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Securing Forests, Securing rights: Report of the International Workshop on Deforestation and the Rights of Forest Peoples
The global forest crisis is worsening and infringements of the rights of indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities are rising, according to a detailed assessment of nine country cases. Climate change mitigation and conservation policies must place community land rights and human rights centre-stage if they are to achieve the goal of sustainably reducing deforestation says the report.
Revealing the Hidden: Indigenous Perspectives on Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon
The report, Revealing the Hidden: Indigenous perspectives on deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon was compiled by Peru’s national indigenous peoples’ organisation (AIDESEP) and international human rights organisation, Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) and is based on the analysis and perspectives of Peru’s indigenous leaders and organisations whose lives, lands and livelihoods are threatened by deforestation on a daily basis.
Haciendo visible lo invisible: perspectivas indígenas sobre la deforestación en la Amazonía Peruana
El informe, Haciendo visible lo invisible: perspectivas indígenas sobre la deforestación en la Amazonía Peruana fue recopilado por la organización nacional de pueblos indígenas de Perú, AIDESEP, y una organización internacional de derechos humanos, el Forest Peoples Programme (FPP). Los resultados se basan en el análisis de las organizaciones y líderes indígenas del Perú, para quienes las vidas, tierras y medios de vida de sus pueblos se encuentran amenazados diariamente por la deforestación.
Deforestation Drivers and Human Rights in Malaysia
Deforestation and forest degradation in Malaysia is a complex phenomenon with varying causes. So far, however, the focus has been largely on direct causes like industrial logging, large-scale commercial oil palm plantations and agribusiness, road construction and large dams. Far less attention has been paid to the indirect or underlying causes and agents, inter-linking and working to enrich the very few while creating hardships for many people as a result of degraded or diminished resources.
Assault on the Commons: Deforestation and the Denial of Rights in Indonesia
Indonesia is losing its forests faster than ever. Government efforts to halt the hand out of industrial permits for logging and plantations are failing. Despite its promises to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, the country is experiencing a run-away process of forest clearance for oil palm estates and pulpwood plantations. |
Name: Schizooura (split tail).
Phonetic: Ske-soo-u-rah.
Named By: Shuang Zhou, Zhong-He Zhou and Jingmai K. O’Connor - 2012.
Classification: Chordata, Aves, Euornithes.
Species: S. lii (type).
Diet: Uncertain.
Size: Unavailable.
Known locations: China, Liaoning province - Jiufotang Formation.
Time period: Aptian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Almost complete individual preserved flat on a slab, with feather impressions around the bones.
The Schizooura holotype came from Jiufotang Formation of China, which is one of the fossil bearing Rock Formations that the more famous Confuciusornis came from. Schizooura had an unusual arrangement of tail feathers that gave the appearance of being split in two, hence the establishment of the genus name Schizooura which translates roughly into English as ‘split tail’. This tail arrangement was probably not evolved for fine flight control but rather to attract members of the opposite sex as well as inter species recognition from other similar early Cretaceous birds, such as the aforementioned Confuciusornis.
Further reading
- A new basal beaked ornithurine bird from the Lower Cretaceous of Western Liaoning, China". Vertebrata PalAsiatica 50 (1): 9–24. - Shuang Zhou, Zhong-He Zhou and Jingmai K. O’Connor - 2012.
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February 12th to March 3rd, 1900
Field-Marshal Lord Roberts—the British Napoleon— in response to an interrogatory telegram from General Buller, inquiring whether his lordship thought that the chance of relieving Ladysmith at the cost of from two to three thousand men was worth such a risk, replied—
"Ladysmith must be relieved even at the loss you expect. I should certainly persevere, and my hope is that the enemy will be so severely punished as to enable you to withdraw White's garrison without great difficulty. Let troops know that in their hands is the honour of the Empire, and that of their success I have no possible doubt."
Accordingly, a fresh plan was rapidly prepared for a fourth and supreme effort to relieve Ladysmith. It was now well-known to what a dire condition the beleaguered garrison was reduced, and that famine and disease, besides the acts of war, were rapidly decimating their numbers in their heroic struggle to uphold the honour of the flag.
Before proceeding to chronicle these operations, a brief reference to other relevant matters of minor import will be made. The following extract is culled from a lecture given by Captain Scott at Hong Kong in June, 1900:—
" While the main army was operating in the Spion Kop direction, General Barton was active at Chieveley, and wanted a 4'7 on a railway truck to shell a new position occupied by the Boers.
" There was no time to make a new mounting, so we put one of the platform mountings, similar to those sent to Ladysmith on a low truck, secured it down with chains, and cut off the ends of the transverse baulks so as to allow it to pass through the tunnels.
" Owing to the amount of energy absorbed by the hydraulic cylinders and the general elasticity of the mounting, very little recoil was transmitted to the truck, and consequently the gun could be fired at right angles to the direction of the railway line.
" As General Barton wished to have the alternative of using this gun off the truck if required, a little extra stability had to be given to compensate for the amount we had cut off the cross beams.
" This was done by supplying a movable beam which could be bolted on when the mounting was in situ. This was found a great advantage, as the platforms could then be sent intact by train instead of in pieces, as was the case with those that went to Ladysmith.
"Three more guns on this description of mounting were made and operated against the Boers at the final attack on Pieters Hill.
" In this final attack, General Buller wanted still heavier ordnance, and wired to me, asking if I could possibly send him a 6-inch gun. The telegram arrived on a Wednesday, and the General expressed a wish to have it, if possible, by the following Monday, so there was not much time. A gun was taken out of the Terrible, and a design of a mounting prepared, the governing features of which were utility and a desire to comply with the General's wishes as regards time. It was finished on Sunday morning, and sent to the front. Some said that it was clumsy, others that it would fall to pieces the first round. It did not fall in pieces, but put upwards of 500 lyddite and common shell into the enemy's position, a fact which must have led them to regard it in more serious light than the view taken of it by a certain Member of Parliament, who referred to it as ' only picturesque.' A Boer prisoner, with whom I conversed, told me that they disliked this gun very much. The mounting was so very simple that I need not describe it.
" After the occupation of Ladysmith, General Buller, anticipating going north over the Biggarsberg, asked if I could, now that there was more time, supply a lighter and more mobile mounting for the 4'7-inch gun; there was of course no difficulty in doing this. The heavy ship carriage was removed, and steel used instead of wood; a single wheel was placed in the rear between the trails to facilitate transport. When the extreme elevation of 37 degrees was required, the rear wheel could be unshipped.
" When firing with the wheel shipped, a locking arrangement was provided for keeping it in a fore and aft line. It was very mobile and I believe answered well. Four of them were made and turned over to the Royal Artillery.
" No limbers were provided for any of these guns. The 6-inch and 4'7-inch were travelled by a team of oxen, their ammunition coming along behind in an ordinary Cape waggon. The 12-pounders for a short travel were secured to the tail of the waggon which carried their ammunition: for a long travel the gun was lifted out of its trunnions and put on to its waggon with the ammunition, the whole not being an excessive weight for a team of oxen."
Lieutenant Drummond, Midshipman Skinner, Petty Officers Connor, Carey, Allen (captain of gun), 50 seamen and stokers, arrived from the Terrible with the 6-inch gun, which was placed on Gun Hill.
On February 12th, Lieutenant Dooner, Midshipman Kirby, Petty Officers Neil, Sparks, Bicker, another 50 seamen and stokers, left the Terrible with two field guns, and proceeded to Zululand. They travelled by the coast railway to the terminus, then crossed the mouth of the Tugela near by, and marched to Eshowe, 28 miles distant, there joining the composite force protecting the province from Boer incursions.
" Although about one half of the complement of the Terrible was now at the front or landed in connection with the war, the ship was not by any means depleted of a sea-going crew. The supernumeraries brought out from England for ships in China, and 100 other men, who had formed part of a large draft sent out to reinforce the Cape Squadron, had together temporarily replaced those on active service. New guns from England had also been shipped, so that, except for a brief period, the ship still remained efficient as a first-class cruiser."
To resume the fighting narrative, the plan ordained—a wide turning movement—may be briefly explained thus:— Seize Hussar Hill, from whence expand eastwards, and take possession of the Cingolo (the Boer extreme left) and Monte Christo Hills. Success here would then render Green Hill and Hlangwani Hill, each in turn, untenable, or of easy capture. Upon the last-named position being occupied with our guns, the Fort Wylie group of kopjes, which were found impervious to attack on December 15th, would have to be resigned. Thereupon the enemy must retire to the northern kopjes which culminate at Pieters Hill, where a successful coup de main would break the strong barrier that encompassed Ladysmith.
The approximate strength of the force employed was 27,000 men and 80 guns.
Coincidently with the commencement of these operations, Lord Roberts began his memorable sweep through the Republics. Up to this time no important military movement had transpired on the Cape Colony side. Lord Methuen still faced Cronje's army at Magersfontein. Gatacre was also confronting the Boers occupying the Stormberg district, and keeping factious colonials in subjection. General French was just starting on his historic cavalry dash to Kimberley, which town was relieved by him on February 15th.
On February 12th a successful reconnaissance to Hussar Hill took place, and the next day general orders for an advance were issued.
Early on the 14th Hussar Hill was seized by Dundonald ; Barton's Brigade, Ogilvy's Battery, and one field battery, quickly followed and secured the position. Later, General Warren, with the brigades of Wynne and Talbot-Coke, and divisional artillery, also occupied this slight eminence. General Lyttleton, with Hildyard's and Norcott's brigades, and artillery, occupied the thickly-wooded eastern slopes of Hussar Hill. The heavy guns on Gun Hill covered these movements, only a skirmishing resistance being offered to the respective operations. Hart's Irish Brigade remained at Gun Hill camp to guard the left flank. The Springfield observation force was there still.
The 15th and 16th were two excessively hot days, preventing any infantry operations being attempted. A series of artillery duels were waged ; Hussar Hill, devoid of natural cover, being subjected to a fairly accurate shell fire. Ogilvy's guns were protected with an earth-bag redoubt, that unquestionably saved them serious losses, for numerous shells burst within a few feet short of and over their position, some even lacerating the earth-bags.
Evidently divining General Buller's intentions, the Boers had greatly prolonged their eastern defences, having guns placed in difficult locations as far as Cingolo Neck. On the 17th, the whole artillery opened up a vigorous bombardment on the Boer positions to mask Lyttleton's flanking march towards Cingolo. The enemy briskly replied, Hussar Hill again becoming a target for their well-directed shell fire. One shrapnel shell alone caused the loss of an entire gun's crew at one of the unprotected 5-inch guns near by, grimly demonstrating that to take sensible cover from the dominating fire of invisible guns is not a derogatory method of saving men and matiriel from superfluous exposure to damage.
While Lyttleton's two brigades and Dundonald's mounted corps pushed through the difficult scrub-covered country eastward, another brigade and two field batteries advanced to threaten Green Hill. Before noon the flashing heliograph from the southern summit of Cingolo signified its successful occupation. The surprised enemy's brief resistance had been quickly overcome, and the enveloping movement thus auspiciously commenced. By nightfall the whole elongated hill was in British possession. The Boers, thrust off Cingolo, were seemingly dismayed at the changed tactics—from frontal to flanking attacks—and prepared a stubborn opposition for the morrow.
Artillery fire and dawn—synonymous indications that another day had commenced—brought both sides into activity. The enemy directed a heavy but ineffectual shelling at Hildyard's Brigade on Cingolo, which force was cautiously advancing towards the neck—a sharp, craggy dip connecting the hill with Monte Christo. Norcott's Brigade, and Dundonald's force, protected Hildyard's western and eastern flanks respectively, marching on either side of the hill correlatively with the brigade's movements on the top. Meanwhile, Barton's Brigade faced Green Hill to await the psychological moment at which to effect its capture.
One hostile gun, situated near Bloys' Farm, which was too accurately active, required silencing. The 6-inch on Gun Hill opened fire in that direction at 16,500 yards range. The proverbial three rounds silenced the gun, for it never fired from that locality again. Later, a few 100-pound lyddite shells, sent over Hlangwani in response to a signal, dispersed some bodies of active Boers. The general signalled an appreciative message, even though they were each lucky shots ; for in this instance, though the direction was accurately given, the objects were invisible, and the range guessed at.
Throughout the day the heavy guns harassed the enemy, compelling them frequently to shift their gun positions, besides rendering the passage of reinforcements to their left defences a difficult matter. Together with the field batteries, Ogilvy's guns were busily covering the Monte Christo attack, which by noon had developed into a successful assault, the crest having been brilliantly captured from a determined enemy. Now seriously threatened by Dundonald on their eastern flank, persistently shelled from the western side, and faced by a victorious brigade, the Boers very sensibly evacuated the whole Monte Christo position. Norcott's Brigade now advanced along the western spurs of the ridge to outflank and enfilade the other left defences, while Barton led his brigade direct upon Green Hill, which strongly intrenched position was carried with little loss by 4 p.m., the enemy retreating incontinently towards Hlangwani and the river, leaving camps and considerable stores intact behind them. Our day's losses, nearly 180, were insignificant in comparison to the great strategical advantages won—Cingolo, Monte Christo, and Green Hill, each in turn, having fallen into the enveloping net. General Buller stated (Despatches, March 14th, 1900)—
" Through this attack, which was made in echelon from the right, the naval guns, under Captain Jones, R.N., and royal artillery, under Colonel Parsons, R.A., rendered the greatest possible service, shelling the successive positions till the infantry closed on them."
The naval guns here referred to were those of Ogilvy's Battery.
That night Lieutenant Ogilvy with two guns, accompanied by a strong military escort, marched to Monte Christo, arriving there next morning at five o'clock. Assisted by the Devons, the guns were hauled to the summit, from whence a panoramic view of Ladysmith and the environing Boer laagers was visible some ten or twelve miles away. From this lofty concealment, three Boer 45-pounders were discerned about 5000 yards distant across the river, then actively shelling the British positions. A few common shell found the exact range, whereupon a rapid shrapnel fire was poured into the disconcerted enemy, compelling them to abandon their guns and seek shelter. During a storm which then unfortunately broke over the district, obscuring the range, the Boer guns were withdrawn to safety.
Early on the 19th, the 4'7 guns also proceeded eastward ; some ten miles of the very worst country yet seen were traversed, and ten hours of broiling heat endured, before the guns reached their destination. Almost every form of natural obstacle was encountered nearly the whole journey beyond Hussar Hill. Enormous boulders were bounced over, trees were truncated by the sheer impetus of the guns, tough undergrowth was crushed through, and dongas were crossed with a " down and upward " rush. No recognized track existed, so a bee-line course was set for Cingolo Neck. When about two-thirds of the distance had been completed, the exhausted oxen teams refused to proceed further, and had to be out-spanned. They had struck for water and rest; the latter was given them, but drink was unobtainable. A serious dilemma was thus created, for without help of some sort, the guns could only be moved singly and slowly; the withdrawal of the naval volunteers at Gun Hill to man some platform-mounted 4'7's, had also reduced the guns' crews by 25 men each gun—exactly half of their former manual strength subtracted. Men and drag-ropes! Yes—that was the only solution. Accordingly, 100 men were courteously lent from the nearest battalion, and with their needful assistance the guns were hauled away and got into action beneath Ogilvy's gun position. The troops always cheerfully and readily responded to such requisitions for help, whenever manual haulage for the guns became necessary. This same journey, rough enough by daylight, was the route taken by Ogilvy's guns the previous night. The 4'7's being exposed to shell fire from unseen guns across the river, and observation much interfered with, they were again moved after dusk, and ensconced in a better position before dawn.
The key of the Colenso position, Hlangwani Hill, was occupied on the 20th by Barton's Brigade, with guns, the enemy having been compelled to abandon it the previous evening. Hart's Brigade marched into Colenso from Chieveley, and some of Thorneycroft's Colonials swam the river to reconnoitre the Fort Wylie kopjes beyond, which were found weakly held by riflemen. The whole southern side of the Tugela River was again British. The vital point now to be considered was where the army should cross over and deliver the coup de grace. Ladysmith's fate hung upon that momentous decision of strategy.
Skirmishing and desultory artillery contests is a fair summary of this day's fighting. One incident, however, is worth relating of how Petty Officer Ward, when firing at a located pom-pom, inadvertently aimed to the left of his object. His shot, instead of being wasted, luckily burst inside a donga in which a numerous body of the enemy was concealed, who, evidently thinking they were discovered, suddenly emerged therefrom and galloped wildly away. Both 12-pounders (Monte Christo guns) then went for this fresh target with shrapnel, and possibly made several hits.
Intelligence was received next morning, the 21st, that the Boers were retreating north ; which news to some extent was true. It afterwards transpired that a few Free States Commandoes were leaving to protect their country against Lord Roberts's invasion, also that the Boers were wisely removing their heaviest guns and superfluous baggage to a region of safety. That further fighting—if any—would partake of a rearguard action was the logical inference deduced from the report. Consequently the flanking movement was arrested, and a pontoon, nearly 100 yards long, was thrown across the river at Colenso, at a point a mile north of Fort Wylie, which offered many conveniences for crossing. Although this altered strategy eventually proved a fatal decision, yet, with such tangible evidence that the enemy were already retiring, the plan appeared to offer the easiest and swiftest method of success.
The bulk of the army was now moved westward towards the river. Ogilvy's battery was reunited, and with the 5-inch guns and Mountain battery, was posted on Hlangwani to cover the crossing. After shelling the retiring Commandoes, the 4-7's vacated Monte Christo in the afternoon, and crossed over Hlangwani during the darkness, down to "A" pontoon, whither they had been preceded by the Tartar s guns.
By nightfall, the main Colenso positions had been wrested and secured by Talbot-Coke's and Wynne's Brigades. For the third time the Tugela had been crossed in force. But the occupation had been severely opposed, some 150 casualties having occurred, including General Wynne, the Lancashire's brigadier, who was wounded.
From early dawn next day, troops and guns continuously crossed the river, the enemy vigorously shelling the pontoon, its exposed approaches and exits, during their transit across, but doing comparatively little damage. The two 4'7's took up protected positions in close proximity to the pontoon, and with the Hlangwani guns, shelled Terrace Hill, principally, besides engaging any guns which could be located. The Tartar's guns crossed early, and were soon hotly engaged, Lieutenant James having his horse killed. The Boer generals had apparently grasped the new situation created by the reversal of our tactics, and probably realizing the enormous advantages their singular defence had given them over previous frontal attacks, were venturing upon a final effort to bar the British advance. They still had with them much artillery—at least three 40-pounders, a dozen 12- and 15-pounders, several guns of smaller calibre, besides many pom-poms and other automatic guns—which together commanded the whole arena into which the British had now descended.
By noon, the 22nd, five infantry brigades and several field batteries had crossed ; the general advance commencing soon afterwards. The Lancashire Brigade, now under their third brigadier, General Kitchener (a brother of Lord Kitchener), supported by Lyttleton's Division, advanced northwards, primarily to capture a prominent hill that commanded the whole valley between Onderbrook Spruit and the southern spurs of Terrace Hill. Progress was slow, the fighting for the interposed kopjes being severe, as they offered ample cover from which our field batteries could neither oust the enemy, nor suppress their fire. Occasionally artillery fire has been a peculiarly indeterminate factor; this was an instance of a searching shelling at a definite object proving quite innocuous when good results were confidently expected. However, the gallant Lancashire lads pressed onwards, alternating between successes and reverses, until finally, at dusk, they secured a strong footing on the coveted position, though they found its retention very difficult to sustain.
t When darkness enveloped the scene, the Boers made a vigorous counter attack. So close did they press the position, that bayonet charges were resorted to to relieve the pressure. Our casualties amounted to over 300, while the enemy also lost heavily. That night the Lancashires were relieved by Hildyard's Brigade, augmented by half of Barton's, who strengthened the improvised breastworks, to prepare for whatever danger might threaten with dawn's appearance.
" But, even then, the men had to lie crouched on the hillsides, sheltered by hastily piled stones, with an active keen-sighted enemy within 150 yards of one flank and 500 yards of the other. During the day the front line could scarcely move, for any one who exposed himself was shot. They were under constant fire, both rifle and artillery, both night and day, and they were three times heavily attacked; but for five days and nights they unflinchingly maintained this position. It was wonderful."
Thus General Buller describes their unenviable situation.
Early on the 23rd, the 4'7 guns, Melville's 12-pounder unit, and the 5-inch guns, crossed the pontoon, to occupy positions among the kopjes closely in rear of the field and howitzer batteries—then heavily engaged. Melville's guns were placed ,on a high kopje on the left of the 4'7's, the Tartar's guns being in action near by on the right. No sooner were the guns unavoidably disclosed to the enemy than they attracted a heavy shelling.
" During the whole day the enemy shelled very vigorously, and it is beyond my comprehension how so small an amount of damage was done, as they were shooting with great accuracy. A dozen shells, mostly 40-pounders, fell within a radius of 20 yards round the 4'7-inch guns, and a great many passed over, while others fell a very little short.
" I took the big glass up to the 12-pounders which were engaging on Grobler's side, to try to discover guns, and there I think it was even warmer, for we had a ' pom-pom' on us as well as two or three big guns. It was here that my coxswain, Thomas Tunbridge, who was sitting down on a stone, was struck by a shell, which tore away half his thigh. Fortunately the shell did not burst, as there was a little knot round the glass where an officer was pointing out the position of a gun to me. Only four men were wounded all day by shell, and one shot by a rifle bullet in the evening.
" So soon as it was dark the enemy began to snipe our hills pretty freely; in fact, about nine o'clock it amounted to a considerable fire. We got the men under cover, and no damage was done. The firing continued till daylight."
These few lines, culled from Captain Jones's despatch, most aptly describe the situation at the naval guns. Seamen Weippart and Helman, and two naval volunteers, were the other wounded referred to, but Tunbridge and Helman only were taken to the field hospital as serious cases; the other three continuing to perform their duty after being dressed. Besides our own men, one of the gun escort was killed and nine wounded during the time the guns were at this position.
Miraculous and hairbreadth escapes were of frequent occurrence, Midshipman Hutchinson, especially, receiving close attention from shells, for no less than three pitched and burst quite close to him, leaving him unscathed each time. Many times, too, the guns' crews were enveloped in debris when shells exploded on the ground in their front, but they were saved from severer losses by the earth-bag redoubts erected in front of the guns. Fire and dip, dip and fire, was often the method by which the guns were kept in action, directed by Commander Limpus, who sedulously searched for hostile guns, which, when found, were either driven away or silenced.
Shortly before noon, the Tartar's and Melville's guns were withdrawn, and sent forward to assist the attack planned against Terrace Hill, where the defence proper was first to be bored into. This desperately perilous attack was entrusted to the gallant Irish Brigade, which moved off soon after noon. During their extremely difficult advance, the field batteries searched the broken ground ahead, while all the heavy and naval guns bombarded the main objective—Terrace Hill. Concerning this sanguinary assault, General Buller's own version (Desp., March 14th, 1900) seems the most consistent narrative to offer the reader. He states—
" It had been my intention that this attack should be made by five battalions, but the advance up the railway was necessarily slow, and, in some places, the enemy brought a heavy fire upon it, both rifle and Maxim-Nordenfelt, causing many casualties and checking the advance considerably. It was getting late, and General Hart attacked the hill when two battalions only were up, thinking his supports would follow. For the reason I have mentioned, the supports arrived but slowly, and the attack was made by two battalions, supported by a half battalion only—the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Connaught Rangers, and half the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
" The attack was delivered with the utmost gallantry, but the men failed to reach the top of the hill. The regiments suffered severely, but their loss was not unproductive; their gallantry secured for us the lower sangars and a position at the foot of the hill, which ensured our ultimate success."
Two colonels, three majors, 28 other officers, and about 550 rank and file were Ireland's tribute this day to the flag— a tribute of blood which should ever haunt the consciences of those so-called representatives of the ancient Irish nation, who insensately cheered British reverses from their seats at Westminster. The ambulance corps collected as many wounded as the darkness permitted, but this humane work was abruptly stopped at daylight, as the Boers then renewed the battle, actually firing among the stretcher-bearers, which act, it is but fair to add, was the result of a misunderstanding. A large number were therefore reluctantly left on the hillside —indefinitely. During the night two fierce counter attacks were repulsed, the bayonet again proving its value at close quarters.
Yesterday's bloody encounter incontrovertibly indicated that no spirited rearguard action was being fought, but that the enemy were present in strong force, both in men and guns. Reinforcements from the Ladysmith investing force had undoubtedly replaced those Commandoes which had been observed trekking north. Thus, to pursue further with frontal tactics would obviously be to purchase success at a needlessly extravagant cost. The general, therefore, reverted to the original outflanking policy, and preparations for crossing the Tugela, further down stream, opposite the Boer left, were immediately commenced. Throughout the 24th a fierce artillery contest was waged, but no infantry movement took place for the reasons specified. The 4'7's received less attention than yesterday; but the howitzer battery in their front lost one killed, six wounded, and three horses incapacitated from one shell alone. Occasional attempts to dislodge Hart's troops were made, but the front was preserved intact. That evening certain troops and artillery commenced recross-ing the pontoon. The 4'7's were moved down to the river after dark, ready for crossing next morning, after which they were placed on Hlangwani Hill alongside Ogilvy's battery. The 12-pounder units of James and Melville had already proceeded to Monte Christo to strengthen the right flank. Wilde's unit was withdrawn from Frere to Gun Hill, relieving Burne, whose guns were now in Colenso attached to Talbot-Coke's Brigade. Every available man and gun was being requisitioned for the supreme effort now in preparation.
From dawn on the 25th until 8 p.m. a mutual cessation of hostilities was agreed upon to bury the dead and remove the wounded ; for since Hart's abortive assault against Terrace Hill—some 40 hours past—our wounded had lain out on its glacis between the contending forces. It had been impossible to succour them previously, for the enemy instantly fired at any one incautiously exposing himself to do so. Surgeon Macmillan proceeded there to assist the army staff. He afterwards related that within a certain area the ground was literally covered with dead, dying, and wounded intermingled together, their sufferings greatly intensified through the enforced neglect and the exposure to a torrid sun. A Boer commandant was present, who courteously afforded the ambulance staff every assistance by directing them to spots where wounded men had crawled to cover. Indicating Colonel Thackery of the Inniskillings, who, with his drawn sword firmly grasped in death, lay nearest the Boer trenches, he asked what his rank was, and to what regiment he belonged. On being informed, he uttered a sigh of compassionate admiration for the brave dead colonel. On the completion of the ambulance work, Surgeon Macmillan casually strolled towards the base of the hill, but was sharply recalled by the ommandant, who said, " Some of those slouch-hatted men sitting up there would have put a bullet through you if you had gone much further." Though extremely courteous himself, he evidently mistrusted his undisciplined subordinates. During this time the Boers were observed disposing of their own dead near their trenches, having also lost heavily from shell fire. The day itself was one to be remembered in connection with the relief operations.
As no proper armistice existed, but only a mutual truce respected on both sides while the victims of war were receiving a soldier's last honours, the Boers were busily engaged strengthening their defences, and the British likewise completing their dispositions of troops and guns, soon to furnish more work for the doctors and duty for the chaplains.
Telescopic observations testified that the retro-movements across the pontoon were causing much speculation among the enemy, who were intently viewing the proceedings, and indeed were also producing no little chagrin among our own forces, who understood not the why or wherefore, but regarded the proceedings as another portentous event. Where the positions were in sufficiently close proximity to admit of it, soldiers and burghers spent much of the day judiciously fraternizing. Truly such an episode provides a luminous illustration of how civilized troops can banish all animus when the din of battle is hushed—even temporarily. Pax in bello is indeed a truism.
The termination of the truce was abruptly signalized at 8 p.m. by a terrible fusillade of rifle and machine gun fire along the whole Boer front, which was promptly returned by our troops. For about fifteen minutes the valley presented a scene in striking contrast with the peaceful quietude of this Sunday. The enemy were apparently ascertaining by this stratagem in what manner the movements of the day had affected our dispositions. Evidently satisfying themselves our front lines were still strongly held, the firing as suddenly ceased and a tranquil night was enjoyed. Coincidently with this fitful resumption of hostilities, the bluejacket section of the balloonists, under a Royal Engineer officer, pillaged the Boer searchlight while the firing was at its highest. The " Aeronautical " party had rushed the apparatus and secured the principal fittings before the enemy discovered them. The nine men who performed this service belonged to the Forte.
On the 26th, spasmodic shelling and a venomous sniping rifle fire were indulged in by the enemy; Petty Officer Symons and a white driver of Ogilvy's battery receiving slight bullet wounds. The naval guns combined the double duty of replying to the Boer fire and that of range finding. Every hill, valley, located trench, and sangar, was named, and the range recorded in view of to-morrow's task. The Hlangwani position was an admirable observation station, and here General Buller established his headquarters for controlling the operations; the powerful naval glasses proving invaluable for observing both British and Boer movements. By nightfall all dispositions of troops and guns had been nearly completed.
" Two 4'7-inch guns with platform mountings came across from Chieveley. We mounted one on a hill to the right of Hlangwani, just finishing by 5 a.m. I left the other till night, not wishing to do it in daylight, as we were only 2300 yards from the enemy's highest position on the range. It was very heavy and tiresome work in the dark, and the glimmer of a lantern to the front always produced some sniping.
" On this, as on every other occasion, Baldwin, the senior Gunnery Instructor of H.M.S. Terrible, showed himself to be an invaluable man......
" During the night we mounted the other platform gun, finishing by 3 a.m.
" Sniping was worse than ever all night, when the Engineers rigged a sand bag defence for them. I remained with these two guns during the fighting on that great day, 27th, and not only saw every detail of the fight from relatively quite close to, but also the finest shooting from one of them that I have ever seen in my life.
Once mounted and at the ranges at which they were required to fire, the platform has a great advantage over the wheeled mounting.
" Having once got the range, of course you can put as many shots in as you like, and as quick as you like. A man from the Philomel, Patrick Casham, was the captain of the gun, and a born shot."
Thus Captain Jones refers to the two 4'7's manned by the Natal Naval Volunteers under Lieutenant Anderton, N.N.V., whose second officer, Lieutenant Chiazzari, was now commanding a party of bluejackets who were transporting troops and stores across the river near the destroyed railway bridges. Colenso was now the rail-head.
Tuesday, February 27th, 1900.—A decisive battle, which decided Ladysmith's fate, was fought and won to-day— MAJUBA DAY!
About 7 a.m., Barton's Brigade began crossing the new pontoon "B" bridge, and the artillery had commenced a searching cannonade, nearly 80 guns being employed, whose combined roar would have drowned a violent thunderstorm.
Kitchener's and Norcott's Brigades followed Barton's across, together comprising the attacking force, which, under General Warren, was detailed to assault those three formidable hills constituting the enemy's main defence. Pieters Hill (the Boer left) was Barton's objective. Next came the middle position, termed Railway Hill, which was assigned to Kitchener. Lastly, Terrace Hill, the strongest position, was the point where Norcott's Brigade, supported by Hart's valorous Irish, would eventually decide the momentous issue depending upon these respective assaults. These triple hills were partially connected with each other by intrenchments and stone sangers.
The British front was about five miles long. Talbot-Coke's Brigade, with artillery, secured the left flank near Fort Wylie. Hildyard's Brigade held the central low kopjes facing Grobelar, and Hart's Brigade still clung to the southern spurs of Terrace Hill. These three brigades were virtually commanded by General Lyttleton. The extreme right rested on Monte Christo, now held by the 12-pounder units of Melville and James and two mountain guns, while between them and Hlangwani crest were distributed Dundunnald's mounted force, and several field batteries.
Barton's Brigade, supported by the enfilading fire of the guns on Monte Christo, and the Hlangwani batteries which shelled in advance of them, successfully ascended the steep wooded slopes of Pieters Hill, though on gaining the crest they met with a severe rifle fire from both their flanks. But Pieters Hill—the key of the Boer positions—was won, and gallantly held throughout. By this time, about 2 p.m., Kitchener's Brigade deployed to the right along the railway, to assault Railway Hill, while Norcott also prolonged his force on Kitchener's left, preparatory to moving against Terrace Hill directly the Lancashires' success was assured. At this juncture, the whole artillery, being cognizant of all ranges, were vigorously bombarding the two hills, the trenches, and the sangars connecting them. From the Grobelar Range several Boer guns were retaliating, plying their shell dangerously among the brigades holding the central kopjes.
The 6-inch on Gun Hill did much to subdue their fire and clear the wooded slopes from snipers, but the 4'7's were responsible for their ultimate silencing. One of these guns, at a range of 9000 yards, placed three shells in rapid succession into the embrasure of a Boer gun-redoubt, absolutely silencing the gun, a feat distinctly affirmed through the telescope.
Resonant British cheers were just now reaching Hlangwani, and the general, who well understood their significant import, could not suppress his pleasure at the welcome sounds —sounds which seemed to augur approaching victory. Cronje's surrender to Lord Roberts at Paardeberg had been opportunely imparted to the attacking brigades, and this vociferous cheering had greeted the welcome tidings, which certainly imparted fresh inspiring force to their already insatiable desire to attack.
But desperate fighting was still ahead. Presently staff officers, mounted orderlies, and signallers were to be seen urgently executing rapidly given instructions. It had been noticed that Kitchener's advance had received a check. It appears that, in their eagerness to render the half-won battle a complete victory, the Lancashires had mistaken their objective—Railway Hill—and had moved across the open glacis towards Terrace Hill instead. A heavy fire from both hills and the numerous trenches had—perhaps luckily—stopped their advance. This contretemps produced some anxiety, for Barton was still in isolation on Pieters, his position there being somewhat insecure until each of the triple hills was won. Kitchener quickly corrected the tactical, but pardonable, error of his subordinate leaders. Meanwhile every gun that could bear was thundering away to its utmost capacity ; a deadly storm of shrapnel, common, and lyddite shells was causing a volcanic commotion in and about the Boer trenches, and crashing along the crest-lines of the hills. Even then, not a few of those brave, tenacious, high-spirited Boers kept up an intermittent fire, their figures plainly visible dodging the shells.
About 5 p.m. Kitchener's skilful generalship had secured Railway Hill at the bayonet point. Flushed with success, the Lancashires, without hesitation, pressed onwards towards Terrace Hill, clearing the interposed trenches on their way, and finding time amidst the tumult of battle to cheer Norcott's men, who had timely arrived on their left. Complying with instructions, all artillery now ceased firing at Terrace Hill, except the naval guns on Hlangwani crest—the two mobile 4'7's and Ogilvy's four 12-pounders. These guns continued to sweep the hillside and crest-line with common shell until the assaulting troops had climbed close to the breastworks, then fired over their heads, beyond the hill, to harass the Boer retreat which followed. There was no perceptible pause in the firing, hence no opportunity given the defenders to repel the assault. Loud and prolonged cheering, and helmets hoisted high on bayonets, announced the finale— victory at last! Ladysmith relieved !!
The last few minutes preceding this grand result were minutes of extreme importance. Successful strategy and adroit tactics had paved the way for the delivery of the coup de grace—that supreme effort which was to produce either a decisive victory or another disastrous repulse, and a few minutes would decide the issue—and Ladysmith's fate. No imagination could picture the scene just at this juncture of the battle—the most crucial and critical period of the whole fourteen days of continuous fighting. Near the six naval guns, which were firing with the utmost rapidity, stood General Buller and his staff, intently noting the effect of the shell fire, and anxiously watching the progress of the troops as they bravely ascended that formidably intrenched hill. As an example of the rapidity of fire attained on the extemporized mountings, one of Ogilvy's guns fired 190 rounds during the last fifty minutes of the fight, and the other guns also fired at a rate which would favourably compare with the results obtained on the most modern mountings. The general was specially desirous of seeing the breastworks impierced before the infantry reached the summit. Commander Limpus, from within his "conning tower,'*was directing the 4'7 gun fire, which guns brought about the desired result, the breastworks in places being nearly levelled. Besides rapidity of fire, accuracy was absolutely essential, as a few yards low would have certainly produced fatal results, and loss of confidence, among our own troops. Through the din of the firing could be heard the orders which ensured the precision of fire. "England—up ten yards—left three," or, "Hunt— down five yards—right two," were samples of the orders addressed to the lieutenants of the 4'7's, and repeated by them to signify each order had been correctly understood. In a similar manner Lieutenant Ogilvy controlled the 12-pounder fire, receiving valuable assistance from Lieutenant Lees, the naval A.D.C., who "spotted " for these guns. Often did the firing appear so extremely hazardous to our own troops as to evoke monitory expressions from the staff, who, however, were positively assured by Lees that the fire control was safely invested in such experienced hands. It is doubtful if any such combination of artillery and infantry attack was ever before witnessed anywhere—certainly not during the relief operations — but such action undoubtedly assured success. Of the services rendered this day by the naval guns, General Buller wrote (Desp., March 14th, 1900)—
" The fire of the naval guns here was particularly valuable, their shooting was admirable, and they were able to keep up fire with common shell long after the Royal Field Artillery were obliged to cease their shrapnel. Indeed, Lieutenant Ogilvy, H.M. Ship Terrible, kept up fire on the largest sangars till the infantry were within fifteen yards of them. His guns must have saved us many casualties. No one who watched the operations can have the slightest doubt that artillery, co-operating with infantry in an attack on a prepared position, ought to have a considerable proportion of common shell."
Daylight, the 28th, disclosed the fact that the enemy had evacuated the whole position during the night. Cavalry and artillery were pushed on towards Ladysmith, and that evening Lord Dundonald entered the town with the mounted colonials of his brigade. The loss of the Colenso positions had caused the Boer commandant-general to raise the siege, the invading army having hurriedly retreated north to the Biggarsberg Range. In such a state of inanition was Sir George White's force that only a feeble attempt could be offered by the Ladysmith garrison to harass the enemy's retreat. They could only be pursued by good mounted troops and light artillery ; but even their powers of damaging such a mobile foe in so difficult a country would have been extremely limited. The total losses, from all causes, sustained during this fourteen days' continuous fighting amounted to 2098 officers and men. The grand total of casualties, etc., according to official figures, during the relief operations, from the action at Willow Grange to the battle of Pieters Hill, was 5405 of all ranks. The casualties among the Ladysmith garrison during the 112 days of investment amounted to 894 of all ranks, exclusive of the heavy mortality from disease, which was responsible for the deaths of 541 officers and men.
At noon, the 28th, the 4'7's crossed B pontoon and bivouacked between Railway and Terrace Hills for the night. These positions naturally received considerable attention, and indeed offered most palpable evidence of the brilliant contest which had produced such far-reaching results. Next day the relief army moved in to bivouack at Nelthorpe, where, a short distance away, the Klip River provided the means of performing much-needed ablutions. Ogilvy's battery and most of the other 12-pounder units effected a junction with the naval headquarters at this encampment.
On March 3rd, Sir Redvers Buller rode at the head of his victorious army into Ladysmith. The lately besieged troops lined the streets, and the civilian inhabitants thronged around the Town Hall, where Sir George White, his staff, and civic authorities had assembled officially to welcome the relief force. The cadaverous appearance of the garrison fully testified to the hardships they had borne with an exemplary fortitude and courage which elicited the sympathetic admiration of the whole Empire. Their physical endurance and fighting qualities, together with the persistent and brilliant efforts of the relieving army, had saved Ladysmith from falling into alien hands, and kept unsullied the Union Jack.
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When in a relationship such as this, it is important to be transparent on what the goals, boundaries, vision, etc. of the Kindergarten and you, the educator, are. This transparency can be ensured by sharing information about the child's development, interests, friendships and activities on a frequent basis.
Settling in talk with all families separately – with kids (talk about specific details/behaviors/routines/allergies/diet.
ask about experiences and if certain things differ in execution to what the family is used to, explain settling in process, prepare parents for challenges that might occur, but encourage them to work hand in hand with you in a strong partnership)
Preparation: Research information about their country, customs, and religion. Seek help from colleagues and leadership in case they have worked with the same or similar cultural family backgrounds before.
The educator needs to ask the parents some important questions in an informal way. This is not an interview, rather, it is a time to get to know the parents and to begin to form a positive relationship with them. The educator will also need to answer questions about themselves.
Parents may feel more comfortable answering questions about themselves and leaving their child in the educators` care when they know more about them:
• What are the routines at home?
• What are their work routines?
• Do they live in close proximity to the kindergarten or do they need to travel?
• When did they move to the area, city, village, country?
• What previous settings (Kindergartens, daycares, playgroups, schools, clubs etc.) has the child attended? |
Planning a getaway to cooler climes, beware of acute mountain sickness
A couple climbing mountains
A couple climbing mountains
Rapid ascent is usually associated with the condition but some people are more prone than others
Though the CBSE retests may play spoiler, the holiday season is round the corner. And with the mercury on the rise, the cool mountains beckon. Beware though of Acute Mountain Sickness. About 100 million people world over travel to high altitudes each year including travellers, trekkers, climbers, pilgrims, skiers or military personnel and all are at increased risk of acute mountain sickness. There is no gender disparity but people above 50 years have been found to have slightly lower risk.
What is acute mountain sickness?
Acute Mountain Sickness is the most common form of altitude illness characterized by headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness and sometimes vomiting. It usually develops 6–12 hours after ascent to a high altitude. It is likely to occur above 2500 mts above sea level but cases have been documented even at 1500 to 2000 mts.
Barometric pressure which is the pressure of air that surrounds us, drops at high altitudes leading to decreased oxygen availability in the air we breathe in. Increased breathing causes disturbance of acid base balance, increased passage of urine followed by decreased periodic breathing and decreased oxygen in the blood. If the ascent is made faster than the body’s ability to adapt to the stress of hypobaric oxygen state, then altitude related symptoms can develop.
How to prevent acute mountain sickness?
Gradual ascent with adequate time for acclimatization is the best method for the prevention of acute mountain sickness. A graded ascent of ≤300 mt from the previous day’s sleeping altitude is generally recommended when above 3000 mts. Spending one night at an intermediate altitude before proceeding to a higher altitude may increase acclimatization and reduce the risk of acute mountain sickness. Travellers to high altitude locations must be aware of the symptoms of altitude illness and should be encouraged not to ascend further if these symptoms develop.
Prevention with medications is required for people with a history of acute mountain sickness or when a gradual ascent and acclimatization are not possible e.g., when rapid ascent is necessary for rescue purposes or when a flight is taken. Acetazolamide (125–250 mg twice a day), taken for 1 day before the day of travel and continued for 2 or 3 days thereafter is effective. Dexamethasone (8 mg/d in divided doses) is also effective.
What are the severe forms of Acute Mountain Sickness and how to treat them?
High-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) and High-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) are the two life threatening forms.
1. HACE is usually associated with altered level of consciousness (which includes restlessness, increased sleepiness and decreased responsiveness) with difficulty in balancing while walking. Papilloedema and retinal hemorrhages (swelling in the eye, bleeding in the eye) may also be seen.
Immediate descent is mandatory for early HACE. Treatment includes oxygen inhalation (2-4 lt/min) and dexamethasone 8 mg given orally or by injection followed by 4 mg 6 hourly.
1. A reduction in exercise tolerance greater than that expected at the given altitude, easy fatiguability and shortness of breath at rest may be the initial symptoms of HAPE. A dry, persistent cough may precede HAPE and may be followed by the production of blood mixed sputum. Increased respiratory and heart rate even at rest are important markers for illness progression. It usually develops 2-4 days after arrival at high altitude.
Descent and the use of supplementary oxygen (4-6 lt/min) to maintain oxygen saturation above 90% are the most effective intervention. Exertion should be kept to a minimum and the patient should be kept warm. Oral sustained-release nifedipine (30 mg once or twice daily) can be used as additional treatment and inhaled β agonists are also safe.
In both HACE and HAPE hyperbaric therapy where the patient is put in a portable altitude chamber/bag to simulate descent may be used if descent is not possible and oxygen is not available.
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When it comes to concerns about the widespread use of drones, one of the big ones is the worry that the things will crash on peoples' heads. That's why researchers at the University of Zurich have created a system to keep that from happening. Their technology allows a drone to regain stable flight after losing control, and to autonomously land in a "safe" area in the event of mechanical or battery failure.
The system was developed using small drones equipped with a single camera, and computer vision software running on an onboard smartphone processor.
While one of these drones is in stable flight, its software identifies distinctive landmarks in its environment. As long as those landmarks pass by in the manner that they should according to the flight commands, it knows that everything is proceeding properly.
If something such as a gust of wind or an obstacle suddenly knocks the aircraft off-kilter, however, it will automatically realign itself with those landmarks, instead of continuing to veer off in the wrong direction. "Our system works similarly to a tight-rope walker," said Matthias Faessler, who worked with Prof. Davide Scaramuzza on the project. "When you balance on a rope, you fixate on some static points in the environment and shift your weight accordingly to restore balance."
While GPS can also help in such situations, it's entirely possible that delivery drones flying amongst tall buildings could temporarily lose their GPS signal.
Additionally, the software continuously creates a 3D map of the drone's surroundings. Should a failure occur, it will identify flat, open "safe" terrain for the drone to land on, passing over "risky" areas. The drone will then proceed to set down there, under its own control.
It's reminiscent of a system recently developed at ETH Zurich, which allows multicopter drones to make controlled landings even if one of more of their propellers conk out. |
Confucianism Beliefs, Symbols and Practices - Savage Facts
Confucianism Beliefs, Symbols and Practices
Confucianism Beliefs, Symbols and Practices
Share the knowledge
Confucianism is a philosophical belief system that originated in China in about 500 B.C. The concept of Confucianism is derived from the beliefs and teachings of a Chinese philosopher named Confucius. Confucius’ real name was Kong Fuzi and Confucius is the Latin version of the same name. His teachings had a significant impact on China as well as its neighboring countries. Here are some facts on the teachings, beliefs and practices of Confucianism.
Confucianism Beliefs
1. Confucianism carries forward the belief that ‘Do not do to others what you would have them not do to you.’
2. Confucianism is not a religion, but a set of principles and ideas that it advocates people to live by in order to have a happy and satisfied life.
3. Confucianism lays importance on valuing others, treating others with kindness and having a mutual respect for each other.
4. Confucius believed that individuals in a society can only be happy if there is a social order in the society. Confucius was born at a time when his state was engulfed by administrative feuds between the princes. This was what motivated Confucius to think of a moral code that could bring happiness to people.
5. Confucianism consists of 5 basic virtues that people should adhere to:
• Li: Each individual should have a proper social conduct and good behaviour.
• Ren (Jen): People should direct their energies towards social welfare activities like altruism and humanity.
• Xin: An individual should stay faithful and loyal to their relatives as well as their work.
• Zhi: Wisdom is the only way to truth.
• Yi: To understand the value of righteousness and truth and hence, to always speak the truth.
1. Confucius also gave 5 cardinal relations:
• Sovereign-Subject
• Father-Son
• Elder-Younger Brother
• Husband-Wife
• Friend-Friend
1. As per Confucianism, an individual should put family before himself.
What is Filial Piety and why is it important?
Filial Piety is an important cultural value in China that has its roots in Confucianism. Filial Piety, known as xiào () in Chinese, means having loyalty to one’s parents. Confucius mentions the importance of strong family bonds in society through his book Xiaojing or “Book of Filial Piety”. As per Chinese traditions, a filial son serves his parents and, fulfills their wishes at any cost. The idea behind Filial Piety is that the parents give birth to their child and bring him up by giving him food, shelter and, education. Filial Piety is important in Confucianism because Confucianism considers family as the building blocks of society.
Symbols of Confucianism Philosophy
Confucianism has 4 symbols that represent its teachings. These four symbols are Confucius, Chinese character for Water, Chinese character for Scholar and Yin Yang.
• The Confucius symbol is there to represent the philosopher who produced the ideas and teachings of Confucianism.
• The second symbol, water, represents one of the five elements.
• The third symbol, Scholar, represents wisdom and knowledge. Confucius laid a huge importance on knowledge.
• The fourth symbol, Yin and Yang are an integral part of the Chinese Philosophy. It represents attainment of balance.
Writings on Confucianism Philosophy
Writings associated with Confucianism include four books and five classics.
Four Books on Confucianism:
This books is the most widely studied book on Confucianism. It was written by the followers and disciples of Confucius. It consists of his ideas and teachings.
Great Learning
It represents Chinese philosophies and thinking.
Doctrine of the Mean
This book is written by the grandson and disciple of Confucius – Zisi.
It consists of conversations of a scholar named Mencius with the ruling kings.
Five Classics on Confucianism
Classics of Poetry
It is a collection of 305 poems which are sung at sacrifices to gods and the ancestral spirits of the royal house.
Book of Documents
It is a collection of documents and speeches written by princes and kings of the early Zhou period.
Book of Rites
It contains a description of ancient rites, social forms, and court ceremonies.
Book of Changes
The books is based on principles of Yin and Yang
Spring and Autumn Annals
It gives a historical reference to the state of Lu.
Related Reading:
Interesting Facts About Confucius
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The next Emerging Sensitive Program is coming in 2020!
Why Kindness Is Winning
Kindness is winning!
Steven Pinker, the Harvard College Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, wrote an article published in the Wall Street Journal, Violence Vanquished, about the decline of violent conflict in the world, and how we have evolved to become more peaceful which means an increase in kindness. The article was adapted from his new book, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, published by Viking.
Mr. Pinker describes how over time we have passed through several stages of development, each of them gradually reducing violence in the world:
1. The first transition was from the early hunter/gather societies where people killed for food to agricultural societies when institutions started to be formed. Agriculture required the ability to store and protect food supplies which increased investment in a social structure which people protected and as a result reduced crime to a degree.
2. The second decline of violence occurred in Europe at the end of the feudal period. Apparently, killings declined 10-50 fold as nation-states emerged, consolidating large territories and increasing the span of control of government institutions over greater areas of land. This evolution had the additional effect of creating some standardization of laws which enabled commerce to flourish. The more people are “in it together” the lower crime will be.
3. The third transition which Mr. Pinker calls the Humanitarian Revolution began with the Enlightenment and the effort to make human life more sustainable by harnessing nature to serve our largely unmet needs. The Enlightenment also ushered in democracy and even greater investment in social institutions.
4. The fourth major transition is the one we are in with no world wars since the end of World War II called the Long Peace.
There is no question that we still have much violence. Although we have not had a world war for a long time, we nonetheless have had many smaller long-term violent conflicts that are with us today. There are many reasons for violence: resource demands for land and water, differences in social and cultural values, ambition and greed are just some. There are also reasons why people avoid violence. One important one is how we want to be in the world – what we value in ourselves and others and what we think matters. The past century has seen an increase in acceptance of differences and a greater investment in learning to coexist. The Great Turning, a phrase created by eco-philosopher Joanna Macy, has names the movement over the past 50 plus years to change ourselves in order to change the world.
The Evolution Of Kindness
Throughout history, we have developed societies, institutions, and economies to ensure our survival on the planet while making human life better. As we have increased the sharing of power and responsibility, as we have increased our skills in coexistence and community problem solving, we have also reduced violence since people more easily support a social structure where their well-being matters. Although we still have a long way to go in creating an equitable world, we are well on our way to changing how we live together by incorporating the values of kindness and empathy into our public social structures.
Mr. Pinker points to the increase in humanitarian organizations and efforts that have exploded over the past century. Today the internet now makes humanitarian outreach a daily practice rather than something we do in our spare time. Over time human (and animal and environmental) rights have gradually asserted themselves. A legal system designed to protect property and institutional rights is learning to consider the needs and value of the living world. You could call it a rebalancing or the ability to be more inclusive of more aspects of life in legal decision making.
The humanitarian evolution of our species has progressed to the point that empathy is becoming an important human value. We now consider empathy to be one of the most important human characteristics which means that the natural empathic abilities of highly sensitive people will become more welcome.
Granted Mr. Pinker’s article takes the long view, it is still good news for sensitive people. For a long time, sensitives had to hide their nature. Now we are starting to be accepted. As human acceptance is evolving, we may finally make a world which is good for all people, including sensitive people.
About Maria Hill
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Polish English Dictionary
język polski - English
wodór in English:
1. hydrogen
Water contains hydrogen and oxygen.
A molecule of water is made up of one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms.
Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water.
The atomic number for hydrogen is 1.
The treaty bans atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs.
A water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
A balloon must be filled with either helium or hydrogen.
Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen.
This substance is mostly composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
The chemical symbol H expresses hydrogen.
Oxygen and hydrogen make water.
Hydrogen does not exist as such in nature.
Water comprises of oxygen and hydrogen.
Water can be decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen.
English word "wodór"(hydrogen) occurs in sets:
Angielski słówka Ania - 15 (pierwiastki)
Extreme weather conditions and natural disasters
nauka i technika - macmillan matura podstawowa
Solutions Upper 4D - Confessions of an astronaut
tekst fachowy na egzamin 1 |
Battle of Corinth
On this day in 1862, Confederates under General Earl Van Dorn attemptto recapture Corinth, a vital rail center in Mississippi. However, the following day, the Second Battle of Cornith ended in defeat for the Rebels.
Northern Mississippi was the scene of much maneuvering during the summer of 1862. The Confederates were forced to evacuate Corinth in May in the face of heavy Union pressure, but they maintained two armies in the area. On September 19, one of these armies, commanded by Van Dorn, was defeated by Union General William Rosecrans at the Battle of Iuka, 20 miles east of Corinth. Shortly after, Van Dorn combined his force with that of General Sterling Price to form a 22,000-man army that turned toward Corinth to launch anotherattack against Rosecrans, who had consolidated his forces there.
Van Dorn hurled his army at the outer defenses of Corinth on the morning of October 3. Over the course of the spring and summer, both Union and Confederate occupiers of Corinth had constructed concentric rings of trenches around the city. The Confederates were initially successful at capturing the outer defenses, driving the 23,000 defenders back nearly two miles. The battle lasted all day, and only nightfall brought relief to the battered Yankees.
The next day, the Confederates made a series of desperate assaults on the inner trenches. They suffered heavy losses and began to withdraw from Corinth by early afternoon. The Confederate defeat was devastating. The Union losses included 315 dead, 1,812 wounded, and 232 taken as prisoners, while the Confederate losses included 1,423 dead, 5,692 wounded, and 2,268 prisoners. The Confederate defeat at Corinth allowed the Union to focus attention on capturing Vicksburg, Mississippi, the last major Rebel stronghold on the Mississippi River.
UAW walks out on Ford
On this day in 1961, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union goes on strike at Ford plants across the country to win higher wages and better benefits for its members. It was the first company-wide strike since Ford had agreed to a collective-bargaining deal in 1941. Ford had been the more
Maze hunger strike called off
Iraq wins independence
With the admission of Iraq into the League of Nations, Britain terminates its mandate over the Arab nation, making Iraq independent after 17 years of British rule and centuries of Ottoman rule. Britain seized Iraq from Ottoman Turkey during World War I and was granted a mandate more
Britain successfully tests A-bomb
Britain successfully tests its first atomic bomb at the Monte Bello Islands, off the northwest coast of Australia. During World War II, 50 British scientists and engineers worked on the successful U.S. atomic bomb program at Los Alamos, New Mexico. After the war, many of these more
O.J. Simpson acquitted
Operation Wallowa commences
Elements of the 1st Cavalry Division launch Operation Wallowa in South Vietnam’s northernmost provinces. A task force was sent in to relieve pressure on the U.S. Marines, who were fighting a heavy series of engagements along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). As these operations more
The shot heard round the world
On October 3, 1951, third baseman Bobby Thomson hits a one-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the National League pennant for the New York Giants. Thomson’s homer wrapped up an amazing come-from-behind run for the Giants and knocked the Brooklyn more
Clive Owen born
On this day in 1963, the ruggedly handsome actor Clive Owen, who will become known for his work in such movies as Closer and Sin City, is born in Coventry, England. After graduating from London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Owen performed with the Young Vic Theater Company and more
Hurricane Stan bears down on Mexico
On this day in 2005, Hurricane Stan bears down on the Mexican coastline after passing over the Yucatan Peninsula. The storm brought torrential rains to Central America and caused a series of landslides over the next several days that buried several towns and killed more than more
East and West Germany reunite after 45 years
Less than one year after the destruction of the Berlin Wall, East and West Germany come together on what is known as “Unity Day.” Since 1945, when Soviet forces occupied eastern Germany, and the United States and other Allied forces occupied the western half of the nation at the more
War Revenue Act passed in U.S.
On October 3, 1917, six months after the United States declared war on Germany and began its participation in the First World War, the U.S. Congress passes the War Revenue Act, increasing income taxes to unprecedented levels in order to raise more money for the war effort. The more |
The Greening of Pope Francis
If he sticks to the schedule he has publicly announced, he should, at this very moment, be putting the finishing touches on the final version. It will then be forwarded to translation teams that will prepare official texts in a number of different languages for publication in June or July.
The encyclical has yet to appear, but we can still surmise some of its main themes in light of Pope Francis' own statements on the environment. First, it seems that the Pope is not a newcomer to environmental concerns. He has said that events in Latin America years ago forced him to confront the catastrophe of environmental degradation. Bishops in Brazil, he has said, first explained to him the deforestation of the Amazonian rain forest. Deeply moved by this tragedy, Pope Francis now sees the rain forest as "one of the world's lungs." For a man who is missing part of a lung himself, this is a meaningful metaphor. He knows, more than most, how essential a lung is to life.
The Pope is surely right to warn the world about the on-going loss of the rain forest. National Geographic estimates that in the last forty years around 20 percent of the rain forest has been cut and the land cleared for other uses. This is a disaster both regionally and globally. Regionally, natural habitat for animals and plants is wiped out, causing a loss of biodiversity. But globally, the loss of forest canopy accelerates the process of climate change. The Pope knows this and means to do something about it.
But Pope Francis has hinted that his thoughts now go well beyond a concern with deforestation, as important as that is, and embraces something more profound. In a homily preached in February, he connected environmentalism with the Christian faith. God made the world and all that is in it out of an act of love. If creation is an act of love, the proper way for Christians to reciprocate is to tend to the world. "A Christian who does not protect Creation, who does not let it grow, is a Christian who does not care about the work of God, that work that was born from the love of God for us."
Taken seriously, what the Pope is saying is that environmentalism is not an option for the Christian, but a requirement of heart and mind and conscience. It is a primary demand of the Christian faith. The environment, Pope Francis emphasizes, is not an issue that belongs to a single party or faction. It is not something that can be neatly labeled "the greens." No, he has said, it belongs to the world and is the responsibility of every Christian.
Pope Francis has also made it clear that he takes seriously the science of human-induced climate change. To members of the scientific community, to the world's knowledge classes, this may not come as big news. They may be tempted to shrug and say, "well, everybody knows that."
Except that is not the case. In the United States, the dominant voices of one of two major political parties -- the Republicans -- are on record as expressing their doubts about human-caused climate change.
John Boehner, the Republican Speaker of the House and a professed Catholic, has publicly declared that he is agnostic on the subject of climate change, which he considers a debatable topic. Ted Cruz, the colorful Texas Senator running for President, has theatrically denounced climate change as deceitful and false and compared climate scientists to flat-earthers. In saying these things, Republican politicians are in lockstep with their fundamentalist Christian base, who reject the science of climate change out of hand.
It is significant, therefore, and of benefit to the health of the planet, that the leader of the world's largest Christian movement accepts human-induced climate change as scientifically established and will issue a call to action on that basis. And that summons to act will take into account, first of all, the threat climate change poses to humanity. The Pope has talked to farmers displaced from their fields by flood or drought, and he has visited typhoon victims in the Philippines and elsewhere. He knows first-hand -- he has toured the devastation -- the impact climate change is having on coastal communities. And he knows that human-induced climate change is an affront to God's loving gift of Creation.
The summons to act will likely have yet another dimension, and that is economic. For Pope Francis, most of the ailments of the contemporary human condition are traceable back to the inhumane uses of capital. We have become a throwaway society. We discard unwanted people, whether they be convicts in prison, or the elderly, or the poor, or the handicapped, or the infirm. Those who are unable for whatever reason to serve the interests of capital have no place in the modern dispensation.
My guess is that Pope Francis is prepared to extend this line of reasoning to the degradation of the planet. Runaway capital is not only destroying individual lives, but is jeopardizing the health and well-being of all of humanity.
And Pope Francis is prepared to go "big," as they say. He has indicated that he will invite leaders of other religious faith to join him in meetings. He will not issue the encyclical as part of a joint declaration with other faiths, he has made that clear. But he hopes to form a world-wide network of believers, Christian and non-Christian alike, dedicated to a greener earth. He is even making plans to present his case to the United Nations. I can hardly wait. For Pope Francis' planned encyclical may be one of those rare papal documents that shift the public debate for generations. |
How do Smart meters work?
A Smart meter records the energy you use and sends it to us and to a handheld Smart energy display in your home. Put your Smart energy display somewhere where you can keep an eye on it and it’ll give you an idea of what you’re paying for your energy and, hopefully, help you see where you could save money.
There are 3 parts to your new Smart meter system:
Smart Gas Meter
Smart gas meter
Records the gas you use continuously and updates your display every 30 mins.
Smart Electricity Meter
Smart electricity meter
Updates every 10 seconds to give near instantaneous usage info on your display.
Smart Energy Display
Shows your energy use in pounds and pence, with day, week or month comparisons.
Smart meters are better for everyone
You'll know what you’re spending on energy each day in pounds and pence. You'll also be able to see where you could use less.
We’ll take readings remotely to help keep your bills accurate so you only pay for what you use.*
We’ll be able to help you find ways to save energy and money.
Replacing your old gas and electricity meters with new Smart meter technology is an important step forward in upgrading the UK’s aging energy system and tackling climate change.
See all the benefits *We may need to estimate your bill if there's a problem collecting a reading.
Make your Smart meter work better for you
Your Smart meter records the energy you use and sends us the data once a day unless you choose otherwise.
Your Smart meter is pre-set to send us readings every day.
By upgrading to half-hourly reads, you can see how your energy use fluctuates throughout the day and, hopefully, where you could save money.
To ensure you get accurate bills, we need to collect a reading from your Smart meter at least once a month.
Choose half hourly data *You'll only receive an estimated bill if there's a problem collecting a reading.
You’ll need an online account to make use of some of our features. Sign up for one now.
Are Smart meters free?
We're replacing the meters in all our customers' homes as part of a nationwide replacement programme, and there's no extra cost for this.
Everyone pays for their current meter and its maintenance through their energy bills. The same is true for Smart meters.
Smart meter money saving
Are Smart meters compulsory?
Installing Smart meters is a government initiative and one of the biggest national upgrades ever undertaken in the UK.
It's not compulsory, but everyone in the UK will be offered a Smart meter and Ofgem require suppliers to ensure as many meters as possible are upgraded by 2020. Smart meter installation is the first step in replacing the UK's aging energy system, now almost at capacity, with a new Smart energy infrastructure.
There are also many benefits for you, including seeing exactly what energy you’re using, never having to read your meter again, and helping to see where you could cut your bills.
These links will help explain more:
Why Smart meters?
The benefits to you
Book your Smart meter installation
Get a Smart meter |
Image Source: Xinhua/Sunil Sharma/IANS
Candle light vigil for those who battled cancer
As the name suggests colorectal cancer is cancer affecting the colon and rectal regions. Did you know that as of 2017, there were approximately 135,430 new cases of colon cancer in the US. Of all the deaths that have occurred in the United States, colon cancer is reported to be 8% of them. The 5 year survival rate after receiving treatment was about 64.9% This shows that the recovery rate is quite a good number. This 5 year relative survival rate has definitely improved over the years, with better awareness, early detection and even cutting edge treatment options. Read more about colon cancer here.
Blame it on the bacteria
Did you know that colon cancer can be inherited? If we are talking numbers, then about 5 percent of colon cancers are caused by a hereditary syndrome. This syndrome is medically termed as familial adenomatous polyposis.
Latest research at John Hopkins have found that bacteria have a key role to play. Sure enough, the colon contains at least 500 different types of bacteria. This was found after analyzing patients who had inherited cancer.
The bacterias responsible for causing such cancer in people with a genetic predisposition were Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli. Such colon cancer patients were found to have two particular bacterial species. These bacterial species was found to encourage the development of the disease. These bacteria were responsible for invading the protective mucus layer of the colon. They then get together and conspire to create a micro environment for themselves. This micro environment has all the necessary things carefully stocked up so that they are able to thrive well. These tiny villains then, causes chronic inflammation. Subsequently this results in DNA damage which leads to abnormal cell growth, leading to tumour formation.
When this study was conducted in animals, the researchers found that in animals that had just one of these bacterial species in their colon, developed few or no tumors. However when both the species were found, there were tumours galore. One possible way to prevent this disease, is by keeping the colon from becoming colonized by these two problematic bacteria. Another way was to devise drugs or vaccines that target the toxins produced by these species of bacteria.
Your drinking water could give you cancer
For years now, farmers have been using inorganic fertilizers. However unscrupulous and irresponsible use of such fertilizers have caused the contamination of ground water. Increasing nitrate content in such areas have been the cause of much uproar in the recent years, after it was found that the nitrate has slowly crept into the drinking water. Water sources from small private water supplies are seen to have higher concentrations of nitrate.
It was found that people who were exposed to the highest concentration of nitrate in drinking water had about a 15 per cent greater risk of getting colorectal cancer when compared to those who had the least exposure. Presently, the current drinking water standard is 50 mg nitrate per litre of water. However, the increased risk of cancer was increased at any concentration greater than 4 mg nitrate per litre of water. Nitrate upon entering our body is converted into carcinogenic substances.
Nuts can help colon cancer survival
Nobody wants to be sick. Especially with cancer. After cancer, the next dreaded word is most definitely chemotherapy. All is not totally bad for those diagnosed with cancer-especially colon cancer in this case. Nuts are here to help you. Have you gone nuts you ask? Wait there is more.
Nuts can in fact increase the disease-free survival rate, especially in those who are diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. If peanuts are your go to option, you might need to change that to get the cancer free benefits from nuts. This is because, disease free survival rates increased by about 46% in those who ate tree nuts instead of peanuts.
Scarfing down on nuts will not just make you disease free. There must be a deliberate attempt to increase physical activity, maintain healthy weight, lower the consumption of sugar and other sweetened beverages. Dietary changes coupled with changes in life style is absolutely necessary to be cancer free and to further keep it at bay.
Watch what you eat
Who doesn’t love a good hot dog? Top it with some yummy ketchup and mustard and you are good to go! Processed meats make it easy to whip up a delicious, quick meal without the hassle of cooking actual meat. But there’s a catch my friend. These processed food can in fact put you at risk for cancer! This means you would have to rein in your consumption of sausages, corned beef, ham and even beef jerky. However, eating more of whole grains everyday can reduce your risk for colorectal cancer. This may not sound very appealing, but brown rice or whole-wheat bread, could actually help you be cancer-free.
Being obese, eating copious amounts of red meat and even having more than two alcoholic drinks in a day can increase the risk of cancer. You can however take a step in the right direction by deciding to eat more grains and fiber, quitting smoking and by exercising more. American Institute of Cancer Research reveals that when compared to those who do very little physical activity, people who are more physically active have a lower risk of colon cancer. This decreased risk was in fact for colon cancer and not rectal cancer.
For years, mothers have reminded us to eat a good portion of vegetables and fruit daily. They might not be as yummy as spag bol or a pizza, but eating less than 100 gms per day of fruits and veggies can put you at a higher risk of developing cancer. For long it has been told by everyone you know, that Vitamin C rich foods can reduce cancer risk. Oranges, melons and Popeye’s favorite spinach are foods that are rich in vitamin C. Even fish was found to be a cancer-risk reducing food. |
Women and Migraines: Why do They Have More?
Migraine headaches affect 29.5 million Americans, approximately 12% of the U.S. population. Migraines are three times more common in women than men – about 18% of women suffer from migraines vs. 6% of men.
What Causes Women to Have More Migraines?
Women are believed to have a higher occurrence of migraines due to the hormonal milestones that occur over a woman’s lifetime: menarche (menstruation), pregnancy, the postpartum and breastfeeding states, perimenopause, and menopause. Also, the use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy used by women can increase the frequency and severity of migraines.
In addition, other common migraine triggers include:
What's the Best Way for Women to Treat and Prevent Migraines?
There are many well know preventatives, as well as abortive medications for migraines. However, many patients are either hesitant to take them, or they cannot tolerate them. There are some alternative therapies that might prove helpful; however, one must keep in mind that herbal or “natural” supplements can also cause side effects and may actually interact dangerously with prescription medications or medical conditions. It’s always best to check with your pharmacist or migraine pain specialist prior to starting any alternative supplements.
Botox for migraines is used safely and effectively throughout the country for patients who suffer from more than 15 headache days per month and have exhausted all other medical treatments. It is different from the typical cosmetic use in that 31 injections are given around the head and neck. The effects last approximately 3 months and can be repeated if they are successful. If Botox is effective, patients can usually reduce their medication intake greatly.
Frova (frovatriptan), a prescription drug in the Triptan family, can be especially helpful for menstrual migraine attacks since it has the longest half-life in its drug class. Given two days prior and three days into the menstrual cycle, it can help reduce the occurrence and strength of menstrual migraines.
Melatonin, the hormone secreted by the brain to induce sleep, is also a neuroprotective and an antioxidant; this means that it is used by the body to protect nerve cells against damage, or decay. Unlike most antioxidants, melatonin is easily absorbed into the brain. Studies of melatonin use for migraines are not fully convincing, but do show promise in decreasing the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches. Dosages can range from 3-10 mg per night.
Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, has been shown to help decrease the frequency of headaches when used in high doses. Studies have shown Riboflavin is better at preventing and decreasing the severity of headaches.
When Should You See a Headache or Migraine Specialist?
Eating a healthy diet at constant intervals, regular sleep habits, exercise, yoga, and meditation are all known to help prevent and decrease the frequency of migraines, but if you’ve tried these things and had no migraine pain relief, it may be time to see a migraine specialist. If you are in the Greater Houston area, Space City Pain Specialists has appointments available at their Lake Jackson, Webster, and Baytown locations with doctors that are experienced in helping patients relieve their migraine pain and suffering. Call our office at 281-338-4443 or click here to request an appointment online.
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Battle of Leuctra
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Battle of Leuctra
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| map_type = Greece| map_relief = yes| map_size =300 | map_marksize = | map_caption = Location of the Battle of Leuctra.| map_label = |date= 6 July 371 BCThe Battle of Leuctra, retrieved 1-08-2006|place=BoeotiaThebes, Greece>Theban victoryTheban Club.png}} Boeotia (Thebes, Greece>Thebes)Coloured Lambda.png}} Sparta* |commander1=Epaminondas|commander2=Cleombrotus I{{KIA}}|strength1=6,000–7,000 hoplites 1,500 cavalry|strength2=10,000–11,000 hoplites 1,000 cavalryDiodorus Siculus>Diodorus, 47 according to Pausanias|casualties2=1,000 according to Xenophon, 4,000+ According to Diodorus}}The Battle of Leuctra (, Leûktra) was a battle fought on 6 July 371 BC between the Boeotians led by the Thebans, and the Spartans along with their allies amidst the post-Corinthian War conflict. The battle took place in the neighbourhood of Leuctra, a village in Boeotia in the territory of Thespiae. The Theban victory shattered Sparta's immense influence over the Greek peninsula, which Sparta had gained after its victory in the Peloponnesian War.
{{see also|Leuctrides}}In 371 BC, the newly established democracy of Thebes had elected four Boeotarchs, the traditional title of the generals of the Boeotian League, and so proclaimed their intention of reconstituting the aforementioned league that Sparta had disbanded.Tritle 1987, p. 80 During this period, Thebes had had an ally in Athens, but Athens was far from happy with the treatment Plataea had received. When it came to swearing an oath to respect the treaty, Sparta swore on behalf of itself and its allies. When Epaminondas came forward, asking to swear on behalf of the whole Boeotian League, the Spartans refused, saying he could swear as the representative of Thebes or not at all. This Epaminondas refused.History of Greece, G. Grote vol. 9 p. 155-6 (According to Xenophon, the Thebans signed as "the Thebans", and asked the next day to change their signature to "the Boeotians", but the Spartan king, Agesilaus, would not allow it.)Hellenica VI 3.19 In this, Sparta saw an opportunity to reassert its shaky authority in central Greece.Tritle 1987, p. 81 Hence, the Spartan king, Cleombrotus I, marched to war from Phocis.(File:March of the Spartan army across the mountains.jpg|thumb|left|March of the Spartan army across the mountains){{Campaignbox Greek wars of the 4th century BC}}Rather than take the expected, easy route into Boeotia through the usual defile, the Spartans marched over the hills via Thisbae and took the fortress of Creusis (along with twelve Theban warships) before the Thebans were aware of their presence, and then proceeded to Leuctra where they were confronted by the Boeotian army. Initially, the six Boeotian generals (i.e. the Boeotarchs) present were divided as to whether to offer battle, with Epaminondas being the main advocate in favor of battle. Only when a seventh arrived, who sided with Epaminondas, was the decision made.Pausanias, Description of Greece In spite of inferior numbers and the doubtful loyalty of his Boeotian allies, the Boeotians would offer battle on the plain before the town.
The size of the armies
Several ancient writers give figures for one or both of the armies, but, unfortunately, they are contradictory and, in some cases, unbelievable.Lost Battles, Philip Sabin p117 Modern scholars' estimates have varied from 6,000 to 9,000 for the Boeotian force.Lost Battles, Philip Sabin p118 For the Spartan side, most modern scholars favor Plutarch's figure of 10,000 in infantry and 1,000 cavalry.
{{Refimprove section|date=July 2010}}File:Leuctra.svg|thumb|250px|The red blocks show the placement of the elite troops within each phalanx. Top: Traditional hoplite order of battle and advance. Bottom: EpaminondasEpaminondasThe battle opened with the Spartans' mercenary peltasts (slingers, javeliniers, and/or skirmishers) attacking and driving back the Boeotian camp followers and others who were reluctant to fight. According to Xenophon, the Boeotian camp followers were trying to leave the field, as they did not intend to fight; this Spartan action drove them back into the Theban army, inadvertently making the Theban force stronger.Hellenica VI 4.8 There followed a cavalry engagement, in which the Thebans drove their enemies off the field. Initially, the Spartan infantry were sent into disarray when their retreating cavalry hopelessly disrupted Cleombrotus's attempt to outflank the Theban left column. At this point the Theban left hit the Spartan right with the Sacred Band of Thebes, led by Pelopidas,Cornelius Nepos: Lives of Eminent Commanders, Pelopidas at its head. The decisive engagement was then fought out between the Theban and Spartan infantry.The normal practice of the Spartans (and, indeed, the Greeks in general) was to establish their heavily armed infantry in a solid mass, or phalanx, some eight to twelve men deep. This was considered to allow for the best balance between depth (the pushing power it provided) and width (i.e., area of coverage of the phalanx's front battle line). The infantry would advance together so that the attack flowed unbroken against their enemy. In order to combat the phalanx's famous right-hand drift, Greek commanders traditionally placed their most experienced, highly regarded and, generally, deadliest troops on the right wing, as this was the place of honor. By contrast, the shakiest and/or least influential troops were often placed on the left wing. In the Spartan battleplan, therefore, the hippeis (an elite force numbering 300 men) and the king of Sparta would stand on the right wing of the phalanx.(File:Battle of Leuctra, 371 BC - Decisive action.svg|thumb|left|250x|This shows the flank attack that Rüstow and Köchly proposed. Delbrück rejected such an interpretation.)In a major break with tradition, Epaminondas massed his cavalry and a fifty-deep column of Theban infantry on his left wing, and sent forward this body against the Spartan right. His shallower and weaker center and right wing columns were drawn up so that they were progressively further to the right and rear of the proceeding column, in the so-called Echelon formation. The Theban center and right were held back, screened by skirmishers and cavalry. The infantry engaged, and the Thebans smashed the Spartan right wing. The Spartans' twelve-deep formation on their right wing could not sustain the heavy impact of their opponents' 50-deep column. The Spartan right was hurled back with a loss of about 1,000 men, of whom 400 were some of Sparta's most experienced soldiers, including King Cleombrotus I.Wilhelm Rüstow and Hermann Köchly, writing in the 19th century, believed that Pelopidas led the Sacred Band out from the column to attack the Spartans in the flank. Hans Delbrück considered this to be a mere misreading of Plutarch. Plutarch does indeed describe Pelopidas leading the Band and catching the Spartans in disorder, but there is nothing in his account that conveys anything other than the Sacred Band being the head of the column, and the Spartans were disordered not because they were taken in the flank but because they were caught in mid-maneuver, extending their line.The History of the Art of War, Hans Delbrück p167Seeing their right wing beaten, the rest of the Peloponnesians, who were essentially unwilling participants, retired and left the enemy in possession of the field.
The arrival of a Thessalian army under Jason of Pherae persuaded a relieving Spartan force under Archidamus not to heap folly on folly and to withdraw instead, while the Thebans were persuaded not to continue the attack on the surviving Spartans. The Thebans somewhat bent the rules by insisting on conditions under which the Spartans and allies recovered the dead and by erecting a permanent rather than perishable trophy - something that was criticized by later writers.Greek Warfare, Myths and Realities, Hans van Wees p136
Historical significance
(File:Battles_of_Ancient_Greece_700-168_BC_(English).svg|thumb|250px|Battles in Ancient Greece.)The battle is of great significance in Greek history.The use of these tactics by Epaminondas was, perhaps, a direct result of the use of some similar maneuvers by Pagondas, his countryman, during theBattle of Delium. Further, Philip II of Macedon, who studied and lived in Thebes, was no doubt heavily influenced by the battle to develop his own, highly effective approach to tactics and armament. In turn, his son, Alexander, would go on to develop his father's theories to an entirely new level. Many innovations of Philip and Alexander are traced to this battle. Concentration of force, refused flank, and combined arms were tactics that they used in many of their battles. Philip's victories against the Illyrians and at Chaeronea and Alexander's triumphs at the Granicus, Issus, Gaugamela, and the Hydaspes owe credit to the tactical maneuver used to vanquish the Spartans.Historians Victor Davis Hanson and Donald Kagan have argued that Epaminondas' so-called "oblique formation" was not an intentional and preconceived innovation in infantry tactics, but was rather a clever response to circumstances.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} Because Epaminondas had stacked his left wing to a depth of fifty shields, the rest of his units were naturally left with far fewer troops than normal. This means that their maintenance of a depth of eight to twelve shields had to come at the expense of either number of companies or their width. Because Epaminondas was already outnumbered, he had no choice but to form fewer companies and march them diagonally toward the much longer Spartan line in order to engage as much of it as possible. Hanson and Kagan's argument is therefore that the tactic was more dilatory than anything else. Whatever its motivation, the fact remains that the tactic did represent an innovation and was undoubtedly highly effective.The battle's political effects were far-reaching: the losses in material strength and prestige (prestige being an inestimably important factor in the Peloponnesian War) sustained by the Spartans at Leuctra and subsequently at the Battle of Mantinea were key in depriving them forever of their supremacy in Greece. Therefore, the battle permanently altered the Greek balance of power, as Sparta was deprived of its former prominence and was reduced to a second-rate power among the Greek city-states.Theban supremacy in Greece was short-lived, as it was subsequently lost to the Macedonians, led by Philip II.The Battle of Leuktra, retrieved 07-07-2010 {{webarchive |url= |date=June 13, 2013 }}
In popular culture
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M.R.M. Parrott |
Make a home for us
Who and what lives in our conservation area?
Common Banded Demoiselle
Can be found in most of England, Wales and Ireland
Common Toad
Latin name: Bufo bufo
Size: A male toad is around 65 mm in length. The females are around 25mm longer. Sometimes larger toads can be found, and these are usually females.
Distribution: Found throughout England, Scotland and Wales, but not in Ireland.
Months seen: All year round.
Habitat: Fields, hedgerows, gardens and woodlands.
Food: Worms, slugs and insects.
Special features: Common Toads are Britain's largest and heaviest amphibians.
The colouring of the toad varies according to the colour of the soil in it s habitat. If the soil is a greyish colour, the toads skin tends to be greyish to blend in. If the soil is more brownish, then so is the toad.
Common Frog - Latin name: Rana temporaria
Size: The male is approximately 70mms from head to tail, and the female is slightly larger.
Distribution: Can be found in most parts of the UK.
Months seen: March to October. Hibernates through the winter, often underwater.
Habitat: Damp woodland and meadows.
Great Crested Newt - Latin name: Triturus cristatus
Size: Grows up to 17cms in length.
Distribution: Found in most parts of England, Wales and southern Scotland.
Months seen: March to October.
Habitat: During spring and summer they can be found in, or near, ponds and streams. In early October they come out of the water to hibernate on dry land.
Special features: The great crested newt is a protected species. It is illegal to handle great crested newts unless they are in immediate danger. During springtime, the male has a large crest running along its back (hence the name) and a bright orange belly. They are sometimes called the 'warty newt' as their skin is very bumpy. Special glands in the skin release a foul-tasting
Smooth Newt - Latin name: Triturus vulgaris
Smooth newts grow to a length of around 9cms.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK.
Months seen: March to October.
Habitat: They can be found in, or near, ponds and streams during spring and summer. In early October they come out of the water to hibernate on dry land through to spring time. They spend the winter under a stone, under a log, or in compost heaps, where the temperature can be a little warmer.
Food: Slugs, worms and insects
Special features: When they emerge from hibernation in the spring, they head for their breeding ponds. Smooth newts are fairly slow moving, and if they have to cross roads to get to their ponds, this creates a problem for them. Where the kerb stones are too steep for them to climb, they can get trapped in gutters. In addition, some carelessly fall into drains. If you see one in a road, and it looks like it's in trouble, give it a helping hand by putting it out of the way of road, and foot traffic.
Where frogs and toads lay a mass of spawn, in the hope that a few will survive, newts carefully deposit single eggs, which they hide under the leaves of aquatic plants.
In the summer months, the undersides of their tails and their bellies become bright orange, however, this colouration fades in autumn and winter.
Back to conservation home
Food: Insects, slugs and small worms.
Special features: Although called the common frog, this animal is now becoming quite rare in Britain. The widespread use of insecticides, and the diminishing number of breeding sites has greatly reduced their numbers.
Frogs are different in appearance to toads in that their skin is quite smooth, and it has a moist feel. |
Opinion: The Case Against Orcas in Captivity
Ms. Sophie Boyer
Imagine being an animal in the jungle, woods, or ocean . . . and all of a sudden you are split away from your family, and the place you grew up to spend the rest of your life as a slave. Orcas are a significant example of this situation. Holding Orcas and other animals in captivity needs to come to an end. This world is so focused on making money that we are not realizing what a huge negative impact we are making on these innocent animals’ lives.
Wild orcas have an average life expectancy of is 60 to 70 years for males and 80 to over 100 for females. The average age of death for orcas who have died at SeaWorld is 13 years old. That’s a difference of fifty plus years taken away from a life, and what did that short life consist of?
At least 151 orcas have been separated from their families to work for places such as SeaWorld, and now 127 of those orcas are dead. Orcas who are not compatible are forced to live together in tight areas of a tank. This is where fighting, biting, and killing can possibly happen due to anxiety and tension between them. In the wild however, orcas have very strong social bonds, and if a situation does occur where violence takes place they can easily flee in the ocean. In a tank there is no where to go. What are some physical examples of orcas in distress you may ask? Orcas in distress have been known to act out.
Continue Reading |
The Key to Successful Biosphere Definition Biology
The Key to Successful Biosphere Definition Biology
The Do’s and Don’ts of Biosphere Definition Biology
A population is a group of living organisms of the identical kind residing in the same region at precisely the same moment. And, obviously, some individuals never leave the 1 home they’ve always known. Although there are lots of differences with the conditions at 4 billion decades past, it’s still much closer to the actual thing.
Biosphere Definition Biology: buy essay now No Longer a Mystery
For instance, an experimental process uses algae to convert solar power into gas that may be used for fuel. Other biospheres might also be adaptable to less hospitable regions of the own planet. Bi-fuel systems are typically used in light-duty vehicles.
Ruthless Biosphere Definition Biology Strategies Exploited
The individual size is only the collection of input variables. In this period of time, another procedure has to be involved in controlling carbon dioxide levels. When the engulfed material is liquid or is composed of very tiny particles, the procedure is often termed pinocytosis.
Indirect measurement might also be problematic. It is crucial that the experiment is objective. Scientists think that the growth in atmospheric oxygen concentration influenced the development of life.
Renewable energy sources would be utilized to supply energy. Usually, ecologists believe that a community with a tall diversity is more complex and stable than a community with a rather low diversity. A population includes all the individuals of a species living and interbreeding within the boundaries of a particular location.
The flooding is the main cause of hurricane-related deaths. Recent international climate change may supply a few of these rare taxa with the conditions necessary to raise in abundance. Renewable resources are continually produced and aren’t finite.
The Geographic Approach isn’t a new idea. Changes could possibly be organizational and technological. Ecology is an enormous field, a the following are merely a sampling of the selection of things scientist study in ecology.
An alpine tundra is also found in addition to mountains at quite large elevations. They are expected to rise. It includes the ozone layer.
The thickness isn’t simple to understand because the birds can be located in several altitudes. The mountains are broken up by many river valleys and there’s a wide variety of landscape. All the water found on Earth is known as a hydrosphere.
The Foolproof Biosphere Definition Biology Strategy
Space colonization a part of presidential policy. Up any emissions from all possible directions being arbitrary, needless to say. Environment is essential in the invention of somebody’s personality.
Things You Won’t Like About Biosphere Definition Biology and Things You Will
There’s an extensive group of potential approaches here. This mosaic effect permits a more diverse variety of species to colonize than in an area which is ecologically stable for a very long time. Additionally, it is going to incorporate an image of a sort that could be found in the gallery of Biosphere Definition Biology.
The Little-Known Secrets to Biosphere Definition Biology
The qualities of the people are able to influence the way that it’s affected by certain facets. The GeosphereThis sphere includes all of the stuff that form the crust and the center of the earth. Its potential for survival is dependent upon its having the capability to cohabitate among its environment.
The positive side of the very first definition is it is straightforward and it emphasizes both biotic and abiotic features of nature. There are two types of succession based on the sort of disturbance, primary and secondary succession. There are lots of relationships which do not work with time.
Even though you can have several populations of kangaroos all living in various populations and communities, and all these kangaroos would be in exactly the same species. The shallow region of the ocean which contains coral is part of the coral reef biome. A community is an assortment of species populations.
Blue-green algae continue to be alive today. Ecosystems usually form numerous food webs. They can be divided into major biomes, which are characterized by a specific type of geography, vegetation and climate.
Water is also undoubtedly a pure resourse that’s crucial for the maintainance of ecosystem viability. Ecosystem ecology provides important info to the area of conservation biology.
The end result is quite a different appearance to the biosphere. A biome is the expression used to refer to organisms that occupy a specific location. In a sustainable planet, the important component is the scale of the human economy in regard to that online essays of the international ecosystem or biosphere.
A biosphere reserve is a place of land or water that’s protected by law as a way to support the conservation of ecosystems, and the sustainability of mankind’s impact on the surroundings. A biosphere is the expression used to refer to the mixture of every ecosystem on Earth. The biosphere consists of living organisms, in addition to the physical atmosphere.
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A Quick Fail-Safe Procedure for Determining Whether the GCD of 2 Polynomials is 1
Unknown author (1967-03-01)
One of the most widely used routines in an algebraic manipulation system is a polynomial manipulation package (1,2,3). The crucial operation in such routines is the extraction of the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) of two polynomials. This operation is crucial because of its frequent use and because it is an expensive operation in regard to time and space. Experiments by Collins(1) have shown that given two polynomials chosen at random, the GCD has a high probability of being 1. Taking into account this probability and the cost of obtaining a GCD (some GCDs of polynomials of degree 5 in two or three variables can take on the order of a minute on the 7094(1), it appears that a quick method of determining whether the GCD is exactly 1 would be profitable. While no such complete method is known to exist, a fail-safe procedure has been found and is described here. A fail-safe procedure is characterized by the fact that when it comes to decision (in this case that the GCD is 1), then the decision is correct. However, the conclusion (i.e. that the GCD is 1) may be true, and the procedure need not arrive at a decision regarding it. It is believed that the fail-safe procedure presented here (and its extension to the linear case) will arrive at a decision quite frequently when the GCD is actually 1. |
What does the 1.5 degree target mean for Latin America?
By 20 abril, 2016 No Comments
The 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) was held in Paris at the end of last year. There, delegates set a new climate goal of limiting temperature increase to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. They agreed upon this goal because the previous goal of a 2°C increase by 2100 was insufficient for reducing climate change risks. Vulnerable countries were particularly concerned about the 2 degree target, including many countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. Given this new goal, we wanted to analyze its significance for the transport sector in Latin America, particularly Colombia and Mexico. We are therefore very excited to present our latest publication: The Paris Challenge for transport: Implications of the change in target at COP 21 for the transport sector, the cases of Colombia and Mexico. Click here for the full document, in Spanish with an executive summary in English.
What does the publication contain?
This report aims to answer several questions. First, it examines whether Latin America has been sufficiently ambitious and accurate in developing transport policies that significantly reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) in the sector. It also questions whether these policies are, in fact, reducing emissions. In addition, it assesses whether the implemented measures in the sector are being considered within climate change plans or if this linkage still needs to be developed.
At the same time, this report describes the sectoral implications of the new target of a 1.5° C temperature increase. The general focus of climate change action may need to be more ambitious to meet this goal, implying a major change in the region’s mobility paradigm. From this conclusion, the report analyzes Latin America’s preparedness and examines whether the region has taken the necessary steps to reach the 1.5° C goal. In doing so, it outlines what still needs to be done, specifically in the case of Colombia and Mexico. Finally, the report provides conclusions and recommendations on the topic.
What does it conclude?
The report arrives at four conclusions:
1. There are a number of transport policies in Latin America, particularly in Colombia and Mexico, that are either already reducing emissions or have the potential to do so, despite the fact that they are not integrated with the emissions reduction Action Plans or national INDCs.
2. There are also transport policies in the region (particularly in the two countries studied here) that do not reduce (and in some cases increase) transport emissions. Sectoral estimations for climate change action have not considered these adequately.
3. There has been progress and specific plans from the climate change sector to promote sustainable transport use. Although there is mention of policies and programs that involve avoiding, reducing and shifting (Dalkmann and Braningan, 2007), the vast majority of measures are technology-focused and fall into the improve Unfortunately, these measures alone will not create a significant impact on emissions reductions in the sector.
4. The region should be more ambitious in its policies, programs and projects. It should also integrate these better to generate a larger impact in the short and medium term.
What can be done?
From these conclusions, we make five key recommendations.
1. Integrate transport policies more coherently with emission reduction policies and ambitions in the transport sector.
2. Evaluate the relevance of continuing to implement transport policies that clearly increase GHG emissions and consider ending or reducing them.
3. Clearly assess the mitigation potential of all transport policies and their potential co-benefits. Analyze barriers and challenges to implementation.
4. Align sectoral policies to avoid discrepancies and decisively restrict policies that increase transport sector emissions.
5. Promote necessary measures through regulation, financing, technical consulting and implementation. This will generate a high-impact shift in transport policies towards a low-carbon emission scenario. |
Screen time: Mental health menace or scapegoat?
Screen time: Mental health menace or scapegoat?
In the book, she argues that those born after 1995 are on the "brink of a mental-health crisis" -- and she believes it can be linked to growing up with their noses pressed against a screen.
The study -- which drew from a survey of hundreds of thousands of teens across the US -- also found that roughly 13% of eighth- and tenth-graders who spent 1 to 2 hours a week on social media said they were "not happy."
The study comes two weeks after two major investorsurged Apple to do more to combat iPhone addiction among young people.
"The bottom line with this project is that they're asking the data to do things that the data is not set up to do," said Amanda Lenhart, deputy director of the Better Life Lab at New America, a DC-based think tank. Lenhart, whose own work examines technology use among children and families, was not involved in the new study.
Twenge recognizes that her study shows only a correlation between screen use and "psychological well-being," which is measured using survey questions about self-esteem, life satisfaction and happiness. The surveys can't say whether screen time directly changes teens' mental health, the research states.
"The other possible interpretation is that I'm an unhappy adolescent, and I'm running to my screens to escape from the things in my life that are making me unhappy," Lenhart said. "What are all the factors that are at work here?"
But Twenge is particularly concerned by a drop in happiness and "psychological well-being" that she identified in the survey data, which largely took place between 2012 and 2015.
"The question here isn't what are all the causes of unhappiness," said Twenge. "We're asking what changed in that three-year period that could have possibly caused teens' happiness and life satisfaction to fall so suddenly."
"I spent my career in technology. I wasn't prepared for its effect on my kids," philanthropist Melinda Gates, whose three children were also born after 1995, wrote August in the Washington Post. "Phones and apps aren't good or bad by themselves, but for adolescents who don't yet have the emotional tools to navigate life's complications and confusions, they can exacerbate the difficulties of growing up."
At the same time, she said, kids are learning on their devices and connecting in novel ways. "Marginalized groups such as gay and lesbian students (are) finding support they never had before through social networks," said Gates.
In a 2015 report, 92% of over 1,000 teens surveyed said they went online daily, according to Lenhart's previous research at the Pew Research Center. This includes 24% who were online "almost constantly."
But Pew never asked teens how many hours they spent on social media or texting because "people are remarkably bad at determining how long they spend doing things on screens," Lenhart said.
"I look a little bit out of the side of my eye at that data," she added.
Here's Why the Flu Is Especially Bad This Year
Here's Why the Flu Is Especially Bad This Year
Scientists Develop Single Blood Test That Detects Eight Common Cancers
Scientists Develop Single Blood Test That Detects Eight Common Cancers |
Health & Wellness Blog
7 Tips for Healthy Eating Habits
Most nutritional specialists will agree that the keys to healthy eating is balance, moderation, and variety. In essence, that means consuming a spectrum of different foods without eating the same types of calories and nutrients all the time.
Tips for Health Eating HabitsAt the Health n' Wellness blog, we're all about developing healthy eating habits. Below are seven tips to start developing more mindful and healthy habits for eating.
1. Moderate Portions: If you eat moderate portion sizes, it's much easier to consume the foods you want while maintaining a healthy diet. Serving sizes are sometimes hard to gauge, so don't be afraid to measure or weigh your food to ensure you're not overeating. But what's better than measuring your food is sensing, or feeling the fullness as you eat. You can sense the fullness of a few bites of avocado (high in good fat calories) much faster than a few bites of lettuce.
2. Eat Slow: The human body has not changed much since the Paleolithic days when our ancestors would hunt and gather food. During those primitive times, our ancestors would eat based on availability and impulse. This would sometimes mean a 3,000 calorie meal, followed by days without eating at all. Although the human body is resilient, it takes time for the brain to realize the stomach is full. Don't fall into the natural instincts of eating what's in front of us. Eat slow and know when you are full, before you eat too much.
3. Consume Nutrient-Rich Foods: Your body needs over 40 different types of nutrients to maintain optimal health, and no single food source supplies all of them. Your daily food intake should include whole-grains and other complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, and protein, such as meat, soy, or whey. How much you should consume depends on your caloric needs. Use resources like the Food Guide Pyramid and the Nutrition Facts label food packaging to determine the nutrients of certain foods. One greatest tools to help learn and track nutritional intake is
4. Eat More Whole Foods: Surveys show most Americans don't eat enough whole foods like grains, fruits and vegetables. By whole foods we mean real food that has not been processed and refined with additives or chemicals. These foods are what our bodies were designed to eat. It's only been a couple hundred years since Americans started consuming processed, additive-infused foods. It has also only been a couple hundred years since mysterious diseases and cancers have become prevalent.
5. Balance Your Food Choices: Not every food choice has to be perfect or optimal for your health. We are all faced with temptations and unhealthy options from time to time. The trick is to balance and moderate these foods, such as those that are high in fat, salt or sugar. Although you should have a daily diet focus, your food choices over several days should fit together into a healthy eating pattern.
6. Don't Eliminate, Simply Reduce Certain Foods: A lot of people consume certain foods purely for pleasure. If some of your favorite types of foods are high in fat or sugar, the key is to moderate how much of these foods you consume as well as how often you eat them. Again, this might take some self-discipline. However, eliminating unhealthy foods might hinder your peace of mind and personal satisfaction. Instead, reduce and moderate how much of these foods you eat.
7. Gradually Make Changes: There are no easy answers to developing healthy eating habits, so don't expect to revamp your eating habits overnight. Too much change too fast can result in a quick turnaround. Rather, begin to remedy excess eating or nutrient deficiencies with modest, gradual changes. This will better promote lasting eating habits.
Do you have any tips for health eating habits that you'd like to share? Let us know below!
15 Facts About Allergies You Probably Didn't Know
Allergies are hypersensitivity disorders of the immune system. You get an allergic reaction when your immune system reacts to substances that are normally harmless (allergen). Allergic reactions are predictable, rapid, and acquired. There are several things about allergies that you probably did not know.
1) Based on statistics from the National Institute of Health, 1 in every 2 U.S. citizens has at least one allergy.
2) The body's immune system runs on white blood cells. These white blood cells are responsible for fighting diseases and sustaining optimal conditions for the body. The white blood cells sometimes lie dormant for years and launch attacks where an attack is not called for. They can be taken to act like the small bands of Japanese soldiers who did not hear about the end of the Second World War for years and who would attack peaceful villagers in guerrilla attacks years after the war had ended.
3) Being allergic to penicillin is the scariest of all allergies. The allergy often causes fatal anaphylaxis. To many people, the most disgusting allergy is allergy to cockroaches.
4) Protein causes most food allergies. The body's immune system responds negatively to some proteins. Studies are however, showing that it is possible to distract the immune system from rejecting proteins. Parasites that will not harm the body can be injected to distract the immune system from proteins. A 2004 experiment by Trinity College, Dublin team worked.
5) The experiment by the team from Trinity College, Dublin was well received in the scientific world. Jasper Lawrence, a British entrepreneur, in 2007 visited Cameroon and acquired hookworms by walking barefoot near pit latrines. He hoped that as the body fought the hookworms, his seasonal allergies and asthma would be defeated. This too, worked.
6) Jasper Lawrence has ventured into the business of shipping parasites to different parts of the world (but not the U.S. where this is prohibited by the FDA). He sells 35 hookworm larvae for $3,000.
7) The hookworm larvae are applied to a bandage and the bandage slapped on. The hookworms will wriggle through the skin after several minutes.
8) Allergies to food cause fatalities. In the U.S., between 150 and 200 people die each year as a result of allergies to such foods as nuts, shellfish, eggs, fish, and milk.
9) Hannes Harms is in the process of coming up with edible radio-frequency ID tags. The industrial engineer who is based in London is designing tags that will be mixed with meals to record the meals' composition. You will then get warnings whenever you are about to eat meals that have ingredients you are allergic to.
10) Walking in the grass could lead to tick bites. Tick bites can cause the body's immune system to produce alpha-gal antibodies, meaning you will not be able to eat lamb, beef, and pork again.
11) 40,000 women in the U.S. are believed to be allergic to the male ejaculate. The condition is called seminal plasma hypersensitivity. This can lead to social and psychology issues as well.
12) Women who suffer from autoimmune progesterone dermatitis can get allergic rashes as a result of their own sex hormones.
13) Your dander can cause an allergic rash in cats and dogs as well as to other humans.
14) Many people in the U.S. are allergic to ragweed pollen. The ragweed pollen season has been lengthening over the years, thanks to climate change.
15) Nickel can trigger a metal allergy that will last a lifetime. Avoid nickel coated jewelry.
Do you know of any interesting facts about allergies that you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Bird Watching
The mixture of forest, canyons, grassland plains, Lakes and marshes provide habitats for a wide range of bird life. The wet months see the arrival of the Eurasian migrants at the pools: White storks, yellow wagtails and swallows mingle with the local inhabitants: stilts, saddle-bill storks, ibis, ruff and various species of duck. Over 500 species of birds have been recorded within the NCA. The edges of Lake Magadi within the crater, Lake Ndutu, and the Empakaai Crater Lake look pinkish from a distance due to the large flock of greater and lesser flamingoes. Lesser flamingos fly in to feed from their breeding grounds at Lake Natron. And the pools around Mandusi swamp are rich with water birds such as waders, storks, ducks and herons. Distinctive grassland birds such as ostriches, kori bustards, crowned cranes, rosy-throated longclaws, augur buzzards, crested eagles and the localized egyptian vultures are plenty. The rest of the NCA also has areas which will reward the keen ornithologists. |
Sustaining personal finances is a lot difficult if they are not thought over and planned well. There are a lot of factors that should be considered before any drastic steps in personal budgeting are made. But ultimately, the goal of sustainable personal finances is to create a source of income as well as personal savings that can help in the near future and even during the retirement years.
. Lifestyle Check
Personal preferences such as hobbies and way of living should be checked if they are according to the source of income. Your personal preferences will affect everything – what services to avail, what products to purchase and the even the quality of things that we prefer.
This fact is being hazed from most consumers through credit cards. This piece of plastic will never tell the consumer if he or she has spent enough for the month. Credit cards can still be used until they are maxed out. That behavior would result to unmonitored spending which would greatly affect personal budgeting.
. Personal Savings
The source of income should not only support the lifestyle but also will have some extra which could be placed in a savings account. The savings account will be used as personal budget which could be invested in stocks, bonds or just let it stay in the bank to gather interest. By placing a percentage of monthly income as personal savings, it will slowly accumulate and could be more than enough for other investment.
Employers also provide assistance to their employees for the future through 401(k). This is often the preferred system for employees in order for them to have enough when they eventually retire. Whether its 401(k) or Roth, these systems provide more than enough savings if they are started as early as possible.
. Source of Income
A single job should be able to support a single person until retirement years. However, a single job might not be enough to support a family with three kids and a stay at home wife. A single job with a steady career might be enough to pay for the monthly expenses and a little bit for personal savings with 401 (k) but the income will never be enough to support the kids especially when they opt for college.
Additional source of income should be considered. Skill and experience should be reconsidered and evaluated if they could be used in other ventures that would yield an income. If there is not any skill which could be used as a source of income, a short training should be considered. This would require temporary additional spending but that skill could be treated as capital for another source of income. The additional skill might also be used for career development.
. Preparing for the Worst
The personal savings should be used solely for personal purposes and never during emergencies. That is why it is important to prepare for the worst. An event that could lead to the house’s destruction, loss of ability to secure an income or job displacement should be anticipated. This is where insurance policies should be considered. With the help of insurance, the savings for the future is protected while emergencies will be covered without additional spending.
There are those who prefer starting an emergency fund. This is basically a savings account which could be availed anytime if there are certain emergencies. Although the emergency fund might take time before they could be used, easy access to the said fund makes it worth it.
Always aim to have a sustainable financial situation. This will not only help your personal finances but also for the people that you love and for the future. |
Long-Term Schizophrenia: Degeneration vs Regeneration
The prognosis in schizophrenia has been colored by a number of findings.
1. Symptomatic-In the natural history of schizophrenia, the patients become more withdrawn and they seem to be more refractory to any kind of intervention. An example of this is the “Tenure Man,” who appeared to be more fixed in his symptoms and behavior than he had been when first observed by Paul, ten years previously.
2. Atrophy of the brain: over a period of several years or decades, there is a progressive thinning of the brain in those individuals, who have not recovered.
3. Negative Symptom individuals, in particular, show a decline of as much as two standard deviations below normal on neurocognitive tests. With all of this, it would seem to indicate that these individuals would be refractory to psychosocial interventions; however, we have observed improvement in individual cases. For example, the “Tenure Man,” but more compelling is a recent finding that individuals with the longest standing course of schizophrenia start to show a significant improvement, over the control group, during the follow-up period. This would seem to show that psychotherapy can have a delayed effect on these individuals, which may not show up for 18-24 months. Keith can send you the details on this.
Textbooks of psychiatry, in general, portray chronic schizophrenia as a deteriorating disorder; however, our clinical experience and our randomized controlled trial suggest that with Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy, these individuals can become rejuvenated. I would like to know what has happened to the brain in these rejuvenated individuals. Is it possible that new gray matter, especially, in the synapses has occurred? |
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Posts tagged ‘master rule’
Ruled or Represented?
I remember debating in high school social studies whether elected representatives were supposed to act in accordance with the wishes of the people who elected them or if they were supposed to make their best judgment about what would be right having been elected on the supposition that they were not so much the holder of every position of those who voted for them but rather considered the best person at making the right judgments. Elected officials have even explained votes by saying they had to do what their constituents wanted even if they disagreed. This debate still seems within the domain of different perspectives of representative democracy.
A friend posted something on Facebook about how our rulers were deciding among themselves and I was struck by how very true that was. In a more emphatic sense than has been the case before, it seems that we are no longer appointing representatives, we are being ruled.
Some people might say it has long been that way, and they are not wrong. The American system has long tried to keep the people at some remove from the real decisions. Consider the Senate’s composition of two senators from each state no matter how small. This calculus led to our situation today in which 51 Republican Senators represent 143 million people while 49 Democratic Senators represent 182 million people. Gerrymandering is so severe that there is some fear that the Democrats will win a majority of votes for House seats while losing the House. We never did really support the One Person, One Vote principle.
But that’s not the only reason that we are ruled rather than represented. Public choice theory is the idea that elected officials themselves could be considered and studied as economic actors, as having their own interests that drive their actions. While there is a lot of debate about public choice theory this definition is uncontroversial. In the summary of it at the beginning of this article in Forbes, the author cites the theory itself as if it is conventional wisdom and so clearly unrelated to say, promoting segregation. But I hold public choice theory at least in part responsible for our situation of being ruled. Public choice theory appeared to study a phenomenon that it was in fact producing by suggesting that elected officials needed to be self-interested rather than concerned with good representation. Coupled with the power of big money in electoral politics, elected officials became motivated to be invested in holding on to their seats and thus to vote the way the money was rather than in response to people. They had to associate with the people who give them money and became invested in the moneyed interests.
I think one element in this is the way that elected officials–Democrats as much as anyone–act out of fear rather than out of courage and thoughtful commitment to what would serve the citizenry. They see midterm elections as occasions in which they have to pick up a tiny slice of voters who might swing their votes instead of seeing the opportunity in the wide swath of people who never vote because they know the rulers rule for themselves. They develop platforms that appeal to the middle, people stay home because they haven’t motivated anyone to vote, and then they blame the nonvoters, when they could be speaking to the concerns of the people who never vote.
Public choice theory led politicians themselves to stop thinking in terms of what was good for their constituents and literally encouraged them to think in terms of their own self-interests. They became rulers instead of representatives. They became invested in not sharing the rule, in not taking turns.
If we want representatives, we need to eliminate the electoral college and change the composition algorithm of the Senate, both anti-democratic mechanisms to preserve the power of the few. But we also need to change the way that politicians think about their position away from public choice theory and toward civil service. For this shift to happen, they need to be disincentivized to think in terms of their own self-interest apart from the interests of those they rule. Economists create ideal systems and then study the world as if it fits in that system and try to explain it accordingly, all the while that system produces the incentives it needs for it to really work that way so that their studies would be accurate. Public choice theory is no different. |
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Introduction to Metal Buildings
Introduction to Metal Buildings
The concept of housing has changed drastically in modern times. Making much headway in the realm of housing are commercial metal buildings. Here's a brief look at what their types are, where they are used, and what their pros and cons are.
Neil Valentine D'Silva
First, it was straw and wood. Then came mud and clay. Stone followed, which was later replaced by brick and mortar. But in recent times, building construction has undergone a drastic change. Today, we have metal buildings. Metal was used in old buildings too, but the current trend has shifted towards making entire buildings of metal, especially steel, or making the metal frames to support sheets of toughened plastic, laminates, or some such material. Here, we shall restrict our discussions to buildings made almost entirely of metal. We shall also discuss buildings in which frames, beams, columns, and even walls and roofs are made out of metals.
Metal buildings are popularly used in external structures built around homes, such as garages, tool sheds, work sheds, storage sheds, and cabins for security staff, etc. They are also used extensively for constructing commercial buildings. Recently, owing to the stability of these buildings under the onslaught of natural calamities like the hurricanes, people are also taking to living entirely inside metal buildings.
The types of metal buildings are described according to their shapes. There are four main types depending on this classification. The shapes described are as seen from their front (gate) side:-
• P-type Metal Buildings - These have straight and perpendicular walls, and their roof is in the form of a rounded triangular arch. The arch shape is apt for regions of moderate snowfall, as the snow would slide off the ceiling owing to its shape. Also, the high walls allow bigger vehicles to navigate easily.
• S-type Metal Buildings - These have straight and perpendicular walls, but their roof is designed to be semicircular in shape. They are suitable for areas where the snowfall is moderate. They are also suitable for maneuvering trucks and large vehicles due to their generous inside heights.
• Q-type Metal Buildings - Q-type buildings have no straight walls. They are wholly designed as a large semicircle. These are not suitable for navigating vehicles inside, but they can be used as garages for single vehicles or boats, or as warehouses, and are ideal for stocking grains and hay.
• A-type Metal Buildings - These are the latest models, designed specifically for places that are prone to very heavy snowfall. Their walls slope inwards, and they have a roof that is designed in a rounded triangular form, much like the P-type. Though their inner area is less, they are perfect for extreme weather conditions.
Installing metal buildings is usually a breeze, and most owners do it themselves using do-it-yourself guides. Metal buildings are available in prefabricated formats - the different parts will be shipped to you, along with all the fittings and accessories required to erect the building. With the help of an elaborate guide, replete with several instructional diagrams, the installation can be completed within a single day. Most companies also offer installation services for people who are not up to the task. Generally, the installation is free or comes at a nominal cost.
Pros and Cons
The increasing popularity of metal buildings definitely indicates that they must have several benefits. Indeed, as commercial buildings they are very cheap and easy to put up. They are also sturdy during most kind of weather conditions, and hence they can provide good protection for the wares stocked inside them. Also, since they are mostly in a prefabricated format, they can be easily transported from one place to another. Maintenance of the buildings also becomes easy - just a coat of paint and weatherproofing materials is required when they start looking jaded.
On the negative side, metal buildings made out of iron are prone to rust very quickly, despite the rustproof paints used. Steel is preferable, but that would be a bit costlier than the iron buildings. Also, since these buildings are made of metal, the cheaper versions might have some jagged edges that could cause injury. However, the reputed metal building makers look minutely into these details, and buildings made by them are quite safe to use, even for residential purposes.
There is also a kind of stigma associated with people living in metal buildings because they are so inexpensive. But, if you are living in a region that is prone to natural calamities, then these buildings could be a good idea. They cannot be made as beautiful as our traditional brick and mortar buildings, but that's a matter of perspective. On a conclusive note, these buildings are excellent for commercial purposes, but for residential purposes, their utility would depend on the person who is planning to live inside one. |
Tag Archives: stereotypes and hip hop
Best arguments from the supreme court hip hop brief
I grew up with the notion that hip hop was opposition to mainstream culture. Regardless of lyrical content, hip hop (and hip hop fans) were deeply mocked and policed for years. Rappers might have been saying mundane things but if you rhymed over beats, you carried the weight of the genre.
You could get in trouble for playing hip hop lyrics. Radio stations would proudly broadcast that they played everything “except rap.” There was a kind of stigma that stuck with hip hop artists and fans. Hip hop concerts weren’t booked at Madison Square Garden until Jay-Z broke through with the Black Album.
It seems so clearly racist from my current perspective.
We might add in capitalism. The nineties saw a rush to absorb, market and exploit hip hop culture by advertisers. The stereotypes and old discourse lingered as hip hop became mainstream culture.
It doesn’t surprise me that the choice of hip hop as a medium stigmatizes the participant. (It saddens me).
Taylor Bell, a thoughtful high school senior was informed that two PE coaches were commenting and touching female students, Bell wrote a rap song. Instead of praising this whistle blower, Bell was kicked out of school and had to go to an alternative school for his senior year.
His eventual lawsuit hinges on the ability of a high school student to express their political views outside of school. This seems like a first amendment no-brainer to me . . . so of course it is before the Supreme Court.
Killer Mike (Michael Render), Erik Nielson, Travis Gosa and Charis E. Kubrin submitted an supporting brief to the court. Here are my favorite parts:
1. It is actually the bad words that disturb administrators, not the report of sexual harassment.
Following a lengthy decision-making process, Bell was suspended and sent to an “alternative school” by the school’s Disciplinary Committee. A Committee member suggested that Bell’s use of profanity in the song was the reason for his suspension: “Censor that stuff. Don’t put all those bad words in it . . . The bad words ain’t making it better.”
Source: Microsoft Word – 151206 Taylor Bell amicus 12-17-15.docx – Taylor-Bell-Amicus.pdf
2. Hip hop is an alternative to fighting.
Hip hop—a cultural movement comprised of performance arts such as MCing (“rapping”), DJing (“spinning”), breakdancing (“b-boying”), and graffiti (“writing”)—began as a response to these dire conditions. Pioneers like Afrika Bambaataa (once a gang leader himself) used spiritual and political consciousness (“knowledge of self”) to develop hip hop as a tool for ending gang violence by providing an outlet that transformed the inherent competitiveness and territoriality of gang life into something artistic and productive. Dance competitions, rap battles, and other competitive performances replaced actual fighting , and rap in particular eventually became an alternative, legal source of income for blacks and Latinos otherwise cut off from labor market opportunities. Travis L. Gosa, The Fifth Element: Knowledge , in T HE CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO H IP -H OP 56, 58-61 (Justin A. Williams ed., 2015).
3. Bell was intending to spread the word via hop hop.
Like Tupac Shakur, Taylor Bell was using his music to effect changes . In the final portion of the video for his song PSK da Truth , Bell says that in rapping about sexual misconduct at his high school, he is trying to raise awareness about similar injustices around the world: “It’s something that’s been going on, you know, worldwide for a long time that I just felt like, you kn ow, I needed to address.”
4. Threatening gun metaphors are widely used in hip hop.
When Bell raps, “fucking with the wrong one gon’ get a pistol down your mouth (Boww!),” he is channeling well-worn phrases used by popular and established artists like Lil Wayne (“Pistol in your mouth, I can not make out what you tryin’ to say”), Gucci Mane (“Put the pistol in ya mouth like dentures”), Waka Flocka Flame (“Niggas know I got a pistol in his mouth”), E-40 (“Put the pistol in his mouth and make it hurt, ooh”), and Scarface (“Put a pistol in his mouth, and blow his fucking brains out”). L IL WAYNE , Bill Gates, on I A M NOT A HUMAN BEING (Young Money, Cash Money & Universal Motown 2010); GUCCI MANE , Texas Margarita, on BRICK FACTORY : VOLUME I (available for download from http://www.livemixtapes.com 2014); WAKA FLOCKA FLAME , Where It At, on DU FLOCKA RANT : HALF -TIME S HOW (available for download on http://www.livemixtapes.com 2013); SCARFACE , Diary of a Madman, on M R . SCARFACE IS BACK (Rap-A-Lot Records 1991); E-40, It’s On, On Sight, on T HE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE (Jive & Sick Wid It Records 1998).
5. Discourse influences stereotypes about hip hop: experimental studies
A handful of studies have examined the direct impact of these stereotypes. In these studies, people who are given identical sets of lyrics—but who are told these lyrics come from different musical genres—are asked about their perceptions of the lyrics. One study, for example, presented respondents with sexually explicit rap lyrics or sexually explicit non-rap lyrics. Importantly, the researchers discovered that the sexually explicit music was considered more offensive and less artistic when it was rap compared to when it was non-rap. Dixon & Linz, supra , at 234-35.
In a related study, participants read a set of lyrics from folk group Kingston Trio’s 1960 song, Bad Man’s Blunder , and were told that the lyrics were either from a rap or country music song. After reading the lyrics, participants evaluated them and responded to questions about the offensiveness of the song, the threatening nature of the song, the need for regulation of the song, and if the song would incite violence. The responses were significantly more negative when the lyrics were represented as 24 rap, revealing that the same lyrical passage viewed as acceptable in a country song is considered dangerous and offensive when identified as a rap song. Carrie B. Fried, Who’s Afraid of Rap: Differential Reactions to Music Lyrics , 29 J. A PPLIED SOC . PSYCH . 705, 711 (1999).
All of this research reveals that stereotypical assumptions play a far greater role in our decision- making than we may realize. And some of this stereotyping may account for what happened in this case. If we don’t work to acknowledge and, when necessary, combat these stereotypes, the consequences can be serious and life altering— particularly for a young man like Taylor Bell.
I think this brief is a strong set of arguments. It also makes several key arguments about hip hop and metaphoric violence that need further discussion. Good opportunity for amplification and discussion.
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Filed under capitalism, communication, hip hop, music, punishment, representation, resistance, rhetoric, sexism |
Polio virus contamination what, why, what next: an explainer
polio vaccine, polio virus contamination, polio II virus
Konnie Huq in Lucknow during the November Immunization days in Northern India..India has been engaged in a campaign to eradicate polio in India which target the high-risk area of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with polio immunization drives every 2 months. (photo Jean-Marc Giboux)
Reports of contamination of the polio virus put India’s polio free status at stake
Contamination of over one lakh doses of polio vaccine with a polio virus variant long thought to have been eliminated, has caused a major public health panic in India. Reports suggest the contamination is serious enough to put India’s precious four year old polio free status at stake.
Medibulletin takes you through the controversy; what went wrong and what are the implications.
What has happened?
Three batches of polio vaccines, have been found to have been contaminated by the polio II virus. Some of these vaccines are suspected to have been administered to children in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana as the virus has been detected in the stools of some children during random checks. The contamination essentially means that a long forgotten virus has suddenly made a comeback into the public health conversation.
India eliminated wild polio II contamination in 1999 and was certified polio free in 2014
Why is that a cause for worry?
India eliminated wild polio II contamination in 1999 and was certified polio free in 2014. The cleansing of Polio II was thought to be so complete that the vaccines currently administered are not for polio II but only for the strains I and III. This means that incursion of polio II was an uncontrolled event and the amount of exposure is unknown. A vaccine by definition is something that introduces its recipients to a possible antigen but only in controlled amounts. This is to ensure that the body develops antibodies to fight the infection but does not get the disease. However when it is a contamination the amount is not controlled and can at least theoretically lead to an infection.
What action has been taken?
The vaccine is manufactured by a company called Biomed, based out of Ghaziabad. One person has already been arrested but several others are absconding. The Union health ministry has formed a three member committee to look in on the issue. The World Health Organization though has played down the risks arising out of the contamination citing the high routine polio immunisation coverage in the country.
What next?
The government has already ordered that all children who received the contaminated vaccine should be vaccinated against Polio II but it is a difficult task to trace all of them. Public health officials have to be on high alert wherever these vaccines were given.
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The Mothership Awaits: Startup Societies In The Sky
by Aleksa Burmazovic / February 1, 2018
Competitions now exist for the invention and trial-testing of single-person aircraft powered by nothing more than pedals or other human torque – impressive! When thinking of “aircraft” we usually think of heavier-than-air transporters such as the airplane or helicopter. Those a bit more creatively minded may envision gliders or autogyros, which are low-cost alternatives to their less green counterparts. However, one seemingly outdated and obsolete solution to air travel may soon be resurfacing with surprising vigor.
Lighter-than-air travel first originated in the 18th century, after the scientific writings of Henry Cavendish examined the properties of hydrogen gas. It was posited not soon after that a way of achieving manned flight would be possible. The first recorded manned flight (that didn’t end in disaster) was that of the Montgolfier brothers, in Paris, 1783. Helium and reinforcing the gas envelope are used to avoid unfortunate accidents.
Balloons and blimps, without any reinforcing structure but the internal air pressure to retain its shape during flight. The gas need not be contained in one large container, as “ballonets” are a valid alternative.
Why on earth would we want such a thing? It’s cold up there in the sky, and we get all the good views we need from satellite images! The skeptical reader is correct – such a development would be costly, impractical, and perhaps unsafe. Startup Societies are all about innovation in governance, and anything that can be achieved in a special economic zone on land or a new seasteading project can more than suffice, so what’s this with taking to the sky? Seasteads, Antarctic dome cities, underground facilities? Surely SSF must be joking with these wide-eyed pipe dreams.
We are advocating for a genuine city in the clouds, with its own economy, permanent settlements and sovereignty. Such a society is difficult to envision – what advantage does mere altitude present? Moreover, how do we deal with the inevitable problem of property rights, establishing legal independence and similar issues? As always, creativity is all that’s necessary for identifying the underserviced fields of governance and other markets.
This type of startup society may indeed be digital in nature, a type of startup society which we will discuss in a future article. Residents of such a society need not ever set foot on the craft whence their citizenship stems – it is the sovereignty and independence of such a society that provides the citizenship (with all that entails) for a person bearing their identification, which is obtained through contract. Governance need not be grounded in soil – what we really expect of a government is the enforcement of contracts and control of crime, do we not? If so, the sky-society in question would do well to arrange with other startup societies such agreements that the sky-society’s citizens have their disputes settled by an agreed-upon third party.
At a certain altitude, wireless transmission of data becomes extremely lucrative – internet providers have been using satellite coverage for broadband internet supplying since the late 90’s. Advances in materials technology and computers will only bolster the case for airborne data nodes. Why not simply move the server farms, data hubs and cloud computing infrastructure into the sky? Interferometric (that’s fancy talk for” tamper-proof”) laser communication can establish safe, data-intensive (up to 50mbps) streams of data for almost no upkeep. Until such time comes that wireless data communication can become more practical to house on the surface or otherwise, satellites and airborne information nodes remain a powerful solution.
“NASA observation balloon from the 1950’s”
Brass tacks: Let’s presume that we have a massive airship-city that we’re prepared to launch. What’s to say that government fighter jets won’t shoot it down for our own safety and the safety of the 80,000 flights that move through U.S. airspace every single day? Within the U.S., there exists a classification of airspace into several groups: A, B, C, D, E and G. E is the largest of the group, made up of the airspace 18,000 feet above sea level up to 22 nautical miles from the coast of U.S. soil (including territories such as American Samoa, Puerto Rico etc.). Unless otherwise specified, if it is controlled airspace and not A, B, C or D – it’s E airspace. “If it is controlled airspace” – this is where the interesting things happen.
There exists a class of airspace called uncontrolled airspace. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, class G airspace is the kind that’s too close to the ground for the authorities to monitor (and don’t need to bother with) as well as “unclaimed” airspace that’s 22 nautical miles out of the coast. The laws aren’t clear (as current nations do not want to invite competition in governance) how the independence process can or might work – seasteads must exist outside the exclusive economic zone (220 nautical miles) but it is not clear whether a floating (in the air) settlement outside of controlled airspace has more autonomy than a seastead at the same distance.
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Fun recycling facts for children
Fun facts about materials and waste that we can recycle.
Fun facts about cans
1. Aluminium cans are lighter than steel, and the base of an aluminium can is shinier. A magnet will stick to a steel can, but it will not stick to an aluminium can.
2. Making one can from raw materials uses the same amount of energy that it takes to recycle 20 cans.
3. The average UK household uses around 600 steel cans every year.
4. The aluminium drinks can is the world’s most recycled packaging container – worldwide over 50% of aluminium cans are recycled.
5. Recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to power your TV for three hours.
fun facts about waste
Fun facts about glass
1. Around 14 million glass bottles and jars are sent to landfill in the UK every day.
2. Recycling one glass bottle or jar saves enough energy to power your computer for 20 minutes.
3. Glass can be recycled again and again – containers made from recycled glass are of the same high quality as those made from new raw materials.
4. Green glass bottles are made with up to 90% recycled glass.
5. The glass we recycle in the UK each year saves enough energy to launch 10 space shuttle missions
Fun facts about paper
1. The average person living in the UK uses around 200kg of paper every year.
2. Paper and card make up 40% of the waste collected for recycling from UK households.
3. For every tonne of recycled newspaper, we save 17 trees.
4. Recycling paper saves almost 80% of the energy needed to make paper from new raw materials.
5. It can take just seven days for old magazines and newspapers to be recycled into new ones.
Fun facts about plastic
1. In the UK we throw away around 455,000 tonnes of plastic bottles every year – equivalent to around 9.1 billion bottles.
2. It takes just 25 two-litre plastic bottles to make a recycled fleece jacket.
3. Recycling just one plastic bottle saves enough energy to power a 60W lightbulb for six hours.
4. Around 11% of our household waste is plastic and 40% of this is plastic bottles.
5. There are around 500 plastic bottles in a typical bale and you need around 20,000 plastic bottles to make one tonne.
Fun facts about waste in the UK
1. Each UK household produces over 1 tonne of waste per year. This is the weight of a small car.
2. In less than 2 hours the UK produces enough waste to fill the Albert
4.On average, every person in the UK throws away their own body weight in waste every seven weeks.
5. Up to 60% of the waste that ends up in the bin could be recycled.
Read our 23 part guide for recycling ideas for schools and children
Chapters in this book
1. Why do we recycle?
2. Recycling: Some facts and figures
3. Recycling: More facts and figures
4. All about food waste
5. Recycling ideas for schools
6. What’s global warming about?
7. Recycling at home
8. Why we need to stop using landfill
9. Fly-tipping
10. What happens to my old TV?
11. What happens to recycled glass?
12. Why can’t we just burn our rubbish?
13. Recycling and environmental ideas for the classroom
14. Things you didn’t know you can recycle
15. Tips for living green
16. Can we get solar power?
17. Q&A with a refuse collector
18. Recycling drink cans
19. Recycling steel cans
20. Paper recycling
21. Fun recycling facts for kids
22. Facts about landfil
23. How to reduce waste in Schools |
Is a gap between two teeth, usually between the two maxillary incisors. It can be caused by many factors such as missing teeth, oversized labial frenulum, periodontal disease, bad habits. It can be treated differently depending on the cause. A gap can appear at any age, but it is most commonly present in early age. It can also be present between any two teeth and anywhere in the mouth. Some people even have several gaps both in the upper and lower jaws.
Reasons for Diastema:
There are several factors that can cause the appearance of diastema or a gap between two teeth.
The first one is genetics. We inherit the size of the jaws from one parent and the size of the teeth from the other one. Some people simply inherit large jaws with small teeth, which results with spacing. It can appear anywhere in the mouth. Diastema is a hereditary thing, so if one of your parents had it, the chances are that you might also have it. Some people can be born with atypical teeth, for example very small lateral incisors. That can also lead to gaps.
Extracted teeth:
The second common reason is the extraction of a tooth. Once a tooth is removed, it leaves an empty gap. Other teeth tend to move towards the empty space which results in a spacing between the teeth. That is why every removed tooth should be treated with a proper restoration in time and the gap should be closed to avoid migration of surrounding teeth.
Periodontal Disease:
Periodontal disease is another factor that can lead to diastema. Because of this condition, teeth can become loose and migrate. People often lose a number of teeth in their mouth which creates spaces and makes things even worse. Unfortunately, the periodontal disease appears very common among people, and these diastemas are very hard to treat.
Oversized Labial Frenulum:
This is surgically treated with a very simple and easy procedure.
Bad Habits:
Bad habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting can often cause diastemas. That is why they should be treated immediately, and kids should wear functional appliances to fix the problem.
dental smile
The treatment always depends on the reason. If you notice that your child has gaps, or that you have them, you should turn to your dentist. Once you’ve determined the real reason, the treatment options include orthodontic treatment, composite restorations, veneers, crowns, and bridges. For kids, orthodontic treatment is the way to go.
diastema closure
Some types of diastema cannot be prevented. If the gaps are caused by genetics, there is nothing to prevent. But when the factors include periodontal diseases and habits there is a proper way to prevent them. For example, gum disease is prevented with proper oral hygiene. Brushing teeth twice a day and flossing is very important. If the patient is already suffering from a periodontal disease they should immediately contact a dentist. Bad habits happen usually at an early age. Once you notice your child is doing something repeatedly you can act before it turns into a habit. |
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Kansas City MO 64131
Cindy Maddera
Does any one remember that movie The Thing? Well, we may be this close to turning that movie into a true story. A group of geologists from the University of Calgary’s Arctic Institute of North America recently discovered alien-like life forms living in yellow snow (watch out where the huskies go). The mysterious yellow snow bank was discovered on Ellesmere Island, northwest of Greenland. Temperatures there hang out around -5 degrees Fahrenheit so it’s no surprise that there are fewer than 200 permanent residents. The area is known for natural wonders like the fossils of a transitional fish on land animal found earlier this year.
The yellow snow comes from a sulfur spring that’s bubbling up under the glacier. The team found 20 different strains of bacteria growing in the sulfur spring. Now it gets a little freaky. You see Ellesmere Island is very similar to Europa, Jupiter’s ice-covered moon. Scientists at NASA know that the moon has an oxygen atmosphere and suspect that there is sulfur present as well. The 20 new strains of bacteria found right here on our planet, may be very similar to something possibly found on Europa.
There are no immediate plans for a NASA mission to Europa, but there are several comities within NASA that are lobbying for the mission. The site in Ellesmere provides scientists with a working model of what to look for on Europa. My question is how do we know that the bacteria on Ellesmere didn’t come from Europa in the first place? |
Writing with blue meabing
Face, number two on our list is blue in the face. It seems that there are blue-skinned mummies from Egypt, (17) and perhaps the lack of genetic diversity among the ancient elite caused a disorder called methemoglobinemia. The meaning of blue in this expression originates in medicine. One is called argyria, a condition that turns the skin a bluish color because of chronic exposure to silver. (8) m tells us the phrase blue plate originates from 1940 to 1945, (9) but it may be the 50 or so years older than that. When someone does something until she is blue in the face, she is feeling frustrated and exasperated. (7) So maybe we should start talking about brown chip stocks instead. EnglishFrench, afrikaans WordAlbanian WordArabic WordBengali WordChinese WordCroatian WordCzech WordDanish WordDutch WordEnglish WordFinnish WordFrench WordGerman WordGreek WordHindi WordHungarian WordIcelandic WordIndonesian WordItalian WordJapanese WordKorean WordLatin WordMalay WordMalayalam WordMarathi WordNepali WordNorwegian WordPolish WordPortuguese WordRomanian WordRussian WordSerbian WordSlovak WordSpanish WordSwahili WordSwedish WordTamil WordTelugu WordThai WordTurkish WordUkrainian WordUzbek WordVietnamese WordWelsh. When you go to a diner for a blue plate special, your meal might be served on a blue plate with several sunken compartments for potatoes, meat, and greens. Sentences with the word blue, what is the meaning of the word blue? The second disorder can be traced back thousands of years. Oxford, university, or the title given to him or her for this. Thesaurus: synonyms and related words, american. C UK a person who has played a sport for, oxford, university against Cambridge University or for Cambridge University against. All words2-letter words3-letter words4-letter words5-letter words6-letter words7-letter words8-letter words9-letter words10-letter words11-letter words12-letter words13-letter words14-letter words. Another word forOpposite ofMeaning ofRhymes withSentences withFind word formsTranslate from EnglishTranslate to EnglishWords With FriendsScrabbleCrossword / CodewordWords starting withWords ending withWords containing exactlyWords containing lettersPronounceFind conjugationsFind names. (2) The anchor explained how states that voted for the Republican incumbent, Gerald Ford, were going to be blue and those in favor of the Democratic challenger, Jimmy Carter, would be red. The phrase blue chip, as in blue chip stocks, refers to large, well-established companies that are likely to be household names and to pay dividends to stockholders. (4) Examples are cereal maker General Mills and package deliverer United Parcel Service. Meaning of nameOrigin of nameNames meaningNames starting withNames of origin blue, what is another word for blue? Our third phrase or expression containing the color blue refers to money. How do you pronounce the word blue? (15) Two medical disorders may be also relevant to the association between blue and regality. When you win a blue ribbon, you've earned the top honor, (11) and the term dates from 1645. Plural ofSingular ofPast tense ofPresent tense ofVerb forAdjective forAdverb forNoun for. Today's episode is a fun look at the color blue and 10 different meanings of or associations with that word. No official standard was adopted, however, and so the public became confused. (16) Silver is expensive and was more likely to be used by rich people than the masses.
Or more liberal, why blue and not some other color. Blue Plate Special, it is also possible that the with association between blue and royalty stems from the simple fact that the blood in the veins of pale individuals appears blue through the skin. Next on our list is the blue plate special. Blue poker chips were very valuable. States, states, a mother can tell her slovenly son to clean up his room until she is blue in the face. We hear about red states and blue states. The next meaning associated with the word blue moves us from inexpensive food to noble blood. Unfortunately, whenever thereapos, whereas blue connotes Democratic, nearby Rhymes. Are brown, these days, letapos, english uses several blue themed expressions that have this elevated connotation.
What is the meaning of feeling blue?Learn this English idiom along with other words and phrases at Writing Explained.The use of the color blue to mean sadness goes all the way back to the 1300s.
Extended essay minimum word count science Writing with blue meabing
Thesaurus, the skin turns bluish, such as when talking breathlessly or angrily. Synonyms and related words blue noun sports. Blue chip came to mean of high value 6 and 20 years later came to be associated with valuable companies. To AfrikaansTo AlbanianTo AmharicTo ArabicTo ArmenianTo AzerbaijaniTo BasqueTo BelarusianTo BengaliTo BosnianTo BulgarianTo CatalanTo CebuanoTo ChichewaTo ChineseTo CorsicanTo CroatianTo CzechTo DanishTo DutchTo EsperantoTo EstonianTo FarsiTo FilipinoTo FinnishTo FrenchTo FrisianTo GalicianTo GeorgianTo GermanTo GreekTo GujaratiTo Haitian CreoleTo HausaTo HebrewTo HindiTo HmongTo HungarianTo IcelandicTo IgboTo IndonesianTo IrishTo ItalianTo. From AfrikaansFrom AlbanianFrom AmharicFrom ArabicFrom ArmenianFrom AzerbaijaniFrom BasqueFrom BelarusianFrom BengaliFrom BosnianFrom BulgarianFrom CatalanFrom CebuanoFrom ChichewaFrom ChineseFrom CorsicanFrom CroatianFrom CzechFrom DanishFrom DutchFrom EsperantoFrom EstonianFrom FarsiFrom FilipinoFrom FinnishFrom FrenchFrom FrisianFrom GalicianFrom GeorgianFrom GermanFrom GreekFrom GujaratiFrom Haitian CreoleFrom HausaFrom HebrewFrom HindiFrom HmongFrom HungarianFrom IcelandicFrom IgboFrom IndonesianFrom IrishFrom ItalianFrom. What is the adverb for blue. What is the opposite of blue. In 1976, and this honor was a bright blue ribbon. English blue adjective colour thesaurus, the British monarchy gave out the Order of the Garter to welldeserving knights. First up is politics, t until 2000 that red definitively meant Republican and blue 5 In 1904, what is the noun for blue.
It seems that members of the Spanish royalty wanted to claim that their blood was purein their case, free of Moorish or Jewish ancestry.
Some sources point to Geoffrey Chaucer as the first author to write the word blue.
Showing or mentioning sexual activity in a way that offends.
Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English.
Meaning of blue in the English Dictionary.
The same answer as written down by "Joyraj Bora" it means feeling sad and also feeling affected with fear, discomfort, anxiety, etc.; dismayed. |
Does Too Much Fiber Cause Loose Stools?
Fruits, whole grains and vegetables typically contain some element of fiber, a carbohydrate in your diet that promotes digestive regularity when you eat the recommended intake. However, fiber can have adverse side effects, including loose stools, when you eat it in certain patterns. Knowing how to prevent this from occurring through consistent fiber intake can help.
Close-up of raw broccoli on a countertop. (Image: HandmadePictures/iStock/Getty Images)
Your body needs fiber to promote normal stool health. While parts of fiber-containing foods like starches, sugars and vitamins are broken down, other fibrous parts like the peel of an apple are not. Instead, these add bulk to your stool and attract water to the stool, which tends to prevent constipation. Your fiber needs are based on your age and gender. Men age 50 and younger need 38 g of fiber per day while men age 51 and older need 30 g. Women age 50 and younger need 25 g of fiber per day while those age 51 and older need 21 g.
Too-Fast Increase
Fiber consumption generally helps to prevent loose stool and constipation, providing a healthy balance for your body. However, if you haven't been eating the recommended amount of fiber and suddenly increase your fiber intake over the course of several days by eating foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, you may experience loose stools. This condition occurs when your stools pass too easily. This occurs because your body needs certain digestive bacteria to break down foods, and you may not host enough of the bacteria in your intestines to break down heavy loads of fiber if you have been eating a low fiber diet for some time. Your bacteria levels will rise to handle the new load of fiber if you change your diet. While the time period adjustment can vary based on your unique health condition, it typically takes about two weeks for your body to accommodate to higher fiber levels.
Consistently eating the same amount of fiber each day can help you to avoid loose stools. On the other hand, eating a significant amount of fiber one day, then little to no fiber the next, can contribute to loose stools. Consistency is important in your fiber intake because your body must adjust to breaking down a large amount of fiber. If your fiber intake is inconsistent, your body cannot adjust accordingly.
Minimize loose stool symptoms associated with fiber intake by slowly increasing the amount of fiber you eat. If you experience loose stools, gas or abdominal cramping, increase your intake of water, which can help your body absorb some of the fiber in your digestive tract. To reach your daily recommended intake, increase your intake over a period of a few weeks, not a period of a few days.
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Julius Glasthal
Rookie (8/26/90 / New Windsor, NY)
The King's Rule - Poem by Julius Glasthal
Shake free from the bloodcurdling shackles.
The king's selfish rule.
All who disobey shall face the after life faster
than the speed of rumor.
The voices we hear combined to make the
dreadful sounds leading to execution.
The king's selfish rule.
Taking the lives,
of his finished wives.
That after love is lost
and no child was born,
off comes the head bloody and torn.
From their delicate figure, the
beauty possessed from
such hearts, they will be missed.
The king's selfish rule.
Those who hate him, they do fear.
Afraid of his power, afraid of his souless heart.
Those who know that the throne and crown he
keeps. The hail storms feel like a summer
breeze, compared to what they're use to.
To weep is a relief that the king would perish in
the next life.
In the next life shall he face misery is blessed
from the child he could not bare.
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Famous Poems
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2. The Road Not Taken
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3. If You Forget Me
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4. Dreams
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5. Annabel Lee
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6. If
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7. Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
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8. Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
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9. I Do Not Love You Except Because I Love You
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10. Television
Roald Dahl
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Appropriate Language
Professional Writer and Editor
Using Appropriate Language at Work: 8 Tips
1. Use standard English and follow established rules of grammar
No matter who your audience is, in the workplace you should always use standard English (the form of English taught in schools and used in most texts, government documents, media publications, and the like) in your speech and writing. If you are from an area where nonstandard English is common and you use nonstandard English yourself, make a conscious effort to speak standard, grammatical English. Pay attention to the way other professionals speak and write at work, and you will begin to notice ways that you can improve your own speech and writing.
2. Use a level of formality appropriate for your audience.
When conversing in less formal situations or when writing less formal correspondence, you can use less formal English, but still remain respectful and professional at all times.
3. Do not use profanity.
Swearing is never acceptable in the workplace.
4. Avoid biased or derogatory comments
Do not use sexist language or language that is biased against any racial, ethnic, religious, age, or other group. Avoid comments, generalizations, examples, or jokes that affirm or perpetuate negative stereotypes. (For more information on avoiding biased language, see the article "Writing without Bias.")
5. Avoid slang.
You should generally avoid slang in the workplace—even words or expressions that are commonly accepted in other settings. Be judicious in your use of idiomatic expressions, and particularly regionalisms, as well.
6. Be cautious when using jargon.
Jargon should be used sparingly, and only when speaking or writing to an audience that will be familiar with the terms used. If you feel it is appropriate to use jargon for a more general audience, make sure you define the terms used.
7. Be polite.
Your mother's instructions about using please and thank you are just as important in the business world as they were at the dinner table. You will be able to accomplish more and will undoubtedly have better relationships with co-workers and colleagues if you treat them respectfully and show sincere appreciation by using courtesy words.
8. Take a class.
To learn even more about using appropriate language and about writing and speaking well in the workplace, you can take a class or attend a workshop or seminar on communicating effectively in the business world.
The suggestions above will help you to use appropriate language in the workplace. By following these principles, you'll make a good impression and you will be known as a professional, courteous employee and colleague.
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During the years in which the Chilean port activity was developing transportation of goods were vital. Curanipe and Constitution had a leading role in the development of this activity, because it had shipyards for building small boats that transport the goods from the ships to the port, these ships were the faluchos, which played a key role before the establishment of mechanization of ports.
The construction of these ships was completely handmade, with oak maulino the same shipyard workers put out of the hills. Despite being a craft, it reached a high degree of specialization using exact template of each piece. The faluchos measured about 18 meters long and 8 meters high and 8 wide. Its construction delayed three months.
The release of water faluchos was an event where people gathered. The event lasted about two days. It took a team of four oxen pulled the steel cables which is tied to the boat. The faluchos rested on a wooden floor over idler pleated eucalyptus forty centimeters in diameter, which were advancing slowly. Upon reaching the shore, delayed one day introduce the sea. After the launching of the felucca as organized a big party with all the neighbors.
The faluchos was sailed by four people: a captain brought generally from Constitution and four crew members who worked in the shipyards. The crossing was always an adventure, would not know how the weather, tides and temporary if there always was attacking the journey that lasted about twelve days to Valparaíso, though the record was 36 hours with good wind. At Valparaiso harbor tug to meet the faluchos started dragging it to shore. Once on shore began bartering, changed among other things, chickens or objects.
From 1927 to 1952 he built 83 faluchos. Years later, were machined ports and no longer needed to build the feluccas. The shipyard work in Curanipe ended and the tradition of building the feluccas only remained in the memory of the people.
The faluchos deajaron to exist, however, the work and courage of those who built and sailed, of those pioneers who paved the creation of modern ports today allow us to realize its importance, its history and tradition. A legacy that is necessary to know in order to confomar our history and identity. |
Tuesday, March 19Delhi Greens Blog: Greening the World, One Post at a Time!
Water Sector Impacts of Climate Change: Part II
One down...
To recap, water available per person has been decreasing since 1950 and it will be 70% of what we have by 2025 if no action is taken today. Although water is usually considered a renewable resource, it is actually a finite one with physical limits on its sustainability not because there is a change in the total water in the world but there are human institutional and financial capital limit to accessing water. Let me explain this.
If we need to store water for 12 months, we need a bigger storage tank than if we needed to store it for only say six months. Thus, if the water flowing through the perennial rivers due to melting of glaciers reduces because there are smaller glaciers to melt, then the barrages to store water will have to be taller. All this deepening of tanks or building of higher barrages needs more money. Another issue is the significant leakages of water in transition, along the pipelines. Finally, we need more manpower and a sophisticated system in place, if the water is to be delivered for more time. Clearly, water supply in relative terms is decreasing in many parts of India, including in our city.
Apart from the physical scarcity of water, the imbalance between demand and supply has put a severe strain on water management and institutional systems. We take care of our needs/ demands through any means/supply possible. In the local context, richer housing societies use ground water supply to augment the municipal supply as per their water demand. Or we make personal arrangements through private hand pumps if we have to take care at individual household level among the rich or poor. This is the ‘big picture’.
What is missing in the big picture is each of us willing to take responsibility for the situation, instead of pointing fingers at others. You know the drinking water we need every day is 20 liters per capita per day (lpcd). What we all get is 60 lpcd in Delhi! So, we get more than enough water to drink and cook. That is all the safe water we need.
What we CAN do is to “create” our own water–locally by simply collecting it instead of letting it flow. Rain Water Harvesting, using recycled water in lawns and gardens are all possible ways to recharge the ground water. It cannot be done unless each of us take appropriate action for this. We in the city are blessed with neighbourhood gardens and almost every colony has its own little patch of greens. We can collect our waste water from kitchen and washing in a cavity in the ground and divert it to these gardens. It is not very expensive. The technology exists. The (Delhi) Government has schemes to support it. But the initiative has to come from you, as RWAs, institutions, etc.
What we will have in return is – control over our own water, a greener and cleaner Delhi and ultimately a replenished water table and a sustainable city.
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Environmental anthropologist by training, been in the field for over 20 years. I am mainly concerned with the infrastructure and technology project impacts on people communities and their physical environment. Their adaptation and mitigation strategies, interests me, now especially in the context of climate change and CDM.
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Carbon-14 can be used as a radioactive tracer in medicine.In the initial variant of the urea breath test, a diagnostic test for Helicobacter pylori, urea labeled with approximately 37 k Bq (1.0 μCi) carbon-14 is fed to a patient (i.e., 37,000 decays per second). pylori infection, the bacterial urease enzyme breaks down the urea into ammonia and radioactively-labeled carbon dioxide, which can be detected by low-level counting of the patient's breath.
half life of carbon dating-44
Its presence in organic materials is the basis of the radiocarbon dating method pioneered by Willard Libby and colleagues (1949) to date archaeological, geological and hydrogeological samples.
It is typically released to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide at BWRs, and methane at PWRs., radioactive carbon dioxide.
The gas mixes rapidly and becomes evenly distributed throughout the atmosphere (the mixing timescale in the order of weeks).
Production rates vary because of changes to the cosmic ray flux caused by the heliospheric modulation (solar wind and solar magnetic field), and due to variations in the Earth's magnetic field.
The latter can create significant variations in The New Zealand curve is representative for the Southern Hemisphere, the Austrian curve is representative for the Northern Hemisphere.However, open-air nuclear testing between 1955–1980 contributed to this pool.The different isotopes of carbon do not differ appreciably in their chemical properties.The presence of carbon-14 in the isotopic signature of a sample of carbonaceous material possibly indicates its contamination by biogenic sources or the decay of radioactive material in surrounding geologic strata.In connection with building the Borexino solar neutrino observatory, petroleum feedstock (for synthesizing the primary scintillant) was obtained with low Since many sources of human food are ultimately derived from terrestrial plants, the carbon that comprises our bodies contains carbon-14 at almost the same concentration as the atmosphere.Liquid scintillation counting is the preferred method. |
Point (Unit of Measurement)
A point (pt) is a unit of measurement used to define the size of font, point markers, line widths, or other components of STATISTICA graphs. One point is equal to 1/72 of an inch.
For information about point size in printed STATISTICA documents, see Are fonts set to specific sizes always printed having the requested physical sizes? |
Sharks And Whales: Do They Get Along?
Sharks and whales rarely get along. In fact, different types of either creatures serve as prey to the other; if the obvious biological difference was not enough, that sharks are fish and whales are mammals of the sea. Sharks are ancient beings too, while whales are more of newbies (they have been around for half the time fish have in more or less same territory as the sharks.) Here is how it works.
Sharks Preying on Whales
Sharks prey on whales when whales start migrating up north during the winters. Tiger sharks and great whites usually follow groups of humpback whales and calves migrating towards protected bay and attack one in groups. When a shark bites into the mammal, it bleeds out all the way, even when it escapes, which signals other sharks towards the prey.
Whales Preying on Sharks
Killer whales are probably the only kind of whale that eats mako sharks and some other species of the fish. When they are hunting sharks, these whales always end with flipping the shark upside down, regardless of how they attack the shark. The thing with being flipped over is that when a shark is flipped over, it goes into the state of tonic immobility where they are unable to fight back. This means that killer whales are smart as they exploit the weakness of their enemies. They might not know what it is really, but they understand that an upside down shark equals a defeated shark.
What is the Killer Whale Like
Also referred to as Orca, a killer whale can reach the size of 32 feet and can weigh up to 9 tons. Females, on the other hand, are 23 feet in length and only weigh 4 tons. They can swim up to 3-4 miles in an hour. Whales have large conical teeth which they use to capture and tear their prey. Their diets are different based on their population. In the North Pacific, the resident killer whales eat fish, including sharks, while transient killer whales prey on mammals, including the humpback whale. Killer whales work together on a hunt; marine experts have noticed mothers teaching their young how to hunt, for example, making waves to wash seals off floating ice.
What is a Great White Shark Like
Great white sharks are easily able to reach the length of over 20 feet and weigh more than 5,000 pounds. They swim at speeds of 15 miles every hour. Sharks are also the biggest predators in the world; their razor sharp teeth are more than 2.5 inches long, which they use to rip big chunks off their prey. The great white feeds on fish and small marine mammals, including sea lions, seals, and dolphins. Occasionally, sharks also prey on crustaceans, mollusks, and sea turtles. Sharks are solitary creatures and unlike whales, hunt alone or with another shark.
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Opening lecture traumatizes audience
“Trauma-informed care is not about working with trauma,” said Dr. Carla Burke at the opening lecture for the fall academic year at the College. “It’s about creating an organizational culture and environment that is conducive to healing and does not re-traumatize people. This is actually better for all of us.”
“Our world is full of so much trauma,” Burke continued by list examples of trauma including physical violence, emotional and or sexual abuse; neglect or abandonment; divorce; alcoholism or drug addiction; family violence; poverty, homelessness; lack of food and basic needs; having a family member in prison and/or a family member with mental illness.
Burke’s thesis is that people who work in the helping professions need to understand that there is a bigger picture to healing trauma than just medication or therapy. She is advocating that organizations intentionally address how organizational culture contributes to healing including everything from physical facilities to personal relationships to policies and procedures and to our own attitudes and beliefs. She also extended the idea of trauma to the everyday workplace, not just health care settings.
Burke shared statistics about the rates of people who report experiencing trauma and commented that the numbers may actually under-represent men due to the shame males experience related to revealing a history of some kinds of abuse.
She briefly discussed how trauma impacts the development of the brain and compromises social, emotional, and cognitive ability.
Burke asked the audience to close their eyes and consider the trauma their co-workers may have experienced and how that may have been affected them. She challenged the audience to set aside assumptions about our co-workers and discussed how being respectful and sensitive to others can create a safer, healing environment for everyone.
The difference between people who heal and people who do not heal is social support, Burke said. She cited a longevity study that found the single common characteristic to living a long life was having someone you could call in the middle of the night and a sense of belonging to a group.
Burke is a psychologist who has conducted research and been a professor in higher education for many years. She is now in private practice specializing in therapy for helping professionals. |
Results for: C?meteries
In Database Programming
What is c?
What does c mean If you mean in Einstein's famous equation E=MC 2 , C is the Constant (i.e. the speed of light) because the other variable, Mass changes as velocity approache ( Full Answer )
In Jobs & Education
How to used meterials in teaching meterial?
Spring Meterials is High carbon steel. Total Carbon 0.5%. Vahical/Engine spring meterials crominium or Vanadium.
In Sales and Customer Service
What is the raw meterial used in shoes?
The raw material used to make shoes is leather, obtained fromanimal hides such as cattle and buffalo after slaughter. The hidesare tanned into leather.
In Ice Hockey
How much are the meterials for a hockey stick?
if by how much a hockey stick cost, your looking at a mere $12.00 to $200.00 try cheap i bought a stick there for like $45.00 cheaper than usual so ....
In Chemistry
What meterial will stop rust?
To stop rust you need to paint or be sure that iron will not be in contact with water. or oxygen because this have water in it
In Toys
What is the best meterial used for a kite?
Depends on the kite you are going to make. Kites can be made fom almost anything! A material which has some wind proofing, is light weight and hard wearing is probably best if ( Full Answer )
In Economics
What meterial used for currency?
U.S. paper currency isn't printed on normal wood pulp paper, but a specially durable "currency paper." This extraordinary material can withstand wear and tear that would cause ( Full Answer )
In Earthquakes
What meterial holds up in an10.5 earthquake?
We don't know what material holds up in an 10.5 earthquake. It's not has been tested yet. But it maybe possible that the building structures survived a 8.0 earthquake could wo ( Full Answer )
In Physics
Density of object made of 2 different meterials?
Still the object's mass divided by the object's volume. The density of the composite object will be somewhere between the densities of the two different materials.
In Science
When meterials are cooled they get smaller?
Generally, yes. The atoms in a substance move around much less the cooler they are, so the substance takes up less space.
In Chemistry
Why are metals and alloys used in so many meterials?
Combination of strength, weight, durability, and cost that goes into make something. Steel is strong, but really heavy. Aluminium is light, but not very strong. Also, some met ( Full Answer )
In School Subjects
How can you get a c- to an a?
you can get a c to an a by extra credit and by getting a tutor and getting help and also trying your best
In Uncategorized
What does c?
C sharp) An object-oriented programming language that is based \non C++ with elements from Visual Basic and Java. Like Java, C# provides\nautomatic garbage collection, wher ( Full Answer )
In Science
What is the Malleability of meterial?
Malleability is how easily a material can be squished into a thin sheet. For example, "Silly Putty" is very malleable. Copper is malleable, too, it's just not as obvious. Glas ( Full Answer )
In C++ Programming
What is if in C?
If is a keyword that introduces a conditional expression. If the expression evaluates true, the statement or statement block that follows is executed, otherwise control is pas ( Full Answer )
In Robotics
Which meterial is required for robot making?
robot can make with the help of mechanical engineering ang robotic engibeering.without me or re we can't make that. for maaking robot you required light metal,motor,remote,com ( Full Answer )
In Uncategorized
What are the meterials used in fse wires?
Low temperature melting point materials like copper, aluminium, tin or lead are used to make the fuse wire. Zinc and antimony are also used because of their low melting points ( Full Answer )
In Biggest, Strongest, Fastest and Other Extremes
What is the strongest meterial on earth?
the strongest meterial on earth is graphene. it is multiple carbons formed together to make an incredibly strong carbon stronger than dimond itself.
In Cars & Vehicles
What meterials are used to make cars?
Steel, aluminum, copper, brass, plastic, rubber, glass, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, zinc, leather, ceramic, titanium, platinum, iron, nickel, etc.
In Nouns
Is gold meterial noun?
Yes, the noun gold is a material noun. A material noun is a word for something that other things are made from; many things are made from gold. |
Results for: Screw
In Miscellaneous Vehicles
How do you turn the screw on a screw jack?
Answer . Usually with the tire iron/wheel wrench included with the jack. If that is missing, try a ratchet with a socket that fits. I've even used a screwdriver to twist i ( Full Answer )
In Wood Crafts
What is a conformant screw?
First of all, its called a "confirmat" screw", other names are cabinet connecting screw, joint screw, and to a lessor degree a furniture screw. They are designed for "ONLY" pa ( Full Answer )
In Science
What is a screw?
A screw is a simple machine used to hold things together. You canfind screws in almost any piece of furniture such as chairs andtables.
In Uncategorized
What are screws?
A screw , or bolt , is a type of fastener characterized by a helical ridge, known as an external thread or just thread , wrapped around a cylinder. Some screw threads are ( Full Answer )
In Electrical Engineering
What is screw?
A screw is a fastener that is similar to a nail, but it has threads.
In Building and Carpentry
What does a screw do?
A screw fastens a material to another material. Screws have different shapes and sizes. Such as a screw can build a chair together. Screws can fasten things so they would not ( Full Answer )
In Building and Carpentry
What kind of screws are ground screws?
Ground screws are screws that have been ground into a fine paste in an industrial tumbling machine. They are extremely useful as a grout for tile. the term would apply to the ( Full Answer )
In Physics
How does a screw help you?
A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a shaft. The inclined plane is a simple machine that offers the user a mechanical advantage. The shaft is what transmits a torque t ( Full Answer )
In Uncategorized
What are screw?
Screw can mean the tool, like bolts and screws, but it can also be to screw someone, or to have sex with them. |
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Introduction to the definition of the mug
Oct 16, 2018
Introduction to the definition of the mug
The mug is simply a cup that can keep warm. Generally, it is a water-filled container made of ceramic or stainless steel and a vacuum layer. The top has a cover and the seal is tight. The vacuum insulation layer can delay the heat dissipation of the liquid such as water contained inside to achieve the purpose of heat preservation. At present, the general production process of stainless steel vacuum flasks is as follows; outer casing processing flow, inner casing processing flow, outer casing and inner casing assembly process.
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Object Lessons
The Cork Family
Objects: Five corks, graduated in size, a small flask-shaped bottle filled with vinegar, an imitation cigarette, an imitation playing card, an imitation dance program, an imitation theater ticket, a wide piece of black cloth, a narrow piece of red cloth, a wide piece of white cloth, and a large magnet. (Put a large tack in each cork. Sew the red cloth between the black and white and spread over the table.)
I want to introduce you to the Cork Family. They are all on the black side of life; reminding us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). The articles you see on their heads are not strange-looking hats, but different things which keep them from being drawn by the magnet, from the black, to the white side of life.
The magnet, which reminds us of the Holy Spirit, begins to work with Mr. Cork. He is held by whisky. The magnet takes him to the red, which suggests Christ's cleansing blood, and to the white side of life.
At first, card playing keeps Mrs. Cork from going with the magnet; but finally she yields to the magnet and follows her husband in accepting Christ and living the new life.
Cora Cork .does not want to give up dances; but the magnet keeps drawing her; and she, too, comes to Christ, receives forgiveness of sin, and begins to live a new life.
Carl is bound by cigarettes; but he comes to Christ for cleansing, and joins the others on the white side of life.
Clara thinks it would be hard to give up shows. After hearing that the others are getting a greater joy out of the new life, she joins them.
It is well to remember that the members of the Cork Family were not saved because they left certain things behind, but because they received Christ. However, they needed to let Him deliver them from everything that was holding them back.
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PCB Manufacturing Process
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) form the backbone of all major electronics. These miraculous inventions pop up in nearly all computational electronics, including simpler devices like digital clocks. For the uninitiated, a PCB routes electrical signals through your electronics, which satisfies the device's electrical and mechanical circuit requirements. In short, PCBs tell the electricity where to go, bringing your electronics to life.
In here we handle the PCB manufacturing process for you from start to finish, but we believe it's important that our clients understand what we do - this ensures that your design specifications better serve your interests. Proper understanding of the PCB manufacturing steps prevents unnecessary errors from getting transmitted during the design stage. It also helps designers stay abreast of the latest printed circuit board manufacturing methods.
How Is a PCB Manufactured?
1.Hole drilling for holes, leads and vias on the bare dielectric substrate (e.g. FR4) followed by cleaning.
2.Activation for electroplating (applying a thin conductive layer) and rinsing.
3.Copper electroplating and rinsing.
4.Surface polising and cleaning.
5.Photoresist application, UV exposure and photoresist development (removal of either exposed or unexposed resist, depending on chemicals used).
6.Copper etching, rinsing and photoresist removal.
7.Solder mask application, UV exposure, development (removal of either exposed or unexposed solder mask, depending on chemicals used) and curing.
8.Optional tin and/or gold plating of exposed copper followed by cleaning.
9.Silkscreen printing, ink curing.
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Phishing – what does this mean?
Phishing! Do you know what Phishing is? Have you heard this term before? Do you know how a “Phishing Attack” can affect you?
Phishing is commonly acknowledged as one of the greatest threats to PC and Internet security.
Phishing is an attempt to fraudulently obtain sensitive data such as login details, credit card details etc. by masquerading as a trusted entity. Typically, the phisher entices the victim via email to enter their details at a malicious web site. The malicious web site masquerades as a legitimate known site.
One form of protecting against a Phishing Attack is to install PhishLock. The basic premise behind the success of PhishLock is that although humans find it difficult and almost impossible to identify a malicious phishing site, software is able to make extremely accurate identifications simply and quickly. This is particularly the case for PhishLock as it is focused on protecting a specific website and its users. When PhishLock identifies a phishing site, it automatically prevents the user from submitting data. In addition, the software also notifies the organization of the existence of the phishing site so that steps to close it down can commence immediately. |
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HIV Viral Load and Transmission FAQ
October 11, 2016
1 | 2 | 3 | Next >
Table of Contents
Can a Person With HIV Who Has An Undetectable Viral Load Transmit HIV?
No. A person living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with an undetectable HIV viral load in their blood for at least six months has a negligible risk of transmitting HIV to a sexual partner. Negligible means: so small as to not be worth considering; insignificant. Therefore, when describing the risk of HIV transmission HIV experts have said: "not infectious", "virtually zero risk" and "cannot transmit the virus."1
Related: HIV Undetectable Does Equal Uninfectious: The Swiss Statement and the Vindication of Pietro Vernazza
What Is an Undetectable Viral Load?
Viral load refers to the amount of HIV in a blood sample of a person living with HIV. Generally, the higher the viral load, the more likely you are to transmit HIV. ART can reduce a person's viral load to the point where it is so low (usually under 40 copies/ml depending on the test) that it cannot be detected by measurements.2 This is called "having an 'undetectable viral load,'" which prevents the sexual transmission of HIV while simultaneously improving the health of a person living with HIV.1 It does not fully clear the virus from the body or cure someone of HIV.
What Is the Evidence?
The conclusion is based on the force of real world and research experience including PARTNER, HPTN 052, Opposites Attract and the Swiss Statement.3-11 For instance, in the most recent study called PARTNER, there were ZERO transmissions out of 58,000 condomless sex acts between people with HIV with undetectable viral loads and their partners who are HIV negative. As of this writing, there have been no confirmed reports of anyone transmitting HIV with an undetectable viral load in these studies.11
Is the Risk Zero?
In real world terms, yes the risk is zero. In theoretical terms, the risk is a tiny fraction close to zero. The challenge is that scientific studies can never prove that risk is absolute zero. Through statistical analysis that number will keep getting closer and closer to zero. Researchers agree that because the actual HIV transmission risk is either zero or extremely close to zero, a person with HIV with an undetectable viral load is considered "not infectious" to their sexual partners.1
Related: Sex 58,000 Times With Undetectable Partners = Zero HIV Transmission: Learn More
Why Are Some Groups Saying an Undetectable Viral Load Reduces Risk by 93-96%?
It's a widespread mistake when reporting the HPTN 052 study's findings. This study looked at the transmission risk from the first day a person with HIV starts treatment. The reason there was a 96% risk reduction (based on the study's interim results) or a 93% risk reduction (based on the study's final results) is because there were HIV transmissions before ART had the chance to suppress the virus. If only transmissions after the first six months of ART are considered, the risk reduction would have been 100% with a transmission risk of zero.3,11-14
What Does "Treatment as Prevention" Mean?
Treatment as prevention (TasP) refers to any HIV prevention method that uses ART to decrease the risk of HIV transmission to a sexual or needle sharing partner, or from mother to baby. ART reduces the HIV viral load in the blood, semen, vaginal fluid and rectal fluid to very low levels, and as a result reduces HIV transmission.15 When the virus in the blood is reduced to undetectable levels, the risk of sexual transmission of HIV is negligible.
Does Everyone Who Starts HIV Treatment Become and Remain Undetectable?
Nearly everyone who starts ART finds a drug regime that works within six months.16 About one out of six people will will need additional time to find the right treatment due to tolerance and adherence issues. People who remain undetectable for a year or more with excellent adherence to treatment, are highly unlikely to experience a viral rebound, known as "treatment or virological failure".17 Treatment failure after sustained viral suppression is rare and almost always related to poor treatment adherence.18
Do Viral "Blips" Increase the Chance of Transmission?
Viral blips have not been shown to increase the transmission of HIV.1,7 Small transient increases in viral load (between 50 and 1000 copies) known as "blips"19 sometimes result on effective ART when people are adherent, but typically return to undetectable levels without any change in treatment. Unless the viral blips start to increase in frequency, they do not mean treatment isn't working and are normally not of concern to providers.1,7
Does Having an STI Affect the Chance of HIV Transmission?
Having an STI is not significant to HIV transmission when the partner with HIV has an undetectable viral load.7,9 An STI in the presence of a detectable viral load may increase the risk of HIV transmission.
Why Do Some People Have Detectable Viral Loads?
Some people may choose not to be treated or may not be ready to start treatment. Access to adequate and stable healthcare is a serious barrier to treatment in many parts of the world. Others start treatment but have challenges with adherence for a variety of reasons such as stigma, mental health and substance abuse, unstable housing, difficulty paying for medications, drug resistance and/or intolerable side effects.20
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Related Stories
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Understanding HIV-Related Lab Tests II: Viral Load, Resistance and Tropism
How Long Should It Take for My HIV Viral Load to Become Undetectable?
More on Viral Load Testing
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We understand that "root canal" can sound like a scary form of dental treatment but they're really not. A root canal is simply a form of treatment used to manage severely decayed, infected, or otherwise considered unable to save, teeth. During a root canal procedure, very small access holes are made so Dr. Hoang can carefully clean the roots and remove any infectious bacteria. The tooth is then safely sealed and ready to be sealed - that's it!
Root canal treatment helps save your natural teeth. Root canals offer the advantage of keeping your teeth while simultaneously maintaining healthy bone. |
Human Anatomy Diagram
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Human Anatomy Diagram - human body diagram human body organs diagram game discover the muscle anatomy of every muscle group in the human body find the best weight lifting exercises that target each muscle or groups of muscles anatomical diagram showing a front view of organs in the human body the teeth are the hardest substances in the human body besides being essential for chewing the teeth play an important role in speech parts of the teeth include enamel the hardest white anatomical diagram showing a front view of a human skeleton human anatomy skeleton click on the labels below to find out more about your skeleton the human body is the structure of a human being it is posed of many different types of cells that together create tissues and subsequently organ systems they ensure homeostasis and the viability of the human body it prises a head neck trunk which includes the thorax and abdomen arms and hands legs.
and feet the study of the human body involves anatomy physiology histology and the human body diagram the human body is the most plicated machine in the world and the entire structure of a human organism and consists of a head neck torso two arms and two legs anatomy of the human body henry gray the bartleby edition of gray s anatomy of the human body features 1 247 vibrant engravings many in color from the classic 1918 publication as well as a subject index with 13 000 entries ranging from the antrum of highmore to the zonule of zinn understanding women s sexual or reproductive organs such as the vagina uterus and vulva is as integral to sex as understanding the penis demystifying female anatomy is key to good sexual functioning whether you re a mature experienced adult or looking to learn about women s sexual studying human anatomy here is a great sheet that shows a diagram of all.
the muscle system your child will learn the scientific terms of the major muscles and read a
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Overpronation Of The Feet Cause
Overpronation is the most common abnormality found in the foot, and for this reason, is the most studied. The term that most people attribute to overpronation is ?flat feet.? Pronation is the rolling in of the foot and the collapse of the arch. Every person pronates to some extent and this is a necessary moment in the normal walking cycle as it allows the forefoot to make complete contact with the ground. A foot that overpronates acts like a loose bag of bones during the walking cycle. This makes this type of foot very flexible but inefficient. The foot has to work much harder to propel the body, fatiguing easily and placing mechanical stresses on the lower body. We like to use the analogy of digging a hole in the dirt. Overpronating feet are like using a broom to dig the hole. It won?t break down quickly, but you will be digging for a very long time, or until eventually wear and tear will take effect. Wouldn?t you rather have a shovel to work with. This is in essence what an orthotic can do for your feet. This is why orthotics have become an evidence based treatment for so many foot ailments, as they can effectively manage overpronation.Overpronation is when a person pronates too much and for too long. This places excess stress on the tendons and ligaments in the foot and ankle.Over Pronation
There are many possible causes for overpronation, but researchers have not yet determined one underlying cause. Hintermann states, Compensatory overpronation may occur for anatomical reasons, such as a tibia vara of 10 degrees or more, forefoot varus, leg length discrepancy, ligamentous laxity, or because of muscular weakness or tightness in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Pronation can be influenced by sources outside of the body as well. Shoes have been shown to significantly influence pronation. Hintermann states that the same person can have different amounts of pronation just by using different running shoes. It is easily possible that the maximal ankle joint eversion movement is 31 degrees for one and 12 degrees for another running shoe.
If you overpronate, your symptoms may include discomfort in the arch and sole of foot, your foot may appear to turn outward at the ankle, your shoes wear down faster on the medial (inner) side of your shoes. Pain in ankle, shins, knees, or hips, especially when walking or running are classic symptoms of overpronation. Overpronation can lead to additional problems with your feet, ankles, and knees. Runners in particular find that overpronation can lead to shin splints, tarsal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, compartment syndrome, achilles tendonitis, bunions or hallux valgus, patello-femoral pain syndrome, heel spurs, metatarsalgia.
The best way to discover whether you have a normal gait, or if you overpronate, is to visit a specialty run shop, an exercise physiologist, a podiatrist or a physical therapist who specializes in working with athletes. A professional can analyze your gait, by watching you either walk or run, preferably on a treadmill. Some facilities can videotape your gait, then analyze the movement of your feet in slow-motion. Another (and less costly) way is to look at the bottom of an older pair of run shoes. Check the wear pattern. A person with a normal gait will generally see wear evenly across the heel and front of the shoe. A person who overpronates will likely see more wear on the OUTside of the heel and more wear on the INside of the forefoot (at the ball). A person who supinates will see wear all along the outer edges of the shoe. You can also learn about your gait by looking at your arches. Look at the shape your wet feet leave on a piece of paper or a flat walking surface.Pronation
Non Surgical Treatment
When you see the doctor, he or she will likely perform a complete examination of your feet and watch you walk. The doctor will need to take x-rays to determine the cause of your flat feet. In some cases, further imaging may be needed, especially if your symptoms are severe and sudden in nature. Once you are properly diagnosed, your doctor will create an appropriate treatment plan. There are several options to correct overpronation, such as orthotics. In many cases, overpronation can be treated with non-surgical methods and over-the-counter orthotics. In severe cases, however, custom-made orthotics may work better. Orthotics provide arch support and therefore prevent collapse of the arch with weight bearing. They are made of materials such as spongy rubber or hard plastic. Your doctor will also want to examine your footwear to ensure they fit properly and offer enough medial support. Extra support and stability can be achieved with footwear that has a firm heel counter. If you are experiencing pain, you should be able to use over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen to relieve symptoms.
Many of the prevention methods for overpronation orthotics, for example, can be used interchangeably with treatment methods. If the overpronation is severe, you should seek medical attention from a podiatrist who can cast you for custom-made orthotics. Custom-made orthotics are more expensive, but they last longer and provide support, stability, and balance for the entire foot. You can also talk with a shoe specialist about running shoes that offer extra medial support and firm heel counters. Proper shoes can improve symptoms quickly and prevent them from recurring. Surgery can sometimes help cure and prevent this problem if you suffer from inherited or acquired pes planus deformity. Surgery typically involves stabilizing the bones to improve the foot?s support and function. |
Pilot training Tag
3 Jan
Why do pilots say roger that?
Pilots use the phrase “Roger that” when they are in the air. Have you ever thought who the Roger is and why his name appears in the conversations between pilots? The reason goes back to the very first flights. The first plane flight by Wright brothers dates back to 1903. Then they used flares, hand signals and coloured paddles to communicate while the plane was in the air as there was no such thing as radio communication. The aviation technologies developed and pilots started to use the Morse code to communicate in approximately 1915 when air-to-ground voice transmission became possible. Back then they...
17 Oct
Explore BAA Training Cadet Programs and meet us in France!
Explore how to become a pilot by meeting us in France: Paris, Toulouse or Marseille. We are BAA Training, one of the leading Northern European aviation training centres, and we are inviting you to join our road trip around France! In November, we are bringing Career Day events to Paris, Toulouse and Marseille to present our Cadet programs of the leading airlines: Wizz Air SmartLynx Avion Express Even if you have no flying experience, you can start a career path in aviation by joining an airline’s Cadet program. The students will acquire an Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL frozen) and will proceed... |
Der Verstand dient als Fackelträger
Der Verstand dient als Fackelträger, jedenfalls dienend; und was heißt Fackeltragen -- erleuchten! Er ist gerade nicht das Licht gebender, sondern der Lichtung bedürftiger; als Verstand bestimmen nur. Er erleuchtet nur als schematisierter Verstand; er von sich aus vermag gerade nicht einmal zu dienen. (Heidegger, 'Zu Odebrechts und Cassirers Kritik des Kantbuches', 1932?, GA 3, S 300)
a) This is one of the notes which Heidegger made to reviews of his Kantbuch written by Ernst Cassirer (in 1931) and Rudolf Odebrecht (in 1931/32). While the note is rough, it is highly suggestive and should be required reading (and thinking) for all those interpreters of Heidegger who believe him to argue that 'Sein' stands in some kind of privative need of 'Dasein'. (A 'privative need' is a need based on a privation, a need whose aim is to put an end to itself, as when we speak of a need for money.) While Heidegger does indeed write of Sein having a 'need' (Brauch) of Dasein, this is a 'need' belonging to overflow (Überfluß), a need that wants continued activation of itself and not at all to put an end to itself, as when we speak of an artist's need to express. (See 'Sein and Dasein in SZ' for further discussion of this point.) (Not yet online)
b) In characteristic fashion, Heidegger runs together in this note two different aspects of the Kantian 'Verstand' or what he usually calls 'Dasein'. On the one hand, Dasein as it functions 'in the world' is 'always already' (immer schon) determined by one of the ontologies which contest at the gigantomachia (which Heidegger calls the 'da' of 'Sein'). He therefore says that "Er [der Verstand] erleuchtet nur als schematisierter Verstand." Understanding orients itself in the world only as already shaped (schematisiert) in some fundamental fashion. On the other hand, in order to be shaped in this fundamental way, Dasein as 'der Lichtung bedürftig' must previously have undergone some sort of peculiar process whereby, not yet schematisiert, 'it' was yet subjected to a plurality of schema-possibilities and adopted or chose or accepted or elected (etc) one of them (in order to become schematisiert).
c) These two aspects of Dasein are very different: one essentially in the world, the other in a peculiar way essentially out of it. While one of Heidegger's central contentions is exactly that Dasein is the fundamental unity of this difference, he was acutely aware that one or the other of the two sides of this difference ('Sein-in-der-Welt' vs 'Da') is usually privileged in such a way that the central insight (of their fundamental difference and unity) is lost. In the end, he seems to have consigned the understanding of his work to fate. Here another tact is suggested. Since 'Sein' as the gigantomachia is what Heidegger wanted to consider and to communciate (the Daseinsanalytik being only a means to this end, one with which Heidegger became increasing disenchanted), and since the gigantomachia is the contest of fundamental relations (Wesensbezüge), and since these relations govern in advance how something like Dasein is to be understood, the suggestion here is that focus be made first and foremost on the relation-possibilities of the gigantomachia itself (including the abysmal relations of the relation-possibilities themselves).
d) When Dasein is exposed in the 'da' of 'Sein' to the contesting possibilities of being (Seinsmöglichkeiten, Grundbewegungen, Wesensbezüge, usf) it is not yet 'schematisiert'. It is 'Lichtung bedürftig". Schematisierung is exactly what is to befall it 'da'. Heidegger calls this peculiar process, exposure to 'das Freie'. Here Dasein is free in a way that it never is 'in der Welt' because it is before the possibilities of being, not yet in one of them. Acording to Heidegger, exposure to this sort of freedom is one of the essential characteristics of human being (compare Beckett on the space of the door) such that the life of Dasein is figured as a sort of wave, moving both horizonally and vertically, not only through space and time, but in and through essentially different space-times. The always already schematisierte world is (at any given time, or 'je' as Heidegger says) one of these space-times. The gigantomachia is an esentially different space-time. Human being is the movement in and between these...
e) Since the gigantomachia is a dynamic process, it takes place in a time of its own: 'Urzeit'. This is essentially different from 'Uhrzeit' or even from the complexity of times (past, present and future) which are knotted in the life of every human being. Time is essentially times.
f) Heidegger's use of the word 'nur' in this passage demands special notice. He writes: "Er [der Verstand] erleuchtet nur als schematisierter Verstand" (emphasis in the original). As is always the case in Heidegger, this is a reference to the end of Hegel's Phänomenologie: 'nur aus dem Kelche dieses Geisterreiches / schäumt ihm [dem absoluten Geist] seine Unendlichkeit.' Following Hegel, Heidegger wants to draw attention to a double matter. On the one hand, Verstand "als schematisierter" is limited, particular, finite. It is never some general understanding or or some combination of the possibilities of understanding; instead, it is some one, highly particular, finite mode of understanding - here and now. On the other hand, it is exactly this particularity and limitation in which Dasein has its own life. Now exactly because such limitation and finitude is essentially characteristic of Dasein, it is continually exposed to the borders of its understanding (ie, of its world and self) and therefore to the fundamental possibility of these being essentially different from what they currently are. Dasein's 'own' points out of itself to other possible 'owns'. 'Nur' names the fundamentality of this owning/disowning way of human being. (Heidegger's use of the word dient-dienend-dienen in this text points in the same direction. Through finite 'service', human being comes into its own. But because there are different modalities of service to which humans are exposed, they are equally exposed beyond themselves, beyond their always limited current services and selves.)
g) The treatment of 'light' in this passage is noteworthy and difficult. Heidegger says that "Der Verstand dient als Fackelträger (...) und was heißt Fackeltragen -- erleuchten! "; but he also states that 'Er [der Verstand] ist gerade nicht das Licht gebender, sondern der Lichtung bedürftiger". It would seem that the light borne by Verstand, when it 'dient als Fackelträger', derives from Schematisierung: "Er [der Verstand] erleuchtet nur als schematisierter Verstand; er von sich aus vermag gerade nicht einmal zu dienen." So the light carried by Dasein is a correlate of the particular shape or schema through which it opens (ie, is opened to) its world of concern; and this particular shape, in turn, is secondary to some prior source of it: Dasein is "der Lichtung bedürftig".
Several important conclusions follow. First, the Erleuchten of Verstand/Dasein cannot be something given, fixed, singular, vorhanden. If it were, it would not be the case that "er von sich aus vermag gerade nicht einmal zu dienen." The root of this possibility lies elsewhere. Second, if Erleucten is plural, and if all the possibilities of Erleucten are forever equally possible, it must be that Dasein is always both some particular shape of being and that it is 'at the same time' (gleichzeitig) essentially exposed to other possibilities. Third, these plural possibilities of Lichtung constitute the gigantomachia. But the gigantomachia must have a prior, peculiar light of its own if Dasein is to witness the possibilities there. Perhaps it is this Urlichtung which Hekate provided in the mythology of the Greeks? Fourth, what Heidegger here calls "das Licht gebender" is no single possibility of Lichtung, nor is it the range of Lichtungen together, nor even is it this range plus the peculiar light at origin which allows the range of Lichtungen to be witnessed. Instead, all of these are derivative (Fackelträger) of a prior light whose shining-forth it is 'only' to enable the other lights: "nur - aus dem Kelche dieses Geisterreiches / schäumt ihm seine Unendlichkeit."
July 16, 2004 in Heidegger, MH/'nur', MH/Fire | Permalink
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Harry Potter and the Fan Fiction Phenom
FAN FICTION, in its simplest definition, is fiction written by the fans of any popular narrative, be it a novel, a TV series, or a film. While private fan fiction may be as old as fiction itself, its origins as a genre for public (albeit esoteric) circulation can be traced back to the start of fan magazines or “fanzines” in the 1970’s. With the advent of the Internet, the genre has suddenly become available to a mass readership, and this has alerted more people to the phenomenon and to its possibilities than a fanzine could ever hope to do. The amount of fan fiction is growing, as is the number of fan writers. The fan writer’s intention is frequently not so much to provide an homage to the fictional universe in question as to rewrite and reinterpret events in the story to suit the desires of the writer. For example, the relationships between characters are often altered or made more sexually explicit; the most popular theme of fan fiction is romance.
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Incisors (from Latin incidere, "to cut") are the front teeth present in most mammals. They are located in the premaxilla above and on the mandible below. Humans have a total of eight (two on each side, top and bottom). Opossums have 18, whereas armadillos have none.[1]
The permanent teeth, viewed from the right.
Latindens incisivus
Anatomical terminology
Children with a full set of deciduous teeth (primary teeth) also have eight incisors, named the same way as in permanent teeth. Young children may have from zero to eight incisors depending on the stage of their tooth eruption and tooth development. Typically, the mandibular central incisors erupt first, followed by the maxillary central incisors, the mandibular lateral incisors and finally the maxillary laterals. The rest of the primary dentition erupts after the incisors.[2]
Apart from the first molars, the incisors are also the first permanent teeth to erupt, following the same order as the primary teeth, among themselves.
Other animals
In cats, the incisors are small; biting off meat is done with the canines and the carnassials. In elephants, the upper incisors are modified into curved tusks (unlike with Narwhals, where it is a canine that develops into a straight and twisted tusk).[3] The incisors of rodents grow throughout life and are worn by gnawing. In humans, the incisors serve to cut off pieces of food, as well as in the grip of other food items.
Additional images
3D Medical Animation Still Showing Types of Teeth
Medical animation showing Incisor teeth and its arrangement in the mouth of an adult human being.
Illu mouth
Mouth (oral cavity)
Left maxilla. Outer surface.
Base of skull. Inferior surface.
See also
1. ^ "Archives". Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
2. ^ Scheid, RC. (2012). Woelfel's dental anatomy (8 ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
3. ^ Nweeia, Martin; Eichmiller, Frederick C.; Hauschka, Peter V.; Tyler, Ethan; Mead, James G.; Potter, Charles W.; Angnatsiak, David P.; Richard, Pierre R.; et al. (30 March 2012). "Vestigial Tooth Anatomy and Tusk Nomenclature for Monodon Monoceros". The Anatomical Record. 295 (6): 1006–1016. doi:10.1002/ar.22449. PMID 22467529.
External links
• Media related to Incisors at Wikimedia Commons
Bharattherium is a mammal that lived in India during the Maastrichtian (latest Cretaceous) and possibly the Paleocene. The genus has a single species, Bharattherium bonapartei. It is part of the gondwanathere family Sudamericidae, which is also found in Madagascar and South America during the latest Cretaceous. The first fossil of Bharattherium was discovered in 1989 and published in 1997, but the animal was not named until 2007, when two teams independently named the animal Bharattherium bonapartei and Dakshina jederi. The latter name is now a synonym. Bharattherium is known from a total of eight isolated fossil teeth, including one incisor and seven molariforms (molar-like teeth, either premolars or true molars).
Bharattherium molariforms are high, curved teeth, with a height of 6 to 8.5 millimetres (0.24 to 0.33 in). In a number of teeth tentatively identified as fourth lower molariforms (mf4), there is a large furrow on one side and a deep cavity (infundibulum) in the middle of the tooth. Another tooth, perhaps a third lower molariform, has two furrows on one side and three infundibula on the other. The tooth enamel has traits that have been interpreted as protecting against cracks in the teeth. The hypsodont (high-crowned) teeth of sudamericids like Bharattherium are reminiscent of later grazing mammals, and the discovery of grass in Indian fossil sites contemporaneous with those yielding Bharattherium suggest that sudamericids were indeed grazers.
Dental anatomy
Dental anatomy is a field of anatomy dedicated to the study of human tooth structures. The development, appearance, and classification of teeth fall within its purview. (The function of teeth as they contact one another falls elsewhere, under dental occlusion.) Tooth formation begins before birth, and the teeth's eventual morphology is dictated during this time. Dental anatomy is also a taxonomical science: it is concerned with the naming of teeth and the structures of which they are made, this information serving a practical purpose in dental treatment.
Usually, there are 20 primary ("baby") teeth and 28 to 32 permanent teeth, the last four being third molars or "wisdom teeth", each of which may or may not grow in. Among primary teeth, 10 usually are found in the maxilla (upper jaw) and the other 10 in the mandible (lower jaw). Among permanent teeth, 16 are found in the maxilla and the other 16 in the mandible. Most of the teeth have distinguishing features.
FDI World Dental Federation notation
FDI World Dental Federation notation is a dental notation widely used by dentists internationally to associate information to a specific tooth.Developed by the FDI World Dental Federation, World Dental Federation notation is also known as ISO 3950 notation.
Orientation of the chart is traditionally "dentist's view", i.e. patient's right corresponds to notation chart left. The designations "left" and "right" on the chart below correspond to the patient's left and right.
Globulomaxillary cyst
The globulomaxillary cyst is a cyst that appears between a maxillary lateral incisor and the adjacent canine. It exhibits as an "inverted pear-shaped radiolucency" on radiographs, or X-ray films.
The globulomaxillary cyst often causes the roots of adjacent teeth to diverge.
This cyst should not be confused with a nasopalatine cyst.
The developmental origin has been disputed. Today, most literature agree based on overwhelming evidence that the cyst is predominantly of tooth origin (odontogenic), demonstrating findings consistent with periapical cysts, odontogenic keratocysts or lateral periodontal cysts.
Human tooth development
Tooth development or odontogenesis is the complex process by which teeth form from embryonic cells, grow, and erupt into the mouth. For human teeth to have a healthy oral environment, all parts of the tooth must develop during appropriate stages of fetal development. Primary (baby) teeth start to form between the sixth and eighth week of prenatal development, and permanent teeth begin to form in the twentieth week. If teeth do not start to develop at or near these times, they will not develop at all, resulting in hypodontia or anodontia.
A significant amount of research has focused on determining the processes that initiate tooth development. It is widely accepted that there is a factor within the tissues of the first pharyngeal arch that is necessary for the development of teeth.
Hutchinson's teeth
Hutchinson's teeth (also known as Hutchinson's incisor, Hutchinson's sign or Hutchinson-Boeck teeth) is a sign of congenital syphilis. Babies who are having these kind of teeth are smaller and more widely spaced than normal and which have notches on their biting surfaces. It named after Sir Jonathan Hutchinson, an English surgeon and pathologist, who first described it.
Hutchinson's teeth form part of Hutchinson's triad.
Incisive foramen
In the human mouth, the incisive foramen, also called anterior palatine foramen, or nasopalatine foramen is a funnel-shaped opening in the bone of the oral hard palate immediately behind the incisor teeth where blood vessels and nerves pass. The incisive foramen is continuous with the incisive canal, this foramen or group of foramina is located behind the central incisor teeth in the incisive fossa of the maxilla.
The incisive foramen receives the nasopalatine nerves from the floor of the nasal cavity along with the sphenopalatine artery supplying the mucous membrane covering the hard palate of the mouth.
In many other species, the incisive foramina allow for passage of ducts to the vomeronasal organ.
Incisor procumbency
In rodents, incisor procumbency refers to the orientation of the upper incisor, defined by the position of the cutting edge of the incisor relative to the vertical plane of the incisors. Proodont incisors have the cutting edge in front of the vertical plane, orthodont teeth have it perpendicular to the plane, opisthodont incisors have it behind the plane, and hyper-opisthodont teeth have the cutting edge even behind the back of the alveolus of the incisor.Phyllotini are mostly opisthodont, but Auliscomys and Galenomys are orthodont and have sometimes even been described as proodont, and Eligmodontia, Loxodontomys, and some species of Calomys are hyper-opisthodont. Irenomys, Reithrodon, and Neotomys, formerly classified as phyllotines, are also hyper-opisthodont. Oryzomyini are also mostly opisthodont, but Amphinectomys savamis, Handleyomys fuscatus, Melanomys caliginosus, Mindomys hammondi, Scolomys melanops, and Sigmodontomys aphrastus are orthodont.
Inferior alveolar artery
The inferior alveolar artery (inferior dental artery) is an artery of the face. It is a branch of the first portion of the maxillary artery.
Mandibular canal
In human anatomy, the mandibular canal is a canal within the mandible that contains the inferior alveolar nerve, inferior alveolar artery, and inferior alveolar vein. It runs obliquely downward and forward in the ramus, and then horizontally forward in the body, where it is placed under the alveoli and communicates with them by small openings.
On arriving at the incisor teeth, it turns back to communicate with the mental foramen, giving off a small canal known as the mandibular incisive canal, which run to the cavities containing the incisor teeth.It carries branches of the inferior alveolar nerve and artery.
It is continuous with the mental foramen (which opens onto front of mandible) and mandibular foramen (on medial aspect of ramus).
Mandibular central incisor
The mandibular central incisor is the tooth located on the jaw, adjacent to the midline of the face. It is mesial (toward the midline of the face) from both mandibular lateral incisors. As with all incisors, its function includes shearing or cutting food during mastication, commonly known as chewing. There are no cusps on the tooth. Instead, the surface area of the tooth used in eating is called an incisal ridge or incisal edge. Though the two are similar, there are some minor differences between the deciduous (baby) mandibular central incisor and that of the permanent mandibular central incisor. The mandibular central incisors are usually the first teeth to appear in the mouth, typically around the age of 6-8 months.
Mandibular lateral incisor
The mandibular lateral incisor is the tooth located distally (away from the midline of the face) from both mandibular central incisors of the mouth and mesially (toward the midline of the face) from both mandibular canines. As with all incisors, their function is for shearing or cutting food during mastication, commonly known as chewing. There are no cusps on the teeth. Instead, the surface area of the tooth used in eating is called an incisal ridge or incisal edge. Though relatively the same, there are some minor differences between the deciduous (baby) mandibular lateral incisor and that of the permanent mandibular lateral incisor.
In the universal system of notation, the deciduous mandibular lateral incisors are designated by a letter written in uppercase. The right deciduous mandibular lateral incisor is known as "Q", and the left one is known as "N". The international notation has a different system of notation. Thus, the right deciduous mandibular lateral incisor known as "82", and the left one is known as "72".
In the universal system of notation, the permanent mandibular lateral incisors are designated by a number. The right permanent mandibular lateral incisor is known as "26", and the left one is known as "23". In the Palmer notation, a number is used in conjunction with a symbol designating in which quadrant the tooth is found. For this tooth, the left and right lateral incisors would have the same number, "2", but the right one would have the symbol, "┐", over it, while the left one would have, "┌". The international notation has a different numbering system than the previous two, and the right permanent mandibular lateral incisor is known as "42", and the left one is known as "32".
Maxillary central incisor
The maxillary central incisor is a human tooth in the front upper jaw, or maxilla, and is usually the most visible of all teeth in the mouth. It is located mesial (closer to the midline of the face) to the maxillary lateral incisor. As with all incisors, their function is for shearing or cutting food during mastication (chewing). There is typically a single cusp on each tooth, called an incisal ridge or incisal edge. Formation of these teeth begins at 14 weeks in utero for the deciduous (baby) set and 3–4 months of age for the permanent set.There are some minor differences between the deciduous maxillary central incisor and that of the permanent maxillary central incisor. The deciduous tooth appears in the mouth at 8–12 months of age and shed at 6-7 years, and is replaced by the permanent tooth around 7–8 years of age. The permanent tooth is larger and is longer than it is wide. The maxillary central incisors contact each other at the midline of the face. The mandibular central incisors are the only other type of teeth to do so. The position of these teeth may determine the existence of an open bite or diastema. As with all teeth, variations of size, shape, and color exist among people. Systemic disease, such as syphilis, may affect the appearance of teeth.
Maxillary lateral incisor
The maxillary lateral incisors are a pair of upper (maxillary) teeth that are located laterally (away from the midline of the face) from both maxillary central incisors of the mouth and medially (toward the midline of the face) from both maxillary canines. As with all incisors, their function is for shearing or cutting food during mastication, commonly known as chewing. There are generally no cusps on the teeth, but the rare condition known as talon cusps are most prevalent on the maxillary lateral incisors. The surface area of the tooth used in eating is called an incisal ridge or incisal edge. Though relatively the same, there are some minor differences between the deciduous (baby) maxillary lateral incisor and that of the permanent maxillary lateral incisor. The maxillary lateral incisors occlude in opposition to the mandibular lateral incisors.
Maxillary lateral incisor agenesis
Maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (MLIA) is lack of development (agenesis) of one or both of the maxillary lateral incisor teeth. In normal human dentition, this would be the second tooth on either side from the center of the top row of teeth. The condition is bilateral if the incisor is absent on both sides or unilateral if only one is smissing. It appears to have a genetic component.
Megalomys audreyae
Megalomys audreyae, known as the Barbudan (?) muskrat or the Barbuda giant rice-rat, is an extinct oryzomyine rodent from Barbuda in the Lesser Antilles. Described on the basis of a single mandible (lower jaw) with the first molar missing and an isolated upper incisor, both of uncertain but Quaternary age, it is one of the smaller members of the genus Megalomys. Little is known about the animal, and its provenance and distinction from "Ekbletomys hypenemus", an even larger extinct oryzomyine that also occurred on Barbuda, have been called into question. The toothrow in the lower jaw has a length of 8.7 mm at the alveoli. The third molar is relatively narrow and both the second and third molars have a wide valley between their outer cusps.
Sciurognathi is a suborder of rodents that includes squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, and many types of mice. The group is characterized by a specific shape to the lower jaw. In sciurognaths, the angular process of the jaw is in the same plane as the root of the incisors. This is in contrast to the suborder Hystricognathi where the angular process is outside the plane formed at the root of the incisor due to the presence of a shelf for muscle attachment.
The sciurognathous condition is considered to be the primitive condition in rodents, and is therefore not a good character for cladistic analysis. Although hystricognaths are almost universally accepted as representing a real evolutionary grouping, most researchers do not consider Sciurognathi as an equally valid group. In particular, gundis are thought to be more closely related to the hystricognathous rodents than to other sciurognaths. In spite of this, most texts continue to use these two suborders due primarily to a lack of a viable alternative.
Alternatively, some texts group rodents into three suborders on the basis of the shape of the infraorbital canal. According to this taxonomy the rodents are divided into the suborders Sciuromorpha, Hystricomorpha, and Myomorpha.
A tooth (plural teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are covered by gums. Teeth are not made of bone, but rather of multiple tissues of varying density and hardness. The cellular tissues that ultimately become teeth originate from the embryonic germ layer, the ectoderm.
The general structure of teeth is similar across the vertebrates, although there is considerable variation in their form and position. The teeth of mammals have deep roots, and this pattern is also found in some fish, and in crocodilians. In most teleost fish, however, the teeth are attached to the outer surface of the bone, while in lizards they are attached to the inner surface of the jaw by one side. In cartilaginous fish, such as sharks, the teeth are attached by tough ligaments to the hoops of cartilage that form the jaw.Some animals develop only one set of teeth (monophyodont) while others develop many sets (polyphyodont). Sharks, for example, grow a new set of teeth every two weeks to replace worn teeth. Rodent incisors grow and wear away continually through gnawing, which helps maintain relatively constant length. The industry of the beaver is due in part to this qualification. Many rodents such as voles and guinea pigs, but not mice, as well as leporidae like rabbits, have continuously growing molars in addition to incisors.Teeth are not always attached to the jaw, as they are in mammals. In many reptiles and fish, teeth are attached to the palate or to the floor of the mouth, forming additional rows inside those on the jaws proper. Some teleosts even have teeth in the pharynx. While not true teeth in the usual sense, the dermal denticles of sharks are almost identical in structure and are likely to have the same evolutionary origin. Indeed, teeth appear to have first evolved in sharks, and are not found in the more primitive jawless fish – while lampreys do have tooth-like structures on the tongue, these are in fact, composed of keratin, not of dentine or enamel, and bear no relationship to true teeth. Though "modern" teeth-like structures with dentine and enamel have been found in late conodonts, they are now supposed to have evolved independently of later vertebrates' teeth.Living amphibians typically have small teeth, or none at all, since they commonly feed only on soft foods. In reptiles, teeth are generally simple and conical in shape, although there is some variation between species, most notably the venom-injecting fangs of snakes. The pattern of incisors, canines, premolars and molars is found only in mammals, and to varying extents, in their evolutionary ancestors. The numbers of these types of teeth vary greatly between species; zoologists use a standardised dental formula to describe the precise pattern in any given group.
Universal Numbering System
The Universal Numbering System also called the "American System", is a dental notation system for associating information to a specific tooth used in the United States.
See video for details
In the rest of the world, a different International Standard (DIN EN) ISO 3950:2016 is used.
Maxillary teeth
Mandibular teeth
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses. |
Are we being too sensitive and becoming desensitized?
27 07 2011
Work sent me overseas to a Latin American country and some of my co-workers called all men Pedro. It was a joke and nobody really cared. But that got me thinking, if they did that at home in the US, people would be offended, even if there were not Latinos. This got me wondering, is the effort to not offend anybody going too far, to the point of being silly? Are we so vulnerable that anything can hurt us?
In my friend’s child soccer team, there are no goalies; no body wins or loses. I understand and agree that the game is supposed to be fun, and that US society tends to be extremely competitive, but trying to shield children from the experience of loosing a game may give them a false sense of entitlement and deny them the opportunity of learning how to lose; which frankly is as important as learning how to win.
We walk around on egg shells trying so hard not to hurt anybody’s feelings. Could it be that by not being exposed to disappointment and pain that we are creating children and adults with no empathy? Do you think a bully would do what they do if they had gone through something similar?
I see kids videotaping themselves hitting others, doing flash mobs of theft and other unimaginable things with no regard for consequences. If you don’t learn early on the consequences for your actions, than you may think there are none.
Can we be honest with each other and just let somebody know when their behavior crossed the line. How about if we have the conversations instead of trying so hard that we don’t say anything meaningful anymore.
It is easy to talk the talk when you don’t have to walk the walk
15 03 2010
Don’t you hate it when people that don’t know what they are talking about praise the benefits of communism? You may wonder, what is she talking about? I am talking about an actor by the name Sean Penn.
This is the guy that praises Castro and the represive government of Iran.
This fool, yes you are, appeared on a talk show defending the venezuelan president. He said that people that call him a dictator should be put in jail!?!?!?! He probably doesn’t know that that is just what a dictator would do. It is called Free speech, a democracy gives us the right to say what we please, express our opinion. The thing is that people that oppose the above mentioned “president” are put in jail.
Mr. Penn also said that Venezuela has had the most ‘transparent’ elections in the hemisphere… he is so right, they have all been clear as mud. When a person can lose their job, become unhirable, unable to get a passport, because they are in a black list, they are part of the list of people that did not vote for the president. I think you can call that transparent. It is transparent because people know that they will lose their livelihood if they don’t join and vote for the party and if they don’t wear the red t-shirt and march for the government when asked. He probably doesn’t know that parliametary elections (equivalent to senate and congress) are coming up and Read the rest of this entry »
Can we maybe slow down?
7 03 2010
I was talking to a friend about some cultural differences between here and my home planet and she though I was being silly when I said that I think we are always in a hurry here, she said why would people slow down and waste time. I started to wonder why are we in such a hurry.
When first moved to the US and would go to a restaurant, I found it so rude that the would bring the check when you are in the middle of your meal. That felt like they were pushing you out the door. Like they were saying “next”. I have gotten used to it and I just try to ignore the bill sitting there, staring at me and pressuring me into leaving.
I invited a friend, that I had not seen in a long time, to meet me for coffee and she asked how long it would take, because she had to pick up her kid from here and taken him there and the other one would be done at such time and he need to go to this other thing. Now I remember why we have not seen each other in such a long time, there is no time.
There is one thing that I try to avoid in our multitasking world, lunch meetings. I hate lunch meetings, to me work and lunch should be separate events, they don’t mix. It doesn’t help that for me lunch is the biggest meal of the day (another cultural thing) and that I like to take my time and not inhale my meal. When I cannot avoid a lunch meeting, I try no to eat during it. I feel it is better for my digestive process. I have worked with people who talk with their mouth full and perform other unappetizing behaviors during lunch meetings, that might be why I have created such an aversion to them. But still, I like to have my meals sitting down, calmly, in good company, savor and enjoy. Is there something wrong with that? Do you feel that it is time wasted?
I realize I have assimilated a lot to the US culture and I am often times running against the clock, doing seven things a once, and when I finally get home I tend to stop, and slow down. I try to leave the rush outside. But sometimes I find myself running again, cooking meals for a few days at one time, so that I can slow down and enjoy later.
Are you running? tell me what are you running to of from? Can we afford to slow down and enjoy the ride?
Huggers Wanted
31 05 2009
I was watching a news report that talked about how some schools are banning hugs, or hugging among students. According to this news report it is all the new rage… hugging is new?
That was one of those times when I felt the Alien that I am. I come from a planet where we show affection. I used to hug and kiss (in the cheek) all my friends since elementary school (that is as far as I can remember). We hug and kiss our friends, specially if we haven’t seen them for a couple of days. With family we do, every time we see each other.
I guess the way we show affection is pretty much cultural. I have had to get used to not kissing and hugging people here, and when I visit my planet I feel awkward the first couple of days, when everybody wants to hug me. Then it all comes back and I feel that warmth of the embrace, the affection, and since I am the one outside the planetary circle, the hugs for me tend to be longer, as if we were trying to make up for lost time, or as my Mom would put it, “recharging my batteries”.
Have you heard about the Free Hugs Campain…if not here it is
Hey you don’t know what you are missing, hug somebody today!!
DO immigrant women have rights? Even when illegal?
1 03 2009
This is a case of an immigrant woman that I have heard allegedly happen and I want to know not only your opinion but does she have any rights.
This starts like any other love story, boy meets girl they fall in love they get married. Things change and unlike other love stories, they don’t live happily ever after. She is an immigrant in his country…
I don’t know how she came in, I am lacking a lot of details, but she is an illegal immigrant now. During the course of their marriage he was supposed to have asked for her green card but apparently didn’t. I have my doubts that it was even a legal marriage.
After a while he became abusive, mostly verbally and then escalated, the abuse became also physical. For some reason, some women stay in relationships like that, I will never understand why.
Then she got pregnant, the abuse ceased for a little and then started again, but this time she was pregnant and afraid to miscarriage because of the beatings. She left him and ended up at his parents house; they welcomed her with open arms, they always treated her as a daughter and they said they’ll figure out how to make things work.
One day she overheard a conversation between her mother in law and her son (her husband); she was saying that they only needed to wait for a few more weeks until the baby was born, then she would call immigration have the daughter in law deported that way they could get rid of her and keep the baby. She panicked, Read the rest of this entry »
The Steelers are WORLD Champions!!
2 02 2009
So the Steelers won the Superbowl and I have been hearing since the end of the game, yes I watched some of it, that they are the WORLD Champions…
So the USA is the world?!?!?!?!
What about the other continents, countries? What are they? Are those other WORLDS?
I think we are either extremely egocentristic and arrogant or we use the word WORLD very loosely.
I AM QUEEN OF THE WORLD!!!! My world at least… 😉
Needles to say, I stil do not understand why the sport is called Fooball
The Power of Words
25 01 2009
I believe that words have the power we give them and just that.
I come from a planet where what you say is important but how you say it is just as important. So the words may have different meanings depending on the intention given when they are used. calling somebody fat can be offensive or a term of endearment.
I sometimes find myself repressing what I am going to say because I don’t know if I may be offending somebody. This country’s political correctness might be too repressive for my taste. You can’t say fat, it has to be overweight, no blind but visually impaired. Why are we so sensitive to words that we created?
We go as far as to have a funeral for a word and forbid people to use it. To me that gives that word a lot more power. That word is so powerful that people only dare to say N-word, only a certain group of people are allowed to use it. If anybody else uses it, the entire society goes up in arms. It is absurd!!
I went to a training to understand gay issues and I learned so much about what they go through; but one of the things that strikes me the most is that they told me that the were reclaiming the word “Queer”. They told me that this word was used to offend gays and that they were reclaiming it to take away that offensive meaning. I thought that was brilliant!
If we took away the meaning of words, that are not even the real meaning of those words, that were just meanings given by people that were trying to make others feel angry, offended, minimized, we would be taking the power away from them.
Recently I got a comment to a posting called Illegal Immigration-Mexico’s double talk… this comment used the word “Beaners”, I responded back asking what that means, I know is a derogatory way of calling Mexicans, Latinos, Hispanics, illegal immigrants, I am not sure if is some of those or all, usually people that use terms in that way would not make a distinction between groups.
I am not offended because beaners doesn’t have any meaning or value to me, but I am curious to know what he was trying to say with that.
From my alien point of view, we should stop giving words so much power and start being more honest and open. We cannot be liked by everyone and we are bound to either offend or feel offended by what another person does or says. Let get rid of the egg shels and start communicating for real, lets clear the miss understandings and stop assuming. |
Vietnam Tourism
Vietnam’s bustling largest city sets the cultural and economic pace for the country. The former Saigon boasts charming French colonial architecture and wide boulevards, usually thronged and choked with traffic. Taxis are an option for seeing the sprawling city. The War Remnants Museum shows the Vietnam War through Vietnamese eyes. Don’t miss the impressive Jade Emperor Pagoda. Go to the frenetic Ben Thanh Market for food, flowers or frogs. Tour through the Mekong Delta, past rice paddies and houseboats.
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular travel destination in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. Administratively, the bay belongs to Ha Long City, Cam Pha City, and is a part of Van Don District. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bai Tu Long Bay to the northeast, and Cat Ba Island to the southwest. These larger zones share a similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters.
Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2, including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 with a high density of 775 islets. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate.The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity, including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem. Ha Long Bay is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species.
Vietnamese officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. With an estimated 94.6 million inhabitants as of 2016, it is the world’s 14th-most-populous country, and the ninth-most-populous Asian country. Vietnam is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, Thailand across the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest, and the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia across the South China Sea to the east and southeast.Its capital city has been Hanoi since the reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1976, with Ho Chi Minh City as the most populous city.
The northern part of Vietnam was part of Imperial China for over a millennium, from 111 BC to AD 939. An independent Vietnamese state was formed in 939, following a Vietnamese victory in the Battle of Bạch Đằng River. Successive Vietnamese imperial dynasties flourished as the nation expanded geographically and politically into Southeast Asia, until the Indochina Peninsula was colonized by the French in the mid-19th century.
Since 2000, Vietnam’s economic growth rate has been among the highest in the world,and, in 2011, it had the highest Global Growth Generators Index among 11 major economies. Its successful economic reforms resulted in its joining the World Trade Organization in 2007. (2018 Updated ).
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The Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism provides consultative, diagnostic and therapeutic services for the full range of endocrine problems. Our doctors specialize in the management of bone diseases, thyroid disorders, diabetes, pituitary disorders, adrenal disorders, and disorders of male and female hormones.Although every organ system secretes and responds to hormones (including the brain, lungs, heart, intestine, skin, and the kidney), the clinical specialty of endocrinology focuses primarily on the endocrine organs, meaning the organs whose primary function is hormone secretion. These organs include the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, testes, and pancreas.
An endocrinologist is a physician who specializes in treating disorders of the endocrine system, such as diabetes, thyroid dysfunction,to name a few. The medical specialty of endocrinology involves the diagnostic evaluation of a wide variety of symptoms and variations and the long-term management of disorders of deficiency or excess of one or more hormones. The glands in a person's body release hormones. Endocrinologists treat people who suffer from hormonal imbalances, typically from glands in the endocrine system or certain types of cancers. The overall goal of treatment is to restore the normal balance of hormones found in a patient's body. Most importantly,Endocrinology involves caring for the person as well as the disease.
Some of the more common conditions treated by endocrinologists include:
i) Adrenal disorders
ii) Osteoporosis and bone health
iii) Diabetes
iv) Endocrine disorders in children (lack of growth, problems with puberty)
v) Heart problems (high cholesterol, triglycerides, high blood pressure)
vi) Men's health (infertility, testosterone levels)
vii) Pituitary disorders
viii) Thyroid disorders
ix) Weight and metabolism
x) Women's health (menopause, infertility, some menstrual problems) |
What is a Hammertoe?
September 09, 2014
Category: Uncategorized
Tags: Untagged
What is a Hammertoe?
A hammertoe is a contracture (bending) of a joint in one of the little toes. This bending puts pressure on the toe when wearing shoes. The pressure is what causes problems to develop.
Some of the symptoms of hammertoes:
-Pain or irritation when wearing shoes.
-Corns on the toe. This is caused by the friction of the toe against the shoe.
- Calluses on the ball of the foot or bottom of the toe.
Hammertoes, corns, and calluses can all be painful and make it hard to find a comfortable shoe.
Hammertoes usually become worse over time. In the beginning they are flexible and symptoms are easy to manage. If the hammertoe is left untreated it can become stiff and may not respond to treatments besides surgery. The corns don’t usually go away even with trimming and are more likely to develop as hammertoes worsen.
You should try to see a podiatrist as soon as you notice hammertoes forming. Trimming the corn or callus can relieve up to 30% of pressure temporarily and special creams can help as well.
If you are concerned that you may have hammertoes or notice them starting to form, Contact Us at Dakota Foot & Ankle Clinic today and make an appointment with Dr. Brian Gale, DPM, FACFAS. You can also go online to Request an appointment. |
noun Physics.
an experimental plasma-physics device in which magnetic fields confine the plasma within a tube shaped like a figure eight.
Origin of stellarator
1951; stellar + (gener)ator, so named because the reactions produced resemble those in stars Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for stellarator
physics an apparatus used in research into thermonuclear reactions, consisting of a toroidal vessel designed so that a plasma may be contained within it by a helical magnetic field. The magnetic field is produced by current-carrying coils
Word Origin for stellarator
C20: from stellar + (gener) ator |
The effect of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii on the sex ratio of human beings
As mentioned in Chapter 2 in the book, many people are infected by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii throughout their lives. In developed countries, 15–40% of women of reproductive age are usually infected; in developing countries with lower hygienic standards, the occurrence of this “latent” toxoplasmosis approaches 90%. A study that we recently performed on a large number of women indicated that far more boys than girls are born to infected women in their first pregnancy. In a set of 111 women with the highest antibody levels (i.e. with the strongest or freshest, nonetheless latent, infection), the ratio of boys to girls attained a value of 2.6:1. We observed a similar phenomenon in experiments performed on infected mice. It is not yet known in which way toxoplasma affects the ratio of the sexes of human beings. However, it seems most probable that the protozoa in some way reduces the probability that the embryos of individuals of male sex will be aborted in the first weeks of pregnancy. It is well known that male embryos have a much better chance of implantation in the uterus of the mother than female embryos, but that they simultaneously have a much greater chance that they will be aborted in the first weeks of pregnancy. Of a ratio of the sexes of 1.64:1 in favour of boys in the 5–7th week of pregnancy, the secondary sex index usually decreases by the time of parturition to the usual value of 1.06:1, corresponding to 106 newborn boys to 100 newborn girls. The immune system of the mother plays an important role in elimination of male embryos as it recognizes antigens specific for male cells, H–Y antigens. It is known that toxoplasma has a substantial impact on immune processes occurring in the infected organism. Thus, it is possible that toxoplasma can affect the ratio of the sexes in favour of boys by suppressing the component of the immune system that is responsible for elimination of male embryos. In conclusion, two questions to make you think: Older parasitologists observed that, in a population in which about 30% of the individuals are infected by toxoplasma, more than 80% of children with Down’s syndrome are born to mothers infected by latent toxoplasmosis. Modern parasitologists and physicians, of course, laughed at this – we obviously know that Down’s syndrome is not caused by a parasitic protozoa but by the fact that two copies of chromosome number 21 accidentally entered the egg during meiosis and the individual was created by the fertilization of this egg by normal sperm so that the individual has three copies of this chromosome in their cells instead of two. The first question – how could toxoplasma lead to increased frequency of children with Down’s syndrome in infected mothers, without having to attack the future sex cells and play around with their chromosomes during meiosis? Second question, far more difficult, to which I also do not know the answer – should parents who are taking care of a beloved child with Down’s syndrome curse toxoplasma or thank it?
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The classical Darwinian theory of evolution can explain the evolution of adaptive traits only in asexual organisms. The frozen plasticity theory is much more general: It can also explain the origin and evolution of adaptive traits in both asexual and sexual organisms Read more |
Other articles
1. Can Contracts replace Unit-Tests?
What are “contracts”? Contracts are the key element in the design-by-contract technique, natively supported by the Eiffel programming language.
They allow operate at many levels:
1. methods: as pre- and post-conditions
2. classes: as class invariants
3. loops: as loop variants/invariants
In this article we shall only consider method pre- and post-conditions. That means, before method execution the pre-condition is checked and after the method is finished (upon completion) the post-condition is checked.
read more
2. Scala Beginners: counting words and lines
A simple command-line tool
At work, I’m teaching one intern and one colleague how to program.
I gave them the following exercise:
Write an utility that takes 3 command-line parameters P1, P2 and P3. P3 is OPTIONAL (see below) P1 is always a file path/name. P2 can take the values:
• “lines”
• “words”
• “find”
Only P2 is “find”, then P3 is relevant/needed, otherwise it is not.
So, the utility does the following:
• If P2 is “rows” it says how many lines it has
• If P2 is “words” it says how many words it has (the complete file)
• If P2 is “find” it prints out the lines where P3 is present
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Page 1 / 2 » |
Internationalizing Applications Android
Android users hail from many different parts of the world. They speak different languages, use different currencies, and format their dates in different ways—just to name a few examples.Android application internationalization generally falls into three categories:
• Providing alternative resources such as strings or graphics for use when the application is running in different languages
• Implementing locale-independent or locale-specific code and other programmatic concerns
• Configuring your application for sale in foreign markets—a topic we discuss further in Chapter “Selling Your Android Application”
We already discussed how to use alternate resources, but perhaps another example is in order—let’s look at an application that loads resources based upon the device language settings. Specifically, let’s consider a simple application that loads different string and graphic resources based upon the language and region settings of the device.
Internationalization Using Alternative Resources
Let’s look at two examples of how to use alternative resources—this time, to localize an application for a variety of different languages and locales. By language, we mean the linguistic variety such as English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, and so on. By locale, we are getting more specific, such as English (United States) versus English (United Kingdom) or English (Australia).There are times when you can get away with just providing language resources (English is English is English, right?) and times when this just won’t fly.
Our first example is theoretical. If you want your application to support both English and French strings (in addition to the default strings), you can simply create two additional resource directories called /res/values-en (for the English strings.xml) and /res/values-fr (for the French strings.xml).Within the strings.xml files, the resource names are the same. For example, the /res/values-en/strings.xml file could look like this:
<string name="hello">Hello in English!</string>
Whereas, the /res/values-fr/strings.xml file would look like this:
<string name="hello">Bonjour en Français!</string>
A default layout file in the /res/layout directory that displays the string refers to the string by the variable name @string/hello, without regard to which language or directory the string resource is in. The Android operating system determines which version of the string (French, English, or default) to load at runtime. A layout with a TextView control to display the string might look like this:
android:text="@string/hello" >
The string is accessed programmatically in the normal way:
String str = getString(R.string.hello);
It’s as easy as that. So, we move on to a more complex example, which illustrates how you can organize alternative application resources in order to provide functionality based upon the device language and locale.
Again, this application has no real code to speak of. Instead, all interesting functionality depends upon the judicious and clever use of resource folder qualifiers to specify resources to load. These resources are
• The default resources for this application include the application icon stored in the /res/drawable directory, the layout file stored in the /res/layout directory, and the strings.xml string resources stored in the /res/values directory. These resources are loaded whenever there isn’t a more specific resource available to load. They are the fallbacks.
• There are English string resources stored in the /res/values-en directory. If the device language is English, these strings load for use within the default layout.
• There are French Canadian string resources stored in the /res/values-fr-rCA directory. If the device language and locale are set to French (Canada), these strings load for use within the layout. But wait! There’s also an alternative layout stored in the /res/layout-fr-rCA directory, and this alternative layout uses a special drawable graphic (the Quebec flag) stored in the /res/drawable-fr-rCA directory.
• Finally, there are French string resources stored in the /res/values-fr directory. If the device language is French (any locale except Canada), these strings load for use within the default layout.
In this way, the application loads different resources based upon the language and locale information, as shown in Figure. This figure shows the project layout, in terms of resources, as well as what the screen might look like when the device settings are set to different languages and locales.
Changing the Language Settings
Generally, a device ships in a default language. In the United States, this language is English (United States). Users who purchase devices in France, however, are likely to have a default language setting of French (France), while those in Britain and many British territories would likely have the language set to English (United Kingdom)—that said, Australia and New Zealand have their very own English settings and Canada has both an English (Canada) option and a French (Canada) language option.
Using alternative resources for different language string resources.
Using alternative resources for different language string resources.
To change the locale setting on the emulator or the device, you need to perform the following steps:
1. Navigate to the Home screen.
2. Press the Menu button.
3. Choose the Settings option.
4. Scroll down and choose the Language & keyboard settings.
5. Choose the Select Language option.
6. Select the locale you want to change the system to, for example, French (France), English (United States), or English (United Kingdom).
Make sure you memorize the steps (and related icons, such as the Settings icon) required to change the language settings, as you need to navigate back to this screen in that foreign language, in order to change the settings back.
Changing device language settings.
Changing device language settings
The Settings icon in English and French (left) and the Settings menu in French (right).
Internationalization forces design choices on the development team. For example, will you build one big project for all languages, or will you break the applications up by region? For some projects with light internationalization, you might be able to get away with one project with all internationalized resources. For deep internationalization, you might need to reorganize projects so that no application becomes too large or cumbersome for the user.
Because much of the work for application localization revolves around alternative resources, this means that this work might fall not to a developer who knows how to use Eclipse and the Android tools well, but to a designer who needs some training on how Android internationalization works, how resources can be layered, and the drawbacks of over-internationalizing (resulting in very large package files with many graphics and such). On the plus side, this leaves developers free to do what they do best: developing code.
Finally, you’ve likely noticed that the Android alternative resource structure isn’t perfect—especially for countries with multiple official (and unofficial) languages. It is possible to work around these issues, when necessary, by loading graphics programmatically based upon the current locale setting on the device, but this should only be attempted when absolutely necessary.
Implementing Locale Support Programmatically
There are times in which you should ensure that your application code is “locale-aware.” Often, this means writing code that is flexible enough to run smoothly regardless of the locale. However, when your application needs to be locale-aware—for example, to download appropriate content from a remote application server—you should rely upon localefriendly methods.
Here are some pointers for developing applications that work in a variety of locales:
• Begin by accepting that different parts of the world have different ways of expressing common information. Respect these differences and support them when feasible.
• Apply standard methods for internationalizing Java applications.
• Most localization issues with application code revolve around the use and formatting of strings, numbers, currencies, dates, and times. Audio and video containing speech is also routinely localized.
• Don’t make assumptions about character encodings or what locale your application is running in.
• Always use locale-friendly methods, when they are available. Often, a class has two versions of a method: one that uses the current locale, and another that includes a locale parameter that you can use when necessary to override behavior.
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Do You Underline Book Titles?
How do I handle book titles in my work? Do I underline them? Italicize them? Put them in quotes? —Bryan F.
This is one of those pesky questions that comes up all the time: Should I underline or italicize book titles in my writing? And it comes up for good reason: You can look at several different books, newspapers or magazine articles and see it handled several different ways. So which one is right?
The answer is: Probably all of them.
How you handle book titles in your work is a style choice not governed by grammarian law. The issue is addressed by the top stylebooks, but the answers vary.
According to the Chicago Manual of Style and the Modern Language Association, titles of books (and other complete works, such as newspapers and magazines), should be italicized. So if abiding by either of those guides, you’d italicize Stephen King’s The Shining, just as you would Vanity Fair and The Miami Herald (and Appetite for Destruction, if your protagonist is a Guns N’ Roses fan).
On the flip side, the AP Stylebook suggests that you use quotation marks around the names of books (with the exceptions of the Bible and catalogs of reference material, such as dictionaries and almanacs, which should not be styled in any way). So if you’re writing for a publication that adheres to AP guidelines, reference books with friendly quotation marks: “Eat, Pray, Love,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows” and “Bossypants” (have I ever mentioned how much I love Tina Fey?).
Debunking 10 Grammar (and Novel Writing) Myths
Some publications also follow their own style guides. Here at WD, for instance, we generally follow the AP Stylebook. But, as you can see if you peruse this issue, we break from it on this topic and italicize book titles. That’s our preferred house style.
So what does this mean for you? It means: Don’t worry about it too much. Just pick one way and stick with it for consistency purposes (for example, if you italicize the name of the book your character is reading on page one of your novel, make sure you italicize it on page 214, too). All publishers have their own style, so if you’re fortunate enough to get the work in question published, an editor will edit your story to fit her style preferences anyway. Your goal is to turn in a professional-looking manuscript, and consistency in your style is one key way to do that.
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Thanks for visiting The Writer’s Dig blog. For more great writing advice, click here.
Brian A. Klems is the editor of this blog, online editor of Writer’s Digest and author of the popular gift book Oh Boy, You’re Having a Girl: A Dad’s Survival Guide to Raising Daughters.
Follow Brian on Twitter: @BrianKlems
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8 thoughts on “Do You Underline Book Titles?
1. Avatarnoepcampos
I like a lot your articles, but please look at this part in “Do You Underline Book Titles?”:
WHY do writers put a comma that separates a title from other in between the quotation marks? WHY do not pay attention and put it out? As you see, it is a substitute for “and”, and nobody would put “and” in between:
… reference books with friendly quotation marks: “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows” and “Bossypants” …
It the case, replacing “and” with a comma would be as follows:
… reference books with friendly quotation marks: “Eat, Pray, Love”, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows” and “Bossypants” …
1. Avatarchrist9000
The reason a comma is put in between the book titles is because, while they are in quotation marks, they are still part of a list. When listing things, you put a comma in between each item. For example, if you were to say “He likes bananas, oranges, and carrots”, you would have to put commas between each item that “He” is said to like. How these commas are placed is a matter of debate for some people, since many are starting to avoid using the Oxford comma. If you do not use the Oxford comma, the sentence would read “He likes bananas, oranges and carrots.”
2. Avatartangletale
I had one of those pesky old school educations so I have to offer my 2 cents: If you are referring to a major work, a book, play, album, or symphony, and I’m guessing a ship qualifies, then either Italicizing or underlining is appropriate. Before word processing became the norm this usually meant underlining as most typewriters didn’t have italics. Smaller works like a short story, a poem, a song, a magazine article and probably row boats, are indicated by quotation marks around the title.
1. AvatarBrian A. Klems Post author
Depends on the style of the publisher. For example, Writer’s Digest doesn’t italicize them (just treats them as regular proper nouns) but National Geographic for Kids magazine does. Just be consistent and let the editor adjust.
Online Editor
3. AvatarSteve Maurer
Hi, Brian.
I enjoyed your article. I’ve usually used the AP style of writing as a guide. Is it possible that they use the quotes for titles since most of the writing was sent over newswire, which had little or no formatting?
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Online Google Dictionary
factory 中文解釋 wordnet sense Collocation Usage
Font size:
factories, plural;
1. A building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured or assembled chiefly by machine
• - a huge factory of lying, slander, and bad English
3. An establishment for traders carrying on business in a foreign country
1. a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
2. A factory (previously manufactory) or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. ...
3. Lyoko is a fictional virtual world in the French animated television series Code Lyoko.
4. Factory is the development tree for the openSUSE distribution. It is continually revised, with software being added, removed, and updated. In many cases, this software is made of CVS, Subversion or Git snapshots.
6. In object-oriented computer programming, a factory is an object for creating other objects. It is an abstraction of a constructor, and can be used to implement various allocation schemes. For example, using this definition, singletons implemented by the singleton pattern are formal factories.
7. "Factory" is the second single released by Australian rock band The Vines. All 3 songs were re-recorded later on in the Vines career with "Factory' and 'Ain't No Room' being re-recorded for their debut album 'Highly Evolved' released in July 2002 and 'Drown the Baptists' being re-recorded during ...
8. A trading establishment, especially set up by merchants working in a foreign country; The position or state of being a factor; A building or other place where manufacturing takes place; A device which produces or manufactures something; In a computer program or library, a function or method ...
9. (1.1.7 Factories) means any factories that register to well their Products on the Site;
10. (Factories) Places where things are made from natural resources and raw materials.
11. (Factories) Reduces construction and rezone costs. They are useful in protection but are rarely seen after that. Some explorers may keep a number of these to reduce construction costs, but it's usually better and more efficient to use the land for something else.
12. (Factories) business markets, an agent’s office to act as factor (accountant)
13. (factories) Portuguese trading fortresses and compounds with resident merchants; utilized throughout Portuguese trading empire to assure secure landing places and commerce. (p. 667)
14. (Java) A nonvisual bean capable of dynamically creating new instances of a specified bean.
15. An object whose sole purpose is creation of objects of a particular component. There exists only one factory for every Component (CLSID). The IID and definition has been carefully chosen so as to be binary compatible with COM.
16. A class, metaphorically, for its instances.
17. Factory corresponds to design patterns described in [GHJV95] and is implemented using a class that can return an instance of one of several subclasses of an abstract base class.
18. Commercial A trading port established in a foreign country by a chartered company. A factor was an agent or dealer who was employed to sell goods or merchandise.
19. place where illicit drugs are prepared for sale
20. A factory is the mechanism that binds the implementation of an OSID to the application using the OSID. An OSID consists of a set of entities needed by the OSID. For the most part, these entities are Java interfaces. ...
21. Oxford: between factorise and factotum. 1/ Way in which something is fabricated. 2/ Medium-sized or non-mechanised establishment designed to convert raw materials or semi-finished products into manufactured products. ...
22. A building where goods are produced or assembled.
23. an object that controls the creation of other objects, access to other objects, or both. See also Connection Factory.
24. power of attorney to manage affairs generally, or in particular
25. this building will allow you to produce tanks and flak batteries. It cannot be moved (unless you're Eurasia, in which case, your factories may move like a regular unit with a range of 1, but may not use the subways). ... |
in 1901 Max Planck deduced the formula for the total emission spectrum of a glowing solid
Max Planck
1858 - 1947
Wien identified the temperature-depended
displacement of the peak in the emission spectrum
of a glowing solid in 1893. The formula for the total
emission spectrum of a photon has only been
deduced in 1901 by Max Planck. He discovered that
the wave- and radiation characteristics of a photon
depends on the energy transition of the related
electron according the relation: E = hf. In this
formula, which is called Planck's law, E is the
amount of expelled energy in Joule, f is the
frequency of the emitted (electromagnetic) radiation
in Hertz and h equals 6,626 x 10^-34 Joule-second
(Js), being Planck's constant. In daily life it is quite
easy to imagine the unit Joule. 1 Joule corresponds
with 1 Watt during 1 second so in one minute a
40-Watt incandescent lamp converts 40Wx60s =
2400 Joule of energy into heat and light. In relation
to individual electrons however, the unit Joule turns
out to be unmanageable large and therefore often
the unit electron Volt (eV) is used instead. One eV is the amount of energy that is
required to make an electron overcome a potential difference of one volt. When using
electron Volts, the relation E = hf remains unchanged but E is now expressed in eV
instead of Joule and since one electron Volt corresponds with 1,602 x 10^-19 Joule,
h is transformed to 4,136 x 10^-15 electron Volt-seconde (eVs). An energy transition
of 1,24 eV then results in an electromagnetic radiation with a frequency of f = E/h =
1,24 eV/(4,136 x 10^-15) eVs or about 300.000 GHz. The wavelength of this radiation
follows from the equation λ = c/f in which λ is the wavelength in meters, f
the frequency in Hertz (Hz) or vibrations per second and c is the speed of light, about
300.000 km/s. 300.000 GHz then turns out to be infrared radiation (IR-A) with a
wavelength of λ = c/f = 1000nm. |
ICL Children Running
What is an ICL in Family Law?
What is an ICL?
In the Family Court of Australia or Federal Circuit Court of Australia, an Independent Children’s Lawyer (“ICL”) can be appointed. When the court includes an ICL, it is to protect the interests of the children involved. They can be appointed upon an application by one of the parties. Alternatively, they can be appointed by the court in one of the following circumstances:
• There are allegations of abuse or neglect of the children.
• A high level of conflict exists between the parties.
• Allegations have been made as to the children’s views and the children are of a mature enough age to express their views.
• Allegations of family violence have been made.
• One or both of the parties or the children have serious mental health issues.
• The matter has difficult and complex issues which warrant the appointment of an ICL.
An Independent Children’s Lawyer is typically an experienced family law solicitor. When required, Legal Aid organises their appointment.
The Functions and Duties of an ICL
The Independent Children’s Lawyer’s duty is to represent and promote the children’s best interests at all times. Additionally, they arrange for evidence, including evidence from relevant experts, to be put before the court.
An ICL’s function also includes facilitating the participation and involvement of the children in the proceedings. This depends on the age and maturity of the children and the nature of the proceedings. Furthermore, they facilitate in settlement negotiations where appropriate.
Determining the Best Interests of the Child
To determine what is in the best interests of the children, an ICL may:
• meet with the children unless they are under school age or there are exceptional circumstances why they should not.
• speak to the children’s counsellors, school teachers and principals.
• examine documents from organisations such as schools, Department of Family and Community Services, the police and the medical, psychiatric and psychological records of the children and their parents. These documents are obtained by way of subpoenas issued by the ICL during the proceedings.
• question witnesses including parents and experts at any hearings.
• arrange for a family report to be prepared by a court-appointed family consultant. A family report provides an independent assessment of the issues in the case. Therefore it can assist the Judge to make decisions about arrangements for the children. It may also help the parties reach an agreement.
There is a cap on the costs of the ICL and any counsel instructed by them. It is in relation to the specific work they do, for example in New South Wales, the fee for an appearance of an ICL as solicitor/advocate per day is $1,125.
If you are part of a family law matter with an ICL, or you think one might be required, please get in touch. We can provide advice specific to your situation. |
Mathematics & Numeracy
Numeracy is a life skill used in making everyday decisions for adults. Hence mathematical ideas are presented to the children in meaningful contexts.
The children acquire early mathematical concepts through activities that involve sorting, matching, comparing, classifying, and making patterns and sequences in a variety of contexts. These activities involve the children in playing, exploring and investigating, talking, listening to others and asking and answering questions. Talking about their work, reasoning and describing approaches involved has a high priority in each classroom.
The children learn through a wide range of practical activities, including games to consolidate their learning. The children are given opportnities, on a regular basis, to develop their skills in mental mathematics, to estimate and approximate, and to investigate and make simple predictions in all areas of mathematics and across the curriculum.
Extensive use is made of ICT, the interactive whiteboards in all classrooms, the computer suite and the numerous mathematical games and equipment to support the acquisition of mathematical concepts and skills.
Outdoor Mathematics
We have developed Maths Trails in our school grounds for all classes. These trails enable our pupils to use their mathematics in real problem-solving scenarios outdoors. |
A phone and computer are arguably the two most used devices these days. We use them regularly every day and most of us even work with them for several hours in a row or even for a whole day.
Recent advancements in processing power and storage technologies have made it possible to bring many things to computers and smartphones. Mail, messaging, chat, wallets, banking software, even the ability to store thousands of photos and videos. These devices carry nearly our entire lives digitally. Therefore the attack surface of these devices and the interest from hackers to gain control over them has increased too.
We will dive deeper into specifics in our Intermediate articles, but you should know the basics. The first thing is that human beings love speed. We all sacrifice privacy, a lot of it, for speed. We do not set up password/pin protection on our devices to save time as we unlock them and we let applications use our location data indefinitely to save us a little bit of time in future so that application does not ask about it again.
Many applications tend to misuse permissions by asking for more than they need. For example, a torch application should not really need access to your photos or location, right? Speaking about location, apps tend to ask access to your location not only while using it in the background too, even when the device is idle.
Another big thing is browsers - software that we use most frequently to access content over the Internet. Most browsers send data without our consent and allow websites to store cookie files with unique identifiable information. How many times have you experienced Deja Vu after looking up a product and later finding ads for that product all over social networks and contextual ads everywhere?
Cracked applications and unofficial app stores are dangerous too. No one checks the validity and honesty there and attackers often leverage this possibility heavily. Sticking with the official app stores is essential.
And the public networks? We love free Wi-Fi but it comes at a cost - open Wi-Fi network means the data transmitted is not encrypted and attackers may be able to eavesdrop and hijack important sensitive information such as passwords or photos.
Have you seen laptops with webcam covers? There is a real reason people concerned with privacy use them.
So does it seem a bit scary? Yes, and we just touched the tip of an iceberg here. Head over to our intermediate Phone and Computer article to learn more about where and how your privacy is being compromised on these devices. |
Commandment 5: Learn Code
Everything in technology is built using some sort of programming language or code. You also know that computers can only read binaries — 1’s and 0’s. If you want to talk to a machine, you have to speak its language. You don’t have to master programming languages, but you do have to learn code if you want to be effective.
The internet is still growing. Others will argue it’s already at its maturity stage. But since this is my post, I say it’s still growing 😉 The reason for that are Web 2.0, IPV6, HTML 5, and much more. If you still don’t understand, start Googling them up.
Why Should You Learn Code
Ok, so you might be asking why should you learn code when you are a marketer, right?
Apart from not relying on programmers, the answer is dead simple. Google’s algorithm is based on code. Learning the six HTML tags I’ll present below will help you in your quest for better SEO (search engine optimization) and placement on SERPs (search engine results pages).
HTML stands for hypertext markup language. I won’t go on defining what HTML is. There are a lot of articles explaining that. What this article focuses on are the things you have to learn to be an effective marketer.
And HTML is important because content on your website primarily uses HTML.
Again, there is no need to master it. The basic concept you have to understand when it comes to HTML is the concept of tags.
A tag is a pair of code that involves a start and an end tag.
6 Tags You Should Know by Heart
1. Headers
There are six standard header tags, namely H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6. They are ranked in order of importance (H1 as most important and H6 as least important). Most word processors have them built-in already. Here’s a screenshot in both my Pages app and WordPress.
Example of Tags in Pages
Header Tags in Pages App
Example of Tags in WordPress
Header Tags in WordPress
What is the purpose of these headers?Their purpose in terms of SEO is to determine which topics are important. It is what Google indexes. Also, it simply looks great. It clearly shows the different sections of your post, making it easy to read.
Never, ever, ever, change the font size to distinguish “headers” or sections. Use these built-in-tags. This is one of the most common mistakes people do. While it makes your content readable, it doesn’t help you out in SEO.
Best practice of header tags: only one H1 tag per page. This post has one H1 tag, one H2 tag, and six H3 tags.
2. Hyperlinks
Hyperlinks in HTML is denoted by <a> </a> in code. It has elements inside it that make it work (e.g. href and target are the most used). You can learn more about these elsewhere. So when you want to link to a page within your site (internal link) or to another website (external link), you need to use the <a> tag.
A best practice here is to mind your anchor text. It is the text that goes in between the <a> tags </a>. My previous post is about using data to drive your decisions. If you go look at the code of this, it will look something like this:
<a href=”” target=”_blank”>using data to drive your decisions</a>
The text “using data to drive your decisions” is the anchor text.
There are still a lot of websites that use “click me” as your anchor text. While that is straight to the point, it does not provide value to the reader and search engines.
When using an anchor text, it has to provide context as to what the page you are linking to. In the example I made, I referenced it to my post about stop guessing and use analytics to achieve your goals.
3. Table
The table tag is useful for presenting data. However, I have a more practical way of using this — arrange elements easier to create a good-looking layout. In my company’s marketing software, I use a table to place my signature block properly. Here’s how it looks like:
Ariel Lim
Operations Officer
Ookbee Philippines, Inc.
And here is the raw code for it:
<table> style=”height: 109px;” width=”291″>
<img> src=”” alt=”ariel-lim-photo-964260-edited” width=”75″ style=”max-width: 93px; max-height: 424px; width: 75px;” title=”ariel-lim-photo-964260-edited”>
<strong><div>Ariel Lim </strong></div>
<strong><div>Operations Officer</strong></div>
<strong><div>Ookbee Philippines, Inc.</strong></div>
If you noticed, there are several elements inside the <table> tag. It introduces you to two other tags, particularly the <tr> and <td> tags. What the code does is simply arrange my signature block to include a photo and the three lines to the right (name, title, company).
Again, this post is to teach you areas to apply them, not how to learn them. There are other places more qualified to teach you these things. So if you want to have a signature block in your email to look like that, simply copy the entire code, then change the image and the other contents.
4. Paragraph
The most basic tag in HTML, IMO. It is hidden between an opening and closing <p> tag. Use it to separate paragraphs instead and ensure proper spacing. Sometimes, when you hit enter to go to a new line, you end up moving down a single-line. So you hit another enter. The problem with this is that the code behind it doesn’t look great.
5. Line Break
This is similar to the paragraph tag, except this forces the text after it to move down one line. Unlike the other tags listed here, this one does not need a pair. All you need is one <br>. I usually do this when I need to bring down one line without spaces a group of text.
6. Lists
The list tag allows you to create numbered lists or bulleted lists. They are called ordered lists and unordered lists, respectively. Just like the <table> tag, the list tag introduces several other tags associated with it. For example, this post uses an ordered list. Here’s how it looks like:
<li>Table </li>
<li>Paragraph </li>
<li>Line Break </li>
<li>Lists </li>
As mentioned at the top of this post, you do not have to master any programming language. All you need to do is learn code — the basics and how they work.
Most content management systems (CMS) automatically takes care of these for you. However, there are times when you want to do something that the CMS cannot automatically do for you. So, dive in the code editor and fix it yourself.
Ariel Lim
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Factorial Calculator
Number :
Factorial :
The Factorial Calculator an online tool which shows Factorial for the given input. Byju's Factorial Calculator is a tool
Practise This Question
Which of the following organelles have these features?
A. Large, spherical structure.
B. Present in almost all eukaryotic cells.
C. In animal cell it is present at the centre of the cell.
D. In plant cells, it is present at the periphery. |
Classical Five-Element Acupuncture
Professor J.R. Worsley (1923 – 2003), a British osteopathic physician and Master of Acupuncture, is credited with bringing Classical Five-Element Acupuncture to the West. In 1955, he was awarded the title “Master” of Five-Element Acupuncture. The following year he founded The College of Traditional Acupuncture, U.K. in Warwickshire, England.
The Chinese, as strong observers of nature, believed that when our connection to nature is strong, we have better health. In Chinese medicine, the theory of the Five Elements is a philosophy that sees the world in dynamic states or phases of constant change. Classical Five-Element Acupuncture differs from other the more commonly known Traditional Chinese Medicine in the way it diagnoses and treats illness according to what is called the Causative Factor (CF).
Classical Five-Element Acupuncture as it was taught by Professor Worsley is unique from other styles of acupuncture in how reads the pulses and diagnoses and treats the body, mind and spirit.
The goal of Classical Five-Element acupuncture, according to ancient Taoism (a Chinese philosophy based on living simply and honestly and in harmony with nature) is to bring the body, mind and spirit into balance with the elements of nature: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. These five elements correspond to five seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Late Summer and Fall. Each element also corresponds to ten organs and two functions within the body. Worsely Five-Element stands apart in its effectiveness at treating the whole person on all levels: Body, Mind and Spirit.
Professor Worsley says that every human being has one true cause of disease that comes from the element that is most out of balance for them, that being the Causative Factor (CF). The Causative Factor is established from birth to the first six months of life. Here is a short video about the Causative Factor.
The Earth element corresponds to the stomach and spleen, Metal to the colon and lungs, Fire to the heart, small intestine (and two functions, circulation/sex (heart protector) and triple heater (temperature regulator), Water to the bladder and kidneys, Wood to the gallbladder and liver.
5 Element Acupuncture
Centerfca ©
The season of Fire (summer) is a time of luxurious growth. Everything is in bloom and begins to bear fruit and comes alive. Fire gives us warmth and love and a passion for life. The heart is responsible for order and control of all the other organs. The small intestine assimilates and separates the pure from the impure of the nourishment we take in. Circulation/sex protects the hear t and regulates blood flow and sexual secretions. The triple heater is the temperature regulator of the body. When the Fire element is out of balance, there are symptoms such as a lack of joy, love or warmth, confusion and panic, heart problems, poor circulation, numbness or tingling in the limbs, hot or cold flashes, arthritis, shoulder and elbow problems.
Earth/Late Summer
The season of Earth (late summer) is the time of harvest the abundance of summer. The days of summer are getting shorter and cooler and there is a hint of fall in the air. Earth is the provider and mother that feeds and sustains us. It gives us stability , balance and groundedness. The stomach receives nourishment and prepares it for digestion. The spleen stores the blood. When the Earth element is imbalanced, there can be symptoms of needing sympathy, obsessive thoughts, worry, self-doubt, ulcers, indigestion, muscle pain and tenderness, poor or excessive appetite, and menstrual irregularities.
The season of Metal (autumn) is a time of harvesting for the winter. The leaves begin to fall back to the earth from where they came. It represents the minerals and salt of the earth.This is a time of change, transition and sometimes nostalgia and letting go of the past. Metal gives us our sense of quality and value. It is involved with the intake of life-giving energies and the discharge of toxins. The lungs are the receiver of the chi from the heavens, breathing in the air. The colon gets rid of toxins and waste. When Metal is out of balance there are symptoms of excess grief or sorrow, diarrhea or constipation, skin problems and asthma.
The season of Water (winter) is a time of rest, withdrawal and hibernation. It is a time of stillness and quiet and conservation of energy. The trees are bare and the days are short. It gives us determination and willpower. The kidneys filter the blood and keep the body clean and in balance. The bladder is responsible for eliminating the excess of water and waste filtered through the kidneys and storing our water reserves. When Water is out of balance, there are symptoms such as phobias or fear, urinary problems, high blood pressure, brittle joints, dry skin, backache, problems with perspiration, ear problems.
The season of Wood (spring) is a time of birth and growth, vision and hope for the future. It is the greening season when flowers bloom, a time for planting seeds and new beginnings. Wood is seen in a tree growing upward to the sky and growing deep roots in the earth. The liver stores the blood, filters its toxins and promotes the free flow of chi in the body. The gallbladder stores and empties the bile. When Wood is out of balance we experience symptoms of frustration, anger, vertigo, ligament and tendon problems, dry brittle nails, migraines and eye problems.
The Five Emotions and Corresponding Organs
Did you know that:
Anger weakens your liver and gall bladder.
Grief weakens your lungs and colon.
Worry weakens your stomach and spleen.
Stress weakens your heart and brain.
Here is a great link with more information about the five emotions in Chinese medicine and how they affect your health.
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Goldilocks And The Three Bears
A little girl named Goldilocks lived with her mother nearby. Goldilocks took a walk through
the woods and found the bears house. She smelled the porridge in the kitchen and went inside.
Then she sat on a big chair, but she didnt like it, because it was hard. Afterwards she sat
bed. She lay down on it and fell asleep.
they got very surprised. Someone had tasted their porridge, even eaten up baby bears porridge,
sleeping. Baby bear cried out, Someone has been sleeping in my bed and here she is!
the house to her home. Never again did she make herself at home in anyone elses house.
(Source: Dit. PSMP, 2006)
1. How did Goldilocks find the bears house?
2. What did she find in the bears house?
3. What did she do there?
4. What happened to the small chair?
5. What happened when Goldilocks was sleeping?
6. Why were the tree bears surprised?
7. What did Goldilocks do when she saw the three bears?
8. What would you do if you were Goldilocks? Would you come to the bears house again?
9. What is the moral value of the story?
10.Mention the characters of the story above !
The Chipmunk That Ran Away
Once upon a time, there was a nervous little chipmunk. She was always afraid that
something bad happened to her. One day, she heard a little noise. It was really only an apple that
fell to the ground. But the little Chipmunk was afraid and said The sky is falling in. Then she ran
away as fast as she could go.
Soon she met an old brother Chipmunk, who asked, Where are you running to, little
Chipmunk? And the little Chipmunk answered, The sky is falling in, and I am running away.
The sky is falling in? said the old brother Chipmunk. And he told the story to his brother
chipmunk, until at last there were a hundred brother Chipmunks shouting, The sky is falling in.
Soon the larger animals heard what the Chipmunks were saying. The Deer, the Sheep, the
Pig, the Camel, the Tiger, and the Elephant began to say, The sky is falling in.
Then the wise Lion heard all the noise and wanted to know what was happening. He
stopped all the animals and asked, What are you saying? The brother Chipmunks said, Oh we
heard it from that little Chipmunk! And the Lion said, Little Chipmunk, what made you say that
the sky was falling in? And the little Chipmunk said, I saw it there near the tree.
Well, said the Lion, Come with me and I will show you how something. Now get on my back.
The Lion took her on his back, and asked the animals to stay where they were until they returned.
Then he showed the little Chipmunk that the apple had fallen to the ground. This made the noise
that had made her afraid. The little Chipmunk said, Oh, I see. The sky is not falling in. The Lion
said, Lets go back and tell the other animals. So they went back. At last all the animals knew
that the sky was not falling in.
(Source: Dit. PSMP, 2006)
1. What did the little Chipmunk hear one day?
2. What did the little Chipmunk think the noise was?
3. What did she do then? Did she meet the older brother Chipmunk?
4. What did the little Chipmunk say?
5. Did the old brother Chipmunk believe her? How do you know?
6. Did the other animals believe her? How do you know?
7. Did the Lion believe her? How do you know?
8. What did the Lion do to show the little Chipmunk that the sky was not falling in?
9. What did the Lion ask the other animals to do?
10. What did the little Chipmunk learn at last?
Snow White
Snow White
Snow white
Once upon a time there lived a little girl named Snow White. She lived with her Aunt and
Uncle because her parents were dead.
One day she heard her Uncle and Aunt talking about leaving Snow White in the castle
because they both wanted to go to America and they didnt have enough money to take Snow
Snow White did not want her Uncle and Aunt to do this so she decided it would be best if
she ran away. The next morning she ran away from home when her Aunt and Uncle were having
breakfast. She ran away into the woods. Then she saw this little cottage. She knocked but no one
answered so she went inside and fell asleep.
found Snow White sleeping. Then Snow White woke up. She saw the dwarfs. The dwarfs said,
what is your name? Snow White said, My name is Snow White.
Doc, one of the dwarfs, said, If you wish, you may live here with us. Snow White said, Oh
could I? Thank you. Then Snow White told the dwarfs the whole story, and Snow White and the 7
dwarfs lived happily ever after.
A Test for the King
A Folktale from Central Java
There was a small kingdom called Mergosono. Although Mergosono was small, it was
famous because the king was a very good and wise man.
One day, the gods heard about the kings goodness and wisdom. So, they decided to test
him. The king of the gods sent four of his gods to Mergosono to test the king. At that time, the
kings son, Pangeran Sembara was studying abroad. One of the gods disguised as Pangeran
Sembara and two others as villagers while one disguise as a villager who was killed by Pangeran
Sembara. The two villagers then went to see the king to tell him about the death of their friend.
They said that they saw the prince killed their friend. I accept your report. But my son hasnt
returned from his study. I will hold my judgment until his return. If my son indeed killed your friend
then I will give him the punishment he deserves. But if you lie then I will punish you for ruining my
familys good name, said the king.
When the two villagers left, the king called his trusted advisors. He asked for their opinion
about this matter. They all agreed that if the report was true then the prince should be punished.
The king was sad to hear that but he knew he had to uphold the law.
The next morning the false prince came to see his father. He admitted killing the villager.
So the king decided to execute the prince for his wrong doing.
The next day the prince was going to be hung as his punishment. When the executioner
hanged the prince, suddenly his body disappeared and a voice was heard across the field. King of
Mergosono, you really are a wise and justified king. You pass my test. So I will give you and your
people prosperity as long as you and your descendant stay true and wise. Dont be sad. Your son
is well and on his way home to see you. When the sound was gone, the people of Mergosono
yelled with joy. Their prince was safe and they knew that their king was a wise man. When the
prince finally
arrived home, they held a party to celebrate the event.
Adapted from
1. Who were the characters of the story?
2. What is the story about?
3. What kind of test did the gods want?
4. Who was the four gods disguised?
5. Why was the kingdom very famous?
6. Did the King punish his son?
7. What kind of punishment did the false prince get?
8. What happen when the executioner hanged the prince?
9. What reward did the main character get?
10. What lesson do you learn from the story?
An Honest Woodsman and H is Axe
There was once an honest Woodsman who lived with his family in a forest. He worked hard,
cutting down trees so he could sell the firewood. This is how he supported his family. All day long
you could hear the sound of his faithful axe ringing through the woods.
One day he was cutting down trees near the edge of a deep pool of water in the forest.
With strong, steady strokes he chopped away until it grew quite late in the day. The Woodsman
was tired, for he had been working since early morning, and his strokes were not as strong and
steady as they had been. He raised his tired arms high for a final blow and his axe slipped, flew
out of his hands and landed with a plonk into the pool, sinking to the bottom.
The Woodsman cried out, No! All is lost! As he stood, wringing his hands, pulling his hair
and weeping, the god Mercury suddenly appeared.
What is wrong Woodsman? asked the god. The Woodsman wept, My axe fell into the
water! It is too deep and I cannot get it back! My axe is all I have to make a living with, and I dont
have enough money to buy a new one. My family will have nothing to eat.
Hearing this, Mercury dove with a splash down to the bottom of the pool. When he
surfaced he held in his hand an axe that glinted in the setting sun, for this axe was made of pure
gold! Mercury held up the golden axe and asked, Is this your axe, Woodsman?
The Woodmans mouth fell open and his eyes grew large with desire as he looked at the
golden axe, but he shook his head. No. That is not my axe.
Mercury dove again with a splash down to the bottom of the pool. This time when he
surfaced he held in his hand an axe that sparkled like the silvery drops of water falling from it, for
it was made of pure silver!
Is this your axe, Woodsman? asked Mercury. The honest Woodsman gazed with
amazement at the beautiful silver axe, but again shook his head and said, No. That is not my axe.
My axe is just an ordinary old axe with a plain wooden handle.
Mercury dove down for the third time with a splash, and when he surfaced he held in his
hand the Woodmans battered old axe. Is this your axe, Woodsman? he asked.
The Woodsman was so glad his axe had been found! He cried out, Thats my axe! He
eagerly took the axe and thanked the kind god again and again. Mercury looked at the Woodman
and smiled. I admire your honesty, Woodsman. And it shall be rewarded. You may keep all three
axes, the gold and the silver as well as your own. And then Mercury disappeared as suddenly as
he had come.
The Woodsman gathered the three axes in his arms and hurried home where he was met
by his wife. She was so happy when she saw the gold and silver axes, she cried out, Husband!
Well never be hungry again!
Adapted from
1. The story is about ....
2. What did the woodsman do to earn money?
3. How did he lose his axe?
4. What axes did Mercury show the woodsman before the ugly one? .
5. What reward did the woodsman get from Mercury?
6. No! All is lost! What does the expression means?
7. Husband! Well never be hungry again! Why did the wife say so?
8. And it shall be rewarded.
The word it in the sentence refers to....
9. He eagerly took the axe and thanked the kind god again and again.
The word eagerly in the sentence is similar in meaning to....
10. I admire your honesty, Woodsman.
The word honesty in the sentence is opposite in meaning to....
The Bear and the Two Travellers
Once, there were two men were travelling together. They were best friends and they
always did everything together.
On the way, they suddenly met Bear. They felt scared and tried to save themselves.
Suddenly, their friendship was gone. One of them individually climbed up quickly into a tree and
covered himself in the branches. The other one fell flat on the ground because he saw that he
would be attacked. The man held his breath and pretended appearance of death. He held his
breath as long as he could because he knew that ear would not attack dead people. The Bear
came up and felt with his
nose. Bear smelt him all over. The Bear soon left him, because Bear would not touch a dead body.
When Bear was quite gone, the other man got down from the tree and humorously asked
his friend about what the Bear had whispered in his ear. Then, his friend said that the Bear gave
him advice. The other man then asked what the Bear advised him. Then, his friend said that the
Bear advised him not to travel with someone who leaves his friend at the approach of danger.
Adapted from
1. Who are the main characters of the story?
2. How was their friendship?
3. How did they save themselves from Bear?
4. What was the end of the story?
5. What moral value do you learn from the story?
The Stupid Dog
Folklore from Central Sulawesi
DEER have horns, right? But long time ago, deer did not have horns. Instead, dogs had
horns. How did the deer get the horns? Here is the story. It was a very hot day. A couple of deer
went to a river to drink. They were husband and wife. After arrived in the lake, they immediately
drank some water.
Suddenly, the wife saw an animal coming. My husband, who is he? Wow! He is very
handsome with his horns, said the female deer. Oh, thats my friend. He is a dog. By the way,
did you say he is more handsome than me? asked the male deer. He was jealous. Of course not,
you are still more handsome than he is. But I have to admit that his horns are beautiful. If you
have those horns, I think you will look very attractive. Ok, then, I have an idea how to take the
horns from the dog. Just wait here.
Hi, how are you? asked the male deer to the dog. Im just fine, answered the dog. How
about you? Not really good. You see my wife over there? She thinks that I cannot run fast like
other male deer. Do you mind if we have a running match? I really want to practise, said the male
deer. Dont worry, my friend. Lets have the running match now.
After that, the running match began. The male deer won. Then, he tried to cheer the dog
up. Well, dont be sad. You cannot run fast because you have your horns on your head. What if
you let me wear the horns, asked the male deer. OK, but please wear the horns carefully. I dont
want them to be broken. Dont worry. I will be very careful, replied the male deer. And then he
immediately put the horns on his head. Wow? My wife is right. I really look great with these
horns, said the male deer to himself. Then, they started the running match again. The male deer
ran as fast as he could. He ran very fast and did not stop. He was trying to steal the dogs horns.
Hey come back! Bring back my horns! the dog was very angry. Until now, dogs always try to
catch deer. The dogs want to get their horns back.
Adapted from
1. Mention the characters of the story!
2. Did the deer have horns a long time ago? Who had horn?
3. Why did the dog look handsome?
4. Did the deers wife love the dog? Why?
5. Who was the winner in the running match?
6. Why did the dog cant run fast?
7. Why did the male deer run very fast and did not stop?
8. Did the deer look handsome with the dogs horn?
9. What is the ending of the story?
10.What is the moral value of the story?
The Colour of Friendship
Once upon a time the colours of the world started to quarrel.
All claimed that they were the best.
The most important.
The most useful.
The favourite.
Green said, "clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen
will see that I am in the majority."
Blue interrupted, "you only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the
and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
Yellow chuckled, "you are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world.
The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, and the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower,
Orange started next to blow her trumpet, "I am the colour of health and strength. I may be
Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but
to any of you."
Red could stand it no longer he shouted out, "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's
the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the colour of passion and
Purple rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp, "I am the
determination: "Think of me. I am the colour of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you
for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace." And so the colours went on boasting, each
convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarrelling became louder and louder. Suddenly
down relentlessly. The colours crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the middle of the quarrel, rain began to speak, "you foolish colours, fighting amongst
they were told, the colours united and joined hands and became a beautiful rainbow.
1. The story tells us about ....
2. How many colours were quarrelling?
3. Why did Purple think that he was the best colour?
4. What did Rain tell them to do to solve the quarrel?
5. The writer tries to tell that ....
The Unhappy Cendrawasih
Folklore from Papua
Mr and Mrs Brown Bird lived in a jungle in Papua. Mr Brown always complained about his
feathers. He thought they were ugly. He was jealous with his friend, Mr Green Bird. "I want to have
beautiful feathers like Mr Green Bird. His feathers are not brown like mine. They are very
beautiful," said Mr Brown Bird to his wife.
"Honey, you have to be grateful with your feathers. With feathers like this, humans are not
interested in us. So they will not hunt us," said Mrs Brown Bird. Mr Brown Bird then went to the
God of Jungle. "I want to have beautiful feathers like Mr Green Bird's feathers, said Mr Brown Bird.
"Don't worry. I can make your wish comes true. Just choose one color." "Hmm I don't know. How
about red? Yellow? Green? I'm confused." The God of Jungle was upset. "Choose now!" Mr Brown
Bird then looks up to the sky. He had an idea. "Aha! I know which color to choose. I don't want one
color of my feathers. I want many colors. I want my feathers to be colorful like the rainbow in the
sky." Not longer after that, Mr Brown Bird's feathers were colorful.
When he went home, his wife did not recognize him. "Honey, it's me. I'm your husband."
"No, my husband is not like you! His feathers are brown!" said Mrs brown Bird. Mr Brown Bird tried
very hard to convince his wife realized that he was really her husband. "You are very stupid, my
husband. Wit color like these, humans will hunt you. What if thy also take our children? Now,
please go away! Our lives are in danger if you are still here," said Mrs Brown Bird. She is crying. Mr
Brown Bird was very sad. He thought he just made a very big mistake. He then left his house. His
name then changed into Cendrawasih. It meant a bird of paradise.
Mentiko Betuah
Folklore from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam
A long time ago, there was a kingdom in Semeulue, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. The king
and the queen had a son, the prince. They loved the prince very much. They always gave him
anything he wanted and that made him grew as a spoiled young man. The king realized his
mistake. He wanted to give the prince a lesson. He asked the prince to leave the palace and
became a merchant.
"I will give you some money. Use the money only for trading. Don't come back until you are
rich!" asked the king.
The prince was sad. He knew his father was angry with him because he was a spoiled boy.
He then promised himself that he could become a great merchant. After he left the palace, he
went to a village. While he was walking, he saw some kids were trying to shoot a bird using their
"Stop! Don't hurt the bird! I'll give you some money if you stop hurting him," said the
prince. After that, he gave some money to those kids.
Later, he saw some men were torturing a snake. Again, the prince asked them to stop
hurting the snake. He also gave them some money. He kept on giving some money to people who
tortured animals. Finally he did not have any money at all. He was so worried. He knew he could
not become a merchant without any money in his pocket. He was also scared of going home. His
father would be very angry at him. Next, the prince went to the forest. He did not know anywhere
to go. While he was sitting under a big tree, a giant snake came to him. He was so frightened.
"Don't worry, young man. I will not eat you. I am the king of snakes in this jungle. I heard
you helped many animals from being tortured. Now, I want to give you a gift. This is Mentiko
Betuah. This magical stone can give you anything you want."
The prince was happy. He asked the Mentiko Betuah to give him a lot of money. Amazingly,
the prince later had a lot of money. So he went home and told his father that the money was from
his business as a merchant.
The prince kept the Mentiko Betuah carefully. He went to a goldsmith and asked him to
make the magical stone as a ring. Unfortunately, the goldsmith stole the Mentiko Betuah. The
prince was angry. Luckily he had made friends to the animals. Then they all helped him find the
Mentiko Betuah.
A cat, a dog, and a mouse went together to find the magical stone. They finally found the
goldsmith. However they could not enter his house, only the mouse could. After waiting for a
moment, the mouse came out of the house. He said he could not find the magical stone. After that
they all went back to the palace. The cat and the dog did not know that the mouse actually had
found the magical stone. He was hiding it in his mouth. He then gave the Mentiko Betuah to the
prince. He was so happy and said that the mouse was the hero.
The cat and the dog were jealous and angry. They tried to kill the mouse. That's why until
now cats and dogs always try to catch mice.
Why did the King want the Prince to leave the palace ?
Why the Prince was sad ?
What did he use the money for ?
What is Mentiko Betuah ?
Who did steal Mentiko Betuah ?
Why were the cat and the mouse jealous and angry ?
The characters
The events in the story
The ending of the story
The moral value of the story
A shark is a type of fish that lives in the sea. It one of the largest sea creatures. There
over 350 species. A shark is shaped like a torpedo. It rough skin like sandpaper.
Instead of bones it elastic cartilage which helps them to move easily. It can up to 8 metres.
Sharks found in all oceans around the world. The type of shark found will on the
waters temperature. A shark to keep moving when it is asleep because it will either sink or
suffocate. It has to keep moving because it needs to through its gills to keep alive.
When sharks are hungry, they look for food. Different sharks eat different food. Harmless
sharks eat plankton but harmful sharks eat meat.
Sharks up to forty two babies (which are called pups) at a time. When the pups born,
they straight away because the mother shark does not have teats. Some sharks their pups in
different ways, some lay eggs while others them alive. When they are born they need to defend
themselves because they have no one to help them.
(Source: Microsoft Encarta, 2008)
An iceberg is a great piece of ice floating in the sea. Berg is the German word for
mountain. In the coldest parts of the earth, around the North and South Poles, land and sea are
both covered by layers of ice, more than 300 metres deep at the centre
Tongues of ice, called glaciers, stretch out into the open sea. The sea water melts the
bottom parts of these glaciers, then the top part moves into the water with a great noise. The
great piece of ice sinks for a short time under the surface, then it rises again, and floats away as a
new iceberg. Some icebergs are many miles long, and travel for thousands of miles and several
years before they finally melt. The part of an iceberg which can be seen above the water is only
about one-ninth of the total size. The rest is hidden under the waves.
One of the worlds worst disasters at sea was in 1912 when the liner Titanic hit an iceberg
and sank on her first journey, killing hundreds of passengers.
1. What is an iceberg?
2. What is berg?
3. What is glaciers?
4. Where is most part of an iceberg?
5. How does the writer describe the North and South Poles?
6. What is liner?
7. What happened to the Titanic?
8. Why did the author write about iceberg?
9. How is an iceberg formed?
10. Describe how an iceberg looks in your own words.
Sumatran rhinoceros
The Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is the smallest rhino species.It is also
the most distinctive rhinoceros. It has been hunted a lot that it almost extinct. There are less than
300 Sumatran rhinoceroses surviving in Malaysia and Indonesia. Between 1985 and 1995, the
number of Sumatran rhinos declined by 50 percent because of poaching and habitat destruction.
The Sumatran rhinoceros has unique gray or reddish-brown coat. It is believed to be the
only survivor of the lineage that included the woolly rhinoceros. Sumatran rhinos stand up to 1.4
m (4.6 ft) at the shoulder and weigh up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). They have folded skin, like the
other Asian rhinos, except that it is covered with coarse, bristly hair. The Sumatran is the only
rhino in Asia with two horns. The front horn is usually the longest, reaching a length of 90 cm (36
in), and the rear one is sometimes so small that the animal looks as if it is single-horned.
They live mainly in forest-covered hills near water and are known to be good at climbing
slopes and swimming. They move mainly at night, and spend most of the day wallowing in mudholes and pools.
Sumatran rhinoceroses usually feed on leaves, twigs, and fruit.
Female rhinos reach sexual maturity at about the age of five or six. The males mature
between the ages of seven and eight. However, they do not father calves until they have claimed
a territory, which may take them three or four years. Rhinos always have a single calf, born after a
gestation period of 15 to 18 months. The calf may feed on its mothers milk for up to two years,
and it usually remains with its mother until she is about to give birth once more. The calf is only
raised by its mother.
Adapted from: Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All
rights reserved.
1. What is the text about?
2. How do you define them?
3. Why are they endangered?
4. How do they look like?
5. How big and how much do they weigh?
6. Where do they live?
7. What are their diets?
8. When do they reproduce?
9. How long is the gestation period?
10. How long does the calf stay with its mother?
The Blue Whale
The Blue Whale is largest whale and the largest living creature on Earth. Blue whales were
hunted a lot for oil, baleen, meat, and other products from the 1930s to the 1960s. This hunting
caused the extinction of the species. They are now protected and may gradually be returning in
several areas.
Blue whales are mainly found in very cold waters, like the Arctic and Antarctic waters. They
migrate to the tropics in the winter and to the Arctic and Antarctic in summer.
Blue whales can reach over 24 m (80 ft) long; mature females are usually a bit longer than
mature males. They weigh between 87,500 - 142,500 kg. The skin has a light grey and white
spotty pattern.
Blue whales feed by opening its mouth into dense groups of small sea creatures like
plankton, krill or fish.
Blue whales are mammals. They give birth once every two or three years. Mating occurs
during the summer season, and they give birth after about 11 months. The calf nurse for seven or
eight months and gain weight about 90 kg (200 lb) per day.
1. What is the text about?
2. What is a blue whale?
3. Why are blue whales endangered?
4. Where do they live?
5. What do they eat?
6. How do they look like?
7. What do they eat?
8. When do they usually mate?
9. When do they reproduce?
10. How long does the calf nurse?
The Komodo Dragon is the worlds biggest lizard. It is a reptile, a cold-blooded animal. It is
diurnal, most active during the day. The Komodo Dragon is a fast runner; it can run up to 11 mph
The Komodo Dragons scientific name is Varanus komodoensis. It is in danger of extinction
because of habitat lost. Its life span is about 20 years.
Komodo Dragons live on islands in Indonesia, including the island of Komodo. They live in
hot, humid, grassy lowlands and in rainforests.
The Komodo Dragon is about 9 feet (2.8 m) long, but can get up to 10 feet (3 m) long and
weighs up to 300 pounds (135 kg). It has large jaws, four short legs, and five toed feet with sharp
claws. The tail is longer than the body. It senses chemicals with a long, yellow, forked tongue.
The Komodo Dragon is a carnivore (meat-eater). It eats almost anything that it can catch,
Dragon has disease-ridden bacteria in its mouth. After it bites its prey, the victim will get sick and
die from blood poisoning in one or two days. The Komodo Dragon will then find the body and eat
Polar Bear
The polar bears, which are usually called white bears, are found on the sea ice of the Arctic
Circle throughout the North Polar basin. They are classified as Ursus maritimus. They live for about
25 to 30 years. They are now endangered because of habitat destruction.
Polar bears have white fur which may yellow in the summer. Their bodies are longer than
other bears and streamlined for aquatic life. The females grow up to 1.8 m (6 ft) long; males grow
up to 2 m (7 ft) long. Most male polar bears weigh an average of about 350 kg (about 880 lb), and
most females weigh about 250 kg (550 lb). They have the plantigrade feet (heel and sole touching
the ground, with five sharp, curved claws on each foot for grasping the ice and holding its prey.
Long hair between the pads protects the bear's feet from the cold and provides grip on the ice.
Stiff hairs on the forelegs, and very broad front feet, help the bear swim.
Polar bears have a strong navigational sense and an extremely good sense of smell, and
they are unusually clever at solving problems in order to obtain food. Since they are carnivores;
they eat primarily ringed seals, and occasionally bearded seals, walruses, or white whales. They
also feed on berries, sedges, mussels, and kelp.
They live in pack ice where water is accessible. They can be found throughout Arctic
Except during the breeding season, male polar bears are solitary and roam over vast
expanses of sea ice while hunting. During the breeding season (May to June), the males fight
furiously over females. Both the male and female may mate with other individuals as well. The
female typically gives birth to two cubs after a four- to five month gestation period. Cubs remain
with the mother for about 28 months, often nursing the entire time. The young are very small
when born: about 1 kg (about 2 lb). Their eyes remain closed for about 40 days and they must
nurse every few hours. The
mother holds them close to keep them warm.
Adapted from: Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
The giant panda is the common name for a bear found in provinces of western China. The
giant panda resembles other bears in general appearance, with the exception of the black patches
over its eyes, ears, and legs and the black band across its shoulders. Giant pandas live in bamboo
forests at
high elevations and feed primarily on bamboo. Unlike other bears, they vocalize by bleating rather
than roaring.
Females weigh about 80 kg (about 180 lb), and males weigh about 100 kg (about 220 lb).
The giant panda's so-called sixth front toe is not a digit or claw but an enlarged wrist bone that
functions as a thumb in grasping food.
Giant pandas feed almost exclusively on bamboo, which is not highly nutritious.
Furthermore, some bamboo species flower simultaneously and die shortly afterward, occasionally
leading to starvation among giant panda populations. If their usual food supply is threatened,
giant pandas may feed on gardens, crops, and even chickens, but they are little threat to people
except in close encounters.
The habitats of family groups and the survival of juvenile giant pandas are still poorly
understood. Giant pandas seem to have no permanent den and do not hibernate, although they
shelter in the winter in dens or hollow trees. Giant pandas are fairly solitary most of the year.
Females may live in loose groups within the range of a dominant male.
Breeding takes place from March to May, and the young are born three to six months later
weighing only 85 to 140 g (3 to 5 oz). Two cubs may be born, but only one survives. The young cry
loudly for help and require great care from the mothers, and losses of young are a serious problem
in the recovery and management of giant-panda populations. The giant panda's broken range has
created six isolated populations. The total number of giant pandas in the wild is now about 1,000.
Because giant pandas are restricted to a small area of western China, their status may be the
most precarious of all the species of bears.
Taken from: Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All
rights reserved.
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air which is in contact with both a cumulonimbus
cloud or, in rare cases, a cumulus cloud base and the surface of the earth. Tornadoes come in
Most tornadoes have wind speeds of 110 mph (177 km/h) or less, are about 250 feet (75
m) across, and travel a few miles (several kilometers) before disappears. Some reach wind speeds
ground for dozens of miles (more than 100 km).
Although tornadoes have been observed on every continent except Antarctica, most occur
in the United States. They also commonly occur in southern Canada, southcentral and eastern
Asia, east-central South America, Southern Africa, north-western and central Europe, Italy,
western and south-eastern Australia, and New Zealand.
Adapted from:
Earthquake is a sudden shaking of the earth's surface that often causes a lot of damage. It
Earthquakes may happen naturally or as a result of human activities. Smaller earthquakes can
At the Earth's surface, earthquakes can be seen from the shaking or displacement of the
ground. Sometimes, they cause tsunamis, which may lead to loss of life and damage of property.
There are two types of earthquake that occurs naturally, they are tectonic and volcanic
earthquakes. Tectonic earthquakes are earthquakes that are caused by tectonic plates getting
breaking and sliding along fault planes. Volcanic earthquakes are earthquakes which are caused
by the movement of magma in volcanoes. In volcanic regions earthquakes may be caused both by
warning of volcanic eruptions
The size of an earthquake is usually reported using the Richter scale or a related Moment
scale. Earthquakes which are 3 on the Richter scale or lower are hard to notice. Whereas, those
which are 7 on the Richter scale causes serious damage over large areas.
Adapted from:
1. What is the text about?
2. What is an earthquake?
3. How many types of earthquakes are there? What causes each of them?
4. What is the measurement used for an earthquake?
5. To be able to cause destruction, how large does an earthquake have to be?
Flood is an overflow of water that soaks or covers land. Floods are the most frequent type
of natural disaster worldwide. It can be caused by several things, naturally and form the effect of
behavior. The most common cause is because of the over capacity of the body of water, e.g. river
or lake. As a result some of the water flows outside of the body of water. It can also occur in rivers,
when the strength of the river is so high that it flows right out of the river channel. A flood from
sea may be caused by a heavy storm, a high tide, a tsunami, or a combination the three.
Soil and vegetation absorbs most of the surface water, floods happen when there are lack
of trees and the soil alone cannot absorb all the water. The water then runs off the land in
quantities that cannot be carried in stream channels or kept in natural ponds or man-made
reservoirs. A flood can also be caused by blocked sewage pipes and waterways, such as the
Jakarta flood.
There are several types of flood. Periodic floods occur naturally on many rivers, forming an
area known as the flood plain. These river floods usually result from heavy rain, sometimes
combined with melting snow, which causes the rivers to overflow their banks. A flood that rises
and falls rapidly with little or no advance warning is called a flash flood.
Adapted from:
1. What is the report about?
2. What are the natural causes of flood?
3. What are the human causes of flood?
4. What is periodic flood?
5. What is flash flood?
Avalanche is a sudden flow of a large mass of snow or ice down a slope or cliff. Such flows
can be destructive of life and property. Avalanches are most common on slopes exceeding 30,
frequently when a deep snow falls suddenly and does not have a chance to cohere, or when a
thaw undercuts a blanket of older snow. Pellet like snow (graupnel) is also more prone to
avalanche than a fall of ordinary snowflakes. Flows of wind-packed slabs of snow can be especially
considerable, and high avalanche hazards.
Taken from: 1.
2. "Avalanche." Microsoft Student 2007 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft
1. What is the text about?
2. What is an avalanche?
3. What causes an avalanche to occur?
4. How fast can an avalanche go?
5. When does an avalanche usually occur?
Tsunami, Japanese word meaning harbour wave, used as the scientific term for a class of
abnormal sea wave that can cause catastrophic damage when it hits a coastline. Tsunamis can be
generated by an undersea earthquake, an undersea landslide, the eruption of an undersea
volcano, or by the force of an asteroid crashing into the ocean. The most frequent cause of
tsunamis is an undersea earthquake. A tsunami can have wavelengths, or widths (the distance
between one wave crest to the next), of 100 to 200 km (60 to 120 mi), and may travel hundreds
of kilometres across the deep ocean, reaching speeds of about 725 to 800 km/h (about 450 to 500
A tsunami is not one wave but a series of waves. In the deep ocean, the waves may be
only about half a meter (a foot or two) high. People onboard a ship passing over it would not even
notice the tsunami. Upon entering shallow coastal waters, however, the waves may suddenly grow
rapidly in height. When the waves reach the shore, they may be 15 m (50 ft) high or more.
Tsunamis can also take the form of a very fast tide or bore, depending on the shape of the sea
Tsunamis have tremendous force because of the great volume of water affected and the
speed at which they travel. Just a cubic yard of water, for example, weighs about one ton.
Although the tsunami slows to a speed of about 48 km/h (30 mph) as it approaches a coastline, it
has a destructive force equal to millions of tons. Tsunamis are capable of obliterating coastal
rights reserved.
What is the topic of the text?
a. natural disasters
b. catastrophes
c. tsunamis
d. storm surges
The following causes tsunami, EXCEPT .
a. flood
b. undersea earthquake
c. undersea landslide
d. undersea volcano eruption
How fast can a tsunami go?
a. About 48 km/h.
b. About 100 to 200 mph.
c. Around 450 to 500 mph.
d. Around 725 to 800 mph.
How tall can a tsunami be when it reaches the shore?
a. A half a metre.
b. Two feet.
c. Fifteen feet.
d. Fifty feet.
The following is another name for tsunami.
a. storm
b. tide
c. wave
d. tidal wave
SMS (Short Message Service)
SMS (Short Message Service) is a communications system which exchanges short text
messages between mobile telephone devices. The SMS facilitates the development and growth of
text messaging.
Messages are sent to a Short Message Service Centre (SMSC) which provides a store-andforward mechanism. It attempts to send messages to their recipients. If a recipient is not
reachable, the SMSC queues the message for later retry. Some SMSCs also provide a "forward and
forget" option where message delivery is tried only once. Message delivery is best effort, so there
are no guarantees that a message will actually be delivered to its recipient. Delay or complete loss
of a message is not uncommon, particularly when sending between networks. Users may choose
to request delivery reports, which can provide confirmation that the message has reached the
intended recipient.
The maximum single text message size is either 160 7-bit characters, 140 8-bit characters,
or 70 16-bit characters. Characters in languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese or
Slavic languages (e.g., Russian) must be encoded using the 16- bit UCS-2 character encoding.
Larger content (known as "long SMS" or multipart or segmented SMS) can be sent using
containing segmentation information. Long messages are often billed as equivalent to multiple
SMS messages.
Adapted from:
The text is about ....
a. the benefit of SMS
b. how text messages are delivered to the recipient
c. SMS and its features
d. SMS bill
What does SMS technology do to facilitate people to communicate with others?
a. It exchanges short text messages between mobile phones.
b. It streams video to television.
c. It delivers sounds using electromagnetic waves.
d. It sends messages through the internet.
In sending SMS, some operators use transmission which tries only once called .
a. store and forward
b. forward and forget
c. store and forget
d. forward and save
To get a positive confirmation that the message has reached the intended receiver,
we can request for ....
a. SMS bill
b. reply
c. store and forward mechanism
d. delivery report
Message delivery is best effort. (paragraph 2)
The sentence implies that .
a. every SMS that we send will always deliver to the recipients
b. there are some SMSs which might be delayed or not sent to the recipients
c. some SMSCs have the authority not to deliver certain messages
d. almost all SMSCs find it difficult to deliver SMSs
What does the third paragraph tell us about?
a. The number of characters in an SMS.
b. SMS bill.
c. The main feature of SMS.
d. Mobile phone.
Long messages are often billed as equivalent to multiple SMS messages. (last
The sentence means .
a. long SMS is billed as one single SMS
b. people will not get extra charge when using long SMS
c. every SMSC has different rules in billing long SMS
d. the SMS is billed per 160 characters even though you can send more characters
It attempts to send messages to their recipients. (paragraph 2)
The word it in the sentence refers to....
a. the SMSC
b. the forward and forget mechanism
c. the store-and-forward mechanism
d. the mobile phone
The word request in paragraph 2 is similar in meaning to ....
a. ask for
b. get
c. collect
d. disappear
The word multiple in the last paragraph is opposite in meaning to ....
a. numerous
b. many
c. several
d. few
E-mail is a popular communication facility. Every day, people in this world who have
internet access send billions of e-mail messages. E-mail can send any messages around the world.
An e-mail is simply only a text message. In the beginning and even today, e-mail messages
contain a short piece of text. At present, attachment makes many e-mail messages quite longer.
With attachments, e-mail messages continue to be more sophisticated. It can send audio files,
audio-video files, pictures, documents, etc.
People can register to a certain email service provider. They will get their email address in
the format of ---- (email account)@----(email service provider). The @ sign is to indicate that the
user is 'at' some service provider.
With the World Wide Web, email starts to be made available with friendly web by providers
such as Yahoo and Hotmail. Now, e-mail is usually without charge. Everyone has at least one email
address. At present, e-mail is used by not just millions, but hundreds of millions of people.
Adapted from:
1. What is e-mail?
2. How does e-mail deliver messages to the recipient?
3. What is an attachment in e-mail?
World Wide Web
exchange business logic, use the Web to share information.
The Web also utilizes browsers, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape, to access Web
contain graphics, sounds, text and video.
Through keyword-driven Internet research using search engines, like Google, millions
and extreme decentralization of information and data.
Adapted from
1. What is the World Wide Web according to the text?
2. What is the use of HTTP in a Web?
3. What does the internet use to access Web documents called Web pages?
4. instant access to a vast and diverse amount of online information. What are the Indonesian
equivalents of the words VAST and DIVERSE?
5. Compared to encyclopedias and traditional libraries, the World Wide Web has enabled a sudden
and extreme decentralization of information and data (the last sentence). What does the
sentence mean?
Ive ever heard someone said that All I know is what I read in newspapers . This is an
uncommon expression, but I am sure it is true that newspapers are important sources of
information. Many people begin their day by reading the papers. In this way, they learn what is
going on in the world. However, sometimes they dont have time to read the news carefully
and must be satisfied with a quick look at the front page; at other times they may be in
such a hurry that they only have time to glance at the headlines.
There are newspapers to satisfy every reader. In the big cities, there are many types of
papers, with several different additions every day. Some years ago, in small town there were
fewer newspapers and perhaps only one edition each day, but now is different. In some areas,
the paper is printed weekly.
Most newspapers have several sections, especially on Sundays when the edition is larger
than usual. There are, in addition to the front page with the most important news, the sports
section, the society page, the comics, the amusement section, the business page and the
Another type of publication which helps people keep informed is magazine. Some
magazines are published weekly; others are put out monthly. There are news magazines and
magazines for special interest such as photography, sports, art and music. Some are
primarily for men, others for women, and there is a selection of childrens magazines, too.
1. Why do many people begin their day by reading ?
2. What is the function of newspaper ?
3. Why is a newspaper important ?
4. What does paragraph one tell us ?
5. Mention three sections of a newspaper !
6. What is the purpose of the headlines ?
7. Mention three types of magazines !
8. Were can you find the most important news in the newspaper ?
9. others are put out monthly. ( par. 4 )
The underlined word refers to ....
There are some means of communication. One of them is radio. It is used for one - way
communication. We can only hear or receive the broadcast, but we can not send news or
information to the broadcasters . Although it is just one way communication, people like it
because it can give pleasure. We also get knowledge and important news by listening to the
Radio is one of mass media. Its broadcasting can be received by many people, because
almost every family owns it. Its price is cheap ; it is portable, so we can bring it everywhere to
listen. It plays an important role in giving information to people. Therefore, the government
needs to organize the programmes of the radio.
RRI is the government radio. Its programme, broadcasting material, officers, etc, are
organized by the government. There is an RRI station in every city, but the central is in Jakarta.
The other stations belong to privates. They organize their programmes by themselves
although they must broadcast RRIs programmes like news and some national programmes .
Young people usually like private radios because
they broadcast some
programmes for them.
Nowadays we can listen to the radio every time morning, afternoon and night. We
just tune the short wave ( SW ) or the medium wave ( MW ). We will get news national,
regional and local news. We also get any other programmes such as knowledge, family, health,
religion, announcement, advertisement, etc. Sometimes we can listen to some special
programmes or live programmes.
1. What is radio ?
2. What is meant by one- way communication ?
3. Can we send any information to the broadcaster via radio ?
4. Why can radio broadcasting be received by many people ?
5. Is there an RRI station in every city ?
6. Must private radio also broadcast news from RRI ?
7. Why do young people like listening to the private radio ?
8. Mention the wave of radio !
9. Mention the news in the last paragraph !
10. What programmes does radio usually broadcast ?
Today most family have a television set at home. Some may even have more than one
unit. Most parents are facing problem of keeping their small children at home in the evening
if they do not have any television set , because the children readily go to their neighbors
when the children programmes start on TV. Therefore many parents insist or buying it in any
ways. They would get one on credit though the price could be much higher.
Many years ago, when there was no television, people would go to the movie or do any
other activities for fun. But now they prefer watching TV at home with the family. Almost
everybody like watching TV, either for recreation or knowledge and information. Some people
are so eager that they do not want to miss their favorite programmes such as telenovela,
sports, news, etc. Unlike the radio, television can visualize the entire actions which give
interesting moments as if we were there by ourselves.
TV has had such a great influence on daily life of many people everywhere, for better
and worse, to the mature people and the small kids. Careless parents are unaware that their
children are exposed to sadism and violence. TV can also make us passive. We gradually
become lazy, neglecting our assignment s, loosing our sleeping time that leads to hardly
concentrate on our work in the next day.
1. Do the children like watching TV ?
2. Where do the children go if there is no TV set at home ?
3. What did the people do when TV has not been around ?
4. How could the parents do to get a TV ?
5. What are the advantages of watching TV ?
6. What is the difference between TV and radio ?
7. Mention some disadvantages of watching TV !
8. What is your own opinion on TV programmes ?
The sixteenth National Sport Weeks or the 16 th PON took place in Palembang on 2nd - 14th
September 2004. There were about six thousand athletes participated in this event. They
came from thirty provinces. They fought for 1,911 medals ( 607 gold, 607 silver and 697
bronze ) in about 39 sport branches . So the National Sport Weeks or PON is the biggest event
in our country.
The National Sport Weeks is held once in four years in different places. The first
National Sport Weeks was held on 9 th to 12th September , 1948. There were only 13
contingents joined the event. All of them came from Java. The next PON was held in Jakarta,
Medan, Makasar and Bandung. Each province sent their contingents. The sixth PON was not
held because the rebellion of G 30 S / PKI broke out. Most of the National Sport Week took
place in Jakarta. Jakarta is admitted as the city with complete sport facilities.
Each province in Indonesia is represented by their best athletes. They compete
against one another to win the PON championship. The officials of each contingent encourage
the sport-men and sport- women to fight optimally. Even they promise to give bonus for the
athletes who get medals.
Our government do hope that from the National Sport Week, we will find top athletes
to represent our country for the International sport events such as SEA GAMES, Asian Games,
Olympic Games, etc. We know that our sport achievements are getting worse and worse
recently. KONI, the top organization in Indonesia has to improve the sport management.
1. How many athletes joined the 16th PON ?
2. What did the athletes compete against one another for ?
3. Where did the fourth National Sport Week take place ?
1. What does the first paragraph tell us about ?
2. Mention some cities where the National Sport Week took place !
3. Why wasnt the sixth PON in Jakarta performed ?
4. Why did the most National Sport Week take place in Jakarta ?
5. How did the officials encourage the athletes to do their best ?
6. What is KONI ?
7. What does KONI stand for ?
Nowadays there are some international sports events in the world. People from different
countries gather to join the events. They compete against one another for medals gold,
silver and bronze that are given to the winners in each event.
Among the biggest sports events in the world are the Olympic Games. They began in
Greece nearly three thousand years ago. They were held every four years at Olympia. All the
best athletes in Greece took part in a 200 meter race. The winner of the race became the
Olympic champion and was given a branch of olive leaves that he wore as a crown. Soon
more events were added with long jump, javelin throw, boxing, and chariot racing. The
games lasted for several days.
When the Romans conquered Greece, they continued to hold the Olympic Games. But
they started to winners big prizes. Then people began to cheat, so the Roman Emperor,
Theodosius stopped the games.
In 1896 a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, revived the Olympic Games. The
games were held in Greece. They became the first modern Olympic Games. People from
every country in the world can participate and each time the games are held in a different
country. At each Olympic Games there is a special opening ceremony : The lighting of the
Olympic Torch. The Olympics Motto : Citius, Altius, Fortius which means Faster, higher,
and stronger symbolizes the spirit of the athletes to do their best.
1. Why do the best athletes of different countries gather every four years ?
2. What is the main idea of the second paragraph ?
3. What event was in the first Olympic Games ?
4. What was given to the winner of the race ?
5. Why did Theodosius stop the Olympic Games ?
6. Who was Baron Pierre de Coubertin ?
7. What is so special in the modern Olympic Games ?
8. What do the winners of events receive now ?
9. What is the Olympic s motto ? what does it mean ?
10. They began in Greece nearly three thousand years ago. ( par. 2 )
What does the underlined word refer to ?
The South East Asian Games are held every two years. The Sea Games were first held
in 1977. Seven contingents from seven countries in South East Asia have joined the games
since 1985. They are Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar and
Brunei. Now Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia also join the games. From 1977 to 1985 and from
1987 to 1993 Indonesia got the most gold medals.
In 1995 the SEA Games were held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Soccer, the most prestigious
event at the 18th South East Asian Games were contested earlier than December 9, the day
the games formally opened.
Each country is selecting the best athletes who are expected to win the gold medals
and break the record. So the athletes are trained for several months in a training centre.
Thai athletes are split in two groups : a main group and a secondary group which
function as reserves. Its first class athletes are being groomed in Europe or China. So its
difficult to know how strong they really are.
1. When were the first SEA Games held ?
2. How many countries have joined the Games since 1985 ? Mention them !
3. What countries joined the Games later ?
4. Where did the 18th SEA Games take place ?
5. What does each country select their athletes for ?
6. When did the 18th SEA Games formally opened ?
7. Where are the athletes trained ? How long ?
8. Why is it difficult to know how strong the Thai athletes ?
Not all plant are trees but all trees are plants.
Tree is a perennial plant with a single self-supporting trunk of woods usually no branches
for some distance above the ground, and this is called a trunk or a stem. A perfect tree has
roots, a trunk, branches, twigs, leaves, and fruits. Each has its own function to the tree itself.
Trees need water and mineral from the soil as their food. Roots take them and they are
delivered to the leaves through the xylem to be changed into sugar. This process is called
photosynthesis. Leaves, which grow on twigs, with its chlorophyll change water and mineral
with the help of solar energy, they produce sugar and oxygen which is very important for
human life. Then it is spread to all parts of the trees including the very small bud through the
leaves vein and phloem. The rest is kept in the fruit as the food reserve. But usually men will
take the fruit to eat.
Big trees have strong roots to hold them from strong wind or any other and trunk to
support all parts of the tree. The branches, the arm like division of the trees, provide the place
for twigs, leaves, flowers, and fruits to grow.
Trees are actually important for human and animal lives. They can make the weather
fresh. The leaves are good food for certain animals. Some animals need trees for their home.
People also need leaves to wrap some food.
Irresponsible people cut the trees for their own need. They cut the trees into timber or
log to be exported.
1. Are all plants trees ?
2. Do all trees have roots, trunk, branches, twigs, flowers, and fruits ?
3. How do trees supply their own food ?
4. Why do most fruits taste sweet ?
5. Where do flowers usually grow ?
6. Give an example of plant, which has no green matter !
7. Which plants have flowers , but no fruits ?
8. Which animals need trees as their home ?
A national park is for the conservation of national conditions. They are for scientific
purposes, research and tourism. They have been set up by the government as a home for
rare species of flora and fauna to safeguard them.
The followings are some of the national parks in Indonesia :
1. The Ujung Kulon National Park. It is a natural shelter for rare animals in Java such as wild
ox, deer, grey gibbon, wild dog, leopard and java rhino. It is also an area of low lying land in
Java. It is covered by palm and bamboo trees, ginger and bush that rhinos like to eat.
2. The Gunung Leuser National Park. This is the largest park in Indonesia and lies between
Aceh and North Sumatra. It covers 946,400 hectares at an altitude of 0 - 3.406 above sea
level. Sumatra has the richest and most varied fauna in Indonesia. The animals that lives
there are wild elephants, tigers, orangutans, black siamangs, Sumatra rhinos, tapirs,
reptiles and birds. It is still original forest where animals can live.
3. The Komodo National Park. It stretches over an area of 171,500 hectares. It consists of
three islands : Komodo, Badur, and Rinca in the western part of East Nusa tenggara. The
Komodo Dragon is the largest lizard in the world. It can grow up to 4 meters long and weight
140 kilograms. It is the only place in the world where there prehistoric reptiles have
survived .
We can help to conserve wildlife directly by obeying the hunting laws and by planting
bushes and shrubs to provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Is a national park important ? Why ?
2. What is the relationship between the national park and flora and fauna ?
3. to safeguard them ..
What does the word them refer to ?
4. What animals can we find in Ujung Kulon ?
5. What plants can we find in Ujung Kulon ?
6. What park lies between Aceh and North Sumatra ?
7. Mention the animals which live there ?
8. Where does Komodo National Park lie ?
9. What can we do to participate in wildlife conservation ?
The Purwodadi Botanical Garden
A 85 hectare botanical garden was initiated by Dr. D.F. Van Slouten in 1939, but the
foundation was founded in 1954 as an expansion of the Bogor Botanical Garden. Formerly this
garden was used as an experimental station for various plants, like : cocoa, vanilla, tea, and
coffee, as intensively cultivated around Mount Bromo, Mount Semeru, and Mount Arjuna.
Initially, this station was better known as Balai Asri.
There are about 3,101 races, which over 150 families, 894 genera, and 12,638 sub-genera
or species. This lot does not include greeneries and wild plants. They are 546 races of orchids
( of which 231 are races of East Javas natural orchids ), 44 races of wild gingers ( temu
temuan ), 10 races of tubers ( gadung-gadungan ), 108 banana cultivates, including 5 races of
bananas, and 305 races of medicinal plants. While the library collection amounts to 4,587
documents, comprising of books, magazines, loose prints, and special reports on botany and
botanical gardening.
The inventory, exploration, and conservation of tropical plants, indeed are the main
functions of this garden. Besides, the location also holds
as additional function as a
conservation facility, where as a tourism facility the methods and efforts to conserve, and
protect tropical plants can be presented.
In which province is the Purwodadi Botanical Garden ?
2. When was it founded ?
3. Can we find flowers in this garden ?
4. Where do we find cocoa, vanilla, tea, and coffee plants ?
5. Can we learn something about trees there ?
6. Which one is older ; the Bogor Botanical Garden or the Purwodadi Botanical Garden ?
7. What is Balai Asri , the trees, the garden, or the mountain ?
8. Who was Dr. D.F. Van Slouten ?
9. What was the function of Purwodadi Botanical Garden before ?
10. What are the main functions of this garden ?
The population composition of a country is shown with the population pyramid. There are three
kinds of population pyramids. They are the youth population pyramid, the stationary population
pyramid and the adult population pyramid.
The youth population pyramid shows that the birthrate is more than the death rate. It
happens in developing countries such as Indonesia, India and Brazil.
The stationary population pyramid shows the balance between the death rate and the birthrate.
It occurs in some developed countries like Sweden, New Zealand and Scandinavia.
In Japan and French, the population composition indicates that the birthrate is fewer than
the death rate. This is shown the adult population pyramid.
What can we look at the through the population pyramid?
2. How many kinds of the population pyramid?
3. What does the youth population pyramid show?
4. Do Indonesia, India and Brazil belong to the developing countries?
5. What does the stationary population pyramid show?
6. Are Sweden, New Zealand and Scandinavia developed countries?
7. Is different a developing country from a developed country?
8. What kind of population pyramid does Sweden have?
9. What kind of population pyramid does Japan have?
10. What is the best population of pyramid of a country?
As today, information was important for people in the past. They could spread news even
though there was not printing machine, radio and TV transmitter like today.
Printing machines were invented in 1450. Before that, news was spread verbally or in written
letters. In the past people of Rome had a good way for circulating written news. Their first written
news was called Acta Diurna or daily events. It was posted by the government in the public places.
In the past, the government of China produced a news sheet, called Tipao. It was only
circulated among court officials during the Han dynasty. At some points during the Tang dynasty,
carved wooden blocks were used to print Tipao. It was the first printed newspaper in history.
A newspaper with a regular schedule was first published in Venice, Italy, in the 16 th century.
The newspaper was called Avisi or Gazettes. It was published weekly and it reported news from
other parts of Italy and Europe brought to Venice by traders. The first printed newspaper in
England was published in 1621.
English newspapers were different from the other first newspapers. They were among the
first in the world to use headlines to attract readers and pictures to illustrate stories. English
newspapers also set new business standards. They hired reporters, printed advertisements, and
paid young people to sell papers in the streets.
Newspaper has a long history. It will continue to be a good media to spread information.
1. How did people of Rome spread the written news ?
a. It was spread verbally
c. It was posted
b. It was invented in 1450
d. It was sold in certain places
2. Which is true according to the text ?
a. Printing machines were invented in the middle of the fifteen century.
b. Acta Diurna was written news of Chinas people.
c. Tipao was circulated among the civil officials.
d. Information was not needed by the people in the past.
3. The organization of the text is .
a. Orientation, event 1, 2, 3, 4 and Reorientation
b. Identification, Description 1, 2,3,4,5
c. Abstract, Orientation, Crisis, Reaction, Coda
d. General Classification, Description 1,2,3,4,5
4. Printing machines were invented in 1450. (par.2)
The underlined word above means .
a. made
c. built
b. looked after
d. discovered
How to Make a New Folder
Youve just written a new document in your computer. Now, you want to save it on
your hard disk, that is in your own folder. Unfortunately, you dont have it yet. Follow these
instructions to make a new folder.
1. Click Start, usually located on the left bottom of the monitor.
2. Place pointer on Program.
3. Place the pointer on Windows Explorer and click. You have entered or opened your
electronic cabinet. Here, you can see every document, file and program that is in your
4. You are going to create your folder in the My Documents folder. Find it on the left side
column of the Windows Explorer.
5. Move the pointer to My Documents and double click on it. You will be presented with a
list of some folders that are created inside the My Documents folder, and notice that this
folder is highlighted which means the folder you create will be located inside the My
Documents folder.
6. Move the pointer to File and click.
7. Move the pointer to New.
8. Move the pointer to Folder and click.
9. Type in the name of your new folder and press return or enter.
You have made a new folder.
Taken from Lets Talk Grade
Questions A:
1. What kind of text is it?
2. What is the purpose of the text?
3. What tense does the text use?
4. Is text easily to understand?
5. What do you do for the first time when you want to make a new folder?
6. What do you see in the Windows Explorer file cabinet?
7. What is the next step after you click File?
8. What is the last step to make a new folder?
9. Where can you save your documents?
10. Does it take a long time to make a new folder?
Connecting JetFlash (flash disk) to a Computer
1. Plug the JetFlash directly into an available USB port on your desktop or notebook computer.
When the JetFlash is successfully connected to a computer, the JetFlashs LED will light
up. A Removable Disk drive* with a newly assigned drive letter indicating the JetFlash will
appear in the My Computer window. In addition, a Removable Hardware icon and an icon Quick
Menu (provided you setup JetFlash elite) will appear in the Windows System Tray. Picture
3. After the JetFlash is connected to the computer, you can start transferring data to the
JetFlash. Just drag and drop files or folders directly onto the Removable Disk icon that
represents the JetFlash.
Taken from: JetFlashmanual
Questions !
What does the text tell us about?
a. The steps to install the JetFlash.
b. The steps to uninstall the JetFlash.
c. The steps to install QuickMenu of the JetFlash.
d. The steps to copy files and folders to the JetFlash.
Where do we plug the flash disk?
a. Into the IDE port.
b. Into the power slot.
c. Into the USB port.
d. Into the power outlet.
What indicates that the JetFlash is successfully connected to your computer?
a. The JetFlashs LED will light up.
b. The computer is restarted automatically.
c. The computer is removing the data to the JetFlash.
d. The Auto Log In of the JetFlash is running.
In addition, a Removable Hardware icon and an icon QuickMenu (provided
The sentence implies ...
a. If the icons do not appear, you must reinstall the JetFlash elite.
b. If the icons do not appear, you must check your hardware configuration.
c. In some computers with different operating systems, the icons may not appear.
d. You must install the icons so that the icons may appear in the Windows System
The word icon in the sentence is similar in meaning to ....
a. port
b. symbol
c. cable
d. drive
Old paper, magazines, or newspapers
Blender/food processor
Insect screens/strainers
White glue
First, shape wires into a rectangular shape. Then, cover the wire frame with insect screens and
sew it. After that, rip the paper into small pieces. And then, put the torn paper in a bucket and fill
it with warm water. Add one table spoon of bleach. Soak the paper for a half an hour. Next, put a
cup of soaked paper in a blender, add some bleached water and blend it. And then, pour the
blended paper in a large rectangular container. e.g. sink or tray. After that, repeat step 5 and 6
until all of the soaked paper are blended. Then, add and mix two table spoon of white glue to the
blended paper. After that, dip the screen frame into the blended paper. Lift and rinse the water for
a minute. Then, dry the paper (with the screen frame still on) in the sun. And then, peel the
papers out of the frame screens when its dry. Finally, iron the paper.
Adapted from:
1. What is the main purpose of the text?
2. When should we blend the paper?
3. How long do we have to soak the paper?
4. Where should we put the blended paper?
5. How much glue do we have to add?
6. How do we dry the paper? |
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How to Write a Case Digest
Posted by Diory Rabajante on Sunday, April 4, 2010 Under: tips
A case digest or a case brief is a written summary of the case. A case sometimes involves several issues.
Digesting the same would help the student in separating one issue from another and understanding how
the Court resolved the issues in the case. The student does not need to discuss all the issues decided in
the case in his case digest. He only needs to focus on the relevant issue or the issue related to the
subject that he is taking. A case digest may also serve as a useful study aid for class discussions and
exams. A student who has a case digest does not need to go back to the case in order to remember what
he has read.
Format of the Case Digest
I. Caption. This includes the title of the case, the date it was decided, and citation. Include also the
petitioner, respondent, and the ponente.
II. Facts. There is no need to include all the facts. Just include those that are relevant to the subject.
III. Issues. Include only those that are relevant. Issues are usually framed in the form of questions that are
answerable by "yes" or "no," for example, "Is the contract void?" Sometimes, students frame the question
by starting it with the word "whether," for example, "Whether the contract is void" or "Whether or not the
contract is void." The answer to the question has to be answered in the ruling.
IV. Ruling. This usually starts with a "yes" or a "no." This is the answer to the question/s involving the
issue. After the categorical yes/no answer, the reason for the decision will be explained.
V. Concurring and Dissenting Opinions. This part is optional, but it would help to include them because
there are professors who ask for separate opinions in recitations.
Sample Case Digest
226 SCRA 572
Petitioner: Roberto Domingo
Respondents: Court of Appeals and Delia Soledad Avera
Ponente: J. Romero
On May 29, 1991, private respondent Delia Soledad A. Domingo filed the petition entitled "Declaration of
Nullity of Marriage and Separation of Property" against Roberto Domingo. The petition, which was filed
before Pasig RTC, alleged the following:
(a) they were married on November 29, 1976;
(b) unknown to her (Delia), he had a previous marriage with Emerina dela Paz on April 25, 1969 which
marriage is valid and still existing;
(c) she came to know of the prior marriage only sometime in 1983 when Emerina sued them for bigamy;
(d) since 1979, she has been working in Saudi Arabia and is only able to stay in the Philippines when she
would avail of the one-month annual vacation leave granted by her employer;
(e) Roberto has been unemployed and completely dependent upon her for support and subsistence;
(f) Her personal properties amounting to P350,000.00 are under the possession of Roberto, who disposed
some of the said properties without her knowledge and consent;
(g) while on her vacation, she discovered that he was cohabiting with another woman.
Petitioner filed a Motion to Dismiss on the ground that the declaration of their marriage, which is void ab
initio, is superfluous and unnecessary. He further suggested that private respondent should have filed an
ordinary civil action for the recovery of the properties alleged to have been acquired by their union.
RTC and CA dismissed the petitioner's motion for lack of merit.
1) Whether or not a petition for judicial delaration of a void marriage is necessary. (If in the affirmative,
whether the same should be filed only for purpose of remarriage.)
2) Whether or not the petition entitled "Declaration of Nullity of Marriage and Separation of Property" is
the proper remedy of private respondent to recover certain real and personal properties allegedly
belonging to her exclusively.
1) Yes. The nullification of a marriage for the purpose of contracting another cannot be accomplished
merely on the basis of the perception of both parties or of one that their union is defective. Were this so,
this inviolable social institution would be reduced to a mockery and would rest on a very shaky foundation.
On the other hand, the clause "on the basis solely of a final judgment delaring such marriage void" in
Article 40 of the Code denotes that such final judgment declaring the previous marriage void is not only
for purpose of remarriage.
2) Yes. The prayer for declaration of absolute nullity of marriage may be raised together with the
otherincident of their marriage such as the separation of their properties. The Family Code has clearly
provided the effects of the declaration of nullity of marriage, one of which is the separation of property
according to the regime of property relations governing them.
Hence, SC denied the instant petition. CA's decision is affirmed.
Posted by she lamsen
TITLE: Include the petitioner and respondents of the case and the reference.
Sometimes, students only include the Volume Number of the Supreme Court
Reports Annotated (SCRA)/Philippine Reports (Phil) and the first page where the
case appeared or written. Others only include the Gazette Record Number together
with the Date of the case. Still, others include both. Others even add the ponente or
the justice that penned the case.
FACTS: There is no need to include all the facts. Just include those that are relevant
to the subject. The contents of the facts must be brief and concise. It must be
limited to the main facts of the case which of course should focus on the particular
subject assigned.
ISSUES: Include only those that are relevant. Issues are usually framed in the form
of questions that are answerable by "yes" or "no," for example, "Is the contract
void?" Sometimes, students frame the question by starting it with the word
ruling.Furthermore, the issue must have some bearing on the facts above written.
There must be a connection between the facts presented and the issued that must
be resolved.
RULING: This usually starts with a "yes" or a "no." This is the answer to the
question/s involving the issue. After the categorical yes/no answer, the reason for
the decision will be explained. Of course, the ruling must be based on the facts and
issues written. Concentrate on how the Supreme Court decided on the facts in
question. It is advisable that your digest shows that you understand what the case
is all about and that you can elaborate more on the rulings given by the Supreme
Court as long as it is within the decision of the case.
How to write a case brief for law school: Excerpt reproduced
from Introduction to the Study of Law: Cases and Materials,
Third Edition (LexisNexis 2009) by Michael Makdisi & John Makdisi
The previous section described the parts of a case in order to make it easier to read and identify the pertinent information
that you will use to create your briefs. This section will describe the parts of a brief in order to give you an idea about what
a brief is, what is helpful to include in a brief, and what purpose it serves. Case briefs are a necessary study aid in law
school that helps to encapsulate and analyze the mountainous mass of material that law students must digest. The case
brief represents a final product after reading a case, rereading it, taking it apart, and putting it back together again. In
addition to its function as a tool for self-instruction and referencing, the case brief also provides a valuable cheat sheet
for class participation.
Who will read your brief? Most professors will espouse the value of briefing but will never ask to see that you have, in fact,
briefed. As a practicing lawyer, your client doesnt care if you brief, so long as you win the case. The judges certainly dont
care if you brief, so long as you competently practice the law. You are the person that the brief will serve! Keep this in mind
What are the elements of a brief? Different people will tell you to include different things in your brief. Most likely, upon
entering law school, this will happen with one or more of your instructors. While opinions may vary, four elements that are
essential to any useful brief are the following:
(a) Facts (name of the case and its parties, what happened factually and procedurally, and the judgment)
(b) Issues (what is in dispute)
(c) Holding (the applied rule of law)
(d) Rationale (reasons for the holding)
If you include nothing but these four elements, you should have everything you need in order to recall effectively the
information from the case during class or several months later when studying for exams.
Because briefs are made for yourself, you may want to include other elements that expand the four elements listed above.
Depending on the case, the inclusion of additional elements may be useful. For example, a case that has a long and
important section expounding dicta might call for a separate section in your brief labeled: Dicta. Whatever elements you
decide to include, however, remember that the brief is a tool intended for personal use. To the extent that more elements
will help with organization and use of the brief, include them. On the other hand, if you find that having more elements
makes your brief cumbersome and hard to use, cut back on the number of elements. At a minimum, however, make sure
you include the four elements listed above.
(e) Dicta (commentary about the decision that was not the basis for the decision)
(f) Dissent (if a valuable dissenting opinion exits, the dissents opinion)
(g) Partys Arguments (each partys opposing argument concerning the ultimate issue)
(h) Comments (personal commentary)
Personal comments can be useful if you have a thought that does not fit elsewhere. In the personal experience of one of
the authors, this element was used to label cases as specific kinds (e.g., as a case of vicarious liability) or make mental
notes about what he found peculiar or puzzling about cases. This element allowed him to release his thoughts (without
losing them) so that he could move on to other cases.
In addition to these elements, it may help you to organize your thoughts, as some people do, by dividing Facts into
separate elements:
(1) Facts of the case (what actually happened, the controversy)
(2) Procedural History (what events within the court system led to the present case)
(3) Judgment (what the court actually decided)
Procedural History is usually minimal and most of the time irrelevant to the ultimate importance of a case; however, this is
not always true. One subject in which Procedure History is virtually always relevant is Civil Procedure.
When describing the Judgment of the case, distinguish it from the Holding. The Judgment is the factual determination by
the court, in favor of one party, such as affirmed, reversed, or remanded. In contrast, the Holding is the applied rule
of law that serves as the basis for the ultimate judgment.
Remember that the purpose of a brief is to remind you of the important details that make the case significant in terms of
the law. It will be a reference tool when you are drilled by a professor and will be a study aid when you prepare for exams. A
brief is also like a puzzle piece.
picture of the common law takes form. A well-constructed brief will save you lots of time by removing the need to return to
So now that you know the basic elements of a brief, what information is important to include under each element? The
simple answer is: whatever is relevant. But what parts of a case are relevant? When you read your first few cases, you may
think that everything that the judge said was relevant to his ultimate conclusion. Even if this were true, what is relevant for
the judge to make his decision is not always relevant for you to include in your brief. Remember, the reason to make a brief
memory concerning the most important parts of the case.
What facts are relevant to include in a brief? You should include the facts that are necessary to remind you of the story. If
you forget the story, you will not remember how the law in the case was applied. You should also include the facts that are
dispositive to the decision in the case. For instance, if the fact that a car is white is a determining factor in the case, the
brief should note that the case involves a white car and not simply a car. To the extent that the procedural history either
What issues and conclusions are relevant to include in a brief? There is usually one main issue on which the court rests its
decision. This may seem simple, but the court may talk about multiple issues, and may discuss multiple arguments from
both sides of the case. Be sure to distinguish the issues from the arguments made by the parties. The relevant issue or
issues, and corresponding conclusions, are the ones for which the court made a final decision and which are binding. The
What rationale is important to include in a brief? This is probably the most difficult aspect of the case to determine.
rationale of the decision. The goal is to remind yourself of the basic reasoning that the court used to come to its decision
and the key factors that made the decision favor one side or the other.
A brief should be brief! Overly long or cumbersome briefs are not very helpful because you will not be able to skim them
easily when you review your notes or when the professor drills you. On the other hand, a brief that is too short will be
equally unhelpful because it lacks sufficient information to refresh your memory. Try to keep your briefs to one page in
length. This will make it easy for you to organize and reference them.
Do not get discouraged. Learning to brief and figuring out exactly what to include will take time and practice. The more you
While a brief is an extremely helpful and important study aid, annotating and highlighting are other tools for breaking down
the mass of material in your casebook. The remainder of this section will discuss these different techniques and show how
they complement and enhance the briefing process.
Annotating Cases
Many of you probably already read with a pencil or pen, but if you do not, now is the time to get in the habit. Cases are so
you need. An effective way to reduce this time is to annotate the margins of the casebook. Your pencil (or pen) will be one
of your best friends while reading a case. It will allow you to mark off the different sections (such as facts, procedural
history, or conclusions), thus allowing you to clear your mind of thoughts and providing an invaluable resource when
briefing and reviewing.
You might be wondering why annotating is important if you make an adequate, well-constructed brief. By their very nature
briefs cannot cover everything in a case. Even with a thorough, well-constructed brief you may want to reference the
the case by providing a roadmap of the important sections. Your textual markings and margin notes will refresh your
In addition to making it easier to review an original case, annotating cases during the first review of a case makes the
briefing process easier. With adequate annotations, the important details needed for your brief will be much easier to
retrieve. Without annotations, you will likely have difficulty locating the information you seek even in the short cases. It
might seem strange that it would be hard to reference a short case, but even a short case will likely take you at least fifteen
to twenty-five minutes to read, while longer cases may take as much as thirty minutes to an hour to complete. No matter
specific sections of the analysis may feel like you are trying to locate a needle in a haystack. An annotation in the margin,
however, will not only swiftly guide you to a pertinent section, but will also refresh the thoughts that you had while reading
that section.
rationale, and the decision. As you hit these elements (or what you think are these elements) make a mark in the margins.
Your markings can be as simple as facts (with a bracket that indicates the relevant part of the paragraph). When you spot
an issue, you may simply mark issue or instead provide a synopsis in your own words. When a case sparks an idea
write that idea in the margin as well you never know when a seemingly irrelevant idea might turn into something more.
Finally, when you spot a particularly important part of the text, underline it (or highlight it as described below).
With a basic understanding of the case, and with annotations in the margin, the second read-through of the case should be
much easier. You can direct your reading to the most important sections and will have an easier time identifying what is and
is not important. Continue rereading the case until you have identified all the relevant information that you need to make
your brief, including the issue(s), the facts, the holding, and the relevant parts of the analysis.
Pencil or pen which is better to use when annotating? Our recommendation is a mechanical pencil. Mechanical pencils
make finer markings than regular pencils, and also than ballpoint pens. Although you might think a pencil might smear
more than a pen, with its sharp point a mechanical pencil uses very little excess lead and will not smear as much as you
might imagine. A mechanical pencil will also give you the freedom to make mistakes without consequences. When you first
start annotating, you may think that some passages are more important than they really are, and therefore you may resist
the urge to make a mark in order to preserve your book and prevent false guideposts. With a pencil, however, the ability to
erase and rewrite removes this problem.
Why highlight? Like annotating, highlighting may seem unimportant if you create thorough, well-constructed briefs, but
highlighting directly helps you to brief. It makes cases, especially the more complicated ones, easy to digest, review and
use to extract information.
Highlighting takes advantage of colors to provide a uniquely effective method for reviewing and referencing a case. If you
If annotating and highlighting are so effective, why brief? Because the process of summarizing a case and putting it into
your own words within a brief provides an understanding of the law and of the case that you cannot gain through the
process of highlighting or annotating.
The process of putting the case into your own words forces you to digest the material, while annotating and highlighting
can be accomplished in a much more passive manner.
What should you highlight? Similar to annotating, the best parts of the case to highlight are those that represent the
addition, Highlighters are particularly useful in marking off entire sections by using brackets. These brackets will allow you
to color-code the case without highlighting all the text, leaving the most important phrases untouched for a more detailed
highlight marking or underlining.
a way that makes it personally time efficient and beneficial. For instance, you might combine the use of annotations in the
margins with the visual benefit of highlighting the relevant text. You may prefer to underline the relevant text with a pencil,
but to use a highlighter to bracket off the different sections of a case. Whatever you choose to do, make sure that it works
for you, regardless of what others recommend. The techniques in the remainder of this section will describe ways to make
full use of your highlighters.
First, buy yourself a set of multi-colored highlighters, with at least four, or perhaps five or six different colors. Yellow, pink,
and orange are usually the brightest. Depending on the brand, purple and green can be dark, but still work well. Although
blue is a beautiful color, it tends to darken and hide the text.
Therefore we recommend that you save blue for the elements that you rarely highlight.
designated for that color. Consider using yellow for the text that you tend to highlight most frequently. Because yellow is
the brightest, you may be inclined to use yellow for the Conclusions in order to make them stand out the most. If you do
this, however, you will exhaust your other colors much faster than yellow and this will require that you purchase an entire
set of new highlighters when a single color runs out because colors such as green are not sold separately. If instead you
choose to use yellow on a more frequently highlighted section such as the Analysis, when it comes time to replace your
yellow marker, you will need only to replace your yellow highlighter individually. In the personal experience on one of the
Facts and the Analysis, while the Issues and Holdings demanded the least. Other Considerations and
Procedural History required lots of highlighting in particular cases although not in every case.
Experiment if you must, but try to choose a color scheme early on in the semester and stick with it. That way, when you
come back to the first cases of the semester, you will not be confused with multiple color schemes. The basic sections of a
case for which you should consider giving a different color are:
Procedural History
Issue (and questions presented)
Holding (and conclusions)
Analysis (rationale)
Other Considerations (such as dicta)
Not all of these sections demand a separate color. You may find that combining Facts and Procedural History or Issues and
Holdings works best. Furthermore, as mentioned above, some sections may not warrant highlighting in every case (e.g.,
dicta probably do not need to be highlighted unless they are particularly important). If you decide that a single color is all
that you need, then stick to one, but if you find yourself highlighting lots of text from many different sections, reconsider
the use of at least a few different colors. Highlighters make text stand out, but only when used appropriately. The use of
many colors enables you to highlight more text without reducing the highlighters effectiveness. Three to four colors
provides decent color variation without the cumbersomeness of handling too many markers.
Once you are comfortable with your color scheme, determining exactly what to highlight still may be difficult. Similar to
knowing what to annotate, experience will perfect your highlighting skills. Be careful not to highlight everything, thus
ruining your highlighters effectiveness; at the same time, do not be afraid to make mistakes.
Now that we have covered the basics of reading, annotating, highlighting, and briefing a case, you are ready to start
practicing. Keep the tips and techniques mentioned in this chapter in mind when you tackle the four topics in the remainder
of this book. If you have difficultly, refer back to this chapter to help guide you as you master the case method of study and
the art of using the common law.
- See more at: |
The rapid growth in production of biofuels in developed and developing countries, often encouraged by government incentives and mandates, has resulted in increased international trade of feedstocks and finished biofuels. A discussion paper by the International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council titled WTO Disciplines and Biofuels: Opportunities and Constraints in the Creation of a Global Marketplace “examines how the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) might apply to the biofuels sector.”
The authors use the word “might” because the biofuels industry did not exist when the current WTO rules were written. Biofuels are not subject to a standard classification system and production from agricultural feedstocks leaves much uncertainty about how they should be regulated. The authors suggest “a debate needs to occur on how the rules apply to this technology and how or whether the rules need to be clarified or even changed.” They suggest three sets of issues need to be addressed.
The first one is how to classify biofuels; are they agricultural, industrial or environmental goods? Biofuels are produced from agricultural feedstocks; they replace industrial products; and, they are often used to achieve environmental benefits. How they are classified will determine which WTO rules apply. Most WTO members belong to the World Customs Orga¬nization (WCO) and use the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, or “HS”. In general, biofuels would be considered agricultural or chemical products. Ethanol is classified based on its chemical composition and is in HS chapter 22 as an agricultural product, but there is no differentiation for fuel ethanol versus ethanol for other uses. Biodiesel is in Chapter 38 as an industrial product. Under these classifications, ethanol would be covered by the Agreement on Agriculture, but biodiesel would not be covered. In the currently suspended Doha Round of WTO negotiations, several countries have suggested that biofuels should be considered as environmental goods.
The second set of issues is subsidies for production of biofuel feedstocks, the biofuels themselves and by-products of biofuels production. Major producing countries use some combination of subsidies, mandates and import restrictions to encourage domestic production. If biofuels are considered agricultural products, the subsidies may need to be included in the amber box and be subject to limits. The Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Agreement for non-agricultural products prohibits subsidies for the use of domestic products rather than imported one. If biofuels were considered environmental goods, subsidies could possibly be continued in the name of protecting the environment. The U.S. may already have a problem with cross-subsidies with distillers dried grains that are a by-product of ethanol production and sold into international markets.
Domestic regulations and standards are the third set of issues. The basic approach for the WTO has been one of non-discrimination between domestic products and imported products and among the various potential importers. Imports of “like” products are to be treated “no less favorably” than domestic products for standards and internal tax purposes. The U.S. has already had disagreements with the EU over its standards for biodiesel that favor production from rapeseed widely grown in the EU over soybean oil-based biodiesel. Environmental issues with terms like “life-cycle energy use” and “sustainability” of feedstock production are taking on more importance. Efforts are being made in the E.U. to restrict palm oil imports from Indonesia because of concerns that rainforest are being replaced with palm plantations.
A consistent classification system would seem to be the place to begin sorting out the issues. The authors suggest that amending the harmonized system would be the best approach, but the time required to do that would mean no changes before 2012. An agreement could be reached within the WTO. This may allow some balancing of whether biofuels are agricultural, industrial or environmental goods, but any agreement would be complex. Individual countries could decide to rationalize classifications and reduce tariffs on imported feedstocks and biofuels.
The subsidy issues will be more complex because of the pervasive use of subsidies and difficulties of determining if a subsidy is a production subsidy, a consumption subsidy or designed to protect the environment. Without resolving the classification issues there will be disputes over which subsidy rules apply to biofuels. Since subsidies reduce economic efficiencies, the longer subsidies are not dealt with the more misallocation of resources will occur and greater the pain when markets are allowed to function. Since subsidies are so common in developed and developing countries, producing and consuming countries may have enough self-interest to seek a joint reduction in subsidies.
Domestic regulations and standards may be a good place to begin working. The Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement focuses on tying domestic standards to internationally agreed upon standards. These do not now exist for biofuels. There are also exceptions to WTO standards based on national security, health, “conservation of exhaustible natural resources” and other reasons.
All of this uncertainty is likely to lead countries to ignore ill-defined WTO obligations. This will cause some countries to file WTO cases to define allowable subsidies and market access. Under this process it will likely take several years to begin clarifying what is and is not permissible in biofuels under the WTO. That is too slow for this rapidly changing industry and could stunt the now developing trade in feedstocks and biofuels. |
Hum 111 Wk2 to drill or not to drill
I agree with the development of alternative sources of energy such as solar power and clean coal. Alternative energy source is defined as any energy source that will replace oil and coal. These sources include solar power, windmills, natural gas, and nuclear energy. These alternatives alone will not help save our planet. However, the potential behind these alternatives is exciting and hopeful. If there is a chance to save our planted from more damage, then the government needs to act now.
The United States offshore drilling debate is still ongoing, and the argument is that the United States benefits because it becomes less dependent on imported oil.There is also the argument that offshore drilling would affect military training and weapon testing. However, my argument is that offshore drilling poses a much greater threat to all civilization. When waste is spilled into the ocean it spreads throughout the water harming marine life and their habitat. It can affect their hearing, changes in their behavior and can even cause physical injuring or death. Much of the marine life is threatened by extinction.
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has threatens our planet with environmental damage. Oil spills like this fill the air with toxins that raise concern for many health problems. When oil is recovered from the ocean floor chemicals and toxins come to the surface, which are the released into the air. This is a growing concern and should not be dismissed.
The Center for Biological Diversity (2010) says that six months after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico, spilled oil still fouls beaches and wetlands, birds and endangered sea turtles continue to suffer crippling effects, and the government has yet to deal with the significant risks that offshore drilling poses every day to wildlife and the environment. So far, more than 6,100 birds, 605 sea turtles and nearly 100 mammals, including dolphins, have died. Scientists say it will be years before the full extent of the spill’s environmental effects are known.
Twenty-one years after the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of oil in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, oil continues to effect marine and coastal environments. The habits hindering my thinking is my Face saving and Mine-is-Better. Face saving- When I was reading some of the opposing views, I felt like the American people were under attack by the feedback I received. I was could not find very many websites that disagreed with offshore drilling. I found myself defensive over the subject.
I tried looking at the feedback in a positive way, and tried to see the point of view that was made with an open mind. Mine-is-Better- When it comes to offshore drilling I don’t really value the opinion of the politicians or anyone that is against alternative energy sources. I’m not really sure how to overcome this habit.
Work Cited Snapes, B. (2010). Six Months after Disastrous Gulf Oil Spill, Wildlife Still Suffering, Dangers of Offshore Drilling Ignored. Retrieved December 11, 2010 from |
Perform in the spotlight
Let’s get the Edison robot to play music or dance when it detects light, just like a performer in the spotlight!
Get the materials for this lesson
You will also need to use the EdBlocks programming app.
About this lesson
Recommended time
55 minutes
Grade levels
Year 2 – Year 6
Introduce Edison robots to your students, helping them begin to explore what a robot is and how it can sense, and react, to the world. Students program the Edison robot using the block-based programming language EdBlocks, practicing computer science fundamentals including sequence, loops and conditionals.
This 1-hour lesson is designed to allow students to work independently as they discover:
• What is a robot?
• How does the Edison robot work?
• How do you make a program for Edison using the EdBlocks coding language?
• How do you download a program from EdBlocks to Edison?
• What do Edison’s light sensors do?
• What is an infinite loop?
• How can you use the sensors to make the robot react?
• Keep up with Edison
Heads up
OK got it! Take me to the GLOBAL SITE instead
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Making sense of sound
Imagine a baby who doesn’t startle at a sudden noise. Tests show hearing loss. If
the type of hearing loss is something called sensorineural, then sound
comes into the baby’s ear, but the information never reaches the brain.
The problem is often damage to hair cells in the inner ear, called the
cochlea. The cells cannot convert the energy created by sound vibrations
into a nerve impulse that would travel via the auditory nerve to the
A century ago — even 30 years ago — treatments or hearing aids
to help with sensorineural hearing loss were primitive or non-existent,
depending on the extent of damage. The child likely would have had to
go to a special school or to have special education to learn another way
to communicate, such as sign language. The child would have lived in a world of virtual silence.
In this article journalist Susan Pugh highlights some of the current available procedures and research underway to help battle hearing loss. |
Animal Experimentation: Consent or Forbid? Essay
Animal Experimentation: Consent or Forbid?
Throughout the advancement of human medicine, animal experimentation has been the remaining choice to discover options to improve and extend human life. Consequently, the result of animal testing led to deaths of million laboratory animals before a successful discovery and expected outcome surfaced. Issue arises on animal rights violation because of the exposure of animals to pain and diversion from its natural environment and lifestyle because of confinement in the laboratory. These animal rights advocates believe that same as humans, animals have also basic rights (Reynnells & Eastwood, 1997). These are freedoms from confinement, suffering, confinement, and death due to consumption as foods (Reynnells & Eastwood, 1997). Thus, they are against the use of animals in experimentation because such would impede these freedoms, therefore, invades the animals’ rights.
Amidst this issues raised by animal rights activists, researchers doing these animal experimentations believe that the only way to really tell that scientific innovations will interact with a living is to test it on a living being, that is, the animal. Since human life is considered more precious and critical, the only alternative from human testing is animal testing as seen through decades of scientific studies. There is also a rational and coherent fervor that animals are available for human existence’ reasonable use.
Jerod Loeb: “Human vs. Animal Rights: In Defense of Animal Research”.
In Carol Levine’s “Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Bioethical Issues” book which is a compilation of bioethical issues, Jerod Loeb represented the American Medical Association (AMA) and wrote an essay entitled “Human vs. Animal Rights: In Defense of Animal Research”. Loeb avows that the raised concern for animals is commendable itself, but the developmental methods to uplift the human welfare cannot be encumbered. Therefore, he believes that using of animals for experimentations on the human medical aspects is essential because the need to improve the human well being can never be denied anywhere.
Unlike Machan’s, his argument was presented and explained but unnecessarily gashing the opposing side. Loeb, though recognizing the responsibility of humans to nature which includes animals, believed that we have a greater responsibility in this world for the betterment of humanity.
Tibor R. Machan: “Do Animals Have Rights?”
In Tibor R. Machan essay entitled “Do Animals Have Rights?” under James Rachels’ “The Right Thing To Do: Basic Readings in Moral Philosophy” book, the writer’s argument is that animals do not have rights unlike humans because rights come from the gift and competency to make moral choices, thus, animals cannot have rights. He emphasized that only humans are moral mediators in this world in view of the fact that they alone need moral free will. This moral space is the subject of moral authority wherein the human authority to do something is esteemed, valued, and protected.
Machan considers humans are more vital than other animals, and that survival in this world may necessitate studies on and through animals. He defended that we are not claiming, as humans, to be uniquely important. This is supported by the fact that since we cannot claim such significance, we cannot assign any worth or significance level to animals. In nature, each species has unique features, hence, different importance and purpose.
According to Machan, what made humans differ from other species is on the moral category. The human actions are dictated and judged on what is right and wrong. This moral category entitles humans to have a moral task to thrive as human beings. This task demands knowledge searching to learn further, which usually involves animals especially in the medical field. As he claims, in an animal race, there is no concept of moral responsibility among them, therefore there is no basis for rights. In humans, our moral responsibility gave us the rights to life, liberty, and property since these are fundamentals in our moral actions. It also declares our lucid unique jurisdiction.
Tom Regan: “Should Animal Experimentation be Permitted?”
Contrastingly, in Tom Regan’s essay “Should Animal Experimentation be Permitted?” in Carol Levine’s “Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Bioethical Issues” book, he disagree the use of animals for researches. He initially presented humans to agree having moral rights and at the same time, disagree on what these rights are. But still, most of the people acts in ways that respect other human’s rights.
He posed a challenge that what humans can freely do when someone violates his rights does not mean having the freedom to violate other’s rights without a justifiable reason. Therefore, humans have rights to bodily integrity and to life. Supposedly the animal have these rights, the way it is treated in farms and biomedical research shows violations of its rights, hence, is wrong. If these are wrong then it should be stopped, regardless how much the humanity had been benefited from these in the past or how much the humanity would be benefited in the future. He then argued that if humans have rights, more essentially, animals have also rights after critical examination of existing moral theories humans themselves formulated that provided them the acknowledgment of their rights. He concluded that it is through this that we can also acknowledge animal rights.
Peter Singer: “All Animals are Equal”
The argument of Regan is further sustained in Peter Singer’s “All Animals are Equal” in James Rachels’ “The Right Thing to Do: Basic Readings in Moral Philosophy” book. Singer based his argument against using of animals for experimentations through the concept of equality. Citing humans’ conviction to be equal regardless of race, creed, and sex, he also added humans still differ in moral capabilities, intellectual abilities, and compassionate sentiments to his fellow humans.
Equality was further defined on the basis of interest aside from physical appearance and was considered a basic moral principle (“Animal Rights,”). He stressed that if a being suffers then this is not morally justified. Despite of any living’s nature, if we say equality to suffering means capacity to experience suffering. If it is not capable, then there is nothing to be taken into account. Singer made this a defining boundary on concern of interests to others. Therefore, the capacity to enjoy life is an equality to enjoy life, which all humans exercise, by all animals. As animals have emotions and desires, then they are capable to enjoy life. Singer emphasized that animal liberation is founded on maximizing sentient interest (“Animal Rights,”).
Personal Standpoint
In an individual perspective, though I am not considering animals as less to humans, each being is created towards a purpose. As humans, our ultimate purpose is to direct nature wherein animals are provided to us as tools towards that purpose. The question then from the arguments raised by the writers who oppose using animals for researches is, “Why humans have to be concerned?” and “Why humans have to be bothered when using animals for such researches?”
From the beginning, humans are already entitled the responsibility to “…fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over all the living creatures that move on the earth.” This then give us an understanding of a God-given right of our responsibility to His creatures, but that is toward good. If we kill an animal for fun, therefore, it is morally and spiritually wrong. But if we kill animal for medical scientific experiment or had died because of a cancer study for a noble cause, that is, for human benefit.
We have taken a life for our benefit but since the beginning, humans have taken stuffs from animal and even plants for survival and similarly, animals have taken stuffs to fellow animals to survive. Thus, it is morally and acceptable to take an animal life if for a noble cause and benefit, than of our kind because as created morally upright, that would be spiritually and morally wrong.
It should then be acceptable to use living beings to further human progress, thus, these researches are justified as long it is done morally that is humanely and respectfully. Such action of being humane and respectful is our human nature that made us higher in the moral category than animals. Machan’s and Loeb’s claim that animals do not have rights therefore is correct, since moral capacity permitted us to practice our rights. But it is our responsibility to recognize and give their welfare, which I personally believe and identify.
Singer and Regan should have recognized the animal welfare practiced by the scientific community and the government to be fair on both species. It is a known fact that progress is an inevitable and uncontrollable part of human existence (Gruenbaum, 2001). It is our constant fight for survival on this earth against the natural law and of our own species. This survival awareness pushes humans to utilize any resources and maximize it, and that includes animals.
The concept of equality by Singer is controversial itself because in the human accepted wisdom, having equal rights come equal responsibility. Fair enough, this notion is not imposed by humans to the animal population if given the chance as it is impossible. Through the years, new systems have reduced use of animals in experiments, but it will never be eliminated totally unless humanity can find the best alternative.
In such instances, the good of the many must come before the good of the few or the one. According to Scott Gruenbam, animal testing has brought the human race many advances in the area of medicine and technology, but with dreadful costs. As Scott Gruenbam pointed out, in this changing world where necessity is now being considered more important than morality is to have consideration and judgment in what is really important for survival (Gruenbaum, 2001).
Animal Rights. Retrieved February 11, 2007, from
Gruenbaum, S. (2001). Pawns to Advancement: Miami University
Reynnells, R. D., & Eastwood, B. R. (1997). Animal Welfare Issues Compendium. Retrieved February 11, 2007, from |
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Minding the Gap
The Semantics-Pragmatics Gap
Im all for pragmatics. But I dont think it helps the cause to blur the
boundary between semantics and pragmatics. The purpose of this chapter is
to explain why.
The basic reason is this. Even though, as people have been pointing out
for some years now, the linguistic meaning of a given sentence generally
underdetermines what a speaker means in uttering it, it does not follow that
linguistic meaning is infected or infested by what some of these same people call pragmatic meaning. There is no such thing as pragmatic meaning,
at least nothing that is commensurate with linguistic meaning. There is what
the sentence means and what the speaker means in uttering it.
The semantic-pragmatic distinction is not fit to be blurred. What lies on
either side of the distinction, the semantic and the pragmatic, may each be
messy in various ways, but that doesnt blur the distinction itself. Taken as
properties of sentences, semantic properties are on a par with syntactic and
phonological properties: they are linguistic properties. Pragmatic properties,
on the other hand, belong to acts of uttering sentences in the course of
communicating. Sentences have the properties they have independently of
anybodys act of uttering them. Speakers intentions do not endow them
with new semantic properties (here I mean sentence types, not tokens). Acts
of uttering sentence types (producing sentence tokens) have pragmatic
properties. The fact that a given sentence means what it does entails nothing
about what a speaker means in uttering it. A speaker could mean precisely
The Semantics/Pragmatics Distinction.
Claudia Bianchi (ed.).
Copyright 2004, CSLI Publications.
what it means, no more and no less, but nothing about its meaning guarantees this. The speaker might mean something else, something more, or
nothing at all.
In what follows I will sketch a picture different aspects of which I have
addressed in more detail in other places. In those places I have used illustrative examples and discussed alternative approaches to specific issues.1
Here I will simply state my position and summarize the arguments for it.
This will make the presentation more abstract (and dogmatic) but also more
compact, so that the picture can be viewed more clearly as a whole.
Why There is a Gap
There are many phenomena that are thought to show that the semanticpragmatic distinction is blurry, arbitrary, or even nonexistent. Here I will
not review these phenomena or rebut these arguments but will instead suggest that such phenomena fit in with the distinction and that the distinction
itself is immune to such arguments at least if it is properly understood as
the innocuous (but important) distinction that it is. As will be explained in
subsequent sections, these arguments rest on blurring or disregarding certain other distinctions which, at least when pointed out, are too obvious
even to need defending. Once we are clear on those other distinctions, we
can stop worrying about the semantic-pragmatic distinction itself. This is
not to say that there are not plenty of pertinent linguistic phenomena to
worry about, but once the line between semantics and pragmatics is clear,
there should generally be no question on which side of the line a given phenomenon falls. There may be some residual hard cases, linguistic phenomena that are not well-understood, and in some cases, there may be both a
semantic and a pragmatic side to the phenomenon, but these facts do not
create a problem with the semantic-pragmatic distinction itself.2
The reason there is a gap and a clear-cut one at that is that semantics
and pragmatics have distinct subject matters, sentences and utterances, respectively. Semantics is the part of grammar that pairs forms with meanings. Presumably the meaning of a sentence is determined compositionally
by the meanings of its constituents as a function of its syntactic structure.
Pragmatics is concerned with what speakers do in uttering sentences. So if
semantics concerns sentences, in particular their linguistic meanings, and
pragmatics concerns uses that speakers make of sentences (and, correla1These other places will be cited in subsequent footnotes. The semantic-pragmatic distinction
itself is discussed in Bach 1999a.
2For discussion of some seemingly problematic phenomena, see Bach 1999a: 75-80, and for
discussion of some genuinely problematic phenomena see Bach 2001a: 31-40.
tively, hearers understanding of speakers uses), then, it would seem, the
semantic-pragmatic distinction should hold up without incident.
Even so, there are certain linguistic phenomena that may seem to
threaten the gap. Clefts, stress, and other devices for packaging or structuring information (see Lambrecht 1994), grammatical mood (imperative, interrogative, etc.), and utterance modifiers are examples of linguistic expressions and devices which, though they have no bearing on truth conditions,
nonetheless semantically encode information that bears on use.3 Is such information semantic or pragmatic? If such phenomena seem to threaten the
gap, that is only because there is a certain ambiguity involving the term semantic. It can pertain specifically to linguistic information relevant to the
truth conditions of a sentence, or it can be used more inclusively and concern any matter of linguistic meaning. The examples just mentioned have
semantic content in the latter, more inclusive sense. Indeed, they pertain to
use. Does that blur the semantic-pragmatic distinction? Not really. If a
speaker uses the imperative form or a cleft construction, for example, there
is still the distinction between the information encoded by the form or construction and the fact that the speaker uses it. Such semantic information is
in a sense procedural, but that does not make it pragmatic in the sense of
being a property of the speakers act of utterance.
Even if what a speaker means consists precisely in the semantic content
of the sentence he utters, this fact is not determined by that semantic content. The reason is very simple: no sentence has to be used in accordance
with its semantic content. Any sentence can be used in a nonliteral or indirect way. That a speaker is attempting to communicate something, and what
that is, is a matter of his communicative intention (if indeed he has one). If
he is speaking literally and means precisely what his words mean, even that
fact depends on his communicative intention. But what he utters, if a
grammatical sentence, has the semantic content that it has whether the
speaker is using it in a strictly literal way or not.
In any case, it is not the business of semantics to account for the contents of utterances that are not literal, since in those cases the speaker is
trying to convey something that is not predictable from the meaning of the
uttered sentence (or, if it is ambiguous, from its operative meaning).4 Obviously not just anything a speaker means, no matter how far removed it is
from what the sentence means, counts as semantic content, and the semantic
3Utterance modifiers, such as by the way and frankly, are discussed in Bach 1999b: 356-60.
4 Disambiguation is a pragmatic matter, part of the process whereby the hearer figures out
what the speaker means in uttering the sentence. The fact that a sentence is ambiguous and that
someone who utters it intends it to be read in one way rather than another does not imply that
in the context the sentence loses its other meaning(s).
content of the sentence is the same whether or not an utterance of it is literal. Semantic content is a property of the sentence, not the utterance.
The term utterance is often applied to sentence tokens, but there is no
need to attribute semantic content to them (apart from that of the sentence
types of which they are tokens). It is as an intentional act performed by a
speaker that an utterance has a content distinct from that of the uttered sentence. But in this sense the content of an utterance is really the content of
the speakers communicative intention in making the utterance. So the only
linguistic content relevant here is the semantic content of the sentence, and
the only other relevant content is the content of the speakers intention. Focusing on the normal case, where communication is successful (the listener
succeeds in identifying the speakers communicative intention), can make it
seem as though an utterance has content in its own right, independently of
the speakers intention. But this is illusory, as is evident whenever communication fails. In that case, where the speaker means one thing and his audience thinks he means something else, there is what the speaker means and
what his listener takes him to mean, but there is no independent utterance
In practice, we generally dont say what precisely we mean, because we
leave much of what we mean to inference. Even when we are using words
or phrases literally, we generally do not use the entire sentence literally.
That is, what the sentence means, and what we thereby say in uttering it,
comprises merely a skeletal version of what we mean. For example, if at a
McDonalds you say, I want a hamburger with everything, presumably
you mean that you want to be given, within a short time, a cooked, ready to
eat, uncontaminated hamburger of normal size with all the trimmings. But
you do not say most of this, and the sentence you use is not an elliptical version of some more elaborate sentence that spells these things out.5
This phenomenon of sentence nonliterality is so pervasive that we tend
not to notice it, not just when engaged in ordinary conversation but even
when theorizing about language and communication. We generally do not
make fully explicit what we mean in uttering a sentence, even when we are
using the individual words in them literally. Although for every sentence we
do utter, there is a more elaborate, qualified version we could utter that
would make what we mean more explicit, these are not the sentences we do
utter. Indeed, they are not ones we even think to utter. We do not form a
thought to express, think of a convoluted sentence that would express it
fully explicitly, and then, in the interests of conversational efficiency, work
out a stripped down version of the sentence to utter instead. Yet somehow
5 For a variety of further examples and further discussion, see Bach 1994 and 2001b.
we often manage to make evident our relatively complex communicative
intentions by uttering relatively simple sentences.
Communicative Intentions and Inferences
Austin (1962: 94-107) drew a fundamental distinction between locutionary
and illocutionary acts. This distinction is easy to disregard, partly because
the word say plays a dual role as a locutionary and as an illocutionary
verb, roughly synonymous with state (or assert). A locutionary act is the
act of saying something in uttering a sentence. In this sense, one can say
something without stating it. One might not be stating anything, or one
might be speaking figuratively and be stating something else, though not
expressly. The illocutionary act a speaker performs in saying something is a
matter of his communicative intention.6 What he means in saying what he
says (if he means anything at all) may be just what he says, what he says
and more, or something else entirely. What he says provides the linguistic
contribution to the audiences inference to his communicative intention.
Given what one intends to communicate, succeeding at communicating requires choosing a sentence whose utterance will make ones intention evident. One must utter a sentence which, given the mutually salient information that comprises the extralinguistic cognitive context of utterance, enables ones audience to recognize ones communicative intention. There is
something distinctive here about a communicative intention. Unlike intentions of other sorts, its fulfillment consists in its recognition. Whereas you
cant do a pirouette by way of anyones recognizing your intention to do so,
you can succeed in communicating something simply by enabling your listeners to recognize your intention to communicate it.
In uttering a sentence, a speaker normally expresses an attitude toward a
proposition. For example, asserting is to express a belief, requesting is to
express a desire, and promising is to express an intention. One does not just
express a proposition. Here is a Gricean conception of what is it to express
an attitude:
Expressing an attitude: In making an utterance S expresses A(p) iff S intends H, partly by way of recognizing that this (entire) intention is to be
recognized, to take the utterance as a reason to think S has A(p).
This definition, a slightly modified version of the formulation given by
Bach and Harnish (1979: 15), allows for the possibility that the speaker
6Here I depart from Austin (1962), who assimilated all illocutionary acts to the regularized
ones performed in special institutional or social settings. I follow Strawson (1964), who argued
that most ordinary illocutionary acts are not conventional but communicative in character and
succeed not by conformity to convention but, in Gricean fashion, by recognition of intention.
does not actually have the attitude he is expressing. After all, he could be
lying (in the case of an assertion) or be otherwise insincere. This definition
incorporates Grices (1957) idea that the hearer is to rely partly on the fact
that the speaker intends him to recognize the intention. This does not tell
her what the intention is (that would introduce not just reflexivity but circularity into Grices picture), but it does crucially constrain the inference
involved in recognizing that intention.
Speakers and listeners rely on certain presumptions, speakers in order to
make their communicative intentions evident and listeners to recognize
those intentions. The listener presumes, and the speaker expects him to presume, that the speaker is being cooperative and is speaking truthfully, informatively, relevantly, perspicuously, and otherwise appropriately.7 Because of their potential clashes, these presumptions should not be viewed as
comprising a decision procedure. Rather, they provide different dimensions
of considerations for the hearer to take into account in figuring out the
speakers communicative intention. They ground strategies for a speaker, on
the basis of what he says and the fact that he says it, to make what he means
evident to the hearer, and correlative strategies for the hearer to figure out
what the speaker means. If an utterance superficially appears not to conform
to these presumptions, the listener looks for a way to take the utterance so
that it does conform. She does so partly on the supposition that she is intended to do so. However, contrary to the popular misconception that the
maxims or presumptions play a role only in implicature (and in oblique and
figurative speech generally), they are operative even when one means just
what one says.
It is easy to exaggerate how well linguistic communication works. No
doubt many failures of communication do not get noticed and, when they
do, do not get mentioned. Still, in order for it to work as well as it does, we
as speakers must be very good at selecting sentences whose utterance makes
evident to our listeners what we mean, and as listeners we must be very
good at figuring out what speakers mean in uttering them. To the extent that
we leave much of what we mean to inference, we rely on our listeners
ability to figure out what we mean on the basis of what we say, given the
circumstances in which we say it, the fact that we said that rather than
something else, and the presumption that we said it with a recognizable intention. How we manage to make ourselves understood and how we manage to understand others are very complex processes which, like most cognitive processes, are far beyond the reach of contemporary psychology to
7These presumptions correspond to Grices maxims (1989: 26-7). Construing them as maxims
treats them as guidelines for how to communicate successfully, but I think it is better to construe them as presumptions about speakers intentions.
explain. As theorists, the best we can do is speculate on some of the features
of these processes, most notably what it takes to implement Grices discovery that communication involves a distinctively reflexive intention (and its
recognition). Specifically, the intention includes, as part of its content, that
the audience recognize this very intention by taking into account the fact
that they are intended to recognize it.8
Muddling the Gap: Neglected Ambiguities
There are various key terms which, if not literally ambiguous, are at least
used in two distinct ways. In each pair in the list below, the first use is semantic in character and the second is pragmatic. It is important to be cognizant of the two contrasting uses of each term.
linguistic meaning: sense of an expression (word, phrase, or sentence)
speakers meaning: what a speaker means
speakers meaning
what a speaker means by a sentence (or phrase) when using it
what a speaker means (tries to communicate) in uttering a sentence
by an expression to an object
by a speaker with an expression to an object
what is uttered
act of uttering
utterance meaning
meaning of an uttered sentence
speakers meaning in uttering a sentence
perform a locutionary act
state or assert, especially in using a declarative sentence without using
any of its constituent expressions nonliterally
what is said
the content of a locutionary act (or equivalently, the semantic content
of sentence, relative to a context of utterance)
8The concepts in this section are explained much more fully in Bach forthcoming b. They were
developed originally in Bach and Harnish 1979.
the content of the assertion made in using an declarative sentence without using any of its constituent expressions nonliterally
set of parameters whose values fix or delimit the semantic values of
expressions with variable references
set of salient mutual beliefs and presumptions among participants at a
stage in a conversation
make the case (constitutive determination)
ascertain (epistemic determination)
assignment of semantic values
inference to speakers communicative intention
demonstrative reference
reference by a demonstrative
speakers reference by means by demonstrating
use (a term) to refer
use a term that refers
use a term and thereby refer
Most of these distinctions are self-explanatory, but a few require explanation and justification. As we will see in the next two sections, blurring these
distinctions is essential to the various closely related doctrines that go by
such names as contextualism, truth-conditional pragmatics, and linguistic
As mentioned above, Austins distinction between locutionary and illocutionary acts, between saying something and doing something in saying it,
is commonly neglected these days, perhaps because it is so easy to use say
interchangeably with state or assert. But stating or asserting is to perform an illocutionary act, of meaning and trying to communicate something, and that goes beyond mere saying (in the locutionary sense). Why is
the locutionary notion of saying needed, along with the correlative, strictly
semantic notion of what is said? It is needed to account for the each of the
following cases, situations in which the speaker:
says something but doesnt mean anything at all (by mean here I
mean intend to communicate)
does not say what he intends to say, as in the misuse of a word or a slip
of the tongue
means what he says and something else as well (cases of implicature
and of indirect speech acts in general)
(intentionally) says one thing and means something else instead (nonliteral utterances)
These are all cases in which what the speaker means, if indeed he means
(intends to communicate) anything, is not identical to what he says, but
cases in which he still says something.
What is loosely called context is the conversational setting broadly
construed. It is the mutual cognitive context, or salient common ground. It
includes the current state of the conversation (what has just been said, what
has just been referred to, etc.), the physical setting (if the conversants are
face-to-face), salient mutual knowledge between the conversants, and relevant broader common knowledge. As I will explain more fully in the next
section, context does not determine (in the sense of constitute), but merely
enables the hearer to determine (in the sense of ascertain), what the speaker
means. Because it can constrain what a hearer could reasonably take a
speaker to mean in saying what he says, it can constrain what the speaker
could reasonably mean in saying what he says. But it is incapable of determining what the speaker actually does mean. That is a matter of the
speakers communicative intention, however reasonable or unreasonable it
may be.
The ambiguity of the phrase utterance interpretation is especially unfortunate. It already contains the ambiguous term utterance, which can
mean what is uttered or the act of uttering it. Considered as the assignment
of meanings to sentences, utterance interpretation is semantic interpretation,
a mapping of sentence forms onto their linguistic meanings. In that sense,
utterance interpretation is not a psychological process but something more
abstract. However, this phrase is also used to mean the psychological process whereby listeners figure out what speakers are trying to communicate.
This use would be unexceptionable but for the fact that this psychological
process is often treated as if it were something more abstract, more akin to
semantic interpretation. That is, some philosophers and linguistics treat utterance interpretation in this sense as if it were a mapping from syntactic
structure to utterance contents, except that the mapping is sensitive to
broadly contextual factors. In so doing, they seem to think that an utterance
(as opposed to a sentence) can express things independently of what the
speaker means in making it, just because of the context in which it is made.
It is as if meanings could somehow be read off of utterances independently
of inferring the speakers intention, in a way analogous to semantic interpretations of sentences but without the constraint of being a projection of
syntactic structure.
Putting Context in Context
It is often casually remarked that what a speaker says or means in uttering a
given sentence depends on context, is determined or provided by context, or is otherwise a matter of context. That is not literally true. Assume
that by context we mean something like the mutually salient features of the
conversational situation. Does context determine what a speaker says? Suppose a dinner host utters the ambiguous sentence The chicken is ready to
eat. Presumably she is not saying that a certain chicken is hungry. Even so,
given the ambiguity of the sentence, she could be saying that, however
bizarrely. Context doesnt make it the case that she does not. Of course, she
could not reasonably expect such a communicative intention to be recognized.9
Demonstratives and indexicals are often casually described as contextsensitive or context-dependent. These above point about context applies
to these terms, although so-called pure or automatic indexicals, such as I
and today, are an exception. The reference of a pure indexical is determined by its linguistic meaning as a function of a contextual variable (call
that the semantic context). However, the reference of other indexicals and
of demonstratives is not so determined. They suffer from a character deficiency. For them the role of context is not to determine reference, in the
sense of constituting it, but to enable the listener to determine it, in the
sense of ascertaining it. But this is cognitive, not semantic context. Their
reference is a matter of the speakers communicative intention, which is not
just another contextual variable. In fact, rather than describing them as referring, it would be better to describe speakers as using them to refer.10
It might be supposed that to the extent that the meaning of a sentence
does not determine the content of an utterance of the sentence, the speakers
communicative intention does, and that this intention is part of the context.
However, there is a problem with supposing that. If context were defined so
broadly as to include anything other than linguistic meaning that is relevant
to determining what a speaker means, then of course the speakers intention
would be part of the context. But if the context is to play the explanatory
role claimed of it, it must be something that is the same for the speaker as it
is for his audience, and obviously the role of the speakers intention is not
the same for both. Context can constrain what the speaker can succeed in
communicating given what he says, but it cannot constrain what he intends
to communicate in choosing what to say. Of course, in implementing his
9The uses and abuses of context are discussed more fully in Bach forthcoming a.
10Never mind that demonstratives and impure indexicals also have clearly non-referential
uses, e.g., as something like bound variables.
intention (in order to get his communicative intention recognized), the
speaker needs to select words whose utterance in the context will enable the
hearer to figure out what he is trying to communicate.
Fudging the Gap: Semantic Incompleteness
Philosophers and linguists are coming to recognize that many if not most
sentences do not express complete propositions, even when the sentence is
devoid of ambiguity, vagueness, or indexicality. This is a very interesting
fact, but it does not have the radical consequences some people think it has.
A sentence can fail to express a complete proposition either because it is
missing an argument and is therefore semantically incomplete or because it
is semantically underdeterminate and contains a word or phrase whose
meaning needs to be tightened in one way or another.11 Regardless of the
reason that a given sentence fails to express a complete and determinate
proposition, a speaker who utters such a sentence cannot mean merely what
the sentence means. Presumably, what he means must be a complete proposition (something capable of being true or false).
This is an interesting fact, but it does not have radical consequences,
either for semantics or pragmatics. Assume that the meaning of a sentence
is determined compositionally, by the meanings of its constituents in a way
that is predictable from how its constituents fit together syntactically. Even
so, there is no guarantee that what is thus determined is a complete proposition. This may undermine the naive assumption that the output of a semantic theory for a language is a (recursive) specification of the truth conditions
for all its (declarative) sentences, but it does not undermine semantic compositionality. It is just a brute fact about language that some syntactically
complete sentences are not semantically complete.
Also, it might seem that if the semantics of sentences often fails to generate complete propositions, then pragmatics must intrude into semantics.
The idea is that if a speaker utters a semantically incomplete or underdeterminate sentence and what he means must be a complete and determinate
proposition, then the additional elements or tightening of meaning that is
required to yield a proposition must automatically be incorporated in the
semantic content of the utterance. This is the idea behind so-called truthconditional pragmatics. It is also supposed that such sentences are in some
sense context-sensitive or context-dependent. That leads to so-called contextualism in semantics, which not only supposes that semantics must deliver truth conditions but that context somehow comes to the rescue of semantics.
11So-called scope ambiguities may in some cases really be instances of underdetermination.
The trouble with these ideas is that they needlessly confuse the semantic
contents of sentences with the intentional contents of utterances, that is, of
the attitudes people express in making utterances. The fact that a sentence is
semantically incomplete or underdeterminate does not mean that it is semantically defective. Yes, it does have a character deficiency, but still it has
a definite content (or contents, if it is ambiguous), as given compositionally
by the semantics. There is no empirical or theoretical reason why, at the
level of semantics, the content of the sentence has to be supplemented or
refined.12 The fact that a speaker cannot mean merely what the sentence
means comes into play when the speaker utters the sentence, insofar as the
speaker has some communicative intention in uttering it. And the hearer,
taking into account that he is to recognize that intention, must recognize that
there is a gap between the semantic content of the sentence and the intentional content of the utterance. But there is no need for a truth-conditional
pragmatics to fill out the semantic content of the sentence by treating it as a
function of context. Pragmatic interpretation, as a cognitive process,
cannot be understood as a abstract process, on the model of semantic interpretation. Rather, mutually evident facts enable the speaker, at least when
communication goes well, to make his intention evident and enable the
hearer to identify it.
Pragmatically speaking, when a speaker does mean merely what the
sentence means, it makes little difference whether or not the sentence he
utters expresses a complete and determinate proposition. Obviously, if the
sentence is semantically incomplete or underdeterminate, the speaker cannot mean merely what it means, but it is generally as obvious that he does
not mean what the sentence means even when the sentence does express a
complete and determinate proposition. For it is generally true that the sentences we use do not make fully explicit what we mean. This is the norm,
not the exception.
12I am not denying that with certain lexical items there may be syntactic or lexical reasons for
supposing that they have an implicit argument position associated with them. However, such
items are a source of hidden indexicality, not semantic incompleteness. The view that I am
objecting to supposes that even in the absence of such an item, some sort of unarticulated constituent is present, mandated not by the grammar but by the need for a complete proposition to
be expressed. In my view, this need is purely pragmatic. It cannot be assumed that since a sentence would not express a complete proposition unless it contained some hidden argument slot
whose value is somehow provided contextually (or else the slot is quantified over), the sentence actually contains such an argument slot.
Missing the Gap: Faulty Intuitions
It is important to keep in mind that communication can fail and often does.
We cannot just take a sample sentence and read off the likely communicative intention of someone who utters it, if only because they might be using
it in some strange, perhaps even incomprehensible way. Displaying a sentence and putting a number in front of it does not make evident what a person means in uttering it. Moreover and more importantly, for a great many
sentences it is not true that the most likely use of that sentence is a literal
one. A great many sentences are very hard to use literally, even if one uses
the individual words and phrases in them literally.13
In fact, there is nothing particularly normal about speaking literally.
That is why it is naive to suppose that the semantic content of a declarative
sentence (relative to a context) can be defined as what a speaker would
normally assert in uttering the sentence. To suppose that for most sentences
a likely use of it is a literal one can lead to erroneous semantic judgments.
Relying on such intuitions implicitly assumes that if a sentence would
normally be used in a certain way, that use is a literal use. However, intuitions that purport to be about the semantic contents of sentences might in
fact be responsive to what sentences are typically used to assert. Indeed, it is
to be expected that these intuitions should be faulty, given our ability to say
one thing and successfully convey something much richer and our correlative ability to recognize what others are doing when they are exercising that
first ability. These abilities of ours are so fluent as to distort our reflective
semantic judgments. What we think is expressed by a given sentence is colored by what we think a speaker is likely to mean in uttering it, especially if
there is a typical sort of context which we tend to imagine it being used in.
To keep ones semantic judgments from being pragmatically contaminated,
it is always a good idea to imagine a variety of contexts of use, even wildly
improbable ones.14
Intuitions are tainted by the fact that when a sentence is considered in
isolation, certain default assumptions are made about the circumstances of
utterance. We read things into the meaning of a sentence or into what a
speaker says in uttering it that are really consequences of its being uttered
under normal circumstances. These default assumptions depend on our
knowledge of the world and of peoples typical communicative purposes.
So we tend not to discriminate between the semantic content of a sentence
and the likely force of uttering a sentence with that content.
13As I have argued (Bach 2001b), even when one is using all the words in a sentence literally,
one can still be speaking loosely, hence not strictly literally.
14For more on why seemingly semantic intuitions cannot be trusted, see Bach 2002.
Not only are these intuitions often responsive to nonsemantic information, they play no direct role in ordinary communication. In the course of
speaking and listening to one another, we generally do not consciously reflect on the semantic content of the sentences we hear. We are focused on
what we are communicating and on what is being communicated to us. Not
only that, we do not have to be able to make accurate judgments about what
information is semantic and what is not in order to be sensitive to semantic
Moreover, our seemingly semantic intuitions are responsive to pragmatic regularities. These include regularized uses of specific expressions
and constructions that go beyond conventional meaning, as well as general
patterns of efficient communication, which involve streamlining stratagems
on the part of speakers and inferential heuristics on the parts of listeners.
These regularities are pragmatic because it is the use of a given sentence,
not the sentence itself, that carries the additional element of information.
That a speaker says what he says rather than something else can contribute
to what a speaker is likely to be taken to mean. Indeed, that he says it one
way, by using certain words rather than certain others, can also contribute to
what he is likely to be taken to mean in using those words.
Also, it is statistically unsound to focus on sentences representative of
those we use or might use. That would be to commit a massive sampling
error. English (or any other language) is just as capable of generating unusable sentences as usable ones. Even unusable sentences have perfectly good
meanings, no matter how hard to parse or how absurd it would be to assert
their semantic contents. Imagine that most of the (English) sentences that
philosophers and linguists use as examples are representative of the vast variety of sentences that (English) speakers have used or might use. Even so,
sentences actually used or even potentially usable are not representative of
(English) sentences in general. That is not just because most sentences are
far too long to be used in real life. Most sentences, even ones of fairly modest length, express things that are too bizarre ever to say, much less mean
(the really long ones express things that are just too complex to understand).
This sampling error compounds the mistake of supposing that intuitive
contents are semantic contents. Recognizing this error leads to a simple argument that encapsulates the disconnect between seemingly semantic intuitions and the semantics of sentences:
1. Most of the syntactically well-formed sentences of a natural language,
even those of a reasonable length, do not express things we are ever
likely to mean.
2. A natural language is not so designed that most of its sentences, even
among those of utterable length, are sentences anyone would ever have
occasion to use.
3. But if the semantic content of a sentence is its intuitive content, then if
it doesnt have an intuitive content, it doesnt have a semantic content.
4. The contents of most sentences are just too weird to be their intuitive
semantic contents.
5. So, either most sentences either dont have semantic contents or their
semantic contents are not their intuitive contents.
6. All well-formed sentences, even useless ones, have semantic contents.
The semantic contents of most sentences are not their intuitive contents.
Semantic Illusions
I have suggested that seemingly semantic intuitions are often illusory because they tend to be insensitive to the difference between semantic facts
and pragmatic regularities. So we cannot rely on such intuitions too heavily
and should not draw hasty conclusions about the semantic content of a
given sentence just because we have imagined the likely import of a typical
utterance of it. Also, seemingly semantic intuitions can combine with simplistic theoretical assumptions about semantics to yield a variety of semantic illusions:
The conventionalization illusion: that a regularized use of an expression or
construction can only be a matter of meaning (or semantic convention).
This illusion assumes that there cannot be pragmatic regularities, cases of
standardization without conventionalization of use.
The assertion illusion: that the semantic content of a declarative sentence is
what a speaker would be asserting (the content of the belief he would be
expressing) if he sincerely uttered it and used all of its constituent expressions literally. This illusion conflates minimal assertions with locutionary
The processing illusion: that a proposition does not qualify as what is said
in the utterance of a sentence if it is not represented in the process of understanding the utterance. This illusion conflates information which is represented in a cognitive process with information which is accessible to the
process and to which the process is sensitive.
The illusion of utterance (or token) semantics: that because sentences (generally) are neither true nor false independently of contexts of utterances, the
proper subject of semantics is utterances, not sentences. This illusion trades
on the ambiguity of utterance, which can mean either an uttered sentence
or the act of uttering it. The problem is that the semantics of utterances in
the first sense is sentence semantics and that the study of contents of acts of
utterance belongs to pragmatics. So there is no role for utterance semantics.
The said-if-not-implicated illusion: that if a speaker means something that
he doesnt merely implicate, he must be saying it. This illusion treats saying
and implicating as an exclusive dichotomy. It overlooks the fact that part of
what a speaker means can be implicit in what he says or, rather, in his saying it. This illusion is aided and abetted by the rampant use in certain circles
of the neologism explicature, which is a cognate of explicate but is nevertheless used as if it meant explicit content. An explicature spells out something that is not explicit in what is said. It makes explicit what isnt. A better term is impliciture.15
The illusion of context dependence: that when content varies from one context to another, the variation in content depends on features of the context.
This illusion conflates contextual variability with context dependence.
The one sentence, one proposition illusion: that a declarative sentence always expresses (modulo ambiguity and indexicality) one and only one
proposition. In fact, many sentences fail to express a complete proposition,
and many sentences express more than one proposition.16
Bridging the Gap
The semantic-pragmatic distinction is a well-defined and theoretically warranted distinction. Maintaining it requires recognizing the limitations of semantics and the reach of pragmatics. Semantics concerns the meanings of
sentences, but these often fail to determine complete propositions, even
modulo ambiguity, vagueness, and indexicality. As long as it is not assumed
that the job of semantics is to give truth conditions of (declarative) sentences, there is no reason to suppose that pragmatics needs to intrude on
semantics. This is to be expected, since pragmatics is concerned with utterances of sentences, not with sentences themselves. The fact that a speaker
utters a sentence plays a key role in what he can reasonably expect to communicate in uttering it and in what the listener can reasonably take him to
be communicating. When a sentence is uttered, it does not encode the fact
that it is uttered. This is essentially a pragmatic fact.
Austin, J. L. 1962. How to do Things with Words. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
15The notion of conversational impliciture was introduced and explained in Bach 1994.
16For a detailed diagnosis and discussion of the second part of this illusion, see Bach 1999b:
Bach, K. 1994. Conversational Impliciture. Mind & Language 9: 124-62.
Bach, K. 1999a. The Semantics-Pragmatics Distinction: What It Is and Why It Matters. The Semantics-Pragmatics Interface from Different Points of View, ed. K.
Turner, 65-84. Oxford: Elsevier.
Bach, K. 1999b. The Myth of Conventional Implicature. Linguistics and Philosophy
22: 327-66.
Bach, K. 2001a. You Dont Say? Synthse 128: 15-44.
Bach, K. 2001b. Speaking loosely: Sentence Nonliterality. Midwest Studies in Philosophy, vol. 25: Figurative Language, ed. P. French and H. Wettstein, 249-63.
Oxford: Blackwell.
Bach, K. 2002. Seemingly Semantic Intuitions. Meaning and Truth, ed. J. K. Campbell, M. ORourke, and D. Shier, 21-33. New York: Seven Bridges Press.
Bach, K. forthcoming a. Context ex Machina. Semantics vs. Pragmatics, ed. Z.
Szab. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bach, K. forthcoming b. Speech Acts and Pragmatics. The Blackwell Guide to the
Philosophy of Language, ed. M. Devitt and R. Hanley. Oxford: Blackwell.
Bach, K. and R. M. Harnish 1979. Linguistic Communication and Speech Acts.
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Grice, H. P. 1957. Meaning. Philosophical Review 66: 377-88.
Grice, H. P. 1989. Studies in the Way of Words, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Lambrecht, K. 1994. Information Structure and Sentence Form. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Strawson, P. F. 1964. Intention and Convention in Speech Acts. Philosophical Review 73: 439-60. |
Are you beautiful on the inside? Yes you are! Just what is going on inside your body as you live your everyday life? All kinds of stuff. Remember in biology class all that info we got about cells making up everything. There’s kidney cell and lung cells , white blood cells, red blood cells, etc, etc. .
Well Harvard University wanted to take cellular biology students on a journey into the microscopic world of a cell. Since we don’t have that shrinking technology and there are all kinds of liabilities involved in that anyway, they enlisted XVIVO to develop an animation that would take the students on the journey.
According to Harvard, the video illustrates mechanisms that allow a white blood cell to sense its surroundings and respond to an external stimulus. Yeah Uh, Right! Anyway its prettiful!
This award winning piece was the first topic in a series of animations XVIVO is creating for Harvard’s educational website, BioVisions at Harvard. |
History of Science and Research
While the extreme exploitation, or slaughter, of Macquarie Island’s animal population ran unchecked in the 19th century, from the earliest days of occupation there has been scientific interest in its isolated, unique environment.
In the 20th century scientific research became the primary activity on the island, as its values for climate monitoring, geological studies and wildlife and wilderness preservation became widely accepted and championed.
Today it has the distinction of being one of the most researched sites in Australia (Macquarie Island World Heritage Area Management Plan 2006), and enjoys the protection of local, national and international laws and agreements.
The first dedicated scientific voyage to reach the Island was captained by Thaddeus von Bellinghausen, sent by Czar Alexander I of Russia. The Russians collected specimens and provided a rich written account of their experience there, including their interactions with the isolated, deprived sealing gangs stationed on the island.
The American navigator Charles Wilkes also visited the island in 1840 on his global voyage, but found the island almost impossible to land on or undertake a study of (W. Bixby 1966). The Antarctic explorer Robert Scott briefly visited the island on the Discovery in his 1901 expedition to Antarctica, but did not make a close account of his short stay.
The first report in English on the islands environment were observations published by Thomas Raine in 1822, a shipowner and agent who ran a mercantile company out of Sydney. This was followed in 1879 by the work New Zealand naturalist J.H Scott who visited the island to collect specimens which he later described.
Augustus Hamilton, also from New Zealand, visited the island in 1894 and made observations of the decline of the native parakeet, and also has the ‘dubious honour’ of undertaking the first attempt to introduce productive, alien plants to the island. (Selkirk et al.,1990). Hamilton scattered the seeds of various European and New Zealand tree species, and attempted to cultivate cabbages. Luckily, the attempts were unsuccessful.
By the 1900’s, the decimation of Macquarie Islands’ wildlife had become a concern of the Tasmanian government, and the last oiling licence (for penguin oil) was not renewed when it expired in 1920.
Scientific interest in the island grew in the first decades of the 20th Century, thanks in part to the reports of Antarctic exploration expeditions that would stop at the island on their way south. Led by the famed Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson, the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) of 1911-14 established a scientific base on the island which combined a wireless relay station and a meteorological observatory (Selkirk et al.,1990).
The wireless relay was to become a vital connection between the Australian mainland and bases in Antarctica. It was established on Wireless Hill, a relatively flat-topped hill that bulges out of the north-east tip of the island above the isthmus, named for its eminent suitability for this purpose. Alongside the relay station, meteorological observation aerials were also installed. The AAE undertook the first detailed topographical mapping of the island, and compiled comprehensive weather reports during their time there. Studies of the islands geology, geomorphology and botany were also pursued.
The next scientific expedition to Macquarie was the 1929-1931 British, Australian, New Zealand Antarctic Research Expeditions (BANZARE), led again by Mawson. Mawson saw the value of the islands unique environments, and his lobbying of the Tasmanian government for protection of the island resulted in it being declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1933.
After World War 2, the establishment of a permanent Australian base on Macquarie Island became a government priority, and in 1948 a contingent of scientists landed on the island under the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) program. In the first years of scientific occupation of the island the research focus was on the physical sciences – geology, meteorology, seismology, and auroal physics, among others. The island, with its isolation and unique geology, is an ideal field research location for these topics.
The first ANARE expedition established huts in the same location as Mawson’s earlier ventures at the somewhat protected base of Wireless Hill, at the north end if the isthmus. The current stations living quarters are in the same location, and work buildings have spread further down the isthmus.
station gate
Entrance to the station base
The base established by the ANARE team in 1948 has been continually staffed ever since, with the research topics broadening to include the biology of the islands flora and fauna, and the effects of climate change. Ecotourism has become a fixture of the island, with small numbers of tourists allowed each year. Public interest in the Subantarctic has grown considerably in the last century, and monitoring the effects of tourism on the islands ecosystem has become a new area of research on the island. |
Episode Nine: Kinsey's Wasps
"The larger [a collection] is, the more likely it is that you'll have more species [and] reflect actual diversity of nature in the world."
James Carpenter Curator, Division of Invertebrate Zoology
First Came the Wasps
Alfred Kinsey is best known for his groundbreaking work in human sexuality, but he came to this made-for-Hollywood specialty relatively late in his career. For the first act of his academic life, Kinsey studied entomology and botany. In particular, he studied gall wasps: tiny, solitary wasps who inject their eggs into plant tissues, inducing growths known as “galls” that provide food and protection to their larvae.
The study of solitary wasps and human coupling may seem like wildly disparate interests. But both subjects provided outlets for what could be said to be Kinsey’s real passion—the accumulation and categorization of huge amounts of data, and the transformation of that data into new knowledge.
Kinsey didn’t just study gall wasps: he amassed specimens with unrivaled intensity, creating a collection of more than 7.5 million wasps and their associated galls that now reside in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology of the American Museum of Natural History. In the early years of his studies, Kinsey traveled some 18,000 miles across North America, frequently camping for days while gathering thousands of galls. He would send those back to his lab in Indiana, where assistants would wait for the short-lived adult wasps to emerge. He eventually collected specimens from 36 states and numerous locations in Mexico, and compiled a collection from all over the world.
Big collections aren’t just a feather in a researcher’s cap, though. Large series of specimens offer scientists more opportunities to answer more questions about a species, and big sample sizes make it harder for outliers—individuals that are very large or very small, for instance—to skew results. Collections on a scale like Kinsey’s need to be made responsibly, of course, and not damage wild populations. But they can also be valuable conservation tools, serving as snapshots of big trends that allow researchers to track shifts over time and place and see how populations react in response to factors like environmental change.
Kinsey's drive toward collecting more and more specimens wasn’t purely a scientific pursuit—it was a personal passion as well, and a subject on which the generally reserved researcher was inclined to wax poetic. In a biology textbook he penned, Kinsey elaborated on his voracious appetite for new specimens:
"If your collection is larger, even a shade larger, than any other like it in the world, that greatly increases your happiness. It shows how complete a work you can accomplish, in what good order you can arrange the specimens, with what surpassing wisdom you can exhibit them, and with what authority you can speak on your subject."
While analyzing his growing gall wasp collection, Kinsey demonstrated his penchant for big data and honed some of the methods he would refine in his study of human sexuality. For example, Kinsey took up to dozens of measurements on each of his wasp specimens—no small feat when you consider that even the largest specimens only grow to be 8 millimeters long. He meticulously recorded the data on sheets and sheets of graph paper, covered in notations, and later in his entomological research developed a system of coded entry.
He carried this experience encoding data into his work on human sexuality, where it allowed him to distill hour-long interviews detailing an individual’s entire sexual history to a handful of lined cards.
In the midst of his gall wasp studies Kinsey, then a professor of entomology at Indiana University, began teaching the “marriage course” in 1938. The class sought to prepare students for marriage by teaching them the facts about sex and sexuality. There was just one problem—there was a startling dearth of facts available in scientific literature.
Kinsey took it upon himself to fill this gap, conducting interviews with students in the marriage course that became the first data in his career as a sexologist. He would spend the remainder of his life in the field, producing a series of groundbreaking , and often controversial, publications.
Bringing his entomological training to bear on his new specialty, Kinsey treated his research into sex as biological fieldwork and approached it with the same diligence and dedication that drove his collection of wasp specimens and galls. His interviews with subjects were wide-ranging and meticulously documented. He was also famously, or perhaps infamously, nonjudgmental about the behaviors reported by participants in his research, analyzing sexual behavior with a scientific methodology.
There were some adjustments, of course. Rather than the straightforward data encoding used for his wasps, Kinsey sought the help of a professional cryptographer to develop the code for his studies in human sexuality. Nearly everything was coded for in Kinsey’s study, from the age, sex, and weight of the subjects to how excited they were by risque jokes and what kinds of music they listened to during lovemaking. Since the research was conducted largely during the 1930s, there was, alas, no code for “Barry White.”
Whether studying gall wasps or humans, Kinsey also recognized the importance of gathering information from a variety of subjects. This meant extensive travel, just as it had when he was collecting his insects. Interviews for his sexuality studies began at Indiana University in Bloomington, but eventually ranged far and wide, taking Kinsey across the country from coast to coast to collect sexual histories from prisoners, college students, and people from all walks of life. He had an insatiable drive to collect data: while on the lecture circuit for his first major book, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, Kinsey frequently turned down speaking fees and instead asked his hosts to arrange for him to collect more histories while he was in town.
During his lifetime, Kinsey’s work on sexology produced two books based on his interviews with more than 11,000 individuals; three more drawing from his data were published posthumously. These bestsellers changed how the world viewed what happens behind closed doors. But the techniques that made this momentous work possible were developed and refined while studying the humble gall wasp.
Images in the video of Alfred Kinsey with galls courtesy of The Kinsey Institute
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Body Types & Nutrition
14 Oct 2015
Not everybody' is created equal. Before you start your nutrition regimen, it's always a good idea to figure out your Body Type. This will help you tailor your diet better and set realistic and attainable goals.
There are 3 basic human body types:
Ectomorph: They are distinguished by a lack of much fat or muscle tissue.
Mesomorph : This is marked by a well developed musculature.
Endomorph : This is characterized by a preponderance of body fat.
This is how the 3 body types look like:
Everybody is different since we all have different genetic and cultural traits. If everyone ate the same things and started exercising similarly, we would not look the same. This is because each person's genetic inheritance influences their bone structure, body size, shape, and weight differently.
Thus, every body type should eat differently as per what appeals to them. This will not only maintain one's healthy weight but also prevent any kind of eating disorders.
Diet plans for endomorph, ectomorph and mesomorph
Ectomorphs basically means in their body, metabolism takes place at a faster rate. So, they do not gain body weight easily and have very high overall caloric needs:
• Narrow hips and clavicles
• Small joints (wrists and ankles)
• A thin build
• Stringy muscle bellies
• Long limbs
Proper nutrition is very important, especially for those who consider themselves as "Ectomorphs". It typically means that they have a faster metabolism , a tough time gaining body weight and higher overall caloric needs.
An ectomorph must typically start his or her diet plan by following the main principles for big gains in muscle size and strength.
Ectomorphs' Ideal Body Type Diet
Avoid fatty foods, especially animal fat, cold cuts, mayonnaise, full-fat dairy, rich desserts, packaged foods, chips.
As an Ectomorph, the ideal nutrition consists of about 55% of complex carbohydrates (whole grains, rice, nuts all vegetables), approx. 30% quality proteins (whey, chicken, eggs), and up to 15% healthy fats cold-pressed virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil and good omega 3 sources like fish and sea food.
Mesomorphs have a medium sized bone structure and athletic body, and if they're active, they usually have a considerable amount of lean mass. They are characterized as follows:
• Wide clavicles
• A narrow waist
• Thinner joints
• Long and round muscle bellies
As a mesomorph, you are likely to put on muscle easily and also easy to gain and lose body weight. However, mesomorphs yet need a targeted diet plan that helps them avoid fat gain and improve overall health.
BALANCE is very important for a mesomorph, who falls between an ectomorph and an endomorph.
Mesomorphs' Ideal Body Type Diet
Avoid fatty foods (full-fat dairy, fatty meats, cold cuts, mayonnaise, very rich desserts,) and minimize as much as possible refined carbohydrates (sugars and white flour products), as they cause rapid weight gain triggering a fat-storage metabolism.
As a Mesomorph, you should eat 3 smaller meals favouring foods high in quality protein (whey, chicken, eggs) and complex carbohydrates (leafy greens and non-starchy vegetables).
Approx. 45% complex carbohydrates, 35% quality proteins and up to 20% healthy fats; use cold-pressed virgin olive oil and flaxseed oil in salads and get used to cooking with rice bran oil.
Include fish and seafood, as they are good omega 3 sources-omega 3 and weight loss connection is well-known.
In between meals get a healthy snack: fruits (except the sweet ones, like bananas, pineapple, grapes, mango, watermelon), raw almonds, plain yogurt or various smoothies with the right foods for you, as above.
Endomorphs possess huge bone structure with large quantity of total body and fat mass. They tend to be naturally less active and thus have more tendency to store energy as fat. Thus, they have a particularly easy time gaining weight but hard to shed kilos. The main characteristics of a Endomorph is:
• They look blocky
• Wider and thicker joints
• Wider hips than the clavicles
• Shorter limbs
Out of all the three body types, Endomorphs have the greatest tendency towards roundness. Being an endomorph, obesity is very common in males in females.
"Apple shaped obesity" is more commonly seen in males where there is excess fat in and around the belly, while "Pear shaped obesity" is commonly seen in females with excess fat on the hips and buttocks.
Endomorphs' Ideal Body Type Diet
As an Endomorph, your nutrition for losing weight should be roughly up to 30% complex carbohydrates (starchy vegetables, brown rice, whole grains), about 45% quality protein (chicken breast, whey protein) and about 25% healthy fats: omega 3 sources (fish, seafood) and rice bran oil, which helps to increase your sluggish metabolism. Also, to keep your metabolic rate up, pide your daily meals into smaller portions so that you have something to eat handy every 2-3 hours.
Endomorphs should avoid all types of sugar which includes all fruits except berries and simple carbohydrates such as white flour products and pasta, white rice, potatoes, etc. because they raise the blood sugar level, which then triggers the release of insulin, the fat-storage hormone. Don't eat till your stomach is completely full after a meal.
Endomorphs should have higher fat and protein in everyday diet with carbohydrate content being controlled and properly timed (e.g., after exercise). So, their motto should be- more fat and protein, less carbohydrate.
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Gratian (Biographical details)
Gratian (ruler; royal/imperial; Roman; Male; 359 - 383)
Also known as
Gratian; Flavius Gratianus
Emperor in the West 367-383.
Flavius Gratianus was the son of Valentinian I (q.v.) and Severa. In 367 he was given the rank of Augustus, though only 7 years old. He appointed the general Theodosius to govern the troubled eastern provinces; in 383 the commander of the British legions, Magnus Maximus (q.v.), proclaimed himself emperor and Gratian's army deserted him. The young emperor fled to the Alps but was killed at Lugdunum (Lyons). |
“A Woman’s Place is in the House...And the Senate”: On the Record Number of Women Running for Congress in 2018
Just under a century has passed since women were first allowed to vote in the United States. In 1920, the required number of states finally voted to ratify the 19th Amendment, which prohibited voter discrimination on the account of sex. Now, in 2018, a record number of women are running for Congress to fill seats in the same institutions that once excluded them from the voter rolls. It hasn’t been an easy ride, and we still have a long way to go.
Where We’ve Been
In 1917, Jeanette Rankin became the first woman ever to serve in Congress, as a member of the House of Representatives. It would be another 15 years before Hattie Caraway, the first woman elected to the Senate, made her way to Washington. Now, if that sounds embarrassingly recent, listen to this: it wasn’t until 1968—50 years ago—that Shirley Chisholm became the first black woman to serve in Congress. No black woman, or any other woman of color, was elected to the Senate until Carol Mosely-Braun won her race in 1992, 26 years ago. Here are some more depressing statistics: In 1989, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen became the first Latina woman in Congress, and Nancy Pelosi became the first woman to be Speaker of the House in 2007.¹
What does this information tell us? Historically, women, and especially women of color, have faced significant obstacles in getting elected to Congress. Unfortunately, this is still true. Despite making up more than half the population of the U.S., women currently make up about one-fifth of Congress: 19.4% of the House and 21% of the Senate.² The Washington Post reports that for every woman who holds political office in America, there are three men. In 2018, there are still 21 states that have never elected a woman to the Senate and five that have never had a female representative in the House.³
What, besides blatant sexism and racism, are the reasons for this disparity? For one thing, women tend to be more hesitant to run than men do. Susan Collins, a senator from Maine, has remarked that while many qualified women have told her they don’t feel quite ready to be a candidate, she has “never, ever” heard the same from a man.⁴ Another reason is that women generally have to be more qualified than their male counterparts in order to convince voters that they will be successful. In 2016, Medium found that 81% of female candidates for Senate had a postgraduate degree, compared to 53% of male Senate hopefuls.⁵
Where We Are Now
But, hey! There’s some good news! This year, a record-breaking number of women are running for Congress. All 435 House seats and 35 of 100 Senate seats are up for election in 2018, and according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, 262 of those candidates are women and 184 of them non-incumbent challengers.⁶ Some have attributed this so-called “pink wave” to Donald Trump’s 2016 win, and the subsequent mobilization of activists across the country, which is evidenced by events like the Women’s March and the #MeToo movement.
To name just a few of these women: there’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the 28-year-old activist who beat out incumbent Joe Crowley in the Democratic primary for New York’s 14th district. Another is Ayanna Pressly, who won her primary against another incumbent male (of 10 years) and may become Massachusetts’ first female African American representative. I’d be remiss not to mention Mikie Sherill, working mother, ex-Navy pilot, and all-around badass who is running in my home district, the NJ-11th. Some more good news: studies show that when women do decide to run, they typically win at the same rate as male candidates.⁷ The issue, then, is that not enough women choose to run. But as we can see, this is changing.
Most of the women running in 2018 are Democrats (202 compared to 60 Republicans)⁶, but studies show that whatever their party, women in Congress are more likely than their male counterparts to pay attention to issues that affect women directly.
Where We’re Going
There is still a lot of history to be made. Rashida Tlaib, running in Michigan’s 13th District, would be the first Muslim woman to serve in Congress. Sharice Davids, running in the Kansas 3rd, would be Kansas’ first openly gay representative and one of few Native American women to have served in Congress.⁸ By the way, we’ve still never had an openly transgender member of Congress, but there’s hope: last year, Danica Roem won her race to become the first trans woman to serve in a state legislature, as a member of Virginia’s House of Delegates for the 13th district.
So, who’s on the ballot for Kenyon students? This year, 11 women in Ohio are running for the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, no women are running for national Congress in Kenyon’s district, the Ohio 7th, but that doesn’t mean you can’t support female candidates in neighboring districts! These women include Shawna Roberts, a Democrat running in the 6th, and Dr. Vanessa Enoch, a Democrat for Ohio’s 8th district.
Furthermore, there are a few women running for state legislature in our area. Vote local, people! These include Louise Valentine, running as a Democrat in State Senate District 19, and Kathleen Tate, a Democrat running for the Ohio House of Representatives in District 68.⁹
So like I said, we’ve come a long way, but there’s still a long way left to go. The Midterm election is November 6th, 2018. Please vote.
1. “Firsts for Women in Congress.” Handbook to American Democracy: Foundations of American Democracy, Facts On File, 2012. History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=17313&itemid=WE52&articleId=361189. Accessed 16 Sept. 2018.
2. “Women in the U.S. Congress.” American History Almanac, Facts On File, 2016. History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=17313&itemid=WE52&articleId=362021. Accessed 16 Sept. 2018.
3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/politics/women-running-for-office/?utm_term=.14a283268a8b
4. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/us/politics/collins-ernst-klobuchar-heitkamp.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article®ion=Footer
5. https://medium.com/@BallotReady/women-running-for-senate-more-qualified-than-men-3e23a0484a99
6. http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/potential-candidate-summary-2018#house
7. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/25/upshot/the-problem-for-women-is-not-winning-its-deciding-to-run.html
8. http://time.com/5361122/women-congress-2018-elections-record/
9. https://ballotpedia.org/Sample_Ballot_Lookup#address=106+gaskin+ave+gambier+ohio+43022&election=2018-11-06
Image Credit: 1, 2, Zoe Packel |
What Is Static Electricity?
Lightning strikes the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada. The 1,814-foot tower (553 meters) is struck about 80 times a year, but long copper strips running from the top of its antennae down to 52 buried grounding rods channel the charges, according to the Toronto Star.
Credit: Atomazul / Shutterstock
In addition to causing in a painful shock, these sudden high-voltage discharges can provide a source of ignition for flammable substances, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Static shock can also damage delicate electronics. According to NASA, a simple spark from a finger can damage sensitive components and render them unusable, so precautions must be taken such as keeping circuit boards in conductive plastic bags and wearing grounding straps to dissipate static charge continuously from your body.
Another source of static charge is the motion of fluids through a pipe or hose. If that fluid is flammable — such as gasoline — a spark from a sudden discharge could result in a fire or explosion. People who handle liquid fuels should take great care to avoid charge buildup and sudden discharge. In an interview, Daniel Marsh, professor of physics at Missouri Southern State University, warned that when putting gasoline in your car, you should always touch a metal part of the car after getting out to dissipate any charge that might have developed by sliding across the seat. Also, when buying gas for your lawn mower, you should always take the can out of your car and place it on the ground while filling it. This dissipates the static charge continuously and keeps it from building up enough to create a spark.
Large tank farms present an even greater danger of fire and explosions, so the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) has issued guidelines that include minimizing static generation, preventing charge accumulation, avoiding spark discharge, and controlling the environment inside the tank.
Franklin in fact shaped the way we think about electricity. He became interested in studying electricity in 1742. Until then, most people thought that electrical effects were the result of mixing of two different electrical fluids. However, Franklin became convinced that there was only one single electric fluid and that objects could have an excess or deficiency of this fluid. He invented the terms "positive" and "negative," referring to an excess or deficiency, according to the University of Arizona. Today, we know that the "fluid" was actually electrons, but those weren't discovered for about 150 years.
According to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, clouds develop zones of static charge due to warm water droplets in updrafts exchanging electrons cold ice crystals in downdrafts. According to NASA, the potential between these atmospheric charges and the ground can exceed 300,000 volts, so the consequences of being struck by lightning can be deadly. In a lightning strike, the current tends to move over the surface of the body in a process called “external flashover,” which can cause severe burns, particularly at the initial point of contact. Some of the current, though, can travel through the body and damage the nervous system, according to the National Weather Service. Additionally, the concussion from the blast can cause traumatic internal injuries and permanent hearing loss, and the bright flash can cause temporary or permanent vision damage. As an example of the tremendous energy released in a lightning strike, Marsh told Live Science about his personal observation of a large oak tree that was literally split in half by high-pressure steam created by a lightning strike.
If you can hear thunder, generally, you are already within striking range, according to the University of Florida. If you are outdoors when a storm approaches, you should immediately seek shelter in a building or vehicle and avoid touching any metal. If you cannot get inside, move away from tall objects such as trees, towers or hilltops, squat down, and if possible, balance on the balls of your feet making as little contact with the ground as possible, according to Brigham Young University.
While static electricity can be a nuisance or even a danger, as in the case of static cling or static shock, in other cases it can be quite useful. For instance, static charges can be induced by electrical current. One example of this is a capacitor, so named because it has the capacity to store electric charge, analogous to how a spring stores mechanical energy. A voltage applied to capacitor creates a charge difference between the plates. If the capacitor is charged and the voltage is switched off, it can retain the charge for some time. This can be useful, as in the case of supercapacitors, which can replace rechargeable batteries in some applications, but it can also be dangerous. Electronic equipment such as older CRT computer monitors and television sets contain large capacitors that can retain a charge with up to 25,000 volts, which can cause injury or death even after the device has been turned off for several days.
Another application is for crystal microphones. Sound waves in the air can deflect a diaphragm connected to a piezoelectric member that converts the sound waves to an electrical signal. In the inverse operation, the electric signal can cause a piezoelectric transducer in a loudspeaker to move, thus reproducing the sound.
Marsh noted that coal-fired power plants use electrostatic precipitators to collect particulates from smokestacks so they can be disposed of as solid waste rather than being discharged into the air. In another application, he described how static charge is applied to herbicides that are sprayed onto weeds in a fine mist. The charged droplets are attracted to and distributed evenly over the leaves of the undesirable plants rather than falling onto the ground and being wasted. The same principle is used for electrostatic spray painting so more paint goes onto the target and less in the air and on the walls and floor of the paint room.
Additional resources |
Distance Measures Quiz Questions and Answers 80 PDF Book Download
Distance measures quiz, distance measures MCQs answers, MBA business statistics quiz 80 to learn business analytics courses online. Measures of dispersion quiz questions and answers, distance measures multiple choice questions (MCQs) to practice statistics test with answers for online colleges and universities courses. Learn distance measures MCQs, central tendency measures, definition of probability, averages of position, distance measures test prep for business analyst certifications.
Learn distance measures test with multiple choice question (MCQs): difference between smallest observation in data set and largest observation in data set is classified as, with choices positive uniformity, negative uniformity, range, and average for online masters degree. Learn measures of dispersion questions and answers for scholarships exams' problem-solving, assessment test for business administration certifications.
Quiz on Distance Measures Worksheet 80Quiz Book Download
Distance Measures Quiz
MCQ: Difference between smallest observation in data set and largest observation in data set is classified as
1. positive uniformity
2. negative uniformity
3. range
4. average
Averages of Position Quiz
MCQ: Type of central tendency measures which divides data set into 100 equal parts is classified as
1. quartiles
2. deciles
3. percentiles
4. multiple pile of data
Definition of Probability Quiz
MCQ: Approach in probability in which all outcomes from an experiment are equally likely to occur or are mutually exclusive is called
1. durable approach
2. permanent approach
3. temporary approach
4. classical approach
Central Tendency Measures Quiz
MCQ: Sample stability and ability to be easily understandable are requirements to measure
1. positive tendency
2. population tendency
3. central tendency
4. sample tendency
Confidence Interval Estimation Quiz
MCQ: In confidence interval estimation, interval estimate is also classified as
1. confidence efficient
2. confidence deviation
3. confidence mean
4. marginal coefficient |
Cultural Self-Study Paper
Cultural Self-Study Paper
The purpose of this paper is to explore your own culture because understanding ourselves is the first step to understanding each other. Using a variety of resources (these can be family interviews, books/articles, and histories) explore the following characteristics of yourself. For example: how do you fit into the historical facts? What are your beliefs/values/rituals? Are they similar to what you researched? Are your family roles/relationships based on the history of your group or have you done things differently? Do your responses to illnesses come from your cultural roots? Use the following list as headings/subtitles in your paper.
1.Introduction Professional Custom Writing Services from the Experts!
2.General description of your group (race, ethnic background), including nature and origin
3.History, location, size, and impact of your group in the US
4.Rituals, beliefs, values, religion
5.Language/communication patterns
6.Response of other groups to yours
7.Family patterns, roles and relationships
8.Health and illness definitions, roles, responses (e.g. to pain, nutrition, activities)
9.Alternative/complementary health practices
10.Conclusion: Your impressions about being part of this group
easy essay but should stand at A CHINESE perspective
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Dating have man more one profile site than their who
This predictability allows the relative abundances of related nuclides to be used as a clock to measure the time from the incorporation of the original nuclides into a material to the present.The basic equation of radiometric dating requires that neither the parent nuclide nor the daughter product can enter or leave the material after its formation.and is now the principal source of information about the absolute age of rocks and other geological features, including the age of fossilized life forms or the age of the Earth itself, and can also be used to date a wide range of natural and man-made materials.Together with stratigraphic principles, radiometric dating methods are used in geochronology to establish the geologic time scale.The possible confounding effects of contamination of parent and daughter isotopes have to be considered, as do the effects of any loss or gain of such isotopes since the sample was created.It is therefore essential to have as much information as possible about the material being dated and to check for possible signs of alteration.
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After an organism has been dead for 60,000 years, so little carbon-14 is left that accurate dating can not be established.Radiometric dating or radioactive dating is a technique used to date materials such as rocks or carbon, in which trace radioactive impurities were selectively incorporated when they were formed.The method compares the abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope within the material to the abundance of its decay products, which form at a known constant rate of decay.All ordinary matter is made up of combinations of chemical elements, each with its own atomic number, indicating the number of protons in the atomic nucleus.
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Liberator issue. Depicting African Americans next to a lynching tree.
An issue of The Liberator depicting African Americans next to a lynching tree.
Liberator v.1, no.1, 1831
The Liberator (1831–1865) was an American abolitionist newspaper founded by William Lloyd Garrison and Isaac Knapp. Religious rather than political, it appealed to the moral conscience of its readers, urging them to demand immediate freeing of the slaves. It also promoted women's rights. Despite its modest weekly circulation of 3,000, it had prominent readers such as Frederick Douglass.
Rather than looking to politics to create change, Garrison utilized nonviolent means, such as moral suasion as his message throughout the newspaper.[3][4] Garrison felt that slavery was a moral issue and used his way of writing to appeal to the morality of his readers as an attempt to influence them into changing their morally questionable ways. The Liberator took the stance of William Lloyd Garrison. For example, "No Union with Slave-Holders" was a slogan utilized for weeks at a time throughout the newspaper's publication, advocating that the North should leave the Union.[4]
Garrison celebrates 13th amendment William Lloyd Garrison.
The Liberator continued for three decades from its founding through the end of the American Civil War. It had black columnists and reporters.[5] Garrison ended the newspaper's run with a valedictory column at the end of 1865, when the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery throughout the United States. It was succeeded by The Nation.[6]
Woman's rights advocacyEdit
The Liberator also became an avowed woman's rights newspaper when the prospectus for its 1838 issue declared that as the paper's object was "to redeem woman as well as man from a servile to an equal condition," it would support "the rights of woman to their utmost extent."[7] In January and February 1838, the Liberator published Sarah Grimké's "Letters on the Province of Woman" in the paper, and later in the year published them in pamphlet form as Letters on the Equality of the Sexes, and the Condition of Woman.[8] During the following decades, the Liberator promoted women's rights by publishing editorials, petitions, convention calls and proceedings, speeches, legislative action, and other material advocating woman suffrage, equal property rights, and women's educational and professional equality. The Liberator's printers: Isaac Knapp, James Brown Yerrinton (1800–1866) and James Manning Winchell Yerrinton (1825–1893), and Robert Folger Wallcut (1797–1884), printed many of the woman's rights tracts used in the 1850s.
Inspiration among abolitionistsEdit
Frederick Douglass was inspired by The Liberator. As he commented upon in his first issue of The North Star, Frederick Douglass felt that it was necessary for African-Americans, such as himself, to speak out about their own experiences with injustice. He claimed that those that experienced injustice were the ones that must demand justice[10] Soon after, Douglass began writing his own abolitionist newspaper, The North Star.[11]
The Liberator faced harsh resistance from several state legislatures and local groups: for example, North Carolina indicted Garrison for felonius acts, and the Vigilance Association of Columbia, South Carolina, offered a reward of $1,500 ($44,392.47 in 2018 dollars) to those who identified distributors of the paper.[citation needed]
Garrison too faced resistance, even to the point of violence. In 1835, a Boston mob formed with support from local newspapers in resistance to the announcement that George Thompson would speak at the first anniversary meeting of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. The mob, unable to find Thompson, redirected their aggression towards Garrison who was in the society's meeting hall. Eventually escalation of the situation led to destruction of the society's antislavery sign, and even calls to lynch Garrison. Garrison eventually managed a narrow escape to the city jail for protection, after which the mob dispersed.[12]
Contents onlineEdit
All of the following articles were written by Garrison.
1850 Liberator masthead, designed by Hammatt Billings
See alsoEdit
2. ^ Ripley, C. Peter (1991). The Black Abolitionist Papers: Vol. III: The United States, 1830-1846, p. 9. UNC Press. ISBN 0-8078-1926-3.
7. ^ Liberator, December 15, 1837.
8. ^ [1]
9. ^
11. ^ "Abolitionist Movement | HistoryNet". Retrieved 2017-05-15.
External linksEdit |
CAPEX + dividends coverage ratio definition
CAPEX + dividends coverage ratio shows company’s usage of funds (from operating cash flow) for the purpose of investing (within the company) and dividend payouts. Data to calculate this ratio is collected from balance sheet, stock market bulletin and cash flow statement.
Norms and limitations
There are no general norms for this ratio.
It is recommended to compare this ratio to those of the companies, working within the same industry.
Operating cash flow (OCF, cash flow from operations) is the money that a company earns from its’ core business.
Capital expenditures or CAPEX are the expenses, paid for purchased capital asset or for made investments.
Dividend is a part of company’s net income, paid to the company’s shareholders. Dividends are usually paid out in a form of cash, but may be expressed in other forms, such as stock and property.
Calculating this ratio dividends are uses only in cash form. |
Did you know that formerly in China, doctors were not paid to heal people but to keep them healthy?
The traditional Chinese medicine was brought to Japan approximately in the 10th century before Christ and in that merger came the Shiatsu.
You may have probably heard about the term shiatsu that comes from the typical oriental massage of the same name, where the Japanese word “shi” means fingers and “atsu” means “pressure.”
This technique basically consists of pressure manipulations with the masseur’s fingers on specific points located in the energetic channels of the body (meridians) of the patient, through which the vital energy flows.
It is also interesting to note that the therapist who uses shiatsu answers the patient by analyzing all their life and spiritual context, be it their routine, diet or simply lifestyle.
But what is the difference between traditional Shiatsu and Zen Shiatsu?
Unlike the traditional method, zen shiatsu is a body therapy that uses oriental techniques of massage, meditation exercises, breathing and stretching movements in order to treat and prevent diseases, in addition to providing balance and relaxation.
The term zen refers to the meditative attitude during the current session. Thus, mindfulness, emotional balance, patience, love and compassion are skills and attitudes that are being developed as you receive sessions of zen shiatsu.
Want to know more about Shiatsu and its variations? |
Conventional DNA sequencing may be helpful, rather than frightening.
Conventional DNA sequencing may be helpful, rather than frightening.
Advances in technology have made it easier, faster and cheaper to sequence the entire genome – spelling out all three billion letters in a person’s genetic code. The falling costs have led to speculation that it could soon become a regular part of medical care, perhaps as routine as checking blood pressure.
But can this test, which can be $1000, prove useful, or unnecessarily scary?
The first rigorously controlled study to answer this question suggests that doctors and their patients can handle a large amount of information produced by tests. The study was published Monday in the annals of internal medicine.
The research project funded by the national human genome research institute, director of the department of genome Teri Manolio said: “we can actually take place in a normal, healthy individual genome sequencing, and does not produce any harmful consequences. Manolio wrote a review in his paper.
Virginia Boston healthcare system and the brigham and women’s hospital researcher Jason west (Jason Vassy), who led the study, he said: “for the new technology of excitement and hope so much, and how will it change medicine. “But at the same time there are a lot of concerns and concerns.”
Vassy acknowledges that conventional genome sequencing may confuse doctors and patients, sometimes even worrying, leading to anxiety and stress, as well as costly and sometimes dangerous follow-up tests.
So he and his colleagues tried to find out the results of routine tests in general medical conditions. They studied 100 healthy middle-aged patients who were randomly asked if they were interested in genomic sequencing.
Half of the volunteers scanned their DNA for genetic mutations that could lead to nearly 5,000 rare genetic diseases and other genetic markers. The other half answered questions about family diseases – the traditional way of finding genetic risk.
One of the volunteers, Renee duchainey-farkes, 63, runs a primary school in Boston.
“I’ve always been fascinated by genomics,” says duchainey-farkes. “So I’m very excited, but at the same time nervous, because it’s like, ‘I really want to know, isn’t it good? ‘”
After 50 volunteers were sequenced, the researchers found that about a fifth of them had a mutation in their genome that was associated with rare, and sometimes severe, genetic diseases.
“This is higher than we expected,” Vassy said. “These people are generally healthy middle-aged people who have never thought of having a genetic disease in their lives.
Most of them were fine, but what happened next surprised the researchers: neither the volunteers nor the doctors were overreacting.
“We were pleasantly surprised to find that primary care physicians were able to properly manage the patient’s genetic outcomes,” Vassy said. “Patients are usually able to process this information without causing increased anxiety or increased depression.”
Researchers report that many patients also receive useful information.
Duchainey-farkes said she found out why she had a strange rash and severe sunburn. As it turns out, she has so far been a very mild version of variegate porphyria, a rare skin disorder. As a result, her doctor gave her a list to stay away from drugs because they could worsen the condition.
“So I think it’s a very positive result,” said duchainey-farkes.
She also found that she may be vulnerable to diabetes, so she worked harder to watch her weight and eat better, she said.
Ilena wardenska, a 46-year-old finance professor in brookline, mass., learned that her genetic variation could put her at risk of heart problems. A follow-up test found that her heart was right. But Vodenska is still happy that she did.
“It makes me think,” Vodenska said. “It satisfied my curiosity, which made me change something in my life.” She can only walk instead of driving, and she tries to eat better.
Manolio says the researchers who knew they were carrying mutations associated with rare diseases might use the information when planning their families.
Others, however, remain sceptical.
James Evans, a geneticist at the university of north Carolina at chapel hill, said: “in my opinion, the enthusiasm of many people for genomic sequencing in the general population has been greatly reduced. “This study shows that, in this regard, the daily rules are very immature and may lead to more prank than profit.”
Others worry that people who are ordered will be discriminated against.
“This information can be accessed by a third party,” said Mark Rothstein, director of the institute of bioethics at the university of louisville and director of the institute for health policy and law. For example, he said, “apply for personal insurance or disability insurance or long-term care or something.”
Vassy and Manolio admitted that the patients in the study were more affluent than the general population and were more exposed to education. Doctors also receive additional training in interpreting genetic information. They stress that more research is needed before sequencing becomes commonplace.
But some private companies have begun selling genome sequencing to people who are genuinely curious about the secrets that may be hidden in their DNA.
Human Longevity, Inc. Brad Perkins, chief medical officer, said: “we believe that whole-genome sequencing is going to be a much faster part of the medical practice base than people think.
“It’s a whole new way of looking at it,” said Mirza Cifric, chief executive of Veritas Genetics. “By sequencing your entire genome, you have an asset for life, you have a digital version of yourself, and you can go back to all sorts of reasons.
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Bone Density Testing
A bone density test, which measures bone mineral content and density, is most often used to diagnose osteoporosis, a degenerative bone condition that can cause bones to become weak and fracture easily.
Osteoporosis affects over 10 million Americans over the age of 50, and women are four times more likely to get osteoporosis than men. Another 34 million Americans older than age 50 have low bone mass (osteopenia). Low estrogen is one of the main causes of bone loss in women during and after menopause. Women may lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years after menopause.
Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DEXA, is the most common method to measure a patient's bone density. A DEXA scanner is a machine that produces two X-ray beams, each with different energy levels. One beam is high energy while the other is low energy. The amount of X-rays that pass through the bone is measured for each beam. Based on the difference between the two beams, the bone density can be measured. A low bone density may indicate osteoporosis.
This measurement tells the healthcare provider whether there is decreased bone mass. It also can be used to determine your future fracture risk.
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PASTEUR, LOUIS (1822–1895), French chemist, was born, on the 27th of December 1822, at Dôle, Franche-Comté, where his father carried on the business of a tanner. Shortly afterwards the Pasteur family removed to Arbois, where Louis attended the École primaire, and later the collège of that place. Here he apparently did not especially distinguish himself, belonging to the class of bons ordinaires. Fortunately at Arbois he came under the influence of an excellent teacher in the person of the director of the collège, who must have discerned in the quiet boy the germs of greatness, as he constantly spoke to him of his future career at the École normale in Paris. In October 1838 Louis was sent with a friend to the metropolis, to a school in the Quartier Latin, preparatory to the École normale. But he did not remain long in Paris, for being a nervous and excitable boy, his health broke down, and he yearned for his home in Franche-Comté. " If only I could smell the tannery once more," said he to his companions, " I should feel well." So home he went, though not for long, as his ambition was still to become a normalien, and to this end he entered the Royal College of Besançon, "en attendant l'heureux jour où je serais admis à l'école normale." Step by step he attained his end; in 1840 he won his "bachelier ès lettres," and shortly afterwards he received an appointment as assistant mathematical master in the college. Two years later he passed the examination for the "baccalauréat ès sciences" enabling him to become candidate for the École normale. But here something (probably the examiner) was at fault, for a note was attached to Pasteur's diploma stating that he was only " mediocre " in chemistry. In those early days and early trials the dominant note of Pasteur's life was sounded. To his sisters he writes: " Ces trois choses, la volonté, le travail, le succès, se partagent toute l'existence humaine. La volonté ouvre la porte aux carrier es brill antes et heureuses; le travail les franchit, et une fois arrivé au terme du voyage, le succes vient couronner l'œuvre." Throughout his life, and to the very end, " work " was his constant inspiration. On his deathbed he turned to the devoted pupils who watched over their master's last hours. " Où en êtes-vous?" he exclaimed. " Que faites-vous?" and ended by repeating his favourite words, " II faut travailler."
The first incentive to his serious study of chemistry was given by hearing J. B. A. Dumas lecture at the Sorbonne; and ere long he broke new ground for himself, A. J. Balard having given him an opportunity for chemical work by appointing him to the post of laboratory assistant. A few words of explanation concerning Pasteur's first research are necessary to give the key to all his future work. What was the secret power which enabled him to bring under the domain of scientific laws phenomena of disease which had so far bafHed human endeavour? It simply consisted in the application, to the elucidation of these complex problems, of the exact methods of chemical and physical research. Perhaps the most remarkable discovery of modern chemistry is the existence of compounds, which, whilst possessing an identical composition, are absolutely different bodies, judged of by their properties. The first of the numerous cases of isomerism now known was noted, but unexplained, by J. J. Berzelius. It was that of two tartaric acids, deposited from wine-lees. The different behaviour of these two acids to a ray of polarized light was subsequently observed by J. B. Biot. One possessed the power of turning the plane of the polarized ray to the right; the other possessed no rotary power. Still no explanation of this singular fact was forthcoming, and it was reserved for the young chemist from Franche-Comté to solve a problem which had baffled the greatest chemists and physicists of the time. Pasteur proved that the inactivity of the one acid depended upon the fact that it was composed of two isomeric constituents: one the ordinary or dextrorotary acid, and the other a new acid, which possessed an equally powerful left-handed action. The veteran Biot whose acquaintance Pasteur had made, was incredulous. He insisted on the repetition of the experiment in his presence; and when convinced of the truth of the explanation he exclaimed to the discoverer: " Mon cher enfant, j'ai tant aimé les sciences dans ma vie que cela me fait battre le cœur." Thus at one step Pasteur gained a place of honour among the chemists of the day, and was immediately appointed professor of chemistry at the Faculté of Science at Strasburg, where he soon afterwards married Mile Laurent, who proved herself to be a true and noble helpmeet. Next he sought to prepare the inactive form of the acid by artificial means; and after great and long-continued labour he succeeded, and was led to the commencement of his classical researches on fermentation, by the observation that when the inactive acid was placed in contact with a special form of mould (Penicillium glaucum) the right-handed acid alone was destroyed, the left-handed variety remained unchanged. So well was his position as a leading man of science now established that in 1854 he was appointed professor of chemistry and dean of the Faculte des Sciences at LiUe. In his inaugural address he used significant words, the truth of which was soon manifested in his case: " In the field of observation chance only favours those who are prepared." The diseases or sicknesses of beer and wine had from time immemorial baffled all attempts at cure. Pasteur one day visited a brewery containing both sound and unsound beer. He examined the yeasts under the microscope, and at once saw that the globules from the sound beer were nearly spherical, whilst those from the sour beer were elongated; and this led him to a discovery, the consequences of which have revolutionized chemical as well as biological science, inasmuch as it was the beginning of that wonderful series of experimental researches in which he proved conclusively that the notion of spontaneous generation is a chimera. Up to this time the phenomenon of fermentation was considered strange and obscure. Explanations had indeed been put forward by men as eminent as Berzelius and Liebig, but they lacked experimental foundation. This was given in the most complete degree by Pasteur. For he proved that the various changes occurring in the several processes of fermentation—as, for example, in the vinous, where alcohol is the chief product; in the acetous, where vinegar appears; and in the lactic, where milk turns sour—are invariably due to the presence and growth of minute organisms called ferments. Exclude every trace of these organisms, and no change occurs. Brewers' wort remains unchanged for years, milk keeps permanently sweet, and these and other complex liquids remain unaltered when freely exposed to air from which all these minute organisms are removed. " The chemical act of fermentation, " writes Pasteur, " is essentially a correlative phenomenon of a vital act beginning and ending with it."
But we may ask, as Pasteur did, Why does beer or milk become sour on exposure to ordinary air? Are these invisible germs which cause fermentation always present in the atmosphere? or are they not generated from the organic, but the non-organized constituents of the ferment able liquid? In other words, are these organisms not spontaneously generated? The controversy on this question was waged with spirit on both sides; but in the end Pasteur came off victorious, and in a series of the most delicate and most intricate experimental researches he proved that when the atmospheric germs are absolutely excluded no changes take place. In the interior of the grape, in the healthy blood, no such germs exist; crush the grape, wound the flesh, and expose them to the ordinary air, then changes, either fermentative or putrefactive, run their course. But place the crushed fruit or the wounded animal under conditions which preclude the presence or destroy the life of the germ, and again no change takes place; the grape juice remains sweet and the wound clean. The application of these facts to surgical operations, in the able hands of Lord Lister, was productive of the most beneficent results, and has indeed revolutionized surgical practice.
Pasteur was now the acknowledged head of the greatest chemical movement of the time, the recipient of honours both from his own country and abroad, and installed at the ficole normale in Paris in a dignified and important post. Not, however, was it without grave opposition from powerful friends in the .cademy that Pasteur carried on his work. Biot—who loved and admired him as a son—publicly announced that his enterprise was chimerical and the problem insoluble; Dumas evidently thought so too, for he advised Pasteur not to spend more of his time on such a subject. Yet he persevered: " Travailler, travailler toujours " was his motto, and his patience was rewarded by results which have not merely rendered his name immortal, but have benefited humanity in a way and to a degree for which no one could have ventured to hope. To begin with a comparatively small, though not unimportant, matter, Pasteur's discoveries on fermentation inaugurated a new era in the brewing and wine-making industries. Empiricism, hitherto the only guide, if indeed a guide at all, was replaced by exact scientific knowledge; the connexion of each phenomenon with a controllable cause was established, and rule-of-thumb and quackery banished for ever by the free gift to the world of the results of his researches.
But his powers of patient research and of quick and exact observation were about to be put to a severe test. An epidemic of a fatal character had ruined the French silk producers. Dumas, a native of the Alais district, where the disease was rampant, urged Pasteur to undertake its investigation. Up to that time he had never seen a silkworm, and hesitated to attempt so difficult a task; but at the reiterated request of his friend he consented, and in June 1865 went to the south of France for the purpose of studying the disease on the spot. In September of the same year he was able to announce results which pointed to the means of securing immunity from the dreaded plague. The history of this research, of the gradual elimination of the unimportant conditions, of the recognition of those which controlled the disease, is one of the most fascinating chapters of scientific discovery. Suffice it here to say that careful experiment and accurate observation succeeded in ascertaining the cause of the disease and in preventing its recurrence, thus bringing back to prosperity the silk trade of France, with all that this entails. " There is no greater charm," says Pasteur, " for the investigator than to make new discoveries; but his pleasure is heightened when he sees that they have a direct application to practical life." Pasteur had the good fortune, and just reward of seeing the results of his work applied to the benefit both of the human race and the animal world. It is to him that the world is indebted for the introduction of methods which have already worked wonders, and bid fair to render possible the preventive treatment of all infectious diseases. Just as each kind of fermentation possesses a definite organized ferment, so many diseases are dependent on the presence of a distinct microbe; and just as the gardener can pick out and grow a given plant or vegetable, so the bacteriologist can (in most cases) eliminate the adventitious and grow the special organism—in other words, can obtain a pure cultivation which has the power of bringing about the special disease. But by a process of successive and continued artificial cultures under different conditions, the virus of the organism is found to become attenuated; and when this weakened virus is administered, the animal is rendered immune against further attacks. The first disease investigated by Pasteur was that of chicken cholera, an epidemic which destroyed 10% of the French fowls; after the application of the preventative method the death-rate was reduced to below 1%. Next came the successful attempt to deal with the fatal cattle scourge known as anthrax. This is also caused by the presence of a microbe, of which the virus can also be attenuated, and by inoculation of this weakened virus the animal rendered immune. Many millions of sheep and oxen all over the world have thus been treated, and the rate of mortality reduced from 10 to less than 1%. As to the money value of these discoveries, T. H. Huxley gave it as his opinion that it was sufficient to cover the whole cost of the war indemnity paid by France to Germany in 1870.
The most interesting of Pasteur's investigations in preventive and curative medicine remains to be told. It is no less than a cure for the dread disease of hydrophobia in man of of rabies in animals; and the interest of the achievement is not only that he successfully combated one of the mysterious and most fell diseases to which man is subject, but also that this was accomplished in spite of the fact that this special microbe causing the disease had not been isolated. To begin with, Pasteur, in studying the malady in dogs, came to the conclusion that the injection of a portion of the matter of the spinal column of a rapid dog into the body of a healthy one produces in the latter with certainty the symptoms of rabies. The next step was to endeavour so as to modify and weaken the virus as to enable it to be used as a preventive or as an antitoxin. This, after and long serious labour, he effected; the dog thus inoculated proved to be immune when bitten by a rabid animal. But this was not enough. Would the inoculation of the attenuated virus have a remedial effect on an animal already bitten? If so, it might be possible to save the lives of persons bitten by mad dogs. Here again experiment was successful. A number of dogs were inoculated, the same number were untreated, and both sets were bitten by rabid animals. All the treated dogs lived; all the untreated dogs died from rabies. It was, however, one thing to experiment on dogs, and quite another to do so on human beings. Nevertheless Pasteur was bold enough to try. The trial was successful, and by doing so he earned the gratitude of the human race. Then, on the 14th of November 1888, the Institut Pasteur was founded. Thousands of people suffering from bites from rabid animals, from all lands, have been treated in this institute, and the death-rate from this most horrible of all diseases has been reduced to less than 1%. Not only in Paris, but in many other cities throughout the world, institutes on the model of the original one have been set up and are doing beneficent work, all arising from the genius and labour of one man. At the inauguration of the institute Pasteur closed his oration with the following words:—
" Two opposing laws seem to me now in contest. The one, a law of blood and death, opening out each day new modes of destruction, forces nations to be always ready for the battle. The other, a law of peace, work and health, whose only aim is to deliver man from the calamities which beset him. The one seeks violent conquests, the other the relief of mankind. The one places a single life above all victories, the other sacrifices hundreds of thousands of lives to the ambitions of a single individual. The law of which we are the instruments strives even through the carnage to cure the wounds due to the law of war. Treatment by our antiseptic methods may preserve the lives of thousands of soldiers. Which of these two laws will prevail, God only knows. But of this we may be sure, that science, in obeying the law of humanity, will always labour to engage the frontiers of life."
Rich in years and in honours, but simple-minded and affectionate as a child, this great benefactor to his species passed quietly away near St Cloud on the 28th of September 1895.
Mention need only be made of Pasteur's chief works, as follows: Études sur le vin (1866), Études sur le vinaigre (1868), Études sur le maladie des vers à soie (1870) Études sur le bière (1876). He began the practice of inoculation for hydrophobia in 1885.
Se Vie de Pasteur, by René Vallerey-Radot (Paris, 1900).
(H. E. R.) |
How to make your own CoQ10
Image Credit: Robert Owen-Wahl / Pixabay. This image has been modified
Chlorophyll is the green pigment that makes green leaves green. If you search for chlorophyll in the medical literature, a lot of what you find is about fecal fluorescence, a way to detect the contamination of carcasses in the slaughterhouse with feces to reduce the risk of food poisoning from pathogens harbored within animal feces. Fecal matter gets on meat either “with knife entry through the hide into the carcass, and also splash back and aerosol [airborne] deposition of fecal matter during hide removal”—that is, when they’re peeling off the skin. If, however, the animals have been eating grass, you can pick up the poo with a black light. As you can see in my video How to Regenerate Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) Naturally, a solution of chlorophyll is green, but, under a UV light, it lights up as red. So, if you have a black light in a chicken slaughter plant, you can get a drop on the droppings. The problem is most chickens aren’t outside anymore. They’re no longer pecking at grass so there’s less fecal fluorescence. We could let them run around outside or we could save money by just adding a chlorophyll supplement to their feed so we can better “identify areas of gut-spill contamination” on the meat.
The reason I was looking up chlorophyll was to follow-up on the data I presented in my Eating Green to Prevent Cancer video, which suggests that chlorophyll may be able to block carcinogens. I found a few in vitro studies on the potential anti-inflammatory effects of chlorophyll. After all, green leaves have long been used to treat inflammation, so anti-inflammatory properties of chlorophyll and their break-down products after digestion were put to the test. And, indeed, they may represent “valuable and abundantly available anti-inflammatory agents.” Maybe that’s one reason why cruciferous vegetables, like kale and collard greens, are associated with decreased markers of inflammation.
In a petri dish, for example, if you lay down a layer of arterial lining cells, more inflammatory immune cells stick to them after you stimulate them with a toxic substance. We can bring down that inflammation with the anti-inflammatory drug aspirin or, even more so, by just dripping on some chlorophyll. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons kale consumers appear to live longer lives.
As interesting as I found that study to be, this next study blew my mind. The most abundant energy source on this planet is sunlight. However, only plants are able to use it directly—or so we thought. After eating plants, animals have chlorophyll in them, too, so might we also be able to derive energy directly from sunlight? Well, first of all, light can’t get through our skin, right? Wrong. This was demonstrated by century-old science—and every kid who’s ever shined a flashlight through her or his fingers, showing that the red wavelengths do get through. In fact, if you step outside on a sunny day, there’s enough light penetrating your skull and going through to your brain that you could read a book in there. Okay, so our internal organs are bathed in sunlight, and when we eat green leafy vegetables, the absorbed chlorophyll in our body does actually appear to produce cellular energy. But, unless we eat so many greens we turn green ourselves, the energy produced is probably negligible.
However, light-activated chlorophyll inside our body may help regenerate Coenzyme Q10. CoQ10 is an antioxidant our body basically makes from scratch using the same enzyme we use to make cholesterol—that is, the same enzyme that’s blocked by cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. So, if CoQ10 production gets caught in the crossfire, then maybe that explains why statins increase our risk of diabetes—namely, by accidently also reducing CoQ10 levels in a friendly-fire type of event. Maybe that’s why statins can lead to muscle breakdown. Given that, should statin users take CoQ10 supplements? No, they should sufficiently improve their diets to stop taking drugs that muck with their biochemistry! By doing so—by eating more plant-based chlorophyll-rich diets—you may best maintain your levels of active CoQ10, also known as ubiquinol. “However, when ubiquinol is used as an antioxidant, it is oxidized to ubiquinone. To act as an effective antioxidant, the body must regenerate ubiquinol from ubiquinone,” perhaps by using dietary chlorophyll metabolites and light.
Researchers exposed some ubiquinone and chlorophyll metabolites to the kind of light that makes it into our bloodstream. Poof! CoQ10 was reborn. But, without the chlorophyll or the light, nothing happened. By going outside we get light and, if we’re eating our veggies, chlorophyll, so maybe that’s how we maintain such high levels of CoQ10 in our bloodstream. Perhaps this explains why dark green leafy vegetables are so good for us. We know sun exposure can be good for us and that eating greens can be good for us. “These benefits are commonly attributed to an increase in vitamin D from sunlight exposure and consumption of antioxidants from green vegetables”—but is it possible that these explanations might be incomplete?
What’s The Connection Between Diet And Alzheimer’s Disease?
Through witnessing the effect Alzheimers has on a family member’s emotional wellbeing and their path to slow mental deterioration; spurred my desire to pursue a degree in preventative care. As a young person, I used to wonder how a patient got this disease, and if there was a solution to prevent it. Most cases of Alzheimer’s occur later in life but alarmingly, it’s beginning to also appear in younger people.
As the fields of lifestyle medicine and preventative care grow, researchers have found that a vegan diet is key to reduce the risk of this devastating disease. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, our genes may not be our determined destiny. The question that we need to ask is: how can we alter the course of a disease that might be lurking in the future of our overall health?
Diet and mental health
Although it’s not as often discussed, our mental health has the same degree of importance as our physical health. And, just as a good diet is key to good physical health, it’s also the key to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and shield our mental health in the long run. In fact, it has been found that diet is interrelated with many conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and many others. Astonishingly, studies indicate that diet can influence the body’s nervous system. A higher chance of cognitive decline is seen in patients that indulge in a diet rich in saturated fats, dairy, meat products, fat, and sugar.
Another interesting report is that neurodegenerative disease risks are lowered with a vegan diet that is high in antioxidants, fiber, and low in saturated fats. It’s also been shown that cognitive health is improved with a vegan diet. Individuals in mid-life with plant-based diets low in saturated fats demonstrated a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life. The middle-aged group of low-risk patients was then compared to individuals with unhealthy diets high in meat and dairy food. The eye-opening results were that the latter group had a much higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease than the patients with a healthy diet. The healthy diet patients had an 86-90 % decreased risk of dementia and a 90-92% decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared with the patients with an unhealthy diet. A follow-up long-term study over 20-30 years found that individuals with higher cholesterol levels in mid-life had a 50% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Even though Alzheimer’s disease is affected by genetics and age-related factors, it does not lessen the fact that the risk of Alzheimer’s is heightened by increased blood lipids, blood pressure, and diabetes.
Prevent Alzheimer’s with your diet
In 2013, the International Conference on Nutrition and the Brain agreed on evidence-based guidelines for prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
1. Decrease saturated fats, trans fat, hydrogenated fats. They agreed that decreasing the intake of saturated fats (dairy products meats and certain oils) and trans fats or hydrogenated fats (processed foods) reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The replacements they recommended are vegetables, pulses, fruits, and whole grains.
2. Eat foods high in Vitamin E. Vitamin E should come from food sources rather than supplements. Consume foods high in vitamin E, such as seeds, nuts, green leafy vegetables, and whole grains. Vitamin B12 or fortified foods should be a part of the diet. Patients must be cautious when using multiple vitamins by choosing supplements without iron and copper. I
3. Avoid products with aluminum. You should avoid antacids, baking powder, and products containing aluminum.
4. Do aerobic exercise. You must add aerobic exercise to your schedule, which will cause blood flow to the brain to increase neural connections. One practical example of this is 40 minutes of brisk walking three times per week.
These are all practical and doable guidelines we can all follow, right?
I should add that there is one more power food that can boost the protection of the nervous system: berries. Blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are effective because of their high flavonoid content. Flavonoids are considered neuroprotective and only found in plants. In one study with approximately 130,00 subjects over the course of 20 years, scientists found that individuals that consumed the most berries had a significantly lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Increased intake of flavonoids slowed down cognitive decline.
The conclusion that these healthcare providers came to was that the vegan diet can protect the nervous system and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
Compelling, isn’t it? After realizing how berries can positively impact my cognitive health, I quickly compiled a list of dishes with blueberries to implement in my meals. Here are two that are easy and creative.
Berry Rainbow Smoothie Bowl
Smoothie Base
• 1 package (6 ounces) frozen raspberries, divided
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 2 medium bananas
• 1 shredded coconut
• 1 cocoa nibs (I substitute this with carob chips)
• 2 tablespoons dried apricots, chopped
• 35 pistachios, shelled
• 10 fresh or frozen blueberries
Blend the smoothie base ingredients, pour the smoothie into a bowl, then top with the toppings.
[second recpie –> see link below]
Advantages of Soy
Tofu, soymilk, miso, tempeh, edamame—these and other soy products, including the soybeans themselves, are high in nutrients you tend to associate with other legumes, including fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, protein, and zinc.
Soybeans naturally contain a class of phytoestrogens called isoflavones. People hear the word “estrogen” in the word “phytoestrogens” and assume that means soy has estrogen-like effects. Not necessarily. Estrogen has positive effects in some tissues and potentially negative effects in others. For example, high levels of estrogen can be good for the bones but can increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer. Ideally, you’d like what’s called a “selective estrogen receptor modulator” in your body that would have proestrogenic effects in some tissues and antiestrogenic effects in others. Well, that’s what soy phytoestrogens appear to be. Soy seems to lower breast cancer risk, an antiestrogenic effect, but can also help reduce menopausal hot-flash symptoms, a proestrogenic effect. So, by eating soy, you may be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.
What about soy for women with breast cancer? Overall, researchers have found that women diagnosed with breast cancer who ate the most soy lived significantly longer and had a significantly lower risk of breast cancer recurrence than those who ate less. The quantity of phytoestrogens found in just a single cup of soymilk may reduce the risk of breast cancer returning by 25 percent. The improvement in survival for those eating more soy foods was found both in women whose tumors were responsive to estrogen (estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer) and those whose tumors were not (estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer). This also held true for both young women and older women. In one study, for example, 90 percent of the breast cancer patients who ate the most soy phytoestrogens after diagnosis were still alive five years later, while half of those who ate little to no soy were dead.
Soy consumption has also been shown to benefit our kidneys, which appear to handle plant protein very differently from animal protein. Within hours of eating meat, our kidneys rev up into hyperfiltration mode. But, an equivalent amount of plant protein causes virtually no noticeable stress on the kidneys. Eat some tuna, and within three hours, your kidney filtration rate can shoot up 36 percent. But eating the same amount of protein in the form of tofu doesn’t appear to place any additional strain on the kidneys.
Global Wellness Day
In their 7 step manifesto they promote
1. walking an hour a day
2. drinking more water
3. don’t use plastic bottles
4. eat healthy food
5. do a good deed
6. have a family dinner with your loved ones
7. sleep at 10:00pm
Sound familiar to anything you know?
Check out there website for more info at
Debunking the anti-soy myth
Soy is simply a bean.
They can protect against breast cancer.
Summery from article by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.
The Whole package-Synergistic effects
Synergistic effects
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When a tooth develops, it migrates to its appropriate position in the dental arch. If there is insufficient space that doesn’t allow for the tooth’s eruption through the gum, the tooth will become partially or totally blocked (impacted).
How Serious Is An Impacted Tooth?
Infections, crowding, and decay to adjacent teeth are some of the problems that can develop with impacted teeth. More serious complications can develop when the sac that surrounds the impacted tooth fills with fluid and enlarges to form a cyst. This can cause an enlargement that hollows out the jaw and results in permanent damage to adjacent teeth, jawbone and possibly nerves. Left untreated, a tumor may develop from the walls of these cysts and more extensive surgical procedures may be required.
Impacted wisdom teeth often grow to an awkward angle. This makes their removal sometimes difficult. As a person grows older, the tooth roots become longer and the jawbone denser making removal even more difficult. Impacted wisdom teeth are more likely to pose more serious problems in mature adults. As people age, there is an increasing chance of the symptoms mentioned above to occur. For these reasons, your dentist may have recommended the removal of wisdom teeth even if they’re not yet causing obvious problems. Removing wisdom teeth in the teenage years can mean fewer problems for both the patient and the surgeon rather than waiting until they begin to hurt and cause problems. If you have any questions about your wisdom teeth, we will be glad to answer them. |
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