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Bachelor's degree of doubt: Going straight to a master's is cheaper The value of a bachelor's degree is in doubt: one route is to go straight to a master's degree through new accelerated programs. Emory University junior Hugh Green will get his in only five years of college. Atlanta — Between honors classes in high school and a higher-than-average course load in college, Hugh Green is just a few credits away from qualifying for a bachelor's in environmental studies. And he is only finishing his junior year. To build toward a career in architecture or urban planning, he could complete his bachelor's and invest three more years – and about $100,000 – in a master's degree. Or he could forgo the architecture degree and opt for a five-year bachelor's/master's program in a related field. "The idea of designing appropriate communities and buildings so that they would maximize health and not create problems down the line drove me in the direction of public health," he says. So instead of graduating in 2013 with a bachelor's of science, Green will now graduate in 2014 with both his bachelor's of science degree and a master's from Emory's Rollins School of Public Health. There were also, he says, "more practical reasons. There just are not jobs in architecture right now, and I don't have the money to go to school for architecture. Paying tuition for a fifth year and graduating with a master's just seemed abundantly practical." In a world where he is competing globally for work, this puts him right in line with the so-called 3-5-8 model being recommended by many in the European Commission for European universities – three years for a bachelor's, five total for a master's, eight for a PhD.
How can suppliers, such as Johnson & Johnson, play a key role in reducing the healthcare industry's environmental footprint? By Brian Boyd, Vice President of Worldwide Environmental Health and Safety at Johnson & Johnson The healthcare sector’s environmental footprint is large – according to Practice Greenhealth, it generates more than 5.9 million tons of waste each year, contributes to eight percent of the United States’ total greenhouse gas emissions and spends almost $8 billion annually on energy alone. As a healthcare supplier, at Johnson & Johnson, we realize we can help hospitals save money and reduce their impacts by providing more sustainable products, and that we need to collaborate to reach this shared goal. While many healthcare facilities are beginning to invest more heavily in sustainability – more than 87 percent have incorporated sustainability into their decision-making process and operations – there are others that have yet to consider the benefits of sustainability and even more that struggle to make the case internally. To help address this knowledge gap and advance the issue, Johnson & Johnson recently partnered with The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, through its Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership (IGEL), to host a one-day conference designed to equip healthcare professionals with insights on how to advance their organization’s commitment to and investment in sustainability as well as provide best practices for engaging stakeholders. The conference was a great opportunity to get everyone talking – both about the tangible impacts of everyday operations and about new topics, such as the entire lifecycle of the products hospitals use. A key takeaway that surprised the audience was that the majority of impacts of healthcare products may actually be upstream – in the sourcing of raw materials or manufacturing – and that better mechanisms are needed to quantify these impacts, including those on ecosystem services. Here are some examples that will hopefully expand the conversation on this critical issue and give you tangible case studies to promote sustainability at your organization. Measuring the Cost of Upstream Impacts A simple example of upstream impacts can be seen through products made from wood fiber and the ripple effect tree loss has on society. Just think back to elementary school when you learned about the importance of trees. Trees turn carbon dioxide into oxygen and serve as natural barriers for pollutants that would otherwise flow into waterways and potentially impact water quality. They also provide habitat to a plethora of species, all of which are critical to our ecosystem. Today, a value isn’t placed on the natural services trees provide, but from a healthcare perspective it should be. Tree loss contributes to air pollution, and air pollution has an obvious impact on people’s health. A decline in people’s health increases the need for medical services and raises costs for care. By undervaluing these impacts at their source, there is the potential to suffer even greater impacts long-term. At Johnson & Johnson, we’ve brought the product lifecycle to the forefront of our product development process through EARTHWARDS®, a companywide initiative that utilizes data to identify the most significant environmental and social impacts of a product, and establishes opportunities to improve these areas. [Learn more about Earthwards] Solving the end-of-life dilemma of our products is another way we reduce impacts together with other healthcare suppliers, such as BD and Kimberly-Clark. BD’s ecoFinity® Life Cycle Solution helps hospitals safely and economically recycle medical sharps and turns the recovered plastics into new collector products. Kimberly-Clark’s Blue ReNew program helps hospitals formalize the process for recycling sterilization wrap and then customizes for each facility’s unique needs. Hospitals too are working to ensure the products they purchase are more sustainable, and I’ve been pleased to see that more than one-third of hospitals have switched suppliers to gain access to sustainable product offerings. But more can be done. After working for Johnson & Johnson for the last 20 years and addressing environmental impacts throughout the supply chain, I’ve learned an important step to embedding sustainability is monetizing its value – including the costs and benefits of upstream and downstream investments. Healthcare professionals often struggle to make this case with their CFOs, and attendees at the Wharton IGEL conference were eager to establish a standard methodology for determining the true value of sustainability in their investment decisions. Communicating the Value of Sustainability I’ve also learned that every organization has an audience who cares about what they are doing to reduce their impacts and operate more sustainably. While some healthcare players have been better at communicating their sustainability initiatives and related performance than others, there is a definite need for more communication – both to internal stakeholders as well as external audiences. Collaborating with hospitals and communicating the true value of sustainability is key to advancing this important issue and will build urgency within the industry to do so. I can speak for Johnson & Johnson when I say that we look forward to continuing our partnership with Wharton IGEL to bring healthcare professionals together for more dialogue about how to build the case for sustainability so it can be embedded in the way every hospital operates, and in every purchase decision they make. As a next step, we are partnering with TruCost on January 22 at noon to have a more focused discussion on how to evaluate the upstream impacts of medical products, and help quantify the costs these impacts have on ecosystem services. The webinar is open to anyone who is interested in advancing sustainability in healthcare – I hope you’ll be there: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6097080403650617090. About the Author: Brian Boyd is the Vice President of Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability for Johnson & Johnson. Brian has over 25 years of progressive experience creating and deploying EHS&S strategy and programs, building stakeholder partnerships, and integrating energy and environmental sustainability into business objectives. Brian began his career in 1985 with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, working in multiple positions that spanned compliance, enforcement, emergency response, and remedial project (Superfund) management. Brian joined Johnson & Johnson in 1990, eventually progressing to the role of Vice President in 2003. Under Brian’s leadership, J&J has earned distinction as a Corporate environmental leader by numerous investor, NGO, and media based ratings systems including Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Climate Counts, and the Newsweek’s annual green company ratings. He received his B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies from East Stroudsburg University.
- Discover CSUB - Admissions & Aid - Student Life - ASI (Student Government) - Antelope Valley Campus - Campus Dining - Career Education & Community Engagement (CECE) - Children's Center - Counseling Center - Health, Safety And Wellness - Housing & Residence Life - Services for Students with Disabilities - Student Financial Services - Student Organizations - Student Recreation Center - Student Rights & Responsibilities - Student Union - Vice President for Student Affairs - News & Information Mathematics is a unique, valuable, exciting, enjoyable, and rewarding science. We provide a collection of mathematics courses designed to challenge and stimulate all open minded and thoughtful students by combining flexibility, applicability, and historical perspective. Depth of understanding and appreciation are not sacrificed to quantity; major emphasis is upon inquiry, creativity, methods, techniques, and thought processes. Job perspectives and salaries are better than in other disciplines. The goal of our program is to discover both the importance and beauty of mathematics by combining lectures with other workable approaches to learning. A student is encouraged to interpret and communicate mathematically with others, to follow self direction and in depth study, and to investigate relations between mathematical concepts. A professor acts as a resource person, providing necessary feedback. The number of students in each of the classes needed for the major is small, implying that students receive more attention from faculty than in other universities. Students have big study rooms, open most of the time. These rooms have writing boards, books and the most advanced technology, such as WiFi and computer terminals. The Department sends students to local mathematics congresses twice during the academic year. There is a math student club involved in diverse activities. And most important: faculty always have their doors open to help students anytime. Upon completion of any mathematics course, students are better equipped to participate in a highly technological, scientifically complex environment. With the completion of a mathematics major, a student, depending upon the choice of upper division courses, may pursue: (1) a career or advanced studies in the mathematical sciences; (2) a career in teaching; (3) graduate studies leading to an advanced degree in pure mathematics, (4) a career or advanced studies in in economics or (4) a career or advanced studies in in statistics. Again, job perspectives and salaries are better than in other disciplines. Choosing a college and a career is an important choice. If you enjoy mathematics, we will challenge your mind. If you have additional questions, please see the Chair of the department, call the Chair (661-654-2031) or send me an email to racz at csub dot edu. In the meantime, please continue navigating through our webpage or visit us in Facebook. Please visit our Academic Programs and our Departmental Information page for more details. Department of Mathematics California State University, Bakersfield 9001 Stockdale Highway Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022 Phone: (661) 654-3151 Fax: (661) 654-2039 Office: Science III, Room 228
The Zapatista Rebellion at Twenty Years: A Retrospective Panel discussion on Wednesday, April 2, in the Ruth Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall [PAC 134] The program begins at 7PM, with a reception following in the PAC hallway. [On January 1, 1994, an indigenous Mayan rebellion began in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The beginning of the rebellion coincided with the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement---an agreement inimical to the interests of indigenous peoples in Mexico. The Zapatista rebellion signaled the attempt to create an autonomous region in Mexico for the indigenous Mayan majority.] Stephen Lewis, Ph.D., CSUC Professor of History Maria del Rocio Guido, CSUC graduate/activist A question and answer session follows the formal program. Co-sponsored by the CSUC Department of Philosophy, the Latin American Studies Program (LAST) and the Peace Institute at California State University, Chico For more information contact Tom Imhoff in the CSUC Philosophy Dept. at firstname.lastname@example.org This program is free an open to the public.
Did You Know That with Alan Walter I often pay a visit to see the Joggins Fossil Cliffs. If I’m lucky, I get to see the latest fossilized tree trunk that has been exposed in the cliffs by the Fundy tides. I still get a charge out of seeing the remains of something that was alive around three hundred million years ago. But more enjoyable to me is to imagine, while I’m there, what our planet Earth looked like back then. At that time, there were no continents as we know them now. No North or South America. No Asia or Africa. No Europe. Just one massive continent that the geologists call “Pangea,” from the Greek, meaning “one land.” This land mass was surrounded by a single ocean. It took long periods of time before Pangea eventually broke up into the arrangement of continents we see today. Our piece of territory on that single land mass was directly on the equator at that time. Yes, it was very hot in “Cumberland County” back then, with frequent monsoons and periodic flooding of seawater from the surrounding ocean. This is where the Pugwash salt mines came from. Bays of trapped salt water, baking under the sun, were continually replenished with fresh flooding as the earth’s crust was in motion. While there were acres of species of trees that would look very strange to us now, there were no flowering plants or grasses. They would not make their appearance on Earth for another hundred and fifty million years or so. Animal life was limited to fish, amphibians and small reptiles. Even the larger dinosaurs had not made their appearance yet. Most interesting to me is the curious feature of shorter days, and more days in the year, that was part of life back then. To explain this, it’s been found that the friction on the earth produced by the oceans tides gradually slows down the earth’s rotation over time. This has been going on for as long as we have had a moon and oceans that the moon’s gravity can tug at. This slowdown is not noticeable to us of course, but the length of a day continues to increase by about two seconds every 100,000 years. Going back over 300 million years it works out that each day was then shorter at 22 hours long. Since the duration of a year - the time it takes the earth to circle the sun - doesn’t change over time there were around 400 days of 22 hours duration in that one-year period. Who knew? So, when you take that next trip to Joggins and look at the cliffs, think about what kind of a world it truly was back then. Alan Walter is a retired professional engineer living in Oxford. He was born in Wales and worked in Halifax. He spends much of his time in Oxford, where he operates a small farm. His column will appear bi-weekly.
As you may have gathered from my weekly "Foodie Friday" posts I enjoy cooking, but equally I enjoying growing my own food, which I write about on my site, curate this space. Aside from the health and nutritional benefits of doing so, there is also something quite primal about knowing where and how your food is grown. Today I'm going to teach you how to grow your own easy to grow salad garden which will grow all year round in frost free areas. If you are new to gardening and growing your own here are a couple basic concepts you you need to grasp that will stand you in good stead for growing healthy plants. SOIL: A balanced potting mix is 1 part sand, 1 part compost and 1 part peat. The sand provides drainage and also helps the roots bind down, the compost feeds the plants with good organic nutrients and the peat helps retain water. If you don't want to make your own, that's fine, most garden centers should have decent organic, premixed potting soil. SUN: Most vegetables and herbs need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, fruiting plants closer on 9 hours. Several plants will grow in partial shade, including all of those listed in our project. You'll want to position your container to maximize sun exposure, paying attention it doesn't fall in a shadow cast from adjacent buildings or obstructions. WATER: Sadly water isn't an impirical measurement, but a yardstick I like to work with is to insert your index finger up to the second digit and gauge it. If the soil is moist, you're fine, if not, water it! Likewise it's easy to over water, so you want a good inch or two of drainage chips at the bottom of your container, this will make sure your roots don't sit in water and rot. With that out of the way, let's get planting! The garden above was designed to accommodate those living in small spaces, particularly apartment dwellers who may only have access to a sunny balcony so I've settled on a 2ft x 2ft container. If it's built out of lumber you want to avoid CCA treated timber and use a naturally pest-resistant wood like cedar. The idea is to maximize space by interplanting crops, basically a term used to describe growing a fast growing crop alongside a slower growing one. Our example here are the carrots and radishes. Radishes are ready to harvest in 3-4 weeks from sowing, where as carrots take 3 months, but both occupy the same space. Just mix the seeds together in small container and sow them together directly into the ground. In the same way understanding plant spacing will maximize your harvest. Here we have our swiss chard on the edges of the container, these will grow up and out, allowing space below for a few beets. Beets are fantastic dual purpose crops as both the roots and leaves are edible, add the leaves to your mixed salads until they're ready to harvest. When choosing lettuces choose "cut and come again" varieties like cos, butter, oak. You'll be able to cut the outer set of leaves and they'll keep growing back, providing you 2-3 months of fresh, daily greens. Another technique we use is companion planting, plants of a symbiotic or mutually beneficial nature. Many edible flowers fall into this category. I particularly like marigolds as they are not only edible but deter pests like sap sucking nematodes. Below is the layout for a 2ft by 2ft box, the height can vary, but you need at least 7" of soil. Make sure the container has drainage holes and fill it up with an inch or two of drainage chips, then add your potting soil. Follow the layout below for the plant spacing, when planting seedling you want to make sure you cover their roots adequately press them down firmly once inserted into your mix. Make sure you don't bury your seeds to deep, I like to make a furrow 1/2" deep and sow my seed, covering them loosely when done. Once you've planted up your container, water it with a watering can and allow nature to run it's course. If planting from seedlings I'd wait at least 2-3 weeks before you start harvesting and 6-9 weeks if planting from seed. Now you can enjoy your own bounty throughout the year, fresh from the garden, or your inner city apartment. Decor Element : Plants & Garden
NCUA Green Initiative Earns ENERGY STAR Certification After cutting the power bill by $7,000 in the past year, among other things, the NCUA has received ENERGY STAR certification at its headquarters in Alexandria, Va. The General Services Administration requires agencies leasing space outside a GSA-owned property to attain an ENERGY STAR rating of at latest 75. The NCUA met all four necessary standards for certification in energy performance, thermal comfort, indoor air quality and illumination levels, the agency said, and received an 86 out of 100. “Our greeNCUA initiative has promoted greater energy efficiency, waste reduction and other efforts to reduce NCUA’s environmental footprint,” said NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz said. “Recent renovations to NCUA’s central office, including lighting system upgrades, helped the agency obtain the certification. In the last year, NCUA has reduced its electricity bills by about $7,000,” Matz said in this week’s announcement. ENERGY STAR is a voluntary EPA program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect the environment through improved energy efficiency. The certification is annual and Matz said the agency already is working to keep its rating next year.
by John Beauchamp Jones SEPTEMBER 15TH.—Bright and pleasant. The firing was from our gun-boats and two batteries, on Gen. Butler’s canal to turn the channel of the river. Our fondly-cherished visions of peace have vanished like a mirage of the desert; and there is general despondency among the croakers. Mr. Burt, of South Carolina (late member of Congress), writes from Abbeville that Vice-President A. H. Stephens crossed the Savannah River, when Sherman’s raiders were galloping through the country, in great alarm. To the people near him he spoke freely on public affairs, and criticised the President’s policy severely, and the conduct of the war generally. He said the enemy might now go where he pleased, our strength and resources were exhausted, and that we ought to make peace. That we could elect any one we might choose President of the A dispatch from Gen. Hood, dated yesterday, says Wheeler has been forced, by superior numbers, south of the Gen. Morgan’s remains are looked for this evening, and will have a great funeral. And yet I saw a communication to the President to-day, from a friend of his in high position, a Kentuckian, saying Morgan did not die too soon; and his reputation and character were saved by his timely death! The charges, of course, will be dropped. His command is reduced to 280 men; he was required to raise all his recruits in
Penelope A. Morrell, Area Director South Concerned Women for America of Maine To Members of the Joint Judiciary Committee Regarding L.D. 1428, “An Act to Protect Religious Freedom.” January 16, 2014 Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. The large number of participants in this hearing indicates that people feel strongly about this issue. One thing we can all agree on is that the best interests and freedoms of all individuals must prevail over the interests and freedoms of a few. Concerned Women for America (CWA) is the largest public policy women’s organization in the nation with more than 500,000 members. Maine currently enjoys 2,800 members. Concerned Women for America of Maine (CWA of Maine) supports L.D. 1428, “An Act to Protect Religious Freedom.” This is one of the most important pieces of legislation in years. Senator David Burns’ bill simply holds the State of Maine to the same legal standard as our Federal government in cases regarding religious liberty. Maine would have to have a compelling interest to restrict someone’s religious freedom, and even then it would have to do so in the least restrictive manner. Our Founding Fathers deemed religious liberty our “first freedom,” because if our duty to God is subordinate to duty to the state, the state takes God’s role and all our rights and liberties become subject to the whims of our rulers. The 4th President of the United States, James Madison, known as the “Father of our Constitution” for his instrumental role in its drafting was also instrumental in the drafting of the Bill of Rights, and the placement of this essential freedom at the top of the list of the Amendments he introduces as a series of legislative articles to the 1st Congress. In that same spirit, the 103rd Congress enacted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), noting that “governments should not substantially burden religious exercise without compelling justification.” 43 U.S.C.§ 2000bb(a)(3). The law was passed in 1993 during the Clinton administration and with the ACLU supporting it; however, the Supreme Court declared in 1997 that RFRA did not apply to state governments. That is why each state must act individually to enact those protections. Eighteen other states have passed this same bill including Rhode Island, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Why shouldn’t Maine citizens have the exact same level of protection of their First Amendment Rights as the citizens of those states? Right now, Christian businesses and organizations, like the Little Sisters of the Poor, are using RFRA to try to stop the federal government from forcing them to provide abortion-inducing drugs in their insurance plans in violation of their religious beliefs. The Supreme Court is considering those cases at this very moment. That’s just one example of how this law can help us protect our religious liberties. For several years now, governments throughout the United States have tried to limit our religious liberty to the walls of our places of worship and impede expressions of faith in the public square. We must not let that happen in Washington, D.C. nor in the State of Maine. Virginia Bill of Rights, Article 16 Categories: Religious Liberty Date: June 12, 1776 [R]eligion, or the duty which we owe to our creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and this is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other. I urge this committee to vote “ought to pass” on L.D. 1428.
Archives for: May 2000, 26 I'm a fan of the blood type diet but one thing worries me. Dr. D'Adamo says each blood type evolved thousands of years ago to digest a particular diet and I believe him, but isn't evolution an ongoing process? If a person shields their body from any food that it finds stressful isn't that going to deprive it of the chance to adapt and evolve to a wider diet? From what Dr. D'Adamo has written, it sounds as though blood-type A people adapted rapidly to a diet of mainly grains after aeons in which human beings got their protein from meat. Surely if generations of type A's ate shellfish, for example, type A's would start being born who did fine with shellfish? I'm thinking of food that occurrs naturally in nature here, not man-made pollutants like chemical pesticides etc. which I don't think anyone could adapt to. Also what do 'secretory insufficiency' and 'flocculates serum proteins or precipitates something else' mean? Congratulations on your wonderful column! Olympia Thank you, Olympia! There's no need to fear that lack of stress will stunt our evolution, we have plenty (;-)) but rather that too much stress lays the foundation for disease and shortens our lives. Actually, he theorizes that the earliest peoples were predominantly type O ~ but type A and B were present, if in smaller numbers. As large land animals were hunted out and agriculture developed, the idea goes, those who could better handle a diet of grains, vegetables and little meat flourished. A nomadic herding existence in high altitudes suited other types better than lowland farming. Environment did not create type, it only limited or abetted its population growth. Yes, people swiftly learned to depend upon agriculture for a steady food supply, but that is not to say every type prospered upon such a diet. I can tell you personally that here we are in the 21st Century, yet I never adapted to grains! When I stopped eating them (especially wheat), and started eating red meat, my health improved greatly. Some foods stimulate antibodies by virtue of their "alien blood type" qualities, and shellfish is one of those foods for As. "Secretory insufficiency" refers to lower levels of protein-digestive or other secretions ~ therefore that food is not recommended for that time. Flocculation and precipitation are when the red blood cells clump up together in response to a substance toxic to the cells. Hope this helps, and thank you again for your kind remarks! I have been having allergy for 8 years. I finished just about all allerry medication now nothing is working . Finally last 2 weeks I have been following blood type " O " diate from your book and I am doing much batter. The question I have is in your diats amount of water for week 4-7 serving 8 oz per week that is 8 oz maximum per day. Is this correct. Please advise me on this matter. I will be very glad. Thank you very much. Anwar Great news, Anwar!! That text should read, 4-7 servings per day, not per week. Thank you for writing! :-) i was wondering if there is any relationship between potatoes and taros? as an O type, i can eat sweet potatoes (with no concern), but was wondering about the taro. is this okay? thank you.....and btw...i love the diet and the book.... jake Glad you are enjoying the diet, Jake. Use the Hello I am taking the Polyflora 'O' professional probiotic, the polyvite 'O' professional multivitamin and the phytocal 'O' mineral formula. I also follow the type O blood diet. I would like to know if I could safely use the harmonia ABO friendly green drink as a breakfast drink on top of what I do currently? Also can I use the deflect 'O' lectin blocker as a sort of an "after the fact pill" that will heal my body if I occasionally eat an avoid type food? Silvia Sure, absolutely. Yes to both! Deflect-O® will help by luring away lectins that would otherwise have attached to your tissues. It does help heal by scrubbing old, lectin-damaged cells over time. :-) we've found out we're 0 negative. What relevance does +ve & -ve have in the d'adamo scheme? mossey For Rh-negative Os and Bs, it means a bit more meat and a bit less grain than the Rh-positives of either type. The difference is around one serving per week for each category. I"m brazilian. I"m not sure about the classification of my ancestries, because my ancestries came from Italy, Portugal and Brazil. Are they classified as africans, caucasians or asiatics? I hope your answer. Thanks a lot. Hilson Hello, Hilson ~ That's hard to say. One way to determine this is to do a little family research, and see how far back your various European ancestries can be traced. Without knowing your family history, it sounds as if Caucasian is probably your predominant bloodline, so go with that one if nothing else presents itself definitively. It is not a major consideration with the diet, just a refining guideline. If you're still unsure but feel that Caucasian does not fit, drop me another line with more details! :-) and many thanks to ALL for writing!!
DeKALB – Despite the late start to planting, DeKalb-area farmers are expecting a good growing season and harvest year. Bob Johnson, who farms 2,100 acres south of DeKalb, said he had been concerned until recently that there wouldn’t be enough moisture in the soil. “Last month fixed that,” Johnson said. Since Jan. 1, DeKalb County has received 17.5 inches of precipitation from rainfall and melted snow, said Gilbert Sebenste, staff meteorologist at Northern Illinois University. “We’ve made up for all of the rainfall for the short-term and the midterm we didn’t get last year,” Sebenste said. But a colder-than-normal March and April have led to delays in planting crops across Illinois. According to the state’s weather and crops report, farmers have planted 17 percent of their corn so far. On average, Illinois farmers have 64 percent of their corn planted at this point during the season. Last year, Illinois farmers had 94 percent of their crops in. The report is published weekly during the growing season by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistical Service. Lance Honig, crops branch chief at USDA NASS, said corn planting and soybean planting are occurring at their slowest pace nationwide since 1993. However, he noted that weather is the ultimate factor in terms of crop production. “There is no guarantee on when you get the crop planted, what kind of result you have,” Honig said. He added that farmers had an early planting season last year, but crops suffered nonetheless when the drought hit. Johnson expressed similar sentiments. If the weather is hot and dry when the corn is pollinating, it could ruin the crop even if there’s rain soon afterward. “Some people had ears with no kernels on there because of no pollination or poor pollination,” Johnson said. Mark Tuttle, a Somonauk farmer and the president of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, said some farmers might reduce risk to their crops by planting different varieties of them. He said he knows companies have been working on developing corn that requires less water to grow. He added, however, that he did not expect much to change. “The drought is kind of an anomaly,” Tuttle said. “It’s not what you expect every year.” Paul Taylor, an Esmond farmer and the president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, said his corn yield dropped 15 percent last year as a result of the drought. However, he said he fared better than some others. “We suffered some, others suffered more,” Taylor said. “We had a crop to sell, and others didn’t.” Sebenste said that winter weather appeared to finally be done, with scattered thunderstorms expected for Friday, along with some rain early next week. At the end of these next 10 days, it will be very difficult for a frost to occur, he said. “We can finally put a fork in the winter of 2012-2013,” Sebenste said.
WASHINGTON – Five years after a global financial crisis erupted, the world’s biggest economies still need to be propped up. They’re growing and hiring a little faster and creating more jobs, but only with extraordinary aid from central banks or government spending. And economists say major countries may need help for years more. From the United States to Europe to Japan, central banks are pumping cash into economies and keeping loan rates near record lows. For now, thanks in part to the intervention, the world economy is improving. The International Monetary Fund expects global growth to rise to 3.6 percent in 2014 from 2.9 percent this year. Here’s a look at how the world’s major economies are faring: The U.S. economy grew at an unexpectedly solid 2.8 percent annual pace from July through September, though consumers and businesses slowed their spending. And U.S. employers added a surprising strong 204,000 jobs in October. Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Global Insight, thinks the U.S. economy will be strong enough to manage without any help from Fed bond purchases by the end of 2014. He sees the Fed raising short-term rates, which it’s kept at a record low near zero since late 2008, sometime in 2015. But weaning the U.S. economy off Fed support, he says, is “tricky ... If you do it too slowly, you could ignite inflation. If you do it too quickly, you run the risk of killing the recovery.” After enduring two recessions since 2009, the 17 countries that use the euro currency are expected to eke out their second straight quarter of growth from July through September. But many economists say the eurozone’s growth might not meet even the feeble 0.3 percent quarterly pace achieved from April through June. The latest quarterly figure will be announced Thursday. The European Central Bank surprised investors last week by cutting its benchmark refinancing rate to a record 0.25 percent. It acted after economic reports exposed the weakness of the recovery. Inflation last month was a scant 0.7 percent. That raised the risk of deflation – a prolonged drop in wages, prices and the value of assets like stocks and homes. The rate cut “signals that the ECB is not prepared to accept the risk that the euro area falls into deflation,” says Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Japan’s economic recovery has gained momentum since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in late 2012. Under “Abenomics,” the government and central bank have injected money into the economy through stimulus spending and rate cutting. The economy grew at a robust 3.8 percent annual rate from April through June. But economists worry about whether the recovery can be sustained and whether Japan can grow enough to make up in tax revenue what it’s spending on stimulus. Noriko Hama, a professor at Kyoto’s Doshisha University, contends that only higher wages and rates will give people the income and confidence they need to spend more and restore the economy’s health. Like the Fed, the Bank of Japan could struggle with how to time and carry out a reversal of its easy money policy once the economy improves or if inflation or asset bubbles emerge as a threat. “They have placed themselves in a very difficult situation indeed,” Hama says. “It’s a double-edged sword.” China’s economy grew at a two-decade low of 7.5 percent in the three months that ended in June compared with a year earlier. That’s still a vigorous pace compared with the developed economies of Europe, the United States and Japan. But for China, it marked a slowdown, and Beijing launched a mini-stimulus program, spending on railway construction and other public works. It worked: Growth edged up to 7.8 percent from July through September from a year earlier. Yet some economists doubt the gains in China will last. “I can’t see the rebound lasting for very much longer, because it has been driven by government projects,” says Mark Williams of Capital Economics. In the latest quarter, more than half the reported growth was due to investment, not trade or consumption. Many economists say China’s continued reliance on government-led investment is dangerous. It threatens to produce factories that make goods no one wants and unneeded real estate developments that can’t repay loans. China responded to the 2008 global crisis by ordering its banks to open their lending spigots. The recovery has been underpinned by a surge in borrowing, which is up 20 percent this year. China’s central bank has warned that the aggressive lending is unsustainable and could cause bad loans to pile up dangerously. “I think we’re going to see policymakers try to crack down on credit in the next few months,” Williams says. Kurtenbach reported from Tokyo, McDonald from Beijing.
"I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.". - Exodus 20:5 NLT. Thoughts for Today When we are struggling with life-controlling problems, one of the most damaging delusions we entertain is that our problems are not hurting anyone other than ourselves. On the contrary, one person's problems affect a network of personal relationships. The closer the relationship, the greater the impact. For example, our misbehavior may only slightly affect our job performance, but it may devastate our immediate family. This is known as the domino effect. If a husband is too involved at work, this may trigger conflict with his wife. The parents' preoccupation with their own issues, in turn, may cause one child to misbehave at school and another to turn to an eating disorder. As this happens again and again, relationships are destroyed. Consider this … We use the term family system to describe the attitudes and patterns by which families operate. When one member of the family system has a problem, the others will deal with the problem according to the pattern they have learned. Each family member is an element in the whole, affecting and being affected by the system. We can become more effective in helping ourselves and others when we understand that all of us are affected by a system of relationships that extends into past generations and that our actions will also impact future generations. Prayer : "Our Loving Father in Heaven, help me to better understand this bigger picture of how my behavior can have long-lasting ripple effects on those around me. Help me make the changes that will turn my influence from negative to positive. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen." Have a Blessed Sunday and God Bless you. Daily Devotionals Team
Looking to avoid overpaying on trips to the mall? Don't shop when you're in a bad mood. At least that's the conclusion of a study conducted by researchers at Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, and Pittsburgh universities. In the study, participants who had just watched a sad movie clip were inclined to pay, on average, 4 times as much for an insulated water bottle as those who watched an emotionally neutral clip. Harvard professor Jennifer Lerner told the Associated Press that "This is a phenomenon that occurs without awareness. This is really different from the idea of retail therapy, where people are feeling negative and want to cheer themselves up by shopping. People have no idea this is going on." Interestingly, most participants insisted that they weren't basing their offer price on the movie clip they had just seen -- not surprising. Who in their right mind would pay more for a water bottle based on a video they just saw? But apparently that's exactly what they did. I guess the lesson here is to avoid extravagant spending when you're in a bad mood. But if you're down in the dumps and a $3 water bottle might cheer you up, I say go for it. Save money: shop when you're happy!
More than 100 banks have failed this year, and even the government acknowledges that many more will probably fold before 2009 draws to a close. In most cases, ordinary citizens who have accounts are protected by FDIC insurance. Yes, there's certainly a hassle involved, especially if you have bills set up on auto-payment with the failed bank, but the FDIC guarantees that they'll make good on your money up to $250,000. Unfortunately, this guarantee doesn't extend to the interest rates on long-term savings vehicles like certificates of deposit. As this article reports, a growing number of people are losing the high interest rates on their CDs when a bank with which they have money invested folds. Even well into the recession, some banks were offering healthy returns of up to 4 and 5 percent on CDs. As it turns out, many of these were doing so in a desperate, last-ditch bid to drum up cash before their bad investments and debts overtook them. Many customers, however, welcomed the high CD rates, viewing them as a safer bet than the risky stock market that would still give them a decent return on their investment over time. Now, though, many are finding that their investments are running into trouble. Here's why: When a bank fails, the FDIC takes it over and sells off the "healthy" parts - that is, customers' actual accounts and investments - to another bank. But to get them to do that, they often have to sweeten the deal. One way they do this is by letting the new banks change the rates customers get paid for their investments. And by "change," we mean "lower." The article (link above) gives one example of a woman who had been promised a 5.7 percent rate on a five-year CD. When her bank went belly-up, the new bank that took over the accounts sent her a letter informing her it was dropping that rate to 1.6 percent. This is a situation that could potentially impact millions of Americans, since we have altogether a whopping $2.6 trillion invested in theoretically fixed-rate CDs. The switcheroo is infuriating, but legal, which means there isn't anything bank customers can do about it. When it takes over a failed bank, the FDIC is effectively acting as a bankruptcy judge. This means they have the power to cut what creditors (that would be the customers in this case) are owed. The rate-cutting is a big cost savings for the acquiring bank; the article quotes one expert who says a bank could save up to $10 million by cutting your rates after it takes over your bank. So what can you do to avoid this situation? First, split up your savings; don't put all of it into one account and don't put it all with one bank. Secondly, remember that old bit of advice: If a rate being offered seems too good to be true, it just might be. Forex for Beginners Learn about trading currencies and foreign exchange transactionsView Course »
Thurs., Aug. 19 marks this year's "Cost of Government Day." The date, calculated by the Americans for Tax Reform, signals when the average American finishes paying off his or her respective share of federal, state and local taxes, and the cost of implementing government regulations. This year, that means a whopping 231 days -- or almost 2/3 of the year -- are spent paying to keep the country going. Feel like you've gotten our money's worth yet? For 2010, the date arrives a full week later than in 2009, when Cost of Government Day fell on Aug. 12. That gives it the dubious honor of a new record, since the 2009 date was almost a full month later than in previous years. According to the Americans for Tax Reform, the date had never fallen later than July 20th over the period from 1977 to 2008. About half of the total burden is attributable to the federal government. Keeping the government going these days takes a lot of money. But where does it all go? Military spending makes up a considerable portion of the annual budget: We spend nearly half a trillion dollars on the Department of Defense. That's more than every other "non-security" agency expenditure combined. "Non-security" agencies include the federal Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Housing and Justice; the category also includes agencies such as the Small Business Association, NASA and the Social Security Administration. You can see the entire budget breakdown on the White House's website for the Office of Management and Budget. That's not to say that spending hasn't increased in non-military areasl. Not counting the U.S. Postal Service, federal civilian employment was expected to grow by 141,400 between 2009 and 2010 (though some of this may relate to the U.S. Census). Only two agencies were expected to reduce their personnel: the Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration. Expenses don't stop at the federal level. Roughly 20-25% of the total burden goes to keep state and local governments running. Despite efforts to slow spending in some areas, many state and local governments are seeing spending increases. In addition to the cost of providing benefits for citizens who may be without jobs and health insurance, many state and local governments struggle to meet pension and other retirement funding, due to bloated civil rosters and inefficient and underfunded plans. Philadelphia's controversial DROP program is an example making news this year. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a city analysis of DROP (the Deferred Retirement Option Program) found that it increased the city's pension costs by $258 million in 10 years. A separate study done by an actuary for an article that appeared in the Philadelphia City Paper in April estimated the cost at $1 billion. The remainder of the "Cost of Government" comes from complying with government regulations. This includes the cost of material resources and labor. According the ATR, the federal government has imposed more than $30 billion in new regulatory costs since 2001. Compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) top the list for costliness. More information on Cost of Government Day 2010 comes later this week when the Americans for Tax Reform address the National Press Club. What Is Your Risk Tolerance? Answer the question "What type of investor am I?".View Course »
DUPAGE COUNTY--With influenza season just around the corner, the DuPage County Health Department reminds all County residents--six months and older--to get a seasonal flu shot this year. Flu vaccine is readily available at physician offices, pharmacies, grocery stores, quick care clinics and other locations throughout DuPage County. The Health Department only offers flu shots to eligible children who qualify under the state's Vaccine For Children guidelines. Flu shots are available to children who have no insurance, have insurance that does not cover immunizations or are recipients of Medicaid and All Kids Health Insurance. Every flu season is different and influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. Flu deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people each year. During a regular flu season, about 90 percent of flu-related deaths occur in people 65 years and older. There are some people who cannot be vaccinated, such as babies younger than six months and those who are allergic to the vaccine. It is important for people who can be vaccinated, to do so, to protect vulnerable populations who could become seriously ill. People who are at high risk of developing serious complications if they get sick with the flu include people 65 years and older, pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and chronic lung disease. This year's flu vaccine is made in the same way as past flu vaccines and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an average of 100 million doses of influenza vaccine has been used in the United States each year and the vaccine has an excellent safety record. It is not too early to get your flu shot. You can be vaccinated right now and be protected throughout the entire flu season. The season typically runs from October through May with seasonal flu activity usually peaking in January, February or later. It takes about two weeks after receiving the vaccine for antibodies to build up in the body, so it is important to get the vaccine before you start seeing flu activity. To reduce the spread of influenza and other contagious diseases, it is always important to practice the following: • Clean --properly wash hands frequently • Cover --cover your cough and sneeze • Contain --contain your germs by staying home if you are sick. For more information on the DuPage County Health Department, follow us on Twitter @DuPageHD or become a fan on Facebook. Flu information is available by calling the Health Department at (630)682-7400 or visiting the DCHD website at www.dupagehealth.org.
Q. I own a vacant home that was vandalized by thieves. They stole all the copper piping and left the water running inside. The house was flooded for days before the damage was discovered. The insurance company hired a remediation contractor, and he hired an environmental inspector to test for asbestos. The inspector tested surface materials where demolition was to take place and the lab report came back negative. The contractor then removed the drywall and flooring, but the project was shut down when asbestos insulation was found on the air ducts inside the walls. The inspector says he is not responsible for materials that were not visible at the time of the inspection. The contractor says the asbestos insulation was disturbed and that this must be reported to the authorities. The house now sits empty, no one will work on it, and it may become "red-tagged" for contamination. According to the contractor, the asbestos inspector was negligent. Is he right? A. The asbestos inspector's responsibility was to consider all possible sources of asbestos in the building and to advise you and the contractor accordingly. If the inspection had been done merely for disclosure during a real estate purchase, a surface inspection would have been reasonable and acceptable. But even in that case, an inspection report should mention the possibility of asbestos-containing materials inside the construction. In this case, the inspector knew that the project involved demolition and, therefore, was not limited to surface materials only. The air registers in the home should have alerted him to the fact that there were ducts inside the walls, and asbestos inspectors know that air ducts in older homes are often insulated with asbestos-containing material. Asbestos inspectors are free to cut into walls that are scheduled for demolition. If the inspector had any doubts about this, he should have asked for permission to cut into the walls. The inspector appears to have been negligent. However, it would be an overreaction by the authorities to designate the building as contaminated. An asbestos abatement contractor should be hired to remove the offending materials, and the remediation project should then proceed to completion. Q. My home was built in 1965 and is currently being sold. The buyer's home inspector says that my water heater should be on a raised platform, not on the garage floor. My plumber disagrees. He says the house falls under the grandfather clause and is exempt from current code requirements. Who is right, the home inspector or my plumber? A. The home inspector is right. Installation requirements are based on codes in effect at the time of the installation, not on the age of the house. The purpose of a raised platform is to prevent fire or explosion in the event of a gasoline leak in the garage. Unless the water heater is as old as the house, which is extremely unlikely, a platform is definitely required. For confirmation, consult the local building department. • Email questions to Barry Stone through his website, housedetective.com, or write AMG, 1776 Jami Lee Court, Suite 218, San Luis Obispo, CA 94301. Distributed by Action Coast Publishing
The gentle giant of British cinema: If he'd been a Yank, he'd have won Oscars galore. If he'd been a Leftie, he'd have been knighted. Why Bryan Forbes was a cruelly unsung genius To some film fans, he was an actor of sublime talent. To others, he will be remembered as a writer and director of great insight and psychological power. What is beyond doubt is that Bryan Forbes, who died this week aged 86, made some of the most intelligent, compelling and thoughtful films in British cinema. Indeed, it is fair to say he played a role in the industry that possibly only his former business partner Richard Attenborough could rival. Towering talent: Bryan Forbes with wife Nanette Newman and daughter Sarah in 1960 His best-known films, many of them from the golden age of the black-and-white features in the late Fifties and early Sixties, are still often seen on TV, so enduring is their appeal. The League Of Gentlemen and Whistle Down The Wind pushed the boundaries of cinema with their style and panache, and are as fresh today as when they were made more than half a century ago. As with so many careers in films, his had its ups and downs: and the movies he made later in his life sometimes lacked the verve, wit and insight of earlier ones. But had he been an American, he would have walked off with several Oscars — the Academy is notoriously parochial when recognising achievement — and it was something of a scandal that he was never knighted when so many lesser figures in the British movie industry were, in part due to their Left-wing sympathies. Forbes had no silver spoon in his mouth, but got where he did on prodigious talent. He was born John Clarke in Stratford, East London, in 1926 and was drawn to acting from childhood. At West Ham secondary school, as well as being a fan of West Ham United, he was said to be ‘the finest 14-year-old Shylock of his generation’. It was on the advice of a BBC presenter that he changed his name to Bryan Forbes, and he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Like so many actors of the time, he honed his stage skills in the Army, entertaining the troops as part of the theatre troupe Stars in Battledress. Almost as soon as he was out of uniform, in 1948, Forbes found his way on to the big screen in the classic The Small Back Room — playing the role of a soldier who dies shortly after being blown up by a small bomb. Larger roles followed, in films that became part of the legend of the cinema of the Fifties. He acted as a clean-cut young officer in two classic prisoner-of-war films of their time, The Wooden Horse and The Colditz Story. However, it was as a writer that he made, arguably, his major contribution to the cinema. He began with another war adventure, The Cockleshell Heroes, in 1955, when he was still only 28. Based on a true story, it recounted the raid by Royal Marines paddling kayaks to the harbour in Bordeaux to try to blow up German ships. Forbes understood his own potential as a writer and resented interference with his scripts by the studios which commissioned him, and their unerring ability to make them worse. Bryan Forbes demonstrates just how a demonstration should go during production of The Madwomen of Chaillot So in 1959, he and Richard Attenborough formed their own production company, Beaver Films. This ushered in Forbes’s purple patch as actor and director, but especially as a writer. In the company’s first feature, The Angry Silence, he wrote a mould-breaking story about the poisonous effect of trade union power in a factory. Starring Attenborough, the film depicts a man sent to Coventry for putting his family above his union. At a time when the post-war national consensus made enormous concessions to union power, this was considered to be highly provocative. The film confirmed Forbes’s genius as a writer, and the striking originality of his mind and his willingness to engage with difficult issues. His next film, released in 1960, could not have been more different, and it still stands as one of the most superlative British comedies: The League Of Gentlemen. With Jack Hawkins perfectly cast against type as the criminal mastermind, it’s the story of a group of former Army officers — almost all of them cashiered — whom Hawkins’s character summons together to pull off a daring bank raid. They almost succeed, and the story is told with unforgettable excitement and attention to detail. Hawkins, who had starred in some of the most legendary films ever made, said it was his favourite. Bryan Forbes, 78, collects his CBE for services to the Arts and the National Youth Theatre, in 2004 Forbes’s wit in his script for The League Of Gentlemen rests in the exploitation of the unexpected. A former officer has run off with the mess funds. But another has been thrown out for unmentionable sexual deviancy and since earned a living as a conman, posing as a vicar. But perhaps the best joke was Forbes writing a part for his demure, highly respectable wife as (effectively) a high-class courtesan. Again, the originality and wit of the script still flashes with brilliance more than 50 years later. For a comedy, it radiated a class not seen since Kind Hearts And Coronets over a decade earlier, and hardly seen since. Forbes acted in the film, too — as did his second wife, Nanette Newman, whom he married in 1955, having been divorced by the actress Constance Smith four years after their wedding. By then, he was bursting to try his hand at directing a feature. His opportunity came in 1961 with Whistle Down The Wind, based on a novel by Mary Hayley Bell, wife of the actor John Mills. However, it nearly didn’t happen. Another director had been agreed upon and the Mills family — whose daughter Hayley was to play the lead in the film — objected when Forbes was chosen as the replacement after their first choice withdrew. However, the family were won round and, at just 35, Forbes had a stunning directorial debut with the film about three children who hide an escaped convict in a barn when he dupes them into believing he is Jesus Christ. Forbes directed as though he had been doing it all his life. Nothing could better exemplify his instinctive understanding of the art of cinema. In his work in the early Sixties, he made a point of striking out in different directions with each new film he made. And because he had been on both sides of the camera he knew how to get the best from the actors he directed, and how to make a screenplay work. It was in the Sixties, too, that Forbes went to Hollywood — where he wrote and directed King Rat, about life in a Far Eastern prisoner-of-war camp. He wrote for some of the leading stars of American cinema, notably Katharine Hepburn in The Madwoman Of Chaillot. But the script he considered his best, for Attenborough’s Young Winston, was rejected, to his disappointment. Conversely, in 1969 his supreme cinematic talent was recognised when he was appointed head of production at Elstree Studios. The British film industry had had a disastrous decade, with cinema admissions collapsing due to the rise of TV. The entertainment group EMI bought Elstree — seeing it as a vehicle to revive the industry. Forbes announced a schedule of new releases, including The Railway Children, but the money they made was insufficient for his financiers. He resigned after two years and tried his luck in Hollywood once more. There, in 1975, he made movie classic The Stepford Wives, which won him a new generation of admirers. He made other, less distinguished films in America, but in the Eighties turned his hand to the theatre. Writing, though, remained his prime talent. After the Elstree debacle he produced two volumes of an autobiography and then embarked on a long career as a novelist, and also ran a bookshop. Forbes was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the Seventies, which he said made him feel as if he had ‘been given a death sentence’. He claimed that, with the help of his wife, he was able to control it by cutting gluten from his diet. More recently, however, he said that doctors had eventually admitted he had been misdiagnosed. He and Nanette Newman were happily married for nearly 58 years, their elder daughter Sarah becoming a journalist and the younger, Emma, a TV presenter. In later life, Forbes’s leading interest was the garden of his Surrey home. He was a modest, serious man of enormous charm and one of the most versatile and accomplished men ever to work in British cinema. Last year, in an interview in the Mail, he was asked what the order of service at his funeral might be. He replied: ‘I’m not very religious, so I’d be happy for family and friends to remember my good bits, scatter my ashes in the garden and plant a tree in my memory.’ Perhaps that wish will now come true, and the ten acres that he and his wife nurtured from a wilderness into a thing of beauty will become his final resting place. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. We are no longer accepting comments on this article.
August 15, 2007\| Unveiling The Soul's Vision Though stone structures have been a dominant element of human history, few have done as much to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual realms as the Native American medicine wheel. Wholly non-intrusive, these simple configurations of stone blend into their environments, becoming objects of ritual, meditative, and ceremonial importance to those who perceive their deeper meaning. An outer ring is linked to the center of the medicine wheel by spokes that echo the four sacred directions (north, south, east, and west) and their corresponding colors (white, red, yellow, and black). Creating our own medicine wheel can be just as profound an experience as visiting the site of an ancient wheel, for the mere presence of it changes our relationship to the universe, opening us to new depths of insight. No matter what the configuration, the wheel represents the circular path of being. It illustrates the journey of all Mother Nature's children, encompassing cycles of life, death, and that which lies beyond. When we walk the outer edges of a medicine wheel, sleep in its spokes, or lay our hands upon the center cairn, our inner vision is enhanced. We recognize ourselves as a vital part of a larger whole—a product of the universe as well as a force acting upon it. Peering through the lens of the medicine wheel, the harmony that unites disparate elements of the universe reveals itself to us. Each living entity will visit every spoke of the wheel in its lifetime, honoring the sacred directions and colors. However different we may be, there is no reason we cannot find peaceful concordance in our similarities. Whether your goal is to internalize the wisdom of the self, nature, society, or soul, the transformative energy of the medicine wheel will help you attune yourself to the interconnectivity of all reality. It can consequently serve as a powerful communication tool for groups in need of channels of understanding, for the universality of the wheel's significance facilitates bonding without asking disparate peoples to sacrifice their individuality. Your energy and that of those who accompany you will mingle with the universal flow at the focal point of the medicine wheel, reminding you that all beings are equal, and all are fated to travel round the great loop of existence until the end of time. What do you think? Discuss this article and share your opinion Want more DailyOM? Register for your free email, or browse all articles Share the OM: From the Library: Healing With Form, Energy and Light by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche Browse the Library Shop the Marketplace Join the Community
At least 298 passengers were killed when a Malaysian airliner was apparently shot down by a surface-to-air missile in eastern Ukraine Thursday, according to early intelligence reports. The Boeing 777 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was "blown out of the sky," according to Vice President Joe Biden and another U.S. official. The missile's origin, however, was unclear. Early photos and reports show charred wreckage bearing the Malaysia Airlines logo and scores of bodies of both adults and children scattered across the muddy Ukrainian steppe near the village of Hrabove, 25 miles from the Russian border near the rebel-held regional capital of Donetsk. More than half of the dead are reported to be Dutch. Another 27 were Australian and 23 Malaysian. The counts, however, were changing throughout the day. Ukraine and Russia traded accusations of blame, cranking up global pressure for a way out of a bloody local conflict that risks fueling a new Cold War. Ukraine accused pro-Moscow militants, aided by Russian military intelligence officers, of firing a long-range, Soviet-era SA-11 ground-to-air missile. Leaders of the rebel Donetsk People's Republic denied any involvement and said a Ukrainian air force jet had brought down the intercontinental flight. But separatists have said that they took control of such a missile system last month and had used it to shoot down a Ukrainian military transport plane that was destroyed on Monday. The scale of the disaster could prove a turning point for international pressure to resolve the crisis. It has killed hundreds since protests toppled the Moscow-backed president in Kiev in February and Russia annexed the Crimea a month later. The United Nations Security Council plans an emergency meeting on Ukraine on Friday, diplomats said. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged a full international investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration issued an order on Thursday night prohibiting American aircraft from flying over eastern Ukraine following the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight in that region. Citing "recent events and the potential for continued hazardous activities," the FAA said the restricted area included the entire Simferopol and Dnepropetrovsk flight information regions. "This action expands a prohibition of U.S. flight operations issued by the FAA in April, over the Crimean region of Ukraine and adjacent areas of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov," the agency said. It added that no scheduled U.S. airlines were currently flying routes through the airspace. Tragedy or terror? The Ukrainian government, condemning an act of "terrorism", released recordings it said were of Russian intelligence officers discussing the shooting down of a civilian airliner by rebels who may have mistaken it for a Ukrainian military plane. Russian President Vladimir Putin pinned the blamed on Kiev for renewing its offensive against the rebels two weeks ago after a ceasefire failed to hold. The Kremlin leader called it a "tragedy" but did not say who brought the Boeing down. "This is a grim day for our country and it's a grim day for our world. Malaysian airlines MH17 has been shot down over the eastern Ukraine, it seems by Russian-backed rebels," said Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. After the downing of several Ukrainian military aircraft in the area in recent months, including two this week, Kiev had accused Russian forces of playing a direct role. International air lanes had remained open, though only above 32,000 feet. The Malaysia plane was flying 1,000 feet higher, officials said. President Barack Obama said it was unclear whether Americans were aboard. One Ukrainian official said there were 23. That report has not been confirmed. As word came in of what Ukraine's Western-backed president called a "terrorist attack", Obama was on the phone with Putin, discussing a new round of economic sanctions that Washington and its EU partners imposed to try to force Putin to do more to curb the revolt against the Western-backed government in Kiev. They noted the early reports during their telephone call, the White House said, adding that Obama warned of further sanctions if Moscow did not change course in Ukraine. From the scene Malaysia Airlines said air traffic controllers lost contact with flight MH-17 in the afternoon as it flew over eastern Ukraine towards the Russian border, bound for Asia with 283 passengers and 15 crew aboard. Flight tracking data indicated it was at its cruising altitude of 33,000 feet when it disappeared. That would be beyond the range of smaller rockets used by the rebels to bring down helicopters and other low-flying Ukrainian military aircraft - but not of the SA-11 system which a Ukrainian official accused Russia of supplying to the rebels. Separatists have been quoted in Russian media saying they had acquired one. One group was quoted as saying that it used an SA-11 on Monday to bring down an Antonov An-26 turboprop plane - a loss that the Ukrainian forces had confirmed this week along with the downing of a Sukhoi Su-25 fighter on Wednesday. "I was working in the field on my tractor when I heard the sound of a plane and then a bang," one local man at told Reuters at Hrabove, known in Russian as Grabovo. "Then I saw the plane hit the ground and break in two. There was thick black smoke." An emergency worker said at least 100 bodies had been found so far and that debris was spread over 9 miles. People were scouring the area for the black box flight recorders and separatists were later quoted as saying they had found one. Kiev complained that separatists who are the main force in the area prevented Ukrainian officials from reaching the site. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak demanded swift justice for those responsible and said the crash site must not be interfered with before international experts had access. "MH-17 is not an incident or catastrophe, it is a terrorist attack," Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko tweeted. He has stepped up his military campaign against the rebels since a ceasefire late last month failed to produce any negotiations. One rebel leader, the self-styled prime minister in Donetsk, said they could agree to a truce of two or three days to help with investigation of the incident. Russia, which Western powers accuse of trying to destabilize Ukraine to maintain influence over its old Soviet empire, has accused Kiev's leaders of mounting a fascist coup. It says it is holding troops in readiness to protect Russian-speakers in the east - the same rationale it used for taking over Crimea. Ukrainian Interior Ministry official Anton Gerashchenko said on Facebook: "Just now, over Torez, terrorists using a Buk anti-aircraft system kindly given to them by Putin have shot down a civilian airliner flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur." The Buk - which means beech tree in Russia - is a 1970s vintage, truck-mounted, radar-guided missile system, codenamed SA-11 Gadfly by Cold War NATO adversaries. It fires a 19-foot, 110-pound missile for up to 18 miles. "There is no limit to the cynicism of Putin and his terrorists!" Gerashchenko wrote on the social media site. "Europe, USA, Canada, the civilized world, open your eyes! Help us in any way you can! This is a war of good against evil!" He also published a photograph he said showed a Buk launcher in the center of the town of Torez on Thursday. It was not possible to verify the image. On June 29, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency quoted a separatist spokesman in Donetsk as saying they had taken control of a Buk air-defense system. The military commander of the rebels, a Russian named Igor Strelkov, had written on his social media page at 1337 GMT, that his forces had brought down an Antonov An-26 in the same area. It is a turboprop transport plane of a type used by Ukraine's forces. There was no comment on that from Ukrainian officials. Flight MH-17 could have been in that area around that time, just over three hours after it took off from Schipol airport. Several Ukrainian planes and helicopters have been shot down in four months of fighting in the region. Ukraine had said an An-26 was shot down on Monday and one of its Sukhoi Su-25 fighters was downed on Wednesday by an air-to-air missile - Kiev's strongest accusation yet of direct Russian involvement, since the rebels do not appear to have access to aircraft. Moscow has denied its forces are involved in any way. The loss of MH-17 is the second disaster for Malaysia Airlines this year, following the mysterious loss of flight MH-370. It disappeared in March with 239 passengers and crew on board on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. In 2001, Ukraine admitted its military was probably responsible for shooting down a Russian airliner that crashed into the Black Sea, killing all 78 people on board. A senior Ukrainian official said it had most likely been downed by an accidental hit from an S-200 rocket fired during exercises. In 1983, a Soviet jet fighter shot down a South Korean airliner after it veered off course into Russian air space and failed to respond to attempts to make contact. All 269 passengers and crew were killed. In 1988, the U.S. warship Vincennes shot down an Iranian airliner over the Gulf, killing all 290 passengers and crew, in what the United States said was an accident after crew mistook the plane for a fighter. Tehran called it a deliberate attack. ReutersCopyright © 2015, Daily Press
May 26, 2014 - By Alejandra Silva, Staff WriterSuperintendent Terry Smith also says the Fremont County School District 14 budget looks "better than it has in awhile." The Fremont County School District 14 Board of Trustees approved a recommendation May 13 to advertise for the work to be done on the roof of Wyoming Indian High School. Superintendent Terry Smith said the roof has had "some issues" in the past and the district will now address them. The board also approved: - advertising for a waterline connection to the elementary school from the nearby water tank; and - the Central Wyoming College Board of Cooperative Higher Educational Services budget for 2014-2015. The board also received a brief presentation on the district's 2014-15 preliminary budget. Smith said there were a few changes to address, such as the district not replacing a few staff positions, but he said the budget looked positive overall. "It looks better than it has in awhile," Smith said. "So we feel very good about that." Smith has completed his first school year with the district. He said he has seen how education is a priority in the state of Wyoming. He praised the school board, staff, parents, students, tribes and community in their work for the district. Get your copy of The Ranger online, every day! If you are a current print subscriber and want to also access dailyranger.com online (there is nothing more to purchase) including being able to download The Mining and Energy Edition, click here. Looking to start a new online subscription to dailyranger.com (even if it is for just one day)? Access our secure SSL encrypted server and start your subscription now by clicking here.
Working in retail service can be enjoyable if you are customer service oriented like Karina Lopez. However, the hours aren't always reliable, and this mother of three found herself seeking other opportunities to interact with customers nearly four years ago. That's when Lopez found an opening at Sunnyside's U.S. Bank. She began working for the local branch as a part-time teller and ascended the ranks to become the teller coordinator. "There's a lot of responsibility," Lopez said, stating she enjoys working with the customers. "I like the interaction, being able to help them," she said of the patrons of the bank. As a teller coordinator, Lopez's responsibilities include supervising all the tellers employed at the bank. "I make sure they follow procedures that are in place," she said. The tellers turn to Lopez when they have questions or if an issue arises. When the assistant manager and manager are unavailable, she opens and closes the branch. She's also in charge of drawer audits to ensure the tellers are dispersing funds appropriately. "Keeping a drawer count is very important...we have to make sure the drawers balance and that could mean a surprise drawer audit during the day," said Lopez. She said her job also entails teaching tellers how to conduct different transactions for the patrons of the bank. For instance, if a customer is traveling out of state and doesn't want their debit card to be flagged for fraud, the customer can visit the bank. The tellers can make a remark on the customer's account to prevent a freeze on their card. "New tellers may not know how to do that," said Lopez. Also, tellers are provided a cash limit. If a customer's transaction exceeds the limit, the teller must obtain Lopez's approval for the transaction. "Every day we learn something new. There are some difficulties just as there are in any job, but my co-workers are a good team and there is always someone there willing to help you," said Lopez. She said the move from retail has been beneficial. It gives her the opportunity to do what she enjoys, interacting with customers, while assuring her of reliable working hours.
Ask the Nutritionist Q: Is there a role for a low fiber diet in the prevention of bowel obstruction for people with ovarian cancer with no symptoms or signs that an obstruction is present? Lynn, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Isle A: If you do not currently have symptoms or signs of a bowel obstruction, you most likely do not need to introduce a low fiber diet. Fiber has an important place in a healthy diet and can promote gastrointestinal health. To help prevent bowel obstruction drink plenty of fluids, walk or stay as active as possible and strive to prevent constipation with healthy eating, physical activity and medications as prescribed by your physician. If you develop a bowel obstruction or your doctor says you are at high risk, you may read a previous post, Snacks for Partial Bowel Obstructions for ideas for high-protein, low-fiber snacks. Some other tips for low fiber diets are listed below. - Beverages: Staying hydrated is important. Stick to fruit and vegetable juices without pulp, water, and Gatorade. Avoid caffeinated beverages, prune juice, and other drinks with dietary fiber. - Dairy Products: Lactaid tablets may be necessary for intolerance. Choose low-fat or fat-free products. Avoid full-fat dairy and cream-based soups. - Grains, Breads, and Cereals: Fiber in whole grains, breads and cereals will cause slower movement of food through the gut, resulting in irritation. Select white bread, pasta, crackers, and refined cereals (i.e. cornflakes, Cream of Wheat) when preparing meals. - Fruits and Vegetables: Choose canned and cooked fruits and vegetables without the skin. Raw cantaloupe, melon, watermelon and bananas are okay; other raw fruits are too fibrous for the gut to break down effectively with an obstruction. - Meats and Meat Alternatives: Protein is important for healing. Look for tender/skinless chicken and turkey, white fish, and lean cuts of meat (remove visible fat). Avoid fried foods as well as luncheon meats that are high in fat. Eggs (not fried), egg substitutes, and tofu are also excellent sources of protein. - Miscellaneous: Cook with non-stick sprays or use moist cooking methods (boiling, braising) instead of using oils or butters. Choose low-fat condiments and seasonings, as tolerated.
With the fall of Christendom – a political culture informed by the Christian faith – Christians must learn to live as “aliens and strangers” in a foreign land (1 Peter 1:1; 2:11). Christians are now a minority culture with little political power and civil status. For the first time in our lives, many white Christians are now experiencing the sense of alienation that our black and brown fellow citizens have endured for centuries. I love big cats. I am an avid fan of Animal Planet’s Big Cat Diary. Even though it is in reruns, part of my morning ritual for the past many years is to eat breakfast with the big cats. So, when I learned of the killing of Cecil, I grieved. Frankly, I don’t understand the logic of a trophy kill; nor do I understand the logic of allowing any endangered species to be hunted. All creatures are an expression of the Creator’s imagination. The Genesis narrative tells us that God charged humanity with the care of creation, including the naming of all creatures. It is an expression of care and devotion to name an animal. I never cease to be amazed by the ability of humans to personalize a dog or cat by naming it. I first traveled to Bulgaria in December of 1999. It was the coldest winter in Eastern Europe in a century. When I arrived it was 20 degrees below zero. What I discovered was a nation emerging from the deep freeze of 50 years of communist oppression. Since that first journey I have returned to Bulgaria several times. The scars of communism remain. So this blog is presented in images. . .
AN INQUIRY is set to examine why dozens of communities in North Yorkshire were hit by recent flooding and what measures could prevent it happening again. Many homes were flooded by ground and surface water last month and concerns over access to villages and towns near the River Swale rose after it burst its banks for the second time in three months, leading to the closure of many roads. Following downpours the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, was forced to cancel all planned surgery as firefighters spent hours pumping water away from the infirmary and its surrounding streets “due to drainage issues”. Councillors also questioned the Environment Agency over its £14m flood defence scheme in Ripon after a residential area was deluged. North Yorkshire County Council, which is responsible for assessing and managing the risk of flooding from groundwater and surface water, said the inquiry would start after emergency operations had been completed. It is thought some properties in Malton and Norton could remain flooded until Christmas. While an excess of surface water is being blamed for most of the flooding in the Ryedale towns, the problem was aggravated by water from natural springs coming up through the ground due to the saturated water table. Mark Young, the council's flood management officer, said: "Areas like Malton are rare where the ground water levels rise to such a level in the underlying rock it comes out. "We are looking at what we can do to warn and inform people of the risk and also to look to see where levels can be pumped down. There are certainly things we want to look at to protect properties where we can." Mr Young said the inquiry would involve all the authority's partners in flood risk management. He said: "While we are looking seriously at issues in Malton, we are also kicking off an investigation right across the county to make sure that all those communities who have suffered flooding do not feel their problems are being ignored."
Oracle Worm Proof-of-concept November 2, 2005[From Sans Internet Storm Center] On Monday (31-OCT-2005), an anonymous developer on the Full-Disclosure mailing list contributed a post titled "Trick or Treat Larry", disclosing a proof-of-concept worm that targets Oracle databases with default user accounts and passwords. The worm uses the UTL_TCP package to scan for remote Oracle databases on the same local network. Upon finding another database, the SID is retrieved and the worm uses several default username and password combinations to attempt to login to the remote database. The article continues at http://isc.sans.org/diary.php?storyid=812
Increases in energy costs have greatly impacted the operational costs of data centers, especially the costs to cool and power facilities. Going in a more “green” direction within the data center can significantly reduce an organization’s costs as well as its carbon footprint. Deciding which green service provider to choose for your data center can be a difficult task, raising questions about the effectiveness of the green initiatives in saving your organization money. This white paper from Internap helps you discover the best practices of a green data center to make sure the colocation provider you choose is truly green. First, it gives an overview of key players that have helped make creating green data centers possible, including government agencies and private research groups like the US Green Building Council and the Energy Star Program. Next, it discusses the importance of choosing a colocation provider that helps you keep power costs down, and overviews the many outlets of power within a data center. Lastly, cooling is described in detail, and other practices for green data centers are listed. Learn the best practices of choosing a green colocation provider. Click here to download this white paper on saving money on energy costs through working with technology providers that employ green techniques and standards
Coding & Compliance Seminar The Most Comprehensive Seminar Available Today For Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and Physiatrists on Coding, Compliance and Documentation! NOTE: For A Texas 16 Hour Course Outline Click Here (In Texas, this course meets the 4-hour requirement for Ethics, Risk Management and Coding/Documentation & the 8-hour requirement for Medicare.) The Hidden Secrets of Coding - Why You Have to Use The Exact CPT Code. - Insight Into The Little Know “Hidden” Definitions Of The CPT Code Book. - CPT Codes vs. ABC Codes. Evaluation & Management Codes - The Three (3) Key Components Of An E/M Service. - The Proper Use Of Time In Determing The Proper E/M Code. - New vs. Established Patients. - A Simple Form That Will Audit E&M Codes in Seconds! - Documentation Guidelines: The KEY for properly coding E&M Services. Physical Medicine Codes - When To Use An Osteopathic Manipulative Code Rather Than A Chiropractic Manipulative Code. - How To Determine An Increase In Spinal Function. - How To Bill For Two Codes Used At The Same Time. - How To Properly Determine Time. - The Defintion Of “One-On-One” Contact. - When To Use The Therapeutic Procedure Code And Neuromuscular Reeducation Code. - How To Bill Manual Therapy With A CMT/OMT. - The Proper Way To Bill Muscle Therapies. - Home vs. Office Based Therapy. Outcomes Assessment Overview - What Are Outcome Assessments And Why They Are Important. - Attributes to Look for in Outcome Measures - Subjective vs. Objective Questionnaires - Classification of Outcome Assessments Subjective Outcome Assessment Tools - General Health Questionnaires - Assessments of Pain - Condition-specific Outcomes - Psychosocial Questionnaires - Subjective Questionnaires and E&M Code - Patient Satisfaction Questionnaires - Predicting Outcomes in Low Back Pain - Strength and Endurance Testing - Spinal Orthopedic and Neurological Testing - Spinal Range of Motion Testing - Surface EMG, Inclinometers, and Dynamometers - Spinal Adjusting Techniques - Outcome Measures for the Upper/Lower Extremities - Functional Capacity Exams Application of Outcomes Assessment in Clinical Practice - Case Management in an Evidence-based Practice - Integrating Outcomes Assessment into Clinical Documentation - Establishing an “Outcomes-based Practice” - Using Outcome Assessments in Risk Management - Current Published Research Regarding Outcomes Assessment Tools Practical Reality; An Outcome-based Practice - Putting Outcomes-based Management into Practice - Clinical Outcome Databases and Software Programs - Looking to the Future: Using Outcomes Management to Enhance your Practice - Documenting Medical Necessity to Validate Treatment Documentation & Records - How to Create a Computer SOAP Note in Under a Minute. - How to Properly Document Exams and Test Results to Avoid Allegations of Fraud. - How to Keep Adequate Notes. - How Long Do I Keep Records? - How to Justify Treatment - What Review Doctors Look for to Cut Your Care - Why notes need to be legible and counter-signed - What is HIPAA? Am I a Covered Entity? Can I be excluded from HIPAA? - What Written Guidelines Should I Have In Place? - How to be Compliant in Minutes The Risk Management Benefits of Having a Compliance Program - The 10 Most Common Billing Mistakes That Chiropractors Make in Practice. - Erroneous vs. Fraudulent Claims - Civil False Claims Act, HIPAA and Health Care Fraud - The 7 Essential Elements of An Effective Compliance Program - How to Easily Create a Compliance Program - The 4 Fraud and Abuse Areas Cited by the OIG - Why the Government Collected $1.7 Billion in Health Care Fraud in 2003. - MD/DC Clinics are LEGAL – Find Out What Makes Them ILLEGAL!
The Napa Valley may be set to become cooler as a consequence of climate change, according to a new in-depth study carried out for the local vintners’ association. Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) was prompted to commission the study – Climate and Phenology in Napa Valley: A Compilation and Analysis of Historical Data – by 2006 research which suggested the area would soon become too warm to produce fine wine. NVV said the original research, led by Bernard Seguin of France’s national agricultural institute INRA, had focused on just a few weather stations in the valley, giving a misleading impression of the overall climatic trend. NVV’s four-year study, covering more than 12,000 data reports, found that average temperatures had only increased by one or two degrees Fahrenheit over the past several decades, mostly affecting the night rather than daytime. ‘The results, overall, provide good short-term news that consumers are not “tasting” climate change in Napa Valley wines,” said NVV. Christopher Howell of Cain Vineyard & Winery, a climate study task force member, described the Pacific Ocean as Napa’s ‘greatest temperature control’, with cool air being sucked up the valley as temperatures in the Central Valley rise. ‘There is a suggestion by some climate scientists that, as the interior areas warm in the future, Napa temperatures may actually remain relatively moderate, or even cool as maritime air gets drawn further up the valley,’ he said. ‘Either way, warmer or cooler, it’s different than what we’re experiencing today – so as prudent farmers we need to look at all of our possible scenarios and consider best practices to continue to grow the best wine grapes.’ Written by Richard Woodard
A massive replanting that will uproot 15% of vineyards in Napa Valley over the next five to six years has begun, according to Napa Valley Grapegrowers. A chance to re-evaluate…Napa Jennifer Putnam, the group’s executive director, said nurseries were completely sold out of vines until 2015, and that ‘we know these are not for new acres.’ She added that it has been 20 years since a widely used rootstock from UC Davis proved not resistant to phylloxera, forcing many growers to replant. ‘This is an opportunity for Napa to re-evaluate, to reconsider what is planted where,’ Putnam said. ‘The landscape may look different in 15 years.’ An abundant 2012 crop (compared to 2011, total value was up 55% to US$656.2m while production also increased by 50% to 182,859 tons) has, according to Putnam, given growers the optimism and cash flow they need to begin such an effort. Michael Monette of Sunridge Nurseries, one of the region’s largest suppliers of plant material, said, ‘In 14 years, I have never seen such strong demand.’ That demand is complicated by the discovery of a virus called red blotch disease that causes lower sugar levels in red grape varieties. Growers waiting for clean plant material have created a bottleneck that has some orders on hold till 2015. ‘Sales for 2012-2013 are strong but delayed,’ Monette said. Longtime grower Andy Beckstoffer, who owns and manages some of the most expensive Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley and was instrumental in the last two waves of plantings in the 1970s and again in the 1990s, says that things are different this time around. ‘In the ‘90s we looked to Europe,’ he said of the tight spacing and vertical trellising commonly employed. ‘Now we understand that we are very different [from Bordeaux]…we have to pay attention to our own terroir and not follow others.’ Beckstoffer also believes that vineyard designation — like his renowned To Kalon and Georges III — will become increasingly important for winemakers and consumers alike; even more so than sub-appellations like Rutherford. ‘That is how we are raising quality,’ he says. ‘We are beginning to understand the terroir.’ As for what is being planted, Cabernet Sauvignon dominates by far,’ Monette said, with other Bordeaux varieties ‘not even on the radar.’ Pinot Noir is a ‘distant second’; Chardonnay is the dominant white grape. Monette also said he was seeing increasing interest from small producers in the Italian grape Nero D’ Avola. Written by Courtney Humiston in Sonoma
WASHINGTON — The US Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) is packing up the seven locations in and around the Washington, D.C., area from which it has operated since its inception in 2010, and is consolidating all of its activities at Fort Gordon, Ga., the service announced today. The move will put ARCYBER under the same roof as the Army’s Joint Forces Headquarters-Cyber for the first time, while having the added benefit of requiring about 150 fewer personnel and reducing construction costs by 23 percent, since the post already has much of the infrastructure the Army is looking for. “Cyber threats are real, sophisticated, growing and evolving,” ARCYBER’s commanding general, Lt. Gen. Edward C. Cardon said in a Dec. 19 statement. “The Army’s decision demonstrates support for unity of command and the importance of cyber to our Army and our nation,” he added. The US Senate delegation from Georgia, unsurprisingly, gave the move two big thumbs up. “I am pleased the Army selected Fort Gordon as the new home of US Army Cyber Command,” Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss said in a statement. “Establishing this command at Fort Gordon builds on the existing intelligence and cyber capabilities on post, provides the most cost-effective solution in a time of fiscal austerity,” he added. Fort Gordon is also home to the US Army Signals Center, the center of the Army’s signals intelligence operations. By establishing an Army Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon, the Army says that it can begin the process of synching its cyber operations and doctrine development with the Training and Doctrine Command, “creating institutional unity and a focal point for cyber doctrine and capabilities development, training and innovation.” While most staffers are moving south, along with the other service branches ARCYBER will continue to house a command element with US Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Md.
Definitions for okey This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word okey O.K., OK, okay, okey, okeh(noun) "they gave us the O.K. to go ahead" Okey is a tile-based game, very popular in Turkey. It is almost always played with 4 players, though in principle can be played with two or three. It is very similar to the game Rummikub as it is played with the same set of boards and tiles but with different rules. The game apparently evolved from the original Rummikub through cultural contacts of Gastarbeiter in Germany. In Turkey and among Turkish communities abroad, it is very popular not only at homes but also at coffeehouses. Translations for okey From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary - بسیار خوبPersian Get even more translations for okey » Find a translation for the okey definition in other languages: Select another language:
Help Me Choose: Memory • The more memory you have, the more applications you can operate at once. • More memory can also help ensure your computer is ready to handle the applications of tomorrow with little performance disruption. Before you decide how much memory to add to your new computer, first consider how you plan to use your computer. If you’ll primarily be sending email and browsing the internet, then a basic memory configuration will work. But if you’ll be playing games, working with multimedia or performing other intensive tasks, you should consider adding more memory. Your computer memory is otherwise known as RAM, which stands for random access memory. RAM serves as the temporary storehouse for the flow of data. It remembers what programs, applications and documents you use most frequently so it can access these as quickly as possible. Without sufficient RAM, a computer’s operation can slow down considerably as the computer starts using hard drive space to handle the data flow. A system with more memory can: - Load web pages faster - Handle more open files at once - Open large files quickly - Have more programs open at once - Operate more efficiently overall \|If you primarily use your computer for:\|\|Consider this much memory:\| \|Reading websites, searching the internet, sending email, social networking, streaming music or videos from the internet, playing simple PC games, viewing photos, using CDs or DVDs, word processing, building spreadsheets and other office tasks.\|\|4 gigabytes (GB)\| \|All of the above, plus editing photos and videos.\|\|6GB\| \|Run several programs at once, and play low-end online and offline PC games.\|\|8GB\| \|Working with large databases, complex photo editing and high-definition (HD) video editing can be supported.\|\|12GB\| \|High-end PC gaming and graphic design.\|\|16GB*\| How much RAM can my computer hold? Most editions of the Windows 7 and Windows 8 OS are 64 bit. If you are running Starter or Home Basic, your RAM limit is 8GB. The RAM limit for Home Premium is 16GB. If you are running a 32-bit OS, such as Windows XP, Vista 32 or Windows 7 32-bit edition, you have a limit of 4GB of memory. What is a DIMM? A DIMM — or dual in-line memory module — is a series of random access memory chips mounted on a small circuit board. DIMMs are installed in sockets on your computer's motherboard. What does DDR3 SDRAM mean? DDR3 SDRAM stands for "double data rate type three synchronous dynamic random access memory." This is the current generation of RAM and it can transfer data up to twice the rate as the previous generation RAM (DDR2 SDRAM). Using DDR3 SDRAM helps you switch between applications, open documents and complete your daily tasks faster. Some gaming laptops use XMP DDR3 memory, which is the Intel® Extreme Memory Profile memory. This type of memory is customizable, enabling you to fine-tune your system for intense gaming or high-performance applications. Why would I need triple-channel memory? A powerful processor only allows applications to run as fast as the computer’s memory capacity allows. If memory can’t keep up with the processor, then the processor ends up with nothing to process. With multichannel memory, each available memory channel duplicates the overall amount of available memory bandwidth. This allows the memory load to be evenly distributed between available channels, which in turn means higher processing speed. Triple-channel memory is the latest advance in multichannel memory, and as the graphics and processing demands of games and business applications continue to increase, triple-channel memory will be a vital component in a top-notch computing experience. What does "1333MHz" mean? The speed of the memory you purchase or add to your computer is measured in megahertz. Most computers have either 1333MHz or 1600MHz memory capacity, which is very efficient in handling modern computer applications. By upgrading your memory to 1600MHz, you will also be preparing your computer to handle future memory-intensive games. Maximum memory speed is limited by the memory speed supported by the processor. 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ processors support maximum DDR3 memory speed of 1333MHz while 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ processors support maximum DDR3 memory speed of 1600MHz.
At the beginning of each year, the Ancient Romans would make vows and offerings to Janus, the God of new beginnings and transitions. For the Romans, the beginning of any time, whether sacred or profane, symbolic or temporal, was an omen for the duration of the day, week, month or year. And by the way, Janus, whose name is embedded in the etymological roots of January, would receive his largest offering following the Winter Solstice on January 1. Sounds familiar yet? Every year, we all (or at least 45 percent of Ame.icans) do as the Romans do and make New Year's Resolutions. Unfortunately, 88 percent of us who explicitly make New Year's Resolution wound up flunking by the end of the year. But if Resolutions are anything like dieting, I have a hunch that we are more likely to successfully meet our goals when we make group resolutions. Imagine if each community, including local leaders and organizations, came together to make their own set of New Year's Resolutions. I'd bet that community New Year's Resolutions are more like to be one of the 22 percenters that achieve SMART Resolutions (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Task-oriented)? If Rochester had the choice to make 5 Roc Year Resolutions, then these would be my recommendations: 5. UR's college town ushers in a vibrant community A Panini bar and grill, bakery, cafe, bookstore, grocery store and housing all in walking distance? How can anyone not be excited about the University's college town project? I have lived in Rochester since I enrolled into the University as an undergraduate in 2007, and have witnessed how UR has contributed to the transformation of the southern parts of Rochester in just the past 7 years. If UR completes the College Town by its Fall 2014 projection (and if history means anything, the UR is awfully good at following through and completing huge construction projects faster than you can spell Meliora), then I plan on getting the first receipt from that Barnes and Noble and Insomnia Cookies. 4. Red Wings win their 11th Championship I am a Brooklynite -- a Born Brooklyn Cyclone fanatic who had his fair amount of trips to Coney Island. But this year may have been the first time I could tell another sports fan that I'm a Rochesterian. For all my years at UR, the Red Wings were a community attraction, but never particularly considered contenders. But after turning a 2-11 start to a championship run, I started to feel myself identifying with the Roc. In fact, I even started to become defensive when anyone bad mouthed our teams. The energy, the culture, and the economics of sports obviously makes a winning team a good thing for any city. But this year, I won't rest until Spike dances on Frontier Fields all the way to the last day of baseball. 3. The Midtown Plaza… I am not a native, but I have noticed that nothing sparks a longer nostalgic narrative and laundry list of expectations than saying the words "Midtown-Plaza" to Rochesterians. However, from debates over tax-breaks, unfair bids (or lack thereof) to auction the development project, skepticism over the downtown market for commercial space, and back-and-forth talks over the tenants has been more of a conversation than actually making tangible headway on the project. The last update I've heard is that the project is slated for completion in 2015. Hopefully the Democrat and Chronicle will have a substantive photo of the redevelopment project that is worth posting on social media in 2014. 2. RCSD renews and rebuilds This may look like one of those Resolutions that folks make every year, just to pass it on forward for the next year. But I have a feeling that this year may be different. We have just elected a mayor whose platform weighed heavily on improving RCSD and getting parent and community involved. If there's one area where I am confident that Lovely Warren had the most to offer, it's RCSD. In conjunction with the new energy and community focus the Mayor Warren offer to education, I also like some of the new ideas that Superintendent Bolden Vargas has bought the table -- especially in regards to getting institutions of higher education more involved with managing and administrating schools. 1. A Healthy, Hunger-Free Community It's Foodlink's vision and it's embodied by all of our nutrition education and food access programs. The best part about this resolution is that it is easy for everyone to help in some shape or form. Visit Foodlinkny.org for more information on our current programs, legislative priorities and community initiatives, and find out how you can donate, advocate or volunteer to help us end hunger in Western NY. You can also explore different volunteer opportunities at Fingerlakesvolunteer.org. Do you have any other suggestions for "Roc Year Resolutions?" Feel free to comment and post them here!
Amazon tribe threatens to declare war over Brazil dam project – ‘It is unacceptable and illegitimate for the government to impose dialogue at the tip of a bayonet’Posted by Jim at Thursday, April 04, 2013 By Jonathan Watts 3 April 2013 Rio de Janeiro (guardian.co.uk) – An Amazonian community has threatened to "go to war" with the Brazilian government after what they say is a military incursion into their land by dam builders. The Munduruku indigenous group in Para state say they have been betrayed by the authorities, who are pushing ahead with plans to build a cascade of hydropower plants on the Tapajós river without their permission. Public prosecutors, human rights groups, environmental organisations and Christian missionaries have condemned what they call the government's strong-arm tactics. According to witnesses in the area, helicopters, soldiers and armed police have been involved in Operation Tapajós, which aims to conduct an environmental impact assessment needed for the proposed construction of the 6,133MW São Luiz do Tapajós dam. The facility, to be built by the Norte Energia consortium, is the biggest of two planned dams on the Tapajós, the fifth-largest river in the Amazon basin. The government's 10-year plan includes the construction of four larger hydroelectric plants on its tributary, the Jamanxim. Under Brazilian law, major infrastructure projects require prior consultation with indigenous communities. Federal prosecutors say this has not happened and urge the courts to block the scheme which, they fear, could lead to bloodshed. "The Munduruku have already stated on several occasions that they do not support studies for hydroelectric plants on their land unless there is full prior consultation," the prosecutors noted in a statement. However, a court ruling last week gave the go-ahead for the survey. Government officials say that neither researchers nor logistical and support teams will enter indigenous villages. The closest they will get is about 30 miles from the nearest village, Sawré Maybu. The ministry of mines and energy noted on its website that 80 researchers, including biologists and foresters, would undertake a study of flora and fauna. The army escort was made possible by President Dilma Rousseff, who decreed this year that military personnel could be used for survey operations. Officials say the security is for the safety of the scientists and the local population. Missionaries said the presence of armed troops near Sawré Maybu village, Itaituba, was intimidating, degrading and an unacceptable violation of the rights of the residents. "In this operation, the federal government has been threatening the lives of the people," the Indigenous Missionary Council said. "It is unacceptable and illegitimate for the government to impose dialogue at the tip of a bayonet." [more]
Paul Faith, Pool, Associated Press ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland — President Barack Obama declared peace in Northern Ireland a "blueprint" for those living amid conflict around the world, while acknowledging that the calm between Catholics and Protestants will face further tests. Summoning young people to take responsibility for their country's future, Obama warned there is "more to lose now than there's ever been." "The terms of peace may be negotiated by political leaders, but the fate of peace is up to each of us," Obama said Monday during remarks at Belfast's Waterfront Hall. The glass-fronted building would never have been built during the city's long era of car bombs. Obama arrived in Northern Ireland Monday morning after an overnight flight from Washington. Following his speech to about 1,800 students and adults, he flew to a lakeside golf resort near Enniskillen, passing over a sweeping patchwork of tree-lined farms as he prepared to meet with other leaders of the Group of 8 industrial nations on Syria, trade and counterterrorism. British Prime Minister David Cameron greeted the leaders one-by-one in front of the picturesque lake where the summit was being held and posed for media cameras before they headed into their first closed session, on the global economy. Earlier, Obama and European Union leaders emerged from a group roundtable meeting to announce that they were opening negotiations next month in Washington toward a broad trade deal designed to slash tariffs, boost exports and fuel badly needed economic growth. Obama said there will be sensitivities and politics to overcome by parties on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but he's hopeful they can "stay focused on the big picture" of the economic and strategic importance of the agreement. "America and Europe have done extraordinary things together before and I believe we can forge an economic alliance as strong as our diplomatic and security alliances, which of course have been the most powerful in history," Obama told reporters. One-on-one meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Cameron and Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta all were on Obama's agenda for Monday. Cameron selected Enniskillen as the site of this year's meeting as a way to highlight Northern Ireland's ability to leave behind a four-decade conflict that claimed 3,700 lives. Significant progress has been made in the 15 years since the U.S.-brokered Good Friday Accords, including a Catholic-Protestant government and the disarmament of the IRA and outlawed Protestant groups responsible for most of the 3,700 death toll. But tearing down Belfast's nearly 100 "peace lines" — barricades of brick, steel and barbed wire that divide neighborhoods, roads and even one Belfast playground — is still seen by many as too dangerous. Obama cited that playground in his speech, lauding an activist whose work led to the opening of a pedestrian gate in the fence. Acknowledging the reality of a sometimes-fragile peace, Obama recalled the Omagh bombings that killed 29 people and injured hundreds more. It was the deadliest attack of the entire conflict and occurred after the Good Friday deal. Peace will be tested again, Obama said in Belfast. "Whenever your peace is attacked, you will have to choose whether to respond with the same bravery that you've summoned so far or whether you succumb to the worst instincts, those impulses that kept this great land divided for too long. You'll have to choose whether to keep going forward, not backward," he said. Last month, the Catholic and Protestant leaders of Northern Ireland's unity government announced a bold but detail-free plan to dismantle all peace lines by 2023. British Prime Minister David Cameron formally backed the goal Friday, and Obama followed with his own endorsement Monday. The president specifically endorsed an end to segregated housing and schools, calling it an essential element of lasting peace. - President Uchtdorf dedicates addition to... - The Latest: Defiant Kentucky clerk goes to... - Republican Huckabee to visit jailed Kentucky... - Kentucky clerks to license marriages as their... - Austria says it and Germany will take... - Clinton: I didn't 'stop and think' about... - Rock threatening to crash down at base of... - FamilySearch opens new Seattle Family... - Kentucky clerk still won't issue... 129 - The Latest: Defiant Kentucky clerk goes... 116 - Kentucky clerks to license marriages as... 83 - Compromise could fix Kentucky's wedding... 62 - Latest Clinton emails show frustrations... 26 - In Alaska, Obama depicts stark future... 21 - Obama gets Iran deal win as Senate Dems... 21 - AP sources: GOP seeks pledge to avert... 20
It is certainly true that for many systems that utilize either hydraulics, or pneumatics, that using a manifold for some of the interconnects can provide a much more compact system that is both more reliable and less expensive. In fact, this holds true for both mass production and one-off systems, which is unusual. Of course the down side is that the system must be defined prior to the manifold being designed, since most manifolds are difficult to revise. But once a system is accurately defined a well designed manifold will usually provide a cost reduction, and almost always provide better reliability. Mr. Fleischer, thank you for a good white-paper blog. You did not make it an advertisement for your company or products. Granted, the image shown was likely your product, but it in no way sold that product or even identified it. It was a good example of integrated system design. Fifty-six-year-old Pasquale Russo has been doing metalwork for more than 30 years in a tiny southern Italy village. Many craftsmen like him brought with them fabrication skills when they came from the Old World to America. Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.
FM, Your use case happens in many major thunderstorms - Power outages. Typically, power would be out for a day or two, and a fully charged car battery can run the important things in your house for that duration (e.g the refrigerator, the oil furnace, and the well, as well as a few lights). Here in the northeast, we can typically expect one or two days without power every year. Right now, we have a gas generator ($1000) in the garage that we have to wheel out and plug into the external outlet ($1000 to install). We have to maintain that gas engine as well. If we can just plug our car into the house, that would have saved the costs of the generator and the associated effort to keep it available for use. I'm not a big fan of the battery only electric car anyway, you always risk getting stuck. I think that the plug in, multi fuel hybrids will dominate. The articles I have read say the owner could pay for their batteries just doing 3% spinning reserve and frequency stabilization for the utilities. We will have emergency generators on BEV's the size of a shoo box, always ready to go, at the very least. Till the market for batteries is saturated, we can't afford to waste batteries on all electric cars anyway. Distributed grid stabilization and generation reduce grid losses. Locally generated electricity is mostly locally consumed. Centrally generated electricity must traverse the entire path on the grid. The grid is inherently bi directional at the local levels. The other huge advantage of personally owned backup power is the security and effect on attempts by gov and private companies to gouge the people as is happening with gas on the east coast right now. The big problem is the whole business model for private utilities is obsolete. The utilities view the grid, spinning reserves, frequency stabilization and reserve capacity to be sunk costs. They are not profit centers without gov help. Let's skip the private utilities and have the gov directly provide all those services and part of the national electrical grid freeways. Private companies cut corners till things break. Private companies are notorious for the failure to spend the money on rare contingencies. Gov on the hand is good at this. Great points about spinning reserve, trenth. I do wonder, though, how many consumers will be willing to sell their battery charge back to the utility, especially if the EV is a BEV and is their primary form of transportation. If I own a BEV, and it's my primary means of getting to work, and it takes five hours to recharge, how often will I be willing to sell my power back to the grid? One would hope that the PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) that enables this bi-di power sharing would factor in lost battery life and standby converter power in the $$ paid to the EV-owner for this service. Sort of the same kind of thing as a mileage allowance for cars driven for business purposes - the 51.5 cents per mile is far greater than just the cost of the gas, and factors in auto maintenance and depreciation. Same principle here. Having someplace for the semi-exhausted batteries to go after their utility in cars has diminished sounds like a secondary market to me. Maybe one would develop around battery salvage! Correct! That's the point I tried to make in my last post. As far as reducing the overall usuable life of the vehicle's battery pack, there needs to be some structure in place whereby the packs are traded in for fresh packs - this could be financed by the same power companies. These same power companies could then take the used vehicle packs and utilize them for stationary peaking facilities. Of course there is some energy usage by the in-home or publically installed Bi-Di unit in standby mode. I bet that all of the little vampires that are always plugged into duplex outlets throughout one's home gobble much more power than a single charging station. If one is that concerned about wasted energy, then you just have to disconnect your home's mains feed at night or every time you leave to go to work - cool! OK, so i'm not that smart. If you search on "Vehicle to Grid", you'll find concepts similar to what i've posted. The utility doesn't get your EV for free; they're proposing to pay for the service where you hook up wherever (home or elsewhere) & they can use a certain user-defined percentage of your battery for either siphoning or storing extra. You would be essentially renting some of your EV range for a fee. You gain a little rental income and the utility gains by not having to build out and maintain as much infrastructure. Just thought of another loss left out of their calculation. To do this now you need to leave the controller on your car & wall charger in some form of wait/ready state. This state will drawn power even if the power company is not needing power from your PEV at the time yes it is only 215w(30W) of power but this is far more than the 5W or less drawn while off. And this power adds up even when no grid update is needed. to be able to source at a moments notice you need the controller in some semi awake state to respond. Their goes another few percent out the window that nobody mentions. so now if you are in this program you loss money even if they draw no power. Good Idea???? Good point; i wasn't considering wire losses in this mix. There's so many other downsides to this even without considering that. Wire losses and power in/out finances notwithstanding, consider too that the utility would also get to use some expensive load-leveling equipment that their customers pay for. They don't have to pay a dime; such a deal for them! On the other hand... I can see the transient peak load leveling provided by a bunch of PEVs as being valuable to the utilities (and all of us) - ok, that's reasonable. Short-term use with a minimal energy drain, and energy replacement within minutes. That would be acceptable to me. BUT only if the utility kicked in some coin for it. They'd be getting a benefit from this at my expense. If they would want this, they need to be prepared to pay me for providing that service. A lease agreement, if you will, with limits on siphoned power and guaranteed time-limited replacement! How 'bout that? Yes, Davek3gau, I think it wouldn't work if someone had to deal with an electricity or power provider. I think the Army's scenario works because it is based on a microgrid the Army set up itself. Now if someone has their own home electricity grid based on, say, solar or wind power (this is possible in the countryside), then they could charge their car on their grids and also power the grid with the car battery in case of an emergency or something (provided they don't need to drive the car at that moment). I love when people do effeciecy calculations they always make assumptions so they can leave out losses they do not want to accept or deal with. The report inverter effeciencies of 97% each way. But they always leave facts out when calculating these effeciencys. They assume power is right their from you meter. Well in most case the charger it is 0-50 ft of 10AWG wire for a 30-40A circuit. Assume the mid point here as average and you loose 44W (30Sq 25ft 10AWG(R/ft) 2) (1.2% just to wire resistance from breaker box to charger) of power when charging and 44W of power when selling back to the grid just in heat loss of cable If you ise 12AWG legal in some areas for a 30A circuit that goes to 66W. And that is just one of the losses ignored their are coupling resistances, contact resistances, control circuit power used, (yes most eff calculation leave out the power used by the controllers they just calc the high voltage power eff. Even a 20W system is another 1% of loss, *2 because you have the charger Controller and the onboard controller both operating at this time) All of these 1% losses add up to an overall loss of 7-8% each way. That is 15% overall loss once you buy - sell. How does that make any sense, you buy 1KW and then of that 1KW you sell 0.85KW?? Fifty-six-year-old Pasquale Russo has been doing metalwork for more than 30 years in a tiny southern Italy village. Many craftsmen like him brought with them fabrication skills when they came from the Old World to America. Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.
Letter: Abortion data should spark outrage The brutal and horrific school shooting in Connecticut where 26 people were killed has outraged the public and our nations leaders to such an extent that, in 2013, we may see legislation regarding gun control that has never been thought possible. Businesses have stopped selling guns. The Los Angeles Police Department started a gun buy-back. People have voluntarily given up their guns to symbolically support change. This has changed the way we view guns and gun violence. Nothing can bring back the children and teachers who were killed in Connecticut, but we can make sure their deaths were not in vain. We can change the way we look at guns. We can change the way we look at crime. We can do a better job at protecting our most precious treasure -- our children. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), there was another tragedy where 2,149 children were killed in a single day. It was not a virus or a disease. It is the number of abortions performed in the United States on a daily basis (most recent data is from 2009 totaling 784,507 abortions. This number is low, as several states failed to report their abortion totals to the CDC). Where is the outrage for those children? Why are the deaths of 26 able to motivate the president, Congress, the Senate, the media, Wall Street and the public in demanding reform and gun legislation so that 26 children are never killed again? Today, 2,149 babies will be killed. These babies would have grown up to be children and attend schools just like the one in Connecticut. These babies were innocent. Just like the children in Connecticut. Why is the killing of 2,149 children in a single day legal justified and the killing of 26 children in a single day considered a national crisis? No matter how you look at it, a child dies when aborted just like a child dies when shot with a gun. The end result is a country robbed of our most precious treasure -- our children.
A life like a rescue-pig Do you know people keeping pigs? Why do people keep pigs? Because they like to gain profit from the pigs. That is why people keep pigs. Do people who keep pigs slaughter pigs? Not always do they slaughter the pigs that they keep. Some also sell them when they are big and fat, because some just like to gain profit from the pig but do not like to hurt them. That is why some do not slaughter the pigs they keep, but however they benefit from the pig as it will be slaughtered. Are there people who neither sell nor slaughter their pig? Yes, there are those who keep pigs to raise other pigs. They don’t like their pigs to be slaughtered or to be sold to be slaughter, but however they keep their pigs to raise pigs which will finally slaughtered as well. Are there people who do eventually not harm pig in any way? Less people are there, who do not harm pigs. They do not keep pigs to gain indirect benefits and they do not request for meat form the pigs to gain direct benefit. Supposed there is a pig keeper and he is no more able to feed his pig and he approaches one who does not like the pig to be harmed and begs him to take care of the pig till he is able to do it by him self again. What do you think that the one who does not like the pig to be harmed, should do? If he says no, it might be that the pig will suffer or eventually die, as it wouldn’t get food. If he agrees, it will be, that if the pig keeper – when he has his ability again – comes back, he would request his share of the pigs back. So the one compassionate for the pig, would have feed the pig till the big slaughtering. Wanting to help the pig, the pig must be loosening form his owner at last. There the question arises: Who is actually the owner of the pig? If we look at the pig, it stays by his owner unaffiliated. And if we observe more deeply, it is not involuntarily with its arbiter. Could it be that the pig keeper isn’t its real owner? But who or what does lead the pig to its suffering? One might beat and kick a pig as he like; it will come back to its arbiter in any way. The owner of the pig is not really its arbiter but exclusively its own greed. Whatever makes the pig in sum feeling well, will be its arbiter. How could the one - compassionate which the pig - be the new arbiter? In a way that he provides all for the pig what will kill it at least? In a way he leaves it by his owner? Even if he separates it a little from his owner, from greed, in a way he wean off of him, it will gain its owner, again as soon as it remembers on the pleasure experienced with its owner in the past. A small bucket full of pleasure, and its owner has it back. If the pig would know what happens to it, it would be maybe a way, but its owner does not give a little change for this thoughts. It cling to its live and therefore it gorges and galls, till it has served its propose and others will share their previous effort on it hard-earned. The use and the user are a inseparably pair. That is why the one – compassionate which the pig – is neither beloved by the arbiter nor by the pig, compassionate he will be rather very lonely in this world. To big is the fear to lose what one mentions as good, commonly and near. Too small is the imagination that there is a live without an owner. Too much is the arbiter depending on the suffering of the pig and doesn’t even realize that he is owned and imprisoned like the pig. The pig does not even have an idea of its situation and guesses even that it is safe and sound. It does not realize what craving actually means. It eats on mud and dirt, it sleeps on mud and dirt, it lives among what seems comfortable and bland. Even when another peewee is mashed; it feels free in its suffering. Thought, it has some tendency to change its way of live, it does not get many results. The reason why the pig does not change its even next situation is, because the pig has a long body and is much too inflexible to realize that the dirt is originated from its own back. It feeds on the pleasure but is not able to see its effects on the back. The head, the mouth is too far away from its bottom. The nature of the arbiter is the same as that of the pig; also he does just see what seams pleasant at this time. The body of his mindset is the same as the body of the pig. He also does not see the surrounding of suffering, the mud and dirt he stand on, and he loves his owner as well, as he watches that he will never be afraid of being encounter by freedom and independence. In appreciating this heartbreakingly and touched, the one compassionate with the pig, is suddenly back part in the circle. What a pigsty! Coming out of it; all together; how should that be possible? Even with much patient and effort, one needs to feed on the suffering of the pig constantly. On its incorrigibility, on its back, walking such a "compassionate" way? I, piggy… for you I will do it , for you and for all of you alone… Lone?? ...carring about the owner just by one’s own...? No, what a selfish pig! No...?
AJungianIdeal wrote: The second. Past life recollection? I'm iffy about it; I think that this doubt is based on the premise,very hard to get away from, of an intrinsically existent 'self' that hops out of one set of body parts and into another. Even for many Buddhists who accept, intellectually that nothing arises that can be called such a self (atman) they still (unknowingly) assert it, and this is almost always the stumbling block to really understanding concepts such as karma, rebirth, various realms and so forth. So, if you think that having a consciousness that can leave one body and enter another is nonsense, and you wonder how can Buddhism assert such nonsense, the answer is that this isn't really what Buddhism teaches. If, in the struggle to define what "life' actually is, meaning, for example, what constitutes and individual person, if we define it as that particular set of body and brain parts, and from that, we say that a person's life begins with those parts coming together (moment of conception) and ends when those parts stop replicating (cells) and begin to fall away (moment of death) and we assert that cognition, which is experienced as a "self" is purely the byproduct only of those parts then that "self" cannot possibly reconstitute in or as some other being. However, there are many problems with that series of assumptions, including the very basic problem that none of the parts of the body or brain actually witness, cognitively, their own existence. There is no "self". The brain is made of fat and water and amino acids and salt, and has electricity running through it. In various parts of the brain, certain activity corresponds to various cognitive mental states but that brain activity itself is not those mental states. For example, what is experienced as happiness may be a big dose of endorphins. It may show up as some bright color on a computer screen during a brain scan. But who---or what---experiences that chemical reaction as an emotional state, as a thought, as a personal experience? That is the question you have to ask (and answer) if you are talking about "remembering past lives" because this "experience" is the stuff that is supposedly going to be remembered. It will take too long to go into everything here. My understanding is this: What reoccurs and is reconstructed as an experience of memory of something yesterday or 100 years ago, are objects of awareness, arising in the ground of awareness and that coming together of awareness and objects of awareness is experienced as cognitive thought, sensory awareness, emotion, memory, and so forth, and is not limited to the cognitive function of a particular person in a particular 'lifetime'. The thinker and the thought are both objects of awareness. and the fact that something happened before this present set of body parts began to emerge doesn't actually matter.
Quote from Dan Lusthaus: Buddhist Phenomenology, (p. 256-257; 263-264): We are now ready to return to the question: Should prajnä-paramita be understood as connoting an essentialistic understanding of tathatä or should it be understood as connoting an epistemic process? Both positions have had their adherents within the Buddhist tradition. Since this controversy stands at the heart of the East Asian appropriation of Buddhist thought, and has determined many important parameters for doctrinal developments in China, Korea and Japan, closer examination of its features is in order. Yogacära, in particular as disseminated in China, polarized around this opposition, and in part Hsüantsang's project can be seen as a systematic refutation of the essentialist position as advocated by Paramärtha and others. If Awakening, at least provisionally, is considered to be a goal, and sheer knowing is that goal's necessary (and perhaps sufficient) condition, the question arises: Is the goal something essentially existent, such that the epistemic method (jnäna- märga) uncovers it; or, does the method subsume the goal, such that the goal's provisionality is exposed, revealing not an essential truth, but rather an insight into the epistemic process itself? In the first case, knowledge (jnäna) will be considered the means or agent for attaining some -thing which in itself is impervious to or indifferent to the vicissitudes of epistemological approaches, though made accessible through such approaches. In the second case, nothing relevant exists outside or apart from the dynamic, progressive sphere of knowledge; Awakening here would mean that knowing (prajnä, jnana) becomes transparent to itself. Again, the former implies an absolute, objective Truth, while the latter implies a progressional unfolding that never posits anything apart from the process itself. In Buddhist terminology, the former (the Essentialist) posits Buddhahood as a distinct realm, distinct precisely because it is accessible only to Buddhas, and hence somehow essentially other than the realms accessible to the remainder of sentient beings. At best, non - Buddhas might contain a germ or seed (tathägatagarbha) that offers the potential of entry into the distinct Buddha - realm, but they are considered non- Buddhas precisely because they have not yet actualized this potential. Here, as in other philosophical contexts, essentialism inscribes itself through the discourse of 'potential /actual.' Buddhahood and its corollariestathata, sambodhi, etc. would signify an ultimate, transcendental Reality. The latter (the Progressionalist) would argue that the process of Awakening can never be separable from the Bodhisattva path ", and that (i) the pre - Awakening striving, (ii) the Awakening realization and (iii) the post - Awakening aid offered to other sentient beings can never be seen apart from the samsäric process in which that path occurs; moreover, samsära is able to proceed only in virtue of its emptiness (iünyata).26 The full career of the Bodhisattva is nothing other than this process. During (i), the Bodhisattva's progress is largely determined by samsäric and samskaric conditions, though efforts are made to overcome these determinants through theory and practice. During (ii), theory and practice converge, such that the inseparability of samsära and nirvana, or process (pratitya- samutpäda) and emptiness, infuse the whole of the Bodhisattva's life -world. The remedied process continues and disseminates in (iii). Practical considerations also arise from this problem. If Awakening unfolds through a process, then to some extent this unfolding is temporal. These temporal aspects necessitate that practice towards Awakening be gradual. If, on the other hand, a ready -made transcendental realm already exists, then what is essential about Awakening remains entirely separate from temporal considerations, and entry into it may be 'sudden,' i.e., nondependent on any temporal considerations. As Mahayana Buddhism developed, the essentialist vs. progressionalist controversy peaked. One text which preserves the tensions is the Lotus Sutra. The first half deals with upaya, the provisional, deceptive character of Buddhist doctrine and practice. The 'truths' of Buddhism are mere provisional ploys designed to bring one to a place where ploys are no longer necessary nor possible. The second half presents the 'True Buddha,' an ahistorical, unborn, undying, mythologically omniscient and omnipresent Power or Being. Centuries later East Asian schools, such as Tendai and Nichiren, rightly asked and debated which of these two visions of Buddhism contextualized which? If the first half gives the `truth,' then the second half should be seen as an elaborate upayic ploy. If the second half gives the 'truth,' then the ploys of the first half are merely indirect, pedagogical instruments for reaching this truth, for reaching this ontological realization. Beyond the Lotus Sutra the essentialist vs. progressionalist opposition is found shaping Buddhist methodology, which is to say, the marga, the Path. Those taking Buddhism to hold an ontological nature as its essence, who conceive of Buddhism as grounded in Being, develop their essentialism by understanding prajna- paramita as `perfect -ion,' and posit that perfection as an ontologically primal and definitive 'tathata'; i.e., a things. Suchness `suchness' which is the universal, sacred, perfected nature of all becomes a cosmic essence, the primal, originary scene. Buddha is no longer a teacher who perfected himself, but the universal essence of all things, the potential perfection ontologically concealed behind a veil of transmigratory appearance. And yet, the veil and what it veils are united in essence. It is this interpretationwhich reads Nagarjuna's statement that not an iota of distinction can be drawn between samsara and nirvana (an epistemic observation) as if it were an ontological claim, a statement of essentialistic identity: sarpsdra is nirvana." On the other hand, those who take the progressionalist stance displace the notions of nature and essence with a theory of perdurance, of continuity which, precisely because it is grounded in neither identity nor difference, can engender progress and betterment (or worsening). Prajnä- paramita here means 'perfecting,' as that which perdures becomes that which it is not, without ever being totally other than itself. The path is tread, and as with Heraclitus' river, the foot never truly stands on the same ground twice. The doctrines of the four gatins (stream-enterer, once returner, etc.), the bodhisattva career of ten or eighteen or fifty -two stages (bhüm,), etc., all exemplify the progressionalist attitude. But like the Lotus Sütra, one way of dissipating the tension is to accept and attempt to harmonize both extremes. Thus hybrids arose: progressive essentialists claimed that one progresses toward the essence, and that the progress itself was grounded in the essence (tathägatagarbha); essentialistic progressives mounted elaborate schema in which one ultimately progressed beyond essentialisms by working through them (tattva, vastu, bhüta, dharma svalaksana, svarüpa, svabhäva, etc.). Yogäcära was a case of this last type of hybrid. Finally, is tathatä, 'indexicality,' indicative of liberating universals, or repetitive, reiterative particulars? Given the incompatibility of essentialist universals and sünyatä, tathatä must remain ontologically open. It is entirely without conceptual (kalpita, vikalpa, kalpanä, etc.) ontological commitments. For the Ch'eng wei-shih lun, tathatä is a mere prajnapti. "If the Buddha-Nature is seen, there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing." (Nirvana Sutra, T12n374p521b3; tr Yamamoto) "Neither cultivation nor seated meditation — this is the pure Chan of Tathagata." (Mazu Daoyi, X1321p3b23; tr. Jinhua Jia) “Don’t rashly seek the true Buddha; True Buddha can’t be found. Does marvelous nature and spirit Need tempering or refinement? Mind is this mind carefree; This face, the face at birth." (Nanyue Mingzan: Enjoying the Way, tr. Jeff Shore; T2076p461b24-26)
Volcanoes vs Earthquakes Volcanoes and earthquakes are natural hazards that have great destructive potential and have been a source of enormous loss of property and innocent lives since time immemorial. While students are told about both these natural causes of disasters, there are many who cannot differentiate between a volcano and an earthquake. This article will try to make the picture clearer by highlighting the features of both types of natural hazards. In the simplest of terms, a volcano can be thought of as a mountain with an opening that goes downward below the surface of the earth. Deep below the surface, earth is extremely hot. This heat melts some of the rocks which become a thick flowing substance called magma. This magma, being lighter than surrounding rocks rises up through the opening and gets collected in magma chambers that are a part of the mountain visible to all. Sometimes, this magma comes out of the structure through fissures and cracks, and this is when we say that the volcano has erupted. The hot, flowing liquid that comes out from the volcano is called lava which is nothing but magma that is formed inside the volcano. The lava, when it is thin and fast moving, causes more destruction than when it is thick and slow moving. More gases erupt out of thin lava than when it is thick. Destruction caused by lava is enormous, but it rarely kills people as people can get away from the site in time easily. It is when explosions accompany volcanic eruptions that they become more dangerous because of the presence of deadly ash that can suffocate plants, animals and human beings. Mudflows from volcanoes have sometimes buried entire villages and cities existing around them. Volcanoes remain silent for thousands of years and then suddenly become active which is why people around them are not aware of the dangers. Earth is not a uniformly solid sphere from inside and there are many faults along the planes inside the earth. During its rotation and revolution, rocks break and slip along faults. This movement of rocks along a fault releases enormous amount of energy in the form of seismic waves that have the potential to shake the ground violently. This shaking and tremor causes buildings to collapse, resulting in heavy loss of property and innocent lives. As described above, the structure underneath the surface of earth is made up of tectonic plates that keep sliding and striking against each other. This causes release of energy that violently shakes up ground. Shaking of ground causes untold damage above the epicenter of this earthquake and this shaking or tremor decrease in amplitude and magnitude with increasing distance from the epicenter of the earthquake. Contrary to common misconception because of some Hollywood movies, there is no tearing up of ground though there may be some cracks that show up on the surface. It is just the tremor that causes all the destruction. The earth has been divided into seismic zones based upon their seismicity or the frequency with which they have experienced tremors in the past. Difference Between Volcanoes and Earthquakes • There is no ostensible relation between earthquakes and volcanoes though there are zones on earth where both natural hazards are found together. • Volcanoes result from openings in the surface of the earth that brings along hot magma (molten rocks) with its wake that erupts from fissures and cracks in the mountain that is referred to as a volcano. • Earthquakes are a result of the tremor that is felt on the ground because of release of energy that is accompanied with breaking of rocks. The surface of the earth is not uniform inside and there is constant movement of tectonic plates inside. These plates collide with each other, resulting in violent shaking of earth that causes huge loss of property and innocent lives.
Here’s a fun effect to play with. If you’re old enough to know who Andy Warhol is, this image should strike a chord. We’re going to use a few simple tools in Photoshop Elements to transform an ordinary digital photo of a banana into something with a little more panache. Let’s get started! We’ll start by opening up the image of our choice in Photoshop elements. To do this, go to file, and then open. You can use any image you want, but I’ve found that it’s best to go with pictures that feature isolated subjects. Andy Warhol himself picked still life subjects like cans of soup, so we’re going to use an image of a banana. Start by removing the background from your image I got sort of lucky here. I picked an image that already doesn’t really have a background. But if your image does have background, you’ll need to separate it from your subject before continuing on. The best tool for doing is, in my opinion, is the magnetic lasso tool. It latches onto the edge of things and makes it easier to select your subject. In photoshop elements, it looks like this: Once I’ve selected my entire subject, I go up to select –> invert to reverse the selection and give me the background. I then hit the delete key to remove the background. Simple as that. Make your image black and white We’re basically going remove all of the color information from the image and then put it back in later with any color of our choice. To make your photo black and white, go to adjust color –> adjust hue and saturation. Another dialog box will show up, giving you a bunch of different options. For now, just select the saturation slider and take it all the way to the left. This removes all color in the image. Click okay to make your image black and white. Add the Andy-Warhol inspired cutout filter The cutout filter creates that distinct Andy Warhol look, and it’s what we’ll be using on our now black-and-white banana. To apply this effect, go to filters –> artistic, and then select cutout. The next box that pops up will allow you to control the way the cutout effect is applied. Here’s the basic idea. The greater the number of levels you have, the more detail you will have in your image. It’s entirely up to you how much you want. I picked seven for this image because anything else just makes it fade into the background. For the perfect Warhol image, choose a number around 4. Here’s what the banana looks like after the effect. Now we’re starting to get close! It’s time to add some color back into the image. We’re going to do this by using layers and then changing the opacity until we get something we like. Go to the layers panel in the bottom right corner of Photoshop Elements, and click on the half white / half black circle. A menu will pop up. Select “Solid Color.” Here’s what this does. It creates a new layer on top of your picture, and it fills that layer will a solid color. Once you click on this, you’ll be asked to pick a color. For this first one, we’ll pick red. Okay, don’t freak out! Your picture will appear as one solid red blob for the moment. That’s totally okay. It’ means you’re doing everything correctly. To get the Andy Warhol effect, we need to make the top layer a little more transparent. When you can see the image underneath coming through, it creates the desired look. You can change the transparency of the image by clicking on the button the right of “opacity” on layers, and then adjusting the slider. You can also enter a custom percentage value. After playing around with the slider, and seeing the result, I settled on an opacity of 55%. It might be a bit different for you. It depends on the image and how much contrast it already has. It always takes a little experimentation to get everything just right. And there you have it, the finished result. You can try different colors as well as different levels of transparency or contrast, but that is the basic idea. We’re going to push a little further and try adding some different colors into the banana. A classic Andy Warhol image, after all, uses more than one color. Step 1. Select a block of color What’s nice about the cutout filter we applied earlier is that it has made it very easy to select entire color blocks of our image. We will do that as a first step using the “magic wand” selection tool. To get the image below, I selected some of the darker patches of color in the banana and then replaced them with a similar dark color. Do note that lightness/darkness of the replacement color is very important. You’ll know if a replacement color does or does not work because if it doesn’t, it will appear rather out of place. In this case, I took the safe route and chose two darker version of orange and yellow both colors that are close to red in warmth. The result still appears to be using colors in the same range as the original photo. Warhol-style photos uses completely different colors, but I like colors in the same range. Of course, experiment as much as you want. You are the ultimate judge. Tiling the images Now we’re going to tile them. For that effect, create three new Andy Warhol style images using the exact same steps I just outlined. Pick vibrant and distinctive colors for each one. I decided to go with blue, green, and yellow. It’s pretty standard, but it does the job. Before you copy and paste the actual images, you will need to flatten them first. Otherwise you’ll just end up copying a big blog of color or the unmodified banana, neither of which you want to straight copy. To merge the images, go to the layer menu and then pick flatten. While I was tiling my images, I would flatten them, copy the image over to the bigger file, and then hit undo a few times to get back to the unflattened image. That then allowed me to change the solid color on the upper layer. Trust me. It’s easier than recreating the whole image all over again from scratch. To tile them, we’ll need to create a new image file that’s twice the size of the first image. To find out the size of the first image, go to the image menu, then resize, and click on the “image size” option. A dialog box will open up, showing you the pixel-by-pixel dimensions of your image. It’s toward the middle. So, the image we’ll need to create needs to be 1088 by 1284 pixels. That’s roughly the size of most computer monitors. From there, create a new file at those dimensions, and then copy and paste the four images into it. You might have to zoom in a little to get the edges to line up perfectly, but that’s the basic idea. Here’s the finished product: Classy. Imagine if Andy Warhol had access to the same tools you and I can purchase for as little as $79. The world would definitely be a different place.
Susanne Tilman's loving and Christ-like statements to Turkish reporters and television crews have made quite an impact in her community and around the world. One reporter wrote, ''She said in one sentence what 1,000 missionaries in 1,000 years could never do." Necati Aydin, Tilman Geske and Ugur Yuksel were recently murdered by Muslim men who went to a Bible Study that the three victims were giving in a publishing company's offices. Zirve Publishing distributes Christian literature throughout Turkey. The five Muslim men came prepared to rid the world of these Christian men. "The young men got guns, bread knives, ropes and towels ready for their final act of service to Allah. They knew there would be a lot of blood. They arrived in time for the Bible study, around 10 o'clock," the letter said. "Reportedly, after Necati read a chapter from the Bible the assault began. The boys tied Ugur, Necati, and Tilman's hands and feet to chairs and as they videoed their work on their cellphones, they tortured our brothers for almost three hours." "Tilman was stabbed 156 times, Necati 99 times and Ugur’s stabs were too numerous to count. They were disemboweled, and their intestines sliced up in front of their eyes. They were emasculated and watched as those body parts were destroyed. Fingers were chopped off, their noses and mouths and anuses were sliced open. Possibly the worst part was watching as their brothers were likewise tortured. Finally, their throats were sliced from ear to ear, heads practically decapitated." Neighbors heard all of the screams and noise from these horrific torture acts, but did not call police because they claim they thought it was "a domestic argument." Another Christian man came late to the Bible study. He called one of the victims on his cell phone when he was unable to get inside the offices. He was given a cryptic message. He then called police in alarm after hearing the message from his friend, plus alot of disturbing background noise and cries from inside where the Bible study was supposed to be taking place. When police arrived two of the men, Tilman and Necati, were already dead with their necks sliced almost to the point of decapitation. Uger, who had answered his phone and given the cryptic message, was barely alive with his throat also slit open. He died shortly thereafter. The five men were caught who tortured these Christians to death. The letter said persecution of Christians – bombings, physical attacks, verbal and written abuse as well as media propaganda -- moved into the intense range following a decision in 2001 by the National Security Council of Turkey to consider Christians a threat to national security on the same level as al-Qaida. The letter described cameras in churches to promote fear and antagonism towards Christians. Mrs. Tilman is planning on remaining in Turkey with their three young children. Pastor Necati leaves behind his wife and two children. Ugur was engaged to be married. "We pray – and urge you to pray – that someday at least one of those five boys will come to faith because of the testimony in death of Tilman Geske, who gave his life as a missionary to his beloved Turks, and the testimonies in death of Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, the first martyrs for Christ out of the Turkish Church," the letter said.
Colorado Springs, Colorado is under warning to keep a watch for an African Lion. The lion was sighted by a Colorado man and reported to authorities around 7:35am near Falcon Highway and North Log Road. The witnesses said the cat was chasing a pack of dogs. They took a picture and submitted it. A second sighting was reported soon after, also with a picture. The local Sheriff's department said the giant cat was identified as having a red mane and a large tail. Inquiries made to the local cat sanctuary turned up no missing animals. The Big Cats of Serenity Springs sanctuary is assisting the Sheriff's Department in the search. Local wildlife officers have found lion prints. A reverse 911 call went out to residents in the Falcon Highway and North Log Road area, a second call will be issued once the lion is found. Anyone who sees the lion is asked to call the El Paso County Sheriff's Office at 719-390-5555. The animal was last spotted around 10 a.m., about a mile southwest of the original sighting. Officials are waiting for a police helicopter to search from the air.
was the daughter of a Vatican employee. She was believed to have been kidnapped after a music lesson in Rome on June 22, 1983, when she was 15-years-old. On May 15, 2012, Digital Journal reported that the remains of her reported kidnapper, mobster Enrico De Pedis have been exhumed in hopes of finding her body. De Pedis was a member of the Roman Magliana mob and was killed in 1990. The mobster's girlfriend apparently informed prosecutors that Orlandi had been kidnapped by De Pedis. An anonymous phone call in 2005 said that "all the answers to the teen's disappearance lay within De Pedis' tomb". Bones were recovered from the tomb but are yet to be identified as belonging to Emanuela Orlandi. reports that other clues in the girl's disappearance had included a Turkish gunman who had attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II. Shortly after the Emanuela disappeared on June 22, 1983, several telephone messages were received, linking her disappearance to Mehmet Ali Agca, who made an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in May 1981. stated that they were holding Emanuela as a "bargaining counter" to force authorities to release Ali Agca. The calls finally stopped, although Agca did subsequently claim that Emanuela was being held in an enclosed convent in eastern Europe and that she was alive and well. Now other information has come to light via 85-year-old Father Gabriele Amorth. Amorth is the Catholic Church's leading exorcist and was appointed by Pope John Paul II. He is said to have performed more than 70,000 exorcisms. In the past, Amorth has denounced Harry Potter and yoga as the ”work of the Devil” and two years ago claimed that sex scandals in the Catholic Church were evidence that ”the Devil was at work in the Vatican.” According to the Telegraph , Amorth is claiming that Emanuela Orlandi's kidnapping was a "crime of a sexual nature." He told La Stampa (Italian language translated by the Telegraph), that, "Parties were organized, with a Vatican gendarme acting as the 'recruiter' of the girls. The network involved diplomatic personnel from a foreign embassy to the Holy See. I believe Emanuela ended up a victim of this circle." “It has already previously been stated by (deceased) monsignor Simeone Duca, an archivist at the Vatican, who was asked to recruit girls for parties with the help of the Vatican gendarmes." ”I believe that Emanuela ended up in this circle." "I have never believed in the international theory (overseas kidnappers) and I have motives to believe that this was just a case of sexual exploitation, which led to murder and then the hiding of her body." "Also involved are diplomatic staff from a foreign embassy to the Holy See,” Amorth continued Pietro Orlandi, the teenager's brother, has been waiting for an answer for almost three decades. His family have continued to hope that Emanuela, who disappeared in Rome in 1983, would come back to them. He says, "All these years without any explanation is absurd. We have been waiting and waiting for an answer, but still it hasn’t come.” Orlandi has organised an online petition in an appeal to make the Catholic Church's world headquarters reveal all that it knows about the case. It can only be hoped that the mystery is solved and the Orlandis can finally have peace.
Protecting you and your business Find out what insurance people who run businesses like yours normally choose. Do you deal with members of the public? If your work brings you into the contact with members of the public, then you should protect yourself against compensation claims they might make against you. Public Liability Insurance Covers you for claims made by members of the public for injury caused to them or damage to their property as a result of your negligence and for which you are legally liable. Do you depend on your business for an income? If something like a flood or fire prevented your home-based business from operating for a period of time, we can help replace the income you'd be losing. Business Interruption Insurance Covers loss of income from events beyond your control. Do you have employees? If you do, in most cases it's compulsory to have insurance to handle any claims they might make against you for illness or injury they suffer in the course of their work. Employers' Liability Insurance Covers you for injury or illness claims made against you by your employees. Do you hold valuable stock and equipment? Just like you protect the contents of your home against loss and theft, so should you protect the valuable assets of your business, like the equipment you use and the stock you hold when running your business from home. Business Contents Insurance Protects the things you use and sell against things like damage, loss and theft.
FDA Failing at Food Safety I know I’ve said it before, but the Federal Food and Drug Administration is—at best—hit or miss. Sometimes they get it right, but more often than the not, the news ends up sounding like this. According to HealthDay News a congressional panel doesn’t think the FDA is doing a good job policing food safety, especially food imports. Steven Reinberg reports: Food importers have found ways to avoid federal oversight of the products they ship into the United States, putting consumers at risk, the investigators told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's subcommittee on the FDA and food safety.I wonder, is part of the FDA job requirements graduating from clown college? For example, when it comes to fish, importers sometimes route product through an inland point of entry, such as Las Vegas, instead of a big Pacific port city, the Associated Press reported. Importers can also get around FDA mercury inspections by offering younger, smaller fish to inspectors, then use the resulting agency approval to import larger fish with higher levels of the toxin, the investigators said. A committee investigation also found that the FDA has little ability to police food imports. In San Francisco, for example, the agency's staff can manage only a cursory review of imports, generally dedicating just 30 seconds to each shipment as it flashes by on a computer screen, according to the investigators, the AP reported. "We know that we are vulnerable to harm from abroad, where rules and regulations governing food production often are more lax than they are at home," said committee member Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., raising the prospect of terrorists tampering with imports entering the U.S. food supply, the news service reported. Trackbacks (0) Links to blogs that reference this article Trackback URL Dr. Fuhrman's Executive Offices 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd.Flemington, NJ 08822
Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Two other symptoms, proteinuria and edema (generalized fluid retention or swelling), complete the classic triad of pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is much more common in the first pregnancy (3-5% of births) and usually becomes evident in the third trimester (always after the 20th week of pregnancy). Pre-eclampsia is thought to be caused by mysterious toxins secreted by the placenta acting on the vascular endothelium. If severe, it progresses to fulminant pre-eclampsia, with headaches and visual This is a prelude to eclampsia, an extreme form of pre-eclampsia characterized by seizures or coma in a patient with no previous neurological history. Eclampsia affects less than 1% of all Eclampsia is a life threatening condition, not only for the developing fetus but for the mother as well. Are you a doctor or a nurse? Do you want to join the Doctors Lounge online medical community? Participate in editorial activities (publish, peer review, edit) and give a helping hand to the largest online community of patients. Click on the link below to see the requirements: Doctors Lounge Membership The only treatment for eclampsia, or advancing pre-eclampsia is delivery, either by induction or Caesarean section. Women can be stabilized temporarily with magnesium sulphate. Delivery as early as 28 weeks is not unknown.
Wage and Hour Division (WHD) (Revised February 2012) (PDF) Fact Sheet #39A: How to Obtain a Certificate Authorizing the Payment of Special Minimum Wages to Workers with Disabilities under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) This Fact Sheet provides general information concerning the establishment of prevailing wages and commensurate wages as they pertain to the employment of workers with disabilities at special minimum wages. Please read Fact Sheet # 39, The Employment of Workers with Disabilities at Special Minimum Wages, for an overview of the general provisions of FLSA Section 14(c). Please consult the Regulations, 29 CFR Part 525, Employment of Workers with Disabilities under Special Certificates, for detailed information concerning Section 14(c). What is the difference between a certified and a noncertified employer? Employers who are certified - who have received a certificate from the U. S. Department of Labor - may choose to pay special minimum wages (SMW) to workers who have disabilities when those disabilities diminish their productivity for the work being performed. A SMW will be lower than the applicable minimum wage required by the FLSA, except in certain cases when the work being performed is subject to the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA). Without a current certificate, employers must pay workers with disabilities at least the applicable FLSA minimum wage or SCA prevailing wage, where appropriate, for all covered work, regardless of the productivity of the workers. Where and how do I apply for a certificate? Employers wishing to obtain a certificate under Section 14(c) must complete and submit the following forms, along with certain required supporting documentation: - Application for Authority to Employ Workers with Disabilities at Special Minimum Wages (Form WH-226). Using this form, the applicant reports information regarding the work that will be performed, the prevailing wage surveys conducted by the employer, and the productivity evaluations conducted to establish the commensurate pay rates the firm pays the workers with disabilities. If workers with disabilities will be paid a SMW for work subject to the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), data must also be provided regarding such contract work. - Supplemental Data Sheet for Application for Authority to Employ Workers with Disabilities at Special Minimum Wages (Form WH-226A). This form requires the applicant to list the names of the individuals that will be paid SMWs, identify the disabilities that impair their productivity, and report their average earnings. A separate WH-226A must be submitted for each branch establishment (physically separate location) at which employees with disabilities will receive SMWs. Instructions for completing the above forms are included on the last page of each form. The forms may be obtained from any Wage and Hour Division Office (addresses may be found in the blue pages of the telephone directory). In addition, these forms may be viewed and "downloaded" from the Wage and Hour Division Homepage. Where do I submit my completed application? The Midwest Regional Office of the Wage and Hour Division is the only office that processes applications under Section 14(c) and issues certificates authorizing the payment of SMWs to workers with disabilities. Completed applications must be mailed to the following address: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, 230 South Dearborn Street, Room 514, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1757. What types of certificates are issued and how long do they remain in effect? Certificates under section 14(c) are issued to employers on an establishment basis. The certificates will indicate whether the establishment is a work center, also known as community rehabilitation program; a hospital/residential care center (a facility that employs patient workers); a business establishment that is not a work center or an employer of patient workers; or a School Work Experience Program (SWEP). Work centers - formerly referred to as "sheltered workshops" - historically have provided rehabilitation services, day treatment, training, and employment opportunities at their facilities to individuals with disabilities. Work centers need submit only one application (WH-226), but must include a separate supplemental sheet (WH-226A) for each physically separate branch location where workers with disabilities are employed at SMWs. The Wage and Hour Division will issue separate certificates for each location. Work center certificates remain in effect for two years. Hospitals/residential care facilities which employ patient workers may be issued certificates authorizing the payment of SMWs. These certificates remain in effect for two years. If the facility also operates a work center, however, it must apply for a separate certificate for the work center. If the hospital or residential care facility places patients in jobs at business establishments in the community, it must either obtain a work center certificate or ensure that the business establishment has its own certificate if those workers are to receive SMWs. A business establishment (not a work center or a hospital/residential care facility) that chooses to employ workers with disabilities as SMWs must also obtain a certificate from the Department of Labor. If the employer has multiple establishments, a certificate must be obtained for each establishment in which workers with disabilities will be employed at SMWs. Business establishment certificates expire annually. But if an individual with a disability is placed at a business by a work center, supervised by work center staff, and carried on the work center's payroll, the business establishment need not obtain a certificate - the authorization to pay a SMW to the worker will stem from the certificate held by the work center. Such placements are sometimes called "supported employment" or "an enclave" worksite. School Work Exploration Programs (SWEP) place students with disabilities who receive SMWs at work sites in the community. Certificates for this program are issued to the school administering the program and expire annually. Do certificates expire? Certificates are issued with both an effective date and an expiration date. The certificate, along with the employer's authorization to pay special minimum wages, will expire on the indicated date unless the employer properly files an application for renewal with the Wage and Hour Division before the expiration date. If an application for renewal has been properly and timely filed, an existing special minimum wage certificate shall remain in effect until the application for renewal has been granted or denied. Should a certificate to pay special minimum wages expire and no application of renewal has been properly and timely filed, an employer would be required to pay all workers covered by the FLSA at least the full minimum (or where applicable, the full McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act prevailing wage) for all work performed after the certificate expiration date. How are existing certificates renewed? An expiration date is printed on each certificate. Approximately two months before a certificate expires, the employer will be notified by the Wage and Hour Division that it is time to apply for a new certificate. Renewal applications are submitted on the same forms (WH-226 and WH-226A) and in the same manner as the initial application. If the renewal application is properly filed with the Wage and Hour Division before the existing certificate expires, the employer's existing authority to pay SMWs continues in effect until the renewal application is either granted or denied. How are applications for certification processed? Department of Labor Wage Specialists, employed by the Wage and Hour Division's Midwest Regional Office located in Chicago, Illinois, will review each application for completeness, accuracy and compliance with the provisions of the FLSA, including Section 14(c). Once these criteria have been met, the certificate will be issued and mailed to the applicant. In an effort to expedite issuance of the certificate, the reviewing Wage Specialist frequently will contact an applicant by telephone for clarification or to request required supporting documentation. All submitted materials are reviewed to ensure each applicant understands the requirements of Section 14(c) and has achieved and maintained compliance with the provisions of the FLSA. Occasionally, based on the information provided on the application, the Wage Specialists will identify and supervise the payment of back wages due workers with disabilities. What if I have questions as I complete the application? Both the WH-226 and the WH-226A include detailed instructions. Read them carefully. However, if you still have questions regarding processing of the certificates, you may wish to contact the Certification Team member who covers your state. - (312) 596-7198: Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Arkansas, Georgia, North Dakota, Oklahoma. - (312) 596-7202: California, North Carolina, District of Columbia, Guam, Louisiana, Montana, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Virgin Islands. - (312) 596-7182: Ohio, New York, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, Rhode Island. - (312) 596-7027: Illinois, Oregon, South Carolina, Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia, Wyoming. - (312) 596-7189: Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico. - (312) 596-7229: Colorado, Kansas, New Hampshire, Texas, Delaware, Maryland, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin. Certificate process questions may be submitted in writing and mailed to ATTN: National FLSA Certification Team Supervisor at the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, National FLSA Certification Team, 230 South Dearborn Street, Room 514, Chicago, IL 60604. What can an employer do to expedite the certification process? - Designate an individual within your organization who understands both the certification and compliance principles of Section 14(c) to oversee the creation and submission of the application. - Submit a complete, accurate and timely application that includes all the required supporting documentation. - Communicate with the Wage and Hour Division Section 14(c) Certification Team before, during and after the submission of the application. - Communicate with your local Wage and Hour Division Office concerning interpretations of the regulations and enforcement (non-certification) issues. You may also call 1-866-4US-WAGE (1-866-487-9243). Can my application/renewal application be denied or my certificate be revoked? Yes. The granting of a certificate is not a statement of compliance by the Wage and Hour Division. Possession of a certificate does not convey a good faith defense should violations of the law occur. A certificate will be denied if the application is incomplete, makes false statements, or does not include the proper supporting documentation and attestations. If denied, the applicant will be advised in writing and told the reasons for the denial as well as the right to petition under 29 CFR Part 525.18. SMW certificates may be revoked or an application to renew an existing certificate may be denied if it is found that false statements were made or facts were misrepresented in obtaining the certificate; any of the provisions of the FLSA, SCA, or the terms of the certificate have been violated; or it is determined that the certificate is no longer necessary to prevent the curtailment of employment opportunities for workers with disabilities. Except in cases of willfulness or those in which the public interest requires otherwise, before an application for renewal is denied facts or conduct which may warrant such actions shall be called to the attention of the employer in writing and such employer shall be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate or achieve compliance with all legal requirements. Can an employer whose certificate has been revoked or renewal application denied appeal these actions? Yes. Any person aggrieved by any action of the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division having to do with the issuance of certificates under Section 14(c) of the FLSA may file with the Administrator, within 60 days of the action, a petition for review. Such review, if granted, shall be made by the Administrator. Other interested parties, to the extent it is deemed appropriate, may be afforded an opportunity to present data and views. Where to Obtain Additional Information For additional information, visit our Wage and Hour Division Website: http://www.wagehour.dol.gov and/or call our toll-free information and helpline, available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in your time zone, 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). For more information about these provisions, review the other Fact Sheets in this series which address Section 14(c) compliance issues located at http://www.dol.gov/whd/fact-sheets-index.htm. This publication is for general information and is not to be considered in the same light as official statements of position contained in the regulations.
The Analogue Original In Kit Form! Assemble your own recreation of the MS20 synth, famous for it's screaming filter and huge monophonic sound. Indeed the MS-20 Kit can be switched between the very original filter and the later revisions. The MS-20 kit reproduces the distinctive synthesis of the MS-20; two oscillators with ring modulation, and envelope generators with hold and delay. MS20 Kit Features: - The Full Size MS-20 - With standard size keys and 1/4" phone plugs like the original, it's a complete recreation. - Both Filter Types - Korg revised the filter in later production runs, use an internal jumper on the board to select between raging self oscillation and mellower, smooth filtering. - Classic And Contemporary - Replicating every detail down to the packaging and manual, the MS-20 Kit is a dream for vintage enthusiasts. Adding MIDI In and USB MIDI control keeps it right up to date in modern setups. Korg On The MS-20 Kit Creating an instrument your own hands is the part of the true enjoyment of an analog synthesizer. The MS-20 Kit lets you obtain a real, full-sized MS-20 by assembling it yourself. It goes without saying that, Just like the MS-20 mini released in January 2013, the engineers who developed the original MS-20 have overseen this project - ensuring that its historic sound is reproduced with complete fidelity. In addition, the MS-20 Kit provides the filters from both the early and late versions of this classic instrument and it even allows you to switch between them. Today, 36 years after this historic instrument was first unveiled in 1978, the MS-20 returns to its true origin. 2VCO / 2VCF / 2VCA / 2EG / 1LFO structure External signal processor (ESP) for processing an external signal The ESP carries on the experimental spirit of MS-20; it allows you to use the pitch or volume of an external audio source to control the synthesizer. For example you can input an electric guitar and use the MS-20 kit as a guitar synthesizer, or input a mic and use it as a vocal synthesizer. Extremely flexible patching system The patching system provided to the right of the panel lets you create complex sounds by plugging-in cables to change the connections between the various units. The possibilities are limited only by the user's imagination; different combinations of the modulation input/output and trigger, sample and hold, and noise generator can produce an incredible variety of sounds. By patching according to the MS-20 flow chart that’s printed on the panel, even the beginner can start taking advantage of these possibilities right away. The Korg Ms-20 Self assembly Kit \|\|The MS-20 Kit gives a new generation of synth fans a chance to complete their own analogue synthesiser. Every detail of the classic MS-20 has been recreated, with design overseen by the original engineers. Package contents of the MS-20 Kit Front panel, Rear panel, Bottom panel, L-shaped bracket(x 2), Left side pane, Right side panel, Left side shield, Right side shield, Panel support, Knob (large) (x 7), Knob (small) (x 29), Rubber bushing (x 10), Rubber feet (x 4), Cord hook, Nut 12 mm - shiny (x 36), Washer (x 36), Screw (x 36), Nut 11 mm – matte (x 30), Nut 11 mm – shiny (x 6), Keyboard unit, Wheel unit, Rear jack circuit board unit, Left panel circuit board, Right panel circuit board & VR circuit board (small), VR circuit board (large), Power supply circuit board, Box-end wrench (included)
Design Thinking in Higher Education October 3, 2013 — Annette Diefenthaler, senior design researcher and project lead for award-winning global innovation consultancy IDEO, is passionate about bringing human-centered design to systemic challenges in education. Her insatiable curiosity about people, their beliefs and behaviors has led her to identify human needs and desires that can inspire design strategies. On Thursday, Oct. 17, Diefenthaler will present her lecture, “Design Thinking in Higher Education: What’s the Future?” 5:30 p.m. in the URBN Annex Screening Room (3401 Filbert St., Philadelphia). Diefenthaler’s presentation will be the keynote of the 2013 eastern regional Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) conference, “Interior Dialogues,” being held at the URBN Center Oct. 17-19 and coordinated by Interior Design Professors Debra Ruben and Ada Tremonte. While registration is required for the conference, Diefenthaler’s keynote address is free and open to the public. With a background as a product designer and carpenter, Diefenthaler joined IDEO in January 2008 and has since guided teams in designing bank branches, toys, hospital experiences, multiple services for chronic disease patients, and organizational change programs. She has extensive experience in designing solutions in the area of healthcare and has shared her deep process understanding in countless workshops, as well as in creating IDEO’s publicly available Design Thinking Toolkit for Educators. Recently, Diefenthaler focused on collaboratively working on new solutions that will enable learners to thrive in the changing environments of the future. As a global design firm, IDEO’s mission is to take a human-centered, design-based approach to helping organizations in the public and private sectors innovate and grow, while identifying new ways to serve and support people by uncovering latent needs, behaviors, and desires. Prior to IDEO, Diefenthaler worked with the industrial design management department of Vodafone Global in Germany and brand development company The One Centre in Sydney, Australia. Diefenthaler is also an adjunct assistant professor of Public Policy at NYU Wagner’s Graduate School of Public Service. She is currently developing a fellowship program at The New School of Public Engagement.
The following are the safe bedding recommendations put out by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The AAP’s published its most recent recommendations in 2005 (Pediatrics 116:1245-1255): - Place baby on his/her back on a firm tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets current safety standards. - Remove pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, and other soft products from the crib, playpen, or portable crib. - Consider using a sleeper or other sleep clothing as an alternative to blankets, with no other covering. - If using a blanket, put baby with feet at the foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as the baby’s chest. - Make sure your baby’s head remains uncovered during sleep. - Do not place baby on a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow, or other soft surface to sleep. Some playpens and portable cribs may have soft mattresses. - Do not smoke during pregnancy or around the baby. Smoking significantly increases the risk of SIDS. - The infant’s crib or bassinet should be in the same bedroom as the parents, but the infant should not co-sleep in the bed with the parents. The infant may be brought to the bed for nursing or comforting but should be placed back in the crib for sleep. Infants should also not share a bed with other children. - Consider using a pacifier for naptime or bedtime. Use when placing the baby down to sleep but do not reinsert after he or she has fallen asleep. Clean and replace the pacifier often. Wait 1 month before introducing the pacifier in breastfed babies. - Keep the room temperature comfortable for a lightly clothed adult. - Note that commercial devices that are marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS have proven to be effective.
The Best Advice on Children's Products Basic Blue balance bike (without brake) features Non-Air PU tires suitable for enclosed spaces or any indoor use. Award-winning German design. No-stress method of learning to ride a bike. Teaches balancing. Forget the training wheels! Steering Limiter helps young riders ride much smoother and prevents rough falls High-strength yet flexible frame absorbs shock and helps protect a child's spine; made of durable high-tech material "Horse saddle" shape seat prevents riders from slipping off. Easily adjustable anytime, anywhere without tools. Quick assembly means you’ll be up-and-riding in no time.
Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II Medications Definition of Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II: Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II also known as Hunter Syndrome, is an error of mucopolysaccharide metabolism characterized by deficiency of iduronate sulfatase, with excretion of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate in the urine. Drugs associated with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II The following drugs and medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II. This service should be used as a supplement to, and NOT a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. \|Drug Name (View by: Brand \| Generic)\|\|Reviews\|\|Ratings\| \|Elaprase (Pro, More...)\| generic name: idursulfase class: lysosomal enzymes \|0 reviews\|\|Not rated Be the first
Orbital cellulitis is a sudden (acute) infection of the tissues around the eye. It affects the eyelids, eyebrow, and cheek. Causes of Orbital cellulitis Orbital cellulitis is a dangerous infection, which can cause lasting problems. The most common cause of this condition in children is a sinus infection (often Haemophilus influenzae. The infection used to be more common in young children, under the age of 7. It is now rare due to the HiB (Haemophilus influenzae B) vaccine. The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and beta-hemolytic streptococci may also cause orbital cellulitis. Orbital cellulitis infections in children may get worse very quickly and can lead to blindness. Medical care is needed right away. Orbital cellulitis Symptoms Symptoms may include: - Painful swelling of upper and lower eyelid, and possibly the eyebrow and cheek - Bulging eyes - Decreased vision - Eye pain, especially when moving the eye - Fever, generally 102° F or higher - General ill feeling - Painful or difficult eye movements - Shiny, red or purple eyelid Tests and Exams Tests commonly done include: Other tests may include: - X-ray of the sinuses and surrounding area - CT scan or MRI of the sinuses and orbit - Culture of eye and nose drainage - Throat culture Treatment of Orbital cellulitis In ost cases, a hospital stay is needed. Treatment most often includes antibiotics given through a vein. Surgery may be needed to drain the abscess, or relieve pressure in the space around the eye. An orbital cellulitis infection can get worse very quickly. A person with this condition must be checked every few hours. With prompt treatment, the person can recover fully. Complications may include: - Cavernous sinus thrombosis (formation of a blood clot in a cavity at the base of the brain) - Hearing loss - Septicemia or blood infection - Optic nerve damage and loss of vision When to Contact a Health Professional Orbital cellulitis is a medical emergency that needs to be treated right away. Call your health care provider if there are signs of eyelid swelling, especially with a fever. Prevention of Orbital cellulitis Getting scheduled HiB vaccine shots will prevent the infection in most children. Young children who share a household with a person who has this infection may need to take antibiotics to avoid getting sick. Prompt treatment of a sinus or dental infection may prevent it from spreading to the eyes. Durand ML. Periocular infections. Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. In: Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2014:chap 118. Olitsky SE, Hug D, Plummer LS, Stass-Isern M. Orbital infections. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 626. Wald ER. Periorbital and orbital infections. In: Long SS, ed. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 87. Yen MT, Lee S. Microbial Preseptal and Orbital Cellulitis. In: Tasman W, Jaeger EA, eds. Duane's Ophthalmology. 2013 ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2013:vol 4, chap 25. \|Review Date: 9/2/2014 Reviewed By: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Surgery Only Works for Some Kids with Sleep Apnea FRIDAY March 14, 2008 -- Surgery may provide only short-term relief for some children with sleep-disordered breathing, say researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Adenotonsillectomy surgery is the first line of treatment for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children. It is the most common surgery performed upon children, the researchers noted. This study found that children who gain weight rapidly after having their tonsils or adenoids removed to treat SDB may improve in the short-term, but may relapse or even worsen over the long-term. Black children also tend to relapse. "The high rate of recurrence we observed in both obese and non-obese children indicates that SDB is a chronic condition," Dr. Raouf Amin, director of pulmonary medicine at Cincinnati Children's, said in a prepared statement. The study included 40 children, aged 7-13, who had adenotonsillectomy surgery to treat nightly snoring. Most of the children showed improved sleep scores six weeks after surgery, but the rate of relapse at one year had no correlation with the six-week score, the researchers found. Relapse was more likely to occur among children who were obese, had worse SDB at baseline, had an accelerated body-mass index (BMI) gain, had high blood pressure, or were black. "Most post-adenotonsillectomy outcome studies have focused on the assessment of SDB six to 16 weeks after surgery. Resolution of SDB during this window was usually interpreted as a cure for the disorder," Amin said. He said the study is the first to identify the importance of weight gain and race on the recurrence of the condition. Prior to surgery, half the non-obese and two-thirds of the obese children in the study had an AHI (apnea/hypopnea index -- a measure of the severity of SDB) score of 3. A year after surgery, 27 percent of non-obese children and 79 percent of obese children had an AHI score of greater than 3, which suggests the surgery was significantly more effective after one year for non-obese children. "SDB appears to be a chronic disorder that is clearly linked to other medical problems. Given the rate of relapse, we advocate long-term follow-up of children with SDB, monitoring of BMI [weight] gain, and reevaluation of children who demonstrate rapid BMI gain, especially those who are African-Americans," the researchers concluded. The study appears in the second issue for March of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The Nemours Foundation has information about sleep apnea in children. Posted: March 2008
How Activists and NGOs Influence Policies in Washington, D.C. Activists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are important in the working of Washington, D.C. NGOs are essentially all entities outside of government, although most definitions usually exclude organizations in the private sector, and sometimes labor too. NGOs often work on a particular issue: saving children in Africa, promoting the rights of a disenfranchised minority, or protecting the environment, for example. Yes, activists and NGOs are part of the establishment; they lobby the legislative and executive branches of government just like their counterparts on the payroll of the private sector and labor. But unlike these other groups, activists and NGOs typically identify themselves as Washington outsiders, opposed to the insiders. Whereas corporate or labor lobbyists may be happy to admit that they are working to promote the interests of themselves, their members, or their clients, activists and NGOs see themselves as warriors fighting in the defense of their chosen cause célèbre. They present themselves as white knights in need of a dragon to slay, and more often than not this enemy is found in the corporate lobbying machine. Yet the relationship between activists/NGOs and corporate lobbyists is more symbiosis than medieval combat. Activists and NGOs exist to promote their policy prescriptions, but fighting corporate influence in Congress and the administration is how and why they thrive and galvanize support. Corporate lobbyists, needing to justify their own worth to their bosses, can therefore emphasize the threat that activists and NGOs pose to a company’s business model or entire industry. Activists and NGOs have their own time-tested formula to mobilize support for their issues: Define an issue and take a stand. Worried about oil drilling in Texas? Why not also worry about drilling in Pennsylvania? Concerned about the health effects of smoking? Why not go after soda and fast food too? Activists and NGOs can really take a stand about anything, as long as they justify it as being in the interest of something greater than themselves. Find an enemy and make a claim. Promoting a particular good such as good nutrition or environmental conservation would benefit people, but cutting through the daily political chatter to draw attention to an issue is difficult. Creating a fight, particularly a little guy versus big guy fight (like in Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) is a tried and tested way of attracting attention. So finding an enemy that could be perceived to be threatened by what the activist or NGO is trying to protect or defend is smart advocacy. If the issue is the environmental impact of oil drilling, the enemy is probably the oil companies, and maybe some conniving politicians to boot. Create a message to rally support to the cause. An objective analysis, complete with PowerPoints, of the possible impact of oil drilling on the local caribou population probably won’t do. The activist or NGO needs to grab people’s attention. Think Silent Spring or the movie Super Size Me. The goal isn’t to exaggerate, just extrapolate: At this rate every child in America will be overweight by 2020. If glacial melting continues to accelerate, Manhattan Island will be under 3 feet of water by 2050. Will this actually happen? Who knows, but parents and New Yorkers will sure take notice. Without the activism of the past, you might still be toiling 15-hour days in dangerous workplace conditions, only to come home to firetrap apartments where you might get sick dining on potentially unsanitary food. Most Americans would agree that government regulation has seriously improved our lot by reducing the risks they face in their daily lives. Then, as now, special interests argued that such regulation is ineffectual, burdensome, and sometimes even counterproductive. But for activists and NGOs, it’s one victory down and on to the next battle.
How to Cook Grains on the Stovetop You cook all grains on the stovetop by following the same three basic steps. The only thing that varies from grain to grain is the length of cooking time. Cooking grains on your stovetop is simple: Bring 2 or more quarts of water to a boil. For most grains, you need about 2 cups of water per cup of uncooked grain. Add the grain to the water. A cup of uncooked grain expands to approximately 3 cups when cooked. Reduce the heat and let the grain simmer, keeping the pot covered with a tight-fitting lid. If you have problems with the water boiling over, turn the heat down further or tip the lid slightly to the side, letting just a crack of steam escape (and leave the lid in that position). Simmer until all the water has been absorbed. If you find that a little extra water remains in the pan after you take the pot off the stove, you can either drain off the water or let the grains sit for ten minutes to allow them to absorb more water. Either way, use a fork to fluff the cooked grains after a few minutes.
DuPont Invites Collaboration at NPE - International Plastics Showcase WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 14, 2012 – Several leading DuPont materials science businesses joined forces at the National Plastics Expo in Orlando, April 1-5, 2012, to showcase sustainable solutions that deliver performance. DuPont plastics, packaging, polymer modifiers and the bio-based ingredients, business resulting from the recent acquisition of Danisco, highlighted materials science and design techniques that can be used to deliver performance and sustainability. They also featured recent commercial developments to stimulate new ideas and invite customers to hear more about new and emerging globally linked customer innovation centers designed to help accelerate product development cycles and improve success. MATERIALS SCIENCE: Renewable Ingredients, Polymer Modifiers DuPont Polymer Additive group, formerly part of Danisco, features SOFT-N-SAFE™, the world's foremost bio-based plasticizer which enables PVC customers to utilize safe chemistry in an environmentally responsible fashion. The group also introduced a fully food-grade approved anti-stat replacement for ethoxylated amines for polypropylene films during the science and technology talk. These bio-based additive families deliver performance benefits ranging from flexibility to anti-stat and anti-fog. Additionally, DuPont featured examples of polymer modifiers used to improve performance, sustainability and reduce overall costs: - DuPont™ Elvaloy® resins used as a reinforcement and thermal insulator for high-quality, low-cost housing build by Repshel in Mexico. Click this link to see how DuPont and Repshel collaborate with a Mexican family and the local community to build affordable housing for a safer, healthier and more dignified life. - DuPont™ Fusabond® modifiers used to compatibilize and bond dissimilar polymers in the award-winning closed-loop recycling process for agrochemical multilayer bottles in Brazil called the “Virtuous Cycle” project. - A new on-line selector tool designed to streamline adhesive selection and reduce overall costs launched at NPE. MATERIALS SCIENCE: Renewable Materials, High Performance Polymers New applications that illustrate the talents of global DuPont Performance Polymers developers working throughout the value chain include: - Two award-winning applications – DuPont™ Zytel® RS nylon in Fiat bio-diesel fuel lines and DuPont™ Sorona® EP polymer in Toyota air-conditioning louvers – show how renewably sourced polymers improve the product’s performance and deliver environmental benefit. - The flexible, durable nature of DuPont™ Hytrel® TPC/ET is core to lightweight prosthetic feet that enable amputees to have greater mobility and stability. The next generation "Niagara Foot," developed iwth Niagara Prosthetics & Orthotics International and Queen's University in Canada, captures the power of collaboration to solve the big challenges. Click this link to see how the Niagara Foot made a difference for a market trader and amputee.
Given his title of Judge, Ian Visser assumes that he is part of the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people. "Urban guerrilla."—Occupation given by Patricia Hearst to police at the time of her arrest. A fascinating slice of modern American history, Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst traces the events around a crime that held the entire country breathless. Note: This film has also been released with the title, Neverland: The Rise and Fall of the Symbionese Liberation Army. Facts of the Case On February 4, 1974, college student Patricia Hearst was snatched from her Berkley, California, apartment by a revolutionary group known as the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). Hearst was the grand-daughter of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, and the wealthy Mr. Hearst was considered by the group to be guilty of crimes against the people. Initial ransom demands ordered the Hearst family to donate $300 million in aid to the poor of California, but eventually the SLA accepted $2 million in food donations. In an attempt to improve the public's opinion of the group after the murder of school superintendent, the SLA subsequently requested another $4 million for additional aid. Hearst stopped supplying any ransom following this request and famously claimed that the matter was out of his hands. Soon, the case was turned upside-down with the robbery of a Berkeley bank that generated the famous images of Patty Hearst with an assault rifle. Hearst claimed that she had thrown in her lot with the SLA and had changed her name to Tania in a revolutionary act. Audio tapes narrated by Hearst became outright inflammatory against the government and her family. A second bank robbery by the SLA resulted in the death of an innocent bystander, Myrna Opsahl, and the group soon began to fall apart. Neighbors recognized the group living in their neighborhood, and a tip led to a vicious gun battle that resulted in Los Angeles police killing six SLA members. The entire incident was aired live in primetime television and was watched by Hearst from a hotel room only a few blocks away. In all, Patty Hearst was held more than 600 days by the SLA. She was arrested with the remaining members in 1975 and claimed she had been brainwashed and forced to participate in SLA hold-ups on the threat of death. Hearst received six years in prison after a guilty verdict but was exonerated by Jimmy Carter after serving only 22 months. That's a lot of information for Facts of the Case, but a lot happened in the relatively short period between late 1973 and 1975 with the Patty Hearst case. For the most part, director Robert Stone provides a lot of concise and practical information, but he often fails to fill in the gaps in the story. The early minutes of the documentary are spent rapidly jumping through the late 1960s and into the early 1970s. Stone manages to gain interviews with two former SLA members, and traces the formation of SLA in the early 1970s as reaction to waning hippie movement. The group soon developed a determination to act violently against the government, and they relied on the use of audio tapes to spread propaganda and communicate with the media. It's made clear that law enforcement agencies assigned to the case had no idea of what they were dealing with. And I don't mean that they were unprepared or overwhelmed, per se, but that they simply had no notion of what the SLA was or how much support it had. Stone carefully tracks how the FBI spent a lot of time placating the group, an attitude that is hard to comprehend in today's post-9/11 world. The FBI even went as far as to enlist the use of the U2 spy-plane to search the surrounding California desert for SLA training camps. It's almost painful to watch the police and hostage negotiators stumble around, trying to appease the wealthy Hearst family while a group of terrorists runs amok. Stone manages to convey a strong sense of the madness around the case and the non-stop media circus that the event became. The footage of the shootout with SLA members is especially nerve-wracking. Although the footage has been re-edited from sources for the film, it is clear that utter chaos is breaking out, as reporters scramble amongst police and dodge bullets to get their footage. Stone attempts to draw a link between this live event (one of the first covered with remote satellite feeds) and our modern world of Bronco chases and 24/7 news coverage, but this angle goes mostly unexamined, and probably could have been left out of the final cut. The film ends with a significant contrast; surviving SLA members are shown pleading guilty in 2003 on the charge of murder, while Hearst is shown walking away from prison and later telling her story on the talk-show circuit. The footage of the SLA allocutions is in the bonus section of the disc and provides a real look at how the attitudes of the 1960s got poisoned after only a few short years. Docurama usually does a good job on their releases, and Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst continues this effort. The 1.85:1 widescreen print is fresh and crisp, with few defects. The vintage footage contains the expected grain and damage, but it is well-preserved and is not distracting. The audio mix is solidly aggressive, so when the rock tracks and bullet-sounds kick in, they give the viewer a jump. The features included on the disc do a good job of filling in some of the gaps left by the feature. The audio commentary by director Stone is full of additional information about the case and the filmmaking process, and he clearly has an enthusiasm for the film. The period features, including the raw footage of the notorious Hibernia Bank robbery, are invaluable as a historical reference. The full collection of the six tapes made by Hearst while being held is an amazing resource; the viewer can hear the change in Hearst's personality as her days pass in captivity. The whole story gets wrapped up with the sentencing testimony given in 2003 by SLA members convicted of murder stemming from the Crocker Bank robbery in Carmichael, CA. Viewers also get a trailer and a filmmaker biography. The Rebuttal Witnesses If there is a major flaw in Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst, it's that the director assumes we already know much about the case. There is scarce background information given on the social and political scene leading up to the kidnapping, and there is little to explain the prevailing social changes from the 1960s to the early 1970s as the hippie movement began to wear down. This is critical, as this decline of interest by the left sparked the SLA to its increasingly radical action. Even worse, there is virtually no information provided on any of the SLA members. For the most part, the viewer only gets a name and a photograph, and no details about who any of these people were, or what sparked them to become revolutionaries. Considering the drastic measures SLA members took, it would have served the film better if we could understand something about these people and how they came to the movement. A final issue is the lack of explanation about the pardon and release of Patty Hearst. Stone provides no insight into public sentiment towards Hearst at the time of her release, or the reaction of those in the SLA who continued to serve long sentences for the same crimes. The film mentions a campaign by Hearst's supporters to change her public image after her incarceration, but we never learn if this was the reason for her release, or if it was successful. Stone's failure to provide enough background on the movement and its members leaves the viewer with significant lapses in information as the story unfolds. I found myself asking more questions than the film was able to provide. This may be a film about the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, but the failure to place the event in perspective with the larger story hampers the viewers understanding. Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst gets high marks for uncovering new material surrounding the case and taking the viewer inside a fascinating point in American history. If only it had delved deeper into the characters and their histories, this documentary could have made a more significant impact. Not guilty, you fascist pigs! Give us your feedback! What's "fair"? Whether positive or negative, our reviews should be unbiased, informative, and critique the material on its own merits. Scales of Justice Studio: New Video • Audio Commentary with Director Robert Stone Review content copyright © 2005 Ian Visser; Site design and review layout copyright © 2015 Verdict Partners LLC. All rights reserved.
Scientific American, July 19, 1902, pages 37-38: THE COLLINS WIRELESS TELEPHONE. BY A. FREDERICK COLLINS. There are at least five different methods by which articulate speech may be transmitted electrically without connecting wires between two given points. The first and oldest of these is by conduction through land and water. In this system four conductors are earthed, two at the transmitting and two at the receiving end. In this way a portion of the current, passing through the transmitting circuit, is shunted by means of the earth between the instruments and acts upon the receiver, since this path offers the least resistance. As early as 1825 James Bowen Lindsay operated a system of wireless signals by this method, but by substituting a telephone transmitter for a telegraphic key and a telephone receiver for the galvanometer speech may be as easily sent as a signal. This is usually the first method suggested to the inventor seeking to transmit articulate speech without wires, but a very few quantitative tests will show that the limitations appear almost before its commercial value begins. The second and most beautiful form of wireless telegraphy is due to the effects of mutual induction or the magnetic lines of force exerted by one coil of wire on another placed in the same field of force by mutual induction. This is the ideal system, since no earth connection either at the receiver or transmitter is necessary to effect transmission, but the action is due entirely to the electric whirls or vortices set up in the ether. In this case the effective distance to which speech may be sent is limited by the number of turns of wire on the coil; their distance apart and the mutual induction will then depend upon the current flowing in the primary. Like the former system, the limits are soon reached. The radiophone and speaking telephone are two forms employing a beam of light to transmit telephonic messages. A pencil of light is allowed to fall on a mirror fastened to the diaphragm of a telephone transmitter, and by means of lenses the light is focused on a selenium cell at a distance of two or three hundred feet. In series with the selenium cell is a telephone receiver and a battery. When the sound waves of the voice impinge on the diaphragm of the transmitter, its vibrations cause the light to be displaced and its intensity on the selenium cell varied. Now selenium possesses the property of transmitting an electric current with twice the conductivity value when in the light that it possesses in the dark, so that there is a wide divergence of conductivity assured when the constantly varying beam of light falls upon it, and thus articulate speech is reproduced. The fourth system is that employing Hertzian waves, but as the enormously high-frequency oscillations produced by the disruptive discharge of a high potential current is much too rapid to make itself manifest in a telephone receiver, the oscillation circuit which emits the waves must be damped down by the addition of capacity in the form of Leyden jars or condensers and its relation to inductance sustained by supplementing the capacity with coils of wire until the telephone receiver will respond to a vibration of electric oscillations. This system of wireless telephony offers the most interesting experimental field of investigation, but its functions are so complicated that a very limited distance has yet been obtained with it. In making some tests in 1899 I found a method by which the disadvantages of the very rapid oscillations set up by a disruptive discharge in free air, as the spark of a Ruhmkorff coil produces, and without resorting to the loading of the oscillating circuit with artificial capacities and inductances. This was accomplished by permitting the discharge to take place in the earth instead of the air. To render this process clearer, let us employ, not only as a mere analogue, but as a similar proposition, the fact that electric oscillations emit electric waves, just as an electrically charged vibrating atom sends forth waves which are likewise of electromagnetic origin formed by the polarization of the ether. Even alternating currents of comparatively low frequency of a few thousand per second will emit long electrical waves in space, as Guarini has shown in his experiments in wireless transmission between Antwerp and Brussels. The length of the waves depends on the periodicity of the oscillations, the oscillations on the inductance, capacity and resistance of the circuit, and these in turn on the constants of the ether. The constants of the ether are its elasticity and its density. The elasticity of the ether is not known absolutely, but is measured by its reciprocal or dielectric constant, which is the ether modified by its relations with gross matter, and is called its specific inductive capacity. Ether, when in close proximity with gross matter, apparently assumes a greater density than in vacuo or free air, however paradoxical it may seem; it is now well known that it is not the conductor or wire joining an electrical circuit which conducts the electricity, but the tube of ether including the wire. The atoms of which the earth is composed are likewise permeated with the ether to a much greater extent than the atoms of gases forming the air. To this condition Tesla has given the name of bound ether. Similarly as mediums of greater densities transmit sound waves to greater distances than mediums of lesser densities, so the bound ether of the earth will propagate electric waves of proper length to greater distances than those of the ether-bound air. As an illustration, in the case of sound waves, if a bell is struck in free air it can be heard at a distance of a mile, it could be heard at a distance of twelve miles if struck under water, for water has a density twelve times that of air; now, when a rapidly alternating current of high potential is discharged into the earth and there allowed to restore the equilibrium, electric waves are emitted and propagated through the earth; the length of the waves is determined by the frequency of alternation and the distance of propagation will depend upon the density of the medium. These waves are, of course, normally radiated in every direction, but it has been found possible to reflect them and so make them unidirectional within certain limits. Fig. 1 shows photographically the wireless telephone transmitter the author devised for field work. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic drawing of the system which has been patented in the United States and Great Britain. In the patent specifications a telegraph key is substituted for a telephone transmitter, as the system is interchangeable and may be used either for wireless telephony or telegraphy with some minor changes and additions. Referring to Fig. 2, A is a transmitter and B the receiver. The primary coil is shown at 1 and is in series with the battery, 2, and the key, 3. One terminal of the secondary winding, 4, is connected with a special form of transmitter, 6, and this to a large capacity, 7. The opposite terminal of the induction coil is earthed at 8, and bridged across the terminals of the secondary is the condenser; 10 is a "variator," which will be again referred to. The receiver is quite simple and consists essentially of a transformer coil, 1, a telephone receiver, 2, and a battery, 3; the condenser, 4, of large and equal capacity to that employed in the transmitter, and 5 the earthed terminal. The action of the instruments is as follows: When the key, 3, closes the primary circuit the current is automatically varied by a special device, 10, which takes the place of the ordinary interrupter; this produces alternations in the secondary coil, 4, giving rise to high potentials at the terminals, 7 and 8. This potential difference is, however, modified by the transmitter, 6. The surging of the alternating currents through the circuit formed by 7 and 8, emits waves principally at 8, and these traveling with the speed of all other electromagnetic waves reach the earth plate, 4, and, finding an ether path of greater density surrounding the circuit, 4 and 5, it traverses that circuit in preference to passing onward through the earth, since the former offers the least resistance. This sets up alternating currents in the transformer coil, 1, and these are impressed on the telephone receiver, 2. The capacity areas, 4 and 7, should be large and of special construction to secure the best effects. The capacities, 4 and 7, are not elevated, and the larger the capacities the greater the distance over which articulate speech may he carried without wires. Both the transmitter and receiver are mounted on tripods providing the operators with testing apparatus almost as portable as a camera. The tests, from the incipiency of the idea of wireless telephony, have been made at Narbeth, Pa., where the conditions were all that could be desired. In 1899, speech was transmitted by this system a distance of 200 feet; in 1900 a mile was covered, when with the equipment shown in the engravings articulate speech was transmitted across the Delaware River at Philadelphia, and in 1902 with the instruments placed on hills separated by a railroad, valleys, wooded lands and numerous streams a distance of three miles was attained. The results have shown the possible commercial value of this system of wireless telephony, which is soon to be perfected for actual use.
(RALEIGH, N.C.) — North Carolina will become the first state to compensate victims of a mass sterilization program that targeted poor minorities in a 20th century eugenics program, offering a $50,000 a person. In a vote on Tuesday, the Eugenics Compensation Task Force recommended the lump-sum amount, putting a three-year statute of limitations on claiming those funds. The task force also established a pool to fund mental health services for sterilization victims. The state has located 72 such victims, according to Jill Lucas, communications director for the North Carolina Department of Administration. A final report on Tuesday’s recommendations will be given to Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue to consider. She will pass along her recommendations to the Generally Assembly, which will make a final decision about compensation. Some lawmakers had urged as much as $1 million for each victim. “The state recognizes that a wrong has been done and while these actions can never be reversed, the governor has made it a priority to reach out and help identify and compensate victims for their experience,” said Lucas. The state sterilized more than 7,600 people in North Carolina from 1929 to 1974 — one of many other states in misguided attempts to weed out criminals and the mentally disabled. Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio
(NEW YORK) — Diet sodas are popular among weight watchers, with millions of people drinking it to stave off calories. But is it possible some are paying a price in their health? New research suggests the low calories could come with higher risk. A study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, followed more than 2,500 men and women age 69 and older. Researchers at Columbia University and the University of Miami found that — over the next 10 years — those who drank a diet soda every day were 44 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack or a stroke. However, the authors note that daily diet-soda drinkers tend to be heavier and more prone to such risk factors as high blood pressure, diabetes and problem cholesterol. So the association between diet soda and disease does not prove that the drinks alone are at fault. For now, the study’s lead author Hannah Gardner says there’s not enough reason for diet drinkers to change their behavior. Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio
Since its formation in 2003 the AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture (AUTOSAR) alliance has been changing the way vehicle networks and electronic control units (ECUs) are designed. AUTOSAR offers an industry-standard approach to automotive network design, and the ability to integrate, exchange, and transfer functions, data, and messages within a car network. The standard offers tremendous benefits to the interface between automotive OEMs and their Tier 1 suppliers, as they are able to exchange design information in a consistent, well-defined, machine-readable format. Different domains in the car have different safety and performance requirements, and the in-vehicle networks supporting them must have predictable and secure performance. Automotive technology has evolved using a range of bus technologies to connect up to 100 different ECUs on a luxury vehicle -- these usually include LIN, CAN, FlexRay, MOST, and Ethernet-based architectures. Managing the thousands of messages and interactions among these ECUs has become an impossible task if approached manually. Therefore automated design and synthesis tools to help predict network performance and correct in-vehicle functionality have become mandatory for designers in the automotive ecosystem. Vehicle data buses A typical modern vehicle will have a mixture of bus types and protocols with the appropriate network chosen from a choice of LIN, CAN, FlexRay, MOST, and Ethernet. The higher data-rates needed for multimedia/audio-visual signals and surround-car vehicle cameras have led car makers and their OEMs to implement Ethernet as a network solution in place of MOST. But for many standard vehicle functions the bandwidth and performance provided by LIN and CAN is sufficient. ECUs are grouped into network "clusters" in the vehicle architecture, and these clusters are linked by communication "gateways." Clusters will normally share the same bus type, so a high-reliability, high-speed network might be FlexRay-based, while a less critical door-lock ECU could be CAN- or LIN-based. ECU Gateways often have to interface different signal types and perform mapping and conversion functions between the different bus architectures. The strong industry demand for continuously improved safety and compliance to standards such as ISO26262 has increased vehicle network performance while reducing manufacturing and component costs. Network standards have been evolving to accommodate ever higher data rates, on secure, low-cost, physical cables. The characteristics and uses of typical automotive network options are summarized in Table 1. Table 1: Automotive vehicle network buses Network timing analysis Let's take a more detailed look at the timing analysis of CAN and FlexRay networks. It is useful to examine the essential characteristics and differences of these two network types. CAN-based networks: CAN-based networks are universally used in vehicle networks, and their operation is defined by standard ISO 15765-2. The CAN bus offers a high degree of system flexibility; it is relatively easy to add new ECU receiver nodes to an existing CAN network without making any significant hardware or software modifications to the existing ECU nodes. This is attractive to designers wishing to expand or upgrade existing networks, or adding new variants to existing production vehicles. During the real-time operation of a CAN network the urgency of messages to be exchanged over the network can vary greatly. For the ECU managing engine fuel injection, for example, feedback on instantaneous engine load needs to be immediate while a parameter like engine temperature can be sampled less frequently. The priority, at which a message is transmitted compared to another less urgent message, is specified by an "identifier" contained in each message. The transmission priorities are defined during system design and cannot be changed dynamically. In a CAN architecture, bus access conflicts are resolved by bit-wise arbitration of the identifiers involved -- the CAN bus has no master, and the arbitration on network use is carried out equally at all ECU nodes connected to the bus. If the first bit is a "0" the message is given priority over the others. This is called a "dominant" message. If the first bit is a "1" it is given a lower priority (a "recessive" message). Thus the highest-priority messages always get through to their intended destinations, but the low-priority messages may be temporarily blocked until the traffic eases up. ECU nodes wanting to send lower-priority messages will not reattempt transmission until the bus is available again. The CAN bus can carry messages between ECUs with up to 8 bytes of data, and the signals to be transmitted on CAN are packed into message "frames." FlexRay-based networks: The FlexRay protocol is much more deterministic than CAN. FlexRay is a "time-triggered" protocol that provides options for messages to arrive in precisely defined time frames -- to a resolution of one microsecond. FlexRay messages can be up to 254 bytes long, so there is a high capacity for complex messages to be exchanged between ECUs. It can also run at much higher data rates than CAN. Because the timing is predefined, the messaging arrangements need to be planned well in advance, and typically pre-configured and designed by the automotive OEM or Tier 1 partner. In a CAN protocol network, ECU nodes only need to know the correct baud rate to communicate, but ECU nodes on a FlexRay network must know how all the pieces of the network are configured and connected in order to communicate. Checking and validating the timing of FlexRay network is a time-consuming task -- this is where automating timing analysis and synthesizing message packing into time frames can reduce errors and design cycle time.
Bulk sales, PO's, Marketplace Items, eBooks, Apparel, and DVDs not included. Questions About This Book? - The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any CDs, lab manuals, study guides, etc. - The eBook copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically only the book itself is included. Connects theory to reality Exploring Marriages and Families, 2/e by Karen T. Seccombe illustrates the ways in which historical, cultural, social, and political factors influence readers’ decision making in relationships. Grounded in theory and the most up-to-date research, this title takes an integrated focus on assessment helping readers gain a better understanding of the social context in which they live and the relevance of social science to their lives. MySocLab is an integral part of the Seccombe learning program. Engaging activities and assessments provide a teaching a learning system that helps students see the world through a sociological lens. With MySocLab, students can develop critical thinking skills through writing, explore real-world data through the new Social Explorer, and watch the latest entries in the Core Concept Video Series. This title is available in a variety of formats — digital and print. Pearson offers its titles on the devices students love through Pearson's MyLab products, CourseSmart, Amazon, and more. Table of Contents BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS: Chapter 1: Why Study Families and Other Close Relationships? Chapter 2: Social Status: Sex, Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Social Class Chapter 3: Building Relationships Chapter 4: Love and Loving Relationships Chapter 5: Sexual Identity, Behavior, and Relationships Chapter 6: Communication, Conflict, and Power in Our Relationships Chapter 7: Marriage Chapter 8: Thinking about Parenthood Chapter 9: Raising Children Chapter 10: Families and the Work They Do Chapter 11: Family Stress and Crisis: Violence among Intimates Chapter 12: The Process of Divorce Chapter 13: Family Life, Partnering, and Remarriage after Divorce Chapter 14: Families in Middle and Later Life Chapter 15: Looking Ahead: Helping Families Flourish
Questions About This Book? - The Used copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. - The Rental copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. You may receive a brand new copy, but typically, only the book itself. Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them--Set--has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe--a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs. “The clash of modern and classical worlds is both exciting and entertaining.’’- The New York Times Book Review “This volume can stand alone, but no reader will be able to read just one. Look no further for the next Harry Potter; meet Percy Jackson, as legions of fans already have.’’- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Dr. Leda Lunardi, Professor Leda Lunardi, Montserrat Fuentes, Cheryl Cass and Tony Mitchell have been awarded $633,864 by the National Science Foundation for research on Promoting Academic and Career Success for Raleigh Future Scholars at NC State. We seek 80 scholarships over four years to establish a successful program in engineering disciplines for low income undergraduate students at NC State University. This project also includes students majoring in statistics. We will create a pathway through "Raleigh Promise" for the academically talented and economically disadvantageous student population with a Raleigh permanent address, increasing their opportunities for STEM careers. We have identified several activities in which scholars will have participation priority, including mentoring, career readiness, and educational incentives that have proven to be very successful in academic success. We propose to make all need-based scholarship awards the same annual amount of $6500. At the end of this project, we will have effectively increased the rate at which 80 STEM scholars have earned their degree, and built a more diverse and inclusive student population that interacts with and helps recruit new students entering NC State.
Marriage laws are being altered to be more favorable for men. Now, these are already laws based on a stringent interpretation of Islam so they began by being more favorable for men than for women. But further changes are being considered, and these changes have angered many local women's groups: The five points which have drawn the women group's ire are: # THE right of a husband to claim a share of his existing wife's property upon his committing polygamy; # MAKING polygamy easier for men; # FORCING a wife to choose either maintenance or division of joint property upon a husband's polygamous marriage; # ENHANCING the husband's rights to divorce; and # ALLOWING a husband to get a court order to stop his wife from disposing of her property. The motion passed the lower house of the parliament but got into more trouble in the upper house, especially with many women Senators. Those belonging to the ruling party were, however, told to vote for the changes whether they liked them or not. Sounds like the same principle as in the proposed changes, doesn't it?
Did You Know? Many of us spend up to 90% of our time indoors - either at home, or at the office or at school, where levels of indoor pollutants can be 2-5 times higher than outdoors. Source: WHO Over the past 20 years we’ve gathered a lot of useful information about the things we can do to have a healthy home. On the ecostore blog we’ll be looking at everything from how to have healthy indoor air to using energy more efficiently and how to identify the nasties hidden amongst the ordinary household cleaning products you use to clean your home. So when you have a moment, head on over to our blog and find out about our easy suggestions to help you live more sustainably and protect your family’s health.
What is it? The Juliet veil, a length of slinky net or tulle affixed to a Juliet cap. It gets its demure style from typical 16th century Elizabethan and Renaissance costume, and takes its name from Romeo & Juliet. The headpiece was especially flattering with the new bobs and Eton crop hairstyles, thus was re-popularized in the 1920s and early 1930s and worn modern across the brow, like a bandeau. The silhouette reared its head yet again in the 1960s, this time as tie-dye and floral headscarves, to complement the long, straight flower child hairstyles of Cher and Janis Joplin. Why now? The Juliet cap veil was recently revived by Kate Moss, who wore one with her 1930s-inspired bias-cut satin wedding slipdress by John Galliano. “I think we’re just seeing a lot of veils, period,” says Weddingbells editor-in-chief Alison McGill, citing Reem Acra's full, trailing elaborate and exquisite veils as an example. “A lot of women don’t necessary plan to wear a veil but once they try it on it’s a really more romantic piece – it’s really feminine and soft. We’ve seen such a change in dresses as well, less big stiffness and structure, more loosened up softness.” Canadian milliner Blair Nadeau’s 2014 bridal collection, called Bohemian Willow, is equal parts 1930s socialite and Steve Nicks. Nadeau, whose crowns are worn by Greer and Kenna on the period series Reign, offers versions as headsashes in silk tulle, or in more lavish gathered Swiss-dot net with trailing tendrils of ribbons. They are dreamy and dramatic and, as McGill says, “what other time in your life are you going to wear this type of piece?”
While most cruisers are positive, ask them what bugs them most about cruising and one of the answers will be “the Internet.” On ships, Internet access can be slow, lose connections and cost a lot. Prices can range from 55 to 75 cents a minute and, in 50-to-500-minute packages, the cost is adjusted by the number of minutes. Viking Cruises, the new name covering both Viking’s river and ocean cruises, has determined that Internet connection bugs passengers so much that it’s offering free web service on the Viking Star, the first ocean-going ship that’s to launch in 2015. On Viking’s river ships, the Internet is always free, as the ships are within yards of shore so connections, while balky at times, are local. But Viking isn’t alone in improving Internet access. On many ships you can now connect from anywhere — your room, the bar and so on — and the cost is usually the same. This happens in an age when all generations are connecting online to family and friends, including by streaming video, and expect Wi-Fi to be faster and cheaper. Royal Caribbean’s chief information officer Bill Martin, in a recent interview with Information Week, indicated his company increased its bandwidth sevenfold this year, enabling more guests to be online simultaneously. The cruise line is currently piloting fibre-like service on Allure of the Seas, with test packages for $49.95 a day, or a seven-night unlimited data package for $179. Minute usage rates are 65 cents. After an engine room fire on Feb. 10, Carnival’s Triumph was left adrift in the Gulf of Mexico. Since then, Carnival has spent $300 million on engineering upgrades and fire suppression equipment to help prevent such incidents. Now, Carnival is rebranding the company and, according to president and CEO Gerry Cahill, it’s stepping up with a strong guarantee. “The Great Vacation Guarantee is designed to provide an assurance to those (passengers) who, if they are dissatisfied for any reason, have a simple and hassle-free means for receiving a full refund and more,” said Cahill. Unhappy passengers simply notify the guest services desk within 24 hours departure to receive a full refund of their fare plus 10 per cent, along with complimentary return air transportation from the next port of call. They’ll also get complimentary ground transportation and hotel accommodations (if necessary), along with a $100 shipboard credit to be used on a future Carnival cruise.” The guarantee covers cruises of three to eight days to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Canada and New England departing through April 30, 2015. Obviously, the idea is to encourage people who have never tried Carnival — for whatever the reason — to give it a whirl. Phil’s Pick of the Week Since they were launched as the world’s two biggest cruise ships, the popularity of Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas has kept price points higher than most ships in the fleet. Here’s a reasonable deal, with prices available at time of writing and based on per-person, double occupancy. It’s a seven-day cruise on Allure of the Seas and leaves Dec. 1 from Fort Lauderdale. Ports include Labadee (Haiti), Falmouth (Jamaica) and Cozumel. Starting price: $690 (balcony, $819). See a cruise travel agent or go to Royalcaribbean.com. Visit portsandbows.com for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Phil Reimer may be contacted directly at firstname.lastname@example.org.
MADISON, Wis. — Hillcrest Labs has just snatched a smartphone design win for its sensor hub software from Coolpad, China's mobile device supplier. This development illustrates the insatiable appetite among smartphone and wearable vendors to add more sensors to their devices. However, they're also looking for ways to manage the proliferation of sensors inside a system. Hillcrest's sensor hub software products are designed to combine an array of algorithms to provide low power and high-performance sensor fusion while transforming sensor data into app-ready information, according to the company. In Coolpad's sensor hub implementation, Hillcrest's software runs on Atmel's low-power microcontroller. By offloading sensor management from the smartphone's main processor, the software will "dramatically lower power consumption and extended battery life," Hillcrest said in a press release. The deal with Coolpad is the second major victory in Asia for Hillcrest's smartphone software. In February, Hillcrest announced that China's Oppo is using Freespace to enable intuitive gesture recognition. The implementation of the sensor hub inside Coolpad's new smartphone includes an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope. However, a Hillcrest spokeswoman told us the hubs can handle several additional motion and environmental sensors -- such as pressure, humidity, and ambient light (ALS) -- if OEM partners choose to use them. Chad Lucien, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Hillcrest, said in the release that sensors can bring many potential differentiators to mobile devices. Typically, they enable context awareness, augmented reality, improved navigation, and better gaming. In the deal with Coolpad, Hillcrest's sensor hub software offers both lower power consumption and higher motion tracking performance. More specifically, the spokeswoman said, from an application standpoint, Coolpad can provide users with such advantages as "accurate health and fitness monitoring (fewer false positives in step counting, accurate detection of walking vs. running, etc.), 24/7, without compromising battery life," along with "precise augmented and virtual reality application motion tracking." They can also offer "accurate mapping and navigation through improved heading/compass accuracy." Varying sensor hub implementations Hillcrest isn't alone in offering sensor hubs. Among the many different approaches being taken to implement sensor hubs, Hillcrest is using a separate processing element to manage sensor functions on the phone. An example of a typical sensor hub using the SH-1 from Hillcrest Labs. The term "sensor hub" suggests the use of a low-power microcontroller (MCU) dedicated to sensor management functions. Depending on the specific MCU chosen, the level of functions it can offer varies, ranging from basic sensor calibration and sensor fusion to advanced application-level data processing to support activity monitoring, context awareness, and pedestrian navigation. Several low-power MCU cores have been used as hub processors. Atmel's MCU has been used for a number of the early smartphone hubs. More recently, a number of ARM Cortex M0+ cores have reportedly been used. As hubs add more functionality, low-powered ARM Cortex M4 cores are reportedly being considered. In any case, the advantage of using a separate processing element for a sensor hub is clear. It lets designers customize the processor and sensors, which "makes this a powerful and flexible approach to enable a wide range of sensor-based features," the Hillcrest spokeswoman said. Another approach -- one often taken by sensor vendors -- integrates processing with the sensors themselves. Next page: China market
This new coding technique uses the bandwidth more efficiently than differential signaling. The closest way of describing it is that Kandou is using spatial coding, whereas traditional FEC uses temporal coding. That is, Kandou introduces dependencis across the wires of an inteface, whereas channel coding introduces dependencies across time (from one clock cycle to the next). While temporal coding would be possible as well, it comes at the price of higher latency. Spatial coding, however, when properly designed and implemented, has close to no latency. Back to the coding part, the goal is to pack more information on the wires than possible with differential signaling, while retaining the properties of differential signaling. The things that make differential signaling robust are common mode resistance (essentially the fact that the receiver rejects noise of equal phase/amplitude on the wires, and the fact that the signals on the wires sum up to zero), there is no simultaneous switching output noise (meaning that current draw from the source does not depend on the particular bits sent), reference-less receivers, and low EMI noise. All these can be captured as mathematical conditions on the codebook used by the communication system, meaning the set of all values that are simultaneously transmitted on the wires. This part requires mathematical analysis. But what is really important and unique about Kandou's coding techniques is that the concept of an efficient detector is embedded in the definition of the code, and is implemented by a (one-shot) network of generalized comparators -- components that are the bread and butter of any SerDes, and can be robustly implemented in any CMOS technology. This puts the design and analysis of the coding system squarely into the mathematical domain without any compromise in implementation and efficiency. The comparators are such that they reject common mode noise, and are reference-less. The signals put on the wires sum up to zero, and draw the same current regardless of which particular code-word is transmitted. Moreover, the correct design of the codebook reduces EMI noise compared to differential signaling on the same number of wires and equal throughput. Regarding the Shannon limit: I am not 100% sure what noise types to take into account to compute the mutual information and from that the Shannon capacity, since Shannon's definitions don't take into account the efficiency of the implementation, or the power the detector uses. Channels in this environment are largely deterministic, so given enough processing power can be inverted (=fully equalized). This leads to a very large throughput, and the capacity can be calculated easily. However, in practice this is the part that is hardly possible, so the Shannon bounds attained this way are much much better than achievable. I think the only "differential" involved here is differential signal on two WIRES, not two nets. Here's the quote: "I asked him what's a differential pair, and he said it's a way of using complementary signals across two wires. I thought this was so inefficient," says Shokrollahi, a professor at the Swiss Polytechnic in Lausanne. Differential signals are used to reduce sensititvity to interference, along that link. For example, a noise spike creates a short-term voltage spike on a wire. The same voltage glitch will occur over each wire of the twisted pair. But if the twisted pair is used as a differential pair, where each wire carries the same signal as the other wire, but 180 degrees out of phase, then that "common mode" noise spike will be cancelled. The receiver won't detect any signal that is in phase, in the twisted pair. The receiver becomes more immune to ambient EMI. Any number of modulation schemes exist already, that provide greater bandwidth at the expense of higher vulnerability to noise. It's always a balancing act. So there's nothing unique in principle, described in the article. The only question should be, how much closer to the Shannon limit is this getting us? SerDes signals sent differentially across two nets will have a communications limit. But, if my understanding of this technology is correct, then one of the limiting factors is that you are only sending differential signals across these nets. You are limiting yourself to an encoding that isn't necessarily very efficient, yet it is the only one all of us have been using up till now. Instead of considering it one channel, consider the two nets as two channels that influence each other. One way of taking advantage of the crosstalk between the two channels is to only send differential signals. But is that the most efficient approach? Of course if you send non-differential signals across these nets, you better have a good understanding of the signal integrity effects of the alternately encoded signals, and how pre/post filtering and equalization affects the error rate. It looks like this is the meat of their invention. Had to laugh at the request that they open source it all. Yeah, and I wish Dell would send me free PCs, and I'll take a couple of Teslas too, while we're asking. There isn't enough information here to make any predictions. What is described is a common serializer-deserializer (SERDES) approach. Whatever special sauce there might be isn't hinted at. The typical case, though, is that the more bits per second you send down the link, within a given channel width, the less robust the link becomes. So for example, existing xDSL links are very much distance dependent. If you restrict the bit rate to 6.1 Mb/s, you can go up to 4 Km over the copper twisted pair. If you want 12 Mb/s, now you're limited to 1.5 Km over the copper cable. And so on. Using more copper twisted pairs in parallel, to create slower individual pairs which aggregate to a higher total bit rate, also allows longer distance over the copper cable, at the expense of needing more twisted pairs (including having to worry about synchronization among the twisted pairs). The only meaninglful question to ask is, once again, does this SERDES promise to get closer to the Shannon limit than previous techniques? Or does it promise to violate Shannon's equation? That's always the bottom line. Modern coding techniques can achieve a couple of dB from the Shannon limit. That's the question that needs to be addressed. A lot better understanding of what is being done, whether there are any limitations on the "ensemble" and what (if any) assumptions they require about the data. In addition I think we might like to see correctly operating IP as a requirement before deciding to use it. As we unveil EE Times’ 2015 Silicon 60 list, journalist & Silicon 60 researcher Peter Clarke hosts a conversation on startups in the electronics industry. Panelists Dan Armbrust (investment firm Silicon Catalyst), Andrew Kau (venture capital firm Walden International), and Stan Boland (successful serial entrepreneur, former CEO of Neul, Icera) join in the live debate.
10. Eragrostis pilosissima Link, Hort. Berol. 1: 189. 1827. 多毛知风草 duo mao zhi feng cao Eragrostis makinoi Hackel. Perennial. Culms tufted, erect, slender and rigid, 30–40 cm tall, less than 2 mm in diam. Leaf sheaths densely pilose, usually shorter than internodes but longer than internodes at base; ligules a line of hairs, ca. 0.3 mm; leaf blades usually involute, 5–10 × 0.1–0.2 cm, densely pilose at both surfaces. Panicle lax, 4–10 × 2–5 cm; branch usually solitary, slender, glabrous in axils. Spikelets yellow, oblong, 3–7 × ca. 2 mm, 7–14-flowered. Glumes ovate-oblong, subequal, 1–1.5 mm, apex acute. Lemmas ovate-oblong, apex obtuse, lateral veins faint. Palea slightly shorter than lemma, slightly arc-shaped, along keels ciliolate, persistent or tardily deciduous. Stamens 3; anthers ca. 0.8 mm. Caryopsis furrowed on one side, bluntly triangular in section. Fl. and fr. Aug. Mountain slopes. Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Jiangxi, Taiwan [SE Asia].
Public Auditorium in Cleveland was opened in 1922. It's been built in the Neoclassical style and stands on the Cleveland Mall as part of the "grand plan" group of buildings in similar design. It has a long history of impressive performers and visitors, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, to name a couple. It underwent restoration in 2010 and will continue it's life next to and incorporated with the new convention center currently being built. The architectural details are intricate and at times difficult to fully absorb. Like a sugary, over decorated birthday cake it makes you stop wide-eyed and think, all for me? And then your teeth start to hurt just thinking about taking a bite. But we wouldn't want it any other way. We want the corner piece with a big fat rose. No one ever says "go easy on the frosting". Well, no one I know. This building serves up it's period confections perfectly. You'll want to run a finger through it. One of the coolest part of this space is it's amazing murals that circle the main auditorium. Too see some images you can go here: Cleveland Public Auditorium
South Korea rejected North Korea's offer to take a series of steps to ease tension that included canceling Seoul's regular military drills with Washington, saying Friday that Pyongyang must take nuclear disarmament steps first. South Korea rejected North Korea’s offer to take a series of steps to ease tension that included canceling Seoul’s regular military drills with Washington, saying Friday that Pyongyang must take nuclear disarmament steps first. The North’s powerful National Defense Commission on Thursday proposed the rivals halt military actions and mutual vilification to build better relations. The North, however, strongly hinted it would maintain its nuclear weapons program and urged South Korea to cancel its upcoming springtime drills with the United States. The North’s overture is a sharp departure from its repeated threats of nuclear strikes against Seoul and Washington that raised tensions a year ago. Analysts say Kim Jong Un’s government hopes that improved ties with South Korea could help attract foreign investment to boost the communist nation’s lagging economy. On Friday, South Korea said it would press ahead with the drills which it says are defensive in nature and demanded that North Korea take “practical” actions for nuclear disarmament if it truly wants peace on the peninsula. - Purple Heart plant bed vandalized days before Memorial Day - Central District’s shrinking black community wonders what’s next - Refusal in Bernie Sandersland to accept reality is really unreal - Boeing tankers will be delivered to Air Force late — and incomplete - Seattle’s vanishing black community Most Read Stories “North Korea should keep in mind that trust between South and North Korea is something that can be demonstrated with action, not by words,” Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Eui-do told reporters. The North’s statement, which came after leader Kim called for improved ties in his New Year’s Day message, proposed the Koreas stop slandering each other on Jan. 30, a day before Lunar New Year’s Day which is celebrated by both sides. The North also said it will first take steps to halt acts of provoking South Korea near the disputed western sea boundary, the scene of several bloody skirmishes between the Koreas in recent years, and in other areas. South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Friday it would “unsparingly” punish North Korea if it uses the South Korea-U.S. drills as a justification for any provocation. Spokesman Kim Min-seok said that South Korea will continue to bolster its defenses around front-line islands near the sea boundary. Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korea studies at Seoul’s Dongguk University, said North Korea is likely to respond to Seoul’s rejection by increasing the level of its rhetoric but not with actual force. “For the time being, South-North relations will be like walking on thin ice” until the South Korea-U.S. drills end, he said. Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at the same university, said the North’s proposal appears to be aimed at setting the groundwork for blaming South Korea for tensions between the countries in the future. “I don’t think North Korea made these proposals believing that South Korea would accept them,” he said. North Korea has made similar conciliatory gestures in the past to win concessions and aid after stoking tensions. Last year, North Korean leader Kim also talked about improved ties with South Korea in his New Year’s Day message, but followed that with a nuclear test in February and threats of nuclear war in the following months. Associated Press writer Eun-Young Jeong contributed to this report.
One of the major factors that contribute to children falling behind in reading is the learning loss that occurs during summer break. Low-income students, in particular, lose two to three months in reading achievement over the summer. This summer, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has teamed with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, numerous city agencies, city schools, and nonprofit organizations for Super Summer, a full-time fun and engaging summer program for nearly 1,500 children in Baltimore's most challenged neighborhoods. Summer Associates on the Case Fifty VISTA Summer Associates have been assigned to 10 low-income school sites for Super Summer, which combines traditional summer camp activities with enriching learning experiences that help first through third graders prepare to return to school in the fall. Activities include a summer reading academy, and recreation and play activities that promote fitness, build positive social interaction skills, and provide a fun outlet for youthful energy. The children also get to enjoy healthy meals every day and weekly field trips. This is the first full-day summer-long effort to reverse the “Summer Slide,” which low-income children experience without reading activities, and the “Summer Slump,” the tendency toward childhood obesity when children don't have access to healthy meals and safe places to play in the summer. Lessons for the Teachers Not only have the children benefitted from the opportunities to read and play throughout the summer, but 50 young Baltimore residents have been introduced to the AmeriCorps VISTA volunteerism environment and are serving -- right here, right now -- in their community. And while the VISTAs are helping transform the lives of little kids, they are learning some lessons, too. “The kids and the project are amazing. Now that I have worked with the kids, I think I may go into teaching after college,” said Breché Wells, a biochemistry major who leads the PlayWorks component of the program at Liberty Elementary School as a Summer VISTA. Another VISTA Summer Associate, Brian Simpson, is actually homeless and has been on his own since age 15. He leaves a transitional housing facility every morning to lead kids in a day of activities that turn playtime into a tool to support learning. Observers can see that the children look up to Simpson as the proud PlayWorks manager guides them through their day. Simpson is using this summer to give back to the community before he begins studies at Coppin State University this fall to pursue a degree in history. Brian sees his summer service as an opportunity to enrich Baltimore children and help them gain the tools he didn't have, so they can make good choices for a brighter future. To learn more about the Baltimore program, visit the Super Summer website. Laura Kelly is a VISTA Leader in the Office of the Mayor in Baltimore.
S.F. looks at charging for Sunday meter parking Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, April 27, 2010 Time may be running out for drivers who park free at meters on Sundays in San Francisco. City transportation officials are pushing a plan to enforce parking meters in five neighborhood commercial corridors on Sundays for a 90-day test period starting in June. The targeted areas: the Chestnut Street and Union Street in the Marina/Cow Hollow area; the Inner Richmond, which includes Clement Street; Hayes Valley; West Portal; and a portion of the Financial District adjacent to North Beach. Meter operations also would be extended later into the night in Fisherman's Wharf as part of the pilot project. The areas were picked because they're already part of a larger study that will soon look at how meter rates and time restrictions affect parking availability and traffic congestion. Officials say the benefits of charging for parking on Sundays are a higher turnover at high-demand curbside spaces, which could make it easier for people to find a parking space in the city's commercial corridors. It also could produce extra revenue for the Municipal Transportation Agency and reduce the need to cut transit service and raise fares. But many people just don't like the idea of taking away a freebie. Motorists would have to pay $2 to $3.50 an hour to park at a meter, with the cost varying by neighborhood, and if the meter expires, the fine ranges from $55 to $65. Expanding meter operations "makes sense from a technical, a philosophical standpoint, but from a practical standpoint, in terms of talking to businesses and talking to residents, there's not a lot of support there," said Nathaniel Ford, executive director of the Municipal Transportation Agency. Still, he recently told the Board of Supervisors' budget committee in promoting the trial, "We do want to move forward with it because as a parking policy we think it makes good sense." Chronic revenue shortfall The proposal comes as the Municipal Transportation Agency is struggling to deal with a chronic revenue shortfall that has necessitated plans to enact a 10 percent cut in Muni service on May 8. Transit activists have demanded that the city, which has a transit-first policy, extract more money from drivers to help fund the city's bus and rail operation. The Sunday meter pilot project is not anticipated to generate additional revenue, but if the program later were expanded citywide, it could generate an estimated $2.8 million a year after costs, according to the agency. The agency's governing board, which rejected the idea of extending meter hours last year, still must sign off on beginning the pilot study. For now, agency staff is meeting with merchant and neighborhood groups and members of the Board of Supervisors whose districts would be affected, hoping to build support or, at least, blunt opposition. "Drivers already feel nickeled and dimed by the city," said Alioto-Pier, who represents the Marina and Cow Hollow. "This is a transit-first city, not a transit-only city." Mar called the proposal "regressive taxation" and an unfair one that would single out certain neighborhoods. Testing public reaction Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who represents Hayes Valley, said he supports the pilot project to test public reaction. But Hayes Street shop owner Aldo Picchi doesn't even like the idea of a trial, and echoed several other merchants interviewed Monday in the Richmond, Marina and Hayes Valley. "Free parking on Sundays gives people a break. I think people are fed up with always having to pay for parking and worry about tickets." As part of the pilot plan, motorists would be allowed to park at meters in some neighborhoods for four hours, instead of the one or two now allowed. Some meters would accept credit cards for convenience. While the supervisors don't have final approval of whether to go ahead with the pilot, their positions are expected to be taken into consideration. Mayor Gavin Newsom, who appoints the Municipal Transportation Agency directors, said he wants to proceed on the Sunday meters experiment only if there's buy-in from the affected business and neighborhood groups, and the district supervisors. He said he personally doesn't like the idea of Sunday meter operations and is adamantly against nighttime meters. Newsom, who is well aware of the political blowback that occurred in Oakland when meter hours were extended, said free parking on Sundays in San Francisco is "sacrosanct. ... I have a feeling this will be a short-lived pilot."
Open house to showcase new Surrey campus Contact: Terry Lavender, PAMR, 778.782.7408 SFU Surrey invites the community to check out the new Surrey campus at an open house on Saturday, Sept. 9 (noon-4 p.m). For a complete rundown of events and times see www.surrey.sfu.ca/opening. Here are some highlights, including several with good photo potential: Dramatic architecture, accentuated by a nautical theme and use of massive peeler logs – the creation of architect Bing Thom and interior designers Omicron and Raven Design — make SFU Surrey a campus with plenty of visual interest. - Watch Jim Bizzocchi’s video ‘paintings’ — moving imagery designed as background artwork — including Streaming Video, a study of moving water. Computer animation expert Steve DiPaola will show how his new virtual beluga whale exhibit will one day enhance visits to the Vancouver Aquarium. - The Mastermind project is a product of computational criminology — see how it tracks an offender’s mobility and predicts where repeat offenders might strike. - Researcher Tamara Smyth will demonstrate computers that can create virtual musical instruments. - Let Homeless: It’s No Game teach you about homelessness — a virtual game created by graduate student Terry Lavender. - Experience interactive arts and technology demos: -the worm band tunnel allows you to crawl through a worm tunnel and make music as you go; -the Carbonator tests your level of environmental friendliness; -Lego Mindstorms and NXT robots teach children about sensor technologies - Become a surgeon — visitors can remove buck-shot or dissect a liver at a demo of engineering science’s endoscopic surgical tools. - SFU’s aerial robotics group model helicopter UAV combines gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer and an embedded computer into a fully functional navigation/flight system — see how it works. - See how computing science is helping to analyze molecules in the field of molecular biology — through the use of special tools created by researchers at SFU. - ‘Squeak’ is the ultimate digital toy box, enabling young kids to do everything from writing interactive stories to creating music or movies. - Hear SFU forensic entomologist Gail Anderson talk about her CSI related work: 1:30 p.m., rm 2600 - Jen Marchbank, director of explorations in arts and social sciences shares her studies on a thriving business — the mail order bride industry. 1 p.m., rm 3090 - Two degrees in one — Yan Jin will explain how SFU computing science students can participate in a new dual degree program — and secure degrees from SFU and Zhejiang University in China: 1 p.m. Can business be an art form? Imagination boot camp is aimed at the business crowd. Ginger Grant teaches at SFU and is an international expert in corporate strategy using the power of archetypal psychology. Camp runs from noon – 2 p.m. in the student lounge. Business Apprentice: The Margin. SFU business students will have 24 hours to create a strategic plan to turn a small amount of cash into a healthy profit — where margin is key. Watch students compete at various locations on campus between 2-3 p.m. - Watch a traditional lion dance on the mezzanine at 2 p.m., and dancers, including the Jawani Bhangera Team, the Salsa Club, Argentine Tango, and the SFU Girls Giddha team, throughout the afternoon.
Piano (Bastien Supplementary Books) - Primer Composed by James Bastien. Bastien Piano. Hymns. Sacred, Hymns. Music Book. Published by Neil A. Kjos Music Company (KJ.WP226). Item Number: KJ.WP226 Each level contains a stirring variety of sacred music -- ideal for sharing with family and friends, or for Sunday School activities. Duet parts are included for many Primer Level and Level selections. Correlated with Bastien Piano Basics, can be used with any beginning piano method. Songs include Faith of Our Fathers, Jesus Loves Me (Primer); Jesus Loves the Little Children, When the Saints Go Marching In (Level 1); Amazing Grace, Battle Hymn of the Republic (Level 2); In the Sweet By and By, A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Level 3), and more! Primer.
Folk Blues for Fingerstyle Guitar Guitar (fingerpicking) - Intermediate-Advanced A Two Volume DVD Set. Composed by Stefan Grossman. Boxed, Self Instruction, Methods. Grossman Guitar Workshop. Instructional video. Folk. 2-DVD Set. Duration 177 minutes. Published by Grossman's Guitar Workshop (MB.GW990SDVD). Item Number: MB.GW990SDVD 5.25 x 7.5 inches. In this double DVD set, Stefan Grossman teaches a wide array of folk blues arrangements. You will study playing in various tunings, i.e. Standard, Dropped D, DADGAD, Open D and Open C tunings. The songs range from popular blues and rags to old-time mountain ballads. All are taught phrase by phrase and the movements of both the left and right hands are clearly illustrated on the split screens. A detailed tab/music booklet is included as PDF files on each DVD as well as printed format. As an extra bonus, original old recordings from the 1920s and 1930s are included so that you can hear the roots from where these tunes derived.
The name Yahya is an Egyptian baby name. In Egyptian the meaning of the name Yahya is: Given by God. The name Yahya is a Muslim baby name. In Muslim the meaning of the name Yahya is: The Biblical John is the English language equivalent. A Prophet's name. People with this name have a deep inner desire for love and companionship, and want to work with others to achieve peace and harmony.Expression Number: 6 for harmony and balance in their lives, and respond positively to beautiful things. And you'll see personalized content just for you whenever you click the My Feed . SheKnows is making some changes!
It totally makes sense that since this is a first-person narrative, we learn a lot about Sasha from what goes on inside his head. One of the first things we learn from his thoughts and attitudes toward others is that he's naive. He thinks Stalin is a "brilliant genius of humanity" (13.4) (when he's actually a cruel and brutal dictator). We're also hip to the fact that he thinks the best of people, even when that proves to be a bad move: his dad is the greatest hero of all Communism (1.1), and Nina Petrovna is the bestest teacher who ever chalked her name on a blackboard (13.11). A clue: Both of these turn out to be not-so-true. From Nina Petrovna engaging in brutal fisticuffs with her own student, to the Senior Lieutenant of the State Security stepping up to arrest children for being terrorists, actions go a long way in this book toward giving us the skinny on Yelchin's characters. For example, we can easily figure out that the Senior Lieutenant is a ruthless and cold enforcer of the State because he's willing to knock people around, arrest them in the middle of the night, and coerce children into becoming spies by hanging the threat of prison over their heads. On the other hand, we know Sasha even early on rejects many of the things he's been taught: he initially refuses to throw the snowball at Four-Eyes, later feels sorry about it and refuses to laugh at him (when all of the other children do so), and risks his own life to wait in the freezing cold (behind roughly eleventy-hundred people) to try to visit his dad in prison. Speech and Dialogue Words, words, words. In Breaking Stalin's Nose, we can tell a lot about people by how they speak to others. Nina Petrovna and Sergei Ivanych don't shy away from throwing around racial slurs: she makes fun of Four-Eyes for rocking back and forth, taunting him that he's "not in synagogue" (13.19); and the principal sneeringly notes that he's gotten rid of "that Jew, Finkelstein" (23.18). There are some silver linings to these clouds, though, and through speech and dialogue, we get a few examples of characters who are kind: Sasha (of course!) and the nice lady in line at Lubyanka prison.
The Genetic Code (A DaVinci Code for Biologists)You hear about DNA all the time in the news, movies, and a surprisingly high number of Law & Order: SVU episodes. But, do you really know what DNA is? Sure, you hear about it a lot: DNA this, DNA that, blah, blah…blah. You are reading this unit, though, so we will assume that you are looking to learn more. DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid (say that five times fast!) and is the basis for Life as we know it. Contrary to unpopular belief, deoxyribonucleic acid is not a word that amateur spellers use to show off their spelling skills. In order for something to be a living organism, it must be able to do the following: - Respond to stimuli - Reproduce (with or without the aid of Marvin Gaye) - Adapt to its environment Nucleic Acids (DNA vs. RNA)Many of the molecules in a cell are polymers of various smaller molecules. DNA is a polymer of nucleic acids and proteins are polymers of amino acids. You would be a monomer of a conga line polymer. The basic unit for DNA and its brother RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a nucleotide, also sometimes called nucleobases, nucleosides, or just "bases." Yes, these guys have a lot of nicknames. Nucleotides are also oftenly mistakenly referred to as nucleic acids. A nucleotide has 3 basic components: - A phosphate backbone - A ribose in ribonucleic acid (RNA) (or deoxyribose in DNA) (a five-membered-ringed sugar) - A nitrogenous base (see Bases subsection). Carbons in ribose are numbered 1´, 2´, 3´, and so on, going clockwise from the oxygen in the ring. DNA and RNA are polymerized through the 5´ phosphate group, with new nucleotides added to the polymer at the hydroxyl group on the third (3´) carbon. This polymerization is why scientists often describe the DNA/RNA sequence based on a 5´ to 3´ orientation. Your Starting Lineup...DNA BasesLife has a do-it-yourself kit to make proteins, with DNA as the warehouse for all the instruction manuals. Yes, there are a lot of instructions. DNA has all the instructions for making thousands of different proteins, and unlike real DIY kits, you are never left with six extra screws with no known purpose. Amazingly, DNA does the job of making thousands of different proteins only using four different letters (A, T, G, and C). Talented? Why, yes! The letters A, T, G, and C stand for four different types of nucleotides: - A for adenine - T for thymine - G for guanine - C for cytosine In RNA, thymine is replaced by the base uracil (U). Why is RNA so rebellious, you might ask? We will get to that a little later. If you cannot wait, read the Big Theme on Evolution to find out. Base PairingThe bases in nucleic acids are divided into two groups based on themolecules they are most similar to: pyrimidines and purines. Purines have large double-ringed compounds and are represented by guanine and adenine in both DNA and RNA. Pyrimidines have smaller rings represented by cytosine and thymine in DNA, and cytosine and uracil in RNA. A trick for remembering that uracil goes with RNA is to realize that uracil is the only nucleotide with an "r" in its name. These two categories of bases are like the Sharks and Jets (too obscure? How about wolves and vampires?) or some other example of things that always face off against each other. Pyrimidines bind purines, and vice versa. Therefore, As bind to Ts (or Us, in RNA), and Gs bind to Cs. This binding is called "complementary" base pairing. Based on the structure of adenine and thymine versus guanine and cytosine, we can see that there are subtle variations between bonds. A-T bonds are considered weak because there are fewer hydrogen bonds between bases, compared to G-C bonds. That is, A-T has 2 bonds, and G-C has 3. Therefore, G-C bonds are stronger than A-T bonds, and it takes more energy to separate G-C bonds than A-T bonds. If DNA were a school dance, G-C would be the couple that is dancing "way too close," and A-T would be the more polite (reserved?) couple. DNA vs. RNADNA and RNA together comprise all the information in a cell. DNA is typically found double-stranded, where two polymers of nucleotides bind to each other through base pairing (see "Base Pairing"), forming what we call a "double helix." The two strands are in antiparallel orientation, meaning that they are aligned head-to-toe in both directions. As mentioned in the "Nucleic Acids" section, nucleic acid polymers are read 5´ to 3´ based on addition of the next nucleic acid in the sequence. Therefore, while one strand runs 5´ to 3´ from the top down, the other goes 3´ to 5´ from the top down. The second strand is called the "reverse complement," based on the fact that the second strand is in reverse orientation and is complementary to the first strand (see "Base Pairing" for explanation), and not because it is a compliment that sounds like an insult. Check this out to see how RNA folds. RNA on the other hand, is rarely found in double-stranded forms in a cell. Instead, RNA is a single strand and often has a "secondary structure." The primary structure is the sequence of bases. This secondary structure causes RNA to fold by bases binding complementary bases within the same RNA molecule. RNA folding is important for preventing RNA from getting destroyed, and for for signaling to stop translation (see "RNA Transcription"). Scientists first found nucleotides by extracting them from natural samples. Adenine, thymine, and cytosine came from glands in the body. Guanine was extracted from sea bird poop. Science once again proves that being a weirdo studying poop is actually a worthwhile pursuit.
A Good Man is Hard to Find Family Quotes How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Paragraph) There were two more pistol reports and the grandmother raised her head like a parched old turkey hen crying for water and called, "Bailey Boy, Bailey Boy!" as if her heart would break. (133) We think the grandmother's heart probably is breaking at this point, because both here and shortly afterwards she no longer seems in control of herself (she becomes dizzy and sinks to the ground). If there's one moment at which you feel sorry for the grandmother in the story, and in which it's clear she really does care for her son, this is that moment. But even here there's still that bit of dark humor; we get the image of the woman as a parched old turkey.
Book Review of "The Turin Shroud: In Whose Image?"by Professor Daniel C. Scavone University of Southern Indiana Copyright 1996 All Rights Reserved Reprinted by permission. Review of Lynn Picknett & Clive Prince, THE TURIN SHROUD: IN WHOSE IMAGE?, New York, Harper Collins, 1994. For years opponents of the Shroud's authenticity have been proclaiming that the image was a painting (McCrone) or a rubbing (Joe Nickell). The argument of this book presupposes that the image on the Shroud is not a painting and, in fact, is that of an actual human body: considerable admissions from the sindonoclast camp. It is a position that concedes that no ancient artistic technique is known by which the anatomically correct human figure on the Turin Shroud could have been manufactured. It accepts that the Shroud fits no medieval artistic genre or style. The Shroud's image is very faint, superficial (it is known that the image on the Turin Shroud resides only on the peaks of the fibers) and lacks artists' pigments and brush strokes. (See Isabel Piczek's article [on this website], "Is The Shroud of Turin a Painting?", demolishing the notion of the Shroud as a painting.) The title of this book asks "In Whose Image?" The authors provide an answer: Leonardo da Vinci was genius enough to have created it. On this point it is difficult to disagree, judging from the work of Leonardo and Vasari's high praise of his genius. Leonardo's notebooks have revealed an incredibly fertile scientific curiosity and creativity. All would agree in a casual way that IF anyone could have invented a rudimentary method of photography in the Renaissance, he is a plausible candidate. They go further: Only Leonardo could have done it. This is probably not true, as other artists are known to have studied anatomy, experimented with sfumato technique, and, as alchemists, worked with vegetal and mineral chemicals. The authors' next conclusion is one that does not follow by the rules of logic or history: Because Leonardo could have done it, therefore he DID do it. He did it, moreover, not by any method of conventional art, but by means of photography, and the Shroud is proof of it. Shroud "politics" aside, Leonardo as author of the Shroud is a wonderfully exciting, if sensationalist, idea. It draws strength from the science of radiocarbon (C14) dating, which in 1988 proclaimed, with 95% certainty, that the Shroud was produced in the late Middle Ages between 1260 and 1390. Sadly for the premise of this book, Leonardo was not born until 1452 (died 1519). The C14 labs, however, also reinforce the message of confidence in their dates by adding that they are 99.9% certain the Shroud was produced between 1000 and 1500, making it chronologically possible for Leonardo to have made it. The Leonardo connection loses virtually its entire scientific underpinning, however, when one notices that the labs are thus only about 5% certain of the extended time span and only 2.5% certain the Shroud could be as late as 1500. They are, after all, 95% certain it was made 1260-1390. Since 1988, the only doubts about these late radiocarbon dates for the Shroud are pointing to a much earlier time, and not in the chronological direction needed by Picknett and Prince. Blissful, the authors further believe that the face of the man on the Shroud is a self-photograph of Leonardo, one that closely resembles his well known self-portrait in red chalk with only the salient highlights of his features sketched in. Meanwhile, they suggest that the body on the Shroud is that of a crucified cadaver studied by Leonardo. So, they suppose, history's proto photo is a clever composite. Everyone knows that the face on the Shroud does seem on sight to be disembodied; this is owing to the absence of image where the Shroud was stretched over the collarbone, too distant from the body at that point to leave its marks. Ockham's razor would prefer this mundane explanation over one so patently and tendentiously striving to make itself respectable. Though all prior measurements of the height of the Shroud man range between 5'10" and 6', the authors determined his height to be 6'8" to 6'10". Based on this, they note that the head, at 1/9 of the body instead of the average 1/8, is actually too small. So after extolling the genius of Leonardo throughout their pages, Picknett writes, ". . . From our calculations the face belongs to a man who was between 5ft 10in and 6ft tall. But if the image as a whole is so brilliant, what artist in his right mind would get the head so wrong? Could he have done so deliberately?" This question leads the authors to another assertion: Leonardo was a member of a secret society called the Priory of Sion, which esteemed John the Baptist over Jesus. Therefore, the apparent disembodied head visible on the Shroud man was Leonardo's cipher for the decapitated Baptist. Leonardo's use of his own photo, they argue, was owing to his inordinate vanity, the same that prompted him to encode his own face in his famous portrait of Mona Lisa, wife of Francesco de Giocondo. This theory was confirmed by Lillian Schwartz of Bell Laboratories and Dr. Digby Quested of London, who discovered that it matched up perfectly with the major lines of Leonardo's face in the above-mentioned self-portrait at age sixty. Picknett writes "Leonardo was capable of subtly building his own image into that of his masterpieces; if he had done so with the Mona Lisa, why not with the Shroud?" (It should be noted that Dr. Alan Whanger, retired from Duke University, has demonstrated that the Shroud man's face also bears strong likeness, with hundreds of points of congruence, to 6th c. icons and 7th c. coins; this essentially neutralizes the Leonardo-likeness theory.) The construction of the Leonardo-photography hypothesis has been as thoroughly thought through as possible. It is unfortunate that, as the authors assert, Leonardo found his discovery too "hot" to mention anywhere in writing. It thus lacks any documentation; it rests on no foundation. Finally, an illustration of the burial of Jesus in the Hungarian Pray manuscript, firmly dated in the early 1190s, depicts him with hands folded exactly as on the Turin Shroud; on the same page a drawing of the Resurrection clearly bears a configuration of four tiny circles which perfectly reproduce four apparent "poker holes" on the Turin Shroud. A drawing of the Shroud from the year 1516 (prior to the well documented fire of 1532 which caused the major burn marks still visible on the Shroud) in Lierre, Belgium also bears this very configuration. This configuration of four marks, undoubtedly inspired by the Shroud in 1190 is alone sufficient to negate the hypothesis of this book. To summarize: First, the authors ask their readers to believe that because Leonardo was genius enough to have made a primitive camera, ergo he did do it. He then created the Shroud. But he could not say he had done it for certain undocumented reasons. Thus the reasons had to be contrived by the authors. Picknett, a spiritualist, produced a correspondant named "Giovanni," who first put her on to her ideas. This does not suffice as academically acceptible documentation. Second, the argument that history's proto-photo was a life- sized photo(!) on a fourteen-foot cloth(!) that was a composite(!): double corpse with daubed-on blood and, in separate processes, Leonardo's own head front and back, is a priori far-fetched. The premise is more demanding of faith than is the authenticity of the Shroud. I am led to ask why Leonardo has left us his self-portrait in red chalk and not his photo, and why he would use another body when Vasari notes that his own physique was near-perfect, and everybody knows his exorbitant vanity. Third, looking at the Turin Shroud, they say this absolute genius stupidly daubed a still flowing bloodstain on the hand of a supposed corpse and allowed other anatomical inconsistencies very unlikely for his IQ. Besides, why would this genius think he required a crucified corpse, knowing full well that he was going to supply actual bloodstains afterwords, and that his own body would do. Fourth, they use the d'Arcy memorandum for all it is worth to them and forget that his memo acknowledges the presence of a strange "painting" in Lirey in 1389! They play down the Seine medallion, physical evidence which describes the head-to-head arrangement of the body already in Lirey 50 years before Leonardo was born. Their theory cannot be taken seriously. Finally, as a historian I must note the authors' superficial treatment of Shroud history. They say what may be read anywhere; but historical documentation of the Shroud has gone miles beyond where Joe Nickell stopped. I note their ignorance about the details that refute the d'Arcis memo. Among these, in 1389, supposed year of his memo, his Troyes cathedral's roof caved in and it had to be closed; expenses demanded a draw to bring in the pilgrims and their donations; people accused him "of wanting it for himself," as his own memo states. It is not an outrageous notion. I note also their ignorance about the Byzantine historians' texts that make the lie of Villehardouin's remarks about the imperial treasuries not being looted; about the uniqueness they ascribe to Robert de Clari's evidence: the references are, in fact, numerous; about Ian Wilson's brilliant reconstruction of the mass of evidence indicating the mandylion was full-length (now including the Gregory referendarius document of 944); and about the evidence of the (Hungarian) Pray Manuscript, placing a cloth with Shroud-like burn marks as early as 1192. These data together have revolutionized the study of the history of the Turin Shroud and placed it on an academically reputable plane much higher than was possible even twenty years ago. The authors do not seem to have known or cared about these data, creating a presumption of carelessness in presenting their other facts. Radiocarbon dating and absolute certainty aside, historical documents really do tend to support; not to say prove the antiquity of the Shroud. The problem these authors have not risen to understanding is that the subtleties in defining the arguments for and against the Shroud, the energy to follow through to real primary sources, and a sense of what is credible in assessing documents (I note their omission of footnoted references for crucial statements!) are beyond most non-historians. Allow me to notice a more general and more destructive weakness of the entire composite of explanations for the Shroud image: it cannot explained simultaneously as "a paint layer made up of red ochre or vermillion and collagen tempera" (McCrone), a jeweler's rouge powder rubbing (Joe Nickell), a carbon powder rubbing (Emily A. Craig and Randall R. Bresee, "Image Formation and the Shroud of Turin," in Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, Vol. 38, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 1994, 59-67), an aloes and myrrh powder rubbing (Kersten and Gruber, Das Jesu Komplott), AND a photo. Besides, the results obtained by these "finally-the-truth-about-the-Shroud" methods are, one and all quite poor. When South African scholar Dr. Nicholas Allen, Chair of Fine Arts at the University of Port Elizabeth, published his Shroud-as-photograph theory in 1993 that, consonant with the radiocarbon dating of the Shroud, his hypothetical photo was made before 1356, he overcame some of the palpable weaknesses of the Leonardo theory. Today we know the ingredients and requirements for making a photo. We can read a children's handbook and make rudimentary home-made pictures. Dr. Allen notes that all the ingredients were available in the 14th c., and all one had to do was suspend the corpse for three to four days in sunlight, at the proper focusing distance from the fourteen-foot cloth that has been treated with silver nitrate or silver sulphate, outside a large camera obscura whose aperture contains a double convex quartz crystal lens fifteen centimeters in diameter and seven milimeters thick, then fix the negative image with ammonia or with urine. Both of the photography theories found it important to insist that the necessary materials were known much earlier and essentially were "in place" for the right genius. This does not explain why those same ingredients were not exploited in the following centuries of great scientific curiosity that followed: the Renaissance could only come up with a hand-made grid or mirror through which an artist might achieve relative size and perspective in his landscape; a master of photography would not have kept his secret to himself in this age of proto-capitalism and profits. No genius of the 16th century Scientific Revolution could get to photography, nor of the 17th and 18th centuries, ages of photographic realism in painting. The Shroud-as-UNIQUE-photograph theories seem to be founded upon the unlikeliest scenarios, throwing back to a single genius what is common knowledge today, the results of centuries of gradual, groping, painstaking approach to the precisely correct combinations of ingredients and materials for the making of photographs.
The following information was developed for the Risk Management for Collecting Organisations Workshops. Please feel free to use it to guide your reading in the area. Jump ahead to the section you are interested in by clicking on a title in the list of four blue headings below. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. 2007. ASHRAE Handbook - HVAC Applications. Chapter 21 – Museums, Galleries, Archives and Libraries: 1-23. (See notes below at Resources.) Antomarchi, C., A. Brokerhof, S. Michalski, I. Verger, and R. R. Waller, 2005. Teaching Risk Management of Collections Internationally. Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals. Vol. 2(2): 117-140. Appelbaum, B. 2007. Conservation Treatment Methodology. Butterworth-Heineman, Oxford, 437pp. Apostolakis, G. 2004. How useful is quantitative risk assessment? Risk Analysis. Vol. 24(3): 515-520. Ashley-Smith, J. 2001. Practical uses of risk analysis. The Paper Conservator. Vol. 25: 59-63. Ashley-Smith, J. 1999. Risk assessment for object conservation. Butterworth-Heineman, Oxford, 358pp. Baer, N.S. 2001. Risk management, value and decision-making. The Paper Conservator. Vol. 25: 53-58. Baer, N.S. and F. Snikars. 2001. Rational decision-making in the preservation of cultural property. Dahlem Workshop Report 86. Dahlem University Press, Berlin, 304pp. Baer, N.S. 1984. Risk assessment as applied to the setting of solvent toxicity limits. In N.S. Brommelle, E. Pye, P.Smith and G. Thomson (eds) Adhesives and consolidants. Preprints of the International Congress. International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Paris: 27-31. Bradley, S. 2005. Defining suitability of museum galleries by risk mapping. Preprints of the 14th Triennial Meeting of the International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation. The Hague: 574-581. Brokerhof, A.W. 2006. Collection risk management – the next frontier. Presented at the Canadian Museums Association Cultural Property Protection Conference. Ottawa, 16 January 2006. 5 pp. Brokerhof, A.W., T. Luger, B. Ankersmit, and F. Bergevoet, R. Schillemans, P. Schoutens, T. Muller, J. Kiers, G. Muething, and R. Waller. 2005. Risk assessment of Museum Amstelkring: application to an historic building and its collections and the consequences for preservation management. Preprints of the 14th Triennial Meeting of the International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation, The Hague, September: 591-596. Bullock, V.M. 2012. The Marriage of Risk Assessment and Significance Assessment: challenges and opportunities. Guest edited by Robert Waller 'The International Symposium on Cultural Property Risk Analysis', a focus issue of Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals, Vol. 8(4), Fall, pp. 307-322. Bullock, V.M. 2012. Integrated Collection Management: an investigation into combining collection significance assessment and risk assessment for training purposes. Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material (AICCM) Bulletin, Vol. 33, pp. 62-72. Bullock, V.M. 2011. Collections Management: its value as a unifying concept. Preprints of the 16th Triennial Conference of the International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation, Lisbon, September. Available for purchase at: http://www.criterio.biz/icom-cc-preprints-2011/ Canadian Conservation Institute. 1994. Framework for Preservation of Museum Collections Wallchart. (See notes below at 'Resources'.) Cato, P., R.R. Waller, L. Sharp, J. Simmons, and S. L. Williams (eds). 1996. Developing Staff Resources for Managing Collections – an initiative cosponsored by the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Special Publication number 4 of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. 71pp. Available for purchase at: http://www.vmnh.net/products/cats/id/58/special-publications Hopkin, P. 2010. Fundamentals of Risk Management – understanding, evaluating and implementing effective risk management. The Institute of Risk Management, London, 320pp. Hubbard, D.W. 2009. The Failure of Risk Management – why it’s broken and how to fix it. John Wiley and Sons. Hoboken, New Jersey, 281pp. Li, G. 2010. Calculating Community Risk: a transdisciplinary inquiry into contemporary understandings of risk. In V.A. Brown, J.A. Harris and J.Y. Russell (eds) Tackling Wicked Problems: through the transdisciplinary imagination. Earthscan, London, 312pp. Meul, V. 2008. Safeguarding the significance of ensembles: value assessments in risk management for cultural heritage. Preprints of the 15th Triennial Meeting of the International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation. New Delhi, Vol. 2: 1048-1055. Michalski, S. 2000. A systematic approach to preservation: description and integration with other museum activities. In A. Roy and P. Smith (eds) Tradition and Innovation – advances in conservation. Preprints of the International Congress. International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Melbourne: 8-11. Michalski, S. 1990. An overall framework for preventive conservation and remedial conservation. Preprints of the 9th Triennial Meeting of the International Council of Museum Committee for Conservation. Dresden: 589-591. Muething, G., R. Waller, and F. Graham, F. 2005. Risk assessment of collections in exhibitions at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation. Vol. 44(3): 233-243. Taylor, J, Blades, N. and Cassar, M. 2006 Dependency modelling for cultural heritage, Proceedings of Safeguarded Cultural Heritage - Understanding and Viability for the Enlarged Europe, eds. M. Dradcky and M. Chapuis, Prague: Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic pp. 51-59. Taylor, J. 2005. An integrated approach to risk assessments and condition surveys. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation. Vol. 44(2): 127-141. The Best in Heritage, 2004. Canadian Museum of Nature wins awards for its commitment to preservation, particularly through its 'innovative risk management approach to the conservation of natural history collections and the Museum's commitment to effectively sharing this expertise with others': http://www.thebestinheritage.com/presentations/2004/canadian-museum-of-nature,105.html [Malfunctioning link noticed January 2015] Valis, S. 2000. Conservation strategy for the natural science collections at the Australian Museum: a technical note. AICCM Bulletin. Vol. 25: 41-46. Waller, R. and G. Muething. 2004. Assessing risks to your collection. Workshop booklet from the American Institute for Conservation 32nd Annual Meeting . Portland, Oregon. Waller, R. 2003. Cultural property risk analysis model: development and application to preventive conservation at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Göteborg Studies in Conservation. Vol. 13. Göteborg: Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis. Available for purchase at: http://www.ub.gu.se/publicera/acta/univ/gsc.xml for around $AUD40.00 incl. postage. (Swedish Kroner 200+). Waller, R. 1994. Risk management applied to preventive conservation. Preprints of the 15th International Congress. International Institute for Conservation of Historical and Artistic Works. Official Standards purchase is in the form of a limited license for own professional use. The following standards can be accessed through the Significance International website under the Resources tab, under the ‘Risk analysis and management’ heading. AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Australian /New Zealand/International Standard Risk management – principles and guidelines. HB 327:2010 (Handbook) Communicating and consulting about risk.(Companion to AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009) AS/NZS 5050: 2010 Australian/New Zealand Standard Business continuity – managing disruption-related risk. HB 266:2010 (Handbook) Guide for managing risk in not-for-profit organisations. BS EN 31010:2010 (British Standard/European Norm) Risk management, Risk assessment techniques. ISO/IEC Guide 73 (2009) Risk management – Vocabulary – Guidelines for use in standards. COSO Enterprise Risk Management – Integrated Framework (2004). Available for purchase at: http://www.cpa2biz.com/AST/Main/CPA2BIZ_Primary/InternalControls/COSO/PRDOVR~PC-990015/PC-990015.jsp [Free Executive Summary available at: http://www.coso.org/documents/COSO_ERM_ExecutiveSummary.pdf] Barfield, R. Risk appetite: how hungry are you? Price Waterhouse Coopers (N.D.) [financial] Bullock, V.M. 2014. Significance assessment as a way to salvage prioritising. Essays from the Museum Heritage Risk Management Professional Training Institute. Ibermuseus seminar held in Brasilia, Brazil in 2011, pp. 272-278: http://www.significanceinternational.com/Portals/0/Documents/IbermuseusRiskManagementInstitueEssays_2011.pdf Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI), International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), Instituut Collectie Nederlands (ICN), 2007, Sources of Information for Cultural Heritage Risk Management [collections] Furedi, F. 2011. What does it take to be a good leader and what is a good leader? John Bonython Lecture by the Centre for Independent Studies, Sydney. Available from ABC Radio National's Big Ideas program at: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bigideas/big-ideas-24th-january/3782838 KPMG. 2008. Understanding and articulating risk appetite [financial] ICCROM and Canadian Conservation Institute. 2012. Reducing Risks to Heritage: International Meeting 28-30 November, Amersfoort, The Netherlands. Leitch, M. 2010 Making sense of risk appetite, tolerance, and acceptance (2nd edition), [financial]: http://www.internalcontrolsdesign.co.uk/appetite/full.shtml Michalski, S. 2004. Care and preservation of collections. In P.J. Boylan (ed) Running a Museum: a practical handbook. International Council of Museums, UNESCO, Paris: 51-89 National Standards Taskforce. 2014. National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries, Version 1.4 October. Available at: http://www.magsq.com.au/cms/page.asp?ID=5426 New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development and the Global Risk Alliance Pty Ltd. 2005. Risk Management Guide for Small Business, Sydney, 66pp. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. 2011. Future Global Shocks: Improving Risk Governance. Available at: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/governance/future-global-shocks_9789264114586-en Olney, W. 2012. James Cuno on Timothy Potts and the Getty's new 'appetite for risk'. Which way LA radio program on KCRW, 21 February. Available at: http://chasingaphrodite.com/tag/kcrw/ Risk Awareness Profiling Tool (2010), Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (UK) [collecting organisations]: http://www.raptonline.org.uk/home.asp Risk Management Policy documents, Exeter City Council (UK) [governance]: http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5613 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. 2011. ASHRAE Handbook - HVAC Applications. Chapter 23 – Museums, Galleries, Archives and Libraries: 1-23. Essential scientific reading for collecting organisation ‘best practice’ on air quality, temperature, relative humidity requirements. See: http://www.ashrae.org/resources--publications/a-brief-history-of-the-ashrae-handbook for background information. Canadian Conservation Institute. 1994. Framework for Preservation of Museum Collections Wallchart: An easy-to-use matrix format, this wall chart outlines various methods that can be used to avoid or control potential deterioration of museum objects. The rows list nine agents of deterioration (direct physical forces: thieves, vandals, displacers; fire; water; pests; contaminants; radiation; incorrect temperature and incorrect relative humidity), while the columns present three different levels at which the agents of deterioration can be controlled. The procedures column outlines actions that can be taken. Price (laminated) in Canada: $45.00 Other Countries: $56.25 Dimensions: 66 x 92 cm (26 x 36.25”) National Standards Taskforce. 2010. National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries. Version 1.1. December. [NB The notes below derive from Version 1.1. Version 1.4 dated October 2014 is now available here] Risk Management references: Part A – Managing the Museum Principle A2 – The museum is effectively managed, sustainable and publicly accountable Standard A2.6 – The museum identifies and assesses risks and has strategies in place to manage them. Benchmark A2.6.1 – Risk management is part of the museum’s strategic and financial planning, through up-to-date policies, procedures and strategies. Risks can affect a museum’s: · governing body · legal status A fraud policy and relevant financial training for staff may be useful. Annual budgets should include provision for the ‘excess’ component in insurance policies. BOOKS AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Australian /New Zealand/International Standard Risk management – principles and guidelines. [updated] Museums & Galleries New South Wales, Risk Management and School Excursions (2007). Available at: http://mgnsw.org.au/sector/resources/online-resources/education/school-excursions-and-risk-management/ Museum & Gallery Services Queensland, Risk Management Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www.magsq.com.au/_dbase_upl/Risk%20Management2012.pdf Volunteering Australia, Running the Risk? (2003), pp15-19. Available at: http://volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-content/files_mf/1377053059VAManagersrunningtherisk.pdf Benchmark A2.6.2 – Occupational health and safety (OH&S) obligations are fulfilled. It is essential that museums have up-to-date OH&S policies and procedures in place. OH&S legislation is specific to each state and territory, so regional variations may apply. [Consult the publication for more information on OH&S strategies] BOOKS AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS Kelly, S 2002 Travelling Exhibitions: a practical handbook for metropolitan and regional galleries and museums, NETS Victoria. Chapter 11. Available for purchase at: http://netsaustralia.org.au/about/ Conole, Hallett & Grant, Heritage Artefacts – Hands On, Hands Off? (1993). [Note: this resource is no longer easily accessible with the closure of the Collections Australia Network in 2010.] Benchmark A2.6.3 – Adequate and appropriate insurance cover is maintained for the site, buildings, workers, visitors, the governing body, and the collection. Insurance to cover the museum’s governing body is sometimes necessary, and in some circumstances it is appropriate to insure the museum’s collection, or specific items within it. For insurance and recovery purposes, it is useful to identify, value and photograph: · significant collection items · key items of equipment · other infrastructure BOOKS AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS NAVA, The Code of Practice for the Professional Australian Visual Arts, Craft & Design Sector (2009). To purchase see: https://visualarts.net.au/code-of-practice/ Simpson, Collections Law, Chapter 39. Available at: http://www.collectionslaw.com.au/ Benchmark A2.6.4 – All required certificates and licences have been obtained and are kept current. Certificates and licences may be needed for: · electrical wiring · food and alcohol sales and service · hazardous materials · rail safety · steam boilers and pressure vessels . vehicle registration BOOK AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS Museums Australia, Museum Methods (2002), section 1.4. To purchase see: http://www.museumsaustralia.org.au/site/publications.php Simpsons Solicitors, The Duty of Care to the Public. Principle A4 – The museum is a secure, well-managed facility that presents a positive public image. [Consult the publication for more information under each of the following identified Standards] Standard A4.1 – The museum has security of tenure for its premises. Standards A4.2 – The museum dedicates appropriate spaces to all activities. Standard A4.3 – The museum conserves, maintains, protects and documents its assets. New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development and the Global Risk Alliance Pty. Ltd. 2005. Risk Management Guide for Small Business. Based on AS/NZS 4360 2004. Contains some useful templates.
Are the leaves on your tomato or pepper plants turning yucky yellow? Are your rose bushes barely blooming? Is your lawn an ugly patch of brown? An old fashioned cure all, Epsom Salt, is touted as the solution to these and other garden variety problems. The root of many a gardening woe is lack of magnesium and sulfur in the soil. Those minerals occur naturally in soil but may deplete over time. The main components of Epsom Salt are, you guessed it, magnesium and sulfur. The minerals encourage seed germination and the production of chlorophyll used by plants to transform sunlight into food. The absorption of fertilizing phosphorus and nitrogen also are enhanced when the salt is added to the soil. The salt may be sprayed on plants to deter pests and also applied at the roots to promote growth. Since the salt is quickly absorbed by plant roots when it applied in a spray it doesn't build up to unhealthy levels in the soil over time like commercial fertilizers. The experts recommend using two tablespoons per gallon of water per month to water houseplants. For lawns, apply three pounds for every 1,250 square feet with a spreader or dilute in water and apply with a sprayer. Start the garden for the season by sprinkling and mixing into the soil one cup of salt per 100 square feet. Prior to planting rose bushes soak them in one cup of salt per gallon of water to help roots recover. Add one tablespoon of salt to each hole at planting time. Roses also thrive when a half-cup of salt is scratched into the soil at the base to encourage flowering canes and healthy new basal cane growth. Tomatoes, peppers and roses need one tablespoon of salt per foot of height per plant every two weeks. Use one tablespoon of salt per gallon of water to force blooms for flowering plants. Shrubs such as evergreens, azaleas and rhododendron thrive with one tablespoon per nine square feet in the root zone every two to four weeks. Trees grow better with two tablespoons per nine square feet at their roots three times per year. Click on http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/
Late Thursday afternoon, the City of Detroit, once the nation's fourth biggest city and a thriving economic hub, announced it had filed for bankruptcy protection. It is the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. The city is in debt to the tune of at least $18 billion to over 100,000 creditors. That's nearly five times the amount of debt that forced the next biggest municipal bankruptcy, Jefferson County, Ala., in 2011. The decision to file for bankruptcy came grudgingly and only after talks broke down when creditors rejected the city's bid to repay them only a small portion of what it owes and public employee unions refused cuts in benefits. But even if an 11th-hour agreement could have been reached, a financial crisis of this magnitude was probably inevitable. For decades, the city has employed a large corps of municipal workers and provided them with fairly generous benefits. Those benefits, including retirees' pension and health-care costs, have skyrocketed, consuming more and more of the city's scarce revenue and requiring cuts in other expenditures, including education. But complacency and wishful thinking allowed the status quo to remain in effect, even as the tax base was shrinking precipitously. The population has fallen nearly 25 percent in the last decade and is now less than half of what it was in 1950, when Detroit was the nation's manufacturing boom town. Even so, city services were still required to cover a sprawling city in which many neighborhoods contain just a handful of intact structures and few inhabited houses. So deficits mounted and debts went unpaid to the point where government officials could no longer avoid the obvious. Michigan Gov. Richard Snyder wrote a letter saying, "The city's creditors, as well as its many dedicated public servants, deserve to know what promises the city can and will keep. The only way to do those things is to radically restructure the city and allow it to reinvent itself without the burden of impossible obligations." He also made the salient point that, "Detroit tax rates are at their current legal limits, and that even if the city was legally able to raise taxes, its residents cannot afford to pay additional taxes." So the city's only choice was a bad one. And it's one that will leave creditors hanging. These include small investors who hold the city's general obligation bonds, which, when the dust settles, will probably only be worth pennies on the dollar. That will certainly put a chill in the municipal bond market as investors see that even such highly esteemed, "safe" securities are vulnerable under the right circumstances. It's too much to say that "as Detroit goes, so goes the nation." Detroit officials had chosen to ignore their city's serious fiscal problems for a dangerously long time. But more than a few other cities and states are beset by many of the same financial issues, particularly surging costs for public employees' and retirees' health-care and pensions, and face chronic, long-term insolvency. It would also be a mistake for them to say "It can't happen here."
Updated as per The Hawk Moths of the North America, 2007, James P. Tuttle (Sphinx to Lintneria); April 2009 This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at email@example.com Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill. Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 copyright C. Odenkirk In his The Hawk Moths of North America, 2007, James P. Tuttle has assigned all the Sphinx genus species from Mexico south throughout South American to Lintneria, Butler, 1876, based on consistent differences in wing characters and significant larval differences. Please visit my special request for images of Lintneria species larvae at Lintneria larvae, and help if you can. It is anticipated that the Lintneria larvae will most often be encountered on Lamiaceae: Salvia (Sage), Mentha (Mints), Monarda (Beebalm) and Hyptis (Bushmints); Verbenaceae: Verbena and Lantana camara (shrub verbenas or lantanas). Although they may be encountered feeding during daylight hours, one is even more likely to discover them feeding in the evening or after dark. Two of the greatest clues for discovering larvae are stripped foliage and droppings beneath the plant. You might be quite surprised at what will turn up in the evening or after dark in a flashlight assisted search. It is believed that all "Lintneria larvae will exhibit "a fleshy thoracic dorsal "horn" in the first 4 instars (unique in the Sphingidae of the world to my knowledge) which is replaced by a thoracic dorsal "hump" with a large black patch in the 5th instar." J.A. Tuttle. Return to U.S.A. Table Return to Sphingidae Index Return to Sphingini Tribe Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page. This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae Site", contact Bill. Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help. Enjoy one of nature's wonderments: Live Saturniidae (Giant Silkmoth) cocoons. Show appreciation for this site by clicking on flashing butterfly to the left. The link will take you to a page with links to many insect sites.
A living relic of the days of the whiskey bonders A Documentary by Peter Mulryan An extraordinary range of high quality refreshments In 1805, William Mitchell purchased no.10 Grafton Street and set up a bakery and confectionary business. In 1887, Robert Mitchell, a gentleman of not inconsiderable business acumen, expanded the business into whiskey bonding, moving shortly thereafter to new premises around the corner to No.21 Kildare Street. The family first commenced retailing the venerable Green Spot whiskey in 1933 at which time one could purchase "John Jameson & Son 10 Year Old Green Seal @ 180/-per dozen" Bonders supreme and gentlemen too When the Mitchell Family entered the whiskey bonding business in 1887, it was at the peak of the Victorian whiskey boom and pot still Irish whiskey was at its summit. There was an insatiable demand for the consistently flavoursome Irish whiskey and the numerous Irish distilleries were at maximum capacity. As was the norm for that time in Ireland, there were hundreds of merchants involved in the bonding trade - purchasing new make whiskey spirit under bond (i.e. excise tax was not payable) and maturing it themselves before bottling it for sale. As a result, there was an abundance of whiskeys available on the market, many carrying the same Distiller's name, and differentiated only by the name of the bonder and bottler. Due to the suspect practices of certain bonders, the quality varied significantly, and in time, distillers began to bottle their own whiskeys, thereby guaranteeing the quality of the final bottled whiskey. Thus, the practice of selling whiskey to bonders died out and with that, so did most of the bonder whiskey brands. Family tradition of creating the whiskey of choice A genuinely family concern, the Mitchell family involvement with fine wines and spirits started with William Mitchell decided to quit his steady employment in England and seek greater fortune on the Isle of Ireland. Soon after the journey, William purchased an exceedingly fine premises on Dublin’s Grafton Street and opened his own bakery and confectionery business. It was from here that the wine business began even if in a slightly fortuitous fashion. As the premises became the refreshment of choice for, amongst others, Dublin’s genteel ladies, demand unofficially grew for our “Sympathetic Tipple”; a measure of Port served in a tea cup which permited ladies to indulge in a tipple while at the same time maintaining their decorum! A crafty little number don’t you think! Design & Packaging - Green Spot San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Silver) Irish Whiskey Masters (Silver) Design & Packaging - Green Spot Green Spot is a non age statement Single Pot Still Irish whiskey and is comprised of Pot Still whiskeys aged between 7 and 10 years. The whiskey has matured in a combination of new bourbon and refill bourbon casks as well as sherry casks. Only small quantities of Green Spot are bottled each year. No real reason why. Drink some more and we'll bottle more. Fresh aromatic oils and spices with orchard fruits and barley on a background of toasted wood. Full spicy body. A hint of cloves along with the fruity sweetness of green apples, rounded off with toasted oak. Lingering flavours of spices and barley.
\|Home » Articles » Miscellaneous\| Groupware explained in easy terms By Jakob Jelling Groupware is a term used frequently to describe collaborative software. Groupware is application software that integrates work on a single project by several concurrent users at separated random workstations. In its modern form, it is generally accepted that Lotus Software popularized groupware. Lotus introduced its very popular application Lotus Notes that runs in connections with its Lotus Domino server. But on the other hand, some people also argue that groupware had already been anticipated by then by some very old monolithic systems like NLS. NLS, which is short for “online System” was a revolutionary computer collaboration system designed by Douglas Engelbart along with the other researchers at the Augmentation Research Center (ARC) at the Stamford Research Institute (SRI). The NLS system was the first to employ to practical use, modern computing concepts such as hypertext links, the mouse (which was co-invented by Engelbart and his colleague Bill English), raster scan video monitors, screen windowing, computer presentation software (like Photoshop), and to be able to organize software according to their respective relevance. The more general meaning of groupware is social software. Social software is used to talk about systems that are used outside the workplace. Systems that come under this explanation of groupware include, for example, online dating services and social networks. Studies that are conducted in relation to computer-supported collaboration or groupware also include the study of the software and the social phenomenon associated with them. An extension of the meaning of groupware can be used to identify the case of collaborative media. Groupware, for analysis, can be divided into three categories on the basis of the level of collaboration in them. These three categories include communication tools, conferencing tools, and collaborative management (co-ordination) tools. Communication tools can be used to facilitate the sharing of data between users by sending data, files, messages or documents between the users. The examples of such tools include electronic mail, facsimile, voice mail, electronic publishing (or web publishing) etc. Conferencing tools also facilitate the sharing of information but do it in a much more interactive way. The examples of such type of groupware include data conferencing, voice conferencing, video conferencing, Internet forums, chat rooms and electronic meeting systems etc. Collaborative tools are more complex methods of facilitating and managing information through groupware. These forms of groupware include electronic calendars (or time management software), project management systems, workflow systems, knowledge management systems, extranet systems, and social software systems. The biggest hurdle in the implementation of groupware systems is to convince people and to get them to start using it. To use the software it is necessary that people feel comfortable using it. For this people have to be trained so that they feel comfort while they use the groupware systems. In many cases, collaboration is also at odds with the competitive nature of the companies, which makes many companies vary of implementing such procedures.
A traditional camp experience in the beautiful Maine woods Campers are in for an unforgettable experience straight out of a kid's dream. Free from the distraction of glowing screens, campers will learn to have fun the way their parents did — playing outside. They will engage in unique, thrilling activities that teach vital real-life skills such as how to work alone and in teams, and how to quickly adapt to new rules and conditions. In the fun of competition campers forge new friendships, and strengthen old ones. Our carefully selected staff is trained to maintain and enforce fair play, good sportsmanship, and fun. A day at camp contains many structured activities, but also some free time periods that teach kids how to interact with their peers, and give campers the freedom they enjoy at school recess or playing with friends in the neighborhood. Each evening concludes with a campfire that features contests, singing, dancing, recognition, stories, and encouragement for good standards of outdoor living and self-reliance. The "thoughts for the day" read aloud by campers each night include such wisdom as George Washington's "It is better to be alone than in bad company". The Slovenski Family has been in the summer camp business since 1987: "We love camps. We are excited to show you what an incredible experience we can give your child." Director Peter Slovenski or "Coach" coaches track at Bowdoin College, and is the founder and director of the Bowdoin Summer Day Camp, and co-founder and co-director of the Dick Fosbury Track Camp. He has been running outstanding camps for over 25 years. Steve Slovenski, director, graduated from Princeton University where he founded a club for dodgeball, laser tag, and other active events. Steve has a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt University and has taught high school math, physics, robotics, and engineering for five years. Dugan Slovenski, director and 'Camp Mom', is a mother of three boys. She is "outnumbered, but not outsmarted". She is an experienced SAT tutor and former high school math teacher. Paul Slovenski, waterfront director, is the Athletic Director at Bayview Glen School in Toronto, Canada. Paul has years of experience supervising waterfront activities to ensure maximum safety. Dave Slovenski, program director, is a recent graduate of Princeton University where he, too ran the school dodgeball tournament. Dave coached track & field at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and now coaches and teaches math, physics, and robotics at the Franklin Road Academy in Nashville, TN. Jim Brennan, Director of External Affairs, is an alum of Camp Hawthorne. Jim coordinates alumni activities and produces many of the excellent slideshows of past summers that you see on YouTube.
MOCRA Programs and Events Day With(out) Art 2009 December 1, 2009 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. continuing through December 13 \|MOCRA observes the twentieth anniversary of Day With(out) Art, a national day of action and mourning in response to the AIDS crisis, by exhibiting The Promise, an important work by the late New York artist Adrian Kellard. \| The Promise will remain on display during regular museum hours through December 13, 2009. Adrian Kellard, The Promise, 1989. Latex on wood. 75 x 45 x 2 in. Courtesy of the Estate of Adrian Kellard. Adrian Kellard was a rising artist in the 1980s. His large-scale carved wood block panels evoke both medieval shrines and the woodblock prints of 20th-century German Expressionists, but their bright colors and folksy quality make them accessible to a wide range of audiences. For Day With(out) Art MOCRA will feature one of his last works, titled The Promise, which references the legend of St. Christopher, who carried the infant Jesus across a turbulent river. Kellard depicts himself in the role of St. Christopher. The Promise asserts the possibility of hope and compassion in the midst of suffering. The Promise was included in the 1992-93 international traveling exhibition From Media to Metaphor: Art about AIDS, and in the 1994 exhibition Art’s Lament: Creativity in the Face of Death (organized by the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston). Kellard’s own life was cut short by AIDS. He died in the fall of 1991 at the age of 32.
Metadata could target illegal downloading The government says journalists will be safe under new anti-terror laws as legislation is introduced which the AFP says could 'absolutely' be used to target illegal downloading.PT2M6S 620 349 A leaked copy of a Coalition party room submission admits there is a cost attached to data retention and the government is anticipating a campaign against the laws that will describe it as an "internet tax". The submission, obtained by Fairfax Media, was prepared for a snap joint party room meeting on Thursday in which Coalition MPs were given just 30 minutes to discuss the government's proposed metadata legislation. AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Attorney-General George Brandis and Director-General of Security Duncan Lewis address the media. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen One MP who attended the 8.30 meeting on Thursday morning told Fairfax Media it had lasted just half an hour, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, ASIO chief Duncan Lewis and AFP chief Andrew Colvin addressing the meeting in that time. Two MPs said the meeting, which was called on Wednesday evening, appeared to be a "rubber stamp" for the government's metadata retention plans. In a surprise move, the federal government announced the new legislation on Thursday. It would require telecommunications companies to store customers' telephone and email records for two years under new legislation. The bill would allow law enforcement agencies to access two years' worth of customer "metadata" without a warrant. The bill does not explain exactly what constitutes metadata, but it will not include the content of calls or emails, web browsing history or website addresses (URLs). One MP said there appeared to be three outstanding issues to resolve: the cost impact on telcos, the definition of metadata and what happens to metadata after it had been stored two years. Attorney General George Brandis's attempt to explain metadata while proposing the changes earlier this year was described at the time as a "car crash interview". Other concerns about limiting the agencies that have access to the data had, however, been addressed, the MP said. During the meeting, it is understood that Liberal senator Cory Bernardi and MP George Christensen flagged concerns about the bill. According to the submission, which is designed to brief MPs on the details of the bill, "metadata is central to virtually every counterterrorism, organised crime, counter-espionage and cyber security investigation". The fact that ISPs are not currently obliged to retain metadata means that "less information is being retained for shorter periods of time. This is having a critical impact on law enforcement and national security capabilities", the briefing note says. Anticipating the campaign against the laws, the submission notes "there is a strong likelihood that opponents will refer to the regime as an 'internet tax' that will be passed on to consumers. This is not an internet tax." "The government will consult closely with industry to determine how to manage additional compliance costs. Costs should also not be the reason that the safety of Australians is compromised," it notes. And the submission does admit the bill is "silent on cost" and that "there will be some cost implications should the government agree to contribute to the cost of data retention". The briefing paper also anticipates and rebuts arguments that data retention constitutes an invasion of privacy, arguing the scheme will not provide agencies with new powers and says it is not true the data retention regime will allow agencies to access web browsing history.
IT DREW little comment, but the centrepiece of Julia Gillard's white paper on the Asian century was her target of raising Australia's standard of living - income per person - from the 13th highest in the world into the top 10 by 2025. Perhaps the reason this grand objective excited so little interest is that, for we Australians, there's nothing new about being in the materialist winners' circle. As Ian McLean, an economic historian at the University of Adelaide, reminds us in a new book, Why Australia Prospered, we joined that company from about 1820, and between 1860 and 1890 we were the richest country of all. Few countries have been so successful for so long, he says. McLean reminds us one country has experienced long-term relative decline after having achieved membership of the rich nations' club in the early 20th century: Argentina. Even New Zealand, which tagged along near us for most of the journey, has been falling further behind since the 1970s. So, in the first major economic history of Australia for 40 years, McLean sets out to explain why we became rich so soon and how we've managed to stay that way for the best part of 200 years. The story we have in the back of our minds explains it in a phrase: we're the Lucky Country. The Europeans who settled in this vast land had the good fortune to arrive at a place well suited to farming and teeming with valuable minerals. For more than 200 years we've been living off that great luck. We became a major world producer and exporter of wool as early as the 1820s, and it stayed our principal export earner until the 1950s, save for the 1850s and 1860s when it was supplanted by gold. We remain a significant producer of gold to this day. At the start of the wool boom in 1820, Australia's European population was just 30,000. By the time gold was discovered in 1851, it was up to 430,000. Thanks to the gold rush, in just 10 years it reached 1.2 million. Most of those people stayed, and by the start of the serious depression of the 1890s, it was 3.2 million. The story of our lucky natural endowment continued with the discovery of mineral deposits in the 1960s, right up to the Asia-driven resources boom of the past decade. But McLean disputes the notion our unending prosperity can be explained simply in terms of our lucky strikes. For one thing, the study of many countries has led modern economists to the conclusion that possession of some valuable resource deposit is almost always a curse rather than a blessing. It tends to lead to squabbling over who gets the proceeds, corruption, complacency, underdevelopment and stagnation. By contrast, resource-bereft countries such as Singapore or Taiwan seem to have succeeded precisely because they knew they had nothing going for them beside their own efforts. Clearly, Australia is an exception to the ''resource curse'' rule. But then we have our erstwhile southern hemisphere twin, Argentina, as a reminder you do have to play your cards right. Our long prosperity defies another conventional wisdom: colonies get exploited by their colonising power. McLean finds no evidence of significant exploitation by the British. On the contrary. Unlike some Asian colonies, our economy had to be built from scratch. Who built the foundations and paid for them? The British taxpayer. We benefited from our convict origins. The Brits were expecting it to cost them, and the 160,000 convicts they sent us were selected for their suitability for hard work. A big part of the reason we got rich so quickly was that a high proportion of the population was in the workforce. Then there was the advantage of being part of the British Empire trading bloc and the privileged access it gave us to Britain's market. Self-government came early and bloodlessly in the 1850s. But McLean gives much of the credit to the quality of our economic and political institutions - legal system, property rights, control of corruption, political arrangements and social norms - most of them inherited from the Brits. The test of our institutions is their flexibility, their ability to adapt in response to changing circumstances and needs. As evidence of flexibility, McLean cites the ending of transportation of convicts, a solution to the monopolisation of grazing land by squatters and the pull-back from using indentured islander labour on sugar plantations. Much more recently, you can point to all the economic reforms we undertook in the 1980s and '90s to open our economy to a globalising world. And to our skilful response to the global financial crisis - just the latest of many economic shocks the world has thrown at us. We Australians don't have tickets on ourselves as great managers of our economic fortunes, but a look back at the record - and at comparable countries - says we've had a lot more going for us than just luck. Ross Gittins is a senior columnist.
Rainforests provide us with oxygen, help maintain our climate, and give us essential foods and medicines. Rainforests have intense tropical sunlight, high temperatures, and almost constant rainfall. 7% of the world is covered in rainforest. More than 50% of the world's plant and animal species inhabit rainforest areas. Dozens of animal species a day become extinct. Niabi Zoo would like to design a rainforest exhibit and need to learn more about animals who live in the rainforest. You will be an online scientist from Niabi Zoo and go to the large rainforests in South America, Africa, or Southeast Asia. While there you will first make a list of 25 animals that live in the rainforest that you think Niabi Zoo needs in their rainforest exhibit. From your list you will then narrow it down to 5 animals to be in the exhibit. You will research information about the 5 animals you chose. You will then design on paper a habitat for the animals at Niabi Zoo. Thanks to a generous donation, money is no object. You will also design an educational sign for the exhibit that will tell visitors about the 5 animals you have selected. The signs should be written in paragrah form. The signs can be small index card plaques or 8 X 12 signs. 1. Go to each Internet site to find animals from the rainforest and begin making your list of 25 animals. 2. After making a list of 25 rainforest animals pick 5 of them. 3. Search for answers to the questions about the 5 animals you selected. Here is some information to look for: 1. Common and scientific name of animal. 2. Which rainforest does the animal live in? 3. Describe the animals' habitat. 4. What does the animal eat? 5. Find pictures of the animal. 6. Is the animal an endangered species? 7. How does the animal protect itself? period, number of young 9. Interesting facts. 4. Prepare the information in a chart to show the zoo administrators. Using the sites below, your science reference book, and the library you will research and design a habitat for the 5 animals you have chosen. Include trees, plants, proper climate, and layers of the rainforest. Think of the needs of living things. Remember...money is no object!! Use 12 X 18 paper. COLOR!!!!!! Using your information from Task 1, you will create an educational plaque for each of the 5 animals you have chosen for Niabi Zoo. The plaque will be written in paragraph form on index cards or on 8 X 12 paper. These may also be created on your computer. Defenders Of The Rainforest Rain Forests of the World Journey Into Amozonia Vanishing Rainforests Kids' Action: Rainforest Kids Quest Zoom: All About Rainforests PBS Science In The Rainforest ZooNet Rainforest Action Network Kent Smith© 2001

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