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Maya Angelou: Poems Style and genre in autobiographies Angelou's use of fiction-writing techniques such as dialogue, characterization, and development of theme, setting, plot, and language has often resulted in the placement of her books into the genre of autobiographical fiction.[154] Angelou made a deliberate attempt in her books to challenge the common structure of the autobiography by critiquing, changing, and expanding the genre.[155] Scholar Mary Jane Lupton argues that all of Angelou's autobiographies conform to the genre's standard structure: they are written by a single author, they are chronological, and they contain elements of character, technique, and theme.[156] Angelou recognizes that there are fictional aspects to her books; Lupton agrees, stating that Angelou tended to "diverge from the conventional notion of autobiography as truth",[157] which parallels the conventions of much of African-American autobiography written during the abolitionist period of U.S. history, when as both Lupton and African-American scholar Crispin Sartwell put it, the truth was censored out of the need for self-protection.[157][158] Scholar Lyman B. Hagen places Angelou in the long tradition of African-American autobiography, but claims that Angelou created a unique interpretation of the autobiographical form.[159] According to scholar Sondra O'Neale, Angelou's poetry can be placed within the African-American oral tradition, and her prose "follows classic technique in nonpoetic Western forms".[163] O'Neale states that Angelou avoided using a "monolithic black language",[164] and accomplished, through direct dialogue, what O'Neale calls a "more expected ghetto expressiveness".[164] McWhorter finds both the language Angelou used in her autobiographies and the people she depicted unrealistic, resulting in a separation between her and her audience. As McWhorter states, "I have never read autobiographical writing where I had such a hard time summoning a sense of how the subject talks, or a sense of who the subject really is".[165] McWhorter asserts, for example, that key figures in Angelou's books, like herself, her son Guy, and mother Vivian do not speak as one would expect, and that their speech is "cleaned up" for her readers.[166] Guy, for example, represents the young black male, while Vivian represents the idealized mother figure, and the stiff language they use, as well as the language in Angelou's text, is intended to prove that blacks can competently use standard English.[167] McWhorter recognizes that much of the reason for Angelou's style was the "apologetic" nature of her writing.[130] When Angelou wrote Caged Bird at the end of the 1960s, one of the necessary and accepted features of literature at the time was "organic unity", and one of her goals was to create a book that satisfied that criterion.[160] The events in her books were episodic and crafted like a series of short stories, but their arrangements did not follow a strict chronology. Instead, they were placed to emphasize the themes of her books, which include racism, identity, family, and travel. English literature scholar Valerie Sayers has asserted that "Angelou's poetry and prose are similar". They both rely on her "direct voice", which alternates steady rhythms with syncopated patterns and uses similes and metaphors (e.g., the caged bird).[168] According to Hagen, Angelou's works were influenced by both conventional literary and the oral traditions of the African-American community. For example, she referenced over 100 literary characters throughout her books and poetry.[169] In addition, she used the elements of blues music, including the act of testimony when speaking of one's life and struggles, ironic understatement, and the use of natural metaphors, rhythms, and intonations.[170] Angelou, instead of depending upon plot, used personal and historical events to shape her books.[171]
Sept. 8, 2005 --- Class 5---Error Analysis for the Euler Method, Shell Scripts, Introduction to Chapter 3 Activities: A simple integral first (CSM, Secs. 2.2-2.5) In ~sg/chap2 you will find a file euler.c that you can use to do a numerical integral. It might be set up with the function 2x or 3x^2. We compilied the euler program using the command: cc -o euler euler.c This creates an output executable called euler. If you just type cc euler.c, your executable will be called a.out. We ran the program for different steps sizes and found that the final answer (and all intermediate values) vary with step size. However, the value value converges as the step size decreases. We would like to automate this procedure so that we can easily plot the final result as we vary the step size. The shell script ~sg/chap2/ans_vs_step.csh which solves this problem. Here is ans_vs_step.csh with extra comments: #!/bin/csh # anything after the hash mark or sharp is a comment # the first comment is special in that it tells the shell # to use /bin/csh to interpret or run the commands in this file # such a comment starts with #! # the word foreach starts a loop. The loop ends with the "end" line foreach step ( 0.5 0.2 .1 .05 .02 .01 .005 ) echo -n $step " " # -n tells echo not to end with a new line euler $step \|tail -1\|awk '{print $2}' end The script above with use the tail command to look at the last line of output. There is also a head command to look at the beginning of a file or standard input. head -9 will look at the first 9 lines. head +3 will look at all of the file starting with line 3. Consult the man pages for head and tail to learn more. Plot the result as a function of step size. Error estimates Most of the rest of this class was devoted to understanding the error in the Euler algorithm for integrating a differential equation. We did a careful estimate of the error for the simple case dy/dx = f(x). This is simple because the right hand side depends on x, not y(x). So this is just doing an integral. If we use a step size dx, the error in a bin with left hand edge at x is: (1/2!) (dx)^2 f'(x) + (1/3!) (dx)^3 f''(x) + higher order terms In our first example of the Euler program, f(x)=2x. Thus, f'(x)=2 and f''(x)=0, so the second term above is 0. Why is the error order dx, not (dx)^2? That is because the above expression is for each bin. In our example, we integrate x from 1 to 2, so the number of bins n=(1/dx). Thus, the total error is dx for this case. In our second example, f(x)=3x^2. f'(x)=6x and f''(x)=6, so the second error term does not vanish. If you very carefully evalute the two error terms you will find that the first term is 3 (dx)^2 * n (1 + (n-1)dx/2 ) where n=1/dx. Using the fact that ndx=1, this first term can be written as 3 dx (3/2 -dx/2) or 9/2 dx - 3/2 (dx)^2. Actually, only this term requires care. The f'' term is easily seen to be (dx)^2. Adding the two terms, our final result is 9/2 dx - 1/2 (dx)^2. We wrote an awk script to show that the error for the function f(x)=3x^2 agrees perfectly with the expression above. We would like to combine the two steps of running ans_vs_step.csh and running awk on the output into a single script. Note that a simple solution is to pipe the output of ans_vs_step.csh to the desired awk command. However, if one wants a single shell script there is the challenge of dealing with the fact that ans_vs_step.csh used two separate commands, echo -n and euler to print a single line. Here are two ways to solve the problem. Append output to a temporary file and then awk the file. This is found in ~sg/chap2/err_vs_step.csh #!/bin/csh set noclobber rm -f temp.ans foreach step ( 0.5 0.2 .1 .05 .02 .01 .005 ) echo -n $step " " >>! temp.ans euler $step \|tail -1\|awk '{print $2}' >>temp.ans end awk '{print $1,(8-$2),4.5$1,4.5$1-0.5$1$1}' temp.ans Notes: >> appends the standard output to the filename that follows. >>! does it even when the file does not already exist. This is necessary if you set the noclobber variable. In this example we first remove the temporary file temp.ans with the rm -f command. The -f option forces the file to be removed without displaying permissions, asking questions or reporting errors. So, if the file does not already exist, you will not have an error message. After the end of the foreach loop, we run the single awk command to create the display we want. You must run this command in a directory where you can create the file temp.ans. An alternative solution uses the csh () to join two commands. It can be found in ~sg/chap2/err2_vs_step.csh #!/bin/csh set noclobber foreach step ( 0.5 0.2 .1 .05 .02 .01 .005 ) (echo -n $step " "; euler $step \|tail -1\|awk '{print $2}') \| \ awk '{print $1,(8-$2),4.5$1,4.5$1-0.5$1*$1}' end Notes: In this case, we use two unix commands that both print to the standard output and we put the two commands within parentheses. The two commands are separated by a semicolon. We then pipe that single output stream to the awk command. It is on a separate line, but the line that starts with "(echo" ends with a backslash. That tells the shell that the next line is a continuation. Important: don't put any spaces after that backslash! Introduction to Chapter 3 Solving Newton's Law of Motion We started Chapter 3 and discussed how to turn a 2nd order differential equation into a series of coupled first order differential equations. We also discussed why position, velocity and acceleration are so important, and the next derivative, called the jerk, is not well known.
Only available on StudyMode • Download(s) : 56 • Published : September 13, 2012 Open Document Text Preview Barron Askerneese June 18, 2012 “Unhappy Meals” In the essay “Unhappy Meal” by Michael Pollan, he suggested that the food we eat today is not food at all. He then poses an extremely broad question, what is “food”? I would have to admit that until recently my idea of food was whatever taste good and could be bought for a considerably low price. However, now that my wife was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, I was obligated to learn about what is really considered food. Pollan goes on by claiming that “Once food was all you could eat”. He emphasizes throughout his essay, that what is being sold in our local supermarkets is merely a chain of processed food products. I would endorse that, because in my newfound quest to find healthier gluten free foods, it is the number one rule of thumb is to steer clear of processed foods. He continues by stating that fresh foods such as: celery, carrots, potatoes, etc. are healthier for human consumption than those of processed goods. Pollan believes that nutrient enhanced foods are different from what our “great, great, grandmother would recognize as food”. I can corroborate that statement because when I was a child I remember going to my Great Aunts’ house and watching her prepare all my favorites. In retrospect, I can’t recall ever seeing a box of anything. She believed in the “from scratch” method of cooking that was handed down to her from generation to generation. For that matter, I don’t remember a measuring cup or any type of complicated way to determine how much of each ingredient to put in. All I remember is her saying a “Heap of this” and a “Pinch of that”. Pollan points out that many foods we eat today are not “food” but is the product of Nutritionism or “the key to understanding food is indeed the nutrient”. He continues to examine the idea through scientific reductionism, which identifies what nutrients Americans should eat in order to maintain a healthy diet. His views further... tracking img
Explore BrainMass Determine free cash flow, IRR, NPV of a project Determine the cash flows associated with this project. The operating costs and net working capital requirements are similar to the rest of the company and that depreciation is straightline for capital budgeting purposes. Dell Computer is considering adding a new product line and needs to determine the net cash flows and NPV of the proposed product line. Development of the new product will require an initial investment equal to 10% of net Property, Plant, and Equipment (PPE) for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2006. The project will then require an additional investment equal to 10% of initial investment after the first year of the project, a 5% increase after the second year, and a 1% after the third, fourth, and fifth years. The project is expected to have a life of five years. First-year revenues for the new product are expected to be 3% of total revenues for Dell's fiscal year ended February 3, 2006. The new product's revenues are expected to grow at 15% for the second year, 10% for the third, and 5% annually for the final two years of the expected life of the project. 1. Obtain Dell's financial statements. Download the annual income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements for the last four fiscal years from MarketWatch ( Enter Dell's ticker symbol and then go to "financials." Export the statements to Excel by right-clicking while the cursor is inside each statement. 2. You are now ready to determine the Free Cash Flow. Compute the Free Cash Flow for each year using Eq. 7.5 from this chapter: Free Cash Flow = (Revenues - Cost- Depreciation) x (1-tc) + Depreciation - CapEx- ^NWC Set up the timeline and computation of free cash flow in separate, contiguous columns for each year of the project life. Be sure to make outflows negative and inflow positive. a. Assume that the project's profitability will be similar to Dell's Existing projects in 2005 and estimate (revenue-costs) each year by using the 2005 EBITDA/Sales profit margin. b. Determine the annual depreciation by assuming Dell depreciates these assets by the straight-line method over a 10-year life. c. Determine Dell's tax rate by using the income tax rate in 2005. d. Calculate the net working capital required each year by assuming that the level of NWC will be a constant percentage of the project's sales. Use Dell's 2005 NWC/Sales to estimate the required percentage. (Use only accounts receivable, accounts payable, and inventory to measure working capital. Other components of current assets and liabilities are harder to interpret and not necessarily reflective of the project's required NWC- e.g., Dell's cash holding.) e. To determine the free cash flow, calculate the additional capital investment and the change in net working capital each year. 3. Determine the IRR of the project and the NPV of the project at cost of capital of 12% using the Excel functions. For the calculation of NPV, include cash flows 1 through 5 in the NPV function and then subtract the initial cost (i.e., =NPV (rate, CF1:CF5) + CF0). For IRR, include cash flows zero through five in the cash flow range. Solution Summary The solution explains how to determine free cash flow, IRR and NPV of a project
noun, Linguistics. the relation between a pair of antonyms that denote relatively higher and lower degrees of a quality with respect to an explicit or implicit norm rather than absolute values, as the relation between tall and short or light and dark, but not between true and false. Read Also: • Polar-orbit noun 1. a spacecraft orbit that passes over, or close to, the geographic poles of the earth or some other celestial body. noun 1. the orbit of a satellite that passes over the poles of a planet • Polar-outbreak noun, Meteorology. 1. a vigorous thrust of cold, polar air across temperate regions. • Polar-regions plural noun 1. the regions within the Arctic and Antarctic circles. • Polar sequence noun 1. (astronomy) a series of stars in the vicinity of the N celestial pole whose accurately determined magnitudes serve as the standard for visual and photographic magnitudes of stars
Monday, October 29, 2012 First feathered dinosaurs from NA This is an artistic reconstruction of feathered ornithomimid dinosaurs found in Alberta. Credit: Julius Csotonyi. The ostrich-like dinosaurs in the original Jurassic Park movie were portrayed as a herd of scaly, fleet-footed animals being chased by a ferocious Tyrannosaurus rex. New research published in the journal Science reveals this depiction of these bird-mimic dinosaurs is not entirely accurate -- the ornithomimids, as they are scientifically known, should have had feathers and wings. The specimens reveal an interesting pattern of change in feathery plumage during the life of Ornithomimus. "This dinosaur was covered in down-like feathers throughout life, but only older individuals developed larger feathers on the arms, forming wing-like structures," says Zelenitsky. "This pattern differs from that seen in birds, where the wings generally develop very young, soon after hatching." D. K. Zelenitsky, F. Therrien, G. M. Erickson, C. L. DeBuhr, Y. Kobayashi, D. A. Eberth, F. Hadfield. Feathered Non-Avian Dinosaurs from North America Provide Insight into Wing Origins. 2012. Science, 338 (6106): 510 DOI: 10.1126/science.1225376 New squamate phylogeny Epictia tenella. JCM A new study, published online in Biology Letters on Sept. 19, has utilized a massive molecular dataset (161 squamate species for up to 44 nuclear genes each and 33 717 base pairs), the largest genetic datasets assembled for reconstruct the evolutionary history of lizards and snakes. The results reveal a surprising finding about the evolution of snakes: that most snakes we see living on the surface today arose from ancestors that lived underground. The article, entitled "Resolving the phylogeny of lizards and snakes (Squamata) with extensive sampling of genes and species," describes research led by John J. Wiens, an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University. In contrast to most other recent studies, the authors found that dibamids and gekkotans are together the sister group to all other squamates. The results also show that almost all groups of snakes arose from within a bizarre group of burrowing blind snakes called scolecophidians. This finding implies that snakes ancestrally lived underground, and that the thousands of snake species living today on the surface evolved from these subterranean ancestors. Remarkably, they found the distinctive scolecophidians (blind snakes) are paraphyletic with respect to other snakes, suggesting that snakes were primitively burrowers and subsequently re-invaded surface habitats. The authors suggest that there are still traces of this subterranean ancestry in the anatomy of surface-dwelling snakes. "For example, no matter where they live, snakes have an elongate body and a relatively short tail, and outside of snakes, this body shape is only found in lizards that live underground," said Professor Wiens. "Snakes have kept this same basic body shape as they have evolved to invade nearly every habitat on the planet -- from rainforest canopies to deserts and even the oceans." J. J. Wiens, C. R. Hutter, D. G. Mulcahy, B. P. Noonan, T. M. Townsend, J. W. Sites, T. W. Reeder. Resolving the phylogeny of lizards and snakes (Squamata) with extensive sampling of genes and species. 2012. Biology Letters, 2012; DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.0703 Road-killed Herps in Protected Areas Photo credit::Núria Garriga Amphibians are the vertebrate group that is more likely to become roadkill in Catalonia, even more so than reptiles, mammals and birds. This is the case according to an international team of scientists who have concluded that highly protected areas are home to more cases of animal death on the roads. Our network of roads is considered one of the main threats to fauna survival. Researchers at the universities of Barcelona (UB), Porto (Portugal) and Uppsala (Sweden) have studied the number of vertebrate deaths on 820 kilometres of road in North Eastern area of Spain and Portugal. "The project consisted of analysing the impact of the road network on fauna, leading to numerous studies across the whole of Catalonia to record all specimens of roadkill found," as explained by Núria Garriga, researcher at the UB and lead author of the study headed by Gustavo A. Llorente, a scientist at the same university. Field work was published in the 'Biodiversity and Conservation' journal and was carried out over four years on 41 secondary roads in Catalonia. Some 20 km of each road were inspected during summer and autumn. As Garriga points out, "there are few studies on an international level that have carried out such an extensive research and sampling." Nature reserves like Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, Parc del Garraf, Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa, Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munti l'Obac and Parc Natural del Montseny. "We got in a slow moving car to collect data. When we spotted a dead animal we would stop, make a record and note down the species. We also took down other significant information like surrounding vegetation and the closest water points," outlines the researcher. One of the main conclusions of the study was that amphibians are more likely to become roadkill and that roads within nature reserves and natural parks are home to the highest number of animal road deaths. "This could be explained by the fact that protected areas frequently receive a high number of visitors, which in turn increases the flow of traffic in places that are teaming with wild life," ensures the researcher. According to the experts, to decrease amphibian death we would have to build special passages for them in high-risk areas. These come in the form of tunnels under the road designed to allow the passage of animals. The team is currently working to identify hotspots. They therefore inspected seven roads throughout an entire year to define the most dangerous areas and protect them. Núria Garriga, Xavier Santos, Albert Montori, Alex Richter-Boix, Marc Franch, Gustavo A. Llorente. Are protected areas truly protected? The impact of road traffic on vertebrate fauna. Biodiversity and Conservation, 2012; 21 (11): 2761 DOI: 10.1007/s10531-012-0332-0 Thursday, October 25, 2012 Frog eggs & climate change Pantless tree frog embryos within the eggs on a leaf surface. the egg mass. Photo credit Justin Touchon. A new egg-eating sea snake in the genus Apiysurus A new species of egg-eating sea snake, Aipysurus mosaicus from northern Australia and southern New Guinea has been described by Sanders et al (2012). A. mosaicus was previously considered an allopatric population of A. eydouxii, which occurs throughout the Sunda Shelf and in New Guinea. Molecular analyses reveal these two species to be sister lineages with a deep phylogenetic divergence exceeding that of all other sampled species pairs in Aipysurus. Aipysurus mosaicus is also distinguished from A.eydouxii by morphological characters: number of ventral scales, color pattern (e.g. number and shape of transverse body bands), internal soft anatomy (e.g. position of heart in relation to ventral scales), and skeletal morphology (e.g. shape of nasal and caudal neural spines). Additional sampling is needed to clarify the extent of geographic contact between A. eydouxii and the new species in New Guinea where they appear to be sympatric. The new sea snake was found by chance by two research colleagues, Johan Elmberg of Sweden and Arne Rasmussen of Denmark, when they were examining formalin-filled jars of snakes at the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen. They found two sea snakes with the same name on the label, which had been there since being sent to Denmark by collectors in the 1800s. "But they looked different and didn't seem to belong to the same group of snakes," Johan Elmberg said in the statement from Kristianstad University in southern Sweden. "After comparing the sea snakes with other similar species in other museums in Europe it was even more obvious that we had found a new distinct sea snake," he said. The Mosaic sea snake is named after its unusually patterned skin, which looks like a Roman floor mosaic. It "never goes ashore and now that its identity is known it is apparent that it is relatively common in the sea in northern Australia and southern New Guinea," Elmberg said. He said the presence of sea snakes was a good sign. "Sea snakes are a good indicator of how the coral reefs and other precious ecosystems are doing. If there are snakes left in the environment it shows that the reefs are healthy and intact," he explained. Unlike some other sea snakes which have strong venom, the Mosaic sea snake is "virtually harmless," Elmberg said, adding that the species is unusual in that it feeds on fish eggs, and therefore has only very small fangs. Kate L. Sanders et al. 2012. Aipysurus mosaicus, a new species of egg-eating sea snake (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae), with a redescription of Aipysurus eydouxii (Gray, 1849). Zootaxa 3431: 1–18. Wednesday, October 24, 2012 Iguana iguana genetically divided Recent molecular and morphological investigations of widespread species have demonstrated that many of them show deep genetic divergences and morphology that is geographically concordant.In many instances this results in the recognition of cryptic species. In an early on-line view of an article to be published in the Journal of Biogeography, Catherine Stephen and colleague investigated the genetic structure of the Neotropical common green iguanas (Iguana iguana) and compare that structure with past geological events and present barriers to gene flow. Additionally, they compare levels of divergence between lineages within Iguana with closely related genera in the subfamily Iguaninae. The authors collected DNA sequences at four loci for up to 81 individuals from 35 localities in 21 countries. The four loci, one mitochondrial (ND4) and three nuclear (PAC, NT3, c-mos), were chosen for their differences in coalescent and mutation rates. Each locus was analyzed separately to generate gene trees, and in combination in a species-level analysis. Stephen, C. L., Reynoso, V. H., Collett, W. S., Hasbun, C. R., Breinholt, J. W. (2012) Geographical structure and cryptic lineages within common green iguanas, Iguana iguana. Journal of Biogeography. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2012.02780.x Tuesday, October 23, 2012 Bushmeat & Local Human Diets Malaysian Snail-eating Turtles on the grill in Thailand. JCM Monday, October 22, 2012 Western diamondback rattlesnake females not anorexic during pregnancy A southern Arizona Crotalus atrox at its den. JCM Anorexia (cessation of feeding) is frequently associated with gestation in snakes. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this, most often it is obstruction of the digestive tract due to the presence of fetuses or eggs, i.e. the increase in eggs and embryos take up so much room that the female cannot get food through her gut. Using radiotelemetry, Schuett et al. (2012) investigated the feeding and spatial ecology of a live-bearing viperid snake, the western diamond-backed rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox). From 2001 to 2010, we determined the feeding frequency and home range size of 27 adult females during their active season (March–October) in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. The authors addressed a central hypothesis: do hunting and feeding occur throughout pregnancy? They also tested a corollary hypothesis: does pregnancy influence home range size? Other viperid snakes (including some rattlesnakes) have been show to greatly reduce their home range during pregnancy. Hunting and feeding were documented from March to October and during pregnancy (June to mid-September). They found feeding frequency was significantly greater in late pregnancy, a result that is in sharp contrast to most other large-bodied vipers. Furthermore, home range sizes in gestating subjects did not differ from those in non-reproductive years. Births occurred from mid-August to mid-September and mean litter size was 3.4. Frequent feeding in C. atrox during gestation unquestionably provides energy and nutrients to the mother, which is likely important for survival, but such food consumption does not imply that nutrients are used by the fetuses. There is, however, recent evidence in other snakes, including a pitviper, that amino acids are transferred to fetuses. Feeding during pregnancy in C. atrox may be important for both income and capital mode reproduction. Hunting and feeding throughout gestation might be accomplished by having relatively small litters not burdened by a body cavity filled with fetuses. Thus, reduction in litter size may thus be a life-history (fecundity) trade-off that permits females to survive and maintain pregnancy in regions where drought and high temperatures are often extreme and chronic. This paper is available in an early on-line view before publication. Schuett, G. W., Repp, R. A., Amarello, M., Smith, C. F. (2012), Unlike most vipers, female rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) continue to hunt and feed throughout pregnancy. Journal of Zoology. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x Sunday, October 21, 2012 A ranid frog with a retractable spike in its fifth digit The Otton Frog, Babina subaspera. Photo credit N. Iwai The study, conducted by Dr Noriko Iwai from the University of Tokyo, focused on the Otton frog (Babina subaspera), whose habitat is the Amami islands of Southern Japan. Unlike most other frogs the Otton has an extra digit-like structure, a trait it shares with the five-fingered Hypsiboas rosenbergi frogs of Latin America. "Why these 'fifth fingers' exist in some species remains an evolutionary mystery, but the extra digit of the Otton is in fact a pseudo-thumb," said Dr Iwai. "The digit encases a sharp spine which can project out of the skin, which fieldwork demonstrates is used for combat and mating." Dr Iwai has studied the rare frogs since 2004 in order to understand the species' distribution, breeding habits and range; all factors which will contribute to any conservation strategy. Once she began exploring how the Ottons use their pseudo-thumbs Dr Iwai discovered that while both males and females had the spike, it was only used by males. Males were found to have larger pseudo-thumbs than the females and Dr Iwai believes that the spikes evolved for anchoring to the female, known as amplexus, the Latin for embrace, during mating. "While the pseudo-thumb may have evolved for mating, it is clear that they're now used for combat," said Dr Iwai. "The males demonstrated a jabbing response with the thumb when they were picked up, and the many scars on the male spines provided evidence of fighting." The conditions on the Amami islands make combat, and the need for weaponry, a key factor for the frogs' mating success. Individuals fight over places to build nests, while the chances of a male finding a mate each night are rare, thus the ability to fight off competitors may be crucial. Perhaps unfortunately, the comic book hero image is slightly dented by the frogs' fighting style. Rather than dueling with thumb spikes the males wrestle each other in an embrace, jabbing at each other with the spines. This fighting style helps confirm the theory that the spines were original used for embracing mates. "More research is needed to look at how the pseudo-thumb evolved and how it came to be used for fighting," concluded Dr Iwai. "The thumbs use as a weapon, and the danger of the frogs harming themselves with it, makes the Otton pseudo-thumb an intriguing contribution to the study of hand morphology." Iwai. N.2012 Morphology, function and evolution of the pseudothumb in the Otton frog. Journal of Zoology, 2012; DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00971.x Saturday, October 20, 2012 Color variation in island strawberry frogs The strawberry poison frog Oophaga pumilio ranges from Nicaragua through western Panama and throughout most of its mainland range it has a reddish-orange body with blue-black legs, and small black spots on its dorsum. In the Bocas del Toro Archipelago of Panama the frog displays a high level of variation is its warning coloration. More than 15 color morphs are present in the archipelago and include yellow, red, blue, lime green, and bronze morphs as well as others, and the different morphs may occur on the same island. Morphs with spots are also present in the Archipelago, with the size and number of spots varying on the specific morph. The degree of conspicuousness also varies among color morphs in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. Hegna et al. (2012) used unspotted models of O. pumilio to determine if predation might help explain the color polytypism on Isla Colon in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago of Panama. The authors tested whether attack rates differed among the red mainland morph, green-yellow Isla Colon morph, and a brown colored control. They found that frog color significantly predicted being attacked. The local green Isla Colon models were attacked more than foreign red or brown models. No difference in attack rate were found between red and brown control models. Their results suggest that the red mainland morph possesses a more effective warning signal, even when it is not the local morph. Honest signaling of unpalatability, neophobia, and the use of search images by local predators are potential explanations. Similarity of the brown model to other local poison frogs might explain the lower attack rate compared to previous work. The attack rate was lower on Isla Colon compared to mainland Costa Rica, which supports the hypothesis that less predation in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago may contribute to the overall variation in warning colors in O. pumilio and there by relaxing selection for aposematic traits. Hegna, R., Saporito, R., and Donnelly, M, 2012. Not all colors are equal: predation and color polytypism in the aposematic poison frog Oophaga pumilio.Evolutionary Ecology 1-15.Doi: 10.1007/s10682-012-9605-z Friday, October 19, 2012 Lizards In Traditional Medicines in India Gekko gecko in a Malaysian market. JCM There are about 5729 lizard species in the world, and in many cultures saurians are believed to have medicinal properties and their skins are frequently used in the novelty leather industry. Subtamanean and Reddy (2012) discuss the use of the common monitor lizard and the Tokay gecko as examples of species frequently exploited by humans on the Indian subcontinent. In India, products derived from Varanus bengalensis are used to treat a variety of ailments, including hemorrhoids, rheumatism, body pain and burns, as well as spider and snake bites. It is also used as a cure for arthritis. The fat and meat of this lizard work like the hormone testosterone and hence these are considered a delicacy and an aphrodisiac in South India. The meat is also believed to be effective in curing the tension that sets into the muscles controlling breathing due to lack of oxygen. The powdered meat is capable of building up resistance and is believed to mitigate rise in blood sugar. It is used in energy tonics for blood and lungs to relieve asthma and cough. The skin of Varanus bengalensis is highly priced and is used widely in the manufacture of leather goods. During a survey in the winter of 2010 in northern Tamil Nadu, Bengal monitors were recorded in several places across a variety of habitats, suggesting a stable population. However, they are caught and killed mercilessly, and there is an illegal flesh trade of these reptiles in northern Tamil Nadu, which has led to them becoming endangered. Thus catching monitor lizards is banned under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972). Surprisingly, V. bengalensis has been assessed as a species eliciting least concern by the IUCN Red List Category. Though it is listed as safe now, further research and monitoring of this species is needed to ensure that a threat category is not triggered in the future. The establishment and management of new protected areas where this species can be protected from hunting is needed to provide refuge sites from persecution. The Tokay gecko, Gekko gecko is much sought after in the pet trade. But recently there has been an increase in demand for its flesh, especially of the tongue, due to the belief that it is a cure for AIDS. Its carcass is dried and ground into powder for consumption. After reports that the consumption of the Tokay geckos’ tongue and internal organs cure HIV, the demand for these geckos increased. It has also been used extensively for cures for impotence and illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, skin disease and cancer The demand has continued despite the World Health Organization's position that there is no cure for AIDS at present. Subramanean, J & Reddy, MV. 2012. Monitor lizards and geckos used in traditional medicine face extinction and need protection Current Science (Bangalore) 102, (9)1248-1249. Lethally Hot Temperatures During the Early Triassic Greenhouse A paleogeographic reconstruction of the Early Triassic world (Smithian substage) around 252-247 million years ago, showing a ‘dead zone’ in the tropics. Marine reptiles (ichthyosaurs), terrestrial tetrapods and fish almost exclusively occurred in higher latitudes (>30 °N and >40 °S) with rare exceptions. (Art Credit: Yadong Sun, University of Leeds) Yadong Sun, Michael M. Joachimski, Paul B. Wignall, Chunbo Yan, Yanlong Chen, Haishui Jiang, Lina Wang, and Xulong Lai. Lethally Hot Temperatures During the Early Triassic Greenhouse. Science, 2012; 338 (6105): 366-370 DOI: 10.1126/science.1224126 Thursday, October 18, 2012 Timber Rattlesnakes & Fire A black timber rattlesnake. JCM Timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) are relatively widespread in the eastern US, and associated with forests. Beaupre and Douglas (2012) suggest they make excellent model organisms for understanding the effects of large scale habitat manipulations due to their low energy lifestyle, rapid response to changes in resources in the environment, and their uniform diet of small mammals. They present two case studies that illustrate interactions between timber rattlesnakes and fire in a single large population in Madison County, Arkansas. The first case describes the decimation and subsequent 11 year recovery of a timber rattlesnake subpopulation associated with a fire during a particularly vulnerable time of year. In the second case four control plots, three cut (thinned) plots, three burned plots, and three plots that were both cut and burned were studied. The primary goals were to monitor responses of the food chain to the above four treatments and to assess timber rattlesnake responses as potential indicators for the relative success of manipulations. Although plant communities did not initially differ among treatment plots, manipulated sites experienced increases in early-successional annual vegetation after thinning and burning. Biannual live-trapping indicated an increase in abundance of principal prey species after manipulations, although this increase was not uniform among treatments. Timber rattlesnakes that utilized manipulated sites exhibited enhanced growth and body condition relative to snakes that foraged solely in control areas. Snake physiological responses were more rapid and well-defined than measurable small mammal population responses suggesting that these top predators may potentially serve a role as indicator species for restoration ecology. The two case studies illustrate both direct and indirect effects, as well as dramatically divergent outcomes resulting from minor changes in the timing of fire application. The entire article can be found on-line. LESSONS FROM TWO PRESCRIBED BURNS. Proceedings of the 4th Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference pages 192-204. Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Gender & Life Span in Komodo Dragons A female Komodo dragon guarding her nest in Indonesia. Credit: Tim Jessop Males live to around 60 years of age, reaching an average 160 metres in length and 65 kg at adulthood. However their female counterparts were estimated to live an average of 32 years and reach only 120 cm in length, and 22kg. Rebecca J. Laver, Deni Purwandana, Achmad Ariefiandy, Jeri Imansyah, David Forsyth, Claudio Ciofi, Tim S. Jessop. Life-History and Spatial Determinants of Somatic Growth Dynamics in Komodo Dragon Populations. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (9): e45398 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045398 Sunday, October 14, 2012 A New Thai Parachute Gecko Ptychozoon kaengkrachanense. Photo by M. Sumontha. Seven species of parachute geckos of the genus Ptychozoan are known, there is now an eighth species Ptychozoon kaengkrachanense a Thailand endemic which inhabits montane evergreen forest in Kaeng Krachan National Park, in western Thailand. The new species differs from all known Ptychozoon species by having three dark dorsal chevrons between limbs insertions, homogeneous dorsal scalation without enlarged scales, original tail without long terminal flap, supranasals widely in contact, a continuous series of 14–19 enlarged precloacofemoral scales, bearing 13–17 pores in males, the absence of a predigital notch in the preantebrachial cutaneous expansion and the presence of cutaneous expansions on sides of head. Ptychozoon kaengkrachanense is the fifth species of Ptychozoon recorded from Thailand, along with P. horsfieldii, P. kuhli, P. lionotum and P. trinotaterra. and it is the only Ptychozoon species endemic to Thailand. It is the 68th reptile species recorded from Kaeng Krachan National Park, which was already known to house the richest herpetofauna of all protected areas of Thailand and it thus reinforces the exceptional value of the park in terms of biodiversity and its conservation. Saturday, October 13, 2012 Two recent publications on invasive snakes in the USA Invasive species have become common place, and invasive snakes can cause considerable damage to the ecosystems they colonize. However, as ectotherms snakes are limited by temperatures and different species have evolved in different climates. Jacobson et al. (2012) experimentally examined the ability of the Burmese python to survive winters north of southern Florida. Using daily high and low temperatures from October to February that occurred between 2005 and 2011 at Homestead, Orlando and Gainesville, Florida; and Aiken, South Carolina. And, they used minimum temperatures projected for python digestion (16 °C), activity (5 °C) and survival (0 °C). The mean low and high temperatures decreased northward from Homestead to Aiken and the number of days of freezing temperatures increased northward. They found digestion was impaired or inhibited for 2 months in the Everglades and up to at least 5 months in Aiken. The snakes' activity was increasingly limited at more northern localities during these months. A single bout of low and freezing temperatures results in python death. The capacity for Burmese pythons to successfully overwinter in more temperate regions of the USA is seemingly improbable because they lack the behaviors to seek refuge from the cold, and the physiology to tolerate the cold temperatures. Burmese pythons evolved in tropical Southeast Asia this area is the source of the Everglades Burmese pythons. The authors predict that it is unlikely the Burmese python they will be able to successfully expand to or colonize more temperate areas of Florida and adjoining states because of the lack of behavioral and physiological traits to seek refuge from cold temperatures. The Brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) are perhaps the most studied invasive snake due to their colonization of Guam. A recent paper by Kahl et al. (2012) suggests that this mildly venomous, exotic snake species has the potential to become invasive in North America, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The brown tree snake is native to northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, and other islands of northern and western Melanesia. The snake was first found outside its native range in 1953 on Guam. The exact date they reached the island is uncertain, but they are believed to have arrived on military cargo transport vessels some time during or just after World War II. During the years that followed, the population of brown treesnakes increased considerably on Guam. The snakes have extirpated or endangered many native animal populations, attacked pets and poultry, bitten humans, and caused power outages resulting in millions of dollars in damage. This snake species has been found on ships and aircraft, which have transported it to other islands in the Indo-Pacific, as well as Hawaii and the continental United States (i.e., Texas, Oklahoma, and Alaska) in military cargo. Because the U.S. military is expanding its bases on Guam, resulting in increased shipments and military movements from Guam to the United States, there is an increasing risk for brown treesnakes to invade the United States, as well as other islands in the Pacific. The authors note that two-thirds of the literature concerning brown treesnakes is in gray area publication outlets that can be difficult to ascertain. A literature review is offered to provide a background of past research on brown treesnakes. This review of literature elaborates on the native range, morphology, behavior, biology, ecology, venom, diet, reproduction, habitat, mortality, and control of the brown treesnakes. Jacobson E. R., Barker, D. G., Barker, T. M., Mauldin, R., Avery, M. L., Engeman, R. and Secor, S. (2012), Environmental temperatures, physiology and behavior limit the range expansion of invasive Burmese pythons in southeastern USA. Integrative Zoology, 7: 271–285. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-4877.2012.00306.x Kahl, S.S., Henke, S. E. , Hall, M. A. & Britton, D.K. 2012. Brown treesnakes: a potential invasive species for the United States. Human-Wildlife Interactions 6:181-203. Thursday, October 11, 2012 An unusual method of nitrogenous waste excretion in the softshell turtle Pelodiscus sinensis Pelodiscus sinensis Photo credit Bastet78 Chinese soft-shelled turtles are exquisitely adapted to their aquatic lifestyle, sitting contentedly on the bottom of brackish muddy swamps or snorkelling at the surface to breath. According to Y. K. Ip from the National University of Singapore, they even immerse their heads in puddles when their swampy homes dry up: which intrigued Ip and his colleagues. Why do these air-breathing turtles submerge their heads when they mainly depend on their lungs to breathe and are unlikely to breathe in water? Given that some fish excrete waste nitrogen as urea – in addition to ammonia – and expel the urea through their gills, the team wondered whether the turtles were plunging their heads into water to excrete waste urea through their mouths, where they have strange gill-like projections. Ip and his colleagues publish their discovery that turtles effectively urinate through the mouth in The Journal of Experimental Biology. Purchasing turtles from the local China Town wet market and immersing them in water for 6 days, the team measured the amount of urea that passed into the turtles' urine and found that only 6% of the total urea that the animals produced was excreted through the kidneys. Removing the turtles from the water and providing them with a puddle to dip their heads into, the team noticed that the turtles submerged their heads occasionally and could remain underwater for periods lasting up to 100 minutes. They also calculated the excretion rate of urea through the mouth by measuring the amount of urea that accumulated in the water and found that it was as much as 50 times higher than the excretion rate through the cloaca. And when the team injected urea into the turtles and measured their blood- and saliva-urea levels, they realized that the saliva-urea levels were 250 times greater than in the blood. The turtles were dipping their heads into water to excrete urea through their mouths. Knowing this, the team reasoned that the animals must produce a specialized class of protein transporters in their mouths to expel the waste and, as these transporters can be deactivated by phloretin, the team decided to test the effect of phloretin on the turtle's ability to excrete urea. When the turtles were supplied with phloretin in their puddle of water, they were unable to excrete urea from their mouths when they submerged their head. And when the team analysed the turtles' cDNA, they found that the animals carried a gene that was very similar to urea transporters found in other animals. Finally, they checked to see if the turtles express this gene in their mouths and found evidence of the mRNA that is necessary to produce the essential urea transporter, allowing the reptiles to excrete urea waste through the mouth. So, why do Chinese soft-shelled turtles go to such great lengths to excrete urea through their mouths when most other creatures do it through their kidneys? Ip and his colleagues suspect that it has something to do with their salty environment. Explaining that animals that excrete urea have to drink a lot, they point out that this is a problem when the only water available is salty – especially for reptiles that cannot excrete the salts. The team says, 'Since the buccopharyngeal [mouth and throat] urea excretion route involves only rinsing the mouth with ambient water, the problems associated with drinking brackish water… can be avoided' Y. K. Ip, A. M. Loong, S. M. L. Lee, J. L. Y. Ong, W. P. Wong, S. F. Chew. The Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, excretes urea mainly through the mouth instead of the kidney. Journal of Experimental Biology, 2012; 215 (21): 3723 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.068916 Wednesday, October 10, 2012 Suizo Report -- 10-5 and 10-6-2012, Marty Speaks Howdy Herpers, 9 October 2012 Once again we let Marty Feldner, and his little ringtail, do the talking. I'll add some comments at the end, and bring out my own rant about this last weekend later in the week. Marty writes: With Quailmageddon 2012 upon us the decision was made to track snakes only during the nights of October 5 & 6 instead of during the day when hunters could see where we were hanging flags and, thereby, acquiring a completely different kind of target to kill...not that hunters EVER just shoot something to shoot something. Sometimes they use gas and set fire to those targets. Or use rocks. I'm not at all against hunting; there's little I like more to eat than game meat and given sufficient freezer space will happily participate in future hunting expeditions. And, yes, I know it is unfair to characterize all hunters as ones with the redneck mentality to kill anything that slithers BUT it makes no sense to take chances given knowledge of past incidences of ignorant and unnecessary snake killings by orange and camo-clad consumers of crappy canned American beer. Arriving at the site Friday evening Roger and I were pleasantly surprised to find the site devoid of hunters and conditions beautiful for a night's stroll tracking snakes amongst the saguaros. Enjoying another outstanding sunset while mass signaling from the top of IMH I split from Roger to head after CT13. Due to how close CT13 appeared from her signal strength and how easy she'd be to get Roger was even kind enough to offer to open the data sheet he gave me. What a guy!...but then the tracking took place. She wasn't far, really, but she was in some of the rockier and more difficult terrain to traverse. No problem, and even though she wasn't visible, I got to spend more time with my furry tracking buddy. The ringtail showed up as I was changing batteries in the GPS before continuing on my circuitous route that would bring me back to the same general area on IMH to track the last snake of the night, CT12. On to the images which combine both nights of tracking. Ringtail1-3 10-5-2012: At this point it wouldn't surprise me if people were starting to think, "Another damn ringtail report?" Yep, the novelty of one of the coolest nocturnal mammals that can't eat me has yet to wear off. We hung out for 10-15 minutes before I headed off. During that time, as the first picture indicates where there's a head peeking out of the space between boulders near my foot, the ringtail was even more comfortable to come near me. As I watched this lithe little mammal I couldn't help but be impressed with how fluidly and effortlessly it moved over and through the rocks checking out cracks, investigating opening and poking around attendant to its duties as a ringtail. It even stopped moving (second image) and laid down a couple meters from me at the edge of the rock ridge where CT13 resides. The last image shows the ringtail next to CT13's flag in front of the antenna. The next night the ringtail returned to keep myself and Jon Davis company and investigated the flag, nosing it and pulling at it with its teeth. CT13, again, wasn't visible and hadn't moved. The previous week CT13 had been on the E/SE slope of IMH, this week she was on the north slope at the east end of IMH. CT11 10-6-2012: Male tiger CT11 was at a new site still on the bajada to the E/SE of IMH and occupied the same site both nights. I didn't get a visual on Friday night but saw him on Saturday night in a coiled hunting posture deep in prickly pear where he's looking to be in great health. CM14-CM17 Copulation1-6 10-5-2012: CM11, Gus, has been associating with a big-headed female since at least September 16, making this the fourth weekend in a row of tracking where he's either been seen with, or thought to be with, the newest molossus to the study, CM17. And, she doesn't just have a big head. She's big all over. Not big in the same way as a fat girl that calls herself curvy...because she's actually attractive to the boys, or at least Gus. On Friday, a little after 2000h, I stumbled upon a romantic tryst involving spikey toys and wang-pulling.The 6 picture series shows CM11 and CM17 at their chosen nooky site of a cholla and stick midden built inside a prickly pear on Little Hill. The two had moved south and out of the wash occupied for the last two weekends. I watched for a little over 30 minutes as Gus chin-rubbed his way in jerking motions up and down CM17's flanks and back tongue-flicking as he went. At one point when I moved in to take a picture CM17 changed her position from being on CM11's left side to his right side, pulling him by his wang through cholla segments and prickly pear as she went, to move closer to where I was. Rattlesnakes are curious and I've had them change positions or exit refuge sites to investigate me and that is very much what it seemed CM17 was doing. 13 hours later Roger and I visited the snakes to find them still locked least until CM17 saw Roger and ejected CM11's hemipene in a fashion similar to torpedo being blown out of a submarine's firing tube. He does have a way with the ladies! Now free of the cloacal embrace we decided to capture CM17 to increase molossus in the study to 3 adult males, 3 adult females, and 1 subadult male. When we took a mass CM17 weighed in at a whopping 746g. CA133 10-5-2012: CA133 has moved from a wash island in Suizo Wash NE of IMH to just south of Suizo Wash and is now in a tributary wash leading to Suizo Wash E of IMH. She was in a coiled hunting posture a couple meters away from a wash edge coiled under vegetation when found. During data recording she relocated to the base of a small mesquite and coiled about 2m away. Atrox and CT12 10-5-2012: Tracking female tiger CT12 brought me back to IMH where Roger was downhill tracking female molossus CM15. In trying to have a conversation with Roger from a distance I blew past CT12's location but in doubling back encountered an atrox coiled atop boulders that looked like a young male. CT12 was found not far away in a diagonal crack in a large boulder in a heads-up hunting posture. When tracked Saturday night she had moved a few meters uphill to a soil burrow associated with a large rock outcrop. It's interesting that the movements of female tigers CT12 and CT13 in terms of when they moved to IMH and what part of the hill they are using have often been similar during the last month. CT14 10-6-2012: Roger and I woke Saturday morning to a surprising silence. We attributed hunter wussiness to the heat, but no matter what the cause, we were happy for it. The previous night we couldn't get signals for male molossus CM14 or male tiger CT14. We knew CM14 had relocated to the first canyon in the Suizos proper so we set out to track him, found that he'd moved a short distance, but was not visible. Then we tuned in CT14's signal and it came in loud and strong and, fortunately, in the direction towards the truck. CT14 was coiled underneath a small boulder on a west facing slope. Now the question is, does this become the overwintering canyon for the 14s? Or, will we see either of these snakes return to IMH? CM15 10-6-2012: CM15 has moved from the foot of the eastern slope of IMH the previous week to an area on the north slope of IMH. She was in a coiled hunting posture in some dense vegetation when Jon spotted her. Sunday morning we woke to the serenade of shotgun shells being spit over the Sonoran landscape and packed it up until next week. In mid February of 2002, during the pistol/shotgun Javelina hunting season, I was observed by a hunter on a quad while writing up our black-tailed rattlesnake male CM4. The hunter was watching me with his binoculars about 20 meters below me. He eventually buzzed off. The snake was just outside of a den that we call "Jeff's Den," which is located on the south ridge of the Suizo Mountains proper. My first impulse was a good one: bag the snake, and bring it back after the hunt. Instead, I left it as it was. The next day, the snake, and the signal, were gone forever. I'll just stop there, and let that comment ride as a reason for my paranoia when the hunting seasons arrive. The observation of the black-tails mating is significant in that it is the first time we've ever recording it. Back in 2001, we had a female, CM2, who drew in three different males. We at one point saw tails in alignment, but no insertion. That incident was in late September of 2001. The capture of this new female has our hopes up for seeing the other end of the spectrum: birthing in desert black-tails. Things are shaping up nicely for 2013! It is interesting to note that this mating event in early October is the first time we've ever seen any mating of any species of rattlesnake in October--at least on the plot. We have seen countless acts of courtship with atrox--but never mating. The show will go on! Best to all, roger Sunday, October 7, 2012 Why is Python bivittatus so successful in Florida? Python bivittatus. JCM Why has the Burmese python (Python bivittatus) been so successful at invading southern Florida while other species have been less successful The invasive pythons have caused precipitous population declines among several species of native mammals. Reed et al (2012) examine the reasons for the snake's success by scoring the Burmese python for each of 15 literature-based attributes from a diverse range of taxa and provide a review of the natural history and ecology of Burmese pythons relevant to each attribute. The authors focus on attributes linked to spread and magnitude of impacts rather than establishment success. Their results suggest that attributes related to body size and its generalist habits appear to be particularly applicable to the Burmese python's success in Florida. The attributes with the highest scores were: high reproductive potential, low vulnerability to predation, large adult body size, large offspring size and high dietary breadth. However, attributes of ectotherms in general and pythons in particular (including predatory mode, energetic efficiency and social interactions) might have also contributed to invasion success. The ranking exercise suggested that Burmese pythons might be somewhat atypical of boas and pythons in terms of their likelihood to spread as invasive species and impact native ecosystems. Burmese pythons ranked equal to, or higher than, a ‘typical’ boa or python species for every invasion-related trait we considered, and scored particularly high in traits related to size and degree of parental care. These traits, combined with their popularity in the pet trade and a large global climate match compared to the other giant constrictors likely make Burmese pythons a higher risk for introductions elsewhere. Although establishment risk assessments are an important initial step in prevention of new establishments, evaluating species in terms of their potential for spreading widely and negatively impacting ecosystems might become part of the means by which resource managers prioritize control efforts in environments with large numbers of introduced species. The article is available on-line. REED, R. N., WILLSON, J. D., RODDA, G. H. and DORCAS, M. E. (2012), Ecological correlates of invasion impact for Burmese pythons in Florida. Integrative Zoology, 7: 254–270. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-4877.2012.00304.x Urban Snakes from Brazil's Atlantic Forest Helicops angulatus. JCM Snake species living in urbanized areas are perhaps the most likely species to be studied. if for no other reason than the convenient access to the animals and study sites. While urban snake studies are relatively common in the USA and Eurasia, relatively few have been done in the tropics. Franca et al. (2012) describe the snake assemblage from the urban area of Rio Tinto city in Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil. They present data on composition and distribution as well as some natural history. Also, they compare the snake diversity of the urban area with the diversity in two nearby natural patches. The study included data on 161 individuals of 25 species in 16 genera from the urban area of Rio Tinto. Te most common species were: Helicops angulatus, Bothrops leucurus, Epicrates assisi, and Philodryas patagoniensis. While most species were non-venomous, some venomous snakes were abundant in the urban area. Rarefaction curves did not reach stability and new species should be expected to be added to the Rio Tinto snake list in future studies. The authors suggest that almost all snakes living in urban areas are continually under predation pressure from humans for several reasons. First, snakes are often killed whenever encountered by humans, who seldom discriminating between venomous and non-venomous species. Even plain gray or brown snakes, such as Liophis poecilogyrus or Philodryas patagoniensis, are considered by local people to be extremely dangerous. Almost all species documented in this study included at least one individual that had been killed by local people in Rio Tinto. Secondly, snakes must frequently cross roads in urban areas and are easy targets for drivers. Third, snakes in urban areas are subject to higher levels of parasitic infection and predation by exotic cats, dogs and chickens. Finally, habitat modification, loss, and fragmentation in urban areas can reduce food resources, reproduction sites, and gene flow, leading to local extinctions.Knowledge of the composition and abundance of snake species found in urban areas is an essential first step to understanding these relationships. Urban ecosystems are increasing throughout the world, and urban ecology is attracting growing research interest and exploring the risks and benefits of snakes living in urban areas. The entire article can be found on-line. FRANÇA, R.C., GERMANO, C.E.S. & FRANÇA, F.G.R. Composition of a snake assemblage inhabiting an urbanized area in the Atlantic Forest of Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 12(3): Friday, October 5, 2012 A Snail's Escape Response to Snake Predation At left. The snail-eating snake Pareas iwasakii as it feeds on a snail. Bar= 10 mm. Photo credit: Masaki Hoso. Masaki Hoso, a Netherlands-based fellow with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, posted the findings on his website Wednesday, as his paper was published in the British science journal Proceedings of the Royal Society. Hoso also put the same kind of snakes together with a different type of snails from another Okinawan island, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) west of Ishigaki, where there are no snail-eating snakes. Biologists in the US reported last month that the African spiny mouse, a desert rodent that has become an exotic pet, can shed up to 60 percent of the skin on its back and fully regrow the lost tissue. The entire article is available on-line. Hoso, M. 2012. Cost of autotomy drives ontogenetic switching of anti-predator mechanisms under developmental constraints in a land snail Proc. R. Soc. B , doi:10.1098/rspb.2012.1943 1471-2954 Wednesday, October 3, 2012 Suizo Report -- Hauling a$$ and sitting tight Howdy Herpers, 10/03/12 In the report that went out yesterday, Marty had this to say about tracking our wayward male molossus CM14: "Found this neonate solare as HW, Ryan and I attempted to track male CM14, the only snake Roger designated as a "MUST GET." Thanks for jinxing me! Roger and HW got his signal the night before so he might have booked and made a significant move or, for some reason, my receiver wasn't picking up his signal. Hopefully Roger was able to locate him Sunday." Yes, H-W and I had his signal the night before. We got the signal from the windmill, which is located just south of the Suizo Mountains proper. But the closer we got to the foremost ridge, the quieter the signal got. This usually indicates that the animal is on the other side of the ridge. As it was already very late in the evening, it was decided to get CM14 in the morning. And so, the aging team of Schuett and Repp decided to send the younger, stronger, faster men after the snake. As Marty suggests, a "must get" was written on the datasheet, with an arrow pointing directly at "CM14." Typing Boy here told them "I don't care if you don't get any others--just get this one. Once you get to the windmill, try him. I think he's in the next drainage north." Somehow, this message did not come through. They tracked everything BUT the one we needed to get. When I chided them for this, (indicating in not-too-subtle a fashion that we had sent BOYZ to do a man's job), they informed me that I was getting fat, and needed the exercise. They were helping me to live a longer life. They had done me a HUGE favor. That's what I like about these guys: nothing! And so, the next evening, fat, dumb and happy here tried the signal from the windmill. Good old 12 - 2 on the dial of the same receiver I sent them out with the night before. Needless to say, it came in--loud and clear. Slackers! As surmised, the signal was actually coming from the next drainage north of the front ridge of Suizo Mountains Southwest. At first, I thought I was in for an easy track. But up, up, up I went. Beyond the very last mountain my son Tim and climbed together back in the year 2000. Well above that, and well around the corner from it. Finally, he scores. There is CM14 coiled in a hunt posture, under a bursage and prickly pear. See image 1. He had moved over a mile. The scary part is that we have two more big male molossus like this one, who will likely do the same thing. Now, we move to the images. In doing so, we can thank Marty, H-W, and Ryan for not listening to me. Truth be told, I enjoyed every second of the monumental tracking episode with CM14. And thanks to the boys not listening to the man, we have some great sequence shots of a few individual snakes. Image 1: Male CM14. My method of photographing a snake in situ is to fire a couple shots from the distance first observed, and then start closing in for the money shot. After this image was taken, the snake bolted. I'm glad to have this much, but it SHOULD have been better. What a spoil sport of a snake! Images 2-3: Female CM15 on the night of 28 September (Repp). Just after this shot was taken, she bolted under the boulder with a mylar balloon strewn in a nearby prickly pear, where Marty found her the next day (Image 3, Feldner). Images 4-6: Male CM12 on the move. Image 4, (Feldner) has him on the SW side of IMH, near where we park. Image 5 (Repp) has him coiled at the southernmost tip of IMH, and image 6 has him abut 200 meters out into the bajada. (Dates are file extensions). Images 7-9: A classic sequence of a rattlesnake, female CT12, using sit-and-wait ambush techniques. Image 7 (Repp) shows her set up in the center of a dead clump of prickly pear--note the fruit all around her. Image 8 (Feldner) shows her THICK posterior going into a hole the next morning. No doubt, it gets VERY hot in that place by day. And the last image in this series shows her back out the following morning--in the EXACT spot she was two nights before. We'll stop here. We look forward to what comes next. Best to all, roger Dwarf species of herbivorous fanged dinosaur from southern Africa Art by Tyler Keillor
Philosophy Lexicon of Arguments Author Item Excerpt Meta data Books on Amazon Hintikka I 239 Truthmaker/make true/fact/presentation/Wittgenstein/Hintikka: the idea that this is so. (p) is not made true by the fact that this is so. - The presentation says nothing. - The relationship between thought and the world cannot be represented like this. - "The idea is a symbol." - Hintikka: you can not transcend the language in the language and the thought in thought. - 1932: "There is no connection between language and reality." - Solution: Rules! I 240 These can be shown in turn. L. Wittgenstein Vorlesungen 1930-35 Frankfurt 1989 L. Wittgenstein Das Blaue Buch - Eine Philosophische Betrachtung Frankfurt 1984 L. Wittgenstein Tractatus Logico Philosophicus Frankfurt/M 1960 Hin I Jaakko and Merrill B. Hintikka The Logic of Epistemology and the Epistemology of Logic Dordrecht 1989 J. Hintikka/M. B. Hintikka Untersuchungen zu Wittgenstein Frankfurt 1996 > Counter arguments against Wittgenstein Ed. Martin Schulz, access date 2017-09-23
Friday, November 22, 2013 Dr. Sung Hak Kim Given a Gift of an Ancient Stone Face with Inscription 1.9.14 - UPDATE: Jeff Benner of the Ancient Hebrew Research Center, has an interpretation of the inscription on this stone face: "This is most likely the name חו (hhiw), written from left to right. This name is found in the Biblical text as חוי (hhiwiy, usually transliterated as Hivites). The י (the letter yud - iy) suffix means "one descended from." So hhiw is the patriarch (and is the name found on this inscription) and hhiwiy (the name found in the Bible) are the people descended from hhiw." The Hivites were Canaanites that are mentioned in the bible as a people during Jacob's time in Canaan, as rulers of Shechem (Gen. 34:2). See Wikipedia write up on Hivites here.
Saturday, July 18, 2015 Basically, meditation can be defined as self-induced change of mentality in order to raise awareness or emotional well-being. However, narrow definitions vary according to the beliefs that surround them. Beliefs are different between different people, so the understanding and practice of meditation also vary greatly. Some commonly known types of meditation tend to have a heritage of Eastern religions, but there are aspects of it in many Western beliefs. By using ritual chants and repetitive movements an altered state of consciousness was achieved and it was beleived the gods would sooth the dead. Usually, gifts and sacrifices were offered to the gods. Obviously these spiritual rituals were beneficial to the people who practiced them. In eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism meditation is defined as a means of achieving a higher state of spiritual growth and goodness. Meditation in English is “to consider, to think, grow, reflect,” comes from the Latin “meditari”. The original Western Christian meditation is only one aspect of worship, reading, contains reflection, prayer and contemplation. Although a deep tranquility and concentration was induced, there is no repeating of words or phrases and contains no postures or rituals. Stress is part of daily life for most people. Knowing how to cope with stress is an essential life skill. Regular meditation practice can hold the key to feeling calm and relaxed. Focusing on your breath and counting each inhilation and exhilation until you reach ten is a quick meditative technique to help you relax whenever you feel stressed. Ovserving your thoughts in a detached manner also helps to keep things in perspective. You may catch yourself repeating the same upsetting thoughts which are causing the stress. Taking a quick walk while you count your breath and observe your thoughts can be very effective in clearing your head of unwanted thoughts. You will function better when you are relaxed and calm. Stress may be caused by trying to complete too many tasks too quickly. Cut down your to do list by delegating tasks if possible. Allow yourself plenty of time to complete tasks. You make more mistakes and wrong decisions when you try to rush things. Make time for a half an hour of meditation practice at the end of a stressful day instead of reaching for a drink. Regular meditation practice is a natural and healthy way of restoring your balance and inner peace. If you find that you are thinking in a negative way, try giving yourself positive affirmations. Typing out positive affirmations and posting them on a wall in your workspace can serve as a handy reminder to stay positive. Don’t let negative attitudes of others influence your thinking. The more you practice meditation the greater will be the positive effect on your health and well-being. Of course, the ultimate goal is to live in the meditative state where you feel relaxed and calm in any situation. Today, we live in a fast paced world. More often than not, we do not have the opportunity to react to things thrown at us. We have lost the ability to think things through and have to make decisions of the speed of light. But it should not be this way. Each of us needs to slow the pace down at times to function efficiently. Otherwise, we get stressed and lose the ability to deal with the people around us, not only at work but also at home. The practice of meditation is a way for us to slow things down and focus our minds until they are quiet enough to cope with the stress of daily life. Some may think that meditation is a very religious practice. It is true that many religions, especially the east, take meditation as an integral part of their practice but this is not necessarily the case. People meditate for a variety of reasons. Although we have already mentioned that it helps us to be calm in this busy world, people meditate for health reasons and to achieve a higher state of consciousness, among others. So if you think that life stresses you out, it’s probably time for you to do things at a slower pace. Meditation can calm your mind and help you to let go of stress and hassles. Meditation will improve concentration and focus. On the Internet, there are a number of sites that have video-sharing, gaming sites and other sites for our entertainment. While there is nothing wrong with entertainment, there is a problem with our constant need for distraction. For this reason, it is difficult for us to focus on one thing. We do not have to take extreme measures to help us focus. Meditation can do the job for us. There are several ways that meditation can do this for us. One is through breathing exercises. Even an exercise as simple as being aware of of the number of times we inhale and exhale can improve our ability to concentrate. Although it may seem easy, it is can be very difficult in practice, especially when we have to deal with distractions like the noise or feeling uncomfortable. Another method is by reciting a mantra. A mantra is a phrase or a melody that is repeated over and over again. For example, saying to youself, om when you breath in and hum when you breath out. The repetition becomes a centre for the person’s attention and concentration. The mantra helps distract you from thoughts of desires, problems or worries. By breathing deeply into the somach and swelling out the belly and repeating a mantra, a person’s heart rate slows down, resulting in a relaxed atmosphere. Breathing is also has an important role when a person strives to improve his / her concentration. Meditation is a state of relaxed awareness where we remain detached from our thoughts and simply observe them like waves on the surface of a pond. By observing our thoughts and not getting caught up in them they eventually slow down and can stop altogether. This gives us a rest from the constant flow of thoughts about a want, need, problems or solutions. Thoughts are perceived as ‘waves of perception’ which are separate from who we really are which is a conscious being, or knower or witness Meditation can benefit you mentally, physically and spiritually. Mental benefits are that you are able to rest the mind and find peace and calm. This reduces thoughts which stress or depress us. It can also help us get to sleep if we suffer from . Creativity, learning ability and memory are also improves through the practice of meditation. Overall, our level of happiness and emotional health improves. It is even said that we can gain insight into underlying problems which we may be unaware of during the normal waking state. Physical benefits of meditation include improved breathing and health of the heart. Studies have shown that levels of blood pressure and cholesterol drop from long term meditation practice. Meditation can also help releive chronic pain by directing attention away from the pain. For example, by meditating on waves crashing on the beach the mind is distracted from constant sources of pain. Spiritual benefits include coming to terms with our own mortality. Through the study of meditation we come to realize that we are not our mind or our body but a conscious life force. We are part of the life force of the planet with no birth and no death. Such realization is part of the attainment of nivana or enlightenment. Self-realization is the realization of the self which is separate from the mind and the body. The self is consciousness or awareness which is immortal and blissful. I discovered satori and zen meditation quite by accident 25 years ago. I was reading a book called “Drawing On The Right Side Of The Brain” by Betty Edwards. One of the exercises to help you draw realistically changed the way I perceived the world. All thoughts and labels disappeared and I saw exactly the way an artist or a Zen monk perceives reality. It was as if a fog of thought had been lifted and I saw colours, light and contours with great clarity. When I read Betty’s comments at the end of the exercise she stated that the consciousness achieved by completing the exercise is similar to satori which is the goal of Zen meditation. I have been interested in and practised Zen What has drawing got to do with zen? The exercise that Betty described in her book was to look at your left hand while drawing with the right hand. The important part of the exercise was not to look at what you draw and remain focused on your left hand. As you follow the outline and contours of your left hand millimetre by millimetre you draw what you are seeing very slowly. It does not matter what you draw. It is a warming up exercise for artists to clearly perceive what they are seeing, It teaches you to “see” as an artist sees. Betty went on to describe the resulting change in perception as being similar to way one would see reality while under the influence of mescaline. Colours seem more intense and the contrast of everything is more highlighted. After completing the exercise for about five minutes I noticed my consciousness had altered. It was an enjoyable and calming experience. I found out that the same state of consciousness could be achieved through Zen meditation. The goal of Zen meditation is to stop the constant chatter of the mind and perceive reality directly. The mind is described as a pond and thoughts are waves on the surface of the pond. Only when your thoughts are stilled or there are no waves on the surface of the pond do you see the reflection of the moon. Zen meditation can be practised while sitting or walking. Once you are comfortable you start by following your breath and allowing it to fall into a regular rhythm. Traditionally, a Zen master will give a novice a koan to focus on while meditating. A koan is like a riddle. Two of my favourites are “What did your face look like before your mother and father were born?” and “What is the sound of one hand clapping.” Of course there is no logical answer to the koan but that is not the point. The koan acts as way of switching off the logical and analytical mind. With practice thoughts slow down and eventually stop. Only then do you perceive reality as it really is without the constant interference of the internal chatter of the mind. When in the meditative state you are said to be aware of the self which is separate from the mind and body. Awareness of the self is the knowledge that you are the knower or witness of your thoughts and actions. You are consciousness. Forever free and blissful Since I have retired I have been able to pursue my passion for meditation for longer periods of time, sometimes for hours on end or even days. I like to meditate on the front porch and look out over the garden. I observe the clouds, plants and also the birds as they come and go. I listen to the waves crashing in the distance and the sound of the wind through the trees. I feel the warmth of the sun and the cool crisp air as I breath it in. I observe my thoughts flow through my consciousness like fish swimming in a stream. My thoughts appear from nowhere, pass through my mind and disappear. As time passes fewer and fewer thoughts pass through my mind and I focus on what my other senses are communicating to me. It is a feeling of bliss and peace I can return to over and over. I am “at home” in the meditative state. I sit when I meditate but I also like to walk by the beach and through the park. When I walk I simply observe the beauty of nature. It is like a film passing before my eyes. I can choose to focus on anything I like. By tuning out my thoughts and simply focusing on what I see, I feel at one with nature. I am living in the here and now. The more you desire the more you suffer. It is better to drop all desires for material possessions and sensual pleasures and seek nivana. Desire nothing and simply live in awareness. Be conscious of thoughts emotions and actions. Avoid bodily desires and avoid sadness and fear. By obseving thoughts and stilling the mind learn to see things as they really are. The more you scheme and scam and plan the more you suffer. Is it not better to meditate and seek peace of mind. Sure, have your interests to alleviate boredom but don’t get sucked into them and let them consume your life. Your hobbies and interests are not your life. What is happening to you now is your life, what happens to you minute by minute. When you simply observe and not get carried away in your thoughts, time slows down and you learn to enjoy the moment. When you are content there is no need to do anything. Being content is where you have enough of everything, you desire nothing. Learn to control money, don’t let money control and motivate you. It is much easier to save money than it is to earn it. People are enslaved by money by their own stupidity and greed. They will do anything for it. They are hypnotized by it. It allows them to buy glittery shiney objects which go kaput or end up being worthless as time goes by. they trade their time for glittery shiney objects or land and houses. The supposedly intelligent ones in our society earn more and waste their lives accumulating more and more houses and land. What they end up with is more money worries and more material objects to maintain and protect from theft or destruction. You have enough of everything, you are content. Only help those who earn merit or are in genuine need. Live in peace and let things be. The greedy and the wicked will always be out there. You have found a way out. Your knowledge will protect you. Be careful of who you spend your time with. Do not spend time with fools. You are the only one who saved you. They are the only ones who can save themselves. You cannot teach them wisdom or give them experience. 1st Key Focus on your breath. Simply observe the flow of your breath for a minute. Next breath in to the count of 5, hold to the count of 5 then exhale. Remember to breath deep into your belly so your belly expands. Repeat the deep breath, then allow your beathing to return to its natural rythem. 2nd Key Focus your attention on the muscles in your toes. Tighten these muscles to the count of five then relax. Focus your attention on the muscles in your feet. Tighten these muscles to the count of five, then relax. Focus your attention on your calf muscles. Tighten these muscles to the count of five, then relax. Focus your attention on your thigh muscles. Tighten these muscles to the count of five, then relax. Focus your attention on your buttocks. Tighten these muscles to the count of five, then relax. Focus your attention on your stomach muscles. Tighten these muscles to the count of five then relax. Focus your attention on your back muscles. Tighten these muscles to the count of five, then relax. Focus your attention on your chest muscles. Tighten these muscles to the count of five, then relax. Focus your attention on your arm muscles. Tighten these muscles to the count of five, then relax. Allow your head to roll from side to side, relaxing the muscles in your neck. Stretch the muscles in your face, opening your mouth and eyes wide, then squeeze your face up like a prune to the count of five. Then relax. Go over your body again relaxing any muscles that are still not relaxed. 3rd Key Now close your eyes and simply observe the blue black space before you. I want you to observe your thoughts in a detached manner, like fish swimming in the stream of your consciousness. They appear, linger for a while, then disappear. After a while fewer and fewer thoughts or fish will appear until the water in the stream is still. You will notice a reflection of the moon in the stream and you will notice the reflection of the trees. At this point you will have entered Nivana. I set aside 2 x 30 min meditationa sessions per day. One in the morning and one in the evening. When you first start to pracitice meditation you may find that your thoughts are racing at 100 m.p.h. in a mono-dialogue. With continued meditation practise you should find that your thoughts become random and spaced. This is normal. The internal chatter starts to quieten. Let us know how you are progressing. Unlock Your Mind's Power
Alt. Designations: NGC 1982 Object Type: emission nebula Constellation: Orion Distance: 1.3 kly Right Ascension: 05h 35m 31.3s Declination: -05° 16´ 03" Visual Magnitude: 9 Apparent Dimension: 20.0´ X 15.0´ Best Month To View: Dec M43 is also located in the constellation of Orion, and is actually part of M42, the Orion Nebula. It is visually separated from the rest of M42 by an impressive dark lane of dense dust. The dust actually lies between the nebula and us. If you could see M42 from the other side of the dust lane it would appear to be all in one piece. M43 is easily visible in a 4-inch telescope, but an 8-inch instrument will reveal dark features and details along the nebula's eastern border.
Sunday, 2 November 2014 How to Keep your Cool when Teaching Kids (Your Kids) I recently read a couple of comments where mothers were disturbed about the fact that they easily lose their composure whilst getting their young children to do their homework, prepare for a test or do an assignment. It is actually one of those times where our patience and composure is seriously put to the test. I started thinking about how I also feel that way sometimes. But over the course of many years and through a hot and trial method, I have learned some ways to make it better. 1. Make it fun: Use doodle apps on your ipads or mobile phones, write out difficult words on flash cards, get creative. 2. Let them do it themselves: It's true that kids need supervision, but they can surprise you too. Give a simple task to begin with, and pretend you need to do something and that you'll be back in five minutes. This will prompt them to think for themselves instead of us parents telling them what to do. Encouraging independence is a win win for both of you. 3. Keep calm: The fact is they may not grasp it in the first go, so let it go and change the subject. Do something else and come back to the issue later. Do not show frustration, there is plenty of that in the child's head already. 4. Set a time: Establishing routine is very important. Kids will settle into homework time automatically once you have established the set time. They won't cause as much resistance and if you're lucky, they'll remind you. 5. Notice distractions: Switch of tvs, or anything else that will divert attention. Check for signs for sleepiness, hunger or simply even thirst. 6. Revise: Do not underestimate the power of revision. Do a couple of pages of revision and reading after regular homework. 7. Chill: Remember that good grades do not necessarily define success. Plenty of successful people in history and in the present day have been school drop outs. Whereas I am not saying that your child should drop out or that you should not aspire to bring out the best in your child, know that each child is different and that if he is not a straight A student, there will surely be other untouched talents yet to to be discovered, So relax, they are just kids. Just be persistent. 8. Discouraging remarks: Do not put them down, do not compare and do not compromise their confidence. Show them you appreciate their efforts more than you appreciate their grades. 9. Breathe: In case you do feel like you are losing your cool, take a deep breath, remember your child also has feelings and put yourself in his shoes. Stop the task, and do something else or take a break. It is natural to lose patience, but you control your actions. I am sure if you try a little to carry out these little tips with a sincere intent, you will see results. Leave me a comment on what other little tips you have picked up along the way to make study time more fruitful and fun. 1. Hello, my name is Fida and I'm a member of the engagement team at KHDA. We'd like to invite you to an event we're holding for parents in Dubai. Could you please send me an email and I will get back to you with full details. Thanks! 2. Excellent tips i hope i ll keep them in mind
NASA recreate the sound of Jupiter's auroras NASA have compiled a "voiceprint" of what Jupiter's auroras would sound like following their Juno spacecraft's maiden orbit around the giant gas planet. During Juno's close fly-by of Jupiter on August 27, the space agency’s waves instrument received radio signals associated with the giant planet's intense auroras, it said. "The signals have been shifted into the audio frequency range and are displayed in a format similar to a voiceprint, showing intensity of waves as a function of frequency and time," a video release by the space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said. Meanwhile, NASA has also released "close-up" photographs of the planet, taken on August 27 when Juno was approximately 4,200km above Jupiter's surface. The images show the vast difference in colour between Jupiter's north pole and the rest of the planet. "It's bluer in colour up there than other parts of the planet, and there are a lot of storms," principal Juno investigator Scott Bolton said in statement from NASA. "This image is hardly recognisable as Jupiter." Related Articles NASA have planned for Juno to make 35 more fly-bys of Jupiter before the mission ends in 2018. Currently, Juno is in orbit around the planet and it takes 53 days to make a single revolution. However, it will eventually decrease to 14 days. It will take several more months for Juno to compile the complete picture of Jupiter it was sent to snap. © Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2017 Send your photos, videos and stories to 9News
What is autism? By definition, Autism is: a condition or disorder that begins in childhood and that causes problems in forming relationships and in communicating with other people. Simply put: Their brains are wired a little differently than most. Autism is a communication disorder! My son is non-verbal. In his case, when people do not understand him and his needs, frustration sets in, resulting in a meltdown. He is not acting up like some people assume it to be the case (which I hate). Imagine, you are a tourist in a foreign country. You don’t know the language and you desperately need to go to the bathroom. Being unable to find someone that either speaks your language or finally figures out what you are saying, frustration sets in. After a while, you are bound to lose your temper. Were you acting up? Of course not! Now, imagine being in this situation every single day of your life. Autism is different for everyone involved. Autism is a disorder that has a spectrum, which means that symptoms, their severity and their displays are different for every person living with Autism. For Dawson, he would probably land somewhere on the lower functioning end of the spectrum due to his specific behaviors. Autism and communication challenges go hand in hand! While communication is an easy skill for most people, when someone lives with Autism, it is like facing a puzzle that contains a million pieces. That person doesn’t know how to begin a conversation and interact appropriately with others. This is why play and social interactions tend to be repetitive or imitated. Dealing with hypersensitive issues, every minute of every single day. Most people are sensitive to certain tastes, noises or touching certain things. Have you ever heard nails on a chalkboard? How about the thought of eating glass? Are those thoughts driving you crazy? Well, for my son, touching a soft fuzzy blanket is torture and trimming his nails is a sensory nightmare. Are there some meltdowns? Yes, too many. Unfortunately, until I explain it to them, people tend to misjudge my child’s reactions. Most easy things for you are challenging for people with Autism. Wouldn’t you feel frustrated if you had to do a task that was so easy for everyone but you? Walking, talking, sitting and eating are a few “simple” things that are very difficult for Dawson. Do you understand how frustrating it can be, especially if people are making comments and passing judgment on top of it? These are only some of the issues that, when explained, help people to have a better understanding of what Autism is and how challenging it can be when your life is affected by it. So, the next time you see a child displaying some frustration in public, please don’t judge as you never know what this child may be going through…it may be Autism! If you can be anything…be kind. Leave a Reply
Haiti’s Disaster Capitalists Swoop In Who benefits when refugees are moved from camps into garment and cell-phone industry “work zones?” Flickr/<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/unitednationsdevelopmentprogramme/4274633152/">United Nations Development Programme</a> Refugee evictions, private land grabs, disaster capitalism—you can’t tell the story of Haiti without all this. Eight months after the earthquake, many of the 1.7 million Haitians living under tattered tarps in squalid squatter camps around Port-au-Prince are being forced to abandon the tent cities they’ve set up on privately owned land. Meanwhile, businesses—eager to slurp up the spoils of disaster—are swooping in to score major paydays by moving the refugees to new camps, some set to operate as industrial work zones. And there’s no one stopping it. In March, Haitian landowners and police authorities began kicking displaced Haitians out of their makeshift cities at the behest of the owners of the land on which the camps sat. International Action Ties, a grassroots community development agency working in Haiti, says authorities are regularly flushing out the camps. The International Organization for Migration, which heads up the international aid response to the quake, has been unable to prevent expulsions and has been relegated to playing mediator between landowners and camp occupants. A recent IAT report provides a vivid blow-by-blow of expulsions by Haitian police in the communes of Delmas and Cité Soleil: bulldozers demolishing flimsy shelters, policemen swinging batons and shooting their guns in the air, and several cases of sexual assault. IAT skewers the Haitian government and UN system, and blasts the aid community for not defending the refugees (for more, read this report from July). And there’s a twist: It’s not even clear these landowners officially own the property that the displaced people are being expelled from. Murky titling laws have plagued Haiti since its early days, clouding landowners’ claims with ambiguity and contributing to the country’s current catastrophe. Post-colonial Haiti’s first ruler, Jean-Jacques Dessaline, imposed dramatic land reforms in the early 1800s, apportioning plantation land among freed slaves. But after his assassination, subsequent efforts at reform failed, and military leaders appropriated old plantation land. Land titling gradually became more and more muddled as one dictator gave way to another. In the 1950s and ’60s, François “Papa Doc” Duvalier meted out land to members of his death squads, or left property up for grabs. In the ’80s, another attempt to formalize land holdings failed. On January 11, 2010, the day before the quake, around 85 percent of Port-au-Prince’s residents lived on property of dubious ownership. “There’s no real registry to show who owns the land,” says Oxfam’s Julie Schindall. “On any given plot, there may be three people asserting themselves as landowners for any given reason.” IAT estimates that some 70 percent of landowners don’t bear title to the property they claim, and it demands a moratorium on evictions until the ownership chaos can be sorted out. In the interim, it’s the responsibility of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti to protect the human rights of Haitians, according to its mandate. That includes the right to shelter and housing. Haitian law, Schindall adds, clearly bars forced evictions. The reasonable course would seem obvious: Sort out the legalities and the who-owns-what before ripping down tents and moving the stricken, the sick, and the dying out of the camps. But in March, President René Préval, under pressure from landowners and business elites, ordered aid groups to discontinue food services (though some limited distribution to pregnant women and children continued). This was seen as a move designed to put pressure on camps to disband. In the absence of government leadership on this issue, businesses and NGOs are filling the gaps—and exploiting the situation. For instance, Nabatec, a consortium owned by some of Haiti’s most powerful families, and World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, plan to build a new city of 300,000 displaced Haitians, complete with garment factories, homes, stores, and restaurants. This new business zone will be in Corail Cesselesse, about nine miles from Port-au-Prince. Nabatec owns the land where the refugees will live, and stands to gain a chunk of the $7 million dollars the Haitian government plans to pay landowners who’ve given up property for the site. “After I take people to Corail [Cesselesse], they don’t sleep well anymore,” says Melinda Miles, director of the aid group KONPAY. “It’s 40,000 people living in the middle of the desert.” She says that Corail Cesselesse, like other camps, has been without proper food distribution for the past two months; children in the camp have orange hair, a symptom of malnutrition. And Nabatec has positioned itself to make a killing as the commercial gatekeeper for private companies seeking to set up shop in Corail, including a South Korean garmet firm and a Vietnamese cell phone company. With most NGOs not addressing the expulsion issue, many displaced Haitians remain at the mercy of landowners anxious to reclaim their property. They’re caught between an incapable government and a rush of foreign investment looking capitalize on a ruined country—just as hurricane season kicks up.
doi:10.1038/nindia.2011.26 Published online 28 February 2011 Biology by design Why is it a good idea to use the engineering approach rather than using equations to design biological systems? Pawan Kumar Dhar explores. Biological systems are noisy and unpredictable. To create predictable systems in biology, one needs standards and rules. Enter synthetic biology — an engineering inspired approach to design novel parts, devices and circuits for constructing biological systems. This stream is understandably also called by one of several other names — intentional biology, constructive biology, biological engineering, biological technology. Traditionally, biology has been studied by decomposing systems one part at a time. In synthetic biology, one composes the system one part at a time. The idea is to document individual part behaviour and stitch parts together to design controllable systems and organisms. Biology and engineering Synthetic biology takes inspiration from engineering to design novel biological parts. Upon first glance, one finds many things common between engineering and biological systems. Both are robust, multi-tasking, serial and parallel systems. Both show analog and digital behaviours. Moreover, a number of biological equivalents of 'logic gates' are found in organisms. Some technical examples — an activator and an inducer that trigger a gene expression seem to represent the logic 'AND gate'. The lac operon seems represents a logic 'NOT gate' i.e., when the repressor is ON, the protein output is OFF. Thus, it is encouraging to use engineering approaches to construct biological systems de novo. However, a closer look reveals several key differences between the disciplines. As opposed to engineering systems, organisms are predominately analog, have mobile parts (RNA and proteins) and show contextual behaviors. Unlike engineering systems, where laws of physics are used to build complex systems, biology is governed by the century-old laws of inheritance. The recent progress in metagenomics and epigenetics has made the search of new biological laws more difficult. It is clear that every organism is unique, uses methylation mechanisms, non-protein coding DNA and a large number of bacteria for survival. Even under constant culture conditions a cell line can evolve over time to acquire a different genetic composition. Even so, it is good to use the engineering approach to design biological systems rather than copying and pasting equations from physics because absolute engineering solutions for biological problems do not exist. Probably engineers didn't face a problem as complex as biology! Tackling the complexity The complexity of biology is not in terms of numbers. It is in the uncertainty of interactions and expression, which cannot be reliably predicted in advance by just looking at the DNA or protein sequence. Also, cells exhibit micro to macro complexity, the space and time complexity and the structural complexity. From an atom to the cell level, information must travel at least six orders of magnitude in size! Moreover, biological data is incomplete and inaccurate. The challenge is to build a reliable system using incomplete and sometimes inaccurate data. The solution to this is probably to gather more data, develop a well characterized parts-inventory, with each part tagged to a data sheet of truth table, lag time, transfer function, best operating conditions and so on. Synthetic Biology work during the last decade delivers this key message of performing rich parts-characterization for rational biological engineering, . Recognizing the need to have more data around each part, the biobricks programme was started several years ago at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Simply put, a biobrick is a natural DNA sequence (such as a gene or a promoter) without certain restriction sites. For a normal part to be transformed into a biobrick, these sites must be removed from the part and included as prefix and suffix of a given DNA sequence. The hope is that complex systems can be easily assembled ground up. Redoing a genetic part with slight modification and renaming it as biobrick does not address the underlying biological complexity. It's time that cell specific non-biobrick initiatives are started to construct parts-behavior inventory and understand their quantitative behaviour in natural settings. Technically, it is less challenging to assemble devices from individual parts. However, it is more challenging to control what has been created,due to the fundamental non-linearity and analog nature of molecular interactions. A large number of examples point to the frustrations that people had to experience while constructing pre-designed circuits, a classic example being the repressilator — a three gene circuit developed and installed as oscillatory applet independent of cellular control. The core issue often overlooked in synthetic biology is the fact that a cell is an evolving system. There will always be possibilities of mutations changing the properties of synthetic devices carefully designed in controlled environments. For biology to move completely into the realm of engineering, evolution must be stopped! 1. Ball, P. Synthetic biology: starting from scratch. Nature. 431, 624-626 (2004) \| Article \| PubMed \| ISI \| ADS \| 2. Purnick, P. E. et al. The second wave of synthetic biology: from modules to systems. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 10, 410-422 (2009) \| Article \| PubMed \| ISI \| 3. Shetty, R. P. et al. Engineering BioBrick vectors from BioBrick parts. J. Biol. Eng. 2, 5 (2008) \| Article \| PubMed \| 4. Elowitz, M. B. et al. A synthetic oscillatory network of transcriptional regulators. Nature. 403, 335-338 (2000) \| Article \| PubMed \| ISI \| ADS \|
Citizen Journalism Today The news that we as consumers take in every day can sometimes be bias. There are many times when we hear something on the news and doubt it’s legitimacy because of which news source the information was gathered from. Now more than ever we are able to go out and be our own reporters, reporting news from our own perspective allowing ourselves to view the news hands on. With the technology that we have today, regular people like you and I can get news from other regular people who have no affiliation to a news source. Of course there are pros and cons to this, but in the end it is a great thing to be able to get our news from people other than reporters. This allows for a more vibrant news stories as well as tons more news stories. Sometimes news channels can’t send out hundreds of reporters to report on smaller stories and we get to still get those stories, just from citizens like us. As we discussed in class it is a bit difficult finding these stories on national news sources online and they are probably doing this on purpose. I don’t know why they do this but I’m guessing its some deep strategy to make more $, thats always a reason. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
How does Act III, scene 2 of "The Tempest" explore the theme of power? Expert Answers malenig eNotes educator\| Certified Educator Stephano's absurd exploitation of Caliban is a parody of the relationship between ruler and subject. At the same time, Caliban, who is willing to fulfill the role of servant to Stephano, tells of his tyrant master, Prospero. If Stephano agrees to murder Prospero, Caliban will serve Stephano, or so he says. Stephano relishes the idea of ruling a kingdom with Caliban and Trinculo as "viceroys." All the while, the three malefactors are under the control of Ariel, who knows their every move and ultimately foils their plot. gbeatty eNotes educator\| Certified Educator This scene explores the theme of power in many ways. First, it shows a portrait of scheming to get power. Second, their drunkenness is a metaphor for the intoxication a desire for power carries. Third, the interactions of Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo show us a society in microcosm: how different individuals claim power and authority, and how they threaten violence almost casually. Fourth, the inability to see Ariel demonstrates the blindness of many who plot for power. Read the study guide: The Tempest Access hundreds of thousands of answers with a free trial. Start Free Trial Ask a Question
John Paul Jones, Fighting Sailor Critical Context - Essay Armstrong Sperry Critical Context John Paul Jones, Fighting Sailor is typical of the biographical style of an earlier era. Fictionalized dialogue is used to explain action; simplistic, and often contrived, interpretations explain the motives of the subject. Sperry’s purpose was to teach young American readers about the virtues of courage and honor. In the process, he gave a romanticized and heroic, although one-sided, view of Jones. In his writing, Perry ignored or distorted details about Jones’s life that were nonheroic, such as Jones’s personality and motives. In his short career, Jones was charged with murder, faced a mutiny, frequently quarreled with superiors, and usually left employment under a cloud. The failure of Sperry to deal with such negative elements is a major flaw in his work. The heroic theme dominates all of Sperry’s works, although his attitude toward non-Europeans is condescending at best. His most important work was Call It Courage (1940), the story of a boy who was determined not to be afraid, for which Sperry won the American Library Association Newbery Medal in 1941. Yet his writing style and his Eurocentric attitudes toward other cultures have resulted in much of his work being retired. John Paul Jones, Fighting Sailor should best be remembered as a sentimental biography in the style of an earlier, less complex age.
Quiz Bowl Questions Home > Preview The flashcards below were created by user MarkK on FreezingBlue Flashcards. 1. Andrew Jackson dispatched him to South Carolina during the nullification crisis in case open hostilities broke out. He was captured during the Battle of Queenston Heights and later led the Americna forces at Lundy's Lane, but he became embroiled in a discipline controversy after winning at Molino del Rey, Churubusco, Cerro Gordo, and Chapultepec. He later became the first lieutenant general since Washington and joined Henry Clay as the only major-party nominees born in Virginia to lose a Presidential race. FTP, name this officer called "Old Fuss and Feathers" who was defeated by Franklin Pierce in the 1852 election. Winfield Scott 2. A group headed by Timothy Ruggles denounced it as a danger to English liberties, particularly to trial by jury and representative government, and William Pitt questioned its validity. In Boston a mob calling itself the "Loyal Nine" rioted against Andrew Oliver and attacked the house of Governor Thomas Hutchinson. Repealed in one of the first acts of Lord Rockingham's ministry, it was meant to pay for some of the costs of defense of the American colonies. For 10 points, George Grenville passed what 1765 act that imposed a tax on a wide range paper goods. Answer: Stamp Act 3. This artist created the Fountain of the Bees for the Barberini family and sculpted busts like Damned Soul and Blessed Soul. His works in the Galleria Borghese include one that depicts the three title figures fleeing from Troy, and one that depicts a woman turning into a tree. In addition to Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius and Apollo and Daphne, he designed the oval church of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale. He sculpted a work in the Piazza Navona which includes representations of the Nile and the Ganges and one which shows an angel pointing a spear at the title figure. For 10 points, name this Italian sculptor of The Fountain of the Four Rivers and The Ecstacy of Saint Theresa. Answer: Gianlorenzo Bernini [or Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini] 4. Male and Female, one of this artist’s earliest works, may have been influenced by David Alfaro Siquieros, while his 1943 work The She-Wolf may have been influenced by Jungian psychology. One of his most famous works was done on an eight-foot by four-foot piece of fiberboard and prominently features layered yellow and brown streaks of paint. His 1952 painting Blue Poles and the aforementioned No. 5 both illustrate his technique of dripping paint directly onto his paintings. For 10 points, name this abstract expressionist who pioneered the technique of action painting. Answer: Paul Jackson Pollock 5. In one of this man’s paintings, one character oddly uses her left hand to grasp the red-cloaked character’s chin while her right hand sits at his knee. Alabaster statues of soldiers lie strewn in the clouds above the red-caped title figure in one work by this painter, who also depicted a nude woman with her head tilted back as a hero arrives on a hippogriff in another painting. This painter of Jupiter and Thetis, The Dream of Ossian, and Roger Freeing Angelica may be better known for depicting a character about to be crowned by Nike with Moliere and Herodotus among those around him. He also painted a work featuring a concubine with elongated proportions. For 10 points, name this French Neoclassicist painter of The Apotheosis of Homer and La Grande Odalisque. Answer: Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres 6. It called for a President-General; a General and Particular Treasurer to handle the government's finances; and a Grand Council whose members were elected every three years. The Grand Council would meet in Philadelphia and its creator outlined the number of Council members for 12 of the 13 colonies. Some of the impetus for this plan can be seen in the author's cartoon "Join or Die." For ten points, name this plan espoused by Benjamin Franklin that he presented at the namesake Congress in 1753. Answer: Albany Plan [accept Franklin's Plan of Union before Franklin] 7. This artwork is depicted in the top center of the fourth work in William Hogarth's Marriage A-la-Mode series. Originally commissioned by the Duke of Mantua, it is currently housed at Vienna's Museum of Art History. The extreme lower portion of the work depicts the rocky shore of a small stream. On that shore sits a large vase, overgrown by vines and earth. Atop the overgrowth, the central figure lies on a large white sheet. On the left, a tree is enveloped by a dark gray cloud from which emerges a paw-like form that caresses the central figure as a face emerges to kiss her. FTP, name this work by Correggio depicting the rape of an Argive princess who was subsequently transformed into a heifer?. Answer: Jupiter and Io (accept Io and Jupiter; do not accept "Zeus and Io") 8. One of the best of this man's early poems was "Neutral Tones", and he described his first meetings with his wife in a group of poems known as Veteris Vestigiae Flammae, or Vestiges of an Old Flame. Due to prompting by George Meredith he wrote a novel, Desperate Remedies, and began a series of novels set in an imaginary county of England in Under the Greenwood Tree, while his more famous works include The Trumpet-Major, and The Dynasts. FTP, who was this English writer, author of Far From the Madding Crowd and Jude the Obscure? Answer: Thomas Hardy 9. The protagonist's husband has been saving up to purchase a gun so he can shoot larks on the plain of Nanterre, but is despondent when he must spend the money on a dress. The heroine is the daughter of artisans, though she longs to be higher class, and is thus too jealous to visit her childhood friend Mademoiselle Forestier. Invited to a ball at the house of the Minister of Education, the protagonist finally goes to see Forestier, and after the disaster at the ball, she finds a shop at the Palais Royal to replace the title object. After years of hardship and lost youth, she meets Forestier, who tells her the title object was an imitation. FTP, identify this short story about Mathilde Loisel, written by Guy de Maupassant. Answer: The Necklace 10. Stravinsky's Concerto in E-flat major was nicknamed for it and was dedicated to its owner, Robert Woods Bliss. It is now the site of a Harvard-owned research library for Byzantine and pre-Colombian studies but was originally an estate named for a Scottish rock. In 1944, representatives of China, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the U.S. met there to discuss the maintenance of international peace and security following the conclusion of World War II. FTP, name this Georgetown estate that served as the site of the planning of the UN Security Council. Answer: Dumbarton Oaks 11. Many of his great paintings are now in Russia, as is the case with The Conversation. Late in his life he was too weak to stand at an easel, so he turned to papercuts, the most famous of which was Beasts of the Sea. His artistic career began with his decoration of his grandparent's house at Le Cateau, a theme that he copied in designing the sets for Diaghilev's ballet The Nightingale. His notable paintings include a portrait of his wife entitled Green Stripe, the beautifully thematic The Red Room, and perhaps the most famous, his Joy of Life. FTP, name this French painter known as the founder and leader of the Fauves. Answer: Henri Matisse 12. In one section of this poem, it is noted that no "trembling harp," "tumbling hawk," or "swift horse" had "emptied the earth of entire peoples." Those lines come from its section named for the "Last Survivor," which is considered to be the third of its "four funerals." Its closing scene dedicates a barrow to that title figure, who as a youth allegedly lost a swimming contest with Breca in the North Sea. The title figure receives two weapons that eventually fail, acquiring Naegling from Hygelac and Hrunting from Unferth in, for 10 points, which epic poem in which the title figure fights a dragon after rescuing Heorot from the ravages of Cain's descendent Grendel? Answer: Beowulf 13. Its author dictated the book in less than a month to the first graduate of the very first Russian shorthand school. Perhaps he could achieve such speed because of the parallels of the title character with his own life. That man, Alexei Ivanovich, is in love with Polina, but meets his undoing in the town of Roulettesburg. FTP, identify this 1867 novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, whose title character has a compulsive mania. Answer: The Gambler or Igrok 14. His friend Charles Blanc helped him win government commissions to produce religious works such as Mary Magdalene in the Desert and We Want Barabbas!. His mythological works include Two Nymphs Pursued by Satyrs and The Drunkenness of Silenus, and he exhibited his Don Quixote Going to the Wedding of Gamaches at the Salon of 1851. A student of Alexandre Lenoir, he began his career as a lithographer, and made a name for himself in the pages of a journal published by Aubert (oh-bear) and Philipon, Le Charivari. His Gargantua led Louis Phillipe to throw him in prison for six months. FTP, name this French artist who also painted Third Class Carriage. Answer: Honor� Daumier 15. He was converted to socialism by George Bernard Shaw, though his primary influence came under the tutelage of Salama Musa. He wrote several fictional indictments of his native country's revolution, including The Thief and the Dogs, The Beggar, and Karnak. Other works dealing with his country's politics include The Day the Leader was Killed and The Harafish, though he is better known for social works like Children of Gebelawi and Midaq Alley. The author of such works as Palace Walk and Palace of Desire, FTP, identify this Egyptian author and recipient of the 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature. Answer: Naguib Mahfouz 16. Much of the comedy in this play is provided by the dim-witted constable Elbow and the flamboyant bachelor Lucio. After setting the plot in motion, one central figure disguises himself as Friar Lodowick to witness the subsequent action. The plot concerns Angelo's enforcement of Vienna's long-ignored fornication laws, leading to the arrest of Claudio for seducing his betrothed, Juliet. However, all ends well when Duke Vincentio catches Angelo attempting to force Claudio's sister Isabella to yield to him. FTP, what is this comedy by Shakespeare? Answer: Measure for Measure 17. His commands included victory at the Battle of Ridgefield and delaying a British drive to New York City at Lake Champlain. In addition, he fought heroically at Bemis Heights and the siege of Quebec, where he was badly wounded. On his return to duty he was appointed commander of Philadelphia, where he squandered money on an extravagant social life. Combined with a lack of recognition for his tactics at Saratoga, his monetary situation brought him to the attention of Major John Andre. FTP, name this American general who planned to turn West Point over to the British. Answer: Benedict Arnold 18. Its artist also depicted his father listening to a musician playing a violin in an After Dinner party at the titular location. A skull lies by the feet of one of the two oddly dressed figures at this painting's center, whose clothes are from the French Revolution. One figure kneels on his right knee and stares at a choirboy, and another figure staring at the viewer holds a crucifix. Two clergymen in the center are dressed in red, and a dog stands to the center right as several people walking in an S-shaped line are depicted dressed in mourning. For 10 points, identify this gigantic painting depicting a funeral, a work of Gustave Courbet Answer: Burial at Ornans [or A Painting of Human Figures, the History of a Burial at Ornans; or Un Enterrement � Ornans; accept Interment at Ornans; or Funeral at Ornans; or other synonyms for "burial"] 19. He wrote about the fates of Sinfin Carrasco, Justino Perez, Roberto Lopez, and the rest of the "crew" who engaged in the titular fight in his "Furious Struggle Between Seamen and an Octopus of Colossal Size," which along with "Fear" and "We Are Many" appeared in the volume Estravagario. He wrote poems to a "fallen chestnut," a "yellow bird," and "laziness" in his Elemental Odes, while his earlier works include poems about the battle of the Jarama River and one entitled "The Magellan Heart." Later in his career politics played a larger role in his work, as seen in book-length historical poems like Canto general and a work based on his visit to an Incan city in the nation north of his own, "The Heights of Macchu Picchu." FTP, name this author of Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair, a Nobel laureate from Chile. Answer: Pablo Neruda (or Ricardo Eliecer Neftal� Reyes Basualto) 20. This poet noted that he “had no human fears” in a quintet of poems that centered on “A Maid whom there were none to praise / And very few to love.” In another poem, he called his home country “a fen / Of stagnant waters” and wished that “Milton!” “shouldst be living at this hour.” In one poem, he described objects which “flash upon that inward eye” and provide “the bliss of solitude.” In another poem, he wrote that he’d “rather be / A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn.” This author included “She dwelt among the untrodden ways” and “A slumber did my spirit seal” in his Lucy poems. For 10 points, name this poet of “London, 1802” and “The World is Too Much with Us,” who described seeing "a host of golden daffodils" in “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” and wrote “Tintern Abbey.” Answer: William Wordsworth 21. This author described the title food as "the staff of life" made from "wood, cow dung, packed brown moss, the bodies of dead animals" in the poem "All Bread." Anna's best friend returns to her home in the wilderness to accept her father's death in Surfacing, while this author wrote about Simon Jordan's investigation of Grace Mark's innocence in Alias Grace. Snowman is the last human being on Earth in this author's Oryx and Crake, while Marian Macalpin creates the title entity in her novel The Edible Woman. Another of her novels is set in the Republic of Gilead and centers on Offred. FTP, name this Canadian author of The Handmaid's Tale. Answer: Margaret Atwood 22. In one of her works, a flat tire causes a character to announce, "Pass the butter to the victim," and Mrs. May is ultimately killed by an animal on the farm. In addition to "Greenleaf," this author wrote a short story in which a boy knocks over a woman and breaks her ankle, and his grandfather Mr. Head denies being related to avoid paying the medical bill. One of her novels is about the teenage preacher from Powderhead, Francis Marion Tarwater, while another features Enoch Emery's theft of "the new jesus" and the fake blind man Asa Hawks. For 10 points, name this writer of The Violent Bear It Away and "Good Country People," who created Hazel Motes in Wise Blood. Answer: Flannery O'Connor 23. This poem uses the rivers Alpheus and Arethusa to bookmark a section criticizing those who "play lean and flashy songs" on "scrannel Pipes of wretched straw." In this poem, the god of the Cam river asks "Who hath reft...my dearest pledge?" before "the Pilot of the Galilean lake" denounces "Blind mouths!" who swell their listeners with wind instead of feeding them. At the end of this poem, a swain calls the title character "the Genius of the shore"after imploring "Look homeward Angel now, and melt with ruth." Foretelling "the ruin of our corrupted / Clergy then at their height," for 10 points, name this elegy on the drowning of Edward King, written by John Milton. Answer: "Lycidas" 24. University of Texas professor Sanford Levinson questioned why this provision does not get more coverage in legal journals in an article titled for its "embarrassing" consequences. The 1886 Presser v. Illinois case, which said that this restriction does not apply at the state level, was challenged in April 2009 by a Ninth Circuit ruling which held that this amendment is now incorporated. The majority opinion in a recent case addressing this law noted that "a purposive qualifying phrase that contradicts the word or phrase it modifies is unknown this side of the looking glass, except, apparently, in some courses on Linguistics." An earlier Supreme Court case addressing this amendment turned on the transportation of an item from Oklahoma to Arkansas in violation of a federal registration statute and the meaning of the phrase "well-regulated militia." For 10 points, identify this subject of the DC v. Heller and U.S. v. Miller rulings, a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to keep and bear arms. Answer: The Second Amendment 25. A 2003 study by Yohanan Grinshpon claims that Western commentators have misrepresented these books as pure philosophy and argues that they can only be understood as a story of characters. They first emphasized the importance of cosmic knowledge in avoiding punarmrtyu [poo-nahr-murt-yoo], or "repeated death." The Chandyoga volume contains the central doctrine "tat tvam asi," while others advance the "neti-neti" concept through the character of Yajnavalkya [yahj-nah-VALK-yuh]. Including the Great Forest Texts, they directly answer questions about the sacrifices described in the Rig Veda, and the earliest ones, such as the Isa and Kena, are the basis for the Vedanta school. FTP, identify these texts with a name meaning "sit down near" which outline the philosophy of Hinduism and were a major influence on Arthur Schopenhauer. Answer: Upanishads 26. One character in this work dreams about a man with a rifle on Petrin Hill who helps three suicidal people kill themselves; after that dream, she spits in the face of an engineer during sex. The story about Yakov Stalin’s death is told in one section, in which a mugging in Cambodia results in the death of Marie-Claude’s husband, who had been seeing a character trying to escape kitsch. One character in this work becomes a window washer after referring to the Oedipus tale in an anti-Communist newspaper article, and his dog Karenin dies of cancer shortly before its owners die in a truck accident. For 10 points, name this book about the experiences of Tereza, Tomáš and Sabina during and after the Prague Spring, a work by Milan Kundera. Answer: The Unbearable Lightness of Being 27. In the chorus' final long speech in this play they ask Dionysus to protect their city. This follows the suicide of Eurydice, who called down curses upon her husband before she died. Her husband promised to heed the wishes of Tiresias but did not, leading to his wife and son's death after he had ordered his niece left to die in a sealed tomb. Opening a few days after the seven against Thebes have retreated, the plot centers on Creon's refusal to give proper burial rites to Polynices, which his sister does. FTP, name this play about a daughter of Oedipus, the final play in Sophocles Oedipus trilogy. Answer: Antigone 28. This author created the honest locksmith Gabriel Varden and a man who is killed in a duel, John Chester. In one novel by this author, a misplaced five-pound note is found in one character's hat, necessitating the aid of a mysterious "Single Gentleman" in order to escape his sentence of transportation. The malevolent dwarf Quilp and rakish attorney Sampson Brass fail to help Kit Nubbles reach Little Nell before she dies in that book. In an unfinished novel by him, Jack Jasper and Neville Landless are suspected of murder. For 10 points, name this atuhor of The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby Rudge, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, plus David Copperfield. Answer: Charles Dickens 29. One of this man’s speeches asks "What rule must we observe in forgiving?", to which he replies "you must forgive" unless there is a lawful pledge. He concludes that speech by declaring that if the community turns their hearts away from God, then they will "surely perish out of the good land." Along with "A Model of Christian Charity", he discusses A Smallpox Epidemic, the plans of one man to create a plantation around Narragansett Bay, and the bold spirited woman Anne Hutchinson in his Journal. For 10 points, name this seventeenth century preacher and governor in the Massachusetts Bay Colony who used the term "city upon a hill" to help compel his city to follow Christianity. Answer: John Winthrop 30. He tries to conceal one of his many affairs by only visiting his partner when the stars are in just the right alignment. He also adopts a girl with the premise of raising her as his own, though he did admit that he intended to later develop a physical relationship with the girl. He falls in love with a princess because of her beautiful zither music. One lady gets jealous at his many wives and transports her soul into the body of his main squeeze, Lady Aoi. FTP, name this titular character of the world's first great novel. Answer: Genji 31. In this work, a messenger encounters the title character singing on a farm and announces that a festival would be held in the honor of the Goddess Hera and that all Argive maidens were to attend. However, the protagonist refuses to attend so as to avoid becoming the object of the pitying eyes of the people of Argos. This is because the protagonist was forced to marry an elderly peasant farmer, so that her husband would not be able to avenge the wrongs wrought on her male family members by her mother and stepfather Aegisthos. Fortunately, her brother Orestes will return from hiding and kill not only Aegisthos, but also Clytemnestra. FTP, name this daughter of Agamemnon, the titular character of a drama written by Euripides. Answer: Electra 32. Alexandre Dumas wrote that this painting's creator worked out of sentimentality rather than any sense of patriotism. Towards the right of the canvas a city can be seen in the foggy background. The soldier on the left wears his hat askew and bears a sabre, while the boy on the far right charges forward bearing two pistols. The man in the top hat with the musket is supposedly the artist himself and stands to the left of the central figure, who stands bare-breasted and holds a musket in one hand and the French tri-color in the other. FTP, identify this 1830 painting, the most famous work of Eugene Delacroix. Answer: Liberty Leading the People or La Libert� guidant le people 33. The painter of this work was inspired to paint it after finishing a Georgiano painting that depicts a thunderhead above a village on a hill in the upper right corner above the title figure. Beneath a column and a potted plant, two servants in a tapestried corner in the background rummage for garments in a cassone, a marriage chest. The title figure clutches a bunch of flowers in her braceleted right hand and rests beneath a black velvet curtain next to a curled-up dog, and she lies on a red sofa covered by a white sheet with her other hand covering her pubic area. FTP, name this painting that depicts a reclining goddess of love, a work by Titian. Answer: Venus of Urbino 34. There are no known copies of this man's Latin comedy Philologia. This man's prose works include an attack on "a man of high rank with no knowledge or virtue" and the essay "On His Own Ignorance and That of Many Others," which are among his four Invectives. His more uplifting works include a set of three imaginary dialogues with Saint Augustine, On Contempt for the Worldly Life, and the autobiographical Letter to Posterity. More famously, he wrote the biographies collected in On Illustrious Men and the poetry collection Triumphs, not to mention an unfinished epic about Scipio, Africa. FTP, name this Italian poet whose Canzoniere contains many sonnets written to his love Laura. Answer: Francesco Petrarch or Petrarca 35. The poet invokes memories of the recently ended French Revolution with the question "Dare its deadly terrors clasp," one of the few references in this poem not directly relating to the title figure. Images of that title figure are depicted within the twelve questions posed in this poem and "the sinews of thy heart" and "the fire of thine eyes." The last of those questions, "What immortal hand or eye / Dare frame thy fearful symmetry," ends this short work that first appeared in Songs of Experience. FTP, name this companion piece to "The Lamb," a poem by William Blake. Answer: "The Tyger" 36. This author chronicled the succession of owners of Rembrandt's Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer in the novel Picture This. King Solomon is nicknamed "Shlomo" and derives all of his wisdom from clay tablets in his retelling of the David story, God Knows. In one of his works, Bruce Gold becomes Secretary of State, and another sees Bob Slocum accidentally smother his injured son. In addition to Good as Gold and Something Happened, another of his novels is set on Pianosa and features the characters Colonel Cathcart and Milo Minderbinder. For 10 points, identify this author who wrote about Major Major Major Major and Yossarian in Catch-22. Answer: Joseph Heller 37. The protagonist of this novel is annoyed by a letter from his wife suggesting he become a professional carpet painter. The protagonist sews pieces of bread into his mattress and carves a spoon out of aluminum, engraved with the phrase "Ust-Izhma". In this novel, Caesar Markovich gets into a debate about Eisenstein's Ivan the Terrible, while earlier, Snub Nose frightens Eino and his Estonian brother by nearly finding their cigarettes. The title character of this novel shares a cookie with his roommate, Aloysha the Baptist, and despises Fetyukov, who scavenges bowls after meals for extra rations. Centering on Gang 104, for 10 points, name this novel by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn about the title character's life in a prison camp. Answer: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich [accept Odin den' Ivana Denisovicha] 38. This artist's final paintings included garishly-colored works like Model by the Wicker Chair, while his many self-portraits include The Night Wanderer and a woodcut with a skeleton arm running along the bottom. The majority of his paintings, which include numerous depictions of "vampiric" women, were intended for inclusion in a series entitled The Frieze of Life. His more famous works include a green-walled depiction of his sister’s death from tuberculosis, entitled Death in the Sickroom, as well as a work set along a dock at Ljabrochaussen with a swirling, blood-red sky. For 10 points, name this Norwegian Expressionist painter of The Scream. Answer: Edvard Munch 39. The protagonist of this novel forgets to turn off his scent tap before flying by helicopter to Malpais. Other characters in this work include a Polish boy named Reuben Rabinovitch, who learns English in his sleep. Technologies introduced in this work include Malthusian drills, Podsnap’s technique, and Bokanovsky’s human egg fertilization process, which is used to distinguish between Alphas and Epsilons. When Lenina brings John the Savage back to London, he gains instant celebrity. This novel is set in 632 Year of our Ford, and ends when Mustafa Mond exiles Helmholtz and Bernard Marx. For ten points name this dystopian novel by Aldous Huxley. Answer: Brave New World 40. In Act I of this opera, the song "As Someday it May Happen" goes through a "little list" of the singer's many irritations with society, two of which are "the nigger serenader" and "the lady novelist." Following the relative failure of "Princess Ida," Richard d'Oyly Carte gave the composers a six-month deadline in which to produce this opera. The title character of this opera sings "See how the Fates their gifts allot" near the end of Act II, which is set in Ko-Ko's garden. Ko-Ko, the Head Executioner of Titipu, plans to commit suicide upon learning that the title character plans to visit because he has not committed a single execution. The ineffectual Ko-Ko ends up marrying Katisha, but only after being unable to marry Yum-Yum, who has married Nanki-Poo, the son of the title character. FTP, name this pseudo-Japanese Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera, their ninth collaboration. Answer: The Mikado 41. The only one who doesn't like the poem that ends this work is Crofton, who merely labels it as "a very fine piece of writing." Taking place in a room on Wicklow Street, it begins with the old caretaker Jack ranting about his ne'er-do-well son, though the conversation takes a different turn once the rest of the company arrives. Henchy defends the potential visit of Edward VII advocated by candidate "Tricky Dicky" Tierney, and Joe Hynes ends the meeting by reciting his poem The Death of Parnell. FTP, identify this short story about election canvassing appearing in James Joyce's Dubliners. Answer: Ivy Day in the Committee Room 42. Among the children of this figure is his daughter Jochabed, who would later marry her own nephew Amram, while others include Gerhon, Kohath, and Merari. His descendants would not enjoy material prosperity in the land of Israel due to his role in avenging the seduction of his sister Dinah by Shechem, whose followers he slaughtered while they were recovering from circumcision, although unlike Simeon his progeny would receive cities from all the tribes including the cities of refuge as well as tithes, presumably to maintain them in their care for the priests and maintenance of the tabernacle. FTP, name this third son of Jacob and Leah and ancestor of Moses, whose progeny assumed sacerdotal responsiblities in the Israelite religion. Answer: Levi 43. Count Robert de Montesquiou was the original of his homosexual character Baron de Charlus. He used Laure Hayman, his uncle's mistress, as the basis for his character Odette, and his lovers Reynaldo Hahn and Lucien Daudet were the model for Albertine. All of these characters appear in a work published between 1913 and 1927, whose sections include Cities of the Plain and Swann's Way. FTP, name this French writer who produced the lengthy novel Remembrance of Things Past. Answer: Marcel Proust 44. The author wrote a sequel to this play in 1952 which focuses on the character of Jamie. This play features only five characters: Cathleen, a servant girl; the aforementioned Jamie, who is the elder son and an alcoholic; another son named Edmund who is consumptive; a wife addicted to morphine; and the patriarch of the family, a tight-fisted actor named James. FTP, identify the play which centers around the Tyrone family, a 1957 Pulitzer Prize winner which was published after the death of its author, Eugene O'Neill. Answer: Long Day's Journey Into Night 45. The author based this story on a tale told to him by the clergyman H.L. Connolly. He gained the inspiration for it from the 1755 event known as Le Grande Derangement. The title heroine and her lover dwell near the lakes of Atchafalaya [aa cha fa lye aa] in the towns of St. Maur and St. Martin. After Ms. Bellefontaine is taken to New England, she learns that her lover went to the Ozarks. Working as a nurse in Philadelphia she finally meets up again with a dying Gabriel Lajeunesse. FTP, identify this story about the titular Acadian woman, a narrative poem by Henry Longfellow. Answer: Evangeline 46. His minor poems include a mock-pastoral in which the loss of Grildrig is lamented by Glumdalclitch and a "proper new ballad" in which the ghost of George Sandys mocks contemporary translators of Ovid. His "miscellanies" include a poem addressed to Mr. John Moore, "author of the celebrated Worm-Powder," and one addressed to Miss Blount along with a copy of the works of Voiture (vwa-tour). His "translations and imitations" include versions of the first book of Statius's Thebaid, an updating of The Temple of Fame, and Sappho to Phaon, while his earlier works include a "sacred eclogue" written in imitation of Virgil's Pollio, The Messiah. He wrote poems "to Lord Bolingbroke" and "to Dr. Arbuthnot" as parts of his Imitations of Horace. FTP, name this English poet of Eloisa to Abelard and The Rape of the Lock. Answer: Alexander Pope 47. Late in his career he worked on a commission for the Boston Public Library to execute murals on a history of Jewish and Christian religions. After 1910 he began to paint Alpine and Italian landscapes such as Mountain Fire. His most popular work at the time of its release was a study of two little girls lighting Japanese lanterns: Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose. But his most famed work was executed during his time as a fashionable portraitist and depicts a Mrs. Gautreau striking a sensual pose. FTP identify this Italian born American painter of Madame X. Answer: John Singer Sargent 48. In 1935 Benjamin Britten wrote incidental music to the play, a few centuries after Henry Purcell set the Masque of Cupid and Bacchus. Apemantus is a churlish philosopher; Ventidius is one of the false friends; Sempronius, Lucullus, and Lucius are flattering lords; and Flavius is the "one honest man." The title character is a misanthrope because his friends flattered and sponged on him in prosperity but abandoned him in poverty, while later he finds gold and suddenly becomes attractive again to his old friends again. FTP identify this 1606 play by William Shakespeare. Answer: Timon of Athens 49. In one his stories a man eats a bewitched pellet that he stole from a museum, which allows him to understand animals. He wrote about Hans Giebenrath, who mysteriously drowns after he is sent home from the Maulbronn seminary in Beneath the Wheel, and in another work Pistorius Pistorius introduces the occult god Abraxas to Emil Sinclair, who later goes to live with Max Demian. The protagonist of another novel is taught to dance by Hermine and is induced by the saxophonist Pablo to enter the Magic Theater. For 10 points, name this man, who wrote about Harry Haller in Steppenwolf, and also penned Siddhartha. Answer: Herman Hesse 50. Gerard de Nerval's poem "El Desdichado" takes its title from the motto of a character in this work, and Charles Chesnutt's House Behind the Cedars is a retelling of it. Hilarity ensues when two characters try to ask Gurth and Wamba for directions, but they are led down the right path by the title character. That character and a moneylender then travel to Ashby de la Zouche, where they meet the Black Sluggard. After leaving Ashby de la Zouche the title character and his party are captured and imprisoned in Torquilstone castle, where Brian des Bois-Guilbert attempts to force Rebecca to convert to Christianity. However, the Black Sluggard teams up with Robin Hood and storms the castle. The title character then fights a duel to rescue Rebecca and ultimately marries his true love, Rowena. FTP name this novel about a disinherited knight by Sir Walter Scott. Answer: Ivanhoe 51. She was a protectress of women, childbirth, and the dead, a queen of peace and love, and mistress of music, dancing, and drinking. Above all, however, she was the goddess of fertility, the universal mother who brought forth the world and Horus, the sun. Infant pharaohs were depicted as having suckled at her breast. Often depicted in the form of a cow or as a woman wearing a crown of cow horns, FTP, name this Egyptian goddess whose other realm included death and sex. Answer: Hathor 52. The title character finally achieves peace in this novella through the simplicity of his servant Gerasim. He had married Praskovya Fyodorovna because his friends approved, and had built a life based on orderly routine while seeking to become the perfect traditional bureaucrat. The main part of this story deals with his attempts to deal with an incurable illness, which follows the opening section, in which his family and colleagues reflect on how his death will affect their careers and fortunes. FTP, what is this novel by Leo Tolstoy? Answer: The Death of Ivan Ilyich (Smert Ivan Ilycha) 53. The protagonist remembers his week-long gambling session with Herr Lent and his meeting of Tristan Tzara in a Paris bar, before realizing that he "he would never write about any of them... the rich were dull and repetitious." Thus when Compton arrives in the two-seat plane it seems that the main character's decision to photograph a herd of waterbuck, and the scratch he suffered as a result, will not spell his doom. The story ends with Helen yelling for Molo to come to the bedside and the discovery that the writer, Harry, has met the same fate as the leopard in the preface of, FTP, what Hemingway short story named for precipitation on a Tanzanian mountain. Answer: The Snows of Kilimanjaro 54. He was identified with the crocodile god Khenty-Khety, fought the crocodile Maga, and regained his severed hands after the fish-trap was invented by the crocodile god Sobek. He won a battle when his semen cried out in victory from his opponent's belly. One of his sons was androgynous and was associated with dying of a broken heart, while his son Ihy was known as the "bull of confusion." Four of his sons, known as the Amerti, protected the canopic jars. His left eye was associated with the moon, and it was injured during his battle with his father's killer, Set. FTP, name this falcon-headed Egyptian god, the son of Osiris and Isis. Answer: Horus 55. One character in this work drinks Coca-Cola from a paper sack that most of the townspeople believe contains alcohol, while another, Mrs. Dubose, breaks a morphine habit and dies in pain rather than addicted. A blanket mysteriously appears over the shoulders of one of its characters when Miss Maudie Atkinson's house burns down, and an unruly mob breaks up after Walter Cunningham's father becomes embarrassed. A legal defense in this novel hinges on the defendant's withered left arm, but Tom Robinson is still convicted of raping Mayella Ewell and dies trying to escape prison. FTP, name this work that features Jem, Scout, and Atticus Finch, a novel by Harper Lee. Answer: To Kill a Mockingbird 56. The author concludes this novel by leaving the reader to determine whether it recommends "parental tyranny, or filial disobedience." The heroine, who learned the fable of "The Hare and Many Friends" as quick as any English girl, is vacationing with Mr. and Mrs. Allen in Bath when we first meet her. Her brother James is engaged to Isabella, and she is pursued by Isabella's brother, John Thorpe, whose exaggeration of her wealth earns her an invite to the General's estate. Carried away by her Gothic reading, the heroine is soon kicked out of Henry Tilney's house but ends up marrying him anyway. FTP, name this work about Catherine Morland, a Jane Austen novel in which much of the action takes place at the titular estate. Answer: Northanger Abbey 57. His The Garbage Man, Airways Inc., and Fortune Heights were published in 1934 as Three Plays, that same year also saw the publication of In All Countries, a travel narrative that charted worldwide reaction to subjects like communism and the Sacco-Vanzetti case. Other works include The Great Days and Most Likely to Succeed, but he is most famous for two separate series of novels, one of which begins with Adventures of a Young Man and introduces the character of Glenn Spotswood, while the other begins with The 42nd Parallel. FTP identify this American author of One Man's Initiation and the District of Columbia and USA Trilogies. Answer: John Dos Passos 58. In one of this man's stories, Ivan Vasilyevich describes how he fell out of love with a woman named Varenka after he saw her father, a colonel, ordering his troops to beat a Tartar who had deserted. In another of his stories, the fraudulent title object is created by a friend of the son of Fyodor Mikhailovich Smokovnikov, and leads Ivan Mironov to become a horse thief before he is murdered by Stepan Pelageyushkin. In addition to "After the Ball" and "The Forged Coupon," he wrote the suicide of Yevgeny Irtenev in "The Devil" and about a man named Pozdnyshev who murdered his wife in "The Kreutzer Sonata." FTP, name this Russian writer who also wrote such novels as Resurrection, Anna Karenina, and War and Peace. Answer: Leo Tolstoy 59. This book's epilogue features an ice-cream sociable given by the Methodists, at which Lily Fisher's twins wonder why Tillie is always talking about a thousand dollars. In the final chapter, Fred learns from Mr. Harsanyi that the protagonist's secret is "passion." The title of this novel comes from a Jules Breton painting seen at the Art Institute in Chicago by the protagonist, who is the daughter of a minister in the desert town of Moonstone, Colorado. In her youth, she encounters the mandolin-playing Spanish Johnny and the helpful town physician Dr. Howard Archie, while she learns a lot from self-educated railroad brakeman Ray Kennedy. In a central passage, the sensual experience of bathing at Panther Canyon teaches the protagonist the true meaning of art. FTP, name this novel about the rise of a diva named Thea Kronborg, a novel by Willa Cather. Answer: The Song of the Lark 60. Early in his life, he worships the Indian Gray Beaver as a god, but is soon separated from his mother Kiche and ends up under the control of the coward Beauty Smith, who turns him into a professional fighter. Living under the credo "eat or be eaten", he experiences success until a fight with a bulldog who is impervious to his slashing attacks. Saved from death by Weedon Scott, he is domesticated, and later saves Weedon's father from an escaped convict. FTP, who is this wolf, the title character of the companion novel to "The Call of the Wild"? Answer: White Fang 61. This author wrote short stories about Paul Hilbert, who resolves to shoot six random people with a revolver, and Lucien Fleurier, who punches a Jew in the face after joining a Fascist organization called the Camelot du roi. Besides "Erostratus" and "The Childhood of a Leader," this author wrote a play about a character who is sent poisoned chocolates in prison after killing the leader Hoederer, Hugo Barine, as well as a trilogy of novels about Mathieu Delarue, Roads to Freedom. His plays include The Respectful Prostitute and Dirty Hands, and he wrote a novel about a man who discovers that the essences of objects hide their existence, Antoine Roquentin. For 10 points, name this author of Nausea and No Exit. Answer: Jean-Paul Sartre 62. He gained followers by praising the concept of Asha, or order, thereby rejecting the state of Drug [DROOG], or confusion. These thoughts are expressed in his series of devotional poems, the Gathas, which were widely propagated by the priestly group that claimed him as one of them, the Magi. The Magi also spread his notions of the destroyer and creator deities, Angra Mainyu and Ahura Mazda. FTP, name this religious figure, whose teachings were adopted as the state religion of ancient Persia. Answer: Zarathustra or Zoroaster 63. This god was represented as a vigorous, red-haired youth, and was armed with iron gloves, a belt of strength, and a magical hammer that returned to him. Associated with marriage, the hearth, and agriculture, according to tradition, he failed to smash the skull of Jormungand and the 2 are destined to kill each other in the Ragnarok. FTP name this Norse god of thunder, might, and war. Answer: Thor 64. The god Aker, guardian of the Double Horizon, took the form of two of these creatures back to back. Hera sent one as a punishment for the abduction of Chrysippus, and it made its home on Mount Phicium. The one sent by Hera was, according to Hesiod's Theogony, a daughter of Orthrus and Echidna, and was said to strangle travelers that failed its test. The Egyptian god Amun was sometimes depicted as a ram-headed variant of one of these creatures, but they were typically pictured with the face of a monarch and the body of a lion. In Greek myth, this creature committed suicide after hearing the correct response, "Man," from the son of Laius. FTP, name these creatures, one of which failed to stump Oedipus with its riddle. Answer: sphinxes 65. Some myths emphasize her as a weeping, loving, mother and wife, while others emphasize her loose morals. One legend features her trying and failing to save her son's life. She was a strong promoter of marriage and family, and lends her name to one of the days of the week. FTP, name this Norse goddess, mother of Baldur and wife of Odin. Answer: Frigg or Frij, Frea, or Friia 66. During the feeding of the masses in the Book of John, it is he that asks "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fishes: but what are these among so many?" Always mentioned as one of the first four Apostles, Origen ascribes his preaching realm to Scythia, while St. Gregory of Nazianzus mentions Epirus. In 1964, his skull was returned by Pope Paul VI to the Archbishop of Patras, where he is said to have been martyred, although some relics were also taken by St. Regulus to Scotland. FTP, identify this patron saint of Scotland crucified on an X-shaped cross. Answer: Saint Andrew (do not accept St. Andrew Yaphe, patron saint of Quizbowl) 67. Originally called the Zadokites, this group formed around 100 BCE. They traced their origins back to the selection of the descendants of Zadok to act as trustees of the Temple in Jerusalem. Generally speaking, they were the most Hellenized portion of the Jewish population, and were on decent terms with the Romans. However, their end was directly due to the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, since their school was an incidental casualty. FTP, name this Jewish sect, most well known for their strict, legalistic interpretation of the law, and rejection of the concepts of resurrection and angels. Answer: Sadducees 68. After the death of her second husband, she went back to Asia with one of her sons by another man. Her seven brothers and her father E�tion were all killed by the father of the man who himself fathered her children Pielus, Molossus, and Pergamus. She herself was nearly killed by Hermione, the daughter of Helen who married the man whose concubine she was, but her life was saved by Peleus. She ended up at Epirus after marrying Helenus, and when Aeneas met her there she was still mourning her first husband. Other unhappy events in her life include the time her infant son was thrown to his death from the walls of Troy, and the death of her beloved husband in battle at the hands of Achilles. FTP, name this mother of Astyanax and wife of Hector. Answer: Andromache 69. According to his legend, he felt himself unworthy of the priesthood at the age of 16 and so retired to the wilderness as an anchorite. One day a whirlwind dropped a beautiful princess on the doorstep of his cave. He reluctantly let her in, but then he succumbed to temptation and seduced her. Overwhelmed by guilt, he succumbed to temptation again and pushed her from a cliff. In remorse, he crept through the desert with his face to the ground for 16 years until he received a sign of his forgiveness and the princess was found alive and healthy at the base of the cliff. FTP, name this saint who in less fanciful histories is known as one of the greatest fathers of the church and whose appellation literally means "golden mouth." Answer: John Chrysostom 70. In the Merseburg Incantations, this character is also referred to as Phol and is aided by his family when his mount sprains its foot. The Gylfaginning claims that "none may gainsay his judgments" while Saxo Grammaticus held him to be a historical rival of Hotherus in the Gesta Danorum. Due to the treachery of Thokk, and despite the use of Hringhorni, the largest ship in the world, Hermod failed in his mission to retrieve this god. However, the Voluspa foretells his resurrection following Ragnarok. FTP, identify this son of Frigg mistakenly killed by his brother Hoder's mistletoe arrow; the Norse god of beauty. Answer: Balder or Baldur (accept Phol before it's mentioned) 71. According to an apocryphal book of his acts, he was martyred after his preaching of celibacy created marital difficulties for one King Mazdai. Before this he had been commissioned as chief architect for the palace of King Gundafar. After distributing the project funds to the poor, he was imprisoned, but redeemed when the king's brother saw the palace this apostle had constructed in heaven. According to the Letter of Prester John, his uncorrupted hand gave communion once a year in India, which he converted, despite the fact that the gospel bearing his name was found in Egypt. FTP, name this apostle, concerning whose deeds scholars are as doubtful as he himself was about the Resurrection. Answer: Saint Thomas 72. Sometimes invoked as the grandfather of Heimdall, his servants include Eldir and Fimafeng. His brothers include Kari and Logi, while his nine daughters, who are depicted with white veils and robes, are described as the Billow Maidens. Perhaps best known for hosting lavish dinners alongside his wife Ran at his gold-walled dining hall near the isle of Hler, it was Thor who brought him the magical cauldron which he uses to brew his ale. Slain by Loki at one of his own feasts, this deity was feared and praised by sailors. FTP, name this early Norse sea god. Answer: Aegir 73. He is usually held to be the son of Apollo and a Muse, perhaps Calliope, though some accounts make him the son of Dionysus and Aphrodite, which would make him a god of fruitfulness. In Attic legend, however, he was a beautiful youth who rescued a group of women from a band of pirates, and as a reward he obtained one of the women in marriage. His happy married life caused him ever after to be invoked in the refrain of the Greek marriage song, and he came to be known by the name of that refrain. FTP, name this figure from Greek mythology, whose name also applies to the membrane that nearly closes the opening to the vagina in some mammals. Answer: Hymen (or Hymenaeus) 74. In the art of this religious tradition, the semicircle is a common motif representing the female reproductive cycle, which in this religion's mythology is akin to the solid matter that coalesced into a clot with a crust when the Great Mother created the Earth. Many of its followers wear a "tilaka," which is traditionally black for unmarried women but red for others. Alternate names for this religion include Sanatana and Vaidika. FTP name this henotheistic faith, whose followers are divided primarily between Vaishnavism and Shaivaism, whose deities include Kali, Ganesha, and Vishnu, which is the dominant religion of India. Answer: Hinduism 75. She turned a nymph her husband was chasing into a mint plant, and when Pirithous tried to take her for his wife, he was bound by snakes. The nymph Cyane melted into water after witnessing her abduction, which occurred when she wandered away from her friends the Oceanids to examine a large dark-blue flower. This gave Hades the chance to carry her off, while later, her eating of pomegranate seeds forced her to become his queen. FTP, who is this daughter of Demeter who must spend part of each year in the underworld, where she gets to share Adonis with Aphrodite? Answer: Persephone (or Proserpina or Persephassa) Card Set Information Quiz Bowl Questions 2011-01-22 18:27:20 quiz bowl Show Answers: What would you like to do? Home > Flashcards > Print Preview
home button icon Text Heading Flow Finder Icon Article #11: Flow Gauge Conversions October 16, 2006 In each of our Tip of the Week articles we have tried to provide valuable information about the function and use of our Flow Finders™ and Flow Gauge™. The more informed you are in regard to these measurements tools, the more efficient you will become when measuring flow. One situation in which the accuracy of Flow Gauge readings can be affected is when an air pipe system experiences major drops in pressure. Therefore, in this Tip of the Week we'll discuss how low pipe pressure can impact Flow Finder readings. As you're probably aware, an air flow reading can be determined by using System Studies' Flow Gauge in conjunction with a Flow Finder. The Flow Gauge converts the pressure differential created by the Flow Finder's calibrated orifice into an accurate flow rate. The flow rate indicated by the Flow Gauge is based on a pipe pressure of 9.0 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). Therefore, a reading taken by a Flow Gauge in an air pipe with 9.0 PSI will always be accurate. If the pipe pressure is over or under 9.0 PSI, however, readings will be influenced. For example, if a Flow Gauge indicates a flow reading of 50 Standard Cubic Feet per Hour (SCFH) and the pipe pressure is 6.0 PSI, the Flow Gauge reading will be higher than the actual or true air flow rate. Why? When the pipe pressure is 6.0 PSI, air molecules are less compressed, enabling them to pass through the Flow Finder orifice at an accelerated rate. And remember, the Flow Gauge is calibrated to read pressure differential at 9 PSI. So, a lower pipe pressure at the Flow Finder location would mean that the flow rate indicated by the Flow Gauge is somewhat higher than the actual reading. Conversely, a pipe pressure of 11 PSI, for example, would result in more densely compressed air molecules forcing their way through the orifice. This results in a lower Flow Gauge reading when compared with the true flow rate. To help determine accurate flow readings with the Flow Gauge at different air pipe pressures, we have compiled the conversion chart on the next page. You can see that a Flow Finder reading taken at an air pipe that has a delivery pressure of 6.0 PSI requires an offset calculation of 0.87. So, if the Flow Finder reading is 50 SCFH, the actual or accurate flow reading will be 43.5 SCFH (50 x .87 = 43.5 SCFH). It is important to note that, in most cases, the conversion process will be unnecessary except in pipes that have significant changes in pressure and/or high flow rates. See Conversion Chart Below. Air Pipe Pressure Multiplier 12 1.13 11 1.08 10 1.04 9 1.00 8 0.96 7 0.92 6 0.87 5 0.83 4 0.79 3 0.75 2 0.70 1 0.66 Hopefully, this article has explained how it could be possible for one Flow Finder at a pipe alarm panel to read 60 SCFH (with an input pressure of 9 PSI) and another Flow Finder installed in the air pipe at a manifold location to read 65 SCFH (with an input pressure of 7 PSI). The difference in readings is the result of air pressure, not flow. Using the table above, you can see that the converted flow rate for the Flow Finder at the manifold location would be 59.8 SCFH. This reading accurately represents the true flow rate at this location. If you have any questions regarding Flow Gauge conversion, or if you would like any additional information on the Flow Finders and Flow Gauge, please give us a call or drop us some email.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 PLN #23 This week i looked through some articles and one that caught my eye was called Fight Hunger While Learning Vocab by Carl Fisch. This article is very interesting it is saying they have created a vocabulary website( sort of a game) where you start to try to find meanings of words and for every word you get right 20 grains of rice gets donated to less fortunate countries. This is so great it making such good use of learning and connecting it to the world this would be such a good way to help out if you wanted to and didn't no a way. I defentley think teachers should assign this as homework it would be a productive way to learn and you are also just helping out others. When he mentions this in the article i pretty much think it sums it up This is always good and if you no what happening around you , you can always try to help some how. People are sometimes oblivious to what is happening around them and i think this is such a great way to try to stop world hunger and it can come in handy in the classrooms thats also good. It connects to the classroom cause we always have needed a simple way to help and this provides that. This connects to the world because we shouldn't all be independent don't let other neighbors die its a bigger issue than 20 grains a question so many people starve and if a lot of people do this that many people are not starving part of the solution. No comments:
"I don't think my baby can see!" The young father has come to all the childbirth classes and is determined to help his baby grow and develop as best he can. "But, he won't look at his rattle," the dad reports, as he quickly moves the toy back and forth in front of the baby's eyes. "On that film you showed us I saw a baby look at his rattle. So what's wrong with Eric?" Dad asks. The doula is delighted by the new father's interest and attention to his little one. She reminds Dad that though a baby can see up close almost as well as an adult, infant eyes move more slowly. So she steadies Dad's hand as he holds the rattle 10 inches from the baby's face. Together they move the rattle slowly as Eric attends to the toy. When the baby's eyes hesitate and drop off the rattle, she and Dad stop the movement. Then Eric's eyes seem to catch on again. Now Dad and the doula inch the ball over a second time as Eric looks on. The doula also shows Dad how to vary the sound of the rattle to keep Eric's attention. Since baby's have the ability to ignore repeating, overwhelming stimulation (the "Shutting Down" SOS), varying the cadence of the rattle keeps a baby interested. Eric likes what Dad is doing now. In another few seconds Dad notices Eric start to get a bit red in the face; he also sees his son's breathing pick up. "That's one of those SOSs!," Dad exclaims. "I think he's done showing off right now." Dad cuddles Eric closely and speaks quietly into his ear. The baby's color returns to normal and his breathing slows down as he melts into his dad's arms. Babies do have remarkable abilities to see and can see their mother's face at birth! Research shows that a four-hour-old baby can even pick her mother out of a lineup of women's photos! However, there is a normal hesitancy with most babies as they engage with and follow an object. They are especially attracted by the human face. They seem programmed to respond to the contrasting colors, curves, and movement of a parent's face. Babies who are born early, or who are more fragile, may have normal vision but not yet be able to orient as fully to a toy or to Dad's face as Eric can. The doula may notice that such a baby only gets still and quiet when a rattle is shaken. But she know that this, too, is normal. Watching for those SOSs and giving extra support with swaddling or letting the baby suck a finger will help some babies orient easier. Surprisingly, some babies who are not yet able to look at a toy may simply lift their chin toward the object as proof that "I get it! I just can't do it right now!" Eric's dad is reassured to see how attending to the rate and rhythm of this play, responding to his son's SOSs, and offering a little extra support when needed helps Eric pay attention to and respond to the wonderful world around him--and Dad feel more connected to the newest member of his family. © HUG Your Baby 2017
Literacy and Church Planting Projects Based on Luke 19 Your congregation can experience a practical 12 week study of the parable in Luke 19:10-28 while transforming the lives of people in India. Significant Features of the Project Involves the congregation in the Great Commission without impacting the church's budget. The Luke 19 Project gets everyone in the church involved in doing something for missions at the same time. People care more deeply about missions because they have invested their own time and talents. It sets the stage so people can see God working in their own lives. It is important to believe the Bible and right doctrine, but what makes the Christian faith exciting is when people see God moving in their own personal lives. This occurs as folks pray and ask God to multiply through them the 'Seed Money' given out of Luke 19. It generates new money for missions and does not compete with out-of-pocket giving. In this project people are not asked to give their own money, but are challenged simply to multiply what has been given to them. Glad Tidings India supplies the 'Seed Money'. How the Luke 19 Project Works Based on the parable of the pounds or minas (Luke 19:10-28): Three servants were given a pound. One multiplied it 5 times, another multiplied it 10 times, and the third just hid the pound and didn't do anything. Glad Tidings India provides the $10 for every responsible teen and adult in the congregation. The pastor preaches a message on Luke 19 on a Sunday morning and everyone in the congregation (responsible teenagers and older) receives a $10 bill. Each person is challenged for the next 12 weeks to multiply their 'seed money' by using their own creative talents and abilities in their own personal lives. The goal is for each individual to multiply his or her 'pound' five or ten times just like the most faithful servants did. Pray that God will lead you what to do. Pray for God's blessing upon your endeavors. How many needy people in India will become literate, learn about the true God, and have every dimension of their lives changed because of your activities during the next three months? Project Ideas 1. Buy seeds, plant a garden, and sell produce. 2. Have a garage sale - invite your neighbors to participate thereby multiplying the revenue while involving them in the Great Commission. 3. Teach computer skills. 4. Buy gas and provide transportation. 5. Give golf lessons. 6. Buy stain and refinish old furniture. 7. Baby-sit children. 8. Make and sell a quilt. 9. Repair household items. 10. Buy soap and wash cars. 11. Buy ingredients, make cookies and sell to friends and co-workers at office once a week. 12. Weed someone's flowers. 13. House cleaning. 14. Sewing repairs and alterations. 15. Buy ad for newspaper and hold a garage sale. 16. Offer personal skills - prepare tax forms, take blood pressure, tutor students, etc... 17. Make collection boxes, ask neighbors, coworkers, friends to donate spare change to change India. Dalit women celebrating literacy graduation Dalit woman exhibiting skill learned in literacy class Contact Us Money for Ministry, Not Organizations
Main physiological effects • Hyperoxygenation A greater concentration and availability of oxygen in the blood, organs and tissues, allowing the body to optimize the natural defense mechanisms and recovery from various conditions or diseases, especially those involving high levels of hypoxia, and likewise improve response and effectiveness of other medical or pharmacological treatments. • Neovascularization and neocolagenization The effect of hyper-oxygenation stimulates the formation of new blood capillaries and regeneration of existing ones, promotes collagen synthesis and fibroblast proliferation, biosynthetic processes and optimizing the reparative tissue. • Osteogenesis Hyperbaric oxygenation allows bone cells to obtain the required amounts of oxygen to function properly, stimulating the regeneration or enhancement of affected bone fractures, aging, softening or infections caused by pathogens. • Antimicrobial Hyperoxygenation stimulates the immune system and white blood cells provides the oxygen they need to defend the body from bacteria and pathogenic organisms (especially anaerobic type), and makes effective functioning aminuglucósidos some antibiotics, vancomycin and sulphonamides, that require optimal tissue oxygen levels to act on the infection. (>40mmHg) (> 40mmHg) • Thermodynamic Increasing the local availability of oxygen during hyperbaric oxygen breathing reverses this situation by improving the thermodynamic state and tending to restore tissue physiology. • Vasoconstrictor and anti-inflammatory The hyperbaric oxygen causes constriction without temporary vascular hypoxia, thereby preventing leakage of fluids from the capillaries, and enhances the reduction of interstitial edema, which makes it useful in traumatic ischemia, tissue grafts and postoperative recovery
Sentence for penalty \| Use penalty in a sentence A sentence for the word penalty. Journalists, word game players, and readers may find this page particularly useful. The lines of text below use penalty in a sentence, and provide visitors a sentence for penalty. • But if detected he would be dead shortly afterward, death being the just and legal penalty of his crime. (1) • He has had the profit of beauty, and he shall yield the penalty: my kiss is for him, my serpent-kiss. (10) • He pays this penalty for his success in that kind; and every one pays some such penalty who deals with some such material. (9) • I have already paid the penalty of them who are condemned to come to an island. (10) • She was wine and no penalty to me. (10) • The man had suffered enough; as if the man had expiated his wrong, and he was not going to do anything to renew his penalty. (9) • There its course is often so very obscure; and often it seems to involve, so far as we can see, no penalty whatever. (9) Glad you visited this page with a sentence for penalty. Perhaps also see a sentence for prints and ways to use pearly in a sentence. Now that you’ve seen how to use penalty in a sentence hope you might explore the rest of this educational reference site to see many other example sentences which provide word usage information. People looking for: "how to use penalty in a sentence", "penalty in a sentence", "a sentence for penalty", "sentences using the word penalty", "sentences for penalty", "sentece using prenatly", "penalty example sentence", "how to use the word penalty", "a sentence with penalty", "a sentence for pendlty", "use penalty in sentences", visited this page.
Adrenal Fatigue What is adrenal fatigue? Adrenal Fatigue is a term used to denote a group of symptoms, also referred to as a syndrome, which indicate that the adrenal glands are not functioning properly. Adrenal fatigue is not defined by any single easily identifiable symptom. It is likely to be present when a person with no signs of any physical illness has a long lasting feeling of being tired and functioning at a level that is below what they were able to achieve earlier and which affects the quality of their lives. The adrenal glands release hormones your body needs to cope with stress. These hormones control energy production, heart rate, muscle response, and other metabolic functions that allow the body to respond to any stressful situation, whether it is emotional as in the case of loss of a loved one, physical as when an injury occurs or mental such as work pressures. When the adrenal glands function below the level needed to manage the stress, adrenal fatigue occurs. Adrenal fatigue can be caused by a major occurrence or by repeated lower stress levels. Who is at risk? Adrenal fatigue can affect anyone. Any severe injury, life crisis or continuing low or medium level stress situation can cause it irrespective of the physical health of the person. However, there are some lifestyle situations that increase the chances of suffering from this condition. These include substance abuse, side effects of prescription medication, improper diet, inadequate sleep and relaxation, chronic illness and prolonged exposure to a stressful situation. The stress of pregnancy can also be a cause. The most common symptoms of adrenal fatigue are: • A continuous feeling of tiredness. • Waking up feeling run down even after a full night's sleep. • A lowered ability to cope with stressful situations. • Taking a very long time to recover from an injury, illness, or a stressful situation. • A feeling of being more alert and energetic in the evening and at night. • A craving for sweet and salty foods and the need for high levels of caffeine to continue to function throughout the day.
Category Archives: minireviews Interacting small RNA pathways in worms 1: Introduction See also these related posts: small silencing RNAs. I: Piwi-interacting RNAs. RNAi and Chromatin Modification Lamarckian inheritance of antiviral response in Nematodes. Double-strand break interacting RNAs (diRNAs) Prions, more than just brain rot. See also, Amyloid-like oligomers and long-term memory. On ICE: Integrative and Conjugative Elements. Integrative and conjugative elements are bacterial mobile genetic elements that primarily reside in the host cell’s chromosome, yet have the ability to be transferred between cells by conjugation. ICEs can be considered as mosaic elements, combining features from other mobile elements: the integrative ability of bacteriophage or transposons, and the transfer mechanisms of conjugative plasmids. This mosaicism is reflected in modular structures: genes encoding the core functions of integration/excision, conjugation and regulation are generally found clustered together. As well as these core functions, ICEs often carry accessory genes that can bestow adaptive phenotypes on their hosts. Gene cassettes encoding antibiotic resistance, nitrogen fixation, virulence factors and various other functions have all been documented in ICEs. They are therefore important vectors for the horizontal dissemination of genetic information, facilitating rapid bacterial evolution. Chromosomal integration and excision of ICEs is mediated by integrase (Int) enzymes. Most commonly integrases are tyrosine recombinases related to the well studied phage λ Int. They mediate site-specific recombination events between identical or near-identical sequences in the host and ICE genomes (termed attB and attP respectively). These integration events normally occur into tRNA genes. No definitive reason for this association of tyrosine recombinase mediated integration with tRNA genes is known, however tRNA genes evolve more slowly than protein coding genes, potentially broadening the possible host range. Other ICEs encode transposase family tyrosine recombinase Ints that have broader target sequence preferences. Members of the DDE transposase and serine recombinase families also serve as integrases in some ICEs. Before ICE transfer occurs, the element is excised and circularised. Excision of ICEs also requires Int activity, however the process is biased towards excision by ‘recombination directionality factors’ (RDFs). If chromosomal replication or cell devision occurs whilst the ICE is in the excised chromosomal state, the element could be lost from the cell. To prevent this ICEs (like plasmids) often encode addiction modules (toxin-antitoxin systems) that kill cells not inheriting the ICE. Conjugative transfer occurs via the formation of a multiprotein apparatus that connects the donor and recipient cells: a type IV secretion system (T4SS). This consists of a membrane spanning secretion channel and often an extracellular pilus. The extrachromosomal ICE DNA is first nicked at the origin of transfer (oriT) by a relaxase (MOB) enzyme. Rolling circle replication is then initiated. MOB remains bound to the displaced single-stranded DNA and this nucleoprotein complex is targeted to the T4SS by a coupling protein (T4CP). Rather than using a T4SS, some ICEs are transferred between cells using FtsK-like DNA translocase pumps (in this case dsDNA is transferred). After transfer, the ssDNA ICE is replicated into dsDNA and integrated into the recipient cell’s chromosome. The ICE in the donor cell is also converted into dsDNA and re-integrated into the genome. ICE transmission is under the control of networks responsive to environmental stimuli. For instance, transfer of the SXT-R391 family of ICEs is controlled by SelR, a homologue of the λ repressor CI. Regulation occurs by a similar mechanism as that controlling the λ switch from lysogeny to lysis. As with CI, SetR repression can be relieved by the action of RecA, the main effector of the ‘SOS’ response to DNA damage. Other ICEs transmission have been shown to be under the control of quorum sensing networks. A recent bioinformatic study of ICE prevalence and diversity identified ICEs by finding clustered conjugative apparatus modules (Guglielmini et al). If these were found on chromosomal locations they were defined as belonging to ICEs, whilst those on extra-chromosomal elements were considered conjugative plasmids. No reference was made to the presence of integrases. Within this definition ICEs were more common than conjugative plasmids: 18% of sequenced prokaryotic genomes contained at least one ICE as opposed to 12% possessing conjugative plasmids. ICEs are generally defined as not being capable of autonomous extra-chromosomal replication and maintenance. This is opposed to conjugative plasmids that include replication origins and systems. However, this definition is not watertight, as there appear to be various exceptions. Likewise, conjugative plasmids can be integrated chromosomally, either by homologous recombination at repeat sequences, or by site-specific recombination events. These elements therefore exist on a spectrum. Phylogenetic analysis of VirB4 genes (an ATPase component of T4SS) shows that ICEs and conjugative plasmids do not segregate as monophyletic clades. Instead they are intermingled throughout the tree, suggesting that conjugative plasmids often become ICEs and vice versa. Guglielmini et al. therefore consider them as two sides of the same coin. If selection pressures are strong enough though, ICEs can be stabilised as chromosomal structures for long periods of time. A striking example of the potency and evolutionary importance of ICEs is found in the genomes of the obligate intracellular bacterial family Rickettsiales. One third of the genome of Orientia tsutsugamushi (the mite borne causative agent of scrub typhus) is made up of degenerate copies of an ICE named RAGE (Rickettsiales amplified genetic element). Multiple invasions of RAGE have also configured the genome of a Rickettsial endosymbiont of a deer tick (REIS). In this case RAGEs have acted as hotspots for recombination and the insertion of other mobile elements, leading to the insertion of clusters of novel horizontally transferred genes (a process termed piggybacking). These two Rickettsiales species have especially large genomes for obligate intracellular bacteria, but it seems likely that RAGE has been important in the evolution of this entire clade. See also: Expanding the Conjugative Realm Wozniak, R., & Waldor, M. (2010). Integrative and conjugative elements: mosaic mobile genetic elements enabling dynamic lateral gene flow Nature Reviews Microbiology, 8 (8), 552-563 DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro2382 Guglielmini, J., Quintais, L., Garcillán-Barcia, M., de la Cruz, F., & Rocha, E. (2011). The Repertoire of ICE in Prokaryotes Underscores the Unity, Diversity, and Ubiquity of Conjugation PLoS Genetics, 7 (8) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002222 Nakayama, K., Yamashita, A., Kurokawa, K., Morimoto, T., Ogawa, M., Fukuhara, M., Urakami, H., Ohnishi, M., Uchiyama, I., Ogura, Y., Ooka, T., Oshima, K., Tamura, A., Hattori, M., & Hayashi, T. (2008). The Whole-genome Sequencing of the Obligate Intracellular Bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi Revealed Massive Gene Amplification During Reductive Genome Evolution DNA Research, 15 (4), 185-199 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsn011 Gillespie, J., Joardar, V., Williams, K., Driscoll, T., Hostetler, J., Nordberg, E., Shukla, M., Walenz, B., Hill, C., Nene, V., Azad, A., Sobral, B., & Caler, E. (2011). A Rickettsia Genome Overrun by Mobile Genetic Elements Provides Insight into the Acquisition of Genes Characteristic of an Obligate Intracellular Lifestyle Journal of Bacteriology, 194 (2), 376-394 DOI: 10.1128/JB.06244-11 On Retrons small silencing RNAs. I: Piwi-interacting RNAs. Three major classes of small RNAs involved in gene silencing have been found in animals: microRNAs (miRNAs), small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). miRNAs are involved in the regulation of mRNA stability and translation, whilst the main purpose of the siRNA and piRNA pathways appears to be the defense of the cell and genome from viruses and transposable elements. Unlike the other two systems that are ubiquitously active, the piRNA pathway is generally only active in germline cells, the most important locus of defense against transposons. A common feature of all three pathways is the formation of RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs), composed of a small RNA bound to an Argonaute family protein. The small RNA guides RISC to specific target RNAs, resulting in target silencing (generally by the Argonaute protein ‘slicing’ the cognate RNA). A key stage in the miRNA and siRNA silencing pathways is the recognition of double stranded RNAs, and their cleavage by Dicer proteins. This is not a feature of the piRNA system. Another difference is that piRNAs range from 22nt to 30nt in length, whilst siRNAs and miRNAs are 21 or 22-24nt long respectively. When piRNAs were first discovered they were called repeat-associated small-interfering RNAs (rasiRNAs). However, as they are not always associated with repeat sequences and as they bind a specific clade of Argonaute proteins, the PIWI family, they were subsequently renamed. The piRNA system in Drosophila A Drosophila melanogaster egg chamber. The large nurse cell nuclei are visible in the upper half, whilst the follicle cells cover the oocyte in the lower half. The piRNA transposon silencing system has been most comprehensively analysed during oogenesis in the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster. Within a Drosophila egg chamber, the germline cells (fifteen nurse cells and the oocyte) share a common syncytial cytoplasm. They are surrounded by a layer of somatic follicle cells, which exchange developmental signals and nutrients with the germline cells. The Drosophila genome harbours over a hundred transposon families, including representatives of all three major classes (LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons, and DNA elements). Some retrotransposons, such as the gypsy family, form viral particles that have been shown to be able to invade the germline from the follicle cells via cellular transport vesicles. Therefore the germline is under threat from transposable elements primarily from within, but also from the somatic follicle cells. Two different variants of the piRNA system function in the germline and the somatic follicle cells: a more complicated system involving three PIWI family Argonaute proteins and a piRNA amplification system functions in the germline, whilst a simpler system involving only one PIWI protein works in the follicle cells to silence a more limited repertoire of retrotransposons. The piRNA pathway in somatic follicle cells Approximately 70% of somatic piRNAs map to transposons or transposon fragments. Of these 90% are antisense to active transposons. Mapping piRNAs to genomic sequence has yielded a great insight into genomic structure and the piRNA system of transposon control: piRNAs are derived from large clusters of densely packed, inactive transposon copies and fragments. piRNA clusters are a conserved feature of piRNA biology. They generally span dozens to hundreds of kilobases and are located in the heterochromatin associated with centromeres or telomeres. In the case of Drosophila somatic follicle cells two piRNA-clusters dominate: The flamenco locus and cluster 20A. Follicle cell piRNAs from these clusters are derived from one DNA strand, meaning that transcription is unidirectional. In flamenco and cluster 20A, the transposon fragments are generally oriented antisense to the direction of transcription, explaining the strong antisense bias of somatic follicle cell piRNAs. A P-element insertion at the beginning of the flamenco cluster blocks piRNA production from the whole 180kb cluster, suggesting that the formation of long single stranded transcripts of piRNA clusters is a necessary stage of piRNA biogenesis. However, the mechanisms of piRNA generation are not clear. It appears likely that the long piRNA precursor transcripts are stochastically cut into smaller fragments. Piwi then selectively binds fragments with a 5′ uridine (75% of Piwi-bound piRNAs have a 5′ uridine residue), and the pre-piRNAs are then 3′ trimmed to generate the final piRNA. The germline piRNA pathway and ping-pong amplification. In addition to Piwi, Drosophila ovarian germline cells express two related PIWI family Argonaute proteins: Aubergine (Aub) and AGO3. Unlike Piwi, which is localised to the nucleus, Aub and AGO3 are associated with an electron-dense peri-nuclear region of cytoplasm called nuage. Most importantly, they act together in a sophisticated piRNA amplification loop that is dependent on target expression, termed the ping-pong cycle. In a simplified version: Aub complexed with an antisense piRNA targets and slices a sense transcript of an active transposon, resulting in the production of novel sense piRNA species which are loaded onto AGO3. The AGO3-piRNA complexes then cleave complementary piRNA cluster transcripts, resulting in the production of novel antisense piRNA to be complexed with Aub. The ping-pong cycle results in the amplification of sets of antisense and sense piRNAs that are 10nt out of register with each other, suggesting the site of Aub slicer activity and providing a useful signal that shows that ping-pong amplification has occurred. In the germline, more piRNA clusters are active, representing a larger spectrum of transposons. They are also expressed bi-directionally. An outstanding question is why this doesn’t trigger ping-pong amplification? The most likely reason is that the processes of piRNA biogenesis and transposon silencing are tightly localised and regulated. The roles of other proteins in these processes are starting to be understood. Proteins containing Tudor domains appear to be very important in the localisation and function of Aub and AGO3 in the nuage. Many other intriguing aspects of piRNA biology are yet to be understood. Although the bulk of piRNAs are directed against transposons, some are involved in the regulation of cellular mRNAs. These piRNAs are derived from mRNAs rather than cluster transcripts: Are these transcripts marked in some way to be processed into piRNAs? The links between the primary piRNA biogenesis pathway and the ping-pong amplification system are also poorly understood. An interesting aspect of the piRNA system active in mouse spermatogenesis, is that the nucleus localised mouse PIWI family protein MIWI2 has been implicated in guiding de novo DNA methylation at transposon loci. Is this a more widespread phenomenon? The piRNA system has been likened to an acquired immune response and works together with the (more acute response) siRNA pathway in transposon silencing. Future posts will discuss the other small RNA systems, and go further into piRNA biology. Senti, K., & Brennecke, J. (2010). The piRNA pathway: a fly’s perspective on the guardian of the genome Trends in Genetics, 26 (12), 499-509 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2010.08.007 Khurana, J., & Theurkauf, W. (2010). piRNAs, transposon silencing, and Drosophila germline development The Journal of Cell Biology, 191 (5), 905-913 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201006034 of further interest: piRNAs in the brain: epigenetics and memory On Transposable Elements and Regulatory Evolution CTCF binding sites. Transposons and the evolution of pregnancy See also: Retrotransposons as regulatory elements Novel modes of lateral gene transfer in bacteria Gene Transfer Agents (GTAs) DNA transfer by membrane vesicle. Intercellular nanotubes. See also: A novel gene transfer agent from Bartonella
Printmaking 101: Mezzotints "Dispersion" Mezzotint by Julie Niskanen The Mezzotint was the first tonal method to be used in intaglio printmaking without being dependent upon the lines made by cross-hatching. Using a tool called the “rocker,” the artist covers the plate in lots of tiny depressions, caused by the metal teeth on the edge of the rocker. By going over the plate in many different directions–artists can make a full pass over the plate over 30 times–large spaces of plate texture which print a rich and velvety black are made. From there, artists can go back in with a scraper or burnisher to bring the lights back out of the darkness. Mezzotints are highly favored in the printmaking community because the artist can create such an even and finely detailed image. Note the fine lines of the dandelion seeds WPG member artist Julie was able to recreate in the mezzotint to the left! One response to “Printmaking 101: Mezzotints 1. Niskanen’s work is beautifully done. She’s superb.
If you’ve ever been to an aquarium or natural history museum and marveled at the life-size sculptures of enormous animals, you may have also wondered how it was built (or at least how they fit the thing through the door). Sculptor Stephen Kesler recently shared the step-by-step process of sculpting and assembling a life-size humpback whale for a local aquarium. If you’ve worked with foam for small projects before, you’ll recognize the technique that Kesler applies to the 32 blocks of 4′×3’×8′ 1lb polystyrene foam seen below. One day you polystyrene blocks will grow up to be a whale. Kesler started with a 1:24 maquette (a rough scale model used by sculptors) which was digitally scanned with Autodesk’s 123D Catch app and sent to the aquarium’s structural engineer in order to build the needed supports. Next it was time to grid out the foam blocks into 1’×1′ squares and start cutting off all the extra material using hot wire and various carving tools. The discrete elements of polystyrene, or EPS foam, were glued together using an expandable polyurethane. In addition to the external shape of the whale, Kesler carved a tunnel through the center of the sculpture to account for a 3’×3′ steel frame support structure, and also split the whale in half for transportation.* Next came the task of assembling it all together. Foam pieces were placed around the steel frame, which was then welded together. Kesler advises that “This can be a little sketchy. We had fire extinguishers at the ready. Polyurethane foam can flame up pretty easily.” In the belly of the beast After a few months of work, Kesler had finished most of the whale’s appendages, as well as an accompanying 19-foot humpback calf. Once the carving was completed, Kesler covered the foam with a mesh layer before adding a hard coat and textural details like the tubercles and barnacles. The whales were painted, disassembled, and transported to the Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, Utah, where it took an additional 10 days in the aquarium’s cafeteria to reassemble and smooth out the seams before hanging the 4,200-pound behemoth and her gentle offspring. You can see more of Kesler’s work on his Instagram @stephenkesler_tusk. [via Reddit] *No whales were harmed in the making of this replica.
Guide to Ideal Iodine Nutrition Brain Foods Brain Foods Posted by Safe In4 Hub Guide to Ideal Iodine Nutrition Guide to Ideal Iodine Nutrition For general information in nontechnical language about IDD and iodine nutrition. This article offers answers to some of the more frequent questions. 1. What is iodine? - Iodine is a chemical element (as are oxygen, hydrogen, and iron). It occurs in a variety of chemical forms, the most important being: iodide (I-); iodate (IO3-), and elemental iodine (I2). It is present in fairly constant amounts in seawater but its distribution over land and fresh water is uneven. Deficiency is especially associated with high new mountains (e.g., Himalayas, Andes, Alps) and areas of frequent flooding, but many other areas are also deficient (e.g., Central Africa, Central Asia, much of Europe). 2. What does iodine do? - Iodine is an essential part of the chemical structure of thyroid hormones. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front part of the neck. It makes two hormones (thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)). The thyroid hormones are released into the bloodstream and carried by it to target organs, particularly the liver, kidneys, muscles, heart, and developing brain. 3. Why do we need iodine? - Because thyroid hormones are essential to life. The thyroid hormones act in target organs by influencing many different chemical reactions, usually involving manufacture of key proteins. The body must have proper levels of thyroid hormone to work well. A recent report by the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, USA, offers similar recommendations. It calculates an "Estimated Average Requirement" and from that derives an RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance). However, occasionally sufficient data are not available and instead an "Adequate Intake" is calculated, which may be set higher than the RDA would be, for safety. The recommendations for daily intake are as follows: the AI for infants 0-6 months is 110 mcg iodine and 7-12 months, 130 mcg; the RDA's are: 1-8 years old, 90 mcg; 9-13 years, 120 mcg; 14 and older, 150 mcg; pregnancy, 220 mcg; lactation, 290 mcg. The Food and Nutrition Board also sets the tolerable upper limits of the daily iodine intake as 1.1 mg (1100 mcg) for adults, with proportionately lower levels for younger age groups. 5. Where do we get iodine from? - Most of it comes from what we eat and drink. Seafood is usually a good source because the ocean contains considerable iodine. Freshwater fish reflect the iodine content of the water where they swim, which may be deficient. Other foods vary tremendously in iodine content, depending on their source and what may have been added. Plants grown in iodine-deficient soil do not have much iodine, nor do meat or other products from animals fed on iodine-deficient plants. Because the breast concentrates iodine, dairy products are usually a good source, but only if the cows get enough iodine. Iodized salt is a special case. With only a few isolated exceptions, edible salt (sodium chloride) does not naturally contain iodine. Iodine is added deliberately as one of the most efficient ways of improving iodine nutrition. The amount added varies widely in different regions. In Canada and the United States, iodized salt contains 100 ppm (parts per million, same as 100 mcg/gram) as potassium iodide (equals 77 ppm as iodide), so two grams of salt contains approximately the daily recommended amount of 150 mcg iodine. In the United States, you can buy salt that is either iodized or not iodized, and the price is the same; about 50% of all the salt sold in the U.S. is iodized. In Canada, all table salt is iodized. Most other countries add from 10 to 40 mcg iodine per gram of salt (10-40 ppm). Daily salt intake varies greatly in different parts of the world, ranging from two to five grams in many western countries to 20 grams in some others. An average figure may be 10 grams per day. These statements apply only to table salt. Most edible salt is added at cooking. If present as potassium iodate, as in most countries, little iodine is lost during cooking, depending on how pure the salt is. Many people get most of their salt from processed foods, especially in developed countries, and commercial practices vary as to whether these contain iodine or not. Iodine exposure can come from many other sources. Certain food colorings (e.g., erythrosine) contain iodine, although it is only partially bioavailable. Some iodine from skin disinfectants, such as povidone iodine, is absorbed and reaches the bloodstream. Certain health foods, such as some types of kelp, contain large amounts of iodine. Other sources are dyes used for contrast in X-ray procedures and medicines, such as Amiodarone (used for heart failure and abnormal heart rhythm). People also get iodine from its use in farm animals, for cleansing udders or as part of iodine-containing medicines. Iodate has been used as a bread stabilizer in commercial baking, although this practice is less common now. Many other environmental sources of iodine exist; most of them are unrecognized or unpublicized. 6. What happens if we don't get enough iodine? - The most damaging consequences are on fetal and infant development. Maternal iodine deficiency causes miscarriages, other pregnancy complications, and infertility. Thyroid hormones, and therefore iodine, are essential for normal development of the brain. If the fetus or newborn is not exposed to enough thyroid hormone, it may have permanent mental retardation, even if it survives. Low birth weights and decreased child survival also result from iodine deficiency. Cretinism is a very severe degree of this brain damage; it includes permanent dense mental retardation, and varying degrees of additional developmental defects such as deafmutism, short stature, spasticity, and other neuromuscular abnormalities. In addition to these effects on the individual, iodine deficiency has adverse consequences for the community. The mental retardation can cover a wide range, from mild blunting of intellect to cretinism, and a large part of the population may have some intellectual impairment. The mean IQ of the deficient community is decreased by about 13.5 IQ points, according to one review. Individuals in these communities have lower educability and lower economic productivity, and the output of the whole community suffers. Dramatic improvement typically occurs after appropriate addition of iodine. 7. What happens if we get too much iodine? - Most people who have previously been iodine sufficient can safely tolerate fairly large amounts. As mentioned above, some individuals have thyroid nodules that escape the body's usual controls, and they can start making too much thyroid hormone when their dietary iodine increases, to produce a condition called iodine-induced hyperthyroidism. Iodine excess can also cause thyroid underactivity, because large amounts of iodine block the thyroid's ability to make hormone. Individuals vary widely in their tolerance to iodine. Most people can handle large amounts satisfactorily, but there are exceptions. People with a tendency towards so-called autoimmune thyroid diseases, such as Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or who have family members with these problems, may be more sensitive to iodine. In fact, high iodine intakes in a population are associated with an increased incidence of these autoimmune thyroid diseases. Also, high levels of iodine in the population may increase the incidence of papillary thyroid cancer, although this is not well established. Fortunately, papillary thyroid cancer is usually a mild form of cancer and rarely causes death. 8. How can we tell if we are getting the right amount of iodine? - Usually you as an individual won't know how much iodine you are getting, particularly in countries like the United States, because iodine appears in commercial preparations without notice. You can make a rough calculation, based on (1) whether you use iodized salt; (2) how much salt you eat; (3) whether you take vitamins that contain iodine (many contain 150 mcg); and (4) whether you eat much meat, dairy products, or seafood. For populations, a better way to learn the iodine intake is to measure the amount of iodine in representative urine samples. Most (more than 90%) of the iodine you ingest eventually comes out in the urine. Thus, the concentration of iodine in the urine, even in casual samples, is a good marker for iodine nutrition. Urine iodine concentration varies with fluid intake, so these ranges have limited use for casual samples from an individual, but they are good for assessing a population group, because individual variations tend to average out. A median urinary iodine concentration between 100 and 200 mcg/L is ideal. Routine laboratory tests of thyroid function are not as helpful as the urinary iodine concentration in assessing a population. The serum TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone or thyrotropin) is a test that is widely used clinically to assess thyroid function in individuals. TSH is released into the blood stream by the pituitary (an endocrine control gland at the base of the brain) in response to the amount of thyroid hormone in the blood stream. TSH tells the thyroid how hard to work. It bases this decision on how much thyroid hormone is present in the blood. When blood thyroid hormone is low, serum TSH increases and this can be used as a measure for inadequate thyroid hormone production. The serum TSH is the most widely used test for diagnosing thyroid disease in individuals. However, the serum TSH is less valuable in recognizing iodine deficiency, because it can increase but still remain within the normal range. An exception is the blood TSH in newborns. Most developed countries have a system of newborn screening, either with the blood TSH or thyroxine, to recognize congenital hypothyroidism. About one out of 4,000 newborns has congenital deficiency of thyroid hormone production, usually because the thyroid is absent or fails to develop properly. This newborn screening is important because prompt treatment with thyroid hormone can prevent most or all of the consequences of inadequate thyroid hormone on brain development. Newborn TSH screening in areas with iodine deficiency shows an increase in the number of infants with transient hypothyroidism. Usually, this transient hypothyroidism corrects itself, and most of these infants do not show brain damage, but there remains a potential risk for this result, particularly if they continue iodine deficient during nursing. Thyroid size is also a useful marker of iodine nutrition, because the iodine-deficient thyroid enlarges, as described above. One way to recognize goiter is to feel the thyroid and make an estimate of its size; this maneuver is quite simple but fairly crude and not very accurate in detecting slight enlargement, particularly in children. Use of an ultrasound machine is simple and can be done in remote settings; this measurement provides another good index of the degree of iodine deficiency. 9. How do we adjust iodine nutrition? - Salt is the best vehicle for adding iodine. Everyone needs salt, everyone eats it, usually in daily amounts, and the technology for iodization is straightforward. It can be added as potassium iodide or potassium iodate; the latter is preferred under conditions of humidity or impurities because of its greater stability. Most countries have regulations calling for 20-40 mcg iodine/g of salt (20-40 ppm); thus if an individual eats 5 g of salt iodized at 30 ppm, she gets 150 mcg iodine from this source alone. The amount to be added varies for particular populations, depending on the amount of salt ingested, the purity of the salt (and therefore, the amount lost between production and consumption), and the amount of iodine ingested from other sources. In some countries, when daily salt intake decreases, the health authorities raise the amount of iodine in the salt, to provide a constant adequate daily amount. Another method for providing iodine to a community is through the administration of iodized vegetable oil. These preparations, e.g., Lipiodol, were developed as an X-ray contrast medium. One milliliter (one-fifth of a teaspoon) contains about 480 mg of iodine. A single administration orally provides adequate iodine for about a year, and if given by intramuscular injection, is satisfactory for about three years. Iodized oil is most useful when the iodine deficiency is severe, when immediate correction is important, and when iodized salt is not yet available. Drinking water is another occasional vehicle for iodine nutrition. Some systems slowly release iodine from a porous basket (containing a concentrated iodine solution) into well water. Another approach adds an iodine solution to water in a well or flowing through a pipe. A simpler version merely adds a few drops of a concentrated solution manually to vessels containing drinking water in a school or home. If iodine (I2) is added, it can also sterilize the water; this property is useful because many regions with iodine deficiency also have contaminated food and water. Occasionally, iodine is given as tablets of potassium iodide, from 100 to 300 mcg per day or about 1 mg per week. Some vitamin/mineral preparations for daily use contain 150 mcg iodine, the recommended amount. Other vehicles like sugar, bread, and tea have been occasionally used for iodine delivery. However, the many advantages of iodized salt make it the overwhelming favorite for most countries. 1. What is being done internationally about iodine deficiency? - The International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) came into existence in 1985 with the single purpose of achieving optimal iodine nutrition worldwide. It has worked closely with UNICEF and the World Health Organization towards this objective. These and other early efforts led to a pledge by the World Summit for Children, in 1990, to achieve the virtual elimination of iodine deficiency. A massive effort has taken place during the past decade. Key players have included governments and citizens in countries, the salt industry, UNICEF, WHO, ICCIDD, and the Micronutrient Initiative, with major funding from Kiwanis International, the World Bank, the aid programs of Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, and the United States, and many others. Universal salt iodization is the main strategy. Currently, about 70% of households worldwide consume iodized salt. Some countries with previously severe iodine deficiency now appear to be virtually sufficient; e.g., China, Nigeria, Congo, Iran, Peru, Ecuador, and Thailand. This success involves not only the implementation of iodized salt, but effective national programs, the development of national IDD coordinating groups, extensive education at all levels, and monitoring. The current emphasis is now on iodine nutrition in those parts of the world that are still lagging, particularly in Central Asia and Africa, and on maintaining the progress made in other countries. 2. How can countries maintain optimal iodine nutrition? - In areas with previous iodine deficiency, the key point is monitoring, both of iodine levels in people (by urinary iodine) and in salt. It is recommended that countries have regular monitoring by urinary iodine in representative subgroups of the population every several years, with mandatory publication of the information, and prompt corrective action when deviations occur. Regular quality control of the iodine levels in salt, when that is the vehicle, is also essential. Some part of the government - usually the Ministry of Health or a national coordinating body - needs to take responsibility and be provided adequate resources for the program. Everyone involved - citizens, government, salt producers, agencies, the health sector - needs to be aware, so an active education campaign is a key part of a successful program. 3. How can we find out more? - ICCIDD's website (www.iccidd.org) offers data on the iodine nutrition in each country, and also information about IDD in general, including technical information. ICCIDD has Regional Coordinators and representatives in many countries who can help. UNICEF and WHO have nutrition experts in countries and at their central offices. For more details on thyroid disease, including iodine deficiency, an excellent online textbook can be found at www.thyroidmanager.org. If you have additional questions, please contact ICCIDD through its Regional Coordinators (see "About ICCIDD" on the website menu), officers, or one of the other partners (UNICEF, WHO, Micronutrient Initiative, Kiwanis International). Copyright (C) 2017 by safein4.com Donah Shine Head Master Address: 5636 Lemon Ave. Dallas TX 75209 Phone: +1 214 5203694 E-Mail: admin@safein4.com
15 Incredible Health Benefits of Copper Copper is a trace mineral that is vital for multiple functions in the body. Because our bodies are not able to synthesize copper on its own, it becomes important to make sure that we take in adequate amounts from food sources such as cashews, sesame seeds, turnip greens and spinach. Most of us go through our lives without giving much thought to this amazing mineral, however even in trace amounts, copper provides some tremendous health benefits. Here are fifteen ways that copper can benefit your health and improve your life. 1. Protects Cognitive Function As with many things in nature, a balance needs to be achieved for harmony to exist. This is equally true concerning copper and cognitive function and brain health. Copper is involved in neurodevelopment and growth and it is essential for proper cognitive development. This is illustrated by the fact that proper amounts of copper in the body have been associated with more advanced thought processes and the ability to absorb and process complex information. However, too much copper can be a negative, causing cognitive decline instead. Keep in mind that there is little risk of consuming too much copper through dietary means alone, and that the amount you do get serves to keep your brain in tip-top shape. 2. Promotes Immune Function White blood cells are the infection fighting heroes in your body. Copper deficiency and inadequate copper intake has been shown to reduce the number of white blood cells in your body, making your more vulnerable to infections. Making sure that copper, in the proper amounts, is present in your diet will help build and maintain a supportive population of white blood cells to keep you healthy. 3. Copper for Bone Density While we tend to think of calcium as the main element in the prevention of osteoporosis, copper deficiency is also linked to a dramatic decrease in bone density, resulting in a greater risk of developing osteoporosis and all the painful and sometimes immobilizing side effects that come with it. 4. Arthritis Relief If you have arthritis or joint pain, you may already be familiar with copper bands and bracelets that are intended to be worn near areas of inflammation. The theory behind these healing devices is that by wearing them, trace amounts of copper will be absorbed transdermally. While research is not conclusive on the effects of copper bracelets, the fact that many people who wear them report some relief of symptoms is enough reason to consider the benefits of copper for arthritis relief. Copper is an ant inflammatory that is also thought to strengthen the supportive structures of the muscular system. Reducing inflammation and strengthening the structures that support swollen and sore joints are two primary focuses of a good arthritis treatment plan 5. Growth and Development Copper is an essential element for proper growth and development. What we don’t always realize is the growth doesn’t end after we pass through adolescence. Throughout your life, your body is constantly repairing, rebuilding and rejuvenating itself, and it requires adequate copper to make this happen. Deficiencies in copper are among the number one reasons for birth defects and growth delays throughout the world. 6. Melanin Production Copper is an essential element to produce melanin, which is the dark pigment that determines the color of your skin by the amount present in your skin cells. Melanin is also responsible for dark hair and eyes. Even people with fair skin and other features have melanin in their cells. Because copper is so essential to melanin production, a deficiency of copper can cause skin to look less than healthy, and inadequate copper intake has also been associated with premature graying of the hair. 7. Faster Skin Healing Due to copper’s unique combination of anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, it is the trifecta of wound care. Additionally, copper also helps to support healthy cell renewal and rejuvenation, so that while your body is fighting off possible infection, copper is working to replace the damaged skin cells. 8. Iron Absorption Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia, and the type most easily remedied by dietary modifications, such as making sure you have adequate copper intake. Copper increases red blood cell count and aids in the absorption of iron in the digestive system by assisting in the release of iron from primary storage sites in the body. 9. Aids in Digestion If you have been having digestive issues, you might want to consider looking into how much copper is in your diet. Copper has antibacterial properties which help the good bacteria in your gut fight off the bad bacteria, an important mechanism for maintaining proper flora balance in your digestive system. Copper is also great for healing stomach ulcers due to the combination of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. 10. Anti-Aging Ask almost anyone worried about the signs of premature aging, what their number one concern is and more often than not, the answer will the appearance of fines lines that become more and more noticeable with each passing year. Copper, whether consumed or applied topically through infused products, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which help to counteract the damaging of effects of free radicals in your skin cells. Copper also stimulates cellular renewal so that you get the double punch of cellular healing and rejuvenation, keeping your skin vibrant and youthful looking. 11. Energy Booster Have you been feeling a little worn out and fatigued lately? It could be that you are missing opportunities to increase the base amount of copper in your system. Copper is an element that is necessary for the synthesis of the nucleotide ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, which in the most basic of terms is the currency that your body uses for energy creation and transfer. Details of the process can be saved for biology textbooks, but what you need to know right now is that without adequate copper, your body lacks the resources to produce energy on a molecular level, which can leave you feeling tired and drained. 12. Thyroid Function Your thyroid is an important gland that regulates hormonal function as well as metabolism, growth and maturation. Many people suffer from thyroid conditions which include hypo and hyperthyroidism. Thyroid function requires a delicate balance of vitamins and minerals, one of which is copper. Some preliminary studies show that a shared trait in people who suffer from thyroid conditions is an imbalance in copper levels. When it comes to thyroid health, it is important to remember that balance is key. Too much copper can be just as detrimental as too little. 13. Protection Against Heart Disease Copper Food Cardiovascular disease is a leading health crisis of our times. With each batch of research and each study, we begin to learn more and more about how to treat and prevent this serious disease. Trace amounts of it have been shown to help regulate blood pressure and prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Add to it that copper is suspected of helping to lower triglyceride levels and it becomes apparent that copper is essential for cardiovascular health. 14. Cancer Fighter Copper, as a trace mineral is considered an antioxidant nutrient. One of the leading causes behind many types of cancer is oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals so that they don’t damage healthy cells. Preventing copper deficiency is one way of reducing your overall cancer risks. 15. Improves Circulation It is an essential mineral for the formation of enzymes involved in keeping arteries healthy and building blood volume. People with circulatory issues sometimes have symptoms of stiff arteries along with poor blood flow in general. Trace amounts of copper in the diet can help address both issues, however copper infused clothing can also help improve circulation, especially in the feet and legs. Copper is a mineral that you need very little of to get maximum benefits from. It’s deficiency can have serious side effects including chronic fatigue, heart palpitations, low body temperature, anemia, brittle bones and chronic unspecified illness. Just trace amounts of this vital mineral will help to keep you healthy and strong. Don’t Miss : Cauliflower: 11 Health Benefits and Nutrition Facts
Why do you need protein? Protein is an essential macronutrient that helps to repair and rebuild the tissues in your body. Although our bodies naturally produce protein, consuming protein from outside sources helps to sustain muscle mass and increase our daily energy expenditure. How much protein do you really need? The Institute of Medicine recommends 10-35% of daily caloric intake come from quality protein sources. Therefore, between .8 - 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight is sufficient for satiety, muscle repair, and weight loss for the average person. For example, someone who weighs 150 pounds, roughly 68 kilograms, requires 54 grams of protein each day. Is there such thing as TOO MUCH protein? Most people consume about 25-35% of their daily calories from protein. This is considered a high protein diet. The is the maximum amount of protein that a person can digest in one 24 hour period is 2.0 grams of protein per kg of body weight. Exceeding this amount can be dangerous, as it often leads to toxic build up within the body, resulting in dehydration, dizziness, fatigue and a decline in both muscle mass and bone density. Consuming more than 45% of your body's mass in protein also causes nausea, stomach upset and kidney disfunction. How to keep yourself in check: The key to obtaining all the benefits of protein without any of the unwanted side effects is to create balance within your diet by incorporating a variety of different protein sources. Try to consume only natural sources - doing so will help to prevent overconsumption based upon your body type and activity level. Need a few easy snacking options? Try these: cottage cheese almonds cottage cheese almonds Hardboiled Eggs Cottage Cheese Beef or Turkey Jerky Mixed Nuts 2 Tablespoons Nut Butter Deli Meat Non-Fat Yogurt
The topic for speaking, part A, for English 6 Autumn 2016 is as follows: Life Balance Let’s face it. Finding the right balance in life and managing time is critical. We have never been busier; juggling studies, work, family life, sports and other activities. On top of that, there are chores to do and social life to manage. There might not be enough time for all the things we really want to do. How can we cope? See also national tests grading criteria English 6.
Bikram yoga is a style of yoga done in a very hot room -- usually above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Practitioners transition slowly from one pose to the next in the prescribed sequence of 26 poses and focus heavily on their breathing. Flat feet can interfere with your balance and ability to adopt some poses, but some yoga practitioners experience an improvement in symptoms as they gain balance, coordination and flexibility with frequent yoga practice. Pain During Yoga Flat feet can be either a congenital condition or the result of aging and general wear and tear on the muscles and joints. PubMed Health points out that sports and standing for long periods of time can be painful for people with flat feet, and this can make holding some yoga positions painful. The heat of a Bikram yoga class can exacerbate this pain in some people, because the muscles get tired more quickly. Further, Bikram yoga requires you to hold positions for extended periods of time and to move slowly, which can prove challenging if you're experiencing pain. Even basic Bikram poses, such as Standing Deep Breathing, can cause pain when you hold them for long periods of time. If holding a pose becomes too painful, take a break. Balance Issues The foot's arch serves as a shock-absorbing spring and can also help you maintain your balance. If you have flat feet, it can be more difficult to maintain poses and to transition from one pose to the next. "Yoga Journal" points out the importance of evenly distributing weight throughout the feet, but this can be challenging for people with flat feet. Focus on moving slowly from one pose to the next and, if your muscles begin shaking or you have difficulty maintaining your balance, avoid challenging poses until you've built up more strength. Poses that require leaning or distributing weight on one foot -- such as Half Moon or Balancing Stick -- can be particularly challenging if you struggle with balance. Yoga trains your muscles slowly, improving flexibility, balance and strength. This process can help you adapt to having flat feet, and can help reduce pain and muscle weakness over time. Because Bikram yoga emphasizes slow transitions from one pose to the next, it may be easier for some people with flat feet than traditional yoga. "Yoga Journal" emphasizes that some people experience a recovery from flat feet with regular yoga practice, and that focusing on raising the arches while practicing yoga may help reduce the flatness of your feet. Flat Foot Poses "Yoga Journal" recommends a few poses to help strengthen your muscles and improve the state of your flat feet; they are also less challenging for the flat-footed than some other yoga poses. The Hero pose, during which you sit with your knees bent, your feet extended backward and your torso positioned between your feet, stretches your legs and does not require you to balance on flat feet. This pose is called Fixed Firm pose in Bikram yoga. Standard Separate Leg Stretching pose, during which you balance on hands and feet in the position of an upside-down V with your arms and legs spread, can also help you develop better balance. The Tree pose, during which you stand on one foot, with your opposite knee bent and the lifted foot touching the knee or inner thigh of the supporting leg, is a more challenging pose you can do as you begin to build strength and coordination. There's no single "cure" that will treat flat feet, but the website Children's Physician Network emphasizes that stretching the legs can help, and Bikram yoga offers many opportunities for stretching. Stretch only after your muscles are warmed up. Pace yourself when you go to your yoga class, and don't exercise if you're already in pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, rest, ice and compression may help ease your pain if you experience throbbing or muscle tenderness after yoga class; consult your doctor for the best course of action for you. About the Author Photo Credits • Images
Australia is infamous for its abundance of venomous creatures, so understandably, some of the leading experts on animal venom reside in the Land Down Under. At James Cook University in Cairns, Queensland, Associate Professor Jamie Seymour studies toxinology in many species of venomous animals. Overall, these venoms are harmful, if not deadly, to humans. In the video below, Professor Seymour demonstrates the lethal capabilities behind stonefish venom, box jellyfish venom, and brown snake venom. Watch the full video; it is well worth your time! As you can see, each type of venom affects the body in different ways. In the case of the stonefish venom, the venom causes cells to die and, if left untreated, can create huge, gaping ulcers in the affected areas. In the case of the box jellyfish venom, it stops the heart and prevents it from pumping blood to the rest of the body. And, in the case of the brown snake venom, it causes the blood to clot and take on a jelly-like structure, which can have devastating results within the bloodstream. Yet, despite the killing power of venom, venom can also be used to cure. For example, highly venomous cone snails can kill humans, but certain compounds in their venom can be used to create drugs more powerful than morphine. Similarly, the venom of the highly venomous Sydney funnelweb spider can kill people, but certain compounds from it can also be used to cure breast cancer. It’s a double-edged sword, really.
Unit 6: Learning 1. Introduction 1. Animals tend to live by an instinctive genetic code. For example, a salmon’s life is pretty much hard-wired into its genes – birth, youth in the stream, adulthood in the ocean, then return to the stream to spawn and die. 2. Humans also have an instinctive genetic code, but we however, can adapt to our environment and learn new behaviors and make changes. 3. Learning is defined as a relatively permanent behavior change due to experience. 4. This brings up the question, “How do we learn?” 1. We learn by making associations. This is connecting events that occur one after another. These events can be good, like connecting the birthday song to eating cake, or bad like seeing a flash of lightning then hearing loud thunder. 2. If a stimulus occurs normally in an environment, an animal’s natural response may dwindle. This lessening of a response is called habituation. Think of the stimulus as becoming habit, so why respond to it? 3. The examples above illustrate associative learning. 5. To a psychologist, “learning” is more specific than what we think of learning in school. To psychologists, there are three main types of learning… 1. Classical conditioning occurs when we associate two stimuli and thus expect a result. 2. Operant conditioning occurs when we learn to associate our own behavior (or our response) and its consequence. We therefore repeat behaviors with good results, we cut down on behaviors with bad results. 3. Observational learning occurs by watching others’ experiences. 4. One additional form of learning is through language. In this way, we can learn without experiencing something or watching someone else experience it. 2. Pavlov’s experiments 1. Classical conditioning falls under the psychological approach called behaviorism. Behaviorism is only concerned with observable behavior – things an animal or person does that can be seen and counted (measured). 1. Behaviorism shunned the “mentalist” approaches as hogwash. They’re unconcerned with anything that goes on in your head. They’re only concerned with what you do, your behavior. 2. Ivan Pavlov is the godfather of behaviorism. 1. Pavlov was a Russian doctor who used dogs as his subjects. 2. He noticed dogs salivated at the sight of food. This is a natural reaction. He wondered if he could associate something unnatural to salivation. 1. Pavlov rang a bell, then fed the dog. The bell meant nothing to the dog. 2. He repeated this over and over and over until, the bell did mean something – the bell meant food was coming! 3. Eventually, the bell alone could cause the dog to salivate. 4. He rigged tubes to the dog’s neck to measure the salivation (and thus the response). 3. Using this dog experiment, we can see the “parts” of classical conditioning… 1. UCS (unconditioned stimulus) – this is the natural stimulus – the food. 2. UCR (unconditioned response) – this is the natural response – salivation. 3. CS (conditioned stimulus) – this is what’s associated to the UCS – the bell. 4. CR (conditioned response) – this is the response (which is the same as the UCR) – salivation. 4. The key to classical conditioning is that it’s a natural thing, there is no decision involved. Usually it’s a biological process over which the person/animal has no control. 1. A person could be classically conditioned using the pucker response to a lemon, or cringe response to fingernails on a chalkboard, or dilated eyes to the change from light to dark. 3. There are five main conditioning processes… 1. Acquisition is the initial learning of a stimulus-response relationship. This is where the dogs learned to associate the bell and food.javascript:; 2. Extinction is the diminished association between the UCS (food) and the CS (bell) after the UCS is removed. In other words, if you stop nailing the food and the bell together, the link wears off – the bell goes back to meaning nothing to the dog. 3. Spontaneous recovery emerges even after extinction. This is when, after a time lapse, the association between the UCS and the CS reappears. The association is not as strong as before, and will wear off if not linked with the CS. 1. See the graph at the bottom of this page. 4. Generalization is the tendency to respond to a similar CS. For instance, Pavlov’s dogs might feel that a buzzer is close enough to a bell and they might salivate to a buzzer. Or, if they’re conditioned to respond to a white light, they might also respond to a red light. 5. Discrimination is drawing the line between responding to some stimuli, but not others. For example, Pavlov’s dogs might respond to a bell or a buzzer, but discriminate against a police siren. They’re essentially saying, “The buzzer is like the bell, but the siren is not.” 3. Extending Pavlov’s understanding 1. Behaviorists dismissed anything mental as hogwash. They might just have gone too far though, and underestimated cognitive processes (thinking, perceptions, and expectations) and biological constraints. 2. Cognitive processes 1. Animals, to a behaviorist, are simply very complex machines. Animals go beyond just robotic, mechanical reactions though. They get into prediction, a mental process. 1. In one experiment for example, when accompanied with an unpleasant electrical shock, rats can distinguish light and a tone. They recognized that the tone was a better indicator of a coming shock. Thus, they predicted the likelihood of a shock based on the stimulus (light or tone). 2. Animals, and people, who are trapped or just feel that they’re trapped become depressed and passive. This situation is called learned helplessness. 1. This was seen in an experiment by Martin Seligman with caged dogs who were given shocks. They eventually cowered in fear. Even after the trap was “unlocked” and they could’ve escaped, they didn’t try. A dog who had not learned the helplessness would quickly escape. 3. People certainly respond to their environment but the message seems to be that, with people especially, what we think about a situation matters as well. 1. What goes on outside of us stimulates our behavior. 2. What goes on in our heads also affects our behavior. 3. Biological predispositions 1. Like it or not, animals and people are hard-wired by their biology. We naturally tend to like certain things, dislike others, and we have limitations on what we can do. 2. The early behaviorists (Pavlov, Watson) thought all animals were the same. To them, we’re simply machines responding to stimuli (our environment). 3. However, there are non-examples to this idea… 1. Rats associate best by using the sense of taste (rather than sight or sound). This may help them survive by distinguishing “okay” and “not okay” food to eat. 2. Humans similarly associate very well by taste. Anyone who's ever gotten food poisoning will likely have a hard time going back to that food again. 3. Men seem predisposed to find the color red attractive in females. The idea is that red is naturally sexy. 4. Pavlov’s legacy 1. Two major lessons come out of Pavlov’s work… 1. Classical conditioning is very broad – many responses can be associated to many stimuli in many organisms. 2. Classical conditioning showed how something as abstract as “learning” can be studied objectively (with opinions stripped away). 2. Applications came out of Pavlov’s work as well such as the health and well-being of people. 1. For example, a drug addict may re-enter the world and situations that were associated with getting high, then get the urge to take the drug again. Therefore, addicts are encourage to not go back to those situations. 2. Or in an experiment, when a taste was associated with a drug that boosts the immune system, it got to the point where the taste alone was able to boost the immune system. 3. Building on Pavlov’s work, John B. Watson became the second well-known classical conditioning behaviorist. 1. Watson worked with a baby known as Little Albert, an average baby. 2. Watson knew that babies/people have a natural fear of sudden, loud sounds. Also, babies do not have a fear of white rats. Watson associated the two. 3. Watson placed a white rat next to Albert. Albert wanted to touch the rat. As he reached out, Watson banged a hammer on metal just behind Albert. Albert was scared and cried. This was repeated over and over. 4. Finally, the white rat and banging sound were associated. Merely the sight of the rat caused Albert to cry. 1. UCS = banging sound, UCR = crying 2. CS = white rat, CR = crying 5. In this demonstration, there were definitely ethical problems here. Specifically, the APA’s suggestion of “informed consent” wasn’t met. Though Albert’s mother gave the okay, he certainly didn’t. 1. After resigning in a scandal (where he eventually married his assistant), Watson went on to work for Maxwell House and start the “coffee break”. 5. Skinner’s experiments 1. Operant conditioning differs from classical conditioning in the following ways: 1. Classical – two outside stimuli are associated with one another. 1. This is natural, automatic, and biological. Pavlov’s dogs didn’t choose to salivate. It was natural, automatic, biological. 2. Operant – your actions are associated with consequences. 1. The animal or person makes a choice or decision about what it does. 2. Realize that a “consequence” can be either bad or good. 2. E. L. Thorndike was the first big name in operant conditioning. 1. Thorndike came up with his “Law of Effect” which said a “rewarded behavior is likely to recur.” 1. Simply put, if you do something then get a reward, you’ll likely do it again. 2. Thorndike built “puzzle boxes” and put cats in them. The cat had to do a series of things to escape. 1. Being a behaviorist, Thorndike had to objectively measure the “learning” the cats made. So, he measured the time it took for the cats to escape after successive tries. 2. The resulting graph showed a clear and typical “learning curve” – the cats learned quickly, then not quite as much, and then their learning leveled off. 1. See the graph at the bottom of this page. 3. B. F. Skinner built on Thorndike’s work and is likely the biggest name in operant conditioning. 1. He built “Skinner Boxes”, which were contraptions in which an animal could manipulate things and/or respond to stimuli. The responses were measured. 2. A typical Skinner Box was set up with a (1) food dispenser, (2) water dispenser, (3) a light bulb, (4) a speaker, and (5) a lever the animal could pull. An (6) electrical shock might be added as well. 1. Being a behaviorist, Skinner had to measure behaviors. So, each pull of the lever was tallied. 2. Skinner typically placed pigeons or lab rats in his boxes . He used shaping to “teach” them to do things like walk in figure-8s or “play” ping pong. Shaping simply rewards desired behavior and directs the animal toward a desired behavior. At first, the animal is rewarded for getting close to the behavior, then rewarded for going a bit further, and finally rewarded for the actual behavior. 3. A discriminative stimulus is a stimulus that an animal can distinguish from another. A pigeon might respond to a speaker making a “ding dong” sound in its box, but might not respond to a “whoop whoop” sound. 1. These discriminative stimuli enable us to determine things like, “Can a dog see colors?” (will they respond to one color but discriminate another). Can a baby do this? 3. There are two main types of reinforcersanything that INCREASES a response. 1. Positive reinforcement STRENGTHENS a behavior with a pleasurable stimulus after a response. 1. Simply, if you do what’s wanted, you get a doggie treat! 2. For example, a dog sits and you give him a piece of a hot dog. This increases the likelihood he’ll sit. 2. Negative reinforcement STRENGHTHENS a behavior by removing something unpleasant. 1. Simply, you do something to make something bad go away. 2. For example, you hit the snooze button to make the annoying sound stop. This increases the likelihood you’ll hit it again. 3. It’s important to remember, negative reinforcement is not punishment. 1. Negative reinforcement encourages a behavior by removing something bad. 2. Punishment discourages a behavior by adding something bad. 4. There are two other types of reinforcers… 1. Primary reinforcers are natural, they are unlearned, such as food or getting rid of pain. 2. Conditioned or secondary reinforcers get their power by attaching to a primary reinforcer. This “attaching” must be learned. 1. For example, in a Skinner Box, rats learned that pulling the lever (conditioned reinforcer) gave some food (primary reinforce). 6. Schedules of reinforcement try to the answer questions like, “When should the reinforcement be given, every time? Some times?” 1. Continuous reinforcement occurs when the reinforcement is given every time the behavior is down. 2. Partial or intermittent reinforcement occurs when the reinforcement is not given after every behavior. 1. Fixed ratio – reinforcer is given after a set number of behaviors. 1. Think of being paid for every 10 units you make on an assembly line. 2. Variable ratio – reinforcer is given after a random number of behaviors. 1. Think of pulling a slot machine handle, you never know which pull will win. 3. Fixed interval – reinforcer is given after a set time period. 1. Think of being paid every Friday. 4. Variable interval – reinforcer is given after a random time period. 1. Think of watching a bob-cork and waiting for a fish to bite. 1. See the graph at the bottom of this page. 3. Punishment is often confused with negative reinforcement. Punishment DISCOURAGES a behavior (whereas negative reinforcement encourages a behavior by removing something unpleasant). 1. Punishment can be very effective if it’s sure and swift. 2. Physical punishment, like spanking, is looked down upon by some groups. Their belief is that: 1. The punishment isn’t forgotten, but suppressed. 2. It teaches that it’s okay to do the behavior some times, but not others. 3. It teaches fear of the body doling out the punishment. 4. It might increase aggressiveness by modeling aggression itself. 7. Extending Skinner’s understanding 1. Up until his death, Skinner shunned anything cognitive – anything having to do with thinking or the mental. To him, even things going on inside your head are just more behaviors in response to stimuli. We’re robots. 2. But, there seems to be evidence that’s disagrees with Skinner’s anti-cognitive beliefs… 1. Latent learning is learning that doesn’t become apparent until later when it’s needed. Until then, it remains latent (hidden). 1. Edward Tolman did an experiment with rats in a maze showed latent learning. 1. There were two groups of rats – one was given a reward at each correct decision. They got to the end quickly. Another group was given no reward until they finished the maze. Needless to say, they floundered around and it took them a long time. 2. After each group finally learned the maze, however, the second group was able to run the maze even quicker than the first group. They’d developed a “mental maze.” This learning didn’t become apparent until later. 2. Similarly, children learn things from parents and adults that they may not use until much later in life, perhaps when they become parents themselves. 2. Insight learning is learning that comes all-at-once. You may be stumped on something, but then, all-of-a-sudden, the problem is solved in a flash. 3. Intrinsic motivation is the desire to perform a behavior for its own sake. This would be like reading a book just for the joy of reading it. 1. If appears that offering rewards to something that’s intrinsically motivated can actually decrease the motivation. It’s as if the thinking becomes, “If they have to bribe me to do this, it must not really be worth doing.” 4. Extrinsic motivation is the desire to perform a behavior in order to get some type of reward. This would be like reading a book in order to get an “A” in class or to win a prize. 3. People and animals have biological predispositions, meaning we’re naturally good at some things and bad at others. 1. Animals easily learn to associate things that help them to survive. 2. And, animals don’t easily learn things that don’t help them survive. 1. For example, in one experiment, pigs were being taught to pick up wooden “dollars” then put them in a piggy bank as fast as possible. The natural urge of the pigs to root with their noses slowed down their time. 8. Skinner’s legacy 1. B. F. Skinner was a controversial figure in psychology, mainly due to his belief that we were nothing more than biological reactors to stimuli. People were machines or robots. 2. Still, he said that operant conditioning can improve our lives, such as in the fields of: 1. School 1. Skinner felt we’d eventually use computers alone to teach. The program would give instant feedback, right or wrong, then direct the learner to the appropriate next-step. 2. Sports 1. When learning a skill, we can start small, master that skill, then move to the next skill. 2. Through shaping, we can gradually build toward the desired skill. 3. Notably, athletes are well-known to be superstitious. If they do something just before hitting a home run, a ball player might start to think of that action as having something to do with the home run. He or she may likely repeat that behavior. 3. Work 1. Operant conditioning can boost productivity. For this to happen, the reinforcement needs to be specific and immediate. General reinforcers, like “merit”, don’t cut it. 4. Home 1. Parents can notice good behavior in children, reward it, then watch the behavior increase. 2. Yelling at the child doesn’t seem to help. Pointing out what’s wrong is okay, but the ideal is again, to notice good behavior in children, reward it, then watch the behavior increase. 5. Self-improvement 1. To better yourself, first state your goal in measurable terms then announce it to someone. 2. Secondly, monitor how you spend your time and avoid wasting it. 3. Reinforce the desired behavior with a reward. 4. Gradually reduce rewards. This will move the motivation away from the extrinsic and toward the intrinsic. 9. Contrasting classical and operant conditioning 1. The differences between classical and operant conditioning can be summarized as… 1. Classical conditioning 1. Links two stimuli together through association. 2. Involves a natural, biological response. There is no decision made – Pavlov’s dogs salivated naturally, biologically, with no decision of their own. 2. Operant conditioning 1. Links a behavior to its results. 2. There is a decision made here to do or not do a behavior. Behavior that gets reinforced is more likely to be repeated. 10. Mirrors in the brain 1. People can learn without actually experiencing something. We can learn by watching others through what’s called observational learning. Observational learning is learning by observing others or learning without direct experience or our own. 1. In modeling, we learn by watching and mimicking others. 2. This is simply like the old adage, “monkey see, monkey do.” 2. We have mirror neurons that “fire” in the brain when we watch someone else doing an action. It’s as though we’re actually doing it, but we’re just observing it. 1. Mirror neurons improve our empathy for others. It helps us to feel others’ pain. 2. More concrete examples are how we imitate others when they yawn or how it’s difficult to smile when looking at a frown, or vice versa. 11. Bandura’s experiments 1. Albert Bandura is the top name in observational learning. 2. He is most famous for the Bobo doll experiment. 1. In this experiment, a child watched an adult beat up an inflatable clown. The adult yelled things like, “Take that!” in the process. 2. The children were then placed into a “play room” and mimicked the adult by beating up the Bobo doll with almost the exact same actions and words as the adult model. 3. Children who had not observed the adult were less aggressive to the doll. 3. Bandura felt that we… 1. Imitate based on reinforcements and punishments that we see others get (or don’t get). 2. Will imitate people like us, who we see as successful, or who we see as admirable. 12. Applications of observational learning 1. In business, observational learning has been applied usefully to train workers. It’s best to watch someone model the appropriate behavior than to just study it. 2. Prosocial effects of observational learning… 1. Role models can have a very real positive impact on young people. 2. Observational learning of morality starts at a very young age and is real. 3. Parents who live by the “Do as I say, not as I do” mentality tend to raise kids that wind up doing what they do. Then they in turn tell their kids, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Hypocrites beget hypocrites. This shows, in a not-so-good way, the power of parental role models. 3. Antisocial effects of observational learning… 1. Abusive parents are more likely to turn out kids who turn into abusive parents. 2. Men who beat their wives are more likely to turn out sons who beat their wives. 3. Are these findings more due to nature (due to genetics) or nurture (due to upbringing)? A study of monkeys leans toward saying the cause is nurture. 4. Television takes up a lot of our time and can therefore be a powerful tool in observational learning. 1. A person who lives to 75 years old will spend 9 years watching TV. 2. 9 out of 10 teens watch TV daily. 3. Kids see lots of violence on TV – 8,000 murders and 100,000 violent acts before getting out of grade school. 4. The “violence-viewing effect” occurs when… 1. A violent act goes unpunished (happens 74% of the time). 2. The victim’s pain is not shown (happens 58% of the time). 3. The violence is somehow “justified” (happens about 50% of the time). 4. The violent person is shown as attractive (happens about 50% of the time). 5. Two key results seem to occur due to the violence-viewing effect… 1. People imitate the behavior they see. 2. People become desensitized to violence – we’re not as shocked if we see graphic violence. 6. Correlational studies have linked TV violence and real violence. 1. When TV came to America in the mid-late 1950s, homicide rates rose dramatically. 2. The same tendency was seen in other countries that got TV later. Their homicide rates spiked too in sync with TV. Back to Psychology Index
Mexico is a nation with a heritage of cultural wonders and one of the main cradles of modern civilisation. Yet, despite its much acclaimed 20th-century social revolution, Mexico never developed socially inclusive checked-and-balanced democratic political institutions subject to even a minimum standard rule of law. Throughout its tortuous political and social history, the Mexican state was mostly led by presidents and governors promoting the looting of the Mexican people always linked to organised crimes. Today's political leaders are no exception. The creation of a 'Pax Mafiosa' For many decades, organised crime in Mexico conducted its dirty business hand-in-hand with the most powerful political elites of an authoritarian one-party state ruled by the Institutional Revolutionary Party - or PRI, by its Spanish acronym, which, by the way, is the same party in power today. Within this political scenario, the one-party state operationally "managed" different organised crime networks with an iron fist in order to serve the PRI's political machinery and the economic enrichment of its members, all within a "Pax Mafiosa". In those days of a one-party rule, there was no space for organised crime groups to compete with each other and even less space to challenge an all mighty one-party authoritarian regime. One-party state officials allocated each "cartel" to a criminal market -legal and illegal drugs, human trafficking, counterfeit and other goods and services. This authoritarian set-up explains the relative lack of mob violence for many decades. As a result of globalised democratisation movements following the fall of the Berlin Wall, Mexico's political one-party elite also became part of the "Washington Consensus" by instituting multi-party elections aimed in theory at establishing a democratic electoral process. A multi-party electoral process did start as a result, but it was still "managed" through a political agreement, coordinated by the PRI, based on not introducing institutional controls on high-level corruption and on managing elections through dirty money funding all parties and most of its politicians. This democratic facade unleashed the old criminal 1940s drug trafficking and human trafficking networks and allowed violent competition between them. Like piranhas they have been competing to buy political protection of their criminal markets. They got involved with fragments of the armed and police forces, generating the most extreme forms of political and economic violence against Mexican society. What followed amounted to crimes against humanity: unprecedented numbers of forced disappearances and human trafficking. As an adviser to the authorities on establishing judicial and intelligence mechanisms to dismantle political-criminal networks, I have witnessed first-hand how members of organised crime have detained and harassed federal electoral prosecutors who uncovered evidence of vote-buying. OPINION: Getting away with murder in Mexico The federal prosecutors involved in this operation were later detained, harassed and threatened for hours by officers from the Chiapas state police, while the high-level official was set free under political pressure. Another case is the arrest of the world-infamous Mexican Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera - one of the richest people on the planet. The Mexican government took sides in an internal Sinaloa cartel leadership struggle and, after capturing "El Chapo" in February 2014 and recapturing him in January of this year, not even one of the hundreds of top politicians and businesspersons in his pocket was arrested or indicted and none of his vast fortune was judicially forfeited or frozen. This is the golden rule of state-driven mafias: the mafia-leadership may change but the political-criminal network stays intact. Uncontrollable organised crime All countries in the world have organised crime networks operating within their territory, but governable countries control the most serious crimes and the most extreme forms of mass violence either through abhorrent authoritarian extrajudicial repression or through the much more desired functional democracy with rule of law. For example, authoritarian political regimes, such as in China, Iran, Russia or Sudan do at present "manage" their organised crime groups with an iron fist to serve their political elites through a "pax mafiosa". On the other hand, functional or even dysfunctional democracies, such as Spain or Italy, imperfectly provide economic, intelligence and judicial controls to restrain dirty money from flowing into politics by dismantling the most serious organised crime groups within the state. This explosive orgy of violence resulted in the forced disappearances of more than 28,937 persons since 2007 as well as in the 186,297 organised crime-linked assassinations between December 2006 and today. However, the Mexican state does not follow either of these approaches and, as a result, the country experiences a high degree of uncontrolled, feudalised organised crime capturing fragments of the political system, fragments of the police and armed forces. This explosive orgy of violence resulted in the forced disappearances of more than 28,937 people since 2007 as well as in the 186,297 organised crime-linked assassinations between December 2006 and today, including the unprecedented number of killings of investigative journalists and community leaders challenging government-mafia corruption links, such as in the case of the murders and forced disappearance of the rural students of Ayotzinapa in the town of Iguala in 2014. One could argue that the United States with its uncontrolled drug consumption epidemic is to blame for Mexico's nightmarish reality. It is true that US demand for illicit drugs has been enriching Mexican criminal networks since the 1950s, but it is also true that it also enriches criminal networks in Canada. However, we do not see high levels of Canadian organised crime engaged in forced disappearances or in hundreds of thousands of murders. Canada does not experience uncontrolled violence because the legislative, judicial and executive economic controls do function, thus precluding the mafia-capture of the Canadian political system. Urgent reforms As I have argued before, this situation can be resolved by filling institutional vacuums with at least three types of auditing and investigative controls, instituted separately through the legislative, judiciary and executive branches. This is to ensure that politicians cannot finance their campaigns and public debt with dirty money, thus aborting a future democracy. The vacuum of these three types of financial and economic controls at present subsidise a highly enriched political class living the high life in US and European private mansions bought with undeclared money. Furthermore, since the Mexican multi-party political transition started, the "party-list" electoral system has served the PRI elite and many politicians in other Mexican parties. Party lists of candidates are devised through the "dedazos" (or "big fingers") of corrupt party bosses with total discretion in selecting candidates without any democratic voting in open primaries. Therefore, this is a clear invitation for organised crime to incorporate their criminals into party lists behind closed doors in exchange for dirty money flowing to party bosses. International experience indicates that an electoral reform is required to preclude this criminalisation of politics through the establishment of "first-past-the-post" electoral contests subject to three parallel and independent economic audits of all political candidates. These anti-mafia political/electoral reforms must come first before any genuine judicial or anti-corruption reforms are even proposed. By simple logic, it is ridiculous to expect that the current mafia-driven political "elite" in Mexico will engage in anti-mafia judicial reforms - three outrageously expensive "window dressing" judicial reforms since 1994 have proved this point. OPINION: The new face of the mafia in Italy Given past successful international anti-mafia experiences in Colombia and in Italy, one can expect that these recommended Mexican political reforms will only be implemented through international political pressure from European and North American governments coupled with a much more unified and massive pressure from the Mexican civil society. Past international experience shows that under these two high-pressure conditions, the political elites will be indicted and the bloodiest chapter in modern Mexican history may come to an end thus giving democracy and the rule of law the chance to flourish. Edgardo Buscaglia directs field teams with experience since 1990 in 114 countries worldwide advising public authorities and civil societies on combating and preventing the expansion of criminal networks. He is a Senior Law and Economics Scholar at Columbia University in New York, USA and the President of the Institute for Citizens' Democracy and Rule of Law in Mexico.
410: Math Paper Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb. Revision as of 14:33, 22 August 2013 by (Talk) Jump to: navigation, search Math paper What are Friendly Numbers? We need first to get define a divisor function over the integers, written σ(n) if you’re so inclined. To get it first we get all the integers that divide into n. So for 3, it’s 1 and 3. For 4, it’s 1, 2, and 4, and for 5 it’s only 1 and 5. For each of these n, there is something called a characteristic ratio. Now that’s just the divisors function over the integer itself ( σ(n)/n . So the characteristic ratio where n = 6 is σ(6)/6 = 12/6 = 2. [Lecturer points to equations on the board.] Guy in room: Hold on. Is this paper simply a giant build-up to an "imaginary friends" pun? [Lecturer stands speechless.] Lecturer: It MIGHT not be. Guy in room: I'm sorry, we're revoking your math license. I do not agree. Here is how it should work. You should define that a divides b if and only if there is a natural number n such that an = b. This way, natural numbers don't get new divisors when you move to the Gaussian plane. Consequently the extended sigma function gives the same value as the classical one when applied to a natural number. So, natural numbers will be friends according to the new definition if and only if they are friends according to the old definition and we are indeed allowed to say that the new definition extends the old one (Burghard von Karger). (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~) They are probably beat panels more than anything else. -Pennpenn 00:13, 27 March 2015 (UTC) There's a joke among amateur songwriters that a forced rhyme or other dubious technique might lead to revoking the writer's "poetic license." Gmcgath (talk) 22:08, 30 October 2016 (UTC) Personal tools
Allegorical subjects were frequently painted from the Renaissance until around 1800, although they were probably most often used in medals and engraved frontispieces to books. Single allegorical figures were also painted, sometimes in series, each figure representing, for example, one of the Liberal Arts or the Virtues.
The brain is an important organ in the human body. It tells all the other organs what to do. But when we keep hurting the brain continually, or bang it against our skull, that is where problems occur. In 2002, Dr. Bennet Omalu discovered a disease found in people who have suffered from severe head blows. This disease is called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a progressive degenerative disease found in people who have suffered a severe blow to the head. It has been found in athletes participating in football, soccer, ice hockey, wrestling and other contact sports who have experienced repeated concussions or other brain trauma. Individuals with CTE may show symptoms of dementia, such as memory loss, aggression, confusion and depression, which may appear years or many decades after the trauma. advertisement \| advertise on newsday Because of this discovery, professional and peewee sports leaders have taken precautions for protecting players. Even though precautions are made and people know what could happen, that doesn’t mean people will always listen and believe it. As a fan of football, and a player myself, I understand why athletes want to continue to play — for the love of the game. But is the love of the game worth risking your life and being able to get CTE and other brain trauma? A lot of kids don’t play certain sports because they are afraid of getting hurt. I feel that kids shouldn’t be afraid to play contact sports such as football and hockey. I believe everyone should try these sports because they not only teach teamwork and leadership, but also discipline. Using the right equipment should help protect you on the field.
A Day At Work With taking care of children comes many responsibilities. Many times during the day you find that you repeat yourself and constantly resolve conflicts. In a child"s brain they have this idea that everything belongs to them. That is the main reason why young children may not get along all the time. This is why taking care of children can be such a difficult task. A day at work goes as follows. When you get there you set up the room and put out certain things for them to do. The way to choose is to look at the developmental stages of each child and see what can better them. After that is done you have to get breakfast ready, but while you are doing this a child arrives. Thirty minutes later you need to change their diaper. Multitasking and focus is greatly needed in this field of work. When all the children arrive and have their breakfast, circle time begins. During circle time you practice numbers, colors, abc's, months of the year and so on. Repetition is how kids learn so they go over this stuff everyday. While you are teaching though, a child walks away from the carpet area, you must keep the other kids busy while you go get the kid. Now its to do diaper checks which you must do every two hours. After we change all diapers we have snack. While at work you have to make decisions. What do you do when a child starts fighting while you are changing a diaper what do you do? Do you leave the changing area with the risk of the child falling off the changing table or do you break up the fight with the risk a child may get injured? Situations like this may occur every hour. This can become a lot to handle. Many times throughout you should take a two-minute break just to get your thoughts together. The best time to do this is during nap time which takes place after lunch. Nap time usually lasts about 2-3 hours. After nap time the children wake up, get changed, have snack, and then go outside until their parents arrive. At the end of the day you are tired, stressed out, and relieved all at once. Many people get so frustrated that they take it out on the child. This is why so many children get abused by their caregiver. A person may get frustrated with a child basically because they don't understand them. At the end of the day you are excited because you know the kids left safe, uninjured, and they learned something new. Post a Comment Be the first to comment on this article! bRealTime banner ad on the left side Site Feedback
WEBAX - Web access to numerical tools of limnology This is an access to numerical tools for calculating density of limnic waters, electrical conductivity and other physical properties of waters. As some of these numerical algorithms are more complex and may include a larger number of coefficients, we provide programmes to be run on the internet, and - at a later stage - programmes to be downloaded. Colleagues shall feel free to use these tools. References are listed for the respective approaches. If you can propose an interesting link, please do not hesitate to do so. Calculating density other approaches accessible on internet: Calculating electrical conductivity still to be written Calculating alkanity of sampled waters The United States Geological Survey - USGS provides an alkalinity calculator on the internet. Demonstration and teaching programs Motivated by work on caldera lake Shikotsu (Japan), we wrote a MATLAB routine, which allows for temperature ontrol at the water surface by the user, and evaluates density stability. The resulting temperature profile is displayed.
Create Interactive Timelines #antiworksheet by Kristie Burk, DASD Coordinator of Cyber and Blended Learning knight lab.pngInstead of asking students to answer questions in a worksheet…. …ask them to create an interactive timeline. Timelines help students understand the passage of time and how events impact each other. Timeline by Northwestern University Knight Lab allows students to make beautiful, interactive timelines easily. To “personalize” their timelines, students can add text, images, embedded Google maps, embedded videos, sound clips, and more. Although interactive timelines have obvious use in a social studies class, they can also be used to plot events in a book, steps in a scientific process, the evolution of an artist’s work, and more. Another similar tool to use that we’ve reviewed before is Timeline by Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Creating opportunities for the unexpected (without the chaos) in self-design labs. Among all the challenges we face in transforming large introductory science courses, one of the biggest is managing the laboratory. This is particularly true in settings where labs are taught by graduate teaching fellows with varying degrees of teaching experience. Often pressured to focus their energies on research and writing (for example Educating integrated professionals: Theory and practice on preparation for the professoriate), there is little incentive for graduate students to be innovative in their teaching. This is enforced by an emphasis on providing standardized experiences for students across all sections. Introductory laboratory. As is often the case, my attempts in making laboratories more “authentic” early in my journey were limited to having TAs guide discussions of “what hypothesis are we testing,” “what variables are being controlled for,” or “what do you predict will happen.” Not that these are bad scaffolding, but if the lab is entirely planned and the student has read the material and attended to content, then there is a single best answer for these questions, and a correct outcome for the lab exercise. In other words, these labs cannot be anything other than demonstrations of known phenomena. But if there is no room for unexpected results, can the exercise be authentic inquiry? Can it even be educational if the only variation comes through doing something “wrong” and not getting the “right” answer? I think it is important to recognize that such activities reinforce the misconception that scientists only do experiments when they know the outcome (which even some K12 science teachers believe e.g. Antink-Meyer & Meyer, 2016). With my growing conviction of the need for students to experience and cope with meaningful “failure,” creating learner-centered lab activities that allowed variation became very important. By meaningful failure, I mean unexpected results that can be used to further student understanding of underlying phenomena. The osmosis example below is an example of this. To counter the discomfort many students expressed around science, I sought to design labs that would engage these students and help them learn that success meant learning, not getting the “right answer.” In terms of my three goals, my goal in this case was to engage students in authentic practice so that they would understand that they could “do” science. Classroom chaos. First, I do want to discuss a common misconception of open inquiry laboratories. We tend to assume that any inquiry – based lab requires students to develop their own hypothesis, identify or design an appropriate protocol, and collect, analyze, and interpret the data. Even with guidance, the end result can be the chaos of 20 or more distinct projects, frazzled laboratory coordinators and managers, frustrated students, and graduate teaching assistants who are at a loss on how to mentor research – particularly if they are newly admitted graduate students. What I want to emphasize is this is not necessary. The myth busting of this view of “student-design” is in our own practice. How often in actual research do we develop a completely novel protocol? Most of the time, we adapt protocols from those published in the field. What makes research “inquiry” is not a novel protocol, but that we chose to manipulate and measure particular variables to test an idea, and we do not know for certain what the outcome will be. If the protocol is a “fixed” element of the laboratory, then the number of permutations is greatly reduced. Yet the laboratory is still authentic inquiry: students are unlikely to know what the outcomes will be no matter how well they understand the content. Importantly, not one of the laboratory activities I adapted was new to the course. The lab manager had all the equipment on hand and the basic protocols existed. What was different is that I created opportunities for students decide how to implement the protocols. Key to this was a philosophy of less-is-more. I reduced the number of labs to seven: three introductory labs focused on foundational processes and skills, then four self-design labs. Each self-design lab took three sessions. The first lab session, we would discuss the underlying concepts, brainstorm protocols with a focus on what was being manipulated and what would need to be controlled for. The second lab session, students would collect their data. The third lab session we would talk about their results and possible interpretations. So how do these labs work? Here are two examples, osmosis from the “foundations” set and antibiotic resistance from the “self-design” set. dialysis apparatus The apparatus for observing osmosis. Osmosis demonstration. This lab was originally designed as a classic demonstration lab, and I will admit that it was pure serendipity that led to unexpected results. The students constructed their apparatuses as illustrated. Since time and space were limited, I instructed the students to work in groups of 4, with one pair setting up the low concentration demo, and the other the high concentration demo, and compare results. Of course, we all expected osmosis to happen faster with the higher concentration sucrose solution. But most groups did not find that to be true. When we started unpacking this, I found that despite my instructions, haphazard variation in set-up had produced variation in the results. For instance, in one group the the pouch of low-concentration sucrose was much larger than the pouch of high-concentration sucrose. In another group, the pair setting up the low-concentration demo had used warm tap water while their partners had used cold tap water. [the full lab as it is now run can be found here] Three things happened because of this “failed” lab. First, as we unpacked the sources of variation, students realized that they had learned things despite the “failures.” Second, these students understood at a personal level the importance of identifying and controlling for confounding variables. I did not have to constantly remind this group of the need to identify and control for variables during their self-design labs. Lastly, when we moved on to self-design labs, these students had greater self-efficacy in the lab than any previous group I’d worked with. They’d had a “failure” and turned it into a learning experience, and no longer feared failures. Antibiotic test dots Antibiotic resistance. This self-design lab involves planned sampling of surfaces around campus, culturing a single bacterial colony from each sample, and testing the cultures against one to four antibiotics. The basic protocol is provided: students are given a full flow-chart of the process. What they do is make choose sampling locations based upon their understanding of what drives evolution of antibiotic resistance and their conception of where bacteria exposed to different amounts of antibiotics might be found. Working in pairs, they sample two surfaces, manage the colony selection and sampling, choose which antibiotics to use (from six available), and analyze and discuss their results. Examples of comparisons include the hands of students with different histories of childhood antibiotic use, men’s versus women’s restrooms, cracked versus uncracked cell phone cases. The results were often surprising – no difference in antibiotic resistance between men’s and women’s restrooms – and sometimes not – the student with a history of antibiotic use had bacteria resistant to a wider range of antibiotics. In each case, they were required to unpack their predictions in terms of antibiotic use and bacterial evolution. In these labs, students are engaged in authentic inquiry: although they are not designing full investigations, they are making choices that have significant impact on the outcomes. The labs are no longer simply cook-book recipes to confirm phenomena, but actual investigation into the biological world. And while some students find this very unsettling, most rise to the occasion and become more deeply engaged than I was accustomed to seeing in standard lab activities. The spill over was obvious in classroom settings, where they became very adept at picking out confounding variables, unclear descriptions of protocols, and other flaws in media reports. In other words, for many, their experiences in the lab lead them to more critical consumption of science reports, as well as increased confidence in science as a human activity. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Monday 5/13 1. Introductions 2. Ground rules (from Greg Walker) 3. Workshop outcome and objectives • Objectives: 2. Create and share using Google Calendar. 3. Create, share, and collaborate using Google Docs. 4. Create a Google Form. 5. Store and share using Google Drive. 6. Create a website using Google Sites. 4. Ice Breaker Activity 1. Each person chooses one question to interview others: • What are your expectations for this workshop? How do you plan to use the skills and knowledge you gain from this workshop? • What experience do you have using Google apps? It can be both personal and professional. • What questions do you have about this workshop (i.e. objectives, topics, workshop format, etc.)? 2. Talk to each person about your question and take notes in the "Ice Breaker" Google Doc. 1. Group discussion: Present your findings and discuss. 3. Discussion (Needs Assessment): Why do you want to go paperless? What challenges do you face in class? What things take a lot of time for you or your students? What things do you wonder - there must be a better or faster way to do this? On the flip-side, can we survive on a life without paper?? 4. Introduction to Google@UH Apps 5. Uses of Google Apps in Education • Activity: What are your initial thoughts, ideas, and plans to use Google apps? Type them up in your Notes Google Doc. (Don't worry, this is not final; you will refine and revise your plans each day.) Then, share and discuss your initial ideas with the group. 6. Lunch 7. Getting Started with Google@UH Apps 8. Gmail 9. Google Contacts • Activity: Learn and do together - Gmail Essentials (step #4). Also, create a group for our workshop attendees. • Individual work time: Setup up Contacts, organize, practice skills, try out different things, etc. You may also be interested in how to import your student roster of email addresses into your Gmail Contacts as a group. Watch this video to learn how: 10. Google Chat • Activity: Learn and do together - Gmail Essentials (step #8). Setup up Chat - configure settings, install plug-in, organize list, etc. • Activity: Google Chat with each other. Try out different things like video chat, group chat, reply by chat to email message, etc. 11. Break 12. Google Calendar 13. Group sharing - Share what you did in your Gmail, Contacts, Chat, and Calendar and how this will help you (be more efficient, timely, organized, etc.)? Provide feedback to each other. 14. Self-Reflection (in Google Doc) - Summarize what you did and learned today. How do you think you can use this for yourself or your students? What are some ideas you have to integrate this in your class, to create an activity or project, or to help with something that you do already? Add ideas and add/refine your plans in your "My reflections, ideas, and plans" Google Doc.
100 Years after Flexner: Reconsidering Premedical Education by Michael Shusterman In the early twentieth century the proliferation of for-profit medical schools and unstandardized curricula led to calls for drastic change. Medical schools operated under widely disparate models ranging from apprenticeship systems to university-based lectures. Physicians practiced with inadequate levels of training in both clinical and scientific medicine. Whereas previous efforts at reform by the American Medical Association (AMA) had proven ineffective during the 19th century, the advent of scientific medicine shifted the balance of professional opinion. 1 To reevaluate medical education in the United States, the AMA created in 1904 the Council on Medical Education (CME), tasked with standardizing admissions requirements to medical school and reforming medical school curricula and preclinical training. 2 In 1908 the CME and the Carnegie Foundation commissioned a report on medical education in the United States, led by education theorist Abraham Flexner, PhD. Flexner undertook a rigorous survey of the 155 medical schools operating at the time and submitted his suggestions for reform in 1910 as the Report on Medical Education in the United States and Canada, more commonly referred to as the Flexner Report. 3 The Flexner Report’s recommendations for medical education and admissions would serve as the foundation of the medical education system in the United States. Flexner strongly believed in the combination of scientific education with clinical practice, a consequence of following the university-based medical systems of Germany and France at the time. The resulting standardization of medical education was the 2+2 model of two years of science followed by two years of clinical practice. Today this curricular model is being challenged by a movement focused on shifting medical education towards a future when personalized genomic medicine may become available. 4 Similarly, science requirements are being condensed from 2 to 1.5 or fewer years in the hope of exposing medical students to clinical practice more rapidly. However, whereas graduate level medical education has continued to evolve since the introduction of the seminal Flexner Report, the same has not been the case for premedi- cal education requirements. Flexner advocated for a rigorous model of medical education based upon the laboratory scientific tradition. This led by the 1930s to the current set of standard requirements for admittance to medical schools- 1 year of biology, 2 years of chemistry (general and organic), and 1 year of physics. 5 Since then a vigorous debate has continued on the importance and necessity of various subjects for medical school preparation. 6 Some have called for a rigorous reconsideration of the entire scope of medical and premedical education. 7 Emmanuel has argued that “many premedical requirements are irrelevant to future medical education and practice.” 8 He has proposed exchanging the traditional organic chemistry, physics, and calculus requirements for courses on genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and statistics. Emmanuel argues that these new courses should be integrated with a strong background in the social and ethical dimensions of healthcare (policy, bioethics, social sciences). 8 In a recent assessment of science requirements for both medical school education and baccalaureate level preparation, Lambert and colleagues agreed with Emmanuel’s assessments in exchanging the physical sciences for coursework devoted to biomedical and molecular principles. 9 Others have looked towards Lewis Thomas’ more radical suggestion of eliminating the majority of standard scientific preparatory requirements in favor of a broad liberal arts education. 10, 11 Thomas argued that the loss of the liberal arts education had degraded the humanistic integrity and ethics of rising physicians who were willing to sacrifice professional and scientific values in an endless race to the top. Analyses have overridden fears that humanities majors are incapable of performing adequately in medical school. In a review Wershof et al. have shown that medical students who majored in the humanities and only took the minimal premedical requirements perform on par with students with more extensive preparation in the sciences. 12 However, this push for the integration of humanities into the curriculum has met with an opposing effort to spend more time on the sciences. A recent colloquium on evolution and medicine came to the conclusion that physicians require far greater exposure to evolutionary biology and that the subject should be incorporated throughout the medical education system. 13 What then are we to make of these disparate opinions? One potential solution may lie in the proposals of a joint Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)-Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) report, Scientific Foundations for Future Physician. 14 The AAMC-HHMI study urges the adoption of the scientific competencies for medical and premedical education, with a focus on integrating core focus areas into interdisciplinary courses rather than rigid medical requirements. For instance, organic chemistry and biochemistry may be combined into a year long sequence that incorporates organic chemistry topics into the broader scale of biochemical principles. Similarly courses in the physical sciences may utilize systems such as neural networks to study electrical systems and consider Newtonian principles in the context of biomechanical systems. The report recognizes the difficulty in implementing such interdisciplinary courses across traditionally compartmentalized science departments in universities. Additional problems may ensue from resistance among faculty, particularly in the physical sciences, to incorporate greater emphasis on biological topics in coursework. However, since 2006, Harvard University has been successful in implementing a framework that has integrated biomedically relevant topics into typical premedical coursework. 15 It would seem prudent for universities to reconsider the current design of premedical coursework in light of the changing attitudes among medical educators and students. Significant progress has already been made in the area of introductory biology reform through the inclusion of genetics, molecular biology, and physiology into preliminary biology courses. Further steps must result in the creation of an integrated organic chemistry and biochemistry sequence. Rather than eliminating organic chemistry this will reinvigorate the sub- ject by forging a union between basic science and biochemical systems relevant to medical study. Finally, coursework in introductory physics should seek to incorporate biological principles, where possible, into curricula. Once implemented these initial reforms should serve as a catalyst for additional reconsiderations and changes to premedical requirements. It seems appropriate that 100 years after the Flexner Report serious efforts should be taken to once again reevaluate the paradigm of medical preparatory education. Michael Shusterman is a third year medical student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. This post was an Editorial originally published in Spring 2010 issue of the TuftScope Journal of Health, Policy and Ethics. Reprinted with permission of the author. 1. Beck, AH. The Flexner Report and the Standardization of American Medical Education. JAMA. 2004;291:2139-40. 2. Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association. JAMA. 1905;44:1470-75. 4. Wiener CM, Thomas PA, Goodspeed E, Valle D, Nichols DG. “Genes to society” – The Logic and Process of the New Curriculum for the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Acad Med. 2010; 85:498-506. 5. Dalen JE, Alpert JS. Premed Requirements: The Time for Change Is Long Overdue! Am J Med. 2009;122: 104-6. 6. Finnerty EP, Chauvin S, Bonaminio G, Andrews M, Carroll RG, Pangaro LN. Flexner Revisited: The Role and Value of the Basic Sciences in Medi- cal Education. Acad Med. 2010; 85:349-55. 7. Cooke M, Irby DM, Sullivan W, Ludmerer KM. American medical education 100 years after the Flexner report. NEJM. 2006;355:1339-44. 8. Emanuel EJ. Changing premed requirements and the medical curriculum. JAMA. 2006;296:1128-31. 9. Lambert DR, Lurie SJ, Lyness JM, Ward DS. Standardizing and personalizing science in medical education. Acad Med. 2010;85:356-62. 10. Thomas, L. How to fix the premedical curriculum. NEJM. 1978;28:1180- 1181. 11. Gunderman RB, Kanter SL. “How to fix the premedical curriculum” revisited. Acad Med. 2008;83:1158-61. 12. Wershof SA, Abramson JS, Wojnowich I, Accordino R, Ronan EJ, Rifkin MR. Evaluating the impact of the humanities in medical education. Mt Sinai J Med. 2009;76:372-80. 13. Nesse RM, Bergstrom CT, Ellison PT, Flier JS, Gluckman P, Govindaraju DR, Niethammer D, Omenn GS, Perlman RL, Schwartz MD, Thomas MG, Stearns SC, Valle D. Evolution in health and medicine Sackler colloquium: Making evolutionary biology a basic science for medicine. PNAS. 2010; 107 Suppl 1:1800-7. 14. AAMC-HHMI. Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians. June 2009. Available at: http://www.hhmi.org/grants/sffp.html and www.aamc.org/scientificfoundations. 15. Dienstag JL. Relevance and rigor in premedical education. NEJM. 2008; 359:221-4. This entry was posted in Medical Education and tagged . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a Reply WordPress.com Logo Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Create a Reused School Supply Collage 2.7 based on 18 ratings What You Need: • Old school supplies that can be reused such as crayons, pencils, rulers, old homework, used notebooks, erasers, paperclips, etc. • 1 piece of cardboard or thick, sturdy paper • Glue • Tempera paint • Paint brushes • Oil pastels or chalk (optional) What You Do: 1. Have your child gather together last year’s schools supplies. Old homework sheets that have been cut or torn may be used also. 2. Ask your child to arrange the supplies on the cardboard. Encourage him to move the objects to point in different directions and overlap materials. 3. Glue the objects to the cardboard. 4. Give your child paints in the primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) and white. Encourage him to create his own palette of colors by mixing the paint. 5. Your child can now apply the paint to parts of the collage. He need not cover the entire space with color. 6. Optional: Add extra color with oil pastels or chalk. Bring the old school year into the new with this reused materials collage. As the new school year begins remind your child that next year at this time he can create another collage with this year’s supplies! How likely are you to recommend to your friends and colleagues? Not at all likely Extremely likely
How effective is radiation therapy in treating cancer? Very effective, but it is not for every cancer or every person with cancer. The three main types of cancer treatment are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. For some men with early prostate cancer, radiation therapy can be a very effective treatment all by itself. Frequently, two or three types of therapy are used together. For example, in early breast cancer, surgery (lumpectomy) followed by radiation therapy is very effective at controlling cancer. For lung cancer, the best treatment sometimes includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy and the results are excellent. Cancer pain is very effectively treated with radiation therapy, says Afshin Rashtian, MD, of Riverside Community Hospital. In this video, he explains how this treatment reduces pain. How Effective Is Radiation Therapy for Cancer Pain? Continue Learning about Radiation Therapy For Cancer Radiation Therapy For Cancer Using ionized energy to kill cells, radiation therapy is used by half of all patients to treat cancer.Radiation kills cancer cells by damaging their genetic material beyond repair, causing them to breakdown and die. Both short- an... d long-term side effects, such as hair and memory loss, can occur when the therapy kills healthy cells. Different types of radiation exist. When a machine outside the body delivers it, it is called external-beam radiation therapy. If radioactive materials are placed inside the body, it is called internal radiation therapy, or brachytherapy. You can also receive an injection of radioactive iodine, which travels through the body to kill cancer cells, a treatment called systemic radiation therapy. When cancer cant be cured, radiation therapy can be used to shrink tumors to make life more comfortable for a patient. Doctors may use radiation treatments alone or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Weird fact: Bed bugs Mate by Traumatic Insemination. Bed Bug History Bed bugs are a weird bug that have plagued humans for thousands of years. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote about bed bug infestations as early as 450 BC, and they remained commonplace in almost every part of the world until the 1950’s. With the wide- spread use of pesticides like DDT and hydrocyanic acid, they were almost eliminated…almost but not completely. Over the past 10 years they have staged a dramatic comeback. In fact, it has been said that almost every hotel on the planet has dealt with a bed bug infestation in the past 10 years. Female bed bugs have no external genitalia and mate through traumatic insemination. This is a process where the male bed bug fertilizes the female’s eggs by piercing the side of her exoskeleton. The process is potentially fatal for the female bed bug. If she mates with too many males before her exoskeleton heals, she may die. Traumatic insemination is part of the reason why bed bugs spread. Bed bugs tend to congregate in groups called broods. These broods will generally be close to their food source, which is likely a bed but may be a night table, a head-board or a nearby chair. Once a brood gets too big and has too many males, the pregnant females will search for a place away from the brood to lay her eggs. If you are staying in a hotel your suitcase, your laptop, your makeup bag or your shoes are all fair game if they are accessible to a pregnant female bed bug looking for a new place to lay eggs. Practical Help: There are things you can do to help avoid taking home a pregnant female when staying in a hotel: The first thing you should do is put your luggage in the bathroom, either on the tub or on the toilet. The second thing you should do is methodically inspect the room. You will want to inspect the bed, headboard, night table, tables and chairs looking for telltale signs of bed bug activity. Here is a video that walks you through the process of checking a room: Author’s note: People ask me how I know so much about the subject of bed bugs. The truth is my wife and I rented a recreation vehicle about a year ago that had bed bugs. I know because I saw one walk our bed. We lived for 10 days in that motor home and consoled ourselves with the thought that no matter what we were not going to take them into our house when we got home. Before that trip my wife had called me paranoid about the subject but not anymore. If you have been exposed to bed bugs, you know how hard it is to sleep afterward. You feel like they are on you all the time. Luckily, I had read The Bed Bug Survival Guide: The Only Book You Need to Eliminate or Avoid This Pest Now by Jeff Eisenberg. His book really saved us from what could have been an expensive pest control bill. We were able to clean, wash or heat-treat all of our clothes, shoes children’s toys and get everything back into the house. We even had our house checked by a bed bug sniffing dog just to make sure we were okay…thanks Jeff we owe you a lot more than the $10 I paid for the book. Copyright © Mark Beselt
September 22, 2017 Google's Ethereum-Based Digital Book Uses Cryptography to Prove Ownership Google employee Tea Uglow-authored digital book A Universe Explodes developed by product design company Impossible Labs and Editions At Play was released on April 4, to demonstrate the concept of digital ownership. The book is unique and different to most digital books in many ways. Started as an Ethereum blockchain-based experiment, the original copy of the digital book can only be owned by 100 people. The original owners can then send the book to their friends, and the book can only be shared 100 times per owner. Therefore, in the end, there will only exist 10,000 copies of A Universe Explodes. Sponsored Links However, the original owners cannot just simply pass along the book to their friends. Before an owner can send his copy to a friend, the owner must remove two words and add one to each page of the 20-page book. Each page of the digital book contains 128 words. The idea is that when the book’s ownership is transferred a hundred times, the entire book would be unreadable because every single word on the book would have been replaced. The project of Uglow, Impossible Labs, and Editions At Play has very little to do with the digital book itself. Rather, it focuses on demonstrating how digital ownership can work with an emerging technology as such as the blockchain. Developers at Impossible Labs, who were tasked to develop a web-based application on top of the Ethereum blockchain network by Google, focused on utilizing smart contracts and timestamps to record the transfer of ownership in an immutable and decentralized blockchain or ledger. Such precise registry of ownership enables everyone within the network and each owner of A Universe Explodes to find out who made changes to which edition of the digital book at what time or day of the year. In a blog post, the Impossible Labs development team explained their decision to select Ethereum over other blockchain networks such as Bitcoin: “We went for Ethereum. One of the main reasons was that it has built-in smart contracts and intelligence within the blockchain itself that eases the data storage and the transfer of ownership. Smart contracts are blockchain-based programmable contracts that do not only specify what happens after certain conditions are met (like traditional contracts), but also enforce the execution automatically.” The utilization of Ethereum allowed the digital book to autonomously detect if a two-word replacement was made and a transfer of ownership was initiated by the original owner. The development team further explained that smart contracts were necessary to store and retrieve changes to the digital book so that the owners of the book can access revisions or changes based on accurate timestamps. The primary goal of this project was to use an immutable and unalterable platform such as the Ethereum blockchain to eliminate the possibility of data manipulation and unauthorized change in ownership. “Online we don’t ‘buy’ ownership. We hire. We buy a license to access, and the license we get is non-transferrable and often a bit wordy. In our first experiment with digital books; Editions at Play, Visual Editions and Google’s Creative Lab teamed up with Google Play to sell a license to access digital books — books that by their nature could not be printed out or held. The experiment was about the digital qualities of a book,” explained Uglow, who emphasized that the goal of the project was to define the concept of ownership and differentiate it from possession and access. Related posts error: Content is protected !!
Thursday, May 14, 2009 UN CSD 17: From the Eyes of African Youth representatives It is very instructive that Africa is one of the themes of the 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. Africa is indeed faced with the worst global challenges to sustainable development. She has a whole lot of resources, but the question is: how are the youths from Africa involved in the process of tackling the problems of the continent? It is very important that we contribute at the UN CSD. Our marginalization in decision-making poses a threat to good governance and development, especially as most of Africa’s development challenges impact on youths. Young people, who constitute the majority of the Africa's population, are an important force and partner in the field of global Interdependence. It follows, therefore, that youths are social actors who should be recognized as having a role to play in development and who are capable of carrying out projects and programmes in the field of sustainable development. It is a fact that no African Government has a youth on their official delegation or even a youth representative at the youth Caucus except those funded by the German and Swedish governments or NGOs. Why do we not involve the young people from Africa? An environment where elders believed that they have the monopoly of knowledge cannot lead into a sustainable future! “Provide all, especially children and youth, with educational opportunities that empower them to contribute actively to Sustainable development.” (Earth Charter 2000) African Youths have a lot to contribute in decision-making processes but they are not supported by the adults except when making statements at conferences such as the CSD. Barriers relating to demography – age restrictions, gender barriers, cultural factors and sometimes “extreme politics” exclude youth from decision-making. African Youth have limited time to develop skills and knowledge for decision-making compared to their peers from other regions. Therefore African youths should be given greater opportunities to participate in these decision-making because our opinion matters a great deal to our country and the world at large. At the opening session of this meeting, the Youth Statement was delivered by Esther Agbarakwe, a youth representative from Nigeria whose participation is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Majority of Africa Women delegates have shown support to the entire youth representative from Africa, an indication of the strong bond between African mothers and their children. So these should be stepping stones the government and other stake holders should follow. Sustainable development cannot be achieved in Africa without the establishment of an effective intergeneration partnership for sustainability among the young people and the other generation. If Africa has challenges today, these are mere preludes to the looming threats of tomorrow. The youth have deep stakes in the future and we are eager to contribute our quota. The future belongs to us. The youths are full of ideas and we are waiting to share them. Give us the space! Esther Agbarakwe Dominic Stucker said... Great job, Esther. Perfect Earth Charter quote! Keep up the good work! Esther Agbarakwe (Ms) said... Dear Dominic. Thank you for all your support. Best regards
Saturday, March 30, 2013 The Syncretic and Modern Character of the Hellenic Religion Today - Personal Thoughts (To be revised) The ancient Greek religion was never a truly unified whole. Indeed, it was so diverse that many academics in the field of Religious Studies speak of Greek 'religions' [1]. Every region and era had significant differences in their expression and version of the Greek religion when compared with other regions and eras of Greece. The form of the Greek religion in Sparta was very different from the Athenian one, even during the same time periods [examples needed]. Of course, we wouldn't speak of a Greek religion if we didn't have major and important similarities and common ground. However, in this case, I want to focus on the differences to show and explain why I consider the modern Greek religion (especially Reconstructionist Hellenism) to be syncretic and truly modern. Modern Hellenism is the product of centuries of historical and archaeological research and discovery as well as decades of theological and comparative religious studies. As a result, we have gained an accumulation of knowledge from nearly all eras and regions where the Greek religion flourished. This very fact is what makes Hellenism today a modern and syncretic product. But why? The ancient Greek religion was alive and naturally evolving. Modern Hellenism is a rebirth from the sum total of known Hellenic information. Due to that, it unites a previously very diverse and regionally autonomous whole of religious versions and practices into roughly one homogenised, and thus syncretic, religious system. Obviously, variations will certainly exist (and they do) because the interpretations of the archaeological evidence and primary sources and the theories expressed by comparative religious studies are subject to opinion and diverging points of view. Also, the variable of actual religious experience modifies further the map of modern Hellenism, birthing almost as many diverse expressions (in its own unique and new way, through the filter of current times) as its ancient forefather. This results in a religion with the Gods of the Archaic and Classical ages, the practices of the Hellenistic age and the religious understandings of the Alexandrian and later Roman eras. Also, it has the tendency of mixing regional practices, albeit with a prevalent disposition towards the, better documented, Attic forms (creating a peculiar practice of interpretatio attica). Another difference is the introduction of philosophy in the religion itself as a kind of theology (possibly a remnant of Christian/dogmatic perception of religion, which dominated and still influences the young, modern Hellenism). This, in my opinion, is a faulty approach, since the various philosophers simply expressed and taught to their students (and not all followers of the Greek religion) their personal interpretations and beliefs regarding deity, the world, spirituality, religious practice etc. The ancient Greek religion was a non-dogmatic, orthopraxic religion. Not an orthodox one, thus not rooted in belief but, rather, in practice and methodological piety. Indeed, in many works [citation needed], even of philosophers, it appears that the only 'real' - so to speak - requirement was proper, pious participation in the practical side of the religion. In other words, the public and household latreia. Understandably, this means that any given philosopher's theories cannot, in good conscience and historical accuracy, be used as theological treatises applicable to or religiously normative for all modern Hellenists and Hellenes. It is obvious, I believe, when looking at these great differences even briefly, that modern Hellenism is indeed a product of this era and a result, a 'child' of the sum total of the ancient Greek religion and modern points of view and understandings, as well as, naturally, the influence of abrahamic monotheism and dogmatic approach in theological matters. It is not, therefore, a continuation or evolution, per se, of the old religion. Rather, it is a new 'beast' altogether: a phoenix born from the ashes of the old, dead creature and fed with new substances, creating a new being, not a true child and a continuation of the 'genes'. Such a mix of information and methodology is, undeniably in my eyes, syncretism. [1]: Burkert, Walter. Αρχαία Ελληνική Θρησκεία: Αρχαϊκή και Κλασσική Εποχή (translation by Nic. P. Mpezantakos & Aphrodite Avagianou, Kardamitsa Publications, Athens, 1993, - English title: Greek Religion: Archaic and Classic - Original title: Griechische Religion der archaischen und klassischen Epoche, Vol 15 of the Die Religionen der Menscheit series, Verlag W. Kohlhammer, 1977.) Introduction, Chapter 3, p. 41, in the translated Greek edition No comments: Post a Comment
How Tapestries Are Made Growth of European Tapestry Making Courtesy of the Institut fur Denkmalpflege, Halle, Germany Designs in the French tapestries of the 13th and 14th centuries resemble the manuscript paintings of the Gothic period. Figures of people were flat silhouettes, and backgrounds were simplified. In the 15th century, tapestry weaving spread from France to the Low Countries. Arras, France, was so important a center that the English came to call any tapestry “arras.” The millefleurs (thousand flowers) background was widely used in 15th- and 16th-century tapestries. Small flowering plants… Click Here to subscribe Modern French Tapestries
Monday, February 12, 2007 NELINET CSS Workshop: What I learned today (1) About the box model: the "box model" in CSS basically indicates that all elements in a page can be seen as being in a "box" - and attributes of that box can be altered for modified appearance - for more on the box model, see the W3C page on the matter - So you see - if you look at this page, that the elements of the box are (starting with the center/core & working our way out): - content -- padding --- border ---- margin (2) About the box model problem & "hacks": well, it turns out that the Microsoft folks - when programming IE5 - interpreted the box model differently than other browsers' programmers. In non-IE5 browsers, when the box is set for a certain width, it = the content's width & you add on the padding width, border width, and margin width for the total space taken up by the box element. In IE5, the width set for a given div, for example, includes not only the content, but also the padding, border, and margin. So, in IE5 (and "quirks mode" of IE6 and IE7, but that's another story for another time) - you might have a 250px wide box, for example, including a padding of 10 px and border of 5px (meaning that the content itself was really only 220px wide, add the padding on both sides (left & right, each 10 px = 20 px) and the borders on both sides (left & right, each 5 px = 10 px). The same CSS, interpreted in Firefox or other Mozilla browsers, would instead be 280 px wide: the content would be 250px wide, then the padding on each side would add 10 px (total 20 px both sides), and the borders on each side would add 5 px (10 px total both sides). Anyhow, that materially changes how a page looks, from browser to browser, a big problem in the case of fixed-column layouts, etc. So, how do you fix the issue? There are several means of dealing with the issue - called "box model hacks". Mostly, they rely on other IE5 interpretation idiosyncrasies. A fairly famous hack relies on use of the "voice-family:" option in your stylesheets (no, I have no idea what voice-family was intended for) - anyhow, to see this hack (and to see a visual rep of the box model issue), go to The one that NELINET instructor Ed Sperr recommended, however, was the invocation of the conditional (if IE5) statement to import in an IE5-specific stylesheet. Although this might sound kind of kludgy - like back in the day, when we used to run little scripts to detect the version of browser you were using then to offer up specially coded versions of our pages to respect the html & script interpretation oddities of different browsers - but it keeps your primary (proper box model-compliant - in other words, friendly to Mozilla & IE6+ browsers) stylesheet clean. (no need for that voice-family "\" and reset functions, as in the first hack I gave you the link to - the Tantek hack). As I think about it, I'm beginning to like this concept - the use of the conditional statement and the alternate stylesheet to deal with the issue. Anyhow, one more thing I learned about the box model today was that there is the whole "quirks mode" problem, wherein IE6+ will actually revert to the same broken box model implementation as IE5 if you do not include a DOCTYPE declaration at the top of your HTML/XHTML page. So, if your box model's misbehaving in IE6 or 7, double-check to make certain that you've got your DTD in place. A couple of other helpful notes I got from today's session: (1) if you're trying to use CSS to style list items to approximate the look of a highlighted button in a menu (i.e., area highlighted when you mouse over the area where a link is featured), you must make sure that your code is set to block type display. If you do this, you will get the hover effect throughout the content's box region, rather than just on the text of the link. Did that make sense? I don't have much time as I have a few more posts to make, but I hope that this makes sense to you. (2) when you use "absolute positioning", you are taking a div out of the normal flow of the content, so it's very easy for it to overlap (which is why it was set up to do so, but be aware of this behavior). When you use "relative positioning", the div is in the flow of the document - and is in position relative to the containing element (e.g., if no higher-level containing element, then it is in position relative to the view port / browser window). The divs will flow one after the other, if positioned relatively, generally speaking. (3) floats: floating elements means that the elements will float as far right or left (pending float: left; or float: right; can use float: none; to ensure that nothing floats, of course, as well) as they can before they bump up against the previous element. So you can float multiple boxes in the same direction. You can have your div 1 float: left; and div 2 can also float left. There are some oddities with floats, however. Just be aware of this -you may need to specify the height of your containing element when using floats, or to use an empty spacer div to stretch the container, or to clear the floats. The floats are a little flaky - so just note this. The other option is to use the overflow: auto; declaration with your floated elements. If I understand it correctly... (4) yes, you can use a specialized stylesheet to reformat your docs to be printed, automatically, in a more printer-friendly format - hide display of navigation bars that would be meaningless in a printout - change the ems or pxs to pts for the font-sizes; change the font-family from sans serif to serif. And so on... See A List Apart for more information on this topic... No comments:
ART03: Why I Prefer the Preferential by Stewart Glass - 11 Nov 2006 In elections the Preferential Voting System is a real asset to democracies Preferential is where on your ballot you number the candidates from your best choice "1" down to your worst option "5" (if there are 5 candidates) Preferential voting gives a level field for new candidates and ideas, and breaks down the duopoly of a 2 party only landscape. Vote without Risk Example of the people of Colourville: 100 people live in Colourville. 40 like yellow and 60 like blue. Their current leader is Mr Purple, but behold, this election a new person is on the seen - Mr Tru Blue. Also running again is Mr Yellow. Without a preferential system most people would vote for the entrenched Mr Purple, even though they prefer Mr Blue. Their fear is that not every one knows about Mr Blue, and that if they don't vote for Mr Purple, Mr Yellow will get in with his loyal 40 followers. But since Colourville has the preferential system things are different - 40 people vote for Mr Blue (with Mr Purple as their second choice). The other 20 Blue People vote for Mr Purple with Mr Blue as their second choice. So what happens? Since Mr Purple has the least primary vote (20) his votes go to Mr Blue bringing his total to the full 60 votes - vs Mr Yellow's 40. The net result is the people ofColourville got a leader closer to what they wanted. They got a real Blue rather than a Purple, even though he was less well known. Party Preferences are "Suggestions" It is common around election time for political parties to trade preferences -The Yellow Party may say to the Green Party "I'll put tell our supporters to put you second if you tell your supporters to put us second". Then they produce cards which are handed out at polling booths how to vote along their party lines. But you don't have to follow their"advice". Often their greatest rival they will tell you put last, so they have less chance of getting in. My suggestion is to do your homework, and if you vote Yellow, put them 1st, and then Orange 2nd and Ochre 3rd. preferential voting done properly keeps the big powers on their toes - and lets you vote for your best candidate without risk.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012 Map api key for android Step:1 Go to Run and Type cmd Step:3 Now type command Thursday, 15 March 2012 what is WEB HOSTING? marketing, real-time commerce, delivery of technical support information, contact information and the posting of other “public” SQL Syntax SELECT "column_name" FROM "table_name" SELECT DISTINCT "column_name" FROM "table_name" SELECT "column_name" FROM "table_name" WHERE "condition" Thursday, 8 March 2012 Stored procedures or Local Procedures in sql Stored procedures or Local Procedures: argument_type, ...)] {IS \| AS} • Either IS or AS can be used sql vs plsql SQL stands for Structured Query Language, which does not have procedural programming PL/SQL stands for Procedural Structured Query Language. Which have advantage over SQL. SQL is the language that enables relational database users to communicate with the database in a straightforward manner. PL/SQL is Oracle's procedural language; it comprises the standard language of SQL and a wide array of commands that enable you to control the execution of SQL statements according to different conditions. Grant/Revoke Privileges in plsql Grant Privileges on Tables Ability to query the table with a select statement. Ability to update rows in the table with the update statement. Ability to delete rows from the table with the delete statement. Ability to create a constraint that refers to the table. Ability to change the table definition with the alter table statement. Data Dictionary in dbms Data Dictionary Data dictionary — metadata — system & object privileges — dictionary structure — ``user'' tables - ``all'' tables — ``dba'' tables — ``v$'' tables — frequently used tables — usage examples — exercises — using the dictionary in PL/SQL programs — optional exercise. This document presents Oracle's data dictionary, also called the system catalogue. The data dictionary is the repository of all the meta-data relevant to the objects stored in the database—and also of information concerning the DBMS itself. uinx command and shell script Assignment – 1 v Locate lines that are longer than 100 and smaller than 150 characters using grep. è grep -c '\{101,150\}' keval.txt grep `^.\{100,150\}$` keval.txt v Merge and sort the contents of files A and B and display the sorted output on the screen. è cat file1 file2 \| sort Monday, 5 March 2012 SQL Questions and Answers 1. To see current user name Sql> show user; 2. Change SQL prompt name SQL> set sqlprompt “Manimara > “ Manimara > Manimara > Core Java interview questions with answers 2.How would you create a button with rounded edges? There’s 2 ways. The first thing is to know that a JButton’s edges are drawn by a Border. so you can override the Button’s paintComponent(Graphics) method and draw a circle or rounded rectangle (whatever), and turn off the border. Or you can create a custom border that draws a circle or rounded rectangle around any component and set the button’s border to it. Amazing picture Sunday, 4 March 2012 29 Ideas to Increase Sales and Profi You shouldn't be trying to force people into purchasing your product or service. You should find people who want your product or service and then focus on offering any helpful information to them so that they can make an informed decision. If you're trying to target everybody, then chances are, you're not targeting anybody. For example, if you're selling something that homeowners would want, as opposed to renters, then target homeowners. State your target clearly in all of your marketing materials. how to create a virus in c This program is an example of how to create a virus in c. This program demonstrates a simple virus program which upon execution (Running) creates a copy of itself in the other file. Thus it destroys other files by infecting them. But the virus infected file is also capable of spreading the infection to another file and so on. Here’s the source code of the virus program. Datatype in sql CHAR Datatype The CHAR datatype stores fixed-length character strings. When you create a table with a CHAR column, you must specify a string length (in bytes or characters) between 1 and 2000 bytes for the CHAR column width. The default is 1 byte. Oracle then guarantees that: · When you insert or update a row in the table, the value for the CHAR column has the fixed length. · If you give a shorter value, then the value is blank-padded to the fixed length. · If a value is too large, Oracle Database returns an error. Oracle Database compares CHAR values using blank-padded comparison semantics. What is Bluetooth Introduction to Bluetooth The latest technology for wireless connectivity has taken a new avatar and is called Bluetooth. The Bluetooth technology is a low cost, short range, low power technology using radio waves for wireless connectivity between various devices. The initial releases of the technology known as Bluetooth 1.1 has speeds upto 720 kbps or kilo bytes per second. The maximum range of Bluetooth is just 10 meters theoretically but in practical situation does not extend beyond 6 meters. Since the technology uses radio waves as the data carrier, it is not limited to a line of sight which was the case with infrared data communication technology. Bluetooth transmission can occur through many obstacles. Friday, 2 March 2012 Current Location on map in Android Step1:Create new android project. File/new project/android project/showmapactivity. Step2:Create main.xml file with map api key. <RelativeLayout xmlns:android="" android:layout_height="fill_parent" > WaveLayout in Android Step 1:Create new android project in eclips. File/new project/android project/waveLayoutActivity. Step 2:Create wave_layout.xml and wave_scale.xml in @res/anim <gridLayoutAnimation xmlns:android="" android:animation="@anim/wave_scale" /> SQL interview questions and answers What is SQL and where does it come from? Structured Query Language (SQL) is a language that provides an interface to relational database systems. SQL was developed by IBM in the 1970s for use in System R, and is a de facto standard, as well as an ISO and ANSI standard. SQL is often pronounced SEQUEL. In common usage SQL also encompasses DML (Data Manipulation Language), for INSERTs, UPDATEs, DELETEs and DDL (Data Definition Language), used for creating and modifying tables and other database structures. Tuesday, 28 February 2012 1) If log 0.317=0.3332 and log 0.318=0.3364 then find log 0.319 ? log 0.317=0.3332 and log 0.318=0.3364, then log 0.319=log0.318+(log0.318-log0.317) = 0.3396 2) A box of 150 packets consists of 1kg packets and 2kg packets. Total weight of box is 264kg. How many 2kg packets are there ? x= 2 kg Packs y= 1 kg packs x + y = 150 .......... Eqn 1 2x + y = 264 .......... Eqn 2 Solve the Simultaneous equation; x = 114 so, y = 36 ANS : Number of 2 kg Packs = 114.
Fact corner Norn is an extinct North Germanic, language that was spoken on Shetland and Orkney, off the north coast of mainland Scotland, and in Caithness. After the islands were returned to Scotland by Norway in the 15th century, its use was discouraged by the Scottish government and the Church of Scotland (the national church), and it was gradually replaced by Scots over time. It is not known exactly when Norn became extinct. The last reports of Norn speakers are claimed to be from the early 19th century, but it is more likely that the language died out sometime during the 18th century at the latest. Fragments of the language and loan-words adopted into the local Lowland Scots and Scottish English survived the death of the main language and remain to this day. Dialects of Norse had also been spoken on mainland Scotland -- for example, in Caithness -- but here they became extinct many centuries before Norn died on Orkney and Shetland. Hence, some scholars also speak about "Caithness Norn", but others avoid this. Even less is known about "Caithness Norn" than about Orkney and Shetland Norn. Relatively little written Norn has survived. What remains includes a version of the Lord's Prayer, ballads and official documents such as diplomas as well as several runic inscriptions. The Verb The two main conjugations of verbs in present and past tense were also present and like all other North Germanic languages. Sample verb: vara Present Past yach yaar vaar du yaar vaar han yaar vaar vi vara ? vara ? di vara ? • Barnes, Michael P.. The Norn language of Orkney and Shetland. The Shetland Times Ltd.. Lerwick. 1998. Verb Wiki Verbix Website edit SideBar Copyright Verbix 1995-2016
Tissue culture, Biology Tissue culture 1. The ability of a plant cell to give rise to a whole plant is called totipotency. 2. The culture of a cell or a tissue in a suitable medium to produce new plants is called tissue culture. This process is discovered by G. Haberlandt in 1902. 3. By tissue culture techniques new plants can be obtained from single cells or a tissue or a bud or other organs of the plant. 4. The portion of the plant that is used in tissue culture technique is called as explant. 5. The techniques require maintenance of sterile conditions in the medium. 6. The medium should contain sugars, minerals and one or more growth regulators and are kept free form bacteria and fungi. Explant should be sterilised. 7. The explant divides to give rise to an unorganised mass of tissue called callus. 8. Callus undergo differentiation into shoots, roots or embryo like structures called Embryoids. It depends on the concentration and combination of plant growth substances like auxins and kinetin in the medium. 9. Embryoids when cultured separately develop into new plants. 1306_Tissue culture.png Posted Date: 8/29/2012 6:15:20 AM \| Location : United States Related Discussions:- Tissue culture, Assignment Help, Ask Question on Tissue culture, Get Answer, Expert's Help, Tissue culture Discussions Write discussion on Tissue culture Your posts are moderated Related Questions What is the classification scheme for echinoderms? CEREBRU M - Largest part of brain. 2/3 of brain. 4/5 of brain's weight. Cerebrum is devided into 2 cerebral hemispheres by longitudinal cerebral fissure. Gyri and sul Q. Major objectives of diarrhoea? The major objectives in the management of diarrhoea include: 1. Fluid and electrolyte replacement 2. Removal of cause (especially if inf Chemical Stress Survival of cells is dependent on carrying out of a set of chemical reactions (metabolic reactions) in a particular order. This results in a net gain in mass a Explain Astrand Cycle Test? This is a sub maximal test done on cycle ergo meter. In this test, comparatively lower wattages are set. For example, for males less than 35 years o Does thermal inversion occur in the winter or in the summer? Pollutant low altitude thermal inversion happens in the winter. In this period of the year the sun heats the soil l Q. Pathophysiology of Chronic wasting disease? We all know that heart attack i.e. myocardial infarction is not the beginning but a last stage representing acute clinical manife Q. What are the segments that form the body of the tapeworm called? What is their function? The body of the tapeworm is made of segments called as proglottids. The proglottids Consider two species of organisms, species A and species B. Species A has a population in a community. Another population species B arrives into the same community, rather suddenly Define Methods of Determination of Proteins and Amino Acid Content in Foods? The methods for protein quality evaluation are grouped under the following headings: I) Analytic
Kellner - meaning , origin - Germany, popularity \| What does Kellner last name mean Kellner meaning \| Last name Kellner origin Following is the meaning of Kellner surname. Family name Kellner is generally added after the name or middle name so also called last name. Family Name / Last Name: Kellner No. of characters: 7 Origin: Germany Meaning: Currently, no meaning found for Kellner Kellner is used as a family name or surname in Germany languages. Kellner has 7 characters long in length. Kellner is common in Germany country(ies). Kellner is ranked 20375 in our list. There are about 4334 people in US who wears Kellner as surname and ranked 7108 in US Census Bureau. In 2000 census, the last name was found in around 16.1 per 1 million , used in more than 1 hispanic race. Count Region Rank Kellner is quite popular family name mostly used in Germany while Austria is ahead in terms of density. Around 25475 people have been found who wears Kellner as their family name. Kellner is used widely across the globe. More detailed information can be found below: Countries with very very low frequency i.e., 1 - 10: 9 New Zealand 33,253 8 Ukraine 275,830 4 China 10,542 4 Belarus 122,390 3 Zambia 3,818 2 United Arab Emirates 52,939 2 Scotland 24,766 2 Turkey 41,879 2 Poland 44,018 2 Luxembourg 6,266 2 Mexico 40,256 2 Namibia 3,791 1 Bahrain 10,190 1 Peru 31,584 1 Thailand 30,360 1 India 1,704,541 1 Uruguay 19,533 1 Azerbaijan 48,575 1 Colombia 24,771 Full Last Name Distribution ⇳ . Comments : Kellner is a nickname that is a derivative kellerman kellerman is a nickname the origin of this name is German etymology comes from keller mann: man of the cellar means the sommelier. - Arnita Moncrief Celebrities having Kellner surname Johann Christoph Kellner Composer William Kellner Film Art Director Alex Kellner Baseball athlete Friedrich Kellner Polit. Hanny Kellner Olympic athlete Catherine Kellner Character actress Hedwig Kellner Author Ádám Kellner Tennis Player William Kellner Film Art Director Rosa Kellner Olympic athlete Related Family Names: Kel (Brazil) Kela (Ivory Coast) KelaartKelada (Egypt) KelaghKelahanKelaherKelaiKelaiditiKelakiKelakosKelam (India) KelarováKelauridzeKelavosKelbaugh (United States) KelbellKelberKelbergKelberin How to choose a name for your baby Surname is added at the end of the first name also known as given name. Most of the time, a family name is used as a surname. You might not know the meaning og Kellner surname. Nameslist.org has collected informaton regarding the meaning and origin of Kellner and displayed for better understanding of surnames. Discover how Kellner is originated? Share your opinion on Kellner Enter Code:
Unitarian Universalism Only available on StudyMode • Topic: Unitarian Universalism, Religion, Universalist Church of America • Pages : 6 (2247 words ) • Download(s) : 99 • Published : June 4, 2012 Open Document Text Preview Carrie Hodges Seth Pankratz World Religion 21 November 2011 Unitarian Universalism Unitarian Universalism is a religion that supports a free and responsible search for meaning and truth. Unitarian Universalism is made up of people with many different religious theories. They can come from any religious background and can adhere to morals from a variety of cultures. Meaning of life, creation, afterlife, existence, and deities are all based on individual truth and is accepted. Unitarian Universalists are unified with the belief that all have complete freedom of speech, thought, faith, philosophies, principles, and practices. Their unity is in shared desire and searching for spiritual growth. One’s personal spiritual practice is a matter of personal choice. Unitarian Universalists like to share their own beliefs, but also, enjoy learning of others. They support each person’s search for truth and meaning in concepts of spirituality. The idea of deities is mostly rejected and instead speaks of the “spirit of life” that binds all life on earth. They believe that the divine can be found in all people and in many faiths. They draw inspiration from the variety of all the faith traditions. . Unitarian Universalism has a strong commitment to social justice and community exploration in spiritual development. Many consider themselves humanists. A small number will continue to hold to labels of Buddhist, Jewish, atheist, agnostic, pagan, and various others. Mostly, they choose not to attach to any particular label. Historically, this religion has roots in the Christian faith. Although they tend to maintain some Christian traditions, it’s only to the extent in keeping their non-dogmatic approach to spirituality and faith development. Unitarian Universalism was formed from two historical Christian denominations, the Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association. The Universalist Church of America emerged in the United States in 1793. Universalism refers to a theological belief that all persons and creatures are related to a god or the divine and will be reconciled to god. Universal salvation was taught with the belief a loving god would ultimately redeem all human beings. Unitarism rejected the Trinity, or the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They believed Jesus was a man with a unique relationship to god, but not god himself. They did not believe in the pre-existence of Christ. Both religions were heretics, and believers could choose what they wanted to accept as truth. In 1961, both religions merged to become one, Unitarian Universalism. By the time the merge happened in Boston, Massachusetts, the religious significance had expanded beyond the old Christian understanding they had. Today, The Unitarian Universalist Association serves churches all over the United States. As this religion grew numerically and institutionally, the reasons are simple. They have grown because they have remembered it is not words that count but their deeds, and their deeds do indeed speak louder. Unitarian Universalists refer to themselves as a living tradition. They support beliefs based on individual thoughts, and range from monotheistic beliefs to more philosophical beliefs. They respect all religious texts of other religions. Members are encouraged to view other texts or doctrines as historic literary work and view with an open mind. Unitarian Universalists do not have a creed to share. Instead there is a set of Principles, Purposes, and Sources agreed upon. This was suggested by and voted in by members of the Unitarian Universalists Association. Over time, they have been modified to reflect the changes in their spiritual beliefs in this religion. There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote: * The inherent worth and dignity of every person; * Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; * Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual... tracking img
Sentencing Principles Sentencing Principles This section will discuss the basic principles of sentencing as outlined in the YCJA. Considerations for deciding whether it is appropriate to give a custodial sentence will also be detailed. Sentencing is the process by which the judge comes to a decision about what sentence will be appropriate for youth who are guilty of a crime. The YCJA includes a specific purpose and set of principles to guide judges in deciding on a fair and appropriate sentences for youth. YCJA Part 4: Sentencing
Cain’s offering How the story of Cain and Abel ends is well-known, but what about how it starts? And, even more importantly, why? Cain murders Abel because he is jealous that God has accepted Abel’s sacrifice and reject his. But, why did God reject Cain’s sacrifice? The Trinity and equality The doctrine of the Trinity is a vital part of the Christian faith. It is at the heart of our understanding of God and so of us, not least as we are “made in the image of God”. So, it has something important to say about how we relate to each other as well.
Flood control From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Flood protection) Jump to: navigation, search Flood control methods are used to reduce or prevent the detrimental effects of flood waters.[1] Flood relief methods are used to reduce the effects of flood waters or high water levels. Causes of floods[edit] Floods are caused by many factors (or a combination of any of these): generally prolonged heavy rainfall, [locally concentrated or throughout a catchment area], highly accelerated snowmelt, severe winds over water, unusual high tides, tsunamis, or failure of dams, levees, retention ponds, or other structures that retained the water. Flooding can be exacerbated by increased amounts of impervious surface or by other natural hazards such as wildfires, which reduce the supply of vegetation that can absorb rainfall. Periodic floods occur on many rivers, forming a surrounding region known as the flood plain. During times of rain, some of the water is retained in ponds or soil, some is absorbed by grass and vegetation, some evaporates, and the rest travels over the land as surface runoff. Floods occur when ponds, lakes, riverbeds, soil, and vegetation cannot absorb all the water. Water then runs off the land in quantities that cannot be carried within stream channels or retained in natural ponds, lakes, and man-made reservoirs. About 30 percent of all precipitation becomes runoff[1] and that amount might be increased by water from melting snow. River flooding is often caused by heavy rain, sometimes increased by melting snow. A flood that rises rapidly, with little or no warning, is called a flash flood. Flash floods usually result from intense rainfall over a relatively small area, or if the area was already saturated from previous precipitation. Severe winds over water[edit] Even when rainfall is relatively light, the shorelines of lakes and bays can be flooded by severe winds—such as during hurricanes—that blow water into the shore areas. Unusual high tides[edit] Effects of floods[edit] Flooding has many impacts. It damages property and endangers the lives of humans and other species. Rapid water runoff causes soil erosion and concomitant sediment deposition elsewhere (such as further downstream or down a coast). The spawning grounds for fish and other wildlife habitats can become polluted or completely destroyed. Some prolonged high floods can delay traffic in areas which lack elevated roadways. Floods can interfere with drainage and economical use of lands, such as interfering with farming. Structural damage can occur in bridge abutments, bank lines, sewer lines, and other structures within floodways. Waterway navigation and hydroelectric power are often impaired. Financial losses due to floods are typically millions of dollars each year, with the worst floods in recent U.S. history having cost billions of dollars. Benefits of flooding[edit] There are many disruptive effects of flooding on human settlements and economic activities. However, flooding can bring benefits, such as making soil more fertile and providing nutrients in which it is deficient. Periodic flooding was essential to the well-being of ancient communities along the Tigris-Euphrates Rivers, the Nile River, the Indus River, the Ganges and the Yellow River, among others. The viability for hydrologically based renewable sources of energy is higher in flood-prone regions. This is the method used for remote sensing the disasters. Detection of disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and explosions are quite complex in previous days and range of detection is inappropriate. But, it came to possibilities by using Multi temporal visualization of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. But to obtain the good SAR images perfect spatial registration and very precise calibration are necessary to specify changes that have occurred. Calibration of SAR is very complex and also a sensitive problem. Possibly errors may occur after calibration that involves data fusion and visualization process. Traditional image pre-processing cannot be used here due to the on-Gaussian of radar back scattering, but a processing method called "cross calibration/normalization" is used to solve this problem. The application generates a single disaster image called "fast-ready disaster map" from multitemporal SAR images. These maps are generated without user interaction and helps in providing immediate first aid to the people. This process also provides image enhancement and comparison between numerous images using data fusion and visualization process. This proposed processing includes filtering, histogram truncation and equalization steps. The process also helps in identifying the permanent waters and other classes by combined composition of pre-disaster and post-disaster images into a color image for better identity.[2] Methods of controlling floods[edit] Some methods of flood control have been practiced since ancient times.[1] These methods include planting vegetation to retain extra water, terracing hillsides to slow flow downhill, and the construction of floodways (man-made channels to divert floodwater).[1] Other techniques include the construction of levees, lakes, dams, reservoirs,[1] retention ponds to hold extra water during times of flooding. Many dams and their associated reservoirs are designed completely or partially to aid in flood protection and control. Many large dams have flood-control reservations in which the level of a reservoir must be kept below a certain elevation before the onset of the rainy/summer melt season to allow a certain amount of space in which floodwaters can fill. The term dry dam refers to a dam that serves purely for flood control without any conservation storage (e.g. Mount Morris Dam, Seven Oaks Dam). Diversion canals[edit] Floodplains and groundwater replenishment[edit] Excess water can be used for groundwater replenishment by diversion onto land that can absorb the water. This technique can reduce the impact of later droughts by using the ground as a natural reservoir. It is being used in California, where orchards and vineyards can be flooded without damaging crops,[3] or in other places wilderness areas have been re-engineered to act as floodplains.[4] River defences[edit] In many countries, rivers are prone to floods and are often carefully managed. Defenses such as levees, bunds, reservoirs, and weirs are used to prevent rivers from bursting their banks. A weir, also known as a lowhead dam, is most often used to create millponds, but on the Humber River in Toronto, a weir was built near Raymore Drive to prevent a recurrence of the flood damage caused by Hurricane Hazel in October 1954. Coastal defenses[edit] Tide gates are used in conjunction with dykes and culverts. They can be placed at the mouth of streams or small rivers, where an estuary begins or where tributary streams, or drainage ditches connect to sloughs. Tide gates close during incoming tides to prevent tidal waters from moving upland, and open during outgoing tides to allow waters to drain out via the culvert and into the estuary side of the dike. The opening and closing of the gates is driven by a difference in water level on either side of the gate.[5] Self-closing flood barrier[edit] The self-closing flood barrier (SCFB) is a flood defense system designed to protect people and property from inland waterway floods caused by heavy rainfall, gales or rapid melting snow.[citation needed] The SCFB can be built to protect residential properties and whole communities, as well as industrial or other strategic areas. The barrier system is constantly ready to deploy in a flood situation, it can be installed in any length and uses the rising flood water to deploy. Barrier systems have already been built and installed in Belgium, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Australia, Russia and the United States. Millions of documents at the National Archives building in Washington DC are protected by two SCFBs.[citation needed] Temporary perimeter barriers[edit] When permanent defenses fail, emergency measures such as sandbags, hydrosacks, Floodstop flood barriers or portable inflatable tubes are used. In 1988, a method of using water to control was discovered. This was accomplished by containing 2 parallel tubes within a third outer tube. When filled, this structure formed a non-rolling wall of water that can control 80 percent of its height in external water depth, with dry ground behind it. Eight foot tall water filled barriers were used to surround Fort Calhoun Nuclear Generating Station during the 2011 Missouri River Flooding. Instead of trucking in sandbag material for a flood, stacking it, then trucking it out to a hazmat disposal site, flood control can be accomplished by using the on site water. However, these are not fool proof. A 8 feet (2.4 m) high 2,000 feet (610 m) long water filled rubber flood berm that surrounded portions of the plant was punctured by a skid-steer loader and it collapsed flooding a portion of the facility.[6] In 1999, A group of Norwegian Engineers founded and patented Aquafence. A transportable, removable, and reusable flood barrier which uses the water's weight against itself. In 2013, AquaFence was awarded the highest level USA ANSI Certification after more than one year of testing of the system by US ARMY Corps of Engineers as well as parts testing and production review by FM Global. Both commercial and municipal customers spanning across The United States of America, Europe and Asia. In the US alone, AquaFence removable flood panels are protecting more than $10 billion worth of real estate as well as cities and public utilities.[7][promotional language] A similar technology is the Water-Gate Flood barrier, a rapid-response barrier which can be rolled out in a matter of minutes. It is unique in the way that it self deploys using the weight of water to hold it back. The product has been FM Approved following testing from the US Army. It is used in 30 countries around the world, and notably by the Environment Agency in the UK. Hazard reduction[edit] Strategic retreat[edit] One way of reducing the damage caused by flooding is to remove buildings from flood-prone areas, leaving them as parks or returning them to wilderness. Floodplain buyout programs have been operated in places like New Jersey (both before and after Hurricane Sandy), [8] Charlotte, North Carolina,[9] and Missouri.[10] Buildings and other urban infrastructure can be designed so that even if a flood does happen, the city can recover quickly and costs are minimized. For example, homes can be put on stilts,[11] electrical and HVAC equipment can be put on the roof instead of in the basement, and subway entrances and tunnels can have built-in movable water barriers.[12] New York City began a substantial effort to plan and build for flood reslience after Hurricane Sandy.[13] Flood control by continent[edit] In the United States, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead flood control agency.[14] After Hurricane Sandy, New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) initiated multiple flood barrier projects to protect the transit assets in Manhattan. In one case, the MTA's New York City Transit Authority (NYCT) sealed subway entrances in lower Manhattan using a deployable fabric cover system called Flex-Gate,[15] a system that protects the subway entrances against 14 feet (4.3 m) of water.[16] Extreme storm flood protection levels have been revised based on new Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines for 100-year and 500-year design flood elevations.[17][18] In the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, 35 percent of which sits below sea level, is protected by hundreds of miles of levees and flood gates. This system failed catastrophically, with numerous breaks, during Hurricane Katrina (2005) in the city proper and in eastern sections of the Metro Area, resulting in the inundation of approximately 50 percent of the metropolitan area, ranging from a few inches to twenty feet in coastal communities. The Morganza Spillway provides a method of diverting water from the Mississippi River when a river flood threatens New Orleans, Baton Rouge and other major cities on the lower Mississippi. It is the largest of a system of spillways and floodways along the Mississippi. Completed in 1954, the spillway has been opened twice, in 1973 and in 2011. The consequences of deforestation and changing land use on the risk and severity of flooding are subjects of discussion. In assessing the impacts of Himalayan deforestation on the Ganges-Brahmaputra Lowlands, it was found that forests would not have prevented or significantly reduced flooding in the case of an extreme weather event.[21] However, more general or overview studies agree on the negative impacts that deforestation has on flood safety - and the positive effects of wise land use and reforestation.[22][23] Many have proposed that loss of vegetation (deforestation) will lead to an increased risk of flooding. With natural forest cover the flood duration should decrease. Reducing the rate of deforestation should improve the incidents and severity of floods.[24] Flood blocking the road in Jerusalem Venice has a similar arrangement, although it is already unable to cope with very high tides. The defenses of both London and Venice will be rendered inadequate if sea levels continue to rise. The largest and most elaborate flood defenses can be found in the Netherlands, where they are referred to as Delta Works with the Oosterschelde dam as its crowning achievement. These works were built in response to the North Sea flood of 1953, in the southwestern part of the Netherlands. The Dutch had already built one of the world's largest dams in the north of the country. The Afsluitdijk closing occurred in 1932. The Saint Petersburg Flood Prevention Facility Complex was completed in 2008, in Russia, to protect Saint Petersburg from storm surges. It also has a main traffic function, as it completes a ring road around Saint Petersburg. Eleven dams extend for 25.4 kilometres (15.8 mi) and stand 8 metres (26 ft) above water level. Flood clean-up safety[edit] Clean-up activities following floods often pose hazards to workers and volunteers involved in the effort. Potential dangers include electrical hazards, carbon monoxide exposure, musculoskeletal hazards, heat or cold stress, motor vehicle-related dangers, fire, drowning, and exposure to hazardous materials. Because flooded disaster sites are unstable, clean-up workers might encounter sharp jagged debris, biological hazards in the flood water, exposed electrical lines, blood or other body fluids, and animal and human remains. In planning for and reacting to flood disasters, managers provide workers with hard hats, goggles, heavy work gloves, life jackets, and watertight boots with steel toes and insoles.[26] Development of technology[edit] Europe is at the forefront of the flood control technology, with low-lying countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium developing techniques that can serve as examples to other countries facing similar problems.[27] After Hurricane Katrina, the US state of Louisiana sent politicians to the Netherlands to take a tour of the complex and highly developed flood control system in place in the Netherlands.[28] With a BBC article quoting experts as saying 70 percent more people will live in delta cities by 2050, the number of people impacted by a rise in sea level will greatly increase.[29] The Netherlands has one of the best flood control systems in the world and new ways to deal with water are constantly being developed and tested, such as the underground storage of water, storing water in reservoirs in large parking garages or on playgrounds,[29][30] Rotterdam started a project to construct a floating housing development of 120 acres (0.49 km2) to deal with rising sea levels.[31] Several approaches, from high-tech sensors detecting imminent levee failure to movable semi-circular structures closing an entire river, are being developed or used around the world. Regular maintenance of hydraulic structures, however, is another crucial part of flood control.[32] See also[edit] 1. ^ a b c d e "Flood Control", MSN Encarta, 2008 (see below: Further reading). 2. ^ IJERT International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) Vol. 3 Issue 4, April - 2014 http://www.aiming.in 3. ^ http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/01/12/509179190/as-rains-soak-california-farmers-test-how-to-store-water-underground 4. ^ http://www.npr.org/2017/03/29/521939643/where-levees-fail-in-california-nature-can-step-in-to-nurture-rivers 5. ^ Guillermo R. Giannico; Jon A. Souder (2004). "The Effects of Tide Gates on Estuarine Habitats and Migratory Fish." (PDF). National Sea Grant College Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Product No. ORESU-G-04-002. 7. ^ "Enlarge player → New weapon in the fight against flood damage". Fox News. Jul 31, 2014. 8. ^ https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2014/05/28/communities-plagued-repeated-flooding-property-acquisition-may-be-answer 9. ^ http://charlottenc.gov/StormWater/Flooding/Pages/FloodplainBuyoutProgram.aspx 10. ^ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/3811 11. ^ https://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation/federal-insurance-mitigation-administration 12. ^ http://www.npr.org/2015/10/08/446600221/to-flood-proof-subways-n-y-looks-at-everything-from-plugs-to-sheets 13. ^ http://www1.nyc.gov/site/planning/plans/sustainable-communities/climate-resilience.page?tab=1 14. ^ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC."Civil Works." Accessed 2014-01-24. 15. ^ Schlossberg, Tatiana (October 29, 2015). "New York Today: In Hurricane Sandy’s Wake". New York Today. New York Times. Retrieved December 3, 2015. 16. ^ "Anti-flood system rolled out in a lower Manhattan subway". Reuters. November 19, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015. 17. ^ "Flood Maps". Retrieved December 3, 2015. 18. ^ "How to Read a Flood Map". Retrieved December 3, 2015. 19. ^ Ripley, Amanda (2006-08-28). "Floods, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Wildfires, Earthquakes... Why We Don't Prepare." Time. 21. ^ Hamilton, Lawrence S (1987). "What Are the Impacts of Himalayan Deforestation on the Ganges-Brahmaputra Lowlands and Delta? Assumptions and Facts". Mountain Research and Development. Bern: International Mountain Society. 7 (3): 256–263. JSTOR 3673202. doi:10.2307/3673202. 22. ^ Semi, Naginder S (1989). "The Hydrology of Disastrous floods in Asia: An Overview" (PDF). Hydrology and Water Resources Department. London: James & James Science Publishers. Retrieved 15 September 2010. 23. ^ Bradshaw, CJ; Sodhi, NS; Peh, SH; Brook, BW (2007). "Global evidence that deforestation amplifies flood risk and severity in the developing world". Global Change Biology. 13: 2379–2395. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01446.x. 24. ^ Bradshaw, CJ; Sodhi, NS; Peh, SH; Brook, BW (2007). "Global evidence that deforestation amplifies flood risk and severity in the developing. Also a flood has recently hit Pakistan which is said to be more devastating than the Tsunami of 2005". Global Change Biology. 13: 2379–2395. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01446.x. 26. ^ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Washington, DC (2013). "Storm/Flood and Hurricane/Typhoon Response." Emergency Response Resources. 27. ^ Woodard, Colin (2001-09-04). "Netherlands Battens Its Ramparts Against Warming Climate." Christian Science Monitor. 28. ^ Goldenberg, Suzanne (5 June 2009). "US urged to abandon ageing flood defences in favour of Dutch system". The Guardian. London. 29. ^ a b "In pictures: Rotterdam strengthens sea defences". BBC News. 27 November 2009. 30. ^ http://water.dhv.com/EN/Water_management/Documents/2008%20Leaflet%20Innovative%20water%20storage%20techniques.pdf 31. ^ Palca, Joe (2008-01-28). "Dutch Architects Plan for a Floating Future." National Public Radio, Washington, DC. 32. ^ Broad, William J. (6 September 2005). "In Europe, High-Tech Flood Control, With Nature's Help". The New York Times. Further reading[edit] External links[edit]
Drag the edges to resize the window. Code Editor Control Flow else if Statements We've explored if/else statements that answer questions that are either yes or no. What can we do if we have a question that has multiple yes conditions, or multiple no conditions? We can add more conditions to our if/else statement with else if. Check out how this fits into our current knowledge of if/else statements: let stopLight = 'green'; if (stopLight === 'red') { console.log('Stop'); } else if (stopLight === 'yellow') { console.log('Slow down'); } else if (stopLight === 'green') { console.log('Go!'); } else { console.log('Caution, unknown!'); } 1. We created a variable named stopLight that is assigned to the string green. 2. Then, there's an if/else statement with multiple conditions, using else if. else if allows us to check multiple values of the stopLight variable and output different things based on its color. 3. The block ends with the singular else we have seen before. The else is a catch-all for any other situation. For instance, if the stopLight was blinking blue, the last else would catch it and return a default message. Report a Bug
22: The peanut is a New World plant. It may have started in Paraguay or Bolivia. Samples found in Peru are 7,600 years old. With the “Columbian Exchange,” the Spanish introduced the peanut in Europe and Africa. It caught on quickly in Africa, where both farmers and cooks were already familiar with a similar plant, the groundnut. It remains extensively cultivated today; in fact, Nigeria’s annual peanut production is about the same as in the U.S. Many African dishes use peanuts. In the 1700s, the peanut came to the U.S along with enslaved Africans. The first known mention of the peanut was in 1769. One nickname for the peanut, “goober,” came from the Congo language’s word nguba. Peanuts are not nuts, but legumes, closely related to beans and peas. The most obvious difference is that the bean pods of the peanut grow under the soil. Peanuts need a predictable growing season: at least four months after the soil warms to 65 degrees. That makes it difficult to grow peanuts commercially in the northern states, where a late thaw or early frost would mean disaster, but they will grow here, and many home gardeners try them as a novelty. When I was a teenager, I managed to grow a few peanut plants to maturity in South Dakota The name most closely associated with the peanut is George Washington Carver (c.1864-1943). Carver was born enslaved in southwest Missouri, near Joplin. Near the end of the Civil War, he and his mother and sister were kidnapped by Arkansas raiders and were eventually sold off in Kentucky. His master, Moses Carver, hired agents to recover them, but they could only rescue baby George. After the war, Moses and his wife, Susan, a childless couple, raised George and his older brother, James, as their own, and Susan taught George how to read. It is said that Carver was a sickly child, and so Susan had him work with her in the kitchen. As a teenager, he went to schools in Neosho and Minneapolis, Kansas, and also homesteaded a farm near Minneapolis, even though he was only about 16. The photo below is undated, but I’m guessing that he’s in his older teen years here: young carver After high school, in 1886, he homesteaded a claim in Ness County, and actually lived in a sod house he built himself. He was accepted by a Presbyterian college in Kansas, but when he arrived to enroll, they refused to admit him because of his race. Then in 1890, he went to Iowa to study art and piano at Simpson College, a Methodist school. His art teacher recognized his talent for painting plants, and encouraged Carver to study botany. In 1891, Carver transferred to Iowa State, becoming the first black student at that school. He graduated in 1894, then stayed on to earn a Master’s degree, and ultimately become the first black faculty member at the school. Carver Hall on the ISU campus was named in his honor. Carver as a student at Iowa State, 1893 In 1896, Booker T. Washington invited Carver to come to Alabama and head the Agriculture Dept. at the Tuskegee Institute. Carver spent the rest of his life there, and is buried next to Washington on the Tuskegee campus. Across the south, cotton was king. But at the turn of the century, the boll weevil was attacking more and more acres. Carver urged farmers to consider alternative crops, such as sweet potatoes and peanuts, and to practice crop rotation. Peanuts are especially useful because as a legume (like beans), they transfer nitrogen, a necessary fertilizer, back into the soil. To accompany this work, Carver developed a wide range of uses for peanuts and other crops. His agricultural bulletins often included recipes. His tireless work in promoting peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes helped save southern agriculture. In the process, Carver became famous. Even today, for instance, many people take it for granted that he invented peanut butter, even though the Incas seem to have beat him to the punch by only about a thousand years. Carver followed Booker T. Washington’s emphasis on self-reliance and industrial training, and a downplaying of equality and integration issues. That approach never sat well with some other African American leaders, such as W.E.B. DuBois. Still, the fact that Carver gained such widespread respect in the white community probably helped soften up some whites to the broader civil rights movement. image carver Carver has twice been honored on U.S. postage stamps, first in 1948, then in 1998 Carver’s personal life has long been a subject of some mystery and fascination. He never married, and lived with a younger male companion in his later years. As a result, some have claimed him as an LGBT icon. He also had a very high-pitched voice, which may have generated speculation, and there also have been reports that he had been castrated. However, contrary to what we would expect in a castrato, Carver also grew to full height and had facial hair. As a kid, I’d often count the missing digits on my farmer uncles’ hands. Farming is physically dangerous, and the possibility of Carver being castrated, either by some mechanical or animal accident (farm animals can kick!) or as a result of medical malpractice in treating some disease like mumps seems a real possibility. Castrated or not, that may account for Carver’s apparent asexuality. There are recordings of Carver’s unusual voice. This 2010 segment, from Iowa Public Radio, mentions the castration issue. In any case, the voice is unforgettable. Author: Dan Anderson I'm an Iowa boy by choice. I love cooking and I love history, so I thought I'd put the two together. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. 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How does Narayan make Muni memorable? 1 Answer amarang9's profile pic amarang9 \| College Teacher \| (Level 2) Educator Emeritus Posted on Muni is memorable because he is realistic and also comical. The reader can sympathize with Muni because he is faced with the real life struggles of poverty. He sometimes is ridiculed by others in the village, and has insecurities about being able to provide for himself and his wife. We learn more about Muni during his conversation with the American tourist. His dialogue with the tourist is sincere but laughable at the same time since neither understands much of what the other is saying. They both ramble on as if they understand each other, while knowing that they do not understand each other. The only real connection that is made (which also ends in a misunderstanding) is that the American wants to buy something. He wants the statue but Muni thinks he wants the goats. Since the American is financially sound enough to be able to make trips to India, he is the rich character and Muni is clearly poor by comparison and poor relative to the other villagers. This story becomes like a fairy tale (thinking of "Jack and the Beanstalk") where the poor man might stumble onto some fortune. So, Narayan makes us root for Muni. We sympathize with him and want him to find some success in life. This method of persuading the reader to sympathize with a character is called "pathos."
The Monkey's Paw Themes • "The Monkey's Paw" is W. W. Jacobs' classic tale of the dangers of messing with fate. As Sergeant-Major Morris says, "Fate ruled people's lives," and those who interfered with fate suffered the consequences. • Jacobs links the themes of the exotic and the supernatural in the symbol of the monkey's paw. As a magical artifact from India, the monkey's paw takes on exotic, mystical qualities that draw on the old cliché of the East as an inherently supernatural place. • Death is another important theme in "The Monkey's Paw." First mentioned during Sergeant-Major Morris' tale of India, death goes on to provide the most horrifying images in the story as Mr. White's son rises from the dead, corpse bloodied and mangled. Themes and Meanings Fate and Chance (The entire section is 858 words.)
The Old Man and the Sea Critical Evaluation - Essay Ernest Hemingway Critical Evaluation The publication of the novella The Old Man and the Sea near the end of Ernest Hemingway’s writing career restored his flagging reputation as a writer. It came at a time when critics thought Hemingway was losing his creative powers. They had panned his previous novel, Across the River and into the Trees (1950). The novella earned Hemingway the 1953 Pulitzer Prize and helped him win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. For about fifteen years, the work enjoyed wide critical approval and attention, although it had its detractors. By the late 1960’s, critics had begun a reassessment. Only a handful of articles were written about the novella in later years. The Old Man and the Sea works on multiple levels of theme, image, and symbol. It has been compared to Herman Melville’s Moby Dick (1851) and to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (1798)—great tales of sea adventure and the testing of human endurance. The story depicts a world in which the heroic and the mundane intermingle. Hemingway claimed to be writing a story about a real fisherman, the real sea, and a real fish. There is no question, however, that the effort at realism does not mask the metaphorical and symbolic dimensions of the story. The story’s lean and spare style focuses readers’ attention on a timeless drama nearly devoid of contemporary reference, but the modern world is a backdrop to one man’s heroic struggle with nature. On one level, the story is a heroic testimony to that person’s endurance and courage. This interpretation is based on a reading of the text without recognition of its many ironies. The old man puts up a fierce and superhuman effort against the great marlin, a fish so large and powerful as to remind readers of Moby Dick. In Hemingway’s book, the fish is not entirely like Melville’s leviathan. The marlin is not malicious or a malignant force of nature. It never attacks its pursuer the way Moby Dick does, but it does put up a fierce and noble fight for its life. The endurance of the old man, and perhaps his intelligence, proves to be superior to that of the fish. The man conquers the fish but, in the end, loses the fish to the sharks. On one level, the novella also is a gripping account of a man in search of meaning and dignity in a world that gives little quarter. To survive in this world and to feel that life has meaning is to struggle. This struggle is not unique to Santiago but rather is typical of the Hemingway hero. The struggle and how it is conducted provide meaning in a person’s life. Hemingway puts so much poetic energy into depicting this struggle that it becomes an object of beauty, much as does the perfect pass in the bullring or the swing of Joe DiMaggio. This struggle requires tenacious will, intelligence, and prowess, or, as the old man refers to it, “ability.” Readers of Hemingway’s greatest works are familiar with his ethos of the graceful struggle. Those who live the struggle and exhibit special prowess are Hemingway’s heroes. Such people include bullfighters, soldiers, and even, for that matter, bulls. Those who do not accept that life is a struggle and fail to exhibit prowess in whatever they do are depicted as failures and weaklings. Hemingway dramatizes this struggle in the sparest of terms. The story presents only two characters, the old man and a boy who is friend and helper. The boy may be seen as the embodiment of the promise of uncorrupted youth. The boy’s many kindnesses to the old man reflect a self-effacing and generous spirit that can only be seen as examples of human virtue. Santiago resembles Christ in his sufferings: Readers may note the attention paid to the laceration of Santiago’s hands and to his ascent up the hill to his hovel while he carries the mast. He falls five times, as did Christ carrying his cross, and finally lies in his bed, arms outstretched and palms turned upward. The spirit of Christ also informs the actions of the boy. Santiago suffers greatly (which is his primary similarity to Christ), but he does nothing to help anyone. He is on the receiving end of help from the boy, who makes sure Santiago has food and care. The owner of the bar also sends the old man food. Santiago lives an impoverished life. He barely eats, owns almost nothing, reads only yesterday’s newspapers, and lives in a tiny shack with a dirt floor. He owns a small fishing boat, but he has barely enough gear to outfit himself as a fisherman. His food and drink are charity. Santiago’s inner life is almost as impoverished. He holds a few memories as points of reference. He dreams of the lions on the beach in Africa that he saw as young man and of a titanic arm wrestling match with a powerful man. These dreams symbolize the power of his youth. Santiago does not speak of his strength, but he credits himself with an ability to triumph over adversity through a combination of will and intelligence. When he is awake, he refers repeatedly to DiMaggio as the epitome of prowess or ability—a model against which Santiago judges himself. His connection to DiMaggio and the world of baseball is indicative of his values. Baseball embodies the values of physical strength and ability. Santiago also refers to Jesus and Mary and seems aware of a higher spiritual realm beyond his present struggle. These symbolic dimensions add depth and complexity to the narrative and contribute the great enjoyment readers continue to derive from this simple, beautifully written tale.
Oscar Hijuelos captures the vibrant, colorful cultural life, and especially the music, of Cuba in the first decades of the twentieth century as well as the even richer artistic life in New York City and Paris in the 1920’s and 1930’s. By painting a portrait of his Cuban composer Israel Levis, Hijuelos actually manages to lay out the major cultural and political forces emerging at the opening of the twentieth century. Levis may be a fictional character, but the world he moves in is as lively as any in fiction and the political forces shaping that world are as real. The novel begins in 1947, when Levis is returning to Havana (accurately called “Habana” throughout the novel, from the name of the Indian chieftain, Habaquatnex) after recovery from his internment in a concentration camp at the end of World War II, but circles back almost at once to tell his earlier history. Levis was born to a professional family in Habana in 1890; his father, a doctor, dies young, as do three siblings, and Israel and his brother Fernando remain devoted to their mother Doña Conception. Fernando follows in his father’s footsteps and becomes a doctor practicing in the city of Santiago de Cuba. Israel, with a musical calling from an early age, becomes a pianist and composer and one of the most famous Cuban musicians of the twentieth century. A Simple Habana Melody is a fictional biography of his life, but it is much more. In many ways Levis is larger than life. A big man who grows increasingly portly as he finds success, he is also a man with prodigious appetites, for food and drink as well as sex. He becomes a master of Cuban music, writing in many forms (including the zarzuela, a form of Spanish opera), and he finds ways “to express through music Cuba’s emerging national soul.” In the 1920’s, he caps his successes by composing “Rosas Puras” for his friend the singer Rita Valladares and the song becomes the most famous rumba in the world, helps to introduce Cuban music to an international audience, and changes both American and European tastes in music and dance. Levis’s rise in the world is unfortunately shadowed by political turmoil: The tightening grip of the Cuban dictator Gerardo Machado in the early 1930’s causes the death of Manny Cortez, Levis’s friend and lyricist, and drives many Cuban artists and musicians into exile, first to New York City—where Cuban music becomes part of the emerging jazz scene in the 1920’s and 1930’s, and where Levis “used jazz voicings in his arrangements of Cuban song, or leavened the jazz with a bit of Cuban melody”—and then to Paris and other cultural capitals of Europe, where Levis’s Cuban melodies gain an even greater following. Israel Levis lives well in Paris during the 1930’s, growing even larger, riding on the crest of his success, and indulging in his favorite gustatory and sexual pastimes. “Privately lascivious (for he was a habitué of the brothels), publicly righteous, he was at heart a moralistic fellow.” He is almost oblivious to the political tensions around him, however, including the rise of Adolf Hitler, although he finds touring through Germany and Austria with his band uncomfortable. Then he falls in love with Sarah Rubenstein, a French dance teacher who in a few years goes underground and, with her brother Georges, become part of the French Resistance fighting the Nazis. Levis’s story is clearly meant as a tragicomedy, for in the German occupation of Paris in the first years of the 1940’s the Nazis demand that he register as a Jew. He is not Jewish; his name, from his Spanish father, may go back to some ancient Sephardic lineage, but Israel is a devout Cuban Catholic. The authorities will not listen to his story; for them, in their rigid racist thinking, his name is his destiny. A year and a half later, he is forced to put the yellow cloth star on his clothing like Jews in Paris (although, unlike them, he is also invited to play for the occupation forces), and in 1943 he is shipped by train to a concentration camp. The commandant of the Paris occupation, who appreciates Levis’s... (The entire section is 1672 words.)
Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! Absoluteness of acceleration 1. Nov 14, 2011 #1 So on another post somewhere it was mentioned that while velocity is relative, acceleration is absolute, this might be true for the magnitude of acceleration but how are we sure of the direction, am I accelerating or is the rest of the world. Is there any design of accelerometer that doesn't work by measuring the relative motion, and therefore acceleration, of two components? Under the force of gravity the jar and cork are accelerated uniformly and so no measure of acceleration is given. I understand that in most cases we can tell which of two bodies is accelerating by comparing measurements on their accelerometers, but if two people are are constant velocity in space, and one nears a black-hole(with no stars around for gravitational lensing) their relative velocity increases, but which one is near the black hole? So if objects in relativity's gravity follows geodesics rather than accelerating how do their relative velocities increase? 2. jcsd 3. Nov 14, 2011 #2 With regards to the acceleration question, I believe the direction of acceleration is relative simply because I dare anyone to define an object's direction without reference to something else. To the black hole question, the answer goes back to the same point you made. While each sees the other recede at the same rate, only one observer feels the pull of the black hole; acceleration is absolute. 4. Nov 14, 2011 #3 Going in free-fall into a black hole one would not feel the accelration would they? Until the tidal effects spaghettied them 5. Nov 14, 2011 #4 I'm not quite sure, I know from experience that a person can detect acceleration, I once had a conversation where I was convinced of it. However I can readily believe that is due to a complex 'accelerometer' (I can think of a few mechanisms ) present in the brain. I'm not sure whether or not ultimate acceleration can be discerned, however I am tempted to believe so as it was my understanding that is how the twin paradox is resolved. 6. Nov 14, 2011 #5 User Avatar Science Advisor Gold Member All you need to measure magnitude and direction of acceleration from your point of view (you being stationary relative to yourself) is a standard mass on a spring. However, you are completely correct that direction of acceleration is observer dependent. In relativity, acceleration is a 4-vector, the proper time derivative of the the 4-velocity along some world line. The vector is a coordinate independent object, its magnitude is invariant, but its component expression is coordinate dependent, so 'natural' coordinates for different observers will lead to different component expression. As to another of your questions, in curved spacetime, geodesics may converge. Thus, objects with no acceleration, initially at rest with respect to each other, can move together. This is simply a consequence of curvature: the parallel postulate fails on sphere - geodesics intersect. The same is true for geodesics in curved spacetime. I think you may also have a confusion about what acceleration is in GR. An apple falling to earth is not accelerating. An apple resting on the ground, is accelerating. 7. Nov 15, 2011 #6 I do understand the difference, or I am aware of it, I just have trouble accepting it. The way I look at it though is that these converging geodesics(if that is what I call the apple falling) does constitute acceleration. It has an effect on their relative velocities. In the case of to two people at rest and then one begins to be sucked into a black hole, not only would their relative velocity change, but the one entering the black hole would have time differences indicating they are in a different frame of reference? which i equate with a change in energy level and therefore acceleration...is this wrong? 8. Nov 15, 2011 #7 User Avatar Science Advisor Gold Member To understand relativity, you need to let go of concepts like 'at rest' without clarification of relative to what. The apple falling is following an inertial (no force on it), geodesic path. Converging geodesics is not shown by comparison with an apple on the ground (which is accelerating), but with an apple falling on the other side of the world - the two free fall (geodesic) paths are approaching each other. An equivalence principle analogy is that a person stepping off a cliff and beginning to fall is the same as stepping out of an accelerating rocket. The rocket and the person each see the other accelerating away (coordinate acceleration); only the rocket observer feels force (thus this is the non-inertial one with proper acceleration). As for energy, I'm not sure what you are asking. Can you try to state a specific question about energy? 9. Nov 15, 2011 #8 D H User Avatar Staff Emeritus Science Advisor You are missing the point. How we represent something is not the same as the thing being represented. In this case, you are confusing the representation of the acceleration vector with the acceleration vector itself. Choose one particular reference frame to use as the basis for representing that acceleration vector and you will get some particular set of coordinates for vector. Choose a different frame and you will of course get a different set of coordinates. It is still the same vector, however. You say potato I say patahto ... Sans spaghettification, neither "feels" the pull of the black hole. An accelerometer doesn't sense acceleration due to gravity. An accelerometer senses acceleration relative to an inertial frame that is co-located and co-moving with the accelerometer. This is why some say that "acceleration is absolute". An accelerometer is a purely local experiment. No outside reference is needed. It is measuring acceleration relative to some attribute of local space-time itself -- and it does so without constructing that co-located, co-moving inertial frame. 10. Nov 15, 2011 #9 To clarify then, I mean, the two people in space are at rest(relative to each other) and I am not comparing the apple to the earth and saying the apple is accelerating, I am comparing the apple falling near the earth with an apple floating in space that was comoving at the beginning of the experiment. As the apple near the earth falls nearer the earth its trajectory would lead to an increase in relative velocity as compared to the apple far away from gravity. The answer: "That is not acceleration in GR because it is not represented as such" is not a satisfactory answer to me. At least not with a reason WHY it isn't. [EDIT] this is like saying all we did was redefine acceleration.. The most common reason I know of is the accelerometer deal, and the fact that one could not tell if he were accelerated by gravity or by a rocket. Please explain to me the design of an accelerometer that works in such a way, I assert that a mechanical accelerometer can only measure a DIFFERENCE in acceleration of one part and another. So if I had a weight on a spring, and I accelerate the spring and the weight, it measures no acceleration. In any case other than gravity it doesn't really work because you could put accelerometers on each component and see that each was accelerating, but in a uniform(or nearly uniform) acceleration field, every component of every accelerometer would accelerate evenly, giving the appearance of no acceleration. Putting an accelerometer on a table and measuring upward acceleration requires you place it on that table, contacting it, measuring a push with my finger requires my finger contact it, so how is this local and without outside reference, in the case of a cork and a jar, with just the cork, we know nothing. it is only when measuring the acceleration required to move the cork with the jar that we read acceleration. So consider a weight in a box, in freefall the box and weight accelerate evenly, so no measured acceleration, at the point that the box contacts the ground, the box is suddenly accelerated upward, causing the weight to continue moving down while force is built in the spring, at this point, we measure a relative acceleration. As the device reaches equilibrium it is left that the box is sitting on the ground, and the weight suspeneded by the spring that is pulled of equilibrium due to the fact that gravity is continuing to apply force that must be balanced by the spring. This extended spring shows us that upward acceleration is occuring but I attest that this is a flaw in the design of the accelerometer, not the universe. Last edited: Nov 15, 2011 11. Nov 15, 2011 #10 As for a specific question about energy, it would be:Is a change in inertial frame proportional to a change in relative kinetic energy? Is a change in relative kinetic energy proportional to a change in acceleration? and finally nearing gravity, in a free-fall, aren't the relativistic effects on time still occuring, like, falling into a black hole, time still slows down(relative to a previously co-moving observer removed from gravity), right? This to me indicates that the one "not accelerating" is changing inertial frame, and if the above questions are right...accelerating 12. Nov 15, 2011 #11 D H User Avatar Staff Emeritus Science Advisor What general relativity has done is to redefine the what constitutes an inertial frame. First off, it is important to remember that different observers looking at the same object will see different accelerations. This isn't just a matter of redefining acceleration. It is reality. Even in Newtonian mechanics, an accelerating observer will obviously see something different from a non-accelerating observer. Inertial frames have a special place in Newtonian mechanics; all inertial observers in a Newtonian universe would see that object as undergoing the same acceleration. Even though inertial frames are the same in Newtonian mechanics and special relativity, that acceleration is invariant to all inertial observers no longer true in special relativity. To overcome this ambiguity, special relativity introduces the concept of proper acceleration. This concept of proper acceleration carries over to general relativity, but now under the guise of an inertial frame as defined in general relativity. The ideal accelerometers can serve as as a test for whether a frame is inertial is a very important concept in general relativity. The latter part of your statement is a bit off. Slap an accelerometer on a falling apple and it will register zero. Once it hits the ground and stops bouncing around, the accelerometer will register an acceleration of 1 g upward. That upward acceleration is caused by the ground, not gravity. It is this normal force that the accelerometer is measuring, not gravity. An apple on an a rocket in deep space accelerating at 1 g will also measure an acceleration of 1 g. What you are missing is that the definition of an inertial frame is quite different in general relativity than Newtonian mechanics. In Newtonian mechanics, a frame that is inertial at the origin is inertial everywhere. In general relativity, that inertial characteristic is local rather than universal. Another big difference is that a free-falling frame is non-inertial in Newtonian mechanics but is inertial in general relativity. Another thing you are missing is that gravity is a fictitious force in general relativity. An accelerometer cannot measure coriolis acceleration because it doesn't arise from a "real" force. Accelerometers cannot measure acceleration resulting from any fictitious force -- including gravitation. A completely different way to measure acceleration is to measure numerical differentiate the measured velocity with respect to some external object. This is a non-local experiment. The test masses in an accelerometer are internal to the accelerometer. No external measurements are needed: A local experiment. Accelerometers cannot measure gravity. No local experiment can. This is not a flaw in the design of the accelerometer. It is the way the universe works. 13. Nov 15, 2011 #12 User Avatar Science Advisor Gold Member This may be clear to you, but it is totally unclear to me. I'll try to answer some possible questions. Kinetic energy is frame dependent in Galilean mechanics, SR, and GR. In none can you talk about 'proportionality' though. Changing frame changes kinetic energy according to 1/2 mv^2 in Galilean mechanics; by mc^2(1 - 1/(1-v^2/c)) in relativity (which works out almost the same when v is small compared to c). Kinetic energy at a given moment for a given body is unrelated to acceleration. Of course, acceleration is related to change in kinetic energy. Integrate forcedistance and you get change in kinetic energy. Compare two free fall observers: one falling radially, the other orbiting. The orbiting one will see the radial clock slow down. Both are still inertial. If we posit a stationary observer where the orbital and radial observers separate, they will see the orbital clock slow and the radial free fall clock even slower. If we have a clock 'tossed' radially away from the planet and falling back to the stationary clock, this clock will be faster than the stationary clock (in fact, this radial out and back free fall path will be the path of longest elapsed time - fastest clock - between any two events). I don't understand what conclusions you are trying to draw from all these different clock rates. Very little of what you say makes any sense to me. 14. Nov 16, 2011 #13 Do I understand correctly that gravity is not really accelerating me, it just curves the space and the ground has to apply a force on me to make me move different than a "straight" line would, which is now actually bent? But why am I moving along the curved space if I am standing still? I can understand how a bullet flying past earth would get pulled into the earth due to the space curving, but why does it happen when I stand still? Also, is gravitational time dilation and length contraction caused by the fact that acceleration and gravity is really the same thing? But how do I get the speed to calculate the time dilation, because if all I know is acceleration, I might have been accelerating for a million years or for one second? To the OP, if you are in a spaceship and not accelerating, you will hover weightless. If you start accelerating, you will fly into the wall opposite to the direction of acceleration. To determine the rate of acceleration, place a scale underneath yourself. If you doubt that maybe you are actually accelerating in the other direction, you can test this by placing the scale on the opposite wall of which you are standing on and you would find that the scale falls back to you. You can determine acceleration this way without having to look anywhere else what other objects or spaceships are doing. 15. Nov 16, 2011 #14 D H User Avatar Staff Emeritus Science Advisor You understand incorrectly. There is a problem with how to represent acceleration even in Newtonian mechanics. Acceleration is in general frame-dependent even in Newtonian mechanics. There is one special class of frames where acceleration is invariant in Newtonian mechanics, and these are the Newtonian inertial frames. The acceleration vectors of some object in any two inertial frames are the same vector. The acceleration vector as expressed in and observed from an inertial frame is the canonical representation of that frame. This problem gets even more involved in relativistic mechanics. In special relativity, the acceleration 3-vectors are not invariant across inertial frames. The solution is to use "proper acceleration," the acceleration with respect to a co-located, co-moving inertial frame. Note well: • This proper acceleration is exactly what an ideal accelerometer would measure. • The qualifier "proper" does not mean that any other representation of acceleration is somehow incorrect. To the contrary! All frames of reference are equally valid in relativity theory. Perhaps a better qualifier would be "canonical." But that isn't the label that was attached, and now we're stuck with "proper." The problem gets yet hairier in general relativity. The concept of proper acceleration carries over rather nicely, with one caveat: What constitutes an an inertial frame is quite different in general relativity. The equivalence principle is a huge motivating factor for this change in meaning of "inertial frame." Another motivating factor is that the Newtonian laws of physics take on their simplest form in Newtonian inertial frames. Fictitious forces vanish in Newtonian inertial frames. The laws of physics per general relativity similarly take on their simplest form in general relativity. Just as fictitious forces vanish in Newtonian inertial frames, they also vanish in GR inertial frames. One side effect: Gravitational acceleration tautologically vanishes in a GR inertial frame. In GR, gravitation is a fictitious force! 16. Nov 16, 2011 #15 So in this picture the two components of the accelerometer are equally accelerated by the force, as would be with gravity, Yet it would measure an upward acceleration as the outer component(which every type of mechanical accelerometer we can make would have(as far as I know that is why I asked about types in use)) if the table were not there and the acceleration held constant it would not measure acceleration. Why in GR is gravity treated different than this? If I am being accelerated by the ground, not gravity, then what am I being accelerated relative to? Does acceleration in GR not add to my kinetic energy? If it does, my energy must be astronomical compared to whatever I am being accelerated relative to. If the answer to all this is just that "In GR we don't call it acceleration so...it must not be." then I am sort of disappointed with these forums. And to PAllen what I mean is: two people in space at rest relative to each other: I would think that not counting gravity(in GR) the only way to "change inertial frames" and in so doing be no longer comoving is to accelerate. So if that is indeed the case, then my question is if one of the objects starts moving more quickly toward the surface of the earth does it "change inertial frame relative to the one farther removed from gravity that it was previously comoving" no longer comoving with said other object? Attached Files: 17. Nov 16, 2011 #16 User Avatar Science Advisor Homework Helper Gold Member I believe "proper" was used to suggest "property" or "ownership" (and, as you say, not something suggesting "correctness"). Minkowski introduced "Eigenzeit", which we call "Proper Time" (or what EF Taylor calls "wristwatch time" or what H.Bondi calls "private time"). Some authors have suggested that "Eigentime" might have been a better translation (similar to "Eigenvector" a.k.a. "Proper vector"). 18. Nov 16, 2011 #17 User Avatar Science Advisor Gold Member The essence of GR is that gravity is not a force. There is a feature of objects called inertia, which is their resistance to force. We call the numeric value of this inertia 'mass'. Instead of the 'law of inertia' and the 'law of gravity', GR only has the 'law of inertia': unless acted on by a force, a body moves in the straightest possible path - a geodesic of spacetime. When the ground accelerates you, you are being accelerated relative to inertial motion, the same as the law of inertia states in Galilean mechanics. Note that if you are in a rocket, the floor is accelerating you; from your point of view, you feel force but (assuming no windows) you don't seem accelerated relative to anything, and your kinetic energy remains zero in your frame (because the force acts over zero distance in your frame). In GR, standing on earth is simply identical to this situation. Relative to an inertial frame, when you stand on earth you are being accelerated upward and your kinetic energy rapidly grows (in the free fall inertial frame). Note that the idea the KE is strictly frame dependent goes all the way back to Newton and Galileo - it is not new with relativity. There is no such thing as KE except in relation to a specified frame; it is always zero in an object's own frame As to your final question, it still makes no sense to me. If two people in space are at rest, next to each other, and not under a force, they will remain at rest relative to each other. If one of them accelerates (measured by an accelerometer), by definition, they are not in an inertial frame any more. The rest of this paragraph comes across as gibberish to me. Sorry. Please try to state a precise scenario, and ask a specific question about it. Last edited: Nov 16, 2011 19. Nov 16, 2011 #18 Then I fear gibberish may be my only language. It seems I cannot find a way to describe the situation without using words which we cannot agree on a definition. I will try to describe a situation as clearly as I can, the specific question is: Does acceleration take place? Suppose you have two objects at rest to each other, and each are approaching a gravitational body at the same rate. As the object nearer the gravitational body does whatever is done to cause it to move closer to that body at a greater rate than before, the objects would be no longer moving at the same rate. Did acceleration take place? I am starting to believe I will know your answer. You will reply, "No, Since no acceleration is measured on an accelerometer, no acceleration has taken place" Still you have not addressed the question about the method employed by the accelerometer, I am not sure if it posted correctly but in the previous post there was an attached image, could you please refer to the image and answer the specific question: To add extra description, the two components would be the inner weight and the outer shell. Unless you can describe an accelerometer that works without some form of two components that measure the force required to move a component not directly connected to the acceleration. From wikipedia: So the gist of it is that it is made of two parts, a casing an a damped mass, in mentions that under external accelerations the mass is displaced, It does not explain that the device fails to work when under a uniform force, the mass and casing would be equally displaced, so the device is not flawless. But, since that is not how it is defined, none of that makes sense to you either, and is certainly could not be what is happening Last edited: Nov 16, 2011 20. Nov 17, 2011 #19 User Avatar Science Advisor Gold Member Just to clarify here, there is coordinate acceleration and proper acceleration. Consider a rocket in deep space passing a floating planetoid. The rocket sees the planetoid accelerate, the planetoid sees the rocket accelerate. They are both coordinate acceleration. But only the rocket locally measures acceleration with an accelerometer, with no reference to any other object; that is proper acceleration. If the two objects are next to each other, they will not separate, they will remain at rest. I am going to guess what you might mean, but the problem isn't terminology, it unwillingness to be reasonably precise on your part. I am going to guess you have in mind two objects starting out at rest relative to each other, one e.g. 50 miles from earth, the other 100 miles (ignore air). Over time, the distance between them increases and they are no longer at rest relative to each other. Was that so hard? You can't expect people to guess all these things - you have to be specific. I am still not sure this is your scenario, but I will answer this one. The main thing to realize is that in curved spacetime, inertial frames are local. There is no such thing as global inertial frame. Thus, each of these bodies has its own inertial frame for its 'immediate region', but extended as far as described, each of these bodies has its own separate local inertial frame. Another point, is that interpretation is needed about each being at rest relative to the other initially. One definition of 'at rest' is absence of red/blue shift. However, in this case, the 100 mile object will see redshift from the 50 mile object, while the 50 mile object will see blueshift from the 100 mile object. Thus, if each interprets things as if there were no gravity, they conclude they are not stationary. However, they could use light bouncing, and determine change in bounce time is change in distance (there are subtelties in this choice as well, but we can ignore that for simplicity). Then, indeed they see motion develop between them even though they are both inertial, and started out apparently at rest. What does this mean? It means there is space time curvature. A definition of curvature is that geodesics cease to remain parallel - they converge or diverge. Since each object is inertial, yet their distance grows, voila, you have demonstrated that there is detectible spacetime curvature over this distance. What type of acceleration is this? Well, remember, each can only establish a local inertial frame. Beyond that, you just have coordinates. Thus each sees coordinate acceleration by the other, but neither experiences proper acceleration, which is a local measurement. As for accelerometers, I wasn't planning to answer this. This is a basic classical physics. You over complicate the whole picture. If I put a weight on a string that can measure tension, and release the object while holding the other end of the string, the direction and tension of the string tells me direction and magnitude of acceleration. The direction of acceleration points away from the weight along the line of the string. The magnitude of acceleration is given by the string tension. The 'thing' being tested for acceleration is whatever is attached to the other end of the string. This is the complete definition. With minimal thought, you can answer all of your scenarios in which you add unnecessary complications. Last edited: Nov 17, 2011 21. Nov 17, 2011 #20 This is really of no consequence to the discussion if you mean the rocket is firing because I never disagreed that mechanical acceleration was not acceleration, or that being in contact with the floor of that rocket lets you feel it I never said they were right next to each other, I didn't give specific numbers but I did specify one is nearer, and that one is "the one farther removed from gravity". Either way the distance should not matter, if one is nearer at ALL then even if only a small amount it should accelerate more, if only a small amount. I am trying very hard not to be rude and respond "You must put the idea of stationary away, in relativity, there is no way to know one is stationary, and could only be stationary relative to something else" But I know that you mean, relative to each other* on the end of that, if you could please give me some of the same courtesy I would appreciate it. But heres the thing, if gravity cannot accelerate, explain this situation: My Accelerometer is my hand holding a string. My hand is placed 100miles away from the planet(ignoring air) and the string is a 50mi string connecting a weight 50miles above the surface to my hand, 100mi away from the surface. Do I measure a pull on the string or not? This actually ties in with the complication of the accelerometer quite nicely, who decides when it is overcomplication and when it is just enough. You still choose an accelerometer made of two parts, the weight and your hand, and measure the force between them to get acceleration, if both are acted on by the same acceleration, there with be no force on the string. Similar Discussions: Absoluteness of acceleration 1. Absolute acceleration? (Replies: 15) 2. Absolute Velocity (Replies: 6)
Welcome to the updated and refreshed Tourette Canada Online Forum! See more See less Why do physicians wear white lab coats? • Filter • Time • Show Clear All new posts • Why do physicians wear white lab coats? In case you ever wondered, "Why do physicians wear white lab coats?" Here's the answer: Why do physicians wear white lab coats? The Globe and Mail Published Monday, Jul. 02 2012, 1:58 PM EDT Last updated Monday, Jul. 02 2012, 4:16 PM EDT Boxy, plain and unisex, they are hardly a sartorial statement. But they are functional. The big pockets can hold a stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, paper, pen and so on. The lab coat also protects clothes from a common on-the-job hazard, flying bodily fluids. It’s simple to change if soiled, and easy enough to launder. Clothing influences how we are perceived and how we perceive ourselves. The white lab coat screams out “official,” “brainy” and “in charge.” It is, in the health-care setting, an outdated symbol of hierarchy. It is so 20th century. A little history is in order. The white lab coat first made its appearance in the late 1800s. Prior to that, lab coats were traditionally beige and worn in, well, laboratories. Doctors, like clergy, dressed in black to reflect the sombre nature of their work. The end of the 19th century was a time of tremendous progress in public health and medicine, when the benefits of sanitation and clean water were recognized. In the hospital setting, antiseptics revolutionized care. Prior to the germ-fighting era, physicians were largely indistinguishable from other quacks such as homeopaths and snake-oil salesmen. A medical-school degree could be obtained in a year, and there were few standards of good practice. With the advent of germ theory, physicians strove to be more scientific in their practice and their dress. Medical schools also adopted a more rigorous and standardized curriculum. The white coat embodied this new philosophy. White is the colour of hope and the lab coat the symbol of the healer. Surgeons became the first to wear the white coat, followed by hospital doctors and then in-office general practitioners. By 1915, it had become the norm, though doctors doing home visits still dressed formally. To this day, most medical schools have a “White Coat Ceremony,” where new students are solemnly presented with a short white coat at the beginning of their studies. When they graduate, they get a long white lab coat. (If you’re in a hospital coat, length is a handy way to identify the students.) But the white-coat tradition is dying. Only one in eight doctors now wears a white lab coat, according to a U.S. study. Some specialists, like pediatricians and psychiatrists, long ago gave up the uniform because it was seen as scary by their patients. In fact, one of the reasons physicians have abandoned the traditional garb is that they feel the visual symbol of hierarchy impedes patient care. It is well documented, for example, that many patients suffer “white-coat hypertension” – meaning their blood pressure shoots up during a physician visit. (To be clear, however, this is not necessarily related to what the doctor is wearing.) Paradoxically, surveys show that the majority of patients like the white coat, largely because it helps them figure out who’s who, something that is impossible where every health worker wears scrubs or street clothes. Some physicians have abandoned the white coat for much more practical reasons, such as hospitals no longer laundering them free of charge, as they do with scrubs, and because they don’t feel it’s appropriate in settings where teamwork is the norm. But the death knell of the white lab coat may well have been sounded by patient safety concerns. In Britain, the white lab coat has been banned – along with watches, ties and sleeves. The “bare below the elbow” rule is designed to reduce infection. This is not a trivial issue. In Canada, there are an estimated 220,000 hospital-acquired infections annually, and as many as 12,000 deaths as a result. There are many reasons for these dismal numbers, including shared toilets, poor cleaning and lack of hand-washing. But studies showed that lab coats were the principal impediment to doctors washing their hands regularly, and that bacteria tended to harbour around the coat’s cuffs. We have to be careful, however, to not ascribe the risk of infection to a particular uniform. White lab coats, scrubs and street clothes are all equal-opportunity bacteria spreaders. It is hygiene practices that ultimately matter, like routine hand-washing, changing work clothes regularly and not wearing hospital clothes on the street. The Ottawa Hospital, for example, implemented a dress code that makes it obligatory for all staff to don scrubs or lab coats when entering the facility and remove them when leaving – even if it’s just to cross the street for a coffee. Beyond cleanliness, there are calls to cast off the white coat to strip doctors of their aura of godliness. One of the most eloquent pleas came from Don Berwick, the guru of patient safety, in his address to the Yale Medical School graduating class in May: “Those who suffer need you to be something more than a doctor; they need you to be a healer. And, to become a healer, you must do something even more difficult than putting your white coat on. You must take your white coat off. You must recover, embrace and treasure the memory of your shared, frail humanity – of the dignity in each and every soul. “When you take off that white coat in the sacred presence of those for whom you will care – in the sacred presence of people just like you – when you take off that white coat, and, tower not over them, but join those you serve, you become a healer in a world of fear and fragmentation, an ‘aching’ world, as your chaplain put it this morning, that has never needed healing more.” Tina, Forum Moderator, TSFC Staff Liaison TSFC Homepage TSFC Membership
Winter injury describes a wide range of conditions, mostly environmental and mechanical, that can affect landscape plants, especially in areas where winters are harsh. Cold temperatures, high winds and bright winter sun, independently or in combination, can lead to damage mostly characterized as excessive drying. Sunscald, frost cracks and heaving of newly planted stock are also the result of temperature differentials. Finally, accumulations of ice and snow can break branches and snap stems. Evergreens are especially susceptible to desiccation, especially at times when foliage is transpiring, but the roots and stem are frozen, and so transpired moisture is not replaced. Dry fall conditions, coupled with highly exposed plantings will exacerbate drying. Sunny weather with cold temperatures can only make matters worse. Adequate moisture immediately preceding ground freeze will help alleviate early onset of drying injury, and mulch (at least a couple of inches on top of the rootzone) will control evaporation and insulate roots. Some landscape managers swear by the use of antidesiccant sprays, while others think they don’t seem to last very long. Branches begin to break after accumulating 40 or more times their weight in ice and snow. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, BUGWOOD.ORG. Burlap wraps are probably the most effective way to protect evergreen shrubs, because they significantly decrease exposure, especially to wind and sun. These measures, however, are usually reserved for new plantings to give them a season or two to become established, and then they are on their own. Going to such lengths to protect a client’s landscape each year is probably over the top, and plants should be moved to more naturally protected locations. Better yet, convince the client to plant more winter-hardy species in exposed areas. The exception to this rule is for plantings that are exposed to plow spray, when the snowplow cruises by at 30 miles per hour throwing usually salt-laden slush up to 25 feet. In situations such as this, a burlap barrier, or something stronger, is necessary to protect plantings. The only alternative, of course, is to avoid planting within 25 feet of a road that requires regular winter plowing. This is especially true for salt-sensitive species in areas where chloride is commonly used as a deicing agent. Frost heaving is often common with newly planted stock, especially in clay soils. Alternate freeze-thaw cycles eventually push a burlap-wrapped ball up, sometimes right out of the ground. Usually heaving is not quite so severe, but it is enough to push the roots up a few inches or more, exposing them to drying conditions. It is easy to reset the planting in the spring, but often not before the plant has been injured from exposed roots. Generally, the finer the soil, the more difficult it is to prevent frost heaving in areas that experience alternate freezing and thawing. The only solution is to plant in the spring, using practices that will encourage roots to extend beyond the root-ball and into surrounding soil. Mulching will help to insulate the ground and to protect exposed roots until the sapling can be replanted next spring. Nevertheless, in northern climates, try to avoid fall planting in heavy soils, or be prepared to mulch heaved plantings during the winter months to protect exposed roots. Often, a snow pack that develops in late November and lasts throughout the winter will keep soils from freezing, or limit the depth of freezing to only a few inches. When this happens, frost heaving is rare, regardless of soil type (and the incidence of desiccation is also much less, except in areas where desiccation is caused by sodium chloride that has migrated from roads to leaf surfaces as microscopic airborne particles). Frost cracks and sunscald are caused by rapid changes in temperature. Scalding is most common with thin-barked species and results in death of cambium tissues, usually on the warm side of the tree (the south and southwest sides, but this can vary if the stem is near a highly reflective surface). Tree wraps that are applied in November should be removed in April to avoid the possibility of injuring the cork cambium and to discourage insects and diseases that might also use the wrap for protection. Frost crack results in vertical fissures on the main stem. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, BUGWOOD.ORG Frost crack, as the name implies, results in a vertical fissure on the main stem. They tend to form on sunny, winter days that quickly transition into bitterly cold nights. The differential is too much for the exposed stem to withstand, and a crack forms (actually, it is the outer layers contracting more rapidly than the inner layers that cause a vertical crack in the bark to form, usually on the warmest side of the stem). Frost cracks are more common in stems that harbor internal defects, and they almost never completely callous over—once a frost crack, always a frost crack. Probably the most common form of winter injury in trees results from the accumulated weight of ice and snow. Even though tree branches are quite strong (right-angle branching is inherently stronger than branches that form at more acute angles), they begin to break after accumulating 40 or more times their weight in ice and snow. Of course, some species are stronger than others. Depending on conditions, every tree is susceptible to branch breaking. Accumula-tions of ice are usually far more damaging than snow because of higher density (a .25-inch layer of ice is the equivalent of nearly 3 inches of snow that the tree can easily shed in even the slightest wind). Ice storms are most often the result of fairly warm, moisture-laden air colliding with and riding over a stationary bubble of very cold air. Precipitation falls as rain that is supercooled by the time it hits freezing cold surfaces on the ground, where it instantly changes from liquid to solid. The one thing about most ice storms is that they don’t last for more than a few hours. When they do last longer, ice accumulations are sufficient to cause branches to break, and even stems of saplings to snap. The aftermath of an ice storm is far worse than the long-term effects of branches breaking in tree crowns. In fact, during the ice storm of January 1998 in the northeastern states, some researchers suggested that the crown thinning caused by broken branches actually might have had an overall positive effect on some trees. Cleaning up broken crowns in a timely fashion was the key. Since the damage took place during the winter months, when there are virtually no infectious inoculums in the air, exposed wood surfaces (that had been properly trimmed) had ample time to dry before serving as an infection court. Unfortunately, there is little that anyone can do to prepare for an ice storm, but valuable landscape trees can be pruned to remove acute branch angles, and cabling can be used to support vulnerable portions of the crown. With cabling, the trick is to center the weight over the main stem as much as possible, and to balance the crown so the tree can carry the extra weight without tipping or snapping. Since the proximate cause of most winter injury is due to climatic conditions, the actions of arborists are limited to selecting winter-hardy species, planting in configurations or in landscape locations that offer protection from climatic extremes, and the use of barriers such as burlap and stem wrap in situations that require a little extra protection.
Drawing Lewis Dot Diagrams Mr. Andersen shows you how to draw Lewis Dot Diagrams for atoms and simple molecules. Intro Music Atribution Title: ... VSEPR Theory: Introduction To see all my Chemistry videos, check out http://socratic.org/chemistry This is an introduction to the basics of VSEPR Theory. Lewis Dot Structures Finally, you'll understand all those weird pictures of molecules with the letters and the lines and the dots! Those are lewis dot ... Yeni Sezon Pardesü Bizi Takip Etmeye Devam Ediniz.. http://www.sefamerve.comhttp://www.fb.com/sefamervecom
Saturday, 4 December 2010 Child prodigies Photo: MHV (Wikimedia Commons), adapted (MCF) © MCF 2010 1. What's structurally ambiguous about "child prodigy/ies"? I don't get it. (I know what structural ambiguity means) 2. Michael: Here is how I see it. One meaning is ‘prodigies who are children/children and prodigies’, a kind of dvandva compound structurally similar to e.g. child workers. Another meaning is ‘prodigies of/about children’, with an attributive prepositional phrase sense structurally similar to e.g. child diseases. Maybe different/other interpretations are possible?? Thank you for asking! 3. Maybe, although "child diseases" is rather dispreferred; if you google that phrase there are 23,000 hits, but if you google "childhood diseases" there are over a million. Your book sounds interesting; I teach future English teachers in Chile and we often try to discuss language learning in a more global sense. 4. Michael: You’re right, I did want the dispreferred interpretation of Child prodigies in the title of the post... I would be very interested to know how useful you and your students find my book, in relation to language teaching and teacher training. The book is geared to a general readership, but I hope it will reach out to specialised readers too. Do let me know? Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Romantic poetry Romanticism is the name given to a dominant movement in literature and the other arts – particularly music and painting – in the period from the 1770s to the mid-nineteenth century: • It is regarded as having transformed artistic styles and practices • Like many other terms applied to movements in the arts, the word covers a wide and varied range of artists and practices • It is a retrospective term, applied by later literary, art and musical historians. None of the artists we refer to as Romantics would have so described themselves • It was a European phenomenon, particularly powerful in Britain, France and Germany, but also affecting countries such as Italy, Spain and Poland. There was also, to some extent, an American version of the movement. For further information and a more detailed overview of Romanticism and Romantic poetry see How poetry works > Romantic poetry. Rossetti was influenced in her own writing by her reading of Romantic poetry. However, she does not often give an account of what she has read or been reading. Despite this, from evidence in her own poems, we can establish that the Romantic poet who most influenced her was John Keats. John Keats John Keats (1795-1821) was a London poet, especially known for his odes and sonnets and for his letters, which contain many reflections on poetry and the work of the imagination. During his lifetime, Keats published three books of poetry but it was only after his early death at the age of 26 that his writings began to become popular. In 1887, Rossetti's brother, William Michael, published a biography of Keats. Entitled simply, The Life of John Keats, this biography familiarised many Victorian readers with the writings of the Romantic poet. Rossetti and her brother Dante Gabriel demonstrate their appreciation of Keats' poetry early in their poetic careers by writing sonnets dedicated to his memory. In 1849, when she was 19, Rossetti wrote On Keats. This sonnet speaks of the rest Keats found in death from the troubles of the world. Its sestet alludes to the words that Keats himself requested to be etched onto his tombstone instead of his name: What was his record of himself, ere he Went from us? Here lies one whose name was writ In water : while the chilly shadows flit Of sweet Saint Agnes' Eve; while basil springs, His name, in every humble heart that sings, Shall be a fountain of love, verily. (lines 9-14) Keats' phrase, ‘Here lies one whose name was writ in water' indicates how fleetingly life and fame pass. It suggests that, since they disappear so quickly, they are like something that has been written in water. By speaking of ‘St Agnes' Eve' in her sonnet, Rossetti recalls Keats' own poem, The Eve of St Agnes. The image of basil that she uses also recalls Keats own depiction of this herb in his poem Isabella; or The Pot of Basil. The Romantic appreciation of nature Throughout the eighteenth century, reason or logical thinking was highly valued and the significance of the imagination was often disregarded (see Aspects of literature > An introduction to Augustan literature). The Romantic poets sought to change this by introducing into their poetry an appreciation of natural beauty. Many of their poems convey a semi-religious response to the natural world which opposed the increasing industrialisation of Victorian Britain (for more information on industrialisation see The world of Victorian writers > The impact of industrialisation). In 1798, William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge published a collection of poetry. Entitled Lyrical Ballads, the purpose of this collection was to re-establish the link that exists between nature and man. In the preface, Wordsworth wrote that the aim of their poetry was to use ‘real' language to convey the ‘spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings': in other words, to express emotions in words familiar to ordinary men and women. In 1789, the French people rose up and overthrew the feudal system of government which they felt was oppressing them. The first generation of Romantic writers, including William Blake, William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge initially saw the French Revolution as an opportunity for justice and equality to be established. However, following the terrible atrocities that France witnessed as more and more of the aristocracy were beheaded, they regretted their early enthusiasm for the revolution. The second generation Romantic poets, including Percy Byshe Shelley, John Keats and Lord Byron, were revolutionaries in that they opposed the systems of politics and religion that they considered were suppressing the freedom of the imagination. Many of their poems concentrate on the power and strength of the imagination and the individual mind. The events of Byron and Shelley's personal lives demonstrate that they were not afraid of disrupting convention (for further information see Mary Shelley > The Byron-Shelley circle). Scan and go Scan on your mobile for direct link.
Electric Motor in Electric An Electric Motor uses electrical energy to produce mechanical energy, very typically through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors. The reverse process, producing electrical energy from mechanical energy, is accomplished by a generator or dynamo. Many types of electric motors can be run as generators, and vice versa. For example a starter/generator for a gas turbine or traction motors used on vehicles often perform both tasks. Electric motors are found in applications as diverse as industrial fans, blowers and pumps, machine tools, household appliances, power tools(power tool battery), and disk drives. They may be powered by direct current (for example a battery powered portable device or motor vehicle), or by alternating current from a central electrical distribution grid. The smallest motors may be found in electric wristwatches. Medium-size motors of highly standardized dimensions and characteristics provide convenient mechanical power for industrial uses. The largest electric motors are used for propulsion of large ships, and for such purposes as pipeline compressors, with ratings in the millions of watts. Electric motors may be classified by the source of electric power, by their internal construction, by their application, or by the type of motion they give. Some devices, such as magnetic solenoids and loudspeakers, although they generate some mechanical power, are not generally referred to as electric motors, and are usually termed actuators and transducers, respectively. Electric motors can generally be divided into several types: alternating current (AC) motors, direct current (DC) motors, and universal motors. A DC electric motor will not run when supplied with AC current, nor will an AC motor run with DC current; a universal motor will run with either AC or DC current. AC electric motors are further subdivided into single phase and three phase motors. Single phase AC electrical supply is what is typically supplied in a home. Three phase electrical power is commonly only available in a factory setting. Author Box www.ibuynow.com.au has 12469 articles online and 12 fans Add New Comment Electric Motor Log in or Create Account to post a comment. Security Code: Captcha Image Change Image This article was published on 2010/10/07
Monday, February 27, 2012 Wilde: Option 3 [posted by Daniel] Dorian Gray is concentrated beauty which is personified by his youth. Lord Henry and Basil discuss Dorian's personality but they are merely referring to his visual persona. He is shallow, he is handsome, but above all he becomes more and more corrupted and sinister while maintaining his innocent appearance as the book continues. Dorian carries numerous aesthetic qualities and gives off an inspirational energy to artists like Basil and yet he becomes an infectious disease to everyone around him. What is Oscar Wilde saying about the nature of aestheticism? If Dorian is truly a living piece of art, then is art destruction? Is Wilde making a statement of the dangers of vanity or the dangers of art? 1. After reading all of The Picture of Dorian Gray, I cannot help but think that the novel is a cautionary tale about the nature of aestheticism. Dorian is introduced to aestheticism by Lord Henry, who lives only for pleasure, and he passes these sentiments to Dorian. Dorian’s life becomes only surface when his aging process is exchanged with a portrait, which also bears the burdens of Dorian’s sins, which are shown as ugliness. Aestheticism, then, taken to its extremist forms, leads to decadence and immorality, as good is coupled with beauty, and there is no consideration of morals. Dorian’s beauty that equals an eternal work of art is what takes away his personal responsibility. After living in sin, Dorian tries to do good, and after only one good deed, he thinks that it will make the painting look beautiful again. This is not the case, so Dorian concludes that “For curiosity’s sake he had tried the denial of self. He recognized that now” (Wilde, 183). To Dorian, good deeds are only another form of pleasure, another way of experiencing the world, thus again, related to aestheticism. At this moment, Dorian’s ideas of morality are crushed again, so he decides to get rid of the marker of his conscience, the painting: “Yes, it had been conscience. He would destroy it” (Wilde, 183). Dorian’s destruction of conscience is what kills him. When a person lives through art, and only art, he or she looses their humanity, because they are only concerned with surface and his or her own vanity. Another problem with aestheticism that text shows is that it is too linked to hierarchy. Those who are aesthetes in The Picture of Dorian Gray are aristocratic; they do not work and only pursue pleasure. These attitudes are only symptoms of excess money. Lord Henry describes why laborers and people of a lower social class are boring, because, “They get up early, because they have so much to do, and go to bed early because they have so little to think about” (Wilde, 146). Here, perhaps, my sentiments are influenced by Marxist ideas, because it seems that those who can enjoy aestheticism are the ones that have money. Lord Henry, the biggest proponent of aestheticism shows even more of his disdain for lower classes when discussing the death of the peasant, latter revealed to be Sibyl’s brother. Dorian feels guilt, but Lord Henry says, “It is rather awkward for Geoffrey, of course. It does not do to pepper beaters. It makes people think that one is a wild shot. And Geoffrey is not; he shoots very straight. But there is no use talking about the matter” (Wilde, 168). Lord Henry’s cares do not extend to people of a lower station then he. Thus, aestheticism is only linked to the rich, which is one of the dangers of aestheticism. If the beautiful ideas of aestheticism, such as the enjoyment of arts could be shared by more people, then it would be noble, but in this novel, it is only a byproduct of the rich. 2. I agree with Ed, that Wilde is using this novel to caution readers about the perils of pursuing the aesthetic. Through the epitomizing of Dorian’s beauty Wilde is showing the reader, peoples strong desire for anything that brings beauty or pleasure into one’s life. He shows this through the obsessive character of Basil, who becomes so entranced with the boy’s beauty that he feels that he cannot function without him, “I couldn’t be happy if I didn’t see him every day. He is absolutely everything to me” (Wilde, 11). Along with this unhealthy relationship Dorian has also influenced Basil to produce the best artwork he has ever done, but this only lasts until Dorian stops seeing Basil which leads to the downfall of his career. Basil’s infatuation with Dorian’s beauty along with his constant desire to capture or be inspired by it for his art shows one example of Wilde’s cautionary tale about the aesthetic. While beauty can inspire many to create beautiful artwork, one must be cautious not to become too absorbed in the beauty which can make them dependent upon it produce anything worthwhile. This cautionary tale of the aesthetic can also be seen in Dorian’s infatuation with the book that Lord Henry lends him. While reading the book Dorian becomes absorbed in it, “it seemed to him that in exquisite raiment, and to the delicate sound of flutes, the sins of the world were passing in dumb show to him. Things he had dimly dreamed of were suddenly made real to him. Things of which he had never dreamed were gradually revealed” (Wilde, 128). For years Dorian becomes fascinated with the book and reads it over and over constantly, even getting several copies published in different colors to fit his moods (130). He seems to mirror his life to the novel and Dorian makes his life centered on finding the pleasures and beauty in life and surrounding himself with it, no matter what horrible things it does to his soul. This type of hedonism creates in him, “mad hungers that grew more ravenous as he fed them” (132). Dorian becomes addicted to anything that brings about pleasure, and this constant hunger for it leads him down the path of destruction, taking down others in his wake. This is another example in the novel where Wilde shows how the obsession/excess of the aesthetics can create an individual who knows neither right nor wrong, only pleasure. Wilde is showing the dangers of the aesthetic qualities that come about from art, literature, clothing, jewelry, incense, etc, and how too much of them can lead to life of self destruction mirrored in the novel through the thoughts/actions of Dorian.
Hadoop framework breathes new life into legacy tools tackles DNA testing with the help of the Hadoop framework, and discovers that moving to big data technologies takes time and teamwork. Genealogy website, an Internet veteran that traces its own roots back to 1997, has accumulated 11... billion records (and counting) to date, including birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, immigration documents, and millions of family trees. That translates into 4 PB of data -- a lot of it unstructured. If the volume and variety of the Provo, Utah-based company's data doesn't meet the threshold for big data, there's no doubt its newest venture will: Genealogy by autosomal DNA test. The service, which launched in May 2012 and has received mixed reviews online, offers to help subscribers discover their "cultural roots" by comparing their genome sequence against other sequences and genetic information to determine ethnicity and find potential matches. "We have to have massive storage technology to store 4 PB of content, and then it requires us to deploy massively parallel processing [MPP] solutions to mine the data," said Scott Sorensen, senior vice president of engineering at Meeting that need required reinventing's traditional systems for processing and storing data. Three years ago, Sorensen and his team deployed the Apache Hadoop framework in place of their in-house MPP components. But the cutting-edge tool was not an overnight success by any means. To integrate the open source Hadoop into the existing environment, Sorensen and his team have had to bridge it with's traditional data warehouse. They also lean on Hadoop service providers to help them over some of the technical hurdles. "[Hadoop's an] immature technology in many ways, with a lack of sophisticated higher-level tools," Sorensen said. More from the engineer Headed down a similar path? Scott Sorensen, senior vice president of engineering at, offers three best practices. 1. Clean your data. The most important initial step is making sure the data is clean, according to Sorensen. That's a challenge for, which deals with significant data volume and variety. "Getting all of this data cleaned and into an architecture that allows you to do the data mining -- that's the real trick," he said. 2. Build data science skills in-house. Data scientists are both hard to find and hard to hire, Sorensen said. That's why he believes businesses will have to build those skills in-house. "Look for engineers who are statistically inclined," he said. "They're going to be the ones who are going to be more comfortable in this world." 3. Enable data access. It's important to get the right tools to the right people, Sorensen said. "Not everyone is going to have the same skill set," he said. "You want to provide the broadest set of tools to access the data." Apache Hadoop framework adds scalability When Sorensen started working for more than 10 years ago, Hadoop had yet to enter the scene. One of his first tasks was building a search engine for the site; a few years later, he took on record-linking. Both relied on proprietary MPP technology, which (like Hadoop's MapReduce) processes data over multiple systems in parallel, a method that gives the architecture scalability. "And it worked," he said. "We tried different projects with it, and we succeeded about two-thirds of the time." As Hadoop started to emerge, however, it became clear that the open source framework -- built on cheap, commodity hardware -- could provide even better odds by adding more scal scott sorensen, genealogy, svp, headshot, imageScott Sorensen ability to the system, Sorensen said. "We began to move projects to Hadoop, and we even restarted projects that simply failed with our own MPP technology." Take record linking, for example. The goal is to "stitch" together documents that relate to a specific person so that when a subscriber searches for information on, say, Joe Smith, the results are targeted to the exact Joe Smith the subscriber is researching. "We were able to do some limited record stitching on our own MPP technology that allows us to provide discoveries to our customers," Sorensen said, but most of those connections were made by subscribers' poring through the genealogy site's rich database of public records. Once Sorensen and his team began using the Hadoop framework to stitch or link records together, the tables turned. Today, more than 60% of these discoveries are made by, according to Sorensen. Hadoop distributors are key to success uses Hadoop to provide three main functions, one of which is processing DNA. While DNA testing isn't a completely new concept for the company, autosomal DNA testing is. Less expensive and more accessible than ever before, autosomal DNA tests rely on data from a person's whole genome. Specifically, works with the 700,000 different points along the genome that are critical for determining ethnicity, and with what Sorensen referred to as "family history science." The service is a community effort. In addition to's in-house IT and bioinformatics experts, the genealogy company relies on service providers to ensure consistency with both DNA sequencing and use of Hadoop. The actual genome sequencing is outsourced to a partner who then sends a data file that feeds directly into Hadoop. Part of the site's success with the Hadoop framework is dependent on insight from vendors such as Cloudera and MapR. These and other Hadoop distributors contribute to the open source project, but also build on the framework and sell enterprise-class offerings to customers. Tomorrow's technology When asked what technology he needs that doesn't exist yet, Scott Sorensen replied that he needs better handwriting recognition software. "We have historical documents, and handwriting 200 years ago isn't like handwriting today," he said. Today's technology can parse through an obituary and identify names, dates and places, as well as determine how two people who appear in the obit are related. "That's still a fairly semi-structured kind of digital record there," Sorensen said. "If you were to just take any text out of context and try to extract the semantic information, well, we're not quite there yet. We're rapidly improving our semantic extraction capability, but semantic extraction still has a long ways to go." "We're processing thousands of samples every day at certain points with 700,000 SNPs [single-nucleotide polymorphisms] per sample, and that takes quite a processing cycle," Sorensen said. "And if that fails at any point in time, it means we have to start over with that batch. We just could not have that kind of risk exposure for our DNA pipeline." The lineup of external partners is fluid, depending on the site's needs. Sorensen, for example, declined to specify which distributor provides what. "These vendors are kind of just jockeying to see who is going to be the provider of choice. They're all fantastic [distributors], but at any given point in time, one might have a specific feature we need for one of our solutions where another one doesn't," he said. Relational database still relevant The service providers bring additional functionality to the Hadoop framework, but still relies on its data warehouse for its day-to-day analytics. While Hadoop is used as the initial repository for storage and processing, the data eventually is aggregated, rolled up and moved out of Hadoop and into a SQL Server-based data warehouse for analysis and mining. There, technicians using MicroStrategy tools can explore how subscribers are moving through's website, analyzing where they are experiencing successes, as well as struggles. "All of these success events have gone into the data warehouse, and we're able to mine that and see where customers are having successes, what are the record types customers are looking for," Sorensen said. "It guides us in making our business decisions." For Howard Dresner, president and founder of the consultancy Dresner Advisory Services and a former Gartner analyst, the combination of Hadoop and a SQL Server-based data warehouse is more proof that big data technologies still can't replace traditional systems -- at least, not yet. "We still need to do the basic blocking and tackling of data warehousing and BI [business intelligence] to some degree," he said. "At least, at this point." Businesses embracing big data technologies, in other words, are doing so progressively. In fact, even's warehouse is slated for an upgrade, according to Sorensen. "Our data warehouse is bursting at the seams," he said. "We're currently evaluating the MPP-type data warehouse options, which we'll be moving to soon." Essential Guide Structuring a big data strategy Join the conversation 1 comment Send me notifications when other members comment. Please create a username to comment. Are you combining the Hadoop framework with on-premises systems?
Using multiplicity of factors to characterize graphs of polynomials By Tutor GuyNo Comments When you are asked to sketch the graph of a polynomial, you do not want to make a tree to calculate the values of various points. You don’t know where the “turning points” are, so you won’t be able to connect the dots for the points you plot. Instead, you need to fully factor the polynomial and use the zeroes you find to draw the polynomial. In addition, the multiplicity of each factor tells you whether the polynomial crosses the x-axis at that zero or “bounces”. The rule is very simple: If the factor has an odd multiplicity, the graph crosses the x-axis. If the multiplicity is even, the graph bounces. multiplicity behavior at x ‑axis odd crosses even bounces Example: Sketch the graph of Solution: First of all, plot the zeroes. For this problem, the zeroes are at x=-1, x=0, \text{ and } x=1. Next, determine the degree of the polynomial. In this case, it is degree 6. (Add the exponents of all the factors: 3+1+2=6.) The degree tells you the end behavior, and you can draw arrows to show that the function will go to positive infinity on the left and the right. Now you can sketch the graph. At x=-1, the zero is multiplicity 1, so the graph crosses the x-axis. At x=0, the zero is multiplicity 3, so the graph also crosses the x-axis. Note that for multiplicity 3, the graph doesn’t cross straight through the axis, but flattens out as it goes through. At x=1, the zero is multiplicity 2, so the graph bounces at the x-axis. The final sketch is shown below: Algebra 2, Precalc/Trig Blue Taste Theme created by Jabox
Today’s livestock producers work in a noble profession. Unfortunately, not everyone believes this so people who care for animals must understand how consumers think and feel. Get inside their heads, if you will. Consumers hold farmers responsible for the humane treatment of farm animals. In recent consumer surveys, people rated animal wellbeing higher than the care and wellbeing of workers in the food system but not as high as food safety. It is not science, technical capacity or ability that drives trust. Instead, it is whether consumers believe agriculture shares their ethics and values. Kansas livestock producers spend long hours caring for their cattle, hogs, goats and sheep. Many check on their herds every day. They constantly monitor for health issues. They make sure their livestock are well-fed, watered and sheltered during inclement weather. During calving season, for instance, most cattlemen put their momma cows and newborn calves’ wellbeing front and center. You can bet, their care and safety is their No. 1 concern. Telling this story includes showing people what is taking place on our nation’s farms and ranches. The most important job ahead is to communicate in a way that helps people trust what farmers and ranchers say and do. Too often livestock producers take for granted rural neighbors know and understand who they are and what they do. Just like their urban cousins, they remain committed to their vocation. They live and breathe animal husbandry — the care and nurturing of their livestock. This charge is always on their minds. Agriculture no longer can take for granted that those outside our industry know about what we do. Our industry continues to evolve, and most of the people in the United States today are not involved in farming and ranching. Many Americans know little about where their food comes from. They want to believe that what livestock producers are doing is consistent with their values and ethics. Livestock production or animal agriculture in the most affluent country in the world faces special challenges and opportunities. Among those challenges is that Americans spend such a small percentage of their income on food that they can demand food where they want it, when they want it, in the proportion they want it and produced in a humane way. Many food stores and food retailers have announced implementation of third-party verification measures to ensure food animals are treated humanely. In some instances, customers will demand third-party verification and if it doesn’t exist, the store providing the food might not be credible. Agriculture can and will win the hearts and minds of consumers. Tell your story. Inform people at every opportunity how hard you work every day to ensure animals are treated fairly and humanely.
Judaism has a complex relationship with the ideal of martyrdom. Martyrdom, in Hebrew Kiddush Ha-Shem (‘Sanctification of the Divine Name’), is defined as giving up life rather than being false to the Jewish religion. There is considerable discussion in the Talmudic literature on when martyrdom is demanded of the Jew and when it is not, much of it purely academic but some of it severely practical. The Mishnah (Berakhot9:5) interprets the command to love God ‘with all thy soul’ (Deuteronomy 6:5) to mean ‘with all thy life’, that is, love Him even at the cost of your very life. But against this is the verse (Leviticus 18:5): ‘by the pursuit of which man shall live’, understood in the tradition to mean live and not die, implying that martyrdom is not demanded in pursuit of the precepts of the Torah. Dying for What? The resolution of this apparent contradiction is that a Jew is required to give his life for some of precepts but not for others. The question is then where to draw the line. Generally from the Talmudic discussions (e.g. Sanhedrin 74a) the rule emerges that all the other precepts of the Torah can be set aside rather than martyrdom be suffered, but a Jew is required to give up life rather than offend against three basic commandments. These are: idolatry, the forbidden sexual relations recorded in the book of Leviticus, and murder. Following the further details in the Talmudic discussion, Maimonides (Yesodey Ha-Torah, 5.1-9) rules that a Jew may transgress the precepts of the Torah in order to save his life but that this does not apply to the three offences nor does it apply where the intention of heathens is to compel a Jew to commit an offence in order to demonstrate his disloyalty to the Jewish religion. Similarly, where there is a government decree against Jewish observance the Jew is obliged to suffer martyrdom rather than transgress a ‘light precept’ even in private. Where martyrdom is not demanded it is forbidden for a Jew to suffer martyrdom, according to Maimonides, and if he does he is guilty of the offence of suicide. Obviously the above discussions are from the purely legal point of view. It is hard to imagine that in the actual situations in which Jews were called upon to give their lives for their religion they looked up the rules in the Talmud and the Codes. In Jewish History History records many examples of Jewish martyrdom in which the martyrs offered up their lives regardless of whether the law required them to do so. The converse is also true, that Jews whom the law required to be martyrs failed to be strong enough in their loyalty to their faith. Moreover, in the Middle Ages, the period of the Crusades, for example, Jews were killed for professing the Jewish religion regardless of whether they were ready to submit to the sorry fate or escape it by surrendering. The awesome drama was always worked out against the particular situation. By a consensus among Jews, the six million victims of the Holocaust are given the accolade of martyrdom and are known as kedoshim (‘holy ones’), the name otherwise reserved for martyrs; they were, after all, murdered because they were Jews. Maimonides, when faced with the threatened destruction of Jewish communities by Muslim rulers, gave the ruling that since Islam is not an idolatrous religion, martyrdom is not required if Jews are faced with the option of conversion to Islam or death. Other authorities took issue with Maimonides here, arguing that conversion to Islam involves a denial of the Torah of Moses and martyrdom is demanded for this very reason. The decision was naturally left to the individuals themselves. With regard to Christianity, the advice of the Rabbis was that martyrdom should be avoided by fleeing the places in which it was a threat and the tolerant attitude emerged according to which those who had been forcibly converted should be treated with respect as unwitting offenders and welcomed back into the fold, as happened with the Marranos. Longing for Martyrdom? In the Talmudic tale (Berakhot 61b) Rabbi Akiba, as he was being tortured to death for teaching the Torah, declared: ‘All my life I said: when will I have the opportunity of suffering martyrdom and now that it has come should I not rejoice?’ In the mystical diary kept by Joseph Karo, this saint longed to be a martyr for the glory of God. But this longing for martyrdom is very unusual in the literature of Jewish piety. The more realistic attitude was to accept in love martyrdom if the need arose but not positively to long for it to come about. The prayer of Isaiah Horowitz is germane: ‘O Holy God! If it will be Thy will to bring me to this test, sanctify me and purify me and put into my thoughts and my mouth to sanctify Thy name in public, as did the ten holy martyrs (the Rabbis who are said to have been executed during Hadrian’s persecution of the Jews) and myriads and thousands of Israel’s saints…’ ‘Our sages have taught us that whoever offers himself as a martyr for the sake of the sanctification of Thy name feels nothing of the great pain inflicted upon him. However, it is impossible to rely on these words of the sages. But come what may, be Thou with me that the torment should not prevent me having my thoughts on Thee and let me rejoice in my heart at the very moment of torture.’ Dirges for the martyrs were introduced into the liturgy of the synagogue for recital on certain Sabbaths of the year and on Yom Kippur and the Ninth of Av. 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Monkey prefers playing video games over grooming! Washburn, D. A., and D. M. Rumbaugh. 1992. Investigations of rhesus monkey video task performance: Evidence for enrichment. Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci 31(5):6–10. In this paper, the authors describe an empirical study of apes playing video games using the joystick I already pointed out here. A surprising result is the fact that apes preferred playing video games overs grooming! Here is what they found (actually this summary is described in this paper) How can one determine whether a monkey enjoys a computer task and whether the task improves psychological well-being? First, we examined each animal’s preference for engaging the joystick tasks relative to other favored activities. We found that playing the specially designed computer games is a highly preferred activity for the nonhuman primates, occupying a substantial portion—over 9h per day, on average—of each animal’s daily time budget (Washburn & Rumbaugh, 1992). The monkeys choose to engage in the tasks even when other attractive manipulanda and activities are available. The activities that get replaced in the daily repertoire are predominantly maladaptive and stress- or boredom-related behaviors, such as stereotypy, overgrooming, and aggression.
The Enum class lets you map strings to C or C++ enum values that can be used in Excel. It is similar to the AddIn class. static Enum enum_freq( .Item("Annual", 1, "once per year") .Item("SemiAnnual", 2, "twice per year") .Item("Quarterly", 4, "four times per year") .Item("Monthly", 12, "twelve times per year") .Description("Payment frequency.") To access the values in Excel use ENUM(). For example, ENUM("FREQ", "SemiAnnual") will return 2. Enumeration names are canonicalized to be keyed off of the capital letters in the name. You can also use ENUM("FREQ", "SA"), ENUM("freq", "sa"), or ENUM("fReQ", "SemiAnn") to get the same result. If the second argument is a numerical value, ENUM() just returns that. If you call ENUM() with one argument it will return all of the associated enumeration values in a three column array. The first column is the long name, the second column is the value, and the third column is the description. Look into Alt-D-L to figure out why this is useful. If you call ENUM() with no arguments it returns a list of enumerations. Last edited Aug 21, 2013 at 1:24 AM by keithalewis, version 5 No comments yet.
Beowulf was perhaps composed during the 9th century A. D. by someone whose name is not known. It is the earliest and the greatest epic or heroic poem. Short Summary of Beowulf: This epic poem describes the hero Beowulf marching with his fourteen warriors and arrive at the place of Heorot where he finds that he king of Heorot Hrothgar terrified by a monster called Grendel. Beowulf manages to kill Grendel and his monster-mother at his abode beneath a lake. After that he returns to his country and becomes the king there and rules his kingdom for fifty years. He dies of the wounds he got once during the combat fought with a dragon. The Specialty of the Poem: This epic poem has the magnificent ending. It describes the selfless heroism of Beowulf, anguish of his people, the memorial knoll on the low cliff, which would route every returning mariner to guide a straight course to harbor in the memory of his dead hero. Myth and Meaning of the Poem: The time when this poem Beowulf composed, there existed several northern legends of Beowa, a half-divine hero, and the monster called Grendel. Some consider the later as a bear and some interpret it as the malaria of the marsh lands. Symbolic Interpretation: As for the symbolic interpretation, some consider these myths as Beowulf’s successive fights with the three dragons as: 1. the overcoming of the threat of the sea, which was trodden by the dykes, 2. the conquering of the sea by sailing upon it, 3. the conflict with the hostile forces of nature defeated by man’s will and perseverance. Really speaking, Beowulf is the epic portraying the picture of a brave man’s death. “On a Volunteer Singer Swans sing before they die – ’twere no bad thing Should certain people die before they sing!” Halimbawa ng haiku means examples of haiku poems. This form has become so much popular that this form is often introduced in schools so that students can enjoy and learn. The Form and Structure: Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry which consists of 17 moare (also called “on” or syllables) in 3 metrical phrases of 5-7-5 moare respectively. But most writers of this verse form in English use about 10 to 14 syllables with no formal pattern. The form of haiku poems consists of a “kigo” or “kireji” or verbal caesura. Japanese form is traditionally printed in a single vertical line whereas, in English, it is composed in 3 lines which is parallel to the 3 metrical lines in Japanese form. It was the custom to make the carving of famous haiku upon natural stone in order to make poem monuments came to be known as kuhi. Marlene Mountain was considered one of the first English-language haiku poets. He wrote the verse in a single horizontal line inspired by the single vertical line of printed Japanese haiku. The single-line form normally contains fewer than 17 syllables. The writers of Haiku in English language make use of the following: • 3 lines up to 17 syllables • a season word (kigo) • a cut or kire (sometimes marked by a punctuation) to compare two images Influence of This Verse Form: The influence of haiku poetry is felt worldwide. It is found in journals in Japan, and in the English-speaking countries including India, in Russia, in Northern Europe, in central and southeast Europe. In the early 20th century, in India, Rabindranath Tagore tried his hands at haiku in Bengali and made some translations from Japanese. Zeenabhai Ratanji Desai ‘Sneharashmi’, made this verse form famous in Gujarati. It was Feb’ 2008 when the World Haiku Festival was held in Bangalore, and its main intention was to gather haikuists from all over India and from Europe and the US. Haiku had a significant influence on Imagists in the 1910s, especially Ezra Pound’s “In a Station of the Metro” of 1913. At the time of the Imagist period, several mainstream writers and poets composed came to be known as “hokku,” in a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. The Afro-American novelist Richard Wright composed around 4,000 haikus. Examples of Haiku Poems: Buson is really considered as one of the greatest masters of haiga which is an art form where painting is combined with haiku. And therefore, his love for painting is clearly seen in the style of his poems. 1. Bashō’s “old pond” is one of the famous examples: furuike ya (fu/ru/i/ke ya): 5 kawazu tobikomu (ka/wa/zu to/bi/ko/mu): 7 mizu no oto (mi/zu no o/to): 5 old pond a frog jumps the sound of water 2. A classic hokku by Matsuo Bashō: fuji no kaze ya oogi ni nosete Edo miyage the wind of Mt. Fuji I’ve brought on my fan! a gift from Edo 3. Snow in my shoe Sparrow’s nest 4. Whitecaps on the bay: A broken signboard banging In the April wind. Richard Wright (collected in Haiku: This Other World, Arcade Publishing, 1998) 5. lily: out of the water out of itself picking bugs off the moon Nick Virgilio (Selected Haiku, Burnt Lake Press/Black Moss Press, 1988) 6. downpour: my “I-Thou” Raymond Roseliep (Rabbit in the Moon, Alembic Press, 1983) 7. an aging willow– its image unsteady in the flowing stream Robert Spiess (Red Moon Anthology, Red Moon Press, 1996) 8. Just friends: he watches my gauze dress blowing on the line. Alexis Rotella (After an Affair, Merging Media, 1984) 9. meteor shower… a gentle wave wets our sandals Michael Dylan Welch (HSA Newsletter XV:4, Autumn 2000) The term onomatopoeia comes from the Greek word “onomatopoeia” which means ‘word-making’. It represents the sound by way of imitating the word. For instance, the sound “meow” represents the word cat. As far as literature is concerned, poets make use of this feature and convey the meaning of their poetry by way of representing sounds. The use of sound in such a way that echoes or suggests the meaning is also called onomatopoeia for instance; “The moan of doves in immemorial elms.” Examples of Onomatopoeia Poems in Literature Tennyson, in “Song of the Lotus-Eaters”, he describes the languorous life of the Lotus-Eaters by presenting words with sounds: “Here are cool mosses deep, And through the moss the ivies creep, And in the stream the long-leaved flowers weep, And from the craggy ledge the poppy hangs in sleep.” See the effect of sound produced by the humming bees in the following lines from his “Come Down, O Maid”: “The moan of doves in immemorial elms, And murmuring of innumerable bees.” Browning also used some unpleasant sounds, in “Meeting at Night”: “A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch And blue spurt of a lighted match.” It has become a literary device in which the sounds of words are used to suggest a sense of the subject. Examples in Synthetic Languages: Onomatopoeic words are wonderfully incorporated into the structure of synthetic languages. Some words are evolved into new sounds or pronunciations in such a way that they go beyond the concept of onomatopoeia for instance; the English word “bleat” used for the sheep noise was pronounced as “blairt/blet” in medieval times. Examples in English Language: Some very familiar sounds which occur in English language are “beep”, “hiccup”, “bang”, and “splash”. Certain phrases like “the humming bee”, “the whizzing arrow”, and “the cackling hen” are good examples. Sounds related to machines are often considered as the examples of onomatopoeia for instance; “beep-beep” sound of horn, and “vroom” sound of engine. Words used for certain things or objects represent some sounds for instance; the most common word “zip/zipper” stands for fastener. Certain animal sounds just like “meow” for cat, “quack” for duck, “bark” for dog are very typical in English language. Many birds are named after the sound they produce for intake; the cuckoo, the whooping crane, chickadee, etc. What To Read? Music that gentlier on the spirit lies Than tired eyelids upon tired eyes. Tennyson’s concept of faith and immortality is well expressed in In Memoriam Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for? George Eliot Poetry is a form of literature composed in verse. It is normally rhythmic, metrical and there is division of stanzas. The use of imagery and figurative language gives it unique character. Poetry is a collective name for the cluster of poems. It is one of the most ancient forms of arts. It is often fused with music in songs. It is its rhythmic use of language as a reason; it is often called “metrical writing”. But as we see, cadenced poetry of the Bible and free verse for example, are rhythmic but not metrical in strict sense of the term. Broadly speaking, poetry usually projects emotions, feelings and human experience in metrical language.
The prophet Mani The prophet Mani, an Arsacid Persian by birth,was born 216 AD in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and was the prophet and the founder of Manichaeism. Mani claimed to be the Paraclete of the Truth, and the continuation of the teachings of Jesus. Manichaeism taught an elaborate dualistic cosmology describing the struggle between a good, spiritual world of light, and an evil, material world of darkness. Through an ongoing process which takes place in human history, light is gradually removed from the world of matter, through spiritual evolution and returned to the world of light, from where it originates. Manichaeism claimed to present the complete version of teachings that were corrupted and misinterpreted by the followers of its predecessors Adam, Zoroaster, Buddha and Jesus. Manichaeism was quickly successful and spread far through the Aramaic-Syriac speaking regions. It thrived between the third and seventh centuries or the age of spirituality and at its height was one of the most widespread religions in the world. Manichaean churches and scriptures existed as far east as China and as far west as the Roman Empire. Manichaeism was the main rival to the religion of Christianity and survived longer in the east than in the west. It appears to have finally faded away after the 14th century in southern China during the Ming Dynasty. While most of Manichaeism’s original writings have been lost, numerous translations and fragmentary texts have survived. Patterns of black and white, where a significant trait of the Manichean temples. – Santa Maria Novella Financed by the most important Florentine families. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
How do you rename files in DOS? Quick Answer When there is no graphical user interface such as Windows, command names become important. In MS-DOS, ren or rename are the common commands used to rename files in DOS. Continue Reading Full Answer 1. Use the ren or rename command for single files Newer versions of MS-DOS and command line interfaces for Windows uses the ren or rename command. If changing a filename x1.dat to x3.dat, the command would be "rename x1.dat x3.dat". If changing the extension from ".dat" to ".bak," the command would be "rename x1.dat x1.bak". 2. Use wild cards for handling multiple files Wild cards such as "" are useful to avoid many operations when one is sufficient. If every file in a directory needs a new standard beginning, such as "Feb." for the month of February, the command would be "rename .* Feb.". This can also be done at the end of the filename ("rename . Feb.). If files instructions1.dat, instructions2.dat, and instructions3.dat all need their file extensions changed to ".bak," then the command "rename instructions.dat instructions.bak" makes those changes. 3. Use quotes if changing directories that include a space Directories can also be renamed using this command, but more care must be taken. If the directory name is one word, simply using "rename directory1 directory2" is fine. If there are spaces, then each directory name must be in quotes (' rename "My Notes" "My February Notes" '). Learn more about Software Related Questions
INTRODUCTION General 1. The thesis will highlight the genesis of the J & K dispute between India and Pakistan to the present situation. In doing so, the research would dwell on the following:(a) Why the Problem persists and reasons for the stance taken by both countries. (b) (c) (d) (e) 2. Review of Geo-political situation. The Proxy War by Pakistan and the existing ground realities. Initiatives taken to resolve the dispute. The Recommended Strategy. Kashmir's fate is still locked in the story of India's partition in 1947, when Pakistan was carved out as a home for Indian Muslims. The first war between the two countries was fought within months of their independence, while their armed forces were still under the command of British officers. Kashmir was divided, and remains divided, between the two countries. (ii) There have been nearly 40 official proposals for a solution, but not a single plan has yet been acceptable to all parties. Hypothesis 3. Despite fifty seven years having gone by, and a number of proposals discussed, long outstanding issue of J&K remains unresolved. What is at the root of this problem and how best can it be tackled. The dissertation will be covered in the parts as given in succeeding paragraphs. 5. Part I – Why the problem persists. This part will focus attention on the background of the problem, the stand of India and Pakistan on the issue and the reasons that have led to the creation of the policy and strategy of Pakistan towards Kashmir and India’s response to it. It will also examine other reasons that have been responsible for aggravating the problem, preventing it from being permanently resolved. 6. In the last 50 years, India and Pakistan have failed on all fronts whether it is border problem, trade or diplomacy. Things aggravated after the nuclear tests. It was expected that there would be a substantial outcome (iii) of the Agra Summit, but nothing much came out of it either. The psychological and political underpinnings that caused Pakistan to seek Kashmir’s accession at independence still exist. Ethnic cleavages continue to be a divisive issue, institutions remain weak, and the last fifty five years have mostly reinforced Pakistan’s beliefs about India’s hegemonic intentions. 7. Part II – Review of the Geo-Political Situation and Implications for India and Pakistan. This part will include the implications of 9/11, Op Enduring Freedom, attack on the Indian Parliament and likely Pakistani reaction and policy for the future. It will also cover the implications of the US presence in the region, for India and Pakistan. 8. The events of 9/11 and December 2001, have made the world realize the true extent of terrorism. Besides this, the end of the Cold War and the emerging world order, have had a tremendous impact on the dynamics of international relations, creating new equations that have effected the geopolitics in the region. 9. Part III – Conduct of Proxy War by Pakistan and the Existing Ground Realities. This part will include the aims of proxy war, its reasons as against a conventional war, the strategy employed, and its political, diplomatic, economic, military and psychological effects. The manner in which the both India and Pakistan have gone about it would be discussed to include the Chenab Plan." in which Pakistan-based militant organizations are doing Islamabad's bidding in Kashmir and also in other parts of India. 11 Part IV – Peace Initiatives. the Neelam Plan. and secondly. Firstly. covert military. Indians call this policy Pakistan's "proxy war against India.(iv) Indian security forces are reacting to the situation in J & K. economic. it is intended to trace the reasons for the “change of heart” of President Musharraf in viewing the Kashmir problem. This part would also include involvement of the world forum to include USA and China. and the actual ground realities would also be covered. and logistical support to Kashmiri militants in an apparent effort to coerce India into an agreement on Kashmir as per Pakistan's terms. . In this part. the manner in which. 10. Pakistan's Kashmir policy has been based on two elements. the Andorra Model. overt political and moral support to the Kashmiri population which Pakistan calls a struggle for self-determination against the "Indian yoke". Through this two-part strategy Pakistan has partially succeeded in forcing India to commit a large chunk of its military to combating the ongoing insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. Since 1990. and the demilitarization proposal of Pakistan. Thereafter. The issue is being discussed everywhere and by all who care about these things. Ever since 21 October 2004. It can be said that it was Musharraf who killed Pakistan's traditional stance on Kashmir. given the geopolitical situation. which you can keep under control by taking shots of insulin but for which . Musharraf's 21 October 2004 plea to the Pakistanis to think out of the box has largely succeeded. 15. there used to be just one line that emanated from the government. is now occupying attention. On Kashmir. discussing various possible solutions to the Kashmir problem. Pakistan and the Kashmiris.a UN supervised plebiscite that would give only two options to the Kashmiris. 14. Part V : The Recommended Strategy. with no likelihood of its revival. that should be palatable to India. there is hope that an uneasy truce will remain in place. The analogy that fits Kashmir best is that it is a problem like diabetes. Although a rapid resolution of the Kashmir dispute is unlikely in the foreseeable future. other than the UN resolutions. Apart from a politico-diplomatic settlement of the problem. 57 years of intense propaganda at home and abroad has made it almost a reflex reaction of most Pakistanis . to join India or Pakistan. This part will include a wrap up of all recommendations.(v) 13. no other solution is likely to have a lasting effect. This is now a thing of the past. (vi) there is no permanent cure. transit. travel. tourism. CONCLUSION 16. learning to live with the Kashmir problem does not mean giving up the search for a solution. will likely help more moderate elements in Pakistan's government win domestic support for reconciliation with India. investment. As far as Kashmir is concerned. If India wants an end to terrorism coming from Pakistan. The moral of the story is that both India and Pakistan must learn to live with the problem of Kashmir until such time that some cure is invented or discovered. one way is to engage Islamabad in India's fight against terrorism. it means lowering the level of violence in the state and taking a series of reciprocal measures that give relief to the locals caught in the crossfire. What it means is ending the mindless hostility of the past and entering into a more cooperative and beneficial relationship with India. infrastructure development and energy-related cooperation with India. combined with an institutionalized mechanism to verify each other's claims. For Pakistan. Indian leaders have damaged their own credibility by attributing almost every incident of violence in India . This means opening up in the matter of trade. Positive acknowledgment by the Indian government of the actions taken by Pakistan. .(vii) to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. cynically employing the Pakistan bogey to cover lapses of the Indian security apparatus. INTRODUCTION General 1. and nobody has suffered more in the process than the people of Kashmir. Kashmir's fate is still locked into the story of India's partition in 1947. 2. DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN DIGNITY. but not a single plan has yet been acceptable to all parties. IT EXEMPLIFIES INDIA’S UNIQUE UNITY IN DIVERSITY. There have been nearly 40 official proposals for a solution. it appears that Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is now firmly set on the road to .JAMMU AND KASHMIR IS THE CROWN BENEATH WHICH LIES ALL THAT THE INDIAN NATION – ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST ENDURING CIVILISATIONS – STANDS FOR : THE VALUES OF SECULARISM. Given the latest peace initiatives by both. when Pakistan was carved out as a home for Indian Muslims. India and Pakistan. Nothing divides India and Pakistan as Kashmir does. Preview 4. Peace Initiatives. Conduct of Proxy War by Pakistan and Ground Realities. internal and external. Aim 3. . The aim of this dissertation is to analyse the various options open and recommend a strategy to resolve the J & K dispute. Review of the Geo-political Situation. The dissertation has been covered in the following parts:(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Why the problem of J&K persists. By now it should be clear to Pakistan that its proxy war will not succeed under any circumstances and that it would be in its own interest to renounce this path and seek mutually beneficial co-operation with India. threaten to disorder and derail the peace process.though this may remain elusive for a while as spoilers. Recommendations. and vested interests.2 normalcy . agreed to in 1972. and by Afghanistan in the northwest. The eastern area of Kashmir comprising the northeastern part of the . A border called the Line of Control (LC). is surrounded by China in the northeast.3 CHAPTER I : WHY THE PROBLEM OF J&K PERSISTS J & K : LOCATION OF KASHMIR VALLEY PAMIR KNOT 350 KMS KASHMIR VALLEY : AN ARTIST’S IMPRESSION GREAT HIMALAYAN RANGE SHAMSHABARI RG SHAMSHABARI RANGE KARAKORAM INDUS ZOJILA BARAMULA GREAT HIMALAYAN KASHMIR VALLEY URI SRINAGAR POONCH LADAKH ANANTNAG PIR PANJAL RANGE JHELUM CHENAB ZANSKAR PIR PANJAL LC UDHAMPUR Geography 5. The southern and southeastern parts of the region make up the Indian state of J&K. divides the two parts. a 222. The region has been dubbed "disputed territory" between India and Pakistan since the partition of India in 1947.236 square kilometres region in the northwestern Indian subcontinent. while the northern and western parts are controlled by Pakistan. the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the south. by Pakistan in the west. Kashmir. though partition of the country was effected on the basis of religion. the 1 S K Sinha. p 182-199. The origin and genesis of the J & K imbroglio is related to the partition of the country on the basis of religion. their rulers could decide which country to accede to. after the lapse of paramountcy. Whereas the Congress wanted this done in a democratic manner on the basis of the wishes of the people. Present and Future. The British supported this view using the legalistic argument that their relationship with the princely states was based on the treaties with them. In the case of the latter. “Jammu and Kashmir: Past. However. Jinnah and the Muslim League favoured the decision being taken solely by the ruler of each state. came under the control of China since 1962.4 region (Aksai Chin). April-June 2005.” USI Journal. Genesis 6. this applied to the provinces only and not to the princely states1. therefore found ready acceptance internationally. . The Pakistani projection that J & K being a Muslim country. particularly during the Cold War period. On this logic. Islam is also the main religion in the Kashmir valley and the Pakistan-controlled parts. The predominant religion in the Jammu area is Hinduism in the east and Islam in the west. Pakistan’s internal divisions and weaknesses.5 rulers should be free to decide the future of their states. It was only on 26 October 1947 that Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession merging the state with India. On the other. the imbalance in institutional strength. On one hand. Pakistan’s Internal Dynamics and Unstable Security System. J&K should have rightly gone to Pakistan 7. the dispute has dual purposes. Thereafter. and so entered into a “Standstill agreement” with Pakistan. This demolishes the belief that being a Muslim dominated state. launched a tribal invasion of J&K on 22 October 1947. politically and militarily. this created a mess for Pakistan. have led it to see Kashmir in uncompromising terms. Maharaja Hari Singh of J&K. However. However. Since it has both ideological and . it served to unite an otherwise fractured polity. it was an ideological struggle against India and its ambitions. Furthermore. the atrocities committed by the tribesmen alienated the Kashmiri people making Pakistan lose out on both accounts. Pakistan is of the view that the day the Instrument of Accession was signed. could not decide for sometime. the ruler had fled to Jammu and was therefore not in control of the happenings in the valley. Jinnah being impatient. Kashmir’s implications for Pakistan’s sovereignty and national identity. and the development and fostering of a national psyche that believes it is under siege. 8. 11. 10. in keeping with the provisions of partition. has therefore been to evict Pakistan from its illegal occupation of territory.the state of J&K is an integral part of the Indian Union. India has always been driven by polite diplomacy. from support for incorporating into India all of J&K. 9. Maharaja Hari Singh. Where Pakistani diplomacy has succeeded. the Indian attitude has been that of indifference till the situation went out of control. and has not been able to respond in the correct manner. to the territorial status quo. India’s Reactive and Limited Attitude. The unfinished agenda of partition according to India. Differences also abound within Indian policy circles on the future shape of a possible solution. India insists that the UN resolutions were redundant as the State had been acceded to it by the then ruler. to the increasingly apparent shift in official policy . India’s response has been reactive and very limited. neither of which is easily compromised. including territories presently under Pakistani and Chinese control. While Pakistan has been very vocal in expressing its views in all regional and world forums. In brief. and any settlement of the crisis must be effected within the confines of the Indian constitution. which unfortunately has been feebly articulated and has few takers.6 nationalist implications. India’s bottom line on Kashmir has remained unchanged over the decades . Pakistan’s policy toward Kashmir has become rigid and unyielding. Sensationalisation of terrorist acts by the Indian media. the UN passed a series of resolutions. There is no denying the fact that these were influenced by the West’s perception that partition being on the basis of religion. The UN resolutions on J&K are flawed in many respects. India brought the matter to the notice of UN Security Council. 12. The cease-fire was effected by the end of 1948. The resolution of April 1948 demanded from India and Pakistan for a cease-fire and complete cessation of hostilities. J&K being a Muslim dominated state should have gone to Pakistan. A few months into the war that started after partition. However. 13. acts as a further hurdle to arriving at a general consensus.7 for recognition of the LC as the international border. From April 1948 to 1957. India remains publicly opposed to any international involvement in the dispute. after 1957. The cease-fire line or the LC was to be a temporary boundary till the matter was resolved according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Any movement forward on Kashmir is also made more difficult by the lack of a national consensus in India on how the conflict within Kashmir and with Pakistan should be addressed. United Nations (UN) Resolutions: Kashmir. the UN could not pass any resolution concerning Kashmir because the Soviet Union began using its right of veto against any of these. and the State was split into Indian Kashmir and POK. . social. and 3 percent Buddhists. 3 percent of the state's total population have been driven out). with India being allowed to retain some force to maintain law and order. 15. Punjabi. J&K is not a state where only Kashmiri Muslims live. The UN resolution of April 1948 had also suggested a plebiscite for the people of Kashmir after it would be vacated by Pakistan. . In addition. Gujari. Contrary to most reports in the media. of Jammu: Dogri. the referendum could not happen. However. There are three distinct geographical regions . 52 percent population.Ladakh (with 58 percent of the area. and of Kashmir: Kashmiri. of which over 90 % of the region's minorities. The large-scale changes in the diplomatic. military situation over the years have rendered the UN resolution on Kashmir of 1948 obsolete. The primary languages of Ladakh are Ladakhi and Balti. Jammu (26 percent area. Sikhs. this was never to be as Pakistan did not vacate the area and as a result. Furthermore. multi-religious state with 64 percent Muslims. i. Demographic Characteristics. and Kashmir (16 percent area. Christians and others. 33 percent Hindus. 45 percent population). political.e. Shina and various dialects and mixed languages are also spoken by different ethnic groups within the state.8 14. Pahari. It is a multiethnic. and 3 percent of the population). Dr Maharaj Kaul. The reason that many believe separatism to be a widespread sentiment in J&K is because this dominant section has succeeded in completely drowning out all other voices in the state.tripod. knowing fully well the fate that awaits them there. . Demands for a Plebiscite and Secession. approximately 13 percent are Shia Muslims. They are non-Kashmiris.com. The support for secession in J&K is thus largely limited to the non- pastoral Sunni Muslim population of the Kashmir Valley who constitute 22 percent of the state's population. 17. J&K: Self Determination. Shia Muslims do not wish to have anything to do with Sunni-dominated Pakistan.9 16.9 million people). (or about 1. and has the ability to cripple the normal functioning of the 2 www. October 1999. Of the state's 49 percent who reside in the Kashmir province. and by and large stand behind J&K's association with India except for a few in Doda district. 14 percent of the people in Kashmir province are the pastoral nomadic Gujar and Bakarwal people.india_resource. This segment of the population dominates the politics of the state. Fifteen per cent of the state's Muslims live in the provinces of Jammu and Ladakh. They are strong supporters of association with India and have demonstrated this by organizing Militancy Mukhalif Morcha (Anti-Militancy Front) to assist the security forces in surveillance of terrorist activity2. 649 BUDDHISTS .83.0 0 0 (1 9 4 7 ) .07.2 8 .5 1 .33.435 LADAKH 6.940* 5. it implies acceptance of the ‘Two-Nation’ that Muslims and Hindus must live separately.1 1 . worst still.3 4 .69.MUSLIMS .5 0 0 .72.1.236 1.406 3 * LADAKH 50 97 KASHMIR 2.649 BUDDHISTS .1. there would be no justification for the presence of another 110 million . In that case. P A K IS T A N I PUNJABI SETTLERS HAVE OUTNUM BERED THE SO NS O F T H E S O IL .MUSLIMS .2 5 .07.14.5 9 3 2 . by sabotage.917 ONE CRORE AND 70 THOUSAND DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERN POST ONSET OF TERRORISM TOTAL POPULATION .8 3 .5 9 PUNJABI K A S H M IR I DARDS C H IT R A L I BALTI TOTAL .0 0 0 OVER ALL% 7 6 . ONE CRORE AND 70 THOUSAND JAMMU KASHMIR LADAKH JAMMU KASHMIR 30 70 JAMMU HINDUS .1 5 .14.943 46.236 1.7 5 0 6 .69.0 1 . DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERN PRE MILITANCY TOTAL POPULATION . The plea of Pakistan that as J&K is a Muslim dominated state.435 27.5 0 .917 REDUCTION DUE TO MIGRATION OF APPROX 3 LACS KASHMIRI PANDITS.5 0 0 .95. either by inaction or insufficient action against Pakistani infiltration and terror or.11.90.0 0 0 18.406 10 * 50 90 KASHMIR 2.96.278 51.0 0 0 3 .940* 51.10 society in Kashmir province.00.313 SIKHS .184 336 1.313 SIKHS .11. If the UN too accepts this.3 5 . .5 0 .83. implies the theory that Muslims cannot stay with the people of other religion.0 0 0 3 0 .940* LADAKH 6.0 0 0 (2 0 0 0 ) 3 4 L A C S A N D 5 0 T H O U S A N D NORTHERN AREAS P A K O C C U P IE D K A S H M IR 10% 90% POK 14 % 1 7% 14 % 5% 50% NORTHERN AREAS 8 7 .5 0 0 8 7 .184 336 1. it should be given to it.0 8 .969 47 3 OVERALL% 34 2 1 63 CONTD D E M O G R A P H IC P A T T E R N (P O K ) A S P E R A V A IL A B L E D A T A T O T A L P O P U L A T IO N T O T A L P O P U L A T IO N IN P O K .969 47 3 OVERALL% 34 2 1 63 CONTD 30 70 JAMMU HINDUS .90.7 5 0 1 . Muslims are still in India. In fact. The CFL ran along the international India-Pakistan border and then north and northeast . Poland-Germany. 20. Ideally the UN Security Council should have overseen this and ensured that the issue was resolved permanently. 19. it is unnecessary to partition a country if the population is not to be exchanged. are recent examples where full-scale exchanges were organized along with partition. that is. even after their homeland was created. Croatia-Serbia. while Pakistan and Bangladesh have driven out most of their non-Muslim population. who according to the principle of partition in 1947. Bulgaria-Turkey. BosniaSerbia. there were always exchanges of population. but have instead been allowed to stay on only because India being secular does not accept the ‘Two-Nation’ theory. The cases of Greece-Turkey.11 Muslims presently in India. The Siachen Dispute. A Cease-Fire Line (CFL) was established as a result of the 1949 India-Pakistan agreement that concluded the war in Kashmir. The fight for the Siachen Glacier involves territory claimed by both states but not controlled by either until the mid1980s. never took place. In other cases of partition elsewhere in the world. Germany-Czechoslovakia. Presently. The problem between India and Pakistan persists because what was natural after partition of a country. the exchange of population. should have been sent to Pakistan. The Pakistanis base their view on American maps. located Siachen in the Northern Areas3. Both sides agreed. First. submitted to the UN. 2006. Siachen is a part of the Baltistan region of PoK. There were reasons to believe that later in 1984 they would have moved into Siachen and presented India with a fait accompli. . Second. The Pakistani view is based on several factors. the Owen Dixon report 1950. 22. NJ 9842. Third. 21. the mountaineering and trekking expeditions sought permission from Pakistan. not India. This is what led India to Operation Meghdoot and the Army occupying the Saltoro Ridge.12 until map grid-point NJ 9842. the CFL was not delineated as far as the Chinese border. located near the Shyok River at the base of the Saltoro mountain range. Because no Indian or Pakistani troops were present in the geographically inhospitable northeastern areas beyond NJ 9842. The last two 3 Indian Express. and then by the Pakistan government permitting mountaineering and trekking expeditions into this region from its side. Siachen became a dispute with Pakistan starting a 'cartographic' aggression owing to erroneous American maps. in vague language that is the root of the Siachen dispute. and then north to the glaciers. 25 April. that the CFL extends to the terminal point. where the ceasefire line beyond NJ 9842 was not demarcated. The Tashkent Declaration of 10 January 1966 was a peace agreement between India and Pakistan after the 1965 War. The agreement was criticized in India because it did not contain a no-war pact or any . The day after the declaration. A meeting was held in Tashkent in the USSR (now in Uzbekistan) beginning on 04 January 1966 to try to create a more permanent settlement. represented by Premier Kosygin moderated between Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Muhammad Ayub Khan. The Tashkent Agreement. Even during the Suchetgarh meetings between the two militaries in 1972. the LC beyond NJ 9842 was not demarcated. 24. The Soviets. Peace had been achieved by the intervention of the great powers who pushed the two nations to a cease fire for fears the conflict could escalate and draw in other powers. The problem therefore. After the signing of the agreement things began to deteriorate. and the Simla Agreement 1972. persists. when it was agreed that the LC would not be unilaterally altered.and were disappointed at the return to the status quo. In Pakistan many civilians felt that they had won the war though Pakistan had suffered more casualties and territorial losses . 23.13 reasons are the Karachi Agreement 1949. Indian Prime Minister Shastri died of a sudden heart attack. though it has not prevented the relationship between the two countries from deteriorating to the point of armed conflict. The treaty was signed in Simla. and Indira Gandhi. This was not merely a change of nomenclature but a consequence of an agreement. popularly known as the Simla Pact or the Simla Agreement. The agreement laid down the principles that should govern their future relations. the President of Pakistan. by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. seeking to adhere to the status quo by all means. The agreement was therefore nullified. The treaty has been the basis of all subsequent bilateral talks between India and Pakistan. was signed between India and Pakistan on 02 July 1972 following the 1971 India-Pakistan War.14 renunciation of then guerrilla warfare in Kashmir. The 1972 Simla Summit. It is significant that the Cease-Fire Line was changed to the LC during this summit. . the Prime Minister of India. 25. It also conceived steps to be taken for further normalization of mutual relations. The Simla Treaty. In order to prevent a conflict between its Punjab and Sindh.com.strategicforesight. 1971 SHALL BE RESPECTED BY BOTH SIDES …. • DID NOT DELINEATE BEYOND NJ 9842. J&K is a source of Pakistan's water and food security. and to prevent a possible secession of Sindh and Baluchistan.” 26. “Issues of Kashmir and Indus are intertwined”. Water War: Sharing of the Indus Waters.. the then President of Pakistan.4 It is asserted that the main reason behind Pakistan's demand for Kashmir has very little to do with sympathy for a political cause. London. • IMPLIED THAT LC IS INVIOLABLE. “ …. and a lot more to do with water.IN J & K. on 19 September 1960.BOTH SIDES FURTHER UNDERTAKE TO REFRAIN FROM THE THREAT OR THE USE OF FORCE IN VIOLATION OF THIS LINE…. Pakistan needs physical control over the Chenab catchment region in J&K. The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was signed at Karachi by Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan. THE LINE OF CONTROL RESULTING FROM THE CEASEFIRE OF DEC 17. Options. Thus. the then Indian Prime Minister. MARKED ON MAPS AND RATIFIED. . 4 www.NEITHER SIDE SHALL SEEK TO ALTER IT UNILATERALLY…. It is a real estate dispute for strategic reasons. 27. • LC DELINEATED. and Shri Jawaharlal Nehru. revealed General Pervez Musharraf in his dissertation while attending the prestigoius course at the Royal College of Defence Studies.15 SIMLA AGREEMENT 02 JUL 1972 • RETENTION OF TERRITORIES. The Indus System of Rivers comprises three Eastern Rivers (Sutlej. Under the Treaty. the Ravi. it explicitly prohibits linkage between the water issue and the general position of both parties on the Kashmir issue. the Beas. The treaty has survived all the wars since then. when India stopped the supply of water to Pakistan from every canal flowing into Pakistan. even though the fact remains that India controls the headwaters. for a month.” . The Indus River rises from Mansarovar in Tibet and its principal tributaries are the Sutlej. 5 in.16 The Treaty however. “Indus Water Treaty not under threat: Pakistan. The treaty also does not allow either country to opt out unilaterally. Ramananda Sengupta. the waters of the Eastern Rivers stand allocated to India and those of the Western largely to Pakistan. the Geneva Conventions and the Indus Water Treaty make such an action illegal today. is effective from 01 April 19605.com.rediff. In fact. Unlike April 1948. Beas and the Ravi) and three Western Rivers (Indus. the Chenab and Jhelum. Jhelum and the Chenab). creating a more favorable environment for interstate conflict. Pakistan’s mounting water insecurity. Pakistan feels that it needs to have physical control over the concerned headwaters to ease fears about India's potential ability to turn a huge chunk of its land into desert. because then the headwaters would continue to remain with India. Increased tensions over water will exacerbate or intensify overall tensions. virtually ensures a still deeper and volatile nexus between water and Kashmir in coming years. is presently the focus of intense diplomacy between India and Pakistan. Today India and Pakistan are both faced with rapidly escalating problems of acute river resource scarcity. . This is the prime reason why Pakistan is not agreeing to the LC becoming the formal border. making resolution of security issues even more difficult.17 28. Obviously not enough. The Baglihar dam project located on the Chenab River in Doda district in the Jammu division. and to make the case that it has a right to pursue extremists operating from Pakistan exactly as the US and its allies have hunted down al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Indian position and her viewpoint on terrorism was much better understood now. 30. and more importantly. to gain some leeway for maintaining the general policy of adventurism that seeks to bleed Indian resources in Kashmir. Both India and Pakistan have been quick to use the post-11 September “war on terrorism” to their advantage. acknowledged by the USA. India has attempted to portray the challenge in Kashmir as purely a matter of combating terrorism. for its part. Pakistan.18 CHAPTER II – REVIEW OF THE GEO-POLITICAL SITUATION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA AND PAKISTAN 11 September 2001 29. . has sought to use its broad cooperation with the US on operations in Afghanistan. and Pakistan’s shady support to the Taliban and Kashmiri terrorists was exposed to the world. international pressure was applied on Pakistan to act against the perpetrators. This was acknowledged as being invaluable for the success of the operation. US Presence in Pakistan 33. which is . India’s tough stance and diplomatic offensive put Pakistan under pressure and on the back foot with regard to her Kashmir policy. Pakistan was forced to crack down on radical Islamic groups in the country. in total contradiction of its long-term support to the Taliban. has had a significant effect on the politics of the region. Pakistan was forced to give support to the USA. causing rifts in its society. This operation was another major development in the region that helped India greatly in its endeavour to counter the proxy war unleashed by Pakistan across the LC. though the ones in POK were still operative. The presence of US troops in Pakistan in the war against terror. It also led to the closure of militant training camps in Pakistan. USA will apply pressure on Musharraf to live up to his promise of not supporting terrorism. As a result. The US and the West were forced to condemn the attack and were now willing to include India in its war against terror. Attack on the Indian Parliament : 13 December 2001 32.19 Operation Enduring Freedom 31. a cursory glance over the activities of four banned militant organizations in the country shows they are once again back in business. after the initial crackdown. Amir Mir. Contrary to the Musharraf-led Government's much-touted claims of having taken concrete measures to uproot the extremist jehadi mafia and its terror network in Pakistan. though under different names such as Jamaat ud Daawa for the LeT. Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Though most of the groups accepted the establishment's advice and adopted a 'lie low and wait and see' policy. This would keep Musharraf under pressure locally as it is resented by fundamentalists. on 12 January 2002. The jehadi groups were banned in two phases. Vol 3. as Pakistan-US relationship develops. the fact remains that no concrete step was taken by the authorities to dismantle the jehadi infrastructure. the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). operating freely and advocating jehad. No 34. However. “The Jehad Lives On”. it could fructify resulting in tangible inflow of military hardware and economic assistance. Cross Border Terrorism in India 34. and 15 November 20036. with changed names and identities.20 what India wants. 07 March 2005. resurfaced and regrouped effectively to run their respective networks as openly as before. However. Presently there are 59 6 South Asia Intelligence Review. Harkatul-Mujahideen (HuM) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). . are now targets of terrorism. with the focus now on targeting tourists and civilians. 01 August. with 27 being in Pakistan. 2006. the idea being to give the movement a local colour. and four in Gilgit-Baltistan7. The “jehadi flavour” is missing and targets being selected are state objectives. Terrorist modules have surfaced within India with mentors still across the border.21 training camps still operational. No longer confined to J&K. suggests a different hue and change of strategy in the proxy war in India. the involvement of the Pakistani government. 35. Clash of US-China interests in the region is a high probability with the entry of the latter in Baluchistan. 28 in POK. . the latest one being the Mumbai blasts of 11 July 2006. This confrontation that could convert into a new Baluch 7 The Pioneer. it is bound to interfere with the latter’s hegemonic intentions in South and West Asia. Internal Situation in Pakistan and its Implications on Regional Politics 36. suggesting very clearly. While China is constructing the Gwadar port to ensure its energy requirements for the future do not disrupted by the US. The manner in which terrorist activities are being committed all over India.religious sentiments. designed to create mayhem throughout India. economic infrastructure and ethno. Since April 2006. terrorist activity in J&K has regained impetus. 22 insurgency. the value of Gwadar's distance from India becomes evident if one considers how vulnerable Karachi port. Chinese vice premier. The arrival of the United States in late 2001 in Afghanistan. 38. will influence the geo-politics of the region. For China. nudged Beijing to step up its involvement in the Gwadar project. which handled 90 percent of Pakistan's sea-borne trade. Wu Bangguo. which makes it 725 kilometres further away from India than Karachi. along with the Taliban problem in Waziristan. About 60 percent of China's energy supplies come from . In March 2002. and so provides Pakistan with crucial strategic depth vis-a-vis India along its coastline. at China's doorstep. is to Indian pressure. Construction of Gwadar Port by China 37. For Pakistan. Gwadar is situated 725 kilometres to the west of Karachi. and could indirectly effect the J&K issue as well. laid the foundation for Gwadar port. Gwadar's strategic value stems from its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz. Thailand. Cambodia and the South China Sea. The network of rail and road links connecting Pakistan with Afghanistan and Central Asian republics that is envisaged as part of the Gwadar project and to which China will have access. The port and naval base in Gwadar is part of the "string of pearls". which has a very high presence in the region. could choke off these supplies to China in case of a conflict with Taiwan. 39. According to its "string of pearls" strategy. and China has been anxious that the US. Myanmar. in the process stimulating the economic development of China's backward Xinjiang region. The other "pearls" in the string include facilities in Bangladesh. . in ways that suggest defensive and offensive positioning to protect China's energy interests. China is building strategic relationships along the sea lanes from the Middle East to the South China Sea. would provide Beijingan opening into Central Asian markets and energy sources.23 the Middle East. Nawab Bugti. No 2. Baluchis are desperate to be recognised as autonomous people. The extent to which Pakistan and China are able to reap economic and strategic gains from the Gwadar project would depend on the challenges to it from within their borders. with the latest in being the killing of Baluch leader. The Pakistani army has led many incursions into the region. The Gwadar project is bitterly opposed by Baluch nationalists who see it as yet another example of Pakistan's Punjabidominated ruling elite siphoning away Baluchi wealth and resources without this backward region or its people gaining. A recent upsurge in violence in Pakistan’s tribal regions or Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province) is a cause for great concern for the US and her allies in the War on Terror. Insurgency revived again in 20048. 8 . Strategic Analysis. The tribal area of North Waziristan has seen an increase in clashes between Pakistani forces and pro Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces.24 The Baluch Uprising 40. The government's Bansal. and to gain self-determination. “ The Revival of Insurgency in Baluchistan”. The Waziristan Problem 41. Alok. Vol 29. April-June 2005. Think tanks in Pakistan are of the view that as China’s power in the region will multiply with the completion of the Gwadar project. Impact on US Interests 42. Taliban’s organizational capabilities. Gulbuddin Hekmetyar and many of his senior colleagues and jihadi cadres have been given sanctuary in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Baluchistan. The Amir of the Taliban. 42.25 writ has been forcefully replaced by that of Taliban. the fundamental coalition of the NWFP. The Pentagon sees China's efforts to defend its interests along oil shipping sea lanes as "creating a climate of uncertainty" and threatening "the safety of all ships on the high seas". the infrastructure has remained undecimated so that Pakistan could use them to protect its strategic interests. the latest being a peace deal between it and Musharraf. This increasing influence of the Taliban could result in its revival and would worsen the situation in Afghanistan and J&K as well. which has enforced its rabidly conservative code as had been the vogue in Afghanistan when Taliban ruled that country. The Taliban is intact under the protection of the ISI. it would result in a deadly convergence of interests in a . The Taliban is being funded by the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). and the ISI. The Northern Areas 43. in order to keep Pakistan engaged and in constant fear. The reason why the Northern Areas have been kept by Pakistan is because of its unilateral ceding of 2. Karachi. viz. A chief executive. Therefore. The Northern Areas have no status. 2005. appointed by Islamabad. This mountain outback has been split into five districts. Gilgit.26 delicate geo-political area.700 sq. As to how Pakistan handles this. Ghizer and Ghanche. 13 January. They are neither a province of Pakistan nor a part of "Azad Kashmir".5 million inhabits a vast area of 72. Skardu.495 square kilometers. miles to the Chinese through an agreement on 02 March 1963. Diamir. the internal security situation in Pakistan will implode if a CIA and possible Indian backed impetus is given to the Baluch uprising. is the local administrative head. there is a possibility that the US could attempt to disturb the peace in Baluchistan by putting a damper on growing Chinese presence there9. whereby the Kashmir issue would then become a back burner. A population of 1. only time will tell. in order to facilitate China 9 The Dawn. They are ruled directly from Islamabad through a Northern Areas Council which is headed by Pakistan’s Minister for Kashmir Affairs. With Waziristan already under the grip of the Taliban. . normally a retired Pakistani army officer. 44. the Northern Areas have a Shia majority. The situation in the Northern Areas is therefore very delicate.27 to build the Karakorum Highway providing overland link between Beijing and Karachi. radically altering the demographic profile of the area. especially after the Shimla Agreement in 1972. which was primarily used for these incursions and suffered the maximum casualties. Kargil in 1999 added to the discontent in the region. and being in a volatile state. Large numbers of Sunnis have been brought in from Punjab and the NWFP to settle down in Gilgit. 73 per cent of the Northern Light Infantry (NLI) of the Pakistan Army. the Northern Areas has witnessed sectarian violence that has claimed a number of lives. reducing the indigenous people to a minority. The Pakistani administration has also been involved in efforts to alter the demographic profile of the region. . Over the years. Unlike the rest of Pakistan. is vulnerable for conversion to a separatist movement. The Pakistani establishment has long supported an anti-Shia programme in this region. successive Pakistani Governments have sought to amalgamate these areas into Pakistan by declaring them "federally administered territories". is drawn from the Shia sect hailing primarily from the Northern Areas. Since 1988. 29 surplus of military wherewithal for Pakistan to pursue the aim of seeking revenge for its defeat of 1971. and municipal elections being held peacefully. polling in the municipal elections was 87 percent. All these conditions were catalytic in starting the proxy war by Pakistan. Ground Realities 46. Internal Security Situation in J&K. as before. with parliamentary. The APHC. Even in the trouble torn district of Kupwara. assembly. The stance adopted by the APHC will therefore. The political situation in J&K has been stable ever since ceasefire was declared on 26 November 2003. it is apparent that nothing fruitful will materialize as APHC members continue to remain. Political Situation. Even though Mr Manmohan Singh is talking with them. which is a creation of the Pakistani ISI in 1993. under the threat of elimination by the ISI. With the completion in construction of the 750- kilometre LC fence. that commenced in 2003 and was completed by . always be in consonance with Pakistan’s demands. does not represent the entire state of J&K. be engaged in Kashmir lest they turn on Pakistan. (a) LC Fence. 47. 48. It was also imperative that the ‘jehadis’ initially ‘bred’ for Afghanistan. there ahs been a profound effect on the levels of cross border infiltration into the state. while 231 militants infiltrated. Similarly. and with a drop in sustenance from across the border. The number of schools and colleges that . militant cadres have become easy prey. Development Activities. ever since the ceasefire has come into effect. The LC fence has helped reverse the earlier losses. Being entrusted with new responsibilities that involve faith and trust. in 2005. in 2004. 49. still exists. the local people have become more confident and are forthcoming as far as cooperation with government intelligence agencies and security forces are concerned. the force is now fully motivated and geared to take on their tasks effectively. A number of development activities have been undertaken both. A revamped and motivated police organisation now exists in the state. 976 were eliminated. In the face of unabated counter terrorism operations by India. by the state government and the security forces in the form of Operation Sadhbhavana. while 516 militants are known to have infiltrated. (b) Coordination between Government Agencies and Local Though the menace of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) Populace. For instance.30 October 2004. (c) Role of the State Police. 917 were eliminated in the state. the Rupees 1500 crore Asian Development Bank project over three years. and four laning of the JammuSrinagar National Highway. another 21 years. 51. The line within the valley is almost complete and this portion is expected to get operational by 2007. 50. economic projects such as the Baglihar Dam. have all given a face lift to the state. While it took 25 years to link Pathankot to Jammu in 1972. due to the shutting down of .31 have been opened in the last four years has been more than the total from 1947 to 2002. to mention only a few. completion of the Old Mughal Road by 2009. However. been instrumental in assisting India in mainstreaming the local population of J&K with the mainland. is expected to be complete by 2010. removing the fear of being alienated from the rest of the country. and thereon to Udhampur only 56 kilometres away. Militancy has in a way. Similarly. Similarly. for education. Mainstreaming the Local Populace. militancy forced them to move out to other parts of India. Jammu-Srinagar Railway Link. A new beginning in linking the state to the mainland is the planned Jammu-Srinagar railway link. the proposed link from Udhampur to Qazikund in the Valley. Earlier Kashmiri traders were not known to leave the state for selling their wares. The railway link with the mainland is bound to have a profound effect on the psyche of the locals. INDICATORS OF NORMALCY SANCTITY OF CEASE FIRE MAINTAINED. LARGE NUMBER OF YOUTHS BEING RESCUED FROM TERRORISTS. NATIONAL HIGHWAY 1A OPEN 24 HOURS. The interest shown by the local youth during recruitment rallies is proof of the fact that militancy is on the decline. a number of educational and general awareness tours for school and college students have been conducted. parents were forced to educate children in other cities of India. CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICES LAUNCHED. As part of the Army’s campaign to win the hearts and minds of locals. SUCCESSFUL AND PEACEFUL LOK SABHA ELECTIONS SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF NATIONAL WINTER GAMES.32 schools and colleges. APHC TALKS WITH THE CENTRE IN PROGRESS. 52. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ON THE RISE. . Peace Overtures 53. . (c) (d) May 2001. The manner in which peace overtures across the border have progressed. Agra ends in disaster as Musharraf tries to make Kashmir the core issue. Vajpayee invites Musharraf for Agra Summit. (b) July 1999.33 CHAPTER IV – PEACE INITIATIVES MOMENT OF RECKONING BLED BY THE PROXY WAR (WAR OF A THOUSAND CUTS) LET LOOSE BY OUR ADVERSARY. July 2001. THIS IS A DEFINING MOMENT FOR BOTH INDIA AND PAK. THE NATION HAS RETAINED ITS BALANCE AS ALSO THE RIGHT TO FIGHT BACK SUCCESSFULLY. EVENTS OF SEP 9/11 AND GULF WAR II HAVE MANIFESTED IN A YEARNING FOR PEACE THE WORLD OVER. Kargil incursions by Pakistan lead to total breakdown in diplomatic ties. are as follows:(a) February 1999. Lahore-Delhi bus service takes Vajpayee across the border with the first comprehensive peace package. (n) February 2006. (f) November 2003. (l) September 2005. Spurt in terror attacks in India makes New York meeting between Manmohan Singh and Musharraf a non starter. India accepts ceasefire the next day. Vajpayee goes to Islamabad. First Round Table Conference called by PM Manmohan Singh. (j) October 2004. Vajpayee again extends hand of friendship to Pakistan. (h) September 2004. (g) January 2004. Musharraf invites himself for cricket match to India. Musharraf asks India to demilitarise certain regions and asks for self governance in J & K. (m) January 2006.34 (e) May 2003. Musharraf says UN resolutions on Kashmir were redundant. with the APHC is boycotted by the latter. Proposes unilateral ceasefire on 23 November. (k) April 2005. . Srinagar-Muzaraffarabad bus service inaugurated. Manmohan Singh and Musharraf sign joint statement in New York. Peace process restarts. Musharraf proposes dividing Kashmir along religious lines and distributing between India and Pakistan. Composite dialogue restarted. signs joint statement. ONLY 88 OUT OF 191 SUPPORTED THE RESOLUTION. (p) May 2006. The Chenab Plan. Musharraf has been keen on what he describes as the Chenab Plan. Serial bomb blasts in Mumbai. Amritsar-Nankana bus service inaugurated. a partition of J&K along the flow of this river that matches . Manmohan Singh proposes peace. Foreign Secretary level talks take place on the sidelines of SAARC scheduled for end July 2006. ON THE KASHMIR ISSUE RAISED BY PAK. MOST OF THE OIC COUNTRIES VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION. ”THE FIVE DECADE OLD INSISTENCE ON HOLDING A PLEBISCITE IN KASHMIR IS NO LONGER A TERM OF REFERENCE CARVED IN STONE” PRESIDENT PERVEZ MUSHARRAF DECEMBER 2003 Initiatives by Pakistan under Musharraf 54. Second Round Table Conference between Delhi and the APHC is boycotted by the latter. IN A VOTE CALLED BY INDIA.35 (o) March 2006. (q) 11 July 2006. IRRELEVANCE OF UN RESOLUTION IN NOV 2003. security and friendship with Pakistan. 56. Doda and Rajouri in Jammu. which clearly explains the reason for Pakistan's insistence on making Chenab the basis of the international border and including parts of Jammu and not merely the Kashmir valley. under its jurisdiction. Furthermore. Options. as well as the Muslim areas of Poonch. Compared to Punjab. it would dry up Sindh.com. with the inclusion of Ladakh which lies north of the Chenab River. if India loses the Kashmir Valley and in retaliation blocks the Chenab. and the Northern Areas of Gilgit and Baltistan. India. 55. . The Chenab supplies 30 billion cubic metre or 17 per cent of the water flows in the Indus System in Pakistan.36 its communal faultlines10. which is already on the brink of a water crisis. In turn. accepting the Chenab Formula implies that India would have to part with approximately 32. would have to forgo all its claims to PoK. which includes the 10 www. Losing Chenab to India would thus mean drastic reduction in water supplies to Sindh.strategicforesight. Sindh receives water only from the enhanced Indus River.000 sq km of area. This would then warrant a major rearrangement of the irrigation network in Punjab. Pakistan would be called on to accept Indian sovereignty over the Hindu-majority Jammu region of the State. would be brought within Pakistan’s borders. which is boosted up by the Chenab-Jhelum combine. Therefore. The entire valley with its Muslim majority population. Comments. This model suggests a semiindependent status for the Valley11. excluding Ladakh and the area under China and Pakistan. An interesting aspect of Pakistan's claim over these districts is that the catchment areas of all the rivers important to Pakistan Indus. Musharraf suggested demilitarization of selected areas in the Kashmir Valley as essential for 11 Guardian. that is giving away 57 per cent of the total land area of J&K. The Andorra Model. There would be no change in the present LC. Rajouri. 2002. Under a 1993 agreement. Jhelum and Chenab would come under Pakistan's jurisdiction. Andorra has near autonomy with its own constitution and currency. 58. Baramulla. Poonch. The Valley’s borders would be soft enough to allow movements of both Indians and Pakistanis in and out of it. but the whole entity would become a demilitarised zone. France and Spain both share responsibility for its defence. Srinagar. Following the non- acceptance of partition of J&K on ethnic lines.37 districts of Anantnag. Andorra is a co-principality of the Bishop of Urgel (Spain) and the French President. Pulwama. Demilitarisation and Self Governance. Doda. Kupwara. 57. the defence and foreign affairs would be the joint responsibility of India and Pakistan. and the Gool Gulabgarh and Reasi tehsils of Udhampur. . Budgam. 22 January. Applied to the Kashmir Valley. 13 February. and that Pakistan would join India to ensure that no incidents of terrorism take place12. President Musharraf has on 23 June 2006 again suggested that demilitarization is the only option to resolve the Kashmir problem. 2006. give self governance to its people with a joint management arrangement on top13. means handing over the Kashmir Valley on a platter to Pakistan.38 furthering the peace process. they would be in full 12 13 14 The Tribune. 2006. Chairman APHC has also supported this view. 23 June. 60. followed by condominium or joint control. Demilitarisation. 2006. then self-governance. Baramulla and Kupwara. . Comments. Daily Excelsior. Times of India. 59. 09 January. as sticking to traditional positions was no solution and the idea of self-governance could provide the way out14. Umar Farooq Mirwaiz. His proposal was for India to withdraw troops from the sensitive towns of Srinagar. Pakistani trained militants are well entrenched in these areas and the moment the Indian Army vacate these. stating that that selfgovernance and demilitarisation of Kashmir could be an interim arrangement under which the people of Kashmir could get a sense of 'being masters of their own destiny'. His suggestion was to demilitarize Kashmir. The rest of PoK could then join Pakistan. asserting that it was a “sovereign” decision to be taken by New Delhi based on the security situation and could not be “dictated by any foreign government”15. 2006. so that the Northern Areas become independent. . The Neelam Plan suggests that India should stick to its present position of complete and equal integration of J&K into India and from that position could envisage shifting the LC to the west and north along the Neelam River.39 control. also disagreed with this proposal as the terrorist infrastructure across the border was still intact. The Neelam Valley is a 144 km long bow-shaped deeply forested region that makes up much of what Pakistanis call Azad Kashmir. While the Chenab plan is based on the bigoted principles of division along ethnic lines. 62. The Indian Government also reacted promptly by categorically rejecting Musharraf's suggestion. and then runs west till it meets the Jhelum north of Muzzafarabad. General J. India’s Response : The Neelam Plan 61. 14 January. 15 The Hindu. The Neelam River enters Pakistan from India in the Gurais sector of the LC.Singh. The Chief of Army Staff. the Neelam Plan is focused on clamping down on terrorism and prevention of religious clashes in India.J. The Second Round Table conference was held in Srinagar on 24 16 in. as being a strategic location. The independence of Gilgit and Baltistan to the north will bring about a closure of terrorist training and coordination camps in Gilgit. . Though the round table conference was a success. Arindam Banerji. invited all separatist and non-separatist groups for a round table conference on 25 February 2006 in New Delhi. “The Neelam Plan”. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. it had initiated a broad dialogue in order to reach the hearts and minds of the people of the state by including groups outside the electoral process as well. In an attempt to broaden the Kashmir dialogue process. Astore. According to the Neelam Plan. will become a free country. for actions against China.com. the Northern Areas of Gilgit and Baltistan. The plan would also be appealing to the US. a number of leaders did not participate.40 63. Kargil and Drass. India had made it clear that the APHC was not the sole representative of the Kashmiri people and therefore. This would bring about a demilitarisation of the Deosai Plain and thus effect a natural stabilisation in places like Siachen.rediff. it will get direct access to the Deosai Plain. Skardu and the Deosai Plains area16. Latest Initiative by India 64. This too would be only after joint authentication of the AGPL which would then be made public both nationally and internationally.18 Is Plebiscite in J&K an Option? 66. This too was boycotted by the APHC due to a threat from the Hizbul Mujaheddin17.41 and 25 May 2006. to be followed by demilitarization. New Delhi. the most notable one being the expulsion of non-Muslim 17 www. The Army is justifiably concerned that Pakistani troops might move into the positions vacated if some sort of joint authentication does not take place before disengagement. 65. 21 April. During the last fifty-seven years a lot of demographic changes have taken place. Terrorism Update. The Indian Army has confirmed that first disengagement of forces from present locations would take place. 2006. Resolution of the Siachen Dispute.” 18 Times of India.satp. . Talks are now centred on the specific grid references to be followed.org. It would then be extremely difficult to dislodge them from these positions. “Prime Minister suggests five-point programme to build a new Kashmir. India wants an iron-clad process since its soldiers dominate most of the heights. that can ultimately pave the way for demilitarization. There have also been large-scale infiltrations of Muslims into traditional the Buddhist area Ladakh and the Hindu areas of Jammu19. In the Northern Areas too. 68. 67. were to have a referendum under truly neutral supervision. 22 May 2005 . there were negligible Muslims in 1947. and the people were given three options . This did not happen only in POK. if the people of the state are given only two choices .join India. join Pakistan or be independent -. On the other hand. Dr Dipak Basu. The majority could very well go with India. all Hindus from Indian Kashmir were also forcibly expelled by militants who had infiltrated from Pakistan. In 1992.the results could be shocking to votaries of secession. thus making it impossible to determine who is now eligible to vote for the plebiscite as an original Kashmiri inhabitant. Notwithstanding the above. if the option of plebiscite was to be exercised and the undivided state including POK and the Northern Areas. “Can India Stand a Third Pakistan”.com. Pakistan has changed the demography of its occupied area in Kashmir by resettling large number of Punjabi exservicemen and Afghans from the North-West Frontier Province.the majority vote could still go in 19 Bose66@hotmail. The original people of Kashmir have long since left. because the separatists would split the vote between proPakistan and pro-independence groups.join India or join Pakistan . presently there are no non-Muslims left.42 communities from POK by Pakistan. 70. This has much to do with its own internal compulsions. there has been a change in the Chinese Kashmir policy. and all of POK and Northern Areas vote for Pakistan. In the last two decades. the results of the referendum would be too close to call. Therefore.2 million. of the 12.5 million.8 million people in the undivided state.6 million and leaves Pakistan with 6.5 million. Going by simple arithmetic. it still gives India a vote of 6. POK's is 2. as relations between India and China improved by the end of the . Even if provisions were made in this for erosion of support for India as a result of the current turmoil. by the late 1980s. China's own territorial disputes with the South-East Asian countries over the Spratley Group of Islands led to military clashes. lest it be applied by the West to the case of Tibet. China could not deny the same principle in the case of Kashmir. By the early 1980s. Views of China 69.8 million and Northern Areas is 1. the new thinking in China developed an anathema for the word ‘self-determination’.9 million Sunni Muslims of the Kashmir Valley. Having shown its preference for bilateral talks to resolve the dispute.43 India's favor. If the 1. and some sprinkling of support for Pakistan from other Muslim groups in the state. J&K’s population is 8. Moreover. There are reports of Uighur Muslim terrorists getting trained in Pakistani camps. after the break-up of the Soviet Union. therefore. China has already protested to Pakistan on this issue. In fact. . Muslim fundamentalism is on the increase in Central Asia. the very foundation of Pakistan is based on Islam and therefore is a source of religious terrorism. Any support to Pakistan on Kashmir. 27 February.44 1980s. 20 The Hindu. 2006. China advocated bilateral talks between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. Besides the above. The rise of secessionist tendencies in its Muslim province of Xinjiang also made China aware of the dangers of ‘self-determination. will only lead to more problems in the adjoining more vulnerable Chinese province of Xinjiang20. Besides. 71. This line of thinking is probably closest to what India has in mind and perhaps the only way to make a paradigm shift in bilateral relations. which you can keep under control by taking shots of insulin but for which there is no permanent cure. The analogy that fits Kashmir best is that it is a problem like diabetes. The moral of the story is that both India and Pakistan must learn to live with the problem of Kashmir until such time that some cure is invented or discovered.45 CHAPTER V – THE RECOMMENDED STRATEGY RESTORATION OF NORMALCY NORMALCY IS THE POINT WHERE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS OF THE STATE ARE ABLE TO FUNCTION UNIMPEDED AND STATE POLICE ASSISTED BY CPOs IS ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY ENFORCE LAW AND ORDER. A similar thought has been echoed by President Musharraf recently when he stated that UN resolutions on Kashmir . General 72. ARMY RETURNS TO THE BARRACKS TO ATTEND TO ITS PRIMARY TASKING. and needs to be evolved from India’s national aims and objectives to protect core values. has been restored. India must get on with its development plan on all fronts to include defence. It is clear that a long-term strategy is required to resolve the J&K dispute. economic. social and military. In doing this. political. the ingredients of a possible strategy to resolve the J&K dispute. other than with the establishment. 74.46 were redundant and independence was not possible. a clear message should be conveyed to Pakistan to stop meddling in Indian affairs. not to get intimidated by smaller countries like Pakistan. a deliberate attempt has to be made by India to de- hyphenate itself from Pakistan. People to people contact on both sides of the LC. India must endeavour to project itself as the leading power in the region. Long Term Proactive Strategy 73. The strategy hereafter. are given in the succeeding paragraphs. with the aim of delinking from Pakistan. Furthermore. leaving it far behind. There have been some major achievements of the dialogue process such as continuation of the ceasefire and movement across the LC. This has to be comprehensively addressed on all fronts. must be realistic and cannot be evolved in an ad-hoc manner. With this as the backdrop. . allowing Pakistan to extract its pound of flesh. 76. 19 July. normalcy and even talk of greater autonomy in J&K. serves the interest of both. The idea is to defeat 21 The Tribune. which would then act as an economic and military deterrence. The India-Pakistan hyphen would get restored again. 2006 . There would be international pressure on India to pull back from the brink. This should not throw India off stride as striking at soft targets is not difficult and is imminent in the future as well. In reciprocation. New Delhi. India and the US. One such strategy could be covert support to the Baluchis to give further impetus to their cause. Global developments in the foreseeable future are likely to leave Pakistan behind and development is an essential answer to terrorism. Revival of insurgency in Baluchistan. if India were to reverse the peace process. it would be like rising to the bait and gifting a cause to the “jehadis”21. It should therefore not evoke knee-jerk protests that detract attention from the main task.47 75. India must therefore learn to get its act together as the “jehadis” fear development. The recent spurt in terrorist acts is a calculated attempt to create terror by striking targets across the country. and will use every trick in the book to subvert the peace process. India should enhance its economic and military capabilities so as to widen the gap with Pakistan sufficiently. India must ensure a crackdown on radical outfits. the state police and para military forces in training. intelligentsia and the people as a whole. For doing this. the government and the people meet halfway to solve problems. equipment and ethos. It needs to move from a policy of appeasement and accommodation to firm action. Domestic Strategy 77. and identify and punish all those whom the ISI has been able to plant in its strategically important organizations. it must adopt proactive policies to confront terrorists militarily. revive. narcotics / drug trade. must be conveyed to the general public through awareness campaigns. POTA forthwith. The “Bhagidari” campaign that means equal partnership. and at the roots of terrorist ideology – fundamentalists. India’s policy of meeting its internal security requirements has not succeeded so far. in which both. needs to be emphasised upon.48 Pakistan in every manner so that it is forced to come to the negotiating table on India’s terms. It must also modernise and enlarge its intelligence network. As citizens. 78. The people of India have .g. in combating the menace of terrorism in all its forms. the people have to understand that they have to reciprocate in the correct manner to the State. social evils and sources of terrorism e. The need for support of the citizenry. 79. should be encouraged. Endeavour must therefore be made to win over members of both faction of the APHC by whatever means possible. India and Pakistan must pursue relentlessly the Track II and Track III forms as well. For Pakistan.49 shown tremendous unity in times of crises. For Track I dialogue to succeed. Both forms of dialogue are being currently implemented. intellectuals. Though claiming to represent the people of Kashmir. A liberal visa regime permitting exchange of student delegations. thus leaving little space for manoeuvre for the military establishment. Track II and Track III Diplomacy 80. This quality needs to be channelised and made use of in the correct manner. Attitudinal Change 81. social workers. learning to live with the Kashmir problem does not mean giving up the search for a solution. so as to get rid of this menace and hurdle permanently. What it means is . India must exercise the option of moving “into the Pakistani society”. Pakistan. the APHC is basically an organization meant to appease Pakistan. however. but need to be given more emphasis to. it is only after an incident happens. Unfortunately. and availability of medical services in India to Pakistanis. cross border train and bus services. India’s dealing tactic with the APHC also needs a review. India’s willingness to discuss the issue and the initiation of a process that facilitates confidence building should provide Pakistan’s leaders with the necessary political capital to maintain this shift away from proxy war and to continue the peace process. If successful. transit. However.50 changing its attitude and ending the mindless hostility of the past. investment. demilitarization of the Siachen region would be deemed to be the best possible CBM implemented by India so far. there are good military reasons why the Army insists that before any relocation takes place. entering into a more cooperative and beneficial relationship with India. This means opening up in the matter of trade. and any settlement would help to move the J&K talks forward. 82. tourism. travel. The Siachen issue feeds into the peace process. India. Resolution of the Siachen Dispute 83. in other words the . infrastructure development and energy-related cooperation with India. It should not only maintain its position that it will no longer tolerate a proxy war strategy. the present deployment of troops of India and Pakistan. India has a critical role in Pakistan’s continued shift away from proxy war. but it also should provide Pakistan with incentives to pursue a peaceful option. Resolution of the Siachen dispute would act as a catalyst to resolving the major issue of J&K. com. Expansion in India-US Relations 85. to be jointly developed by India and Pakistan. Pakistan can do without the Kashmir Valley. only then is any redeployment possible. but cannot let go of the Chenab river over which India has total control. will always be on the winning side in the water-war. Resolution of the Indus Waters Problem 84.51 AGPL. Water needs to be managed as an economic good and thus it is essential to jointly set up an organisation with representatives from both countries22. With the India-US nuclear deal almost through. a radical shift has obviously occurred in American perceptions. . would involve a creative solution to the political dimension of the conflict in J&K.strategicforesight. Options. is demarcated both on ground and maps. Considering the severity of its internal water situation with regard to its Punjab and Sindh. Unless the two sides agree where the line lies. A recommended strategy for resolving this tangle could be an integrated development plan for the conservation of the Indus Basin. India being the upper riparian State. This deal has therefore marked a new phase in India-US ties. The requirement now is for India to break away from being cast in the 22 www. since no pre-conditions are being insisted upon. The plan. Once India-US relations expand. give sudden impetus to the J&K problem. . At the same time. China is fully aware of the growing potential of India and it is for this reason that it has stated that if the two countries were together the 21st century would belong to Asia. There is a possibility that Pakistan. way ahead of Pakistan. It is also seeing India being tied up with the US in a long lasting relation that could jeopardise its monopoly and lead to its containment in Asia. it is unlikely that China would attempt to harm this developing relationship with India. Full advantage of this must be taken by India to exert pressure on Pakistan by China as well. diplomatic and economic strategy to apply pressure on Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. could in a bid to highlight its existence in the region. adequate care must be taken to ensure that improvement in India-US relations does not accentuate the India-Pakistan problem. As US is China’s biggest trading partner and India too is developing as a potential market.52 same mould as Pakistan. India would be well on the road to becoming a major power in Asia. Development of India-Chinese Relations 86. India must therefore take advantage of this relationship and skillfully institute a combination of a political. including Kashmir. providing also for the preservation and strengthening of the identity of the various ethnic. It is a fact universally acknowledged that a democratic polity is best equipped to enable the people to fulfill their aspirations and govern their own destiny in an atmosphere of freedom. there could be developments that would destabilize the region. religious and racial communities that constitute today’s nation states. democracy and respect for human rights are the best recipes. While sympathy and support for the Kashmiri people is fairly widespread in Pakistan. Pakistani military continues to dictate the Kashmir policy. economic. . conversely. where the people choose their own representatives and leaders. political and cultural development of a nation. a democratic transition in Pakistan would likely improve the prospects of a substantive and sustainable dialogue between Pakistan and India on all contentious issues.53 Return of Democracy in Pakistan 87. is the most effective instrument for the social. If a society is not free. People are the best arbiters of interstate disputes. the politically dominant military and the religious parties are the strongest proponents of claims to the state. Participatory government. 88. and for their will to prevail. Efforts must be made to upgrade communication systems so that television and telecommunication spreads to remote and border areas. Kashmir has been changed forever by more than a decade of conflict. Economics is competing for space and politics. and promote moderate and secular polity by media. and address the outdated education system of Madrassas by quality modernisation. multinationals have mushroomed that are not inhibited by national frontiers. There should be realistic psychological and information warfare so that the will of the anti-national elements is suffocated and the hearts of the populace are won. The endeavour should be to spread the fruits of development in the state. intelligentsia and religious institutions. A solution can also emerge in due course of time against the backdrop of political and economic trends in the world. which are currently under constant reach of Pakistan propaganda. With the birth of the European Union (EU).54 Economic and Social Repair of Kashmir 89. national boundaries in Europe have lost their importance and wars appear to have become an anachronism there. Revival of SAARC 90. In the era of globalisation. In the . India must maintain highly capable conventional armed forces. Through unity would come peace and prosperity that would in all probabilities also solve the Kashmir issue. SAARC can become a more vibrant version of the EU. making it one solid entity. . which demands a mix of deterrences. 91. India should always adopt a strategy of 'dissuasive deterrence' vis-a-vis Pakistan. The use of military power for coercive diplomacy has increased tremendously these days. thereby making no cuts in the existing favourable force level and pro-active military stance. makes it imperative to resort to enhanced use of military as a sharpened instrument for political purposes without an armed contest. Given this scenario. to strengthen the organization through cohesion within the region.55 modern cyber age. and India in particular. both nuclear and conventional. Economic synergy leads more often than not to the solution of disputes. To realize this dream would imply a conscious effort on the part of the members of SAARC. Developing a Credible Military Deterrent 92. constantly increasing its strategic space the world over. To ensure this effectively. The conflict of today can be swamped by a tide of goodwill and harmony tomorrow. national borders have lost their significance. This significance of the armed forces. including political differences. both external and internal. technical. In resolving the J&K issue. The evolution of a superior intelligence system is imperative.56 93. An important element of a proactive effort is to increase the costs of proxy war to Pakistan. should not be lost sight of. A reorientation of armed response is required so as to launch proactive and specific surgical military operations. the option of a limited military venture confined to only the LC portion of the state. economic and political issues can be addressed effectively. A reactive response is not the answer. . Strategy to Tackle the Proxy War 94. This should tackle the causes and not just the symptoms. by undertaking ‘Hot Pursuit Strikes’ across the LC and into POK. India must also learn to call Pakistan’s bluff in so far as the nuclear bogey is concerned. electronic intelligence. conveying appropriately that Pakistan faces possible annihilation if they ever make this mistake. India needs to clearly spell out its counter terrorism strategy / doctrine. so that social. this would become particularly relevant if Musharraf gets assassinated or overthrown. This should encompass human. In Pakistan’s turbulent politics. The aim of military operations should be to create a secure and suitable environment. as also modernisation of data processing and dissemination. ANTI IED AND DF DEVICES HEPTRS FOR RECCE AND EXPEDITIOUS DPLY OF TPS INF BNS( HOME & HEARTH) VILLAGE DEF COMMITTEES OPTIMAL UTILISATION OF FORCE MULTIPLIERS ED. It should be the “positive content provider” of the achievements of .57 95. SIG INTERCEPTION. TRACKER AND GD DOGS PSEUDO GANG IKHWANS AND OTHER SURRENDERED TERRORISTS GHATAKS Media Strategy 96. IMPORTANT TENETS FOR CAMPAIGN PLG SVL. The media that has a great reach today. should be used as a ‘Force Multiplier’ to shape public opinion and to counter false propaganda. MD. Youth in the impressionable age group of 12 to 18 years must be the target of all psychological campaigns. Operation Sadhbhavana should be pursued relentlessly for developing infrastructure and spreading awareness. must be launched by security forces. A well planned psychological campaign to win the hearts and minds of the civil populace. Perception Management and Public Information. Public information techniques must be spruced up to counter false propaganda generated by agencies close to the militants. The media must be taken along as a ‘weapon’ of the state and not of the terrorists. India’s stand for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council would get that much weak. 98. This would invite severe international criticism. The implications of this option are the following:(a) (b) (c) The peace process would get derailed. Exercise the military option and resolve the dispute militarily. Options Available for Resolving the Issue 97. Rather than highlighting human right aberrations by the security forces. China would get sucked into the J&K issue. Gains achieved due to India’s conventional superiority can be used as a bargaining tool to settle the J&K issue permanently. Option 1.58 the security forces and government apparatus in the state. Attempt must be made to change the alignment of the LC. the media must project the true colour of militancy. (d) India would get branded as the perpetrator of instability in the region. in keeping with the Neelam Plan. . US influence may not be readily available due to Pakistan’s involvement in the war against terror. Abrogate the IWT of 1960. Give impetus to the nationalist movement in Baluchistan and support the Shias in the Northern Areas. Apply the “water-war card” and threaten drying up Sindh. This may seem utopian. Option 2. 100. exists.59 (e) High probability of the water-war leading to a nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan. Adopt a neutral model of self governance that would be acceptable to all three parties . (f) It could lead to a situation where third party mediation may become necessary.India. The Pros:(a) Granted autonomy. the aspirations of the people of Kashmir would get taken care of. would continue to control their parts of J&K. and could be modeled on the following lines:(a) (b) Demilitarise on an incremental basis from both sides of the LC. The LC would continue to exist but could then be termed instead as the Line of Cooperation. This would be disadvantageous to India. (d) The LC would be made ‘soft’ to enable citizens of the two sides to travel freely without any passports or travel documents. Communication is being included so that both Kashmirs do not feel landlocked. (c) Both. but is not impossible. 99. Pakistan and the people of both Kashmirs. foreign policy and communications are concerned. India and Pakistan. but only so far as defence. . 60 (b) If successful. making its candidature for a permanent in the UN Security Council stronger. especially cadres of the Taliban and Al Qaeeda. it would lead to stabilizing of the situation in the sub-continent. For Pakistan. sectarian violence could spill over from neighbouring POK. As a sizeable portion of the 140 million Muslims in India are Shias. it would be a tremendous gain. (c) India would emerge as the benefactor. There is a possibility that with a “soft” LC and the Kashmir Valley being Sunni dominant. (d) A settlement of the J&K imbroglio would remove the threat of nuclear war from the sub continent. The Cons:(a) Considering that J&K was acceded to India. there is no stopping this evil from engulfing the whole country in the years ahead. (d) If the Taliban gets revived and stabilised in North Waziristan and Southern Afghanistan. acceptance of the proposal would imply loss of real estate. which . (b) India has been consistently maintaining its secular identity so far. by her borders being secure. This has been possible to a great extent. (c) There is no guarantee that Musharraf would be able to rein in the militants. it could turn its focus onto J&K. 101. Similarly.61 with a soft LC could once again come into the grip of a secessionist movement. in India the political environment being extremely dynamic. (h) Implementation of the proposal in one state of India. the military would always have a role in all policy decisions. would trigger off similar claims from states in the grip of secessionist movements. this could become a major constraint. act as a wedge between Pakistan and the area illegally acceded to China. (g) Even if democracy returns in Pakistan. His presence to see the plan fructify is therefore questionable. (j) Positions held by Indian troops in the Siachen Glacier region. Given the kind of suspicion that governs India-Pakistan relations. could put an end to this proposal. The Pakistani military establishment has never wanted anything short of liberation of Kashmir. Fissures within the Pakistani military and the ISI. (f) Musharraf has survived two assassination attempts already. (e) The proposal would have to be implemented over a period of time. It is therefore unlikely that Pakistan would agree to . In present day coalition politics. a possible change in government could derail the entire process. there is no surety of the plan being completed successfully. 103. Option 3. giving a clear message at the same time. (b) The above message is conveyed from a position of dominance. 102. a synergised counter insurgency plan in J&K in order to contain militancy. The implications of this option are the following:(a) Sends a strong message to Pakistan. Encourage maximum people to people contact across the LC through Tracks II and III diplomacies. Give top priority to mainstreaming the local populace. (c) The India-Pakistan hyphen does not get restored. Continue dialogue and CBMs with Pakistan. not to meddle in Indian affairs. as is warranted of a regional power. . Pursue relentlessly. Demilitarization by India would thus not be possible. Apply the Indus water strategy discreetly. sideline it. see how its internal security situation develops. Support the move for restoration of democracy in Pakistan. Continue covert support to the Karzai regime. Contain Pakistan and through a “wait and watch” strategy. Attempt reining in of the APHC. Stoke the problem in Baluchistan and the Northern Areas. that terrorist infrastructure must be dismantled as a pre-requisite. alternately.62 authentication of these actual held positions on ground and map. Follow the present line and maintain status quo. not to take the government lightly on these issues. for strategizing a solution to the J&K problem. the issue of J&K would become a back-burner. if any. The Will of the people will begin to prevail paving the way for a return to democracy. Though it could lead to instability in the region. (g) It enables consideration of the global scenario post US elections of 2008. are better. (e) Military eliticism and invincibility of the Pakistan Army would get threatened. in the future. mainstreaming and face-lifting efforts undertaken by the J&K government. (j) It would give time for the economic drive. (h) The option increases the chances of Pakistan imploding as a consequence of mis-management of its internal security situation. (h) Finally. to fructify.63 (d) The problem of J&K can be tackled on terms favourable to India and would not result in a compromise on territorial integrity. . it would be a lesson for other states in India facing secessionist movements. The problem of the Northern Areas would get adequately highlighted in international forums This would become an issue for India to counter Pakistani claims to J&K. (f) (g) Chances of reining in the APHC. 64 104. Recommended Option. Option 1 is not recommended due to the instability it would cause in the region. The US war on terror, would also not permit this. In cases of extreme provocation, however, it would be necessary to resort to a certain amount of “arm twisting” of Pakistan, for which this option should not be ruled out. Option 2, though ideally suited to solve the problem permanently, is plagued with a number of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. It also implies loss of real estate by India and giving away the Kashmir valley on a platter, as it being Muslim (Sunni) dominated, would automatically identify itself more with Pakistan and tilt towards it in the years to come. 105. Furthermore, with the situation in Waziristan and Afghanistan concerning the Taliban, being very unstable, the time for Option 2 is not correct. This option would in any case, take at least five years if not more, to stabilize, by when the geo-political situation in Asia could change as has been discussed already. It would therefore be worth the while to “wait and watch” and hence the strategy proposed in Option 3, is recommended. 106. At present, there is a lack of a consistent and comprehensive policy at the national level. The core of the issue is that India needs to respond efficiently and rationally to the emerging challenges. It is difficult to see any 65 light at the end of the tunnel as there are no easy answers to this intractable problem. A sustained political campaign must be immediately launched to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of the Kashmiri people, assuage their feelings of hurt and neglect and restore their bruised and battered dignity. The Sufi tradition of tolerance and liberalism, for which Kashmir is well known, should be encouraged to bloom unhindered by the diktats of radical Islam. The people of J&K need to be convinced that their future lies with India. Above all, public opinion must be mobilised to express the nation’s solidarity with the Kashmiri people in their long drawn out and courageous struggle against Pakistan-sponsored proxy war. (11,905 Words) 100 80 60 (15 AUG 05) 2003 84 81 40 20 0 44 37 35 22 45 34 20 13 36 1999 – LOK SABHA 2004 – LOK SABHA 2005 - MUNICIPAL 250 200 2005 2004 105 109 93 90 60 131 131 89 66 76 61 67 96 112 103 95 77 127 108 99 96 82 72 68 69 75 64 54 140 118 86 400000 350000 376729 388115 400000 382157 375293 150 100 50 99 70 67 53 61 49 41 36 FEB 69 72 52 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 111912 72591 27356 191164 300000 250000 200000 149920 150000 100000 50000 0 114366 119037 110793 173334 153314 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 (15 AUG 05) 2002 (194) (66) (64) (18) 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 10 11 10 47 45 2003 2004 2005 885 597 2003 2004 2005 1 8 71 4 8 1 8 2 1 6 6 1 3 7 8 5 5 3 5 4 8 3 4 8 8 2 4 0 2 2 9 1 5 7 1 0 3 6 3 5 3 2 4 8 2002 2003 (1088) (900) (1067) (454) 2004 2005 (15 AUG 05) OWN CAS 2001-05 1200 1000 800 2003 2004 2005 956 642 639 336 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 OVERALL ARMY CPOs/PMF 0.7 0.5 0.7 4.5 3.1 4.8 6.7 5.4 7 430 189 600 400 200 0 222 207 163 85 FATAL 2001 2002 2003 NON FATAL 2004 2005 “Path to Kashmir will be Ardous. Vol 29. Present and Future. Subrata. Maya. Sahai. Sucheta Ghosh. No 34. but Uneasy Truce will Hold”. Bansal. 3. Strategic Analysis. 14. 5. Chadda.” USI Journal April-June 2005. April-June 2005. New Delhi. Ajai Sahni. New Delhi. Gill. Terrorism and Low Intensity Conflict in South Asian Region. Matt. Daily Excelsior 09 Jan 06. 1998. Sreedhar. Mishra. K.BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. 1997. 2003. Guardian 22 Jan 02. “ The Revival of Insurgency in Baluchistan”. S K. Security and Separation in India. Shashi B. 11. Manish. 10. Times of India 23 Jun 06. Legitimacy and Conflict in South Asia. 6. No 2. “The Jehad Lives On”. Vol 3. New Delhi. Santhanan. 8. July 2005. Indian Express 25 Apr 06. New Delhi. K P S. Sinha. Issue 7. Ethnicity. 2001. 13. New Delhi. Dietmar Rothermund. Strategic Insights Volume IV. Terror and Containment. 15. South Asia : From Freedom to Terrorism. 2003. 4. South Asia Intelligence Review. 9. New Delhi. 2. 1998. Amir Mir. The Tribune 13 Feb 06. . Omprakash. Alok. Sudhir Saxena. Mitra. 12. “Jammu and Kashmir: Past. Taylor. 07 March 2005. Jihadis in Jammu and Kashmir. 7. 17. The Hindu. Bose66@hotmail.org. www. Ramananda Sengupta. 2005. 20. Dr Dipak Basu. 25. “J&K: Self Determination.tripod. 24.india_resource. in. www.satp. 2006. Karachi. Demands for a Plebiscite and Secession”. “Indus Water Treaty not under threat: Pakistan. www. Terrorism Update. The Pioneer.com. 01 August. “Options”. 22 May 2005 19.16. “Can India Stand a Third Pakistan”.rediff. “The Neelam Plan”. Arindam Banerji. Dr Maharaj Kaul. The Hindu 14 Jan 06. The Tribune. .rediff. 2006. Times of India New Delhi 21 Apr 06. New Delhi.com. 27.” 22. 19 July. 23.com.strategicforesight. 13 January. 21. “Prime Minister suggests five-point programme to build a new Kashmir”. The Dawn. 27 Feb 06.com. in.com. 26. October 1999. 18. Sign up to vote on this title UsefulNot useful
In the interest of presenting the widest variety of Scottish-themed entertainment, and because we had so much fun with past Shindigs, Athena Caledonian Games has again chosen to host a “Shindig” instead of a Highland dancing competition. Fans of the Scottish dances, don’t worry; dancing will still be a major part of the program. Scottish Highland Dance During the late 1700s many of Scotland’s exciting dances were nearly lost. In response to Scottish Prince Charles Stuart’s unsuccessful attempt to claim the throne in 1745, Britain’s King George III made a new law, the Act of Proscription, which prohibited Scottish customs, tartan use, wearing of kilts, piping and dances. When this law was repealed 36 years later, Scotland’s clan system and culture were thoroughly disrupted. dancersThankfully, the king’s granddaughter Queen Victoria (1819-1901) loved all things Scottish. After she ascended to the throne in 1837, Scottish culture gained a powerful advocate, and the Highland games were restored. During the 19th and 20th Centuries, historical and balletic influences contributed to the development of the current form of Scottish Highland dances. Highland dancing competitions became a mainstay of the Highland games from the very start of their modern revival. Even though the games encouraged and preserved certain Highland dances, judging proceduresactually eliminated certain other dances in order to make judging more convenient. Over time the dances themselves changed as judging became the prime factor in forms, steps and performance. (At one time, performing a Sword Dance using the older steps brought immediate disqualification.) The international Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, created in 1950, clarified criteria for dancing, standardized steps, and established rules for competition and attire. Before 1986 only four standard dances were allowed in competitions: Sword, Seann Triubhas, Reel of Tullock and the Highland Fling. Since then the competition roster has expanded to include “character dances” such as Sailor’s Hornpipe and Irish Jig, and national dances such as Scottish Lilt, Blue Bonnets, Highland Laddie, Flora MacDonald’s’ Fancy, the Village Maid, and Wilt Thou Go to the Barracks, Johnny? National dances, featuring colorful costumes and revealing balletic influences, were invented by dancing masters in the 1800s. Several of these dances will be seen in Athena’s competition today. Each of these colorful, dynamic dances lends a marvelous touch of Scottish culture to Athena’s Caledonian Games. We welcome all our talented contestants. Kayla Durfee
Kim Lajoie's blog More about Mid/Side EQ by Kim Lajoie on July 14, 2014 Mid/side processing is a different way of processing two audio channels. Most processors modify a stereo sound by applying the same modification to the right and left channel simultaneously. Some processors can have different settings for the right and left channels. Mid/side processors, however, work on the ‘mid’ and ‘side’ channel instead of left and right. Two-channel stereo (left/right) audio can be transformed into two channel mid/side (and back to stereo) without damaging the audio. It’s a completely transparent (and reversible) process. The mid channel contains all the audio that is common between the left and right channels. This includes mono sounds that are panned centre and the ‘central’ sound in stereo sounds. The side channel contains all the audio that is different between the left and right channels. This generally consists mainly of ambience (either natural room sound or artificial reverb) and any sounds that are hard-panned. By adjusting the levels of the mid or side channels independently, the stereo width of the audio can be modified in a clean and natural way. Interesting things happen when you start applying EQ adjustments to the mid and side channels independently. This allows the stereo width to be widened or narrowed (or even completely collapsed to mono) in different parts of the frequency spectrum. This is particularly useful for complex stereo audio, such as groups, the mix bus or mastering. For some practical tips, see this post. Leave a Reply
Wendy Taylor taylorwI am a member of the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, in Geneva, Switzerland. The Large Hadron Collider is the world's highest energy particle accelerator, currently delivering 13-TeV proton-proton collisions. The ATLAS experiment records and analyzes these collision events. ATLAS is an international collaboration of 3000 physicists from more than 170 universities and laboratories in 38 countries, with a large Canadian effort. In 2012, the ATLAS and CMS experiments announced the discovery of the Higgs boson. As a consequence, particle physicists now understand why some particles have mass while others, like the photon, are massless. My own research on ATLAS is the search for another hypothetical particle, the magnetic monopole. A magnetic monopole is a particle postulated to carry only a south or a north pole. If a magnetic monopole exists, theory shows that this would explain why there appears to be a fundamental unit of electric charge.
You are here: Home / NREM Extension / Adult Programs / Deer Census Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management Deer Census The Stewardship Forest Certification Master Naturalist Program Field Tours and Demonstrations Conducting Deer Census Conducting Deer Census Determining the number of deer you have utilizing the resources on your property is a valuable piece of information. This will allow you to know if there are more deer in the area than the resources can support as well as how your harvest management is changing density, sex ratio, doe/fawn ratio, etc. The most accurate method to determine densities is the use of motion activated trail cameras. This survey method involves baiting the deer to come to the camera sites. Thus, it should be conducted during a time when food sources are least abundant such as December or January. Studies have shown that one camera per 100 acres is optimal to achieve the most accurate results. Once you have identified one spot for each 100 acres, you must prebait the site for 10-14 days. Prebaiting with corn or milo is effective. Only by saturating the landscape with baited camera stations will you be able to determine sex ratios as bucks tend to dominate sites when only a few cameras are present and you will not be able to calculate sex ratios. Thus, this method is not very effective for areas less than about 1,000 acres. If you own or manage less than this acreage, consider forming a hunt cooperative with your neighbors to conduct surveys and other management actions. This will not only enable better deer management, but you can also spread out the expense of the cameras. Upon completion of prebaiting, you should install the camera and set it to take a picture every 4 to 5 minutes when activated. The camera should be placed about 10-15 feet from the bait pile and pointed north to avoid sun glare in the photos. Any vegetation that the wind might move will need to be mowed down to avoid unnecessary photos to sort through and to conserve battery life. Camera stations should be placed in locations that are easily accessed in order to save time when checking them during the survey period. The camera stations will need to be checked about every 3 to 4 days to replenish bait and make sure the camera is working correctly. The cameras need to be functioning for 10 days to two weeks in order to capture the majority of the deer in the area. After this period has ended you count the number of deer captured in the photographs. The calculations for interpreting the number of deer are based on the number of identifiable bucks observed in the survey. This means that you will need to save a picture of each different buck you find to calculate the total number of bucks identified in your survey. Thus, surveys should be completed before antler drop which can begin in January in Oklahoma. When looking through the pictures, you will need to record whether it was a buck, doe or fawn. If a picture contains a buck, doe and a fawn then you must record one count for each category. When you are finished examining the pictures you will have the total number of times a buck, doe, or fawn was captured in a photograph. The first step in the calculations deals with the bucks. Take the total number of times a buck was captured and divide that by the total number of identifiable bucks (determined by the unique antler configuration of that animal). This will give you an average number of times each buck was photographed. The next step is to take the total number of doe captures divided by the average pictures per buck. This will provide you with the number of does present during your survey. Note: The method is built on the assumption that bucks and does have equal chance of getting captured on camera (Thus, the importance of having many cameras in operation so that does are able to access the bait stations as well.) Take the number of captures of bucks divided by the number of captures of does to get the sex ratio. A 1:1 ratio is ideal. Take the number of captures of fawns divided by the number of captures of does to give you a fawn to doe ratio. This ratio multiplied by the total number of does present will tell you how many fawns there are. To calculate the density of deer on your property, combine the totals of bucks, does, and fawns and divide the number of acres on your property by this total number of deer captured. This will give you the density of deer on the property. setting up trail cameraCameras should be placed 10-15 feet from the bait and aimed 2.5-3 feet above the bait to minimize photos of animals other than deer such as raccoons and crows. The following are examples of the analysis of camera surveys: Example 1 # of identifiable bucks = 38 Sex Ratio = 2,985 doe captures/1,950 buck captures = 1.53 does/buck Estimated doe population = 38 bucks x 1.53 does/buck= 58 does Estimated fawn population = 3,532 fawn captures/2,985 doe captures = 1.18 fawns/doe 58 does x 1.18 fawns/doe = 69 fawns Total estimated population = 38 bucks + 58 does + 69 fawns = 165 deer Density = 2,000 acres/ 165 deer = 12.1 acres/deer Example 2 # of identifiable bucks = 30 Sex Ratio= 1,667 doe captures/ 1,118 buck captures = 1.49 does/buck Estimated doe population = 30 bucks x 1.49 does/buck = 45 does Estimated fawn population = 1.321 fawn captures / 1,667 doe captures = 0.8 fawns/doe 45 does x 0.8 fawns/doe = 36 fawns Total estimated population = 30 bucks + 45 does + 36 fawns = 111 deer Density = 1000 acres/ 111 deer = 9 acres/deer trail-camera-pic.pngAlways remember to point cameras north so sun lights the animal instead of glaring on the camera lens.
Mind, Body, and Happiness Mind, Body, and Happiness By Richard H Gregory Common sense tells you that you're happy if your mind and body are happy. And common sense is right, because there's solid reasoning behind it. Neither can be healthy without the other because each has needs and desires that can be satisfied only with the help of the other. A positive attitude is key to that cooperation and to health. It's sort of like that old joke to the effect that if Momma's happy, everyone is happy. The Momma (sorry dudes, that's the way the joke goes) in this case is the partnership between your mind and body. Obviously, they're closely intertwined. Less obviously, one can't exist without the other because each has needs and desires that can be satisfied only with the help of the other. What's that mean? Only that your health and your happiness depends on their degree of cooperation. The evidence is overwhelming if you look at the possibilities. What happens when they don't cooperate? Well, what happens when your body has an allergy? Anything from itching to anaphylactic shock. Right? Wouldn't you say that affects the mind? How about the flu? Do you feel tired? Can you think clearly? Your body's problems are messing with your mind. What happens when your mind has a problem? Do you get depressed and overeat or drink too much? What does that do to your body? What sort of mental and physical stress do you think this generates? On the other hand, what happens when they cooperate? Your mind doesn't force destructive activities on your body and your body doesn't burden your mind with avoidable illnesses, preventable alarms, and crisis alerts. Instead, they look out for one another, they have a positive attitude. Your body makes sure your mind is well fed and that waste is efficiently removed. Your mind returns the favor by keeping an eye out for situations that could damage your body and by overseeing general operations. This cooperation and benign environment frees up mental resources that help you advance towards whatever goals you've set for yourself. There's a third case where the mind and body cooperate, but one or the other has limited capacity. Even then, happiness is possible. It's likely to be more difficult and may require some adjustments, but it's possible. The evidence is in folks whose options are limited in some respect yet who lead satisfying, and in some cases spectacular, lives (Stephan Hawking is one example). Obviously cooperation, even under trying conditions, leads to better results. Which would you choose? Granted, wild behavior that pits mind against body sounds like more fun, if you don't mind paying the price later on. But is it? Where's the fun in poor health, the outrageous expenses that usually go with the wild behavior, and the family problems you bring on yourself? Think about it. Richard H Gregory is an engineer, project manager, and writer with a deep interest in human potential and in positive thinking. He started as an introverted farm kid, taught himself positive thinking principles, applied them through a set of procedures he developed, and became a professional who was comfortable with a wide variety of people in an even wider variety of social and professional situations. Please visit for more information on the positive thinking principles and procedures that you can use to reprogram your own mind. Article Source: No comments: Post a Comment
Saturday, 24 March 2012 Scientific name: Camellia sinensis Tea originated in a vast region of South-East Asia, including China, Japan, Burma, India and other areas. The tea plant and the method of preparing the drink were shrouded in a fair amount of secrecy among Oriental peoples, to such an extent that until the nineteenth century it was thought that black tea and green tea were produced from direct plants.The Portuguese probably first came across the drink in the Canton region, and used the local word (ch'a). As is commonly know, tea as a beverage was introduced to the English court by the Portuguese queen D. Catarina de Bragança, daughter of the king João IV, which leads one to believe that it was already known in Portugal at the time, although it was from far widespread. The same cannot be said of the plant and the method of preparing the tea. It would appear, from details dating from the nineteenth century, that at time it was not generally known in Portugal how to prepare the drink. As for the plant, there are records of tea plant's existence in Angra do Heroísmo, in the Azores, at the beginning of that century, and its introduction to Brazil at the beginning of the nineteenth century is confirmed - although the date is open to question - when King João VI travelled to Rio de Janeiro as a result of the French invasions, and received tea plant as a gift from Chinese emperor. From Brazil tea then reached the island of São Miguel in Azores, and continental Portugal, where attempts were made to grow it in the north, centre and south. Plants still exist to this day dating from that time, although they are now abandoned, the largest know group being that on Alto do Chá or «Tea Peak», in the Sintra mountains. The cultivation of Tea in Africa was set in motion by the English from India. Tea was brought from former Nyassaland (Malawi) to Mozambique in about 1914, and it underwent a certain amount of expansion there. Records exist of the plant being introduced to Angola, but growing never took off. 1. i didn't know anything of thes, now i have another strategy to aproach to the whors.
Crows, snails and Education today Posted On 26/02/2014 06:22:42 by administrator Spare a thought for snails and the Corvids! Snails are not renowned for their speed, precision and forward thinking. However, they are experts on the protective front as any self respecting corvid will tell you. Corvids are an extraordinary family of birds including the crows. They quickly learn how to use and adapt tools. They are forward thinkers! One day a crow was out for a spot of lunch and moved in on your typically slow slug who immediately went into the defence position of retracting into its shell. Not renowned for it s patience the crow sat on the fence and started to think things through. At precisely that moment in time, a car went past and drove over the snail smashing its shell and serving up a freshly prepared main course of escargot for crow. Next lunch time, the crow came upon another defensive snail, picked it up in its beak, dropped it in the road and waited for the next car, which didn’t take long to prepare lunch. Did I mention that it doesn’t take long for crows to catch on to new ideas? Today many crows have adapted to quickly preparing their favourite lunch. A parable of education today. The rationale for change is far more expertly expressed through some of my personal heroes such as Sir Kenneth Robinson and Set Godin, please see below: A personal journey of 35 years has revealed many insights and understanding into the failure of education to dust corridors and blow away cobwebs in order to allow children to breathe fresh air! These children hold the key to our future, they represent the greatest investment we can ever make. The destination of my journey has provided a solution, proven to work through the many commendations, awards, accolades and testimonials gathered along the way. Yet having delivered the Trojan horse called HET through the gates of institutionalism I see a few brave pioneers breaking down that final frontier, the brick walls of institutionalised resistance that still seek to imprison children’s minds, hearts and souls . Now is the time: To join ranks, unite in understanding the true reasons why children do not reach their full potential in an outdated, out moded, ‘one size fits all’ system of education, built on fear and control, designed to fail and fragment young people. To explore the simplicity of recent knowledge into how we learn that will take the best part of half a century from now to filter through into academic text books that currently regurgitate old political models, no longer holding meaning or relevance. To heal experiences from the innocence of childhood, naturally and holistically, without resorting to dispensing brain damaging ‘meducation’ To provide a child centred, accredited experience embracing a joy of learning , not systemised resistance and inherited reluctance to learning. Join me…..
The Top Mistakes To Avoid When Learning A New Language Learning a foreign language can be one of the most difficult and stressful things anyone can go through. You will have to acquire new means of pronouncing letters and making the right sounds made by the words. Also, you also have to remember the meaning of each new word that you will learn. Certain mistakes will also make the whole learning process go harder. What are the top mistakes that can cause you to have a harder time learning a new language? Read them below: Trying To Memorize All The Grammar Rulesjhnbvhjbgjg Grammar is important in any language. However, grammar will always be tricky for new learners. Using the right tenses, gerunds, infinitives, etc. are useful if you will be writing academic essays or professional emails. But if your primary objective is to communicate in anticipation for trip overseas or just to master the basics, don’t worry about it too much. You’ll always just feel anxious every time you buckle down to study. Being Afraid Of Committing Mistakes There’s no way anyone who is learning a new language will be able to avoid making mistakes. Errors are simply part of language study. However,one of the major mistakes any student can make is not trying out of fear of failure. Don’t be afraid to speak the new language, even in public: any error you make only go to show what you could work more on. Consider any mistake as a positive move toward your learning goals. Over-thinking The Rules cgfdegeveNative language speakers don’t have to think much while they are speaking since the language becomes nearly an instinctual response and also a feeling. Rules are primary for speaking correctly, but you shouldn’t take the language experience as a mathematical formula that you need to memorize so that you give the right answers. You should ever speak using your gut whenever possible and retain grammatical rules in mind but don’t rely on sorting through them each time you use the language. Losing The Drive To Learn Lastly, a lot of students become excited about learning a different language and have their greatest discharge of momentum at the very beginning. This sense of excitement, which usually accompanies the start of the language learning process, should certainly be embraced. However, students may have a hard time sustaining this momentum, especially after the initial months of classes. Linguists say a useful tip would be to focus on what you like: study subjects that apply to more to your interests. If you like food, try to learn more vocabulary related to gastronomy. Watch a film or go to a cultural fair now and then to remind yourself why you started learning the language in the first place as well.
You are here Lactation Cookies Boost Nutrients and Milk Supply Lactation cookies may be the best-kept secret among breastfeeding mothers. The ingredients in these yummy cookies work in a number of different ways to help moms boost and maintain their milk supply. What makes these cookies so special is that they contain galactagogues, which are substances that promote lactation in humans and animals. Galactagogues can be found in various herbs and foods. The brewer's yeast, wheat germ, flaxseed meal and whole oats in lactation cookies are what specifically help with a lactating mother's milk supply. • Oats are another must for breastfeeding mothers. They are high in fiber and full of iron, protein and complex carbohydrates. Low levels of iron in the body can actually reduce milk supply. Anyone can eat lactation cookies, even dads, since they are high in nutrients that everybody needs. Click here for a quick and simple 25-minute recipe for lactation cookies.
Rewiring the Human Brain The brain is the only organ that has ever named itself. Dwell on that too much, and you’ll soon find yourself tumbling down an existential crisis rabbit hole. Apologies in advance. For centuries, scientists, philosophers and laypeople alike have all been fascinated by the unimaginably complex organ that rests between our ears. Countless pages have been filled discussing consciousness, the formation of memories, the control of our bodies, and much more. Today, with access to ever-improving technology, we are learning new things as each day passes, allowing us to experiment and reward ourselves with more knowledge than ever before. One company powering ahead in this movement is Russia-based Intelligence and Innovation, and its quirkily-named Rehabunculus system. Studying neural networks and experimenting with their practical application in sports training and rehabilitation, the company has even ventured as far as developing a simulation system for training astronauts. Not bad for a staff count of only 16 people… Mind and Body In the middle of a room – surrounded by four brick walls and no windows – stands a person holding a futuristic-looking gun. They turn and face a target, their hands shaking, betraying their inexperience. They shoot, landing five or six shots at the target’s edge. Having emptied the magazine, they peel off their virtual reality (VR) headset, and hand it back to Alexander Kashcheyev, Technical Director of Intelligence and Innovation at Rehabunculus. “In real life, when you shoot, you perform tracking motions”, Kashcheyev explains. You keep your eyes on the target, the sight, and the point on the target you’re aiming at.” “Our system waits for the moment you are about to make a mistake, using a neural network to project the trajectory of your motions. By using virtual reality, we can detect that error several frames in advance and amplify it. For you, that would feel like your hand is not raised high enough or is shaking more. By receiving this kind of feedback ahead of time and in an amplified form, your brain is able to react faster and adjust your motor program.” Neural networks help restore brain cells The artificial intelligence (AI) system developed by Intelligence and Innovation is essentially a tool that can help ‘reprogram’ the brain and teach it practically any motor skill. Such a system can be applied in a vast variety of ways. One important area where AI could serve as a personal trainer is medicine, particularly in the case of rehabilitation patients who have had strokes. One of the project’s specific objectives is to ensure that stroke patients execute their rehabilitation exercises properly. As many patients can’t control all their muscles equally, they can carry out exercises incorrectly. Once this baseline has been established, it’s very difficult to correct. Rehabunculus is similar to a Kinect-equipped Xbox game, in that the patient is required to perform simple exercises, such as hitting flying tennis balls with a racket. But the system is more than just a game – the software analyses a patient’s movements and encourages them to gradually increase their range. Yegor Tokunov, Head of Business Development at Intelligence and Innovation, elaborates: “Stroke patients often tend to lose their motivation over time if they don’t see any results from exercising,” says Tokunov. “That is why we have used the same movement prediction system for Rehabunculus, but in a reverse fashion: instead of highlighting the patients’ errors, it tells them they are doing better than they actually are. Positive results motivate people to continue exercising.” Rehabunculus is currently being tested with a group of stroke patients and rehabilitation doctors at the Neurology Research Center. Its future transition from testing to mass application will be assisted by yet another Microsoft technology – the Azure cloud platform. The power of the cloud Tokunov explains that “The neural network used for movement prediction will be generated in the Azure cloud. It will analyze the patient’s movement patterns, which will serve as the basis for creating a downloadable module of the neural network that will make predictions in real time while being installed on a local computer.” “Such a necessity comes from the fact that the human motor control system has so many layers, in fact, the neural network we create essentially replicates the patient’s motor control hierarchy.” Space walk Tokunov sees many more ways of using Rehabunculus in the future, such as employing it for all kinds of post-injury and post-surgery rehabilitation programs. But the system has already drawn attention from another industry – space exploration. A broadcast news story about Intelligence and Innovation and its involvement with athletes caught the eye of senior management at Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, Russia’s major spacecraft manufacturer. Energia invited the tech company to think how to use its invention for astronaut training purposes. That was the start of cooperation between the two companies, which included a joint visit to NASA and the signing of a protocol of intention stating that Intelligence and Innovations plans to promote its technology at NASA. The purpose of the company’s collaboration with Energia is to develop a system that would simulate the stress experienced by astronauts while performing extravehicular activity in a space suit. “There are many specific factors here. An astronaut’s movements are restrained by the pressure of the space suit, which is inflated from within. The difference between the suit’s internal pressure and the external pressure in outer space is 0.4 atmospheres, and this difference provides for rather peculiar kinematics. It especially affects fine motor movements, such as using our hands while wearing astronaut gloves.” Today, outer space simulations are done using neutral buoyancy pools and reduced-gravity aircraft. Intelligence and Innovation’s technology may enable simulation without using such facilities. All that should be needed is a testbed that simulates zero-gravity using a suspension apparatus and a virtual reality headset. “We are now in the first stage of research, which involves developing a kinematic algorithm that would provide for the specifics of moving around in a space suit. We will insert that data in our platform, as well as identify the routine and non-routine operations that an astronaut has to perform. Then we should be able to provide space simulation for training astronauts without going anywhere.” Docking Federation “Russia is currently building a new-generation spacecraft called Federation, which will feature a brand-new manual docking system. We are now discussing how our technology could be used for training astronauts to operate it. In essence, we are talking about an augmented-reality experience, where you don’t need to completely enter a virtual reality. There will be real-life controls, real-life display units and real-life docking equipment, whose physics will be based on the spaceship’s engine performance characteristics. Exercise data will be used to generate a simulated image of the spacecraft on a display unit for the pilot.” The future Intelligence and Innovation is currently financed by investment funds and private investors. The company plans to make money by selling its system to customers, but as far as the medical market is concerned that is still a long way ahead. “We need marketing authorization to be able to sell Rehabunculus to clinics and hospitals in Russia, and obtaining it is a time-consuming and non-transparent process,” Tokunov explains. “That is why at the moment, we are only allowed to sell it to end users – that is, patients – marketing it through exercise physiologists as a physiotherapy product.” “We already have positive feedback from the Neurology Research Center. We are also setting up our system for testing at the Sechenov Medical University in Moscow, where it will be used over six months. In other words, we are now preparing the market for our product.” The company is also contemplating entering the global market and selling in the U.S. “There are many customers there, and there’s already a potential interest in our product,” says Tokunov. “It should be easier to market Rehabunculus there, because it is easy to integrate it in other telehealth systems. This should enable us to supply our product to so many more customers.” Besides Rehabunculus, Intelligence and Innovation has another source of income. The company sells accessory solutions developed while working on the main project: fixtures, batteries, wireless devices and even high-performance computers designed to be carried in a backpack and powered by a battery. “We sell those products to virtual reality parks and escape room companies,” says Maksim Tchizhov, head of marketing and sales, who Tokunov introduces as the man in charge of the technology’s future. His job involves looking at the various ways and areas where the company’s invention could be applied. “The core of our system is the neural network that can teach an individual any motor skill. It could be used for training industrial personnel to operate equipment, for example. The military could also use our system for training tactical skills as well as all kinds of special skills. There is currently a big demand for such solutions from the military,” Tchizhov explains. However, Tokunov believes that AI-assisted training is only a market in the making so far. “It is a ‘blue ocean’ that no one is exploring,” he says. “There is nobody doing AI-assisted education or training right now.” Whatever areas prove to be the best market for the company’s technology, the team is confident of its future success. “Whenever we are in doubt, we just go ahead and test it,” says Tokunov. If that hasn’t made you forget about your existential crisis, then nothing will.
Battle of Geronium From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Battle of Geronium Part of the Second Punic War Date Autumn of 217 BC Location Geronium, Molise Result Tactical Carthaginian victory Strategic draw Carthage standard.svg Carthage Spqrstone.jpg Roman Republic Commanders and leaders Hannibal Marcus Minucius Rufus, Magister equitum (217 BC) Fabius Maximus (late battle) 40,000 Infantry 10,000 Cavalry 20,000 Infantry engaged 20,000 in reserve Casualties and losses Unknown Unknown The Battle of Geronium or Gerunium is part of the Second Punic War, where a large skirmish and an ambush took place in the summer and autumn of 217 BC respectively, after winning the Battle of Ager Falernus, the army of Hannibal, marched north then east towards Molise through Samnium. Hannibal was cautiously followed by the Roman army under the dictator Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, keeping with the "Fabian strategy". This policy was becoming unpopular in Rome, and Fabius was compelled to return to Rome to defend his actions under the guise of observing some religious obligations. Marcus Minucius Rufus, left in command, managed to catch the Carthaginians off guard near their camp in Geronium and inflict severe losses on them in a large skirmish, this “victory” caused the Romans, disgruntled with Fabius, to elevate Minucius to the equal rank of the dictator. Minucius took command of half the army and camped separately from Fabius near Geronium. Hannibal, informed of this development, laid an elaborate trap, which drew out Minucius and his army in detail, and then attacked it from all sides, the timely arrival of Fabius with the other half of the army enabled Minucius to escape after a severe mauling. After the battle, Minucius turned over his army to Fabius and resumed the duties of Master of Horse. Strategic situation[edit] After escaping from the trap of Ager Falernus by winning the Battle of Ager Falernus, Hannibal, with his army and spoils, marched east toward Molise. Still committed to a delaying strategy, Fabius followed Hannibal cautiously, keeping to the high ground and avoiding being drawn into a pitched battle at all cost. The Carthaginian navy had been raiding the coast of Italy since the start of the war in 218 BC, the Roman navy had also started what eventually would become annual raids of the African coastline. In Iberia, Hasdrubal Barca had not mounted any expeditions against the Romans after his defeat in the naval Battle of Ebro River in the spring of 217 BC. Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus had been joined by his brother, Publius Cornelius Scipio with 8,000 reinforcements, raising the number of Roman soldiers in Spain to 30,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry. Both the brothers enjoyed pro-consular rank. Through the treachery of an Iberian chieftain called Abilyx, they had managed to gain control of Iberian hostages held by the Carthaginians at Saguntum, this further weakened the Carthaginian hold on Iberians while enhancing the power of the Romans. The Scipio brothers did not launch any large attacks on Carthaginian Spain but decided on the strengthening of their base north of the Ebro. Carthaginian march through central Italy[edit] After leaving Ager Falernus through the pass of Callifae, Hannibal retraced his steps, moving east towards Molise, the Carthaginian army, encumbered with plunder and herds of cattle, moved slowly, seeking a place to set up their winter quarters. Fabius and the Romans dogged the Carthaginians from a distance and avoided direct confrontation with them. Hannibal marched north to Venefram, which caused alarm in Rome as that city was thought to be the Carthaginian objective. Then the Carthaginian army suddenly turned east into Samnium, and after crossing the Apennine Mountains and moving through the Pelignial plains, finally entered Molise. Fabius continued to follow Hannibal, and when the Carthaginians reached near the modern-day village of Casacalenda and took over a town named Geronium, Fabius set up his camp at Larinum, 20 miles to the south,[1] the Carthaginians had cut a swath of destruction in their march, ravishing farms and property, collecting provisions and prisoners as they moved, unopposed by Fabius. Carthaginian camp in Molise[edit] Hannibal either took Geronium by assault after his terms had been refused by the townsfolk,[2] or he simply took possession of the town because the inhabitants had fled after burning the town buildings, because part of the town wall had collapsed,[3] making it vulnerable. The Carthaginians turned the town into a large granary for storing their grain and housing their animal herds, then set up a camp outside the town to billet the army, and finally surrounded the town and the camp with a trench and palisade.[4] While the sick and wounded recovered in the camp, thousands of foragers fanned out throughout the plain to harvest crops while others pastured their cattle and horses on the mountainside. Two thirds of the army was employed in these operations while the rest guarded the camp.[5] Minucius in command[edit] While the Carthaginians had been busy at Geronium, Fabius had left Minucius in charge of the Roman army with instructions to follow the ‘Fabian Strategy’ and journeyed to Rome to observe some religious duties, he possibly also had engaged in some political bickering because of his unpopularity among the Roman citizens.[6] Minucius, who had always advocated a more forward strategy against Hannibal, moved down from the hills after a few days and set up a new camp in the plain of Larinum to the north of Geronium, the Romans then began harassing the Carthaginian foragers from their new camp as Minucius sought to provoke Hannibal into battle. Hannibal in response moved near the Roman camp from Geronium with two thirds of his army, built a temporary camp,[7] and occupied a hill overlooking the Roman camp with 2,000 Numidian spearmen,[8] the mobility of the Carthaginians was restricted at this time as their cavalry horses were being rested.[9] This had also deprived Hannibal of his best weapon against the Romans, a fact which would come into play soon. Minucius promptly attacked and drove back the spearmen posted on the hill, and then moved his camp to the top of the captured hill, the stage was set for a confrontation, with the initiative resting with Minucius. And the Roman commander, for all his rashness, handled the situation with skill and shrewdness to manipulate the events to his advantage. Responding to the Roman move, the Carthaginians reduced the number of their foragers for a few days and kept the army in readiness within their camp situated near the Roman camp. Minucius, however, sat tight in his camp, emulating Fabius, this put Hannibal in horns of a dilemma: his army could stay in their camps and consume the accumulated supplies, thus risking a possible supply shortage later in the season, or start foraging in strength again and further build up their stores for the coming winter. Hannibal was eventually forced to send out parties in increasing numbers for foraging, the Romans, seizing their chance, sent out light infantry and horsemen through the back gate of their camp to cut off and kill a large number of Carthaginian foragers,[10] who were scattered all over the plain of Geronium, while Minucius himself led the infantry in strength towards the temporary Carthaginian camp itself, where most of the Carthaginians had taken refuge after being worsted in the initial clash. Hannibal, with his foragers under attack and his camp in danger of being assaulted, led out a sortie against the attacking Roman infantry.[11] With only a third of the army present[12] and most of their cavalry absent, the outnumbered Carthaginians fought a small-scale battle not of their own choosing, and mostly got the worst of the engagement, the Romans, at first shaken by the initial Carthaginian onslaught, finally gained the upper hand when a fresh force numbering 8,000 foot and 500 horse under Lucius Decimus the Samnite arrived in the rear of the Carthaginians, having been sent by Fabius to join the army at Geronium.[13] The Carthaginians now withdrew, the Romans gave chase and at one point Minucius considered overrunning and dismantling the camp itself. Only the arrival of Hasdrubal (the Quartermaster General) with 4,000 foragers somewhat redressed the Roman advantage, and Minucius chose to withdraw to his camp,[11] the Carthaginians are said to have suffered 6,000 casualties, the Romans about 5,000 during the whole affair. The Romans had managed to catch the Carthaginians at a disadvantage and had inflicted a large number of casualties during this skirmish, this was the only time Hannibal had been drawn into large scale skirmishing and had surrendered the initiative to the enemy[7] during the war. This incident probably caused Hannibal to rethink his current tactical position, the Roman army outnumbered the Carthaginian one, and the Carthaginian army was divided between 2 camps while the Roman one was concentrated. From his position Minucius could harass the Cathaginians while keeping the detachment under Hannibal in check with part of his force. Staying in the current position also might lead to constant skirmishing, and regardless of the results, a war of attrition was the worst possible course for the Carthaginians at present, being far away from reinforcements. Furthermore, there was also the possibility of a Roman attack on Geronium itself following a night march, leading to the loss of all his provisions. Hannibal chose to reduce the risk to his army and fell back to the main camp at Geronium. Minucius immediately occupied the deserted Carthaginian camp. Minucius rewarded by Roman Senate[edit] Hannibal and his Carthaginians had outgeneraled, outmaneuvered, outfought and obliterated three successive Roman armies since their arrival in Italy in 218 BC, the fear of defeat had caused the current Roman dictator to avoid fighting a pitched battle, and when he had managed to get the Carthaginians trapped at Ager Falernus, Hannibal had again made fools of the Romans and burst out with his army. All the while the Carthaginians had pillaged Italian property at will, despoiling the Romans while fattening their own pockets. Against this backdrop, the news of Minucius outmaneuvering Hannibal in this skirmish, and the retreat of the Carthaginian army was hailed in Rome as a great “victory”, this provided the political opponents of Fabius, embittered with his strategy, to spring a surprise on the dictator. The Roman army commanded by Fabius had apparently done little except follow Hannibal around and watch him ruin Roman economy, while the same army under a different general had caused Hannibal to retreat. So, the Roman senate sought a way to reward Minucius for his service to the state. The Roman political tradition and system did not allow the removal of a dictator during his term in office. However, since Fabius was a dictator who had been elected by the senate (not the usual way to become dictator), the senate could avail other options to minimize his powers. A praetor named “Metellus”[14] or, according to other sources, G. Terentius Varro (the future consul in 216 BC),[15] proposed a bill to elevate Minucius to the equal rank of Fabius, the bill was promptly passed, giving Rome 2 dictators at once for the first time in history and for all practical purposes reducing the status of dictator to that of a consul. Upon returning to the army, Fabius proposed that either he and Minucius command the whole army on alternate days, or they split their army into two independent commands. Minucius chose to split the army and took legions number II & III, and two allied legions, and encamped one and a half miles south of where Fabius camped,[16] possibly on the site of Hannibal’s temporary camp.[17] In the coming days Minucius would act just as the senate had expected him to, but he would almost end up rendering the type of "service" to Rome which it could ill afford and likes of which Fabius had striven to avoid in the preceding months of the campaign. Hannibal's response[edit] The results of this debacle had not changed the strategic situation for Hannibal, his main winter base at Geronium still remained secured, and the Carthaginian general had not planned any major operations for the time being. The Roman army still outnumbered the Carthaginian one, and Hannibal did not wish to engage it unless he could ensure some decisive tactical advantage for his soldiers to win any future engagements with the minimal casualties. A war of attrition was a luxury he could not afford, being cut off from regular reinforcements from Carthage and adrift in hostile territory. When informed of the division of the Roman army, Hannibal reconsidered his strategic position and studied the possibility of destroying part of the Roman army in a pitched battle, the Roman armies were camped separately, so one army could be drawn out and engaged under favorable conditions before the other could intervene. It was a foregone conclusion that Minucius was more likely to swallow whatever bait laid out by Hannibal, as Fabius had shown himself to be immune to all forms of Punic provocations throughout the summer of 217 BC. So, it became a question of getting Minucius to fight before Fabius did anything, not fighting Fabius before Minucius hightailed to the rescue. Hannibal's next challenge was to formulate a plan to entrap and destroy the Roman army commanded by Minucius, after a careful study of the terrain, Hannibal devised a tactical plan which would take advantage of the aggressiveness of Minucius and the geographical features of the chosen battle site. The plan was to entice Minucius with a careful and timed maneuver into thinking that he was fighting a repeat of the skirmish he had earlier fought at Geronium, while springing a trap similar to the one Hannibal had sprung on the Romans at the Battle of Trebbia in 218 BC on the unsuspecting army of Minucius, it had been suggested that Hannibal had deliberately lost the skirmish on purpose to obtain this very opportunity, but that speculation seems a bit far-fetched.[18] The bait is laid[edit] The ground between the Carthaginian and Roman camps was flat, treeless and barren, with a low ridge sitting midway between the camps. There were hollows and dead patches of land in the ground behind and beside the hill where soldiers could hide without being noticed.[19] Hannibal selected a picked body of 5,000 infantry and 500[20] cavalry, and ordered them to conceal themselves in groups of 200-300 in the hollows and dead ground on the night before the battle, the skill and discipline of the Carthaginians is evident through their flawless execution of this potentially hazardous operation. At dawn, a contingent of Carthaginian light infantry took position on the hill in full view of the Romans, from their vantage point, the Carthaginians on the hill could spy on the Romans, just like the spearmen guard Minucius had dislodged from another hill prior to the start of the skirmish. Unlike the previous encounter, this time Hannibal was fully prepared for the Roman response. Battle of Geronium[edit] The nickname of Minucius was Rufus or Red (either he or one of his ancestors had red hair), he probably saw red when he saw the Carthaginians deployed on the hill, thinking that he was going to fight Hannibal in a skirmish rather than in a battle he sent a group of velites to drive them off, unaware that he was sending them towards their fate. In turn, Hannibal reinforced the hill with just enough soldiers to fight the Romans to a stalemate, this caused Minucius to send the Roman and Italian allied cavalry up the hill, which Hannibal immediately countered with his Numidian and heavy Carthaginian cavalry, again seeking a stalemate. With the cavalry engaged, Minucius lost his best tool for scouting the battleground and discovering the trap Hannibal had set for him, after skirmishing for a while, the Roman cavalry slowly began to give ground against their better skilled opponents. Minucius, observing the situation, now called out his four legions and marched towards and then up the hill. Hannibal had also deployed his infantry beyond the hill and now advanced to meet the advancing Romans, the sequence and timing of events, all planned and orchestrated by Hannibal, did not give the Roman general any time to examine the ground or scout the area.[21] Fabius, who was watching the events unfold from his camp, called his army to arms but did not move out to help his fellow general. Just as the Roman infantry commanded by Minucius reached the hill and was moving up the slopes, the Roman cavalry broke and began to scatter, the Roman light troops, already hard pressed, were also driven back on the marching legions. The Roman battle formation was disrupted, and before the Romans could regain cohesion, the Carthaginians concealed in the hollows emerged and fell on the exposed flanks and rear of the Roman battle line.[22] Hannibal and his infantry struck the now unbalanced Romans from the front before the shock of the ambush faded or Minucius could take corrective action. Attacked from all sides, some of the Romans broke ranks and fled, while the others became surrounded and were fighting for their lives. A disaster for Rome again loomed, and barring divine intervention, only the actions of a general known for his avoidance of battle could have saved the army of Minucius from certain destruction. Fabius, later nicknamed “The Delayer”, failed to live up to his reputation, he marched out with his four legions to join the battle. The fleeing Romans of Minucius’ army began to form up beside his legions, the Carthaginians between the armies of Fabius and Minucius then gave way, enabling Minucius and his surviving soldiers to fall back and regroup beside the fresh Roman troops, the genius of Hannibal, combined with the rashness of Minucius had finally drawn the reluctant Fabius to commit his troops in combat. However, the coming Clash of Titans would produce very anticlimactic results. Both armies regrouped and redeployed for battle, but instead of Fabius seeking to avoid the coming confrontation, ironically it was Hannibal, taking a leaf out of Fabius's book, did not allow anything more than skirmishing to develop between the armies, and it was also Hannibal who first broke contact and retired to his camp. Fabius promptly followed suit and the battle was over. Possibly Hannibal did not wish to fight a battle of attrition against a still superior army, over half of which was fresh while the Carthaginians had been fighting for some time.[20] Strategically, the destruction of the Roman army would not have changed the balance of power significantly for Hannibal at the time. While Carthaginians wintered at Geronium, the Romans would have been free to raise another army to deal with him, on the other hand, if Hannibal lost the battle, he might have lost the war on the spot for Carthage. The Carthaginians had inflicted severe casualties on the Romans, and only the prompt action of Fabius had saved the Rome from dealing with another disaster in the space of six months. Hannibal chose not to gamble, again displaying his understanding of "economy of force", to reinforce success but not to throw good money after bad. Whatever damage the skirmish had done to the morale of his troops had been fully restored, he had dealt a body blow on the Romans in exchange of the bloody nose they had given him on the previous encounter. Minucius, after the battle, turned over supreme command to Fabius, resuming his duties as the Master of Horse, and billeted his remaining troops with those of Fabius. Both Romans and Carthaginians then went to winter quarters, and no large actions were fought during the winter, after the term of Fabius as dictator expired in December of 217 BC, the army was turned over to the incoming consuls Attilus Regulus and Servillus Geminus. Hannibal had again demonstrated his skill in reading the character of his opponent and devising a tactical plan to take full advantage of the situation, the plan of Hannibal to destroy in detail the armies deployed against him did not bear fruit in the manner for which he had hoped. Whatever speculated advantages Hannibal had forsaken by not confronting the combined armies of Fabius and Minucius would be regained tenfold in the August of the following year when the Carthaginians would deal one of the largest armies ever fielded by the Roman Republic one of the greatest defeats ever suffered by any nation in history near a Roman supply depot in Apulia, the Armies of Hannibal and Rome remained in Geronium until June 216 BC, when Hannibal decided to start for Cannae. • Hannibal is said to have remarked “That cloud on the mountains has broken in storm at last!” [23] when he saw Fabius approaching with his army. Fabius had been unmoved despite all the provocations of Hannibal had cooked up to entice him into battle during his tenure as dictator. • Minucius, after his rescue, had hailed Fabius as his father, and had instructed his troops to treat the troops of Fabius as their patrons.[24] Fabius, for his part, did not humiliate Minucius for the debacle, and allowed him all the honors due to his position. • Hannibal had tried all kinds of provocations to get Fabius to fight, he had even spared the property of Fabius while devastating all else, to cast doubts about him. Fabius, when he found out during a prisoner exchange that Hannibal held 247 people more than the Romans did, and the Senate had declined to fund their ransom, had sold part of the property to ransom the prisoners,[23] and then had refused to accept any money from the freed prisoners. • The Fabian Policy of following Hannibal around Italy but refusing battle had become so unpopular that the Romans named Fabius Hannibal’s “paedagogus,” after a certain class of slave who followed a Roman child to school carrying his books.[24] 1. ^ Bagnall, Nigel, p 187 The Punic Wars, ISBN 0-312-34214-4 2. ^ Polybius, 3.100.4 3. ^ Livy, 22.18.7 4. ^ Peddie, John, Hannibal’s War p 94, ISBN 0-7509-3797-1 5. ^ Cottrell, Leonard, Hannibal: Enemy of Rome, p 127 ISBN 0-306-80498-0 6. ^ Bagnall, Nigel, The Punic Wars, p 188 ISBN 0-312-34214-4 7. ^ a b Lazenby, J.F., Hannibal's War, p 71 ISBN 0-8061-3004-0 8. ^ Bagnall, Nigel, The Punic Wars, ISBN 0-312-34214-4 9. ^ Baker, G.P, Hannibal, p 120 ISBN 0-8154-1005-0 10. ^ Polybius, 3.100.2 11. ^ a b Peddie, John, Hannibal’s War, p 95 ISBN 0-7509-3797-1 12. ^ Cottrell, Leonard, Hannibal: Enemy of Rome, p 128 ISBN 0-306-80498-0 13. ^ Livy, 22.24 - however, Livy often muddles events, inflates Roman successes and minimizes or suppresses Roman failure -Lazanby, Hannibal's War p87 14. ^ Livy, 22.25-6 15. ^ Baker, G.P, Hannibal, p 123 ISBN 0-8154-1005-0 16. ^ Peddie, John, Hannibal’s War, p96 ISBN 0-7509-3797-1 17. ^ Polybius 3.103. 7-8 18. ^ Bath, Tony, Hannibal’s Campaigns, p72 ISBN 0-88029-817-0 19. ^ Lazenby, J.F., Hannibal’s War, p72 ISBN 0-8061-3004-0 20. ^ a b Bagnall, Nigel, The Punic Wars, p 189, ISBN 0-312-34214-4 21. ^ Baker, G.P, Hannibal, p 124 ISBN 0-8154-1005-0 22. ^ Peddie, John, Hannibal’s War, p 97-98 ISBN 0-7509-3797-1 23. ^ a b Baker, G.P., Hannibal, p 124 ISBN 0-8154-1005-0 24. ^ a b Goldsworthy, Adrian, The Fall of Carthage, p 195 ISBN 0-304-36642-0 Further reading[edit] • Dodge, Theodore A. (1891). Hannibal. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-81362-9. • Warry, John (1993). Warfare in the Classical World. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-56619-463-6. • Livius, Titus (1972). The War With Hannibal. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-044145-X. • Delbruck, Hans (1990). Warfare in Antiquity, Volume 1. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-9199-X. Coordinates: 41°45′42″N 14°44′00″E / 41.7618°N 14.7334°E / 41.7618; 14.7334
A few years ago, Berkshire Hathaway CEO and Chairman Warren Buffett spoke about one of his favorite companies, Coca-Cola , and how after dividends, stock splits, and patient reinvestment, someone who bought just $40 worth of the company's stock when it went public in 1919 would now have more than $5 million. Source: Coca-Cola. Yet in April 2012, when the board of directors proposed a stock split of the beloved soft-drink manufacturer, that figure was updated and the company noted that original $40 would now be worth $9.8 million. A little back-of-the-envelope math of the total return of Coke since May 2012 would mean that $9.8 million is now worth about $10.8 million. Source: Microsoft. The power of patience I know that $40 in 1919 is very different from $40 today. However, even after factoring for inflation, it turns out to be $540 in today's money. Put differently, would you rather have an Xbox One, or almost $11 million? But the thing is, it isn't even as though an investment in Coca-Cola was a no-brainer at that point, or in the near century since then. Sugar prices were rising. World War I had just ended a year prior. The Great Depression happened a few years later. World War II resulted in sugar rationing. And there have been countless other things over the past 100 years that would cause someone to question whether their money should be in stocks, much less one of a consumer-goods company like Coca-Cola. The dangers of timing Yet as Buffett has noted continually, it's terribly dangerous to attempt to time the market: With a wonderful business, you can figure out what will happen; you can't figure out when it will happen. You don't want to focus on when, you want to focus on what. If you're right about what, you don't have to worry about when" So often investors are told they must attempt to time the market, and begin investing when the market is on the rise, and sell when the market is falling. This type of technical analysis of watching stock movements and buying based on how the prices fluctuate over 200-day moving averages or other seemingly arbitrary fluctuations often receives a lot of media attention, but it has been proved to simply be no better than random chance. Photo: Flickr/J Greer. Investing for the long term Individuals need to see that investing is not like placing a wager on the 49ers to cover the spread against the Panthers, but instead it's buying a tangible piece of a business. It is absolutely important to understand the relative price you are paying for that business, but what isn't important is attempting to understand whether you're buying in at the "right time," as that is so often just an arbitrary imagination. In Buffett's own words, "if you're right about the business, you'll make a lot of money," so don't bother about attempting to buy stocks based on how their stock charts have looked over the past 200 days. Instead always remember that "it's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price." More wisdom from Warren The article Warren Buffett Tells You How to Turn $40 Into $10 Million originally appeared on Fool.com. Fool contributor Patrick Morris owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway and Coca-Cola. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway and Coca-Cola. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Read Full Story Can't get enough business news? Subscribe to our other newsletters
Free Shipping Over $69** Shopping Cart Your cart is currently empty. How Can You Fix Your Gut? Bacillus Spores Bacillus Subtilis What are Bacillus Spores? Bacillus subtilis is a bacteria that is commonly found in water, soil, air and decomposing plant residue. This spore has an extraordinary ability to survive harsh environments such as extreme heat and acidity. More importantly this spore is found in your gut. In fact, it’s one of the “good guys”. You want bacillus subtilis spores in your gut. These are the spores which produce endospores that make positive changes to your gut and support your immune system. You’ve probably heard that increasing the diversity of your gut microbes is a good thing. You’ve maybe even taken different formulas of probiotics. Maintaining a proper ratio of good spores in your gut is crucial for maintaining good gut health and a strong immune system. That’s a big reason why many people take probiotics for conditions like Leaky Gut, IBS, Crohn’s, and Ulcerative Colitis. If you have been taking probiotics and still not finding relief you may want to consider taking Bacillus Subtilis spores and here’s why. Why Bacillus Spores? • Bacillus Spores are resistant to the harsh stomach acid environment which allows it to get into the digestive system and do its work. • Bacillus Spores are able to suppress the growth of harmful bacteria. • Bacillus Spores strengthen the mucosal lining and enhance the growth of other good strains such as lactobacillus spores in the gut. • Bacillus spores significantly repair damage to the intestinal lining in the gut. These tight junctions, when not performing optimally, allow toxins to leek into the bloodstream. (Leaky Gut) Click Here to Read More • Bacillus spores play a role in reconditioning the body’s metabolism. When combined with a diet rich in healthy fibers and low sugar, this spore turns the body into a fat burning machine. Microbiologist Kiran Krishnan has been studying spores for the last 15 years, he says, “If there wasn’t reason enough before to improve gut health, this probiotic spore might now be the one “magic pill” we’ve been seeking for long-term, healthy and sustainable weight management” Which Probiotics Contain Bacillus Spores? We recommend Perfect Pass Probiotics to our clients. Perfect Pass contains 3 pharmaceutical grade strains of bacillus spores. These bacillus spores are able to survive stomach acid. They make lasting changes in the gut to heal the gut and provide relief of symptoms. Each of these bacillus spores has a distinct function and synergistically contributes to the combined effectiveness of this probiotic. Click Here to Read More Why VSL3? 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If you are still wondering if VSL#3 could be right for you, take a look at these testimonials from those who have been helped by this product. VSL#3 is now available in three formulations, regular strength, double strength and packet form. It’s simple to take as a capsule or just add it to a beverage or smoothie. Contact us if you have any questions about VSL#3 or need help with determining the best dose to take for your condition or symptoms. Five Ways to Improve Digestion prebiotics and probiotics Human health depends heavily on digestion. When the body digests nutrients properly, a person usually experiences a state of good health. When digestion is compromised, health declines. This makes sense when you think about what the body needs to thrive. We need to be able to take in food, break it down into useable portions, remove the nutrients we require from it, and then get rid of what’s not needed. This process of digesting food usually runs like clockwork. 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Bulk Up on Fiber In place of junk foods, you’ll want to eat whole plant-based foods that contain lots of fiber. Fiber gets things moving in the bowels and keeps them moving. This helps reduce the risk of a person getting constipated, which can cause other problems in the digestive system. Good foods to eat with fiber include dark leafy green vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Begin Your Day With Hot Water and Lemon Drinking enough water is important for keeping digestion working like it should, and you can speed up the digestion process by beginning each day with a cup of hot water with lemon. When you wake up, instead of coffee, turn to hot water infused with a squeeze of lemon. This drink jump-starts digestion for the day, and it’s rich in vitamin C, which aids the digestive process all day lone. Spice Things Up Many spices aid in digestion. Some of the best include cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and thyme. People have used spices for thousands of years to boost digestion and keep their systems functioning properly. You can take natural spice supplements or cook with tons of spices on a regular basis. These are five ways to improve digestion, but there are others. The key to keeping digestion functioning properly lies in eating a healthy and clean diet, staying hydrated, moving the body with gentle exercise, and keeping stress at bay. Follow these tips, and you should enjoy happy and healthy digestion on a daily basis. Prebiotics for a Healthy Digestive System girl with digestive problemsAccording to the to National Institutes of Health, between 60 and 70 million people in the United States are affected by some form of digestive illness. The most commonly reported conditions include chronic constipation, IBS, diverticular disease, and peptic ulcers. While the medical community attributes these conditions to stress, poor food choices (including a diet high in processed foods), and a sedentary lifestyle, a growing body of evidence points to the role of intestinal flora in maintaining our digestive health. Factors such as illness, antibiotic overuse, and poor diet are culprits in damaging or altering the delicate balance of the natural probiotic gut flora. These probiotics or “friendly bacteria” help us maintain our overall digestive health, and prohibit the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause diarrhea and other digestive ills. Feeding the Flora Prebiotics nourish and replenish the gut flora, creating a healthy environment in our intestinal tract. These foods contain natural prebiotics to help your digestive tract nourish and create diverse gut flora: • Vegetables such as onions and cabbage • Legumes like chickpeas, lentils, and green peas • Whole grains like oats, barley, and wheat • Beans • Fruits like apples and bananas Beans are a healthy, inexpensive source of prebiotics since they contain oligosaccharides. These specialized carbohydrates help ensure a healthy balance of gut flora. Bananas are especially popular sources of natural prebiotics; they’ve been a mainstay in the BRAT diet for their bland properties and high levels of potassium. Both of these qualities help to soothe an upset stomach and replenish electrolytes lost through vomiting and diarrhea. The natural prebiotic properties in bananas also help to heal the mucous membrane lining the intestinal tract. Good gut health depends on a healthy, diverse balance of intestinal flora. In some cases, foods alone may not be enough to help your gut nourish intestinal flora. A high-quality prebiotic supplement is an excellent addition to a healthy diet to ensure optimal digestive health The Perfect Prebiotics Prebiotics are the “fertilizer” for intestinal flora, providing diverse nutrients to help the flora proliferate. Prebiotic supplements provide an extra dose of essential nutrients to help gut flora thrive. Look for a supplement that contains three Bacillus strains to withstand the assault of stomach acid and to reach your gut at full strength. Infection, food-borne illness, poor diet, and smoking can all damage your gut flora, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea and indigestion. A prebiotic supplement combined with foods high in prebiotic properties will aid in your gut’s natural repair process and ease your symptoms. Good digestive health starts from the inside. By combining prebiotic-rich foods with prebiotic supplements, you can help your body jump-start its natural healing process. Damaged intestinal flora is replaced with healthy flora that can feed and maintain the delicate balance of the natural probiotics (good bacteria) in your gut. High quality prebiotic and probiotic sources and supplements represent a two-pronged approach to optimal gut health. Your body will be better equipped to fight off infections, viruses, and stomach upsets. When Clean Eating Doesn’t Cut it: Gut Health for Better Fitness Gut Health for Better Fitness You dedicate your life to a healthy routine: clean eating, supplementation, workouts, and a 10:30 pm bedtime. But what if all that hard work is being undone by poor gut health? The digestive system is really the engine of our well-being, as it is involved in so many processes. If our digestive system is in check, we feel awesome, we can perform at the top level, and we even can push ourselves harder to make bigger gains in the gym. Continue reading Copyright © 2017 Good Gut Solution.

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