conferred him the title 'Muruga Das', the Servant-Devotee of Muruga. He also received the blessings of Matha Krishnabhai at Bangalore.
He set out his journey to visit holy places in search of enlightenment. He traveled extensively in India, visiting holy temples and hailing the glory of Muruga through his songs. Wherever he performed he received standing ovation. His journey took him to many places to Somnath in the north, Nepal in the east and Pandaripuram in the West and almost the entire stretch he covered by foot only. He considered this as a blessing because he could carry the message of Muruga all over the country. During the Digvijaya, he met and received blessings and inspirations from great saints and intellectuals like Sivananda, Swami Gjnanananda, Ramana Maharshi, Brahmananda Paradesiyar to mention a few.
Though devotion is the foundation on which his personality was built, he committed himself to work for the national goal. That was the time when freedom was the need of the hour and moved by the ideals of Gandhiji, he joined the independence movement. The historic Avadi session of the Congress got started with a prayer by Murugadas. He wore only Khadi and invariably done songs of Subramania Bharati. When imprisoned for taking part in Sathyagraha at Mysore, one of his eyes, damaged during childhood, was lost. But he got his vision very clear, the enlightened vision of Lord Muruga.
The meeting of Vallimalai Sri Sachidananda Swamigal was a turning point in his life. He stayed with Swamigal at Vallimalai for over one year. He drew enormous inspiration from Vallimalai Swamigal and considered him as his 'Thiruppugazh Guru' and carried the message of Thiruppugazh through music. A Muruga Das performance was never complete without few numbers from Thiruppugazh. The powerful Mantra of Thiruppugazh is melodiously blended in the voice of Murugadas. Sri Murugadas found common cause with 'Thiruppugazh Mani', Sri T.M. Krishnaswamy Iyer, another Muruga devotee and exponent of Thiruppugazh. Both of them visited Ceylon number of times. Muruga devotees of Jaffna and other cities still cherish those melodious moments. He saw Thiruppugazh as the way to reach Muruga. In recognition of the contribution he made for the propagation of Thiruppugazh he has been conferred with titles like "Thiruppugazh Innisai Selver" "Thiruppugazh Isai Thenral" "Thiruppugazh Gjnana Jyothi" "Thiruppugazh Gana Isai Per Arignar" "Thiruppugazh Adiyar" and the list goes on.
Sri Muruga Das has formed a distinct style of his own. His bhajans were always interspersed with commentaries. In the midst of a song, he would start explaining the meaning and as the message slowly sinks in, he would start again from where he left, giving the audience a treat both for the soul and intellect. Starting in a slow leisurely pace, his bhajan would gradually progress, creating a divine atmosphere and kindling the light of Bhakti in the mind of listeners. When his 'Namavali' reached the crescendo, he used to invite the audience to join him. When the recital was over, he would have created an everlasting impression on the audience. When Erode District was caught in an extreme spell of draught in the 80s, he came and rendered a song invoking the rain God which received tremendous audience appreciation.
Oh Mother, bless this earth with rain,
When it rains, the water level in the field rises
and the nurseries leap up,
The young plants grow up and so the paddy fields.
As the vast stretch become greener,
The face of poverty disappears.
("Konjam Mazhai Kodamma, Maariyamma, …Kalathuyara Neeruyarum, Neeruyara Nelluyarum, Nelluyara Varumai Neengum)
Needless to say, 3 days later, a good part of the district was inundated with rainwater. When he started singing, the entire atmosphere was surcharged with devotion and the audience was transcended to a state of oneness with the God.
He received the Kalai Mamani Award of the Tamil Nadu Government, Sangeet Natak Academy Award of the Government of India, for the sake of Honour Award of Rotary Club, title of Sangeerthan Samrat from Swamy Sivananda of Rishikesh, title of Sangeerthana Kala Sagaram from Bharathi Yuva Kendra, Madurai and the tittle of Madura Gana Mamani from London Tamil Sangam. He recently received Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award instituted by South Indian Education Society and Shanmughananda Fine Arts Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai. Above all, he felt that the title "Pithukuli" suited him most and preferred to retain it with his name. The word 'Pithukuli' loosely translated means "one madly obsessed by bhakti. Murugadas took the message of Muruga to many foreign countries like UK, USA and France. He participated in the World Hindu Conference held at Durban and Nelson Mandela who was the Chief Guest highly appreciated his views and songs. He had many occasions to perform at Rashtrapthi Bhavan.
He believed that service of humanity as part of devotion. One who has no concern towards his fellow being cannot be a true devotee. He founded the Valajabad Deenabandu Ashram and pioneered a movement for social awakening. This Institution has been working with the objectives of establishing inter-religious harmony and various social welfare activities. Wherever he was called to perform, he made only one request that the poor be fed. He believed that there is no greater satisfaction than feeding the hungry. The social welfare initiatives carried out by him through this Institution were greatly appreciated by Rajaji, Kamaraj, Kalki Krishnamurthy etc.
When this writer asked him how he felt looking back the path he traveled, he said: "From the age of ten I have been singing the glory of Muruga. Wherever I performed, the audience, cutting across all barriers, joined the chorus. "As they listened to the glory of the Lord and engrossed in the singing, a sense of joy was visible in their face. I was happy that I was instrumental in bringing this smile on their face.." He continued: "When a devotional song is heard, the notion of 'self' disappears and one is able to identify himself with the God. I believe in equality of all religion and the need to cultivate the spirit of tolerance among different faiths. Only then peace will descend on earth".
In the modern age when life has become hectic, according to Muruga Das, Bhakti Marga, the path of devotion is the easiest way to reach the God. Citing the example of Jaya Devar, Chaithanya and many such saints, who had dedicated their life to the singing of the glory of Lord, Muruga Das extols the modern day youth to spare few moments for Nama Sangeerthanam. Our mind normally gets accumulated with dusts like lust, anger, greed and ego and he believes that Nama Sangeerthanam helps one to transcend from this emotional level to a high level of consciousness. According to Muruga Das, one should develop an outlook of detachment from the material world. As one thinks high, he becomes free from likes and dislikes, passion and sentiment. "I did not try to own anything that I liked or I did not try to disown anything that I did not like. If we have complete faith in God, no harm can befall us". He continued: "I have an unshakable faith in the Thiruppugazh lines. "While walking alone, I walk with confidence because to my left and to my right, in front and back, night and day, Muruga is there guiding me." (Thanithu Vazhi Nadakkum Ena idathum Oru Valathum Iru Purathum Arukaduthu Iravu Pakal Thunai Akum, --Vel Vakuppu)
Ponnammal Sisters are connoisseurs of music and arts. Murugadas married Saroja, the younger sister of them and the life boat of Muruga Das and the gifted artist Saroja was sailing smoothly. As years passed by, old age has set in. Though age has restricted his movements he continued his divine mission with determination. Then, the call came from Muruga. Muruga had sent him to earth with a mission to fulfill and mission having accomplished, Muruga desired on draw him near Him. It was on an auspicious day of Thaipusam, he was sent to earth and it was an auspicious day of Kanda Sashti that he attained the Lotus Feet of Muruga. Though the voice that captured the heart of all Muruga devotees became silent, there is no doubt that the voice had merged with Muruga. Now, when the time for departure came, he would have been feeling confident and courageous to face death because he knew that Muruga's Vel would accompany him on his left, right and all sides to protect him. Though his voice has become still, it would reverberate in our ears for generations to come. Devotees would never forget the lively songs he rendered like 'Alaipayuthe', 'Pachai Mayil Vahanane'.
| 2,323 |
NATTC in British Premier League
We are now delighted to confirm that North Ayrshire TTC will be a British Premier League team for the season 2016 – 2017. We will join top British teams Ormesby, Drumchapel, Sycamore, Fusion, BATTS, Cardiff & Halton in the newly restructured British Premier League<|fim_middle|> Success at National Championships Strong Finish in West Senior League → | .
Sean Doherty, Colin Dalgleish, Richard Main, Craig Hardie & Chris Main won Division 1 North with wins over Drumchapel, Ormesby, Rotherham & Barrow on the last weekend and gained entry into the top league in the UK.
This will create 7 matches at Home and 7 matches Away starting August 27th and finishing early March, bringing top International and European players to St Matthews. This is also great news for TT in Scotland as we join Drumchapel in having 2 teams from Scotland competing in this top league of 8.
North Ayrshire's Division 4 team of Andy MacPherson, Ethan Chapman, Chris Barclay & Martin Johnson finished the season with their best weekend so far, winning 3 matches of their 4 on the last weekend to finish middle table in Division 4. The team will be hoping for promotion next season. North Ayrshire will be entering 2 teams into the Junior British League Qualifier on July 16th with the aim to get a team in one of the JBL Divisions.
This entry was posted in Latest News on 29th April 2016 by Chris Main.
← | 249 |
KA001: Duo Van Gele - Taylor, Greensleeves: From the late 14th- through the 17th century, the slender, gut-strung renaissance, or "Gothic harp," with its distinctive buzzing bray pins, was heard all over Europe. Tiny L-shaped crooked pegs known as bray pins held the strings into the sound box and also lightly touched them, causing the strings to buzz as they were plucked. Bray harps are frequently depicted in period paintings, often played by musician angels. Research has shown that the Gothic bray harp was THE most common harp for several hundred years, until the development of the large multirow baroque harps--which makes it all the more striking that bray harps are almost never heard today! William Taylor has played a key role in bringing the unique sound of this ancient harp to modern audiences. Another little-known historical harp featured in concerts of the Duo Van Gele - Taylor is the resonant wire-strung "clarsach" -- the ancient Irish harp. The recorder is a<|fim_middle|> Van Gele/Taylor performs on a unique collection of copies of historical harps and recorders made by the world's leading builders. Compositions by Paumann, Dufay, Buxheimer orgelbuch, Faenza codex, ap Huw, Ebreo, Palero, Johnson, Straloch MS, Henry VIII, Rognoni, Anonymous. | wind instrument with a history almost as long as that of the harp. It has a natural singing quality which makes it perfect for the medieval and renaissance repertoire (that was often vocal in origin). During the baroque period, many works were composed specifically for the recorder, which was particularly beloved as a solo instrument, capable of brilliant, fast passagework, as well as stirringly beautiful melodies. The intimate character of recorder and harp together is ideal for bringing out the delicacy and liveliness of this early chamber music repertoire. The duo | 111 |
Help your students practise place value with this fun, hands-on base-ten block game. neighbourhood block teams compete to win points as they work together to show expanded numbers.
Looking for a worksheet to help your child with reading numbers? This year two printable will flex his number skills.
On this year three maths worksheet, kids translate numbers written with words to<|fim_middle|> a tricky thing but this worksheet let's your child practise reading values in words and then writing money terms out in numbers. | numbers written with numerals up to four digits long.
Each yummy cupcake in this worksheet contains a number. In this place value maths worksheet, kids match each number to its written equivalent.
Fish for the right numbers with this base 10 worksheet. Simple addition helps your kid to understand place values while honing his arithmetic skills.
How many thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones are in each number? Our maths worksheet helps your kid to work on identifying place values.
Looking for a worksheet to help your child with place values? This printable will flex his maths skills.
Base 10 makes it easy to understand place values. This maths worksheet helps your kid understand that each digit is ten times the value of the one to its right.
Money can be | 152 |
I came across this prayer in Philip Goodman's "The Yom Kippur Anthology." I read it aloud on Yom Kippur and barely got through it because I was crying so hard. It is quite a lengthy prayer, but has a way of putting us face to face with our sin, and the seriousness of it. I hope this prayer will be a blessing and help to you as you spend time in confession on Yom Kippur. I encourage you to read Philip's other anthologies on the feast days as well. They are full of inspiration, thought provoking stories, history, and even some read-alouds for children.
Our God and God of our fathers, pardon our sins on this Day of Atonement. Let our sins and transgressions be removed from Thy sight. As Thou didst promise: It is I who erases your transgressions, for Mine own sake, and I will recall your sins. And Thou didst further promise: I have blotted out your transgressions and they are gone, as a cloud, and your sins, as a mist; return unto Me, for I have redeemed you. And it is further promised: On this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you; of all your sins you shall be cleansed before the Lord. Make us holy through Thy commandments and grant that we may have a portion among those who devote themselves to Thy Torah. Satisfy us with Thy goodness, and cause us to rejoice in Thy deliverance. And purify our hearts that we may serve Thee in truth. Thou art He who forgives Israel and pardons the community of Yeshurun in every generation. We have no other King to grant us forgiveness and pardon.
Praised be Thou, O Lord, who forgives and pardons our sins and the sins of the household of Israel, who cancels out our wrongdoings year by year. Thou King over all the earth sanctifieth Israel and the Day of Atonement….
We have been insolent, destructive, dishonorable, misleading.
<|fim_middle|>est out our innermost secrets; Thou knowest the unspoken meditations of the heart. Nothing is hidden from Thee, nothing is veiled from Thine eyes.
And now, O our God and God of our fathers, may it be Thy will to forgive all our sins, to pardon all our iniquities, and to grant us atonement for all our transgressions.
For all these, O God of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement….
O my God, before I was created I was nothing, and now that I have been created, what am I? In life I am dust, and more so when I fall prey to death. When I measure my life in Thy presence, I am confused and I am ashamed. Help me, O God and God of my fathers, to steer clear of sin. And as for my past sins, purge me of them in Thy great mercy, but, I pray, not through severe and painful disease.
You may also find this post on repentance helpful.
What an amazing thought that through the work of Yeshua we have lasting forgiveness for our sins. My prayer is that we never take this blessing lightly. Yom Kippur is an opportunity to search our hearts once again for anything that would displease our Heavenly Father. It can be painful to take this piercing look at our own hearts and intents. But, it is far better to seek out sin and rebellion and root it out ourselves, than to let it take root and wait for YHVH Himself to pull it out. Whether you use this prayer of confession, or prayers right from Scripture, or use your own words, I pray that you use Yom Kippur (and every day) wisely to present yourself as a clean vessel to your Creator. | We have turned away from Thy goodly commandments and judgments; and now we face the consequences of our folly. Thou art just in all that has come upon us. Thou hast acted in accordance with the truth, but we have done evil.
What can we tell thee, O Thou who abidest in eternity, what can we tell Thee, Thou who reignest in the endless spaces of the universe? All things hidden as all things open, Thou knowest everything.
Thou knowest the mysteries of the universe, and the things hidden from mortal eyes. Thou search | 116 |
Round14 - High School Quizbowl Packet Archive
Prison Bowl VII
Questions written and edited by Hunter College High School (Alexandra Bradu, Sam Brochin, Swathi Chakrapani, David Godovich,
Sarah Hamerling, Sophey Ho, Jonathan Lin, Daniel Ma, Brent Morden, Alex Moschetti, Tenzin Norzin, Priya Srikumar, Albert Tai,
Douglas Wong, Karina Xie, Marianna Zhang, Tal Zussman), University at Buffalo (Matt Hill and Zach Pace), Matthew Gurevitch,
and Rohan Nag.
Round 14 – Tossups
1. In vertebrates, one protein critical to this process has a KEN box instead of a D box, which is recognized by a CDH1
complex. That protein, CDC20, complexes with a promoting cyclosome to start this process by degrading S and M
cyclins and cleaving a protein dephosphorylated by CDC14, securin. Separase is then released, which removes cohesin
from chromosomes. In this phase, polar microtubules are lengthened and kinetochore microtubules contract, which drags
sister chromatids to opposite poles of the cell. For 10 points, name this stage of mitosis that follows metaphase and
precedes telophase.
ANSWER: anaphase [accept anaphase II before "mitosis"; accept anaphase I before "chromatids"; prompt on mitosis
or meiosis before "start this process"] <AT>
2. This ruler allied with the king of Larsa to defeat the Elamites, who had invaded the neighboring kingdom of
Eshnunna. Though this ruler would be assisted by the Yamhad and Mari, he annexed both kingdoms after that war. This
man's kingdom deteriorated under his son and successor, Samsu-iluna, as the First Amorite Dynasty declined. This man
instituted a system based on lex talionis that outlined retribution for cases such as the improper building of a house or a
botched surgery. That system by this king demands "an eye for an eye." For 10 points, name this Babylonian king who
wrote the world's oldest written law code.
ANSWER: Hammurabi <ZP>
3. An early version of this poem speaks of a "blind old drunken man" listening to his own "madness singing." The
speaker of this poem hears "mermaids singing, each to each". A series of perfect infinitives introduce the speaker's
ambivalence towards an "overwhelming question". This poem describes "yellow fog that rubs its back upon the windowpanes". This poem's speaker asks "Do I dare / disturb the universe?" and opens with, "Let us go, then, you and I". For 10
points, name this poem by T.S. Eliot that notes women who "come and go speaking of Michelangelo."
ANSWER: "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" <KX>
4. A musician from this country sings "I can't walk away / you can't walk away" on "Downtown" from the dreamily
jazzy album Kaputt. Destroyer is from here, also home to a band that intones "when there is nothing left to burn, you
have to set yourself on fire". Metallic clanging and the echoing of "I tremble" opens a song from this country, "Help I'm
Alive". Stars and Metric are from here, whose Broken Social Scene included an indie pop artist who sings "oh you're
changing your heart" in a track from The Reminder. An indie rock band from here repeats "every time you close your
eyes, lies lies!" on the album Funeral. For 10 points, name this country home to Feist and Arcade Fire.
ANSWER: Canada <MZ>
5. One text in this religion was described as "a treasure of divine mysteries" and contains a series of short phrases in
Arabic and Persian meant to be read daily. That book, Hidden Words, was translated by a man who implemented a TenYear Plan between 1953 and 1963. Followers of this religion follow a calendar with 19 months of 19 days, and observe a
19-day fast at the end of their year. One of its main texts is the Kitáb-i-Íqán ("keh-tab-eh-ee-con"), or Book of Certitude.
It was formerly headed by guardian Shoghi Effendi and holds that figures like Jesus and the Buddha are Manifestations
of God. For 10 points, name this religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh.
ANSWER: Baha'iyyah faith <PS>
6. One cartoon of this gathering shows a priest administering last rites to an officer on Desplaines Street. One suspect in
this event was arrested twice before fleeing the country; that man was Rudolph Schnaubelt. May Day celebrations by
organized labor honor this event, which followed August Spies' speech praising the "slaves of McCormick" killed
earlier. Governor Altgeld granted clemency to three convicted "instigators" of this event. Only one man was killed in the
incident that started this event, though numerous others were wounded by revolver fire. This event occurred during a
labor strike for an eight-hour work day. For 10 points, name this 1886 Chicago riot that began when a pipe bomb was
thrown at police officers.
ANSWER: Haymarket Square Riot [or Haymarket affair; or Haymarket massacre] <AM/RN>
7. This play's last act depicts the dead as "matter-of-fact, without sentimentality, and, above all, without lugubriousness"
and warns one of the newly dead not to relive a<|fim_middle|>
[10] The Treaty of Munster ended the Eighty Years' War and gave this nation independence. This country allied with
Sweden during the war and was led by Maurice and Frederick Henry.
ANSWER: Dutch Republic [accept the Netherlands]
[10] This Swedish High Chancellor succeeded Gustavus Adolphus as king after his death. He ruled during Queen
Christina's regency and issued administrative reforms that prevented Sweden from becoming an absolute monarchy.
ANSWER: Axel Oxenstierna <DW/RN>
British literature AP and Honors Summer Essay Prompts In lieu of a
That Was Then, This Is Now – Chapter 2: Writing Prompts
Simple Machine do now worksheet
English 3 Honors Summer reading assignment: The Joy Luck Club
Name Date English Book Report Directions: Please answer each
Электронный читательский дневник | past memory. A choir repeatedly sings "Blessed Be the Tie That Binds"
as directed by the alcoholic and suicidal Simon Stimson in this play, which is traditionally performed without a set or
props. After being reassured that everything will be fine, George Gibbs and Emily Webb are married in its second act.
This play is narrated by the omniscient Stage Manager. For 10 points, name this play set in Grover's Corners, New
Hampshire and written by Thornton Wilder.
ANSWER: Our Town <SoH>
8. According to Nietzsche, this concept is created by the ressentiment of the oppressed, and is the pole of slave morality
that differs in master morality. Kant's radical type of this concept was reformulated by Hannah Arendt, who identified
alienated individuals latching onto zealous idealism as the root of its banality. Saint Augustine, influenced by NeoPlatonism, defined this concept as misguided will. Leibniz asserted that we live in the best of all possible worlds in a
work that attempts to solve its namesake problem. Theodicies attempt to reconcile the existence of an omnipotent and
benevolent deity with the existence of this concept. For 10 points, name this concept that Augustine characterized as the
absence of good.
ANSWER: evil [do not accept "bad"] <MZ>
9. One symbol of this holiday originates from a Jose Guadalupe Poseda etching of a "dapper" or "elegant" woman
wearing only an ostentatious European hat. For this holiday, copal incense, atole, and the four elements symbolized by
water, candles, tissue paper cutouts, and sweet buns with dough bones, are placed on ofrendas. Its decorations include
calacas, such as Catrina with marigolds, and calaveras, or sugar skulls. Its first day is dedicated to angelitos, and its
second day to adults. Syncretizing Catholic and Aztec beliefs, it coincides with All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day, and
All Souls' Day. For 10 points, give this Mexican festival that celebrates the return of departed loved ones.
ANSWER: Day of the Dead [or Dia de los Muertos] <MZ>
10. One character in this novel has piano lessons with Ms. Emperor twice a week. Valeria goes to America after leaving
one character in this novel who believes he is being followed by Inspector Trappe. In this novel, Frederick Beale's car
runs over Charlotte after she reads an entry in the protagonist's diary. The protagonist is left emotionally traumatized
after the death of his childhood love, Annabel Leigh. The title character of this novel rehearses for a school play directed
by Clare Quilty, and is called "light of my life, fire of my lions" by this novel's narrator. For 10 points, name this novel
by Vladimir Nabokov titled after a nickname for Dolores Haze given by Humbert Humbert.
ANSWER: Lolita <PS>
11. Izanami died giving birth to a god of this domain, Kagu-tsuchi. In Hindu tradition, one god of this domain mediates
the Yajna ceremony. In Norse myth, this phenomenon is associated with the region of Muspellsheimr and its ruler Surtr.
Leviticus forbids its use in a ceremony associated with Moloch. In order to show her devotion to her husband, the
goddess Sati kills herself using this. It is associated with the god Agni, and in Greek mythology, a Titan who gave this to
mankind had his liver pecked out daily by an eagle. For 10 points, name this phenomenon, embodied by a creature that is
reborn from its own ashes, the phoenix.
ANSWER: fire [accept logical equivalents, like flames] <AM>
12. The spread type of these algorithms was invented in 2002 by Steven Ross and is similar to both the bucket and radix
type. One of these algorithm has best, average, and worst case run times of n log n; that one repeatedly removes the root
of a heap. One of these methods divides an array in half recursively and utilizes a pivot value, while another compares
two adjacent elements and switches them if needed. Those methods are, respectively, the quick and bubble types. For 10
points, name these algorithms, including the selection and insertion varieties, that arrange elements in a specific order.
ANSWER: sorting algorithms [accept spreadsort, heapsort, quicksort, or bubble sort] <AM>
13. After this event, Isidore of Kiev wrote to Pope Nicholas V detailing how he survived by dressing up a dead body in
his cardinal robes. The Blachernae district and Giovanni Giustiniani were integral to the defense in this conflict. Basilica
cannons designed by the Hungarian engineer Urban damaged the defenders' walls. Chains connected forts on both sides
of the Bosporus before this event. Following this event, the Ottoman army looted a city for three days and the Hagia
Sophia was converted into a mosque. For 10 points, name this 1453 siege which saw the Ottomans sack the capital of the
Byzantine Empire.
ANSWER: fall of Constantinople [accept clear knowledge equivalents like sack of Constantinople] <JL>
14. A character played by this actor befriends a blind flower girl, and pantomimes and sings nonsense lyrics during his
cabaret performance. That character is fed by a Billows feeding machine and is drawn through a series of gears in a
cross-sectional shot from a film by this man that critiques the industrial age. This actor delivered the "look up, Hannah"
speech in a film where he played both a Jewish barber and a parody of Adolf Hitler. He starred in Modern Times and The
Great Dictator, and played a recurring role as a man with baggy clothes, a bowler hat, a small mustache, and awful luck.
For 10 points, name this British actor-director who played the Tramp during the silent era.
ANSWER: Charlie Chaplin [or Charles Spencer Chaplin] <MZ>
15. For a periodic signal, the average of this quantity over the peak value is equal to pulse length over period, the duty
cycles. In chain and belt drives, friction and wear in the chains and belts reduce the output for this quantity, resulting in a
decreased mechanical advantage. In fluid systems, this quantity can be expressed as pressure times volumetric flow rate.
It is equal to current squared times resistance, current times voltage, or work over time. For 10 points, name this quantity
measured in watts.
ANSWER: power [prompt on P] <BM>
16. 798 is an art zone in this country, which is home to an artist who filled the Tate Modern with millions of ceramic
sunflower seeds. A really long panoramic painting from here follows a river upstream from a rural to urban setting and
depicts daily life during a spring festival. Birds and flowers name a genre of landscape painting from this country, where
an assembly line using eight basic face molds was used to create thousands of life-size ceramic sculptures. That
sculptural collection is still only partially excavated. For 10 points, name this country home to Ai Weiwei and the
Terracotta Army.
ANSWER: China [or Zhongguo] <MZ>
17. This entity is commanded to "hurl its green over us" and "cover us with pools of fir" in H.D.'s "Oread". The speaker
of Neruda's "Song of Despair" compares his lover to this image and time, because they all "swallow" everything "like
distance", letting "everything [sink]". The title figure of a Poe poem is "in her sepulchre" by this setting, which
Tennyson commands to "break, break, break" and Arnold observes is "calm tonight". Annabel Lee lived in a kingdom
by this setting, whose wideness and silence are repeatedly invoked by a Romantic speaker who shoots an albatross. For
10 points, name this primary setting of "Rime of the Ancient Mariner".
ANSWER: sea [or ocean] <KX>
18. This element is used as a shield against atmospheric contamination in gas tungsten arc welding. Radioactive decay in
the lithosphere from minerals containing thorium and uranium create most of this element on Earth. It was first observed
as a yellow line in the solar spectrum. When it is cooled to below 4 Kelvin, the most common isotope of this element can
creep up the walls of a container as a superfluid. Alpha particles are the nuclei of this element, the second most abundant
in the universe. For 10 points, name this lightest noble gas with atomic number 2 and chemical symbol He.
ANSWER: helium [accept He before mentioned] <BM>
19. In one section of this work, the strings repeat a fortissimo E-flat, E, A-flat, B chord while accenting varied on and off
beats. It ends when an ascending line in the piccolo and flute is interrupted by a final chord spelling out D-E-A-D.
Changing meter features prominently in this work, in which 11 timpani beats mark the beginning of "The Glorification
of the Chosen One." This work's final section includes alternating notes in the timpani and strings punctuated by brass to
depict a sacrificial dance. Its first part "Adoration of the Earth" begins with a bassoon solo. For 10 points, name this
ballet about the sacrifice of a virgin girl, written by Igor Stravinsky.
ANSWER: The Rite of Spring [or Le Sacre du printemps] <BM>
20. The first of these events occurred in Sicily, which led to its independence for 16 months. During one of these events,
the prohibition of the campagne des banquets united the popular Republicans and Orléanists against the French king.
Lajos Kossuth led the Hungarian one of these events, prompting Metternich's resignation, and was crushed by the
"gendarme of Europe," Czar Nicholas I. Friedrich Wilhelm IV refused the offer of the German crown by the Frankfurt
Assembly during this event. For 10 points, name this series of political upheavals in Europe that took place in a certain
ANSWER: revolutions of 1848 [or Springtime of the Peoples; or Spring of Nations] <JL>
TB. This number is the value of the Riemann zeta function which yields Apéry's constant and Waring's problem asks
whether every positive integer can be written as the sum of nine or fewer numbers raised to this power. Stewart's
theorem relates the side lengths of a polygon with this number of sides to its cevian. It is the only prime triangular
number and the only prime one less than a perfect square. This number is the minimum number of points needed to
define a circle and the sum of interior angles of a polygon with this number of sides is 180 degrees. For 10 points, name
this integer, the first odd prime number.
ANSWER: three [accept third] <BM>
Round 14 – Bonuses
1. They fought and killed each other in the Musket Wars and cannibalized European prisoners in the Boyd Massacre. For
10 points each:
[10] Name these aboriginal peoples who lost sovereignty to the British in the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. They are
descended from Polynesian migrants.
ANSWER: Maori
[10] The Maori live on this two-island nation in the southern hemisphere. James Cook visited it on his way to Hawaii,
and its capital is Wellington.
ANSWER: New Zealand
[10] From 1863 to 1874, the Pai Marire movement arose among the Maori. By integrating both Christian and Maori
practices, the Pai Marire is an example of these kinds of religions that meld two belief systems.
ANSWER: syncretism [or syncretic religions] <RN>
2. In this book, Dr. Copeland gets angry at a story his daughter Portia tells him about a scam artist. For 10 points each:
[10] Identify this novel set in 1930s Georgia that focuses on the relationship between the deaf-mute John Singer and his
four friends, including Mick Kelly and Jake Blount. Its name is based on a William Sharp poem.
ANSWER: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
[10] This American author of The Ballad of the Sad Café and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter wrote frequently about the
American south. She created Frankie, who dreams of escaping to Alaska as the title Member of the Wedding.
ANSWER: Carson McCullers
[10] This character in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is the owner of the New York Café. His wife Alice dies in the
beginning of the novel, so he strives to be a mother figure.
ANSWER: Biff Brannon <BM>
3. Watch out for poisoned apparel! For 10 points each:
[10] This sorceress took revenge for her abandonment by Jason by killing her children and sending Jason's new wife
Glauce ("GLAO-kay") a robe drenched in poison.
ANSWER: Medea
[10] This man put on a shirt given to him by his wife Deianeira. He somehow failed to notice that it was dripping with
poisonous blood, and died.
ANSWER: Heracles [grudgingly accept Hercules]
[10] Deianeira foolishly soaked that shirt with the blood of this centaur, thinking his blood would ensure Heracles's
fidelity.
ANSWER: Nessus <MZ>
4. In 2012, this organization won the Nobel Peace Prize. For 10 points each:
[10] Name this organization with 28 member states which emerged from the earlier European Coal and Steel
Community. Its de facto capital is in Brussels, Belgium.
ANSWER: European Union [or EU]
[10] This treaty, signed in a city in the Netherlands, formally created the EU and adopted the Euro as the EU's main
currency.
ANSWER: Treaty of Maastricht [or 1992 Treaty on European Union]
[10] This organization originally formed in contrast to the EU by the "Outer Seven". Five of the original member states
have left to join the EU. Its current members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
ANSWER: European Free Trade Association [accept EFTA] <JL/RN>
5. Answer the following about poetry of a possibly mystical bent, for 10 points each.
[10] The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, which scholars assure displays either orthodox Islamic, mystical, or atheistic
influences, was written in this Iranian language also used by Rumi.
ANSWER: Persian [or Farsi]
[10] The Rubaiyat was written in these stanzas with twelve possible rhyme schemes. Turkish folk poetry, emerging both
in a secular and an explicitly Sufi and Shi'a tradition, is also frequently composed in these stanzas.
ANSWER: quatrains
[10] Persian poetry and Sufi thought influenced this form of Ottoman poetry pervaded with opposing symbols like the
nightingale and the rose or the ascetic and the dervish. It is a Persian loan word in Arabic meaning list or register.
ANSWER: divan [or diwan] <SH>
6. This structure has primary and secondary layers that sandwich the pectin-rich lamella. For 10 points each:
[10] Name this structure possessed by many plant, fungal, and bacterial cells, but not by animal cells. It keeps its rigidity
via turgor pressure.
ANSWER: cell wall [prompt on wall; do not accept "cell membrane"]
[10] Plant cell walls are primarily made from this compound. Humans generally cannot digest the beta-glycosidic bonds
that link its glucose units.
ANSWER: cellulose [accept C6H10O5]
[10] Cell walls communicate and transport materials via these microscopic pores. They are analogous to gap junctions in
animal cells.
ANSWER: plasmodesmata [accept plasmodesma] <AT>
7. It's time to answer some questions some questions some questions about a certain genre of American music. For 10
points each:
[10] This composer notably pioneered phasing in his Piano Phase, and one of his tape loops repeats the phrase "It's
gonna rain." His Music for 18 Musicians contains movements titled "Pulses" and "Sections."
ANSWER: Steve Reich
[10] Steve Reich was a major figure in this genre of music. It involves repeating short phrases of music over and over
again, making small changes to it with time.
ANSWER: minimalism <BM>
[10] A contemporary of Steve Reich, this composer wrote 10 symphonies and his namesake -works include the
movements "Opening" and "Rubric." His opera Einstein on the Beach is connected by "Knee Plays."
ANSWER: Philip Glass <BM>
8. This island group was called the Spice Islands because of its spice production. For 10 points each:
[10] In 1964, this archipelagic island nation united with Tanganyika to form Tanzania. This Swahili trade center was
ruled by sultans of Oman, and Stanley began his journey to find Livingstone on this island near Dar es Salaam.
ANSWER: Zanzibar
[10] Zanzibar City's downtown was built with this type of material, giving it its nickname. It was often washed with
lime, and the Portuguese fort, mosques, and upper-class houses in Zanzibar were built from this general material.
ANSWER: stone [accept rock]
[10] One of the spices Zanzibar produces is this dark aromatic evergreen flower bud native to Indonesia. Pemba Island
used to be the world's largest producer of this spice, but production is now privatized on Unguja Island.
ANSWER: cloves <DM/RN>
9. The Transylvania Company hired Daniel Boone to build a road through this feature that was finally subjugated in the
Civil War by Ambrose Burnside. For 10 points each:
[10] Name this mountain pass through the Appalachians that comprises one part of the Wilderness Road.
ANSWER: Cumberland (Water) Gap
[10] The Cumberland Gap is this kind of gap, meaning that it was once a water gap created by a creek cutting through
the mountains, but is now completely dry.
ANSWER: wind gap
[10] The Kentucky and Cumberland Rivers form two borders of the Transylvania Purchase explored by Boone. This
river forms the third, western boundary, and is fed by both the Cumberland and the Kentucky.
ANSWER: Ohio River <ZP/RN>
10. These performers played "doit" and "fall" notes on their instruments. For 10 points each, name some jazz trumpeters.
[10] This musician collaborated with other jazz artists on his tunes "Salt Peanuts" and "A Night in Tunisia." He is
known for his distinctive bent trumpet and puffed cheeks while playing.
ANSWER: Dizzy Gillespie
[10] This New Orleans-based musician helped popularize scat singing in his recording of "West End Blues." Known as
Satchmo, he may be best known for singing "I see trees of green, / red roses too" in "What a Wonderful World."
ANSWER: Louis Armstrong
[10] This trumpeter collaborated with his brother Branford on the post-bop album Black Codes while one of his more
recent albums is Two Men with the Blues. He is currently the artistic director of jazz at Lincoln Center.
ANSWER: Wynton Marsalis <BM>
11. Answer these questions about urban decay, for 10 points each.
[10] A frequent image of urban decay is the demolition of these government-owned projects intended for low-income
people. Notable ones include Pruitt-Igoe in St. Louis and Cabrini-Green in Chicago.
ANSWER: public housing
[10] When property values fall and the tipping point is reached, the invasion-succession model predicts low-income
minorities moving in as this phenomenon occurs. It is the migration of certain people from urban areas to suburbs.
ANSWER: white flight
[10] Urban decay can be countered by this process, a shift to higher-income residents and higher property values.
Currently occurring in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, it leads to the displacement and migration of poorer residents.
ANSWER: gentrification <PS/MZ>
12. One of its characters contemplates marrying John Milton or Richard Hooker instead of a plain baronet. For 10 points
each:
[10] Name this sprawling novel in which the idealistic philanthropist Dorothea Brooke defies the will of her deceased
husband Edward Casaubon to marry Will Ladislaw.
ANSWER: Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life
[10] Middlemarch is by this Victorian author. She created a weaver of Raveloe who loses his gold to Duncan Cass and
adopts the golden-haired Eppie in Silas Marner.
ANSWER: George Eliot [or Mary Ann Evans]
[10] This haughty character in Middlemarch is the daughter of Middlemarch's mayor, and the sister of Fred. She pursues
a relationship with the eminent young doctor Tertius Lydgate.
ANSWER: Rosamond Vincy [accept either] <KX>
13. Answer the following about definitions of a class of substances that include HCL and H2SO4, for 10 points each:
[10] Name these substances, which are defined as ones that dissociate in water to form hydrogen ions. They are named
after the Swedish chemist who first defined them.
ANSWER: Arrhenius acids [prompt on acids]
[10] This definition of acids states that they are proton donors. The molecule with the removed proton becomes a
conjugate base.
ANSWER: Bronsted-Lowry acids
[10] The Lux-Flood definition of acids, commonly used in geochemistry, states that acids are acceptors of this ion that
results from the one-electron reduction of diatomic oxygen.
ANSWER: superoxide [or O2- ("oh-two-minus"); or hyperoxide] <AT>
14. The main figure of this work ascends Mount Nebo after installing Joshua as his successor. For 10 points each:
[10] Name this fifth book of the Bible, in which three festivals are instituted and various purity laws are enumerated.
ANSWER: Deuteronomy
[10] One of the festivals is this one, which commemorates the giving of the Torah and symbolizes the birth of the nation
ANSWER: Shavuot [prompt on Feast of Weeks]
[10] A staple of the festivals instituted in Deuteronomy is this compulsory act of returning to the Temple to make
sacrifices.
ANSWER: pilgrimage
15. Prior to serving as a Revolutionary Army leader, he was a leader in the failed Braddock Expedition. For 10 points
[10] Name this man who suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion as first President of the United States.
ANSWER: George Washington
[10] At this battle, George Washington cornered and captured the British army under Cornwallis with the assistance of
the French navy and army under Lafayette. This battle led to the 1783 Treaty of Paris.
ANSWER: Battle of Yorktown [or Siege of Yorktown]
[10] This French admiral's victory over Thomas Graves in the Chesapeake forced Cornwallis to surrender. He led a
failed naval assault on Jamaica and was captured during the Battle of Saintes.
ANSWER: Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse [or the Comte de Grasse] <JL/RN>
16. This mathematical procedure helps define addition and multiplication in number theory. For 10 points each:
[10] Name this method, whereby the n+1 case is defined in terms of the n case or lower-order cases.
ANSWER: recursion [accept word forms like recursive]
[10] Recursion also helps define these constituents of Pascal's triangle. They are normally notated with two numbers, n
and k, vertically orientated in parentheses, and are generally read as "n choose k" when referring to combinations.
ANSWER: binomial coefficients
[10] This work of cognitive philosophy by Douglas Hofstadter expounds on recursion using the example of a record
player which destroys itself by playing the record titled "I Cannot Be Played on Record Player X."
ANSWER: Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid [prompt on GEB: EGB] <ZP>
17. Only Eugene de Rastignac, Christophe, and some paid mourners show at the title character's funeral. For 10 points
[10] Identify this 1835 French novel in which Delphine and Anastasia bankrupt their father, the title character, while
Vautrin is revealed to be the crafty Trompe-la-Mort.
ANSWER: Le Père Goriot [or Father Goriot; or Old Goriot]
[10] Eugene de Rastignac is a recurring character in this sprawling series, a panorama of Restoration France. It includes
Le Père Goriot in Scenes from Private Life and Lost Illusions in Scenes from Provincial Life.
ANSWER: La Comédie humaine [or The Human Comedy]
[10] La Comèdie humaine is the magnum opus of this 19th-century French novelist, whose detailed descriptive style
established him as a father of literary realism.
ANSWER: Honoré de Balzac <BM/MZ>
18. Man's best friend is found in many paintings as a motif in Western art. For 10 points each, name these works
featuring canis lupus familiaris:
[10] This painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder centers on the three title figures followed by a pack of dogs overlooking a
frozen pond.
ANSWER: The Hunters in the Snow [or The Return of the Hunters]
[10] In front of Willy Lott's cottage, a dog stands on the edge of a lake where three horses pull a man in the title object
in this work by John Constable. The left of this painting features an overgrown cottage.
ANSWER: The Hay Wain
[10] A brown and white dog struts on a bridge in this artist's Le Pont de L'Europe. This artist also painted The Floor
Scrapers and Paris Street, Rainy Day, where a gas light separates the background from the foreground.
ANSWER: Gustave Caillebotte <SoH>
19. The Hamiltonian operator is one term in this equation. For 10 points each,
[10] Name this partial differential equation which can be used to analyze how a quantum system, such as a hydrogen
atom, behaves. Its eponymous Austrian scientist is proposed a thought experiment involving a cat.
ANSWER: Schrödinger equation
[10] Another term in the Schrödinger equation is the Greek letter psi, which represents this complex value describing a
particle's quantum state. Its square gives the probability of finding an electron within a given area.
ANSWER: wavefunction
[10] There are two types of Schrödinger equation, one of which is dependent and one independent of this variable. The
version dependent on this variable includes the Laplace operator.
ANSWER: time <BM>
20. Russia may have gone a little over its head with this one. Answer the following about the Crimean crisis for 10
points each.
[10] This European country with capital at Kiev has seen upheaval over whether Crimea should remain part of this
country or join Russia.
ANSWER: Ukraine
[10] The European Union is treading carefully with the crisis in Ukraine because a quarter of its supply of this resource
is supplied by Russia via pipelines through Ukraine.
ANSWER: natural gas
[10] This Fatherland politician negotiated a deal with Russia to resume natural gas supply as Prime Minister of Ukraine
in 2009. Recently released from prison and known for her braids, she is set to run for President.
ANSWER: Yulia Tymoshenko <DG/MZ>
TB. The treaty that ended this war is a foundational document in modern international relations theory. For 10 points
[10] Name this Europe-wide conflict that began with the Defenestration of Prague. Sweden intervened on behalf of the
Protestant side in this war.
ANSWER: Thirty Years' War | 6,223 |
Aloo Ki Poori – Don't they look drool worthy. These taste just like aloo ki kachori minus the hard work. These are perfect as tea time snack – take my word for it as I am having them right now with my tea and they are really something, for kids lunch box – when you don't have lots of time on your hands and kids want something good for their tiffins, when you are travelling and want mess free snack – as you do not have to wrap some other vegetable with it.
<|fim_middle|> size.
Deep fry till puffed up and golden brown on both sides. For crispier Pooris you can fry them for a little longer to dark brown.
Serve with chutney, achaar, chunda or simply roll them up and start enjoying.
Very nice recipe . Can I prepare dough mixture at night refrigerate and fry next morning?
It will be better if you make the dough just before cooking otherwise it will get soft overnight and it will be difficult to make pooris.
Thanks for the recipe.My husband and daughter loved it.
So glad to hear that Thamanna. | Note : you can increase spices according to your preference. This is how my kids liked it.
Don't cut down on the number of potatoes as that will spoil the taste of the pooris.
Mash the potatoes. There should be no lump left as that will not let the poori puff up. Add all the spices.
Mix thoroughly. Now add the whole wheat flour.
Using as little water as yo can make a tight dough as you would make for regular pooris. Because of potatoes dough will not be very hard. Make around 16 balls and roll the dough. you can make smaller pooris also but for kids tiffin I like this | 132 |
Are We Running Out of Vanilla?
Surely, there's no greater sign that a child has matured to adulthood than the realization that vanilla is not a waste of an ice cream flavor, but rather the best flavoring in the universe.
Although I have no data backing that up, I feel comfortable saying it. For substantiated claims that feel unsettling, look no further than Melody Bomgardner's C&EN story about the looming vanilla crisis that inspired our latest video.
But Melody published her story in September and Sarah filmed her video in October. So we decided afterward to get in touch with Josephine Lochhead at Cook Flavoring Company for an update on the vanilla situation. Cook's has been keeping its finger on the vanilla pulse by visiting plantations in Madagascar—be sure to check out the firm's blog for more info. We started exchanging emails with Josephine at the beginning of December, after she returned from Madagascar's Sambava region with<|fim_middle|> wondered how mixtures of the two would dry. Join us with our (opened) 40-year-old bottle of chipmunk whiskey as we find out.
If this video leaves you wanting more whiskey chemistry, check out these great resources.
It's an inevitable side effect of longevity: your hair will turn gray. In this episode, Sophia Cai chats about the chemistry of your natural hair color, why it eventually turns white, and how scientists may be able to slow that graying down.
Everyday Mysteries: Why does hair turn gray?
The structure we show for the tyrosinase enzyme is a prediction. Researchers haven't yet experimentally verified what it looks like. For more info, check out this paper from Enzyme Research.
And again, thanks to Gerald Weissman for talking to us for this video. | some mixed news.
"The farmers I spoke with all reported heavy blossoming and expectations of a large, healthy crop for 2017," she writes. "However, the large Madagascar exporters are reporting poor flowering and expectations of a light crop." She adds that she saw loads of beans and abundant flowering in Sambava. It's possible that vanilla is simply growing better in Sambava than elsewhere, but exporters could be trying to keep bean prices high with their pessimistic reports, Josephine says.
She adds that each village she visited had between 2 and 6 metric tons of cured vanilla on hand and that some farmers were willing to sell it at rates below $200 per kg. Major vanilla exporters are currently quoting prices around twice that, according to data shared by Cook's.
Josephine also points out that countries other than Madagascar have ramped up their vanilla production, notably India, Indonesia, and New Guinea. Vanilla production in Madagascar has been off its peak for several of the past years, which factors into the current shortage, but has also given other regions time to increase their production significantly (vanilla vines take 3-4 years to produce quality beans, Josephine says).
That's right. Comets may have helped seed life on Earth. Far out, right? Sarah Everts has the chemical clues that back up this out-of-this-world hypothesis.
Apologies to Paul Wild, who discovered the comet Wild 2 along with several others. His last name is pronounced Vilt.
Speaking of Chemistry is a production of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly news magazine of the American Chemical Society.
Did you know that the ocean launches bacteria and other goo into the atmosphere? And that those particles can seed clouds? In our last stop of the Speaking of Chemistry Road Trip, atmospheric chemist Kimberly Prather of UCSD and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography drops some serious knowledge on us.
Studying odors from corpses may sound macabre, but it's actually a virtuous vocation. Researchers in this field are helping find missing bodies lost in natural disasters or hidden by murderers.
Huge thanks to Mary Cablk for her help with this episode and for sharing her amazing photos and videos of Inca. Learn more about Mary's work here.
If this episode leaves you wanting more macabre chemistry, check out the featured resources below.
And did you know you can buy putrescine and cadaverine online? It's true. Google it.
The 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir Fraser Stoddart, and Ben Feringa. Read all about it.
In this episode of Speaking of Chemistry, we look at how three molecular machinists earned this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Apologies to our international posse: All times referenced in this video are based on us being in the Eastern Time Zone.
Want even more molecular-mechanical goodness? You are in luck, my friend. Here are some more great references.
Speaking of Chemistry is brought to you by Chemical & Engineering News, the news magazine of the American Chemical Society.
Come closer, lean in, and… inhale deeply. Some of our most valuable heritage objects—think old books, early film, and vintage plastic jewelry—have their own personal pong. But there's more to their musk than nostalgia alone. Sarah Everts explains why conservators are starting to sniff out the compounds emitted by museum art and artifacts.
If this episode leaves you wishing for a stronger whiff of smelly museum masterpieces, check out these great resources.
We'd also like to thank Yvonne Shashoua of the National Museum of Denmark for the crash test dummy and corroded knife images.
Want even more Speaking of Chemistry?
Food fraud often boils down to politics or semantics. Something labeled parmesan cheese may not come from Parma, for instance. But sometimes food producers try to feed us cheap fillers and other lies. In this episode of Speaking of Chemistry, Sophia Cai explains how scientists, regulators, and food makers are relying on chemistry to make sure consumers get what they pay for.
Want to learn even more about fighting food fraud? Check out these great resources.
Check out even more on NASA's cubesat missions here.
Unless you've had a sushi chef grate a $50 wasabi stem right onto your plate, you've probably not had the real thing. Find out what that green paste next to your tuna roll really is and how compounds in authentic wasabi may one-day treat a variety of medical ailments.
If this episode leaves you wanting more, check out this article that inspired the episode.
Stanford's Zhenan Bao and her research team are developing electronics that could revolutionize wearables and prosthetics. In this episode, Matt Davenport and Noel Waghorn get a glimpse behind the scenes at Stanford and learn how Zhenan's past at the historic Bell Labs is helping her create futuristic materials.
What makes blue-green algae dangerous?
When the environmental conditions are right, blue-green algae (which are actually blue-green bacteria) can blossom into harmful algal blooms. These blooms can release all sorts of deadly poisons into the environment. In this episode, SOC's Sophia Cai explains how human health could be at risk, with help from SOC's structure-drawing extraordinaire, Lauren Wolf.
Check out the story behind this video.
Photographer Ernie Button showed us that dried whiskey droplets are a captivating and unusual sight to behold, especially compared with the more familiar coffee ring. Speaking of Chemistry caught up with Ernie and the Princeton researchers who investigated whisky's unique drying behavior to learn about the chemistry that controls it and how that information could help the paint and coatings industry.
And be sure to check out Ernie Button's website.
If this episode leaves you wanting more, check out these great resources.
For the scientific background for this experiment, check out this video.
After we learned why whiskey and coffee dry so differently, we | 1,223 |
If you have<|fim_middle|> as olive oil, sunflower oil, and soybean oil.
Among minerals, calcium is one of the most important during childhood. Calcium helps children develop strong bones and teeth. It's also important for blood clotting as well as for muscle, nerve and heart function. Foods that contain high amounts of calcium include spinach, broccoli, egg yolks, yogurts, ice creams, cheese and milk.
Vitamin A serves a variety of purposes in kids. It is a growth vitamin, assists the eyes in adjusting to dim light, keeps the skin healthy, and helps to prevent infections. The best sources of vitamin A include egg yolks, cabbage, fish oils, apricots, squash, sweet potatoes and carrots.
Aside from helping kids, as well as adults, fight the common cold, vitamin C plays a key role in holding the body's cells together, strengthening the walls of blood cells, building strong bones and teeth and helping the body heal. The best sources of Vitamin C include mangoes, papayas, cauliflower, melons, tomatoes, strawberries and citrus fruits.
Call us at 973.665.0900 or visit our offices at Chatham, NJ, to learn more about children's health. | kids, you've probably been told a million times that a "balanced diet" is vital for children's health. So, like many parents, you're probably wondering what this "balanced diet" really is.
Below, we spell out the six nutrients that constitute a balanced diet for children.
Carbohydrates are the body's primary source of energy. Since children remain active for the better part of the day, 50-60 percent of their daily diet should be carbohydrates. Some of the recommended sources of dietary carbohydrates include brown rice, fruits, whole grains, vegetables and whole-grain cereals.
Proteins build, maintain and repair body tissues. It is a critical nutrient for growth, plus it boosts the immune system. Kids aged 2-8 years need 3-5 ounces of protein daily while those aged 9-14 need 5-8 ounces. Good sources of dietary protein for children include fish, chicken, milk, dairy products, lean meat, turkey and eggs.
Fats are another great source of energy and also help the body to properly use other nutrients. But it should be "good fat." Excellent sources include nuts, avocados, fatty fish such as salmon and vegetable oils such | 248 |
What those pineapple pins on Instagram really mean
Susan Devaney
Women are showing their solidarity for fertility struggles by wearing a pineapple pin.
Over the past week, women have been taking to social media to demonstrate their support for people struggling with fertility by wearing a pin featuring two pineapples, as part of the IVF Stronger Together campaign.
The campaign, launched by IVF Babble - an online fertility magazine - last<|fim_middle|>list.co.uk, writing about fashion, beauty, travel, feminism, and everything else in-between. | month as part of Fertility Awareness Week, aims to break the silence surrounding fertility struggles and start a conversation as IVF celebrates 40 years since its creation.
Celebrities Fearne Cotton and Kate Thornton have shown their support by sharing snaps with the badges, followed by the hashtag #IVFStrongerTogether.
"My wonderful friend Sara has started up a game-changing initiative! I'm wearing this pineapple pin to show my strength, love and support for those whose lives have been touched by fertility struggles," Cotton wrote on Instagram.
"Proudly wearing this pin to show love and support for those who've been touched by fertility struggles. Visit www.ivfbabble.com for more info on the campaign," Thornton wrote on Instagram.
But why the pineapple? "The pineapple has been a universal symbol of friendship, warmth and welcome for many centuries all over the world, but recently, it has taken on a new meaning. It has become the globally recognised symbol of good luck in the TTC (trying to conceive) community," writes IVF Babble.
Unfortunately, people facing fertility struggles can sometimes be faced with the unwanted stigma attached to it, something model Chrissy Teigen knows of only too well. Teigen has long been open about her and her husband, John Legend's struggle to conceive, and resisted anyone attempting to shame them for not being able to conceive naturally.
And plenty of other women, who have faced the same troubles or know people facing fertility issues, have also taken to Instagram to share photos wearing the badges:
The pins sold out within days of the campaign launching, but if you want to support the campaign too, you can order a pin on Amazon.
H/T: Cosmopolitan.co.uk
Images: Instagram
Susan Devaney is a digital journalist for Sty | 354 |
Athletes Unlimited Organizes as a Public Benefit Corporation
By Gaby M. Rojas on 2022-04-18 at April 18th, 2022
Last updated on April 18th, 2022 07:01 pm
Athletes Unlimited recently celebrated becoming the first professional sports league to organize as a public benefit corporation (PBC), with the publishing of its inaugural Public Benefit Corporation report, highlighting progress and sharing commitments to lift up and support its athletes. Founded on the belief that athletes are what make the sport, Athletes Unlimited model challenges the conventions of traditional leagues by eliminating team owners, giving a bigger voice to athletes, and providing athletes opportunities to engage meaningfully in their communities. These commitments to advance the standards of traditional sports, underscore Athletes Unlimited's resolve to be a driving force for good for its athletes, employees, communities, and the planet.
Since its founding in March 2020, Athletes Unlimited launched four professional women's sports leagues—softball, volleyball, lacrosse, and basketball—delivering competition with some of the greatest athletes from around the world. Athletes Unlimited aims to empower its professional athletes as leaders in their sport, promote inclusive ownership that focuses on the long-term profit sharing and personal well-being of athletes, and bring fans closer to the game by innovating on and off the field to maximize engagement and excitement for a global community of fans.
"Our ambition as a public benefit corporation is to not only reimagine professional sports, but also to rethink the way a business can—and should—show up in the world," says Jonathan Soros, Athletes Unlimited co-founder. "We've created a new model of financing, going beyond typical PBC requirement of taking stakeholders interests into account, that allows investors to signal their support for a mission and their willingness to trade financial return for public benefit."
In just two years, Athletes Unlimited is fulfilling the inspirational promise of professional sports while building a successful business that benefits its stakeholders and is making real impact. A few of the highlights outlined in the PBC report reflect on how Athletes Unlimited is:
Celebrating diversity, lifting up the stories of BIPOC athletes where they are underrepresented and creating more opportunities for younger BIPOC athletes to imagine themselves as professional athletes;
Focusing on the personal wellbeing of its athletes, with invaluable pregnancy and childcare policies to developing skills that support their development off the field with programming that covers leadership, negotiation, financial literacy, nutrition, and mental health counseling and more; and
Cultivating leadership skills for athletes to serve as an engine for civic advancement in their communities, while supporting the causes they<|fim_middle|> has a tangible stake in that success, making a greater impact on and off the field."
"Speaking on behalf of our players, Athletes Unlimited is far more than any of us could have envisioned. The caliber of professional competition is incredible, but it's how we're celebrating women, supporting businesses owned by people of color, encouraging civic engagement and voter registration and creating real impact, that makes us proud to be an athlete," said Cassidy Lichtman, founding member of the Athletes Unlimited volleyball league, chair of the Athletes Unlimited Volleyball Player Executive Committee and the founder of P/ATH, a non-profit that focuses on using sports as a vehicle to teach skills around empathy, equity and empowerment.
To learn more about how Athletes Unlimited's model is not just reimaging professional sports, but can be adapted for use in other benefit corporations, check out its latest PBC report, here. And to share in Athletes Unlimited's mission to bring innovation, inclusion, and excellence to professional sports, visit auprosports.com or follow us @auprosports. | care most about, with guidance and funding.
"With the disparities between men and women in professional sports, our success has already had enormous public benefits by providing pathways for over 200 professional female athletes and elevating role models for millions of women and girls around the world," says Jon Patricof, Athletes Unlimited co-founder. "We believe that athletes should participate in the long-term value they help create, and we are building a player community that | 91 |
Wreckin' Rams sweep 3-5A
Steve Peloquin
Special to the Advertiser
The Acadiana Wreckin' Rams concluded their 2015 regular season schedule on a high note on Thursday night, defeating the New Iberia Yellow Jackets 49-0 at Bill Dotson Stadium.
The win extended Acadiana's win streak to six games, and gave the Rams the outright District 3-5A title in the process.
"That is our first goal, every year, to win district," Acadiana head coach Ted Davidson said. "We knew we had clinched at least a share of it, two weeks ago, but we really wanted to win tonight, and be outright district champs."
The Wreckin' Rams got on the scoreboard first, on the opening drive of the game, when Kevin Moore capped off an 11-play, 63-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to give them a quick 7-0 lead at the 6:11 mark of the first quarter.
After recovering the fumble on the following kickoff, Acadiana scored on the very next play, courtesy of a 10-yard touchdown pass from Myles Hutchinson to Javonis Isaac to make it 14-0 with 6:03 to go in the period.
"We had the nice little drive that kind of did what we planned on," Davidson said. "We wanted to kind of hold the ball, a little bit, on them, because we know they are good, offensively. We ended up getting the score, and then we got the quick score, and then it kind of snowballed on them.
"It was just one of those games where everything you do turns to gold," said Davidson. "It doesn't always happen like that, but it did tonight."
"We played decent on the first drive, holding them to small gains," said New Iberia head coach Rick Hutson. "We have a lot of youth on defense. We started<|fim_middle|> for the way we played tonight," said Hutson. "I thought we had good practices all week. But they're just better than us, I guess."
Acadiana improved to 7-2 overall and 6-0 in district play, and will host an opening round playoff game next week on a roll, winners of six-straight.
"I feel really good about this group," Davidson said. "The way we've practiced the last few days, it kind of had a different feel to it. I think a week off helped us, especially mentally, getting away from the grind, and I like where we're at." | five sophomores tonight, including three on the defensive line, and this is not a good team to play three sophomores on the defensive line.
"We have to be more resilient than that (letting things snowball after the fumbled kick)," said Hutson. "They're a good football team, and they played at a faster pace than us all night, on both sides of the ball, and when the other team plays faster than you, it's hard for you to stay in the game."
After the Wreckin' Rams defense forced a three-and-out, the Acadiana offense took advantage, going 62 yards on 4 plays, and scoring on a 15-yard touchdown run by Ziggy Francis at the 3:12 mark of the first period, to extend the lead to 21-0.
Hutchinson scored on a 3-yard touchdown run on Acadiana's next possession, completing a 6-play, 58-yard drive, to make it four touchdowns on four possessions, and a 28-0 advantage at the 10:49 mark of the second quarter.
Acadiana scored quickly on their next possession when Moore connected with Bralen Trahan on a 71-yard touchdown pass to lengthen the lead to 35-0 at the 8:31 mark of the second frame.
Javonte Edmund got in on the fun at the 1:43 mark of the second quarter, scoring on an 8-yard touchdown run, ending an 8-play, 52-yard drive, to give them a 42-0 advantage, a lead they would take with them into the halftime break.
Acadiana outgained New Iberia in the first half, 298-35.
The Wreckin' Rams defense got into the scoring act for the first scored of the second half, when Trahan picked up a fumble, and then raced it back 59 yards for a touchdown, making the score 49-0 at the 6:23 mark of the third quarter.
That turned out to be the only points of the second half, with the two teams playing running time in the second half, as Acadiana went on to the shutout win.
That's a pretty impressive accomplishment, considering New Iberia was averaging 37.6 points in five district games heading into Thursday night.
"That's a pretty good offensive football team," Davidson said of New Iberia. "They scored 35 points in every district game they played this year.
"Our secondary is playing really well, and Kevin (Moore) is playing Kevin football at middle linebacker, and we're getting better up front," said Davidson. "We're getting better, defensively."
The loss dropped the Yellow Jackets to 4-6, overall, and 3-3 in district play, likely putting an end to their season.
"I don't really have an explanation | 614 |
1930 Lenvel 2021
Lenvel Elbert Drain
February 22, 1930 — October 18, 2021
Lenvel Elbert Drain was called home on October 18th, 2021, at the age of 91 years old. He was born February 22nd, 1<|fim_middle|> He had a smile that welcomed every person who saw it, and made everyone he met feel at home with his warm demeanor and big bear hugs.
He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend.
Lenvel was also a deeply spiritual man, always keeping the spirit of the Lord close by his side. We know that he was welcomed with loving embraces by those who passed before him including his parents and many siblings, as well as by his loving wife, Carol, and his daughter, Leanna.
Lenvel was survived by his sister, Jewel Madge Drain Wolfe and brother, Bill Drain, as well as his two daughters, Jo Ann Drain Rowe and Deborah Lynn Drain Hepworth. He also was survived by his grandchildren, Travis, Cameron, Danielle, Thomas, and Victoria and many great grandchildren as well.
Graveside services will be held Monday, October 25, 2021, 11:00 a.m. at Valley View Memorial Park, 4400 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah. A viewing will be held Sunday, October 24, 2021, 6-8:00 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road.
Interment will follow at Valley View Memorial Park.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Lenvel Elbert Drain, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lenvel Elbert Drain, please visit our flower store.
Viewing Service
6:00 - 8:00pm (Mountain time)
McDougal Funeral Home
4330 S Redwood Rd, Taylorsville, UT 84123 | 930 to Sherman and Ruby Drain. Lenvel was born into a large family, including ten siblings: Sherman, Johnny, Ed, Harold, David, Herman, Vivian, Betty, and Jewel.
As a young adult, he moved to Utah, following his brothers before him. Lenvel obtained work quickly, working in the foundry in Kennecott Copper Corporation in Magna, Utah.
Lenvel was extremely hard working and stayed with Kennecott for 30 years. After a hard day's work, Lenvel would get food at one of his favorite restaurants in Magna, and it was there that Lenvel met the love of his life, Carol. Carol's father owned the restaurant, and Carol was a waitress
there. The two were married on December 4th, 1950 and later sealed in the Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1962. They were married for nearly 65 years, only separated by Carol's death in 2015. The couple had three daughters: Leanna, Deborah, Jo Ann. Aside from being a hard worker, Lenvel was a very creative and caring man.
He loved to play instruments, particularly his guitar, and enjoyed listening to country music. He loved those around him deeply. | 268 |
Botanical Expeditions, Plant exploration treks, Plant Hunting expeditions. Cultural Treks.
Join us for an exciting 14-day Plant Hunting Expedition to the beautiful mighty Manaslu region. Some call it the best all-round trek in Nepal and it's on the Great Himalaya Trail. Manaslu (Nepali: मनास<|fim_middle|>napurna and Manaslu. We will be collecting plants and seeds for Garden in the Himalayas and studying the montane habitat.
We spend three or four days at a time trekking and camping in the pine and rhododendron forests, and then take a rest day at a mountain village, helping the villagers with whatever seasonal tasks they are undertaking and joining in with local life. The local culture is both hospitable and fascinating - we'll be experiencing it from the inside rather than as a tourist. The trek starts from Pokhara. Please call or email for full details and a dossier. | ्लु, also known as (Kutang) is the eighth highest mountain in the world at 8,163 metres (26,781 ft) above sea level. It is located in the Mansiri Himal, part of the Nepalese Himalayas, in the west-central part of Nepal. Its name, which means "Mountain of the Spirit", comes from the Sanskrit word manasa, meaning "intellect" or "soul". The Manaslu region is regarded by some to be a 'beyul'. In Tibetan Buddhism- a sacred valley. Some believe that meditation and prayers are multiplied a hundredfold there.
While our maximum altitude will be 5125m (Larkya pass) We will enjoy amazing views of the high mountains, including Annapurna, Lamjung himal, Ganesh himal and Manaslu. We will be collecting plants and seeds for Garden in the Himalayas and studying the montane habitat. The expedition promises to be the adventure of a lifetime.
Trek starts between 8th and 11th August.
Join us in February 2020 for an exciting 10-day plant-hunting and cultural trek in the remote Lamjung and Kaski regions of northern Nepal. While our maximum altitude will be 3,400m we enjoy amazing views of the high mountains, including An | 290 |
The changing season and warmer weather is motivating for a refresh in your fitness routine. Use these three tips to maximize your wellness for spring.
<|fim_middle|>6). Visit your local farmer's market to explore healthy and seasonal produce to add variety to your meals.
Treat yourself to a sweet and healthy snack or a full body massage after your workout. Plan an outing with friends or enjoy your favorite book or TV show immediately after your workout. This will motivate you to complete your workouts by giving you something to look forward to after you leave the gym.
If you're ready to take your fitness routine to the next level this spring, click here to learn how Valley Health Wellness & Fitness can help you achieve your fitness goals. | Warmer weather means that you can take your workout outside. Incorporate running, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities into your routine. Group exercises classes are a fun and effective way to add variety to your workout. Pool workouts and personal training are also options to consider that will give you great results.
Your diet is an important part of your health and fitness routine, and spring brings new and fresh produce to create healthy meals. Strawberries for example, has its peak season from April until June and makes a sweet addition to breakfast (Light, 2016). Asparagus has its peak season from March through June and is a good source of iron, vitamins B and C (Light, 201 | 143 |
8 Questions to Identify and Appeal to Anyone's Self Interest - HELLO, my name is Scott!
It's hard to wrap your head around that concept.
People don't care how good you are – they care how good you're going to help them become.
People don't<|fim_middle|>'ll send you the list for free! | care what you've done – they care what you've learned, and how those lessons can help them.
And people don't care if you're having a bad day – they care how you're going to help them have a better day.
o What does this person place high value on?
REMEMBER: You need to identify and appeal to their self-interest.
Who are most of your conversations "all about"? How quickly do you invite other people to talk about their passion? If you had a stopwatch, how many seconds could you go in the conversation without talking about yourself?
For the list called, "68 Things Employees Never Want to Hear You Say," send an email to me, and I | 141 |
Manager Howe insists 'positive' Cherries owner Maxim Demin 'wants to find solutions to problems'
Manager Eddie Howe insists 'positive' Cherries owner Maxim Demin 'wants to find solutions to problems'
EDDIE Howe revealed the subject of relegation did not often come up when speaking to Cherries owner Maxim Demin and added: "I don<|fim_middle|>'ve ever heard him talk negatively about a situation."
The Dorset club's tough run of festive form has seen them slip into the bottom three of the Premier League, heading into this afternoon's clash with Watford at Vitality Stadium (2pm).
And with his side looking to escape the bottom three, Howe insisted the "regular contact" he has with Russian owner Demin has always been positive.
The manager said: "He respects the fact I have a job to do, so I wouldn't be having in-depth conversations every day but we are definitely in regular contact.
"That's never changed, never wavered all through our Premier League life, Championship life or League One life – it's always been the same.
"It's a relationship that's very positive and very healthy. He's given me all the support I need."
Asked whether the threat of relegation came up much in conversation with Demin, who first invested in Cherries in 2011, Howe replied: "No, he's not that type of person, he's a very positive guy. Wants to find solutions to problems.
"I don't think I've ever heard him talk negatively about a situation. It's always about the future and finding a solution.
"I don't think he'll be liking it as much as I'm not liking it. I think we share mutually our feelings regarding our situation. We need to fight as much as possible to get out of the position we're in." | 't think I | 3 |
The Australian believes Red Bull can close the gap on Mercedes before the summer break.
Daniel Ricciardo says that Red Bull can continue their winning ways in the final four races before the summer break, and apply pressure on Mercedes in the fight for the world championship.
The 24-year-old won his first ever Grand Prix in Montreal earlier this month and said that while this weekend's Austrian GP is an exciting prospect, it's Silverstone that will suit the Red Bull's.
"We capitalised when<|fim_middle|> Grand Prix weekend. It's a tidy circuit, not the longest and not many corners, but what is there is good.
Daniel Ricciardo currently sits in third place in the drivers' championship behind the two Mercedes' of Lewis Hamilton and points leader Nico Rosberg. | the opportunity was there [in Canada]," Ricciardo told Sky Sports F1.
"Austria could be interesting and Silverstone has traditionally been a good one for Red Bull so there are a few races in the immediate future which could perhaps help us out.
Ricciardo said he couldn't wait to race at the Red Bull Ring (formerly A1 Ring), which hosts its first F1 Grand Prix since 2003.
"It's great to be going to Red Bull's home race after an awesome weekend in Canada," he said.
"I've only driven the Red Bull Ring on filming days, essentially a handful of laps without the out-and-out aggression that you'll see at the Austrian | 140 |
'The<|fim_middle|> Contact page.
'Window on the Weald'
Paintings by Gordon Rushmer, words by David Holmes
80 pages, soft cover, full colour illustrations throughout, 260 x 240 mm.
This is an unusual look at the Weald covering subjects as varied as Village Life, Ploughing Matches, The Iron Industry, Hilaire Belloc, Rudyard Kipling, Woodsmen, Buildings, Farming, Landscape, Crafts People and so much more.
'Averting a Catastrophe – The Kosovo Crisis Through an Artist's Eyes'
Limited to 750 copies 220 x 220 mm 40 pages, soft cover, full colour illustrations throughout.
Gordon's account in words and paintings of his visit to Kosovo during 2001 with 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Published to support his exhibition with the same title. | Road to Kandahar'
by Gordon Rushmer
Limited Edition of 850 copies 265 x 250 mm 96 pages, hard cover, full colour illustrations throughout.
£30.00 inc p&p – Sold Out
'Every Picture Tells A Story'
£30.00 inc p&p – please enquire using my | 78 |
OSWEGO, NY – Mike Lichty, coming off a convincing ISMA win at Stafford Speedway on June 29, rolled into Oswego to stage a coup to<|fim_middle|> gave us. To start 12th and come away with a second is something. I know there was some attrition there, but hats off to Mikey. He had a good run and a good car. I'd like to thank Kevin and Kim Enders for their support, Elios Financial Group and Jim Bodnar for building a hell of a piece. I'm just the guy who gets to turn the steering wheel. Thanks to my dad, Coco and everybody who works on the car and makes it happen for us. This car has some different characteristics. A lot of cars were slowing down at the end but this car actually seemed to pickup a little bit. I don't think on the last restart that we had anything for Mikey. It was a good run for us and we are happy. It was a good run for us and we are anxious to head to Sandusky's Hy-Miler in two weeks," he said.
Ben Seitz, who claimed a Chaudiere ISMA win in June, continued on his way forward.
An excellent field of 32 potent supers graced the Oswego pits and after time trials it was apparent that this was to be a speedy King of Wings 50.
Eighteen cars clocked in under the 16 second mark with Lichty the quickest at 15.019, which broke all previous records.
Unfortunately, the quickest car of the day, Jon McKennedy's 79 was packed up prior to time trials and left the track without a chance to show his stuff. A newly refreshed motor was leaking water and the team did not want to chance running it.
Ironically, as McKennedy left, Gary Morton and Dave McKnight were pulling into the pits to keep the car count the same.
Three heats and a consi established the 28-car starting field, and handicapping put Tim Ice and Ray Graham Jr. on the front row. Ice wasted no time claiming the point but a quick yellow slowed things on lap 3.
The restart saw previous Oswego winner, Lou Cicconi move into third behind Graham. As Ice tried to scramble away, another yellow bunched the field and unfortunately for Cicconi, it was for him. The 71 slowed and went into the pits. Lou said later it was something in the motor, possibly an ignition problem.
It was Ice, Ray Graham, Lichty, Seitz, Jeff Locke, Chris Perley and Dave Gruel nose to tail on the restart and try as he might, Ice could not hold his lead for long. Lichty moved by Graham and then passed under the 65 in turn one for the lead on lap 13. He was never seriously challenged, despite several other cautions along the way.
Lap 15 saw a yellow for Bob Magner who rejoined the field at the tail.
Out front on the restart, Lichty moved away from Ray Graham while Ice was melting from the pressure from Perley and Seitz riding side by side behind him.
Perley finally claimed fourth shortly thereafter.
By the halfway mark, Lichty had put a couple slower cars between his 84 and Graham while the 61 tried to follow as close as possible. Perley moved into third past Ice and now was on Graham's tail.
A lap 30 yellow saw several incidents occur. First the 61 slowed and headed to the pits out of second place.
Then the Jedrzejek-Soule 32 started smoking and was pulled over by tech. Timmy J was sent to the pits leaking oil or rear end grease, not to return. Bob Magner pitted and was done. And, Bob Dawson also pulled the 28 nose in. The 61 did come back to the rear but only to exit the race for good on lap 33.
On the restart, Lichty sailed away from Perley, Seitz, Shullick and Ice, the latter two having at least one lap car to get around. 2012 King of Wings Dave Gruel was still in the hunt behind Ice as the leaders wove in and out of lap traffic.
With ten laps to go, yellow flew for the second Vic Miller machine as Chris Perley ended up in the inner hub of turn four after an attempt to pass one of the slower cars that Lichty had been lapping.
Perley, whose long career has seen very few dnf's due to crashes, was obviously disappointed after his 11 was just coming alive.
This restart now saw action all over the track as only ten laps remained. Lichty sped away easily as Seitz and Shullick began a torrid battle for second. The top three were a half track away from Ice, Locke, Kody Graham, Eddie Witkum Jr., Johnny Benson, Rob Summers, Alison Cumens and Mark Sammut still all battling in the lead lap.
The last and final yellow came on lap 49 when Kody brushed with the same car as Perley and was sent hard into the wall in between 1 and 2.
The green-white-checkered scenario was not a threat to Lichty's reclamation of the King of Wings crown as he pulled away smoothly from Shullick, Seitz, Ice and Locke one more time. And, those five crossed under the checkers in that order.
Ice, who has had some good runs go bad this year, was okay with a fourth.
Locke, in the same vein, felt good about a fifth after some rough starts.
1st Heat (10-laps/6-Qualify): 1. 71 – Lou Cicconi, 2. 27 – Kody Graham, 3. 78 – Mark Sammut, 4.65 – Tim Ice, 5. 21 – Ed Witkum Jr., 6. 97 – Dan Lane, 7. 64 – Jim Paller, 8. 22 – Mike McVetta, 9. 72 – Danny Shirey, 10. 51 – Dave Duggan, 11. 96 – Lou LeVea Sr. | reclaim his King of Wings crown from two years ago.
After piloting the PATCO Transportation 84 to a new track record of 15.019, the all-time fastest lap at the famed Port City oval, it was evident that Lichty was on his way to his goal. Starting fifth on the grid of 28 starters, Lichty drove by polesitter Tim Ice on lap 12 and headed to the King of Wings throne. The race saw previous Oswego Shea Super Series dominators Chris Perley and Lou Cicconi, uncharacteristically out of the race before the checkered, but a couple challengers in Dave Shullick Jr. and Ben Seitz tried their best to check up the high-flying Canadian. The win was a fifth-career ISMA win for Lichty and a second in the King of Wings event.
Needless to say the celebration in victory lane was nothing but regal.
Mike went on to describe the last lap restart, which put DJ Shullick and Seitz right on his tail after running pretty much unchallenged for the entire race.
"I knew we had a good car and at the end had some tough guys behind. Hats off to DJ there for bringing a brand new piece, starting 12th and finishing second. I hated to see Lou and Perley have their troubles because it probably would have been a really good battle between all of us. Hey, we're back in victory lane and that's what it's all about," he said.
Second generation Shullick, with a new Jim Bodnar mount underneath him, was content with his run.
"This is the third race we've had on this car. We won last week at Sandusky. We qualified second today and we were just going to take what it | 367 |
(Ma was screened as a work-in-progress as part<|fim_middle|> parched desert. It reminds me of a line from Marie Ponsot's poem Among Women: "What women wander? / Not many. All. A few."
— Susanna Locascio
2015 Tribeca Film FestivalAmy SeimetzAndrew PastidesBorscht Film FestivalCelia Rowlson-HallIan BloomJen DunlapKentucker AudleyKickstarterMarie PonsotMichelangelo AntonioniMoMA PS1Peter VackProm NightSi Nos Dejan
Nelson Kim's New Directors/New Films 2019 Report
Fir for Pearls | of MoMA PS1's Sunday Sessions during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival.)
I first discovered Celia Rowlson-Hall's work at the Borscht Film Festival in 2012. Borscht is less a film festival than a happening organized by a loose collective of Miami film and art carnies. They benefit from the largesse of the Knight Foundation, and use some of this money to fund filmmakers, and Celia was one of the recipients for her film Si Nos Dejan. Her work was immediately distinctive, both in form and theme. Celia is a choreographer and dancer and movement infuses her films. They don't include any dialogue, but it doesn't feel right to call them silent films because she finds such a full expression for the narrative potential of other aspects of cinema. Time, movement, color, texture, tone, music, and emotion, emotion, emotion – her films are both primal and ripe with intent.
Si Nos Dejan stars Celia as a woman who dons various identities and tropes of femininity signalled through costume and makeup. But there's always a dark twist: a drowning bride, a terrified stripper, a rail-thin Pamela Anderson cradling a young boy in her arms. These ideas are also present in Celia's earlier short film Prom Night, where she dances alone in a decorated gym, transforming into a praying saint, a busty blonde with balloon tits, a Lolita sucking on a lollipop. What I love about Celia's work is that she doesn't simply reject these stereotypes. She allows herself to explore these women as very real bodies and souls both hungry for acceptance (and love and sex) and fighting furiously against imposed definition. They seduce and punish, they writhe with joy and tension, they are exhausted. It's feminism incarnate, an instinctual expression of how women are always already performing, whether they choose to or not.
Last year Celia announced via Kickstarter that she was making her first feature film Ma, "the story of a virgin mother on a pilgrimage to Las Vegas to give birth to our savior." As part of the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival a work-in-progress screening of the film was hosted by MoMA PS1 in their geodesic dome, and I couldn't think of a better place to experience this film than in a giant constructed womb in the middle of Queens. I hope that it finds other such homes as it makes its way into the world because Ma deserves to be seen in communion with others. I saw it in an insomniac haze, so my membrane between waking and dreaming was especially thin that day. But I guess I got lucky, because that might be the ideal way to experience it. Ma is astonishing, and easily one of the most brazen and beautiful independent films I've seen in years.
True to the pitch, Ma is an adaptation or retelling of the Virgin Mary's story from miraculous conception to the birth of Jesus. It is set in the desert and filmed in the American Southwest, and location is one of the many ways the film mixes pop and religious iconography. Celia plays Ma and spares herself nothing in a difficult and complex performance. Her "Joseph" – called Daniel in the film – is played by actor Andrew Pastides, who brings a perfect blend of humor and empathy to a challenging role. Actually the cast is one of the interesting surprises of Ma. The esoteric subject and experimental form did not prevent Celia from casting indie names like Amy Seimetz, Kentucker Audley, and Peter Vack in supporting roles, and it's fun to see these film actors get their freak on, embracing mythology and silent performance. But the heart of the film belongs to Ma and Daniel.
When we first meet Ma she is wandering the desert, wearing a cheap, thin white towel like a shroud. Daniel is cruising in his vintage car when he finds Ma on the side of the road, and they drive to a motel with her affixed to his windshield like a spider. There are touches of (often physical) humor like this throughout Celia's work, and this film is no exception. But everything in Ma is elevated and heightened, the humor and beauty as well as the darkness. There's nothing immaculate about Ma's conception, a bruising scene that plays out as a rather brutal gang rape. The narrative flows in such cyclical throbs of tension and release. I know this sounds awfully precious, but I assure you it isn't. Celia keeps the film moving through brisk pacing and remarkably economical shot progression.
Perhaps the most astonishing thing about Ma is its visual beauty. The film recalls Michelangelo Antonioni in its feel for the line of architecture and the contours of the land, but there's something deeply feminine about its numinous gaze. There are many, many striking images in the film, and credit should also go to Celia's team of collaborators, including cinematographer Ian Bloom and production designer Jen Dunlap, who gamely helped build the world of Ma. White and red reappear in the washed and sun-bleached palette, and so do the contrasts of water and sand. But Celia elevates them beyond blunt visual metaphors to narrative motifs that elaborate on her themes. At the story's core there's a clever reversal of expectations about fertility. When Ma curls her body into the corner of a swimming pool it is bone-dry. Daniel is the one who plunges into water, dripping with life. I love this contrast most of all. Ma is not a passive vessel waiting to be filled. She is willful, she has desires, she struggles with her fate. Her thirst is endless, the great thirst of women who wander the | 1,171 |
<|fim_middle|>Global Food Safety Conference to feature LRQA, Cargill, Metro Group and World Bank
Representatives from LRQA, Cargill, Metro Group and the World Bank are among some of the keynote...
Labelling review recommends 'per serving' information be scrapped
The independent review of labelling has issued a recommendation that proposes the declaration in... | Bulk materials handling exhibition launched
Monday, 13 February, 2006
Bulkex 2006, a bulk materials handling exhibition, has been launched. To be held in Melbourne in September, the show focuses on everyone involved in the industry, from designers through suppliers, to end-users.
The show aims to be a forum for the exchange of competitive technologies and the latest techniques in the industry.
The three day exhibition will be complemented by a conference and further networking functions, providing a broad range of opportunities in sourcing suppliers; improving sales opportunities; networking with current and future partners; learning about new innovations and finding out about the latest legislation.
Held every two years, Bulkex claims to have in excess of 3000 visitors and over 100 exhibitors.
For more information on this bulk materials handling show, visit www.bulkex.com
Two more Italian tomato exporters investigated for dumping
Vegetable producers and processors have welcomed an announcement that the Anti-Dumping Commission...
| 205 |
Horror is a celebrated genre in Asian countries like Japan and Korea, but only recently has it begun to creep into other regions of the continent (Israeli horror is the new zeitgeist, for example). Iran has a tiny handful of horror films to its name, but in recent years, filmmakers in Iran and the diaspora have experimented more with the genre, like the artful<|fim_middle|> nuances of 1980s Tehran?
I went through old photos from family and friends. Every little thing I was putting in the film, I'd search for it online. What did it look like? If I couldn't find it, I'd ask my parents to find me photos. Images of tea pots, phones, cars, licence plates, clothes. By the way, Amman [Jordan] is a great place to recreate Tehran—as long as you don't frame the palm trees! | and morose A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, and the formally daring thriller-horror Fish and Cat. Babak Anvari's Under the Shadow, which opens the New Directors/New Films festival on Wednesday night, is the most recent example of Iranian horror. While it's a more straightforward haunted-house story, the setting is undeniably unique: Post-revolutionary 1980s Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war. Discouraged by the oppressive post-revolutionary education system that once supported her, protagonist Shideh (Narges Rashidi) is confined to being a housewife. Her frustrations are exasperated by the daily threats of war, and when her husband is called away for military duty, her psyche begins to unravel. Her distraught daughter Dorsa (Avin Manshadi) believes they are haunted by djinn, a kind of Middle-Eastern demon. We talked to Babak Anvari about his film's influences and cultural specificity.
Was Under the Shadow inspired by your family's memories of the Iran-Iraq war?
I was tapping into childhood memories, and talking to my family and friends a lot. During the missile attacks—near the end of the war in 1988—I was around the age of the child in the film. People were leaving Tehran, my family left as well. It comes from a personal place as an Iranian.
Despite there being many stories of that era, it's not well-represented in cinema—except for the propaganda war films.
You come up with your own explanation, like djinn.
In Middle-Eastern culture, djinn is a generic term for demons based on mythic lore. When you watch an American horror movie about the devil, you know its origins and what it represents. Djinn is similarly well-known to you and me, but it's novel for others.
Ultimately, as long as the audience understand it's a malevolent supernatural entity, like demons, most of the job is done. It's a cultural take on a very old tale.
What book does Shideh read about djinn?
It's called People of the Air, by a very famous and well-respected pre-revolutionary Iranian author, Gholam Hossein Saedi. He's great. The book is anthropological, with studies of these tribes in the south of Iran who believe in djinn, which travel with the wind and possess people. However, it's very rare—it had limited publication even before the revolution. Luckily, I managed to get my hands on it!
How did you research Shideh's character?
The characters are more or less inspired from my family, friends, and the stories I heard, but heavily dramatized and fictionalized. The idea for the film came from a conversation I had with my mum. Like the husband character, my dad was a doctor and it was mandatory for him to serve at war for a month every year. During those times my mum was doing her best to be a protective mother but she was very anxious and scared. Because my brother and were quite timid as children and we had trouble sleeping, my mother thought that without realizing it, she'd passed along her fears to us. It was very normal for her to be afraid, and having that stress of not having her partner around.
She's also in a culture where having a male partner was important for her safety in public spaces.
During that era, things were rapidly changing. [Shideh] is a woman living in a man's world, constantly having to prove herself to everyone.
One of my favourite moments in Under the Shadow is when Shideh escapes the house without her head scarf and is harshly reprimanded by government officials. Djinn is scarier than the Islamic regime!
[laughs] My friend noticed that when she's trying to get away at the end of the film and opens the garage door, she puts her head scarf on. And it falls back down. My friend thought, oh, she's learned her lesson! This time she covers her hair. My friend is English. It's good that some people notice that, even if they're not Iranian.
I'd read you had trouble finding a producer who'd agree to make Under the Shadow in Farsi. I'm glad you didn't compromise!
That was one of the biggest challenges I faced. I was very adamant. When Wigwam came on board they didn't flinch. People asked me why I pushed for it when it's made for an international audience. My answer is that as a filmmaker, I'm trying to create a very believable world.
You're also re-creating a world that's barely represented in cinema, so authenticity is paramount. How did you research the cultural | 966 |
Home > Our School > Job Vacancies > Year 4 Class Teacher Vacancy
Lunchtime<|fim_middle|> alive, making it exciting and stimulating. We want to give our children the best possible start and a thirst for learning that continues with them throughout their future school experiences and lives.
To achieve this, it is essential that we all work as part of a team. We view education as a joint venture involving everyone - children, parents/carers, staff, Governors and the wider community.
Our most valuable resource is the school's population itself. The children, their families and the staff come from a rich diversity of cultures, backgrounds and experiences providing the school with a wealth on which the curriculum and the school way of life are based.
Wilbraham Primary School is a caring, fun and exciting school that is committed to safeguarding children. Successful applicants will be expected to set high expectations for all and recognise the strengths and benefits of working in a richly diverse community.
Visits to the school are warmly welcomed and can be arranged with the school office on 0161 224 3900.
This post is subject to suitable references and an enhanced DBS check.
To apply for this position, please download an application form and relevant documentation below:
Safer Recruitment Policy | Organiser Vacancies (2 Posts Available)
Permanent Post
Part-time, 1.25 hours per day, 5 days per week
Grade 1, Point 6-7 (£8.23 - £8.45 per hour)
Closing date: Friday 29th September 2017
Shortlisting: Monday 2nd October 2017
Interviews: Wednesday 4th October 2017
Start date: Monday 30th October 2017
The Governors of Wilbraham Primary School wish to appoint two enthusiastic individuals to provide supervision of children during lunchtimes, in the dining room, playground, classrooms (in poor weather) and to encourage purposeful play and social activities.
We are a school that likes to celebrate success at every level. At Wilbraham Primary School, we endeavour to provide an atmosphere in which children feel secure and valued, with each child treated as an individual and encouraged to develop his or her own special abilities.
The life of the school is driven by enthusiasm and a desire to achieve. We aim to bring learning | 229 |
Sleepy Sunday in crypto land; Veritaseum making a move, Ravencoin flapping.
It is another slow Sunday in crypto land with markets still slumbering. There has still been no movement for most of the major cryptocurrencies leaving markets at the same level around $210 billion.
Still at the same level a touch below $6,500, Bitcoin is static. BTC has traded at the same<|fim_middle|>. | price range for the past two weeks and has not been able to get anywhere near $6,600. Ethereum is also immobile for another day trading at just below $205.
Yet again the altcoins are mixed and there really isn't much to write about. Nothing is gaining more than a percent on the day in the top ten and Stellar has declined the most falling back over 2% to $0.228.
The top twenty shows equal torpor with more red than green. Iota and Nem have dropped just over 2% and Dash is not far behind. There are no altcoins making gains until we get way down the chart, and even those are small.
No major fomo pumps going on either today as the markets sleep. The top performer in the top one hundred at the moment is Veritaseum climbing 8% on the day. Polymath and Metaverse ETP are both up just over 7% and Decentraland has made 6.5% at the time of writing. Dropping between 5 and 6 percent at the red end of things is Ravencoin, Aion, Bytom and Golem.
Total market capitalization is still at $209 billion, exactly the same level as this time yesterday. Over the past week markets have ranged between $212 and $208 billion, unable to break out in either direction. The crypto bears are keeping things firmly on the floor and markets haven't really done much since early September. A real recovery looks a long way off at the moment and this lethargy could continue for another month or more | 336 |
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Women Aged 31-49 Most Entrepreneurial
Government-backed programme has lent £175million to 25,000 female business owners across the UK since 2012
A growing number of women are following their passions and starting their own business, according to new figures released today to mark International Women's Day.
Data from the Government-backed Start Up Loans Company shows that it has lent £175m to 25,000 female business owners across the UK since 2012.
Women aged between 31 and 49 emerged as the most entrepreneurial, receiving a total of £87million in the last six years<|fim_middle|>'s gone from myself and my husband managing the cheese production ourselves to employing seven members of staff to service the business. I'm really excited about our future."
A spokesman for the Start Up Loans Company said:
"We're delighted that our funding has helped Razan and so many other aspiring female business owners to realise their ambition of becoming their own boss.
"We recognise the value of small businesses to the UK and it's our mission to help as many people from all walks of life to follow their passion and set up their own business."
The Start Up Loans scheme has lent more than £468m in nearly 61,000 loans since its inception in June 2012. As well as finance, the scheme offers a dedicated mentoring service to every loan recipient to help them with every aspect of setting up a business.
Other female business owners who have used a government-backed Start Up Loan to set up their own business include
Meriel Kehoe and Lucy Betterton, both 43, who met when their children, Claudia and Fin, were little. They both loved healthy food but struggled to find any natural ice lollies for their children. They decided to take matters into their own hands and, with the help of a Start Up Loan, they decided to develop their own brand of healthy lollies and Claudi and Fin was born. Six years later, the business has an annual turnover of £1.28m and, after successfully defeating 400 other food start-up hopefuls in a competition called 'Pitchup with Sainsburys', Claudi and Fin secured a contract from the retailer to supply 250 stores with its products. In just nine months this grew to 431 stores.
Website: http://www.claudiandfin.co.uk/
Melanie Goldsmith and her Smith & Sinclair co-founder Emile were hosting a board game dating night when it sparked an idea to create edible cocktails. They realised that people were having trouble playing the board games and holding their drinks at the same time and so decided to experiment with jelly infused with alcohol to create grown-up sweets that could also act as ice-breakers. The edible cocktails were an instant hit, with event companies ordering large batches for catering and as a result the duo began turning branded drinks into pastilles. They have worked with over 35 alcohol brands to produce the deconstructed cocktails, and Melanie used her £25,000 Start Up Loan to help fulfil orders for major high street stores. They now sell their edible cocktails via their website, at John Lewis, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Fenwick and on notonthehighstreet.com.
Website: http://www.smithandsinclair.co.uk/
After being made redundant twice in the same year from the oil and gas industry, Mechelle Clark was inspired by the London foodie scene to launch her own grilled cheese toastie shop. With the help of a £20,00 loan from the Start Up Loans Company, she founded Melt Aberdeen which has been trading for two years, serving up different toasties filled with quality local ingredients throughout the day. The business now generates a turnover of £129,829.
Website: http://www.meltgrilledcheese.co.uk/
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Thank you for downloading our Personal Survival Budget Template | , compared with £45million for those aged 25 – 30 and £21million for over 50s.
One of these women was Razan Al-Sous, 36, who decided to set up her own business making halloumi cheese, after fleeing war-torn Syria with her husband and three children in 2012.
Arriving in Yorkshire, Razan struggled to find work, despite having a degree in pharmacology. She soon noticed how the halloumi cheese sold in the UK was of poor quality and only available seasonally, so she decided to start producing halloumi cheese using Yorkshire-sourced milk instead.
She approached the Start Up Loans Company and received a £2,500 low-interest loan to kick-start her business idea. She used the funding to buy the kitchen equipment needed to manufacture the cheese.
Her business – Yorkshire Dama Cheese – now has a turnover of £189,000, with products sold at Morrisons as well as online. It has also won a number of awards, including the World Cheese Award Gold Prize 2016, as well as being nominated by former Prime Minister David Cameron for recognition on International Women's Day 2015.
Last year, Razan was also chosen to be a Start Up Loans Ambassador to represent start-ups and enterprise across the UK.
She now plans to launch a new Middle-Eastern range of 'Arabica' flavours and spreadable yoghurt products in the coming months.
Razan Al-Sous, founder of Yorkshire Dama Cheese, said:
"While I never imagined I'd be running a successful business, my struggle to find employment meant I had to explore different routes. After noticing the limited options for halloumi cheese in the UK, it sparked an idea that I could use this to my advantage and create my own business.
"Since receiving initial funding from the Start Up Loans Company, the business has really taken off. It | 405 |
ALIEN Thinking
The Unconventional Path to Breakthrough Ideas
by Cyril Bouquet
by Jean-Louis Barsoux
by Michael Wade
Hardcover Audiobook Download Unabridged Trade Paperback
This item is a preorder. Your payment method will be charged immediately, and the product is expected to ship on or around March 16, 2021. This date is subject to change due to shipping delays beyond our control.
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Nonfiction / Business & Economics / Decision-making & Problem Solving
How do people come up with truly original ideas? The answer is to think outside the box—way outside.
For the past decade, Cyril Bouquet, Jean-Louis Barsoux, and Michael Wade, professors of innovation<|fim_middle|>IEN Thinking can help any of us find innovative solutions to the most difficult problems.
"The book is geared toward managers and professionals as well as anyone who wants strategies on how to summon original thinking and fast-track fresh ideas."—TD Magazine
"A sharp critique of the conventional wisdom around innovation—with thought-provoking advice for how to do it better."—Jake Knaap, inventor of the Design Sprint and New York Times–bestselling author
"Apply ALIEN Thinking to go from early opportunity recognition to impactful innovation. I really enjoyed how this book offers compelling insights and powerful illustrations to enhance the innovation process."—Alex Osterwalder, author of the two-million copy bestseller Business Model Generation
""Stuck in innovation stagnation? Read this brilliant book, and you'll break free from it."—Rolf Dobelli, author of the million-copy bestseller The Art of Thinking Clearly
"ALIEN Thinking is an accessible approach to finding and implementing breakthrough ideas. The authors offer illuminating examples to introduce and illustrate the real-world efficacy of each of the major concepts. I recommend this book to anyone willing to do the hard work of generating and implementing breakthrough ideas."—Bernard Roth, academic director of the Stanford d.school and author of The Achievement Habit
"Compared to many innovation books, this one is unique in that it emphasizes the emotional side of innovation. Practicing innovators will find a sympathetic companion in this fascinating book."—Keith Sawyer, author of Zig Zag and Group Genius
"In today's fast-changing world, innovation is essential for success. The authors of ALIEN Thinking have drawn upon their extensive experience to provide a powerful new framework to dramatically improve the odds for innovative thinking and breakthroughs."—Robert Rosenberg, retired CEO of Dunkin' Donuts and author of Around the Corner to Around the World
"I wish I had read this book years ago. A very pragmatic and eye-opening framework to help make innovation a game-changing reality, whether you are in a small start-up or a big multi-national corporation."—Chris Johnson, executive vice president of Nestlé, chief executive officer of Zone Asia, Oceania, and sub-Saharan Africa
"ALIEN Thinking offers a business-oriented, applicable framework to innovate. It is a must-read for corporate innovators and intrapreneurs, to create true value for their customers and organizations."—Esther Seidl-Nussbaumer, head of corporate innovation, SIGVARIS
"A powerful formula for transforming businesses and shaking up industries."—Michael Watkins, author of The First 90 Days | and strategy at IMD Business School, have studied inventors, scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, and artists. These people, or "aliens," as the authors call them, are able to make leaps of creativity, and use five patterns of thinking that distinguish them from the rest of us.
These five patterns—Attention, Levitation, Imagination, Experimentation, and Navigation—lead to a fresh and flexible approach to problem-solving. Alien thinkers know how to free the imagination so it can detect hard-to-observe patterns. They practice deliberate ways to retreat from the world in order to see the big picture underlying a problem. And they approach ideas in systematic ways that reflect the constraints of reality.
Through surprising and compelling stories, the authors show how readers can use this method to develop out-of-this-world ideas. AL | 163 |
ark Kentwell, founding director of PRDnationwide Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, ranked number 58 in REB's Top 100 Agents, making him the top ranked regional agent. He shared his key tips for success with REB, from how to organise your database to the mistakes agents make when marketing their properties.
Mr Kentwell's one regret is that he didn't categor<|fim_middle|> doesn't have to be expensive, you can find ways to do it economically, but it will give you a much better chance of reaching more prospective buyers and getting a better outcome for the seller. | ise his systems in the most efficient way from the beginning.
"Get really good at categorising your buyers, getting them into a system and tagging the people that have got homes to sell and having a disciplined communication plan with those," he told REB at the Secrets of the Top 100 event in Sydney.
While Mr Kentwell started off with a database, he admits it could have been better and he's since optimised it to include systems the entire agency can use.
"I'd get stuck into auctions straightaway and be persistent with auctions because I think it's the best way to transact property in all areas," he said, adding that if you're in an area where auctions aren't the norm, this can work in your favour and make you the market leader.
Mr Kentwell's love of auctions led him to develop the Friendly Auction System, a program that teaches other agents who aren't yet comfortable with auctioning the best ways to approach the process.
"I think a lot of property sales are undercooked, because they've only marketed to one or two channels out of the four, five or six that are available in a given area," Mr Kentwell said.
Marketing your property across all channels | 243 |
Abstract:William Wordsworth (1770-1850), the main founder of English Romantic poetry, putting forward the<|fim_middle|>less love as a result of his miserable childhood. Secondly, from the perspective of nature itself, this thesis leads to Wordsworth's natural view. Thirdly, through analyzing the similarities and differences of Wordsworth and Tao Yuanming's natural view, the writer lets readers understand the unique of Wordsworth's natural view from a deeper layer. Finally, by analyzing and evaluating Wordsworth's view of nature, the writer lets humans be aware of the importance of nature––human beings should respect nature, love nature, and live with nature harmoniously. | view of "All good poetry is strong emotions naturally". In the art of poetry, he has realized epoch-making innovation. He was praised as "the first modern poet" by Shelley. He loved nature, and even depended on nature. He was also the leader of "Lake Poets". This thesis will focus on the formation, development and influence of his view of nature. First of all, this paper will analyze his family background and social influence. He gave nature the bound | 95 |
What Is Limerence? 5 Signs You're Experiencing It (Not Love!)
Julie Nguyen
Relationship Coach
By Julie Nguyen
Julie Nguyen is a relationship coach, Enneagram educator, and former matchmaker based in New York. She has a degree in Communication and Public Relations from Purdue University.
Love vs. limerence
Stages of limerence
Is it unhealthy?
Can it turn into love?
Image by mbg creative X Sergey Filimonov / Stocksy
You begin and end your day thinking about them nonstop: the little freckle on their cheek, the cute way their eyes crinkle when they laugh, how they perfectly remind you of all of your favorite love songs. You didn't think you would be able to find love like how you hoped when you were a kid, but at last, here they are—the truest form of romance you've been taught to strive for.
This style of dating sounds devastatingly romantic, but when it's this sugarcoated, it's often not actually an accurate representation of love. If you've recently met someone and it mirrors this experience, it can seem like a dream come true instead of what it really is: limerence.
What is limerence?
Limerence is a mental state of profound romantic infatuation, deep obsession, and fantastical longing. The experience can range from euphoria to despair. "Limerence is a term that was coined by [psychologist] Dorothy Tennov in the '70s," relationship therapist Eliza Boquin, LMFT, tells mbg. "It refers to the exciting feelings you get when you first meet someone. During this time we often just want more of that person—more time, more affection, etc. It's an intense emotional arousal that leaves us craving for another person. Often people refer to this feeling as love at first sight."
At first glance, limerence doesn't sound all that different from falling in love. In fact, it doesn't sound negative at all to be that wowed by someone and adore them wholeheartedly. But it's important to recognize the distinction between seeing a person clearly so you can develop a relationship with them or if you're unintentionally reducing their complex personhood down to a manic pixie concept, shaped primarily by your hopes and dreams and what they can offer you. It can feel incredibly exciting to be swept away so completely by someone, but even in its best state of high drama, limerence is akin to empty calories compared to what nourishing love can truly offer.
Couples' therapist Silva Depanian, LMFT, says limerence is often confused with love. "Many people don't really recognize the existence of limerence and simply consider someone experiencing it to be a 'hopeless romantic' or 'passionately in love.' But limerence and love are not the same thing. If anything, limerence can be considered the fool's gold of love, seemingly shiny but with no real substance."
Love vs. limerence.
According to Boquin, limerence and love can start off similarly as a dopamine rush, which is why it can be confusing to spot. But while limerence is short-lived and conditional, real love is fluid and unconditional. When you really love someone, you want them to be happy despite what they can give you. The initial attraction develops over time and eventually reinforces into something substantial and lasting.
"Love is more steady and grounding whereas limerence leaves us with that feeling of being in the clouds," Boquin explains. "Love is a deep connection that people develop after knowing one another, experiencing life together, and overcoming challenges together."
Depanian adds that limerence often comes with the tendency to ignore flaws and red flags: "With limerence, you may find yourself hyper-focusing on the subject of your affection (the limerent object) and their positive characteristics to the point of ignoring existing flaws and directing your intense, irrational emotions toward the idea of what they represent for you instead of who that person actually is in reality."
If you're still unsure whether you're in this dynamic, consider it from this angle. Depanian explains that love stabilizes with partners bonding through mutual connection, interests, empathy, and shared experiences. Conversely, limerence is marked by intensity and then rapid destabilization. The projection can't pull through enough to create a relationship since it's not a sustainable model for connection. "Love is rooted in connection, intimacy, mutuality, and reality, whereas limerence is rooted in possession, obsession, jealousy, and delusions," she notes.
Signs of limerence.
It can be hard to suss out the signs of limerence since the very concept itself is usually seen as a fairy tale and therefore positive in contemporary culture. But knowing the subtle difference between limerence and love can help you enter the right commitments and ensure you're seeing each other the way you both deserve.
According to Depanian, here are a few signs to look out for to indicate that you might be falling in limerence, not love:
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Lack of clarity into who they are
Limerence is based upon you handpicking certain traits and experiences about the object of your affection and then shaping it out to a bigger story about who they are instead of letting time fill in the gaps. Because your view of them is so limited, you can't fully appreciate who they are throughout the good and the bad and, subsequently, interact with the relationship authentically. There's a lack of vulnerability in the connection if you aren't able to make the choice to choose each other after knowing about each other's baggage, pain points, and potentially negative characteristics.
If you're experiencing limerence, Depanian notes it's essential to recognize the illusion you've constructed in your head. "The version you may have built about the person is simply a glorified and exaggerated fantasy made specifically to represent the fulfillment of [your] unmet needs."
Intrusive, involuntary thinking about them that takes up your whole day
Are your thoughts about them intrusively all-consuming and getting in the way of you living your everyday life? Do you find yourself creating a lot of meaning out of fleeting, seemingly inconsequential moments<|fim_middle|> in Brooklyn, New York. She has a degree in Communication and Public Relations from Purdue University. She previously worked as a matchmaker at LastFirst Matchmaking and the Modern Love Club, and she is currently training with the Family Constellations and Somatic Healing Institute in trauma-informed facilitation. | to ruminate over? If so, it's a sign that you're experiencing limerence and off-track, Depanian says. "You will fantasize about and sometimes involuntarily obsess over even the shortest, most insignificant interactions you've had with the limerent object and imagine your future together even if there is no actual relationship."
Relationships are strung together through a collection of all types of moments. They aren't always rosy, but connections permeated with true emotional connection feel sturdy and multidimensional in their variation. Limerence doesn't have the same depth, and if you're in it, it can feel more like a one-note romantic comedy.
Real life is deprioritized as you center your relationship
It can be a challenge for you to focus on anything other than your crush. Your friends complain that they don't see you as much, and they miss you. Work starts to slip as you rush through projects so you can hurry back home to them. You haven't picked up your hobbies or passions in weeks in favor of whatever they have going on. Real life just feels like a distraction—wasted liminal time until you're back in their arms. "The preoccupation with them can result in a significant decrease of functionality in your other relationships and responsibilities," Depanian notes.
The thing about real love is that it enhances your life, while limerence swallows up all aspects of your life to make space for one thing only: your obsession over your relationship.
You feel emotionally dependent on the littlest reaction from them
"Another sign of limerence is your emotional dependence on the limerent object if you're experiencing a strong, persistent yearning for them to reciprocate their feelings," Depanian says. When you're not around them, you can feel anxious almost like you're withdrawing from a drug. "This, combined with your exaggerated interpretations of the meaning behind their behaviors and cues, can result in mood swings, with either feelings of extreme euphoria and excitement as perceived signs of reciprocity or feelings of deep depression, anxiety, or anger at perceived signs of rejection."
You may find yourself overstepping personal boundaries if the person you like expresses boundaries or distance from you. You don't see it as an action independent from you but instead personalize it and filter it through fear and abandonment.
You're seeking their validation desperately
You tend to interpret their behaviors in all-or-nothing thinking. You're excessively aware of reciprocation on their part and hungry for their approval about you and the relationship. Pay attention to the extent of how much they affect you and why you're so knocked off balance if they don't respond the way you want them to.
"While love involves reciprocity in feelings between partners, limerence involves only a craving for that reciprocity, which results in a mostly one-sided relationship. With love, both partners recognize and accept each other's flaws and virtues, loving the entire person," Depanian says.
It may be useful for you to understand that even if you've never felt this way about a person before, that doesn't mean the person is uniquely special. It just means that you're accessing a new part of yourself that they're bringing forward in you. Take the time to dig into them to learn about their stories, interests, and dreams instead of glossing it over for those sparkly feelings.
Different stages of limerence:
Stage 1: Infatuation
The first stage of limerence is actually akin to the first stage of a relationship, says Boquin, pulling from the work of renowned marriage therapist John Gottman, Ph.D. This is what's known as the "falling in love" stage according to his work; in the stages of limerence, it's known as the infatuation stage.
"This is the limerence phase," she says. "At this falling-in-love stage, we are flooded with chemicals that heighten how we feel about the other person. This influence is so strong that it's easy to overlook red flags during this time."
You might find yourself physically nervous and too clammed up to evaluate whether they're actually a good fit for you. Instead, you're more comfortable (it may feel uncontrollable on your part) merging with them and spending time harmonizing to their wants and interests instead of being discerning. They feel too extraordinary to lose, and there doesn't seem to be anything bad about them. You're more concerned with advancing toward them to feel the high rather than doing something that will add distance or burst the bubble.
Stage 2: Crystallization
According to Gottman's framework, the next stage of relationships is the trust-building stage. "Here is where limerence begins to fade and the partners face challenges, disappointments and determine whether they can work through these distances," she asserts. "The more attuned partners are to one another, the greater their chances of having a successful relationship."
However, with limerence, the next stage is known as the crystallization phase. Rejection is avoided at all costs, and it's more about maintaining the intensity and packaging yourself positively to gain their approval. Red flags are transformed into green flags as you rationalize away any negative behavior. Limerence appears heavily in the form of extreme compulsive thoughts about how they feel about you and you seeking their affection at all costs. There's still a strong desire to keep the honeymoon period alive during this stage.
Stage 3: Deterioration
According to Gottman, the third stage of a healthy relationship is building commitment and loyalty. "This is where partners nurture a relationship that feels safe and equitable," Boquin notes. "A sense of fairness and satisfaction results from their ability to turn toward one another when working through conflict, instead of turning away from the relationship. This is the phase of love that feels most steady and predictable—the opposite of the limerence phase."
When it reaches this phase for limerence, it's instead called the deterioration phase. Instead of the relationship strengthening, it's falling apart. At this point, you've most likely lost interest in your person as the illusion recedes and they're not what you thought you wanted. It usually ends with crushing disappointment and frustration.
When it becomes unhealthy.
Limerence doesn't have to be an inherently unhealthy experience. In fact, it can even be normal unless it becomes all-consuming. While Tennov—the psychologist who coined the term limerence—was conducting her research, she noted limerence had problematic beginnings but couples also had the potential to healthily bond with each other.
The problem is that limerence feels super good on a neurochemical level, and it can quickly slide into addiction and lovesickness. "With the added elements of obsession and codependency, experiencing limerence can be highly detrimental to your psyche and overall well-being," Depanian points out. "When limerence becomes too obsessive, it may result in stalking behaviors toward the individual."
Limerence can be a painful process to untangle yourself from because it's likely wrapped up in your sense of self, self-worth, and self-esteem as well. If you're dealing with limerence, it may be necessary to figure out how you can ground yourself back into reality to feel more emotionally stable and grounded. To do this, Depanian suggests investigating the attraction thoughtfully to demystify the magnetism of your partner and seeking professional help if it's a chronic pattern.
"You could benefit from trying to discover the reasons behind your intense attachment to them. Try to understand what exactly they represent for you. For example, it could represent a fulfillment of unmet childhood needs or a fresh start after a difficult breakup," she says. "A therapist might be able to help the individual better understand themselves and their unmet needs, ultimately leading to detachment from the unhealthy, one-sided relationship."
Can limerence ever turn into love?
Limerence has similar origins to love, according to both Boquin and Depanian. What matters is if you're able to tolerate the discomfort of loving a person, not the fantasy, and if you can still show up for them as the relationship burns from passionate love to compassionate love.
"Limerence brings us together and presents an opportunity to develop into love. But as much as we'd like to have a guarantee whether or not things will work out, there is no guarantee," Boquin says. "Love is a risk. However, building and nurturing a relationship built on trust and fairness will open the door to deeper intimacy. Ultimately, that's what we're seeking in relationships, but it takes each partner's intention and effort. It won't just happen."
Infatuation occurs when you're more interested in having your crush fulfill some idea you have in your mind more than you care about meeting the person in front of you exactly as they are. It can shift into a healthier relationship once you stop idealizing them and bring curiosity into the way you are connecting with them. "Limerence might be able to turn into love but only with a shift in mindset from the individual experiencing limerence," Depanian affirms. The key is to give yourself the same validation and meaning you're seeking in the other.
"Instead of relying on them to fulfill those needs, you would have to begin relying on yourself, your growth, and your strength to achieve true joy, meet your own needs, and make room for them. This makes room for the mutual connection, openness, understanding, and empathy experienced in love," she adds.
The idea of limerence is beautiful, but it can veer into a shallow and emotionally immature version of love instead of the real thing. If you're feeling out of sorts with a new love interest, slowing down to fold logic into your emotions can keep you from perpetuating any unhealthy limerent behaviors. Take the time to ground yourself and think about what they realistically represent for you so your partner can complement you, instead of complete you.
Deep love is quietly intimate, and it comes with equal parts beauty and terror. It's scary to take a leap of faith, but you both deserve to be seen entirely. Don't settle for anything else.
Julie Nguyen is a writer, certified relationship coach, Enneagram educator, and former matchmaker based | 2,093 |
Some areas of the Build it Back program are utilizing modular homes in<|fim_middle|> year and so are the people that manage these Buildings. | some of the neighborhoods hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy five years ago.
In some neighborhoods, site built homes were started a years ago and still remain unfinished.
Assembling pre-built houses on site is proving faster and cheaper than conventional building, adding some speed to a $2.2 billion recovery effort that has proceeded at a slow pace. As of this month Midland Beach, a neighborhood on Staten Island, has only finished rebuilding just 189 of the 500 homes that are expected to be replaced.
It is the largest such effort in the nation and expands the use of modular homes in disaster recovery programs from a stopgap measure to a permanent rebuilding solution, according to city officials and industry experts. Modular homes are built to the same standards as traditional houses and look no different when fully assembled and connected to water and utility lines.
From the start in 2013, the program was plagued by miscommunication, endless red tape and spiraling costs that left thousands of frustrated homeowners in limbo for years, and drew condemnation from elected officials and community leaders.
The benefits of modular home and commercial construction are growing every year and so are the people that manage the NY Build It Back program.
Yes the benefits of modular home construction are growing every | 252 |
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