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Helga Bårdsdatter is a biologist living and working in Spitsbergen, one of Mission Blue's Arctic Hope Spots. Last week, she shared this unforgettable photo of a polar bear swimming in open ocean, taken last August in an area usually covered with ice. Says Helga, "It was an emotional encounter with a polar bear in the middle of the ocean between the polar ice and Spitsbergen. We met this young polar bear on the swim at 81.40 degrees north. After a quick look at the sea ice map, we realized that she still had around 80 miles (130km) to swim before reaching the safety of the ice. They are known to swim great distances and it's said that they can smell the ice. But when we reached 82 degrees north there was no sign of ice. We had three days of near gale wind afterwards. If she is still out there swimming, reached the ice or if she didn't make it, I don't know. They live a tough life and it was a surreal and emotional glimpse of one individual's journey."
Google updates its AdWords policy Google has introduced important changes to its Google AdWords policy. The changes have come about as a result of Google wanting to better protect users' financial, as well as personal, information. Full details of the policy changes were announced on 4 May 2011 via the Google AdWords blog but advertisers were given a grace period allowing them to make changes in order to meet the new requirements. Google AdWords is a service that allows advertisers to run pay per click (PPC) campaigns on their sites. Advertisers have always had to adhere to the principles of best site build, but Google wants to ensure that everyone using the service is playing by the rules and securely protecting users. Protection is paramount The changes have come at a time when Google's use of users' personal information has experienced plenty of negative press. Google believes that AdWords should be a "safe, fair and trusted marketplace" for advertisers and users alike, and this is why the new policies seek to guarantee that users experience "transparency, safety and security". Any advertisers whose sites request "payment, financial, or personal information", again outlined on Google's blog, must adhere to the new policies, else their ads may risk suspension. The new policies are laid out in three simple steps. Advertisers' sites must have: - Clear, accessible disclosure before visitors submit personal information - Users must be aware of how and why their details will be used - Option to discontinue direct communications - SSL when collecting payment and certain financial and personal information - Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a function that encrypts sensitive information sent to website servers. This protects users' information. Google AdWords now requires that all its advertiser sites use this function for the exchange of funds and financial information. Users can now feel secure that any site they access through PPC adverts from Google AdWords is a genuine, secure website. This should give them reassurance that their details will remain safe even if they exchange financial details with the site.
Zahi Hawass, one of Egypt's top archaeologists, symbolises the point where our proud and glorious past intersects with a bleak and uncertain present. In the mind of many Egyptians he is associated with Egypt's modern corrupt rulers rather than the great pharaohs of ancient times. In Arabic, the word "pharaoh" always has positive connotations except when it's used to describe an absolute and ruthless ruler or manager. This is exactly the kind of pharaoh Hawass was in the eyes of many of his compatriots. Since Hosni Mubarak's departure from office, protests that demanded the removal of Hawass from his position as minister of antiquities were uninterrupted. These were held by fellow archaeologists, the guards of heritage sites, or simply Tahrir Square protesters who see him as an antiquity that they have no interest in embalming from the era of Egypt's latest pharaoh, Mubarak. This pressure has yielded results and Hawass did lose the job he was offered during the 18-day revolution in a cabinet shuffle that aimed, but failed, to calm down angry anti-Mubarak protesters. If Egyptian archaeology was a country, then certainly Hawass would be its Mubarak. Just like his former boss, he is besieged by allegations about his business interests, accusations of turning Egypt's archaeology into a one-man show by claiming credit for scientific findings and being the sole speaker about Egyptology in the local and international media. Of course, he's also committed the unforgivable sin of being one of Mubarak's favourite men. Hawass is the epitome of the kind of self-centred, egocentric and possibly charismatic figure that the revolution has risen against, along with the kind of Mubarak-era politics he used to symbolise. Even though he's been called Egypt's Indiana Jones, the name that probably describes him best is his very own, Zahi, which means vain or conceited in Arabic. Evidence of his narcissistic personality is not difficult to find. In April he launched a clothing line named after himself in Harrods, and his last book, A Secret Voyage, is Egypt's most expensive book ever, carrying a price tag of 22,000 Egyptian pounds (about £2,300) with only 750 copies printed, and all signed by Egyptian archaeologists. With his rock-star attitude, Hawass might have managed to bring archaeology more into the headlines – not necessarily because of his fine discoveries or first-class research, but mainly because of his rather eccentric behaviour. Even though the man was, or made himself, synonymous with Egyptian archaeology in the minds of many, whoever succeeds Hawass is certainly not going to be the media sensation he managed to be. Hawass will be missed by journalists searching for colourful and amusing stories, but unlike his ancestors, this pharaoh's mystique might be short-lived as a symbol of an unpopular bygone era in Egypt's history. The sacking of Hawass, Egypt's latest victim of the revolution, shows that the 18-day revolution was only the mother of numerous baby revolutions against little pharaohs or mini-Mubaraks in ministries, universities, factories, political parties and so on, and his departure marks another victory for those trying to clear the country of its deep-rooted authoritarianism.
As the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky marked yet another legal victory in a challenge to an Indiana abortion law, the leaders of the organizations say they hope state lawmakers will begin to see what they say is the futility of the annual passage of abortion-restricting legislation. On Wednesday, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a provision in House Enrolled Act 1337 signed in 2016 by Gov. Mike Pence that required women to obtain an ultrasound 18 hours before having an abortion. The law was initially allowed to go into effect, but was later enjoined by Indiana Southern District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. The appellate panel agreed with the injunction, with Judge Ilana Rovner writing the 18-hour abortion requirement imposed “an undue burden on those seeking an abortion without any known benefits to balance it.” That burden was the time and resources it would require women to travel to a Planned Parenthood abortion facility to receive both an ultrasound and to have the procedure the following day, ACLU of Indiana legal director Ken Falk told reporters on Thursday. Planned Parenthood can only provide ultrasounds at the clinics where it also performs abortions — four total across the state, he said. Looking at the example of a Fort Wayne resident, Rovner wrote that a woman would have to travel nearly 400 miles over two days to meet the requirements of HEA 1337. PPINK’s Fort Wayne facility, which recently closed due to harassment of staff, has never provided abortions. Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill released a statement Wednesday saying his office is “disappointed” by the 7th Circuit’s decision in Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky Inc. v. Commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health, et al., 17-1883, and is currently considering its options. Further, PPINK President and CEO Christie Gillespie said from a medical perspective, it’s actually better for a patient to obtain an ultrasound on the same day her abortion is scheduled. Gillespie also said abortion-related litigation is about more than upholding the line of precedent stemming from Roe v. Wade, but it also about the real lives of women who were unable to receive an abortion during the time the contested provision of HEA 1337 was in place. “Placing those undue burdens … is absolutely impactful for women who have to make these difficult decisions,” she said. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down another provision of HEA 1337 in April, when Judges William Bauer and Joel Flaum held that a state may not prohibit a woman from exercising her right to terminate her pregnancy prior to viability for any reason. Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fisher had argued in the case of Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, et al. v. Commissioner, Indiana State Department of Health, et al., 1:16-cv-00763, that allowing “discriminatory” abortions would risk decimation of people with certain disabilities, such as Down syndrome. Judge Daniel Manion reluctantly concurred with the majority ruling, though he wrote separately that abortion had become a “super-right” that needed to be downgraded to the same level as other constitutional rights. In addition to 1337, Indiana is currently ensnared in abortion-related lawsuits filed by the ACLU and PPINK against the 2018 version of Senate Enrolled Act 340, which was enjoined last month, and the 2017 version of Senate Enrolled Act 404, which was enjoined last June. SEA 340 required abortion providers to report all “abortion complications,” while SEA 404 would have made it tougher for teenagers to get an abortion without their parents’ knowledge. Gillespie said from her perspective, lawmakers who want to reduce abortions should focus their efforts on sex education and birth control. Similarly, Falk said the continued practice of passing abortion legislation that is later struck down does not seem like the best use of the state’s time or resources. “Every year the General Assembly has passed bills without any regard to what the law is,” Falk said. … “I’m not over the Legislature, I don’t know what they’re considering, but I don’t know what else they could do to show the fact that they oppose abortion in any form.” Falk said the state has 14 days to petition the 7th Circuit for rehearing or 90 days to file a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court.
Ofloxacin Puggles are a hybrid breed that are the result of crossing a Pug and a Beagle; two purebred dogs. Ofloxacin A Puggle is a moderate sized dog that is considered excellent family pets. Ofloxacin They have the playful and docile lap dog qualities of the Pug and the energy and hunting instincts of the Beagle. Ofloxacin The Puggle is an exceptionally friendly breed that gets a long well with children and thrives on human companionship. Ofloxacin They have plenty of energy and can be quite hyperactive at times – a trait they inherit from both their parents. Ofloxacin Most Puggles are a perfect mix of Pug and Beagle and will warm the hearts of anyone looking for an energetic, ofloxacin outdoor loving lapdog. Ofloxacin Puggles History Ofloxacin Puggles have an extremely short history, ofloxacin and very little is known about when the first cross breed took place or why. Ofloxacin What is known is that that Puggle breed originated in America, ofloxacin and a Wisconsin Puggle breeder known as Wallace Havens was the first to register a Puggle litter with the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC). Ofloxacin Havens is also credited with giving the breed its name. Ofloxacin The Puggle, ofloxacin like all hybrid dogs, ofloxacin are bred in different ways. Ofloxacin For instance, ofloxacin Puggles may be bred as follows: - Pug – Beagle - Pug – Puggle - Beagle – Puggle - Puggle – Puggle Ofloxacin The different combinations produce different characteristics in the dogs. Ofloxacin For instance, ofloxacin certain coat color or other physical features may be different, ofloxacin and the temperaments may vary as well depending on how many Beagle traits there is in the dog compared to Pug or vice versa. Ofloxacin Therefore, ofloxacin it’s a good idea to ask a Puggle breeder how they choose to breed their dogs and why. Ofloxacin It is interesting to note that even though Puggles are hybrid dogs, ofloxacin they actually sell more than both their purebred parents. Ofloxacin The main reason why these dogs sell for so much is because they are considered “Designer Dogs”. Ofloxacin Designer dogs are different hybrid breeds like the Puggle that have become extremely popular. Ofloxacin Puggles – Charming Companions Ofloxacin Puggles are incredibly loving and friendly dogs. Ofloxacin They love to be in the laps of their master and fellow family members, ofloxacin just as they love to be outdoors running and enjoy the fresh air. Ofloxacin Due to their incredibly social and affectionate nature, ofloxacin the Puggle is considered an excellent family pet and is wonderful with both children and other family pets. Ofloxacin Keep in mind that although they are affectionate, ofloxacin and Puggles can look serious when calm and quiet, ofloxacin they are not ideal guard dogs and will welcome virtually any stranger into their home. Ofloxacin That being said, ofloxacin they are quite the watchdog and love to bark to say “hello” or to alert their family to strangers. Ofloxacin Aside from barking, ofloxacin you should also be warned that a Puggle may have also inherited the howling trait from their Beagle genes. Ofloxacin You may find howling cute at first, ofloxacin but it is a noise that will quickly irritate you and your neighbors. Ofloxacin Puggles are a relatively intelligent breed. Ofloxacin That being said, ofloxacin they can be difficult to train, ofloxacin especially when it comes to housebreaking. Ofloxacin However, ofloxacin the Puggle is a clown at heart and easily catches on to tricks and adopts certain behaviors that bring out their true character. Ofloxacin The average Puggle stands about 13-15 inches at the shoulders and is approximately 15-30 pounds. Ofloxacin Some Puggles may actually be bred smaller by combining a pug with a smaller Beagle. Ofloxacin This Puggle breed is known as a “Pocket Puggle”, ofloxacin and they only differ from the regular Puggle variety in that they are slightly smaller in size, ofloxacin typically by 10 pounds. Ofloxacin As far as health is concerned, ofloxacin Puggles are sensitive to extreme climates and are susceptible to overheating and catching colds just like their Pug ancestors. Ofloxacin The Puggle can still develop snoring and other breathing problems such as wheezing, ofloxacin even though their muzzle is slightly longer than a Pug. Ofloxacin Breathing problems can develop from vigorous exercise, ofloxacin which the average Puggle tends to enjoy due to their Beagle heritage. Ofloxacin Therefore, ofloxacin you need to make sure that your Puggle doesn’t overexert yourself. Ofloxacin Puggles also enjoy eating and have hearty appetites. Ofloxacin Care needs to be taken to ensure that this breed doesn’t overeat, ofloxacin as obesity can become a health concern. Ofloxacin Other health risks include ear infections and cherry eye. Ofloxacin Nevertheless, ofloxacin despite their health issues, ofloxacin the Puggle can generally live a healthy life of 14 years or more. Ofloxacin Puggles do require a sufficient amount of exercise on a daily basis in order to keep them trim and happy. Ofloxacin They love to play and should be taken on walks (twice daily for 15 – 20 minutes) weather permitting. Ofloxacin Grooming a Puggle is easy as they are considered a low maintenance dog. Ofloxacin They only need an occasional bath ( A few times per year), ofloxacin as rubbing their coat with a damp towel and giving it a brush on a regular basis (few times per week) keeps their coat glossy and clean. Ofloxacin Although the Puggle does not have as many wrinkles as a Pug, ofloxacin their wrinkles and face still need to be wiped daily to ensure they are clean. Ofloxacin You also need to check and clean their ears once a week to avoid infection. Ofloxacin Puggles shed quite a bit, ofloxacin especially during spring. Ofloxacin Therefore, ofloxacin they are not a hypoallergenic dog and will leave hair around the home wherever they go. Ofloxacin You need to keep all of the above information in mind if you are considering making a Puggle a part of your family.
5 1/2 Public Speaking Lessons from the Golden Globes The Public Speaker and her friend Sherri Barksdale share 5 1/2 commonly overlooked public speaking lessons learned from watching the 2014 Golden Globes. Page 2 of 2 Lesson #4: Calm Your Nerves When Jennifer Lawrence accepted the award for Best Supporting Actress, she was nervous and she made sure we all knew it. Her body language clearly said, "I’m shaking, this is scary" – she even pulled at her strapless dress in a nervous gesture. Everyone loves Jennifer Lawrence, so she could get away with this. However, following her speech many others got up on stage and made a point of saying how nervous they were. It got old really fast. We all get nervous speaking in front of a group of people. It's one of the biggest fears people cop to having. And I’m sure the cameras and lights make the situation even more intimidating. When you’re getting ready to speak in front of an audience, do your best to calm your nerves before you go up on stage. Don’t announce that you’re nervous. Try to keep your body relaxed and your hands calm. Speak slowly and deliberately. If you need to, pause briefly or take a sip of water. Oh, and the day before the event you might want to listen to my episodes on how to calm your nerves for a few more ideas. Lesson #5: Make it Personal From a public speaking perspective, the Golden Globes was filled with what we might call “teachable moments.” But there were two speeches that really stood out to me. Amy Adams and Matthew McConaughey were both enjoyable to listen to. Part of it was that they’re true professionals who can stay calm and composed when others can’t. But what really made them likeable was their use of personal stories to make a point. This is something I talk about in the Public Speaker podcast a lot because it’s so important. One of the best ways to engage your audience is by telling a personal story. This is how Amy Adams thanked her long-time manager. It was so much more interesting than listening to a list of names: “I have to say, today’s my fifteenth, well not today exactly, but close, my fifteenth anniversary of moving out to L.A., thinking...maybe I’ll get a commercial or something. And I walked into this woman’s office, Stacy O’ Neil, who’s here tonight, and she sent me on my first audition. She’s still my manager. And I still ask her, what made you pick me. What made you do that? And she said she had a feeling. And I just want to thank her so much for that feeling, and for sharing so many other feelings.” Matthew McConaughey ended his speech with this inspiring story about his mother. Again, many actors thank their moms at the end of an acceptance speech, but Matthew’s speech told us how she had helped get him to this point in his career: “I want to say thank you to my mother for a real reason: When we were growing up, we weren’t movie kids, we weren’t TV kids, we weren’t media kids. If it was daylight, you had to be outside playing, and we’d go, ‘Why, mom?’ and she’d say, ‘Don’t watch somebody on TV do it for you, go out and do it for yourself.'” Lesson #5 1/2: Avoid Long Songs or Quotes Now that I’ve given my top 5 lessons from the Golden Globes, I want to add a bonus. If you were patient enough to sit through the long, dry tribute to Woody Allen, you got to witness one of the most awkward moments ever seen at an awards show – Diane Keaton ending her tribute by singing accapella “Make new friends, but keep the old”! One verse was forgivable, but when she went on to round 2, well, let's just say, it got awkward fast. So please don’t sing (or read) long sections of song or poem. If you want to sing or add a quote, keep it very, very, short. And that wraps up the 5 1/2 lessons my pal Sherri and I learned from watching the Golden Globes. I'm Lisa B. Marshall, Helping you maximize sales, manage perceptions, and enhance leadership through keynotes, workshops, books, and online courses. Passionate about communication; your success is my business. What do all extraordinarily successful people have in common? Some traits are obvious - others are not what you might expect! Listen to absolutely riveting conversations with exceptional people to learn secrets of success and how to apply them to your life at smarttalksuccess.com/stitcher or smarttalksuccess.com/itunes. This week learn unexpected habits for happiness from Marci Shimoff and from C.C. Chapman how make amazing things happen.
Hey all. 1st let me say that I changed my name on the board from Mrstamper to Guyquilter so no one mistakes me as a woman. LOL. I just recently went the Paducah quilt show and saw some wonderful hand dyed fabrics. I love them so much that I went by the Pro-Chemical booth and picked up some sample kits to dye some fabrics. I want to learn how to hand dye but have some questions that I am on the fence about. I am getting all kinds of mixed answers on the type of fabric to use. I am being told that I need to use only PFD cotton for hand dyeing and to make sure to soak my fabric is soda ash 1st. ON the other hand I am being told that you can use bleached muslin and just throw in the washing machine to get all the sizing and chemicals out, which will make it PFD. PFD fabric is ridiculous in price and I am trying to figure out the cheapest way to learn with my sample low immersion chemicals. Can anyone help me on this? Thanks
Use the form below to search the Health Library. Unconventional Treatment: Who Pays for ‘Other Kinds’ of Care? Generally, coverage of alternative treatments is limited and differs depending on your state and insurer. However, most insurance plans and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) do offer coverage for services from a , and virtually all cover osteopathic physician services. Additionally, some mind-body techniques have found their way into the insurability mainstream, such as What Therapies Are Considered Unconventional? Known as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), these therapies can be used in conjunction with or in the place of conventional medicine. The main commonality among these therapies is that they are not considered part of conventional Western medicine. Many are imported from Asia, Europe, or elsewhere. However, the line between CAM and conventional medicine is not always clear. The complete list of CAM therapies is quite lengthy, but some examples can be found in the article Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine: What's What? Who Is Using CAM? According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Heath, nearly 40% of US adults use some form of CAM. History of CAM Coverage in the US For as long as there’s been medicine, people have had numerous healing alternatives from which to choose. Many of the most popular CAM therapies have been around for centuries (such as homeopathy) if not millennia (such as ). However, in the past 15-20 years, CAM has enjoyed a resurgence of interest among US consumers, a trend that has not escaped the attention of insurers. What accounts for CAM’s renewed popularity? Some of the many factors include: - The Internet offers access to health information on general and alternative therapies, empowering consumers to seek out and embrace novel approaches to healing and wellness. - Ever-increasing cultural diversity has influenced the demand for a variety of healing practices among immigrant populations. - Escalating costs and decreasing patient satisfaction have encouraged many Americans to explore alternatives to what they perceive as an inefficient health care system that does not meet their standards for quality care. When surveys discovered the number of Americans using CAM who were willing to pay out-of-pocket for services, insurers felt some pressure to include at least some of these treatments in their plans. This was despite the fact that scientific evidence did not uniformly support their effectiveness (and still does not for some types of treatment). Although more studies exist using CAM methods than in the past, it is an area that needs more research. Choose Your Insurer—If Not Your State—Carefully: Some Are More CAM-friendly than Others Coverage of CAM is largely determined on a state-by-state basis, but certain plans are more flexible than others, so don’t be shy about inquiring into your options. As mentioned, most plans cover . This is because chiropractic is the third largest medical profession in the country after regular MDs and dentists, having licensure in all states. Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs) have legal standing identical to MDs in all states, as well. Acupuncture has gained licensure in many states as of late, a good example of how consumer interest can influence state regulators. Beyond these more pervasive CAM practices, some plans also cover treatments such as massage, , and even medical . One popular area of CAM that is almost never covered by insurance is dietary and herbal supplements. When considering CAM treatment, it is important to compare the amount of your deductible to the cost of the treatment. In addition, most insurers only pay for a limited number of visits, which is usually far fewer that the number recommended for complete treatment. If you know you will be using CAM services in the future, one option is to purchase a "policy rider," which is extra insurance that covers CAM treatments. These are available from a number of reputable insurance companies. Health Spending Accounts and CAM Health Spending Accounts, also known as HSAs, are savings accounts specifically set aside to pay for healthcare services that are often offered outside traditional health insurance plans. You permitted to pay for most CAM treatments with most HSA funds. Although you are spending your own money from these accounts, the money you put in is tax deductible, which can mean great savings. For more information on the types of HSA accounts available, see Health Spending Accounts: A Compliment to Regular Insurance Alternative Medicine Foundation http://www.amfoundation.org National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://nccih.nih.gov Homeopathic Medical Council of Canada http://hmcc.ca INCAM Research Network http://www.incamresearch.ca Paying for complementary health approaches. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health website. Available at: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/financial. Updated August 2013. Accessed April 6, 2016. The use of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States: Cost data. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health website. Available at: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/financial. Updated January 4, 2016. Accessed April 6, 2016. Whorton J. Countercultural healing: a brief history of alternative medicine in America. WGBH Educational Foundation website. Available at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/altmed/clash/history.html. Accessed April 16, 2016.
Teresa Brewer (May 7, 1931 – October 17, 2007) was an American pop singer whose style incorporated elements of country, jazz, R&B, musicals and novelty songs. She was one of the most prolific and popular female singers of the 1950s, recording nearly 600 songs.Early lifeTheresa Veronica Breuer was born in Toledo, Ohio, the first of five children born to her father, an inspector of glass for the Libbey Owens Company (now Pilkington Glass), and her mother, a housewife. When she was two years old, her mother entered her in an audition for a radio program, "Uncle August's Kiddie Show" on Toledo's WSPD. She performed for cookies and cupcakes donated by the sponsor. Although she never took singing lessons, she took tap dancing lessons. From age five to twelve, she sang and danced on the "Major Bowes Amateur Hour," then a popular touring radio show. Her aunt Mary traveled with Theresa until Theresa's 1949 marriage to William Monahan. Brewer was devoted to her aunt, who lived with Brewer until the aunt's death in 1993.At the age of 12, Brewer returned to Toledo and ceased touring in order to have a normal school life. She continued to perform on local radio. In January 1948, the 16-year-old won a local competition, and (with three other winners) was sent to New York to appear on a talent show called "Stairway to the Stars", featuring Eddie Dowling. It was at about that time that she changed the spelling of her name from Theresa Breuer to Teresa Brewer. She won a number of talent shows and played night clubs in New York (including the Latin Quarter).Teresa married William "Bill" Monahan in 1949, and they had four daughters, Kathleen, Susan, Megan and Michelle. They eventually separated, and the marriage was dissolved in 1972, shortly before she married Bob Thiele.CareerAn agent, Richie Lisella, heard her sing and took her career in hand, and soon she was signed to a contract with London Records. In 1949 she recorded a record called "Copenhagen" with the Dixieland All-Stars. The B side was the song "Music! Music! Music!". Unexpectedly, it was not the A side but the B side which took off, selling over a million copies and becoming Teresa's signature song. Another novelty song, "Choo'n Gum", hit the top 20 in 1950, followed by "Molasses, Molasses". Although she preferred to sing ballads, her only recorded ballad to make the charts was "Longing for You" in 1951.In 1951 Brewer switched labels, going to Coral Records. Since she never learned to read music, she had demos sent to her to learn the melodies of the songs she would record. Despite her lack of formal training, she had a number of hits for Coral. One recording, "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" (1952) was better known in a 1956 version by Patience and Prudence and was also a hit in 1964 for Skeeter Davis as well as Tracey Dey. In 1952, she also recorded "You'll Never Get Away" in a duet with Don Cornell, followed in 1953 by her best selling hit, "Till I Waltz Again with You".In the mid-1950s she did a number of covers of rhythm and blues songs like "Pledging My Love" and "Tweedle Dee". She covered some country songs like "Jilted", "I Gotta Go Get My Baby", and "Let Me Go, Lover!." In 1956 she co-wrote "I Love Mickey", about New York Yankees center fielder Mickey Mantle, who appeared on the record with Brewer. It was also reported that the two had developed a mutual attraction. Another 1956 hit was Brewer's syncopated rendition of "Mutual Admiration Society". In 1957 she recorded more covers: of country song "Teardrops in My Heart" and R&B songs "You Send Me" and "Empty Arms". In 1960, she had another hit with a cover of the standard "Have You Ever Been Lonely?". Her final charted recording was "Milord" in 1961, an English language version of a song by Édith Piaf.In 1962 she switched labels again, to Philips Records, where she recorded many singles and albums over a five-year period, including Gold Country in 1966. In addition to having her record new and contemporary material, Philips put Brewer in the studio to re-record her earlier material with new arrangements, instrumentation and recording equipment: the resulting album (PHM 200-062) was issued as Teresa Brewer's Greatest Hits. After leaving Philips, Brewer made a few recordings for other companies, but with no more big chart hits. In the 1970s she released a few albums on Flying Dutchman Records owned by her second husband, jazz producer Bob Thiele. In 1975 she released an album Unliberated Woman produced by Elvis Presley's producer Felton Jarvis. One of the tracks is "For the Heart" written by Dennis Linde.She appeared in the 1953 musical Those Redheads From Seattle - she was a natural redhead herself. She appeared on television as a guest star on The Muppet Show and Sha Na Na in 1977.Later careerBrewer re-emerged as a jazz vocalist on Thiele's Amsterdam label in the 1980s and 1990s recording a number of albums including tribute albums to Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller and Irving Berlin. She also recorded with such jazz greats as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Earl Hines and Bobby Hackett.A landmark recording in her career was Softly I Swing (Red Baron Records, 1992) which was produced by Thiele and featured David Murray, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron and Grady Tate. Memories of Louis, also recorded for Thiele's Red Baron Records, features a number of great trumpeters including Clark Terry, Nicholas Payton, Ruby Braff, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Sweets Edison, Lew Soloff, Terence Blanchard Yank Lawson, Red Rodney and Dizzy Gillespie.In Australia, Brewer had a string of hits starting with "Ballad of Lovers Hill' which came onto the Hobart chart on February 15, 1963 at position 46 and it reached number 4 and it stayed on the chart for 15 weeks. Other tracks followed such as "Like I Do" from March 15, 1963 started at number 56 and went to number 27 and it was in the charts for seven weeks. "Second Hand Rose" started at 51 on September 13, 1963 and it reached number 3 and stayed on the charts for 12 weeks. "Come On In" did not fare as well reaching 46 from a start of 58 and a chart run of four weeks. "Music! Music! Music!"'s debut was at number 60 and reached 24 with a chart run of 11 weeks from August 30, 1973.HonorsHer record-producer husband died in 1996, and Brewer never recorded after that. All together, she had recorded nearly 600 song titles. For her contribution to the recording industry, Teresa Brewer has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1708 Vine Street. In 2007, she was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.DeathBrewer died of a neuromuscular disease, Progressive supranuclear palsy, at her home in New Rochelle, New York, aged 76.
We, the people, are on top. We are the employers and they are the employees. We pay their wages and their benefits, give them cushy offices and take care of their every need. We pay it all, knowing that to do so is, ipso facto, giving them serious control over our lives. \|Freshman members of the 112th Congress pose for a class photo on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.\| (Photo by: Jeff Malet. Photography/Newscom) In Congress, if the electeds are still employed by us after five years in office, we are required to pay every solitary cent that goes into their retirements. Consider that: They only have to work for us for five years to get a guaranteed lifetime retirement based on an average of the best three years of employment. That means a House member would have to be re-elected twice to qualify, but a first-timer serving a full six-year term in the Senate will thereafter be eligible for retirement at our expense until death or until the coffers run bone-dry, whichever comes first. There's no chance that their employers -- that's us -- can arbitrarily decide that we don't feel like paying it anymore. We can't say we want more of our money to go to us and not to them. When it comes to shared sacrifice, we seem to have exempted them. We're locked in. We will pay their retirements, no matter what we might have to let slide in order to do it. This one crucial fact sometimes gets forgotten in the day to day back-and-forth about whether or not our elected officials are doing their jobs in a way that the majority of the employers -- that's us -- will find acceptable: They don't have to do their jobs well. Once they're in, they're in. We can't fire them for laziness, carelessness or insubordination. There's no such thing as chronic tardiness or too many sick days. They can even vote to strip jobs and take away retirements from the very people who have put them in office, all the while knowing they're safe from the same kind of unfair action. Once they're there, sitting comfortably in their catbird seats, they can, in fact, make and/or enforce laws that will actually damage and/or destroy a good segment of the very people who pay their way It's as if they have the best damned labor union in the country (that's us) looking out for them. Ironic, isn't it, considering how little use most of them have for labor representation? Under both CSRS [Civil Service Retirement System] and FERS [Federal Employees Retirement System], Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at age 62 if they have completed at least five years of service. Members are eligible for a pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service, or at any age after completing 25 years of service. The amount of the pension depends on years of service and the average of the highest three years of salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.Like most of us, they now pay into Social Security and will be eligible to collect on it after age 62 -- unless that changes, too. (The young'uns might want to remember that before they get too hasty about killing it.) As of October 1, 2006, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service. Of this number, 290 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $60,972. A total of 123 Members had retired with service under both CSRS and FERS or with service under FERS only. Their average annual pension was $35,952 in 2006. Today regular members of the House and Senate each make $174,000 per year, with additional funding going toward staff and office wages, travel and other incidentals. (The leaders, of course, make more.) Their staffers can make almost as much as they do, and they're entitled to anywhere from 20 to 60 support staffers. We pay to keep all of them working. - Representatives' staff allowances can be used to hire up to 18 permanent and four non-permanent aides divided between the members' Washington and district offices. Up to $75,000 of a representative's staff funds can be transferred to his or her official expense account for use in other categories, such as computer and related services. The maximum salary allowed House personal staffers in 2005 was $156,848 (2001: $140,451).. - Senators' personal staff allowances vary with the size of the members' states. Senators may hire as many aides as they wish within their allowance; typically this ranges between 26 and 60, depending on the size of the state and the salary levels offered to the staffers. - The maximum salary allowed to Senate personal staffers in 2003 was $150,159 (1999: $132,159); for Senate legislative staffers the maximum salary in 2005 was $153,599. As employers go, we're really lousy at this. Knowing how committed we're going to have to be toward ensuring a lifetime of benefits to our electeds, we really ought to do a better job of hiring them in the first place. It's not like we haven't studied their resumes. It's not like we’ve neglected the interview process. It costs us millions of dollars and requires a multitude of days bringing us interminable boot-licking, back-slapping, chest-thumping speeches to get us to the point of hiring these people. Could we just try and remember these four magic words before we give any of them the honor of a job with lifetime benefits? For the common good.
RAND researchers explore the feasibility of Australia sustaining a domestic naval shipbuilding industry compared with buying ships from foreign shipbuilders. The authors outline the complex consequences and trade-offs of both options. Apr 15, 2015 Reviews and assesses the operational and technical history of the Afghan Mission Network, the primary network for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and identifies lessons learned for future coalition networks. Mar 28, 2014 To reduce costs and take advantage of commercial technology, the U.S. Navy is pursuing open-architecture software and other improvements to its Aegis combat system. This report examines the potential benefits and challenges of this new approach. May 3, 2013 This report investigates how the Office of Border Patrol could employ pattern and trend analysis and systematic randomness to increase interdiction rates and mitigate smuggler adaptation. Mar 27, 2012 To design a new naval submarine domestically, Australia's industry and Government will need about 1,000 skilled draftsmen and engineers. Cultivating this workforce could take 15-20 years; partnering with foreign designers could expedite the process. Dec 22, 2011 Australia's Submarine Design Capabilities and Capacities: Challenges and Options for the Future Submarine Assesses the domestic engineering and design skills that Australian industry and government will need to design a new submarine, identifies the skills they currently possess, and evaluates how best to fill any gaps between the two. Dec 15, 2011 Focusing on three missions -- illegal drug control, counterterrorism, and illegal migration -- this report recommends ways to measure performance of U.S. border-security efforts in terms of interdiction, deterrence, and exploiting networked intelligence. Jun 23, 2010 Applies behavioral decision theory to develop hypotheses about how users choose passwords, and uses those hypotheses to suggest novel ways to help users choose passwords that are both memorable and secure. Jun 26, 2009
National Geographic Speaking Out: Speaking Out 'I have a dream.'Everyone is familiar with these words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but not everyone knows the struggle that surrounded them. In the 1950s, America was not a place of fulfilled dreams for the nation's black population. Widespread prejudice and segregation had left African Americans with fewer civil rights than other Americans. Bravely, the people did not remain quiet - a vibrant movement for civil rights began in the United States - one that would last for decades and would face innumerable challenges. SPEAKING OUT is the story of America's extraordinary Civil Rights Movement. Hardback$19.99 RRPISBN: 9780792282792Published: 15/03/2006Imprint: National Geographic Childrens Others Also Viewed - Girls Only! Everything You Need For A Girls' Night In by Kerrie Hess Everything you need for a girls’ night in!
During a meeting that took place at the Berlin City Hall on 7 March, 2001, Mayor Eberhard Diepgen, received the founder of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF), Baruch Tenembaum after the meeting held with the President of Germany, Johannes Rau Early in the afternoon and in the magnificent Roten Rathaus near the Alexanderplatz area in the heart of East Berlin, Diepgen and Tenembaum talked about some of the IRWF educational projects related to the humanitarian measures that Monsignor Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (later known as Pope John XXIII) undertook as Apostolic Nuncio in Istanbul in 1944 and also about the plan of promoting the Germans who saved Jews and other persecuted people during the Holocaust. Both initiatives were praised by the Mayor who referred to the necessity of promoting such examples in a globalized and, therefore, cosmopolitan world, where it is necessary to understand those who are different. He pointed out that the case of Berlin is, in this sense, paradigmatic because the city receives a great flow of immigrants from all over the world. On behalf of the IRWF Tenembaum presented Mayor Diepgen with a unique artistic piece in the Argentina: the canvas ”Basilica of the Nazareth Annunciation” a 1966 picture by the Argentine artist Raúl Soldi that reproduces the fresco elaborated on the walls of the Nazareth Basilica in Holy Land, painted at the request of the interfaith organization Casa Argentina en Jerusalem. Likewise, the IRWF was received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by members of the board of advisers of the Prime Minister Gerhard Schröder, who is one of the honorary members of the Foundation. The advisers manifested their satisfaction by the importance of the successes achieved and offered total collaboration from the German government to the IRWF mission. The journey was completed not only with meetings held with academic and religious sectors but also with a visit to the Raoul Wallenberg School a secondary institution carrying the name of the Swedish diplomatic since 1993 and with which the IRWF is planning to make educational presentations during the next months. Berlin also stands out for having a Raoul Wallenberg Avenue as well as a train station, which are examples to be promoted by the IRWF in other countries of the world as symbols of great educational power that commemorate the man who gave his life to help people in need. In the year 2001 the IRWF has launched a campaign to request all the Ministries of Education in the world so that there is at least one school in each country carrying the name of the Hero of the Millenium. This campaign is totally supported by Nina Lagegren, Raoul Wallenberg’s sister.
Sat 26 — Sun 27 Oct 2013 - 11.00 am — 1.00 pm - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (find us) - Free with cost of Glasshouse Admission: Adult £4.50, Concession £3.50, Child £1.00, Family £9.00, Members free - No pre-booking required Join a mission to find John Kirk, Livingstone's botanist, and meet Africans along the way sharing stories of useful plants, wild drugs, food and magic. Discover whether the things he predicted 150 years ago in his letters and diaries, from the end of slavery to fair trade, really happened. Saturday 26 October & Sunday 27 October: drop-in Poisoned Arrows storytelling trail sessions from 11am to 1pm and from 2pm to 4pm (last entry 12noon and 3pm), lasts approx 50 minutes. With the 2013 Scottish International Storytelling Festival and the JANEEMO Project. Supported by David Livingstone 200. Photo: Poisoned Arrows storyteller Dr Kelone Khudu-Petersen (c) Marian Grime Involves walking between performance areas and standing.
Chips like to rub elbows 2004 R&D 100 Winner The semiconductor and electronic device industry will benefit from a new approach in integrated circuit (IC) design focusing on ease-of-use and streamlining operations. Ivan Sutherland and Robert Drost at Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mountain View, Calif., have developed a new high speed chip-to-chip interconnect technology using capacitive coupling the ability of two electrically charged devices to transmit signals directly to another next to it. With Proximity Communication more simultaneous connections are possible than when using pins since a much higher number of transmitter/receiver pairs can be inserted in a specific area. Unlike competitive methods, Proximity Communication allows the mixing of different technologies; each part can be manufactured separately but then integrated, using this technology as the universal interface. For instance, gallium arsenide and silicon chips can be mixed in a single array, since the Proximity Communication is inherently tolerant of different voltage levels needed for different semiconductor materials. Current methods also force replacement of the entire circuit module when there is a defective part; with Proximity Communication, the user can just lift out the flawed chip and drop in a new one. Initially developed by Sun for use in a scalable supercomputer, Proximity Communication technology can be applied to any product larger than a cell phone that uses circuit boards. High speed chip-to-chip interconnect technology Sun Microsystems, Inc.
When aluminum outshines gold Humble aluminum’s plasmonic properties may make it far more valuable than gold and silver for certain applications, according to new research by Rice Univ. scientists. Because aluminum, as nanoparticles or nanostructures, displays optical resonances across a much broader region of the spectrum than either gold or silver, it may be a good candidate for harvesting solar energy and for other large-area optical devices and materials that would be too expensive to produce with noble or coinage metals. Until recently, aluminum had not yet been seen as useful for plasmonic applications for several reasons: It naturally oxidizes, and some studies have shown dramatic discrepancies between the resonant “color” of fabricated nanostructured aluminum and theoretical predictions. The combined work of two Rice laboratories has addressed each of those hurdles in a pair of new publications. One paper by the laboratories of Rice scientists Naomi Halas and Peter Nordlander, “Aluminum for Plasmonics,” demonstrates that the color of aluminum nanoparticles depends not only on their size and shape, but also critically on their oxide content. They have shown that, in fact, the color of an aluminum nanoparticle provides direct evidence of the amount of oxidation of the aluminum material itself. The paper appears in ACS Nano. Manufacturing pure aluminum nanoparticles has been a roadblock in their development for plasmonics, but the Halas laboratory created a range of disk-shaped particles from 70 to 180 nm in diameter to test their properties. The researchers found that while gold nanoparticles’ plasmons resonate in visible wavelengths from 550 to 700 nm and silver from 350 to 700 nm, aluminum can reach into the ultraviolet, to about 200 nm. The laboratories also characterized the weakening effect of naturally occurring but self-passivating oxidation on aluminum surfaces. “For iron, rust goes right through,” Nordlander said. “But for pure aluminum, the oxide is so hard and impermeable that once you form a three-nanometer sheet of oxide, the process stops.” To prove it, the researchers left their disks exposed to the open air for three weeks before testing again and found their response unchanged. “The reason we use gold and silver in nanoscience is that they don’t oxidize. But finally, with aluminum, nature has given us something we can exploit,” Nordlander said. The second paper by Nordlander and his group predicts quantum effects in plasmonic aluminum that are stronger than those in an analogous gold structure when in the form of a nanomatryushka, multilayer nanoparticles named for the famous Russian nesting dolls. Nordlander discovered the quantum mechanical effects in these materials are strongly connected to the size of the gap between the shell and the core. The paper appeared in Nano Letters. “In addition to being a cheap and tunable material, it exhibits quantum mechanical effects at larger, more accessible and more precise ranges than gold or silver,” Nordlander said. “We see this as a foundational paper.” Nordlander used computer simulations to investigate the discrepancies between classical electromagnetics and quantum mechanics, and precisely where the two theories diverge in both gold and aluminum nanomatryushkas. “Aluminum exhibits much more quantum behavior at a given gap size than gold,” he said. “Basically for very small gaps, everything is in the quantum realm (where subatomic forces rule), but as you make the gap larger, the system turns to classical physics.” By small, Nordlander means well below a single nanometer. With the gap between core and shell in a gold nanomatryushka at about half a nanometer, he and lead author Vikram Kulkarni, a Rice graduate student, found electrons gained the capability to tunnel from one layer to another in the nanoparticle. A 50% larger gap in aluminum allowed for the same quantum effect. In both cases, quantum tunneling through the gap allowed plasmons to resonate as though the core and shell were a single particle, dramatically enhancing their response. The calculations should be of great interest to those who use nanoparticles as probes in Raman spectroscopy, where quantum tunneling between particles can dampen electric fields and throw off classical calculations, he said. Nordlander noted that Kulkarni’s algorithm allowed the team to run one of the largest quantum plasmonics calculations ever performed. They used the power of Rice’s BlueBioU supercomputer to track a massive number of electrons. “It’s easy to keep track of two children, but imagine if you had more than a million,” he said. Source: Rice Univ.
Why Is UN Praising the Castro Regime? Whether due to institutional constraints or to intellectual empathy, or to both, UN bureaucracies have on more than one occasion shown a lack of any real critical thinking toward anti-market regimes and policy prescriptions. Throughout the Cold War, it was not by reading UN reports that one could discover the disaster of central planning in the Soviet bloc and the ordeal of the peoples of Eastern Europe. Those reports reproduced, and based their analyses on, the triumphalist rates of growth and advances in social services that communist regimes fraudulently claimed to have achieved. These same UN would often fawn over the dirigiste, anti-market policies of such regimes, as well. A first example relates to the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), based in Santiago, Chile. In the 1960s, that agency, then headed by the Argentinian economist Raúl Prebisch, advised developing countries to impose protectionist trade barriers so as to promote an inward-oriented industrialization through import substitution. That strategy led nowhere; it proved to be inferior to the pro-market, export-oriented industrialization that made the success of the so-called "Asian Tigers" (Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan). Latin American countries ultimately put aside ECLAC's recipes, adopted export-oriented policies and some of them -- Brazil, Chile and Peru, to mention a few -- have become able competitors in the globalized world economy. The Vienna-based UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) had its anti-market spree in the 1970s, when -- acting like a central planning bureau -- it launched a state-induced "plan of action" aimed at relocating 25 percent of world industrial production in developing countries. Developing countries are not far from reaching that targeted percentage. But this achievement has nothing to do with the UNIDO plan, which soon fell into oblivion. The success is due, instead, to the fact that a growing number of developing countries have played the game of the market by aggressively competing in the globalized world economy. A third example of counter-market tinkering relates to the Common Fund for Commodities, an idea put forward, also in the 1970s, by the Geneva-based UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Fund, in which governments were to play an active role, would attempt to curb market-led volatility in the world prices of primary commodities by purchasing such commodities when their prices were on the downside and selling them at their peaks. The Fund never got off the ground and ultimately joined the dustbin of failed, and costly, initiatives engineered by the United Nations. All these institutional setbacks should have blown the whistle on market-bashing initiatives. Nonetheless, to judge from the eulogies chanted on Cuba by the present head of ECLAC, Ms. Alicia Bárcena, it seems that the lesson has not yet been fully learned. In a visit made to Havana earlier this month, Ms. Bárcena declared that Cuba "has left behind" many Latin American countries in the implementation of the socioeconomic "structural change" proposed by ECLAC. Ms. Bárcena's praise of the Cuban "model" appears even stranger when compared with non-triumphalist statements made by both Fidel and Raúl Castro. In late 2010, the former admitted that "socialism doesn't even work for us," while the latter acknowledged that the Cuban economy was on the "verge of a precipice." Be that as it may, the mere fact that an utterly failed economy such as Cuba's is leading in the implementation of ECLAC's "structural change" says a great deal about, and against, the nature of the policies that the body is calling for nowadays. One can thus safely bet that the ECLAC-promoted "structural change" will not have a better fate than Prebisch's import-substitution, UNIDO's plan of action or UNCTAD's Common Fund. This is not the first time that the present head of ECLAC has gone out of her way to hail the Castro regime. In February of last year, Bárcena pontificated that Latin America had "much to learn" from Cuba in equality promotion. Not even the president of Uruguay, José Mujica, despite being a former Marxist guerilla fighter and an admirer of Fidel Castro, is unaware of the counterproductive effects that the reckless search of equality has had on the Cuban economy. Indeed, Mr. Mujica had asserted that "the championship of redistribution in Latin America has been largely won by Cuba," before adding cynically that Cuba, "now has nothing to redistribute." What is more, empirical evidence doesn't support Bárcena's plaudits on Cuba's alleged achievements in equality promotion. For instance, after conducting an inquiry on racism in Cuba, a journalist at the BBC, Fernando Ravsberg, reckoned that Afro-Cubans "have inferior jobs, earn lower incomes, occupy the worst housing and represent the majority in the prisons and the minority in the universities." In the same vein, in a review carried out in 2011 by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the rapporteur on Cuba noted that "people of African descent were underrepresented in decision-making bodies." Discrimination also affects women and the youth, as reflected in the composition of Cuba's 15-member Politburo, the highest decision-making organ in the country. Only one woman forms part thereof, whereas the mean age of its members is 68 and the median 71. And yet, just like during the days of the Cold War -- when UN bureaucracies closed their eyes and ears to the reality of life in the Soviet bloc -- all of these inglorious features of Cuba's society and power structure go unnoticed by the UN and its various agencies.
While age is a relative thing -- the 60-year-old tennis player may be in better shape than the 20-year-old couch potato -- time takes its toll on the human body in terms of physical changes. After age 30, humans start losing muscle mass and after age 40, bone mass declines. Tendons, which connect muscles to bone, and ligaments, which hold joints together, become less elastic and are easier to tear. These changes and others affect our ability to enjoy sports as we grow older. Some of the sports that people do today, such as snowboarding and extreme skiing, put even more stress on the body. The human body is not designed to perform many activities, including traditional sports. A professional baseball pitcher rotates his arm at a velocity of about 7000 degrees per second at one point in the pitching motion. That's equivalent to rotating your arm all the way around 20 times in a second. When a pitcher lets go of the ball, it's like someone is pulling his arm out of its socket. Because our bodies were not designed to withstand the stresses of some sports, professional and amateur alike, participation can cause physical damage. The most common sports injuries are ankle sprains, shoulder and rotator cuff problems, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis, pain in the front of the knee, elbow problems and low back pain. Fortunately, the body is very good at repairing itself, but as we age, that too changes and the body takes longer to recover. You need to decrease the repetitive impact to your body, particularly your joints, to continue to enjoy the game with fewer aches and pains. How you perform your sport makes a difference in how your body adapts to it when you age. Modify your sport as you can. Switch from singles tennis to doubles, from running to bicycling, or from advanced ski hills to the more basic slopes. You may not be able to play three times a week anymore because that doesn't give the body enough time to repair itself. In the meantime, work on your flexibility and strength. As company physician for the Milwaukee Ballet, I've found that ballet dancers have a low injury rate because they have such incredible flexibility and strength. Stretching to increase flexibility and lifting weights to build strength makes you a better athlete and makes the body a better shock absorber. By conditioning and increasing muscle mass, the body is able to better absorb repetitive impacts. Using a heavy weight with fewer repetitions (about 12) will build more muscle mass, but also may cause injury. Using lighter weights and about 30 repetitions per exercise is safer and still provides improved strength. Lifting weights damages muscle, but when it is rebuilt, it is stronger than before. You may be able to lift two to three times a week and still play sports and allow your body a chance to heal. Cardiovascular fitness is important, too, as heart disease is one of the major causes of death. In order to exercise the heart, you must raise the heart rate with exercise. For the greatest cardiovascular benefit, exercise three to five days a week, 20 minutes a day, to get your heart rate between 60 and 80% of your maximum. Calculate your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220. Cardiovascular exercise should involve the legs (running, walking, tennis, bicycling, stairmaster, etc.) because legs have large muscles and require a lot of blood to work. Research has shown that several short exercise sessions, such as climbing stairs, during the course of the day have the same effect as one long bout in lowering triglycerides or blood fats. Some aging athletes are concerned that playing sports will make their arthritis worse. Arthritis is a natural condition that affects the surface coating of bones in our joints. Each of us has a genetic predisposition that helps determine when our joints will wear out. While a serious joint injury may affect that timetable, moderate exercise will not. You may feel more symptoms from exercise, but it will not cause additional damage. In fact, some studies show that exercise reduces pain in arthritis sufferers. Warming up, stretching and anti-inflammatory treatments like ibuprofen pills or cortisone or Synvisc injections may help relieve symptoms but won't slow down the natural progression of arthritis. Nutritional supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin may also reduce symptoms. They are not miracle cures and we do not understand how they work yet. Surgery, of course, is the last treatment option for aging athletes. Joint replacement surgery is generally very successful with minimal risks. But artificial hip and knee joints have a life span of about 15 years. And while cartilage replacement surgery is sometimes possible in younger athletes who have otherwise healthy joint surfaces, it is not an option for older athletes with more wear and tear on their joints. Finally, where back pain is concerned, it's a part of nearly every person's life at some time and may be caused by muscles, nerves, bones or discs. And often when we speak of "throwing out our back," we have sprained one of several small joints in the lower back. Strengthening the abdominal muscles with crunches -- modified sit-ups -- will help prevent most back pain. For a free copy of the Froedtert & Medical College Sports Medicine Center's stretching guide, call 414-805-7100. William G. Raasch, MD Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery Director of the Division of Sports Medicine Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital Surgicenter of Greater Milwaukee, (414) 328-5800 Sports Medicine Center, (414) 805-7100
A selection of articles related to oklahoma panhandle. Original articles from our library related to the Oklahoma Panhandle. See Table of Contents for further available material (downloadable resources) on Oklahoma Panhandle. - Bringing it Down to Earth: A Fractal Approach - 'Clouds are not spheres, mountains are not cones, coastlines are not circles, and bark is not smooth, nor does lightning travel in a straight line.' B. Mandelbrot W e want to think about the future - it's our nature. Unlike other creatures, humans possess an... Mystic Sciences >> Astrology Oklahoma Panhandle is described in multiple online sources, as addition to our editors' articles, see section below for printable documents, Oklahoma Panhandle books and related discussion. Suggested News Resources - Harding Posts Two Shutouts in Sweep of Oklahoma Panhandle - SEARCY – Harding starting pitchers Andrew Fiddler and Hunter Payne combined to pitch 14 shutout innings and strike out 14 Oklahoma Panhandle batters in a non-conference doubleheader sweep Friday at Jerry Moore Field. The Bisons won 10-0 in the ... - The Archivist: Oklahoma Panhandle delivers frosty Valentine's Day greeting to - A surprise snowstorm caused slippery streets during morning rush hour in February 1966 in Oklahoma City. [Photo by George Tapscott, The Oklahoman Archives]. Valentine's Day has past. - Wayne State offense erupts in sweep at Oklahoma Panhandle State - Wayne State College erupted for 33 runs on 34 hits as the Wildcats swept Oklahoma Panhandle State 22-3 and 11-6 Sunday afternoon in non-conference college baseball played at Aggies Field in Goodwell, Oklahoma. The Wildcats move to 3-5 on the ... - A forestry officials says western Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Panhandle "dodged - Rain fell from central and eastern Oklahoma on Monday and much-needed rain was forecast for western sections of the state and the Panhandle starting Tuesday. Bill Bunting, the operations manager of the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, said ... Great care has been taken to prepare the information on this page. Elements of the content come from factual and lexical knowledge databases, realmagick.com library and third-party sources. We appreciate your suggestions and comments on further improvements of the site. Oklahoma Panhandle Topics wayne gretzky career statistics list of minerals asian elephant danger of elephants dream dictionary marble polyamory symbols of polyamory
Knuckle Cracking Will Give You Arthritis How true is the claim? It's not. The most common form of arthritis, an inflammation inside the joints, is osteoarthritis, which affects 21 million Americans. It's caused by such factors as genetics, obesity, and a history of sports injuries. Why it gets repeated: The cracking sound makes some people shudder, and it makes sense to think that popping joints would lead to joint problems. In fact, while cracking won't lead to arthritis, it isn't smart. By pulling on your fingers, you create tiny nitrogen bubbles in the joints. The bubbles then burst, making the popping sound. People who push down on their knuckles are snapping their tendons over bony spots. Both of these, done repetitively, can irritate the tendons. Bottom line: You won't bring on arthritis with knuckle cracking, but kicking the habit may still help you avoid achy hands.
The current population of Turner County is 8,938 with the median age of 38. Turner County's median household income is $28,286, and the average household net worth is $269,328. \|Turner County\|\|Georgia\|\|United States\| \|Median Household Income\|\|$28,286\|\|$47,768\|\|$52,746\| \|Average Household Net Worth\|\|$269,328\|\|$413,467\|\|$484,469\| \|Median Age\|\|38 years\|\|35 years\|\|37 years\| Age distribution represents the distribution of the population in Turner County by age group. In Turner County, the male-to-female ratio is 4,395:4,543, which is 1% higher than the ratio of Georgia, which is 4,956,220:5,189,072. Age demographic data is sourced from census, 2015. Crime rate index represents the average crime rate for a local area in comparison to nearby areas and the national average. A crime index of 100 represents the national average. Georgia, has 18% more property crime than the national average, and has 5% less personal crime than the national average Marital status represents the percent of residents in Turner County that are single, married, widowed and divorced. In Turner County, 65% of people are married and 35% of people are single. The percent of people married is 4% lower than the ratio of Georgia, which is 69%. Marital data is sourced from census, 2015. Household income distribution represents the distribution of Turner County income brackets at the household level. Overall, the median household income for Turner County is $28,286, which is 41% lower than that of Georgia ($47,768). Income data for Turner County is sourced from census, 2015. Education data represents the highest level of education attained by residents in Turner County. In Turner County, 40% of residents 18 and over graduated from high school and 11% completed a Bachelor’s degree or higher, which is 20% lower than that of Georgia. Education statistics is sourced from census, 2015.
Lessons From Conservative Defeats in France and the UK This week end saw British and French conservative candidates go down to embarrassing defeats. In both instances, if the main parties had held on to conservative base voters they would have won by comfortable margins. Smaller, more ideological parties siphoned crucial votes away from Cameron and Sarkozy. In the weeks, before the run-off vote Sarkozy desperately tried to win back conservative voters he had ignored during his term in office. This last ditch effort came up short. In England, the Tories lost local elections throughout the country including in a slew of traditional Conservative constituencies. The only significant Tory victory came in London’s race for Mayor. The incumbent, Boris Johnson beat the far left former Mayor Ken Livingstone. Commenting on his victory Johnson said he had survived even though he had received the endorsement of Prime Minister Cameron. This slap in the face was not appreciated in Number 10 Downing Street. In the response to this debacle, Conservative ministers called for a return to conservative principles. One might say that these votes were a classic throw out the bums reaction, but the London Mayoralty did show an incumbent can win in tough economic times. A more important lesson to be learned is that conservative voters can not be taken for granted. Turn your back on them enough times and they will abandon you on Election Day.
A big fish thanks to our recent active surveyors. Since the beginning of the year, 458 volunteers have conducted REEF surveys. A total of 4,353 surveys were conducted and submitted during this time (January - July 2012)! To date, 162,059 surveys have been conducted by REEF volunteers. REEF members who have conducted the most surveys in the last seven months (with survey number shown): Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) - Dee Scarr (140), Franklin Neal (126), Michael Phelan (118), Dave Grenda (115), Isobel Flake (76), Douglas Harder (66) Pacific Coast US & Canada (PAC) - Randall Tyle (109), Phil Green (59), Keith Rootsaert (54), Georgia Arrow (41), M. Kathleen Fenner (40), Doug Miller (37) Hawaiian Islands (HAW) - Judith Tarpley (118), Don Judy (87), Patricia Richardson (65), MJ Farr (63), Rick Long (39), Kathleen Malasky (32) Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) - Jonathan Lavan (21), Pam Wade (20), Dave Grenda (15), Mary Korte (4), Daphne Guerrero (2), Kim Amiot (1) South Pacific (SOP) - Carole Wiedmeyer (4), MJ Farr (4), Alex Garland (2), Kreg Martin (34), Lillian Kenney (27), Barbara Anderson (25)**the last 3 surveyors in the SOP list are stats from 2011 Visit www.REEF.org/db/stats to see the Top 25 surveyors with the most surveys conducted to date, the most species-rich locations, and most frequently sighted fish species.
On the Shoulders of Giants Eph 4: 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says, â€œWhen he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.â€ 9 (In saying, â€œHe ascended,â€ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.. Throughout the centuries the ascended Christ has given gifts to His Church. These gifts are men - living, walking, breathing, imperfect men - great preachers and teachers of the Church (Eph 4:7-12). Not one of them individually nor even all of them collectively are infallible, but I am a fool if I do not stop to at least consider what insight they have to teach me. Lord, You gave them as gifts to me in my development to become more like You. Oh, develop humility in me so I may gain insights from those who have gone before me and those You have raised up even in my own day; for in this I will see so much further than I could see by myself alone. "We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours." - John of Salisbury, 1159.
Have you ever wanted to get a closer look at a bat? Be able to identify a bird by its song? Or learn the difference first-hand between venomous and non-venomous snake species? At the 2012 BioBlitz, hosted by the Reinhardt School of Mathematics and Sciences, April 13-14, you’ll get the chance to experience the unique biodiversity right here on the University campus. This event is free, and the community is invited and welcome to attend this event. “One thing Cherokee County can be proud of is its amazing biodiversity!” said Dr. Zach Felix, assistant professor of biology. “We have species found here that are not found anywhere else on Earth. This biodiversity is being displaced and we are losing part of our heritage. The BioBlitz is a way to come together and celebrate some really neat animals and document their presence here on our beautiful campus.” The two-day event begins on Friday, April 13, as Mark Yates, assistant professor of biology at LaGrange College, will set up nets to capture bats and use listening devices to record their echolocation calls. This activity is from 6-10 p.m. outside of the Samuel C. Dobbs Science Hall. Sweet sounds will welcome participants for the second day of the Bio Blitz. On Saturday, April 14, from 8-9:30 a.m., three groups of birders will comb the campus for songbirds, led by local bird-watching experts, including Reinhardt’s own Bruce Bynum, director of development and alumni. A special lecture given by Dr. Felix, 9:30-11 a.m. in the Dobbs Lecture Hall, will feature an introduction to the BioBlitz and a presentation on “Amphibians, Reptiles and Mammals.” After a bring-your-own-lunch break from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., members from the North American Native Fishes Association (NANFA) will take small groups out on campus to seine net fishes. Those interested in participating should meet in front of Dobbs Science Hall by 1 p.m. Participants can slither over to the top floor of the Hill Freeman Library at 4 p.m. for an exciting snake show! Bryan Hudson, herpetologist and Chattahoochee Nature Center volunteer, will bring a variety of venomous and non-venomous snake species native to the Southeast and give more information about these most-misunderstood reptiles. The BioBlitz will wrap up at 5 p.m. in the Dobbs Zoology Lab with dinner and an overview of all the discoveries made from this exciting event. For more information, contact Felix at ZIF@reinhardt.edu or 770-720-5936. Return to Previous Page
Overview of North Providence Located just four miles northwest of downtown Providence, the vibrant city of North Providence, R.I., is a great place to call home. According to City-Data, North Providence is home to more than 32,000 people. The city boasts numerous amenities and entertainment, yet maintains a small-town vibe with historic districts and friendly neighborhoods. Because it serves as a bedroom community, North Providence is also suburban. This unique combination of big city, small town and suburban features make North Providence apartments for rent great options for people from all walks of life. Living in North Providence, RI Throughout the 19th century, North Providence and neighboring Providence sought to create meaningful borders through annexations of multiple neighborhoods. As a result, the two cities "traded" areas of land for a period of about 100 years. In 1874, North Providence's population dropped drastically from 20,495 to 1,303 citizens because of an annexation to Providence. Today, North Providence is a settled community with a steady population. Because the attractions and amenities of Providence are close by, those searching for North Providence rentals will find plenty of dining, entertainment and shopping options within the area. Incoming residents will want to factor commuting costs into their monthly budgets, as the city's population declines by about 25 percent on workdays due to commuting. According to City-Data, the mean travel time to work for residents is about 22 minutes. North Providence Attractions and Special Events North Providence offers many family-friendly activities for residents of all ages. The parks and recreation department focuses its efforts on many annual celebrations that have become true North Providence traditions. Events like the lighting of the downtown holiday tree, Memorial Day Parade, annual fishing derby and Pumpkins in the Park are a great way for new residents to make new friends and meet other North Providence families. If you are looking for an apartment for rent or a house rental in North Providence, R.I., search for rental properties at Rent.com®. Providence, RI (West End Providence) $890 - $1450 Studio-2 Beds1 Bath Attleboro, MA (South Attleboro Village) $1350 - $1600 3 Beds1-2 Baths
HARWINTON -- A faulty oven element was the likely cause of a kitchen fire Thursday evening at the Meadowview Drive home of Torrington Police Chief Michael Maniago. "The fire was out on arrival," said Harwinton Volunteer Fire Department lieutenant Terry Ferrarotti, who reported that damage was minimal. Ferrarotti said that Darlene Maniago, the police chief's wife, noticed smoke coming from the GE oven, saw fire inside, grabbed an extinguisher and put it out. He said she then did the proper thing by calling 911 and evacuating the house. The police chief was not home at the time. There was nothing burned inside the oven except for the bottom heating element. "I had it on to heat it up. I wasn't even cooking anything yet," said Maniago. The oven was set to 350 degrees to warm some leftovers, she said. Power to the oven turned off following the fire as a precautionary measure. The Harwinton V.F.D. and Harwinton West Side Volunteer Fire Department responded with four engines and two tankers upon being dispatched at 6:39 p.m. Read more of this story and more! 7-Day Subscribers have FREE access to everything on rep-am.com and our E-Edition.CLICK HERE to register and activate your access,. Not a subscriber? You can purchase a single-day subscription for only $0.75 to read this and access all of our content and our E-Edition. CLICK HERE purchase a single day subscription. Become an electronic subscriber to the Republican-American for only $8 a month. CLICK HERE.
Some of you may remember last summer Marc Hauser was found guilty of research misconduct. This investigation raised questions about several publications including a paper from 2007 in Science. This paper looked into the ability of non-human primates to understand the intentions of a human experimenter by interpreting his gestures. Today Science has published a partial replication of the study in question which confirms the original findings that chimpanzees, cotton-top tamarins, and rhesus macaques can distinguish intentional gestures, such as pointing to indicate a container with food inside, from “accidental” actions such as a hand flopping against a container. The Science wesite states the following: Following the Harvard misconduct investigation, first author Justin Wood, now an assistant professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, wrote to Science in June 2010 to notify the journal that the investigation had revealed that the original field notes for the rhesus experiments could not be found: "An internal examination at Harvard University determined that there are no field notes, records of aborted trials, or subject identifying information associated with the rhesus monkey experiments; however, the research notes and videotapes for the tamarin and chimpanzee experiments were accounted for. Professor Hauser states that "most of the rhesus monkey observations were hand written by [co-author David D.] Glynn on a piece of paper, and then the daily results tallied and reported to Wood over email or by phone" and then the raw data were discarded. The research assistant who performed the experiments (Glynn) confirmed that these field notes were discarded." Hauser and Wood returned to Cayo Santiago island in Puerto Rico to redo the experiments from the 2007 paper with the same population of free-ranging rhesus monkeys. Their findings, including field notes and video trials, are available online and they essentially match those reported in the original paper. It is still not known what went wrong with the original experiment, a statement issued by Science today only says the following: We stress that this new publication aims only to determine whether the original rhesus monkey experiments from the 2007 paper can be replicated. It has no bearing on questions raised about Dr. Hauser's larger body of work. "The results of this replication are straightforward and entirely consistent with those of the original study. If the authors' interpretation of their results is correct, these findings are very important and represent one of the clearest demonstrations that nonhuman primates can interpret the behavior of other individuals as intentional or non-intentional....Since the experimenter who tested the rhesus monkeys in the replication study appeared from the video to be the first author on the paper, Justin Wood, he was clearly knowledgeable of the hypotheses being tested and had some strong expectations and desires about the monkeys' performance on the test." So is this replication a clarification of groundbreaking findings or could the monkey's behaviour be down to the Clever Hans effect? Meanwhile investigations into Hauser's research are still ongoing and he is still banned from teaching for the next academic year.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR – Bali is famously known as “the land of Gods”. Yet, the beauty of diversity is also another interesting element to the beautiful island. Bali also has several historical mosques –or “masjid” in Indonesian- as it reflects religious tolerance between Hindus and Muslims. Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) encourages the managements of mosque in Bali to introduce the Muslim’s house of prayer to domestic and international tourists. MUI estimates several mosques in Bali have historical values. “This island has many historical mosques. They are also related closely to the local culture within society,” the Chief of MUI Bali, Taufik As’adi, said in Denpasar. Several historical mosques in Bali are Masjid Gelgel in Klungkung, Masjid Baitul Qodim in East Loloan, Jembrana, and Masjid Pegayaman in Singaraja, Buleleng. As’adi added, the mosque management could explain to the tourists about the history, socicial background, and inter-faith harmony in Bali. Even more, one function of mosque is to help Muslim connecting with the society. Thus, as any other social elements in Bali, Muslims can positively participate in developing the tourism. Bali also has many Muslim figure cemeteries that are recently often visited by pilgrims, especially from Java Island. MUI recommends the tourists to firstly understand the historical side of the cemetery. Today, As’adi still studies the Balinese Muslim figures historically. “Apart from that, the Muslim society can also introduce their traditional cuisine,” he added. About the revision of Bali Local Regulation (Perda) on Regional Spatial Layout Plan (RTRW), MUI relies on the society figures, Hinduism leader, government, and legislative. He hopes the revision of Perda is still referring to Hinduism interests, which says that all form of investment in Bali must recognize the holy buildings (Bhisama). “We urge them to obey and conduct Perda Bhisama consequently and consistently. It becomes mutual decision among executive, legislative, and Hinduism leaders,” As’adi said. Based on the history, Muslim has arrived in Bali since 14th century, during the reign of King Dalem Waturenggong (1480-1550 AD). When the king visited Majapahit Kingdom in East Java, then he came back to Bali and accompanied by 40 Muslim guards. The Muslims then builts Masjid Gelgel -as mentioned above. Acculturation between Hinduism and Islam has been practiced since hundreds of year ago, as also reflected in many Muslim villages in Bali. As mentioned by Ibnu Hasyim, a writer, in Pegayaman Village, its local communities still preserve Balinese traditional culture. The Muslims even still use Balinese names such as Wayan, Nyoman, Nengah, or Ketut. Hmm.... that's interesting.
Some will say that the contentious relationship between Brazil and Argentina is all about soccer rivalries. That certainly plays a role - try asking a Brazilian who's the best soccer player of all time, and then ask an Argentine. And even though there's often a begrudging respect for the other country's star players, it's not often admitted. On both sides of the border, there are often mean-spirited jokes and even open hostility in regards to the other country. On the Argentine side, the antagonism sometimes takes a racist tone. But soccer is one of the more obvious components of a very complicated relationship, one that actually goes back hundreds of years and has reached a turning point as Brazil continues to rise and Argentina continues to struggle. Here's a very brief background on their history. Argentina and Brazil have actually gone to war, both against each other and united. They fought each other in the Cisplatine War from 1825 to 1828. Brazil lost an entire territory it had annexed, which later became the country of Uruguay. But Argentina and Brazil fought together with Uruguay in the War of the Triple Alliance against Paraguay from 1864 to 1870, and won; the death toll in Paraguay was estimated between 300,000 and 525,000. While both economies grew at the beginning of the 20th century, Argentina enjoyed a golden age; in the 1920s, it was the wealthiest country per capita in Latin America and was amongst the top ten wealthiest countries in the world. That changed after the Great Depression, and both countries shared some similar struggles in the following decades, including populist leaders, military dictatorships, debt, and inflation, amongst other things. In 2001, Argentina's economy crashed, and while things have stabilized, the economy still has not quite recovered, while Brazil's economy booms. Despite all this, the stereotypical Argentine "attitude" is that Argentina is still the most superior country in Latin America, and despite economic hardships, they're still the best -- even better than Brazil. It must be hard then to deal with some very difficult realities in recent months. President Dilma made her first international visit in office to Argentina, which underscores the importance of the two countries' relationship but also of its power parity. Dilma and Cristina Kirchner signed bilateral agreements, including a nuclear agreement and an agreement to build two hydroelectric plants on the border. While both countries do a large amount of trade, Argentina is more dependent on Brazil. Argentina is Brazil's #3 trading partner after China and the US, while Brazil is Argentina's #1 trading partner. Plus, Argentina's trade deficit is large and growing; Brazilian exports are on the rise while Argentine exports are shrinking. Some Argentine sectors are especially dependent on the Brazilian market, like the auto industry, which exports 85 percent of locally-produced cars to Brazil. But it gets worse - to add insult to injury, Brazil will actually start printing Argentine money. Brazil is expected to create 16 billion pesos for its neighbor this year, as Argentina again fights an old enemy: soaring inflation, which is hurting the country's poorest. And if that wasn't enough, President Obama has decided to skip Argentina during his brief upcoming Latin American tour, his first ever in the region. This has caused quite a stir, as spurned politicians and diplomats called the decision "unfair." In short, Argentina is essentially living in Brazil's shadow, which looms bigger every day. And there's that final component that will forever drive a wedge between the two countries: culture. So sure, southern Brazil is in many ways similar to parts of Argentina, what with the gauchos and descendants of German and Italian immigrants. There's the mutual love of barbecue and red meat, of soccer and beer, and close-knit families. But you can't underestimate the influence of the original colonizers and how different it has made both cultures, and how their histories have been shaped apart, despite bordering one another. One of the main elements is the lack of African influences in Argentine culture, and the belief that Argentina is far more European than any Latin American country, as well as the racial implications of considering itself one of the region's "whitest" countries. When living in Buenos Aires, I had the sense that while parts of the culture were considered uniquely Argentine, a lot of the culture seemed to be an adoration or imitiation of European culture, while Brazil has such an eclectic mishmash of cultures from all over the world. While Argentina is very culturally insular, Brazil is wide open, like a blank canvas. I'm not sure what conclusions to draw here, but one thing is for sure: Argentines will have to learn to get along better with Brazilians, and to better understand them. Apparently, the economic and political future of their country depends on it.
\|The Dalton Gang in Kansas, this band of bank and train robbers enjoyed success until it tried to rob two banks at the same time. Gratton Hanley "Grat" Dalton was born near Lawrence, Kansas, on March 30, 1861. He was living in California when his brother Frank, a U.S. Deputy Marshal for the Federal Court of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was shot and killed in an ambush. Grat returned to Indian Territory and picked up where Frank left off, becoming a U.S. Deputy Marshal for the Muskogee Court. But he soon got a bad reputation as a lawman, and decided to go to the other side of the law and started robbing trains. Robert Rennick "Bob" Dalton was born near Belton, Missouri, on May 13, 1869, and raised on the border of Indian Territory near Coffeyville, Kansas. Before becoming an outlaw, he was a U.S. Deputy Marshal for the Federal Court in Wichita, Kansas, working in and out of the Osage Nation. Dalton was also born near Belton, Missouri, on May 3, 1871. He was working as a cowboy on the Bar X Bar Ranch near the Pawnee Agency when he met most of his fellow gang William St. Power, alias Bill Power, alias Tom Evans was a drifter. He met Emmett Dalton while working on a ranch in Indian Dick Broadwell came from a prominent family near Hutchinson, Kansas. At the opening of Oklahoma Territory he staked a claim to a homestead in the Cowboy Flats area. He met and fell in love with the young lady who owned the homestead next to his and asked her to marry him. She agreed and persuaded him to sell both claims and move with her to Fort Worth, Texas, where she disappeared with the money. He returned to the territories and started working on area ranches. It was during this period that he met Charlie Pierce came from the Blue River country in Missouri. He fled to the Indian Nation to avoid trouble in Missouri, and settled in the Pawnee country. He spent time in the Fort Smith jail for whiskey peddling before meeting up with the Daltons. George "Bitter Creek" Newcomb was from Fort Scott, Kansas. At the age of twelve he began working as a cowboy for C.C. Slaughter on the Long S Ranch in Texas. He later drifted into Indian and Oklahoma Charlie "Black-Faced" Bryant was from Wise County, Texas. His nickname referred to a black mark on his cheek that came from a powder burn. March 21, 1890 -- Pawhaska, Indian Territory -- Bob and Emmett Dalton are arrested on charges of introducing intoxicating liquor into the Osage Nation. July 1890 -- Claremore, Indian Territory -- Bob, Grat and Emmett Dalton are accused of stealing horses. Bob and Emmett flee to California. Grat is arrested, but subsequently released for lack of evidence; he then joined his brothers in California. February 6, 1891 -- Alila, California -- A Southern Pacific train is robbed. Grat and Bill Dalton are arrested for the crime, while Bob and Emmett flee to Oklahoma. May 1891 --Wharton, Oklahoma Territory -- Five members of the Gang rob a Santa Fe train, making away with $500. August 1891 -- Hennessy, Oklahoma Territory -- Deputy Marshal Ed Short arrests Charley Bryant. While taking him to Wichita, Kansas, the prisoner secures a handgun. Both men are killed in the ensuing gunfight. September 1891 -- Lillietta, Indian Territory -- Four members of the gang rob a Missouri Kansas & Texas train, making away with $2,500. September 18, 1891 -- California -- Grat Dalton escapes from jail and returns to Oklahoma to join up with his brothers. June 1, 1892 -- Red Rock, Oklahoma Territory -- Seven members of the gang rob a Santa Fe train and make away with $50. July 14, 1892 -- Adair, Indian Territory -- Eight members of the gang rob a Missouri Kansas & Texas train. In a shoot-out with railroad guards, an innocent bystander is killed, another wounded. Two guards are also wounded. Total amount of take is never Raid on Coffeyville Following the Adair train robbery the Dalton Gang split up and went their separate ways. With the law on their trail, the Daltons decided to carry out one last robbery and get enough money to leave the country. A plan was devised to rob two banks in the same town at the same time, thus getting the money they needed while also going down in history by accomplishing something that no other gang had ever even attempted. The perfect town for the robbery was Coffeyville, Kansas, their old home town. Early in the morning of October 5, 1892, Bob, Grat and Emmett Dalton, along with Bill Power and Dick Broadwell, rode into Coffeyville and tied their horses in the alley across from the town's two banks. Bob and Emmett walked into the First National Bank, while the other three went into the Condon Bank. But the Daltons' plan began going wrong almost as soon as they rode into At least one Coffeyville citizen recognized the Daltons and notified the Marshall. While the bandits were inside the banks, citizens were arming themselves with weapons and taking up positions to defend the town. Meanwhile, Cashier C.M. Ball of the Condon Bank stalled the robbers by claiming that the time lock on the vault had not released. As the gangs emerged from the two banks they found themselves under fire from the The ensuing gunfight lasted no more than twelve minutes. By the time it was over four of the bandits -- Bob and Grat Dalton, Bill Power, and Dick Broadwell -- were dead and Emmett Dalton was seriously wounded. Four Coffeyville citizens -- including the town Marshall -- were also killed, and another three were wounded. The citizens of Coffeyville put the bodies of the four dead gang members on public display and sent copies of the photo below to major newspapers across the country. Bob and Grat Dalton, along with Bill Powers, were buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Coffeyville. Broadwell's body was returned to Hutchinson, Kansas, by his relatives. In March 1893, Emmett Dalton pled guilty to murder, and was sentenced to life in the state prison at Lansing, Kansas, by Judge J.D. McCue of the Montgomery County District Court. He spent 15 years in prison before winning a parole from Kansas Governor Hoch, on November 4, 1907. On September 1, 1908, he married Julie Johnson Gilstrap Lewis, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The couple lived in Bartlesville for a couple of years before moving to California. The remaining years of Emmett's life were spent on the stage, writing a book on the Dalton family and the Raid, and as a real estate dealer in California. In May 1931, the couple returned to Coffeyville for a visit, and were treated as celebrities. While there, Emmett had a marker placed on his brothers' graves. He died in Long Beach, California, on July 13, 1937. Bill Doolin, Bitter Creek Newcomb, and Charlie Pierce continued to terrorize the territories for several more years. Along with another Dalton boy, Bill, they came to be known as the Doolin-Dalton Gang. Emmett Dalton: His Life After the Coffeyville Raid www.kayempea.net Questions or comments about
And he isn't wrong. Flame retardant chemicals have now been added to nearly every piece of furniture sold in the U.S., yet they're untested, ineffective, and toxic to homeowners, all while driving up cancer rates for firefighters. HBO's new film focuses on a groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative series by The Chicago Tribune, "Playing with Fire." Published in May 2012, it revealed the dirty tricks that chemical companies and even Big Tobacco used to make untested, toxic chemicals ubiquitous in American homes. The filmmakers interviewed the three journalists behind the series, along with a number of their sources, exposing the toxic reality that you cuddle up to every time you plop down on your sofa. "In the series, we used the phrase 'Decades-long campaign of deception,'" Patricia Callahan, one of the three Tribune reporters, says in the film. "I don't use those words lightly. Those are words we back up with fact." The documentary highlights some of the most frightening facts about flame retardants and what they are—and aren't—doing to you. #1: Thousands of studies have linked these chemicals to serious physical harm. In the 1990s, Swedish scientists raised red flags when they discovered that flame-retardant compounds in widespread use were building up in mothers' breast milk. Since then, thousands of studies published by independent researchers have linked them to increased rates of infertility; birth defects, lower IQ scores, and behavioral problems in children; and liver, kidney, testicular, and breast cancers in adults. Disturbingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 90 percent of Americans contain some level of flame retardants in their bodies. #2: Flame retardants produce more toxic smoke. Many of the flame retardants used today belong to a class of chemicals called organohalogens—a class of chemicals that includes DDT and PCBs—that build up in people and wildlife and never go away. Foam treated with organohalogens gives off way more carbon monoxide, soot, and smoke than untreated foam, and it's those three things, not burns, that are most likely to kill someone in a fire. Furthermore, as these chemicals burn, they react with other toxic materials in smoke to produce carcinogenic dioxins and furans. #3: A flame retardant that was banned from children's pajamas in the late 1970s because it caused cancer in children is the most commonly used flame retardant in U.S. furniture and baby products today. The chemical is called tris, and it was banned only from kids' pajamas. Now it's used in the nursing pillows, nap mats, car seats, and strollers—in addition to the furniture—that children and infants are exposed to every day. #4: In California, female firefighters aged 40 to 50 have breast cancer rates nearly six times the national average for that age group. That's due to the state's early adoption of flame retardants, which have taken root nationwide at slower rates. And increasingly, firefighters of both genders are developing cancer at disturbing rates, which environmental health researchers suspect is owing to the toxic dioxins and furans that they're exposed to at every fire. One San Francisco firehouse profiled in the documentary had three men who developed a very rare form of cancer known as transitional cell carcinoma, a cancer more commonly found among chemical-industry workers than the general public. #5: Yet, the chemical industry has no legitimate evidence that flame retardants even work. The American Chemistry Council and the three companies that manufacture flame retardants have relied on two studies to "prove" that flame retardants work, and the biggest of these studies was grossly misinterpreted, according to its author, Vytenis Babrauskas, PhD, a fire-protection engineer. He subjected furniture treated with extremely powerful, NASA-style flame retardants to fire and found that treated foam would give people an extra 15 seconds of escape time during a fire. But, "This is not the furniture you buy when you go into a retailer and say you want a new living room sofa," he said. Yet the industry has, and still does, insist that his study proves that fireproof furniture gives people a 15-fold increase in escape time. In reality, furniture companies use too little of much less potent retardants that provide "a slight benefit of a few seconds," he says, "but you do get great gobs more noxious chemicals put out in smoke." Babrauskas said in the documentary that he now considers it an ethical duty to fight the industry's misinterpretation of his data. Government and independent studies show that these chemicals provide no benefit for people. The drop in fire-related deaths, in reality, has come from sprinkler systems, fire alarms, self-extinguishing cigarettes, and other now-mandatory construction codes. #6: So why are they there? Thank Big Tobacco. Flame-retardant chemicals came into being back in the 1970s, Callahan told the filmmakers, a time when 40 percent of the country smoked, people commonly smoked indoors, and a lot of people were dying in fires, most of which were ignited by cigarettes. At the time, the tobacco industry knew it could make cigarettes self-extinguishing but, not surprisingly, it didn't want to. So as the push for fire-safe cigarettes was gaining steam, the tobacco industry fought back—by organizing a fake front group called the National Association of State Fire Marshals, which claimed to represent firefighters. The group's main focus was pushing for federal standards for fire-retardant furniture. These efforts weren't totally successful. By the end of the '70s, all 50 states had passed laws requiring self-extinguishing cigarettes. But one state took it a step further… #7: You can thank California for flame retardants winding up in your home today. In 1975, as a response to the rising risk of fire deaths, the state of California passed a law known as Technical Bulletin 117 (TB117), which required polyurethane foam to resist an open flame. Sadly, though the original author of TB117 had specifically included language requiring that any chemical used to make furniture fire resistant be safe for human health, politicians removed that language before the law went into effect. The furniture industry originally tried to produce furniture solely for the California market and separate products for the rest of the U.S. But that proved to be too onerous, and 30 years after the law was enacted, 80 percent of all furniture sold in the U.S. now meets TB117 standards—with toxic chemicals. #8: The industry has spent millions on efforts to defeat any reform of TB117. Mark Leno, a state senator in California, has doggedly tried to reform TB117 since 2005, sponsoring four bills in the state legislature that would update the law so that toxic chemicals weren't required to make furniture fire-safe; furniture upholstery fabrics can be made of a certain material and weave to provide greater fire safety without any added chemicals. Yet, he was bested by a deep-pocketed industry at every turn. The chemical industry went so far as to hire a doctor who made up horrific stories about children dying in fires, stories he told while testifying during hearings about TB117. Those deep pockets also funded another "astroturf" group called Citizens for Fire Safety, described on its website as a coalition of doctors, fire marshals, and fire-safety educators. When Callahan went digging into the public records to find out who was funding this group, it turned out that the only "members" were Albemarle, Chemtura, and Israeli Chemicals Ltd. "They were lying," she said. "The group was presenting itself to the public, to firefighters, to state legislators as something it was not." All hope is not lost. Despite the industry lies and misinterpretation of the data, the Tribune series triggered congressional hearings and political outrage. A little more than six months after it was published, California's governor sidestepped all legislative efforts to reform TB117 and used his power as governor to direct the California Bureau of Home Furnishings to rewrite the law in a way that would ensure fire safety without the use of harmful chemicals. The governor's office announced on Nov. 21, 2013, that furniture manufacturers would begin producing furniture that meets the new standard in January 2014. Full compliance with the new TB117-2013 is January 2015. However, the new law simply states that furniture makers aren't required to use these chemicals. It doesn't ban them outright, so when shopping, always ask for furniture made without flame retardant chemicals. Still, these toxic chemicals are likely to linger for years, since people aren't likely to run out and replace every piece of upholstered furniture they own come January 2014. Also, polyurethane foam is often recycled into things like carpet padding and sports mats. In fact, a new study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology sampled blood from a small group of collegiate gymnasts, who are surrounded by polyurethane foam mats and foam blocks on a daily basis, and found flame retardants at levels 4.0 to 6.5 times the national average, levels that are comparable to those found in polyurethane foam recyclers and carpet installers. For more information on where to purchase flame retardant-free furniture, visit greensciencepolicy.org/consumers for a list of some manufacturers who state their furniture is free of flame retardants. This list will greatly expand in 2014 when the standard changes. Catch Toxic Hot Seat on HBO. Check toxichotseatmovie.com for airtimes.
On 21st day of September 1826 Laurence Conneron of Bortle in the Parish of Kiltegan, County of Wicklow made the following statement to Rev. James McGhee, Justice of the Peace. On Monday 18th day of September I was in Hacketstown, Carlow when I was violently and riotously attacked without any provocation I was beaten , cut, battered and abused by Andrew Shannon and Patrick Freeman both of Hacketstown, Carlow , Laurence Doyle of Bortle, Wicklow , Hugh King of Eagle Hill, Carlow, Patrick Reilly of Eagle Hill otherwise Crounaseagh, Carlow all of whom joined with nine others in assaulting and beating me and I really think that I would have been killed had it not been for the interference of the women of Hacketstown.
Advanced Laboratory and/or Lecture Demonstration Apparatus and Low Cost Competition Apparatus Title: Apparatus Demonstrating the Dynamics of the Chatter Ring Toy Abstract : This apparatus confirms a new theory explaining the motion of the Chatter Ring toy. It provides a new, simple, and hands-on means for students to explore combined rigid body translational and rotational dynamics, and has added interest due to its relation to the toy. Description: In his column "How Things Work", Crane examined the Chatter Ring toy consisting of five beads on a circular rod and described the peculiar spinning and wobbling motion of the beads. It is now available under the name Gyro Ring from a science education supply company, which advertises "Guaranteed to keep your students enthralled for hours." Indeed, there are web pages devoted to dozens of "tricks" which can be performed with this toy. Until recently, however, there has been no successful explanation of how the Chatter Ring actually works. The apparatus described here confirms a new theory explaining the motion of the toy. It provides a new, simple, and active means for students to explore rigid body translational and rotational dynamics, and has added interest due to its relation to the toy. The new theory proposes that each bead contacts the rod twice, not once as in a hula-hoop: first at the top of the bead and again at the bottom, but offset at an angle around the inner circumference from the top contact. The contact points determine the orientation of the bead on the rod, and the motion consists of the bead rolling on the surface of the rod around an instantaneous axis through them. As the bead rolls, the contact points trace a double helix on the surface of the rod. For simplicity the theory models the bead by a thin washer of inner radius a and the ring by a straight cylindrical rod of radius b. Rigid body dynamics then yields the prediction where alpha is the pitch angle of the double helix traced by the contact points and k is the radius of gyration of the washer, about a diameter. The apparatus shown in Fig. 1. tests this relation. The straight cylindrical rod consists of a 5-ft long, 3-in diameter PVC pipe wrapped first with four 8.5" x 11.5'' sheets of carbon paper taped securely in place facing outwards and then with a single long sheet of white paper from a 15"-wide roll of newsprint from a craft store. Perform the experiment by setting a washer in motion on the rod. As the washer moves, its points of contact with the rod produce a carbon paper trace on the white paper. Removing the paper and examining the trace reveals a double helix with constant pitch, confirming the proposal that there are two contact points. Measuring the pitch angle alpha of the helixes with a protractor provides an experimental confirmation of the formula above. To set a washer in motion, use one hand at the top of the PVC pipe to hold it in a vertical position with the bottom pressed firmly on the floor to prevent the pipe from wobbling. It helps to also press the top against a firm support such as a projecting tabletop. Use the other hand to hold one side of the washer so that two points on the far side are in contact with the surface of the pipe. Then just swing the hand down around the instantaneous axis of rotation through the two contact points. Figure 1. The washer and rod apparatus. Points A and B are the two instantaneous points of contact of the washer with the rod. They determine the instantaneous axis of rotation of the washer rolling on the surface of the rod, and their forces on the white paper produce carbon paper traces of their paths. Figure 2. The first set of "washers"consists of nominally 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 - inch diameter brass macrame rings bent from 1/8 - inch brass rod. Larger craft stores sell these macrame rings in many sizes. Figure 3. One of the second set of "washers", composed of two macrame rings joined with posts cut from 1/8 - inch brass rod. The inner ring is 7 inches in diameter in all cases. The outer rings are 9, 12, 14, and 16 inches in diameter. The first "washer" of this set is simply a 7 inch diameter ring. There are two different sets of "washers". The first, shown in Fig. 2, consists of circular brass macrame rings from a craft store. In this case the radius of gyration about a diameter is approximately k = a/sqrt(2), and the formula for the pitch angle reduces to (This is only approximate because of the thickness of the brass ring, which makes the inner diameter of the ring slightly different from the average diameter of the ring.) The following figure compares experimentally measured values of alpha for different values of a to the theoretical graph of alpha versus a for fixed b as predicted by this equation. Each "washer" of the second set consists of two concentric macrame rings joined by four brass posts so as to minimize air resistance as shown in Fig. 3. They all have the same diameter inner ring, but the diameter of the outer ring increases progressively. Thus the inner radius a of these double-ring "washers" is the same for all, but the radius of gyration k increases progressively. This radius of gyration can be calculated from the geometry of the double ring and its joining posts, or, alternatively, by timing the period of simple harmonic motion of the double ring when suspended from its rim on a knife edge in the usual manner. The following graph compares experimentally measured values of alpha for different values of k to the theoretical graph of alpha versus k for fixed values of a and b as predicted by the first equation: In conclusion, this apparatus provides a new way for students to examine combined translational and rotational rigid body dynamics. The apparatus is very simple, and the experiment is very simple to perform. Finally, the apparatus may attract students' interest because it shows how the Chatter Ring toy works. 1. H. Richard Crane, Phys. Teach. 30, 306 (1992) 2. Order Number P3-3600, $11.00, from Arbor Scientific, P.O. Box 2750, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-2750. 3. To be submitted for publication.
Barack Obama announces revised drone policyThursday 23 May 2013 22.55 US President Barack Obama outlined plans to limit the use of US drone strikes against extremists abroad. He also took steps aimed at breaking a deadlock on closing the Guantanamo Bay military prison. In a major foreign policy speech, Mr Obama limited the scope of what his predecessor, George W Bush, had called a global war on terror after the 11 September 2001 attacks. "Our nation is still threatened by terrorists," Mr Obama said at Washington's National Defense University. "We must recognise however, that the threat has shifted and evolved from the one that came to our shores on 9/11." Faced with criticism about the morality of using unmanned aerial vehicles to wage war in distant lands, Mr Obama said the United States will only use drone strikes when a threat is imminent. This amounts to a nuanced change from the previous policy of launching strikes against a significant threat. "To say a military tactic is legal, or even effective, is not to say it is wise or moral in every instance," Mr Obama said. Under a new presidential guidance signed yesterday, Mr Obama said the Defense Department will take the lead in launching drones, as opposed to the current practice of the CIA taking charge. Any drone strike will only be launched when a terrorism suspect cannot be captured. The US will respect state sovereignty and will limit strikes to al-Qaeda or associated targets, he said. "And before any strike is taken, there must be near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured - the highest standard we can set," said Mr Obama. The use by the US of armed drone aircraft to attack extremists has increased tensions with countries such as Pakistan and drawn criticism from human rights activists. Mr Obama acted in line with a promise to be more open about the issue. He has faced pressure from both supporters and opponents to allow greater scrutiny of the secretive decision-making process guiding drone use. He said earlier this year he wanted to be more open about the issue. His policy shift came after the Obama administration acknowledged yesterday that four Americans abroad had been killed in drone strikes since 2009 in counter-terrorism operations in Yemen and Pakistan, including militant cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. Mr Obama defended those operations, saying when a US citizen goes abroad to wage war against the United States, his citizenship should not be a shield. But in recognition of a debate within Congress about whether strikes could be launched within the United States, Mr Obama said it would not be constitutional to do so. Action on Guantanamo pledged Faced with congressional opposition, Mr Obama has been frustrated by his inability to carry out a 2008 campaign pledge to close the prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A hunger strike by 103 of the 166 detainees has put pressure on him to take action. "There is no justification beyond politics for Congress to prevent us from closing a facility that should never have been opened," Mr Obama said. While he cannot close it on his own, he did announce some steps aimed at getting some prisoners out. He lifted a moratorium on detainee transfers to Yemen out of respect for that country's reforming government. He called on Congress to lift restrictions on the transfer of terrorism suspects from Guantanamo and directed the Defense Department to identify a site to hold military tribunals for Guantanamo detainees. "Where appropriate, we will bring terrorists to justice in our courts and military justice system," he said. He said he would pick a senior US envoy to handle detainee transfers, a position that has vacant since January.
Drug may help combat age-related blindnessWednesday 02 April 2014 21.54 A preventative drug for one of the most common causes of blindness in older people could be a step closer, as a result of new research by scientists at Trinity College Dublin. The research team has found that a molecule naturally occurring in our bodies can suppress the production of damaging blood cells in the eye that cause Age-Related Macular Degeneration. A condition that affects 70,000 people in Ireland, AMD involves a loss of central vision that can lead to an inability to carry out common tasks such as driving, watching TV and reading. There are two forms of AMD; dry and wet. Dry makes up the vast majority of cases, but wet AMD is the cause of 90% of the blindness that follows the disease. Wet AMD sees the blood vessels below the retina, or light sensor, in the eye begin to grow abnormally and leak, causing almost immediate blindness in the eye affected. Currently treatment for wet AMD is only available for the later stages of the disease. It consists of regular monthly injections into the eye of antibodies, which mop up a molecule called VEGF which causes the problem. But the injections do not cure the problem, which continues indefinitely and can lead to resistance. However, the scientists at TCD discovered in 2012 that a protein called IL-18, which occurs naturally in human immune systems, can inhibit the production of VEGF in the first place. Results of subsequent trials on mice are published in this week's edition of the high-profile international journal Science Translational Medicine. They found it can effectively control blood vessel production and also boost the immune processes that spur healing of the retinal tissue, without causing toxicity. They found the molecule works as effectively as the current treatment when given as a non-invasive intravenous injection, and say it could potentially one day be used as a guardian of eyesight in older people. Early indications suggest patients may be able to go for extended lengths of time before having to receive another IL-18 injection, potentially making it an effective treatment for wet AMD. The researchers have cautioned, however, that an approved and licensed treatment for AMD using the molecule is a long way off as clinical trials must first be undertaken in humans. However, that process may be speeded up by the fact that the pharmaceutical company GSK has already tested IL-18 in humans as a treatment for cancer and other illnesses, and found it to be safe. The study was supported by Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, US-based charity Brightfocus Foundation and drug company GlaxoSmithKline.
Second, in order to be great, we must apply the Hedgehog Concept. The Hedgehog Concept derives from an ancient Greek poem attributed to Archilochus of Paros which loosely translated says, "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog just one big thing." In other words, the fox is scattered, diffuse, distracted. In contrast, the hedgehog simplifies the complexities of the world into a single unifying principle that guides all of its activity. Focused, determined, relentless. Great organizations are disciplined in thought and action as they define the intersection of these circles and stay focused on it. This has been our biggest challenge. The temptation in philanthropy is to take on many things because they will do some good. In looking at the three circles comprising the Hedgehog Concept, we know that we are passionate about helping Americans live healthier lives. We know, too, that we do well training leaders in health care, incubating innovative models to deliver needed services to vulnerable populations, creating the evidence and advocacy that can drive policy change, and identifying the important areas that have the potential to transform the health of the people we serve. Our resource engine is not the generation of revenue but rather the combined power of our financial assets and the intellect of our staff and grantees, from which our good reputation derives. Mastering the Hedgehog Concept is more difficult than depicting it, but I think we are making progress. The Foundation's Impact Framework helps us stay focused on those things we do best. It groups our work into four different portfolios, sets goals, and assigns resources to each portfolio. - By putting all the training and fellowship programs together in the Human Capital Portfolio and charging a group of staff members to think about workforce needs in health care, we stay focused on creating health care leaders—whether they be community health leaders, policy research leaders, or national leaders. - The Vulnerable Populations Portfolio focuses on incubating innovative models to deliver care to the elderly, new immigrants, teenage mothers and their children, the chronically homeless, and others who are often marginalized or forgotten. - The Targeted Portfolio takes a few areas such as quality, childhood obesity, public health infrastructure, and health care disparities, among others, and applies our ability to build an evidence base and to use it to advocate for the changes that will help Americans live healthier lives. - Finally, the Pioneer Portfolio drives us toward continually incubating innovation.
Egg Recall Expands; CDC Expects More Illnesses FDA Activates Emergency Command Center; 'Extensive' Investigation Under Way By Daniel J. DeNoon WebMD Health News Reviewed By Laura J. Martin, MD Aug. 19, 2010 -- As the nationwide egg recall expands, the FDA has activated its emergency command center to direct its "extensive" investigation. So far, some 380 million eggs have been recalled -- a number that is "evolving," Sherri McGarry, emergency coordinator for the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said today at a joint FDA/CDC news teleconference. "We would certainly characterize this as one of the largest shell egg recalls in recent history," McGarry said. Through July 17, the CDC has received some 2,000 reports of illness due to Salmonella Enteritidis, the bacteria causing the outbreak. That's nearly three times more salmonella illness than is usually seen in late summer, says Christopher R. Braden, MD, acting director of the CDC division responsible for food-borne illness. "I think we will see more illnesses reported," Braden said at the teleconference. And reported illnesses represent only a fraction of true infections. In 2004 , the CDC estimated that there were 193,463 Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses with 2,004 hospitalizations and 60 deaths. This strain of salmonella is extremely common. It accounts for about a fifth of all salmonella infections. In 2000 there were 50 outbreaks, but since 2002 there have been 26 to 35 outbreaks a year. Shell eggs are by far the most common source of Salmonella Enteritidis illness in the U.S. Of the 47 billion shell eggs Americans eat as table eggs each year, the USDA estimates that 2.3 million are contaminated with this salmonella strain. The FDA investigation is centered on five plants operated by the Iowa firm Wright County Egg. The firm distributes the eggs nationwide. Eggs included in the recall include a number of prominent brands. Those brands are listed below, but some of the eggs may have been repackaged and sold under different brand names. The Wright County Egg recall includes eggs in six-, 12-, and 18-egg cartons. The cartons carry a "Julian date" referring to the day of the year and a plant number. Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton or printed on the case label. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P-1720 223. The Aug. 18 recall includes eggs with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 229 and plant numbers 1720 and 1942. They were sold under the brand names: - Farm Fresh - James Farms - Mountain Dairy - Pacific Coast The Aug. 13 recall includes eggs with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 225 and plant numbers 1026, 1413, and 1946. They were sold under the brand names: - Dutch Farms - Farm Fresh - Mountain Dairy Dutch Farms says that it does not distribute eggs from Wright County Eggs, but that some of its packaging was mistakenly used to pack eggs distributed only to Walgreen's stores in Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota, and Arkansas. The FDA is investigating this claim. Ironically, the FDA's new egg safety rule went into effect on July 9, just after the Wright Egg contamination was discovered. That rule, if followed, might well have averted or lessened the extent of the current outbreak, Braden and McGarry said. How to Avoid Food Poisoning From Eggs This salmonella outbreak comes from eggs of salmonella-infected hens that carry the bacteria in their ovaries and pass it to eggs as they are being formed. Eggs that appear to be fresh and normal may actually harbor salmonella. If you like your eggs prepared over easy, you may want to change your egg-eating habits. Here's the CDC's advice on how to avoid food poisoning from eggs: - Don't eat recalled eggs or products containing recalled eggs. Recalled eggs might still be in grocery stores, restaurants, and homes. People who have recalled eggs should discard them or return them to their retailer for a refund. - People who think they might have become ill from eating recalled eggs should consult their health care providers. - Keep eggs refrigerated at least to 45 degrees F at all times. - Discard cracked or dirty eggs. - Wash hands, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs. - Eggs should be cooked until both the white and the yolk are firm and eaten promptly after cooking. - Do not keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than two hours. - Refrigerate unused or leftover egg-containing foods promptly. - Don't eat raw eggs. - Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs. Restaurants should use pasteurized eggs in any recipe (such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing) that calls for raw eggs. - Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs should be avoided, especially by young children, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems or debilitating illness. FDA: "FDA Egg Safety Action Plan." FDA/CDC news conference. Sherri McGarry,director, Division of Public Health and Biostatistics, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA. Jeff Farrar, DVM, PhD, MPH, associate commissioner, Food Protection, Office of Foods, FDA. Nancy Bufano, egg safety rule expert, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA. Capt. Christopher R. Braden, MD, acting director, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC. News releases, Wright County Egg. © 2010 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. Find out what women really need.
Regulations describe technical obligations and requirements for contractors, individuals, and equipment used in working in the electrical, gas, boiler, elevating, amusement devices, passenger ropeways and railways technologies. Regulations also describe specific obligations regarding qualifications and permits. For a complete understanding of the requirements that apply to you, familiarize yourself with the Safety Standards Act,Safety Standards General Regulation, Monetary Penalties Regulation and the regulations that apply to your technology. The Railway Safety Act and its regulations applies if you are working in the railway technology. In each of the sections you'll also find the directives, safety orders and information bulletins that keep you up-to-date with changes in your technology. Stakeholder Engagement at BC Safety Authority brings clients and various stakeholder groups together to share information and ideas to benefit the safety system. Consultations seek a broad range of input and advice, which is used to enable high quality technical risk management for communities and industries across BC.
Harry L. Jones Sr. – A Sandhills Success Story One of the most important and influential people in the Charlotte area thanks the people of Sandhills Community College for his academic start – and the strengthening of his leadership skills. “Dr. Raymond Stone, the first president of Sandhills, took me under his wing and spent time with me,” recalls Harry L. Jones Sr., County Manager of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. “I had been a leader at East Southern Pines High School and what I saw observing Dr. Stone certainly helped me hone my leadership skills.” Mr. Jones described Dr. Stone’s style of “management by walking around” and recalls that Dr. Stone was a president who was visible and engaged students. Today, Mr. Jones is the leader of 5,200 full time Mecklenburg County employees, serving more than 900,000 county residents, with an operating budget of over a billion dollars. “My office door is always open, just like Dr. Stone’s was,” he says. Young Harry Jones had come to Sandhills right from high school. He earned an Associate in Arts degree in 1970 and served as president of the student government association. He then earned two degrees from UNC Chapel Hill. “I don’t know if I could have made it at Chapel Hill without the solid foundation I received at Sandhills,” says Mr. Jones. “I wasn’t the best student in high school and hadn’t applied myself. But the instructors at Sandhills and counselor Jane McPhaul made a difference in my life.” Mr. Jones, who has a long and varied career in public administration including receiving the 2012 Public Service Leadership Award from the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, is a huge fan of North Carolina’s community college system. “I tell young adults, if you’re not sure about what your future should be, spend some time at a community college,” he says. “You’ll have more immediate access to people who can help you. I sure did in my time at Sandhills.” << Back to 50 for 50
San Joaquin Valley farmers are benefiting from the sale of billions of gallons of water from a reservoir north of Fresno as federal officials work to drain it to prepare for the summer Sierra snowpack thawing. Water releases from Millerton Lake are needed to avoid a surge later this year that could flood crops and other land along the San Joaquin River, said Pete Lucero, spokesman for the Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the reservoir. The Sierra snowpack is at 139 percent of average, thanks to the wettest California winter since 2006. Some of the water is going toward the river restoration program, part of the plan to bring back the Chinook salmon, but 70 percent of the Millerton Lake releases are going to farmers. Farmers could get more than 400,000 acre-feet in flood-prevention releases this spring. That's in addition to being eligible to buy 30,000 acre-feet to make up for water lost when the river restoration began last fall, according to the restoration agreement. Ron Jacobsma, general manager of the Friant Water Users Authority, which represents 15,000 east San Joaquin Valley growers, said they plan to use the extra water to irrigate crops and fill ponds that seep into their wells. "We have an extensive groundwater recharge program," Jacobsma said. "We'll be taking as much water as we can and hoping Millerton won't spill over the next month." Information from: The Fresno Bee, The Associated Press
SD's top 10 spookiest spots From Victorian ghosts in Coronado to unexplained noises in Del Mar, these are some of the city's most haunted places Haunted San Diego Before we lived here, San Diego was inhabited by everyone from the native Kumeyaay to Spanish settlers. There's history in many of our oldest buildings throughout the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town and beyond. In honor of Halloween we present you with some of the city's favorite ghost-inhabited places. Hotel Del Coronado The seaside hotel, which opened in 1888, has long had a reputation of ghost sightings. But the truly haunted spot is Kate Morgan's room. The young newlywed checked into the hotel in 1892 waiting for a husband who never showed up. She was found dead on the hotel steps and there's since been reports of noises, breezes and a figure of a woman in a black dress. Del Mar Racetrack Voices that appear out of nowhere, unexplained cold spots and elevators that seem to have a mind of their own are some of the reasons why employees of the Del Mar Racetrack are convinced the place is haunted. It's believed that because the track was such a Hollywood favorite when it opened, some of those spirits have returned to keep the party going. Julian Gold Rush Hotel If you stay in room 10, you may encounter the ghost of Albert Robinson, the hotel's original owner. People have reported shadows, footsteps and even windows opening and closing on their own. Other weird things that have happened at the Julian Hotel include rearranged furniture, the smell of a pipe and beds that seem to mess up on their own. There's been activity at Presidio Park since the 1760s, so the area is a hotspot for paranormal activity. But the ghost stories here are on the darker side and include tales of witches, levitation and evil ghosts. There's even a tale of a phantom deer named Lucy that roams the park. The story goes that under the Mt. Helix Cross some people have heard the sounds of a woman sobbing but they couldn't find the source. Others say they've seen a woman dressed in white Victorian clothes with tears streaming down her face and then she disappears. Because this was the Whaley family home. Because Violet Whaley committed suicide on the property. Because there were hangings there before a house was built, the Whaley House is considered the Travel Channel’s America’s Most Haunted most haunted house in the United States. The USS Midway doesn't actually spotlight its paranormal activity, but it was recently listed as one of four haunted ships at the 2012 Maritime Ghost Conference. There are rumors that as many as 30 ghosts have been recorded on the ship, which began operating in 1945. The El Cortez hotel opened in 1927 and saw everyone from celebrities to former presidents. It also saw several deaths in the years when it was populated by homeless and drug addicts. It's said that the spirits haunting the building are a young boy and his mother who died in the 1980s. Can any residents of the renovated apartment building confirm? Old Point Loma Lighthouse Though it's no longer considered an "active" haunted location, people say they used to hear moaning, footsteps and other noises. The legend says that the ghost was that of the final lighthouse keeper, Captain Robert Decatur Israel, reporting for his duties. William Heath Davis house This house, built in 1850, is the oldest house in the Gaslamp District. People who have lived there over the years and recent ghost hunters have reported oil lamps mysteriously going out, furniture that's moved around, shadows and many more oddities. For more haunted spots, check out San Diego Haunted.
Today in history Back in Space Oct 6, 2013 at 7:30 AM 50 years ago, 1963: A 45-year-old Cleveland Stevedore worker was rushed to the hospital after he slipped off a railroad hopper coal car at the coal docks. He fell under the wheels of the coal car and it passed over his leg. 25 years ago, 1988: Discovery's astronauts buttoned up their spaceship for a triumphant return to Earth, winding up the first post-Challenger flight and opening a new era for America's resurgent space program. 10 years ago, 2003: Students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, lined up at the bar, not for a bottle of beer, but for a bottle of oxygen. "I'm not wasted, I'm more relaxed." said a student after inhaling 97-percent pure oxygen for about five minutes.
- Our Town Timber tussle near Chase By Cam Fortems, Kamloops This Week Residents of a rural area near Chase are clashing with a forest company, a fight foresters predict will become more common as companies log timber closer to homes. Homeowners in the area known as Ptarmigan Hills, located off Chase-Falkland Road about 10 kilometres south of Chase, say they were stunned to learn Tolko Industries Ltd. is planning three cutblocks in their area. The forest has not seen bulldozers or feller-bunchers in nearly a decade. Marjorie Hamilton, who owns Ploughman’s Lunch restaurant in downtown Kamloops, said there are 20 water licences in the area, noting residents have dire concerns about their supply. In 2005, Tolko signed a planning document called the Chase Creek Retention Plan. Residents assumed the deal protected their watershed. Late last year, residents learned the company had notified stakeholders it was planning new cutblocks in the forest. “They’re saying, ‘We’re not exactly sure where the cutblocks are,” Hamilton said. “Tolko doesn’t communicate — period.” Chase Creek feeds into the South Thompson River at Chase. The watershed has been heavily logged, in part due to mountain pine beetle. It is prone to high loads of silt that plagued Kamloops taps until the water-treatment plant was completed and has in the past blown out its banks in lower areas. Another long-term resident, Laurie Payne, said the area cannot be logged without threatening water supply. “The conflict here in our community is that Tolko Logging Company wants to cut trees in the watershed that sustains the community beneath Ptarmigan Hills, a watershed that has watered the local people for close to a hundred years.” Henry Cornelson, one of the residents who was part of crafting the 2005 retention plan, said Tolko’s plans came as a shock. He said the retention plan “gave the community some comfort level. “This is as much harvesting as is going to be done chasing the beetle,’” he said of residents’ understanding. “Now, eight years later, we get a surprise.” Cornelson acknowledged the retention plan is not a legal document. Tolko’s woodlands manager, Murray Wilson, said the company is proud of its work on the retention plan, saying the it focused on “what we’ll keep, rather than what we’ll log.” But, he added, the planning document was a work of its time — and conditions have substantially changed. “We came out with the concept of a retention plan. The community was concerned about pine beetle,” Wilson said. “There was lots of pine and people were concerned about what the area would look like . . . It was a plan — and plans always change.” What is different nearly a decade later is the mountain pine beetle fight is all but over. Companies have already chewed through mid-elevation stands of lodgepole pine devastated by the beetle. Now they’re returning to areas of fir, timber often located near settlements. Wilson said Tolko is closely following B.C.’s forest laws as it moves out of high-elevation plateaus full of dead pine to more traditional logging in areas of housing, recreational areas and resorts. “We’ve been logging, just like everyone else in the Southern Interior, mountain pine beetle. “Now we’re back in the interface area where everyone lives. You’re probably going to see more of it.” Lumber prices remain high as the U.S. housing market recovers from a historic bottom reached after the 2008 recession. Complicating matters further, a non-replaceable forest licence has been granted to Adams Lake Indian Band, which has not communicated with residents about its plans. Independent consulting forester Chris Ortner agreed residents will notice more logging close to communities. “Absolutely. Companies want green wood,” he said. “This time of year, you go for fir.” And those Douglas fir stands are often in areas where people recreate and live. “Interface logging has always been a problem [for neighbouring residents],” Ortner said. The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations estimated Tolko’s probable harvest at 120 hectares. It referred other questions to Tolko. Cornelson said changes in forest legislation mean corporations are no longer responsible for consultations and planning of the past, instead relying on their own foresters and engineers without oversight from the former B.C. Forest Service, which has been disbanded. “There’s a broken trust between a community, the forest service and the licensee,” Cornelson said. Hamilton said the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Development has agreed to bring in a hydrologist to look at the area. Tolko’s Wilson said logging is unlikely to occur this year, but planning will continue. “You’ll see more regular harvesting,” he said. “We’ll be out of the high plateau areas.” But, residents say they’re not dropping the fight. “Though we are small, we will fight to the end for our water,” Payne said. “So please leave and go home. It is beautiful, clean water that we value above all.”
The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines. In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory. The purple skinned grapes of the Grenache varietal have quickly become one of the most widely planted red wine grapes in the world, flourishing in several countries which have the correct conditions in which they can grow to ripeness. They thrive anywhere with a dry, hot climate, such as that found in central Spain and other such arid areas, and produce delightfully light bodied wines full of spicy flavors and notes of dark berries. Their robustness and relative vigor has led them being a favorite grape varietal for wineries all over the world, and whilst it isn't uncommon to see bottles made from this varietal alone, they are also regularly used as a blending grape due to their high sugar content and ability to produce wines containing a relatively high level of alcohol. Spanish wines are renowned world-wide for carrying all the passion and character of the Spanish culture within them. Any lover of Spanish wine would undoubtedly be able to confirm this notion, as the variety and range of flavors and aromas coming from the high end of Spanish produce is truly impressive, and continues to delight and fascinate both newcomers and the more experienced. Spain benefits massively from an ideal climate for wine production and vine cultivation, with its long, scorching hot summers and far reaching oceanic breezes working perfectly with the native and imported grape varietals, which thrive on the mineral rich soils that cover much of the country. With centuries of knowledge, and generations of expertise under their belts, Spanish wineries continue to focus on raising the quality of their nation's wines, helped along the way by relatively new laws and regulations regarding regional excellence and representativeness.
It is with deep sadness to report that despite all our efforts, Delta Air Lines and the Port Authority have demolished the historic Pan Am Flying Saucer Terminal. Fueled by a seemingly irrevocable remediation and demolition contract estimated at $50 million, Gramercy Group's voracious bulldozers cold-heartedly toppled the Flying Saucer's final support beams on November 22, 2013 - the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It is a reprehensible insult to the great man for whom JFK International Airport was dedicated, not to mention the senseless murder of an architectural icon. Though the building has fallen, our campaign was not fought in vain. We raised tremendous global awareness of the historic, cultural and architectural significance of this building and the many reasons to save it - reasons that far outweighed the few misguided and shortsighted excuses to destroy it. Judging by the amazing support the campaign received, it is clear that Delta Air Lines and the Port Authority have made a terrible mistake - a mistake on the same scale as was made with the original Pennsylvania Station in New York City in 1963. History will prove this mistake will be equally shameful. Indeed we are disappointed, yet we are not surprised at the outcome. We were summarily bulldozed by a cold, unfeeling corporation whose priorities are market share and profits, and by a dysfunctional government agency whose leaders' primary focus is playing politics, lining pockets, and causing traffic jams on the George Washington Bridge. But wrecking balls, bulldozers and poor judgment cannot tear down our memories. While we must regretfully close the campaign, we will soon transform this site into a tribute page so that the memory of the legendary Pan Am Worldport will live on. And our Facebook community remains as active as ever, attracting new members who enjoy discussing aviation, the Worldport and Pan Am's glory days. The campaign has been a challenging, yet fulfilling learning experience. We learned from, and deeply respect those who pursue historic preservation as a profession. We learned to celebrate the small victories and cope with the multitude of challenges, obstacles and disappointments. We brought together a community, and we met some great people along the way. We are also working with several groups in the hope of restoring the famed Milton Hebald Zodiac Sculpture - the only remaining portion of the original Flying Saucer that remains intact. The Port Authority has promised a "tribute" to the Worldport, and we are pushing for the Milton Hebald Zodiac to be its centerpiece. Watch this space for further updates soon... "When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." --George Santayana July 20, 2013 To supplement our recent press release and ad in the New York Times, our core team has compiled a document called "What Delta and the Port Authority Aren't Telling You" that puts forth several compelling arguments against Delta and the Port Authority's decision to demolish the Worldport. Both Delta and the Port Authority have made vague claims about jobs and traveler benefits that they've never backed up with actual facts. It's unfortunate that the public buys into these claims without challenging them. Click below to view: July 19, 2013 Our crowdfunded ad has made it to today's edition of the New York Times on page A18! Many thanks to all 163 contributors who made it happen. If you are here because you saw the ad and would like to learn more and take action, please take a moment to read our Mission Statement and the History of this fascinating building. Check the FAQs page as some of your questions may already have been answered. Make your voices heard by contacting Delta Air Lines and the Port Authority on the How You Can Help page. Very little time is left to save this building, as demolition is well underway. We will continue to update this entry over the course of the weekend so please check back often. July 18, 2013 We got word from the New York Times that our ad will likely appear tomorrow, July 19, 2013. Additionally, some of our Facebook members who work at or have passed through JFK have been sharing some extremely heartbreaking photos of the demolition so far. Please see our Facebook page for details. Is this how government agencies and billion dollar corporations respect our heritage? July 14, 2013 Many thanks to everyone who contributed to our crowdfunding campaign. We raised over $7600 towards advertising and we anticipate the finished New York Times ad will appear late this week. Sadly, no stoppage of demolition activity. Many sections of roof slab are now missing. July 10, 2013 Using some of the crowdfunding revenue, we put out our own press release, which was picked up by over 250 news and media outlets worldwide! The release pitches our crowdfunding effort and discusses some of the issues surrounding the preservation effort. View the release here: Meanwhile, it seems that demolition activities on the rotunda and roof are fully underway despite our best efforts to request a temporary suspension to discuss alternatives. July 4, 2013 Even if we are not successful in saving the building, we want our message to be seen by millions. Delta Air Lines, with the Port Authority's blessing, is destroying history. Today is July 4, 2013 - a day of celebration for the United States. The Worldport was not only a Jet Age airline terminal, but it was also a celebration of American pride and optimism. Fifty years ago, the original Beaux-Arts Penn Station was demolished amid controversy and protest. New York City never got over it. Help us tell Delta and the Port Authority not to repeat the same tragedy that befell Penn Station 50 years ago. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -George Santayana June 26, 2013 We made another appearance at today's Port Authority public session. Special thanks to Roberta Lane of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for her comments, as well as our regular supporters for being there. The announcement of the Trust's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list has generated an unbelievable outpouring of support from all around the globe as well as non-stop media coverage. We understand that even former NJ governor Jon Corzine is aware of the campaign and has endorsed his support! The campaign has been very influential and perhaps even a threat to some, as to draw out public opposition as well. Watch the board meeting video for details here (Board Meeting 06/26/2013): Despite all our efforts so far, Delta Air Lines has refused to engage us in any discussions. We have tried to approach them in a professional manner, but they haven't had the decency to make any effort to communicate with us whatsoever and have decided to proceed with demolition. Machinery is already being mobilized onto the roof. We also want to make everyone aware of a press release that was issued just hours after the public board meeting. The press release, presumably made jointly by Delta Air Lines and the Port Authority, though sourced only by Delta, states that "JFK Terminal 3 site redevelopment will move forward, benefiting traveling public, region and job creation." June 19, 2013 Incredible news! The National Trust for Historic Preservation has selected the Worldport as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2013! We are thrilled by the announcement and hope it will continue to bring much-needed awareness to the campaign. But we also note the word "endangered" because the fate of the building is still uncertain at this time. That the National Trust has selected the Worldport sends a clear message that the building not only possesses historic, architectural and cultural significance, but has the potential to be saved and restored with the right vision, planning and investment. With this announcement, we hope to continue working with the Port Authority and Delta Air Lines on a sensible plan to save this historic landmark.
Revista médica de Chile versión impresa ISSN 0034-9887 BARJA, Salesa et al. Early markers for atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome in children. Rev. méd. Chile [online]. 2009, vol.137, n.4, pp. 522-530. ISSN 0034-9887. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0034-98872009000400010. Background: The high prevalence of obesity in children favors the appearance of metabolic syndrome (MS), increasing their cardiovascular risk. Aim: To evaluate components of MSin children and to comtate them with surrogate markers of atherosclerosis and subclinical inflammation. Material and methods: We studied 209 children aged 11.5 ± 2 years (50% girls, 30% prepuberal). Fifty percent had normal weight, 18% were overweight, 29% were obese and 3% were undernourished. A fasting blood sample was obtained to measure lipid levels, glucose, insulin, adiponectin and ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (usCRP). Subclinical atherosclerosis was evaluated using flow mediated dilatation of brachial artery (FMD) and carotid intima-media thicknes (IMT). For diagnosis of MS we adapted Cook's criteria. Results: Five percent of all children and 18% ofthose with overweight had MS. Children with more components had significantly higher fasting insulin and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) values. Clustering of MS components was also associated to higher values of usCRP and non significantly to lower adiponectin levels. We did not find differences in FMD. In obese children there was a tendency towards a higher IMT with clustering of MS components, although not significant. Conclusions: Children with overweight presented a higher risk of a clusteríng of MS components, which was also associated with insulin resistance and increase in ultrasensitive C reactive protein. Palabras clave : Atherosclerosis; Child; Metabolic syndrome.
Jan 17, 2013 - YES Magazine - David Korten Is it possible that the human future turns on our embrace of a new sacred story that gives us a reason to care and with which a majority of people may already align, yet has neither institutional support nor a place in the public conversation? Humanity’s current behavior threatens Earth’s capacity to support life and relegates more than a billion people to lives of destitution. This self-destructive behavior and our seeming inability to change have deep roots in the stories by which we understand the nature and meaning of our existence. The challenge before us is to create a new civilization based on a cosmology—a story of the origin, nature, and purpose of creation—that reflects the fullness of our current human knowledge; a story to guide us to mature relationships with one another and a living Earth.... http://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/religion-science-and-spirit-a-sacred-story-for-our-time?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=socmed&utm_content=KortenD_ASacredStoryForOurTime&utm_campaign=130117_Happiness The Personal Story Behind the Essay, “Religion, Science, and Spirit: A Sacred Story for Our Time” by David Korten — YES! Magazine http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/the-personal-story-behind-the-essay-religion-science-and-spirit-a-sacred-story-for-our-time HOW A SENSE OF SACRED CAN HELP SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS - RESTORING VALUES How a sense of sacred can help sustainable business - Restoring Values http://www.scoop.it/t/environmental-and-human-health/p/3994926408/how-a-sense-of-sacred-can-help-sustainable-business-restoring-values
U.S. bypasses Korematsu plea (UPDATED) UPDATE: Saturday 2:05 p.m. The government’s new brief is now available and can be read here. The Obama administration, urging the Supreme Court to turn aside a new challenge to presidential power to detain individuals suspected of terrorism links, chose not to support a years-long campaign to get the Court to repudiate one of its most heavily criticized opinions from the World War II era. In a brief filed this week in Hedges v. Obama (docket 13-758), the U.S. Solicitor General’s office said nothing about the 1944 ruling in Korematsu v. United States — a decision that upheld the conviction of a Japanese American for refusing to go to a wartime detention camp. In January, government lawyers had been urged to use their reply to the Hedges petition to try to persuade the Court either to overrule outright the Korematsu decision, or at least to tell the Court that the government did not regard that precedent as support for any current detention authority. The brief, filed Wednesday, did neither, focusing its argument mainly on the point that the individuals who filed the challenge — journalists, authors and political activists — did not have a right to sue because they actually were not threatened with detention and thus could not claim legal injury. The Hedges case, if granted review, would put before the Court a significant controversy over what Congress meant three years ago in spelling out anew the power of the president to order the capture and possible long-term confinement of potential terrorists. The controversy centers on whether that added new authority, or simply reaffirmed the power Congress had given the president right after the terrorist attacks on the U.S. in 2001. To compromise a dispute over whether a restatement of detention authority would extend it to U.S. citizens, Congress wrote into a military defense bill a statement that nothing in the bill “shall be construed to affect existing law or authorities relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful residents of the United States, or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States.” A federal judge in New York City temporarily barred enforcement of the law after finding that the challengers had a “realistic fear” that they might be detained. The judge said the challengers were likely to win the case after a full trial, on the theory that it violated First Amendment free-speech rights. The judge later issued a permanent order against enforcement “in any manner, as to any person.” The government then appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which overturned the judge’s order. It did so, however, only on the premise that — as the government claimed — the challengers could not sue because they could not prove that they were genuinely at risk of being detained under the 2011 provision. In the court of appeals, the children of Fred Korematsu and two other Japanese Americans who were convicted of violating the wartime curfew and imprisonment orders — Gordon Hirabayashi and Minoru Yasui — urged the three-judge panel to rule that no part of detention authority relied upon the Korematsu precedent. (In 1984, four decades after that ruling, all three of those men had had their convictions overturned in a highly unusual federal court decision.) The Second Circuit did not react to that plea, instead ruling that the challengers contesting the new detention power lacked “standing” to sue. When the lawyers for the challengers filed their petition in the Supreme Court last December, they asked the Supreme Court to take the case. They raised First Amendment issues and “standing” issues, as well as a plea for the Court to overrule the Korematsu decision, if it were found to be any part of the justification for detention. On the basis of that overruling plea, private lawyers who had succeeded in getting the three men’s wartime convictions overturned wrote to Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., asking him to use the government’s response in the case to support overruling Korematsu. Although a response to that plea was not a part of the brief filed Wednesday, Verrilli argued at length that the four individual challengers were not at any risk of being detained, that the 2011 provision did not add to presidential authority, and that the Justices should deny review on the basis of a lack of “standing” to make the challenge. After the challengers’ lawyers have a chance to reply to the government’s brief, the Court will decide whether to grant or deny review. That action may come sometime in April or May. Recommended Citation: Lyle Denniston, U.S. bypasses Korematsu plea (UPDATED), SCOTUSblog (Mar. 29, 2014, 8:02 AM), http://www.scotusblog.com/2014/03/u-s-bypasses-korematsu-plea/
For the next few weeks, a swoop of swifts – thousands of small migratory birds - will descend on a chimney in downtown Los Angeles as they make their way from Canada to Central America for the winter. Under a bright 7-11 sign as daylight fades, I meet Jeff Chapman. He directs the Audubon Center at Debs Park. "We are standing at the corner of 5th and Broadway in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. We're here because the birds are here. Vaux's Swifts that are heading south to southern Mexico and Guatemala," Chapman says. "They look like, I dunno – little black spots just covering the whole intersection where we're standing, just swirling around." Chapman's enthusiasm cuts through the chaos of rush hour. As he points, older women, a homeless man and young guys in track suits all follow his hand. Clowning, a kid says, "It's a bird, it's a plane!" Except of course, it is. They keep gawking as we cross the street. That's the reaction Chapman’s after. "I call it the urban wildlife spectacle," he smiles. Jewelry store owners in doorways call to us from their wares. We pass neon-lit windows filled with faded telephones and boom boxes. I ask Chapman how long the Vaux's swifts have stopped over here. "There was an artist, his name's Mark and he lives near the old Nabisco building, about 8th and Santa Fe. The swifts used to go into that chimney," he says, the light from a little disco ball in a shop window on his face. "That building was converted to lofts and they got rid of that chimney. So he's been on a mission for the past several years to locate where they went. We found this place last year," he finishes. We climb five flights, to the roof of a parking structure next to the Chester Williams building. That’s where a growing group of swifts converges. "This is a migratory bird. They spend the winters down in southern Mexico and Guatemala and in the spring they head north. Eventually they wind up in the Pacific Northwest in Canada and Washington state and they breed and have their babies." These swifts catch bugs on the wing all day long, Chapman says – always flying for food. "Each swift can feed on about 20,000 insects a day, so they like places where there's a lot of bugs. And here in L.A. they hang out along the L.A. River, so all day long they're kind of flying up and down the L.A. River and they pluck off insects," he says. We watch them, perhaps gulping down their last snacks of the day – unless they get gulped down first. A woman with curly hair makes an approving noise and nods up at the chimney. "The ravens showed up to pick them off as they go in; take them for prey. And I love ravens," she says. Kara Donohue flashes a mischievous smile behind oval glasses. "I'm a volunteer for Los Angeles Audubon," she says. She finds it easy to root for ravens – not because she's a biologist. "'Cause they're smart. I like any bird that can thrive despite humans." After a pause, she adds, "Or any animal. I like coyotes too." She hands binoculars to Jeff Chapman. He notes that swifts thrive in places like this, in Oregon, California and Mexico, because of humans. "We're not building incinerators anymore, and in new buildings chimneys that are being built tend to be metal inside," he says. "This is masonry and the brick is rough on the inside, which provides the little ledges and other places for the birds to get a hold on inside there." Biologists and birders are looking for more stopping points along the swifts’ migration route. To track and count the birds they use cameras and technology – including guides on iPhones, complete with sound. Above a quieter street, the faint chirps of real swifts reach us, recognizable because of the technology. Chapman explains, "We kind of estimate that 10 birds per second are going in, so when they're streaming in we're usually timing this, and that's how we base our counts." The swifts scoop circles around the chimney. They bend and turn like schools of bait fish. The poet Mark Jarman wrote about cousins to these birds: "to them there are two worlds – the soot thick shaft and the silky bowl of sky." Seeking rest and safety, they're leaving the bowl. "It looks like smoke coming out of the smokestack in reverse," Chapman says. This show repeats every night for about a month, with the swoop of swifts growing from a few thousand to at least 10. L.A. Audubon's gathering people to watch at events called Birds Over Broadway – tonight and next Friday. "There's very few opportunities for people to gather together to witness a natural phenomenon," Chapman says, when I ask him why a group event. "This is one of those things. This could bring us together as residents of Los Angeles County and the city of L.A." The swifts pack tight, safe like shingles inside the brick chimney. Our gaggle of garage-top observers splits up and heads home. Above us two ravens fly off, black and big against blue dusk, with unlucky swifts clamped in their mouths.
One of the new books goes into great detail on how to successfully grow vegetables right here. THIS SPRING we have new books to drool over, others to read for pleasure, and practical volumes that’ll end up dirty and dog-eared. You’d expect “Backyard Roots: Lessons on Living Local from 35 Urban Farmers” (by Lori Eanes, Skipstone Books, $21.95) to be one of the latter, but I read it cover-to-cover for its inspired stories. Sure, you’ll learn how to forage healthy weeds to feed your goats, the two best kinds of ducks for egg production, and where Portland’s Noble Rot restaurant buys the seeds for its rooftop garden. There’s plenty of practicality here. But it’s the stories of these mostly young people’s dedication to local food, to their animals, to health and the land that’ll transfix you. Author Lori Eanes traveled the West Coast, tracking down innovative urban farmers, and I love how she brings their work, their ideals and all they’ve learned alive. Jim Fox’s book looks exactly like what it is: a handy little guide to gardening smarter. Pay attention to the wisdom in “How to Buy the Right Plants, Tools and Garden Supplies” (Timber Press, $14.95) and you’ll save money and your back, make fewer mistakes and end up with a more beautiful garden. Learn which mulches to use where, the art of watering and how to decode a plant tag. Fox is both researcher and dirt gardener, a longtime nurseryman who shares decades of knowledge in his first book. Here’s the book to drool over: the latest title from Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury is “Planting: A New Perspective” (Timber Press, $39.95). No one does ecology-based plant harmonies better than these two, and it’s just so sweepingly, stunningly beautiful. Oudolf combines woody plants and perennials in richly textural, season-spanning compositions that appear naturalistic. Plants mingle, blend, ebb and flow but (theoretically, anyway) don’t crowd each other out. My favorite chapter is full of diagrams and photos explaining Oudolf’s planting of the High Line in Chelsea, the raised walkway/urban garden that has turned into one of the biggest tourist draws in New York City. - Students seeking sugar daddies for tuition, rent - Seattle-based seafood company shuts down - What's the top spelling 'mistake' in Washington state? The answer could make you sick - UW receiver Isaiah Renfro opens up about depression, announces he's leaving team - Dead whale found on bow of cruise ship in Alaska Most Read Stories Two books on growing edibles, out of dozens of new ones, stand out this spring. The very local “The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening” (Timber Press, $19.95) is by Lorene Edwards Forkner, who lives and gardens in West Seattle. Arranged month-by-month, the book goes into great detail on how to successfully grow vegetables right here. Edwards gives advice on the vagaries of weather and the specifics of soil, companion plantings and when to harvest. Turn to the month of May and you’ll learn that now is the time to plant leeks and pumpkins, parsnips and fava beans, and your last chance to put lettuces into the ground before it gets too warm (we hope). Then flip back to the dictionary section to learn which varieties do best in our climate. I’d like some photos, but the book is straightforward, clear and packed with information. “The Four Season Farm Gardener’s Cookbook” by Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman (Workman Publishing, $22.95) is a bargain, laden with color photos, recipes and food-gardening how-to. The authors are longtime organic gardeners, and they lay out nitty-gritty basics of crop rotation, composting, vegetable-garden layout — this is an encyclopedia on organic growing, really. The second half of the book has fabulous food photos, tips and recipes, from corn soufflé to chilled raspberry pie. Grow what you eat, cook what you grow. Valerie Easton is a Seattle freelance writer. Check out her blog at www.valeaston.com.
Sedbergh, Dent, Garsdale & the Howgills The market town of Sedbergh lies at the foot of the Howgill Fells near where the rivers Lune, Dee and Rawthey meet. For visiting walkers and cyclists it is the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales and to an extraordinary network of footpaths and quiet lanes that cover the fells and riverbanks around Sedbergh itself, Dent, Garsdale and the upper Lune Valley. Some higher walking routes are quite demanding, but there are other paths that are easy on the legs, some of them without stiles. Mountain bikers will find interesting routes over the Howgills, and around Dent and Whernside. In August 2015 Sedbergh was accepted as a Walkers Are Welcome town. Sedbergh Cycling Festival 2016 This year sees the first ever Sedbergh Cycling Festival – on the 18th/19th of June. See Sedbergh Cycling Festival 2016. New Accommodation Pages As of April 2016, we now list B&Bs, (including country inns), cottages and camp sites. See our Accommodation pages. New Geology Walk Booklet 'Sedbergh Geology – an introduction and local walk' is available at the Sedbergh Information and Book Centre and some shops. Temporary Path Diversions Winter floods damaged a few paths in the area. Only two problems now remain. See our Walking page. The Sedbergh Gateway The Sedbergh Gateway is the website of the Sedbergh Area Walking and Cycling Group – which was set up in 2014 by a number of local businesspeople and walking and cycling enthusiasts. For more about the group and this website see About Us / Contact Us Sedbergh Information and Book Centre If you want to get information from a real person rather than from a machine, 72 Main Street is the place to go. 72 Main Street is home to the Sedbergh Information and Book Centre (to give it its full title). The centre is mainly staffed by volunteers. They have:– - Books, maps, guides and leaflets about walking, cycling, places to visit, - Bus and train timetables to view or take away, - Access to the latest weather forecasts (best taken with a pinch of salt), - Personal knowledge of the local shops and eateries (though they are not allowed to make recommendations) and - Free Wi‑Fi. The Sedbergh Information and Book Centre is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, and on Sunday, midday to 4pm. Telephone: 015396–20125, or see the webpage Rights of Way Should you encounter any problems regarding rights of way in the National Park, please contact the Ranger Service, preferably by e‑mailing them at email@example.com. Comments, Suggestions and Help If you have any comments or suggestions about this website or the Walking and Cycling Group, or if you would like to help in any way, please contact Malcolm Petyt (path watch), Robert Powell (website) or Carole Nelson (everything else). See also our About Us / Contact Us page in relation to linking to this site or sponsorship. Top of Page
It is hard to imagine pharmaceutical industry without the contribution of packaging and labeling services. The products manufactured to resolve health issues would be of no use if they are not packed and labeled appropriately. Above just packaging and labeling what matters the most is their quality. It is vital for any pharma product that it remains in its original form and maintains it quality until it reaches the hands of end users. Packaging and labeling are two individual activities that have to be performed as per their significance. For packaging operation, there are certain regulatory requirements that have to be fulfilled, such as suitability, safety, protection, compatibility, Quality Control, supplier and stability. Medicinal contents are often very sensitive towards external elements such as light and moisture. Hence, workers have to ensure that there are once the product is packed it is completely safe from direct exposure to light and moisture. Simultaneously, the worker also have to be concerned about the fact that the product is sealed properly so that it doesn’t get exposed to reactive gases like Oxygen, as this might lead to dangerous consequences. Moreover, if any leakage is found, it might result into loss of solvent and raise a question on sterility and closure integrity of the container. Labeling on the other hand is one of the crucial factors that determines the safety and integrity of the product. This operation includes both printing on the carton and leaflets provided individually with the pharma products. The primary purpose of labeling is to make identification of the product clear and unambiguous. Just like packaging, there are certain guidelines and regulatory for printing on labels. If the service is unable to fulfill such requirements then certainly its services have failed to meet the set regulations and are not up to the industry standard. There are few basic yet important information are printed on the labels which includes manufacturing date, expiry date, number of doses, composition, bar codes and several other related data. Each of them is important and even a small misprint can lead to dire consequences. Labeling information is important for both health care professionals and patients to prescribe and consume, respectively. This is crucial also because people have an obvious belief on medicinal company that they will provide right information on the product. Again, this is a dangerous sign. The success and failure of any product depends on how they are presented to the end users, especially if it is a medicine. Certainly, packaging and labeling plays an important role in health care domain.
Sepsis syndrome has been widely recognized as one of the major causes of overall-mortality. The Hellenic Sepsis Study Group was organized in May 2006 by the Hellenic Society of Chemotherapy. Its aim was to study a cohort of septic patients in Greece aiming to the characteristics of sepsis in our country. The undersigned are coordinators. Several departments of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, General Surgery and Critical Care have joined us until today. All members participate actively by registering clinical data of hospitalized septic patients. Communication takes place by electronic mail whereas assemblies are taking place at regular time intervals. This web-site has been created in an attempt to provide the Greek physician with useful information regarding the diagnosis and management of patients with sepsis. It is also aiming to facilitate the communication between members of the study group. Charalambos Gogos Εvangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis
Reading Your Boss’ Mind: Observing the UnspokenSubmitted by SharpMan Editorial Team on Sunday 10th October 2010 - What is body language? - How you can read it. - How you can control it. In SharpWork’s article on How to Speak Clearly at Work, management consultant Kristin J. Arnold wrote about the importance of tailoring your pitch to audience reaction. But what if you find yourself making that big pitch to your boss, and yet he says absolutely nothing — he just sits there staring back at you? This week, Ms. Arnold addresses the all-important tool of reading people’s minds — or at least observing and interpreting unspoken clues about what they’re thinking: I remember reading a very popular book about body language in the 1970s. If you crossed your arms in front, it meant you were being defensive. If you crossed your legs toward a person, it meant you were open and receptive to their ideas. And the list goes on. The idea was simple. "Read" common gestures and "interpret" them. Kinesics, the science of non-verbal communication, has evolved beyond "you do this, it means that." Body language complements our spoken language and provides the depth and feeling behind the words, both on a conscious and sub-conscious level. We act out our state of being with a wink of the eye for intimacy, the lift of the eyebrow for disbelief, a nod of the head to show agreement, a shrug of the shoulder for indifference, etc. You can enhance your communication skills and understand those of others by observing body language with the following tips: Consistency in Word and Deed. What you say should be consistent with how you say it. You signal your intentions through your facial expressions, eye contact, physical touch, stance, posture, movement, gestures and closeness to the other person. We have all experienced the incongruency of someone saying "yes," but shaking their head side to side, signaling "no." It makes us confused and we are not sure what to believe – the yes, no or something in between. When speaking with others, observe their physical responses to the things they say. Often, the physical response is more true to their feelings. Awareness of Your Own/Others’ Movement. Just as you are conscious of the words you say, be aware of what your body says. We typically don’t notice the non-verbal messages we send to our boss and co-workers. As you become more conscious of your body language, your words and actions will become more congruent. Chances are that a co-worker is less savvy regarding body language, but a seasoned manager is more likely to have his or her physical behavior under control. Even with people who have practiced consistent delivery, some personal "ticks" or habits remain. Study your boss at meetings or in more casual settings to get to know his or her "ticks." Then when it’s time for your pitch you’ll be aware of the true meaning of his or her reactions. Mid-Sentence Variation. Everyone has a unique and predictable pattern of non-verbal communication: the way they sit, hold their arms and listen to people. Watch for changes in others’ body language – a shift in posture, a sudden movement, an arm outstretched. Ask yourself: "What is causing this shift?" It may be a good indicator of readiness – to talk, to agree, to object, to intervene. Of course, it may just mean that your audience is tired of sitting and wants to stretch. Take advantage of these shifts and draw that person back into the conversation. All-Important Context. Always remember to examine what is going on in the environment around you. If your boss or co-worker has crossed her arms in front, it might be that she is cold, not defensive. A manager rubbing his eyes might mean that he is tired, or he just got a new pair of glasses. We typically try to "read between the lines" and make assumptions based on our own reactions and history (or what we read in some book). Test your assumptions before you leap to conclusions. With co-workers, try starting out meetings and conversations with a quick "check-in" – a word, phrase or statement that allows people you’re speaking or meeting with to say what’s on their minds. This provides an opportunity to learn about whatever might be keeping them from fully participating in the discussion. With managers or bosses, consider starting each discussion with a light, social comment — perhaps inquiring about their weekend, a client they’re pitching, etc. This introduction will allow you to gauge his or her mood and ability to discuss whatever is on your mind.This article last updated on Sunday 10th October 2010
How else can you tour the Italian Alps without getting confused about which direction to go first? After all, UNESCO listed the Dolomites as one of 49 World Heritage Sites in Italy. The whole area is begging to be seen, but as time is usually a constraining factor when on holiday, we put together 12 enchanting towns that you shouldn't miss in this German-speaking side of Italy. Vipiteno is a beautiful town with a long main road lined with pastel-colored buildings from different eras. They are now converted into shops, hotels and restaurants. The road is divided into two parts, the Old Town and the New Town, by a tall clocktower called Zwolferturm. Bressanone is the third-largest city and the oldest town in the region, having been first legally mentioned in documents in the year 901. The area also had its first human settlement in 8,000 B.C. In modern days, it is considered the cultural and artistic capital of the valley, where you can find excellent shopping, dining and entertainment. The 10th-century cathedral is one of the most important monuments to visit in the city as you can still view the cloister frescoes from the 10th to the 15th century. Ortisei is a very popular holiday town, both in winter and in summer. Being located in Val Gardena, one of the top ski resorts in the world, it is the perfect village in which to settle down on your vacation. There is skiing in winter and walking or mountain climbing in summer. Shopping and dining are also of excellent quality. Enter one of Chiusa's main ancient doors and you will be transported back to the ancient times by simply walking on the cobblestoned alleys lined with the typical pastel-colored buildings that house different kinds of shops, restaurants and hotels. Sitting on top of the locally-known "Holy Mountain" that overlooks Chiusa is the Säben Abbey/Monastero di Sabiona, where Benedictine nuns have been living since the 16th century. Merano is a large town surrounded by mountains and it is located at the entrance of the Passeier Valley where the Passer River flows through. This perfect location is also known for its spa resorts, production of Forst beer and frequent summer concerts. Brunico, a pleasant medium-sized town in the heart of Pustertal Valley, was recently elected Italy's most pleasant and citizen-friendly small city. The town's vibrance attracts visitors who like to be centrally located in the Alps. Shopping, dining, trekking and skiing are on offer in the nearby Mount Kronplatz ski resort, which is considered the number one ski resort in South Tyrol. Cortina d'Ampezzo is set in the middle of the Ampezzana Valley and is completely surrounded by the Dolomite Mountains, all 360 degrees of it. It boasts a spectacular panorama wherever you are. It is known as an upscale holiday alpine town where the jet-set crowd has affixed its position, both in summer and in winter. The town's cooperative, La Cooperativa di Cortina, is a truly enjoyable shopping experience where everything is available. In the surrounding areas are lakes and mountain slopes for skiing, hiking and mountain climbing. At at high plateau between 3,608-4,593 feet high and a cooler climate, Renon is a popular summer holiday place for the people who live in Bolzano, the city underneath it. This picturesque small town can be accessed by car or a cable car that departs from Bolzano. It is known for its fairy chimneys or earth pyramids. Tirolo is a nice alpine town at 1,948 feet high that has a peculiar climate that boasts 300 days of sunlight throughout the year. It is surrounded by walking trails amidst the vegetation. However, its main tourist attraction is the beautiful castle dominating the town. Tirolo Castle was the ancestral seat of the Counts of Tyrol and the Tyrol region got its name from this castle because of its importance throughout its history. At present, the Tirolo Castle houses the Museum of Culture and Local History. There is another castle nearby called Castle Brunnenburg which houses the Agricultural Museum. (Not to be confused with the Tirol of Austria.) Set at the foot of the Sassongher Mountain and in Val Badia, a valley of 3,281 feet high, Corvara is a splendid town to explore. A stream snakes its way through the typical alpine town dotted with wooden houses and structures, mountains and just enough tourism to enjoy the whole place. It's also a departure point for chair lifts that can take you to the higher points of the surrounding mountains for skiing in winter or walking in summer. The soft slopes and wide plateaus are perfect for families with children. Auronzo di Cadore gained its added beauty after the artificial lake bordering the town took shape in the 1930s when the Santa Caterina dam was finished. It changed the landscape of Auronzo dramatically and it attracted more tourists, especially in summer. It's a picturesque panorama of an alpine town, with wooden structures, a clear lake and the surrounding Dolomite Mountains. What is strikingly beautiful in Varna is the Monastery of Neustift (Abbazia di Novacella). Founded in 1142, it has been owned and run by the Augustinian Orders Regular. The monks maintain the upkeep of the whole monastery itself where they have a boarding school for middle school boys, a shop that sells the monastery's various products, a tavern to eat South Tyrolean food and sample their wines and the winery where they produce wines of excellent quality. The monastery is the largest in Tyrol and is extremely well preserved. Gothic, Baroque and Rococo architectures have left their marks over the monastery's long history. South Tyrol was formerly a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was officially annexed by Italy after World War I. For this reason, the bilingual region uses German and Italian town names. 54 Italian municipalities of South Tyrol also use a recognized third and minority language called Ladin. In these cases, the towns' names are displayed in three recognized languages. And you'll see personalized content just for you whenever you click the My Feed . SheKnows is making some changes!
As indicated in those links for previous answers that Pvalde2 posted in the above response, the F11 code indicates that the CCU (Central Control Unit) detects a communication error between the CCU and the MCU (Motor Control Unit). This failure can be caused by a wire harness connection problem between those components. It can also be caused by a wire connection failure between the MCU and the drive motor. A problem with the door switch could also cause this problem. I provided technical information about your Whirlpool Duet washer in the image below. The first image provides general information about the control boards and the motor. The second image shows basic access information for the components. Be sure that you the washer before accessing internal components. The third image shows testing information for the components and provides a wiring diagram. It also has connection locations on the control boards. I recommend that you unplug the washer and check the wiring connections between the control boards, drive motor and door lock assembly first. Unplug the connections and plug them securely back in. This will sometimes fix your problem. If not, you can check the resistance through those components using a volt/ohm meter and following the information shown in that third image. This F11 code is sometimes difficult to diagnose and repair. The most common cause of this failure is a bad CCU control board. That is an expensive component. I recommend that you check for other causes before replacing that CCU. You can order parts from the I hope that this information helps. If you need more assistance, reply with additional details (including the full model number of your Whirlpool Duet washer). If you do not feel confident repairing this problem yourself, then you can have it repaired at your home by a Sears technician. Here is a link for the website: Sears Home Services
— media, science & society - engagement & governance in Europe The MESSENGER project has been completed in a little over 12 months. During that relatively short time we have met and consulted with nearly two hundred actors and stakeholders across Europe, seeking their advice with a view to developing the original Guidelines on Science and Health Communication developed by the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC) in association with the Royal Institution (RI) and the Royal Society (RS). The aim has been to ensure that advice given to European scientists on how to communicate more effectively with the media fully takes into account the various stakeholder perspectives and builds on existing knowledge and expertise. Communicating with citizens via the popular media is part of the wider process of dialogue and engagement between the science communities and civil society — a necessary and desirable process to maintain and foster trust in science and technology in Europe. It is, therefore, essential to get it right. The MESSENGER project has also undertaken two types of media analysis to inform scientists, press officers and others engaged in the interface with journalists about both cross-national differences in the roles and styles of the news media and the ways in which various actors and stakeholders feature in reports. While we do not claim that this has provided a definitive account of the complexities of media reporting across all science disciplines and across all EU member states, it has established a basic framework with the potential for further development. This project report is inevitably a lengthy document, covering as it does all aspects of the work conducted. The specific outputs of MESSENGER, however, including the European Guidelines for scientists and resources for journalists, are posted separately in a more digestible form. The project web site will be maintained by SIRC over the coming years. In addition to ensuring the accessibility of the documents it will hopefully attract feedback and further contributions from interested parties. The results of the various media analyses are also available from the site, together with copies of this report. The response to draft versions of the Guidelines has been very encouraging. A number of leading organisations within both the journalism and science communities have offered to help us disseminate them amongst wide audiences across Europe, and we will continue this process well beyond the time scale of the project to ensure that they have an enduring impact. Our sincere thanks to all those who have contributed to MESSENGER and for the support and patience of DG Research in Brussels. If you experience problems accessing the following documents in a browser please 'right click' on the links and select the 'save as' option to download a copy.
Results 1 to 1 of 1 Dec 14, 2009, 18:11 #1 - Join Date - Oct 2006 - New Zealand - 0 Post(s) - 0 Thread(s) Noob question about XSS vulnerability The route I decided to take, was to send the settings inside the URL and echo them onto the screen. In case there are any ways for nasty code to get embedded, I've used htmlentities, stripslashes, strlen and ctype_alnum to confirm that it is only an alpha-numeric, non-HTML, slashless string of less than 10 characters. However others are telling me there is still some ways this could be used for cross-site scripting. Any ideas on how this could be hacked? I believe those who tell me it can, but it makes it darn hard to know how to prevent these types of attacks when I can't even understand how they work. I can't even see how it could be attacked without the checks in place, let alone afterwards ... showing my complete lack of knowledge of XSS here. Any help much appreciated
I found a fascinating document the other day. Now, having read and digested it, I am prepared to share some things. One of the bigger complaints I hear about wind power is that it’s just not competitive. The capacity factor is too low, it’s too expensive, and it’s in the wrong place. Capacity Factor is the percentage of electricity actually produced compared to how much the unit can produce under ideal circumstances. It’s usually based on a yearly cycle. Even nuclear power plants have to be ‘down’ for maintenance sometimes. If you hear that an 800MW power plant is being built, then it will probably have a capacity factor of between 85% and 95%. Wind and solar are a little different because they are more intermittent. The wind doesn’t blow all the time and the sun doesn’t shine all the time. So these generation facilities have much lower capacity factors than fossil fuels or nuclear plants. A lot of the anti-renewable groups say that wind is lucky to get a capacity factor of 15%. Meaning that a 1 Megawatt turbine will only generate about 150kW. Now, after two years of hard data, we can say that the wind generation in the Texas averages 30.4%. Units in the panhandle are much higher and range from 35% to nearly 50%. That’s really, really good. It pales to the 98% that nuclear plants achieve, but it’s generally double to triple what is expected. The higher the capacity factor, the more electricity is produced and the more competitive wind turbines become. This graph from the report shows this. The Y-axis is the cost of natural gas (which is really cheap in Texas) and the X-axis is the capacity factor of the turbines. Gas prices as of today are about $4.00 on that y-axis (check current prices here). The dark blue line is the line of same cost for wind power and gas-fired power. At a wind capacity factor of about 48% and a gas price of about $3.75 per MMBTU, wind and gas-fired produce electricity at the same price ($67 per Megawatt or $0.067 cents per kilowatt). Anything to the right of this line means that wind is actually cheaper than gas-fired power. The dashed line shows what happens when you add in the $0.022 Production Tax Credit. If gas prices go up to $6 per MMBTU, then wind throughout Texas is competitive. Yes, coal is cheaper. But not by as much as you think. Plus it has all those nasty side effects. There are a couple of reasons that Texas is using gas-fired power and it’s working very well with the renewables, especially wind. Gas-fired power is much quicker to ramp-up and ramp-down. Say there’s a sudden surge in demand (like half-time at the super-bowl and everyone hits their microwave to warm up some queso). A coal plant must start burning coal and bring a large mass of water to a hard boil (and beyond), then the pressurized steam can be released and start turning a turbine to produce electricity. The superbowl itself will be over before a coal plant starts producing. The modern gas plants are more like cars (well, jet engines really). The burning gas turns a turbine directly and that spins a generator. Modern gas plants have combined cycle systems. So the gas-turbine spins a generator, then it is cooled by water (or pipes are placed in the exhaust stream). This water turns to steam and drives another turbine (or adds more speed to the directly connected turbine). In simple terms, using waste heat to generate additional electricity. This improves the efficiency of a gas-fired plant from 35% or so, to 60% or so. Natural gas is much cleaner burning. It’s not a zero emissions product by any means, but it’s a lot better than coal. For example, coal produced about 2300 lbs of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour of electricity while natural gas-fired plants produce half that, about 1135 pounds per megawatt hour. Natural gas produces less than one third the amount of nitrogen oxides and only 1% the amount of sulfur oxides. Given a choice between coal and gas, I have to pick gas. Given a choice between anything and wind, I have to pick wind. Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Texas has the most installed wind power of any state in the US. Wind provided 31 gigawatts of power in 2012 and, so far, appears to be headed for a much higher number in 2013. Texas also produces the most natural gas of any state. Texas also has a law on the books, that renewable power must be built (Texas has already exceeded the original 2020 goal for renewable production) and that it must not be all wind power. Solar PV is expensive, but it’s really useful in Texas. The reason that solar is so important in Texas is that it produces the most power when Texans need it the most… summer daytime. With record breaking heat waves over the last few years (2011 saw more than 45 days in a row with temps over 110°F) and a severe drought, cooling is expensive. As lake water levels fall, some power stations have literally not been able to produce power. This results in rolling blackouts and voluntary shutdowns for power customers. Texas is also investing transmission lines from the wind farms to the main grid. Texas is fairly unique in being almost completely isolated (electrically) from the rest of the US. It is very difficult to get excess power to the rest of the country and get power when needed. So Texas, is an ideal testbed to look at policies and practices that integrate renewable power in a production environment.
Courses available for government subsidy Funded Training List / Subsidised Training List The Funded Training List (FTL) / Subsidised Training List (STL) shows subsidised training courses. The FTL/STL is regularly released to add new and replacement courses, and remove courses that are no longer subsidised. Training Providers must always check the current version of Funded Training List / Subsidised Training List when enrolling students. The FTL/STL includes the following attributes: - - (Dash) - no training accounts may be created for new students for the current period. - ASBA & TGSS - training accounts may only be created for Eligible Students who either have a School Based Training Contract or who are Training Guarantee for SACE Students. - ASBA & TGSS & Jobs First STL - training accounts may only be created for Eligible Students who either have a School Based Training Contract or who have an approved Training Guarantee for SACE arrangement. In addition from time to time, Training Providers may compete for WorkReady Jobs First STL projects if the course is on their Schedule of Courses. - Fee free – identifies the course is fully subsidised with no Student Course Fee. - Foundation Skills Guideline Applies - Foundation Skills Courses are available for eligible students to address any language, literacy and/or numeracy needs as identified in their assessment prior to enrolment in a course. See the Foundation Skills Guideline to read about the condition. - Jobs First:STL - The list of courses available through Jobs First:STL. See the Jobs First: STL Projects Service Providers List (PDF) (Excel). - No new enrolments (superseded) – indicates the course is superseded and the date when no new enrolments can be taken. This is generally 12 months from the date the superseded course was replaced on the national register (training.gov.au). - No new enrolments (WorkReady) – Training Providers cannot create training accounts after the No New Enrolments date. - Non-TAFE SA Places - the specific number next to each course (if any) will reflect the maximum number of training accounts that may be subsidised under the FTL / STL for Non-TAFE SA Training Providers. - Non TAFE SA - TGSS Only - Non-TAFE SA Training Providers may only create training accounts in these courses for school students who have an approved TGSS arrangement in place or who have a School Based Training Contract. - Number (1-9999) - the specific number next to each course (if any) will reflect the maximum number of training accounts that may be subsidised under the FTL / STL. - TAFE SA Only - subsidised training places are only available through TAFE SA. - TAFE SA Places - the specific number next to each course (if any) will reflect the maximum number of training accounts that may be subsidised under the FTL / STL for TAFE SA. - TGSS – Training Accounts can only be created under the Training Guarantee for SACE Students arrangement. - TGSS Approved Course - identifies the course is available under the Training Guarantee for SACE Students program. - TGSS Only - Training Accounts can only be created under the Training Guarantee for SACE Students arrangement. - Training Contract Only - identifies the course is only available where training is through a training contract, including School Based Training Contracts. - Unlimited - there is no limit to the number of training accounts that may be created for this course, if the course is on the Training Provider’s Schedule of Courses. Subsidised Training List 2.0 (STL 2.0) May 2016 For the details of this release refer to Subsidised Training List 2.0 which will come into effect on 1 July 2016. New qualification available One new course has been added to the STL. \|\|Certificate II in Process Plant Operations 140 replacement courses have been added to the STL. Training providers with any of these courses on their ASQA scope may apply to add them to their Schedule of Courses when the Online Training Provider Application tool is accessible from Monday 6 June 2016. See Replacement courses. Course availability changed 9 courses currently on the STL will now be available under Jobs First. \|\|Certificate II in Agriculture \|\|Certificate II in Horticulture \|\|Certificate II in Rural Operations \|\|Certificate III in Rural Operations \|\|Certificate IV in Youth Work \|\|Certificate III in Information, Digital Media and Technology \|\|Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations \|\|Certificate II in Hospitality \|\|Certificate III in Driving Operations No New Enrolments – Courses removed 10 courses that were previously assigned a No New Enrolment (WorkReady) date of 30 June 2016 have been removed from the list. 90 courses that have passed their ASQA No New Enrolment date have been removed from the list. See the full list of courses removed. Planning process for Subsidised Training List release Read the WorkReady Planning Process for a high level overview of the planning process undertaken by the Department of State Development to support the release of the STL. Apply to add a course to the Subsidised Training List To apply to have courses added to the Subsidised Training List, complete the Application to add courses to the Subsidised Training List form. Once completed, email your application to WorkReady@sa.gov.au.
With the debate over health care reform heating up, one peculiar criticism keeps surfacing: That the bill—or, at least, the House version —is too long. "I have a fundamental problem with any 1,000-page bills,"said Sen. David Vitter, R-La., at a town hall meeting on Wednesday. Back in June, Newt Gingrich complained on Fox News that "[t]his bill is already 1,000 pages long." It's now 1,018 pages, to be exact—is that especially long for a bill? Not really. Sure, most legislation is much shorter: The average statute passed by the 109th Congress—the latest session for which figures are available—clocked in at around 15 pages, according to the Senate Library. And the recent law authorizing President Obama to give gold medals to the Apollo 11 astronauts on the 40th anniversary of the moon landing filled just two pages. But major spending bills frequently run more than 1,000. This year's stimulus bill was 1,100 pages. The climate bill that the House passed in June was 1,200 pages. Bill Clinton's 1993 health care plan was famously 1,342 pages long. Budget bills can run even longer: In 2007, President Bush's ran to 1,482 pages. Over the last several decades, the number of bills passed by Congress has declined: In 1948, Congress passed 906 bills. In 2006, it passed only 482. At the same time, the total number of pages of legislation has gone up from slightly more than 2,000 pages in 1948 to more than 7,000 pages in 2006. (The average bill length increased over the same period from 2.5 pages to 15.2 pages.) Bills are getting longer because they're getting harder to pass. Increased partisanship over the years has meant that the minority party is willing to do anything it can to block legislation—adding amendments, filibustering, or otherwise stalling the lawmaking process. As a result, the majority party feels the need to pack as much meat into a bill as it can—otherwise, the provisions might never get through. Another factor is that the federal government keeps expanding. Federal spending was about $2.7 trillion in 2007. That's up from $92 billion 50 years ago. And as new legislation is introduced, past laws need to be updated. The result: more pages. Bonus Explainer: Do members of Congress actually read legislation? It depends. If a lawmaker is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, say, chances are he'll read all—or, at least, most—of a climate bill. But he probably would not read every last word of an education bill. Instead, he'd just read the parts that he considers important—perhaps because they're controversial. Furthermore, since bills often read like bureaucratic gibberish, lawmakers hire aides with various policy specialties to study the legislation in depth and summarize it. (The job of actually converting the policy ideas into legislative language goes to the nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Counsel.) So when a lawmaker "reads" a bill, it's usually a combination of glossing summaries of the less important stuff and, when necessary, poring over the actual text to understand the more crucial bits. Got a question about today's news? Ask the Explainer. Explainer thanks Eric Lane of Hofstra University, Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute, and Donald Ritchie of the Senate Historical Office. Thanks also to reader Jordan Goldmeier for asking the question.
Depending on whom you ask, Iraq is either on the verge of horrifying civil war or already in a civil war that is on the verge of getting much wider and bloodier. Is there any way to step back from the brink? In the wake of Bosnia and Rwanda, the assumption is that ethnically divided countries can never function. But countless countries at risk of civil war have been able to avoid going over the cliff. The most famous example is South Africa. Under apartheid, the country was widely seen as a likely candidate for a massive and devastating all-out civil war, yet despite some substantial violence, it managed to transform into today's multiethnic democracy. Throughout Africa, as the Stanford civil war experts James Fearon and David Laitin point out, 18,000 examples of ethnic groups interacting regularly with each other between 1960 and 1979 led to only 52 civil wars. So, how have divided countries kept the peace? Here are a few successful strategies. 1. Preventive Diplomacy by Outsiders In 1992, the United Nations sent a "preventive deployment" force to Macedonia. These troops were joined in 1993 by 300 American U.N. peacekeepers. The U.N. troops patrolled Macedonia's border with Serbia and Albania as a pointed reminder that America would frown on any expansion of the war in Bosnia into Macedonia. The deterrent worked. The wars of a crumbling Yugoslavia did not spread into Macedonia (although that U.N. mission did nothing to help Bosnia, and there was some ethnic violence in Macedonia in 2001). It was a limited mission but a success. 2. State Strengthening Fearon and Laitin argue that weak and unstable states ruling over large and poor populations are at particular risk of insurgencies. The countries most in danger of civil war tend to have weak regimes—fragile governments that don't have the capacity to be dictatorial enough to completely stifle their opposition or to be democratic enough to placate it. That's why the continued weakness of Iraq's own police, and the presence of a variety of armed militias, is so worrisome in Iraq. Wealthier governments are generally probably better at quashing rebellions. 3. No Bowling Alone When ordinary people come together across ethnic lines to form unions, political parties, soccer leagues, or movie clubs, their social connections can help prevent civil strife. The scariest rift in India is between Hindus and Muslims. That division ripped the country apart in 1947 and at worst could do so again. But Ashutosh Varshney, a University of Michigan expert on Indian politics, points out that Hindu-Muslim riots usually happen only in certain of India's cities and very rarely in the countryside. Why are some places, like Bombay and Ahmedabad, so much more volatile than others? Varshney's answer, updating Tocqueville, is that intercommunal civic life in India has been a powerful force in preventing Hindu-Muslim violence. In Hyderabad, Varshney argues, Hindus and Muslims don't come together in social and economic life. In places like Calicut and Lucknow, by contrast, members of the two groups mix in groups like trade unions, business associations, and professional organizations of teachers and doctors. Those civic ties, nurtured in good times, can ride out the inevitable shocks that come from bad times. In India, that has included upheavals like partition in 1947 or the 1992 demolition of a revered 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya by a mob of Hindu militants. The destruction of the mosque sparked nationwide riots, but India did not disintegrate into civil war. In some places during moments of ethnic upheaval, there were even small-scale emergency "peace committees," in which Hindus and Muslims patrolled neighborhoods, quelled inflammatory rumors, and helped keep communications open across ethnic lines. 4. Ethnic Group Self-Policing A final strategy is for moderates to shut down their own extremists. This makes ethnic cooperation much easier, Fearon and Laitin argue. For example, nasty behavior by an Abkhazian extremist would ideally result in punishment by more level-headed fellow Abkhazians who don't want to risk mass retaliation by rival Georgians. Without that kind of intra-Abkhazian self-policing, the Georgians can't really tell the benign Abkhazians from the nasty ones, so they have to lash back at all of the Abkhazians. This kind of thing happens all over the world. Fearon and Laitin relate an incident in British-controlled Yorubaland in west Africa, in which the Yoruba complained that some of the Hausa were sheltering thieves. As a result, an influential Hausa man was chosen to be held responsible for his people and to rat out Hausa burglars to the authorities. Although it's a case of regional rather than civil conflict, in-group policing was exactly what Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli prime minister, did after a Jewish settler massacred Palestinians worshiping in a Hebron mosque in February 1994. The settler had been killed in the wake of his attack, so Israel could not try him for his crimes. But Rabin thunderously told the Israeli Knesset: "[A]s a Jew, as an Israeli, as a man and as a human being, I am shamed over the disgrace imposed upon us by a degenerate murderer. … To him and to those like him we say: You are not part of the community of Israel." In Iraq, some Sunni and Shiite leaders have been doing their own self-policing, exactly as you might hope. After the destruction of the Samarra mosque last month, religious leaders across the country used their Friday sermons to call for peace. Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, a major Shiite leader and imam, said on Iraqi television that no Sunni mosques should be attacked, and that the bombers of the Samarra mosque "do not represent the Sunnis." Those were the right kind of remarks. But restraint was not the only thing preached. Some Shiite imams had harsh words for the Sunni leadership, and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, usually a powerful voice for Shiite moderation, said that regular people would have to start protecting mosques since the government could not do so. There are many ways out of the trap of civil war. But those are the kind of fighting words you hear as a country slides over the edge.
0-14 YEARS: 44.3% • male 4,829,272/female 4,773,209 15-64 YEARS: 52.8% • male 5,605,227/female 5,842,679 65 YEARS AND OVER: 2.9% • male 257,119/ female 361,772 (2009 est.) • Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) • Life expectancy at birth, total (years) • Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) services: 46.5% (2012 est.) GNI Per capita: US$510 GDP: US$14.59 billion (2012) Mozambican cooperatives were a classic case of cooperative development under We started a long process of change • The National Cooperative (NCBA), through its CLUSA international program, has been working in Mozambique since 1995, when the socialist era ended. • At that point in time, “cooperative” was a pejorative term associated with government control, so NCBA had to strategically devise another way to promote working together, collective marketing, and group business entities. • Associations soon became a way for a group to incorporate and work toward a common • But the legal framework did not provide space for associations and other groups to market and sell their crops legally as a Understanding the differences cooperatives, associations , and business enterprises, their different assumptions, concepts and roles, has been a long and participative discovery from bottom to top. FROM SMALL TO LARGE, ADDING VALUE We started with a small but highly interested group of people concerned about the need for change and involved in the co-op movement. We started studying in a informal way, seated where ever possible, first with CLARITY concepts and then internet research on good practices. We found fantastic stories about new approaches to cooperatives from around the world. FOLK DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION & DEMOCRACY • Study circles are very suitable for civil society. • Democracy is very much emphasized these days in the world of international development cooperation. Adult education is not. When democratic development is supported by donor countries, the emphasis is on democratic infrastructure, while little is done to increase the possibilities of ordinary citizens to become well-informed and active in the process of building democracy at the local level. No real democracy can be established without democratic citizens. • In a participative methodology participants take an active part in the study process. KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDY CIRCLES 1. Participation is voluntary. 2. There is typically open access to study circles – one does not have to have any qualifications to participate. 3. There are limited number of persons in a circle, normally somewhere between 5 - 10 persons. 4. Persons of different ages are mixed in the circles. 5. Study circles often meet 3 hours once a week 6. Study circles are organized by the participants, i.e. they choose the topic, leader, etc. 7. A circle can be led by a leader, who does not have to be an expert – in fact it may be one of the participants. On the other hand, experts often act as leaders. 8. Participants should have an equal share of the conversation. The atmosphere should be informal. 9. Study circles can be linked to various political, religious and social interests and perspectives. 10. There are typically no examinations. 11. The ability to listen and recognize to the contributions of others is fundamental in the study circle philosophy. • BRAZILIANS INVITED TO COME TO TELL THEIR • DIRECTLY ENGAGE WITH POLICYMAKERS AT ALL INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT THE NEGATIVE PAST AND THE MISTAKES We started to disseminate successful cooperative stories from around the world to demonstrate that other countries – even ones with a similar history of colonialism or socialism – can and are creating an enabling environment for the successful and democratic functioning of • We recruited one Mozambican lawyer and two foreign lawyers to review the first draft cooperative law we had in mind. Once the draft was finished, we started one year of public debates and discussions. • In this process, the lawyers were our supporters and facilitators. They were part of the whole process. • Through discussions at all levels we improved the proposed new cooperative law. Everybody could contribute and feel we respected Political parties, banks, companies • Through absolute dedication to dialogue and inclusion of all parts of society, from civil society to those in economic and political power and intellectual opinionleaders, from North to South, from the supporters to opponents, from all economic sectors including banks, private sector business, political parties and so on... • Listening to and understanding our oponents was a means to clarify doubts and educate, and a way to bring greater consensus on the draft • The development process must be organic and follow the course desired by the Mozambicans themselves. ADVOCACY STRATEGY CHANGES In the field In trade shows In the media • Mobilizing key groups around the benefits of cooperatives • Focus on target audiences and promote the process as a domestic one as much as possible, with only the necessary and consensual • Partnerships, alliances and coalitions are key to making connections and having an organic advocacy program. MEDIA STRATEGY / MAKING A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN Linking the former President with Co-ops • Using all page bottom section PROMOTING COOPERATIVE PRODUCTS Partnerships, alliances, and coalitions are key to making the connections and having an organic advocacy program. Showing the power of cooperatives • Work with people and not for This is absolutely crucial Engaging decision makers Promote awareness of the cooperative model and new regulations among Demonstrate dynamism within the cooperative sector in order to strengthen the notion of cooperatives as a wide-reaching, sustainable economic model of development. Increase credibility and legitimacy of the cooperative model. Link cooperatives and associations and their goods/services with external markets, supporting government agencies and potential funders. Final delivery to parliament Approved by unanimity and acclamation CONSENSUS VERSION OF DELIVERED TO PARLIAMENT “On behalf of this parliament, I would like to thank NCBA and the civil society group for their civic initiative and for the way they have conducted this process. For the first time, together we have created a law which came from civil society. This proves that together we can build and develop our country.” Drª Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique April 30, 2009 FROM A STUDY CIRCLE TO A CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION THE CONSTITUTION OF A FORMAL ENTITY • We started our process with few coalition partners, mainly from the • We worked together as an informal task force team. • Following a strategy of inclusion and wide vision, step by step, as a result of our initiatives we brought together more and more organisations from different economic sectors and regions. for Modern Cooperative Promotion ( AMPCM ) • Now we are a legal entity promoting the new cooperative law and model through the Mozambican Association for Modern Cooperative Promotion (AMPCM) and in the long term to turn it into a National Cooperative
Rain provides a green feast for looming locust plague Rain will drown some locusts but also causes the remaining eggs to hatch. Photo: Simon Oliver The state's first emergency locust control centre opened in Narrabri yesterday as more heavy rain in the north-west improved conditions for the looming plague, expected to be the worst in 25 years. Light, scattered locust hatchings have been reported from Wilcannia to Coolah over the past week after warm weather and good rain in late August. Even more heavy rain in recent days will ensure there are millions of hectares of green feed for the locusts to feast on over spring and summer. Locusts need extended warmth and moisture to hatch and the greatest hatching activity has so far been observed around Coonabarabran and Narrabri. The Department of Primary Industries will open another control centre in Coonabarabran today. In the 24 hours to 9am yesterday, Narrabri had 22 millimetres of rain and Coonabarabran 11. Other locust hatching hot spots also got a drenching, with Gunnedah recording 25 millimetres, Barraba 24, Moree 36, Mungindi 22, Tamworth 28 and Walgett 8. As the weather gets warmer in coming weeks, hatching will spread south, with the greatest activity ultimately expected to be around Dubbo, Orange, Molong, Coolah, Gilgandra and Coonamble. Only an intense cold snap after all the locusts have hatched can now stop a plague. With locust swarms having planted huge egg beds across rural NSW in autumn, authorities have organised enough chemicals to spray nearly 500,000 hectares of land in coming months in a bid to prevent widespread destruction. The State Government has also bought new spraying equipment, formed a rapid response team and conducted an education campaign to make sure farmers report hatchings and help control them. A swarm of just one square kilometre can contain up to 50 million locusts and consume 10 tonnes of vegetation every 24 hours. Narrabri received 35 millimetres of rain in August and a Narrabri Rural Lands Protection Board ranger, Simon Oliver, said conditions across the black soil plains of the region had been "just perfect" for locust hatching. Locusts drill up to 60 eggs at a time deep into the soil and then plug the hole to protect them until conditions are right. At a huge egg bed just north of Narrabri this week, Mr Oliver witnessed the hatchlings, or nymphs, knocking the tops off the holes "and then they just pour out". Locusts can be sprayed effectively from the ground about two weeks after they hatch, when they are still flightless but starting to form dense bands. Once they can fly, however, swarms can travel more than 500 kilometres a day in search of food and must be sprayed from the air. After the recent heavy rain, Mr Oliver said, many locusts had been drowned but most that hatched before the rain had climbed to safety on vegetation. He added that the education campaign appeared to be working and farmers were being vigilant.
As wildfires rage along the west coast of North America this summer, firefighters are pulling out all the stops to keep the conflagrations at bay. But fires this large inevitably cause destruction. And in order to protect historic structures in central California, groups of archaeologists are wrapping the buildings in sheets of protective material. The wrap is similar to fire shelters that crews can use in an emergency, for personal safety. The building wrap is thicker. And while it's said to protect from most radiant heat and burning embers, the Forest Service says it's not fire proof. Though the flame retardant material is good at keeping the heat at bay, it has to be secured with staples and special kinds of tape to ensure that the high winds of a wildfire won’t peel away the protective coating. Wrapping a cabin in the material can take $1,200 worth of material and 6-7 hours of work to secure a building, reports the Ravalli Republic, a local Montana paper. [H/t Archaeology Magazine]
Music and Healing - Course Code: - Course Not Running 2016/2017 - Unit value: - Year of study: - Taught in: - Term 1 SOAS graduates often train as music therapists or work with the handicapped. In the UK and to an extent elsewhere music therapy has since the 1990s music broadened from its former focus on Western music to include musics of the world. At the same time, SOAS graduates will often work around the world, where they should be sympathetic to indigenous systems, including those linking music and other performance arts to medicine, interventions for well-being, and the promotion of health. The objective of this course is to provide lectures and seminars that will allow students to pursue such paths. The course examines music and other performance arts as core elements in rituals, ceremonies and well-being practices. Lectures discuss distinct Asian and African regional practices of spirit possession, spirit mediumship and shamanism, and the music used in these practices, and also consider New Age and Ambient music, tarantism and Music Therapy, while seminars focus in on the use of music in therapeutic activity. Objectives and learning outcomes of the course At the end of the course, a student should be able to: - Demonstrate an understanding of thematic considerations and the debates in the use of music and other performing arts in shamanism, spirit mediumship and spirit possession, particularly as these pertain to Asia and Africa; - Identify, compare and contrast the use of music in Asian and African rituals and in New Age, Ambient, and Music Therapy practices; - Assess critically claims made about the efficacy of the use of music and performing arts in ritual and healing. Two hours lecture, one hour tutorial per week Method of assessment One 5 000 words essay (worth 90%);one class presentation (worth 10%)
Brewed in Japan: The Evolution of the Japanese Beer Industry THIS EVENT IS ARCHIVED Dr Jeffrey W Alexander (University of Wisconsin – Parkside) Date: 29 October 2014Time: 5:05 PM Finishes: 29 October 2014Time: 7:00 PM Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings Room: Khalili Lecture Theatre Type of Event: Seminar In this presentation, Dr. Jeffrey Alexander reveals how Japanese consumers adopted and domesticated beer in just a few generations, despite its entirely foreign origins. His new book, Brewed in Japan (UBC Press/University of Hawai’i Press), spans the earliest attempts at beer brewing in the 1870s to the recent popularity of local craft brews, charting beer’s steady rise to become the "beverage of the masses." The fortunes and fumbles of Japan’s major brewers shed light on a variety of issues, including technology, modernization, women, war, consumer preferences, and popular culture. Brewed in Japan explores such themes as the advent of Western-style taverns and beer gardens, the total control of beer production by Japan’s Ministry of Finance during the Second World War, the rapid rise in women’s beer consumption postwar, and the continued dominance of long-surviving firms like Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo. Based on an array of Japanese-language sources, this presentation will further illustrate how post-war marketing campaigns and shifting consumer preferences made beer Japan’s leading alcoholic beverage by the 1960s. Jeffrey will also discuss his ongoing project on Japan's postwar whisky trade. Dr Jeffrey Alexander is Associate Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin at Parkside, some sixty miles north of Chicago. He received his PhD. in History from the University of British Columbia in 2005, and he researches Japan’s industrial and commercial progress, as well as shifting patterns of consumption since 1870. Jeffrey is also the author of Japan’s Motorcycle Wars: An Industry History, (UBC Press/University of Hawai’i Press, 2008), and he has given invited lectures about his research at Harvard University, Stanford University, and the International House of Japan in Tokyo. In April, he delivered the 2014 Mitsui Distinguished Lecture at John Carroll University in Ohio. Further information and excerpts are available at: Brewed in Japan. Organiser: Centres & Programmes Office Contact email: firstname.lastname@example.org Contact Tel: +44 (0)20 7898 4893
Friday, June 20, 2014 Insights: 2030 May Be The Year They'll Take Your Driver's License Away Story by Jonathan Handel For today's Insights and Opinions section, we are featuring a post from Jonathan Handel, a Los Angeles entertainment/technology attorney, who imagines one day when driver's licenses will be obsolete (thanks to Google and Uber). I was stuck in traffic yesterday, which I didn't really mind because I have a fun little yellow convertible, and I was thinking about Uber ($17 billion! – that's the company's valuation, not the price of a ride) and Google's driverless cars (development cost unknown), and I decided it was time to connect the dots: once a car learns to drive, there's no need to own it and there's no need for a driver. That's because the car can come when called, take you to your destination, then go off and pick up someone else. That sounds great and I'm hardly the first to connect those particular dots, but there's a corollary that seems to have gone largely (though not entirely) unnoticed: when driving oneself becomes unnecessary, it will eventually become more expensive, less convenient and – ultimately – unlawful, because the cars will do it a lot better than we can. Traditional cars will find themselves in a death spiral, and they'll be gone in less than – well, not less than 60 seconds, but sooner than you think. In other words, Google is engineering all of us right out of the driver's seat. If they manage to get self-driving cars on the market by 2020 – as they've said they hope to – then I'd give human drivers another ten years before we all get our licenses pulled and registrations revoked. Welcome to the Jetsons era of driverless Cars as a Service, or d-CaaS if you will. (More...) Read the rest of Jonathan's article, 2030 May Be The Year They'll Take Your Driver's License Away. Have some insights or advice to share with Southern California's high tech commmunity? Email us and let us know - and we may feature it here!
Erb’s Palsy, also known as brachial plexus palsy, is an injury to the network of nerves (the brachial plexus) that supply feeling and control to the shoulders and arms. This injury to the neck and upper chest can result in a loss of movement and feeling in the arm, hand and fingers. It’s normal for complications to arise during the childbirth process. The question is how a healthcare provider like a doctor, nurse, or midwife responds to the birth complications. The infographic below explains the proper response of a healthcare provider before, during, or after delivery of an infant with an Erb’s Palsy injury. Help other parents learn more about how to assist their child by sharing this post with your online network.
Solon Manufacturing Company has established, documented, implemented and maintains a quality management system to continually improve the effectiveness of its processes and to better satisfy the needs of its customers. The quality system complies with the ISO 9001:2008 standard. The manual is divided into 5 sections corresponding to the main quality system requirements of the ISO 9001-2008 standard. Each section starts with a General Policy statement expressing the commitment to implement the basic principles of the quality system requirement that is the subject of the section. The General Policy statement is followed by more specific Procedural Policies outlining how the General Policy should be carried out and referencing the relevant level II procedures. The purpose of this manual is to: define and describe the scope of the quality management system, to define the authorities and responsibilities of the management personnel affected by the system, provide a description of the interaction between the processes of the quality management system and to provide general procedures for all activities comprising the quality system. Another purpose of this manual is to present our quality system to our customers and to inform them what specific controls are implemented to assure process consistency and process and product quality. SOLON MANUFACTURING COMPANY Quality Management System The design and manufacture of Belleville springs, flange washers, disc springs, pressure switches, density switches and other industrial control products for industrial markets including energy and oil and gas. Solon Manufacturing Company's ISO Certificate
What is File Extension LNG? Did someone email you a LNG file and you're not sure how to open it? Maybe you have found a LNG file on your computer and wondering what it's for? Windows might tell you that you can't open it, or in the worst case, you might encounter a LNG file related error message. Before you can open a LNG file, you'll need to figure out what kind of file the LNG file extension refers to. Tip: Incorrect LNG file association errors can be a symptom of other underlying issues within your Windows operating system. These invalid entries can also produce associated symptoms such as slow Windows startups, computer freezes, and other PC performance issues. Therefore, it highly recommended that you scan your Windows registry for invalid file associations and other issues related to a fragmented registry. LNG files are Data Files primarily associated with SourceEdit Language Definition. LNG files are also associated with Diablo II (Blizzard Entertainment), NRG SDR Language File, DeepBurner Language File (ASTONSOFT Co.), Language File, Lingo Script File, Acrobat Language Plug-in (Adobe Systems Incorporated), Jasmine Language File, Launch-n-Go Shared Keyboard Shortcuts (Tethys Solutions LLC.), Lahey FORTRAN Language Extension and FileViewPro. Additional types of files may also be using the LNG file extension. If you are aware of any other file formats using the LNG file extension, please contact us so that we can update our information accordingly. How To Open Your LNG File: The fastest and easiest way to open your LNG file is to double-click it. This allows the intelligence of Windows to decide the correct software application to open your LNG file. In the case that your LNG file doesn't open, it is highly likely that you do not have the correct software application installed on your PC to view or edit LNG file extensions. If your PC opens the LNG file, but it's the wrong application, you'll need to change your Windows registry file association settings. In other words, Windows is associating LNG file extensions with the wrong software program. We highly recommend scanning your Windows registry for invalid file associations and other related registry issues. Software Downloads Associated with File Extension LNG: - FileViewPro* (free trial download) - SourceEdit Language Definition * Some LNG file extension formats can be opened in binary format only. LNG File Analysis Tool™ Unsure about which type of LNG file you have? Do you want to know exactly what it is, who created it, and how to open it? Finally, you can now discover everything you need to know about your LNG file... instantly! The revolutionary LNG File Analysis Tool™ scans, analyzes, and reports back every detail about your LNG file. Our patent-pending algorithm quickly analyzes your file, and within moments, presents this information to you in an elegant, easy-to-read format.† In seconds, you will learn exactly what type of LNG file you have, the software program associated with your file, the publisher who created it, its security safety status, and a variety of other useful information. To begin your free file analysis, simply drag-and-drop your LNG file inside the dotted lines below, or click "Browse My Computer" and select your file. Your LNG file analysis report will then be displayed directly below in this browser window. Drag & Drop Your LNG File Here To Begin Analysis Please also scan my file for viruses † LNG File Analysis Tool utilizes third-party software components. Click here to read the legal disclaimer. - 3D Image Files - Audio Files - Backup Files - CAD Files - Compressed Files - Data Files - Database Files - Developer Files - Disk Image Files - Encoded Files - Executable Files - Font Files - Game Files - GIS Files - Misc Files - Music Files - Page Layout Files - Plugin Files - Raster Image Files - Settings Files - Spreadsheet Files - System Files - Text Files - Vector Image Files - Video Files - Web Files - Uncommon Files
Get experimenting this Whitsun week with an explosive theatre show. CARYS THOMAS looks into the Science Museum Live: Energy Show. THE Energy Show is an explosive theatre show full of scientific experiments for all the family from hydrogen rockets to fireballs. It has been produced by the world famous Science Museum in London and in now on a UK tour, which stops at Cardiff this month. The show features Annabella and Phil, two futuristic science students in a race against time to prove their knowledge of energy. With the help from the virtual lab-assistant, i-nstein and a steampunk workshop full of gadgets and chemicals, they will explore, experiment and explode anything and everything they can lay their hands on. Families can experience methane bubbles which will be set alight to create fireballs, watch liquid nitrogen freeze flowers and dodge the hydrogen rockets as they are fired into the audience. The science show is targeted toward those between seven and 11-years-old in KS2 and 11 to 14-year-olds in KS3. The show incorporates learning about science with a fun twist showing the Van de Graaf generator which can make your hair stand on end and was originally invented to create high voltages. Theatre goers will get to see the hydrogen-filled balloon which when ignited creates its own explosion and a plasma ball which is a clear glass orb that contains a variety of different gases. The scientist put flowers into liquid nitrogen where all the water in the flowers freezes very quickly which makes the flowers brittle and can easily be smashed to pieces. The magnets used in the show are made with a rare-earth metal called neodymium which are small but very powerful magnets. A dynamo is used on the bike in the lab to generate electricity which are used in everyday life in clockwork radios or hand-powered torches. The Energy Show use calcium carbide and water which are mixed to produce a flammable gas called acetylene which explodes if you combine it with oxygen and ignite it. Calcium carbide is made by heating lime and coke. The scientist use plastic bottles as rocket launchers which are fired across the room using hydrogen. For this to work the plastic bottles are half filled with water and half filled with hydrogen gas. The Energy Show will be at the St David's Hall in Cardiff on May 27 -28 and is suitable for seven-year-olds and above. The performance lasts 90 minutes with a 20 minute interval and includes a small amount of audience participation. A family ticket of four costs £12 per ticket, Adults are £15.00 and children are £12. The show on May 27 is at 7pm and on May 28 1.30pm. Tickets are available online at www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk or at the box office on 029 2087 8444. For more information on the show visit sciencemuseum.org.uk/energyshow. We have a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) up for grabs for the opening show at St David's Hall, Cardiff on Tuesday 27th May at 7pm. To be in with a chance of winning, just tell us what kind of bubbles are set alight to make fireballs in the Energy Show. Send your answer, name, address and contact details on a postcard to Energy Show Competition, Editor’s PA, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP20 3QN or you can enter by text. Start your message with ENERGY, leave a space and then send your answer, name and address to 80360. Messages cost 50p plus your normal operator text charge. Service provided by Newsquest Media Group. Terms and Conditions at www.southwalesargus.co.uk/competitions. Closing date: 20th May.
The castle is on the very edge of a terrible precipice. A stone falling from the window would fall a thousand feet without touching anything! As far as the eye can reach is a sea of green tree tops, with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm. Here and there are silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests. But I am not in heart to describe beauty, for when I had seen the view I explored further; doors, doors, doors everywhere, and all locked and bolted. In no place save from the windows in the castle walls is there an available exit. The castle is a veritable prison, and I am a prisoner! Taken from the end of Chapter II, this passage exemplifies the dark and ominous tone Stoker creates in the novel. The tone of Harker’s journal changes with amazing rapidity as his stay in Castle Dracula progresses. In the course of a single chapter, Harker feels stripped of the robes of honored houseguest and considers himself bound like a prisoner. Here, Stoker demonstrates his mastery of the conventions of the Gothic novel: evoking the ruined castle, the beautiful but overpowering landscape, and the mounting sense of dread. Though Stoker did not invent Dracula or vampire lore, he did more to solidify it in the imaginations of English-speaking audiences than any author has since. Passages such as this description have spawned countless imitators, and scores of horror films owe a debt to the simple but powerful repetition of Stoker’s “doors, doors, doors everywhere.” I was afraid to raise my eyelids, but looked out and saw perfectly under the lashes. The girl went on her knees, and bent over me, simply gloating. There was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling and repulsive, and as she arched her neck, she actually licked her lips like an animal. . . . Lower and lower went her head as the lips went below the range of my mouth and chin and seemed about to fasten on my throat. . . . I closed my eyes in a languorous ecstasy and waited—waited with beating heart. Things go from bad to worse rather quickly during Harker’s stay with the count. In this passage from Chapter III, three beautiful vampires visit the Englishman and come dangerously close to draining him of his blood before Dracula halts them, claiming that Harker belongs to him. This passage establishes the vital link between vampirism and sex that pervades the novel. These undead women are unlike any of the living women in the novel. Whereas Mina and Lucy are models of virtue and purity, these “weird sisters” are voluptuous, aggressive, and insatiable. The position that the vampire assumes over Harker’s body suggests a sexual act, and this display of female sexual aggression both attracts and repulses Harker. In a Victorian society that prizes and rewards female virginity and domesticity, the sexually adventurous vixen is bound to be the subject of fantasy. But because of these same rigid strictures of acceptable social behavior, she is also bound to be considered dangerous. Here, Stoker takes the fantasy of the dangerous whore to its most extreme manifestation, suggesting that Harker stands to lose not simply his reputation, but also his life. You are a clever man, friend John; you reason well, and your wit is bold; but you are too prejudiced. . . . Ah, it is the fault of our science that it wants to explain all; and if it explain not, then it says there is nothing to explain. But yet we see around us every day the growth of new beliefs, which think themselves new; and which are yet but the old, which pretend to be young. . . . Here, in Chapter XIV, Van Helsing criticizes his protégé, Seward, for being too parochial in his attempts to diagnose Lucy. Van Helsing suggests that Seward is blinded by his own reason: if reason cannot explain a phenomenon, the young doctor tends to dismiss the phenomenon rather than question the limits of his own knowledge. Van Helsing encourages Seward to open his mind to experiences that may initially seem to counter Western methodologies. In doing so, he speaks to one of the novel’s primary concerns: the consequences of modernity. In Dracula, Stoker suggests that the English find themselves preyed upon precisely because their modern knowledge, instead of enlightening them, actually prevents them from identifying the true nature of their predator. Modernity—particularly the advancements of science—has blinded the English to the dangers from which their abandoned traditions and superstitions once guarded them. Van Helsing, the only character who prizes the knowledge of both the new and the old world, advocates a brand of knowledge that incorporates the teachings of both. She still advanced, however, and with a languorous, voluptuous grace, said:—“Come to me, Arthur. Leave these others and come to me. My arms are hungry or you. Come, and we can rest together. Come, my husband, come!” There was something diabolically sweet in her tones—something of the tingling of glass when struck-which rang through the brains even of us who heard the words addressed to another. As for Arthur, he seemed under a spell; moving his hands from his face, he opened wide his arms. In this passage from Chapter XVI, we see one of Dracula’s earlier threats made good. Earlier in the novel, the count warns his pursuers that he will defeat them by first seducing their wives and fiancées: “Your girls that you all love are mine already; and through them you and others shall yet be mine.” This threat becomes reality here, as Lucy, now a blood- and sex-starved vampire, does her best to lure her fiancé, Holmwood, into eternal damnation. Like the “weird sisters” who attempt to seduce Harker, Lucy exudes sexual energy, and her words to Arthur ring out like a plea for and promise of sexual gratification. The promise proves more than Arthur can bear—“he seemed to move under a spell”—and threatens to have the same disastrous effect on the entire group, ringing through the minds “even of us who heard the words addressed to another.” Their collective weakness in fending off the sexual advances of such a temptress leaves the men vulnerable—ready to sacrifice their reason, their control, and even their lives. Given the possibility of such losses, which would overturn the world that these men dominate, it is little wonder that they choose to solve the problem by destroying its source—the monstrously oversexed woman. Thus are we ministers of God’s own wish: that the world, and men for whom His Son die, will not be given over to monsters, whose very existence would defame Him. He has allowed us to redeem one soul already, and we go out as the old knights of the Cross to redeem more. Like them we shall travel toward sunrise; and like them, if we fall, we fall in good cause. Here, in Chapter XXIV, Van Helsing summarizes the nature of their quest to Mina as they chase Dracula across Europe. To modern readers, the professor’s words sound like an exercise in hyperbole, as he draws very bold lines between good and evil. However, Stoker does, in fact, intend Dracula to be as much a cautionary moral tale as a novel of horror and suspense. Deeply informed by the anxieties of the Victorian age—the threat that scientific advancement posed to centuries of religious tradition, and the threat that broadening liberties for women posed to patriarchal society—Dracula makes bold distinctions between the socially acceptable and the socially unacceptable; between right and wrong; between holy and unholy. Here, as Van Helsing likens his mission to one of “the old knights of the Cross,” we should understand him not as a bombastic windbag, but as a product of genuine Victorian fear and righteousness. Please let me state again: Finding anything sexual about Lucy's death and stating it as "unambiguous" that stake is a reference to a penis is absurd. Have you even read the book? I've read the book and I understand it well. Now here is a question: If a stake really meant penis than what did it offer in the books overall meaning? That a bunch of Christians are killing the undead by nailing their penises through people's hearts? Really? That is exactly what your notes are saying and it is embarrassing to think that someone ACTUALLY BELIEVES TH... Read more→ 103 out of 307 people found this helpful I agree with "somethingisbrokehere". I read through this summary to aid in an essay about this book and was positively shocked...though it gave me plenty of giggles! Dracula has many things about it which make it partly comedy to me, though of course it's only due to the change of the times. The thought of Bram Stoker reading this site's take on his novel is...oh, do try it, it is HILARIOUS. Psychoanalyzing can be taken too far, and I would ask that this site DOES NOT CHANGE THEIR TAKE ON LUCY'S FINAL DEATH, because in the future I might lik 6 out of 22 people found this helpful Okay I should've gone into detail more, but the whole penis idea doesn't fit into the plot and doesn't make sense. First of all from a Christian perspective (Mr. Stoker was Protestant) that would be considered an evil thing to do. Since they are undead that would similar to necrophilia which is most definitely unChristian and would go against everything the book is talking about. Also remember, this book was written in 1897 which really wasn't that long ago. The whole idea of stakes being penises doesn't make sense as cleansing (I don't thin 12 out of 38 people found this helpful
I actually managed to avoid study binges during my finals this semester (which is new since I ALWAYS give in during finals) Some recommendations I have: 1. Drink tons of water. It's great in that it simultaneously keeps you hydrated, which keeps your brain working at top capacity, and prevents you from snacking when you're just thirsty. The brain often confuses thirst with hunger (as I'm sure you have already heard) 2. While this does take time, you should buy some veggies and cut and separate them into little bags, so that you have an allotted amount of healthy snack food for a study session. I made some low-fat spicy hummus to go along with carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, and sugar snap peas. One sandwich-bag full is enough to snack on during a 4-hour study session at least. Having the allotted amount also prevents over eating. For me, I stay focused easier when I have something to munch on, and veggies are always a good choice. 3. Don't give in to buying the high-sugar and high-fat snacks. Sure, they taste good (especially when you're stressed), but you'll most likely hit a sugar crash half way into your study session and then it's all over. Substitute the chocolate and potato chips for healthier alternatives, like chopped apples or low-sodium wheat thins! 4. Finally, avoid energy drinks. I can't say avoid coffee (because that would be completely hypocritical), but if you do drink coffee, don't get the Venti quadruple-shot white mocha with whip cream. Try a simple nonfat, unflavored latte (I choose soy), or a cup of strong drip coffee with some added soy milk and sweetener. Trust me- at the end of the night you'll feel better because you won't have a terrible sugar rush, and you'll be more productive over-all. If you can drink some strong black tea instead of coffee, that's even better! I like Earl Grey with a little bit of plain soy milk added. It even tastes good when it gets cold! GOOD LUCK with your finals!! (: "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." I carry bottles of water. Sometimes just drinking some water will be enough to remind me that it is the stress and I'm not actually hungry. Dried fruit (no sugar added!!) popcorn (I toss with a small bit of chocolate chips so I'm not tempted to go get something sweeter...) Also, be sure to take some time out for a real meal. Even just a quick salad from the salad bar (Whole Foods salad bar has all sorts of veggies and protiens to choose from). I know it is hard, but stepping away from the books for 20 minutes really helps me clear my mind and stay focused. current weight: 237.2 Fitness Minutes: (38,858) Posts: 5,092 4/25/12 5:20 P Meditating with deep breathing for 5 minutes will relax you SO much! Another thing that might help is stepping away from the books for 10-20 minutes and going for a walk. Keep fruits and veggies around, Clif Bars/Luna Bars, almonds or walnuts, etc. And avoid too much caffeine. I know exactly how you feel. What I have found to be really helpful is to much on vegetables (they have less calories and sugar than fruit....not that I'm saying fruit is bad) and also chew a lot of sugar free gum. They now make minty gum and fruity gum, dessert gum. A lot of times it is just the chewing feeling that makes us feel better. Just in general I would stay away from high calorie drinks such as sodas and energy drinks. Hope this helps! Good luck on your finals current weight: 162.0 Fitness Minutes: (1,460) Posts: 16 4/23/12 8:06 P Help! I am starting finals and I am afraid ill fall into the crazy snack binges that happen with this stressful time. Any ideas for easy healthy meals? That will be easy to take to the library to study SparkPeople, SparkCoach, SparkPages, SparkPoints, SparkDiet, SparkAmerica, SparkRecipes, DailySpark, and other marks are trademarks of SparkPeople, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SPARKPEOPLE is a registered trademark of SparkPeople, Inc. in the United States, European Union, Canada, and Australia. All rights reserved.
This goes to print on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. So allow me to pitch in to February’s religion-versus-secularism debate from a new direction. As an unbeliever I wish to complain on behalf of serious religious belief. Faith is being defended by the wrong people, in the wrong way. ‘Faith’ means faith. Doubt is not faith. Faith is not seeking but finding. Real Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Jewish believers are being patronised by kindly agnostics who privately believe that the convictions of those they patronise are delusions. A lazy mish-mash of covert agnosticism is being advanced in defence of religion as a social institution. But ‘whatever floats your boat’ is not the wellspring of Judaic belief. The God of the Gap is not the God of Islam. Jesus did not come to earth to offer the muzzy comforts of weekly ritual, church weddings and the rhythm of public holidays. In an astonishing foray into a disgraceful sort of journalism the Sunday Telegraph now claims to have discovered that Professor Dawkins is descended from slave-owners. You make a fool of yourself, not Dawkins, with this kind of rubbish, so his critics must be blinded by anger. How to explain this? It was a coincidence between two minor pieces of news that seems to have unleashed the media storm. First, a limited judicial decision ruled that Bideford councillors may not include prayers on their official agenda. Then survey data from the National Secular Society publicised by Richard Dawkins suggested that most declared Christians lack both knowledge of their faith and serious conviction. The surprising burst of energy this released has included interventions from the (Muslim) Chairman of the Conservative party, from Daniel Finkelstein, the Archbishop of York, Giles Coren, the Queen and Eric Pickles. All have expressed alarm at the advance of ‘militant’ secularism. Only a minority, however, have reaffirmed with any muscularity their belief in God. Many call themselves unbelievers. My Times colleague Daniel Finkelstein, in a moving column well summarised by its headline ‘It’s easy to mock religion — but then what?’, as good as declares himself a Jewish atheist but goes on to assert the importance of faith and religious ritual in holding people together. Affectionately he recalls fiddling as a small child with the fringes of his father’s prayer-shawl. He thinks it good (as do I) that human beings ceaselessly struggle to find meaning and purpose in life; and deplores the illiberal ‘liberalism’ that seeks to sneer at that. Our colleague Giles Coren, in wonderfully knockabout vein, lays into Professor Dawkins (‘Nerd King, preening master of self-promotion, slippery old silver fox, “disco don” of the Dark Side, God-slayer and pompous champion of the Atheist Delusion’) and describes himself as ‘a practising Christian Jew’ who attends an Anglican church and likes it. For him, as for so many on the attack against sectarians, it’s enough that this is England and England has an established church, part of the social order, ‘a bit like pubs, really … Anyone who wants to can go in for a drink. But nobody has to get drunk.’ This does capture what a lot of us love about the Church of England. The question is, does it capture what Jesus Christ asks — requires, commands — of His followers? One of the reasons we can be pretty sure Jesus actually existed is that if He had not, the Church would never have invented Him. He stands so passionately, resolutely and inconveniently against everything an established church stands for. Continuity? Tradition? Christ had nothing to do with stability. He came to break up families, to smash routines, to cast aside the human superstructures, to teach abandonment of earthly concerns and a throwing of ourselves upon God’s mercy. Jesus came to challenge precisely what today’s unbelieving believers in belief so prize in what they presume to be faith: its supposed ability to ‘cement’ the established order of things, and bind one generation to the next. But the problem with using Christ as a kind of social Evo-Stik, or indeed Allah as conciliator or Jehovah as a proxy for cultural continuity, is that it saps the life force with which their faiths were at first suffused. By trying to span and bind, Anglicanism has become bland. Moderate Islam is in theological retreat. And surely it is at the liberal end of Judaism’s spectrum that faith dilutes. ‘Through thousands of years,’ says Daniel Finkelstein, ‘Judaism has sustained the Jewish people.’ I observe only that their culture is unlikely to have weathered what they’ve endured without an unambiguous belief in a supernaturally ordained destiny. If this fades, my betting would be on a diminishing cultural identification among secular Jews. Beware (I would say to believers) the patronage of unbelievers. They want your religion as a social institution, filleted of true faith. It is the atheists, who think this God business matters, who are on your side. As an unbeliever my sympathies are with fundamentalists. They seem to me to represent the source, the roots, the essential energy of their faiths. They go back to basics. To those who truly believe, the implicit message beneath ‘never mind if it’s true, religion is good for people’ is insulting. To those who really believe, it is because and only because what they believe is true, that it is good. I find David Cameron’s remark that his faith, ‘like Magic FM in the Chilterns, tends to fade in and out’, baffling. If a faith is true it must have the most profound consequences for a man and for mankind. If I seriously suspected a faith might be true, I would devote the rest of my life to finding out. As I get older the sharpness of my faculties begins to dull. But what I will not do is sink into a mellow blur of acceptance of the things I railed against in my youth. ‘Familiar’ be damned. ‘Comforting’ be damned. ‘Useful’ be damned. Is it true? — that is the question. It was the question when I was 12 and the question when I was 22. Forty years later it is still the question. It is the only question. More Spectator for less. Stay informed leading up to the EU referendum and in the aftermath. Subscribe and receive 6 issues delivered for just £6, with full web and app access. 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BALTIMORE – Girls who regularly ate breakfast, particularly one that includes cereal, were slimmer than those who skipped the morning meal, according to a study that tracked nearly 2,400 girls for 10 years. Girls who ate breakfast of any type had a lower average body mass index, a common obesity gauge, than those who said they didn’t. The index was even lower for girls who said they ate cereal for breakfast, according to findings of the study conducted by the Maryland Medical Research Institute. The study received funding from the National Institutes of Health and cereal-maker General Mills. “Not eating breakfast is the worst thing you can do, that’s really the take-home message for teenage girls,” said study author Bruce Barton, the Maryland institute’s president and CEO. The fiber in cereal and healthier foods that normally accompany cereal, such as milk and orange juice, may account for the lower body mass index among cereal eaters, Barton said. The results were gleaned from a larger NIH survey of 2,379 girls in California, Ohio and Maryland who were tracked between ages 9 and 19. Results of the study appear in the September issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
To reach your goals in life—especially landing your first job in sports—you have to start with the right attitude. (Read: a positive attitude.) Your attitude will affect everything you do moving forward. This might strike you as standard-issue pep-talk language, but I’ll show you how and why it can genuinely set you apart from your competitors. Paul J. Meyer, the No. 1-selling author of personal-development materials in the world (More than $2.5 billion, according to Success Magazine) says that success in life is not some magic formula. It’s about having the right attitude. (Side note: I have to confess, I’ve never heard of Meyer until I read the article. It’s hard to believe any ‘one person’ can sell $2.5 billion worth of personal development materials. But I trust Darren Hardy @DarrenHardy and the editors at Success Magazine.) Meyer says, “Don’t look to your weakness; look to your strength. Don’t look to your problems; look to your power.” This is great advice for launching a sports career! However, the ability to ignore your weakness and your problems, while focusing on your strengths and your power, requires a concentrated focus with a positive attitude. Why You Need a Positive Attitude The reason you want a positive attitude is simple: it will help you break into the business. Yes, it’s pretty obvious if you’re a jackass, or a complainer, or just a negative person all the way around, you’re not going to win the interview game. As a result, the door will slam in your face. However, what’s not obvious (to some), is that your attitude — in many cases — is the deciding factor in whether or not you get hired. During the interview process, while you’re being analyzed inside and out, employers are looking for more than just your ability to do the job at a high level. The reality is, everyone in the running is a strong candidate and can all do the job very well. The people who win jobs are not always the smartest. Or the most creative. Or even the best-looking. The majority of the people who get job offers are those with a winning attitude. How to Get a Positive Attitude Don’t confuse “positive attitude” with sappy, over-the-top, fake-smile back-slapping. Those people scare me. Positive attitude is more like swagger. It’s humble confidence meets winning mindset. Positive attitude is not something you turn on before you go into an interview, either. That’s fake. And obvious. Positive attitude comes from within. It’s part of who you are. I believe attitude is a choice. But I also know keeping a good attitude can be tough, especially in this fast-pace, high-stress world we live in. Below is an exercise that will be good for all of us. Whether you’re at the top of your game, or you’re struggling to keep your head above water, take time TODAY and count your blessings! This exercise has been proven through the ages to put the focus where it needs to be: on your strengths, not your problems. EXERCISE: Make a Top 10 List of Things You’re Thankful For
Case might slow executions An appeal from Florida's death row may give inmates everywhere an avenue to challenge lethal injections. By CHRIS TISCH Published January 29, 2006 WASHINGTON - By agreeing this week to hear the case of a Florida man condemned to die, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide an issue that could slow down executions nationwide. The court agreed to review whether death row inmate Clarence Hill can challenge lethal injection through a civil rights claim. While that is a technical and procedural issue, a victory by Hill could give death row inmates everywhere an avenue to challenge lethal injections as unconstitutionally painful and cruel. If Hill wins, he could argue the cruelty issue in front of a lower federal court, giving him months of additional appeal time. "I don't have a lot of confidence that he will prevail," said O.H. "Bill" Eaton, a Seminole-Brevard circuit judge who teaches other circuit judges about the death penalty. "But he may. This U.S. Supreme Court has been surprising in its rulings on a lot of criminal issues." A Hill victory also could allow other condemned inmates to make the same argument and could force the court to rule on the constitutionality of lethal injection. That could temporarily block or slow executions, a point of frustration among death penalty supporters. The average time on death row in Florida, for instance, is just under 13 years. But some experts suspect some justices agreed to hear the case so they can clamp that avenue of appeal, which capital defense lawyers have been using with greater frequency in recent years. "I suspect there may be some members of the court who want to take this case to say this is definitely not an avenue" of appeal, said Robert Batey, a professor at the Stetson University College of Law. "And there may be others who say there may be an argument here." A loss by Hill could solidify lethal injection as an accepted means of execution. "Not only will it mean this inmate will very likely be executed, but it also would make it much harder for other inmates to challenge executions based on the method of execution," said Erwin Chemerinsky, a law and political science professor at Duke University. Arguments are scheduled for April. The court said it will issue a ruling this summer. Executions in other states have gone ahead. Texas executed a man Wednesday night and Indiana carried out an execution Friday. Less clear is how the court's decision will affect pending executions in Florida. Death row inmate Arthur Rutherford is scheduled to die Tuesday for a 1985 murder in Santa Rosa County. Rutherford's attorneys said they will file the same appeal as Hill's lawyers did, which they believe will result in a stay. But Gov. Jeb Bush, who was in Washington, D.C., this week, said he didn't believe Rutherford's execution would be called off because of the Hill case. Chemerinsky, the Duke law professor, disagrees. He suspects a federal appeals court will block Rutherford's execution while the Hill case is decided. Hill, 48, was sentenced to die for the 1982 murder of Stephen Taylor, a 26-year-old Pensacola police officer. Hill shot Taylor in the back during a bank robbery. Hill has exhausted all of his appeals in the 23 years since his sentence. Death penalty cases travel through nine steps from trial to execution, including an automatic appeal to the Florida Supreme Court and appeals to the U.S. District Court, the Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Each of those steps takes months or years. Judges must review the records of those cases, which are thousands of pages long, said Eaton, the Seminole-Brevard circuit judge. Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court have streamlined the appeals process, though capital cases still take years to wind through the courts. Hill was strapped to a gurney and had IV lines running into his arms Tuesday night when the execution was halted by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. Family members of the officer Hill killed were prepared to watch the execution, then were sent home. "It fuels into the wider concern of whether the death penalty is really worth all this hassle," said Michael Radelet, a University of Colorado sociology professor who has studied Florida's death penalty, noting that support for the punishment has fallen recently to around 50 percent of the population. "Whatever the benefits are, can we achieve the same results by not spending so much money and putting people in prison for life?" Times staff writer Anita Kumar contributed to this reporter. Chris Tisch can be reached at 727-892-2359 or email@example.com
By LINDA GIBSON © St. Petersburg Times, published March 17, 2000 Schools in Florida that offer courses on the Bible must teach them as literature, not history, Education Commissioner Tom Gallagher said Thursday. Gallagher's new guidelines on teaching the Bible in public schools will affect the 15 districts that currently offer the course in Florida. That includes Hillsborough, where students at Plant City and Chamberlain high schools are offered the elective course. Under 1992 guidelines, students taking "Bible history: Old Testament" were to "acquire an understanding of the Bible as a historical document." The new guidelines say, "Students will acquire a critical appreciation of the literature ... which came to be held as sacred scripture by the Jewish and Christian religious communities." In addition, the courses no longer will be referred to as "Bible history: Old Testament" or "Bible history: New Testament." Their new titles are "Introduction to the Bible I" and "Introduction to the Bible II." The new guidelines address complaints by People for the American Way Foundation, a liberal non-profit group based in Washington, D.C. After studying how schools in Florida teach the history of the Bible, the group criticized the curriculum as unconstitutional. At Plant City and Chamberlain high schools, the group said, the Bible was presented as history with a Christian slant. Its response Thursday to Gallagher's revisions was approving, but cautious. "We're pleased that the state has taken this step," said Elliot Mincberg, legal director for the group. "But what happens in the classroom is a lot more important than what the education commissioner puts on paper." Plant City High School Principal Charles Raburn said he hadn't seen the new guidelines but said the school had no problem with the old ones. About 28 students take the semester class. The Department of Education consulted with Florida State University's Department of Religion and worked with the school districts that teach the Bible before making the changes, Gallagher said in a press release. The changes will take effect for the 2000-01 school year, but Gallagher urged the districts to make them sooner if possible. Rep. Curt Levine, D-Boca Raton, who had filed a complaint with the Department of Education over how the Bible courses were being taught, said he was pleased by the changes. "I am encouraged that the Department of Education has taken steps to see that this kind of improper material is not being taught to our public schoolchildren," he said. "I think it's important that schools teach material of this kind as literature." Lisa Versaci, Florida director of the People for the American Way Foundation, emphasized teacher training. "The people who were teaching them taught them in the way they knew the Bible. It was very exclusionary."
Many paintings and objects in Western art have a Christian or religious theme, but they are not icons. Orthodox icons were, and still are, created for prayer and liturgical use in the church and for personal prayers at home or in travel. Icons often were so beautifully and skillfully made, however, that they also attracted the attention of private collectors and museums. Icons can be seen in churches and museums all over the world today. Some of the most famous icons are Byzantine, Greek and Russian paintings on wood. Countless other masterpieces also were made from a variety of materials. They were produced of gold, silver and copper, some with polychrome enamels and gemstones; from carved wood, stone and ivory; from embroidered textiles and from tiny pieces of glass, ceramic and stone arranged to form mosaics. According to custom, an icon artist was expected to be a person of high moral principle and Christian ideals who prepared for his work by fasting and praying. The iconography was neither a creation of the artist's imagination nor whim, but followed a prescribed pattern and subject according to Church tradition. In Russia, an icon is referred to as being "written." The "icon Graphics" were designed to be so explicit that no words (except for the traditional titles and abbreviations), were needed to convey the meaning, and the story of an icon remained recognizable by conforming to iconographic tradition. Thus, icons also overcame problems of language and literacy. Icons are given as gifts on occasions of marriages, baptisms or saint's name days (commemorating the saint after whom a Christian is named). They also are donated to churches and monasteries as memorial gifts or acts of thanksgiving. Small icons were sometimes given by a father to a son going into military service and larger ones were often carried into battle on banners. Old manuscripts and recent archeological excavations give evidence of travelers, soldiers and sailors who carried small metal icons (usually on a string around the neck) with them on journeys. Icons were displayed on city gates and walls (such as the gates of the Kremlin) and in special places along the highway. Many old and even recently-made icons have been considered miraculous. Some icons can be as tall as a human. Others are small enough to fit into a palm. Authentic icons are those that are blessed and regarded as holy. The beauty or material worth of an icon is not considered in devotion. In the 17th century, Paul of Aleppo wrote about icons when he traveled to Russia: As the Muscovites have the very greatest affection and love for icons, they do not consider the beauty of the picture nor the skill of the artist -- for them all icons, beautiful or ugly, are on a level; they reverence even an icon, which is nothing more than a sketch on paper. In the 20th century, a priest may even bless a photograph of an old icon and distribute it as a gift. Sometimes icons had metal covers, oklads made for them, either to protect them from human handling in devotions, to enhance their beauty or as memorials. The oklads often were made of silver or gilded silver with the figures of the icon repeated by repoussé and chasing. The metal was cut out to reveal the painted faces, hands and feet of the icon beneath. Some oklads (donated to churches or monasteries by the very wealthy) were studded with precious gemstones, diamonds and pearls. In Russian Orthodox homes all over the world today, icons are displayed in special places of honor, called the "beautiful corner." To the Orthodox Christian, an icon is a constant reminder of God's presence in his church, his home and in his life. This article has been adapted by the author from An Education Guide for Art Exhibitions, Masterworks in Metal, San Diego, California, by Vera Beaver Bricken Espinola, 1989. Source: Treasures of the Czars education guide by Vera B. Espinola.
NWS Melbourne Office History December 1988 - Construction of new NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) at Melbourne Regional Airport begins. April 1989 - Meteorologist In Charge reports for duty. Staff of one. July 1989 - Melbourne becomes first NWS field office completed under the National Modernization and Associated Restructuring (MAR) of the NWS. Staff of Three. October 1989 - Forecast and warning operations begin for Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. Staff of nine. January 1990 - First Science and Operations Officer (SOO) in the Nation reports at Melbourne. June 1990 - Melbourne Hydrologic Service Area (HSA), the first in state history is established. Responsible for forecasting all of Florida rivers except western panhandle. January 1991 - Construction begins on second WSR-88D (NEXRAD) system in the Nation at WFO Melbourne! Summer 1991 - NWS Melbourne hosts Operations Center for Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment (CaPE). A major research project investigating Florida thunderstorms, lightning and rainfall and involving over 200 scientists. NWS Melbourne, USAF, and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) meteorologists collaborate on improving short-range forecasts of thunderstorm initiation. October 1991 - The second WSR-88D in the Nation; the first in a sub-tropical, maritime climate, begins operational use at Melbourne. Staff of 20. The Melbourne WSR-88D supports the Nation's Space Program. Dedicated users include the USAF at Cape Canaveral and Patrick AFB, and NOAA's Spaceflight Meteorology Group at Johnson Spaceflight Center in Houston, and the Applied Meteorology Unit at Kennedy Space Center. October 1991 - Joint NASA, USAF, NWS agreement establishing the Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) completed. The AMU is tasked with applications development and technology transfer to improve forecasts for space operations with spinoff benefits to public forecast and warning operations. March 1992 - Melbourne staff performs exceptionally well with WSR-88D during the two worst hailstorms in Florida history. Despite over 100 million dollars in damage, no deaths or serious injuries reported in Orlando area. July 1992 - NOAA's Spaceflight Meteorology Group uses Melbourne WSR-88D to support Space Shuttle mission (STS-46) for first time. Summer 1992 - Melbourne and NWS Southern Region meteorologists work with Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory and FAA scientists to test Orlando Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) workstation. August 1992 - Melbourne WSR-88D performs flawlessly during approach and passage of Hurricane Andrew over south Florida and becomes first operational NEXRAD to track a hurricane. March 1993 -Melbourne WSR-88D performs flawlessly during the infamous "Storm of the Century"as tornadic squall line sweeps through east central Florida. September 1993 - Presented National Weather Service Modernization Award for "Exemplary manner in which WFO Melbourne has used new technologies to support public warning and forecast services to east central Florida" October 1993 - Awarded NOAA Unit Citation for performance during Hurricane Andrew. Jan-Feb and Aug-Sep 1994 - SWIFT BOAT I and II, a unique program to investigate marine weather phenomena with a chase boat and compare to WSR-88D data as well as provide staff training and familiarization is successfully completed under the direction of NOAA Corps. officer. March 1994 - Melbourne WSR-88D and facility dedication ceremony is held on March 31st. Melbourne becomes third NWS office in Nation, and first east of the Mississippi, to commission the WSR-88D. April 1994 - Forecast and warning responsibility expanded to cover all of east central Florida including Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Volusia Counties as the WSR-88D is formally commissioned. June 1994 - First official Open House of Melbourne Office. 1200 Citizens tour the office. July 1994 - Melbourne HSA successfully handles record flooding in north Florida from remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto. November 1994 - Tropical Storm Gordon spawns killer tornado at Barefoot Bay south of Melbourne and brings flooding rainfall to east Central Florida. August 1995 - NWSO Melbourne earns second NWS Modernization Award for "continued excellence in operational research and dedication to the spirit of scientific collaboration". March 1996 - Severe storms produce Golf-ball to soft-ball size hail and several tornadoes over many areas of central Florida during the 30th and 31st. Severe weather warnings provide plenty of time for residents to prepare for the storms. July-August 1996 - NWSO Melbourne provides special weather support for the preliminary Olympic soccer matches held at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Melbourne Meteorologist Scott Spratt travels to Savannah, Georgia to man the Olympic Marine Weather Support Office for the Olympic sailing venue . July-August 1996 - In collaboration with the National Severe Storms Laboratory (Norman, OK) and NASA, a Warning Decision Support System (WDSS) is installed at NWSO Melbourne. The WDSS uses data from the Melbourne WSR-88D (radar) and unique display capabilities to provide forecasters with an additional tool for severe weather forecasting and warning. October 1996 - Tropical Storm Josephine makes landfall in Northwest Florida and produces numerous tornadoes across east central Florida. NWSO Melbourne issues warnings well in advance of all tornadoes, including the strong Edgewater tornado. A NWS Service Enhancement "Gold medal" was awarded for forecast and warning performance during the tornado outbreak. November 1996 - The Melbourne Office hosts its second official Open House . November 1997 - The third Open House draws over 500 visitors! February 1998 - Tornado Outbreak. A series of supercell thunderstorms produced 6 strong to violent tornadoes late on the 22nd and early on the 23rd. Although Tornado Warnings were issued well in advance of all touchdowns, 42 fatalities occurred (38 died in mobile homes and RV's), making it by far the most deadly tornado outbreak in the history of Florida. A NWS Service Enhancement "Gold medal" was awarded for forecast and warning performance during the tornado outbreak. December 1998 - US Department of Commerce Gold Medal awarded to the NWS office in Melbourne for performance during the tornado outbreak of February 1998. March 1999 - WSFO Melbourne assumes complete forecast and warning responsibility for east central Florida. September 1999 - Hurricane Floyd brushes the Florida coast prompting the largest peacetime evacuation in US history. April 2000 - Final office systems targeted in the multi-year NWS modernization become commissioned. MLB becomes a certified Weather Forecast Office (WFO). Staff of 24. July 2005 - Following extensive efforts by WFO Melbourne and local officials, Indian Harbour Beach in Brevard County becomes the first "TsunamiReady" community on the eastern seaboard. December 2006 - WFO Melbourne hosts the 8th annual NWS SKYWARN Recognition Day (24-hour communication test) and contacts 921 other "ham" stations located within 50 states. Seventy of the 89 NWS stations operating during the event were reached. April 2009 - NWS Melbourne recieves a Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award "for providing life-saving severe weather outlooks and accurate tornado warnings for east central Florida during the 2006-07 severe weather season. January 2012 - Upgrades to the Melbourne 88D radar are completed to bring Dual Polarization technology to east Central Florida. The addition of Dual Pol radar products will improve radar rainfall estimates, precipitation type discernment including hail, and allow for the detection of tornadic debris, smoke, and other non-hydrometeors. January 2013 - The NWS Melbourne 88D radar tower raising project is completed which has mitigated a potential beam blockage to the south and south southeast from new hangar construction at Melbourne International Airport. May 2013 - Bart Hagemeyer, WFO Melbourne's first MIC, retires with over 24 years of service as Meteorologist-in-Charge of the Melbourne Forecast Office.
Here at St. Joseph, we understand the difficulties that come with battling heart disease for both patients and their families. COPD Caregivers provides support and education for the family members of patients with heart disease. The group meets regularly. For more information about this and other support groups available to patients call (979) 821-7589. Diabetes Education Program The St. Joseph Type 2 diabetes education program consists of four classes. We encourage participants to attend with their spouse, another family member or a friend. The Cost of the class is $50, which includes a blood glucometer measurement and a one month enrollment at the St. Joseph Wellness Center. For more information about the St. Joseph Type 2 diabetes class, call (979) 821-7576 We aim to make your discharge from St. Joseph as simple as possible. Discharge planning begins at the time of, admission to the hospital. Our specially trained staff collaborates with the patient, family members, physicians, and community resources such as home health agencies and rehabilitation services to ensure a smooth transition out of St. Joseph. Over 200 languages can be translated into and from English through our translation services. Bilingual speakers with medical backgrounds are available around the clock to help bridge all language barriers, as well as to ensure patients' understanding of physician instructions. Talk to your St. Joseph physician or nurse for more information. Over 1000 student and adult volunteers help us to provide the very best in patient care and customer service to St. Joseph's patients and their families. Because St. Joseph is the largest hospital in the Brazos Valley, there are many opportunities to get involved. There are volunteer opportunities during the day, the evenings, or on weekends. If you have 3 or 4 hours a week to spare, you can make a difference in someone's life here at St. Joseph. Click here to learn more.
Since losing her sales job at a local tree company in November, Sharon Torberg has exhausted her savings and cashed in her retirement accounts, but remains two months behind on her mortgage. Struggling with a respiratory problem that keeps her homebound, she faces the possibility of losing the 1920s house in Minnetonka where she has lived happily for 27 years. But even if she sells her home to avoid foreclosure, it likely wouldn’t fetch what she owes on it. “They say the market is getting better,” said Torberg, 62. “But I’m not seeing it.” Beneath the hoopla over the burgeoning housing recovery, thousands of Minnesotans and millions of homeowners across the country are still struggling to make their mortgage payments, putting them on the cusp of foreclosure at rates stubbornly higher than before the market crashed. Nearly 10,000 homeowners across the state received a preforeclosure notice during the first three months of the year — a troubling 34 percent increase over the previous quarter, according to the Minnesota Homeownership Center. While fewer Minnesotans are losing their homes than they were two years ago, the economic recovery has failed to lift many beleaguered homeowners. “It’s still a crisis,” said Sandi Kleist, a financial counselor for Lutheran Social Service in Brainerd. “It feels like everyone is living on the edge.” Though house prices are on the rebound and unemployment rates have fallen, the personal finances of homeowners across the country aren’t improving at the same pace. Unemployment is cited as the primary culprit, while those who have managed to get rehired aren’t making enough to recover from the financial blows when they were jobless. “Most folks that are obtaining new jobs are taking significant pay cuts,” Kleist said. Richard Parkos, for example, lost his job in late 2011 and quickly fell behind on his mortgage payments. Though he found a job in just six weeks, his hourly wage is $5 per hour less than he was earning before. “I was already living on a tight budget, and that made it worse,” said the 55-year-old maintenance technician. “I just couldn’t make the payments.” After the loan fell into default, a sheriff’s auction was scheduled for June. Parkos asked his lender to adjust the terms of his mortgage to make it more affordable. He was rejected the first time, but got temporary approval after a second attempt. “I was ecstatically happy,” he said. “For once, something worked for me.” Such struggles persist despite a dramatic turnaround in the housing market. Home prices in the Twin Cities and beyond have risen at double-digit rates for much of the past year as the number of sales continue to climb. Still, those gains haven’t been strong enough to lift thousands of Minnesota homeowners out of negative equity. During March, nearly one in five Twin Cities homeowners — or nearly 100,000 households in the metro — owed more than their house was worth, according to CoreLogic. The situation is particularly hopeless for Minnesotans like Ashley and Troy Yantes, who bought a townhouse in Savage in 2006 when the housing market had peaked. As the recession took hold, Troy lost his job, while Ashley was laid off on two occasions. They fell behind on their mortgage payment, which kept rising because they had an adjustable-rate mortgage. Their house payment is now $400 more than it was when they bought it. But the townhouse is worth nearly $100,000 less. “People are building five-bedroom houses that cost less than our than ours does,” said Ashley Yantes. “And we could be there for 10 more years and never get out of it what we’ve paid.” While both have gotten jobs, they aren’t making as much as they were before the Great Recession. They are trying to negotiate a short sale with their bank, but the deal has languished for almost a year. “Now I feel like we should have just rented, because now we’re in this huge mess that we can’t seem to get out of,” Ashley Yantes said. Indeed, despite recent increase in home prices, more 14 million homeowners across the country — or one in four people with a mortgage — are still making payments on financing that exceeds the value of their homes by more than $1 trillion, according to Zillow. “Negative equity will remain a major factor in the market for the foreseeable future,” said Zillow’s chief economist, Stan Humphries. For many, the best hope of relief is a loan modification that will adjust the terms of their mortgage to make their monthly payments more affordable. Those borrowers, however, are at the mercy of their lender and the seemingly endless number of people who are in charge of processing those requests. And as Minnetonka’s Torberg knows all too well, that can be a tedious, emotionally draining process. Several months ago, she applied for loan modification, and each time she’s called to get an update, she’s been referred to a different case manager who asks her to call back for another update. The outcome is still uncertain, and so she’s working on coming to terms with the reality that she and her disabled adult son might have to move to a rental. “My kids were born and raised here,” she said. “And it’ll be tough to leave.” Thousands of Twin Cities homeowners have already been through that devastating process, and have gone through the short sale process or lost their home to foreclosure. Nearly one in three home sales last month was a distress sale. And Wendy Haisley doesn’t expect the situation to get better any time soon. She’s a legal assistant for Markve & Zweifel, a local law firm that specializes in short sales. To meet demand, she’s watched the company grow from two employees to 18 in just three years, and growing number of calls are from people who through not fault of their own can no longer make that monthly mortgage payment. “They can’t afford the home they could afford before the recession,” she said. “There are still a lot of people in trouble.”
CVS will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products as part of an effort to emphasize its role as a health care provider. The nation’s second-largest drugstore chain said Wednesday that it is giving up about $2 billion a year in revenue by phasing out tobacco. But the company, which has several dozen locations in the Twin Cities, said its decision is part of a larger shift to retool itself as part of the health care system and build partnerships with hospitals and doctors. “The sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose,” said Larry Merlo, CEO of CVS Caremark Corp. “In addition to removing cigarettes and tobacco products for sale, we will undertake a robust national smoking-cessation program.” The move is the latest evidence of a big push in the drugstore industry that has been taking place over several years, as major chains have been adding in-store clinics and expanding their health care offerings. Their pharmacists deliver flu shots and other immunizations, and their clinics now manage chronic illnesses like high blood pressure and diabetes and treat relatively minor problems like sinus infections. CVS has been working to team up with hospital groups and doctors to help deliver and monitor patient care. Still, dropping cigarettes will cost CVS in the short-term. The company notches about $1.5 billion annually in tobacco sales, but it expects a bigger hit — a total of roughly $2 billion — because smokers often buy other products when they visit stores. The firm brought in more than $123 billion in total revenue in 2012. CVS declined to say what will take tobacco’s prominent shelf space behind cash registers at the front of its stores, but said it will test some items and may expand smoking-cessation products that are sometimes sold near cigarettes. The decision to stop selling tobacco was applauded by anti-smoking groups. “It just makes it less accessible, less visible, and that’s a good thing,” said Mike Sheldon, a spokesman for the group ClearWay Minnesota. “Hopefully it sets an example for other retailers who sell tobacco products.” While the move is a symbolic blow to the $100 billion tobacco industry, drugstores sell a relatively small share of the cigarettes purchased in the country. Gas stations and convenience stores account for about two-thirds of all U.S. tobacco sales, said Thomas Briant, executive director of the Minneapolis-based National Association of Tobacco Outlets, which represents 2,000 tobacco stores and 26,000 convenience stores in 50 states. He said drugstores as a whole account for only 5 percent of the U.S. cigarette market. “If one chain in that group decides to no longer sell cigarettes and other tobacco products, there are other retailers that are available,” Briant said. “This is a business decision by CVS, and I don’t think you should read more into it than that.” CVS competitors Walgreen Co. and Rite Aid Corp. both sell tobacco and smoking cessation products like nicotine gum, as does the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which also operates pharmacies. But Target Corp., the Minneapolis-based retail giant that also runs its own pharmacies, has not sold tobacco since 1996. Steven McMillan, who was smoking Wednesday outside a downtown office building, said there are still plenty of places for him to get cigarettes. He said he prefers Walgreens for pharmacy visits, and buys his cigarettes mostly at gas stations and grocery stores. “It doesn’t affect me,” McMillan said. “I don’t even go to CVS.” Several cities, including San Francisco, Boston and many smaller Massachusetts communities have considered or passed bans on tobacco sales in stores with pharmacies. Other places, such as New York City, have sought to curb retail displays and promotions and raise the legal age at which someone can buy tobacco products. Both Walgreen and Rite Aid representatives said Wednesday that they are always evaluating what they offer customers and whether their products meet their needs. Trish Gober, who was smoking outside U.S. Bank Plaza in the cold on Wednesday, said she also does not shop at CVS, and that smokers will always find cigarettes. “They will find a way,” she said. “I roll my own, and it’s way cheaper.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Met Council: Red Line ridership off to solid start - Blog Post by: Tim Harlow - July 25, 2013 - 10:40 AM Ridership on the new Bus Rapid Transit line on Cedar Avenue in the southern suburbs is off to strong start according to figures released Thursday by the Metropolitan Council. The new service known as the Metro Red Line debuted on June 22 and in its first month of operation averaged close to 800 rides per day on weekdays and 450 per day on weekends, the council said. Overall, the service which uses special buses to transport riders along the shoulders of Cedar Avenue between the Apple Valley Transit Station and the Mall of America provided 22,000 rides. Of those, about 1,000 were taken during the promotional period from June 22 through June 30 when rides were free. The 800 daily rides provided on weekdays puts the line on target to reach its goal of providing 975 rides a day by June 2014. Projections boost that number to 1,600 by 2017. "It's encouraging to see solid Metro Red Line ridership during the earliest days of regular service," said Pat Born, regional administrator for the Metropolitan Council. "Cedar is a strong corridor for commuters, and these early figures illustrate the additional demand for frequent, all-day service which the Red Line also provides." The Red Line operates much like the Blue Line light-rail line, except with buses that travel in bus-only lanes and on highway shoulders. It stops only at the five stations along the line and operates every 15 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on weekends. The line operated by the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority has five stops - the Apple Valley Transit Station, 147th Street, 140th Street, the Cedar Grove Transit Station and the Mall of America - with additional stops planned. The line eventually will extend to Lakeville with planned stops at 161st Street, Glacier Way, 195th Street and 215th Street. © 2016 Star Tribune
CALL it an uncanny sense of foreboding or simply a manifestation of maternal instinct. Four years ago, single mother Joan Canafee asked Mr Kenneth Li, a volunteer with the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD): "Would you look after the boys when I am gone?" The wheelchair-bound divorcee had teenage twins with congenital achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism. Her greatest fear was that they would be unable to fend for themselves in her absence. Mr Li, then 22, said yes - without much hesitation. By then, he had developed a close bond with the boys. In February this year, Madam Canafee died of pneumonia at age 58, leaving her 18-year-old boys, Aman Mohd Sani and Amin Mohd Sani, with nobody but an older brother, 21, who is doing his national service. Mr Li first met the twins when he was only 18, through a befriending programme at SPD. Said Amin: "The first time I met him, I didn't know even how to begin a conversation with him." The programme was supposed to last for two years, but Mr Li, now a financial consultant at Prudential, has continued supporting the boys financially and emotionally for eight years. He told The Straits Times last week: "The commitment I made is lifelong and I will not abandon the boys." Achondroplasia is a genetic disorder of bone growth characterised by short stature and disproportionately short limbs. Through the tumultuous years when they were teased because of their condition, when financial difficulties plagued the family, when their parents' marriage dissolved and their father left home and later when their mother died, Mr Li was by their side. "Kenneth was there for us from the beginning, and from here, all I can say now is thank you," said Amin. Dropping by their house every week, he would coach the boys in their studies and take them out to cycle when they needed a breather. With his encouragement, the family star-ted picking up the pieces. To supplement their welfare aid, Madam Canafee began to cook Malay food while the boys went from door to door after school to sell the food. After their mother's sudden death, Mr Li sat all three boys down to plan for the future. "Rather than simply helping them monetarily, what is more important is imparting to them the right values and skills so that they can find a job and be self-reliant," said Mr Li, who also runs a company which produces corporate gifts. During their school holidays this year, after their mother's death, he hired the twins part- time so that they could pick up cashiering and accounting skills. The twins, who are studying at the Institute of Technical Education, now get monthly - instead of weekly - visits from Mr Li as they have become more independent. They have also reached the age where they are reluctant to accept his treats and pocket money. "They say that they will treat me back when they start working," he said. "I tell them that I will be more than happy when that day comes." To find out more about SPD's programmes, write to firstname.lastname@example.org
Beijing is a great city noted for the rich heritage of oriental history and culture. As early as three thousand years ago, a primitive tribal community started to take shape here. A tone had already come into being two thousand years ago. From 900 A.D. onward, Beijing served first as the secondary capital of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and then capitals of the Jin (1115-1234), Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1919)Dynasties successively. Beijing was made the capital of the People's Republic of China which was founded on October 1, 1949. Beijing and its surrounding counties are known to have the best quality Miyun dates, Jingbai pears and Liangxiang chestnuts. King-size persimmon and especial the frozen ones are unique. Preserved fruits from of a part of Beijing's traditional speciality. Beijing is home to a great number of colleges and universities, including several well-regarded universities of international stature, such as Peking University and Tsinghua University (two of the National Key Universities). Owing to Beijing's status as the political and cultural capital of China, a larger proportion of tertiary-level institutions are concentrated here than in any other city in China, reaching at least 70 in number. Many international students from Japan, Korea, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere come to Beijing to study every year. There are 2,142 high, middle and elementary schools in Beijing with 1.09 million students, among which there are 816,000 students enjoying compulsory education. There are 1,403 elementary schools in Beijing, with 494,482 students, 61,352 faculty members including 47,948 professional teachers. There are 404 middle schools, and 69 high schools, and 266 schools offering both middle school education and high school education. There are 321,585 students in middle school, and 278,358 high school students. There are 75,837 middle and high school staffs, among which 50,970 are professional teachers. In order to promote the development of higher education of International students in Beijing, further improve the talent cultivation, scientific research, social service, and cultural exchange, Beijing Government has set up the Scholarship (BGS) for International students I want to apply for Beijing Government Scholarship. What are the procedures? Where should I send the application materials? Applicants could consult the dispatching authorities, such as relevant governments departments, Chinese embassies or Consulates about application details. Applicants could also visit the website of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education (www.bjedu.gov.cn) for the application details. Applicants could apply to the Higher Education Institutions that are eligible Who can accompany you to Beijing? Foreign spouses and children under 18 years age of international students, parents or overseas guardians of international students under the age of 18 can apply for valid L visas with a validity period of six months or one year of zero, once, twice or multiple entries. The application times are not limited, but the valid term of the visa being applied for shall not exceed the valid term of the international student's visa or that of the residence permit. In general, only after an international student has gone through all the formalities in accordance with the requirements in this section, visa for the person that will accompany the international student to study can be handled. What people have to buy insurance? According to the regulations, an international student who studies in China for more than 180 days must purchase Chinese domestic insurance. Which is a better choice for me to live? The colleges and universities in Beijing generally provide international students apartments on campus of different grades for you to rent. However, if there are too many international students and the dormitories are not sufficient or you get used to living out of the campus, you can rent an apartment out of the university. The advantages of living on campus are as follows: it is near and convenient for dining, taking classes and doing exercises; the advantages of living out of university are that there is bigger degree of freedom, and you can freely choose room grade, work and rest and entertainment. If you want to rent an apartment out of the university, after going through renting formalities, you should conduct a foreigner temporary accommodation registration in the district public security bureau or police station where your accommodation is located with your passport or residence certificate and the residence booklet of the apartment owner within 24 hours. And notify the international student management department of the university.
The Bachelor of Bugger All? Not if some of New Zealand's humanities heads can make a difference. International education experts have descended on Palmerston North to push the importance of the humanities in modern society. Massey University launched its WH Oliver Humanities Research Academy last night, named after Feilding-born scholar Bill Oliver whose work challenged Kiwis to question who we are as people and earned him a Prime Minister's Award in 2008. The academy is aimed at lifting the profile of the humanities by fostering a strong research culture recognised by society. Kiwi education experts have said this week the humanities are taking a hit when it comes to the agenda of New Zealand's higher education with less support from the Government as it focuses on areas of skill shortage such as science. Academy head Associate Professor Kerry Taylor said humanities was neglected, overlooked and undervalued. The stereotype that a Bachelor of Arts is a "Bachelor of Bugger All" needed to be reconsidered as the "Bachelor of Bloody Awesome" because humanities graduates' input in society was creating critical thinkers crucial to democracy, he said. These were concerns held by institutes internationally, Oxford University's head of humanities Professor Shearer West said. She was the UK's director of research at the Arts and Humanities Research Council, a Government entity, before joining Oxford. "I don't like to polarise humanities with science - we're all part of a research landscape that is all important, but in everyday rhetoric there's a kind of faith in science that the Government continually reiterates and I don't think it is entirely evidence-based. "There's a feeling that the humanities are nice to have but not essential, which is not evidence-based either." International trends show a decrease in funding as the subject drops in policy-makers' popularity. Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce has said the differences between the humanities and other disciplines are at the margin and moves are aimed at redressing the balance between disciplines in terms of tuition subsidies. - Manawatu Standard Should Manawatu's earthquake-prone buildings be yellow-stickered?Related story: Council won't use earthquake-risk stickers
The United States Senate has voted to end debate on a budget deal, virtually guaranteeing that the bill will soon be voted on and become law. Last week the House of Representatives passed the deal that was hammered out by Democrats and Republicans desperate to prevent another government shutdown. On Tuesday afternoon the Senate voted 67-33 in favour to end the debate. The majority included all Senate Democrats who were joined by 12 Republicans. Republicans facing tough primary races in next year's mid-term elections notably voted against the deal. "This bipartisan bill takes the first steps toward rebuilding our broken budget process. And hopefully, toward rebuilding our broken Congress," said the Democrat senator who helped negotiate the deal, Patty Murray. In normal circumstances such a vote would have been utterly unremarkable. But since 2010 the US Congress has been so bitterly divided that it has been unable to pass budgets at all. Instead, government spending has been authorised by "continuing resolutions" that simply keep previous budgets in place. As a result of the divide, halfway through its two-year term the 113th Congress has passed just 57 laws. By comparison the 112th passed 284, the 111th passed 385 and the 110th passed 460. The deadlock has led to sweeping automatic spending cuts (known as sequestration), a government shutdown and threats by the right wing of the Republican Party to prevent the government from paying its bills - the so-called debt ceiling crisis. As a result Congress now enjoys a job approval rating of about 11.5 per cent. The deal should prevent another shutdown from occurring over the next two years, though some Republicans, including Senator Paul Ryan, the former Republican vice presidential nominee who led the GOP's negotiations, have not ruled out using the debt-ceiling to extract more concessions from the White House next year. Critics of the deal say it does nothing to solve the country's long-term debt, now standing at $17.6 trillion. Its measures include the doubling of a fee that airline passengers pay to the Transportation Security Administration and a reduction in retirement programs for some federal employees and members of the armed forces. It does not provide for unemployment benefits to the 1.3 million Americans who have been out of work for at least 26 weeks. It also reduces the sequestration cuts. The passage of the bill has been attacked by Tea Party-affiliated Congress members as well as many of the outside groups that back them, further highlighting division in the Republican Party. Last week, after some of those groups attacked the deal before even seeing it, Republican House Speaker John Boehner publicly hit back at them for the first time, saying at a press conference: "They're using our members and they're using the American people for their own goals. This is ridiculous." - Sydney Morning Herald
OverviewThere are several smaller 12,000+ foot peaks within the La Sal Range. Most rise from the ridges connecting the ranges larger peaks. Individually they are fun second summits when combined with climbing the larger peaks. Taken together with the larger peaks it is possible to summit at least twelve peaks over 12,000 feet in the La Sal range. Getting TherePeaks are listed here in descending order according to altitude. The peaks below all are distinguished by having a minimum 200-300 feet of clean prominence. If you have photos or other information please forward them to me and I will add them. Laurel Peak or Mount Laurel 12,271 This small secondary peak rises from the north/south ridge connecting Mt. Mellenthin and Mt. Peale. The summit of Laurel peak is approximately 1/4 mile south and slightly west from the summit of Mellenthin. It is easily summited as it rises only a little over 250 feet from the ridge line. The main trail however bypasses the summit. It is not an officially named peak on many maps. Pilot Mountain 12,201 This peak has 400-500 feet of prominence and sits proudly on the crescent shaped ridge connecting Manns Peak and Mt. Waas. This ridge forms the western aspect of Beaver Basin. The peak is most easily ascended from Beaver Basin. Starting from Beaver Basin the peak is directly west and sits almost exactly between Manns Peak and Mt. Waas. Green Mountain 12,163 Green Mountain is visible as the small peak just south of Mt. Waas when viewed from the west. The summit of Green mountain is located 1/4 mile directly southwest of the summit of Mt. Wass. The peak has approximately 600 feet of prominence from the surrounding ridgeline. Green Mountain is connected to Mt. Waas by a saddle on the southwest flank of the mountain. The summit can be reached by hiking directly southwest from the saddle. Little Tuk 12,048 This is the prominent secondary summit of Mt. Tukuhnikivatz. IT is located approximately 1/3 mile to the northwest of the true summit. Follow the directions for the standard hiking route up Mt. Tukuhnikivatz. Descend the faint and steep trail off the north side of the peak. It is the only sub peak of Tuk so the objective will be obvious. To descend it is best to reverse the route to the summit of Tuk and then descend either to Geyser Pass or La Sal Pass. Castle Mountain 12,044 Castle Mountain is one of the larger "sub" peaks in the range which is also adjacent to Mt. Waas. It is connected via a saddle on the northwest aspect of Mt. Waas. It can be summited from the saddle connecting it to Mt. Waas or climbed first en route to Mt. Waas from the Miner's Basin approach. La Sal Peak 12,001? This peak sparks debate. It is listed on some maps with an exact height of 12,001 feet and on others as 11,989? This peak marks the northern limit of the range as it extends above the tree line. The summit is 1 mile due north from that of Mt. Waas. It is separated from Mt Waas by Castle peak as detailed above. Can be combined with Mt. Waas and Castle peak for three 12,000 foot summits in just over a mile of hiking.
Coup, What Coup? Obama Denies Military Coup in Egypt The Obama administration is set to tell lawmakers that the ousting of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was no military coup, according to the Associated Press. This determination would allow the U.S. to keep open a $1.5 billion-a-year aid spigot to Egypt. U.S. law currently prohibits giving direct aid to countries where democratically elected leaders are overthrown by the military. Some legislators, like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have spoken out on giving aid to Egypt, saying the law is crystal clear. But others say the White House is responsible for the final word and urge continuing to provide financial aid. White House officials pointed to the growing anti-Morsi protests that preceded the overthrow and said that Morsi's Islamist-led government, despite being democratically elected, was putting Egypt on an undemocratic path. Comments are now closed.
Last month, a cross-country campaign began to inspire universities to cut fossil fuels out of their investment portfolios, in a desperate attempt to get action on climate change. Since fossil fuel industries are making it impossible to address climate change, 350.org is going after their bottom lines. And the effort is gaining momentum. In just four weeks, students at over 150 colleges and universities have picked up the mantle, lobbying senior administrators and boards of trustees to sell holdings and investments in fossil fuels companies, reports InsideClimate News. Universities and colleges targeted by author and activist McKibben's "Do the Math" tour collectively control endowments estimated to be worth $400 billion. The tour was sold out in every city it visited. The mission is to educate students about the math behind climate change. Not just about the direct impact that fossil fuels investments have in perpetuating damage to the planet but also how those investments are delaying the rise of clean energy alternatives. An estimated 2,795 gigatons of fossil fuel reserves exist - that the industry is hell-bent on burning, says 350.org. If that's burned, there's absolutely no chance of staying below the critical 2 degree Celsius threshold. McKibben explains this in his Rolling Stone article, "Global Warming's Terrifying New Math," published in July, and shared more than just about any article in the magazine's history. “We've felt serious momentum along this transcontinental roadshow -- but the numbers of full-on divestment campaigns got larger faster than we could have dreamed,” says McKibben. “A year notable for ice-melt, parched crops, and superstorms is going out with a different kind of bang: an explosion in activism, aimed squarely at the rogue fossil fuel industry.” Unity College in Maine immediately decided to divest. "Bottom line, for a college or university, you do not want your institution to be on the wrong side of this issue," Stephen Mulkey, president of Unity College, told InsideClimate. "We realized that investing in fossil fuels was an unethical position, especially considering our focus on environmental issues." Discussions are underway at 153 colleges and universities ranging from big state schools such as the University of Michigan and University of New Hampshire to private schools like Amherst and Swarthmore. More than 650 universities have already made significant commitments to addressing climate change by reducing their own carbon footprints, targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The next step is taking a financial stand, but it won't be easy. Many are closely watching Harvard University, which has a $32 billion endowment and (of course) a very big name. Harvard's support was crucial in the anti-apartheid movement of the 1980s. In November, 72% of the 3,600 undergraduates voted in favor of divestment. So far, though, Harvard administrators have ignored student requests for a meeting. Kevin Galvin, Harvard's director of news and media relations, told InsideClimate News that the university "is not considering divesting from companies related to fossil fuels." The fossil fuel divestment campaign is led by a coalition including 350.org, Energy Action Coalition, Responsible Endowments Coalition, Sierra Student Coalition, and As You Sow. Here's a list of the universities that have adopted 350.org's divestment guidelines, at least among students. Go Fossil Free lists 200 fossil fuel companies targeted by the campaign and gives guidelines for how to divest from them. For more on the next phase of the divestment movement, visit the 350.org site:
The author of this article argues that Nixon was not the only one responsible for the closing of the gold window and in fact it started way before the 1971 announcement that the dollar will no longer be tied to gold. By Mark Lundeen Published: August 24, 2011 Recently I listened to Jim Rickards’ 15 August 2011 interview on King World Radiowhere he addressed the US Treasury’s termination of the US dollar gold peg in August 1971. It was frustrating to hear his portrayal of what happened. Mr. Rickards is very influential. For good reasons, his opinions are widely respected. So, when he focused on the obvious fact that it was Nixon who put an end to the Bretton Woods $35 paper dollar peg for each ounce of US Treasury gold, he omitted decades of monetary history prior to August 1971, as all commentators on this subject do. Sure, President Nixon stopped exchanging gold for paper dollars, but that is NOT the entire story, or even the main point we should be focusing on. What would that point be? Simple: gold held under armed guard by a monetary authority is no guarantee against more money being printed than can be backed by that gold. Only gold coinage in circulation and a currency freely redeemable in gold coin can guarantee that. If I could accomplish one thing in my work, something I would really be proud of, it would be changing the general perception that President Nixon is exclusively responsible for “closing the gold window” at the US Treasury in August 1971. Rather, everyone should know that Presidents: were all scofflaws of domestic and international monetary laws, just as President Obama, and Congress are today, because Bretton Woods has never been repealed. For most of the 20th century, the American-political class refused to take council from economic advisors who believed that the law of supply-and-demand also applies to the American dollar. In fact, today “inflation” is the primary tool of Doctor Bernanke’s “monetary policy.” So these chief American administrators all contributed to the US Treasury’s SECOND gold default in the 20th century, by allowing the Federal Reserve to increase US Currency in Circulation (CinC or paper dollars), beyond the ability of the US Treasury to redeem those paper dollars in gold at the statutory rate of $35 paper dollars per ounce. The only post-Bretton Woods (1945 - 2011) chief executive who showed any respect for the concept of a sound dollar, was President Truman. In the charts that follow, it’s clear that Truman did not allow the monetary printing presses to run wild. Still, there were indications that even the Truman administration was creating a crisis-in-confidence in the US dollar. To read the rest of the article CLICK HERE
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency today began a 60-day comment period during which it will reach out to the public about a potential East Coast missile interceptor site that could be built at Fort Drum in New York or at military sites in Maine, Michigan or Ohio. The agency wants to hear feedback about the potential effect of the missile project on local communities before it begins a two-year environmental impact study at each of the four sites. A notice published today in the Federal Register said the Missile Defense Agency will hold public meetings in each of the four communities before Sept. 15. The meeting in Northern New York near Fort Drum will be held in Carthage, but the date has not been confirmed, said Rick Lehner, speaking for the Missile Defense Agency. "We generally have an open house and set up stations for people to ask questions and make comments," Lehner said of the public meetings. "We're looking for input from the community and local, state and federal officials on things we should look at in the EIS (environmental impact statement). The other potential sites that will be studied are Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center in Ohio; Fort Custer in Michigan and a military base in Portsmouth, Maine. The Department of Defense is moving ahead with the study to comply with a requirement from Congress, where Republican House members have pushed the Pentagon to build its first missile interceptor base on the East Coast. The Pentagon's top brass insists that an East Coast base is not necessary for the nation's defense. The nation's two active ground-based missile interceptor sites are at Fort Greely in Alaska and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The notice in the Federal Register said a third site on the East Coast would host at least 20, and as many as 60 anti-missile interceptors that would sit ready for firing in underground silos. The notice said no test firing would take place at the East Coast site. The East Coast base would initially cost about $3.6 billion. The host community would gain hundreds of new jobs for well-paid engineers and technicians who maintain the interceptors. The Pentagon stressed that a final decision is still years away, and the Department of Defense has not agreed to build an East Coast missile interceptor base. The public will have a second chance to comment when the draft environmental impact statement is completed. The Missile Defense Agency said it assessment of the potential impact of the interceptor base will examine air quality, air space, biological, cultural, geology and soils, hazardous materials and hazardous waste management, health and safety, land use, noise, socioeconomics, transportation, utilities, water quality, wetlands, visual, aesthetic, environmental justice and subsistence issues. Written comments regarding the scope of the study may be e-mailed to MDA.CIS.EIS@BV.COM or by fax to 913-458-1091 or by mail to: Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp., Attn: MDACIS EIS, 6601 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS 66211-1504. Fort Drum, about 86 miles north of Syracuse, has been considered a leading contender for the missile base because of its location and modern infrastructure. Fort Drum is already building a $25.9 million data center that could help track incoming missiles. It will be the only one on the East Coast. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Reps. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, and Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld, have expressed some support for the missile project in the past. Schumer has cautioned that he would support the East Coast base only if military experts determine it is necessary and cost-effective.
To the Editor: Kudos to Syracuse Common Council for banning smoking in parks and downtown public areas. The general feeling about being outside is to get fresh air. When smokers decide to light up, someone besides themselves has to sadly deal with their secondhand smoke and stench. But diehard, infringing on my rights smokers believe -- if you don't like it leave. For too many years nonsmokers had to deal with the unfortunate normality of smoking. Now it is normal and more importantly healthier to not smoke or breathe in someone else's smoke. For Councilor-at-Large Helen Hudson, I do hope she decides to stop smoking. It is hard to imagine she has not tried and does not want to stop smoking. There are plenty of outlets to help (New York State Quitline.) It will be so nice to take my granddaughters to parks and to downtown and not subject them to secondhand smoke. Hopefully, the Onondaga County Legislature will have the courage to ban smoking in parks and beaches countywide.
Once upon a time, there was a faraway island; because it was very cold and had many glaciers, we’ll call it Iceland. The citizens of Iceland—because accuracy is very important, especially in fairy tales, let’s say there were approximately 318, 452 of them as of January of 2011—lived long, productive lives. Many of them fished for a living, and all enjoyed their little island’s geothermal power and uncanny talent for producing clever and artistic pop acts like Björk and Sigur Rós. It was a happy place, until some evil financial wizards cast their spell. Neo Liberalus Economicus! they chanted, and suddenly Iceland’s banks were privatized, offering lenient conditions to foreign investors and attracting some serious capital. It seemed like the best of times on the icy little island: Construction boomed, the standard of living shot up, the future looked bright. But with foreign investment came foreign debt, and when the entire world experienced a financial meltdown—for reasons understood only by Odin and Asgard’s finest monetary minds—Iceland found itself hurting more than most. In 2007, for example, its national debt equaled 43 percent of its GDP; by 2009, that number shot up to 104 percent, while the banks’ debt equaled nine times the GDP and the currency, the kronor, lost something like 50 percent of its value. Panicky, the island’s prime minister rushed to resolve the crisis, but he met with an imperial international community that sought to assume control of the debt and ensure that Iceland paid back all its foreign investors. This made the people of Iceland mad. They took to the streets. They brought down the government. But the new government wasn’t much better: It negotiated a massive settlement, which, as Deena Stryker put it in the Daily Kos, “required each Icelandic citizen to pay 100 Euros a month (or about $130) for fifteen years, at 5.5 percent interest, to pay off a debt incurred by private parties vis a vis other private parties. It was the straw that broke the reindeer’s back.” The international community threatened severe sanctions, but the brave people of Iceland stood firm. Last year, they rejected the repayment of the debt. Also—and this part should really read like a fairy tale to us Americans—they began vigorous criminal investigations of those whose greed and carelessness led to such a colossal collapse. They also realized that the constitution they had, a little-changed version of the Danish Constitution (Denmark was Iceland’s sovereign until 1918), made the nation too dependent on foreign financial bodies and decided to rewrite it. To that end, 25 qualified citizens were appointed to oversee the proceedings. A Facebook page was set up, and Icelanders were invited to contribute their suggestions to what would become the nation’s new foundational document. As Anna Andersen of The Reykjavik Grapevine, a prominent English-language magazine in Iceland, pointed out, this process was far from an Internet-enhanced version of ancient Athens, but it gave Icelanders a greater and giddier sense of participatory democracy than anything their peers in the West are likely to have ever felt. This new constitution has yet to be approved. Contrary to some enthusiastic voices on the left who were quick to classify Iceland’s unusual response as a fairytale, the reality is far grayer and grimmer, as realities usually are. And while the exact scope of Iceland’s economic recovery, still very much a work in progress, remains to be seen, the island’s people have given the rest of us who rail against incompetent governments and wail under the burden of mounting debt an invaluable lesson: If you want to know what a responsible and engaged citizenry can do when financial trickery robs them of their future, just look at Iceland. Although few of them are likely to cite Moses as inspiration, Iceland’s quiet, civil revolutionaries are operating very much in his spirit. In this week’s parasha, Moses introduces some of the philosophical principles of what would become the Israelites’ legal system. “You shall set up judges and law enforcement officials for yourself in all your cities that the Lord, your God, is giving you, for your tribes,” he commands, “and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show favoritism, and you shall not take a bribe, for bribery blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts just words.” And then, the famous words: “Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may live and possess the land the Lord, your God, is giving you.” To modern ears, Moses’ exhortations may sound quaint. But they’re radical: Whereas law was previously authored by the king and subject to his whim, it was now emanating from God himself, which meant that the nation entire was bound by it, all equal, none more mighty than the other. It also meant that justice ceased to be a relative concept and became an absolute—an offense against the laws isn’t just a misdemeanor but a sin. Finally, it erected a class of judges, ordinary men and women who would wisely and impartially address the nation’s quarrels. It doesn’t take much of an imagination to see how close Iceland is coming these days to the Mosaic ideal. Icelanders elected judges from among the people to rewrite a constitution according to mutual agreement, and they rejected the usurious demands of the International Monetary Fund and other global bodies on a principle not economic but moral: More privatization, more power to the wealthy, more blind faith that only big business has the power to generate revenue is not only factually wrong but just plain evil. Writing in the New York Times this week, Cornel West, lamenting the Disneyfication of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, sounded a similar note. He didn’t mention Iceland by name but argued that King would have endorsed a Reykjavikian revolution, “a revolution in our priorities, a re-evaluation of our values, a reinvigoration of our public life and a fundamental transformation of our way of thinking and living that promotes a transfer of power from oligarchs and plutocrats to everyday people and ordinary citizens.” Amen to that. To paraphrase another big believer in fairytales come true, if we will it, it is no dream.
Journalism or Opportunism: Did NBC Step In it Again? How do you feel about these images? Much as they may resist it now, many journalists felt an awful sense of completion when these photos came across the transom. Before NBC News dug them out of the lump of madness mass killer Cho Seung-Hui express mailed to them, police and press had a tough time piecing together the story of a quiet loner who suddenly decided to kill as many of his schoolmates as he could in the most brutal mass shooting in recent history. In the videos he recorded, some of which NBC played Wednesday evening and Thursday, viewers saw the barely-coherent ramblings of a man who had objectified al the frustrations of his life into a single, nameless group -- classic signs of severely disordered personality, according to the many experts interviewed in segments Thursday. Still, many in the public objected to giving the killer the widespread publicity he clearly intended with the mailing -- sent just before Cho committed the bulk of the killings Monday. Two families of victims canceled interviews with NBC News Thursday morning, and the network spent all day explaining its dissemination of the images, via anchor speeches on the Today show, NBC Nightly News and MSNBC. By midday, NBC News had issued this statement: "Upon receiving the materials from Cho Seung-Hui, NBC News took careful consideration in determining how the information should be distributed. We did not rush the material onto air, but instead consulted with local authorities, who have since publicly acknowledged our appropriate handling of the matter. Beginning this morning, we have limited our usage of the video across NBC News, including MSNBC, to no more than 10 percent of our airtime. Our Standards and Policies chief reviewed all material before it was released. One of our most experienced correspondents, Pete Williams handled the reporting. We believe it provides some answers to the critical question, "why did this man carry out these awful murders?" The decision to run this video was reached by virtually every news organization in the world, as evidenced by coverage on television, on websites and in newspapers. We have covered this story – and our unique role in it – with extreme sensitivity, underscored by our devoted efforts to remember and honor the victims and heroes of this tragic incident. We are committed to nothing less." But evil network TV outlets and newspapers weren't the only one who used the Cho photo. His arms were open wide on the home page of the Huffington Post Thursday morning, gats in hand like some odd mix of SWAT dude and cowboy. Still, by Thursday's end, every TV outlet had done a story on the question of whether the video should have been used and most promised to limit or eliminate its use from their airwaves -- even Entertainment Tonight claimed to be taking the high road by not showing clips from Cho's "multimedia manifesto." It was a tough buffeting for NBC News, which had already spent a week in the media wringer over the Don Imus scandal. Experts at the Poynter Institute debate the choice here. Personally, I think NBC News screwed up by placing its logo so prominently on the images it released. Though it is standard practice to make sure every usage of the photo reminds people where it came from, in this case, it made viewers think NBC News was trying to profit from a killer's awful media strategy. So what do you think? Did NBC go too far? Or was this journalism we all needed to see? Alec Baldwin Loses it On His 11-year-old Daughter How do you get back at a blowhard movie star dad who curses you out on a voice mail message? If you're 11-year-old Ireland Baldwin, you leak your dad's abusive voice mail to TMZ.com, and watch as a Golden Globe-nominated actor is revealed as the kind of guy who will call his pre-teen daughter a "thoughtless pig." Listen to the 30 Rock star's tirade here, if you can stand it. Considering that a judge has scheduled a hearing on Baldwin's visitation rights, I'm betting somebody has some anger management classes in his future. UPDATE: Baldwin offers his side, if you can call it that, in a posting on his Web site here. He's also drowing in guestbook comments from folks who are not so forgiving. Daily Show Uses Kid Gloves on Steve Stanton When I heard everybody's favorite news satire was coming here to send up the Largo city manager who wanted a sex change, I feared the worst. Turns out, the only people who needed to fear were the knuckleheads who wanted him fired. Check out the show's piece, titled "Suddenly Susan," here or in embedded video (story doesn't actually start until about a minute into the playback):
In 2013, Tate Britain unveiled a chronological rehang of its displays from the sixteenth century to the present, entitled BP Walk Through British Art. Explore the displays as Tate curators take you through the rooms decade by decade. Please note, the artworks in these videos might not currently be on display TateShots: Meet 500 Years of British Art Curator Chris Stephens introduces the displays The idea of the chronological circuit is very simple. It presents the history of British art in the order it was made to dispense with traditional art historical constructs. Meet 500 Years of British Art – Room: 1540–1650 Curator Tim Batchelor explores British art from 1540–1650, the earliest artworks from Tate's collection This early period of British art focuses on portraiture, the family dynasty and status Meet 500 Years of British Art – Room: 1650–1730 Curator Tim Batchelor explores British Art from 1650–1730, including the first female professional painter, Mary Beale This period was one of dramatic change. Of the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the plague, fire, the glorious revolution, and the creation of the United Kingdom in 1707. Meet 500 years of British Art – Room: 1730–1765 Curator Tim Batchelor explores British Art from 1730–1765 including an iconic self-portait by Hogarth This is a period when Britain is really emerging as a world power on the world stage. Growing economically, politically…and culturally. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1760–1780 Curator Greg Sullivan explores British Art from 1760–1780, a period dominated by the work of Sir Joshua Reynolds It’s a small room but it’s of vital significance to the history of British art. This is because 1768 was the foundation of the Royal Academy Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1780–1810 Curator Greg Sullivan explores British art during the war period of 1780–1810 The time of 1780–1810 war-like period in British History is reflected in the artworks in the room. On the one hand, there was the expansion of territory on the Indian sub-continent, and then there was twenty years of war with France. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1810–1840 Curator Greg Sullivan explores British art from 1810–1840, a room which sees the emergence of sculpture I suppose when we think of that period in the late nineteenth century we tend to think of British landscape painting but it is also a period of great neo-classical works and this is well represented in the room by the sculpture. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1840–1890 Curator Alison Smith explores British art from 1840–1890, a room which captures the feel of the 'Great Exhibition' of the Victorian gallery A number of artists work in the mid-nineteenth century wanted to use their artworks to address topical social and political issues. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1890–1910 Curator Carol Jacobi explores British art from 1890–1910, particularly focusing on sculpture This was a period that continued the exploration of realism of the nineteenth century and also the literary and mythical themes of the nineteenth century, but adapted to the twentieth century anxieties and aspirations. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1910–1914 What comes across from all of these great works is a great sense of energy, of artistic change and of dynamism, as Britain becomes modernised and the centre of an empire. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1914 & 1915 Chris Stephens explores British art from 1914 and 1915, a room which strongly reflects the impact of the First World War By 1915 Epstein was so disillusioned by the war that he couldn’t bare the sight of this image of mechanicalised destruction that he took this large figure down, cut it in half making it a much more ambiguous image with the helmeted machine-like head and yet within the torso a small embryo, an image of hopeful renewal in the future. Chris Stephens about Sir Jacob Epstein’s Torso in Metal from ‘The Rock Drill’ 1913–14 Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1930 Chris Stephens explores British art and the rising styles of sculptors from 1930 I find this room very moving because whether abstract or realist, it is full of works made out of the belief of arts ability to change the world. But of course the 1930s ends with the beginning of World War Two – the unleashing of the horrors of that conflict and the Holocaust fundamentally undermined that optimistic belief in the power of culture. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1940 Chris Stephens explores British art from 1940, a period dominated by World War Two and the Holocaust You see art made during the war, scenes of devastation and of mutilation…we see images of pessimism, optimism, horrific scenes and utopian idealism, all different responses to the same horrific historic situation. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1950 The modern was a highly contested area, these were the years when people were emerging from the shadows of the Second World War and still struggling to find an appropriate artistic language for the time. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1960 This room brings together artists of three different generations with quite different agendas making different forms of art and yet the room is full of unexpected relationships, echoes and conversations going on between the works. It is one of the great strengths of showing art simply by the period in which it was made. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1970 &1980 Helen Little explores British art from 1970 and 1980, a time of political commentary and satire In many ways art from this period defies categorisation and we see a new generation of artists continuously renegotiating the art object Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: 1990 Helen Little explores British art from 1990, a time which is most associated with the Young British Artists (YBAs) In this time London emerged as a multicultural city and it was very much heredited as a new centre for contemporary art. Meet 500 years of British Art – Room: 2000 Helen Little explores British art from 2000, a room which shows the latest additions to Tate's collection Our ambition for this room is that it will change much more regularly than pervious rooms so we can continually change and adapt to the scope of contemporary art. Meet 500 years of British Art - Room: Henry Moore In the post-war period, the family became a very powerful metaphor for the new society which was being established. Henry Moore very much became the artist of post-war Britain that was being established with the welfare state, the national heath service and the family was continuously used as an image of a communitarian society. Meet 500 years of British Art – Room: J.M.W. Turner David Brown explores the work of J.M.W. Turner, one of the most important artists from Tate's collection Sometimes the stories in Turner’s pictures are quite hard to find because the main interest for him was the background, the subject, the landscape and architecture. Meet 500 years of British Art – Room: William Blake Blake is not a very easy artist to interpret. His work deals with strange, personal and often very archaic themes. What I hope is that the Blake room will help reinsert Blake’s role not only in the history of poetry, or the imagination, or Britain’s cultural life, but also as a visual artist. Meet 500 years of British Art - Director's Highlights: Penelope Curtis Tate Director Penelope Curtis selects some highlights from Tate Britain's displays and considers how new visual dialogues have been created through juxtapositions of art work The rehang of the collection is more introductory, more open and takes you at the very beginning of the collection right through to the very end…we have used chronology very simply so you see how things happen at the same time and often quite different things happen at the same time.
\|Title:\|\|Setting the Compression Dictionary and Other 'zlib' Updates\| \|Version:\|\|$Revision: 1.7 $\| \|Author:\|\|Donal K. Fellows <dkf at users dot sf dot net>\| \|Created:\|\|Friday, 30 March 2012\| Sometimes it is necessary to set the compression dictionary so that a sequence of bytes may be compressed more efficiently (and decompressed as well). This TIP exposes that functionality. It also reduces the number of inconsistencies in the zlib command. The SPDY protocol extensions to HTTP require the seeding of the zlib compression dictionary (which greatly improves the performance of compression on small amounts of data, such as HTTP headers). In order to allow a pure Tcl implementation of the SPDY protocol, it is therefore necessary to provide a mechanism whereby the compression dictionary (a byte-array, normally up to 262 bytes long according to the zlib documentation). There is to be no mechanism for retrieving the compression dictionary generated by the compression engine; there is no API for doing that. A side issue discovered during working on this TIP was that there was considerable variation in what could be achieved by various parts of the API. In partcular, it was identified that the API was inconsistent, providing access to some features in "simplified" parts of the API that could not be controlled from the "advanced" parts (e.g., there was no way to set the GZIP header descriptor with zlib stream gzip). The zlib push command will gain two extra options, -dictionary and -limit: This option will provide a compression dictionary to be used (bytes is a byte-array used to initialize the compression engine) which will be supplied to the zlib compression engine at the correct moment during compression or provided on request of the compression engine on decompression. The bytes argument must be non-empty if given (we will not enforce a limit on the length of the dictionary, but using an excessively long one may cause the zlib engine to issue errors). This will be illegal to use with gzip and gunzip streams, and its use with raw (deflate) streams will be not recommended due to the difficulty of detecting whether a compression dictionary was applied; the zlib-format header adds very little overhead. This value can also be set with chan configure, though doing so after data has started to be pushed through the compression engine (except if an error requesting a compression dictionary was received) is not recommended. This option (valid on the three decompressing transforms only, and where size must be a positive integer of no more than 0x10000) allows for control over the size of chunks read from the underlying channel for feeding into the decompression engine. Its default is 1, which makes for the correct behavior under the widest range of conditions, but at a significant cost in terms of computational complexity: when the underlying data source is known to never block for long and to have complete data, a larger value can be used which will greatly improve performance. This value can be set at runtime using chan configure. The zlib stream command will also gain some complexity. In particular, the compress, decompress, deflate and inflate subcommands will gain the ability to take an extra -dictionary bytes pair of options (same interpretation as above), as will the add and put subcommands of the stream instance command. In addition (as a correction to the functionality originally proposed in TIP #234) the zlib stream gzip subcommand will also gain the ability to take: (where dict is a Tcl dictionary such as is passed to the -header option to zlib gzip and not a compression dictionary), and the stream instance subcommand will gain a header subcommand to retrieve the gzip header (it will be an error to use it on a stream not produced by zlib stream gunzip). In order to facilitate the above change, the compression level used in that case will be altered to be specified via an option: At the C level, one additional function will be provided: void Tcl_ZlibStreamSetCompressionDictionary(Tcl_ZlibStream zshandle, Tcl_Obj compressionDictionaryObj) This sets the compression dictionary for a particular stream to the given (byte-array) Tcl_Obj, which will be duplicated. It is the caller's responsibility to dispose of the object passed in if they allocated it; they may do so immediately after calling this function. This document has been placed in the public domain. [Index] [History] [HTML Format] [Source Format] [LaTeX Format] [Text Format] [XML Format] [roff Format (experimental)] [RTF Format (experimental)]TIP AutoGenerator - written by Donal K. Fellows

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